cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study on issues and challenges of agile software development with scrum

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore critical issues and challenges that might arise in agile software development processes with Scrum. It also sought to provide management guidelines to help organizations avoid and overcome barriers in adopting the Scrum method as a future software development method. A qualitative research method design was used to capture the knowledge of practitioners and scrutinize the Scrum software development process in its natural settings. An in-depth case study was conducted in two organizations where the Scrum method was fully integrated in every aspect of two organizations’ software development processes. One organization provides large-scale and mission-critical applications and the other provides small- and medium-scale applications. Differences between two organizations provided useful contrasts for the data analysis. Data were collected through an email survey, observations, documents, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The email survey was used to refine interview questions; all of the interviews were audio-taped and transcribed, and later coded for analysis. Triangulation in the data collection process provided useful information for different perspectives on the issues, allowed for cross-checking, and yielded stronger substantiation of concepts and common categories. In the first round of data analysis, an open coding technique was used to identify possible concepts, along with their properties and dimensions. The open coding technique is a form of content analysis where the data are read and categorized into concepts. In the second round, the codes were reviewed, and the concepts were organized by recurring themes. These themes were used later as a basis for creating a set of stable and common categories. The final stage of data analysis was completed through axial coding, which depends on a synthetic technique of making connections between categories and subcategories to build a more comprehensive scheme. In the process of data analysis, grounded theory was employed with the aim of generating descriptive and explanatory theory associated with an agile software development process. The research presented four common categories of issues and challenges of the Scrum method, and management guidelines to help organizations that are already using the Scrum method or planning to employ it in the future. The framework for a hybrid software development model is then proposed as a future study.
Why Don’t Women Run?

Women hold fewer than 25% of all American elected offices despite being over 50% of the population. This paper explores this incongruity and explains why women feel that they must reach a higher threshold than men in order to run for office. Consequently, this work demonstrates that we should expect female candidates to be of higher quality than male candidates. Author’s Note Kendall Tucker is an undergraduate at Columbia College working toward her political science bachelor’s degree in May 2014. She is currently studying politics and history at the University of Oxford and she is excited to once again work as a research assistant for Professor James Snyder in Harvard University's Department of Government this summer. Her areas of interest include the measure of quality candidates, women in politics and social/educational policy reform. Women make up 51% of the United States population, but only 18.3% of Congress. According to recent studies, these low rates cannot be attributed to discrimination at the polls. Why then aren’t women proportionally represented in politics? Each year, far fewer women run for office than men. Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox conducted a study for the Brookings Institute in which they asked, “Why Are Women Still Not Running for Public Office?” They concluded that because “women are significantly less likely than men to view themselves as qualified to run for office,” women need to reach a higher threshold before they decide to enter a race. This threshold, whether it be monetary, familial, or fame-based, would make a candidate higher quality, because it would indicate that his/her probability of winning is higher than his/her competitors. Lawless and Fox’s conclusion was that this threshold is the leading cause of the disparity between the number of men and women who decide to try for elected office. In their article, “Entering the Arena? Gender and the Decision to Run for Office”, Lawless and Fox wrote, “it stands to reason that women who 1 "Current Numbers of Women Officeholders." Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers, Web. 17 Apr. 2013. 2 Darcy, R., and Sarah Slavin Schramm. 1977. “When Women Run Against Men.” The Public Opinion Quarterly 41 (1) (April 1): 1-12. 3 Leeper, Mark Stephen. 1991. “The Impact of Prejudice On Female Candidates:” American Politics Research 19 (2) (April 1): 248 -261. doi:10.1177/1532673X9101900206. 4 Lawless, Jennifer L., and Richard L. Fox. 2008. Why Are Women Still Not Running for Public Office? Governance Studies. Washing: Brookings, May. 5 Lawless, Jennifer L. 2010. It Still Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office. Rev. ed. New York: Cambridge University Press. 6 Lawless and Fox. 2008.
Tumor Staging and Grading: A Primer

Cancer staging and grading are used to predict the clinical behavior of malignancies, establish appropriate therapies, and facilitate exchange of precise information between clinicians. The internationally accepted criteria for cancer staging, the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system, includes: (1) tumor size and local growth (T); (2) extent of lymph node metastases (N); and (3) occurrence of distant metastases (M). Clinical stage is established before initiation of therapy and depends on the physical examination, laboratory findings, and imaging studies. Pathologic stage is determined following surgical exploration of disease spread and histological examination of tissue. The TNM classification system has evolved over 50 years to accommodate increasing knowledge about cancer biology. Efforts are ongoing to keep the system both synchronized with the most sophisticated cancer technology and simple for ease of clinician/patient use. Upcoming molecular technologies, such as genomic and proteomic profiling of tumors, microRNA profiling, and even ex vivo living tumor tissue treatment, could improve the current TNM staging system. This chapter describes the current TNM system using breast, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancer examples.
Hematin Therapy in Acute Porphyria and Observations on Hemopexin

In 1971, Bonkowsky et a l. (1) reported the first use of hematin (an alkaline solution of heme) in a patient experiencing a severe attack of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). A dramatic drop in serum porphobilinogen (PBG) and δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was associated with i.v. hematin administration. However, this patient also suffered from malignant hypertension and renal failure, and there was no apparent clinical improvement. The rationale for this treatment was based upon the observations, both in vitro and in vivo, that the rate-limiting enzyme, δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALA-S), is repressed by heme, the end product of the porphyrin pathway (2, 6, 9, 13, 24). In the past several years C.J. Watson et al. have reported their experience with intravenous hematin administration in the acute attack forms of porphyria that include AIP, variegate porphyria (VP), and hereditary coproporphyria (HCP). In these cases, serum and urinary ALA and PBG decreased, and a consistent and occasionally dramatic improvement in clinical disease was observed (4, 20, 22). A similar chemical response to intravenous hematin, but a variable response of the symptoms and signs associated with porphyria has been noted in this laboratory (11).
Nutritional Assessment of the Patient in the Intensive Care Unit

Early identification and treatment of malnutrition in hospitalized patients remain important aspects of care, especially in critically ill patients. Thorough knowledge of a patient's nutritional history, physical assessment and clinical laboratory findings are critical in order to accurately determine the degree of malnutrition, if present, as well as metabolic energy needs. The nurse plays a vital role in gathering this valuable clinical information. Although there is no single test to determine malnutrition, the utilization of a complete nutritional assessment is the best tool to properly identify and treat malnutrition.
9-cis-retinoic acid : effects on normal and leukemic hematopoiesis in vitro

Retinoic acid exhibits effects on the proliferation and differentiation of many hematopoietic cells. Cellular responsiveness to retinoic acid (RA) is conferred through two distinct classes of nuclear receptors, the RA receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs). The RARs bind to both 9-cis- and all-trans-RAs, but 9-cis-RA alone directly binds and activates RXR. This suggested that 9-cis-RA could have expanded hematopoietic activities as compared with all-trans-RA. We compared the abilities of 9-cis- and all-trans-RAs to induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation of three acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines and fresh leukemic cells from 28 patients and found that: (1) 9-cis-RA in general was more potent than all-trans-RA in suppressing the clonal growth of two AML cell lines and 17 AML samples from patients, including four from individuals with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Eleven leukemic samples, including three from patients with chronic myelogenous or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, were relatively refractory to both retinoids. (2) The range of activities of both retinoids was similar except that the clonal growth of samples from three AML patients were inhibited by 9-cis-RA, but not by all-trans-RA. (3) Both retinoids inhibited the clonal proliferation of leukemia cells without necessarily inducing their differentiation; in fact, the only fresh AML cells that were able to undergo differentiation were from patients with APL and one individual with M2 AML. (4) Both retinoids enhanced myeloid and erythroid clonal growth from normal individuals, and 9-cis-RA showed slightly more stimulation of the myeloid clonal growth than did the all-trans-RA. Our study suggests that 9-cis-RA is worthy of further study for the treatment of selected individuals with AML.
Hypertrapezoidal Fuzzy Membership Functions for Decision Aiding

This paper reports research pushing forward the theory and application of fuzzy logic and fuzzy control. The push is in a theoretical area needed to apply fuzzy logic to the interpretation and management of systems of increasing complexity. Hypertrapezoidal fuzzy membership functions (HFMFs) are a new mechanism for designing multidimensional fuzzy sets. Unlike their one-dimensional counterparts traditionally used in fuzzy engineering, HFMFs model the correlation that exists between the variables of the state space. Additionally, the manner in which HFMFs are electronically stored makes them ideal for applications requiring training or on-line adaptation. This paper contains the background and practical application of HFMFs in an on-board pilot advisory system for general aviation aircraft. The pilot advisory system serves as an example of the usefulness of HFMFs for decision aiding. HFMFs have proved to be an essential element for flight mode analysis, and will likely find many other useful applications.
Ketamine interactions with gut-microbiota in rats: relevance to its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties

Appreciable evidence suggest that dysbiosis in microbiota, reflected in gut microbial imbalance plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and inflammatory diseases. Recently, the antidepressant properties of ketamine have gained prominence due to its fast and long lasting effects. Additional uses for ketamine in inflammatory disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome have been suggested. However, ketamine’s exact mechanism of action and potential effects on microbiome is not known. Here, we examined the effects of low dose ketamine, known to induce antidepressant effects, on stool microbiome profile in adult male Wistar rats. Animals (5/group) were injected intraperitoneally with ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) or saline, daily for 7 days and sacrificed on day 8 when intestinal stools were collected and stored at − 80 °C. DNA was extracted from the samples and the 16 S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis was performed using 16S Metagenomics application. At genus–level, ketamine strikingly amplified Lactobacillus, Turicibacter and Sarcina by 3.3, 26 and 42 fold, respectively. Conversely, opportunistic pathogens Mucispirillum and Ruminococcus were reduced by approximately 2.6 and 26 fold, respectively, in ketamine group. Low levels of Lactobacillus and Turicibacter are associated with various disorders including depression and administration of certain species of Lactobacillus ameliorates depressive-like behavior in animal models. Hence, some of the antidepressant effects of ketamine might be mediated through its interaction with these gut bacteria. Additionally, high level of Ruminococcus is positively associated with the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and some species of Mucispirillum have been associated with intestinal inflammation. Indirect evidence of anti-inflammatory role of Sarcina has been documented. Hence, some of the anti-inflammatory effects of ketamine and its usefulness in specific inflammatory diseases including IBS may be mediated through its interaction with these latter bacteria. Our data suggest that at least some of the antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects of daily ketamine treatment for 7 days may be mediated via its interaction with specific gut bacteria. These findings further validate the usefulness of microbiome as a target for therapeutic intervention and call for more detailed investigation of microbiome interaction with central mediators of mood and/or inflammatory disorders.
Historical and modern landscape forest structure in fir ( Abies )-dominated mixed conifer forests in the northern Sierra Nevada, USA

Information about fire and historical forest structure and composition in fir-dominated mixed conifer forests is lacking, especially at the landscape scale. This study used historical timber survey data to characterize early forest conditions in a large fir-dominated northern Sierra Nevada landscape (area >10 000 ha). We used automated model selection to determine the suite of environmental variables that best predicted forest structure, and regression tree analysis to identify environmental settings associated with historical forest conditions and to provide a comparison to contemporary forest data. While changes at our study site were more subtle when compared to those in more xeric, pine-dominated mixed conifer areas in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, there were significant increases in small-tree density and a decrease in large-tree density in the current forest. The loss of large trees was most pronounced in environments with relatively low summer water deficit and shallow slopes, which is where the highest large-tree densities were observed historically. Within the historical forest, tree density and basal area were greater in areas with higher precipitation and actual evapotranspiration, along with lower snowpack. Our results indicated that restoration plans should differ depending on the type of mixed conifer forest encountered. Whereas low tree densities and basal areas produced open stand conditions in many pine-dominated regions of this forest type, areas that were dominated by fir species with longer growing seasons, high water availability, and low water demand were denser and likely provided important habit for late seral species such as the California spotted owl, Strix occidentalis occidentalis (Xantus de Vesey , 1860). Working to develop forest restoration and adaptation plans to account for these differences is an important strategy to restore resiliency and encourage adaption in fire-excluded mixed conifer forests.
Portrait of A City: A Review of Matt Roberts’ Transfers

"Transfers" by Matt Roberts, Assistant Professor of Art and Program Director of Digital Arts at Stetson University, an interactive car ride of abstract visualization and John Cage-like musical performance, creates individualized portraits of a city. Sitting in the back seat facing an LCD screen with speakers, the rider/reader, controls the direction of the driver and thus the sights and sounds of the art presentation. Matt Roberts sits next to a laptop and a tangle of wires connecting a camera under the rear-view mirror, taking in the scene in front of the car, the microphones on the truck outside, and a GPS unit to the laptop and its software program. As the driver, Roberts, relegates the position of creator to the passengers in the seats, he emphasizes how moving through the urban environment directly creates the experience which is delivered to the riders as a video on CD after their ride. The project calls upon the viewer to direct the driver; “where do I go now?” The directions run through a program that modifies the experience of the passenger. The urban landscape, designed to accommodate automobiles, undergoes a detournment , it becomes like art and life--constantly shifting. Each time the art is created it is unique; the project almost thrives on the unexpected. Getting lost becomes the destination. In a very modernist way, the process is more important than the end result. However, it calls into question the satisfaction of an interactive art piece and the necessity of the material object. Combining high technology with the ubiquity of automobile travel, Matt Roberts’ mobile project moves the audience literally through its own city reinterpreted, reformatted, and reconfigured. The paper will include a video of the visual experience that I saw and heard in Orlando, Florida and several images showing the setup, visualizations, and the artist.
Platelet Cold Agglutinins

A "cold" platelet agglutinin is described which is present in plasma and serum, is greater than 100,000 in molecular weight, appears to be a protein of the immunoglobulin type, is adsorbed by platelets in the absence of bivalent cations, and reacts only at temperatures below 34°C. It agglutinates homologous and autologous platelets but appears to have no effect on in vivo platelet function. It is seen in patients with systemic disease and can cause spuriously low platelet counts.
Surgical Resection of 78 Pancreatic Solid Pseudopapillary Tumors: a 30-Year Single Institutional Experience.

Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) are rare, benign tumors of the pancreas that present as heterogeneous masses. We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical resected SPTs. Patients managed via initial surveillance were compared to those who underwent upfront resection. A prospectively maintained institutional database was used to identify patients who underwent surgical resection for a SPT between 1988 and 2018. Data on clinicopathological features and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Seventy-eight patients underwent surgical resection for SPT during the study period. The mean age was 34.0 ± 14.6 years and a majority were female (N = 67, 85.9%) and white (N = 46, 58.9%). Thirty patients (37.9%) were diagnosed incidentally. Imaging-based presumed diagnosis was SPT in 49 patients (62.8%). A majority were located in the body or tail of the pancreas (N = 47, 60.3%), and 48 patients (61.5%) underwent a distal pancreatectomy. The median tumor size was 4.0 cm (IQR, 3.0–6.0), nodal disease was present in three patients (3.9%), and R0 resection was performed in all patients. No difference was observed in clinicopathological features and outcomes between patients who were initially managed via surveillance and those who underwent upfront resection. None of the patients under surveillance had nodal disease or metastasis at the time of resection; however, one of them developed recurrence of disease 95.1 months after resection. At a median follow-up of 36.1 months (IQR, 8.1–62.1), 77 (%) patients were alive and one patient (1.3%) had a recurrence of disease at 95.1 months after resection and subsequently died due to disease. SPTs are rare pancreatic tumors that are diagnosed most frequently in young females. While a majority are benign and have an indolent course, malignant behavior has been observed. Surgical resection can result in exceptional outcomes.
Ion Channels and Action Potential Generation

Abstract Ion channels mediate many aspects of neuronal signaling, from the responses of neurons to neurotransmitters to the generation of action potentials that allow signals to travel along axons. By understanding the relationship between ion flow (or flux) through channels and membrane potential, it is possible to determine how action of a particular type of ion channel will affect a neuron. Voltage-gated ion channels, which respond to electrical activity and are essential for the generation of action potentials, are among the most common types of ion channels in neurons. Specifically, action potentials are generated by current moving through voltage-gated sodium and potassium ion channels. In this chapter, we will cover roles voltage-gated ion channels play in the generation and conduction of action potentials and how this underlies communication between neurons.
1181 Laparoscopic Management of Hernia Uterus Inguinale with Associated Unicornuate Uterus: A Case Report

Video Objective This video demonstrates the laparoscopic management of a surgical emergency due a non-communicating herniated rudimentary uterine horn and ipsilateral torsed adnexa. Setting NA. Interventions This case is a 36-year-old healthy woman undergoing elective oocyte cryopreservation with normal baseline pelvic ultrasounds. On day 7 of oocyte stimulation, an enlarging inguinal mass was identified associated with severe inguinal pain; an incarcerated ovary was suspected. She was taken to the operating room for surgical management. The diagnosis of a Mullerian anomaly was made laparoscopically, noting that she had a right unicornuate uterus with associated normal-appearing right adnexa and ureter. Notably, the left non-communicating rudimentary uterine horn was found herniated through the deep inguinal ring, drawing with it a portion of the left tube and ovary, torsed around its associated pedicle. A left ureter could not be visualized. After decompressing and de-torsing the left inguinal mass, the rudimentary horn, fallopian tube, and necrotic portion of the left ovary were excised using a bipolar sealing device; the inguinal hernia was repaired. The viable left ovarian tissue was retained. A postoperative renal ultrasound confirmed left renal agenesis. Two months later, she successfully underwent oocyte cryopreservation with eggs aspirated from both ovaries. Conclusion Hernia uterus inguinale is a rare condition in which uterine tissue and occasionally adnexa herniate through the inguinal ring. It can present as an asymptomatic palpable mass or rarely as pelvic pain. Most reports have focused on its association with persistent Mullerian duct syndrome, which affects phenotypically male infants. While there are few reports of hernia uterus inguinale occurring in adult females, this case highlights the importance of keeping it in the differential in a patient with an inguinal mass and recognizing the potential for its associated morbidity and the ability to manage it surgically, if needed, through a minimally invasive approach.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist hand exposure in diagnostic imaging using Tc-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals

2072 Objectives: All Nuclear Medicine Technologists are required to wear radiation dosimeter badges. These badges include a ring dosimeter on the pointer finger of their dominant hand and a body badge. These badges measure the radiation that the technologists are exposed to. The ring badges measure the radiation the hands are exposed to while performing diagnostic and therapeutic radiation dosing preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals to patients. The study explored the ring badge dosing compared to that of a pocket dosimeter at various distances to a filled radioactive phantom with Tc99m. Methods: A ring badge and pocket dosimeter were placed near a phantom with Tc99m. Then, ring badges were worn on the dominant hand of the technologist while routine dosing was performed. Badges were worn at the base of the pointer finger, and the reading was compared to the reading of the badge that was placed next to the Tc99m phantom. Results: The data collected shows that wearing a ring badge at the base of the pointer finger on the dominant hand does not give an accurate reading that represents the amount of radiation the hand was exposed to. The reading for the dosimeter at the base of the technologists finger gave a lower reading than the dosimeter placed next to the Tc99m phantom. Conclusions: This research shows that the readings for the single dosimeter that technologists wear at the base of the finger gives a lower reading than what the hand is actually exposed to. This in turn means the amount of radiation that a technologist is exposed to in a year is higher than what is recorded when the ring badge is worn at the base of the finger.
Covering the News with (AI) Style.

We introduce a multi-modal discriminative and generative frame-work capable of assisting humans in producing visual content re-lated to a given theme, starting from a collection of documents(textual, visual, or both). This framework can be used by edit or to generate images for articles, as well as books or music album covers. Motivated by a request from the The New York Times (NYT) seeking help to use AI to create art for their special section on Artificial Intelligence, we demonstrated the application of our system in producing such image.
Phase Transformation Graph and Transformation Pathway Engineering for Shape Memory Alloys

Even though martensitic transformations (MTs) in shape memory alloys (SMAs) are thermoelastic (i.e., fully reversible) and the polydomain structures of martensite are self-accommodating with invariant-plane strains, dislocations and sometimes grain boundaries seems to be the inevitable byproducts of the transformation during either thermal or stress cycling, similar to what have been observed during MTs in non-SMAs such as steels. These characteristics associated with MT cycling can lead to some serious problems such as dimensional instability and functional fatigue. In this review, we introduce a recently developed theoretical construct called phase transformation graph (PTG) analysis and show that defect generation in SMAs and their functionality and performance are closely related to the topology of their PTGs. Using PTG topology as a guide, we discuss design strategies to alter the topology of PTGs for high-performance SMAs with improved functionality and functional fatigue resistance. Most of our predictions have been confirmed by experimental characterization and testing. The PTG analysis could open a new avenue for judicious design of next-generation SMAs for widespread technological applications.
Food Systems Disruptions: Turning a Threat into an Opportunity for Local Food Systems

First paragraph: Our food system has been disrupted. Shopping at a grocery store during the COVID-19 pan­demic is not a pleasant experience, and, for some of the most vulnerable, it can be outright dangerous. It may become worse. How long will supply chain disruptions continue and what are upcoming challenges? From illness in the fields where agricultural workers pick our food and the closing of food processing facilities to the threat that trucking lanes may be shut down, the possibilities seem real right now. . . . See the press release for this article.
Red Blood Cell Transfusions and Outcomes After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Abstract Background Low red blood cell (RBC) levels are associated with worse intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcomes. However, relationships of RBC transfusions on ICH outcomes are unclear given the overlap of RBC transfusion, comorbidities, and disease severity. We investigated RBC transfusion relationships on ICH outcomes while accounting for comorbidities and disease severity. Methods ICH hospitalizations between 2002 and 2011 and RBC transfusion exposure were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample using ICD-9-CM codes. Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between RBC transfusion on outcomes after adjusting for demographics, baseline comorbidities, and markers of disease severity. Additional sensitivity analyses stratified by comorbidity burden and disease severity were performed. Results Of 597,046 ICH hospitalizations, RBC transfusions were administered in 22,904 (4%). RBC transfusion was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR: 1.22 [95%CI: 1.10-1.35]). In sensitivity analyses, RBC transfusions resulted in poor outcomes regardless of the comorbidity burden, but attenuation in this relationship was notable with lower comorbidities (adjusted OR 1.43 [95%CI: 1.34-1.51] vs 1.18 [95%CI: 1.10-1.29]). There were no associations of RBC transfusions with poor outcomes in hospitalizations without mechanical ventilation (adjusted OR 0.88 [95%CI: 0.83-1.13]) and in cases requiring ventriculostomy drains (adjusted OR 1.05 [95%CI: 0.97-1.10]). Conclusions In a large, nationally representative sample, RBC transfusion was associated with poor ICH outcomes. However, there were variations in this relationship based on comorbidities and disease severity. Additional prospective studies are required to assess direct risks and benefits from RBC transfusions in ICH.
A Rare Case of Urinary Tract Fungal Ball Leading to Fungemia and Bilateral Chorioretinitis.

Background Fungemia due to obstructive urinary tract fungal ball is exceedingly rare. These patients often have multiple predisposing conditions, including diabetes or antimicrobial exposure. While candiduria can be relatively common in this population, urinary tract fungal balls are a rare entity. Hospitalists should be aware of this rare complication in patients presenting with funguria. Case Presentation. We present a case of a 44-year-old male with type II diabetes, chronic hepatitis C secondary to injection drug use, and chronic kidney disease who developed a urinary tract fungal ball leading to fungemia and subsequent bilateral chorioretinitis, additionally complicated by emphysematous cystitis and pyelonephritis. Additional invasive treatment options beyond typical antifungals are often required in the case of urinary tract fungal ball, and in this case, bilateral nephrostomy tubes and micafungin were employed. Hospital course was complicated by C. tropicalis fungemia with subsequent bilateral fungal chorioretinitis on dilated fundus exam. This was effectively treated with cyclogyl and prednisolone drops along with bilateral voriconazole injections. Follow-up imaging and cultures showed resolution of fungemia, urinary tract masses, and chorioretinal infiltrates; however, recurrent polymicrobial UTIs continue to be an issue for this patient. Conclusions Special multidisciplinary management is required in the treatment of urinary tract fungal balls with subsequent fungemia, including nephrostomy tubes, antifungal irrigation, ureterorenoscopy, and more powerful antifungals such as amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine. This management draws from a myriad of specialties, including urology, infectious disease, and interventional radiology. Additionally, the literature has demonstrated that only approximately half of patients with fungemia receive an ophthalmologic evaluation. Ophthalmologic and urologic cooperation is essential in the case of obstructive uropathy leading to fungemia as the obstructive uropathy must be relieved and these patients should receive a dilated fundus exam.
Large Emissions of Low Volatility Siloxanes during Residential Oven Use

Author(s): Katz, Erin F.; Lunderberg, David M.; Brown, Wyatt L.; Day, Douglas A.; Jimenez, Jose L.; Nazaroff, William W; Goldstein, Allen H.; DeCarlo, Peter F.
Factors to Effective Telemedicine Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cohort Study.

Background: With COVID-19 there was a rapid and abrupt rise in telemedicine implementation often without sufficient time for providers or patients to adapt. As telemedicine visits are likely to continue to play an important role in health care, it is crucial to strive for a better understanding of how to ensure completed telemedicine visits in our health system. Awareness of these barriers to effective telemedicine visits is necessary for a proactive approach to addressing issues. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify variables that may affect telemedicine visit completion in order to determine actions that can be enacted across the entire health system to benefit all patients. Methods: Data were collected from scheduled telemedicine visits (n=362,764) at the University of Miami Health System (UHealth) between March 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Descriptive statistics, mixed effects logistic regression, and random forest modeling were used to identify the most important patient-agnostic predictors of telemedicine completion. Results: Using descriptive statistics, struggling telemedicine specialties, providers, and clinic locations were identified. Through mixed effects logistic regression (adjusting for clustering at the clinic site level), the most important predictors of completion included previsit phone call/SMS text message reminder status (confirmed vs not answered) (odds ratio [OR] 6.599, 95% CI 6.483-6.717), MyUHealthChart patient portal status (not activated vs activated) (OR 0.315, 95% CI 0.305-0.325), provider’s specialty (primary care vs medical specialty) (OR 1.514, 95% CI 1.472-1.558), new to the UHealth system (yes vs no) (OR 1.285, 95% CI 1.201-1.374), and new to provider (yes vs no) (OR 0.875, 95% CI 0.859-0.891). Random forest modeling results mirrored those from logistic regression. Conclusions: The highest association with a completed telemedicine visit was the previsit appointment confirmation by the patient via phone call/SMS text message. An active patient portal account was the second strongest variable associated with completion, which underscored the importance of patients having set up their portal account before the telemedicine visit. Provider’s specialty was the third strongest patient-agnostic characteristic associated with telemedicine completion rate. Telemedicine will likely continue to have an integral role in health care, and these results should be used as an important guide to improvement efforts. As a first step toward increasing completion rates, health care systems should focus on improvement of patient portal usage and use of previsit reminders. Optimization and intervention are necessary for those that are struggling with implementing telemedicine. We advise setting up a standardized workflow for staff.
Postpartum hemorrhoidectomy

Ninety-eight patients were operated on in the immediate postpartum period (two to four days). The advantages of postpartum hermorrhoidectomy, plus the factors that accompany pregnency which promote and hasten healing time, are discussed. The advantages indicate that this procedure should be done more frequently. Every effort should be made to inform obstetricians and proctologists of the benefits of operating early in the postpartum period.
Too much of a good thing: Evidence of sodium stress in an inland subtropical riparian detrital system

Abstract Global salinization is impacting both terrestrial and freshwater systems. Riparia link these systems and are likely impacted by increased sodium, but impacts are understudied. The sodium ecosystem respiration hypothesis posits that increased sodium under sodium-limitation should stimulate decomposition. We tested this hypothesis in an inland subtropical riparian system by adding 0.067% NaCl every 2 weeks to 1 m2 plots (n = 10) or just H2O (n = 10) and measuring decomposition rates of red maple litter across 9 months. Additionally, we measured leaf sodium content of 4 riparian plant species. Contrary to our predictions, decomposition was 21% slower in sodium addition plots than in controls, but invertebrate decomposer communities did not differ between treatments. Plants had 1.4- to 4-fold higher leaf sodium content after 9 months, but soil sodium content did not differ. This is the first evidence of sodium stress for mesic inland terrestrial ecosystems. Slower decomposition supports the Sodium Subsidy-Stress hypothesis and extends the sodium ecosystem respiration to include sodium-stress impacts on ecosystem functions when sodium occurs in excess of optimal sodium levels. Changes to decomposition and leaf sodium content in riparia demonstrate sodium can impact both green and brown food webs and ultimately affect exchange across terrestrial-aquatic boundaries.
On the origin of 2nd person prefix #tV- in Trans-Himalayan languages

Abstract Two 2nd person verbal indexation forms are reconstructed back to Proto-Trans-Himalayan (PTH): a suffix #-n(a) (Bauman 1975; DeLancey 1989, 2014; H. Sun 1983, 1995; van Driem 1993; Watters 2002), and a prefix #tV- (Watters 2002; Jacques 2012; DeLancey 2011a, 2014). While #-n(a) is in paradigmatic distribution with other suffixal forms, the prefixal position of #tV-raises the question of its functional origin. DeLancey (2011a, 2014: 23) suggests hypothetically that #tV- finds its origin either in a non-finite nominalization or in an irrealis nominalization, “ideal for an impersonal 2nd person use: ‘One might [speak]’ rather than ‘You will [speak].’” Through the comparison of cognate tV- possessive and tV- nominalizer prefixes found in rGyalrongic, Kuki-Naga (Ao), and Sinitic, I propose that 2nd person #tV- can be traced back to a nominal possessive modifier such as one’s or someone’s: a man-type of R-impersonals (Malchukov & Siewierska 2011). Spreading to verbs, #tV- was used as a nominalizer indexing the notional S or A argument. With nouns and verbs alike, the referent of the possessor, whether 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person, was specific (Siewierska 2011: 62), accessible in discourse, anaphorically or deictically, regardless of the presence of a coreferential overt noun-phrase. The prefix #tV- started to be used in particular to address 2nd person indirectly, a development likely triggered by pragmatic motivations, i.e. politeness, before being reanalyzed as a 2nd person indexation marker.
A constant-current AC shock generator.

A device has been developed for the effective delivery of a preset constant current AC electric shock. The shock intensity is adjustable from zero to a maximum of 10 ma as the voltage varies between 0 to 5 kv. The 5-kv, 60-HZ, AC voltage insures a constant-current output regardless of skin contact resistance changes. Shock duration is internally controlled and a “fail safe” lockout circuit to render the apparatus inoperative is provided in case of accidental sticking or failure of control relay signals from either internal circuitry or from behavioral programming equipment.
The Occurrence and Biological Activity of Ferulate-Phytosterol Esters in Corn Fiber and Corn Fiber Oil

Corn fiber is a pericarp-rich fraction obtained during the processing of corn via “wetmilling.” Wet milling of corn is used by all companies that produce corn starch and corn sweeteners, and by many companies that produce fuel ethanol from corn. All commercial “corn oil” is prepared by the extraction of only the germ fraction of the kernel. In contrast, extraction of corn fiber with hexane yielded an oil (comprising about 1.2 wt% of the fiber) which we termed “corn fiber oil.” This oil xontained ferulate-phytosterol esters, similar in structure to “oryzanol,” a cholesterol-lowering substance found in rice bran and rice bran oil. The oil extracted from corn fiber contained high levels of ferualte-phytosterol esters (6.0 wt%), which is about 4-fold higher than their levels in rice bran oil. Corn fiber oil also contains free phytosterols (2.2 wt%) and phytosterol fatty acyl esters (6.8 wt%)
Idiopathic Condylar Resorption of the Temporomandibular Joint in Teenage Girls (Cheerleaders Syndrome)

Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is a specific condition that affects the jaw joints (temporomandibular joints or TMJs) and most commonly occurs in teenage girls. It sometimes has been referred to as “cheerleaders syndrome,” because it frequently occurs in teenage girls participating in sports activities which, through minor or major trauma to the jaws, can initiate or exacerbate the condition. ICR is also known as idiopathic condylysis, condylar atrophy, and progressive condylar resorption. This is a well-documented but poorly understood disease process that occurs with a 9:1 female-to-male frequency ratio and rarely develops after the age of 20 years. A number of local and systemic pathologies or diseases can cause mandibular condylar resorption. Local factors include osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, avascular necrosis, infection, and traumatic injuries. Systemic connective tissue or autoimmune diseases that can cause condylar resorption include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and others. ICR is a specific disease entity different from these other disease processes. Therefore, it has a specific diagnostic presentation and treatment protocol. ICR causes mandibular condylar resorption and, with loss of vertical dimension of the condyle, it can create occlusal (bite relationship) and musculoskeletal instability, resulting in the development of dentofacial deformities, TMJ dysfunction, and pain. The occurrence of ICR has been identified by many authors as being associated with orthodontic treatment and orthognathic (i.e., corrective jaw) surgery (1–10). This association may, in fact, be coincidental and not reflect a specific cause-and-effect relationship. Recommended treatment for ICR at one time included splint therapy to minimize joint loading, nonloading orthodontic and orthognathic surgical procedures after the disease had been in remission 6 to 12 months, arthroscopic lysis and lavage, condylar replacement with a costochondral graft if the ICR could not be controlled or recurred, and maxillary surgery only to correct the occlusal deformity (5, 6, 11–14). None of these management strategies for ICR provides predictable, stable outcomes for the TMJ, optimizes function and aesthetic results, or eliminates pain. Wolford and Cardenas recently published a treatment protocol that effectively stops the disease process, provides reliable functional and aesthetic results, and eliminates or significantly reduces pain levels (15). This article presents the diagnostic factors for ICR, the specific treatment protocol, and the expected outcomes.
DG.o2003: birds of a feather theme

Ten birds of my feather joined me and flocked with me for the entire BoF session yesterday. Ten different backgrounds, interests, and home ranges. Issues identified and projects planned are as follows. You are all invited to be a bird of these feathers:
Effect of betamethasone on analysis of amniotic fluid in the rhesus-sensitized pregnancy.

Abstract Betamethasone was administered to six rhesus-sensitized pregnant women carrying seven fetuses in an attempt to accelerate fetal pulmonary maturation. A reduction in optical density of amniotic fluid at 450 mμ was observed in all cases following steroid therapy; however, only minimal changes were noted in the lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio. The implications of these findings for the management of rhesus-sensitized pregnancies are discussed.
Purification and properties of HeLa cell plasma membranes.

Abstract A simple method for the preparation of HeLa cell plasma membrane ghosts without the use of cross-linking reagents or fixatives has been developed. The membranes have been characterized by phase and electron microscopy and by the use of radioactive precursors to RNA, protein, glycoprotein, and lipid. The glycoprotein and polypeptide constituents have been analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis in conjunction with subfractionation by mild detergents. There appears to be a predominant species of polypeptide and [3H]-l-fucose-labeled glycoprotein having a molecular weight of 40,000 to 45,000. The number of plasma membrane ghosts in a preparation was determined by counting ghosts in a hemacytometer and the yield of ghosts was then found to be in the range of 10 to 20% of the number of cells used for the preparation. Purified plasma membranes labeled for 4 hours or more contained 70 to 100% of the total cell trichloroacetic acid insoluble [3H]-l-fucose. Thus, [3H]-l-fucose seems to be a specific label for HeLa cell plasma membranes.
The Conformation-dependent Interaction of α2-Macroglobulin with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A NOVEL MECHANISM OF α2-MACROGLOBULIN/GROWTH FACTOR BINDING

α2-Macroglobulin (α2M) is a highly conserved proteinase inhibitor present in human plasma at high concentration (2–4 mg/ml). α2M exists in two conformations, a native form and an activated, receptor-recognized form. While α2M binds to numerous cytokines and growth factors, in most cases, the nature of the α2M interaction with these factors is poorly understood. We examined in detail the interaction between α2M and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and found a novel and unexpected mechanism of interaction as demonstrated by the following observations: 1) the binding of VEGF to α2M occurs at a site distinct from the recently characterized growth factor binding site; 2) VEGF binds different forms of α2M with distinct spatial arrangement, namely to the interior of methylamine or ammonia-treated α2M and to the exterior of native and proteinase-converted α2M; and 3) VEGF (molecular mass ∼40 kDa) can access the interior of receptor-recognized α2M in the absence of a proteinase trapped within the molecule. VEGF bound to receptor-recognized forms of α2M is internalized and degraded by macrophages via the α2M receptor, the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. Oxidation of both native and receptor-recognized α2M results in significant inhibition of VEGF binding. We also examined the biological significance of this interaction by studying the effect of α2M on VEGF-induced cell proliferation and VEGF-induced up-regulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels. We demonstrate that under physiological conditions, α2M does not impact the ability of VEGF to induce cell proliferation or up-regulate Ca2+.
Sensing and classifying roadway obstacles: The street bump anomaly detection and decision support system

We develop an anomaly detection and decision support system based on data collected through the Street Bump smartphone application. The system is capable of effectively classifying roadway obstacles into predefined categories using machine learning algorithms, as well as identifying actionable ones in need of immediate attention based on a proposed “anomaly index.” We introduce appropriate regularization to the classification algorithms we employ, which has the effect of utilizing a sparse set of relevant features to perform the classification. Further, our novel “anomaly index” allows us to prioritize among actionable obstacles. Results on an actual data set provided by the City of Boston illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our system in practice.