cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous determination of phencyclidine and monohydroxylated metabolites in urine of man by gas chromatography-mass fragmentography with methane chemical ionization.

Abstract Phencyclidine and monohydroxy metabolites were measured in human urine using gas chromatography—mass fragmentography with methane chemical ionization. Samples were extracted either untreated or following acid hydrolysis, derivatized with heptafluorobutyric anhydride, separated on a 3% SE-30 column and analyzed by mass fragmentography. The assay was sensitive to ca. 0.01 μg/ml for phencyclidine and ca. 0.05 μg/ml for the metabolites. Urine samples from five human subjects enrolled in a methadone maintenance program who had ingested phencyclidine were analyzed. The phencyclidine concentration ranged from 0.3 to 23.7 μg/ml. The concentrations of metabolites ranged from 0 to 1.8 μg/ml. A new monohydroxy metabolite was detected in the samples, but its structure was not fully elucidated. The specificity of the assay was examined.
A model-based analysis of handling qualities and adverse aircraft-pilot coupling in high angle of attack flight

Recent flight tests of a NASA supermaneuverable fighter aircraft indicated a susceptibility to a form of aircraft-pilot coupling referred to as pilot-induced-oscillation. This coupling resulted in very degraded handling qualities in air-to-air tracking tasks performed at high angle of attack. A pilot-model based analysis of the vehicle and task was conducted with the goals of: (1) analytically corroborating the oscillation tendency and poor handling qualities, and (2) determining improvements to the flight control system which would alleviate the oscillation tendencies and improve overall handling qualities, and involve as few changes to the existing flight control system as possible.
Open Source High Performance Floating-Point Modules

Given the logic density of modern FPGAs, it is feasible to use FPGAs for floating-point applications. However, it is important that any floating-point units that are used be highly optimized. This paper introduces an open source library of highly optimized floating-point units for Xilinx FPGAs. The units are fully IEEE compliant and acheive approximately 230 MHz operation frequency for double-precision add and multiply in a Xilinx Virtex-2-Pro FPGA (-7 speed grade). This speed is acheived with a 10 stage adder pipeline and a 12 stage multiplier pipeline. The area requirement is 571 slices for the adder and 905 slices for the multiplier
Experimental investigation of solute transport in large, homogeneous and heterogeneous, saturated soil columns

Laboratory tracer experiments were conducted to investigate solute transport in 12.5-m long, horizontally placed soil columns during steady saturated water flow . Two columns having cross-sectional areas of 10 x IOcm' were used: a uniformly packed homogeneous sandy column and a heterogeneous column containing layered, mixed, and lenticular formations of various shapes and sizes. The heterogeneous soil column gradually changed, on average, from coarse-textured at one end to fine-textured at the other end . NaCl breakthrough curves (BTC's) in the columns were measured with electrical conductivity probes inserted a t 50- or 100-cm intervals. Observed BTC's in the homogeneous sandy column were relatively smooth and sigmoidal (S-shaped), while those in the heterogeneous column were very irregular, nonsigmoidal, and exhibited extensive tailing. Effective average pore-water velocities (tr,rr) and dispersion coefficients (&r) were estimated simultaneously by tilting an analytical solution of the convection-dispersionequation to the observe d BTC's. Velocity variations in the heterogeneousmedium were found to be much larger than those in the homogeneous sand. Values of the dispersivity, (Y = Derr/ecrrr for the homogeneous sandy column ranged from 0.1 to 5.0cm, while those for the heterogeneous column were as high as 200cm. The dispcrsivity for transport in both columns increased with travel distance or travel time, thus exhibiting scale- dependency. The heterogeneous soil column also showed the effects of preferential flow. i.e., some locations in the column showed earlier solute breakthrough than several locations closer to the inlet boundary. Spatial fluctuations in the dispersivity could bc explained qualitatively by the particular makeup of the heterogeneities in the column.
IGF-I/IGF-Binding Protein-3 Combination Improves Insulin Resistance By GH-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms

IGF-I has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in patients with type I and type II diabetes. IGF-I suppresses GH, and this raises the question of whether its ability to enhance insulin sensitivity is mediated solely through a reduction in GH’s antiinsulin actions. This study was conducted to determine whether administration of a GH receptor antagonist to patients with acromegaly and insulin resistance would result in improvement in insulin sensitivity and whether IGF-I had any additional insulin-sensitizing effects over and above those induced by its ability to suppress GH secretion. Five patients with active acromegaly were treated for 2 wk with a GH receptor antagonist. The GH receptor antagonist was effective, as IGF-I fell 65%, and mean GH values rose 42%. Mean fasting insulin fell from 39 ± 6 to 30 ± 7 μU/ml, and this was accompanied by a 9% decrease in fasting glucose. After treatment the insulin sensitivity index was 2.7 ± 1.0 × 10−4/min·μU/ml compared with a baseline value of 1.65 ± 0.8 × 10−...
Experience with UVB phototherapy in children.

Twenty children age 14 months to 12 years with photoresponsive dermatoses were treated with ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy over four years. Ten children had psoriasis, five had pityriasis lichenoides, and five had atopic dermatitis. All received short courses (average 34 treatments) of phototherapy with either no maintenance or short maintenance. Treatment was effective and well tolerated in most patients, and no serious side effects were seen. Patients with psoriasis and pityriasis lichenoides cleared completely. No patient with atopic dermatitis cleared completely, but all were moderately improved, with reduction of the extent of eczema and decreased pruritus. It appears that UVB phototherapy is a valuable and safe therapeutic option for selected children who do not respond to other treatments.
The Friedrichs extension of certain singular differential operators

We study the Friedrichs extension for a class of 2nth order ordinary differential operators. These selfadjoint operators have compact inverses and the central problem is to describe their domains in terms of boundary conditions.
WHEN WAR COMES HOME: THE EFFECT OF COMBAT SERVICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abstract This study is the first to estimate the effect of war service in the Global War on Terrorism on domestic violence. We exploit a natural experiment in overseas deployment assignment among active-duty servicemen by relying on theoretical and empirical evidence that, conditional on military rank and occupation, deployment assignments are orthogonal to the propensity for violence. Our results show that assignment to combat substantially increases the probability of intimate partner violence and child abuse. Descriptive evidence suggests that the effects may be explained in part by the stress- and substance use–related consequences of war.
Analysis of cylindrically conformal patch antennas on isoimpedance anisotropic substrates

We numerically investigate the performance of cylindrically conformal patch antennas on isoimpedance anisotropic substrates. These substrates are specifically designed to increase the effective (electrical) height without producingsurface waves.
Pharmacotherapy and the neurobehavioural sequelae of traumatic brain injury

Recent advances in clinical neuropharmacology are likely to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Treatment may be directed to alleviate specific symptoms, to improve function in certain areas, or even to enhance the cortical recovery process. The author reviews pertinent issues in clinical neuropharmacology for the following drug classes: stimulants, other dopamine agonists, antidepressants, lithium, cholinergics, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nootropes, opiates and neuropeptides. Since the relevant research literature in TBI is so sparse, information and recommendations are extrapolated from some other patient groups, especially developmentally handicapped children and adults, and patients with dementia.
Pruritus in systemic disease: mechanisms and management

Pruritus is the most common symptom of skin disease. Even in the absence of primary cutaneous findings, severe and extensive pruritus often is associated with systemic disease. This review considers briefly the physiology of pruritus and discusses the various systemic diseases often accompanied by this bothersome symptom. In addition to exploring the possible mechanisms and potential therapies of itching in selected disorders, this review presents general recommendations for evaluating patients with unexplained pruritus and management guidelines for alleviating their discomfort.
On Tracking and Disaggregating Center Points of Population

In this article we explore methods for tracking and disaggregating five alternately defined mean and median center points of population, measures that can help in interpreting the forces underlying shifting settlement patterns. We argue that the point that minimizes the sum of squared great circle distances is more conceptually appealing than the center point located via the method currently employed by the U.S. Census Bureau. We also suggest that the point of minimum aggregate distance—as deployed in many other geographic applications—provides an interesting alternative to the median center historically used in population analysis, which is the crossing point of the medial lines of latitude and longitude. We then propose methods to disaggregate any of the alternatively defined center points into multiple points useful for tracking and comparing the relative influences of each of the components of population change: births, deaths, domestic (or internal) migration, and immigration. Similarly, we track and...
Metric interval temporal logic specification elicitation and debugging

In general, system testing and verification should be conducted with respect to formal specifications. However, the development of formal specifications is a challenging and error prone task, even for experts. This is especially true when considering complex spatio-temporal requirements in real-time embedded systems, mixed-signal circuits, or more generally, software-controlled physical systems. In this work, we present a framework for the elicitation and debugging of formal specifications. The elicitation of formal specifications is handled through a graphical user interface. The debugging algorithm checks inconsistent and wrong specifications. Namely, it detects validity, redundancy and vacuity issues in formal specifications developed in a fragment of Metric Interval Temporal Logic (MITL). The algorithm informs system engineers on any issues in their specifications. This improves the specification elicitation process and, ultimately, the testing and verification process. Finally, we present experimental results on specifications that typically appear in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) applications. Application of our specification debugging tool on user derived requirements shows that the aforementioned issues are common. Therefore, the algorithm can help developers to correct their specifications and avoid wasted effort on checking incorrect requirements.
Rehabilitation of Memory Problems Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury

Memory problems are reported by the majority of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have a negative impact on their everyday independence and functioning. Research shows that training in compensatory memory strategies is effective for improving memory functioning in persons with TBI; however, no one strategy can meet the needs of all people with TBI. The current chapter provides an overview of the type of memory problems typically observed in people with TBI, as well as a review of the evidence for cognitive rehabilitation of memory. A systematic, individualized approach to training in compensatory memory strategies is then presented with an emphasis on ecological validity and integrating the preferences and resources of people with TBI and their caregivers. Two case examples are presented to illustrate the implementation of this approach to memory strategy training.
Materials Issues In Modern Reactor Safety

Nuclear power currently supplies about 20% of the nation's electrical power needs. The nuclear power industry is going through evolutions that will lead to greater efficiency and competitiveness. Many changes in the nuclear power industry are limited by materials issues. This paper discusses a representative range of the materials issues that are arising in the industry. Materials issues are associated with prolonged use of reactor fuel, extended operation of power plants and realistic analyses of power plant safety. The issues include questions of fuel stability at high burnups, metallurgical issues of fuel cladding, embrittlement of pressure boundaries, detecting and sizing flaws in steam generators and issues of environmental qualification of reactor control and instrumentation systems. The paper concludes with a discussion of the future of nuclear power and the continuing need for better materials for power plants.
An Ethnic Geography of New Orleans

As Hurricane Katrina's surge filled the bowl-shaped metropolis of New Orleans, the simple geography of rising water came face-to-face with the complex human geography of a nearly three-hundred-year-old city. Whose homes were flooded, in terms of race, ethnicity, and class, became the subject of national discussion. This article describes how those residential patterns fell into place beginning in colonial times, and how they were affected by Katrina's flood.
Preliminary survey of ticks and tick borne pathogens in Tianjin, China

Objective To investigate the species and distribution of ticks in Tianjin, China, the pathogens carried by the ticks, and the knowledge of self protection against ticks in local residents, and to provide a basis for the control and prevention of ticks. Methods The specimens of ticks were collected with white cloth from the natural habitat and picked directly from the body surfaces of livestock such as cattle and sheep. The specimens were identified and classified and subjected to detection of carried pathogens, such as Bunia virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Twenty residents were randomly selected from each district or county of Tianjin and the knowledge of self protection against ticks was surveyed. Results Ticks were found in 8 districts or counties of Tianjin. A total of 152 ticks were collected and identified, including Ixodes persulcatus (23.03%) and Haemaphysalis longicornis (76.97%). No pathogen was detected from the tick specimens. More than 70% of the surveyed residents had the knowledge of tick bite prevention, and over 80% of the surveyed residents had the knowledge of correct treatment after bite, without significant difference between urban and rural residents. Conclusion There are ticks in Tianjin, and no pathogen is found from the tick specimens. Most residents have the knowledge of self protection against ticks. More measures should be taken to enhance the control and prevention of tick related diseases, including spreading tick related knowledge among residents, improving the ability of health care sector to control and prevent tick related diseases, and making related emergency plans.
Study on dimension-reduction of spatial economic statistics:A case study of economic statistial data of Sichuan

There are more than three attributes in economic statistical data generally.When studying the inherent structural characteristics of these data such as clustering and distribution,researchers need to reduce multi-dimensional information to three-dimensional space or less to achieve multi-dimensional visualization.There are multi-dimensional reduction methods,whose results are different from each other because of different mathematics theories and application ranges,and the visualization results of these methods will vary.So evaluation of different methods can provide important references for the selection of methods in different areas.In the paper,the authors analyze economic statistical data of Sichuan province in 2007 based on county-unit by implementing four commonly used algorithms: the linear method PCA,nonlinear method NLM and SOFM,and a supervised classification method SVM,then obtain a series of classification results.Considering the status of economic development in Sichuan,the authors analyze the differences between the results of these methods,and draw some conclusions as follows.Although PCA can reveal the overall development trend,the result is not consistent with the real condition in Sichuan;NLM can well show the regional trend and core areas of economic development in Sichuan,and account for the development status;SOFM can also show the development status,but there are several classification errors in the northeastern part of the region.It is impossible for comparison within each cluster;as a supervised method,SVM needs a known sample set to train the classification process,which makes the sample selection subjective,and the search process for optimal parameters is complicated.The comparison of these methods and their application in economic statistics fields can provide a reference for the future relevant spatial dimension-reduction research.
Neurofibromatosis: Bladder Involvement with Malignant Degeneration

Abstract A solitary neurofibroma of the urinary tract is rare. More rare in the urinary tract are neurofibromas associated with the neurofibromatosis of Von Recklinghausen’s disease. A case of multiple neurofibromas of the bladder degenerating into neurofibrosarcoma is described.
Applying importance-performance analysis to services of a visitor information center

Visitor information centers provide destinations with an opportunity once visitors are at the destination to provide information and recommendations. As a result, destinations who manage visitor in...
Analysis and Implications of the Monograph to Broader Issues

This concluding chapter draws on the lessons learned from the research and makes policy recommendations for the general peacekeeping community to further future international discourse and action. It analyzes the operational and psychological environment that protects and perpetuates criminal misconduct among UN peacekeepers. Some practical recommendations such as tackling the economic dynamic that impoverishes women are discussed. The role that Africa can play as norm setters in ensuring accountability of its peacekeepers is suggested.
The 2016 revised World Health Organization definition of ‘myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated del(5q)’; prognostic implications of single versus double cytogenetic abnormalities

Summary The definition of the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtype ‘MDS with isolated del(5q)’ was expanded to include cases with one additional non-chromosome 7 based cytogenetic abnormality in the 2016 revised World Health Organization classification. This study applied the revised definition to a large primary MDS cohort, and evaluated the prognostic impact of the additional cytogenetic abnormality. Seventy-two of 1067 patients (7%) met the ‘MDS with isolated del(5q)’ criteria, 11 (1%) of whom had an additional cytogenetic abnormality. There was no survival difference between patients in whom del(5q) occurred alone, compared to those with one additional cytogenetic abnormality (P = 0·52).
Fadis: A Measure of the Fear of Accidental Death and Injury

A 25-item scale (FADIS), measuring accidental death and injury anxiety, is explored with a sample of 177 high school seniors and college students. FADIS was found to be internally consistent and related to several predictors. Significantly higher FADIS scores were obtained for non-Caucasians than Caucasians and for women than men. Religiosity and religious preference were also strongly related to FADIS for women. The results for race and gender are discussed in terms of the social status of minority groups, and it is suggested that locus of control may play an important role in the development of accidental death anxiety.
Degradation characterization of thermal interface greases

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are used in power electronics packaging to minimize thermal resistance between the heat generating component and the heat sink. Thermal greases are one such class of TIMs. The conformability and thin bond line thickness (BLT) of these TIMs can potentially provide low thermal resistance throughout the operation lifetime of a component. However, their performance degrades over time due to pump-out and dry-out during thermal and power cycling. The reliability performance of greases through operational cycling needs to be quantified to develop new materials with superior properties. NREL, in collaboration with DuPont, has performed thermal and reliability characterization of several commercially-available thermal greases. Initial bulk and contact thermal resistance of grease samples were measured, and then the thermal degradation that occurred due to pump-out and dry-out during temperature cycling was monitored. The thermal resistances of five different grease materials were evaluated using NREL's steady-state thermal resistance tester based on the ASTM test method D5470. Greases were then applied, utilizing a 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm stencil, between invar and aluminum plates to compare the thermomechanical performance of the materials in a representative test fixture. Scanning Acoustic microscopy, thermal, and compositional analyses were performed periodically during thermal cycling from −40°C to 125°C. Completion of this characterization has allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of thermal greases both for their initial bulk and contact thermal performance, as well as their degradation mechanisms under accelerated thermal cycling conditions.
Large Eddy Simulation of Flow and Turbulence at the Steep Topography of Luzon Strait

Steep generation sites for topographic internal gravity waves can also be sites of turbulence. The present work uses turbulence-resolving Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for tidal flow over multiscale, steep bathymetry patterned after a portion of the west ridge of Luzon Strait at 20.6∘ N. Oceanic values of the slope criticality, Froude number, excursion number, and aspect ratio are matched. The amplitude and phasing of velocity, overturns, and dissipation are similar to observations made at a deep mooring. However a tidal phase is noted in which there is a discrepancy that could arise from the resonant interaction with waves generated at the east ridge that is not included in the model. Turbulent dissipation originates from several mechanisms including breaking lee waves during flow reversal, downslope jets, critical-slope boundary layer, high-mode internal wave beams, off-slope lee wave breaking and wave breaking in a valley between subridges. The model baroclinic energy budget is closed with negligible residual and the local turbulence loss of 23.5% is large.
Social-Ecological Correlates in Adult Autism Outcome Studies: A Scoping Review

The transition into adulthood is a critical period in the life course that shapes later outcomes. Many adults on the autism spectrum fare poorly across a wide range of quality of life indicators. Understanding the multilevel factors that influence transition outcomes is necessary to develop strategies that promote better outcomes. In this scoping review, we characterize the use of social-ecological factors in adult autism outcome studies, identify understudied areas of research, and provide recommendations for future research. We conducted a literature search for studies in which the relationship between social-ecological factors and transition outcomes among transition-age youth with autism was assessed. We organized variables used in studies across 5 levels of influence: family-, interpersonal-, institutional-, community-, and policy-level factors. Our findings reveal that both breadth and depth of social-ecological factors usage in autism outcomes studies is limited because of the narrow inclusion of variables across social-ecological levels, the overreliance on a limited number of national data sets, and the overall lack of variation in research design. We propose 9 recommendations to inform the development of multilevel studies.
The Ipsilateral Approach for Right PVE with or Without Segment 4

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is now considered the standard of care to improve the safety for patients undergoing major hepatectomy with an anticipated small future liver remnant (FLR). PVE can induce contralateral liver hypertrophy in preparation for major liver resection and can be performed with various approaches. Which approach is chosen may be dependent on operator preference and on the type and extent of the subsequent resection. This chapter describes the transhepatic ipsilateral approach, an approach whereby access to the portal system is via the liver to be resected. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach will also be discussed.
A study on the effect of interelectrode gap in the electrochemical additive manufacturing process

AbstractElectrochemical additive manufacturing (ECAM) is achieved by localized electrochemical deposition (LECD). The ECAM can print metal parts directly from computer models at macro-, micro- and nanoscales at room temperature without any thermal defects. This study aims to (1) simulate the effects of the interelectrode gap (IEG) on cation concentration and current density in the deposition zone during ECAM; (2) quantify the localization of the desired deposit, as well as unintended plating when using various IEGs, and (3) determine the rate of deposition for different IEGs. Current density patterns under stationary and moving anode conditions were analyzed to calculate deposition rate and the corresponding time to fill an IEG. Experiments were performed to monitor current density and time to fill IEG during deposition and compared with the simulation results. Studying the migration behavior of cations and the current density allowed deposition height to be predicted and the extent of plating to be quant...
A Fringe Topic in a Fragile Network: How Digital Literacy and Computer Science Instruction Is Supported (or Not) by Teacher Ties

In this NSF CSforALL funded research study, the authors sought to understand the extent to which an urban district's teacher instructional support network enabled or constrained capacity to implement and diffuse Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) instructional practices throughout the K-12 curriculum. Social network analysis was used to investigate informal teacher advice-seeking and advice-giving patterns of DLCS support. Network measures of cohesion and centrality were computed. Findings revealed that DLCS-focused teacher support networks tend to exhibit very low density, have relatively few ties, include a high number of isolates (teachers with no connections), and centralize around a particular actor. In addition, a low level of overlap was found between DLCS networks and primary instructional networks. Overall, study findings suggest that teacher networks are not well-structured to support the flow of DLCS advice and support. The authors conclude that examining and strengthening teacher networks of instructional support may be a crucial step for educational leaders concerned with school improvement and the diffusion of DLCS curricula in US schools.
INCREASING METHAMPHETAMINE-ASSOCIATED HEART FAILURE HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Methamphetamine abuse is on the rise in the U.S. Much like cocaine and alcohol, methamphetamine has been implicated in the development heart failure (HF). The epidemiology of patients who abuse methamphetamine admitted with acute heart failure (MethHF) is undefined. Using the National Inpatient
Effect of Methylene Blue Administration on Vasoplegia Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Purpose Vasoplegia is a frequent complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The effectiveness of methylene blue (MB) for vasoplegia in these patients has not been adequately studied. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 20 LVAD recipients who received a single postoperative dose of MB in the intensive care unit (ICU) for apparent vasoplegia between April 2015 and May 2018. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) were determined hourly until 12 hours post-MB dosing. VIS = vasopressin (x10000) (U/kg/min) + dopamine + dobutamine + milrinone (x10) + epinephrine (x100) + norepinephrine (x100) (ug/kg/min). Response was defined as ≥ 20% decrease in VIS. Results Median age was 61.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53-64.3), and 16 patients (80%) were male. MB was given at a median dose of 2 mg/kg (IQR 1-2) at a median time of 474 minutes (IQR 345-643) postoperatively. At time of dosing, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 75.2 ± 6.2 mmHg, VIS was 36.2 ± 10.6, CI was 2.9 ± 0.7 L/min/m2, and SVR was 1006.2 ± 258.1 dynes/sec/cm-5. MB dosing was followed by a significant decrease (p = 0.0001) in VIS beginning at 2 hours post-MB to a peak change of -26 ± 0.19% at 8 hours (Figure). There was no significant change in MAP, CI, or SVR. Fifteen patients (75%) were responders. There was a significantly higher incidence of prior cardiac surgery in non-responders (80%) versus responders (20%) (p = 0.03). There were no differences in ICU and hospital length of stay, postoperative right ventricular assist device requirement, or in-hospital mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion Postoperative MB administration was followed by a rapid decrease in vasopressor and inotrope requirement in LVAD recipients. The clinical significance of this positive effect remains unclear. Reoperation was associated with a decreased response to MB.
Population divergence time estimation using individual lineage label switching

Abstract Divergence time estimation from multilocus genetic data has become common in population genetics and phylogenetics. We present a new Bayes inference method that treats the divergence time as a random variable. The divergence time is calculated from an assembly of splitting events on individual lineages in a genealogy. The waiting time for such a splitting event is drawn from a hazard function of the truncated normal distribution. This allows easy integration into the standard coalescence framework used in programs such as MIGRATE. We explore the accuracy of the new inference method with simulated population splittings over a wide range of divergence time values and with a dataset of the Zika virus; the geographic analyses of the expansion of the pathogen follows a trajectory from Africa to Asia to America, corroborating analyses based only on the dates of incidences. Evaluations of simple divergence models show high accuracy, whereas the accuracy of the results of isolation with migration (IM) models depend on the magnitude of the immigration rate and potentially on the number of samples. High immigration rates lead to a time of the most recent common ancestor of the sample that predates the divergence time, thus loses any potential signal of the divergence event in the sample data. This reduced accuracy with high immigration rates is problematic for all IM methods, including ours.
Later Years in Colorado

Several appendices present details on my scholarly efforts, involvement in various professional associations, and travels. The present chapter is intended to report about memorable events during the years after the first decade or so in Colorado. Although I have lived in many different places in my life (in Germany, where I was born, and in a number of places in the northeastern United States), I have been in Colorado longer than anywhere else, and Colorado has become my home state.
FDA’s (Lack of) Training Requirements for Clinical Trials

Q: What kind of training is “required” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for staff involved in the conduct and management of clinical trials? A: This is one of the most frequently discussed and misinterpreted questions that is asked regarding clinical trials. The Investigational
The effects of a humorous video on memory for orthodontic treatment consent information.

Introduction Communication of treatment information is critical in orthodontics. The challenge lies in doing so effectively such that patients will understand and remember, which is the definition of true informed consent. Previous studies have established that information is more readily remembered when presented using multimedia presentations. Likewise, humor has been shown to increase information retention. Methods Two videos, 1 humorous (H) and 1 unhumorous (U), were produced with identical information about orthodontic treatment consent. Thirty-eight new orthodontic patients were randomly selected and divided into H (n = 20) and U (n = 18) video groups. Identical questionnaires with multiple-choice responses to judge memory of the content were completed by both groups immediately after watching the video (T1) and 6 weeks later (T2). A one-tailed Welch's t test was used to analyze the scores. Results At T1, there was no significant difference in the scores of the questionnaire between H and U groups, whereas at T2, there was a significant difference between groups. The intragroup score difference was also analyzed, with a significant decrease from T1 to T2 in the U, but not H, group. Subjective questions were also asked regarding content. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding the informativeness of each video; however, willingness to watch again and memorability of the content were significantly higher in the H group. Conclusions Patients who received orthodontic treatment information presented with humor retained significantly more of that information after 6 weeks compared with patients who received the same information without humor. Patients who received the humorous content subjectively stated they were more likely to rewatch the video and also found the information presented in this manner to be more memorable.
Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis 2015 to 2017, the Rise of Escherichia coli, and the Need for Novel Prevention Strategies.

Importance Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a potentially fatal newborn condition. Ongoing surveillance is critical to optimize prevention and treatment strategies. Objective To describe the current incidence, microbiology, morbidity, and mortality of EOS among a cohort of term and preterm infants. Design, setting, and participants This prospective surveillance study included a cohort of infants born at a gestational age (GA) of at least 22 weeks and birth weight of greater than 400 g from 18 centers of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from June 14, 2019, to January 28, 2020. Main outcomes and measures Early-onset sepsis defined by isolation of pathogenic species from blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture within 72 hours of birth and antibiotic treatment for at least 5 days or until death. Results A total of 235 EOS cases (127 male [54.0%]) were identified among 217 480 newborns (1.08 [95% CI, 0.95-1.23] cases per 1000 live births). Incidence varied significantly by GA and was highest among infants with a GA of 22 to 28 weeks (18.47 [95% CI, 14.57-23.38] cases per 1000). No significant differences in EOS incidence were observed by sex, race, or ethnicity. The most frequent pathogens were Escherichia coli (86 [36.6%]) and group B streptococcus (GBS; 71 [30.2%]). E coli disease primarily occurred among preterm infants (68 of 131 [51.9%]); GBS disease primarily occurred among term infants (54 of 104 [51.9%]), with 24 of 45 GBS cases (53.3%) seen in infants born to mothers with negative GBS screening test results. Intrapartum antibiotics were administered to 162 mothers (68.9%; 110 of 131 [84.0%] preterm and 52 of 104 [50.0%] term), most commonly for suspected chorioamnionitis. Neonatal empirical antibiotic treatment most frequently included ampicillin and gentamicin. All GBS isolates were tested, but only 18 of 81 (22.2%) E coli isolates tested were susceptible to ampicillin; 6 of 77 E coli isolates (7.8%) were resistant to both ampicillin and gentamicin. Nearly all newborns with EOS (220 of 235 [93.6%]) displayed signs of illness within 72 hours of birth. Death occurred in 38 of 131 infected infants with GA of less than 37 weeks (29.0%); no term infants died. Compared with earlier surveillance (2006-2009), the rate of E coli infection increased among very low-birth-weight (401-1500 g) infants (8.68 [95% CI, 6.50-11.60] vs 5.07 [95% CI, 3.93-6.53] per 1000 live births; P = .008). Conclusions and relevance In this study, EOS incidence and associated mortality disproportionately occurred in preterm infants. Contemporary cases have demonstrated the limitations of current GBS prevention strategies. The increase in E coli infections among very low-birth-weight infants warrants continued study. Ampicillin and gentamicin remained effective antibiotics in most cases, but ongoing surveillance should monitor antibiotic susceptibilities of EOS pathogens.
Abstract CT183: CD5+ B-cell count is a favorable prognostic factor associated with progression-free survival in glioblastoma patients receiving chemoradiation and pembrolizumab

The exploratory endpoint for our prospective single-arm study (NCT 03347617) evaluated longitudinal changes in immune cell sub-populations (B-cells, T-cells, NK cells, monocytes, and myeloid cells) in 25 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who received standard of care chemoradiation with concurrent pembrolizumab after maximal safe resection. Patient demographics included the following: 15 males, 10 females, age range 25-72 years old, mean age 52 years old, 8 MGMT unmethylated, 17 MGMT methylated, 7 IDH1 mutant, and 18 IDH1 wild-type. Flow cytometry was performed on blood collected at predetermined timepoints (pre-treatment, post-radiation, suspected progression, and confirmed progression) and immune cell sub-populations were evaluated as covariates in survival analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression in R. CD5+ CD19+ B-cell count was significantly associated with progression-free survival at pre-treatment (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.76; likelihood ratio test (LRT) p=0.029) and post-radiation (HR = 0.16; LRT p=0.004) timepoints. No association with progression-free survival was found in 25 other immune cell sub-populations evaluated. The study will continue to monitor for progression. Results of imaging, tissue histology, overall survival analysis and functional studies in animal models are pending. Investigations of the immunological mechanisms underlying the potential anti-tumor activity of CD5+ B-cells are ongoing and include detection and characterization of anti-tumor antibodies, T cell-dependence of the response, and whether it is triggered by pembrolizumab. Modulating CD5+ B-cells, or the antibodies they produce, may have therapeutic implications in improving checkpoint inhibition in glioblastoma. Citation Format: Cheryl J. Claunch, Claire Diaz, Riley A. Roth-Carter, Lauren Popp, Rochelle Fu, Amy E. Huddleston, Dana L. Moussalli, Julie Peterson, Kutluay Uluc, Laszlo Szidonya, Guang Fan, Ferdinando Pucci, Ramon F. Barajas, Leslie L. Muldoon, Edward A. Neuwelt, Prakash Ambady. CD5+ B-cell count is a favorable prognostic factor associated with progression-free survival in glioblastoma patients receiving chemoradiation and pembrolizumab [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT183.
Aural polyps in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

Abstract This case report discusses the unusual finding of aural polyps as a manifestation of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). A 55-year-old patient with a history of AERD, persistent otorrhea, and mixed hearing loss was found to have bilateral aural polyps and tympanic membrane perforations. He was treated with steroid and antibiotic otic drops and aspirin desensitization, with plans for future aural polypectomy and bone anchored hearing aid due to persistent hearing loss. Several prior cases of aural polyps have been reported in association with AERD, with treatment ranging from otic drops and oral steroids to surgical intervention and aspirin desensitization. Aural polyps may be a more common manifestation of AERD than previously thought and may require surgical intervention despite maximal medical therapy.
Renal lymphatic vessel dynamics

Similar to other organs, renal lymphatics remove excess fluid, solutes, and macromolecules from the renal interstitium. Given the kidney’s unique role in maintaining body fluid homeostasis, renal l...
Understanding FLT3 Inhibitor Resistance to Rationalize Combinatorial AML Therapies

Summary: Patients treated with Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor–based acute myeloid leukemia therapies nearly always develop resistance. In this issue, Alotaibi and colleagues describe the patterns of mutations that emerge upon relapse after FLT3 inhibitor therapy after initial response, as well as in treatment-refractory disease in a single-institution study; the findings offer insights for sequential therapies targeting the dominant clone at the time of relapse. See related article by Alotaibi et al. (5).
The effects of myelin on macrophage activation are phenotypic specific via cPLA 2 in the context of spinal cord injury inflammation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) produces chronic, pro-inflammatory macrophage activation that impairs recovery. The mechanisms driving this chronic inflammation are not well understood. Here, we detail the effects of myelin debris on macrophage physiology and demonstrate a novel, activation state-dependent role for cytosolic phospholipase-A2 (cPLA2) in myelin-mediated potentiation of pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. We hypothesized that cPLA2 and myelin debris are key mediators of persistent pro-inflammatory macrophage responses after SCI. To test this, we examined spinal cord tissue 28-days after thoracic contusion SCI in 3-month-old female mice and observed both cPLA2 activation and intracellular accumulation of lipid-rich myelin debris in macrophages. In vitro, we utilized bone marrow-derived macrophages to determine myelin’s effects across a spectrum of activation states. We observed phenotype-specific responses with myelin potentiating only pro-inflammatory (LPS + INF-γ; M1) macrophage activation, whereas myelin did not induce pro-inflammatory responses in unstimulated or anti-inflammatory (IL-4; M2) macrophages. Specifically, myelin increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide production in M1 macrophages as well as M1-mediated neurotoxicity. PACOCF3 (cPLA2 inhibitor) blocked myelin’s detrimental effects. Collectively, we provide novel spatiotemporal evidence that myelin and cPLA2 play an important role in the pathophysiology of SCI inflammation and the phenotype-specific response to myelin implicate diverse roles of myelin in neuroinflammatory conditions.
The case for NLP-enhanced database tuning: towards tuning tools that "read the manual"

A large body of knowledge on database tuning is available in the form of natural language text. We propose to leverage natural language processing (NLP) to make that knowledge accessible to automat...
Evaluating the Experiences of New and Existing Teledermatology Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

Background: As teledermatology has been widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to examine patients' experiences and satisfaction with teledermatology. Objective: We aimed to assess the teledermatology experiences of new and existing clinic patients in the context of the rapid shift toward teledermatology practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 184 teledermatology patients who were assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic at a major southeastern medical center from May 13 to June 5, 2020. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction levels among new and existing patients. The secondary outcome was patients' willingness to use teledermatology in the future. Results: Of the 288 teledermatology patients who were assessed during the study period, 184 (63.9%) completed the survey. Patients reported high overall satisfaction with teledermatology, with 86.4% (159/184) of participants reporting positive overall satisfaction and experiences with teledermatology. New patients had significantly higher Likert scores for overall satisfaction with teledermatology than those of follow-up patients (new patients: mean 4.70; existing patients: mean 4.43; P=.03). Overall, patients' satisfaction with teledermatology did not significantly differ based on age (P=.36), race and ethnicity (P=.46), education level (P=.11), residence (P=.74), or insurance status (P=.74). There were no significant differences in overall satisfaction between patients with and without prior telehealth experience (P=.53), between the video and telephone visit types (P=.17), and among platform types (P=.22). Prior telehealth experience was associated with higher odds of being willing to use telehealth in the future (odds ratio 2.39, 95% CI 1.31-4.35; P=.004). Conclusions: This cross-sectional survey study demonstrates that during the rapid expansion of teledermatology, new clinic patients had significantly higher scores for overall satisfaction with their teledermatology experience compared to those of established clinic patients (P=.03). Prior telehealth experience was associated with higher odds of being willing to use teledermatology in the future. Overall, teledermatology expansion was met with high levels of patient satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Positivity Rate of [18F]Fluciclovine PET/CT in Patients with Suspected Prostate Cancer Recurrence at PSA Levels Below 1 ng/mL

Early and precise localization of recurrent prostate cancer lesions after local therapy facilitates optimal disease management. Here, we present results from a single-center study to evaluate the utility of [18F]fluciclovine PET/CT to localize prostate cancer recurrence in patients with PSA 0–<0.2, 0.2–<0.5, and 0.5–<1 ng/mL, the overall PR was 43% (10/23), 70% (35/50), and 55% (22/40), respectively. In the prostate/bed, these were 13% (3/23), 50% (25/50), and 30% (12/40), respectively, and in extraprostatic lesions were 30% (7/23), 44% (22/50), and 33% (13/40), respectively. Pelvic lymph nodes were the most common site for extraprostatic lesions (29/113, 26%). PR in extrapelvic lymph nodes, bone, and soft tissue were 8.0%, 12%, and 3.5%, respectively. Soft tissue lesions comprised lung nodules (n=3) and a perirectal mass implant (n=1). Despite low PSA values, more than half of patients had positive [18F]fluciclovine PET/CT findings. Patients with low PSA levels may demonstrate suspicious findings outside of the pelvis, including abdominal lymph nodes and metastatic disease to bones and lungs.