cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The evolution of treatment guidelines for diabetic nephropathy. Strategies integrate JNC VI, more recent protocols

In recent years, new drug development and late-breaking research data have put treatment guidelines for diabetic nephropathy in a state of flux. In particular, trials of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), coupled with enhanced understanding of the renin-angiotensin pathway, have influenced recommendations for patient care. Here, Dr Bakris highlights both the steadfast features and the recent refinements of treatment guidelines for diabetic nephropathy. He describes their backing in research findings and outlines practical antihypertensive and renoprotective therapies to curtail risks of nephropathy and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes.
Neurologic Applications of Interventional Radiology

The development of radiographically controlled interventional procedures directed at neurologic disease can be attributed to improved fluoroscopic and catheterization equipment, new angiographic techniques, continued refinement of embolic materials, and the drive and determination of individual physicians over the past 25 years. In this article, the authors present a comprehensive review of the use of interventional radiology in neurology.
Is It Time to Rethink Postgraduate Training Requirements for Licensure

Approaches to postgraduate medical training have evolved substantially in recent years, reflecting the complexity of the educational mission. Residency programs seek to produce clinicians who achieve board certification as an attestation of their competency. Certification criteria are established by the American Board of Medical Specialties, are consistent from state to state, and include periods of supervised instruction ranging from as few as three years (for primary care specialties) to much longer for selected disciplines. In contrast, minimum postgraduate training criteria necessary for licensure as an independent practitioner are established by state medical boards and vary significantly among and within jurisdictions. In most states, licenses can be granted to individuals who have completed as little as one year of postgraduate training. The discrepancy between the minimum time commitment necessary to become a competent physician and that to be licensed as an independent practitioner has implications for health care quality and safety. Data are lacking as to the number of licenses issued nationally to individuals who have only partially completed residency training and the nature of practices they pursue. Extrapolating from available evidence, these individuals may very well provide care inferior to those who have satisfied training requirements for certification eligibility and be more prone to problematic behavior resulting in disciplinary action. Efforts to establish more rigorous licensure criteria will require dialog between members of the academic community, professional organizations, state medical boards, and legislatures. The recently proposed Interstate Medical Licensure Compact may serve as a prototype for achieving this goal.
Can a comprehensive code of conduct discourage incivility in nursing students

This article discusses problems associated with incivility in nursing education and a proposed implementation strategy designed to decrease uncivil acts of student behavior. Like most colleges across the nation, this nursing program was experiencing an increase in acts of student incivility. Incivility, also called bullying, may include behaviors such as name calling, side conversations, and condescending language. The sample consisted of 94 third-semester nursing students and 6 faculty members. The Incivility in Nursing Education survey was used as a tool to measure student and faculty perceptions. Data from pre- and postimplementation surveys demonstrated scientific evidence of both faculty and student perception and a significant decrease in acts of uncivil behavior in the nursing program. Because the study was limited to one nursing program and included only third-semester nursing students, the results of the study may not be transferable to all nursing programs. The study revealed a reduction in perceived uncivil acts of behavior in the nursing program by faculty and students.
Age-related differences in the timing aspect of lumbopelvic rhythm during trunk motion in the sagittal plane.

Abstract Forward bending and backward return of the human trunk in the sagittal plane are associated with a specific lumbopelvic rhythm, which consists of magnitude and timing aspects. In this study, the age-related differences in the timing aspect of lumbopelvic rhythm were investigated using the continuous relative phase method. Specifically, the mean absolute relative phase (MARP) between the thoracic and pelvic motions as well as variation in MARP under repetitive motions, denoted by deviation phase (DP), were characterized in sixty participants between 20 and 70 years old. MARP and DP were determined for trunk forward bending and backward return tasks with self-selected slow and fast paces. The MARP and DP were both smaller ( p = 0.003, p p p
Chapter 5 – The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute: Current Approach to Funding Clinical Research and Future Directions

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was created in 2010 to fund patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) that evaluates interventions currently used in clinical practice to address questions of importance to patients and other stakeholders. PCORI requires that patients and other stakeholders be engaged as active contributors in the research process so that the evidence generated is truly helpful to these end users. PCORI developed five national priority areas to guide its research funding and works with its Methodology Committee to establish Methodology Standards for robust clinical research. PCORI also encourages investigators to make their research pragmatic and as closely integrated within clinical practice as possible. The institute has launched a national patient-centered clinical research network, commonly referred to as PCORnet, to support the more efficient conduct of patient-centered CER. Through these efforts, PCORI is changing the way clinical research is done and is assisting the United States in becoming a learning health-care system.
The Sputnik of servgoods: Autonomous vehicles

In an earlier paper (Tien 2015), the author defined the concept of a servgood, which can be thought of as a physical good or product enveloped by a services-oriented layer that makes the good smarter or more adaptable and customizable for a particular use. Adding another layer of physical sensors could then enhance its smartness and intelligence, especially if it were to be connected with each other or with other servgoods through the Internet of Things. Such sensed servgoods are becoming the products of the future. Indeed, autonomous vehicles can be considered the exemplar servgoods of the future; it is about decision informatics and embraces the advanced technologies of sensing (i.e., Big Data), processing (i.e., real-time analytics), reacting (i.e., real-time decision-making), and learning (i.e., deep learning). Since autonomous vehicles constitute a huge quality-of-life disruption, it is also critical to consider its policy impact on privacy and security, regulations and standards, and liability and insurance. Finally, just as the Soviet Union inaugurated the space age on October 4, 1957, with the launch of Sputnik, the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, the U. S. has inaugurated an age of automata or autonomous vehicles that can be considered to be the U. S. Sputnik of servgoods, with the full support of the U. S. government, the U. S. auto industry, the U. S. electronic industry, and the U.S. higher educational enterprise.
CT Colonographic Screening of Patients With a Family History of Colorectal Cancer: Comparison With Adults at Average Risk and Implications for Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE. The purposes of this study were to compare rates of lesion detection at CT colonographic (CTC) screening of adults without symptoms who had and who did not have a family history of colorectal cancer according to American Cancer Society guidelines and to consider the clinical implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Over 134 months, consecutively registered CTC cohorts of adults without symptoms who had (n = 156; 88 [56.4%] women; 68 [43.6%] men; mean age, 56.3 years) and who did not have (n = 8857; 4757 [53.7%] women; 4100 [46.3%] men; mean age, 56.6 years) an American Cancer Society–defined family history of colorectal cancer (first-degree relative with diagnosis before age 60 years or two first-degree relatives with diagnosis at any age) were compared for relevant colorectal findings. RESULTS. For the family history versus no family history cohorts, the frequency of all nondiminutive polyps (≥ 6 mm) reported at CTC was 23.7% versus 15.5% (p = 0.007); small polyps (6–9 mm), 13.5% versus 9.1% (p = ...
Definitive management of thigh contusions in athletes: but how definitive? A systematic review

Importance Thigh contusion is a common injury reported in athletes; however, the optimal treatment guidelines for thigh contusions, potentially leading to haematoma, in the athletic population remain ill-defined. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive review of the literature. Objective A systematic review of the literature was performed regarding the appropriate management and timing of non-surgical and surgical intervention of thigh haematomas in athletes to determine an optimal treatment algorithm. Specifically, we aimed to compare these treatment options with respect to time to return to sport. Evidence review Two databases (PubMed and SPORTdiscus) were used in this systematic review. Search terms included ‘thigh contusion’, ‘thigh hematoma’, ‘quadriceps contusion’, ‘quadriceps hematoma’, ‘treatment’, ‘athlete’ and ‘sports’. The inclusion criteria were (1) athletes of any age that sustained thigh contusions caused by sports-related trauma, (2) data relating to treatment outcomes of thigh haematomas, (3) clinical studies with level I–IV of evidence from any year of publication and (4) studies published in English. Findings 7 studies met our inclusion criteria and were reviewed, all of which were level IV evidence. 6 of the studies involved non-operative management of the patients, and only one study involved surgical intervention. The average time until return to play across the studies with non-operative treatment was 29.3 days (range of 2–180 days). In the study that treated contusions with surgery, time to return to play was not included in the results. Conclusions and relevance While thigh haematomas are common in sports, sparse literature exists regarding the appropriate timing of conservative management and when surgical intervention is warranted. On average, time to return to play following conservative management of a thigh haematoma is 29.3 days; however, it is currently unknown if operative management may provide an earlier return. This information can be used as baseline expectations when non-operative treatment is employed. If an athlete fails to return to sport at the expected time, further work-up for retained haematoma with the possible need for surgical intervention should be considered. Level of evidence IV.
Facebook Band Director’s Group: Member Usage Behaviors and Perceived Satisfaction for Meeting Professional Development Needs:

The purpose of this study was to investigate participation in a Facebook social media community known as Band Director’s Group (BDG) through examination of members’ demographic profiles, self-repor...
Consequences of a tight squeeze: Nuclear envelope rupture and repair

Cell migration through tight spaces can induce substantial deformations of the nucleus and cause nuclear envelope (NE) rupture, resulting in uncontrolled exchange of nuclear and cytosolic proteins. These events can cause DNA damage and, in severe cases, nuclear fragmentation, challenging the integrity of the genomic material. Cells overcome NE ruptures during interphase by repairing the NE using components of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery. Paralleling the molecular mechanism used during NE reformation in late mitosis, ESCRT-III subunits and the associated AAA-ATPase VPS4B are recruited to NE rupture sites and help restore NE integrity. While these findings are common to many cell types, they are particularly relevant in the context of cancer metastasis, where nuclear deformation and rupture could drive genomic instability in invading cells and further promote cancer progression. At the same time, inhibiting NE repair may offer new therapeutic approaches to specifically target invasive cancer cells.
Mechanisms of DNA Methylation and Demethylation During Mammalian Development

Abstract DNA methylation, the addition of a methyl group at the 5-position of cytosine (5-methylcytosine, 5mC), is a major epigenetic modification in the genomes of many animals, plants, and fungi. In mammals, DNA methylation is involved in a variety of biological processes. Generally considered a stable chromatin mark, DNA methylation exhibits dynamic changes during mammalian development, including early embryogenesis and germ cell development. These changes are mediated by DNA methylation and demethylation machineries. These include DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), which catalyze the transfer of a methyl group from the methyl donor S-adenosyl- l -methionine (AdoMet or SAM) to cytosine, and the recently characterized ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of 5mC dioxygenases, which oxidize 5mC and initiate demethylation. In this chapter, we will discuss the mechanisms of DNA methylation and demethylation in mammals, focusing on biochemical and genetic studies of the major players involved in these processes.
High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Framework for Evidence-Based Practice

Schools are being confronted with an increasing population of high-functioning students with autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). These students pose particular challenges to school-based practitioners and teachers given their social-communication deficits, restricted and repetitive behaviors/interests, and relative cognitive and language strengths. This article examines the impact of HFASD at the student, classroom, and district levels, and existing evidence-based strategies and techniques to improve social competence and daily functioning. It then proposes a comprehensive intervention framework for school practitioners and provides an example of a model comprehensive school-based program. Future directions and areas in need of study are also discussed.
Ultrasound Guidance is Great, but not a Panacea

Soud and colleagues1 in this issue of Structural Heart provide the punchline first: “Should ultrasound guidance be routinely used for femoral artery access? Yes.” This is a reasonable starting (and...
Maximum Spacing Estimates: A Generalization and Improvement on Maximum Likelihood Estimates I

Hoffmann-Jorgensen (1992) presents a fairly general framework for considering consistency and asymptotic normality of “M-estimates.” The most celebrated such estimate is the famous maximum likelihood estimate (MLE), about which there has been considerable controversy due to the fact that it may not even be consistent [see Le Cam (1990)]. Hoffmann-Jorgensen’s theory tries to unify the discussion of consistency and inconsistency, but does not extend the domain of the MLE’s consistency. The current paper was motivated by first trying to understand why the MLE may be inconsistent and then considering alternatives that might rectify the inconsistency.
Our Economy is Evolving: Shouldn't the Way We Measure It Evolve Too?

The Local Consumer Commerce Index is a measure of local economic activity parsed by a variety of consumer and merchant characteristics. By leveraging an administrative database of over 24 billion debit and credit card transactions made by over 64 million de-identified customers, this index from the JPMorgan Chase Institute addresses the lack of data series with sufficient spatiotemporal and demo/firmographic resolution to support tactical decision making in local economies. Each transaction carries the age and income of the consumer, the merchant size and type of product it sells, as well as the zip code of both. Using these characteristics we construct a measure of year-over-year spending growth by consumers at merchants located in 14 major metropolitan areas in the US. The index data are screened and weighted to represent population-wide spending levels. This unique lens on local economies is freely provided to the public in accordance with the Institute’s mission of advancing the public good. We have also extended this data asset beyond its use for reporting and economic monitoring. One extension has been our research that measures intra-city demand. By measuring the distance between where consumers live and the merchants at which they shop, we have lent nuance and granularity to policy discussions surrounding intra-city inequities in economic vitality. We hope to socialize the power of leveraging administrative data for the public good, in hopes that other administrative data-owners are encouraged to also furnish analyses based on their administrative data to help inform the public policy process.
Fundamentals of smart manufacturing: A multi-thread perspective

Abstract The paper outlines key characteristics of smart manufacturing, data-driven, networked, connected, resource sharing, resilient, and sustainable. Manufacturing resiliency and sustainability have received limited attention in the literature and they are the focus of this paper. Both are related and offer challenges that may become differentiators of smart manufacturing. Resiliency provides businesses with defenses against natural and human caused adversities. The list of attributes provided in the paper is intended for comprehensive assessment of manufacturing resiliency. Solutions are needed to make businesses more resilient and sustainable. Research on business models equating sustainability with an industrial activity is suggested. A scheme for labeling environmental friendliness of materials makes as a token contribution to sustainability.
Effects of PDE5 inhibition on dystrophic muscle following an acute bout of downhill running and endurance training

This study examined the combined effects of PDE5 inhibition and exercise in dystrophic muscle using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Our findings demonstrated that silde...
Soft wearable robots

This chapter focuses on the recent and growing efforts in the field of soft wearable robotics and discusses how this technology can be used in a variety of contexts. This rapidly emerging field will not replace traditional exoskeletons but offers new possibilities to augment the performance of healthy individuals but also restore function for impaired individuals with residual capacity, i.e. where only small to moderate levels of assistance is needed to improve function ability (e.g. walking, grasping). The application requirements for soft wearable robots are fundamentally different than those for rigid exoskeletons, necessitating fundamental technological development in areas of actuation, human interfaces, sensing, control and system integration.
"I Never Would Have Noticed It Before": The Possibilities of Critical Discussion Groups for Teacher Candidate Policy Engagement.

Teacher candidates are central to the implementation of educational policy in schools, but receive little professional training around policy in their teacher education coursework or in their pract...
HIP IMO Report: Analyzing Phenotypic Properties of Bladder Cancer Using Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) Models

Bladder cancer is composed of proliferative and immunogenic phenotypes, which ultimately play a significant role in the growth of the tumor. By using ordinary differential equation models, this paper models the impact of high and low immunogenic cell populations on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer when treated with and without the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine. Furthermore, this paper models the impact that the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine has on inflammatory cytokines, which inhibit the growth of tumors by stimulating an immune response. We focus primarily on how the immunogenicity phenotype impacts population dynamics in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Social media effects on sustainable mobility opinion diffusion: Model framework and implications for behavior change

Abstract Opinions regarding emergent sustainable transportation alternatives, such as bikeshare and e-scooters, and more traditional green alternatives like public transit, spread through social networks via opinion diffusion mechanisms, like word-of-mouth and mass media. The impact of social media on diffusion of sustainable mobility opinions is not well-understood given the present lack of data. To address this gap, this paper introduces a modeling framework for the impact of social media on opinion diffusion. Inspired by Roger’s diffusion theory, the framework applies different learning mechanisms (e.g., word-of-mouth and mass media) in network architectures to explore the effects of network topology on acceptance of green travel alternatives using conceptual idealizations of the complex processes involved in diffusion interactions. We present a dynamic agent-based simulation methodology capturing the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) like social media on diffusion of environmentally friendly travel mode consideration through social networks. The agent-based models provide visual comparisons of the effects of network structure and social media influence on opinion diffusion, the way opinions spread, and which agents exhibit the strongest influence. We identify types of social media influencers that most effectively encourage adoption of sustainable transportation alternatives and present an illustrative framework of the mechanisms that drive opinion diffusion. Exploratory findings suggest that: (1) scale-free networks provide the slowest initial diffusion rate but the greatest overall diffusion over time, (2) the most effective behavior incentivization strategies depend on network structure, (3) in scale-free networks, increasing the number of initial opinion leaders improves diffusion, while increasing the number of communication encounters within the network over the first year following product deployment does not noticeably improve diffusion, and (4) providing smaller financial incentives to a greater number of opinion leaders is the best strategy.
From Superantigens to "Real" Viral Antigens.

Studies inspired by Dr. Peter Doherty led to over 16 years of research into the mouse gamma-herpesvirus, γHV68, in the Blackman laboratory. Progress on our understanding of γHV68 biology include in...
Shit and Other Forms of Dynamite Refuse: Samuel R. Delany’s Provocative Excremental Eros

In the final full chapter of this book, I turn to visions of excremental eros in Samuel Delany’s The Mad Man. While previous chapters explore the subjectivity of violent excreters as well as a concern with degraded landscapes and those who inhabit them in excremental fiction, they also argue that each selected text offers visions of ways to transform this subjectivity. Building from these glimpses of alternative ways of being in the world, analysis of The Mad Man is offered as a fuller exploration of the embrace of the excremental self; indeed, for Delany a celebration of anality, the porous body’s connection to excreta, signals a way to undo the separation of self from the organic world. In other words, contemporary novelist Samuel Delany’s characters delight in anality, suggesting that an embrace of personal decay signals a desire for intimate connection to the world around us and to other human beings. Delany’s characters celebrate the soil of self as a way to connect with other matter, a way to give fertilizing bodies as gift to other life. In decomposition for Delany’s “mad men,” they lose their isolated subjectivity and spread out to touch and be touched in worldly enrapture. For example, the text follows a group of homeless men through the New York City streets as they find sustenance and delight in the waste. Their queer sexual encounters vividly show the pleasure of embracing decay in which subjectivity of lover and beloved unravel as lovers decompose into each other in unproductive ecstasy. These literary “tiny deaths” mark the ultimate erotic connection as bodies fall apart and into each other, uniting in soil and fertilizing new forms of relationality. In Delany’s fictional depictions of waste, characters’ connection to each other and to the world lies not in the creation of a unique subject stance, but instead in the dissolution of self, the reveling in pleasurable rupture and porousness, and in delighting in our own decay. By presenting the pleasures of the abject, the text suggests that re-evaluating the ways in which communities understand human waste—the way in which communities treat excreta—can help readers to map our violence against self, others, and the world. Moreover, The Mad Man suggests that excremental eros might help us focus on the joy of being organic matter rather than the horrors of decay and death.
Intermediate structure studies of /sup 234/U cross sections. [eV to 8. 9 MeV]

Neutron induced fission and total cross sections of $^{234}\mathrm{U}$ have been measured over the neutron energy range from a few eV to 8.9 MeV. Neutron and fission widths for 118 cross section resonances below 1500 eV have been determined and give a class I level spacing of 10.6 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5 eV and an $s$-wave strength function of (0.86 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.11) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$. These fine structure resonances form two narrow intermediate structure resonances in the subthreshold fission cross section of $^{234}\mathrm{U}$. Parameters for the Lorentzian energy dependence of the mean fission width are deduced by maximum likelihood analysis on the assumption that, relative to this mean, the observed fission widths have a Porter-Thomas distribution. Two large fission widths measured for resonances at 1092.5 and 1134 eV prompted a likelihood ratio test which indicates the presence of a narrow intermediate structure resonances at 580 and at 1227 eV. The class II level spacing derived from the observation of seven intermediate structure resonances below 14 keV is 2.1 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.3 keV. Broad structures in the fission cross section at 310, 550, and 770 keV are assumed to be due to $\ensuremath{\beta}$-vibrational levels in the second minimum of the Strutinsky potential. Fluctuations due to the presence of class II resonances are strongly evident for each of these vibrational levels. It is shown that the fluctuations near 310 keV are consistent with parameters deduced from the low energy data and this allows parameters for the double humped fission barrier potential to be obtained.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{234}\mathrm{U}$ ($n,f$), $E=3$ eV-8.9 MeV; measured ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{f}(E)$. $^{234}\mathrm{U}$ ($n$, total) $E=20\ensuremath{-}1500$ eV; measured ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{t}(E)$. Determined ${D}_{I}$, ${D}_{\mathrm{II}}$, ${S}_{0}$, fission widths and neutron widths (118 levels below 1500 eV). Deduced ${E}_{0}$, width (two class II levels), barrier heights ${V}_{A}$, ${V}_{B}$.
Urinary Tract Infections in Children: Accuracy of a Novel Dipstick Biomarker Test via Bagged Urine Sampling

Background: Absolute levels of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) appear highly accurate to identify urinary tract infections (UTIs) in young children when obtained via catheterization. Prior studies have neither evaluated the accuracy of uNGAL levels in bag (likely contaminated) specimens nor assessed the accuracy of a dipstick (potential point-of-care (POC)) test to detect UTIs. Objective: To compare the overall accuracy and test characteristics of laboratory-based uNGAL, dipstick uNGAL, and POC urinalysis (UA) …
Group Assertion

In this paper, I provide the framework for an account of group assertion. On my view, there are two kinds of group assertion, coordinated and authority-based, with authority-based group assertion being the core notion. I argue against a deflationary view, according to which a group’s asserting is understood in terms of individual assertions, by showing that a group can assert a proposition even when no individual does. Instead, I argue on behalf of an inflationary view, according to which it is the group itself that asserts, a conclusion supported by the fact that paradigmatic features of assertion apply only at the level of the group. A central virtue of my account is that it appreciates the important relationship that exists between most groups and their spokespersons, as well as the consequences that follow from this relationship. My view, thus, provides the framework for distinguishing when responsibility for an assertion lies at the collective level, and when it should be shouldered by an individual simply speaking for herself.
Treatment Outcomes of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Pediatric Lymphedema.

Background Pediatric lymphedema can result in irreversible, debilitating limb swelling, tissue fibrosis, skin ulcers, infection, and impaired limb function in children at an early age. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a noninvasive technique, which is a part of intensive decongestive therapy to reroute lymphatic flow to healthy channels used to manage lymphedema. Outcomes of this treatment option in children have not been studied. We evaluated the effect of decongestive therapy involving MLD in pediatric patients with complex lymphatic anomalies by measuring treatment progress and functional outcomes via changes in limb circumference, limb functionality, dexterity, skin quality, and pain. Methods A single-institution retrospective study on a cohort of 8 pediatric patients with lymphatic anomalies who completed a course of MLD was conducted from 2015 to 2017 to investigate the role MLD plays in their lymphedema reduction. Pain scores were measured on a scale of 0–10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. The functional performance was measured by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement questionnaire. Results Among all patients, there were 4 cases affecting the upper extremities, 4 affecting the lower extremities, and 3 affecting the truncal region. Five of 8 patients demonstrated a reduction in lymphedema with an average girth reduction of 8.2% in the lower extremities, 3.0% in the upper extremities, and 7.4% in the truncal regions. In unilateral cases, the difference in limb circumference between the affected and normal extremity decreased by an average of 25.6%. Four patients completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement questionnaire with an average improvement of 30% in daily task performance. Three patients reported complete resolution of pain. Conclusions MLD can be used as a reliable noninvasive method for decongestion and analgesia to delay the onset of lymphedema-associated fibrosis and long-term disability in children with complex lymphatic malformations.
Exploring the impact of the pandemic on reference and research services: A literature review

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in New Review of Academic Librarianship on 07 Oct 2021, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13614533.2021.1990092
The use of the triangle functions to model analog-to-digital converter dynamic errors

Triangular basis functions are used to model analog-to-digital converter (ADC) error functions. The procedure is found to require less calibration data than conventional methods without affecting the dynamic error correcting performance of the ADC. An example uses 64 parameters to model 4096 error states for a 6-b ADC. It is shown that 60 K data samples build suitable error tables where 3584 K data samples are customarily required. This reduction in data is on the order of 2/sup Nbits/. >
Foundations of Controlling UEP Methods for NetworkPreserving Transient Stability Models

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction System Models Stability Regions Singular Perturbation Approach Energy Functions for Network-Preserving Models Controlling UEP for DAE Systems Controlling UEP Method for DAE Systems Numerical Studies Concluding Remarks
Who Has Been Sleeping

"Who has been sleeping" are the terminating words of the second commentary,1 which jocularly discusses several articles aimed at the clinician in the January 1971 Pediatrics. I contend that the pediatric profession has been sleeping, and within that august body, one might pick out Pediatrics as being the most profound somnambulator of all, since it is organized pediatrics9 chief educational tool. For years my pediatric colleagues have complained, but in a weak voice, about the content of Pediatrics; stating that the majority of the articles had little to do with the practical aspects of clinical child care.
The effects of emissions standards on industry in the short run and long run

Industrialists often claim that, by rendering firms unprofitable and hence forcing them out of business, stricter emissions standards reduce the industry output and competition. This paper considers situations where firms' pollution reduction increases the industry demand, but because of inability to co-ordinate their emissions reductions, and thus free riding problem, they are unable to act in their own collective interest. For such situations, the paper studies the effects of emissions standards on the equilibrium in an oligopoly market both at the firm and industry level and in the long run as well as short run. It shows conditions under which a stricter standard leads to a larger number of firms in the industry, a greater industry output, and a lower total pollution in the long run; and to higher levels of firms' profits and output in the short run. It also shows that for the industry to survive, a minimum pollution standard may be necessary.
Aceto­nitrile­tri­carbonyl­(2,9-di­methyl-4,7-di­phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)­rhenium(I) hexa­fluoro­phosphate

The novel title compound, [Re(C26H20N2)(C2H3N)(CO)3](PF6), has been synthesized and found to crystallize in the monoclinic system with space group P21/n. The molecular ionic structure consists of an ReI complex cation and a PF6− anion, where the Re atom is octahedrally coordinated by chelating di­methyl­di­phenyl­phenanthroline, three carbonyl groups and aceto­nitrile.
Time Trends and Seasonal Patterns of Health-Related Quality of Life among U.S. Adults

OBJECTIVES: Although numerous studies have examined health-related quality of life (HRQOL) longitudinally, little is known about the impact of seasonality on HRQOL. We examined trend and seasonal variations of population HRQOL. METHODS: We used data from the monthly Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We examined monthly observed mean physically and mentally unhealthy days from January 1993 to December 2006, using the structural time-series model to estimate the trend and seasonality of HRQOL. RESULTS: We found overall worsening physical and mental health during the time period and a significant and regular seasonal pattern in both physical and mental health. The worst physical health was during the winter and the best physical health was during the summer. The mean number of physically unhealthy days in January was 0.63 days higher than in July. The worst mental health occurred during the spring and fall, but the magnitude of the seasonal effect was much smaller. The difference between the best and worst months of mentally unhealthy days was approximately 0.23 days. We found significant differences in unadjusted and season-adjusted unhealthy days in many counties. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings can be used to examine time-varying causal factors and the impact of interventions, such as policies designed to improve population health. Our findings also demonstrated the need for calculating season-adjusted HRQOL scores when examining cross-sectional factors on the population HRQOL measures for continuous surveys or longitudinal data. Language: en
CA 19-9 is an index of response to neoadjunctive chemoradiation therapy in pancreatic cancer

Purpose This study examines the changes of serum levels of CA 19-9 in patients with pancreatic cancer following neoadjuvant irradiation and chemotherapy to define the potential role of this tumor marker in preoperative management of these patients. Materials and methods Serum CA 19-9 levels were measured in 42 patients before receiving external beam irradiation with concurrent 5-fluorouracil in preparation for laparotomy and Whippie procedure or intraoperative irradiation (IORT). The CA 19-9 levels were determined again after irradiation, and changes were correlated with findings of restaging computed tomography (CT) scan and laparotomy. Results Following preoperative irradiation, 10 patients (24%) experienced an increase in CA 19-9 levels whereas 29 patients (69%) showed a decrease in CA 19-9. There was no change in the CA 19-9 levels of 3 patients (7%) after treatment. Of the 10 patients with increased CA 19-9 levels after irradiation, 9 (90%) had developed distant metastases or local tumor progression as determined by restaging CT scan or at laparotomy. In contrast, only 6 of 29 patients (21%) with declining CA 19-9 levels after irradiation demonstrated metastases or local tumor progression on restaging CT scan or at laparotomy. The correlation of CA 19-9 increase or decrease with disease progression or control, respectively, was statistically significant ( P = 0.009). Conclusions Serum CA 19-9 levels may rise or fall during neoadjuvant therapy. A rising CA 19-9 reliably indicates cancer progression while a falling CA 19-9 connotes disease control in the majority of patients. In developing strategies for application of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer, monitoring of CA 19-9 appears most useful for the identification of patients who manifest progressive tumor growth and metastasis in spite of this treatment.
Plasma corticosterone levels in the male iguanid lizard Sceloporus cyanogenys under various physiological conditions

Variations in peripheral plasma corticosterone levels in male iguanid lizards, Sceloporus cyanogenys, were investigated under varying physiological conditions. Control baseline levels of the steroid in plasma were significantly decreased by hypophysectomy, adrenalectomy, hypothalamic lesions, and cyanoketone, an inhibitor of Δ5-3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Levels were increased following treatment with mammalian ACTH in both intact and hypophysectomized lizards. In the intact animal, ACTH produced a more rapid, more prolonged, and quantitatively greater response of the adrenal gland than the same hormone when administered to the hypophysectomized animal. An apparent increase in corticosterone levels was observed following metyrapone (an 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor) treatment, and aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of the formation of pregnenolone from cholesterol, had no effect.
Role of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway in methamphetamine-induced depression of the neostriatal serotonergic system

The prevention of the decrease in neostriatal tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity with a single dose of methamphetamine (MA) was attempted by lesioning the nigrostriatal dopaminergic projections with bilateral nigral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). The rats were injected with MA (10 mg/kg) 11 days later, and killed 3 h after the injection. The 6-OHDA lesions prevented the decrease of TPH activity in the neostriatum, while the decrease of enzyme activity was slightly attenuated in the hippocampus and unaffected in the frontal cortex. This study demonstrates: that the attenuation of TPH activity can be prevented in a selected brain area by destroying its dopaminergic afferents, and implicates central dopamine (DA), or its metabolite, in the decrease in central TPH activity observed after a single injection of MA.
Effect of parathyroidectomy on anemia and erythropoietin dosing in end-stage renal disease patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Background It has been suggested that parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may result in improvement in anemia and the response to erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs. This study examines the effect parathyroidectomy had on erythropoietin (EPO) dosing requirements and anemia in ESRD. Methods A retrospective review was conducted. Patients were included if pre-operative and 12 month postoperative hemoglobin (Hg) and hematocrit (Hct) levels were available and they did not receive a kidney transplant or have failure of parathyroidectomy during the follow-up. Erythropoietin (EPO) dose and serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also obtained. Other data collections were at 1 and 2 mos. postoperatively. Results Thirty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Parathyroidectomy resulted in decreased PTH from 1,871 ± 236 (mean ± SEM) to 172 ± 29 pg/mL ( P P Conclusion In ESRD, parathyroidectomy for HPT improves anemia and decreases requirements for exogenous erythropoietin suggesting either increased endogenous EPO production or improved response. As a result, we propose refractory ESRD-associated anemia as a secondary indication for parathyroidectomy resection in this population.
Identifying Risks to Healthy Aging in New York City's Varied NORCs

In 2006, the United Hospital Fund and New York City's Department for the Aging began a joint undertaking in 34 naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) programs to reduce risks to healthy aging. The Health Indicators in NORC Programs Initiative is a data-driven, risk-identification tool and a quality-improvement process designed to help community-based programs with limited resources identify key health risks among older adults in their communities, develop targeted and systematic responses, and measure the effectiveness of those responses. This article presents findings from three NORC programs to illustrate the importance of understanding each community's risks to healthy aging in developing effective targeted responses.
Aliovalent titanium substitution in layered mixed Li Ni–Mn–Co oxides for lithium battery applications

Improved electrochemical characteristics are observed for Li[Ni1/3Co1/3−yTiyMn1/3]O2 cathodes, compared to the baseline material, with up to 15% increased discharge capacity.
Irritable bowel syndrome: how useful is the term and the 'diagnosis'?

Funding: This study was supported in part by the NIH (grant numbers 1RC1-DK086182 and R01-DK092179 to Dr M. Camilleri). Conflict of interest statement: The author has no conflicts of interest.
Lsc regulates marginal-zone B cell migration and adhesion and is required for the IgM T-dependent antibody response.

Summary The humoral immune response to protein antigens is composed of a rapid low-affinity IgM antibody response followed by an IgG response exhibiting higher affinity. Here, we demonstrate that Lsc, a protein that regulates G protein-coupled-receptor signaling and RhoA activation, is required by B lymphocytes for the antigen-specific IgM antibody response to a protein antigen. We further show that in lsc –/– mice, MZB cells are selectively affected such that naive and in vivo-activated MZB cells migrate toward sphingosine-1-phosphate at increased proportions but release inefficiently from integrin ligands. Consequently, lsc –/– MZB cells do not traffick appropriately in an immune response and do not contribute to the TD antibody response. These data demonstrate that Lsc regulates the migration and adhesion of MZB cells, and this regulation appears to be required for these cells to contribute to the antibody response to TD antigens.
Rapid Reduction of Graphically Similar Substitution Errors in Oral Reading with a Drill Procedure

AbstractOral reading errors of poor readers are frequently substitutions in which a word with the same initial consonant is substituted for the word in the text. A drill was constructed which required each of three fourth and fifth grade students to read pairs of words which differed only in the final consonant sound (e. g, "mash" and "man"). The experiment demonstrated that the drill produced reductions in graphically similar substitution errors in all subjects. Generalized effects to all categories of errors were also found. The drill procedure is a simple method for producing large reductions in oral reading errors.
Fault-tolerant silicone dielectric elastomers

Soft silicone films have garnered a great deal of interest for use in dielectric elastomer transducers due to their excellent properties, including high elongation to rupture, low viscoelasticity, and broad application temperature range. However, silicone films generally have higher stiffness and lower dielectric strength than VHB acrylic elastomers, which limits the achievable actuation strain. Devices based on silicone dielectric elastomers always experience high rates of premature dielectric failure when operated at high strains. The premature failure is characterized by the loss of functionality or mechanical rupture of the material when operated below the material's dielectric strength and elongation to rupture. The use is reported of ultrathin coatings of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the compliant electrodes, which can overcome the issue of premature failure. The self-clearing of the SWNT electrodes in the event of localized dielectric breakdown improves the apparent dielectric strength...
Evidence-based therapy for type 2 diabetes. The best and worst of times.

PREVIEWType 2 diabetes, which is increasing in prevalence, is a multifaceted disease that presents a challenge to the primary care physician. In this article, Drs Flemmer and Vinik review the significant findings of several important clinical trials and present a method of comprehensive staged management to improve the quality of patient care.
‘Barbarossa’ Revisited: The War on the Eastern Front, 1941–1945: A Survey of Recent Literature

Within the past several years, the war on the Eastern Front during World War II has witnessed a steady stream of books on the fighting that lasted from 22 June 1941 until 8 May 1945. This avalanche...
Revisions in La xi and La xii based on comparison with scaled Hartree–Fock calculations

Calculations of transitions in the Pd i and Ag i isoelectronic sequences prompted reclassification of three lines of La xi and La xii.
Low flame temperature limits for mixing-controlled Diesel combustion

Abstract The low flame temperature limits for mixing-controlled Diesel combustion were investigated in a constant-volume combustion chamber at well-defined ambient conditions. Flame temperatures were controlled by varying ambient oxygen concentration or by using fuel-lean mixing-controlled combustion. Pressure rise measurements show that combustion efficiency remains high for flame temperatures as low as 1500–1600 K for conditions where the ambient gas temperature was greater than 1000 K. This low flame temperature limit is less than those of propagating flame processes in engines but close to that of HCCI combustion. Chemiluminescence imaging shows that a cool flame exists prior to the quasi-steady lift-off length, suggesting that ignition processes are continuously occurring within the Diesel fuel jet as air and fuel mix upstream of the high-temperature reaction zone at the lift-off length.