cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive approach to esophagectomy.

Background Recent advances in laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery have made it possible to perform esophagectomy using minimally invasive techniques. The aim of this report was to present our preliminary experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy. Methods We reviewed our experience on eight patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy using either laparoscopic and/or thoracoscopic techniques from June 1996 to May 1997. Indications for esophagectomy included stage I carcinoma (5), palliative resection (1), Barrett's with high grade dysplasia (1) and end stage achalasia (1). Results The average age was 68 years (54-82). The surgical approach to esophagectomy included laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (n = 4), thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (n = 1), and laparoscopic mobilization with right mini-thoracotomy and intra-thoracic anastomosis (n = 3). Conversion to mini-laparotomy was required in two patients (25%) to complete esophageal dissection and facilitate gastric pull-up. The mean operative time was 460 minutes. The mean intensive care stay was 1.9 days (range of 0-7 days) with a mean hospital stay of 13.8 days. Minor complications included atrial fibrillation (n = 1), pleural effusion (n = 2) and persistent air leak (n = 1). Major complications included cervical anastomotic leak (n = 1), and delayed gastric emptying requiring pyloroplasty (n = 1). There was no perioperative mortality. Conclusions This preliminary experience suggests that minimally invasive esophagectomy is safe and feasible in centers with experience in advanced minimally invasive surgical procedures. Further studies are necessary to determine advantages over open esophagectomy.
Echocardiographic parameters associated with right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device: A review

Left ventricular assist devices improve functional class and survival in selected patients with advanced heart failure, but right ventricular failure after surgery remains common and challenging to predict. Pre-operative echocardiography provides important information in the evaluation of patients before device implant. This review summarizes the data on this complex topic.
Toxicology: A Primer

Publisher Summary Toxicology is the science of poisons or the study of the untoward effects of chemicals or physical agents on biological systems. It has evolved over the centuries from the trial and error skills of the hunter-gatherer in finding “safe” food to the applied art of poisoning enemies to a highly sophisticated science of mechanisms that is built upon numerous biomedical disciplines, including molecular genetics and molecular biology. The study of the deleterious interactions between an agent and a biological system also falls within the scope of toxicology. Toxicology can be subdivided in a number of ways. One such division is based on the disciplines involved: (1) environmental; (2) economic; and (3) medical. Environmental toxicology includes the roles that engineers, environmental scientists, and chemical specialists play in the identification and quantification of both natural and synthetic pollutants, and the transfer of chemicals between and within air, soil and water. The multidisciplinary nature of toxicology is its greatest strength. By incorporating the capabilities and techniques of the biomedical sciences, including epidemiology and statistics, toxicologists utilize a wide range of expertise to investigate issues of critical concern to society.
Isolation of a Complete Circular Virus Genome Sequence from an Alaskan Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Gastrointestinal Tract Sample.

We report here the genome sequence of a circular virus isolated from samples of an Alaskan black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) gastrointestinal tract. The genome is 2,152 bp in length and is most similar (30 to 44.5% amino acid identity) to the genome sequences of other single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) circular viruses belonging to the gemycircularvirus group.
Neuroblastoma patient outcomes, tumor differentiation, and ERK activation are correlated with expression levels of the ubiquitin ligase UBE4B.

Author(s): Woodfield, Sarah E; Guo, Rong Jun; Liu, Yin; Major, Angela M; Hollingsworth, Emporia Faith; Indiviglio, Sandra; Whittle, Sarah B; Mo, Qianxing; Bean, Andrew J; Ittmann, Michael; Lopez-Terrada, Dolores; Zage, Peter E | Abstract: BackgroundUBE4B is an E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase whose gene is located in chromosome 1p36.22. We analyzed the associations of UBE4B gene and protein expression with neuroblastoma patient outcomes and with tumor prognostic features and histology.MethodsWe evaluated the association of UBE4B gene expression with neuroblastoma patient outcomes using the R2 Platform. We screened neuroblastoma tumor samples for UBE4B protein expression using immunohistochemistry. FISH for UBE4B and 1p36 deletion was performed on tumor samples. We then evaluated UBE4B expression for associations with prognostic factors and with levels of phosphorylated ERK in neuroblastoma tumors and cell lines.ResultsLow UBE4B gene expression is associated with poor outcomes in patients with neuroblastoma and with worse outcomes in all patient subgroups. UBE4B protein expression was associated with neuroblastoma tumor differentiation, and decreased UBE4B protein levels were associated with high-risk features. UBE4B protein levels were also associated with levels of phosphorylated ERK.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated associations between UBE4B gene expression and neuroblastoma patient outcomes and prognostic features. Reduced UBE4B protein expression in neuroblastoma tumors was associated with high-risk features, a lack of differentiation, and with ERK activation. These results suggest UBE4B may contribute to the poor prognosis of neuroblastoma tumors with 1p36 deletions and that UBE4B expression may mediate neuroblastoma differentiation.
Research progress on the structure of HIV envelope glycoprotein and related HIV entry inhibitors

HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and gp41 are considered as two important parts in viral entry.In the process of virus entry,CD4 first binds to gp120 and causes the conformation of gp120 to change.Furthermore the conformation of gp41 has also been changed.Many peptides,macromolecular compounds and small molecule compounds which bind to gp120 or gp41 can deter the progress of virus entry.These compounds can play an important role in halting the spread of HIV-1 in this way.The structure and interaction of gp120 and gp41 are reviewed here,as well as the anti-HIV agents blocking the HIV entry by targeting the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein.
Cognitive Language and Content Standards: Language Inventory of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics and the Next Generation Science Standards

STEM education is a current focus of many educators and policymakers and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM) are foundational documents driving curricular and instructional decision making for teachers and students in K-8 classrooms across the United States. Thus, practitioners and researchers need to possess a deep and working understanding of these standards. This study aims to examine how terms within the CCSSM and the NGSS are used and aligned by addressing the following research questions: (1) What common terminology is found across CCSSM and NGSS? (2) How does the terminology between the CCSSM and the NGSS compare to one another? (3) How do the cognitive terms found in CCSSM and NGSS change across grade bands? The findings indicate that there are numerous places where common terminology is aligned and used similarly both across grade bands and between the sets of standards. Conversely, many other terms are used with varying degrees of emphasis. Because STEM is presented as a holistic subject, these variable meanings and/or expectations reveal the potential for misguided expectations within the classroom as students, teachers, and principals use the same terminology in multiple, but distinct contexts.
Paul Halmos and Toeplitz Operators

Paul Halmos has written two papers and several snippets about Toeplitz operators. Another of his papers was motivated by a major result in Toeplitz operator theory. This article is the story of Halmos’s work on Toeplitz operators and its influence upon the field.
Critical care medicine: insights from the American Thoracic Society 2016 Annual Meeting

The American Thoracic Society 2016 Annual Meeting featured exciting research studies in critical care medicine. Recently, researchers tried to answer the question about the appropriate timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the ICU and we saw an exponential growth of interest in long-term outcomes of ICU survivors. We discuss five of the studies discussed at ATS and their impact on critical care management.
Factor V Leiden Mutation and Stroke

The association of the factor V Leiden mutation and cerebrovascular disorder (CVD) in children is reviewed and the clinical features of 8 children with cerebral palsy (CP) and the Leiden mutation are described from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD.
An empirical study of DSRC V2V performance in truck platooning scenarios

Abstract Among many safety applications enabled by Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), truck platooning provides many incentives to commercial companies. This paper studies DSRC Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) performance in truck platooning scenarios through real-world experiments. Commercial DSRC equipments and semi-trailer trucks are used in this study. We mount one DSRC antenna on each side of the truck. One set of dynamic tests and a few sets of static tests are conducted to explore DSRC behaviors under different situations. From the test results, we verified some of our speculations. For example, hilly roads can affect delivery ratio and antennas mounted on opposite sides of a truck can suffer from low delivery ratio at curved roads. In addition, we also found that antennas can sometimes suffer from low delivery ratio even when the trucks are on straight roads, possibly due to reflections from the nearby terrain. Fortunately, the delivery ratio can be greatly improved by using the two side antennas alternately.
Combined Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine, Alemtuzumab, and Rituximab (CFAR), an Active Regimen for Heavily Treated Patients with CLL.

Abstract Chemoimmunotherapy is based on enhanced therapeutic activity with combined cytotoxics and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs); these regimens have demonstrated activity in patients (pts) refractory to chemotherapy and mAb alone. FCR is an active chemoimmunotherapy regimen for initial and salvage treatment of pts with CLL. Additionally, alemtuzumab, the mAb against CD52, is highly effective at clearing disease from bone marrow, the usual site of residual disease following purine analogue-based treatment. This formed the rationale for the CFAR regimen for previously treated patients with CLL. CFAR consists of C-250mg/m2 d3–5; F-25mg/m2 d3–5; A-30mg IV d1,3,5, and R-375–500mg/m2 d2, each 28 days for 6 intended courses. Methylprednisone (125mg) on d1 and hydrocortisone 50mg on d2,3,5 were given for mAb premedication. Tumor lysis prophylaxis was allopurinol 300 mg/d for 7 d, course 1 only. Antibiotic prophylaxis was TMP-SMZ DS twice daily 2–3 d/wk and valacyclovir or valgancyclovir during treatment and for 2 months after completion. CMV antigen in blood was monitored before each course. To date, 79 pts have been registered on this trial, 74 have completed treatment, of whom, 59 were male. The median number of prior treatments=3(1–14); age=58(39–79)yrs; ALC=46(.04–320)K/μL; PLT=124(14–349)K/μL; HGB=11.7(8.2–15.5)gm/dL; and β2M=4.1(1.7–11.3)mg/L. Pts received a median of 3(1–6) courses. Of the 74 pts, 18 (24%) achieved CR, 2 nPR, 28 PR (OR=65%); 22 were non-responders, 1 could not be evaluated for response, and 3 were early deaths. Bone marrow was free of residual disease by 2-color flow analysis in 18/18 pts in CR, 1/2 in nPR, and 14/28 in PR. Of 40 pts with Rai high-risk disease, 25% achieved CR and 30% PR; of 34 with low-risk disease, 24% achieved CR and 53% PR. Among the 32 fludarabine-refractory pts, 13% achieved CR and 38% PR. Responses in pts with unfavorable cytogenetics [17p del (16), 11q del (15), complex (5), and 6q del (1)] included 14% CR and 50% PR; 44% of pts with 17p del responded. Of the 43 pts previously treated with FCR, 19% achieved CR, 37% PR; and for the 10 pts previously treated with FC, 10% achieved CR and 60% PR. Neutropenia, G3 and G4, occurred in 20% and 39% of 231 courses, respectively and thrombocytopenia, G3 and G4, occurred in 17% and 15% of 231 courses, respectively. CMV reactivation requiring treatment occurred in 12 pts, screening did not identify pts at risk for reactivation. The median follow-up time for all patients is 12 mo. The median time to progression for all responders is 26 mo, 32 mo for CR and 18 mo for PR pts. The median survival time for all patients is 19 mo, 35+ mo for CR, 18 mo for PR and 7 mo for non-responders. This regimen is also being evaluated as frontline treatment for pts with high-risk CLL. CFAR is an active regimen in heavily pre-treated patients with CLL, including those previously treated with chemoimmunotherapy.
Collagen Architecture of the Posterior Pole: High-Resolution Wide Field of View Visualization and Analysis Using Polarized Light Microscopy

Purpose The purpose of this study was to leverage polarized light microscopy (PLM) to visualize the collagen fiber architecture of posterior pole and optic nerve head with micrometer-scale resolution and to identify and quantify major organizational components. Methods Eight sheep posterior poles were cryosectioned and imaged using PLM. Collagen fiber orientation was determined by using custom scripts, and the resulting orientation maps were inspected and quantified to identify major structural elements and tested for differences in mean fiber orientation and anisotropy, using linear mixed effect models. Results Images revealed an intricate organization of collagen fibers in the posterior pole. In the lamina cribrosa, interweaving fibers formed large knots and wrapped around nerve fiber pores, with beam insertions into the scleral canal wall that were either narrow and straight or wide. In the peripapillary sclera, three significantly different (P < 0.0001) components were identified: fibers oriented circumferentially proximal to the canal, radially in the innermost sclera, and unaligned with interweaving fibers. The radial fibers were between 60 and 180 μm thick, extending at least 3 mm from the canal. Conclusions PLM revealed structural aspects of the lamina cribrosa and sclera that may have important biomechanical roles but that were previously unreported or not characterized quantitatively. In the lamina cribrosa, these roles included wide and narrow beam insertions and details of collagen fibers interweaving and wrapping around the pores. In the sclera, we described regions of circumferential, radial, and unaligned "random" fibers. Although there is consensus that circumferential fibers protect neural tissues by resisting canal expansion, the role of the radial fibers remains unclear.
Anatomically Corrected Malposition of the Great Arteries {S,D,L}

B.M. is a previously healthy 18-year-old man referred for a second opinion on an abnormal echocardiogram. He had been followed in the first year of life for a nonspecific murmur. He presented again to medical attention secondary to Navy prequalification requirements and was referred to a local cardiologist. His physical examination, chest radiograph, and ECG were normal. On transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms performed in the referring institution, “the aorta did not connect to the left ventricle” and the superior aspect of the ventricular septum was “prominent.” Cardiac MRI …
Hybrid TiO2–Ruthenium Nano-photosensitizer Synergistically Produces Reactive Oxygen Species in both Hypoxic and Normoxic Conditions

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely used to treat diverse diseases, but its dependence on oxygen to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) diminishes the therapeutic effect in a hypoxic environment such as solid tumors. Here, we developed a ROS-producing hybrid nanoparticle-based photosensitizer capable of maintaining high levels of ROS under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Conjugation of an organometallic ruthenium complex (N3) to a TiO2 nanoparticle afforded TiO2-N3. Upon exposure of TiO2-N3 to light, the N3 injected electrons into TiO2 to produce three- and four-fold greater hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, than TiO2 at 160 mmHg. TiO2-N3 maintained three-fold higher hydroxyl radicals than TiO2 under hypoxic conditions via N3-facilitated electron hole reduction of adsorbed water molecules. The incorporation of N3 transformed TiO2 from a dual type I and II PDT agent to a predominantly type I photosensitizer, irrespective of the oxygen content.
The role of inflation targeting in international debt denomination in developing countries

Abstract This paper analyzes the inflation targeting experience of developing countries as an effective monetary policy framework to promote changes in the currency composition of their international debt. Using matching with difference-in-differences to address the self-selection bias, we find that inflation targeting has led to a 3–6 percentage point reduction in the foreign currency share of international debt in targeting countries when compared to non-targeting countries, with the effect especially pronounced for sovereign international debt. Differentiating by type of owner, we find a reduction of the foreign currency share in foreign-held total sovereign debt but no effect on domestic-held debt. Furthermore, from the analysis of the US dollar and euro shares, we find that inflation targeting has contributed to a 9 percentage points lower dollar share in international debt in targeting countries compared to non-targeting countries, while the effect on the euro share is negligible. This not only provides evidence that the structural features of international financial markets matter, but also that monetary policy can help developing countries reduce their reliance on foreign currency debt, especially if it is held by foreign investors.
Insights into Mechanisms of Transmission and Pathogenesis from Transgenic Mouse Models of Prion Diseases

Prions represent a new paradigm of protein-mediated information transfer. In the case of mammals, prions are the cause of fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative diseases, sometimes referred to as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which frequently occur as epidemics. An increasing body of evidence indicates that the canonical mechanism of conformational corruption of cellular prion protein (PrPC) by the pathogenic isoform (PrPSc) that is the basis of prion formation in TSEs is common to a spectrum of proteins associated with various additional human neurodegenerative disorders, including the more common Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The peerless infectious properties of TSE prions, and the unparalleled tools for their study, therefore enable elucidation of mechanisms of template-mediated conformational propagation that are generally applicable to these related disease states. Many unresolved issues remain including the exact molecular nature of the prion, the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms of prion propagation, and the means by which prion diseases can be both genetic and infectious. In addition, we know little about the mechanism by which neurons degenerate during prion diseases. Tied to this, the physiological role of the normal form of the prion protein remains unclear and it is uncertain whether or not loss of this function contributes to prion pathogenesis. The factors governing the transmission of prions between species remain unclear, in particular the means by which prion strains and PrP primary structure interact to affect interspecies prion transmission. Despite all these unknowns, advances in our understanding of prions have occurred because of their transmissibility to experimental animals, and the development of transgenic (Tg) mouse models has done much to further our understanding about various aspects of prion biology. In this review, we will focus on advances in our understanding of prion biology that occurred in the past 8 years since our last review of this topic.
Hmong on the Move: Understanding Secondary Migration

Between the time of first arrival of the Hmong refugees in 1975 and the mid-1990s, there has been much geographic movement of these new Americans. An initial pattern of Hmong residential dispersal throughout the American states has gradually transformed into a predominantly tri-state concentration (California, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). This highly distinctive resettlement pattern is the result of delicately balancing the most essential substance of Hmong tradition with pragmatic considerations such as job prospects (especially farming work), access to language and job training programs, extended family and clan obligations, changing federal policies for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), changing welfare eligibility regulations between the states (especially as it relates to AFDC-UP), climate and topographical considerations, and the like.
Mental Health Considerations in Developmental Disabilities: Associated Issues, Impacts, and Solutions:

A large number of individuals with developmental disabilities (DDs) go undiagnosed with mental health disorders as a result of being predominantly identified by their DDs. This biased treatment is ...
Observation of Nonreciprocal Wave Propagation in a Dynamic Phononic Lattice

Acoustic waves in a linear time-invariant medium are generally reciprocal; however, reciprocity can break down in a time-variant system. In this Letter, we report on an experimental demonstration of nonreciprocity in a dynamic one-dimensional phononic crystal, where the local elastic properties are dependent on time. The system consists of an array of repelling magnets, and the on-site elastic potentials of the constitutive elements are modulated by an array of electromagnets. The modulation in time breaks time-reversal symmetry and opens a directional band gap in the dispersion relation. As shown by experimental and numerical results, nonreciprocal mechanical systems like the one presented here offer opportunities to create phononic diodes that can serve for rectification applications.
Assessing the Motivation and Cognition of Physically Handicapped by a Simulator

A multipurpose simulator has been developed which is capable of identifying the cognitive and motivation capabilities of handicapped individuals. The simulator utilises a two-dimensional tracking task which requires the individual to accurately emulate realistic sets of driving motions. Data derived from this testing provides a complete picture of any physiological, cognitive and motivational problems that the client may have. The case studies show that the method is a good predictor of indentifying the cognitive problems of a cerebral-vascular stroke individual and a quadriplegic’s motivation. This data is further compared with normal individuals.
Optical properties of chalcogenide glasses and fibers

Abstract: This chapter discusses the optical properties of chalcogenide glasses and fibers for infrared applications. The chapter describes the theory of optical transmission including intrinsic material losses and extrinsic losses due to impurity absorptions. Refractive index and material dispersion of bulk glass are reviewed. Optical fiber transmission loss and laser power delivery data are discussed. Nonlinear optical processes are explored for active devices including Raman amplification, supercontinuum generation, stimulated Brillouin scattering for slow-light applications and four wave mixing.
Growth and body composition of Meishan and Yorkshire barrows and gilts

Five barrows and five gilts of each of two breeds (Meishan [Ms] and Yorkshire [Y]) were slaughtered at birth and at 41, 71, 123, and 171 d of age and five gilts of each breed were slaughtered at 260 d of age. Major organ and visceral weights were obtained immediately postmortem (PM), whereas carcass characteristics, carcass composition, femur measurements, and two individual muscle weights were obtained 24 h PM. Linear and quadratic regression coefficients on age differed between the two breeds, in favor of Y barrows and gilts, for live weight, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area (LMA), liver, heart, spleen, and kidney weights, and femur cross-sectional, medullary, and cortical areas (P<.001), leaf fat weight, and percentage of body fat and protein. In contrast to somatic tissue, Ms gilts had uteri and ovaries that grew faster than those of Y gilts from birth to 260 d of age (P<.05), although the uterus and ovary weights were similar for both breeds by 260 d of age (P<.05). Regression coefficients differed (P<.05) between the two sexes for live, carcass, liver, lung and trachea, stomach and esophagus and leaf fat weights, dressing percentage, percentage of body protein, 10th rib backfat (TRBF) thickness (P<.001), and small intestine, kidney (P<.01), heart, and spleen weights (P<.05). Breed differences in regression coefficients differed between the two sexes for percentage of body protein and leaf fat weights (P<.05). Yorkshire pigs were larger, later-maturing pigs that grew faster from birth to 171 d of age. Yorkshire pigs slaughtered at 171 d of age had heavier total wholesale cut (WC), trimmed cut (TC), and boneless cut (BC) weights than did Ms pigs of the same age (P<.001)
Corrigendum to: INTELLECTUAL RELIGIOSITY OF ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL IN A. MUSTOFA BISRI’S POETRY [15(2), (2017), 324-344]

Corrigendum to: Based on the error submitted by the author of the article to the editors on July 19, 2018, that the author of the article is only one author and written Abdul Wachid BS, this article should consist of four authors namely Abdul Wachid BS, Herman J. Waluyo, Rachmat Djoko Pradopo, and Suyitno. so this correction is made to make checks for the readers.
Tutorial: Brain-inspired computing using phase-change memory devices

There is a significant need to build efficient non-von Neumann computing systems for highly data-centric artificial intelligence related applications. Brain-inspired computing is one such approach that shows significant promise. Memory is expected to play a key role in this form of computing and, in particular, phase-change memory (PCM), arguably the most advanced emerging non-volatile memory technology. Given a lack of comprehensive understanding of the working principles of the brain, brain-inspired computing is likely to be realized in multiple levels of inspiration. In the first level of inspiration, the idea would be to build computing units where memory and processing co-exist in some form. Computational memory is an example where the physical attributes and the state dynamics of memory devices are exploited to perform certain computational tasks in the memory itself with very high areal and energy efficiency. In a second level of brain-inspired computing using PCM devices, one could design a co-processor comprising multiple cross-bar arrays of PCM devices to accelerate the training of deep neural networks. PCM technology could also play a key role in the space of specialized computing substrates for spiking neural networks, and this can be viewed as the third level of brain-inspired computing using these devices.
Clinical Pharmacology of Antibiotics

Antimicrobial pharmacology and its effect on prescribing is quite complex. Selecting an antibiotic that will optimally treat an infection while minimizing adverse effects and the development of resistance is only the first step, as one must also consider the patient’s individual pharmacokinetic alterations and the pharmacodynamic properties of the drug when prescribing it as well. Patients with CKD may have alterations in their protein binding, volumes of distribution, kidney clearance, and nonrenal clearance that necessitates antibiotic dose adjustments to prevent the development of toxicity. Knowledge of a drug’s pharmacodynamics, defined as the relationship between drug exposure and antibacterial efficacy, provides some guidance regarding the optimal way to make dose adjustments. Different pharmacodynamic goals, such as maximizing the time that free (unbound) drug concentrations spend above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for time dependent drugs (e.g., β-lactams) or maximizing the free peak-to-MIC ratio for concentration-dependent antibiotics (e.g., aminoglycosides), require different adjustment strategies; for instance, decreasing the dose while maintaining normal dosing frequency or giving normal (or even larger) doses less frequently, respectively. Patients receiving hemodialysis have other important prescribing considerations as well. The nephrologist or patient may prefer to receive antibiotics that can be administered intravenously toward the end of a dialysis session. Additionally, newer dialysis technologies and filters can increase drug removal more than originally reported. This review will discuss the place in therapy, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and other pharmacologic considerations encountered when prescribing commonly used antibiotics in patients with chronic kidney disease or ESKD.
Arithmetics based on computability logic

This paper is a brief survey of number theories based on em computability logic (CoL) a game-semantically conceived logic of computational tasks of resources. Such theories, termed em clarithmetics, are conservative extensions of first-order Peano arithmetic. The first section of the paper lays out the conceptual basis of CoL and describes the relevant fragment of its formal language, with so called parallel connectives, choice connectives and quantifiers, and blind quantifiers. Both syntactically and semantically, this is a conservative generalization of the language of classical logic. Clarithmetics, based on the corresponding fragment of CoL in the same sense as Peano arithmetic is based on classical logic, are discussed in the second section. The axioms and inference rules of the system of clarithmetic named ${\bf CLA11}$ are presented, and the main results on this system are stated: constructive soundness, extensional completeness, and intensional completeness. In the final section two potential applications of clarithmetics are addressed: clarithmetics as declarative programming languages in an extreme sense, and as tools for separating computational complexity classes. When clarithmetics or similar CoL-based theories are viewed as programming languages, programming reduces to proof-search, as programs can be mechanically extracted from proofs; such programs also serves as their own formal verifications, thus fully neutralizing the notorious (and generally undecidable) program verification problem. The second application reduces the problem of separating various computational complexity classes to separating the corresponding versions of clarithmetic, the potential benefits of which stem from the belief that separating theories should generally be easier than separating complexity classes directly.
Beyond the Curtains—Global Refugee Crisis and Gaps in Graduate Enrollment: Exploring Challenges and Possibilities

Although the global refugee crisis has gained some attention in global political and social policy discourses, it has not captured similar attention in the higher education sector. This chapter examines and provides insight to the current practice and challenges faced by enrollment management leaders in reaching out and recruiting students for graduate study from war-torn regions of the world which includes Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sudan. The findings highlight what current practices of higher education institutions reflect about their values and leadership approaches. Using snowball sampling and semi-structured interview protocol, enrollment management personnel including administrators, staff, and faculty mentors, the chapter presents new insights on the challenges faced by institutional leaders and graduate enrollment management personnel in reaching out to students from war-torn regions is offered in this study. Then it discusses a few important strategies for accomplishing the task of reaching out to these displaced, refugee students and enrolling them in graduate studies. Our argument is that from a humanitarian and social justice perspective, universities can and should help qualified refugee and displaced students to attain access to higher education, but in order to do so, they need bolder moves and stronger visions at institutional levels that transcend political, economic and social challenges.
Diabetes Technologies: We Are All in This Together

The United States faces a shortage of both primary care physicians (PCPs) and endocrinologists—the two groups of clinicians who provide the majority of care to people with diabetes (1–3). Patients treated with intensive insulin therapy, including all of those with type 1 diabetes and many with type 2 diabetes, face numerous daily self-management decisions. These decisions include factoring insulin dosing, glucose management, diet, activity, and other behavioral factors into their decision-making. These patients stand to gain from using the treatment and monitoring technologies that are rapidly advancing and accumulating evidence in support of their benefits. Despite this situation, the actual use of such technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and closed-loop artificial pancreas systems, remains relatively low (4,5). One potential barrier to uptake of such advanced diabetes technologies is a hypothesized mismatch between geographical location of people with diabetes and available clinicians. Employing datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau (6) and the American Medical Association Health Workforce Mapper (7), as well as prevalence estimates from the American Diabetes Association and JDRF, we sought to compare the distribution of PCPs and endocrinologists across the United States to the distribution of people with diabetes. This endeavor was undertaken as a step toward understanding whether encouraging PCP …
Managing menopausal vasomotor symptoms in older women

This review considers the persistent vasomotor symptoms (VMS) of menopause-hot flashes-from the perspective of older women. Although these symptoms are most prevalent in younger women during the menopause transition and recent postmenopausal years, emerging data, corroborated by clinical experience, support the observation that for some women, VMS can remain bothersome into advanced age. Most clinical guidance focuses on treating VMS in younger women because of the concerns of increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks and possibly dementia when menopausal hormone therapies (MHT) are initiated at more advanced ages. Furthermore, recent studies into the physiology of VMS suggest a potential link with endothelial dysfunction and evidence of increased subclinical CVD and CVD events. Clinical trials have reported that older women with VMS have markedly increased CVD risk in response to oral MHT initiation compared with asymptomatic women. Nonhormonal treatment options are available for those who elect not to use, or are advised not to use, menopausal hormone therapies. As the global population ages, more research is needed to clarify the physiology of VMS in older women, suggest optimal approaches to enhance awareness of potential health risks of VMS, and recommend strategic management of VMS in older women, with the goal of promoting health and maintaining quality of life.
Feasibility and acceptability of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or acupuncture for insomnia and related distress among cancer caregivers.

Objective Insomnia is a common, distressing, and impairing psychological outcome experienced by informal caregivers (ICs) of patients with cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and acupuncture both have known benefits for patients with cancer, but such benefits have yet to be evaluated among ICs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of CBT-I and acupuncture among ICs with moderate or greater levels of insomnia. Method Participants were randomized to eight sessions of CBT-I or ten sessions of acupuncture. Results Results highlighted challenges of identifying interested and eligible ICs and the impact of perception of intervention on retention and likely ultimately outcome. Significance of the results Findings suggest preliminary support for non-pharmacological interventions to treat insomnia in ICs and emphasize the importance of matching treatment modality to the preferences and needs of ICs.
Myocardial Infarction Segmentation in Late Gadolinium Enhanced MRI Images using Data Augmentation and Chaining Multiple U-Net

Finding the appropriate set of features in cardiac MRI images to localize different areas and anomalies of heart is an essential problem. Convolutional neural networks are known to be well suited for the task to extract features from gray scale images where the intensity is enhanced. This paper proposes a convolutional neural network architecture which can be used to localize the myocardial infarction on the heart using low resolution late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) images. LGE images are T1 weighted MRI images that use contrast agents to increase the intensity of regions where blood accumulates, as a result, areas of heart like ventricle and infarction are brighter as compared to other regions of the heart. We create a UNet inspired model and train it with the LGE cardiac images to locate and segment the infarction. Our data set has small number of training images with low contrast, which makes it difficult to generalize the features of infarction. To tackle this issue, we propose geometric transformations and pixel intensity manipulations, that should be used for augmenting LGE images to create a diverse training data set. We also propose a chained U-Net approach to reduce the search space for segmenting infarction in LGE cardiac images. Our analysis show a reduction of error from 82% to 68% in segmentation by using the proposed augmentation and the chaining technique. However, it falls short of human level accuracy. Later part of this paper describes the limitation of our current work and lists the future work to overcome those limitations.
Influence of Liquid Height on Bubble Coalescence, Vapor Venting, Liquid Return, and Heat Transfer in Pool Boiling

Abstract The maximum heat extraction rate from a pool boiling process is limited by the Critical Heat Flux (CHF). In most pool boiling applications, the liquid height over the boiling surface is several times greater than the departing bubble diameter and has little influence on bubble behavior, vapor removal, or liquid return. However, limited research is available in the literature to identify the pool boiling behavior at different liquid heights that are comparable to the departure bubble diameter. It is hypothesized in this work that removal of bubbles from the heater surface is critical to enhancing performance, and implementing liquid heights comparable to vapor bubble diameters may have a beneficial effect on heat transfer, especially on the heat transfer coefficient (HTC). Pool boiling studies are conducted with water boiling on a plain copper surface at 2 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, and 50 mm liquid heights. CHF and HTC are calculated, and bubble interactions are captured using a high-speed camera. It is observed that CHF increases as the liquid height is increased initially but reaches a plateau beyond which no further enhancement in pool boiling performance was observed. Upon analyzing the high-speed videos of escaping bubbles, the liquid height to departure bubble diameter ratio is identified as a key parameter distinguishing between two bubble venting mechanisms. The findings of this work can be used with liquid height as a control variable in pool boiling equipment design, especially in applications such as electronics cooling.
Cultural logics: Toward theory and measurement

Abstract Researchers have increasingly used the concept of “logics” to study and explain cultural phenomena. Yet aside from the institutional logics perspective – which mostly focuses on organizations and uses a neo-institutional framework – there has been little guidance on how to define and measure logics. Examining fifty years of research, I find that analysts have tended to theorize and operationalize logics in two conflicting ways – as organizing principles for decision-making and/or as well-reasoned justifications. I propose a new definition of logics, as shared, internalized, cognitive structures which are fundamentally evaluative in nature, and distinguish them from other cultural constructs like “frames” and “schemas.” I advocate for a measurement strategy in which logics are operationalized as an evaluation with a unique set of criteria, with each criterion having a particular importance as well as direction of importance. I then provide some practical guidelines for collecting and analyzing data on logics. I illustrate the potential of this approach in two cases studies: a qualitative case using simulated college admissions decisions, and a quantitative case using original data on views toward poverty. I find evidence for previously-overlooked distinctions between liberals’ and conservatives’ bases for poverty policy support, revealing the power of a logics approach.
Estructuración del espacio público entre política y fiesta: el caso de plaza Italia en Santiago, Chile

Este articulo busca aproximarse al fenomeno de plaza Dignidad en Santiago de Chile como un espacio publico de gran trascendencia social y simbolica, de escala metropolitana y alcance nacional, en especial, a partir del proceso de movilizacion social desde octubre de 2019. En este trabajo se analizan los factores para la conformacion, durante el siglo XX, de plaza Italia, como un conjunto monumental para el encuentro, la recreacion y la manifestacion, asi como tambien las dimensiones de espacio publico y flujo, como elementos morfologicos y urbanos que dan cuenta de la estructuracion historica de este lugar emblematico. Plaza Italia, plaza Baquedano y plaza Dignidad: tres denominaciones y distintas representaciones que conviven y se contradicen en el espacio urbano, como escenario de procesos de enunciacion, expresion politica y expresion festiva.
Geographic context-aware text mining: enhance social media message classification for situational awareness by integrating spatial and temporal features

To find disaster relevant social media messages, current approaches utilize natural language processing methods or machine learning algorithms relying on text only, which have not been perfected du...
Reactive power control methods for photovoltaic inverters to mitigate short-term voltage magnitude fluctuations

Abstract Variations in the output power of intermittent renewable sources can cause significant fluctuations of distribution system voltage magnitudes. Reactive power control methods that employ the reactive power capability of photovoltaic three-phase inverters to mitigate these fluctuations are proposed. These control methods cause the three-phase inverters to substitute reactive output power for real output power when fluctuations in the solar power are experienced, allowing the fluctuations to be controlled. Performance metrics for assessing the ability of these controllers to perform this mitigation are defined. The controllers are examined using the IEEE 123-bus feeder distribution system, and it is found that the controllers can effectively mitigate voltage magnitude fluctuations and that the appropriate choice of controller depends on the performance metrics of interest.
‘Mayacene’ floodplain and wetland formation in the Rio Bravo Watershed of northwestern Belize

This is the first article to characterize the soil and fluvial geomorphology of the Rio Bravo’s fluviokarst watershed in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, northwestern Belize. Althoug...
Hepatic Abnormalities Are Present Before and Early After the Fontan Operation

Background Progressive hepatic fibrosis is common after the Fontan operation, but little is known about its onset. We sought to determine whether hepatic abnormalities before the Fontan operation, and whether further abnormalities can be identified soon afterward. Methods Patients undergoing the Fontan operation at our institution were prospectively enrolled and underwent hepatic ultrasound with Doppler and serum testing immediately before and 3 to 6 months after the operation. Results Thirty patients were enrolled at a median age of 3.1 years (range, 2.2 to 8.1 years). Extracardiac Fontan was performed in 67%. Three patients (10%) had abnormal hepatic echotexture before the operation. At the post-Fontan study, mean liver length increased (9.9 versus 10.9 cm; p Conclusions In this cohort, hepatic abnormalities were observed in some patients before the Fontan operation and new abnormalities developed soon afterward. These findings suggest that liver insult may occur before or soon after the Fontan operation.
κ Editing Rescues Autoreactive B Cells Destined for Deletion in Mice Transgenic for a Dual Specific Anti-Laminin Ig

We explored mechanisms involved in B cell self-tolerance in a double- and triple-transgenic mouse model bearing the LamH-Cμ Ig H chain conventional transgene and a gene-targeted replacement for a functional Vκ8Jκ5 L chain gene. Whereas the H chain is known to generate anti-laminin Ig in combination with multiple L chains, the H + L Ig binds ssDNA in addition to laminin. Immune phenotyping indicates that H + L transgenic B cells are regulated by clonal deletion, receptor editing via secondary rearrangements at the nontargeted κ allele, and anergy. Collectively, the data suggest that multiple receptor-tolerogen interactions regulate autoreactive cells in the H + L double-transgenic mice. Generation of H + LL triple-transgenic mice homozygous for the targeted L chain to exclude secondary κ rearrangements resulted in profound B cell depletion with absence of mature B cells in the bone marrow. We propose that the primary tolerogen of dual reactive B cells in this model is not ssDNA, but a strongly cross-linking tolerogen, presumably basement membrane laminin, that triggers recombination-activating gene activity, L chain editing, and deletion.
Deterministic annealing, constrained clustering, and optimization

In previous work the authors (Phys. Rev. Let., vol.65, p.945-8, 1990) proposed the concept of deterministic annealing for the problem of clustering and vector quantization. This approach is summarized. The authors extend the clustering method to the constraint clustering method. Adding constraints to the deterministic annealing mechanism expands the variety of optimization problems which can be solved by this method. A brief presentation of the clustering approach is given. Two examples to which the constraint clustering approach can be applied are included. >