cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advancements in Materials for Three-Dimensional Printing of Molds and Cores

Three-dimensional printing of sand molds and cores is changing the way castings are produced. During the last 5 years major advances in equipment have allowed metalcasters to realize casting designs at faster speeds than ever before. The elimination of tooling for mold and cores assemblies has allowed the industry new flexibility in design optimization, reduced labor, increased dimensional accuracy, and eliminated some defects associated with core assembly. While the equipment has been advancing, the materials used for printing have been very limited. The University of Northern Iowa has conducted new research into increasing the number of materials available for printing. These materials include regionally available resins, aggregates, and additives. These new materials have the ability to reduce the cost of printing and increase the number of applications while improving the casting quality. Veining defects in heavy iron or steel castings once prevalent on printed sand molds can be eliminated with engineered sand additives. Solidification rate and penetration defects can be addressed with specialty molding aggregates. This research has allowed the users of printed sand molds and cores to realize the potential of their sand printers and improve the quality of the castings they produced. The paper will detail the experiences with regionally available materials and compare their properties and performance with conventionally supplied materials.
Physical Metallurgy of 2XXX Aluminum Alloys

It is important to understand the physical metallurgy of 2XXX alloys since friction stir welding is a coupled thermomechanical process. In this chapter a detailed discussion on the physical metallurgy of 2XXX aluminum alloys including Al–Li alloys is provided. Precipitates in various subcategories, such as Al–Cu, Al–Cu–Mg, and Al–Cu–Li systems, have been discussed in detail. Effect of constituent particles and dislocations has also been identified in this chapter.
A 3D video stream display architecture hybrid MEM/CMOS SIMD-parallel indexed swept-volume 3D displays

We describe the architecture of a three-dimensional image display comprised of a helical surface, which is kept rotating about its axis. The images are projected by means of a high performance digital mirror array, working in a SIMD parallel mode. The optical ray emanating from each mirror would intersect with the rotating surface at a 3D point whose 3D position is determined by the exact time of the emission. Recent advancements in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), micro opto electromechanical systems (MOEMS) and CMOS fabrication processes offer the potential to fabricate these SIMD steerable high performance mirror arrays with in situ memory. We focus on the architecture of a scalable video stream display, in which the end user consumption may vary from a simple television to a multiview visualization of 3D dynamic events.
Abstract B141: Targeting the complement system to improve radiation treatment

The standard of care for a variety of cancers consists of therapies that are associated with significant toxicity, however, relatively little is known regarding what strategies could be undertaken to reduce treatment toxicity without compromising tumor control. We aim to establish whether targeting the complement system could be used to minimize treatment toxicity while improving tumor sensitivity to radiation. Complement is an important pathway in immunity; however, its inappropriate activation may result in tissue injury. Our data suggests that in response to radiotherapy, expression of complement regulators is decreased significantly in normal colon. Importantly, these expression changes correlate with an increase in the C5b-9 complex (thought to be responsible for cell lysis) in irradiated colon in vivo. Furthermore, our results suggest that targeting the complement system (either genetically or pharmacologically) can result in increased survival of mice following radiotherapy, through protection of the gastrointestinal tract from radiation-induced toxicity. Citation Format: Monica M. Olcina, Amato J. Giaccia. Targeting the complement system to improve radiation treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B141.
Web-video-mining-supported workflow modeling for laparoscopic surgeries

An automatic video-mining method is developed to retrieve abundant highly-qualified web videos as the training data.A reliable SWM is generated to assist a surgical system with surgery understanding.This reliable and valuable knowledge is learned to support an intelligent surgical system in performing tasks such as abnormal surgery operation detection and instrument recommendation.It is feasible for an intelligent surgical system to learn reliable SWM knowledge in an economic way. MotivationAs quality assurance is of strong concern in advanced surgeries, intelligent surgical systems are expected to have knowledge such as the knowledge of the surgical workflow model (SWM) to support their intuitive cooperation with surgeons. For generating a robust and reliable SWM, a large amount of training data is required. However, training data collected by physically recording surgery operations is often limited and data collection is time-consuming and labor-intensive, severely influencing knowledge scalability of the surgical systems. ObjectiveThe objective of this research is to solve the knowledge scalability problem in surgical workflow modeling with a low cost and labor efficient way. MethodsA novel web-video-mining-supported surgical workflow modeling (webSWM) method is developed. A novel video quality analysis method based on topic analysis and sentiment analysis techniques is developed to select high-quality videos from abundant and noisy web videos. A statistical learning method is then used to build the workflow model based on the selected videos. To test the effectiveness of the webSWM method, 250 web videos were mined to generate a surgical workflow for the robotic cholecystectomy surgery. The generated workflow was evaluated by 4 web-retrieved videos and 4 operation-room-recorded videos, respectively. ResultsThe evaluation results (video selection consistency n-index ź0.60; surgical workflow matching degree ź0.84) proved the effectiveness of the webSWM method in generating robust and reliable SWM knowledge by mining web videos. ConclusionWith the webSWM method, abundant web videos were selected and a reliable SWM was modeled in a short time with low labor cost. Satisfied performances in mining web videos and learning surgery-related knowledge show that the webSWM method is promising in scaling knowledge for intelligent surgical systems.
Piperacillin Induced Thrombocytopenia in Critical Care Patients as Compared to Non Critical Patients.

Introduction: Drug-induced thrombocytopenia in the critically ill is documented in the literature with limited frequency. Implicated agents are antiepileptics, anticoagulants, antiarrhythmics, histamine receptor antagonists, and antimicrobials .Piperacillin has only rarely been implicated as a cause of thrombocytopenia, and there is only limited evidence that this complication is caused by immune mechanisms. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients admitted during a 6-month period to determine the frequency of and potential risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia, and the association of acquired thrombocytopenia with the use of piperacillin ICU versus non ICU patients. Results: Data were collected for 154 patients (M:71, F:83),), admitted to the ICU and Non-ICU setting. 55% of the patients were more than 65 years of age. Platelet drop occurred in 123 patients. Thrombocytopenic patients had a longer ICU stay (11.2 vs 5.6 days) and greater mortality (9% vs 3%) than nonthrombocytopenic patients .The patients developed thrombocytopenia as follows:Mild(100–150k): 22 pts-(15%) ; Moderate(50–100k): 7 pts-(5%) ;and Severe( Discussion: Thrombocytopenia occurs in 23–63% of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Factors associated with the disorder in these patients include sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood transfusions, central catheters, and drugs, some of which may have a significant effect on morbidity and mortality. The major mechanisms of drug-induced thrombocytopenia are immune-mediated platelet destruction and concentration-dependent bone marrow suppression. Bone marrow toxicity, mainly neutropenia, has been described as an uncommon secondary effect of most beta-lactams, and it is usually related to large cumulative doses. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is associated with an increased ICU stay and increased mortality. Thrombocytopenic events associated with antimicrobial agents in the ICU may warrant further investigation because of the increased administration of these drugs to combat more virulent bacterial strains.
Myocardial T1 Measurement Predicts Beneficial LV Remodeling After Long-Term Heart Failure Therapy.

Abstract Background The myocardial longitudinal relaxation time (T1) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can quantify myocardial fibrosis in the presence or absence of visually detectable late gadolinium (Gd) enhancement (LGE). Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) treatment produces beneficial remodeling in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). We assessed the hypothesis that interstitial myocardial fibrosis measured with the use of CMR predicts left ventricular (LV) beneficial remodeling in NIDCM after heart failure (HF) treatment including MRAs. Methods and Results Twelve patients with NIDCM, on stable beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor–blocking therapy, were studied before and after 6–29 months of treatment with MRAs, by means of CMR assessment of LV structure, function, and T1 from standard Look-Locker sequences (T1 LL ). All patients had depressed cardiac function, dilated left ventricles, and no visual LGE. After adding MRA to HF treatment, the LV ejection fraction increased and the LV end-systolic volume index (LV end-systolic volume/m 2 ) decreased in all patients ( P LL ( r = −0.65; P = .02). Conclusion Myocardial T1 LL , in the absence of visually detectable LGE, was quantitatively related to the degree of beneficial LV remodeling achieved in response to adding MRA to a HF regimen.
Pharmacogenetics in Cardiovascular Diseases

Data from randomized, controlled, clinical trials historically drive treatment decisions for cardiovascular diseases. However, it is now well recognized that an individual’s genotype significantly influences his or her response to numerous cardiovascular treatments. As such, there is a growing role for personalized medicine in this therapeutic area. Genotype influences response to cardiovascular therapies primarily by affecting pharmacokinetics (i.e., disposition), pharmacodynamics (i.e., sensitivity to the drug), or both. At least 12 cardiovascular drugs have genetic information included in their U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling. The strongest pharmacogenomic evidence exists for clopidogrel and warfarin. Some institutions are already embracing genotype-guided therapy for these drugs. Barriers to genotype-guided therapy in other institutions include a demand for further evidence of the clinical utility of such an approach and concerns about third-party reimbursement for genetic testing. Clinical trials are ongoing to address the issue of clinical utility, and results may lead to greater acceptance of pharmacogenomics by clinicians and policy makers.
Capacity and Expressiveness of Genomic Tandem Duplication

The majority of the human genome consists of repeated sequences. An important type of repeated sequences common in the human genome are tandem repeats, where identical copies appear next to each other. For example, in the sequence $AGTC\underline {TGTG}C$ , $TGTG$ is a tandem repeat, that may be generated from $AGTCTGC$ by a tandem duplication of length 2. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of generating a large number of sequences from a seed , i.e. a small initial string, by tandem duplications of bounded length. We study the capacity of such a system, a notion that quantifies the system’s generating power. Our results include exact capacity values for certain tandem duplication string systems. In addition, motivated by the role of DNA sequences in expressing proteins via RNA and the genetic code, we define the notion of the expressiveness of a tandem duplication system as the capability of expressing arbitrary substrings. We then completely characterize the expressiveness of tandem duplication systems for general alphabet sizes and duplication lengths. In particular, based on a celebrated result by Axel Thue from 1906, presenting a construction for ternary squarefree sequences, we show that for alphabets of size 4 or larger, bounded tandem duplication systems, regardless of the seed and the bound on duplication length, are not fully expressive, i.e. they cannot generate all strings even as substrings of other strings. Note that the alphabet of size 4 is of particular interest as it pertains to the genomic alphabet. Building on this result, we also show that these systems do not have full capacity. In general, our results illustrate that duplication lengths play a more significant role than the seed in generating a large number of sequences for these systems.
Identifying Non-invasive Tools to Distinguish Acute Myocarditis from Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children

There is often a diagnostic dilemma in pediatric patients presenting with depressed ventricular function, as myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) of other etiologies can appear very similar. Accurate identification is critical to guide treatment and to provide families with the most accurate expectation of long-term outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify patterns of clinical presentation and to assess non-invasive measures to differentiate patients with acute myocarditis from other forms of DCM. We identified all children (< 18 years) from our institution with a diagnosis of idiopathic DCM or myocarditis based on endomyocardial biopsy or explant pathology (1996–2015). Characteristics at the time of presentation were compared between patients with a definite diagnosis of myocarditis and those with idiopathic DCM. Data collected included clinical and laboratory data, radiography, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization data. A total of 58 patients were included in the study; 46 (79%) with idiopathic DCM and 12 (21%) with acute myocarditis. Findings favoring a diagnosis of myocarditis included a history of fever (58 vs. 15%, p = 0.002), arrhythmia (17 vs. 0%, p = 0.003), higher degree of cardiac enzyme elevation, absence of left ventricular dilation (42 vs. 7%, p = 0.002), segmental wall motion abnormalities (58 vs. 13%, p = 0.001), lower left ventricular dimension z-score (3.7 vs. 5.2, p = 0.031), and less severe depression of left ventricular systolic function. There are notable differences between patients with myocarditis and other forms of DCM that can be detected non-invasively at the time of presentation without the need for endomyocardial biopsy. These data suggest that it may be possible to develop a predictive model to differentiate myocarditis from other forms of DCM using non-invasive measures.
Depression and the Emotions: An Argument for Cultivating Cheerfulness

In this paper, I offer an argument for cultivating cheerfulness as a remedy to sadness and other emotions, which, in turn, can provide some relief to certain cases of depression. My thesis has two tasks: first, to establish the link between cheerfulness and sadness, and second, to establish the link between sadness and depression. In the course of accomplishing the first task, I show that a remedy of cultivating cheerfulness to counter sadness is supported by philosophers as diverse as Thomas Aquinas, Baruch Spinoza, and David Hume in their writings on the passions. I also show that my argument can generalize to promote the cultivation of other emotions. In the course of accomplishing the second task, I consider different models of depression and how the emotions are related to depression. The purpose of this paper is to offer conceptual, philosophical support that is consistent with the most current empirical data on depression.
Control Flow Predicates

Properties of distributed computations can be either on their global states or on their control flows. We now address control flow properties. Detection of these properties is useful for debugging distributed programs when the erroneous behavior can be modeled using a sequence of, or more generally, a partial order of predicates on single states. For example, in an execution of a protocol for mutual exclusion, if there is a path from a state in which the critical section is accessed to another state in which the critical section is accessed in a different process, and there is no intermediate state in which the critical section is released, then there is an error in the protocol. In this chapter, we present a method to specify and detect such properties.
Factors Affecting the Disposition and Persistence of Halogenated Furans and Dioxins

A number of interrelated factors determine the disposition and persistence of halogenated dioxins and furans. Among the more important of these factors are solubility, lipid solubility and metabolism to more polar compounds which can be excreted. Halogenated dioxins and furans are very insoluble in all solvents and their solubility tends to decrease with increasing halogenation. Since compounds which are not in solution are not readily absorbed, solubility may selectively limit the absorption of some of the more highly halogenated dioxins and furans. However, that portion of the dose which is in solution is sufficiently lipid soluble to be passively absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and too lipid soluble to be excreted prior to metabolism to more polar compounds. The rate of metabolism of dioxins and furans varies greatly with molecular structure and among species. The more readily metabolized dioxins and furans have adjacent unsubstituted carbon atoms; furans may be more readily metabolized than dioxins, and rats and hamsters metabolize and excrete these compounds more rapidly than do guinea pigs. The relation of toxicity to metabolism is complex, but it is apparent that metabolism constitutes a route of detoxication for dioxins and furans.
Lightweight Laser Scan Registration in Underground Mines with Band-based Downsampling Method

Robots operating in underground mines must accurately track their location and create maps. The rough, undulating floors typical of mine environments preclude the 2D representation of scene integral to many existing real-time mobile robot simultaneous localization and mapping systems. On the other hand, a full 3D solution is made unrealistic by the computational expense of aligning large point clouds. This paper presents an approach that extracts high-density, horizontal bands of laser scans and uses them to represent the scene with detail sufficient to capture the moderate non-planar motion typical of mining robots. Our approach is able to operate in real-time, building maps and localizing in pace with range scanning and is fast enough to allow continuous vehicle motion. We present details of the approach which has been validated in an underground mine. Trials runs have shown a significant decrease in computation time without an appreciable decrease in accuracy over a full 3D strategy.
Planned Replacement: Some Theory and its Application

Two basic methods of planning replacements in a program of preventive maintenance are described: (1) age replacement and (2) block replacement. The objective is to provide an introduction to some of the basic concepts of probability theory as they can b..
Mycotoxicoses, In Vitro and In Vivo: Conjecture-Hypothesis-Validation

The ultimate goal of food safety research is to ensure the quality and safety of the food supply. This includes the safety of both animal feeds and human foods. Within the concept of “biodeterioration”, the impairment of human and animal health through the consumption of fungal metabolites in the food supply seems an appropriate, if not the ultimate, subject for study. Our health, and that of the animals upon which we depend, is clearly an area of great public concern. This concern creates the social and political force which sustains the monetary support of all professional scientists who study the biological activity of fungal metabolites which contaminate foods and feeds. Unfortunately, the public’s concern for food and feed safety is sometimes forgotten or avoided by scientists who enjoy doing experimental research. Few would disagree, that solving basic problems is important, however, the consumer’s concern is the applied problem -food and feed safety. In the field of mycotoxicology, it is difficult to maintain focus on this applied problem because the chemical and biological diversity of the subject matter reveals an infinite number of exciting and rewarding areas for basic research, while the epidemiological database that supports the hypothesis that fungal toxins in the food supply are a threat to American consumers is extremely limited or non-existent (Food and Chemical News, 1986).
Regulation of MBP mRNA translocation in oligodendrocytes

Protein targeting in cells is generally achieved by transporting the newly synthesized protein to the appropriate subcellular compartments. In some instances, this specific targeting is achieved by the transport of the corresponding mRNA to specific subcellular compartments. In the central nervous system, mRNAs corresponding to MAP 2, tau, BC1, Calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase, oxytocin and vasopressin are translocated specifically to axons or dendrites in neurons (1) while in oligodendrocytes, MBP and carbonic anhydrase mRNAs are translocated into the processes (2, 3) and in astrocytes, GFAP mRNA is transported (4). The translocation of MBP mRNA has been shown to be developmentally regulated both in vivo and in vitro (5, 6) and factors regulating the translocation process are not yet completely understood. While studying the translocation of MBP mRNA in oligodendrocytes using a mixed culture system, we observed that translocation of MBP mRNA occurred in only about 25% of the oligodendrocytes in which it was expressed (6). However, we observed that translocation of this mRNA occurred in almost all cells in enriched oligodendrocyte cultures (7). Since about 70% of the cell population in the mixed cultures is made up of astrocytes that form a bed layer on which the oligodendrocytes grow, it appeared possible that astrocytes might influence molecular events in oligodendrocytes either through secreted factors or through cell-cell contact. On replating the purified oligodendrocytes on purified astrocytes, we did observe a profound inhibition of MBP mRNA translocation in the oligodendrocytes. In this report, we show that the inhibition caused by astrocytes was due to cell-cell contact and not due to soluble factors secreted by astrocytes. We also report here that soluble factors secreted by neurons can relieve the astrocytic inhibition and that PDGF can mimic the effect of neuronal factors suggesting that PDGF is important in the regulation of MBP mRNA translocation.
Accessory cell functions in oogenesis

This chapter discusses the accessory cell functions in oogenesis. Accessory cells participate in virtually all forms of oogenesis; from both a cytological and a physiological standpoint, it is clear that accessory cell function is closely linked to oocyte metabolism and is involved in the accretion of oocyte substances. The most spectacular accessory cell-oocyte relationships in the metazoan world are perhaps the nurse cell–oocyte complexes that attain their most elaborate form in the meroistic insect ovary. Almost all oocytes develop within a covering layer of follicle cells, which may be of origin other than the germ line. The role played by follicular structures in feeding various substances into the oocyte is not as dramatically clear as that of the nurse cell complexes, where the latter exist; however, there is ample evidence that protein molecules of external origin may be transported by the follicle cells into the oocyte.
Cognitive deficits and neurotoxicity induced by synthetic cathinones: is there a role for neuroinflammation?

The number of synthetic derivatives of cathinone, the primary psychoactive alkaloid found in Catha edulis (khat), has risen exponentially in the past decade. Synthetic cathinones (frequently referred to as “bath salts”) produce adverse cognitive and behavioral sequelae, share similar pharmacological mechanisms of action with traditional psychostimulants, and may therefore trigger similar cellular events that give rise to neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. In this review, we provide a brief overview of synthetic cathinones, followed by a summary of cognitive deficits in animals and humans that have been documented following acute or repeated exposure. We also summarize growing evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies for synthetic cathinone-induced neurotoxicity, and provide a working hypothetic model of potential cellular mechanisms. Synthetic cathinones produce varying effects on markers of monoaminergic terminal function and can increase the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, induce apoptotic signaling, and cause neurodegeneration and cytotoxicity. We hypothesize that these effects result from biochemical events similar to those induced by traditional psychostimulants. However, empirical evidence for the ability of synthetic cathinones to induce neuroinflammatory processes is currently lacking. Like their traditional psychostimulant counterparts, synthetic cathinones appear to induce neurocognitive dysfunction and cytotoxicity, which are dependent on drug type, dose, frequency, and time following exposure. However, additional studies on synthetic cathinone-induced neuroinflammation are clearly needed, as are investigations into the neurochemical and neuroimmune mechanisms underlying their neurotoxic effects. Such endeavors may lead to novel therapeutic avenues to promote recovery in habitual synthetic cathinone users.
The impact of mass density variations on an electron Monte Carlo algorithm for radiotherapy dose calculations

Abstract Background and Purpose A key step in electron Monte Carlo dose calculation requires converting Computed Tomography (CT) numbers from a tomographic acquisition to a mass density. This study investigates the dosimetric consequences of perturbations applied to a calibration table between CT number and mass density. Materials and Methods A literature search was performed to define lower and upper bounds for physically reasonable perturbations to a reference CT number to mass density calibration table. Electron beam dose was calculated for ten patients using these variations and the results were compared to clinical plans originally derived with a reference calibration table. Dose differences both globally and in the Planning Target Volume (PTV) were assessed using dose- and volume-based metrics and 3- dimensional gamma analysis for each patient. Results Small but statistically significant differences were observed between perturbations and reference data for certain metrics including volume of the 50% prescription isodose. Upper and lower variations in CT number to mass density calibration yielded mean values of V50% that were 4.4% larger and 2.1% smaller than reference values respectively. Gamma analysis using 3%/3mm criteria indicated >99% passing rate for the PTV for all patients. Global gamma analysis for some patients showed larger discrepancies possibly due to large electron path lengths through inhomogeneities. Conclusions In most patients, physically reasonable perturbations in CT number to mass density curves will not induce clinically significant impact on calculated target dose distributions. Strong dependence of electron transport on voxel material may produce dose speckle throughout the volume. Care should be taken in evaluating critical structures at depths beyond the target volume in highly heterogeneous regions.
Attitudes of Mental Health Professionals toward Mental Illness: A Deeper Understanding

Because mental health professionals are not immune to negative attitudes toward adults with mental illness, researchers have questioned where these attitudes might originate, as well as what affects them. Although there have been quantitative studies that broadly explore attitudes toward mental illness, in-depth understanding of factors that affect the attitudes of mental health professionals will offer insight to practitioners and researchers alike. This qualitative study explored the impact of educational programs and professional experience on the attitudes of mental health professionals toward their clients. Based on the results, this article describes a continuum of attitudes toward mental illness for counselors, educators, supervisors, and related professionals as a tool to understand their attitudes toward mental illness.
Transcranial Doppler is an effective method in assessing cerebral blood flow patterns during peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Background Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) can be life-saving in refractory cardiogenic shock but carries a risk of neurologic complications such as stroke and hemorrhage. As little is known about the effects of different peripheral VA-ECMO cannulation sites on cerebral blood flow (CBF), transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used to determine whether the cannulation site affects CBF. Methods Thirty-seven patients receiving VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock via axillary or femoral artery cannulation were prospectively enrolled. Measured bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA), mean flow velocities (MFV), and pulsatility indices (PI) were the primary outcomes and adverse neurologic events were secondary outcomes. Results The median age was 58 years (IQR 51-66) with 26 (70%) males. Median VA-ECMO flow was 3.8 L/min (IQR 3.2-4.9) with mean arterial pressures of 80 mm Hg (IQR 75-86). Nineteen patients received right axillary artery cannulation while 18 underwent femoral cannulation. Compared with the femoral group, MFV was higher in the axillary group in the right MCA (46 cm/s [IQR 26-57] vs 27 [17-36], P = 0.03) and left (43 [IQR 35-60] vs 29 cm/s [16-48], P = 0.05). Axillary PI was significantly lower compared with the femoral group (right: 0.48 cm/s [0.25-0.65] vs 0.83 [0.66-0.93], P = 0.02; left: 0.41 cm/s [0.29-0.63] vs 1.02 [0.7-1.3], P = 0.004). One axillary patient experienced a stroke with deficits. Conclusions TCD appears to be an effective tool for indirect monitoring of CBF in patients with ECMO with limited pulsatility. Axillary artery cannulation seems to provide higher cerebral flow rates without any difference in neurologic outcomes. Future studies may incorporate TCD into regulating ECMO flows to achieve physiologic CBF.
Lights, camera, action: Lessons learned from a nursing and theater collaboration

Background Because nursing students do not always have opportunities to interact with individuals with mental illness due to various factors such as limited clinical sites, an innovative teaching strategy was developed. Method A plan was developed to collaborate with the theater department to offer undergraduate theater students an opportunity to practice acting skills while taking an independent study. These theater students, trained as standardized patients (SPs), engaged with senior nursing students enrolled in a psychiatric mental health nursing clinical course in a baccalaureate program. Results This process has been successfully implemented for the past 2 years. With 10 theater students completing the independent study and 180 nursing students engaging in interactions with SPs, improvements in communication skills for nursing students have been seen. Conclusion Because this is a pilot project, additional research should be conducted to further explore the effectiveness of learning for both nursing and theater students. [J Nurs Educ. 2019;58(6):369-371.].
Mossbauer Effect Studies in YBa2Cu3−YSnYO7−x

We have measured the Sn Mossbauer Effect in YBa2Cu3−YSnYO7−x samples. The samples have been analyzed using thermogravimetric and magnetometer analysis. The Mossbauer measurements show a broadened line that can be fit with two sets of Quadrupoles that indicate two different oxygen vacancy sites in the 1–2–3 compounds.
Tribological performance of PFPE and X-1P lubricants at head–disk interface. Part I. Experimental results

X-1P, a cyclic phosphazene lubricant, is studied and compared with polar perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant Z-Dol. Contact angles of lubricants are measured on different solid surfaces. Contact start-stop (CSS), drag, and ball-on-flat tests are performed and the results are discussed. Drag tests under high vacuum are also performed and discussed. Experimental results show that lubricant X-1P exhibits lower static friction and higher durability than lubricant Z-Dol, especially at high humidity. Higher durability is also observed for X-1P under the high vacuum condition compared with lubricant Z-Dol. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) overcoat on the Al2O3–TiC slider surface lowers friction and prolongs durability, especially for lubricant Z-Dol at high humidity, whereas for X-1P, there is no benefit of DLC. X-1P as an additive shows some improvement in durability at high humidity as compared to lubricant Z-Dol.
Doctoral Students' Perspectives on Their Advisors.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article was to examine Kinesiology Doctoral Students’ (DS) perspectives on their advisors. Using the Kinesiology Doctoral Student (KDS) survey, 121 current and past DS p...
Complex oscillatory patterns near singular Hopf bifurcation in a two time-scale ecosystem

We consider an ecological model consisting of two species of predators competing for their common prey with explicit interference competition. With a proper rescaling, the model is portrayed as a singularly perturbed system with one-fast (prey dynamics) and two-slow variables (dynamics of the predators). The model exhibits variety of rich and interesting dynamics, including, but not limited to mixed mode oscillations (MMOs), featuring concatenation of small and large amplitude oscillations, relaxation oscillations and bistability between a semi-trivial equilibrium state and a coexistence oscillatory state. Existence of co-dimenison two bifurcations such as fold-Hopf and generalized Hopf bifurcations make the system further intriguing. More interestingly, in a neighborhood of {\emph{singular Hopf}} bifurcation, long lasting transient dynamics in form of chaotic MMOs or relaxation oscillations are observed as the system approaches the periodic attractor born out of supercritical Hopf bifurcation or a semi-trivial equilibrium state respectively. The transient dynamics could persist for hundreds or thousands of generations before the ecosystem experiences a regime shift. The time series of population cycles with different types of irregular oscillations arising in this model stem from a biological realistic feature, namely, by the variation in the intraspecific competition amongst the predators. To explain these oscillations, we use bifurcation analysis and methods from {\emph{geometric singular perturbation theory}}.
Contextual Factors: Sources of Stress and How Women Cope

This book reviews empirical literature on a number of psychological concepts related to selling sex. The goals of the book and the boundaries of what is included can be found in Chap. 1. In brief, this book focuses on private, in-person, consensual sex acts exchanged between a cisgender woman and a paying customer. Research on men, minors, and victims of sex trafficking are deliberately excluded, unless otherwise noted. The review favors peer-reviewed sources of research and is most inclusive of comparative studies. Qualitative findings are used illustratively. Consistent with the diathesis-stress model, the experience of stress can trigger the expression of personal predispositional vulnerabilities, resulting in mental health concerns. With this understanding, Chap. 3 focuses on the sources of stress that women face when they sell sex, with the goal of increasing understanding regarding women’s experiences as well as increasing insight into the potential triggers for mental health concerns. We begin by reviewing particular ways in which the activity of selling sex can be stressful. We then explore a number of contextual factors related to commercial sex, including the relevance of location to the nature and degree of stressors experienced, particularly in terms of the legal status of selling sex within the territory worked and the particular venue or setting in which women sell sex. We also focus on the contextual stressors of social stigma in relation to the concept of dirty work and the experience of physical and sexual violence. Finally, we review what the literature has to offer in terms of understanding relevant coping strategies and mechanisms that women employ to reduce stress.
In Reply: Outcomes and Spectrum of Major Neurovascular Events among COVID-19 Patients: A 3-Center Experience

Background Preliminary data suggest that Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hypercoagulability and neurovascular events, but data on outcomes is limited. Objective To report the clinical course and outcomes of a case series of COVID-19 patients with a variety of cerebrovascular events. Methods We performed a multicentric, retrospective chart review at our three academic tertiary care hospitals, and identified all COVID-19 patients with cerebrovascular events requiring neuro-intensive care and/or neurosurgical consultation. Results We identified 26 patients between March 1 and May 24, 2020, of whom 12 (46%) died. The most common event was a large-vessel occlusion (LVO) in 15 patients (58%), among whom 8 died (8/15, 53%). A total of 9 LVO patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy, of whom 5 died (5/9, 56%). A total of 7 patients (27%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage. Of the remaining patients, 2 had small-vessel occlusions, 1 had cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and another had a vertebral artery dissection. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome occurred in 8 patients, of whom 7 died. Mortalities had a higher D-dimer on admission (mean 20 963 ng/mL) than survivors (mean 3172 ng/mL). Admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was poor among mortalities (median 7), whereas survivors had a favorable GCS at presentation (median 14) and at discharge (median 14). Conclusion COVID-19 may be associated with hemorrhage as well as ischemia, and prognosis appears poorer than expected-particularly among LVO cases, where outcome remained poor despite mechanical thrombectomy. However, a favorable neurological condition on admission and lower D-dimer may indicate a better outcome.
Disorders of Sex Development

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are characterized by discordance between phenotypic, gonadal, and genetic sex. DSDs can be classified into three categories based on karyotype: 46,XX, 46,XY, and sex chromosome DSDs. While many of the underlying genetic etiologies of DSDs are known, many remain elusive. DSDs are often diagnosed in the newborn period due to the presence of ambiguous genitalia on physical exam. The expanding use of noninvasive prenatal testing has increased the number of DSDs diagnosed prenatally. Some DSDs are also diagnosed in childhood or adulthood. Working together with a dedicated, multidisciplinary team, the primary care physician can be instrumental in the diagnosis, medical management, and general support of patients with DSDs. This chapter provides background on DSDs and highlights emergent situations and special considerations for individuals with DSDs.
How Miami became the gateway for flowers in the USA

This paper describes the supply chain for cut flowers in the USA, where 80% of all the cut flowers come from Colombia. This is multi-billion market that creates 130,000 jobs in Colombia and is estimated to generate more than 200,000 jobs in the USA related to different businesses in the floral supply chain, such as the US importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers ranging from small florists to mega supermarket chains. The goal was to understand the role of Miami International Airport and how it became the gateway for nine on every ten fresh cut flowers that enter the USA. A case study on the Kroger floral supply chain was performed, and data was analysed under the theory of constraints. Findings indicate that although MIA is not a central location to naturally become a logistics hub for a distribution of such perishable product, because it was able to identify an important system constraint involving cold chain, customs, time, process, and culture; exploit them and organise several of other of its process around them, MIA became the gateway for flowers in the USA.
Stellate ganglion block used to treat reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.

Background We present a case report of a patient who developed severe reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, which was worsening despite typical interventional and supportive care. We administered a stellate ganglion block (SGB) and monitored the vasospasm with transcranial Doppler measurements. Case report A 25-year-old woman was admitted with recurrent headaches and neurological symptoms, which angiography showed to be caused by diffuse, multifocal, segmental narrowing of the cerebral arteries leading to severe ischemia in multiple regions. Typical treatment was initiated with arterial verapamil followed by supportive critical care, including nimodipine, intravenous fluids, permissive hypertension, and analgesia. Vasospasm was monitored daily via transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). After symptoms and monitoring suggested worsening vasospasm, an SGB was administered under ultrasound guidance. Block success was confirmed via pupillometry, and repeat TCD showed improved flow through the cerebral vasculature. Improvement in vascular flow was accompanied by a gradual reduction in acute neurological symptoms, with the patient reporting no headaches the following morning. Conclusions For patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome who develop severe signs or symptoms despite typical treatment, sympathetic blockade may be a possible rescue therapy. This may extend to other causes of severe vasospasm as well, and further study is needed to determine if the SGB should be included in routine or rescue therapy.
Efficient Partitioning of Partial Correlation Networks

Partial correlation is a popular and principled metric for determining edges between nodes in a graph. However when the goal is to both estimate network connectivity from sample data and subsequently partition the result, methods such as spectral clustering can be applied much more efficiency and at larger scale. We derive a method that can similarly partition partial correlation networks directly from sample data. The method is closely related to spectral clustering, and can be implemented with comparable efficiency. Our results also provide new insight into the success of spectral clustering in many fields, as an approximation to clustering of partial correlation networks.
Identifying Nontraditional Epidemic Disease Risk Factors Associated with Major Health Events from World Health Organization and World Bank Open Data.

Health events emerge from host, community, environment, and pathogen factors-forecasting epidemics is a complex task. We describe an exploratory analysis to identify economic risk factors that could aid epidemic risk assessment. A line list was constructed using the World Health Organization Disease Outbreaks News (2016-2018) and economic indicators from the World Bank. Poisson regression employing forward imputations was used to establish relationships with the frequency with which countries reported public health events. Economic indicators demonstrated strong performance appropriate for further assessment in surveillance programming. In our analysis, three economic indicators were significantly associated to event reporting: how much the country's urban population changed, its average forest area, and a novel economic indicator we developed that assessed how much the gross domestic product changed per capita. Other economic indicators performed less well: changes in total, female, urban, and rural population sizes; population density; net migration; change in per cent forest area; total forest area; and another novel indicator, change in percent of trade as a fraction of the total economy. We then undertook a further analysis of the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic that revealed similar associations, but confounding by global disease burden is likely. Continued development of forecasting approaches capturing information relevant to whole-of-society factors (e.g., economic factors as assessed in our study) could improve the risk management process through earlier hazard identification and inform strategic decision processes in multisectoral strategies to preventing, detecting, and responding to pandemic-threat events.
Visualizing the Invisible: Visual-Based Design and Efficacy in Air Quality Messaging

This study examines the effect and efficacy of visual designs for messages about poor air quality. The study utilized a 2 (message efficacy: high vs. low) × 2 (message design: visual vs. text) between-subjects experimental design, of N = 95 students from a large Western university. This experiment assessed the effects of message design and efficacy of language on students’ visual comprehension, source credibility, self-efficacy, and protective behavioral intention. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were partially supported, finding that there were some statistically significant effects for efficacy and message design on students’ comprehension and protective behavioral intention. Future work should focus on strategies for more salient air quality health communication because wildfires will continue to impact the western United States.
Kenya’s ICT Policy in Practice: The Effectiveness of Tablets and E-readers in Improving Student Outcomes

Kenya is investing in information and communication technology (ICT) to improve children’s learning outcomes. However, the literature on ICT is pessimistic about the ability of ICT alone to improve outcomes, and few ICT programs have created the instructional change necessary to increase learning. The Primary Math and Reading (PRIMR) Initiative implemented a randomized controlled trial of three ICT interventions to enhance learning outcomes: tablets for instructional supervisors, tablets for teachers, and e-readers for students. All three showed significant impacts in English and Kiswahili above the results of the control group. The impacts of the three interventions were not statistically significantly different from each other. Based on the findings, we recommend that Kenyan policy makers embed ICT interventions in a larger instructional reform, using ICT to support particular instructional improvement challenges. We also suggest that policy makers incorporate empirically derived cost-effectiveness analysis into investment decisions, to ensure that ICT provides value for money. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201502011025
Predictors of survival of therapeutic hypothermia based on analysis of a consecutive American inner-city population over 4 years

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the international standard of care for all comatose patients after cardiac arrest, but criticism focuses on poor outcomes. We sought to develop criteria to identify American urban patients more likely to benefit from TH.