cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SNF Transportation Package Response to MacArthur Maze Fire Scenario: Leak Rate Determination After Seal Failure

Extensive and detailed modeling of the possible effect of the MacArthur Maze fire scenario on an over-the-road spent nuclear fuel transportation package has shown that the potential consequences could include release of radioactive material due to failure of the package seals. Structural and thermal modeling of the performance of the lid closure and closure bolts show that the lid closure bolts would maintain positive clamping force throughout the fire transient scenario, such that the total release possible, even with conservative and bounding modeling assumptions, is two to three orders of magnitude below the regulatory limit for accident conditions. Typical leak rate models, such as the ANSI standard ANSI N14.5, are based on the expectation of intact seals for the package. Very little analytical work has been done to investigate leak rates from failed seals, since seal failure is, by definition, unacceptable performance in real-world applications. In order to evaluate the potential release from the SNF package subjected to the conditions of this fire scenario, an analytical modeling approach was developed to determine bounding leak rate estimates through the interface of the package closure lid and body flange. This modeling approach postulates complete loss of the O-ring seal material, and assumes only metal-to-metal contact, maintained by the clamping force of the closure bolts, as it varies due to differential thermal expansion and changing internal package pressure during the transient. This paper describes the analytical approach used to perform the leak rate modeling for the SNF package, and presents results for the limiting design basis loading of the package.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
BLOCK BY ACETYLCHOLINE OF MOUSE MUSCLE NICOTINIC RECEPTORS, STABLY EXPRESSED IN FIBROBLASTS

We have measured the concentration and voltage dependence of block by acetylcholine (ACh) of fetal- and adult-type mouse muscle nicotinic receptors, expressed in a fibroblast cell line. Data, obtained at a transmembrane potential of -60 mV and with ACh concentrations of 1 mM and above, are broadly consistent with the occlusion of an open channel with a single ACh+ ion (simple open channel block). The rate of recovery from block is approximately 40,000s-1 and has only a weak voltage dependence. This is in contrast to the strong voltage dependence observed for the degree of block. Deviations from the predictions of the simple model are seen in data collected at positive transmembrane potentials and at negative potentials for ACh concentrations < 1 mM. Less concentration dependence is observed than expected. Of a number of models tested, we demonstrate that two models incorporating both a high and a low affinity blocking site can predict our data.
Calculating the Compensator: Method and Example

Let X t , t ≥ 0 be a real-valued stochastic process on a complete probability space (Ω, F, P), adapted to a right-continuous filtration F t containing all P-null sets. We recall from [2, VII, 23] that X t is an F t -semimartingale if it can be expressed X t = X 0 + M t + A t , where M t is a local martingale of F t , M 0 = 0, and A t is a right-continuous adapted process with paths of finite variation on finite time intervals. Moreover ([2, ibid]) X t is called “special” if there is such a representation with A t previsible, and then the previsible A t is unique. In this case we will call A t the “compensator” (or dual previsible projection) of X t . Note that this terminology differs considerably from that of [2, VI], which seems not to give any general name to such A t . The process A t can be obtained from X t more or less explicitely, at least in theory. Indeed, there exist stopping times T n . ↑ ∞ such that \({A_{t \wedge {T_n}}}\) , are of bounded variation ([2, VI, 2, (52.1)]). Then \({A_{t \wedge {T_n}}}\) may be constructed from \({X_{t \wedge {T_n}}}\) by the approximations of P. A. Meyer [8, VII, T29] or M. Rao ([10] and [2, VII; 1, 21]).
Population of bound and unbound states of 12 Be in proton removal from 13 B

Abstract For proton removal from 13 B to bound and unbound states of 12 Be, I investigate the consequences of core excitation in both nuclei, using wave functions determined previously. Conclusions are that the ground state contains most of the 0 + strength, but the 2 + strength is concentrated in the second 2 + state, which is currently unknown, but predicted near 5 MeV.
Relationship Between Physiological Disposition and Adrenolytic Action of 2-(N-p′-tolyl-N-m′hydroxy-phenyl) - aminomethyl) - imidazoline hydrochloride (C-7337)

Summary1) A chemical method is described for the determination of C-7337 in plasma and urine which is sensitive to at least a concentration of 2 γ/ml.2) In terms of duration of blockade of epinephrine pressor effect, C-7337 is approximately 1/5th as active by mouth as by intravenous injection.3) Approximately 10% free C-7337 may be recovered in the urine following intravenous injection whereas only one half this amount may be recovered after oral administration.4) C-7337 disappears rapidly from plasma but continues to be present in the urine for as long as 24 hours. These results indicate that the drug is extensively localized in some tissues of the body.
TraitBank: Practical semantics for organism attribute data

Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) has developed TraitBank (http://eol.org/traitbank), a new repository for organism attribute (trait) data. TraitBank aggregates, manages and serves attribute data for organisms across the tree of life, including life history characteristics, habitats, distributions, ecological relationships and other data types. We describe how TraitBank ingests and manages these data in a way that leverages EOL's existing infrastructure and semantic annotations to facilitate reasoning across the TraitBank corpus and interoperability with other resources. We also discuss TraitBank's impact on users and collaborators and the challenges and benefits of our lightweight, scalable approach to the integration of biodiversity data.
Polymorphism of Variable-Number Tandem Repeat in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Strains Isolated from Tianjin

Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms of variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB), and develop high discriminatory power of VNTR typing. Methods: The copy numbers of 22 known VNTR loci (12 MIRU, 3 ETR,6 QUB and Mtub21) were analyzed among 102 MTB strains isolated from Tianjin according to the size of PCR fragments. Polymorphisms of each VNTR locus and discriminatory power of optimized VNTR loci set were assessed using Hunter-Gaston index respectively. Results: The 13 VNTR loci set(MIRU-10, 26,27, 31, 39,40, QUB11b,11a,18,26 , 1895, ETR-A and Mtub21) optimized in this study had the high discriminatory power with H=0.996 3. QUB11b,11a,18,26, MIRU-26,31 and Mtub21 showed the high polymorphism (H:0.442-0.699). The discriminary power of MIRU-10,27,39,40, QUB1895 and ETR-A were moderate (H:0.203-0.316). Other loci including MIRU-2,4,16,20,23,24,QUB-1451,ETR-B and C were poorly polymorphism (H:0.000-0.150), of which 4 loci (MIRU-2,20,24 and QUB-1451) had no polymorphism at all in Beijing genotype. Conclusion: The optimized 13-VNTR loci set were highly discriminative for Beijing family. The number and combination of informative VNTR loci for epidemiological study need to be determined according to the locally prevalent strains.
Effect of dexamethasone and clomiphene citrate on peripheral steroid levels and ovarian function in a hirsute amenorrheic patient.

A 22-year-old infertile woman with amenorrhea and mild hirsutism failed to experience uterine bleeding following withdrawal of progestin therapy and failed to ovulate or menstruate following treatment with clomiphene citrate in doses up to 200 mg/day for 5 days. Clomiphene citrate, 200 mg/day, plus 10,000IU of human chorionic gonadotropin given on day 13 also failed to induce either ovulation or menses. Serum androgen levels were: cortisol, 186 ng/ml; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 6400 ng/ml; dehydroepiandro-sterone, 17.92 ng/ml; androstenedione, 4.68 nglml; testosterone, 1.28 ng/ml; and dihydrotestosterone, 0.75 ng/ml. Upper limits of normal values for these androgens in our laboratory are, respectively: 140, 2500, 8.0, 2.3, 0.5, and 0.35 ng/ml. The dexamethasone (Dex) suppression test indicated predominantly an adrenal source of the hyperandrogenism. Except for androstenedione, the levels of all androgens measured returned to normal following treatment with 0.5mg of Dex/day. Four months of this treatment had a beneficial effect on the hirsutism but failed to induce ovulation or menses. Clomiphene citrate, 100 mg/day for 5 days, given concurrently with Dex therapy resulted in ovulation and conception. Adrenal androgen excess has been postulated to be a cause of ovarian dysfunction. Our data support this postulate.
Nitrogen: Influence of ammonium nutrition on the growth and mineral composition of two chrysanthemum cultivars differing in drought tolerance

The influence of NH4 concentration on growth and mineral composition of chrysanthemum was examined in two cultivars, ‘Mountain Snow’ and ‘Fiesta’, found previously to differ in sensitivity to drought. Plants were grown for 18 days in modified Steinberg solution containing 51.7 mg l‐1 NO3 and NH4 concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 mg I‐1. Drought‐sensitive ‘Mountain Snow’ was found to be much more sensitive to NH4 toxicity (180 mg l‐1 or greater) than was drought tolerant‐'Fiesta’ as evidenced by increased chlorosis, a slower growth rate, and lower dry matter production. Growth reduction in ‘Mountain Snow’ was accompanied by decreased concentrations of Ca, K, and Zn in the lower leaves. Although the Ca concentration in ‘Fiesta’ leaf tissue was also significantly reduced by NH4 toxicity, concentrations of Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn were unaffected. Ammonium tolerance in ‘Fiesta’ may have been associated with a greater ability to maintain root function and nutrient uptake in the presence of NH4.
Deranged Liver Function in a Neonate.

A 1-week-old female neonate was evaluated following an abnormal newborn screening (NBS)2 result. The child developed coagulopathy (prothrombin time, 37.9 s; reference interval, 9.7–12.2 s) and a conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (direct bilirubin, 0.9 mg/dL; reference interval, 0.0–0.6 mg/dL). Her α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration was increased at 375000 ng/mL (age-related reference interval, 1480–58887 ng/mL). An abdominal ultrasound scan was concerning for a liver nodule. A urine sample was collected for organic acid analysis by GC-MS. The results are shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Organic acids analysis of patient urine using GC-MS. Urine organic acids were extracted into ethyl acetate/ether and converted to trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives prior to analysis using a GC 6890N/MS 5975 system equipped with a DB-1 column (Agilent). PDA, protein design automation. This patient has tyrosinemia type I (TYR1) caused by deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase [EC.3.7.1.2], which catalyzes the hydrolysis of fumarylacetoacetate at the final step of tyrosine metabolism. As a result of the enzyme block, …
Noninvasive prenatal testing to analyze the fetal genome

Prenatal genetic testing has changed markedly since the original introduction of amniocentesis as a means to evaluate the fetal karyotype. Because it has long been recognized that maternal age is highly associated with risk for Down syndrome, maternal age became the first screening test for aneuploidy. Later development of screening with maternal serum analytes and nuchal translucency ultrasound all led to improvements in prenatal genetic testing, with higher detection rates and lower screen-positive rates. The past decade has seen further advances with the discovery of cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) in the maternal circulation and development of sequencing and bioinformatics analytic approaches to very accurately assess the risk of Down syndrome. In 2011, this culminated in the clinical introduction of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy using cfDNA (1). With very-high sensitivity and very-low false-positive rates, this advance represented a tremendous step forward in Down syndrome detection. Subsequently, with higher depth of sequencing and improved bioinformatics analyses, NIPT expanded to include detection of a number of microdeletions (2, 3). Genome-wide screening for copy number variants has also been reported and is now offered clinically (4, 5). Noninvasive identification of fetal single-gene disorders, and ultimately analysis of the fetal genome, has become the “next frontier” in prenatal diagnosis (6) (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. An overview of currently available applications of massively parallel sequencing-based noninvasive prenatal testing using cell-free nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in maternal plasma thought to originate from apoptotic trophoblasts. The fetal genome (from chromosomal to subchromosomal to single-gene levels) may be decoded; the methylome … [↵][1]1Email: Mary.Norton{at}ucsf.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Grandparenting among the Chamorros of Guam

For the Chamorros of Guam, contemporary grandparenting reflects the cultural tension between the forces struggling for continuity with cherished traditions and values centered on caring and sharing, and those requiring adaptation, cultural change, and expanding lifestyle choices. Descriptions and analyses draw on data collected in 60 life-history interviews and participant observation research. The paper focuses on an emerging duality in grandparenting styles and contrasts the gendered perspectives on grandparenting roles and attitudes. The diversity of styles is embedded in personalities, gender, educational level, and lifestyle choices, and reflects different responses to dramatic change in sociocultural and economic conditions.
Photoelectrochemical and magnetic studies on photoactive interface thin film assemblies of poly bithiophene/poly 3-(2-thienyl) aniline/ferromagnetic Mg-doped Fe 2 O 3 in aqueous electrolytes

Abstract Organic/organic/inorganic interface or (OOI) thin film assemblies were created from poly 2,2 bithiophene and poly 3-(2-thienyl) aniline (PThA) and Mg-doped Fe 2 O 3 . Surface modification of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles with PThA was achieved using photopolymerization of 3-(2-thienyl) aniline. Particles of PThA/Fe 2 O 3 were occluded during the electropolymerization process of 2,2 bithiophene on a fluorine doped tin oxide glass electrode. The OOI assemblies were subjected to photoelectrochemical investigation in aqueous electrolytes containing acetate, citrate, tartrate, and phosphate. As all components of the assembly are p-type semiconductors, the produced interface are of a p-p junction nature. Our results show that the behavior of the assemblies reflects formation of hybrid sub-bands as a product of band alignments between the organic film and Fe 2 O 3 . Furthermore, O 2 played an important role in the charge separation and transfer processes. The assembly responses to an applied magnetic field was investigated and reported. The results were explained on the basis that external magnetic fields affect the photogeneration of singlet/triplet radical pair processes. The present studies also show that the longest electron life-time was recorded in citrate buffer.
Wavelength-Dependent Damage to Adenoviral Proteins Across the Germicidal UV Spectrum

Adenovirus, a waterborne pathogen responsible for causing bronchitis, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal infections, is highly resistant to UV disinfection and therefore drives the virus disinfection regulations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Polychromatic UV irradiation has been shown to be more effective at inactivating adenovirus and other viruses than traditional monochromatic irradiation emitted at 254 nm; the enhanced efficacy has been attributed to UV-induced damage to viral proteins. This research shows UV-induced damage to adenoviral proteins across the germicidal UV spectrum at wavelength intervals between 200 and 300 nm. A deuterium lamp with bandpass filters and UV light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) isolated wavelengths in approximate 10 nm intervals. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and image densitometry were used to detect signatures for the hexon, penton, fiber, minor capsid, and core proteins. The greatest loss of protein signature, indicating damage to viral proteins, occurred below 240 nm. Hexon and penton proteins exposed to a dose of 28 mJ/cm2 emitted at 214 nm were approximately 4 times as sensitive and fiber proteins approximately 3 times as sensitive as those exposed to a dose of 50 mJ/cm2 emitted at 254 nm. At 220 nm, a dose of 38 mJ/cm2 reduced the hexon and penton protein quantities to approximately 33% and 31% of the original amounts, respectively. In contrast, a much higher dose of 400 mJ/cm2 emitted at 261 and 278 nm reduced the original protein quantity to between 66-89% and 80-93%, respectively. No significant damage was seen with a dose of 400 mJ/cm2 at 254 nm. This research directly correlates enhanced inactivation at low wavelengths with adenoviral protein damage at those wavelengths, adding fundamental insight into the mechanisms of inactivation of polychromatic germicidal UV irradiation for improving UV water disinfection.
My Parkinson's Story: A Novel Format For a Patient Education Video Series (P04.257)

OBJECTIVE: To create an easily accessible educational tool to describe common issues and problems faced by people with Parkinson9s Disease (PD) and provide practical ways to deal with those problems. BACKGROUND: PD has many common motor and non-motor symptoms. We wanted to develop an engaging way to describe these symptoms and their treatment. Basic educational theory dictates that new information about symptoms and treatments is more easily retained if it is presented in context of a clinical scenario or patient story. DESIGN/METHODS: The topics for the videos were chosen from a recent unpublished VA PADRECC (PD centers of excellence) needs assessment. The primary format for the video series is to use a single PD patient with their caregiver/ family if appropriate with their provider and any ancillary staff or rehab team members to highlight a specific problem. Where possible, patients and caregivers were filmed in their own home surroundings doing the activities they describe in the video. Providers were chosen for content expertise, and discussed practical solutions to the problems. Videos were shot on location at PADRECC sites using a central producer who traveled to the sites with a local film crew. Videos are currently available on DVD, and approval for posting the internet is pending. Grant funding for production was obtained through the VA Employee Educational System (EES). RESULTS: Copies of the DVD will be available for distribution and viewing free of charge. The topics covered in the initial series included the following (8-10 min each): Early PD, Depression, Falls, Memory and thinking problems, Sleep problems, Genetics, Environmental exposures, and Deep brain stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to create engaging video content on generalizable informational content about a specific disease topic through the use of a single patient story told with the guidance of their provider. Supported by: Veteran9s Administration. Disclosure: Dr. Kraakevik has received research support from Xanthera and Medivation. Dr. Heath has received personal compensation for activities with Medtronic as a speaker.
1970s Uganda: Past, Present, Future:

This paper explores the ongoing presence of the 1972 expulsion of the racialized Asian population by former president Idi Amin in contemporary Uganda. The expulsion was a “critical event” and thus ...
The Spectacle of #TrumpsAmerica: Political Journalism, Networked Publics, and the Battle for Symbolic Power

Although social media platforms have long been lauded for their potential to challenge traditional power structures, they also help the rich get richer, in part through added attention from legacy media. This chapter examines the workings of spectacle on Twitter, and how this bears on the journalistic field. After considering Donald Trump’s use of Twitter as gatecrashing, spectacle, and symbolic power, the chapter examines the realities of a mediatized field. Next, the form and content of tweets by journalists reporting on @realDonaldTrump are analyzed, and then compared with those posted by activists. This includes a brief examination of online news coverage. Finally, each group’s potential for influence is compared before drawing some conclusions about the hybridizing of journalism and politics at a time of mediatization.
A logic of situated know-how

Know-how is an important concept in Artificial Intelligence. It has been argued previously that it cannot be successfully reduced to the knowledge of facts. In this paper, I present sound and complete axiomatizations for two non-reductive and intuitively natural formal definitions of the knowhow of an agent situated in a complex environment. I also present some theorems giving useful properties of know-how, and discuss and resolve an interesting paradox (which is described within). This is done using a new operator in the spirit of Dynamic Logic that is introduced herein and whose semantics and proof-theory are given.
Repair of mitral regurgitation: An 11 year experience

Abstract One hundred thirty-three patients who underwent measured asymmetric annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation have been followed up for up to 11 years. The procedure has a very small operative risk and, for patients with rheumatic heart disease, a very low late mortality and morbidity rate. Early good results have been sustained for this follow-up period. Late breakdown of the repair has not been seen after 3 years unless infection or recurrent rheumatic fever intervened, nor has significant late stenosis been seen as a result of measured annuloplasty. These findings suggest that when the valve is repaired by this technique, competency is assured and an adequate orifice results.
Algorithms, Data, Hardware and Tools: A Perfect Storm

Over the past decade Deep Learning has revolutionized much of Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence. Several factors have contributed to this virtuous cycle, primarily the ready availability of data in the cloud and a shift in the hardware resources that can be used for computation, mostly away from memory intensive models to compute intensive ones. For instance, large amounts of image and video data are available thanks to cheap and ubiquitous sensors. Processing them is only possible with equally copious amounts of low-precision computation. At the same time, expressive machine learning frameworks have allowed statistical modelers to design complex models with ease and to deploy them at scale, thus increasing the demand for computation even further. In this talk I will illustrate how these interaction cycles are likely to shape machine learning in the future.
Mesh Smoothing for the Spectral Element Method

Laplacian- and optimization-based mesh-improvement methods are developed for high-order finite- and spectral-element based on 2D quadrilateral and 3D hexahedral meshes in general domains. A robust high-order interpolation library is used during the mesh smoothing process to improve the quality of the surface mesh while retaining the integrity of the original surface approximation. Boundary layer resolution in the original mesh is preserved through various controls in the smoothing process, including weighted interpolation between the optimized and original mesh. All mesh motion and gradient evaluations are performed on an element-by-element basis to ensure that all elements in a large mesh can be smoothed in parallel with minimum communication between different processors. Mesh quality improvements are shown to reduce the condition number of the preconditioned linear systems governing the numerical solution of the discretized partial differential equations, with corresponding reductions in iteration counts. The mesh smoother is tested on various meshes and is found to significantly improve the computational efficiency of calculations.
DNA‐Mediated Proximity‐Based Assembly Circuit for Actuation of Biochemical Reactions

Smart nanodevices that integrate molecular recognition and signal production hold great promise for the point-of-care (POC) diagnostic applications. Herein, the development of a DNA-mediated proximity assembly of biochemical reactions, which was capable of sensing various bio-targets and reporting easy-to-read signals is reported. The circuit was composed of a DNA hairpin-locked catalytic cofactor with inhibited activity. Specific molecular inputs can trigger a conformational switch of the DNA locks through the mechanisms of toehold displacement and aptamer switching, exposing an active cofactor. The subsequent assembly of an enzyme/cofactor pair actuated a reaction to produce colorimetric or fluorescence signals for detecting target molecules. The developed system could be potentially applied to smart biosensing in molecular diagnostics and POC tests.
Vector control of the single-phase inverter based on the extended and virtual circuits

A vector control based on the extended equivalent circuit and virtual circuits is proposed for the single-phase inverter. By the extended circuit, the other two phase voltages can be extended by the output voltage of the single-phase inverter so as to construct the voltage vector. The voltage outer-loop is to control the voltage vector in dq coordinate system, and the output voltage can track the target value without deviation in steady state. By designing the virtual circuit, the voltage inner-loop can achieve approximate decoupling and improve the dynamic response under the changeable load. Compared with the traditional dual closed-loop control, the proposed dual closed-loop control scheme only needs to detect and control the voltage without the current. It not only can achieve good control effect, but also reduce the complexity of the hardware. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the single-phase inverter has good static and dynamic characteristics regardless of stable load or changeable load.
The Effects of Teachers' Characteristics on Placement Recommendations for Students with Visual Impairments.

This artucle reports on a study of 116 cerified teaches of students with visual impaiments who responded to a questionnaire containing a teacher-efficary scale,a hypothetical case report,and question about the teachers. The study found that a teacher\'s current job placement was the most distinctive techer variable affecting the techer\'s placement recommendation for students.
The impact of obesity on pregnancy outcomes among women with psychiatric disorders: Results from a prospective pregnancy registry.

Abstract Objective Obesity is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. As individuals with psychiatric disorders are at a higher risk of obesity than the general population, we aimed to examine the effect of obesity on neonatal and maternal outcomes in this population. Methods Pregnant women with psychiatric disorders were enrolled in the Massachusetts General Hospital National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications ( NCT01246765 ) and followed prospectively until 6 months postpartum. Pre-pregnancy body mass index was used to categorize participants as normal-weight, overweight, and obese to assess comparative risk of adverse outcomes. Results Within our sample of 584 participants (N = 252 normal-weight; N = 170 overweight; N = 162 obese), obesity was not significantly associated with higher risk for birth defects (OR: 3.19; 95% CI:0.79,12.95; p = 0.10; unadjusted due to the rarity of this outcome in the sample). After adjustment, women with obesity were at higher risk for gestational diabetes (p = 0.011; OR:3.23; 95% CI:1.30,7.98), as were women in the overweight BMI category (p = 0.003; OR:3.77; 95% CI:1.58,9.00). Among women with obesity, there was a tendency for a higher C-section rate (p = 0.07) compared to women in the normal-weight BMI category. Other outcomes were not significantly different among groups. Conclusions Peripartum complications associated with obesity are common among women with psychiatric illness; thus, it is important to develop antenatal weight management interventions for this population.
Accuracy of a portable pulse oximeter in monitoring hypoxemic infants with cyanotic heart disease.

Objective:Infants with single ventricle physiology have arterial oxygen saturations between 75 and 85%. Home monitoring with daily pulse oximetry is associated with improved interstage survival. They are typically sent home with expensive, bulky, hospital-grade pulse oximeters. This study evaluates the accuracy of both the currently used Masimo LNCS and a relatively inexpensive, portable, and equipped with Bluetooth technology study device, by comparing with the gold standard co-oximeter.Design:Prospective, observational study.Setting:Single institution, paediatric cardiac critical care unit, and neonatal ICU.Interventions:none.Patients:Twenty-four infants under 12 months of age with baseline oxygen saturation less than 90% due to cyanotic CHD.Measurements and Results:Pulse oximetry with WristOx2 3150 with infant sensors 8008 J (study device) and Masimo LCNS saturation sensor connected to a Philips monitor (hospital device) were measured simultaneously and compared to arterial oxy-haemoglobin saturation measured by co-oximetry. Statistical analysis evaluated the performances of each and compared to co-oximetry with Schuirmann’s TOST equivalence tests, with equivalence defined as an absolute difference of 5% saturation or less. Neither the study nor the hospital device met the predefined standard for equivalence when compared with co-oximetry. The study device reading was on average 4.0% higher than the co-oximeter, failing to show statistical equivalence (p = 0.16). The hospital device was 7.4% higher than the co-oximeter and also did not meet the predefined standard for equivalence (p = 0.97).Conclusion:Both devices tended to overestimate oxygen saturation in this patient population when compared to the gold standard, co-oximetry. The study device is at least as accurate as the hospital device and offers the advantage of being more portable with Bluetooth technology that allows reliable, efficient data transmission. Currently FDA-approved, smaller portable pulse oximeters can be considered for use in home monitoring programmes.
The paltry power of priors versus populations

Biological experiments often involve hypothesis testing at the scale of thousands to millions of tests. Alleviating the multiple testing burden has been a goal of many methods designed to boost test power by focusing tests on the alternative hypotheses most likely to be true. Very often, these methods either explicitly or implicitly make use of prior probabilities that bias significance for favored sets thought to be enriched for significant finding. Nevertheless, most genomics experiments, and in particular genome-wide association studies (GWAS), still use traditional univariate tests rather than more sophisticated approaches. Here we use GWAS to demonstrate why unbiased tests remain in favor. We calculate test power assuming perfect knowledge of a prior distribution and then derive the population size increase required to provided the same boost without a prior. We show that population size is exponentially more important than prior, providing a rigorous explanation for the observed avoidance of prior-based methods.
Understanding and Addressing Variation in Health Care-Associated Infections After Durable Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND Durable ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy is reserved for patients with advanced heart failure who have a poor estimated 1-year survival. However, despite highly protocolized management processes, patients are at a unique risk for developing a health care-associated infection (HAI). Few studies have examined optimal strategies for HAI prevention after durable VAD implantation, despite variability in rates across centers and their impact on short- and long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to develop recommendations for preventing the most significant HAIs after durable VAD implantation. The study has 3 specific aims: (1) identify determinants of center-level variability in HAI rates, (2) develop comprehensive understanding of barriers and facilitators for achieving low center-level HAI rates, and (3) develop and disseminate a best practices toolkit for preventing HAIs that accommodates various center contexts. METHODS This is a sequential mixed methods study starting with a cross-sectional assessment of current practices. To address aim 1, we will conduct (1) a systematic review of HAI prevention studies and (2) in-depth quantitative analyses using administrative claims, in-depth clinical data, and organizational surveys of VAD centers. For aim 2, we will apply a mixed methods patient tracer assessment framework to conduct semistructured interviews, field observations, and document analysis informed by findings from aim 1 at 5 high-performing (ie, low HAIs) and 5 low-performing (ie, high HAI) centers, which will be examined using a mixed methods case series analysis. For aim 3, we will build upon the findings from the previous aims to develop and field test an HAI preventive toolkit, acquire stakeholder input at an annual cardiac surgical conference, disseminate the final version to VAD centers nationwide, and conduct follow-up surveys to assess the toolkit's adoption. RESULTS The project was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2018 and enrollment for the overall project is ongoing. Data analysis is currently under way and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2019. CONCLUSIONS This mixed methods study seeks to quantitatively assess the determinants of HAIs across clinical centers and qualitatively identify the context-specific facilitators and barriers for attaining low HAI rates. The mixed data findings will be used to develop and disseminate a stakeholder-acceptable toolkit of evidence-based HAI prevention recommendations that will accommodate the specific contexts and needs of VAD centers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/14701.
A test of the stress-buffering hypothesis of social support among bariatric surgery patients.

Abstract Background The buffering effect of social support against a range of stress-related health outcomes has been well-documented; however, no previous work has examined the applicability of this model to bariatric surgery outcomes. Objectives The current study sought to address whether social support interacts with stress in predicting post-surgical outcomes, as well as whether these associations may vary by gender. Setting Teaching hospital, United States Methods Data were collected using retrospective chart review (n = 548). Stress, patient gender, and social support were explored as predictors of curvilinear weight loss trajectories during the first year following surgery using growth curve modeling. Results Attendance at follow up appointments was poor, with 250 patients at 6 months and 187 at 12 months. On average, these patients lost 27% of their total body weight between baseline and the 12 month follow up. Overall, weight-related emotional support appeared to be most relevant to weight loss/maintenance in this population; cohabitating with a spouse/significant other and attendance at support group meetings did not predict weight loss or show any significant interactions with stress. Conclusions The current study found only partial support for the stress-buffering model of social support among bariatric surgery patients. Such findings have important implications for assessment and follow-up care after bariatric surgery, as well as for future research in this area.
Higher-order finite elements for lumped-mass explicit modeling of high-speed impacts

Abstract This paper describes recent advances in higher-order finite elements for lumped-mass explicit approaches typically needed for high-rate impact modeling. Topics include benefits of 2nd order tetrahedral, wedge, hexahedral, and new pyramid element formulations to improve modeling and facilitate meshing, including the important class of applications, ogive nose-shaped projectiles impacting concrete at up to 1200 m/s. These 2nd order elements eliminate the need for hourglass control and provide higher resolution with fewer elements, since a single element can inherently capture curvature and flexural modes. Second-order elements can also simplify meshing, since in contrast to certain types of 1st order elements, they are less prone to volumetric locking associated with near incompressibility, such as what occurs in metal plasticity, and thus do not require special structures for these element types. Methods to avoid severe locking are available at the element level so as to permit unstructured meshing, e.g., all-tetrahedral methods or hexahedral-dominant methods. These technologies were developed within the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (ERDC-GSL) in-house meshing (ProMesher), parallel analysis (ParaAble), and visualization (PenView) codes as well as placed into popular production software for meshing (Cubit), parallel analysis (EPIC), and visualization (ParaView). Examples using all-tetrahedral and hexahedral-dominant meshes demonstrate the ability of an unstructured 2nd order model using all four element types to accurately simulate high-rate impact problems. The benefits for shape optimization and large tradespace analyses are also demonstrated by the ability to automatically generate meshes.
Hispanic, English Learner, and Low-Income Parental Magnet Middle School Choice in a Majority Hispanic California Community:

Prior research suggests that parents of Hispanics, English learners, and students living in poverty exercise school choice less frequently than other parents, which may be a factor in the resegrega...
Intrusions into the shadow of attention: A new take on illusory conjunctions

We present new evidence about illusory conjunctions (ICs) suggesting that their current explanation requires revision. According to Feature Integration Theory (FIT; Treisman & Gelade Cognitive Psychology, 12, 97–136, 1980), focal attention to a single stimulus is required to bind its features into an integrated percept. FIT predicts that if attention is spread over multiple stimuli, features of these different stimuli can be combined into a single percept and produce ICs. Treisman and Schmidt (Cognitive Psychology, 14, 107–141, 1982) and Cohen & Ivry (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 15(4), 650–663, 1989) supported this prediction. In the latter study, participants viewed brief displays containing two digits and two colored letters. Digit locations were pre-cued, and participants were instructed to prioritize the digits and to spread their attention across the region encompassed by the digits. Cohen & Ivry found that reports of one letter (the ‘target’) produced ICs when both letters appeared between the digits. Expanding on Cohen & Ivry’s paradigm, we find that both letters do not need to appear between the digits to produce ICs. While the target letter was highly susceptible to ICs if the target appeared inside the position of a nearby digit, the position of the other letter was largely irrelevant. Our experimental results also argue that these ICs were not due to mnemonic errors occurring while the digits are being reported. Based on our findings, we propose that attention to the digits casts an attentional ‘shadow’ projecting towards fixation, interfering with processing of target letters in that shadow and allowing color information from elsewhere in the display to be included in the resulting percept.
Impact of Pulse Pressure on Hemocompatibility Related Adverse Events during Support with Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices: An Analysis of the INTERMACS Registry

Purpose While the impact of mean arterial pressure (MAP) on adverse events during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support has been well established, there remains significant controversy regarding the impact of pulse pressure (PP) on clinical outcomes. We evaluated the impact of PP on post-implant hemocompatibility related adverse events (HRAE). Methods Using the INTERMACS registry, we identified patients who received a primary, durable continuous-flow LVAD with distinct systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings at 3-months post-implant. Patients requiring mechanical right ventricular assist devices or inotropic support were excluded. Patients were then stratified into low, medium, and high pulsatility tertiles. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox Proportional Hazard Models were used to assess the impact of pulsatility on HRAEs. Results A total of 4745 patients were classified into low (n=1508), medium (n=1675), and high (n=1562) pulsatility groups. There was no correlation between PP and MAP in this population (Figure 1A) and no clinically significant difference in MAP between the groups. Significant pre-implant determinants of pulsatility included female sex, BMI, race, device type, and peripheral vascular disease. Patients with lower pulsatility had more RV dysfunction and higher pro-BNP levels as compared to those with higher pulsatility. PP was a significant risk factor for stroke (HR: 1.09, CI: 1.04 - 1.15, p=0.001 per 10mmHg increase) independent of MAP. Patients with high MAP and high PP had the highest stroke risk (Figure 1B). PP was not associated with GI bleeding, device thrombosis. thromboembolic events, or post-implant survival. Conclusion High PP is associated with increased risk of stroke during LVAD support. Pulsatility may represent an additional therapeutic target in this patient population.
Global situation of dengue fever epidemic

Dengue fever is a serious tropic infectious disease which is a worldwide major public health issue and social problem, affecting more than 100 countries and regions now. The incidence rate of dengue fever increased nearly 30 times in recent decade. The global prevalence actuality of dengue fever is reviewed in this article. Key words: Dengue fever; Current situation; Global
Mimicking the nested structures of ecosystems in the design of industrial water networks

Abstract The sustainability of industrial practices is a growing point of emphasis in the research and business communities demanding effective systems-level solutions. Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs), networks of co-located industries connected through mutually beneficial collaborations are a popular systems-level solution but have experienced highly variable degrees of success. Nestedness, a structure prevalent in mutualistic networks found in nature is our design focus for improved outcomes. This paper investigates how ecologically-similar nestedness values in EIPs relate to reductions of freshwater imports. The results indicate a range of nestedness values that support water conservation and critical thresholds for maximizing capital investments.
The effects of reiki on heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and stress levels: A pilot randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study.

Abstract Reiki is a biofield energy therapy that focuses on optimizing the body's natural healing abilities by balancing the life force energy or qi/chi. Reiki has been shown to reduce stress, pain levels, help with depression/anxiety, increase relaxation, improve fatigue, and quality of life. In this pilot randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study, the effects of Reiki on heart rate, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, body temperature, and stress levels were explored in an effort to gain objective outcome measures and to understand the underlying physiological mechanisms of how Reiki may be having these therapeutic effects on subjective measures of stress, pain, relaxation, and depression/anxiety. Forty eight (n = 48) subjects were block randomized into three groups (Reiki treatment, sham treatment, and no treatment). The changes in pre- and post-treatment measurements for each outcome measure was analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA) post hoc multiple comparison test, which found no statistically significant difference between any of the groups. The p-value for the comparison of Reiki and sham groups for heart rate was 0.053, which is very close to being significant and so, a definitive conclusion can not be made based on this pilot study alone. A second study with a larger sample size is warranted to investigate this finding further and perhaps with additional outcome measures to look at other possible physiological mechanisms that may underlie the therapeutic effects of Reiki.
Unplanned Office Visits Following Outpatient Hand Surgery.

BACKGROUND Returning to the office for an unplanned visit postoperatively can be burdensome to both the patient and provider. The purpose of this study was to quantify the rate of unplanned office visits after common soft tissue hand surgeries and assess the reasons for these unplanned visits. METHODS Patients who underwent common soft tissue hand surgeries over a 6-month time period were queried from an electronic medical record database. Manual chart review was performed to record patient demographics, unplanned visits within 3 months postoperatively, and specific reasons for unplanned visits. A total of 1648 postoperative follow-up visits in 1224 patients were included in analysis. RESULTS Within 3 months of surgery, 6.3% (103/1648) of postoperative visits were found to be unplanned. There was no difference in the rate of unplanned visits among the included surgeries (P = .46). The most common reasons for an unplanned office visit overall were wound problems (34%), pain (23.3%), and stiffness (17.5%). The trigger finger release group had significantly more patients return to the office for stiffness (P = .01), the De Quervain release group had significantly more patients return for pain (P = .02), and the carpal tunnel release group had significantly more patients return for persistent symptoms (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Unplanned office visits represented about 1 of 16 postoperative visits. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of the most common reasons for these visits and be prepared to address these problems promptly. Preoperative patient education on these potential problems may help decrease the frequency of unplanned follow-up visits.
40GBaud Quasicoherent Receiver

Quasicoherent receivers strike a complexity-performance tradeoff between fully digital coherent receivers and traditional direct detect receivers. We achieve PAM-2 40 GBaud signaling using a quasicoherent receiver by relying on full wave detection-based envelope detection.