cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gradually Varied Extensions

In this chapter, we generalize the concept of gradually varied functions to gradually varied mappings. In Chap. 3, we mainly discussed the function from a discrete space to {1, 2, ⋯ , n} or {A 1, A 2, ⋯ , A n }. This chapter focuses on gradually varied functions from a discrete space to another discrete space. For instance, a digital surface is defined as a mapping f from an n-dimensional digital manifold D to an m-dimensional grid space Σ m . A discrete surface is said to be gradually varied if two points in D, p and q, are adjacent, implying that f(p) and f(q) are adjacent in Σ m . In this Chapter, a basic extension theorem will be proven and some counter examples will be presented.
Association of Urinary Phthalates with Self-Reported Eye Affliction/Retinopathy in Individuals with Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010

Background. An epidemiological association between exposure to phthalates and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known. However, the potential role of environmental phthalates in the complications of T2D is unknown. Methods. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2010, we studied the association of 12 urinary phthalate metabolites with self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in 1,004 participants with diabetes. Data from retinal imaging was used to validate this outcome. Independence of the phthalates→T2D association was studied by adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, poverty income ratio, physical activity, glycated hemoglobin levels, total serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, total calorie intake, and obesity. Results. Self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy had 82% accuracy with Cohen's kappa of 0.31 (p < 0.001). Urinary mono-n-octyl phthalate (MOP) was independently associated with the likelihood of self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy in subjects with T2D after accounting for all the confounders. This significance of this association was robust to the potential misclassification in cases and controls of retinopathy. Further, a significant dose-response relationship between MOP and self-reported eye affliction/retinopathy was demonstrable. Conclusions. We show a novel epidemiological link between the environment and diabetic complications in NHANES 2001-2010 participants.
Frailty as a marker of adverse outcomes in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

Abstract Objective To investigate the modified frailty index (mFI) as a preoperative predictor of postoperative complications following radical cystectomy (RC) in patients with bladder cancer. Materials and methods Patients undergoing RC were identified from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participant use files (2011–2013). The mFI was defined in prior studies with 11 variables based on mapping the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program comorbidities and activities of daily livings. The mFI groups were determined by the number of risk factors per patient (0, 1, 2, and≥3). Univariable and multivariable regression were performed to determine predictors of Clavien 4 and 5 complications, and a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the mFI value that would be a significant predictor of Clavien 4 and 5 complications. Results Of the 2,679 cystectomy patients identified, 843 (31%) of patients had an mFI of 0, 1176 (44%) had an mFI of 1, 555 (21%) had an mFI of 2, and 105 (4%) had an mFI≥3. Overall, 1585 (59%) of patients experienced a Clavien complication. When stratified at a cutoff of mFI≥2, the overall complication rate was not different (61.7% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.1), but the mFI2 or greater group had a significantly higher rate of Clavien grade 4 or 5 complications (14.6% vs. 8.3%, P 80 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58 [1.11–2.27]), mFI2 (OR = 1.84 [1.28–2.64]), and mFI3 (OR = 2.58 [1.47–4.55]). Conclusions Among patients undergoing RC, the mFI can identify those patients at greatest risk for severe complications and mortality. Given that bladder cancer is increasing in prevalence particularly among the elderly, preoperative risk stratification is crucial to inform decision-making about surgical candidacy.
Book Review Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Mental Health Care by Alec Grant, Jem Mills, Ronan Mulhern and Nigel Short

2004, Sage Publications, London, UK 280 pages Paperback ISBN 0-7619-41428, $41.95 Hardback ISBN 0-7619-4141X, $102 Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2006, 18(2): 85
Mass transfer at the electrode tip during GAS metal ARC welding

The main objective of this investigation is to study the evolution of a drop of molten metal from the electrode tip during gas metal arc welding (GMAW) for different welding conditions. These welding conditions are characterized by the current density distribution at the free surface of the pendant drop, the electric current level, the electrode feed velocity, and the surface tension coefficient. The drop diameter, average drop velocity, and evolution time are calculated for different combinations of the former parameters and compared with predicted values from the static force balance theory, the pinch instability theory, and experimental results. The mixed, velocity-pressure, Galerkin finite element method is used to solve the time dependent system of nonlinear governing equations. A Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation of the system of equations is required to account for the continuous deformation of the liquid domain. Grid nodes at the free surface of the drop are constrained to move normal to this interface. Also, no fluid is allowed to cross the free surface since evaporation has been neglected. Although the energy equation is presented here for completeness, it is not solved in order to reduce the complexity of the computer program. Therefore, material properties are evaluated at a representative reference temperature level. The results of this research will help to demonstrate the welding parameters which have a greater effect upon the size and dynamic characteristics of the detaching drops. The results of this mathematical model show that the current density distribution plays a major role in determining the size of the drops detaching from the electrode tip. Meanwhile, the electric current level and the surface tension coefficient have more influence in the velocity and evolution time of the drops.
The Road to Diversity: A New, Precise Guideline for the Future of Student Assignment Plans

Since 2007, the focus on the use of strict scrutiny in the Parents Involved plurality opinion has created inconsistencies that have caused confusion among the lower courts in subsequent decisions. Two of these inconsistencies are issues surrounding de facto segregation and the intent behind student assignment plans. Another inconsistency involves whether the use of race as a factor in student assignment plans as a means to achieve racial diversity is narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest. By introducing a three-part test to correct these issues, the Supreme Court would increase the efficiency in this line of cases and provide a clearer, more succinct guideline for the lower courts to use throughout the process. The first step would require the schools to show evidence of segregation in the district in order to implement a plan to achieve racial diversity. The second step would require the school board to show the intent behind the creation and implementation of the plan in order for the courts to evaluate for discriminatory intent. Finally, step three would be a balancing test, which would evaluate the educational and social benefits of the integrated environment versus the harm experienced through implementation of the new plan. It would evaluate whether the plan was inclusive or exclusive and whether the plan actually achieved diversity within the school system. If the evidence leans in favor of the plan instead of the harm, then it would be deemed constitutional. This plan would resolve inconsistencies and confusion, allow the court system to provide a clear guideline of the process and the reasoning behind any decision, and would provide for more uniform decisions nationwide.
Tensile behavior of thermoplastic composites including temperature, moisture, and hygrothermal effects

Abstract An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of temperature, moisture, and hygrothermal aging on the tensile behavior of thermoplastic composites. Four different composites including talc filled and short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, short glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6.6, and a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene with short glass fibers were used for the study. Kinetics of water absorption and desorption were investigated for polyamide-6.6 composites and Fickian behavior was observed. The reductions in tensile strength and elastic modulus due to water absorption are represented by mathematical relations as a function of moisture content. In addition to moisture content, aging time was also found to influence the tensile behavior. A parameter is introduced for correlation of normalized stiffness and strength with different aging times and temperatures. Higher strength and stiffness obtained for re-dried samples after aging was explained by an increase in crystallinity.
Evolution of Ecological Diversity in Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Altered Cyclic Diguanylate Signaling.

ABSTRACT The ecological and evolutionary forces that promote and maintain diversity in biofilms are not well understood. To quantify these forces, three Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations were experimentally evolved from strain PA14 in a daily cycle of attachment, assembly, and dispersal for 600 generations. Each biofilm population evolved diverse colony morphologies and mutator genotypes defective in DNA mismatch repair. This diversity enhanced population fitness and biofilm output, owing partly to rare, early colonizing mutants that enhanced attachment of others. Evolved mutants exhibited various levels of the intracellular signal cyclic-di-GMP, which associated with their timing of adherence. Manipulating cyclic-di-GMP levels within individual mutants revealed a network of interactions in the population that depended on various attachment strategies related to this signal. Diversification in biofilms may therefore arise and be reinforced by initial colonists that enable community assembly. IMPORTANCE How biofilm diversity assembles, evolves, and contributes to community function is largely unknown. This presents a major challenge for understanding evolution during chronic infections and during the growth of all surface-associated microbes. We used experimental evolution to probe these dynamics and found that diversity, partly related to altered cyclic-di-GMP levels, arose and persisted due to the emergence of ecological interdependencies related to attachment patterns. Clonal isolates failed to capture population attributes, which points to the need to account for diversity in infections. More broadly, this study offers an experimental framework for linking phenotypic variation to distinct ecological strategies in biofilms and for studying eco-evolutionary interactions.
RELIABILITY AND FACTOR STRUCTURE OF THE GUTTENTAG AND BRAY SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL TEST

Assessment of the Guttentag and Bray scales for measuring sex stereotypes raised serious questions about their reliability and validity. Results suggested oversimplification in prior assumptions of...
In-Stent Restenosis After Femoropopliteal Interventions With Drug-Eluting Stents: Same But Different?

The superficial femoral artery (SFA), the longest artery in the human body, is subjected to nearly constant torsion, bending, and compression. It is perhaps natural to expect it to be the Achilles heel of endovascular interventions, plagued by higher rates of in-stent restenosis (ISR) compared to
Santa Muerte as Emerging Dangerous Religion

Santa Muerte is one of the fastest growing folk saint movements in Mexico. She has a core following in Mexico among dispossessed populations, but also devotees from a broader swath of the Mexican population. This article analyzes the development of Santa Muerte veneration in Mexico since 2000. I argue that, from a structural analysis perspective, Santa Muerte veneration is on the threshold of designation and treatment as dangerous religion, although its eventual status remains contingent. The movement’s status will be determined by three interacting factors: (1) a core membership of outsider and dispossessed populations; (2) symbolic and social organization in a form that challenges the legitimacy and authority of the institutions of church and state; and (3) institutional control measures that contest the legitimacy of its symbolic presentation and organizational practices. I suggest several alternative developmental scenarios based on these factors.
Radiofrequency Renal Denervation Protects the Ischemic Heart via Inhibition of GRK2 and Increased Nitric Oxide Signaling

Rationale:Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) is currently under development for the treatment of resistant hypertension and is thought to reduce blood pressure via interruption of sympathetic pathways that modulate cardiovascular function. The sympathetic nervous system also plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. Objective:We examined whether treatment with radiofrequency (RF)-RDN would protect the heart against subsequent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via direct effects on the myocardium. Methods and Results:Spontaneously hypertensive rats received either bilateral RF-RDN or sham-RDN. At 4 weeks after RF-RDN (n=14) or sham-RDN (n=14) treatment, spontaneously hypertensive rats were subjected to 30 minutes of transient coronary artery occlusion and 24 hours –7 days reperfusion. Four weeks after RF-RDN, myocardial oxidative stress was markedly attenuated, and transcription and translation of antioxidants, superoxide dismutase 1 and glutathion...
Global signal regression acts as a temporal downweighting process in resting-state fMRI

In resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI), the correlation between blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals across different brain regions is used to estimate the functional connectivity of the brain. This approach has led to the identification of a number of resting-state networks, including the default mode network (DMN) and the task positive network (TPN). Global signal regression (GSR) is a widely used pre-processing step in rsfMRI that has been shown to improve the spatial specificity of the estimated resting-state networks. In GSR, a whole brain average time series, known as the global signal (GS), is regressed out of each voxel time series prior to the computation of the correlations. However, the use of GSR is controversial because it can introduce artifactual negative correlations. For example, it has been argued that anticorrelations observed between the DMN and TPN are primarily an artifact of GSR. Despite the concerns about GSR, there is currently no consensus regarding its use. In this paper, we introduce a new framework for understanding the effects of GSR. In particular, we show that the main effects of GSR can be well approximated as a temporal downweighting process in which the data from time points with relatively large GS magnitudes are greatly attenuated while data from time points with relatively small GS magnitudes are largely unaffected. Furthermore, we show that a limiting case of this downweighting process in which data from time points with large GS magnitudes are censored can also approximate the effects of GSR. In other words, the correlation maps obtained after GSR show a high degree of spatial similarity (including the presence of anticorrelations between the DMN and TPN) with maps obtained using only the uncensored (i.e. retained) time points. Since the data from these retained time points are unaffected by the censoring process, this finding suggests that the observed anticorrelations inherently exist in the data from time points with small GS magnitudes and are not simply an artifact of GSR.
Three or More Courses of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Patients with Multiply Recurrent Brain Metastases.

BACKGROUND Although patients with brain metastasis are treated with primary stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), the use of salvage therapies and their consequence remains understudied. OBJECTIVE To study the intracranial recurrence patterns and salvage therapies for patients who underwent multiple SRS courses. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 59 patients with brain metastases who underwent ≥3 SRS courses for new lesions. Cox regression analyzed factors predictive for overall survival. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 52 years. Over time, patients underwent a median of 3 courses of SRS (range: 3-8) to a total of 765 different brain metastases. The 6-month risk of distant intracranial recurrence after the first SRS treatment was 64% (95% confidence interval: 52%-77%). Overall survival was 40% (95% confidence interval: 28%-53%) at 24 months. Only 24 patients (41%) had a decline in their Karnofsky Performance Status ≤70 at last office visit. Quality of life was preserved among 77% of patients at 12 months, with 45% experiencing clinically significant improvement during clinical follow-up. Radiation necrosis developed in 10 patients (17%). On multivariate analysis, gender (males, Hazard Ratio [HR]: 2.0, P < .05), Karnofsky Performance Status ≤80 (HR 3.2, P < .001), extracranial metastases (HR: 3.6, P < .001), and a distant intracranial recurrence ≤3 months from initial to repeat SRS (HR: 3.8, P < .001) were associated with a poorer survival. CONCLUSION In selected patients, performing ≥3 SRS courses controls intracranial disease. Patients may need salvage SRS for distant intracranial relapse, but focal retreatments are associated with modest toxicity, do not appear to negatively affect a patient's performance status, and help preserve quality of life.
Evaluation of SmartStax and SmartStax PRO maize against western corn rootworm and northern corn rootworm: efficacy and resistance management.

BACKGROUND Cases of western corn rootworm (WCR) field-evolved resistance to Cry3Bb1 and other corn rootworm (CRW) control traits have been reported. Pyramid products expressing multiple CRW traits can delay resistance compared to single trait products. We used field studies to assess the pyramid CRW corn products, SmartStax (expressing Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1) and SmartStax PRO (expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 and DvSnf7), at locations with high WCR densities and possible Cry3Bb1 resistance, and to assess the reduction in adult emergence attributable to DvSnf7 and other traits. Insect resistance models were used to assess durability of SmartStax and SmartStax PRO to WCR resistance. RESULTS SmartStax significantly reduced root injury compared to non-CRW-trait controls at all but one location with measurable WCR pressure, while SmartStax PRO significantly reduced root injury at all locations, despite evidence of Cry3Bb1 resistance at some locations. The advantage of SmartStax PRO over SmartStax in reducing root damage was positively correlated with root damage on non-CRW-trait controls. DvSnf7 was estimated to reduce WCR emergence by approximately 80–95%, which modeling indicated will improve durability of Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 compared to SmartStax. CONCLUSION The addition of DvSnf7 in SmartStax PRO can reduce root damage under high WCR densities and prolong Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 durability. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Pervasive translational regulation of the cell signalling circuitry underlies mammalian development

The degree and dynamics of translational control during mammalian development remain poorly understood. Here we monitored translation of the mammalian genome as cells become specified and organize into tissues in vivo. This identified unexpected and pervasive translational regulation of most of the core signalling circuitry including Shh, Wnt, Hippo, PI3K and MAPK pathways. We further identify and functionally characterize a complex landscape of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) across 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of key signalling components. Focusing on the Shh pathway, we demonstrate the importance of uORFs within the major SHH receptor, Ptch1, in control of cell signalling and neuronal differentiation. Finally, we show that the expression of hundreds of mRNAs underlying critical tissue-specific developmental processes is largely regulated at the translation but not transcript levels. Altogether, this work reveals a new layer of translational control to major signalling components and gene regulatory networks that diversifies gene expression spatially across developing tissues.
Personality development in emerging adulthood

The term emerging adulthood has been introduced to describe an extended period of development between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood. This chapter examines two hypotheses about the nature and shape of personality trait change during this period. Specifically, based on theory and research on emerging adulthood, it can be predicted that, in contrast to young adults, emerging adults show (1) less pronounced increases in emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, but (2) more pronounced increases in openness to experience. Overall, the findings of previous cross-sectional, cross-cultural, and longitudinal studies on personality trait development provide some support for these hypotheses, suggesting that the time between the late teens and the early 20s is indeed marked by distinctive patterns of personality trait change that are (partly) different from the patterns observed during the broader period of young adulthood.
Drugs, Pharmaceuticals, and Pharmacological Applications

In 1957 Carol published a short review on the application of infrared methods to pharmaceutical analysis. Among the substances for which infrared methods had been developed at that time he mentioned atropine, nitroglycerine, sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate, phenobarbital, testosterone, and progesterone. Other substances for which analytical methods were given were penicillin G in the presence of penicillin F, K, or dihydro-F; ethinyl testosterone; aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine; and estrogenic substances, e. g., estrone, equilin, and estradiol-17-β (cis).
Electric Sasando of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Sasando is a stringed musical instrument from Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Based on the resulting tones, this instrument consists of two types namely gong sasando that produces pentatonic tones and violin sasando that produces diatonic tones. Based on these two kinds of sasando the electric sasando has been created with the consequence that some of original characteristic of accoustic sasando had been eliminated. Up to this point, a question is raised, why the electric sasando was created and how is its history? To analyze this problem I use the popular culture studies to indicate that the creation of electric sasando is closely linked with consumer demand, that influenced by popular culture. The datas are obtained through direct observation and by interviewing the informans. Result sows that the creation of electric sasando is influenced by consumer demand who live in popular and mass culture.
Prescriptions, Proscriptions, and Generalization in Social Work Practice Literature:

The authors discuss the results of a study that recorded the extent to which prescriptions and proscriptions for interpersonal practice are specified in the literature and the types of justificatio...
Linking Quality Attributes with Customer Purchasing Decisions: A Comparison of Two Methods

This article uses two different survey methods to link quality criteria to customer purchase decisions. Specifically, a decision modeling technique and a direct questioning approach were used to investigate the influence of four quality criteria on hypo..
How to Make A Decision

ieρa aρχή is the Greek word for hierarchy meaning holy origin or holy rule1. It is the ordering of parts or elements of a whole from the highest to the lowest. A hierarchy is the principle of control that secures the effective functioning of the organization2.
Controversy corner: computer performance management: conceptual considerations from an operations research perspective

Abstract A conceptual linkage between computer performance management and the generalized OR model is proposed. This approach seeks to enlarge the managerial perspective so that more effective decisions can be developed and implemented relative to enhancing computer system operating behavior. Basic considerations in computer system performance are mapped to the generalized features of the classical OR model. The result suggests that increased understanding associated with managerial responsibilities in improving performance can be realized.
War as a Process

To show the possibility and desirability of viewing war as a process, we can turn first to the Maring people of the Bismarck Mountains of eastern New Guinea. A multiphase war process operating among these people will be described and analyzed in this chapter. The concluding section of the chapter will indicate the features of the Maring process that are especially important for understanding how war processes in general can operate adaptively in relation to perturbations that people must deal with.
Developing Three-Dimensional Models of Ion Channel Proteins

Ion channel—forming proteins are an exceptionally important class of membrane proteins that are involved in many complex biological processes. Within this class there is a wide variety of structures and functions. For example, the types of proteins reviewed here include antibiotics, toxins, molecular sieves, a shark repellent, and the voltage- and ligand-gated types of channels responsible for electrical conduction in the nervous system. The sizes of these proteins range from about 20 amino acid residues, for some of the antibiotics and toxins, to about 2000 residues for the pore-forming subunit of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels. While the transmembrane region of many membrane proteins appears to be composed primarily of α-helices, some channel proteins, such as those in the outer membranes of bacteria and mitochondria, are primarily β-sheet structures. Despite some advances, much remains to be learned about the full three-dimensional structures of membrane proteins. Unfortunately, efforts in this direction have been severely hampered by difficulties in isolation, purification, and crystallization. To date, only a few integral membrane proteins have yielded to structure determination in native-like environments. On the other hand, the explosive developments in cell biology, molecular biology, and genetic engineering have led to the discovery of many ion channel proteins and the identification of their genes in the genome. By means of mutation, cloning, and expression in oocyte membranes, many groups have been able to investigate the relationship between amino acid sequence and function of these channels. Although more ambiguous than the data obtained from X-ray crystallography or cryomicroscopyy, these functional studies have provided a wealth of information from which structural information can be deduced.
Hydraulic City: Water & the Infrastructures of Citizenship in Mumbai

Nikhil Anand. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2017. xiv and 296 pp.; acknowledgments, notes, references, index. $26.95 paper (ISBN 978-0-8223-6269-2); $99.95 cloth (ISBN 978-0-8223-6254-8).This ...
Prenatal incubation temperature affects neonatal precocial birds' locomotor behavior.

Abstract Temperature during the prenatal period is an important factor for developing embryos. Extensive human and animal research indicate embryos are sensitive to small fluctuations in temperature which has profound effects on phenotype development. Much of this research has focused on survivability, morphology, and incubation duration, but comparatively less in known about how prenatal temperature influences the development of motor coordination. In this study, we experimentally tested whether exposure to naturally occurring cool (36.9 °C) or warm (38.1 °C) thermal conditions for a brief period (4 days) during early incubation can influence postnatal motor performance in neonatal bobwhite quail hatchlings. We compared gait spatiotemporal parameters, body kinematics, and locomotive behaviors of control chicks incubated in an optimal thermal environment (37.5 °C) with thermally manipulated chicks. Experimental temperature treatment began on embryonic day five (E5) and ended on E8. Chicks were tested 24-h after hatching. Cool thermal exposure during incubation delayed hatching, reduced body mass, and increased fall frequency, intertarsal joint angle and stride length variability during the gait task compared to optimally incubated chicks. Warm thermal exposure during incubation delayed bone growth and increased fall frequency relative to controls. We discuss the relationship between motor development and thermal regulatory processes and provide insight into how spatiotemporal parameters aid in elucidating subtle differences in coordinated movement which may contribute to atypical motor development and be associated with neural developmental disorders. We provide the first spatiotemporal evidence for the importance of optimal thermal microclimates for typical prenatal motor development.
Response to sexual assault in Bogotá, Colombia: A qualitative evaluation of health providers’ readiness and role in policy implementation

AbstractColombia has an extensive policy framework to address violence against women. In this qualitative study the authors address the health system and policy response to sexual violence in Bogot...
Infrared studies of surface carbonate binding to diimine-tricarbonyl Re(I) and Mn(I) complexes in mesoporous silica

Diimine-tricarbonyl Re(I) and Mn(I) complexes have demonstrated interesting activity in photocatalytic and electrochemical CO2 reduction. In this study, we take a surface chemistry approach to inve...
Electron Exchange in Cytochrome c

Although the title of my talk is on cytochrome c, I would like to start out by introducing some of the results from my laboratory on intramolecular electron transfer reactions across polypeptides. Over the last several years we have synthesized and studied three series of binuclear transition metal complexes bridged by polypeptides (Table I) [1–3].
Electron spin resonance of CrO43− in strontium chloroapatite, Sr5(PO4)3Cl

The electron spin resonance of CrO43− has been studied at 4.2°K in single crystals of Sr5(PO4)3Cl. It is shown that strontium chloroapatite has the hexagonal P63m structure down to 4.2°K. No phase transition to the monoclinic P21b symmetry, observed in the Ca5(PO4)3Cl and Ca5(PO4)3OH analogs, has been found in Sr5(PO4)3Cl. The principal values of g and A tensors are gx = 1.9348, gy = 1.9430, gz = 1.9822, Ax = 26.5 × 10−4cm−1, Ay = 22.1 × 10−4cm−1, and Az = 6.7 × 10−4cm−1. The principal axes of g and A are found to be rotated by 8.6° relative to each other about the common y axis which is parallel to the crystallographic c axis. The ground state of the d1 electron is dz2 with considerable admixture of the higher-level d orbitals. The difference in the orientation of the x and z principal axes of the g and A tensors is due to this admixture. Crystal field parameters are extracted assuming a distortion of the oxygen tetrahedron which leaves only xz mirror plane (Cs) symmetry. An angular dependence of the linewidth is observed which is attributed to a distribution of distortions within the crystal.
Colonic Wall Thickening as the First Indicator of Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rarely reported site of extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report a patient being effectively treated with immunotherapy for relapsed ALL who was incidentally noted to have colonic wall thickening on imaging that was subsequently pathologically confirmed to be the result of disease infiltration of colonic tissue. Primary ALL involvement of the GI tract should be considered in the evaluation of GI complaints in patients with ALL, particularly those with relapsed disease otherwise effectively treated with immunotherapy.
Review: Piyyuṭ and Midrash: Form, Genre, and History, by Tzvi Novick

Tzvi Novick, Piyyuṭ and Midrash: Form, Genre, and History . Journal of Ancient Judaism Supplements 30. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Verlage, 2019. 235 pp. ISBN 9783525570807. €90.00. In 1938, Menahem Zulay published what is often considered to be the first critical edition of classical piyyutim , Hebrew liturgical poems from late antique Palestine. At the time, scholars had only just begun to publish these long-forgotten works from manuscript fragments rediscovered in the Cairo Genizah. While the edition was nothing less than groundbreaking, Zulay chose to hold off on providing a commentary, such that, in the words of Saul Lieberman, “the book remains closed and sealed in terms of its content.”1 For Lieberman, and for those scholars who came after him, the key to understanding piyyuṭ lies in midrash , rabbinic exegesis, and thus, for the past eight decades, scholars have read piyyuṭ as hierarchically indebted to rabbinic texts. When combined with its baroque aesthetic and the simple fact that much piyyuṭ still remains unpublished, the perception of hierarchy has allowed scholars of late antique Judaism to largely avoid this corpus. Piyyuṭ , it is believed, is hard to penetrate, and anyway, it is largely derivative and unoriginal. Tzvi Novick's learned and subtle new book, Piyyuṭ and Midrash: Form, Genre, and History , seeks to rectify this situation. Over the course of seven chapters, Novick attempts “to build bridges across the disciplinary divide that separates the study of rabbinic literature in late antique Roman Palestine from the study of early (pre-classical and especially classical) piyyuṭ ” (215). In Chapter 1, Novick outlines the terms of his study, the program of the book, and also the ways in which the explicit performative element of piyyuṭ differs from what is usually found in midrash . Much of the chapter takes up the issue of voicing in the two corpora. Novick looks at the way midrash and piyyuṭ each represent the voicing of biblical characters, of God and Israel, and …
Advance Care Planning: Advanced Practice Provider-Initiated Discussions and Their Effects on Patient-Centered End-of-Life Care

Background Advance care planning (ACP) is an ongoing process of communication involving patients, family members, and caregivers on one side and healthcare providers on the other to establish values, goals, and preferences for future care, along with discussions concerning end-of-life care options. Advance directives promote patient autonomy and provide written documentation of a patient's wishes for future care. Objectives This quality improvement project aimed to determine if ACP discussions initiated by an advanced practice provider (APP) would enhance patient-centered end-of-life care. Methods This study involved retrospective data collection of 20 inpatients and 20 outpatients without a scanned advance directive in the electronic health record at the time of admission or clinic visit, as well as an ACP intervention by an APP. Findings APPs can initiate ACP discussions with patients with cancer, which may assist in their understanding of ACP, resulting in completion of the advance directive documents and a change in their code (resuscitation) status.
A Pilot Study of the Feasibility and Accuracy of Inpatient Continuous Glucose Monitoring

There are minimal data assessing the accuracy or use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in hospitalized patients. Our group was interested in its use in the perioperative period, since we suspect we would identify more extremes and thus more dangerous blood glucose levels than seen with traditional bedside blood glucose monitoring. Given the lack of data for CGM use in hospitalized patients, and the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we felt this is a critical time to share our data. Use of CGM could potentially reduce the number of health care provider contacts and use of personal protective equipment. Eligible patients were adults (age ≥18 years) with diabetes who used intermittent home blood glucose monitoring and who were scheduled to undergo an elective general surgery at University of Washington Medical Center. The study protocol was approved by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board. The study was also registered as a clinical trial. Continuous intravenous insulin infusion was used per hospital algorithm (target blood glucose 100 mg/dL [5.6 mmol/L] to 180 mg/dL [10.0 mmol/L]) until oral consumption was resumed, at which time subcutaneous insulin was initiated. This …
Nursing experience for painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment of aspiration pneumonia in primary school students

Objective To summarize the nursing points of painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment of children with aspiration pneumonia. Methods The clinical data of 60 children with aspiration pneumonia admitted in our hospital from March 2017 to January 2018 were retrospectively collected. All patients were treated with painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and the main points of nursing work were summarized. Results In 60 cases, 58 cases were cured and discharged from hospital. The treatment time was 12-24 d. Among the other 2 cases,1 case died of complications and 1 case was deep coma. Conclusions Meticulous care should be applied in the whole process of painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment of aspiration pneumonia, psychological care, basic nursing, respiratory tract care should be paid attention to, improving the treatment effect with high quality nursing service, and promoting the rehabilitation of children. Key words: Painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy; Children inhaled pneumonia; Nursing
Salivary Gland Neoplasms

To give an overview of diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland neoplasms and highlight the contribution of recent literature. The newly adapted Milan classification system for cytologic diagnosis provides risk of malignancy and clinical management strategies for parotid neoplasms with high PPV and NPV. Reconstruction for partial parotidectomy and total parotidectomy defects continues to advance toward greater cosmesis and facial symmetry. New diagnostic advances will aid in clinical decision making and patient management. Surgically based therapy continues to be favored in both benign and malignancy lesions. Management of the neck is important in high grade salivary malignancy and reconstruction of defects should be considered in order to improve cosmetic outcomes.
t-Test and ANOVA for data with ceiling and/or floor effects

Ceiling and floor effects are often observed in social and behavioral science. The current study examines ceiling/floor effects in the context of the t-test and ANOVA, two frequently used statistical methods in experimental studies. Our literature review indicated that most researchers treated ceiling or floor data as if these data were true values, and that some researchers used statistical methods such as discarding ceiling or floor data in conducting the t-test and ANOVA. The current study evaluates the performance of these conventional methods for t-test and ANOVA with ceiling or floor data. Our evaluation also includes censored regression with regard to its capacity for handling ceiling/floor data. Furthermore, we propose an easy-to-use method that handles ceiling or floor data in t-tests and ANOVA by using properties of truncated normal distributions. Simulation studies were conducted to compare the performance of the methods in handling ceiling or floor data for t-test and ANOVA. Overall, the proposed method showed greater accuracy in effect size estimation and better-controlled Type I error rates over other evaluated methods. We developed an easy-to-use software package and web applications to help researchers implement the proposed method. Recommendations and future directions are discussed.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Reducing the SIR for Clostridioides difficile Healthcare Associated Infections

Background In February 2018, The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) published updated clinical practice guidelines for Clostridiodes difficile (C. diff). The Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) at our acute care facility was noted to be above the national average of 0.924. The updated guidelines included recommendations to only test patients with new onset and unexplained diarrhea consisting of three or more unformed stools within a twenty-four period, and the addition of a confirmation test to differentiate active infection from colonization. Methods As a result of the SHEA recommendations, two questions were added to the electronic medical records system when a C. diff test is ordered: 1.Has the patient reported three or more unformed stools in the past twenty-four hours? 2.Has the patient received a laxative or stool softener in the past forty-eight hours? Staff education was provided system-wide on both proper specimen collection and appropriate test ordering. The Microbiology lab performed a comparison study between two enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests and the gold standard cytotoxin assay. The study found that both EIA tests had low sensitivity and consequently, all positive C. diff PCR specimens were sent for confirmation by cytotoxin assay. Results The SIR pre-implementation (October 2017 to September 2018) to post-implementation (October 2018 to September 2019) demonstrated a reduction from 1.200 to 0.716 (p=0.0003), and has remained below the benchmark since that time. About 57% of positive C. diff PCR specimens confirmed with cytotoxin assay. Conclusions The implementation of the two-step process and the addition of the questions regarding specimen appropriateness is believed to have contributed to a significantly reduced SIR for C. diff. This has also led to a reduction in unnecessary antibiotic treatment and isolation of patients.
Effective Parasite Control For Cow-Calf Programs:

Parasite control is necessary for optimal cow-calf performance. By deworming, nematode parasites are reduced in numbers perhaps by 95-99% with use of an effective anthelmintic drug per treated cow or calf. In mother cows, this should maximize reproductive potential, milk production and desirable weight maintenance. Treatment of cows before being moved to a "rested" pasture will reduce contamination and transmission to parasite-naive calves. Treatment of calves at a later time in the grazing period will improve growth performance. Deworming should be an integral part of the overall herd health program. Too often, parasite control is eliminated from a program or not used. Yet subclinical parasitism has been shown to depress performance when not negated by effective anthelmintics and appropriate timing of their administration. When other factors such as nutrition, weather conditions (temperature, precipitation) and forage are in a steady state, the benefits of an effective anthelmintic are especially evident.
In Vivo Evaluation of Oxygenic Photogranules’ Photosynthetic Capacity by Pulse Amplitude Modulation and Phototrophic–Irradiance Curves

The commingled microbial moiety of oxygenic photogranules (OPGs) facilitates aeration-free wastewater treatment. Embedded in an extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix, microbial producers ...
The hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus utilizes environmental iron sulfide cluster complexes as an iron source

Iron is an essential nutrient for almost all known organisms, but in aerobic, neutral pH environments, it is present primarily as precipitated oxyhydroxide minerals. In contrast, in anaerobic environments, iron can exist in its ferrous form (Fe2+) and remain soluble. In sulfide-rich, anaerobic environments, Fe2+ and sulfide react to form iron sulfide cluster complexes of the form FexSx (FeSaq), which further condense to form the mineral mackinawite, which itself is partly soluble. However, the ability of microorganisms to utilize iron sulfide as an iron source is not known. Here, we show that the anaerobic, hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus can directly assimilate the iron in dissolved iron sulfide cluster complexes (FeSaq) without further dissolution to Fe2+. Growth is only inhibited in the presence of a Fe2+-specific chelator. The FeSaq that is utilized can be formed either by reaction of chelated Fe2+ with sulfide or dissolved from mackinawite. Pyrococcus furiosus can utilize FeSaq larger than 3.5 kDa, or Fe40S40, and may actively aid in the dissolution of mackinawite to the assimilated FeSaq. A model for iron sulfide assimilation from an insoluble mineral is proposed.
Cerebello-Basal Ganglia Network Global Efficiency Predicts Cortical Network Global Efficiency

Abstract The cerebellum (CB) and basal ganglia (BG) each have distinct functional subregions that are interconnected via disynaptic trans-thalamic pathways and interact with functionally connected cortical regions through discrete thalamic loops. Previous work shows functional connectivity between these phylogenetically ancient regions is topographically organized with high levels of interconnectedness (Hausman et al., 2019). It has been posited that this subcortical network provides the foundation from which cortical systems emerge, spanning cognitive, emotional, and motor domains, implying subcortical network measures are strongly related to cortical network measures (Bostan & Strick, 2018); however, it is currently unknown how differences in network measures within the subcortical network relates to differences within cortical networks. Here, rsfMRI data from 233 non-related, right-handed participants (Human Connectome Project-1200) were selected to test whether subcortical network interconnectedness predicted within-network interconnectedness in the cortex. 70 regions of interest comprising the CB-BG and canonical cortical resting-state networks (default mode, central executive, salience, motor, and emotional) were defined based on previous work. Network-level global efficiency (GE) in the CB-BG network positively predicted GE in all 5 cortical networks. When looking at network segregation, relationships were seen only when looking at the CB-BG network and cortical motor network. We also replicated previous findings showing a high degree of CB-BG interconnectedness in a large sample. This work has implications for understanding cortical network organization and cortical-subcortical interactions in healthy adults and may help in deciphering subcortical changes seen in disease states.
A Primer on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Spine Surgery.

Design This was a narrative review. Purpose Summarize artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentals as well as current and potential future uses in spine surgery. Summary of background data Although considered futuristic, the field of AI has already had a profound impact on many industries, including health care. Its ability to recognize patterns and self-correct to improve over time mimics human cognitive function, but on a much larger scale. Methods Review of literature on AI fundamentals and uses in spine pathology. Results Machine learning (ML), a subset of AI, increases in hierarchy of complexity from classic ML to unsupervised ML to deep leaning, where Language Processing and Computer Vision are possible. AI-based tools have been developed to segment spinal structures, acquire basic spinal measurements, and even identify pathology such as tumor or degeneration. AI algorithms could have use in guiding clinical management through treatment selection, patient-specific prognostication, and even has the potential to power neuroprosthetic devices after spinal cord injury. Conclusion While the use of AI has pitfalls and should be adopted with caution, future use is promising in the field of spine surgery and medicine as a whole. Level of evidence Level IV.