cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Content Aware Request Distribution for High Performance Web Service: A Performance Study

An abstract of the thesis by Robert M. Jones for the Master of Science in Computer Science presented July 12, 2002. Title: Content Aware Request Distribution for High Performance Web Service: A Performance Study The World Wide Web is becoming a basic infrastructure for a variety of services, and the increases in audience size and client network bandwidth create service demands that are outpacing server capacity. Web clusters are one solution to this need for highperformance, highly available web server systems. We are interested in load distribution techniques, specifically Layer-7 algorithms that are content-aware. Layer7 algorithms allow distribution control based on the specific content requested, which is advantageous for a system that offers highly heterogenous services. We examine the performance of the Client Aware Policy (CAP) on a Linux/Apache web cluster consisting of a single web switch that directs requests to a pool of dual-processor SMP nodes. We show that the performance advantage of CAP over simple algorithms such as random and round-robin is as high as 29% on our testbed consisting of a mixture of static and dynamic content. Under heavily loaded conditions however, the performance decreases to the level of random distribution. In studying SMP vs. uniprocessor performance using the same number of processors with CAP distribution, we find that SMP dual-processor nodes under moderate workload levels provide equivalent throughput as the same number of CPU’s in a uniprocessor cluster. As workload increases to a heavily loaded state however, the SMP cluster shows reduced throughput compared to a cluster using uniprocessor nodes. We show that the web cluster’s maximum throughput increases linearly with the addition of more nodes to the server pool. We conclude that CAP is advantageous over random or round-robin distribution under certain conditions for highly dynamic workloads, and suggest some future enhancements that may improve its performance. CONTENT AWARE REQUEST DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE WEB SERVICE:
Analysis of results of monitoring of cholera in Longgang District of Shenzhen from l994 to 2008

Aim To investigate the relationship between cholera prevalemce and external enviroment.Methods The data concerning prevalence,monitoring and control of cholera in Longgang District from l994 to 2008 were collected and analyzed.Results Totally 39 004 specimen were collected from 1994 to and 2008,and 69 Cholera bacillus were detected with a detection rate of 0.18%.The Ogawa Vibrio cholerae was prevalent beore 2000,and Inaba Vibrio cholerae was prevalent after 2001.The detection rate of Vibrio cholerae in external environment specimen was higher than that of diarrhea cases and food specimen.The prevalence of cholera was positively correlated with water sources and vectors in external environment(r=0.745,P0.01)especially water resources(r=0.750,P0.01).Conclusion The occurrence of cholera was highly correlated with the monitoring results in external environment.Thus the monitoring of water sources and other external environment be strengthened.
The importance of surgeon-reviewed computed tomography for incisional hernia detection: a prospective study.

Abstract Patients with incisional hernias or abdominal pain are frequently referred with abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a CT radiology report for the detection of incisional hernias. General surgery patients with a history of an abdominal operation and a recent viewable abdominal CT scan were enrolled prospectively. Patients with a stoma, fistula, or soft tissue infection were excluded. The results of the radiology reports were compared with blinded, surgeon-interpreted CT for each patient. Testing characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. One hundred eighty-one patients were enrolled with a mean age of 54 years. Sixty-eight per cent were women. Hernia prevalence was 55 per cent, and mean hernia width was 5.2 cm. The radiology report had a sensitivity and specificity of 79 per cent and 94 per cent, respectively, for hernia diagnosis. The PPV and NPV were 94 and 79 per cent, respectively. Reliance on the CT report alone underestimates the presence of incisional hernia. Referring physicians should not use CT as a screening modality for detection of hernias. Referral to a surgeon for evaluation before imaging may provide more accurate diagnosis and potentially decrease the cost of caring for this population.
The role of the pediatrician in the adolescent's school.

Whether the setting for medical care delivery is the pediatrician’s office or the school itself, successful school health models call for good communication and interaction between educators and physicians. In addition, parents and peers can be influential transmitters of health education to teenagers.
A Simple Method for Assessment of Association Between Synanthropic Flies and Trachoma

Abstract In some areas of endemic trachoma, muscoid flies may play a significant role in transmission of this serious eye infection. A simple and practical method of quantifying the relative household density of synanthropic flies has been developed for use in epidemiological field surveys. The method uses two boards moistened with a 10% sucrose solution. The fly scores showed good reproducibility at the same sampling site during the day and on different days. The only flies identified were Musca sorbens, showing their local density and a significant association of this fly with the presence of inflammatory trachoma in children.
Variation in plasma concentration in man.

Abstract Diurnal, day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month variations in plasma cholesterol were measured in normal “free living” individuals who were on ad libitum diets. A small and inconstant diurnal variation (6 mg%) was observed during the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm. Three daily cholesterol determinations showed little variability from day to day. The standard deviation of the day-to-day cholesterol measurements was found to be 11 mg%. The average weekly cholesterol variability was 14 percent; the month-to-month variation was 13 percent. The variability of cholesterol levels within an individual was found to be much less than that among subjects. Accordingly, assessment of treatment on an individual basis rather than on a group average must be carefully considered.
Combination immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies.

Purpose of review Combination immunotherapy has already shown promise in several tumor types, such as melanoma and nonsmall cell lung cancer, and studies are ongoing to evaluate this approach in other malignancies. Trials such as these will only continue to expand as additional immune therapies are shown to have efficacy as single agents in cancer. The purpose of this review is to outline the current landscape of immunotherapy in genitourinary cancer, and to highlight ongoing and pending combination immunotherapy trials in bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers. Recent findings Immunotherapy agents have long been a part of the treatment armamentarium for patients with bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers, contributing to responses with variable toxicities.In the last year, checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has been Food and Drug Administration approved for renal and bladder cancer, whereas novel vaccines continue to be tested in prostate cancer. The efficacy coupled with mostly mild toxicity of modern immunotherapy make these agents perfect vehicles for combination, sequence, or priming studies to maximize benefit. Published and recently presented combination immunotherapy studies in genitourinary malignancies are summarized. Summary Immune therapy strategies are integral to the treatment of bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers. Though the current experience with combination immunotherapy in these cancers is limited, ongoing and maturing studies of combination immunotherapy discussed herein may lead to improved outcomes for patients and change in standard of care. What is learned from correlative data on tumor microenvironment and systemic immune response before, during and following immunotherapy will be integral to the future design of combination immunotherapy trials.
Older patients with early-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the role of consolidation radiotherapy after chemoimmunotherapy.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the association between RT and overall survival for older patients (>60 years) with early-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) using standard and propensity score (PS)-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. From 1998 to 2012, 2207 patients were over the age of 60 years, received chemoimmunotherapy with or without RT and were included in this study. Use of consolidation RT was associated with lower clinical stage, head/neck involved site, lack of ‘B’ symptoms, lower co-morbidity score, and higher socioeconomic status (all p < .05). Examining 1721 patients for survival outcomes (1998–2008), the 5-year overall survival for patients receiving RT was 80.1% versus 69.8% for those not receiving RT (p < .01). After PS-matching for co-variates, RT use remained associated with improved overall survival (HR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.51–0.79, p < .01). Over the study period, RT utilization decreased from 38.5% to 28.8%. Consolidation RT was associated with improved O...
Water entry of compliant slender bodies: Theory and experiments

Abstract Hydroelastic phenomena play a critical role on the dynamics of lightweight marine vessels, but a comprehensive understanding of their potential benefits and drawbacks in water impact remains elusive. In contrast with the literature on hydroelastic impact that focuses on plane strain deformations and two-dimensional fluid flows, we address the water entry of compliant slender bodies. We propose a mathematically-tractable framework to predict the rigid body motion and elastic deformation of a beam impacting the water surface in free fall. At each location on the beam, the hydrodynamic loading is determined from the level of submersion of the cross-section and its local velocity and acceleration. Slamming, added mass, and drag are all included in the model and cogently weighted based on the level of submersion of the cross-section. Edge effects are incorporated in the model through a shape function that modulates the hydrodynamic loading as a function of the distance from the edges. Model predictions are validated through experiments on compliant beams of circular cross-section, which detail both the structural response and the resulting flow physics, through the integration of high-speed imaging, direct acceleration measurement, and particle image velocimetry. Results of this study are expected to aid in the design of lightweight ship hulls, experiencing dynamic bending deformations during sailing and maneuvering.
Biomimetic Virulomics for Capture and Identification of Cell-Type Specific Effector Proteins

An unmet challenge in the study of disease is to accurately streamline the identification of important virulence factors. Traditional, genetically driven approaches miss biologically relevant markers due to discordance between the genome and proteome. Here, we developed a nanotechnology-enabled affinity enrichment strategy coupled with multiplexed quantitative proteomics, namely Biomimetic Virulomics, for successful identification of cell-type specific effector proteins of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens. We highlight the power of Biomimetic Virulomics by capturing known virulence factors in a high-throughput, cell-type guided fashion. Additionally, a comprehensive characterization of the membrane protein component of biomimetics utilized in this strategy is provided. Interfacing cell-derived nanomaterials with multiplexed quantitative proteomics allow for a specific targeting strategy of virulence factors that can be utilized for drug discovery against prominent human diseases.
Irrelevance of “Public Use” in State Eminent Domain Reforms:

“Public use” is a constitutional limitation on the governmental authority to take private property using eminent domain. This study finds that it is irrelevant, an artifact of the federal constitution, in state reforms enacted in the last decade. Expansive language permitting economic development and private development have rendered public use to be merely symbolic. Forty-six states enacted takings reforms following Kelo v. New London, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2005; approximately 80% of those states allow economic or private takings while also invoking the public use. This mixed-method analysis and normative theoretical grounding explain stark contradictions in the prevailing reforms nationwide, resulting in substantive implementation challenges that may be mitigated by sensitivity to regime values, one of which is property.
Decentralization and democratic participation: The effect of subnational self-rule on voting in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract Previous literature on the consequences of decentralization has demonstrated a positive effect on voter participation in subnational elections. However, does this positive effect also extend to national level elections? This paper evaluates the consequences of decentralization-level political participation. Our approach innovates by disaggregating decentralization to uncover the specific dimensions that matter for voting participation. We argue that self-rule (or the authority that subnational units exercise in their own territory) is closely associated with vertical accountability and positively affects voting participation. Moreover, we find that political dimensions of self-rule matter more than fiscal dimensions. Shared-rule (or the authority that subnational units exercise in the country as a whole) has no significant effect on participation since it is more closely related to horizontal accountability. We test our theory in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries using a hierarchical model with 2010 data at the national and individual-level.
Social Media Use from the Citizen Engagement Perspective: The Case of Twitter in New York and Chicago Participatory Budgeting

Recently, social media is regarded as an advanced information and communication tool to enable ordinary citizens and public administrators to more easily and efficiently communicate with each other and work together to address complex social problems. In this study from the public involvement perspective we aimed at examining how social media is used at the local level in the U.S., especially in participatory budgeting (PB) process. We conducted content analysis and social network analysis by using collected data from the Twitter networks of the two U.S. cities implemented PB (Chicago and New York City). We found that Twitter is primarily used for information dissemination from the PB initiatives to citizens, rather than for getting public inputs and facilitating public discourse. Also, too little people currently use Twitter in their PB processes and the communications in the social media networks seem inactive and non-reciprocal. We suggest PB communities to develop integrative strategies for engaging a wide range of citizens and community stakeholders by using social media. And such strategies on social media need to aim at giving more people easy access to not only to government but also to citizens each other, and facilitating collaborations and partnerships between ordinary citizens and public administrators.
S2A:4 Validation of remission and lupus low disease activity state as predictors of organ damage in sle

Background/purpose Outcome measures that combine control of SLE activity and prednisone reduction are clinically relevant. A clinical goal in SLE is to reduce risk of long-term organ damage. We assessed whether two recently proposed disease activity outcomes were predictive of future damage. Methods For each month of follow-up in a large SLE cohort, we determined whether the patient was in Clinical Remission (as defined by the DORIS working group) or lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) (as defined by Franklyn et al. ). Clinical Remission was defined as a PGA Results There were 81 118 person-months observed among 2026 patients (92% female, 53% Caucasian, 39% African-American). Table 1 shows the rates of damage, per person month, in subgroups defined by Remission or LLDAS. Damage rates were relatively low when LLDAS was achieved at least 50% of the time. These rates were similar to those experienced by patients who met a more stringent treatment restriction with Remission on Treatment at least 50% of the time. Conclusion Percent time in LLDAS had a clear dose response for rate ratios of organ damage. The equivalence of LLDAS and DORIS remission on treatment is welcome news, as LLDAS on treatment >50% of the time is an easier goal to achieve (3 times more person-months observed in our cohort) and more realistic as a clinical trial outcome.
Chained of Things: A Secure and Dependable Design of Autonomous Vehicle Services

Car manufacturers are investing heavily in Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) because of their increasing popularity. AVs employ a combination of high-tech sensors and innovative algorithms to detect and respond to their surroundings, including radar, laser light, GPS, odometer, drive-by-wire control systems, and computer vision. When a user requests for a ride share or rent, the responding AV/IoT device does not have the sufficient capability to store, process, or verify each other. Currently, every AV/IoT device typically needs to rely on a trusted third party, which invokes another trust issue. If the trusted third party is rogue or loses credibility, the whole system will collapse. This paper introduces Chained of Things Framework and develops a blockchain-based secure ride-sharing service between passengers and autonomous vehicles. We implement an initial prototype and provide our initial results based on a proposed protocol.
Curved Structures That Can Elastically Snap-Through

Curved structures, such as beams, arches and panels are capable of exhibiting snap-through buckling behavior when loaded laterally. However, the propensity to maintain a stable snapped-through equilibrium position (in addition to the nominally unloaded equilibrium configuration) after the load is removed depends on certain geometric properties. A number of clamped arches are used to illustrate the relation between geometry (thickness, span, initial deflection) and the corresponding equilibrium configuration(s). The finite element method and an elastica analysis compare well with a number of specifically-shaped arches produced using a 3D printer.
Comet brightness parameters: Definition, determination, and correlations

The power-law definition of comet brightness is reviewed and possible systematic influences are discussed that can affect the derivation of m sub o and n values from visual magnitude estimates. A rationale for the Bobrovnikoff aperture correction method is given and it is demonstrated that the Beyer extrafocal method leads to large systematic effects which if uncorrected by an instrumental relationship result in values significantly higher than those derived according to the Bobrovnikoff guidelines. A series of visual brightness parameter sets are presented which have been reduced to the same photometric system. Recommendations are given to insure that future observations are reduced to the same system.
Medications That Require Hepatic Monitoring

The following list of drugs that require hepatic monitoring first appeared in our drug information newsletter. The list was compiled by our drug information department—based on commonly asked questions—and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Much, if not all, of the information is available from package inserts and other sources of information. There aren’t any clinical pearls here, simply a compilation of most drugs for which monitoring of liver function tests (LFTs) is recommended. As always, sound clinical judgement must be exercised when deciding if an individual patient needs LFTs; therefore, monitoring depends on the casespecific needs and circumstances. Readers are welcome to e-mail additions, corrections, deletions, or comments. REFERENCES 1. Micromedex Health Care Series; Englewood, CO; Micromedex Inc. Expires December 2000. 2. Hutchison TA, Shahan, DR, Anderson ML (eds.): Drugdex System. Englewood, CO; Micromedex Inc. Expires: December 2000. 3. Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; October 2000.
Community Supervision and Diversion in the United States

With over 5 million adults on some form of community supervision, this article examines the current practices related to community supervision and diversion in the United States. Specifically, four types of diversion are outlined, including (1) complete diversion; (2) justice leverage diversion; (3) probation diversion; and (4) enhanced diversion. The empirical evidence surrounding each type of leverage is provided. A research agenda for the future is provided.
Left ventricular assist device implantation improves glycaemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims Heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) often coexist and have bidirectional association. Advanced HF is associated with worsened glycaemic control. This meta-analysis investigated the effects of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on markers of DM control. Methods and results We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE and Cochrane through October 2017 to identify studies evaluating advanced HF patients who had received an LVAD and reported markers of glycaemic control. The primary outcome was glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and the secondary outcomes included fasting glucose, daily insulin requirements, and body mass index (BMI). Outcomes were pooled using a Hartung-Knapp random-effects model producing a mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Thirteen studies, including 820 participants, were included. HbA1c was 1.23% lower following LVAD implantation (95% CI -1.49 to -0.98). Greater HbA1c reductions were seen with higher pre-LVAD values. Similarly, fasting plasma glucose (-24.4 mg/dL, 95% CI -33.4 to -15.5), daily insulin requirements (-18.8 units, 95% CI -28.8 to -8.7), and serum creatinine levels (MD -0.20, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.06) were significantly lower than pre-LVAD levels. We saw no difference in BMI (MD 0.09, 95% CI -1.24 to 1.42). Conclusions LVAD implantation was associated with significant improvement in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and daily insulin need in advanced HF patients.
2D Ferroelectric $\pmb{\mathrm{CuInP}_{2}\mathrm{S}_{6}}$ : Synthesis, ReRAM, and FeRAM

2D ferroelectric-gated field-effect transistors are promising for future non-volatile memory and low-power logic applications, to combine the advantage of both 2D semiconductors and ferroelectric insulators [1]–[3]. However, the non-ideal 2D semiconductor/3D insulator interface results in interface traps which degrade the device performance, variability and reliability. To integrate 2D semiconductor together with 2D ferroelectric insulator as 2D van der Waals heterostructure ferroelectric field-effect transistors (Fe-FETs) can eliminate the interface trap issue and achieve ideal insulator/semiconductor interface in principle. Copper indium thiophosphate $(\mathrm{CuInP}_{2}\mathrm{S}_{6}$ , CIPS) is a novel two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric material with layered single crystal structure and decent ambient stability [4]–[6]. Furthermore, it illustrates not only clear room temperature ferroelectric property with Curie point around 315 K, but also ferroelectric resistive switching characteristic.
The utilization of cytologic and small biopsy samples for ancillary molecular testing

There has recently been an increased emphasis on the utilization of cytologic samples and small biopsies for not only diagnostic purposes but also for ancillary testing. In some instances, the ancillary tests contribute to the diagnosis and in other scenarios, they provide prognostic and theranostic information for the management of patients with advanced stage cancer. These ancillary tests include immunohistochemical biomarker analysis, molecular mutation analysis, and cytogenetic tests. Despite the finite nature of the cellular material procured in cytologic and small tissue biopsies, pathologists are tasked with ordering an increasing number of tests using these limited samples. This requires the pathologists to utilize and triage these samples in an optimal fashion so that as much information can be gleaned from a given specimen. This review will focus on the pre-analytic requirements for ancillary molecular and cytogenetic tests in the context of a discussion of the various preparation methods for cytologic and small biopsy specimens. The goal will be to provide the reader with the necessary concepts that can be utilized to develop optimal specimen selection and triage strategies to maximize the chances of effectively utilizing these samples for comprehensive diagnostic and relevant ancillary testing purposes.
African Americans: Colorism in Morrow v. IRS Litigation:

Walker v. Secretary of Treasury, IRS (Internal Revenue Service) served as a landmark case in shaping the legal context of color-based discrimination in the workplace. As the first case of colorism ...
Sensory basis of navigation in snakes: the relative importance of eyes and pit organs

Animal movements govern most ecological interactions, from predation to reproduction and survival. How animals move through the environment depends on available sensory information. Some snakes are able to perceive infrared (IR) radiation in addition to visible light. Research on this sensory system has been almost exclusively focused on predation, and researchers have largely found that vision and IR compensate for each other when one or the other is absent. However, IR sensing likely has much broader functions, including navigation in the environment. Many features in the environment of pit vipers are both visually and thermally salient and could be used for orientation. Here, we tested how vision and IR sensing interact in sidewinder rattlesnakes, Crotalus cerastes, in a simple navigation task in the field. Unlike in a predatory context, IR sensing did not compensate for the lack of vision. Snake movement paths were more tortuous, and snakes were less likely to encounter landmarks when eyes where occluded but were unaffected when pit organs were occluded. These findings suggest that the interaction between visual and IR cues may depend on context, and have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of IR sensing.
Can Copyright Holders Do Harm to Their Own Works? A Reverse Theory of Fair Use Market Harm

The fair use doctrine balances the public’s right to make infringing uses of copyrighted works against the owner’s wish to exclude such uses. The effect an infringing use has upon the potential market for the copyrighted work — otherwise referred to as the market harm factor — is one of the most important factors in making that determination. Yet just how can this hypothetical, potential harm be determined? This is the question that courts and commentators alike have struggled with for as long as fair use has been a defense — and a question that has become even more important as recent fair use doctrine begins to move towards market harm as the single most important factor in the fair use analysis. Conventional wisdom says that only the infringer may harm the market— that is, reduce, supplant, or even destroy the consuming public’s demand— for a plaintiff’s copyrighted works. This Article argues, instead, that a copyright holder’s own actions provide the best evidence of plausible market harm. In examples of what I term a copyright owner’s “negative” uses of her own work — using copyright to police non-copyright interests, engaging in holdup strategies, failing to update Copyright Office records, failing to mitigate damages, or using a copyright for litigation value rather than copyright value — there can be no market harm because the copyright holder has either made an efficient market transaction impossible or else actively chosen to forgo a copyright market for her work (opting instead for copyright-as-litigation-damages). By turning the lens away from the infringer’s conduct and towards the actions of the copyright holder, this Article hopes to open up a broader question about whether we can set fair use doctrine — and copyright policy more broadly— in a way that encourages better, more productive uses of copyrighted works not just by would-be infringers, but rather, by the copyright holder, herself.
Pointwise weyl law for partial bergman kernels

This article is a continuation of a series by the authors on partial Bergman kernels and their asymptotic expasions. We prove a 2-term pointwise Weyl law for semi-classical spectral projections onto sums of eigenspaces of spectral width \(\hbar =k^{-1}\) of Toeplitz quantizations \(\hat{H}_k\) of Hamiltonians on powers \(L^k\) of a positive Hermitian holomorphic line bundle \(L \rightarrow M\) over a Kahler manifold. The first result is a complete asymptotic expansion for smoothed spectral projections in terms of periodic orbit data. When the orbit is ‘strongly hyperbolic’ the leading coefficient defines a uniformly continuous measure on \({\mathbb R}\) and a semi-classical Tauberian theorem implies the 2-term expansion. As in previous works in the series, we use scaling asymptotics of the Boutet-de-Monvel–Sjostrand parametrix and Taylor expansions to reduce the proof to the Bargmann–Fock case.
Putting decisions under the microscope

Ziad Obermeyer is an acting associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and an emergency physician. His teaching and research focus on how algorithms can aid in human decision-making in health care. Previously, he taught at Harvard Medical School, where he received the Early Independence Award, the most prestigious award for early-career scientists given by the US National Institutes of Health.
Testing for Transition

This article describes multiple stages of usability testing that were conducted before and after a large research library’s transition to a new platform for its research guides. A large interdepartmental team sought user feedback on the design, content, and organization of the guide homepage, as well as on individual subject guides. This information was collected using an open-card-sort study, two face-to-face, think-aloud testing protocols, and an online survey. Significant findings include that users need clear directions and titles that incorporate familiar terminology, do not readily understand the purpose of guides, and are easily overwhelmed by excess information, and that many of librarians’ assumptions about the use of library resources may be mistaken. This study will be of value to other library workers seeking insight into user needs and behaviors around online resources.
How Maple Has Improved Student Understanding in Differential Equations

In this talk I will provide a quick tour through some of the different ways in which I have used Maple to improve student understanding of traditional topics in an introductory differential equations course, such as direction fields, the phenomenon of beats, and developing an understanding of solutions to first-order systems in phase space.
Chapter 16 – Periprocedural complications

Publisher Summary The neuropathology of complications of medical procedures includes a broad spectrum of conditions. These complications generally fall into two groups, those that are an expected risk, and those that are unexpected. The latter group includes complications viewed as therapeutic accidents or misadventures. These cases have several medicolegal implications. This chapter serves several purposes. First, it helps determine whether or not a case in which someone claims the results of therapy to be suboptimal is a coroner's case. Second, it suggests special procedures that might be helpful prior to, during, or following examination and dissection of the formalin-fixed brain and spinal cord. Third, it helps determine whether or not neuropathology, surgery, anesthesiology, and/or other specialty consultation is needed to resolve questions. Fourth, it gives some guidelines concerning the determination of appropriate mechanism and mode of death. It is hoped that these purposes will be served through selected citations and case examples representative of several of the major categories of iatrogenic neuropathologic complications. This brief outline of periprocedural errors and complications relevant to neuropathology would be incomplete without including a comment on diagnostic and procedural errors made by pathologists, including forensic pathologists, which can set in motion a chain of events leading to errors in subsequent clinical or judicial decisions. Error analysis and avoidance in pathology is also discussed in this text. In this context, attention is also directed toward the thoughtful concerning error analysis in pathology.
Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related University closings.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, universities across the country abruptly closed campuses and transitioned to remote learning. The effects of these unprecedented closures are unknown. The current study examined reported alcohol consumption during the week prior to and after campus closure at a public university in Northeast Ohio. Analysis of data from 1,958 students, who endorsed using alcohol in the past 30 days, demonstrates that alcohol consumption (amount and frequency) increased as time progressed. Those with more symptoms of depression and anxiety reported greater increases in alcohol consumption (assessed via retrospective timeline follow-back) compared to students with fewer symptoms. Furthermore, students with greater perceived social support reported less alcohol consumption. Together, these findings highlight the need for universities to offer services and programs to students that will minimize risk factors and maximize protective factors in order to reduce or prevent alcohol abuse during the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 patients in a tertiary US hospital: Assessment of clinical course and predictors of the disease severity.

Abstract Introduction Patients with severe COVID-19 can develop ventilator-dependent acute hypoxic respiratory failure (VDAHRF), which is associated with a higher mortality rate. We evaluated the clinical course of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and compared them with the patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation. Characteristics of intubated patients who were successfully weaned from the ventilator were compared with the patients who failed to be extubated or died in the hospital. Objective To investigate the clinical course of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and assess the possible predictors of the disease severity leading to VDAHRF. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective study. The first 129 patients (18 years or older) with COVID-19 admitted to Monmouth Medical Center from March 1st to April 25th, 2020 were included. Results Out of 129 patients, 23.25% (n = 30) required invasive mechanical ventilation, and of those, six patients were successfully weaned from the ventilator. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed increased odds of intubation associated with hypoxemia (odds ratio 17.23, 95% CI 5.206–57.088; p Conclusions Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation were more likely to have older age, male gender, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and obesity. The patients who were successfully weaned from the ventilator were more likely to be younger in age, and none of them had heart failure or CAD.
Sensitive cells extend antibiotic-driven containment of drug-resistant bacterial populations

Abstract Treatment strategies for infectious disease often aim to rapidly clear the pathogen population in hopes of minimizing the potential for antibiotic resistance. However, a number of recent studies highlight the potential of alternative strategies that attempt to inhibit the growth of resistant pathogens by maintaining a competing population of drug-sensitive cells. Unfortunately, to date there is little direct experimental evidence that drug sensitive cells can be leveraged to enhance antibiotic containment strategies. In this work, we combine in vitro experiments in computer-controlled bioreactors with simple mathematical models to show that drug-sensitive cells can enhance our ability to control bacterial populations with antibiotics. To do so, we measured the “escape time” required for drug-resistant E. coli populations to eclipse a threshold density maintained by adaptive antibiotic dosing. While populations containing only resistant cells rapidly escape containment, we found that matched populations with sensitive cells added could be contained for significantly longer. The increase in escape time occurs only when the threshold density–the acceptable bacterial burden–is sufficiently high, an effect that mathematical models attribute to increased competition. The results provide direct experimental evidence linking the presence of sensitive cells to improved control of microbial populations.
New York Sports: Glamour and Grit in the Empire City: Edited by Stephen Norwood, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas Press, 2018, 410 pp., $29.95 (paperback), ISBN 9781682260593

New York City is the epicenter of American sports. No other city in the United States has as long and intimate history with sports or played host to as many culturally significant teams, events and...
Achievement of Self-Reported Goals from a Randomized Trial of Laparoscopic Versus Abdominal Hysterectomy for Benign Indications

Study Objective To assess differences in patient-reported goal achievement in participants undergoing laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy for benign indications. Design A prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting Enrollment was performed at a single, tertiary care academic institution. Patients or Participants Participants over 18 years old undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications were eligible for enrollment. Interventions Laparoscopic hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy. Measurements and Main Results 88 participants were enrolled and included in the final analysis. Each participant listed three self-generated goals hoped to be achieved by undergoing surgery, and rated goal achievement from 1-10, with 1 (goal not achieved) and >8 (goal achieved). Goal achievement at 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months postoperatively was assessed. The length of time to goal achievement (in days) was recorded in both groups. The most commonly stated goals for undergoing hysterectomy were resolution of bleeding, improvement in pain and improved quality of life. There were no significant differences in goal achievement scores at any time point following surgery between groups for any of the three goals. There were no differences in the length of time in goal achievement between laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy in any of the three goals. Regardless of route, over 70% of subjects in both groups achieved the top 3 goals at 12 months, and most achieved goals by 6 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion No differences were noted in goal achievement, nor time to goal achievement in the two groups. Overall, patients experience symptom relief and very high rates of surgical goal achievement following hysterectomy regardless of the route of surgery. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of surgical route on patient-centered goals.
Aristotle on the Nature of Community

This reading of Aristotle's Politics builds on the insight that the history of political philosophy is a series of configurations of nature and reason. Aristotle's conceptualization of nature is unique because it is not opposed to or subordinated to reason. Adriel M. Trott uses Aristotle's definition of nature as an internal source of movement to argue that he viewed community as something that arises from the activity that forms it rather than being a form imposed on individuals. Using these definitions, Trott develops readings of Aristotle's four arguments for the naturalness of the polis, interprets deliberation and the constitution in Politics as the form and final causes of the polis, and reconsiders Aristotle's treatment of slaves and women. Trott then argues that Aristotle is relevant for contemporary efforts to improve and encourage genuine democratic practices.
Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and the role of extra-cellular hemoglobin in perivascular macrophage accumulation

Hemolytic anemia associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) typically occurs in chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. The contributions of chronic and intermittent hypoxia caused by the anemic state and the role of free hemoglobin (Hb) and iron have been debated in the literature. The lifetime cycle of hypoxia in hemolytic anemia is an important contributor to the worsening of pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular disease. However, the role of low, but continuous plasma Hb in combination with hypoxia has not been well studied. As a result we initially designed a rat model to evaluate the specific effects of hypoxia and continuous levels of Hb on the progression of PH in a chronic setting. In this model we observed that Hb delivered by an implanted refillable infusion pump had an additive effect on hypoxia driven PH, even at low Hb plasma concentrations (10-20 µM heme). Our observations were consistent with increased adventitia macrophage accumulation, oxidation and inflammation that consistently lead to more pronounced metrics of enhanced pulmonary vascular remodeling. As a result we suggested this model would be useful to evaluate potential treatments for PH, specifically PH associated with hemolysis. Effective treatments targeted directly at Hb induced PH associated with hemolytic anemia do not presently exist. Sickle cell anemia patients have undetectable levels of the Hb binding protein, haptoglobin (Hp). Therefore we focused our efforts on the study of repeated dose Hp therapy to increase the circulatory Hp pool and maintain plasma Hb in a non-reactive intravascular compartmentalized Hb-Hp complex. Here we review results from several studies utilizing this model, discuss the role of macrophages in PH disease progression, dissect the contributions of hypoxia and Hb in our model and suggest treatment strategies tested to reduce Hbs contribution of progressive complications of PH.
Public Health Versus Court-Sponsored Secrecy

Public health practice - the prevention of disease and injury and the protection of the population - relies on access to information. Legal practice treats information very differently: it is a weapon: has power and value, and it is rarely yielded without getting something in return. Civil litigation uncovers a great deal of otherwise unavailable information about practices and products which may cause disease and injury. However, common practice in and related to lawsuits, trials, and courts, such as protective orders, sealing orders, and confidential settlement agreements, can deprive public health authorities and the public itself of information that might be helpful to prevent disease, injury, disability, and death. This article describes the important debate about court-sponsored secrecy.
The use of steganography to enhance error detection and correction in MPEG-2 video

The transmission of data is always subject to corruption due to errors; however, video transmission, because of its real time nature, must often deal with these errors without retransmission of the corrupted data. Our MPEG-2 compliant codec uses data hiding principles to transmit parity checking information for the DCT coefficients and uses side information (as provided in the MPEG-2 standard) to enhance the recovery of lost differentially encoded values. This information allows for improved resynchronization by correctly resynchronizing at least 7 times as often, reducing the number of macroblocks in error by a factor of 2 and improving the PSNR of error regions by at least 8 dB (in I frames) while uncorrupted picture quality decreases by less than 0.5 dB PSNR. Our work also demonstrates the ability to recover lost differential motion vectors by transmitting final values.
Standardization of the Denver Developmental Screening Test for Armenian children.

Abstract To establish the cultural validity of the Denver Developmental Screening Test norms for Armenian children, a convenience sample of 39 children enrolled in an Armenian elementary school were studied. The results indicate the established norms are valid for children of Armenian culture. The test was first administered in English; items were translated into Armenian only in the case of a questionable initial finding. Language, cultural differences, and child rearing practices contributed to deviations from the norms. These differences should be considered when using the Denver Developmental Screening Test with ethnic groups.
A Review of “Feminism is Queer: The Intimate Connection Between Queer and Feminist Theory”

The uses of the term “queer” and references to queer theory have become widespread in the social sciences, but also in the popular discourse. Whereas this concept holds a potential key to resolving...
The limits of rocket science: A critical review of David Warsh’s Knowledge and the Wealth of Nations

David Warsh presents a history of the development of contemporary neoclassical economics, packaged as a heroic tale of mathematical economists struggling to expand the boundaries of human understanding by injecting ever-more-complex mathematics into economic analysis. Unfortunately, the heroic tale ends up undermining the history and vice versa.
MEASURING ASPIRATIONS, BELONGING, AND PRODUCTIVITY IN SECONDARY STUDENTS: VALIDATION OF THE STUDENT SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT MEASURE

This article proposes a model of student school engagement, comprising aspirations, belonging, and productivity. From this model, items for the Student School Engagement Measure (SSEM) were developed. The SSEM was validated with data from 396 eighth graders in an urban school district. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the second-order empirical model of the SSEM was found to fit the data well, to have good reliability for the three factors, and to be predictive of district-identified risk factors and state standardized academic assessment results. These results suggest that the Student School Engagement Model and the SSEM may be useful tools for understanding which students might be at increased risk for school dropout and how to intervene to support school completion. Recommendations for practitioners and future research are given. C � 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nutritional Requirements of the Cotton Rat and Hamster

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the nutritional requirements of the cotton rat and hamster. The cotton rat is more excitable than the white rat and certain precautions are necessary in the care of these animals, particularly in the care and management of the stock colony. Several studies have demonstrated the susceptibility of the cotton rat to St. Louis encephalitis, Lansing strain of poliomyelitis, and to diphtheria toxin. The importance of the cotton rat in virus studies, investigations is initiated to determine its dietary requirements, particularly of the B vitamins. The cotton rat, can utilize tryptophan to form niacin provided that sufficient tryptophan is present in the diet over that needed for protein synthesis. Satisfactory growth of the cotton rat and hamster is obtained with the use of purified diets. The quantitative requirements of the cotton rat and hamster for thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid are similar to those of the white rat. The cotton rat grows at a more rapid rate when inositol is included in the diet. Additional factors needed for growth and reproduction are present in liver extract.