cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physician antibiotic prescriptions for skin infections in the outpatient setting are often unnecessarily long and include unnecessary antibiotics.

Commentary on: Hurley HJ, Knepper BC, Price CS, et al. Avoidable antibiotic exposure for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections in the ambulatory care setting. Am J Med 2013;126:1099–1106.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] There are ample data suggesting that physicians often deviate from guidelines for the treatment of common infections by unnecessarily overprescribing antibiotics. Antibiotic overprescription for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) has been observed in the inpatient setting. Previous observational studies have shown that physicians commonly prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics when treatment for only Gram-positive pathogens is warranted. In addition, physicians often use overly long courses of antibiotics for inpatient SSTIs. Antibiotic overuse for infections, including inpatient SSTIs, has been shown to be amenable to improvement with target antibiotic stewardship efforts. Hurley and colleagues hypothesised that overprescription and avoidable antibiotic exposure would also be common … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D126%26rft.spage%253D1099%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.amjmed.2013.08.016%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24262724%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.08.016&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=24262724&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F19%2F4%2F160.atom
SUPIN: A Computational Tool for Supersonic Inlet Design

A computational tool named SUPIN is being developed to design and analyze the aerodynamic performance of supersonic inlets. The inlet types available include the axisymmetric pitot, three-dimensional pitot, axisymmetric outward-turning, two-dimensional single-duct, two-dimensional bifurcated-duct, and streamline-traced inlets. The aerodynamic performance is characterized by the flow rates, total pressure recovery, and drag. The inlet flow-field is divided into parts to provide a framework for the geometry and aerodynamic modeling. Each part of the inlet is defined in terms of geometric factors. The low-fidelity aerodynamic analysis and design methods are based on analytic, empirical, and numerical methods which provide for quick design and analysis. SUPIN provides inlet geometry in the form of coordinates, surface angles, and cross-sectional areas. SUPIN can generate inlet surface grids and three-dimensional, structured volume grids for use with higher-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Capabilities highlighted in this paper include the design and analysis of streamline-traced external-compression inlets, modeling of porous bleed, and the design and analysis of mixed-compression inlets. CFD analyses are used to verify the SUPIN results.
PERSISTENCE OF SHIGELLA ANTIGEN IN SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS OF SPLEENS FROM IMMUNOLOGICALLY UNRESPONSIVE MICE.

SummarySpleen cell nuclei, mitochondria, ribunucleoprotein and deoxyribonucleoprotein-rich fractions have been prepared from immunologically unresponsive NIH mice which had received a large inoculum of Shigella soluble antigen at birth. Presence of Shigella agglutinogens in these subcellular fractions has been inferred by use of an indirect method in which the fractions were incubated with fresh spleen cell suspensions, followed by transfer to new recipient mice. A rapid rise in specific anti-Shigella agglutinins in these recipients suggested the presence of Shigella agglutinogens in the original fractions. Such agglutinogenic activity was detected in most fractions for 2 to 4 weeks following neonatal injection, whereas ribonucleoprotein fractions exhibited detectable agglutinogenic activity for 6 to 8 weeks.
424 DEVELOPMENT OF A CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM FOR HIV-INFECTED WOMEN IN NAIROBI, KENYA.

Purpose/Background Cervical carcinoma is both the number one cancer killer of women in the developing world and the most common malignancy found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women. Yet many resource-poor regions, which are heavily burdened with HIV, offer little cervical cancer education or screening to their populations. Objectives To assess the need and determine the feasibility of establishing a cervical cancer screening program for HIV-positive women in a resource-constrained setting and to raise funds to support such a project. Methods Implement a multitiered fundraising effort, perform a systematic examination of screening programs in similar settings, assess established medical infrastructure on the ground in Nairobi, and design an appropriate, sustainable cervical cancer screening program for HIV-positive women. Results/Conclusions $8000 US was raised before departure and additional funds were acquired while in Nairobi. Medical infrastructure at an urban hospital-based HIV clinic was deemed an appropriate setting for the establishment of a Pap smear-based screening program. Women in need of additional diagnostics and possible treatment would be referred for further assessment at the national hospital. To address this need, a treatment subsidy and follow-up program linking the HIV clinic with the national hospital was proposed. A detailed proposal was presented to and accepted by clinic administrators.
Survey of the Sanitary Condition of Cosmetics from 2004 to 2006 in Guangzhou City

Objective To understand the sanitary condition of cosmetics in Guangzhou,and to provide evidence to better manage the market of cosmetics.Method The sanitary quality of the cosmetic was investigated according to the items and methods in Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics(2002)set by Department of Health.Result 12 603 cosmetics that were produced by cosmetic enterprises in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2006 were tested,and 12 516 cosmetics were qualified,with a qualified rate of 99.31%.The qualified rates of different kinds cosmetics had statistical significant differences(χ2=28.09,P0.001).Conclusion First,departments of the government should strengthen the supervision and monitoring the sanitary condition of cosmetics.Second,the enterprises should strengthen the monitoring of the sanitary standard of each manufacturing step.
Investigation of optical polarization properties on Ag nanorods array polarizing glass

We report an optical polarized material and device as a new kind of optical polarizer.The device consists of periodically distributed ellipsoid silver nanorods inside the transparent Ag-doped glass.Mie scattering theory and dipole theory can be well used to explain the physics interrelationships.The output shows strong polarization and high optical extinction ratio transmission properties through the glass polarizer.In our calculations,the polarization transmission is more than 80% with extinction ration more than 20 dB within the whole infrared wavelength 700-1 100 nm.Especially in a bandwidth of 100 nm from 740 to 840nm,the transmission is over 90% with extinction ratio over 50 dB.This approach is important for new application and detection in laser optics and functional materials.
Plasma HVA and MHPG in psychiatric patients with renal failure and levodopa-treated Parkinson's disease

Plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), but not plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), was substantially increased in 4 patients undergoing hemodialysis, 3 patients with chronic renal failure, and 3 patients receiving carbidopa/levodopa for Parkinson's disease. These conditions should be considered in psychiatric research involving plasma HVA.
Sarcoplasmic reticulum function in skinned fibers of hypertrophied rat ventricle

This study was designed to examine the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile system and the ability of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to accumulate and release Ca2+ in chemically (saponin) skinned cardiac fibers obtained from normal and pressure-overloaded hypertrophied rat left ventricles. Left ventricular pressure overload was induced by partial ligation of the abdominal aorta 6-8 wk before study. Age- and weight-matched normal rats served as controls. Pressure over-load increased the left ventricular weight-to-body weight ratio by 51%. There were no differences in the Ca2+-tension relationship between normal and hypertrophied preparations at Ca2+ concentrations of 10(-7) to 10(-4) M. Caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from the maximally Ca2+ -loaded SR was also not different between the two groups at caffeine concentrations of 0.5-30 mM. However, when the relative amount of Ca2+ accumulated in the SR with 10(-6), 3 x 10(-6), or 10(-5) M Ca2+ loading solutions for various loading periods was estimated by the area under the 25 mM caffeine-induced contraction, the accumulation of Ca2+ was significantly slower in hypertrophied fibers than in normal fibers. We conclude that depressed Ca2+ accumulation by the SR plays a role in modulation of contractile performance in this model of chronic pressure overload in rats.
Short article: Gastrointestinal bleeding in multiorgan failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) may present as complication of multiorgan failure (MOF). The study aims to analyze the reasons for the limited success of hemostasis of GIB in MOF. METHODS Using a Markov process, GIB is modeled as one of several complications associated with multiorgan breakdown to study how the reversal of GIB affects clinical outcome. RESULTS Although endoscopic hemostasis can delay mortality in patients with severe systemic disease, its overall influence on survival is relatively small. In patients with a time-limited transition through an acute phase of increased mortality risk secondary to MOF, endoscopic hemostasis may substantially prolong survival in absolute terms. However, its relative contribution to overall survival still remains relatively small even in the scenario of transient risk only. The benefit of endoscopy is largest, if GIB is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in comparison with all other disease complications. CONCLUSION Because disease outcome in MOF is ultimately determined by other complications than GIB alone, the influence of endoscopic hemostasis on patient survival often remains disappointingly small.
Drug Resistant and Persistent Tuberculosis: Mechanisms and Drug Development

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a particularly successful pathogen that latently infects about one third of world population (about two billion people). Despite the availability of chemotherapy and BCG vaccine, tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of infectious morbidity and mortality, causing about nine million new cases and nearly 1.5–2 million deaths annually [142]. The increasing emergence of drug-resistant TB, especially multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) (resistant to at least isoniazid [INH] and rifampin [RIF]) and more recently extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), has caused a great deal of concern. XDR-TB is defined as MDR-TB plus additional resistance to two major second-line drugs fluoroquinolones and one of the three injectables (capreomycin, kanamycin, and amikacin) [141]. The recent outbreak of XDR-TB in South Africa where 52 of 53 HIV-positive individuals infected with XDR-TB died in an average of 16 days is particularly alarming [44]. There are about 500,000 new cases of MDR-TB and 40,000 XDR-TB cases a year [141]. The TB situation is further complicated by the spread of HIV pandemic worldwide, which weakens the host immune system and allows latent TB to reactivate or makes the person more susceptible to reinfection with drug susceptible and even drug-resistant strains [123]. It is estimated that of about 40 million people infected with HIV, one third are also co-infected with the tubercle bacillus. These individuals are 20–30 times more likely to develop TB and have five times higher mortality than those without HIV [95]. The current TB control regimen is seriously undermined by MDR/XDR-TB and HIV infection, which is a lethal combination and presents significant challenges for effective TB control.
More Praise for Moore's Proof

Publisher Summary This chapter analyses G. E. Moore's philosophy “Proof of an External World.” Moore claimed that he could prove that two human hands exist by raising his hands saying, “Here is one hand, and here is another.” He had earlier argued that hands, if there are such, are “things outside of us,” and hence that in proving that there are hands he will have ipso facto proved that there exist external objects. It is rather obscure just what this means or what is wrong with it. It will not do to say that he is merely “assuming what he is trying to prove,” for as Moore tightly notes, his premise does not simply state that there are external objects but rather provides some specific examples. Perhaps in some sense, his conclusion contains information already contained in the premise—it is after all a valid argument—but this can hardly be one of its flaws. Any valid argument for the existence of external objects is such that an external world skeptic cannot coherently believe the conjunction of the premises. It is a contingent psychological matter that some arguments are more obviously valid than others, and hence that one is more likely to find skeptics believing the premises of some arguments than others.
Psychological profiling as an investigative tool for digital forensics

Abstract Digital forensics has fallen victim to the fact that the traditional approach has focused mainly on the collection of evidence and very little time has been spent on how to effectively and efficiently examine, analyze, and arrive at a decision based on the evidence identified. Behavioral analysis has been used to support traditional criminal investigations very successfully. This chapter looks at how behavioral analysis can be modified to be used in the context of cyber criminal investigations. The weaknesses of the traditional digital forensics model are discussed and then the behavioral analysis model is presented, along with its uses and limitations. Three case studies are presented that illustrate how behavioral analysis assists in the cyber criminal investigative process.
An Exploration of Personal Assumptions About Self-Construction and Self-Discovery

ABSTRACTThe present research explored the role personal assumptions about self-construction and self-discovery play in how meaningful and purposive people perceive their identity commitments and lives to be. In two studies, endorsement of self-constructivist assumptions was positively associated with life meaning, purposive identity commitments, and self-regulation. In Study 1, self-discovery assumptions were positively correlated with purposive identity commitments and intuitive processing, but only after the effects associated with self-constructive assumptions were controlled. These findings, however, were not replicated in Study 2. The results are discussed in terms of the role that personal assumptions and self-theories may play in identity formation. The need to examine other self-assumptions that people may hold is considered.
Use of Nested and Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Ceratocystis fagacearum in the Sapwood of Diseased Oak Species in Minnesota

Oak wilt caused by Ceratocystis fagacearum is a significant disease of Quercus spp. in the eastern United States. Early and accurate detection of the pathogen is particularly important when disease control is planned. Nested and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods utilizing fungal DNA extracted from sapwood drill shavings of red, bur, and white oak at different stages of disease development were compared with culture-based detection from sapwood. The pathogen was detected in all (n = 3) actively wilting branches of each of nine red oak trees using all three methods. The lowest detection rate (33% of assayed branches; 6 of 8 trees) for actively wilting branches was found for white oak using isolation while nested PCR had a branch detection rate of 100% (8 of 8 trees) and real-time PCR of 87% (8 of 8 trees) for the same samples. For both bur and white oak, the pathogen was not detected by isolation in branches over 1 year after their death but was detected using both PCR methods. Only the PCR ...
Development of a supplementary driver education tool for teenage drivers on rural roads

Abstract Introduction: Teenagers are at greater risk than any other drivers on the highway system in the United States, especially in states like Texas with large rural road networks. Rural roads present many unique safety concerns that are traditionally unexplored in standard driver education curricula. In fact, many studies have actually indicated that driver education is very limited in use and efficacy. However, national goals for driver education envision a more comprehensive continuing education process, and computer-based education tools may be one supplementary method to address gaps in young driver training. Methods: The research team developed a flash-based computer education tool covering topics relating to driver behavior and rural roads and tested the efficacy of this tool in two rural-serving high schools in West Texas by comparing the results of pre- and post-intervention surveys using linear regression, analysis of variance, and logistic regression. Results: The results were promising, with students who used the intervention scoring higher on both a driver behavior scale and rural safety scale. All models indicated that students who took the intervention, even without being previously licensed, demonstrated greater knowledge and awareness. Conclusions: The models demonstrated the viability of this type of intervention tool for inclusion in a phased driver education program and for addressing the lack of rural road safety knowledge. Practical applications: The computer-based-training program developed in this project supports the potential efficacy of supplemental pre-licensure computer-based education tools for improving teen driver knowledge and safety awareness and fills a gap for rural road safety education.
Female gonadal shielding with automatic exposure control increases radiation risks

Gonadal shielding remains common, but current estimates of gonadal radiation risk are lower than estimated risks to colon and stomach. A female gonadal shield may attenuate active automatic exposure control (AEC) sensors, resulting in increased dose to colon and stomach as well as to ovaries outside the shielded area. We assess changes in dose–area product (DAP) and absorbed organ dose when female gonadal shielding is used with AEC for pelvis radiography. We imaged adult and 5-year-old equivalent dosimetry phantoms using pelvis radiograph technique with AEC in the presence and absence of a female gonadal shield. We recorded DAP and mAs and measured organ absorbed dose at six internal sites using film dosimetry. Female gonadal shielding with AEC increased DAP 63% for the 5-year-old phantom and 147% for the adult phantom. Absorbed organ dose at unshielded locations of colon, stomach and ovaries increased 21–51% in the 5-year-old phantom and 17–100% in the adult phantom. Absorbed organ dose sampled under the shield decreased 67% in the 5-year-old phantom and 16% in the adult phantom. Female gonadal shielding combined with AEC during pelvic radiography increases absorbed dose to organs with greater radiation sensitivity and to unshielded ovaries. Difficulty in proper use of gonadal shields has been well described, and use of female gonadal shielding may be inadvisable given the risks of increasing radiation.
Biomedical informatics applications for precision management of neurodegenerative diseases

Modern medicine is in the midst of a revolution driven by "big data," rapidly advancing computing power, and broader integration of technology into healthcare. Highly detailed and individualized profiles of both health and disease states are now possible, including biomarkers, genomic profiles, cognitive and behavioral phenotypes, high-frequency assessments, and medical imaging. Although these data are incredibly complex, they can potentially be used to understand multi-determinant causal relationships, elucidate modifiable factors, and ultimately customize treatments based on individual parameters. Especially for neurodegenerative diseases, where an effective therapeutic agent has yet to be discovered, there remains a critical need for an interdisciplinary perspective on data and information management due to the number of unanswered questions. Biomedical informatics is a multidisciplinary field that falls at the intersection of information technology, computer and data science, engineering, and healthcare that will be instrumental for uncovering novel insights into neurodegenerative disease research, including both causal relationships and therapeutic targets and maximizing the utility of both clinical and research data. The present study aims to provide a brief overview of biomedical informatics and how clinical data applications such as clinical decision support tools can be developed to derive new knowledge from the wealth of available data to advance clinical care and scientific research of neurodegenerative diseases in the era of precision medicine.
Adaptable fault identification for smart buildings

Malfunctioning HVAC equipment in commercial buildings wastes between 15% and 30% of energy. Many diagnosis approaches tackle this problem, but they either suffer from a lack of detailed fault information or a lack of adaptability to different buildings and equipment. Clearly, especially in the light of an ever increasing amount of sensor data that is available in heavily metered smart buildings, easily adaptable self learning in-depth diagnosis approaches are needed. This paper addresses the challenges of developing such approaches and describes the contribution artificial intelligence techniques like transfer learning, ontologies, knowledge representation or diagnosis can make in overcoming these challenges.
Geographic Object-based Image Change Analysis

Remote sensing is an effective tool for mapping earth surface objects and phenomena, and provides the sole means for comprehensive monitoring of land surface changes. Normally captured in an image form by sensors mounted on aircraft or satellites, remotely sensed data are spatially contiguous and temporally periodic measurements of the reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation (EMR) leaving the earth’s surface. In order to create or update maps of earth surface objects or phenomena, these image data must be visually interpreted by humans and/or processed by computer routines. For the past 30 years, a major emphasis has been placed on computer-assisted approaches to mapping and monitoring earth surface objects and phenomena, to achieve greater efficiency and objectivity, which are inherent to such approaches.
Cancer Caregiving: Policy and Advocacy

In almost every way, cancer care in the United States today reflects brilliant advances in research, education, and training. Patients receive sophisticated treatments that have become so routine family members can provide them at home. When they want to be involved in treatment decisions, these same patients and families can turn to the Internet and learn about clinical trials and recommendations from the best medical facilities throughout the world. As patients receive chemotherapy and other treatments at home, medical professionals are turning over care to families and other nonprofessional caregivers. However, while cancer diagnosis and treatment explode with promise for the future, policies that support families providing care lag far behind.
Discrimination of brands of gasoline by using DART-MS and chemometrics

Abstract In this study, Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) was used to analyze four different brands of gasoline collected from five local fuel service stations. Chemometric methods including analysis of variance-principal component analysis (ANOVA-PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to classify the gasoline samples based on brand and identify characteristic features for gasoline discrimination. To test the robustness of this method, the gasoline samples were collected once per week for eight weeks and they were analyzed by DART-MS within 24 h of collection and again two weeks after the last sample collection. Both full DART-MS spectra data and selected ion spectra data were used to construct PLS-DA models and the average classification rates of both models were 99.9 ± 0.1% for 100 independent evaluations with bootstrapped Latin partitions and were 100% for a new validation set collected two weeks later with no parametric changes. The major characteristic features corresponded to polymeric compounds in fuel additives which supported our hypothesis that proprietary additives blended in gasoline should be the marker components to distinguish gasoline with different brands. The weathered gasoline samples at different extents, i.e. 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90%, were studied and compared with un-weathered samples. The polymeric compound patterns in gasoline were found to be brand dependent and weathering extent dependent and the patterns for the weathered gasoline with different brands were still significantly different. DART-MS is demonstrated as a promising tool for the discrimination of brands of gasoline.
On the Understated and Avant-Garde Language Teaching Methods and Theories

Language teachers have always been concerned about the paucity of efficient methods of language instruction in education systems. Consequently, the language teaching pendulum is swinging from methods to post-method era. Post-method is not a new language approach; rather, it is a theory pursuing reforms in language teaching praxis. The aim of the present paper is twofold: to present some of the emerging language teaching methods and techniques plus reviewing some of the less attended language teaching approaches and theories. The paper is drawn to a close by the discussion of Principled Eclecticism, which is considered to be at the heart of Post-methods debate.
Secure Industrial Internet of Things Critical Infrastructure Node Design

Integration of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) into critical infrastructures (CIs) is aiming to improve efficiency in many crucial areas. The positive benefits of IIoT are increasing the demand for devices, but without proper security design foundations, CIs may be open to many different attack vectors. This lack of IIoT device security standards is a major concern. Due to the nature of these infrastructures and impact of compromises, CI device security is an utmost concern and must be focused on during all phases of development and manufacturing as opposed to the addition of security after functional design as seen with many current Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Many of these sensors and devices have limited resources, such as low power consumption, reduced memory storage, and reduced fixed-point processing capabilities. Traditional security protocols and solutions are often not practical on these restrained devices, and there are no current standards for characterizing device security. This paper presents a candidate security level-based architecture for low power IoT-CI devices implementing modular, low power, security primitives that are shown through simulation models and embedded software implementation to create a robustly layered defense-in-depth IoT architecture. This candidate architecture will help provide a foundation for future CI-IoT device security standardization.
Analysis of UNOS Database: Survival Outcome in Elderly Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose The number of elderly patients requiring a lung transplantation (LTx) continues to grow. However, there are concerns that the age distribution of LTx recipients may be unbalanced, at a detriment to elderly patients. In order to assess the relationship between LTx and recipient age, we investigated the survival outcomes of elderly primary single and double LTx patients through analysis of the UNOS database. Methods We analyzed the UNOS database (1987-2014), investigating single and double LTx recipients based on three separate age groups (≤69, 70-74, and ≥75 years old). Using variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, length of stay (LOS), ECMO, inhaled NO usage, blood group, and procedure type, the three groups were compared for any significance (p=0.05). Survival outcomes were compared between the groups (STATA Inc.) and data were presented as mean±standard deviation. Results During 1987 to 2014, 27,980 patients received LTx (n= 16,015 double LTx, and n=11,888 single LTx). Out of total LTx patients, 27,076 patients were ≤69, 729 patients were 70-74, and 98 patients were ≥75 years old. Demographic data showed 54% male, 86% white, 7% black, 5% Latino, and 2% other. Recipient mean age was 55±15 years, with BMI- 24±4 kg/m2, median LOS was 15 days, and blood groups: O-45%, A-40%, B-11%, AB-4%. UNOS showed lower data on ECMO-1% and inhaled NO-0.21% usage. Log-rank test for equality of survival demonstrated significance based on age for patients who received single and double LTx (p Conclusion Survival outcome of single LTx patients did not show any significant statistical difference when performed in elderly patients above 70 years of age. When double LTx were performed, younger patients below 69 years of age seemed to do better in survival compared to elderly patients above 70 years of age. The beneficial survival outcome for single LTx patients extends to an older age than double LTx patients.
Survival in low-grade and high-grade sinonasal adenocarcinoma: A national cancer database analysis.

Objectives/hypothesis The purpose of this study was to investigate survival differences between low-grade and high-grade sinonasal adenocarcinoma (SNAC) by examining demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment modalities. Study design Retrospective database analysis. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with SNAC between 2004 and 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for all cases of SNAC. Subsequent analysis focused on low-grade (grade 1 and grade 2) and high-grade (grade 3 and grade 4) SNAC. Results A total of 1,288 patients with SNAC were included in the main cohort and divided into low grade (n = 601) and high grade (n = 370). The 5-year overall survival for all patients, low-grade, and high-grade was 54%, 64%, and 38%, respectively. Prognostic factors associated with decreased survival for the main cohort include advanced age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.06), Charlson-Deyo score (HR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.05-1.78), grade 2 (HR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.26-3.86], grade 3 (HR: 3.67; 95% CI: 2.09-6.45), and grade 4 (HR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.38-7.91). Radiotherapy was associated with improved overall survival for high-grade SNAC (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.24-0.70) but not for low-grade SNAC (HR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.59-1.85). Conclusions This investigation is the largest to date analyzing the association of treatment modalities with overall survival in SNAC. Surgery remains paramount to treatment, with radiotherapy offering additional survival benefit for high-grade SNAC. Administration of chemotherapy was not associated with improved survival. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 130:E1-E10, 2020.
Molecular Design of a New Diboronic Acid for the Electrohydrodynamic Monitoring of Glucose.

A new dicationic diboronic acid structure, DBA2+, was designed to exhibit good affinity (Kd ≈1 mm) and selectivity toward glucose. Binding of DBA2+ to glucose changes the pKa of DBA2+ from 9.4 to 6.3, enabling opportunities for detection of glucose at physiological pH. Proton release from DBA2+ is firmly related to glucose concentrations within the physiologically relevant range (0-30 mm), as verified by conductimetric monitoring. Negligible interference from other sugars (for example, maltose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, and galactose) was observed. These results demonstrate the potential of DBA2+ for selective, quantitative glucose sensing. The nonenzymatic strategy based on electrohydrodynamic effects may enable the development of stable, accurate, and continuous glucose monitoring platforms.
Robotic assistance in ventral hernia repair may decrease the incidence of hernia recurrence

Background: Since the advent of laparoscopic surgery, many studies have shown the advantages of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery for ventral hernia repair (VHR). As robotic surgery is gaining popularity, we sought to compare the outcomes of this newer robotic-assisted technique to the outcomes of established open and laparoscopic techniques to assess for any additional benefit. Methods: A meta-analysis research design was employed. Multiple databases were queried for publications over the past 10 years and 23 articles were selected based on pre-determined selection criteria. Data were extracted and the arm-based network meta-analysis method was utilised to examine the effect difference for the three arms of our study: Open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted VHR. Results: As expected, laparoscopy had an advantage over open VHR in terms of infection rates. This advantage was also observed in the robotic group over the open group; however, there was no statistical difference between the laparoscopic and robotic groups when infection rates were compared head-to-head. The robotic group had a significant advantage over both the open and more importantly, the laparoscopic groups in recurrence rates. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that robotic surgery maintains some of the advantages of laparoscopic surgery and may also provide the additional advantage of recurrence rate reduction. This may be explained by the ability to perform a more complex hernia repair with robotic assistance secondary to the ease of closure of the fascial defect. More research is needed to validate this finding.
The Convergence of Information and Operational Technology is Powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Digital Transformation is an Imperative

Mixed reality, Artificial intelligence and Quantum Compute are disruptive technologies that are lighting up new capabilities and enabling new manufacturing business models around the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge. The notion of an application or experience is becoming more distributed across devices. No application or experience will be a single device experience; every experience is going to be multi-device and is going to be multi-sense. Every one of these experiences is going to be deeply infused with AI. AI is going to be everywhere: in our networks, in our datacenters, in our devices and in every application. As we have this more complex AI-infused distributed fabric, we need new breakthroughs to manage our complex issues. This is where an event-driven, serverless compute processing will be very important. And this will be distributed from cloud to edge. Quantum computing takes a giant leap forward from today's technology-one that will forever alter our economic, industrial, academic, and societal landscape. In just hours, a quantum computer can solve complex problems that would otherwise take billions of years for classical computing to solve. This has massive implications for research in energy, environmental systems, smart materials, and more. Digital technologies are transforming business as we see it today.
“Sowing the Story”: Narrative Identity and Emerging Adult Formation:

Looking at the challenges of emerging adult spiritual formation, it appears that faith is often disconnected from the process of identity formation taking place at this time of life. In order to fo...
Autecology of Northwest Atlantic fucoid algae

Abstract The autecology of several Northwest Atlantic fucoid algae is described, including their general reproductive and growth patterns, the presence of unique dwarf embedded (limicolous) and brackish waters populations, the impacts of water motion (waves and currents), ice damage, and the functional role of fucoid algae in estuarine habitats.
Hybrid Surface Electric Field Volume Magnetic Field Integral Equations for Electromagnetic Analysis of Heterogeneous Dielectric Bodies With Embedded Electrically Conducting Structures

In this article, hybrid surface electric field volume magnetic field integral equations (SEVMIE) for electromagnetic analysis of heterogeneous dielectric bodies with embedded perfect electrical conductor (PEC) structures are presented. These are then solved using a quasi-exact vector moment method employing mixed order edge-based divergence conforming basis functions to expand the current on the PEC surface and node-based linear Lagrangian basis functions to expand the magnetic field within the dielectric region. For an incident plane wave scattered by the combined structure, this procedure results in a linear matrix equation for the surface currents and the volume magnetic fields. The method is demonstrated for three spherical test cases and the results compared to those obtained by a semi-analytic Mie series expansion. The performance is compared to that of the well-known volume surface integral equation (VSIE) method and found to provide more accurate results with approximately one-third the number of degrees of freedom. The method is then demonstrated on the scattering cross section calculation of a heterogeneous composite structure. This new method enables the efficient and accurate analysis of composite structures with large dielectric regions.
A New Dromaeosaurid from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan Locality of Mongolia

A new dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Shri devi, from the Late Cretaceous deposit of the Barun Goyot Formation at Khulsan, Mongolia, is described here. The Barun Goyot Formation (herein referred to as the Barun Goyot) is stratigraphically intermediate between the overlying Nemegt Formation and the underlying Djadokhta Formation, where much of the dromaeosaurid diversity has been reported to date. Sediments of the Barun Goyot are typically considered Upper Campanian in age. Although dromaeosaurid remains have been noted to occur in the Barun Goyot for decades, descriptive and taxonomic work has never been completed for the material. The holotype specimen (IGM 100/980) consists of a partially articulated individual preserving the right hind limb; left tibiotarsus; pelvis; and adjacent cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae. IGM 100/980 is referable to a clade with Velociraptor based on the presence of a distinct ambiens tubercle located proximally on the anterior face of the pubis, a well-developed anterior tuberosity proximally located on the ischium, and a rounded longitudinal ischial ridge. It is distinguishable from V. mongoliensis based on a weak fourth trochanter (shared with all other dromaeosaurids) and deep anterior pedicular fossae in the cervical vertebrae; epipophyses in the last four cervicals are not raised but are instead represented by rugose circular scars. A suite of axial and appendicular characters are diagnostic for the new species. New discoveries including Shri devi allow for an improved understanding of dromaeosaurid anatomy, as well as the temporal and regional variation of the dromaeosaurid fauna of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, China), during the Late Cretaceous.
Delineation of epileptogenic zones with high frequency magnetic source imaging based on kurtosis and skewness.

Abstract Background Neuromagnetic high frequency brain signals (HFBS, > 80 Hz) are a new biomarker for localization of epileptogenic zones (EZs) for pediatric epilepsy. Methods Twenty three children with drug-resistant epilepsy and age/sex matched healthy controls were studied with magnetoencephalography (MEG). Epileptic HFBS in 80−250 Hz and 250−600 Hz were quantitatively determined by comparing with normative controls in terms of kurtosis and skewness. Magnetic sources of epileptic HFBS were localized and then compared to clinical EZs determined by invasive recordings and surgical outcomes. Results Kurtosis and skewness of HFBS were significantly elevated in epilepsy patients compared to healthy controls (p Conclusions The results indicate, for the first time, that epileptic HFBS can be noninvasively quantified by measuring kurtosis and skewness in MEG data. Magnetic source imaging based on kurtosis and skewness can accurately localize EZs. Significance Source imaging of kurtosis and skewness of MEG HFBS provides a novel way for preoperative localization of EZs for epilepsy surgery.
Daily temperature cycles promote alternative splicing of RNAs encoding SR45a, a splicing regulator in maize.

Elevated temperatures enhance alternative RNA splicing in maize (Zea mays) with the potential to expand the repertoire of plant responses to heat stress. Alternative RNA splicing generates multiple RNA isoforms for many maize genes, and here we observed changes in the pattern of RNA isoforms with temperature changes. Increases in maximum daily temperature elevated the frequency of the major modes of alternative splices, in particular retained introns and skipped exons. The genes most frequently targeted by increased alternative splicing with temperature encode factors involved in RNA processing and plant development. Genes encoding regulators of alternative RNA splicing were themselves among the principal alternative splicing targets in maize. Under controlled environmental conditions, daily changes in temperature comparable to field conditions altered the abundance of different RNA isoforms, including the RNAs encoding the splicing regulator SR45a, a member of the SR45 gene family. We established an "in protoplast" RNA splicing assay to show that during the afternoon on simulated hot summer days, SR45a RNA isoforms were produced with the potential to encode proteins efficient in splicing model substrates. With the RNA splicing assay, we also defined the exonic splicing enhancers that the splicing-efficient SR45a forms utilize to aid in the splicing of model substrates. Hence, with rising temperatures on hot summer days, SR45a RNA isoforms in maize are produced with the capability to encode proteins with greater RNA splicing potential.
IVIG and Small Fiber Neuropathy: The Ongoing Search for Evidence.

Small fiber neuropathy is a disorder of the thinly myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers most commonly presenting in a length-dependent form, but non–length-dependent neuropathies are seen in a small subset of patients.1 As in many other neuropathies, many underlying diseases may cause damage to the small nerve fibers, including diabetes, sarcoid, and Sjogren syndrome. There are also rare genetic forms such as Fabry disease and transthyretin amyloidosis. Small fiber neuropathies are characterized by is disruption to pain, thermal sensitivity, and autonomic nerve fibers.1 Clinically, neuropathic pain is the most common complaint.
Nursing Care Processes

Care processes are the primary mechanisms through which healthcare providers influence health outcomes for clients and families. Consequently, care processes play a central role in quality assessment and performance improvement initiatives, especially nursing care processes. Nurses engage in care processes to diagnose and treat client responses to health problems and engage in interdisciplinary care interventions prescribed by other disciplines. Moreover, nurses are primarily responsible for care coordination activities within and across healthcare teams. Thus, there are few care elements that do not pass through nurses’ hands, and few client outcomes that are not influenced by nursing care processes. Despite the relevance of nursing care processes to quality assessment and performance improvement initiatives, few robust nursing process quality indicators are available. In this chapter, the complex nature of nursing processes known as nursing care interventions in the Quality Health Outcomes Model (QHOM) is examined. Specifically, nursing interventions at the client and the system level are addressed, and two specific nursing interventions, nurse surveillance and symptom management, are examined as exemplars.
Reducing Implicit Gender Bias Using a Virtual Workplace Environment

Implicit gender bias has costly and complex consequences for women in the workplace. We present an online desktop virtual environment that follows the story of a male or female self-avatar from the first-person perspective, who either experiences a positive or negative workplace scenario. Participants who experienced negative workplace experiences with a female self-avatar had significantly decreased levels of implicit gender bias compared to those who had a male self-avatar with evidence of perspective taking. Experiences of a positive workplace scenario showed no significant decreases in implicit gender bias regardless of self-avatar gender. We discuss the implications of these findings and make recommendations for virtual environment technologies and scenarios with respect to the reduction of implicit biases.
3D tracking for borescope inspections

Service providers perform regular borescope inspection of field products to ensure system performance and prevent accidents. A full borescope inspection for large equipment usually takes several days to cover every region of interest in the turbine. One of the challenges that causes this long inspection time is the difficulty in navigating the borescope tip to some position of interest and aiming the view of the borescope in given direction. The image from the borescope tip is the only information available to the operator to judge the position of tip. In some cases, the operator can get lost due to the limited field-of-view and illumination provided by the borescope. It is very hard to tell the borescope tip position from one borescope image. This increases the difficulty of correlating the inspection results obtained at different times that might be used to predict potential machinery failure. This paper discusses various methods that have been investigated for 3D borescope tracking and presents a new approach using a shape sensor integrated in the borescope tube used with image based location determination to determine the position of the borescope tip during inspections. The shape sensor provides a real time estimate of the borescope tip position and orientation then the image based analysis uses the part CAD model to fine tune this position information. The tracking result can provide better information of the tip position for the operator. This enhanced position information can be used to better monitor defect changes over time by comparing the inspection result at different times in the parts lifetime.
Fathers matter: The role of father parenting in preschoolers’ executive function development

Although previous work has shown that mothers' parenting influences the development of child executive function (EF; important self-control skills developed during the preschool years), the role of fathers' parenting has not been thoroughly investigated. We observed fathers' autonomy support and control in dyadic play with their 3-year-old children (N pairs=110) and measured father and child EF independently with laboratory tasks. We found that fathers' controlling parenting was significantly inversely related to the child EF composite, above and beyond family income and child verbal ability. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fathers are important for the development of EF in their children and suggest that fathers should be included in both research and parenting interventions.
Solution synthesis and thermal characterization of lead iv polyesters

Polyesters of the below form are prepared by the solution method. Synthesis and isolation procedures are presented and discussed. The reaction is rapid, occurring in generally less than 30s. Thermal properties of the polyesters were studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Durch Losungskondensation wurden Polyester der folgenden Struktur hergestellt: Verschiedene Methoden der Isolierung und Synthese werden angegeben und diskutiert. Die Reaktion verlauft schnell, gewohnlich in weniger als 30s. Die thermischen Eigenschaften der Polyester wurden durch Differentialthermoanalyse und durch die thermogravimetrische Analyse untersucht.