cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Antibiotic Bonding to CAPD Catheters

The techniques of non-covalently bonding anionic antibiotics using cationic surfactants were applied to the problem of CAPD catheter infection. Pretreatment of silicone elastomer catheter segments with 5% tridodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDMAC) increased the bonding of 14 C-penicillin from 0.09 µg/cm to 181 µg/cm. Elution rates of bound ligands in dialysis solution were studied. after 1 week, 50% of the TDMAC remained bound. Of the bound penicillin, 85% was lost in the first few hours, but 6 µg/cm remained bound after 4 days in dialysis solution.
Cognitive Restructuring: Cognitive Therapy for Catastrophic Sleep Beliefs

Publisher Summary There is no doubt that theorists and therapists differ about the role of cognition as a precipitating and/or perpetuating factor for chronic insomnia. Some suggest that cognitive factors are critical (e.g., serve to trigger abnormal attentional processes or counterproductive effort behaviors). Others argue that such factors serve to exacerbate insomnia, but are not primary (e.g., patients with chronic insomnia are not awake because they are worrying, but instead are worrying because they are awake). Still others may take the position that cognitive factors are simply epiphenomenon (e.g., insomnia occurs in association with behavioral factors and conditioning, period). This form of therapy is likely to be useful with patients who exhibit an excessive focus on thoughts/beliefs pertaining to the potential catastrophic consequences of sleep continuity disturbance and/or sleep loss.
Electromagnetic disruption effects in the ARIES-RS tokamak design

A model of the induced currents and resultant electromagnetic forces and stresses during a disruption event in the ARIES-RS tokamak design is presented. Like many other power reactor concepts, the ARIES-RS has a modular design consisting of toroidally segmented internal structures to limit disruption induced currents and facilitate maintenance. During a disruption, currents driven in these structures cross the large toroidal magnetic field producing substantial electromagnetic forces. To consider these effects, a transient three-dimensional electromagnetic finite element model of the ARIES-RS device was created, implemented by the commercial code ANSYS. The same code was used for dynamic structural analysis. The model includes all major components (the first wall, blankets, divertor plates, stabilizing shells, vacuum vessel, shields) electromagnetically coupled together. The magnets are assumed to remain energized during the disruption. The plasma current decay is prescribed, not coupled with the current in the structure. Halo currents and and vertical displacement events, which may produce larger forces than found in this study, are not considered. The results illuminate important design tradeoffs. For a centered fast plasma current quench, the outboard first wall/blanket modules were found to experience the most severe loading. Current in the sidewalls generate forces that produce large torques on these structures. Supports are needed to react these loads; however, thermal stress considerations drive designs toward a first wall with a compliant support system. Thus, supports needed to reinforce against disruption loads can lower the maximum permissible heat flux on the first wall. Further, electromagnetic pressure on the first wall requires a factor of two reduction in the coolant channel width in some regions, resulting in higher pumping power. Extension of the results to other modular tokamak designs is discussed.
Intensive Mothering on the Homefront: An Analysis of Army Mothers

ABSTRACTThis research includes interviews with 10 U.S. Army wives and mothers to examine mothering within the military context. Findings reveal what I label “military motherwork,” a mothering style similar to civilian mothering described in the marriage and family literature. Similar to civilian mothers, they feel more responsible for maintaining the household and taking care of their needs, both physically and emotionally, compared to their husbands. They also often engage in what Sharon Hays (1996) described as intensive mothering, in which parents use the majority of their resources and focus much of their time to improve their children’s lives. However, military motherwork is also unique in that mothers raise their children within the military institution and must adapt to deployment and all of the risks associated with combat. Intensive mothering within the civilian motherhood literature remains relevant to military mothers, as evidenced in interviews, but also modified to suit military lifestyles.
Morphologic Features of Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Surrogate of Capsular Contracture in Breast Cancer Patients With Implant-based Reconstructions

Purpose Capsular contracture (CC) is a serious complication in patients receiving implant-based reconstruction for breast cancer. Currently, no objective methods are available for assessing CC. The goal of the present study was to identify image-based surrogates of CC using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods and Materials We analyzed a retrospective data set of 50 patients who had undergone both a diagnostic MRI scan and a plastic surgeon's evaluation of the CC score (Baker's score) within a 6-month period after mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. The MRI scans were assessed for morphologic shape features of the implant and histogram features of the pectoralis muscle. The shape features, such as roundness, eccentricity, solidity, extent, and ratio length for the implant, were compared with the Baker score. For the pectoralis muscle, the muscle width and median, skewness, and kurtosis of the intensity were compared with the Baker score. Univariate analysis (UVA) using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test and multivariate analysis with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was performed to determine significant differences in these features between the patient groups categorized according to their Baker's scores. Results UVA showed statistically significant differences between grade 1 and grade ≥2 for morphologic shape features and histogram features, except for volume and skewness. Only eccentricity, ratio length, and volume were borderline significant in differentiating grade ≤2 and grade ≥3. Features with P Conclusions The morphologic shape features described on MR images were associated with the severity of CC. MRI has the potential to further improve the diagnostic ability of the Baker score in breast cancer patients who undergo implant reconstruction.
Does the probability of DWI arrest fall following participation in DWI and hybrid drug treatment court programs

Using North Carolina administrative data, this study examined recidivism following participation in specialty hybrid drug and driving while intoxicated (DWI) court programs. Three court program participation levels were considered-being referred to, enrolling in, and completing a specialty court program. Measures of DWI recidivism were: arrest and total number of arrests for DWI, and being convicted of DWI during follow-up periods of two and, alternatively, four years. Propensity score matching was used to obtain comparable control groups. Using a four-year follow-up, persons convicted of a DWI who completed a specialty court program were associated with a greater reduction in DWI re-arrests and re-convictions than did matched individuals who were never referred to a specialty court program. DWI courts were more effective in reducing re-arrests than hybrid drug courts were. Although promising from the vantage point of participants, few persons convicted of a DWI were referred to either court type, thus limiting this strategy's potential effectiveness in reducing DWI.
Current status of the digital micromirror device (DMD) for projection television applications

This paper describes recent advances in digital micromirror device (DMD) technology for projection television (PTV) applications, including a new device called the hidden hinge DMD with improved optical efficiency and contrast ratio. The DMD is a micromechanical, reflective spatial light modulator monolithically fabricated over a conventional CMOS SRAM address circuit. A 768/spl times/576 pixel array DMD (442,368 mirrors) has been developed for and demonstrated in one-DMD and three-DMD PTV systems having diagonals ranging in size from 42 inches to 13 feet. >
The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Future Food Systems

First paragraph: The contributors in the 14 chapters of Food Systems Failure: The Global Food Crisis and the Future of Agriculture, through different theoretical perspectives, view the global economic and food crisis of 2008 as a reflection of pervasive structural inequalities present in food systems, rather than as a one-off event or crisis. The text is a product of a regional conference focused on the global food crisis and was one of a series of conferences held to address what were perceived as pressing problems in food systems at a variety of scales. Organizationally, the text maintains internal coherence through introductory and concluding chapters by the editors, the use of an index, and the efforts of the various contributors as they reference one another's chapters. Taken as whole, Food Systems Failure provides fertile ground for discussions in where we have been in conceptualizing food systems and where we might be going, including the power of envisioning "utopic possibilities" in the face of neoliberal "realities."...
Scattering centers extraction using EWT for target identification

Scattering centers for targets whose radar return is recorded using a stepped frequency system are extracted using the Empirical Wavelet Transform (EWT) and then used for target identification. The approach is first tested using synthetic target models, then applied to real radar backscatter of commercial aircraft models recorded in upper resonance region.
Identification, validation, and targeting of the mutant p53-PARP-MCM chromatin axis in triple negative breast cancer

Over 80% of triple negative breast cancers express mutant p53. Mutant p53 often gains oncogenic function suggesting that triple negative breast cancers may be driven by p53 protein type. To determine the chromatin targets of this gain-of-function mutant p53 we used inducible knockdown of endogenous gain-of-function mtp53 in MDA-MB-468 cells in conjunction with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture and subcellular fractionation. We sequenced over 70,000 total peptides for each corresponding reciprocal data set and were able to identify 3010 unique cytoplasmic fraction proteins and 3403 unique chromatin fraction proteins. The present proteomics experiment corroborated our previous experiment-based results that poly ADP-ribose polymerase has a positive association with mutant p53 on the chromatin. Here, for the first time we report that the heterohexomeric minichromosome maintenance complex that participates in DNA replication initiation ranked as a high mutant p53-chromatin associated pathway. Enrichment analysis identified the minichromosome maintenance members 2–7. To validate this mutant p53- poly ADP-ribose polymerase-minichromosome maintenance functional axis, we experimentally depleted R273H mutant p53 and found a large reduction of the amount of minichromosome maintenance complex proteins on the chromatin. Furthermore a mutant p53-minichromosome maintenance 2 direct interaction was detected. Overexpressed mutant p53, but not wild type p53, showed a protein-protein interaction with minichromosome maintenance 2 and minichromosome maintenance 4. To target the mutant p53- poly ADP-ribose polymerase-minichromosome maintenance axis we treated cells with the poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor talazoparib and the alkylating agent temozolomide and detected synergistic activation of apoptosis only in the presence of mutant p53. Furthermore when minichromosome maintenance 2–7 activity was inhibited the synergistic activation of apoptosis was blocked. This mutant p53- poly ADP-ribose polymerase -minichromosome maintenance axis may be useful for theranostics. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene could offer a predictive biomarker of response to certain drugs in triple-negative breast cancer. Jill Bargonetti from Hunter College in New York, USA, and colleagues showed that mutant p53, which is expressed in more than 80% of patients with triple-negative breast cancer, interacts with and regulates hundreds of proteins, including those found in a complex needed for DNA replication. Members of this complex, called the minichromosome maintenance protein complex, interact with mutant p53—but less with wild-type p53. Bargonetti’s team targeted this pathway in mutated breast cancer cells with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib and the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide. They observed synergistic cell killing with the two drugs, but only when the minichromosome maintenance protein complex was working and when p53 was mutated. These findings point toward a new strategy for personalizing therapy.
Microserver + micro-switch = micro-datacenter

Many computational workloads from commercial and scientific fields have high demands in total throughput, and energy efficiency. For example the largest radio telescope, to be built in South Africa and Australia combines cost, performance and power targets that cannot be met by the technological development until its installation. In processor architecture a design tradeoff between cost and power efficiency against single-thread performance is observed. Hence, to achieve a high system power efficiency, large-scale parallelism has to be employed. In order to maintain wire length, and hence network delays, energy losses, and cost, the volume of compute nodes and network switches has to be reduced to a minimum âAS hence the term microserver. Our DOME microserver compute card measures 130 by 7.5 by 65 mm3. The presented switch module is confined to the same area (140 by 55 mm2), yet is deeper (40mm) because of the 630-pin high-speed connector. For 64 ports of 10Gbit Ethernet (10Gbase-KR) our switch consumes about 150W maximal. In addition to the switch ASIC (Intel FM6000 series), the power converters, clock generation, configuration memory and management processor is integrated on a second PCB. The switch management (âAIJControl PointâAI) is implemented in a separate compute node. In the talk options to integrate the management into the switch (same volume as now) will be discussed. Another topic covered is the cooling of the microserver, and of the switch in particular, using (warm) water in the infrastructure and heat pipes on the module.
Dose-volume toxicity modeling for de-intensified chemo-radiation therapy for HPV-positive oropharynx cancer.

Abstract Background and purpose The aim is to determine the radiobiological parameters of four popular normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models that describe the dose–response relations of salivary glands and pharyngeal constrictors to the severity of patient reported xerostomia and dysphagia, respectively 6 and 12 months post chemo-radiotherapy, furthermore, to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the NTCP models for different combinations of glands and constrictors. Material and methods Forty-three patients were treated on a prospective multi-institutional phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01530997) assessing the efficacy of de-intensified chemoradiotherapy in patients with favorable risk, HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. All patients received 60 Gy intensity modulated radiotherapy with concurrent weekly intravenous cisplatinum. All patients reported severity of their xerostomia and dysphagia (pre- and post-treatment) using the patient reported outcome version of the CTCAE (PRO-CTCAE). A change in severity (from baseline) of ≥2 was considered clinically meaningful. The Lyman–Kutcher–Burman (LKB), Relative Seriality (RS), Logit, and Relative Seriality Logit (RSL) NTCP models were used to fit the patients’ dose/volume data to changes in PRO-CTCAE severity of xerostomia and dysphagia (from baseline to 6 and 12 months post-treatment). The correlation of the models with the patient outcomes was performed for different combinations of salivary glands and different sections of pharyngeal constrictors. The goodness-of-fit of the different models was assessed through the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), maximum of the log-likelihood function, normal error distribution and Akaike information criterion (AIC). Results The dose/volume metrics of the combined contralateral (parotid + submandibular) glands appear to correlate best with xerostomia, at both 6- and 12-months. Among the different sections of pharyngeal constrictors, the dose/volume metrics of the superior pharyngeal constrictors appear to correlate best with dysphagia at 6 months. The AUC values ranged from 0.72 to 0.85 in the case of xerostomia and 0.73 to 0.74 in the case of dysphagia over the different models. The four NTCP models showed similar goodness-of-fit. The differences in AIC between the different models were less than 2 and ranged within 0.7 and 0.8 in the cases of xerostomia and dysphagia, respectively. The calculated parameters of the LKB model were D50 = 26.9 Gy, m = 0.63, n = 1.0 for the combined contralateral glands at 12 months and D50 = 62.0 Gy, m = 0.10, n = 0.49 for the superior pharyngeal constrictors at 6 months. Conclusions The values of the parameters of four NTCP models were determined for salivary glands and pharyngeal constrictors. All four models could fit the clinical data equally well. The NTCP predictions of the combined contralateral glands and superior pharyngeal constrictors showed the best correlation with the patient reported outcomes of xerostomia and dysphagia, respectively.
Abstract 2679: A promoting role for the epithelial MyD88/IRAK4/NF-kB signaling in K-ras mutant lung tumorigenesis

K-ras mutation is the most common oncogenic alterations associated with lung cancer development. Unfortunately, all attempts to develop therapies directly targeting K-ras have been failed thus far, clearly stating the need for new strategies targeting downstream effectors and/or cooperating pathways of K-ras to overcome lung cancer displaying such a molecular profile. Using a conditional K-ras mutated lung cancer mouse model, CC-LR (CCSPcre/LSL-K-rasG12D) we previously showed that K-ras mutated lung tumorigenesis is associated with lung inflammation due to activation of NF-κB pathway and increased expression of its downstream targets in the lung. Here we have shown that lack of NF-κB activity in the airway epithelium by selectively targeting IKKβ, which is required for NF-kB activation, significantly reduces lung tumor burden (3.4-fold) and changes the inflammatory cells and mediators in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of CC-LR mice. Immunohistochemically staining of lung tissues with specific markers, Ki-67 and CD-31, demonstrated significantly lower tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis in CC-LR mice with lack of epithelial NF-kB activity. To further dissect the role of NF-κB pathway in this process, CC-LR mice were crossed with MyD88f/f mice to develop a mouse with lack of MyD88 (an adaptor protein upstream to IKKβ) in the airway epithelial cells (CC-LR/MyD88Δ/Δ mice). As we had hypothesized, the resulting tumor numbers in the lungs were significantly lower (1.9-fold) in CC-LR mice with lack of MyD88 in the airway epithelial cells compared to control CC-LR mice. Tumor reduction in CC-LR-MyD88Δ/Δ mice was also associated with decreased tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis compared to control CC-LR mice. Surprisingly, unlike to lack of epithelial NF-kB activity, absence of MyD88 in the airway epithelium did not change the BALF inflammatory cell component of CC-LR mice. We then targeted another upstream signaling molecule to NF-kB, IRAK4, which is down stream of MyD88 by crossing CC-LR mice to IRAK4 knock out mice. Similar to lack of MyD88, we found a significant reduction in lung tumor number (1.8-fold) with no changes in BALF inflammatory cell component in CC-LR mice with lack of IRAK4 compared to the control CC-LR mice. Taken these together, we conclude that there is an essential role for MyD88/IRAK4/NF-kB pathway activation in promotion of K-ras mutant lung cancer. Citation Format: Susana Castro, Soudabeh Daliri, Maria Miguelina De La Garza, Amber M. Cumpian, Misha Umer, Diana Del Bosque, Sabah Akbani, Scott E. Evans, Seyed Javad Moghaddam. A promoting role for the epithelial MyD88/IRAK4/NF-kB signaling in K-ras mutant lung tumorigenesis [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 2679. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2679
Impact of egg handling and conditions during extended storage on egg quality.

The international trade of shell eggs has become more important in recent years in order to feed a growing worldwide population, meet food manufacturing demands, and address supply issues during disease outbreaks or product recalls. The primary barriers for the export and import of shell eggs are: whether to wash eggs and egg storage temperature. The current study was undertaken to compare egg quality factors as influenced by egg washing and storage temperature. Three lots of nest run white shell eggs were collected on consecutive d from a commercial in-line egg production facility. The treatment and storage conditions were selected to encompass the primary egg handling and storage conditions utilized throughout the world: washed; washed, oiled; and unwashed stored at 4°C; and unwashed stored at 22°C. Eggs were assessed weekly from 0 to 15 wk. Percent egg weight loss was greatest for the unwashed 22°C eggs (15.72%) and least for washed, oiled 4°C (0.33%, P < 0.0001). Less than 24 h at 22°C had a greater impact on yolk shape measurements decline than 15 wk at 4°C (P < 0.05). After 15 wk, average Haugh unit scores for all refrigerated treatments were still Grade A, and unwashed 22°C dropped from Grade AA to almost Grade B in one week. Room temperature storage of eggs rapidly declines egg quality. Egg treatment did not impact egg quality factors when stored at 4°C. Washing and oiling eggs before refrigerated storage did suppress the rate of egg weight loss.
A Randomized Trial of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% to Reduce High-Grade Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Postmastectomy Radiation.

Purpose A 2-arm, double-blinded randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 0.1% mometasone furoate (MF) versus Eucerin Original (E) cream in preventing the development of moderate to severe acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) in breast cancer patients receiving postmastectomy radiation (PMRT). Methods Breast cancer patients undergoing chest wall with or without nodal radiation therapy (RT) (50 Gy) were eligible. Randomization (1:1) was to MF or E, applied twice daily from day 1 of PMRT to 14 days after PMRT. Patients were stratified by RT technique, body mass index, and reconstruction status. Daily bolus of 3 to 10 mm was applied in all patients. The primary endpoint was the development of provider-assessed grade ≥2 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03) ARD with moist desquamation or any grade ≥3 dermatitis. Secondary endpoints were time to occurrence of maximum-grade dermatitis and patient-reported skin symptoms using a skin-related quality of life questionnaire, Skindex-16. Assessments were performed at baseline, weekly during PMRT, and 2 weeks after PMRT. Results 124 patients were enrolled between May 2013 and February 2016. Of those, 35% had pathologic stage III disease, 6% had cT4d disease, and 68% underwent reconstruction. Sixty percent received 3-dimensional conformal RT with photons only to the chest wall, 18% received electrons and photons, and 23% received inverse-planned intensity modulated RT. Groups were well balanced for age, skin type, and stage. The rate of moist desquamation was 54.8% in the entire cohort, with a significantly reduced incidence in the MF arm than in the E arm (43.8% vs 66.7%; P = .012). The MF arm had a lower incidence of maximum skin toxicities (P = .036) and longer time to development of grade 3 dermatitis (46 days vs 35.5 days, respectively; P ≤ .001). There was no difference in patient-reported skin outcomes between arms. Conclusions Breast cancer patients receiving MF during PMRT experienced significantly reduced rates of moist desquamation in comparison with a control cream.
Socially Networked Citizen Science and the Crowd-Sourcing of Pro-Environmental Collective Actions

The social Web has changed the nature of human collaboration with new possibilities for massive-scale cooperation in such important endeavors as scientific research and environmentally important collective action. While first generation citizen science projects have successfully used the Web to crowd-source environmental data collection, “next generation” citizen science practice networks combine crowd-sourcing, joint sense of purpose, and soft institutional governance with the distributed intelligence and efficacy of online social networks. Here we tap into evolutionary theory and social psychology to generate hypotheses for how such “next generation” citizen projects can best support pro-environmental behaviors like habitat restoration and energy conservation. Recent research on the evolution of cooperation highlights the potential for reputational mechanisms and scorekeeping to foster cooperation in online social networks. Nested bordered tug-of-war models suggest that challenges that elicit between-group competition will increase within-group cooperation. Based on social psychology, we note that increased levels of interest and cooperation can be fostered by social norms comparisons in combination with visually compelling representations of individual and collective benchmarks. Finally, we explore how properties of social networks themselves enhance the spread of behaviors through the three degrees rule, homophily, social contagion, and the strength of weak ties. In an age where environmental toxins, habitat loss, population growth, and climate change threaten our future health and survival, we present testable hypotheses and argue for the importance of field experiments to better understand the nexus between the social self, group identity, social networking effects, and potential for supporting collective action via the social Web.
The Evolving National Security Strategy of the United States

National security strategy issues continue to receive consistent front page attention despite the end of the Cold War. Headlines change over time, but the fundamental issues remain much the same: What are the threats to U.S. national interests that need to be protected by military force? How much should the United States rely upon cooperative security arrangements? Should the military influence the government’s foreign and domestic policies? How should military personnel be recruited, trained, and managed? This paper offers a framework for analyzing these issues, describes the evolution of strategies developed by different administrations, highlights some of the major issues, and identifies some unsolved problems.
Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intention of Missionaries

Affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intention were surveyed in 468 missionaries. Tenure in the organization was a stronger predictor of organizational commitment, job...
Tobacco Use and Complications Following Spinal Fusion: A Comparison of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and National Inpatient Sample Datasets.

Background Smoking is a known risk factor for inferior health outcomes. Retrospective analyses of large datasets may assess whether such risk is manifested or mitigated in clinical practice. Although many risk factor analyses use the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS), such investigations have seldom been directly compared. Methods NIS and NSQIP datasets were used. Primary outcome measures were perioperative complications. NSQIP complications were stratified based on occurrence before versus after discharge. Multiple logistic regression was employed in adjusted analyses. Results Among NSQIP (N = 56,145) and NIS (N = 1,311,426) patients, 24.0% and 31.8% were identified as tobacco users, respectively. Before discharge, NSQIP smokers had increased odds of pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.43), postoperative intubation (aOR = 1.40), and sepsis (aOR = 1.71) and decreased odds of pulmonary embolism (aOR = 0.57) (all P Conclusions Patients with a history of tobacco use undergoing spinal fusion were at increased risk of pneumonia and intubation but decreased risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism during the inpatient postoperative stay. After discharge, smokers exhibited increased odds of cardiac arrest and surgical site infection. NIS and NSQIP results were similar, with 9 of 12 outcomes exhibiting identical inpatient conclusions. Qualitative comparison of NIS and NSQIP yields results that offer increased validity over single-source studies.
Health consequences of culture change—II: The effect of urbanization on coronary heart mortality in rural residents

Abstract 1. 1. Death rates from coronary heart disease in white males aged 55–64 who are rural residents of North Carolina increased with increasing urbanization of their county of residence in the years 1951–1953 and also in 1959–1961. 2. 2. It was shown that these differences in mortality could not in all likelihood be explained by differences in diagnostic custom. 3. 3. This gradient of mortality was predicted in advance of the study on the basis of postulated incongruities between the culture of rural residents and the demands and expectations of increasing urbanization. 4. 4. The data suggest that whatever deleterious influences accompany urbanism as far as coronary heart disease is concerned, they have, by 1960. in this age, race, and sex group in North Carolina, reached a plateau for urban residents but are continuing to exert their effects on the less adapted rural residents.
Infection Outcomes are Robust to Thermal Variability in a Bumble Bee Host–Parasite System

Climate change-related increases in thermal variability and rapid temperature shifts will affect organisms in multiple ways, including imposing physiological stress. Furthermore, the effects of temperature may alter the outcome of biotic interactions, such as those with pathogens and parasites. In the context of host-parasite interactions, the beneficial acclimation hypothesis posits that shifts away from acclimation or optimum performance temperatures will impose physiological stress on hosts and will affect their ability to resist parasite infection. We investigated the beneficial acclimation hypothesis in a bumble bee-trypanosome parasite system. Freshly emerged adult worker bumble bees, Bombus impatiens, were acclimated to 21, 26, or 29°C. They were subsequently experimentally exposed to the parasite, Crithidia bombi, and placed in a performance temperature that was the same as the acclimation temperature (constant) or one of the other temperatures (mismatched). Prevalence of parasite transmission was checked 4 and 6 days post-parasite exposure, and infection intensity in the gut was quantified at 8 days post-exposure. Parasite strain, host colony, and host size had significant effects on transmission prevalence and infection load. However, neither transmission nor infection intensity were significantly different between constant and mismatched thermal regimes. Furthermore, acclimation temperature, performance temperature, and the interaction of acclimation and performance temperatures had no significant effects on infection outcomes. These results, counter to predictions of the beneficial acclimation hypothesis, suggest that infection outcomes in this host-parasite system are robust to thermal variation within typically experienced ranges. This could be a consequence of adaptation to commonly experienced natural thermal regimes or a result of individual and colony level heterothermy in bumble bees. However, thermal variability may still have a detrimental effect on more sensitive stages or species, or when extreme climatic events push temperatures outside of the normally experienced range.
Correction of metabolic parameters and unit process performance data – Part II : Comparison of analytical approaches

Abstract Oxygen consumption and other metabolic rates for commercial systems are typically measured under flow-through conditions and therefore are biased because of hydraulic lag. To evaluate potential correction approaches, three representative (SINE, STEP, MULTI-STEP) daily metabolic responses ( R t a ) were developed. Using the values of R t a , the resulting concentration of dissolved oxygen ( C t i ) on a minutely basis over the day was estimated from either a hydraulic mixing model or mass balance equations. Six approaches (STEADY, FRY, NORTHBY, NIIMI, SPLINE, and POLY) were used to estimate the metabolic oxygen consumption rate ( R t ) for the 20-, 40-, and 60-minute periods. Three analytical approaches were tested (MEAN, POINT, and DETAILED). Based on all three test metabolic rates, the combination of the DETAILED analytical approach and the SPLINE correction was the most accurate. The DETAILED approach is based on estimation of the minutely oxygen consumption and computation of the average rate over a specific time period. The combination of DETAILED and NIIMI was more accurate for STEP and MULTI-STEP but was very inaccurate for the SINE response. It is not surprising that NIIMI is an excellent correction for STEP and MULTI-STEP as the derivation of this equation was based on a step change in metabolic rate. STEADY was the least accuracy for all metabolic response. For SINE, all of the equations can be used to estimate the daily average value ( R ¯ d a i l y ). For STEP and MULTI-STEP, STEADY is less accurate. STEADY under-estimated the upper and lower peaking factors, but the other correction equations were very accurate. This same lag response can also bias other metabolic rates (carbon dioxide, ammonia, solids) and the computation of performance and efficiencies of unit processes such as biofilters and solids removal processes. The correction of unit process performance metrics may be further complicated by rapid changes in influent concentrations that were not considered in these correction approaches and the kinetic response of the process to changes in substrate concentrations.
Development of multifocal extra‐abdominal desmoid fibromatosis after surgical resection

Multifocal fibromatosis is a rare entity. We report on two cases where multifocal disease developed after surgical resection. Chronic inflammation and repetitive trauma may be considered a risk factor for developing multifocal disease.
Assessing the effectiveness of training models for national scale-up of an evidence-based nutrition and physical activity intervention: a group randomized trial

There is a great need to identify implementation strategies to successfully scale-up public health interventions in order to achieve their intended population impact. The Out-of-school Nutrition and Physical Activity group-randomized trial previously demonstrated improvements in children’s vigorous physical activity and the healthfulness of foods and beverages consumed. This implementation study aimed to assess the effects and costs of two training models to scale-up this evidence-based intervention. A 3-arm group-randomized trial was conducted to compare effectiveness of in-person and online training models for scaling up the intervention compared to controls. One-third of sites were randomized to the in-person train-the-trainer model: local YMCA facilitators attended a training session and then conducted three learning collaborative meetings and technical assistance. One-third were assigned to the online model, consisting of self-paced monthly learning modules, videos, quizzes, and facilitated discussion boards. Remaining sites served as controls. Fifty-three afterschool sites from three YMCA Associations in different regions of the country completed baseline and follow-up observations using a validated tool of afterschool nutrition and physical activity practices. We used multivariable regression models, accounting for clustering of observations, to assess intervention effects on an aggregate afterschool practice primary outcome, and conducted secondary analyses of nine intervention goals (e.g. serving water). Cost data were collected to determine the resources to implement each training model. Changes in the primary outcome indicate that, on average, sites in the in-person arm achieved 0.44 additional goals compared to controls (95%CI 0.02, 0.86, p = 0.04). Increases in the number of additional goals achieved in sites in the online arm were not significantly greater than control sites (+ 0.28, 95% CI -0.18, 0.73, p = 0.24). Goal-specific improvements were observed for increasing water offered in the in-person arm and fruits and vegetables offered in the online arm. The cost per person trained was $678 for the in-person training model and $336 for the on-line training model. This pilot trial presents promising findings on implementation strategies for scale-up. It validated the in-person training model as an effective approach. The less expensive online training may be a useful option for geographically disbursed sites where in-person training is challenging. Although this study does not report the results of a health care intervention on human subjects, it is a randomized trial and was therefore retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov on July 4, 2019 in accordance with the BMC guidelines to ensure the complete publication of all results (NCT04009304).
Doctor Recommendations are Related to Patient Interest and Use of Behavioral Treatment for Chronic Pain and Addiction.

Abstract The opioid crisis has highlighted the importance of improving patients’ access to behavioral treatments for chronic pain and addiction. What is not known is if patients are interested in receiving these treatments. In this cross-sectional study, over 1000 participants with chronic pain were surveyed using an anonymous online questionnaire on Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk) to investigate participants’ use of and interest in pharmacological and behavioral treatments for chronic pain and addiction. Participants also indicated whether their doctor had recommended these treatments. The majority of participants reported using medication for their pain (83.19%) and that their doctor recommended medication (85.05%), whereas fewer participants reported using (67.45%) and being recommended to (62.82%) behavioral treatments. We found 63.67% of participants screened positive for possible opioid misuse; those who screened positive were more interested in receiving behavioral treatments than those who did not screen positive. Participants who received treatment recommendations were more likely to be interested in receiving those treatments as compared to participants who did not. The results suggest that recommendations for behavioral treatments and interest in those treatments are related. Results also suggest that patients endorsing behaviors consistent with opioid misuse are interested in behavioral treatments. Perspective: This study provides information around chronic pain patients’ treatment interests, treatment receipt, and recommendation receipt for behavioral pain management and addiction treatment. This study could help facilitate communication between patients and doctors regarding available treatments for chronic pain and pain treatment-related addiction problems.
Laryngeal Manifestations of Autoimmune Diseases

Purpose This review article provides an overview of autoimmune diseases and their effects on voice and laryngeal function. Method A literature review was conducted in PubMed. Combinations of the fo...
Storm sampling to assess inclement weather impacts on water quality in a karst watershed: Sinking Creek, Watauga watershed, East Tennessee.

Sinking Creek (HUC 06010103046), in the Watauga watershed of northeast Tennessee, is impaired due to Escherichia coli. To assess how E. coli and other water quality parameters fluctuated during storm events, water samples were collected with automated samplers during eight storms at two locations: Sinking Creek and a feeder spring. Turbidity and electrical conductivity data loggers were deployed in the creek, and dissolved oxygen (DO) was measured in situ. The presence of optical brighteners, used in detergents and an indicator of residential wastewater, was assessed using cotton fabric deployed at both sites and analyzed by an external laboratory. The Colilert Quanti-Tray method was used to process water samples for E. coli. Relationships between water quality parameters and lagged precipitation were assessed using cross-correlation. At the creek, E. coli and turbidity increased within 2 h of precipitation, exceeding the single sample water quality standard of 941 cfu 100 ml-1 during the storm. At the spring, E. coli became elevated more quickly than at the stream, within 30 min of precipitation, and decreased below the standard during the event. Electrical conductivity decreased within 1.5 h of the storm at the creek, and DO levels were higher at the creek than at the spring. Optical brightener analysis indicated possible presence of residential wastewater during one of two sampled storms. Targeted sampling and dye tracing are recommended to validate this hypothesis. These results may be used to inform field methods in similar storm sampling studies and will be useful in watershed restoration efforts in Sinking Creek.
Effect of Patient Characteristics on Reported Outcomes Over 12 Months Following Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation: A Retrospective Review of 500 Patients.

Background Low back pain is the leading cause of years lost to disability worldwide. Approximately 15% to 45% of chronic low back pain is due to facet joint arthropathy. Currently, no large-scale retrospective studies have investigated long-term clinical predictors of success in individuals receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branches for facet joint arthropathy. Objective To determine the clinical factors associated with success and failure of RFA of lumbar facet joints at 1-year follow-up. Methods Clinical data were gathered from 500 consecutive patients with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis. VAS pain scores for patients undergoing lumbar medial branch RFA procedures were recorded at multiple time points, up to the 1-year follow-up visit. A responder was defined as having ≥30% improvement in VAS score from the pre-procedural VAS score. For our primary analysis, regression analysis was conducted to identify associations between responder status and patient characteristics, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hormone use, opiate dose, and smoking history at multiple time points, up to the 1-year follow-up visit. Results A total of 500 patients were included in the study. At the 1-year post-RFA follow-up visit, responder status was associated with a lower rate of prior opioid use (43.22% vs. 55.76%, odds ratio 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40 to 0.92], P = 0.018), lower pre-procedural opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents (10.16 ± 16.02 vs. 14.67 ± 20.65, β -4.50 [95% CI -8.57 to -0.44], P = 0.030), and a higher pre-VAS pain score (6.36 ± 2.17 vs. 5.85 ± 2.17, β 0.50 [95% CI 0.06 to 0.95], P = 0.028). There were no significant associations between responder status and age, gender, BMI, hormone use, and smoking history at the 1-year follow-up visit. Conclusions Our results suggest that patients prescribed opioids, particularly at higher dosages, may find less pain relief 1 year following RFA for facetogenic pain. Additionally, patients with higher pre-procedural VAS pain scores may be more likely to have a positive response at 1 year.
High-Rate Anisotropic Properties in Human Infant Parietal and Occipital Bone.

Computational models of infant head impact are limited by the paucity of infant cranial bone material property data, particularly with regard to the anisotropic relationships created by the trabecular fibers in infant bone. We previously reported high-rate material property data for human infant cranial bone tested perpendicular to trabeculae fiber orientation. In this study, we measure the anisotropic properties of human infant cranial bone by analyzing bending modulus parallel to the trabeculae fibers. We tested human bone specimens from nine donors ranging in age from 32 weeks gestational age to 10 months at strain rates of 12.3-30.1 s-1. Bending modulus significantly increased with donor age (p=0.008) and was 13.4 times greater along the fiber direction compared to perpendicular to the fibers. Ultimate stress was greater by 5.1 times when tested parallel to the fibers compared to perpendicular (p=0.067). Parietal bone had a higher modulus and ultimate stress compared to occipital bone, but this trend was not significant, as previously shown perpendicular to fiber orientation. Combined, these data suggest that the pediatric skull is highly age-dependent, anisotropic, and regionally dependent. The incorporation of these characteristics in finite element models of infant head impact will be necessary to advance pediatric head injury research and further our understanding of the mechanisms of head injury in children.
Using Inertial Measurement Unit Data for Objective Evaluations of Potential Guide Dogs

As puppies progress through the training process to become guide dogs, they regularly undergo standard evaluations to assess their temperament. These evaluations consist of exposing the dogs to several stimuli while a highly-experienced observer scores them in several categories. In this paper, we present a neural network capable of generating the same scores as the human observer by using accelerometer and gyroscope data recorded during the evaluation. We define a baseline accuracy and compare the performance of the network, ultimately showing that it can achieve an accuracy score of approximately 93%.
In Search of a Perfect Currency: The Case of Slovenia

This case study explains the inconsistency of the Slovenian currency. Struggling to become an independent country, Slovenia gained its independence in the early 1990s. As Slovenia develops into an independent country, gaining monetary independence was a necessity for them to stand strong as a new country. Slovenia goes through several monetary currencies before settling with the Euro.
Adventitial cystic disease in the external iliac artery of a 29-year-old man.

Abstract Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an uncommon condition that generally occurs at the popliteal artery but, rarely, can occur in the external iliac artery. To date, only eight cases of ACD occurring in the external iliac artery have been reported. We have reported the case of a 29-year-old man who had presented with new-onset claudication. Despite an extensive imaging workup, ACD was not confirmed until the gross intraoperative examination. We have reported our process of diagnosis and treatment in addition to that reported in previous studies to enhance the historical fund of knowledge for this rare pathology.