cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate-Related Hazards: A Method for Global Assessment of Urban and Rural Population Exposure to Cyclones, Droughts, and Floods

Global climate change (GCC) has led to increased focus on the occurrence of, and preparation for, climate-related extremes and hazards. Population exposure, the relative likelihood that a person in a given location was exposed to a given hazard event(s) in a given period of time, was the outcome for this analysis. Our objectives were to develop a method for estimating the population exposure at the country level to the climate-related hazards cyclone, drought, and flood; develop a method that readily allows the addition of better datasets to an automated model; differentiate population exposure of urban and rural populations; and calculate and present the results of exposure scores and ranking of countries based on the country-wide, urban, and rural population exposures to cyclone, drought, and flood. Gridded global datasets on cyclone, drought and flood occurrence as well as population density were combined and analysis was carried out using ArcGIS. Results presented include global maps of ranked country-level population exposure to cyclone, drought, flood and multiple hazards. Analyses by geography and human development index (HDI) are also included. The results and analyses of this exposure assessment have implications for country-level adaptation. It can also be used to help prioritize aid decisions and allocation of adaptation resources between countries and within a country. This model is designed to allow flexibility in applying cyclone, drought and flood exposure to a range of outcomes and adaptation measures.
L/sub k/: a language for capturing real world meanings of the stored data

A knowledge representation language L/sub k/ is introduced that is tailored for expressing the real-world meanings of stored data. L/sub k/ is developed to achieve a tight coupling between a knowledge base component and the database system. L/sub k/ offers (1) a flexible descriptive power which facilitates concepts to be expressed at different levels of granularity; (2) a versatile association mechanism which is capable of linking partially related concepts; and (3) a set of specialization and generalization operators that enable inexact reasoning in a heuristically controlled environment. Examples are provided to illustrate the language's expressive power, its associability, and the inference operations. An example of processing an inference query is given to show the application of various utilities of L/sub k/. >
Electrically isotropic artificial dielectrics from a realizable and easily engineered physically anisotropic particle

An electrically isotropic yet physically anisotropic particle has been developed that can be realized with currently available prototyping and manufacturing capability. The effective permittivity was found to be significantly sensitive to x-direction or y-direction changes in the particle dimensions. Within a reasonable degree of accuracy, the effective permittivity of an infinite cubic lattice of this electrically cube-like particle can be easily engineered with the 3D Maxwell Garnett formula. Further, an empirical yet convenient formula for the effective volume fraction of the particle gives significantly improved accuracy when used in the 3D Maxwell Garnett formula. The design procedure employed is easily adaptable to the realization of similar 3D particles where the number of dielectric and metallic layers as well as their thickness may differ from that which was considered in this work. Such electrically cube-like particles can be used to selectively enhance the background permittivity of planer substrates by as much as a factor of five and may therefore find useful application in miniaturization of planar antennas and microwave circuits.
The case for partial scan

The full scan design methodology undisputably has many benefits throughout the process of ASIC and system design and during the life cycle of a product that may justify its use, but it has some very definite costs as well. These include larger die area, reduced circuit performance and the fact that there are usually a number of memory elements which are not scanned. It is suggested that partial scan be useful in augmenting the test coverage on critical portions of high performance chips, and that it can also serve as the basis for an area-efficient design methodology on any chip. Partial scan is another facet of the continual improvement process in IC design. As new developments in flip-flop selection and sequential ATPG are integrated into design flows, partial scan can become as push-button as full scan now is. When coupled with a design methodology driven by timing analysis and synthesis, partial scan could well be the key to producing designs that are optimized for performance, area, and testability.
Does amniotic fluid index affect the accuracy of estimated fetal weight in pre term premature rupture of membranes

Estimated fetal weights play a critical role in the management scheme of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes but are often technically difficult to obtain in these patients because of low amniotic fluid volume. Previous studies have had conflicting data as to the accuracy of estimated fetal weights in preterm premature rupture of membranes. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of amniotic fluid index on the accuracy of estimated fetal weights in pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes. Over a 2-year period at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, 98 patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes who had an ultrasonographic examination with estimated fetal weights and amniotic fluid index performed within 48 hours of delivery were identified and compared with a control group of 55 patients in preterm labor with normal amniotic fluid index for gestational age, also obtained within 48 hours of delivery. Shepard and Hadlock formulas were used to estimate fetal weight. Results were measured in percent error from the actual birth weight. All birth weights were less than 2000 gm. No statistical differences were identified. The value of amniotic fluid index did not affect the accuracy of predicted estimated fetal weight in preterm premature rupture of membranes. Predicted estimated fetal weight of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes appears to be as accurate as predicted estimated fetal weight in pregnancies with normal amniotic fluid volumes.
The influence of precombat personality on posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract Current work on posttraumatic stress has deemphasized the role of preexisting character in determining the response to life-threatening trauma. Drawing on case examples of Vietnam combat veterans, the authors illustrate how precombat personality often determines the meanings which traumatic combat events had for individual soldiers, and how these meanings in turn influence the way in which the subsequent stress disorder develops and is manifested. The interrelationships between character, combat behavior and posttraumatic stress are also discussed. The importance of this conceptual approach in the treatment of the disorder is emphasized.
Applying Lovelock’S Services Classification System to Residential Alternative Long-Distance Telephone Services

Lovelock’s system for classifying services is applied to alternative residential long-distance telephone services in an attempt to better understand those services. Other services organizations are identified that are similar to these services along each of the dimensions suggested by the classification system. In addition, marketing insights and implications are offered for each analysis matrix.
Evidence That an Unconventional Actin Can Provide Essential F-Actin Function and That a Surveillance System Monitors F-Actin Integrity in Chlamydomonas

Actin is one of the most conserved eukaryotic proteins. It is thought to have multiple essential cellular roles and to function primarily or exclusively as filaments ("F-actin"). Chlamydomonas has been an enigma, because a null mutation (ida5-1) in its single gene for conventional actin does not affect growth. A highly divergent actin gene, NAP1, is upregulated in ida5-1 cells, but it has been unclear whether NAP1 can form filaments or provide actin function. Here, we used the actin-depolymerizing drug latrunculin B (LatB), the F-actin-specific probe Lifeact-Venus, and genetic and molecular methods to resolve these issues. LatB-treated wild-type cells continue to proliferate; they initially lose Lifeact-stained structures but recover them concomitant with upregulation of NAP1. Thirty-nine LatB-sensitive mutants fell into four genes (NAP1 and LAT1-LAT3) in which we identified the causative mutations using a novel combinatorial pool-sequencing strategy. LAT1-LAT3 are required for NAP1 upregulation upon LatB treatment, and ectopic expression of NAP1 largely rescues the LatB sensitivity of the lat1-lat3 mutants, suggesting that the LAT gene products comprise a regulatory hierarchy with NAP1 expression as the major functional output. Selection of LatB-resistant revertants of a nap1 mutant yielded dominant IDA5 mutations that presumably render F-IDA5 resistant to LatB, and nap1 and lat mutations are synthetically lethal with ida5-1 in the absence of LatB. We conclude that both IDA5 and the divergent NAP1 can form filaments and redundantly provide essential F-actin functions and that a novel surveillance system, probably responding to a loss of F-actin, triggers NAP1 expression and perhaps other compensatory responses.
EXPERIENCES WITH EXPERIMENTAL PLASTER BANDAGES CONTAINING RESIN

A short experience with melamine resin plaster-of-Paris bandages is described. The bandages make a lighter splint with a saving of material and time, and the splint is more durable.
Abstract 1983: A cell-permeable Stat3 SH2 domain mimetic inhibitor of Stat3 activation inhibits growth of human breast tumor xenografts

Human tumors harbor multiple molecular aberrations that have become the driving force for uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival, and other tumor-associated processes. Constitutive activation of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat) 3 protein is a frequent occurrence in many human cancers, including breast cancer. Given the role of aberrant Stat3 activity in human tumors, small-molecule Stat3 inhibitors would be useful novel therapeutics and tools for probing Stat3-mediated tumor processes. We herein report that a 28-mer peptide, SPI, composed of the amino acid residues 588-615 of the Stat3 SH2 domain, replicates Stat3 biochemical properties and functions as a Stat3 inhibitor. Studies show SPI and Stat3 (or Stat3 SH2 domain) both bind with similar affinities to known Stat3-binding phosphotyrosine (pY) peptide motifs, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) peptides, pY1068EGFR and pY1086EGFR, and the high-affinity, interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R)/gp130-derived peptide, GpYLPQTV-NH2. Consequently, SPI potently and selectively inhibits Stat3 SH2 domain:pY interactions and disrupts the binding of Stat3 to the IL-6R/gp130 peptide, GpYLPQTV-NH2. Fluorescence imaging studies show SPI is cell membrane-permeable. Treatment with SPI of malignant cells that harbor aberrant Stat3 activity resulted in the selective inhibition of constitutive Stat3 phosphorylation, and of Stat3 DNA-binding and transcriptional activities. By contrast, similar treatments have little or no effects on the induction of the Stat1, Stat5, and Erk1/2MAPK pathways in malignant cells or in EGF-stimulated fibroblasts. In contrast to normal cells, human breast, pancreatic, prostate, and non-small cell lung cancer cells harboring constitutively-active Stat3 are highly sensitive to SPI and undergo extensive morphology changes, concomitant with the loss of viability and apoptosis. Significantly, treatment with SPI or its inverse sequence version strongly inhibited the growth of human breast tumor xenografts in mice, which is associated with the down-regulation of the expression of the known Stat3-regulated genes, Cyclin D1, Bcl-xL and Survivin. Our study identifies SPI as a novel molecular probe for interrogating Stat3 signaling and that functions as a selective Stat3 inhibitor, which induces antitumor response in vivo. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1983. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1983
Motivation of pharmacies to use biometric authentication

The purpose of this research is to survey and interview pharmacists who had experienced biometric authenticators in a pharmacy setting and those who have not, to answer the question, "Why would pharmacists highly consider using traditional authentication systems than biometric systems despite the security issue of memorability?" Understanding the pharmacists' thoughts, motivations, influences, decisions, and attitudes of using biometric systems may identify possible variables to develop a theory.
Post Secondary educators can increase educational reach with Universal Design for Learning

Meeting the needs of a variety of learners in college and university settings is of vital importance. By designing courses infused with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, guidelines and checkpoints; professors and instructors create environments targeted toward meeting the educational needs of a wider variety of students. UDL works most effectively at the design stage. This paper aims to support learning environment design by presenting ten specific strategies for infusing UDL within post-secondary courses at the university level. These strategies will include: identifying barriers to learning, alternatives for participating during class time, effective alternative assessments based on construct relevance and UDL meta cognitive goals and transparency.
Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War by James O. Lehman and Steven M. Nolt

This book by two renowned Mennonite scholars examines the experience of Mennonites and Amish during the American Civil War. Advertised as the "first scholarly treatment of pacifism during the Civil War" (jacket cover), Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War adds to the understanding of both the Confederate and Union homefronts and to religion during the war, but its most significant contribution is to Anabaptist studies. Mennonites and Amish occupy two branches of the Anabaptist family tree. Another stem, the Brethren, or Dunkers, is not part of this study.
Radial Access: Step by Step

Successful radial access starts with getting comfortable with arterial access especially in femoral artery. The basic principles of obtaining access are the same. Radial artery is smaller in size than femoral artery. In this chapter we describe two commonly used puncture techniques to obtain access in radial artery. Always have femoral access site also prepped and draped when using radial access first for coronary angiogram.
Rating Scale Format and Item Sensitivity to Response Style in Large-Scale Assessments

This study examines the relationship between rating scale format and instrument sensitivity to response style (RS). A multidimensional nominal response model (MNRM) that allows item discrimination to vary across items for both substantive and RS dimensions can be used for this purpose. We first conduct a set of simulations to examine the recovery of item slopes under the model. Then we apply the model to PISA and PIRLS survey items to investigate the item sensitivity to RS in relation to different rating scale types. Simulation results indicate good recovery of item slopes on both substantive and RS traits, and different rating scale formats (agreement-type versus frequency-type scales) from PISA and PIRLS are found to have varying sensitivities to RS, such that frequency-type scales are less affected.
AAPM TG 158: Measurement and calculation of doses outside the treated volume from external-beam radiation therapy.

The introduction of advanced techniques and technology in radiotherapy has greatly improved our ability to deliver highly conformal tumor doses while minimizing the dose to adjacent organs at risk. Despite these tremendous improvements, there remains a general concern about doses to normal tissues that are not the target of the radiation treatment; any “nontarget” radiation should be minimized as it offers no therapeutic benefit. As patients live longer after treatment, there is increased opportunity for late effects including second cancers and cardiac toxicity to manifest. Complicating the management of these issues, there are unique challenges with measuring, calculating, reducing, and reporting nontarget doses that many medical physicists may have limited experience with. Treatment planning systems become dramatically inaccurate outside the treatment field, necessitating a measurement or some other means of assessing the dose. However, measurements are challenging because outside the treatment field, the radiation energy spectrum, dose rate, and general shape of the dose distribution (particularly the percent depth dose) are very different and often require special consideration. Neutron dosimetry is also particularly challenging, and common errors in methodology can easily manifest as errors of several orders of magnitude. Task Group 158 was, therefore, formed to provide guidance for physicists in terms of assessing and managing nontarget doses. In particular, the report: (a) highlights major concerns with nontarget radiation; (b) provides a rough estimate of doses associated with different treatment approaches in clinical practice; (c) discusses the uses of dosimeters for measuring photon, electron, and neutron doses; (d) discusses the use of calculation techniques for dosimetric evaluations; (e) highlights techniques that may be considered for reducing nontarget doses; (f) discusses dose reporting; and (g) makes recommendations for both clinical and research practice.
Mediation in the shadow of an audience: How third parties use secrecy and agenda-setting to broker settlements:

How does mediation work? Uncertainty is one of the main rationalist explanations for war. When a leader faces domestic pressure and mediation involves secrecy and agenda-setting, mediation by a thi...
Isoprostane, an “Intermediate Phenotype” for Oxidative Stress: Heritability, Risk Trait Associations, and the Influence of Chromogranin B Polymorphism

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand whether isoprostane, a biomarker of oxidative stress, is subject to heritable control; whether it shares heritability with other cardiometabol...
Students Don’t Have to Pack Their Bags: A Case Study of an International Hospitality and Tourism Classroom Experience Without Leaving Home

This case study describes the virtual international learning experiences of a class of undergraduate hospitality and tourism students from a public university in the United States with classes from universities in Mexico, China, and Japan without ever leaving home through a global understanding partnership. The experiences of the students are chronicled through observations of the class and an analysis of students’ reflections on their experiences. Suggestions are provided for educators interested in promoting students’ and their own intercultural competence through virtual international experiences with other students and instructors.
THE CLINICAL IMPACT OF EARLY VERSUS LATE HLA DONOR-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY DEVELOPMENT AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Formation of donor-specific antibodies(DSA) after heart transplant(HTx) impacts short and long-term outcome including rejection (rejn), cardiac allograft vasculopathy(CAV), and survival. DSA class may be important with Class II associated with CAV. Timing of Ab development(i.e. early or late) may
Effect of Mucosal Antibodies to M Protein on Colonization by Group A Streptococci

Group A streptococci colonize the nasopharyngeal mucosa of humans, leading either to an inflammatory response followed by clinical illness or to an asymptomatic carrier state. M protein is a major surface component of streptococci, and its association with clinical illness makes it an important virulence factor. The fibrillar M protein molecule forms an alpha-helical coiled-coil structure extending nearly 60 nm from the cell surface [1]. More than 80 distinct serological types of M protein have been identified, and the N-terminal region (distal from the cell wall) contains the antigenically variable determinants responsible for type specificity [2]. Homology among M molecules of different serotypes progressively increases at sites which are more proximal to the cell wall [3,4].
Basic Vector Algebra

As already stated, elementary geometry deals with properties of, and relations between, objects (figures) assumed to dwell in an ideal, Euclidean space of three dimensions. An important class of these objects is the collection of directed line segments, known as “ordinary” vectors. These quantities are endowed with both magnitude and direction, and are graphically represented by arrows. In the first four chapters of this book, a vector will be denoted by a boldface letter or by two letters with an arrow above them, such as \( \overrightarrow {AB} \), indicating the origin, A, and the terminus, B,of the vector.
The next 10,000 2 years. II

For pt.I see ibid., vol.4, p.64-70 (1996). As microprocessor advances begin to level off, communication network deployment will keep accelerating, and software engineering must face the prospect of radical change if it is to keep pace. The paper considers how the intersection of these ascending and descending technologies will propel the high-tech world into a new model of computing by the year 2012. Software is the steam that drives the engines of the Information Age, but clearly it is not keeping up with developments on the hardware side. Historical trends suggest that further progress in programmer productivity and programming-language power over the next 10,0002 years is highly unlikely. With a large percentage of programmers maintaining legacy code, the resources available for innovation are limited. In fact, software innovation will have to come from a five percent fringe of artisans and nontraditional thinkers outside the current programming language and software engineering establishment
Utility of Echocardiogram and Electrocardiogram in the Prediction of TTR Amyloid Diagnosed by Tc-Pyrophosphate SPECT Imaging

Introduction Cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) results from myocardial deposition of insoluble TTR fibril proteins. In contrast to AL cardiac amyloidosis, there are no blood or urine tests to aid in the diagnosis. In clinical practice, ATTR is most commonly suspected when there is unexplained heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), along with low voltage criteria on electrocardiogram (ECG). Definitive diagnosis historically required invasive endomyocardial biopsy, however technetium pyrophosphate (Tc-PYP) scans have recently emerged as a highly useful non-invasive test in the diagnosis of ATTR. We sought to examine the predictive value of multiple ECG and TTE parameters in the diagnosis of Tc-PYP positive ATTR. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive patients during January 2017-April 2018 at Scripps Clinic who underwent Tc-PYP scanning for clinically suspected ATTR. Patients were then separated into Tc-PYP positive and negative groups, and ECG and TTE obtained closest to the scan were reviewed. Statistical significance was determined by Mann-Whitney U and Fischer Exact test. Results Twenty patients had Tc-PYP positive scans versus 11 patients with Tc-PYP negative scans. Three patients with “equivocal” reads were excluded from the analysis. Overall no ECG parameters were significantly predictive of Tc-PYP+ scans. Rates of “low voltage” ECGs were similar between both groups (3/11 vs. 1/8, p-NS), and while there was a trend towards lower occurrence of sinus rhythm (5/20 vs. 5/11, p-NS) and increased ventricular-paced rhythms in patients with Tc-PYP+ scans (9/20 vs. 3/11, p-NS), these were not statistically significant. Comparing TTE variables, we found that Tc-PYP+ patients had significantly higher LV mass index values (171 vs. 123, p = 0.026) compared to Tc-PYP- patients. Additional TTE parameters (listed in Table) did not demonstrate any statistical significance. Conclusion In this single center study, we demonstrated that routinely used ECG and TTE parameters in clinical practice such as low voltage ECG and Tissue Doppler velocities lack sensitivity in the prediction of TTR Amyloid by Tc-PYP scans. Of various echocardiographic parameters, only LV mass index was statistically significant in predicting Tc-PYP positive scans. With promising new therapies on the horizon, and the emergence of Tc-PYP SPECT imaging as a highly specific noninvasive imaging modality for the diagnosis of ATTR, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion and should not stop with a TTE or ECG as both modalities lack sensitivity.
Trade Liberalization and Integration of Domestic Output Markets in Brazil

This paper describes how different policy distortions have been impeding better integration of Brazil's external and internal product markets and discusses how these distortions have prevented domestic firms from benefiting from multiple sources of efficiency gains. The paper first focuses on the costs of barriers to global integration, followed by an overview of policy induced stringencies hampering domestic integration. Drawing from general and partial equilibrium analyses, the paper also provides evidence of potential impacts of removing some of those distortions and discusses policy options to promote better allocation of resources across the economy. The main conclusion of the paper is that Brazil could gain significantly from opening to foreign trade. Yet, for Brazil to take full advantage of the opportunities that external integration offers, domestic markets also need to function better, so it is key to ensure that the removal of external barriers to integration is coordinated with the removal of internal distortions to domestic market integration.
Factors Predicting Ventriculostomy Revision at a Large Academic Medical Center

Background Freehand bedside ventriculostomy placement can result in catheter malfunction requiring a revision procedure and cause significant patient morbidity. We performed a single-center retrospective review to assess factors related to this complication. Methods Using an administrative database and chart review, we identified 101 first-time external ventricular drain placements performed at the bedside. We collected data regarding demographics, medical comorbidities, complications, and catheter tip location. We performed univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using MATLAB. We corrected for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate (FDR) procedure. Results Multivariate regression analyses revealed that revision procedures were more likely to occur after drain blockage (odds ratio [OR] 17.9) and hemorrhage (OR 10.3, FDR-corrected P values Conclusions Bedside external ventricular drain placement is associated with a 15% rate of revision, that typically occurred after drain blockage and postprocedure hemorrhage. Optimal placement within the ipsilateral frontal horn or foramen of Monroe was associated with a reduced rate of drain blockage.
Mechanical Antennas: Emerging Solution for Very-Low Frequency (VLF) Communication

This paper presents the concept of mechanical antennas for long range and under water communication systems and addresses its challenges and the corresponding solutions. In this approach, instead of using conventional antennas driven by a power source or oscillator, the radiation is mainly due to charge acceleration under mechanical forces provided in an engineered fashion. As illustrating examples, the radiation associated with rotating dipole charges and rotating magnets are theoretically derived and radiated power dependency on the frequency of rotation, dipole moment, required mechanical force and radius of rotation are investigated. The concept of magneto-dielectric resonance is finally utilized to enhance the radiated electric field from the mechanical antenna system by around 100 dB.
Superoleophilic, Mechanically Strong Electrospun Membranes for Fast and Efficient Gravity-Driven Oil/Water Separation

Separating oil–water mixtures is a common obstacle in many processes from wastewater treatment to biofuel manufacture to cleanup of oil spills. There is an urgent need for new, fast, and simple technologies for such separations. In this work, we describe a simple and practical route for creating superoleophilic electrospun membranes that are capable of selectively passing oil and organic compounds at very high rates in a gravity-driven system while retaining water. To prepare these membranes, we blended a new, highly fluorinated random copolymer (FCP), poly(methyl methacrylate-random-perfluorodecyl methacrylate), P(MMA-r-FDMA), with the commodity polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and prepared electrospun membranes from their mixture. Membranes composed of nonwoven fibers with uniform and bead-free morphology were obtained upon electrospinning of PVDF blended with this FCP. The PMMA segments provided anchors to the PVDF matrix, resulting in significant enhancement in the mechanical properties with u...
Geology Goes Hollywood: Building a community of inquiry in a fully online introductory geology lecture and laboratory

Promoting collaboration and discourse in asynchronous online courses is challenging; students need something engaging to talk about, a communications medium in which to fluidly discuss it, and a so...
Quantifying the Incremental and Aggregate Cost of Missed Workdays in Adults with Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Although the national cost of missed workdays associated with diabetes has been estimated previously, we use the most recent available national data and methodology to update the individual and national estimates for the U.S population.
Online Community College Student-Researchers Explore Mental Health Stigmas: Deeper Learning Implied

The purpose of this study was to assess learning through the integration of student-research within a community college online Abnormal Psychology course, contained in a one-semester behavioral hea...
Newly diagnosed patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A clinical description of those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

Abstract Objectives The aims of this observational study were to 1) accrue newly diagnosed patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) awaiting the start of first-line treatment and identify those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and, 2) provide a clinical description of the multiple, co-occurring psychological and behavioral difficulties and physical symptoms that potentially exacerbate and maintain depressive symptoms. Materials and methods Patients with stage IV NSCLC (N = 186) were enrolled in an observational study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03199651) and completed the American Society of Clinical Oncology-recommended screening measure for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]). Individuals with none/mild (n = 119; 64 %), moderate (n = 52; 28 %), and severe (n = 15; 8 %) depressive symptoms were identified. Patients also completed measures of hopelessness, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms, stress, illness perceptions, functional status, and symptoms. Results Patients with severe depressive symptoms reported concomitant feelings of hopelessness (elevating risk for suicidal behavior), anxiety symptoms suggestive of GAD, and traumatic, cancer-specific stress. They perceived lung cancer as consequential for their lives and not controllable with treatment. Pain and multiple severe symptoms were present along with substantial functional impairment. Patients with moderate depressive symptoms had generally lower levels of disturbance, though still substantial. The most salient differences were low GAD symptom severity and fewer functional impairments for those with moderate symptoms. Conclusions Depressive symptoms of moderate to severe levels co-occur in a matrix of clinical levels of anxiety symptoms, traumatic stress, impaired functional status, and pain and other physical symptoms. All of the latter factors have been shown, individually and collectively, to contribute to the maintenance or exacerbation of depressive symptoms. As life-extending targeted and immunotherapy use expands, prompt identification of patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, referral for evaluation, and psychological/behavioral treatment are key to maximizing treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals with advanced NSCLC.
Can Apps Make Air Pollution Visible? User Engagement with Air Quality Information

Air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks globally but is often imperceptible by people. Air quality smartphone applications (commonly called apps) provide real-time localized air quality information and have the potential to help people learn about the health effects of air pollution and take action to protect their health. Hundreds of air quality apps are now available, however, there is scant information on how effective these mobile apps are at educating stakeholders about air pollution and at promoting behavioral change to protect their health. In this paper, we test how intrinsic and extrinsic motivations can enhance users’ engagement with air quality information and favor changes in protective behavior. We developed an air quality app, AirForU, with a built-in research study that was downloaded by 2,740 users. We found that user engagement, measured as checking the app, and talking to someone about air pollution, was strong in the first few weeks after downloading the app but faded significantly after 12 weeks. Engagement was higher for users with intrinsic motivations, such as those who are health conscious, either because they are suffering from heart disease or other conditions aggravated by air pollution, or because they exercise often and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Extrinsic motivations such as notifications were also effective. App users stated that they shared air quality frequently with others while using the app, learned information about the Air Quality Index (AQI), and took measures to protect their health. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of air quality apps.
Use of Fatigue Index as a Measure of Local Muscle Fatigability in Ryanodine Receptor Isoform-1-Related Myopathies

Introduction: Individuals affected with ryanodine receptor isoform-1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM) commonly experience fatigability in the quadriceps, which may limit physical function and potentially diminish quality of life. Fatigability, in RYR1-RM, results from skeletal muscle injury secondary to dysfunction of the major skeletal muscle Ca++ channel. However, during fatigability testing, affected individuals did not always reach the point of local muscle fatigue as defined by a fatigue index (FATI) at 50% of peak torque. Surakka et al. compared three versions of FATI equations, which vary by the area under the force curve (AUC). By performing this comparison, they were able to determine the optimal equation in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Purpose: Using a similar comparison, we sought to identify the optimal FATI equation in the RYR1-RM population. Secondly, because local muscle fatigability might have an impact on independent living, this study also assessed change in local muscle fatigability over a 6-month time frame. Methods: Thirty participants were analyzed from the RYR1-RM natural history study and double-blind, placebo-controlled N-acetylcysteine (NAC) trial, NCT02362425. Twenty-seven had fatigability data, from isometric knee extension and flexion fatigability tests, available for the purpose of establishing a method for predicting FATI at 50% peak torque. For the natural history study, 30 participants were used to assess disease progression of local muscle fatigability achieved during the knee extension fatigability test, and 29 participants for the knee flexion fatigability test. Results: Surakka's equation 1, using the prediction approach, led to the smallest median error, the smallest square-root of uncorrected sum of squares, and the smallest average of the absolute value of the differences. No difference was observed in FATI at 50% peak torque between month 0 and month 6 for extension (p = 0.606) and flexion (p = 0.740). Conclusion: Surakka's equation 1, with the prediction approach, was found to be the most accurate for imputing values when fatigue was not reached during a sustained knee isometric fatigability test in RYR1-RM. Furthermore, when used to assess fatigability-based disease stability, local muscle fatigability, in this RYR1-RM population remained stable.
The transient nature of concentrated use at a national park: A spatiotemporal investigation into visitor behavior

Abstract Advances in GPS technology have facilitated efficient collection of spatiotemporal data of visitor travel patterns. However, analyses of these data has evolved at a slower rate. In particular, past analyses typically have not analyzed temporal variations to understand how visitor travel patterns change with time. It is necessary to understand spatial variations of temporally segmented data to gain insight into the dynamic nature of visitor behavior, because change is a function of time. Therefore, this manuscript focuses on elements of this critical co-analysis and advocates for incorporating richer temporal analysis at various scales to gain a fuller understanding of visitor travel patterns. The researchers guided this work using the concept of “time-geography” to evaluate day-visitors’ travel patterns at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Data were collected using GPS data loggers and analyzed by conducting kernel density analyses of temporally-segmented data, and then visitors’ temporal allocation within seven management zones were compared using a One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a Bonferroni Post Hoc test. Results reveal that visitor use at Cumberland Island is heavily concentrated, transient, and are dependent on location of attraction sites as a function of time from ferry disembarkment. The analysis also identified the most frequented management zones and the length of stay within each zone. These methods and results contribute an illustrative example to the importance of analyzing temporal patterns in conjunction with spatial patterns. Lastly, this research revealed the punctuated rhythm of visitor spatiotemporal behavior when stringently constrained by time.
Comentarios al artículo "Las actitudes de los hombres y de las mujeres anglohablantes ante el agradecimiento en español: estudio contrastivo"

This article examines the paper “Las actitudes de los hombres y de las mujeres anglohablantes ante el agradecimiento en espanol: estudio contrastivo” by Carlos de Pablos Ortega, and reflects about the role of gender in Linguistics research.
Contrast-enhanced paravertebrogram to confirm paravertebral catheter position in elective thoracic surgery: a proof of concept study.

Paravertebral pain catheters have been shown to be equally effective as epidural pain catheters for postoperative analgesia after thoracic surgery with the possible additional benefit of less hemodynamic effect. However, a methodology for verifying correct paravertebral catheter placement has not been tested or objectively confirmed in previous studies. The aim of the current study was to describe a technique to confirm the correct position of a paravertebral pain catheter using a contrast-enhanced paravertebrogram. A retrospective cohort proof of concept study was performed including 10 consecutive patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery with radiographic contrast-enhanced confirmation of intraoperative paravertebral catheter placement (paravertebrogram). The results of the paravertebrograms, which were done in the operating room at the end of the procedure, verified correct paravertebral catheter placement in 10 of 10 patients. The radiographs documented dissemination of local anesthetic within the paravertebral space. This proof of concept study demonstrated that a contrast-enhanced paravertebrogram could be used in conjunction with standard postoperative chest radiography to add valuable information for the assessment of paravertebral catheter placement. This technique has the potential to increase the accuracy and efficiency of postoperative analgesia, and to set a quality standard for future studies of paravertebral pain catheters.
Bovine Gastric and Intestinal Cryptosporidiosis

This writer intends to provide information which will be useful or may be useful, next week in the practices of cattle practitioners. Comments on epidemiology, control and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium parvum (intestinal pathogen) were solicited for an oral presentation at the recent meeting of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. But, from day-to-day bovine practice standpoint, there isn't much to say about this intestinal pathogen, despite the publication of about 1000 articles on cryptosporidiosis in the past 10 years. In fact, William Current and Lynn Garcia stated recently in a review article1 (357 references) that, "Despite the large number of recent papers and the large number of laboratories throughout the world devoting significant effort in Cryptosporidium research, our present understanding of this protozoan parasite is very limited." Dubey, Speer and Fayer have published a complete reference book (1047 ref.) on cryptosporidiosis.2 Many of the details of the following may be found among the references in these two sources. Some preliminary informaton on the newly-discovered gastric pathogen of cattle, Cryptosporidium muris was added to the above-mentioned talk and has been added to this paper. Our understanding about this gastric cryptosporidial parasite is also limited because it simply hasn't been studied. Mention of the parasite here and results of preliminary investigations should stimulate some interest in promoting further study of this possibly significant chronic parasitism of the stomach of production animals. Cryptosporidia are coccidial protozoan parasites related to the well-known eimerial coccidia; in other words, they are in the suborder, Eimeriorina. The original definitions were of the gastric and intestinal forms, C. muris and C. parvum, respectively, isolated from mice. Today the C. parvum designation is applied to isolates which cause enteritis in numerous mammalian species including humans. The C. muris organism differs from the enteric C, parvum not only in location (stomach) but in size and shape of oocyst. (See section on C. muris).
For-Profit Schools as Covered Persons under the CFPA

A cornerstone of for-profit schools’ business model is to encourage students to borrow as much as possible to finance their college attendance. After drawing people in with misleading advertisements, for-profit colleges quickly hand prospective students off to financial aid officers who rush students through the process of explaining the financial aid system—if they explain it at all. These employees drive students to take on massive federal and private debt loads, including loans that the school itself originates. They will sometimes fill out or even fraudulently sign forms on students’ behalf, all the while insisting that they are working in the students’ interest. Each of these tactics has one goal: boosting schools’ revenues by inflating students’ debt balances, regardless of how unmanageable those loans are likely to be for borrowers. This issue brief argues that each of these areas of conduct place for-profit colleges squarely within the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and that the Bureau can therefore intervene to protect borrowers. The CFPB’s authorizing statute states that anyone providing a consumer financial product or service is a “covered person” and therefore falls under the Bureau’s purview, including with respect to the prohibition on unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices. As this issue brief outlines, each one of the common features of the for-profit college business model described above is alone sufficient to make a for-profit college a “covered person,” including the practices of lending to students through institutional loan programs, brokering student loans through third parties, and providing students financial advisory services in the financial aid process (regardless of the quality of the advice). With for-profit college enrollment surging due to COVID, the need to rein in the industry has never been more pressing. The CFPB has the tools to combat the rampant illegal practices that the for-profit college industry relies on.
Accessible and Validated Processing of SARS-CoV-2 from Wastewater

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is shed into wastewater. Accessible methods are necessary for processing samples in a myriad of contexts. We optimized a protocol for extracting viral RNA for downstream experiments. Our pipeline was validated with SARS-CoV-2 itself as a matrix recovery and quantitative measurement control.
Illinois Higher Education Enrollments During Recessions

This report provides an overview of trends in enrollment at institutions of higher education mapped onto different points in the state’s economic history. The report looks at national trends and state of Illinois enrollment trends during periods of economic recession.
Multiple antenna systems with finite rate feedback

The performance of multiple antenna systems can be greatly improved by making the channel state information (CSI) available at the transmitter. In practice, therefore, a finite-rate feedback link is employed to convey a quantized version of the CSI to the transmitter. This semi-tutorial paper summarizes some of the recent work on the design and analysis of multiple antenna systems with finite rate feedback. In particular, we discuss appropriate criteria for the design of quantizers for feedback-based communication systems along with corresponding algorithms for codebook generation. Finally, we qualitatively show how the classical source coding theory can be extended to analyze the performance of finite rate feedback-based multiple antenna systems
Cancer culture: epidemics, human behavior, and the dubious search for new risk factors.

The rise of melanoma and the almost complete decline of stomach cancer clearly reflect disturbances of human culture during the 20th century. Environmental factors play a dominant role in the epidemiology of melanoma and many other malignancies.
THE DYNAMICS OF THE ELECTRODISSOLUTION OF COPPER

Experiments were carried out on the electrochemical dissolution of a copper disk electrode rotating at 1000 rpm in a a solution of 1 N H2S04 and 0.1 M NaCI. Current was measured as a function of applied potential; the current was steady for E < 300mV(SCE) and oscillatory in the range 300 ≤ E ≤ 1050 mV(SCE). Type III intermittcncy and period doubling to chaos were observed in the non-steady region. The observed chaos is low order, i.e., has a correlation dimension between 2.1 and 3.5
Heterocyclic studies: New heterocyclic ring systems from isomeric dimethyl diaminophthalates

The synthesis and reactions of dimethyl 3, 4- and 4, 5-diaminophthalate 7 and 9 were investigated. The condensation of these isomeric diaminophthalates and their respective nitroacetamido precursors have been shown to give rise to a variety of five, six and seven membered heterocyclic ring system. Several new tetraazanthracenes have also been prepared in this sequence.