cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wireless, Web-Based Interactive Control of Optical Coherence Tomography with Mobile Devices.

Purpose Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is widely used in ophthalmology clinics and has potential for more general medical settings and remote diagnostics. In anticipation of remote applications, we developed wireless interactive control of an OCT system using mobile devices. Methods A web-based user interface (WebUI) was developed to interact with a handheld OCT system. The WebUI consisted of key OCT displays and controls ported to a webpage using HTML and JavaScript. Client-server relationships were created between the WebUI and the OCT system computer. The WebUI was accessed on a cellular phone mounted to the handheld OCT probe to wirelessly control the OCT system. Twenty subjects were imaged using the WebUI to assess the system. System latency was measured using different connection types (wireless 802.11n only, wireless to remote virtual private network [VPN], and cellular). Results Using a cellular phone, the WebUI was successfully used to capture posterior eye OCT images in all subjects. Simultaneous interactivity by a remote user on a laptop was also demonstrated. On average, use of the WebUI added only 58, 95, and 170 ms to the system latency using wireless only, wireless to VPN, and cellular connections, respectively. Qualitatively, operator usage was not affected. Conclusions Using a WebUI, we demonstrated wireless and remote control of an OCT system with mobile devices. Translational relevance The web and open source software tools used in this project make it possible for any mobile device to potentially control an OCT system through a WebUI. This platform can be a basis for remote, teleophthalmology applications using OCT.
Alone and adrift: The association between mass school shootings, school size, and student support

Abstract Background School shootings have approached epidemic levels in recent years. While mental illness is undoubtedly involved in nearly all cases of mass school violence, we sought to determine how environmental context may exacerbate preexisting personal factors. The present study investigated the associations between mass school shootings, school enrollment size, student–teacher ratios, and student transitions. Method Our sample consisted of twenty-two mass school shooting cases between January 1995 and June 2014. Information about school shootings was gathered using preexisting school shooting databases and news media reports. Using state and national databases, data regarding school size and student–teacher ratios of incident schools were collected. Information about schools where shooters previously attended, as well as state average school statistics, were also obtained. Findings Schools where mass shootings occurred had significantly higher enrollments than their state average counterparts. Additionally, students who committed a mass school shooting were significantly more likely to have previously attended a school with a smaller student body and/or a lower than state average student–teacher ratio. Conclusion Our findings are consistent with previous literature indicating that smaller schools are less likely to experience acts of mass violence. Additionally, our results suggest that transitioning from a smaller, more supportive school to a larger, more anonymous school may exacerbate preexisting mental health issues among potential school shooters. The results of this study have significant implications for educational policy reform.
A terahertz ring hybrid coupler based on parallel plate dielectric waveguide with signal line for a ballistic deflection transistor travelling wave amplifier

In this paper, a new design of Terahertz (THz) Ring Hybrid Coupler Based on Parallel Plate Dielectric Waveguide with Signal Line inserted (PPDWS) is proposed. The PPDWS is a simple transmission line, easy to fabricate, with a low average loss of 0.45dB/mm at 1–1.4THz, and designed to be implemented into the THz Ring Hybrid Coupler Design. We employ (3N+1.5)λ for the circumference of the Ring Hybrid Coupler for a fundamental mode of TE10. ANSYS HFSS simulations show S21=S41=−4.5dB, S31< −20dB, S11<-20dB at 1.022THz. We obtain an excellent isolation between split ports for signal transmission, and a very good signal cancellation on port3. The coupler and PPDWS line are planned for use in the Terahertz Ballistic Deflection Transistor Travelling Wave Amplifier; however, the design is also capable of being applied to other very high frequency applications.
Patterns of early life body mass index and childhood overweight and obesity status at eight years of age.

Excess weight gain in infancy and childhood is associated with increased risk of subsequent obesity. Identifying patterns of infancy and childhood weight gain associated with subsequent obesity or overweight status could help identify children at highest risk. Thus, we examined patterns of infancy and early childhood BMI in relation to mid-childhood overweight and obesity status. In a prospective cohort of 215 children from Cincinnati, OH (born: 2003–2006), we measured weight and length or height at ages 4 weeks and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 years. We calculated BMI z-scores using World Health Organization references. Using linear fixed effect models, we estimated mean BMI at each age and rates of change in BMI between ages 4 weeks and 5 years by children’s overweight and obesity status at age 8 years, assessed with BMI z-scores or bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). Children who became overweight (BMI, n = 51 and BIA, n = 37) or obese (BMI, n = 22 and BIA, n = 29) at age 8 years had greater BMI at all ages compared to normal weightchildren. Children who were overweight had similar rates of change in BMI as children who were lean. Children who were obese had greater gains in BMI between age 4 weeks and 5 years, with the most rapid gains in the first 2 years. Results from this study of modest sample size, suggest that adiposity patterns in the first 5 years of life are related to subsequent childhood overweight and obesity risk.
Food staple production and alternative development paths: India and China

ABSTRACTIn this paper, it is argued that structural change has been quite different in India as compared with China, with the former seeming to skip labor-intensive manufacturing while the latter fully exploiting this sector's potential for employment and growth. It is hypothesized that productivity growth in agriculture, particularly food staples, is a critical factor in explaining the differences in structural change. In China, rapid agricultural growth kept food cheap and thus labor inexpensive, fostering rapid growth in labor-intensive manufacturing. In India, sluggish agricultural growth and rising food costs meant that labor in India has become increasingly expensive and this has inhibited the development of labor-intensive manufacturing.
Viral exploitation and subversion of the immune system through chemokine mimicry

The chemokine superfamily of leukocyte chemo-attractants coordinates development and deploy-ment of the immune system by signaling through a family of G protein–coupled receptors. The importance of this system to antimicrobial host defense has been supported by the discovery of numerous herpesviruses and poxviruses that encode chemokine mimics able to block chemo-kine action. However, specific herpesviruses and lentiviruses can also exploit the immune system through chemokine mimicry, for example, to facilitate viral dissemination or, as in the case of HIV-1, to directly infect leukocyte target cells. The study of viral mimicry of chemokines and chemokine receptors is providing important new concepts in viral immunopathogenesis, new anti-inflammatory drug leads and new targets and concepts for antiviral drug and vaccine development.
13C NMR study of the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a widely used additive in oxygenated gasoline that has recently been identified as a potential health threat to the drinking water supply due to leaking underground storage tanks. One alternate use for MTBE is the production of methyl 2,2-dimethylpropanoate (methyl pivalate) via Koch carbonylation chemistry. BF3/H2O catalysts are employed in industrial applications of Koch chemistry, but cannot be used for direct ester production because the presence of water in the system leads to the formation of carboxylic acids and lowers the selectivity to esters. Therefore, a BF3/CH3OH complex was investigated for the carbonylation of MTBE to avoid this loss in selectivity. This study used 13C NMR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations to investigate this carbonylation reaction. NMR results and ab initio calculations suggest a structure for the BF3/CH3OH acid which is in agreement with previous studies, and a Hammett acidity value of -4.2 was calculated for BF3-2.19CH3OH using the Δδ method. It is believed that these are the first reported ab initio calculations on the BF3/CH3OH system. NMR results also show that MTBE begins to react between 50 °C and 75 °C to produce oligomers of isobutene when no CO is present and carbonylated species when CO is present.
On the Conditional Variance-Covariance of Stable Random Vectors, II

Under the assumption that X = (X 1, X 2) a (n 1 + n 2)-dimensional vector is strictly α-stable distributed, the conditional variance-covariance of X 2 given X 1 is expressed in terms of the spectral measure T. Moreover, if some additional assumptions on the vector X 1 are imposed such that the coordinates are statistically independent, then an additive expression for the conditional variance-covariance is found. A trigonometric unified method is presented for establishing these expressions.
COMBINED FLUID MECHANICS AND HEAT TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS IN NORMALLY IMPINGING SLOT JET FLOWS

ABSTRACT Flow field, surface pressure and heat transfer measurements of a submerged turbulent slot jet impingement flow at nozzle-to-surface spacings of 1 and 7 slot widths from the impingement surface are presented. Fluid mechanical data include laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) measurements of mean flow field, Reynolds averaged normal and shear stresses, and mean surface pressure and rms surface pressure fluctuation measurements along the nozzle minor axis. Detailed local heat transfer coefficients are calculated from surface temperature measurements performed using infrared (IR) thermography. The impingement region is seen to have a fairly high level of turbulence at the large nozzle-to-surface spacing. The peaks of mean and rms-averaged fluctuating surface pressure, and local heat transfer occur in the impingement region. At the close nozzle-to-surface spacing, the primary peak in heat transfer, which occurs in the impingement region, is followed by a region of local minimum, and a secondary peak, that occur at around 3.5 and 7.5 slot widths from the jet centerline, respectively. There is a good correlation between the locations of the secondary peak in heat transfer and peak near-wall streamwise turbulence. The peak mean surface pressure occurs in the impingement region; however, the rms-averaged surface pressure fluctuation profile exhibits a peak at the location of minimum heat transfer.
Incremental data allocation and reallocation in distributed database systems

In a distributed database system, an increase in workload typically necessitates the installation of additional database servers followed by the implementation of expensive data reorganization strategies. We present the Partial REALLOCATE and Full REALLOCATE heuristics for efficient data reallocation. Complexity is controlled and cost minimized by allowing only incremental introduction of servers into the distributed database system. Using first simple examples and then, a simulator, our framework for incremental growth and data reallocation in distributed database systems is shown to produce near optimal solutions when compared with exhaustive methods.
Can Life Be Meaningful without Free Will

If we lack deep free agency, like that supposed by metaphysical libertarianism, should we view life as meaningless, pointless, or not worth living? Here I present a new argument in support of meaning-compatibilism, or the view that life can indeed be meaningful without our having deep free agency. I show that this argument secures meaning-compatibilism more effectively than an argument provided by Derk Pereboom. In the process, we learn that Susan Wolf’s hybrid theory of meaning in life is not equipped to handle the question of meaning-compatibilism, which a broader approach to meaning in life should help us to grasp. On the alternative approach I present, judgments about meaning in life involve a sensitivity to whether giving up on life, or “agency defeat”, is justified. I argue that, so long as we are able to exist in reality, giving up on life is difficult to justify, and even without deep free agency, we do indeed exist in reality.
Oil-induced responses of cardiac and red muscle mitochondria in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).

Abstract Acute exposure to crude oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can severely impair cardiorespiratory function and swim performance of larval, juvenile and adult fish. Interestingly, recent work has documented an oil induced decoupling of swim performance (Ucrit) and maximum metabolic rate (MMR) whereby oil causes a decline in Ucrit without a parallel reduction in MMR. We hypothesize that this uncoupling is due to impaired mitochondrial function in swimming muscles that results in increased proton leak, and thus less ATP generated per unit oxygen. Using high resolution mitochondrial respirometry, we assessed 11 metrics of mitochondrial performance in red and cardiac muscle from permeabilized fibers isolated from red drum following control or 24 h crude oil (high energy water accommodated fractions) exposure. Two experimental series were performed, a Deepwater Horizon relevant low dose (29.6 ± 7.4 μg L−1 ∑PAH50) and a proof-of-concept high dose (64.5 ± 8.9 μg L−1 ∑PAH50). No effects were observed on any mitochondrial parameter in either tissue at the low oil dose; however, high dose exposure provided evidence of impairment in the OXPHOS respiratory control ratio and OXPHOS spare capacity in red muscle following oil exposure, as well as a shift from Complex I to Complex II during OXPHOS respiration. No effects of the high dose oil treatment were observed in cardiac muscle. As such, mitochondrial dysfunction is unlikely to be the underlying mechanism for decoupling of Ucrit and MMR following acute oil exposure in red drum. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction does not appear to be a relevant toxicological impairment in juvenile red drum with respect to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, although impairments may be observed under higher dose exposure scenarios.
Evaluating the standby power consumption of smart LED bulbs

Abstract There is an increasing demand for smart devices in recent years. One of the latest additions to the long list of these smart devices is the smart light-emitting diode (LED) light sources. They offer many additional features in addition to provide light. However, like all other smart devices, when they are turned off by the user through a smart device, they still consume energy. That standby power consumption, when the bulbs are off, soon becomes an increasing load to the grid. In this study, we investigated the current smart residential LED bulb market and selected three samples from 30 models that are available to Canadian consumers. We tested the standby power consumption of those samples by following the IEC 62301 standard. The results showed that the standby power consumption of 21 Smart LED bulb models (out of 30) was less than 0.5 W, which resembles the maximum allowable standby power consumption amount of a smart LED bulb, if the manufacturers intend to carry the Energy Star logo on their product. Although most products are not Energy Star rated, it is a promising result. We also found that the standby power consumption of the three bulb samples tested for each model was generally consistent (the standard deviation was less than 0.02). Only three models had one sample measured with a higher or lower consumption than the other two samples (highest difference 0.43 W, lowest difference: 0.06 W, standard deviation higher than 0.03). This internal consistency or standby power consumption amount in between samples are worrisome. Although our sample size was small, we believe that the findings from our study enabled to gather enough information to have a basic idea about the status of current standby power consumption of the smart LED bulbs in Canadian residential market
Comments on ‘Some methodological issues in biosurveillance’

Dr Fricker’s paper addresses the practical, multidisciplinary problem of biosurveillance. This field has seen numerous books and journal articles in the past 10 years and is still evolving as a science. Based on his own reading, research, and contacts with those in public health practice (PHP), the author presents his view of the status and needed direction of this field. The remarks below are intended to augment this view from another perspective. Perspective: Following a background in mathematics and 20 years of developing and evaluating detection systems in non-health-related disciplines, I have worked on biosurveillance systems since 2000 while acquiring knowledge in epidemiology and biostatistics related to public health. The recent years have been devoted to the design, development, and evaluation of ESSENCE biosurveillance systems and to consulting for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now my half-time employer. As a member since 2005 of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS), my role has been liaison to the ISDS Research Committee, which has an international roster of over 130 public health practitioners and academic, government, and industrial researchers. Dr Fricker’s remarks about the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration resonated with efforts over the past 2 years between the ISDS Research and PHP committees to promote research efforts with near-term PHP utility. These efforts have spawned several webinar and conference sessions, most notably a widely advertised and attended event entitled ‘Technical Challenges from the Public Health Practice Community’, whose recording and related products are freely available [1]. The remarks below are heavily influenced by the observations of PHP members from these events and by project-related contacts.
Other Peripheral Neuropathies

Peripheral neuropathies are a set of complex pain syndromes which cause neuropathic pain due to neuronal injury. Causes of peripheral neuropathy can include diabetes, medications, toxins, genetics, poor nutrition, and infection. Many peripheral neuropathies present with similar qualities of pain, yet underlying pathophysiology uniquely affects presentation and treatment modalities. This chapter focuses primarily on HIV related neuropathy, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with an additional focus upon several less common etiologies of peripheral neuropathic pain.
Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) exposure and risk of pancreatic cancer (PC): Meta-analysis.

e15755Background: PPIs are widely used in the treatment of various acid related disorders. Observational studies have raised concern about an association of PPI use and PC but findings have been in...
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Trade Shows: A Personal Selling Perspective

Little empirical research has been generated with respect to the effectiveness of trade shows. In order to advance our understanding in this area, a framework of trade show types is developed by co...
Patient-provider communication and decision making in palliative radiotherapy.

24Background: Patient-provider communication may impact patient satisfaction and engagement in decision-making. We aimed to understand patient preferences on radiation therapy (RT) discussions and ...
Exercise as a Treatment for Schizophrenia: A Review

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment in areas of attention, working memory, and executive functioning. Although no clear etiology of schizophrenia has been discovered, many factors have been identified that contribute to the development of the disease, such as neurotransmitter alterations, decreased synaptic plasticity, and diminished hippocampal volume. Historically, antipsychotic medications have targeted biochemical alterations in the brains of patients with schizophrenia but have been ineffective in alleviating cognitive and hippocampal deficits. Other modalities, such as exercise therapy, have been proposed as adjuvant or primary therapy options. Exercise therapy has been shown to improve positive and negative symptoms, quality of life, cognition, and hippocampal plasticity, and to increase hippocampal volume in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. This article will briefly review the clinical signs, symptoms and proposed etiologies of schizophrenia, and describe the current understanding of exercise programs as an effective treatment in patients with the disease.
Microbial Colonization of Germ-Free Mice Restores Neointimal Hyperplasia Development After Arterial Injury.

Background The potential role of the gut microbiome in cardiovascular diseases is increasingly evident. Arterial restenosis attributable to neointimal hyperplasia after cardiovascular procedures such as balloon angioplasty, stenting, and bypass surgery is a common cause of treatment failure, yet whether gut microbiota participate in the development of neointimal hyperplasia remains largely unknown. Methods and Results We performed fecal microbial transplantation from conventionally raised male C57BL/6 mice to age-, sex-, and strain-matched germ-free mice. Five weeks after inoculation, all mice underwent unilateral carotid ligation. Neointimal hyperplasia development was quantified after 4 weeks. Conventionally raised and germ-free cohorts served as comparison groups. Conclusions Germ-free mice have significantly attenuated neointimal hyperplasia development compared with conventionally raised mice. The arterial remodeling response is restored by fecal transplantation. Our results describe a causative role of gut microbiota in contributing to the pathogenesis of neointimal hyperplasia.
Spin-Peierls States of Quantum Antiferromagnets on the CaV4O9 Lattice.

We discuss the quantum paramagnetic phases of Heisenberg antiferromagnets on the 1/5-depleted square lattice found in CaV{sub 4}O{sub 9}. The possible phases of the quantum dimer model on this lattice are obtained by a mapping to a quantum-mechanical height model. In addition to the {open_quote}{open_quote}decoupled{close_quote}{close_quote} phases found earlier, we find a possible intermediate spin-Peierls phase with spontaneously broken lattice symmetry. Experimental signatures of the different quantum paramagnetic phases are discussed. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
129 Public perceptions of syringe services programs and supervised use sites in preventing overdose deaths

Statement of Purpose Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) provide sterile needles, health services, overdose prevention education, and naloxone to people who inject drugs, with the aim of preventing death and transmission of disease. As part of a larger needs assessment for SSPs in Colorado, we sent a survey to a sample of registered voters about perceptions of SSPs and overdose prevention. Methods We randomly selected 250 registered voters from each of the eight counties in Colorado with SSPs. We mailed a machine-scannable paper survey with postage-paid return envelopes along with instructions to complete the survey online if preferred. We sent three reminders to complete the one-page survey that addressed topics such as familiarity with SSPs and naloxone, and perception of effectiveness of SSPs for overdose prevention. The project was IRB approved. Results Of those eligible, 690 participants (52% female, mean age=53 years) completed the survey (response rate = 41%). Of respondents, 41.5% thought it was likely/very likely that a SSP would lead to fewer overdose deaths. When asked about supervised use sites (SUSs) where individuals can inject drugs under supervision, 62.0% thought it was likely/very likely a SUS would reduce overdose deaths. Of respondents, 74.6% had heard of naloxone. Knowledge of where one can get naloxone varied; 50% responded at the emergency department, 25.3% at the doctor’s, 18.3% at the county health department, 12.8% at a SSP, and 12.1% answered at the drugstore (not mutually exclusive). More registered Democrats (90.0%) than Republicans (61.1%) endorsed positive statements on consequences of a SSP program. Conclusion Perceptions of effectiveness for overdose prevention were higher for SUSs than existing SSPs. Most respondents were aware of naloxone but respondents’ knowledge on where to obtain naloxone varied. Significance Persuasive public messaging is needed about how harm reduction services such as SSPs can prevent or reduce overdose deaths.
Salt Marsh Migration Potential at Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in Response to Sea-Level Rise

Smith, S.M., 2020. Salt marsh migration potential at Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in response to sea-level rise. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(4), 771–779. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Salt marshes can adjust to sea-level rise (SLR) through vertical elevation gain and horizontal expansion into terrestrial environments. The latter depends on the topography of adjacent uplands and the availability of suitable substrate for halophyte colonization. Within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), calculations of marsh migration potential in response to 1-m of SLR were completed using ArcGIS (version 10.4) based on real-time kinematic GPS marsh elevations, local tide data, land-use, and upland topography derived from 2011 LIDAR scans of CCNS. These estimates were combined with marsh-loss predictions from a previous study within their present-day footprint under the same SLR scenario. The results suggest that individual marshes will respond quite disparately, as dictated by their position in the tidal frame, adjacent terrestrial slopes, land-use, and barrier-beach losses. Most sites are expected to gain or lose relatively small amounts of marsh area under few or no migration constraints. However, there could be a large increase (∼144–240 ha) at one site and an almost a complete loss at another (∼260–290 ha). Where migration was constrained to slopes ≤1%, opportunities for marsh expansion diminished the most—even more so when barrier-beach losses are simulated. Overall, losses at five marsh sites were offset by gains at Hatches Harbor and Pleasant Bay, Massachusetts, such that the total area of salt marsh actually increases with 1-m of SLR, except under the strictest slope constraints. Changes in the spatial distribution and total extent of salt marsh within the CCNS will influence both the quality and quantity of ecosystem services they provide. For coastal land managers, understanding the potential for overland marsh migration is critical for the kind of land-use planning that accommodates these transitioning salt marshes.
Non-porous Thin Dense Layer Coating: Key to Achieving Ultrahigh Peak Capacities Using Narrow Open Tubular Columns

Abstract Chromatographic theory has predicted that narrow open tubular (OT) columns are essential toward achieving ultrahigh-efficiency liquid chromatographic separations. It is also well-recognized that low loadability is a major issue for capitalizing the benefits of open tubular liquid chromatography (OTLC). To mitigate this issue, researchers have tried to increase surface area of or create a thick porous coating on the column wall. In this work, we hypothesize that a thin dense non-porous coating is well-suited for us to achieve ultrahigh efficiency or ultrahigh peak capacity if the inner diameter of the OT column is small (e.g., 1−2 µm). We first discuss the rationale of this hypothesis. To provide evidence to further support the hypothesis, we prepare, optimize and characterize the coating for high-resolution separations. We utilize columns prepared under the optimized conditions to separate a peptide sample form E. coli lysate digested first by pepsin and then by trypsin, and we show ultrahigh-peak-capacity results (770 within 47 min using a 45-cm-long column and 2000 within 155 min using a 155-cm-long column). The coating is stable, and the coating method is reproducible. Ultrahigh-resolution separations and ultra-sensitive analyses are critically important and currently challenging for analyses of complex proteomics samples; employing narrow OT columns can alleviate this problem effectively.
Electronic health record usage among nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and junior residents.

BACKGROUND Studies demonstrate significant electronic health record (EHR) use by junior residents; however, few studies have investigated this for nurse practitioners and physician assistants (NPs/PAs). PURPOSE The aim of this study was to quantify the time spent on the EHR by NPs/PAs and junior residents. METHODS Electronic health record usage data were collected from April 2015 through April 2016. Monthly EHR usage was compared between NPs/PAs and postgraduate second and third year residents. Further subgroup analysis of NPs/PAs and residents from surgical or nonsurgical fields was conducted. RESULTS Data for 22 NPs/PAs (16 surgical and six nonsurgical) and 125 residents (31 surgical and 94 nonsurgical) were analyzed. Nurse practitioners/physician assistants opened fewer charts per day (4.9 ± 1.5 vs. 5.4 ± 3.1), placed more orders per month, and spent more daily time on the EHR (176.5 ± 51.7 minutes vs. 152.3 ± 71.9 minutes; p < .0001). Compared with residents, NPs/PAs spent more time per patient in all categories (chart review, documentation, order entry) and in total time per patient chart (all p < .05). Comparing surgical NPs/PAs to surgical residents, findings were similar with fewer charts per day, more total daily EHR time, and more EHR time per patient in every tracked category (all p < .05). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This is the first study to quantify time on the EHR for NPs/PAs. Nurse practitioners/physician assistants spent more time on the EHR than residents, and this is accentuated with surgical NPs/PAs. Electronic health record utilization appears more burdensome for NPs/PAs; however, the reason for this is unclear and highlights the need for targeted interventions.
Small-molecule control of neurotransmitter sulfonation

Controlling unmodified serotonin levels in brain synapses is a primary objective when treating major depressive disorder - a disease that afflicts ~20% of the world's population. Roughly 60% of patients respond poorly to first-line treatments and thus new therapeutic strategies are sought. Toward this end, we have constructed isoform-specific inhibitors of the human cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A3 (SULT1A3) - the isoform responsible for sulfonating ~80% of the serotonin in extracellular brain fluid. The inhibitor design includes a core ring structure, which anchors the inhibitor into a SULT1A3-specific binding pocket located outside the active site, and a sidechain crafted to act as a latch to inhibit turnover by fastening down the SULT1A3 active-site cap. The inhibitors are allosteric, they bind with nanomolar affinity and are highly specific for the 1A3 isoform. The cap-stabilizing effects of the latch can be accurately calculated and are predicted to extend throughout the cap and into the surrounding protein. A free energy correlation demonstrates that the percent inhibition at saturating inhibitor varies linearly with cap stabilization - the correlation is linear because the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle, nucleotide release, scales linearly with the fraction of enzyme in the cap-open form. Inhibitor efficacy in cultured cells was studied using a human mammary epithelial cell line that expresses SULT1A3 at levels comparable to those found in neurons. The inhibitors perform similarly in ex vivo and in vitro studies; consequently, SULT1A3 turnover can now be potently suppressed in an isoform-specific manner in human cells.
Abstract 14300: The Relationship Between the American Heart Association’s Life Simple 7, Ectopic Fat and Insulin Resistance Among South Asians: The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study

Introduction: The inverse association between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) as measured by AHA’s Life simple 7, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence is well documented. However, research ...
A Comparison of Methods Used to Determine Percent Body Fat, Minimum Wrestling Weight, and Lowest Allowable Weight Class.

ABSTRACT Cutrufello, PT, Landram, MJ, Venezia, AC, and Dixon, CB. A comparison of methods used to determine percent body fat, minimum wrestling weight, and lowest allowable weight class. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 633-637, 2021-The National Collegiate Athletic Association's weight management program allows for the use of skinfold measurements (SF), air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and hydrostatic weighing in the assessment of percent body fat (%BF) and determination of a wrestler's minimum wrestling weight (MWW). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and ultrasound (US) may offer alternative assessment methods. The purpose of this study was to examine %BF, MWW, and the lowest allowable weight class as determined by SF, ADP, DXA, and US. Thirty-three college-aged men (20.8 ± 1.1 years) participated. Urine specific gravity (Usg) was assessed to ensure proper hydration (1.006 ± 0.006). Percent body fat and MWW were then determined using the 4 assessment methods. Each method was significantly different from one another (p < 0.05) with the exception of ADP compared with SF (17.6 ± 7.1% vs. 17.4 ± 6.3%, p = 1.000) and DXA compared with US (20.5 ± 6.2% vs. 19.2 ± 7.5%, p = 0.124). DXA (68.6 ± 7.1 kg) and US (69.3 ± 6.0 kg) determined the lowest MWW, whereas those determined by SF (70.8 ± 6.8 kg) and ADP (70.9 ± 6.6 kg) were significantly greater (p< 0.05). The SEEs for MWW when compared with SF were 3.2, 3.4, and 2.4 kg for ADP, DXA, and US, respectively. Compared with SF, DXA and US would allow wrestlers to certify at a lower weight class 64 and 33% of the time, respectively. When comparing the approved methods (SF and ADP), approximately 50% of subjects would certify at a different weight class depending on the method used. The use of different methods in assessing %BF offer a wide variability in the determination of MWW.
Association of obesity with illness severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Background Although recent studies have shown an association between obesity and adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient outcomes, there is a paucity in large studies focusing on hospitalized patients. We aimed to analyze outcomes associated with obesity in a large cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods We performed a retrospective study at a tertiary care health system of adult patients with COVID-19 who were admitted between March 1 and April 30, 2020. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2) and non-obese (BMI Results A total of 1983 patients were included of whom 1031 (51.9%) had obesity and 952 (48.9%) did not have obesity. Patients with obesity were younger (P Conclusions Obesity in patients with COVID-19 is independently associated with increased risk for ICU admission and intubation. Recognizing that obesity impacts morbidity in this manner is crucial for appropriate management of COVID-19 patients.
Impact of MRI Sequence Resolution for Target Volume Definition in Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) MRI is a standard image modality in cranial radiosurgery (SRS) for defining the target volume. There is disparity with different MRI sequences however due to differences in acquisition resolution, which can directly impact accuracy of target segmentation. Here we acquired MRI using different sequences on phantoms to evaluate the effect on volume delineation in the context of cranial SRS. MATERIALS/METHODS Four different T1-weight MR pulse sequences were included: (1) SE5mm: axial and coronal Spin Echo (SE) 2D acquisition with 0.4 × 0.4 mm2 in-plane resolution and 5 mm cross-plane; (1) SE3mm: axial and coronal SE with 0.5 × 0.5 mm2 in-plane and 3 mm cross-plane; (3) TFE: gradient echo 3D acquisition with 0.92 × 0.92 mm2 in axial plane and 1.25 mm cross-plane; (4) BRAVO: gradient echo 3D with 0.4 × 0.4 mm2 in axial plane and 0.5 mm cross-plane. Four phantoms with different shape and volume (0.54 to 25 cm3) were imaged, resulting in 16 sets of MRIs. Four radiation oncologists provided contours on individual sets of MRIs. All observer contours were compared with ground truth, which was defined on CT image according to the absolute dimensions of the phantom structures. Dice coefficients (DSC), Hausdorff distance (MaxHD, MeanHD, σHD) as well as ratio between reconstructed and true volume (Ratiovol) were evaluated between observer and ground truth contours. A two-sided signed-rank test was performed to determine whether differences were statistically significant. RESULTS The comparison to ground truth as a function of MR sequence is presented in the Table. All indices improved as the MR resolution increased from SE5mm to BRAVO. All differences, with the exception of Ratiovol between SE3mm and TFE, were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Inter-observer variation which must be considered was likely due to: (1) differences in user window/level preferences and related impact on visualization of target boundaries; (2) discrepancies in visualization at the superior/inferior aspect of the target. The first factor leads to systematic over- or under-estimation of the target volume. The second factor affects only SE5mm and SE3mm and leads to over- or under-estimation at superior/inferior aspect of the target. Both factors have ramification in clinical SRS treatment planning. CONCLUSION Significant improvement in target definition was observed as the MR image resolution improved. Results imply that the highest resolution 3D MR sequences should be used to minimize potential errors in target definition, and multi-slice 2D sequence should be avoided.
Natural Monopoly and Its Regulation: A Reply

I shall reply briefly to the main points made in the comments, and I shall then address two additional issues, which were not adequately developed in my original article. Professor Comanor devotes a major part of his comment to a discussion of an empirical study of the effect of regulation on electricity rates, by George J. Stigler and Claire Friedland, that I had relied upon in my article.' I cited the study for the proposition that "profit regulation may have little actual effect on monopoly prices and profits"2-a cautious assessment that I stand by. Professor Comanor is of course free to quarrel with the statisticians' measure of significance in empirical work. And I find no fault with the method by which he reinterprets some of the Stigler-Friedland data as actually supporting the hypothesis that regulation has an effect on price after all. However, a finding that regulation probably has some impact on price should give scant comfort to the supporters of regulation if, as both the Stigler-Friedland study and a later study unfortunately not yet published3 indicate, that impact is slight. Comanor's own results, showing price effects ranging from one to ten percent, are hardly decisive, especially given the limitations of the statistical procedures employed. Comanor ignores, moreover, an important finding of the Stigler-Friedland study that casts grave doubt on whether regulation does affect price: The relationship of industrial to residential electrical rates was the same in the states that had regulation as in the states that did not.4 Since there is competition for industrial sales of electricity, regulation should reduce the spread between industrial rates (normally competitive) and residential rates (normally monopolistic); but apparently it does not. The other part of Professor Comanor's comment presents a formal model of the relationship between the benefits and costs of regulation. The model implies that a large reduction in price due to regulation is likely to be offset by a much smaller increase in the regulated firms' costs induced by
Vertebrate-Invertebrate Comparisons

Given the wider province of this symposium, I should say at once that my concern here is only with (non-human) animals, and not with intelligence in general but only with learning, which students of animal intelligence have taken to be its fundamental component and to the analysis of which their experiments have been directed almost exclusively since the turn of the century. As to whether anything like creative as distinct from purely reproductive intelligence need be attributed to their animals, there was substantial disagreement among early investigators; the influential Thorndike (1911), for one, thought not. Experienced subjects, especially primates, sometimes solved problems in ways that suggested “observation of essential features or relations” rather than “random actions and the selection of profitable acts” (Yerkes 1927, pp. 277–278), which alone did not require the assumption of more advanced capabilities or provide any satisfactory indication of what they might be. Clearly prerequisite to such solutions, however, was the long exercise of reproductive intelligence, and that, it soon became evident, was where the analysis should begin.
Management of the Carotid Artery in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the management of the invasion of the carotid artery by squamous cell carcinoma, which is associated with a very poor prognosis. An understanding of the clinical history, diagnostic testing, and various therapeutic options for management of the carotid artery in advanced head and neck carcinoma is crucial for optimal patient management. Surgical options include ligation, peeling off the tumor from the artery, and resection followed by immediate reconstruction with a venous graft. Proponents of carotid artery resection contend that the surgical morbidity has been decreased significantly with the use of autogenous vascular grafts for reconstruction. Although survival rates are low, improved local-regional control can be achieved with complete tumor removal and perhaps adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgical resection can alleviate pain and massive carotid bleeding. If the patient chooses surgery, the head and neck surgeon should accomplish a complete tumor resection with adequate margins, and the vascular surgeon should reconstruct the carotid artery. Nonsurgical modalities can be a second option in the treatment of patients with advanced neck carcinoma in order to avoid complications of carotid artery resection. However, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are associated with significant morbidity, a decrease in the quality of life, and loss of function.
Educational Training Programs for Social Service Workers: A Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation

This evaluation study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a New York Department of Social Services educational program conducted by Cornell University. While the primary goal was to evaluate thc program, a secondary objective was to explore the use of qualitative methods as viable alternatives or additions to the experimental model. A dual methodological approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative strategies, included preand posttesting of all subjects, control groups, extensive nonparticipant observation, formal and informal interviews, and the collection of background data. Results from the quantitative data were statistically significant and the qualitative data cross-validated these findings.
The consolidation of new but not reactivated memory requires hippocampal C/EBPβ

Long-term memory formation consists of multiple phases. A new memory is initially labile and sensitive to disruption by a variety of interfering events or agents. To become stable, this new memory undergoes a process known as consolidation, which, in the case of declarative memories, occurs within the medial temporal lobes and requires gene expression. When recalled, memories re-enter a new phase of vulnerability and seem to require a reconsolidation process in order to be maintained. Here we show that consolidation but not reconsolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory requires the expression of the transcription factor CCAAT enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) in the hippocampus. Furthermore, in the same region, de novo protein synthesis is not essential for memory reconsolidation. C/EBPβ is an evolutionarily conserved genetic marker that has a selective role in the consolidation of new but not reactivated memories in the hippocampus.
Control strategies for solar panel companion inverters

This paper investigates a unique methodology that converts the conventional dc voltage output of a photovoltaic solar panel to switched quasi-square wave voltages with variable pulse width, which when aggregated realize a superior quality multilevel waveform that can be directly interfaced with the power grid. Termed Solar Panel Companion Inverters, this alternative approach offers advantages of micro-inverters in realizing panel-level maximum power point transfer and realization of system-level cost benefits of a central inverter approach. Various control strategies such as Unsorted Pulse Width Modulation, Sorted Stair Case Modulation and Sorted Pulse Width Modulation for these Solar Panel Companion Inverters are presented and analyzed in the paper. These control schemes are evaluated against a variety of solar irradiance operating scenarios with varying co-efficient of variation and varying mean irradiance levels. The resultant energy yields are documented for each control scheme. It is shown that the proposed structure of Solar Panel Companion Inverters is able to collectively perform as a conventional central inverter when irradiance conditions are uniform. However, under non-uniform irradiance conditions, proposed structure surpasses performance of central inverter in terms of power throughout and can be a commercially competitive solution when compared to microinverters for interfacing solar panels with the power grid.