cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical students' perception of a surgical career

Introduction Because of negative perceptions, there is limited interest in seneral surgery among medical students. Furthermore, the source and timing of the negative perceptions are unclear. This study was undertaken to determine attitudes toward general surgery among second year medical students prior to formal clinical rotations. Methods A survey was distributed to second year medical students at nine randomly selected diverse U.S. medical schools. Questions included demographic items and perceptions about general surgery. Results 402 students, 56% men responded. Important qualities required to be a surgeon were felt to be "the ability to handle stressful situations" by 93%, a "hard worker" by 92%, and "efficient" by 82%. 49% expressed interest in pursuing general surgery; 95% because of operating room exposure, albeit limited. Among students expressing no interest in general surgery, 93% reported lifestyle as the major deterring factor; the sources of negative perception were classmates for 88%, non-surgical physician instructors for 61%, and non-physician instructors for 28%. 64% felt there is disparity for women in general surgery; 89% attributed this to lifestyle and 35% to a hostile environment. Earlier exposure to surgeons, positive role models, and improving lifestyle were frequent suggestions for improving the perception of general surgery. Conclusions Among pre-clinical medical students there is a generally negative perception of general surgery, which is gender non-specific and formed prior to clinical rotations, limiting interest in general surgery. Earlier exposure to surgeons, improved lifestyle and work environment, and positive role models, would help influence medical students toward careers in general surgery.
Succinate inhibition of α-ketoglutarate-dependent enzymes in a yeast model of paraganglioma

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a tumor suppressor. Heterozygosity for defective SDH subunit genes predisposes to familial paraganglioma (PGL) or pheochromocytoma (PHEO). Models invoking reactive oxygen species (ROS) or succinate accumulation have been proposed to explain the link between TCA cycle dysfunction and oncogenesis. Here we study the biochemical consequences of a common familial PGL-linked mutation, loss of the SDHB subunit, in a yeast model. This strain has increased ROS production but no evidence of mutagenic DNA damage. Because the strain lacks SDH activity, succinate accumulates dramatically and inhibits alpha-ketoglutarate (alphaKG)-dependent enzyme Jlp1, involved in sulfur metabolism, and alphaKG-dependent histone demethylase Jhd1. We show that mammalian JmjC-domain histone demethylases are also vulnerable to succinate inhibition in vitro and in cultured cells. Our results suggest that any alphaKG-dependent enzyme is a potential target of accumulated succinate in oncogenesis. The possible role that inhibition of these enzymes by succinate may have in oncogenesis is discussed.
Survivable lightpath provisioning in WDM mesh networks under shared path protection and signal quality constraints

This paper addresses the problem of survivable lightpath provisioning in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) mesh networks, taking into consideration optical-layer protection and some realistic optical signal quality constraints. The investigated networks use sparsely placed optical-electrical-optical (O/E/O) modules for regeneration and wavelength conversion. Given a fixed network topology with a number of sparsely placed O/E/O modules and a set of connection requests, a pair of link-disjoint lightpaths is established for each connection. Due to physical impairments and wavelength continuity, both the working and protection lightpaths need to be regenerated at some intermediate nodes to overcome signal quality degradation and wavelength contention. In the present paper, resource-efficient provisioning solutions are achieved with the objective of maximizing resource sharing. The authors propose a resource-sharing scheme that supports three kinds of resource-sharing scenarios, including a conventional wavelength-link sharing scenario, which shares wavelength links between protection lightpaths, and two new scenarios, which share O/E/O modules between protection lightpaths and between working and protection lightpaths. An integer linear programming (ILP)-based solution approach is used to find optimal solutions. The authors also propose a local optimization heuristic approach and a tabu search heuristic approach to solve this problem for real-world, large mesh networks. Numerical results show that our solution approaches work well under a variety of network settings and achieves a high level of resource-sharing rates (over 60% for O/E/O modules and over 30% for wavelength links), which translate into great savings in network costs.
American Nightmare Neoliberalism, Neoconservatism, and De-Democratization

Neoliberalism and neoconservatism are two distinct political rationalities in the contemporary United States. They have few overlapping formal characteristics, and even appear contradictory in many respects. Yet they converge not only in the current presidential administration but also in their de-democratizing effects. Their respective devaluation of political liberty, equality, substantive citizenship, and the rule of law in favor of governance according to market criteria on the one side, and valorization of state power for putatively moral ends on the other, undermines both the culture and institutions of constitutional democracy. Above all, the two rationalities work symbiotically to produce a subject relatively indifferent to veracity and accountability in government and to political freedom and equality among the citizenry.
Impact of Literacy Influences and Perceived Reading Ability on Self-Rated Health of Public Middle School Students.

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of literacy influences and perceived reading ability on the self-rated health (SRH) of 244 middle school students. Five literacy influences and reading ability independent variables resulted in moderate to substantial test-retest reliability [Kappas 46.6 to 63.8] over a two-week period. SRH served as the dependent variable. Students were significantly more likely to report poorer SRH (effect sizes ranged from .26 to .78) if they reported difficulty reading the survey, did not like reading, did not or were not sure if they saw a parent or caregiver reading during the past two days, or had not visited a public library or bookstore during the past year (p < .05), even after adjustment for socioeconomic status. Preliminary results help to quantify how early in life literacy influences and perceived reading ability may be associated with SRH.
The Praxis of Poor People's Movements : Strategy and Theory in Dissensus Politics

Poor People's Movements: Why They Succeed, How They Fail. By Frances Fox Piven and Richard A. Cloward. New York: Pantheon Books, 1977. 381 pages.
Camp Health Services in the State of Michigan

Context Every summer, 10million campers attend summer camp in the United States. In Michigan, each camp is required to have a camp health officer (CHO) on-site. Objective To document the medical training, local emergency medical services and physician support, and off-camp medical facility use of CHOs. Design Anonymous institutional review board–approved mail survey of all Michigan CHOs during the summer of 2001. Results A total of 129 responses (50% response rate). Forty-seven percent of the CHOs reported caring for campers with significant medical needs. Almost half (45%) of the CHOs were registered nurses; however, 44% of the CHOs had paramedic training or less. Forty percent reported an ambulance response time of more than 10 minutes. Nearly all (97%) reported having a physician who reviewed their standing orders, and yet 75% reported using an acute care facility (emergency department or urgent care) more than half of the time for medical care not on-site. The CHOs reported that a small or rural hospital was the ambulance-receiving hospital 71% of the time. Two of the camps that responded have an automatic external defibrillator, and 22% are planning to buy one. Conclusions In Michigan, CHOs have limited training, tend to use emergency department or urgent care facilities as their medical backup, and, in some instances, have prolonged times to definitive care. This preliminary study shows some of the opportunities that exist to improve health care for campers on a local and national level.
Analog to digital converter requirements and implementations for narrowband channelization applications

The processing speeds and dynamic ranges of digital narrowband channelizing devices such as fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) and digital downconverters are far ahead of current analog-to-digital (A/D) converter technology. This would seem to limit the usefulness of these digital devices in real-time applications. Analog preprocessing combined with the digital postprocessing can reduce the limitations of A/D converters in these applications. A detailed examination of A/D converter requirements and limitations in these applications is presented. Preprocessing and postprocessing methods which enhance the performance of the A/D converters are presented. These methods can reduce the impact of the A/D converter as a system bottleneck. Communication system applications are emphasized. >
A unified force controller for a proportional-injector direct-injection monopropellant-powered actuator

This paper describes the modeling and control of a proportional-injector direct-injection monopropellant powered actuator for use in power-autonomous human-scale mobile robots. The development and use of proportional (as opposed to solenoid) injection valves enables a continuous and unified input/output description of the device, and therefore enables the development and implementation of a sliding-mode-type controller for the force control of the proposed actuator that provides the stability guarantees characteristic of a sliding mode control approach. Specifically, a three-input, singleoutput model of the actuation system behavior is developed, which takes a nonlinear noncontrol-canonical form. In order to implement a nonlinear controller, a constraint structure is developed that effectively renders the system single-input, single-output and control canonical, and thus of appropriate form for the implementation of a sliding mode controller. A sliding mode controller is then developed and experimentally implemented on the proposed actuator. Experimental results demonstrate closed loop force tracking with a saturation-limited bandwidth of approximately 6 Hz.
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is essential for development and tissue homeostasis in metazoans. Probably as a result of its potent influence on cell-fate outcomes, the Hh pathway when corrupted results in malformations and diseases such as cancer. Many of the pathway components that contribute to Hh-mediated signal transduction are presented.
The Role of Low Vision Rehabilitation in Neuro-ophthalmic Disease

Neuro-ophthalmic disease can cause a wide array of visual impairments. Management should include neuro-ophthalmic examination, patient education regarding visual prognosis, and evaluation of visual function. Often, low vision examination and rehabilitation are useful adjuncts to the neuro-ophthalmic evaluation. Components of a low vision examination pertaining to neuro-ophthalmology are discussed. Specific low vision management strategies are reviewed for patients with visual acuity loss, visual field loss, decreased contrast sensitivity, and ocular motor disturbances caused by neuro-ophthalmic disease.
Copernicus revisited: amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract The beta-amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has dominated the thinking and research in this area for over a decade and a half. While there has been a great deal of effort in attempting to prove its centrality in this devastating disease, and while an enormous amount has been learned about its properties (e.g., putative toxicity, processing and signaling), Aβ has not proven to be both necessary and sufficient for the development, neurotoxicity, and cognitive deficits associated with this disease. Instead, the few treatments that are available have emerged from aging research and are primarily directed toward modification of acetylcholine levels. Clearly, it is time to rethink this position and to propose instead that future approaches should focus upon altering the age-related sensitivity of the neuronal environment to insults involving such factors as inflammation and oxidative stress. In other words “solve the problems of aging and by extension those of AD will also be reduced.” This review is being submitted as a rather Lutherian attempt to “nail an alternative thesis” to the gate of the Church of the Holy Amyloid to open its doors to the idea that aging is the most pervasive element in this disease and Aβ is merely one of the planets.
Can we improve quality of life of patients on dialysis

The idea of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not new. In 1946, the constitution of the World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” ([1][1]). Today, the HRQOL concept addresses
High T/sub c/ wire design and power losses on cycling SMES devices

The present state of the art in high T/sub c/ superconductors is projected to the kilometer-long wires needed for a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device. It is concluded that silver-clad-bismuth-based superconductor is the only form which is likely to be available in the near future. This wire should have a cross-section of approximately 1 cm/sup 2/ and carry 10 kA in fields up to 10 T. For satisfactory performance it must be made in the form of twisted multifilaments rather than the flat tape form which is presently receiving the most attention. In addition, detailed measurements of J/sub c/ as a function of field and temperature of the wire form as well as thermal conductivity and heat capacity are required in order to properly calculate the stability limits of the wire. >
The photodynamic inactivation of tobacco mosaic virus and its ribonucleic acid by acridine orange.

Abstract Acridine orange-sensitized photoinactivation of tobacco mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid has been studied in detail. The intact virus is only partially inactivated by acridine orange even at 10 −5 M acridine orange. Tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid inactivation by acridine orange has been studied from the standpoint of the ribonucleic acid-dye complexes (Complex I and Complex II), and the ternary complex of ribonucleic acid-dye and metal ions (Complex III). Tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid infectivity was destroyed with first-order kinetics by low levels of acridine orange (Complex II). “Complex III”, formed in the presence of paramagnetic metal ions, was resistant to photodynamic inactivation, the protection by metal ions being linear with respect to concentration of the metal ions. A comparison of the photosensitization by methylene blue and acridine orange with respect to tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid and free guanosine showed that, while acridine orange was only 5–6 times less active than methylene blue with ribonucleic acid, it was considerably less efficient in destroying guanosine. Sedimentation studies with acridine orange-inactivated tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid showed that mild conditions leading to measurable loss of infectivity involve no depolymerization of tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid which sets in only under more severe conditions. The results have been discussed from the standpoint of the mechanisms of photodynamic inactivation.
Aerial image registration using Projective Polar Transform

Image registration is an essential step in many image processing applications that need visual information from multiple images for comparison, integration or analysis. Recently researchers have introduced image registration techniques using the log-polar transform (LPT) for its rotation and scale invariant properties. However, the accuracy of the approach limits by the number of samples used in the mapping process, which affects directly the computational cost. Motivated by the success of LPT based approach and its limitation, we propose a novel Projective Polar Transform (PPT) based image registration method that is robust to translation, scale, and rotation and yields high accuracy while requires low computational cost. Unlike LPT that 2D interpolation is needed in the mapping process, our method uses one-to-one mapping mechanism that directly arranges image from Cartesian to Polar coordinate according to pre-computed PPT map. An innovative projection mechanism is proposed to reduce the image from two to one dimensional vectors. With the proposed approach, the mapping procedure is accelerated and the matching process can be performed in 1D. This results in great reduction of the computational cost.
Multi-receiver/multi-sender network security: efficient authenticated multicast/feedback

The authors extend the use of traditional point-to-point message authentication to multireceiver and/or multisender scenarios. They provide efficient cryptographic authentication methods for point-to-multipoint communication, where a single sender can broadcast (multicast) only one unconditionally secure authenticator for a message and which all receivers can verify. They further develop multipoint-to-point communication (incast) in which any subset (of a specified size) of a group of individuals can transmit a single authenticator (or a signature) for a message using the group's key. This method has been called threshold authentication. It is an application layer that is transparent to the receiver which only deals with the group as one entity. The bandwidth, computations, and storage overheads are reduced substantially when compared with the traditional approach. Threshold authentication hides some aspects of the internal structure of the group, which may be important in interenterprise communication. >
Accuracy of assisted reproductive technology information on the Massachusetts birth certificate, 1997-2000

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of assisted reproductive technology (ART) reporting on the Massachusetts birth certificate and to explore the individual and hospital-level characteristics associated with ART reporting. Design Validity analysis of population-based data. Setting Live-birth deliveries by Massachusetts-resident mothers during 1997–2000. Patient(s) Live births and delivery mothers. Intervention(s) The ART data maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were linked with the live birth–infant death records in Massachusetts. Successfully linked records were used as the gold standard for ART-related deliveries in evaluating the validity of the ART information reported on the Massachusetts birth certificate. Main Outcome Measure(s) Sensitivity and specificity. Result(s) The sensitivity of ART reporting on the birth certificate was 27% and the specificity >99%. Sensitivity of ART reporting was higher among women with multiple deliveries (twins: 32%; triplets+: 43%) and preterm deliveries (36%). Conclusion(s) During the period evaluated, reporting of ART information on the birth certificate was incomplete, and ART births identified through the birth certificate were a biased sample of the population of ART births. Using delivery hospital data as the sole source of ART information for the standard birth certificate may yield inaccurate information.
Dopamine and norepinephrine in the gastrointestinal tract of mice and the effects of neurotoxins.

Evidence is lacking for neurons containing dopamine and acting as a neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal tract. The relative percentage of dopamine to norepinephrine in noradrenergically innervated tissues (e.g., spleen) is known to be relatively constant within a species, and an increased percentage in any given tissue supports the premise that dopaminergic cells are present. We measured levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) from segments of the gastrointestinal tract of mice after injection of: 1) saline (control); 2) 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA); or 3) 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. In control tissues the ratio of dopamine/norepinephrine was higher (P less than .001) than in the spleen; DOPAC was present and the DOPAC/dopamine ratios were similar to those in the central nervous system (where dopaminergic neurons are present). Dopamine and norepinephrine were decreased by 6-OHDA in most myenteric plexus/smooth muscle tissues compared with controls and DOPAC was unmeasurable in most samples after 6-OHDA. In contrast, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine decreased norepinephrine but not dopamine in the smooth muscle/myenteric plexus. High dopamine/norepinephrine percentages, 6-OHDA depletion of dopamine and presence of DOPAC together suggest the presence of dopamine-containing neurons in the myenteric plexus of the gastrointestinal tract of mice.
Restructuring Charitable Remainder Trusts

Professor Jerry A. Kasner reviews modifying charitable remainder trusts in light of changes such as divorce, charitable intent, and cash flow changes, and highlights the IRS's flexibility on that issue.
Wide-Area-Measurement System Development at the Distribution Level: An FNET/GridEye Example

The electric power grid wide-area monitoring system (WAMS) has been extended from the transmission to distribution level. As the first WAMS deployed at the distribution level, the frequency monitoring network FNET/GridEye uses global positioning system-time-synchronized monitors, called frequency disturbance recorders, to capture dynamic grid behaviors. In this paper, the latest developments of monitor design and the state-of-the-art data analytics applications of FNET/GridEye are introduced. Its innovations and uniqueness are also discussed. Thanks to its low cost, easy installation, and multifunctionalities, FNET/GridEye works as a cost-effective situational awareness tool for power grid operators and pioneers the development of WAMS in electric power grids.
Implementation of Scaling and Extended Scaling Equations of State for the Critical Point of Fluids.

An explicit, practical procedure is suggested for transforming from the laboratory variables density (ρ) and temperature (T) into the parametric variables r and θ, which occur in various scaled representations of equations of state and of transport properties of fluids near critical points. A reasonably efficient and versatile computer program illustrating this procedure is provided. With this program, the parametric equations of state which occur in several formulations of simple, extended, and/or revised scaling are as easy to use as any other equation of state for which T and ρ are the independent variables.
Effects of Controlled Defects on the Vortex-Solid Melting Transition of Y-Ba-Cu-O Single Crystals

We report systematic studies of the dc transport properties in proton-irradiated Y-Ba-Cu-O single crystals. We find that the onset of vortex dissipation in moderately irradiated samples is associated with the occurrence of a second-order vortex-solid melting transition. In addition, the decreasing zero-field transition temperature and increasing critical current density with the increasing defects reveal the effects of disorder on reducing the electron mean-free-path and on increasing the pinning density.
Optimizing fluid–structure interaction systems with immersogeometric analysis and surrogate modeling: Application to a hydraulic arresting gear

Abstract This work describes a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) design optimization framework and applies it to improving the structural performance of a water brake used to stop aircraft landing on short runways. Inside the water brake, a dissipative torque is exerted on a rotor through interactions between rotor blades and a surrounding fluid. We seek to optimize blade shape over a parameterized design space, to prevent potentially-damaging stress concentrations without compromising performance. To avoid excessive numbers of costly simulations while exploring the design space, we use a surrogate management framework that combines derivative-free pattern search optimization with automated construction of a low-fidelity surrogate model, requiring only a handful of high-fidelity FSI simulations. We avoid the difficult problem of generating fluid and structure meshes at new points in the design space by using immersogeometric FSI analysis. The structure is analyzed isogeometrically: its design geometry also serves as a computational mesh. This geometry is then immersed in an unfitted fluid mesh that does not depend on the structure’s design parameters. We use this framework to make significant improvements to a baseline design found in the literature. Specifically, there is a 35% reduction of von Mises stress variance and a 25% reduction of maximum of stress, while the resisting torque and mass of the optimized blades remain uncompromised.
2.21 – Stressed Out Insects II. Physiology, Behavior, and Neuroendocrine Circuits Mediating Stress Responses

Physiological stress impacts every organism, and elicits stereotypical physiological and behavioral responses. This chapter discusses the endocrine networks that are responsible for detection of physiological stress and subsequent modification of target tissues in the insects.
Reachable set estimation and control for switched linear systems with dwell-time restriction

The reachable set estimation and control problems for continuous-time switched linear systems are addressed in this paper. First, a general result on reachable set estimation for switched system is proposed based on a Lyapunov function approach. Then, with the help of a class of time-scheduled Lyapunov functions, a numerically tractable sufficient condition ensuring the system state bounded in a prescribed set is derived for switched systems under dwell time constraint. Moreover, a time-scheduled state feedback controller is designed to ensure the state trajectories of the closed-loop system are confined in a prescribed set. Finally, a networked control system subject to packet dropouts is modeled as a switched system with dwell time constraints, and the controller design problem is studied as an application of our results.
Application of high gradient magnetic separation for oil remediation using polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract Oil can be released into the environment from different sources such as runoff, accidental oil spills and oily wastewater discharges produced during industrial activities and can have dramatic impacts on the environment. The limitations of current clean-up techniques have inspired researchers to study the application of nanotechnology for oil remediation. Previously, we reported excellent oil-removal efficiency of a reference MC252 oil using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) from an oil-water mixture under a wide range of environmentally relevant conditions. In the current report, the same type of NPs were used with a high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) technique for the rapid removal of oil from oil-water mixtures in a continuous flow system. Using a high magnetic field (0.56 T) and 1 h mixing time, fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) data showed approximately 85–95% oil and NP removal under all conditions. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results show 88 and near 100% removal of alkanes (C9-C22) for experiments in the presence or absence of stainless steel wool, respectively. Continuous use over 7 h of operation (17 L oil-water mixture was treated) showed no reduction in oil and NP removal capacity. Results showed that increasing the magnetic field and inserting stainless steel wool significantly increased oil and NP removal efficiencies. This study shows that using HGMS is a promising technique for oil remediation using PVP-coated magnetic NPs.
Contact Angle Measurement of Small Capillary Length Liquid in Super-repelled State

The difficulty of measuring very large contact angles (>150 degrees) has become more relevant with the increased popularity of super-repellent surfaces. Measurement is more difficult for dynamic contact angles, for which theoretical profiles do not fit well, and small capillary length liquids, whose sessile droplets sag by gravity. Here, we expand the issue to the limit by investigating dynamic contact angles of liquids with an extremely small capillary length (<1.0 mm), empowered by the superomniphobic surface that can super-repel even fluorinated solvents, which highly wet all materials. Numerically simulating and experimentally testing 13 different liquids on the superomniphobic surface, we discover their dynamic contact angles can be measured with a consistent accuracy despite their vastly different capillary lengths if one keeps the lens magnification inversely proportional to the capillary length. Verifying the droplet equator height is a key parameter, we propose a new Bond number defined by the equator height and optical resolution to represent the measurement accuracy of large contact angles. Despite negligible improvement for most liquids today, the proposed approach teaches how to measure very large contact angles with consistent accuracy when any of the liquids in consideration has a capillary length below 1.0 mm.
Preliminary Studies of Auditory Problem Solving and Intertask Transfer by the Bottlenose Dolphin

2 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were tested with 2 simultaneous sound stimuli as discriminanda in successive reversal training (SRT) and discrimination learning set (DLS) paradigms. The first S was tested in the order SRT-DLS, and the second in the order DLS-SRT. Both demonstrated progressive improvement over successive reversals under SRT, with the DLS-SRT S showing fewer errors per reversal and achieving almost twice as many reversals within the fixed number of trials given. Although neither S clearly formed a discrimination learning set within the 180 different auditory problems administered, there was evidence that the prior SRT experience of one S facilitated some aspects of its subsequent DLS performance. The failure in DLS was discussed in terms of the marginal levels of within-problem learning evidenced.
The influence of pelvic rotation on clinical measurements of hip flexion and extension range of motion across sex and age

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the amount of pelvic rotation associated with hip motion during passive hip flexion and extension goniometric measurements. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University laboratory. Participants One hundred healthy adults (males = 45, females = 55) aged 18–66 years participated. Outcome measures Clinical range of motion measurements of hip flexion, and extension during the modified Thomas test, and pelvic sagittal position measured using a device, attached from the PSIS to ASIS, and a fluid-filled inclinometer. Results When pelvic rotation was subtracted from the clinical measurements, hip flexion measurements were significantly reduced in both sexes (males: 110.8 ± 7.4 to 93.8 ± 7.8°, P Conclusions Clinical measurements of hip flexion exaggerated the range of motion in both sexes. The modified Thomas test appeared to control for rotation of the pelvis during hip extension in men. However, in women, hip extension measurements were exaggerated.
A mechanism for transgranular stress-corrosion cracking

A model is proposed to explain transgranular-stress corrosion cracking (T-SCC) in face-centered cubic (fcc) materials. Crack propagation is shown to be anisotropic, in that growth near {110} is discontinuous due to crack arrest by dislocation blunting whereas growth away from this growth orientation is continuous. For the former case, renucleation of arrested cracks involves active dissolution of shear bands at the crack tip, which changes the stress state at Lomer-Cottrell locks, causing them to fail by cleavage. Once the crack is nucleated, its instantaneous macroscopic crack-growth velocity is considered to be comprised of multiple nucleation of microcracks with intervening arrests. This microcracking results from the interaction of the stress fields from neighboring cracks which are forming simultaneously, the crack-opening constraint due to ligaments which act as “bridges” behind the crack front, and the localized dissolution at the microcrack tip which affectsK IC and leads to the “cobblestone” appearance. Experimental evidence and theoretical considerations are presented to support the model. The system studied was Cu-25 at. pct Au in 0.6 M NaCl solution at potentials between 300 and 400 mV (sce), which precludes hydrogen embrittlement.
THERMAL CONSEQUENCES OF PLASMA DISRUPTIONS IN TFTR AND ETF

We studied thermal responses of first walls for TFTR and ETF during plasma disruptions. To model the flux, we assumed the entire kinetic energy is deposited by axisymmetric horizontal displacement of the plasma. The deposition time is a free parameter. In TFTR, the minimum deposition time which does not cause the toroidal limiter to melt is 7 or 14 ms depending on whether or not the limiter is actively cooled. In ETF, the minimum time which does not cause surface melting of the cooling tubes is 80 ms.
Capillary Electrophoresis Separations of Glycans.

Capillary electrophoresis has emerged as a powerful approach for carbohydrate analyses since 2014. The method provides high resolution capable of separating carbohydrates by charge-to-size ratio. Principle applications are heavily focused on N-glycans, which are highly relevant to biological therapeutics and biomarker research. Advances in techniques used for N-glycan structural identification include migration time indexing and exoglycosidase and lectin profiling, as well as mass spectrometry. Capillary electrophoresis methods have been developed that are capable of separating glycans with the same monosaccharide sequence but different positional isomers, as well as determining whether monosaccharides composing a glycan are alpha or beta linked. Significant applications of capillary electrophoresis to the analyses of N-glycans in biomarker discovery and biological therapeutics are emphasized with a brief discussion included on carbohydrate analyses of glycosaminoglycans and mono-, di-, and oligosaccharid...
Histone Methylation in Chromatin Signaling

In this chapter we first provide a broad overview of some of the major discoveries that form the foundation of the histone methylation field. We then describe the main components involved in histone methylation signaling: the enzymes (“writers” and “erases”), the substrates, and the “readers,” and how together these components integrate to regulate critical nuclear and epigenetic programs. We also discuss how histone methylation is coordinated with DNA methylation, an important regulator of epigenetics. Finally, we describe some well-defined clinically important cases of histone methylation.
The Effectiveness of Foster Care as Supplementary Parenting

“Foster family care refers to twenty-four hour child care within the context of a substitute or surrogate family....as distinguished from other forms of substitute extrafamilial child care, e.g., residential treatment and institutional care” (Horejsi, 1979, p. 8). Foster care is generally the least restrictive and most normal type of extrafamilial substitute care.
The relationship between coping strategies and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).

e19016Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplant survivors with moderate to severe cGVHD experience substantial impairment in their QOL. However, the impact of patients’ physical functioning, symp...
The Impact of Pediatric Surgical Specialty Meetings: A 5-year Analysis of Presented Abstracts

Abstract Background Abstracts presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery (AAP) and American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) meetings can be taken as a reasonable representation of academic activity in pediatric surgery. We sought to assess ongoing trends in pediatric surgical research by analyzing the scientific content of each association's yearly meeting. Methods Abstracts presented at AAP and APSA between 2009 and 2013 were identified from the final printed programs (n = 910). Video abstracts (n = 34) were excluded. Collected data included title, authors, classification (basic science/clinical), presentation type (podium/poster), and topic. Publication as a journal article was determined using the abstract title/authors in a PubMed search. Journal impact factors were recorded for each journal and a composite impact factor (CIF) was calculated by dividing the sum of impact factors by the published articles per meeting. Results Number of abstracts presented, percentage published, abstract classifications, and presentation type remained consistent over the study period. The AAP meetings accepted a higher percentage of clinical abstracts: AAP 72.3 ± 3.4% versus APSA 65.9 ± 1.3%. The five most popular topics at both meetings were oncology, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, necrotizing enterocolitis, trauma, and appendicitis. The publication rate for clinical and basic science abstracts did not vary significantly over the study period, whereas CIFs were higher for basic science publications nearly every year. The percentage of podium abstracts published was significantly greater than poster abstracts, but no statistical difference in CIF was seen between podium- and poster-associated publications. Conclusions Abstracts accepted and presented at the two major pediatric surgical specialty meetings more commonly involve clinical studies with a trend away from basic science. Despite this, basic science abstracts tended to be published in higher impact journals. This study attempts to quantify the quality of pediatric surgical research and serves as a baseline for future comparison.
Vangl2 coordinates cell rearrangements during gut elongation.

BACKGROUND The embryonic gut tube undergoes extensive lengthening to generate the surface area required for nutrient absorption across the digestive epithelium. In Xenopus, narrowing and elongation of the tube is driven by radial rearrangements of its core of endoderm cells, a process that concomitantly opens the gut lumen and facilitates epithelial morphogenesis. How endoderm rearrangements are properly oriented and coordinated to achieve this complex morphogenetic outcome is unknown. RESULTS We find that, prior to gut elongation, the core Wnt/PCP component Vangl2 becomes enriched at both the anterior and apical aspects of individual endoderm cells. In Vangl2-depleted guts, the cells remain unpolarized, down-regulate cell-cell adhesion proteins, and, consequently, fail to rearrange, leading to a short gut with an occluded lumen and undifferentiated epithelium. In contrast, endoderm cells with ectopic Vangl2 protein acquire abnormal polarity and adhesive contacts. As a result, endoderm cells also fail to rearrange properly and undergo ectopic differentiation, resulting in guts with multiple torturous lumens, irregular epithelial architecture, and variable intestinal topologies. CONCLUSIONS Asymmetrical enrichment of Vangl2 in individual gut endoderm cells orients polarity and adhesion during radial rearrangements, coordinating digestive epithelial morphogenesis and lumen formation with gut tube elongation.
Depressive Symptoms Drive Fatigue Following Congestion in Heart Failure

Background Physical and depressive symptoms in heart failure (HF) are drivers of quality of life and healthcare use. Intrathoracic impedance, an objective measure of pulmonary congestion in HF, has been associated with both physical and psychological symptoms. Little is known, however, about how intrathoracic impedance (Optivol® Index), and physical and psychological symptoms are inter-related. Objective To understand the mechanisms by which an objective measure of congestion is related to physical or depressive symptoms. Methods Adults with symptomatic HF and an Optivol device had congestion data (Optivol Index>60Ω threshold) collected over 180 days prior to completing surveys of physical symptoms (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale; HF Somatic Perception Scale Dyspnea and Early and Subtle Symptoms subscales) and depressive symptoms (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire). Symptoms associated with congestion were identified based on Pearson correlation (p value Results Participants (n=49) were mostly male (61%), on average 62 years old, with mainly non-ischemic (80%), NYHA Class III/IV HF (63%). Fatigue (r= 0.29) and depressive symptoms (r= 0.51) were the only symptoms correlated with congestion (p value Conclusion Optivol-detected congestion events in the previous 6 months were associated with more depressive symptoms and fatigue. Depression mediated the effects of fatigue from congestion events. Reducing congestion in HF may mitigate depression and reduce fatigue. In addition, this study highlights the importance of addressing depressive symptoms in patients with HF.
Preoperative radiation as part of a multidisciplinary strategy for a medically inoperable patient with a bleeding colon cancer

An 84-year-old man with a history of deep vein thrombosis on warfarin and coronary artery disease presented with haematochezia and was diagnosed with an ascending colon cancer. He was short of breath with lower extremity oedema at the initial surgical consultation. Evaluation revealed an acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure, and further workup and treatment were recommended by the cardiology team. After multidisciplinary discussion, he underwent radiation for the control of bleeding, followed by cardiac catheterisation and placement of a bare metal stent. The patient subsequently underwent robotic-assisted right hemicolectomy. Pathology demonstrated a complete response, and the patient recovered uneventfully. He is alive swith no evidence of disease recurrence 12 months after surgery and 18 months after initial diagnosis.
Dual biologic therapy for recalcitrant psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Numerous biologic medications are available to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; however, many patients experience differential responses of their skin and joints to the same agent. In patients who do not respond to biologic monotherapy or combination of a biologic with an oral systemic agent, dual biologic therapy is a possible treatment option. Dual biologic therapy is rarely reported in the psoriatic literature (Table I).1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 We present a patient with severe psoriatic skin and joint disease who has been treated with multiple combinations of dual biologic therapy, including ustekinumab plus etanercept for 12 months, secukinumab plus etanercept for 6 months, and guselkumab plus etanercept for 15 months. Throughout the patient's treatment, adverse events only occurred with the ustekinumab plus etanercept combination and consisted of an increased incidence of urinary tract and upper respiratory infections, including a hospitalization for H2N1 flu. Table I Reported cases of dual biologic therapy for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Narrative Paths and Negotiation of Power in Birth Stories

Birth stories have become increasingly common on the internet, but they have received little attention as a computational dataset. These unsolicited, publicly posted stories provide rich descriptions of decisions, emotions, and relationships during a common but sometimes traumatic medical experience. These personal details can be illuminating for medical practitioners, and due to their shared structures, birth stories are also an ideal testing ground for narrative analysis techniques. We present an analysis of 2,847 birth stories from an online forum and demonstrate the utility of these stories for computational work. We discover clear sentiment, topic and persona-based patterns that both model the expected narrative event sequences of birth stories and highlight diverging pathways and exceptions to narrative norms. The authors' motivation to publicly post these personal stories can be a way to regain power after a surveilled and disempowering experience, and we explore power relationships between the personas in the stories, showing that these dynamics can vary with the type of birth (e.g., medicated vs unmedicated). Finally, birth stories exist in a space that is both public and deeply personal. This liminality poses a challenge for analysis and presentation, and we discuss tradeoffs and ethical practices for this collection. WARNING: This paper includes detailed narratives of pregnancy and birth.
Cryogelation and Cryogels

Cryogenic processes are increasingly being utilized to create unique polymeric materials that tackle challenges mainly in the biomedical arena, environmental science, and field of food technology [...]
PolyRad - Protection Against Free Radical Damage.

The effects of elevated levels of radiation contribute to the instability of pharmaceutical formulations in space compared to those on earth. Existing technologies are ineffective at maintaining the therapeutic efficacies of drugs in space. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel space-hardy formulations for preserving the stability and efficacy of drug formulations. This work aims to develop a novel approach for the protection of space pharmaceutical drug molecules from the radiation-induced damage to help extend or at least preserve their structural integrity and potency. To achieve this, free radical scavenging antioxidant, Trolox was conjugated on the surface of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles for the protection of a candidate drug, melatonin that is used as a sleep aid medication in International Space Station (ISS). Melatonin-PLGA-PLL-Trolox nanoparticle as named as PolyRad was synthesized employing single oil in water (o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation method. PolyRad is spherical in shape and has an average diameter of ~600 nm with a low polydispersity index of 0.2. PolyRad and free melatonin (control) were irradiated by UV light after being exposed to a strong oxidant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Bare melatonin lost ~80% of the active structure of the drug following irradiation with UV light or treatment with H2O2. In contrast, PolyRad protected >80% of the active structure of melatonin. The ability of PolyRad to protect melatonin structure was also carried out using 0, 1, 5 and 10 Gy gamma radiation. Gamma irradiation showed >98% active structures of melatonin encapsulated in PolyRads. Drug release and effectiveness of melatonin using PolyRad were evaluated on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Non-irradiated PolyRad demonstrated maximum drug release of ~70% after 72 h, while UV-irradiated and H2O2-treated PolyRad showed a maximum drug release of ~85%. Cytotoxicity of melatonin was carried out using both live/dead and MTT assays. Melatonin, non-radiated PolyRad and irradiated PolyRad inhibited the viability of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Cell viability of melatonin, PolyRad alone without melatonin (PolyRad carrier control), non-radiated PolyRad, and irradiated PolyRad were ~98, 87, 75 and 70%, respectively at a concentration $$ \sim $$ 0.01 $${mg}/{ml}$$ ($$10\mu g/{ml}$$). Taken together, PolyRad nanoparticle provides an attractive formulation platform for preventing damage to pharmaceutical drugs in potential space mission applications.