cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global Risk Assessment and Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring in Low-Intermediate Risk Women: What Is a Picture Really Worth?

Accurate atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) risk assessment is needed for both women and men to identify and intervene in individuals at risk for ASCVD. Previously developed global risk scores, such as the Framingham Risk Score, have had many limitations, particularly in women who are routinely categorized as lower risk than men.1,2 The newer ASCVD Risk Score3 that makes up the current guidelines for assessment of cardiovascular risk has been shown to overestimate risk in women.4 In addition, even in those with an optimal risk factor profile at the age of 55 years, there remains a substantial lifetime risk of ASCVD for both men and women (40% and 30%, respectively) who are unaccounted for by short-term (10 years) risk assessment.5 See Article by Kelkar et al In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Kelkar et al6 sought to determine the prognostic use of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in a low-intermediate risk cohort of asymptomatic men and women. Despite the fact that CAC is currently not recommended as part of the risk stratification in low-intermediate risk individuals, this study demonstrated that the addition of CAC effectively identifies high-risk women, beyond what would be predicted based on risk factor assessment alone. This cohort was composed of women who were approximately a decade older than the …
Epidemiological Analysis of Rabies in Meizhou City from 2001 to 2006

Objective To explore the epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Meizhou city and provide the scientific basis for the control and prevention of rabies.Method The data of epidemic situation and personal survey from 2001 to 2006 in Meizhou was epidemiologically analyzed.Result There were 127 cases of rabies in Meizhou between 2001 and 2006.The annual incidence was 0.43/100000,with a mortality of 100%.There was no obvious peak season.The infected male to female ratio was 1.76:1.57.48% of the infected people were farmers.Conclusion The rabies epidemic situation is grave in Meizhou city.The occurrence was mainly in Wuhua county.A high density of dogs,low immunization rate,inappropriate treatment and limited health knowledge of the general public were the major cause of the outbreak of rabies.Strengthening of managing the dogs,increasing the vaccination rate of the dogs and the health education in general public are the focus of our work in the future.
Symptomatic Management of Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Tremor Among Participants in the NARCOMS Registry.

Background: Tremor affects 25% to 58% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is associated with poor prognosis and increased disability. MS-related tremor is difficult to treat, and data regarding patient-reported characterization and response to treatment are limited. We describe the symptomatic treatment of tremor in 508 enrollees in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry who self-reported tremor. Methods: From 777 surveys sent to NARCOMS participants who indicated mild or greater tremor using the Tremor and Coordination Scale, we compiled data regarding disability, tremor severity, symptomatic medication use, and reported response to medications. Results: Symptomatic medications reported to reduce tremor were used by 238 respondents (46.9%). Symptomatic medication use was associated with increased rates of unemployment and disability, and many other characteristics were similar between groups. Symptomatic drug use was more likely in participants reporting m...
Ectopic Hormonal Syndromes in Neoplastic Disease

Because tumors have enormous capacity to produce peptides that are active systemically, malignant disease is often associated with nonmetastatic manifestations—some resembling endocrine syndromes. Although the mechanisms of these syndromes are heterogeneous, molecular biology techniques have revealed several common patterns.
Beyond basic: developing our work in and through the introductory communication course

ABSTRACTHow we describe, develop texts for, and prepare the teachers of introductory courses contributes to the assumption that they are “basic”—merely disciplinary service. Innovation is essential and achieved by drawing complex research into our introductory courses and by making such courses a meaningful component of our research agendas.
Decreased Opioid Prescribing in a Pediatric Emergency Department After the Rescheduling of Hydrocodone

Abstract Background The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) changed hydrocodone-containing products (HCPs) from Schedule III to II status on October 6, 2014, making codeine-containing products (CCPs) the only non–Schedule II oral opioid agents. Objectives We sought to describe prescribing patterns of oral opioid agents in the pediatric emergency department before and after the 2014 DEA rescheduling of HCPs. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study evaluating prescribing patterns in the pediatric emergency department at an urban, academic, quaternary care children's hospital system for 6 months before and 6 months after the DEA rescheduling of HCPs. Differences in patient demographics, provider type, and diagnoses were assessed during the two time periods using Pearson's chi-squared test. The Breslow–Day statistic was used to assess differences in prescribing patterns by provider type. Results There were 1256 prescriptions for HCPs and CCPs in our pediatric emergency department during the study period, and only 36 prescriptions for alternate oral opioid medications. Prescriptions of all opioid pain medications decreased by 55% after rescheduling. The odds of prescribing HCPs were reduced by 60% after the DEA rescheduling (odds ratio 0.40 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.30–0.54]; p p = 0.75). Conclusions The period after rescheduling of HCPs was associated with a lower odds of HCP prescriptions in our emergency department without an increase in the prescription of CCPs.
Endothelial Microparticles (EMP) Inhibit ADAMTS13 Activity: Implications in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Deficiency of ADAMTS13 is implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital and some acquired idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). However, injury to endothelial cells (EC) is also believed to play a major role. Endothelial microparticles (EMP), markers of EC injury, are elevated in acute TTP, and subsets of EMP have been shown to carry ULvWF. The aim of this study was to further characterize the role of EMP in TTP by assessing their effect on ADAMTS13 activity. METHODS. EMP derived from activated renal microvascular EC (RMVEC) and coronary artery EC (CAEC) were depleted of phenotypic subsets by negative panning with immunomagnetic beads against CD62E, CD31, or CD54. For clinical studies, platelet-poor plasmas (PPP) were selectively depleted of PMP and LMP by beads against CD41 and CD45, respectively. Antigenic phenotypes of EMP were measured by flow cytometry. vWF multimer size was analyzed by Western blotting after 0.8% argarose gel electrophoresis. Proaggregatory activity of vWF (free in plasma or on EMP) was assessed by incubation of washed platelets with EMP (some are vWF+) or soluble plasma vWF, and ristocetin for 10min, then measuring platelet aggregation by flow cytometry. To measure interaction of ADAMTS13 with EMP, PPP was incubated with EMP (1x10 5 – 1x10 8 EMP/mL) for 15min – 3hr, then centrifuged to remove EMP (15,000xg, 1hr), and ADAMTS13 activity remaining in the plasma was assayed by the method of Furlan et al [ Blood, 1997, 89:3097]. RESULTS. (1) RMVEC released >2-fold more EMP than CAEC and the proportion of vWF+ EMP was 2-fold higher with RMVEC (65 ±17% of total) than with CAEC (30±12%), p 8 EMP/mL for 3hr), resulting in a 71 ±23% reduction after centrifugation (p in vitro -generated EMP, similar concentrations of patient EMP removed or inactivated ADAMTS13 activity in plasma, by 66 ±18% in these experiments (p CONCLUSION. EMP released from EC culture and EMP isolated from TTP plasma inactivated ADAMTS13 activity and enhanced formation of platelet aggregates. These findings further support the hypothesis that EMP play an important role in TTP by downregulating ADAMTS13 and promoting the formation of platelet rich microthrombi in microvasculature.
Report and Research Agenda of the American Geriatrics Society and National Institute on Aging Bedside-to-Bench Conference on Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Aging: New Avenues for Improving Brain Health, Physical Health, and Functioning

The American Geriatrics Society, with support from the National Institute on Aging and other funders, held its eighth Bedside-to-Bench research conference, entitled “Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Aging: New Avenues for Improving Brain Health, Physical Health and Functioning,” October 4 to 6, 2015, in Bethesda, Maryland. Part of a conference series addressing three common geriatric syndromes—delirium, sleep and circadian rhythm (SCR) disturbance, and voiding dysfunction—the series highlighted relationships and pertinent clinical and pathophysiological commonalities between these three geriatric syndromes. The conference provided a forum for discussing current sleep, circadian rhythm, and aging research; identifying gaps in knowledge; and developing a research agenda to inform future investigative efforts. The conference also promoted networking among developing researchers, leaders in the field of SCR and aging, and National Institutes of Health program personnel.
Learning Outcomes of Simulation of Insolvency Proceedings Inspired by the US Mock Trials

The main aim of this paper is to quantify students’ learning outcomes from a pilot project inspired by Mock trials developed in the USA and applied into the Czech system of law education of students of business disciplines. The pilot project involved a simulation of insolvency proceedings where the students played roles of various participants. The learning outcomes were evaluated in accordance to Bloom’s taxonomy of learning objectives and findings support previous studies on this topic. Our results generally confirm the findings of various studies saying that the teaching of basic concepts and terminology is more effective in the form of lectures and that main simulation as a pedagogy outcomes are in the affective and psychomotor domains. However, the differences in cognitive results of our students are very small as measured by an anonymous final test, which suggests that there are more factors to be considered and further studied. The results also show that the students prefer the simulation method to the traditional lectures and perceive it as an efficient learning experience with long‑term impact on their learning as well as attitudes and skills. Such a study has not been done in the Czech environment and the findings enrich both business and law education theory and practice.
High-cost cancer imaging: Opportunities for utilization management

Abstract Objectives To retrospectively evaluate utilization of high-cost cancer imaging to clarify the extent to which variations in provider preferences drive imaging utilization. Study design At a United States academic cancer center, 4,605 patients were identified with 29,740 oncologist ordered tomographic imaging studies. Patients' dates of death ranged from January 2000 through December 2014. Imaging was restricted to CT, MR, and PET/PET-CT. Outcome variables were total imaging per patient and total imaging per patient by a single oncologist. The number of ordering oncologists per patient, patients receiving imaging in the final year of life, and patients receiving imaging ordered by a high-ordering oncologist were the predictors of interest. Methods Zero-truncated negative binomial regressions were used to model collective and individual oncologist per patient imaging counts, with the exposure period defined as the number of days from diagnosis to death. Results Patients with imaging ordered by one of the high-ordering medical oncologists predicted nearly a two-fold increase in total images from diagnosis to death (IRR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.67–2.23). Increasing numbers of providers (2, 3, 4+ ordering oncologists) were associated with greater collective per patient imaging (IRRs 1.65, 2.19, 2.33). Mean imaging intensity increased in a linear manner as temporal proximity to death decreased, from 12 months pre-mortem to death, and imaging in the final year of life was associated with greater per patient imaging (IRR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.23–0.27). Conclusion These findings suggest heterogeneous provider ordering preferences and lapses in care coordination are drivers of high-cost cancer imaging utilization.
Forecasting savings of building energy systems using artificial neural networks

Yearlong energy consumption forecasts of multilayered feedforward neural networks (MFNN) are unreliable if the data samples are too closely spaced. With current computation power a MFNN can outperform a regression model in terms of accuracy and speed. The error in these neural networks can be reduced by averaging the resulting forecasts as well as optimizing their internal parameters. Given a building in North Carolina which underwent a series of upgrades in 2015 a method is proposed to predict consumption savings. A yearlong forecast of a MFNN model with daily aggregate energy consumption data is shown to perform better than the same model with 15-minute aggregate energy consumption. This dynamic model also performs with more accurate results than a baseline thin plate spline model.
The Annual Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Does Not Decrease over Time in Patients with Barrett's Esophagus

The Annual Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Does Not Decrease Over Time in Patients With Barrett’s Esophagus
Displacement and Preemption: The OPA's Effect on General Maritime Law and State Tort Law Punitive Damages Claims

There are many levels at which we must seek to understand the Deepwater Horizon disaster. They include the scientific, the technological, the economic, the regulatory, and the legal. One of the essential ways in which we Americans redress rights and try to right wrongs is through civil litigation, and the Deepwater Horizon disaster has appropriately spawned litigation. Victims of the disaster have filed claims against the various parties allegedly responsible for the explosion and spill. They have filed tort claims arising under general maritime law and state tort law. They have sought compensatory damages as well as punitive damages - punitive damages are designed to punish and deter those allegedly responsible for allegedly reckless, tortuous activity. Those injured have also filed statutory damages claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA).The question then, is what, if any effect, does the OPA have on maritime or state punitive damages claims in cases to which it applies? Does the OPA displace or preempt pre-existing claims? Our answer is that punitive damages are recoverable under either general maritime law or state law even if the OPA also applies. As we explain below, Congress’ intent is clear that the OPA has no effect at all on state law claims. Likewise, punitive damages are still recoverable under the general maritime law in a case to which the OPA also applies. This conclusion is based on several reasons: (1) the OPA is silent on punitive damages, (2) OPA’s express maritime savings provision, (3) OPA’s legislative history, (4) a review of U.S. Supreme Court maritime jurisprudence addressing the effect that the passage of new statute has on a pre-existing general maritime law claim, (5) an analysis of other no fault schemes and their effect on pre-existing tort claims, (6) and the fact that punitive damages are remedial in nature.
Fabric heterogeneity in the Mojave lower crust and lithospheric mantle in southern California

We use xenoliths from young cinder cones in the eastern Mojave region of southern California to investigate deformation fabrics and their implications for strain localization, lithospheric viscosity, and controls on mineral lattice preferred orientations (LPO) and seismic anisotropy at Moho depths. Lower crustal gabbros and upper mantle peridotites were collected from two areas separeated by ∼80 km — the Cima and Deadman Lake Volcanic Fields. At both localities, mantle peridotites exhibit solid-state deformation fabrics that show strong LPOs and other evidence for dislocation creep as the dominant deformation mechanism. The preservation of microstructures ranging from annealed, granular to mylonitic indicates there is substantial strain localization in the Mojave mantle near the Moho. Paleopiezometry conducted on subgrains in olivine indicate that stress magnitudes during deformation were 12–26 MPa. Calculations using olivine flow laws yield strain rates on the order of ∼10−12/s and an associated viscosity of ∼1019 Pa·s, consistent with estimates of mantle lid viscosity from postseismic relaxation studies. Two types of olivine LPOs were observed in the peridotites: A-type and E-type fabrics, both of which predict seismic fast axes that align parallel to the lineation within the foliation plane. The occurrences of the two fabric types appear to correlate with strain magnitude but not with water contents measured using FTIR. Lower crustal fabrics are dominated by magmatic foliations and LPOs in plagioclase, which produce seismic fast axes oriented perpendicular to the foliation plane. This suggests that even where mantle and lower crustal fabrics are kinematically linked, their seismic fast axes may appear anti-correlated across the Moho.
From Gift Exchange to Profit Economy Reconsidered: Toward a Cultural History of Money

Chapter 3 discussed three classics in medieval economic history that appeared in the 1970s: Robert Lopez’s The Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages, 950–1350 (1971), Georges Duby’s Early Growth of the European Economy (1973), and Lester Little’s Religious Poverty and the Profit Economy (1978).2 Lopez was presented as representative of the broad and path-breaking scholarship in medieval economic history in the mid-twentieth century, and his monograph Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages as a synthesis of the scholarship on the high medieval expansion of trade, markets, and money by a generation of medieval economic and business historians on both sides of the Atlantic. Duby and Little were discussed as representatives of the trajectory flowing from Polanyi (and Mauss), which expanded the definition of economy beyond the categories of money, market, and trade. Duby in his Early Growth of the European Economy applied the sociological concept of “gift exchange” to early medieval economy, and in the conclusion contrasted this early medieval “gift economy” with Lopez’s commercial “takeoff” of the High Middle Ages. Little adopted Duby’s juxtaposition of early medieval “gift economy” and high medieval “profit economy” as the starting point for a study of the social and cultural effects of the commercial revolution.3 Little posited that the radical economic transition from a gift economy to a profit economy generated a disjuncture between the new socioeconomic realities and a traditional, unresponsive clergy and theology resulting in a “spiritual crisis of medieval urban culture.”4
Influence of fiber characteristics on directed electroactuation of anisotropic dielectric electroactive polymers with tunability

Abstract Dielectric elastomers constitute a technologically important class of stimuli-responsive polymers due primarily to their unique ability to achieve large strains (>300 area%) upon exposure to an external electric field. In most reported cases, actuation strains are measured as dielectric elastomers constrained to a circular test configuration essentially waste energy by undergoing isotropic, rather than directional, electroactuation. Recent independent studies have demonstrated, however, that the addition of relatively stiff fibers to a soft dielectric elastomer matrix promotes more energy-efficient anisotropic mechanical behavior and electroactuation response. In this work, we investigate the effects of fiber strain and mechanical properties on electroactuation in anisotropic dielectric electroactive polymers with tunability (ADEPT) fabricated from an acrylic dielectric elastomer. Increases in fiber loading level and stiffness are observed to enhance both mechanical and electroactuation properties to different extents, and we introduce an electroactuation anisotropic enhancement factor to quantify the ratio of electroactuation to mechanical anisotropy. This factor is determined to vary linearly with fiber concentration for nearly all the different ADEPT composites examined in this study.
Living uterus donation and transplantation: experience of interest and screening in a single center in the United States.

Background Little is known about attitudes toward uterus donation and transplantation in society and the interest of the women the treatment is aimed to assist. Objective This study examined the interest of recipients and living donors in our uterus transplantation program; it describes the screening protocol we developed and the results of the screening and reports demographic data and characteristics of screened candidates. Study Design Initial screening and evaluation included physical examinations by a gynecologist and a transplant surgeon; psychological evaluation; imaging (x-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound); blood tests; immunological testing; viral, bacterial, and fungal testing; drug screen; hormonal testing; Papanicolau smear; urinalysis; and electrocardiogram. For selected recipients, the process also included in vitro fertilization. Results A total of 351 women contacted our department with interest in participating in uterus transplantation; 272 were potential recipients and 79 were potential donors. Among these women, 179 potential recipients and 62 potential donors continued the evaluation after the initial telephone screening. The mean age of the donor candidates was 40 years; all had completed their own family, and 80% were nondirected. Most recipient candidates (92%) had an anatomical lack of the uterus, and of these, 36% had a congenital malformation. The women with a congenital uterine absence were in general younger than the women in the group whose uterus had been removed (mean of 28 and 33 years, respectively). In every step of the initial screening and evaluation process, there were donor and recipient candidates that chose not to continue the process. The reasons for self-withdrawal after expressing interest were not returning phone calls or e-mails (17 donors and 76 recipients); after initial phone screening, no longer interested (1 donor and 9 recipients); in step 1, health history questionnaire not returned after 1 reminder (10 donors and 9 recipients); step 2, not right in their current life situation (2 donors and 2 recipients), and in step 3, chose another way to achieve motherhood (1 recipient). Most donor and recipient candidates (52% and 78%, respectively) could be screened out (because of self-withdrawal or transplant team’s decision) during the noninvasive and cost-efficient initial screening. Conclusion Our initial experience shows a great interest in participating in a trial of uterus transplantation by both potential recipients and donors. It is the first study to show interest in nondirected donation. A sufficient but thoughtful screening process of living donors and recipients is essential and should aim both to assure donor/recipient safety and to provide good quality grafts.
Martin–Löf random generalized Poisson processes

Abstract Martin–Lof randomness was originally defined and studied in the context of the Cantor space 2 ω . In [2] probability theoretic random closed sets (RACS) are used as the foundation for the study of Martin–Lof randomness in spaces of closed sets. We use that framework to explore Martin–Lof randomness for the space of closed subsets of R and a particular family of measures on this space, the generalized Poisson processes. This gives a novel class of Martin–Lof random closed subsets of R . We describe some of the properties of these Martin–Lof random closed sets; one result establishes that a real number is Martin–Lof random if and only if it is contained in some Martin–Lof random closed set.
A 10 GHz bandwidth balanced photoreceiver with 41 V/W optical conversion gain

A 10 GHz bandwidth photoreceiver is demonstrated. The photoreceiver consists of two photodiodes (PD) in a balanced configuration to generate a single-ended input to the transimpedance amplifier (TIA). The PDs achieves a responsivity of 0.48 A/W, and a 15 GHz bandwidth while driving a 50 D load under the designed biasing. The regulated cascode TIA is implemented in a 130 nm RF CMOS process. The TIA achieves a transimpedance gain of 39 dBD The complete photoreceiver achieves a conversion gain of 41 V/W across a 10 GHz bandwidth with the TIA consuming 56 mW from a 2 V supply, and the PDs drawing 1.2 mA from +/−5 V supplies. High sensitivity is achieved due to a low noise equivalent power (NEP) of 86 pWA/Hz.
Attributes of Weathercasters Who Engage in Climate Change Education Outreach

AbstractThis research explores the role of weathercasters as local climate change educators and identifies attributes of those who present climate science to their viewers. In 2015, the authors att...
Media relations and universities: an assessment of digital newsrooms

Reviews of editorial practices and academic studies have shown that journalists often rely on organization websites—and online newsrooms in particular—to inform news stories. Yet, at a time when ma...
Coherence and the resolution of ellipsis

Despite the attention that various forms of ellipsis have received inthe literature, the conditions under which a representation of anutterance may serve as a suitable referent for interpreting subsequentelliptical forms remain poorly understood. This fundamental questionremains as a point of contention, particularly because there are datato support various conflicting approaches that attempt to characterizethese conditions within a single module of language processing. Weshow a previously unnoticed pattern in VP-ellipsis data with respectto the type of coherence relation extant between the antecedentand elided clauses. This pattern is explained by an account of howellipsis resolution processes interact with the inference processesunderlying the establishment of these relations. The analysis alsoexplains a similar yet distinct pattern in gapping constructions whichare not accounted for by purely syntactic approaches. Finally, wediscuss event reference and compare the resulting account to thedichotomy of types of anaphora posited by HanSag.
Optimizing MPI one sided communication on multi-core infiniband clusters using shared memory backed windows

The Message Passing Interface (MPI) has been very popular for programming parallel scientific applications. As the multi-core architectures have become prevalent, a major question that has emerged is about the use of MPI within a compute node and its impact on communication costs. The one-sided communication interface in MPI provides a mechanism to reduce communication costs by removing matching requirements of the send/receive model. The MPI standard provides the flexibility to allocate memory windows backed by shared memory. However, state-of-the-art open-source MPI libraries do not leverage this optimization opportunity for commodity clusters. In this paper, we present a design and implementation of intra-node MPI one-sided interface using shared memory backed windows on multi-core clusters. We use MVAPICH2 MPI library for design, implementation and evaluation. Micro-benchmark evaluation shows that the new design can bring up to 85% improvement in Put, Get and Accumulate latencies, with passive synchronization mode. The band width performance of Put and Get improves by 64% and 42%, respectively. Splash LU benchmark shows an improvement of up to 55% with the new design on 32 core Magny-cours node. It shows similar improvement on a 12 core Westmere node. The mean BFS time in Graph500 reduces by 39% and 77% on Magny-cours and Westmere nodes, respectively.
Milestones, Core Concepts, and Contrasts

Abstract Thin-layer chromatography and column chromatography are complementary separation techniques based on liquid chromatography. Although their application domains overlap, there is generally good reason to select one method over the other for particular applications. Capillary-controlled flow and the development mode are widely used in thin-layer chromatography. This restricts its kinetic performance compared to forced-flow techniques. Multiple development and multidimensional strategies increase the separation potential when using capillary-controlled flow. Incremental multiple development facilitates the use of solvent-strength gradients for the separation of mixtures with a wide range of retention properties. In this chapter, the general parameters used to describe separations in thin-layer chromatography are described and compared with the equivalent terms employed in column chromatography with a view to establishing the similarities and differences for the two techniques. This approach also affords general framework for method selection and to establish expectations.
Involvement of Guanidino Groups in Anion-Binding Sites and in Enzyme-Catalyzed Covalent Modification Reactions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the involvement of guanidino groups in anion-binding sites and in enzyme-catalyzed covalent modification reactions. It presents a study that determines whether an un-ionized guanidino group might be important for: (1) binding of phosphate, (2) its chemical reactivity, and (3) its involvement in specific enzyme-catalyzed covalent modification reactions. A guanylhydrazone was used as a reactant because it has a lower p K a value than arginine and it allows direct testing of the effect of the charge state of the reactant in chemical and enzymatic reactions. The chemical reactivity of nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine (NBAG) with p-nitrophenylglyoxal was examined at different pH values and at a constant pH but in the presence of various detergents to determine whether the reaction occurred more readily with the un-ionized form. The reactions were followed using high-performance liquid chromatography to measure the decrease in NBAG with time. With a 20-fold excess of p-nitrophenylglyoxal, the reaction consisted of two pseudo-first-order phases. A second-order rate constant was evaluated after the contribution of the slow phase from the initial phase was subtracted. The results show that the reaction rate increases with pH and the change in rate constant nearly correlates with an increase in the amount of the unprotonated species of NBAG.
From prion diseases to Alzheimer's disease

Recent advances in the transgenetics of prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease have led to a clearer understanding of the relationship between these two diseases and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the two disorders. Earlier studies of transgenic mice expressing prion protein (PrP) underscored the importance of PrP levels and PrP primary structure on the resultant phenotype. Three major parameters influencing the phenotypes of mice expressing the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) have also been identified: 1) APP levels; 2) APP primary structure; and 3) mouse host strain. The effects and implications of these parameters in transgenic mice expressing APP are discussed.
Blogging the Unfinished Story in Post-Katrina New Orleans

With the growing familiarity of the blog genre, much has been published about the use of information and communication technologies for grassroots and community endeavors, but there is still research to be done, particularly of placeblogs that coincide with sites of natural and/or national disaster. Unlike other scholarly Internet inquiries where issues of identity might influence the structures and processes of the research, the population discussed here stands out in its transparent use of blogs and other Web 2.0 technologies. The New Orleans blogger community proves to be one built upon the shared experience of Hurricane Katrina and is thereby focused on reporting the facts surrounding and actions needed for recovery to take place. While their individual blog audiences may be small, their disclosing details about their lives ‘after the levees broke’ allows these ‘NOLA Bloggers’ to be in control of their storm stories and potentially receive feedback within minutes of sharing, which is fundamental during times of crisis. After a brief overview of my autoethnographic research methods, I present a profile of a blogger whose writing presents readers with a truer understanding of what life is like in post-Katrina New Orleans. Since the hurricane hit in 2005, Charlotte’s writing has progressed from emotional outpourings of survivor’s guilt to reflective posts illustrating the way web 2.0 technologies have empowered her local identity since the storm.
Temporal Correlation Between Chronic Cough and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Reflux disease (GERD) and chronic cough often coexist, but a temporal correlation using the symptom association probability has not been reported. Our aim was to determine if a temporal correlation exists between cough and GERD. Sixty-one patients with chronic cough had esophageal pH monitoring with sensors 5 and 20 cm above the LES. The symptom (SI) and symptom sensitivity (SSI) indices and the symptom association probability (SAP) were used to test cough-reflux association. Pathological reflux was defined as the percentage of time pH < 4 exceeded 4.2%. A significant temporal association between cough and distal reflux was made in 35% of patients by SAP compared with only 14.8% by SI and SSI alone (P < 0.002). Patients with pathologic reflux had a greater likelihood of a temporal symptom correlation (57.1%) when not on acid-blocking medications. In conclusion, a temporal association between cough and distal reflux exists in one third of patients, especially those with pathological reflux. The SAP is a more sensitive measure of temporal association than SI or SSI.
Infectious and Noninfectious Acute Pericarditis in Children: An 11-Year Experience

Objective. The study was undertaken to determine the etiology, review management, and outcome in children diagnosed with acute pericarditis during 11 years at tertiary pediatric institution. Methods. Retrospective chart review of children diagnosed between 2004 and 2014. Patients with postsurgical pericardial effusions were excluded. Results. Thirty-two children were identified (median age 10yr/11mo). Pericardiocentesis was performed in 24/32 (75%) patients. The most common cause of pericarditis was infection in 11/32 (34%), followed by inflammatory disorders in 9 (28%). Purulent pericarditis occurred in 5 children including 4 due to Staphylococcus aureus: 2 were methicillin resistant (MRSA). All patients with purulent pericarditis had concomitant infection including soft tissue, bone, or lung infection; all had pericardial drain placement and 2 required pericardiotomy and mediastinal exploration. Other infections were due to Histoplasma capsulatum (2), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (2), Influenza A (1), and Enterovirus (1). Pericarditis/pericardial effusion was the initial presentation in 4 children with systemic lupus erythematosus including one who presented with tamponade and in 2 children who were diagnosed with systemic onset juvenile inflammatory arthritis. Tumors were diagnosed in 2 patients. Five children had recurrent pericarditis. Systemic antibiotics were used in 21/32 (66%) and prednisone was used in 11/32 (34%) patients. Conclusion. Infections remain an important cause of pericarditis in children. Purulent pericarditis is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and is associated with significant morbidity, need of surgical intervention, and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Echocardiography-guided thoracocentesis remains the preferred diagnostic and therapeutic approach. However, pericardiotomy and drainage are needed when appropriate clinical response is not achieved with percutaneous drainage.
Violent Crime and Immigrant Removals: Reasons and Determinants of Immigrant Deportations, 1908-1986

This research describes and explains changes in non-citizen deportations from the United States between 1908 and 1986. Using data from historical immigration yearbooks, we first document and quantify the primary reasons given for removing immigrants from U.S. soil. A key finding is that perceived dispositional defects and threatening behavior (e.g., criminal behavior, mental or physical defects) accounted for a large proportion of deportations in the early 20 th century, but these gave way to administrative rationales (e.g., improper documentation) as immigration law and the enforcement bureaucracy expanded. Results of time-series analyses further suggest that the homicide rate is correlated with deportations for administrative reasons and with deportations based on perceived dispositional defects and threatening behavior. Implications and relevance for understanding current immigration debates are discussed.
The Barrow Biomimetic Spine: effect of a 3-dimensional-printed spinal osteotomy model on performance of spinal osteotomies by medical students and interns

Background: The Schwab osteotomy grading scale—a unified osteotomy classification system created in 2014 by Schwab et al .—is one of many concepts in spine surgery that require detailed knowledge of 3-dimensional (3D) anatomy. 3D-printed spine models have demonstrated increasing utility in spine surgery as they more quickly communicate information on complex 3D anatomical relationships than planar imaging or 2-dimensional images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a custom, 3D-printed spine model to help surgical trainees understand and perform the Schwab osteotomy grading scale. Methods: Eight participants were randomized into 2 groups: group 1 received written instructional materials about the Schwab osteotomy grading scale, whereas group 2 received both written materials and a 3D-printed model of the spine with osteotomy regions demarcated. All participants were administered written and practical examinations. Results: The group randomized to receive the 3D-printed model performed significantly better on both the written assessment (mean score, 7.75±0.50 vs . 5.75±0.50, P=0.023) and the practical examination (mean score, 1.75±0.32 vs . 1.08±0.09, P=0.025) than the group that received only written instructions. Conclusions: Our results support the conclusion that this 3D-printed spine model is an effective adjunct to help early surgical trainees understand the Schwab osteotomy grading scale. Participants who received the model in addition to the source manuscript demonstrated improved theoretical knowledge and better performance on practical tests of complex spinal osteotomies. Similar models are likely to have utility in surgical training programs and as patient education models.
Time for an “upgrade:” How incorporating social habits can further boost your writing potential

Abstract Introduction Incorporating social writing habits into your practice has many benefits, including new ideas, growth and development, accountability, networking opportunities, better-focused writing, and even increased productivity. In this commentary, we discuss the social habits of writing as described by Dr. Helen Sword in her book Air & Light & Time & Space and provide suggestions for how to incorporate these habits in order to elevate your academic writing. Commentary Social habits of writing include writing for others, writing with others, and writing among others. Writing for others highlights the important relationship between author and reader. As writers consider their audience, the goal is to share the efforts of their research or other learning, which includes lessons learned along the way. Serving as a peer reviewer can be beneficial to a writer's development and significantly contributes to the scientific community. Writing with others, or collaborating on a writing project, provides accountability, efficiency, and diversity of skills and viewpoints. When working with others, especially trainees, it is important to set clear expectations of roles, responsibilities, and timelines up front. Finally, writing among others, or working in concert with others but on different projects, can occur in person or virtually with the aid of technology. Writing among others can provide development, accountability, networking, and aid creativity. Implications We can all work to elevate our writing through attention to the social habits of writing. Developing and using these techniques may take time to implement. Practically, making small changes may be the most successful.
Distress screening in cancer survivorship.

138Background: Cancer survivors have varied physical, psychosocial, emotional and financial needs that may differ from needs of active cancer treatment patients. Distress screening identifies and m...
Retrospective Analysis of Hydraulic Bridge Collapse

AbstractThe investigation concentrates on the most predominant cause of bridge collapse (239 or 55%), which is the result of hydraulic effects. Out of all the causes of bridge collapses, the Nation...
Approximation Notions in Concave Games

This paper studies three different approximation concepts in the context of n-person concave games. Formally, we establish the precise relationship between the notions of e-Nash Equilibrium, $\hate-approximate solution, and δ-near Nash equilibrium. We apply our results to the class of Lipschitz games and discrete network games respectively.
Economic consequence analysis of electric power infrastructure disruptions: General equilibrium approaches

Abstract We develop a stylized two-sector analytical general equilibrium model that elucidates mechanisms of adjustment to widespread, long-duration electric power disruptions. Algebraic solutions illustrate the relative importance of resilience through producer and consumer input substitutability and mitigation investment in backup infrastructure capacity in moderating the economy-wide costs of outages. Simulations of the impacts of a two-week power outage on California's Bay Area economy using both the analytical model and a computational general equilibrium model yield welfare losses that are substantially smaller than stated-preference estimates of willingness to pay. Results highlight the role of resilience in moderating consequences of energy supply shocks.
A Compartment Model of Human Mobility and Early Covid-19 Dynamics in NYC

In this paper, we build a mechanistic system to understand the relation between a reduction in human mobility and Covid-19 spread dynamics within New York City. To this end, we propose a multivariate compartmental model that jointly models smartphone mobility data and case counts during the first 90 days of the epidemic. Parameter calibration is achieved through the formulation of a general Bayesian hierarchical model to provide uncertainty quantification of resulting estimates. The open-source probabilistic programming language Stan is used for the requisite computation. Through sensitivity analysis and out-of-sample forecasting, we find our simple and interpretable model provides evidence that reductions in human mobility altered case dynamics.
Plasmids and Transposons

This chapter describes the basic mechanisms of maintenance and transposition of the plasmids and transposons identified or known to function in the enterococci. Their use as genetic tools for studying enterococci is also discussed. Three classes of plasmids are known to be capable of replication in the enterococci: the rolling circle replicating (RCR) plasmids, the Incl8 plasmids, and the pheromone-responsive plasmids. A large number of individual transposons and several transposon classes have been described in enterococci. Enterococcal transposons generally fall into one of three classes: Tn3-family transposons, composite transposons, and conjugative transposons. The first two classes are widespread throughout the bacterial domain and their transposition mechanisms have been well described in Escherichia coli and other gram-negative bacteria. The distribution and characteristics of several important Tn3-family and composite transposons native to the enterococci are described. Both the pheromone-responsive plasmids and the broad-hostrange plasmids have been implicated in the transfer of antibiotic resistance in the clinical setting. Work on plasmids and transposons in the enterococci and in other low G+C gram-positive bacteria has revealed that the general themes of plasmid and transposon function are conserved between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Clearly, more information on plasmid biology and chromosomal genomics of diverse bacterial organisms is required before the hypothesis can be tested.
Dealing with missing data: algorithms based on fuzzy set and rough set theories

Missing data, commonly encountered in many fields of study, introduce inaccuracy in the analysis and evaluation. Previous methods used for handling missing data (e.g., deleting cases with incomplete information, or substituting the missing values with estimated mean scores), though simple to implement, are problematic because these methods may result in biased data models. Fortunately, recent advances in theoretical and computational statistics have led to more flexible techniques to deal with the missing data problem. In this paper, we present missing data imputation methods based on clustering, one of the most popular techniques in Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD). We combine clustering with soft computing, which tends to be more tolerant of imprecision and uncertainty, and apply fuzzy and rough clustering algorithms to deal with incomplete data. The experiments show that a hybridization of fuzzy set and rough set theories in missing data imputation algorithms leads to the best performance among our four algorithms, i.e., crisp K-means, fuzzy K-means, rough K-means, and rough-fuzzy K-means imputation algorithms.
Single surface stabilizer.

The enhanced stability of a cold shock protein from a thermophilic organism, compared to its counterpart from a mesophile, results mainly from a single change in amino acid sequence that improves electrostatic interactions among the charged groups on the protein surface.
Interaction of finite state machines and concurrency models

Hierarchical concurrent finite state machines (HCFSMs) dramatically increase the usability of finite state machines (FSMs). However, most formalisms that support HCFSMs, such as statecharts (and its variants), tightly integrate the concurrency semantics with the FSM semantics. We, in contrast, allow FSMs to be hierarchically combined with multiple concurrency models, enabling selection of the most appropriate concurrency semantics for the problem at hand. A key issue for the success of this scheme is to define how FSMs interact with various concurrency models without ambiguities. We focus on the interaction of FSMs and three concurrency models: synchronous data-flow, discrete-event and synchronous/reactive models.
Motion Correction in fMRI by Mapping Slice-to-Volume with Concurrent Field-Inhomogeneity Correction

Head motion is the major source of error in measuring intensity changes related to given stimuli in fMRI. The effects of head motion are image shifts and field inhomogeneity variations which cause local changes in geometric distortions. The previously developed motion correction method, mapping slice-to-volume (MSV), retrospectively remaps slices that are shifted by head motion to their spatially correct locations in an anatomical reference. Images exhibiting spatially varying geometric distortions require non-linear mapping solutions. An accurate field map can be used for the correction of such spatial distortions. However, field-map changes with head motion and, in practice, only one field-map is available typically. This work evaluates the improved motion correction capability of MSV with concurrent iterative field-corrected reconstruction using only an initial field-map. The results from simulated motion data show effective convergence and accuracy in image registration for the correction of image artifacts complicated by the motion induced field effects.