cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

Despite the increase in use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in left main coronary disease, its efficacy compared with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the optimal revascularization strategy. Our search yielded 8 studies reporting relevant outcomes that were pooled using the inverse variance method, and the hazard ratio (HR) was calculated. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke (major adverse cardiac events [MACE]), and the secondary outcome was death/MI/stroke/repeat revascularization (expanded MACE). Differences in outcomes classified by follow-up duration (early: 0 to 1 year; late: 3 to 5 years) or anatomical complexity of coronary artery disease (SYNTAX score) were investigated. Our results suggest no difference in either early or late MACE (early: HR 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63 to 1.05; late: HR 1.12; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.56) or expanded MACE (early: HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.52; late: HR 1.16; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.43) between the 2 groups. There was an increased risk of expanded MACE with a high SYNTAX score for PCI (HR 1.47; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.92) at late follow-up. There were comparable rates of all-cause mortality and nonprocedural MI between the 2 groups with increased rates of repeat revascularization with PCI throughout the follow-up and higher rates of stroke with coronary artery bypass grafting early in the follow-up period. In conclusion, our analysis suggests that CABG may be preferable in patients with left main disease and high SYNTAX scores, assuming they are at low surgical risk, and PCI may be an acceptable alternative in patients with low-intermediate SYNTAX scores.
Sub-10-nm patterning via directed self-assembly of block copolymer films with a vapour-phase deposited topcoat

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of the domain structure in block copolymer (BCP) thin films is a promising approach for sub-10-nm surface patterning. DSA requires the control of interfacial properties on both interfaces of a BCP film to induce the formation of domains that traverse the entire film with a perpendicular orientation. Here we show a methodology to control the interfacial properties of BCP films that uses a polymer topcoat deposited by initiated chemical vapour deposition (iCVD). The iCVD topcoat forms a crosslinked network that grafts to and immobilizes BCP chains to create an interface that is equally attractive to both blocks of the underlying copolymer. The topcoat, in conjunction with a chemically patterned substrate, directs the assembly of the grating structures in BCP films with a half-pitch dimension of 9.3 nm. As the iCVD topcoat can be as thin as 7 nm, it is amenable to pattern transfer without removal. The ease of vapour-phase deposition, applicability to high-resolution BCP systems and integration with pattern-transfer schemes are attractive properties of iCVD topcoats for industrial applications. A thin topcoat that grafts directly to block copolymer films does not need to be removed prior to further fabrication steps.
The relationship between ethnocentrism and cultural intelligence

Abstract The business world is becoming more diverse and complex with the increase of legally-admitted refugees and immigrants in countries across the globe. The need for culturally-intelligent managers may be more pressing than ever. At the same time, ethnocentrism corresponding to the refugee crisis and mass migration appears to be on the rise. Yet, little is known about the effect of ethnocentrism on diversified working relationships and effective means of reducing ethnocentrism such that it does not impede the successful management of an emerging diverse workforce. Can one be ethnocentric and yet culturally intelligent at the same time? This study examined the relationship between these two constructs in general and the role of cultural intelligence (CQ) as a predictor of ethnocentrism, specifically. The data used to examine the CQ–ethnocentrism relationship was part of an ongoing study examining the efficacy of an experiential training program involving diversified mentoring relationships. In these relationships, primarily white, affluent, university students studying business were assigned to mentor refugees from diverse backgrounds being resettled in the U.S. Using a quasi-experimental design, we found that while ethnocentrism increased for the treatment group, it did not rise as much as it did in the control group, indicating a buffering effect for the diversified mentoring training intervention. Additionally, a negative relationship was found between CQ and ethnocentrism, with CQ predicting ethnocentrism. Discussion focuses on effectiveness of training interventions for increasing CQ and lowering ethnocentrism, and the need for consensus in conceptualization and operationalization of ethnocentrism.
Hydrology and water quality of isolated wetlands: Stormflow changes along two episodic flowpaths

Abstract The Dougherty Plain in southwest Georgia is a flat, karstic, depressional-landscape dominated by irrigated and dry-land agriculture devoted to row-crops and pasture with interspersed wetlands and forests. Stormwater runoff rarely discharges into perennial rivers and streams, except during large storms that induce hydrologic connectivity between fields, wetlands, and streams (event return period is less than one per year). We report the hydrologic and water-quality effects of a 173-mm rainfall event that generated three weeks (Feb 15 to Mar 9, 2014) of continuous flows through and between three normally isolated wetlands. A suite of water-quality parameters (physical, nutrients, and pathogen indicators) was monitored daily from offsite (agricultural) and onsite (forested) sources at two sites along one flowpath and five sites along a second at the Joseph W Jones Ecologic Research Center at Ichauway. Decreasing sediment, nutrient, and pathogen concentrations were observed as water moved across the forested landscapes with embedded wetlands. Two physical parameters (specific conductance and turbidity) were strongly-to-moderately correlated (r > 0.8, 0.5, respectively) with laboratory-measured parameters (e.g., nutrients, suspended solids, pathogens), which suggest their utility for routine stormwater monitoring and prioritizing sample collection for laboratory analyses at this site.
At the intersection of chronic disease, disability and health services research: A scoping literature review.

Abstract Background There is a concerted effort underway to evaluate and reform our nation's approach to the health of people with ongoing or elevated needs for care, particularly persons with chronic conditions and/or disabilities. Objective This literature review characterizes the current state of knowledge on the measurement of chronic disease and disability in population-based health services research on working age adults (age 18–64). Methods Scoping review methods were used to scan the health services research literature published since the year 2000, including medline, psycINFO and manual searches. The guiding question was: “How are chronic conditions and disability defined and measured in studies of healthcare access, quality, utilization or cost?” Results Fifty-five studies met the stated inclusion criteria. Chronic conditions were variously defined by brief lists of conditions, broader criteria-based lists, two or more (multiple) chronic conditions, or other constructs. Disability was generally assessed through ADLs/IADLs, functional limitations, activity limitations or program eligibility. A smaller subset of studies used information from both domains to identify a study population or to stratify it by subgroup. Conclusions There remains a divide in this literature between studies that rely upon diagnostically-oriented measures and studies that instead rely on functional, activity or other constructs of disability to identify the population of interest. This leads to wide ranging differences in population prevalence and outcome estimates. However, there is also a growing effort to develop methods that account for the overlap between chronic disease and disability and to “segment” this heterogeneous population into policy or practice relevant subgroups.
Real-life closeness of social media contacts and depressive symptoms among university students

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine the association between degree of real-life closeness of social media (SM) contacts and depressive symptoms. Participants: Students ages 18–30 (N = 1124) were recruited in August 2016. Methods: Participants completed an online survey assessing SM use and depression. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between real-life closeness of SM contacts and depressive symptoms. Results: After controlling for covariates, each 10% increase in the proportion of SM friends with whom participants had no face-to-face relationship was associated with a 9% increase in odds of depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.05–1.13). However, each 10% increase in the proportion of SM friends with whom participants had a close face-to-face relationship was associated with a 7% decrease in depressive symptoms (AOR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89–0.97). Conclusions: Having no in-person relationship with SM contacts is associated with increased depressive symptoms; however, having cl...
A 23-to-30GHz hybrid beamforming MIMO receiver array with closed-loop multistage front-end beamformers for full-FoV dynamic and autonomous unknown signal tracking and blocker rejection

Millimeter-wave massive MIMOs leverage large array size to enhance the link budget and spatial selectivity, but their resulting narrow beamwidth substantially complicates the transmitter-receiver (TX-RX) alignment. Unlike most existing “static” applications (e.g., mm-wave HDTV transmission), many future mm-wave links will operate in highly “dynamic” environments, such as wireless AR/VR and vehicle-/drone-/machine-based links, necessitating rapid and precise beam-forming/-tracking for high link reliability and low latency. Densely deployed mm-wave nodes will also result in future congested/contested environments, requiring spatially tracking/rejecting unknown blockers (unknown frequency, angle-of-arrival AoA, or modulation).
Histopathological changes in the gastroduodenal mucosa of children with functional dyspepsia.

Abstract Introduction and Objective Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects a significant number of children presenting with chronic abdominal pain. A high proportion of these children undergo endoscopy to obtain mucosal biopsies which, by standard criteria, generally do not identify a clear explanation for symptoms. We undertook this study of children diagnosed with FD to elucidate the histopathological changes of gastroduodenal mucosa and to describe mast cell and eosinophil densities. Methods In this retrospective study, we evaluated 114 FD subjects and 10 control subjects from whom gastric antral and duodenal biopsies were available as formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue. We reviewed the H&E stained slides and performed immunohistochemistry for tryptase, to determine eosinophil and mast cell densities, respectively. Results We found that the duodenal mucosa showed no evidence of inflammation in 86% of subjects, a median peak eosinophil count of 24 and a median peak mast cell count of 22. The histopathological features of the gastric antral mucosa comprised no evidence of inflammation in 52% of subjects, mild chronic inflammation in 41% of subjects, a median peak eosinophil count of 11.5 and a median peak mast cell count of 18. Conclusions A significant proportion of children with FD do not show chronic or active inflammation, but have increased mast cell density and eosinophil density in the stomach and duodenum mucosa. Our study adds functional dyspepsia to the list of various abnormalities that have increased gastroduodenal mucosal elevations of eosinophils and/or mast cells.
Molecular Mimicry: Anti-DNA Antibodies Bind Microbial and Nonnucleic Acid Self-Antigens

Although cells of the innate immune response have a variety of pattern recognition receptors that are triggered by blood classes of markers, a critical feature of the adaptive immune response is antigenic specificity. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that the specificity of lymphocyte receptors admits of some laxity. Cross-reactivity may, in fact, be necessary for lymphocyte survival as antigen receptor signaling maintains cellular viability in the absence of antigen activation. Studies of molecular mimicry have revealed many instances in which antibodies to microbial antigens bind also to self-antigens; in some cases, this cross-reactivity has pathogenic potential. In this chapter, we describe cross-reactivity between two self-antigens, DNA and NMDA receptors, and how antibodies with specificity for DNA in patients with splenic lupus may cause central nervous system damage by virtue of binding also to neuronal receptors. This example serves as a reminder that cross-reactivity may exist among self-antigens as well as between foreign and self-antigens.
HORMONES IN MILK

The presence of hormones in consumable food items has been known for many years, but recent popular press articles about the presence of these hormones in food have led to increased public interest. While there is evidence of ingested protein hormone factors affecting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), there is no evidence of absorption of the protein hormones after gut closure. Lipid-soluble hormones are absorbed but are converted enzymatically to less bioactive components in the intestinal and hepatic tissues. A number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain the rationale behind these secreted bioactive components appearing in milk: (1) they are a means of mammary disposal; (2) the hormones are autocrine/paracrine factors that have important roles in the regulation of mammary cells; (3) these factors affect the function of the GIT of the newborn; (4) these factors are absorbed by the GIT and have peripheral functions in the newborn; and (5) they do not have any function, they just result from normal biological processes involved in the secretion of milk. This article explains the mechanism of appearance of milk hormonal factors, lists major hormonal factors that are present in milk, and considers the evidence for some of the proposed concepts that provide a rationale for their appearance.
Aberrant Nematode Infections

Many nematodes whose definitive hosts are various animals other than humans can infect humans, but are icapable of maturing to adult parasites in human body and thus completing their life cycles. Two important human diseases, cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) and visceral larva migrans (VLM), are a result of such aberrant infections with larval nematodes. The pathogens causing CLM and VLM and the clinical manifestations of these diseases are listed in Tables 11.1 and 11.2. Although the number of nematodes causing aberrant human infections is large, this chapter emphasizes only important of these agent. Hence not all the organisms listed in Tables 11.1 and 11.2 are discussed in the text.
Trade and the Construction of Bahamian Identity: A Multiscalar Exploration

Using ceramic data, we explore how a multiscalar approach, framed within Giddens' Theory of Structuration, can lead to a more complete understanding of the construction of New World Creole identities. The two scales of analysis serve to inform one another. We draw upon archaeological and historical data from five plantation sites located on three islands of the Bahamas. On the macroscale level, we demonstrate how regional trade networks limited or facilitated access to ceramics and shaped the ways that individual planters used these goods to construct statements about wealth and prestige. A microscale analysis of ceramics recovered from six slave households demonstrates how families with complete market access used ceramics as a means of creating a sense of community identity and mediating tensions within the quarters.
Why Our Kids Don’t Get Math

Despite the importance of math, and the many attempts at reforming curricula and pedagogy, there continues to be systemic failure in the math education of students. There is a widening gap between what is taught in high school math and what is expected in college. There is a troubling disconnect between how math is taught in school and how professional scientists, engineers, and mathematicians use math. There is confusion in teaching why math is relevant by using clumsy examples that require much more facility with reading comprehension than with mathematical reasoning. Offloading arithmetic to calculators and substituting what amounts to algebra instruction in its place makes no sense pedagogically, developmentally, or in achieving the overarching goal of raising math standards. Children need a solid foundation in quantitative literacy. Instead, students arrive in college who have no sense about numbers, but they are expected to learn calculus in order to complete their degree requirements. Setting students up to fail at any level—K-12 or college—is unethical and a waste of time and resources. Yet this has become standard practice in education.
Approximation with Rates by Shift Invariant Multivariate Sublinear-Choquet Operators

A very general multivariate positive sublinear Choquet integral type operator is given through a convolution-like iteration of another multivariate general positive sublinear operator with a multivariate scaling type function. For it sufficient conditions are given for shift invariance, preservation of global smoothness, convergence to the unit with rates. Furthermore, two examples of very general multivariate specialized operators are presented fulfilling all the above properties, the higher order of multivariate approximation of these operators is also studied. It follows [3].
North‐south gradient of mesothelioma and asbestos consumption‐production in the United States‐Progresses since the 1st asbestos partial ban in 1973

BACKGROUND Temporal trends and broad geographical distributions of asbestos use and the incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in the US still need to be studied. METHODS Data on asbestos consumption and production between 1900 and 2015 and MM mortality and incidence rates between 1975 and 2015 in the US were examined. Spatial distributions of MM mortality and incidence rates and their association with climate zone were analyzed. RESULTS Decline of MM incidence and mortality rates in the US occurred about 20 years after the peak of asbestos consumption-production in 1973. There are apparent north-south (N-S) gradients in MM mortality and incidence rates in the US. CONCLUSION Recent decline of MM incidence and mortality rates in the US may be associated with reduced US asbestos consumption. N-S MM gradients between 1999 and 2015 were likely related to larger asbestos requirements in building materials in the northern states.
Human umbilical cord blood derived cell therapy product, DUOC-01, ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model for multiple sclerosis

Background & Aim We have developed DUOC-01, a cord-blood derived, macrophage-based cell therapy product to treat demyelinating conditions of the central nervous system. Previously, we demonstrated that DUOC-01 accelerated remyelination, decreased gliosis, and reduced cellular infiltration in the corpus callosum of immune-incompetent mice treated with cuprizone. To explore the mechanism of action and investigate whether DUOC-01 will be effective in other experimental models of demyelination, we tested DUOC-01 in lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) mediated demyelinated murine organotypic cerebellar brain slices and a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE has been recognized as the most widely used animal models to study the underlying molecular mechanisms of MS and the efficacy of potential therapeutics for treatment of disease. Methods, Results & Conclusion First, in the LPC-mediated demyelinated cerebellar brain slices, we found that DUOC-01 treatment increased remyelination, decreased gliosis, and promoted the proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells compared to the untreated control samples. EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice by immunizing with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). After 10-12 days of EAE induction, when animals started showing early disease symptoms, we administered 3 × 105 DUOC-01 cells into the cerebrospinal fluid by a single intra-cisterna magna injection and clinical score was recorded for next several days. Compared to the vehicle injected control mice (n=9), in DUOC-01 treated mice (n=9), we observed significantly decreased severity of the disease as soon as the treatment started, as indicated by lower clinical scores based on motor dysfunction or severity of ascending paralysis. Histological analysis of lumber region of the spinal cord tissues from EAE mice revealed reduced inflammation and lower cellular infiltration in DUOC-01 treated samples compared to the vehicle injected controls. Presently we are analyzing single cell sequencing data to determine various sub-populations present in DUOC-01 cultures and to understand the functional pathways responsible for promoting remyelination and lowering neuroinflammation. In brief, our data suggest that DUOC-01 cell therapy product could be beneficial in treating MS and other diverse neurological conditions with demyelination.
Organizational Leaders: Communicating in a Crisis Situation

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss how organizational leaders communicate during a crisis situation. The chapter will incorporate Biblical scripture to support communication theories such as the Attribution Theory and Situational Crisis Communication. The chapter will discuss the recent event and how they were handled by organizational leaders. It will outline crisis communication strategies for organizational leaders. These strategies are (1) instructional information, (2) adjusting information, and (3) reputation repair. Subsequently, the chapter will proceed to present a definition of a crisis and the events that characterize crisis communication. Furthermore, the crisis communication theories that are presented are intended to support the specific models such as the situational communication crisis that is elaborated to rationalize the chosen choices. The chapter concludes by presenting approaches that have been proven to produce effective frameworks.
Evaluating Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy in Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Abstract Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is produced in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) lesions and is elevated in active high-risk vs low-risk LCH vs control patient blood, where TNF-alpha has been reported at 12 pg/ml in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Anti-TNF therapeutic etanercept is used in TNF-mediated diseases, such as JRA, and was successfully used in one case of LCH. We therefore conducted phase II study for etanercept therapeutic efficacy for refractory or relapsed LCH patients. Methods: Luminex platform was used to assess patient blood TNF-alpha level. This phase II study was approved by the Baylor College of Medicine IRB with research support from Amgen/Immunex. Eligibility included LCH patients with progressive disease post-initial treatment and ≥1 salvage therapy. Etanercept was injected 0.4mg/kg subcutaneously twice/week for 12 weeks. Therapeutic response were evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks. Results: TNF-alpha is elevated in blood LCH high-risk (average 45pg/ml) vs low-risk (average 13pg/ml) vs control (average 13pg/ml). Five LCH patients (1.6-42 years) with multi-system involvement, 2 with high-risk disease were enrolled. A median of 5 doses of etanercept were administered (range 1-14). One high-risk patient died 18 days after the first dose from disease progression. At week 4 evaluation, one patient had stable disease and 3 progressed and all subjects progressed by week 8. Ultimately 0/5 patients had disease improvement with etanercept. Conclusion: Etanercept therapy, at JRA-effective dose, in this trial did not improve LCH disease. It is possible that this may not be an effective strategy. Alternatively, it is also possible that drug dose or distribution was suboptimal. While anti-TNF therapies, including etanercept, are effective for treatment of RA, etanercept is not effective for granulomatous diseases such as Crohn's, sarcoidosis or Wegner's disease. Additional studies exploring potential efficacy of higher dose or alternative forms of TNF-alpha inhibition in LCH may be warranted. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
SOAP Notes During APPEs: Assessment of Student Performance

Objectives:To evaluate and compare students’ ability to perform in each area of the subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) wit...
A 3D printed patient-specific dual compartment breast phantom for validating MRI acquisition and analysis techniques

Anthropomorphic phantoms are essential tools that are used to validate MRI acquisition and analysis techniques. 3D printing technologies are rapidly advancing and can be utilized to achieve anatomically realistic geometries that are not attainable using traditional manufacturing methods. Herein, we present the design of a 3D printed anthropomorphic breast phantom that includes the key breast tissue compartments which are filled with desired tissue-mimicking fluids. The breast phantom can be used for validating MR, coil development, safety evaluation and pulse sequence evaluation.
Predicting Therapeutic Antibody Delivery into Human Head and Neck Cancers

Purpose: The efficacy of antibody-based therapeutics depends on successful drug delivery into solid tumors; therefore, there is a clinical need to measure intratumoral antibody distribution. This study aims to develop and validate an imaging and computation platform to directly quantify and predict antibody delivery into human head and neck cancers in a clinical study. Experimental Design: Twenty-four patients received systemic infusion of a near-infrared fluorescence-labeled therapeutic antibody followed by surgical tumor resection. A computational platform was developed to quantify the extent of heterogeneity of intratumoral antibody distribution. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to select the most predictive tumor biological factors for antibody delivery. Quantitative image features from the pretreatment MRI were extracted and correlated with fluorescence imaging of antibody delivery. Results: This study not only confirmed heterogeneous intratumoral antibody distribution in-line with many preclinical reports, but also quantified the extent of interpatient, intertumor, and intratumor heterogeneity of antibody delivery. This study demonstrated the strong predictive value of tumor size for intratumoral antibody accumulation and its significant impact on antibody distribution in both primary tumor and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, this study established the feasibility of using contrast-enhanced MRI to predict antibody delivery. Conclusions: This study provides a clinically translatable platform to measure antibody delivery into solid tumors and yields valuable insight into clinically relevant antibody tumor penetration, with implications in the selection of patients amenable to antibody therapy and the design of more effective dosing strategies.
Bradycardia Prediction in Preterm Infants Using Nonparametric Kernel Density Estimation

In this paper, we propose a statistical method to predict the onset of bradycardia in preterm infants without any prior knowledge. To model information on the QRS complex R wave, we exploit nonparametric methods to estimate the density. Our proposed method takes advantage of the kernel density estimator in order to provide a statistical guarantee of 95% accuracy. We also demonstrate our results through simulations to support our proposed method using preterm infant electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from a database. We show that the method achieves a 5% false alarm rate in predicting the onset of upcoming bradycardia events.
Response to Zalta and Held's "Commentary on the special issue on moral injury: leveraging existing constructs to test the heuristic model of moral injury"

Zalta and Held (2020) generated some interesting and potentially useful principles to distinguish moral distress and moral injury, leveraging ideas from our introduction to the Journal of Traumatic Stress special issue on moral injury. In this response, I provide feedback and commentary about the principles generated by Zalta and Held. I also attempt to modify and expand the various principles to accommodate any moral emotion and all possible dimensions of response to exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences.
Evaluation of a recirculating hydroponic bed bioreactor for removal of contaminants of emerging concern from tertiary-treated wastewater effluent

Tertiary-treated effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Tucson, AZ, was added to recirculating hydroponic bed bioreactors filled with light expanded clay aggregate (LECA) and recirculated for 10 days. Bioreactors were planted with high and low densities of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and Bacillus thuringiensis cotton (Gossypium sp.). The experiment also included a non-planted bioreactor treatment and a control bioreactor with neither plants nor substrate medium. Of 46 contaminants of emerging conern assayed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), 16 were initially identified at detectable levels in the effluent. After one day, concentrations of Ibuprofen and Diphenhydramine fell below detection limits in all treatments as well as the control. After five days, initial concentrations of atenolol, benzotriazole, carbamazepine, hydrochlorothiazide, iohexol, iopamidol iopromide, primidone, sulfamethoxazole and tris TCPP were reduced by greater than 80% in all treatments, while the control exhibited little to no removal. Diclofenac, simazine and sucralose exhibited variable removal rates among treatments ranging from 44 to 84% after five days. After 10 days, concentrations of DEET, diclofenac, iopromide, primidone and simazine were all below detection levels, while there was near zero removal in the control. Bioreactors planted with cotton had significantly more removal of sulfamethoxazole than unplanted bioreactors by 16-19% after five days and by an additional 18-20% removal after 10 days. The percentage uptake of benzotriazole by every planted treatment was significantly higher than the non-planted treatment after five and 10 days. Significant contaminant removal occurred in the media substrate, likely through adsorption to LECA or microbial degradation. More research is needed to examine specific pathways of degradation and removal by various microbials and plants.
Particle size-dependent magnetic hyperthermia in gadolinium silicide micro- and nano-particles from calorimetry and AC magnetometry

Abstract Self-regulating magnetic hyperthermia, in which heating of magnetic particles is limited by the magnetic transition temperature, could be a valuable form of magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment, as it can ensure uniform heating across tumor tissue. Gadolinium silicide has been suggested as a candidate material for self-regulating magnetic hyperthermia because of its high magnetization, Curie temperature near the desired treatment temperature, and tunability. Previous measurements of polydisperse micro- and nano-particles prepared from ball-milled Gd5Si4 yielded a decreased Curie temperature T C with a broad transition, suggesting that particle size may be used to tune T C . Other studies of size-selected particles of ball-milled Gd5Si4 showed decreased T C and magnetization with decreased particle size, but increased coercivity with decreased size, and the combined effects on the specific loss power were unknown. This work presents measurements of the particle size-dependence of the specific loss power of ball-milled Gd5Si4, showing that the largest particles (approx. 780 nm) behave similarly to the previously measured polydisperse samples, while the smaller particles all have decreased specific loss power. Dynamic hysteresis loop measurements show that the coercivity of the particles is increased under the conditions used for magnetic hyperthermia (particles dispersed in water, under an alternating magnetic field) relative to quasistatic measurements of powder samples, though a particle size-dependence of the coercivity was not observed under hyperthermia conditions. This work highlights one of the challenges of implementing self-regulating magnetic hyperthermia: in general, materials tend to have low coercivity near the magnetic transition temperature. Given this challenge, rare-earth compounds with high magnetization may provide the best opportunity to obtain significant heating for self-regulating hyperthermia.
Charles Hewitt Moore, FRCS (1821–1870): Medical innovator:

Charles Hewitt Moore, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, practiced at Middlesex and St. Luke’s Hospitals and was administratively active in The Medical and Chirurgical Society. From 1851 to...
Meaningful Course Evaluations

Evaluating courses and how well they are taught is an essential task for every educational institution. Evaluations support improvement of instruction and course content. They are also often an important input to annual reviews and tenure and promotion decisions. In spite of these important uses, many institutions do not feel that their course evaluations are meeting these needs as well as they would like. And faculty, students, and administrators all seem to have some level of complaint and frustration related to evaluations. This panel will focus on course evaluation for computing degree programs. Panelists will identify problems and discuss helpful ideas for making course evaluations more useful.
Coding and Billing for Ultrasound Examinations

Surgeon-performed ultrasound examinations should be appropriately performed for appropriate indications and documented and then coded/billed. For coding and billing of all ultrasound examinations, there are professional and technical components. The coding changes periodically, and, therefore, the surgeon should update the coding using the current “CPT” and “ICD.” Medicare and other insurers have been paying physicians for diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound services regardless of specialty. It is imperative for surgeons to understand and use appropriate and timely coding and billing to obtain suitable payment.
Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAS): Future Trend in Radiopharmaceuticals

The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (commonly called the Waxman Hatch Amendments of 1984, to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) provided for a major expansion of the new drugs eligible for abbreviated applications. As long as the conditions specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21, subsection 312.55 are met, reports of nonclinical laboratory studies (except those pertaining to in vivo bioavailability of the drug product), and clinical investigations can be omitted. New drugs approved under these regulations are so called generic drugs as opposed to listed or pioneer (innovator) drugs. As the patents on more and more radiopharmaceuticals reach their expiration, the radiopharmaceutical industry is likely to produce more of these generic versions of innovator drugs. The ANDAs are required to contain information required under subsections 314.50 (a), (b), (d)(1) and (3), (e), and (g). The applicant must provide satisfactory information on the composition, manufacture and control of the drug substance (active ingredient) as well as on the final drug product to satisfy the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements that the generic new drug be safe and bio-equivalent to the listed new drug.
Acoustic Emission Measurements for Locating High-Voltage Breakdowns in Large Superconducting Magnet Systems

A disappointingly low withstand voltage capability was found during high-potential testing of an electrical system consisting of a large superconducting coil and the equipment connected as it was installed in the International Fusion Superconducting Magnet Test Facility (IFSMTF)— two superconducting buses, two vapor-cooled leads, and 120 sensor cables with ambient temperature and cryogenic vacuum feedthrough connectors. DC and transmission line techniques were unsuitable for finding the location of the dielectric breakdowns. An acoustic emission (AE) measurement system was developed with which to determine the location of breakdowns in large coils after installation in IFSMTF. Using triangulation with AE sensors, the system measures the difference in time-of-arrival of transient waveforms caused by the dc voltage discharge. The system was calibrated on a stainless steel surface representing the coil case, and its accuracy was found to be better than 5 cm. This paper describes both the acoustic emission measurements and the high-voltage testing system used concurrently. Also presented are the experimental results of a series of high-voltage tests that led to the determination of the exact location of one breakdown in the GD/C coil system of the Large Coil Task (LCT) and the results of the successful repair.
The Emergence and Re‐Emergence of Viral Diseases

1 Introduction 2 Determinants Contributing to the Emergence of New Diseases 3 The Virus: Variation and the Emergence of New Viral Phenotypes 4 The Individual Host: Susceptibility/Resistance Factors Favoring the Emergence of Viral Diseases 5 The Host Population: Individual and Societal Behavioral Factors Favoring the Emergence of Viral Diseases 6 The Environment: Ecological and Zoonotic Factors Favoring the Emergence of Viral Diseases 7 The Prevention and Control of New, Emerging, and Re-Emerging Viral Diseases Keywords: emergence and re-emergence of viral diseases; polymerase chain reaction (PCR); genetic mechanisms driving virus evolution-mutation, recombination, and reassortment of genes; western equine encephalitis virus (WEE); HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); hendra virus and nipah virus; west Nile virus (WNV); dengue, most rapidly emerging diseases in tropical parts of the world
Can there be a Disability Studies Theory of "End-of-Life Autonomy?"

Keywords ADA, autonomy, bioethics, end-of-life, euthanasia, terminal illness Abstract In this article, I examine the possibility of a disability studies theory of "end-of-life autonomy." I define "end-of-life autonomy" as an individual's legally protected and medically enacted decision to die in response to a serious incurable medical condition. Disability studies scholars criticize such autonomy when it is exercised by persons with disabilities, but are divided on its application to the terminally ill. But the problem with end-of-life autonomy is not determining the correct population to which it applies; it is the ableism underlying the concept of "autonomy" itself. I redefine "autonomy" as a relational process of self-development that is oriented toward a greater recognition of dependence. This rethinking can make the ADA more responsive to terminally ill individuals, and helps lay the foundation for a disability studies theory of end-of-life autonomy.
TFTR neutral beam automated thermocouple monitor

Each of the four neutral beam lines on the TFTR (Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor) contains 368 type-E thermocouples used too monitor the temperature of the various water cooled surfaces that can receive beam power. The surfaces include the calorimeters, ion dumps, magnets and the scrapers. Currently, these temperatures must be checked manually by the operator any time the accel grid voltage changes by more than 10 kV. A thermocouple scanning system which automates the checking of these thermocouples during beam pulsing and provides monitoring for excessively cold water temperatures during periods when the cryogenic system is operating unattended is described. This system automatically activates the appropriate alarms, indicates out-of-limit thermocouples and, in the case of excessive temperatures, inhibits subsequent beam pulsing. The system consists of five VME-based microcomputer systems: one attached to each beam line for data acquisition and processing, and a central unit for monitoring, display interlocks, and alarms. >
Ideas, Emotions, and Controls

Step 4: Information. Model the central constellations of experienced and warded-off ideas, emotions, and associated maneuvers of control (defenses and style of information processing).
Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase STUDIES WITH 5-HYDROXYURIDINE DIPHOSPHATE GLUCOSE AND 5,6-DIHYDROURIDINE DIPHOSPHATE GLUCOSE

5-Hydroxyuridine diphosphate glucose was prepared enzymatically and 5,6-dihydrouridine diphosphate glucose was prepared by the catalytic reduction of UDP-glucose. The effectiveness of these cofactor analogues as substrates for UDP-glucose dehydrogenase was determined. The rate of oxidation of 5-hydroxyuridine diphosphate glucose was one-sixth that of UDP-glucose at pH 8.7 and one-half that of UDP-glucose at pH 7.0. This behavior is related to the relatively low pKa value of the analogue. Dihydrouridine diphosphate glucose was oxidized at rates which were almost identical with those observed with UDP-glucose at various pH values. 5-Hydroxyuridine diphosphate glucose inhibited UDP-glucose oxidation in a manner suggesting that the analogue interferes with the NAD+ binding site of the enzyme. The undissociated form of the analogue was the more effective inhibitor of UDP-glucose oxidation. The glucose moiety of the three substrates was oxidized to glucuronate at about the same rate as NAD+ was reduced throughout the reaction. These results do not agree with the suggestion that glucose remains unchanged until approximately 1 mole of NAD+ is reduced.
Laser ejection of Ag+ ions from a roughened silver surface: Role of the surface plasmon

Laser irradiation of metal surfaces with sufficiently intense light gives to laser-produced plasmas. Previously, we have studied plasmas from the metals Mg, Bi, Pd, Al, Cu, and Au. The laser plasma occurred with a sudden threshold in laser power. Laser irradiation yielded thermal ions at laser powers less than the plasma thershold, an full plasmas occurred upon reaching the plasma threshold. A detailed study of laser plasma production for palladium loaded with hydrogen (deuterium) has been published. In the present study, the mass-resolved ion kinetic energy distributions are determined in order to study the physics of laser ablation. The kinetic energy distributions (KEDs) of silver ions exhibit a marked departure from the KEDs of other laser-produced plasmas. In addition to the thermal ions, a second peak at 3.6 eV (FWHM = 2 eV) appeared for laser energies below the onset of plasma formation.
Intrinsic Ultracontractivity and Probability

Let \( p_t^D(x,y) = p_t(x,y) \) be the Dirichlet heat kernel for \( \frac{1}{2}\Delta \) in a domain D ⊂ R n, n ≥ 2. In [4] E.B. Davies and B. Simon define the semigroup connected with the Dirichlet Laplacian to be intrinsically ultracontractive if there is a positive (in D) eigenfunction φ 0 for \( \frac{1}{2}\Delta \) in D and if for each t > 0 there are positive constants c t, Ct depending only on D and t such that $$ {c_{t}}{\phi _{0}}(x){\phi _{0}}(y) < {p_{t}}(x,y) < {C_{t}}{\phi _{0}}(x){\phi _{0}}(y),x,y \in D $$ (1) .
Evaluating delta asymmetry using three‐dimensional facies architecture and ichnological analysis, Ferron ‘Notom Delta’, Capital Reef, Utah, USA

Delta asymmetry occurs where there is strong wave influence and net longshore transport. Differences in the morphology and facies architecture between updrift and downdrift sides of asymmetric deltas are potentially significant for exploration and exploitation of resources in this class of reservoirs. Although delta asymmetry has been recognized widely from modern wave-influenced deltaic shorelines, there are few documented examples in the ancient record. Based on an integrated sedimentological and ichnological study, the along-strike variability and delta asymmetry within a single parasequence (Ps 6) is documented in continuously exposed outcrops of the Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale Formation near Hanksville in southern Utah. Two intra-parasequence discontinuity surfaces are recognized which allow subdivision of the parasequence into three bedsets, marked as Ps 6-1 to Ps 6-3. Four facies successions are recognized: (i) wave/storm-dominated shoreface; (ii) river-dominated delta front; (iii) wave/storm-reworked delta front; and (iv) distributary channel and mouth bar. Dips of cross-strata within distributary-mouth bars and shorefaces show a strong downdrift (southward) component. Ps 6-3 predominantly consists of river-dominated delta-front deposits, whereas Ps 6-1 and Ps 6-2 show an along-strike facies change with shoreface deposits in the north, passing into heterolithic, river-dominated delta-front successions south to south-eastward, and wave/storm-reworked delta-front deposits further to the south-east. Trace fossil suites correspondingly show distinct along-strike changes from robust and diverse expressions of the archetypal Cruziana Ichnofacies and Skolithos Ichnofacies, into suites characterized by horizontal, morphologically simple, facies-crossing ichnogenera, reflecting a more stressed, river-dominated environment. Further south-eastward, trace fossil abundance and diversity increase, reflecting a return to archetypal ichnofacies. The overall facies integrated with palaeocurrent data indicate delta asymmetry. The asymmetric delta consists of sandier shoreface deposits on the updrift side and mixed riverine and wave/storm-reworked deposits on the downdrift side, similar to that observed in the modern examples. However, in contrast to the recent delta asymmetry models, significant paralic, lagoonal and bay-fill facies are not documented in the downdrift regions of the asymmetric delta. This observation is attributed to a negative palaeoshoreline trajectory during delta progradation and subsequent transgressive erosion. The asymmetric delta was induced by net longshore transport from north to south. The forced regressive nature of the delta precludes significant preservation of topset mud.
Development of optimum adaptive notch filter for fixed-point implementation in active noise control

The authors present a delayed least mean square (LMS) algorithm which introduces delay in the reference input for active periodic noise control applications. Results show a reduction in out-of-band overshoot and coefficient quantization noise for fixed-point implementation. Computer simulations show an average of 5 dB overshoot constraint and 10 dB quantization noise reduction. >
Vision-based vehicle queue analysis at junctions

This paper presents a tracking method for vision-based queue analysis at junctions including queue length and waiting time estimation of vehicles. The tracking method works based on improving the optical flow method to track small and low quality vehicles with overlong waiting time. The improvement process is performed to keep track of overlong stopped vehicles with high level of robustness against occlusion by crossing pedestrians. The results of experiments are presented by estimating queue length, waiting time distribution and number of waiting vehicles for the highly cluttered video of a Las Vegas junction. The accuracy of the system is evaluated by comparing the queue analysis results with the ground truth.