cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyperthyroidism in Tasmania Following Iodide Supplementation: Measurements of Thyroid-Stimulating Autoantibodies and Thyrotropin

Serum thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (LATS and LATS protector) and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations were measured in the serum of 30 patients with hyperthyroidism living in Tasmania who developed their disease following correction of iodine deficiency by addition of iodate to the bread. Patients were grouped according to thyroid scan results. None of 8 patients with autonomous thyroid nodules had thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies. These were present in both of the patients with uniform thyroid scans and in 14 of 20 patients (70%) with irregular scans without demonstrated localized autonomy. Serum TSH, measured by immunoassay of concentrated serum extracts, was 0.15 μU/ml or less in all patients, below the range of 0.35 to 2.60 μU/ml found in normal subjects. Only 6 (20%) of the 30 patients failed to show either localized autonomy or thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies. In most regards these patients resembled those with antonomous nodules. The findings support the conclusion that the increased inciden...
Security in an autonomic computing environment

System and network security are vital parts of any autonomic computing solution. The ability of a system to react consistently and correctly to situations ranging from benign but unusual events to outright attacks is key to the achievement of the goals of self-protection, self-healing, and self-optimization. Because they are often built around the interconnection of elements from different administrative domains, autonomic systems raise additional security challenges, including the establishment of a trustworthy system identity, automatically handling changes in system configuration and interconnections, and greatly increased configuration complexity. On the other hand, the techniques of autonomic computing offer the promise of making systems more secure, by effectively and automatically enforcing high-level security policies. In this paper, we discuss these and other security and privacy challenges posed by autonomic systems and provide some recommendations for how these challenges may be met.
Text recognition enhancement with a probabilistic lattice chart parser

A probabilistic lattice chart parser is proposed for improving the performance of a text recognition technique. Digital images of words are recognized and alternatives for the identity of each are generated. Local word collocation statistics and a probabilistic chart parsing algorithm are used to determine the top N best parses for each sentence using the alternatives provided for the identity of each word by the recognition system. An approach in which text recognition and understanding are tightly integrated is discussed. An objective of this approach is to provide the capacity to process images of unrestricted English text. A large-scale lexicon, which supports the system, was acquired by training on corpora of over 3,000,000 words. The focus is on the implementation and performance of the probabilistic lattice chart parser. >
GeoBrain Online Resources for Supporting College-Level Data-Intensive Geospatial Science and Engineering Education

Recently geospatial science and engineering has been experiencing a paradigm shift from having all data and computing resources owned locally to having them shared over the Web. This has brought both benefits and challenges to current Geospatial science and engineering education. GeoBrain, funded by NASA, has great insights to this new trend and establishes a unique Web-based data, information and knowledge system by adopting and developing latest Web service and knowledge management technologies. This system has cutting-edge capabilities in geospatial data discovery, visualization, retrieval and analysis and provides unprecedented online data, services, and other computing resources. This paper addresses the GeoBrain online resources for supporting college-level data-intensive geospatial science and engineering education by presenting GeoBrain Data Download with interoperable, personalized, on-demand data access and services (IPODAS) and the integrated GeoBrain Online Analysis System (GeOnAS).
Relative scheduling under timing constraints

Scheduling techniques are used in high-level synthesis of integrated circuits. Traditional scheduling techniques assume fixed execution delays for the operations. For the synthesis of ASIC designs that interface with external signals and events, operations with unbounded delays. i.e., delays unknown at compile time, must also be considered. A relative scheduling technique that supports operations with fixed and unbounded delays is presented. The technique satisfies the timing constraints imposed by the user, which places bounds between the activation of operations. A novel property called well-posedness of timing constraints is analyzed that is used to identify consistency of constraints in the presence of unbounded delay operations, and an approach to relative scheduling is presented that yields a minimum schedule that satisfies the constraints, or detects if no schedule exists, in polynomial time. >
Mammals from Le Flore County, Oklahoma

Abstract We report five new records of mammals for Le Flore County, Oklahoma, and additional records of Sorex longirostris for the state. Records for 14 other species, some not reported from the county or state in decades, provide new information on distributions in southeastern Oklahoma.
Implementation of a skin cancer screening tool in a primary care setting: a pilot study.

Purpose: (a) To explore whether there would be an increase in nurse practitioner (NP) skin cancer screening knowledge following an educational program. (b) To determine whether NPs report enhanced physical assessment skills when applying a screening tool in clinical practice. (c) To determine whether use of a skin cancer screening tool improves NP documentation during student physical exams. Data sources: Data were gathered in phase one of the study through a pretest, educational intervention, posttest, and program evaluation. Phase two gathered data from a prestudy patient chart analysis, and a poststudy chart analysis following implementation of a skin cancer screening tool. A convenience sample of six female NPs age of 40–64 years was drawn from a single college health center in the northeast. Conclusions: There is demonstrated efficacy educating NPs in proper documentation/early detection of skin cancer among young adults in a college health, primary care setting. Findings revealed a 223.4% increase in proper documentation of skin cancer screening and skin cancer patient education. Implications for practice: Educating NPs in skin cancer identification, screening and use of a skin cancer screening tool is an effective way to improve quality of services provided to patients and quality of NP documentation.
Clinical Variables Correlated with Numbers of Intra-arterial Nimodipine Infusion in Patients with Medically Refractory Cerebral Vasospasm

The objective of this study was to find out the clinical variables correlated with repeated intra-arterial (IA) nimodipine infusions in patients with medically refractory cerebral vasospasm (CV) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).During the 36 months between January 2011 and December 2013, 275 patients were treated at our institute for SAH due to a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Of the 275 patients, 26 patients (9.5%) met the inclusion criteria. For each patient, a retrospective review of their medical records was conducted.Eleven patients underwent a single IA nimodipine infusion and 15 patients underwent more than two IA nimodipine infusions. Multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients had poor improvement (2 of 15 patients, 13.3%) in Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores after the first IA nimodipine infusion compared to patients of single IA nimodipine infusion (6 of 11 patients, 54.6%) (p = 0.038). The mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) Lindegaard ratio of multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients was 4.3 ± 1.1 after the first IA nimodipine infusion (p = 0.039). In multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients, CV occurred more often bilaterally (p = 0.035) and distally (p = 0.001). More vessel segments were affected in multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients (3.1 ± 1.0) (p < 0.001).The following factors correlated with multiple IA nimodipine infusions: 1) no improvement in GCS after the IA nimodipine infusion; 2) no decrease of MCA velocity on transcranial doppler over 50 cm/s or Lindegaard ratio over 4.3 after the IA nimodipine infusion; 3) distal, bilateral, or diffuse involvement of CV.
Supplier Development at Sysinteg (C)

Early on the second day of the two-day Value Stream Mapping (VSM) event, the legal counsel for the XS division attends the meeting. He had been brought in by the XS division manager who viewed the suggestions and recommendations made during the Current State exercise on the first day as push backs from the supplier and wanted to ensure that he did not have unreasonable plans for improvement when he left the VSM event. The attorney was concerned that any changes to existing processes would leave the XS--SysInteg agreement in a state of noncompliance. At issue is the rechecking of parts delivered to XS by a quality inspector.
An AMT Trap That Caught Teresa Heinz Kerry in 2003

In a practice article, Prof. Gregory Geisler of the University of Missouri - St. Louis analyzes an alternative minimum tax trap that snagged Teresa Heinz Kerry.
The S Region and Miscellaneous H-2-Associated Loci

The Ss substance was discovered by Shreffler and Owen (1963) during a search for serum protein variants in the mouse. The authors immunized several rabbits with globulin fraction obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation of normal serum from Swiss mice and tested the antisera produced by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion in agar. The rabbits produced several antibodies that reacted with normal sera of the Swiss stock as well as with sera of inbred strains CBA and DBA/2. The number of precipitin bands formed with the three types of sera was the same, and the bands showed a reaction of identity (no spurring) when sera from different strains were placed in adjacent wells, indicating that all the detected antigens were present in all three strains and that there were no qualitative differences among the individual antigens. Moreover, with one exception, the position of corresponding bands obtained with the three sera was also the same, suggesting the absence of quantitative differences as well. The one exception was a precipitin band that, with the DBA/2 and Swiss sera, formed midway between the center (antiserum) and the peripheral (antigen) wells; with CBA sera it developed only as a faint line close to the peripheral well. The strong DBA/2 and weak CBA bands were continuous with each other when the two normal sera were placed in adjacent wells, the only difference between the two being their position and strength.
Evaluation of antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor in terms of protein metabolism and cell cycle kinetics.

To determine the significance of protein breakdown in regulating tumor growth and to better understand the antitumor mechanism of tumor necrosis factor in vivo, we measured the effects of a 6-h constant intravenous infusion of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF) on tumor protein metabolism and cell cycle kinetics in rats bearing the Walker-256 carcinosarcoma. Protein metabolism was investigated with the use of [14C]leucine infusion; estimates of tumor cell cycle kinetics were obtained in vivo by use of 5-bromo-29-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) pulse labeling and bivariate BrdUrd/DNA analysis by flow cytometry. Reduction in tumor growth by rHuTNF was associated with a dose-dependent increase in tumor proteolysis but no change in tumor protein synthesis. At the cellular level, rHuTNF had a significant cytostatic effect on G2/M cells and caused a marked decrease in the fraction of cells capable of BrdUrd uptake. Release of BrdUrd, an indicator of cell death, was noted in only 7.5% of tumor cells labeled at the beginning of rHuTNF infusion. These results suggest that either tumor protein breakdown may influence cell cycle activity by regulating cytoplasmic protein mass or that tumor proteolysis may be a compensatory mechanism for limiting cytoplasmic size when cellular division is interrupted suddenly.
Social Problems of the Aged

Several important conclusions can be drawn from the findings of this study. First, the high incidence of old-age assistance in Oklahoma is not the result of any single factor but of several factors which can be classed as demographic, socioeconomic, and administrative in character. Second, administrative factors, and especially those which might be labeled as "political," exert little influence upon variations in old-age assistance rates by counties. Third, not only will the numbers who receive oldage assistance expand along with increases of those persons who reach 65 years of age, but the rates also may be expected to grow disproportionately among the population who attain even higher ages. Fourth, unless the federal system of old-age and survivor's insurance is extended to cover farmers and farm laborers, this program in the future will not be as effective as it might otherwike be in reducing the numbers who may be eligible for old-age assistance.12 This is true because of the relatively high proportion of persons in the total labor force of Oklahoma engaged in agriculture, the percentage being 27.1 in 1940.
Barriers to Implementing Person-Centered Recovery Planning in Public Mental Health Organizations in Texas: Results from Nine Focus Groups

Despite being an established practice in the disabilities service systems, person-centered planning is a relatively new practice in the behavioral health system. As a result, little is known about the barriers that mental health organizations face in implementing person-centered recovery planning (PCRP). To fill this gap, results are presented from a qualitative analysis of nine focus groups at three public mental health organizations in Texas that have been implementing PCRP for at least 2 years. Findings suggest that organizations experienced 12 distinct barriers to PCRP implementation which were categorized into the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains of intervention characteristics, the outer setting, the inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and the implementation process. Half of these 12 barriers fell within the inner setting domain, suggesting that implementation efforts should be flexible and adaptable to organizational culture and context. One-quarter of the barriers fell into the domain of characteristics of individuals involved in the intervention, which further suggests implementation efforts should assess the impact that both staff and consumers have on implementation success.
Short-range structural signature of excess specific heat and fragility of metallic-glass-forming supercooled liquids

Supercooled metallic liquids exhibit very different temperature ($T$) dependence of the excess specific heat ($\ensuremath{\Delta}$$C{\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}}_{p}$) and viscosity, profoundly influencing their glass-forming ability. Using two model glass-forming liquids in molecular dynamics simulation, here we demonstrate that their contrasting $\ensuremath{\Delta}$$C{\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}}_{p}$ and relaxation/viscosity behavior has an underlying origin in their different $T$-dependent local structural ordering. Upon undercooling toward glass transition, a particularly stabilizing type of short-range ordering that accelerates with decreasing $T$ leads to a steeply rising $\ensuremath{\Delta}$$C{\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}}_{p}$ and higher fragility, whereas local motifs that merely respond to the densification of the liquids result in a weak $T$ dependence of $\ensuremath{\Delta}$$C{\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}}_{p}$.
Pharyngeal collapsibility during sleep is elevated in insulin-resistant females with morbid obesity

Insulin resistance is associated with sleep apnoea, leading us to hypothesise that it is also associated with elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility, even in the absence of sleep apnoea.90 bariatric patients were characterised for sleep apnoea, pharyngeal collapsibility and insulin resistance. Patients with a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) >10 events·h(-1), diabetes mellitus, tonsillar hypertrophy and pulmonary disease were excluded. The remaining 14 females underwent collapsibility measurements (passive critical pressure, Pcritp ) during non-rapid eye movement sleep. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, a measure of insulin resistance, was derived from measurements of fasting glucose and insulin levels, and compared to Pcritp Groups with high Pcritp compared to low Pcritp did not differ in age, body mass index or RDI. HOMA and insulin were elevated in the high Pcritp group compared to the low Pcritp group (p<0.02). Pcritp correlated with HOMA (Spearman's ρ=0.565, 95% CI 0.104-0.862; p=0.035) and insulin (Spearman's ρ=0.609 95% CI 0.196-0.835; p=0.021).Obese insulin-resistant subjects without frank diabetes or sleep apnoea demonstrate preclinical elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility, which may increase their susceptibility to sleep apnoea. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance could play a significant role in sleep apnoea pathogenesis by generating requisite elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility.
Epidemic Trend of Notifiable Communicable Diseases in Wenchuan County,1990-2007

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of notifiable communicable diseases in Wenchuan county,so as to develop measures to prevent and control the diseases after May 12 Wenchuan earthquake. Methods Date of notifiable communicable diseases in Wenchuan county from 1990 to 2007 were collected and descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the epidemic characteristics. Results From 1990 to 2007,22 notifiable communicable diseases of class B were reported in Wenchuan with 9 987 cases including 12 deaths. The average annual morbidity was 522.26/105,the mortality was 11.30/105 and the case fatality rate was 0.12%. The first 6 diseases with morbidity were bacterial dysentery (227.01/105),hepatitis A (91.46/105),hepatitis B (69.50/105),pulmonary tuberculosis (64.27/105),gonorrhea (33.73/105) and measles (15.22/105). The average annual morbidity of intestinal tract infectious ranked first (323.85/105) of all class A and B notifiabale diseases,blood borne and sex transmitted diseases ranked second (104.80/105),respiratory diseases ranked third (84.09/105),natural focal diseases and the insect-borne infectious diseases ranked fourth (8.58/105),and neonatal tetanus ranked fifth (0.94/105). Conclusion During 1990-2007,the incidence of intestinal tract infectious was highest,followed by blood borne/sex transmitted diseases,respiratory diseases,natural focal diseases/insect-borne infectious diseases and neonatal tetanus.
Transient and steady state vibration testing for structural anomalies

Fundamentals of steady state and transient vibration testing are presented. A brief literature review is followed by a discussion of the theoretical derivations on which vibration testing is based. Steady state and transient testing techniques are given for both single degree of freedom and infinite degree of freedom (continuous) structures. Methods to predict resonant frequency and damping are discussed. The acoustic impact response technique is presented as a specific case of transient vibration testing.
Observation of Proton Transfer between Bridging Ligands on a Catalyst by 2D-IR Spectroscopy

Currently accepted hydrogenation mechanisms of Shvo’s catalyst include an activation step in which the inactive ruthenium dimer undergoes scission to form two different catalytic species. In this study, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D-IR) of the metal carbonyl vibrations of Shvo’s catalyst was used to monitor early reaction dynamics for the inactive and activated catalyst. Kinetic analysis of exchange peaks in the 2D-IR spectra demonstrate that thermally activated intramolecular proton exchange occurs on the ultrafast time scale. The results indicate an activation barrier for proton transfer of 2.1 kcal/mol and an upper limit for the dimer scission rate constant of 1.3 × 1011 s–1, which is well above the previously reported value. Deprotonation of the dimer leads to a pseudo stable species that remains dimeric at the ruthenium–hydride bridge for several hours. 2D-IR spectroscopy of this species shows that proton transfer is turned off, as expected. The data reveal new mechanistic details of the ...
Sticky Platelet Syndrome: The Clinical Spectrum of Thrombosis.

Sticky Platelet Syndrome (SPS) was first described by Mammen, E., et al. In 1984, is inherited as an autosomal dominant and is associated with both arterial and venous thrombosis. It is also associated with placental vascular thrombosis and resultant recurrent miscarriage syndrome (RMS). It was thought to be of interest to assess the prevalence and types of thrombosis associated with SPS in a strictly thrombosis hemostasis referral practice over a one year period. During 2004, 599 first-time new thrombosis patients were seen, excluding recurrent miscarriage syndrome (RMS). Diagnosis of SPS was by the method of Mammen. Of 599 pts. 20.5% had SPS. The most common defect in the population was antiphospholipid syndrome and Factor V Leiden was seen in 8.5% of all pts. Of these SPS patients 60% suffered arterial (AA) and 39% suffered venous thrombosis. 4 pts. Had both. The types of thrombosis in descending order of prevalence were as follows: DVT = 27.6%, cerebrovascular thrombosis (CVT) = 19.5%, transient ischemic attacks (TIA) = 18.6%, PE = 12.1%, retinal artery thrombosis (RT) = 8.1%, mesenteric AA thrombosis = 7.3%, microvascular peripheral AA = 7.3%, coronary AA = 3.2% and popliteal AA = 0.8%. All pts. Were treated with low-dose ASA and those with CVT or TIA also received clopidogrel (75 mg. /day). At one-year follow-up, no recurrences were seen. In summary: as has been noted by Mammen and others, SPS is a common hereditary thrombophilia associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. The prevalence in this population of first-time thrombosis pts. Was 2-fold that of Factor V Leiden mutation. Thus, a work-up for SPS should always be considered in pts. With unexplained thrombosis.
Using Fitness Trackers in Clinical Research: What Nurse Practitioners Need to Know

Consumer-based wearable fitness trackers present a new array of opportunities and challenges to nurse practitioners engaged in health promotion research. Key advantages include the ability to provide continuous, objective, remote monitoring of physical activity and the potential to improve the efficacy of physical activity interventions. This paper provides an overview of fitness trackers, including their functions and accuracy, and addresses the following key issues to consider before using trackers in research: (1) when to use a fitness tracker; (2) choosing a brand and model; (3) encouraging good compliance; and (4) extracting and using the data.
In-vivo detectability index: development and validation of an automated methodology

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method to estimate patient-specific detectability indices directly from patients’ CT images (i.e., “in vivo”). The method works by automatically extracting noise (NPS) and resolution (MTF) properties from each patient’s CT series based on previously validated techniques. Patient images are thresholded into skin-air interfaces to form edge-spread functions, which are further binned, differentiated, and Fourier transformed to form the MTF. The NPS is likewise estimated from uniform areas of the image. These are combined with assumed task functions (reference function: 10 mm disk lesion with contrast of -15 HU) to compute detectability indices for a non-prewhitening matched filter model observer predicting observer performance. The results were compared to those from a previous human detection study on 105 subtle, hypo-attenuating liver lesions, using a two-alternative-forcedchoice (2AFC) method, over 6 dose levels using 16 readers. The in vivo detectability indices estimated for all patient images were compared to binary 2AFC outcomes with a generalized linear mixed-effects statistical model (Probit link function, linear terms only, no interactions, random term for readers). The model showed that the in vivo detectability indices were strongly predictive of 2AFC outcomes (P < 0.05). A linear comparison between the human detection accuracy and model-predicted detection accuracy (for like conditions) resulted in Pearson and Spearman correlations coefficients of 0.86 and 0.87, respectively. These data provide evidence that the in vivo detectability index could potentially be used to automatically estimate and track image quality in a clinical operation.
Military personnel with self-reported ankle injuries do not demonstrate deficits in dynamic postural stability or landing kinematics

Abstract Background The odds of sustaining non-contact musculoskeletal injuries are higher in Special Operations Forces operators than in infantry soldiers. The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joints, and once injured can put individuals at risk for reinjury. The purpose of this study was to determine if any differences in postural stability and landing kinematics exist between operators with a self-reported ankle injury in the past one year and uninjured controls. Methods A total of 55 Special Operations Forces operators were included in this analysis. Comparisons were made between operators with a self-reported ankle injury within one-year of their test date (n = 11) and healthy matched controls (n = 44). Comparisons were also made between injured and uninjured limbs within the injured group. Dynamic postural stability and landing kinematics at the ankle, knee, and hip were assessed during a single-leg jump-landing task. Comparisons were made between groups with independent t-tests and within the injured group between limbs using paired t-tests. Findings There were no significant differences in dynamic postural stability index or landing kinematics between the injured and uninjured groups. Anterior-posterior stability index was significantly higher on the uninjured limb compared to the injured limb within the injured group (P = 0.02). Interpretation Single ankle injuries sustained by operators may not lead to deficits in dynamic postural stability. Dynamic postural stability index and landing kinematics within one year after injury were either not affected by the injuries reported, or injured operators were trained back to baseline measures through rehabilitation and daily activity.
Nonvocational Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Employment Interventions for Homeless Youth.

Purpose:This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy between the Social Enterprise Intervention (SEI) and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with homeless youth with mental illness to...
The Role of Protein Kinase C in Diabetic Retinopathy

The protein kinase C (PKC) molecule is part of a serine/threonine kinase family that catalyzes phosphorylation of key proteins involved in signal transduction. Conventional and novel PKC isoforms are upregulated by diacylglycerol (DAG), which in turn is increased by the hyperglycemia of diabetes. PKC isoforms are differentially expressed and activated in tissues throughout the body, including the aorta, kidney, heart, monocytes, and retina, but not in the brain or peripheral nerves. In the retina, PKC activation is associated with changes in retinal blood flow, possibly through effects on retinal pericytes, the expression of endothelium-derived growth factors, and/or leukostasis. The activation of PKC may also lead to basement membrane and extracellular matrix alterations within the retinal vasculature. Increases in retinal vascular permeability and angiogenesis are seen with PKC activation related to its actions on vascular endothelial growth factor. Inhibition of PKC, particularly PKC-beta isoforms, appears to ameliorate many of these effects on the retinal vasculature. Ruboxistaurin is a PKC inhibitor with a high affinity for PKC-beta isoforms. Human clinical studies with this drug are ongoing, but trials have already demonstrated its efficacy in preventing vision loss, decreasing the need for laser treatment, and decreasing the progression of macular edema in patients with diabetes.
Attosecond Transient Absorption and Four-Wave Mixing with Tunable IR Pulses

We extend the technique of attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy by incorporating tunable IR pulses from an OPA. This technique is used to control Autler-Townes splitting and drive XUV four-wave mixing processes in Helium.
Association of Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers with Ischemic Index and Visual Acuity in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose To determine whether disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) on OCT is associated with ischemia on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) and with visual outcomes in eyes with acute, treatment-naive central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Design Retrospective, single-institution, longitudinal cohort study. Participants Twenty-five consecutive patients with treatment-naive CRVO and >1-year follow-up. Methods Two independent masked graders evaluated the extent of DRIL, ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, external limiting membrane (ELM) disruption, and other OCT parameters at the baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and final visits. Baseline UWFFA images were assessed for ischemic index values and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) enlargement. Main Outcome Measures Associations of DRIL with UWFFA findings and clinical outcomes including corrected visual acuity (VA). Results The median time to final follow-up was 24 months (range, 12.1–43.9 months). Median DRIL extent at baseline was 765 μm (range, 0–1000 μm). Eighteen of 25 eyes (72%) had some degree of DRIL at baseline, and 20 of 25 eyes (80%) had cystoid macular edema (CME). Neither the presence nor extent of DRIL at baseline was associated with presenting VA. In a cross-sectional analysis of each visit, extent of DRIL correlated with worse VA at both the 6-month (ρ = 0.656; P = 0.001) and final (ρ = 0.509; P = 0.016) visits. At final follow-up, DRIL extent was the OCT parameter most strongly correlated with baseline ischemic index (ρ = 0.418; P = 0.047) and baseline enlarged FAZ (P = 0.057) on UWFFA. On multivariate regression analysis, DRIL extent at final follow-up was the only OCT parameter associated with worse VA (P = 0.013) and remained significant when accounting for CME as a potential confounder. Conclusions Extent of DRIL was not associated with presenting VA in treatment-naive eyes with acute CRVO. After 6 months of follow-up, however, DRIL extent correlated with worse VA and was predictive of worse VA throughout more than 2 years of follow-up. Ischemic features on UWFFA at baseline are predictive of the extent of DRIL development at final follow-up.
Genetic Literacy and Problem-Based Learning

The decoding and mass storage of the genetic codes of plants, humans, and animals along with the capacity to manipulate and track those codes has brought about a number of social and cultural shifts, the implications of which are just beginning to be understood. The application of this growing ability to decode, manipulate, and store genetic information has increased the need for all individuals to have some degree of genetic literacy to understand the implications of genetics in their lives. This chapter describes a project to create a cross-curricular computer simulation for middle school students in science, math, and social studies. The design team, including individuals from the College of Education and Human Ecology (http://ehe.osu.edu/) and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD—http://accad.osu.edu/) at Ohio State University are collaborating with middle school teachers at a large urban school district and a small urban school district in Ohio to create a learning tool that has cultural relevance in traditionally underserved communities.
Specifying Time-Out Points in Surgical EMRs–Work in Progress

Workflows for surgical procedures have built-in time-out points to minimize occurrences of unintended faults and omissions during surgeries. They have been recommended in the best practices of appropriate surgical sub-specialties, as well as the Joint Commission. At these timeout points, designated team members perform recommended precautionary measures, such as verifying the accuracy of implants, to ensure unintended mistakes are not made before proceeding to the next stage. These precautionary measures are usually recorded in paper-based checklists and retained for a stipulated period of time. We show how these timeout points can be specified as formal workflow requirements in surgical Electronic Medical Records (S-EMRs).
Portugal in Ruins: From “Europe” to Crisis and Austerity:

This article engages the analyses of Poulantzas, Anderson, and Ferreira do Aramal to outline the main politico-economic contours of post-Carnation Revolution Portugal. The account that follows exam...
Doping of BiFeO 3 : A comprehensive study on substitutional doping

The authors investigate the effects of substitutional metal doping on BiFeO${}_{3}$ by accurate first-principles calculations. In a high-throughput fashion, they screen large parts of the periodic table, providing a unique view on site preference, doping type, and oxidation states, enabling doping strategies for future multifunctional oxide electronics.
Seafood and Freshwater Toxins: Pharmacology, Physiology, and Detection, Third Edition, by Luis M. Botana

The impact of marine and freshwater toxins on commerce and human health continues to surge on a global scale, reflecting the expansion of trade into new areas to meet increased demand for both nove...
A Smart Farm – An Introduction to IoT for Generation Z

This paper describes an Internet of Things (IoT) project within the context of an inexpensive table top model of a smart farm. The purpose of the project is to use advances in technology including Bluetooth, the Internet and micro sensors to design an inexpensive model of a smart farm. The project brings ideas related to IoT and smart cities within the reach of a common man. Advances in technology and simplicity of high level programming languages make it also possible for anyone who is interested to easily build a smart connected system that can be communicated with, using inexpensive components and a simple program. This project demonstrates one such novel application of a smart farm with the use of a microbit, a humidity sensor and WiFi to monitor moisture levels of plants and depending on a set threshold the program sends an appropriate message to the owner of the plants. The use of a very simple microcontroller (the microbit) makes the project accessible to students at college and even school level. This technology is not only scalable, but it is also expandable to other domains, such as inventory management, power systems, etc. This project has broad applicability and fits in with the recent trends in resource planning and allocations.
Effects of Early Pruning on Ring Specific Gravity in Young Loblolly Pine Trees

Juvenile wood is not well suited for use in many forest products. Understanding factors that affect the formation of juvenile and mature wood is important when managing commercially important conifer species. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the contribution of ring age, relative height in the stem, and crown position (within or not within the green crown) on ring specific gravity of loblolly pine trees pruned at young ages. A designed experiment consisting of five treatments, control; prune at age 3 yr, age 6 yr, or age 9 yr; and at ages 3,6, and 9 yr, was established at two locations in the Piedmont region of Virginia. Wood samples were acquired at three heights along the stem 15 yr after planting. Results showed that differences in ring specific gravity of the treated plots (Half of green crown removed at each scheduled pruning) were significantly higher than that of the control plots. All variables of ring age, relative height and ring position of within or not within the green crown, were statistically significant. The results suggest that cambial age, maturation, and proximity to green crown are important for controlling whole-ring specific gravity in loblolly pine trees.
Safety and tolerability of i.v. push piperacillin/tazobactam within an emergency department

Purpose Piperacillin/tazobactam is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is widely used and commonly administered via the intravenous (i.v.) piggyback route over 0.5 to 4.0 hours. Recommendations for i.v. push (IVP) administration of piperacillin/tazobactam are lacking due to the high osmolality of the solution. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the safety and tolerability of piperacillin/tazobactam administered peripherally by IVP. Methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate adverse drug reactions after administration of a single dose of IVP piperacillin/tazobactam through a peripheral line in an emergency department from August 2016 through November 2017. Results A total of 1,813 patients received 1 dose of IVP piperacillin/tazobactam during the study timeframe. Three hundred patients were randomly selected for assessment of safety and tolerability. Two hundred ninety-nine patients (99.7%) tolerated IVP piperacillin/tazobactam. One patient had an allergic reaction that included itching and hives. No infusion-related reactions were documented. Conclusion IVP administration of piperacillin/tazobactam through a peripheral site is safe and tolerable for adult patients.
The Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Prazosin Reduces Binge-Like Eating in Rats.

Background: Binge-eating disorder is a pervasive addiction-like disorder that is defined by excessive and uncontrollable consumption of food within brief periods of time. The aim of the current study was to examine the role of the brain noradrenergic system in binge-like eating through the use of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin. Methods: For this purpose, we employed a limited access model whereby male Wistar rats were allowed to nosepoke for either chow (Chow rats) or a sugary, highly palatable food (Palatable rats) for 1 h/day. The effects of prazosin (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) were tested in a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) and progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. Results: The results show that prazosin preferentially reduced the responses for palatable food in a FR1 reinforcement schedule; when tested in a PR schedule of reinforcement, prazosin increased breakpoint in both Chow and Palatable rats, but more potently and more efficaciously in the latter. Our results suggest that prazosin treatment preferentially increased the motivational properties of the palatable diet. Conclusions: The current findings provide the characterization of the effects of prazosin on binge-like eating and offer support to the existing literature showing the important role of the noradrenergic system in addiction-like behavior.
The development and future of occupational science: A budding occupational scientist’s reflections and assertions about the discipline

As occupational science moves beyond 30 years as an academic discipline, reviewing its genesis and development is important in envisioning its future as a continually relevant, socially responsive ...
Physical and phonological causes of coda /t/ glottalization in the mainstream American English of central Ohio

In American English, a glottal stop is sometimes pronounced in place of an expected syllable coda /t/, and audible glottalization is attested before both /t/ and /p/ in coda position. Following previous work, we claim that the voiceless stops in American English involve a glottal constriction gesture to produce voicelessness in coda position, which contrasts with the glottal spreading gesture used in onset position. If the oral stop closure is not audibly produced, or if the oral and glottal gestures are not aligned, the resulting articulation may be perceived as a glottal stop or as pre-glottalized. This study explores the pre-consonantal phonological environments where coda glottal stops occur in a large corpus of American English speech from central Ohio. Coda /t/ glottalization is found near-categorically before sonorants, often phrase-medially before labial and velar obstruents, often phrase-finally, and occasionally elsewhere. We argue that most of this distribution can be explained by phonetic conditions which either favor reduction of the oral closure, or else reinforce the irregular voicing associated with the glottal constriction gesture. However, the near-categorical rate of glottalization before sonorants, as well as somewhat higher rates for younger and female speakers, may not have a plausible coarticulatory source: These suggest that the process is also phonologically planned under some circumstances.
Viscosity of polyelectrolyte-grafted nanoparticle solutions

The effect of charges and hydrogen bonding on viscosity in solutions containing polyelectrolyte-grafted nanoparticles (PENP) has been investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The electrostatic interaction between the charged monomers on the grafted chains, which increases with the degree of ionization, causes the grafted polymers to stretch and increases the hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles. The viscosity of the solution is partially governed by the balance between the entanglement of grafted chains and the electrostatic repulsion. Moreover, the charge-assisted hydrogen bonds between the monomers of different particles further enhance the viscosity of the solution. For shorter grafted chains, a majority of hydrogen bonds are formed within the same particle and thus show no significant enhancement in viscosity. The addition of polymer chains with hydrogen bonding sites has been shown to bridge multiple nanoparticles, creating a network structure, that increases viscosity. The chain stiffness has been shown to have a direct correlation with bridging and thus the viscosity of the solution.
Microglia and modifiable life factors: Potential contributions to cognitive resilience in aging.

Abstract Given the increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline, it is relevant to consider the factors and mechanisms that might facilitate an individual’s resiliency to such deficits. Growing evidence suggests a preeminent role of microglia , the prime mediator of innate immunity within the central nervous system . Human and animal investigations suggest aberrant microglial functioning and neuroinflammation are not only characteristic of the aged brain, but also might contribute to age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Conversely, accumulating data suggest that modifiable lifestyle factors (MLFs), such as healthy diet, exercise and cognitive engagement, can reliably afford cognitive benefits by potentially suppressing inflammation in the aging brain. The present review highlights recent advances in our understanding of the role for microglia in maintaining brain homeostasis and cognitive functioning in aging. Moreover, we propose an integrated, mechanistic model that postulates an individual’s resiliency to cognitive decline afforded by MLFs might be mediated by the mitigation of aberrant microglia activation in aging, and subsequent suppression of neuroinflammation.
Identification of miRNAs and Their Targets Involved in Flower and Fruit Development across Domesticated and Wild Capsicum Species

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of the post-transcription stage of gene activity documented to play central roles in flower and fruit development in model plant species. However, little is known about their roles and differences in domesticated and wild Capsicum species. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the miRNA content at three developmental stages (flower, small fruit, and middle fruit) from two cultivated (C. baccatum and C. annuum) and two wild (C. chacoense and C. eximium) pepper species. This analysis revealed 22 known and 27 novel miRNAs differentially expressed across species and tissues. A number of stage- and species-specific miRNAs were identified, and Gene Ontology terms were assigned to 138 genes targeted by the miRNAs. Most Gene Ontology terms were for the categories "genetic information processing", "signaling and cellular processes", "amino acid metabolism", and "carbohydrate metabolism". Enriched KEGG analysis revealed the pathways amino acids, sugar and nucleotide metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and fructose-mannose metabolism among the principal ones regulated by miRNAs during pepper fruit ripening. We predicted miRNA-target gene interactions regulating flowering time and fruit development, including miR156/157 with SPL genes, miR159 with GaMYB proteins, miR160 with ARF genes, miR172 with AP2-like transcription factors, and miR408 with CLAVATA1 gene across the different Capsicum species. In addition, novel miRNAs play an important role in regulating interactions potentially controlling plant pathogen defense and fruit quality via fructokinase, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, and aromatic and neutral amino acid transporter. Overall, the small RNA-sequencing results from this study represent valuable information that provides a solid foundation for uncovering the miRNA-mediated mechanisms of flower and fruit development between domesticated and wild Capsicum species.
Thought Bodies: Gender, Sex, Sexualities

This chapter continues to explore what the theory of complicity brings, this time to gender, sex and sexuality. It offers a history of the emergence of binary gender and its relation to Western modernity as well as to race and other intersectionalities. It explores a complicitous understanding of transgender personhood in and through queer, feminist and psychological discourses. It also applies complicity to the idea of consent in heterosexual relations, and to transnational LGBTQ+ identities and colonial histories, with a focus on South Africa.
Radical prostatectomy as initial monotherapy for patients with pathologically confirmed high-grade prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE To report the long-term outcome of high-grade prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) as initial monotherapy, analyse the effect of clinical and pathological variables on survival, and report cancer-related symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients with Gleason 8-10 prostate cancer found on pathological review in men undergoing RP as initial therapy for clinically localized disease between 1988 and 2005. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate event-free survival. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to assess the effects of clinical and pathological variables on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence. RESULTS After excluding 20 patients, 119 were identified with pathologically confirmed high-grade cancers at the time of RP. The overall median (interquartile range) follow-up was 73 (41-113) months. Twenty-four (20%) patients had organ-confined cancer, 60 (50%) had specimen-confined cancer, and 14 (12%) had nodal metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years, respectively, of 90% and 75%, cancer-specific survival of 92% and 82%, and a PSA recurrence-free follow-up at 5 years of 31%. Using univariable analysis, preoperative PSA level, pathological Gleason score, pathological stage, surgical margin status and tumour volume were found to significantly affect the PSA recurrence-free follow-up. No variables were significant on multivariable analysis. Cancer-related symptoms were reported by only 14 patients, with a median time from surgery to first symptom of 43 months. CONCLUSION High-grade prostate cancer can be treated with RP as initial monotherapy with an acceptable 10-year cancer-specific survival (82%). The PSA recurrence-free follow-up is poor (31% at 5 years). However, few patients progress to symptomatic recurrence after PSA relapse within the first 5 years.