cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patching with carotid endarterectomy: when to do it and what to use.

This is an analysis of published data on the outcomes of carotid endarterectomy patch reconstruction with the commonly used materials--autologous greater saphenous vein, Dacron, and polytetrafluoroethylene. Taken individually, these prospective randomized, prospective nonrandomized, and retrospective studies have mixed findings with respect to both the advantage of patching over primary closure and the superiority, if any, of one patch material. A major problem with these reports is small sample size and the associated low statistical power of tests on outcomes. Comparative outcomes are often marginally statistically significant or not significant at the .05 level. However, when the data from similarly designed studies are pooled, as with a meta-analysis, the sample sizes are large enough to allow definitive statistical evaluation. This analysis indicates that obligatory patching or selectively patching more than 90% of carotid endarterectomies gives clearly superior outcomes (in terms of early postoperative thrombosis, perioperative stroke, and 50% or more residual or restenosis in the first year) when compared with primary closure. There is softer, but clearly important, evidence that carotid endarterectomy patch reconstruction with greater saphenous vein has better perioperative stroke and restenosis outcomes than that obtained with Dacron and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Nutrition transition, diet change and its implications

There has been a shift worldwide from the dominance of malnutrition to one with 1.6 billion individuals overweight and 700 million suffering from malnutrition. This has resulted from an unprecedented combination of technology, globalization, government policies, and food industry practices with human biology. How we eat and drink and move are shaped by this combination of biology and modern food systems together with a vast shift in physical activity. Linking these changes with large shifts in food production and prices and marketing has shaped the global diet in ways described in the author’s chapter and book The World is Fat .
Origin of Somatic Mutations in β-Catenin versus Adenomatous Polyposis Coli in Colon Cancer: Random Mutagenesis in Animal Models versus Nonrandom Mutagenesis in Humans.

Wnt signaling is compromised early in the development of human colorectal cancer (CRC) due to truncating nonsense mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). CRC induced by chemical carcinogens, such as heterocyclic aromatic amines and azoxymethane, in mice also involves dysregulation of Wnt signaling but via activating missense mutations in the β-catenin oncogene despite the fact that genetically modified mice harboring an inactive APC allele efficiently develop CRC. In contrast, activating mutations in β-catenin are rarely observed in human CRC. Dysregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway by the two distinct mechanisms reveals insights into the etiology of human CRC. On the basis of calculations related to DNA adduct levels produced in mouse CRC models using mutagens, and the number of stem cells in the mouse colon, we show that two nonsense mutations required for biallelic disruption of APC are statistically unlikely to produce CRC in experiments using small numbers of mice. We calculate that an acti...
“Explicame”: examining emergent bilinguals’ scientific argumentation and explanation during a unit on plate tectonics

This paper explored the integration of science and language instruction during a unit on plate tectonics in a 7th grade transitional bilingual classroom. As not many studies have explored engaging bilingual learners in the Next Generation Science Standards practices of argumentation and explanation, we sought to analyze emergent bilinguals’ construction and communication of scientific arguments and explanations in oral and written forms. We collected both classroom video data and student written work. We first analyzed student work associated with the unit’s culminating task as evidence of the students’ developing proficiency with science ideas, cognizant of what emergent bilinguals at varying levels of language proficiency are able to do with respect to producing the language functions of explain and argue. For video data, we created event maps of all classroom interaction and then narrowed our focus to key moments of interaction to shed light on the relationships among classroom instruction, written work, and writing reflected in the culminating task. With respect to argumentation, findings indicated that students demonstrated success in constructing claims throughout the unit and on the culminating task and were able to provide some type of evidence to support their claims. This was evident when students could tap into all their linguistic repertoires, using home language and new language to make sense of science. Although most students were still developing to provide sufficient evidence and incorporate scientific reasoning, the use of both home and new language allowed students to articulate initial understandings about scientific concepts such as convection currents and plate boundaries. Students who used home language were also able to provide more extended explanations, moving from using language immediately tied to the environment to attempting to use scientific discourse to explain phenomena. We recommend that teachers celebrate emerging skills and build on the rich linguistic and experiential resources emergent bilinguals bring to optimize participation in the practices of science and facilitate scientific understanding.
Procalcitonin for Diagnostics and Treatment Decisions in Pediatric Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.

Mortality and morbidity remain high in pediatric lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) despite progress in research and implementation of global diagnostic and treatment strategies in the last decade. Still, 120 million annual episodes of pneumonia affect children younger than 5 years each year leading to 1.3 million fatalities with the major burden of disease carried by low- and middle-income countries (95%). The definition of pneumonia is still challenging. Traditional diagnostic measures (i.e., chest radiographs, C-reactive protein) are unable to distinguish viral and from bacterial etiology. As a result, common antibiotic overuse contributes to growing antibiotic resistance. We present an overview of current evidence from observational and randomized controlled trials on a procalcitonin (PCT)-based diagnosis of pediatric LRTIs and discuss the need for an adequate PCT threshold for antibiotic treatment decision-making.
Asset-Based Lending via a Secure Distributed Platform

The advent of mobile money in Kenya has accelerated the development and deployment of financial inclusion products for the previously unbanked or underbanked population. However, the focus on cash loans to individuals has not been directly matched with an increase in lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that operate in the informal economy. For the majority of SMEs in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa access to lending products as a business remains limited due to high cost associated with risk uncertainty, lack of appraisable collateral, and incompatible loan size. This has resulted in Sub-Saharan Africa having the lowest lending utilizations for SMEs worldwide. In this note we describe a distributed platform aimed at easing the offering of financial products to SMEs by integrating stakeholders in the retail trade sector in Kenya. The note covers the framework of the system and the design criteria used to develop the technology including the utilization of a blockchain backend built on hyperledger fabric and mobile phone applications for stakeholders to engage with system. Lastly, we describe the intended usage and pilot study for deployment and testing of the technology platform.
Kinetic and spectroscopic characterization of tungsten-substituted DMSO reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

We have examined the kinetic and spectroscopic properties of a tungsten-substituted form of DMSO reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, an enzyme that normally possesses molybdenum. Partial reduction with sodium dithionite yields a well-resolved W(V) EPR signal of the so-called “high-g split” type that exhibits markedly greater g-anisotropy than the corresponding Mo(V) signal of the native form of the enzyme, with the g values shifted to higher magnetic field by as much as Δgave = 0.056. Deuteration of the enzyme confirms that the coupled proton is solvent-exchangeable, allowing us to accurately simulate the tungsten hyperfine coupling. Global curve-fitting analysis of UV/vis absorption spectra observed in the course of the reaction of the tungsten-substituted enzyme with sodium dithionite affords a well-defined absorption spectrum for the W(V) species. Surprisingly, the absorption spectrum for this species exhibits significantly larger molar extinction coefficients than either the reduced or the oxidized spectrum. This spectrum, in conjunction with those for fully oxidized W(VI) and fully reduced W(IV) enzyme, has been used to deconvolute the absorption spectra seen in the course of turnover, in the which enzyme is reacted with sodium dithionite and DMSO, demonstrating that the W(V) is an authentic catalytic intermediate that accumulates to approximately 50% of the total enzyme in the steady state.
Self-assembling biomaterials as nanocarriers for the targeted delivery of drugs for cancer

Abstract Cancer is still a leading cause of death in the world. Nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer that can overcome and complement other current therapies: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc. In this chapter, we seek to highlight the recent progress made in the area of targeted self-assembling nanomaterials to treat the disease. Because of the extensive literature available on this topic, only examples of organic self-assembling materials reported recently will be described, including polymers, DNA, RNA, and peptide-based materials. The chapter has subdivisions exemplifying the targets that have been most commonly explored by scientists and the targeting elements that have been shown to achieve preferential binding to them. The last section highlights some of the progress made until now and the challenges that need to be overcome to take targeting self-assembling materials from the benchtop to the bedside.
Improving “Silver-Standard” Benchmark Interaction Energies with Bond Functions

We investigate the effect of adding midbond basis functions on the performance of various conventional and explicitly correlated (F12) estimates of complete basis set limit coupled-cluster (CCSD(T)/CBS) noncovalent interaction energies. In particular, we search for an improved “silver standard” of interaction energy calculations for systems where the CCSD(T) computation is feasible in a double-ζ basis but not in a triple-ζ one. We follow a recent study (Sirianni J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2017, 13, 86) of different CCSD(T)-F12 variants in midbondless bases over the A24 and S22 benchmark interaction energy databases, and extend Dunning’s correlation-consistent basis sets with three different midbond sets. The addition of bond functions is highly beneficial for conventional CCSD(T) and most CCSD(T)-F12 variants, improving both the CCSD part and the unscaled triples contribution. However, the commonly used scaling of triples by the ratio of the MP2-F12 and MP2 correlation energies usually overshoots: as a resul...
Public health research: A report on the activity in Germany

(1994). Public health research. Journal of the Institute of Health Education: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 23-24.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Mobile Phone–Based Auto-Personalized Physical Activity Recommendations for Chronic Pain Self-Management: Pilot Study on Adults

Background: Chronic pain is a globally prevalent condition. It is closely linked with psychological well-being, and it is often concomitant with anxiety, negative affect, and in some cases even depressive disorders. In the case of musculoskeletal chronic pain, frequent physical activity is beneficial. However, reluctance to engage in physical activity is common due to negative psychological associations (eg, fear) between movement and pain. It is known that encouragement, self-efficacy, and positive beliefs are effective to bolster physical activity. However, given that the majority of time is spent away from personnel who can give such encouragement, there is a great need for an automated ubiquitous solution. Objective: MyBehaviorCBP is a mobile phone app that uses machine learning on sensor-based and self-reported physical activity data to find routine behaviors and automatically generate physical activity recommendations that are similar to existing behaviors. Since the recommendations are based on routine behavior, they are likely to be perceived as familiar and therefore likely to be actualized even in the presence of negative beliefs. In this paper, we report the preliminary efficacy of MyBehaviorCBP based on a pilot trial on individuals with chronic back pain. Methods: A 5-week pilot study was conducted on people with chronic back pain (N=10). After a week long baseline period with no recommendations, participants received generic recommendations from an expert for 2 weeks, which served as the control condition. Then, in the next 2 weeks, MyBehaviorCBP recommendations were issued. An exit survey was conducted to compare acceptance toward the different forms of recommendations and map out future improvement opportunities. Results: In all, 90% (9/10) of participants felt positive about trying the MyBehaviorCBP recommendations, and no participant found the recommendations unhelpful. Several significant differences were observed in other outcome measures. Participants found MyBehaviorCBP recommendations easier to adopt compared to the control (βint=0.42, P<.001) on a 5-point Likert scale. The MyBehaviorCBP recommendations were actualized more (βint=0.46, P<.001) with an increase in approximately 5 minutes of further walking per day (βint=4.9 minutes, P=.02) compared to the control. For future improvement opportunities, participants wanted push notifications and adaptation for weather, pain level, or weekend/weekday. Conclusions: In the pilot study, MyBehaviorCBP’s automated approach was found to have positive effects. Specifically, the recommendations were actualized more, and perceived to be easier to follow. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an automated approach has achieved preliminary success to promote physical activity in a chronic pain context. Further studies are needed to examine MyBehaviorCBP’s efficacy on a larger cohort and over a longer period of time.
Inclusion Cysts after Fetal Spina Bifida Repair: A Third Hit?

INTRODUCTION Fetal spina bifida repair (fSBR) has proven effective in the reversibility of hindbrain herniation, lower rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, and independent ambulation. Besides distinct advantages, there are also concerns related to fSBR. One of these is the postnatal occurrence of inclusion cysts (IC). METHODS In a prospective study, 48 children who underwent fSBR were followed up. Postnatal assessment included clinical examination, cystometry, and spinal MRI. Indication for IC resection was the evidence of a spinal mass on MRI in the presence of deteriorating motor or bladder function, pain, or considerable growth of the IC. RESULTS Fourteen children (30%) developed IC, all within the first 2 years of life. Six children underwent IC resection; 4 children due to deteriorating function, 2 children due to doubling of the mass on MRI within 1 year. Following IC resection, 4/6 children (67%) demonstrated altered motor function and 6 children (100%) were diagnosed with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Systematic follow-up of patients with a history of fSBR revealed a high incidence of IC. Whether these are of dysembryogenic or iatrogenic origin, remains unclear. Since both IC per se and IC resection may lead to loss of neurologic function, IC can be considered a "third hit."
Characteristics of patients (pts) receiving end of life treatment (EOLT) at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.

e18245Background: End of life treatment is identified as a high cost low return intervention and is under evaluation as a quality measure for providers. A 2012 ASCO expert panel acknowledged it as ...
Biodiesel Supply Chain Optimization Modeled with Geographical Information System (GIS) and Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) for the Northern Great Plains Region

Drought-tolerant, industrial oilseeds such as Camelina sativa (camelina) grown on marginal land are being considered as feedstock alternatives to meet the increasing biofuel demand and reduce the dependency on water and food resources. However, crops grown on rural, marginal lands are not well-connected with transportation networks and biofuel plants. Transportation routes and biofuel plant development should be optimized for sustainable biofuel development. This study aimed at developing a supply chain optimization model for biodiesel produced from camelina oilseed. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model associated with geographic information system (GIS) was built. Three echelons of camelina oilseed supply, biodiesel production, and biodiesel and by-product (livestock meal) demand were considered to optimize the numbers, locations, and capacities of new plants, transportation routes, and the utilization rate of existing plants at a minimum cost. A case study was conducted for the northern Great Plains (NGP) region of Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Transportation cost compared to plant construction cost was a decisive factor in supply chain configuration. The model developed in this study simulates minimum cost transportation routes directly through the GIS network analysis, which is differentiated from other studies analyzing the shortest routes in GIS and calculating their transportation costs in models. This is beneficial in seeking economic routes which incorporate multiple modes for regions having a spartan infrastructure.
Enhancing Patient Outcomes while Containing Costs after Complex Abdominal Operation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Whipple Accelerated Recovery Pathway.

Background This study was designed to determine whether a standardized recovery pathway could reduce post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hospital length of stay to 5 days without increasing complication or readmission rates. Study Design Pancreaticoduodenectomy patients (high-risk patients excluded) were enrolled in an IRB-approved, prospective, randomized controlled trial ( NCT02517268 ) comparing a 5-day Whipple accelerated recovery pathway (WARP) with our traditional 7-day pathway (control). Whipple accelerated recovery pathway interventions included early discharge planning, shortened ICU stay, modified postoperative dietary and drain management algorithm, rigorous physical therapy with in-hospital gym visit, standardized rectal suppository administration, and close telehealth follow-up post discharge. The trial was powered to detect an increase in postoperative day 5 discharge from 10% to 30% (80% power, α = 0.05, 2-sided Fisher's exact test, target accrual: 142 patients). Results Seventy-six patients (37 WARP, 39 control) were randomized from June 2015 to September 2017. A planned interim analysis was conducted at 50% trial accrual resulting in mandatory early stoppage, as the predefined efficacy end point was met. Demographic variables between groups were similar. The WARP significantly increased the number of patients discharged to home by postoperative day 5 compared with controls (75.7% vs 12.8%; p Conclusions The WARP can safely reduce hospital length of stay, time to adjuvant therapy, and cost in selected pancreaticoduodenectomy patients without increasing readmission risk.
Enhanced thermoelectric performance of heavy-fermion compounds YbTM2Zn20 (TM = Co, Rh, Ir) at low temperatures

Abstract: Thermoelectricity allows direct conversion between heat and electricity, providing alternatives for green energy technologies. Despite these advantages, for most materials the energy conversion efficiency is limited by the tendency for the electrical and thermal conductivity to be proportional to each other and the Seebeck coefficient to be small. Here we report counter examples, where the heavy fermion compounds YbTM2Zn20 (TM = Co, Rh, Ir) exhibit enhanced thermoelectric performance including a large power factor (PF = 74 μW/cm-K2; TM = Ir) and a high figure of merit (ZT = 0.07; TM = Ir) at 35 K. The combination of the strongly hybridized electronic state originating from the Yb f-electrons and the novel structural features (large unit cell and possible soft phonon modes) leads to high power factors and small thermal conductivity values. This demonstrates that with further optimization these systems could provide a platform for the next generation of low temperature thermoelectric materials.
120-P : DESIGN OF A SPECIFIC, SENSITIVE ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTI-VIMENTIN ANTIBODY USING Luminex® BEAD-BASED TECHNOLOGY

Aim The intermediate filament vimentin is not normally exposed to the immune system, however when exposed, anti-vimentin antibodies (AVA) can be provoked. AVA have been implicated in the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), limiting the long-term benefits of cardiac transplantation. Our aim was to develop a more specific and sensitive assay for the detection of AVA than currently available. Methods A Luminex® multiplexed assay for AVA was designed and validated by parallel testing with a commercially available ELISA for AVA. Sera titration and competitive inhibition with soluble vimentin were used to assess sensitivity and specificity. Pre- and post-transplant sera from forty-six patients were tested under IRB approval. Post-transplant sera were obtained within 12 months after transplantation. Results In parallel titration studies, the bead-based assay was found to be twice as sensitive as the commercially available ELISA. Competitive inhibition studies of five sera resulted in a mean of 60% ± 28% reduction of antibody binding, confirming the Luminex® assay specificity. The incidence of AVA in per-transplant sera was 47.8%.[figure1] Conclusions A Luminex® bead based assay for AVA was developed that is both specific and twice as sensitive as a commercially available ELISA that may have future clinical application. Although a high incidence of AVA among cardiac transplant candidates was observed pre-transplant, longer term studies will be needed to confirm any association with CAV post-transplant.
Word Reading in Boys With Isolated Oral Clefts: Comparison to Unaffected Average and Dyslexic Readers Using the Dual-Route Model:

Objective:To examine word reading performance between boys with isolated cleft lip and/or palate (iCL/P), unaffected average reading (uAR), and unaffected impaired reading (uIR), using the dual-rou...
AI in Health: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to attract interest from a broad range of disciplines in recent years, including health. The increase in computer hardware and software applications in medicine, as well as digitization of health-related data together fuel progress in the development and use of AI in medicine. This progress provides new opportunities and challenges, as well as directions for the future of AI in health. Objective: The goals of this survey are to review the current state of AI in health, along with opportunities, challenges, and practical implications. This review highlights recent developments over the past five years and directions for the future. Methods: Publications over the past five years reporting the use of AI in health in clinical and biomedical informatics journals, as well as computer science conferences, were selected according to Google Scholar citations. Publications were then categorized into five different classes, according to the type of data analyzed. Results: The major data types identified were multi-omics, clinical, behavioral, environmental and pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) data. The current state of AI related to each data type is described, followed by associated challenges and practical implications that have emerged over the last several years. Opportunities and future directions based on these advances are discussed. Conclusion: Technologies have enabled the development of AI-assisted approaches to healthcare. However, there remain challenges. Work is currently underway to address multi-modal data integration, balancing quantitative algorithm performance and qualitative model interpretability, protection of model security, federated learning, and model bias.
A Partially Coherent Approach for Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves from Random Layered Media with 3D Rough Interfaces

Statistical nature of the problem introduces a randomness in the phase of the electromagnetic field such that the fields are not coherent after traveling in the medium for a few correlation lengths. It is shown that for such a problem we can use a combined coherent-incoherent approach to greatly reduce the complexity of the problem.
Academic and English language outcomes for DLLs as a function of school bilingual education model: the role of two-way immersion and home language support

This study assesses the long-term linguistic and academic outcomes associated with different bilingual language education models for low-income dual language learners (DLLs) residing in a bilingual...
Massive Myocardial Calcium Deposition: Hardened Heart.

Abstract A 25-year-old African-American woman with end-stage renal disease presented with new-onset heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography indicated a significantly hyperechoic myocardium, a...
The effects of medical marijuana laws on birth outcomes: Evidence from early adopting U.S. states

Abstract This paper examines the effects of state-level medical marijuana laws (MMLs) in the U.S. on birth outcomes, including birth weight, length of gestation, and Apgar scores. Using individual-level natality data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1990 to 2013, we take advantage of the geographic and temporal variation in the implementation of MMLs in a difference-in-differences estimation framework with state and year fixed effects and state-specific time trends. Overall, we find that MMLs have no impact on gestation period or Apgar scores. While MMLs lead to a statistically significant increase in birth weight by 4.4 g (0.13%), this effect is practically small. Furthermore, we find little variation in the effects of MMLs on birth outcomes across different socioeconomic subgroups and observe no lagged negative effects of MMLs on birth outcomes of children born in the MML states in the years following the legalization of medical marijuana.
Mechanistic Analysis of Microstructural Attributes to Lithium Plating in Fast Charging.

Metallic lithium deposition on graphite anodes is a critical degradation mode in lithium-ion batteries, which limits safety and fast charge capability. A conclusive strategy to mitigate lithium dep...
Pre-chlorination effects on fouling during microfiltration of secondary municipal wastewater effluent

Abstract Chlorination-induced changes in the physicochemical characteristics of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and their role in fouling of hollow fiber polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membranes during wastewater reclamation was mechanistically investigated. Pre-chlorination strongly influenced pressure rise during constant flux forward filtration as well as hydraulically irreversible fouling by backwashing with low doses exacerbating it and high doses alleviating it. Dose-dependent fouling trends originated from alterations in EfOM size and polarity and consequently its interactions with the membrane based on whether applied chlorine concentrations were above or below a threshold value. Variations in macroscopic phenomena such as sorption tendency, streaming potential, and initial fouling upon exposure to pre-chlorinated EfOM were consistent with favorable adhesion energies calculated using the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory. Progressive fouling even though XDLVO theory predicted unfavorable EfOM-EfOM cohesive energies under all chlorination conditions demonstrated that hydrodynamics (permeation drag) dominated later stages of fouling. EfOM in the raw wastewater was largely deposited on the membrane surface resulting in compressible cake filtration. In contrast, pre-chlorination fragmented EfOM leading to intrapore fouling (standard blocking) at the beginning stages of filtration later transitioning to surface fouling (intermediate blocking).
Evaluation of information on the Internet regarding surgical mesh for hernia repair: analysis of websites found through three popular search engines.

Hernia repair remains one of the most common surgical procedures. Surgical mesh usage has been highlighted in the media due to recent lawsuits and recalls. Patients can read potentially biased information on the Internet and this can influence a patient’s healthcare decisions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate search engine listings and respective website content of surgical mesh for hernia repair. Websites evaluated were derived from four keyword searches targeting surgical mesh with Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Websites from the first two pages of each search were evaluated for content comprehensiveness. The largest category of websites from search engine results was legal advertisements, accounting for 20% of all results. These websites also held the first position on every results page. Legal advertisements and blog/forum websites were the most skewed toward surgical mesh risks and complications vs. benefits. There was a reduction in advertisements in 2020 vs. 2018. The most comprehensive non-advertisement websites were found more frequently. Overall, only 44% of websites presented references and 50% cited supporting data. Finally, 46% of ‘recommended search terms’ displayed on the search engine results page had a risk, complication, or legal bias. These results emphasize the challenges of using an Internet search engine to find comprehensive and appropriate information regarding surgical mesh. This manuscript underscores the importance for physicians to direct patients toward specific websites to mitigate their exposure to websites that are biased and not appropriate for patients searching for an accurate and comprehensive overview of surgical mesh.
Grape seed extract against Aichi virus infectivity in model foods and contact surfaces.

Abstract Aichi virus (AiV) is an enteric virus that affects humans and is prevalent in sewage waters. Effective strategies to control its spread need to be explored. This study evaluated grape seed extract (GSE) for: a) antiviral potential towards AiV infectivity at 37 °C and room temperature (RT); b) antiviral behavior in model foods (apple juice (AJ) and 2% fat milk) and also simulated gastric environments; and c) potential application as a wash solution on stainless steel surfaces. GSE at 0.5 mg/mL decreased AiV suspensions containing ~4.75 log PFU/mL to titer levels that were not detected after 30 s at both 37 °C and RT. Infectious AiV titers were not detected after 5 min treatment with 1 mg/mL GSE at 37 °C in AJ. GSE at 2 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL in 2% fat milk decreased AiV after 24 h by 1.18 and 1.57 log PFU/mL (4.75 log PFU/mL to 2.86 and 3.25 log PFU/mL), respectively. As a surface wash, GSE at 1 mg/mL after 30 s decreased AiV to undetectable levels under clean conditions. With organic load (mimicking unclean conditions), 2 and 4 mg/mL GSE reduced AiV after 5 min by 1.13 and 1.71 log PFU/mL, respectively. Overall, GSE seems to be a promising antiviral agent against AiV at low concentrations and short contact times.
Diagnosis of primary CNS lymphoma in a HIV patient with multiple ring-enhancing lesions

Multiple ring-enhancing lesions on brain MRI in an immunocompromised patient are frequently associated with opportunistic infections such as toxoplasmosis. In this report, we describe the case of a patient with HIV/AIDS who was found to having multiple ring-enhancing lesions and was diagnosed with a primary central nervous system lymphoma.
The Association between LGBTQIA+ Self-Identification and Factors Facilitating Homelessness: A Scoping Review of the Occupational Therapy Peer-Reviewed Literature

The purpose of this paper was to perform a scoping review examining the occupational therapy peer-reviewed literature regarding the LGBTQIA+ community to (a) determine what types of scholarship hav...
Evaluating deep learning methods in detecting and segmenting different sizes of brain metastases on 3D post-contrast T1-weighted images.

Purpose: We investigate the impact of various deep-learning-based methods for detecting and segmenting metastases with different lesion volume sizes on 3D brain MR images. Approach: A 2.5D U-Net and a 3D U-Net were selected. We also evaluated weak learner fusion of the prediction features generated by the 2.5D and the 3D networks. A 3D fully convolutional one-stage (FCOS) detector was selected as a representative of bounding-box regression-based detection methods. A total of 422 3D post-contrast T1-weighted scans from patients with brain metastases were used. Performances were analyzed based on lesion volume, total metastatic volume per patient, and number of lesions per patient. Results: The performance of detection of the 2.5D and 3D U-Net methods had recall of >0.83 and precision of >0.44 for lesion volume >0.3 cm3 but deteriorated as metastasis size decreased below 0.3 cm3 to 0.58 to 0.74 in recall and 0.16 to 0.25 in precision. Compared the two U-Nets for detection capability, high precision was achieved by the 2.5D network, but high recall was achieved by the 3D network for all lesion sizes. The weak learner fusion achieved a balanced performance between the 2.5D and 3D U-Nets; particularly, it increased precision to 0.83 for lesion volumes of 0.1 to 0.3 cm3 but decreased recall to 0.59. The 3D FCOS detector did not outperform the U-Net methods in detecting either the small or large metastases presumably because of the limited data size. Conclusions: Our study provides the performances of four deep learning methods in relationship to lesion size, total metastasis volume, and number of lesions per patient, providing insight into further development of the deep learning networks.
Special Educator Advocacy: A Case of Retaliation?

This article summarizes the applicable judicial analysis for cases in which special education personnel claim that their employing district retaliated against them for advocacy on behalf of student...
Failure Recovery Control for Space Robotic Systems

The problem of controlling a failed joint of a space manipulator is addressed. It is shown that failure recovery control may be possible when dynamic coupling exists between the link whose joint has failed and some other link whose joint is working, and when the system inertia matrix is invariant with respect to the failed joint angle. A failure recovery control technique is developed and applied to two simple examples.
Parotid gland lymphoma: prognostic analysis of 2140 patients.

Objectives/Hypothesis Assess the demographic, clinical, and pathologic features of patients with parotid gland lymphoma and their prognostic importance using US population-based data. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Patients were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database between the years of 1973 and 2008, and individual characteristics were compared using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and log-rank tests were performed. Results We identified 2,140 patients with primary parotid gland lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma was found in 3.5% of patients. More common were non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma accounted for 27.9%, 25.8%, and 23.7% of cases, respectively. Survival was decreased with patient age over 50 years, increasing stage, male gender, non-Hodgkin histology, and status other than married. Of the patients, 72.0% received some form of surgery, and 136 patients had facial nerve sacrifice during parotidectomy. Conclusions Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the predominant type of lymphoma seen in the parotid gland. Patient and histologic features determine survival, and surgery is often performed. Facial nerve sacrifice, which is contraindicated given the systemic nature of lymphoma and the role of chemotherapy and radiation in its treatment, is reported in 6.4% of patients with parotid gland lymphoma. Level of Evidence 2b.
Tropolone monomer: Vibrational spectrum and proton tunneling

Abstract Infrared matrix-isolation spectra are reported for the tropolone monomers C 7 H 5 O 2 H and C 7 H 5 O 2 D. Tropolone possesses an intramolecular hydrogen bond and the possibility for proton tunneling from one oxygen atom to the other. Clearcut multiplets attributed to tunneling are observed for the OD stretching mode and for heavy atom modes of both C 7 H 5 O 2 D and C 7 H 5 O 2 H. The (mixed) carbonyl stretching mode particularly seems to facilitate tunneling from one conformation to the other. The tunneling phenomena suggests that tropolone monomer has nearly C 2 v symmetry. As a crude estimate, the tunneling potential energy barrier is calculated to be less than 5600 cm −1 in the ground electronic state of C 7 H 5 O 2 D. The barrier is lower in the Π ∗ electronic state than in the ground electronic state. A vibrational assignment that encompasses most of the 39 fundamental modes is proposed. The vibrations are classified using C 2 v symmetry species and a parallel vibrational analysis is presented for tropone, C 7 H 6 O, which is a true C 2 v molecule.
On entropy for mixtures of discrete and continuous variables

Let $X$ be a discrete random variable with support $S$ and $f : S \to S^\prime$ be a bijection. Then it is well-known that the entropy of $X$ is the same as the entropy of $f(X)$. This entropy preservation property has been well-utilized to establish non-trivial properties of discrete stochastic processes, e.g. queuing process \cite{prg03}. Entropy as well as entropy preservation is well-defined only in the context of purely discrete or continuous random variables. However for a mixture of discrete and continuous random variables, which arise in many interesting situations, the notions of entropy and entropy preservation have not been well understood. In this paper, we extend the notion of entropy in a natural manner for a mixed-pair random variable, a pair of random variables with one discrete and the other continuous. Our extensions are consistent with the existing definitions of entropy in the sense that there exist natural injections from discrete or continuous random variables into mixed-pair random variables such that their entropy remains the same. This extension of entropy allows us to obtain sufficient conditions for entropy preservation in mixtures of discrete and continuous random variables under bijections. The extended definition of entropy leads to an entropy rate for continuous time Markov chains. As an application, we recover a known probabilistic result related to Poisson process. We strongly believe that the frame-work developed in this paper can be useful in establishing probabilistic properties of complex processes, such as load balancing systems, queuing network, caching algorithms.
An Internal Gyroscopic Micro-Mechanism for Development of Lateral Deviation of a Projectile

The lateral control of a projectile for impacting a non-stationary target is of interest in many applications. Changing the flight trajectory can be achieved using the internal moving parts of the projectile. In this study, three small internal swing masses introduced to the projectile are controlled, and the masses are attached at the end of a massless rod. A mathematical model for the internal gyroscopic rotating disks of this mechanism and its trajectory path is developed. For this mechanism, the equations of motion are developed and solved numerically to simulate the trajectory of the projectile. The projectile is shown to move cyclically about the axis of rotation and deviate from its axis in a relatively even slope. A parametric study is conducted on actuating each mass in sequence or changing the weight of the mass to examine and evaluate the flight trajectory of the projectile. The results from this study show that the projectile could move in a lateral direction in a controlled manner by altering the mass mechanism in a predefined manner. This application may hold merit for controlling the re-entry flight trajectory of air vehicles.
Interactive learning online at public universities: Evidence from a six‐campus randomized trial.

Online instruction is quickly gaining in importance in U.S. higher education, but little rigorous evidence exists as to its effect on student learning. We measure the effect on learning outcomes of a prototypical interactive learning online statistics course by randomly assigning students on six public university campuses to take the course in a hybrid format (with machine-guided instruction accompanied by one hour of face-to-face instruction each week) or a traditional format (as it is usually offered by their campus, typically with about three hours of face-to-face instruction each week). We find that learning outcomes are essentially the same—that students in the hybrid format are not harmed by this mode of instruction in terms of pass rates, final exam scores, and performance on a standardized assessment of statistical literacy. We also conduct speculative cost simulations and find that adopting hybrid models of instruction in large introductory courses has the potential to significantly reduce instructor compensation costs in the long run.
Public Choice and the EPA, 20 Years Later: An Exploratory Study

Nearly 20 years ago, Mixon (1995) found that urban warming is positively related to the probability of an EPA citation for a violation of carbon emissions standards, whereas lobbying effort reduces the probability of such a citation. This study revisits the Mixon (1995) framework by using data on ozone violations. The results indicate that EPA citations for ozone violations are not significantly related to lobbying effort.
The effect of past experience on the size of shells selected by hermit crabs

Abstract The relationship between crab size and shell size selected, in a free-choice situation, was tested for crabs maintained under several conditions. Individuals of Calcinus tibicen that were held and presented with an excess of shells for 7 days prior to testing selected smaller shells than control crabs (either those maintained for 7 days with no excess shells available or those experiencing natural field conditions). This shift occurred whether the excess shell type was the same or different from the shell type tested after experience. In a similar set of experiments, individuals of C. laevimanus were held for 31 days and although the trends in shell choice were similar to those for C. tibicen, the differences were not significant.
Short-term retention of paired associates as a function of instructions and retention measure

Two sets of instructions (traditional paired-associate instructions and special instructions to mediate) and three retention tasks (free recall, modified free recall, and recognition matching) were used to investigate the unlearning of first-list associates when an A-B, A-C paradigm was used in a short-term memory (STM) situation. Experimental Ss were given 2 sec per pair to learn two A-B pairs and two A-C pairs and then 10 sec of interpolated number reading before a retention test was administered. Control Ss learned only List-1 pairs and had additional interpolated material to equate retention interval. Performance was poorer for the experimental group than the control group in all conditions except with mediating instructions and the recognition-matching task. These results provide evidence for unlearning in STM and provide further support for a two-stage model of unlearning.
CHESS: a rapid Cherenkov and Electromagnetic Shower Simulator

Abstract We present a new Cherenkov and Electromagnetic Shower Simulator, called CHESS. This code, a full three-dimensional Monte Carlo, is targeted to the primary energy range 1014–1017 eV and is more than ten times faster than existing codes. Using CHESS, we have investigated Cherenkov emission characteristics, with the aim of producing a parameterization of the light yield. This parameterization is presented, allowing even faster calculation of Cherenkov light production. The parameterization is implemented at the emission level, preserving all relevant fluctuation and correlation information in the shower.
Further experience with modification of an intraluminal button for hands-free tracheoesophageal speech after

Tracheoesophageal (TE) speech using a voice prosthesis and hands-free speaking valve with an intraluminal attachment is the gold standard for voice restoration after total laryngectomy. Modification of a standard self-retaining silicone cannula or laryngectomy button often aids in the attachment of a speaking valve within the tracheal lumen for hands-free TE speech production. An increased number of laryngectomized individuals are able to achieve hands-free TE speech when the standard length, flange, and diameter of a silicone button is customized to accommodate individual tracheostomal contours. A technique is presented for modification of a standard silicone laryngectomy button to facilitate hands-free TE speech after total laryngectomy. (J Prosthet Dent 2009;102:328-331)
The sources of heat and water supply of thermal springs, with particular reference to Steamboat Springs, Nevada

Thermal springs are classified as: (1) non-volcanic (heat and water supply are not immediately related to volcanism); (2) intermediate (excess heat is due to abnormally high geothermal gradients resulting from volcanism, but the water is entirely meteoric); (3) volcanic (excess heat, much of the mineral content, and part of the water are from a volcanic source). Lines of evidence indicating the origin of a thermal spring system are (1) temperature relations, including surface temperatures of springs, geothermal gradients of the spring system, and possible sources of excess heat; (2) mineral content of the thermal water and its possible sources, with attention focused on the more soluble components that are seldom deposited in veins (Chlorine, boron, and to a lesser extent sulphur and carbon dioxide in their various chemical combinations are critical indicators, particularly when considered together.); (3) composition of associated gases; (4) variations in spring discharges and water levels, as related to variations in meteoric water supply; (5) isotopic composition of spring and meteoric waters; and (6) regional and local geology, and in particular the age and extent of any volcanic rocks. These lines of evidence, when applied to Steamboat Springs and evaluated, definitely indicate a volcanic origin. The three-dimensional picture of the Steamboat Springs system is described. Meteoric water migrates downward and toward the core of the system, with stratigraphic and structural control, and mixes with rising volcanic water. This migration is caused by differences in density related largely to temperature; artesian conditions are not essential.
Acquisition-extremal graphs

A total acquisition move in a weighted graph G moves all weight from a vertex u to a neighboring vertex v, provided that before this move the weight on v is at least the weight on u. The total acquisition number, a"t(G), is the minimum number of vertices with positive weight that remain in G after a sequence of total acquisition moves, starting with a uniform weighting of the vertices of G. For n>=2, Lampert and Slater showed that a"t(G)@?n+13 when G has n vertices, and this is sharp. We characterize the graphs achieving equality: a"t(G)=|V(G)|+13 if and only if G@?T@?{P"2,C"5}, where T is the family of trees that can be constructed from P"5 by iteratively growing paths with three edges from neighbors of leaves.