cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A113: Regional variations in esophageal cancer incidence rates by census region in the United States, 1999-2008

Background: U.S. national cancer incidence estimates show a dramatic increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and a simultaneous steady decrease in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, it is unknown whether substantial regional variations exist due to previous data limitations. Using the combined resource of NPCR and SEER, which covered 89% of the U.S. population, we assessed whether regional rates and trends significantly deviated from national estimates. Methods: From NPCR-SEER, we extracted cancer case counts and populations for whites aged 45-84 years by calendar year, histology, sex, and census region for the period 1999-2008. We calculated age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs), annual percent changes (APCs), and male-to-female incidence rate ratios (MFIRRs). Results: This analysis included 65,823 EAs and 27,094 ESCCs diagnosed during 778 million person-years. We observed significant geographic variability in EA and ESCC incidence rates and trends by census region, especially in men diagnosed with EA. The highest male ASRs for EA were observed in the Northeast (17.7 per 100,000) and Midwest (18.1 per 100,000), both of which were significantly higher (p<0.001) than the national estimate (16.0 per 100,000). The APC for men with EA in the Northeast was 62% higher than the national estimate (3.19% vs. 1.97%, P<0.001). The MFIRR for each histology remained fairly constant across calendar time, despite changes in incidence rates. Conclusion: National estimates of esophageal cancer are not generalizable to specific census regions of the US. The stable MFIRRs may indicate predominant factors affecting esophageal cancer incidence rates are similar in men and women. These results underscore the importance of examining geographic and sex disparities in esophageal cancer. Citation Format: Jennifer Drahos, Manxia Wu, William F. Anderson, Katrina F. Trivers, Jessica King, Philip S. Rosenberg, Christie R. Eheman, Michael B. Cook. Regional variations in esophageal cancer incidence rates by census region in the United States, 1999-2008. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A113.
Controversies in the management of pediatric facial fractures

The treatment of pediatric maxillofacial fractures demands consideration of different factors than those in the adult and, therefore, a different therapeutic approach. We currently believe that certain principles in the management of these injuries can be outlined, recognizing that they may require modification as additional experience accumulates. These management principles are as follows: 1. Maintain a high index of suspicion for maxillofacial injury in the pediatric patient, especially when multiple trauma exists. 2. In addition to careful physical examination, utilize CT scanning on a routine basis, even for apparently trivial injuries. 3. Give consideration to observation only for minimally displaced fractures. 4. Respect the functional matrix and employ the least invasive surgical approach that will access the fracture and allow stable reduction. 5. Employ methods of fixation that adequately stabilize the facial skeleton without rigidly immobilizing long segments. 6. If rigid internal stabilization is necessary, in the form of conventional plate and screw fixation, give consideration to interval removal. 7. Microplates appear to provide enough stability so that their use can be advocated whenever possible. 8. Avoid the use of alloplastic materials, especially in the very young patient. 9. Use bone grafts sparingly, except in instances in which inlay reconstruction is necessary and onlay reconstruction is required to maintain soft-tissue support. 10. Be aware of the pediatric dentition and avoid iatrogenic injury to evolving teeth and tooth buds. Perhaps the most important principle of all is to document injuries and their method of treatment and to follow patients serially. This will allow further definition of fracture patterns and the effects of injury and its treatment on growth, thereby giving the surgeon a better understanding and ability to develop more concise treatment philosophies for the future.
An Evolutionary Distributed Agent System: A Framework and Application to Manufacturing Design and Control

Information systems are subject to change from the environment. If systems are to be used beyond their initial purpose as conceived during the requirements definition stage, they must be designed to evolve. One approach to evolutionary complexity is to make systems dynamically configurable so that they can exhibit new behavior in the face of environmental change. In this paper, the authors propose a distributed agent approach to information systems development in order to overcome the inherent inflexibility of the agent systems developed with a traditional systems development methodology. They apply the framework to the development of alternative agent systems for manufacturing process design and scheduling problems. Through a simulation experiment, the authors demonstrate that the fit between the information system and its environment is one of the most important design considerations for the development of the evolutionary distributed agent system.
Planning: The Key to Success in Recreation Programs

(1977). Planning: The Key to Success in Recreation Programs. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 48-49.
FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE Nα-ACETYLATION OF ACTH AND FRAGMENTS OF ACTH

This chapter examines the factors that influence the N α -acetylation of ACTH and fragments of ACTH. The rat pituitary contains an enzyme that acetylates the α-amino group of the NH 2 -terminal serine residue of corticotropin (ACTH) and the structurally related peptide, des-N α -acetyl α-melanotropin, using acetyl CoA. The enzyme works equally well with ACTH (1–39) , ACTH (1–24) , and ACTH (1–10) , but will not utilize Ser or Ser.Tyr, suggesting that the information required for N α -acetylation by the enzyme resides in the first 10 amino acids. The product of the acetylation of des-acetyl α-melanotropin was shown to be identical to α-melanotropin (α-MSH). Removal of the NH 2 -terminal serine residue of des-N α -acetyl α-MSH by Edman degradation results in the formation of a peptide which is no longer a substrate for the enzyme. The reaction of the enzyme with ACTH (1–10) is also specific for the α-amino group of the NH 2 -terminal amino acid as determined by identification of N-[ 3 H] acetyl serine. The N α -acetyltransferase is localized predominantly in the subcellular fractions sedimenting at forces greater than 10,000×g.
Magnetic phase diagram of Ca1 xMnxO

Alternating current susceptibility and direct current magnetization have been studied for polycrystalline Ca1−xMnxO. On increasing the Mn content, magnetic ordering changes from spin glass behavior for 0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 to antiferromagnetic order. The paramagnetic/antiferromagnetic transition is of second order for 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.65 and of first order for x ≥ 0.7. For low Mn concentrations, the high-temperature alternating current susceptibility can be described by a diluted Heisenberg magnet model developed for diluted magnetic semiconductors.
Physiology of Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is a highly regulated, voluntarily controlled tissue. Coordinated muscle action via neurological and metabolic input is realized in various muscle fiber types. In general, these types include I, IIa, and IIx. The primary metabolic qualities of each type are slow, medium fast, and fast contraction speeds, respectively. Knowledge of fiber-type energy systems is paramount and initially discussed in relation to aerobic and anaerobic qualities of muscle action. Next, muscle force production via the sliding filament theory (SFT) is examined and underscored as the primary, basic pattern invoked to produce human locomotion or movement as muscle tendinous attachments pull on bone. Therefore, an understanding of the above fiber types and their ability to produce varying degrees of force may lead to better quality care during rehabilitation from injury. Finally, a brief discussion about various proprioceptors in muscles, joints, and tendons punctuates the chapter.
Weighted least squares estimation for exchangeable binary data

Parametric models of discrete data with exchangeable dependence structure present substantial computational challenges for maximum likelihood estimation. Coordinate descent algorithms such as the Newton’s method are usually unstable, becoming a hit or miss adventure on initialization with a good starting value. We propose a method for computing maximum likelihood estimates of parametric models for finitely exchangeable binary data, formalized as an iterative weighted least squares algorithm.
Real-Life Assessment of the Safety and Effectiveness of the New Tablet and Intravenous Formulations of Posaconazole in the Prophylaxis of Invasive Fungal Infections via Analysis of 343 Courses.

Posaconazole is the preferred mold-active azole for prophylaxis against invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with hematological malignancy. Delayed-release tablet and intravenous formulations of posaconazole have recently become available, but clinical data are limited. We sought to examine the real-world pharmacokinetics and prophylactic effectiveness of the new formulations of posaconazole given as prophylaxis for patients with hematological malignancy. A retrospective cohort of all consecutive adult inpatients with hematological malignancy who received ≥3 days of tablet or intravenous posaconazole therapy for primary IFI prophylaxis at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1 December 2013 and 31 December 2015 was established. Clinical information was collected and correlated with low posaconazole serum levels ( 1,830 ng/ml. Although hepatotoxicity in a small percentage of patients is of concern, posaconazole tablets appeared to be generally safe and effective. As all breakthrough IFIs for which TDM was performed occurred in patients with levels of >700 ng/ml, and a posaconazole level of >1,830 ng/ml was correlated with grade 3 or 4 liver toxicity, further studies are needed to assess the role of TDM.
Life cycle assessment of feedstock supply systems for cellulosic biorefineries using corn stover transported in conventional bale and densified pellet formats

Abstract A major practical limitation of the logistics of cellulosic feedstocks, such as corn stover, for use in biorefineries is their low bulk density. This could be improved by densifying feedstock through methods like baling and pelletization, which also have environmental footprint. Thus, this study assessed the environmental impacts of three potential corn stover feedstock supply scenarios incorporating baling and pelletization for a cellulosic biorefinery of 114 million liters per year capacity in the U.S. Midwest. Scenarios included feedstocks transported in bale and pellet formats with and without storage at distributed storage and processing sites. For the three feedstock supply scenarios, the estimated ranges of global warming potential, acidification potential and resource depletion environmental impacts per ton of delivered biomass (at 0% moisture content) were 20–73 kg carbon dioxide equivalent, 0.1–0.2 kg sulfur dioxide equivalent, and 36–52 MJ surplus, respectively, with pelletization process contributing to higher emissions. For supply system with pellets, electricity required for pellet production was the major contributor to the overall emissions. For the geographic locations with higher share of renewable energy mix in the electricity grid (e.g., Western Electricity Coordinating Council grid, Norway), the emissions from all three scenarios were close. With technology advancement in future, larger capacity biorefineries with increased biomass supply area and transportation distance are possible. In such case, enhanced densification, such as pelletization, could further lower the environmental impacts of biomass feedstock supply systems.
An application of discrete event simulation for planning and resource allocation in a state hospital system servicing both criminal and civil commitments

A discrete event simulation (DES) model with Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) forecast inputs, sampled service times, resource capacities and scheduled resource changes was used to project inpatient populations, referral waitlists, and bed utilization for a five-site hospital system with over 10,000 patients. Based on a SAS Simulation Studio platform, the model can project arbitrary subpopulations on a three-year horizon and perform “what if” experiments with bed allocations and patient flows. This application demonstrates the utility of DES for providers with statutory obligations to serve forensic populations, while also exposing the limitations presented by missing data, non-random variations in data collection across sites, and sizable exogenous variation.
Evaluation of a Novel Handoff Communication Strategy for Patients Admitted from the Emergency Department.

Introduction Miscommunication during inter-unit handoffs between emergency and internal medicine physicians may jeopardize patient safety. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of a structured communication strategy on the quality of admission handoffs.
Travel Along Stairs by Individuals with Disabilities: A Summary of Devices Used During Routine Travel and Travel During Emergencies

Many devices exist which are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to travel between floors via staircases. The range of devices includes wheelchairs that descend and ascend stairs, platforms and chairs installed on the staircase, wheelchair carriers which transport the individual while occupying a wheelchair, and evacuation chairs used during emergencies.
Detection of MGMT promoter methylation in malignant gliomas.

e23131Background: The O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair enzyme that is responsible for de-alkylation of naturally occurring O6-methylguanines in DNA and aids in the preventi...
Apolipoprotein E Genotypes, Age, Race, and Cognitive Decline in a Population Sample.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of age and race on the association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes with cognitive decline in a population sample. DESIGN Longitudinal study of 18 years' duration. SETTING Biracial urban US population sample. PARTICIPANTS There were a total of 5807 participants, 60% African American (AA) and 40% European American (EA). MEASUREMENTS A composite cognitive function based on individual tests of episodic memory, perceptual speed, and the Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS The frequencies of APOE e2/e3 (14% vs 12%), e2/e4 (4% vs 2%), e3/e4 (29% vs 22%), and e4/e4 (4% vs 2%) genotypes were higher among AAs than EAs. After adjusting for demographic factors, the rate of decline in global cognition was twice as high among participants with the APOE e4/e4 genotype compared to participants with the APOE e3/e3 genotype (0.097 vs 0.048 SD units [SDUs] per year; P < .0001). This doubling was not different between AAs (0.091 vs 0.045 SDUs per year) and EAs (0.118 vs 0.059 SDUs per year) (Pinteraction = .63). The APOE e3/e4 genotype was associated with a higher rate of decline with age (Pinteraction = .021), while the APOE e2/e4 genotype (Pinteraction = .016) and the APOE e2/e3 genotype (Pinteraction = .043) were associated with a lower rate of decline with higher age. The APOE e2/e2 genotype was associated with a lower rate of decline in episodic memory, while the APOE e2/e4 was associated with a higher rate of decline in episodic memory and perceptual speed. CONCLUSIONS The association of the APOE genotypes with cognitive decline was not different between AAs and EAs. However, individuals with different APOE genotypes showed a lower or a higher rate of decline with age. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:734-740, 2019.
Discrete Fourier Transform Improves the Prediction of the Electronic Properties of Molecules in Quantum Machine Learning

high-throughput approximations of quantum mechanics calculations and combinatorial experiments have been traditionally used to reduce the search space of possible molecules, drugs and materials. However, the interplay of structural and chemical degrees of freedom introduces enormous complexity, which the current state-of-the-art tools are not yet designed to handle. The availability of large molecular databases generated by quantum mechanics (QM) computations using first principles open new venues for data science to accelerate the discovery of new compounds. In recent years, models that combine QM with machine learning (ML) known as QM/ML models have been successful at delivering the accuracy of QM at the speed of ML. The goals are to develop a framework that will accelerate the extraction of knowledge and to get insights from quantitative process-structure-property-performance relationships hidden in materials data via a better search of the chemical compound space, and to infer new materials with targeted properties. In this study, we show that by integrating well-known signal processing techniques such as discrete Fourier transform in the QM/ML pipeline, the outcomes can be significantly improved in some cases. We also show that the spectrogram of a molecule may represent an interesting molecular visualization tool.
Assessing correlation to evaluate performance of a two component system and its impact on specifying separate production requirements

Key PointWhile variances are harder to estimate than means, it is even harder to estimate correlations and to make inferences on them. We consider frequentist and Bayesian approaches for a problem ...
Art as Civic Inspiration

Today as in the past, artists often produce works of art to foster civic agendas of one sort or another, sometimes affirming and sometimes critiquing contemporary attitudes. To what degree is engag...
Facilitating sustainable FDI for sustainable development in a WTO Investment Facilitation Framework: four concrete proposals

Foreign direct investment (“FDI”) can be an important vehicle for development. However, in recent years, the focus has not just been on development generally, but sustainable development specifically. Thus, this article focuses on how countries can increase levels of FDI geared toward projects likely to contribute as much as possible to their sustainable development—in other words, how countries can increase flows of sustainable FDI. To that end, and in light of the WTO’s ongoing negotiations on a multilateral framework for Investment Facilitation for Development, this article first discusses the notion of “sustainable FDI” and then outlines four issues and related concrete proposals whose implementation through an investment facilitation framework for development would help to ensure that commercially viable FDI makes a best-effort contribution to sustainable development: (1) How can governments encourage sustainable FDI? (2) How could governments promote corporate social responsibility (“CSR”)? (3) How could one create the special category of “Recognized Sustainable Investor” to incentivize international investors to implement their CSR commitments and engage in sustainable FDI? (4) What role can home countries play in facilitating outward FDI flows, especially the flow of sustainable FDI? Looking at the question of a multilateral framework from the perspective of its objective—namely “for development”—is particularly important as this objective should guide the negotiations of such a framework.
6 – Ethnic Patchworks

The ethnic patchwork of Afghanistan is notable for its diversity, with 49 different languages spoken by its multiple ethnic groups. The largest groups, all Moslem, include the Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Aimaqs; the smaller groups are the Nuristanis, Pashai, Qizilbash, Baluchi, Arabs, and Pamiri; and the very smallest groups are Jugis, Jats, Brahuies, and Kirghiz. Non-Moslems include a few Sikhs and Hindus, with perhaps a very few Christians. War crimes genocides in Afghanistan, as a result of these ethnic and religious differences, occurred mainly in the 1990s, especially when Sunni Pashtuns tried to exterminate many Shia Hazara, which has been feared will be a resurgent practice again following the withdrawal of the Western coalition forces in 2014.
Complications Following Orbital Floor Repair: Impact of Intraoperative Computed Tomography Scan and Implant Material.

Importance: Orbital floor fracture repair is complex and postoperative complications are common. A variety of applicable surgical techniques and technologies are available to surgeons, so data abou...
Initial mass media coverage of the 2nd edition of the physical activity guidelines for Americans

The 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was released in November of 2018. This document contained specific guidelines for young children, children and adolescents, adults, older adults, pregnant and postpartum women, and adults living with chronic conditions and disabilities as well as safety recommendations. Given the complexity of the recommendations, the aim of this study was to assess which of the guidelines were covered by both print and broadcast media in the three months following the release of the guidelines. LexisNexis was searched for print media as well as transcripts of broadcast media. YouTube was used to search for broadcast television news stories. All retrieved stories (n = 34) were coded independently by two raters on which of the elements of the guidelines were covered. On average, stories covered less than half of the guidelines. Most stories reported aerobic guidelines for adults, children and adolescents and young children. Muscle strengthening and vigorous exercise were covered less frequently. No stories mentioned guidelines for pregnant or postpartum women or adults with disabilities. Print (M = 6.4, sd = 2.7) covered more recommendations than broadcast media (M = 4.0, sd = 1.9, p < .01). Coordinated national efforts are needed to ensure that Americans are aware of the new and complete guidelines.
Mechanisms Leading to Differential Hypoxia Inducible Factor Signaling in the Diabetic Kidney: Modulation by SGLT2 Inhibitors and Hypoxia Mimetics.

Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors exert important renoprotective effects in the diabetic kidney, which cannot be readily explained by their actions to lower blood glucose, blood pressure, or glomerular filtration pressures. Their effects to promote erythrocytosis suggest that these drugs act on hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs; specifically, HIF-1α and HIF-2α), which may underlie their ability to reduce the progression of nephropathy. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by renal hypoxia, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and defective nutrient deprivation signaling, which (acting in concert) are poised to cause both activation of HIF-1α and suppression of HIF-2α. This shift in the balance of HIF-1α/HIF-2α activities promotes proinflammatory and profibrotic pathways in glomerular and renal tubular cells. SGLT2 inhibitors alleviate renal hypoxia and cellular stress and enhance nutrient deprivation signaling, which collectively may explain their actions to suppress HIF-1α and activate HIF-2α and thereby augment erythropoiesis, while muting organellar dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis. Cobalt chloride, a drug conventionally classified as a hypoxia mimetic, has a profile of molecular and cellular actions in the kidney that is similar to those of SGLT2 inhibitors. Therefore, many renoprotective benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors may be related to their effect to promote oxygen deprivation signaling in the diabetic kidney.
Preparing previously COVID-19-positive patients for elective surgery: a framework for preoperative evaluation

The preoperative evaluation and risk assessment has always been a critical aspect of safe surgical practice, and in the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it has become even more crucial to patient safety. Emerging data show that surgical procedures in patients who test positive for coronavirus disease (COVID) are associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased postoperative complications and mortality. In addition to personal protective equipment (PPE) management, isolation protocols, preoperative SARS-CoV-2 screening, and steps to ensure clinician safety, determining how to deem patients who have recovered from COVID-19 safe to proceed is an added challenge. We present a preoperative protocol for evaluation of previously COVID-positive patients for elective surgery.
Nanoplasmonic drill for optical injection

Gold nanoparticles are ideal tools for cargo transportation. However, injection of nanoparticles into cells remains difficult. Current method utilizes laser light to heat up the particles and the surrounding media to create shock wave or air bubble to push the particle into the cells. However, high temperatures may result in cell and/or cargo damage. To solve this issue, we propose a new mechanism that utilizes mechanical force without causing high temperature. We carefully tune the geometry of gold nanoparticles to maximize the applied force on the membrane while minimizing the particle temperature. This work paves the way for further applications in cargo transportation.
Preliminary Study of Coping, Perceived Control, and Depressive Symptoms in Youth with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to test perceived controllability of stressors as a moderator of the association between coping and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Method Twenty-eight children and adolescents (Mage = 11.71, SD = 4.31; 60.7% female) with SCA were enrolled. Caregivers provided reports of child and adolescent coping using the Response to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ), perceived control of stressors using the RSQ, and depressive symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist. Children and adolescents also completed Wechsler assessments of working memory and verbal comprehension. Results Secondary control coping (i.e., cognitive reappraisal, positive thinking, acceptance, and distraction) was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms such that greater use of secondary control coping was related to fewer reported depressive symptoms when accounting for perceived control of stress and neurocognitive variables. Furthermore, perceived control of peer-related stress was a significant moderator of the association between secondary control coping and depressive symptoms such that there was a significant negative association of secondary control coping with depressive symptoms only for low perceived control. Conclusion Secondary control coping may be particularly helpful for reducing depressive symptoms when adolescents' peer-related stressors are perceived as uncontrollable. Interventions to reduce internalizing problems in this population should consider teaching children and adolescents secondary control coping skills in addition to skills in identifying uncontrollable sources of stress.
Robust Cadence Tracking for Switched FES-Cycling with an Unknown Time-Varying Input Delay Using a Time-Varying Estimate

Abstract For an individual affected by a lower limb movement disorder, motorized functional electrical stimulation (FES) induced cycling provides a means of functional restoration and therapeutic exercise. However, there exists a potentially destabilizing input delay between the application (and removal) of the stimulation and the production of muscle force. Exacerbating the problem, fatigue results in decreased force production and a time-varying input delay. Moreover, switching between FES and motor control can be destabilizing. This paper implements a time-varying estimate of the delay and develops a control method and switching conditions to account for the time-varying input delayed response of muscle. The controller is shown to yield semi-global uniformly ultimately bounded tracking for the uncertain switched nonlinear dynamic system with input delays.
Methylphenidate-Induced Chorea Due to Possible Cytochrome P450 Metabolism Heterogeneity - A Rare Case.

Background Chorea is defined as a hyperactive movement disorder associated with involuntary, quick, and unpredictable muscle contractions of the limbs, face, and trunk. The unpredictable nature of these movements includes variation in speed, timing, and direction of movement. A wide variety of medications, medical conditions and illicit drugs have been associated with movement disorders. Examples include a multitude of antipsychotic induced movement disorders and dyskinesia related to dopaminergic agents, like levodopa and metoclopramide. Dyskinesias have been associated with psycho-stimulant use, such as methylphenidate. However, most cases reported were associated with large doses or chronic use. Aside from dyskinesia, methylphenidate is known to be associated with tic disorder, tremor, and muscle spasm. However, this case reported is unlike any of the above described and involved the development of chorea after only 2 days of moderate doses of methylphenidate, in a patient on chronic methadone maintenance treatment, with successful arrest of symptoms following discontinuation of the methylphenidate. Case Presentation A 47-year-old female was admitted to our hospital after presenting to the emergency department with 1 week of violent flailing movements. The ballistic flailing movements started acutely after 2 days of initiating methylphenidate in addition to her chronic methadone treatment and 2-week period of initiation of paroxetine. Lab work showed normal CBC, CMP, CRP, CK, and TSH. Urine drug screen, CT angiography of the head, and Huntington’s disease testing were all unremarkable, suggesting a decreased likelihood of illicit drugs, traumatic brain injury, or Huntington’s disease etiologies. Confirmation of the diagnosis was made as the chorea symptoms abruptly resolved upon discontinuation of methylphenidate and administration of intravenous Benadryl. The patient has been on methadone alone for 11 months and methylphenidate alone 2 years back with no involuntary movements or any similar presentation that shows the possibility of drug interaction through cytochrome P450 metabolism between Methylphenidate and methadone. Conclusion We are presenting a rare case report that adds on to the scarce literature on methylphenidate-induced chorea. It also challenges the consulting psychiatrists to broaden their differential diagnosis for acute onset of choreiform movement disorders. This unique case intrigues the thought process to consider the interaction of methylphenidate in the presence of cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 inhibitors like methadone.
Refugee Contributions Shouldn’t Be Kept a Secret: Hmong United States Relations

The Hmong people have endured and overcome great challenges throughout their history before resettling in the US and around the world. Hmong people have unique experiences as a stateless people and people of war and genocide. From 1961 to 1975, the United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency recruited Hmong men and boys to fight alongside the Americans and against the communists in Laos, during the Vietnam War. The participation of the Hmong in Laos is referred to as the Secret War, it was America’s deadliest war. Included in this study are a review of the literature and a narrative inquiry study that highlights the lived experiences of 10 Hmong soldiers who served in the Secret War. This study attempts to educate the many Hmong Americans, and the American society as a whole, about the Hmong people’s historical contributions in the United States military as soldiers in the Secret War. The sacrifices of the soldiers deem their recognition essential to honoring Hmong boys and men who fought fiercely alongside the US soldiers and those who lost their lives. This study exemplifies why these Hmong soldiers deserve a revered place in American history.
Acceptance and Use Predictors of E-books: A Case at Universities in Sichuan, China

This study aimed to determine students’ intention to use e-books at universities in Sichuan province, China. Partial least squares regression (PLS) was applied in this research. Two well-known technology acceptance models and a construct from previous study, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) and Task Technology Fit (TTF) model and satisfaction were applied in this study. This study found that performance expectancy, social Influence, facilitating condition, hedonic motivation, price value and habit were the main predictors of intention of use e-books. Task and technology characteristics positively influence on adoption of use and user satisfaction. Lastly, intention of use also significant effect on adoption of use and user satisfaction.
Response Time Relationships Within Examinees: Implications for Item Response Time Models

A wide variety of models have been developed for item response times. The models vary in both primary purpose and underlying assumptions. As noted by van der Linden (2016), several item response models assume response time and response accuracy are highly dependent processes. However, the nature of this assumed relationship varies substantially between models; that is, greater accuracy may be associated with either increased or decreased response time. In addition to these conflicting assumptions, examinees may differ in their relative response times across items. In the current study, the relationship of item log response times to item differences in difficulty and content was examined within subjects. Although on the item level, mean item log response time was positively correlated with difficulty, a broad distribution of these correlations was found within subjects, ranging from positive to negative. These results indicate that existing models may be differentially effective depending on examinees’ predominant strategy in item solving.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization technique for the rapid detection of chromosomal abnormalities

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and limitations of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: We reviewed the Mayo Medical Center perinatal/cytogenetic database from January 1997 to June 1999 to identify women undergoing genetic amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid was submitted for both rapid FISH on uncultured interphase amniocytes using a commercially available DNA probe kit for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, Y, and for standard full karyotyping on cultured metaphase amniocytes. Results from FISH and full karyotype were compared. Results: Over the study interval, 244 amniocenteses were performed. Indications included anomalies (41.4%), advanced age (29.9%), abnormal serum marker screen (20.1%), family history (6.6%), and other (2.0%). Seven patients were excluded from this study because follow-up confirmatory karyotype was not available. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was unsuccessful in one case for lack of interphase cells. Maternal cell contamination (0.5–61.5%) was noted in 68% of the male samples; however, this did not affect test interpretation. Overall, chromosomal abnormalities were noted in 23 patients (1/202 deliveries) with FISH correctly identifying 18 of the cases: trisomy 18 (n = 8), trisomy 21 (n = 4), XO (n = 4), XXY (n = 1), and XXX (n = 1). Of the five cases missed by the FISH analysis, only one case involved an abnormality of the chromosomes analyzed by the assay: Ring chromosome/mosaic 46XX, r(13)[15]/45XX,–13. The remaining four cases involved mosaicism, translocation, and/or inversion abnormalities of chromosomes not analyzed by the FISH assay. Test performance of FISH for detection of abnormalities of the chromosomes evaluated revealed a sensitivity of 94.7%, specificity (100%), PPV (100%), and NPV (99.5%). Conclusions: FISH is an effective and reliable technique for the rapid detection of aneuploidy involving chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. Follow-up complete karyotype is indicated in cases of high maternal cell contamination, suspected mosaicism or subtle chromosomal abnormalities, and in patients with ultrasonographic features suggestive of aneuploidy.
Virtual histology laboratory with an interactive tutorial feature: transitioning into the future of histology education (725.11)

The objective of the project was to create a beta version of a virtual histology laboratory website incorporating an interactive tutorial feature that can effectively simulate an in-class interacti...
Ozone-surface reactions in five homes: surface reaction probabilities, aldehyde yields, and trends

UNLABELLED Field experiments were conducted in five homes during three seasons (summer 2005, summer 2006 and winter 2007) to quantify ozone-initiated secondary aldehyde yields, surface reaction probabilities, and trends any temporal over a 1.5-year interval. Surfaces examined include living room carpets, bedroom carpets, kitchen floors, kitchen counters, and living room walls. Reaction probabilities for all surfaces for all seasons ranged from 9.4 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-4). There were no significant temporal trends in reaction probabilities for any surfaces from summer 2005 to summer 2006, nor over the entire 1.5-year period, indicating that it may take significantly longer than this period for surfaces to exhibit any 'ozone aging' or lowering of ozone-surface reactivity. However, all surfaces in three houses exhibited a significant decrease in reaction probabilities from summer 2006 to winter 2007. The total yield of aldehydes for the summer of 2005 were nearly identical to that for summer of 2006, but were significantly higher than for winter 2007. We also observed that older carpets were consistently less reactive than in newer carpets, but that countertops remained consistently reactive, probably because of occupant activities such as cooking and cleaning. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Ozone reactions taking place at indoor surfaces significantly influence personal exposure to ozone and volatile reaction products. These field studies show that indoor surfaces only slowly lose their ability to react with ozone over several year time frames, and that this is probably because of a combination of large reservoirs of reactive coatings and periodic additions of reactive coatings in the form of cooking, cleaning, and skin-oil residues. When considering exposure to ozone and its reaction products and in the absence of dramatic changes in occupancy, activities or furnishings, indoor surface reactivity is expected to change very slowly.
The PEPSIOS Purely Interferometric High-Resolution Scanning Spectrometer. I. The Pilot Model

A description is given of the design principles, structure, and use of the PEPSIOS (trade mark) spectrometer, a versatile, easily portable, purely interferometric, high resolution short-range scanning instrument consisting essentially of an interference filter and several simultaneously pressure-swept Fabry–Perot etalons in series. In the study of a continuum, where it was necessary to isolate a single order, it has exhibited a luminosity 102 as great as that of a comparable modern grating-etalon combination instrument at the same resolution and is considerably lighter, smaller, and mechanically more stable. Although designed primarily for the photoelectric measurement of the total flux through an axial zone, the instrument has the property of producing a two-dimensional spatially resolved image at high spectroscopic resolution.
Fluctuations of the partial filling factors in competitive random sequential adsorption from binary mixtures

Competitive random sequential adsorption on a line from a binary mix of incident particles is studied using both an analytic recursive approach and Monte Carlo simulations. We find a strong correlation between the small and the large particle distributions so that while both partial contributions to the fill factor fluctuate widely, the variance of the total fill factor remains relatively small. The variances of partial contributions themselves are quite different between the smaller and the larger particles, with the larger particle distribution being more correlated. The disparity in fluctuations of partial fill factors increases with the particle size ratio. The additional variance in the partial contribution of a smaller particle originates from the fluctuations in the size of gaps between larger particles. We discuss the implications of our results to semiconductor high-energy gamma detectors where the detector energy resolution is controlled by correlations in the cascade energy branching process.
Motivations for sharing information and social support in social media: A comparative analysis of Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, YouTube, and Flickr

The success or failure of social media is highly dependent on the active participation of its users. In order to examine the influential factors that inspire dynamic and eager participation, this study investigates what motivates social media users to share their personal experiences, information, and social support with anonymous others. A variety of information-sharing activities in social media, including creating postings, photos, and videos in 5 different types of social media: Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, YouTube, and Flickr, were observed. Ten factors: enjoyment, self-efficacy, learning, personal gain, altruism, empathy, social engagement, community interest, reciprocity, and reputation, were tested to identify the motivations of social media users based on reviews of major motivation theories and models. Findings from this study indicate that all of the 10 motivations are influential in encouraging users' information sharing to some degree and strongly correlate with one another. At the same time, motivations differ across the 5 types of social media, given that they deliver different information content and serve different purposes. Understanding such differences in motivations could benefit social media developers and those organizations or institutes that would like to use social media to facilitate communication among their community members; appropriate types of social media could be chosen that would fit their own purposes and they could develop strategies that would encourage their members to contribute to their communities through social media.
Trimeric Interactions of the Invariant Chain and Its Association with Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II αβ Dimers

Abstract The invariant chain (I chain) associates with major histocompatibility complex class II αβ heterodimers upon synthesis, preventing them from binding peptides and unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and directing class II transport to post-Golgi endosomal compartments. To assess which regions of the I chain are involved in binding class II molecules, we have studied proteolytic fragments of the I chain generated both by natural proteolytic degradation of αβ dimer-invariant chain complexes (αβ·I) within human B cells and by in vitro digestion of purified αβ·I complexes with proteinase K. The 18-kDa luminal I chain fragment generated by proteinase K, called K3, remains associated with αβ dimers and retains the complex (αβ·K3) in a high molecular mass nonameric configuration. The N terminus of the K3 fragment was identified as glycine 110. This indicates that the K3 fragment lies outside of the class II-associated invariant chain peptide region (amino acids 81-104) of the I chain, shown to be important for initial αβ·I assembly. An N-terminal 12-kDa I chain fragment called p12, generated intracellularly, was also analyzed and was found to remain associated with αβ dimers in a high molecular mass form analogous to the nonameric αβ·I complex. These results demonstrate that at least two class II contact points exist along the length of the I chain and that different regions of the I chain can stabilize the αβ·I nonamer. Additional evidence suggests that the O-linked glycan(s) characteristic of the I chain is added to the short C-terminal region absent from the K3 fragment.
Assessment of Traffic Control Device Selection Guidelines for Horizontal Curves

The purpose of curve warning signs and travel path delineation devices is to alert drivers to the presence and severity of a downstream horizontal curve. The advisory speed plaque is the primary device for conveying the appropriate speed message to drivers, but additional devices such as chevrons are often used at sharp curves to emphasize the curvature. This paper describes the development and evaluation of guidelines for selecting traffic control devices for horizontal curves on rural highways. The developed guidelines are based on considerations of side friction and kinetic energy. These guidelines incorporate a curve speed model that was calibrated using data from 41 curve sites in Texas. The developed guidelines are also compared with the guidelines in the 2007 proposed amendments to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which are based on considerations of speed differential.
Exploring custom instruction synthesis for application-specific instruction set processors with multiple design objectives

Application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP) has become a promising platform for embedded system design in the past decade. Traditional custom instruction synthesis flows for ASIPs mainly target performance improvement. Other design metrics are not addressed appropriately. In this paper, we show that the existing custom instruction exploration algorithms and cost estimation methods for performance improvement only are not suitable for other important design objectives, such as increasing energy efficiency and reducing area overhead. We propose a holistic ASIP design flow that can be adapted to optimize performance, energy consumption, or area. We formulate the design space exploration problem into an operation scheduling process. Different algorithms are employed to find the corresponding best custom instruction set efficiently.
The impact of do-not-resuscitate order on triage decisions to a medical intensive care unit.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether the presence of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order impacts on triage decisions to a medical intensive care unit (MICU) of an academic medical center. Methods Data were collected on 179 patients in whom MICU consultation was sought and included demographic, clinical information, diagnoses, ICU admission decision, Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, and the presence of DNR order. Functional status was determined retrospectively using the Modified Rankin Score. Results The only factor that influenced MICU admission was the presence of DNR order at the time of MICU consultation (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.71, P Conclusion The presence of a DNR order at the time of MICU consultation was significantly associated with the decision to refuse a patient to the MICU.