cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Holistic and Iterative Development and Dissemination of Conceptual Traffic Signal Questions

AbstractConceptual questions can be used to improve student’s understanding through interactive engagement and formative assessment; however, there is a lack of developed conceptual questions in transportation engineering. This paper reports on the development, implementation, refinement, and evaluation of conceptual questions about traffic signals that include students rating of confidence in their solution. Based on student and practicing engineer traffic signal misconceptions, 94 conceptual questions were developed and implemented by 10 public university instructors. Five patterns of student responses were identified in terms of correctness and student confidence: all correct, all confident, all lack confidence, correct-confident combined with incorrect-lacks confidence, and correct-lacks confidence combined with incorrect-confident. Furthermore, the experiences of instructors using conceptual questions with students were considered through semistructured interviews. Conceptual questions about fundamen...
Preparation and properties of carp muscle parvalbumin fragments A (residues 1 å 75) and B (residues 76 å 108)

Abstract The calcium-binding protein (parvalbumin), isolated from carp (Cyprinus carpio) muscle, has been specifically fragmented into two polypeptides by tryptic hydrolysis at the single arginine residue at position 75. Fragment A contains residues 1 a 75 and fragment B is composed of residues 76 a 108 . The fragments have been characterized according to size, amino acid composition, carboxyl- and amino-terminal analysis. Both fragments appear to be homogeneous by these criteria. The intact protein is known to bind 2 mol of calcium per mol of parvalbumin, and although each fragment alone contains all of the essential ligands for the coordination of one Ca 2− , neither fragment displays calcium binding activity. Attempts to reconstitute the two fragments, under a variety of conditions, into a functional complex which can bind calcium have been unsuccessful. The side chain of Arg-75 is known to occupy an internal position in the crystalline structure of parvalbumin (Kretsinger, R.H. and Nockolds, C.E. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 3313), where it is stabilized by an intricate network of hydrogen bonding involving the side chain of Glu-81. Although this internal salt bridge is approx. 20 A from either calcium binding site, it has been suggested that this structural feature of the molecule plays an essential role in the reversible binding of Ca 2+ . That the side chain of Arg-75 likewise occupies an internal position in the solution structure is indicated by its unavailability for reaction with 1,2-cyclohexanedione under conditions of physiological pH and temperature. However in the presence of EDTA and at pH 8, it is readily modified by cyclohexanedione. This modification is accompanied by a concomitant loss in calcium binding activity. Reversal of the modification by treatment with hydroxylamine is accompanied by restoration of calcium binding activity. The sum of these data support the hypothesis that Arg-75 plays a critical role in the structural organization and calcium binding activity of the molecule, and in addition, suggests that the integrity of the peptide bond between Arg-75 and Ala-76 may be necessary for establishing the proper microenvironment required for formation of the internal salt bridge between Arg-75 and Glu-81.
Delayed childbearing by education level in the United States, 1969-1994.

Objectives. Advanced maternal age at first birth, but not at subsequent births, may have detrimental health implications for both mother and child, such as a poor birth outcome and an increased risk of maternal breast cancer. However, positive outcomes may also result such as an improvement in economic measures and offspring's performance on cognitive tests. Research has indicated that women increasingly are delaying their first births beyond the early twenties, but the recent trends in socioeconomic disparity in age at first birth, and the implications for public health, have not been well described. Method. This study used national birth certificate data for 1969–1994 to examine age at first birth by maternal education level. Current Population Survey data were also used to examine changes over time in age and educational distribution among women of childbearing age. Results. Age at first birth increased during the time period. Median age at first birth increased from 21.3 to 24.4 between 1969 and 1994, and the proportion of first-time mothers who were age 30 or older increased from 4.1% to 21.2%. Age at first birth increased rapidly among women with 12 or more years of education; nearly half (45.5%) of college graduate women who had their first birth in 1994 were age 30 or older, compared with 10.2% in 1969. However, little change was observed among women with fewer than 12 years of education; among those with 9–11 years of education, only 2.5% of first births in 1994 occurred at age 30 or older. Conclusions. The trend toward postponed childbearing has occurred primarily among women with at least a high school education. Health services use, such as infertility treatment and cesarean section, may increase as a result of delayed childbearing among higher educated women. Future examinations of the association between maternal age at first birth and health outcomes may need to take greater account of socioeconomic differentials.
Breast augmentation with reduced-height anatomic implants: the pros and cons.

The reduced-height anatomic saline-filled implant has certain advantages. It has a distinct footprint and profile, which allows the creation of a breast with relatively exaggerated width and abbreviated height. This suits certain anatomic situations and is often preferred by women seeking a more natural-looking augmentation, without excessive upper pole fullness.
Regarding "Computer-Assisted Detection of Cerebral Aneurysms in MR Angiography in a Routine Image-Reading Environment: Effects on Diagnosis by Radiologists".

We thank Miki et al[1][1] for presenting their results on using computer-assisted detection (CAD) with MR angiography to identify cerebral aneurysms. Their article raises some pertinent questions and concerns. With the final consensus by 2 radiologists as the reference standard, the sensitivity for
Neural manufacturing: a novel concept for processing modeling, monitoring, and control

Semiconductor fabrication lines have become extremely costly, and achieving a good return from such a high capital investment requires efficient utilization of these expensive facilities. It is highly desirable to shorten processing development time, increase fabrication yield, enhance flexibility, improve quality, and minimize downtime. We propose that these ends can be achieved by applying recent advances in the areas of artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, machine learning, and genetic algorithms. We use the term neural manufacturing to describe such applications. This paper describes our use of artificial neural networks to improve the monitoring and control of semiconductor process.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Economic Basis of Market Grades

Market grades have come to assume a place of much importance in present day interchange of commodities. This is particularly true for agricultural products because of the wide variations in quality which such products show and because these variations are largely due to influences beyond the producer's control. The large number of relatively small producing units found in agriculture and the type of market organization for its products are further reasons for the prevalence of grades for products of the farm. Manufacturers have greater control over the processes involved in producing their products. They determine upon the product by the selection of raw materials and methods. The woolen mill controls the kind of cloth it manufac-
Tregs Expand the Skin Stem Cell Niche.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are emerging as an essential stem cell niche component that promotes wound repair in adipose, muscle, and lung tissues. Recently in Cell, Ali et al. (2017) report that skin resident Tregs facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells through Notch signaling.
Calcium in Smooth Muscle Function

In smooth muscle (Prosser, 1974; Hurwitz and Suria, 1971; Somlyo and Somlyo, 1968), as in other types of muscle (Fuchs, 1974; Langer, 1968; Sandow, 1965), calcium is considered to be the agent that activates the contractile apparatus. Consequently, the cellular structures and reactions which act to regulate the concentration of Ca2+ available to the contractile proteins play a vital role in the contraction-relaxation cycle in smooth muscle cells. In the discussion which follows, major emphasis will be placed on those aspects of smooth muscle function which control the movements of Ca2+ in the cell. The first part of this chapter will be devoted to a brief overview of the excitation-contraction coupling mechanism which is assumed to operate during a drug or neurohormone-induced contractile response. The remainder of the chapter will deal more specifically with some of the characteristics of the transport system that facilitates the entry of Ca2+ into the cytoplasmic matrix and with the interaction between this system and other cellular processes associated with contraction in the smooth muscle cell.
Simulated developmental and reproductive impacts on amphibian populations and implications for assessing long-term effects

Fish endpoints measured in early life stage toxicity tests are often used as representative of larval amphibian sensitivity in Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). This application potentially overlooks the impact of developmental delays on amphibian metamorphosis, and thereby reduced survival, in amphibian populations constrained by habitat availability. Likewise, the effects of reduced productivity or altered sexual development as a result of chemical exposure are not presented in terms of lower population fecundity in these surrogate tests. Translating endpoints measured in toxicity tests to those that are more representative of amphibian ecology and population dynamics provides a means of identifying how developmental effects result in long-term impacts. Here we compare effects of developmental delay on metamorphosis success in six anuran species and simulate population-level impacts of subsequent reductions in larval survival as well as potential reductions in fecundity as a result of developmental impacts. We use deterministic matrix models to compare realistic combinations of amphibian demographic rates and relative impacts of reduced growth on larval survival and subsequently on population growth. Developmental delays are less detrimental in species with longer and less synchronous larval periods. All six species were most sensitive to changes in first-year survival, and damping ratios were generally a good indicator of resilience to perturbations in both larval survival and fecundity. Further identification of species and population-level vulnerabilities can improve the evaluation of sublethal effects in relevant context for ERA.
Maximum Variance Unfolding

Unlike Isomap method that preserves geodesic distances, MVU method learns the data from the similarities, preserving both local distances and angles between the pairs of all neighbors of each point in the data set. Since the method keeps the local maximum variance in dimensionality reduction processing, it is called maximum variance unfolding (MVU). Like multidimensional scaling (MDS), MVU can be applied to the cases that only the local similarities of objects in a set are given. In these cases, MVU tries to find a configuration that preserves the given similarities. Technically, MVU adopts semidefinite programming (SDP) to solve the DR problems. Hence, it is also called semidefinite embedding (SDE) or SDP. Solving a DR problem using MVU is expensive regarding both memory cost and time cost. To overcome the shortage of high computational cost, landmark MVU (LMVU) is introduced. In Section 9.1, we describe the MVU method and the corresponding maximization model. In Section 9.2, we give a brief review of SDP and introduce several popular SDP software packages. The experiments and applications of MVU are included in Section 9.3. The LMVU is discussed in Section 9.4.
Mice with targeted KrasG12D and loss of p53 in the liver: A robust model for studying immunologic interventions for treating cholangiocarcinoma

281Background: Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment—chronically elevated cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory cells—promotes tumorigenesis. Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is the most common liver...
Delivery of nanoparticles inside the cytosol of live cells for the monitoring of cellular processes (Conference Presentation)

The delivery of MOF-enzyme nanofactories (50-100 nm in diameter) into the cytosol of cells will be presented. Delivery is achieved by co-incubation with the peptide dfTAT, a dimeric construct of the HIV TAT peptide. Cytosolic targeting is highly efficient and dfTAT circumvents the endosomal entrapment of macromolecular cargos. The delivery protocol does not require interactions between dfTAT and nanoparticles, thereby eliminating complex labeling steps. Cytosolic access is rapid and cells recover from the delivery process in a matter of minutes. Overall, this approach should facilitate the monitoring of intracellular processes by nanoparticle probes.
Future Strategies to Enhance Patient Care Documentation Among Athletic Trainers: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network

Context: High-quality patient care documentation is an essential component of any health care professional's daily practice. Whereas athletic trainers (ATs) recognize the importance of patient car...
Hell Fire and Brimstone

On 15 December 1970, the Soviet lander, Venera 7, radioed good news and bad news back to Earth. The good news was that it had landed softly enough on the surface of Venus to still be intact and talking, the first man-made object to do so from the surface of another planet. The bad news was that, at a temperature of 470°C and an atmospheric pressure 90 times greater than on Earth, it wasn’t going to last long. Indeed, it died 23 minutes after touching down.
Hindsight is 20/20: Finding Teachable Moments in the Extraordinary and Applying Them to the Ordinary

Service learning opportunities that offer social justice-oriented learning through disaster response have been found to be a highly effective and transformative experience for both students and professors. The author’s recent experience with law students in the south of Israel during a time of turmoil resulted in significant learning for students in the areas of social justice orientation, empathy, reflective skills, and professional identity development, as well as for the author in her approach to, and implementation and evaluation of, clinical teaching. However, student participation in these types of experiences often is restricted due to enrollment limits, cost concerns, and the juggling of school, work and home life responsibilities required to engage in travel. This article proposes that clinical professors, through clinical pedagogy, can translate many of the extraordinary teachable moments that arise in the service-learning model to more ordinary clinical experiences and thereby enhance student learning.
Fibre by the slice: bringing consumer value and market leadership

ABSTRACT Bakers striving to maintain marketshare do so by developing products to meet changing consumer requirements. For many, this means a shift in focus to cater for the growing demand for functional and fortified breads. Fibre, found in wholegrain breads, is a widely recognised functional ingredient, but its perception of imparting poor taste, texture and appearance to breads has hampered its popularity in the past. This is where resistant starch plays a vital role - delivering the health benefits of fibre, namely its positive effect on glycemic response and digestive health, while maintaining sensory appeal. This paper will present several case studies where the advantages of resistant starch have been tapped to provide clear differentiation and drive demand. – Wonder White , a leading brand on the Australian market for the last nine years, filled the long-standing gap for good quality, high fibre white bread. Incorporating Hi-maize™ resistant starch – referred to as ‘the invisible dietary fibre’ – into Wonder White increased the fibre content of the bread without affecting its taste, softness or whiteness. – A new bread launched in February including Hi-maize, has already achieved listings in every supermarket across Sweden. – Flour millers, such as McSun in Korea, are differentiating white flour for general use by adding Hi-maize. Co-branding with Hi-maize allows bakers to individualise their products from standard white breads and flours by helping consumers to understand the added advantages. Consistent and tiered supporting communications on the proven health benefits of Hi-maize endorses and strengthens the brand proposition.
An Unusual Presentation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma with Isolated Footdrop

Background Patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) typically present with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, including headache, nausea/vomiting, and somnolence, or with contralateral weakness. Compression of the convexity cerebral cortex usually causes motor deficit that is more readily appreciated in the upper extremity rather than in the leg, and very subtle deficit may be detected only by looking for pronator drift. The precise pattern of signs and symptoms in CSDH may vary from case to case depending on the specific anatomy of compression, but isolated lower extremity weakness is rare. Case Description A 79-year-old woman presented with isolated footdrop. CSDH overlying the cerebral convexity was detected on computed tomography. The foot weakness resolved on surgical drainage. Conclusions CSDH overlying the cerebral convexity may manifest with isolated foot weakness. Awareness of the potential for this unusual presentation of CSDH may be useful to the clinician assessing a patient with otherwise unexplained foot weakness.
Theater of a Separate War: The Civil War West of the Mississippi River, 1861– 1865

Review of: "Theater of a Separate War: The Civil War West of the Mississippi River, 1861– 1865," by Thomas W. Cutrer.
Brief report: The declining incidence of cerebral hyperthermia during cardiac surgery: a seven-year experience in 6,334 patients.

Purpose Cerebral hyperthermia during rewarming from hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) commonly occurs and has been associated with postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction. Increased awareness of this has likely led to changes in rewarming strategies, including the reduction of rewarming rates and lowering of target rewarming temperatures. As a result, we hypothesized that the maximum temperature reached during cardiac surgery has decreased at our institution over time.
Holocene Vegetation, Climate, and Carbon History on Western Kodiak Island, Alaska

At Phalarope Pond, western Kodiak Island, a multidisciplinary study using pollen and spores, macrofossils, stable isotopes, and carbon accumulation provides the Holocene vegetation and climate history following the deglaciation that began over 16,000 cal years ago (yr BP) [years Before Present, as calibrated from 1950]. Following a cold and dry Younger Dryas, a warm and wet early Holocene was characterized by abundant ferns in a sedge tundra environment with maximum carbon accumulation, similar to high latitude peatlands globally. About 8,700 cal yr BP sedge and ferns declined and climate remained warm as drier conditions prevailed, limiting carbon sequestration. The abrupt shift in D/H (Deuterium/Hydrogen) isotopes of about 60 percent indicates a shift to cooler conditions or a more distal moisture source. Neoglaciation beginning about 3,700 cal yr BP is evident from increases in Artemisia, Empetrum and Betula, signifying cooler conditions, while Alnus declines, paralleling regional trends.
The Impact of Canalplasty on Outcomes of Medial Graft Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE Both medial and lateral graft techniques are commonly employed in tympanoplasty with acceptable closure rates. Canalplasty is routinely performed to obtain adequate exposure in the lateral graft technique; this usually entails removal of the anterior canal wall skin with subsequent replacement as a free graft. While formal canalplasty can also be performed in conjunction with medial graft technique to improve exposure, it is not commonly described. The current study seeks to examine the impact of canalplasty on outcomes of medial graft tympanoplasty. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed for patients undergoing tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media with the senior author. Audiometric data were recorded both preoperatively and postoperatively. Primary outcome measure was perforation closure with audiometric outcomes examined as secondary outcome measures. RESULTS One hundred seventy tympanoplasties without ossiculoplasty were included in our study. The overall rate of perforation closure postoperatively was 77%. Cartilage use portended a higher closure rate (100%) when compared with nonuse (75%) (p = 0.04). The success rates with lateral grafts (94%) and medial grafts with canalplasty (92%) were considerably higher than obtained with medial grafts without canalplasty (69%) (p = 0.005 and 0.02, respectively). In cases with anterior perforations greater than 25% of the tympanic membrane, our results demonstrated a significant advantage in performing canalplasty (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Data from the current study suggest that canalplasty offers benefit regarding closure rate in medial graft tympanoplasty. Use of cartilage also portended a higher rate of perforation closure. Canalplasty should be considered when using medial graft techniques if exposure is limited due to bony canal anatomy.
Dīks̥ita, Bhat̥t̥oji (ca. 17th Century a.d.)

The author of the Siddhānta Kaumudī (‘Moonlight of settled conclusions’), Bhat˚t˚oji Dīks˚ita (17th century a.d.) came from a family of grammarians. Pand˚itarāja Jagannātha, the court poet (1627–1656) of the Emperor Shahajahan (1592–1666), tells us in his Manoramākucamardinī (‘Manorama-breast-ravisher’) that Bhat˚t˚oji Dīks˚ita was a student of Ses˚akr˚s˚n˚a, the author of Prakriyāprakāśa (‘Derivation-elucidation’). His Siddhānta Kaumudī is considered a masterpiece of a pedagogical grammar of Sanskrit and as its name, ‘Moonlight of settled conclusions,’ signifies, is a work in which the grammatical rules of the sūtras of Pān˚ini are arranged according to subjects and commented on concisely and clearly.
Where Are We Looking? Understanding Android Static Analysis Techniques

Static analysis is a traditional technique for software transformation and analysis. It has also become a means to detect cyber security vulnerabilities and malware and recently has been extended to the mobile-computing arena for security-related analyses. This paper examines 50 security papers that are published in top conferences, journals and technical reports, and characterizes the current research. The papers were selected based their high citings by other top research or because they introduced either a novel analysis technique or a novel security issue analysis. Our research systematically constructs a static analysis landscape by charting and characterizing analysis strengths and limitations in both accuracy and security threats. For completeness and to aid the community by providing a coverage map, we have connected technique motivations found to Mitre's attack taxonomy and Mitre's vulnerability taxonomy. Our Findings include identifying vulnerabilities which are not being systematically researched.
"All for One" experiences of interprofessional team members caring for older adults: A metasynthesis.

BACKGROUND There is some evidence that healthcare professionals prefer an interprofessional approach to care and this approach is of particular importance to older people due to their complex needs and multitude of chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE This metasynthesis aimed to synthesise and unearth new understandings of the experiences of interprofessional team members that are caring for older people from a variety of qualitative studies. DESIGN This review is designed as a metasynthesis based on the method put forth by Noblit and Hare for synthesising qualitative research. DATA SOURCES A search for qualitative and mixed methods articles that included healthcare professionals' experiences of caring for older people as a member of an interprofessional team was conducted via an electronic database search of CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS and PsycINFO. REVIEW METHODS The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) the method of the study was qualitative or included a qualitative component, (b) an interprofessional team cared for an older person, (c) data regarding interprofessional team members' experiences were gathered, (d) published in English and (e) between the period of 2000 and 2019. Key metaphors were extracted from the data and juxtaposed until themes emerged. RESULTS A total of 1807 full-text articles were retrieved and screened via their titles and abstracts. Nine studies were included in this metasynthesis based upon full-text relevance and meeting the inclusion criteria. Six themes emerged describing the experience of interprofessional team members caring for older people: All for One: Unifying the Team for a Meaningful Purpose; The Cast; A Shared Vocabulary; Collaboration and Integration; A Functional-Dysfunctional Family and Appreciate the Lifeworld. Team members appreciated this model of care. CONCLUSIONS The emergent themes suggest potential buy-in from interprofessional team members to this care model for older people. Nursing can assert their unique knowledge and practice into the role as the team leader to mitigate potential barriers and team conflicts. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Interprofessional team members caring for older people can improve their experience. Improved experiences for interprofessional team members can lead to better care for older people. Professionals need specialized training prior to practicing interprofessionally.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Performance and Domain-Specific Index Scores in Amnestic Versus Aphasic Dementia.

Objective:The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a popular and simple-to-administer screening instrument to detect cognitive impairment. The MoCA generates a total score and six domain-specific index scores: (1) Memory, (2) Executive Functioning, (3) Attention, (4) Language, (5) Visuospatial, and (6) Orientation. It is unclear whether these MoCA scores can differentiate between distinct clinical dementia syndromes. This study compared MoCA Index scores between amnestic dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a language-based dementia.Method:Baseline MoCA data were analyzed from 33 DAT, 37 PPA, and 83 cognitively normal individuals enrolled in the Clinical Core of the Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Center. A one-way analysis of covariance adjusted for age was used to compare MoCA scores among groups. A logistic regression model was implemented to observe individual likelihood of group affiliation based on MoCA Index scores.Results:The mean MoCA total score was significantly higher in controls compared to both patient groups (p < .001) but did not differ between DAT and PPA groups. However, in accordance with salient clinical features commonly observed in DAT versus PPA, Memory and Orientation Index scores were lowest in the DAT group (p < .001), whereas Language and Attention Index scores were lowest in the PPA group (p < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the individual effects of Memory (p = .001), Language (p = .002), and Orientation (p = .025) Indices were significant.Conclusions:MoCA Index scores can help differentiate among distinct cognitive syndromes, suggesting it may be a useful brief screening tool to detect domain-specific cognitive impairment.
Closed-Loop Low-Rank Echocardiographic Artifact Removal

Echocardiographic image sequences are frequently corrupted by quasi-static artifacts (“clutter”) superimposed on the moving myocardium. Conventionally, localized blind source separation methods exploiting local correlation in the clutter have proven effective in the suppression of these artifacts. These methods use the spectral characteristics to distinguish the clutter from tissue and background noise and are applied exhaustively over the data set. The exhaustive application results in high computational complexity and a loss of useful tissue signal. In this article, we develop a closed-loop algorithm in which the clutter is first detected using an adaptively determined weighting function and then removed using low-rank estimation methods. We show that our method is adaptable to different low-rank estimators, by presenting two such estimators: sparse coding in the principal component domain and nuclear norm minimization. We compare the performance of our proposed method (CLEAR) with two methods: singular value filtering (SVF) and morphological component analysis (MCA). The performance was quantified in silico by measuring the error with respect to a known “ground truth” data set with no clutter for different combinations of moving clutter and tissue. Our method retains more tissue with a lower error of 3.88 ± 0.093 dB (sparse coding) and 3.47 ± 0.78 (nuclear norm) compared with the benchmark methods 8.5 ± 0.7 dB (SVF) and 9.3 ± 0.5 dB (MCA) particularly in instances where the rate of tissue motion and artifact motion is small (≤0.25 periods of center frequency per frame) while producing comparable clutter reduction performance. CLEAR was also validated in vivo by quantifying the tracking error over the cardiac cycle on five mouse heart data sets with synthetic clutter. CLEAR reduced the error by approximately 50%, compared with 25% for the SVF.
A Case of CIED-Associated Endocarditis and Septic Emboli Requiring Lead Extraction, AngioVac Suction, and Pulmonary Endarterectomy.

Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIED)-associated infective endocarditis complicated by septic emboli and acute on chronic pulmonary hypertension is rare. We present a case where pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was required for treatment. A 55 year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction and ischemic cardiomyopathy status-post ICD placement 8 years prior presented with bacteremia, infected ICD, and tricuspid valve vegetation. He underwent CIED extraction along with the use of the AngioVac suction device to remove right ventricular and atrial vegetations. However the patient had persistent valvular vegetation and bilateral sub-massive pulmonary emboli. Pulmonary angiography showed filling defects in the lobar and segmental arteries. Percutaneous attempts at embolectomy were unsuccessful and he therefore underwent a pulmonary endarterectomy surgery (PTE). This case of CIED- associated endocarditis demonstrates the importance of early aggressive treatment of such infections. Guidelines recommend compete CIED system removal when there is associated infection. The AngioVac is a novel system for removal of right-sided vegetations and thrombi; however, complications such as distal embolization can occur. PTE surgery for septic emboli is rare. However, cases of such treatment as is presented here can be successful and may be necessary should percutaneous methods fail.
Electronic Structure and Vibrational Signatures of the Delocalized Radical in Hydrated Clusters of Copper(“II”) Hydroxide CuOH+(H2O)0–2

The copper hydroxide ion, CuOH+, serves as the catalytic core in several recently developed water-splitting catalysts, and an understanding of its chemistry is critical to determining viable cataly...
The importance in early identification of a herpetic endobronchial mass.

Abstract We present a case of a 78 year old female that required intubation for hypercapnic, hypoxic respiratory failure, found to have an obstructing mass in the right main stem bronchus positive for Herpes Simplex (HSV) I and II on biopsy and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Herpetic endobronchial masses are described rarely, and having them on the differential when investigating endobronchial masses can promote prompt treatment and decrease unnecessary investigations. Our goals in highlighting this report include incidence of HSV pneumonia [7], the need to include it as part of the differential diagnosis in working up endobronchial masses, especially in intubated patients, and the various modalities of treatment.
Real Earnings Management Through Sales Manipulation and Firm Performance: Evidence from China

The purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between real earnings management through sales manipulation and firm performance in Chinese A-listed companies. We analyze abnormal operating cash flows to identify real earnings management through sales manipulation. Fixed-effect panel data from 1998 to 2016 are used for the regressions. The results indicate that ROA has a significant negative relationship with real earnings management through sales manipulation. However, ROE does not have a significant relationship with sales manipulation because of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission’s (CSRC) threshold regulation. This study reveals the relationship between REM and ROA and ROE in Chinese A-listed firms, and creates a good reference for future studies. China is the largest developing country, and its stock market attracts investors from around the world.
Thoracic ventral spinal cord herniation with progressive myelopathy - A case report and review of the literature.

Background Idiopathic spinal cord herniation (ISCH) is a rare, underrecognized, and often misdiagnosed entity of unclear pathogenesis that typically presents as a slowly progressive thoracic myelopathy. There are less than 200 such cases reported in the literature. ISCH diagnosis and treatment are often delayed contributing to greater fixed neurological deficits, often leading to costly, unnecessary imaging studies, and inappropriate surgery. Case Description Here, a 48-year-old female presented with trauma-induced ISCH characterized by gradually worsening lower extremity myelopathy. Conclusion Idiopathic spinal cord herniation (ISCH) is rare, often underdiagnosed posttraumatic myelopathy that, when accurately diagnosed and treated, can result in good outcomes.
Teacher visioning: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract In today's highly charged educational climate teacher visioning is recognized as an important navigational tool. Teacher visioning is the ongoing reflective process for teachers to identify what they want to accomplish as teachers. While there is consensus in the field of the importance of visioning there is not consensus on the language to describe the phenomenon. Diverse terminology leads to challenges in advancing understanding of this critical component of teacher development. Moreover, researchers have used various methodologies, across disciplines, and with different results. Therefore, our research team completed a comprehensive review of the literature of empirical research on teacher visioning. In this article, we describe how visioning is defined across the literature over the last 18 years, the methods used to study visioning, and the results of these studies.
Case Report: A Tale of a Cardiac Mass: Looks Like a Papillary Fibroelastoma, Acts Like a Non-bacterial Thromboendocarditis

Introduction: Benign cardiac tumors and tumorlike conditions are a heterogeneous collection of mass lesions that vary widely in their characteristics, such as presentation, size, and location. In some instances, these tumors are found incidentally, and therefore a broad differential diagnosis should be considered. Case: An elderly male with significant unintentional weight loss and a high risk for cancer presented with an incidental valvular cardiac mass. The mass was thought to be a non-bacterial thromboendocarditis on initial clinical evaluation. After multiple imaging modalities, the mass was suspected to be a papillary fibroelastoma, which was resected due to high stroke risk and multiple previous chronic infarcts on brain MRI. Conclusion: This case highlights the need for a comprehensive cardiac evaluation of a valvular tumor to discern the etiology and rule out other underlying pathophysiological processes that may require alternative interventions to cardiac surgery.
The Role of Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disabilities whose chief manifestations are qualitative impairment in social interaction and social communication and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The clinical heterogeneity of ASD makes it difficult to identify biomarkers, etiologies, and treatments; and identification of subgroups within the diagnosis is necessary. There are two distinct research communities with findings relevant to the genetics and molecular biology of ASD; those that posit etiology related to immune dysfunction and those suggesting disorder of synaptic function and neuronal connectivity. The role of immune aberrations in neural connectivity suggests a link between these two hypotheses, which will be explored in this chapter. Knowledge of immune dysregulation and inflammation is relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ASD. This chapter will review the literature related to inflammation and immune dysfunction in ASD and summarize the development of treatments based on this research.
Anterior and posterior segment photography. An alternative approach using a dSLR camera adaptor.

Purpose To describe a novel digital single lens reflex (dSLR) camera adaptor for anterior and posterior segment photography. Methods The adaptor was used to evaluate canine, feline, and equine patients presenting to Tufts Ophthalmology service. Anterior segment imaging was conducted with the adaptor mounted between a dSLR camera body (Canon 7D) and a macro lens (Canon EF-S 60mm/f2.8). Posterior segment imaging was performed with the aid of an indirect ophthalmic lens mounted in front of the macro lens. Coaxial illumination during viewing was provided by a single white light-emitting diode (LED) within the adaptor, while illumination during exposure was provided by the pop-up flash or an accessory flash. Corneal and/or lens reflections were eliminated using a pair of linear polarizers, having their azimuths at right angles to one another. Results This dSLR camera adaptor provides quality high-resolution, reflection-free, images of both the anterior and posterior segments. It was easy to transport, assemble, and handle. The necessary adjustments, positioning, and focusing required for quality images were easily performed. Conclusion The described dSLR camera adaptor provides an alternative to existing imaging systems. High-resolution image acquisition occurred at a fraction of the cost of established imaging system, particularly those devoted to the posterior segment.
Food for Thought: Genetically Modified Seeds as De Facto Standard Essential Patents

For several years, courts have been improperly calculating damages in cases involving the unlicensed use of genetically-modified (GM) seed technology. In particular, when courts determine patent damages based on the hypothetical negotiation method, they err in exaggerating these damages to a point where no rational negotiator would agree. In response, we propose a limited affirmative defense of an implied license due to the patent’s status as a de facto standard essential patent. To be classified as a de facto standard essential patent, the farmer must prove three elements that reflect the peculiarities of GM seeds used in farming: (1) dominance, (2) impracticability, and (3) necessary to fulfill a basic need. Based on the approaches used by courts and standard setting organizations in licensing standard essential patents in technological fields such as cell phones and software, designation of some GM seeds as standard essential patents allows the courts to imply a license from patentees to farmers on reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) terms. Doing so shifts the case from a tort-based patent infringement suit to a breach of contract dispute and alters the damages regime from one based in compensation, deterrence, and punishment (a tort approach) to one based solely in compensation (a contractual approach). As a result of this novel proposal, the damages calculations in these suits return to economic reality.
Using gradient descent to optimize paths for sustaining wireless sensor networks

A structural-health wireless sensor network (WSN) should last for decades, but traditional disposable batteries cannot sustain such a network. Energy is the major impediment to sustainability of WSNs. Most energy is consumed by (i) wireless transmissions of perceived data, and (ii) long-distance multi-hop transmissions from the source sensors to the sink. This paper explores how to exploit emerging wireless power transfer technology by using robotic unmanned vehicles (UVs) to service the WSNs. These UVs cut data transmissions from long to short-distances, collect sensed information, and replenish WSN's energy. This paper presents path-planning and path optimization algorithms for sustaining WSNs.
Evaluation of the role of H pylori infection in pathogenesis of gastric cancer by immunoblot assay.

AIM: To elucidate the different serological reactions to H pylori using the immunoblotting technique for further understanding of its pathogenic role in gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 54 patients were divided into two groups after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: normal control group (25 patients) and gastric cancer group (29 patients). Both groups were further divided into H pylori (+) and H pylori (-) subgroups based on the results of CLO test, Giemsa staining and culture. Sera were further analyzed with the immunoblotting technique (HelicoBlot 2.0, Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore). RESULTS: The positive rate of the immunoblotting test was as high as 88.9% in the H pylori (-) gastric cancer group and only 14.3% in the H pylori (-) normal control group with a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H pylori infection is higher in gastric cancer patients than in the normal controls, suggesting that H pylori may play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.
Packaging MEMS inertial sensors at Motorola

One way of achieving a low cost package is to adopt, as much as possible, the industry standard for electronic components and tailor it to fit MEMS sensors. In the following, we describe such a package example developed at Motorola. One of many MEMS sensor products from Motorola is a z-axis sensor. Under an inertial force, the middle movable plate deforms and yields a signal of capacitance change. A wafer-level package model (a half symmetry model to reveal the microcavity for the transducer) is developed. A 4-dot process only involves glue drops at four corners of the silicon. On the top of the silicon, a thin layer of silicone gel is dispensed and cured before the final step of placing epoxy-molding compound (EMC). A FEA model illustrates the final pacakage.
Elastic behavior of KxNa1-xCN quadrupolar glasses.

Ultrasonic measurements of ${c}_{44}$ shear elastic constants are reported in ${\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Na}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$CN mixed crystals. The data were analyzed quantitatively with a quenched\char21{}random-field model. Over the range 0.65x\ensuremath{\le}1 the ${c}_{44}$ data are well represented by the model, and the fitting parameters are consistent with the general pattern of behavior in several other mixed cyanide crystals. For 0.13\ensuremath{\le}x0.65, the ${c}_{44}$(T) data can be represented empirically by the model, but the fitting parameters deviated appreciably from those expected.
Dental utilization by active duty Army personnel.

Abstract : In spring 1989, a random, Army-wide sample of 15,364 enlisted and 4, 529 officer personnel was surveyed on dental utilization. Results show no difference in annual dental utilization between officer and enlisted personnel when age is controlled. Because annual dental utilization increases with age and enlisted ranks contain a disproportionately large number of younger personnel, a difference in annual dental utilization between enlisted and officer personnel emerges when age is not controlled. Check-ups are the most common reason for dental visits. Nearly all soldiers seek care exclusively in military dental clinics. Non-use is highest among 18-19 year olds (12.2%). Dental utilization, Active duty soldiers, Mix of dental services consumed.
Reporting standards for endovascular repair of saccular intracranial cerebral aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of this article is to provide consensus recommendations for reporting standards, terminology, and written definitions when reporting on the radiological evaluation and endovascular treatment of intracranial, cerebral aneurysms. These criteria can be used to design clinical trials, to provide uniformity of definitions for appropriate selection and stratification of patients, and to allow analysis and meta-analysis of reported data. METHODS: This article was written under the auspices of the Joint Writing Group of the Technology Assessment Committee, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Society of Interventional Radiology; Joint Section on Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons; and Section of Stroke and Interventional Neurology of the American Academy of Neurology. A computerized search of the National Library of Medicine database of literature (PubMed) from January 1991 to December 2007 was conducted with the goal to identify published endovascular cerebrovascular interventional data about the assessment and endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms useful as benchmarks for quality assessment. We sought to identify those risk adjustment variables that affect the likelihood of success and complications. This article offers the rationale for different clinical and technical considerations that may be important during the design of clinical trials for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Included in this guidance article are suggestions for uniform reporting standards for such trials. These definitions and standards are primarily intended for research purposes; however, they should also be helpful in clinical practice and applicable to all publications. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation and treatment of brain aneurysms often involve multiple medical specialties. Recent reviews by the American Heart Association have surveyed the medical literature to develop guidelines for the clinical management of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Despite efforts to synthesize existing knowledge on cerebral aneurysm evaluation and treatment, significant inconsistencies remain in nomenclature and definition for research and reporting purposes. These operational definitions were selected by consensus of a multidisciplinary writing group to provide consistency for reporting on imaging in clinical trials and observational studies involving cerebral aneurysms. These definitions should help different groups to publish results that are directly comparable.
Flow Structure and Transport Mechanism in Lower Half Heated Upper Half Cooled Enclosures in Laminar Flow Regime

This paper presents an investigation on the transport mechanism in autoclave/thermosyphon type enclosures. Without a baffle to separate the lower- from the upper-half, the flow structure and the transport mechanisms are the same in rectangular and cylindrical enclosures. Thus, the efficiency of the fluid exchange and heat transfer between the enclosure’s two halves due to wall-layers feeding structure ensures that the center cores have almost uniform temperature. However, when a baffle separates the two halves, the wall layers’ interactions are eliminated and two temperature zones are established.