cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis are a common diagnosis seen in the primary care office. Symptoms of both conditions include neurogenic claudication and/or lower extremity radiculopathy. A thorough workup will help differentiate etiologies with overlapping symptoms, such as vascular claudication. For both conditions, the mainstay of treatment is nonsurgical in the absence of a neurologic deficit. A shared decision for surgical treatment is made with the patient and surgeon based on the impact on a patient’s quality of life.
Exploring Barriers to Medication Safety in an Ethiopian Hospital Emergency Department: A Human Factors Engineering Approach

Objective: To describe challenges associated with the medication use process and potential medication safety hazards in an Ethiopian hospital emergency department using a human factors approach. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study employing observations and semi-structured interviews guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model of work system as an analytical framework. The study was conducted in the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Ethiopia. Study participants included resident doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. We performed content analysis of the qualitative data using accepted procedures. Results: Organizational barriers included communication failures, limited supervision and support for junior staff contributing to role ambiguity and conflict. Compliance with documentation policy was minimal. Task related barriers included frequent interruptions and work-related stress resulting from job requirements to continuously prioritize the needs of large numbers of patients and family members. Person related barriers included limited training and work experience. Work-related fatigue due to long working hours interfered with staff’s ability to document and review medication orders. Equipment breakdowns were common as were non-calibrated or poorly maintained medical devices contributing to erroneous readings. Key environment related barriers included overcrowding and frequent interruption of staff’s work. Cluttering of the work space compounded the problem by impeding efforts to locate medications, medical supplies or medical charts. Conclusions: Applying a systems based approach allows a context specific understanding of medication safety hazards in EDs from low-income countries. When developing interventions to improve medication and overall patient safety, health leaders should consider the interactions of the different factors. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties". Treatment of Human Subjects: IRB review/approval required and obtained Type: Original Research
The effect of reticulocytosis in the rabbit on the activities of enzymes in pyrimidine biosynthesis.

Five sequential enzymes leading to the formation of uridine-59-phosphate were studied in acetophenylhydrazine-induced reticulocytes in the rabbit. All of these enzymes—aspartate carbamyltransferase, dihydroorotase, dihydroorotic dehydrogenase, orotidylic pyrophosphorylase, and orotidylic decarboxylase—decreased markedly in activity during in vivo maturation and aging of the reticulocytes. In analogy to previous studies on purine nucleotide biosynthesis, it is concluded that the reticulocyte, but not the mature erythrocyte, is capable of de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis.
Information technologies in educational organizations: an innovative collaborative course development, delivery and evaluation

In this chapter, the collaborative design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a new interdisciplinary course being offered by Syracuse University's School of Information Studies and School of Education are described. The course was offered to graduate students in response to the need to revise two master's degree programs at Syracuse University and in order to satisfy new state competency standards for certification as Educational Technologists and School Library Media Specialists. The course development process, course objectives, course content and activities, and the results of a formative and summative evaluation conducted by the researchers are included, as well as recommendations for future implementation, including distance delivery.
INTERFACE STATES RESULTING FROM A HOLE FLUX INCIDENT ON ON THE SiO2/Si INTERFACE

ABSTRACT Interface states are produced in MOS capacitors following exposure to pulsed e-beam irradiation. Data is presented here which show that, in addition to hole transport to the SiO 2 /Si interface, a positive field must be maintained across that interface to observe the long-term time-dependent buildup of interface states in wet-oxide capacitors. Results of detailed experiments on the time dependence of the interface-state buildup in wet-oxide MOS capacitors suggest that some chemical species in a metastable state in the SiO 2 /Si interface region must be removed in order to produce an interface state. Processes occurring at the interface that may be responsible for the buildup of interface states in wet- and dry-oxide capacitors are discussed.
Asymptotic Diffusive Limits for Transport in Markovian Mixtures

We consider the problem of neutral particle transport in a stochastic Markovian mixture consisting of an arbitrary number M of immiscible fluids. The Liouville master equation is used to obtain a model for the ensemble-averaged angular flux. This model consists of M coupled transport equations. If the absorption can be reduced to a diffusive description. Depending upon the scaling of the Markovian transition lengths, the diffusive limit consists of either a single diffusion equation or a set of M coupled diffusion equations. The asymptotic analysis is also used to derive appropriate initial and boundary conditions for each diffusion equation.
Design with Advanced Ceramics

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the comparison of ceramic and metallic design and guidelines for brittle material design. High-performance ceramics are brittle, failing at low strains even on the scale of the smallest subelement of the component. Metals, even rather brittle ones, have sufficient capacity for plastic deformation to redistribute loads on a microscopic and usually, but not always, macroscopic basis in the presence of stress concentrations. Ceramics do not have this capability, and as a consequence, they are extremely sensitive to any condition that may give rise to a stress gradient where the local peak stress may exceed the strength of the material, even though the average stress would be well below the strength of the material. Ceramic materials are very sensitive to internal and surface flaws, point loads, and thermal gradients that cause stress gradients. In the structural use of ceramics, regions or points of load transfer are most commonly observed to be the origin of failure. It is found that the stress gradients in these regions are the most difficult to control, and overstressing is likely to occur.
The structure of a new metabolic derivative of quinine

The isolation and crystallization of a product obtained by the in vitro action of rabbit liver on quinine (I) have recently been described by Kelsey, Geiling, Oldham, and Dearborn (1). The work reported here was undertaken with the object of obtaining information, as rapidly as possible, as to the possible structure of this product, which might prove useful in other malarial investigations. Thus no attempt has been made to obtain or present a rigid proof of structure of the metabolic product, which, for convenience, will be referred to as QDP (quinine-derived product). Evidence will be presented which suggests that QDP is levorotatory 2’-hydroxy-6’-methoxy-3-vinylruban-9-ol (II), according to the notation introduced by Rabe (2).
So You Want to Have a Second Child? Second Child Bias and the Justification Suppression Model of Prejudice in Family Responsibilities Discrimination

Traditionally, advocates for women discriminated against in the workplace have asserted legal claims based on theories of sex discrimination, namely that such employment discrimination was occurring to women because they were women. In the past decade, however, a new theory of employment discrimination against women who are mothers has emerged. The umbrella term “Family Responsibilities Discrimination” encompasses the wide array of ways in which employers discriminate against caregivers in the workplace. These theories assert that such discrimination is occurring not just because these employees are women but because they are mothers. While still framed as “sex discrimination,” claims asserted under the umbrella of Family Responsibilities Discrimination argue that such discrimination is based on impermissible gender stereotypes concerning the culturally-assigned role of “mother.” This Article asserts that a discrete form of Family Responsibilities Discrimination is emerging in the workplace. This discrimination is called the “Second Child Bias” and results from a new stereotype, which I call the “Second Child Stereotype.” The Article explains that, while no court has expressly recognized employment discrimination based on the Second Child Bias, such a claim is on solid doctrinal footing based on prior precedent construing Title VII, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and various state and local laws. The Article then posits that the cause of the Second Child Bias is a psychological phenomenon known as the Justification Suppression Model of Prejudice. The Article concludes that it is both legally and normatively important to recognize and name the Second Child Bias as a discrete and unique sub-set of Family Responsibilities Discrimination. The naming of the Second Child Bias, and the underlying Second Child Stereotype, will advance the larger goals of Family Responsibilities Discrimination litigation and scholarship: Making factually and legally cognizable what presently are merely normative claims of working mothers with two children and ending employment discrimination against them. The Article advances these goals by adding to the continuing discussion about the force with which federal and state anti-discrimination laws should push back the cultural expectations that create categorical gender and caregiving roles for men and women.
Local capillary trapping in carbon sequestration: Parametric study and implications for leakage assessment

Abstract Local capillary trapping (LCT) is the trapping of CO2 by local capillary barriers. It occurs during buoyancy-driven migration of bulk phase CO2 within a saline aquifer exhibiting spatially varying properties (permeability and capillary entry pressure). The benefit of LCT, in the context of CO2 sequestration, is that local capillary trapped CO2 is not susceptible to leakage through failed seals. However, it is unclear how the petrophsyical/geological properties and flow dynamics influence LCT. Thus, the objective of this work is to evaluate the degree to which potential local capillary traps are filled and quantify the extent of immobilization persisting after loss of seal integrity. This paper presents a systematic and thorough study of the influential parameters of LCT. Fine-scale capillary pressure fields are generated by using geostatistical permeability realizations and applying the Leverett j-function. Multiple factors are examined, including injection rate, anisotropy, formation dip, aquifer types, residual gas saturation, and capillary hysteresis. Leakage representative of wellbore failure is simulated, and LCT after leakage is evaluated and compared to other trapping mechanisms. The results show that local capillary traps in the near-well region can be fully filled during injection. Moreover, they remain filled after post-injection buoyancy-driven flow ends. The filling efficiency of local capillary traps increases with the decrease in gravity number (ratio of buoyant force over viscous force). As a result, maximizing LCT in carbon sequestration in porous reservoirs may be achievable with the implementation of appropriate injection strategies.
Larval fish assemblages from channels and fjords of south Pacific Patagonia: effects of environmental conditions

Chilean Patagonian fjords are characterized by strong stratification and chemical gradients which influence the ichthyoplankton distribution and abundance. Plankton samples were collected through bongo net oblique tows in 40 stations from onboard a bio-oceanographic cruise took place in inner fjords of southern Chile (47° to 51°S). Water column physical data were obtained with a conductivity-temperature-depth profiler (CTD) and turbidity was measured with a portable turbidimeter from 0 to 100 m depth. Stations were distributed by three zones: oceanic, channels and continental waters. A total of 1424 larvae were collected, representing 21 families. Dominant taxa were Maurolicus parvipinnis (31%), Sebastes oculatus (12%), Merluccius australis (11%), Lampanyctodes hectoris (10%), and Bathylagichthys parini (8%). Most of the environmental variability was determined by salinity, mainly in the area where continental waters are discharged. The water column in the oceanic zone presented mixed waters dominated by the myctophid L. hectoris and the sternoptychid M. parvipinnis . No significant effect of turbidity gradients on larval fish assemblages was evident during spring. The channel zone was both more saline, and density stratified with less turbidity, and lower abundance of species. Two ichthyoplanktonic assemblages were evident, one living in oceanic waters, and the other from channels and inner zones.
Variation in Nonsurgical Services for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Across a Large Integrated Health Care System.

Purpose To evaluate facility-level variation in the use of services for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods A national cohort of VHA patients diagnosed with CTS during fiscal year 2013 was divided into nonsurgical and operative treatment groups for comparison. We assessed the use of 5 types of CTS-related services (electrodiagnostic studies [EDS], imaging, steroid injection, oral steroids, and therapeutic modalities) in the prediagnosis and postdiagnosis periods before any operative intervention at the patient and facility levels. Results Among 72,599 patients newly diagnosed with CTS, 5,666 (7.8%) received carpal tunnel release within 12 months. The remaining 66,933 (92.2%) were in the nonsurgical group. Therapeutic modalities and EDS were the most commonly employed services after the index diagnosis and had large facility-level variation in use. At the facility level, the use of therapeutic modalities ranged from 0% to 93% in the operative group (mean, 32%) compared with 1% to 67% (mean, 30%) in the nonsurgical group. The use of EDS in the postdiagnosis period ranged from 0% to 100% (mean, 59%) in the operative treatment group and 0% to 55% (mean, 26%) in the nonsurgical group at the facility level. Conclusions There is wide facility variation in the use of services for CTS among patients receiving operative and nonsurgical treatment. Care delivered by facilities with the highest and lowest rates of service use may suggest overuse and underuse, respectively, of nonsurgical CTS services and a lack of consideration of individual patient factors in making health care decisions regarding use. Clinical relevance Surgeons must understand the degree of treatment variability for CTS, comprehend the ramifications of large variation in reimbursement and waste in the health care system, and become involved in devising strategies to optimize hand care across all phases of care.
Improving patient timeliness of care through efficient outpatient clinic layout design using data-driven simulation and optimisation.

With greater demand for outpatient services, the importance of patient-centric clinic layout design that improves timeliness of patient care has become more elucidated. In this paper, a novel simul...
Preferences for exercise among black individuals with multiple sclerosis.

BackgroundThe promotion of exercise among black individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for managing the functional and symptomatic manifestations of MS.ObjectiveThe objective of this...
The Train Has Left the Station: Latino Aging in the New South

In the South, as in much of the United States, the demographic train has left the station. For over a decade the region has been attractive to migrants leaving either a Latin American country or areas of the United States with weaker economies and/or higher costs of living. Our projections going out to 2040 show continued growth under virtually all assumptions, signaling a permanent shift in what had traditionally not been a destination for Hispanics. Using U.S. Census data and other sources to develop projections, the core of our argument is that as the cohort of older (65 years and over) Latinos grows in North Carolina, there will be concomitant political shifts. Children who are citizens will eventually become eligible to vote, legislative districts will be transformed, and Hispanic adults will be taking care of a growing elderly population.
Gel formation on nodal root surfaces ofZea mays. Some observations relevant to understanding its action at the root-soil interface

A gel forms on the surface of nodal roots of corn. We have made observations relevant to parameters of its molecular size, the nature of its interaction with clay, and the actual existence of it under normal root growth. In so doing we have anticipated that it is similar to if not the same as the mucilagenous gel at the root soil interface, and that the knowledge gained would be useful in understanding the processes operating at this interface.
Preparation and Application of Radiation-Grafted Hydrogels as Biomaterials

Hydrogels refer to a class of water swollen, lightly cross-linked polymeric gels which have been mentioned often as useful biomaterials (e.g., 1,2). Although they may be used in bulk forms, as in the soft contact lens, there are many applications where the mechanical demands are too great for typical hydrogels, and then such materials are best used as coatings on stronger supports. Although some polymeric supports are readily coated by solution dip coating techniques (3), there are many polymers of biomedical interest which are not so easily coated. The technique of radiation grafting (e.g., 4) is especially suitable for depositing coatings of a wide variety of hydrophilic polymer compositions and thicknesses onto and within almost any shape or composition of support polymer (e.g., 5–14). Over the past three years* our group has been applying this method, using cobalt-60 radiation, to produce directly or precursors of a whole family of new biomaterials (6–8, 10–12). This paper describes some of the highlights of our studies; most details of materials and procedures may be found in these references.
Chronic Bronchitis: Where Are We Now?

CB is a common disorder that is associated with an accelerated lung function decline, increased risk of exacerbations, and a higher mortality. How it is defined is under evolution. There is a growing need for more studies using a uniformly accepted contemporary definition that reflects not only its clinical phenotype but also embodies its prognostic and therapeutic implications. Cigarette smoking is the most well-established risk factor, but more exposures are being elucidated. As marijuana and electronic cigarette smoking may become increasingly common, more information regarding their harmful effects in regards to CB will come to light. A great need for more information regarding therapy is also apparent. Although a number of options exist, they are either not supported by robust data or are fraught with side effects. Hope exists on the horizon for further research to reveal new therapeutic strategies for this dangerous condition.
Pornography: review and bibliographic annotations.

Abstract A review of 40 studies dealing with pictorial and written erotic material and related topics revealed the following general findings: (1) There is no scientifically operational definition of legal obscenity; (2) there is no foolproof method of measuring erotic arousal; (3) consistent exposure to pictorial and written erotic material leads to indifference and boredom with it; (4) both male and female subjects respond to pictorial and written erotic stimuli but with qualitatively different reactions; (5) personal history of exposure to erotic publications peaks in the late 20's to early 30's although a majority have been exposed before the age of 21 years; (6) a general liberal-conservative factor differentiates proponents of erotica from antagonists of erotica; (7) clinical data suggest that constitutional (chronosomal, hormonal) variation may play a part in responsiveness to erotic material; (8) paraphiliac interests in erotic material tend to be fixed and narrow; and (9) availability of erotic materials may have a positive and constructive effect on development of sexual normalcy.
Investigating the Outer Scale of Atmospheric Turbulence with a Hartmann Sensor

A Hartmann Turbulence Sensor (HTS) system has been used to study the outer scale of turbulence. The atmospheric turbulence power spectrum is usually presumed to obey the Kolmogorov power law within some inertial range, while at spatial frequencies outside this range, the power spectrum is expected to fall away from this curve. The outer scale is the spatial frequency where the low frequency side of this roll-off occurs. In length units the outer scale is just the inverse of this spatial frequency. In the free atmosphere, this outer scale is presumed to be on the order of a hundred meters, but near the ground, the outer scale is expected to be on the order of the height above ground. The HTS used for this study has an aperture of 16“ and employed a beam path which was around 5’ above the ground, thus the effects of the outer scale are expected to be minimal within the telescope aperture. However by relying on the cross wind to move turbulence across the telescope aperture much longer baselines can be achieved and outer scale effects can be sought. The presumption that the dominant temporal variation in turbulence is wind driven translation is called the Taylor Frozen Flow Hypothesis. When an outer scale is introduced into the Kolmogorov power spectrum the resulting power spectrum is called the von Karman power spectrum. The wave structure functions due to these two power spectra are very different, as the Kolmogorov spectrum leads to a structure function which increases without bound as the separation between points increases, whereas the structure function due to the von Karman spectrum rolls-over near the outer-scale and becomes constant. Unfortunately, the structure function itself isn't measured by the HTS. Instead, the HTS can observe the tilt differences between subapertures separated in space or time. The Taylor Frozen Flow Hypothesis can then be used to switch between time and space. It is clear in the experimental data that this presumption is largely correct for some of the cases studied. Some of the data sets were collected with the fortuitous condition that the wind was approximately perpendicular to the path, with product between the wind speed and frame rate nearly matching the subaperture spacing. The expected differential tilt variance between subaperture pairs rolls over as the subaperture spacing increases and approaches a constant value for both the Kolmogorov and von Karman power spectra, however in the case of the von Karman spectrum this roll-over happens more clearly and the differential tilt variance exhibits a broad weak peak near the outer scale. Also, in the case of the von Karman spectrum the constant value approached is smaller. Comparisons between measured differential tilt variances and those predicted by theory allows some estimates to be made about the size of outer scale.
A Simple Algebraic Channel Estimation Method for FDD Massive MIMO Systems

Downlink (DL) channel estimation from nonorthogonal training is a problem of importance in frequency division duplex based massive MIMO systems. In this paper, we propose a novel channel estimation framework to address this problem. Specifically, a structural training sequence that imposes a tensor structure on the received signal is proposed. We show that with such a training sequence, the multipath parameters of DL channels can be provably identified even when the number of paths largely exceeds the number of receive antennas-under very small training overhead. Moreover, the proposed approach does not involve any hard optimization but very lightweight algebraic operations. Simulation results are carried out to showcase the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Immediate dental implants in fibula free flaps to reconstruct the mandible: A pilot study of the short-term effects on radiotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer.

Objectives The current pilot study aims to report short-term experience as it relates to acute radiotherapy treatment outcomes comparing patients with immediate dental implants in fibula free flap reconstructions to a historical cohort of patients with fibula free flap reconstructions without dental implants. Materials and methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy, reconstruction with fibula free flaps, and adjuvant radiotherapy with (n = 10) and without immediate dental implants (n = 10) at a tertiary cancer center from 2015 to 2018 was performed (IRB #17-271). Incidence of postoperative complications, time to initiation of radiation therapy, development of acute toxicity, and patient reported outcome data were recorded. The radiation plans were evaluated to identify the mean and maximum doses received by the mandible and oral cavity as well as the locations of radiation global hot spots. Results There was a similar number of postoperative complications in both cohorts, with three events in the case group and two events in the control group. Patients with dental implants reported less trismus than control patients. Evaluation of the radiation treatment plans revealed similar median radiation global hot spots in both groups. Conclusions The current study suggests that the presence of dental implants does not increase the risk of complications following surgery or during radiation treatment. Implants do not alter radiation dosimetry but do appear to positively impact early patient quality of life. Although longer follow-up is needed, based on this preliminary experience, cancer patients should be offered this type of reconstruction without fear of impacting radiation timing or delivery.
Methylmercury Induces Metabolic Alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Role for C/EBP Transcription Factor

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known neurotoxicant; however, its role in metabolic diseases has been gaining wider attention. We have previously shown that MeHg causes metabolic alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans, leading to decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. We were, therefore, interested in whether MeHg also affects nutrient metabolism, particularly lipid homeostasis, which may contribute to the development of metabolic conditions such as obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS). RNA from wild-type worms exposed to MeHg was collected immediately after treatment and used for gene expression analysis by DNA microarray. MeHg differentially regulated 215 genes, 17 genes involved in lipid homeostasis, and 12 genes involved in carbohydrate homeostasis. Of particular interest was cebp-1, the worm ortholog to human C/EBP, a pro-adipogenic transcription factor implicated in MS. MeHg increased the expression of cebp-1 as well as pro-adipogenic transcription factors sbp-1 and nhr-49, triglyceride synthesis enzyme acl-6, and lipid transport proteins vit-2 and vit-6. Concurrent with the altered gene expression, MeHg increased triglyceride levels, lipid storage, and feeding behaviors. Worms expressing mutant cebp-1 were protected from MeHg-induced alterations in lipid content, feeding behaviors, and gene expression, highlighting the importance of this transcription factor in the worm's response to MeHg. Taken together, our data demonstrate that MeHg induces biochemical, metabolic, and behavioral changes in C. elegans that can lead to metabolic dysfunction.
Physical activity and incidence of subclinical and clinical pregnancy loss: a secondary analysis in the effects of aspirin in gestation and reproduction randomized trial.

Objective To estimate the association between physical activity and risk of subclinical and clinical pregnancy loss among women with a history of pregnancy loss. Design Prospective cohort study as a secondary analysis of the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction randomized controlled trial of preconception-initiated low-dose aspirin among women with one or two prior pregnancy losses. Setting Four U.S. clinical centers, 2007–2011. Patient(s) Women with confirmed pregnancy (n = 785) as determined from hCG testing in longitudinally collected biospecimens. Main Outcome Measure(s) Subclinical loss of pregnancy detected only by hCG testing and clinically recognized loss. Result(s) Among 785 women (mean [SD] age, 28.7 [4.6] years) with an hCG-confirmed pregnancy, 188 (23.9%) experienced pregnancy loss. In multivariable models adjusted for confounders, compared with the first tertile of physical activity (median = 7.7 metabolic equivalent of task hours/week), there was a roughly twofold higher risk of subclinical loss in the second (risk ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–4.14) and third tertiles (risk ratio = 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.94–3.90), with median metabolic equivalent of task hours/week of 27.8 and 95.7, respectively. No relations were observed between physical activity and clinically recognized loss. Conclusion(s) Risk related to physical activity is different for pregnancy failure close to the time of implantation compared with that for later, clinical pregnancy loss. Higher physical activity levels were associated with an elevated risk of subclinical loss (i.e., pregnancies detected only by hCG, n = 55); however, no relationship was observed with clinically recognized loss. Further work is required to confirm these findings, assess generalizability to women without prior losses, and evaluate mechanisms. Ethical approval Each participating center’s Institutional Review Board approved the study, and participants provided written informed consent. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT00467363 ), and a Data Safety and Monitoring Board provided oversight.
Searching for a biochemical correlate of critical illness in obstetrics: a descriptive study of maternal lactate in patients presenting for acute care in pregnancy.

Obstetric physiology may alter lactate metabolism and affect the ability to use lactate as a discriminator of critical illness in pregnancy. This prospective, cross-sectional study describes venous...
Current Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Study Design:Literature review.Objective:To review the current role of radiotherapy (RT) in the management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).Methods:Review of selected literature.Results...
Solving the Divergence Problem in AC-QSS Cascading Failure Model by Introducing the Effect of a Realistic UVLS Scheme

AC-Quasi-Steady-State (AC-QSS) models for cascading failure often suffer from divergence issues. Presently, this is handled by uniform load shedding (ULS) or its variants till convergence is achieved. In reality, a pre-defined undervoltage load shedding (UVLS) scheme sheds loads in blocks below a voltage threshold and the system reaches a post-UVLS equilibrium, if it exists. This may not be captured by the post-ULS equilibrium, which in turn can lead to a different path of cascade propagation. We use the ULS equilibrium as the initial state and pose the problem of reaching post-UVLS equilibrium as an optimization problem. Due to the nature of the problem, an exhaustive search can be used that has exponential complexity in inputs. To solve this, we propose a heuristic that reaches a post-UVLS candidate equilibrium. The proposed algorithm is tested on a 2383-bus Polish system.
Amicus Brief of Civil Rights Organizations (NAACP LDF, et al.) in Whitford v. Gill

Courts have long noted that “elected officials engaged in the single-minded pursuit of incumbency can run roughshod over the rights of protected minorities.” The same is true with respect to the pursuit of partisan advantage. Both Democratic and Republican legislatures have used the power of the state to enact extreme partisan gerrymanders, retaining or enhancing their own grip on power and subordinating voters who support an opposing party. Many of these gerrymanders were constructed at least in part at the expense of minority voting rights. Amici write in the hope that we may assist this Court in considering the ramifications of the doctrine and practice of partisan gerrymandering on minority voters. In particular, amici explain how a properly structured partisan gerrymandering claim that requires a showing of intent to subordinate voters because of their party affiliation assists in establishing an administrable standard that guards against invidious partisanship in the redistricting process without undermining critical protections for minority voters. Recognizing the constitutional invalidity of the invidious discrimination demonstrated in this case—subordination of voters within a jurisdiction as a whole because of their party affiliation—does not jeopardize the interests of minority voters. Indeed, because “political gerrymandering tends to strengthen the grip of incumbents at the expense of emerging minority communities,” a cause of action addressing egregious partisan gerrymandering may in some cases protect minority voters from improper manipulation by elected officials. In certain contexts, a properly structured partisan gerrymandering claim could lessen the need for courts to undergo the difficulty of disentangling race and party, which this Court and others have recognized can be impermissible proxies for one another. And finally, while causes of action in which race and racial discrimination remain a central doctrinal concern are essential in addressing some of the deepest and most pernicious forms of discrimination, we have also observed that actors whose primary concerns are partisan will occasionally attempt to misuse race-based voting claims for their own ends, twisting facts or law in the process. A properly structured cause of action for partisan gerrymandering can help courts better channel claims down the appropriate litigation paths, avoiding unwelcome doctrinal distortion and providing full redress for invidious discrimination of all forms. This brief was coauthored with Sherrilyn A. Ifill, Janai S. Nelson, Samuel Spital, and Leah C. Aden, of the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc., and Laura W. Brill of Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP.
Treatment of bone fragility in patients with diabetes: antiresorptive versus anabolic?

Purpose of review The pathogenesis of bone fragility in diabetes has not been fully characterized. The antifracture efficacy of available therapies remains unproven in patients with diabetes. We aim to collate current evidence of the treatment of diabetic bone fragility, and to provide a rationale for considering optimal therapeutic option in patients with diabetes. Recent findings The antifracture efficacy of antiresorptive and anabolic therapies is well established in patients without diabetes. Studies in patients with osteoporosis have shown that anabolic therapies lead to faster and larger benefits to bone mineral density and offer greater protection against fracture than antiresorptive therapies. Available data suggest that antiresorptive and anabolic therapies have similar effect on bone density and fracture risk reduction in patients with and without diabetes. However, the evidence in diabetes is limited to observational studies and post hoc analyses of osteoporosis studies. Summary There are no specific guidelines for the treatment of bone fragility in patients with diabetes. We offer a rationale for use of anabolic therapies in diabetes which is a low bone formation state, in contrast to postmenopausal osteoporosis that is characterized by increased bone turnover. Prospective studies evaluating the effect of available therapies on bone quality and fracture outcomes in patients with diabetes are needed.
A Short Plus Long-Amplicon Based Sequencing Approach Improves Genomic Coverage and Variant Detection In the SARS-CoV-2 Genome

High viral transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled SARS-CoV-2 to acquire new mutations that impact genome sequencing methods. The ARTIC.v3 primer pool that amplifies short amplicons in a multiplex-PCR reaction is one of the most widely used methods for sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We observed that some genomic intervals are poorly captured with ARTIC primers. To improve the genomic coverage and variant detection across these intervals, we designed long amplicon primers and evaluated the performance of a short (ARTIC) plus long amplicon (MRL) sequencing approach. Sequencing assays were optimized on VR-1986D-ATCC RNA followed by sequencing of nasopharyngeal swab specimens from five COVID-19 positive patients. ARTIC data covered >90% of the virus genome fraction in the positive control and four of the five patient samples. Variant analysis in the ARTIC data detected 67 mutations, including 66 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and one deletion in ORF10. Of 66 SNVs, five were present in the spike gene, including nt22093 (M177I), nt23042 (S494P), nt23403 (D614G), nt23604 (P681H), and nt23709 (T716I). The D614G mutation is a common variant that has been shown to alter the fitness of SARS-CoV-2. Two spike protein mutations, P681H and T716I, which are represented in the B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, were also detected in one patient. Long-amplicon data detected 58 variants, of which 70% were concordant with ARTIC data. Combined analysis of ARTIC +MRL data revealed 22 mutations that were either ambiguous (17) or not called at all (5) in ARTIC data due to poor sequencing coverage. For example, a common mutation in the ORF3a gene at nt25907 (G172V) was missed by the ARTIC assay. Hybrid data analysis improved sequencing coverage overall and identified 59 high confidence mutations for phylogenetic analysis. Thus, we show that while the short amplicon (ARTIC) assay provides good genomic coverage with high throughput, complementation of poorly captured intervals with long amplicon data can significantly improve SARS-CoV-2 genomic coverage and variant detection.
Let me go and try

This paper argues for a deflationary account of trying on which ‘x tried to ϕ’ abbreviates ‘x did something with the intention of ϕ-ing’, where ‘did something’ is treated as a schematic verb. On th...
Suicide Attempts and Personal Need for Structure Among Ex-Offenders

Suicide attempts were examined in relation to sociodemographic (age, gender, ethnicity), psychopathological (prior psychiatric hospitalizations, physical and sexual abuse histories), and cognitive (personal need for structure) variables among a sample of ex-offenders with substance use disorders (N = 270). Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to determine whether personal need for structure would significantly predict whether participants reported past suicide attempts beyond sociodemographic and psychopathological predictors. Personal need for structure and prior psychiatric hospitalizations were the only significant predictors, with higher values of these predictors increasing the likelihood of suicide attempts. Findings are consistent with a cognitive model for understanding suicide behavior, suggesting that persons with a high need for cognitive structures operate with persistent and rigid thought processes that contribute to their risk of suicide.
Filter Propagation in Dissemination Trees: Trading Off Bandwidth and Processing in Continuous Media Networks

We describe the concept of the relocatable continuous media filter. The novelty of these filters is how they can propagate over a dissemination tree in a network. We describe the filter propagation protocol to achieve this. Execution of filters inside a network allows the network to be viewed in a novel way, as a “processor” with its “instruction set” being the various types of available filters. Since filters generally modify the data rate of the continuous media stream, usually (but not necessarily) reducing it, filters allow the trading off of bandwidth and processing in a network.
Problems with measurement of the minimum clinically significant difference in acute pain in elders.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:135–139 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: A standard value for the minimum clinically significant difference (MCSD) in pain in nonelderly ED patients has been identified and has facilitated research in this age group. It is not clear that this value is similar in older patients. The standard method for calculating the MCSD in pain is to average scores on a numerical rating scale (NRS) over contiguous time periods. This method is based on the assumption that the MCSD remains constant over time. In an earlier hypothesis-generating study of elderly patients, this assumption was not met for the arithmetic MCSD, making it difficult to identify a single benchmark for measuring efficacy in analgesia trials in elders. The proportional MCSD was more stable, suggesting that it might constitute a better measure of analgesic efficacy in elderly patients. The objective of the study was to test the hypotheses that: 1) the arithmetic MCSD in adults 65 years and older declines over time and that 2) the proportional MCSD remains constant. Methods: This was an observational, prospective, cohort study of emergency department (ED) patients ≥65 years with acute pain. Pain intensity was rated on a standard 11-point NRS upon study entry and every 30 minutes for 2 hours. The arithmetic MCSD was defined as the mean change in pain between contiguous 30-minute intervals when change in pain was described as “a little less” or “a little more.” The proportional MCSD was calculated as the arithmetic MCSD divided by pain intensity at the beginning of the interval. We used generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to test trend over time. Results: A total of 214 patients were enrolled: mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age was 74 (±7.5) years, 66% were female, 63% were Hispanic, and 23% were African American. The median initial NRS was 8. The MCSD decreased 2.1 NRS units (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7 to 2.4) between 0 and 30 minutes, 1.4 units (95% CI = 1.0 to 1.7) between 30 and 60 minutes, 1.3 units (95% CI = 1.0 to 1.5) between 60 and 90 minutes, and 0.8 units (95% CI = 0.6 to 1.0) between 90 and 120 minutes (p < 0.001 for trend). The proportional MCSD also varied from 27% (95% CI = 23% to 32%) between 0 and 30 minutes, 19% (95% CI = 13% to 24%) between 30 and 60 minutes, 22% (95% CI = 18% to 27%) between 60 and 90 minutes, and 13% (95% CI = 9% to 18%) between 90 and 120 minutes (p < 0.001 for trend). Conclusions: Both the arithmetic and the proportional MCSD in elderly patients in acute pain declined over time. Because both measures were numerically unstable, there does not appear to be a single value for the MCSD that can be used to identify the MCSD in pain for use in analgesic efficacy trials in elderly patients. A different metric may be needed to study pain and assess comparative analgesic efficacy in elderly patients.
Sentinel lymph node status in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Not a predictor of survival

Background The effect of sentinel lymph node status on survival in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck is uncertain. Methods We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to identify patients with MCC who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Clinicopathologic data and disease-specific survival (DSS) were compared among patients with positive and negative sentinel lymph nodes. Results We identified 721 patients with cutaneous MCC who underwent SLNB, of which 173 (24%) had head and neck MCC. The rate of sentinel lymph node positivity in patients with head and neck MCC was 23.1%. Sentinel lymph node metastasis did not significantly affect survival in head and neck MCC (p = .139). Conclusion Using the SEER database, we report what we believe to be the largest head and neck MCC study to date. Our results suggest that sentinel lymph node status does not predict survival in head and neck MCC. Independent predictors of MCC-related mortality seem to be unique in the head and neck region. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 571–579, 2014
Operant conditioning of head-waving in Aplysia. II. Contingent modification of electromyographic activity in identified muscles

Aplysia can readily exhibit operant conditioning of their head-waving response when bright light is used as aversive reinforcement (Cook and Carew, 1986). In the first paper of this series (Cook and Carew, 1989a), we showed that the electromyographic (EMG) activity of a discrete band of neck muscles, the lateral columellar muscles (LCMs) of Aplysia is significantly correlated with the component of head-waving (the horizontal component) that is modified during operant conditioning. In the present paper, we asked whether the EMG activity of the LCMs themselves could also be contingently modified, using the same procedures that produce operant conditioning of the behavioral response. Differential EMG from the LCMs was recorded in freely behaving animals with chronically implanted muscle cuff electrodes. Animals receiving aversive reinforcement (bright light) that was contingent upon specific patterns of LCM activity readily learned to alter their differential EMG output. Like operant conditioning of the head-waving response, this operant modification of LCM activity was rapidly acquired and was specific to the contingencies of reinforcement. These results show that a restricted group of muscles, the LCMs, exhibit the essential features of the head-waving system observed at the behavioral level: (1) their activity is significantly correlated with head-waving behavior, and (2) the LCMs are capable of operant modification of their output. Thus, this restricted response system provides a useful preparation for examining the neural mechanisms of operant conditioning of head-waving in Aplysia.
Nanothermodynamics. Breathing life into an old model.

A classic theory of magnetism has been modernized by a novel use of thermodynamics. The theory can now describe the behaviour of ferromagnetic materials at higher temperatures.
New Digisonde for research and monitoring applications

[1] The new Digisonde-4D, while preserving the basic principles of the Digisonde family, introduces important hardware and software changes that implement the latest capabilities of new digital radio frequency (RF) circuitry and embedded computers. The “D” refers to digital transmitters and receivers in which no analog circuitry is used for conversion between the baseband and the RF. In conjunction with the new hardware design, new software solutions offer significantly enhanced measurement flexibility, enhanced signal selectivity, and new types of data, e.g., the complete set of time domain samples of all four antenna signals suitable for independent scientific analysis. With the new method of mitigating in-band RF interference, the ionogram running time can be made as short as a couple of seconds. The h′(f) precision ranging technique with an accuracy of better than 1 km can be used on a routine basis. The 4D model runs the new ARTIST-5 ionogram autoscaling software which reports in real time the required data for assimilation in ionospheric models. The paper highlights technical advances of the new Digisonde for research and monitoring applications.