cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rnd3 as a Novel Target to Ameliorate Microvascular Leakage

Background Microvascular leakage of plasma proteins is a hallmark of inflammation that leads to tissue dysfunction. There are no current therapeutic strategies to reduce microvascular permeability. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of Rnd3, an atypical Rho family GTPase, in the control of endothelial barrier integrity. The potential therapeutic benefit of Rnd3 protein delivery to ameliorate microvascular leakage was also investigated. Methods and Results Using immunofluorescence microscopy, Rnd3 was observed primarily in cytoplasmic areas around the nuclei of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate–albumin and transendothelial electrical resistance of human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers served as indices of barrier function, and RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 activities were determined using G‐LISA assays. Overexpression of Rnd3 significantly reduced the magnitude of thrombin‐induced barrier dysfunction, and abolished thrombin‐induced Rac1 inactivation. Depleting Rnd3 expression with siRNA significantly extended the time course of thrombin‐induced barrier dysfunction and Rac1 inactivation. Time‐lapse microscopy of human umbilical vein endothelial cells expressing GFP‐actin showed that co‐expression of mCherry‐Rnd3 attenuated thrombin‐induced reductions in local lamellipodia that accompany endothelial barrier dysfunction. Lastly, a novel Rnd3 protein delivery method reduced microvascular leakage in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation, assessed by both intravital microscopic observation of extravasation of fluorescein isothiocyanate–albumin from the mesenteric microcirculation, and direct determination of solute permeability in intact isolated venules. Conclusions The data suggest that Rnd3 can shift the balance of RhoA and Rac1 signaling in endothelial cells. In addition, our findings suggest the therapeutic, anti‐inflammatory potential of delivering Rnd3 to promote endothelial barrier recovery during inflammatory challenge.
Rapid identification of color additives, using the C18 cartridge: collaborative study.

Evaluation de l'efficacite de cette methode pour la separation de 8 colorants, autorises ou interdits, avec identification spectrophotometrique ou par chromatographie en couche mince. La methode est adoptee a l'essai
Immunologic evaluation of older patients.

Many methods are clinically available for studying immune function in elderly patients with immunologic disease. The selection of tests should be based on clinical evaluation of the patient, with special emphasis on past immunologic responsiveness, past exposure, and concurrent factors known to alter immunity. A review of specific physiologic systems can be especially meaningful in these patients.
Relationship between Counseling Students’ Childhood Memories and Current Negative Self-Evaluations when Receiving Corrective Feedback

This article entails a study focused on the relationship between counseling students’ negative childhood memories of receiving corrective feedback and current negative self-evaluations when receiving similar feedback in counselor education programs. Participants (N = 186) completed the Corrective Feedback Instrument-Revised (CFI-R; Hulse-Killacky and Page in Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 19, 197–210. doi: 10.1080/01933929408414365 , 1994). Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that counseling students’ negative childhood memories were associated with their current negative self-evaluations when receiving corrective feedback. Findings, implications and future research recommendations are discussed for the purpose of enhancing counselor education learning environments.
Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis

This chapter discusses the epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (AiCAH). AiCAH is characterized by chronic aggressive hepatitis with or without cirrhosis, high concentrations of serum immunoglobulins, and the presence of non-organ specific autoantibodies. The etiology of AiCAH is unknown. A genetically determined defect in immunoregulation, similar to that occurring in other immune-mediated disorders, is thought to play a part in pathogenesis. Evidence for such a defect initially takes the form of high serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and of high titers of non-organ specific autoantibodies in both patients and their close relatives. Chronic hepatitis may present with features of an acute hepatitis; namely, anorexia, malaise, nausea and vomiting, proceeding to jaundice with dark urine and pale stools. A large, hard liver, splenomegaly, ascites or cutaneous manifestations of liver disease such as spider angiomata and palmar erythema should suggest the diagnosis even if the duration of symptoms is short and the onset apparently acute. Some rapidly develop acute hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of treatment is to induce clinical and biochemical remission while avoiding side effects from steroids.
A Brief History of the Salem Witchcraft Phenomenon

This chapter provides a brief history of the Salem witchcraft hysteria, which began shortly after Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams and other Salem Village girls began, during the winter of 1691–1692, spending time with Tituba, Reverend Samuel Parris’ Caribbean slave who taught them the basics of sorcery, voodoo and magic. When these girls began exhibiting symptoms of a serious illness, Salem-area clergy and others interpreted their symptoms and reactions as witchcraft, thrusting the Village into a series of trials and executions carrying into September of 1692, ultimately resulting in the death of 20 people. At that point, the Colony’s governor interceded and halted the legal proceedings surrounding the witchcraft hysteria.
White Skin, Black Friend

Fanon’s (1967) psychoanalytic investigation of Blackness posits a psychosocial condition whereby Blacks are forced to wear white masks in order to survive the neurotic and irrational state of whiteness. “It was up to the white1 man to be more irrational than I,” Fanon declares (p. 123), and thus renders whiteness a condition wherein Whites are “incapable of straight thinking” (p. 85).
Does Wine Price Percent Change Relate to an Expert Third Party Opinion? A Quick Look at One of the Gurus of Wine Ratings—An Abstract

Previous research has looked at several gurus of wine ratings and the relationship between their rating and price in French, New Zealand, and other geographic markets (Horowitz 2002; Ali 2008). Yet, to the author’s knowledge, Robert Parker remains conspicuously absent in some areas of statistical inquiry, given his high level of prominence in the wine ratings industry. This paper examines the empirical support for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate’s wine ratings relationship with price percentage change in domestic wines produced in 2011. Utilizing the hedonic price function and signal theory, Robert Parker’s wine rating, in addition to several control variables, is empirically analyzed in a study utilizing over 800 observations.
Improving Human Interfaces for Commercial Camera Drone Systems

This project reports on a pilot study investigating both the opportunities for improvement, and the dangers present, in the currently available human interfaces used to operate commercial camera drones. Nine participants completed flight operation missions in six experimental configurations, using two different drones, operated using line of sight, live camera-feed on a tablet, and through a first-person view headset designed for use by drone racers. Qualitative and quantitative methods explore the risks for damage and injury posed by current system design, and identify areas of potential improvement.
Hybrid geometrical-optical radiative-transfer model for the directional reflectance of discontinuous vegetation canopies

A new model for the bidirectional reflectance of a vegetation cover combines principles of geometric optics and radiative transfer. It relies on gap probabilities and path length distributions to model the penetration of irradiance from a parallel source and the single and multiple scattering of that irradiance in the direction of an observer. The model applies to vegetation covers of discrete plant crowns that are randomly centered both on the plane and within a layer of variable thickness above it. Crowns assume a spheroidal shape with arbitrary height to width ratio. Geometric optics easily models the irradiance that penetrates the vegetation cover directly, is scattered by the soil, and exits without further scattering by the vegetation. Within a plant crown, the probability of scattering is a negative exponential function of path length. Within-crown scattering provides the source for singly-scattered radiation, which exits with probabilities proportional to further path-length distributions in the direction of exitance (including the hotspot effect). Single scattering provides the source for double scattering, and then higher order pairs of scattering are solved successively by a convolution function. As an early exercise in validation, the model is applied to an open jack pine canopy and ground-level irradiance is predicted with good accuracy.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Medial Collateral Injury in the Young, Nonprofessional Athlete: Surgical Repair

Injuries to the medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) have traditionally been treated with reconstructive methods aimed at recreating medial elbow stability. At our practice in Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of overhead athletes have been treated with UCL reconstruction regardless of the injury severity or the patient being treated. Reconstruction techniques include autograft harvest and implantation at the native UCL origin and insertion. Rehabilitation, graft maturation, and return to play can take anywhere from 12-18 months on average. We have experienced excellent long-term outcomes with 84% return to play at the same or higher level at an average of 11.4 months. of UCL injuries has reached near epidemic proportions with a fiercely competitive youth baseball culture in America. The number of UCL reconstructions at our institution alone nearly tripled at the youth and high school level between 1998 and 2008. The young, nonprofessional athletic population accounts for a significant number of UCL injuries being managed nation wide each year, and until recently, with a gold standard ligament reconstruction approach. With advancements in suture anchor technology we began to ask whether the severity of injury or patient characteristics, such as end-avulsions in the young athlete, called for alternative fixation methods. This led us to create a novel repair and augmentation construct that involved suture fixation of the avulsed native UCL to bone followed by reinforcement of the ligament along its entirety.is our recommendation that patients identified as candidates for UCL repair have intraoperative confirmation of ligament end-avulsions or partial thickness tears with minimal midsubstance damage. This article highlights our criteria for patient selection and reviews our newly described technique of repair.
Adenosine pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion tomographic imaging in patients with significant aortic stenosis : diagnostic efficacy and comparison of clinical, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic variables with 100 age-matched control subjects

Abstract Objectives. This study assessed the safety and diagnostic accuracy of adenosine stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy for the detection of coronary artery disease using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with significant aortic stenosis. Background. Exercise cardiac stress testing in patients with significant aortic stenosis is generally avoided because of concerns for safety. In addition, those studies that have analyzed the utility of exercise testing both with and without myocardial thallium-201 scintigraphy for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease have yielded low specificity. Currently, no safe and accurate means exists to noninvasively assess the presence, extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with significant aortic stenosis. Methods. The study included 35 patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis (mean [±SD] aortic valve area 0.84 ± 0.16 cm2, range 0.5 to 1.2; mean maximal instantaneous aortic valve gradient 44.4 ± 15.9 mm Hg, range 20 to 84). All patients underwent a 6-min adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg body weight per min) protocol and either separate acquisition rest thallium-201/stress technetium-99m sestamibi or stress and 4-h redistribution thallium-201 SPECT. Visual 20-segment SPECT analysis used a standard five-point scoring system from 0 (normal tracer uptake) to 4 (absent uptake). The SPECT results were considered abnormal if more than two segments had a stress score ≥2. Hemodynamic, electrocardiographic and clinical responses were compared with those in a reference group of 100 consecutive age-matched patients undergoing adenosine SPECT who did not have aortic stenosis. Results. Hemodynamic responses during adenosine stress testing between the study and control patients demonstrated no significant difference in the net change in systolic blood pressure (18% of baseline vs. 14%, patients with aortic stenosis vs. control subjects), heart rate (21% vs. 19%), rate-pressure product (0% vs. 2%) or incidence of chest pain (23% vs. 35%) or transient second- (9% vs. 9%) or third-degree atrioventricular block (3% vs. 1%). In the 20 patients who had coronary angiography, sensitivity for detection of coronary artery disease was 92% (12 of 13) and specificity was 71% (5 of 7). Conclusions. In this preliminary study, adenosine was found to be well tolerated and diagnostically accurate in patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis.
Analysis of Degenerate Diffusion Operators Arising in Population Biology

In this chapter, we describe our recent work on the analytic foundations for the study of degenerate diffusion equations which arise as the infinite population limits of standard models in population genetics. Our principal results concern existence, uniqueness, and regularity of solutions when the data belong to anisotropic Holder spaces, adapted to the degeneracy of these operators. These results suffice to prove the existence of a strongly continuous \({\mathcal{C}}^{0}\)-semigroup. The details of the definitions and complete proofs of these results can be found in [8].
Linking Landsat to terrestrial LiDAR: Vegetation metrics of forest greenness are correlated with canopy structural complexity

Abstract Vegetation metrics derived from satellite imagery provide continuous and large spatial-scale measurements that are critical for interpreting and predicting ecosystem function. However, uncertainty still remains as to the precise structural information that could be estimated from these metrics. Landsat-derived metrics provide pixel measurements of vegetation across the landscape, whereas Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) provides multidimensional data on the vertical arrangement of forests. Terrestrial LiDAR metrics of structural complexity describe the arrangement of vegetation in the canopy, and could be coupled with Landsat-derived metrics through their influence on energy and light. Linking Landsat to terrestrial LiDAR estimates of canopy structure could expand the interpretation of Landsat-derived metrics and broaden the spatial scale at which structural complexity can be evaluated. Here, we examined associations between Landsat-derived metrics and terrestrial LiDAR measurements of structural complexity. Structural complexity measurements were obtained with terrestrial LiDAR from plots within eight forested NEON sites across eastern North America. Vegetation metrics (NDVI, EVI, tasseled cap metrics) were calculated for corresponding locations from Landsat 8 satellite imagery. Results showed that canopy reflectance, greenness and brightness, were linked with several measures of canopy structure. Higher levels of greenness were associated with stands having a taller canopy, greater leaf area density and variability, and a less open and porous canopy. Among greenness metrics, NDVI was most strongly correlated with structural complexity metrics (adj. R2 = 0.52 – 0.62 for six metrics). Additionally, we found that a brighter canopy was associated with greater leaf area density and variability, canopy cover, porosity, and lower leaf clumping. Our results demonstrated the potential for large-spatial extent estimates of structural complexity using satellite imagery, and may lead to improved predictions of forest ecosystem functioning such as those predicted in “big leaf” ecosystem models.
Epidemiology of boxing-related upper extremity injuries in the United States.

Objective: The incidence of boxing-related upper-extremity (UE) injuries in the United States has not been well characterized. Recent rule changes have been made to make participation safer for ath...
Overview of High-Energy X-Ray Diffraction Microscopy (HEDM) for Mesoscale Material Characterization in Three-Dimensions

Over the past two decades, several non-destructive techniques have been developed at various light sources for characterizing polycrystalline materials microstructure in three-dimensions (3D) and under various in-situ thermo-mechanical conditions. High-energy X-ray diffraction microscopy (HEDM) is one of the non-destructive techniques that facilitates 3D microstructure measurements at the mesoscale. Mainly, two variations of HEDM techniques are widely used: (1) Near-field (nf) and (2) far-field (ff) which are employed for non-destructive measurements of spatially resolved orientation (\(\sim \)1.5 \(\upmu \)m and 0.01\(^\circ \)), grain resolved orientation, and elastic strain tensor (\(\sim \)10\(^{-3}\)–10\(^{-4}\)) from representative volume elements (RVE) with hundreds of bulk grains in the measured microstructure (mm\(^{3}\)). To date HEDM has been utilized to study variety of material systems under quasi-static conditions, while tracking microstructure evolution. This has revealed new physical mechanisms that were previously not observed through destructive testing and characterization. Furthermore, measured 3D microstructural evolution data obtained from HEDM are valuable for informing, developing, and validating microstructure aware models for accurate material property predictions. A path forward entails utilizing HEDM for initial material characterization for enabling microstructure evolution measurements under dynamic conditions.
Drosophila Orthologues to Human Disease Genes: An Update on Progress

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a broader view of the state of human disease modeling in Drosophila melanogaster and discusses new directions in the study of the genetic basis of human disorders in flies. The Drosophila classical genetics powerhouse, in combination with rapidly developing genomic and postgenomic tools, accelerates the identification and characterization of gene networks. Because the molecular mechanisms controlling a variety of physiological pathways are largely conserved between flies and humans, flies are quite useful in modeling a variety of human diseases. These include nervous system disorders, cancer, immune responses, elements of the cardiovascular system, and many more. Possibly the most successful area of human neurological disease modeling in Drosophila is the models of polyglutamine tract repeat disorders. The fly eye is an excellent readout for polyglutamine tract repeat disorders, like such as Huntington's disease and the spinocerebellar ataxias. In both conditions, there is a critical threshold of polyglutamine repeats that must be reached before a clinical presentation is observed. In flies, the expression of the human Huntingtin protein or the SCA3/MJD protein, containing the clinically relevant number of repeats, leads to the degeneration of photoreceptor neurons.
The Epidemiology of Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: An Update

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is known to be higher in patients with malignancy as compared with the general population. It is important to understand and review the epidemiology of VTE in cancer patients because it has implications regarding treatment and prognosis. Multiple studies have shown that cancer patients who develop VTE are at higher risk for mortality. This article will focus on an update regarding the epidemiology of cancer-associated thrombosis (CT). The authors will describe factors associated with CT risk including cancer type and stage at the time of diagnosis, race and ethnicity, and cancer-directed therapy. In addition, recurrent thrombosis and the effect of thromboembolism on survival in cancer patients will also be addressed.
MMP-2 downregulation abrogates radiation-induced G2-M arrest by inhibiting FoxM1 transcription factor mediated Chk2 and p53 expression

412 Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is known to degrade collagen-IV of basement membranes, and overexpression of MMP-2 is involved in radiation-induced lung injury. We observed that radiation increased MMP-2 mRNA, protein and activity in lung cancer cells. We therefore investigated the anti-tumor effects of combining MMP-2 inhibition using an adenovirus expressing siRNA against MMP-2 (Ad-MMP-2) with irradiation (IR) on A549 lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We studied a combination response of MMP-2 inhibition and IR as determined by cell survival by clonogenic assay, cell-cycle analysis by flow cytometry, and by assessment of apoptosis level by TUNEL staining in vitro. We demonstrated that MMP-2 inhibition prevented IR-induced p53 up-regulation and p53 phosphorylation on serine 20, a site previously identified for Chk2 (or/and Chk1) kinase. Irradiated tumor cells induced FOXM1 mediated DNA repair gene XRCC1, Checkpoint-2 and p53, which were abrogated with combined treatment of Ad-MMP-2 and IR as determined by western blotting. Further, A549 xenograft tumors treated with combined Ad-MMP-2 and IR showed significantly greater growth inhibition than tumors treated with IR alone. These studies suggest that MMP-2 inhibition in combination with radiotherapy can inhibit DNA repair mechanism induced by radiation and provide evidence of the antitumor efficacy of combining MMP-2 inhibition with ionizing radiation as a new therapeutic strategy for the effective treatment of NSCLC patients.
Vocal Fold Scar

Connective tissue repair involves a well-orchestrated cascade of events which progresses through four distinct yet overlapping phases: (1) homeostasis, (2) inflammation, (3) proliferation, and (4) maturation. Pathological scarring occurs when some aspect of the healing cascade is disrupted or continues unchecked. Children and adolescents who present with chronic vocal fold scarring frequently have extensive and complex medical histories. Those at particular risk for developing vocal fold scar include individuals with a history of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, prolonged intubation and/or upper airway reconstruction, laryngeal web, mass lesions involving the vocal ligament, and—while rare—laryngeal cancer. Current treatment options may not be completely effective in recovering premorbid vocal function; however, early voice therapy is critical for developing optimal voice behaviors and preventing the development of negative compensatory strategies. Surgical interventions have been developed to release scarred tissues and improve vibratory function, and emerging research in tissue regeneration to restore the premorbid structure of the lamina propria is promising and may provide an effective treatment for a challenging disorder.
To pursue the blessings of prosperity: Economic reductionism and higher education reform, 1983-1988

ion/' By analyzing the language of the reform documents, a general belief system of the participants can be constructed. The sociology of knowledge is an established discipline that has been previously used in the analysis of education as a social institution.^ That economic reductionism is a belief system existing to perpetuate the self-interests of the panels is assumed. At a cursory level, the self interest of the panels being served are twofold. One, there is a belief that the American standard of living will decrease if immediate action is not taken. Economic competition becomes a key factor for higher education reform in this belief. Two, a perception of a dwindling white middle class necessitates the inclusion and full participation of racial minorities in American middle class life. This belief is founded on that America can no longer afford to exclude racial minorities from education. If the white middle class standard of living is to be protected, then minorities must be included to protect and perpetuate the structure of existing services, national prosperity and national security needs. In the interest of presenting a contained piece of research, deep, sustained exploration of this self-interest is a topic best left for further study. Economic reductionism may be harmonious with the interests of the individuals 49. Kei th Dixon, The Sociology of Belief: Fallacy and Foundation (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1980). 50. Suzanne Hildenbrand, "Democracy's Aristocrat: The Gifted Child in America, 1910-1969" (Ph.D. diss., University of California, Berkeley, 1978) vii. Studies the argument that the future leaders must be identified early and prepared for leadership roles.
The Effect of Tracheal Fluid Culture Sampling Method and Culture Results on Antibiotic Use in Neonates

Objective As part of quality improvement effort to decrease antibiotic use for presumed pneumonia (PNA) in our neonatal intensive care unit, we introduced minibronchoalveolar lavage (mBAL) to obtain culture specimens. We evaluated the effect of tracheal sampling method and culture results on antibiotic use. Methods We performed a retrospective review of culture results of samples obtained by tracheal aspirates (TAs) and mBAL between January 2017 and April 2018. Noting the time cultures were obtained, we reviewed the records to determine if the patients met the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for PNA and evaluated culture results and antibiotic treatment practice. Fisher's exact and Mann–Whitney's tests when appropriate were used for the analysis. Results Thirty-five (35) mBAL (on 21 patients) and 42 TAs (on 39 patients) were done prior to antibiotic therapy. The tests were done at similar median day of life in both groups (mBAL 55 days and TA 62 days). The frequencies of positive culture were similar in both groups (mBAL 60% and TA 57%). At the time of obtaining the sample, more mBAL patients met the CDC criteria for PNA (mBAL 54% and TA 26%). Antibiotic days and duration of antibiotic treatment were significantly higher in the mBAL group compared with the TA group. In patient with no clinical PNA, antibiotic days were significantly higher in those with positive cultures (which more likely reflect colonizing microbes) than those with negative cultures and were also higher in the mBAL group than in the TA group. There was a significant increase in the frequency of positive cultures in patients with longer hospital stay. Conclusion Our results show that tracheal cultures on sick neonates with no clinical PNA and with long hospital stay might contribute to unnecessary antibiotic use regardless of the tracheal sampling method.
Sex-Based Differences in Optimal Tunnel Placement for Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction.

Background:Tunnel placement is important for outcomes after acromioclavicular (AC) joint reconstruction, yet little has been written on sex-based differences in optimal tunnel positioning.Hypothesi...
Cortical Windows in Stereocaulon

Green algal photosynthetic units in the genus Stereocaulon (phyllocladia or areoles) are typically white to pale gray, but certain species develop a darker central portion. Structurally, these dark-centered areoles of crustose Stereocaulon are identical to the phyllocladia of the S. vesuvianum group. The dark-centered photosynthetic units may have an adaptive role, separating tissue for gas exchange from tissue for water uptake and light transmission. I hypothesize that the white portions of cortex on the photosynthetic units have reflective extracellular deposits that optically occlude the cortex but allow gas exchange through hydrophobic air channels. In contrast, the dark centers apparently provide transparent and water-transmissive windows into the algal layer through an otherwise relatively opaque cortex. Cortical windows are apparently unusual in lichens and may be an adaptation to provide gas exchange in cold, wet environments. For crustose species, the areoles often protrude from a thin film of water over rock and the dual cortex appears to provide both light transmission and gas exchange. Similarly, for the S. vesuvianum group, the dual cortex may provide light transmission and gas exchange for water-saturated thalli in oceanic environments.
Microfluidic rheology of methylcellulose solutions in hyperbolic contractions and the effect of salt in shear and extensional flows.

Methylcellulose solutions are known to form microfibrils at elevated temperatures or in the presence of salt. The fibrils have a significant impact on the solution's rheological properties. Here, the shear and extensional properties of methylcellulose solutions with added salt are measured using hyperbolic microfluidic channels, allowing for new characterization at lower molecular weights and higher shear and strain rates that are difficult to access by macroscale rheology studies. 1 and 2 wt% methylcellulose solutions with molecular weight of 150 kg mol−1 with NaCl content between 0 to 5 wt% have been characterized. All solutions were found to be shear thinning, with power law thinning behavior at shear rates above 100 s−1. The addition of NaCl up to 5 wt% had only small effects on shear viscosity at the shear rates probed (100 s−1 and 10 000 s−1). Extensional viscosities as low as 0.02 Pa s were also measured. Unlike the results for shear viscosity, the addition of 5 wt% NaCl caused significant changes in extensional viscosity, increasing by up to 10 times, depending on extension rate. Additionally, all solutions tested showed apparent extensional thinning in the high strain rate regime (>100 s−1), which has not been reported in other studies of methylcellulose solutions. These findings may provide insight for those using methylcellulose solutions in process designs involving extensional flows over a wide range of strain rates.
Application of fast track surgery in acute abdomen surgery

Objective To investigate the feasibility of fast-track surgery (FTS) in acute abdomen surgery.Methods A total of 160 patients with acute abdomen received operation in the First Hospital of Shangqiu City from March 2004 to July 2007 were randomized into two groups.Patients in FTS group were treated under the new concept of FTS and the patients in control group were treated with the traditional methods of operation.The time of the first flatus and the defecation,the incidence of nausea,vomit,and complication,and the total cost during hospitalization were compared,respectively.Results Compared with control group,FTS group was associated with shorter postoperative hospital stay[ (7.4 ± 0.5) d and ( 10.3 ± 0.7 ) d],less medical cost [ (4235 ± 231 ) yuan and(5731 ± 211 ) yuan] and intraoperative hemorrhage as well as earlier postoperative passage of flatus,and less rate of overall complications ( t =3.78,5.78,2.45,2.47,50.16,13.20,5.71,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).There was no difference in operative duration between the two groups ( t =0.85,P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions The application of FTS in the patients with acute abdomen can accelerate recovery of gastrointestinal function,reduce the rate of complications and total cost during hospitalization,shorten postoperative hospital stay and improve patients' satisfaction. Key words: Fast track surgery; Acute abdomen; Gastrointestinal function; Nursing
Methods for Endoscope Reprocessing.

Over the past 2 decades, in hospital centers worldwide, there have been numerous outbreaks of multidrug-resistant organisms that have since been attributed to endoscopic transmission of the infections between patients, primarily from duodenoscopes. These outbreaks have focused the attention of endoscope manufacturers, professional societies, and regulatory agencies on improving the reprocessing of these devices. The key steps in this process are point-of-use precleaning, leak testing, manual cleaning, high-level disinfection, and finally drying and storage. The promise of these initial efforts suggest that the aim of minimizing and ultimately eliminating events of endoscope-/duodenoscope-associated transmission of infectious organisms between patients can be achieved.
Deep Immune Profiling of MIS-C demonstrates marked but transient immune activation compared to adult and pediatric COVID-19

Pediatric COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with fewer hospitalizations and often milder disease than in adults. A subset of children, however, present with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) that can lead to vascular complications and shock, but rarely death. The immune features of MIS-C compared to pediatric COVID-19 or adult disease remain poorly understood. We analyzed peripheral blood immune responses in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected pediatric patients (pediatric COVID-19) and patients with MIS-C. MIS-C patients had patterns of T cell-biased lymphopenia and T cell activation similar to severely ill adults, and all patients with MIS-C had SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies at admission. A distinct feature of MIS-C patients was robust activation of vascular patrolling CX3CR1+ CD8 T cells that correlated with use of vasoactive medication. Finally, whereas pediatric COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had sustained immune activation, MIS-C patients displayed clinical improvement over time, concomitant with decreasing immune activation. Thus, non-MIS-C versus MIS-C SARS-CoV-2 associated illnesses are characterized by divergent immune signatures that are temporally distinct and implicate CD8 T cells in clinical presentation and trajectory of MIS-C.
Application of a Range-Doppler Algorithm to Frequency-Domain Beamforming of Ultrasound Signals

Software implementation of frequency-domain beamforming has become increasingly popular for fast imaging using ultrasound arrays. Stolt migration, which focuses aperture data in a 2-D frequency domain, has been adapted to ultrasound imaging, and can reduce beamforming time by up to two orders of magnitude compared to conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming. However, processing data in a 2-D frequency domain can require more memory to achieve sufficient accuracy and avoid interpolation errors. Here, we describe and apply the Range Doppler Algorithm (RDA) to focus ultrasound signals. RDA was first proposed for fast beamforming of monostatic data in radar remote sensing. RDA achieves image-reconstruction speed similar to Stolt migration, while all operations are done in one dimension at a time, allowing for efficient and intuitive implementation. Through simulation and phantom experiments, we show that RDA achieves similar image quality as DAS, while increasing the reconstruction speed by approximately a factor of 10.
Analysis goals, error-cost sensitivity, and analysis hacking: Essential considerations in hypothesis testing and multiple comparisons.

The "replication crisis" has been attributed to perverse incentives that lead to selective reporting and misinterpretations of P-values and confidence intervals. A crude fix offered for this problem is to lower testing cut-offs (α levels), either directly or in the form of null-biased multiple comparisons procedures such as naive Bonferroni adjustments. Methodologists and statisticians have expressed positions that range from condemning all such procedures to demanding their application in almost all analyses. Navigating between these unjustifiable extremes requires defining analysis goals precisely enough to separate inappropriate from appropriate adjustments. To meet this need, I here review issues arising in single-parameter inference (such as error costs and loss functions) that are often skipped in basic statistics, yet are crucial to understanding controversies in testing and multiple comparisons. I also review considerations that should be made when examining arguments for and against modifications of decision cut-offs and adjustments for multiple comparisons. The goal is to provide researchers a better understanding of what is assumed by each side and to enable recognition of hidden assumptions. Basic issues of goal specification and error costs are illustrated with simple fixed cut-off hypothesis testing scenarios. These illustrations show how adjustment choices are extremely sensitive to implicit decision costs, making it inevitable that different stakeholders will vehemently disagree about what is necessary or appropriate. Because decisions cannot be justified without explicit costs, resolution of inference controversies is impossible without recognising this sensitivity. Pre-analysis statements of funding, scientific goals, and analysis plans can help counter demands for inappropriate adjustments, and can provide guidance as to what adjustments are advisable. Hierarchical (multilevel) regression methods (including Bayesian, semi-Bayes, and empirical-Bayes methods) provide preferable alternatives to conventional adjustments, insofar as they facilitate use of background information in the analysis model, and thus can provide better-informed estimates on which to base inferences and decisions.
Longevity of Large Aortic Allograft Conduits in Tetralogy With Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals.

Abstract Background Appropriate conduit selection for right ventricle (RV)-to-pulmonary artery (PA) connection has been extensively studied, with older implantation age, pulmonary (vs aortic) homografts, and true sizing associated with increased longevity. Notably, patients with PA arborization abnormalities (ie, major aortopulmonary collateral arteries [MAPCAs]) are reported to require earlier and more frequent conduit interventions. We aim to understand the behavior of large-diameter aortic homografts in patients with MAPCAs, which are programmatically utilized at our institution. Methods This is a single-center retrospective cohort study including all children less than 12 years of age who underwent RV-PA connection using an aortic homograft greater than or equal to 16 mm diameter between 2002 and 2019, with a primary outcome of freedom from any RV-PA reintervention and a secondary outcome of freedom from surgical reintervention. Patients were grouped by absolute and indexed conduit sizes for further analysis. Results A total of 336 conduits were followed for a median of 3.0 years; transcatheter (n = 30) or surgical (n = 35) reintervention was performed on 64 conduits. Estimated freedom from reintervention and surgical replacement was 84% and 90% at 5 years. Younger age and smaller absolute conduit size were associated with earlier reintervention, but conduit Z-score (median 3.5) was not associated with outcome. Conclusions The programmatic use of oversized aortic homograft RV-PA conduits in the surgical repair of MAPCAs provides a focused experience that demonstrates similar longevity to reported best alternatives. Secondarily, conduit oversizing may improve durability and enables an increased likelihood of nonoperative reintervention.
“Black Box Justice”: Robot Judges and AI-based Judgment Processes in China’s Court System

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been widely adopted in China’s court system to improve work efficiency to better serve the public. This paper evaluates the three stages of how AI is transforming China’s court system: from being a simple auxiliary tool, performing basic tasks through reconciliation of case and trial information; to assisting judges in decision-making by providing recommendations via the AI’s ability to learn from past precedent and standardized evidence review; and finally, to developing into autonomous agents able to take charge of the court and make judgments as robot judges. However, public skepticism around the credibility of the so-called “black box” of AI algorithms in ensuring fair judgment and achieving justice is escalating, with the concern that efficiency does not guarantee effectiveness or ensure public interest. This paper aims to analyze “black box” issues in each stage and demonstrates why China’s effort to pursue AI as an innovative technical practice to realize judicial fairness should take complex social and ethical contexts into consideration. In order to serve for public good in China’s court system, the new technology must ensure its representation of human values and include public participation.
The Pueblo Bonito mounds: Formation history, architectural context and representational fields

Abstract There are two large mounds comprised of enormous quantities of construction debris and discarded household debris associated with rapid growth of the Pueblo Bonito great house in Chaco Canyon between ca. CE 1040 and 1100. There is some debate among specialists as to whether these features were expedient refuse middens or constructed platform mounds or something in between, and thus whether they index political processes linked to control of labor by elites. Although originally investigated by archaeologists between 1896 and 1927, this study presents the first detailed formation history for each mound, based on recent fieldwork by the University of New Mexico. We argue that the mounds were not the product of institutionalized political power as assumed for platform mounds in other parts of North America but rather reflect local landscape changes associated with complex social negotiations during a period of rapid social transformation.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: Simulation of drug information skills in the medical information department

Purpose: To utilise DIcipher, an escape-room challenge, to provide a simulation of using drug information (DI) skills to answer drug questions in the medical information (MI) department within the pharmaceutical industry. Methods: The 15-minute challenge required the groups to solve one clue and retrieve DI questions about iron deficiency anaemia. DI resources were used to search for answers to unlock a box with the antidote. A debriefing session followed and a Likert scale survey was administered to obtain student perception. Results: A total of 15 second to fourth year pharmacy students at university participated in the challenge and completed the survey. No groups retrieved the antidote by answering all of the questions correctly. All students agreed that the challenge provided a realistic view of how to apply DI skills in an industry-based setting. Conclusion: This challenge demonstrated the function of a pharmacist in the MI department to pharmacy students.
Small-area moving ratios and the spatial connectivity of neighborhoods: Insights from consumer credit data:

Communities share challenges with the neighborhoods to which former residents move and the neighborhoods from which new residents arrive. A lack of migration data for small geographic areas, howeve...
Excitation codebook design for coding of the singing voice

The technique of code excited linear prediction (CELP) has led to the development of voice coding systems that provide toll quality speech at very low bitrates. While speech and singing share many similarities in terms of production, standard speech coding implementations fall far short when transmitting the singing voice. This paper explores the reasons for this discrepancy and suggests new variations on CELP speech coders that specifically enhance the quality of encoded singing for individual singers. These modifications could be used in a low-bitrate singing voice codec which, in conjunction with multi-track structured coding schemes such as MPEG-4 structured audio, could provide a highly compressed yet high-quality representation of a complex audio scene.
Robust signal-to-noise ratio estimation based on waveform amplitude distribution analysis.

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm for estimating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of speech signals, called WADA-SNR (Waveform Amplitude Distribution Analysis). In this algorithm we assume that the amplitude distribution of clean speech can be approximated by the Gamma distribution with a shaping parameter of 0.4, and that an additive noise signal is Gaussian. Based on this assumption, we can estimate the SNR by examining the amplitude distribution of the noise-corrupted speech. We evaluate the performance of the WADA-SNR algorithm on databases corrupted by white noise, background music, and interfering speech. The WADA-SNR algorithm shows significantly less bias and less variability with respect to the type of noise compared to the standard NIST STNR algorithm. In addition, the algorithm is quite computationally efficient. Index Terms : SNR estimation, Gamma distribution, Gaussian distribution 1. Introduction The estimation of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) has been extensively investigated for decades and it is still an active field of research (
Timing residential photovoltaic investments in the presence of demand uncertainties

Abstract As investment in residential photovoltaic systems is increasing at a rapid pace, it is important to investigate whether delaying or otherwise timing these investments can maximize long term investment gains. Conventional financial analysis methods for evaluating investment decisions in solar-electric system are all based on a one-time installation of the PV systems and cannot be applied to analyze the benefit of delayed and staged investment. Such benefits could be declining costs of PV systems thus tempting investors to hold off and wait for a better moment to invest. This paper proposes a decision making framework using the real option method to analyze the optimum time to invest in a residential PV system in different scenarios. A reference residential house is used to test the effect of different investment strategies. The results show the type of staged investment of installing residential PV system that maximizes the long-term payoff. This reveals when the option to delay investment is preferred. The supporting source code and data are available for download at https://github.com/reisiga2/SolarPanelInvestment .
A reason to believe: Examining the factors that determine individual views on global warming

Objectives. In this article we examine the causes of both belief and disbelief in global warming among adult Americans. Methods. We use national- and state-level telephone surveys to collect data on individual-level beliefs regarding climate change and employ ordered logistical regression to measures the relative effect of various factors on those beliefs. Results. The study finds that U.S. views on climate change are being shaped by a combination of personal observations, meteorological events, and physical changes on the planet. The impact of various factors on one's belief in global warming are significantly determined by partisan affiliation, with Democrats and Republicans responding differently to assorted types of evidence. Conclusion. Beliefs regarding global warming are being shaped by individual experiences and weather phenomenon and the processing of such factors is substantially influenced by a person's partisan leanings.