cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cycloheximide Derivatives and Mite Control, with Special Reference to Mites on Citrus1

Cycloheximide and its acetate, acetoacetate, oxime, semicarbazone, and thiosemicarbazone derivatives were evaluated in the laboratory to ascertain their toxicity to and effects on the fecundity of the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), on citrus, and the Pacific mite, Tetranychus pacificus McGregor, on bean seedlings. Laboratory sprays of these compounds, in the order listed, produced injury to green lemon fruit at concentrations of 2, 0.5, 100, 40, 5, 10 ppm, respectively, and to bean seedlings at 100, 25, 1000, 100, 100, and 100 ppm, respectively. None of the compounds were highly effective in producing direct mortality to either mite species at concentrations which were nonphytotoxic. At concentrations of 10 ppm or above, spray applications of each compound, except the thiosemicarbazone, materially reduced the fecundity of both mite species. In field evaluation trials, the oxime was the only one of these compounds that showed promise for control of P. citri . Most effective control resulted when applications were made between the cycles of plant growth. When applications were made during the growth cycle, adult female mites moved onto new growth where egg laying returned to normal.
Factors predicting the development of and survival from brain metastasis in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

15541 Background: To date there are no substantial series reported evaluating brain mets in TCC of the bladder. This makes therapeutic evidence-based decision making in this setting extremely difficult. Methods: We followed 1898 pts with TCC of the bladder treated with cystectomy from 1972–2004. Cohort analysis was undertaken for factors predisposing to and of factors that predict survival after brain mets. Results: With median follow-up of 3.6 yrs for this cohort, 545/1898 (28.7%) recurred, 30 (1.6%) with brain mets. Median time to brain mets development was 1.14 yrs, range 0.0710.92 yrs. Median time to first TCC recurrence in brain met pts was 0.86 yrs vs. 1.03 yrs for whole cohort (p=0.25). Median OS from cystectomy 1.36 yrs vs. 3.49 yrs for whole cohort (p<0.0001). Median time from brain mets to death, 3.3 mths range 0–143 mths, skewed by 2 outliers surviving 18 and 143 mths. The following factors were associated with risk of brain mets: younger age (60.2 vs. 66.3 yrs, p=0.01) and LN status at cystect...
Surveillance on Virulence gene and RAPD analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from different sources in Zhoushan

Objective:To study the molecular epidemiology of the isolates from shellfish and part of the dissemination of cases of diarrhea and food poisoning in Zhoushan,and find the epidemic law of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.Methods: 50 isolates from shellfish and 18 clinical isolates were serotyped,and the virulence genes,including tdh,trh,orf8 and toxRS/new genes,were detected by PCR.Molecular typings were analysed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA(RAPD).Results: 50 shellfish isolates belong to 7 serotypes including O:1(22%),O:2(10%),O:3(2%),O:4(14%),O:5(6%),O:10(22%) and O:11(22%).The tdh,orf8 and toxRS/new test results were all negative in Shellfish isolates,and only two strains containing trh gene were detected.In 18 clinical isolates,13(72.2%) isolates were O3:K6 type,4 isolates belong to O:1 serotype,1 isolate belong to O:4 serotype.14 clinical isolates with tdh,orf8 and toxRS/new positive and 1 with trh positive were detected.It was showed that 14(77.78%) clinical isolates were belong to the pandemic strain,in which 13(92.86%) clinical isolates were belong to O3: K6 type,and one was belong to O1: KUT type;RAPD typing results showed that 50 strains from shellfish were divided into 21 different RAPD types,type 3(8%),type 12(12%) and type 23(38%) were the main type.18 strains from human were divided into 3 different RAPD types,type5(5.56%),type22(5.56%) and type 23(88.88%).Conclusion: Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from shellfish present extensive genetic diversity in Zhoushan,while the clinical isolates present comparatively concentrative distributing;One group of O3:K6 clone with tdh,orf8 and toxRS/new positive become epidemic stain.
The Three Faces of Performance Measurement: Improvement, Accountability, and Research

In the current climate of public accountability, many clinicians have become uncomfortable with any efforts to create measurement systems. That is unfortunate because measurements are absolutely essential to efforts for improving the processes of medical care. In their guideline implementation and measurement efforts, ISCI and the IMPROVE Project in Minnesota have gradually learned how to distinguish between measurement for improvement and that for accountability. Both approaches are different from the approach that physicians are used to in their encounters with medical research. Understanding these differences and respecting the confidentiality of individual medical groups has been crucial to moving past confusion and suspicion to genuine improvement actions involving multiple medical groups and their contracting managed care plans.
Medical School Hotline: Liaison Committee on Medical Education Accreditation: Part I: The Accreditation Process.

The John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa is scheduled to undergo its Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation visit in early 2017. This article is the first in a series that will address various aspects of the LCME accreditation process. In this initial installment, we will provide an overview of the LCME accreditation process—from preparation and organization through the actual site visit and notification of the LCME accreditation decision. The goal is provide a preview of the important work that will need to be done in preparation of the upcoming accreditation site visit. Future articles in this series will take a more detailed look at a number of related accreditation issues. These will include descriptions of the JABSOM Graduation Objectives, Educational Philosophy, Program Evaluation process, Student Wellness programs, Pipeline programs, Faculty Development, Curriculum Management, and Clinical Supervision. We anticipate that these will be published here in the Hawai‘i Journal of Medicine and Public Health on alternate months moving forward. “Imagine you are sitting in your office reading e-mail. A message appears in your in-tray with the subject “LCME Site Visit.” The message says that JABSOM's accreditation visit will take place from January 29th – February 1st in the year 2017. You reflect on the importance of LCME accreditation and the completion of some important tasks such as the Data Collection Instrument (DCI), the Independent Student Analysis (ISA), and the Self-Study Summary. You recall there are 12 LCME accreditation standards.”
Post-discharge complications after esophagectomy account for high readmission rates.

AIM: To identify rates of post-discharge complications (PDC), associated risk factors, and their influence on early hospital outcomes after esophagectomy. METHODS: We used the 2005-2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to identify patients ≥ 18 years of age who underwent an esophagectomy. These procedures were categorized into four operative approaches: transhiatal, Ivor-Lewis, 3-holes, and non-gastric conduit. We selected patient data based on clinical relevance to patients undergoing esophagectomy and compared demographic and clinical characteristics. The primary outcome was PDC, and secondary outcomes were hospital readmission and reoperation. The patients were then divided in 3 groups: no complication (Group 1), only pre-discharge complication (Group 2), and PDC patients (Group 3). A modified Poisson regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with developing post-discharge complication, and risk ratios were estimated. RESULTS: 4483 total patients were identified, with 8.9% developing PDC within 30-d after esophagectomy. Patients who experienced complications post-discharge had a median initial hospital length of stay (LOS) of 9 d; however, PDC occurred on average 14 d following surgery. Patients with PDC had greater rates of wound infection (41.0% vs 19.3%, P < 0.001), venous thromboembolism (16.3% vs 8.9%, P < 0.001), and organ space surgical site infection (17.1% vs 11.0%, P = 0.001) than patients with pre-discharge complication. The readmission rate in our entire population was 12.8%. PDC patients were overwhelmingly more likely to have a reoperation (39.5% vs 22.4%, P < 0.001) and readmission (66.9% vs 6.6%, P < 0.001). BMI 25-29.9 and BMI ≥ 30 were associated with increased risk of PDC compared to normal BMI (18.5-25). CONCLUSION: PDC after esophagectomy account for significant number of reoperations and readmissions. Efforts should be directed towards optimizing patient’s health pre-discharge, with possible prevention programs at discharge.
Joint Engagement and Early Language in Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome

Purpose In this study, we examine joint engagement (JE) in young children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and its relationship to language abilities and autism spectrum disorder symptomatology at 24 ...
The effect of scoliotic deformity on spine kinematics in adolescents.

While adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) produces well characterized deformation in spinal form, the effect on spinal function, namely mobility, is not well known. Better understanding of scoliotic spinal mobility could yield better treatment targets and diagnoses. The purpose of this study was to characterize the spinal mobility differences due to AIS. It was hypothesized that the AIS group would exhibit reduced mobility compared to the typical adolescent (TA) group. Eleven adolescents with right thoracic AIS, apices T6-T10, and eleven age- and gender-matched TAs moved to their maximum bent position in sagittal and coronal plane bending tasks. A Trakstar (Ascension Technologies Burlington, VT) was used to collect position data. The study was approved by the local IRB. Using MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, MA) normalized segmental angles were calculated for upper thoracic (UT) from T1-T3, mid thoracic (MT) from T3-T6, lower thoracic (LT) from T6-T10, thoracolumbar (TL) from T10-L1, upper lumbar (UL) from L1-L3, and thoracic from T1-L1 by subtracting the standing position from the maximum bent position and dividing by number of motion units in each segment. Mann Whitney tests (α = 0.05) were used to determine mobility differences. The findings indicated that the AIS group had comparatively increased mobility in the periapical regions of the spine. The AIS group had an increase of 1.2° in the mid thoracic region (p = 0.01) during flexion, an increase of 1.0° in the mid thoracic region (p = 0.01), 1.5° in the thoracolumbar region (p = 0.02), and 0.7° in thoracic region (p = 0.04) during left anterior-lateral flexion, an increase of 6.0° in the upper lumbar region (p = 0.02) during right anterior-lateral flexion, and an increase of 2.2° in the upper lumbar region during left lateral bending (p < 0.01). Participants with AIS did not have reduced mobility in sagittal or coronal motion. Contrarily, the AIS group often had a greater mobility, especially in segments directly above and below the apex. This indicates the scoliotic spine is flexible and may compensate near the apex.
Front-end genomics: using an alternative approach for the recovery of high-quality DNA from core needle biopsies.

Aims Determine whether a simple prewash step will provide adequate amounts of high-quality DNA from core needle biopsies for molecular sequencing studies. Methods The quantitative and qualitative metrics of DNA recovered from core needle biopsies processed either by 1) formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE), 2) cells recovered after the core needle biopsy was washed, and 3) frozen sections of the core needle biopsy tissue were evaluated and compared to one another. Results Fairly equivalent amounts of DNA can be obtained from cells recovered from a prewash step relative to the FFPE and frozen section samples. The number of amplifiable DNA in the wash sample was greater than that from the FFPE samples. The average molecular size of DNA in the wash sample was greater than that of both the FFPE and frozen samples. Conclusions Although more starting material in terms of the number of cells was present in both the FFPE and frozen section samples than the wash samples, equivalent to better results were obtained from the latter with regard to quality. This approach may be a means to better aliquot the diminutive amounts of tissue associated with core needle biopsies, allowing dissociated cells to be dedicated for molecular studies while keeping the tissue intact for morphological studies.
Choroidal Thickness and Choroidal Vessel Density in Nonexudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging.

Purpose To analyze the relationship between choroidal thickness and the distribution of choroidal blood vessels in eyes with nonexudative AMD. Methods Eyes with a diagnosis of nonexudative AMD were imaged using a prototype 100-kHz swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) with a central wavelength of 1050 nm. We used an OCT cube scan pattern consisting of 512 × 512 A-scans over a 12 × 12 mm retinal area. The eyes were partitioned into two groups based on the presence or absence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). All scans were segmented using an automated algorithm. In addition, five eyes from each of the two groups were randomly chosen for manual segmentation. Binary choroidal vessels maps were generated from suitable OCT choroidal slabs, and the relationship between the density of large choroidal vessels and choroidal thickness was analyzed using an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study-like target centered on the fovea. Results Twenty-five eyes were enrolled in each group. The automated algorithm produced accurate choroidal thickness maps with an average difference between the manual and automated segmentations of 13.7 μm. There was a significant and stable correlation between choroidal thickness and choroidal vessel density across the two groups. Both average choroidal thickness and vessel density were significantly lower in eyes with RPD. Conclusions Our fully automated choroidal segmentation algorithm was able to capture the different patterns of choroidal thickness over a wide area. Choroidal thickness has a clear relationship with the density of large choroid vessels in our sample, irrespective of the presence or absence of RPD.
Multiple Instance Learning with multiple positive and negative target concepts

We introduce a new algorithm that maps multiple instance data using both positive and negative target concepts into a data representation suitable for standard classification. Multiple instance data are characterized by bags which are in turn characterized by a variable number of feature vectors or instances. Each bag has a known positive or negative label, but the labels of any given instances within a bag is unknown. First, we use the Fuzzy Clustering of Multiple Instance data (FCMI) algorithm to identify K+ positive target concepts, which represent points in the feature space that are close to instances from positive bags, and distant to instances from negative bags. We use a simple K-means clustering algorithm to identify K− negative target concepts that supplement the positive target concepts. Next we demonstrate how the positive and negative target concepts can be used to embed each bag, which has a variable number of instances, into a feature vector with fixed dimension. A key advantage to embedded instance space feature vectors is that standard machine learning algorithms may be used in training and testing multiple instance data. Another advantage of our embedding is that it provides a simple and intuitive interpretation of the data. We show that using our feature embedding, coupled with standard classifiers such as support vector machines or k-nearest neighbors, can outperform state-of-the-art Multiple Instance Learning classifiers on benchmark datasets.
The Strengthening and Plastic Properties of Copper Titanium Alloy Single Crystals

ABSTRACT Cu-1.2 at % Ti single crystals aged within the metastable β′ solvus were tested in simple tension over a temperature range between 77°K and 473°K. Plastic flow was initiated by the formation of a Luders band, and the crystals deformed predominantly by primary slip up to the maximum load. A Luders band of secondary slip and deformation twinning intervened in the vicinity of the symmetry boundary. For crystals aged to contain discrete, coherent, ordered particles, the strength levels are attributed primarily to a coherency strain hardening component plus a small order hardening component based on the coupled motion of five dislocations. This conclusion is supported by the temperature dependence of the yield strength and by the observation of coupled dislocation motion.
Vitamin D improves functional outcomes in neonatal hypoxic ischemic male rats treated with N-acetylcysteine and hypothermia.

Abstract Hypothermia treatment neuroprotects approximately 50% of neonates who present with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a potent antioxidant, is neuroprotective in combination with hypothermia in neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) female rats, but less protective in males. Vitamin D is a neurosteroid, which may provide immunomodulation and improve outcomes for both sexes. We investigated the efficacy of this combination of drugs with hypothermia after severe HI, as well as potential mechanisms of vitamin D effects in the transition to chronic inflammation. DOL 7 rats were randomized to sham, or HI and hypothermia treated with either saline (HYPO), NAC (50 mg/kg/d, HNAC), or HNAC plus 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (0.1 μg/kg/d, HNAC + VitD) daily for 2 weeks. A second set of animals were randomized and treated for 11 days to investigate vitamin D metabolism and inflammatory mediators. Rats treated with HNAC + VitD performed significantly better on tests of strength and use of affected limb, adaptive sensorimotor skills, motor sequence learning, and working memory than either HYPO or HNAC, particularly benefiting male rats. Significantly fewer rats in the HNAC + VitD group had severe hemispheric volume loss. HI injury decreased serum vitamin D at 11 days and induced the enzyme that deactivates vitamin D in the hippocampus, particularly in males. Persistent vitamin D dysregulation was seen in both hippocampi in males, which was not reversed by hypothermia. Vitamin D in combination with hypothermia and NAC supports functional recovery in both sexes of neonatal rats significantly better than hypothermia alone or hypothermia and NAC in this severe HI model.
Hybrid approximate gradient and stochastic descent for falsification of nonlinear systems

Studying transient properties of nonlinear systems is an important problem for safety applications. Computationally, it is a very challenging problem to verify that a nonlinear system satisfies a safety specification. Therefore, in many cases, engineers try to solve a related problem, i.e., they try to find a system behavior that does not satisfy a given specification. This problem is called specification falsification. Optimization has been shown to be very effective in providing a practical solution to the falsification problem. In this paper, we provide effective and practical local and global optimization strategies to falsify a smooth nonlinear system of arbitrary complexity.
Crystal structures of a ZIP zinc transporter reveal a binuclear metal center in the transport pathway.

Zrt/Irt-like proteins (ZIPs) play fundamental roles in metal metabolism/homeostasis and are broadly involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. The lack of high-resolution structure of the ZIPs hinders understanding of the metal transport mechanism. We report two crystal structures of a prokaryotic ZIP in lipidic cubic phase with bound metal substrates (Cd2+ at 2.7 A and Zn2+ at 2.4 A). The structures revealed a novel 3+2+3TM architecture and an inward-open conformation occluded at the extracellular side. Two metal ions were trapped halfway through the membrane, unexpectedly forming a binuclear metal center. The Zn2+-substituted structure suggested asymmetric functions of the two metal-binding sites and also revealed a route for zinc release. Mapping of disease-causing mutations, structure-guided mutagenesis, and cell-based zinc transport assay demonstrated the crucial role of the binuclear metal center for human ZIP4. A metal transport mechanism for the ZIP from Bordetella bronchiseptica was proposed, which is likely applicable to other ZIPs.
Understanding the increase of the electric permittivity of cement caused by latex addition

Abstract The addition to cement paste of latex (styrene-butadiene, latex/cement mass ratio ≤0.30, where latex refers to the latex dispersion with 48 wt.% latex solid) increases the relative permittivity (2 kHz) from 27 to 43. The permittivity increases abruptly at latex/cement ratio ≤0.05, levels off at ratio 0.2, and increases abruptly at ratio ≥0.25. The increase occurs in spite of the low permittivity of latex solid compared to cement. It is attributed to the interface between cement and latex solid. The permittivity is modeled as the cement, latex solid and latex-cement interface in parallel electrically. Cement is the main contributor, followed by the latex-cement interface.
Cultural Boundaries to Access in Farmers Markets Accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The alternative food movement aims to alleviate racial and class inequalities in the conventional American food system by providing economically and socially sustainable markets that invigorate communities while providing access to environmentally safe, nutritious foods. While activists and organizers reach towards this ideal, many alternative food markets fall short, creating additional cultural barriers to food access that restrict participation among marginalized groups. Through ethnographic methods including participant observation and formal, semi-structured interviews, I examine the process through which these cultural barriers are created and persist in two urban farmers markets; both markets are located in or in very close proximity to food deserts and accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly known as food stamps). I find that one field site has been successful in integrating low-income, minority consumers into the market economy, while the other field site has not. I identify three salient narratives—norms of market participation, the concept of community, and perceptions of low-income consumers—that differ in content across markets. In addition, based on interviews and field notes, I describe the alternative food system experiences of low-income, racial minority consumers who reside in food deserts and or receive SNAP. I build on previous theories of cultural distinction and boundary maintenance in alternative food systems and offer several implications based on these findings.
The partisan contours of conspiracy theory beliefs

The “conspiracy theories are for losers” argument suggests that out-of-power groups use conspiracy theories to sensitize minds, close ranks, and encourage collective action. Two necessary condition...
A space–time domain decomposition approach using enhanced velocity mixed finite element method

Abstract A space–time domain decomposition approach is presented as a natural extension of the enhanced velocity mixed finite element (EVMFE), introduced by Wheeler et al. in (2002) [26] , for spatial domain decomposition. The proposed approach allows for different space–time discretizations on non-overlapping, subdomains by enforcing a mass continuity at non-matching interfaces to preserve local mass conservation inherent to the mixed finite element methods. To this effect, we consider three different model formulations: (1) a linear single phase flow problem, (2) a non-linear slightly compressible flow and tracer transport, and (3) a non-linear slightly compressible, multiphase flow and transport. We also present a numerical solution algorithm for the proposed domain decomposition approach where a monolithic (fully coupled in space and time) system is constructed that does not require subdomain iterations. This space–time EVMFE method accurately resolves advection–diffusion transport features, in a heterogeneous medium, while circumventing non-linear solver convergence issues associated with large time-step sizes for non-linear problems. Numerical results are presented for the aforementioned, three, model formulations to demonstrate the applicability of this approach to a general class of flow and transport problems in porous media.
Hexagonal Waveguide Based Circularly Polarized Horn Antennas for Sub-mm-Wave/Terahertz Band

In this paper, we introduce a class of circularly polarized horns realizable at sub-mm-wave and terahertz frequencies. The proposed designs exploit differential dispersion in hexagonal waveguides (a birefringencelike effect), which allows a linear to circular polarization conversion. These can be fabricated for terahertz applications, as they do not require waveguide partitions or elaborate waveguide assemblies needed in existing designs. In this paper, we discuss the theory of hexagonal waveguides, develop analytical design procedures, and show measurement results for a fabricated prototype. The prototype is developed for WR-8 band (90–140 GHz) operation, showing a midband gain of 18 dBi and 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 37%.
Severe unilateral abducens nerve palsy from cavernous sinus carotid vascular ectasia

Abstract Purpose Carotid cavernous sinus ectasia is a rare cause of abducens nerve palsy. Observation We present a case of severe unilateral progressive esotropia resulting from cavernous sinus carotid vascular ectasia in a 67 y/o female. She had progressive esotropia over the years with no neuroimaging despite having regular ophthalmic care. Magnetic resonance imaging determined the etiology of her chronic severe esotropia. Conclusion and importance Carotid cavernous sinus ectasia should be considered in the differential of severe progressive unilateral abducens nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance angiography is important to determine etiology of severe progressive esotropia.
Pleistocene glaciations of the Rocky Mountains

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the status of Rocky Mountain glacial studies in 1965 and progress from that time to the present. The Rocky Mountains and the adjacent Basin and Range of the United States consist of about 100 ranges distributed in a northwest trending belt 2,000 km long and 200–800 km wide. In 1965, Rocky Mountain glacial subdivisions and correlations are closely linked with those of the mid-continent. Also, erratic boulders and diamictons well beyond or above moraines of Pinedale and Bull Lake age are noted at many sites in the Rocky Mountains and are attributed to an older glaciation, vastly more extensive than the Bull Lake or Pinedale. Global climate models suggest that glacial-anticyclonic circulation weaken westerly flow and results in air that is cooler and drier than present, particularly for the northern Rocky Mountains. More precisely dated, glacial and lacustrine records may reveal patterns in such nonparallelism from south to north (colder) or east to west (wetter) throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Intraoperative imaging in neurosurgery: where will the future take us?

Intraoperative MRI (ioMRI) dates back to the 1990s and since then has been successfully applied in neurosurgery for three primary reasons with the last one becoming the most significant today: (1) brain shift-corrected navigation, (2) monitoring/controlling thermal ablations, and (3) identifying residual tumor for resection. IoMRI, which today is moving into other applications, including treatment of vasculature and the spine, requires advanced 3T MRI platforms for faster and more flexible image acquisitions, higher image quality, and better spatial and temporal resolution; functional capabilities including fMRI and DTI; non-rigid registration algorithms to register pre- and intraoperative images; non-MRI imaging improvements to continuously monitor brain shift to identify when a new 3D MRI data set is needed intraoperatively; more integration of imaging and MRI-compatible navigational and robot-assisted systems; and greater computational capabilities to handle the processing of data. The Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s “AMIGO” suite is described as a setting for progress to continue in ioMRI by incorporating other modalities including molecular imaging. A call to action is made to have other researchers and clinicians in the field of image guided therapy to work together to integrate imaging with therapy delivery systems (such as laser, MRgFUS, endoscopic, and robotic surgery devices).
The Johns Hopkins Talent Search Model for Identifying and Developing Exceptional Mathematical and Verbal Abilities

The Johns Hopkins Talent Search model, which was pioneered in the early 1970s by Professor Julian Stanley, has now spread to countries around the world. Also known as the MVT:D4 model of talent development, the power and efficacy of this approach for identifying and serving students with above-grade-level mathematical and/or verbal reasoning abilities have been well validated. Researchers at Johns Hopkins, as well as at other universities who use this model, have contributed greatly to our knowledge and understanding of the needs of gifted students. They have also developed and evaluated numerous strategies for meeting the educational needs of students with advanced abilities. This chapter summarizes the history of the Talent Search, its principles and practices, and the research that has been done on Talent Search students.
CLINICAL STUDIES OF THE ABDOMEN: Scintigraphic and Other Techniques in the Management of Patients with Abdominal Disease

Abdominal diseases are among the most frequent ailments which specialists in diagnostic imaging must examine. Imaging procedures, in order to be used most effectively, should complement the history, physical examination, and other laboratory tests in order to achieve the most accurate, rapid, and cost efficient diagnosis. The choice of diagnostic procedures currently available is greater than ever before. The selection of appropriate studies and the order in which they are performed may have a profound effect on diagnostic accuracy and clinical success. This chapter will deal primarily with scintigraphy of the abdomen as it relates to esophageal disorders, liver-spleen scintigraphy, gastroesophageal reflux, gastric emptying studies, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, and gastrointestinal bleeding studies, including the detection of Meckel’s diverticulum.
A National Study of U.S. Emergency Departments: Racial Disparities in Hospitalizations for Heart Failure.

Introduction Racial disparities in heart failure hospitalizations are well documented. The majority of heart failure hospitalizations originate from emergency departments, but emergency department hospitalization patterns for heart failure and the factors that influence hospitalization are poorly understood. This gap in knowledge was examined using a nationally representative sample of emergency department visits for heart failure. Methods National Hospital Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey data on 2001–2010 emergency department visits were analyzed in 2015–2017 to examine age-related racial differences in hospitalization patterns for heart failure, using multivariable modified Poisson regression models. Results More than 12million adult visits for heart failure to U.S. emergency departments occurred from 2001 to 2010, with 23% of visits by blacks. Overall, 71% of visits resulted in hospitalization (57% to floor beds and 14% to intensive care units). Among floor admissions for higher clinical acuity visits, whites were more likely than blacks to be hospitalized. Whites with higher clinical acuity were more likely to be hospitalized than those with lower clinical acuity (71% vs 63%, p=0.005). This expected pattern was not observed in blacks, particularly those aged ≥65years, who were hospitalized in 71% of lower clinical acuity visits, but only 61% of higher acuity visits. Among adults aged ≥65years, there was a significant interaction between clinical acuity Xrace with regard to hospitalization (p=0.037). Conclusions These results suggest age and racial disparities in hospitalization rates for emergency department patients with heart failure. The reasons for these disparities in hospitalization are unclear. Further studies on emergency department hospitalization decisions, and the impact of emergency department clinical factors, may help clarify this finding. Supplement information This article is part of a supplement entitled African American Men's Health: Research, Practice, and Policy Implications, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
The “Voice” of Children of Poverty: Candid Insights to Their Career Aspirations and Perceptions of Self-Efficacy

Career development in children largely involves learning about the world of work from family members, peers, and classroom exploration in elementary school. For children of economic disadvantage, a lack of resources and restricted access to information may curtail their ability to envision career attainment. The current qualitative study explored the career aspirations of fourth- and fifth-grade students living in poverty to discern their career interests, knowledge background, understanding of educational and career pathways, and their self-efficacy for achieving their vision for the future. The data collection process involved focus groups and individual case studies. The investigators highlighted the direct verbal exchange with and among students as the most critical approach to understanding children’s aspirations. Study results indicated that the children envisioned a future of educational and occupational prosperity, but their “dreams” were often circumscribed by their limited knowledge of and exposure to employment options.
Assessing the stability and techno-economic implications for wet storage of harvested microalgae to manage seasonal variability.

Seasonal variation in microalgae production is a significant challenge to developing cost-competitive algae biofuels. Summer production can be three to five times greater than winter production, which could result in winter biomass shortages and summer surpluses at algae biorefineries. While the high water content (80%, wet basis) of harvested microalgae biomass makes drying an expensive approach to preservation, it is not an issue for ensiling. Ensiling relies on lactic acid fermentation to create anaerobic acidic conditions, which limits further microbial degradation. This study explores the feasibility of preserving microalgae biomass through wet anaerobic storage ensiling over 30 and 180 days of storage, and it presents a techno-economic analysis that considers potential cost implications. Harvested Scenedesmus acutus biomass untreated (anaerobic) or supplemented with 0.5% sulfuric acid underwent robust lactic acid fermentation (lactic acid content of 6–9%, dry basis) lowering the pH to 4.2. Dry matter losses after 30 days ranged from 10.8 to 15.5% depending on the strain and treatment without additional loss over the next 150 days. Long-term storage of microalgae biomass resulted in lactic acid concentrations that remained high (6%, dry basis) with a low pH (4.2–4.6). Detailed biochemical composition revealed that protein and lipid content remained unaffected by storage while carbohydrate content was reduced, with greater dry matter loss associated with greater reduction in carbohydrate content, primarily affecting glucan content. Techno-economic analysis comparing wet storage to drying and dry storage demonstrated the cost savings of this approach. The most realistic dry storage scenario assumes a contact drum dryer and aboveground carbon steel storage vessels, which translates to a minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of $3.72/gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE), whereas the most realistic wet storage scenario, which includes belowground, covered wet storage pits translates to an MFSP of $3.40/GGE. Microalgae biomass can be effectively preserved through wet anaerobic storage, limiting dry matter loss to below 10% over 6 months with minimal degradation of carbohydrates and preservation of lipids and proteins. Techno-economic analysis indicates that wet storage can reduce overall biomass and fuel costs compared to drying and dry storage.
Percutaneous drainage of an infected endometrioma

Endometrioma superinfection is uncommon and poorly described in the literature. This rarity has precluded agreement on optimal management, with most authors treating these lesions as endometriomas rather than abscesses and thus recommending laparoscopic or open cystectomy or oophorectomy. We present a minimally-invasive alternative, illustrated in the case of an infected endometrioma which was successfully managed via image-guided percutaneous drainage.
Sexual function in adults with a history of childhood maltreatment: mediating effects of self-reported autonomic reactivity

OBJECTIVE A growing body of literature documents sexual problems following maltreatment and traumatic experience, but the mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. The autonomic nervous system coordinates typical and threat-reactive functions throughout the body, including those of reproductive organs. We examined whether relations between adult sexual function problems and childhood maltreatment history could be mediated by an autonomic nervous system retuning with a bias toward maintaining a physiological state that supports defensive strategies. METHOD Self-reported data on childhood physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, autonomic reactivity, and adult sexual function were collected from an online sample of U.S. residents 18 years and older (189 males and 333 females). Mediation was tested using indirect effects in structural equation modeling with age as a covariate. RESULTS Mediation via subjective reports of autonomic reactivity was supported in males and females (standardized indirect effect in males = -.35 [95% CI: -.53, -.20]; females = -.09 [95% CI: -.17, -.03]). The direct effect of childhood maltreatment was not significant with the addition of the mediator, supporting full mediation. Follow-up analyses indicated that the mediation effect remained even after those with sexual abuse were excluded from the male model (standardized indirect effect = -.30 [95% CI: -.61, -.10]) but not the female model. CONCLUSIONS A chronic autonomic state that supports biobehavioral defense following abuse and trauma may contribute to adult sexual function problems, particularly in males and may point toward new treatment opportunities that target the autonomic nervous system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Stereolithographic printing of radionuclide doped resins

Methods for stereolithographic printing of novel geometries and materials were investigated using 198Au doped commercially available resins. Test coupons were printed to find the specific activity and homogeneity of radionuclides throughout the medium. Initial trials of the technology were used to print pellets with 198Au specific activities with an average of 2.74 × 102 ± 2.9% Bq g−1 to 6.7 × 10−1 ± 11.6% Bq g−1. Mixing qualities varied from 0.99 to 0.91. Geometric shapes were printed to probe the source-geometry sensitivity of the gamma detection apparatus. This manuscript serves as proof of concept for the technique.
Analysis for Alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone and Its 2-Oxo-PVP Metabolite in Plasma by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (alpha-PVP), a novel psychoactive substance, has widespread recreational use. This with interest in its pharmacological effects creates a need for methods that measure alpha-PVP concentrations. We therefore developed a LC-MS/MS method that can quantitate alpha-PVP and 2-oxo-PVP in rat plasma using a 0.1-mL sample volume. Addition of internal standards (2.5 ng/mL alpha-PVP-d8/2-oxo-PVP-d6) was followed by liquid-liquid extraction with 1-chlorobutane:acetonitrile (4:1), evaporation and reconstitution with 0.1% formic acid. Extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS using an Agilent 1100 HPLC and a Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum Access MS/MS, with a YMC ODS-AQ, 50 mm × 2 mm, 3 μm column. The mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid:acetonitrile gradient at a 0.2-mL/minute flow rate with positive ion electrospray. SRM was used for the analysis with transitions: alpha-PVP, 232 → 91; alpha-PVP-d8, 240 → 91; 2-oxo-PVP, 246 → 91; 2-oxo-PVP-d6, 252 → 91. Alpha-PVP and 2-oxo-PVP eluted at 6.4 and 8.9 min. Calibrators range from 0.25 to 500 ng/mL. Accuracy and precision evaluated quality control samples prepared at 0.75, 10 and 400 ng/mL. The intra-assay evaluation also included the 0.25-ng/mL LOQs prepared in six different blank plasma sources. The intra-assay accuracy ranged from 88.9 to 117.8% of the target, and the intra-assay precision ranged from 0.9 to 16.0%. The inter-assay accuracy ranged from 98.7 to 110.7% of the target, and the inter-assay precision ranged from 4.5 to 12.0%. Extraction recovery was at least 52% for alpha-PVP and 67% for 2-oxo-PVP. Ionization recoveries were at least 64% for alpha-PVP and 82% for 2-oxo-PVP. These losses did not adversely affect assay performance. Alpha-PVP and 2-oxo-PVP controls were stable at room temperature for up to 24 h and frozen for at least 36 days. Alpha-PVP and 2-oxo-PVP were also stable in processed samples (extracts) stored at room temperature for at least 24 days. The procedure was used to analyze rat plasma samples from a pharmacokinetic study.
Education versus Punishment? Silo Effects and the School-to-prison Pipeline:

Objectives:This article examines the influence of social context on punishment decisions. To this end, we present a theoretical framework to identify outcomes that can occur when police and probati...
“Rumor, Vicious Innuendo, and False Reports”: Policing Black Soldiers in Wartime Staten Island:

On Staten Island in the spring of 1945, a small group of white politicians, business owners, and residents began complaining about a “crime wave” that they attributed to black soldiers stationed at...
Chapter 20 – Birds

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the ecology of birds in relationship to running water ecosystems. The relevant groups are the raptors, which feed largely on fishes; diving birds, which feed on fishes, underwater plants, and invertebrates; and a number of wading birds, which feed on invertebrates and other prey in the shallows of rivers and streams. In general, birds have not been shown to play major roles in the food web dynamics and productivity in stream ecosystems. Instances have been shown, such as in the Panamanian streams, where predation by birds can impact the spatial distribution of the different components of the aquatic food web. However, ecological studies reveal that birds function as top predators, preying on everything from invertebrates to fishes. In some cases, as with those species that feed on macrophytes and other plant material, they function as primary consumers. The environmental problems that concern the birds are that the fish-eating birds, including eagles, ospreys, cormorants, terns, and seagulls, can be exposed to contaminant concentrations high enough to impair growth and reproduction. The pesticide DDT, dioxin produced from burning chlorinated wastes and as a by-product of some pulp processing, and PCBs used in various industrial processes, share the property of biomagnification. With each step in the food chain, as predators consume many prey, the contaminant load accumulates because these chemicals tend not to be excreted.
How do we counsel men with obstructive azoospermia due to CF mutations?—a review of treatment options and outcomes

Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is a rare cause of male infertility, with Congenital Bilateral Absence of The Vas Deferens (CBAVD) being a major cause. A wealth of literature has established an irrefutable link between CFTR mutations and CBAVD, with CBAVD affecting almost all men with cystic fibrosis (CF) disease and a significant portion of men that are CFTR mutation carriers. In the past two decades, assisted reproductive technologies have made the prospect of fathering children a viable possibility in this subset of men, using a combination of sperm extraction techniques and intracystoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In order to assess techniques for sperm retrieval, as well as reproductive outcomes, a systemic search of the MEDLINE database was conducted for all articles pertaining to management options for CBAVD, and also all reports describing outcomes of these procedures in the CBAVD population. Both epididymal and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) are viable options for men with CBAVD, and though rigorous data are lacking, live birth rates range from 8% to 50% in most small retrospective series and subset analyses. In addition, there does not appear to be significant differences in the rate of live birth or complications and miscarriages between the various techniques, though further investigation into other factors that limit reproductive potential of men with CFTR mutations and CBAVD is warranted.
Maintenance of hook complex integrity and centrin arm assembly facilitates flagellum inheritance in Trypanosoma brucei

Inheritance of the newly assembled flagellum in the human parasite Trypanosoma brucei depends on the faithful duplication and segregation of multiple flagellum-associated cytoskeletal structures, including the hook complex and its associated centrin arm. The biological functions of this unique hook complex–centrin arm assembly remain poorly understood. Here, we report a hook complex–associated protein named BOH2 that plays an essential role in promoting flagellum inheritance. BOH2 localizes to the hooked part of the hook complex by bridging the hook complex, the centrin arm, and the flagellum attachment zone filament. Depletion of BOH2 caused the loss of the shank part of the hook complex and its associated protein TbSmee1, disrupted the assembly of the centrin arm and the recruitment of centrin arm–associated protein CAAP1, inhibited the assembly of the flagellum attachment zone, and caused flagellum mispositioning and detachment. These results demonstrate crucial roles of BOH2 in maintaining hook complex integrity and promoting centrin arm formation and suggest that proper assembly of the hook complex–centrin arm structure facilitates flagellum inheritance.