cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Radiologic Features

Diffuse malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma often have an insidious onset and patients frequently present with nonspecific symptoms. Patients with diffuse mesothelioma are most commonly adult men presenting with dyspnea and chest pain (pleural mesothelioma), abdominal distension (peritoneal mesothelioma), and signs and symptoms associated with third-spacing, namely pleural effusions and/or ascites. The interval between symptoms and diagnosis is typically 2–3 months, but can be several months to years. Such insidious behavior can progress rapidly and aggressively, posing several challenges both clinically and radiologically. This chapter addresses the clinical and radiological characteristics of this disease emphasizing conventional wisdom and practices. Newer techniques for detecting early disease, enhancing staging and prognostic accuracy, and providing targeted individualized treatment are also briefly described.
A case for building inclusive research communities as an integral part of science and engineering graduate education

Addresses the issue of research communities in science and engineering and their effects on graduate students, and women in particular. We present our observations of graduate student experiences in one particular research community. These observations are considered in the context of research done by national science institutes and feminist theorists about the under-representation of women in scientific research communities. We offer suggestions as to how community-building activities can enhance science and the scientific experience for all involved.
PID stabilizability conditions and controller synthesis for MIMO plants

Stability using proportional+integral+derivative (PID) controllers is investigated for linear multi-input multi-output (MIMO) plants. Necessary conditions are derived for existence of PID-controllers. Systematic PID-controlIer synthesis procedures are developed for several plant classes.
Fast, Accurate Microarchitecture Simulation Using Statistical Phase Detection

Simulation-based microarchitecture research is often hindered by the slow speed of simulators. In this work, we propose a novel statistical technique to identify highly representative unique behaviors or phases in a benchmark based on its IPC (instructions committed per cycle) trace. By simulating the timing of only the unique phases, the cycle-accurate simulation time for the SPEC suite is reduced from 5 months to 5 days, with a significant retention of the original dynamic behavior. Evaluation across many processor configurations within the same architecture family shows that the algorithm is robust. A cost function is provided that enables users to easily optimize the parameters of the algorithm for either simulation speed or accuracy depending on preference. A new measure is introduced to quantify the ability of a simulation speedup technique to retain behavior realized in the original workload. Unlike a first order statistic such as mean value, the newly introduced measure captures important differences in dynamic behavior between the complete and the sampled simulations
The Library Company of Philadelphia: Historical Survey, Bibliography, Chronology.

Creee en 1731 a Philadelphie par Benjamin Franklin la Library Company fut l'une des premieres bibliotheques publiques des Etats-Unis. Une idee assez precise est rendue de son mode de fonctionnement a l'epoque: les acquisitions, le service aux lecteurs, le personnel et son directeur nous sont decrits. Une bibliographie recensant les publications propres a la bibliotheque et celles dont elle a ete l'objet est proposee en appendice
Megestrol acetate for the palliation of anorexia in advanced, incurable cancer patients

Anorexia, or loss of appetite, is a troubling symptom for many patients with advanced cancer. The early observation that breast cancer patients, who were prescribed megestrol acetate as a cancer treatment, went on to increase their appetite and gain weight has given rise to a large number of clinical trials that have tested this progestational drug as a palliative agent for the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome. This review focuses on these trials, summarizing their findings and providing a practical approach for prescribing megestrol acetate to advanced cancer patients who suffer from the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome.
Higher composition laws IV: The parametrization of quintic rings

rst three parts of this series, we considered quadratic, cubic and quartic rings (i.e., rings free of ranks 2, 3, and 4 over Z) respectively, and found that various algebraic structures involving these rings could be completely parametrized by the integer orbits of an appropriate group representation on a vector space. These orbit results are summarized in Table 1. In particular, the theories behind the parametrizations of quadratic, cubic, and quartic rings, noted in items #2, 9, and 13 of Table 1, were seen to closely parallel the classical developments of the solutions to the quadratic, cubic and quartic equations respectively. Despite the quintic having been shown to be unsolvable nearly two centuries ago by Abel, it turns out there still remains much to be said regarding the integral theory of the quintic. Although a \solution" naturally still is not possible, we show in this article that it is nevertheless possible to completely parametrize quintic rings; indeed a theory just as complete as in the quadratic, cubic, and quartic cases exists also in the case of the quintic. In fact, we present here a unied theory of ring parametrizations which includes the cases n = 2,
Group-based Real-time Online Three-Dimensional Learning System for Solid Mechanics

With the recent development of new Internet technologies and the rapid increase of computer processing speed, group-based online engineering education and training in real-time for geometrically distributed learners is possible. Previous research on real-time synchronous collaborative learning over the Internet is reviewed. An online group-based cantilever beam learning environment is developed and presented as an example. This system employs low lag audio and interactive three-dimensional models to illustrate abstract concepts in real-time. The learners are capable of manipulating three-dimensional models, changing the view point and applying forces in various locations. All physically separated users are able to view the same analytical results of the objects through the browser in real-time from remote sites. This research provides a framework, built with Macromedia Flash Communication Server and Director, for constructing an online three-dimensional synchronous group study environment.
Prospects for directly measuring charm-nucleon inelastic cross-sections in a D-meson beam

500 GeV pions incident on a thin platinum foil produce enough D-mesons to measure their inelastic cross-sections on nuclear interaction targets 4 to 7 mm further downstream. From a dedicated fixed-target experiment at Fermilab of 2 million seconds, it should be able to reconstruct of order one thousand signal events with good signal-to-background. By varying the separation of the production and interaction targets, and by varying the material of the interaction target, one may extract various differential and other particular cross-sections and the overall A-dependence of the inelastic cross-section. The principle backgrounds are likely to be primary charm which appears to come from secondary vertices and charm produced by high energy (non-charm) secondary tracks interacting in the downstream target. Data from Fermilab experiment E791 allows the authors to estimate both signal rate and background rates with some confidence.
Doverite, a possible new yttrium fluocarbonate from Dover, Morris County, New Jersey

Doverite, a possible new yttrium fluocarbonate, was found at the Scrub oaks iron mine at Dover, Morris county, New Jersey. The mineral occurs in brownish-recl aggregates mixed with xenotime, hematite, and quartz. The aggregates are irregular--some of them as large as 1 inch in diameter-and most of them have rims of bastnaesite. rn parts of the mine, the doverite aggregate constitutes several per cent of the gangue. The aggregate has indices of refraction in the range from 1.700 to1.6g5. rt is physically inseparable from the other components of the aggregate. Hematite and doverite were leached from the aggregate leaving a residue of quartz and xenotime. From the s-ray powder data, doverite is suggested to be an yttrian analogue of synchisite and to have a general formula YFCOs. CaCO3, the Y in the formula including several elements of the rare-earth group.
Lubricant Dewetting on the Slider’s Air-Bearing Surface in Hard Disk Drives

In current hard disk drives, the minimum air-bearing clearance is of the order of 1 nm during the read/write process. At this ultra-low spacing, lubricant from the disk often transfers to the slider’s air-bearing surface imposing a significant degradation of its performance. It is necessary to make accurate predictions of the lubricant’s response at the head–disk interface in order to engineer reliable hard disk drives. In this article, we perform numerical simulations to investigate the dewetting behavior of some perfluoropolyether lubricant films used in hard disk drives. We model the lubricant flow on the slider surface using a governing equation based on classical lubrication theory. We consider a disjoining pressure that approximates the properties of a ZTMD lubricant and compare the results with those obtained using a purely van der Waals disjoining pressure. We study the spreading of a lubricant film on a slider both at rest and while flying over a spinning disk. The effect of surface tension, air shear stress, and substrate roughness on the dewetting behavior of the film is also investigated.
Automated Assessment of Pulmonary Arterial Morphology in Multi-row Detector CT Imaging Using Correspondence with Anatomic Airway Branches

Multi-row detector CT (MDCT) provides high resolution structural and functional imaging that has been helpful in studying altered physiology, making early diagnosis, and evaluating treatments in pulmonary research. There is growing evidence suggesting that pulmonary vascular dysfunction plays a major role in progression of centrilobular emphysema, a component of chronic obstructive disease (COPD). Few studies have attempted to quantify central pulmonary vessel morphology and to compare these measurements across COPD groups. However, the scope of vascular structures examined in such studies has been limited, primarily, due to lack of an automated and standardized method of comparing matching vessel branches. In this paper, we present a fully automated method, using a novel arc skeletonization and a local correspondence analysis, to identify matching pulmonary arteries by linking those with anatomically defined specific airway branches. This method provides a standardized way of establishing correspondence between matched pulmonary arteries for intra- and inter-subject scans. The accuracy and repeatability of the method was examined on non-contrast MDCT scans of 10 normal subjects. It was observed that 83% of the arteries classified by our automated method agree with “true” arteries as labelled by an interactive manual artery-vein separation tool. Repeat scan intra-class correlation of arterial morphological measures over six anatomic airway branches was observed as 91%.
General-Order Many-Body Green's Function Method.

Electron binding energies are evaluated as differences in total energy between the N- and (N ± 1)-electron systems calculated by the nth-order Moller-Plesset perturbation (MPn) theory using the same set of orbitals. The MPn energies up to n = 30 are, in turn, obtained by the determinant-based method of Knowles et al. (Chem. Phys. Lett. 1985, 113, 8-12). The zeroth- through third-order electron binding energies thus determined agree with those obtained by solving the Dyson equation in the diagonal and frequency-independent approximations of the self-energy. However, as n → ∞, they converge at the exact basis-set solutions from the Dyson equation with the exact self-energy, which is nondiagonal and frequency-dependent. This suggests that the MPn energy differences define an alternative diagrammatic expansion of Koopmans-like electron binding energies, which takes into account the perturbation corrections from the off-diagonal elements and frequency dependence of the irreducible self-energy. Our analysis shows that these corrections are included as semireducible and linked-disconnected diagrams, respectively, which are also found in a perturbation expansion of the electron binding energies of the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster methods. The rate of convergence of the electron binding energies with respect to n and its acceleration by Pade approximants are also discussed.
Atom Probe Microscopy and its Future

Much of the current activity and excitement in materials science involves processing and understanding materials at the atomic scale. Accordingly, it is necessary for materials scientists to control and characterize materials at the atomic level. There are only a few microscopies that are capable of providing information about the structure of materials at the atomic level: the atom probe field ion microscope, the high resolution transmission electron microscope, and the scanning tunneling microscope. The three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) determines the 3D location and elemental identity of each atom in a sample. It is the only technique that provides 3D information at the atomic scale. The origin and underlying concepts behind the 3DAP are described. Several examples of actual images from existing 3DAPs are shown with emphasis on nanometer-scale analysis. Current limitations of the technique and expected future developments in this form of microscopy are described. It is our opinion that 3D atomic-scale imaging will be an indispensable tool in materials science in the coming decades.
Mapping Li+ Concentration and Transport via In Situ Confocal Raman Microscopy

We demonstrate confocal Raman microscopy as a general, nonperturbative tool to measure spatially resolved lithium ion concentrations in liquid electrolytes. By combining this high-spatial-resolution technique with a simple microfluidic device, we are able to measure the diffusion coefficient of lithium ions in dimethyl carbonate in two different concentration regimes. Because lithium ion transport plays a key role in the function of a variety of electrochemical devices, quantifying and visualizing this process is crucial for understanding device performance. This method for detecting lithium ions should be immediately useful in the study of lithium-ion-based devices, ion transport in porous media, and at electrode-electrolyte interfaces, and the analytical framework is useful for any system exhibiting a concentration-dependent Raman spectrum.
Serologic grouping of Cryptococcus neoformans.

SummaryOne hundred and six isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated by agglutination and absorption studies with anti-cryptococcal sera. In addition to the three previously reported serotypes, a fourth serotype was distinguished and designated type D. Of the 106 isolates from man and nature, 69.8% were type A, 10.4% were type B, 6.6% were type C, and 4.7% were type D, 3.8% reacted with more than one serum, and 4.7% were untypable. The majority of type B and C strains were obtained from California, suggesting the possibility of major differences in the distribution of cryptococcal serotypes.
Serum examination and analysis of echinococcosis sufferers in Shiqu County,Sichuan

Objective To understand the characteristics of human echinococcosis in Shiqu County,Sichuan Province,and provide the scientific base for treatment.Methods The blood serum samples from 237 sufferers in Shiqu County and 4 townships were collected and analysed by serological ELISA.Results The total serological positive rate of echinococcosis was 95.4%,and 92.5% for male and 97.2% for female.The positive rates of alveolar echinococcosis(AE) and cystic echinococcosis(CE) disease for male and female were 41.7%(48/115),58.3%(67/115) and 34.2%(38/111),65.8%(73/111),respectively.Conclusion The morbidity rate of echinococcosis in this study area was very high and both of AE and CE were also prevalent.The serological positive rate of echinococcosis for female was obviously higher than that for male,and with a tendency of going up as the age increased.
442 ASSESSMENT OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS TRANSMISSION IN AREAS OF LOW PREVALENCE IN HAITI

Defining the prevalence and distribution of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in a country is a critical step in the development of a national program. In an effort to identify all of the communes in Haiti with active transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti, the Ministry of Health conducted a National Lymphatic Filariasis Survey using the immunochromatographic card test (ICT) in 2001. A substantial number of the communes in Haiti constitute areas of suspected low antigen prevalence and potentially active transmission; 10% (13/133) have percentages of antigen-positive children ranging from 5% to 9.9% and 63% (84/133) have percentages of antigen-positive children ranging from 0.1% to 4.9%. These observations have significant implications with respect to the cost and scope of a national LF program. In an effort to determine whether transmission is occurring in these low antigen prevalence settings, several communes were chosen for further study. Initially, antigen positive school children in these communes were identified by school surveys using the ICT. Houses within circular zones of set radii around the residences of antigen positive children were mapped using GPS. A random sample of these neighboring houses was selected for ICT testing and serum collection of all household members. To detect autochthonous cases of filarial infection, a questionnaire was administered to all individuals found to be antigen positive. Mosquito surveys were conducted on a limited basis. We applied this protocol in 5 Haitian communes that had low ICT prevalence (≤ 1%) in the initial National Lymphatic Filariasis. In the five communes 64 (2.7%) of the 2,639 children tested in 31 schools were antigen-positive. Antigen prevalence by community ranged from 0% to 11.4%. Our aim was to develop a methodology to assess LF transmission status that is rapid, comprehensive and applicable to other endemic settings. The consensus of how to approach and tackle issues surrounding transmission will be vital to the continued success of the LF elimination program.
Growth instability in metal electrodeposition

Electrodeposition (plating) is often used in the semiconductor chip manufacturing process to create “bumps” that can serve as electrical contacts. In this process, metal ions in a water-based electrolyte are deposited via charge exchange reactions on exposed areas of a wafer, which serves as the cathode of the system. This results in growth of metal on the exposed surface Inhibiting agents are often added to the electrolyte in small concentrations to improve the uniformity of the deposition process. Classical descriptions of physics of the process exist that involve solving the Poisson equation in the electrolyte coupled with a drift-diffusion equation for the metal ions and a diffusion equation for the inhibitor.
IoTGuard: Scalable and agile safeguards for Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as a force to be reckoned with on the internet and in the economy overall. The IoT is being incorporated into home, hospital and smart grid infrastructures. However, the IoT brings with it a host of potential new security breaches and attacks. This paper proposes IoTGuard as a multi-dimensional security framework to protect against such IoT attacks. It is made up of different systems that will detect abnormal traffic on IoT devices, identify malicious traffic patterns, and monitor IoT device system status. Through this intertwined system architecture, IoTGuard aims to monitor and inspect all traffic from IoT devices. The experimental results demonstrate a promising security architecture to protect the IoT environment.
Cycling and Performance Data of 3D Printed Optofluidic Smart Glass

The authors of this paper present new experimental data on optofluidic smart glass for energy efficiency, thermal management, and privacy applications. Performance data from experimental cycling and variable angle transmittance tests are discussed.
Real Time Cure Monitoring and Control of Composite Fabrication Using Nondestructive Dynamic Mechanical Methods

The techniques of mechanical impedance analysis (MIA) have been developed for the characterization of the dynamic mechanical properties of materials. The MIA concept is based on the vibrational analysis of the motion response of a material or structure to a controlled excitation. The frequency response function (FRF), can be obtained from the ratio of the fourier transforms of excitation and response signals. The FRF spectra contain the information needed to calculate the dynamic mechanical properties of a material, such as storage modulus (E’), loss modulus (E ”), and loss tangent (tan o). This MIA method is therefore useful for polymer viscoelasticity study. The spectra obtained during curing of thermosetting resins or composites can be used in real time to calculate the dynamic mechanical properties as a function of cure time and temperature. Optimal cure cycles of a new resin can be determined by using the MIA technique to characterize the phase transformation of the material. The MIA technique is found to be a sensitive and direct means for in-process monitoring of the overall cure states of composite structures of various geometries. The signals obtained can be integrated in a closed-loop feedback control system for composite fabrication.
Simulating Flapping Wing Mechanisms Inspired by the Manduca sexta Hawkmoth

Several flapping wing mechanisms have been designed from studying the Manduca sexta hawkmoth. Simulations of these mechanisms have advanced our understanding of the multiple underlying and interconnected (coupled) mechanical principles at work. Kinematic models are created and indicate that a Scotch yoke inspired mechanism more closely mimics the wing-tip motions observed in M. sexta as compared to a slider-crank type mechanism. Subsequently, a kinetic simulation of the Scotch yoke actuator is developed utilizing Lagrange multipliers and solving the system of equations with a Runge-Kutta Fehlberg numerical method. Inspired by analysis of the M. sexta hawkmoth thorax muscles, spring-like components are introduced into this system that engage as the wings enter stroke reversal and disengage prior to midstroke. Results of the kinetic simulation indicate areas in which improvements can be made to reduce energy losses due to friction. These simulations serve as a tool for tuning the components of the multibody dynamic system and therefore aid in future designs of the flapping wing mechanism. Establishing the mechanism and associated power requirements is a prerequisite to the development of a fully functional flight-worthy hawkmoth inspired drone.
Process, mechanism, and explanation related to externalizing behavior in developmental psychopathology

Advances in conceptualization and statistical modeling, on the one hand, and enhanced appreciation of transactional pathways, gene–environment correlations and interactions, and moderator and mediator variables, on the other, have heightened awareness of the need to consider factors and processes that explain the development and maintenance of psychopathology. With a focus on attentional problems, impulsivity, and disruptive behavior patterns, I address the kinds of conceptual approaches most likely to lead to advances regarding explanatory models in the field. Findings from my own research program on processes and mechanisms reveal both promise and limitations. Progress will emanate from use of genetically informative designs, blends of variable and person-centered research, explicit testing of developmental processes, systematic approaches to moderation and mediation, exploitation of “natural experiments,” and the conduct of prevention and intervention trials designed to accentuate explanation as well as outcome. In all, breakthroughs will occur only with advances in translational research—linking basic and applied science—and with the further development of transactional, systemic approaches to explanation.
Use of Oats in Swine Diets Fed in Deep-bedded Hoop Barns

The use of hoop barns for feeding finishing pigs has expanded rapidly in Iowa. A recent survey reported over 2,000 hoops used for finishing pigs in Iowa. Extensive work on feeding pigs in hoops has been conducted by Iowa State University researchers. Finishing pigs were fed for 3 years in bedded hoop structures and a confinement building with slotted floors in central Iowa. When summer and winter feeding periods for 3 years were combined, the work showed that the finishing pigs in hoops ate more feed, grew faster, and required more feed per unit of liveweight gain than confinement pigs. Also, the hoop pigs were fatter with smaller loin muscle area and a lower percentage of carcass lean and carcass yield compared with confinement pigs. The efficiency of lean gain also was poorer for the hoop pigs.
Immobilization of Graphene Oxide on the Permeate Side of a Membrane Distillation Membrane to Enhance Flux.

In this paper, a facile fabrication of enhanced direct contact membrane distillation membrane via immobilization of the hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) on the permeate side (GOIM-P) of a commercial polypropylene supported polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane is presented. The permeate side hydrophilicity of the membrane was modified by immobilizing the GO to facilitate fast condensation and the withdrawal of the permeate water vapors. The water vapor flux was found to be as high as 64.5 kg/m2·h at 80 °C, which is 15% higher than the unmodified membrane at a feed salt concentration of 10,000 ppm. The mass transfer coefficient was observed 6.2 × 10−7 kg/m2·s·Pa at 60 °C and 200 mL/min flow rate in the GOIM-P.
Environment-Dependent Modulation of Human Ankle Stiffness and its Implication for the Design of Lower Extremity Robots

Understanding how human ankle mechanics are modulated during interaction with a wide range of environments is essential to develop reliable and robust lower extremity robots such as prosthetics and exoskeletons that mimic the behavior of the human ankle. This paper investigates the effect of mechanical environment on the modulation of human ankle stiffness and its underlying mechanisms. A novel multi-axis robotic platform, capable of actuating the ankle in both dorsiflexion-plantarflexion (DP) and inversion-eversion (IE), was used to quantify ankle stiffness in 2 degrees-of-freedom, while human subjects maintain upright posture in a range of stiffness-defined haptic environments. Ankle stiffness in DP increased with increasing compliance of haptic environment, but it was significantly lower than the stiffness measured in a rigid mechanical environment. On the other hand, ankle stiffness in IE was relatively constant in both compliant and rigid environments. Analysis of muscle activation and center of pressure of the ground reaction force provided an explanation for the underlying mechanisms of these observations. Notably, the analysis confirmed that modulation of ankle stiffness cannot be solely explained by activation of superficial ankle muscles. Implications for the design and control of lower extremity robots mimicking human ankle impedance are discussed.
Surgical site infection: the "Achilles Heel" of all types of abdominal wall hernia reconstruction

Surgical site infection is the most common hospital-acquired infection in surgical patients. Recently, public health organizations have updated prevention guidelines. This review discusses surgical site infections as a complication of abdominal wall reconstruction. The authors reviewed guidelines on prevention of surgical site infections from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and put them into context with the relevant abdominal wall reconstruction literature. This was the subject of the Nyhus–Wantz lecture given at The International Hernia Congress on March 14, 2018 in Miami, FL and is summarized here. Routine use of preoperative antibiotics in prosthetic groin hernia repair is not supported by the available literature. High-quality data on antibiotic prophylaxis in ventral (both primary and incisional) hernia repair is lacking, but it is widely utilized and may reduce SSIs. Recommended preventative strategies discussed in this manuscript include: treatment of remote site infections, perioperative normothermia and normoglycemia, avoidance of hypoxemia, antiseptic preparation of surgical team hands and patient skin, treatment of obesity, smoking cessation, correction of malnutrition, and physical conditioning. Surgical site infections lead to significant morbidity and mortality, hernia recurrences, prolonged hospital stay, and increased hospital costs. This makes surgical site infections the “Achilles Heel” of abdominal wall reconstruction. Strict adherence to standardized guidelines and preoperative optimization of patients’ risk profiles are crucial to decrease the incidence of surgical site infections.
A cross-layer methodology for design and optimization of networks in 2.5D systems

2.5D integration technology is gaining popularity in the design of homogeneous and heterogeneous many-core computing systems. 2.5D network design, both inter- and intra-chiplet, impacts overall system performance as well as its manufacturing cost and thermal feasibility. This paper introduces a cross-layer methodology for designing networks in 2.5D systems. We optimize the network design and chiplet placement jointly across logical, physical, and circuit layers to achieve an energy-efficient network, while maximizing system performance, minimizing manufacturing cost, and adhering to thermal constraints. In the logical layer, our co-optimization considers eight different network topologies. In the physical layer, we consider routing, microbump assignment, and microbump pitch constraints to account for the extra costs associated with microbump utilization in the inter-chiplet communication. In the circuit layer, we consider both passive and active links with five different link types, including a gas station link design. Using our cross-layer methodology results in more accurate determination of (superior) inter-chiplet network and 2.5D system designs compared to prior methods. Compared to 2D systems, our approach achieves 29% better performance with the same manufacturing cost, or 25% lower cost with the same performance.
Evaluation of Different Patient Transfer Devices in Reducing Biomechanical Exposures among Professional Caregivers

This study systematically investigated the efficacy of commercially-available patient transfer devices (a slide sheet, slide board, air-assisted device, and conventional draw sheet) in reducing bio...
Understanding participants' perceptions of access to and satisfaction with chronic disease prevention programs

Despite the promise of incentive-based chronic disease prevention programs, comprehensive evidence on their accessibility among low-income populations remains limited. We adapted Aday and Andersen's framework to examine accessibility and consumer satisfaction within the Medicaid Incentives for the Prevention of Chronic Disease (MIPCD) cross-site demonstration. MIPCD provided 10 states with 5-year grants to implement incentivized chronic disease prevention and management programs for low-income and/or disabled-Medicaid enrolled-Americans. We conducted 36 focus group discussions between July 2014 and December 2015 with Medicaid enrollees participating in the MIPCD programs. We assessed participants' satisfaction by program type (i.e., diabetes prevention, diabetes management, hypertension reduction, smoking cessation, and weight management) related to three components: program enrollment and participation, staff courtesy, and program convenience. Based on Aday and Andersen's framework, we conducted thematic analysis to determine similarities and differences across MIPCD programs by type. Participant feedback confirmed the importance of several features of the Aday and Andersen framework, particularly programs with easy enrollment and participation procedures, courteous and helpful staff, and those that are convenient and flexible for participants. Participants valued programming around the clock via telephone and flexible, in-person hours of operation as well as proximity of the program to reliable transportation. We observed that most participants, despite enrollment and participation barriers, perceived programs as accessible and were willing to engage and continue to participate. This finding may reflect behavior change theory's perspective on personal readiness to change. Individuals in the preparation stage of change can effectively change health habits despite barriers they may encounter. In some cases, personal readiness to change was more impactful than consumer satisfaction at encouraging ongoing participation and perceived access to the programs. Thus, program developers may want to consider individual participant readiness to change and its impact on consumer satisfaction when designing, implementing, and evaluating behavior change initiatives.
New Platforms, New Contents: Run, Coyote, Run

This chapter is devoted mainly to the first series made by the Fox network in Mexico, a comedy that treats the traumatic topic of people smuggling and the border wall. It argues that the novel format of the series, which is quite distinct from the coarse free-to-air sitcom common in Mexico, is facilitated by its new distribution on pay-TV and by app. The stars studied are Luis Gerardo Mendez (a versatile actor who is the protagonist of Netflix’s first series in Mexico) and Harold Torres of Run, Coyote, Run (who was previously known as a stalwart of Leftist and indie filmmaking).
Effect of chemotherapy on cancer stem cells and tumor-associated macrophages in a prospective study of preoperative chemotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) may respond to chemotherapy differently from other tumor cells. This study examined the expression of the putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, CD44, and CD133; the angiogenesis marker CD31; and the macrophage marker CD68 in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) before and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide in 31 patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma in a prospective clinical trial. None of the markers clearly identified CSCs in STS samples. Macrophages represented a prominent component in viable tumor areas in pre-treatment STS biopsies, ranging from 50%. Furthermore, macrophages expressed CD44 and ALDH1. Macrophage density correlated with baseline maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Pre-chemotherapy CD68 staining correlated positively with the baseline SUVmax, and negatively with the percent of viable tumor cells in post-chemotherapy resection samples. In particular, cases with more CD68-positive cells at biopsy had fewer viable tumor cells at resection, suggesting a better response to chemotherapy. In conclusion, ALDH1, CD44, and CD133 are not likely to be useful markers of CSCs in STS. However, our observation of infiltrating macrophages in STS specimens indicates that these immune cells may contribute significantly to STS biology and response to chemotherapy, and could provide a potential target of therapy. Future studies should investigate macrophage contribution to STS pathophysiology by cytokine signaling.
A case study on accounting faculty's perceptions of technology in accounting classes

The accounting profession is undergoing a transformation because of the explosion of the amount of financial data and information available to organisations, the demand for real-time access to information and the use of business analytics. The accountants of the future need to be qualified to address these challenges. This means that higher education accounting degree programs must adapt their curriculums and courses to leverage technology tools and practices to ensure that their accounting faculties are prepared to teach these courses. The purpose of this exploratory descriptive case study was to evaluate accounting instructors' perceptions and experiences with technology to identify best practices to develop their technological intelligence to enable them to implement technology into accounting programs and courses to meet the demands that technology is placing on the accounting profession.
Geographies of Plague Pandemics: The Spatial-Temporal Behavior of Plague to the Modern Day

Mark Welford. London, UK, and New York, NY: Routledge, 2018. 156 pp., maps, illustrations, bibliography, index. $150.00 cloth (ISBN 978-1-138-23427-7).Plague has long conjured fear in the Western g...
A quantitative meta-analysis of brain glutamate metabolites in aging.

Abstract Glutamate (Glu) is a key molecule in cellular metabolism, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and the principal neurotransmitter of cortical efferents. Glutamate dysfunction, on the other hand, is common in neurodegenerative disorders, and likely contributes to age-related declines in behavioral and cognitive functioning. Nonetheless, the extant literature measuring age-related changes in brain glutamate in vivo has yet to be comprehensively and quantitatively summarized. This meta-analysis examines proton spectroscopy (1HMRS) measures of Glu-related brain metabolites across 589 healthy young and older adults. Glu (Cohen's d = −0.82) and Glu+glutamine (Cohen's d = −0.51) concentrations were significantly lower in older compared with younger adults, whereas the concentration of glutamine (d = 0.43) was significantly higher in older individuals. Notably, 1HMRS methodological choices impacted effect sizes for age-related Glu differences. Glu metabolite change appears to be a robust marker of aging-related neurological change; however, additional studies are needed to elucidate age-related trajectories of glutamatergic alterations and their relationship to cognitive phenotypes.
Fronts Matter: The Effectiveness of an "Edited Book" Project in Classical Theory.

The instruction of classical sociological theory at Lehman College of the City University of New York (CUNY) underwent significant transformation to make it more activity-based and better aligned w...
Early use of autologous blood patch pleurodesis in children is successful in resolving persistent air leaks.

Structured abstract Purpose Experience with autologous blood patch (ABP) pleurodesis for persistent air leak in the pediatric population is limited. The purpose of this series was to describe the experience with ABP at a single tertiary children's hospital. Methods A retrospective study was performed of all thoracic procedures done by the pediatric surgery service over three years. Results Ten patients underwent a total of 17 ABPs. The median age of patients was 12 years (IQR 6–16). The most common underlying reasons for a thoracic procedure included: blebectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax (2), need for lung biopsy (2), resection of known malignant tumor (2), and empyema (2). The median number of days of persistent air leak before first ABP was 7.5 days (IQR 7–10). A second ABP was performed in 6 cases with a third procedure performed in one case. None of the patients developed respiratory compromise during ABP and no infectious complications were identified following ABP. Conclusions Our cohort demonstrates that ABP for persistent air leak following thoracic surgery is effective with minimal morbidity in children. We believe ABP can be used early and in patients with a broad range of underlying lung pathology.
Transcription Factor PLAGL1 Is Associated with Angiogenic Gene Expression in the Placenta

During pregnancy, the placenta is important for transporting nutrients and waste between the maternal and fetal blood supply, secreting hormones, and serving as a protective barrier. To better understand placental development, we must understand how placental gene expression is regulated. We used RNA-seq data and ChIP-seq data for the enhancer associated mark, H3k27ac, to study gene regulation in the mouse placenta at embryonic day (e) 9.5, when the placenta is developing a complex network of blood vessels. We identified several upregulated transcription factors with enriched binding sites in e9.5-specific enhancers. The most enriched transcription factor, PLAGL1 had a predicted motif in 233 regions that were significantly associated with vasculature development and response to insulin stimulus genes. We then performed several experiments using mouse placenta and a human trophoblast cell line to understand the role of PLAGL1 in placental development. In the mouse placenta, Plagl1 is expressed in endothelial cells of the labyrinth layer and is differentially expressed in placentas from mice with gestational diabetes compared to placentas from control mice in a sex-specific manner. In human trophoblast cells, siRNA knockdown significantly decreased expression of genes associated with placental vasculature development terms. In a tube assay, decreased PLAGL1 expression led to reduced cord formation. These results suggest that Plagl1 regulates overlapping gene networks in placental trophoblast and endothelial cells, and may play a critical role in placental development in normal and complicated pregnancies.
Arthroscopic-Assisted Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction: Clinical Outcomes and Return to Activity at Mean 6-Year Follow-Up.

Objectives:Over the past decade, there have been advances in arthroscopic-assisted approaches for coracoclavicular (CC) reconstruction with less surgical morbidity and enhanced visualization while ...
Genetics of epilepsy

In the last few years, the presence of specific genetic abnormalities leading to some of the classical epileptic syndromes has been clearly elucidated. This means that for the first time, it has become possible to create a strong relationship between the presence of specific genomic and/or proteomic abnormalities and epileptic syndromes previously considered to be "idiopathic". The majority of such genetic defects have been found in genes coding for either ion channels and/or membrane receptors, a fact that somehow seems to confirm the previously postulated importance of the latter structures in the electrochemical activity of neurons. This review will focus on the genetic and clinical aspects of such conditions. Some of the most relevant data suggesting the existence of additional genetic defects in many other epileptic syndromes will also be briefly reviewed, even though a definitive relationship to many of them has not yet been established in the form of specific gene defects. In addition, the worrisome fact that despite the importance of such advances, their application in routine clinical practice remains very limited will be emphasized, in particular in the pharmacological management of most patients. Finally, a brief discussion about the intriguing possibilities of such findings, including the development of neuro-pharmacogenomics plus several ethical issues, will also be attempted.
Complementary Phenotyping of Maize Root Architecture by Root Pulling Force and X-Ray Computed Tomography

ABSTRACT The root system is critical for the survival of nearly all land plants and a key target for improving abiotic stress tolerance, nutrient accumulation, and yield in crop species. Although many methods of root phenotyping exist, within field studies one of the most popular methods is the extraction and measurement of the upper portion of the root system, known as the root crown, followed by trait quantification based on manual measurements or 2D imaging. However, 2D techniques are inherently limited by the information available from single points of view. Here, we used X-ray computed tomography to generate highly accurate 3D models of maize root crowns and created computational pipelines capable of measuring 71 features from each sample. This approach improves estimates of the genetic contribution to root system architecture, and is refined enough to detect various changes in global root system architecture over developmental time as well as more subtle changes in root distributions as a result of environmental differences. We demonstrate that root pulling force, a high-throughput method of root extraction that provides an estimate of root biomass, is associated with multiple 3D traits from our pipeline. Our combined methodology can therefore be used to calibrate and interpret root pulling force measurements across a range of experimental contexts, or scaled up as a stand-alone approach in large genetic studies of root system architecture.
Going Virtual During a Pandemic: An Academic Psychiatry Department's Experience with Telepsychiatry.

Background: The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) led healthcare providers, including mental health providers, across the U.S. to swiftly shift to telemedicine. Objectives: This shift gave our Department of Psychiatry a chance to better understand key challenges and opportunities vis-a-vis virtual mental healthcare. We aimed to obtain provider feedback on the use of telepsychiatry and to learn from the provider perspective about patient experiences with video visits. This information will be used to inform the telemedicine strategy at a systems level within our psychiatry department, our academic health system, as well as the field of telemedicine as a whole. Design and Sample: A 22-item online questionnaire comprising 16 quantitative and six qualitative items was distributed to providers currently using video visits to provide care. Results: A total of 89 mental health providers completed the questionnaire. Outcomes demonstrated that while providers perceive challenges associated with virtual care (e.g., fatigue, technology-related issues, and age-related concerns), they also recognize a number of benefits to themselves and their patients (e.g., convenience and increased access). Overall, provider satisfaction, comfort, and willingness to use telepsychiatry was high. Conclusions: The vast majority of providers adapted quickly to the use of virtual platforms; many endorse advantages that suggest virtual care will continue to be a modality they provide in the future, post-COVID-19. It will be important to continue to evaluate aspects of virtual care that may limit clinical assessments and to optimize use to improve access, convenience, and cost-efficiency of mental healthcare delivery.
Single-shot Double-pulse Method for Determination of Detonation Energy in Laser Ablation Plasmas

We demonstrate a novel single-shot approach to determine the detonation energy of laser-induced plasmas. The method employs a double-pulse shadowgraphy scheme coupled with analysis of shock expansion rates using the Sedov blast model.