cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retropatellar Accessory Portals for Improved Access to the Patella Anatomic Description and Evaluation of Safety

BACKGROUND Standard knee arthroscopy portals are frequently used to address retropatellar chondral pathology. Alternative portals may offer a safe and simple substitute, particularly when reaching the base of deep lesions is required. PURPOSE To describe and assess the safety of accessory retropatellar portals. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive laboratory study. METHODS An anatomic study was performed on 10 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees. Medial and lateral retropatellar portals were created, and the distance to adjacent neurovascular structures (common peroneal nerve [CPN] and infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve [IPBSN]) and bony landmarks (medial and lateral epicondyles and margins of the midpatella) was recorded. A clinical account of portal use is provided through a retrospective chart review. RESULTS The medial and lateral retropatellar portals were a mean 15.8 ± 15.5 mm and 53.8 ± 7.2 mm from the IPBSN and CPN, respectively. No nerves were contacted in any specimens. Clinically, the portals have been used in 109 cases over a 7-year period without complication. CONCLUSION The high level of IPBSN variability poses some risk to medial portal use; however, there is little to no risk laterally. Clinical experience with portals suggests that they can be used safely. We recommend careful blunt dissection to minimize chance of iatrogenic nerve injury. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Retropatellar portals may offer improved access to chondral lesions of the patella, thereby safely allowing one to maintain an arthroscopic approach.
Emergence of coagulase negative staphylococci as major nosocomial bloodstream pathogens.

Over an eight year period, 1975 to 1982, 1,843 nosocomial bloodstream infections were identified by routine prospective surveillance at the University of Virginia Hospital (106/10,000 admissions). Despite a decline in overall bloodstream infection rates during the study period (P = .085), bloodstream infections due to gram positive organisms increased from 29 (1975-1978) to 43/10,000 (1979-1982), (P less than 0.001). Notably, rates for coagulase negative staphylococci increased from 5.2 (1975-1978) to 12.4/10,000 (1979-1982), (P less than 0.001). In 1982, coagulase negative staphylococci accounted for 17% of all bloodstream infections and were the most frequently isolated pathogens. Sixty-four percent of patients with coagulase negative staphylococci were in critical care units versus 41% with other bloodstream infections (P less than .05). The recognition of coagulase negative staphylococci as significant bloodstream pathogens markedly alters the clinician's approach to nosocomial septicemia.
Liver metastases in colorectal carcinoma. With complete resection healing is possible

Surgical treatment of liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma can achieve 5-year survival rates of up to 40%, and 10 year survival rates of up to 20%, making resection the only potentially curative treatment option. This applies, however, only when metastatic disease is confined to the liver and when complete removal of the metastases is possible. Patients with liver metastases from non-colorectal primaries--with the exception of the rare neuroendocrine tumors--are not usually candidates for surgery.
Female Workers in Cottage Industries and Factories

There is a paucity of literature on women and work in southern Africa. Until the 1970s, the vast majority of social science literature dealt with male labour migrancy to the South African gold mines. At that time, there was a shift of focus on to women in the family context in peripheral areas — local labour reserves within national labour reserves. However, women had participated in semi-industrial employment in some areas of the southern African periphery since the 1960s and even earlier in others. Cottage industries were the major semi-industrial employers for women in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland as well as the South African homelands. It was not until the 1980s that South African textile industries began to tap systematically into the female labour reserve. Many problems related to women and work in southern Africa still await in-depth research.
Analysis of PV Advanced Inverter Functions and Setpoints under Time Series Simulation.

Utilities are increasingly concerned about the potential negative impacts distributed PV may have on the operational integrity of their distribution feeders. Some have proposed novel methods for controlling a PV system's grid - tie inverter to mitigate poten tial PV - induced problems. This report investigates the effectiveness of several of these PV advanced inverter controls on improving distribution feeder operational metrics. The controls are simulated on a large PV system interconnected at several locations within two realistic distribution feeder models. Due to the time - domain nature of the advanced inverter controls, quasi - static time series simulations are performed under one week of representative variable irradiance and load data for each feeder. A para metric study is performed on each control type to determine how well certain measurable network metrics improve as a function of the control parameters. This methodology is used to determine appropriate advanced inverter settings for each location on the f eeder and overall for any interconnection location on the feeder.
Applied Ecology and Natural Resource Management: Closing the gap between science and management

In his popular book “A Brief History of Time,” the internationally renowned physicist Stephen W. Hawking (1988) forwards a view that is popular among physical scientists: “ … the eventual goal of science is to provide a single theory that describes the whole universe.” This Theory of Everything would obviously benefit the management of human activities, but it is not clear what contribution ecology might make to this theory. In ecology, as in most sciences, increased levels of organization are characterized by decreased scientific precision and increased complexity of arrangement. For example, boundary recognition and spatial arrangement of individual organisms are relatively simple and straightforward; in contrast, ecosystems typically have complex spatial arrangements and boundaries that are difficult to discern. Chris Beckett (1990) responds to Hawking's statement with a relatively pessimistic outlook for science: “And then we get to the levels in which we actually live out our lives: our relationships, our aspirations, politics, … personal choices, moral dilemmas … And at this level (the most important one, after all, from a human perspective) science has no precise answers, no complete descriptions at all.” Clearly, our expectations of science as a source of knowledge must be tempered with an understanding that the natural world will never be completely described. Because prediction typically represents an even greater challenge than description, it is tempting to abandon ecology as a source of practical managerial information.
Effect of prolonged administration of homologous and heterologous intrinsic factor antibodies on the parietal and peptic cell masses and the secretory function of the rat gastric mucosa.

In order to determine the possible effects of the circulating intrinsic factor antibodies (IFA) on gastric morphology and secretory function, four groups of 12 rats each received intravenous injection daily for 8 to 12 weeks of immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions separated on DEAE-cellulose columns from various sources: (1) sera of patients with pernicious anemia, containing both IFA and parietal cell antibodies (PCA), (2) sera from patients with atrophic gastritis, containing parietal cell antibody only, and (3) and (4) sera of rabbits immunized with semipurified human or rat intrinsic factor (IF). In addition three control groups of 12 rats each received intravenous injections daily for 8 to 12 weeks of either (5) saline or (6) and (7) IgG processed from human or rabbit normal sera. Still another group of 12 rats (8) did not receive any injections whatsoever for the same duration of time. One-third of the rats were intubated biweekly after histamine stimulation and the hourly outputs of HC1 pepsin, and IF were determined. At conclusion of the experiments, rats were killed, the mucosal surface and thickness of the mucosa were measured, and parietal cell and peptic cell masses were counted. The control groups showed either progressive growth of the cellular mass in gastric mucosa and increase of the HCI, pepsin, and IF outputs, or no significant changes. In contrast, rats injected with IgG containing IFA to human or rat IF showed a statistically significant thinning of the gastric mucosa, reduction of peptic cells, which are known to secrete IF in this species, and corresponding decrease in the outputs of pepsin and IF. These became reduced by about 50% from initial values, and by 62 or 75%, respectively, when compared to rats injected with normal human or rabbit IgG's. In rats injected with IgG's from pernicious anemia sera, which contained both IFA and PCA, the outputs of IF, pepsin, and HCI decreased significantly, as well as the peptic and parietal cell masses. The rats injected with PCA only demonstrated thinning of the gastric mucosa, reduction of parietal cell mass, and a significant decrease of the HCI output. These findings imply an active role of the circulating gastric autoantibodies in the reduction of the peptic and parietal cells masses and gastric secretory failure. Although animal experiments are not directly applicable to humans, the possible implications of this work for the natural history of gastric atrophy in man are self-evident.
Is There a Role for Intravenous Stem Cell Delivery in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

The delivery of stem cells to the heart in the setting of ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy has almost exclusively relied on intramyocardial (IM) or intracoronary (IC) routes of administration. This strategy is based on several preclinical1 and human studies2 demonstrating minimal engraftment of cells in the heart when delivered by an intravenous (IV) infusion and the demonstration that higher engraftment in the heart is associated with greater improvement in left ventricular (LV) function.3,4 In patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, Vrtovec et al2 randomized 110 patients to IC autologous CD34+ stem cells (n=55) or control. During a 5-year period, those patients randomized to IC delivery of CD34+ cells had a higher event-free survival and sustained improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and exercise capacity by 6-minute walk test. In a subgroup of patients (n=43) that received labeled cells to measure engraftment (5.7% at 18 hours), only those patients with homing above the median sustained an improvement in LVEF at 1 year, supporting the importance of cell engraftment in mediating efficacy. In a second study,4 the same group compared IC versus IM delivery of the same dose of CD34+ stem cells to a similar group (n=40) of patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. They observed that retention of cells measured by SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) at 18 hours after delivery was 4-fold greater by IM delivery versus IC (19.2 versus 4.4%) and that IM delivery was associated with a significantly greater increase in LVEF (8.1 versus 4.2%) and 6-minute walk test distance at 6 months. These findings strongly support the concept that the initial engraftment of cells strongly correlates with improved LV function and exercise capacity. Article, see p 332 Imaging of IV delivered radiolabeled stem cells in humans and animals reveals …
An Empirical Study on Factors Attracting the Tourists to Visit Koh Larn Beach Pattaya

Global tourism, considered as a rapidly growing, and potentially sustainable industry. It plays a key role in socio-economic, cultural development of the society to achieve sustainable development. According to the tourism statistics of Thailand, 32.59 million tourists have been arrived in the year of 2016 and contributed to the country’s economy. Nevertheless, tourism sector induces affirmative and negative impacts. This study was aimed to identify the positive factors which encourages to visit Koh Larn Beach. A total of 50 tourists were randomly selected as study respondents. Survey was conducted by using questionnaire. The results of the study revealed and evidenced that the visitors take into consider the following factors such as good transportation, duration of time to reach the destination and knowledge about the destination prior to travel certain destinations. However, the selection of destination point based on accommodation, food, safety, convenience, recreation, pleasant climate, beautiful beaches and other basic facilities available at the desired destination points. The study results revealed that the positive impact of tourism activity increases the local socio-economic status.
Development of an Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula after Venous Sinus Stenting for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

We report a case in which an intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) developed after endovascular treatment of a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension with venous sinus stenting (VSS). The pathogenesis may involve hemodynamic alterations secondary to increased poststenting venous sinus pressure, which may cause new arterial ingrowth into the fistulous sinus wall without capillary interposition. Despite administration of dual antiplatelet therapy, there may also be subclinical cortical vein thrombosis that contributed to DAVF formation. In addition to the aforementioned mechanisms, increased inflammation induced by VSS may upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor expression and also promote DAVF pathogenesis. Since VSS has been used to obliterate DAVFs, DAVF formation after VSS may seem counterintuitive. Previous stents have generally been closed cell, stainless steel designs used to maximize radial compression of the fistulous sinus wall. In contrast, our patient's stent was an open cell, self-expandable nitinol design (Protege Everflex). Neurointerventionalists should be aware of this potential, although rare complication of DAVF formation after VSS.
Effect of Intranasally Delivered rh-VEGF165 on Angiogenesis Following Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Cerebral Cortex of Newborn Piglets.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates vascular genesis and angiogenesis. Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia (HI) leads to the reduction of vasculature in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. Objective: The present study tests the hypothesis that post-hypoxia intranasal administration of recombinant human VEGF165 (rh-VEGF165) for 3 days increases the vascular density in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets without promoting neovascularization. Design/Methods: Ventilated newborn piglets were divided into three groups (n = 5/group): normoxic (Nx), hypoxic-ischemic (HI), and HI treated with intranasal rh-VEGF165rh-VEGF165 (HI-VEGF). HI piglets were exposed to HI (0.05 FiO2) for 30 min. Recombinant h-VEGF165 (100 ng/kg) was administered 15 min after HI and then once daily for 3 days. The animals were perfused transcardially and coronal brains sections were processed for Isolectin, Hoechst, and ki-67 cell proliferation marker staining. To assess the vascular density, 30–35 fields per animal section were manually counted using image J software. Results: The vascular density (vessels/mm2) was 42.0 ± 8.0 in the Nx group, 26.4 ± 4.8 (p < 0.05 vs. Nx) in the HI group, and 46.0 ± 11.9 (p < 0.05 vs. HI) in the HI-VEGF group. When stained for newly formed vessels, via Ki-67 staining, the vascular density was 5.4 ± 3.6 in the Nx group (p < 0.05 vs. HI), 10.2 ± 2.1 in the HI group, and 10.9 ± 2.9 in the HI-VEGF group (p = 0.72 vs. HI). HI resulted in a decrease in vascular density. Intranasal rh-VEGF165rh-VEGF165 resulted in the attenuation of the HI-induced decrease in vascular density. However, rh-VEGF165 did not result in the formation of new vascularity, as evident by ki-67 staining. Conclusions: Intranasal rh-VEGF165 may prevent the HI-induced decrease in the vascular density of the brain and could serve as a promising adjuvant therapy for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
The Genetically-encoded Photosensitizer mini Singlet Oxygen Generator produces superoxide

While reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to have a harmful role within a cell, ROS can also have a protective signaling role. One limitation to differentiating these roles is the inability to spatially and temporally control ROS production. ROS-generating proteins (RGPs) overcome this limitation by using light to control ROS production. RGPs have been used in a variety of applications, from cell ablation to mutagenesis; however, the type of ROS produced is often not well characterized. One RGP, mini “Singlet Oxygen Generator” was reported to generate large quantities of singlet oxygen. However, the contribution of superoxide remains unclear due to indirect measures with confounding interpretations. We measured the light-dependent superoxide production of purified miniSOG using HPLC separation of dihydroethidium oxidation products. We demonstrate that miniSOG generates superoxide in an SOD-dependent and azide/catalase-independent manner. miniSOG’s superoxide production rate was lower than its free chromophore, flavin mononucleotide. miniSOG produced superoxide at a rate of ~4.0 µmol superoxide/min/µmol photosensitizer for an excitation fluence rate of 5.9 mW/mm2 at 470±20 nm, and the rate remained consistent across fluences. This contrasts miniSOG’s singlet oxygen production which has been shown to be fluence-dependent. Understanding the type and amount of biologically available ROS produced by miniSOG can improve the experimental design and interpretation of the results. Our results may aid in the design of new RGPs that can be more selective in their photosensitization mechanism.
Kinetic Analysis of Nanostructures Formed by Enzyme-Instructed Intracellular Assemblies against Cancer Cells.

Recent studies have demonstrated that enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) in extra- or intracellular environments can serve as a multistep process for controlling cell fate. There is little knowledge, however, about the kinetics of EISA in the complex environments in or around cells. Here, we design and synthesize three dipeptidic precursors (ld-1-SO3, dl-1-SO3, dd-1-SO3), consisting of diphenylalanine (l-Phe-d-Phe, d-Phe-l-Phe, d-Phe-d-Phe, respectively) as the backbone, which are capped by 2-(naphthalen-2-yl)acetic acid at the N-terminal and by 2-(4-(2-aminoethoxy)-4-oxobutanamido)ethane-1-sulfonic acid at the C-terminal. On hydrolysis by carboxylesterases (CES), these precursors result in hydrogelators, which self-assemble in water at different rates. Whereas all three precursors selectively kill cancer cells, especially high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma cells, by undergoing intracellular EISA, dl-1-SO3 and dd-1-SO3 exhibit the lowest and the highest activities, respectively, against the cancer ce...
Seismic assessment of a three-story wood building with an integrated CLT-lightframe system using RTHS

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental study whose objective was to investigate the behavior of a hybrid wood shear-wall system defined herein as a combination of traditional light-frame wood shear walls with post-tensioned rocking Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels. The post-tensioned CLT panels in the hybrid system offer both vertical and lateral load resistance and self-centering capacities. The traditional Light-Frame Wood Systems (LiFS) provide additional lateral load resistance along with a large amount of energy dissipation through the friction of nail connections. Thus, a combination of these two types of structures, in which traditional light-frame wood shearwalls are utilized as structural partition walls, may provide an excellent structural solution for mid-rise to tall wood buildings for apartments/condos, where there is a need for resisting large lateral and vertical loads as well as structural stability. In this study, a real-time hybrid testing algorithm using a combination of time-delay updating and Newmark-Beta feed forward to reduce the undesirable effects of time delay was introduced. The top two-stories of a three-story building were modeled as a numerical substructure with the first story as the experimental CLT-LiFS substructure. The experimental results of the hybrid wall are presented and discussed in this paper.
A Novel Method for Heat Capacity Measurements near 2K

We have constructed a calorimeter of novel design for high resolution heat capacity measurements near 2K. This device resembles high resolution paramagnetic salt thermometers used in previous heat capacity measurements on the 4 He-Vycor system. 2 However, we have modified this thermometer so that our signal is no longer directly proportional to the temperature of the sample, but rather to the change in temperature with respect to time. We demonstrate the technique by measuring the heat capacity of paramagnetic gadolinium trichloride (GdCl 3 ) salt near its critical temperature of 2.21K.
Development of the 2010 Ford Diesel Truck Catalyst System

The choice to pursue Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) using aqueous urea as a NOx reductant for lean NOx control on diesel vehicles was not an easy one. It was difficult to imagine an infrastructure for delivery of aqueous urea to diesel vehicles. In the 1990s, SCR technology was best known for its use in stationary source control of NOx. There were published studies on its potential effectiveness for diesel vehicle NOx control at steady state, most notably by Degussa [13], Volkswagen [23], and Hug Engineering [25]. Earlier, interesting work was also being done at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland [28]. Ford applied urea SCR to a light-duty truck and tested it with success on transient cycles [43]. The SCR catalysts available at that time included vanadia/titania, and base metal/zeolite formulations using copper or iron, usually using ZSM-5. It was unknown if these catalyst types would ever be durable enough for a vehicle application, not only hydrothermally but with diesel fuel sulfur contents on the order of 500 ppm, or approximately 50 times the current diesel sulfur level in the U.S. and Europe today. There was also uncertainty about integration of particulate traps into SCR systems, low temperature/high space velocity applications, and aqueous urea handling issues, including freeze point and replenishment.
Adolescent and adult male rats differ in expression of three nicotinic receptor subtypes and in the response of these subtypes to chronic nicotine exposure

Smokers who begin as adolescents have an increased likelihood of dependence to nicotine and other drugs of abuse; this may be due in part to biological differences in the response of adult and adol...
Functional Anatomy of the Larynx

The larynx serves three basic functions in humans. In order of functional priority they are protective, respiratory, and phonatory. This article discusses these three roles in terms of phylogeny, developmental anatomy, and neuromuscular reflex activity.
Depression among Mexican-origin mothers: Exploring the immigrant paradox.

Objectives Residential time in the United States appears to be a risk factor for mental health problems among Latinos, according to studies of the immigrant paradox, or a pattern of findings documenting better health for immigrants relative to U.S.-born Latinos. The present study used an acculturative stress model to examine the immigrant paradox with a sample of Mexican-origin mothers. Method Mothers [N = 175; age = 33.52 (10.75)], who were foreign- or U.S.-born, were categorized as more acculturated or less acculturated based on cluster analyses using demographic and language proficiency variables. The association between acculturative status and depressive symptoms approximately 9 months later was tested with two models: with both cultural stressors (i.e., perceived discrimination, acculturative stress) and cultural assets (i.e., familismo, ethnic identity) as mediators, and with the effects of cultural stressors moderated by cultural assets. Results Data provide some support for the validity of the mediation model. Less acculturated mothers reported (a) a stronger ethnic identity, which appears to have protected them from later depression, and (b) stronger familismo, which increased risk for later depression. In addition, discrimination was negatively related to later depression. Conclusions We found support for the mediating role of cultural assets in the link between acculturation and depression, but some associations were in unexpected directions. These findings highlight the complexities of preserving core cultural characteristics among Mexican-origin mothers living in the United States, and the need to consider the context in which cultural processes unfold. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Marginalization as creative endeavour

Creative work is best understood as a process of getting lost. Scholarly work is a creative endeavour. And an endeavour requires total attention. On a superficial level, total attention is a demons...
Reproduction, mastitis, and body condition scores among spring and fall calving dairy cows in pasture or confinement feeding systems

Dairy cows in confinement and pasture-based feeding systems were compared across 4 spring-calving and 3 fall-calving replicates for differences in reproduction, mastitis, and body condition scores. Each feeding system and replicate included both Jersey and Holstein cows. Cows in confinement were fed a total mixed ration with maize silage as the base forage along with a variety of concentrates. Cows on pasture were routinely supplemented with concentrates and were provided baled grass and/or legume silage when pastures were limiting. Breeding periods were for 75 days in spring or fall. Reproductive performance did not differ significantly due to feeding system but Jerseys had higher conception rates (59.6 vs. 49.5%) and overall pregnancy rates (78.0 vs. 57.9%) than Holsteins. Cows in confinement had significantly higher rates of clinical mastitis and culling for mastitis than cows on pasture. Within both feeding systems, Jerseys had less mastitis than Holsteins. Average body condition scores were higher for confinement cows than pasture cows except for one replicate. Jerseys maintained higher average body condition scores than Holsteins in all but one replicate. In summary, pastured cows produced less milk and had less mastitis but lower body condition scores than confinement cows. Holsteins produced more milk but were less likely to rebreed, had more mastitis, higher culling rates, and maintained lower body condition scores than Jerseys.
Addressing personal parental values in decisions about childhood vaccination: Measure development.

Abstract Objective Evidence-based strategies to address vaccine hesitancy are lacking. Personal values are a measurable psychological construct that could be used to deliver personalized messages to influence vaccine hesitancy and behavior. Our objectives were to develop a valid, reliable self-report survey instrument to measure vaccine values based on the Schwartz theory of basic human values, and to test the hypothesis that vaccine values are distinct from vaccine attitudes and are related to vaccine hesitancy and behavior. Methods Parental Vaccine Values (PVV) scale items were generated using formative qualitative research and expert input, yielding 24 items for testing. 295 parents of children aged 14–30 months completed a self-report survey with measures of Schwartz’s global values, the PVV, vaccine attitudes, and vaccine hesitancy. Factor analysis was used to determine vaccine values factor structure. Associations between vaccine values, vaccine attitudes, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccination behavior were assessed using linear and logistic regression models. Late vaccination was assessed from electronic medical records. Results A six-factor structure for vaccine values was determined with good fit (RMSEA = 0.07, Bentler’s CFI = 0.91) with subscales for Conformity, Universalism, Tradition, Self-Direction, Security- Disease Prevention, and Security- Vaccine Risk. Vaccine values were moderately associated with Schwartz global values and vaccine attitudes, indicating discriminant validity from these constructs. Multivariable linear regression showed vaccine hesitancy was associated with vaccine values Conformity (partial R2 = 0.10) and Universalism (0.04) and vaccine attitudes Vaccine Safety (0.52) and Vaccine Benefit (0.16). Multivariable logistic regression showed that late vaccination was associated with vaccine value Self-direction (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.26–2.65) and vaccine attitude of Vaccine Benefit (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.32–0.60). Conclusions The PVV scale had good psychometric properties and appears related to but distinct from Schwartz global values and vaccine attitudes. Vaccine values are associated with vaccine hesitancy and late vaccination and may be useful in tailoring future interventions.
Retention Outcomes of New Graduate Nurse Residency Programs: An Integrative Review.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this integrative literature review is to examine the effects that nurse residency programs (NRPs) have on the retention of new graduates.BACKGROUNDThe Institute of Medicine recommends implementing NRPs and evaluating their effectiveness. Nursing leaders need to understand if
Efficacy and Baseline Sensitivity of Succinate-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor Fungicides for Management of Colletotrichum Crown Rot of Strawberry.

The current management of Colletotrichum crown rot (CCR) of strawberry, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, relies on the use of a few fungicide classes, particularly QoI fungicide...
Benzodiazepine misuse in adults with alcohol use disorder: Prevalence, motives and patterns of use.

Abstract Objective Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly misused drugs. Despite the known risks of combining benzodiazepines and alcohol, little is known about misuse among people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Our aim was to characterize the prevalence, correlates, and patterns of misuse of benzodiazepines in adults with AUD. Method Adults receiving treatment for AUD (N = 258) completed a battery of questionnaires. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the prevalence and patterns of misuse and we used logistic regression models to identify correlates of misuse. Results Almost half of the sample reported a history of benzodiazepine prescription and 30% reported a history of misuse. Younger age, female sex, anxiety, and other substance use were associated with misuse. Coping was the most commonly reported reason for misuse. All participants who had misused a benzodiazepine in the past year used concurrently with another substance. Conclusions Benzodiazepine misuse was common in this study, and risky patterns of use, such a co-use with other substances, were prevalent. Coping was the most common reason for misusing benzodiazepines, suggesting that un- or under-treated psychiatric symptoms may contribute to misuse.
Changes in social behavior over time in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Public health recommendations aimed at limiting spread of SARS-CoV-2 have encouraged social distancing and masks as economies across the United States re-open. Understanding adherence to these guidelines will inform further efforts to reduce transmission. In this repeated cross-sectional survey study, we describe changes in social behavior in Ohio during periods of declining and rising cases. While essential activities remained consistent over time, more individuals attended gatherings of 10 or more people as cases rose, particularly in the 18-29 age group. A majority of individuals wore masks. It appears necessary to continue limiting gatherings and encourage mask-wearing, particularly among younger groups.
Impacts of Model Fidelity on Trajectory Optimization for Autonomous Vehicles in Extreme Maneuvers

In this paper, we quantify the impacts of model fidelity on the effectiveness of trajectory optimization for autonomous vehicles when driving at the limits of friction through experiments with a full-size vehicle. Models ranging from a double-track model with lateral and longitudinal load transfer dynamics to a simple point-mass model are used in combination with direct numerical optimization to generate optimal trajectories subject to the limits imposed by each model. The effectiveness of each model for trajectory planning is evaluated by testing the trajectories on an automated vehicle across friction conditions ranging from ice to dry asphalt. Comparisons between the outright performance of the car and the car's ability to track the optimal trajectory are made across the various models. The tests reveal that the advantage of more complex models is less that they better predict the vehicle's behavior, but that they provide a more nuanced view of the vehicle's limits and guidance on the proper coordination of the various actuators on the vehicle in order to make most efficient use of the available tire friction.
Summary Representation Applied to Seepage Problems

The method of summary representation, which is based on applying the classical finite-difference approach to certain operators, is presented and applied to the numerical solution of certain boundary value problems associated with steady-state seepage. An example problem is given to illustrate how this technique reduces the number of algebraic equations obtained from conventional numerical approaches and how it decreases the necessary assumptions related to such analyses. Accordingly, computer efficiency can be increased, because the operating matrices are reduced in size, and problems which are defined over an infinite domain can be handled without introducing artificial boundary conditions.
Molecular identification of bacteria and Eukarya inhabiting an Antarctic cryoconite hole.

Inhabitants of a cryoconite hole formed in the Canada Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valley region of Antarctica have been isolated and identified by small subunit (16S/18S) rDNA amplification, cloning, and sequencing. The sequences obtained revealed the presence of members of eight bacterial lineages (Acidobacterium, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Cytophagales, Gemmimonas, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia) and metazoan (nematode, tardigrade, and rotifer), truffle (Choiromyces), ciliate (Spathidium), and green algal (Pleurastrium) Eukarya. Bacterial recovery was ~20-fold higher at 4 °C and 15 °C than at 22 °C, and obligately psychrophilic bacteria were identified and isolated. Several of the rDNA molecules amplified from isolates and directly from cryoconite DNA preparations had sequences similar to rDNA molecules of species present in adjacent lake ice and microbial mat environments. This cryoconite hole community was therefore most likely seeded by particulates from these local environments. Cryoconite holes may serve as biological refuges that, on glacial melting, can repopulate the local environments.
Hemostatic risk factors and arterial thrombotic disease.

The pathogenesis of arterial thrombotic disease involves multiple genetic and environmental factors related to atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Acute thrombosis at the site of a ruptured, lipid-rich atherosclerotic plaque is the usual precipitating event in the transition from stable or subclinical atherosclerotic disease to acute myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or peripheral arterial occlusion. Pathologic studies of coronary arteries in acute MI suggest that the acute thrombosis likely involves activation of both platelets and the coagulation system.
Factors Influencing Pregnancy Outcome Following Slow Cooling Cryoembryo Transfer and Risk of Multiple Conception

Objective To investigate the factors that influence the potential for cryoembryo implantation and multiple pregnancy. Methods In this retrospective study, a total of 937 thawing cycles (859 couples) in which 3286 d 3-embryos were thawed. Rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and multiple conception following FET were observed. Results There were significant differences in female age (P 35 years) (13.64%). With an increase in age from ≤ 30 years to>40 years, clinical pregnancy rate declined from 45.61% to 25.00%. Conclusion Female age and the number of good quality embryos transferred are important factors influencing the clinical and multiple pregnancy rate, reducing the number of good quality embryos transferred may decrease the rate of multiple pregnancy but do not affect the clinical pregnancy rate.
Employee care, a vital antecedent to customer care in the health care industry: an exploratory investigation of the employee satisfaction construct at North East Alabama Regional Medical Center.

Purpose – The paper reports on the conceptualization and measurement of the employee satisfaction construct at North East Alabama Regional Medical Center (RMC), Anniston, Alabama. The study sought to take a global attitudinal measure of employee satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – The employee satisfaction construct was evaluated through the use of an amended Brayfield‐Rothe Index (BRI). The Index, in its original form, comprises an 18‐item five‐point Likert scale with items listed in both positive and negative format. The amended instrument comprised an additional 12 items addressing such issues as organizational culture and satisfaction with existing orientation, human resource policy and practice. The sample was drawn from all employees of the North East Alabama Regional Medical Center, Anniston, Alabama over a two‐week period in November 2003.Findings – The results have proved beneficial in revealing those core dimensions that comprise the employee satisfaction construct, at least as defined th...
Sinorhizobium fredii and Sinorhizobium meliloti produce structurally conserved lipopolysaccharides and strain-specific K antigens.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and capsular polysaccharides (K antigens) may influence the interaction of rhizobia with their specific hosts; therefore, we conducted a comparative analysis of Sinorhizobium fredii and Sinorhizobium meliloti, which are genetically related, yet symbiotically distinct, nitrogen-fixing microsymbionts of legumes. We found that both species typically produce strain-specific K antigens that consist of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdo), or other 1-carboxy-2-keto-3-deoxy sugars (such as sialic acid), and hexoses. The K antigens of each strain are distinguished by glycosyl composition, anomeric configuration, acetylation, and molecular weight distribution. One consistent difference between the K antigens of S. fredii and those of S. meliloti is the presence of N-acetyl groups in the polysaccharides of the latter. In contrast to the K antigens, the LPS of Sinorhizobium spp. are major common antigens. Rough (R) LPS is the predominant form of LPS produced by cultured cells, and some strains release almost no detectable smooth (S) LPS upon extraction. Sinorhizobium spp. are delineated into two major RLPS core serogroups, which do not correspond to species (i.e., host range). The O antigens of the SLPS, when present, have similar degrees of polymerization and appear to be structurally conserved throughout the genus. Interestingly, one strain was found to be distinct from all others: S. fredii HH303 produces a unique K antigen, which contains galacturonic acid and rhamnose, and the RLPS did not fall into either of the RLPS core serogroups. The results of this study indicate that the conserved S- and RLPS of Sinorhizobium spp. lack the structural information necessary to influence host specificity, whereas the variable K antigens may affect strain-cultivar interactions.
Military Resource Allocation as a Set Covering Problem

Fixed location resource allocation modeled as a set covering problem is a classic integer program. This framework has been widely applied to emergency service resource allocation, and this paper extends this approach to military resource allocation. Using military air medical evacuation resource allocation in Afghanistan as a proof of concept, a methodology is presented that could easily extend to other operational environments and other military resource allocation problems. Unique contributions include clustering of enemy activity reports to support demand signal analysis and consideration of set covering requirements for varying demand signal density.
Grammar, Gesture, and Meaning in American Sign Language

In sign languages of the deaf some signs can meaningfully point toward things or can be meaningfully placed in the space ahead of the signer. This obligatory part of fluent grammatical signing has no parallel in vocally produced languages. This book focuses on American Sign Language to examine the grammatical and conceptual purposes served by these directional signs. It guides the reader through ASL grammar, the different categories of directional signs, the types of spatial representations signs are directed toward, how such spatial conceptions can be represented in mental space theory, and the conceptual purposes served by these signs. The book demonstrates a remarkable integration of grammar and gesture in the service of constructing meaning. These results also suggest that our concept of 'language' has been much too narrow and that a more comprehensive look at vocally produced languages will reveal the same integration of gestural, gradient, and symbolic elements.
The Dead Speak: On the Legibility of Trees in The Aeneid, Gerusalemme liberata, and Die Judenbuche

This article considers the beech tree in Annette Droste-Hulshoff's Die Judenbuche as a site where the dead return, alongside Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme liberata and Virgil's The Aeneid. I will examine the role of trees as sites of testimony to violence on the one hand, and the issue of deciphering this testimony on the other. I will discuss how these trees serve as a locus where the past appears in the present, and show how these texts generate this presence through the use of tense and pronouns. I propose that trees serve at once to preserve and to enclose the dead in Tasso, Virgil, and Droste-Hulshoff's Realist novella. This double structure of containment offers insight into how reality is constructed in Poetic Realism.
Approximating Latin Square Extensions

In this paper, we investigate the problem of computing the maximum number of entries which can be added to a partially filled latin square. The decision version of this question is known to be NP-complete. We present two approximation algorithms for the optimization version of this question. We first prove that the greedy algorithm achieves a factor of 1/3. We then use insights derived from the linear relaxation of an integer program to obtain an algorithm based on matchings that achieves a better performance guarantee of 1/2. These are the first known polynomial-time approximation algorithms for the latin square completion problem that achieve non-trivial worst-case performance guarantees. Our study is motivated by applications to lightpath assignment and switch configuration in wavelength routed multihop optical networks.
Using soft systems methodology to improve requirements practices: an exploratory case study

Soft systems methodology (SSM) should offer substantial benefits in managing expectations and requirements for a software-intensive system, but the benefits have not yet been examined empirically. This study reports an exploratory case study investigating the hypothesis that ‘soft systems approach would identify all the flaws in requirements practices and suggest improvements suited to an organisation's context’. The authors analysed problematic requirements practices in an ongoing software-intensive socio-technical project, modelled potential changes and asked the project team to assess the organisational fit of these changes. The authors further monitored the requirements engineering improvements that the project team made according to the case study. The authors conclude that SSM could indeed uncover a relatively complete set of flaws in requirements practices. Although not all suggested changes were regarded as necessary, the implemented changes had contributed positively to the organisation's requirements engineering improvements.
Particle Routing in Distributed Particle Filters for Large-Scale Spatial Temporal Systems

Particle filters are important techniques to support data assimilation for large-scale spatial temporal simulation systems. Distributed particle filters improve the performance of particle filtering by distributing particles to multiple processing units (PUs). While different resampling algorithms have been developed for distributed particle filters, less research has been conducted to investigate how to route particles among the PUs after resampling in effective and efficient manners. This paper develops particle routing policies in distributed particle filters with both the centralized resampling and the distributed resampling. The developed routing policies are evaluated from the aspects of the communication cost and the data assimilation accuracy based on an application of data assimilation for large-scale wildfire spread simulations.
Quantitative evaluation of mura in liquid crystal displays

The visual performance of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) has usually been evaluated by visual inspection during the manufacturing process. One of the visual problems hardest to recognize are regions of low contrast and nonuniform brightness called mura. The accurate and consistent detection of the mura is extremely difficult because there are various shapes and sizes of mura and the inspection results tend to depend on the operators. We conducted a study on the quantitative evaluation of mura based on visual analysis, intending to clarify the de- tection method and create an automated mura inspection process. We developed an algorithm and a hardware system based on a commer- cially available charge-coupled-device camera and a personal computer system with an image processor board. This system can successfully identify and evaluate mura. The algorithm was developed from research on visual analysis and human perception. We converted the front-of- screen images from the LCDs into distributions of luminance information, and the mura regions were distinguished from the background area us- ing our novel algorithm. Our identification method can also distinguish between the muras caused by flaws in the LCD cells and the intentionally designed nonuniform luminance distribution of the backlight. © 2004 Soci-
Necrotizing effects of Staphylococcus aureus extract on mouse sarcoma 180.

Summary1) A trichloracetic acid extract of Staphylococcus aureus, strain D (5 to 40 μg/mouse), in 24 hours caused extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of Sarcoma 180 in HaICR Swiss mice when injected intraperi-toneally 7 days after tumor implantation. The extract was ineffective against tumors 1 to 4 days after implantation. 2) The effect was also produced in Sarcoma 180 grown in C57B1/6, C3H, AKR and DBA2 mice. 3) Epinephrine, dibenzyline and the antihistaminic drug Benadryl, in the doses used, did not alter the necrotizing activity of the extract. Cortisone, however, reduced the incidence of the effect.The authors are indebted to Dr. Lenore Simpson Englander for excellent histological studies and to Miss Aurelie Mulhern, Mr. Kalman Bercsenyi and Mr. Gabor Papp for proficient technical assistance.
ETIOLOGY AND DOWNSTREAM HEMODYNAMIC IMPACT OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common among pts with pulmonary disease and aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The prevalence of pre- and postcapillary PH among TAVR pts and its impact upon hemodynamics are unknown. We compared changes in invasively determined
Primary melanoma of the gallbladder.

A case of melanoma of the gallbladder has been presented. The tumor was polypoid, was attached by a pedicle to the gallbladder mucosa, and partially filled the gallbladder lumen. There was no evidence of other organ involvement. The tumor was demonstrated in the gallbladder by intravenous cholangiography. It was successfully removed.