cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Next-Generation Sequencing to Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is the most common birth defect and sensorineural disorder in humans. Hearing loss can be syndromic or nonsyndromic and can be further divided based on mode of inheritance. With over 100 genes responsible for the etiology of hearing loss, Sanger sequencing, being a traditional gene-by-gene approach, has become an unfavorable strategy in terms of cost and time. Next-generation sequencing technology offers the advantage of sequencing multiple genes in parallel with lower cost and higher time-efficiency and has quickly become a fundamental tool for targeted panel-based hearing loss diagnostics. In this chapter, we discuss the application of next-generation sequencing to hearing loss, address successes and challenges of the approach, examine the current role of whole exome sequencing and comment on the future of whole genome sequencing. We conclude that the application of next generation sequencing will tremendously broaden our knowledge of hearing loss; the outcome of which includes rapid and accurate diagnosis that would result in an earlier and more effective intervention.
Polar bears and sea ice habitat change

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is an obligate apex predator of Arctic sea ice and as such can be affected by climate warming-induced changes in the extent and composition of pack ice and its impacts on their seal prey. Sea ice declines have negatively impacted some polar bear subpopulations through reduced energy input because of loss of hunting habitats, higher energy costs due to greater ice drift, ice fracturing and open water, and ultimately greater challenges to recruit young. Projections made from the output of global climate models suggest that polar bears in peripheral Arctic and sub-Arctic seas will be reduced in numbers or become extirpated by the end of the twenty-first century if the rate of climate warming continues on its present trajectory. The same projections also suggest that polar bears may persist in the high-latitude Arctic where heavy multiyear sea ice that has been typical in that region is being replaced by thinner annual ice. Underlying physical and biological oceanography provides clues as to why polar bear in some regions are negatively impacted, while bears in other regions have shown no apparent changes. However, continued declines in sea ice will eventually challenge the survival of polar bears and efforts to conserve them in all regions of the Arctic.
Ecology and Stratigraphy of the Echinoids of the Ocala Limestone (Late Eocene)

The Ocala Limestone (Late Eocene) of Florida may be zoned using echinoids. In addition to biostratigraphic zonation, three separate echinoid communities may be recognized utilizing species differing in specimen size and substrate affinity. The communities present are: 1) a community of large echinoids, which are sand-dwellers; 2) a community characterized by mud-dwelling echinoids, as well as a few small species with affinities for a sandy substrate; and 3) a community of sand-dwelling echinoids of large size, the composition of which is different from that of community l. The stratigraphic distribution of these three communities reflect physical changes in the environment of deposition, which may be explained by several hypotheses, but probably reflect a transgressive-regressive sequence.
The Impact of Intelligence Provided to the Soviet Union by Richard Zorge on Soviet Force Deployments from the Far East to the West in 1941 and 1942

Among the most controversial questions associated with the German-Soviet War (1941–1945) is the degree to which intelligence information received from his agents abroad influenced the decision maki...
Effects of dobutamine on myocardial mechanics

In the intact circulation in man and dog dobutamine ( (±)-4-[2-[[3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1 -methylpropyl] amino]ethyl] pyrocatechol hydrochloride), a new synthetic catecholamine (Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Ind.) exerted marked positive inotropic effects (1–4). Since these effects were obtained with little change in heart rate and mean arterial pressure it has been suggested that dobutamine is potentially of clinical value in the enhancement of myocardial contractility and may have advantages over other frequently used catecholamines such as noradrenaline and isoproterenol (1–4). In view of the potential clinical value of dobutamine, and to exclude effects on the vascular system, this study was undertaken of characterize the direct effects of dobutamine on myocardial mechanics of the isolated cat papillary muscle.
Thomas Mann: Enlightenment and Social Democracy

Taking a cue from T. J. Reed’s characterization of Thomas Mann as ‘a late adoptive child of the Enlightenment’, this essay examines an under-appreciated continuum in German history as it is manifes...
Research on the adhesiveness between core rod and sheath for composite insulators on the transmission lines

Due to the corrosion problem, there emerge various fracture phenomena for composite insulators on several 500kV AC transmission lines in China, which has caused serious threat to the normal operation of power system. Therefore, it is urgent to analyze the fracture mechanism and propose feasible evaluation method for the failure of composite insulators. In this paper, appearance observation, water diffusion test and dissection test for the fractured 500kV AC composite insulators were carried out, and the results indicated that the main factor that led to the fracture was the bad adhesiveness between core rod and sheath. In view of this, one classification method was proposed to evaluate four operation composite insulators in order to investigate and evaluate the adhesiveness, and the results demonstrated that the adhesiveness was related to not only the bonding quality in production process but also the electric field intensity in operation process. The classification evaluation method was proved to be effective for the adhesiveness between core rod and sheath, which could provide valuable references for the production and maintenance of composite insulators.
Harvesting environmental thermal energy using solid/liquid phase change materials:

This article investigates the feasibility of using solid/liquid phase change materials to harvest the renewable thermal energy in various natural environments, which is often associated with a low ...
Cellular fibroepithelial lesions of the breast: A long term follow up study.

Abstract Some fibroepithelial lesions (FEL) of the breast are difficult to classify as cellular fibroadenoma (CFA) or benign phyllodes tumor (BPT) due to overlapping histologic features. This indeterminate group is histologically characterized by prominent stromal cellularity, mild atypia, and mitotic activity. The local recurrence potential of cellular FEL (CFEL) has been insufficiently studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the histologic features, characterize the long-term follow-up and recurrence rate of CFEL, and compare this data with the recurrence rate of definitive BPT. Ninety CFEL that were
Development of an Economical Haptic Stimulus Device

Human perception of haptic information is often complex and requires devices that are expensive and difficult to operate. We see increasing attention being given to finding simpler motions in haptic research to represent more complex haptic perception on the surface of the skin. Our research has indicated that lateral motions in multiple directions may provide sufficiently useful perception for information transfer. We present a design for an economical haptic stimulation device using off-the-shelf parts that are relatively easy to obtain and assemble. Our design was configured for lateral motion, but can be modified to deliver a variety of haptic stimulations.
Discontinuation of antihyperglycemic therapy after acute myocardial infarction: medical necessity or medical error?

Article-at-a-Glance Background A national Medicare database indicated that one in eight older patients with diabetes was discharged off all antihyperglycemic therapy (AHT) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This practice was associated with increased one-year mortality, but the reasons for stopping AHT were not known. A study was conducted to determine whether such practice might be due to medical necessity (that is, a new contraindication) or oversight—in which case a quality improvement opportunity might exist. Methods Some 327 diabetic patients were identified who were hospitalized with AMI during a one-year period at an academic medical center and an affiliated community hospital. Detailed chart reviews were conducted on the 217 patients with AMI as a principal diagnosis who were admitted on AHT (insulin, 81). Twenty-five patients (11.5%) were discharged off AHT, 24 (96%) of whom received some AHT in the hospital, mostly as insulin sliding scale. One patient's (4%) AHT was stopped because of a change in care goals, a second developed recurrent hypoglycemia, and a third had entirely normal in-hospital blood glucose after AHT discontinuation. The remaining 22 patients (88%) were categorized as being discharged off AHT without justification. The demographic/clinical characteristics of those discharged on versus off AHT were similar, except for better left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the latter. Conclusions The percentage of diabetic patients discharged off AHT following AMI was nearly identical to that in a national database (approximately one out of eight). No clear reason for this practice could be found in nearly 90% of the cases, suggesting that it may often constitute a medical error for a growing population of diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease.
Post-Transcriptional Control of the GAP-43 mRNA by the ELAV-Like Protein HuD

Post-transcriptional control by mRNA-binding proteins is critical for shaping the temporal and spatial pattern of expression of a large number of developmentally regulated genes. Among these is the gene for GAP-43, a growth-associated protein expressed in neurons primarily during the initial establishment and remodeling of neural connections. Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms control GAP-43 gene expression during development. While promoter activity determines the neural-specific expression of the gene, changes in mRNA stability modulate GAP-43 expression in neurons undergoing process outgrowth in response to growth factors and other signaling agents. For example, in PC12 cells induced to differentiate by nerve growth factor (NGF), GAP-43 mRNA levels are regulated primarily through selective changes in the rate of degradation of the mRNA. This process depends on the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and is mediated by the interaction of highly conserved sequences in the 3’ untranslated region (3 ‘UTR) of the mRNA with neuronal-specific RNA-binding proteins. One of these proteins was recently identified as the ELAV-like protein HuD. SLAV is an RNA-binding protein that is critical for the development of the nervous system in Drosophila and HuD is one of four human homologs of this protein. This chapter discusses the evidence demonstrating a role for HuD in the control of GAP-43 mRNA stability, gene expression and neuronal differentiation, and presents recent findings on the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.
Assessing Improvement in the Public's Understanding of Hurricane Storm Tides Through Interactive Visualization Models

Lindner, B.L.; Alsheimer, F., and Johnson, J., 2019. Assessing improvement in the public's understanding of hurricane storm tides through interactive visualization models. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(1), 130–142. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.In order to better understand the efficacy of efforts to educate the public about the risks of hurricane storm surge, links on the local National Weather Service (NWS) website and various media outlets were used to recruit 575 Charleston-area residents to complete two anonymous internet-based surveys. Most participants knew that storm surge was the primary risk from a hurricane in low-lying areas, particularly younger, new residents with less prior experience with hurricanes. One in five participants indicated that the NWS always or usually overstates the dangers of hurricanes, although most participants actually overestimated the accuracy of NWS track forecasts. Many users of a hurricane storm-tide visualization model anticipated more storm surge than they would actually receive in various hurricane scenarios. After model usage, there was a noted increase in user understanding of the importance of landfall location on the amount of storm surge, particularly among women and older participants. Comparing surveys completed before and after model usage, there was no change in the number of users that claimed they would evacuate for a hurricane scenario that produced a small storm tide, but there was a substantial increase in the number that claimed they would evacuate for a hurricane scenario that produced a large storm tide, particularly among younger and new residents. A quarter of users stated they would have reconsidered living in their current home if they had investigated the model prior to their move. Thus, significant evidence exists to demonstrate the effectiveness of this type of model in improving risk awareness among users.
Blood transfusions in preterm infants: changes on perfusion index and intermittent hypoxemia.

Background Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion decreases intermittent hypoxemia (IH) events beyond the first week of life. This benefit may be related to improved perfusion to the respiratory control network. Perfusion index (PI) is a perfusion measure provided by the pulse oximeter. We hypothesized that the benefit in IH after RBC transfusion is associated with an increase in PI. In addition, we assessed the value of PI and clinical measures in predicting the effect of RBC transfusion on IH. Study design and methods We prospectively enrolled infants less than 30 weeks' gestation age. PI and oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) were monitored with high-resolution pulse oximeters 24 hours before and after RBC transfusion. Data were analyzed at three postnatal periods: Epoch 1, first week of life (1 to 7 days of life); Epoch 2, 2 to 4 weeks of life (8 to 28 days of life); and Epoch 3, 4 to 8 weeks of life. Results A total of 118 transfusions were analyzed. IH measures significantly decreased after transfusion in Epochs 2 and 3. PI significantly increased after transfusion, but it did not correlate with the decrease in IH measures. Mechanical ventilation, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2 ), and IH measures influenced the effects on oxygenation. Conclusions RBC transfusion improved IH after the first week of life. The benefit in IH did not correlate with PI increase after transfusion. Pretransfusion respiratory support and IH measures predicted the effect of transfusion on oxygenation.
Impact of student-induced disturbance on stream macroinvertebrates differs among habitat types.

Environmental impacts from ecotourism and outdoor recreation activities on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are well-reported in the literature, but less is known regarding the impacts of outdoor environmental education activities. Student activity during stream classes may cause substrate disruption and localized impacts on stream macroinvertebrates. We hypothesized that student activity would negatively impact macroinvertebrate community structure in three habitat types (riffle, run, pool) within a site regularly used for stream classes while no impact from student activity would occur in the same three habitat types within an unused site. We addressed the hypothesis by sampling macroinvertebrates monthly for one year in the riffles, runs, and pools at the class site and the unused site within a fourth order stream in central Ohio. The results indicated reduced macroinvertebrate abundance and richness in the riffle at the class site during periods with student activity and no differences between site types during periods without student activity. No impacts of stream classes on macroinvertebrate communities were observed in runs or pools. The results suggest that environmental education organizations should avoid repetitive use of the same site for their stream classes to avoid reductions of macroinvertebrate abundance and taxa richness that can impact the students’ educational experience.
Indicator of Exo-Solar Planet(s) in the Circumstellar Disk Around Beta Pictoris

Our efficient numerical approach has been applied to modeling the asymmetric circumstellar dust disk around Beta Pictoris as observed with the HST/STIS. We present a new model on the origin of the warping of the Beta Pic disk. We suggest that the observed warp is formed by the gravitational influence of a planet with a mass of about 10 masses of Earth, at a distance of 70 AU, and a small inclination ($\sim 2.5^\circ$) of the planetary orbit to the main dust disk. Results of our modeling are compared with the STIS observations.
VASCULARITY-TARGETED PERCUTANEOUS ETHANOL INJECTION OF TOXIC THYROID ADENOMAS: OUTCOMES OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY PERFORMED IN THE USA.

Objective: The recommended treatment options for toxic adenoma (TA) in the USA are radioactive iodine ablation and surgical resection, with continued observation for pre-toxic adenoma (PTA). Percutaneous ethanol ablation (PEI) has proven efficacy in the treatment of TA and is widely available in Europe but not in the USA. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who underwent PEI for TA/PTA at the University of Utah, from January 2010 to 2018. Ultrasound-guided PEI, with injections targeting power Doppler-mapped blood vessels within the adenomas, was conducted. Functionality was confirmed using thyroid scintigraphy prior to PEI. Results: Eighteen adults (15 female) underwent PEI. Mean age was 41 ± 13.7 years. Baseline thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was suppressed (0.06 ± 0.09 mU/L), with normal free thyroxine (FT4) 1.43 ± 0.39 ng/dL. Median nodule volume was 5.7 cm3 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.8 to 7.7 cm3). Seventy-eight percent (n = 14) underwent two or less PEI sessions. Median volume of ethanol used was 0.46 mL/mL nodule volume (IQR, 0.3 to 0.6 mL). There was a significant increase in TSH concentrations within the first 3 months after PEI (0.06 ± 0.09 mU/L vs. 1.22 ± 1.88 mU/L; P = .02), with a concomitant significant decrease in FT4 concentrations (1.43 ± 0.39 ng/day vs. 1.13 ± 0.25 ng/day; P<.01). Significant nodular volume reduction was observed following PEI (median 5.7 cm3 [IQR 4.8-7.7 cm3] vs. 2.5 cm3 [IQR 2.0-7.8 cm3]; P<.01). Conclusion: Vascularity-targeted PEI is safe and effective for treating PTA and TA. This unique approach required lower injected alcohol volume and fewer injections for therapeutic success. Abbreviations: ATA = American Thyroid Association; FT4 = free thyroxine; IQR = interquartile range; PD = power Doppler; PEI = percutaneous ethanol injection; PTA = pre-toxic adenoma; RAI = radioactive iodine ablation; RFA = radiofrequency ablation; TA = toxic adenoma; TT3 = total triiodothyronine; US = ultrasound.
Pediatrician Communication About High Blood Pressure in Children With Overweight/Obesity During Well-Child Visits

ABSTRACT Objective Despite recognition that hypertension is associated with childhood obesity, data suggest that high blood pressure (BP) is infrequently diagnosed in children. This study sought to examine provider communication with overweight school-age children regarding BP measurements that were high at well-child visits. Methods Cross-sectional mixed-methods analysis of audio-recorded communication from well-child visits with overweight 6-12-year-olds. Data from the subset of children with elevated BPs were used for this study. Three BP measures obtained at the audio-recorded visit were averaged, paired with historical BPs stored in the health record, and compared to contemporary/Fourth-Report thresholds to determine if children had elevated/hypertensive BPs only at the audio-recorded visit or met hypertension-diagnostic criteria (hypertension-level BP ≥3 separate visits). Two reviewers used visit transcripts to categorize communication about BP as "absent," "unclear," or "direct." Provider use of a billing diagnosis for elevated BP/hypertension in visits with direct-BP-communication was explored. Results In 36 of 126 (29%) visit-audio-recordings, children had elevated/hypertensive BPs. Thirty-three of the 36 eligible (92%) had intelligible audio-recordings. Of these, nine (25%) had overweight and 24 (75%), obesity. Seventeen (52%) had elevated BPs, and 16 (48%), hypertensive BPs. Ten (30%) met criteria for hypertension diagnosis. BP communication was absent in 20 visits (61%), unclear in eight (24%), and direct in five visits (15%). Billing diagnoses for elevated BP/hypertension were entered at four of five (80%) visits with direct-BP communication. Conclusions Most overweight children with elevated BPs do not receive communication that BP is high at well-child visits. Relevant billing diagnoses may indicate direct-BP communication.
Using Physical Layer Network Coding to Improve NOMA System Throughput with Energy Harvesting Users

The aim of this paper is to improve the performance of an energy harvesting (EH) system under millimeter wave (mm-wave) massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) structure, as beneficial incorporation in beyond 5G. We consider a power splitting structure for this EH system, which has the best trade-off between transferred energy and data rate. However, it is shown that in such systems the use of Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) method alone, the minimum probability of error requirements for the systems with more users than Radio Frequency (RF) chains may not be attained. Therefore, new schemes with control strategies over intra-beam interference to achieve an acceptable symbol error rate (SER) for multiple users in the same beam is still a vacancy to be studied in particular for the dense 5G networks. The proposed EH system is using a new Superposition Code (SC) based on Physical Layer Network Coding (PLNC) concept to dramatically improve the throughput and harvested energy for a specific signal to noise ratio (SNR). As the second goal, two beamforming optimization approaches are also suggested. The simulations result indicates that the uniform beamforming performance is acceptable if avoiding the high complexity is desired.
The lateral neck flexor endurance test: Normative values in the young adult population.

Abstract Background Unilateral muscular deficits have been identified in individuals with neck pain, although no unilateral clinical tests have been described in the literature. Assessment of lateral neck flexor endurance may allow identification of abnormal unilateral muscle function. The lateral neck flexor (LNF) endurance test, where an individual holds their head parallel to the ground while side-lying, may be a clinical option. We sought to (1) determine inter-rater reliability of the LNF endurance test and (2) establish normative LNF values in healthy individuals. Methods Inter-rater reliability was assessed for four raters, working in pairs to assess a pilot sample of 20 individuals. Normative data was subsequently collected for 60 healthy adults, age 20–40. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess physical activity and the LNF endurance test was assessed once per side. Results The LNF endurance test demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability: ICC(2,1) = 0.972 [0.941–0.987]. Left and right median LNF hold times were 122.0, 133.94 s for males and 97.42, 93.73 s for females, respectively. Individual median hold time ratios were 72.1% for males and 68.7% for females. There were no meaningful correlations between reported physical activity and LNF endurance. Conclusion The LNF endurance test is a reliable measure. Males generally displayed greater LNF endurance than females, although variability within groups was high. Based on the observed values in this healthy population, 120 s for males and 90 s for females with a 70% side:side ratio appear to be useful normative benchmarks although further research is required including clinical populations.
Robust Control: The Parametric Approach

Abstract This paper presents the development of a new coarse in the control curriculum dealing with the control of systems subject to parametric uncertainty. This branch of Robust Control has been the subject of intensive research and development over the last 15 years, following a breakthrough in 1978, by the Russian control theorist V. L. Kharitonov. The result of this development is that there now exists a significant number of elegant and practically results in the field of robust control under real parameter uncertainty. This subject is rich in theoretical content, easy to motivate from a practical standpoint and requires just the right level of mathematics to be taught as a fundamental discipline to engineers and scientists.
Identification of Multiracial Adolescents in Research Samples: An Examination and Critique of Existing Practices:

This study examined caregivers’ longitudinal reports of adolescent multiracial categorization across the ages of 9.5, 10.5, and 14 years, and adolescents’ reports of their own multiracial categoriz...
Peripartum Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Distinct But Under-Recognized Clinical Syndrome

Introduction Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a well-described diagnosis characterized by systolic dysfunction. Increasingly recognized is that peripartum women may also develop clinical heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); however, little is known about risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and recurrence. Hypothesis We propose that peripartum HFpEF is an under-recognized entity distinct from peripartum cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia. Peripartum HFpEF may be associated with comorbidities prevalent among other patients with HFpEF and may recur during subsequent pregnancies. Methods We identified pregnant and postpartum patients between 8 weeks antepartum and 7 months postpartum (mean 21 ± 53 days), with symptomatic heart failure and normal ejection fraction (EF) (≥55%) on echocardiogram. Demographics, comorbidities, labs, imaging, treatment, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Outcomes of interest were the association of clinical heart failure with BNP, preeclampsia, and other comorbidities, and long-term outcomes of final EF and subsequent pregnancies. Results Among 44 patients with clinical concern for heart failure, 22 (50%) met clinical diagnostic criteria based on Framingham criteria. Only 2 women (9%) were given a clear diagnosis of HFpEF by providers during their initial presentation. Among patients with HFpEF, 8 (36%) had concomitant preeclampsia. Mean BNP was 208±184 pg/mL, and 4 patients (18%) had BNP below 35 pg/mL. Pulmonary edema was documented in 15 patients (68%). Average non-pregnant BMI was 36.1±7.9 kg/m². Compared with the US adult female population, our cohort had higher prevalence of hypertension (41% vs. 28%), diabetes (36% vs. 12%), and sleep apnea (27% vs. 17%). After 4.7±4.2 years of follow-up, no patients developed systolic dysfunction, 5/22 (23%) women carried an additional term pregnancy, and 1 of those 5 (20%) had recurrent HFpEF during the subsequent pregnancy. Conclusions Peripartum HFpEF is a distinct and under-recognized diagnosis that should be considered in peripartum women with clinical heart failure. Despite clinical symptoms, several women had normal BNP or absent pulmonary edema by chest x-ray, suggesting additional diagnostic criteria may be needed. While preeclampsia is associated with transient cardiac dysfunction, many women with peripartum HFpEF did not have preeclampsia, but did have comorbidities in common with HFpEF. More research is needed to determine longer-term outcomes and risk of recurrence during subsequent pregnancies.
A wearable micro-fuel cell sensor for the determination of blood alcohol content (BAC): a multivariate regression model approach

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell-based wearable alcohol sensing device has been explored for the monitoring of blood alcohol content (BAC) in real time. The watch-like alcohol monitoring device detects alcohol from the perspiration of the human skin. This transcutaneous (transdermal) fuel cell sensor can detect a wide range of concentrations of alcohol, including a physiological range of concentration (5–100 mg/dl), with the detection time of ~ 5 s. A calibration model, such as principal component regression (PCR), was implemented to reduce standard errors and refine the calibration of this sensor by offsetting noise. The BAC values from the transcutaneous sensor were closer to the theoretical values, with 77.47% improvement in accuracy compared to readings from off the shelf breathalyzer. The results from human studies demonstrate that this fuel cell sensing device in accompany with the proposed PCR model can be employed for the determination of BAC through transcutaneous measurements.
Utilization of Prophylactic Antibiotics After Nasal Packing for Epistaxis

Abstract Background There have been few investigations examining the benefits, consequences, and patterns of use for prophylactic antibiotics for nasal packing in the emergency department setting. Given the frequency of epistaxis in the emergency department, it is an ideal setting to study the efficacy and utilization patterns of prophylactic antibiotics in nasal packing. Objective Our aim was to assess both rates of utilization and evidence of benefit for prophylactic antibiotics in patients with nasal packing for epistaxis. Methods A single-institution retrospective review of 275 cases of anterior nasal packing in an urban emergency department between September 2013 and April 2017 was performed. Chi-square statistical analysis was used to evaluate results. Results Among 275 cases studied, there were no instances of toxic shock syndrome. Roughly 73% of patients with nonabsorbable packing received prophylactic antibiotics. Only one (1.1%) case of sinusitis was noted among the nonabsorbable packing with prophylaxis group, with no such complication in the nonprophylaxis group. In contrast, 95% of patients with absorbable nasal packing were not given prophylactic antibiotics. Analysis of all cases given prophylactic antibiotics vs. no prophylaxis, regardless of packing type, revealed no statistically significant difference in the development of acute sinusitis (1% vs. 0.56%; p = 0.6793). Conclusions There was no observed advantage or disadvantage to using prophylactic antibiotics in anterior nasal packing in the emergency department, regardless of whether patients received absorbable or nonabsorbable packing. However, patients who receive nonabsorbable nasal packing were more likely to receive antibiotic prophylaxis.
Cost-Effectiveness of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Screening With Epstein-Barr Virus Polymerase Chain Reaction or Serology in High-Incidence Populations Worldwide.

BACKGROUND The incidence of endemic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) varies considerably worldwide. In high-incidence regions, screening trials have been conducted. We estimated the mortality reduction and cost-effectiveness of EBV-based NPC screening in populations worldwide. METHODS We identified 380 populations in 132 countries with incident NPC and developed a decision-analytic model to compare 10 unique onetime screening strategies with no screening for men and women aged 50 years. Screening performance and the stage distribution of undiagnosed NPC were derived from a systematic review of prospective screening trials. RESULTS Screening was cost-effective in up to 14.5% of populations, depending on the screening strategy. These populations were limited to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa or were Asian, Pacific Islander, or Inuit populations in North America. A combination of serology and nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction was most cost-effective, but other combinations of serologic and/or plasma polymerase chain reaction screening were also cost-effective. The estimated reduction in NPC mortality was similar across screening strategies. For a hypothetical cohort of patients in China, the 10-year survival improved from 71.0% (95% confidence interval = 68.8% to 73.0%) without screening to a median of 86.3% (range = 83.5%-88.2%) with screening. This corresponded to a median 10-year reduction in NPC mortality of 52.9% (range = 43.1%-59.3%). Screening interval affected absolute mortality reduction and cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS We observed decreased NPC mortality with EBV-based screening. Screening was cost-effective in many high-incidence populations and could be extended to men and women as early as age 40 years in select regions. These findings may be useful when choosing among local public health initiatives.
Autistic Narratives of Sensory Features, Sexuality, and Relationships

Background: Research about the experience of sexuality and intimacy for autistic people has largely excluded the potential influences of autistic sensory features, which are highly common. The aim ...
Liposomes and transferosomes: A breakthrough in topical and transdermal delivery

The topical and transdermal routes of drug administration are long known to the field of pharmaceutics. These routes have been explored for the delivery of a wide range of therapeutic agents over c...
21.4 A 0.75-to-1GHz Passive Wideband Noise-Cancelling 171µW Wake-Up RX and 440µW Primary RX FE with -86dBm/10kb/s Sensitivity, 35dB SIR and 3.8dB RX NF

IoT transceiver deployments are envisioned to have low power, low data-rate ($\sim$kb/s) wake-up receive (WuRX) and Mb/s primary receive (RX) modes for long battery lifetimes [1]. WuRX architectures based on energy-detection (ED) achieve ultra-low power (ULP) C0nsumpti0n but have poor sensitivities ($\sim-$60 to -40dBm) for 26dB Signal-to-Interference Ratio (SIR) at 2MHz offset for4Mb/s OPSK interferer) and high-linearity in the primary RX (0.75dBm IP 1dB ) and (iii)high-sensitivity in both wake-up (-86dBm) and primary RX (3.8dB NF) modes through noise cancelling, while consuming 171uW in wake-up RX mode (including RF L0) and 440uWin primary RX mode.
Novel Use of LMS Data to Predict Online Learning Success in A Pharmacy Capstone Course.

Objective. Learning management system (LMS) data from online classes may provide opportunities to identify students at risk of failure. Previous LMS studies have not addressed the possibility of change in student engagement over time. The purpose of this study was to apply a novel statistical technique, group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), to LMS data for an online course to identify predictors of successful course completion. Methods. Exploratory GBTM assessed the association of LMS activity (total activity time, dates of activity, and pages viewed) and attendance at virtual synchronous learning sessions with examination performance in a capstone disease-management course delivered in the final didactic quarter of a three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program. Groups were assigned based on trajectories of weekly page-view counts using structural-equation modeling. Results. GBTM identified three page-view engagement groups (median total page views, n): Group 1, high (1,818, n=24): Group 2, moderate (1,029, n=74), and Group 3, low (441 views, n=35). Group assignment alone was somewhat associated with final grade. Stratification based on consistent virtual synchronous learning session attendance improved predictive accuracy; for example, a top (A or A-) grade was earned by 49.0% and 24.0%, respectively, of Group 2 students with and without consistent synchronous engagement. Conclusion. Application of GBTM to LMS data, including information about synchronous engagement, could provide early warning signs of potential for course failure, helping instructors to target interventions to at-risk students. The technique should be further tested with alternative LMS data and early in didactics, before patterns of engagement are established.
Carbon Dioxide Flooding of the Pericardial Well

When the aorta is open, especially when it is wide open under DHCA, we often entrain macrobubbles and countless microbubbles (seen vividly on intraoperative TEE) into the circulation. We would prefer for these to be “favorable” bubbles.
The Role of Microsurgical Reconstruction in the Era of ICSI

Even in the era of advanced assisted reproductive techniques, microsurgical reconstruction is an important and relevant treatment for obstructive azoospermia. Microsurgical reconstruction provides couples the opportunity to create a spontaneous pregnancy and thereby avoiding the expense, limitations, and risks of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The apparent ease of advanced assisted reproductive techniques should not overshadow the fact that the expense and risks of IVF/ICSI may be unjustifiable. Sperm retrieval relegates couples to IVF/ICSI and subjects fertile female partners and the offspring to potentially avoidable risk. Approximately 30% cycles in 2009 resulted in twin or higher gestation and these pregnancies are associated with higher rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and severe neonatal medical conditions [1]. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication of in vitro fertilization and moderate and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome are estimated to occur in 3–6% and 0.1–2% of IVF cycles, respectively [2]. Every surgeon will encounter couples for whom the best option for pregnancy is sperm retrieval paired IVF/ICSI. For couples with amenable conditions, however the safety of a natural conception remains a compelling justification for microsurgical reconstruction.
SU 3 harmonics as basis states for meson resonances

A mass eigenvalue problem is developed and solved usingSU3 harmonics as basis functions and the simplest operators having the transformation properties of thet=u=0 component of an octet to break the symmetry. The mass operator contains three adjustable parameters and can be made to yield satisfactory fits to the masses of theJP=1− and 2+ nonets, though with a somewhat unorthodox interpretation of the data in the latter case, where the problem is obscured by the large uncertainties in the experimental masses. In the former case, the masses are better known and the agreement is excellent. The approach offers no improvement, theoretically or numerically, over the standard mass formula for the 0− mesons.
A single chip low power asynchronous implementation of an FFT algorithm for space applications

A fully asynchronous fixed point FFT processor is introduced for low power space applications. The architecture is based on an algorithm developed by Suter and Stevens specifically for a low power implementation. The novelty of this architecture lies in its high localization of components and pipelining with no need to share a global memory. High throughput is attained using large numbers of small, local components working in parallel. A derivation of the algorithm from the discrete Fourier transform is presented followed by a discussion of circuit design parameters specifically those relevant to space applications. A survey of this application specific architecture is included with a detailed look at the design of the complex-valued Booth multiplier to demonstrate the design methodology of this project. Finally, simulation results based on layout extractions are presented and an outline for future work is given.
Regeneration in the Nogo Zone

It has long been known that whereas peripheral nerves show some ability to regenerate, nerves in the brain and spinal cord are unable to regenerate at all after injury. In a Perspective, Tessier-Lavigne and Goodman discuss three recent papers that report the identity and characterization of a factor called Nogo-A that can inhibit nerve regeneration in culture. These findings will promote studies to discover whether blocking Nogo-A will be of benefit in treating spinal cord injuries.
Chapter 48 Prompting Strategic Reasoning Increases Other-regarding Behavior

Publisher Summary The current cultural norms with regard to sharing, cooperation, trust, and punishment are the result of 2–3 million years of evolution and adaptation. During most of those 2–3 million years, humans lived in small interactive groups and developed behaviors and strategies to promote cooperation and social exchange within the group. Within such groups, humans were expected to share with one another and to cooperate to advance the group. This is clear in contemporary studies of extant hunter–gatherer societies. Today, experimental subjects bring many of the same behaviors and strategies to the laboratories. This results in far more cooperative and sharing behavior in first-time decisions than standard game theory would predict. Prompting not only does not help; it makes the results once again like what are observe in the random/divide treatment, the treatment that started so many psychologists and economists wondering about the standard economics rationality assumption.
Collembola of the Grave: A Cold Case History Involving Arthropods 28 Years After Death

This report describes a cold case in which a cadaver of a 28-year-old female was exhumed in February 2005 from a cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan. She had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was found dead in her home on November 15, 1977. The body of the victim was subsequently embalmed and then buried at a depth of 1.8 m in an unsealed casket that was placed inside an unsealed cement vault. The exhumation yielded thousands of live specimens of a single species of the order Collembola or spring tails, Sinella (Coecobrya) tenebricosa (Entomobryidae). This species is considered to be a "tramp" species, cosmopolitan in the United States and Canada. Due to the ideal environmental conditions at the site, the population of this species underwent growth and development inside the casket for a number of years. Collected with the Collembola were large numbers of Acarina (mites) of the Family Glycyphagidae, and fly puparia, Conicera tibialis Schmitz (Order: Diptera, Family: Phoridae), also known as coffin flies. These invertebrates are sometimes mentioned by forensic investigators as occurring on corpses in graves, but aspects of their life history are rarely described. The species of Collembola that was found surviving and reproducing on this corpse in a casket exhumed after 28 years was the oldest reported grave site occurrence for any collembolan species based on a survey of the literature back to 1898.
Role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chromatin Assembly Factor-I in Repair of Ultraviolet Radiation Damage in Vivo

In vitro, the protein complex Chromatin Assembly Factor-I (CAF-I) from human or yeast cells deposits histones onto DNA templates after replication. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the CAC1, CAC2, and CAC3 genes encode the three CAF-I subunits. Deletion of any of the three CAC genes reduces telomeric gene silencing and confers an increase in sensitivity to killing by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We used double and triple mutants involving cac1Delta and yeast repair gene mutations to show that deletion of the CAC1 gene increases the UV sensitivity of cells mutant in genes from each of the known DNA repair epistasis groups. For example, double mutants involving cac1Delta and excision repair gene deletions rad1Delta or rad14Delta showed increased UV sensitivity, as did double mutants involving cac1Delta and deletions of members of the RAD51 recombinational repair group. cac1Delta also increased the UV sensitivity of strains with defects in either the error-prone (rev3Delta) or error-free (pol30-46) branches of RAD6-mediated postreplicative DNA repair but did not substantially increase the sensitivity of strains carrying null mutations in the RAD6 or RAD18 genes. Deletion of CAC1 also increased the UV sensitivity and rate of UV-induced mutagenesis in rad5Delta mutants, as has been observed for mutants defective in error-free postreplicative repair. Together, these data suggest that CAF-I has a role in error-free postreplicative damage repair and may also have an auxiliary role in other repair mechanisms. Like the CAC genes, RAD6 is also required for gene silencing at telomeres. We find an increased loss of telomeric gene silencing in rad6Delta cac1Delta and rad18Delta cac1Delta double mutants, suggesting that CAF-I and multiple factors in the postreplicative repair pathway influence chromosome structure.
Novel Pathologic Finding of Digital Soft Tissue Chondroma in a Child: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Abstract Unlike osteochondromata that develop in the hand, soft tissue chondromata (STC) devoid of bone and tendinous attachments are exceedingly rare. They have been described in adult patients of middle age, though have not been previously reported in the pediatric population. We report the case of a 9-year-old female that presented with a tender digital mass 6 months following a minor hand injury. After an extensive workup, the mass was surgically excised and diagnosed as an STC. Our case is the first to identify a digital STC in a pediatric patient and expands on the pathologic differential diagnosis. While the true incidence in the pediatric population is unknown, STC should be included in the differential diagnosis when any patient, adult or child, presents with a digital mass.
Stochastic evolution systems with constant coefficients

While solvability of a single stochastic hyperbolic or parabolic equation is well known, the problem remains mostly open for stochastic evolution systems. The paper investigates well-posedness and stability in Sobolev spaces on R d of the initial value problem for systems of stochastic evolution equations with constant coef- ficients and multiplicative time-only Gaussian white noise. A general criterion for well-posednessisderivedintermsofsumsofcertainKroneckerproductsofthesystem matrices,andastochasticanalogueofthePetrowskiparabolicityconditionisproposed.
Social indicators and urban systems dynamics

Abstract The urban resident's perception of the discrepancies between his aspirations and his achievements may be conceived of as a rapidly responding indicator of urban life quality. This social indicator, which is a multidimensional construct, can be estimated from freely generated citizen complaints, questions, comments, behavior, actions and so forth. A scheme is presented in which the perceived discrepancies serve as an error signal to an urban system which attempts to reduce such errors. Complaints and questions were followed in time through several components of the urban system and selected process dynamics were estimated so that changes in configuration and procedures for improved municipal performance could become more apparent.
Differences in stuttering adaptation between oral reading and spontaneous speech.

Abstract The adaptation effect was investigated to determine whether similar group trends were observed in oral reading and spontaneous speech tasks. Ten male stutterers read a passage five times in succession and described a stimulus picture five times in succession. Stuttering moments were analyzed from both molar and molecular frames of reference. Friedman two-way analyses of variance were utilized to test for adaptation in both experimental conditions. The molar analysis revealed adaptation had occurred in reading but not in spontaneous speech. The molecular analysis showed that the specific disfluency form-types comprising the global moments of stuttering all showed downward trends in their frequencies of occurence during massed oral reading trials. However, only the categories of word repetition and tense pause showed statistically significant adaptation in reading. The molecular analysis revealed no such downward or significant trends in spontaneous speech. Results are discussed from theoretical, experimental and clinical points of view, and it is suggested that researchers and clinicians be cautious in interpreting the adaptation effect in reading.