cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Salivary Gland Surgery and Medical Malpractice

ObjectiveTo better understand the causes and outcomes of lawsuits involving salivary gland surgery by analyzing malpractice litigation trends to prevent future litigation and improve physician education.Study DesignAnalysis of a national database.SettingAll US civil trials.Subjects and MethodsThe WESTLAW database was reviewed from January 1987 to March 2011. Data were compiled on the demographics of the defendant, anatomic site of injury, initial pathology, nature of injury, legal allegations, verdicts, and indemnities.ResultsTwenty-six cases met inclusion criteria and were selected for review. Verdicts/settlements for the plaintiffs predominated (58%), and the average sum of the plaintiff’s monetary award was $933,235. Sixteen cases (62%) involved injury to the parotid gland/duct, with 10 cases involving injury to the facial nerve. No cases were filed on the grounds of failure to use facial nerve monitoring. Nine cases (35%) involved injury to the submandibular gland/duct. The most common legal allegatio...
Cystine-knot peptides: emerging tools for cancer imaging and therapy

Cystine-knot miniproteins, also known as knottins, constitute a large family of structurally related peptides with diverse amino acid sequences and biological functions. Knottins have emerged as at...
Characteristics of a simulation model of the national kidney transplantation system

The United Network for Organ Sharing is planning to resolve the ever-growing geographic disparities in kidney transplantation. Currently available simulation techniques are limited in their ability to analyze the impact of policy changes at the system level. This paper discusses the development of a discrete event simulation of the kidney transplantation system, KSIM. KSIM design is discussed and can easily be adapted to test alternative geographic organ allocation policies. Input analysis employing actual transplantation system data was conducted to best represent patient and organ arrival processes. After discussing our model, we briefly describe how KSIM was verified and validated against twenty years of actual transplantation system information. We also describe the potential usability of KSIM in organ allocation policy development.
Ultrasonic Effects on lsoenzymes

Several significant effects of ultrasonic treatment on human serum cholinesterase and aminopeptidase isoenzymes and on other serum proteins have been found by starch gel electrophoresis. The selective activation of one cholinesterase isoenzyme is especially striking. These effects must be considered when ultrasonic treatment is used for the extraction of intracellular enzymes. When the effects are appreciated, ultrasonics should provide a valuable tool for isoenzyme research.
Comparison of Erythorbic and Ascorbic Acids as Inhibitors of Enzymatic Browning in Apple

The effectiveness of ascorbic acid (AA) and erythorbic acid (EA) in inhibiting enzymatic browning at cut surfaces of apple and in raw apple juice was determined by tristimulus calorimetry. Red Delicious and Winesap plugs, dipped for 90 set in 0.8–1.6% solutions of AA or EA, showed longer lags before the onset of browning with the former compound. AA and EA were similar in effectiveness in apple juice. Because the relative effectiveness of AA and EA depends on the system in which they are compared, they should not be used interchangeably as sulfite alternatives without experimental verification of equivalence.
Daily Hemodialysis Efficiency: An Analysis of Solute Kinetics

Increasing the frequency of hemodialysis increases its efficiency, which causes the popular dialysis yardstick, single-pool Kt/V, to underestimate the dose just as it overestimates the dose of less frequent dialysis. The frequency dependence of hemodialysis can be explained by examining solute kinetics. Several factors, including the logarithmic fall in solute concentration and solute disequilibrium within the patient, account for the improved efficiency of both daily hemodialysis and continuous peritoneal dialysis, but to fully explain the marked difference in clinical targets for dosing peritoneal versus hemodialysis, one must go outside the realm of urea kinetics. Solutes that dialyze easily, such as urea, but diffuse less readily within the patient, require a 2-compartment model to accurately predict their concentration profiles and to measure efficiency. When applied to appropriately selected solutes, the model can account for the difference in clinical targets and can explain the failure of other indices, such as middle molecule clearance, eKt/V, and EKR, to account for the differences. A cumulative toxic effect of these relatively secluded compounds might offer a better explanation of uremic toxicity and an objective rationale for increasing dialysis frequency and time. Simplified methods for measuring the dose of dialysis fail when the patient is treated more often than 3 times per week, but 2 new and independently derived methods that include parameters to account for the improved efficiency have been developed for measuring frequent dialysis. The new expressions of dose as a weekly analog of urea clearance are similar in magnitude and independent of frequency, giving present-day clinicians a choice of methods to compare 2 to 7 treatments per week. The kinetic behavior of solutes removed by dialysis and the new expressions of dose support the subjective improvement reported by patients, many of whom have embraced a transition to more frequent and prolonged hemodialysis.
Cigarette smoking in pregnancy results in marked decrease in maternal hCG and oestradiol levels

We have examined serum levels of oestradiol (E2), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during early pregnancy in relation to smoking status at the time of sampling in a series of 147 women. Smoking was associated with significantly depressed serum levels of E2, SHBG and hCG: in smokers, E2 levels were on average 17.6% lower (P = 0.037), SHBG levels were 12.4% lower (P = 0.15), and hCG levels were 21.5% lower (P = 0.044). There appeared to be a steady decline in these values with increasing cigarette consumption. These lower hormone levels in smokers may explain certain adverse effects of smoking in pregnancy.
Clinical and quality of life outcomes of laparoscopic and open splenectomy for haematological diseases.

Objective: To study the outcome of open and laparoscopic splenectomy for haematological diseases in terms of quality of life and haematological measures. Design: Prospective non-randomised study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital, USA. Participants: 44 patients, 27 treated laparoscopically and 17 by open splenectomy. Main outcome measures: Quality of life judged by the SF-36 and adequacy of control of the haematological disease. Results: Both quality of life and haematological disease were significantly improved by operation; laparoscopically treated patients had less pain. Conclusion: In properly selected patients laparoscopic splenectomy is preferable to open splenectomy.
High resolution scanning Auger microscopic investigation of intergranular fracture in as-quenched Fe-12Mn

Previous research in this laboratory led to the conclusion that the low temperature intergranular fracture mode in Fe-Mn alloys is microstructurally determined, and does not require metalloid segregation or other chemical contamination. That conclusion was tested in the present investigation, which used high resolution scanning Auger microscopy to study the intergranular fracture surfaces. The fracture mode at liquid nitrogen temperature was found to be intergranular fracture whenever the alloy was quenched from the austenite field, irrespective of the austenization time or temperature. High resolution chemical analyses of the intergranular fracture surfaces failed to reveal any consistent segregation of P, S, O, or N. The occasional appearance of sulfur or oxygen on the fracture surface was found to be due to a low density precipitation of MnS and MnO2 along the prior austenite grain boundaries. Excepting these dispersed precipitates, there was no evidence of manganese enrichment of the prior austenite grain boundaries. A slight segregation of carbon was found along the grain boundaries, but does not appear to be implicated in the tendency toward intergranular fracture. The present results hence reinforce the conclusion that the low temperature intergranular fracture of Fe-12Mn is microstructurally determined.
Preisgabe des Privaten

Eines der wichtigsten Merkmale sozialer Netzwerke im Internet sind die Profile, in denen sich die Mitglieder mit Textangaben und Fotos selbst darstellen. Das hohe Mas an Offenheit und die damit verbundenen Risiken fur die Privatsphare haben zu einer breiten offentlichen Diskussion gefuhrt, in der immer wieder Unverstandnis uber die bedenkenlose Preisgabe privater Informationen geausert wird. Mit der folgenden Studie sollte ermittelt werden, welche Arten von Informationen StudiVZ-Mitglieder veroffentlichen, wie die Moglichkeiten des Privatspharen-Schutzes genutzt werden und wie die Preisgabe personlicher Informationen von den Mitgliedern selbst wahrgenommen wird.
Focusing Pulsed Electromagnetic Radiation for Therapy and Imaging

Intense, subnanosecond electric fields can be used either to stimulate bioelectric effects, such as calcium release in cells (which can lead to various secondary physiological effects), or to generate local hyperthermia. High power wideband antennas radiating electromagnetic waves in the subnanosecond range allows us to treat deep lesions noninvasively. At lower intensity, the radiation can also be used for imaging the dielectric properties of tissue and diagnosing early-stage cancer. Electromagnetic waves launched at the first focal point of the reflector are focused at the second focal point. This allows either to deposit substantial amount of energy to the target for therapy or to image the dielectric property of tissue in the confocal configuration. Two antennas with prolate spheroidal reflectors but fed with different wave launchers were designed to focus the radiated electric field. Antenna I is immersed in coupling medium with high dielectric permittivity, allowing for a small aperture diameter (0.14 m). Antenna II has a larger aperture diameter (0.5 m), which is to be operated in air.
An outbreak of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea on a maternity service; transmitted to a child caring institution and to private homes.

An outbreak of epidemic nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in newborn infants is described. The communicability of the disorder is demonstrated by its direct spread to the residents of a child caring institution and to the occupants of a nearby tenement house. We are in agreement with the observations of Brown, Crawford and Stent and those of Cook and Marmion that the condition is a relatively mild one in newborn infants and that it should not be confused either clinically or epidemiologically with the syndrome epidemic diarrhea of the newborn. A differential diagnosis should be made between this disorder and epidemic diarrhea of the newborn, salmonella infection of the newborn, and the diarrhea accompanying stomatitis in young infants, and should be based on clinical and epidemiologic factors. Outbreaks in nurseries for newborn infants should be studied carefully and indiscriminate grouping of cases avoided. Distinctive and constant clinical and epidemiologic features should be sought in each outbreak to separate it from the general group of diarrheal disorders of the newborn.
Ergonomic Accommodation in Return to Work

Ergonomic accommodations can be useful when implementing a return to work program for people with a wide range of disability patterns. This chapter defines ergonomic accommodations, explains their purpose, characterizes them in types, and reviews a tested ergonomic-based algorithm to facilitate return to work primarily with workers affected by musculoskeletal disorders, and effectively applied with people with a wide range of less than optimal functioning and varied diagnoses. The ergonomic methodology to task analysis, with its focus on the functional space between task and person while considering the influence of environment, is described. Suggestions to reduce work overexertion are provided throughout the text.
Ly6G-mediated depletion of neutrophils is dependent on macrophages

Antibody-mediated depletion of neutrophils is commonly used to study neutropenia. However, the mechanisms by which antibodies deplete neutrophils have not been well defined. We noticed that mice deficient in complement and macrophages had blunted neutrophil depletion in response to anti-Ly6G monoclonal antibody (MAb) treatment. In vitro, exposure of murine neutrophils to anti-Ly6G MAb in the presence of plasma did not result in significant depletion of cells, either in the presence or absence of complement. In vivo, anti-Ly6G-mediated neutrophil depletion was abrogated following macrophage depletion, but not complement depletion, indicating a requirement for macrophages to induce neutropenia by this method. These results inform the use and limitations of anti-Ly6G antibody as an experimental tool for depleting neutrophils in various immunological settings.
Hybrid DNN-Latent structured SVM acoustic models for continuous speech recognition

In this work, we propose Deep Neural Network (DNN)-Latent Structured Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) Acoustic Models as replacement for more standard sequence-discriminative trained DNN-HMM hybrid acoustic models. Compared to existing methods, approaches based on margin maximization, as is considered in this work, enjoy better theoretical justification. In addition to a max-margin based criteria, we also extend the Structured SVM model to include latent variables in the model to account for uncertainty in state alignments. Introducing latent structure allows for better sample complexity, often requiring 33% to 66% fewer utterances to converge compared to alternate criteria. On an 8-hour independent test set of conversational speech, the proposed method decreases word error rate by 9% relative to a cross-entropy trained hybrid system, while the best existing system decreases the word error rate by 6.5% relative.
The Oxidation Behavior of Y2O3-Dispersed β-NiAl

Y2O3-dispersed NiAl was produced by a powder-metallurgy process. By adding Y as an oxide dispersion (OD), problems with NiYx formation and internal oxidation were avoided. Short-term isothermal and cyclic-oxidation performance at 1200°–1500° C was compared to cast NiAl alloys with and without Zr. Results indicate that the Y2O3 addition was beneficial to scale adhesion and significantly modified the α-Al2O3 scale microstructure, similar to a Zr alloy addition. However, at 1400 and 1500° C, neither the Y2O3 or Zr additions changed the scale-growth rate, eliminated the formation of voids at the metal-scale interface or prevented scale spallation. These similarities in performance suggest that similar mechanisms occur when the reactive element is added as either an OD or an alloy addition.
The Bearing of Myers v. United States upon the Independence of Federal Administrative Tribunals

The rapid development of administrative law during this century has meant a multiplication of administrative tribunals. The functions of these bodies vary widely. Some have regulatory powers, others only fact-finding authority. The Interstate Commerce Commission may fix rates; the Tariff Commission may only investigate differences in costs of production. In all such cases, however, there is fundamentally the same motivation behind their creation. The complexity, technicality, constant fluctuations, and expanding scope of the problems that confront Congress have compelled it to devolve some of its authority upon other bodies, and in some cases to set up agencies for the collection of data as a basis for decision. These very same factors have made our traditional trial courts unsuitable agencies for the exercise of powers thus devolved, and politically controlled bureaus unfit for the investigation of politically significant facts. Congress, therefore, has set up specialized bodies, which are to be manned by experts in particular fields, supplied with elaborate means of research, and authorized to act upon the best obtainable information and opinion. The purpose is thus clearly to cause scientific methods and expert judgment to be brought to bear to the maximum extent possible. It is submitted that for this purpose to be carried out—for the duties of these tribunals to be performed under the influence of the “judicial habit of thought”—it is essential that the members be guaranteed independence in the exercise of their personal judgment, uninfluenced by direct pressure from political superiors or special interests. And it is a matter of common experience that independence of tenure is a prerequisite of independence of judgment.
Formation of Heterobimetallic Zirconium/Cobalt Diimido Complexes via a Four-Electron Transformation

The reactivity of the reduced heterobimetallic complex Zr(iPrNPiPr2)3CoN2 (1) toward aryl azides was examined, revealing a four-electron redox transformation to afford unusual heterobimetallic zirconium/cobalt diimido complexes. In the case of p-tolyl azide, the diamagnetic C3-symmetric bis(terminal imido) complex 3 is formed, but mesityl azide instead leads to asymmetric complex 4 featuring a bridging imido fragment.
Does Diversity Among Co-Investing Venture Capitalists Add Value for Entrepreneurial Companies? Dissertation Executive Summary

The number of syndicate partners in the first round of venture capital financing is positively related to the success of the entrepreneurial company. I examine whether heterogeneity within the syndicate drives this. I find that syndicates composed of venture capital firms from different geographic regions perform better than syndicates composed of venture capital firms from the same region. But I find that syndicates that are diverse in terms of organizational structure (traditional, corporate, bank, angel) perform no better than those that are not. My results are consistent with the notion that syndicate partners add value through their access to different business ecosystems.
Quantification of Heteroaggregation between Citrate-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles and Hematite Colloids

Collisions with and attachment to natural colloids (heteroaggregation) is likely to influence significantly the fate, transport, and toxicity of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). This study investigated heteroaggregation between hematite (α-Fe2O3) colloids and citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (Cit-AuNPs) using a novel approach involving time-resolved dynamic light scattering and parallel experiments designed to quantify nanoparticle attachment and heteroaggregate surface charge. Experiments were performed in low ionic strength synthetic water at environmentally relevant pH in the presence and absence of Suwannee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM). In the absence of SRNOM at pH values where Cit-AuNPs and hematite are oppositely charged, attachment efficiencies are high and Cit-AuNPs are capable of destabilizing hematite following an “electrostatic patch” mechanism. Furthermore, maximum observed surface coverages were far below those predicted by geometry alone, a fact predicted by the random sequential a...
Production and electrical characterization of the reflectin A2 isoform from Doryteuthis (Loligo) pealeii

Cephalopods have recently emerged as a source of inspiration for the development of novel functional materials. Within this context, a number of studies have explored structural proteins known as reflectins, which play a key role in cephalopod adaptive coloration in vivo and exhibit interesting properties in vitro. Herein, we report an improved high-yield strategy for the preparation and isolation of reflectins in quantities sufficient for materials applications. We first select the Doryteuthis (Loligo) pealeii reflectin A2 (RfA2) isoform as a “model” system and validate our approach for the expression and purification of this protein. We in turn fabricate RfA2-based two-terminal devices and employ both direct and alternating current measurements to demonstrate that RfA2 films conduct protons. Our findings underscore the potential of reflectins as functional materials and may allow a wider range of researchers to investigate their properties.
Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Responses to Spermine Stress

Spermine (Spm), a potent bactericidal polyamine, exerts a strong synergistic effect with β-lactams against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To explore the Spm-based antibacterial targets in S. aureus, time course-dependent transcriptome analysis was conducted on Mu50 (MRSA) in the absence and presence of Spm. Genes in the sigB regulon and most ATP-producing pathways were found down-regulated when exposure to high dose Spm. In contrast, a number of genes for iron acquisition and regulation showed significant induction, indicating a specific connection between Spm and iron-depletion. The tetM gene for tetracycline (Tc) resistance exhibited most significant fold change among the listed genes. It was specifically upregulated by Tc and Spm but not by other ribosome-targeted drugs or other polyamines; however, such induction of tetM cannot confer resistance to Spm. A set of genes for osmotic balance, including kdpABCDE for potassium ion uptake and regulation, was also induced by Spm stress. Addition of KCl or NaCl, but not high concentration sucrose, was found to increase Spm MIC over 30-fold. In summary, transcriptome analysis demonstrated a specific pattern of response upon Spm exposure, suggesting Spm may alter the intracellular iron status and suppress the SigB regulon to exert its toxicity.
Experimental determination of quartz solubility and melting in the system SiO 2 –H 2 O–NaCl at 15–20 kbar and 900–1100 °C: implications for silica polymerization and the formation of supercritical fluids

We investigated quartz solubility and melting in the system SiO2–NaCl–H2O at 15–20 kbar and 900–1100 °C using hydrothermal piston–cylinder methods. The solubility of natural, high-purity quartz was determined by weight loss. Quartz solubility decreases with increasing NaCl mole fraction (X NaCl) at fixed pressure and temperature. The decline is greatest at low X NaCl. The solubility patterns can be explained by changes in the concentration and identity of silica oligomers. Modeling of results at 1000 °C, 15 kbar, reveals that silica monomers and dimers predominate at low Si concentration (high X NaCl), that higher oligomers assumed to be trimers become detectable at X NaCl = 0.23, and that the trimers contain >50 % of dissolved Si at X NaCl = 0. The modeling further implies a hydration number for the silica monomer of 1.6, significantly lower than is observed in previous studies. Results at 15 kbar and 1100 °C provide evidence of two coexisting fluid phases. Although solubility could not be determined directly in these cases, the presence or absence of phases over a range of bulk compositions permitted mapping of the topology of the phase diagram. At 1100 °C, 15 kbar, addition of only a small amount of NaCl (X NaCl = 0.05) leads to separation of two fluid phases, one rich in H2O and SiO2, the other rich in NaCl with lower SiO2. Textural identification of two fluids is supported by very low quench pH due to preferential partitioning of Na into the fluid that is rich in SiO2 and H2O, confirmed by electron microprobe analyses. The addition of NaCl causes the upper critical end point on the SiO2–H2O melting curve to migrate to significantly higher pressure. Correspondence between depolymerization and phase separation of SiO2–H2O–NaCl fluids indicates that polymerization plays a fundamental role in producing critical mixing behavior in silicate–fluid systems.
Epistemology and the Law of Evidence

As for the philosophers, they make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths; and their discourses are as the stars, which give little light, because they are so high. —Francis Bacon Even today, more than four centuries later, Bacon’s complaint still resonates. Now, as then, the writings of philosophers—even of philosophers of law, who might be expected to be a little more grounded in the real world—all too often “give little light, because they are so high.” I will try to buck this trend by showing you that epistemological ideas really can illuminate real-life legal issues. IDENTIFYING EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THE LAW Every legal system needs, somehow, to determine the truth of factual questions. At one time, courts in England and continental Europe relied on in-court tests—“proof” in the old meaning of the English word (a meaning that still survives in descriptions of liquor as “80% proof,” and in the old proverb “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”). In trial by oath, a defendant would be asked to swear on the testament or on a reliquary that he was innocent, and “oath-helpers” or “con-jurors” might be called to swear that his oath wasn’t foresworn; in trial by ordeal, a defendant might be asked, e.g., to pick up a ring from the bottom of a cauldron of boiling water, and his arm would later be checked to determine whether it had healed cleanly or had festered—which supposedly showed that he was guilty; in trial by combat, the two parties to a case would literally fight it out.
Students in computer ethics-speak up

As of January 4, 2010, all researchers applying for funding from the National Science Foundation must provide evidence that they will educate their students and postdocs in the ethics of responsible research. In addition, NSF is soliciting proposals for establishing an online Resource Center for Ethics in Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Engineering. Such actions highlight the need for effective and relevant instruction in ethics. This paper presents effective and non-traditional techniques used in teaching computer ethics at the University of Mary Washington. This paper will address the benefits of meeting traditional objectives through student classroom participation and presentations in addition to formal writing assignments.
Colloidal CdSe Quantum Rings

Semiconductor quantum rings are of great fundamental interest because their non-trivial topology creates novel physical properties. At the same time, toroidal topology is difficult to achieve for colloidal nanocrystals and epitaxially grown semiconductor nanostructures. In this work, we introduce the synthesis of luminescent colloidal CdSe nanorings and nanostructures with double and triple toroidal topology. The nanorings form during controlled etching and rearrangement of two-dimensional nanoplatelets. We discuss a possible mechanism of the transformation of nanoplatelets into nanorings and potential utility of colloidal nanorings for magneto-optical (e.g., Aharonov–Bohm effect) and other applications.
Voice Transport Techniques over MPLS

In this paper, we discuss currently evolving technologies for packet based real-time voice communication. Packet based voice has gained popularity in the toll-quality market due to its flexibility and cost effectiveness. IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is being developed for converged voice and data services. While initially it was intended for mobile networks, it has been expanded to include support for fixed networks. In the wired network, the quality of service needed for media traffic can be provided by MPLS and related protocols. The traffic engineering and quality of service mechanisms of MPLS and Diffserv allow the differential treatment of premium traffic on predefined LSPs (Label Switched Path). Recently T-MPLS has been introduced as the transport network for connection oriented packet switched traffic, dropping some of the MPLS features that were irrelevant for connection oriented applications. We introduce IMS and then look at implementation agreements, methods and protocols for transport of voice over MPLS (multi protocol label switching) networks.
Verifying cone-beam CT extended axial coverage with iterative reconstruction using real data

The limited detector size of cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging devices restricts their axial coverage. We previously found in simulation studies that the useful axial coverage could be extended by using two circular scans at different axial positions. By combining this dual scan with iterative reconstruction techniques, we can increase the useful field of view while providing better image quality in the region between the two circles. Here we experimentally verify our previous simulation studies with real phantom scan data. We found that even with real data, iterative techniques reconstruct more of the imaged volume with less cone-angle artifacts than using the stacked analytic reconstructions of the two scanned volumes. This indicates iterative reconstruction with dual circle trajectories can be used to extend axial coverage in CBCT.
Modeling interfaces between solids: Application to Li battery materials

We present a general scheme to model an energy for analyzing interfaces between crystalline solids, quantitatively including the effects of varying configurations and lattice strain. This scheme is successfully applied to the modeling of likely interface geometries of several solid state battery materials including Li metal, ${\mathrm{Li}}_{3}{\mathrm{PO}}_{4}, {\mathrm{Li}}_{3}{\mathrm{PS}}_{4}, {\mathrm{Li}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$, and ${\mathrm{Li}}_{2}\mathrm{S}$. Our formalism, together with a partial density of states analysis, allows us to characterize the thickness, stability, and transport properties of these interfaces. We find that all of the interfaces in this study are stable with the exception of ${\mathrm{Li}}_{3}{\mathrm{PS}}_{4}/\mathrm{Li}$. For this chemically unstable interface, the partial density of states helps to identify mechanisms associated with the interface reactions. Our energetic measure of interfaces and our analysis of the band alignment between interface materials indicate multiple factors, which may be predictors of interface stability, an important property of solid electrolyte systems.
Effect of Etomidate on Pneumonia Development in Critically Ill, Nontrauma Patients.

Purpose:To determine whether etomidate use before intubation increased development of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in critically ill, nontrauma patients.Materials and Methods:A single-center, ...
How Neighborhoods Influence Health: Lessons to be learned from the application of political ecology.

Abstract AIM This paper articulates how political ecology can be a useful tool for asking fundamental questions and applying relevant methods to investigate structures that impact relationship between neighborhood and health. Through a narrative analysis, we identify how political ecology can develop our future agendas for neighborhood-health research as it relates to social, political, environmental, and economic structures. Political ecology makes clear the connection between political economy and neighborhood by highlighting the historical and structural processes that produce and maintain social inequality, which affect health and well-being. These concepts encourage researchers to examine how people construct neighborhood and health in different ways that, in turn, can influence different health outcomes and, thus, efforts to address solutions.
METHODOLOGY: DISCRIMINANT FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITIONAL DATA: AN EXAMPLE FROM HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY

Many of the data sets analyzed by physical geographers are compositional in nature: they have row vectors that add to one (or 100%). These unit-sum constrained data sets should not be analyzed by s...
Eruptive Keratoacanthomas Associated With Pembrolizumab Therapy.

Importance To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of eruptive keratoacanthomas (KAs) in patients receiving pembrolizumab. Objective To report the cases of 3 consecutive patients with pembrolizumab-induced eruptive KAs and their management. Design, Setting, and Participants Case report study of 3 patients from 2 centers with pembrolizumab-treated cancer who all developed eruptive KAs. Interventions All 3 patients had AK treatment with clobetasol ointment and intralesional triamcinolone; 2 patients also underwent open superficial cryosurgery. Results Three consecutive patients with cancer, 2 men and 1 woman (median age, 83 years; range 77-91 years), experienced pembrolizumab-associated eruptive KAs. All patients presented with a sudden onset of multiple lesions on sun-exposed areas of their extremities after a median of 13 months (range, 4-18 months) of pembrolizumab therapy. On lesional biopsy, a lichenoid infiltrate was observed in the underlying dermis, predominantly composed of CD3+T cells, scattered CD20+B cells, and relatively few PD-1+(programmed cell death 1–positive) T cells, an immunophenotypic pattern also observed in other cases of anti–PD-1–induced lichenoid dermatitis. Patients were treated with clobetasol ointment and intralesional triamcinolone, alone or in combination with open superficial cryosurgery. All KAs resolved in all patients, and no new lesions occurred during close follow-up. Pembrolizumab treatment was continued without disruption in all 3 cases, and all patients had complete responses of their primary cancers. Conclusions and Relevance Pembrolizumab is used in advanced melanoma, advanced non–small-cell lung cancer, and in head and neck cancer. A variety of dermatologic immune-related adverse events including maculopapular eruption, lichenoid reactions, pruritus, and vitiligo have been described. This case series demonstrates that pembrolizumab therapy may also be associated with eruptive KAs with characteristic dermal inflammation, which improved with corticosteroid treatment (topical and intralesional) alone or in combination with cryosurgery, allowing patients to continue therapy with pembrolizumab.
Putting Nanoparticles to Work: Self-propelled Inorganic Micro- and Nanomotors

The development of nanomotors (nano- and micron sized particles that convert energy into mechanical movement) is an exciting endeavor. Nanomotors have been crafted in an extensive variety of sizes, morphologies and compositions for applications such as drug delivery, cargo transport, sensing , and lithography. Inspired by nature’s elegant use of chemical gradients and cellular tracks for independently driven molecular processes, a variety of machines have been created. With the recent bestowment of the Nobel Prize for molecular machines, this concept is being actively pursued to create inorganic nano- and microparticles that independently move for a gamut of applications.
Enriching Educational Leadership Through Community Equity Literacy: A Conceptual Foundation

ABSTRACTEducational leaders are essential to fostering authentic and equitable partnerships between schools and communities. Yet, many aspiring principals leave preparation programs underprepared to develop these partnerships, counter inequitable neighborhood conditions, and work in solidarity with community stakeholders. Therefore, this article describes work to develop a conceptual framework around community equity literacy (CEL) to build educational leaders’ capacity, an assessment instrument to measure CEL, and a future research agenda. The CEL conceptual framework is anchored in leadership theories, research on school–community partnerships, and the national Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. This article concludes with implications for leader preparation and further research.
Spacecraft Alignment Determination and Control for Dual Spacecraft Precision Formation Flying

Abstract Many proposed formation flying missions seek to advance the state of the art in spacecraft science imaging by utilizing dual-spacecraft precision formation flying (PFF) to enable a “virtual” telescope (VT). Using precision dual-spacecraft alignment, very long focal lengths can be achieved by locating the optics on one spacecraft and the detector on the other. Proposed science missions include astrophysics concepts for X-ray imaging and exo-planet observation with large spacecraft separations (1000 km–80,000 km), and heliophysics concepts for X-ray or extreme ultra-violet (EUV) imaging or solar coronagraphs with smaller separations (50 m–500 m). These proposed missions require advances in guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) for PFF to enable high resolution science imaging. For many applications, the dual-spacecraft dynamics are coupled through the GN&C system when the relative ranging and position alignment sensor components are not co-located with their respective spacecraft mass centers. We develop a model-based PFF system design approach for the VT application, considering the coupling inherent in precision dual-spacecraft inertial alignment. These systems employ a variety of GN&C sensors and actuators, including laser-based alignment and ranging systems, camera-based imaging sensors, inertial measurement units (IMU), as well as microthruster systems and image motion compensation platforms. Results of a GN&C performance assessment reveal how data from relative position sensors can be employed in a Kalman filter framework to significantly improve alignment estimation performance. The assessment provides a comparison of two different GN&C formation flying architectures, illustrating the performance trades inherent in the choice of PFF system architecture in the VT application.
Community College Students’ Experiences with Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study is to understand how students experiencing homelessness experience community college. In particular, the authors focus on the multifaceted traumas that negatively imp...
Isotropic Crystal Identification

Isotropic substances are those in which light travels with the same velocity regardless of direction. Isotropic substances include crystals of the isometric (cubic) system, unstrained glasses, both natural and artificial, and most liquids and gases.1
Order-Disorder Transformation in Cu-Au Alloys Near the Composition CuAu

Results of a Debye-Scherrer X-ray investigation are given which show that the order-disorder transformation is a first-order or heterogeneous reaction in Cu-Au alloys with compositions near CuAu. Evidence was found for conventional tie-line segregation across a usual type of two-phase field separating the ordered and disordered fields in the Cu-Au equilibrium phase diagram. The horizontal and vertical widths of the two-phase fields are about 3 atomic pct and 20°C, respectively, at 43 and 54 atomic pct Au. No evidence for the existence of an ordered structure based on a stoichiometric composition of Cu3Au2 could be found.
New insight for activity intensity relativity, metabolic expenditure during object projection skill performance.

ABSTRACTThis study examined the metabolic cost (METs) of performing object projection skills at three practice trial intervals (6, 12, and 30 seconds). Forty adults (female n = 20) aged 18–30 (M = 23.7 ± 2.9 years) completed three, nine-minute sessions of skill trials performed at 6, 12, and 30 second intervals. Participants performed kicking, throwing and striking trials in a blocked schedule with maximal effort. Average METs during each session were measured using a COSMED K4b2. A three (interval condition) X two (sex) ANOVA was conducted to examine differences in METs across interval conditions and by sex. Results indicated a main effect for interval condition (F(5,114) = 187.02, p < .001, η2 = 0.76) with decreased interval times yielding significantly higher METs [30 sec = 3.45, 12 sec = 5.68, 6 sec = 8.21]. A main effect for sex (F(5, 114) = 35.39, p < .001, η2 = 0.24) also was found with men demonstrating higher METs across all intervals. At a rate of only two trials/min, participants elicited moder...
Impacts of Wild Horses, Cattle, and Wildlife on Riparian Areas in Idaho

On the Ground • Our study confirms that grazing by cattle and horses can negatively impact riparian ecosystems if not properly managed. • Population levels and grazing patterns of wild free-roaming horses limit management options, potentially leading to rangeland and riparian degradation. • Grazing by wild free-roaming horses and cattle in riparian areas caused streambank disturbance and reductions in stubble height and herbaceous biomass. • Both wild free-roaming horses and cattle affected riparian attributes while wildlife had little effect. • Horses had a greater negative impact than did cattle when examined on an individual animal basis. • Managers and ranchers in areas with wild free-roaming horses will need to consider potential impacts of unmanaged wild free-roaming horses in combination with livestock to mitigate the cumulative effects of multiple species of grazers on riparian condition.
The Shape of a Gravity Finger in a Rectangular Channel in Homogeneous Porous Media

Using conformal mapping techniques, we derive analytical expressions for the shape of a propagating finger in a rectangular channel in homogeneous porous media, in the absence of interfacial tension, but in the presence of gravity, acting in a direction transverse to the direction of displacement. The gravity finger propagates either along the top or the bottom boundaries of the channel, depending on the density contrast between displacing and displaced fluids. Thus, the model describes the respective cases of gravity override or gravity underrunning, which occur when a lighter fluid phase displaces a heavier one and vice-versa. The solution is expressed in terms of the finger thickness, which is a free parameter in this model. When gravity is neglected, the solution reduces to the classical solution of the Saffman–Taylor finger. Numerical illustrations are provided to examine the sensitivity of the finger geometry to the various parameters, following the scaling theory of Brener et al. (1991).
Is Eastern Hardwood Sawtimber Becoming Scarcer

In recent years the hardwood lumber industry has become increasingly concerned about the availability and quality of hardwood sawtimber. However, these concerns seem to contradict USDA Forest Service estimates of increased volume and quality of hardwood sawtimber. This paper examines changes in eastern hardwood sawtimber inventories and the apparent contradiction between the industry's perception of decreasing sawtimber availability and the Forest Service's contention of increasing timber inventories. This study did not find a single explanation for the apparent contradiction. Many of the perceived differences appear to result from the fact that industry draws its conclusions from specific situations confined to finite procurement areas while Forest Survey statistics are based on aggregated data.
Indications, image acquisition, processing and review and prognostic value of Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) cardiac PET-CT

1020 Learning Objectives After reviewing this presentation, attendees will be familiar with (1) the indications, (2) image acquisition, processing and review and (3) prognostic value of Rb-82 cardiac PET-CT. Rb-82 cardiac PET-CT is a relatively new modality in cardiac imaging whose utilization is expected to increase in the coming years. While the image acquisition, processing and review for Rb-82 cardiac PET-CT are largely standardized, there is still room for refinement in these areas. On the other hand, indications and even more so the prognostic value of Rb-82 PET-CT are still in development. In this presentation, we will describe image acquisition and processing for of Rb-82 cardiac PET-CT. We will also analyze based on illustrative examples various aspects of image review process in Rb-82 cardiac PET-CT such as recognizing misregistration of the cardiac silhouette between PET and CT and the diagnostic value of coronary calcifications. Furthermore, we will discuss the current status and future directions regarding indications for Rb-82 PET (vs SPECT, CT and MRI) and its prognostic value
The Relationship between Part 121 Pilots’ Age and Accident Rates

This ex post facto study examined the relationship between Part 121 pilots’ age and accident rate per 1000 flight hours using data from Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing(ASIAS) for the 14-year period 1998–2011. Of the 970 aviation events reported, 267 met our definition of an accident, which followed the FAA’s definition but also included a more restrictive requirement that the accident had to be related to pilot error. Of the 267 aviation accidents, 97 (36%) had missing age or flight hours data, which reduced the sample size to N = 170. Regression analyses confirmed neither a significant bivariate linear relationship, r2 = .007, F(1, 35) = 0.26, p = .6127, nor a quadratic relationship, R2 = .102, F (2, 34) = 1.93, p = .1601,between pilot age and accident rate. Furthermore, although the increment in explained variance (sr2) between the linear and quadratic models was .095, this increment was not significant, F(1, 35) = 3.687, p = .0630. Findings indicate that pilot age was not a significant predictor of aviation accident rates with respect to accidents that involved pilot error. A recommendation for practice is for the FAA to reconsider the age restriction for Part 121 pilots, and for the NTSB to strive for data completeness and integrity by ensuring that all the data are collected and included in their investigation reports.
Evaluation of crystalline lens and intraocular lens tilt using a swept-source optical coherence tomography biometer.

Purpose To evaluate crystalline lens and intraocular lens (IOL) tilt using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer (IOLMaster 700). Setting Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Design Retrospective case series. Methods The study patients were evaluated for 1) repeatability of the crystalline lens tilt measurement, 2) preoperative crystalline lens and postoperative IOL tilt in right eyes, 3) mirror symmetry between right eyes and left eyes, 4) the correlation between preoperative crystalline lens and postoperative IOL tilt, and 5) the correlation between the magnitude of lens tilt and ocular parameters. Results The study comprised 333 patients. The repeatability was 0.1 degrees for tilt magnitude and 3.0 degrees for tilt direction. Both the crystalline lens and IOL had anterior tilt of the nasal portion with mean tilt magnitudes of 3.7 degrees ± 1.1 (SD) (range 0.4 to 6.9 degrees) for the crystalline lens and 4.9 ± 1.8 degrees (range 1.6 to 10.7 degrees) for the IOL. There was mirror symmetry between right eyes and left eyes. The mean IOL tilt magnitude exceeded crystalline lens tilt by 1.2 ± 1.1 degrees (range −3.2 to 4.0 degrees), and the 2 values were significantly correlated (all P Conclusions The repeatability of crystalline lens tilt measurements using the SS-OCT biometer was excellent. There was mirror symmetry between the right eyes and left eyes. Preoperative crystalline lens tilt could be used to predict the postoperative IOL tilt. The lens tilt magnitude was greater in short eyes and in eyes with larger angle α.