cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nineteen-year trends in incidence and indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the NY State experience

Since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), there has been continued evolution in technique, instrumentation and postoperative management. With increased experience, LC has migrated to the outpatient setting. We asked whether increased availability and experience has impacted incidence of and indications for LC. The New York (NY) State Planning and Research Cooperative System longitudinal administrative database was utilized to identify patients who underwent cholecystectomy between 1995 and 2013. ICD-9 and CPT procedure codes were extracted corresponding to laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy and the associated primary diagnostic codes. Data were analyzed as relative change in incidence (normalized to 1000 LC patients) for respective diagnoses. From 1995 to 2013, 711,406 cholecystectomies were performed in NY State: 637,308 (89.58 %) laparoscopic. The overall frequency of cholecystectomy did not increase (1.23 % increase with a commensurate population increase of 6.32 %). Indications for LC during this time were: 72.81 % for calculous cholecystitis (n = 464,032), 4.88 % for biliary colic (n = 31,124), 8.98 % for acalculous cholecystitis (n = 57,205), 3.01 % for gallstone pancreatitis (n = 19,193), and 1.59 % for biliary dyskinesia (n = 10,110). The incidence of calculous cholecystitis declined (−20.09 %, p 320-fold. Analysis of LC through 2014 revealed increasing rates of digestive, infectious, respiratory, and renal complications, with overall cholecystectomy complication rates of 9.29 %. A shifting distribution of operative indications and increasing rates of complications should prompt careful consideration prior to surgery for benign biliary disease. For what is a common procedure, LC carries substantial risk of complications, thus requiring the patient to be an active participant and to share in the decision-making process.
Caring through Data: Attending to the Social and Emotional Experiences of Health Datafication

Designing systems to support the social context of personal data is a topic of importance in CSCW, particularly in the area of health and wellness. The relational complexities and psychological consequences of living with health data, however, are still emerging. Drawing on a 12+ month ethnography and corroborating survey data, we detail the experiences of parents using Nightscout--an open source, DIY system for remotely monitoring blood glucose data-with their children who have type one diabetes. Managing diabetes with Nightscout is a deeply relational and (at times) contested activity for parent-caregivers, whose practices reveal the tensions and vulnerabilities of caregiving work enacted through data. As engagement with personal data becomes an increasingly powerful way people experience life, our findings call for alternative data narratives that reflect a multiplicity of emotional concerns and social arrangements. We propose the analytic lens of caring-through-data as a way forward.
Mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk in a Mediterranean population: a nested case-control study in the EPIC Florence cohort.

Mammographic breast density (MBD) has been consistently associated with breast cancer (BC) risk, and at the same time it is modulated by established BC risk factors related to reproductive and hormonal history and to lifestyle. We aimed to evaluate the association between the clinical breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS), a qualitative MBD classification used in clinical setting, and BC risk through a case–control nested in the EPIC Florence cohort where baseline information on reproductive history, lifestyle and anthropometry were collected. The study includes 136 newly diagnosed BC cases and 635 controls from the 10,083 healthy women enroled in the cohort between 1993 and 1998 and followed for 6 years on average. MBD was assessed on a negative mammogram performed at least one year before diagnosis in cases and on a mammogram performed in the same period for controls matched for age, enrolment date and menopausal status. Multivariate analyses adjusted for education, body mass index, parity, number of children, breastfeeding, BC family history, history of breast biopsies and Hormone Replacement Therapy use were performed. An increase in BC risk across BI-RADS categories emerged with adjusted odds ratios (OR) 1.79 (95% CI 1.06–3.01), OR 2.09 (95% CI 1.17–3.74) and OR 2.67 (95% CI 1.08–6.62) for categories 2, 3 and 4 in comparison with the reference category (p for trend = 0.008). We confirm in this Mediterranean population the association of increasing MBD, classified according to BI-RADS with BC risk also taking into account other well-known risk factors for this neoplasm.
Dynamic cycle-time improvement through big data analytics

Cycle-time improvement continue to be a big challenge to all fab production managers. In this paper, a dynamic cycle-time improvement plan through big data analytics is being discussed. After the implementation of this three-phase project, a ∼17% improvement in dynamic cycle-time is achieved without compromising fab utilization.
Abstract 1503: A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a lysotropic autophagy inhibitor that is being used in over 45 clinical trials either alone or in combination with another chemotherapeutic. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies with HCQ have shown that drug exposure in the blood does not correlate with autophagy inhibition in either peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or tumor tissue (Autophagy 10:1415). HCQ exhibits primarily pH-driven PK and has been shown, by way of heightened levels of autophagy markers, to generate a therapeutic effect longer than PK data suggests. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) was developed for HCQ to describe the tissue-specific absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion as well as lysosome-specific sequestration. Physiologic parameters were adapted from literature, or obtained from experimental data when necessary, and used to simulate physiologically-based HCQ PK following designated dosing regimen in mice and rats. Experimentally derived PK data from these species were compared to simulation generated data to drive model development and subsequently determine model accuracy, achieving statistically-similar PK predictions of blood and tissues. Through allometric scaling and species-specific parameter modifications this model can be easily adapted for accurate prediction of HCQ PK in dogs and humans, as determined by comparison with respective blood levels. The value of this model lies in its ability to simulate HCQ PK in cancer patients with tumor types deemed autophagy-dependent. Model data simulating HCQ uptake in a neutral tumor compartment (pH = 7.2) shows that peak concentration in the lysosomes, the active site of the drug, is roughly four-fold higher than the peak concentration of lysosomes in an acidic tumor compartment (pH = 6.8), yet there is only a small change between whole-tumor concentrations. This suggests that the ability of HCQ to inhibit autophagy in acidic tumors would be significantly reduced, which is currently being investigated through in vitro and in vivo uptake of HCQ in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 tumor cell lines. Additionally, HCQ PK exhibits large interpatient variability, thus model utilization is beneficial in determining if therapeutic levels of HCQ are achieved at the tumor site and the impact of variability in the local tumor environment on HCQ disposition. The flexibility and simulation capabilities of the developed PBPK model also allows for investigation of how HCQ PK and subsequent autophagy inhibition may potentially be modified by other treatment modalities and suggest dosing schedules to optimize therapeutic response. Citation Format: Keagan P. Collins, Kristen M. Jackson, Daniel L. Gustafson. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of hydroxychloroquine [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1503. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1503
Insertion of CS2 into the Mg-H bond: synthesis and structural characterization of the magnesium dithioformate complex, [TismPriBenz]Mg(κ2-S2CH).

The tris[(1-isopropylbenzimidazol-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]methyl magnesium hydride compound, [TismPriBenz]MgH, undergoes insertion of CS2 into the Mg-H bond at room temperature to give [TismPriBenz]Mg(κ2-S2CH), the first structurally characterized magnesium dithioformate compound. The dithioformate complex [TismPriBenz]Mg(κ2-S2CH) reacts with (i) CO2 at 80 °C to give, inter alia, the formate counterpart, [TismPriBenz]Mg(κ2-O2CH), and (ii) Me3SiX (X = Cl, Br), Me3SnX (X = F, Cl, Br) and MeI to afford the halide derivatives, [TismPriBenz]MgX.
Methodological Behaviorism, Evolution, and Game Theory

A review of some standard philosophical criticisms of methodological behaviorism shows that the only substantive challenge to that position allows that there may be research programs in which behaviorism is an appropriate methodological stance. Evolutionary biology provides some cases in point. Behaviorist assumptions are at work in sociobiological arguments, in some models of cultural evolution, and in game theory. The defects that there may be in these approaches do not include the behaviorist assumption. The perspective developed throws light on the charge that sociobiology uses anthropomorphic descriptors of the traits it investigates.
Nonlinear Boundary Integral Equations of Contact Mechanics and Some of their Engineering Applications

The formulations of unilateral contact problems are considered that are based on the application of the method of nonlinear boundary integral equations (BIE). Such formulations of problems, the modern methods of the nonlinear analysis and theory of operator equations allow in the rather general cases (e.g. in the cases of unconnected and multiple-connected contact areas, multibody contact) to investigate the existence and uniqueness of their solutions, as well as some their properties. Besides, the possibility arises to apply the methods of solution equations which do not use the optimization algorithms and which can use a well-developed general purpose software. The theoretical basis and ideas of the method of BIE discussed here are described on the examples of contact problems which, we believe, sufficiently fully reflect the general nature of this method and variety of possibilities for the investigation of BIE. The theory is illustrated by the numerical examples for some engineering applications. Some unsolved problems are indicated.
A Novel Approach for Plate Impact Experiments to Obtain Properties of Materials Under Extreme Conditions

In this paper we present a novel approach to conduct normal plate impact experiments at elevated temperatures up to 1000 °C. To enable this approach, custom adaptations are made to the breech-end of the single-stage gas-gun at Case Western Reserve University. These adaptations include a precision-machined steel extension piece, which is strategically designed to mate the existing gun-barrel by providing a high tolerance match to the bore and keyway. The extension piece contains a vertical cylindrical heater-well, which houses a resistive coil heater attached to a vertical stem with axial/rotational degrees of freedom. The assembly enables thin metal specimens held at the front-end of a heat-resistant sabot to be heated uniformly across the diameter to the desired test temperatures. Using the configuration, symmetric normal plate impact experiments are conducted on 99.6% tungsten carbide (no binder) using a heated (room temperature to 650 °C) WC flyer plate and a room temperature WC target plate at impact velocities ranging from 233 to 248 m/s. The measured free-surface particle velocity profiles are used to obtain the elastic/plastic behavior of the impacting WC plates as well as the temperature-dependent shock impedance of the flyer. The results indicate a dynamic strength of approximately 6 GPa for the WC used in the present study (strain-rates of about 105), and a decreasing flyer plate longitudinal impedance with increasing temperatures up to 650 °C.
New docs on the block: A profile of applicants and subsequent PGY1 trainees of categorical general surgery programs (2013-2016).

Abstract Background The categorical general surgery (GS) applicant pool and trainees have evolved. The purpose of this study is to profile contemporary applicants and subsequent matriculates of GS residencies. Study design This study is a retrospective review of GS applicant and PGY1 trainee data which were obtained from ERAS, NRMP, and AAMC for the years 2013–2016. Univariate statistics were used to compare matched GS trainees other trainees in other specialties. Results In 2016 GS was among the top 5 most competitive residencies as measured by mean applications/applicant. In 2013, 2415 applicants applied for 1185 spots resulting in 99.6% fill. The 2014 PGY1 class exhibited: mean Step 1232 vs. 213 and Step 2245 vs. 226 when comparing matched to unmatched. The mean number of abstracts/publications and %AOA were 4.4 v. 2.7, and 4.4% vs.2.7% respectively. Surgical subspecialty trainees had significantly higher Step 1 and 2 scores, publications, and %AOA (p Conclusion General surgery is an increasingly competitive specialty. PGY1 trainees compare well with their CIM and Obstetrics peers, but lag behind their surgical subspecialty colleagues.
Infra-anastomotic Innervation of Residual Aganglionic Distal Rectum After Pull-through Surgery for Hirschsprung Disease

BackgroundDescending neurons are important for intestinal reflex activities, including the recto-anal inhibitory reflex involved in normal defecation. Pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung disease ...
Introduction to Sanford Health Children's Health & Fitness (fit) initiative: a physical and emotional health promotional intervention.

ABSTRACTBackground: The health of children is undeniably important. Especially with the soaring epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity, physical health is a large concern. Emotional health is also an area of great significance, because it is essential to overall health. Children’s health promotion interventions have been developed and implemented; however, the majority either focus on one health aspect and/or the effects of one health aspect on another or research has been limited to very few variables. Purpose: The Sanford Health Children’s Health & Fitness (fit) initiative was developed with the purpose of engaging children, families, and communities with accessible resources and programs to instill sustainable healthy lifestyle behaviors. Theoretically rooted, its design includes the utilization of key role models and care providers in various settings, including the home, school, childcare, health care, and community. Translation to Health Education Practice: Though a suite of fit initiative pro...
Crystal structures of two nickel(II) macrocyclic salts: (5,7,7,12,12,14-hexa­methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­deca­ne)nickel(II) bis­(perchlorate) monohydrate and (5,7,7,12,12,14-hexa­methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­deca­ne)nickel(II) dibromide trihydrate

The crystal structure of the Ni-14 macrocycle salt, (5,7,7,12,12,14-hexa­methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­deca­ne)nickel(II) bis­(perchlorate) hemihydrate, [Ni(C16H36N4)]2(ClO4)4·H2O, contains two different diasteriomeric macrocyclic cations in the asymmetric unit, one with two NH protons on each side of the cation (Ia), and the other with all four NH protons on the same side (Ib). The crystal structure of the bromide trihydrate salt of the same Ni-14 macrocyclic cation, namely (5,7,7,12,12,14-hexa­methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­deca­ne)nickel(II) dibromide trihydrate, [Ni(C16H36N4)]Br2·3H2O (II), contains only the same diastereomer as Ib, with the four N—H bonds on the same side. The geometry around the Ni atom differs slightly between the two diastereomeric cations, as the mean Ni—N distance in Ia is 1.952 (2) A, while that for Ib and II is 1.928 (2) A. The hexa­methyl substitution in all three macrocyclic cations has the two dimethyl-substituted C atoms cis to one another, different from the trans 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexa­methyl Ni-14 cations found in all but one of the many published crystal structures of hexa­methyl Ni-14 macrocycles. In each of the two crystal structures, the anions, water mol­ecules, and N—H protons of the macrocyclic cations form extensive hydrogen-bonded zigzag chains propagating along [001] in I and [010] in II.
The great recession and precarious wealth among middle-class Mexican-Origin entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurial activity is perceived to function as a catalyst for economic mobility and wealth creation among immigrant minorities, which in turn facilitates the reproduction of their wealth and ...
Applying the FAHP to Improve the Performance Evaluation Reliability of Software Defect Classifiers

Today's software complexity makes developing defect-free software almost impossible. Consequently, developing classifiers to classify software modules into defective and non-defective before software releases have attracted great interest in academia and software industry alike. Although many classifiers have been proposed, no one has been proven superior over others. The major reason is that while a research shows that classifier A is better than classifier B, we can find other research that shows the opposite. These conflicts are usually triggered when researchers report results using their preferable performance evaluation measures such as, recall and precision. Although this approach is valid, it does not examine all possible facets of classifiers performance characteristics. Thus, the performance evaluation might improve or deteriorate if researchers choose other performance measures. As a result, software developers usually struggle to select the most suitable classifier to use in their projects. The goal of this paper is to apply the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) as a popular multicriteria decision-making technique to reliably evaluate classifiers' performance. This evaluation framework incorporates a wider spectrum of performance measures to evaluate classifiers performance rather than relying on selected preferable measures. The results show that this approach will increase software developers' confidence in research outcomes and help them in avoiding false conclusions and infer reasonable boundaries for them. We exploited 22 popular performance measures and 11 software defect classifiers. The analysis was carried out using KNIME data mining platform and 12 software defect data sets provided by the NASA metrics data program (MDP) repository.
Large Scale 3D Topology Optimization of Conjugate Heat Transfer

This paper presents an approach for large scale density-based topology optimization (TO)of a three-dimensional thermal-fluid cooling system. The forced cooling system is simulated with weakly coupled stationary incompressible Navier-Stokes equation and the energy equation. Under a heat source, we study the distribution of the conductive solid materials in order to minimize the temperature of the solid components as well as the flow energy dissipation. The governing state equations and their adjoint equation for obtaining sensitivity are solved through a stabilized finite element formulation. The design domain is discretized with millions of tetrahedral elements. Numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy of our solver. Topologically optimized designs in several test cases are presented.
A Driving Force, Odin Teatret: Convergence of Diverse Performance Trainings in Ur-Hamlet

Ur-Hamlet is Eugenio Barba’s production performed at the Elsinore castle in Denmark in 2006. Odin Teatret worked in collaboration with many actors, dancers and musicians from diverse cultures and theatrical traditions. This paper traces the relationships that Odin Teatret has established with other theatre groups in the world, their exchanges and the concept of the third theater. It analyzes the artistic practices that Odin Teatret usually applies and how the integration of actors with different Western and Eastern backgrounds was marked by their professional trajectory. There was a clear distinction between actors with diverse theatre training and also experience, and younger Western actors who took part in Odin Teatret’s workshops.
Smoke streak visualization of steady flows over a spinning cone at angle of attack in flight

A smoke streak visualization technique is employed to observe the steady flow field over a cone of a half angle of $$\theta _c = 30^\circ $$, spinning at an angular speed of $$\varOmega = 5 \text { revs/s}$$, at angles of attack of $$0 \le \alpha \le 36^\circ $$, in an axial flow of $$U_\infty = 1 \text { m/s}$$. The Reynolds number is $${\sim }10^4$$ based on the generator of the cone. Streaklines highlight increasing asymmetry of the flow and formation of vortices at increasing angles of attack. The rotation direction of the cone shapes the streaklines ingested into the boundary layers. Good agreement in streakline patterns between potential flow theory and experiment is observed over the cone at $$\alpha = 0$$, the agreement getting better near the tip of the cone. No signs of boundary layer instabilities are noted as the Reynolds number is not sufficiently high, except at the highest angle of attack $$\alpha =36^\circ $$ where a wave pattern is observed on the rolled-up streamwise vortex. Streaklines over a $$60^\circ $$ cone at angle of attack $$\alpha $$ in an axial flow of 1 m/s.
Pathologic Vertebral Compression Fractures: Diagnosis and Management

Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a common manifestation of osteoporosis, trauma, infection, or malignancy. It is important to distinguish metastatic pathologic VCF (pVCF) from osteoporotic VCF as they have diverging diagnostic algorithms and treatment strategies. Accurate diagnosis of pVCF relies on a discerning history of the patient’s symptoms and interpretation of the magnetic resonance imaging available.
Effects of curcuminoids on cognitive deficits in young audiovisually overstimulated mice

Abstract Constant audiovisual exposure from digital media devices can cause overstimulation (OS) of the infant brain, which negatively impacts cognition. Curcuminoids (Cur, the principal component of turmeric) have shown neuroprotective qualities, however, their effects on overstimulated brain are unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of audiovisual OS on cognitive functions in young mice, and to investigate if Cur offered neuroprotection. Ten day old mice were exposed to flashing lights and sound 8 h/day for 5 days/wk along with Cur (1 or 20 mg/kg in feed) for 42 days. Cognitive functions were measured using behaviour tests. Cholinergic function was determined using hippocampal and cortical acetylcholine levels and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1, M3 and M5) gene expression. It was observed that OS did not affect spatial learning and memory, but reduced cued and contextual fear learning (p
[Diagnosis of a patient with Dubin-Johnson syndrome by using next generation sequencing]

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and molecular basis for a Chinese boy affected with jaundiced skin and liver disease. Methods The patient was subjected to clinical examination and laboratory tests. Genomic DNA of the patient and his parents was extracted and analyzed by using next generation sequencing (NGS). Suspected mutations were analyzed with bioinformatic software and verified by Sanger sequencing. Results The patient had jaundice in his eyes and skin. Serum bilirubin was elevated along with hepatomegaly. Next generation sequencing showed that the patient has carried c. 18C>A (p.C6X) and c. 2556delA mutations in the MRP2 gene, which were respectively inherited from his father and mother. Conclusion The missense mutation c. 18C>A and frameshift mutation c. 2556delA probably account for the disease. NGS has provided a powerful tool for the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases including Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Key words: Dubin-Johnson syndrome; MRP2 gene; Jaundice; Next generation sequencing
On-Chip System for Fast, High-Range, High-Precision Measurements of Delays

Precision delay measurements are useful for many integrated circuits, especially time-to-digital converters. A new, fully integrated delay measurement circuit using the standard field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) blocks is presented. This circuit comprises a variable frequency generator built from phase-locked loops, an arbiter, and a control system. The performance of the circuit is evaluated in an FPGA, both as a function of time and over a range of delays. The implementation has demonstrated a delay measurement precision of 2 ps, over a range of 4–14 ns. The circuit incorporates a novel control scheme for continuous calibration of delays, in the presence of variations in the chip due to process, voltage, temperature, or radiation effects. Variations in a single delay setting are measured for 1600 s. The associated power spectral density of the variations reveal $1/f$ noise below 1 Hz and white noise above at the level of 0.02 ps2 Hz−1. Collections of many delays are measured combined to show that measurement biases in this method are below 2 ps.
Machine learning demand forecasting and supply chain performance

In many supply chains, firms staged in upstream of the chain suffer from variance amplification emanating from demand information distortion in a multi-stage supply chain and, consequently, their o...
How Do Electoral Gender Quotas Affect Policy

Electoral gender quotas now exist in a majority of national legislatures worldwide. In general, quotas are followed by greater legislative attention to the interests and priorities of women as a gr...
How to Realize Precision Marketing in Catering Industry through Big Data

In recent years, big data has gradually become an important part of people's life. In this case, software that provides ratings for various services (such as catering or accommodation) has emerged in large numbers. These softwares help consumers to comment on their consumption experience in a restaurant, hotel or other stores, such as leave ratings, feedback deficiencies, express praise, etc. These could provide customers who have not been to the store with some consumption suggestions. Such review data provides the possibility for businesses to make service defect analysis. Businesses can improve their services through the shortcomings of the most feedback in the comments, or keep the aspects of the reviews that are generally praised. This paper will use the catering industry as an example, combine review data with the characteristics of the business, distinguish them by different levels of consumption, then construct regression and classifier models. The ultimate goal of this paper is to help businesses find the key reasons that affect their rate (bonus or defect) under a certain consumption level, in order to help businesses achieve the purpose of precision marketing.
There are no differences in brachial artery endothelial shear stress and blood flow patterns between males and females during exercise

Premenopausal females have a lower cardiovascular risk than males. Sex differences on exercise-induced endothelial shear stress (ESS) and blood flow patterns may explain part of this risk reduction. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the differences in brachial artery exercise-induced ESS and blood flow patterns between males and females. Thirty subjects (13 females) were recruited to perform a three-workload steady-state exercise test based on blood lactate levels (i.e. 4.0 mmol/l). ESS and blood flow patterns were estimated at rest and during each workload using Womersley's approximation and Reynolds number, respectively. Both males and females showed an exercise intensity-dependent increase in antegrade and retrograde ESS. There was no significant sex effect or interaction for antegrade ESS (F(1, 30) = 0.715, p = 0.405 and F(1·672, 60) = 1.511, p = 0.232, respectively) or retrograde ESS (F(1, 30) = 0.794, p = 0.380 and F(1·810, 60) = 1.022, p = 0.361, respectively). Additionally, antegrade blood flow was turbulent during all bouts of exercise while retrograde blood flow became disturbed at moderate and high exercise intensities in both groups. There are no differences in exercise-induced ESS and blood flow patterns between males and females when the exercise load is equivalent. This suggests that the vascular benefits of exercise training are similar in both sexes from a haemodynamic standpoint.
A novel binary pipette splitting sediment subsampling method for improving reproducibility in laser-diffraction particle-size analysis.

Abstract Laser-diffraction analysis has been established as one of the standard methods for particle-size distribution (PSD) measurement. However, the uncertainty when analyzing naturally heterogeneous sediment is poorly constrained for the lack of control on one of its largest error sources simply originating from subsampling. Here, we introduce a novel subsampling method, binary pipette splitting (BPS), and verify its precision by using sediment samples from ten flood-layer deposits that have formed in the wake of Hurricane Florence (2018). The BPS approach avoids extracting from only a fixed part of the suspended fluid but considers all the suspended sediment, resulting in the generation of twin subsamples. The median coefficient of variation (COV) for D10, D50, and D90 of subsamples obtained using BPS is 4%, 3%, and 2%, respectively. These values are significantly smaller than the corresponding values of 18%, 15%, and 13% obtained using the conventional pipette subsampling method. Therefore, the new BPS method represents a significant improvement in producing statistically identical subsamples for laser-diffraction particle-size analysis. • The binary pipette splitting (BPS) subsampling method dramatically improves the reproducibility of subsampling wet sediment.
Long-term Risks of Persistent Ventral Spinal CSF Leaks in SIH: Superficial Siderosis and Bibrachial Amyotrophy.

Background and Objectives Superficial siderosis, bibrachial amyotrophy, and spinal cord herniation are unusual but serious long-term sequelae of persistent spontaneous spinal CSF leaks in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), particularly ventral spinal CSF leaks. However, the risk of developing such sequelae has not been established in this population. We undertook this study to determine the risk of these serious complications of persistent ventral spinal CSF leaks. Methods This cohort study was conducted using data from a prospectively maintained database of patients who meet the modified International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition criteria for SIH. The patient population consisted of a consecutive group of patients with SIH and persistent ventral spinal CSF leaks who were first seen within 1 year of onset of SIH symptoms and who had at least 1 year of follow-up. Results Among 51 patients with SIH and a persistent ventral spinal CSF leak, superficial siderosis developed in 6 patients and bibrachial amyotrophy in 2 patients during 280 patient-years of follow-up. The probability of these complications increased from 0% at 48 months to 4.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0%–28.0%) at 56 months, 10.5% (95% CI 3.0%–36.4%) at 96 months, 32.7% (95% CI 15.0%–62.8%) at 144 months, and 57.9% (95% CI 30.2%–87.6%) at 192 months. None of the patients developed spinal cord herniation. Discussion Among patients with SIH and a persistent ventral spinal CSF leak, the risk of developing serious long-term sequelae is considerable. This study shows that early treatment of a ventral spinal CSF leak offers a unique opportunity to prevent neurologic disability from superficial siderosis and bibrachial amyotrophy.
Pre- and post-season visio-vestibular function in healthy adolescent athletes.

Objective To evaluate pre - to post-season differences in individual subtests of the Visio-Vestibular Examination (VVE) in healthy middle and high school athletes. Methods This prospective cohort study recruited participants from a private suburban United States secondary school. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire prior to the start of their season. A proxy for head impact exposure was estimated by incorporating previously published head impact frequencies by team and sport. The VVE was completed pre - and post-season and consisted of 9 subtests: smooth pursuit, horizontal/vertical saccades and gaze stability, binocular convergence, left/right monocular accommodation, and complex tandem gait. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the relative risk of an abnormal VVE outcome based on testing session (pre - vs. post-season). Results Participants included middle and high school athletes (n = 115; female = 59 (51.3%); median age at first assessment = 14.9 years, [IQR = 13.6, 16.0]) during 2017/18 - 2019/20 school years. During pre-season testing, accommodation (10.0%) and complex tandem gait (9.2%) had the largest proportion of abnormal outcomes, while smooth pursuits (10.6%) and convergence (9.5%) had the largest proportion of abnormal outcomes post-season. When assessing the effect of testing session on the relative risk of any abnormal VVE subtest, there were no significant findings (P ≥ 0.25). Additionally, there were no significant effects of testing session when adjusting for estimated head impact exposure for any VVE subtest (P ≥ 0.25). Conclusions Visio-vestibular function as measured by the VVE does not change from pre - to post-season in otherwise healthy adolescent athletes. Our findings suggest that the VVE may be stable and robust to typical neurodevelopment occurring in this dynamic age group and help inform post-injury interpretation of visio-vestibular impairments.
Austrian Law and Economics

The purpose of this essay is to describe and analyze the Austrian approach to law and economics within the context of the law and economics discipline. The important and distinctive feature of the Austrian approach is the emphasis on economic and legal processes. We focus on four themes within the Austrian approach to law and economics: the spontaneous origin of legal institutions; the analysis of implications of ignorance, decentralization of knowledge, and static and dynamic uncertainty; the interaction between the changes in legal institutions and the market process and coordination; and entrepreneurship in market and non-market settings.
Preparing energy managers and technicians for energy data collection: New instrument familiarization activities

ABSTRACT Energy audits can be used to provide hands-on activities related to an energy management course. After learning the necessary background concepts, students need to be aware of what measurements must be taken to evaluate an existing energy system. In industry and universities, one may find apprentices and students from different educational backgrounds, such as electricians with no exposure to newer measuring instruments and students with no ability to take electrical and/or mechanical measurements. By studying the capabilities and limitations of measuring instruments, newcomers to energy auditing may collect reliable data. This article introduces several hands-on activities that could be replicated to teach students how to take accurate measurements of electrical, light, and heat flow parameters, ultrasonic leak detection, electronic combustion analysis, and simple data acquisition before conducting energy audits. A sample laboratory activity includes a description of the measuring instrument, fa...
Recent developments in the enzymology of excision repair of DNA.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the details of the enzymic mechanisms of excision repair of damaged DNA. It is the incision of UV irradiated DNA by an enzyme mechanism, involving a specific DNA glycosylase that is not universal. This argument notwithstanding, even in the two biological systems just mentioned, evidence indicates that pyrimidine dimers are excised from DNA as a part of a larger oligonucleotide, whereas in all known examples of base-excision repair, the products of excision are free bases. The chapter also describes an activity in extracts of M . luteus that recognizes 8-(2-hydroxyisopropy1) purines in DNA. Preliminary evidence indicates that this activity is a true endonuclease without associated DNA glycosylase activity. Thus, it is distinctly possible that the excision repair of cell damage by hydrolysis of N-glycosyl bonds involves a number of specific forms of base damage, in which the degree of structural distortion of DNA secondary structure is limited. Very bulky DNA adducts such as those produced by the interaction of DNA with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acetamidofluorene, etc., may generate relatively nonspecific but significant distortion of the DNA helix that is recognized by a limited number of “general” endonucleases.
A structural ceramic diesel engine - the critical elements

A structural ceramic diesel engine has the potential to provide low heat rejection and significant improvements in fuel economy. Analytical and experimental evaluations were conducted on the critical elements of this engine. The structural ceramic components, which included the cylinder, piston and pin, operated successfully in a single cylinder engine for over 100 hours. The potential for up to 8-11% improvement in indicated specific fuel consumption was projected when corrections for blow-by were applied. The ringless piston with gas squeeze film lubrication avoided the difficulty with liquid lubricants in the high temperature piston/cylinder area. The resulting reduction in friction was projected to provide an additional 15% improvement in brake specific fuel consumption for a multi-cylinder engine at light loads.
Evaluating the AMIA-OHSU 10x10 program to train healthcare professionals in medical informatics.

The promise of health information technology (HIT) has led to calls for a larger and better trained work-force in medical informatics. University programs in applied health and biomedical informatics have been evolving in an effort to address the need for health-care professionals to be trained in informatics. One such evolution is the American Medical Informatics Association’s (AMIA) 10x10 program. To assess current delivery and content models, participant satisfaction, and how graduates have benefited from the program in career or education advancement, all students who completed the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) offering of the AMIA 10x10 course through the end of 2006 were surveyed. We found that the 10x10 program is approaching AMIA’s goals, and that there are potential areas for content and delivery modifications. Further research in defining the optimal competencies of the medical informatics workforce and its optimal education is needed.
5-azacytidine--a new anticancer drug with significant activity in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the new anticancer drug with significant activity in acute myeloblastic leukemia known as “5-azacytidine.” 5-Azacytidine has the empirical formula C 8 H 12 N 4 O 5 . 5-Azacytidine for injection can be obtained from the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, DCT, NCI, and is supplied in 100-mg vials with 100-mg mannitol (USP). The product is prepared as a white lyophilized powder in 20-ml vials. When reconstituted with 19.9 ml of sterile water for injection (USP), each milliliter of solution contains five mg of 5-azacytidine and five mg of mannitol at pH 6.0–7.5. The reconstituted solution hydrolyzes at room temperature and should be used within 30 minutes. The reconstituted solution can be further diluted with lactated Ringer's injection (USP) providing optimum pH for solution stability. The pH of this solution at a concentration of 100 mg/500 ml is approximately 6.37. The reconstituted solution further diluted in this manner should be used within two to three hours. Over this period of time, 10–15% decomposition occurs based on ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance assay methods.
Flutter boundary for simply supported unstiffened cylinders.

Semiempirical stability boundary for flutter of simply supported cylinders for various length- radius and radius-thickness ratios
Neutron Energy Spectrum Calculations in Three PWR

Transport calculations of neutron energy spectra were performed for three PWR: ANO-1, ANO-2 and McGuire-1. The fluxes were calculated In R-θ geometry utilizing the eighth core symmetry. Taking the R-θ flux as a basis, a 3-D flux was synthesized by multiplying the R-θ flux with a “leakage correction” factor obtained from a 2-D R-Z flux divided by a 1-D flux. Using cross sections derived from VITAMIN-C, the neutron spectrum was obtained in terms of 26 energy groups. The calculated neutron spectra were used to compute reaction rates for several threshold reactions which were in turn compared with measured ones obtained by Irradiating foils placed at several in-vessel and ex-vessel locations. Integral fluxes for neutron energy above 100 keV and above 1 Mev, as well as corresponding fluences for the lifetime of the plant, have been obtained for the location in front of the PV.
Molecular Genetics of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease of the motile cilia, and is part of a rapidly expanding collection of disorders collectively known as ciliopathies. Our understanding of the complex genetics and functional phenotypes of these conditions has rapidly advanced over the past decade. A growing number of cilia-related genes and mutations have been identified, which segregate into genes that encode axonemal motor proteins, structural and regulatory proteins within the cilium, as well as an emerging class of cytoplasmic proteins involved in ciliary assembly. These findings have yielded unexpected insights into the processes involved in the assembly, structure and function of a cilium, which will allow us to better understand the clinical heterogeneity of disease. Moreover, these discoveries have the potential to revolutionise testing for PCD, and lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals. Key Concepts: Cilia are complex organelles that are on the surface of many cell types and involved in diverse cellular functions. Cilia are broadly classified as motile (motor) or primary (sensory), and the latter are important signalling organelles that sense the extracellular environment. Motile cilia are critical for the intrinsic defence of the respiratory tract, including the middle ear, paranasal sinuses, and conducting airways. Primary ciliary dyskinesia is an inherited disease that is characterised by impaired ciliary function and leads to diverse clinical manifestations, including chronic sinopulmonary disease, persistent middle ear effusions, laterality defects and infertility. Mutations in different primary ciliary dyskinesia-associated genes that encode proteins involved in ciliary assembly, structure and function can produce similar clinical phenotypes but different ultrastructural defects. Keywords: primary ciliary dyskinesia; ciliopathy; cilia; genomics; dynein arm proteins
Cuba socialista. De la traducción y sus secuelas

Resumen: Este ensayo propone un acercamiento a la literatura socialista en espanol que era consumida en Cuba en las decadas del sesenta al noventa y, siguiendo las teorias de la traduccion de Itamar Evan-Zohar, intenta dilucidar el papel periferico y central que esa literatura tuvo en la conformacion del polisistema literario cubano. ?Hasta que punto esa literatura tuvo una funcion utilitaria para impulsar una ideologia de estado? ?Como se relaciona la llegada de la literatura socialista a la isla con una tradicion de la traduccion en Cuba que ha sido fundamental en la creacion de una nocion de la nacion desde las letras? Estas son las interrogantes principales que guian estas notas que no intentan ser conclusion, sino punto de partida para un debate sobre una identidad cubana siempre en transicion. Abstract: This paper proposes an approach to the socialist literature in Spanish that was consumed in Cuba from the sixties to the nineties and, following the theories of translation of Itamar Evan-Zohar, attempts to elucidate the peripheral and central role that such literature had on the conformation of a Cuban literary polysystem. To what extent this literature had a utilitarian function to promote an ideology of state? How the arrival to the island of socialist literature relates to a tradition of translation in Cuba which has been instrumental in creating a notion of the nation within the Republic of the letters? These are the main questions that guide these notes –not intended as a conclusion, but a starting point for a debate on a Cuban identity that is always in transition.
Using nuclear gene data for plant phylogenetics: Progress and prospects II. Next-gen approaches

Single and low copy nuclear genes offer a larger number of, and more rapidly evolving, characters than the chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal gene sequences that have dominated plant phylogenetic studies to date. Until recently, only one or a few low copy nuclear gene markers were included in such studies. Now, the rapid adoption of “next generation sequencing” (NGS) techniques offers simpler and cheaper access to hundreds of, and not just tens of, coding and noncoding DNA regions. In this review, we describe the most commonly-used NGS methods available for accessing nuclear genes and discuss many NGS case studies that have been published in the last two to three years. These approaches include whole genome sequencing to target microsatellites, transcriptome sequencing, Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing sequencing (EPIC), targeted enrichment (or sequence capture), RAD sequencing (RAD-Seq, including genotyping-by-sequencing or GBS), and genome skimming. We also discuss some of the challenges to, and posed by, the NGS approaches.
BIOSYNTHESIS OF ERGOTHIONEINE AND HERCYNINE BY MYCOBACTERIA

Genghof, Dorothy S. (Yeshiva University, New York, N.Y.), and Olga Van Damme. Biosynthesis of ergothioneine and hercynine by mycobacteria. J. Bacteriol. 87:852-862. 1964.-Ergothioneine and hercynine were found to be synthesized by a wide variety of mycobacteria grown in chemically defined media free from these compounds. The cultures examined included 53 recently isolated and laboratory strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 26 "unclassified" mycobacteria (Runyon groups I to IV), and representatives of most other species in the genus. Purification and separation of the betaines was achieved by means of chromatography on two successive alumina columns. Photometric measurement of the diazotized effluents from the second column permitted amounts of each compound to be determined. Measurement of hercynine by this method was made possible for the first time by the development of a standard curve. The pathway of ergothioneine biosynthesis in mycobacteria, as judged by the use S(35)-sulfate and l-histidine-2-C(14) as tracers, appears similar to that found in Neurospora crassa and Claviceps purpurea, that is, from histidine to ergothioneine via hercynine. None of a small group of bacteria other than mycobacteria was found to produce ergothioneine. Two strains of group A streptococci and one of Escherichia coli produced hercyninelike material, as yet unidentified.