cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TCASM: An asynchronous shared memory interface for high-performance application composition

Abstract This paper addresses the growing need for mechanisms supporting intra-node application composition in high-performance computing (HPC) systems. It provides a novel shared memory interface that allows composite applications, two or more coupled applications, to share internal data structures without blocking. This allows independent progress of the applications such that they can proceed in a parallel, overlapped fashion. Composite applications using in-node shared memory can reduce the amount of data to be communicated between nodes, allowing checkpointing and data reduction or analytics to be performed locally and in parallel. The approach is implemented in Linux, and evaluated using benchmarks that represent typical composite applications on a large HPC testbed. The results show that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the traditional ones (up to a 15-fold speed increase on a 200 node machine).
Phototherapy for Vitiligo

NB-UVB is first-line therapy for generalized vitiligo in adults, and as an alternative therapy after class-III corticosteroids have failed for vitiligo in children. The dosimetry for NB-UVB varies but typically started at 130 mJ/cm2 for the initial dose irrespective of skin type, which is increased by 15–50 mJ/cm2 at each subsequent session as tolerated. The dose should be increased until mild erythema develops and then kept stable. Patients are treated two to three times per week over several months and may require an ongoing maintenance regimen. The excimer laser also appears to be effective for treatment of vitiligo.
Practical Problems in Effective Application of ILO Conventions

The concern shown by the ILO Committees over the problems of non-self-executing treaty provisions and the priority of subsequent laws over treaties was to be expected. But they have also evidenced considerable concern over the problems of the lack of publicity given to treaty provisions and the uncertainty resulting from conflicting laws and treaty provisions—even in cases where the legal system clearly provides that treaty provisions prevail over conflicting laws. The Committee of Experts has insisted on the adoption of legislation or administrative regulations implementing conventions as a means of providing more publicity for convention norms and as a means of avoiding uncertainty as to the status of a particular convention norm. It has frequently requested the adoption of national legislation or administrative directives because of its conviction that national practice was not in conformity with convention norms. The governments in question have, in a great number of cases, adopted the implementing legislation or administrative measures.
Receipt of locoregional therapy among young women with breast cancer.

1100 Background: Although younger women with breast cancer have the most to gain from receipt of optimal care, few data are available regarding their receipt of locoregional breast cancer treatments. Methods: We identified 318,083 women aged 18-64 who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at hospitals reporting to the National Cancer Data Base, a large national cancer registry, during 2004-2008. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association of patient age with mastectomy vs. breast-conserving surgery (BCS), radiation with BCS, and post-mastectomy radiation (PMRT) with varying indications, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, area-level socioeconomic status, and insurance. Results: Overall, 4% of women were aged ≤35 and 7% were aged 36-40. Women aged ≤35 were significantly more likely to have mastectomy than BCS compared with women aged 56-60 (57% vs. 35%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.97; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.87-2.07) but were less likely to receive radiation ...
Homicide versus Hypothermia? An Unusual Case of Hypothermia Related to Colloid Cyst of the Third Ventricle:

Forensic pathologists and death investigators are well aware of the fact that careful and detailed death investigation and autopsy are essential for identifying certain homicides, wherein initial scene and circumstances incorrectly suggest a probable natural or other non-homicidal manner of death. In a similar way, death investigation and autopsy can be instrumental in dispelling suspicions of homicide, where initial scene and circumstances suggest foul play. The discovery of the partially nude body of an elderly woman, hidden in the exterior entrance to a home's crawlspace, should raise concern of a possible homicide with associated sexual assault. A case occurring in this fashion is presented. Autopsy revealed evidence of hypothermia, including gastric Wishnewsky spots. Brain examination revealed a colloid cyst of the third ventricle, with associated features of increased intracranial pressure. Based on scene investigation and autopsy findings, it was theorized that the woman likely experienced confusio...
A Comparison of Smooth Pursuit- and Dwell-based Selection at Multiple Levels of Spatial Accuracy

In this paper, we present a smooth pursuit--based alternative to dwell-based selection for eye-guided user interfaces. Participants attempt to perform both dwell- and pursuit-based selections while we artificially reduce the spatial accuracy of an affordable eye tracker to see how resilient both selection methods are. We find that the time to perform a pursuit-based selection remains consistent even as spatial accuracy degrades, unlike dwell-based selection which takes considerably longer to perform the worse the spatial accuracy becomes. We argue that smooth pursuit--based selection will be important in eye-tracking systems with low spatial accuracy, such as very low cost trackers, certain self-made systems, and calibration-free systems.
Abstract P277: Cardioprotection Enabled by Proteomic Remodeling of the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a collection of five multi-protein complexes, whose unobstructed functionality represents a pivotal element at the crossroads of cell death or survival. Howev...
Generating a city’s first report on bicyclist safety: lessons from the field

Background For cities aiming to create a useful surveillance system for bicycle injuries, a common challenge is that city crash reporting is scattered, faulty or non-existent. We document some of the lessons we learnt in helping the city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, do the following: (1) Create a prototype for a comprehensive police crash data set (2) Produce the city9s first cyclist safety report, (3) Make crash data available to the public and (4) Generate policy recommendations for both specific roadside improvements and for sustainable changes to the police department9s crash reporting database. Methods We provided research and technical assistance to government partners to generate the report and used participant-observation field notes to generate the list of learnt lessons. Results After the release of the report, the city implemented immediate activities aimed at making an effort to prevent injuries, including: (1) Furnishing over 1800 taxis with stickers to prevent ‘dooring,’ (2) Adding pavement markings at trolley tracks to decrease the likelihood that cyclists would fall from getting their wheels lodged in the tracks, (3) Conducting targeted enforcement of traffic laws and (4) Working directly with state and federal agencies to fund a more comprehensive surveillance system. As of January of 2017, nearly 4 years after its public release, 19 170 users have viewed the crash data set 23 247 times. Some of the lessons include finding and using committed champions, prioritising the use of existing data, creating opportunities to bridge divisions between stakeholders, partnering with local universities for assistance with advanced analytics and using deliverables, such as a cyclist safety report, to advocate for sustainability. Conclusion Providing an initial report on bicycle crashes in Boston served to identify specific problems, showed the value of a data system, and provided a blueprint for an improved data system. Building a useful surveillance system depends in no small part on the wise use of advocacy, group dynamics, and politics. Our hope is that the lessons learnt from our experience in Boston can help others do even better.
Chapter 18 – Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is the generic descriptor for all corrinoids (compounds containing the cobalt-centered corrin nucleus) exhibiting the biological activity of cyanocobalamin. Vitamin B12 is not found in fruits or vegetables; meat and fish are the best sources. As vitamin B12 is water soluble, it is absorbed through carrier-mediated active transport and passive diffusion. Vitamin B12 functions metabolically in two coenzyme forms, adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, which function in the metabolism of propionate, amino acids, and single carbon. Physiologically, vitamin B12 functions in the regulation of homocysteine, hematological development, and the nervous system. The primary cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is the consumption of strict vegetarian diets, signs include megaloblastic anemia and neurologic symptoms such as symmetrical paresthesia of the hands and feet.
Using lead chalcogenide nanocrystals as spin mixers: a perspective on near-infrared-to-visible upconversion.

The process of upconversion leads to emission of photons higher in energy than the incident photons. Near-infrared-to-visible upconversion, in particular, shows promise in sub-bandgap sensitization of silicon and other optoelectronic materials, resulting in potential applications ranging from photovoltaics that exceed the Shockley–Queisser limit to infrared imaging. A feasible mechanism for near-infrared-to-visible upconversion is triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA) sensitized by colloidal nanocrystals (NCs). Here, the long lifetime of spin-triplet excitons in the organic materials that undergo TTA makes upconversion possible under incoherent excitation at relatively low photon fluxes. Since this process relies on optically inactive triplet states, semiconductor NCs are utilized as efficient spin mixers, absorbing the incident light and sensitizing the triplet states of the TTA material. The state-of-the-art system uses rubrene with a triplet energy of 1.14 eV as the TTA medium, and thus allows upconversion of light with photon energies above ∼1.1 eV. In this perspective, we review the field of lead sulfide (PbS) NC-sensitized near-infrared-to-visible upconversion, discuss solution-based upconversion, and highlight progress made on solid-state upconversion devices.
Modeling Expertise in Assistive Navigation Interfaces for Blind People

Evaluating the impact of expertise and route knowledge on task performance can guide the design of intelligent and adaptive navigation interfaces. Expertise has been relatively unexplored in the context of assistive indoor navigation interfaces for blind people. To quantify the complex relationship between the user»s walking patterns, route learning, and adaptation to the interface, we conducted a study with 8 blind participants. The participants repeated a set of navigation tasks while using a smartphone-based turn-by-turn navigation guidance app. The results demonstrate the gradual evolution of user skill and knowledge throughout the route repetitions, significantly impacting the task completion time. In addition to the exploratory analysis, we take a step towards tailoring the navigation interface to the user»s needs by proposing a personalized recurrent neural network-based behavior model for expertise level classification.
Of Mat and Men: Taboo Words and the Language of Russian Female Punks

Through ethnographic data and discourse analysis, this article exposes the presence ofsexist practices within an ostensibly egalitarian Russian punk scene in Saint Petersburg.Specifically, this article examines how female punks use mat (swear words like “fuck,”“shit,” “whore,” and “cunt”) to transgress hegemonic notions of femininity, while atthe same time performing a masculine ritual that Russian punks highly value as subculturalcapital. This article examines linguistic practice surrounding mat and demonstratesthat mat is not “male” but instead performs stances of authority and masculinity,which are in turn associated with gender. The article’s close examination of linguisticpractice among female punks helps elucidate some of the ways that punk women attemptto claim authority within a scene that otherwise physically and socially marginalizesthem. By drawing on the ethnomethodological theories of indexicality and stance,the analysis shows how micro instances of mat simultaneously interact with—and drawupon—macro conceptions of the traditional gender order. Because mainstream gendernorms strongly proscribe women’s use of mat, punk women can effectively exploit thiscultural proscription to create distance from mainstream conceptions of femininitywhile simultaneously exploiting their subversion of the traditional gender order to accruesubcultural capital. Rather than separating linguistic practice from macro discourseson gender, this article traces how macro conceptions of the gender order help structure—and are structured by—talk in interaction. As such, this article provides criticalinsight into how micro instances of mat interact with macro conceptions of the genderorder to create an alternative punk femininity. Article in English. DOI: 10.25285/2078-1938-2018-10-1-5-28
Multiple Media Stream Data Analysis: Theory and Applications

This paper presents a new model for multiple media stream data analysis as well as descriptions of some applications of this model. This model formalizes the exploitation of correlations between multiple, potentially heterogeneous, media streams in support of numerous application areas. The goal of the technique is to determine temporal and spatial alignments which optimize a correlation function and indicate commonality and synchronization between media streams. It also provides a framework for comparison of media in unrelated domains.
Tendon-to-Tuberosity Repair: Double Row Fixation

The technique of double row fixation for rotator cuff tears involves two rows of suture anchors. A medial row of anchors is placed close to the articular surface, and a second, lateral row is placed at the lateral aspect of the rotator cuff “footprint” or the greater tuberosity. Different variations on the technique have been described in the recent literature, with Burkhart describing his method in detail in 2003.1 Typically, one to two suture anchors are used in the medial row and two to three suture anchors in the lateral row. The medial row fixation sutures are mattress sutures, and the lateral row may be simple, mattress, or T-type sutures. Double row fixation has evolved as an arthroscopic technique based on two principles: increased coverage of the footprint should lead to better healing, and healed rotator cuffs have superior clinical results.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SECOND DERIVATIVE OF I0(τ) AND STABILITY OF BILAYER MEMBRANES

Bilayer membranes exposed to alamethicine are often used in experiments in which anesthetics are tested. Such experiments require about 45 minutes during which the membrane must not rupture. A plot of the steady state current I0 through the membrane as a function of the time-constant τ of current usually shows positive second derivative of I0 vs τ. If the control data for the experiment shows a negative second derivative, there is a high probability that the membrane will rupture before the experiment can be successfully completed. In such a case, it is preferable to start afresh with a new membrane.
The benefit of modern cancer therapy for older patients.

e18141Background: Assessing the improvement in national cancer outcomes over the past two decades requires measurement not only of patient survival, but quality of life as well. We examined changes...
2018 SFRBM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD LECTURE MnSOD at the Crossroads of Life and Death: We've Only Just Begun

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondria-localized primary antioxidant enzyme, is essenstial for the survival of all areobic life. Decades of research on MnSOD have extended our understanding of the role of superoxide radicals and their associated reactive oxygen derived species (ROS) in mitochondria well beyond the once prevalent view of their being the toxic byproducts of cellular energy production to include their being important in cell signaling. Our studies on the regulation of MnSOD expression during cancer development and progression have contributed to the knowledge that cancer cells are usually under higher oxidative stress conditions than normal cells are and that different redox potentials can trigger different responses. A low redox potential triggers survival pathways, whereas a high redox potential triggers cell death mediators. This results in a therapeutic window in which redox-active antioxidants can manipulate intracellular redox stress levels that induce normal cells to produce prosurvival responses while cancer cells produce, on the other hand, lethal responses. These antioxidant/prooxidant properties are best represented by MnSOD, which cycles active site manganese through varying states of oxidation. Thus, overexpression of MnSOD in normal tissues protects tissues against oxidative stress-induced injury, which includes protection of cardiac function from the influences of the anticancer drug doxorubicin, lung fibrosis from ionizing radiation, and brain damage from beta amyloid. In contrast, overexpression of MnSOD in malignant cells results in reduced cancer cell survival. Identification of these paradoxical properties of MnSOD has led to the development of potential therapeutics that are capable of acting as redox active oxidants or of mimicking endogenous enzyme functions. This presentation introduces the prospect of a novel avenue to therapeutic control using redox active antioxidants. It also introduces a novel redox-based liquid biopsy approach that uses oxidatively modified extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators of therapy-induced normal tissue injury and prognosis markers of cancer responses to therapy. Our expectation is that the results from extensive proof-of-concept studies, coupled with an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms mediating this exciting concept, will lead to further developments of novel redox- based therapeutic agents for clinical applications.
Testing and improving the acceptability of a web-based platform for collective intelligence to improve diagnostic accuracy in primary care clinics.

Objectives Usable tools to support individual primary care clinicians in their diagnostic processes could help to reduce preventable harm from diagnostic errors. We conducted a formative study with primary care providers to identify key requisites to optimize the acceptability of 1 online collective intelligence platform (Human Diagnosis Project; Human Dx). Materials and methods We conducted semistructured interviews with practicing primary care clinicians in a sample of the US community-based clinics to examine the acceptability and early usability of the collective intelligence online platform using standardized clinical cases and real-world clinical cases from the participants' own practice. We used an integrated inductive-deductive qualitative analysis approach to analyze the interview transcripts. Results and discussion Perceived usefulness, perceived accuracy, quality assurance, trust, and ease of use emerged as essential domains of acceptability required for providers to use a collective intelligence tool in clinical practice. Participants conveyed that the collective opinion should: (1) contribute to their clinical reasoning, (2) boost their confidence, (3) be generated in a timely manner, and (4) be relevant to their clinical settings and use cases. Trust in the technology platform and the clinical accuracy of its collective intelligence output emerged as an incontrovertible requirement for user acceptance and engagement. Conclusion We documented key requisites to building a collective intelligence technology platform that is trustworthy, useful, and acceptable to target end users for assistance in the diagnostic process. These key lessons may be applicable to other provider-facing decision support platforms.
Perioperative Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Affect Revision Surgery Rates After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

PURPOSE To examine any association between perioperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and failure of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) requiring revision surgery. METHODS Using a private-payer national insurance database, patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR with perioperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels recorded were included. Patients were stratified into groups of (1) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency ( 30-<150 ng/mL). The primary outcome measure was ipsilateral revision rotator cuff surgery, including revision repair, debridement, or reverse shoulder arthroplasty. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to control for patient demographics and comorbidities during comparisons. RESULTS A total of 982 patients were included in the study. The rate of revision rotator cuff surgery was significantly higher in patients in the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-deficient group (5.88%) compared with the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-sufficient control group (3.7%) (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.8; P = .007). Patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency (5.88%) also had a significantly higher incidence of revision surgery compared with patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-3.9; P = .011). There was no significant difference in the incidence of revision surgery in the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-insufficient group (4.97%) compared with the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-sufficient control group (3.7%) (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.8-2.3; P = .250). The absolute risk reduction of revision surgery for 25-hydroxyvitamin D-deficient patients compared with controls was 2.2%, corresponding to a number needed to treat to avoid 1 revision surgery of 46 patients, relative risk reduction = 0.59. CONCLUSIONS Although the present study found a significant statistical association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and the rate of revision rotator cuff surgery after primary arthroscopic RCR, the absolute differences of these revision rates are minimal and are accompanied with overlapping confidence intervals limiting the clinical significance of these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Substance Use in Children and Adolescents

Substance misuse has its peak onset in adolescence. Drug and alcohol intoxication and its consequences are a common primary cause or a contributing factor for emergency room presentations among teens, and they frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders. Emergency department (ED) clinicians must often evaluate and treat acute substance ingestion and substance use disorders and provide guidance and recommendations for aftercare. Treatment of adolescents is different than treatment for adults with substance use disorders as it requires knowledge of developmental and specific medicolegal considerations, as well as an understanding of epidemiological differences. ED clinicians need to be well-informed about confidentiality and consent, drug screening, trends in recreational drug use, warning signs indicative of chronic problems, and awareness of screening tools specific to this age group.
Modular vaccine packaging increases packing efficiency

Abstract Background Within a typical vaccine supply chain, vaccines are packaged into individual cylindrical vials (each containing one or more doses) that are bundled together in rectangular “inner packs” for transport via even larger groupings such as cold boxes and vaccine carriers. The variability of vaccine inner pack and vial size may hinder efficient vaccine distribution because it constrains packing of cold boxes and vaccine carriers to quantities that are often inappropriate or suboptimal in the context of country-specific vaccination guidelines. Methods We developed in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) a spreadsheet model that evaluated the impact of different packing schemes for the Benin routine regimen plus the introduction of the Rotarix vaccine. Specifically, we used the model to compare the current packing scheme to that of a proposed modular packing scheme. Results Conventional packing of a Dometic RCW25 that aims to maximize fully-immunized children (FICs) results in 123 FICs and a packing efficiency of 81.93% compared to a maximum of 155 FICs and 94.1% efficiency for an alternative modular packaging system. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that modular packaging systems could offer significant advantages over conventional vaccine packaging systems with respect to space efficiency and potential FICs, when they are stored in standard vaccine carrying devices. This allows for more vaccines to be stored within the same volume while also simplifying the procedures used by field workers to pack storage devices. Ultimately, modular packaging systems could be a simple way to help increase vaccine coverage worldwide.
Do adjuvants reduce the antagonism of quizalofop-p-ethyl when mixed with bispyribac-Na?

Acetyl co-enzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-resistant rice allows quizlaofop-p-ethyl to be applied as a POST control of troublesome grass weeds. A field study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station near Crowley, LA, to evaluate the influence of a crop oil concentrate (COC), a silicon-based surfactant plus a nitrogen source (SNS), or a high-concentrate COC (HCOC) in overcoming the grass weed control antagonism of quizalofop-p-ethyl when mixed with bispyribac-Na. Quizalofop-p-ethyl was applied at 120 g ai ha–¹, bispyribac-Na was applied at 34 g ai ha–¹, and all adjuvants were applied at 1% vol/vol. Antagonistic interactions were observed at 14 d after treatment (DAT) when quizalofop-p-ethyl was mixed with bispyribac-Na with no adjuvant for control of barnyardgrass, the non–ACCase-tolerant rice cultivars ‘CL-111’ and ‘CLXL-745’, and red rice. At 14 DAT, antagonism of quizalofop-p-ethyl for control of barnyardgrass was observed when mixed with bispyribac-Na plus COC, SNS, or HCOC, with an observed control of 43%, 63%, and 86%, respectively, compared with an expected control of 95% for quizalofop-p-ethyl alone. However, the antagonism of quizalofop-p-ethyl when mixed with bispyribac-Na plus HCOC for barnyardgrass control at 14 DAT was overcome by 28 DAT, with an observed control of 91%, compared with an expected control of 97%. Synergistic or neutral interactions were observed at 14 and 28 DAT when COC, SNS, or HCOC was added to a mixture of quizalofop-p-ethyl plus bispyribac-Na for CL-111, CLXL-745, and red rice control. According to the results of this study, HCOC is the most effective adjuvant for quizalofop-p-ethyl and bispyribac-Na mixtures for control of weedy rice and barnyardgrass. Nomenclature: Bispyribac-Na; quizalofop-p-ethyl; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.; red rice, Oryza sativa L.; rice, Oryza sativa L.
Anthropogenic noise and social context affect vocal plasticity in a common urban passerine

Vocal communication shapes animal social networks, connecting individuals over space and time via information, facilitating mate attraction and resource defense. Despite evidence that both the physical and social environment affect signaling behavior, few studies consider variation in individual responses to environmental change within a social context. We test the hypothesis that male House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) plastically adjust songs and song sections structured for short-and long-distance transmission in response to change in their immediate noise environment, but that both social context and noise affect singing patterns at the population level. We recorded paired males prior to clutch initiation, quantified ambient noise in the moments before singing, and define social context within pairs as female fertile status and between males as number of conspecific neighbors. Among males, adjustment patterns varied depending on transmission properties, social context, and noise. In response to immediate...
Passivity-Oriented Discrete-Time Voltage Controller Design for Grid-Forming Inverters

Passivity theory provides a promising approach to guarantee microgrid system stability. If all converters in the system can be made passive, prevention of electrical resonance can be achieved. To that end, a passivity-oriented discrete-time voltage controller for grid-forming inverters is proposed in this –paper. Compared with existing methods, the approach ensures not only –superior reference tracking performance and load disturbance rejection capability, but also provides passive output impedance, and therefore, guaranteed stable inverter operation under weak grid condition. A comparison study is carried out and the proposed controller design method is validated by hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experiments.
Impact of Shared Care in Remote Areas for Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a shared-care model on outcomes in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) living in remote locations. Background Health care delivery through shared-care models has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with chronic diseases. However, the impact of shared-care models on outcomes in patients with LVAD is unknown. Methods LVAD recipients in the authors’ program (2007 to 2018) were classified based on the levels of care provided and training and resources used: level 1, was defined as outpatient primary care without LVAD-specific care; level 2 was level 1 services and outpatient LVAD-specific care; level 3 was level 2 services and inpatient LVAD-specific care and implantation center (IC). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare rates of survival, bleeding, pump thrombosis, infection, neurologic events, and readmissions among levels of care. Results A total of 336 patients were included, with 255 patients (75.9%) cared for in shared-care facilities. Median follow-up was 810 (interquartile range: 321 to 1,096) days. In comparison to patients cared for by IC, patients at levels 2 and 3 shared-care centers had similar rates of death, bleeding, neurologic events, pump thromboses, and infections. However, the rates of death, pump thromboses, and infections were higher for level 1 patients than in IC patients. Conclusions Shared health care is an effective strategy to deliver care to patients with LVAD living in remote locations. However, patients in shared-care facilities unable to provide LVAD-specific care are at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes. Availability of LVAD-specific care should be strongly considered during patient selection and every effort made to ensure LVAD-specific training and resources are available at shared-care facilities.
Influences of family-centered health education on compliance of segregation in children with respiratory infectious disease

Objective To explore the influences of family-centered health education on compliance of segregation in children with respiratory infectious disease. Methods The patients of observation group received family-centered health education and included 247 children with respiratory infectious disease who were hospitalized in Hu′nan Children′s Hospital from August to December in 2014 and their parents. The patients of control group received normal health education and included 285 children with respiratory infectious disease who were hospitalized from January to July in 2014 and their parents. The compliance of segregation of the children and their parents were compared between two groups. Results The cognition of the awareness, category and requirement of the segregation, as well as parents′ effective segregate practice of the observation group were significantly higher than that of the control group (χ2=38.7, 57.71, 30.36; P<0.01). Conclusions Family-centered health education can highly improve the compliance of segregation in children with respiratory infectious disease. It can also prevent cross infection and ensure children′s health. Key words: Health education; Children; Parent; Respiratory infectious disease; Compliance; Family-centered care
Mechanical Properties of Baboon Tympanic Membrane from Young to Adult.

Mechanical properties of the tympanic membrane (TM) play an important role in sound transmission through the middle ear. While numerous studies have investigated the mechanical properties of the adult human TM, the effects of age on the TM’s properties remain unclear because of the limited published data on the TM of young children. To address this deprivation, we used baboons in this study as an animal model for investigating the effect of age on the mechanical properties of the TM. Temporal bones were harvested from baboons (Papio anubis) of four different age groups: less than 1 year, 1–3 years, 3–5 years, and older than 5 years of age or adult. The TM specimens were harvested from baboon temporal bones and cut into rectangle strips along the inferior-superior direction, mainly capturing the influence of the circumferential direction fibers on the TM’s mechanical properties. The elasticity, ultimate tensile strength, and relaxation behavior of the baboon TM were measured in each of the four age groups with a mechanical analyzer. The average effective Young’s modulus of adult baboon TM was approximately 3.1 MPa, about two times higher than that of a human TM. The Young’s moduli of the TM samples demonstrated a 26 % decrease from newborn to adult (from 4.2 to 3.1 MPa). The average ultimate tensile strength of the TMs for all the age groups was ~ 2.5 MPa. There was no significant change in the ultimate tensile strength and relaxation behavior among age groups. The preliminary results reported in this study provide a first step towards understanding the effect of age on the TM mechanical properties from young to adult.
Small-Molecule In Vitro Inhibitors of the Coronavirus Spike - ACE2 Protein-Protein Interaction as Blockers of Viral Attachment and Entry for SARS-CoV-2

Inhibitors of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2, which acts as a ligand-receptor pair that initiates the viral attachment and cellular entry of this coronavirus causing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are of considerable interest as potential antiviral agents. While blockade of such PPIs with small molecules is more challenging than with antibodies, small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) might offer alternatives that are less strain- and mutation-sensitive, suitable for oral or inhaled administration, and more controllable / less immunogenic. Here, we report the identification of SMIs of this PPI by screening our compound-library that is focused on the chemical space of organic dyes. Among promising candidates identified, several dyes (Congo red, direct violet 1, Evans blue) and novel drug-like compounds (DRI-C23041, DRI-C91005) inhibited the interaction of hACE2 with the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 as well as SARS-CoV with low micromolar activity in our cell-free ELISA-type assays (IC50s of 0.2-3.0 M); whereas, control compounds, such as sunset yellow FCF, chloroquine, and suramin, showed no activity. Protein thermal shift assays indicated that the SMIs identified here bind SARS-CoV-2-S and not ACE2. Selected promising compounds inhibited the entry of a SARS-CoV-2-S expressing pseudovirus into ACE2-expressing cells in concentration-dependent manner with low micromolar IC50s (6-30 M). This provides proof-of-principle evidence for the feasibility of small-molecule inhibition of PPIs critical for coronavirus attachment/entry and serves as a first guide in the search for SMI-based alternative antiviral therapies for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by coronaviruses in general and COVID-19 in particular.
How Visual Arts-Based Education Can Promote Clinical Excellence

A growing movement to integrate the arts and humanities into health professions education is afoot. While educators may easily conceive how arts-based teaching can improve clinically relevant skills such as observation and critical thinking, they may not realize it also has the potential to transform learners in myriad ways beyond sharpening these fundamental skills. In this Perspective, the authors review how visual arts-based education can promote clinical excellence by enhancing communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism and humanism, diagnostic acumen and clinical reasoning, and passion for clinical medicine. They describe the most widely studied visual arts-based education method, Visual Thinking Strategies, in detail as an exemplar of how arts-based pedagogy can help health care professionals strive for and ultimately achieve clinical excellence.
Does the Stomatognathic System Adapt to Changes in Occlusion? Best Evidence Consensus Statement.

Purpose The purpose of this Best Evidence Consensus Statement was to evaluate the existing literature on the stomatognathic system's ability to adapt to occlusal changes. Materials and methods The search term stomatognathic system was not useful as it resulted in over 400,000 results nor was the search term temporomandibular joint adaptation with 738 results due to the large number of references not related to the topic. The terms stomatognathic system adaptation to occlusal changes (186 results), teeth flexion (139 results), muscle adaptation to dental occlusion (278 results), and occlusal changes and neuroplasticity (11 results) provided the best selection of articles related to the topic. Limiting the above searches to systematic reviews and randomized controlled clinical trials resulted in multiple publications that were related to the question.9-13 Other literature reviews, data-based publications, and expert opinion resources have been included due to their relationship to the question. Results From the extensive list of search results, 242 articles were determined to be potentially related to the focus question and were evaluated with 56 being included in this paper. It was determined that the stomatognathic system adapts to occlusal changes through the temporomandibular joint, muscles, teeth and bone. The dynamically modified periosteum on the articulator surfaces of the condyle and fossa has a unique load-bearing morphology with 3 subarticular layers of fibrocartilage that absorb and dissipate both peak (impact) and sustained loads. Adaptability of the TMJs and muscles can be documented through studies where artificially produced occlusal interferences were placed in patients and those study participants with normal temporomandibular joints (TMJs) adapted fairly well whereas those with a previous history of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) did not adapt as well. Conclusions Available evidence indicates patients generally adapt to the occlusal change inherent in orthodontic treatment, mandibular advancement surgery, and the use of mandibular advancement devices. The head and neck muscles also adapt to occlusal changes in patients without a history of TMD. The dentition adapts to changes through the bone and periodontal ligaments as well as the ability of teeth to undergo slight flexion under masticatory loading. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The effect of intrinsic physiological traits on diapause survival and their underlying mechanisms in an annual bee species Bombus impatiens

In the face of insect declines, identifying phases of the life cycle when insects are particularly vulnerable to mortality is critical to conservation efforts. For numerous annual insect groups, diapause is both a key adaptation that allows survival of inhospitable conditions and a physiologically demanding life stage that can result in high rates of mortality. As bees continue to garner attention as a group experiencing high rates of decline, improving our understanding of how annual bees prepare for diapause and identifying factors that reduce survival is imperative. Here, we studied factors affecting diapause survival length and their underlying mechanisms using an economically and ecologically important annual bee species, Bombus impatiens. We examined how age and mass upon diapause onset correlate with diapause survival length, and the mechanistic role of nutrient acquisition and oxidative stress post pupal eclosion in mediating these effects. Our findings show that both age and mass were strong predictors of diapause survival length. Heavier queens or queens in the age range of ~6-17 days survived longer in diapause. Mass gain was attributed to increases in lipid, protein and glycerol amounts following pupal eclosion, and the ability to deal with oxidative stress was significantly compromised in older pre-diapause queens. Our results demonstrate that age-related shifts in bee physiology and timing of nutrient acquisition may both be critical factors driving diapause survival.
Pups, Paperwork and Process: Confusion and Conflict Regarding Service and Assistance Animals

This Article begins by providing the current status of the definition of service animal and inquiries that can be made under Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and delves into the rationale utilized by the Department of Justice when it developed these regulations. It then contrasts how the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has handled the issue of the accommodation of employees and their service animals under Title I of the ADA. The Article analyzes guidance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and recent case law relating to assistance animals and the Fair Housing Act. A considerable portion of the Article is devoted to the turmoil surrounding the Air Carrier Access Act and recent rulemaking process. The Article then utilizes recent legislation to illustrate how some states have attempted to address the issue of fraud and misrepresentation in this area of the law. It concludes by providing recommendations to reduce the likelihood of confusion and conflict in the future.
Does rivaroxaban have a role in treating patients with PAD

Peripheral arterial disease can cause devastating health outcomes, and few therapies are available to treat this condition. Results of a secondary analysis of the COMPASS trial suggest benefit with the use of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg daily. This treatment regimen could change the standard pharmacotherapeutic management practice for many patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Postnatal immune activation causes social deficits in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis: Role of microglia and clinical implications.

There is growing evidence that prenatal immune activation contributes to neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we show that early postnatal immune activation resulted in profound impairments in social ...
A morphometric analysis of the widespread Triplaris americana (Polygonaceae)1

Triplaris (Polygonaceae) is a genus of 18 species of fast-growing dioecious trees. Triplaris is widely distributed in the Neotropics, with a center of diversity in the western portion of the Amazon basin. The most recent revision of the genus was one of consolidation, lumping a large number of names into a small number of species concepts. One species in particular, T. americana, is presently an amalgamation of 15 historical taxonomic concepts. Moreover, as currently circumscribed, T. americana is morphologically variable and ranges over the whole of the Neotropics despite the fact that most species in the genus have restricted geographic ranges. Given the recent taxonomic history of Triplaris, the infraspecific variation observed in T. americana, and the narrow endemism observed in most species of Triplaris, it is reasonable to question whether T. americana, as it is currently circumscribed, in fact constitutes a single species. This study examined the circumscription of T. americana using a morphological species concept, morphometrics, and hierarchical clustering. Hierarchical clustering revealed that the morphological variation present in 136 specimens of T. americana could be explained by dividing those specimens into two groups of plants. These groups, however, could not be reliably distinguished morphologically. The distribution of values and morphologies among the various groups always overlapped. As a result, this work supports retaining T. americana as a single, widespread, and morphologically variable species.
Population distributions of time to collision at brake application during car following from naturalistic driving data.

PROBLEM: Forward collision warning (FCW) systems are designed to mitigate the effects of rear-end collisions. Driver acceptance of these systems is crucial to their success, as perceived "nuisance" alarms may cause drivers to disable the systems. In order to make customizable FCW thresholds, system designers need to quantify the variation in braking behavior in the driving population. The objective of this study was to quantify the time to collision (TTC) that drivers applied the brakes during car following scenarios from a large scale naturalistic driving study (NDS). METHODS: Because of the large amount of data generated by NDS, an automated algorithm was developed to identify lead vehicles using radar data recorded as part of the study. Using the search algorithm, all trips from 64 drivers from the 100-Car NDS were analyzed. A comparison of the algorithm to 7135 brake applications where the presence of a lead vehicle was manually identified found that the algorithm agreed with the human review 90.6% of the time. RESULTS: This study examined 72,123 trips that resulted in 2.6 million brake applications. Population distributions of the minimum, 1st, and 10th percentiles were computed for each driver in speed ranges between 3 and 60mph in 10mph increments. As speed increased, so did the minimum TTC experience by drivers as well as variance in TTC. Younger drivers (18-30) had lower TTC at brake application compared to older drivers (30-51+), especially at speeds between 40mph and 60mph. DISCUSSION: This is one of the first studies to use large scale NDS data to quantify braking behavior during car following. The results of this study can be used to design and evaluate FCW systems and calibrate traffic simulation models. Language: en
Studying spamming botnets using Botlab

In this paper we present Botlab, a platform that continually monitors and analyzes the behavior of spam-oriented botnets. Botlab gathers multiple real-time streams of information about botnets taken from distinct perspectives. By combining and analyzing these streams, Botlab can produce accurate, timely, and comprehensive data about spam botnet behavior. Our prototype system integrates information about spam arriving at the University of Washington, outgoing spam generated by captive botnet nodes, and information gleaned from DNS about URLs found within these spam messages. We describe the design and implementation of Botlab, including the challenges we had to overcome, such as preventing captive nodes from causing harm or thwarting virtual machine detection. Next, we present the results of a detailed measurement study of the behavior of the most active spam botnets. We find that six botnets are responsible for 79% of spam messages arriving at the UW campus. Finally, we present defensive tools that take advantage of the Botlab platform to improve spam filtering and protect users from harmful web sites advertised within botnet-generated spam.