cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical pharmacy: an evolving area of pharmacy practice in India

Prior to 1997, clinical pharmacy teaching and practice were virtually non-existent in India. However, this changed as a result of a joint Indo-Australian program of cooperation between the Repatriation General Hospital in South Australia and the JSS Colleges of Pharmacy in India. Postgraduate courses in clinical pharmacy practice and departments of clinical pharmacy have now been established at several colleges of pharmacy and hospitals respectively. In 2000 the Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLES) College of Pharmacy established a Department of Clinical Pharmacy at KLES Hospital in Belgaum, South India. This paper discusses the recent development of clinical pharmacy in India and describes the introduction of clinical pharmacy practice at KLES Hospital. It also reports on three pharmacy conferences held in India in 2000. (author abstract)
Passing Down the Deficit: Federal Policies Contribute to the Severity of the State Fiscal Crisis

The authors look at federal tax and spending policies that they say have increased the severity of the states' fiscal crisis. They suggest that the federal government should not preempt state tax bases and should be more concerned about helping the states than about providing tax breaks for upper-income taxpayers.
The Seductive Allure of ‘Best Practices’: Improved Outcome is a Delicate Dance between Structure and Process

In the drive to improve quality of care, a great deal of attention has been directed towards process improvement and identification and diffusion of best practices. An understanding of the history of best practice adoption in the manufacturing industry reveals its dependence upon the transfer of primarily explicit knowledge. When the task is highly context-dependent and involves tacit knowledge, the success drops. In healthcare, especially when dealing with complex problems and chronic disease, the intertwining of structure and process is necessary to produce positive outcomes. In such situations, best practices should serve as the starting point, not an end.
OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS OF ANKLE JOINT

The publishing of this case brings the total number of reported instances of osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle joint to twenty. The importance of tomography in the diagnosis and localization of obscure lesions of the osseous system is emphasized.
Bringing Mediation (Back) to Micronesia

Using a mediation training conducted in Kosrae, in the Federated States of Micronesia, as a backdrop, this paper describes an approach to cross-cultural teaching and training. The articles not only details the methods used, but also describes some of the many errors that were made by the trainers. This training experience in Micronesia, teaching full-time for one semester at City Poly-technic University in Hong Kong, and conducting trainings and making presentations about negotiations and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in many other countries, as well as the opportunity to teach many negotiation and ADR courses in Hawaii for non-native speakers of English, strongly influenced the author's perspective on cross-cultural teaching and training.
NETS WITH DISTANCE BIAS

A distance bias is imposed on the probability of direct connection between every pair of points in a random net. The probability that there exists a path from a given point in the net to another point is now a function of both the axone density and the distance between the points. A recursion formula is derived in terms of which this probability can be computed.
Optimal Control Trajectory Optimization of a Battery-Powered Competition Aircraft

A trajectory optimization study is presented which uses an optimal control formulation based on calculus of variations to determine optimal velocity, energy, and power requirements for a battery-powered, 4 passenger competition aircraft over a mission profile. The aircraft is referred to generally as the generic electric aircraft (GEA) model. A three degree-of-freedom flight dynamic model is coupled with an atmospheric, aerodynamic, and electric propulsion model inside a multidisciplinary framework. A cost function, representing the aircraft score based on rules established for the 2011 Google Green Flight Challenge (GFC) competition, is modified to include nonlinear constraints using an adjoint formulation.
Spermatogenesis in Sciara coprophila. I. Chromosome orientation on the monopolar spindle of meiosis I.

Meiosis I of spermatogenesis in the fungus fly, Sciara coprophila, has a monopolar spindle which collects the maternal and supernumerary L chromosome sets, while the paternal chromosomes migrate away from the single pole to be excluded in a bud. By inspection, the metacentric paternal chromosome IV moves with its centromere lagging rather than leading the direction of motion. Therefore, we wondered if all paternal homologues move in such a reverse orientation. To determine the orientation of the other homologues which are acrocentrics (chromosomes II, III, X), their centromeres were localized by use of the DAPI C-banding technique. In addition, we characterized centromeric heterochromatin on polytene chromosomes by C-banding and in situ hybridization of satellite DNA isolated by Ag+-Cs2SO4 (ρCsC1 satellite I=1.698 g/ml; ρCsC1 satellite II=1.705 g/ ml). The two satellite fractions were localized to the centromeric heterochromatin of all the chromosomes, and to a varying degree to all chromosome telomeres. By DAPI C-banding we could precisely locate each centromere band on polytene chromosomes, and these results agreed with those of satellite cRNA in situ hybridization. We then applied the DAPI C-banding technique to primary spermatocyte preparations, and determined that all paternal chromosomes migrate at anaphase I with their centromeres lagging rather than leading movement to the cell periphery. Since in polytene chromosomes the X chromosome contains a moderately fluorescent band on its noncentromeric end as well, in order to clarify its DAPI C-banding result in primary spermatocytes, we did in situ hybridization of 3H nick-translated cloned rDNA, since rDNA is a convenient marker for the centromeric heterochromatin of the X. These data and the DAPI C-banding results indicate that the X as well as all the other paternal homologues display a reverse orientation (centromeres lag) as they migrate away from the single spindle pole to the cell periphery. — One model explaining this unusual paternal chromosome orientation is that there may be unique neocentromeric-like attachments to the non-centromeric free ends of these chromosomes. These attachments could serve to pull the paternal chromosomes to the cellular periphery as anaphase I progresses. In order to test this model, we analyzed anaphase I spermatocytes after a terminal block of heterochromatin had been removed from metacentric paternal chromosome IV by X-irradiation. We observed that when metacentric paternal chromosome IV is broken, it maintains its inverted “V” orientation rather than assuming a rod-like configuration. These data imply that there are no unique, terminal neocentromeric attachments to paternal chromosome IV as it progresses to the cellular periphery.
Demand Response Performance Evaluation and Basic Load Calculation Method for Customers in Electricity Market Environment

The principle and method to calculate customers' basic loads are analyzed.It is pointed out that the principle for data selection, the calculation method and the weather adjustment factor are three main factors in the calculation of customers' basic loads;two method to evaluate customer response performance, i.e., the absolute value method and relative indices, are analyzed and it also pointed out that the importance grades of customer response performances can be subdivided by the data of customer response performance;the method to penalize customers or give them compensation according to their response performances is researched.The practice results of PJM, California ISO, New York ISO and New England ISO in calculating customer basic load and proceeds from customer response show that the historical data and calculation methods for different regions, various environments and different schemes are dissimilar.Results of this research are available for reference in the establishment of demand response market in China.
Dynamic reliability evaluation method of regional power grid multi-tie-lines for black start

The blackouts risk is increasing with the expansion of power grid.Black start schemes are important to deal with the blackouts.For the successfully implement of black start,a high level reliability in the dynamic process of regional power grid is necessary.The vulnerability in partial period will lead to the failure of black-start and this vulnerability can be avoided by the higher reliability.However,the dynamic reliability evaluation method and the comprehensive assessment model used in the multi-tie-lines of the regional power grid are severe shortage.Based on the traditional reliability evaluation method,a dynamic reliability evaluation algorithm was proposed in this paper considering the coupling relationship of multi-tie-lines.A comprehensive assessment model was set up based on the principal component analysis.Finally,a case studybased on the Northern Hebei province was given.In the case,three black start schemes were evaluated and the optimal scheme was recommended based on the analysis of the results.
The Hereditary Hemolytic Anemias: Membrane and Enzyme Defects

Similar clinical syndromes may be produced by a variety of red cell membrane abnormalities or enzyme deficiencies. Those disorders so far identified and characterized are reviewed and their similarities and differences are noted.
Anomalous inward rectification in hippocampal neurons

1. Anomalous rectification occurred in 54 of 56 hippocampal CA1 neurons studied in vitro. This phenomenon is characterized by a progressive increase in input resistance with membrane depolarization. An average increase in membrane resistance of 45% occurred over a 15-mV region of membrane potential immediately subthreshold to cellular firing. 2. Both Mn2+, a Ca+ antagonist, and tetrodotoxin (TTX), a neurotoxin that blocks regenerative Na+ currents, eliminated anomalous rectification. Ba2+, which can both contribute to intracellular cation influx as well as reduce K+ conductance, increased the magnitude of anomalous rectification. The observations are indirect evidence indicating that a Ca2+-Na+ current may produce the inward-going rectification. 3. Enhancement of anomalous rectification by Ba2+ was associated with the onset of membrane oscillations and spontaneous bursts of repetitive discharges. The magnitude of anomalous rectification may be one factor that predisposes some cortical neurons to bursting behavior.
Preclinical models for interrogating drug action in human cancers using Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM)

In this review we compare the advantages and disadvantages of different model biological systems for determining the metabolic functions of cells in complex environments, how they may change in different disease states, and respond to therapeutic interventions. All preclinical drug-testing models have advantages and drawbacks. We compare and contrast established cell, organoid and animal models with ex vivo organ or tissue culture and in vivo human experiments in the context of metabolic readout of drug efficacy. As metabolism reports directly on the biochemical state of cells and tissues, it can be very sensitive to drugs and/or other environmental changes. This is especially so when metabolic activities are probed by stable isotope tracing methods, which can also provide detailed mechanistic information on drug action. We have developed and been applying Stable Isotope-Resolved Metabolomics to examine metabolic reprogramming of human lung cancer cells in monoculture, in mouse xenograft/explant models, and in lung cancer patients in situ (Lane et al. in Omics 15:173–182, 2011; Fan et al. in Metabolomics 7(2):257–269, 2011a, in Pharmacol Ther 133:366–391, 2012a, in Metabolomics 8(3):517–527, b; Xie et al. in Cell Metab 19:795–809, 2014; Ren et al. in Sci Rep 4:5414, 2014; Sellers et al. in J Clin Investig 125(2):687–698, 2015). We are able to determine the influence of the tumor microenvironment using these models. We have now extended the range of models to fresh human tissue slices, similar to those originally described by Warburg (Biochem Z 142:317–333, 1923), which retain the native tissue architecture and heterogeneity with a paired benign versus cancer design under defined cell culture conditions. This platform offers an unprecedented human tissue model for preclinical studies on metabolic reprogramming of human cancer cells in their tissue context, and response to drug treatment (Xie et al. 2014). As the microenvironment of the target human tissue is retained and individual patient’s response to drugs is obtained, this platform promises to transcend current limitations of drug selection for clinical trials or treatments Development of ex vivo human tissue and animal models with humanized organs including bone marrow and liver show considerable promise for analyzing drug responses that are more relevant to humans. Similarly using stable isotope tracer methods with these improved models in advanced stages of the drug development pipeline, in conjunction with tissue biopsy is expected significantly to reduce the high failure rate of experimental drugs in Phase II and III clinical trials.
'And so to bed': the index to The diary of Samuel Pepys

The index to The diary of Samuel Pepys (Bell & Hyman edition) appeared in 1983 as the crowning volume to one of the most significant publications of the twentieth century, the first complete and unexpurgated edition of the Pepys diaries. This article explores the history of the index, as well as the numerous non-standard or unusual techniques that are used throughout the index. Today's indexers could usefully employ these techniques (although perhaps not all at once) in their own indexing projects.
Investigation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocations in gastric and esophageal signet ring cell carcinomas.

e15106 Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion oncogenes are present in multiple cancer types. The inversion of echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4 (EML4) and ALK genes on ...
Characteristics and outcomes of older patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia according to treatment approach

BACKGROUND The development of newer strategies to improve outcomes for older patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (s-AML) is a critical unmet need. Establishing baseline metrics for evaluating newer approaches is important. METHODS s-AML was defined as 1 or more of the following: a history of an antecedent hematologic disorder (AHD), a diagnosis of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and AML with karyotype abnormalities characteristic of myelodysplastic syndrome. Newly diagnosed s-AML patients aged 60 to 75 years were grouped into 5 treatment cohorts: 1) patients receiving high- or intermediate-dose cytarabine–based intensive chemotherapy (IC), 2) patients receiving a hypomethylating agent (HMA) or HMA combinations, 3) patients receiving low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) combinations, 4) patients receiving CPX-351, and 5) patients receiving investigational (INV) agents. Nine hundred thirty-one patients met the age and s-AML criteria. RESULTS Complete remission rates were statistically lower in the HMA group (36%) versus the IC (46%), CPX-351 (45%), and LDAC groups (43%). Patients receiving less intensive regimens (the HMA and LDAC groups combined) had superior overall survival (OS) in comparison with patients receiving IC-based regimens (median 6.9 vs 5.4 months; P = .048). Only 4.3% of the IC patients proceeded to transplantation, whereas 10.3% of the patients on lower intensity regimens did (P = .001). There was no difference in median survival between patients treated with CPX-351 and patients treated with conventional lower intensity approaches (P = .75). Age > 70 years, an adverse karyotype, and a prior AHD were associated with decreased OS in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Lower intensity approaches are associated with lower early mortality rates and improved OS in comparison with intensive regimens. OS is poor with currently available therapies with a median OS of 6 months (5.4-7.6 months across regimens). Unsatisfactory outcomes with other INV agents underscore the need for more effective therapies. Cancer 2017;123:3050–60. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Robotic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis using V-Loc™ - a video vignette.

The incorporation of unidirectional, knotless and self-absorbable V-Loc™ device in minimally invasive intra-abdominal procedures has been reported to be safe and effective [1] [2]. Performance of enterotomy closure using V-Loc™ suture has been shown to be faster than nonbarbed closure [3]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Legal Aspects of the Nile River

This chapter provides a brief overview of background of the legal status of the Nile water and the legal aspects of the Nile River; scope of the chapter focuses on the legal aspects of the Nile River, the Nile water treaties, treaties between U.K and the powers controlling the Nile Basin, the 1929 Nile waters agreement, agreements consolidating and supplementing the 1929 Agreement, state succession, state succession in the Nile Basin.
THE ACCOUNTANT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISCLOSING BRIBERY: AN HISTORICAL NOTE

In the late nineteenth century The Accountant reported on a case where the auditors looked at the mattery of bribery “straight in the face” and disclosed the illegal payments in the audit certificate. However, subsequent discussion of the accountant's responsibility for disclosing bribery in an 1899 lecture, “Secret Profits,” showed that there was no unanimity of opinion on the accountant's responsibility in this area. The problem is obviously a continuing one.
Developing and applying metamodels of high resolution process-based simulations for high throughput exposure assessment of organic chemicals in riverine ecosystems

As defined by Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamodeling), "(a) metamodel or surrogate model is a model of a model, and metamodeling is the process of generating such metamodels." The goals of metamodeling include, but are not limited to (1) developing functional or statistical relationships between a model's input and output variables for model analysis, interpretation, or information consumption by users' clients; (2) quantifying a model's sensitivity to alternative or uncertain forcing functions, initial conditions, or parameters; and (3) characterizing the model's response or state space. Using five models developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, we generate a metamodeling database of the expected environmental and biological concentrations of 644 organic chemicals released into nine US rivers from wastewater treatment works (WTWs) assuming multiple loading rates and sizes of populations serviced. The chemicals of interest have log n-octanol/water partition coefficients (logKOW) ranging from 3 to 14, and the rivers of concern have mean annual discharges ranging from 1.09 to 3240m3/s. Log-linear regression models are derived to predict mean annual dissolved and total water concentrations and total sediment concentrations of chemicals of concern based on their logKOW, Henry's Law Constant, and WTW loading rate and on the mean annual discharges of the receiving rivers. Metamodels are also derived to predict mean annual chemical concentrations in fish, invertebrates, and periphyton. We corroborate a subset of these metamodels using field studies focused on brominated flame retardants and discuss their application for high throughput screening of exposures to human and ecological populations and for analysis and interpretation of field data.
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013: outline of a coherent strategy for translating it into action

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2013, announced in January 2013 during the centenary session of the Indian Science Congress held in Kolkata, declared in no uncertain terms that the science, technology and innovation (STI) system would be the driving force for a faster, sustainable and inclusive economic growth of India. In the past we have witnessed successful applications of science and technology (S&T) in addressing societal problems in India, in the Green Revolution, the White Revolution and in space and communication science to name a few. This has helped improve the quality of life of a large part of our population and strengthened our economic independence. We have also before us, the examples of war-ravaged Japan, which resurrected its economy post World War II and systematically went up the technology ladder by virtue of its reliance on strength of S&T. In the recent past countries like South Korea, have emerged as technological giants in the competitive world. In this backdrop, our new STIP appears to be most appropriate. It is absolutely necessary to launch policy initiatives simultaneously in different spheres to create an enabling environment for successful implementation of the different aspects of this STIP. This article attempts to draw an outline of such a coherent strategy.
The Childhood Roots of Cardiovascular Disease Disparities

A recent national review of the social determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) underscored the growing recognition that poor socioeconomic conditions early in life place children at higher risk for CVD as adults. There is growing evidence that chronic elevation of allostatic load as a consequence of high levels of early childhood stress can trigger early atherosclerotic changes in children independently of behaviors. Elevated levels of circulating cortisol have been documented in children as young as 4 years who were raised in highly stressful circumstances. Chronic elevation of cortisol is associated with increased release of inflammatory proteins such as interleukin 6, which can lead to fibrosis and scarring in the vessel walls of the arterial circulation, resulting in increased intima-media thickness. Increased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery has been found in individuals with low socioeconomic status as early as age 18 years and has been associated with increased CVD risk throughout the adult years. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that it is the task of pediatricians and other health care professionals to screen for toxic stress among children during their early years and to take steps known to reduce stress reactivity, thereby helping these children to reduce their risk of early atherosclerotic changes and increased CVD throughout the life course.
Chapter 8 – The Jennifer Correspondence: A Rhetorical Dialogue

This chapter explores the doubts of a young graduate student––Jennifer––on psychoanalysis through a letter. She had been helped by therapy in the past and was contemplating a position in the mental health field in the future. When she read the histories with the zeal of someone distilling through purloined treasures, she had a strong but not positive reaction to them. She had hoped to understand more about people's change in treatment, but the papers only launched doubts. The confusion didn't get better rather it got worse. A little disappointment and some irritation added to the confusion. She wanted to discuss these doubts with someone. The chapter focuses on Jennifer's inquiries about Freud theories on psychoanalysis and authors' replies to them. She especially wanted to see what it is to be a child analyst. She addresses the treatment of adults who were previously treated by analysis during childhood through a case study.
Examination of the Long‐Term Subsurface Warming Observed at the Apollo 15 and 17 Sites Utilizing the Newly Restored Heat Flow Experiment Data From 1975 to 1977

The Apollo Heat Flow Experiment (HFE) was conducted at landing sites 15 and 17. On Apollo 15, surface and subsurface temperatures were monitored from July 1971 to January 1977. On Apollo 17, monitoring took place from December 1972 to September 1977. The investigators involved in the HFE examined and archived only data from the time of deployment to December 1974. The present authors recovered and restored major portions of the previously un-archived HFE data from January 1975 through September 1977. The HFE investigators noted that temperature of the regolith well below the reach of insolation cycles (approx. 1 m) rose gradually through December 1974 at both sites. The restored data showed that the subsurface warming continued until the end of observations in 1977. Simultaneously, the thermal gradient decreased, because the warming was more pronounced at shallower depths. The present study has examined potential causes for the warming. Recently acquired images of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera over the two landing sites show that the regolith on the paths of the astronauts turned darker, lowering the albedo. We suggest that, as a result of the astronauts' activities, solar heat intake by the regolith increased slightly on average, and that resulted in the observed warming. Simple analytical heat conduction models with constant regolith thermal properties can show that an abrupt increase in surface temperature of 1.6 K to 3.5 K at the time of probe deployment best duplicate the magnitude and the timing of the observed subsurface warming's at both Apollo sites.
Pattern Formation in a Nonlinear Membrane Model for Epithelial Morphogenesis

A theoretical model is presented for pattern formation in an epithelium. The epithelial model consists of a thin, incompressible, viscoelastic membrane on an elastic foundation (substrate), with the component cells assumed to have active contractile properties similar to those of smooth muscle. The analysis includes the effects of large strains and material nonlinearity, and the governing equations were solved using finite differences. Deformation patterns form when the cells activate while lying on the descending limb of their total (active + passive) stress-stretch curve. Various one-dimensional and two-dimensional simulations illustrate the effects of spatial and temporal variations in passive stiffness, as well as the effects of foundation stiffness and stretch activation. The model can be used to examine the mechanical aspects of pattern formation in morphogenetic processes such as angiogenesis and myocardial trabeculation.
How Do Women View Risk-Based Mammography Screening? A Qualitative Study.

Decades of persuasive messages have reinforced the importance of traditional screening mammography at regular intervals. A potential new paradigm, risk-based screening, adjusts mammography frequency based on a woman’s estimated breast cancer risk in order to maximize mortality reduction while minimizing false positives and overdiagnosis. Women’s views of risk-based screening are unknown. To explore women’s views and personal acceptability of a potential risk-based mammography screening paradigm. Four semi-structured focus group discussions about screening mammography and surveys before provision of information about risk-based screening. We analyzed coded focus group transcripts using a mixed deductive (content analysis) and inductive (grounded theory) approach. Convenience sample of 29 women (40–74 years old) with no personal history of breast cancer recruited by print and online media in New Hampshire and Vermont. Twenty-seven out of 29 women reported having undergone mammography screening. All participants were white and most were highly educated. Some women accepted the idea that early cancer detection with traditional screening was beneficial—although many also reported hearing inconsistent recommendations from clinicians and mixed messages from media reports about mammography. Some women were familiar with a risk-based screening paradigm (primarily related to cervical cancer, n = 8) and thought matching screening mammography frequency to personal risk made sense (n = 8). Personal acceptability of risk-based screening was mixed. Some believed risk-based screening could reduce the harms of false positives and overdiagnosis (n = 7). Others thought screening less often might result in missing a dangerous diagnosis (n = 14). Many (n = 18) expressed concerns about the feasibility of risk-based screening and questioned whether breast cancer risk estimates could be accurate. Some suspected that risk-based mammography was motivated by a desire to save money (n = 6). Some women thought risk-based screening made sense. Willingness to abandon traditional screening for the new paradigm was mixed. Broad acceptability of risk-based screening will require clearer communication about its rationale and feasibility and consistent messages from the health care team.
Inherited cardiomyopathies in veterinary medicine

Comparative and translation medicine is of particular value within the field of inherited cardiomyopathies. Despite massive advances in understanding the functional role of mutations in human cardiomyopathies, these advances have frequently failed to translate into medical discoveries that alter patient care. One potential explanation for this failure lies in the lack of suitable translational models that adequately recapitulate human cardiovascular physiology and disease expression. The vast genetic heterogeneity that complicates human cardiomyopathy research is potentially alleviated through the study of naturally occurring large animal models of disease, where incredibly homogenous populations, like those seen in a single breed of dog or cat, may exist (Kol et al., Sci Transl Med 7:308-321, 2015; Ueda and Stern, Yale J Biol Med 90:433-448, 2017). Veterinary medicine is in a unique position to provide research resources and information that may be readily applied to human disease (Kol et al., Sci Transl Med 7:308-321, 2015). Many inherited cardiomyopathies of humans are phenotypically and genotypically similar in veterinary species and ongoing research holds promise for aiding veterinary and human patients alike (Basso et al., Circulation 109:1180-1185, 2004; Fox et al., Cardiovasc Pathol 23:28-34, 2014; Fox et al., Circulation 102:1863-1870, 2000; Kittleson et al., J Vet Cardiol 17 Suppl 1:S53-73, 2015; Ueda and Stern, Yale J Biol Med 90:433-448, 2017). This article presents the current knowledge of inherited cardiomyopathies in dogs, cats, and non-human primates, with a goal of identifying areas of translational research and future directions.
Device Modeling of Graded III-N HEMTs for Improved Linearity

When GaN HEMTs are used in power amplifier applications, their performance falls well short of ideal due to power-gain roll-off that results from having a peaked transconductance characteristic. A promising design solution involves compositionally grading the channel, and we here formulate a numerical device model to explore this approach that couples linear electroelasticity, diffusion-drift transport with new mobility models, and density-gradient theory. Lumped modeling of the large-signal behavior is also developed to explore the power amplifier performance. Preliminary results presented here indicate that the graded-channel idea has value, especially for gate lengths greater than about 100nm.
Testing Methods and the Rebalancing Policies for Retirement Portfolios

Portfolio rebalancing policy is one of the most common policies given by financial advisors to their clients for managing their clients' retirement portfolios. The out-of-sample performances of different policy testing methods have rarely been compared. We propose using bootstrap aggregation (bagging) based on stationary bootstrap as an innovative way in testing rebalancing policies. We show that in most cases, by a three to one chance, the out-of-sample performances of the rebalancing policies chosen by bootstrap aggregation can be better than the ones chosen by Monte Carlo simulation or in-sample testing for several performance measures and three different portfolios. We use all three methods to select rebalancing policies from periodical rebalancing, the rebalancing policies with fixed bands triggers and equal probability triggers at different checking frequency and the buy and hold strategy. We find that the investors should check their portfolios more than once per year and fixed bands triggers are preferred to the equal probability triggers in most cases.
Testing an implementation strategy bundle on adoption and sustainability of evidence to optimize physical function in community-dwelling disabled and older adults in a Medicaid waiver: a multi-site pragmatic hybrid type III protocol

In partnership with a state Medicaid home and community-based waiver program, this study tests implementation strategies for adoption and sustainability of an evidence-based intervention to support disabled and older adults who have difficulty with physical function and daily living tasks. A multi-level implementation strategy bundle will be directed at relationship, coalition, and team building; readiness to implement, leadership, and clinician attitude toward evidence assessments; intervention and facilitation training; interdisciplinary coordination; facilitation; and audit and feedback to support practice change. Knowledge-to-Action model underpins this 2-arm, 3-year pragmatic mixed method randomized hybrid type III trial in 18 waiver program sites in Michigan. Data will be collected on sites, 775 clinicians (registered nurses, occupational therapists, social workers), and 15,000 disabled and older adults. Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guides examination of site, clinician, and beneficiary characteristics; clinician attitude and self-efficacy; leadership and readiness to implement; and intervention impact on beneficiary outcomes. Sites will be randomized to either usual waiver care with internal facilitation of the bundle of implementation strategies or usual waiver care with both internal and external facilitation of the bundle. Primary outcomes are site-level adoption and sustainability over 12 months, and intervention effects on these outcomes are hypothesized to be mediated by clinicians’ attitude and self-efficacy. At the beneficiary level, by addressing the individual’s capabilities and home environment, the intervention is hypothesized to improve secondary outcomes of activities of daily living, pain, depression, falls, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Baseline site readiness and leadership and stages of implementation at 6 months will be explored as potential moderators. Linear mixed effects models will be used to test intervention effects on primary outcomes, with bias-correcting analytic strategy in mediation analyses. Generalized linear mixed effects modeling will be employed for the analysis of intervention effects on secondary outcomes. Synthesizing findings within and across the sites, we will specify how leadership, readiness for change, and level of facilitation enhance capacity for adoption and sustainability of an evidence-based intervention in an under-resourced Medicaid setting that cares for disabled and older adults. ClinitalTrials.gov , NCT03634033 . Registered 16 August 2018.
The History of the Arthaśāstra: Sovereignty and Sacred Law in Ancient India

The Arthaśāstra is the foundational text of Indic political thought and ancient India's most important treatise on statecraft and governance. It is traditionally believed that politics in ancient India was ruled by religion; that kings strove to fulfil their sacred duty; and that sovereignty was circumscribed by the sacred law of dharma. Mark McClish's systematic and thorough evaluation of the Arthaśāstra's early history shows that these ideas only came to prominence in the statecraft tradition late in the classical period. With a thorough chronological exploration, he demonstrates that the text originally espoused a political philosophy characterized by empiricism and pragmatism, ignoring the mandate of dharma altogether. The political theology of dharma was incorporated when the text was redacted in the late classical period, which obscured the existence of an independent political tradition in ancient India altogether and reinforced the erroneous notion that ancient India was ruled by religion, not politics.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Infections in Burns

Infection is one of the most frequent complications for patients with thermal injury, with burn wound infection being the most common infections. Early recognition of infection and sepsis is imperative to reducing morbidity and mortality; however, due to physiologic changes and chronic inflammation, traditional criteria for diagnosis cannot be used. Physiologic changes and chronic inflammation also affect pharmacokinetic parameters and alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of medications, often rendering standard doses of antibacterials and antifungals ineffective. The clinician must understand these changes and make the appropriate drug adjustments to optimize treatment and outcomes.
Engineering a nicotinamide mononucleotide redox cofactor system for biocatalysis.

Biological production of chemicals often requires the use of cellular cofactors, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+). These cofactors are expensive to use in vitro and difficult to control in vivo. We demonstrate the development of a noncanonical redox cofactor system based on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN+). The key enzyme in the system is a computationally designed glucose dehydrogenase with a 107-fold cofactor specificity switch toward NMN+ over NADP+ based on apparent enzymatic activity. We demonstrate that this system can be used to support diverse redox chemistries in vitro with high total turnover number (~39,000), to channel reducing power in Escherichia coli whole cells specifically from glucose to a pharmaceutical intermediate, levodione, and to sustain the high metabolic flux required for the central carbon metabolism to support growth. Overall, this work demonstrates efficient use of a noncanonical cofactor in biocatalysis and metabolic pathway design. Redesign of a glucose dehydrogenase to use nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN+) instead of NAD(P)+ enables the development of a noncanonical cofactor system that can be used to support redox chemistries both in vitro and in Escherichia coli.
Investigation on current situation of Plasmodium microscopic examination capabilities of professional staff in medical situations in Wuxi City

Objective To investigate the capabilities of Plasmodium microscopic examinations of professional staff in medical institutions in Wuxi City, so as to provide evidences for improving malaria control and elimination work in the future. Methods The data of questionnaires for laboratorial staff in charge of Plasmodium microscopic examinations were collected and analyzed in the medical institutions in Wuxi City in 2016, and the influencing factors related to the capabilities of Plasmodium microscopic examinations were analyzed by the method of logistic regression. Results Totally 54 laboratorial workers in 54 medical institutions in Wuxi City were investigated, 16 of them were male, and 38 were female, and the ratio of male to female was 0.42:1. Among the 54 laboratorial workers, 12 persons (22.22%) had the experience of detecting Plasmodium in the work. The multivariable analysis showed the ability to detect Plasmodium was associated with male laboratorial workers (adjusted OR = 0.11, 95%CI:0.02-0.53), laboratorial workers with intermediate or higher professional titles (adjusted OR = 5.31, 95%CI: 1.04-27.19) and laboratorial workers from county and township medical institutions (adjusted OR = 0.04, 95%CI:0.01-0.98). Conclusions All of the medical institutions in Wuxi City have the capability of microscopic examinations of Plasmodium. However, the ability of laboratorial staff in primary hospitals still should be improved.
Rate-limiting pyrophosphate release by hepatitis C virus polymerase NS5B improves fidelity

The hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B is responsible for the replication of the viral genome. Previous studies have uncovered NTP-mediated excision mechanisms that may be responsible for aiding in maintaining fidelity (the frequency of incorrect incorporation events relative to correct), but little is known about the fidelity of NS5B. In this study, we used transient-state kinetics to examine the mechanistic basis for polymerase fidelity. We observe a wide range of efficiency for incorporation of various mismatched base pairs and have uncovered a mechanism in which the rate constant for pyrophosphate release is slowed for certain misincorporation events. This results in an increase in fidelity against these specific misincorporations. Furthermore, we discover that some mismatches are highly unfavorable and cannot be observed under the conditions used here. The calculated fidelity of NS5B ranges between 10-4-10-9 for different mismatches.
Smoke-free laws and disparities in secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmoking adults in the United States, 1999-2014.

Introduction Little is known about the relationship between smoke-free laws and persistent disparities in secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among nonsmoking adults in the United States. Aims and methods We constructed time-varying smoke-free law measures representing whether or not at least 50% of each US county's population was covered by smoke-free laws in workplaces and hospitality venues (restaurants/bars). We merged these data with restricted data on cotinine-derived SHS exposure among nonsmokers from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2014 (N = 25 444). Using logistic regression, we estimated associations between smoke-free law coverage and SHS exposure among all nonsmokers, and within age strata (25-39, 40-59, 60+). We explored differential associations by gender, race/ethnicity, education, and poverty-income ratio (PIR) by testing the significance of interactions terms for the full sample and within age strata. Results In adjusted models, hospitality coverage was associated with lower odds of SHS exposure in the full sample (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51-0.76), and within each age group, with ORs ranging from 0.58 (ages 25-39) to 0.67 (ages 60+). Workplace coverage was associated with lower SHS exposure only among younger adults (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.65-0.99). Within the full sample and among adults ages 40-59, hospitality laws were associated with narrowing SHS exposure differentials between males and females. Among adults ages 40-59, workplace laws were associated with narrowing exposure differentials between males and females, but worsening exposure disparities by PIR. Conclusions Smoke-free laws may reduce SHS exposure among adult nonsmokers, but may be insufficient to improve disparities in SHS exposure. Implications In a repeated cross-sectional sample of adult nonsmokers, smoke-free laws in hospitality venues were consistently associated with lower odds of SHS exposure and appeared to narrow exposure differentials between males and females. Associations between workplace smoke-free laws and SHS exposure were variable by age. Among adults ages 40-59, workplace laws were associated with narrowing exposure differentials between males and females while exacerbating exposure differentials by PIR. Differential patterns of association highlight the need to examine the impacts of tobacco control policies on downstream health equity.
An X-Ray Vision System for Situation Awareness in Action Space

Usable x-ray vision has long been a goal in augmented reality research and development. X-ray vision, or the ability to view and understand information presented through an opaque barrier, would be imminently useful across a variety of domains. Unfortunately, however, the effect of x-ray vision on situation awareness, an operator’s understanding of a task or environment, has not been significantly studied. This is an important question; if x-ray vision does not increase situation awareness, of what use is it? Thus, we have developed an x-ray vision system, in order to investigate situation awareness in the context of action space distances.
Comparison of the impact of chronic corticosteroid therapy on critical care outcomes of COVID-19 patients with and without history of chronic liver disease.

There is a paucity of studies investigating the impact of chronic corticosteroid use for coexisting conditions in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additionally, the information regarding the impact of chronic liver disease (CLD) on COVID-19 outcomes is evolving. Our study aims to investigate hospitalization outcomes of patients with COVID-19 on long term corticosteroids for coexisting conditions while also seeking to compare outcomes between such patients with a history of CLD to analyze the impact on mortality. We conducted a retrospective chart review across our 10-hospital network identifying patients on chronic corticosteroids (Prednisone ≥ 5 mg daily dose or equivalent dose of another steroid, for a duration of 30 days or more) who were hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Of these patients who met inclusion criteria, patients were then divided into groups based upon their history of CLD. Primary outcomes of the study looked to investigate the hospitalization outcomes of patients with a history of CLD and comorbid conditions requiring chronic corticosteroid use. Secondary outcomes sought to further investigate risk factors for mortality in our study sample. 837 charts were reviewed. 139 patients met inclusion criteria of which 34 patients had a history of CLD. Statistical analysis demonstrated no difference in length of hospital stay but increased ICU admission rate in the CLD group (41.2% vs 23.8%). No statistically significant difference was seen in between the CLD and non-CLD groups in term of complication rates and 28-day mortality. However, chronic corticosteroids patients were found to have higher rates of ICU admission and overall 28-day and ICU mortality in comparison to patients who were not on chronic corticosteroids prior to COVID-19 hospitalization. The larger contributor to COVID-19 severity was likely chronic corticosteroid use rather than CLD and thus chronic corticosteroid use should be limited throughout the COVID-19 pandemic especially in patients with additional speculated risk factors for COVID-19 such as CLD.
Co-occurring lotic crayfishes exhibit variable long-term responses to extreme-flow events and temperature

AbstractCrayfish serve critical roles in aquatic ecosystems as engineers, omnivores, and prey. It is unclear how increasingly frequent extreme-flow events and warming air temperatures will affect c...
An Assessment of the Eye Tracking Signal Quality Captured in the HoloLens 2.

We present an analysis of the eye tracking signal quality of the HoloLens 2s integrated eye tracker. Signal quality was measured from eye movement data captured during a random saccades task from a new eye movement dataset collected on 30 healthy adults. We characterize the eye tracking signal quality of the device in terms of spatial accuracy, spatial precision, temporal precision, linearity, and crosstalk. We are the first to measure linearity and crosstalk in the HoloLens 2. Most notably, our evaluation of spatial accuracy reveals that the eye movement data in our dataset appears to be largely uncalibrated, possibly due to the experimental conditions in which we collected our data. We also observe that recalibrating the data using our own recalibration task produces notably better eye tracking signal quality. From these findings, we discuss the possible causes of poor signal quality in our experimental setup and make recommendations for future researchers interested in using eye tracking in the HoloLens 2 for research.