cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiologic Mechanisms of Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia/Torsade de Pointes in the Presence of Normal or Long QT

Torsade de pointes (TdP) is an ear-pleasing term that describes an eye-catching pattern of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) with continually changing morphology of the QRS complexes that seem to twist around an imaginary base- line [1]. The quasi-musical term and the intriguing ECG pattern have caught the attention of electrophysiologists for years and have been, to some extent, a dri- ving force behind the recent focused interest in the role of genetics and ion chan- nelopathy in cardiac arrhythmias. More importantly, this is helping to refocus attention on the role of dispersion of ventricular repolarization in the genesis of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias [2].
Neutrophil accumulation in ischemic reperfused rat liver: evidence for a role for superoxide free radicals

Oxygen-derived free radicals and leukocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study aimed at determining, by using biochemical and histochemical techniques, whether an accumulation of neutrophils occurs in the ischemic reperfused rat liver and whether superoxide free radicals play a role in mediating this neutrophil accumulation. Hepatic ischemia was induced by occluding blood supply to the left and median lobes, and reperfusion was reinstituted by releasing the occlusion. Myeloperoxidase activity of the liver was measured with a tetramethylbenzidine-H2O2 assay after removal of glutathione (by dialysis) and in the presence of 3-aminotriazole (catalase inhibitor). A modification of Graham and Karnovsky's method was used to stain neutrophils in liver frozen sections, and the number of neutrophils was counted. Results showed that ischemia-reperfusion of the liver produced a 4.4-fold increase in myeloperoxidase activity (from 0.073 +/- 0.009 to 0.320 +/- 0.017 units...
The effect of a modified one-plane golf swing upon the lumbar spine “crunch factor”

Background: The full, modern one-plane golf swing is associated with large rotational velocities and resultant stress to the lumbar spine. The “crunch factor” (CF) has been previously defined as the instantaneous product of lateral flexion and axial rotation velocity, and has been hypothesized as a potential mechanism for golf-related low back pain (LBP). Shortening the backswing ameliorates compressive forces, but there is no data to substantiate a reduction of the CF. Purpose:The purpose of this paperwas to compare theCF during the full and shortened modern one-plane golf swings in low handicap players. Methods: Thirteen healthy subjects participated in the study after providing written informed consent. Subjects ranged from 19 to 66 years of age (38± 15 yr), and did not currently have low back or shoulder pain. The mean handicap was 7± 2 according to USGA handicapping standards. Data were collected in a motion analysis laboratory using Vicon MX Cameras (Denver, CO) capturing data at 240Hz andBertec (Columbus,OH) force plates sampling at 1000Hz. Subjects utilized their own 7-iron for all swings. Subjects reported to the lab on two occasions to perform five full and five shortened swings in a counter-balanced order. A full swing was defined as the club reaching ±10◦ of horizontal position in the top of the backswing, which is an arc of motion equivalent to approximately 270◦. This arc begins at address (0◦) and ends at the final club position prior to the initiation of downswing. Conversely, a shortened swing was defined as attaining an arc of 225± 10◦. Dependent variables included were club-head velocity (CHV), peak CF, and the timing of CF (TCF). Swings between the two sessions were compared with paired t-tests with SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York). There were no differences (p> 0.05) between the two sessions, therefore the data from the two sessions were pooled for data analysis yielding 10 swings for each condition. Data was analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA with an apriori alpha of 0.05. SPSS software (Chicago, IL) was used to analyze the data. Data are reported as means± SEM. All force data is expressed in Newtons (N) normalized to body mass. Results: The backswing club angles were 231± 7.4◦ and 268± 8.2◦ for the shortened and full swings, respectively (p 0.05) and this occurred 0.08± 0.01s after impact. Conclusion(s): These results corroborate earlier papers purporting peak lateral flexion angles and rotational velocities immediately after impact. Furthermore, the current data shows that the CF is significantly reduced with a shortened swing. It is currently unknownwhether this significant reduction is clinically meaningful. More research is needed to examine the shortened swing in golfers with LBP. Implications: Shortening the back swing is associated with reduced lumbar spine stress, which may have implications for patients with chronic low back pain.
The Nutritional Ecology of Dectes texanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): Does Host Choice Affect the Macronutrient Levels in Overwintering Larvae?

Abstract Dectes texanus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a stem-boring cerambycid that is an agricultural pest of soybean and cultivated sunflower. For D. texanus, cultivated sunflower is thought to be nutritionally superior to soybean and preferred over soybean. This study compared the macronutrient levels in overwintering larvae and the pith of the host plants to determine if soybean is an inferior host. The levels of total protein, total carbohydrates, and total lipids were measured in larvae from sunflower and soybean; larval head capsule width and larval mass also were compared. There were no differences between levels of total protein and total carbohydrates per unit mass between larvae from the 2 hosts; however, larvae from sunflower had significantly higher levels of lipids than larvae from soybean. A comparison of head capsule width indicated that larvae from soybean had significantly larger head capsule widths than those from sunflower, suggesting that soybean-fed larvae were larger or were...
Childhood Obesity: Edited by Christy Szczech Moser, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Definitions of childhood obesity generally include term/phrases such as excess body weight for a particular height, disproportionate body fat, or body mass index at or above the ninety-fifth percen...
Rigorous analysis of field distribution and power flow in grating coupler of finite length

We present an efficient rigorous vector electromagnetic analysis of field distribution and power flow in finite length grating couplers. The electric and magnetic field components and power flow within the structure as well as the fields coupled into the output regions and into the substrate for typical devices are calculated. The nanoscale field distribution at the discontinuity between the waveguide section and the grating coupler are investigated.
Research on the Bottleneck Delay of Internet IP-Level Topology

With IP level data collected from CAIDA,the characteristic of bottleneck in Internet w as analyzed. Firstly,a statistical analysis about critical delay of netw ork paths w as made,w hich indicated that the bottleneck delay appeared in more than 80% netw ork paths. And then a quantitative analysis on the bottleneck delay show ed that the bottleneck made the similar netw ork diameter's netw ork delay distinct. Furthermore,an analysis on IP addresses of the netw ork delay and bottleneck delay from the degree of the geography location w as performed,and it could be concluded that there w as a big difference betw een netw ork delay and bottleneck delay. Finally,a research on the causing of the bottleneck w as made,w hich indicated that propagation delay w as the main factor of the bottleneck delay for long distance,w hereas the queue delay w as the main factor for a short range.
Finding needles in haystacks: scanning tunneling microscopy reveals the complex reactivity of Si(100) surfaces.

ConspectusMany chemical reactions—etching, growth, and catalytic—produce highly faceted surfaces. Examples range from the atomically flat silicon surfaces produced by anisotropic etchants to the wide variety of faceted nanoparticles, including cubes, wires, plates, tetrapods, and more. This faceting is a macroscopic manifestation of highly site-specific surface reactions. In this Account, we show that these site-specific reactions literally write a record of their chemical reactivity in the morphology of the surface—a record that can be quantified with scanning tunneling microscopy.Paradoxically, the sites targeted by these highly site-specific reactions are extremely rare. This paradox can be understood from a simple kinetic argument. An etchant that produces atomically flat surfaces must rapidly etch every surface site except the terrace atoms on the perfectly flat surface. As a result, the etch morphology is dominated by the least reactive species (here, the terrace sites), not the most reactive specie...
SU-D-209-02: Percent Depth Dose Curves for Fluoroscopic X-Ray Beam Qualities Incorporating Copper Filtration

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to quantify percent depth dose (PDD) curves for fluoroscopic x-ray beam qualities incorporating added copper filtration. Methods: A PTW (Freiburg, Germany) MP3 water tank was used with a Standard Imaging (Middleton, WI) Exradin Model 11 Spokas Chamber to measure PDD curves for 60, 80, 100 and 120 kVp x-ray beams with copper filtration ranging from 0.0–0.9 mm at 22cm and 42cm fields of view from 0 to 150 mm of water. A free-in-air monitor chamber was used to normalize the water tank data to fluctuations in output from the fluoroscope. The measurements were acquired on a Siemens (Erlangen, Germany) Artis ZeeGo fluoroscope. The fluoroscope was inverted from the typical orientation providing an x-ray beam originating from above the water tank. The water tank was positioned so that the water level was located at 60cm from the focal spot; which also represents the focal spot to interventional reference plane distance for that fluoroscope. Results: PDDs for 60, 80, 100, and 120 kVp with 0 mm of copper filtration compared well to previously published data by Fetterly et al. [Med Phys, 28, 205 (2001)] for those beam qualities given differences in fluoroscopes, geometric orientation, type of ionization chamber, and the water tank used for data collection. PDDs for 60, 80, 100, and 120 kVp with copper filtration were obtained and are presented, which have not been previously investigated and published. Conclusion: The equipment and processes used to acquire the reported data were sound and compared well with previously published data for PDDs without copper filtration. PDD data for the fluoroscopic x-ray beams incorporating copper filtration can be used as reference data for estimating organ or soft tissue dose at depth involving similar beam qualities or for comparison with mathematical models.
Avoiding Pitfalls and Managing Complications of Aesthetic Contouring of the Craniofacial Skeleton

Aesthetic surgery of the facial skeleton has developed from the merger of aesthetic and craniofacial surgery. This article describes the avoidance and successful management of complications from aesthetic facial contouring. In particular, the authors discuss the treatment of four major anatomic areas that are often addressed in facial contouring procedures: the forehead, the temporal region, the mandibular angle, and the malar-midface region.
Chlorpyrifos, but not diazinon, potentiates airway hyperreactivity in sensitized guinea pigs

Background: Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are commonly used on crops and livestock. We have shown that the OPs parathion, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon cause airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs at concentrations below the threshold for inducing toxicity via acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Furthermore, ovalbumin sensitization potentiated parathion-induced airway hyperreactivity in an interleukin-5 (IL-5) dependent manner. Objective: To determine whether prior sensitization also potentiates chlorpyrifos and diazinon induced airway hyperreactivity and whether IL-5 mediates potentiation in sensitized animals. Methods: Guinea pigs were sensitized to ovalbumin, and 21 days later, exposed to 70 mg/kg chlorpyrifos or 75 mg/kg diazinon (s.c.). Airway physiology was measured 24 h later. In some animals, antibody to IL-5 (240 µg/kg) was administered 3 days prior the OP. Results: Chlorpyrifos and diazinon each caused airway hyperreactivity in non-sensitized guinea pigs. Sensitization significantly potentiated chlorpyrifos-induced, but not diazinon-induced, airway hyperreactivity. Pretreatment with antibody to IL-5 prevented chlorpyrifos-induced airway hyperreactivity only in sensitized animals. Antibody to IL-5 did not significantly inhibit airway hyperreactivity in sensitized animals treated with diazinon. Conclusion: Chlorpyrifos and diazinon each cause airway hyperreactivity. Chlorpyrifos-induced airway hyperreactivity was significantly potentiated and IL-5 dependent in sensitized guinea pigs whereas diazinon-induced hyperreactivity was not. Thus, OP-induced airway hyperreactivity is mediated by different mechanisms, dependent on sensitization status, which may influence therapeutic approaches.
Factors related to attrition from trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy

Attrition from child trauma-focused treatments such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is common; yet, the factors of children who prematurely terminate are unknown. The aim of the current study was to identify risk factors for attrition from TF-CBT. One hundred and twenty-two children (ages 3-18; M=9.97, SD=3.56; 67.2% females; 50.8% Caucasian) who received TF-CBT were included in the study. Demographic and family variables, characteristics of the trauma, and caregiver- and child-reported pretreatment symptoms levels were assessed in relation to two operational definitions of attrition: 1) clinician-rated dropout, and 2) whether the child received an adequate dose of treatment (i.e., 12 or more sessions). Several demographic factors, number of traumatic events, and children's caregiver-rated pretreatment symptoms were related to clinician-rated dropout. Fewer factors were associated with the adequate dose definition. Child Protective Services involvement, complex trauma exposure, and child-reported pretreatment trauma symptoms were unrelated to either attrition definition. Demographics, trauma characteristics, and level of caregiver-reported symptoms may help to identify clients at risk for premature termination from TF-CBT. Clinical and research implications for different operational definitions and suggestions for future work will be presented.
Adapting plans through communication with unknown teammates

My thesis addresses the problem of planning under teammate behavior uncertainty by introducing the concept of intentional multiagent communication within ad hoc teams. In partially observable multiagent domains, agents much share information regarding aspects of the environment such that uncertainty is reduced across the team, permitting better coordination. Similarly, we consider how communication may be utilized within ad hoc teams to resolve behavioral uncertainty. Transmitting intentional messages allows agents to adjust predictions of a teammate's individual course of action. In short, an ad hoc agent coordinating with an unknown teammate can identify uncertainties within its own predictive model of teammate behavior then request the appropriate policy information, allowing the agent to adapt its personal plan. The main contribution of this work is the characterization of the interaction between learning, communication, and planning in ad hoc teams.
Optimizing management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is a rare cancer of the urothelium, comprising only a fraction of cases as compared to urothelial tumors of the bladder. As a result, systemic treatment approaches in bladder cancer are often applied to patients with UTUC. Given the anatomical location of these tumors, the age, the comorbid conditions of these patients with UTUC, and the need for radical nephroureterectomy for treatment, most patients have substantial impairment of renal reserve. There is growing evidence for the benefit of perioperative chemotherapy in this disease. Patients with UTUC have high rates of microsatellite instability and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 mutations as compared to their bladder counterparts presenting unique, important subsets in UTUC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed death receptor 1 and ligand have provided a new second-line treatment option for patients with UTUC and appear particularly well suited for patients with microsatellite instability. More work in understanding the molecular gene signatures and its relationship to response to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy is needed to continually optimize care for patients with all stages of disease. Advances in UTUC are possible, when one accounts for the unique clinical and biological features of this disease.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Optical Path Length in Spectral Interferometry

Optical path length demodulation is a subject of fundamental importance in spectral interferometry applications. We propose an algorithm based on maximum likelihood estimation to achieve absolute optical path length demodulation with high sensitivity and noise resistance and to elucidate the cause and behavior of undesirable demodulation discontinuity. From an interference spectrum model with additive Gaussian noise, a maximum likelihood estimator is derived in Fourier domain to determine the optical path length. To assess its sensitivity performance, the Cramer–Rao bound of sensitivity is derived from Fisher information matrix. By simulations and experimental validations, the proposed method demonstrates its capability of achieving the Cramer–Rao bound over a large dynamic range of optical path lengths, initial phases, and signal-to-noise ratios. When compared with some state-of-the-art demodulation methods, it also demonstrates improved resistance to demodulation jumps at low signal-to-noise ratios. Importantly, the mechanism of such jumps can be readily explained from a new, intuitive perspective, which may permit the quantification of jump occurrences in the future.
Fracture Failure Prediction in Two-Dimensional Plane Stress Problems Using Incremental Plasticity Theory

ABSTRACT A finite element solution procedure is presented to predict ultimate fracture failure history of a structural system. Incremental plasticity theory, von Mises yield criterion and isotropic hardening are used to march along the uniaxial stress-strain curve until ultimate fracture failure occurs.
Advanced myelopathy in people with Down syndrome

Abstract Background Myelopathy is a condition that significantly impacts a person's mobility and independence. In people with intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome, the negative impact of myelopathy is magnified. Myelopathy in Down syndrome may be related to atlanto-axial instability or degenerative pathology. Our experience with these patients has led us to hypothesize that their myelopathy is commonly undiagnosed until very severe. In this study we seek to determine whether patients with Down syndrome present with more severe myelopathy than those without Down syndrome. Methods We performed a retrospective medical record review of patients with Down syndrome who were treated for myelopathy by the Tufts Neurosurgical Practice. Eight patients met the criteria and were graded for severity of myelopathy on the Nurick Scale. We compared the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and Down syndrome to patients who were treated for cervical spondylotic myelopathy as reported in Furlan et al. and Fehlings et al. Results The average Nurick grade for patients with Down syndrome was 4.2 (SD 0.84, n = 5). The average Nurick grade as reported by Furlan et al. was 2.8 (SD 0.68, n = 81) and by Fehlings et al. was 3.14 (SD 0.97, n = 278). The independent samples t-test resulted in a P value Conclusions The patients with Down syndrome in our study presented to neurosurgery with more severe myelopathy than patients without Down syndrome. It is important for physicians caring for people with Down syndrome to be aware of the presentation of myelopathy and consider the condition in the differential diagnosis of a Down syndrome patient with functional decline.
Regression Factor Analysis With an Application to Continuous HRIR Measurement

Linear time-varying (LTV) regression models play a central role in input–output analysis of many real-world dynamical systems. Most existing models for such systems consider either a switching dynamics with a discrete latent variable driving the system or a linear dynamics directly applied to the regression coefficients. These models usually fall short of capturing structural regularities or the total variability in the dynamics of the system. Addressing these issues in this paper, we propose a method to parametrize joint variations of regression coefficients in LTV systems with continuous latent variables based on factor analysis technique, i.e., regression factor analysis . By using a linear Gaussian dynamical model for the time evolution of factor weights, our model constrains the dynamics of the process. Our inference scheme takes advantage of the expectation–maximization algorithm to estimate the model parameters. We show how our proposed algorithm can be utilized in a key application for fast continuous measurement of personalized head-related impulse responses.
Maximiliano: un Quijote mexicano en Noticias del Imperio de Fernando del Paso

En Noticias del Imperio de Fernando del Paso, el autor construye al personaje historico del emperador Maximiliano bajo el molde de El Quijote y Blasio, su escribiente, es una adaptacion mexicanizada de Sancho Panza. En un plano estructural esta relacion se mantiene: Noticias del Imperio como El Quijote pone en primer plano el proceso de su propia construccion. Ambos son textos metatextuales pero con una diferencia: mientras que el personaje del Quijote es el agente de su propia construccion y se convierte en caballero andante por voluntad propia, el Quijote mexicano, Maximiliano, se deja llevar, volviendose una copia del primero. Se convierte en un titere del poder al que aspiran los franceses en Mexico. Maximiliano, o el Quijote mexicano que construye Del Paso, es inconsciente de que se esta volviendo un Quijote y que esta perdiendo la razon. En su caso, esta locura, no es producto del exceso de lecturas, sino de la coyuntura politica de un pais caotico que vive dos guerras simultaneas, donde sus principales aliados lo dejan solo en un pais ajeno.
Energy Storage Siting and Sizing in Coordinated Distribution and Transmission Systems

If energy storage units are installed and operated in a coordinated manner, they can improve efficiency of the transmission and distribution systems. This paper presents a bilevel program to optimally site and size distributed energy storage units in the distribution system and to use them for both distribution and transmission system needs. The upper level of the bilevel program represents the operating objective and constraints of the distribution system, whereas the lower level accounts for the transmission perspective. The bilevel model is solved using the duality-based approach and its performance is tested on the IEEE transmission and distribution benchmarks.
Racial/Ethnic Transition and Hierarchy Among Ascending Neighborhoods:

This article examines the racial/ethnic population dynamics of ascending neighborhoods—those experiencing socioeconomic growth. Drawing on Census and American Community Survey data from 1990 to 201...
Gene clusters encoding putative outer membrane electron conduits have specific roles during metal and electrode respiration in Geobacter sulfurreducens

At least five gene clusters in the Geobacter sulfurreducens genome encode putative outer membrane 'electron conduits', which are redox active complexes containing a periplasmic multiheme c-cytochrome, integral outer membrane β-barrel, and outer membrane redox lipoprotein. Single gene-cluster deletion and all possible combinations of deletion mutants were constructed and grown with graphite electrodes poised at +0.24 V and -0.1 V vs. SHE, Fe(III)- and Mn(IV)-oxides, and soluble Fe(III)-citrate. Different gene clusters were necessary for reduction of each electron acceptor. For example, only the ΔextABCD cluster mutant had a severe growth defect on graphite electrodes at all redox potentials, but this mutation did not affect Fe(III)-oxide, Mn(IV)-oxide, or Fe(III)-citrate reduction. During metal oxide reduction, deletion of the previously described omcBC cluster caused defects, but deletion of additional components in the ΔomcBC background, such as extEFG, was necessary to produce defects greater than 50% compared to wild type. Deletion of all five gene clusters was required to abolish all metal reduction. Mutants containing only one cluster were able to reduce particular terminal electron acceptors better than wild type, suggesting routes for improvement by targeting substrate-specific electron transfer pathways. Our results show G. sulfurreducens utilizes different membrane conduits depending on the extracellular acceptor used.
Integrating the Hopelessness Model and the Response Style Theory in an Adolescent Sample.

Integrations of cognitive models of depression, specifically, the hopelessness model (Abramson et al. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 358–372, 1989) and the response style theory (Nolen-Hoecksema et al. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 405–422, 1992) have been suggested but no previous study has compared the integrations of these models with each other and the original models. Further, previous studies only tested the associations between composite scores of inferences, from the hopelessness model, and rumination (incl. brooding and reflection), from the response style theory. Thus, a 3-wave study using self-report instruments with 519 adolescents was conducted (mean ageWave 1 = 16.09 years; SD = 0.70; 62.7% female; 72.8% European American, 14.7% African-American, 5.4% Latino, 4.4% mixed race/ethnicity, 1.4% Asian/Pacific Islander, 0.8% Native American, and 0.6% identified as “other”). The school serves predominantly working to middle class families and almost one third of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. AMOS and RMediation were used to calculate and compare five different theory-driven models. The findings of the study provide support for an integrated model in which both brooding and reflection are influenced by individual inferences and interact with individual inferences while affecting depressive symptoms. In addition, reflection plays an unexpectedly important role in this integrated model. Age and cognitive development are discussed as possible explanations for this finding.
Linear Quadratic Gaussian Control Under False Data Injection Attacks

In a false data injection attack, an adversary compromises one or more sensors of a networked system and introduces false measurements in order to bias the control and degrade the system performance. In this paper, we investigate the problem of designing controllers for linear systems with Gaussian noise in order to minimize a quadratic cost under both normal operating conditions and false data injection attacks. We develop a two-stage approach, in which the controller chooses a set of admissible control signals in the first stage, which limits the worst-case damage that the adversary can cause by introducing false data. The control action at each time step is then selected at the second stage. We demonstrate that both stages can be solved optimally using convex optimization techniques and present efficient algorithms for choosing the optimal control policy. Our approach is evaluated through numerical study.
Case 28-2018: A 39-Year-Old Man with Epistaxis, Pain and Erythema of the Forearm, and Pancytopenia

A Man with Epistaxis, Pain and Erythema of the Forearm, and Pancytopenia A 39-year-old man presented with epistaxis, pain and erythema of the arm, and pancytopenia, with neutropenia and monocytopen...
Chapter 63 – Immunodeficiency and Mucosal Immunity: An Overview

In the presence of systemic immunodeficiency (innate or adaptive, induced or inherent), some form of intestinal immunopathology ensues. Some forms of immunodeficiency can be compensated for—like IgA deficiency, while others have more profound effects—like common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), HIV). However, it is the integrity of the mucosal immune system, the multiple layers of regulation, and the physical barriers that play an active role in maintaining the physiological homeostasis. Mucosal immunodeficiency does not necessarily result in an increase in common infections with, for example Shigella , Salmonella , and Campylobacter, butrather, the infections seen are with organisms that rarely cause disease in immunocompetent hosts. Patients with CVID develop a clinical syndrome indistinguishable from pernicious anemia, yet it occurs in the absence of the prototypic antibodies to intrinsic factor or parietal cells.
SPONTANEOUS MIGRATION OF BILIARY CALCULI. REPORT OF A CASE.

A case illustrating the phenomenon of spontaneous migration of biliary calculi through the ductal system is presented. Several radiographically authenticated cases previously presented in the literature are reviewed. Spontaneous migration of biliary calculi can occur without abnormalities in any of the standard laboratory tests and in the absence of any symptoms or physical findings. An awareness of the phenomenon, leading to radiographic studies prior to surgery, may occasionally prevent an unnecessary operative procedure.
Factors Influencing Oral Intake Improvement and Feeding Tube Dependency in Patients with Poststroke Dysphagia.

Abstract Objective: To assess ischemic stroke patients regarding the relationship between lesion locations, swallowing impairment, medical and demographic factors and (1) oral intake improvement and (2) feeding tube dependency at discharge from their acute hospital stay. Methods: We conducted an exploratory, retrospective observational longitudinal cohort study of acute, first-ever, ischemic stroke patients. Patients who had an initial nonoral feeding recommendation from a speech and language pathologist and who underwent a modified barium swallow study within their hospital stay were included. Oral intake status was measured with the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) as the change in FOIS during the hospital stay and as feeding tube dependency at hospital discharge. Associations were assessed with multiple linear regression modeling controlling for age, comorbidities, and hospital length of stay. Results: We included 44 stroke patients. At hospital discharge, 93% of patients had oral intake restrictions and 30% were feeding tube dependent. Following multiple linear regression modeling, age, damage to the left superior frontal gyrus, dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, hypothalamus, and nucleus accumbens were significant predictors for FOIS change. Feeding tube dependency showed no significant associations with any prognostic variables when controlling for confounders. Conclusions: The vast majority of patients with an initial nonoral feeding recommendation are discharged with oral intake restrictions indicating a continued need for swallowing assessments and treatment after discharge. Lesion locations associated with motivation, reward, and drive to consume food as well as swallowing impairment, higher age, and more comorbidities were related to less oral intake improvement.
Botulinum toxin for chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis: a cohort study of a pain-focused treatment.

Background and objectives Many women with endometriosis continue to have pelvic pain despite optimal surgical and hormonal treatment; some also have palpable pelvic floor muscle spasm. We describe changes in pain, spasm, and disability after pelvic muscle onabotulinumtoxinA injection in women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, a specific population not addressed in prior pelvic pain studies on botulinum toxin. Methods We present an open-label proof-of-concept case series of women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis. Under conscious sedation and with topical anesthetic, 100 units of onabotulinumtoxinA was injected transvaginally into pelvic floor muscle spasm areas under electromyography guidance. Changes in pain intensity, muscle spasm, disability, and pain medication use were assessed at periodic visits for up to 1 year after injection. Results Thirteen women underwent botulinum toxin injection and were followed for at least 4 months. Before injection, 11 of the 13 women had spasm in >4/6 assessed pelvic muscles and reported moderate pain (median visual analog scale (VAS): 5/10; range: 2–7). By 4–8 weeks after injection, spasm was absent/less widespread (≤3 muscles) in all (p=0.0005). Eleven rated their postinjection pain as absent/mild (median VAS: 2; range: 0–5; p Conclusions These findings suggest pelvic floor spasm may be a major contributor to endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. Botulinum toxin injection may provide meaningful relief of pain and associated disability. Trial registration number NCT01553201
Intracellular Doppler spectroscopy for label-free functional imaging of living tissue (Conference Presentation)

Motions inside living tissues are ubiquitous signatures of the active processes involved in the maintenance of cellular function and health. An innovative label-free non-invasive imaging technology called Biodynamic Imaging (BDI), based on low-coherence interferometry and digital holography, captures intracellular dynamics through ultra-low-frequency Doppler spectra encoding a broad range of cellular and subcellular motions. Clinical trials of BDI assessing patient response to therapy are underway in human ovarian, esophageal and breast cancers.
The Techne of Nutrition in Ancient Greek Philosophy

Abstract: The preparation of food and nutrition is a pervasive techne in the classical Greek world. Indeed, food technology may be a defining characteristic of humanity (Levi-Strauss, 1964). We begin with a glimpse of a tension in the use of the word techne in relation to the preparation of food in Plato’s Gorgias 462d-e. Turning to the Presocratics, we discern three distinct perspectives on food, those of Empedocles, Anaxagoras, and the treatise Regimen (Πeρὶ Διαίτης). In Regimen, we find an anticipation of the distinctions made by Plato in the Gorgias passage, and trace some of the implications in what we may call the “food technology” of this treatise that manages to be both philosophical and technically informative.
How the Sleeve Gastrectomy Works: Metabolically

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become the most popular bariatric operation in recent years. Its relative technical ease compared to other metabolic and bariatric operations has allowed SG to become one of the most studied bariatric operations in preclinical models, which has led to a number of novel insights and potential shared mechanisms across bariatric operations. Herein, the rationale for the weight loss and metabolic changes associated with bariatric surgery is discussed, including contributions of gastrointestinal hormones, nutrient delivery and bile acid metabolic changes that have recently been implicated in preclinical studies as being necessary for the efficacy of SG. Commonly cited theoretical mechanisms that have been debunked are also mentioned. Despite significant progress on the mechanisms underlying SG, a single driving force has not yet been identified – and most likely not be identified as multiple factors contribute to the metabolic benefits of SG.
Anchor vs suture for the attachment of vaginal mesh in a robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy: a randomized clinical trial.

Structured Abstract Background Vaginal mesh attachment can be one of the most time intensive components of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Objective To assess the impact on the duration of surgery of using absorbable anchors compared to interrupted sutures for vaginal mesh attachment in robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy. Study Design This is a single-masked, randomized clinical trial at 2 clinical sites in women with pelvic organ prolapse undergoing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy. Participants were randomized to either interrupted delayed-absorbable anchors or sutures for the vaginal mesh attachment portion of the case. Participants completed validated questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. A certified examiner masked to the treatment arm performed a clinical examination with assessment of POPQ, mesh exposure, and overall appearance of vaginal walls using a 10-cm visual analog scale at each follow-up visit. The primary outcome was the vaginal mesh attachment time. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square or Fischer’s Exact test, whereas continuous variables were compared using Student’s t test or Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Results Fifty-three participants were randomized, 26 to mesh attachment with anchor, 27 to mesh attachment with suture, and 81% (21/26) and 93% (25/27) had 12-month follow up respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in age (p=0.12), BMI (p=0.23), stage of prolapse (p=0.97), or other preoperative factors. Mesh attachment interval time was faster in the anchor compared to suturing arm (12.2 ± 7.8 vs. 21.2 ± 5.2 min, p ± 33.2 vs 109.8 ± 21.2, p=0.774) were not different. VAS for surgeon ease of placement (p=0.16), appearance of mesh attachment (p=0.07), and global satisfaction with use of attachment type (p=0.65) were similar between the arms. There was no difference in perioperative adverse events rates between arms and by 12 months follow-up there were no sacrocolpopexy mesh, anchor, or suture exposures. There was no difference in outcomes at 12 months including composite failure (10% vs 12%, p=0.79), patient global impression of improvement (1.06 vs. 1.19, p=0.27), or patient pelvic pain (9.81 vs. 9.67, p=0.56). Conclusions In patients undergoing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy the anchor vaginal mesh attachment technique required significantly less time than suturing. There was no difference between techniques in complications, failure, surgeon or patient-reported outcomes through 12 months of follow-up. Mesh attachment during sacrocolpopexy can be performed in less time using the anchor technique, providing surgeons another surgical technique for this procedure.
The Burden of Neurocysticercosis at a Single New York Hospital

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a disease caused by the larval pork tapeworm Taenia solium, has emerged as an important infection in the United States. In this study, we describe the spectrum of NCC infection in eastern Long Island, where there is a growing population of immigrants from endemic countries. A retrospective study was designed to identify patients diagnosed with NCC using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in the electronic medical records at Stony Brook University Hospital between 2005 and 2016. We identified 52 patients (56% male, median age: 35 years) diagnosed with NCC in the only tertiary medical center in Suffolk County. Twenty-five cases were reported in the last three years of the study. Forty-eight (94%) patients self-identified as Hispanic or Latino in the electronic medical record. Twenty-two (44%) and 28 (56%) patients had parenchymal and extraparenchymal lesions, respectively. Nineteen (41.3%) patients presented with seizures to the emergency department. Six patients (11.7%) had hydrocephalus, and five of them required frequent hospitalizations and neurosurgical interventions, including permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunts or temporary external ventricular drains. No deaths were reported. The minimum accumulated estimated cost of NCC hospitalizations during the study period for all patients was approximately 1.4 million United States dollars (USD). In conclusion, NCC predominantly affects young, Hispanic immigrants in Eastern Long Island, particularly in zip codes correlating to predominantly Hispanic communities. The number of cases diagnosed increased at an alarming rate during the study period. Our study suggests a growing need for screening high-risk patients and connecting patients to care in hopes of providing early intervention and treatment to avoid potentially detrimental neurological sequelae.
Towards Resilient Operation of Multimicrogrids: An MISOCP-Based Frequency-Constrained Approach

High penetration of distributed energy resources is transforming the paradigm in power system operation. The ability to provide electricity to customers while the main grid is disrupted has introduced the concept of microgrids ( $\mu$ Gs) with many challenges and opportunities. Emergency control of dangerous transients caused by the transition between the grid-connected and island modes in $\mu$ Gs is one of the main challenges in this context. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a comprehensive optimization and real-time control framework for maintaining the frequency stability of multi- $\mu$ G networks under an islanding event and for achieving optimal load shedding and network topology control with ac power flow constraints. This paper also develops a strong mixed-integer second-order cone programming based reformulation and a cutting plane algorithm for scalable computation. We believe, this is the first time in the literature that such a framework for multi- $\mu$ G network control is proposed, and its effectiveness is demonstrated with extensive numerical experiments.
Speech-Based Activity Recognition for Trauma Resuscitation

We present a speech-based approach to recognize team activities in the context of trauma resuscitation. We first analyzed the audio recordings of trauma resuscitations in terms of activity frequency, noise-level, and activity-related keyword frequency to determine the dataset characteristics. We next evaluated different audio-preprocessing parameters (spectral feature types and audio channels) to find the optimal configuration. We then introduced a novel neural network to recognize the trauma activities using a modified VGG network that extracts features from the audio input. The output of the modified VGG network is combined with the output of a network that takes keyword text as input, and the combination is used to generate activity labels. We compared our system with several baselines and performed a detailed analysis of the performance results for specific activities. Our results show that our proposed architecture that uses Mel-spectrum spectral coefficients features with a stereo channel and activity-specific frequent keywords achieve the highest accuracy and average F1-score.
Modeling and Analysis of Peak-Current-Controlled Differential Mode Ćuk Inverter

Peak current mode (PCM) control exhibits superiority over voltage-mode-control (VMC) in aspect of overcurrent protection, magnetic current saturation elimination and fast transient response, etc., and thus PCM-based control scheme finds wide application in numerous areas. In this paper, operation modes, modeling, analysis, and control design for both are presented for differential mode Cuk inverter (DMCI). The comparison between two control schemes reveals that PCM-based control has better stability and is easier to control than VMC-based control. Next, Matlab/Simulink simulation is implemented to compare and evaluate the VMC-based control and PCM-based control performance. The simulation results show that PCM-based DMCI has 1.01% output total harmonic distortion(THD) versus 2.66% for VMC-based control. At the same time, the power device voltage stress almost maintains at the same level. Moreover, the PCM-based DMCI possesses instantaneous startup tracking while the VMC-based control has 0.07 s tracking lag. Further, the DMCI performance based on two control regimes is compared when 50% load step change and 10% input step change occur. All comparisons verify that DMCI with PCM-based control outperforms that of its VMC-based counterpart.
Odocoileus virginianus (Whitetailed deer)

The largest pair of autosomes possesses very delicate satellites at the ends of the long arms, not visible in the reproductions.
It almost does take a rocket scientist to be an employment specialist

We are concerned about the future of professionals who provide supported employment services (e.g. employment specialists, job coaches). This worry is caused by at least four factors. First, we believe that the field tends to take supported employment specialists for granted. We provide two examples as evidence: (1) the 'natural supports' movement seems to be based on the premise that the 'traditional job coach' model is ineffective and even detrimental to individuals in supported employment (Hagner, 1992); (2) at an infocus session on careers and employment issues at the 1994 Annual TASH Conference, one of the participants noted that 'it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be a job coach.' Secondly, neither of the recent 'calls for action' in supported employment (Mank, 1994; Wehman and Kregel, 1994) include recommendations for personnel preparation and training for supported employment professionals. Thirdly, the Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) has not yet been willing to take leadership in the certification movement. Although APSE has recently distributed a questionnaire to determine membership support for certification, both the accompanying article (DiLeo and Flippo, 1994), and the questionnaire (i.e. question 14 reads: I'm concerned that certification could be: (a) a deterrence to SE innovation, (b) a barrier to on-going systems change, (c) a barrier to natural supports, (d) government will dictate competencies) display a clear bias against certification. Despite this bias, early returns indicated 67% of respondents favored some form of certification (T. Freeman, personnel communication). Finally, we suggest the following logical assumptions have been overlooked regarding the success, or lack thereof, of supported employment service delivery:
Estrogen receptor assay in polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin: An immunohistochemical study

An apparent relationship between breast cancer and salivary gland cancer has been observed, and there is one report in the literature that describes estrogen receptors in normal salivary gland and salivary gland cancers. With the use of a monoclonal antibody against estrogen receptor protein and the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase procedure, we were unable to demonstrate estrogen receptors in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of either polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin.
Protein Folding and Stability Using Denaturants

Measurements of protein folding and thermodynamic stability provide insight into the forces and energetics that determine structure, and can inform on protein domain organization, interdomain interactions, and effects of mutations on structure. This chapter describes methods, theory, and data analysis for the most accessible means to determine the thermodynamics of protein folding: chemical denaturation. Topics include overall features of the folding reaction, advances in instrumentation, optimization of reagent purity, mechanistic models for analysis, and statistical and structural interpretation of fitted thermodynamic parameters. Examples in which stability measurements have provided insight into structure and function will be taken from studies in the author's laboratory on the Notch signaling pathway. It is hoped that this chapter will enable molecular, cell, and structural biologists to make precise measurements of protein stability, and will also provide a strong foundation for biophysics students who wish to undertake experimental studies of protein folding.