cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Faith in the Hearing: Gospel Recordings and the World Mission of Joy Ridderhof (1903–84)

In the mid-1930s Joy Ridderhof, a Quaker missionary, returned from her missionary work in Honduras a physically broken woman. In the process of recovering from malaria and the other illnesses that had not allowed her to remain on the mission field she began a new project that would transform how the gospel message was disseminated around the world. Ridderhof imagined the possibilities associated with proclaiming the message of Jesus through the use of phonograph records for Spanish listeners. The benefit of making sound recordings was quickly recognized by missionaries who were trying to reach largely illiterate and, in some cases, pre-literate populations. Ridderhof was soon asked to expand from her initial foray into Spanish language records to make recordings in other North American indigenous languages and, eventually, languages from around the world. This article analyses how Ridderhof managed this endeavour while embracing new media technologies to bring the sound of the gospel to the people of the world in their native tongue.
Low Back and Cervical Spine Disorders

SUMMARY Neck and back pain are common work- related complaints. The natural history of these symptoms favors rapid recovery. Medical management of workers with these com-plaints relies on carefully managing this natural history, while attempting to minimize the resulting disability. Medical advice should focus on decreasing patients’ fears and encouraging a rapid return to function (including work) as acute pain symptoms improve. Interventions should be as limited as possible and promote self care. Patients with radicular symptoms may require additional interventions but, there, too, the natural history is favorable. Surgery may be necessary in a small percentage of patients with catastrophic and severe neurologic symptoms or persistent, severe pain. Chronic neck and back pain symptoms are commonly encountered. Medical and reversible causes of pain should be sought in such patients. When none is found, interventions aimed at maximizing back and neck function and improving tolerance for physical activities may be beneficial in returning these workers to productive lifestyles.
An analysis of patients requiring unifocalization revision following midline unifocalization for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals.

OBJECTIVES Midline unifocalization has been developed for the surgical treatment of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. All patients will eventually require reoperation because of the presence of a conduit, and some patients may also require revision of the distal unifocalized bed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the need for unifocalization revision following midline unifocalization. METHODS This was a retrospective review of 241 patients who underwent midline unifocalization for the treatment of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. Two hundred and four (85.4%) patients had a single-stage complete repair, whereas 37 patients had a unifocalization and placement of a central shunt. Seventy-eight patients have subsequently undergone reoperations at our institution, including 44 operations that required unifocalization revision. These 44 patients were compared with the 191 operative survivors who did not require revision. RESULTS An analysis of risk factors for requiring unifocalization revision included the following: (i) single-stage complete repair versus unifocalization and shunt (14.7% vs 37.8%, P < 0.001), (ii) right ventricle to aortic pressure ratio at the initial repair (0.33 ± 0.07 vs 0.44 ± 0.08, P < 0.001) and (iii) absence of central pulmonary arteries (32.8% vs 13.4%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Data demonstrate that 44 of 241 (18%) patients who underwent midline unifocalization have subsequently required revision of their unifocalization. The need for unifocalization revision was associated with 3 factors, all of which were known at the time of discharge from the initial unifocalization. These data suggest that potentially higher risk patients should be monitored more closely than their lower risk counterparts.
Acute Aortic Syndrome in Adults: Evidence-Based Emergency Imaging

The term “acute aortic syndrome” (AAS) encompasses a variety of different but related conditions, including aortic dissection (AD), acute intramural hematoma (IMH), penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), and frank aortic rupture. This chapter will review the pathophysiology and epidemiology of AAS and then discuss the most commonly utilized imaging modalities for diagnosis of AAS (CT and MR angiography, echocardiography) and some of the newer imaging technologies used to enhance these standard modalities. Finally, the “triple-rule-out” exam, which aims to evaluate the aorta, the coronary arteries, and the pulmonary arteries in a single exam, is discussed, and evidence is reviewed regarding its utility in the emergency setting.
Causality and Properties

It is events, rather then objects or properties, that are usually taken by philosophers to be the terms of the causal relationship. But an event typically consists of a change in the properties or relationships of one or more objects, the latter being what Jaegwon Kim has called the “constituent objects” of the event.1 And when one event causes another, this will be in part because of the properties possessed by their constituent objects. Suppose, for example, that a man takes a pill and, as a result, breaks out into a rash. Here the cause and effect are, respectively, the taking of the pill and the breaking out into a rash. Why did the first event cause the second? Well, the pill was penicillin, and the man was allergic to penicillin. No doubt one could want to know more — for example, about the biochemistry of allergies in general and this one in particular. But there is a good sense in which what has been said already explains why the one event caused the other. Here the pill and the man are the constituent objects of the cause event, and the man is the constituent object of the effect event. Following Kim we can also speak of events as having “constituent properties” and “constituent times”. In this case the constituent property of the cause event is the relation expressed by the verb ‘takes’, while the constituent property of the effect event is expressed by the predicate ‘breaks out into a rash’. The constituent times of the events are their times of occurrence. Specifying the constituent objects and properties of the cause and effect will tell us what these events consisted in, and together with a specification of their constituent times will serve to identify them; but it will not, typically, explain why the one brought about the other. We explain this by mentioning certain properties of their constituent objects. Given that the pill was penicillin, and that the man was allergic to penicillin, the taking of the pill by the man was certain, or at any rate very likely, to result in an allergic response like a rash. To take another example, suppose a branch is blown against a window and breaks it. Here the constituent objects include the branch and the window, and the causal relationship holds because of, among other things, the massiveness of the one and the fragility of the other.
Afro-Cuban Cyberfeminism: Love/Sexual Revolution in Sandra Álvarez Ramírez’s Blogging

This essay focuses on the dynamics of (dis)embodiment between national love and the body of the black woman in Cuba. This very discussion lies at the center of Sandra Alvarez Ramirez’s blog Negra cubana tenia que ser, where the black woman’s body becomes an ideal in itself. Alvarez Ramirez’s intellectual interventions impress this body with love and assemble a community whose members share the black feminist goal of a sexual (polyamory) revolution. I propose that Negra cubana’s revolutionary matrix resides in the blog’s networking: a cyberfeminist agenda to connect Cuban black women’s voices with other voices around the world. Contrary to the utopian promise of the Cuban Revolution, Negra cubana’s black feminist promise is that of enactment in the present—in both physical and virtual realms. Resumen Este ensayo se centra en las dinamicas de (des)materializacion que ocurren entre el amor nacional y el cuerpo de la mujer negra en Cuba. Esta discusion es la que precisamente guia el blog Negra cubana tenia que ser, de Sandra Alvarez Ramirez, en el que el cuerpo de la mujer negra deviene un ideal en si mismo. Las intervenciones intelectuales de Alvarez Ramirez imprimen amor sobre este cuerpo y, a la vez, conforman una comunidad que comparte una meta afro-feminista: una revolucion sexual (de poliamor). Propongo que la matriz revolucionaria de Negra cubana reside en la interconectividad del blog, es decir, en una agenda ciberfeminista que conecta voces de mujeres negras de Cuba con otras alrededor del mundo. Contrario a la promesa utopica de la Revolucion Cubana, la promesa afro-feminista de Negra cubana se ejerce en el presente, tanto en el mundo material como en el virtual.
Extra Material: The Equations Behind the Words

It is usually more convenient to use metric units (technically the International System of Units or SI). A brief list of some of the more useful units is given in Table 13.1. A meter is about a yard long and a raisin weighs about a gram. Water boils at 373 K, room temperature is about 293 K, water freezes at 273 K, and the remnants of the Big Bang explosion are now at about 3 K. Nothing can be colder than absolute zero, which is 0 K. One of the advantages of using SI is that when going from large to small (or vice versa) it is easier to change to a more convenient unit, since larger units are just multiples of 10 times the basic unit, see Table 13.2. For example 1 km is 1000 m and 1 m is 100 cm, so a kilometer is 100,000 cm and a kilogram is 100,000 cg. Now, quickly, a mile is how many inches?
Olanzapine versus placebo and haloperidol: Acute phase results of the North American double-blind olanzapine trial

Olanzapine is a potential new "atypical" antipsychotic agent. The double-blind acute phase of this study compared three dosage ranges of olanzapine (5 +/- 2.5 mg/day [Olz-L], 10 +/- 2.5 mg/day [Olz-M], 15 +/- 2.5 mg/day [Olz-H]) to a dosage range of haloperidol (15 +/- 5 mg/day [Hal]) and to placebo in the treatment of 335 patients who met the DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia. In overall symptomatology improvement (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS]-total), Olz-M, Olz-H, and Hal were significantly superior to placebo. In positive symptom improvement (BPRS-positive), Olz-M, Olz-H, and Hal were comparable and significantly superior to placebo. In negative symptom improvement (Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms [SANS]-composite), Olz-L and Olz-H were significantly superior to placebo and Olz-H was also significantly superior to Hal. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included somnolence, agitation, asthenia, and nervousness. No acute dystonia was observed with olanzapine. Treatment-emergent parkinsonism occurred with Olz-H at approximately one-third the rate of Hal, and akathisia occurred with Olz-H at approximately one-half the rate of Hal. Prolactin elevations associated with olanzapine were not significantly greater than those observed with placebo and were also significantly less than those seen with haloperidol.
CCK und Afferenzen des N. vagus vermitteln die durch intraduodenales Fett verzögerte Magenentleerung in der wachen Ratte

Verschiedene Studien haben gezeigt, das intraduodenales Fett einer der potentesten Inhibitoren der Magenentleerung ist [1, 2]. Unklarheit besteht jedoch nach wie vor uber die Vermittlung dieses enterogastrischen Reflexes. Denkbare Mediatoren des Effekts sind hormonelle und nervale inhibitorische Mechanismen. CCK wird durch intraduodenales Fett freigesetzt [3] und es konnte gezeigt werden, das exogenes CCK Magenmotilitat und Magenentleerung in Hunden, Ratten und Menschen hemmt [4]. Auserdem ist eine ausgepragte afferente vagale und sympathische Innervation des Duodenums bekannt, die Signale von chemisch, osmotisch, mechanisch und thermisch stimulierbaren Receptoren des Duodenums an das ZNS ubermitteln. Die Stimulation dieser Afferenzen hat einen hemmenden Effekt auf Magenmotilitat und -entleerung und spricht fur eine nervale Vermittlung. Die lokale Applikation des sensorischen Neurotoxins Capsaicin auf periphere Nerven fuhrt zu einer selektiven Ausschaltung afferenter Fasern, die es moglich macht, ihre Rolle bei der Vermittlung enterogastrischer Reflexe zu untersuchen. Die Entwicklung potenter, hochselektiver CCK-Antagonisten wie L-364.718 ermoglicht die detaillierte Analyse der physiologischen Funktionen von CCK. Ziel der Studie war es, die Rolle von CCK und von Afferenzen des N. vagus und N. splanchnicus bei der Vermittlung hemmender Effekte duodenaler Fettperfusion auf die Magenentleerung zu untersuchen.
A channel bonding scheme with packet dropping mechanism in centralized cognitive radio networks

In order to conserve the network resources and reduce the system average delay, we propose a channel bonding scheme with packet dropping mechanism to control the secondary user (SU) packets' transmission. In this paper we assume the central controller can dynamically bond part of channels in the system to realize resource saving. At the same time, a packet dropping mechanism to the interrupted SU packets is introduced to help the central controller to reduce the system average delay. By building and analyzing a two-dimensional Markov chain model, some important performance measures, such as the blocking rate, throughput and average delay of the SU packets, and the channel closed ratio are derived. Moreover, we show the numerical results by comparing the system performance between the available channel bonding scheme with 1 persistent retransmission mechanism and the proposed channel bonding scheme with packet dropping mechanism.
In-hospital mortality in older patients after ventricular assist device implantation: A national cohort study.

Abstract Objectives To assess baseline patient characteristics and identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality after ventricular assist device (VAD) placement. Methods Cross-sectional study using the National Inpatient Sample database from January 2010 to December 2014. Analyses were performed with sample weights provided by the National Inpatient Sample, which are reported ± the standard error of the mean. Results Weighted samples yielded 15,021 ± 1111 patients who received a VAD. The mean age at time of implantation was 56.6 years. Most recipients were white (59.9%) and male (75.0%). Among older patients, in-hospital mortality increased from 17.2% to 48.2% when 1 or more high-risk interventions (cardiac surgery, prolonged mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) preceded VAD placement (P Conclusions Older patients who underwent 1 or more intensive treatments before VAD placement had a nearly 50% inpatient mortality and were unlikely to receive a cardiac transplantation. Refining patient selection might help better align VAD with those most likely to benefit.
Association of Ankle-Brachial Indices With Limb Revascularization or Amputation in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Importance The prevalence and morbidity of peripheral artery disease (PAD) are high, with limb outcomes including revascularization and amputation. In community-dwelling patients with PAD, the role of noninvasive evaluation for risk assessment and rates of limb outcomes have not been established to date. Objective To evaluate whether ankle-brachial indices are associated with limb outcomes in community-dwelling patients with PAD. Design, Setting, and Participants A population-based, observational, test-based cohort study of patients was performed from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2014. Data analysis was conducted from July 15 to December 15, 2017. Participants included a community-based cohort of 1413 patients with PAD from Olmsted County, Minnesota, identified by validated algorithms deployed to electronic health records. Automated algorithms identified limb outcomes used to build Cox proportional hazards regression models. Ankle-brachial indices and presence of poorly compressible arteries were electronically identified from digital data sets. Guideline-recommended management strategies within 6 months of diagnosis were also electronically retrieved, including therapy with statins, antiplatelet agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers, and smoking abstention. Main Outcomes and Measures Ankle-brachial index (index ≤0.9 indicates PAD; Results Of 1413 patients, 633 (44.8%) were women; mean (SD) age was 70.8 (13.3) years. A total of 283 patients (20.0%) had severe PAD (ankle-brachial indices Conclusions and Relevance Community-dwelling patients with severe PAD or poorly compressible arteries have high rates of revascularization or limb loss, respectively. Guideline-recommended management strategies for secondary risk prevention are underused in the community.
Signs, Tokens, and Points of Contact: Religious Symbolism and Sacramentality in Non-Western Christianity:

The development of Christianity as a non-Western religion since the middle of the 20th century has generated changes that distinguish it from the expressions of faith inherited from the West. Chris...
Chapter 6 – Power Estimation

Power estimation is used to calculate the number of samples or subjects needed to ensure that an experiment can give definitive results. Although one might think that power estimation is merely a technical procedure, when we take a closer look at how power is (or is not) handled in practice, we gain insight into why so many experiments are not reproducible, and how the current state of affairs can be improved.
Visualization of drug--nucleic acid interactions at atomic resolution. V. Structure of two aminoacridine--dinucleoside monophosphate crystalline complexes, proflavine--5-iodocytidylyl (3'-5') guanosine and acridine orange--5-iodocytidylyl (3'-5') guanosine.

Abstract Acridine orange and proflavine form complexes with the dinucleoside monophosphate, 5-iodocytidylyl(3′–5′)guanosine. The acridine orange-iodoCpG † crystals are monoclinic, space group P21, with unit cell dimensions a = 14.36 A , b = 19.64 A , c = 20.67 A , β = 102.5 °. The proflavine-iodoCpG crystals are monoclinic, space group C2, with unit cell dimensions a = 32.14 A , b = 22.23 A , c = 18.42 A , β = 123.3 °. Both structures have been solved to atomic resolution by Patterson and Fourier methods, and refined by full matrix least-squares. Acridine orange forms an intercalative structure with iodoCpG in much the same manner as ethidium, ellipticine and 3,5,6,8-tetramethyl-N-methyl phenanthrolinium ( Jain et al., 1977 , Jain et al., 1979 ), except that the acridine nucleus lies asymmetrically in the intercalation site. This asymmetric intercalation is accompanied by a sliding of base-pairs upon the acridine nucleus and is similar to that observed with the 9-aminoacridine-iodoCpG asymmetric intercalative binding mode described in the previous papers ( Sakore et al., 1977 , Sakore et al., 1979 ). Basepairs above and below the drug are separated by about 6.8 A and are twisted about 10 °; this reflects the mixed sugar puckering pattern observed in the sugar-phospate chains: C3′ endo (3′–5′) C2′ endo (i.e. each cytidine residue has a C3′ endo sugar comformation, while each guanosine residue has a C2′ endo sugar conformation), alterations in glycosidic torsional angles and other small but significant conformational changes in the sugar-phosphate backbone. Proflavine, on the other hand, demonstrates symmetric intercalation with iodoCpG. Hydrogen bonds connect amino groups on proflavine with phosphate oxygen atoms on the dinucleotide. In contrast to the acridine orange structure, base-pairs above and below the intercalative proflavine molecule are twisted about 36 °. The altered magnitude of this angular twist reflects the sugar puckering pattern that is observed: C3′ endo (3′–5′) C3′ endo. Since proflavine is known to unwind DNA in much the same manner as ethidium and acridine orange ( Waring, 1970 ), one cannot use the information from this model system to understand how proflavine binds to DNA (it is possible, for example, that hydrogen bonding observed between proflavine and iodoCpG alters the intercalative geometry in this model system). Instead, we propose a model for proflavine-DNA binding in which proflavine lies asymmetrically in the intercalation site (characterized by the C3′ endo (3′–5′) C2′ endo mixed sugar puckering pattern) and forms only one hydrogen bond to a neighboring phosphate oxygen atom. Our model for proflavine-DNA binding, therefore, is very similar to our acridine orange-DNA binding model. We will describe these models in detail in this paper.
Introduction to Part III: The Early Spanish Carmakers

This chapter offers a brief history of HispanoSuiza, Spain’s first prominent carmaker. It chronicles the firm’s initial success during the early 1900s, and then how its Barcelona plant was militarized during the country’s civil war (1936–1939) and ultimately nationalized for truck production in 1946. Thereafter, it reveals how, Hispano-Suiza joined forces with local banks and industrialists to establish Sociedad Iberica de Automoviles de Turismo in Barcelona (SIAT). Although SIAT never produced a car, its place in Spanish automobile history remains assured, as the company spawned the nation’s largest carmaker, Sociedad Espanola de Automoviles de Turismo, SA (SEAT), in 1950, through an alliance with Fiat of Italy. Again, for ease of use, frequently referenced tables in Chaps. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17—Tables 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3—are placed at the end of this chapter.
Self-support computer science lab

This paper shares our experience in setting up and maintaining a self-support computer Science lab. It discusses the funding resource first. The introduction of how to utilize a cloning mechanism to deploy multiple computers is next. How different computer science classes utilize the lab is then described. Related works are discussed subsequently. The experience outcome is thus shared. The paper concludes with pros and cons of the self-support lab.
Safety of compression therapy for venous ulcer disease in the setting of congestive heart failure.

ObjectivesCompression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for patients with venous ulcer disease. There exists a lack of certainty as to the safety of compression therapy in patients with congesti...
Needle exchange effectiveness in the midst of multiple injection-related epidemics: commentary on Kåberg et al.

Use of substances through injection is a persistent risk for a number of infectious diseases (HIV, HCV, skin and soft tissue infections, wound botulism, sepsis, infective endocarditis) and chronic ...
An Investigation of Charging Effects by Different Factors on Carbon and Natural Bamboo Fibers in High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopic Imaging

Since the investigation of semi- or non-conductive fibers in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is often a critical problem because of charging issues, this study attempted to find out conditions...
Exercise Training Improves Microvascular Function in Burn Injury Survivors.

INTRODUCTION Vasodilator function is impaired in individuals with well-healed burn injuries; however, therapeutic interventions that lessen or reverse this maladaptation are lacking. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a 6-month community-based exercise training program would increase microvascular dilator function in individuals with well-healed burn injuries, irrespective of the magnitude of the injured body surface area. Further, we hypothesize that macrovascular dilator function would remain unchanged posttraining. METHODS Microvascular function (forearm reactive hyperemia), macrovascular function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation), and the maximal vasodilatory response after ischemic handgrip exercise (an estimate of microvascular remodeling) were assessed before and after exercise training in nonburned control subjects (n = 11) and individuals with burn injuries covering a moderate body surface area (26% ± 7%; n = 13) and a high body surface area (59% ± 15%; n = 19). RESULTS Peak vascular conductance and area under the curve during postocclusive reactive hyperemia increased from pretraining to posttraining in control and burn injury groups (both P < 0.05), the magnitude of which did not differ between groups (both P = 0.6). Likewise, the maximal vasodilatory response after ischemic handgrip exercise increased in all groups after exercise training (P < 0.05). Macrovascular dilator function did not differ across time or between groups (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that a community-based exercise training program improves microvascular function in individuals with well-healed burn injuries, which may be due in part to vascular remodeling.
Collisions Between Electrons and Gas Molecules

Using a simple method in which positive ion sheaths serve as perfect grids we have obtained data on the probability of various types of collisions occurring between Hg, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, He, Ne and A molecules and electrons of moderate velocity, i.e., 30-250 volts. A theory has been developed and the mean angular deflection for elastic and inelastic collisions between electrons and gas molecules has been calculated. Evidence on the mechanism of ionization is presented. The current densities of the various Maxwellian groups of electrons and the average temperatures of these groups are calculated from the data and are shown to be in good agreement with data obtained by us using Langmuir and Mott Smith's probe wire method. The current density of positive ions has been measured by both plane and probe wire collectors and the space potential both measured and calculated. The evidence in support of negative anode drops has been pointed out and the ions flowing to the anode measured separately by means of a perforated collector. The maximum number of positive ions produced by an electron with a given velocity before losing its ionizing power has been measured and shown to be independent of current density and pressure being dependent only on the velocity of the electron and the nature of the gas.The mean free path of high velocity electrons (i.e., above the ionizing potential) for various types of collision can be evaluated from the probability data. The mean free path for inelastic impact has been calculated separately and independently of the reflection of electrons from the collectors. The small angular scattering of electrons is discussed in detail. Phenomena, similar to Langmuir's high speed electrons in mercury vapor, have been observed and the curves showing the energy transfer between primary electrons in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and A are given. The resonance and ionization potentials observed in the work are also tabulated.
Distributed Fault Diagnosis of Nonlinear Stochastic Systems With Monitoring Networks

The design of a distributed fault detection and isolation filter is addressed for stochastic nonlinear systems subjected to multiple failure modes. The monolithic process is monitored by a network of communicating detection nodes, in lieu of a singleton, supervising diagnostic unit. Each detection node is a fault-sensitive estimator unit with processing capabilities and limited observation access to the process. The detection nodes exchange post-processed information over a communication network. An average consensus protocol is employed to fuse the detection nodes' outputs to obtain an agreement over the local likelihood functions. The proposed approach conducts online hypothesis testing without a bank of estimators, reducing the computational complexity of the algorithm significantly. Numerical simulations validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Conditioning criteria based on multiple intensity measures for selecting hazard-consistent aftershock ground motion records

Abstract A mainshock earthquake is typically followed by a sequence of aftershocks, normally with a higher probability of occurrence within the first few days after the mainshock event. Quantifying the subsequent damage due to an aftershock event for a given structure that is already at some state of damage due to the mainshock event is an important task in seismic hazard and loss assessment. This task requires a framework to quantify the aftershock hazard in addition to the mainshock hazard that is already well defined. The present study aims to develop such a framework that facilitates the quantification of aftershock hazard given two sequential fault rupture scenarios—an approach that ultimately serves the basis for a hazard-consistent aftershock ground motion selection. To this end, conditioning criteria based on a single, two, and average-of-multiple intensity measures are utilized in order to select hazard-consistent aftershock records from databases comprising both mainshock and aftershock events. The primary outcome of this study is, thus, a stochastic framework that defines the aftershock seismicity of a given site and enables the aftershock ground motion selection for performance-based seismic assessment and design of structures.
Trends in Office Visits During Which Opioids Were Prescribed for Adults With Arthritis in the US, 2006–2015

OBJECTIVE To analyze trends for visits to office-based physicians at which opioids were prescribed among adults with arthritis in the US, from 2006 to 2015. METHODS We analyzed nationally representative data on patient visits to office-based physicians from 2006 to 2015 from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Visit percentages for first- and any-listed diagnosis of arthritis by age groups and sex were reported. Time points were grouped into 2-year intervals to increase the reliability of estimates. Annual percentage point change and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were reported from linear regression models. RESULTS From 2006 to 2015, the percentage of visits to office-based physicians by adults with a first-listed diagnosis of arthritis increased from 4.1% (95% CI 3.5%, 4.7%) in 2006-2007 to 5.1% (95% CI 3.9%, 6.6%) in 2014-2015 (P = 0.033). Among these visits, the percentage of visits with opioids prescribed increased from 16.5% (95% CI 13.1%, 20.5%) in 2006-2007 to 25.6% (95% CI 17.9%, 34.6%) in 2014-2015 (P = 0.017). The percentage of visits with any-listed diagnosis of arthritis increased from 6.6% (95% CI 5.9%, 7.4%) in 2006-2007 to 8.4% (95% CI 7.0%, 10.0%) in 2014-2015 (P = 0.001). Among these visits, the percentage of visits with opioids prescribed increased from 17.4% (95% CI 14.6%, 20.4%) in 2006-2007 to 25.0% (95% CI 19.7%, 30.8%) in 2014-2015 (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION From 2006 to 2015, the percentage of visits to office-based physicians by adults with arthritis increased and the percentage of opioids prescribed at these visits also increased. NAMCS data will allow continued monitoring of these trends after the implementation of the 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.
Deterministic Numeric Simulation and Surrogate Models with White and Black Machine Learning Methods: A Case Study on Inverse Mappings

The approximation and emulation of first principles based deterministic models are important problems in many disciplines, like physical and natural sciences, as well as in engineering (industrial design, creation of digital twins and other tasks). Typically they involve complex systems, described by partial differential or integral equations which must be solved for a variety of space and time boundary conditions. Finding these solutions is usually costly in terms of both computational resources and time. Surrogate models are an effective way of building approximations that may replace the use of the compled/costly original models, expediting and speeding operations. Computational intelligence techniques have proven suitable for surrogating purposes and this paper explores the characterization of a relatively simple deterministic system described by a partial differential equation, using white as well as black box approaches for direct supervised mappings (inverse mappings are explored elsewhere). In addition, unsupervised methods are used for gaining insight into the properties of the input and output state spaces. White-box ML techniques exposed the nature of the inter-dependencies and the importance of the predictor variables. Individually, support vector regression outperformed all other models for the fixed-location, fixed time and also for the fixedlocation, time dependent scenario. However, performance-wise, the ensemble composed of white-box techniques outperformed the one integrated by black-box methods from the point of view of error and correlation measures.
Phase II study of binimetinib with imatinib in patients with unresectable KIT-mutant melanoma.

TPS9594Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have transformed treatment for patients (pts) with advanced melanoma, as have BRAF/MEK inhibitors for pts with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma. Howev...
Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Transplantation With Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide for Acute Myeloid Leukemia With IDH Mutations: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction Mutations in the IDH1 or IDH2 genes are detected in approximately 20% of cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Few studies have examined the impact of IDH mutations in AML on allogeneic bone marrow transplant (alloBMT) outcomes. Patients and methods In this single center study, alloBMT outcomes for 61 patients with IDH-mutated (mIDH) AML were compared to those for 146 patients with IDH-wildtype (wtIDH) AML. Results Patients with mIDH AML had a 2-year overall survival (OS) of 85% (95% CI 76%-95%), 2-year relapse free survival (RFS) of 71% (95% CI 59%-85%), 1-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of 14% (95% CI 5%-23%) and a 1-year cumulative incidence of transplant related mortality (CITRM) of 3% (95% CI 0%-8%). Patients with wtIDH had a 2-year OS of 61% (95% CI 53%-70%), 2-year RFS of 58% (95% CI 50%-67%), 1-year CIR of 27% (95% CI 20%-35%), and a 1-year CITRM of 9% (95% CI 5%-14%). In a univariate analysis cox-proportional hazard model, mIDH was associated with significantly better OS (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29-0.96) and a trend toward better RFS (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.35-1.01). After controlling for donor age, diagnosis, and ELN risk category, mIDH was associated with a nonsignificantly improved OS (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.29-1.01) and RFS (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.39-1.15). Conclusion Among patients with mIDH AML, patients who received a peritransplant IDH inhibitor had improved OS (P = .03) compared to those who did not, but there was no detectable difference for RFS (P = .29).
Lasing characteristics of a quasi-stadium laser diode

A two-dimensional stadium resonator and a half stadium resonator are interesting models to study the connection between quantum chaos and classical chaos.1
Triggering of eruptive flares: Destabilization of the preflare magnetic field configuration

This paper takes the three-dimensional configuration of the magnetic field in and before eruptive flares as our main guide to how the preflare field comes to lose its stability and erupt. From observed characteristics (1) of the preflare magnetic field configuration, (2) of the onset and development of the eruption of this configuration before and during the flare, and (3) of the onset and development of the flare energy release (i.e., the heating and particle acceleration) within the erupting field, the typical erupting field configuration for two-ribbon eruptive flares is constructed. The observational centerpiece for this construction is the evidence from the Marshall Space Flight Center vector magnetograph that strong magnetic shear along the main magnetic inversion line is critical for large eruptive flares. From (a) the empirical field configuration and (b) the observation that the initial flare brightening typically stems from points where opposite-polarity flux is gradually merging and canceling at or near the main inversion line, it is argued (1) that eruptive flares are driven by the eruptive expansion of the strongly sheared core of the preflare magnetic field, (2) that this eruption is triggered by preflare slow reconnection accompanying flux cancellation in the sheared core, and (3) that in some flares the triggering reconnection and flux cancellation is between opposite-polarity strands of the extant preflare sheared core field, while in other flares it is between the sheared core field and new emerging flux.
Selection for Adoption Versus Infanticide by Replacement “Mates” in Birds

The systematic killing of dependent offspring by replacing males in various mammals represents one of the most dramatic consequences of sexual conflict of interest yet discovered (Hrdy, 1974; Fossey, 1984; Packer and Pusey, 1984). Females suffering such losses often come into estrous in a shorter time interval then would occur if their infants had been allowed to mature. Consequently, the replacement male increases the number of offspring he sires by killing infants fathered by the previous male. Hrdy (1979) and Sherman (1981) provide reviews of such infanticide in mammals and Hausfater and Hrdy (1984) have edited an entire book on infanticide that includes many papers evaluating sexual selection as a cause of infanticide.
Some complexity theoretic aspects of AC rewriting

In this paper we establish several tight complexity bounds on the sequential and parallel complexity of the associative-commutative (AC) matching problem and its variants. One of our main contributions in this paper is the demonstration of a much tighter relationship between AC matching of linear terms and bipartite matching in both sequential and parallel computation. Another contribution is the use of complexity theoretic techniques to find parallelism in these problems. We believe that this approach can be successfully applied to other matching and unification problems that are not amenable to direct parallelization.
Serological analyses of histones.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on serological analyses of histones. Serological analyses of histones have several applications in studies of the structure and functional organization of these proteins. Antibodies can provide unequivocal identification of individual histones in the absence of specific functional assays. Serological reactions can also detect slight alterations in structure, allowing comparisons of histones isolated from various sources and comparisons of the free soluble proteins with the forms in which they occur in chromatin. With immunofluorescence, antibodies can be used to study histones in chromosomes and whole nuclei, and with electron microscopy they can be used to study isolated chromatin and its subunits. While antibodies to histones should be very useful reagents, progress in their application requires an appreciation of the greater difficulties in the induction and assay of these antibodies that occur with most other protein antigen systems. The chapter evaluates some of these problems as well as surveys methods that have been successful. The technique of microcomplement fixation is described and sources of sera and procedures for immunization are discussed. The chapter also presents an overview of serological assays.
Temporal Dissociation of Feedback and Direct Testicular Effects of Estradiol Benzoate in Male Rats

Studies were conducted to characterize the responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis to systemic injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) in the rat. Feedback effects of estrogens on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis were assessed by changes in serum concentrations of LH whereas testicular androgen production was examined by in vitro testicular incubations in the presence and absence of 160 mIU hCG/2.2 ml. Injection of 50 μg EB reduced serum LH and serum testosterone to low levels by 2 hours and they remained low for up to 24 hours. One to 12 hours after EB treatment, testes were as responsive to hCG in vitro as were testes from rats receiving the vehicle. However, by 16 hours after EB injection, testicular responsiveness to hCG in vitro was reduced approximately 50%. Responses to chronic EB-treatment (50 μg EB/d for 1 to 7 days) were characterized in mature hypophysectomized males. Testicular incubates from hypophysectomized EB-treated males contained less testosterone than those from corresponding oil-treated control groups. In addition, testes of hypophysectomized EB-treated males were less responsive (±50%) to hCG in vitro, suggesting a direct effect of estrogens mediated at the testicular level. Thus, injection of estrogens to intact males reduces serum LH which, in turn, rapidly reduces serum and testicular testosterone. By 16 hours after injection, estrogens may also exert a direct effect on the testis to decrease testicular responsiveness to hCG/LH. Thus, there is a temporal dissociation of feedback and possible direct testicular effects in EB-treated males, both of which act to inhibit steroidogenesis. The reduction in LH occurs approximately 14 to 22 hours before the direct effect of estrogens on the testis is evident.
Development and Initial Validation of a Program Director's Evaluation Form for Third-Year Residents

ABSTRACT Background: Using a previously developed postgraduate year (PGY)-1 program director's evaluation survey, we developed a parallel form to assess more senior residents (PGY-3). The PGY-3 survey, which aligns with the core competencies established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, also includes items that reflect our institution's military-unique context. Purpose: To collect feasibility, reliability, and validity evidence for the new PGY-3 evaluation. Methods: We collected PGY-3 data from program directors who oversee the education of military residents. The current study's cohort consisted of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences students graduating in 2008, 2009, and 2010. We performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the internal structure of the survey and subjected each of the factors identified in the EFA to an internal consistency reliability analysis. We then performed correlation analysis to examine the relationships between PGY-3 rating...
Isolation and Characterization of a Recombination-Deficient Hfr Strain

The isolation of a rec(-) Hfr strain of Escherichia coli K-12 is described. The method used consisted of mating AB2463 F(-) Rec(-) His(-) Lac(-) with P4X6 Hfr Rec(+) His(+) Lac(+), selecting Rec(-) His(-) Lac(+) recombinants, and searching for Hfr strains. One Hfr rec(-) strain, no. 12, was used as donor in crosses with Rec(+) and Rec(-) recipients. Crosses with Rec(+) recipients are fertile, and those with Rec(-) recipients are almost infertile, the frequency of recombinants being 10(-2) to 10(-3) that found with Rec(+) recipients. The Rec(-) mutant marker is transfered to and integrated into Rec(+) recipients. Zygotic induction of prophage lambda is observed in crosses between two Rec(-) strains. In crosses of F(-) Rec(-) with Hfr Rec(-), the gradient of integration frequencies for markers progressively more distant from the origin is steeper than in the Rec(+) x Rec(-) or the Rec(-) x Rec(+) crosses.
Design and Performance of Circulation Control Flap Systems

The design of circulation control (CC) dual radius flap systems were investigated to characterize the parameters that make up the flap surface to offer further knowledge into the CC field of study. Multiple dual radius flap geometries, along with variants, were developed by varying specific flap parameters from a baseline configuration that had previously developed. The aerodynamics of the different flap geometries were analyzed using two-dimensional CFD. This research will explore the design of CC pneumatic flap systems to improve the performance of existing CC flap configurations, and provide insight into the characteristics of the CC flap geometry.
Adjustment for Bias in Discriminant Analysis

This paper demonstrates the use of an alternative technique when adjusting for bias in discriminant analysis (compatible with the use of R2 and adjusted R2 in regression analysis) for situations where a small sample size for groups exists. To demonstrate the technique, a simple random sample of 119 smokers was selected for the study. A discriminant analysis model was used to determine its predicting power in classifying the smokers into quitters, reducers, and nonchangers. Forty percent of the variability was attributed to group differences, which when adjusted, dropped to 34%. The model did significantly better than a random model in correctly classifying quitters and nonchangers, but was not effective in correctly classifying reducers.
A BRANCH AND BOUND ALGORITHM FOR PROTEIN STRUCTURE REFINEMENT FROM SPARSE NMR DATA SETS

We describe new methods for predicting protein tertiary structures to low resolution given the specification of secondary structure and a limited set of long-range NMR distance constraints. The NMR data sets are derived from a realistic protocol involving completely deuterated 15N and 13C-labeled samples. A global optimization method, based upon a modification of the alphaBB (branch and bound) algorithm of Floudas and co-workers, is employed to minimize an objective function combining the NMR distance restraints with a residue-based protein folding potential containing hydrophobicity, excluded volume, and van der Waals interactions. To assess the efficacy of the new methodology, results are compared with benchmark calculations performed via the X-PLOR program of Brunger and co-workers using standard distance geometry/molecular dynamics (DGMD) calculations. Seven mixed alpha/beta proteins are examined, up to a size of 183 residues, which our methods are able to treat with a relatively modest computational effort, considering the size of the conformational space. In all cases, our new approach provides substantial improvement in root-mean-square deviation from the native structure over the DGMD results; in many cases, the DGMD results are qualitatively in error, whereas the new method uniformly produces high quality low-resolution structures. The DGMD structures, for example, are systematically non-compact, which probably results from the lack of a hydrophobic term in the X-PLOR energy function. These results are highly encouraging as to the possibility of developing computational/NMR protocols for accelerating structure determination in larger proteins, where data sets are often underconstrained.
The Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits-Part 1: Age-based Scoring Procedures

As increasing interest and emphasis has been placed on early intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the need for reliable and valid early assessment techniques has grown significantly. The Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits—Part 1 (BISCUIT-Part 1) is a measure designed to assess the core diagnostic features of infants and toddlers aged 17 to 37 months. While studies of the measure’s psychometric properties have been promising, the measure’s scoring procedures do not take the child’s age into account. Given the significant amount of development that occurs in the first 3 years of life, the current paper examined the utility of age-based scoring procedures for the BISCUIT-Part 1. The BISCUIT-Part 1 was shown to have good to excellent discriminating ability for each age group. As age increased, higher cutoff scores were needed to distinguish toddlers with Pervasive Developmental Disorder—Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) from those with atypical development. A different pattern emerged when distinguishing PDD-NOS from autism, with toddlers in the middle age cohort requiring the highest cutoffs. The implications of these results, as well as possible areas of future research, are discussed.