cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Side effects and emotional distress during cancer chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy side effects, patient distress, and patient-practitioner communication were evaluated in an inception sample of 238 patients with breast cancer or malignant lymphoma. Participants were interviewed at five points during their first six cycles of therapy, and a subsample kept brief daily symptom diaries. Nausea, hair loss, and tiredness were each experienced by more than 80% of patients. By cycle 6, 46% of patients had thoughts about quitting therapy, but only a few had told medical staff. Patients' ratings of the objective difficulty of treatment increased over time, varied by treatment regimen, and were predicted by the experience of side effects, with the number of different side effects serving as the best predictor. In contrast, emotional distress was less sensitive to the directly assessable characteristics of treatment. Communication between patient and practitioner was found to be inadequate in a number of respects (i.e., patients did not fully anticipate the toxicities of treatment and did not report their concerns to medical staff). Communication may be impeded by inaccuracies in a patient's recall of treatment difficulties and by a patient's inability or unwillingness to attend to all presented information. More frequent opportunities for patient-practitioner discussion are necessary.
Technology use and interest among low-income parents of young children: differences by age group and ethnicity.

Abstract Objective To examine demographic differences in frequency of use of technologies and interest in receiving nutrition information via technology by low-income parents and caregivers. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting Head Start and state-funded child care programs. Participants A total of 806 parents and caregivers from low-income families. Variables Measured A 20-item survey assessed frequency of use and interest in technologies (dependent variables) and collected participant age and ethnicity (independent variables). Analysis Multivariate ANOVA analysis investigated whether age, ethnicity, and their interactions were related to frequency of use and interest in technology types. Results Daily rates of usage for Internet, text messaging, and cell phone use were over 60%. However, Twitter and blogs were accessed daily by F = 3.13; P F = 2.29; P Conclusions and Implications Facebook, e-mail, texting, and smartphone applications may be innovative modalities to engage with low-income parents and caregivers aged ≤ 45. However, some strategies may be ineffective for reaching Hispanic families as they reported less use of the Internet, Facebook, and e-mail as well as less interest in e-mail.
Can paronychia cause a remote necrotizing soft tissue infection

Remote necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) resulting from paronychia is very unusual but potentially lethal. We report a case of a 39-year-old woman affected by this unusual infection. The paronychia completely resolved in less than 2 weeks, however, a NSTI involved the right chest and flank and the left thigh. The patient required intensive care and multiple surgical debridements. This recent experience and literature data suggest that paronychia can cause a remote NSTI that can rapidly spread and become life-threatening. Broad spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical debridement are essential to a successful outcome.
Formulas and their relatives: a semiotic approach to verse making in Homer and modern greek folksongs

In a book I published a few years ago, entitled Towards a Poetics of Modern Greek Folksong, I examined certain aspects of the poetics of modern folksongs in the light of the ‘oral composition theory’ of Homeric poetry, originally expounded by Milman Parry in the late twenties and early thirties and subsequently elaborated by Albert B. Lord. In this paper I propose to follow the opposite course, and inquire whether some of my findings regarding the verse-making techniques of the modern folksongs could be applied to the Homeric epics, and whether they could be made to cast some additional light on the making of ancient epic poetry. More specifically, in my study of formular and otherwise similar verses in the folksongs, I was able to distinguish five degrees of kinship, as it were, or of decreasing similarity, from identical formulas to sense units of similar type. Can a comparable scale of similarities be found in Homer, and, if it can, could it be used in modern discussions of ancient epic versification and composition, without further encumbering a terminology that is not always clear or generally agreed upon? The purpose of this exercise is not merely taxonomic; by using some basic concepts of structural linguistics as tools, I think we may perhaps come a little closer to understanding the verse-making process, which is a prerequisite for understanding Homer's manner of composition and, in the last analysis, his ‘creativity’ or even ‘originality’ vis a vis the tradition to which he belonged.
Learning and Transformation

One of the biggest challenges of twenty-first century higher education is to transform students into dynamic workers who can adapt to fast-changing environments. The objective of this chapter is to draw on published and new research to articulate the lessons learned and propose new insights from the field of transformative learning and how to incorporate them into teaching and learning in higher education.
The actin-microtubule cross-linking activity of Drosophila Short stop is regulated by intramolecular inhibition

Actin and microtubule dynamics must be precisely coordinated during cell migration, mitosis, and morphogenesis--much of this coordination is mediated by proteins that physically bridge the two cytoskeletal networks. We have investigated the regulation of the Drosophila actin-microtubule cross-linker Short stop (Shot), a member of the spectraplakin family. Our data suggest that Shot's cytoskeletal cross-linking activity is regulated by an intramolecular inhibitory mechanism. In its inactive conformation, Shot adopts a "closed" conformation through interactions between its NH(2)-terminal actin-binding domain and COOH-terminal EF-hand-GAS2 domain. This inactive conformation is targeted to the growing microtubule plus end by EB1. On activation, Shot binds along the microtubule through its COOH-terminal GAS2 domain and binds to actin with its NH(2)-terminal tandem CH domains. We propose that this mechanism allows Shot to rapidly cross-link dynamic microtubules in response to localized activating signals at the cell cortex.
Nucleation and propagation of phase mixtures in a bistable chain

This item is copyrighted by the American physical society, and can be found electronically from http://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.144123.
Green Density of a Powder Compact and Its Influence on the Steady‐State Wave Velocity in Combustion Synthesis of Condensed Phase

Various experimental evidence indicates that the porosity of a compact has a pronounced effect on the steady-state velocity in combustion synthesis of condensed phases, hut no simple and explicit treatment for it is available in the literature. Utilizing an existing model of the effective thermal conductivity in a porous media, a simple model for the steady-state velocity of the combustion front has been developed. As ob- served in experiments, the model also predicts a decrease in combustion velocity with increasing porosity. The developed equation can be helpful in the analysis and interpretation of experimental results in self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of condensed phase.
Making the Truth: Self-Understanding, Self-Constitution, Neuroscience, and Narrative

“Neuroscience, Self-Understanding, and Narrative Truth” (Walker 2012) provides a clear and helpful picture of where things stand with narrative accounts of self-understanding. Neuroscientific resul...
Interactional differences in Alzheimer's discourse: An examination of AD speech across two audiences

Assessments of the narrative abilities of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease should consider the interactions that generate the narratives. By analyzing the discourse of an AD patient in interaction with two different interlocutors, namely her husband and the author, this study calls attention to ways in which one interaction facilitates narratives and the other does not. Previous psycholinguistic research, largely focusing on the resultant narrative, has understood the AD patient's deteriorating narrative skills as a result of the progressively debilitating nature of the disease. This is undoubtedly true, but extensive and meaningful talk is nevertheless possible, partially grounded in and constructed through social interaction. (Discourse analysis, Alzheimer's disease, narrative social interaction)
Oral Desensitization for Food Hypersensitivity

Food allergy has become an increasingly prevalent international health problem. Allergic reactions can result in life-threatening anaphylaxis in a short period of time, so the current standard of care dictates strict avoidance of suspected trigger foods and accessibility to injectable epinephrine. Intervention at the time of exposure is considered a rescue therapy rather than a disease-modifying treatment. Investigators have been studying allergen immunotherapy to promote induction of oral tolerance. This article examines the mechanisms of oral tolerance and the breakdown that leads to food allergy, as well as the history and current state of oral and sublingual immunotherapy development.
NEW INVASIVE SPECIES IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA: GAMBIAN RAT (CRICETOMYS GAMBIANUS)

On 17 August 2004, 5 Gambian rats (Cricetomys gambianus; 2 males and 3 females) were collected on Grassy Key, Florida. Evidence obtained from this collection confirms the existence of the 1st North American established and reproducing Cricetomys population. This invasive rodent population could represent a new series of ecological threats to the native and endemic flora and fauna of southern Florida.
Augmentation of oral tissues in rabbit using autogenous fat.

Abstract Patients with mild velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) may have speech disorders, which are not sufficiently severe to warrant extensive surgical intervention, yet may not be amenable to correction by speech therapy alone. Augmentation of the posterior pharyngeal wall to aid in closure of the velopharyngeal sphincter may be beneficial in establishing better speech patterns, especially when combined with speech therapy. A variety of materials and techniques have been used in the past for this purpose. In this setting, autogenous fat may be transplanted without the risks incurred by augmentation with synthetic materials and involves very little donor site morbidity. The literature is somewhat contradictory, however, regarding the stability of the augmentation achieved using autogenous fat and there are no histologic studies describing the fate of fat injected into tissues of the oral cavity. Prior to introduction of this technique into clinical practice, this study was designed to investigate the fat...
A Study of Consumers' Post-Discharge Finances: Struggle, Stasis, or Fresh-Start?

The postwar U.S. has experienced an extremely sharp rise in consumer bankruptcies. What happens to these consumers financially after filing for bankruptcy? Do filers catch up with their non-filing peers, stay at a constant distance or fall further behind over time? This question is investigated empirically using a new set of financial and bankruptcy data obtained from a large national random survey of bankruptcy filers and non-filers. Along some simple financial dimensions, such as car ownership, bankruptcy filers are not disadvantaged compared to non-filers. Along more complex indicators, such as total income and net worth, filers catch up over time but it takes between a dozen and two dozen years. The theoretical justification for allowing consumers to file bankruptcy is to afford debtors a fresh start, in essence, a restoration of financial well-being. Results suggest the U.S. bankruptcy system does not immediately provide consumers with a fresh start; the average filer takes many years to restore their financial well-being.
The Neostriatal Mosaic: Compartmental Organization of Mesostriatal Systems

The compartmental organization of the dopaminergic and nondopaminergic containing projections from the midbrain to the striatum was examined in the rat. In order to determine the relative inputs from various midbrain neurons to either of the striatal “patch” or “matrix” compartments methods were combined to label mesostriatal afferents with the anterograde axonal tracer PHA-L and to compare their distribution relative to autoradiographically localized mu-opiate receptors in patches. A non-dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection was identified to the striatal matrix compartment. Two dopaminergic (DA) mesostriatal systems were identified. One system, directed to the striatal matrix compartment, was shown to arise from neurons in the ventral tegmental area (A10 DA cell group), the dorsal tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (dorsal A9 DA cell group) and the retrorubral area (A8 DA cell group). The other system, directed to the striatal patch compartment, was shown to arise from neurons in the ventral tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (ventral A9 DA cell group) and from DA cells in the substantia nigra pars reticulata. The asynchronous development of the “patch” and “matrix” mesostriatal systems provides a means of further characterization. Injections of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum on the day of birth (P0), when the patch system is in place but prior to the ingrowth of the matrix dopaminergic system, resulted in the select and long-lasting depletion of the patch dopaminergic system. Such lesions provided a clear delineation of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the striatal matrix, as they were selectively spared by the neonatal lesions. First, the distribution of these neurons matched that deduced from the PHA-L tracing studies. Second, the dendrites of matrix directed neurons are distributed amongst other DA neurons, whereas those DA neurons which project to the patches possess dendrites which are distributed into the non-dopaminergic parts of the substantia nigra pars reticulata. Third, a brain calcium binding protein (calbindin D28kD or CaBP) is expressed by those dopaminergic neurons which project to the striatal matrix and not by those which project to the patches.
Cattle grazing and pine survival and growth in subterranean clover pasture.

When combining pines and cattle on tame pasture, grazing is often delayed for several years until trees are large enough to resist injury. As an alternative approach to delayed or deferred grazing during the early years, this study in central Louisiana, USA, examined the effects of cattle grazing in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) pastures on slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) seeding survival and growth during the first 3 years of tree establishment. Pines were planted at about 1200 trees/ha in 3 rows on 0.4-ha subclover units with 1.3 m spacing within rows. Three grazing treatments included: (1) ungrazed pines, (2) limited grazing with a single-wire electric fence above the planted pines, and (3) grazed pines. Thirty Brahman crossbred cows with calves and a bull grazed the tame pasture on a controlled grazing, rotational basis from December through May each year, during the subterranean clover growing season. Pine trampling injury during the year was 8% on the grazed seedlings while essentially none occured under limited grazing. During the first 2 growing seasons, survival and height of the pines were significantly less on the grazed seedlings than on either the limited grazing or ungrazed seedlings. Pine heights from the limited grazing and ungrazed treatments were not different during the 3-year study; loblolly pine heights from the limited grazing treatment continued to be taller than the grazed treatment through the third year while the slash pine heights were similar for all treatments by the third year. Seedling mortality became more acute as severity of grazing injury increased; the greatest mortality occured when the terminal bud and needles were both browsed off.
Comparative susceptibility of peanut genetically engineered for sclerotinia blight resistance to non-target peanut pathogens

Field trials were conducted from 2006 to 2008 at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center (TAREC) in Suffolk, Virginia to determine whether Blight Blocker transgenic peanut lines showed possible increased or decreased susceptibility to common peanut pathogens. Disease susceptibility was evaluated for seven transgenic lines containing a barley oxalate oxidase gene and their corresponding parental cultivars (Perry, Wilson, NC 7). In addition to Sclerotinia blight, the peanut diseases evaluated included: i) early leaf spot caused by Cercospora arachidicola, ii) Cylindrocladium black rot caused by Cylindrocladium parasiticum, iii) southern stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, iv) tomato spotted wilt virus, and v) aflatoxin levels in seeds caused by Aspergillus flavus or A. parasiticus. Results demonstrated that the susceptibility of Blight Blocker transgenic lines to common peanut pathogens was similar to that of non-transgenic cultivars, while transgenic lines provided resistance to Sclerotinia blight caused by S. minor. Transgenic lines consistently provided high levels of resistance to S. minor in all three years, however, the barley oxalate oxidase had little or no effect on the disease susceptibility to other organisms on peanut. The results of this research should provide additional evidence needed to petition for deregulation of Blight Blocker peanut lines.
Informed Consent for PROs in EHR Research: Are Additional Requirements Necessary?

The use of electronic health records (EHRs) by providers and health care organizations has increased substantially over the past decade (Heisey-Grove and Patel 2015). By improving the collection, o...
A Novel Compact Wide-stopband Low-pass Filter

A novel compact wide-stopband low-pass filter(LPF) with C-shape geometry is proposed.By employing C-shape geometry of the microstrip line,the physical size of the proposed structure is reduced significantly compared with the size of the conventional straight structures.By employing compensated microstrip line and linear tapering techniques,the proposed structure achieves lower ripple level in the passband and wide bandwidth in the stopband.The structure is fabricated and measured,and the results show that the maximal return loss sidelobe level is-19.5 dB,the stopband width(S21-20 dB) is 10.1 GHz,and the occupied area is only 6.28 cm2.
Phonon transport in single-layer M o 1 -x W x S 2 alloy embedded with W S 2 nanodomains

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides have shown numerous interesting physical and chemical properties, making them promising materials for electronic, optoelectronic, and energy applications. Tuning thermal conductivity of 2D materials could expand their applicability in many of these fields. In this paper, we propose a strategy of using alloying and nanodomains to suppress the thermal conductivity of 2D materials. To predict the thermal conductivity of a 2D alloy embedded with nanodomains, we employ the Green's function approach to assess the phonon scattering strength due to alloying and nanodomain embedding. Our first-principles-driven phonon Boltzmann transport equation calculations show that the thermal conductivity of single-layer $\mathrm{Mo}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ can be reduced to less than one-tenth of its intrinsic thermal conductivity after alloying with W and introducing nanodomains due to the strong scattering for both high- and low-frequency phonons. Strategies to further reduce thermal conductivity are also discussed.
The Predictive Validity of the Post-Conviction Risk Assessment Among Federal Offenders

In the U.S. federal court system, the Probation and Pretrial Services Office (PPSO) uses a tool known as the Post-Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) to assess offender risk and identify challenges offenders face while under supervision. This article evaluates the PCRA and its components to determine its usefulness as a predictive tool for evaluating risk. Overall, we find that the PCRA is an effective tool for classifying offenders as it is currently designed, achieving a level of predictive validity comparable with its competitors. Notably, we also find that the PCRA effectively differentiates offenders early in supervision terms, and that its predictive power diminishes as time under supervision lengthens. Finally, the strength of PCRA classification appears to vary with offense type. The PCRA performs well for some offenses including drug, violent, and property offenses, but provides less utility in reliably predicting less common offenses.
Investigation of optimal use of computer-aided detection systems: the role of the "machine" in decision making process.

Rationale and Objectives The aim of this study was to explore different computerized models (the “machine”) as a means to achieve optimal use of computer-aided detection (CAD) systems and to investigate whether these models can play a primary role in clinical decision making and possibly replace a clinician's subjective decision for combining his or her own assessment with that provided by a CAD system. Materials and Methods Data previously collected from a fully crossed, multiple-reader, multiple-case observer study with and without CAD by seven observers asked to identify simulated small masses on two separate sets of 100 mammographic images (low-contrast and high-contrast sets; ie, low-contrast and high-contrast simulated masses added to random locations on normal mammograms) were used. This allowed testing two relative sensitivities between the observers and CAD. Seven models that combined detection assessments from CAD standalone, unaided read, and CAD-aided read (second read and concurrent read) were developed using the leave-one-out technique for training and testing. These models were personalized for each observer. Detection performance accuracies were analyzed using the area under a portion of the free-response receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUFC), sensitivity, and number of false-positives per image. Results For the low-contrast set, the use of computerized models resulted in significantly higher AUFCs compared to the unaided read mode for all readers, whereas the increased AUFCs between CAD-aided (second and concurrent reads; ie, decisions made by the readers) and unaided read modes were statistically significant for a majority, but not all, of the readers (four and five of the seven readers, respectively). For the high-contrast set, there were no significant trends in the AUFCs whether or not a model was used to combine the original reading modes. Similar results were observed when using sensitivity as the figure of merit. However, the average number of false-positives per image resulting from the computerized models remained the same as that obtained from the unaided read modes. Conclusions Individual computerized models (the machine) that combine image assessments from CAD standalone, unaided read, and CAD-aided read can increase detection performance compared to the reading done by the observer. However, relative sensitivity (ie, the difference in sensitivity between CAD standalone and unaided read) was a critical factor that determined incremental improvement in decision making, whether made by the observer or using computerized models.
C4d deposits as a possible marker for acute cellular liver rejection.

Introduction: Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection is the most common cause for liver transplantation (LTx) in USA. Hepatitis C viral recurrence in liver allograft is almost universal, which is often difficult to distinguish from acute cellular rejection (ACR). Aim: Aim of the present study is to examine the differences between distribution of CD4, CDS, CD56 positive lymphocytes, and C4d deposits in patients with ACR and recurrent HCV. Patients and methods: As a pilot project, a group of five post-LTx HCV RNA negative patients, strongly suspicious for ACR based on clinical findings and history of medication non-compliance and another group of five post-LTx HCV positive, medication compliant patients with abnormal liver function were retrospectively selected. Liver biopsies of these patients were stained with monoclonal CD4, CDS, CD56, and polyclonal C4d antibodies and compared. Results: Mean CD4, CDS, and CD56 counts in ACR group were 156.7 ± 17.6, 35.4 ± 8.8, and 1.0 ± 1.8/HPF, respectively and were 89.7 ± 41.3, 20.3 ± 23.2, and 0.6 ± 0.9/HPF, respectively in HCV recurrence group. Biopsies of four of five patients with ACR demonstrated moderate to strong C4d staining, whereas all patients with recurrent HCV had none to mild C4d staining. Conclusion: Mean CD4, CDS, and CD56 were similar for acute rejection and recurrent HCV infection. However, 80% of patients with ACR showed moderate to strong staining for C4d and all recurrent HCV patients showed none to mild C4d staining.
Morbidity and Mortality of Congestive Heart Failure in Trauma Patients.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF) patients comprise a major health and economic burden, especially when readmission rate and length of stay (LOS) are considered. With increasing average life expectancy, HF prevalence continues to rise. Diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and ischemic heart disease continue to be the leading causes of HF. Current data suggest that HF is the most common cause for hospital admission in patients older than 65 years. Objective In this study, we sought out to compare the 30-day readmission rate in trauma patients who have a preexisting history of HF to those who do not have a history of HF. Additionally, we emphasized the effect of different cardiac variables in the HF group such as the pathophysiology of HF (HF with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF] versus HF with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]) and the etiology of HFrEF (ischemic versus nonischemic). Methods A retrospective chart analysis of 8,137 patients who were admitted to our hospital between 2005 and 2013 secondary to trauma with an Injury Severity Score Results Of 8,137 trauma patients, 334 had preexisting HF, of which 169 had HFpEF while 165 had HFrEF). Of the 165 HFrEF cases, 121 were ischemic in etiology versus 44 nonischemic. Of 334 HF patients, 81 patients (24%) were readmitted within 30 days versus 1,068 (14%) of the non-HF patients (95% CI: 1.52-2.25, relative risk: 1.85, P Conclusions In our trauma population, HF patients had a significantly higher 30-day readmission rate when compared to non-HF patients. The pathophysiology of HF (HFpEF versus HFrEF) did not seem to play a role. However, after subgroup analysis of the HFrEF group based on etiology, all endpoints including mortality, readmission and LOS were significantly higher in the ischemic HFrEF subgroup rendering this entity higher importance when treating trauma patients with preexisting HF.
Value-based message multiplexing: an analytical model

It has been proposed that messages be explicitly tagged with a value function that indicates the message's value to the system as a function of its delay. Also proposed, for use in a message multiplexer, was the MUST (maximum utility scheduling for transmission) protocol, which explicitly considers the value functions of messages waiting for transmission and determines a transmission schedule that maximizes the delivered value, under the assumption that no further messages arrive. The performance of the MUST protocol in a stressed environment is studied and compared to that of other protocols. Because analysis of the MUST protocol is very complex, a discrete-time, nonpreemptive version is formulated. The results indicate that the MUST protocol performs well under a wide range of conditions. >
Carbon nanotube-based structural health monitoring for fiber reinforced composite materials

In fiber reinforced composite materials, the modes of damage accumulation, ranging from microlevel to macro-level (matrix cracks development, fiber breakage, fiber-matrix de-bonding, delamination, etc.), are complex and hard to be detected through conventional non-destructive evaluation methods. Therefore, in order to assure the outstanding structural performance and high durability of the composites, there has been an urgent need for the design and fabrication smart composites with self-damage sensing capabilities. In recent years, the macroscopic forms of carbon nanotube materials have been maturely investigated, which provides the opportunity for structural health monitoring based on the carbon nanotubes that are integrated in the inter-laminar areas of advanced fiber composites. Here in this research, advanced fiber composites embedded with laminated carbon nanotube layers are manufactured for damage detection due to the relevant spatial electrical property changes once damage occurs. The mechanical-electrical coupling response is recorded and analyzed during impact test. The design and manufacturing of integrating the carbon nanotubes intensely affect the detecting sensitivity and repeatability of the integrated multifunctional sensors. The ultimate goal of the reported work is to develop a novel structural health monitoring method with the capability of reporting information on the damage state in a real-time way.
Effect of Stem Size and Fixation Method on Mechanical Failure After Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Although the need for stemmed components is well accepted to improve mechanical survival in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the ideal fixation method and stem design remain controversial. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 223 patients who underwent revision TKA in whom stemmed components had not been used previously and with a mean follow-up of 61.6 months, including 108 components with fully cemented stems and 316 components with “hybrid” press-fit stems. Results Based on a time to event model, risk for mechanical failure was equivalent for both cemented and hybrid stems (relative risk, 0.991; P = .98). Young age was the single greatest risk factor for mechanical failure (P = .006). Although there was a trend toward increased failure with cemented stems in patients aged Conclusion In conclusion, both cemented and hybrid modular stems are viable options in revision TKA. Surgeons should attempt to maximize canal filling of hybrid stems to obtain a solid press-fit. In addition, further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term survival of cemented stem fixation in young patients.
Robotic esophagectomy: a better way or just another way?

The authors present a concise case report of their experience performing a three-field esophagectomy robotically (1). They have clearly developed a methodology for performing this operation that works well and their report demonstrates the profound forethought that they have given towards safely performing this operation minimally-invasively. Reading this article, we are reminded of the long-standing question of what the superior approach is for esophagectomy. Multiple authors and centers have offered their opinions as to which approach is better over the years, often citing conflicting data (2,3). Now with the application of robotic technology we have yet another entrant into the discussion of what represents the best technique.
Ethylene Adsorption On (5×20) and (1×1) Pt(100)

Abstract Previous work has shown that when ethylene adsorbs on Pt(lll) ethylidyne forms even though vinylidene is thermodynamically favored. The purpose of this paper was to see if conservation of orbital symmetry could provide some insight into why ethylidyne rather than vinylidene forms on Pt(lll). It is found that vinylidene formation from ethylene is symmetry forbidden on Pt(lll) while ethylidyne formation is allowed. However, vinylidene formation is allowed on (lxl)Pt(lOO). Experimental results show that vinylidene rather than ethylidyne actually forms on (lxl)Pt(lOO). Thus, it appears that ethylene decomposition on Pt(lll) does not follow the thermodynamically preferred pathway because of orbital symmetry constraints.
Producing and Using Linked Open Government Data in the TWC LOGD Portal

As open government initiatives around the world publish an increasing number of raw datasets, citizens and communities face daunting challenges when organizing, understanding, and associating disparate data related to their interests. Immediate and incremental solutions are needed to integrate, collaboratively manipulate, and transparently consume large-scale distributed data. The Tetherless World Constellation (TWC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has developed the TWC LOGD Portal based on Semantic Web principles to support the deployment of Linked Open Government Data. The portal is not only an open source infrastructure supporting Linked Open Government Data production and consumption, but also serves to educate the developers, data curators, managers, and end users that form the growing international open government community. This chapter introduces the informatic challenges faced while developing the portal over the past two years, describes the current design solutions employed by the portal’s LOGD production infrastructure, and concludes with lessons learned and future work.
Ramsey Theory Before Ramsey, Prehistory and Early History: An Essay in 13 Parts

How does a new theory emerge? It usually manifests itself in the older and established areas of mathematics. Gradually a critical mass of results appears, prompting a realization that what we have is a new identifiable field of mathematical thought, with its own set of problems and methods. As a fetus in a womb, the new theory eventually does not fit in the existing classification of mathematical thought. That is when the child is born. Ramsey theory has not been an exception.
What reading aloud reveals about speaking: Regressive saccades implicate a failure to monitor, not inattention, in the prevalence of intrusion errors on function words.

Bilinguals occasionally produce language intrusion errors (inadvertent translations of the intended word), especially when attempting to produce function word targets, and often when reading aloud ...
Differential Activity of Coexisting Prochlorococcus Ecotypes

The abundance and widespread distribution of the unicellular cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is attributed to its extensive genetic diversity. At least twelve distinct clades, or ecotypes, of Prochlorococcus have been discovered so far, and follow distinct distribution patterns over horizontal and vertical gradients in the oligotrophic ocean. However, multiple ecotypes (and sub-ecotypes) of Prochlorococcus always coexist in varying proportions. While laboratory experiments and genomic analysis suggest that ecotypes contribute differently to biogeochemical cycles, no studies have tested the differential activity of coexisting ecotypes in natural assemblages of Prochlorococcus. Here, we performed DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) experiments in on-deck incubations of oceanic microbial communities with 13C-labeled bicarbonate to identify ecotypes actively assimilating carbon. In addition, we identified cells in G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle to determine the ecotypes engaged in cell division. We found that closely related ecotypes and sub-ecotypes could exhibit differential activity in carbon assimilation and cell division. In the case of cell division, the most actively dividing ecotype was among the most abundant ecotypes. In the case of carbon assimilation, both a rare OTU and an abundant OTU were the most active. We discuss how intrinsic genomic characteristics, acclimation state, microbial interactions, and physical dynamics of the ocean could contribute to these patterns of activity. Together, these experiments suggest that Prochlorococcus community structure is an important facet of Prochlorococcus contributions to the ocean ecosystem that should be studied further to predict the influence of Prochlorococcus on global processes.
Sperm Extraction in Obstructive Azoospermia: What's Next?

For men with obstructive azoospermia, several surgical sperm retrieval techniques can facilitate conception with assisted reproductive technology. The evolution of both percutaneous and open approaches to sperm retrieval has been affected by technological innovations, including the surgical microscope, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Further modifications to these procedures are designed to minimize patient morbidity and increase the quality and quantity of sperm samples. Innovative technologies promise to further ameliorate outcomes by selecting the highest quality sperm. Although various approaches to surgical sperm retrieval are now well established, several advancements in sperm selection and optimization are being developed.
4.01 – Comprehensive Overview

This introductory chapter covers the science of earthquake seismology: the study of earthquakes using seismic waves. In it, we touch on some of the many interesting and varied research questions that earthquake seismology seeks to address. We begin by reviewing the basic understanding of where, why, and how earthquakes occur in the context of the theory of plate tectonics. Earthquakes have had, and will continue to have, an important impact on human affairs, so it is natural to note some of the more significant earthquakes in history, as gauged by different measures, while doing this. From here we delve into more quantitative aspects of earthquake source theory and how seismologists use the radiated wavefield to understand the mechanics of earthquakes and faulting. The wide range of temporal and spatial scales that are important to the faulting process means that there are necessarily a wide range of approaches and perspectives in the study of earthquakes. In this overview chapter, we can only give them cursory treatment, but subsequent chapters explore these different perspectives in detail. We end the overview by introducing research issues in the closely related fields of tsunami generation, nuclear test-ban-treaty verification, and earthquake risk mitigation. All of these are closely intertwined with the science of earthquake seismology.
Protection from α-synuclein-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration by overexpression of the mitochondrial import receptor TOM20 in the rat midbrain

Dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra are selectively vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is hypothesized to be an early and fundamental pathogenic mechanism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Mitochondrial function depends on the successful import of nuclear-encoded proteins, many of which are transported through the TOM20-TOM22 outer mitochondrial membrane import receptor machinery. Recent data suggests that post-translational modifications of α-synuclein promote its interaction with TOM20 at the outer mitochondrial membrane and thereby inhibit normal protein import, which leads to dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons. As such, preservation of mitochondrial import in the face of α-synuclein accumulation might be a strategy to prevent dopaminergic neurodegeneration, however, this is difficult to assess using current in vivo models of PD. To this end, we established an exogenous co-expression system, utilizing AAV2 vectors to overexpress human α-synuclein and TOM20, individually or together, in the adult Lewis rat substantia nigra in order to assess whether TOM20 overexpression attenuates α-synuclein-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Twelve weeks after viral injection, we observed that AAV2-TOM20 expression was sufficient to prevent loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons caused by AAV2-αSyn overexpression. The observed TOM20-mediated dopaminergic neuron preservation appeared to be due, in part, to the rescued import of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins that were inhibited by α-synuclein overexpression. In addition, TOM20 overexpression rescued the import of the chaperone protein GRP75/mtHSP70/mortalin, a stress-response protein involved in α-synuclein-induced injury. Collectively, these data indicate that TOM20 expression prevents α-synuclein-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, which is sufficient to rescue dopaminergic neurons in the adult rat brain.
Abstract P220: Differential Cardiac Geometry During Pregnancy In Lean Versus Obese Mice

Objectives: Women with a history of pregnancy complications are at increased risk for subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD), but mechanisms linking these conditions are unclear. Obesity is associ...
Pre-harvest glyphosate application effects on properties of β-glucan from oat groats

Abstract Pre-harvest glyphosate is applied to cereal grains to control weed growth. However, it has been claimed that oat (Avena sativa L.) composition is affected by pre-harvest glyphosate application. The research was conducted to evaluate differences in properties of β-glucan in grains of pre-harvest glyphosate treated versus untreated oat plants. Two oat cultivars (Rockford and Souris) were grown at Minot and Prosper, ND, in 2015, and glyphosate was sprayed during the soft dough stage, hard dough stage, or not applied. β-glucan viscosity was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by treatment at soft dough (1082 cP) or mature (1166 cP) stages compared with untreated (1150 cP) controls. Applying glyphosate at the soft dough stage significantly (p
Implementation and Effectiveness of a CSPAP-Informed, Online Secondary Methods Course With Virtual Field Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examined the implementation and effectiveness of a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP)-informed, 15-week physical education secondary methods course, adapted from its previous in-person format to be completely online for fall 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 15 preservice physical education teachers (PPETs) and three course instructors. Each PPET taught six virtual physical education lessons to middle and high school students learning at home. Multiple data sources including focus groups, individual interviews, and course artifacts were analyzed to address research questions centered on the fidelity of course delivery, adaptations made to the course during implementation, and the PPETs' approach to lesson planning and teaching. The findings showed a high level of implementation fidelity, and few adaptations were made to the course. Three themes were identified with respect to the PPETs' pedagogical approach: personalization, inquiry-based instruction, and resilience. This study provides a case example of trying to prepare PPETs for professional roles in the COVID era.
First Year of Skilled Nursing Facility Value-based Purchasing Program Penalizes Facilities With Poorer Financial Performance.

BACKGROUND: The Skilled Nursing Facility Value-based Purchasing Program (SNF-VBP) incentivizes facilities to coordinate care, improve quality, and lower hospital readmissions. However, SNF-VBP may unintentionally punish facilities with lower profit margins struggling to invest resources to lower readmissions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the SNF-VBP penalty amounts by skilled nursing facility (SNF) profit margin quintiles and examine whether facilities with lower profit margins are more likely to be penalized by SNF-VBP. RESEARCH DESIGN: We combined the first round of SNF-VBP performance data with SNF profit margins and characteristics data. Our outcome variables included estimated penalty amount and a binary measure for whether facilities were penalized by the SNF-VBP. We categorized SNFs into 5 profit margin quintiles and examined the relationship between profit margins and SNF-VBP performance using descriptive and regression analysis. RESULTS: The average profit margins for SNFs in the lowest profit margin quintile was -14.4% compared with the average profit margin of 11.1% for SNFs in the highest profit margin quintile. In adjusted regressions, SNFs in the lowest profit margin quintile had 17% higher odds of being penalized under SNF-VBP compared with facilities in the highest profit margin quintile. The average penalty for SNFs in the lowest profit margin quintile was $22,312. CONCLUSIONS: SNFs in the lowest profit margins are more likely to be penalized by the SNF-VBP, and these losses can exacerbate quality problems in SNFs with lower quality. Alternative approaches to measuring and rewarding SNFs under SNF-VBP or programs to assist struggling SNFs is warranted, particularly considering the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which requires resources for prevention and management.
Myofascial Pain Syndromes in the Emergency Department: What Are We Missing?

Abstract Background Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), pain originating in the myofascial tissue, is a widely recognized pathology characterized by the presence of referred pain (often distant from its origin and specific to each muscle) that can resemble other pathologies and by the presence of a trigger point, a localized hyperirritable band able to reproduce the pain and its associated symptoms. Patients with acute or chronic MPS are commonly seen in the emergency department (ED), usually complaining of pain of undetermined origin. Traditionally, the emergency physician (EP) is not trained to diagnose and treat MPS, and many patients with MPS have received less than optimal management of this condition in the ED. Many types of treatments are known to be effective against MPS. Among these, trigger point injection (TPI) is considered a practical and rapid approach that can be carried out in the ED by EPs. Objective This article reviews the current diagnostic methods, treatment options, and procedures for MPS patients seen in the ED to enable EPs to diagnose and successfully treat this condition. Discussion This article discusses the clinical characteristics, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of MPS in the ED, including a description of performing TPI. Conclusions MPS can mimic other clinical conditions commonly seen in the ED. MPS can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings; in many cases, no imaging or laboratory testing is needed. Therefore, MPS diagnosis and treatment can be successfully accomplished in the ED by EPs.
Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Clinical practice guidelines published by both the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) in 2007, and the American College of Chest Physicians in 2008, recommend the use of the thrombolytic agent recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in eligible patients (1, 2). Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for treatment of AIS, intravenous rtPA (or alteplase) is the only thrombolytic agent approved for this indication to date (3). Due to the extremely small timeframe in which a patient is eligible to receive rtPA, it is estimated that only 3% to 5% of stroke sufferers reach a hospital in time to be considered for this treatment (4). This small number is discouraging because “the ultimate goal of early reperfusion therapy is to reduce or prevent brain infarction and thereby minimize the long term disability, neurologic impairment, and stroke-related mortality” (2). As stroke is the third most frequent cause of death in the USA, killing 137,000 people each year, mortality reduction could potentially spare the lives of a large number of patients (5). This article briefly reviews the evidence supporting the use of rtPA for AIS and focuses on important new literature that has impacted practice since the publication of the current AIS guidelines.