cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What English Language Teachers Need to Know Volume III: Designing Curriculum

What English Teachers Need to Know, a set of companion texts designed for pre-service teachers and teachers new to the field of ELT, addresses the key question: What do English language teachers need to know and be able to do in order for their students to learn English? These texts work for teachers across different contexts (countries where English is the dominant language, one of the official languages, or taught as a foreign language); different levels (elementary/primary, secondary, college or university, or adult education); and different learning purposes (general English, workplace English, English for academic purposes, or English for specific purposes). Volume I, on understanding learning, provides the background information that teachers need to know and be able to use in their classroom. Volume II, on facilitating learning, covers the three main facets of teaching: planning, instructing, and assessing. Volume III, on designing curriculum, covers the contexts for, processes in, and types of ELT curricula—linguistic based, content-based, learner-centered, and learning-centered. Throughout the three volumes, the focus is on outcomes, that is, student learning. Features • Situated in current research in the field of English language teaching and other disciplines that inform it • Sample data, including classroom vignettes • Three kinds of activities/tasks: Reflect, Explore, and Expand
David Oliver: Confidentiality on the wards-regulations and reality.

In January the General Medical Council published its updated guidance on confidentiality and handling patient information.1 It’s a comprehensive manual highlighting doctors’ duties, backed by ethical frameworks, relevant law, good practice, and regulatory standards for most scenarios.23 For jobbing clinicians, the most relevant section is “Disclosure to support the care of an individual patient”—for patients who can consent and, crucially for modern hospital populations, for those who lack this capacity. The new guidance clearly states that we must act within the law and seek …
Simulation-based mastery learning for endoscopy using the endoscopy training system: a strategy to improve endoscopic skills and prepare for the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery (FES) manual skills exam.

The fundamentals of endoscopic surgery (FES) program has considerable validity evidence for its use in measuring the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for competency in endoscopy. Beginning in 2018, the American Board of Surgery will require all candidates to have taken and passed the written and performance exams in the FES program. Recent work has shown that the current ACGME/ABS required case volume may not be enough to ensure trainees pass the FES skills exam. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a simulation-based mastery-learning curriculum delivered on a novel physical simulation platform to prepare trainees to pass the FES manual skills exam. The newly developed endoscopy training system (ETS) was used as the training platform. Seventeen PGY 1 (10) and PGY 2 (7) general surgery residents completed a pre-training assessment consisting of all 5 FES tasks on the GI Mentor II. Subjects then trained to previously determined expert performance benchmarks on each of 5 ETS tasks. Once training benchmarks were reached for all tasks, a post-training assessment was performed with all 5 FES tasks. Two subjects were lost to follow-up and never returned for training or post-training assessment. One additional subject failed to complete any portion of the curriculum, but did return for post-training assessment. The group had minimal endoscopy experience (median 0, range 0–67) and minimal prior simulation experience. Three trainees (17.6%) achieved a passing score on the pre-training FES assessment. Training consisted of an average of 48 ± 26 repetitions on the ETS platform distributed over 5.1 ± 2 training sessions. Seventy-one percent achieved proficiency on all 5 ETS tasks. There was dramatic improvement demonstrated on the mean post-training FES assessment when compared to pre-training (74.0 ± 8 vs. 50.4 ± 16, p < 0.0001, effect size = 2.4). The number of ETS tasks trained to proficiency correlated moderately with the score on the post-training assessment (r = 0.57, p = 0.028). Fourteen (100%) subjects who trained to proficiency on at least one ETS task passed the post-training FES manual skills exam. This simulation-based mastery learning curriculum using the ETS is feasible for training novices and allows for the acquisition of the technical skills required to pass the FES manual skills exam. This curriculum should be strongly considered by programs wishing to ensure that trainees are prepared for the FES exam.
Isolation and Culture of Eosinophils

Eosinophils are leukocytes of the granulocyte series that are noted for their distinctive morphology and unusual staining properties. Although eosinophils are recognized for their detrimental contributions to the pathophysiology of asthma and other allergic disorders, the beneficial roles played by these cells remain poorly (if at all) understood. Although many texts still refer to eosinophils as providing host defense against helminthic parasites, recent findings have presented a dramatic challenge to this hypothesis [1-41. Other roles for eosinophils currently under exploration include antigen presentation [5-7], wound healing [8, 9], tumoricidal activity [lo-131 and other aspects of innate host defense [14-16]. The life cycle of the eosinophil has been described in detail [17]. Eosinophils develop in the bone marrow (BM) from pluripotent stem cells, and mature, non-dividing eosinophils are released into the circulation where they persist for several hours. Ultimately, eosinophils migrate into the tissues (primarily lung, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary), where they survive for several days. Blood and tissue eosinophilia results from increased production of mature eosinophils in BM, accompanied by a decreased rate of cell death, or apoptosis, in the periphery. Eosinophilia is typically associated with allergic disorders, parasitic infection, and specific idiopathic syndromes [ 18-24].
Corruption, Censorship, the Media, and the Market in China

Pervasive media censorship in China is often seen as a strictly political issue. Although in recent years reporters have had some leeway to report on economic issues, the Chinese Party/state has moved to tamp down economic journalism, even arresting those who report on bad economic news. This shift brings to the fore an issue long ignored by IPE scholars – economic censorship. This economic censorship takes place when state-owned enterprises (SOEs) or large private companies pressure the state to censor negative reports or directly pay off media companies to quash such reports in favor of more positive ones. Such economic censorship distorts markets and shifts investor money away from new market entrants and towards large, well-resourced and well-connected SOEs. Using a database of Chinese newspaper articles from 2004-2006 and a separate database of newspaper articles, blog posts and micro-blog posts from 2010, and supplemented by interview data and leaked censorship directives, this paper examines how media coverage is distorted by censorship and corruption to the benefit of China’s entrenched interests. In particular, I find that private and provincially owned companies receive much more press coverage than do their central government (SASAC) owned equivalents, controlling for a number of factors.
MODULATED PHOTOABSORPTION IN STRAINED GA1-XINXAS/GAAS MULTIPLE QUANTUM WELLS

Modulated photoabsorption measurements in strained ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{In}}_{\mathit{x}}$As/GaAs multiple quantum wells are presented. The modulating intensities vary from a few to about ${10}^{5}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The absorption near the first heavy-hole exciton is probed with a tunable Ti:sapphire laser. The modulating beam is either from the same Ti:sapphire laser as the test beam or from an ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$-ion laser whose photon energy is much larger than the first heavy-hole exciton transition energy. A dramatic difference is observed in the modulated transmission spectra for the two modulating wavelengths. This difference in behavior can be explained as arising from screening of the residual surface electric field by ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$-ion-laser excitation but not by Ti:sapphire laser excitation. The ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$-ion laser creates high-energy carriers that are initially free to drift in the surface field before they are captured in the quantum wells. Carriers excited by the low-photon-energy Ti:sapphire laser are created in the quantum wells and therefore cannot effectively screen the surface field. We present a model based on surface-field screening and exciton saturation for ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$-ion-laser modulation and exciton saturation alone for Ti:sapphire laser modulation that describes the observed results.
Abstract 12065: CPR Prompting Devices: Unintended Consequences Impacting High Performers

Introduction: Prompting devices for chest compressions have been advocated as a means of improving CPR quality in previous AHA guidelines. Studies have shown overall CPR quality improves with the use of these devices. Hypothesis: This study compared the impact of prompting devices on providers with varying levels of experience and proficiency. Methods: A convenience sample of 53 subjects with varying degrees of CPR experience, ranging from zero to frequent opportunities to perform CPR, were enrolled. Using a skills recording CPR manikin, data on each subject’s chest compression performance was obtained. All subjects performed an initial one-minute cycle of continuous chest compressions with no prompting device. After a brief rest, subjects were randomized to use one of two CPR prompting devices (Philips MRX with Q-CPR or Laerdal Medical CPRmeter). An additional one minute of CPR was conducted with the first device. Subjects were then crossed over to use the other prompting device after another brief rest. Results: Across the entire group, nearly all parameters significantly improved with the prompting devices, confirming previous studies on the efficacy of CPR prompting devices. However, when subjects’ results were examined by breaking the group into three performance levels (high, medium and low) based on the Overall CPR Score generated by the manikin software, there were differences in performance. Paired t -tests were conducted on the low and high performance groups. The low-level group significantly improved across 7 of 8 variables with both devices. The high-level group had only minor changes from baseline (both positive and negative) in most variables, but had significant or near significant decrease in proficiency in one variable - percent correctly released compressions ( p = 0.011 for Philips device; p = 0.052 for the Laerdal device). Conclusions: CPR prompting devices improve the overall quality of chest compressions. Individuals with existing high performance CPR skills could be distracted by the device, reducing the quality of compressions compared to using no device. When a CPR prompting device is introduced into a health care system, all providers, especially high performers, require practice with the device in order to acclimate to its use.
Congenital Rhabdomyosarcoma: a different clinical presentation in two cases.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas of childhood, is very rare in the neonatal period (0.4–2% of cases). In order to gain a deeper understanding of this disease at such age, patient and tumor features, as well as treatment modality and outcome need to be reported. We describe two cases with congenital RMS treated at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital between 2000 and 2016. They represent only 2.24% of all RMS patients diagnosed during that period in our Institution; this data is in agreement with the incidence reported in the literature. They reflect the two different clinical forms in which the disease may manifest itself. One patient, with the alveolar subtype (positive for specific PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcript) and disseminated disease, had a fatal outcome with central nervous system (CNS) progression despite conventional and high dose chemotherapy. The other child, with the localized embryonal subtype, was treated successfully with conservative surgery and conventional chemotherapy, including prolonged maintenance therapy. He is disease free at 7 years of follow-up. RMS can also be diagnosed during the neonatal period. Given the young age, disease management is often challenging, and especially for the alveolar subtype, the outcome is dismal despite intensified multimodality therapy. In fact, it characteristically manifests with multiple subcutaneous nodules and progression most commonly occurs in the CNS (Rodriguez-Galindo et al., Cancer 92(6):1613–20, 2001). In this context, CNS prophylaxis could play a role in preventing leptomeningeal dissemination, and molecular studies can allow a deeper tumor characterization, treatment stratification and identification of new potential therapeutic targets.
Therapeutic Applications of Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields

As early as 1962 in the US and even earlier in Japan [Fukada and Yasuda, 1957], it was shown that electric potential differences appear across both living and dead bone subjected to mechanical stress. C.A.L. Bassett and R.O. Becker (1962) observed that these stress generated electrical signals decayed very slowly in comparison with similarly initiated signals in piezo-electric crystals and concluded that piezo-electric phenomena “while probably present, were not the sole cause of these potentials”. Later analysis and experiments established that the observed signals were primarily due to ion displacement within the porous regions and multiple fluid filled channels present in all bone [Anderson and Erikson, 1970; Erikson, 1976; Piekarski and Muro, 1977; Guzelsu and Demiray, 1979; Chakkalakal et al., 1980; Gross and Williams, 1982; Pienkowski and Pollack, 1983; Grodzinsky, 1983; Pollack et al. 1984]. The early observations already suggested that direct application of an externally generated voltage might have an effect on bone development. This was shown to be the case by Bassett, Pawluk and Becker (1964) who found that a DC current of the order of 1 µA (corresponding to a current density of approximately 0.01 A/m2) produced massive osteogenesis near the cathode when electrodes were implanted into the femur of living dogs.
Drug-Macromolecular Interactions: Implications for Pharmacological Activity

There is considerable evidence that drugs combine or interact with macro- molecules throughout all phases of their action in vivo. Their passage through the gastrointestinal tract is possibly effected by a variety of macromolecular carriers. In the blood, drugs are bound to a greater or lesser extent to the serum proteins [1, 2], primarily albumin. Other serum proteins specific for transporting endogenous molecules (transcortin, thyroid binding globulin, etc.) also combine with drugs which resemble the endogenous molecule as well as with drugs unrelated chemically.
ECLOSION HORMONE: ITS ROLE IN COORDINATING ECDYSIAL EVENTS IN INSECTS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of the eclosion hormone in coordinating ecdysial events in insects. It explains two ecdysial events: adult eclosion and pupal ecdysis in Lepidoptera. It focuses on the hormone that triggers ecdysis and the central role of this hormone in coordinating the physiological and behavioral events that occur in ecdysis. The eclosion hormone activity is found in insect orders besides the Lepidoptera, but the chemical similarity of the hormones from other orders with the moth hormone is yet to be explored. The eclosion hormone is produced in two endocrine centers. Only a series of comparative studies reveal whether the choice of release site depends solely on the circadian involvement in the release or whether other factors are also important. In its action of coordinating the events of ecdysis, the hormone acts on various target tissues including the central nervous system, muscles, and epidermis in the adult. The dermal glands may also be targets in earlier stages.
Characteristics and Outcomes of BI-RADS 3 Lesions on Breast MRI.

Abstract Background There are few data regarding the use and outcomes of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3 assessment on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to describe the imaging findings prompting a BI-RADS 3 assessment and to report their outcomes, including the timing of follow-up examinations. Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective study evaluating 199 breast lesions in 186 patients who were assigned a BI-RADS 3 assessment on breast MRI over a 5-year period. Clinical and imaging features were recorded. For outcomes analysis, lesions were considered benign if they showed 2 years of MRI stability, if they were declared benign during follow-up, or if the patient underwent biopsy with benign pathology results. Clinical and imaging features of BI-RADS 3 lesions associated with malignancy were assessed by the Fisher exact test, with P Results Of the 199 breast MRI lesions assigned a BI-RADS 3 assessment, 80 (40%) of 199 were non–mass enhancement, 61 (31%) were a single focus, and 58 (29%) were masses. A total of 131 lesions (66%) were eligible for outcome analysis after excluding those lost to follow-up; 4 (3%) were diagnosed as malignant within the 2-year follow-up. Masses assigned a BI-RADS 3 assessment were more likely to be malignant during follow-up than non–mass enhancement or single focus (P Conclusion Despite limited data on the use of BI-RADS 3 at breast MRI, there is a low malignancy rate of 3% at our institution. Additional studies are needed to further define the appropriate use of BI-RADS 3 on breast MRI.
Multi-modality Imaging in a Hypereosinophilic Syndrome with Cardiac Involvement

Introduction Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a rare, multi-system auto-immune vasculitic disorder characterized by allergic rhinitis, asthma, and prominent peripheral blood eosinophilia. Cardiac involvement is the primary contributor to mortality. Case Report Mr. W is a 53-year-old man with a history of asthma and environmental allergies presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of blurred vision in his left eye and evidence of optic neuritis. He endorsed a 2-week history of night sweats, arthralgias, anorexia, transient ankle edema, and a recent rash. His exam was notable for purpuric lesions in extremities and left visual field deficits. Laboratory data showed a WBC's of 36,000 cells/mm3 with 69% eosinophils, CRP of 63 mg/dl, ESR of 122 mm/min, IgE of 1,741 IU/ml, and troponin of 11 ng/ml. An Electrocardiogram showed low voltage and q waves in anteroseptal leads. An infectious work-up was negative.A brain MRI revealed acute punctate infarcts. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a severely dilated left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 25%. Cardiac catheterization showed normal coronary arteries, elevated filling pressures, and normal cardiac output. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) showed moderate to severe biventricular dysfunction, a moderate pericardial effusion, and patchy bi-ventricular subendocardial enhancement ( Figure 1 A). So he underwent endomyocardial biopsy, which showed increased perivascular eosinophils/eosinophilic degranulation and fibrin ( Figure 1 B). The differential diagnosis was EGPA, hypersensitivity myocarditis or a myeloproliferative variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome. A bone marrow biopsy was performed which showed hypereosinophilia ( Figure 1 C), without evidence of malignancy, confirming EGPA. He was treated with high dose steroids with a prolonged taper and cyclophosphamide, which rapidly resolved his eosinophilia. A repeat TTE 7 weeks later showed near normalization of cardiac function and resolution of pericardial fluid. Conclusion Cardiac involvement in EGPA is up to 60% and early development of myocardial fibrosis. Prompt recognition via multi-modality imaging and endomyocardial biopsy and rapid treatment with high dose steroids or other immunotherapies, may prevent early progression to dilated or restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Drought-mediated extinction of an arid-land amphibian: insights from a spatially explicit dynamic occupancy model

Understanding how natural and anthropogenic processes affect population dynamics of species with patchy distributions is critical to predicting their responses to environmental changes. Despite considerable evidence that demographic rates and dispersal patterns vary temporally in response to an array of biotic and abiotic processes, few applications of metapopulation theory have sought to explore factors that explain spatiotemporal variation in extinction or colonization rates. To facilitate exploring these factors, we extended a spatially explicit model of metapopulation dynamics to create a framework that requires only binary presence-absence data, makes few assumptions about the dispersal process, and accounts for imperfect detection. We apply this framework to 22 yr of biannual survey data for lowland leopard frogs, Lithobates yavapaiensis, an amphibian that inhabits arid stream systems in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for factors that govern temporal variation in transition probabilities, as both extinction and colonization rates varied with hydrologic conditions. Specifically, local extinctions were more frequent during drought periods, particularly at sites without reliable surface water. Colonization rates increased when larval and dispersal periods were wetter than normal, which increased the probability that potential emigrants metamorphosed and reached neighboring sites. Extirpation of frogs from all sites in one watershed during a period of severe drought demonstrated the influence of site-level features, as frogs persisted only in areas where most sites held water consistently and where the amount of sediment deposited from high-elevation wildfires was low. Application of our model provided novel insights into how climate-related processes affected the distribution and population dynamics of an arid-land amphibian. The approach we describe has application to a wide array of species that inhabit patchy environments, can improve our understanding of factors that govern metapopulation dynamics, and can inform strategies for conservation of imperiled species.
The genetic interaction between HIV and the antibody repertoire

The interaction between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the antibody repertoire (AbR) during chronic infection can provide important information for HIV vaccine research, yet has not been well-characterized on a systems level. We deeply sequenced the HIV population and the AbR of ten HIV-infected, antiretroviral (ART)-naive individuals, each with 10-20 longitudinal samples spanning 4-14 years. Our unbiased sequencing approach identified partitions of AbRs showing evidence of interaction with autologous HIV populations. We show that these HIV-associated partitions are enriched for the V gene segments of known HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), indicating that the HIV-responding component of the AbR can be identified via time-series genetic data. Despite this evidence for larger-scale AbR/HIV interactions at the sub-population level, we found little to no evidence for coevolution. This suggests that coevolution is either rare, or hard to detect, which has important vaccine design implications.
Avoiding the “Axe”: Advancing Affordable and Open Education Resources at a Midsize University

INTRODUCTION To address the soaring cost of textbooks, higher education institutions have launched a number of strategies to promote the adoption of affordable and open educational resources (AOER). Although a few models for promoting and sustaining alternative and open educational resources (AOER) at higher education institutions can be found in the professional literature, additional examples are needed to assist the wide of range of universities and colleges in meeting this critical need. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM In this article, the authors describe Miami University’s ongoing efforts to reduce college textbook costs for students. These initiatives were instigated in some ways by the state legislature, but were also fueled by factual evidence regarding the impact textbook costs have on the student learning experience. The authors (university librarians and associate provost) provide a description of the institutional context and the challenges they faced in implementing AOER initiatives and chronicle the steps that their university has taken to address the challenge of rising costs of course materials. NEXT STEPS Next steps for growing the programs and recommendations for other institutions looking to develop similar initiatives are also explored.
Estrogen and progestin therapy to prevent osteoporosis: attitudes and practices of general internists and gynecologists.

Study objective:To assess combined hormone therapy (CHT) prescribing patterns, possible impediments to CHT prescribing, and use of endometrial biopsy to monitor therapy. Design:Mailed questionnaire survey. Subjects:Gynecologists and general internists at two Boston teaching hospitals. Measurements and main results:Based on a 71% response rate, 72% of internists and 100% of gynecologists reported ever having prescribed CHT. Almost 60% of internists, compared with 8% of gynecologists, reported that over half of their female patients were older than 50 years of age. By logistic regression analysis of the internists’ data, female gender of physician (odds ratio 11.0), belief that CHT decreases myocardial infarction risk (odds ratio 3.4), and knowledge of CHT’s benefits and risks (odds ratio 2.8) were associated with prescribing. Endometrial biopsy was performed by a majority of physicians only when unexpected vaginal bleeding occurred and in cases of unclear menopausal transition. Physicians who were concerned about litigation were seven times more likely to perform baseline endometrial biopsy. Conclusions:In the authors’ sample, as well as nationally, internists are more likely to provide care for menopausal women. Among internists, gender and knowledge are strongly associated with CHT prescribing. These findings have important educational implications if internists are to routinely provide information and counseling to women about osteoporosis and CHT.
Further evaluation of the efficacy of emamectin benzoate for treating Pseudocapillaria tomentosa (Dujardin 1843) in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton 1822).

Pseudocapillaria tomentosa is a pathogenic nematode parasite, causing emaciation and severe inflammatory lesions in the intestines in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton 1822). Emamectin benzoate is commercially available analogue of ivermectin used for treating salmon for sea lice, under the brand name SLICE® , and we have used this for treating zebrafish with the P. tomentosa. Here, SLICE® , 0.2 per cent active emamectin benzoate, was used for oral treatments at 0.35 mg emamectin benzoate/kg fish/day for 14 days starting at 7 days post-exposure (dpe). Another experiment entailed initiating treatment during clinical disease (starting at 28 dpe). Early treatment was very effective, but delaying treatment was less so, presumably due to inappetence in clinically affected fish. We evaluated emamectin benzoate delivered in water, using Lice-Solve™ (mectinsol; 1.4% active emamectin benzoate) in two experiments. Application of four 24-hr treatments, space over 7 days was initiated at 28 dpe at either 0.168 or 0.56 mg emamectin benzoate/L/bath, and both treatments completely eradicated infections. This was 3 or 10 times manufacture's recommended dose, but was not associated with clinical or histological side effects.
Faropenem resistance causes in vitro cross-resistance to carbapenems in ESBL-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract Objective Faropenem is an oral penem drug with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including CTX-M-15-type extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriales and anaerobic bacteria. As there are structural similarities, there is concern for the development of carbapenem cross-resistance; however, there are no studies confirming this. This study examined whether in vitro development of faropenem resistance in Escherichia coli isolates would result in cross-resistance to carbapenems. Methods Four well-characterized E. coli isolates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention antibiotic resistance isolate bank were utilized. Three isolates (NSF1, NSF2 and NSF3) are ESBL producers (CTX-M-15) and one (NSF4) is pan-susceptible. Faropenem minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined and resistance was induced by serial passaging in increasing concentrations of faropenem. Susceptibility to carbapenems was determined and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to identify the underlying genetic mechanism leading to carbapenem resistance. Results Faropenem MIC increased from 1 mg/L to 64 mg/L within 10 days for NSF2 and NSF4 isolates, and from 2 mg/L to 64 mg/L within 7 days for NSF1 and NSF3 isolates. Reduced carbapenem susceptibility (ertapenem MIC ≥8 mg/L, doripenem/meropenem ≥2 mg/L and imipenem ≥1 mg/L) developed among three CTX-M-15-producing isolates that were faropenem-resistant, but not in NSF4 isolate that lacked ESBL enzyme. WGS analysis revealed non-synonymous changes in the ompC gene among three CTX-M-15-producing isolates, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the envZ gene in NSF4 isolate. Conclusion Induced resistance to faropenem causes cross-resistance to carbapenems among E. coli isolates containing CTX-M-15-type ESBL enzymes.
Initial experience with a system for automated patient positioning

Conformal radiation therapy promises to deliver high tumor doses while sparing nearby tissue. Full realization of this promise, however, requires accurate and convenient patient positioning. Methods for positioning cranial targets rely on the rigidity of this body region. This work investigates a novel approach for positioning extracranial targets based on the location of IR reflective markers attached to the patient’s skin. Both phantom and volunteer tests assess the accuracy and reproducibility of the system. Volunteer tests suggest that in addition to positioning the patient, the system might also track his breathing cycle for gating of the linear accelerator. The system promises to strengthen the weak link in the chain of conformal radiation therapy, patient positioning. While conventional accuracy is between 5–10 mm1, this system positions a target to within 2–3 mm of the isocenter.
Tipping the Multiracial Color-Line: Racialized Preferences of Multiracial Online Daters

Building on previous work on US multiraciality, we analyze the messaging patterns of Asian-white, Hispanic-white, and black-white multiracial heterosexual users on one of the largest mainstream dating websites in the USA. We consider how multiracials’ online dating behaviors reflect, accommodate or challenge racialized desirability hierarchies among heterosexual daters. The study’s results illustrate that Hispanic-white multiracial men show similar preferences to both their multiracial and monoracial in-groups, while Asian-white and black-white multiracial men most prefer their multiracial counterparts. Hispanic-white multiracial women, on the other hand, privilege whiteness and multiraciality, while Asian-white multiracial women show most preference for their multiracial in-groups. Overall, our findings illustrate that both multiracial men and women’s online dating behaviors illustrate a linked privileging of white multiraciality while they also reinforce a hierarchical ranking of racial desirability anchored by anti-Blackness.
Primary Care Provider Involvement in Thyroid Cancer Survivorship Care

Context While prior research has examined how primary care providers (PCPs) can care for breast and colon cancer survivors, little is known about their role in thyroid cancer survivorship. Objective To understand PCP involvement and confidence in thyroid cancer survivorship care. Design/setting/participants We surveyed PCPs identified by thyroid cancer patients from the Georgia and LA SEER registries (n = 162, response rate 56%). PCPs reported their involvement in long-term surveillance and confidence in handling survivorship care (role of random thyroglobulin levels and neck ultrasound, and when to end long-term surveillance and refer back to the specialist). We examined: 1) PCP-reported factors associated with involvement using multivariable analyses; and 2) bivariate associations between involvement and confidence in handling survivorship care. Main outcome measures PCP involvement (involved vs not involved) and confidence (high vs low). Results Many PCPs (76%) reported being involved in long-term surveillance. Involvement was greater among PCPs who noted clinical guidelines as the most influential source in guiding treatment (OR 4.29; 95% CI, 1.56-11.82). PCPs reporting high confidence in handling survivorship varied by aspects of care: refer patient to specialist (39%), role of neck ultrasound (36%) and random thyroglobulin levels (27%), and end long-term surveillance (14%). PCPs reporting involvement were more likely to report high confidence in discussing the role of random thyroglobulin levels (33.3% vs 7.9% not involved; P Conclusions While PCPs reported being involved in long-term surveillance, gaps remain in their confidence in handling survivorship care. Thyroid cancer survivorship guidelines that delineate PCP roles present one opportunity to increase confidence about their participation.
Towards an automated intelligence product generation capability

Creating intelligence information products is a time consuming and difficult process for analysts faced with identifying key pieces of information relevant to a complex set of information requirements. Complicating matters, these key pieces of information exist in multiple modalities scattered across data stores, buried in huge volumes of data. This results in the current predicament analysts find themselves; information retrieval and management consumes huge amounts of time that could be better spent performing analysis. The persistent growth in data accumulation rates will only increase the amount of time spent on these tasks without a significant advance in automated solutions for information product generation. We present a product generation tool, Automated PrOduct Generation and Enrichment (APOGEE), which aims to automate the information product creation process in order to shift the bulk of the analysts’ effort from data discovery and management to analysis. APOGEE discovers relevant text, imagery, video, and audio for inclusion in information products using semantic and statistical models of unstructured content. APOGEEs mixed-initiative interface, supported by highly responsive backend mechanisms, allows analysts to dynamically control the product generation process ensuring a maximally relevant result. The combination of these capabilities results in significant reductions in the time it takes analysts to produce information products while helping to increase the overall coverage. Through evaluation with a domain expert, APOGEE has been shown the potential to cut down the time for product generation by 20x. The result is a flexible end-to-end system that can be rapidly deployed in new operational settings.
Altered Cholesterol Biosynthesis Affects Drug Metabolism.

The last step of cholesterol biosynthesis is the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) into cholesterol, a reaction catalyzed by dehydrocholesterol reductase 7 (DHCR7). Investigation of the effect of Dhcr7 single-allele mutations on the metabolism of aripiprazole (ARI) and cariprazine (CAR) in maternally exposed transgenic pups revealed that ARI, CAR, and their active metabolites were decreased in the liver and brain of Dhcr7 +/- . This difference in the drug and metabolite levels resulted in an increased turnover of ARI and CAR in tissues from Dhcr7 +/- animals, indicating an enhanced metabolism, which was at least partially due to increased levels of Cyp2d6 in the liver of Dhcr7 +/- mice. Finally, experiments with both WT and DHCR7 +/- human fibroblasts revealed lower drug levels in DHCR7 +/- heterozygous cells. Our findings have potential clinical implications, as DHCR7 heterozygosity is present in 1-3% in the human population, and these individuals might have reduced therapeutic levels of Cyp2d6-metabolized medications and are putatively more susceptible to unwanted side effects.
Novel Echocardiographic Algorithm for Right Ventricular Mass Quantification: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Clinical Prognosis Validation.

Background Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) provides a key remodeling index alterable by pulmonary hypertension. Although echocardiography commonly integrates linear wall thickness and chamber dimensions to quantify left ventricular remodeling, the utility of an equivalent right ventricular (RV)-based approach is unknown. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 200 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 30 days (median = 3 days; interquartile range, 15 days), stratified by echocardiography-quantified pulmonary artery systolic pressure ( Results Echocardiography-based quantification of all linear dimensions was feasible in 95% of patients (190 of 200). RV wall thicknesses in all orientations increased in relation to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (P Conclusions Echocardiography-quantified RV parameters provide a robust index of RV afterload. Global RV mass calculated using a novel echocardiographic formula based on readily available linear indices yields good diagnostic performance for CMR-evidenced RVH and confers increased mortality risk.
A Method for Repeated, Longitudinal Sampling of Individual Aedes aegypti for Transmission Potential of Arboviruses

Mosquito-borne viruses are the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Assessing risk for viral transmission often involves characterization of the vector competence of vector–virus pairings. The most common determination of vector competence uses discreet, terminal time points, which cannot be used to investigate variation in transmission aspects, such as biting behavior, over time. Here, we present a novel method to longitudinally measure individual biting behavior and Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission. Individual mosquitoes were exposed to ZIKV, and from 9 to 24 days post-exposure, individuals were each offered a 180 μL bloodmeal every other day. Biting behavior was observed and characterized as either active probing, feeding, or no bite. The bloodmeal was then collected, spun down, serum collected, and tested for ZIKV RNA via qRT-PCR to determine individuals’ vector competence over time. This included whether transmission to the bloodmeal was successful and the titer of expectorated virus. Additionally, serum was inoculated onto Vero cells in order to determine infectiousness of positive recovered sera. Results demonstrate heterogeneity in not only biting patterns but expectorated viral titers among individual mosquitoes over time. These findings demonstrate that the act of transmission is a complex process governed by mosquito behavior and mosquito–virus interaction, and herein we offer a method to investigate this phenomenon.
Optimal Stochastic Nonconvex Optimization with Bandit Feedback.

In this paper, we analyze the continuous armed bandit problems for nonconvex cost functions under certain smoothness and sublevel set assumptions. We first derive an upper bound on the expected cumulative regret of a simple bin splitting method. We then propose an adaptive bin splitting method, which can significantly improve the performance. Furthermore, a minimax lower bound is derived, which shows that our new adaptive method achieves locally minimax optimal expected cumulative regret.
Case 3846 –Microcentrini Deitz, 1975 (Insecta, Hemiptera, Membracidae): proposed emendation of spelling to Microcentrusini to remove homonymy with Microcentrini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (Insecta, Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae)

The purpose of this application, under Article 55.3.1 of the Code, is to remove the homonymy between the family-group names Microcentrini Deitz, 1975 (type genus Microcentrus Stal, 1869) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Membracidae) and Microcentrini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (type genus Microcentrum Scudder, 1862) (Insecta, Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae), by emending of the former to Microcentrusini Deitz, 1975. These two family-group names are based on similar but not identical type-genus names. It is proposed herein that the entire generic name Microcentrus be adopted as the grammatical stem, so the family-group name of Deitz (1975) will become Microcentrusini, thus resolving the homonymy.
Ionization-induced annealing of pre-existing defects in silicon carbide

A long-standing objective in materials research is to effectively heal fabrication defects or to remove pre-existing or environmentally induced damage in materials. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a fascinating wide-band gap semiconductor for high-temperature, high-power and high-frequency applications. Its high corrosion and radiation resistance makes it a key refractory/structural material with great potential for extremely harsh radiation environments. Here we show that the energy transferred to the electron system of SiC by energetic ions via inelastic ionization can effectively anneal pre-existing defects and restore the structural order. The threshold determined for this recovery process reveals that it can be activated by 750 and 850 keV Si and C self-ions, respectively. The results conveyed here can contribute to SiC-based device fabrication by providing a room-temperature approach to repair atomic lattice structures, and to SiC performance prediction as either a functional material for device applications or a structural material for high-radiation environments.
Storage Allocation for Real-Time, Embedded Systems

Dynamic storage allocation and automatic garbage collection are among the most popular features that high-level languages can offer. However, time-critical applications cannot be written in such languages unless the time taken to allocate and deallocate storage can be reasonably bounded. In this paper, we present algorithms for automatic storage allocation that are appropriate for real-time and embedded systems. We have implemented these algorithms, and results are presented that validate the predictability and efficiency of our approach.
Examination of a simple pulse-blanking technique for radio frequency interference mitigation

[1] Radiometry at L band can be adversely impacted by radio frequency interference (RFI) due to the presence of numerous sources, especially pulsed RFI from radars operating below 1400 MHz. RFI mitigation is very important to deal with this problem. A simple strategy for reducing pulsed RFI, termed “asynchronous pulse blanking” (APB), has been implemented in a digital receiver developed at Ohio State University. This paper presents results from a simulation of the APB algorithm. Several aspects of algorithm use and performance are reported, including means for choosing the algorithm's parameters and the robustness of the method in a realistic RFI environment. Effects of the blanking process on the final output are also examined.
SEO Underwriting Affiliation and Analyst Earnings Forecasts

In this paper, we examine analyst annual earnings forecast accuracy and dispersion for firms undertaking SEOs. Specifically, we evaluate the difference in accuracy between new and old affiliate analysts when there is a change in the lead underwriter for the SEO. We also study the change of forecast dispersion surrounding the filing of SEOs. Our sample includes all SEOs with identifiable previous and current lead underwriters during the 2003-2007 period along with information about the firm and analyst characteristics. We relate forecast accuracy to analyst characteristics and to whether an affiliated analyst is from a new underwriter. We find newly affiliated analysts are overall more accurate. We show that newly affiliated analysts' superior information and their incentives to maintain a good reputation by generating accurate forecasts dominate the previously established institutional relationship and accumulated firm-specific expertise of old affiliated analysts. Finally, we find both the standard and analyst-effect-purged measures of dispersion decrease far before the SEO filing and continue to decline until the filing date. This result indicates either the SEO is associated with a large quantity of voluntary disclosure before the filing of the SEO or the SEO itself adds more uncertainty to the future earnings of the issuer firm.
Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

1 Severe hematochezia is the most common presentation of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. 2 15–20% of patients hospitalized with severe hematochezia have a forgut source of the bleeding. 3 After initial resuscitation, urgent colonoscopy is the diagnostic test of choice. 4 The most common colonic cause of hemorrhage is diverticulosis, followed by internal hemorrhoids, ischemic colitis, rectal ulcers, post-polypectomy ulcers, polyps or cancer, and angiomas. 5 Therapeutic hemostasis of focal lesions includes epinephrine-saline injection, hemoclips and multipolar electrocoagulation. 6 Effective management results in improved patient outcomes such as decreased rebleeding rates as well as reduced transfusion requirements, median hospital stays and direct costs of medical care.
Spatio-temporal modeling of sudden infant death syndrome data

Abstract Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a classification of death for apparently healthy infants under one year old. However, its etiology is still largely a mystery. In this research, we analyze a spatio-temporal data set that contains yearly SIDS information from 1979 to 1984 for the counties of North Carolina. Cressie and Chan (1989) [10] used a purely spatial model to analyze the aggregated version of this data set. In this article, we present a spatio-temporal model from which optimal smoothing of SIDS rates can be derived. We use a Bayesian hierarchical statistical model (BHM) with a hidden dynamical Markov random field and extra-Poisson variability. Potential confounding of sources of variability is avoided by calibrating the extra-Poisson variability with the microscale variation in an approximate Gaussian model.
Hmong Americans' Changing Views and Approaches Towards Disability: Shaman and Other Helpers

ABSTRACT This article discusses how the concept of disability has evolved among Hmong Americans. The term disability has its unique cultural roots in Hmong traditions. Findings from a study of a sample of Hmong Americans in Northern California confirm the changing Hmong Americans' views on the issue of disability and their use of shaman. Families, community leaders, and shaman continue to be the primary support network and sources of consultation for many Hmong Americans.