cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fetal cardiac interventions- worth it?

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease is now firmly established. Large series have confirmed diagnostic accuracy for a wide range of cardiac lesions.1 Diagnosis of some types of congenital heart disease during fetal life provides a potential opportunity for intervention before birth. The rationale for prenatal cardiac intervention for congenital heart defects is compelling. Some congenital heart lesions, particularly those characterised by left or right heart obstruction, are now recognised to be “progressive” with increased severity later in gestation.2 3 If intervention can be undertaken early enough during fetal life then the deterioration which would otherwise have occurred later in gestation should be averted, translating into a better outcome for affected babies. Prenatal intervention for structural cardiac defects has been undertaken with technical success for a number of different cardiac lesions, including critical aortic stenosis,4 5 6 7 8 hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact or severely restrictive atrial septum9 and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.10 11 Such interventions are now feasible with high rates of technical success at an early stage in pregnancy. It would be expected that if the rationale for prenatal intervention is correct, then technical success would be mirrored by a dramatic improvement in outcome. For any intervention being undertaken during fetal life, the potential adverse effects of disturbing the intrauterine environment, should be outweighed by improved fetal cardiac development and postnatal outcome. Procedural complications, precipitation of preterm delivery,12 intrauterine death and maternal complications are therefore crucial in evaluating the overall benefit of such interventions to judge whether prenatal intervention is “worth it”. It should also be emphasised that prenatal intervention is only being considered for a small minority of the whole population of fetuses diagnosed with congenital heart disease. At the Evelina Children’s Hospital, 855 fetuses were …
Avian tuberculosis in a wild turkey.

Abstract A liver from a hunter-harvested wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) from Kansas was evaluated by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. Grossly, the liver contained several grayish-white masses ranging from 0.5–3 cm in diameter. These masses were scattered throughout the parenchyma and bulged from the capsular surface. Histologic examination revealed multifocal to coalescing granulomas with low numbers of acid-fast bacilli within multinucleated giant cells at the periphery of the granulomas. Culture of the liver yielded Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium and low numbers of Staphylococcus intermedius.
Narrative Inquiry and the Search for Connectedness: Practitioners and Academics Developing Public Administration Scholarship

Maintaining a vibrant field of public administration requires ongoing efforts to link the worlds of academic researchers and practitioners. We suggest that research itself, traditionally pursued by academics, is a promising mechanism for making this connection. In particular, researchers and practitioners in public administration can do research together in a way that enhances mutual learning, draws on the strengths of each to create useful knowledge of high quality, appreciates and tolerates of each others' worlds, styles, and contributions. Using research to promote connectedness means rethinking the roles that practitioners and academics play in generating knowledge in the field. In our project, insights from the assumptions and practices of narrative inquiry helped us to identify three research roles for practitioners: as sources of knowledge, as producers of knowledge, and as active consumers who inform the research process.
Reliability of Internet hosts: a case study from the end user's perspective

This paper presents the results of a 40-day reliability study on a set of 97 popular Web sites done from an end user's perspective. Data for the study was acquired by periodically attempting to fetch an HTML file from each Web site and recording the outcome of such attempts. Analysis of the acquired data revealed: (i) 94% of the HTML file fetch requests succeed on average; (ii) most failures last less than 15 minutes; (iii) the underlying network plays a dominant role in determining host accessibility: (a) network related-outages account for a major part of the failures, (b) some network-related outages rendered more than 70% of the hosts inaccessible, and (c) host-related failures tend to be shorter than failures that might involve the network; (vi) the network connectivity is high on the average with 93% of the sites being accessible at any given time; and (vii) the mean availability of the hosts is high (0.993).
Model bank based intelligent control

This paper deals with an intelligent system approach to the problem of control of plants with large parameters variations and multiple operating modes. It is based on the concept of a dynamic model bank - a long-term memory working in conjunction with a recursive learning algorithm that online estimates plant dynamics. The role of the model bank is to accumulate these models that successfully approximate the plant and to further use them to improve the performance of an indirect adaptive control algorithm. The models contained in the bank are used to periodically initialize a recursive least-square estimation procedure in the cases when it cannot provide a satisfactory approximation of the plant. An OWA aggregation operator that is dependent on the performance of individual models is applied to infer the initializing model parameters. The bank is continually updated by summarizing the parameters of the estimated models without requirement for off-line identification.
Retina repair, stem cells and beyond.

In this review, we will explore several studies where stem cells from neural, non-neural and even embryonic cells have been used as potential sources to repair the damage retina. In addition, we will also discuss the possibility of inducing retina regeneration by transdifferentiation of cells present in existing eye tissues, such as, the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE), the Pigmented Ciliary Margin (PCM) and Muller glia cells.
Apoptosis and hematopoiesis in murine fetal liver

The fetal mouse liver (FL) is an organ of intense, but transient, hematopoietic activity during mid-gestation, with erythropoiesis being predominant during days 11 through 16. It therefore seemed reasonable to expect that hematopoietic cytokines, such as erythropoietin (epo), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and stem cell factor (SCF), may play important roles in maintaining a homeostatic balance of erythropoiesis and apoptosis in liver during ontogeny. First, we determined the effects of these growth factors on hematopoiesis by measuring colony formation and hemoglobin synthesis of cultured FLs. Secondly, we determined the protection from apoptosis afforded by these cytokines, using electrophoretic analysis of DNA and by flow cytometry of FL cells deprived in culture of epo, IL-3, and SCF. Erythropoietin was necessary and alone sufficient for hemoglobin synthesis in colony-forming units-erythroid colonies, but IL-3 was a required cofactor to obtain maximal development of burst-forming units-erythroid colonies. SCF alone caused little colony formation in methylcellulose cultures of FLs, but when combined with epo and IL-3, it had dramatic effects both on the number of colonies and their size. Secondly, indices of apoptosis were determined by measuring DNA fragmentation caused by endogenous nuclease activity in apoptotic cells. Liver cells from cultures without cytokines showed the extensive degradation of DNA to low molecular weight nucleosomal oligomers, which is characteristic of apoptosis. Protection from apoptosis afforded by epo directly corresponded to the level of erythropoiesis in FLs of different gestational age. Erythropoietin was by far the most critical cytokine in sparing FL cells from apoptosis. Analyses of agarose gels showed that SCF and IL-3 alone had no apparent effect in reducing the amount of DNA in fragments, and when combined with epo they had no more protective effect than that provided by epo alone. However, using the more sensitive flow cytometric determination of cells with subdiploid amounts of DNA, SCF, and IL-3 alone had measurable protective effects that were less than those caused by epo. Thus, we show that normal, untransformed cells of the developing hematopoietic system not only require cytokines for proliferation and differentiation, but they have an initial and absolute requirement of them for protection from apoptosis.
Ray theory for energy transmission in snow

Abstract This paper discusses the transmission of compressional waves originated by a point source at the surface of a half-space of snow. The seismic velocity of snow is assumed to be a function of only one of the space coordinates, the depth. An expression is derived from field data to show this dependence. An analysis of the rays based on Snell9s law provides equations that show the ray paths of the energy and the arrival time of the energy at any point on its particular ray. The rays are graphed for several different angles of entry. The equation for arrival times is evaluated at several points in the snow, and the results compared with measured arrival times at these points. The measured times were taken from field data gathered (near Camp Century, Greenland) by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. An equation is developed for the attenuation of intensity with horizontal distance from the explosion.
Let's Not SPRINT to Judgment About New Blood Pressure Goals.

The randomized trial SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) compared aggressive treatment to a target systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg versus less than 140 mm Hg in patients...
A PIV Study of Supersonic Impinging Jet

An experimental investigation of the flow and acoustic properties of an axisymmetric impinging jet, with and without microjet control, has been performed. The near-field acoustic measurements clearly show that the use of microjet control eliminates or significantly suppresses the impinging tones, and reduces broadband spectral amplitudes. To understand the physical mechanism responsible for the control effectiveness, the flowfields with and without control are examined using Particle Image Velocimetry Technique (PIV). The detailed PIV measurements reveal that the activation of microjets introduces strong streamwise vorticity in the form of well-organized, counter-rotating vortex pairs. The generation of these streamwise structures is speculated as the result of the tilting and stretching of the shear layer vortices when the microjets interact with primary jet flow. Due to this redistribution, the peak value of azimuthal vorticity is significantly reduced leading to a subsequent weakening of the primary jet instabilities. On the other hand, near the nozzle exit, the use of Microjets control increases the thickness of the shear layer further limiting the number of the unstable modes. The combined effect of an increase in thickness of the shear layer and a decrease of the peak azimuthal vorticity suppresses the instabilities in the primary shear layer. This sequence of events leads to the weakening of the feedback loop and the subsequent reduction in the flow unsteadiness of the supersonic impinging jet flow.
Epidemiology of mumps and control measures in the Keqiao District of Shaoxing,China

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Keqiao district during 2009-2013,in order to provide reference for future work.Methods The incidence data of mumps in the Keqiao District during2009-2013 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.Results In total 2238 cases of mumps were reported in Keqiao District during 2009-2013.The average annual reported incidence was 37.70 in 100 000;the seasonality of the disease was obvious.The cases mainly occurred among children or adolescents less than 15 years old.Most outbreaks occurred in schools and child care settings,which accounted for 52.63%.Conclusions Vaccination is an effective measure to control mumps;according to its epidemiological characteristics,it is essential to improve the prediction,early warning and control of the disease and reinforce education in schools.
An Individualized Approach to Appendectomy in Children Based on Anatomico-Laparoscopic Findings:

Whether an appendectomy should be performed "open" or laparoscopically is the subject of considerable debate. This study in children was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an individualized approach, based on disease stage, body habitus, and laparoscopic findings should dictate the removal technique. Data on 108 consecutive pediatric appendectomies were prospectively recorded. Except in complex cases, a 5 mm laparoscope was inserted umbilically, the findings were evaluated, and the best removal approach was selected. Depending on the degree of inflammation and mobility, the appendix was fully delivered and resected, either through the initial umbilical trocar site or, more commonly, through a second right lower quadrant (RLQ) trocar site. The second RLQ trocar incision was enlarged for limited or full conversion to an open approach, if needed. In overweight children, three trocars and a stapler were used. Children (63 boys, 45 girls) ranged in age from 3 to 18 years (mean, 11 years). A single umbilical port was used in 16 patients with low-grade appendiceal inflammation. A two trocar, laparoscopically-assisted appendectomy was used in 63 cases. Of these 63, a limited extension of the RLQ trocar incision was necessary in 4 patients and conversion to an open incision was needed in 4 children. The three trocar technique was used 21 times. Twelve of these were cases involving obese patients. A stapler was used 13 times. Four trocars were needed once. Seven patients with complex appendicitis did not undergo laparoscopy. Twenty-nine appendices were perforated, and there were 3 complications: 2 intra-abdominal abscesses and one trocar site wound infection. Because appendiceal disease is a spectrum, and children encompass a wide range of ages and sizes, an individualized approach, based on the anatomical parameters and the clinical and laparoscopic findings, allows for an efficient, patient-specific appendectomy: single trocar for minimally inflamed appendices, two trocars for the most common types, three trocars plus a stapler for overweight children, and an "open" procedure for complex cases.
On Computational Thinking, Inferential Thinking and Data Science

The rapid growth in the size and scope of datasets in science and technology has created a need for novel foundational perspectives on data analysis that blend the inferential and computational sciences. That classical perspectives from these fields are not adequate to address emerging problems in "Big Data" is apparent from their sharply divergent nature at an elementary level-in computer science, the growth of the number of data points is a source of "complexity" that must be tamed via algorithms or hardware, whereas in statistics, the growth of the number of data points is a source of "simplicity" in that inferences are generally stronger and asymptotic results can be invoked. On a formal level, the gap is made evident by the lack of a role for computational concepts such as "runtime" in core statistical theory and the lack of a role for statistical concepts such as "risk" in core computational theory. I present several research vignettes aimed at bridging computation and statistics, including the problem of inference under privacy and communication constraints, and ways to exploit parallelism so as to trade off the speed and accuracy of inference.
Outsourcing Information Technology: The Role of Social Capital

The current article explores the role that one factor, social capital, may have on the success of IT outsourcing. This article extends current understanding of outsourcing success and failure by examining the effect of social capital on outsourcing success. In the article it is proposed that social capital has potential impact on information technology (IT) outsourcing success. Specifically, it is theorized that social capital has an inverted “U” shape relationship with outsourcing success.
Spatial heterogeneity can undermine the effectiveness of country-wide test and treat policy for malaria: a case study from Burkina Faso.

Considerable debate has arisen regarding the appropriateness of the test and treat malaria policy broadly recommended by the World Health Organization. While presumptive treatment has important drawbacks, the effectiveness of the test and treat policy can vary considerably across regions, depending on several factors such as baseline malaria prevalence and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) performance. To compare presumptive treatment with test and treat, generalized linear mixed effects models were fitted to data from 6510 children under five years of age from Burkina Faso’s 2010 Demographic and Health Survey. The statistical model results revealed substantial regional variation in baseline malaria prevalence (i.e., pre-test prevalence) and RDT performance. As a result, a child with a positive RDT result in one region can have the same malaria infection probability as a demographically similar child with a negative RDT result in another region. These findings indicate that a test and treat policy might be reasonable in some settings, but may be undermined in others due to the high proportion of false negatives. High spatial variability can substantially reduce the effectiveness of a national level test and treat malaria policy. In these cases, region-specific guidelines for malaria diagnosis and treatment may need to be formulated. Based on the statistical model results, proof-of-concept, web-based tools were created that can aid in the development of these region-specific guidelines and may improve current malaria-related policy in Burkina Faso.
Aluminum nitride microring resonator for efficient frequency comb doubling

We demonstrate efficient frequency-comb doubling of input IR mode locked fiber comb with a high-Q phase matched AlN microring resonator. The sinusoidal phase dependent interference is well matched with theory.
Polynitrogen chemistry enters the ring.

Polynitrogens have the potential for ultrahigh-performing explosives or propellants because singly or doubly bonded polynitrogens can decompose to triply bonded dinitrogen (N2) with an extraordinarily large energy release. The large energy content and relatively low activation energy toward decomposition makes the synthesis of a stable polynitrogen allotrope an extraordinary challenge. Many elements exist in different forms (allotropes)—for example, carbon can exist as graphite, diamond, buckyballs, or graphene. However, no stable neutral allotropes are known for nitrogen, and only two stable homonuclear polynitrogen ions had been isolated until now—namely, the N3− anion ( 1 ) and the N5+ cation ( 2 ). On page 374 of this issue, Zhang et al. ( 3 ) report the synthesis and characterization of the first stable salt of the cyclo -N5− anion, only the third stable homonuclear polynitrogen ion ever isolated.
The Influence of Religious–Political Sophistication on U.S. Public Opinion

Scholarly accounts of elite–mass communication often suggest that political sophistication is a necessary condition for adopting the attitudes of partisan elites. Some have also suggested that political knowledge promotes religious–political issue constraint among religious identifiers. This paper contributes to the political sophistication literature by piloting and testing a new measure, religious–political sophistication (RPS), assessing knowledge of church teaching on particular political issues. Using original measures launched on the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, I show that for evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics, RPS (in conjunction with frequent church attendance) depresses support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Moreover, I argue that assessing RPS this way is not fatally contaminated by unsophisticated respondents interpolating that their clergy must share their political positions. Results suggest religion-and-politics scholars should adopt RPS measures to gain a greater understanding of the unique sources of political communication upon which religious identifiers draw.
SPARC and the N-propeptide of collagen I influence fibroblast proliferation and collagen assembly in the periodontal ligament

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a fibrous connective tissue that anchors tooth cementum into alveolar bone. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a collagen-binding matricellular protein known to influence collagen fiber assembly in the PDL. In contrast, functional properties of the N-propeptide of collagen I, encoded in exon 2 of the COL1A1 gene, are poorly understood. In this study, the PDL of collagen I exon 2-deleted (wt/ko), SPARC-null (ko/wt), and double transgenic (ko/ko) mice were evaluated in terms of cellularity, collagen area, fiber morphology, and extraction force and compared to WT (wt/wt) mice. Picro sirius red staining indicated a decrease in total PDL collagen content in each of the transgenic mice compared to WT at 1 and 3 month age points. At 12 months, only SPARC-null (ko/wt) and double-null PDL demonstrated less total collagen versus WT. Likewise, an increase in thin PDL collagen fibers was observed at 1 and 3 months in each transgenic, with increases only in SPARC-null and double-null mice at 12 months. The force required for tooth extraction was significantly reduced in SPARC-null versus exon 2-deleted and WT mice, whereas double-null mice demonstrated further decreases in force required for tooth extraction. The number of proliferating fibroblasts and number and size of epithelial rests of Malassez were increased in each transgenic versus WT with double-null PDL exhibiting highest levels of proliferation and rests of Malassez at 1 month of age. Consistent with increases in PDL collagen in exon-2 deleted mice, with age, numbers of rests decreased at 12 months in this genotype. These results demonstrate for the first time a functional role of the N-propeptide in regulating collagen fiber assembly and cell behavior and suggest that SPARC and the N-propeptide of collagen I have distinct activities in regulating collagen fiber assembly and fibroblast function.
Categorization, Collection, and the Construction of Continuity: 1 Enoch and 3 Enoch in and beyond “Apocalypticism” and “Mysticism”1

Recent decades have seen an intensive reassessment of older scholarly categories within the discipline of Religious Studies, spurring a turn toward more microhistorical approaches in the study of ancient Judaism and Christianity in particular. With an eye to the power and limits of scholarly practices of categorization, this article reflects upon the pairing of “Apocalypticism” and “Mysticism” in modern scholarship on premodern Judaism, focusing on two works commonly cited as exemplary of their connection— 1 Enoch and 3 Enoch . Drawing insights from interdisciplinary research on the History of the Book/Material Texts, it experiments with situating scholarly acts of categorization in relation to other practices of constructing continuity, both ancient and modern. It highlights the potency of anthologies and related textual practices for naturalizing certain categories of comparison and certain trajectories of retrospective connection—for modern scholars no less than for ancient and medieval readers.
Peroxidized lipids reduce growth performance of poultry and swine: a meta-analysis.

Abstract Animal performance is affected by feeding peroxidized lipids. Nevertheless, inaccuracies and limitations of common lipid peroxidation analyses are associated with inconsistent results regarding animals consuming diets with peroxidized lipids. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of feeding dietary peroxidized lipids on growth performance and oxidative status in poultry and swine. A total of 29 publications with 42 poultry and 23 swine observations were analyzed. Concentration of dietary thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (PV), along with ADG, ADFI, G:F, and serum or plasma concentrations of vitamin E and TBARS were obtained from publications when reported. The relative impact of feeding peroxidized lipids was calculated as a percentage of ADG, ADFI, and G:F relative to responses from feeding isocaloric diets containing unperoxidized lipids. Data were analyzed for outliers, general distribution, and correlations among variables. Overall, feeding peroxidized lipids to both species resulted in a 5% reduction in ADG, a 3% reduction in ADFI, and G:F was reduced by 2% compared with feeding unperoxidized lipids. The difference in the average magnitude of reduction in ADG, compared with less average magnitude of reduction in ADFI, suggests that factors other than caloric intake (i.e. oxidative stress) contribute to reduced ADG when feeding peroxidized lipids. Both species fed peroxidized lipids had reduced serum or plasma vitamin E content (52%) and increased TBARS concentration (120%) relative to animals fed unperoxidized lipids, suggesting that feeding peroxidized lipids contributes to increased oxidative stress. Dietary PV was negatively correlated with ADG (r = − 0.81, P
Anesthesia Practice in Pediatric Radiation Oncology: Mayo Clinic Arizona's Experience 2014-2016.

Understanding the goals of targeted radiation therapy in pediatrics is critical to developing high quality and safe anesthetic plans in this patient population. An ideal anesthetic plan includes allaying anxiety and achieving optimal immobilization, while ensuring rapid and efficient recovery. We conducted a retrospective chart review of children receiving anesthesia for radiation oncology procedures from 1/1/2014 to 7/31/2016. No anesthetics were excluded from the analysis. The electronic anesthesia records were analyzed for perianesthetic complications along with efficiency data. To compare our results to past and current data, we identified relevant medical literature covering a period from 1984–2017. A total of 997 anesthetic procedures were delivered in 58 unique patients. The vast majority of anesthetics were single-agent anesthesia with propofol. The average duration of radiation treatment was 13.24 min. The average duration of anesthesia was 37.81 min, and the average duration to meet discharge criteria in the recovery room was 29.50 min. There were seven instances of perianesthetic complications (0.7%) and no complications noted for the 80 CT simulations. Two of the seven complications occurred in patients receiving total body irradiation. The 5-year survival rate for pediatric cancers has improved greatly in part due to more effective and targeted radiation therapy. Providing an anesthetic with minimal complications is critical for successful daily radiation treatment. The results of our data analysis corroborate other contemporary studies showing minimal risk to patients undergoing radiation therapy under general anesthesia with propofol. Our data reveal that single-agent anesthesia with propofol administered by a dedicated anesthesia team is safe and efficient and should be considered for patients requiring multiple radiation treatments under anesthesia.
Utilizing human processing for fuzzy-based military situation awareness based on social media

With the increasing development of social media, we now face large amounts of up-to-date data, new information resources, and fast and transparent information propagating methods. They have changed the way we understand the world, which means we can have a different perspective when computing situation awareness. In this paper, we give a detailed explanation on how social media data affect situation awareness and our focus is set on the military environment. We discuss why subject matter expert based human computation is necessary and essential for this procedure and how to involve it in the situation awareness architecture. The goal of our paper is to give readers some suggestions on how to use social media and human processing power within the military situational awareness domain.
Utilization of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures throughout the United States over a recent decade: an analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Background: Given the increasing societal focus on health care utilization and value-based care, it is essential to understand the demographic and economic data surrounding percutaneous vertebral augmentation procedures performed in the United States. Double-blinded prospective randomized controlled trials have shown no benefit to the use of vertebroplasty over a sham procedure in the treatment of vertebral fractures. Contrastingly, kyphoplasty may be beneficial when appropriately indicated. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for patients who underwent either kyphoplasty (ICD-9-CM 81.66) or vertebroplasty (ICD-9-CM 81.65) procedures between 2006 and 2014 across 44 states. Demographic and economic data were obtained which included the annual number of surgeries, age, sex, insurance type, location, and frequency of routine discharge. The NIS database represents a 20% sample of discharges from U.S. hospitals, which is weighted to provide national estimates. Results: In 2014, an estimated total number of 19,420 kyphoplasty and 6,130 vertebroplasty procedures were performed across the United States. The number of vertebroplasty procedures decreased 53% from 13,128 in 2008. Similarly, the number of kyphoplasty procedures decreased 17% from 23,320 in 2007. Based on payer, Medicare patients comprised 83% of those billed for kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, and 75% of procedures were utilized in areas designated as “not low income”. In 2014, patients in the South Atlantic region comprised 24% of vertebroplasty and 28% of kyphoplasty cases, far more than any other region. Additionally, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty were more often performed in teaching facilities rather than community hospitals (60% and 67%, respectively). Conclusions: Since the publication of two double-blind, prospective randomized controlled trials showed no benefit of vertebroplasty over a sham procedure, there has been a significant decrease in both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty procedures.
Rapid autopsy of a patient with recurrent anaplastic ependymoma.

Objective:Our aim was to outline a procedure for obtaining a rapid autopsy in order to collect high-quality postmortem tissue for genomic analysis.Methods:This report details a bi-institutional collaborative effort to coordinate a rapid autopsy for a pediatric patient who had died at home. We discuss the scientific rationale for offering a rapid autopsy to caregivers of pediatric patients as well as parental perspectives on broaching the subject of autopsy. We then review the logistics and coordination involved with planning a rapid autopsy and the sequence of events needed to maximize tissue quality.Results:We report the successful coordination of a rapid autopsy for a patient who died in a hospice setting at her out-of-state home. The time interval from death to the start of the rapid autopsy procedure was 4.5 hours, despite the logistical considerations demanded by the location of the patient. Tumor aliquots and nonneoplastic tissues were successfully snap frozen for downstream genomic studies.Significance of Results:Physicians should consider trialing a rapid autopsy program at their institution that could be offered to caregivers of pediatric patients. This case report offers a framework to help clinicians develop their own rapid autopsy programs as well as guidelines to help streamline this process for appropriate candidates going forward.
Deconstructing atypical eye gaze perception in autism spectrum disorder

The ability to discern the target of another person's gaze is critical for social and linguistic development, but functions atypically in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A multi-pronged approach allowed us to deconstruct this complex ability, to uncover the fundamental bases of this impairment. We analyzed performance on a novel gaze perception task with classical psychophysical metrics (precision and accuracy), principal component analysis (in the analysis of spatial biases), and Bayesian computational modeling (in the analysis of individual subjects' use of contextual salience cues). Compared to controls, adults with ASD were less precise and less accurate in their judgments of gaze direction. Further, although nearly all controls exhibited a prototypical pattern of spatial bias in their judgments, this spatial prior was severely disrupted among a large subset of ASD participants. By contrast, Bayesian computational modeling revealed that both groups exploited contextual salience cues in their gaze judgments, and that the average strength of this contextual prior was similar for both groups. This comprehensive study revealed that although most ASD participants performed atypically in at least one aspect of gaze perception, the particular aspects disrupted varied idiosyncratically across individuals. Impairment in gaze perception in ASD likely arises via heterogeneous underlying mechanisms.
Characterization of U-Zr fuel with alloying additive Sb for immobilizing fission product lanthanides

Abstract Fission product lanthanides can migrate to the fuel periphery and enhance fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI). Adding Sb into the fuel alloy to bind lanthanides and thus to prevent lanthanides from migration has been proposed. The U-Zr fuel alloys were fabricated with compositions of U-10Zr-4.1Sb, U-10Zr-4.1Sb-4Ce, U-10Zr-2.07Sb, and U-10Zr-2.07Sb-2Ce wt.% by arc melting, and analyzed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) for the microstructure and elemental compositions. In the Ce-free alloy, Sb was found in Sb-Zr precipitates; while in the Ce-contained alloy, Sb was found in the form of intermetallic compounds Ce 4 Sb 3 and Ce 2 Sb without any Sb-Zr precipitates. Antimony has the preference to bind Ce over Zr, indicating Sb can effectively prevent Ce interaction with Fe to the extent. Cerium is bound to Sb and no ternary intermetallic Ce-Sb-Zr compound was found.
A comparison of foster and adoptive parent satisfaction and commitment

Abstract Recruitment and retention of foster parents, as well as the potential for disruption and dissolution of adoptions, pose significant problems for child welfare systems and the well-being of children they serve. Parent satisfaction and commitment are two important constructs that have shown bearing on these outcomes for both foster and adoptive parents. Parents who identified as foster only (n = 155), adoptive only (n = 195), or foster and adoptive (n = 60) in one northeastern state were asked about their satisfaction and commitment to the children they cared for through a cross-sectional survey. Results indicated that satisfaction and commitment were significantly higher in parents who identified as adoptive, as well as those who identified as foster and adoptive, versus those who identified as foster only. No statistically significant differences in the variables were found between the adoptive only and foster and adoptive groups. Findings highlight the potential importance of strategies to help support foster parents and the need for more research in this critical area.
Single Fiber Characterization by Polarization FT-IR Microspectroscopy

Polarization FT-IR microspectroscopic data obtained from unstretched and stretched polyethylene terephthalate single fibers showed a pronounced dichroic effect for six of the fundamental vibrations and two overtones. The change in dichroic ratio, in one instance, was from 1.06 (unstretched) to 0.38 (stretched). Orientation of the macromolecules in a fiber during manufacture is a useful forensic science tool for individualization. The spatially resolving infrared microspectrometer performs this function in addition to localized chemical analysis.
How Gratitude Connects Humans to the Best in Themselves and in Others

Gratitude provides many advantages throughout development. This study provides a comprehensive review of research on gratitude, with a focus on understanding how it is adaptive in human development...
Bidirectional transfer of Anelloviridae lineages between graft and host during lung transplantation

Solid organ transplantation disrupts virus-host relationships, potentially resulting in viral transfer from donor to recipient, reactivation of latent viruses, and new viral infections. Viral transfer, colonization, and reactivation are typically monitored using assays for specific viruses, leaving the behavior of full viral populations (the "virome") understudied. Here we sought to investigate the temporal behavior of viruses from donor lungs and transplant recipients comprehensively. We interrogated the bronchoalveolar lavage and blood viromes during the peritransplant period and 6-16 months posttransplant in 13 donor-recipient pairs using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Anelloviridae, ubiquitous human commensal viruses, were the most abundant human viruses identified. Herpesviruses, parvoviruses, polyomaviruses, and bacteriophages were also detected. Anelloviridae populations were complex, with some donor organs and hosts harboring multiple contemporaneous lineages. We identified transfer of Anelloviridae lineages from donor organ to recipient serum in 4 of 7 cases that could be queried, and immigration of lineages from recipient serum into the allograft in 6 of 10 such cases. Thus, metagenomic analyses revealed that viral populations move between graft and host in both directions, showing that organ transplantation involves implantation of both the allograft and commensal viral communities.
Benign gynecologic conditions are associated with ovarian cancer risk in African-American women: a case-control study.

The association between common benign gynecologic conditions and ovarian cancer remains under-studied in African Americans. Therefore, we examine the association between self-reported history of benign gynecologic conditions and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in African-American women. Data from a large population-based, multi-center case–control study of epithelial ovarian cancer in African-American women were analyzed to estimate the association between self-reported history of endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), fibroid, and ovarian cyst with epithelial ovarian cancer. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between individual and composite gynecologic conditions and ovarian cancer. 600 cases and 752 controls enrolled in the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study between 1 December 2010 and 31 December 2015 comprised the study population. After adjusting for potential confounders, a history of endometriosis was associated with ovarian cancer (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.09–2.90). A non-significant association of similar magnitude was observed with PID (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.82–2.16), while no association was observed in women with a history of fibroid or ovarian cyst. A positive trend was observed for an increasing number of reported gynecologic conditions (p = 0.006) with consistency across histologic subtypes and among both oral contraceptive users and non-users. A self-reported history of endometriosis among African-American women was associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. Having multiple benign gynecologic conditions also increased ovarian cancer risk.
A Phase I Study of Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide and/or Bendamustine

Background The nearly universal donor accessibility afforded by haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (haplo-BMT) is salient for our program, as half of the patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are ethnic or racial minorities. This highlights the need for effective haplo-BMT regimens and improvements in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. Balancing GvHD prevention with the maintenance of graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) is an ongoing challenge in the field of HCT. We have previously shown in mice that bendamustine (BEN) can safely replace cyclophosphamide (CY) as post-transplant (PT) GvHD prophylaxis following haplo-BMT, with comparable protection from GvHD and superior GvL effects. Based on our preclinical data, we have initiated a Phase I/II study to replace PT-CY (given on days +3 and +4) with PT-BEN following haplo-BMT. Methods Phase I is a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design with six dose level cohorts. The first three cohorts (1-3) consist of a combination of sequentially reduced doses of CY and increased doses of BEN on day +4 post-BMT with the dose of CY on day +3 remaining unchanged. The next three cohorts (4-6) will involve progressive substitution of CY with BEN on day +3. We are enrolling patients ages 8-60 years with a diagnosis of acute leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who do not have a readily available HLA-matched (10/10) donor. Myeloablative busulfan, fludarabine, and melphalan or TBI and fludarabine are used as conditioning regimens. Engraftment, immune reconstitution, T-cell receptor β (TRB) diversity, GvHD, infections, relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) are monitored. Patients undergoing haplo-BMT (using the same conditioning regimens) who do not wish to receive PT-BEN are consented as PT-CY controls for the clinical endpoints and immune reconstitution studies. Results We have enrolled through Cohort 2 with no dose-limiting toxicities. Cohort 2 of PT-BEN had significantly earlier neutrophil engraftment than PT-CY controls (median day +13 compared to +17), with >5-fold higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios through day +100. PT-BEN patients displayed higher CD4 to CD8 ratio and demonstrated significantly greater TRB diversity than PT-CY only patients through 1 year following transplant. Patients receiving PT-BEN had a trend toward a lower incidence of CMV reactivation, 33% compared to 100% in PT-CY controls. No PT-BEN patient has developed grade III-IV acute GvHD or chronic GvHD. Conclusions PT-BEN has been well-tolerated, with patients demonstrating early engraftment. Preliminary data with PT-BEN indicate potential differences in immune reconstitution and TRB diversity. This may be advantageous in viral control, as well as in GvHD and GvL responses.
Influence of GDP(B)S on Agonist-Induced Calcium Mobilization and Platelet Function

Recent studies suggest that agonist-induced receptor mediated signal transduction occurs via GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins). These special plasma membrane associated proteins are composed of three subunits, alpha, beta and gamma (Neer et al, 1988). The GTP bound, activated alpha subunit appears to be the primary effector of the system (Litosch, 1987). This subunit contains the binding site for GTP, exhibits GTPase activity and possesses the site for the action of bacterial toxins. Agonistinduced platelet activation seems to be mediated by at least two pertussis toxin sensitive G-proteins (Brass et al, 1988).
Anal Cancer: Toxicities and Management

Definitive chemoradiation has been established as the primary, curative treatment option for patients with anal cancer. Chemoradiation has been shown to be highly effective in this disease; however, it is associated with acute and late toxicities. Toxicities associated with the standard chemotherapy agents (5-fluorouracil [5-FU] and mitomycin C) include diarrhea, nausea, stomatitis, mucositis, hand-foot syndrome, and myelosuppression. Acute toxicities from radiotherapy include dermatitis, diarrhea, tenesmus, nausea, hematologic toxicity, anorectal pain, fatigue, and urinary dysfunction. Long-term toxicities from radiotherapy include pelvic bone insufficiency; anorectal, gastrointestinal, and sexual dysfunction; and chronic skin changes. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may mitigate the risk of acute toxicities; however, long-term gastrointestinal and sexual toxicities remain a concern. Appropriate management of acute and chronic toxicities is a critical part of the clinical care of patients with anal cancer.
A testimonio of a queer Chicana researcher in education.

This piece of scholarship provides the testimonio of being a queer Chicana in academia. There is a long history of claiming space, exposing injustice, and truth telling in many Latinx cultures. As ...
Influence of Course Design on Student Engagement and Motivation in an Online Course

We present a course design model for applying project-based learning to an online undergraduate object oriented systems course. In our model, projects and reflection are central to the curriculum. Our model challenges students through modularized, repetitive project cycles beginning with analysis and design (i.e. using pseudo- code, flowcharts, diagrams) then coding, debugging, testing, and finally, reflection. We analyzed student reflection responses from two semesters to extract major themes and sub-themes, then mapped these to the MUSIC model (eMpowerment, Usefulness, Success, Interest, Caring) to understand our model's influence on student engagement and motivation. We found that a rhythmic project cycle encourages self-regulation in online students to formulate project plans, track their progress, and evaluate their solutions. Online students feel empowered when course projects promote choice, flexibility, creativity, experimentation, and extensions to other applications. Online student success is dependent on the clarity of instructions, course scaffolding, level of challenge, instructor feedback, and opportunities to reflect on personal failure, success, and challenge. Online students are interested in projects that are familiar, real-world, and fun, but expect to be situated in team-based environments. Students appreciate instructors who are caring and accommodating to personal needs. We recommend six salient strategies for improving online course and project design: design a visible, rhythmic structure; set transparent expectations and instructions; encourage design before implementation; connect to real-world applications and tools; experience happy challenges; infuse sustained reflection.
A Synoptic Climatological Analysis of the Atmospheric Drivers of Water Clarity Variability in the Great Lakes

AbstractA historical water clarity index (Kd index or KDI) was developed through the use of satellite-derived and validated diffuse light attenuation (Kd; m−1) for each of the Great Lakes (and subb...
Shared Mission: Catholic Higher Education in Partnership with Catholic NGOs

As practitioners of Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic nongovernmental organizations are excellent resources for Catholic colleges and universities seeking to integrate social justice into educational programs and institutional practices. In this article, the partnership between Catholic Relief Services and Cabrini College is presented as a case study. This partnership has generated or enhanced a host of campus programs (in advocacy, technology, solidarity-study travel, narrative writing, and a new social justice-centered curriculum) that are catalyzing growth for students and faculty in understanding the causes of and responses to global humanitarian issues. This kind of collaboration exemplifies a new era in which Catholic higher education is called upon to cultivate competence and compassion, and to expand criteria for excellence in teaching, learning, and institutional life to include engagement with the vulnerable.
Machine Learning Approach to the Analysis of Traffic Management Initiatives

Ground delay programs and ground stops are implemented to ensure that airport and flight operations remain safe in spite of constraint(s) at affected airports. Occasionally, ground stops are issued...