cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
γ-Tocotrienol as a Promising Countermeasure for Acute Radiation Syndrome: Current Status

The hazard of ionizing radiation exposure due to nuclear accidents or terrorist attacks is ever increasing. Despite decades of research, still, there is a shortage of non-toxic, safe and effective medical countermeasures for radiological and nuclear emergency. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved only two growth factors, Neupogen (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), filgrastim) and Neulasta (PEGylated G-CSF, pegfilgrastim) for the treatment of hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS) following the Animal Efficacy Rule. Promising radioprotective efficacy results of γ-tocotrienol (GT3; a member of the vitamin E family) in the mouse model encouraged its further evaluation in the nonhuman primate (NHP) model. These studies demonstrated that GT3 significantly aided the recovery of radiation-induced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia compared to the vehicle controls; these results particularly significant after exposure to 5.8 or 6.5 Gray (Gy) whole body γ-irradiation. The stimulatory effect of GT3 on neutrophils and thrombocytes (platelets) was directly and positively correlated with dose; a 75 mg/kg dose was more effective compared to 37.5 mg/kg. GT3 was also effective against 6.5 Gy whole body γ-irradiation for improving neutrophils and thrombocytes. Moreover, a single administration of GT3 without any supportive care was equivalent, in terms of improving hematopoietic recovery, to multiple doses of Neupogen and two doses of Neulasta with full supportive care (including blood products) in the NHP model. GT3 may serve as an ultimate radioprotector for use in humans, particularly for military personnel and first responders. In brief, GT3 is a promising radiation countermeasure that ought to be further developed for U.S. FDA approval for the ARS indication.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Microarray Analysis of Genetic Alterations in Cancer

The identification of structural genetic alterations, including DNA amplifications, deletions, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH), using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays has provided important insights into the pathogenesis of a number of hematologic malignancies. Currently available SNP arrays comprise over a million SNP and copy number oligonucleotide probes that interrogate the genome at sub-kilobase resolution. The accurate detection of DNA copy number abnormalities and LOH is critically dependent on the use of high-quality DNA, the use of matched reference samples wherever possible, optimal normalization of raw microarray data, and computational algorithms to detect copy number alterations sensitively and robustly. This chapter provides methods and guidelines for preparing samples, processing and analyzing data, and validation of novel lesions. Specific examples are provided for Affymetrix SNP arrays in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Surgical Treatment of Deformity and Coital Difficulty in Healed Traumatic Rupture of the Corpora Cavernosa

AbstractExperience with 2 cases of healed traumatic rupture of the corpora cavernosa has demonstrated success in restoration of function by surgical intervention when previous conservative treatment proved unsuccessful.
The Shang State as Seen in the Oracle-Bone Inscriptions

This paper was first prepared as a documentary appendix to “The Late Shang State: When, Where, and What?” (to be published in the conference volume, The Origins of Chinese Civilization), which, by analyzing a series of thirty-nine “state criteria” under the general headings of Sovereignty, Territoriality, Religion and Kinship, Alliance and Warfare, and Exchange, attempted to classify the state in developmental terms. The present paper presents the documentary evidence in more detail by translating and discussing characteristic Inscriptions (generally from period I, the reign of Wu Ting) within each of the thirty-nine criteria. In so far as possible, the discussion focuses on the case of the Chou as a Shang state member. The evidence is particularly valuable because of the insights it gives Into the daily activities of the Shang theocrat.
Pharmacological mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular effects of the "bath salt" constituent 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV).

Background and Purpose 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a synthetic cathinone with stimulatory cardiovascular effects that can lead to serious medical complications. Here we examined the pharmacological mechanisms underlying these cardiovascular actions of MDPV in conscious rats. Experimental Approach Male Sprague-Dawley rats had telemetry transmitters surgically implanted for the measurement of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). On test days, rats were placed individually in standard isolation cubicles. Following drug treatment, cardiovascular parameters were monitored for 3 h sessions. Key Results Racemic MDPV (0.3–3.0 mg/kg) increased BP and HR in a dose-dependent manner. The S(+) enantiomer (0.3–3.0 mg/kg) of MDPV produced similar effects, while the R(-) enantiomer (0.3–3.0 mg/kg) had no effects. Neither of the hydroxylated phase I metabolites of MDPV altered cardiovascular parameters significantly from baseline. Pretreatment with the ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine (1 and 3 mg/kg) antagonized the increases in BP and HR produced by 1 mg/kg MDPV. The α-adrenergic antagonist prazosin (0.3 mg/kg) attenuated the increase in BP following MDPV, while the β-adrenergic antagonists propranolol (1 mg/kg) and atenolol (1 and 3 mg/kg) attenuated the HR increases. Conclusions and Implications The S(+) enantiomer appears to mediate MDPV's cardiovascular effects, while the metabolites of MDPV do not alter BP or HR significantly. MDPV produces increases in BP and HR through activation of central sympathetic outflow. Mixed-action α/β-receptor blockers may be useful as treatments in counteracting the adverse cardiovascular effects of MDPV.
The Oppositional Cultures and Urbanity in Oklahoma Health Care

This paper studies rurality and urbanity (in the state of Oklahoma, and elsewhere) as bona fide cultural realities, and explores the consequences of rural/urban cultural differences and conflict for health care in rural settings. The methodology of exploring multiple viewpoints (borrowed from anthropology, as the emic/etic distinction), and the statuses and power associated with these perspectives, is fruitful in elucidating many long-standing issues in rural health care: access, isolation, boundaries, units of measurement, sense of place, stigma, identity, etc. From twenty-three years as a clinically applied psychodynamically- oriented medical anthropologist in rural and urban Oklahoma settings, the author provides numerous vignettes to illustrate the methodological and theoretical points made. The paper concludes that a powerful barrier to improved rural health care is the reciprocal stereotyping between rural and urban cultures, a binary opposition, that prevents accurate assessment of needs and realities.
Alcohol and Cognition

Epidemiological studies have observed that older adults who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol have higher cognitive functioning and are less likely to develop different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, compared to older adults who do not consume alcohol. Similar findings have been reported by studies that have examined midlife alcohol consumption and cognitive functioning during old age. The apparent benefits of consuming light to moderate amounts of alcohol have been attributed to increased cell proliferation in specific regions of the brain, antioxidative properties of alcohol, and reduced risk for health conditions associated with accelerated cognitive decline and dementia. However, there is a debate regarding whether alcohol plays a causal role in preserving cognitive functioning during old age and older adults who abstain from alcohol should not be advised to start consuming alcohol. The objective of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive summary of the evidence from animal and human studies that have examined the effect that alcohol consumption has on the brain and cognitive functioning. This chapter also reviews the evidence for a causal relationship between alcohol and cognition as well as alternative explanations for the observed findings from epidemiological studies. Finally, we conclude by providing future research directions that can be pursued to clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive functioning during old age.
alks and Posters Presented at the 17th Wildland Shrub Symposium, May 22–24, 2012, Las Cruces, NM

alks and Posters Presented at the 17th Wildland Shrub Symposium, May 22–24, 2012, Las Cruces, NM
Do Parents and Clinicians Agree on Ratings of Autism-Related Behaviors at 12 Months of Age? A Study of Infants at High and Low Risk for ASD

Given the emphasis on early screening for ASD, it is crucial to examine the concordance between parent report and clinician observation of autism-related behaviors. Similar items were compared from the First Year Inventory (Baranek et al. First-Year Inventory (FYI) 2.0. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2003), a parent screener for ASD, and the ADOS-2 Toddler Module (Lord et al. 2013), a standardized ASD diagnostic tool. Measures were administered concurrently to 12-month-olds at high and low risk for ASD. Results suggest that clinicians and parents rated behaviors similarly. In addition, both informants rated high-risk infants as more impaired in several social-communication behaviors. Furthermore, the format of questions impacted agreement across observers. These findings have implications for the development of a new generation of screening instruments for ASD.
Subcortical Effects on Voice and Fluency in Dysarthria: Observations from Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation.

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD), caused by basal ganglia dysfunction, is associated with motor disturbances including dysarthria. Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, a preferred treatment targeting basal ganglia function, improves features of the motor disorder, but has uncertain effects on speech. We studied speech during contrasting stimulation states to reveal subcortical effects on voice and articulation. Measures were made on selected samples of spontaneous and repeated speech. Methods: Persons with Parkinson’s disease (PWP) who had undergone bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-STN) provided spontaneous speech samples and then repeated portions of their monologue both on and off stimulation. Excerpts were presented in a listening protocol probing intelligibility. Also analysed were a continuous phrase repetition task and a second spontaneous speech sample. Fundamental frequency (F0), harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), jitter, shimmer and fluency were measured in these three speech samples performed with DBS stimulation on and off. Results: During subcortical stimulation, spontaneous excerpts were less intelligible than repeated excerpts. F0 and HNR were higher and shimmer was decreased in repetition and stimulation. Articulatory dysfluencies were increased for spontaneous speech and during stimulation in all three speech samples. Conclusion: Deep brain stimulation disrupts fluency and improves voice in spontaneous speech, reflecting an inverse influence of subcortical systems on articulatory posturing and laryngeal mechanisms. Better voice and less dysfluency in repetition may occur because an external model reduces the speech planning burden, as seen for gait and arm reach. These orthogonal results for fluency versus phonatory competence may account for ambivalent reports from dysarthric speakers and reveal the complexity of subcortical control of motor speech.
A Course in Universal Algebra. By Stanley Burris and H. P. Sankappanavar

(1984). A Course in Universal Algebra. By Stanley Burris and H. P. Sankappanavar. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 91, No. 1, pp. 64-66.
Door-to-CT time: A Novel Tool to Assess Effect of Prehospital Notification of Acute Stroke Patients in a High Volume Comprehensive Stroke Center. (P1.217)

Objective: To study if door-to-CT time is a better tool to assess prehospital notification compared to door-to-needle time. Background: Prehospital notification has been shown to improve door-to-needle time for acute stroke patients. Early identification of stroke begins in the prehospital phase and is necessary to mobilize appropriate resources. EMS providers play a pivotal role in the identification and treatment of acute ischemic stroke who are within the time window of 4.5 hours. Ideal treatment for ischemic stroke is tPA (tissue plasminogen activator). Typically, DNT (door-to-needle time) is used to assess the effect of prehospital notification. The time period before a CT scan is administered is of the utmost importance in stroke patient care as IV tPA cannot be administered until a head CT is performed. Design/Methods: We collected data from the stroke log at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) from 2015–2017. We calculated the median and the average door-to-needle time for stroke patients brought in by the different EMS agencies when they provided prehospital notification versus when they did not. Likewise, we calculated the median and the average door-to-CT time for both groups. Results: 11.9% of acute stroke patients received tPA. 23.6% of stroke patients brought in by EMS had prehospital notification. Similar to DTN time, the door-to-CT time was reduced as a result of prehospital notification by EMS. Median CT-to-needle time was calculated to be roughly equal whether or not prehospital notification was given. Conclusions: Prehospital notification results in lower door-to-CT time therefore resulting in lower door to needle time. Since majority of code strokes do not receive tPA, door-to-CT time along with DTN for tPA patients is a better tool to assess the effect of prehospital notification. Disclosure: Dr. Hazra has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hollis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wright has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salamon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arora has nothing to disclose.
Obligatory Requirement for DNA Synthesis During Myogenesis, Erythrogenesis and Chondrogenesis

The purpose of this symposium might best be served by stressing that mechanisms of gene expression underlying cell physiology are likely to be quite different from those initiating cell differentiation. Responses of cells to hormones such as glucocorticoids, or other exogenous molecules such as cyclic AMP, important though they may be from the viewpoint of cell physiology, are of much less importance from the viewpoint of cell differentiation. The origins of cell diversity and the maintenance of the basic phenotypes of metazoan cells cannot be attributed to hormones, embryonic inductions or other schemes predicted on exogenous, didactic molecules which instruct virginal, biochemically undifferentiated cells to differentiate; this is because at no stage in development are there biochemically undifferentiated, genetically uninstructed cells. At most, exogenous molecules allow differentiated cells to express genetic commitments which were determined earlier (Holtzer, 1963,1968; Holtzer et al., 1972).
Empirical Modeling of Spatial Interdependence in Time-Series Cross-Sections

Empirical analyses of spatial interdependence in the social sciences have until recently remained largely confined to specialized areas of applied economics (e.g., urban/regional, environmental, and real-estate economics) and sociology (i.e., network analysis). However, social-scientific interest in and applications of spatial modeling have burgeoned lately-including in comparative politics-due partly to advances in theory that imply interdependence and in methodology for addressing it, partly to global developments that have enhanced interconnectivity substantively, and thus the popular and scholarly perception of and attention to it, at all levels, from micro-/personal to macro-/international, and partly to advances in technology for obtaining and working with spatial data.
Dependence of left ventricular twist-radial shortening relations on cardiac cycle phase

Cardiac models have proposed tight coupling between the systolic twisting motion of the left ventricle about its longitudinal axis and muscle shortening. Whether a similar relationship holds during...
A Five Phase Procedure for Implementing a Vector-Maximum Algorithm for Multiple Objective Linear Programming Problems

Previously developed algorithms for the vector-maximum problem can be thought of in terms of three phases. Phases I and II consist of finding an initial feasible extreme point and an initial efficient extreme point, respectively. Phase III involves finding all remaining efficient extreme points. When applying such algorithms to multiple objective linear programming problems, they have not been found to be very useful because of the large numbers of efficient extreme points generated. In an attempt to reduce the amount of efficiency information to be presented to the decision-maker and to facilitate the final selection process by which the decision-maker is to choose his extreme point of greatest utility, the research of this paper describes an expanded five phase vector-maximum procedure. Phase O is the first of the two additional phases. In Phase O the decision-maker can express partial information about his preferences in terms of interval criterion weights. The effect of this is to limit the portion of the efficient surface of the feasible region from which extreme points are to be generated. Phase IV is the second of the two additional phases. It follows Phases O, I, II, and III. It subjects the subset of efficient extreme points produced to a filtering technique in order to eliminate the most redundant extreme point solutions. By proper manipulation, neighborhoods of relatively evenly dispersed efficient extreme points of any reduced size can be obtained.
Combined effects of intermittent hyperoxia and intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia on respiratory control in neonatal rats.

Abstract Chronic exposure to intermittent hyperoxia causes abnormal carotid body development and attenuates the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) in neonatal rats. We hypothesized that concurrent exposure to intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia would influence this plasticity. Newborn rats were exposed to alternating bouts of hypercapnic hypoxia (10% O2/6% CO2) and hyperoxia (30–40% O2) (5 cycles h−1, 24 h d−1) through 13–14 days of age; the experiment was run twice, once in a background of 21% O2 and once in a background of 30% O2 (i.e., “relative hyperoxia”). Hyperoxia had only small effects on carotid body development when combined with intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia: the carotid chemoafferent response to hypoxia was reduced, but this did not affect the HVR. In contrast, sustained exposure to 30% O2 reduced carotid chemoafferent activity and carotid body size which resulted in a blunted HVR. When given alone, chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia increased carotid body size and reduced the hypercapnic ventilatory response but did not affect the HVR. Overall, it appears that intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia counteracted the effects of hyperoxia on the carotid body and prevented developmental plasticity of the HVR.
Time-Optimal Multi-Waypoint Mission Planning in Dynamic Environments

The present paper demonstrates the use of exact equations to predict time-optimal mission plans for a marine vehicle that visits a number of locations in a given dynamic ocean current field. This problem bears close resemblance to that of the classic “traveling salesman”, albeit with the added complexity that the vehicle experiences a dynamic flow field while traversing the paths. The paths, or “legs”, between all goal waypoints are generated by numerically solving the exact time-optimal path planning level-set differential equations. Overall, the planning proceeds in four steps. First, current forecasts for the planning horizon is obtained utilizing our data-driven 4D primitive equation ocean modeling system (Multidisciplinary Simulation Estimation and Assimilation System; MSEAS), forced by high-resolution tidal and real-time atmopsheric forcing fields. Second, all tour permutations are enumerated and the minimum number of times the time-optimal PDEs are to be solved is established. Third, due to the spatial and temporal dynamics, a varying start time results in different paths and durations for each leg and requires all permutations of travel to be calculated. To do so, the minimum required time-optimal PDEs are solved and the optimal travel time is computed for each leg of all enumerated tours. Finally, the tour permutation for which travel time is minimized is identified and the corresponding time-optimal paths are computed by solving the backtracking equation. Even though the method is very efficient and the optimal path can be computed serially in real-time for common naval operations, for additional computational speed, a high-performance computing cluster was used to solve the level set calculations in parallel. Our equation and software is applied to simulations of realistic naval applications in the complex Philippines Archipelago region. Our method calculates the global optimum and can serve two purposes: (a) it can be used in its present form to plan multi-waypoint missions offline in conjunction with a predictive ocean current modeling system, or (b) it can be used as a litmus test for approximate future solutions to the traveling salesman problem in dynamic flow fields.
The microstructure and thermodynamic behavior of as-cast U-24Pu-15Zr: Unexpected results and recommendations for U-Pu-Zr fuel research methodology

Abstract Minor actinide transmutation fuels, of which U-Pu-Zr is one of the most promising, have been the subject of renewed interest for fast reactor applications. Unfortunately, we lack the understanding necessary to make quantitative, mechanistic predictions about the complex phase behaviors exhibited by U-Pu-Zr. This prevents the efficient development and implementation of U-Pu-Zr fuels. Herein, we use state of the art experimental and mesoscale simulation techniques to examine and predict the behavior of U-24Pu-15Zr (weight percent). Experimental and simulated microstructural and phase stability results are compared to one another and to accepted reference data. Experiments revealed a heterogeneous microstructure composed of α Z r , ZrO2, δ, β P u , and ζ at room temperature. The unexpectedly high ratio of β P u to ζ is believed to arise from non-equilibrium and surface effects, as both passivation and Pu and Zr segregation were observed in the samples. A modeling technique based on the overall bulk free energy is devised to estimate the extent of a microstructure's departure from equilibrium. Agreement between the datasets is used to justify a set of recommendations for the further study of U-Pu-Zr fuels. These address deficiencies in our fundamental knowledge, fuel fabrication and handling techniques, characterization methods and procedures, modeling capability, and use of coupled experiments and mesoscale simulations.
NRL- and CRX-guided gene network modulates photoreceptor presynapse size and positioning during retinal development

Abstract Unique morphologies of rod and cone photoreceptor presynaptic terminals permit the formation of synapses onto interneurons during retina development. We integrated multiple “omics” datasets of developing rod and S-cone-like photoreceptors and identified 719 genes that are regulated by NRL and CRX, critical transcriptional regulators of rod differentiation, as candidates for controlling presynapse morphology. In vivo knockdown of 72 candidate genes in the developing retina uncovered 26 genes that alter size and/or positioning of rod spherules in the outer plexiform layer. Co-expression of seven cDNAs with their cognate shRNAs rescued the rod presynapse phenotype. Loss of function of four genes in germline or by an AAV-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 strategy validated RNAi screen findings. A protein interaction network analysis of the 26 positive effectors revealed additional candidates in the NRL/CRX-regulated presynapse morphology-associated gene network. Follow-up knockdowns of two novel candidates support the proposed network. Our studies demonstrate a requirement of multiple components in a modular network for rod presynapse morphogenesis and provide a functional genomic framework for deciphering genetic determinants of morphological specification during development. Author Summary The relationship between neuronal morphology and function has been recognized for over 100 years. However, we still have poor understanding of genes and proteins that control morphogenesis of a specific neuron. In the current study, we address this connection between gene expression and neural morphology by identifying and knocking down a subset of expressed genes in rod photoreceptors. We ascertained a number of candidate genes controlling photoreceptor pre-synaptic terminal morphology, which is necessary for its connection with second-order neurons in the retinal circuit. Furthermore, we have curated a more plausible network of genes, either identified in our study or predicted, that are enriched for processes underlying photoreceptor morphogenesis. We suggest that our work will provide a framework for dissecting genetic basis of neuronal architecture and assist in better design of cell replacement therapies for retinal degeneration.
A technique for inferring lower thermospheric neutral density from meteoroid ablation

Abstract In this paper, we present a novel technique for calculating the lower thermosphere neutral density using meteoroid ablation estimated via radar head echos observations. These observations were conducted by making use of ALTAIR, a high power larger aperture radar. We employ a semi-analytical scattering model to correlate a meteor’s head echo return to its plasma density, its mass, and couple this with a continuous single particle ablation model and an optimization technique in order to infer estimates of the surrounding neutral density. We compare our results with the popular MSIS-90 and obtain averaged values 20–40% lower than those computed by the semi-empirical global model. The discrepancies found between our methodology and MSIS-90 are consistent with the differences obtained between in-situ measurements and the semi-empirical global model. In addition, we are capable of observing short term changes in density of a magnitude consistent with experimental results. This suggests that the presented methodology is capable to estimate the thermospheric neutral density. Nonetheless the high error bar associated with our computation, as well as the diversity of the meteoroid flux, and the choice of our ablation model present some limitation to the application of the proposed technique.
Covered CP Stent for Treatment of Right Ventricular Conduit Injury During Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement

Background: High-pressure balloon and stent angioplasty are frequently necessary to prepare the dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract conduit before transcatheter pulmonary valve replacemen...
A Case Study on the HACCmk Routine in SYCL on Integrated Graphics.

As opposed to the Open Computing Language (OpenCL) programming model in which host and device codes are generally written in different languages, the SYCL programming model can combine host and device codes for an application in a type-safe way to improve development productivity. In this paper, we chose the HACCmk routine, a representative compute-bound kernel, as a case study on the performance of the SYCL programming model targeting a heterogeneous computing device. More specifically, we introduced the SYCL programming model, presented the OpenCL and SYCL implementations of the routine, and compared the performance of the two implementations using the offline and online compilation on Intel® IrisTM Pro integrated GPUs. We found that the overhead of online compilation may become significant compared to the execution time of a kernel. Compared to the performance of OpenCL implementations, the SYCL implementation can maintain the performance using the offline compilation. The number of execution units in a GPU are critical to improving the raw performance of a compute-bound kernel.
Networking and Applying to Radiation Oncology During A Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey of Medical Student Concerns

Abstract Purpose We assessed the effectiveness of a virtual networking session tailored for third- and fourth-year medical students interested in radiation oncology, and report students’ concerns about applying to radiation oncology during the pandemic. Methods and Materials A multi-institutional networking session was hosted on Zoom and included medical students, faculty, and residents from across the country. The breakout room feature was used to divide participants into smaller groups. Participants were randomly shuffled into new groups every 10 to 15 minutes. Students completed pre- and post-session surveys. Results Among the 134 students who registered, 69 students participated in the session, and 53 students completed a post-session survey. Most students reported the session was valuable or very valuable (79%), and it was easy or very easy to network through the virtual format (66%). After the session, 18 (33.9%) students reported their interest in radiation oncology increased, and 34 (64.2%) reported their interest remained the same. Most students believed COVID-19 (55%) and virtual interviews and platforms (55%) negatively or somewhat negatively affected their ability to select a residency program. Most students (62%) were concerned they will be inaccurately evaluated as an interviewee on a virtual platform. Although 30% agreed or strongly agreed the cost-savings and convenience of virtual interviews outweigh potential downsides, 66% of students were planning to visit cities of interest in person before rank list submission. Conclusions Medical students reported significant concerns with their ability to be accurately evaluated and to choose among residency programs on a virtual platform. Students found the networking session to be a valuable resource for most students, and programs could continue similar efforts during the residency application cycle to better represent their program while maintaining certain financial and geographic advantages of a virtual environment.
Ablation of mitral annular flutter ablation utilizing a left atrial anterior line versus a lateral mitral isthmus line: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mitral annular flutter (MAF) is a common arrhythmia after atrial fibrillation ablation. We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation utilizing either a left atrial anterior wall (LAAW) line or a lateral mitral isthmus (LMI) line. We performed a systematic review for all studies that compared LAAW versus LMI lines. Risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) 95% confidence intervals were measured for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. Four studies with a total of 594 patients were included, one of which was a randomized control trial. In the LMI ablation group, 40% of patients required CS ablation. There were no significant differences in bidirectional block (RR 1.26; 95% CI, 0.94–1.69) or ablation time (MD −1.5; 95% CI, −6.11–3.11), but LAAW ablation was associated with longer ablation line length (MD 11.42; 95% CI, 10.69–12.14) and longer LAA activation delay (MD 67.68; 95% CI, 33.47–101.89.14) when compared to LMI. There was no significant difference in pericardial effusions (RR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.39–20.75) between groups and more patients were maintained sinus rhythm (RR 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03–1.37, p = 0.02) who underwent LAAW compared to LMI. Ablation of mitral annular flutter with a LAAW line compared to a LMI line showed no difference in rates of acute bidirectional block, ablation time, or pericardial effusion. However, LAAW ablation required a longer ablation line length, resulted in greater LAA activation delayed and was associated with more sinus rhythm maintenance, with the added advantage of avoiding ablation in the CS.
Minimally Invasive Paraesophageal Hernia Repair in the Elderly: Is Age Really Just a Number?

Introduction: Paraesophageal hernias readily affect the elderly with a median age of presentation between 65 and 75 years. Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR) is a technically challeng...
Seeing like an infrastructure: avidity and difference in algorithmic recommendation

As the influence of algorithmic systems has grown, critics have come to appreciate that algorithms are not autonomous technical forces, but rather heterogeneous sociotechnical systems. The people w...
This Article Corrects: "Subacute Presentation of Central Cord Syndrome Resulting from Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Discitis: A Case Report".

Author(s): Dang, Thomas; Dong, Fanglong; Fenati, Greg; Rabiei, Massoud; Cerda, Melinda; Neeki, Michael M.; Wattenbarger, Sara | Abstract: Introduction: Central cord syndrome (CCS) is a clinical syndrome of motor weakness and sensory changes. While CCS is most often associated with traumatic events. There have been few documented cases being caused by abscesses resulting from osteomyelitis.Case Report: A 56-year-old male presented to a regional trauma center complaining of excruciating neck and bilateral upper extremity pain. Computed tomography of the cervical and thoracic regions revealed severe discitis and osteomyelitis of the fourth and fifth cervical (C4-C5) with near-complete destruction of the C4 vertebral body, as well as anterolisthesis of C4 on C5 causing compression of the central canal. Empiric intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy with ampicillin/sulbactam and vancomycin was initiated, and drainage of the abscess was scheduled. After the patient refused surgery, he was planned to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility to receive a six-week course of IV vancomycin therapy. A month later, patient returned to emergency department with the same complaint due to non-compliance with antibiotic therapy.Discussion: Delayed diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis can result in devastating neurological sequelae, and literature supports immediate surgical debridement. Although past evidence has suggested surgical intervention in similar patients with presence of abscesses, this case may suggest that antibiotic treatment may be an alternative approach to the management of CCS due to an infectious etiology. However, the patient had been non-compliant with medication, so it is unknown whether there was definite resolution of the condition.Conclusion: In patients presenting with non-traumatic central cord syndrome, it is vital to identify risk factors for infection in a thoroughly obtained patient history, as well as to maintain a low threshold for diagnostic imaging.
Dissemination and progression of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium infection in mouse model are associated with type 2 macrophage activation

Pulmonary infections caused by the group of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), are increasing worldwide and a growing public health concern. Pulmonary granulomas are the hallmark of MAC lung infection, yet reliable correlates of granuloma progression and susceptibility in immunocompetent hosts are poorly defined. The development of mouse models that recapitulate the diversity of granulomas seen in MAC pulmonary disease in humans is crucial to study mechanisms of susceptibility in humans and for preclinical evaluation of therapeutics. Unlike widely used inbred mouse strains, mice that carry the mutant allele at the genetic locus sst1 develop human-like pulmonary tuberculosis featuring well-organized caseating granulomas. These mice became instrumental in pre-clinical testing of novel interventions. In this study we tested whether the B6.Sst1S that carries the sst1 mutant allele on standard B6 background develop more advanced pulmonary infection with NTM M. avium spp. hominissuis (M.av). To assess pulmonary disease progression, we utilized traditional semi-quantitative histomorphological evaluation and fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (fmIHC) in combination with whole slide imaging and digital image analysis. After infection with the laboratory M.av strain 101, the B6.Sst1S pulmonary lesions progressed 12 - 20 weeks post infection, although we did not observe the formation of necrotic granulomas during this interval. Using fmIHC, we determined that the disease progression was associated with a steadily increasing proportion of mycobacteria infected Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages. The B6.Sst1S granulomas had a greater proportion of Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages, and decreased T cell density, as compared to wild type B6 mice. Thus, the genetic composition of the B6.Sst1S mice renders them more susceptible to pulmonary M.av infection. In combination with more virulent clinical isolates of M.av these mice could provide an improved mouse model that recapitulates more severe pulmonary disease in humans. The Arg1 macrophage expression in this model combined with automated fmIHC could serve as a sensitive biomarker for the unbiased assessment of medical countermeasures against NTM infection.
A discontinuous Galerkin method for nonlinear biharmonic Schrödinger equations.

This paper proposes and analyzes an ultra-weak local discontinuous Galerkin scheme for one-dimensional nonlinear biharmonic Schrodinger equations. We develop the paradigm of the local discontinuous Galerkin method by introducing the second-order spatial derivative as an auxiliary variable instead of the conventional first-order derivative. The proposed semi-discrete scheme preserves a few physically relevant properties such as the conservation of mass and the conservation of Hamiltonian accompanied by its stability for the targeted nonlinear biharmonic Schrodinger equations. We also derive optimal $L^2$-error estimates of the scheme that measure both the solution and the auxiliary variable. Several numerical studies demonstrate and support our theoretical findings.
Agreement between 3D Motion Analysis and Tele-Assessment Using a Video Conferencing Application for Telerehabilitation

The global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has highlighted the need for remote healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity and reliability of tele-assessment using 3D motion analysis and video conferencing applications. The subjects of this study were 14 Pilates instructors and 14 healthy adults, who repeated five exercises of “side spine stretch”, “bridge”, “toe taps”, “quadruped leg raise”, and “cat and cow” five times each. We performed 3D kinematic analysis with 16 infrared cameras while the subject performed each exercise, and the image captured by one webcam was transmitted to the evaluators through a video conferencing application, and eight raters evaluated the mobility, stability, and symmetry of the movement. The result was then compared with the gold standard 3D motion analysis to evaluate the teleassessment system. The concurrent validity of the data obtained using both methods was analyzed. In addition, the inter-rater reliability of the data from the eight raters was evaluated. As a result, mobility showed excellent (ICC > 0.75, ICCs: intraclass correlation coefficients) or good agreement (ICC = 0.6–0.74) with 3D motion analysis and tele-assessment in all motions. The analysis of stability showed high agreement in general, but it was not significant in “cat and cow.” Symmetry showed moderate agreement only in “bridge” and “toe taps”, showing low agreement compared to other components. In addition, the inter-rater reliability of the tele-assessment showed good agreement (ICC = 0.744). Although there were few components with weaker agreements, the results of this study confirmed that it is a valid and reliable method of tele-assessment using video conferencing applications and showed feasibility as an alternative to the existing face-to-face examination.
“A world crazier than us”: Vanishing social contexts and the consequences for psychiatric practice in contemporary Romania

Since the end of Communism, mental health care in Romania has increasingly sought to align its practices with idealized models of Western psychiatric practice. Much of this realignment has been made possible by accessing and integrating new pharmaceuticals into psychiatric hospital settings. Less straightforward have been the painful attempts to create a system modeled on international standards for training and certifying psychotherapists. Unfortunately, the political, economic, infrastructural, and epistemological environment of the Romanian mental health care system has prevented many other reforms. This paper examines the ironic trajectory that Romanian psychiatry has taken since the end of state socialism. Specifically, this paper shows how psychiatric practice in most places (outside of university-training hospitals) is increasingly disconnected from a concern with the social conditions that surround mental illness during a period when social upheaval is profoundly impacting the lives of many people who receive mental health care. Thus, as the contribution of social problems to the suffering of those with mental illnesses has increased, some Romanian mental health practitioners have moved away from a concern with these social problems under the guise of aligning their psychiatric practices with (imagined) Western standards of biomedical care. The paper provides a brief history of Romanian psychiatry and explores contemporary challenges and contradictions in many Romanian psychiatric treatment settings through the case study of a 31-year-old Romanian female diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Schools and Schooling

In late childhood and early adolescence, the school becomes the major socialization context outside the family. The impact of school on cognitive and psychosocial development is, in part, explained by the fact that a high school graduate has accumulated 15 000 h of time awake in this institution. Given the importance of the school as a developmental milieu, it is not surprising that all industrialized nations invest roughly 6% of their GDP in formal schooling, including preschool, kindergarten, elementary and secondary education, as well as college and university education. The convergence of structure, expansion, and content of formal education across developed and developing countries has been identified as a key element of global modernization that affect adolescents' life, in particular. The shared expectation is that students leave the school system not only with cognitive skills enabling them to thrive in positions that require ever-increasing formal training, but also with a desirable set of values and a sense of responsibility for themselves and others that define modern citizenship.
Including Transgender Athletes in Sex-Segregated Sport

The Author focuses her chapter on the varying degrees of trans inclusive policies found across the sport spectrum. Presently, private and public policy addressing participation by transgender athletes can be described on a spectrum of least to most inclusive. The Author’s chapter describes and evaluates different ways in which athletic associations and sport organizers are trying to accommodate transgender athletes into single-sex athletic teams. It ends with recommendations for advocacy to promote the inclusion of transgender athletes across all sports.
Hybrid Adaptive Flight Control with Model Inversion Adaptation

This study investigates a hybrid adaptive flight control method as a design possibility for a flight control system that can enable an effective adaptation strategy to deal with off-nominal flight conditions. The hybrid adaptive control blends both direct and indirect adaptive control in a model inversion flight control architecture. The blending of both direct and indirect adaptive control provides a much more flexible and effective adaptive flight control architecture than that with either direct or indirect adaptive control alone. The indirect adaptive control is used to update the model inversion controller by an on-line parameter estimation of uncertain plant dynamics based on two methods. The first parameter estimation method is an indirect adaptive law based on the Lyapunov theory, and the second method is a recursive least-squares indirect adaptive law. The model inversion controller is therefore made to adapt to changes in the plant dynamics due to uncertainty. As a result, the modeling error is reduced that directly leads to a decrease in the tracking error. In conjunction with the indirect adaptive control that updates the model inversion controller, a direct adaptive control is implemented as an augmented command to further reduce any residual tracking error that is not entirely eliminated by the indirect adaptive control.
Chapter 26 Principles of Market Adjustment and Stability

Publisher Summary First, market prices can exhibit the type of instability predicted by classical dynamic models. Second, the conditions under which instability is observed are not captured by the cobweb model but such conditions are captured by models of the form developed by Marshall and Walras in which the market has “perversely shaped” curves, such as an upward-sloped demand or downward-sloped supply. Third, the appropriate model, Marshall or Walras, depends on properties of the underlying demand and supply. If the special shape is due to the existence of an externality such as a fad or a Marshallian external economy, then experiments have demonstrated that the Marshallian model is the appropriate model. If the special shape is due to income effects, then the appropriate model is the Walrasian model and not the Marshallian model. That is, if the special shape is due to income effects such as Giffen goods or a backward-bending supply of labor, then the Walrasian model reﬂects the appropriate principles. In summary, the mystery of the price discovery process is solved, in part, by classical models of adjustment.
Simple Memory Protection for Embedded Operating System Kernels

This work describes the design and implementation of memory protection in the Roadrunner operating system. The design is portable between various CPUs that provide page-level protection using Memory-Management Unit (MMU) hardware. The approach overlays protection domains on regions of physical memory that are in use by application processes and the operating system kernel. An analysis of code size shows that this design and implementation can be executed with an order of magnitude less code than that of implementations providing separate address spaces.
Role of Various Fault Attributions and Other Factors in Children's Anticipated Response to Hypothetical Peers With Undesirable Characteristics

Two studies examined the role of various fault attributions and other factors in children's anticipated response to hypothetical peers described as having an undesirable characteristic. The children were found to distinguish among various fault attributions (i.e., general, onset, and perpetuation; study 1), and they tended to agree more strongly that the peers were responsible for the perpetuation than the onset of these characteristics (studies 1 and 2). In study 1, perceiving an aggressive or overweight peer as similar to a friend and believing that the overweight peer will overcome this undesirable characteristic were found to be associated with a relatively favorable response to these peers. The more strongly the children agreed that (1) an aggressive peer is generally at fault for his/her undesirable characteristic (study 1) and (2) peers who are aggressive, overweight, shy, or a poor student are at fault for the onset of their undesirable characteristics (study 2), the less favorably they anticipated responding to these peers. Unexpectedly, attributing responsibility to forces ‘outside the peer's control’ (i.e., parents and biology) for his/her undesirable characteristic in study 2 was not found to be associated with a relatively favorable response to any peer with an undesirable characteristic.