cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Surgical Quality Datasets to Care for Older Adults: Lessons from the American College of Surgeons NSQIP Geriatric Surgery Pilot

Background Surgical quality datasets can be better tailored toward older adults. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) NSQIP Geriatric Surgery Pilot collected risk factors and outcomes in 4 geriatric-specific domains: cognition, decision-making, function, and mobility. This study evaluated the contributions of geriatric-specific factors to risk adjustment in modeling 30-day outcomes and geriatric-specific outcomes (postoperative delirium, new mobility aid use, functional decline, and pressure ulcers). Study Design Using ACS NSQIP Geriatric Surgery Pilot data (January 2014 to December 2016), 7 geriatric-specific risk factors were evaluated for selection in 14 logistic models (morbidities/mortality) in general-vascular and orthopaedic surgery subgroups. Hierarchical models evaluated 4 geriatric-specific outcomes, adjusting for hospitals-level effects and including Bayesian-type shrinkage, to estimate hospital performance. Results There were 36,399 older adults who underwent operations at 31 hospitals in the ACS NSQIP Geriatric Surgery Pilot. Geriatric-specific risk factors were selected in 10 of 14 models in both general-vascular and orthopaedic surgery subgroups. After risk adjustment, surrogate consent (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8) and use of a mobility aid (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4) increased the risk for serious morbidity or mortality in the general-vascular cohort. Geriatric-specific factors were selected in all 4 geriatric-specific outcomes models. Rates of geriatric-specific outcomes were: postoperative delirium in 12.1% (n = 3,650), functional decline in 42.9% (n = 13,000), new mobility aid in 29.7% (n = 9,257), and new or worsened pressure ulcers in 1.7% (n = 527). Conclusions Geriatric-specific risk factors are important for patient-centered care and contribute to risk adjustment in modeling traditional and geriatric-specific outcomes. To provide optimal patient care for older adults, surgical datasets should collect measures that address cognition, decision-making, mobility, and function.
Drug benefit generosity and essential medication use among Medicare-eligible retirees.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between generosity of drug coverage and essential cardiovascular medication use among retired seniors. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of the 1997 to 2000 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, a nationally representative survey of the Medicare population. METHODS The study examined community-dwelling fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older with retiree health insurance and with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia (n = 1220) or congestive heart failure (n = 1147). Generosity of drug coverage was defined as the percentage of the beneficiary's annual drug expenditures paid by the employer. Dependent variables were any statin use for the group with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia and any angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use in the group with congestive heart failure. Logistic regression analyses estimated the adjusted odds of essential medication use by generosity category in each disease group. We estimated the extent to which medication use would change if generosity levels moved to those under standard Medicare Part D levels. RESULTS The overall prevalence of statin use was 64.1%, and that of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use was 50.0%. In both disease groups, retirees in the less generous drug coverage categories had significantly lower adjusted odds of use than retirees with the most generous drug benefits (ie, covering > or = 76% of annual drug expenditures). Overall, the shift to a standard Medicare Part D structure would result in mean declines of 8.4% in statin use and 5.2% in angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use. Retirees with the most generous drug coverage face twice the mean decline in drug use. CONCLUSION Retirees who already have generous drug benefits from their employers may be placed at risk for decreased utilization of effective medications due to any future scaling back of retiree drug coverage.
Serum glutamine and hospital-acquired infections after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective To understand nutritional and inflammatory factors contributing to serum glutamine levels and their relationship to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods A prospective observational study of patients with SAH who had measurements of daily caloric intake and C-reactive protein, transthyretin, tumor necrosis factor α receptor 1a (TNFαR1a), glutamine, and nitrogen balance performed within 4 preset time periods during the 14 days after SAH. Factors associated with glutamine levels and HAIs were analyzed with multivariable regression. HAIs were tracked daily for time-to-event analyses. Outcome 3 months after SAH was assessed by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and modified Rankin Scale. Results There were 77 patients with an average age of 55 ± 15 years. HAIs developed in 18 (23%) on mean SAH day 8 ± 3. In a multivariable linear regression model, negative nitrogen balance ( p = 0.02) and elevated TNFαR1a ( p = 0.04) were independently associated with higher glutamine levels during the study period. The 14-day mean glutamine levels were lower in patients who developed HAI (166 ± 110 vs 236 ± 81 μg/mL, p = 0.004). Poor admission Hunt and Hess grade ( p = 0.04) and lower glutamine levels ( p = 0.02) predicted time to first HAI. Low 14-day mean levels of glutamine were associated with a poor recovery on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status score ( p = 0.03) and modified Rankin Scale score ( p = 0.04) at 3 months after injury. Conclusions Declining glutamine levels in the first 14 days after SAH are influenced by inflammation and associated with an increased risk of HAI.
Regulation of the Cell Cycle by Peroxisome Proliferator — Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ)

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a subfamily of the nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) family of transcription factors, which include PPARα, s (also referred to as δ, NUC-1 and FAAR) and γ. They derived their name from the original isoform PPAR alpha, which was discovered based on its ability to induce peroxisome proliferation following exposure of the rodent liver to xenobiotic compounds. As is the case with most NHRs, PPARs require association with a ligand to facilitate transcriptional activity. PPAR ligands include a large group of naturally occuring fatty acids or their derivatives as well as many synthetic compounds such as the thiazolidinedione family of insulin sensitizers, which are specific ligands for PPARγ. Studies during the last ten years have identified the PPARs as regulators of lipid homeostasis and have demonstrated that they regulate the transcription of genes involved in various aspects of lipid metabolism in different tissues. This review will focus on the role of PPARγ in regulating the switch from growth to differentiation and its possible role as a tumor/growth suppressor. PPARγ is expressed in many different cell types in which it is considered to regulate a diverse set of biological processes such as growth, differentiation and insulin sensitivity. In fact, PPARγ is the focus of a rapidly expanding research effort because it has been shown to be a target for the discovery of drugs aimed at combating type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Radial Velocity Study of NGC 6712

We report MMT Echelle radial velocity observations of 52 giants within 3 core radii of the center of NGC 6712. The mean radial velocity of these stars is -107.5 km/s, with a line of sight velocity dispersion of 4.0 km/s. We use these data, together with CCD photometry of the cluster, to derive a mass to light ratio for the center of the cluster of 0.7, an unusually low value.
Achievement Gaps Among Racial-Ethnic Groups in the United States

As schools in the United States become more and more output driven within the context of current federal and state educational policies, students, educators, administrators, and policymakers are being held accountable for improving the academic achievement of all students. In particular, as our society continues to become increasingly diverse, there is now a national focus on the achievement gaps between students of different social backgrounds (socioeconomic, racial-ethnic, language and disabilities). In fact, with the recent passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), federal education policy now mandates that states, districts, and schools monitor achievement gaps among different student groups.
Singular Perturbation Trajectory Following Algorithms for Min-Max Differential Games

This chapter examines trajectory following algorithms for differential games subject to simple bounds on player strategy variables. These algorithms are trajectory following in the sense that closed-loop player strategies are generated directly by the solutions to ordinary differential equations. Player strategy differential equations are based upon Lyapunov optimizing control techniques and represent a balance between the current penetration rate for an appropriate descent function and the current cost accumulation rate. This numerical strategy eliminates the need to solve 1) a min-max optimization problem at each point along the state trajectory and 2) nonlinear two-point boundary-value problems. Furthermore, we address “stiff” systems of differential equations that arise during the design process and seriously degrade algorithmic performance. We use standard singular perturbation methodology to produce a numerically tractable algorithm. This results in the Efficient Cost Descent (ECD) algorithm which possesses desirable characteristics unique to the trajectory following method. Equally important as a specification of a new trajectory following algorithm is the observation and resolution of several issues regarding the design and implementation of a trajectory following algorithm in a differential game setting.
Studies on the Cuticle of Tomato Fruit

Summary The cuticle of immature and mature tomato fruit is covered by a very thin layer of epicuticular wax. The total cuticular domain, which is 4-10 μm thick, is composed of 2 main regions: (1) A cutinized layer just above the secondary wall of the epidermal cell consists of several strata of deeply staining, globular materials surrounded by non-staining interstices in which dark, tangential, very thin striae are deployed; and (2) a cuticle outside this layer. The cuticle is at first electron lucent mostly but does also have elongated groups of parallel dark striae, 7 nm thick, which are principally tangential. During ripening the cuticle and the cutinized layer achieve similarity in structure, both having irregularly-sized, electron-opaque tangential lamellae, with occasional radial striae. Within the epidermal cell, cutin cystoliths grow down into the secondary wall in the form of vertical hanging prongs or pegs. When they span the cell lumen completely, from outer wall to inner wall, the cystoliths become essentially trabeculae. KMnO4, with or without prior fixation with Gilson stain, is taken up strongly by certain lipoidal components of the cuticle.
A Stock Market Model

The flow-constrained strategy applied to intra- and intersectoral behavior can be applied to individual markets. The source-constraints limit financial asset purchases (in the case of a financial market) and “use” constraints explain funds raised in a given market in terms of the planned allocation of these funds. In effect, a market is being analyzed from the “outside” rather than the “inside”. In the case of the stock market, the purchase of equities is initially explained by sources of funds in outside markets and the issuance of securities by the corporate business sector is related to the allocation of proceeds to other markets. Subsequently, the secondmarket flows are explored in their own equations.
The Law of Access to Government

This is the first and only casebook geared entirely to the study of access to government, or freedom of information law, in the United States. Unlike other treatments that focus exclusively on the federal FOIA or on statutory FOI, this book takes a broader approach, recognizing that professionals in law and mass communication must be familiar with multistate sunshine norms in records and meetings, including regulatory, statutory, common law, and constitutional access at both state and federal levels and in all three branches of government. The book is designed principally to employ the law-school case method, but is suitable as well for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in journalism and mass communication. Cases are selected to stimulate student interest, treating, for example, access to sexual-offense allegations against pro athletes, to a madam’s black book, and to hunters’ identities, in addition to doctrinal essentials, such as Press-Enterprise, Warner Communications, RCFP, Armstrong, and Favish. Extensive notes follow primary-source materials, raising legal, political, and policy questions, and providing ample fodder for class discussion. Graphic elements enhance the flow of the text. The book is updated with developments in the decade-plus war on terror, including materials such as Hustler’s bid to embed, access to fallen heroes at Dover, and the Holder policy on state secrets. Coverage is organized in three parts — the judiciary, the executive, and access issues, plus a statutory appendix — and in 10 chapters: criminal courts, juries, judicial records, FOIAs, police and prisons, war and security, open records, open meetings, electronic media, and scope of laws. Forthcoming TM will provide course guidance, content summaries, and references to audiovisual materials. Front Matter Available for Download on SSRN.
Abstract 1444: RhoC regulation of inflammatory breast cancer metabolism

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an extremely aggressive and lethal type of cancer due to its ability to rapidly metastasize. Our previous reports have shown that the metabolic characteristics of IBC are altered from those of normal breast epithelial cells. Specifically, the levels of the metabolite N-acetylaspartate (NAA) are very high in the IBC-derived triple negative cell line SUM149 relative to the triple negative cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Recent studies have also correlated high levels of tumoral NAA with significantly lower survival rates in ovarian cancer. N-acetylaspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant metabolite in the brain, only exceeded by glutamate. NAA is synthesized from aspartate and acetyl-CoA by the enzyme Asp-NAT, which is encoded for by the gene NAT8L. The catabolism of NAA to aspartate and acetate is carried out by the enzyme aspartoacyclase (ASPA). In the central nervous system (CNS), altered levels of NAA have been historically used as a marker for neurodegenerative diseases such as Canavan disease, a fatal genetic disorder caused by a deleterious mutation in the ASPA gene. However, the fundamental role of NAA, especially in the context of cancer remains elusive. We seek to understand and describe the role of NAA in the adapted metabolic pathways of inflammatory breast cancer that enable proliferation and metastasis of the disease. Our previous work revealed that the pro-metastatic small GTPase RhoC acts as a regulator of NAA metabolism in SUM149 cells. Knockdown of RhoC using shRNA significantly decreases NAT8L expression. RhoC and RhoA knockout cell lines have been generated using CRIPSR-Cas9 in both SUM149 and MDA-MB-231 cells to further distinguish the relationship between NAA and RhoC in these different cell lines. We have conducted metabolic studies to determine the relative abundance of common metabolites, including NAA, throughout glycolysis, the pentose-phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. We have performed similar metabolomics using xenograft mice implanted with these CRISPR knockout cell lines to determine in vivo recapitulation of the NAA phenotypes. Our work ultimately hopes to identify promising therapeutic pathways of NAA as well as further characterize NAA9s role as a potential oncometabolite. Citation Format: Laura E. Goo, Joel A. Yates, Liwei Bao, Zhifen Wu, Sofia D. Merajver. RhoC regulation of inflammatory breast cancer metabolism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1444.
The Effects of Medicare Advantage Contract Concentration on Patients' Nursing Home Outcomes.

Objective The Medicare Modernization Act of 2004 allowed Medicare Advantage (MA) contracts to form provider networks in order to concentrate their patients among preferred providers. We focus on the skilled nursing facility (SNF) industry to assess patients' health when treating SNFs concentrate more patients from the same MA contract. Data sources/study setting We use Medicare Beneficiary Summary File and Health, HEDIS, and the Minimum Data Set for patient attributes and OSCAR, LTCfocus.org, and Nursing Home Compare for SNF attributes. We include 1,069,436 MA enrollees newly admitted to SNF between 2012 and 2014. Study design Using a MA contract fixed-effect model, we examine the effect of prevalence of a patient's MA contract in the treating SNF on patient's health outcomes including 180-day survival, 30-day hospital readmission, 30-day home discharge, and nursing home length of stay. We use an Instrumental Variable (IV), the expected share of admissions in a SNF from patient's MA contract calculated using a McFadden choice model. Principal findings We find no relationship between SNF contract concentration and patients' outcomes after applying the IV. Conclusions While MA plans appear to steer patients to specific SNFs, we do not observe significant returns to patient outcomes related to concentration.
Refining the interpretation of oxygen isotope variability in free-swimming organisms

Serially sampled oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) from fossil and modern cephalopods may provide new insight into the behavior and longevity of individuals. Interpretation of these data is generally more difficult than similar data from bivalves or brachiopods because the measured δ18O from shell combines both seasonal change and depth change over the life of an individual. In this paper, a simple null model is presented combining the three fundamental controls on a measured δ18O profile in a free-swimming organism: swimming behavior, seasonal water column change, and time averaging in sampling. Model results indicate that seasonal variability in δ18O in a free-swimming organism can be interpreted in locations with strong seasonality through most of the swimming range but is complicated by swimming velocity and is sometimes best expressed by changes in δ18O variance rather than simple sinusoidal patterns. In other locations with a stable thermocline or seasonal ranges in only a small portion of the water column, no variability caused by seasonality would be expected. Furthermore, large ranges of δ18O (~ 4‰) are possible within and between individuals in settings with persistent thermoclines like the tropics, depending on the swimming depth limits and behavior of individuals. These results suggest that future interpretation of serially sampled δ18O should consider seasonal water column variation from either modern or modeling sources in addition to comparison to co-occurring benthic and planktonic organisms. Additionally, this modeling casts doubt on the promise of isotope sclerochronology alone as a growth chronometer in ammonites and other free-swimming fossil organisms and highlights the need for other methods of quantitatively determining age.
[Determination of mercury in seven sorts of disinfectant by water-bathmicrowave digestion-atomic fluorescence spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE A method was established to determine mercury in seven sorts of disinfectant by water-bath-microwave digestion-atomic fluorescence spectrometry. METHODS The samples of disinfectant were preliminary digestion by water-bath at 90℃and then dissolved by microwave according to the temperature programmed. The mercury ions in the digested solution reacted with reductant to generate the mercury vapour which were measured the fluorescence intensity by the atomic fluorescence spectrometer. RESULTS The linear range was from 0- 15 μg / L and the correlation coefficient was 0. 9995. The detection limit of this method was 0. 17 μg / kg. The precision of the method was less than4. 2% and the spiked recoveries of high, medium and low concentrations were between87%- 105%. CONCLUSION This method possesses several advantages including less interference, high accuracy, good reproducibility and high sensitivity. It is suitable for the current determination of mercury in the seven sorts of disinfectant.
Precise and Concise Graphical Representation of the Natural Numbers

A graphical number representation system based on the formal logic foundation of a recursively defined function is presented. The function exposes a one-to-one correspondence between the natural numbers and the set of rooted trees. Secondly, a relation between pairs of natural numbers is shown to partition the integers into disjoint finite sets each visualized as a tree in the forest of all finite trees. This relation encapsulates in visual form the natural structure and distribution of primes in a manner not previously investigated. These representations allow arithmeticians to visually experience natural numbers in a 2D graphical layout. This form is free of cultural choices such as the number of symbols in an alphabet and/or one-dimensional symbol strings. The fundamental nature of these mappings is argued to be accessible to a creative mind independent of formal schooling. This short note includes examples illustrating the simplicity of the constructions.
Impact of nicotine/smoking, alcohol, and illicit substance use on outcomes and complications of burn patients requiring hospital admission: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Burn patients admitted to the hospital with concurrent intoxication are believed to be at an increased risk of poor outcomes and the development of complications, however data varies within the literature and remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared outcomes and complications between nicotine/smoking, alcohol, and/or substance use in 26,512 burn patients admitted to the hospital to 299,543 burn patients admitted without these characteristics. The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically and independently searched. PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines were strictly followed. Clinical characteristics, nicotine/smoking use, alcohol use, substance use, outcomes and complications were recorded. Seventeen of the 27 studies included in the study, were eligible for meta-analysis, with results from 39 of the possible 84 outcomes and complications. In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis found that compared to non-nicotine/smoking, non-alcohol, non-substance use burn patients, patients using nicotine/smoking, alcohol, and/or substances were associated with more burn related operations, higher rates of graft loss/failure, longer hospital LOS (length of stay), higher rates of intubation, longer ICU (intensive care unit) LOS, increased mortality, and increased wound/local skin infections. Patients using nicotine/smoking were associated with higher rates of intubation and wound/local skin infections. Patients consuming alcohol were associated with more days on a ventilator, had higher rates of intubation, higher rates of inhalation injury, longer ICU LOS, and increased mortality. Patients taking substances were associated with higher %TBSA (percent total body surface area) of burns, longer hospital LOS, higher rates of intubation, higher rates of inhalation injury, longer ICU LOS, and increased wound/local skin infections.
Firearm violence in the USA: A frank discussion on an American public health crisis-The Kansas City Firearm Violence Symposium

Kansas City is a microcosm for USA. Although Kansas City shows a relatively diverse population, it is one that is segregated along the lines of race and income. This is an inequity that is common to all cities across the country. With this inequity comes unequal opportunity to survive and to thrive. Firearm violence is a core component of this societal inequity. In this article, we present the proceedings of the 2019 Kansas City Firearm Violence Symposium, where distinguished experts in trauma convened to share their experience, evidence and voices of gun violence—directly and indirectly. There were discussions on topics such as the human toll of gun violence, the role of structural violence in its perpetuation, the intersectional nature of race with both violence and medical care, and guidance on measures that could be taken to advocate for the reduction and elimination of gun violence. This was a symposium that started a country-wide conversation between academia, healthcare, survivors and the community on the most pressing public health crisis facing USA today.
Transient Performance Improvement in Reduced-Order Model Reference Adaptive Control Systems

Abstract The objective of model reference adaptive control systems is to drive the trajectories of an uncertain dynamical system to the trajectories of a given reference model capturing a desired closed-loop system performance. To this end, most adaptive control signals take the form ua(t) = −ŴT(t)σ(x(t)), where x(t) ∈ ℝn denotes the state vector of an uncertain dynamical system, σ:ℝn → ℝs denotes a known basis function, and Ŵ(t) ∈ ℝs×m denotes an estimation of the unknown weight matrix W ∈ ℝs×m satisfying sm update laws (here m denotes the number of control inputs). In this paper, we focus on a class of reduced-order, computationally less expensive, model reference adaptive control systems that are only predicated on a scalar update law. Specifically, our contribution is to utilize a command governor architecture in order to improve transient performance of this class of adaptive control systems. We prove the stability of the overall closed-loop system using Lyapunov stability theory and we also present an illustrative numerical example for demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed architecture.
The Relationship Between Follow-up Appointments and Access to Primary Care

Health care operations managers need to balance scheduling frequent follow-ups for patients with chronic conditions and fitting in patients requiring care for new complaints. We quantify how frequency of follow-up visits corresponds with access to care for patients receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We use patient data collected between October 2013 and June 2016 by the Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP). Our sample is comprised of 94,496 patients. We estimate logistic models with 1-month lagged facility-level predictors. We calculate monthly measures characterizing facility-level service provision, including the average time between successive primary care visits, the average primary care visit length, the percentage of primary care appointments that are overbooked, the percent of visits that are unscheduled (i.e., walk-ins), and the ratio of patients to providers. We control for economic factors that are associated with health care supply and demand, including median household income, veteran priority status, the Zillow Housing Price Index, and veteran unemployment rates. We also control for patient demographics. We restrict the data to patients with at least one in-person primary care visit who have provided information on their ability to access urgent and routine care. We find that shorter average follow-up times are associated with better access for patients needing urgent or routine care. A 1-month increase in the average time between successive primary care visits is associated with 10% (p < 0.001) lower odds of reporting being able to access urgent care within 1 day and 13% (p < 0.001) lower odds of reporting usually or always being able to access routine care when needed. Facilities with higher average follow-up times are more likely to have patients report that they are unable to quickly access urgent or routine primary care.
Counterpropagating Pair of Superluminal Raman Lasers without Cross-Talks for Ultrasensitive Rotation Sensing

We have demonstrated a pair of counter-propagating superluminal Raman lasers without cross-talk, employing two different gain cells, each containing two isotopes of Rb, as a key step in realizing an ultrasensitive rotation sensor.
Outcomes of HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated With Transoral Robotic Surgery

ObjectiveThe incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing secondary to human papillomavirus (HPV)–related disease. Despite this, outcomes of patients with HPV-negative O...
Learning to Interpret Pediatric Vocal Fold Mobility: A Laryngeal Ultrasound Training Module.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Vocal fold movement impairment (VFMI) in infants and children is most commonly evaluated by flexible nasolaryngoscopy (FNL). FNL in this population can be challenging due to movement, floppy supraglottic structures, or secretions. Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) may be an alternative, less invasive means of evaluating VFMI that also decreases aerosolization during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective was to examine LUS interpretation proficiency for VFMI via an educational module. A secondary outcome was to determine whether quantitative measurements increase interpretation accuracy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort trial. METHODS: Medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff were recruited to complete the module, composed of a 13-minute teaching video followed by 20 cases. Participants determined both qualitatively (subjective assessment) and then quantitatively (through protractor measurements of the vocal fold to arytenoid angle) whether there was normal versus impaired vocal fold mobility. RESULTS: Thirty participants completed the LUS training module, and about one-third were otolaryngology residents. On average, each participant correctly identified 18 cases. The mean rank percent correct for quantitative measurements was significantly higher than that of qualitative interpretations (P < .0001). Measurements significantly caused participants to change their answer correctly compared to incorrectly (P < .0001). As the module progressed, there was no significant trend of more correct interpretations (P = .30). The sensitivity was higher for quantitative interpretations (89.0% vs. 87.3%) but specificity remained unchanged (92.6%). CONCLUSION: Quantitative measurements may increase LUS interpretation accuracy. There was not a specific number of cases interpreted to achieve learning proficiency. LUS is an easily learned method to evaluate for VFMI across all training levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 (local cohort study nonrandomized) Laryngoscope, 2021.
Nonprofit Capacity to Manage Hurricane-Pandemic Threat: Local and National Perspectives on Resilience during COVID-19

This paper examines nonprofits’ capacity for responding to simultaneous hurricane-pandemic threat, addressing: (1) strategies nonprofits use to deliver services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2...
Amnioinfusion in severe oligohydramnios with intact membrane: an observational study.

The objective of this article was to evaluate the outcome of transabdominal amnioinfusion in pregnant patients with oligohydramnios.This is a prospective observational study involving 80 cases of o...
Effective Permeability of a Staggered Array of Solid Slats Embedded in a Porous Medium

The effective permeability of a composite composed of staggered slats embedded in a porous medium is determined. By concentrating on the intermediate (slat) scale, fluid permeation is analyzed by the exact fluid transport equations. Detailed pressure and velocity distributions are found by a semi-numerical eigenfunction expansion and point match method. It is found that both the geometry of the slats and the embedding porous medium contribute to the effective permeability, which is anisotropic in the three principal directions.
Analysis on children timely vaccination coverage and influencing factors of 5 kinds of expanded program for immunization (EPI) vaccine in Dinghai District of Zhoushan Municipal

OBJECTIVE: To understand the timely coverage of 5 kinds of EPI vaccine in Dinghai District including hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) bacillus calmette guerin vaccine (BCG) oral poliomyelitis attenuated live vaccine (OPV) diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus combined vaccine (DPT) measles attenuated live vaccine (MV) and to analyze the influence factors so as to formulate measures to improve the coverage. METHODS: Analyzing the immunization data and related information of 4258 resident children and 394 floating population born during 2005-2007. RESULTS: Timely coverage rate of BCG HepB OPV DPT MV were 22.26% 95.020 90.82% 91.40% 95.40% respectively and 48.73% 74.37% 76.40% 80.46% 84.52% for floating population. Except for the timely BCG coverage rate was low for resident and floating populations the timely vaccination rates for other 4 kinds of NIP vaccines in the resident were significantly higher than those in the floating population. The logistic regression analysis showed that inappropriate timing of vaccination long time waiting for inoculation lacking of time for the families long distance from the vaccination sites were four factors that affected the timely immunization of NIP vaccines. CONCLUSION: Implementing the strategy of midwife being responsible for BCG and HepB vaccination can improve the timely coverage of the first dose HepB and BCG: Shorten running inteval of vaccination and available service from the supplier improve immunization awareness and initiative of the recipients (especially for the floating childrens parent/guardian) will be useful to increase the timely NIP vaccine coverage rates.
PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and Protein Kinase A protects against mitochondrial dysfunction and dendritic loss in a toxin model of PD (LB500)

Decreased mitochondrial and cytosolic signaling governed by serine/threonine (ser/thr) kinases, such as PINK1 and PKA, underlie the etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as evidenced in PINK1 defici...
LOGISTICS INTERNSHIPS : EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVES

There appears to be an increasing acceptance of the relevance and importance of logistics internship programs for companies that employ logistics interns, the students who seek these opportunities, and the academic institutions that strive to facilitate the success of these programs. In this article, we provide the results of one of the first empirical studies of logistics internships. The results from a survey of U.S. companies that have recently employed or demonstrated a desire to employ logistics interns are presented. The article provides a demographic profile of these companies, their perspectives on select internship issues, and analysis of possible relationships between the perspectives and select demographic attributes. It is hoped that the results of this research will aid various logistics constituencies in focusing their efforts to improve these valuable experiences as well as identify needs for additional investigation.
In vivo effects of human dialyzable leukocyte lysates. II. Augmentation of the spleen cell proliferative response to antigen in KLH-sensitive mice.

Abstract The in vivo effects of human dialyzable leukocyte lysate (DLL) upon the subsequent in vitro proliferative response of lymphocytes to antigen was investigated. Twenty-four-hour DLL treatment of KLH-sensitive mice resulted in the augmentation of antigen-stimulated proliferation of 5-day spleen cell cultures. Ampliative effects of DLL treatment were dependent upon the time after antigen priming and the conditions of sensitization. Moderate augmentation was detected 1–4 weeks following suboptimal sensitization. Marked enhancement of the response to antigen was observed in optimally sensitized mice only after the initial proliferation had subsided. DLL augmentation was detected more readily in mice primed with optimal concentration of antigen than in mice sensitized with lower concentrations of KLH.
Optimal bitwise register allocation using integer linear programming

This paper addresses the problem of optimal global register allocation. The register allocation problem is expressed as an integer linear programming problem and solved optimally. The model is more flexible than previous graph-coloring based methods and thus allows for register allocations with significantly fewer moves and spills. The formulation can also model complex architectural features, such as bit-wise access to registers. With bit-wise access to registers, multiple subword temporaries can be stored in a single register and accessed efficiently, resulting in a register allocation problem that cannot be addressed effectively with simple graph coloring. The paper describes techniques that can help reduce the problem size of the ILP formulation, making the algorithm feasible in practice. Preliminary empirical results from an implementation prototype are reported.
Granularity in Reference to Spatio-Temporal Location and Relations

This paper discusses the role of granularity in judgments about spatio-temporal location and relations. It distinguishes three aspects of spatio-temporal granularity: the granularity with which location is approximated, the granularity which arises as a function of the degree to which we recognize or trace over changes of location, andgranularity as it affects our apprehension of spatio-temporal relations. The paper shows that there is a hierarchical structure of spatio-temporal granularity that is closely related the hierarchical structure of of places in our environment and to the hierarchical structure of temporal orders such as embodied in calendars and agendas.
TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE PSEUDOMONADS

Colwell, R. R. (University of Washington, Seattle), and J. Liston. Taxonomic relationships among the pseudomonads. J. Bacteriol. 82:1-14. 1961.-An electronic computer technique, utilizing the Adansonian principle that every feature should have equal weight, was applied in an effort to derive a taxonomy of the Pseudomonas-Achromobacter group of gram-negative, asporogenous, rodlike bacteria. The validity of the general method was tested by an analysis of 40 well defined strains, principally derived from type culture collections and representative of different genera and families of the Pseudomonadales and the Eubacteriales. The analysis clearly separated groups which are recognized to be taxonomically distinct. Aerogenic Aeromonas were most similar to the Enterobacteriaceae and taxonomically distinct from the anaerogenic Aeromonas formicans which was more similar to the Pseudomonas group. Oxidative Vibrio species grouped with Pseudomonas and probably should be renamed Pseudomonas. Fermentative Vibrio species showed affinities with A. formicans.Fifty-four Pseudomonas strains out of 58 tested in an analysis of 80 bacterial cultures, clustered into four large groups: group 1, a marine group within which appeared a psychrophilic, nonproteolytic species subgroup related to Vibrio beijerinckii and a subgeneric subgroup which included Pseudomonas elongata; group 2, a subgeneric mesophilic group including Vibrio percolans and associated with Pseudomonas fragi; group 3, a fluorescent pigment-producing group, including three subgroups, a psychrophilic aeruginosa-like species group, a mesophilic Pseudomonas aeruginosa species group, and a heterogeneous subgeneric group containing Vibrio cuneatus and related to Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas pavonacea; group 4, a subgeneric nonpigment-producing, mesophilic group, which included Vibrio tyrogenus, Pseudomonas ovalis, and Pseudomonas denitrificans.
Interactions Between the Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis and Immune System During Viral Infection: Pathways for Environmental Effects on Disease Expression

The sections in this article are: 1 Immune Responses to Viral Infection 1.1 Early Innate Immunity 1.2 Late Adaptive Immunity 2 Pathology During Viral Infection 2.1 Cell-Mediated Pathology 2.2 Cytokine-Mediated Pathology 3 Cytokine Pathways for Glucocorticoid Induction During Viral Infection [“Starting the Loop”] 3.1 Glucocorticoid Induction during Viral Infection 3.2 Cytokines and Glucocorticoid Induction during Viral Infection 4 Central Nervous System/Neuroendocrine Pathways for Glucocorticoid Induction During Viral Infection (“Making the Connection”) 4.1 Pathways by which Peripheral Cytokine Signals Reach the Brain 4.2 Cytokine Network in the Central Nervous System 4.3 Cytokines and Behavior 5 Viral Infection, Glucocorticoid Availability, and Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression and Function (“Delivering and Receiving The Signal”) 5.1 Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin and 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 5.2 Glucocorticoid Receptor Changes during Viral Infection 5.3 Cytokines as Potential Mediators of Glucocorticoid Receptor Changes during Viral Infection 6 Endogenous Glucocorticoids and Host Responses to Viral Infection (“Shaping The Response, Protection, and Closing the Loop”) 6.1 Impact of Stress on Immune Responses to Viral Infection 6.2 Glucocorticoids as the Mediator of Stress Effects on Viral Immunity 7 Summary
Normal cardiac dimensions by magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract In summary, MRI measurements of end-diastolic dimensions at the midventricle in normal adults correspond well to end-diastolic dimensions by 2-D echo. These MRI measurements in normal subjects are reproducible and provide a basis for MRI diagnosis of pathologic cardiac conditions. However, careful selection of MRI slices to obtain maximal end-diastolic dimensions is mandatory, as is consistent orientation of ventricular diameter measurements.
The identification of human carcinogens and primary prevention of cancer.

Abstract Primary prevention is based on the incontrovertible logic that a most efficient way to decrease the risk for a disease is to avoid, or reduce to minimal attainable levels, exposures to agents that can cause the disease or contribute to an increase in risk for the disease. This notwithstanding, the adoption of primary prevention measures has often encountered serious obstacles and unjustifiable delays. The success of primary prevention has also been limited by the combined effect of: (a) the inefficient and/or incomplete use of the cumulated etiological knowledge; (b) the spectrum of target organs for human carcinogens which does not include some of the most common cancer sites, a limitation that may be related to a disregard of epidemiological results and case reports that provide evidence that is less than sufficient of a causal relationship between an exposure and human cancer; (c) the pressure that powerful economic interests may have exerted in a variegated way to interfere or delay implementation of preventive measures that could have decreased their profit, and (d) the decreased acceptance of the ability of experimental results to predict similar effects in humans, in spite of the evidence that positive carcinogenicity results in experimental animals have often preceded and could indeed have predicted similar results in humans.
Thermal sensation of the body as influenced by the thermal microclimate in a face mask

Subjective and physiological responses were obtained from six subjects wearing a face mask while exercising (220 W m −2) for 15 min on a bicycle ergometer. Different combinations of ambient air temperatures (7, 16 and 25°C) and mask air temperatures (22,27 and 33°C) were studied with two different air humidities inside the mask (61 and 86% relative humidity (RH)). Control experiments were performed without the mask at the same ambient temperatures. Skin temperatures, heart rates and skin wettedness were monitored during exercise. The subjects’ thermal sensations, sensations of sweating and skin wettedness and their thermal preferences were assessed at the end of the exercise period. Whole body thermal sensation was primarily determined by the ambient air temperature, but was also significantly influenced by the mask air temperature. This could only partly be explained by the change in respiratory heat loss. Other possible avenues of influence are discussed.
Evaluation of survey radiography, linear tomography and computed tomography for detecting experimental lesions of the cribriform plate in dogs.

Survey radiography, linear tomography, and computed tomography were used to image cribriform plate lesions that were created experimentally using intramedullary pins in 18 dog cadaver skulls. Computed and linear tomographic images were taken along the dorsal imaging plane. Studies were independently reviewed by five observers. Results were combined so that the relative sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each imaging technique could be compared using chi-square analysis. Computed tomography proved to be significantly more sensitive and accurate (p<0.05) than either linear tomography or survey radiography. Computed tomographic images were consistently of good to excellent quality for imaging the cribriform plate. It was concluded that computed tomography of the skull using a dorsal imaging plane was the best available imaging modality for detecting 3-mm and 5-mm experimentally created cribriform plate defects.
Histamine Activates the Chloride Current in Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes

Histamine Activation of ICl. Exposure of enzymatically dispersed guinea pig ventricular myocytes to histamine evoked a time-independent background current that was measured using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. This current was observed when Na+ currents were inactivated by membrane potential, and Ca2+ and K+ currents were blocked by channel antagonists and impermeant ions. Alterations of the CI− gradient caused a shift of the reversal potential of the histamine-induced current expected for a CI− current. The histamine-induced CI− current was attenuated by concurrent exposure of cells to acetylcholine, the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine, and adenosine. In current-clamp experiments, histamine-induced changes in the action potential and resting membrane potential were dependent upon the CI− gradient across the membrane. The characteristics of the histamine-induced CI− current resemble those of the CI− current, ICl elicited by isoproterenol, forskolin, adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), and cAMP-dependent protein kinase in this preparation. It is concluded that histamine activates a similar CI− conductance in guinea pig ventricular myocytes through a cAMP-dependent pathway. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol 1, pp. 309–317, 1990)
Altered Bone Biology in Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is characterized by focal bone erosions mediated by osteoclasts at the bone–pannus junction. The bulk of research over the past decade has centered on mechanisms that underlie osteoclastogenesis along with new insights into osteoimmunology; however, recent advances that focus on steps that lead to new bone formation are beginning to emerge. New revelations about bone formation may have direct relevance to PsA given the presence of enthesophytes, syndesmophytes, and bony ankylosis frequently observed in patients with this disorder. In this review, we discuss current developments in the pathogenesis of new bone formation, novel imaging approaches to study bone remodeling and highlight innovative approaches to study the effect of inflammation on bone. Lastly, we discuss promising therapies that target joint inflammation and osteitis with the potential to mediate pathologic bone formation.