cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Steam Drive

Results of theoretical and experimental investigation of the steam-drive process, or steam flooding, are presented. The displacement of oil and water by steam was represented by a system of 5 partial differential equations. The equations were solved by use of a combination finite difference technique. The mathematical model included vaporizations and condensation effects, as well as changes in viscosity and density due to temperature changes. Two- dimensional flow of heat in the adjacent formation was considered. The model was used to simulate the results of one of the experiments. The experimental work performed provided information on the relative roles of steam distillation and viscosity reduction in oil recovery by a steam flood, for partially distillable oils. (14 refs.)
Investigation on risk factors for asthma in children in Changsha

Objective To investigate the major risk factors for asthma in children of different ages and to provide epidemiological evidence for the prevention and management of this disease in Changsha.Methods 600 children with asthma aged from 0 to 14 years were selected and assigned into three groups according to the age.The questionnaires developed by Hunan Asthma Collaborative Group were answered by the parents and analyzed by SPSS 15.0.Results The analysis showed that respiratory infection was the leading risk factor of asthma in children of all ages(χ2=1.91,P0.05).Compared to the olders,younger children were more vulnerable to the environmental factors such as living condition,weather change and passive smoking(χ2=12.82,P0.05).Allergic history was more contributive to the development of asthma in older children(χ2 =16.48,P0.05).Conclusions Respiratory infection is the major risk factor of asthma in children of all ages.Asthma in younger children can be easily affected by environmental factors,while genetic background is closely related to asthma in the olders.
Numerical Simulation of Shock-Interface Interaction with Modified Compact Scheme

A modified fourth order accurate compact scheme with group velocity control (GVC) is developed. The scheme is high order accurate with less stencil, simple, less computer consuming, and can capture the shocks with high cross pressure ratio and the contact discontinuity with high density ratio. The developed method is used to simulate Richtmyer-Meshkov (R-M) instability problem driven by a cylindrical shock. The behavior of R-M instability is studied.
Warfarin improves neuropathy in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

We report a case of a 60-year-old man who was referred to a palliative care clinic with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)-associated neuropathy, responding to a therapeutic trial of warfarin. Electromyography showed distal symmetric sensory axonal neuropathy. The patient reported having had improvement of his neuropathic symptoms while taking warfarin postoperatively for thromboprophylaxis 1 year prior, and recurrence of his symptoms after the warfarin was discontinued. The patient was rechallenged with a trial of warfarin, targeting an international normalised ratio of 1.5–2.0. His pain scores decreased from 5/10 to 3/10 at 1 month and symptom improvement was maintained through 24 months of follow-up. Warfarin had a remarkable impact on our patient9s symptoms and quality of life. The mechanisms mediating the symptomatic benefit with warfarin are unclear; however, a placebo effect is unlikely. Further studies may help guide the use of warfarin for MGUS-associated neuropathy.
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook and Sri Aurobindo: Towards a Comparison

There is a passage in Rabbi Kook’s Lights of Holiness1 which provides some encouragement for the exploration ventured in the following pages.
Excess mortality among people who report lifetime use of illegal drugs in the United States: A 20-year follow-up of a nationally representative survey.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the mortality risks, over 20 years of follow-up in a nationally representative sample, associated with illegal drug use and to describe risk factors for mortality. Methods We analyzed data from the 1991 National Health Interview Survey, which is a nationally representative household survey in the United States, linked to the National Death Index through 2011. This study included 20,498 adults, aged 18–44 years in 1991, with 1047 subsequent deaths. A composite variable of self-reported lifetime illegal drug use was created (hierarchical categories of heroin, cocaine, hallucinogens/inhalants, and marijuana use). Results Mortality risk was significantly elevated among individuals who reported lifetime use of heroin (HR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.65–3.48) and cocaine (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.04–1.55), but not for those who used hallucinogens/inhalants or marijuana, when adjusting for demographic characteristics. Baseline health risk factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and BMI) explained the greatest amount of this mortality risk. After adjusting for all baseline covariates, the association between heroin or cocaine use and mortality approached significance. In models adjusted for demographics, people who reported lifetime use of heroin or cocaine had an elevated mortality risk due to external causes (poisoning, suicide, homicide, and unintentional injury). People who had used heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogens/inhalants had an elevated mortality risk due to infectious diseases. Conclusions Heroin and cocaine are associated with considerable excess mortality, particularly due to external causes and infectious diseases. This association can be explained mainly by health risk behaviors.
In Vivo Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for Therapeutic Gene Editing: Progress and Challenges

The successful use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9-based gene editing for therapeutics requires efficient in vivo delivery of the CRISPR components. There are, however, major challenges on the delivery front. In this Topical Review, we will highlight recent developments in CRISPR delivery, and we will present hurdles that still need to be overcome to achieve effective in vivo editing.
Arginine Is a Critical Substrate for the Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Burn Wound Infections.

Environmental conditions affect bacterial behavior and can greatly influence the course of an infection. However, the environmental cues that elicit bacterial responses in specific infection sites are relatively unknown. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is ubiquitous in nature and typically innocuous. However, it is also one of the most prevalent causes of fatal sepsis in burn wound patients. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of environmental factors, specifically the availability of arginine, on the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa in burn wound infections. Comparison of burned versus noninjured tissue revealed that l-arginine (l-Arg) was significantly depleted in burn wounds as a consequence of elevated arginase produced by myeloid-derived suppressor cells. We also observed that l-Arg was a potent chemoattractant for P. aeruginosa, and while low concentrations of l-Arg increased P. aeruginosa's swimming motility, high concentrations resulted in diminished swimming. Based on these observations, we tested whether the administration of exogenous l-Arg into the burn wound could attenuate the virulence of P. aeruginosa in thermally injured mice. Administration of l-Arg resulted in decreased P. aeruginosa spread and sepsis and increased animal survival. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the availability of environmental arginine greatly influences the virulence of P. aeruginosa in vivo and may represent a promising phenotype-modulating tool for future therapeutic avenues.IMPORTANCE Despite our growing understanding of the pathophysiology of burn wounds and the evolution of techniques and practices to manage infections, sepsis remains a significant medical concern for burn patients. P. aeruginosa continues to be a leader among all causes of bacteremic infections due to its tendency to cause complications in immunocompromised patients and its ubiquitous presence in the hospital setting. With the unforgiving emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, it is critical that alternative strategies to control or prevent septic infections in burn patients be developed in parallel with novel antimicrobial agents. In this study, we observed that administration of l-Arg significantly reduced bacterial spread and sepsis in burned mice infected with P. aeruginosa Given the safety of l-Arg in high doses and its potential wound-healing benefits, this conditionally essential amino acid may represent a useful tool to modulate bacterial behavior in vivo and prevent sepsis in burn patients.
The War on Poverty Then and Now: A Plan Toward Ultimate Victory

Despite officially declaring war on poverty (WOP) in 1964, America still deals with significantly high rates of poverty. The persistence of poverty in the New World is puzzling and has prompted talks of a lost cause among scholars and political leaders. This article describes the scope of poverty in America and its impact on children, revisits the Great Society agenda, and draws analogies between wars and the metaphorical WOP. It is argued that the WOP is not over yet, but has been through dormant phases conditioned by austerity policies since the early 1980s. A plan toward ultimate victory is proposed.
The Role of Biomarkers in Research on Caregivers for Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review:

Background:Biomarkers can be used as prognostic, predictive, or monitoring indicators of an associated outcome. The purpose of this review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the research exa...
Tremor, Essential: Genetics

Essential tremor (ET) is a common disorder that is often transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Disease loci for ET are genetically linked to three regions on chromosomes 3q13, 2p22–p25, and 6p23. Genetic studies suggest that the pathogenesis of ET involves genes that metabolize environmental toxins or affect neurotransmitter signaling.
Influence of catfish skin mucus on trisodium phosphate inactivation of attached Salmonella Typhimurium, Edwardsiella tarda, and Listeria monocytogenes.

This study examined the antimicrobial effectiveness of trisodium phosphate (TSP) on Edwardsiella tarda, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella Typhimurium attached to catfish skin with and without mucus. Salmonella Typhimurium and E. tarda attached more readily to catfish skin than did L. monocytogenes. At high inoculum levels (10 7 CFU/ml), TSP treatments (at 2 to 6%) for 10 min reduced bacterial counts of E. tarda by > 2.5 to > 3.3 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 3.5 to 3.6 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Counts of L. monocytogenes declined by 0.6 to > 1.8 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 1.2 to 2.2 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Counts of Salmonella Typhimurium were reduced by 3.6 to > 3.8 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 3.5 to >3.8 log 1 0 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Overall, counts of firmly attached bacteria on TSP-treated skins with mucus were higher than counts on skin without mucus. Firmly attached L. monocytogenes was more resistant to TSP than was firmly attached Salmonella Typhimurium or E. tarda. The presence of mucus on skins slightly decreased the antimicrobial effect of TSP. Significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the numbers of all three bacteria can be achieved by treatment with 6% TSP for 10 min.
Two new hemoglobins. Hemoglobin Alabama (beta39(C5)Gln leads to Lys) and hemoglobin Montgomery (alpha 48(CD 6) Leu leads to Arg).

Abstract The amino acid substitutions in two new hemoglobins found by electrophoretic screening during a survey in Alabama have been determined by column chromatography and amino acid analyses of their tryptic peptides. They are hemoglobin Alabama [β 39(C 5)Gln → Lys] and hemoglobin Montgomery [α 48(CD 6)Leu → Arg]. No harmful symptoms have been attributed to the presence of either hemoglobin.
Predisposing Child Factors

Since the original description of the Battered Child Syndrome by Kempe and his colleagues (Kempe, Silverman, Steele, Droegemueller, & Silver, 1962), there has been a tremendous growth in professional and media interest in child abuse and neglect. Evidence of expanded awareness is found in the plethora of specialty journals (e.g.,Journal of Family Violence, Child Abuse and Neglect) and books (MacFarlane, Waterman, Conerly, Damon, Durfee, & Long, 1986; Oates, 1982; Wolfe, 1987) devoted to this topic. This increased focus of attention is at least partly attributable to the dramatic rise in reported cases of child maltreatment in recent years. For example, there has been an 8% increase in reported cases of child abuse and neglect from 1985 to 1986 (American Association for Protecting Children, 1988). Although such an elevation in reports is partly related to greater professional awareness of child maltreatment, most experts agree that child abuse and neglect currently represent significant social problems (see Chapter 2 in this volume).
White Matter Microstructural Abnormalities in Children with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) (S15.005)

OBJECTIVE: To test whether microstructural abnormalities of cerebral white matter are associated with sensory dysfunction, impaired MSI, and attention problems in children with SPD using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). BACKGROUND: SPD affect 5-16% of children and can lead to deficits in intellectual and social development. Current theories regarding the underlying basis of SPD implicate atypical neural firing in primary sensory cortical areas and their connections with multisensory integration (MSI) regions. DESIGN/METHODS: DTI was acquired in 16 boys (8-11 years) with SPD and 24 age, gender, handedness and IQ-matched neurotypical controls. Neurobehavioral measures were collected by parent report and direct assessment. FSL was used to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD). Nonparametric permutation testing from tract based spatial statistics was used to detect group differences in whole brain white matter and to detect regions where DTI parameters were correlated with behavioral variables. RESULTS: Significant decreases in FA and increases in MD/RD were found in areas of cerebral white matter in the SPD cohort relative to controls, primarily in posterior white matter tracts including the splenium, body of the corpus callosum, bilateral corona radiata and bilateral thalamic radiations, including the optic radiations. Significant correlations were observed between FA of specific frontal and posterior cerebral tracts and the auditory, multisensory, and inattention scores (r=0.5-0.7; p CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate reduced white matter microstructural integrity in children with SPD. These findings suggest a biological basis for SPD and also help to establish SPD as a distinct disease separate from overlapping clinical conditions such as autism and ADHD, which at the level of group analysis, have divergent patterns of DTI abnormalities. Using brain-behavior correlations, we hope to move towards a more individualized model for understanding and treating children with sensory processing differences. Supported by: The Wallace Research Foundation NIMH-K23MH083890 NCRR UCSF-CTSI UL1 RR024131. Disclosure: Dr. Marco has nothing to disclose. Dr. Owen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Desai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mukherjee has nothing to disclose.
Lo narrativo y visual de Voces en el parque: una propuesta didáctica interdisciplinar en el aula de secundaria.

The following proposal, explores the relationships between text and image as reciprocal complements to the literacy interpretation of the message in the illustrated book album. Although the reader model of the books album are small children, it’s proposed its usefulness for interdisciplinary work between literature and visual arts in the secondary classroom, visualizing in Anthony Browne’s book, «Voices in the Park» a possible transgenerational reading, in other words, given the complexity of the hidden codes after intertextual references it’s possible it’s didactic application for the development of the visual and literacy competence through the understanding and the fictional creative work with the youth. This link is planned according to criteria to justify the expansion of the teaching of literature toward the interdisciplinary work: students as producers of visual culture and narrative stories for the construction of a fifth voice in the mentioned work.
A dam passage performance standard model for American shad

Objectives for recovery of alosines commonly involve improving fish passage at dams during migration. However, a quantitative basis for dam passage performance standards is largely absent. We descr...
Prediction of Invoice Payment Status in Account Payable Business Process.

Account payables are amount owed to vendors for goods and services delivered to a company. Vendors raise invoices which go through several processing steps before they are paid by a company. Companies have contractual obligations with vendors for paying the invoices within a stipulated time. Invoices that exceed this time attract penalty and affect vendor satisfaction to work with the company. It is very critical for large firms dealing with thousands of vendors for their day to day operations to meet the service level agreements with vendors to avoid penalties. Any assistance for practitioners, warning them of potential invoices that can breach the service level agreements, can help them in minimizing the penalties. In this research, we model the problem of identifying delayed invoices as a supervised classification task. There are three characteristics of this problem which are challenging from a classification perspective: (i) the status of an invoice is affected by other invoices that are simultaneously being processed, as there are limited resources to process the huge volume of invoices, (ii) feature engineering to capture the temporal aspect of the invoice and having the optimal representation of the multiple data entries created per invoice, and (iii) the number of paid late invoices are much smaller in percentage compared to paid on time invoices in the training data set, hence the classes are imbalanced. The results obtained by training an ensemble of classifiers show that penalties can be avoided on more than 82% of the invoices which are currently being penalized.
Measurement validity of retrospective survey questions of bicycling use, attitude, and skill

Abstract Though panel data have substantial advantages over cross-sectional data in the study of travel behavior change, it also introduces logistical and methodological challenges for researchers. Retrospective surveys have the advantage of addressing many of these challenges, though the measurement validity of recalled answers remains an important concern. In this study, I assess the measurement validity of recalled characteristics related to bicycling: usual use of a bicycle to commute, bicycling attitude, and bicycling skill. I statistically compare data collected prospectively in the 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, and 2015–16 UC Davis Campus Travel Surveys (CTS) with corresponding data collected retrospectively in the 2016–17 CTS. I find that prospective answers are strongly associated with recalled responses, that the passage of time has a weak, uncertain influence on recollection, and that present-day attributes attenuate the relationship between prospective and retrospective answers. I conclude that the recalled answers display a sufficient degree of correspondence to prospectively-collected response to have faith in analyses using retrospective survey data regarding traits within the past five years or less. Further research should be done on the measurement validity of retrospective travel survey data to contribute to the knowledge base on this important methodological topic.
Patterns of care and overall survival in the Medicare ovarian cancer population.

5587 Background: Tumor reductive surgery and combination chemotherapy is the standard of care for advanced ovarian cancer. Comorbid conditions and poor performance status can affect treatment optio...
Dangerous Minds: Nietzsche, Heidegger, and the Return of the Far Right: by Ronald Beiner, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018, 167 pp., $24.95 (cloth)

This volume, written by one of the leading political theorists today, comprises a timely and powerful response to our new political environment, what Ronald Beiner calls “our contemporary neofascis...
Synchrotron X-radiolysis of l-cysteine at the sulfur K-edge: Sulfurous products, experimental surprises, and dioxygen as an oxidoreductant.

In situ inventory of sulfurous products from the sulfur K-edge synchrotron X-radiolysis of l-cysteine in solid-phase and anaerobic (pH 5) and air-saturated (pH 5, 7, and 9) solutions without and with 40% glycerol is reported. Sequential K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic (XAS) spectra were acquired. l-cysteine degraded systematically in the X-ray beam. Radiolytic products were inventoried by fits using the XAS spectra of sulfur model compounds. Solid l-cysteine declined to 92% fraction after a single K-edge XAS scan. After six scans, 60% remained, accompanied by 14% cystine, 16% thioether, 5.4% elemental sulfur, and smaller fractions of more highly oxidized products. In air-saturated pH 5 solution, 73% of l-cysteine remained after ten scans, with 2% cystine and 19% elemental sulfur. Oxidation increased with 40% glycerol, yielding 67%, 5%, and 23% fractions, respectively, after ten scans. Higher pH solutions exhibited less radiolytic chemistry. All the reactivity followed first-order kinetics. The anaerobic experiment displayed two reaction phases, with sharp changes in kinetics and radiolytic chemistry. Unexpectedly, the radiolytic oxidation of l-cysteine was increased in anaerobic solution. After ten scans, only 60% of the l-cysteine remained, along with 17% cystine, 22% elemental sulfur, and traces of more highly oxidized products. A new aerobic reaction cycle is hypothesized, wherein dissolved dioxygen captures radiolytic H• or eaq−, enters HO2•/O2•−, reductively quenches cysteine thiyl radicals, and cycles back to O2. This cycle is suggested to suppress the radiolytic production of cystine in aerobic solution.
Immunization with dendritic cells pulsed with tumor extract increases survival of mice bearing intracranial gliomas.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of dendritic cell-mediated immunotherapy against intracranial gliomas. Cloned DC2.4 dendritic cells originating from C57BL/6 mice were pulsed with glioma GL261 cell extracts and administered i.p. to C57BL/6 mice with intracranial GL261 gliomas. The survival of mice with and without pulsed dendritic cells was monitored after intracranial implantation of the GL261 glioma cells. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that DC2.4 cells express high levels of MHC class I and class II molecules, costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2, and the cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1. Antigen-presenting capabilities in these dendritic cells were initially characterized in vitro by a mixed lymphocyte reaction, showing that Balb/c CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were able to generate allogeneic responses to DC2.4 cells. Tumor extract-pulsed DC2.4 dendritic cells were then used for the treatment of C57BL/6 mice with syngeneic GL261 gliomas. Animals with intracranial GL261 gliomas and vaccinated i.p. with pulsed DC2.4 dendritic cells exhibited significantly enhanced survival, relative to animals treated with saline or non-pulsed DC2.4 cells alone. In addition, cured animals showed an increased delayed-type hypersensitivity response to GL261 cells and survived when rechallenged with intracranial GL261 gliomas. In summary these results indicate that dendritic cells pulsed with tumor extract can enhance immune responses to tumor antigen and therefore represent a potential immunotherapeutic approach for treating patients with intracranial gliomas.
Evaluation of Headway Threshold-based Coordinated Platooning over a Cascade of Highway Junctions.

Platooning of vehicles with coordinated adaptive cruise control (CACC) capabilities is a promising technology with a strong potential for fuel savings and congestion mitigation. Although some researchers have studied the vehicle-level fuel savings of platooning, few have considered the system-level benefits. This paper evaluates vehicle platooning as a fuel-reduction method and propose a hierarchical control system. We particularly focus on the impact of platooning coordination algorithm on system-wide benefits. The main task of platooning coordination is to regulate the times at which multiple vehicles arrive at a particular junction: these vehicles can platoon only if they meet (i.e. arrive within a common time interval) at the junction. We use a micro-simulation model to evaluate a class of threshold-based coordination strategies and derive insights about the trade-off between the fuel savings due to air drag reduction in platoons and the extra fuel consumption due to the coordination (i.e. acceleration of some vehicles to catch up with the leading ones). The model is calibrated using real traffic data of a section of Interstate 210 in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. We study the relation between key decision variables, including the platooning threshold and the coordination radius, and key performance metric, fuel consumption.
Multiple Eviction: An Investigation of Chain Displacement in Dane County, Wisconsin:

Within a context dominated by the seemingly paradoxical juxtaposition of gentrification and abandonment in New York City during the early 1980s, Peter Marcuse developed an influential typology of d...
Comparison of distortion-product otoacoustic emission and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission two-tone suppression in humans.

Distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission (SFOAE) are two types of acoustic signals emitted by the inner ear in response to tonal stimuli. The levels of both emission types may be reduced by the inclusion of additional (suppressor) tones with the stimulus. Comparison of two-tone suppression properties across emission type addresses a clinically relevant question of whether these two types of emission provide similar information about cochlear status. The purpose of this study was to compare DPOAE suppression to SFOAE suppression from the same ear in a group of participants with normal hearing. Probe frequency was approximately 1000 Hz, and the suppressor frequency varied from −1.5 to 0.5 octaves relative to the probe frequency. DPOAE and SFOAE suppression were compared in terms of (1) suppression growth rate (SGR), (2) superimposed suppression tuning curves (STCs), and (3) STC-derived metrics, such as high-frequency slope, cochlear amplifier gain, and QERB (ERB, equivalent rectangular bandwidth). Below the probe frequency, the SGR was slightly greater than one for SFOAEs and slightly less than two for DPOAEs. There were no differences in STC metrics across emission types. These observations may provide useful constraints on physiology-based models of otoacoustic emission suppression.
The unwelcoming experience of abusive supervision and the impact of leader characteristics: turning employees into poor organizational citizens and future quitters

Over three studies (i.e., two 2 × 2 experiments and a multi-source field study), we examine the relationship between abusive supervision, leader characteristics, and organizational inclusion on emp...
The Use of Mobile Learning in Grades K–12: A Literature Review of Current Trends and Practices

This article presents a literature review of mobile learning (m-learning) in the K–12 classroom and explores the impact of tablets in primary education. Additionally, it shows the impact of mobile ...
Altered mechanical behavior of demineralized bone following therapeutic radiation.

Post-radiotherapy (RTx) bone fragility fractures are a late-onset complication occurring in bone within or underlying the radiation field. These fractures are difficult to predict, as patients do not present with local osteopenia. Using a murine hindlimb RTx model, we previously documented decreased mineralized bone strength and fracture toughness, but alterations in material properties of the organic bone matrix are largely unknown. In this study, 4 days of fractionated hindlimb irradiation (4 × 5 Gy) or Sham irradiation was administered in a mouse model (BALB/cJ, end points: 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, n = 15/group/end point). Following demineralization, the viscoelastic stress relaxation, and monotonic tensile mechanical properties of tibiae were determined. Irradiated tibiae demonstrated an immediate (day after last radiation fraction) and sustained (4, 8, 12 weeks) increase in stress relaxation compared to the Sham group, with a 4.4% decrease in equilibrium stress (p < .017). While tensile strength was not different between groups, irradiated tibiae had a lower elastic modulus (-5%, p = .027) and energy to failure (-12.2%, p = .012) with monotonic loading. Gel electrophoresis showed that therapeutic irradiation (4 × 5 Gy) does not result in collagen fragmentation, while irradiation at a common sterilization dose (25 kGy) extensively fragmented collagen. These results suggest that altered collagen mechanical behavior has a role in postirradiation bone fragility, but this can occur without detectable collagen fragmentation. Statement of Clinical Significance: Therapeutic irradiation alters bone organic matrix mechanics and which contribute to diminished fatigue strength, but this does not occur via collagen fragmentation.
Impact of Left Atrial Bipolar Electrogram Voltage on First Pass Pulmonary Vein Isolation During Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

Background First pass pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is associated with durable isolation and reduced recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective We sought to investigate the relationship between left atrial electrogram voltage using multielectrode fast automated mapping (ME-FAM) and first pass isolation with radiofrequency ablation. Methods We included consecutive patients (pts) undergoing first time ablation for paroxysmal AF (pAF), and compared the voltage characteristics between patients with and without first pass isolation. Left atrium (LA) adjacent to PVs was divided into 6 regions, and mean voltages obtained with ME-FAM (Pentaray, Biosense Webster) in each region and compared. LA electrograms with marked low voltage (<0.5 mV) were identified and the voltage characteristics at the site of difficult isolation was compared to the voltage in adjacent region. Results Twenty consecutive patients (10 with first pass and 10 without) with a mean age of 63.3 ± 6.2 years, 65% males, were studied. Difficult isolation occurred on the right PVs in eight pts and left PVs in three pts. The mean voltage in pts without first pass isolation was lower in all 6 regions; posterior wall (1.93 ± 1.46 versus 2.99 ± 2.19; p < 0.001), roof (1.83 ± 2.29 versus 2.47 ± 1.99; p < 0.001), LA-LPV posterior (1.85 ± 3.09 versus 2.99 ± 2.19, p < 0.001), LA-LPV ridge (1.42 ± 1.04 versus 1.91 ± 1.61; p < 0.001), LA-RPV posterior (1.51 ± 1.11 versus 2.30 ± 1.77, p < 0.001) and LA-RPV septum (1.55 ± 1.23 versus 2.31 ± 1.40, p < 0.001). Patients without first pass isolation also had a larger percentage of signal with an amplitude of <0.5 mV for each of the six regions (12.8% versus 7.5%). In addition, the mean voltage at the site of difficult isolation was lower at 8 out of 11 sites compared to mean voltage for remaining electrograms in that region. Conclusion In patients undergoing PVI for paroxysmal AF, failure in first pass isolation was associated with lower global LA voltage, more marked low amplitude signal (<0.5 mV) and lower local signal voltage at the site with difficult isolation. The results suggest that a greater degree of global and segmental fibrosis may play a role in ease of PV isolation with radiofrequency energy.
First in Man Pilot Feasibility Study in Extracranial Carotid Robotic-Assisted Endovascular Intervention

Background Robotic-assistance in endovascular intervention represents a nascent yet promising innovation. Objective To present the first human experience utilizing robotic-assisted angiography in the extracranial carotid circulation. Methods Between March 2019 and September 2019, patients with extracranial carotid circulation pathology presenting to Houston Methodist Hospital were enrolled. Results A total of 6 patients met inclusion criteria: 5 underwent diagnostic angiography only with robotic-assisted catheter manipulation, while 1 underwent both diagnostic followed by delayed therapeutic intervention. Mean age was 51 +/- 17.5 yr. Mean anesthesia time was 158.7 +/- 37.9 min, mean fluoroscopic time was 22.0 +/- 7.3 min, and mean radiation dose was 815.0 +/- 517.0 mGy. There were no technical complications and no clinical deficits postprocedure. None of the cases required conversion to manual neurovascular intervention (NVI). Conclusion Incorporating robotic technology in NVI can enhance procedural technique and diminish occupational hazards. Its application in the coronary and peripheral vascular settings has established safety and efficacy, but in the neurovascular setting, this has yet to be demonstrated. This study presents the first in human feasibility experience of robotic-assisted NVI in the extracranial carotid circulation.
Shame as a Moderator between Emotion Dysregulation and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity among Combat Veterans Seeking Residential Treatment

Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that emotion dysregulation may be predictive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity, with emotional non-acceptance, lack of counter strategies, impulse control deficits, and lack of emotional awareness all being positive predictors. However, findings have been mixed. This may be due to no previous study examining the association between emotion dysregulation and PTSD severity with shame, a maintaining factor of PTSD, as a potential moderator. Methods The present study examined the relationship between emotion dysregulation, shame, and PTSD severity among 78 male combat veterans (mean age = 42.19) upon their admission to a residential combat PTSD program. Results Results demonstrated that shame and all facets of emotion dysregulation (except lack of emotional awareness & clarity) were positively associated with PTSD severity. Shame moderated the relationship between lack of emotional awareness and strategies. Among those at or below the sample mean on shame, lack of access to strategies was a positive predictor of PTSD severity. Comparatively, among those with high levels of shame, emotional awareness predicted greater PTSD severity, while among those with low levels of shame, emotional awareness predicted lower PTSD severity. Limitations Limitations included reliance on self-report questionnaires and an all-male sample. Conclusions Thus, emotion dysregulation may only predict PTSD severity among those reporting lower levels of shame, suggesting the importance of addressing shame as well as emotion dysregulation deficits among those with PTSD. Moreover, emotional awareness may be either a risk or protective factor depending on levels of shame.
Role of topical tacrolimus in the management of proctitis, perianal manifestations in Crohn’s disease, and chronic pouchitis: a systematic review

Several published studies have evaluated the safety and effectiveness of oral and intravenous tacrolimus for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, little is known about the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus in this patient population. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current state of literature to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of rectal administration of topical tacrolimus, in the form of suppository, ointment, and/or enema in patients with ulcerative proctitis, perianal Crohn’s disease (CD), and chronic refractory pouchitis. Electronic database searches were conducted in international databases since their inception until February 2020. Study subjects were categorized into three groups: topical tacrolimus for patients with proctitis, perianal CD, and chronic refractory pouchitis. The primary end point of this study was the remission rate. Secondary end points were response rate and the incidence of AEs. Eleven studies were included in the final assessment in this systematic review. This provided information from 188 patients. Tacrolimus was administered topically as suppositories, ointment, or enema. Clinical remission was achieved in 57.1%, 57.14%, and 70.0% in patients with proctitis, fistulizing perianal CD, and chronic pouchitis. The most commonly reported side effect was perianal itching and burning. Reversible nephrotoxicity occurred in a single patient. No clear correlation was found between blood levels and clinical outcomes. Topical tacrolimus is effective for a subset of patients with IBD. The adverse effects were minimal and tolerable. Well-designed randomized clinical trials are warranted to establish the appropriate dose and administration method.
Evaluation of geohazards in the Cape Girardeau area using LiDAR and GIS, Southeast Missouri, USA

The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) has historically recorded some of the largest intensity earthquakes in North America, including significant earth movements that resulted in about 2000 felt earthquakes during 1811–1812. The region continues to experience mass wasting due to earth movements. The aim of this study is to understand the influence of geologic variables on mass wasting processes in the greater Cape Girardeau area, which forms the commercial center of Missouri's fertile "Bootheel" region. Earth movement susceptibility was evaluated in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties and portions of Stoddard and Scott counties by mapping potential landslide features on topographic maps, field verification of such features, and geospatial analysis of recent LiDAR imagery. In order to evaluate the changes in surface morphology, slope inclination, hillshade aspect, hydrology, lithology, faults, precipitation, seismicity, sinkholes, and geohydrology were considered. Geographically weighted analysis of the geomorphologic variables identified zones of relative risk. In addition, data were evaluated for oil and gas pipelines, bridges, utilities, and open pit mines associated with mass wasting on public and economic infrastructure. The results suggest that anthropogenic changes commonly associated with urban development impact land use, runoff, infiltration, and slope failures, while sustained precipitation and seismic ground shaking tend to trigger landslides. The scale of mass wasting in the study area was robust, varying from as small as one-half hectare to as much as 67 km2. The vulnerability of the population in susceptible areas tends to increase at the lower elevations and on alluvial flood plains. Thus, hazard susceptibility evaluation can be useful in both community planning as well as emergency preparedness.
Results of COVID-19 Surveillance in a Large United States Pediatric Healthcare System over One Year.

Background The lack of SARS-CoV-2 antigen surveillance testing in the pediatric population has inhibited accurate infection and hospitalization prevalence estimates. We aim to report the estimated prevalence of and risk factors for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission across the three United States (US) waves in one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the nation. Methods Retrospective electronic health record (EHR) review of all COVID-19 surveillance data among children aged 0-19 years seeking healthcare at one pediatric healthcare system that serves predominantly Medicaid-dependent families from 1 March 2020 to 31 March 2021. COVID-19 infection status (Y/N), hospital admission (Y/N), and ICU admission (Y/N) are the main outcomes. Results Of 22,377 children aged ≤ 19 years tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 2020-March 2021, 3126 were positive (14.0%), and out of those positive, 53.7% were hospitalized and 2.9% were admitted to the ICU. Compared to Wave 1 (1 March 2020-31 May 2020), the risk of a positive test increased from 16% (RR 1.16, 95% CI, 1.07-1.26) in Wave 2 (1 June 2020-31 October 2020) to 33% (RR 1.33, 95% CI, 1.23-1.44) in Wave 3 (1 November 2020-31 March 2021). Similarly, compared to Wave 1, the risk for hospitalization increased 86% (RR 1.86, 95% CI, 1.86-2.06) in Wave 2 and 89% in Wave 3 (RR 1.89, 95% CI, 1.70-2.08), and the risk for ICU admission increased from 10% in Wave 2 (RR 1.10, 95% CI, 0.39-3.01) to 310% in Wave 3 (RR 3.10, 95% CI, 1.21-7.80). Children with asthma, depressive disorders, type 1 or 2 diabetes, and anemia were more likely to be hospitalized while children with diabetes, obesity, cardiac malformations, and hypertension were more likely to be admitted to the ICU versus children without these conditions. Conclusions Children were cumulatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the three US waves with more than a third hospitalized in Wave 3. Children with underlying health conditions were particularly at risk for severe illness and should be monitored for any long-term impacts.
A preliminary assessment of intervertebral disc health and pathoanatomy changes observed two years following anterior vertebral body tethering

Vertebral body tethering (VBT) has been reported as a safe and effective non-fusion surgical technique for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but the postoperative health of the bone and soft tissues of the spine following instrumentation remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate pathoanatomy and degenerative changes of the spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients both prior to and two years following VBT. We prospectively enrolled nine patients who underwent VBT for the treatment of progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. All patients received preoperative and two-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of their spine; images were assessed for pathoanatomy (e.g. nucleus pulposus positioning and muscle atrophy) and degenerative changes (e.g. Schmorl nodes, endplate oedema, disc degeneration, and osteoarthritis) at each vertebral level between T1 and S1. Four patients (44%) exhibited a shift of the nucleus pulposus from an eccentric position at baseline towards midline at three or more levels, most of which were in the tethered region. Tethering did not affect preexisting fatty atrophy of multifidus. No patients exhibited postoperative Schmorl nodes, endplate oedema, or disc degeneration in either the tethered or untethered regions. Four patients (44%) presented with mild facet osteoarthritis in the lower lumbar spine, which did not change postoperatively. One patient developed moderate facet osteoarthritis at L5-S1. These preliminary data indicate that VBT may not result in significant degenerative changes in either the intervertebral discs or the posterior facets two years following instrumentation.
Control Techniques for Friction Compensation

Friction is a natural phenomenon that affects almost all motion. It has been the subject of extensive studies for centuries, with the main objectives being the design of effective lubricating processes and the understanding of the mechanisms of wear. Whereas friction effects at moderate velocities are somewhat predictable, it is the effect of friction at low velocities that is very difficult to model. The facts that friction changes sign with velocity, is asymmetric about the velocity axis, has evolutionary characteristics, and exhibits the stick-slip phenomenon, etc., aggravates the problem. Although friction effects have been well understood qualitatively, researchers have often relied on experimental data to formulate various mathematical models. A heuristic model for friction was first proposed by Leonardo da Vinci [11] in 1519; however, the model failed to capture the low-velocity friction effects such as the Stribeck effect, presliding displacement, rising static friction, etc., which play a major role in high-precision position/velocity tracking applications. In recent years, several dynamic models have been introduced to describe this highly nonlinear behavior exhibited by friction. For example, Dahl [12] proposed a dynamic model to capture the spring-like behavior during stiction. Canudas et al. [9] proposed a dynamic state-variable model to capture friction effects such as the Stribeck effect, hysteresis, spring-like behavior of stiction, and varying breakaway force.
ACETATE FORMATION IN CLOSTRIDIUM ACIDI-URICI: ACETOKINASE

Sagers, Richard D. (University of Illinois, Urbana), Moshe Benziman, and I. C. Gunsalus. Acetate formation in Clostridium acidiurici: Acetokinase. J. Bacteriol. 82: 233–238. 1961.—To define the energy-yielding reaction(s) during fermentation of purines by Clostridium acidi-urici , an eightfold purified acetokinase was obtained by protamine and ammonium sulfate fractionation of crude extracts. Enzyme activity was determined by measuring the disappearance of acetyl phosphate using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as phosphate acceptor or by following the generation of acetyl phosphate from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) + acetate. The optimal pH for the reaction was observed to be 7.4. K m values for acetyl phosphate, ADP, and magnesium ions were shown to be 2.1 × 10 −3 m, 3.2 × 10 −3 m, and 2.4 × 10 −3 m, respectively. Acetyl phosphate disappearance is dependent upon ADP and is stoichiometric with addition of the latter. The acetokinase reaction probably represents the major energy-yielding reaction during purine fermentation by this organism. A pathway for acetate generation from formiminoglycine is proposed, and evidence for a number of enzyme activities intermediate between formiminoglycine degradation and acetate formation is given. The enzyme activities demonstrated are compatible with the over-all purine fermentation rate by whole cells.
Hierarchical neural control of human postural balance and bipedal walking in sagittal plane

The cerebrocerebellar system has been known to be a central part in human motion control and execution. However, engineering descriptions of the system, especially in relation to lower body motion, have been very limited. This thesis proposes an integrated hierarchical neural model of sagittal planar human postural balance and biped walking to (1) investigate an explicit mechanism of the cerebrocerebellar and other related neural systems, (2) explain the principles of human postural balancing and biped walking control in terms of the central nervous systems, and (3) provide a biologically inspired framework for the design of humanoid or other biomorphic robot locomotion. The modeling was designed to confirm neurophysiological plausibility and achieve practical simplicity as well. The combination of scheduled long-loop proprioceptive and force feedback represents the cerebrocerebellar system to implement postural balance strategies despite the presence of signal transmission delays and phase lags. The model demonstrates that the postural control can be substantially linear within regions of the kinematic state-space with switching driven by sensed variables. A improved and simplified version of the cerebrocerebellar system is combined with the spinal pattern generation to account for human nominal walking and various robustness tasks. The synergy organization of the spinal pattern generation simplifies control of joint actuation. The substantial decoupling of the various neural circuits facilitates generation of modulated behaviors. This thesis suggests that kinematic control with no explicit internal model of body dynamics may be sufficient for those lower body motion tasks and play a common role in postural balance and walking. All simulated performances are evaluated with respect to actual observations of kinematics, electromyogram, etc. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)