cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered timing of amygdala activation during sad mood elaboration as a function of 5-HTTLPR

A functional variant of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with increased risk for major depression in the context of stress. In attempting to understand the mechanisms underlying this relation, we tested the hypothesis that 5-HTTLPR genotype affects the speed with which amygdala is recruited during emotional processing in young girls with no history of psychiatric disorder. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the rise time to peak amygdala activation in 5-HTTLPR short-allele carriers and long-allele homozygotes during enhancement of sad mood. Relative to long-allele homozygotes, participants with at least one copy of the 5-HTTLPR short allele showed both stronger and earlier activation in left amygdala as they increased a sad mood state. Individuals carrying the short allele appear to exhibit a neural ‘readiness’ to engage and enhance negative affect. Future research should examine how exposure to negative life events and more chronic sadness modify the time course of amygdala activity during the experience of negative emotion.
Covalent Bond in Crystals. IV. Lattice Deformation Energies

A general method is described for calculating lattice deformation energies in covalent structures. The formulas are presented explicitly for harmonic energies in diamond-type crystals. The theory differs intrinsically from linear screening theories because of the inclusion of bond-stretching terms. These are calculated using a dynamical covalent sum rule. The results show that bond stretching leads to large bond-bond interaction energies that are similar to those in a nearest-neighbor classical shell model. The theory can be used to infer the covalent screening function from lattice vibration spectra measured by inelastic neutron scattering.
Imaging mass spectrometry of the visual system: Advancing the molecular understanding of retina degenerations

Visual sensation is fundamental for quality of life, and loss of vision to retinal degeneration is a debilitating condition. The eye is the only part of the central nervous system that can be noninvasively observed with optical imaging. In the clinics, various spectroscopic methods provide high spatial resolution images of the fundus and the developing degenerative lesions. However, the currently utilized tools are not specific enough to establish the molecular underpinnings of retinal diseases. In contrast, mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool to identify molecularly specific disease indicators and classification markers. This technique is particularly well suited to the eye, where molecular information can be correlated with clinical data collected via noninvasive diagnostic imaging modalities. Recent studies during the last few recent years have uncovered a plethora of new spatially defined molecular information on several vision-threatening diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, glaucoma, cataract, as well as lipid disorders. Even though MS inside the eye cannot be performed noninvasively, by linking diagnostic and molecular information, these studies are the first step toward the development of smart ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical tools. Here, we provide an overview of current approaches applying MSI technology to ocular pathology.
Teachers Feel Lonely Too: A Study of Teachers’ Personal and Professional Characteristics Associated with Loneliness

This study aimed to identify the demographic and professional characteristics associated with loneliness among a sample of Brazilian teachers, and to assess the extent to which job satisfaction and loneliness are associated. Participants were 1,194 Brazilian teachers. Using a snowball sampling strategy, participants answered an online survey questionnaire. A series of t-tests, ANOVAs, and correlational analyses were performed. The results suggest that teachers who are not in a relationship, teachers who attended a private college, and those teaching in a public school are more likely to feel lonely. The results also indicate that the more lonely teachers feel, more dissatisfied they are with their jobs.
Thinking pink? Consumer reactions to pink ribbons and vague messages in advertising

AbstractMany brands partner with causes in their advertising campaigns. Consumers appreciate that the brands they purchase participate in activities that contribute to a society’s well-being. This study uses copy-testing techniques to evaluate the number and types of thoughts and brand attitudes in the presence and absence of cause-related messages. Individuals saw an ad for one of two products. None of the ads stated the brand’s financial support to the cause, which is representative of many messages today. People viewing the Dansko ads with the pink ribbon generated significantly fewer thoughts than those viewing the ad without the pink ribbon. For the Fitbit ads, more thoughts were generated for the ad with the pink ribbon than the ad without the pink ribbon. The Fitbit ad with the pink ribbon and support message generated fewer positive and negative thoughts but more neutral thoughts that questioned the brand/cause relationship. Attitudes toward the brand did not vary based on the presence or absence ...
Legal Considerations in Voluntary Corporate Environmental Reporting

Formal corporate environmental reports - voluntary periodic communication by companies about their environmental activities and performance in a single document generally analogous to an annual report - began to appear at the end of the 1980s. By 1995, over 100 Fortune 500 companies issued formal environmental reports. Some companies embrace these reports as a useful internal management tool and external stakeholder communication vehicle. Others have been reluctant to producer such reports, with reasons varying from perceptions that little demand exists for such information, questions about the report's usefulness, and lack of evidence that the benefits of producing such a report outweigh its costs. Once the company has made the decision to produce a formal report, however, a number of critical concerns in determining the substance of the report come into play. Included among these are various legal considerations and issues.
Cardiac K+Channel Expression and Function at Birth and in the Neonate

Potassium (K+) current plays a role in early repolarization during phase 1 of the action potential, delayed repolarization during phase 3, and maintenance of the resting membrane potential. Changes in the action potential characteristics during development reflect, in part, developmental changes in K+ channel expression and function (Fig. 1). The past decade has witnessed tremendous growth in our understanding of the structure and function of membrane K+ channels in cardiac cells. This progress has resulted from several technical advances, including improvements in cardiac myocyte isolation, whole-cell voltage-clamp and patch-clamp recordings, and molecular biological techniques. During this period, characterization of cardiac ionic channel function has allowed a more detailed examination of the origin of the cardiac action potential and the relation between cardiac membrane potential and contractile function in the mature heart (Katz, 1993; Noble and Bett, 1993).
Astrocytes as modulators of mercury-induced neurotoxicity.

Abstract The case for significant toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) to the CNS is strongly supported by both in vivo and in vitro studies. MeHg perturbs a number of cellular processes which most certainly include astrocytic failure to maintain the composition of the extracellular fluid. Astrocytic predisposition to be damaged by MeHg offers a potential explanation for its neurotoxicity. Consistent with this concept is the ability of astrocytes to preferentially concentrate brain MeHg. The present commentary elaborates on the role of astrocytes in mediating MeHg-induced injuries, detailing their function in maintaining the extracellular concentrations of the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate. It continues with a discussion on the effects of MeHg on astrocytic swelling and the ensuing regulatory volume decrease (RVD). Recent work demonstrating that primary astrocyte cultures constitutively express a cluster of sulfhydryl (-SH)-containing proteins, collectively referred to as metallothioneins (MTs), is also reviewed with particular reference to the role of MTs both as protectors and facilitators of MeHg intoxication.
Mission as Education: A Past-to-Future Look at INFEMIT/OCMS

The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies has sought to provide holistic theological and missiological graduate education, particularly for Two-Thirds World church and academic leaders since 1983. This article addresses the question, ‘Has it succeeded?’ Originally presented at the 25th Anniversary of OCMS in 2008, this article looks back at the history behind its formation as well as assesses its accomplishments in the first 25 years. But there is value in such an exercise only if it serves the future; what issues need to be addressed if OCMS is going to continues its impact in the next 25 years? This article looks back in order to forge ahead into the future with confidence and resolve.
The measurement of Ca2+ effluxes from bone.

To facilitate the study of membrane function in the control of the flow of ions into and out of bone, it was desirable to develop a system for the direct quantitation of unidirectional effluxes of calcium and phosphate from bones. Based on a mathematical analysis of the problem, a specially designed Ussing chamber was developed which proved successful. Calvaria from 2-day-old rat pups, 3-day chicks and adult mice were evaluated. Calcium influxes which exceeded the corresponding effluxes were observed in the neonatal calvaria but not with those from adult mice. Also, an asymmetry in efflux was observed in rat calvaria, the inner side of the skull showed a higher efflux than did the external side. no such asymmetry was seen with calvaria from chicks or mice. This new technology should permit a further exploration of the role of the bone membrane in electrolyte homeostasis.
Comparative efficacy and tolerance study of azlocillin and carbenicillin in patients with cystic fibrosis: a double blind study

Azlocillin, a new acylureidopenicillin, has been compared to carbenicillin in a controlled, double-blind study for acute exacerbations of pulmonary infections in 29 patients with cystic fibrosis. Twenty-six patients were valid for final analysis of their therapeutic results; 12 treated with azlocillin (group I) at mean dosage of 252 mg/kg/day for a mean duration of 13.2 days of treatment, and 14 treated with carbenicillin (group II) at mean dosage of 505 mg/kg/day for a median duration of 12.6 days. Except for one patient of group I who had Staphylococcus aureus in sputum culture, the remaining patients all had Pseudomonas aeruginosa of mucoid colonial morphology with or without the same organism of rough variety in their sputum culture. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated according to our scoring system of ten clinical factors, five radiological and five pulmonary function factors with 5 points each and 100 points total if perfect. The percentage of patients who improved by 20% or greater in clinical scores was found in 91.7% of patients in group I and 64.3% of patients in group II, which was statistically significantly different. The percentage of patients who improved by 20% or greater in total scores was found in 80% of group I and 45.5% of group II patients, which was less significant than the evaluation of clinical scores alone. Azlocillin was well tolerated and safe in the dosage employed. Its optimal dosage for patients with cystic fibrosis should be established.
Marked bone marrow basophilia in a child with acute myeloid leukemia with a cryptic t(8;21)(q22;q22) chromosomal translocation.

Marked bone marrow basophilia in a child with acute myeloid leukemia with a cryptic t(8;21)(q22;q22) chromosomal translocation
The Use of Indicator Geostatistics to Estimate the Probability of Encountering Abandoned Mines in an Urban Area

A geostatistical approach known as indicator kriging is used to analyze qualitative information about the areal distribution of abandoned coal workings beneath the city of Pittsburg, Kansas. Borehole information is transformed into binary indicator data as a function of the borings which hit mine voids. An exponential semivariogram is used with a kriging algorithm to produce a grid of estimated values. Since the input data is binary, the kriging estimations have a continuous range from zero to one. The grid of values represents the estimated conditional probability of a location being undermined in the study area. Further analysis shows that the limiting extent of mining for this case is estimated by the 0.45 probability isopleth. Land-use planners can use information from this type of analysis in risk assessment investigations associated with subsidence mitigation.
Colonic motor response to a meal in dogs

We investigated the effects of ingestion of a meal on colonic motor activity in six conscious dogs, each instrumented with seven strain-gauge transducers to record circular muscle contractions. A 1...
Intra-arterial versus intravenous abciximab therapy for thromboembolic complications of neuroendovascular procedures: case review and meta-analysis

Background Abciximab is used to treat thromboembolic complications of neuroendovascular procedures, but outcomes of treatment are not well defined. Objective To examine the angiographic and clinical outcomes based on route of abciximab administration and degree of vessel recanalization. Materials and methods A prospectively maintained database of neuroendovascular procedures performed between January 2004 and May 2015 was retrospectively reviewed to identify cases with thromboembolic complications treated with abciximab. In these cases, route of administration, degree of vessel recanalization, and presence or absence of infarction were determined. A meta-analysis of similar cases in the literature was also performed. Results Abciximab was administered in 0.24% (47 of 19 566) of procedures to treat thromboemboli in 59 vessels. Angiographic improvement was seen in 94% after IA therapy and 79% after IV therapy (p=0.133). In our meta-analysis of 391 treated patients, angiographic improvement was greater after IA (91.7%) than IV (77.4%) treatment (p Conclusions Abciximab produces a high rate of angiographic improvement and a low incidence of postprocedural infarct in neuroendovascular procedures complicated by thromboemboli. IA abciximab produces greater angiographic improvement than IV treatment. Postprocedural infarction is less common in patients with complete angiographic response than in those with partial or no response.
Improved thermal stability of cellulose nanofibrils using low-concentration alkaline pretreatment

The thermal stability of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) can be improved by converting cellulose crystalline structure to cellulose II using an alkaline treatment method. The conventional method requires around 20wt.% NaOH solutions and causes the cellulose interdigitation and aggregation, making CNFs production difficult. The objective of this study is to develop a new pretreatment method using a low-concentration alkaline solution to produce well-dispersed CNFs with improved thermal stability. CNFs with 90nm diameter were successfully prepared by treating cellulose powder with 2wt.% NaOH solution below 0°C, followed by homogenization through a French pressure cell press. The CNFs had relatively high thermal stability with the mean onset and maximum thermal decomposition temperature of 305°C and 343°C, respectively, compared with the CNFs prepared without the NaOH pretreatment (283°C and 310°C). The increased thermal stability can create new opportunities for the development of CNF-based bio-composites and electronics.
Interaction and scattered mode measurement in a mixed bypass/core duct with multiple rotating sources:

The rotating rake mode measurement system was developed and implemented at the NASA Glenn Research Center in the 1990s to measure turbofan duct acoustic modes. The system is a radial rake with distributed microphones that is inserted into the duct and continuously rotates about the centerline. The rotating rake mode measurement system provides a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in a ducted fan and has been used on a variety of test articles: from a low-speed concept test rig to full-scale production turbofan engines. Prior rotating rake mode measurement system measurements have occurred in environments with a single rotating source interacting with a stationary source to produce duct modes at the fan rotor harmonics. A recent test of a scale model high-speed research fan in the NASA 9 × 15 ft Low Speed Wind Tunnel had two rotating sources, a rotor fan and a booster fan, on the same shaft. The interaction of the two rotating sources generated scattering at the harmonic sum and difference ton...
Emergence and Shoot Growth of Cosmos and Marigold from Paclobutrazol-treated Seed

Abstract This study was conducted to determine whether treating seeds of ‘Sensation Mixed’ cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.) and ‘Bonanza Gold’ marigold (Tagetes patula L.) with paclobutrazol (PB) could suppress seedling growth. Seeds were soaked in solutions of 0, 500 or 1000 mg PB/liter (ppm PB) for 16 hours at 25C (77F) or they were primed [−0.5 MPa (−5 bars) for 7 days at 20C (68F)] in Grade 5 exfoliated vermiculite moistened with 0, 500 or 1000 ppm PB solltuions. Soaked and primed seeds were dried for 1 day at 19C (65F) and 25% relative humidity. These seeds and control (non-treated) seeds were sown into plug cells containing peat-lite. Increasing PB concentration decreased cosmos shoot height at 32 days after planting (DAP), but decreased emergence percentage, responses that were more pronounced with priming than with soaking. A 1 ppm PB growth medium drench [30 ml/cell(0.2 mg PB/cell)] and, to a greater extent a 10 mg PB/liter (ppm PB) shoot spray [2 ml/shoot (0.02 mg PB/shoot)], both applied at 10 D...
A Sub-1V-Read Flash Memory in a Standard 130nm CMOS Process

We present a flash memory system design that has been fabricated in a standard 130 nm CMOS process. It utilizes capacitive feedback to maintain desired injection current during programming. It also features a sense amplifier design which employs auto zeroing of inherent offsets. Tests have shown that this memory system is capable of 3.5 μs read access times at 1 MHz with less than 25 μW of power consumption at 1 V supply. Operation down to 0.65 V was measured while reducing power consumption to only 3.4 μW.
Leveraging Frequency-Dependent Kernel and DIP-Based Clustering for Robust Speech Activity Detection in Naturalistic Audio Streams

Speech activity detection (SAD) is front-end in most speech systems, e.g., speaker verification, speech recognition etc . Supervised SAD typically leverages machine learning models trained on annotated data. For applications like zero-resource speech processing and NIST-OpenSAT-2017 public safety communications task, it might not be feasible to collect SAD annotations. SAD is challenging for naturalistic audio streams containing multiple noise-sources simultaneously. We propose a novel frequency-dependent kernel (FDK) based SAD features. FDK provides enhanced spectral decomposition from which several statistical descriptors are derived. FDK statistical descriptors are combined by principal component analysis into one-dimensional FDK-SAD features. We further proposed two decision backends: First, variable model-size Gaussian mixture model (VMGMM); and second, Hartigan dip-based robust feature clustering. While VMGMM is a model-based approach, the DipSAD is nonparametric. We used both backends for comparative evaluations in two phases: first, standalone SAD performance; and second, the effect of SAD on text-dependent speaker verification using RedDots data. The NIST-OpenSAD-2015 and NIST-OpenSAT-2017 corpora are used for standalone SAD evaluations. We establish two Center for Robust Speech Systems (CRSS) corpora namely CRSS-PLTL-II and CRSS long-duration naturalistic noise corpus. The CRSS corpora facilitate standalone SAD evaluations on naturalistic audio streams. We performed comparative studies of the proposed approaches with multiple baselines including SohnSAD, rSAD, semisupervised Gaussian mixture model, and Gammatone spectrogram features.
Multifunctional Nanoscale Delivery Systems for Nucleic Acids

Nanoscale systems have emerged in the past two decades as attractive platforms for delivering nucleic acids in vivo while performing other therapeutic or diagnostic functions, though their full potential for improving human health has yet to be realized in the clinic. Bioengineering techniques have been crucial for modifying and optimizing synthetic and viral delivery systems to include drugs, imaging agents and targeting moieties as well as reducing toxicity effects and increasing delivery efficiency and specificity. Directed delivery technologies can complement these nanoscale systems to localize therapy in vivo. The use of nucleic acid analogs can also enhance therapeutic efficacy under ideal circumstances. This chapter will review some of the recent developments in RNA and DNA delivery research with a focus on progress toward human therapies, the challenges that have been encountered, and the engineering approaches that have been employed. In addition to on-going work on the optimization of delivery systems, three challenging areas are identified: (1) the development of heterogeneous, three-dimensional microenvironments for testing delivery systems, (2) imaging approaches to understand the dynamic interactions of systems from administration through delivery in the human population, and (3) development and translation of directed technologies capable of enhancing delivery in a clinical setting and producing a sustained therapeutic effect.
Soil directional (biconical) reflectance in the principal plane with varied illumination angle under dry and saturated conditions

Change in directional (biconical) spectral reflectance was monitored for three soil samples under air dry and saturated conditions in the laboratory. The illumination angle was set consecutively at θi = −10°, −40°, and −70° (left side of the sample on the principal plane), while the observation angle ranged from θo = −60° to + 60° (both sides of the sample in the principal plane) in 5° increments. The soil samples were chosen to represent a variety of soil properties. Emphasis is on observations that illustrate the changes in the directional and spectral distribution of soil reflectance when the soil is dry or saturated.
Cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective To systematically review outcomes for cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation (CAPSO) as a treatment for adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods Five databases (including PubMed/MEDLINE) were searched through July 12, 2017. Results Eight studies (307 patients) met criteria. Overall, CAPSO alone (80 patients) improved AHI from a mean ± standard deviation (M ± SD) of (16.8 ± 11.9) to (9.9 ± 10.9) events/h (41.1% decrease). Mixed CAPSO with/without tonsillectomy (92 patients) improved AHI from a M ± SD of (24.8 ± 12.6) to (10.6 ± 9.5) events/h (61.7% decrease). CAPSO with expansion pharyngoplasty (EP), (78 patients) improved AHI from a M ± SD of (26.3 ± 17.7) to (12.6 ± 5.8) events/h (52.1% decrease). CAPSO alone (90 patients) improved lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) by 5.4 points. Mixed CAPSO with/without tonsillectomy (77 patients) improved LSAT by 10.6 points, and CAPSO with EP (78 patients) improved LSAT by 5.2 points. Sleepiness improved (182 patients) from an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 11.8 to 5.1, P Conclusions Apnea-hypopnea index has improved by 41.0% for CAPSO alone, 61.7% for CAPSO with tonsillectomy and 52.1% for CAPSO with expansion pharyngoplasty. Additionally, lowest oxygen saturation, sleepiness and snoring have also improved after CAPSO.
AC Device Variability in High- $\kappa$ Metal-Gate CMOS Technology

The variability of CMOS device propagation delay is measured with a special test circuit. The circuit detects AC delay variations, as distinct from the DC effect of threshold voltage variation. The AC variability is likely due to the vertical resistance of the gate-stack. A comparison of two technologies, using gate-first and gate-last gate-stacks, shows much reduced variability of the gate-last FETs. This is attributed to the absence of interfacial dopant fluctuation and the presence of tailored metallic interfaces in gate-last technologies.
Molecular link between itch and atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a relapsing inflammatory skin disease often associated with intractable chronic itch. The sensation of itch depends on the activity of pruriceptive sensory neurons whose nerve fibers innervate the dermis and epidermis. These fibers can respond to factors secreted by keratinocytes (e.g., thymic stromal lymphopoietin) and immune cells (e.g., IL-31, histamine, and proteases) (1). However, the pathogenesis of chronic itch and inflammation in AD is not well understood, and therapeutic options are limited. In PNAS, Emrick et al. (2) perform an elegant study in which they determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the AD-associated gene Tmem79 drives skin inflammation and itch. Emrick et al. find that TMEM79 acts as a putative glutathione transferase to decrease oxidative stress in keratinocytes to prevent mast cell activation and histamine-driven neuronal activation and itch (Fig. 1). This study is an important advance in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of AD. Fig. 1. Tmem79 reduces oxidative stress to protect against itch and AD. Tmem79 , a gene linked to AD, is expressed in keratinocytes and sensory neurons. Emrick et al. (2) find that loss of Tmem79 causes an increase in RS in keratinocytes and the induction of PGE2 levels. PGE2 acts through EP3 receptors to recruit dermal mast cells. Mast cell degranulation results in the release of histamine, which acts on H1R and H4R expressed by C-fiber sensory neurons to drive itch. Potential strategies to inhibit itch in AD suggested by this study include the use of antioxidants, EP3 receptor antagonists, and histamine receptor (H4R/H1R) antagonists. AD affects ∼20% of children in the developed world and 2 to 8% of adults, with 87 to 100% of these patients experiencing chronic itch (3, 4). It is generally thought that AD is caused by a combination of skin … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: isaac_chiu{at}hms.harvard.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Childhood Disability and Educational Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Problem Graduation from high school is an important milestone for all adolescents and affects future health in adulthood. Children with chronic illnesses have additional challenges that affect school attendance, grade retention and graduation. If children with chronic conditions are not able to participate fully in education, this may limit their opportunities for future health. The aim of this study was to integrate the evidence in the past 28 years about educational outcomes of children and adolescents with chronic conditions causing disability. Eligibility criteria Quantitative studies reporting on a chronic condition and attendance, grade retention, or high school graduation, from a peer-reviewed journal in the English language, data collection since 1990, and research conducted with a population in the United States were eligible for review. Sample Forty-three studies from a literature search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Teacher Reference Center, Psychology & Behavioral Science Collection, and Academic Search Elite databases, followed by ancestry searches, were included in this review. Results In general, chronic conditions are significantly associated with increased absenteeism, grade repetition and not completing high school within four years, although hemophilia does not follow this pattern. Additionally, increased severity of the condition is associated with poorer educational outcomes. Conclusions Nurses and other healthcare providers should include an educational assessment as part of psychosocial assessment of children and adolescents to identify risk, intervene early and limit risk.
Games, Movies, and Zombies: Making IR Fun for Everyone

Throwing as much fun and pop culture into an international relations class as possible, with the goal of improving student learning (and the likelihood of the course running again). Games proved mo...
The impact of component separation technique versus no component separation technique on complications and quality of life in the repair of large ventral hernias

Component Separation (CST) typically involves incision of one or more fascial planes to generate myofascial advancement flaps to assist with fascial closure in ventral hernia repair (VHR). The aim of this study was to compare peri-operative outcomes and quality of life (QOL) after CST versus patients without CST (No-CST) in large, preperitoneal VHR (PPVHR). A prospective, single institution hernia study examined all patients undergoing PPVHR with synthetic mesh. Emergency and contaminated operations were excluded. A case–control cohort was identified using propensity score matching for CST and No-CST. QOL was assessed using the Carolinas Comfort Scale. The algorithm matched 113 CST cases to 113 No-CST cases. The groups (CST vs No-CST) were similar regarding age, BMI, diabetes, smoking, defect size, mesh size, and follow-up. In univariate analysis, there was no difference in recurrence between the CST and no-CST groups (0.9% vs 0.9%, p = 1.0) or mesh infection (0.9% vs 0.0%, p = 1.0). CST did have more wound complications (29.2% vs 16.1%, p = 0.019). When controlling for panniculectomy and diabetes with multivariate logistic regression, CST continued to have had an increased risk for wound complications (OR 2.27, CI 1.16–4.47). QOL was routinely assessed. The groups were similar pre-operatively with 76.3% of CST patients and 77.8% of No-CST patients having pain (p = 1.0). At 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-operatively, the groups had equal QOL. The use of CST versus No-CST in the repair of large VHs results in an increased risk of wound complications but does not increase the hernia recurrence rate. In the largest QOL comparative study to date, CST’s generation of myofascial advancement flaps does not negatively impact patient QOL in the repair of large ventral hernias in the short or long term.
Opioid Disorders Are Associated With Thromboemboli Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Opioid use disorder (OUD) is defined as a problematic pattern of opioid abuse and dependency leading to problems or distress. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether OUD patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have higher rates of venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), readmissions, and costs of care. Methods Patients undergoing TKA with OUD were identified and matched to controls in a 1:4 ratio according to age, gender, comorbidity index, and comorbidities within the Medicare database. Ninety-day VTEs, 90-day readmissions, and costs of care were compared. A P-value less than .01 was considered statistically significant. Results The study yielded 54,480 patients with (n = 10,929) and without (n = 43,551) OUD undergoing primary TKA. Matching was successful as there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. OUD patients were found to have greater odds of VTEs (odds ratio 2.27, P Conclusion After adjusting for confounders, this analysis of 54,480 patients identified that patients with OUD have higher rates of VTEs, readmissions, and costs following primary TKA. In addition to using these data to help educate and counsel patients, the study should be used to help further regulate and control opioid prescriptions written by healthcare professionals.
Treatment of Déjerine-Roussy syndrome pain with scrambler therapy.

Aim: Dejerine-Roussy syndrome or central thalamic pain can be devastating, and treatment with drugs and even deep brain stimulation can be unsatisfactory. Scrambler therapy is a form of neuromodulation that uses external skin electrodes to send a 'non-pain' signal to the brain, with some success in difficult-to-treat syndromes such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. We used scrambler therapy to treat a patient with 6 years of disabling Dejerine-Roussy syndrome pain. Methods: A 56-year-old man received multiple daily then monthly treatments with electrode pairs placed just above the area of distal pain. Each treatment was for 40 min. Results: His allodynia and hyperalgesia resolved within 10 min, and his pain score fell to almost zero after 30 min. Months later, he resumed normal activity and is off all his pain medications. No side effects were noted. Conclusion: Scrambler therapy appeared to reverse 6 years of disabling pain safely and economically, and continues to be effective. Further multi-institutional trials are warranted for this rare syndrome.
U.S. nurse practitioners' HIV screening behaviors and health center characteristics.

ABSTRACT One of the most effective strategies to end the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is HIV screening technologies. Routine HIV screening reaches the first-time tester, people with undiagnosed HIV, and those persons who are in need of frequent retesting due to their ongoing risk. This secondary analysis examined nurse practitioners' (NPs) rates of offering routine HIV screening and health center HIV screening characteristics. A convenience sample of NPs completed either a paper and pencil or an online survey in February 2016. Nurse practitioners responded to several questions about their behaviors and the health center characteristics where they work related to HIV screening. Many NPs (31%) never offer routine HIV screening to patients. Efforts are needed to implement structural changes to increase HIV screening rates among NPs and the health centers where they work. Nurse practitioners, health centers, and the health center policies must align to address the HIV epidemic and implement national HIV screening recommendations.
Fragmented sinoatrial dynamics in the prediction of atrial fibrillation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

This study is the first demonstration that heart rate fragmentation (HRF), a marker of anomalous sinoatrial dynamics, is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF). Traditional measures o...
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm: A Rare Case of Wide-Complex Dysrhythmia in a Teenager.

Abstract Background Accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) is an uncommon and typically benign dysrhythmia with similarities to more malignant forms of ventricular tachycardia (VT). It is often seen in adults after myocardial infarctions, although it also arises in the newborn period, as well as in children with and without congenital heart disease. Case Report We describe a presentation of AIVR in an otherwise healthy 13-year-old girl, discovered on arrival to the pediatric emergency department in the setting of post-tonsillectomy bleeding. The case reviews the diagnostic criteria of AIVR, associated symptoms, the pathophysiologic origin of AIVR, and potential treatment strategies. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Given its morphologic similarities to life-threatening forms of VT, AIVR can be misdiagnosed in the emergency department or primary care settings. With an understanding of the dysrhythmia's unique features, emergency physicians can avoid unnecessary interventions and provide the correct diagnosis, workup, and management of AIVR for pediatric patients.
Top-Down Attention Guidance Shapes Action Encoding in the pSTS.

The posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) is a brain region characterized by perceptual representations of human body actions that promote the understanding of observed behavior. Increasingly, action observation is recognized as being strongly shaped by the expectations of the observer (Kilner 2011; Koster-Hale and Saxe 2013; Patel et al. 2019). Therefore, to characterize top-down influences on action observation, we evaluated the statistical structure of multivariate activation patterns from the action observation network (AON) while observers attended to the different dimensions of action vignettes (the action kinematics, goal, or identity of avatars jumping or crouching). Decoding accuracy varied as a function of attention instruction in the right pSTS and left inferior frontal cortex (IFC), with the right pSTS classifying actions most accurately when observers attended to the action kinematics and the left IFC classifying most accurately when observed attended to the actor's goal. Functional connectivity also increased between the right pSTS and right IFC when observers attended to the actions portrayed in the vignettes. Our findings are evidence that the attentive state of the viewer modulates sensory representations in the pSTS, consistent with proposals that the pSTS occupies an interstitial zone mediating top-down context and bottom-up perceptual cues during action observation.
Our Experience Leading a Large Medical Physics Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has presented Radiation Oncology with unique challenges. This article presents suggestions from our large Radiation Oncology practice on how to provide Physics coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our facility encompasses 4 smaller Houston Area Locations (HALs), a main campus with 8 distinct services based on treatment site (ie. Thoracic, Head and Neck, Breast, Gastrointestinal, Gynecology, Genitourinary, Hematologic Malignancies, Melanoma and Sarcoma and Central Nervous System/Pediatrics), a Proton Center facility, an MR-Linac, a Gamma Knife clinic and an array of brachytherapy services. Due to the scope of our services, we have gained experience in dealing with the rapidly changing pandemic effects on our clinical practice. The goal of this paper is to provide a resource to other Medical Physics practices in search of workflows that have been resilient during these challenging times.
18.- PERROS DEL “PARAÍSO”: EL IMAGINARIO DE UNA CIUDADANÍA QUILTRA EN LA NARRATIVA DE VALPARAÍSO

Resumen: Este articulo analiza las implicancias simbolicas de la figura del perro en la literatura de Valparaiso. A partir de una mirada en perspectiva, que hace dialogar referentes textuales que dan cuenta de los antecedentes y la situacion actual del imaginario canino en la ciudad puerto, se interpreta esta presencia desde el devenir-animal propuesto por Deleuze y Guattari y otros aportes teoricos que forman parte de lo que se ha denominado el “Giro Animal” del pensamiento contemporaneo. Se plantea que la literatura local inserta el imaginario de una “ciudadania quiltra”, recreando un sujeto que entra en contacto con la denominada zona animal para insertarse en la disputa simbolica del territorio, exponiendo criticamente aquello que el discurso hegemonico administrativo omite y/o excluye en el proceso de imponer y homogeneizar paradigmas identitarios que la imagen-ciudad debe reflejar y reproducir. Abstract: This article analyzes the symbolic implications of the figure of the dog in the literature of Valparaiso. From a perspective which makes textual referents dialogue that account for the antecedents and current situation of the canine imagery in the port city, this presence is interpreted from the becoming-animal proposed by Deleuze and Guattari and other theoretical contributions that are part of what has been called the "Animal Turn" of contemporary thought. The installation of the imaginary of a "quiltro citizenship" is proposed, which relates to the construction, from local literature, of a subject who comes into contact with the so-called animal zone to insert itself into the symbolic dispute of the territory, critically exposing what the hegemonic administrative discourse omits and / or excludes in the process of imposing and homogenizing identity paradigms that the city-image must reflect and reproduce.
Waste Discharge Reduction Program Overview – Monsanto Agricultural Company

Monsanto is committed to being a leader in reducing waste discharges to the environment. The Company announced in June 1988 a commitment to reduce air emissions of hazardous materials by 90% by the end of 1992. In addition, Monsanto Agricultural Company established a further goal to reduce the discharge of organic and hazardous inorganic materials to all environmental media. Projects have been identified for the Agricultural Company to achieve the 90% air emission reduction goal and to reduce projected 1995 waste discharges from 150 million pounds to 50 million pounds.
Statistical Approach for Korean Analysis: A Method Based on Structural Patterns

In conventional approaches to Korean analysis, verb sub-categorization has generally been used as lexical knowledge. A problem arises, however, when we are given long sentences in which two or more verbs of the same subcategorization are involved. In those sentences, a noun phrase may be taken as the constituent of more than one verb and cause an ambiguity. This paper presents an approach to solving this problem by using structural patterns acquired by a statistical method from corpora. Structural patterns can be the processing units for syntactic analysis and for translation into other languages as well. We have collected 10,686 unique structural patterns from a Korean corpus of 1.27 million words. We have analyzed 2,672 sentences and shown that structural patterns can improve the accuracy of Korean analysis.
Exploring Intersubjectivity between Student Teachers and Field Instructors in Student Teaching Conferences.

AbstractStudent teachers are learners of teaching and emerging collaborative practitioners preparing to join school-based professional learning communities. Using situative learning theory, this 16-week multiple-case study explored whether necessary conditions were satisfied within field instructor-led conferences towards the goal of helping student teachers learn how to develop roles as participatory contributors. Systematically shared meanings of conference discourse and similar perceptions of control regarding topic selection were explored as indicators of successful conferencing. Findings show that even though field instructors aimed to engage student teachers in mutually understood conversations and share control of topic selection; these objectives were not fully achieved. Conference participants’ perceptions of discourse and control must be aligned if field instructors are to help student teachers improve instructional decision-making and develop contributor roles as members within communities of p...
“Let Me Breathe of It”: A Circumpolar Literary and Ecological Perspective

The commercial hunting of harp seal pups galvanized animal rights in the 1970s, culminating in the banning of sealskin products in Europe and the curtailment of trade in the United States. The seal in animal rights discourse is a type of object that needs saving in the form of protective measures to keep her safe from the rapacious greed of capitalism. However, in Indigenous discourse, the seal is another relative, a relation whose presence makes all certainties about hierarchy, use-value, moral exemption, and human exceptionalism impossible. This essay re-thinks the figural dimensions of seals in Yupiit and Inuit storytelling practices alongside debates around over-harvesting, competing global interests, and animal rights to develop current activism for environmental justice for both humans and seals in a time of rapid change. I suggest that focusing on practices of care rather than commodity circulation reframes the relationship of humans and seals beyond binary systems of interpretation that make humans subjects (with “culture”) and seals objects (in “nature”). Inuit stories, legal statutes, and environmental conservation rhetoric all appear to be different, if not contradictory, types of narratives. Nevertheless, when read together, they reveal a shared ethics of care for the wellbeing of the seal. This care, I suggest, momentarily frees seals from their entrapment in an economy of use and provides a basis for understanding the North as a lived environment.
Rebuilding Post War Europe: New York and Digital Archives as Reconstitutive Fabric

This project explores four digital initiatives that document and make available to the public information related to American, German, and Jewish relationships before, during, and after World War II. The goal of these projects is to make primary source information available to the public using digital technology, in effect, creating an educational infrastructure for enhancing understanding among these groups. These four projects will be treated as cases, with the guiding question being: what infrastructures are needed to create a contemporary, educational, primary source-based digital platform? The goal of this study is to highlight those infrastructure elements that are instrumental in assembling such digital initiatives. In addition to digital infrastructures, this project will find that New York City’s infrastructure—particularly buildings, transportation, cellular capacities, and the organizations maintaining those structures—all play an active role in making educational and historical content available to the public.
Imperial Norms and Local Realities: The Ottoman Municipal Laws and the Municipality of Beirut (1860-1908), by Malek Sharif

In this dense and fairly well-written work Malek Sharif investigates the municipality of Beirut from its inception in 1863 until 1908. In Imperial Norms and Local Realities, Sharif aims to show tha...
Towards a Dynamic Resource Contractualisation for Software Components

In this paper we present a framework defining the architecture of systems providing software components with means to contractualise their resource access conditions with their deployment environment dynamically. We also present the Jamus platform, a prototype we have developed in order to show how our framework can be used to support the dynamic definition and enforcement of contracts binding components and their deployment environment regarding resource access conditions.
Laser Doppler Anemometer Diagnostics in Unsteady Flows

The application of the laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) to unsteady flows is discussed with respect to (1) necessary features of the signal processor, (2) properties of the optical system, and (3) character of the flow under investigation. The discussion of signal processors includes consideration of frequency trackers, counter-type processors, particle properties, data rates, and statistics. Secondly, diffraction limitations for an optical system are viewed with respect to spatial resolution. Finally, the total velocity field is decomposed into its subfields and the feasability of, criteria for, and possible types of conditional sampling are defined. Several reported LDA experiments using conditional sampling are presented to demonstrate the different techniques that may be used.
A submucosal variant of Whipple's disease

Abstract We describe an unusual case of Whipple's disease, in a patient previously treated for tuberculosis, in which involvement of the small intestine was restricted to the submucosa. This is of diagnostic importance since the presence of Whipple's disease cannot be established by jejunal biopsy in such cases unless the submucosa is adequately sampled. It is possible that this unusual distribution of intestinal infection is related to the effects of the antibiotic therapy. Retrospective study of the patient's serum cholesterol, carotene, and albumin suggests that malabsorption may occur in Whipple's disease despite the absence of infection in the mucosa.
Torsional thrust balance measurement system development for testing reaction control thrusters

Abstract The paper describes the design, development, and testing of a torsional-type thrust stand to evaluate the performance of