cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delivering bad news in emergency care medicine

Forecasting is a strategy for delivering bad news and is compared to two other strategies, stalling and being blunt. Forecasting provides some warning that bad news is forthcoming without keeping the recipient in a state of indefinite suspense (stalling) or conveying the news abruptly (being blunt). Forecasting appears to be more effective than stalling or being blunt in helping a recipient to "realize" the bad news because it involves the deliverer and recipient in a particular social relation. The deliverer of bad news initiates the telling by giving an advance indication of the bad news to come; this allows the recipient to calculate the news in advance of its final presentation, when the deliverer confirms what the recipient has been led to anticipate. Thus, realization of bad news emerges from intimate collaboration, whereas stalling and being blunt require recipients to apprehend the news in a social vacuum. Exacerbating disruption to recipients' everyday world, stalling and being blunt increase the probability of misapprehension (denying, blaming, taking the situation as a joke, etc.) and thereby inhibit rather than facilitate realization. Particular attention is paid to the "perspective display sequence", a particular forecasting strategy that enables both confirming the recipient's perspective and using that perspective to affirm the clinical news. An example from acute or emergency medicine is examined at the close of the paper.
Improved quality of life among patients completing a pulmonary rehabilitation program: one center's early experience.

INTRODUCTION The conclusion of previous investigations that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective intervention for the management of chronic lung disease may not be generalizable to PR programs with limited experience delivering this complex, interdisciplinary service. OBJECTIVE Determine whether PR is effective for the first group of patients treated in a newly formed interdisciplinary PR program. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal analysis of changes in health-related quality of life and 6-minute walk test for the first group of patients completing our newly formed 8-week outpatient PR program. We studied 6 men, age 65-77 years, with stable severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients completed the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire immediately before and 1 year after participation in our PR program. RESULTS Four patients completed the PR 6-minute walk test both before and after the program. We found improvement in all Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire domains at follow-up (mean +/- SD before and after): dyspnea 1.67 +/- 0.82 vs 4.92 +/- 0.49; emotional function 2.33 +/- 0.82 vs 5.50 +/- 0.55; fatigue 2.00 +/- 0.63 vs 5.00 +/- 0.63; feeling of mastery over disease 1.83 +/- 0.41 vs 5.83 +/- 1.17. The interval improvements in all health-related quality of life domains were statistically significant (p < 0.02 for all comparisons). There was a trend toward improvement in exercise tolerance: 231 +/- 213 ft before PR vs 353 +/- 66 ft at the 1-year follow-up (p = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS PR can result in sustained improvement in the quality of life of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even when this complex, interdisciplinary service is delivered by a newly formed and inexperienced PR program.
A Novel in Vivo Model for Assessing the Impact of Geophagic Earth on Iron Status

The causes and consequences of geophagy, the craving and consumption of earth, remain enigmatic, despite its recognition as a behavior with public health implications. Iron deficiency has been proposed as both a cause and consequence of geophagy, but methodological limitations have precluded a decisive investigation into this relationship. Here we present a novel in vivo model for assessing the impact of geophagic earth on iron status: Gallus gallus (broiler chicken). For four weeks, animals were gavaged daily with varying dosages of geophagic material or pure clay mineral. Differences in haemoglobin (Hb) across treatment groups were assessed weekly and differences in liver ferritin, liver iron, and gene expression of the iron transporters divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), duodenal cytochrome B (DcytB) and ferroportin were assessed at the end of the study. Minimal impact on iron status indicators was observed in all non-control groups, suggesting dosing of geophagic materials may need refining in future studies. However, this model shows clear advantages over prior methods used both in vitro and in humans, and represents an important step in explaining the public health impact of geophagy on iron status.
HIV Expertise: A Roundtable

The issue of HIV expertise involves several challenging questions: What is an HIV expert? Should HIV clinicians be accredited or otherwise officially
Babesia parasitemia causing splenic infarction: A review of the literature

Babesia remains an underappreciated and under-diagnosed tick-borne pathogen which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We present an uncommon manifestation of parasitemia causing splenic infarction. The pathophysiology is reviewed highlighting the significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment of this unique pathogen.
Accuracy of clustering as a method to group distribution feeders by PV hosting capacity

This paper examines the accuracy of clustering techniques for predicting hosting capacity. Hosting capacity results for 214 study feeders were used to predict a range of hosting capacities for an addition 7929 feeders using clustering techniques. Several methods were explored to try to improve the accuracy for predicting hosting capacity, including increasing the number of clusters, selecting variables that are highly correlated to hosting capacity for clustering, and weighting highly correlated clustering variables. The average normalized interquartile range (ANIQR) is used to compare the accuracy of several clustering methods for predicting hosting capacity.
Finding the question

Yablo gives us an account of subject-matter - a characterization of what declarative sentences are about. I argue that this account can be seen as a way of adjusting Frege’s theory of meaning, so as it no longer carries the implausible commitment that declarative sentences refer to their truth-values. I also point out that Yablo’s approach faces an unpleasant choice: give up a uniform compositional semantics for interrogative sentences or abandon the idea that ordinary characterizations of subject matter are literally and unambiguously true.
Analysis of Thermal Desorption Spectra to Understand the Migration of Hydrogen in Tungsten

Tungsten and tungsten alloys are candidate plasma-facing materials for future fusion reactors due to their excellent thermal properties and sputtering characteristics. A Sandia National Laboratories experimental program investigated the retention and release characteristics of hydrogen isotopes in tungsten and tungsten doped with 1% lanthanum oxide. A single model based on a high recombination rate coefficient, enhanced diffusivity in the implant zone for high flux experiments, and a 1.4 eV trap was capable of simulating all of the data accumulated in the experimental program, ln this report, the model is now applied to data obtained by other researchers examining hydrogen migration in tungsten. Almost without exception, the model was able to accurately duplicate the hydrogen isotope retention and release with the single variable of trap density.
The Nonclustered Protocadherins

The protocadherins comprise the largest family of proteins within the cadherin superfamily, and are themselves further subdivided into the clustered and nonclustered protocadherins. The nonclustered protocadherins are evolutionarily conserved and vary in their regional patterns of expression within the nervous system, leading to the hypothesis that they participate in neural circuit assembly. Although the nonclustered protocadherins are strongly linked to both neurodevelopmental disorders and multiple forms of cancer, their physiological roles are poorly understood. Recent work is providing new insights into the nonclustered protocadherins, resulting in emerging themes. Here, data revealing roles for these molecules at multiple stages of development and that suggest an involvement in regulating proliferation and cell differentiation is discussed.
High temporal variability in airborne bacterial diversity and abundance inside single-family residences

Our homes are microbial habitats, and although the amounts and types of bacteria in indoor air have been shown to vary substantially across residences, temporal variability within homes has rarely been characterized. Here, we sought to quantify the temporal variability in the amounts and types of airborne bacteria in homes, and what factors drive this variability. We collected filter samples of indoor and outdoor air in 15 homes over 1 year (approximately eight time points per home, two per season), and we used culture-independent DNA sequencing approaches to characterize bacterial community composition. Significant differences in indoor air community composition were observed both between homes and within each home over time. Indoor and outdoor air community compositions were not significantly correlated, suggesting that indoor and outdoor air communities are decoupled. Indoor air communities from the same home were often just as different at adjacent time points as they were across larger temporal distances, and temporal variation correlated with changes in environmental conditions, including temperature and relative humidity. Although all homes had highly variable indoor air communities, homes with the most temporally variable communities had more stable, lower average microbial loads than homes with less variable communities.
Catheter simulator software tool to generate electrograms of any multi-polar diagnostic catheter from 3D atrial tissue

Simulations are excellent tools for assessing new therapeutic strategies and are often conducted before implementing new therapy options in a clinical practice. For patients suffering from a heart arrhythmia, the main source of information comes from an intracardiac catheter. One of the common catheters is a Lasso multi-pole diagnostic catheter, which is a catheter that has 20 electrodes in a circular pattern. In this paper, we developed algorithm and simulation software that allows the users to place a multi-pole catheter on the atrial endocardial surface and record electrograms. In 3D atrial tissue, the plane of principal curvature is determined using eigenvectors of catheter vertices, from where the normals are projected and registered to the surface using 3D geodesic distance. This tool provides a platform for performing customized virtual cardiac experiments.
Identification of wireless users via power amplifier imperfections

Variations in the RF chain of radio transmitters can be used as a signature to uniquely associate wireless devices with a given transmission. Previous approaches, which have varied from transient analysis to machine learning, do not provide verifiable accuracy. Here, we detail a first step toward a model-based approach. In particular we exploit differences in nonlinearities of input/output (I/O) characteristics of power amplifiers modeled with Volterra series and develop algorithms for deciding the origin of a given message of interest based on these differences. We consider a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) and a classical likelihood ratio test. For both tests, decision rules are derived and their performance is analyzed. Finally, to establish the viability of the proposed approach, the practical variations among power amplifiers are investigated through simulations and measurements. Results show that the methods can be very effective, when exploiting imperfections of commercially used RF power amplifiers (PAs).
Nutrient Recycling by Eared Grebes in the Great Salt Lake

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling in lakes can be impacted by numerous abiotic and biotic factors. Large animals, such as birds and mammals, may recycle nutrients within a system or bring them in from surrounding habitats or different landscapes. Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) congregate in large numbers in the fall on the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, and may have an important role in recycling nutrients from macroinvertebrates back into the water column. We evaluated the role of Eared Grebes in N and P cycling within the GSL by estimating the magnitude of their nutrient recycling capacity. We estimated Eared Grebe population size on the GSL over 5 years at 300,000 to over 4,300,000 birds. We used a previously published food intake model to estimate monthly recycling of N (5 to 300 tonnes) and P (0.4 to 25 tonnes). The maximum estimates of N and P loading by Eared Grebes are about 25% of nutrient recycling in the GSL caused by turnover in the water column. Eared Grebes may speed up nu...
The Role of Chromatin Structure in Gene Regulation of the Human Malaria Parasite

The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, depends on a coordinated regulation of gene expression for development and propagation within the human host. Recent developments suggest that gene regulation in the parasite is largely controlled by epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent advancements contributing to our understanding of the mechanisms controlling gene regulation in the parasite, including nucleosome landscape, histone modifications, and nuclear architecture. In addition, various processes involved in regulation of parasite-specific genes and gene families are examined. Finally, we address the use of epigenetic processes as targets for novel antimalarial therapies. Collectively, these topics highlight the unique biology of P. falciparum, and contribute to our understanding of mechanisms regulating gene expression in this deadly parasite.
Nonlinear Dynamics from Infinite Impulse Response Matched Filters

Standard methods of communication theory are used to derive optimal waveforms for transmitting information through noise using infinite impulse response matched filters as receivers. In two examples, the derived optimal communication waveforms are chaotic. Extrapolating from these simple examples, we posit that the optimal communication waveform for any stable infinite impulse response filter can similarly be chaotic. This conjecture implies the phenomena of nonlinear dynamics and chaos are fundamental and essential to a full understanding of modern communication theory.
Analyzing job satisfaction and preferences of employees: the case of horticultural companies in Germany

German horticulture, as well as horticulture and agriculture in other industrialized countries, faces increasing skilled labor shortage. Additionally family run businesses in horticulture and agriculture are lacking a new generation of entrepreneurs, leading to increased structural change. Insights about job attributes attractiveness as well as their impact on job satisfaction lead to a more transparent environment in which employers and employees can make better-informed decisions and redesign the professional environment, resulting in increased job satisfaction, performance and career sustainability. For this purpose, a survey was undertaken from August 2013 to February 2015 through a questionnaire examining the preferences and perception of employees (N=229) regarding job characteristics. The theoretical background of the study is Warr’s vitamin model, which assumes non-linear relationships between job characteristics and job satisfaction. The strongest connections with job satisfaction among employees...
Home-grown kidneys: challenges and mechanisms behind tissue engineering for the treatment of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the leading cause of death for individuals suffering from end-stage kidney failure. While kidney transplantation is the most viable solution to CKD, it has many challenges and limitations. This review evaluates kidney transplant rejection and the various transplantation methods that may be employed to treat CKD. Kidney rejection and long-term transplant survival is the main concern regarding transplantation attempts. Thus, scientist must screen and strategize appropriately to ensure kidney transplant survival. Tissue engineering techniques are explored as means to improve upon transplantation attempts. Research into ensuring adequate organ scaffold design has become crucial in the field of regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the role of integrins is discussed as a central component for future tissue engineering techniques, by taking the study of scaffold design to the molecular level. Finally, a glimpse into the current advancements of three-dimensional bioprinting highlights the future of tissue engineering and shows how the field of regenerative medicine is taking another step closer to developing “home-grown” kidneys. With the prospect of generating a fully lab-created, personalized kidney, CKD may one day be treated without encountering any of the limitations that have hindered previous attempts.
Clipping the carbon–carbon bond

The bonds between two carbon atoms tend to be hard to break. But careful manipulation of the starting material can make the process remarkably easy.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Human Adenovirus for Surveillance in Japan in 2014

Objective This study sought to clarify how laboratory testing of human mastadenovirus (adenovirus) is conducted in local public health institutes (LPHI) as part of Japanese adenovirus surveillance. Methods Questionnaires on adenovirus surveillance were distributed to LPHIs (n=77) between February and May, 2014. Results The participation response rate was 100%. During this period, adenoviral cultures were conducted at 65 institutes (84%) while 49 (64%) used neutralization testing. PCR diagnoses were conducted at 58 institutes (75%). The national adenovirus diagnosis manual (http://www.nih.go.jp/niid/ja/labo-manual.html), which includes methods of viral culture and PCR for penton, hexon, and fiber-coding regions, was used in 68% of the LPHIs. Ocular samples were diagnosed at 36 (47%) LPHIs. Conclusion Most LPHIs conduct adenovirus surveillance in accordance with the national diagnosis manual. Both PCR and viral cultures were used for adenovirus surveillance in the majority of LPHIs during the surveyed period.
In reply: Cardiorenal syndrome.

We thank Dr. Freda for his remarks and observations. Certainly, the clinical importance of this entity and the challenge it poses to clinicians cannot be overemphasized. We concur with the overall message and reply to his specific comments: We completely agree that clinical data-gathering is of
Improving operational flood forecasting in monsoon climates with bias-corrected quantitative forecasting of precipitation

ABSTRACTFor flood-prone countries subject to large-scale and seasonal flooding, precipitation forecasting is the single most important factor for improving the skill of flood forecasting for such l...
Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance as a Non-Destructive Testing Tool

Nuclear pure quadrupole resonance (NQR) is a resonance technique that provides distinctly different information from that provided by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In NMR the splitting of the energy levels, and therefore the frequency observed, occurs because of the interaction of the nuclear magnetic moment with an external magnetic field. Information about the system under study comes from perturbations on this magnetic interaction. These perturbations lead to a broadening of the line, or to relaxation effects on the interchange of energy between the spins and the lattice, and among the spins. In NQR the primary interaction is between the electric quadrupole moment of a nucleus and the electric field gradient at that nucleus. The field gradient is provided by internal interactions in the sample itself, arising from the chemical bonds, rather than by an external field. Anything that changes the bonding environment, such as tensile stress, will cause shifts in the quadrupole resonance frequency. All nuclei with spin greater than 1/2 have a nuclear quadrupole moment, in addition to their magnetic moment. The nucleus used as an example in this paper is 75As, which has spin 3/2.
Alpha Distribution for Alpha Testing

Alpha testing is widely used for rendering surfaces with transparency. While it works well when transparency is a binary function, semi-transparent regions cause problems, as they are classified as either fully transparent or opaque. Unfortunately, semi-transparent texture regions often appear in coarser mipmap levels, causing surfaces to disappear with distance. We introduce the alpha distribution approach for pre-processing the alpha values of a texture such that alpha testing produces expected results with semi-transparency without any modification to render-time operations. We describe two separate algorithms for alpha distribution with similar qualitative behavior. Our results show that alpha distribution can produce high-quality results with low noise. We also explain how alpha distribution can be extended for high-quality rendering with alpha-to-coverage.
Quantum Cascade Laser Infrared Spectroscopy for Online Monitoring of Hydroxylamine Nitrate.

We describe a new approach for high sensitivity and real-time online measurements to monitor the kinetics in the processing of nuclear materials and other chemical reactions. Mid infrared (Mid-IR) quantum cascade laser (QCL) high-resolution spectroscopy was used for rapid and continuous sampling of nitrates in aqueous and organic reactive systems, using pattern recognition analysis and high sensitivity to detect and identify chemical species. In this standoff or off-set method, the collection of a sample for analysis is not required. To perform the analysis, a flow cell was used for in situ sampling of a liquid slipstream. A prototype was designed based on attenuated total reflection (ATR) coupled with the QCL beam to detect and identify chemical changes and be deployed in hostile environments, either radiological or chemical. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) at 3σ for hydroxylamine nitrate ranged from 0.3 to 3 and from 3.5 to 10 g·L−1, respectively, for the nitrate system at three peaks with wavelengths between 3.8 and 9.8 μm.
Impact of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) guidelines on emergency department use of head computed tomography at a level I safety-net trauma center.

To evaluate whether the emergency department usage of head computed tomography (CT) on pediatric patients with minor head trauma changed after publication of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) head CT guidelines and to identify risk factors associated with performing head CT on patients without a PECARN guideline indication. This retrospective study included 484 patients 18 years of age or younger who presented to the emergency department with head injury and a total Glasgow Coma Scale score ≥ 14 between September 2005 and July 2014. Based on the guideline publication date of September 2009, the study cohort was stratified into pre-guideline and post-guideline groups. Head CT performance, indications, and findings were compared between study periods. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with performing a non-indicated head CT. The rate of head CTs performed did not significantly change in the post-guideline period (96.6% vs. 95.7%, p = 0.63). There was no significant difference in the proportion of head CTs performed in patients with indications for head CT (100.0% vs. 100.0%) nor in patients without an indication for head CT (85.7% vs. 82.6%, p = 0.65) between the study periods. Females were significantly more likely to have a non-indicated head CT (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.67–4.45) performed. Head CT ordering practices for pediatric patients with head injury did not change at a level I trauma center after publication of the PECARN head CT guidelines.
A New Deal for South Dakota: Drought, Depression, and Relief, 1920–1941

Review of: A New Deal for South Dakota: Drought, Depression, and Relief, 1920–1941, by R. Alton Lee
TRANSCATHETER THERAPY OF RESIDUAL MITRAL REGURGITATION AFTER MITRACLIP THERAPY

Residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after transcatheter repair with MitraClip can be associated with persistent symptoms and impaired survival. We examined the effectiveness and the optimal technique for transcatheter therapy for residual MR with Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) type II plugs. Nine
Dosage Effects in the Child-Parent Center PreK-to-3rd Grade Program: A Re-analysis in the Chicago Longitudinal Study

Although substantial investments in early childhood intervention have continued, whether gains are sustained past kindergarten for routinely implemented programs is a critical research need. Using data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS; N=1,539; 50.3% female; 92.9% African American and 7.1% Hispanic), an on-going investigation of the Child-Parent Center (CPC) program for an inner-city cohort, this study investigates the effects of program duration from preschool to 3rd grade on school outcomes and whether the effects differ by gender. Regression analyses are conducted to compare the differences in outcomes among intervention groups. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) is used to adjust for potential attrition and selection biases. Findings indicate that relative to the preschool plus kindergarten (P-K) group, participation from preschool through third grade (P-3) is significantly associated with better academic functioning at both 3rd and 8th grades, better classroom adjustment at 3rd grade, lower rates of retention and school mobility, and few years of special education. Relative to the preschool through second grade (P-2) group, the P-3 group has significantly higher academic functioning in third grade. Results suggest that the P-3 dosage is associated with larger effects on academic functioning for girls and larger effects on social-emotional functioning for boys compare to the P-K dosage. Findings suggest that receiving up to third grade (P-3) of an early childhood education program have associated with persistent effects on developmental outcomes compared to the dosages of P-K. Multi-year programs have the potential to sustain early childhood gains and promote healthy development via improving academic functioning and school experiences.
Assessing Potential Genotoxicity of Sleeping Beauty Transposition Events in T-Cell Immunotherapy by Supercomputer-Based High Throughput Profiling,

Abstract 4174 The first-in-human clinical trial using Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposition for T-cell immunotherapy is under way at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. To understand potential genotoxic risks involved in our non-viral SB transposition-based immunotherapy, we employed high throughput sequencing (Illumina) and profiling (BlueBioU supercomputer) of the SB insertion sites in T cells. Our SB clinical vector inserted 99.999% of the time at expected TA dinucleotide sites, with 44% of the insertions localizing to intragenic loci and the remainder 56% intergenic. The vast majority (96.5%) of intragenic insertions are intronic while the majority (>60%) of intergenic transpositions fall within non-coding repeat regions. By linking microarray gene expression profile to the vector insertion profile, we find that the number of transcriptional start sites (TSS) hit is proportional to the expected ‘open' conformational loci for the starting population of quiescent T cells. Compared to immunotherapy infusing T cells genetically modified with retrovirus, the integration profiles for SB-modified T cells are favored as: 1) there are more insertions within intergenic regions (56% SB vs. 44% in retroviral), 2) insertions concentrated at TA sites which have a different genomic distribution profile than retroviral insertion sites, 3) TSS associated with quiescent T cells were favored reflecting the electro-transfer of SB DNA plasmids into non-proliferating T cells vs. retroviral protocols that require transduction of activated T cells. Scanning for potential danger loci (e.g. oncogene, tumor suppressor, miRNA etc.), SB integration profiles compare favorably with retroviral insertions. In addition, we identified potential “safe harbor” genetic loci for future targeted modifications. Opportunities in immunotherapy and other personalized medicine modalities will be fully realized when the actual and perceived risks are understood and perhaps mitigated. In the absence of targeted insertions by clinical vectors, the next best option is random integration with an evenly distributed insertion profile across the whole genome to minimize hot spot and clonal expansion of therapeutic T cells. We now seek to proactively profile the T-cell products prior to infusion and follow up sampling to help clinicians in data-driven decision making in a time-sensitive manner. Our methods and findings are consistent with the human application of SB system and the harnessing high throughput supercomputing resources to help clinicians mitigate potential risks. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Thermoelastic waves in helical strands with Maxwell–Cattaneo heat conduction

Abstract Harmonic thermoelastic waves in helical strands with Maxwell–Cattaneo heat conduction are investigated analytically and numerically. The corresponding dispersion relation is a sixth-order algebraic equation, governed by six non-dimensional parameters: two thermoelastic coupling constants, one chirality parameter, the ratio between extensional and torsional moduli, the Fourier number, and the dimensionless thermal relaxation. The behavior of the solutions is discussed from two perspectives with an asymptotic-numerical approach: (1) the effect of thermal relaxation on the elastic wave celerities, and (2) the effect of thermoelastic coupling on the thermal wave celerities. With small wavenumbers, the adiabatic solution for Fourier helical strands is recovered. However, with large wavenumbers, the solutions behave differently depending on the thermal relaxation and chirality. Due to thermoelastic coupling, the thermal wave celerity deviates from the classical result of the speed of second sound.
Exploring the Effect of Incorporating Danmaku into Advertising

This study explored the effect of incorporating danmaku, a website feature which allows viewers’ comments to scroll on top of videos that are streaming online, into advertising. Through a 2 (danmak...
Diffuse Neuritis Ossificans of the Brachial Plexus: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background Neuritis ossificans (intraneural heterotopic ossification) is a rare disorder described as heterotopic ossification of a nerve. We describe the presentation and management of the first reported case of neuritis ossificans with diffuse brachial plexus involvement and review the literature. Case Description A 35-year-old man presented to our clinic for evaluation of right upper extremity weakness without history of trauma. He had significant, debilitating pain and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a complex contrast-enhancing mass with significant associated edema. Positron emission tomography demonstrated a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose avid lesion within the brachial plexus that was confirmed by biopsy to be neuritis ossificans. The patient was treated with indomethacin and had clinical and radiologic improvement. Conclusions We present the only case of diffuse, brachial plexus neuritis ossificans. Given the challenges of resecting neuritis ossificans in this region, we believe medical management for complex brachial plexus lesions should be considered first, unless the sequela of the disease is sufficiently prolonged or there is concern for permanent neurovascular compromise.
Treatment Modalities for Notalgia Paresthetica Including OMT

Background: Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a type of neuropathy associated with pruritus, dysesthesias and sometimes pain. Most etiologies stem from trauma and entrapment of cutaneous branches of the upper thoracic nerves. Objectives: We report a case of NP treated with osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) along with a review of previous treatment modalities performed per the literature. Methods: A comprehensive literature search using PubMed was performed on NP and its treatment. Keywords used include notalgia paresthetica, treatment, osteopathic manipulation, neuropathy and pruritus. Results: Our patient reported a 30% reduction in severity of pruritus after receiving OMT, with full intention of following up in office for additional treatment. Conclusion: OMT monotherapy or combination treatments may prove to be efficacious with little to no added risk.
Assessing the physiological relevance of cough simulators for respiratory droplet dispersion

Various breathing and cough simulators have been used to model respiratory droplet dispersion and viral droplets, in particular for SARS-CoV-2 modeling. However, limited data are available comparing these cough simulations to physiological breathing and coughing. In this study, three different cough simulators (Teleflex Mucosal Atomization Device Nasal (MAD Nasal), a spray gun, and GloGermTM MIST) that have been used in the literature were studied to assess their physiologic relevance. Droplet size, velocity, dispersion, and force generated by the simulators were measured. Droplet size was measured with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Slow-motion videography was used to 3D reconstruct and measure the velocity of each simulated cough. A force-sensitive resistor was used to measure the force of each simulated cough. The average size of droplets from each cough simulator was 176 to 220 µm. MAD Nasal, the spray gun, and GloGermTM MIST traveled 0.38 m, 0.89 m, and 1.62 m respectively. The average velocities for the MAD Nasal, spray gun, and GloGermTM MIST were 1.57 m/s, 2.60 m/s, and 9.27 m/s respectively, and all yielded a force of <0.5 Newtons. GloGermTM MIST and the spray gun most closely resemble physiological coughs and breathing respectively. In conclusion, none of the simulators tested accurately modeled all physiologic characteristics (droplet size, 3-D dispersion velocity, and force) of a cough, while there were various strengths and weaknesses of each method. One should take this into account when performing simulations with these devices.
Code validation of SAM using natural-circulation experimental data from the compact integral effects test (CIET) facility

Abstract The primary objective of this study is to validate the system analysis code, SAM, using experimental data from the Compact Integral Effects Test (CIET) experimental loop. SAM is a modern system analysis code being developed at Argonne National Laboratory for safety analysis of designs for advanced non-light water reactors (non-LWRs), such as sodium-cooled fast reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (FHRs). To support SAM code development for the wide range of non-LWR applications, it is of paramount importance to validate the code against experiments highly relevant to these reactor concepts. The CIET facility, which was designed to reproduce the thermal-hydraulics response of FHRs under both forced- and natural-circulation conditions, has been identified and selected as one of the benchmark test facilities for SAM code validation. In this study, two sets of available CIET tests were selected for SAM code validation purposes, namely, forced convection cooling transient test and steady-state natural-circulation tests. For all selected tests, SAM-predicted results show very good agreement with experimental data. The successful validation of SAM against these selected CIET experiments demonstrates that the computer code is well suited for thermal-hydraulics analysis of FHR designs.
An Empirical Study of the Citation and Use of U.S. Supreme Court Justices' Papers

U.S. Supreme Court justices typically donate their working papers to archives upon their retirement, often with lengthy embargoes. Researchers have debated whether the justices should be required to retain and disclose their papers as government records, but there has been little study of how the papers are used in scholarly and journalistic discussions of the Court. This empirical study examines how the papers of Justices William Brennan, Thurgood Marshall, and Harry Blackmun are used via citations in books and academic law journal articles. We find that the vast majority of citations to the papers support discussions of the justices’ deliberations and negotiations when deciding cases, precisely the kinds of uses that show the value of transparency. To address constitutional objections to mandated disclosures, we propose an incentive grant program that benefits the archives that receive justices’ collections. This program would encourage justices to donate their papers with relatively short embargoes, ideally 15 years after retirement from the Court.
Panorama de la Arqueología amazónica del Ecuador. Primera Aproximación

Este trabajo presenta el actual conocimiento del desarrollo cultural prehispanico en el Alto y Bajo Amazonas del Ecuador. El incremento de la exploracion petrolera durante las dos ultimas decadas, tambien fue favorable para el incremento de reconocimientos arqueologicos, en especial en la Amazonia Baja. El nuevo panorama arqueologico presentado en este trabajo tiene base, primero en la descripcion de los restos de ceramica y segundo en el patron de asentamiento arqueologico en la Alta y Baja Amazonia.
First-Year Engineering Students’ Conceptualization of Entrepreneurial Mindset:

This study was conducted to examine how first-year engineering students conceptualize the Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) and how that conceptualization changes over the course of their first semester...
On the numerical solution of the Laplace-Beltrami problem on piecewise-smooth surfaces.

The Laplace-Beltrami problem on closed surfaces embedded in three dimensions arises in many areas of physics, including molecular dynamics (surface diffusion), electromagnetics (harmonic vector fields), and fluid dynamics (vesicle deformation). In particular, the Hodge decomposition of vector fields tangent to a surface can be computed by solving a sequence of Laplace-Beltrami problems. Such decompositions are very important in magnetostatic calculations and in various plasma and fluid flow problems. In this work we present an overview of the $L^2$-invertibility of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on piecewise smooth surfaces, extending earlier weak formulations and integral equation approaches on smooth surfaces. We then provide high-order numerical examples along surfaces of revolution to support our analysis, and discuss numerical extensions to general surfaces embedded in three dimensions.
Epistemic doubt and affective certainty: counting homotransphobia in Brazil

Statistics circulate with ambivalence in governance settings and mass publics—both extolled as authoritative knowledge and the object of distrustful scrutiny. In the field of human rights activism, where the means to create authoritative knowledge operates asymmetrically between activists, organizations, and state actors, this makes statistical production and circulation subject to an intense politics of knowledge. LGBTI human rights actors in Brazil, for instance, constantly produce numbers that endeavor to make homophobia and transphobia epistemically and affectively real to various audiences. From community surveys of personal experiences of violence or discrimination, to civil society reports of homicides, to federal government reports from human rights hotline complaints, LGBTI activists are awash in figures where they find themselves the producers, consumers, and subject material of such data. This article documents how activists and civil servants count violence, constructing homophobia and transphobia as knowable objects. These counting practices emerge from activists’ counterpublic circulations of knowledge about objects as well as epistemic infrastructures (police, journalistic coverage, hotlines) through which LGBTI peoples’ experience becomes refracted. Aware of these complications, activists deploy epistemic doubt and affective certainty to the field of statistics—utilizing the knowledge they offer while questioning whether violence can be measured at all.
Sulfur at nickel-alumina interfaces: Molecular orbital theory

Previous studies on Al-Ni alloys containing sulfur as an impurity suggest that, when S is in the interface between a metal and an oxide scale, it weakens the chemical bonding between them. This paper investigates factors responsible for this effect, using a molecular orbital theory to predict sulfur structures and electronic properties on the Ni-Al2O3 interface. It is shown that, in absence of S, the basal plane of Al2O3 will bind strongly through the Al(3+) cation surface to Ni (111). When segregated S impurity is present on the Ni surface, there are too few interfacial AlS bonds to effect good adhesion, leading to an inhibition of the oxide scale adhesion in NiCrAl alloys.
Oral health literacy: correcting the mismatch.

Any unnecessary death and most especially the death of a child in an industrialized society such as ours with the means to prevent the cause of death, to intervene early, and treat even late symptoms, is not simply tragic but criminal. Horowitz and Kleinman insist that we learn from the untimely death of Deamonte Driver and take action. Horowitz and Kleinman review steps being taken in Maryland and suggest that attention to health literacy – and, in this important case, to oral health literacy, will enable us to avoid such events and serve to reduce health disparities in the future. They rightly point to the accumulated evidence that close to a majorityof USadultshave limited literacyskillsandthatasubstantial body of research indicates that those with poor literacy skills are likely to experience untoward health outcomes. We know, for example, that those with limited literacy are less likelytoengageinpreventiveaction,toengageinscreeningand treatment, and to manage a chronic disease well. The publication of findings from the adult literacy surveys conducted first in 1992 and again in 2003 spurred this interest in the possible health effects of the poor literacy skills. However, educators remind us that literacy does not exist in a vacuum. For example, assessments of reading skills must also consider the difficulty of the text; similarly, measures of listening skills must appraise the spoken word and its delivery. Thus, we cannot assess people’s ability to access oral health information if the messages are not provided or filled with jargon. We cannot assess someone’s reading skills based on health materials that are poorly written. Attention cannot be entirely focused on the skills or deficits of the public. Instead, we must focus attention on the abilities of health and social service professionals to communicate with the public, to identify and remove literacy-related barriers to information, decision making, and healthful action. Furthermore, we must change those features of our health systems that hinder access to information and care. Horowitz and Kleinman avoid the errors perpetuated in the early health literacy studies and editorials that evidenced a somewhat myopic focus on deficits of patients. In contrast, Horowitz and Kleinman correctly point out that action must also be taken to enhance the oral health literacy and communication skills of professionals. They note that the 2007 Maryland Dental Action Committee Report calls for educating parents, caregivers, and health professionals about oral health. Horowitz and Kleinman are establishing baseline data of knowledge and understanding, practices and techniques, and skills of the lay public, as well as of social service and health professionals. In so doing, they present a balanced approach for oral health literacy that practitioners and policy makers must emulate. We need to pay attention to the mismatch between what we now know are average literacy skills of US adults and the burdensome demands of messages, directions, and information that are not easily understood or accessible.
Chapter 5 Biosynthesis 4a. Gene regulation of terminal glycosylation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the gene regulation of terminal glycosylation. The genetic control of glycoprotein biosynthesis is not yet fully appreciated. Terminal glycosyltransferases is unable to fit completely in the category of either housekeeping or tissue specific genes. The tissue specific expression of α-1, 3-fucosyltransferase is thought to be regulated by multiple fucosyltransferase genes which encode catalytically similar enzymes. These genes are differentially expressed in different tissues and have different substrate specificities. The chromosomal locations of several glycosyltransferases have been assigned by use of somatic cell hybrids or in situ hybridization. The results show disparate locations for the different glycosyltransferases. This may be surprising considering the exquisite specificity and orderly action of these enzymes in glycoprotein synthesis. Glycoproteins and glycolipids have been shown to be altered in transformed and tumor cells. Although a number of specific glycoproteins and glycolipids have been reported, the overall change is to more highly branched oligosaccharides on glycoproteins and less complicated oligosaccharides on glycolipids.
Failure of cromolyn sodium to reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia : a pilot study

This prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial was conducted to test whether therapy with cromolyn sodium might decrease the incidence or severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia when given to newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. Cromolyn (20 mg) or placebo was aerosolized to intubated newborns with respiratory distress syndrome every 6 hours, beginning on the first day of intubation. Patients were stratified by birth weight less than 1000 g and 1000 to 2000 g; primary outcome success was defined as survival to 30 days without oxygen dependence. Of 10 patients enrolled who were less than 1000 g birth weight, there were no treatment successes, preventing outcome analysis. The study was discontinued after 28 patients of 1000 to 2000 g birth weight had been studied, at which time it had been found with 95% confidence, with a power of .80, that cromolyn sodium did not decrease by 50% the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was also similar, with 4 patients in the treatment group and 3 in the placebo group receiving mechanical ventilation at 30 days. Possible reasons for this study outcome include (1) a delivered dose too small to produce a clinical effect; (2) the start of therapy too late to prevent the onset of inflammation; (3) inadequate effect of cromolyn on polymorphonuclear cells in vivo; or (4) development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia through factors unaffected by the actions of cromolyn.
Purification and properties of housefly glutathione S-transferase

Abstract Glutathione S- transferases were partially purified from an insecticide resistant and a susceptible strain of houseflies and characterized using 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB) as the substrate. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 50,000 and SDS gel electrophoresis revealed that the enzyme consisted of two equal subunits of 23,000. An Arrhenius plot of temperature versus DCNB conjugation showed a discontinuity at about 35°C. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was 9.5 to 10. A difference in the equilibrium constants between the enzymes from the resistant and susceptible strains did not explain the higher overall reactions in the resistant strain. The same enzyme was active for methyl iodide conjugation, degradation of organophosphorus insecticides and γ-BHC, but was inactive for DDT-dehydrochlorination. The degradation of organophosphorus insecticides was via alkyl conjugation and/or “leaving group” conjugation.
Cytokines, Evolutionary Aspects and Functions

Cytokines serve many functions that are critical to host defense against pathogens by among other things, linking the acquired and innate arms of the immune system. The activities of cytokines have been conserved through evolution in that they are found in all vertebrate and several invertebrate species. Cytokines are important, ancient and functionally conserved molecules.