cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Community-Based Case Management, Hospital Utilization, and Patient-Focused Outcomes in Medicare Beneficiaries.

There is limited research about the impact of community-based case management (CBCM) services and its outcomes with longitudinal analysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectivenes...
Protein Phosphorylation and the Inactivation of Dihydropyridine-Sensitive Calcium Channels in Mammalian Pituitary Tumor Cells

We describe here the results of our recent experiments on the inactivation of the dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel in mammalian pituitary tumor cells from the GH3 clonal line (Kalman et al. 1987a, b, 1988).
The Governance of Privacy: Policy Instruments in a Global Perspective, by Colin J. Bennett and Charles D. Raab

On any given day, someone could have his picture snapped by a security camera linked to face recognition software, grocery purchases recorded when he presents a supermarket's bonus card to get a di...
Neurotoxic snakes of the Americas

Snake envenomation is a global problem and often a matter of life or death. Emergency treatment is not always readily available or effective. There are numerous neurotoxic snakes in the Americas, chiefly elapids; some crotalids have also evolved neurotoxic venom. The variability of neurotoxins found in snake venom within the same species makes development and choice of proper antivenom a major challenge that has not been completely addressed. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical effects, and current treatment of neurotoxic snake envenomation in the Americas.
A Delphi Method Analysis to Create an Emergency Medicine Educational Patient Satisfaction Survey

Introduction: Feedback on patient satisfaction (PS) as a means to monitor and improve performance in patient communication is lacking in residency training. A physician’s promotion, compensation and job satisfaction may be impacted by his individual PS scores, once he is in practice. Many communication and satisfaction surveys exist but none focus on the emergency department setting for educational purposes. The goal of this project was to create an emergency medicine-based educational PS survey with strong evidence for content validity. Methods: We used the Delphi Method (DM) to obtain expert opinion via an iterative process of surveying. Questions were mined from four PS surveys as well as from group suggestion. The DM analysis determined the structure, content and appropriate use of the tool. The group used four-point Likert-type scales and Lynn’s criteria for content validity to determine relevant questions from the stated goals. Results: Twelve recruited experts participated in a series of seven surveys to achieve consensus. A 10-question, single-page survey with an additional page of qualitative questions and demographic questions was selected. Thirty one questions were judged to be relevant from an original 48-question list. Of these, the final 10 questions were chosen. Response rates for individual survey items was 99.5%. Conclusion: The DM produced a consensus survey with content validity evidence. Future work will be needed to obtain evidence for response process, internal structure and construct validity.
Mapping Mesoscale Ocean Currents

This paper presents the technical aspects, error analysis and result comparison of a flexible mapping method particularly useful in regional ocean studies. Mesoscale ocean currents are computed from multiple satellite altimeter along-track measurements via objective analysis with a data-derived space-time correlation model. The additional satellite tracks help resolve more eddies with smaller radii and reduce the overall domain-wide mapping errors. The mapping results are consistent with the in-situ hydrographic data and Lagrangian data from a surface drifting buoy. The mapped currents have optimal spatial and temporal resolutions that can benefit the studies of mesoscale variability and surface particle dispersion simulation.
Room-Area Networks

This paper makes the case for "Room-Area Networks" (RAN), a new category that falls between personal area networks and local area networks. In a RAN, a set of nodes can hear each other only if they are in the same room, broadly construed as being within earshot. We define a RAN abstraction, and we present example applications ranging from social contact management to building automation to gaming where this abstraction will help. The requirements of a RAN are poorly served by current technologies such as Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, and infrared. Acoustic channels, on the other hand, are well-suited in principle for effective propagation within human earshot and sharp attenuation at room boundaries. We provide a portable reference implementation of an 802.11a-like physical layer for the acoustic medium that works on current mobile devices, with successful communication even in noisy environments at distances over 8 meters.
Social Constructions of Stigmatizing Discourse Around Type 2 Diabetes Diagnoses in Appalachian Kentucky

Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem among Appalachian Kentucky residents. Several issues contribute to diabetes disparities in the region, including lack of access to health care and geographic isolation. Previous studies also indicate that social stigma may be associated with type 2 diabetes. We used 28 semistructured interviews to explore how stigma is socially constructed across health status (diagnosed/undiagnosed). Perceived severity of the disease is high, yet the etiology of diabetes is not well understood. Thus, onset is perceived to occur "out of the blue," and a positive diagnosis is perceived as having life-threatening consequences. Diagnosed participants, who had learned more about the disease's etiology, prevention, and management, expressed intrapersonal stigma. In interpersonal situations, the visible indicators of a diabetes diagnosis (i.e., physical weight, insulin injection), rather than diagnosis status, tended to evoke stigmatizing interactions. These findings form the foundation for our recommendations for prevention messages in the region.
Robot search and rescue : a comparison of 3D mapping techniques

Modern robots are involved in sophisticated manipulations of their environment, and for that they need extensive knowledge of their surroundings. 3D mapping allows for the creation of such complex maps, and here we explore some of the options available for the creation of 3D maps. We consider using 2D and 3D sensors to see how helpful the extra information is. Supervisors: Cynthia Breazeal, Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences Philipp Robbel, PhD candidate MIT Media Lab Personal Robots Group
Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Esotropia

Botulinum toxin (BOTOX®) has been reported to have success as an alternative to traditional surgery for patients with infantile and early onset acquired strabismus. Selected cases with smaller angles may do well with botulinum toxin as a primary treatment; however, the large angle associated with most cases of infantile esotropia in my experience prevents its use. We report the use of botulinum toxin injection into the medial rectus of patients who have already undergone standard incisional medial rectus recessions for esotropia but still have a residual deviation.
Forest Service Special Use Permits as Contracts: It's All in the Eye of the Beholder

The Forest Service has a long a rich history which centers on managing national forest land for private and public use. To this end, it issues special use authorizations, including permits, to regulate such use of public forest land. Special use permits have proven difficult for courts to interpret because there is no clarity as to whether they should be interpreted as contracts or not. However, Forest Service regulations regarding special use permits neatly fits within common law contract requirements when usage fees are required, and the Forest Service does not qualify for Chevron deference for its view that such permits are not contracts. Treating special use permits as contracts is good policy, and the Forest Service should take steps to clarify the issue in order to create greater predictability.
Prototyping Wearables: A Code-First Approach to the Design of Embedded Systems

As wearable devices become ubiquitous, there will be an increased demand for platforms that allow engineers and researchers to quickly prototype and evaluate new wearable devices. However, many of these platforms require that the hardware be configured before the code is written, thereby limiting the programmer to the limitations of the hardware. In this paper, we present a platform that allows researchers and engineers to quickly prototype new wearable devices using a code-first approach. This approach allows software developers to create new prototypes by first writing the code that the prototype is required to run. Once the code has been written, the hardware that is required to run the application can be generated by analyzing the code that the software developer has specified. This code-first approach is possible because of the system’s architecture which is comprised of both a hardware and software component. The hardware component consists of a main board with four expansion ports, while the software platform is a modular middleware which consists of a collection of stateless libraries that abstract each hardware module. These modular abstractions allow us to synthesize the hardware configuration from the software definition. We evaluated our design using it to prototype three wearable devices: 1) an environmental exposure monitoring smartwatch; 2) an infrared indoor localization system; and 3) a step counter.
A second polymorph of sodium di-hydrogen citrate, NaH2C6H5O7: structure solution from powder diffraction data and DFT comparison.

The crystal structure of a second polymorph of sodium di­hydrogen citrate, Na+·H2C6H5O7−, has been solved and refined using laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. The powder pattern of the commercial sample used in this study did not match that corresponding to the known crystal structure [Glusker et al. (1965). Acta Cryst. 19, 561–572; refcode NAHCIT]. In this polymorph, the [NaO7] coordination polyhedra form edge-sharing chains propagating along the a axis, while in NAHCIT the octa­hedral [NaO6] groups form edge-sharing pairs bridged by two hy­droxy groups. The most notable difference is that in this polymorph one of the terminal carboxyl groups is deprotonated, while in NAHCIT the central carboxyl­ate group is deprotonated, as is more typical.
Solvent vapor annealing in block copolymer nanocomposite films: a dynamic mean field approach

Polymer nanocomposites are an important class of materials due to the nanoparticles' ability to impart functionality not commonly found in a polymer matrix, such as electrical conductivity or tunable optical properties. While the equilibrium properties of polymer nanocomposites can be treated using numerous theoretical and simulation approaches, in experiments the effects of processing and kinetic traps are significant and thus critical for understanding the structure and the functionality of polymer nanocomposites. However, simulation methods that can efficiently predict kinetically trapped and metastable structures of polymer nanocomposites are currently not common. This is particularly important in inhomogeneous polymers such as block copolymers, where techniques such as solvent vapor annealing are commonly employed to improve the long-range order. In this work, we introduce a dynamic mean field theory that is capable of predicting the result of processing the structure of polymer nanocomposites, and we demonstrate that our method accurately predicts the equilibrium properties of a model system more efficiently than a particle-based model. We subsequently use our method to predict the structure of block copolymer thin films with grafted nanoparticles after solvent annealing, where we find that the final distribution of the grafted nanoparticles can be controlled by varying the solvent evaporation rate. The extent to which the solvent evaporation rate can affect the final nanoparticle distribution in the film depends on the grafting density and the length of the grafted chains. Furthermore, the effects of the solvent evaporation rate can be anticipated from the equilibrium nanoparticle distribution in the swollen and dry states.
NEXT WEEK!! — : DESIRE, DOMESTIC MELODRAMA, AND THE EXTRAVAGANT PROLIFERATIONS OF EAST LYNNE

Ellen Wood's East Lynne (1861) exhibits the exhilarating characteristics of a Victorian sensation novel and then some: degenerate aristocracy, a sneering villain, flight, adultery, a child born out of wedlock, disfigurement, disguise, extended deathbed scenes, murder, and more (e.g., fake accents, false identities, an electrifying homicide trial, and a spectacular train wreck). But at the center of all the disaster, transgression, pathos, coincidence, and extremity, East Lynne is (mainly) the story of the aptly-named Isabel Vane, the beloved but patently bored wife who abandons her husband and children to run away with a handsome seducer. Overcome by remorse (and conveniently both disfigured and presumed dead), she returns to the home of her remarried husband to act as governess to her own children and to witness (at length and in painful detail) the life she might have had if she had denied her perpetually irrepressible but inappropriate feelings — feelings not so much of lust for another man, but of annoyance and tedium with the man she actually has. East Lynne urges (usually in the form of multiple diatribes from the third person narrator) that the wives and mothers of mid-Victorian England be content with their lot, employing a moral didacticism that insists on female domestic responsibility — and the attendant obligation of female suffering — with sadistic pleasure. And yet, when not lingering over the agonies of Isabel, the narrative gushes, seemingly despite itself, with sympathy for the heroine's life of monotony and misery. Indeed, East Lynne's compelling power comes in large part from the novel's skillful, lingering walk on a ledge of its own making and its protracted vacillation between condemnation and empathy for an unhappy heroine gone astray.
Considerations on the implementation and use of Anderson acceleration on distributed memory and GPU-based parallel computers

Recent work suggests that Anderson acceleration can be used as an accelerator to the fixed-point iterative method. To improve the viability of the algorithm, we seek to improve its computational efficiency on parallel machines. The primary kernel of the method is a least-squares minimization within the main loop. We consider two approaches to reduce its cost. The first is to use a communication-avoiding QR factorization, and the second is to employ a GMRES-like restarting procedure. On problems using 1,000 processors or less, we find the amount of communication too low to justify communication avoidance. The restarting procedure also proves not to be better than current approaches unless the cost of the function evaluation is very small. In order to begin taking advantage of current trends in machine architecture, we also studied a first-attempt single-node GPU implementation of Anderson acceleration. Performance results show that for sufficiently large problems a GPU implementation can provide a significant performance increase over CPU versions due to the GPU’s higher memory bandwidth.
Plasmonic properties of nanopatterns fabricated by nanosphere shadowing lithography

The fabrication and optimization of plasmonic nanostructures have many interesting and important applications including advancements in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). One popular and cost-effective method to fabricate plasmonic nanopatterns is by a colloid template. By combining close-packed colloid monolayer and dynamic shadowing growth, we demonstrate that a variety of nanopatterns, such as nano-triangles, nano-cup triangles, hexagonal holes, and dual triangles, can be fabricated by varying vapor deposition angle, the substrate azimuthal rotation, as well as the evaporation configuration. Especially when a two-source evaporator is used, dual triangles with different shapes and compositions are simultaneously formed. The formation of these nanopatterns can be predicted by numerical and Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, the visible localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of these patterns can be tuned systematically by changing the deposition conditions and the colloidal monolayer. Their plasmonic properties can be understood through finite-difference time-domain simulations. The tunability of LSPR can be used to design optimized substrate for SERS.
Modeling Plant Uptake and Biodegradation of Semi-Volatile Hydrocarbon Compounds

In recent years, the possible use of plants for treatment of the large volumes of slightly contaminated soils offered a potential alternative for waste management. This study develops a methodology to simulate the transport of semi-volatile dissolved hydrocarbon compounds in soil water and their interaction with plant roots. Microbial activity on the root surface is incorporated into the simulation by a biofilm model. Furthermore, the model takes root growth into account. The numerical solution of this study can be employed to assess the efficiency of an in situ remediation technique using plants, possibly cash crops like cotton, to clean an area contaminated by semi-volatile organics.
Transforming Concepts Into Clinical Trials and Creating a Multisite Network: The Leadership and Operations Center of the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group

The Leadership and Operations Center (LOC) is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and implementing the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) scientific agenda by engaging thought leaders; soliciting research proposals; and developing the processes, tools, and infrastructure required to operationalize studies and create and sustain the ARLG network. These efforts are ongoing as new projects are developed and the network expands and grows to address the ever-changing priorities in antibacterial resistance. This article describes the innovations, accomplishments, and opportunities of the LOC since the inception of the ARLG in 2013.
Low Density Lipoproteins of Nonmammalian Vertebrates

As has been stated elsewhere in this volume, the major motive behind the extensive investigations of low density lipoproteins (LDL) has been that the findings might lend themselves to treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis in human patients. For obvious reasons, much experimentation on lipoprotein systems has taken place in mammals other than man. Subsequently, many of these studies have been thought to have questionable validity when applied to the human situation. Accordingly, if it is unacceptable to blindly extrapolate data obtained from lower mammals to Homo sapiens, it would appear almost unthinkable to thus extrapolate from fish, amphibia, reptiles, or birds.
Role of Polyploidy in the Evolution of Fishes

Polyploidy is not generally believed to have played a major role in the evolution of animals. This view has been fostered principally by G. L. Stebbins and M. J. D. White, both of whom as early as the 1940’s advocated that Polyploidy at best has played a secondary role in evolution; neither of them has substantially altered this view in recent years (1,2). Some of the arguments against the importance of Polyploidy are: (a) that the large amount of gene duplication in polyploids dilutes the effects of new mutations so significant adaptive changes are unlikely, (b) that Polyploidy in animals is restricted mainly to asexual forms which are evolutionary dead ends, and (c) the number of polyploid animals relative to diploids is small.
Electronic Structure: Quantum Theory Revisited

This chapter deals with quantum chemistry and its applications in understanding the electronic structure of molecules. It is very important to have knowledge of the basic principles of quantum chemistry. The increasing processing power and the availability of super computers have given a great spur to computation chemistry. One can calculate the electronic structure and properties of many body Schrodinger equations. These techniques have been adapted from areas of the physics—field theory, nuclear theory, and solid state theory. This chapter introduces the quantum mechanical description of the single electron system (hydrogen atom), as well as extensions to many electron systems. It also presents new terminologies, such as “term symbols” and “spin-orbit coupling”.
My Body Knows Things

I was 3 or 4 years old the first time I felt a man’s penis. It belonged to my cousin, Jack. I think he was about 17 at the time. I loved him because he played with me, and to an only child that is everything.
Airborne and food sensitization patterns in children and adults with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background The pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is currently unknown, but evidence suggests that allergic sensitization to food and airborne allergens may play a key role. This retrospective study examines the rate of sensitization to both food and airborne allergens in EoE patients, and compares their sensitivity patterns to control groups. Methods We identified 103 patients with a diagnosis of EoE via esophageal eosinophilia (≥15 eosinophils/high-power field [hpf]), who had undergone comprehensive food and/or airborne allergen testing through either skin or in vitro methods. Food and airborne allergen sensitization was defined as positive testing in at least 1 food subgroup (milk, peanut, tree nut, seafood/fish, soy, grain, egg) or airborne subgroup (tree, grass, weed, mite/cockroach, animal, mold), respectively. The same sensitization criterion was applied to allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, with and without a clinical suspicion of food allergy (FA), in order to create control groups. Results Sensitization in the EoE group to at least 1 subgroup of food allergen and airborne allergen was seen in 77.1% (64/83) and 71.7% (38/53), respectively (p = 0.82). There were significant differences in sensitization between EoE and control groups for tree nut, soy, grain, and egg, but no differences noted in any of the other food or airborne allergen subgroups, even after accounting for age and gender. Conclusion EoE and control groups had similar airborne allergen sensitization patterns, yet dissimilar food allergen sensitization patterns, suggesting that specific allergens may play a more prominent role in the pathogenesis of EoE. The EoE group had a more uniform distribution pattern for food allergens, compared to controls.
Eco-solutions for automotive interior applications by way of thermoplastic biocomposites: cost, weight and green advancements

This paper discloses viable eco-solutions concerning the formulation and the performance of biocomposites and bioblends formulated based on polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA6), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and designated for the fabrication of interior automotive parts. Biocomposites containing up to 40 wt.% of cellulosic fibres were first formulated and compounded. Bioblends containing up to 30 wt.% polylactide (PLA) were also obtained. Different formulations of biocomposites were also compounded based on PLA-containing alloys and cellulosic fibres. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, and heat deflection temperature (HDT) of obtained bioblends and biocomposites presented at least equivalent values comparing to their commercial counterparts currently used in the fabrication of automotive interior parts. Parts obtained by foaming through injection-moulding process presented similar properties as the unfoamed and commercial grades while being up to 25 wt.% lighter, up to 37% less expensive, and up to 50 wt.% greener.
Multimodal characterization of solution-processed Cu3SbS4 absorbers for thin film solar cells

The most efficient inorganic thin film chalcogenide-based solar cells use CdTe or CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) as absorber layers, which rely on toxic (Cd) and/or scarce elements (In, Te). The desire for more sustainable solar cells has led to the development of Earth abundant and non-hazardous chalcogenide absorbers. Cu3SbS4 (famatinite) is a promising Earth abundant p-type semiconductor that has a low direct band gap (0.9–1.05 eV), is a superabsorber (absorption coefficient ∼ 104–105 cm−1), and has potential in low-cost, thin-film solar cells. Although these properties make the Cu3SbS4 phase stand out as a promising material for photovoltaics, to date Cu3SbS4 solar cells have only achieved low efficiencies. In this study, we demonstrate a method for synthesizing Cu3SbS4 nanocrystals and formation of thin-films by coating nanocrystal precursors onto substrates. Optical, structural, and chemical state characterization were performed before and after thermal processing of the Cu3SbS4 films. A detailed experimental analysis of the bulk and surfaces of the Cu3SbS4 absorber films indicate that phase stability and preferential copper oxidation at the surface may limit device performance for Cu3SbS4 based solar cells. These findings may provide significant insight on how to improve Cu3SbS4 based solar cell performance by controlling processing conditions.
Editorial Comments — 4

In the keynote chapters and the more highly focused chapters by Gernot Nerb and Giorgio Basevi, great attention is paid to the structural shifts taking place in the formerly socialist economies of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The concluding session of the conference dealt entirely with this problem — how to go from a planned to a market economy, the capital transfers involved (together with their international consequences) the reductions in military spending, and the conversion of production facilities from military to civilian objectives. These topics are of great importance, yet they are not well understood. It was therefore fitting to have an entire session devoted to these issues, even though they appeared in previous presentations and permeated the entire conference discussion.
Research on Difference Distance Measurement and Localization Based on Zigbee

According to research on range-based localization using wireless technology and focused on range attenuation characteristics of electromagnetic wave, a new method called difference distance measurement and localization is proposed to align the random errors. Results of the experiments using Zigbee-based hardware platforms indicated that precision of distance measurement and localization was improved.
Size matters: lessons from a broken binary search

As reported in the Google Research Blog, nearly all binary search and merge sort implementations are broken because of an integer overflow bug. The bug does not appear unless the array being searched/sorted is quite large (over a billion elements), which is why it has remained undetected for decades. There is a tendency to dismiss such overflow bugs as mere trivia, but this is a mistake. This paper reviews the bug, some common but incorrect solutions, and a correct solution. More important, it distills lessons to be learned from the bug, and provides specific recommendations for computer science educators to help their students cope with such bugs in the future.
Investigating Repeater Effects on Small Sample Equating: Include or Exclude?

Examinees who attempt the same test multiple times are often referred to as “repeaters.” Previous studies suggested that repeaters should be excluded from the total sample before equating because r...
Vanilla landscapes: meaning, memory, and cultivation of place in Madagascar (Advances in Economic Botany, volume 18)

What is a vanilla bean? What does it mean to cultivate vanilla as a crop? And how might farmers, anthropologists, environmentalists, and development workers evaluate practices of agroforestry? Sara...
Designing of Online Communities of Practice to Facilitate Collaborative Learning

This paper seeks to explore the application of online community of practice theory to develop a conceptual framework for an effective student-centered collaborative learning environment. A critical review of literature was conducted in academic publication as well as social media research. It aims to follow the emerging trends of changes in higher education regarding the adoption of educational technologies to enhance the design of learning spaces beyond the limitation of physical classrooms to encourage collaborative learning objectives. It analyzed a case of online community to elucidate the application of theoretical framework of online community of practice. It has also highlighted theoretical application and technological tools in a prototype of an online communities in an academic setting. In addition, leadership and policy implications were discussed. It suggests an approach to bridge the gaps of theory and practice in rethinking, reimaging, and redesigning teaching and learning spaces and pedagogical approaches in the current technological environment.
Cognitive Neuroscience of Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are characterized by severely restricted intake, binge eating, and compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting. The neurobiological underpinnings of these maladaptive behaviors are poorly understood, but the application of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging to eating disorders has begun to elucidate their pathophysiology. Specifically, this review focuses on 3 areas that suggest paths forward: reward, cognitive and behavioral control, and decision making. Understanding the brain-based mechanisms that promote and maintain these often chronic symptoms could guide the development of new and more effective treatments.
Optimization of Turnaround Time for Group A Streptococcus PCR

ABSTRACT The use of some nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for the diagnosis of group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis allows laboratories to adopt single-tiered testing without reflex culture. However, centralization may delay the delivery of actionable information to the bedside, particularly in the outpatient setting. We describe two novel workflows at our institution and their effect on in-lab turnaround time (TAT) at a tertiary care microbiology lab. Laboratory records were extracted, and relevant data were analyzed after the implementation of qualitative in vitro diagnostic testing for GAS with the Xpert Xpress Strep A assay, performed using the GeneXpert Infinity-48s. Workflow optimization steps studied included: (i) direct specimen submission to the microbiology laboratory via the pneumatic tube system and (ii) autoverification of GAS NAAT results in the laboratory information system. Between April 2018 and October 2018, 2,595 unique specimens were tested for GAS by PCR. Of these, 2,523 were included in the final analysis. Linear regression established that the total in-lab TAT was significantly reduced by direct specimen submission to the microbiology laboratory, autoverification, and processing during the night shift. We describe two workflow optimization methods that reduced the in-lab TAT for GAS NAAT. Although microbiology labs historically use manual processes, the advent of total laboratory automation and the adoption of on-demand NAATs will allow for more streamlined processing of microbiology specimens. It may be beneficial to consider instrument interfacing and specimen processing optimization during the early phases of implementation planning for NAATs in the microbiology laboratory.
Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution on Indoor Air Quality in Low-Income Homes during Wildfire Seasons

Indoor and outdoor number concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were monitored continuously for two to seven days in 28 low-income homes in Denver, Colorado, during the 2016 and 2017 wildfire seasons. In the absence of indoor sources, all outdoor pollutant concentrations were higher than indoors except for CO. Results showed that long-range wildfire plumes elevated median indoor PM2.5 concentrations by up to 4.6 times higher than outdoors. BC, CO, and NO2 mass concentrations were higher indoors in homes closer to roadways compared to those further away. Four of the homes with mechanical ventilation systems had 18% higher indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of PM2.5 and 4% higher I/O ratios of BC compared to other homes. Homes with exhaust stove hoods had PM2.5 I/O ratios 49% less than the homes with recirculating hoods and 55% less than the homes with no stove hoods installed. Homes with windows open for more than 12 hours a day during sampling had indoor BC 2.4 times higher than homes with windows closed. This study provides evidence that long-range wildfire plumes, road proximity, and occupant behavior have a combined effect on indoor air quality in low-income homes.
Bayesian Semi-supervised learning under nonparanormality.

Semi-supervised learning is a classification method which makes use of both labeled data and unlabeled data for training. In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised learning algorithm using a Bayesian semi-supervised model. We make a general assumption that the observations will follow two multivariate normal distributions depending on their true labels after the same unknown transformation. We use B-splines to put a prior on the transformation function for each component. To use unlabeled data in a semi-supervised setting, we assume the labels are missing at random. The posterior distributions can then be described using our assumptions, which we compute by the Gibbs sampling technique. The proposed method is then compared with several other available methods through an extensive simulation study. Finally we apply the proposed method in real data contexts for diagnosing breast cancer and classify radar returns. We conclude that the proposed method has better prediction accuracy in a wide variety of cases.
Dietary Inducers of Detoxification Enzymes

Extensive studies have demonstrated that consumption of vegetables and fruits is inversely correlated with chronic disease incidence. Non-nutritive components that offer beneficial effects for humans against the risk of degenerative and chronic diseases are believed to link to the induction of the expression of metabolic detoxification enzymes. Dietary inducers of detoxification enzymes presented in cruciferous, allium and root vegetables, fruits, green tea, and algae include sulfur and non-sulfur-containing compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, curcumin, polyphenols, and triterpenes. Knowledge of potent inhibition and induction of drugs can help minimize the potential adverse drug interactions.
Advances in Endoscopic Resection in the Management of Esophageal Neoplasia

There has been a paradigm shift in the management of early-stage cancer and benign submucosal lesions in the esophagus over the last 30 years. Previous conditions that required either full or partial esophagectomy can now be managed with endoscopic resection techniques, with superior adverse event and comorbidity profiles compared with surgery. Though cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection heralded the development of non-surgical therapies, this technique is limited by the size of the lesion, with larger lesions requiring piecemeal resection leading to lack of clear margins. The development of endoscopic submucosal dissection affords the ability to precisely remove lesions en bloc, allowing for a full pathologic evaluation of excised tissue. The developments of specialized coagulating “knives,” as well as the utilization of traction techniques, have enhanced the efficiency and safety of this procedure. Submucosal tunneling, submucosal excavation, and full-thickness resection techniques have also broadened the indications for which endoscopic resection can be performed. Lastly, the development of robot-assisted devices has afforded a wider range of dissecting angles, allowing for more precise resection of esophageal lesions that may have been difficult to resect previously. Advances in endoscopic resection techniques have afforded a non-invasive method for the management of benign and malignant esophageal lesions, with proven efficacy and safety profiles.
Use of MarginProbe as an adjunct to standard operating procedure does not significantly reduce re-excision rates in breast conserving surgery.

A positive margin after breast conserving surgery has consistently been shown to be a significant predictor for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. Currently, there is no standard for intraoperative margin assessment during lumpectomy, and up to 20% of cases result in positive margins. MarginProbe is a device that provides real-time evaluation of lumpectomy margins during surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MarginProbe as an adjunct to standard operating procedure (SOP). Patients diagnosed with breast cancer scheduled for breast conserving surgery were consented for intraoperative use of MarginProbe. Shaved margins were excised based on margin assessment using the surgeon’s SOP which included specimen radiography and gross pathologic examination, and feedback from the device. The primary endpoint was re-excision rate. Secondary endpoints included sensitivity, specificity, false-positive and negative rates. Of the 60 breast cancers, initial histologically close/positive margins were identified in 18 patients (30%). The re-excision rate in the overall cohort was 6.6%, compared to a historical re-excision rate of 8.6% (p < 0.01). Based on 360 measurement sites, MarginProbe demonstrated a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 60%, with a positive predictive value of 16%, and of negative predictive value of 94%, which was similar to the accuracy of SOP. MarginProbe performs equally as well as specimen radiography and gross pathologic examination. In this setting where the baseline re-excision rate was low, the use of MarginProbe as an adjunct to SOP resulted in a small 2% absolute reduction in re-excision rate.
What is an anthropology of gesture

Abstract For gesture research outside anthropology, the promise – and challenge – of anthropological method stems from one or more of its core commitments: its pursuit of human variation, both diachronic and synchronic; its insistence on naturalistic rather than experimental research design; and its integrative sensibility that situates human behavior in relation to an expansive sociocultural context. This essay reflects on this last sensibility. As we envision an anthropology of gesture and weigh its potential for gesture studies, we should pause and reflect on the fitful history of gesture in anthropology. As a parable for the present, I revisit a neglected anthropological voice from twentieth-century gesture research: Ray L. Birdwhistell, whose ambitious postwar science of kinesics teamed film-based microanalysis with American linguistic structuralism. At stake in Birdwhistell’s work was a problem that looms large here, that of how and at what cost a science of gesture can contextualize its object integratively.
Assessing the Accessibility of Content for Geriatric Fellowship Programs

The information available on program websites concerning geriatric fellowships in internal medicine and family medicine is a crucial factor in generating applicants' interest in individual programs. Our study aimed to quantify the accessibility and quality of information available on accredited geriatric (family medicine and internal medicine) fellowship program websites and further analyze the implications of the results obtained. A list of geriatric (family medicine and internal medicine) fellowship programs was analyzed through quantified measures after being verified for accreditation. Certain criteria were evaluated for each of these programs, such as website accessibility and whether critical information was available on online program websites. These criteria were centered on academic, administrative, and application-based factors. Hundred and fifty eight Family Medicine and Internal Medicine geriatric fellowship programs were identified in total, of which only 150 were accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and considered for analysis. Of these, 20 (13.33%) programs had website links that were nonfunctional and only 145 programs had websites at all. On programs' websites, information regarding aspects such as contact information-including phone number or email for the program-were lacking. Other information regarding past and current fellows, research, and curriculum were also generally lacking. Geriatric Fellowship websites in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine can gain better traction from those interested in applying for their programs by updating information more often and providing more and better information concerning critical aspects of the programs themselves online.
Preventing asthma in high risk kids (PARK) with omalizumab: Design, rationale, methods, lessons learned and adaptation.

Abstract Asthma remains one of the most important challenges to pediatric public health in the US. A large majority of children with persistent and chronic asthma demonstrate aeroallergen sensitization, which remains a pivotal risk factor associated with the development of persistent, progressive asthma throughout life. In individuals with a tendency toward Type 2 inflammation, sensitization and exposure to high concentrations of offending allergens is associated with increased risk for development of, and impairment from, asthma. The cascade of biological responses to allergens is primarily mediated through IgE antibodies and their production is further stimulated by IgE responses to antigen exposure. In addition, circulating IgE impairs innate anti-viral immune responses. The latter effect could magnify the effects of another early life exposure associated with increased risk of the development of asthma – viral infections. Omalizumab binds to circulating IgE and thus ablates antigen signaling through IgE-related mechanisms. Further, it has been shown restore IFN-α response to rhinovirus and to reduce asthma exacerbations during the viral season. We therefore hypothesized that early blockade of IgE and IgE mediated responses with omalizumab would prevent the development and reduce the severity of asthma in those at high risk for developing asthma. Herein, we describe a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of omalizumab in 2–3 year old children at high risk for development of asthma to prevent the development and reduce the severity of asthma. We describe the rationale, methods, and lessons learned in implementing this potentially transformative trial aimed at prevention of asthma.
A Theory of Rational Investment Screens

We develop a model to explain the value and consequences of investment screens, which are commonly employed by sophisticated investors. In the model, some stock-market investors are uncertain about the quality of private information before they acquire it and, in equilibrium, rationally use prior prices and public information as a screen to predict the returns from information acquisition. We find that larger price surprises lead to more information acquisition, which implies higher future price volatility and trading volumes. We also highlight the determinants of the equilibrium value of investment screens, such as informed trade, noise trade, and public information.
Personal Payments from Pharmaceutical Companies to Authors of Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Background Oncologists who author clinical practice guidelines frequently have financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. It is unknown whether participation on clinical practice guideline committees is associated with differences in the amounts of industry money received. Materials and methods We conducted a nested case-control study from August 2013 to December 2018. We manually abstracted membership records of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines committees for the 20 most common cancers and linked to Open Payments. The study sample included medical oncologists selected to join an NCCN Guidelines committee ("joiners") during the study period. Joiners were matched 1:2 to medical oncologists who had no participation on NCCN committees (controls) by gender, NCCN institution, and medical school graduation year. We performed difference-in-differences (DiD) estimation to assess whether selection to an NCCN committee was associated with the dollar value of payments received from industry, using generalized estimating equations to address correlation between matched pairs and between repeated observations of the same pair. Results During the study period, 54 physicians joined an NCCN Guidelines committee. These physicians received more payments than matched controls in the year prior to joining ($11,259 vs. $3,427; p = .02); this difference did not increase in the year after joining (DiD = $731; p = .45). Conclusion Medical oncologists selected to NCCN Guidelines committees had greater financial ties to industry than their peers. The potential influence of industry in oncology clinical practice guidelines may be reduced through the selection of committee members with fewer ties to industry. Implications for practice Oncologists who author clinical practice guidelines frequently have financial conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry. This creates concern about the potential for industry influence on guidelines. However, it is unknown whether oncologists who author guidelines have greater industry relationships than their peers. This study compared medical oncologists who were newly selected to join a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines panel with medical oncologists at the same institutions and at similar career stages. At the time they joined, oncologists joining NCCN Guidelines panels had received more than three times the dollar value of industry payments than their peers. The potential for industry influence may be reduced by the selection of less-conflicted panel members.
Trapping and recombination of tritium in lithium vacancy of the γ-LiAlO2 (100) surface: A first-principles study

Abstract γ-LiAlO2 is an important tritium (T, 3H) breeding material in fusion reactors. To explore the possible products of 3H species from the most stable γ-LiAlO2 (100) surface, first-principles calculations are performed to study the trapping and recombination of 3H in the surface Li vacancy (VLi). Our results indicate that one and two VLi sites can trap a maximum of two and three 3H atoms, respectively. The 3H accumulation is more preferable with increasing VLi under irradiation. When the 3H atoms are over-accumulated, the 3H atoms can be combined into T2 or T2O molecules. The T2 molecule desorbs spontaneously from the surface even with one VLi. The T2O molecule has an energy barrier of 0.71 eV in desorption, and the O atom in T2O has one coordination that needs at least two Li vacancies formation. Therefore, the T2 molecule should be the main product initially released from the surface. As the number of VLi increases under irradiation, the T2O yield could be increased. Our results provide a better understanding of 3H species released from γ-LiAlO2.
Multi-Objective Path-Based D* Lite.

Incremental graph search algorithms, such as D* Lite, reuse previous search efforts to speed up subsequent similar path planning tasks. These algorithms have demonstrated their efficiency in comparison with search from scratch, and have been leveraged in many applications such as navigation in unknown terrain. On the other hand, path planning typically involves optimizing multiple conflicting objectives simultaneously, such as travel risk, arrival time, etc. Multi-objective path planning is challenging as the number of "Pareto-optimal" solutions can grow exponentially with respect to the size of the graph, which makes it computationally burdensome to plan from scratch each time when similar planning tasks needs to be solved. This article presents a new multi-objective incremental search algorithm called Multi-Objective Path-Based D* Lite (MOPBD*) which reuses previous search efforts to speed up subsequent planning tasks while optimizing multiple objectives. Numerical results show that MOPBD* is more efficient than search from scratch and runs an order of magnitude faster than existing incremental method for multi-objective path planning.