cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Readmission after delayed diagnosis of surgical site infection: a focus on prevention using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Abstract Background Surgical site infection (SSI) is a costly complication leading to increased resource use and patient morbidity. We hypothesized that postdischarge SSI results in a high rate of preventable readmissions. Methods We used our institutional American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify patients undergoing general surgery procedures from 2006 to 2011. Results SSIs developed in 10% of the 3,663 patients who underwent an inpatient general surgical procedure. SSI was diagnosed after discharge in 48% of patients. Patients with a diagnosis of SSI after discharge were less likely to have a history of smoking (15% vs 28%, P = .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3% vs 9%, P = .015), congestive heart failure (0% vs 3%, P = .03), or sepsis within 48 hours preoperatively (17% vs 32%, P = .001) compared with patients diagnosed before discharge. Over 50% of the patients diagnosed with SSI after discharge required readmission. Conclusions A diagnosis of SSI after discharge is associated with a high readmission rate despite occurring in healthier patients. We propose discharge teaching improvements and a wound surveillance clinic within the first week may result in a decreased readmission rate.
Intestinal interaction of bile acids phospholipids, dietary fibers, and cholestyramine

Binding of bile acids and phospholipids to a number of dietary fibers and cholestyramine (CH) within the small intestine was determined. The fibers used were cellulose, wheat bran, oat bran, guar gum (GG), and lignin (LG). GG, LG, and CH bound significant quantities of bile acids. However, only the CH reduced the bile acid concentration within the aqueous phase of the intestinal contents. Significant phospholipid binding was found only with CH. None of the test substances significantly reduced the quantity of solubilized lipid. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the total quantity of bile acids and phospholipids in the aqueous phase of the intestinal contents was a significant predictor of the quantity of lipid solubilized within the contents (r2 = 0.67). The failure of GG and LG to significantly decrease the amount of solubilized lipid suggests that the hypocholesterolemic effect of these fibers is due more to their bile acid binding capacity than to an effect on lipid solubilization.
Sublimation of Ice Crystals

Abstract Recent experiments on the sublimation of single crystals of ice in an atmosphere of air indicate that the sublimation rate is diffusion limited and initially solid prismatic crystals evolve into time-independent shapes similar to confocal ellipses rotated about their major or minor axis (prolate or oblate spheroids). Step formation at crystal edges and vapor diffusion easily explain these observations.
Temperature emissivity separation: Estimation with a parameter affecting both the mean and variance of the observation

We consider a model for temperature-emissivity separation (TES) in hyperspectral image processing. The emissivity is modulated by both the black body function and the atmospheric downwelling. The interaction has made it difficult to extract both temperature and emissivity, since offsets in one can be compensated by the other. Working with only a single wavelength component, we propose here a model in which the downwelling is considered as a random variable (or vector). The emissivity thus contributes to both the variance and mean of the observations. This leads to a maximum likelihood estimator for the emissivity. We compute an expression for the bias of this estimator, and show how it can be used to produce an unbiased estimator. An estimator for the temperature is also given. These two estimators can be used iteratively, providing separation of the temperature and emissivity components.
Analysis of Multi-Story Building Frames

Analysis based on slope deflection theorem; applying statical equilibrium at each joint and in every story of frame gives as many equations as unknowns, but task of solving these equations is prohibitive; hence approximate methods converging rapidly toward accuracy are desirable.
Cracking Go

Many of the early computer-chess researchers hailed from the fields of psychology or artificial intelligence and believed that chess programs should mimic human thinking. Specifically, they wanted computers to examine only playing sequences that were meaningful according to some human reasoning process. In computer chess this policy, known as selective search, never really made progress. The reason is that humans are extremely good at recognizing patterns; it is one of the things that we do best. The article focuses on weiqi, an ancient Chinese board game, better known in the West by the Japanese name of Go, whose combinatorial complexity is many orders of magnitude greater than that of chess. Go is played on a board crisscrossed by 19 vertical and 19 horizontal lines whose 361 points of intersection constitute the playing field. The object is to conquer those intersection points.
TOPOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF METALS IN CARBON CAGES: ANALOGIES WITH ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY

Metals can interact with carbon cages in the following ways: (1) stable carbon cages (i.e., fullerenes) function as electronegative olefins in their exohedral η2 bonding to transition metals; (2) endohedral metallofullerenes with a highly electropositive lanthanide (Ln) inside the carbon cage can be considered to be ionic with lanthanide cations, Ln3+, and fullerene anions; (3) fullerenes too small for independent existence can be stabilized by internal covalent bonding to an endohedral metal atom using the central carbon atoms of pentagon triplets,i.e triquinacene, units, in complexes such as M@C28 (M=Ti, Zr, Hf, and U), derived from the tetrahedral fullerene C28; (4) metal atoms can occur as vertices of binary mixed metal-carbon cages in both early transition metal complexes of the types M14C13, M8C12, and M13C22 (e.g., M=Ti) and copper-carbon cages of the types Cu2n +1C2n + (n≤10), Cu7C8 +, Cu9C10 + and Cu12C12 +. The presence of metal atoms as vertices of carbon cages changes radically their stoichiometries and thus their structures. Thus, early transition metals form cages such as Ti14C13 assumed to have titanium atoms at the vertices and face midpoints of a 3×3×3 cube and carbon atoms at the edge midpoints and center of the cube and Ti13C22 assumed to have titanium atoms at the edge midpoints and center of a 3×3×3 cube as well as C2 units and carbon atoms at the vertices and face midpoints, respectively, of the cube. Elimination of the face metal atoms from the Ti14C13 structure as well as the center carbon atom, which has been achieved experimentally by photofragmentation, leads to the Ti8C12 cluster. The structure of this cluster is based on a tetracapped tetrahedron withT d symmetry with two distinct quartets of titanium atoms, six distinct C2 pairs, and 36 direct Ti−C interactions. The copper-carbon cages of various stoichiometries are suggested to have prismatic, antiprismatic, or cuboctahedral structures in which the electronic configurations of the copper atoms approach the favored 18-electron rare gas configuration.
In Vitro Culture and Chemotherapy Sensitivity Testing of Human Transitional Cell Carcinoma

In vitro chemotherapy sensitivity testing for transitional cell carcinoma and other urologic malignancies is an exciting research tool of great future promise. It is not yet an established clinical test of proved value for patients with genitourinary malignancies.
Source Tracking of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Contamination in the Lairage Environment at Commercial U.S. Beef Processing Plants and Identification of an Effective Intervention

Transportation from the feedlot and lairage at the processing plant have been identified as potential sources of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella hide contamination. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive tracking analysis of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella associated with beef cattle from the feedlot through processing. Cattle (n = 581) were sampled in a feedlot, then transported in multiple lots to three commercial, fed beef processing plants in the United States, where they were sampled again. Samples were collected from the tractor trailers prior to loading cattle and from the lairage environment spaces prior to entry of the study cattle. Pathogen prevalence on cattle hides increased on every lot of cattle between exiting the feedlot and beginning processing. Prior to loading cattle, E. coli O157:H7 was found in 9 (64%) of 14 tractor trailers. E. coli O157:H7 was detected in over 60% of the samples from each lairage environment area, while Salmonella was detected in over 70% ...
Parenteral Nutrition and Infection Risk in the Intensive Care Unit A Practical Guide for the Bedside Clinician

The safety of parenteral nutrition (PN) administration in critically ill patients has been the subject of much controversy. Historically, PN administration has been associated with an increased risk of bacterial and fungal infections, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Much of the data showing increased infectious complications compared with either no nutrition or enteral nutrition was derived from early studies conducted in the 1980s-2000s. Poor glucose control and hyperalimentation are confounding factors in many early studies, making it difficult to determine the true PN infection risks. While PN studies conducted during the past 10 years have failed to show the same infection rates, these risks continue to be cited as dogma. Potential reasons for such discordant results include improved glycemic control, avoidance of overfeeding, and improved sterility and central venous catheter care. Understanding the true infectious risk of PN administration in the intensive care unit is necessary to optimize patient care, as inappropriately withholding such nutrition is potentially deleterious. This review is meant to serve as a practical guide to the bedside clinician who is evaluating the risks and benefits of initiating PN in a critically ill patient. Each component of PN will be evaluated based on risk of infection, and the potential ways to mitigate risks will be discussed.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Associated with Intracranial Hemorrhage and Timing of Anticoagulation after Hemicraniectomy

Background Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cerebrovascular event that can present with headache, seizure, and focal neurological deficits. Approximately 30%-40% of patients with CVT also present with intracranial hemorrhage. Current guidelines recommend anticoagulation after CVT even in the setting of intracranial hemorrhage, but the timing of initiation is unclear. We present a case of CVT where timing of anticoagulation was unclear by current guidelines. Methods We conducted a literature search with search terms of "cerebral venous thrombosis," "intracranial hemorrhage," and "anticoagulation." Abstracted information included anticoagulation status and time of initiation of anticoagulation. We present a 30-year-old woman with sudden onset of right hemiplegia, global aphasia, and new-onset seizures diagnosed with left transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The patient was treated with endovascular thrombectomy and decompressive hemicraniectomy due to hemorrhage expansion, and anticoagulation was restarted 8 days after hemicraniectomy. Results The literature review demonstrated a wide variation of timing for anticoagulation initiation in patients with CVT and intracranial hemorrhage. Most started anticoagulation within 24 hours of admission with similar functional neurological recovery. Current guidelines on the treatment of CVT, even with intracranial hemorrhage, recommend anticoagulation. Most reports in the literature state initiation of anticoagulation within 24 hours. However, the literature does not definitively state when to initiate anticoagulation in a patient with CVT, intracranial hemorrhage, thrombectomy, and decompressive hemicraniectomy. Conclusion This case illustrates the challenge of determining when to resume anticoagulation for CVT.
Podocyte Injury: The Role of Proteinuria, Urinary Plasminogen and Oxidative Stress.

Podocytes are the key target for injury in proteinuric glomerular diseases that result in podocyte loss, progressive focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), and renal failure. Current evidence suggests that the initiation of podocyte injury and associated proteinuria can be separated from factors that drive and maintain these pathogenic processes leading to FSGS. In nephrotic urine aberrant glomerular filtration of plasminogen (Plg) is activated to the biologically active serine protease plasmin by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). In vivo inhibition of uPA mitigates Plg activation and development of FSGS in several proteinuric models of renal disease including 5/6 nephrectomy. Here, we show that Plg is markedly increased in the urine in two murine models of proteinuric kidney disease associated with podocyte injury: Tg26 HIV-associated nephropathy and the Cd2ap-/- model of FSGS. We show that human podocytes express uPA and three Plg receptors: uPAR, tPA, and Plg-RKT. We demonstrate that Plg treatment of podocytes specifically upregulates NADPH oxidase isoforms NOX2/NOX4 and increases production of mitochondrial-dependent superoxide anion (O2-) that promotes endothelin-1 synthesis. Plg via O2- also promotes expression of the B scavenger receptor CD36 and subsequent increased intracellular cholesterol uptake resulting in podocyte apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that following disruption of the glomerular filtration barrier at the onset of proteinuric disease, podocytes are exposed to Plg resulting in further injury mediated by oxidative stress. We suggest that chronic exposure to Plg could serve as a "second hit" in glomerular disease and that Plg is potentially an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
Abstract 1778: A comparison study of the disparities of cervical cancer excess mortality between Black and Caucasian women in Alabama and the US

Background: The main purpose of this study was to assess the disparity of cervical cancer (CerCancer) mortality rates change through time between Black and Caucasian women residing in Alabama and the US. Methods: The CerCancer behavioral risk factors and utilization of screening tests data were obtained from CDC9s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database. Baseline data and target objectives of utilization of CerCancer screening and mortality rates were obtained from Healthy People 2020. The CerCancer mortality rates data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Mortality rates, percentage difference, percentage change and annual percentage change for trends were calculated and compared with the US baseline. Data were stratified by age, gender, race, and geography, using SEER*Stat version 8.4.1 in conjunction with Linear Trendlines analysis to model the racial changes of CerCancer mortality rates through time in Alabama and the US. Results: Our results depicted in general, that although Blacks had higher CerCancer mortality rates at all times, a decreasing trend in CerCancer mortality rates was noted for both races. However, the degree of disparities in mortality rates fluctuated over time and differed by age. In Alabama, Blacks aged 65 years and older have not experienced significant decline in CerCancer mortality rates in recent years, despite a high screening rate compared to Whites. In contrast, between 2002 and 2012, Whites in Alabama and the US made a significant progress toward the Healthy People 2020 goal. Conclusions: Conclusively in Alabama, a disparity still exists for the high CerCancer mortality rates in Blacks despite the higher rates of screening for CerCaner as would otherwise be expected. Additionally, the state has not yet achieved the Healthy People 2020 goal. Thus, although the gap in mortality rates in Alabama has narrowed, however the disparity remains, but if the dismal narrowing is sustained, it will reduce the racial disparities in CerCancer mortality though at a very slow rate. Therefore, Public health officials should monitor progress toward reduction and/or elimination of these disparities. Citation Format: Ehsan M. Abdalla. A comparison study of the disparities of cervical cancer excess mortality between Black and Caucasian women in Alabama and the US. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1778.
Baseband Demodulator for DPSK

A simple baseband demodulator that does not require use of the arc-tangent function is presented for demodulation of Differential Phase Shift Keyed (DPSK) signals. Performance is compared to the conventional non-baseband approach. The technique presented is shown not to have the severe sensitivity to delay variations that renders the conventional approach unusable in many hardware applications. Simulations and analysis show the performance as a function of E b /N o and Doppler.
The role of specialists in financial reporting: Evidence from pension accounting

The increasing use in financial reporting of estimates prepared by specialists has raised questions on the role these specialists play in financial reporting quality. In the setting of defined-benefit pension accounting—where the pension actuary is involved as a specialist—I examine whether pension sponsors with strong incentives to improve reported funding status pressure their actuaries for aggressive (obligation-reducing) assumptions. Among these sponsors, I find that those that are economically important clients of their actuaries use more aggressive discount rates than less important clients of the same actuary. Sponsors incentivized to inflate reported funding status but constrained from doing so also tend to seek out new actuaries. Discount rates become more aggressive after switches. These findings suggest that specialists are used to facilitate aggressive reporting. They also indicate that auditors—who are charged with evaluating specialists’ independence before relying on their work—may have difficulty implementing this guidance in practice.
The structure of mitochondrial membranes

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the structure of mitochondrial membranes. The mitochondrion is a closed sac bounded by a smooth outer membrane. Inside is a convoluted inner membrane separating two spaces: the outer, or intracristal, space and the inner, or matrix, space. The outer membrane is difficult to purify in quantity because it represents less than 10% of the total protein of the mitochondrion and because it is difficult to separate from the inner membrane because there appear to be areas of attachment between them. The properties of the outer membrane are not well defined. The inner membrane contains as much as 60% of the total protein of the mitochondrion. It is the seat of the electron transfer components and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-synthesizing enzymes. To understand the oxidative phosphorylation, the inner membrane has been the subject of intensive investigation and the composition and some of the structural parameters of this membrane have been defined.
Winter storms drive rapid phenotypic, regulatory, and genomic shifts in the green anole lizard.

Extreme environmental perturbations offer opportunities to observe the effects of natural selection in wild populations. During the winter of 2013–2014, the southeastern United States endured an extreme cold event. We used thermal performance, transcriptomics, and genome scans to measure responses of lizard populations to storm-induced selection. We found significant increases in cold tolerance at the species’ southern limit. Gene expression in southern survivors shifted toward patterns characteristic of northern populations. Comparing samples before and after the extreme winter, 14 genomic regions were differentiated in the surviving southern population; four also exhibited signatures of local adaptation across the latitudinal gradient and implicate genes involved in nervous system function. Together, our results suggest that extreme winter events can rapidly produce strong selection on natural populations at multiple biological levels that recapitulate geographic patterns of local adaptation.
Critical Heat Flux Enhancement Using Local Tangential Flow Injection

In this study, the critical heat flux (CHF) in subcooled flow of Freon-113 through short vertical tubes has been investigated. In addition, the concept of local tangential flow injection has been studied as a means of CHF enhancement. The data without tangential injection (axial flow) indicate that there is an effect of heated length in the limit of very short tubes. The CHF data obtained with tangential injection show as much as 67% enhancement in CHF over axial flow data at the same conditions. In addition, it has been shown that local tangential injection could be utilized in non-uniform heating situations.
Study of the dynamic interaction between planetary vehicles and planets soft soil

This paper examines expanding the range of manoeuvrability, ease of motion and improving the mobility system of Mars rovers. The focus of the research is on the enhancement of rover's speed and mobility under numerous constraints imposed by rugged and difficult-to-navigate terrains that include abrupt change of ground level, soft soil, obstacles and rocks. The article presents a study and simulation of the dynamic response of a free fall of a quarter vehicle model with rigid wheel on a soft soil. A simplified form of Bekker's equation is incorporated in the numerical solution of the governing equations of motion. The response of the dynamic interaction of rigid wheel and soft soil has three stages: sinkage stage, equilibrium stage and pullout from soil stage. The rigid body mode of the dynamic response is required to let the sprung mass pullout the rigid wheel from soft soil. The simulation results demonstrate that the first three stages of the first fall are the most significant. They have larger sinkage, larger resistance force and larger amplitude of dynamic response. The existence of damping reduces the magnitudes and prevents the unsprung mass from pulling out the wheel from the soil. The normal force on the rigid wheel for this case can be approximated and replaced by a triangle-shaped distribution. The simulations results conform to the theoretical counterparts.
Oceanic and atmospheric conditions associated with the pentad rainfall over the southeastern peninsular India during the North-East Indian Monsoon season

Abstract The association of North-East Indian Monsoon rainfall (NEIMR) over the southeastern peninsular India with the oceanic and atmospheric conditions over the adjacent ocean regions at pentad time step (five days period) was investigated during the months of October to December for the period 1985–2014. The non-parametric correlation and composite analyses were carried out for the simultaneous and lagged time steps (up to four lags) of oceanic and atmospheric variables with pentad NEIMR. The results indicated that NEIMR was significantly correlated: 1) positively with both sea surface temperature (SST) led by 1–4 pentads (lag 1–4 time steps) and latent heat flux (LHF) during the simultaneous, lag 1 and 2 time steps over the equatorial western Indian Ocean, 2) positively with SST but negatively with LHF (less heat flux from ocean to atmosphere) during the same and all the lagged time steps over the Bay of Bengal. Consistently, during the wet NEIMR pentads over the southeastern peninsular India, SST significantly increased over the Bay of Bengal during all the time steps and the equatorial western Indian Ocean during the lag 2–4 time steps, while the LHF decreased over the Bay of Bengal (all time steps) and increased over the Indian Ocean (same, lag 1 and 2). The investigation on ocean-atmospheric interaction revealed that the enhanced LHF over the equatorial western Indian Ocean was related to increased atmospheric moisture demand and increased wind speed, whereas the reduced LHF over the Bay of Bengal was associated with decreased atmospheric moisture demand and decreased wind speed. The vertically integrated moisture flux and moisture transport vectors from 1000 to 850 hPa exhibited that the moisture was carried away from the equatorial western Indian Ocean to the strong moisture convergence regions of the Bay of Bengal during the same and lag 1 time steps of wet NEIMR pentads. Further, the moisture over the Bay of Bengal was transported to the southeastern peninsular India through stronger cyclonic circulations, which were confirmed by the moisture transport vectors and positive vorticity. The identified ocean and atmosphere processes, associated with the wet NEIMR conditions, could be a valuable scientific input for enhancing the rainfall predictability, which has a huge socioeconomic value to agriculture and water resource management sectors in the southeastern peninsular India.
Mutation accumulation is still potentially problematic, despite declining paternal age: a comment on Arslan et al. (2017).

Arslan et al . [1] found that paternal age negatively predicts offspring survival and reproductive success in four Western populations (three ‘historical’ and one ‘modern’, i.e. from the twentieth century) even after implementing controls for relevant covariates. The authors believe that this finding indicates that ‘purifying selection is still effective’ in at least one modernized population, and conclude that they ‘do not predict that contemporary reproductive timing will lead to unprecedented or unbearable de novo mutation loads and concomitant changes in the prevalence of genetic disorders' (p. 8), especially in light of the observation that average parental age has decreased over time, diminishing the number of deleterious de novo mutations added to the genomes of each new generation. We contend that negative selection acting on the relative fitness costs of mutations may be insufficient to prevent mutation accumulation in modernized populations and that the possibility of problematic increases in mutation load ought to be reconsidered. Simulations indicate that considerably less reproductive failure (possibly as little as 20% per generation [2]) is needed to remove variants from populations under the assumption of selection based on relative fitness differentials (i.e. where the fitness costs of a given variant are estimated relative to the fitness of other genomes with different mutation loads) compared to absolute fitness differentials (i.e. where the fitness costs are estimated relative to a hypothetical mutation-free genome). On the assumption of absolute fitness differentials and given observed human de novo mutation rates, 88% of individuals must fail to reproduce, and an average fertility rate of 16 babies per woman in the reproducing fraction is required to purify a population of deleterious variants. This yields the mutation load paradox , or the incongruity between the high reproductive failure rate apparently required for population purification and the low …
The Fifth Spectrum of Praseodymium.

Twelve spectral lines of quadruply-ionized praseodymium in the region 840 to 2250 A are reported. Five terms (4f2F, 5d2D, 6s 2S, 6p2P, and Is2S) and the hyperfine splitting of the 6s 2S term are given. A calculation of the principal ionization energy (Pr4+ → Pr5+) leads to a value of 57.44 eV with an estimated uncertainty of ±0.05 eV.
Revisiting sources of left-handedness in multiple-birth individuals.

Multiple births have been celebrated by many couples, yet they pose moderate to severe physical hazards to both mothers and infants, one being infants’ lower birthweight relative to nontwins. Low birthweight, often linked to premature birth, is a recognized risk factor for a range of developmental delays known to be more prevalent among twins and other multiples than singletons (1). The extent to which birthweight is associated with left-handedness and other developmental sequelae in triplets from Japan and The Netherlands is the focus of a recent study by Heikkila et al. (2). Given the long-standing debates surrounding factors affecting handedness in multiple-birth individuals, as well as the expanding multiple-birth population, a fresh look at the origins and implications of left-handedness in triplets is both welcome and timely. The availability of extensive twin and triplet registries in Japan and The Netherlands enabled the researchers to complete the largest study to date addressing associations between birthweight and left-handedness in multiple-birth individuals. Triplets in Japan were additionally recruited from mothers of twins organizations and referrals from public health professionals. In both samples mothers completed mailed questionnaires requesting information about their children’s handedness (right, left, or ambidextrous), although some triplets provided this information at age 14 y. Note that ambidextrous individuals were excluded from the analyses, although in some previous studies they have been grouped together with left-handers (3). The writing hand is a reliable index of hand preference, although the reliance on self-reporting and the inability to assess the extent to which degree of handedness is a meaningful factor in early and later development are possible caveats recognized by the authors. For example, a recent book presented the life histories and research findings on doubly switched-at-birth monozygotic (MZ) male twins from Colombia, South America, among them results from a standard handedness questionnaire. It … [↵][1]1Email: nsegal{at}fullerton.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Structure-Activity Correlations of Natural Products with Anti-HIV Activity

The search for safe and effective therapies to treat infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and related opportunistic infections (OI’s) are among the highest priorities of the National Institutes of Health. The Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports rational drug design and targeted drug discovery for HIV and the OI’s through investigator-initiated research grants including the National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group programs.
Influence of roughage source on kinetics of digestion and passage, and on calculated extents of ruminal digestion in beef steers fed 65% concentrate diets.

Roughage sources were compared in flaked milo-based diets that contained 35% chopped alfalfa hay (AH, control diet) or with cottonseed hulls (CSH) or chopped wheat straw (WS) replacing half the AH. Latin square experiments were used to measure total tract digestion coefficients, particulate passage rates (rare earths), liquid turnover rates (Co-EDTA), and rumination time in six growing steers (Exp. 1) and in situ digestion of DM and NDF, ruminal pH and ruminal DM distribution in three mature, ruminally cannulated steers (Exp. 2). Rates of passage from Exp. 1 and rates and extents of digestion from Exp. 2 were used to calculate apparent extent of ruminal digestion (AED). In Exp. 1, total tract digestibilities of DM and NDF were lower (P less than .05) by 7 and 22%, respectively, when CSH, but not WS, were included in the diet. Digestibility of cell solubles was not different (P greater than .10) among diets. Inclusion of WS increased (P less than .10) rumination time by 36%, and CSH increased intake (P less than .10) by 17% over the control diet. In Exp. 2, there tended to be (P less than .20) increased in situ digestion of milo and AH in the WS diet. Measures of ruminal pH were similar for all diets. The AED for AH and milo DM and NDF, and the proportion of total tract NDF digestion occurring in the rumen (50, 47 and 62% for control, CSH and WS diets, respectively), were highest (P less than .05) for the WS diet. This resulted in similar total tract digestibilities for the WS and AH diets. The two low-digestibility roughages had different effects at this concentrate level; wheat straw enhanced apparent extent of ruminal digestion for NDF of other ingredients in the mixed diets, but cottonseed hulls did not.
Effect of an Electronic Alert on Targeted HIV Testing Among High-Risk Populations.

CONTEXT Screening for HIV infection in medical settings remains suboptimal. OBJECTIVE To examine the real-world effectiveness of an electronic clinician alert on the same-day HIV testing rate and early diagnosis in high-risk populations. DESIGN We identified Kaiser Permanente Southern California Health Plan members aged 14 years or older who received tests for sexually transmitted infections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Encounter-based same-day HIV testing rate, positive test result rate, and CD4+ cell count and HIV viral load at diagnosis. RESULTS We identified 1,800,948 patients who made 2,326,701 health care encounters eligible for HIV testing before implementation (January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012) and 1,362,479 eligible encounters after implementation (January 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015). The same-day HIV testing rate increased from 36.7% to 44.1% (standardized mean difference = 0.15, significant difference). The alert was associated with a moderate difference and statistically significant increase in the HIV testing rate (adjusted odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.16-1.18). The positive test result rate increased from 0.02% to 0.04% (p < 0.001). During the postimplementation period, fewer HIV-infected patients had a CD4+ cell count below 200 and/or an HIV viral load of 10,000 copies/mL or higher at diagnosis. CONCLUSION Implementation of a targeted electronic alert embedded in the electronic medical record improved same-day HIV screening rate and positive test result rates among patients receiving tests for sexually transmitted infections in a large health organization. This intervention has potential for facilitating frequent screening and early identification of HIV infection in high-risk populations.
Onderzoek naar nieuw dieet bij DM II

Leefstijlinterventie is de eerste stap in de behandeling van diabetes, maar de huidige adviezen blijken vaak niet toereikend om progressie van de aandoening te voorkomen. Daarom is in Leiden een onderzoek gestart naar een nieuwe interventie, het ‘fasting mimicking diet’.
Distribution and status of mule deer (odocoileus hemionus) in oklahoma: an updated analysis of harvest data

Although the species is not actively managed in the state, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation does collect and archive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) annual harvest data through mandatory hunter self-reporting of killed deer. We analyzed harvest records in an attempt to update the distribution and abundance of mule deer in the state and to infer population trends for years 2009–2016. In total, we recorded 1,585 mule deer over this time, and abundance of mule deer harvests consistently followed a northwest-to-southeast gradient, with the highest abundance occurring in the Oklahoma Panhandle. However, mule deer abundance in the state is low (<1 individual/km2). Results here suggest Oklahoma's mule deer population is stable, especially in the panhandle. In addition, we detected a significant, although weak, correlation with precipitation, with harvests decreasing with decreased precipitation.
Open versus minimally invasive TLIF: literature review and meta-analysis

This study is a comparative, literature review. The aim of this study is to provide a comparative analysis of open vs. minimally invasive TLIF using a literature review and a meta-analysis. Lumbar interbody fusion is a well-established surgical procedure for treating several spinal disorders. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) was initially introduced in the early 1980s. To reduce approach-related morbidity associated with traditional open TLIF (OTLIF), minimally invasive TLIF (MITLIF) was developed. We aimed to provide a comparative analysis of open vs. minimally invasive TLIF using a literature review. We searched the online database PubMed (2005–2017), which yielded an initial 194 studies. We first searched the articles’ abstracts. Based on our inclusion criteria, we excluded 162 studies and included 32 studies: 18 prospective, 13 retrospective, and a single randomized controlled trial. Operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, radiation exposure time, complication rate, and pain scores (visual analogue scale, Oswestry Disability Index) for both techniques were recorded and presented as means. We then performed a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis for all outcomes showed reduced blood loss (P < 0.00001) and length of hospital stay (P < 0.00001) for MITLIF compared with OTLIF, but with increased radiation exposure time with MITLIF (P < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in operative time between techniques (P = 0.78). The complication rate was lower with MITLIF (11.3%) vs. OTLIF (14.2%), but not statistically significantly different (P = 0.05). No significant differences were found in visual analogue scores (back and leg) and Oswestry Disability Index scores between techniques, at the final follow-up. MITLIF and OTLIF provide equivalent long-term clinical outcomes. MITLIF had less tissue injury, blood loss, and length of hospital stay. MITLIF is also a safe alternative in obese patients and, in experienced hands, can also be used safely in select cases of spondylodiscitis even with epidural abscess. MITLIF is also a cost-saving procedure associated with reduced hospital and social costs. Long-term studies are required to better evaluate controversial items such as operative time.
CNS penetration and preliminary efficacy of sacutizumab govitecan in breast brain metastasis and glioblastoma: A surgical study

Abstract Background Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) that targets Trop-2 for the selective delivery of SN-38 to tumors. SG carries SN-38, a topoisomerase inhibitor active in the nanomolar range for most cells (including TNBC and GBM) and freely cross the blood brain barrier. SN-38 is conjugated to SG by a linker designated CL2A which is sensitive to acidic and conditions. SG was evaluated in a single-arm, multicenter trial with relapsed/refractory metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with impressive results including a confirmed objective response rate of 30%, with responses occurring early (median onset of 1.9 months) and being durable (median duration 8.9m). SG has since been granted priority review designation by the FDA, with approval anticipated. Brain metastases is a significant concern in this patient population, but whether this agent is able to target the CNS through the blood brain barrier is unknown. Based upon the characteristics of this specific ADC, including the use of a pH labile linker and a payload with good CNS penetration, it is our specific hypothesis that the SG can achieve intratumoral concentrations of SN-38 sufficient to achieve therapeutic benefit in patients with neoplastic involvement of the brain. We further hypothesize that while total concentration of SN-38 will correlate with expression of trop2, free SN-38 will correlate more strongly with intratumoral hypoxia. Trial design Single center, non-randomized, prospective study of SG in subjects with CNS involvement and planned surgical resection. SG is given as single dose at 10mg/kg administered pre-operatively on Day-1. Surgery will be followed by post-operative treatment with sacituzumab govitecan given intravenously with standard dose of 10 mg/kg on day1 and day 8 of 21-day cycle, until disease progression. Approximately 20 patients, 2 cohorts of 10 patients each with GBM and breast brain tumors from TNBC.Tumors will be analyszed for total antibody (hRS7 + hRS7-SN-38), free SN-38, and total SN-38 (free SN-38 + hRS7-SN-38) concentrations in tumor tissue. Correlations will be made to Trop2 expression and hypoxia. Legal entity responsible for the study University of Texas Health San Antonio. Funding Mays Cancer Center, Kolitz Endowment. Disclosure A.J. Brenner: Research grant / Funding (institution): Immunomedics. V. Kaklamani: Research grant / Funding (institution): Immunomedics. V. Madhusudanan-Kunnuparampil: Research grant / Funding (institution): Immunomedics. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Negative Research: Sonic Methods in Geography and Their Limits

Sound has received much attention from human geographers in recent years. This article opens a debate around the growing body of work on sound as a research method. Sonic methods have largely emerg...
LED Area Lighting to Reduce Glare for Roof Bolter Operators

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a light-emitting diode (LED) area luminaire called the Saturn and conducted a laboratory study using a Fletcher High Dual-boom Mast Feed (HDDR) roof bolting machine. The Saturn luminaire was designed to (1) enhance floor illumination to enable better detection of trip hazards in the interior spaces of a roof bolter and (2) reduce glare that has typically been an issue of concern on roof bolters. This paper reports on the results of achieving the second objective. The existing roof bolter lighting was the baseline and was compared with three versions of the Saturn luminaire relative to light intensity (100%, 75%, and 50%). Discomfort and disability glare data were obtained from 30 participants that comprised three age groups. Discomfort glare perceptions were obtained using the De Boer rating scale, and disability glare was quantified by using Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity tests. Discomfort glare was reduced at least 3 levels with all Saturn versions. Also, a predictive model was used to estimate discomfort glare, and the results were similar. Disability glare was the least for the Saturn’s 50% intensity, and all Saturn versions had significantly less disability glare than with the baseline lighting. Veiling luminance was calculated and used as another indicator of disability glare. Veiling luminance was 28 to 42 times greater with the baseline lighting as compared with that of the Saturn lighting. Lastly, visibility levels were calculated. The Saturn versions were 4 to 6.5 times better in terms of visibility level.
Evaluation of the combined treatment of ultraviolet light and peracetic acid as an alternative to chlorine washing for lettuce decontamination.

Abstract The potential of using ultraviolet light (UV) in combination of peracetic acid (PAA) as an alternative to chlorine washing for lettuce was evaluated. Shredded iceberg lettuce was dip-inoculated with a four-strain Salmonella cocktail to final levels of 6–7.5 log CFU/g, following by air-drying and overnight cold storage. The inoculated lettuce (80 g) was then washed in turbid tap water containing 6% lettuce juice extract and silicon dioxide (turbidity of ~60 NTU; COD of ~2000 mg/L) while being treated with 1) 10 or 20 ppm free chlorine, 2) PAA solution (40 and 80 ppm), 3) UV (10, 20 and 30 mW/cm2), 4) a combination of UV and PAA for 1, 2, and 5 min. Among all the single treatments, the 30 mW/cm2 UV treatment achieved the highest Salmonella reduction on lettuce. For the 2-min treatment group, the 30 mW/cm2 UV treatment achieved 1.98 log reduction, while the 80 ppm PAA and 20 ppm free chlorine resulted in 1.52 and 1.23 log reduction, respectively. The combined treatment of 30 mW/cm2 UV and 80 ppm PAA achieved significantly higher (P
Development of MDSC - CD11b tracer for immune PET imaging in glioblastoma model

1035 Introduction: Malignant gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumor with over 12,000 newly diagnosed cases each year in the United States. As up to 30% of a glioma cellular mass may be attributed to immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), these cells represent a highly attractive therapeutic target.1-3Multiple preclinical and clinical trials have attempted to target these cells, however monitoring of biologic responses to therapy remains a challenge. Quantifying TAMs and MDSCs at the tumor site using non-invasive immunoPET could improve therapeutic response and allow for better patient stratification and monitoring of targeted treatment responses. The cell surface marker, CD11b (Mac-1, αMβ2) which is theα subunit of the predominant β subunit CD18, is highly expressed on MDSCs and TAMs and may be a highly effective imaging target for immunoPET strategies. Methods: The human/mouse cross-reactive anti-CD11b antibody (clone M1/70) was conjugated with p-NCS-Bz-DFO chelator and radiolabeled with 89Zr for PET imaging with specific activity of 2 µCi/µg. PET/CT imaging, with or without a blocking dose of anti-CD11b Ab, was performed in mice bearing established orthotopic syngeneic GL261 gliomas. Flow cytometry and histology in tissues collected from post-imaging biodistribution validated targeting of CD11b+ MDSCs and TAMs. Results: There was significant Zr-89-anti-CD11b Ab uptake in the tumor ipsilateral right brain (SUVmean = 2.6 ± 0.24) compared to contralateral left brain (SUVmean = 0.6 ± 0.11). Blocking with 10-fold lower specific activity 89Zr-anti-CD11b Ab reduced the SUV in right brain with (SUVmean = 0.11 ± 0.06). Spleen and lymph nodes showed high uptake, while bone and muscle uptake were low. These results correlated with biodistribution analysis. CD11b expression in the right and left brain were validated using flow cytometry, H&E and IHC, showing high CD11b expression in the right brain compared to left brain. Conclusions: Imaging TAMs and MDSCs with 89Zr-labeled anti-CD11b Ab targeting was validated in a mouse model of malignant gliomas, demonstrating the feasibility of monitoring immune response during immunotherapy.
Can Facial Pose and Expression Be Separated With Weak Perspective Camera

Separating facial pose and expression within images requires a camera model for 3D-to-2D mapping. The weak perspective (WP) camera has been the most popular choice; it is the default, if not the only option, in state-of-the-art facial analysis methods and software. WP camera is justified by the supposition that its errors are negligible when the subjects are relatively far from the camera, yet this claim has never been tested despite nearly 20 years of research. This paper critically examines the suitability of WP camera for separating facial pose and expression. First, we theoretically show that WP causes pose-expression ambiguity, as it leads to estimation of spurious expressions. Next, we experimentally quantify the magnitude of spurious expressions. Finally, we test whether spurious expressions have detrimental effects on a common facial analysis application, namely Action Unit (AU) detection. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that severe pose-expression ambiguity exists even when subjects are not close to the camera, leading to large false positive rates in AU detection. We also demonstrate that the magnitude and characteristics of spurious expressions depend on the point distribution model used to model the expressions. Our results suggest that common assumptions about WP need to be revisited in facial expression modeling, and that facial analysis software should encourage and facilitate the use of the true camera model whenever possible.
Direct Micro-Pin Jet Impingement Cooling for High Heat Flux Applications

This study explores the heat transfer from directly manufactured micro-pins undergoing in jet impingement. Micro-pins that are directly attached to the chip eliminate the need for thermal interfaces, and the lids that exist in conventional electronic packages, while also occupying a smaller areal footprint. In this study, the effects of different outlet port positions and pin cross-sections and profiles are examined through simulations. Results from the study show that the outlet port position has a significant effect on hydraulic and thermal resistances. Also, by modifying the height and profile of the pins, a 47% reduction in pressure drop was achieved without sacrificing the thermal performance.