cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inpatient Walking Activity to Predict Readmission in Older Adults

Abstract Objective To compare the 30-day readmission predictive power of in-hospital walking activity and in-hospital activities of daily living (ADLs) in older acutely ill patients. In addition, we sought to identify preliminary walking thresholds that could support the targeting of interventions aimed at minimizing rehospitalizations. Design Prospective, observational clinical cohort study. Step counts during hospitalization were assessed via accelerometry. ADL function was assessed within 48 hours of admission. Setting Acute care hospital. Participants One hundred sixty-four ambulatory persons aged 65 years and older admitted to the hospital from the community with an acute medical illness. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Readmission back to the index hospital (yes vs no) within 30 days of discharge. Results Twenty-six patients (15.8%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Walking activity during hospitalization was more strongly and significantly associated with 30-day readmission (odds ratio=0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.98) than ADL function (odds ratio=0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–1.45) after adjusting for relevant readmission risk factors. The predictive accuracy (area under the curve) was highest for models that included walking activity and changed little with the addition of ADLs. A walking threshold of 275 steps or more per day identified patients at reduced 30-day readmission risk. Conclusions Walking activity was a stronger predictor of readmission than ADLs. Monitoring patient activity during hospitalization may provide clinicians with valuable information on early readmission risk not captured by measures of ADLs. Further study is needed to replicate these findings and monitor walking activity posthospitalization to further advance our understanding of readmission risk.
Treatment of Diffuse Transitional Cell Carcinoma in Situ by Whole Bladder Hematoporphyrin Derivative Photodynamic Therapy

AbstractA total of 10 patients with diffuse, resistant transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder underwent whole bladder hematoporphyrin derivative photodynamic therapy in which a new light bulb fiber was used to deliver red light (630nm.) from an argon pumped dye laser. Six patients who had carcinoma in situ alone had a complete response, 2 with diffuse carcinoma in situ and stage Ta lesions had persistent stage Ta disease and 2 with diffuse carcinoma in situ and focal stage T2 disease had disappearance of the carcinoma in situ but persistent invasive disease at 3 months. This new light delivery system appears to be effective in the treatment of diffuse, resistant carcinoma in situ of the bladder.
The impact of prior back surgery on neuromodulation outcomes: A review of over 500 patients.

AIMS To evaluate neuromodulation outcomes in patients with prior back surgery. METHODS Adults in our prospective observational sacral/pudendal neuromodulation study were retrospectively evaluated. History and operative details were reviewed, and outcomes were measured at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months with overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB q) symptom severity (SS)/health related quality of life (HRQOL), interstitial cystitis symptom/problem indices (ICSI − PI), voiding diaries, and global response assessments (GRA). Data were examined with Pearson's χ2, Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and logistic regression multivariate analysis. RESULTS Five hundred and sixty patients were evaluated (mean age 58.8 ± 17 years; 83% female; 79% had a sacral lead placed), 109 (19%) had history of back surgery; 66 surgeries were lumbar. Back surgery patients were older (mean 63 ± 15 vs. 58 ± 17 years; P = 0.003) and a higher proportion had urge urinary incontinence (UUI) (64% vs. 50% P = 0.008). Generator implant rates were similar (94% vs. 91%; P = 0.34). OABq-SS and HRQOL and ICSI − PI composite scores did not differ between groups at any time point. On bladder diaries, median incontinence episodes daily at baseline and between stages were worse in the prior back surgery group but all bladder diary parameters improved significantly in both groups with the exception of mean voided volume which only improved significantly in the non-back surgery group. Most patients in both groups reported moderate/marked improvement in overall bladder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that prior back surgery does not appear to impact clinical outcomes; therefore, neuromodulation may be offered in this patient population.
Cognate and cognitive ecopharmacognosy — in an anthropogenic era

Abstract The vibrant future of pharmacognosy is discussed in terms of sustainable development. The future role of biologically active natural products is presented with respect to the time and consciousness required to contemplate the continuing future strategies for ecopharmacognosy to be impactful. Integration of allied sciences and technologies through regulatory harmonization, international collaboration, and translation of holistic quality control techniques to manufacturers, is essential to achieve higher levels of quality, safe, effective, and consistent (QSEC) traditional medicine products in global primary health care. Structured and highly focused research and development initiatives are needed to address chasmal gaps in global health care, particularly in light of ongoing changes in climate and the implications for disease demographics.
Density modulated microwave power devices

The authors describe a coupled experimental and simulation approach to understanding the properties and behaviour of an emission-gated electron beam at UHF frequencies. The emission-gated amplifier experiment (EGAE) will provide laboratory measurements of the electron beam at 300 MHz for comparison with a self-consistent, multidimensional PIC (particle-in-cell) simulation. Key research issues include distortion of the premodulated beam by self-field effects in the acceleration region and nonlinear wave-particle interactions in the prebunching and power-extraction regions. The prospects for preconditioning the beam and/or tapering the interaction circuit to improve harmonic suppression and enhanced efficiency are evaluated. The authors present simulation results illustrating the flow of the electron beam in the gun region. >
A comfort zone set-based approach for coupled temperature and humidity control in buildings

This paper presents a modeling and control strategy for comfort zone set-based control of temperature and humidity in buildings. We first propose a coupled model for humidity and temperature dynamics based on lumped parameter analysis. The interconnection of rooms/zones is captured through an undirected graph, with rooms represented as capacitances and walls and doors/windows as resistances. Unlike traditional RC-models, however, this model captures both mass and heat transfer between zones as well as the bilinearity in the input mass flow-rate. Key parameters are identified by the model, such as mass (and thermal) conductance between zones as well as mass (and thermal) capacitance and this model structure is then validated using physics-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The control inputs to the system are the mass flow rates into each zone and the control objective is to drive the system state into a comfort zone set (a humidity and temperature region defined on the psychometric chart). The dynamic system is shown to be passive, hence any passive controller is stabilizing and able to drive both temperature and humidity to steady states within the thermal comfort region for given ambient conditions. We then propose a set-based (passive) controller to regulate the system outputs within the comfort region. Simulation results from implementing the controller on the lumped model are then compared with CFD simulations, for a design model of an existing experimental 6-room test bed. The proposed controller design methodology is also shown to be model-independent with results of the CFD simulations verifying this feature.
Diagnostic Modalities: Pulmonary Function Testing and Imaging

Premature birth is associated with adverse late pulmonary outcomes, most commonly manifested as reduced pulmonary function, recurrent wheeze, exercise limitation, and chronic cough [1–3]. The realization that insults to the developing lung may have lifelong effects, with respiratory disease burden noted later in life, has led to the need to develop sensitive methods of assessing respiratory function and structural disease during infancy as well as the preschool and school-age years.
Communism and Entrepreneurship

Scholars have debated whether entrepreneurs socialized under communism exhibit a risk-taking propensity after that experience. Some note that communism discouraged standing out and thus risk-taking, while others counter that communism encouraged risk-taking to survive. We reconcile this debate in two ways: first, by dividing communism into hard-line and reformist types, and second by focusing only on high-impact entrepreneurs, avoiding confounding them with routine entrepreneurs. Contrary to the assumption that high-impact entrepreneurs embrace risk, we found that such Russian entrepreneurs seek or avoid risk depending on whether they were socialized only under reformist communism, or under both reformist and hard-line communism.
Opioid Risk Mitigation Strategies and Overdose Resuscitation

Introduction In the context of an opioid public health crisis, U.S. medical schools have been called upon to strengthen curricula on the appropriate use of opioids, with an emphasis on maximizing b...
A Conversation about NMFS' Ecosystem‐Based Fisheries Management Policy and Road Map

How does one catch fish, preserve habitat, conserve other critters, and keep as many people as possible happy all at once? In many respects, that is another way of saying that we need to consider e...
Non-pharmacological approaches to dementia: An overview of foundations & considerations

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by the progressive degeneration of one's cognitive function. The syndrome inflicts one in every nine individuals 65 and older; and 200,000 individuals under the age of 65. Currently, no cure exists ; thus, finding the highest quality treatment to reduce the symptoms of the disease must become priority. Maintaining or increasing one’s quality of life is the utmost goal of any therapy for individuals with dementia. Currently, non-pharmacological approaches for suppressing concomitant symptoms of the disease have become highly debated and researched for their usefulness and for their ability to achieve this goal. Several therapeutic methods that can be considered non-pharmacological - music therapy, narrative telling , poetry, art therapy, technological interventions , and exercise and dance movement programs. A literature review was completed i n order to determine the role of these approaches on dementia . Findings indicate that there is a small effect on cognition during these therapies presently, but there is still insufficient research in the area to conclude a sufficient difference. Non-pharmacological treatments yield potential quality of life benefits while additionally being cost-effective compared to medical interventions. Due its prevalence , further research on this topic is warranted and necessary.
Ptrogrammed Self-Instruction on Alcoholism for Medical Students: A Controlled Evaluation

Third year medical students on core psychiatry clinical rotations received expanded alcoholism training via inclusion of a programmed text on alcoholism, the Alcohol Learning Program (ALP), as required reading. Effects of use of the ALP on alcoholism-related knowledge and attitudes were assessed within a pretest-posttest control group design. Students on alternate rotations received the ALP and constituted the experimental group (n = 60). The control group (n = 66) comprised students on the remaining rotations who received the less extensive alcoholism exposure usually provided. Assessment instruments, completed on the first and last days of rotations, included two alcoholism knowledge tests and a semantic differential completed under six sets of instructions to assess attitudes toward groups differing in use and/or abuse of beverage alcohol. Students receiving the ALP displayed a significantly higher level of knowledge than did controls. Although attitude change associated with use of the ALP was minimal, attitudes toward the different categories of persons rated varied considerably; for example, students viewed alcoholics least favorably and recovered alcoholics most favorably. Discussion focuses on potential advantages of programmed self-instructional training about alcoholism and on implications of attitude findings for design of alcoholism educational efforts for medical students.
Expanding the public health benefits of syringe exchange programs

Objective:To provide a brief history of community syringe exchange programs (SEPs), describe the clinical profile of those who attend them, identify factors interfering with the transition of SEP p...
210: Characterization of human interferon subtype and interferon-stimulated gene signatures

Type I interferons (IFNs) are expressed by all nucleated cells in response to viral pathogens and modulate innate and adaptive immune responses by stimulating expression of subsets of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). There are over 1000 ISGs, including more than 60 that are transcription factors (TFs). Type I IFNs share the same receptor complex and are comprised of multiple species, including IFN-beta, IFN-omega, and twelve subtypes of IFN-alpha. Both type I IFNs and the more recently described type III IFNs activate STAT1/STAT2 heterodimers and stimulate additional pathways that translate into antiviral and antiproliferative responses. It is not well understood how the timing and dose of each IFN contributes to these functional outcomes. We hypothesize that expression patterns of TFs will reveal unique functional responses to IFN subtypes, either alone or in combination. Therefore, we designed a quantitative-RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) array for detection of more than 50 TFs that are expressed in response to type I IFN (TF–ISGs). To test our hypothesis, we are characterizing expression of TF-ISGs by respiratory epithelial cells in response to increasing doses of types I and III IFN in a checkerboard pattern at discrete time points within 4 h. In addition, we are correlating expression patterns of TF-ISGs and type I/III IFN (measured with our previously reported qRT-PCR based assay) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that have been stimulated with the TLR ligands polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), imiquimod, and CpG oligonucleotides (receptors are RIG-I/TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9, respectively). We predict that characterizing expression signatures of IFN subtypes and TF-ISGs will provide insight towards defining functional cellular responses to specific IFN subtypes.
A postoperative parathyroid hormone-based algorithm to reduce symptomatic hypocalcemia following completion/total thyroidectomy: A retrospective analysis of 591 patients

Abstract Background An institutional protocol for selective calcium/calcitriol supplementation after completion/total thyroidectomy was established based on the 4-hour postoperative parathyroid hormone level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of this protocol 5 years after implementation. Methods All patients who underwent completion/total thyroidectomy from January 2012 to December 2016 were reviewed. Predictors of a 4-hour parathyroid hormone level Results Of 591 patients, 448 (76%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone ≥10, 72 (12%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone of 5–10, and 71 (12%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone Conclusion After completion/total thyroidectomy, patients with a 4-hour parathyroid hormone ≥10 can be safely discharged without routine supplementation. The addition of calcitriol to calcium supplementation should be strongly considered for patients with a 4-hour parathyroid hormone of 5–10.
Outcome measurement and complex physical, psychosocial and spiritual experiences of death and dying

Patients with advanced illnesses, especially near the end of life, often experience multiple complex symptoms which may have profound impact on the quality of life of not only the patients but also their family members. Early and prompt recognition of such clinical challenges is linked with better end of life care for the dying patients, their caregivers and family members. In this narrative, which is not meant to be an in-depth systematic review, we attempt to provide an overview of some commonly used outcome measurement tools available for bedside clinical assessment of the different dimensions of suffering, especially near the time of death. We also mention need for recognition of conditions, like delirium and other personal, environmental and social factors, to draw the readers' attention towards the importance of such assessments, as these may influence interpretation of patient responses on the tools being used to measure outcomes.
The neighborhood complexes of almost s-stable Kneser graphs

Abstract In 1978, Laszlo Lovasz proved the famous Kneser Conjecture – concerning the chromatic number of the Kneser graphs K G m , n – introducing the neighborhood complex. In the same year, Alexander Schrijver defined certain induced subgraphs of K G m , n – called the stable Kneser graphs S G m , n – and showed that they are vertex-critical. Schrijver used another, Barany’s method to obtain the chromatic number of the stable Kneser graphs. Almost 25 years later, in 2002, Anders Bjorner and Mark de Longueville studied the neighborhood complex of S G m , n , and determined the homotopy type of them. Frederic Meunier generalized Schrijver’s construction and formulated the conjecture on the chromatic number of the s -stable and almost s -stable Kneser graphs. We shall determine the homotopy type of the neighborhood complex of the almost s -stable Kneser graphs. In conjunction with Lovasz’s topological bound on the chromatic number, we give the chromatic number of these graphs, which was recently determined by Chen using other methods.
Hurricane Hunter Observations of Wind And Wave Spectral Properties: Implications on Tropical Cyclone Remote Sensing

Directional wave spectra with associated wind velocity information have been acquired in several hurricane reconnaissance and research missions. Here we present the analysis results of wind and wave directional properties and the comparison of the directionally integrated 1D frequency spectra $S(\omega)$ , where $\omega$ is the angular frequency, with three published wind-wave spectral models denoted as J, D, and G models. The spectral slope in the high frequency portion is −5 for the J model (short hand for JONSWAP) [1]–[2], −4 for the D model (Donelan) [3], and unrestricted for the G model (General) [4]. Based on analyses of spectral observations in hurricane [5] and non-hurricane conditions [4], the spectral slope $-s$ = −4.5 is used for the G model in the comparison study.
Garbage as fuel: pursuing incineration to counter stigma in postcolonial urban India

This paper explains why local leaders may adopt and promote forms of environmentalism that privilege aesthetic and class-based concerns, displacing environmentalisms of the poor that promote more s...
Passive Reflectometry

Different materials reflect light in different ways, so reflectance is a useful surface descriptor. Existing systems for measuring reflectance are cumbersome, however, and although the process can be streamlined using cameras, projectors and clever catadioptrics, it generally requires complex infrastructure. In this paper we propose a simpler method for inferring reflectance from images, one that eliminates the need for active lighting and exploits natural illumination instead. The method's distinguishing property is its ability to handle a broad class of isotropic reflectance functions, including those that are neither radially-symmetric nor well-represented by low-parameter reflectance models. The key to the approach is a bi-variate representation of isotropic reflectance that enables a tractable inference algorithm while maintaining generality. The resulting method requires only a camera, a light probe, and as little as one HDR image of a known, curved, homogeneous surface.
High-contrast grating VCSELs and applications (Conference Presentation)

Recent progress of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) using high contrast grating (HCG) and their applications will be reviewed. A typical electrically-pumped VCSEL consists of two oppositely doped distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) with a cavity layer in between. This conventional design requires epitaxy that is 6-8 micron thick having 0.1% precision in composition and thickness. Replacing the top DBR with a single layer, ultra-thin high contrast grating not only drastically increases the epitaxy and processing yield, but enables a wide and continuous wavelength swept. We will discuss recent progress of electrically-pumped, tunable VCSELs emitting at 850-nm, 940-nm, 1060-nm, 1300-nm and 1550-nm. New applications in optical coherence tomography, 3D sensing and LIDAR will be discussed.
Heterogeneous Cache Hierarchy Management for Integrated CPU-GPU Architecture

Unlike the traditional CPU-GPU heterogeneous architecture where CPU and GPU have separate DRAM and memory address space, current heterogeneous CPU-GPU architectures integrate CPU and GPU in the same die and share the same last level cache (LLC) and memory. For the two-level cache hierarchy in which CPU and GPU have their own private L1 caches but share the LLC, conflict misses in the LLC between CPU and GPU may degrade both CPU and GPU performance. In addition, how the CPU and GPU memory requests flows (write back flow from L1 and cache fill flow from main memory) are managed may impact the performance. In this work, we study three different cache requests flow management policies. The first policy is selective GPU LLC fill, which selectively fills the GPU requests in the LLC. The second policy is selective GPU L1 write back, which selectively writes back GPU blocks in L1 cache to L2 cache. The final policy is a hybrid policy that combines the first two, and selectively replaces CPU blocks in the LLC. Our experimental results indicate that the third policy is the best of these three. On average, it can improve the CPU performance by about 10%, with the highest CPU performance improvement of 22%, with 0.8% averaged GPU performance overhead.
Assessing legacy and endocrine disrupting pollutants in Boston Harbor with transcriptomic biomarkers.

Abstract Within monitoring frameworks, biomarkers provide several benefits because they serve as intermediates between pollutant exposure and effects, and integrate the responses of contaminants that operate through the same mechanism of action. This study was designed to verify the use of transcriptomic biomarkers developed in our prior work (i.e., Coastal Biosensor of Endocrine Disruption; C-BED assay) on Mytilus edulis and identify additional biomarkers for legacy pollutants. M. edulis were collected from a reference site in Pemaquid, ME, USA and deployed by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) at locations in and outside Boston Harbor, MA, USA: including (1) Boston Inner Harbor (IH), (2) the current outfall (OS), (3) 1 km away from the current outfall (LNB), and (4) Deer Island (DI), the site where untreated wastewater was formerly discharged into the bay. Differential gene expression was quantified with a high density microarray. Seven genes significantly correlated with whole tissue concentration of PAHs, and six genes significantly correlated with whole body concentrations of PCBs, two groups of legacy contaminants that were elevated at stations IH, OS, and DI. Enrichment analysis indicated that IH mussels had the highest induction of stress response genes, which correlated with the higher levels of contaminants measured at this site. Based on the C-BED assay gene analysis, stations IH and OS exhibited signs of endocrine disruption, which were further confirmed by incorporating the results for the C-BED assay within the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) approach. This study successfully demonstrated the potential use of transcriptomic biomarkers within a monitoring program to identify the presence and organismal responses to endocrine disrupting and legacy contaminant classes.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals a heterogeneous response to Glucocorticoids in breast cancer cells

Steroid hormone receptors such as the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) mediate transcriptional responses to hormones and are frequently targeted in the treatment of human diseases. Experiments using bulk populations of cells have provided a detailed picture of the global transcriptional hormone response but are unable to interrogate cell-to-cell transcriptional heterogeneity. To examine the glucocorticoid response in individual cells, we performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) in a human breast cancer cell line. The transcriptional response to hormone was robustly detected in individual cells and scRNAseq provided additional statistical power to identify over 100 GR-regulated genes that were not detected in bulk RNAseq. scRNAseq revealed striking cell-to-cell variability in the hormone response. On average, individual hormone-treated cells showed a response at only 30% of the total set of GR target genes. Understanding the basis of this heterogeneity will be critical for the development of more precise models of steroid hormone signaling.
Mutational bias and the protein code shape the evolution of splicing enhancers.

Exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) are enriched in exons relative to introns and bind splicing activators. This study considers a fundamental question of co-evolution: How did ESE motifs become enriched in exons prior to the evolution of ESE recognition? We hypothesize that the high exon to intron motif ratios necessary for ESE function were created by mutational bias coupled with purifying selection on the protein code. These two forces retain certain coding motifs in exons while passively depleting them from introns. Through the use of simulations, genomic analyses, and high throughput splicing assays, we confirm the key predictions of this hypothesis, including an overlap between protein and splicing information in ESEs. We discuss the implications of mutational bias as an evolutionary driver in other cis-regulatory systems. Splicing is regulated by cis-acting elements in pre-mRNAs such as exonic or intronic splicing enhancers and silencers. Here the authors show that exonic splicing enhancers are enriched in exons compared to introns due to mutational bias coupled with purifying selection on the protein code.
Assessment of lead exposure controls on bridge painting projects using worker blood lead levels.

Abstract A retrospective analysis of worker blood lead levels (BLL) was conducted using blood lead data collected by four bridge painting contractors before and after lead exposure. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exposure controls in preventing elevated blood lead levels (>25 μg/dl) during bridge painting projects. The contractors selected for the study submitted BLL data for 289 workers representing ten work tasks and 11 bridge painting projects. In total, 713 blood lead levels results were evaluated. The mean blood lead level for all work classifications combined was 10.9 μg/dl at baseline compared with 14.9 μg/dl after two months of exposure and 15.0 μg/dl after four months of exposure. Two months after initial exposure, 29% of the painters and 35% of the laborers had a 10 μg/dl incremental increase or greater in blood lead level. Likewise, 18% of the painters and 26% of the laborers had a blood lead level greater than 25 μg/dl during the same time. The blood lead levels that exceeded the 25 μg/dL threshold ranged from 30μg/dL-63 μg/dL for painters and 26 μg–56 μg/dL for laborers. All work tasks with high-intensity exposure (abrasive blaster/painter, abrasive blaster, painter & laborer) experienced an average blood lead level increase that ranged from 0.2 μg/dl to 8.9 μg/dl two months after initial exposure. Blood lead testing conducted after modified exposure controls (two months after the initial follow-up blood testing) were implemented showed a decrease in average blood lead levels (range −0.14 μg/dl to −2.7 μg/dl) for two high-intensity exposure work tasks. In comparison, the other two high-intensity work tasks had moderate increases (range 1 μg/dl to 2.4 μg/dl). The modified exposure controls included an increase in the air velocity inside of the work containment and an administrative control in the form of additional worker training on lead exposure prevention. The reduction in the 95th percentile (point estimate) BLL exposure profile for each exposure group at the 4-month follow-up blood testing period is associated with modified exposure controls. Ineffective exposure controls were identified through the analysis of worker BLLs. We found two exposure groups (laborer and painter) whose 95th percentile (point estimate) exposure profile was greater than the OSHA construction lead standard's targeted BLL goal (25 μg/dl) during the first two months of exposure. Our research findings provide support for monthly blood lead testing after baseline until blood lead levels are controlled to an acceptable concentration.
Ámbito de hogar y actividad Circadiana del Ocelote (leopardus pardalis) en la Isla de Barro Colorado, Panamá

Por ser una especie elusiva, se conoce muy poco de los ocelotes (Leopardus pardalis) en vida silvestre. Este estudio determina el ambito de hogar y actividad circadiana de este felino en la Isla de Barro Colorado (IBC), Panama. Esta isla presenta un bosque humedo tropical lluvioso. Utilizando trampas cajas de madera y Tomahawk, entre julio de 2001 y mayo de 2004 se capturaron 15 ocelotes, y otros tres en el ano 2009. Una vez capturados, fueron sedados y se les colocaron collares con frecuencia VHF, mientras que a los capturados en 2009 se les colocaron collares GPS. Por otro lado, para obtener datos confiables en la interpretacion de los datos, y conseguir informacion adicional de individuos sin collares se utilizaron camaras-trampas. El ambito de hogar promedio de los ocelotes, obtenido por radio-telemetria fue de 3.48 km2 (DE: 3.17) para machos y 1.48 km2 (DE: 0.65) para hembras, aunque un macho adulto utilizo un area de 9 km2. Los machos recorrieron diario en promedio 1.15 km y las hembras 0.7 km. Por medio de la telemetria y las camaras trampa, se resalta la actividad principalmente nocturna (Nocturno = 63.2%; Diurno = 36.8%). Nuestros resultados son similares a otros estudios, sin embargo, se sugiere que los ocelotes de la IBC tienen ambitos de hogar mas pequenos por la alta disponibilidad de alimento y ademas por la alta dens
Magnetic resonance elastography to quantify liver disease severity in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

To evaluate whether liver and spleen magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can measure the severity of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) and portal hypertension (pHTN) in individuals with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), and to examine correlations between liver MRE and ultrasound (US) elastography. Cross-sectional study of nine individuals with ARPKD and 14 healthy controls. MRE was performed to measure mean liver and spleen stiffness (kPa); US elastography was performed to measure point shear wave speed (SWS) in both liver lobes. We compared: (1) MRE liver and spleen stiffness between controls vs. ARPKD; and (2) MRE liver stiffness between participants with ARPKD without vs. with pHTN, and examined correlations between MRE liver stiffness, spleen length, platelet counts, and US elastography SWS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to examine diagnostic accuracy of liver MRE. Participants with ARPKD (median age 16.8 [IQR 13.3, 18.9] years) had higher median MRE liver stiffness than controls (median age 14.7 [IQR 9.7, 16.7 years) (2.55 vs. 1.92 kPa, p = 0.008), but MRE spleen stiffness did not differ. ARPKD participants with pHTN had higher median MRE liver stiffness than those without (3.60 kPa vs 2.49 kPa, p = 0.05). Liver MRE and US elastography measurements were strongly correlated. To distinguish ARPKD vs. control groups, liver MRE had 78% sensitivity and 93% specificity at a proposed cut-off of 2.48 kPa [ROC area 0.83 (95% CI 0.63–1.00)]. Liver MRE may be a useful quantitative method to measure the severity of CHF and pHTN in individuals with ARPKD.
Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty: A RealSelf Social Media Analysis:

Patients use social media to report on medical care and rate their satisfaction with cosmetic procedures and providers. Currently, there are few studies that examine the satisfaction of nonsurgical...
Galacti chemical evolution: Hygrogen through zinc

Using the output from a grid of 60 Type II supernova models (Woosley & Weaver 1995) of varying mass (11 approx. less than (M/solar mass) approx. less than 40) and metallicity (0, 10(exp -4), 0.01, and 1 solar metallicity), the chemical evolution of 76 stable isotopes, from hydrogen to zinc, is calculated. The chemical evolution calculation employs a simple dynamical model for the Galaxy (infall with a 4 Gyr e-folding timescale onto a exponential dsk and 1/r(exp 2) bulge), and standard evolution parameters, such as a Salpeter initial mass function and a quadratic Schmidt star formation rate. The theoretical results are compared in detail with observed stellar abundances in stars with metallicities in the range -3.0 approx. less than (Fe/H) approx. less than 0.0 dex. While our discussion focuses on the solar neighborhood where there are the most observations, the supernova rates, an intrinsically Galactic quality, are also discussed.
Using Technology to Facilitate Active Learning in Economics Through Experiments

Classroom experiments are becoming increasingly popular as active-learning exercises for courses in economics. There are many situations where technology is needed to facilitate the effective use of classroom experiments. This article examines how computers and wireless handheld devices are being used to enhance the flexibility of classroom experiments and expand their usability to larger classes. Evidence on learning gains from the use of computer-assisted experiments in the classroom is also reported.
TPR1, a novel rifampin derivative demonstrates efficacy alone and in combination with doxycycline against the NIAID Category A Priority Pathogen F. tularensis

Objectives: Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent and contagious gram-negative intracellular bacterium that causes the disease tularemia in mammals and is classified as a Category A priority pathogen. The high infectivity, difficulty of obtaining a durable cure of disseminated disease and the emergence of drug resistance warrants investigation of new drugs that can be used alone and in combination with existing standard of care clinical drugs. Methods: We utilized a systematic analysis of antibacterial potency, extent of dissemination by analysis of bacterial burden in a secondary vital organ, and survival rates to assess the efficacy of a novel rifampicin derivative, TPR1. The efficacy of TPR1 was evaluated alone and in combination with the standard of care drug, doxycycline, against Type A F. tularensis Schu S4 using a lethal pulmonary model of infection in mice. Results: TPR1 has an MIC value range of 0.125-4 mg/L against reference laboratory strain SchuS4 and a panel of clinical strains. TPR1 alone reduced the bacterial burden in the lungs and spleen at 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, and no antagonism was observed when co-administered with doxycycline. Dosing at 40 mg/kg doxycycline reduced the bacterial burden by 1 Log10 CFU in the lungs and 4 Log10 CFU spleen in comparison to untreated controls. Co-administration of TPR1 and doxycycline demonstrated efficacy upon treatment withdrawal after 4 days of treatment, and 100% survival. Conclusions: Significantly, TPR1 demonstrated efficacy when delivered alone and in combination with doxycycline, which provides compelling evidence of a superior treatment strategy that would normally rely on a single chemotherapeutic for efficacy. In addition, this work substantiates the use of rifampicin derivatives as a platform for the development of novel treatments to other bacterial agents in addition to tularemia.
Perceptions of African American Adults With Type 2 Diabetes on Family Support: Type, Quality, and Recommendations.

PurposeThe overall purpose of the study was to explore perceptions of family support in diabetes self-management among African American adults with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA qualitative study using ...
Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel Fetal Guinea Pig Myelomeningocele Model.

Author(s): Stokes, Sarah C; Yamashiro, Kaeli J; Vanover, Melissa A; Galganski, Laura A; Jackson, Jordan E; Theodorou, Christina M; Pivetti, Christopher D; Farmer, Diana Lee; Wang, Aijun | Abstract: IntroductionTranslational models of myelomeningocele (MMC) are needed to test novel in utero interventions. An ideal animal model for MMC has locomotor function at birth and is low cost enough to allow for high throughput. The rat MMC model is limited by immature locomotor function at birth. The ovine MMC model is a costly surgical model. Guinea pigs are uniquely suited for an MMC model being a small animal model with locomotor function at birth. We aimed to develop a retinoic acid (RA) model of MMC in the guinea pig and to evaluate if pregnant guinea pigs could tolerate uterine manipulation.MethodsTime-mated Dunkin Hartley guinea pig dams were dosed with 60 mg/kg of RA between gestation age (GA) 12 and 15 days in the development of an RA model. Fetuses were grossly evaluated for MMC lesions at Cesarean section after GA 31 days. Evaluation of the ability of pregnant guinea pig dams to tolerate uterine surgical intervention was performed by hysterotomy of a separated group of time-mated guinea pigs at GA 45, 50, and 55.ResultsForty-two pregnant guinea pigs were dosed with RA, with a total of 189 fetuses. The fetal demise rate was 38% (n = 71). A total of 118 fetuses were viable, 83% (n = 98) were normal fetuses, 8% (n = 10) had a neural tube defect, and 8% (n = 10) had a hematoma or other anomalies. No fetuses developed an MMC defect. None of the fetuses that underwent hysterotomy survived to term.ConclusionRA dosed at 60 mg/kg in guinea pigs between GA 12 and 15 did not result in MMC. Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs did not tolerate a hysterotomy near term in our surgical model. Further work is needed to determine if MMC can be induced in guinea pigs with alternate RA dosing.
Conflation of Geospatial POI Data and Ground-level Imagery via Link Prediction on Joint Semantic Graph

With the proliferation of smartphone cameras and social networks, we have rich, multi-modal data about points of interest (POIs) - like cultural landmarks, institutions, businesses, etc. - within a given areas of interest (AOI) (e.g., a county, city or a neighborhood) available to us. Data conflation across multiple modalities of data sources is one of the key challenges in maintaining a geographical information system (GIS) which accumulate data about POIs. Given POI data from nine different sources, and ground-level geo-tagged and scene-captioned images from two different image hosting platforms, in this work we explore the application of graph neural networks (GNNs) to perform data conflation, while leveraging a natural graph structure evident in geospatial data. The preliminary results demonstrate the capacity of a GNN operation to learn distributions of entity (POIs and images) features, coupled with topological structure of entity's local neighborhood in a semantic nearest neighbor graph, in order to predict links between a pair of entities.
Health risk assessment of hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorobutadiene residues in fish collected from a hazardous waste contaminated wetland in Louisiana, USA

Improper disposal of hazardous materials has often led to significant adverse effects on environmental quality and human health. This investigation was undertaken to compare the concentration levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) in various fish collected from a local hazardous waste contaminated wetland to those of a control site, and to assess the potential health risk that may be associated with consuming such fish. A total of 201 samples including 146 fish from the study site and 55 fish from a control site were examined. Statistical analyses revealed a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in concentrations between the 2 sites. Mean levels of contaminants in edible tissues were 23.52 ′ 53.54 ng/g (HCB) and 226.33 ′ 778.40 ng/g (HCBD) in the study site, and 2.00 ′ 5.62 ng/g (HCB) and 6.84 ′ 10.41 ng/g (HCBD) in the control site. For the study site, a combined hazard index of 0.65 was computed for a 10-kg child eating 6.5 g of fish per day, while 70-kg adults with daily intakes of 6.5 g toxicant (general population), 30 g (sport fishermen) and 140 g (subsistence fishermen) yielded hazard indices of 0.11, 0.50 and 2.32, respectively; indicating that subsistence fishermen had a higher risk for systemic effects, with an exposure in excess of the EPA-Reference Dose. Cancer risks varied from 3.52x10 - 6 to 75.52x10 - 6 for HCB, and from 1.64x10 - 6 to 35.33x10 - 6 for HCBD, indicating an exposure in excess of the widely accepted risk level of 1x10 - 6 . For the control site, a significantly lower level of exposure was estimated for both HCB and HCBD.
Ethical Judgments by Salespeople and the Impact on between Salespersons and Sales Managers in the Modern Sales Environment

Trust is a core requirement in any successful relationship between salespeople and their supervisors. Trust in a supervisor has found as an antecedent of job satisfaction and turnover intention. It enables cooperative behavior, reduces conflict, and trust in a supervisor is positively related to perceptions of fairness. When salespersons have trust in a supervisor, it has been found to be a mediating factor in the impact of an ethical climate on salespersons attitudes. In times of change, salespeople with a greater trust in the sales manager are generally more accepting of anticipated changes.
Law and Neoclassical Economic Development in Theory and Practice: Toward anInstitutionalist Critique of Institutionalism

Institutionalism propounds a particular set of theoretical assumptions about the role of law in economic growth. In unpacking the development of those assumptions, this Essay adopts a model of intellectual history based on the Kuhnian argument that scientific knowledge evolves through key historical moments that establish theoretical paradigms. These paradigms are replaced only when awareness in the field of anomalies — problems that the existing theoretical paradigm cannot solve — presents a crisis for that paradigm that coincides with the emergence of an "alternate candidate."The paradigm shift in law and development was enabled by dynamics in both the academy and the field. In the academy, the emergence of neoclassicism as an alternate candidate coincided with an internal intellectual crisis arising from the limitations of Keynesianism and, in development economics, statism. This shift was mirrored in the field by the emergence of neoclassicism as a political movement that engendered accompanying changes in the personnel and policy of the development institutions. As such, theory and practice in law and development were linked and mutually reinforcing in describing the arc from modernization to neoclassicism.In adapting a historiographic method to its purposes, this Essay seeks to contribute to economic as well as legal histories of neoclassicism. In doing so, it seeks to specify how influential theories of law in development grew out of a highly idealized conceptual framework wedded to a particular economic policy agenda. Improving law and development discourse will require addressing the theoretical and practical particularities stemming from the field’s genealogical origins.
Relation of Mucoid Growth of Staphylococcus aureus to Clumping Factor Reaction, Morphology in Serum-Soft Agar, and Virulence

The growth characteristics of several strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Brain Heart Infusion and in a modified Staphylococcus Medium No. 110 were compared. In the latter medium all of the strains studied showed an increased mucoid character. Some of the strains studied showed a greater potential to synthesize excess slime layer material than others. The highly mucoid strains grew as diffuse-type colonies in modified Staphylococcus Medium No. 110 serum-soft agar and reacted as though they were negative in the test for clumping factor. These strains were also found to be more virulent when used to challenge normal mice intraperitoneally. Images
Annual variation in vocal performance and its relationship with bill morphology in Lincoln's sparrows, Melospiza lincolnii

Morphology may affect behavioural performance through a direct, physical link or through indirect, secondary mechanisms. Although some evidence suggests that the bill morphology of songbirds directly constrains vocal performance, bill morphology may influence vocal performance through indirect mechanisms also, such as one in which morphology influences foraging and thus the ability to perform some types of vocal behaviour. This raises the possibility for ecologically induced variation in the relationship between morphology and behaviour. To investigate this, I used an information theoretic approach to examine the relationship between bill morphology and several measures of vocal performance in Lincoln's sparrows. I compared this relationship between two breeding seasons that differed markedly in ambient temperatures, phenology of habitat maturation and food abundance. I found a strong curvilinear relationship between bill shape (height/width) and vocal performance in the seemingly less hospitable season but not in the other, leading to a difference between seasons in the population's mean vocal performance. Currently, I do not know the cause of this annual variation. However, it could be due to the effects of bill shape on foraging and therefore on time budget, energy balance, or some other behavioural or physiological response that manifests mostly under difficult environmental conditions or, alternatively, to associations between male quality and both vocal performance and bill shape. Regardless of the cause, these results suggest the presence of an indirect, ecologically mediated link between morphology and behavioural performance, leading to annual variation in the prevailing environment of acoustic signals.