cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single Parents of Children with Chronic Illness: An Understudied Phenomenon

We have attempted to underscore the critical need to conduct long needed research among children with chronic illnesses within the context of the changing family demography in this country. Research should encompass the various types of families that exist in our society, including those families that are headed by single parents. It clearly is not possible within the space limitations to delineate all research possibilities. Rather, our plan was to identify some of the more significant gaps in this important and heretofore neglected area of inquiry. We hope that we have stimulated investigators to consider this issue either as part of their existing research programs or as a new area of inquiry.
Ex vivo dermatoscopy of scalp specimens and slides

Background Correct evaluation of horizontal scalp biopsies requires accurate gross sectioning and embedding of the tissue. The most common issue during processing includes incorrect specimen bisection. Objectives To verify if (i) ex vivo assessment of scalp biopsies by contact dermatoscopy can identify the correct plane of transverse bisection as well as (ii) if using contact dermatoscopy on the glass slides can be useful to control the tissue processing and expedite sign-out. Materials and methods For the first aim, dermatoscopic pictures of 43 scalp biopsies were printed and shown to 10 dermatology residents not involved in the study, who were asked to identify and highlight the dermo-epidermal junction. For the second aim, dermatoscopic captions of 40 horizontal sections were evaluated in a blinded way for the size of the specimen as well as the level and plane of bisection. The agreement was investigated using Cohen's κ statistics. Results Ten independent observers were able to correctly identify the dermo-epidermal junction as a brownish wavy line in 95.3% cases. The Cohen's κ statistics showed almost perfect agreement. Two independent pathologists agreed on the specimen size in all cases, on the specimen plane in 39 cases and on the specimen level on 35 cases. The Cohen's κ statistics showed almost complete agreement for the size and plane of bisection and substantial agreement for the level of section. Conclusion Ex vivo dermatoscopy of scalp biopsies may be a new way to decrease laboratory costs and improve turnaround time in hair pathology as this technique optimally guides the correct bisection at 1–1.5 mm below the junction. Ex vivo dermatoscopy on the slides may expedite sign out after the initial bisection.
Effect of Reduced Extended Defect Density in MOCVD Grown AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on Native GaN Substrates

AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures were grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition on SiC, hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) GaN, and ammonothermal GaN substrates to achieve HEMTs with over five orders of magnitude variation in extended defect density. This enables a direct comparison of the effect of extended defects on device performance to achieve the best possible reliability. As-grown material was characterized by atomic force microscopy, electron channeling contrast imaging, and Raman spectroscopy. Devices were characterized by Hall, dc $I$ – $V$ , and pulsed $I$ – $V$ behavior. Reduced threading dislocation density provides an increased 2-D electron gas mobility, but inhibits ohmic contact formation resulting in high contact resistance. Transistor characteristics were nominally identical, with higher OFF-state leakage in the HEMTs on ammonothermal GaN. The pulsed $I$ – $V$ response indicated significantly reduced current collapse in the HEMT on HVPE GaN due to reduced buffer trapping.
Kinetic and equilibrium binding characterization of aptamers to small molecules using a label-free, sensitive, and scalable platform.

Nucleic acid aptamers function as versatile sensing and targeting agents for analytical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and gene-regulatory applications, but their limited characterization and functional validation have hindered their broader implementation. We report the development of a surface plasmon resonance-based platform for rapid characterization of kinetic and equilibrium binding properties of aptamers to small molecules. Our system is label-free and scalable and enables analysis of different aptamer–target pairs and binding conditions with the same platform. This method demonstrates improved sensitivity, flexibility, and stability compared to other aptamer characterization methods. We validated our assay against previously reported aptamer affinity and kinetic measurements and further characterized a diverse panel of 12 small molecule-binding RNA and DNA aptamers. We report the first kinetic characterization for six of these aptamers and affinity characterization of two others. This work is the first...
Force–Reactivity Property of a Single Monomer Is Sufficient To Predict the Micromechanical Behavior of Its Polymer

We demonstrate an accurate prediction of the micromechanical behavior of a single chain of cyclopropanated polybutadiene, which is governed by rapid isomerization of the cyclopropane moieties at ∼1.2 nN, from the force–rate correlation of this reaction measured in a small series of increasingly strained macrocycles. The data demonstrate that a single physical quantity, force, uniquely defines the dynamics across length scales from >100 to <1 nm and that strain imposed through molecular design and that imposed by micromanipulation techniques have equivalent effects on the kinetics of a chemical reaction. This represents a new method of screening potential monomers for applications in stress-responsive materials that could also facilitate atomistic interpretations of single-molecule force experiments.
Numerical Simulation of a 4-Day Early Spring Storm Period in the Black Hills

This paper illustrates the potential for mesoscale models to depict the distribution of precipitation in orographic situations. The study covers a 4-day time period in April 1995. The domain of the numerical model covers much of western South Dakota and some of eastern Wyoming and is centered on the Black Hills of South Dakota. The 4-day storm period is characterized by changing atmospheric conditions, from primarily rain generation to snowfall production. Observations and climatic data of precipitation are analyzed to compare with model predictions. The model demonstrated the ability to respond appropriately to changing input conditions and produced reasonably accurate simulations of observed precipitation patterns. The model performed well for sufficiently cold, strongly forced conditions but seemed overly sensitive to the accuracy of model assumptions regarding ice initiation for warmer, weakly forced situations.
Application of extension assessment to comprehensive capability comparison of PCB's recycling methods

In order to evaluate the available PCB's recycling methods comprehensively,four PCB's recycling methods including the supercritical CO2 method,the pyrolysis method,the mechanical treatment method and the chemical solvent method are studied.Extension assessment is introduced into the comprehensive capability comparison of the PCB's recycling methods in which the qualitative indexes,maximum optimization and minimum optimization are considered.From the viewpoints of environment,energy,resource and economy,an assessment system including 16 indexes is established.Finally,the comprehensive capability order of the PCB's recycling methods is obtained,which provides a reference for selection of the PCB's recycling methods and improvement in their capabilities.
Effects of the Europe Debt Crisis on Global Economy

The paper describes the process of the Europe debt crisis,analyzing its reasons.It states this crisis not only inflicts heavylosses on the European economy,but also has nagetive effects on the recovery of the U.S economy.Meanwhile its influence on Chinese economy cannot be underestimated.By the analyse,the paper comes to a conclusion that we should make a good study of the trend of European debt crisis,predicts it acurately,in order to take proper measures to avoid the negative effects on the Chinese economy and make sure the china's economy can go smoothly on a right way.
Discussion on Some Problems in Performance Examination Test for Selective Catalytic Reduction System of 700MW Unit

This paper introduces examination test for selective catalytic reduction denitration system of 700 MW unit of some power plant including flue gas temperature distribution measuring,flue gas flow measuring,measuring for loss of pressure of system,NOxand O2 measuring,calculation on denitration efficiency,ammonia escape rate measuring,SO2/SO3 conversion percent measuring and calculation on ammonia consumption.Results indicated that SCR denitration system was able to meet requirement for SCR performance guarantee value,but there were still existing some problems in SCR denitration system to be solved and solutions were needed to be proposed.
Activated complement directly modifies the performance of isolated heart muscle cells from guinea pig and rat

The complement system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders including ischemia and atherosclerosis. Selective deposition of C5b-9, the membrane attack complex of complement, has been histochemically documented in human myocardium early after reperfusion of ischemic areas and in infarcted zones. However, functional sequelae of the C5b-9 complex binding to myocardial cells have not been identified. Insertion of C5b-9 complexes into the membrane of other cell types can generate transient changes in membrane permeability in the absence of cell lysis. We demonstrate in beating isolated adult guinea pig and rat cardiac myocytes that human derived C5b-9 can transiently augment in a dose-dependent manner both basal cytosolic calcium concentration and calcium transients, resulting in a temporary increase in contractility. If similar changes occur in human heart cells in vivo, they could significantly affect myocardial performance and contribute to functional abnormalities seen in ischemia and other pathological conditions associated with complement activation.
Cost-benefit analysis

Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is one of three criteria by which the goals of environmental regulation can be set. (The other two are feasibility and health-based standards.) The term refers to any decision-making technique that weighs and compares the costs and the benefits of a course of action, and can range from an informal weighing of qualitatively described pros and cons to a highly formal and technical method that employs sophisticated mathematics and is grounded in economic theory. This more formal, economic version of CBA has sparked considerable controversy since its inception in the mid-twentieth century. But despite ongoing debate as to its validity and usefulness, in the 1980s, the US government began using a relatively formal version of CBA as a tool for centralized regulatory review. Since then, controversy has continued even as the idea of CBA as a tool for regulatory review has begun to spread to other parts of the world.
517. Anti-Tumor Immunity Is Elicited by a Conditionally Replicative Adenovirus in Canine Osteosarcoma

Conditionally replicative viruses have been proposed as a potential therapy for a wide variety of tumors. Initially, these viruses were thought to exert their anti-tumor properties through the lysis of infected tumor cells. However, there is the potential that oncolytic viruses may also elicit anti-tumor immune responses in both the context of viral antigens and potentially tumor antigens. Canine osteosarcoma is an excellent intermediate animal model in which the ability of a conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) to induce anti-tumor immunization can be uniquely ascertained. This tumor exhibits many of the same characteristics of the human disease, including metastasis to the lungs. A CRAd based on canine adenovirus type 2 with the E1 gene driven by the osteocalcin promoter was administered to canine patients with confirmed osteosarcoma of the appendicular skeleton. Cellular and humoral immune responses, as well as cytokine profiles and regulatory T-cells were assessed before and after treatment. The number of dogs surviving past one year was approximately 20%. No changes were identified in levels of cytotoxic T-cells after therapy, when using autologous tumor cells as targets. Likewise, no significant changes in a panel of cytokines were observed. However, evaluation of humoral immune responses by western blot and flow cytometry, using autologous tumor, indicated that all dogs in the study had pre-existing antibodies to their own tumors and that these antibodies increased post treatment. This increase consisted of both an increase in the amount of antibody present and the recognition of new antigenic determinants. Serum from treated dogs also cross-reacted with tumor cells from unrelated dogs as well as a canine melanoma cell line. These results indicate that treatment with a CRAd does result in active immunization against the tumor, however it is unclear if the observed immune responses play any role in patient outcomes. Based upon these findings, we can now hypothesize that manipulation of these immune responses by including immune modulating genetic constructs in the CRAd may serve to alter the type and efficacy of the patient's immune response and enhance survival.
Notes Toward a Dissident Theo-Politics

The following essay asks what theo-political grammar might effectively address the growing crisis of democracy in North America. Previous responses to this made by political theology and liberation...
Recognizing the Enemy: Rap Music In the Wake of the Los Angeles Riots

The May 1992 riots in Los Angeles demonstrated more than anything in recent history that the inner cities are filled with despair, hopelessness, and anger. Some feel that rap music is responsible for both gangs and the lawlessness unleashed by the riots. This paper will seek to address this notion by looking at the rap lyrics of artists who have been considered the most radical and the most angry. By examining rap lyrics we can detect anger and frustration in the ghetto. Rap music did not cause rioting in Los Angeles but it effectively heralded measures taken by inner-city residents who are tired of governmental and societal neglect of their community, their homes, and their lives.
Family Mediation of Children's Media/Internet Use

This entry reviews family mediation, traditionally referred to as parental mediation. An increasing awareness of effective parenting strategies from the child development literature, combined with a perceived loss of parental control as digital media have become more accessible, has shifted scholars’ emphasis from top-down parental effects to family mediation that emphasizes bidirectional communication among parents and children. This less authoritarian approach tends to be more effective because it increases communication competence and media literacy while decreasing youth reactance against parental control. There still is a place for rule-making, however, in a media environment that presents very real hazards to youth not yet fully prepared to navigate them safely on their own. Keywords: adolescence; children; communication skills; family communication; media literacy
Rehabilitation of Verified Minors and Late Recruits

This chapter analyses the nature of the rehabilitation programme targeted to Verified Minors and Late Recruit (VMLR) ex-combatants. It examines micro and macro-level factors that have affected, either positively or negatively, the process and outcomes of the rehabilitation programme. It also uncovers how the ex-combatants themselves perceived of and responded to the programme and what lessons can we learn in the field of post-conflict peacebuilding from the efforts made to rehabilitate the VMLRs in Nepal.
The Legal Turn in Originalism: A Discussion

These five essays, which were originally published on the Library of Law and Liberty website, explore several themes involving the Legal Turn in Originlism – the trend toward using legal methods either to interpret or construct the Constitution. John McGinnis and Michael Rappaport’s initial essay argues that there has been a legal turn in recent originalist scholarship, exemplified by originalist scholars such as William Baude and Stephen Sachs, Jeffrey Pojanowski and Kevin Walsh, Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick, Jack Balkin, and by McGinnis and Rappaport’s own scholarship. Ilya Shapiro reacts to McGinnis and Rappaport’s initial essay, claiming that the Legal Turn is not very controversial since all originalists agree with the idea of treating the Constitution as a legal text. Kevin Walsh then explores the idea of the legal turn as it is developed in his own approach (coauthored with Pojanowski). Finally, Ilan Wurman expresses skepticism that the legal meaning of the Constitution is as important as McGinnis and Rappaport believe. McGinnis and Rappaport conclude the exchange with a response to their critics.
Pathology of Acute and Chronic Hepatitis D

Since the discovery of the delta antigen by Rizzetto et al.1 10 years ago, the pathology of delta hepatitis has been described in detail. In recent years, several studies recorded significant differences in the clinical course and pathologic findings of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in South America as opposed to those in North America and Europe. This chapter summarizes these interesting observations.
Drug Interaction Considerations Throughout Drug Development

The objectives of a drug interaction program are to determine whether there are interactions with an NME (new molecular entity) that necessitate a dose adjustment of the NME or other drugs that it might be used with, or whether an interaction requires a contraindication or special precautions. The program should begin early in drug development so the clinical implications of interactions can be assessed adequately in clinical studies. It is important that all studies are conducted using rigorous scientific procedures. The clinical significance of interactions should be assessed based on exposure-response knowledge of the affected drug. Drug labels need to include complete information about the potential for drug interactions, including instructions for dose adjustments and special monitoring or precautions.
AIDS: Religion and Medicine in Rural Kenya

This paper, based on a year of fieldwork, will explore some of the intricate yet crucial linkages between morality and healing, as made evident in the AIDS epidemic in Kenya. Mission health care is vital to Kenya’s ability to provide health services in the biomedical sector,1 and many mission facilities in Kenya are now caring for people with AIDS. However, because AIDS is generally a sexually transmitted disease, most mission personnel (and many others) view AIDS as a moral issue as well. In addition, because AIDS prevention discourse is an attempt at behavioral change and social control, AIDS enters the political sphere. This can have important implications on the efficacy of AIDS education and prevention campaigns. AIDS educational programs thus involve far more than biology, but encompass sexuality, cultural traditions, and cultural nationalism,2 as well. Indeed, with a background of the historical context of the relationship between morality, healing, and politics in Kenya, the continuities in the ongoing dispute with the hegemony3 of biomedicine and Christianity can be understood.4
Satellite Deployment, Station-Keeping and Related Insurance Coverage

Without reliable launch services there would be no communications satellite industry. The good news is that the reliability of satellite launchers has continued to increase over time. The bad news is that despite high expectations launch services have not really gotten cheaper. The most important development in launch services over the last half century is probably the fact that a number of countries and launch services organizations within those countries have developed launch capabilities to low, medium and geosynchronous orbits. This competition has helped to lower costs. Also the development of larger boosters has allowed the launch of larger and more cost-efficient satellites (in terms of total systems costs).
The Impact of Early-Phase Trial Design in the Drug Development Process.

Purpose: Many of the therapeutic agents that are being used currently were developed using the 3+3 decision rule for dose finding. Over the past 30 years, several dose-finding designs have been proposed and evaluated, including the “continual reassessment method” (CRM) and the “Bayesian optimal interval design” (BOIN). This research investigates the role of the choice of an early-phase design on the likelihood that drugs entering the drug development pipeline will have 2 successful phase III trials. Experimental Design: Using simulation, each agent in a population of hypothetical agents was tracked through the drug development process, from initial dose finding to 2 confirmatory phase III trials. Varying the designs of the phase I, II, and III trials allows for an assessment of the effect of the choice of designs on the proportion of agents with successful phase III trials. Results: The results indicate that using the CRM or BOIN, rather than the 3+3, substantially enhances the proportion of effective agents that have successful phase III trials, with the CRM having a greater effect than BOIN. A larger phase II trial magnifies the effect of the phase I design. Conclusions: The results underscore the importance of the choice of the early-phase designs. Use of the 3+3 results in fewer agents with successful phase III trials compared with the CRM or BOIN. The difference is more pronounced among highly effective agents. In addition, the results show the importance of a sufficiently powered phase II trial.
Robust and Efficient Modulation Recognition Based on Local Sequential IQ Features

Modulation recognition plays a key role in emerging spectrum applications including spectrum enforcement, resource allocation, privacy and security. While critical for the practical progress of spectrum sharing, modulation recognition has so far been investigated under unrealistic assumptions: (i)a transmitter’s bandwidth must be scanned alone and in full, (ii) prior knowledge of the technology must be available and (iii) a transmitter must be trustworthy. In reality these assumptions cannot be readily met, as a transmitter’s bandwidth may only be scanned intermittently, partially, or alongside other transmitters, and modulation obfuscation may be introduced by short-lived scans or malicious activity.This paper bridges the gap between real-world spectrum sensing and the growing body of methods for modulation recognition designed under simplifying assumptions. We propose to use local features, besides global statistics, extracted from raw IQ data, which collectively enable a robust framework for modulation recognition that outperforms baselines from the state-of-the-art. Specifically, we exploit the discriminative power of local patterns from consecutive IQ samples extracted based on a Fisher Kernel framework that captures non-linearity in the underlying data. With these domain-informed features, we employ lightweight linear support vector machine classification for modulation detection. Our framework is robust to noise, partial transmitter scans and data biases without utilizing prior knowledge of the underlying transmitter technology. The recognition accuracy of our approach consistently outperforms baselines in both simulated and real-world traces. We demonstrate up to a 98% accuracy and a 30% improvement over several counterparts from the literature with partial scans in a USRP testbed.
Influence of tumor-conditioned medium on hypoxia-mediated inhibition of growth and survival of endothelial cells

2797 The hypoxic microenvironment of solid tumors is associated with malignant progression and it renders tumors more resistant to cancer therapies. Endothelial cell damage may occur following hypoxic conditions and lead to dysfunction; however, endothelial cells in tumors survive hypoxic conditions providing nutrients and oxygen to facilitate tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of tumor-conditioned medium on hypoxia-induced changes in endothelial cell growth, migration and survival. Tumor conditioned medium collected from hypoxic or normoxic human glioblastoma tumor cells were applied to endothelial cultures in normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Cell survival and viability were assessed by the colony formation assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry and migration was measured by spheroid and wound-induced migration assays. Endothelial cells were stained for nucleus morphology with Hoechst 33342 dye and for intracellular active caspase-3 with western blotting. Changes in gene expression were determined by RT-PCR and quantified by real-time PCR for VEGF, VEGFR2, uPA, and uPAR gene transcripts. MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion was evaluated by zymography. In capillary-like structure formation studies, endothelial cells were seeded into matrigel and then exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia caused a reduction in clonogenic cell survival response and growth arrest at the G0-G1 phases of the cell cycle in endothelial cells. Hypoxia compared with normoxia significantly reduced the number of migrating endothelial cells. Nuclear staining with dye and caspase-3 activation in endothelial cells showed that hypoxia-induced apoptosis involves caspase-dependent mechanisms. Exposure to hypoxia caused a decrease in gene expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, uPA, and uPAR in endothelial cells. Furthermore, hypoxia showed a strong inhibition of capillary tube formation on Matrigel, and a decrease in MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion by endothelial cells. Tumor conditioned medium enhanced survival and rescued endothelial cells from apoptosis induced by hypoxia. These molecular changes in endothelial cells could, in part, contribute to the angiogenic response that occurs in the development of hypoxic neovascularization in solid tumors.
The impact of an electronic medical record alert on code status documentation for hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

319Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Advanced care planning (ACP) in this population ...
Arterial Pulse Signal Amplification by Adding a Uniform PDMS Layer to a Pyrex-Based Microfluidic Tactile Sensor

Various flexible tactile sensors based on micro/nano-fabrication technology have been developed to amplify a measured pulse signal for accuracy. Yet, these sensors suffer from complicated configurations and fabrication complexity. This work is aimed to investigate the feasibility of amplifying a measured pulse signal by adding a uniform polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer to a Pyrex-based microfluidic tactile sensor. The amplifying mechanism of the proposed approach is revealed by theories on sensor-artery interaction. The pulse signals at the radial artery (RA) deep under the skin and the superficial temporal artery (STA) near the skin of one subject are measured by the sensor first with no uniform layer and then with a set of uniform layers with different mixing ratios of PDMS and thickness. Arterial parameters: elasticity, viscosity and radius, are estimated from the measured pulse signals. As compared to those measured with no uniform layer, a uniform layer generates a pulse signal at transmural pressure ( $\text{P}_{\text {T}}$ ) near zero, greatly amplifies the measured pulse signal at both arteries, causes a moderate increase in estimated arterial elasticity, and has negligible effect on estimated arterial viscosity and radius. Due to their anatomical difference, pulse signal amplification is attributed to improved pulse transmission at tissue-sensor interface at the RA and alleviated suppression of the true pulse signal at the STA. The effect of overlying tissue and a uniform layer on estimated arterial parameters is further discussed. The proposed solution offers a low-cost solution to acquiring an amplified pulse signal at $\text{P}_{\text {T}}$ near zero for CV health assessment.
Detecting and Quantifying Microplastics in Bottled Water using Fluorescence Microscopy: A New Experiment for Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry Courses

Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic particles (<5 mm in size) that are ubiquitous in the environment and have even been detected in bottled water. In this laboratory experiment, suited for instru...
Extended Amygdala Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling Gates Alcohol-induced Stress Impairments in Mice

Abstract Maladaptive responses to stress are a hallmark of alcohol use disorder, but the mechanisms that underlie this are not well characterized. Here we show that kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a critical molecular substrate promoting a maladaptive behavioral phenotype following heavy alcohol drinking. Altered responses to an innate stressor were associated with enhanced PFC-driven excitation of prodynorphin-containing neurons in the BNST during protracted withdrawal from intermittent alcohol drinking. These findings suggest that corticolimbic connectivity may underlie impaired stress-coping during protracted withdrawal from heavy drinking and represents a target of potential therapeutic mediation.
Metagenomics for neurological infections — expanding our imagination

Over the past two decades, the diagnosis rate for patients with encephalitis has remained poor despite advances in pathogen-specific testing such as PCR and antigen assays. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of RNA and DNA extracted from cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue now offers another strategy for diagnosing neurological infections. Given that mNGS simultaneously assays for a wide range of infectious agents in an unbiased manner, it can identify pathogens that were not part of a neurologist's initial differential diagnosis either because of the rarity of the infection, because the microorganism has not been previously associated with a clinical phenotype or because it is a newly discovered organism. This Review discusses the technical advantages and pitfalls of cerebrospinal fluid mNGS in the context of patients with neuroinflammatory syndromes, including encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis. We also speculate on how mNGS testing potentially fits into current diagnostic testing algorithms given data on mNGS test performance, cost and turnaround time. Finally, the Review highlights future directions for mNGS technology and other hypothesis-free testing methodologies that are in development.
Sleep attitudes as a predictor of sleep outcomes: a secondary data analysis.

Attitudes have been widely studied as predictors of a number of social and health behaviors. However, attitudes predicting sleep outcomes have only recently been examined, despite sleep being conce...
The Cost-Effectiveness of Adapting and Implementing a Brief Intervention to Target Frequent Alcohol Use Among Persons with HIV in Vietnam

Brief interventions to reduce frequent alcohol use among persons with HIV (PWH) are evidence-based, but resource-constrained settings must contend with competition for health resources. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of two intervention arms compared to the standard of care (SOC) in a three-arm randomized control trial targeting frequent alcohol use in PWH through increasing the percent days abstinent from alcohol and viral suppression. We estimated incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from a modified societal perspective and a 1-year time horizon using a Markov model of health outcomes. The two-session brief intervention (BI), relative to the six-session combined intervention (CoI), was more effective and less costly; the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness of the BI relative to the SOC, was $525 per QALY gained. The BI may be cost-effective for the HIV treatment setting; the health utility gained from viral suppression requires further exploration.
Supporting Trainees by Addressing Inappropriate Behaviors by Patients.

Objectives Physicians in training may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of discrimination and inappropriate behaviors by patients. We sought to determine the frequency of inappropriate behaviors by patients toward Internal Medicine (IM) residents, residents' confidence to manage the behaviors, and differences among demographic characteristics, including race, sex, and level of clinical experience. Methods We developed a curricular session to equip IM residents and faculty to respond to discrimination or inappropriate behaviors by patients. Before the session, we surveyed residents about their experiences with macroaggressions, microaggressions, and other inappropriate behaviors using a 16-question survey instrument. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the participants' characteristics and the χ2 or Fisher exact test for comparison between groups. Results Eighty-two percent (27 of 33) of residents who attended the workshop completed the survey. We found that the majority of residents experienced patient macro- and microaggressions. More than 50% had a personal experience or witnessed experience with a macroaggression related to race (56%) or gender (59%). Seventy percent of residents personally experienced a microaggression by a patient. Women and residents of color are more likely to experience these types of encounters, which become more common in residents with higher postgraduate year level. Confidence in how to appropriately respond to such encounters is low. Conclusions Our study highlights that macro- and microaggressions by patients toward IM residents are common. Curricula are needed to equip trainees with tools to appropriately respond during such encounters.
The Mobile Office: A Mobile AR Systems for Productivity Applications in Industrial Environments.

This article proposes the Mobile Office, an AR-Based System for productivity applications in industrial environments. It focuses on addressing workers’ needs while mobilizing in complex environments and when workers want to do productive work similar to a workstation setting. For this purpose, the Mobile Office relies on a bi-modal approach (mobile and static modes) to addresses both scenarios while considering critical aspects such as UI, ergonomics, interaction, safety, and cognitive user abilities. Its development relies first on a systematic literature review for establishing guidelines and system aspects. Then AR-UI mockups are presented to incorporate literature and authors’ expertise in this area. Three hardware configurations are also presented for the implementation of the Mobile Office. Validation of the Mobile Office was made through a survey to potential users that provided their feedback about their perceptions of proposed system. The survey results revealed concordance of critical aspects of particular importance for effective productivity support on the Mobile Office’s focus scenarios. We incorporated these critical aspects and suggested future research direction for the Mobile Office’s further development and significance.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms for KIBRA and COMT are related to orthostatic hypotension and cognitive symptom burden after concussion Injury (5022)

Objective: To explore the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for KIBRA and COMT on self-reported cognitive symptoms and the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) within 48 hours (48H) of concussion. Background: OH is associated with decreased cognitive function due to cerebral hypoperfusion. Acute concussion injuries are associated cognitive impairment and autonomic dysfunction. Neither the relationship between these outcomes nor the impact of SNPs linked to cognitive impairment, such as KIBRA and COMT, has been explored after concussion. Design/Methods: A prospective study was performed in 36 concussed athletes (gender: 23 female, 13 male; age: 20±1 years; height: 1.75±0.12 meters; weight: 73±14 kilograms). Within 48H of injury, participants completed the SCAT3 and the self-reported score (0–6) for Fog, Difficulty Concentrating/Remembering and Confusion were summed for a “cognitive burden” score. The ΔSBP was computed from an orthostatic challenge (supine to standing). A saliva sample was obtained, and a commercial laboratory identified the genotype for KIBRA (rs17070145) and COMT (rs165599) using PMR-array. KIBRA (CC, TC, TT) and COMT (AA, AG, GG) genotypes were dichotomized (T+, T−, and G+, G− respectively) and concatenated (T+G+, T+G−, T−G+, T−G−) for analyses. Results: The omnibus model for ΔSBP in the concatenated KIBRA+COMT was significant (p Conclusions: SNPs for KIBRA+COMT were associated with OH in the T+G+ group and an unexpected trend toward a lower cognitive burden than other groups 48H after concussion. This combination of SNPs could play a role in cognitive resilience. Disclosure: Dr. La Fountaine has nothing to disclose. Anthony Testa has nothing to disclose.
Case Studies: An Overview

This chapter sets the stage for the evaluation case studies that follow. As noted in the Acknowledgments, the evaluation case studies in this book were undertaken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as funded research projects. To set the stage for the case studies that follow, a brief history of NIST, based on the work of Cochrane (1966), is presented along with a description of the evolution of NIST’s evaluation efforts of its research laboratories and of its Advanced Technology Program (ATP).
The Blake Canonical Form

Boole’s object in inventing an “algebra of logic” [12, 13] was to reduce the processes of reasoning to those of calculation. He showed that a system of logical equations, unlike a system of ordinary equations, can be reduced to a single equivalent equation (we consider the reduction-process in Chapter 4). He chose the standard reduced form f = 0, where f is a Boolean function. Reasoning is carried out in Boole’s formulation by solving that equation for certain of its arguments in terms of others.
Lessons Learned from MRI Safety Events

Although MRI is a relatively safe imaging modality as it does not require ionizing radiation, there are many unique aspects or features that make it challenging for patient safety. The constant strong magnetic field in the MRI suite is the basis of projectile incidents. There are time-varying gradient magnetic fields and radiofrequency magnetic fields that are utilized in creating the MRI images that can interact with certain implanted or indwelling devices and result in patient harm if not correctly recognized and accounted for. These may also underlie other potential adverse events in MRI, including hearing damage and burns. Although multiple safety practices are in place to prevent injury, collective human errors can “align” to allow dangerous incidents to occur. This report discusses MRI safety incidents that have occurred involving inadequate communication, medication issues, and projectiles, and includes the lessons learned and improved practices that have been instituted to help improve safety in the MRI environment.
Ferrosilite III: A Triclinic Pyroxenoid-Type Polymorph of Ferrous Metasilicate

The relationships between the triclinic unit cell of ferrosilite III and those of pyroxmangite, rhodonite, and wollastonite lead to the hypothesis that this polymorph of ferrous metasilicate has a pyroxenoid-type crystal structure with single silicate chains that repeat after every nine silicon tetrahedra. Vector relations between the triclinic cell and an apparent pseudomonoclinic cell support this hypothesis. Although the proposed silicate chain has a longer repeat length than any now known, it represents a logical extension of those found in other pyroxenoids and suggests that even longer repeat lengths may yet be found among phases with pyroxene compositions.
Sentencing Councils: A Study of Sentence Disparity and Its Reduction

The fundamental premise in the idea of impartial judges and rules of law is that certain kinds of decision-making, for example, by judges, can by institutional arrangements and role discipline be made to show less variance and less correlation to personal factors than other kinds of decision-making. . . . Beyond this there is the question of whether different arrangements will produce different degrees of impersonality in decision-making.'
The improvement of the resonance in RFI chamber

Reported improvements in resonances observed in a semianechoic radio frequency interference (RFI) measurement chamber are discussed. Due to the chamber's construction details and antenna placement, for 90 MHz measurements one point within the chamber had decreased electric-field intensity while another point showed the opposite. After lining the chamber's ceiling and for walls with about 13000 ferrite tiles, the points with unusually high or low field strengths were almost totally eliminated. This result confirmed that the chamber walls were responsible for reflections causing the measured field values and theoretical phase difference between the incident and reflected waves for the ferrite tiles is 90 degrees at 90 MHz accounting for the elimination of the reflections. >
The thermal neutron absorption cross-section of 233Th and the resonance integrals of 232Th, 233Th and 59Co

Abstract The thermal neutron absorption cross-section of 238Th and the resonance absorption integrals of 232Th, 233Th and 69Co have been measured as 1450, 85, 400 and 75 barns, respectively, by neutron activation measurements using cadmium filters with reactor spectrum neutrons.
The MEVVA ion source for high current metal ion implantation

The MEVVA (Metal Vapor Vacuum Arc) ion source is a new kind of source which can produce high current beams of metal ions. Beams of a wide range of elements have been produced, spanning the periodic table from lithium up to and including uranium. The source extraction voltage is up to 60 kV, and we are increasing this up to 120 kV. A total ion beam current of over 1 Ampere has been extracted from the present embodiment of the concept, and this is not an inherent limit. The ion charge state distribution varies with cathode material and arc current, and beams like Li/sup +/, Co/sup +,2+,3+/ and U/sup 3+,4+,5+,6+/ for example, are typical; thus the implantation energy can be up to several hundred kilovolts without additional acceleration. The ion source has potential applications for ion implantation and ion beam mixing for achievement of improved corrosion resistance or wear resistance in metals or surface modification of ceramic materials and semiconductors. Here we outline the source and its performance, and describe some very preliminary implantation work using this source.
Reinnervation of denervated skeletal muscle by central neurons regenerating via ventral roots implanted into the spinal cord.

The reinnervation of denervated skeletal muscle by central axons regenerating via a ventral root implanted into the spinal cord was examined in rats. The 8th thoracic ventral root was severed and its distal end implanted into the ventro-lateral column of the spinal cord via a stab incision. In control animals the root was severed, but was not implanted into the stab incision. After 12–14 months the animals were examined electrophysiologically to determine the presence or absence of motor units in the 8th intercostal muscle which were reinnervated by centrally derived axons regenerating via the implant. Such units were found in implanted animals, but in none of the controls. Evidence that the motor units were reinnervated by central axons included the facts that the units could be activated either, (1) reflexly (i.e. trans-synaptically) by electrical stimulation of the dorsal roots or spinal cord, or (2) pharmacologically by either the intraspinal injection of glutamate or acetylcholine, or by the systemic administration of strychnine. Great care was taken to ensure that the only feasible connection between the spinal cord and the 8th intercostal muscle was via the site of implantation. The EMG signals from the motor units were of large amplitude, typical of reinnervated muscle, and their individual activation resulted in discernible contractions of regions of the T8 intercostal muscle. We conclude that regenerating CNS neurons can be guided to innervat denervated skeletal muscle by the implantation of severed ventral roots into the spinal cord. The neuromuscular synapses formed are functional and persistent. The findings may be relevant to the restoration of function after nervous injuries, such as the avulsion of ventral roots.
Under sulfur's spell.

Thomas Rauchfuss marvels at the diversity of sulfur reactivity. Although it poisons most industrial catalysts, it adopts many forms in nature and takes on a variety of biological roles — including that of a biocatalyst.
Sorption of cesium from aqueous waste solution on a SuperLigÒ644 resin

The removal of cesium from aqueous waste solution was investigated in a column setup using a relatively coarse SuperLigO644 resin. The bed volume (BV=140) at the onset of breakthrough surpassed the design requirement of 100 BV at 50% breakthrough, and also corresponds to 99.96% cesium removal. Cesium elution with 0.5M HNO3was satisfactory with a peak BV of 2.5. The elution BV for C/C 0=0.01 was 10, which is less than the target of 15 BV. The percent of sorbed cesium eluted was 99.88%. Further, the BV of the various solutions used for the supporting process steps was sufficient.
Vascular steal model of human temporal lobe epileptogenicity: the relationship between electrocorticographic interhemispheric propagation time and cerebral blood flow

Human temporal lobe epileptogenicity (i.e. seizure frequency) depends on epileptic and non-epileptic cerebral blood flow (CBF). Increasing non-epileptic cortical CBF is associated with reduction in epileptic cortical CBF. Seizure frequency increases logarithmically with non-epileptic cortical CBF increase and epileptic cortical CBF reduction. A model of human temporal lobe epileptogenicity is derived from the mathematical equivalence to the logarithmic function of seizure frequency of (a) epileptic and non-epileptic CBF differential and (b) electrocorticographic (ECoG) interhemispheric propagation time (IHPT). The vascular steal model of human temporal lobe epileptogenicity suggests that a small CBF redistribution from non-epileptic to epileptic cortex should produce substantial reduction in temporal lobe seizure frequency in association with prolongation of IHPT. The equivalence of these CBF and ECoG parameters to the logarithmic function of seizure frequency suggests that the interhemispheric temporal lobe perfusion gradient and ECoG propagation time may be involved in the fundamental perturbation responsible for human temporal lobe epileptogenicity.
Treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma with topical cidofovir

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe a case of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in situ that was successfully treated with adjunctive topical cidofovir. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 52-year-old woman presented with a diagnosis of diffuse conjunctival papillomatosis in the right eye. She underwent conjunctival biopsy followed by a 6-week course of cidofovir eyedrops (2.5 mg/ml). RESULTS: The biopsy specimen demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma in situ. After this biopsy and treatment with cidofovir, the mass regressed into a small vascular tuft, which was excised and treated with cryotherapy. Six months after cidofovir treatment, the patient developed cicatricial changes of the inferior punctum. No recurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma has occurred in 24 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Cidofovir has shown effectiveness in the treatment of neoplastic lesions involving various mucus membrane sites. This antiviral drug may be a valuable addition to our treatment armamentarium for patients with squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the conjunctiva. The possible relationship between topical cidofovir and cicatricial changes of the lacrimal system cannot be determined from this isolated report, but further investigation is indicated.