cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bundling Acute and Postacute Payment: From a Culture of Compliance to a Culture of Innovation and Best Practice

Buried deep in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590; Pub L No. 111-148)1 are proposals to bundle acute and postacute payment into one payment for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries within the 30 days postdischarge from the acute care hospital. The concept of bundling payment appears to have gained sufficient traction that it will endure as a topic of debate.2,3 Bundling, or episode payment, has not been a part of the public debate about health care reform. Politicians rarely, if ever, mention it—in part because they know that the public is not easily engaged in technical issues of acute and postacute payment that are largely invisible to them. Yet, bundling acute and postacute payment represents one of the most far-reaching proposals for Medicare reform since 1983, when Congress authorized the use of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) as the basis for classifying Medicare beneficiaries under a prospective payment system (PPS) for acute hospital care. Bundling promises to reshape the way we manage a patient’s care over a given episode of care. It offers enormous opportunities to enhance patient care while reducing costs, but it also poses significant design challenges that, if not handled correctly, can have unintended effects and undermine patient well-being. I will examine these opportunities and challenges primarily, but not solely, from the perspective of postacute care, a major practice area for physical therapists. Most of the observations made here generalize to both the acute and postacute portions of an episode of care. In fact, with bundling, some of the distinctions between acute care and postacute care may begin to lose some of their meaning. Bundling acute and postacute payment is not a new concept.4 The concept surfaced in the mid 1980s in the aftermath of the new DRG-based PPS for hospital …
Co-culture of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with human fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) induces Pax8 and CK7 expression: Initial steps in modeling fallopian tube epithelium to study serous carcinogenesis

strategies under investigation for several cancers. Although antigenic targets for the immune system exist in the form of tumor-associated antigens, no tumor-specific antigens have been identified for gynecologic cancers. Expression of cancer-testis (CT) antigens in ovarian cancer has been described. CT antigens are attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy due to their restricted expression in testis, germ cells, and tumors. The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of a panel of 20 CT antigens in gynecologic tumor cell lines and to determine if antigen sharing occurs among different gynecologic cancers. Methods: RNA was isolated from 16 gynecologic cancer cell lines (9 epithelial ovarian cancer, 8 endometrial cancer, 1 cervical cancer, and 1 leiomyosarcoma cell line). Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to determine the expression level of 20 CT antigens. Results: Expression of CT antigens was identified in gynecologic cancer cell lines. Among 20 evaluated antigens, 90% (18/20) expressed in ovarian and endometrial cancer cell lines, while only 30% (6/20) expressed in cervical cancer and leiomyosarcoma cell lines. The most frequently expressed CT antigens were SP-17 (93.8% of cell lines), MAGE-A4 (87.5%), OYTES (68.8%), BAGE (62.5%), CT-45 (62.5%), PIWIL2 (56.3%), and GAGE (56.3%). CT45, SP-17, and MAGE-A4 were expressed among all gynecologic cancers. We found that different gynecologic cancers shared the expression of CT antigens, with the mean number of antigens shared among cancer types ranging from 3 to 4.6 antigens. There was sharing of CT antigens between cell lines of the same tumor type and with cell lines of other gynecologic tumor types. Themeannumber of antigens shared amongendometrial cell lines (5.5) was higher than the one shared by the ovarian cancer cell lines (3.8) with their corresponding tumor type (P=0.0122). Conclusions: CT antigens are expressed in gynecologic cancers. No single antigen was universally expressed among all gynecologic cancer cell lines, although most expressed SP-17. Utilizing a multiepitope immunotherapy approach could provide a universal therapeutic option for gynecologic cancers.
Intrinsic risk factors for exercise-related injuries among male and female army trainees

Physical training-related injuries are common among army recruits and other vigorously active populations, but little is known about their causation. To identify intrinsic risk factors, we prospectively measured 391 army trainees. For 8 weeks of basic training, 124 men and 186 women (79.3%) were studied. They answered questionnaires on past activities and sports participation, and were measured for height, weight, and body fat percentage; 71% of the subjects took an initial army physical training test. Women had a significantly higher incidence of time-loss injuries than men, 44.6% compared with 29.0%. During training, more time-loss injuries occurred among the 50% of the men who were slower on the mile run, 29.0% versus 0.0%. Slower women were likewise at greater risk than faster ones, 38.2% versus 18.5%. Men with histories of inactivity and with higher body mass index were at greater injury risk than other men, as were the shortest women. We conclude that female gender and low aerobic fitness measured by run times are risk factors for training injuries in army trainees, and that other factors such as prior activity levels and stature may affect men and women differently.
The role of brand schemas, information transparency, and source of message on apparel brands' social responsibility communication

In today's complex business environment, apparel brands are communicating about their socially responsible (SR) practices through marketing messages to create a niche for themselves and show their SR efforts. However, SR aspects of products are difficult to verify by consumers. To help brands effectively communicate their SR efforts, this study assessed how consumers process an apparel brand's SR messages based on their prior experiences with that brand (brand schemas). Information transparency on messages and source of messages were tested as external cues to influence consumers' brand schemas and SR message evaluations in a mixed method repeated measures online experiment using a national US consumer sample. Results from regression-based conditional process analyses indicated that increased congruity of consumers' schemas to the fact that brands are SR led to more favorable attitude toward brands' SR messages. Also, presence of high information transparency on SR messages influenced consumers' schemas p...
Magneto-elastic modeling of composites containing chain-structured magnetostrictive particles

Abstract Magneto-elastic behavior is investigated for two-phase composites containing chain-structured magnetostrictive particles under both magnetic and mechanical loading. To derive the local magnetic and elastic fields, three modified Green's functions are derived and explicitly integrated for the infinite domain containing a spherical inclusion with a prescribed magnetization, body force, and eigenstrain. A representative volume element containing a chain of infinite particles is introduced to solve averaged magnetic and elastic fields in the particles and the matrix. Effective magnetostriction of composites is derived by considering the particle's magnetostriction and the magnetic interaction force. It is shown that there exists an optimal choice of the Young's modulus of the matrix and the volume fraction of the particles to achieve the maximum effective magnetostriction. A transversely isotropic effective elasticity is derived at the infinitesimal deformation. Disregarding the interaction term, this model provides the same effective elasticity as Mori–Tanaka's model. Comparisons of model results with the experimental data and other models show the efficacy of the model and suggest that the particle interactions have a considerable effect on the effective magneto-elastic properties of composites even for a low particle volume fraction.
Rebucketing after transition in RHIC

Rebucketing in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, RHIC, describes the process of moving the beam from the 26 MHz accelerating system to the 196 MHz storage system with as little beam loss as possible. This puts a stringent requirement on the beam longitudinal area at the top energy. The ample bucket space after, but not too close to, transition is explored by computer simulation to relax such stringent conditions.
Local Resistance to the Global Eradication of Polio: Newspaper Coverage of the 2003–2004 Vaccination Stoppage in Northern Nigeria

Successful global health initiatives are executed on the recognition that globalization involves simultaneous pulls between global unification and fragmentation. This article responds to the need for more understanding of the role of fragmentation in global health initiatives through analyses of 52 northern Nigerian newspaper reports of the 2003-2004 northern Nigerian stoppage of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. By 2009 the stoppage had resulted in an epidemic in Nigeria and polio importations in 20 previously polio-free countries. Findings pointed to beliefs in contemporary forms of Western control and abuse through global organizations (nongovernmental organizations and for-profits), understandings of the "philanthropy" of the West and global organizations as self-serving and malevolent, and doubts about the polio vaccine product.
A new distance measure for binary images

A distance measure, called the generalized Euclidean distance, is developed for binary images to take into account perceptual distortions. Based on this distance measure, a type of transformation is devised to ensure that the generalized Euclidean distance of two images is the same as the Euclidean distance of two transformed images. A set of transformed images is then used to train and test a feed-forward neural network for handwritten numeral recognition. It is shown that the recognition rate is significantly improved by incorporating human perception into the neural network, and that the transformation step can be merged into the trained neural network so that no transformation is required during the recognition stage. >
Spatio-temporal Relationships Among Adult Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Central Mississippi

Abstract We monitored 131 (99 male, 32 female) radiocollared raccoons (Procyon lotor) from January 1991 to December 1997 on the Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi. We examined inter- and intrasexual spatial relationships and temporal interactions among adults. Adult males frequently maintained overlapping home ranges and core use areas and some males maintained spatial groups that overlapped minimally with adjacent groups or solitary males, suggesting territoriality among groups. Males arranged in spatial groups were often significantly positively associated with each other; however, we observed instances of males who remained solitary and maintained exclusive home ranges and core areas. Adult females maintained exclusive home ranges and core areas during winter, but several females shared home ranges during other seasons. However, these females did not forage or den together and were significantly negatively associated with each other within shared areas, indicating that movements by these i...
Total gastrectomy: Report of two cases

Abstract Two cases have been presented in which total gastrectomy was successfully performed. A diagnosis of linitis plastic type of schirrhus carcinoma of the stomach was made in each instance and in neither case was there gross evidence of extragastric metastasis although gastric symptoms had persisted, for one year and four months, respectively. Both patients recovered from the operation with surprising ease and within two weeks were taking soft foods without discomfort. We know that these cases are more comfortable following total removal of the stomach and that their general condition improves, therefore, it is not beyond hope that some may be cured by such a procedure.
Nutrition in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit: The Cost of Starting Low and Ramping Up Rates.

Background: Calorie/protein deficit in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) is associated with worse clinical outcomes. It is customary to initiate enteral nutrition (EN) at a low rate and increase to goal (RAMP-UP). Increasing evidence suggests that RAMP-UP may contribute to iatrogenic malnutrition. We sought to determine what proportion of total SICU calorie/protein deficit is attributable to RAMP-UP. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected registry of adult patients (N = 109) receiving at least 72 hours of EN in the SICU according to the RAMP-UP protocol (July 2012–June 2014). Subjects receiving only trophic feeds or with interrupted EN during RAMP-UP were excluded. Deficits were defined as the amount of prescribed calories/protein minus the actual amount received. RAMP-UP deficit was defined as the deficit between EN initiation and arrival at goal rate. Data included demographics, nutritional prescription/delivery, and outcomes. Results: EN was started at a...
Improve temporal and spatial resolution in junction-mixing ultrafast scanning tunneling microscopy

We present results of junction-mixing ultrafast scanning tunneling microscopy that demonstrate a combined spatial/temporal resultion of 1 nm/13 ps, yielding nearly a factor 3 improvement in the temporal resolution over previous results.
Measuring Small Changes in a Market Variable

The conventional method of evaluating the performance of a new product in test markets has historically been through sales audits at the retail level to obtain market share information. However, in many situations the objective is to evaluate alternative formulations of a product, alternative package types for a product, or other similar changes in market variables. In these cases, more sensitive methods are needed to measure small share changes or isolate the effects of counter-competitive activities.
Infectious complications in pulmonary allograft recipients.

SUMMARY This article has outlined the features of the major types of infections encountered in pulmonary allograft recipients. Virtually any pathogen can cause infection in these immunocompromised subjects, and there is a distinct propensity for these organisms to invade the transplanted lung. As is the case with other major organ recipients, there is a temporal sequence in the types of infection lung allograft recipients contract. Bacteria are the most frequent cause of pneumonia in the first postoperative month. After this period, infection with CMV, particularly CMV pneumonitis, becomes most common. Following the “window” for CMV infection, the risk for infestation with P. carinii becomes the primary concern. The latter two types of infection pose a double risk for the recipient: (1) morbidity and mortality from the infection itself and (2) chronic rejection following on the heels of these infections and producing morbidity and mortality on its own. Pulmonary allograft recipients are also susceptible to fungi, particularly C. albicans. Although these infections rarely produce an overwhelming pneumonia, they nonetheless carry a grave prognosis because they usually become widely disseminated. Better selection of donor lungs and prophylactic measures such as the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and amphotericin B in the early postoperative period, the use of CMV-negative blood products in seronegative recipients, and the chronic administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole have reduced the rate of infection with bacteria, fungi, CMV (primary infections only), and P. carinii, respectively. Despite these relative successes, however, the risk for infection of the allograft remains high because the defense mechanisms in the lung allograft are breached by the effects of surgery, the “allogeneic environment” in the allograft and systemic immunosuppression, and the fact that chronic rejection causes structural changes that predispose to bacterial colonization of the airways and the need for increased levels of immunosuppression. Despite the formidable barrier that infection of the lung allograft poses, the procedure of pulmonary transplantation clearly holds sufficient promise that all efforts possible should be made to hurdle this barrier. Achieving such a goal would ensure a place for pulmonary transplantation in the armamentarium of treatment for irreversible pulmonary disease.
Simultaneous modulation of multidrug resistance and antiapoptotic cellular defense by MDR1 and BCL-2 targeted antisense oligonucleotides enhances the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin.

Purpose. To enhance the anticancer efficacy of an established drug by the simultaneous suppression of pump and nonpump cellular resistance.
Personal, Master, and Alternative Narratives: An Integrative Framework for Understanding Identity Development in Context

In this paper we propose a model for examining personal identity development that moves attention from a relatively exclusive examination of the individual to an examination of the intersection betwee
Gomorra: la Serie: Beyond Realism

In 2014 Giancarlo Lombardi pointed to a recent, albeit limited, body of scholarship in Italian screen studies focusing on Italian television.1 During the last few years, however, substantially more...
“Staying out of Trouble” and Doing What Is “Right”: Citizenship Acts, Citizenship Ideals, and the Effects of Legal Status on Second-Generation Youth

This article asks whether parents’ legal status as noncitizens or undocumented migrants leads U.S.-born youth to engage in active, compensatory political and civic participation or whether parents’...
Disruptions in effort-based decision-making and consummatory behavior following antagonism of the dopamine D2 receptor

Dopamine is known to influence motivational processes, however the precise role of this neurotransmitter remains a contentious issue. In the current study we sought to further characterize dopamine signaling in reward-based decision-making and consummatory behavior in mice, via lateral ventricle infusion of the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride. In Experiment 1, we examined effort-based decision-making, in which mice had a choice between one lever, where a single response led to the delivery of a low value reward (2% sucrose); and a second lever, which led to a higher value reward (20% sucrose) that gradually required more effort to obtain. As the response schedule for the high value reward became more strict, low dose (4μg in 0.5μl) central infusions of eticlopride biased preference away from the high value reward, and toward the lever that led to the low value reward. Similarly, a higher dose of eticlopride (8μg in 0.5μl) also disrupted choice responding for the high value reward, however it did so by increasing omissions. In Experiment 2, we assessed the effects of eticlopride on consumption of 20% sucrose. The antagonist led to a dose-dependent reduction in intake, and through an analysis of licking microstructure, it was revealed that this in part reflected a reduction in the motivation to engage in consummatory behavior, rather than alterations in the evaluation of the reward. These results suggest that disruptions in D2 receptor signaling reduce the willingness to engage in effortful operant responding and consumption of a desirable outcome.
Valley-scale morphology drives differences in fluvial sediment budgets and incision rates during contrasting flow regimes

Abstract High-resolution topographic surveys using LiDAR and multibeam sonar can be used to characterize and quantify fluvial change. This study used repeat surveys to explore how topographic change, fluvial processes, sediment budgets, and aggradation and incision rates vary across spatial scales and across two contrasting decadal flow regimes in a regulated gravel/cobble river. A novel method for quantifying digital elevation model uncertainty was developed and applied to a topographic change detection analysis from 2006/2008 to 2014. During this period, which had four modest ~ 3–5 year floods, most sediment was laterally redistributed through bank erosion and channel migration. Erosion primarily occurred in the floodplain (97,000 m 3 ), terraces (80,000 m 3 ), and lateral bars (58,000 m 3 ); while deposition occurred in the adjacent pools (73,000 m 3 ), fast glides (48,000 m 3 ), and runs (36,000 m 3 ). In contrast, significantly higher magnitude and longer duration floods from 1999 to 2006/2008 caused sediment to be displaced longitudinally, with the upstream reaches exporting sediment and the downstream reaches aggrading. The river maintained floodplain connectivity during both periods, despite different processes dominating the type of connectivity. Larger floods promoted overbank scour and avulsion, while smaller floods promoted bank erosion and lateral migration. This study explores and illustrates how the geomorphic response to contrasting flood regimes in a nonuniform river is highly dependent on which landforms are controlling hydraulics.
Pre-clinical evaluation of a nanoparticle-based blood-pool contrast agent for MR imaging of the placenta.

Abstract Introduction Non-invasive 3D imaging that enables clear visualization of placental margins is of interest in the accurate diagnosis of placental pathologies. This study investigated if contrast-enhanced MRI performed using a liposomal gadolinium blood-pool contrast agent (liposomal-Gd) enables clear visualization of the placental margins and the placental-myometrial interface (retroplacental space). Non-contrast MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI using a clinically approved conventional contrast agent were used as comparators. Materials and methods Studies were performed in pregnant rats under an approved protocol. MRI was performed at 1T using a permanent magnet small animal scanner. Pre-contrast and post-liposomal-Gd contrast images were acquired using T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences. Dynamic Contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was performed using gadoterate meglumine (Gd-DOTA, Dotarem ® ). Visualization of the retroplacental clear space, a marker of normal placentation, was judged by a trained radiologist. Signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were calculated for both single and averaged acquisitions. Images were reviewed by a radiologist and scored for the visualization of placental features. Contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) imaging using a liposomal CT agent was performed for confirmation of the MR findings. Transplacental transport of liposomal-Gd was evaluated by post-mortem elemental analysis of tissues. Ex-vivo studies in perfused human placentae from normal, GDM, and IUGR pregnancies evaluated the transport of liposomal agent across the human placental barrier. Results Post-contrast T1w images acquired with liposomal-Gd demonstrated significantly higher SNR (p = 0.0002) in the placenta compared to pre-contrast images (28.0 ± 4.7 vs. 6.9 ± 1.8). No significant differences (p = 0.39) were noted between SNR in pre-contrast and post-contrast liposomal-Gd images of the amniotic fluid, indicating absence of transplacental passage of the agent. The placental margins were significantly (p Conclusions Contrast-enhanced T1w-MRI performed using liposomal-Gd enabled clear visualization of placental margins and delineation of the retroplacental space from the rest of the placenta; the space is undetectable on non-contrast imaging and on post-contrast T1w images acquired using a conventional, clinically approved Gd chelate contrast agent.
The impact of sandblasting as a surface modification method on the corrosion behavior of steels in simulated concrete pore solution

Abstract This investigation aimed to study the passivation and corrosion performance of sandblasted steel in a concrete environment. The surfaces of the steel specimens were modified using sandblasting method for three durations: 5, 10, and 15 min. The specimens were immersed in the chloride-free concrete pore solution for 14 days and then 3% by weight of chloride ions were added to the solution. The specimens were then kept in the chloride-contaminated pore solution for 60 days. Results from the electrochemical tests indicated that the passive layer formed on the surface on all specimens exposed to a simulated concrete pore solution were highly disordered n-type semi-conductors. In all specimens, except the 15 min sandblasted ones, the presence of chloride ions decreased the slope of the Mott-Schottky plots and increased the donor density which indicated formation of a thinner passive layer and corrosion. The results of electrochemical experiments on steel rebar exposed to chloride-contaminated pore solution showed significant improvement in corrosion resistance of the sandblasted specimens. This improvement was proportional to the increase in the sandblasting time. Microscopic analysis of the steel specimens at the end of the experiment showed the formation of a dense calcium-rich crystalline structure on the surface of sandblasted specimens. The density and the uniformity of the calcium-rich layer increased by increasing the sandblasting time. It was hypothesized that the formation of this layer combined with the enhanced passive layer in sandblasted specimens were the reasons for the improvement in corrosion resistance of the sandblasted steel specimens.
Arnauld De Pomponne: Louis XIV’s Moderate Minister

The ministers of Louis XIV were not only the eyes, ears, and hands of the great king but also, we might say, a part of his brain. They did more than transmit information and execute policy as heads of the administrative system of the French monarchy; they shared in shaping the royal judgment and will, though it was ultimately the king’s alone to decide and act. Thus the character and personality of these great servants of the crown became a significant autonomous element in the web of historical causality. Yet we must know far more about them than we do to comprehend fully and exactly the role they played in French — and indeed in European — history in the eventful half-century after 1661. Though they were something less than Richelieu and Mazarin, because the king they served ruled as well as reigned, many of these men have been almost lost to historical memory, and important events in which they played an essential part are explained as if they had never existed.
Resident Recruitment in Psychiatry: Influence of an Internship Requirement

In contrast to the majority of psychiatric residency programs, the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) has continued to require an internship year prior to a full three-year residency. To study the influence of this requirement on resident recruitment we conducted a survey of noncompleters of residency applications. Of 121 respondents who commented on the influence of the internship requirement, 52 percent said the requirement was “very important” and 8 percent “moderately important” in their decision not to complete the application. Also important were geographic considerations and the cost of traveling to Los Angeles for interviews. The reinstatement of a required four-year period of postgraduate training in psychiatry may contribute to future shifts in application patterns.
Integrated Photonic Residue Number System Arithmetic

Here we show a residue number system (RNS) engine based on integrated nanophotonics. The digit-wise shifting in RNS arithmetic is expressed as spatial routing of an optical signal in 2x2 hybrid photonic-plasmonic switches.
Research on the Myxobacteria: Past, Present, Future

Examination of each of these periods of time—the past, the present, and the future—has its own peculiar quality and its own problems. We examine the past for a variety of reasons. One of the most important is that it is satisfying in some strangely undefined way to understand about the intellectual and scientific ground into which our roots are sunk. (“Life must be lived forwards but can only be understood backwards”, Kierkegaard.) Furthermore, as scientists, our stock in trade is ideas. If we are fortunate, we leave a bit of understanding behind us; and it is important that the contributions of those who preceded us be recognized, recorded, and acknowledged as part of the intellectual history of our profession. In a more practical sense, the past often contains buried in it nuggets that when rediscovered prove to be of value. And finally, an examination of the past has heuristic value—in the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” My brief discussion of the historic background of studies on the myxobacteria will not satisfy all these needs. It will not be a review of the literature. For such, the reader is directed to a number of recent reviews (Kaiser et al. 1979; Zusman 1980; Reichenbach and Dworkin 1981b; White 1981). I hope instead to try to point out highlights and turning points.
Names, Naming, and Name Calling in Practice with Families:

A practitioner's use of names, naming, and name calling can significantly affect the direction of interventions in work with families. The author discusses ethnic, gender, and developmental awarene...
Genomic profiling of high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer to differentiate recurrence risk.

e17103Background: While the majority of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EMCA) have low-risk disease at the time of diagnosis, a subset of patients with Stage I disease are classified as...
IR absorption spectra for SixOy-nH2O molecular clusters using density functional theory

Calculations are presented of vibrational absorption spectra for energy minimized structures of SixOy-nH2O molecular clusters using density function theory (DFT). DFT can provide interpretation of absorption spectra with respect to molecular structure for excitation by electromagnetic waves at frequencies within the IR range. The absorption spectrum corresponding to excitation states of SixOy-nH2O molecular clusters consisting of relatively small numbers of atoms should be associated with response features that are intermediate between that of isolated molecules and that of a bulk system. DFT calculated absorption spectra represent quantitative estimates that can be correlated with additional information obtained from laboratory measurements. The DFT software GAUSSIAN was used for the calculations of excitation states presented here.
Untargeted Molecular Discovery in Primary Metabolism: Collision Cross Section as a Molecular Descriptor in Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

In this work, we established a collision cross section (CCS) library of primary metabolites based on analytical standards in the Mass Spectrometry Metabolite Library of Standards (MSMLS) using a commercially available ion mobility-mass spectrometer (IM-MS). From the 554 unique compounds in the MSMLS plate library, we obtained a total of 1246 CCS measurements over a wide range of biochemical classes and adduct types. Resulting data analysis demonstrated that the curated CCS library provides broad molecular coverage of metabolic pathways and highlights intrinsic mass–mobility relationships for specific metabolite superclasses. The separation and characterization of isomeric metabolites were assessed, and all molecular species contained within the plate library, including isomers, were critically evaluated to determine the analytical separation efficiency in both the mass (m/z) and mobility (CCS/ΔCCS) dimension required for untargeted metabolomic analyses. To further demonstrate the analytical utility of CCS...
Representing Father–Son Relationships among African-American Muslim Men in Film and Television

African-American Muslims are well-known for their prison reform ministries and initiatives aimed at assisting disenfranchised men and women in inner city communities. In media discourse, the redemp...
Establishing a Framework to Measure Strategic Social Value of Online Engagements: A Model for Determining Social Identity

Over the past few decades, social networking connections through individuals, business and organizations have become a useful and rapidly available tool for establishing/maintaining relationships, communicating, and expanding businesses. Users on social media platforms, invest hours in the building of social capital and cultivating their social identity (SID) via online engagements. This paper presents a methodology to quantify the essential artifacts that are derived from online social engagements and design a framework that assists in measuring the value of an individual's online social engagements. Ultimately all users will earn a SID value, which is the score from the time invested on social media platforms. This score will immediately assist users in determining its return on investment (ROI) and social capital earned from online social networking activities. SID will provide an understanding of personal, career, and business opportunities.
Preparation of Gel-Liposome Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications *

Liposomes are amongst the most effective delivery vehicles developed to date. Despite many advantages including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds, liposomes suffer from low physical stability. This limitation can be effectively addressed by inclusion of a polymeric scaffold within the core of liposomes. Given the versatility of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels, these polymers have a great potential for the use in liposomal core. As a step towards the development of a robust liposomal delivery platform, here we aim to develop a simple and reliable technique for the fabrication of liposomes with PEG gel cores. We assess the resultant nanoparticles using scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering and demonstrate that the presented approach can successfully produce gel-liposome nanoparticles with spherical shape and 150-200 nm size. These nanoparticles are further evaluated for colloidal stability in physiological solution. Moreover, we demonstrate the versatility of this method by studying the effect of changing (A) the membrane composition in liposomes, and (B) the hydrogel concentration in liposomal core, on the formation of gel-liposome particles.
Morphology, p16, HPV, and outcomes in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: a multi-institutional study

Summary Our objective was to evaluate the pathologic features and clinical outcomes in cases of invasive penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the association with p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and human papilloma virus (HPV) in situ hybridization (ISH). A retrospective multi-institutional database search was conducted for invasive SCC of the penis diagnosed between 2007 and 2018 that had undergone surgical resection. Pathologic features, p16 IHC, and HPV ISH were investigated with clinical outcomes. A total of 102 patients were included in the study. The average age was 63 ± 13.3 years. Based on histology, 46% of tumors displayed an HPV-related subtype, whereas p16 was positive in 52% of all cases. Tumor histology correlated well with p16 positivity (P
Sensitivity and Specificity of Serum and Synovial Fluid Markers in Diagnosis of Infection in Head-Neck Taper Corrosion of Metal-On-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The accurate diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in the setting of adverse local tissue reactions in patients with metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA) secondary to head-neck taper junction corrosion is challenging as it frequently has the appearance of purulence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and synovial fluid markers in diagnosing PJI in failed MoP THA due to head-neck taper corrosion. Methods A total of 89 consecutive patients with MoP THA with head-neck taper corrosion in 2 groups was evaluated: (1) infection group (n = 11) and (2) noninfection group (n = 78). All patients had highly crossed polyethylene with cobalt chromium femoral heads and had preoperative synovial fluid aspiration. In addition, serum cobalt and chromium levels were analyzed. Results The optimal cutoff value for synovial white blood cell was 2144 with 93% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Neutrophil count optimal cutoff value was 82% with 93% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of ESR and CRP determined optimal cutoff at 57 mm/h and 35 mg/L with 57% sensitivity and 94% specificity and 93% sensitivity and 76% specificity, respectively. There were no significant differences in metal ion levels between the infected and noninfected groups. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that ESR and CRP are useful in excluding PJI, whereas both synovial white blood cell count and neutrophil percentage in hip aspirate are useful markers for diagnosing infection in MoP THA patients with head-neck taper corrosion associated adverse local tissue reaction.
Evaluation of novel precision viticulture tool for canopy biomass estimation and missing plant detection based on 2.5D and 3D approaches using RGB images acquired by UAV platform.

The knowledge of vine vegetative status within a vineyard plays a key role in canopy management in order to achieve a correct vine balance and reach the final desired yield/quality. Detailed information about canopy architecture and missing plants distribution provides useful support for farmers/winegrowers to optimize canopy management practices and the replanting process, respectively. In the last decade, there has been a progressive diffusion of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) technologies for Precision Viticulture purposes, as fast and accurate methodologies for spatial variability of geometric plant parameters. The aim of this study was to implement an unsupervised and integrated procedure of biomass estimation and missing plants detection, using both the 2.5D-surface and 3D-alphashape methods. Both methods showed good overall accuracy respect to ground truth biomass measurements with high values of R2 (0.71 and 0.80 for 2.5D and 3D, respectively). The 2.5D method led to an overestimation since it is derived by considering the vine as rectangular cuboid form. On the contrary, the 3D method provided more accurate results as a consequence of the alphashape algorithm, which is capable to detect each single shoot and holes within the canopy. Regarding the missing plants detection, the 3D approach confirmed better performance in cases of hidden conditions by shoots of adjacent plants or sparse canopy with some empty spaces along the row, where the 2.5D method based on the length of section of the row with lower thickness than the threshold used (0.10 m), tended to return false negatives and false positives, respectively. This paper describes a rapid and objective tool for the farmer to promptly identify canopy management strategies and drive replanting decisions. The 3D approach provided results closer to real canopy volume and higher performance in missing plant detection. However, the dense cloud based analysis required more processing time. In a future perspective, given the continuous technological evolution in terms of computing performance, the overcoming of the current limit represented by the pre- and post-processing phases of the large image dataset should mainstream this methodology.
Cancer and climate change

The acute impact of climate change on human health is receiving increased attention, but little is known or appreciated about the effect of climate change on chronic diseases, particularly cancer. This Review provides a synopsis of what is known about climate change and the exposures it generates relevant to cancer. In the context of the world's cancer burden and the probable direction we could expect to follow in the absence of climate change, this scoping review of the literature summarises the effects that climate change is having on major cancers, from environmental exposures to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, disruptions in the food and water supply, environmental toxicants, and infectious agents. Finally, we explore the effect of climate change on the possible disruption of health systems that have been essential to cancer control practice. We conclude with potential responses and opportunities for intervention.
Valuing Lives: Allocating Scarce Medical Resources During a Public Health Emergency and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Public health emergencies from natural disasters, infection, and man-made threats can present ethically or legally challenging questions about who will receive scarce resources. Federal and state governments have offered little guidance on how to prioritize distribution of limited resources. Several allocation proposals have appeared in the medical literature, but components of the proposed approaches violate federal antidiscrimination laws and ethical principles about fair treatment. Further planning efforts are needed to develop practical allocation guidelines that comport with antidiscrimination laws and the moral commitment to equal access reflected in those laws.
Root Phenotyping from X-Ray Computed Tomography: Skeleton Extraction

Abstract. Breakthrough imaging technologies are a potential solution to the plant phenotyping bottleneck in marker-assisted breeding and genetic mapping. X-Ray CT (computed tomography) technology is able to acquire the digital twin of root system architecture (RSA), however, advances in computational methods to digitally model spatial disposition of root system networks are urgently required. We extracted the root skeleton of the digital twin based on 3D data from X-ray CT, which is optimized for high-throughput and robust results. Significant root architectural traits such as number, length, growth angle, elongation rate and branching map can be easily extracted from the skeleton. The curve-skeleton extraction is computed based on a constrained Laplacian smoothing algorithm. This skeletal structure drives the registration procedure in temporal series. The experiment was carried out at the Ag Alumni Seed Phenotyping Facility (AAPF) at Purdue University in West Lafayette (IN, USA). Three samples of tomato root at 2 different times and three samples of corn root at 3 different times were scanned. The skeleton is able to accurately match the shape of the RSA based on a visual inspection. The results based on a visual inspection confirm the feasibility of the proposed methodology, providing scalability to a comprehensive analysis to high throughput root phenotyping.
Pitfalls in gastrointestinal tract haematopoietic lesions.

Summary Specimens from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are among the most commonly encountered in routine pathology practice worldwide. It is well known that the luminal GI tract is home to various areas rich in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), whether native or acquired. The latter may be particularly problematic due to its well-known predisposing factors such as Helicobacter pylori infection and autoimmune conditions. Nevertheless, native GI structures are often the subject of query, particularly in conditions that may mimic lymphoproliferative conditions, including infectious and inflammatory diseases. Herein, we describe and share common clinicopathological findings in our daily practice that are challenging to distinguish from subtle low-grade neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders.
Approximate Reasoning Using Anytime Algorithms

The complexity of reasoning in intelligent systems makes it undesirable, and sometimes infeasible, to find the optimal action in every situation since the deliberation process itself degrades the performance of the system. The problem is then to construct intelligent systems that react to a situation after performing the “right” amount of thinking. It is by now widely accepted that a successful system must trade off decision quality against the computational requirements of decision-making. Anytime algorithms, introduced by Dean, Horvitz and others in the late 1980’s, were designed to offer such a trade-off. We have extended their work to the construction of complex systems that are composed of anytime algorithms. This paper describes the compilation and monitoring mechanisms that are required to build intelligent systems that can efficiently control their deliberation time. We present theoretical results showing that the compilation and monitoring problems are tractable in a wide range of cases, and provide two applications to illustrate the ideas.
Ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers in Tetrahymena. I. Removal in the dark.

Abstract Thymine-containing pyrimidine dimers have been isolated and identified chromatographically from DNA hydrolysates of ultraviolet-irradiated Tetrahymena. Removal of these photoproducts has been observed during post-irradiation growth of cells in the dark. After 47 h, about 83 % of the pyrimidine dimers disappear from the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction. Further analysis of both the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble and trichloroacetic acid-soluble fractions indicated that photoproducts accumulating in the soluble fraction are eventually lost from the cytoplasm of irradiated cells.
Abused Older Women

Due to the recent "discovery" of elder abuse and the failure of the battered women's movement to reach out to older persons, the physically abused older woman is not necessarily seen as a battered woman. Elder abuse has been viewed as more akin to child abuse, thus leading to a paternalistic approach to the problem. This article contrasts the prevalence, causal models, and effects of physical abuse amon young and older women. Interventions in the case of spouse and elder abuse are also compared. The author concludes by suggesting ways in which helpers might borrow from the battered women's movement in order to better serve older battered women.
A Statistical Analysis of the Characteristics of Sunspots and Faculae

We present results from a study of sunspots and faculae on continuum and Ca ii K images taken at the San Fernando Observatory (SFO) during 1989–1992; a total of approximately 800 images in each bandpass were used. About 18 000 red sunspots, 147 000 red faculae, and 800 000 Ca ii K faculae were identified based on their contrasts. In addition, we computed the contrasts of pixels on the red images cospatial with Ca ii K faculae. Sunspot contrasts show a strong dependence on size but no dependence on heliocentric angle. There are continuous but systematic differences among facular regions. We find that the contrast of Ca ii K faculae is relatively insensitive to heliocentric angle, but is a strong function of facular size, in the sense that larger Ca ii K faculae are always brighter. The contrast of red faculae is a function of both heliocentric angle and size: the contrast functions show that larger regions contain larger flux tubes, contain deeper flux tubes, and have larger filling factors than small facular regions. Comparisons of cospatial pixels on red and Ca ii K images show a tight correlation between the average contrast of a region in the continuum and its size and heliocentric angle in the Ca ii K images. The average contrast of all facular regions is positive everywhere on the disk, even though the largest regions contain flux tubes which appear dark at disk center.