cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intramuscular Lipoma: A Review of the Literature

Lipomas are the most common type of soft tissue mesenchymal tumors. They are typically located subcutaneously and consist of mature fatty tissue. When they occur under the enclosing fascia, they are called deep-seated lipomas. Infrequently, lipomas can arise inside the muscle and are called intramuscular lipomas. Intramuscular lipomas have been commonly investigated and categorized in the same group as other deep-seated and superficial lipomatous lesions. Their clinical, histological and imaging characteristics may resemble well-differentiated liposarcomas, further adding to the difficulties in the differential diagnosis. This article summarizes the available literature and describes the typical epidemiological, pathological and clinical features of intramuscular lipomas, as well as delineating their treatment and prognosis.
Frequency- and time-dependent gain characteristics of dye lasers

The approach used by McCumber for treating phonon-terminated lasers is applied to investigate the gain properties of dye lasers and is extended to include effects arising from population buildup in the triplet-level system and associated triplet-triplet absorptive losses. The gain is expressed in terms of time-dependent excited-state populations and spectral emission and/or absorption functions. For a given optical-pump pulse, a computer program is used to solve rate equations for the populations up to threshold and to calculate the gain as a function of time and frequency. The gain varies with frequency over the broad fluorescence bands characteristic of dye molecules and with time until the threshold for laser action is reached. Experiments using rhodamine 6G verify the predicted dependence of the laser frequency and time of threshold on cavity Q and demonstrate laser frequency tuning by adjusting the opening time of an intracavity Q switch. No variation of laser frequency is expected for fluorescing molecules exhibiting large Stokes shifts; this is observed for 7-hydroxycoumarin. Computer calculations of the gain for anthracene and rhodamine B illustrate the dependence of gain properties on the rate of intersystem crossing and triplet-triplet absorption. An estimate of the rate of intersystem crossing for rhodamine B in methanol is obtained from a comparison of predicted and observed laser threshold conditions. Requirements for achieving flashlamp-pumped laser action are shown to depend upon both flashlamp and dye properties and are analyzed using the above approach.
Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation Is Preserved After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Objective To compare cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation in patients undergoing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation with that in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Design Prospective, observational, controlled study. Setting Academic medical center. Participants Fifteen patients undergoing LVAD insertion and 10 patients undergoing CABG. Measurements and Main Results Cerebral autoregulation was monitored with transcranial Doppler and near-infrared spectroscopy. A continuous Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and CBF velocity and between MAP and near-infrared spectroscopic data, rendering the variables mean velocity index (Mx) and cerebral oximetry index (COx), respectively. Mx and COx approach 0 when autoregulation is intact (no correlation between CBF and MAP), but approach 1 when autoregulation is impaired. Mx was lower during and immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass in the LVAD group than in the CABG group, indicating better-preserved autoregulation. Based on COx monitoring, autoregulation tended to be better preserved in the LVAD group than in the CABG group immediately after surgery ( p = 0.0906). On postoperative day 1, COx was lower in the LVAD group than in the CABG group, indicating preserved CBF autoregulation ( p = 0.0410). Based on COx monitoring, 3 patients (30%) in the CABG group had abnormal autoregulation (COx ≥0.3) on the first postoperative day but no patient in the LVAD group had this abnormality ( p = 0.037). Conclusions These data suggest that CBF autoregulation is preserved during and immediately after surgery in patients undergoing LVAD insertion.
Mobile phone users in Kyrgyzstan: A case study of identifying user requirements for diverse users

Mobile phones are widely recognized as a potentially transformative technology platform for developing nations. However, for designers and programmers in the developed world to create viable applications for mobile phones involves first identifying and communicating user requirements for diverse users. We define diverse users as those from a substantively different cultural context than that in which the technology design occurs, including developing regions. This paper presents a case study outlining our process of using data from prior research to (1) identify a tenable mobile phone product concept for mobile phone users in Kyrgyzstan; (2) detect and communicate user requirements for that product concept to a design team; and (3) develop a working prototype of the concept for usability testing. Our resulting concept meets important user needs and goals for mobile phone users in Kyrgyzstan. We believe the process by which we developed and discuss these user requirements and the subsequent prototype can serve as an example to others concerned with creating user-centered products and services for diverse users including those in developing countries.
Application of a modified microbiologic criterion for identifying pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia

Background Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a major patient safety goal, but accurate identification of VAP in pediatric patients remains challenging. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study to demonstrate feasibility of endotracheal culture and Gram's stain to support VAP diagnosis. Pediatric intensive care unit and cardiac intensive care unit patients with ≥1 endotracheal specimen having growth of ≥1 organism in conjunction with moderate/many polymorphonuclear leukocytes (ie, the modified microbiologic criterion) were included. Medical records were reviewed for presence/absence of clinical and radiographic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for VAP. Antimicrobial use data were collected before and after culture results were known. Results Of 102 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 28% (n = 28) also met both clinical and radiographic CDC criteria for VAP (ie, diagnosis of PNU2). An additional 63% (n = 64) met clinical (36%; n = 37) or radiographic (27%; n = 27) criteria, but not both. Ten patients (9%) had neither clinical nor radiographic criteria for VAP. The majority (63%; n = 64) were receiving antibiotics at time of endotracheal specimen collection. Culture identification resulted in altered antimicrobial therapy in 66% of patients (n = 67). Conclusions Our study demonstrates the feasibility of endotracheal Gram's stain and culture for diagnosis of pediatric VAP that could potentially standardize accurate surveillance and management of pediatric VAP.
Detecting carbon in carbon: Exploiting differential charging to obtain information on the chemical identity and spatial location of carbon nanotube aggregates in composites by imaging X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

To better assess risks associated with nano-enabled products including multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) within polymer matrices, it is important to understand how MWCNT are dispersed throughout the composite. The current study presents a method which employs imaging X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to chemically detect spatially segregated MWCNT rich regions at an epoxy composites surface by exploiting differential charging. MWCNT do not charge due to high conductivity and have previously been shown to energetically separate from their insulating surroundings when characterized by XPS. XPS in imaging mode revealed that these conductive regions were spatially separated due to micrometer-scale MWCNT aggregation and poor dispersion during the formation of the composite. Three MWCNT concentrations were studied; (1, 4 and 5) % by mass MWCNT within an epoxy matrix. Images acquired in periodic energy intervals were processed using custom algorithms designed to efficiently extract spectra from regions of interest. As a result, chemical and electrical information on aggregate and non-aggregate portions of the composite was extracted. Raman imaging and scanning electron microscopy were employed as orthogonal techniques for validating this XPS-based methodology. Results demonstrate that XPS imaging of differentially charging MWCNT composite samples is an effective means for assessing dispersion quality.
The Decline of Regular Order in Appropriations: Does It Matter?

This paper examines trends in the procedural fiscal performance of Congress and the president. It evaluates several hypotheses about why the regular order in Congressional budgeting and appropriations has fallen into disuse. While the question has many angles and dimensions, I consider three aspects. First, I consider changes in the use of presidential budgets and congressional budget resolutions. When do presidents make their proposals? Do the House and Senate pass and reconcile resolutions? Then I consider the timing of the passage of appropriations bills and the use of continuing resolutions. Why is Congress more frequently tardy in passing appropriations and to what extent have continuing resolutions and omnibus bills become a substitute for the traditional stand-alone appropriations.Finally, I take up the question of the extent to which the decline of regular order has affected fiscal outcomes. Has the more irregular process undermined the ability of Congress and the President to manage the government's finances? Has it created more policy uncertainty that detracts from government performance and spooks private economic actors?
Switching the Adhesive State of Catecholic Hydrogels using Phototitration

A polyacrylamide hydrogel system that can be liquefied by remote activation using UV irradiation is investigated as a degradable adhesive. The linear polyacrylamide copolymer, formed by conventional free-radical polymerization, contains biomimetic catechol–iron-mediated cross-linkers that are sensitive to pH changes. Hydrogel films and bulk gels are prepared by basic titration of a polymer solution doped with a photoacid generator, diphenyliodonium chloride, generating an ionic cross-linked network via the catechol pendant groups. Irradiation of these hydrogels with UV light affords a viscous liquid solution, demonstrating a gel–sol transition with a subsequent decrease in the adhesive strength of the material. These gels may be prepared in high throughput and require few synthetic steps with commercially available precursors.
Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Analogues Substituted on the Nicotinic Acid and Adenine Ribosides. Effects on ReceptorMediated Ca2+ Release

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a Ca2+ releasing intracellular second messenger in both mammals and echinoderms. We report that large functionalized substituents introduced at the nicotinic acid 5-position are recognized by the sea urchin receptor, albeit with a 20–500-fold loss in agonist potency. 5-(3-Azidopropyl)-NAADP was shown to release Ca2+ with an EC50 of 31 μM and to compete with NAADP for receptor binding with an IC50 of 56 nM. Attachment of charged groups to the nicotinic acid of NAADP is associated with loss of activity, suggesting that the nicotinate riboside moiety is recognized as a neutral zwitterion. Substituents (Br– and N3−) can be introduced at the 8-adenosyl position of NAADP while preserving high potency and agonist efficacy and an NAADP derivative substituted at both the 5-position of the nicotinic acid and at the 8-adenosyl position was also recognized although the agonist potency was significantly reduced.
Interocular transfer in the rat: The role of the occlusion process

Interocular transfer of a pattern and of a black-white discrimination was measured in albino rats under shock motivation. Ss exhibited a reliable interocular decrement for either problem. The effectiveness of the black vinyl-acrylic contact occluders used to blind Ss was evaluated by presenting 20 test trials with both eyes occluded after training and interocular testing. Despite the complete superficial coverage of the eye, performance was somewhat above chance on the black-white problem, suggesting that the interocular transfer deficit is not only reliable, but also sizeable for both problems. An error analysis showed that the interocular decrement was not due to the introduction of a tendency which had been reported by previous experimenters, for monocular rats to go in the direction of the uncovered eye.
A facilitation tool: transcranial magnetic stimulation in epilepsy research

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive and relatively safe method to modulate the cortical activities and thus becomes popular in clinical research such as epilepsy studies. These studies mainly focus on the use of paired-pulse TMS as biomarkers and the effects of repetitive TMS (rTMS) in epilepsy treatment. Paired-pulse TMS measures the cortical excitability under different pathological circumstances by deriving and analyzing paired-pulse recovery curve, which has been proved reliable and widely used to study the physiological and pharmacological mechanisms in epilepsy. rTMS is able to modulate the brain functions and has been considered as a potential treatment for epilepsy, yet the evidence is insufficient and further exploration is required. This review intends to examine the methodologies and outcomes presented by relevant studies and to discuss the pros and cons of current TMS research. This review gives a brief introduction to background and principle of TMS. It reviews the methods measuring cortical excitability and the key findings in accordance with the mechanisms of epilepsy. It also reviews the existing controlled studies in therapeutic effectiveness of rTMS and analyzes the advantages of different designs and parameter choices. In the end, this review suggests directions for future research.
A sustained quality improvement program reduces nephrotoxic medication-associated acute kidney injury

Exposure to nephrotoxic medication is among the most common causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients. Here we conducted a prospective quality improvement project implementing a systematic Electronic Health Record screening and decision support process (trigger) in our quaternary pediatric inpatient hospital. Eligible patients were noncritically ill hospitalized children receiving an intravenous aminoglycoside for more than 3 days or more than 3 nephrotoxins simultaneously (exposure) from September 2011 through March 2015. Pharmacists recommended daily serum creatinine monitoring in exposed patients after appearance on the trigger report and AKI was defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes AKI criteria. A total of 1749 patients accounted for 2358 separate hospital admissions during which a total of 3243 episodes of nephrotoxin exposure were identified with 170 patients (9.7%) experiencing 2 or more exposures. A total of 575 individual AKI episodes occurred over the 43-month study period. Overall, the exposure rate decreased by 38% (11.63–7.24 exposures/1000 patient days), and the AKI rate decreased by 64% (2.96–1.06 episodes/1000 patient days). Assuming initial baseline exposure rates would have persisted without our project implementation, we estimate 633 exposures and 398 AKI episodes were avoided. Thus, systematic surveillance for nephrotoxic medication exposure and near real-time AKI risk can lead to sustained reductions in avoidable harm. These interventions and outcomes are translatable to other pediatric and nonpediatric hospitalized settings.
Studies on atherogenesis and corneal transplantation using cultured vascular and corneal endothelia.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents studies on atherogenesis and corneal transplantation using cultured vascular and corneal endothelia. Mesothelium and endothelium are tissues composed of a single monolayer of highly contact-inhibited and flattened cells. Endothelia are mostly found at the interface between a fluid and an organ, where they perform a barrier function. Such is the role of the vascular endothelium, which prevents the interaction of nucleated and anucleated cells (platelets) present in the bloodstream with the very thrombogenic subintimal surface. Endothelia can also be involved in active transport, being responsible for the creation and maintenance of the different ionic and macromolecular concentrations present in the extravascular and vascular spaces. Such functions are particularly well developed in the endothelia responsible for the blood–brain barrier and the blood–retina barrier. The vascular endothelium is characterized in vivo by a polarity of cell's surfaces. Its apical surface exposed to the bloodstream is a nonthrombogenic surface, whereas the basal surface produces and is in contact with a highly thrombogenic basement membrane. The capacity of the corneal endothelium grown in tissue culture to be transplanted is considerably enhanced by the rapidity with which the cells plated and reorganized themselves into a monolayer when placed on homologous or heterologous corneas denuded of their endothelium. The demonstration that the vascular endothelium can be substituted for the corneal endothelium when transplanted back in vivo may further simplify keratoplasty, becauseinstead of using a corneal endothelium of different species, one could use the vascular endothelium of the recipient grown in tissue culture to coat its own cornea and to replace the deficient corneal endothelium.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiretrovirals

Abstract Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a primary modality for the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS. Antiretroviral (ARV) agents are associated with drug-drug interactions and high inter-individual variability. The current status of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for ARV drug classes will be discussed. Additionally, first-line study regimens, consensus recommendations, and analytical methodologies will also be included in this chapter.
Global Change and Indicators of Social Development

Knowledge-based intervention has been a hallmark of community practice since the turn of the last century. Indeed, the social survey movement of the 1900s was a direct outgrowth of efforts on the part of community practitioners to systematically: 1) identify the nature, extent and severity of new and emerging social needs in their communities; 2) organize people and institutions to respond more effectively to those needs; and 3) establish baseline measures against which intervention successes and failures could be assessed (Zimbalist, 1977). Even the renaming of one of the profession’s leading journals of the day, Charities and Commons, to The Survey illustrates the importance that practitioners assigned to the role of scientific inquiry for advancing practice. Mary Richmond’s Social Diagnosis (1917) offered further reinforcement of the powerful relationship that practitioners recognized to exist between knowledge-based intervention and the realization of more effective outcomes. Today, of course, community practitioners all over the world seek to incorporate rigorous approaches to needs assessment, planning, program development and evaluation in their work with communities and other social collectivities (Andrews, 1996; Balaswamy & Dabelko, 2002;Chow & Coulton, 1996; Conner et al., 1999; Drummond, 1995; Johnson, 2002; Sawicki & Flynn, 1996; Schultz et al., 2000; Telfair & Mulvihill, 2000; Wong & Hillier, 2001; Zackary, 1995). Comments Copyright Sage Publications. Postprint version. Reprinted from The Handbook of Community Practice, edited by Marie Weil (Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2005), 28 pages. This book chapter is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/spp_papers/25
Relative preferences in the abuse of immediate-release versus extended-release opioids in a sample of treatment-seeking opioid abusers.

Purpose Although differences in the pharmacological properties of immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) opioid formulations have been reported, there are few studies comparing the real world abuse and relative preferences for these formulations. Methods To examine drug preferences, we used a structured survey of 8304 individuals entering treatment (2011–2014) for opioid use disorder followed by a more focused online survey (2014–2015) with a subset of these patients (N = 301). Results Our results demonstrated that both ER and IR opioids were frequently abused by those with an opioid use disorder in terms of lifetime (91.0% vs. 98.7%, respectively) or past month (46.1% vs. 67.4%, respectively) abuse, but given the choice, only 4% of the sample selected ER compounds as their preferred formulation. The remainder had no preference (29.9%) or a distinct preference for IR formulations (66.1%), regardless of route of administration—oral or non-oral (smoking/snorting or injecting). This preference for IR formulations seems to be related to: (i) the perceived immediacy and quality of the high (73.0%) from IR products; and (ii) they were easier to use, particularly when manipulated for non-oral abuse, than ER products (31.2%). Conclusions Based on these results, while most abusers have experience with both formulations, there is a greater preference for IR formulations, compared to ER, regardless of route of administration. As a result, it may not be unreasonable to suggest that supply-side initiatives to restrict the diversion and abuse of prescription opioids may be just as important for both IR and ER opioids. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using media-based emotion to predict commodity price

Emotion plays a significant role in consumer decision making. We recently conducted a study to explore how media-based information of aggregated market emotion influences consumers' expected demand of commodities, and how businesses can use media-based emotion indices to predict commodities' price. We implemented time series econometrics by analyzing a fourteen year daily observations of twelve major energy and material commodities prices and five market-level emotion indices (buzz, sentiment, optimism, fear and joy). The empirical results suggest that high-arousal emotion from all groups of individuals tend to reach consensus at the market level in its effect on commodity price. The study also provides evidence that there is a short term predictive relationship between the media-based emotion indices and the following five days' commodity prices.
Abstract 119: The Imbalance of Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase Activity and Superoxide Production in Endothelial Dysfunction and Hypertension

Clinical studies have shown that Sirt3 expression declines by 40% by age 65 paralleling the increased incidence of hypertension and metabolic conditions further inactivate Sirt3 due to increased NADH and Acetyl-CoA. Sirt3 activates a major mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) by deacetylation of specific lysine residues. We hypothesized that loss of Sirt3 activity increases vascular oxidative stress due to SOD2 hyperacetylation and this promotes endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. Indeed, Western blot analysis showed 3-fold increase in SOD2 acetylation and 1.5-fold decrease in Sirt3 level in hypertensive human subjects. Infusion of angiotensin II (0.7 mg/kg/day) in C57Bl/6J mice increased acetylation of vascular SOD2 by 2-fold, reduced SOD2 activity to 52% and raised blood pressure to 156 mm Hg. We have tested if Sirt3 depletion exacerbates endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. Indeed, Western blot analysis of Sirt3-/- mice showed SOD2 hyperacetylation and reduced SOD2 activity, however, blood pressure and superoxide production was normal. Angiotensin II infusion in Sirt3-/- mice increased blood pressure to 182 mm Hg, increased superoxide, reduced endothelial nitric oxide and impaired acetylcholine-mediated vasodilatation compared with angiotensin II infused wild type mice. Treatment of hypertensive Sirt3-/- mice with SOD2 mimetic mitoTEMPO (1.4 mg/kg/day) after onset of angiotensin II-induced hypertension normalized blood pressure and restored endothelial dependent vasodilatation. We suggest that mitochondrial superoxide does not contribute to the basal vasodilation and blood pressure regulation however high salt, angiotensin II and inflammation increase mitochondrial superoxide. Indeed, superoxide production by complex I in submitochondrial particles was significantly increased in hypertensive mice and this was associated with complex I S-glutathionylation. Interestingly, SOD2 overexpression in transgenic mice prevents complex I S-glutathionylation, reduces superoxide production by complex I and attenuates hypertension. These data indicate that imbalance of SOD2 activity and mitochondrial superoxide production contributes to endothelial dysfunction and hypertension.
The actions of thyroid hormone signaling in the nucleus

Thyroid hormones are a critical regulator of mammalian physiology. Much of their action is due to effects in the nucleus where T3 engages thyroid hormone receptor isoforms to mediate its effects. In order to function properly the TR isoforms must be recruited to regulatory sequences within genes that they up-regulate. On these positive regulated target genes the TR can activate or repress depending upon whether the receptor is bound to T3 or not and the type of co-regulatory proteins present in that cell type. In contrast to T3 mediated activation, the mechanism by which the TR represses transcription in the presence of T3 remains unclear. Herein we will review the components of the transcriptional response to T3 within the nucleus and attempt to highlight the outstanding questions in the field.
Impact of t (11;14) on the outcome of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (Auto-HCT) in multiple myeloma.

8040 Background: Approximately 15-20% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) present with t(11;14)(q13;q32) involving IgH and CCND1-XT genes. In this study, we report the impact of the t(11;14) on ...
Genetic background influences the humoral responses to vaccines

Background The assessment of TLR agonists as promising candidate adjuvants for the induction of effective Th1 immunity continues to rely on the use of inbred mouse. However, the genetic variation among commonly used inbred mice may influence the efficacy of candidate adjuvants and bias the study conclusion. Indeed, we have found significant differences in the recruitment, phenotypes and cytokines production of DCs and NK cells and the generation of effector T cell in lymphoid tissues of two genetically non-identical mouse strains immunized with a protein based vaccine formulated with TLR agonists. Objective In this study, we further evaluated the nature and amplitude of humoral immune responses of B6 and BALB/c strains immunized with protein antigen ovalbumin plus Alum, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7/8, or TLR9 agonists. Results Our data suggest that compared to the Alum, all other adjuvants induced more effectively the recruitment of B cells and production of OVA-specific antibodies in both strains. We also observed significant differences between two strains. BALB/c strain recruited less B cells but produced significantly higher amounts of IgG2a in response to any of the TLR agonists. In addition, both strains produced similar amounts of IgG1 and IgG2b in response to TLR agonist except for MPLA which induced significantly more of IgG2b production in B6 strain. Conclusion Thus, our data suggests that genetic background should be taken into consideration when evaluating and comparing the activities of adjuvants for use in new prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. NIH-NIAID 1R03AI103750-01A1
Analysis and utility of atmospheric compensation of simulated compressive sensing (CS) measurements

Compressive sensing (CS) takes advantage of the spatial and spectral redundancy in hyperspectral imagery to take fewer measurements than traditional sensors. We simulate compressively sensed hyperspectral airborne images of a HyMap image of Cooke City, Montana using the Coded Aperture Snapshot Spectral Imager Dual Disperser (CASSI-DD) sensor model. Flake et al's novel algorithm (2013), which incorporates both spatial total variation (TV) and spectral smoothing, is used to reconstruct the hyperspectral image cube from the CS measurement.[1] We evaluate the effect of the number of physical measurements (nt) on atmospheric compensation, anomaly detection and target detection. The results indicate that the utility of CS is application-dependent and the optimal nt value is application-driven.
Surgeon symptoms, strain, and selections: Systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical ergonomics.

Abstract Background Many surgeons experience work-related pain and musculoskeletal symptoms; however, comprehensive reporting of surgeon ailments is lacking in the literature. We sought to evaluate surgeons' work-related symptoms, possible causes of these symptoms, and to report outcomes associated with those symptoms. Materials and methods Five major medical indices were queried for articles published between 1980 and 2014. Included articles evaluated musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic outcomes in surgeons. A meta-analysis using a fixed-effect model was used to report pooled results. Results Forty articles with 5152 surveyed surgeons were included. Sixty-eight percent of surgeons surveyed reported generalized pain. Site-specific pain included pain in the back (50%), neck (48%), and arm or shoulder (43%). Fatigue was reported by 71% of surgeons, numbness by 37%, and stiffness by 45%. Compared with surgeons performing open surgery, surgeons performing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) were significantly more likely to experience pain in the neck (OR 2.77 [95% CI 1.30–5.93]), arm or shoulder (OR 4.59 [2.19–9.61]), hands (OR 2.99 [1.33–6.71], and legs (OR 12.34 [5.43–28.06]) and experience higher odds of fatigue (8.09 [5.60–11.70]) and numbness (6.82 [1.75–26.65]). Operating exacerbated pain in 61% of surgeons, but only 29% sought treatment for their symptoms. We found no direct association between muscles strained and symptoms. Conclusions Most surgeons report work-related symptoms but are unlikely to seek medical attention. MIS surgeons are significantly more likely to experience musculoskeletal symptoms than surgeons performing open surgery. Symptoms experienced do not necessarily correlate with strain.
Association between Job Factors, Burnout, and Preference for a New Job: a Nationally Representative Physician Survey.

Physician turnover contributes to decreased physician productivity, decreased quality of patient care, and increased costs to healthcare systems.1–5 We used an experimental vignette to test associations between physician demographics, salary, and working with exemplary colleagues on the likelihood of preferring a new job among burned out and non-burned out physicians in various specialties.
Reflection gradient light interference microscopy (epi-GLIM) for label-free imaging of bulk specimens (Conference Presentation)

Gradient Light Interference Microscopy (GLIM) is a phase-shifting technique that upgrades a conventional differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope to produce quantitative phase images. Benefiting from equally matched beams, fully open microscope condenser, as well as coherence gating due to the removal of non-interferometric terms upon phase-retrieval, GLIM has the potential to enable studies of mesoscopic structure hundreds of microns thick. Nevertheless, many such biological samples are much too big to completely transmit light, requiring the use of reflection microscopy. Here we present our early work on constructing a new reflection mode GLIM microscope designed to image thick biological structures, as well as a detailed comparison between transmitted vs reflected light modalities for a number of calibration samples.
MicroRNAs Are Aberrantly Expressed in Hypertrophic Heart : Do They Play a Role in Cardiac Hypertrophy?

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of endogenous, small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Although miRNAs are highly expressed in the heart, their roles in heart diseases are currently unclear. Using microarray analysis designed to detect the majority of mammalian miRNAs identified thus far, we demonstrated that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in hypertrophic mouse hearts. The time course of the aberrant miRNA expression was further identified in mouse hearts at 7, 14, and 21 days after aortic banding. Nineteen of the most significantly dysregulated miRNAs were further confirmed by Northern blot and/or real-time polymerase chain reaction, in which miR-21 was striking because of its more than fourfold increase when compared with the sham surgical group. Similar aberrant expression of the most up-regulated miRNA, miR-21, was also found in cultured neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyocytes stimulated by angiotensin II or phenylephrine. Modulating miR-21 expression via antisense-mediated depletion (knockdown) had a significant negative effect on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The results suggest that miRNAs are involved in cardiac hypertrophy formation. miRNAs might be a new therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases involving cardiac hypertrophy such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, valvular diseases, and endocrine disorders.
Surgical Technique in Cancer Surgery

The therapeutic intervention of a surgical oncologist in dealing with solid tumors is usually performed through procedures aimed at complete extirpation of the tumor and preservation of functional anatomy as much as it is feasible.
More About Modular Programming

User-defined functions, as an implementation of the CALL and SUBPROGRAM pseudocode statements, were first introduced in Chapter 3. In that discussion, functions, including C’s intrinsic functions, had a simple information interface. The input consisted of one or more values, and the output consisted of a single value associated with the name of the function through the use of a return statement. Thus, assuming that a, b, and c are declared and given appropriate values, these kinds of statements are possible:
Lessons learned in the design of an undergraduate data mining course

The ability to analyze and construct knowledge from data is a fundamental talent that is in high demand. Developing this ability requires the understanding of how to solve problems that are data oriented and continually evolving in both application and complexity, i.e. broadly speaking it is the understanding of data mining concepts and techniques. This suggests the need for an educational component at the undergraduate level that should provide the foundational background for solving such problems. These problems are multi-disciplinary by their nature, require both technical and non-technical expertise, and are wonderful resources for further research. This paper describes the design and delivery of such a course and the lessons learned in its design and delivery. Although the course content did not match the recommended curriculum, a set of interesting outcomes was produced. In particular students that completed this course created significant data mining research, and in some cases, was publication worthy.
1-volt RF circuit design for pagers

The motivation for 1-Volt operation of pager RF circuits is discussed. General principles covering low-voltage RF design are covered, followed by specific circuit examples of RF amplifiers, mixers, and VCOs. Finally, possible future directions of low-voltage RF design are examined.
Axial mixing and vortex stability to in situ radial injection in Taylor-Couette laminar and turbulent flows

Taylor–Couette flows have been widely studied in part due to the enhanced mixing performance from the variety of hydrodynamic flow states accessible. These process improvements have been demonstrated despite the traditionally limited injection mechanisms from the complexity of the Taylor–Couette geometry. In this study, using a newly designed, modified Taylor–Couette cell, axial mass transport behaviour is experimentally determined over two orders of magnitude of Reynolds number. Four different flow states, including laminar and turbulent Taylor vortex flows and laminar and turbulent wavy vortex flows, were studied. Using flow visualization techniques, the measured dispersion coefficient was found to increase with increasing .
PyXtal: A Python library for crystal structure generation and symmetry analysis

Abstract We present PyXtal, a new package based on the Python programming language, used to generate structures with specific symmetry and chemical compositions for both atomic and molecular systems. This software provides support for various systems described by point, rod, layer, and space group symmetries. With only the inputs of chemical composition and symmetry group information, PyXtal can automatically find a suitable combination of Wyckoff positions with a step-wise merging scheme. Further, when the molecular geometry is given, PyXtal can generate different dimensional organic crystals with molecules occupying both general and special Wyckoff positions. Optionally, PyXtal also accepts user-defined parameters (e.g., cell parameters, minimum distances and Wyckoff positions). In general, PyXtal serves three purposes: (1) to generate custom structures, (2) to modulate the structure by symmetry relations, (3) to interface the existing structure prediction codes that require the generation of random symmetric structures. In addition, we provide several utilities that facilitate the analysis of structures, including symmetry analysis, geometry optimization, and simulations of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Full documentation of PyXtal is available at https://pyxtal.readthedocs.io . Program summary Program Title: PyXtal CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/wfyxyhjzwx.1 Licensing provisions: MIT [1] Programming language: Python 3 Nature of problem: Knowledge of structure at the atomic level is the key to understanding materials’ properties. Typically, the structure of a material can be determined either from experiment (such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, microscopy) or from theory (e.g., enhanced sampling, structure prediction). In many cases, the structure needs to be solved iteratively by generating a number of trial structure models satisfying some constraints (e.g., chemical composition, symmetry, and unit cell parameters). Therefore, it is desirable to have a computational code that is able to generate such trial structures in an automated manner. Solution method: The PyXtal package is able to generate many possible random structures for both atomic and molecular systems with all possible symmetries. To generate the trial structure, the algorithm can either start with picking the symmetry sites randomly from high to low multiplicities, or use sites that are predefined by the user. For molecules, the algorithm can automatically detect the molecules’ symmetry and place them into special Wyckoff positions while satisfying their compatible site symmetry. With the support of symmetry operations for point, rod, layer and space groups, PyXtal is suitable for the computational modeling of systems from zero, one, two, and three dimensional bulk crystals. References: [1] https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
Organoids Develop Motor Skills: 3D Human Neuromuscular Junctions.

Stem cell technology enables the production of three-dimensional organ-like structures, but engineering multi-tissue anatomy has proven difficult. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Martins et al. (2020) show that generating a common progenitor cell for posterior spinal cord and muscle enables the formation of functional neuromuscular junctions in single organoids.
Robust Spin Control Design for the AOSAT+ Mission Concept

The surfaces of asteroids are a challenging environment to explore due to their low gravity. Active small-body missions rely on short-duration touch-and-go operations to mitigate this risk. An in-depth understanding of the surface geophysics of asteroids and comets can open the door to prolonged surface and subsurface exploration of these small bodies. We propose the AOSAT+ mission concept, which will provide rich physics data of a simulated asteroid surface. The mission consists of a 12U CubeSat that will operate as a centrifuge laboratory in low Earth orbit (LEO). The CubeSat will carry 2.5 kg of crushed Allende meteorite, along with a suite of science instruments. The spacecraft will rotate at 0.1–1.1 RPM to simulate the milli-gravity environment of a desired small body. A major challenge with operating a centrifuging spacecraft is that it contains shifting masses, which result in perturbation torques on the spacecraft. This requires a robust attitude controller to spin the spacecraft at its target rotation speed. This article presents the development of a sliding-mode attitude control law that enables the operation of the AOSAT+ centrifuge mode. The perturbations of the regolith are modeled using a discrete element model (DEM), where the regolith grains are treated as inelastically colliding hard spheres. We begin by presenting a detailed overview of the AOSAT+ mission concept and its different operations. The regolith motion model implementation and the detailed derivation of the required sliding-mode controller are then presented. The constraints presented by the actuators and tools to study their limitations are then developed. Finally, the controller is shown to successfully demonstrate the spin rate requirements of the AOSAT+ centrifuge mode. Key insights on the operation of the centrifuge mode and important mission design considerations on the spacecraft are then noted.
Enhanced performance of a PtCo recombination catalyst for reducing the H2 concentration in the O2 stream of a PEM electrolysis cell in the presence of a thin membrane and a high differential pressure

Abstract High electrochemical efficiency at elevated current densities and low H2 concentration in O2 can be achieved in PEM electrolysis using thin membrane and integrated recombination catalyst. An enhanced PtCo alloy recombination catalyst was synthesized and used at the anode of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). This allowed reducing the H2 concentration in the oxygen stream during electrolysis operation with a thin 50 μm perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) Aquivion® membrane. Both dual-layer and composite anode configurations (PtCo/IrRuOx) were investigated. The electrochemical performance of the MEAs containing the recombination catalyst was better than a bare MEA while producing a decrease of the H2 content at the anode. This allowed extending the partial load operation down to 5% at 55 °C under a differential pressure of 20 bar. The effects of the cathodic pressure and cell temperature (including evaluation of intermediate temperature operation at 140 °C) on both electrochemical performance and H2 concentration in the anode stream were investigated. An excellent performance of 4 A cm−2 at 1.75 V, at 140 °C, 20 bar cathode pressure, 5.5 bar anode pressure, with 0.6 mg cm−2 overall precious metal catalysts content was recorded. At 140 °C, the MEA also showed a moderate H2 concentration in O2 of about 2.3%, almost constant through most of the current density range.
Overview of COVID-19 testing and implications for otolaryngologists.

Author(s): Vinh, Daniel B; Zhao, Xiao; Kiong, Kimberley L; Guo, Theresa; Jozaghi, Yelda; Yao, Chris; Kelley, James M; Hanna, Ehab Y | Abstract: BackgroundTesting for SARS-CoV-2 is important for decision making prior to surgery in otolaryngology. An understanding of current and developing testing methods is important for interpreting test results.MethodsWe performed a literature review of current evidence surrounding SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing highlighting its utility, limitations, and implications for otolaryngologists.ResultsThe currently accepted RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 has varying sensitivity according to which subsite of the aerodigestive tract is sampled. Nasal swab sensitivities appear to be about 70%. Chest CT imaging for screening purposes is not currently recommended.ConclusionDue to the current sensitivity of RT-PCR based testing for SARS-CoV-2, a negative test cannot rule out COVID-19. Full PPE should be worn during high-risk procedures such as aerosol generating procedures even if testing is negative. Patients who test positive during screening should have their surgeries postponed if possible until asymptomatic and have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.
Some Remarks on Discrete Series Characters for Reductive p-adic Groups

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the discrete series characters for reductive p -adic groups. The discrete series, which is well understood for real groups, has presented one of the most vexing problems in the representation theory of p -adic groups. There has been some progress in the construction of discrete series ([Hi], [KL], [Kub]), but only a few results exist on the specific nature of their characters. It has been noted that, before Bernstein proved the admissibility of irreducible unitary representations, Harish-Chandra gave a simple proof of the admissibility of discrete series representations. The chapter describes the partition of the discrete series of G into supercuspidal representations and generalized special representations. It has been conjectured by many people that supercuspidal representations can be induced irreducibly from open, compact mod center subgroups of G . For the generalized special representations, there are essentially no general techniques available for obtaining explicit character values except for the Steinberg type representations.
Outline analysis of sex and population variation in greater sciatic notch and obturator foramen morphology with implications for sex estimation

The pelvis is known to be the most sexually dimorphic part of the adult human skeleton. Many pelvic sex traits, however, are difficult to analyze quantitatively, with practitioners relying on subjective qualitative descriptions. This study uses elliptical Fourier analysis to explore sexual dimorphism and population variation in two pelvic traits, greater sciatic notch (GSN) and obturator foramen (OF), in a diverse set of 329 ossa coxae. The resultant shape variables support the qualitative descriptions of sex differences. Discriminant function analyses on GSN variables reveal correct classifications over 80% for all sample subsets and 86.8% on the pooled sample; although significant population differences were noted with possible secular changes. Females display more notch variation than males, and age was not a significant factor. OF results were more variable and classification rates were not consistently high enough for use in forensic practice. Furthermore, GSN and OF shape are not significantly correlated.
The Politics, Pressures, and Personalities of Publishing in Political Behavior Journals -- Presenters: Ismail K. White, Ohio State University; Michael Mitchell, Arizona State University; David C. Wilson, University of Delaware

This panel is proposed jointly between the Public Opinion and Political Participation, and Teaching, Scholarly Research, and Professional Development Sections. The panel will facilitate a discussion of the best practices, experiences, emotions, and processes need to effectively publish in the journals on political behavior. Panelists will reveal their secrets for getting work published in peer-reviewed journals focusing on political behavior (e.g., public opinion, voting behavior, political psychology, and political communication), and offer recommendations for dealing with editors, anonymous reviewers, and manuscript guidelines. The panel will feature Ismail White (Ohio State - Political Science), David Wilson (Delaware - Political Science), Robert Smith (San Francisco State University), and Michael Mitchell (Arizona State University).