cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Journey to the Borderland: Baylor's Faith in Action Initiative's donation of medical equipment to Ukraine.

The usual way to do medical mission work is to go to a less-developed country and treat sick people. We realized that we could go to Central America or sub-Saharan Africa, perform surgery for a week, and help 25, 30, or perhaps even 40 people. After we left, their overall medical care would not be improved. Through Baylor Health Care System's Faith in Action Initiative, we have chosen instead to obtain used medical equipment and ship it to hospitals in medically underserved areas in foreign countries that need the equipment. We then help the local doctors set it up and learn how to use it. This can positively affect the medical system. Surplus medical equipment in the USA often has little or no commercial value. When US hospitals replace equipment, manufacturers frequently take the old equipment as a trade in, but this is not the same as trading in a used car when buying a new one. The auto dealer can sell the car, so it has a monetary value. The medical equipment manufacturers often cannot resell used high-tech medical equipment because hospitals in the USA do not want to buy used equipment that is obsolescent by our standards. The trade-in is little more than a discount; the manufacturers often discard or even destroy the old equipment. While used medical equipment may not have a monetary value, it still has a useful value since only a portion of its useful life has been used up. Often the manufacturer or the hospital is willing to donate the surplus equipment to be sent to a medically underserved area. This concept is by no means unique with us, but we prefer this strategy because it can upgrade the practice of doctors in medically underserved places and help untold numbers of people. We have worked in Mexico, Romania, and most recently Ukraine.
Pavement Skid Number and Horizontal Curve Safety

Abstract According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Report System, more than 25 percent of fatal crashes occur on horizontal curves. High Friction Surface Treatments are an innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable means of improving roadway safety, which could improve the safety of this alignment. This research involved a comprehensive review of crash data to identify the correlation between pavement skid number, roadway curvature degree, crash rate, and crash severity. The dataset showed that greater injury occurred on higher degrees of curvature, and lower skid numbers correlated to a higher percent of wet road crashes. Also, around a skid number of 55, an increase in skid number no longer resulted in decreased crash rates. The goal of this research is to use these correlations to develop Crash Modification Factor that would integrate pavement friction and horizontal curvature, to enhance the accuracy of the current Highway Safety annual performance function.
Effect of Intraluminal pH on Absorption Rates of Leucine, Water, and Electrolytes in Human Jejunum

Utilizing a triple lumen tube, a jejunal segment of normal subjects was perfused at 15 ml per min with solutions containing either 30 m m mannitol or 30 m m leucine, 140 m m NaCl, 0.4% polyethylene glycol, and varying amounts of HC1. The lengths of the mixing and test segments were 10 and 20 cm, respectively. When the pH of leucine test solutions was lowered from 6.90 to either 3.00 or 2.50, the pH of fluids entering the test segment became acidic but the pH of fluids leaving the segment remained unaffected. Moreover, no remarkable differences in the absorption rates of leucine, water, or electrolytes were noted. Further reduction in the pH of the test solution to 2.25 resulted in acidic fluids both entering and leaving the test segment and in the abolition of net absorption of water, Na+, and Cl−. Leucine absorption was only modestly reduced (21%). Reinfusion of a test solution with a pH of 6.90 promptly reversed all changes. When leucine was not added to the test solutions, a greater amount of HCl was required to maintain an acidic pH in the test segment. But, again, when acidification was produced, the net movements of water and NaCl from the mannitol solution, as in the case of leucine solution, were abolished. Although Na+ and water absorptions were markedly greater from leucine than from mannitol solution, this effect was no longer present when the test segment was acidified. The results of these studies indicate that: (1) the buffering capacity of a jejunal segment is overwhelmed when the pH of acidic solutions presented to its mucosa is lowered below a certain narrow range; (2) when this decompensation occurs, transport processes are markedly impaired; (3) the interaction between Na+ and leucine transport is pH-dependent.
Electronic fetal monitoring: Are we meeting documentation standards?

OBJECTIVE: To test whether fetal heart rate documentation requirements for high-risk pregnancies are too stringent to achieve compliance, especially during the second stage of labor. STUDY DESIGN: Random retrospective chart and monitor strip review of deliveries occurring one year earlier were reviewed. Thirty-four low-risk and 34 high-risk pregnancies were selected and assessed for compliance with nationally accepted documentation guidelines. RESULTS: All monitor strips and charts were successfully retrieved from medical records. Charted documentation of the strips met national requirements in the active phase of the first stage of labor in 97% of cases, as did documentation during the second stage. For high-risk pregnancies, compliance during the active phase of the first stage of labor was 65% as compared to 35% in the second stage. All infants had normal five-minute Apgar scores, and none had umbilical arterial acidemia. CONCLUSION: Given current resources, we cannot reliably meet established documentation standards for high-risk pregnancies. Such overly stringent documentation standards pose a significant risk in cases going to litigation. A standard should be developed that is based on outcome data.
Clusters and communities in air traffic delay networks

The air transportation system is a network of many interacting, capacity-constrained elements. When the demand for airport and airspace resources exceed the available capacities of these resources, delays occur. The state of the air transportation system at any time can be represented as a weighted directed graph in which the nodes correspond to airports, and the weight on each arc is the delay experienced by departures on that origin-destination pair. Over the course of any day, the state of the system progresses through a time-series, where the state at any time-step is the weighted directed graph described above. This paper presents algorithms for the clustering of air traffic delay network data from the US National Airspace System, in order to identify characteristic delay states (i.e., weighted directed graphs) as well as characteristic types-of-days (i.e., sequences of such weighted directed graphs) that are experienced by the air transportation system. The similarity of delay states during clustering are evaluated on the basis of not only the in- and out-degrees of the nodes (the total inbound and outbound delays), but also network-theoretic properties such as the eigenvector centralities, and the hub and authority scores of different nodes. Finally, the paper looks at community detection, that is, the grouping of nodes (airports) based on their similarities within a system delay state. The type of day is found to have an impact on the observed community structures.
Targeting the Enterohepatic Bile Acid Signaling Induces Hepatic Autophagy via a CYP7A1–AKT–mTOR Axis in Mice

Background & Aims Hepatic cholesterol accumulation and autophagy defects contribute to hepatocyte injury in fatty liver disease. Bile acid synthesis is a major pathway for cholesterol catabolism in the liver. This study aims to understand the molecular link between cholesterol and bile acid metabolism and hepatic autophagy activity. Methods The effects of cholesterol and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expression on autophagy and lysosome function were studied in cell models. The effects and mechanism of disrupting enterohepatic bile acid circulation on hepatic autophagy were studied in mice. Results The results first showed differential regulation of hepatic autophagy by free cholesterol and cholesterol ester, whereby a modest increase of cellular free cholesterol, but not cholesterol ester, impaired lysosome function and caused marked autolysosome accumulation. We found that CYP7A1 induction, either by cholestyramine feeding in mice or adenovirus-mediated CYP7A1 expression in hepatocytes, caused strong autophagy induction. Mechanistically, we showed that CYP7A1 expression markedly attenuated growth factor/AKT signaling activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), but not amino acid signaling to mTOR in vitro and in vivo. Metabolomics analysis further found that CYP7A1 induction not only decreased hepatic cholesterol but also altered phospholipid and sphingolipid compositions. Collectively, these results suggest that CYP7A1 induction interferes with growth factor activation of AKT/mTOR signaling possibly by altering membrane lipid composition. Finally, we showed that cholestyramine feeding restored impaired hepatic autophagy and improved metabolic homeostasis in Western diet–fed mice. Conclusions This study identified a novel CYP7A1–AKT–mTOR signaling axis that selectively induces hepatic autophagy, which helps improve hepatocellular integrity and metabolic homeostasis.
A Visualization Tool to convey Quantitative in vivo, 3D Knee Joint Kinematics

The overall goal of the virtual functional anatomy (VFA) project is to fill the important knowledge gap that exists in the relationship between functional movement limitations and impaired joint structure or function. Thus, a set of imaging-based post-processing tools is under development to enable dynamic and static magnetic resonance image (MRI) data to be merged. These tools will provide accurate quantification and visualization of 3D static and dynamic properties of musculoskeletal anatomy (i.e. skeletal kinematics, tendon and ligament strain, muscle force, cartilage contact). The current focus is to apply the six-degree of freedom joint kinematics to subject specific models and to quantify dynamic musculoskeletal properties, such as tendon moment arm, muscle moment arms, joint cartilage contact and tendon strain. To date, these tools have been used to study joint function of healthy and impaired (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, ACL rupture and patellar tracking syndrome) joint structures under simulated conditions experienced during activities of daily living.
Molecular Biology of Friend Viral Erythroleukemia

Friend virus induces rapid progressive erythroleukemia in susceptible mice. To oncologists and to cell biologists, this disease has provided a fascinating model for analyzing neoplastic progression, the role of host genes in controlling susceptibility to cancer, and the differentiation of erythroid cells in culture. However, to molecular biologists, Friend virus (and the closely related Rauscher and Cas virus complexes) has been generally viewed as a relatively complex anomaly. The virus lacks a classical oncogene of the sort typified by the src gene of Rous sarcoma virus. Such classical viral oncogenes (v-oncs) are modified versions of normal cellular genes (proto-oncogenes or c-oncs) and they are present in all of the other known retroviruses that cause rapidly developing neoplasms (Bishop 1983, 1985; Weinberg 1985). The c-oncs have been highly conserved throughout evolution, and there, is evidence that they perform important cellular functions. Because Friend virus lacks such a modified cellular gene and contains only retroviral-specific nucleic acid sequences, and because it induces a progressively developing neoplasm rather than an immediate cancer, it has been widely assumed that it is relatively “different” and “complex,” perhaps too different to provide general insights and too complex for molecular biological analysis.
Canada’s corruption at home and abroad: An introduction to the special issue

ABSTRACTAlthough Canada is widely regarded as among the least corrupt countries of the world, and so evaluated by the leading indexes, corruption still exists in today’s Canada. This introduction to a special issue on the nature of corruption in Canada recalls corrupt eras in the nation’s not-so-distant past and in the years of this decade. Although space prohibited articles on every aspect of Canada’s lingering corruption, the special issue managed to contain new discussions of corruption among the First Nations, corruption in the armed forces, corruption in the delivery of foreign assistance, corruption overseas by Canadian corporations, and corruption in the defense industry. A final article indicates the kinds of remedies available to reduce future outbreaks of corruption in Canada.
Flexibility in the face of fear: hippocampal–prefrontal regulation of fear and avoidance

Generating appropriate defensive behaviors in the face of threat is essential to survival. Although many of these behaviors are ‘hard-wired’, they are also flexible. For example, Pavlovian fear conditioning generates learned defensive responses, such as conditioned freezing, that can be suppressed through extinction. The expression of extinguished responses is highly context-dependent, allowing animals to engage behavioral responses appropriate to the contexts in which threats are encountered. Likewise, animals and humans will avoid noxious outcomes if given the opportunity. In instrumental avoidance learning, for example, animals overcome conditioned defensive responses, including freezing, in order to actively avoid aversive stimuli. Recent work has greatly advanced understanding of the neural basis of these phenomena and has revealed common circuits involved in the regulation of fear. Specifically, the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex play pivotal roles in gating fear reactions and instrumental actions, mediated by the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, respectively. Because an inability to adaptively regulate fear and defensive behavior is a central component of many anxiety disorders, the brain circuits that promote flexible responses to threat are of great clinical significance.
An empirical survey of performance and energy efficiency variation on Intel processors

Traditional HPC performance and energy characterization approaches assume homogeneity and predictability in the performance of the target processor platform. Consequently, processor performance variation has been considered to be a secondary issue in the broader problem of performance characterization. In this work, we present an empirical survey of the variation in processor performance and energy efficiency on several generations of HPC-grade Intel processors. Our study shows that, compared to the previous generation of Intel processors, the problem of performance variation has become worse on more recent generation of Intel processors. Specifically, the performance variation across processors on a large-scale production HPC cluster at LLNL has increased to 20% and the run-to-run variation in the performance of individual processors has increased to 15%. We show that this variation is further magnified under a hardware-enforced power constraint, potentially due to the increase in number of cores, inconsistencies in the chip manufacturing process and their combined impact on processor's energy management functionality. Our experimentation with a hardware-enforced processor power constraint shows that the variation in processor performance and energy efficiency has increased by up to 4x on the latest Intel processors.
Alternative futures and their implications for army modernization

Abstract : As it carries out its long-term force structure and modernization plans, one useful approach for the Army to take is based on the analysis of "alternative futures." Having developed several plausible alternative futures (looking out roughly 25 years), the authors describe each one's possible implications for the Army's likely mission and the forces required for those missions, discussing the impact on Army modernization plans. The futures range from a benign, relatively peaceful world all the way to a dangerous, chaotic world containing many "failed states." The research indicated that the creation of medium forces was a good long-range strategy for the Army, since those forces appeared to be relevant in many of the possible futures. Traditional heavy forces were found to be useful in a limited number of the possible futures and should therefore receive relatively fewer modernization resources. Army aviation appeared to be applicable to most of the futures, but there could be a need to shift the balance from attack-type aviation to transport aircraft, depending on which future appeared more likely. In all cases, increased C4ISR seemed to be a very important capability. Even within that category, however, there might be a need to focus C4ISR resources in different ways. For example, in some futures, there would be a need to stress unconventional operations in urban areas rather than systems more applicable to locating conventional enemy forces in open terrain.
Accuracy Between AJSM Author-Reported Disclosures and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments Database.

Background:Inaccurate disclosures of physician and industry relationships in scientific reporting may create an asymmetry of information by hiding potential biases. The accuracy of conflict of inte...
An Extensive Description of the Peptidomic Repertoire of the Hen Egg Yolk Plasma

Hen egg is a raw material widely used for the preparation of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetoceutical products. Dedicated proteomic studies were accomplished on eggshell membrane, egg white, and yolk, identifying the most abundant proteins. No similar peptidomic studies have been performed so far. Only preliminary investigations on bioactive peptides in egg fractions and digestates were accomplished through functional screening assays, characterizing antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antihypertensive preparations and isolated components. This study fills this gap and provides a comprehensive picture of the peptides present in the yolk plasma of different hen egg types after 24 and 264 h of laying, taking advantage of a procedure based on a two-step fractionation followed by combined MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS- and nanoLC-ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS-based analysis. Six hundred and twenty-eight peptides were characterized as deriving from the proteolytic processing of larger protein components af...
Formulation of a Burgers’ equation for shock waves in a turbulent atmosphere

The theoretical formulation of a Burgers’ equation accounting for the attenuation and dispersion of shock waves due to scattering in a turbulent medium is presented. The physical effect treated here is in addition to the effects of geometric spreading, large-scale inhomogeneity, nonlinearity, viscous and thermal dissipation, and molecular vibrational relaxation. Although all Burgers’ equations are inherently a one-way approximation, here the scattering effects are incorporated into the Burgers’ equation through a correction to the small-amplitude sound speed. Such a correction is obtained from the full wave equation using a perturbative technique, and physically arises from multiple scattering of the signal due to small-scale inhomogeneities. The sound speed correction is complex, and is dependent on the frequency and the variance and length scale of the fluctuations. The real part of the correction gives rise to the dispersion of the signal while the imaginary part leads to signal attenuation. The latter...
THEORY OF PRODUCTION

This chapter focuses on the motivations, objectives, and decisions of the producer. A producer's primary aim is to produce and sell the goods, services, and make profits. In economics terminology, the final or finished product is the output, while the resources used for production are the inputs. The production method, or a combination of methods and processes, is called technology. The production function is a technical relationship between the output and the inputs under a specified set of conditions. More complex functions relate many different forms of output to several variables. The inputs may be classified as being either fixed or variable, depending on the circumstances. Those inputs that may be varied are usually called variable inputs, while those whose quantities are invariant are referred to as fixed inputs. Production theory is discussed in terms of either the short run or the long run. These “runs” do not necessarily imply different lengths of time, but rather the circumstances surrounding production.
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction

Primary goals in diagnosis and treatment of functional bladder disorders: 1. Stop urinary incontinence. 2. Reduce associated UTI.
The privacy rule (HIPAA) as it relates to clinical research.

The Privacy Rule has increased the complexity of life for an investigator engaged in research with human subjects. However, contrary to the fears of many and the claims of some, the Privacy Rule need not stifle such research. By understanding all of the regulations that govern research with human subjects, including the Common Rule, FDA regulations and the Privacy Rule, investigators are able to perform scientifically sound and ethical research. The IRB with which the investigator works can be a valuable resource to guide the research team as the study is designed and submitted for approval.
MINLP optimization strategies and algorithms for process synthesis

Abstract: "This paper will attempt to show that one of the trends in the area of process synthesis is its gradual evolution towards the mathematical programming approach. This is in part due to the fundamental understanding that has been gained on the nature of the synthesis problems over the last twenty years. However, another major part has to do with the development of new and more powerful mathematical programming algorithms. In particular, the development of new MINLP algorithms, coupled with advances in computers and software, is opening promising possibilities to rigorously model, optimize and automate synthesis problems. A general overview of the MINLP approach and algorithms will be presented in this paper with the aim of gaining a basic understanding of these techniques.Strengths and weaknesses will be discussed, as well as difficulties and challenges that still need to be overcome. In particular, it will be shown how proper problem representations, effective modelling schemes and solution strategies can play a crucial role in the successful application of these techniques. The application of MINLP algorithms in process synthesis will be illustrated with several examples."
Abstract P1109: Cholesterol Regulation of Hydrogen Sulfide-Mediated Vasodilation

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is produced within the vascular wall by cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE). CSE is expressed throughout the vascular tree however, the sensitivity to H2S-induced dilation in small r...
Neurocritical Care for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients.

Objectives To review the neurocritical care aspects of patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including cerebral physiology, neurologic monitoring, use of sedatives and anti-seizure medications, and prevalence and management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation associated brain injury. Data sources PubMed database search using relevant search terms related to neurologic complications, neurocritical care management, and brain injury management in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Study selection Articles included original investigations, review articles, consensus statements and guidelines. Data extraction A detailed review of publications performed and relevant publications were summarized. Data synthesis We found no practice guidelines or management strategies for the neurocritical care of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients. Such patients are at high risk for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, and brain death. Improving clinical outcomes will depend on better defining the neurologic complications and underlying pathophysiology that are specific to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Currently, insufficient understanding of the pathophysiology of neurologic complications prevents us from addressing their etiologies with specific, targeted monitoring techniques and interventions. Conclusions A large knowledge gap exists in our understanding and treatment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related neurologic complications. A systematic and multidisciplinary approach is needed to reduce the prevalence of these complications and to better manage the neurologic sequelae of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a way that will improve patient outcomes.
An analysis of the vascular injuries and attempted resuscitation surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Abstract Martin Luther King Jr was the most prominent civil rights leader in the United States in the 1960s. He was shot by an assassin in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. After the shooting he was taken to a local hospital where he had an unsuccessful resuscitation for a right subclavian artery transection. Despite the fact that the circumstances around the assassination have been frequently reported and reviewed in the past 50 years, the specific vascular care of the traumatic injury has not been analyzed. This paper reviews the medical aspects of the King assassination and the management of his subclavian injury.
Incidence of Sturge–Weber syndrome and associated ocular involvement in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States

Background: Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare sporadic syndrome characterized by nevus flammeus (port-wine stain, PWS) in the trigeminal nerve distribution, diffuse choroidal hemangioma, and brain leptomeningeal hemangioma. We are unaware of previous reports of SWS incidence in the United States. This study investigated SWS incidence and associated ocular involvement in Olmsted County, Minnesota.Materials and methods: The Rochester Epidemiology Project database was used to identify SWS cases from January 1, 2000-December 31, 2017. Incidence of SWS was calculated using the Olmsted County census population. A literature review of studies investigating SWS-associated ocular involvement was also performed.Results: There were 13 patients with SWS in Olmsted County classified as type 1 (31%) or type 2 (69%). Age and sex-adjusted incidence of SWS was 0.19/100,000/year. Race was predominantly Caucasian (85%), with sex female (69%) or male (31%). All patients had PWS, mostly with unilateral distribution in the V1 and/or V2 region (85%). Two cases (15%) had associated Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. The most common ocular features included: dilated episcleral vessels (46%), glaucoma (46%), retinal detachment (23%), DCH (7.7%), strabismus (31%), and refractive error (38%). PWS in the V1 distribution was associated with all cases of glaucoma, DCH, and neurological involvement. Severe visual impairment (>0.6 LogMAR, Snellen equivalent ≤20/100) was found in (23%) at final follow-up, and one patient (8%) required enucleation for uncontrolled glaucoma.Conclusions: SWS affects approximately 0.19/100,000/year in Olmsted County. Early diagnosis, intervention, lifelong follow-up, and multidisciplinary approach should be used to optimize systemic and ocular outcomes.
Exploring health care experiences of transgender people living in Texas

Abstract Background Although the transgender population in the United States is greater than 1.4 million, health care experiences in this group are underaddressed. Purpose To explore the health care experiences of transgender people in Texas. Methods This was an exploratory, sequential multimethod study. In Phase 1, to identify key health-related topics, a self-selected sample of 14 participants completed an online survey. In Phase 2, the focus was understanding care experiences for 12 participants using audio-recorded interviews and theme identification. NVivo software was used for data management. Findings In Phase 1, findings included needing to: educate providers (89%), correct care staff on pronoun use (75%), tolerate staff's refusal to use one's preferred pronoun (50%). In Phase 2, four themes emerged: discrimination, provider practices, challenges to navigating the health care system, and gender identity. Discussion Valuing transgender experiences is a first step in addressing care gaps. Change will require provider introspection and application of care guidelines.
Understanding the Economic Behavior of the Medically Uninsured in the United States

Previous research defining the health consequences of being medically uninsured show worse access, poorer health outcomes, and higher rates of premature death as compared to their insured counterparts. Adding to this literature, the present study investigated the associative role of health insurance with personal finance health behaviors. In a representative sample of the general population, our adjusted models indicated significant relationships (both positive and negative) between being uninsured and these personal finance behaviors. Therefore, future work using longitudinal data must build upon the present study to accurately determine the relative financial risk an individual takes on by being uninsured.
Validation of a binary ethylenimine (BEI) inactivation procedure for biosafety treatment of foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV), vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV), and swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV).

Abstract Binary ethylenimine (BEI) has been widely used as a virucide to inactivate viruses. For regulatory exclusion of a select agent, the United States Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) requires an inactivation procedure that renders a select agent non-viable but allows the select agent to retain antigenic characteristics for future use must be validated, and the inactivated agent must be confirmed by a viability testing. In this curve-based validation study, we examined impacts of BEI concentration, treatment temperature, and time on our in-house inactivation procedures of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), and Swine Vesicular Disease Virus (SVDV). The inactivation efficacy was confirmed by virus titration and 3 consecutive blind passages on the monolayers of susceptible cells. A linear correlation between the virus titer reduction and BEI concentration, treatment time, and temperature was established. The results confirmed our in-house BEI inactivation procedure of two doses of 1.5 mM BEI treatment at 37 °C, 1st dose for 24 h, then 2nd dose for 6 more hours for a total of 30 h BEI contact time, can ensure complete inactivation of FMDV, VSV, and SVDV.
Quantitative Measurement of IgG to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Proteins Using ImmunoCAP.

Background Detailed understanding of the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (CO-VID-19) has been hampered by a lack of quantitative antibody assays. Objective The objective was to develop a quantitative assay for IgG to SARS-CoV-2 proteins that could be implemented in clinical and research laboratories. Methods The biotin-streptavidin technique was used to conjugate SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) or nucleocapsid protein to the solid phase of the ImmunoCAP. Plasma and serum samples from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 60) and samples from donors banked before the emergence of COVID-19 (n = 109) were used in the assay. SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were followed longitudinally in a subset of samples and were related to total IgG and IgG to reference antigens using an ImmunoCAP 250 platform. Results At a cutoff of 2.5 μg/mL, the assay demonstrated sensitivity and specificity exceeding 95% for IgG to both SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Among 36 patients evaluated in a post-hospital follow-up clinic, median levels of IgG to spike-RBD and nucleocapsid were 34.7 μg/mL (IQR 18-52) and 24.5 μg/mL (IQR 9-59), respectively. Among 17 patients with longitudinal samples, there was a wide variation in the magnitude of IgG responses, but generally the response to spike-RBD and to nucleocapsid occurred in parallel, with peak levels approaching 100 μg/mL, or 1% of total IgG. Conclusions We have described a quantitative assay to measure IgG to SARS-CoV-2 that could be used in clinical and research laboratories and implemented at scale. The assay can easily be adapted to measure IgG to mutated COVID-19 proteins, has good performance characteristics, and has a readout in standardized units.
Volumetric growth rates of untreated cavernous sinus meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE Meningiomas that arise primarily within the cavernous sinus are often believed to be more indolent in their growth pattern. Despite this perceived growth pattern, disabling symptoms can arise even with small tumors. While research has been done on cavernous sinus meningiomas (CSMs) and their treatment, very little is known about their natural growth rates. With a better understanding of the growth rate of CSM, patient treatment and guidance can be can optimized and individualized. The goal of this study was to determine volumetric growth rates of untreated CSMs. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with 166 MR images obtained between May 2004 and September 2019 were reviewed, with a range of 2-13 MR images per patient (average of 4.5 MR images per patient). These scans were obtained over an average follow-up period of 45.9 months (median 33.8, range 2.8-136.9 months). All imaging prior to any intervention was included in this analysis. Volumetric measurements were performed and assessed over time. RESULTS The estimated volumetric growth rate was 23.3% per year (95% CI 10.2%-38.0%, p 13.9 years), 32% (12) were designated as slow growth (annual growth rate 5%-20%, VDT 3.5-13.9 years), 38% (14) were found to have medium growth (annual growth rate 20%-100%, VDT 0.7-3.5 years), and 8% were considered fast growing (annual growth rate > 100%, VDT < 0.7 years). CONCLUSIONS This study evaluated CSM volumetric growth rates. A deeper understanding of the natural history of untreated CSMs allows for better counseling and management of patients.
Large Lipoma of the Mouth Floor.

Lipomas are one of the most common benign connective tissue masses in the human body. They rarely cause issues and are typically removed for cosmetic reasons. They rarely appear in the oral cavity though they are common. Thus, only a few sublingual lipoma cases have been reported. We present a case of a male in his 60s who came to our clinic complaining of dysphagia and dysarthria caused by an oral swelling from a right sublingual simple lipoma. It was decided to be removed surgically under general anesthesia, with neuromonitoring of the right hypoglossal nerve. The patient tolerated the surgery without complications and fully recovered with complete resolution of his mass effect symptoms. This case demonstrated the importance of having a wide differential diagnosis of oral lesions, especially in a patient with a complicated medical history. Though it is not used often, the case also demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of intraoperative hypoglossal nerve monitoring during sublingual surgeries.
Voiding defects in acute radiation cystitis driven by urothelial barrier defect through loss of E-cadherin, ZO-1 and Uroplakin III

Long term-side effects from cancer therapies are a growing health care concern as life expectancy among cancer survivors increases. Damage to the bladder is common in patients treated with radiation therapy for pelvic cancers and can result in radiation (hemorrhagic) cystitis (RC). The disease progression of RC consists of an acute and chronic phase, separated by a symptom-free period. Gaining insight in tissue changes associated with these phases is necessary to develop appropriate interventions. Using a mouse preclinical model, we have previously shown that fibrosis and vascular damage are the predominant pathological features of chronic RC. The goal of this study was to determine the pathological changes during acute RC. We identified that radiation treatment results in a temporary increase in micturition frequency and decrease in void volume 4-8 weeks after irradiation. Histologically, the micturition defect is associated with thinning of the urothelium, loss of urothelial cell-cell adhesion and tight junction proteins and decrease in uroplakin III expression. By 12 weeks, the urothelium had regenerated and micturition patterns were similar to littermate controls. No inflammation or fibrosis were detected in bladder tissues after irradiation. We conclude that functional bladder defects during acute RC are driven primarily by a urothelial defect.
Sports, Narrative, and Nation in the Fiction of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Introduction: Fitzgerald, Sport, and Social Interaction Chapter One: "We Are a Very Special Country": The Narrativization of Sport and the Fiction of a Classless Nation Chapter Two: Gridiron Paradise: Princetonian Football, American Class Chapter Three: "Idol of the Whole Body of Young Men": Football, Heroes, and the Performance of Social Status Chapter Four: "Perfunctory Patriotism": Tom Buchanan, Meyer Wolfshiem, and America's Game Coda: Of Habitus and Homecoming Notes Bibliography Index
Search Costs, Lags and Prices at the Pump

Evidence is mounting that long lags and asymmetric price responses to changes in wholesale prices are characteristic of many retail markets. Although long lags are often attributed to search costs, little empirical evidence exists to support this claim. The analysis offered in this paper compares price responses in gasoline and diesel markets in 15 U.S. cities. Search costs vary across these two markets, and the evidence indicates a much faster response in the diesel market where search costs are lower. Asymmetric responses, where prices rise faster than they fall, are also evident in the data. While asymmetric responses have been attributed to oligopolistic behavior, the arguments presented in this paper point to search theory as an alternative explanation.
Nonidentical times of gene expression in two strains of Saccharomyces, cerevisiae with mapping differences☆

Abstract α-aminoadipic acid reductase activity and galactokinase activity were both found to be periodically synthesized in synchronized cultures of baker's yeast. In strain S288C (wild type map of Chromosome II) the synthetic period of the reductase began at 0.25–.35 fraction of a generation while that for the kinase began at 0.45–.55 fraction of a generation. However, in strain 61009 where gal1 (the gene for galactokinase) and lys2 (the gene for α-aminoadipic acid reductase) map in entirely different positions, the respective enzyme activities begin to accumulate at 0.15-0.25 and 0.65-0.75 fraction of a generation. These results indicate that transcriptional control of the timing of periods of enzyme synthesis in at least one eucaryote is influenced by the position of the structural gene on the chromosome.
Foundations of Constrained Optimization

This chapter presents the foundations of nonlinearly constrained optimization, or nonlinear programming. We emphasize general methods and highlight their key components, such as approximate subproblem and global convergence mechanism. We summarize convergence results.
Spontaneous QBO-like oscillations in an atmospheric model dynamical core

[1] The ability of general circulation models (GCMs) to simulate the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is an important model characteristic. Typically, the moist convective parameterization is believed to be the key GCM component that triggers tropical waves, thereby forcing wave-mean flow interactions. We show that QBO-like oscillations can also be simulated in a dry dynamical core driven by the Held-Suarez forcing. No gravity wave drag parameterization is applied. The simulations utilize the semi-Lagrangian spectral transform dynamical core of National Center for Atmospheric Research's Community Atmosphere Model. The QBO-like signal has a long period between 42–45 months and occurs in the upper stratosphere; different from observations. However, the amplitudes, asymmetries, and meridional extent closely resemble the observed QBO. Wave-number frequency analysis shows that resolved equatorially trapped waves are abundant despite the absence of cumulus convection. A Transformed Eulerian-Mean analysis suggests that the divergence of the Eliassen-Palm flux and vertical advection provide most of the forcing counteracted by diffusion.
Creating a GIS from NOAA electronic navigational charts

NOAA's Electronic Navigational Charts (NOAA ENC/spl reg/s) have been developed to support the marine transportation infrastructure and coastal management. The NOAA ENCs are in S-57, a data standard developed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to be used for the exchange of digital hydrographic data. NOAA ENCs can be incorporated into geographic information systems (GIS) extending NOAA ENCs use and accessibility. However, many GIS's, cannot read an ENCs native S-57 format. To address this problem, "NOAA's ENC Direct to GIS" ( ENC Direct) Web portal provides comprehensive access to all available large scale NOAA ENC data in a variety of GIS/CAD formats for non-navigational purposes using Internet mapping service technology. Nautical chart features contained within an NOAA ENC provide a detailed representation of the U.S. coastal and marine environment. This data includes coastal topography, bathymetry, landmarks, geographic place names and marine boundaries. Features in an NOAA ENC are limited in that they only represent the geographic region that is depicted in that particular NOAA ENC. By aggregating nautical features from NOAA ENCs in the creation of GIS data, a contiguous depiction of the U.S coastal and marine environment is achieved. In the Internet mapping service, marine and coastal features are represented as layers organized into categorical groups. Using the Internet mapping service's GIS tools, ENC Direct layers can be explored. Because the data is not certified for navigation, symbolization of ENC Direct data is generalized. Geographic place name labels also provide orientation. ENC Direct allows users to specify output format, coordinate system and the spatial extent of the data they wish to download through query and selection tools.
Substance use and related problems among U.S. women who identify as mostly heterosexual

We used data from a nationally representative sample to compare substance use outcomes among adult women who identified as mostly heterosexual with those who identified as exclusively (only) heterosexual.
A Rhizobium radiobacter Histidine Kinase Can Employ Both Boolean AND and OR Logic Gates to Initiate Pathogenesis

The molecular logic gates that regulate gene circuits are necessarily intricate and highly regulated, particularly in the critical commitments necessary for pathogenesis. We now report simple AND and OR logic gates to be accessible within a single protein receptor. Pathogenesis by the bacterium Rhizobium radiobacter is mediated by a single histidine kinase, VirA, which processes multiple small molecule host signals (phenol and sugar). Mutagenesis analyses converged on a single signal integration node, and finer functional analyses revealed that a single residue could switch VirA from a functional AND logic gate to an OR gate where each of two signals activate independently. Host range preferences among natural strains of R. radiobacter correlate with these gate logic strategies. Although the precise mechanism for the signal integration node requires further analyses, long-range signal transmission through this histidine kinase can now be exploited for synthetic signaling circuits.
Stories of self, stories of practice: Enacting a vision of socially just pedagogy for Latino youth

This narrative inquiry examines how one Latina novice teacher articulates and implements a vision of teaching for social justice within the contexts of her teacher education program and her practice as a bilingual resource teacher. Informed by Latino/a critical race (LatCrit) theory, the analysis traces connections between stories of self and practice, focusing on her development of an innovative middle school literacy course for Spanish speakers. This article highlights the ways in which she recruits her experiences as a member of a marginalized group and brings them to bear on practice in the crafting of a critical pedagogy that takes learners’ interests and concerns as central while encouraging social action. Findings are discussed in light of the following themes: critical questioning and resistance; analysis of systems of oppression and positioning; and encouraging social action and practicing democracy. This study has implications for teacher preparation committed to socially just pedagogies for all...
Evaluation of Two Acceleration Techniques in a Multithreaded 2D Poisson Equation Solver

Abstract Two acceleration techniques, based on additive corrections are evaluated with a multithreaded 2D Poisson equation solver. The popular multigrid algorithm with 2-level grid is compared with the traditional block-correction strategy. In both, single-processor and distributed architectures, block correction is faster than the multigrid due mainly to the smaller cost that the solution of a 1D linear system has over one 2D linear system. Results in both cluster tested show that block correction can reduce significantly the computing time in the solution of very large linear systems. These calculations confirm that the Red/Black ordering is effective only if data fit entirely in cache memory.
Oxidation studies of selected lanthanides in acetonitrile

Abstract Cerium(III), praseodymium(III) and terbium(III) nitrates were subjected to prolonged (3–24 h) ozonolysis in the presence of oxygen donor ligands in acetonitrile at 70 °C in an effort to stabilize the IV oxidation state of these metal ions. From spectroscopic and electrochemical studies it was determined that the lanthanides were oxidized to the IV oxidation state. Acetonitrile solutions of cerium(III) nitrate and cerium(III) chloride in the presence of triphenylarsine oxide (TPAsO) were also subjected to prolonged bubbling with air or oxygen at 70 °C. It was determined from spectroscopic studies that at least partial oxidation to the IV oxidation state of cerium occurred.
Workload and Patient Safety Among Critical Care Nurses

Several dimensions of workload experienced by nurses working in ICUs are described in this article, including the physical workload related to patient handling. The effects of workload on various outcomes, such as the health, safety, and quality of working life of nurses, and the safety of care provided by ICU nurses are discussed. A systemic approach to the assessment of workload is proposed that is aimed at identifying the work system factors that contribute to the different facets of workload and the interdependencies among the various dimensions of workload.