cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of antenatal betamethasone on blood glucose levels in women with and without diabetes.

Abstract Objective To characterize the maternal glycemic response to betamethasone in subjects without diabetes compared to subjects with diabetes. Study design Blood glucose levels in 22 gravidae without diabetes and 11 gravidae with diabetes were recorded for 48h following betamethasone administration for threatened preterm delivery. Maximum blood glucose value and time to maximum value were compared. Area under the curve calculations were used to express the duration and degree of significant hyperglycemia for individual subjects. These summary measures were then correlated to subject characteristics and laboratory values to determine a risk profile of those subjects without diabetes at risk for significant hyperglycemia. Results All subjects with diabetes and the majority of those without diabetes had significant hyperglycemia during the study period. Mean maximum blood glucose was higher for those with diabetes (205mg/dL vs. 173mg/dL, p ⩽0.01). Mean time to reach the maximum glucose level was similar for both groups. Result of a glucose tolerance test given immediately prior to betamethasone correlated strongly with amount of time spent with hyperglycemia for subjects without diabetes (rho=0.59, p ⩽0.01). Morbidly obese subjects spent less time with hyperglycemia than those with lower body mass indices ( p =0.03). Conclusion Both subjects with and without diabetes demonstrate significant hyperglycemia after receipt of antenatal betamethasone.
Introduction to Factors Influencing Offshore Helicopter Transport Safety

This chapter outlines the rationale for writing a book about offshore helicopter underwater egress training (HUET). In this chapter I introduce the basic concept of human systems integration as an approach to exploring the complex interconnected factors that influence the performance of HUET skills and ultimately survival in the event of an actual ditching/water impact. This first chapter is primarily used to outline key themes as they relate to the current status of helicopter transport safety. Aspects associated with accident statistics, legislation, safety climate and culture, and HUET will be discussed at a high level in an effort to have the reader begin to consider the myriad of issues that are required to develop, implement, and execute a successful egress from a ditched, inverted, and flooded helicopter. Finally, this chapter provides an overview of the following chapters that have been prepared by some of the world’s leading authorities on survival psychology, human physiology associated with immersion in cold water, emergency breathing systems, helicopter safety equipment, physiological responses to HUET, fidelity in training environments, and training protocols.
A test of exponentiality vs. monotone-hazard alternatives derived from the empirical characteristic function

On propose un test d'exponentialite qui est consistant pour des alternatives a taux de panne monotone
Sudden Severe Bleeding in a Patient with Hemochromatosis: Liver Failure or Something Else?

A 51-year-old man with hereditary hemochromatosis presented with hematuria and bleeding gums. He had no history of a bleeding disorder or abnormal bleeding. He was taking chlorthalidone and losartan for hypertension but took no other prescribed medications or over the counter supplements. He was adherent to a therapeutic phlebotomy schedule to control iron overload. …
Trade-off between node selection and space diversity for accurate uncooperative localization

Abstract We consider Received Signal Strength (RSS) based localization and trade-off between space diversity and node selection approaches in terms of localization accuracy. In LOS/NLOS (Line Of Sight/Non Line Of Sight) mixed environment and uncooperative scenario, we show that when shadowing variance increases, we move from a first region where diversity is preferable to selectivity (use of all RSS leads to better accuracy) to a second region where selective aspect leads to better performance (use of higher RSS). Thus, the idea of computing an optimum threshold σ o p t i m a l 2 on the shadowing variance (respectively γ optimal on the RSS values) which represent the edge between these two regions. This threshold, γ optimal , will indeed help to trade-off between using all nodes or only a subset of them for more accurate localization. The closed form expression for the failure rate, defined as the event when all RSS measures are below a threshold value, ( RSS γ optimal ) is first derived. Then, we proposed a scheme for optimizing the choice between node selection and diversity approaches.
Are tobacco taxes really regressive? : evidence from Chile

Tobacco Taxes are deemed regressive as poorest families tend to allocate larger shares of their budget to purchase tobacco. However, as taxes also discourage tobacco use, some of the most adverse effects, including higher medical expenses, lower life expectancy at birth, added years of disability among smokers, and reductions in the quality of life, among other, would be reduced. This paper describes and simulates the effects of the tobacco tax on incomes in Chile assuming three different price-elasticity scenarios for different income deciles of the population. Results show that although price increase for tobacco through higher taxes generates negative income variations across all groups in a population, under a more comprehensive scenario that includes benefits through lower medical expenses and an increase in working years, the results invert, and the overall monetary effect of the taxation policy becomes positive. Moreover, the reduction in medical expenses seems to be the main driver of the increase in net incomes because of the reduction in tobacco-related problems that require expensive treatments. Lastly, as the distributional effects of tobacco taxes are directly related to the long-term price elasticity of tobacco consumption, it would be advisable a coordination between taxation and behavioral change policies across income groups. (JEL Codes: H23, H31, I18, O15)
Abstract 495: Clinical Outcome of Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification in Asymptomatic Subjects: Impact of Age and Gender

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is pathognomonic of coronary atherosclerosis. We investigated the impact of age and gender on the clinical outcome of progression of CAC. Methods: Four thousand and nine asymptomatic subjects (57 ±10 years, 33% female) who underwent baseline and follow-up CAC measurement within 2 years, were prospectively followed for 4 ±2 years. The absolute annual changes in CAC (ΔCAC) in both genders were measured. ΔCAC was defined ΔCAC 100. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis models were developed to predict all-cause mortality in both genders. Results: Age was not different in both genders. Death rate was 4.7%. Men had more ΔCAC than women (43 ±128 vs. 25 ±100, p = 0.0001). Similarly menopausal women had more ΔCAC than premenopausal women (36 ±102 vs. 12 ±92, p = 0.0001). Risk adjusted hazard ratio of death was increased from ΔCAC 25–50 to ΔCAC 50 –100 to ΔCAC >100 as compared to ΔCAC 100 were higher in men than menopausal women (HR: 1.03, 1.31, 1.62 and 1.82, respectively). Conclusion: Current study demonstrates that CAC progression increased from premenopausal to menopausal and from women to men, and is associated with poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, clinical outcome of CAC progression was worse in men than women with the similar extent of CAC progression.
Magnetostructural Coupling in Mn-Rich Heusler Mn-Ni-In Melt-Spun Ribbons

The effect of In addition on the magnetostructural transition behavior and magnetocaloric effect in the Mn-rich Heusler Mn-Ni-In melt spun ribbons have been studied in the present work. With the increasing of the In content, the crystal structure of the alloys are tetragonal NM martensite (for x=7~8.5), 7M monoclinic martensite (for x=9, 9.5) and L21 austenite (for x=10, 11), respectively. It was found that the increase of the In content results in both a progressive decrease of the martensitic transformation temperature and a continuously enhancement of the austenite magnetic transition temperature. For the ribbons with In content of 9.5 at%, it shows the combination of the structural transformation and the magnetic transition. The large magnetization difference between the two phases confirms the occurrence of the field-induced martensitic reverse transformation.
Destination Based Corporate Tax: An Alternative Approach

With the election of Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s domination of Congress, it is time to seriously consider House Speaker Paul Ryan’s blueprint for fundamental tax reform. The Ryan blueprint combines reduced individual rates with a destination-based consumption or cash flow type business tax applicable to large businesses. This blueprint has three major problems: It is incompatible with our WTO obligations, it is incompatible with our tax treaties, and will not solve the problems of income shifting and inversions it is designed to address. This paper proposes an alternative destination-based corporate tax (DBCT) that addresses these problems while retaining the advantages of “border adjustability.”
Visual acuity, oncologic, and toxicity outcomes with 103Pd vs. 125I plaque treatment for choroidal melanoma

Abstract Purpose To evaluate outcomes of choroidal melanoma patients treated with 125I or 103Pd plaque brachytherapy. Methods and Materials From 1993 to 2012, our institution treated 160 patients with 103Pd (56.1%) and 125 patients with 125I (43.9%) plaque brachytherapy. Tumor outcomes, visual acuity (VA), and toxicity were compared. Multivariate analyses (MVAs) and propensity score analysis were used to help address differences in baseline characteristics. Results Median followup was longer for 125I patients, 52.7 vs. 43.5 months (p 90% 3-year overall survival and >93% 5-year secondary enucleation-free survival. On MVA, radionuclide was not predictive for tumor outcomes. A higher percentage maintained vision better than 20/40 with 103Pd (63% vs. 35%, p = 0.007) at 3 years. MVA demonstrated 103Pd radionuclide (odds ratio [OR]: 2.12, p = 0.028) and tumor height ≤5 mm (OR: 2.78, p = 0.017) were associated with VA better than 20/40. Propensity score analysis matched 23 125I with 107 103Pd patients. 103Pd continued to predict better VA at 3 years (OR: 8.10, p = 0.014). On MVA for the development of VA worse than 20/200 or degree of vision loss, radionuclide was not significant. Lower rates of radiation retinopathy were seen with 103Pd than 125I (3 years: 47.3% vs. 63.9%, p = 0.016), with radionuclide significant in MVA. Conclusions Both 125I and 103Pd achieve excellent tumor control. An increased probability of long-term VA better than 20/40 and reduced risk of radiation retinopathy is associated with 103Pd.
Investigating the Correlation Between Pharmacy Student Performance on the Health Science Reasoning Test and a Critical Thinking Assignment.

Objective. To determine whether there is a correlation between pharmacy students’ scores on the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) and their grade on a package insert assignment designed to assess critical thinking.Methods. The HSRT was administered to first-year pharmacy students during a critical-thinking course in the spring semester. In the same semester, a required package insert assignment was completed in a pharmacokinetics course. To determine whether there was a relationship between HSRT scores and grades on the assignment, a Spearman’s rho correlation test was performed.Results. A very weak but significant positive correlation was found between students’ grades on the assignment and their overall HSRT score (r=0.19, p<0.05), as well as deduction (a scale score of the HSRT; r=0.26, p<0.01).Conclusion. Based on a very weak but significant correlation to HSRT scores, this study demonstrated the potential of a package insert assignment to be used as one of the components to measure critical-thinki...
Using semantic web technologies to power LungMAP, a molecular data repository

As scientific research evolves, data continue to grow at an exponential rate. This growth calls for a need for more data repositories to store the data, and the creation of additional centralized repositories to provide standards for researchers. Common data repositories allow for collaboration and easier sharing of data, critical for further advancement of scientific understanding of a variety of topics. LungMAP (the Molecular Atlas of Lung Development) is an open-access reference resource that provides a comprehensive molecular atlas of the normal developing lung in humans and mice and provides data and reagents to the research community. The database utilizes RDF, SPARQL, and OWL. LungMAP exemplifies the use of semantic web technologies to provide a collaborative and open access data application for the scientific research community.
In Vitro Systems for Coupling RNAP II Transcription to Splicing and Polyadenylation

Studies over the past several years have revealed that steps in gene expression are extensively coupled to one another both physically and functionally. Recently, in vitro systems were developed for understanding the mechanisms involved in coupling transcription by RNA polymerase II to RNA processing. Here we describe an effi cient two-way system for coupling transcription to splicing and a robust three-way system for coupling transcription, splicing, and polyadenylation. In these systems a CMV-DNA construct is incubated in HeLa cell nuclear extracts in the presence of 32 P-UTP to generate the nascent transcript. Transcription is then stopped by addition of α-amanitin followed by continued incubation to allow RNA processing.
Media Discourse and the Feminization of Poverty

Source diversity models suggest that by using non-conventional, non-official sources for news content, the prevailing perceptions about poor people and their needs would be undermined in news coverage. This study found that major newspapers are making efforts to diversify the sources quoted in their coverage of poverty issues. However, the portrayals of poor people have not changed, particularly for women and people of color. Results of this study suggest that source diversity research must go further to explore how sources are used to address the problems of the poor and how media influence public perceptions of public policy related to welfare and welfare reform.
Publication-Based Academic Interest in Drugs and Techniques for Treatment of Postoperative Pain, 1975-2015.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine how drugs and their administration techniques, introduced over the past 40 years and still popular now, influenced publication-based academic interest in the treatment of postoperative pain. Methods Specific scientometric indices—popularity index (PI), top journal selectivity index (TJSI), and index of change (IC)—were used. Of the 61 terms searched, only those that had a PI value ≥1.0 during the 2011-2015 period were selected. They include eight drugs—bupivacaine, fentanyl, ropivacaine, acetaminophen, tramadol, remifentanil, and dexamethasone—and five techniques—patient-controlled analgesia, epidural opioids, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, continuous nerve blocks, and transversus abdominis plane block (presented according to their decreasing PI value in each category). Results Four of these drugs or techniques with the highest PI in 2011-2015 also held top positions even 20 years earlier: in 1991-1995, the PI for bupivacaine was 9.1; fentanyl, 6.6; patient-controlled analgesia, 10.4; and epidural opioids, 6.8. Since that time, their PI values slowly decreased, for the first three items by approximately 50% and much more than that (85%) with epidural opioids. Nevertheless, to this day, they continue to hold the highest degree of publication-based academic interest. The TJSI can be regarded as an index of expectations at the time of articles publication. With bupivacaine, fentanyl, patient-controlled analgesia, and epidural opioids, the TJSI exceeded the specific high threshold of 10.0 for a very long time. The TJSIs of acetaminophen, ketamine, and dexamethasone were increased with the advent of new expectations regarding the treatment of postoperative pain using these old agents. Conclusions Two important developments related to ultrasound-guided nerve block and continuous nerve block demonstrated only a moderate degree of academic interest. In conclusion, even today, the greatest publication-based academic interest related to postoperative pain is associated with drugs and techniques introduced 40-50 years ago.
Comments on the Gas-Phase Initial Rate of Tritiated Water Formation

A critical evaluation was made of the experimental data regarding the rate of tritiated water formation. The evaluation tested the validity of the rate expression. The experimental data does not appear to support the use of this rate expression for predicting tritiated water formation rates over wide ranges of initial tritium concentrations and large spans of reaction times. Modeling results are discussed which indicate the complexity of the tritiated water formation mechanism. The simplicity can not express the effects of the mechanistic complexity on the rate.
“The Whole Earth Is Full of His Glory”: Lighting and Suffering in Ingmar Bergman’s Winter Light

This chapter analyzes how the film uses light to examine God’s silence. When characters discuss anguish, they evoke Augustine, Kant, Leibniz, Kierkegaard, Sartre, Nietzsche, Barth, and Hauerwas. During these moments, some drown in darkness and others stumble in luminescence, while a few have the courage to light the way for others. This lighting motif criticizes explanations for torment that concentrate on subjective suffering and condones those that focus on intersubjective communities seeking to alleviate anguish. Overall, elements from chandeliers to candlelight extol the fragile light made by humanity, which can light the darkness even when the Lord’s sun has set.
Randomized household labor supply

In a multiperson household, indivisibilities or other externalities may imply that optimal decisions involve explicit randomizations. This issue is orthogonal to the standard distinction between unitary and collective models; it arises even when the household aggregates individual utilities through a Samuelsonian index.
Effect of injected versus iontophoretic corticosteroid on the rabbit tendon.

Background The etiologic role of corticosteroid therapy in tendon rupture is controversial. This study compared the effects of injected versus iontophoretically delivered corticosteroid on the normal rabbit Achilles tendon. Methods Rabbits were divided into three treatment groups: (1) corticosteroid injections, (2) iontophoretically delivered corticosteroid, and (3) no treatment. One tendon of each rabbit in the treatment groups was treated with either drug injection or iontophoresis; the tendon of the other leg served as a control. Some tendons were used for testing elastic modulus, ultimate load, and ultimate stress, while the remaining tendons were evaluated histologically. Results Injections of either corticosteroid or saline into the tendon sheath resulted in short-term changes in tendon biomechanical characteristics and somewhat higher histologic severity scores; however, iontophoretic delivery of corticosteroid or saline did not affect either significantly. Conclusions Iontophoresis using sterile water or corticosteroid resulted in minimal or no biochemical and histologic changes in the tendon compared with injection of either substance. The method of corticosteroid delivery may be as important as the actual drug effects on the biomechanical and histologic properties of tendons.
The impact of reflected waves on the reconstruction of tomographic imaging

Tomography is defined as an image reconstruction technique that exploits different points of view, and different observation points. Generally, tomographic images can be constructed by illuminating the target with a microwave signals and measuring the energy that passes through the target e.g. transmission tomography, or reflected from the target as in reflection tomography. Reflection tomography is used in some cases when the transmission tomography cannot be accomplished due to physical limitations, or high attenuation losses due to high material impedance. In this paper, we investigate the impact of surfaces placed beside the transmitter and/or the receiver, and quantify these effects via image analysis at high frequency domain. Our goal in this paper is to reduce the effect of side-lobes that may appear as result of these surfaces. We reduce the reflected waves from the surfaces by designing the surfaces using specific materials or by changing the placement of both the transmitter and/or receiver antenna. Moreover, the resulting tomographic image will be processed using the Winner filter to remove any remaining noise.
The neurobiological effects of repetitive head impacts in collision sports

It is now recognized that repetitive head impacts (RHI) in sport have the potential for long-term neurological impairments. In order to identify targets for intervention and/or pharmacological treatment, it is necessary to characterize the neurobiological mechanisms associated with RHI. This review aims to summarize animal and human studies that specifically address Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) dysfunction, abnormal neuro-metabolic and neuro-inflammatory processes as well as Tau aggregation associated with RHI in collision sports. Additionally, we examine the influence of physical activity and genetics on outcomes of RHI, discuss methodological considerations, and provide suggestions for future directions of this burgeoning area of research.
Bacterial infections in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome: clinicopathologic correlations in a series of autopsy cases

In a group of 46 adult patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who came to autopsy in 1983–1987, the authors found that 38 (83%) had bacterial (nonmycobacterial) infections some time during the course of their illness, compared with 34 (74%) who had parasitic infections, 31 (67%) who had viral infections, 28 (61%) who had fungal infections, and 12 (26%) who had mycobacterial infections. Twenty-five of these patients (54%) had Staphylococcus aureus infections, compared with 7 (15%) who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and 6 (13%) who had enterococcal infections. Overall, undiagnosed infections or malignancies were found in 48%, 22 of the 46 autopsies, including 12 cases of undiagnosed bacterial infections, 8 of these due to S. aureus . These results suggest that bacterial infections in general, and S. aureus infections in particular, are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS.
Toward a Portfolio Based Procurement Strategy for Multiple Projects

Chapter 6 looks to the future, a future in which direct and indirect project delivery and finance methods are simultaneously available to governments and to private sector owners of infrastructure collections.1 The focus now turns to very practical questions: how to configure portfolios of infrastructure projects so that different mixes of projects, delivery methods, and financing approaches can be evaluated to positively change portfolio quality, revenues, expense, and technology. Political bodies, elected officials, and public officials will not use the delivery methods of Quadrants I, II, and IV unless they are reasonably sure that their choice of delivery method produces real improvement in infrastructure quality, level of service, cost performance, or timeliness. Similarly, corporate officers, corporate infrastructure managers, and corporate boards of directors need to know, not guess, that proposed infrastructure expenditures will produce incremental improvement in corporate infrastructure performance.
Classes String and StringBuilder

Java provides a variety of methods for extracting information from a String data. Since String is an object class, like Scanner, we execute a method on a String data by attaching a period, the name of the method, and the parameters.
Toward an enhanced understanding of psychological resilience for HIV youth populations.

Though mother-to-child HIV transmission has been dramatically reduced in the past decade, there are currently an estimated 1.8 million children living with HIV across the globe, and over 30% of all...
Dialectics Facing Prehistoric Catastrophe: Merely Possible Climate Change Solutions:

The Frankfurt School formulated a negative dialectics that keeps open the possibility for alternative social futures by explaining and diagnosing the non-existence of ‘real possibilities’ to actual...
Predicting Cognitive Improvement in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Patients Using Preoperative Neuropsychological Testing and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers.

Background Though it is well known that normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) patients can cognitively improve after ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS), one of the major dilemmas in NPH is the ability to prospectively predict which patients will improve. Objective To prospectively assess preoperative predictors of postshunt cognitive improvement. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort including 52 consecutive patients with approximately 1-yr follow-up. Patients underwent neuropsychological testing at baseline, postlumbar drainage, and postshunt. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and cortical biopsies were also collected to examine their relationship with postshunt cognitive improvement. Results Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test-L (RAVLT-L) was the only neuropsychological test to demonstrate statistically significant improvement both postlumbar drain and postshunt. Improvement on the RAVLT-L postlumbar drain predicted improvement on the RAVLT-L postshunt. Patients with biopsies demonstrating Aβ+ Tau+ had lower ventricular CSF Aβ42 and higher lumbar CSF pTau compared to Aβ- Tau- patients. A receiver operating curve analysis using lumbar pTau predicted Aβ+ Tau+ biopsy status but was not related to neuropsychological test outcome. Conclusion The RAVLT can be a useful preoperative predictor of postoperative cognitive improvement, and thus, we recommend using the RAVLT to evaluate NPH patients. CSF biomarkers could not be related to neuropsychological test outcome. Future research in a larger patient sample will help determine the prospective utility of CSF biomarkers in the evaluation of NPH patients.
Effects of sugarcane trash and pineapple residue incorporation on soil nitrogen, pH and redox potential

Sugarcane trash and pineapple residue, in a finely ground state, were mixed with soil at different levels with and without nitrogen fertilization. The nitrogen treatments received 112 kg N/ha as ammonium sulfate. The samples were incubated for different lengths of time (up to 16 weeks) and analyzed for total, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite nitrogen, pH and redox potential. There was no noticeable loss of nitrogen from the samples due to denitrification. The concentration of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen remained very low throughout the incubation study, probably due to immobilization by soil microflora. After 12 weeks, there was some indication of the release of mineral nitrogen from immobilized reserves. The redox potential was found to be between 400–600 mv during this study and nitrates became unstable below 400 mv redox potential.
Beyond “reform or revolution”

The Western left has been and continues to be rent by a Luxemburgian "either/ or" reform or revolution which produces less a confrontation than a mutual isolation of two self-enclosed dialogues. This division has become increasingly artificial and obfuscating in an era of complex technological societies, international interdependence, and nuclear weaponry. The best that can be said of the concept of revolution which is implied is that it is obsolete, at least for the West. For when Luxemburg used the term she meant essentially what Lenin meant by it and what it would come to mean in the lexicon of Soviet "Marxism-Leninism": the violent conquest of political power by the workers. Central to this view is the expectation that "objective historical forces" will produce a "crisis of capitalism" in which a well-organized working class can seize a momentary opportunity to gain control of the state, consolidate its power, and only then proceed to the creation of appropriate social relations. From this vantage point, "reform" appears as a polar opposite strategy, one which legitimates proletarian participation in the political arrangements of a state actually dominated by an alien class.
Evaluation of Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as a potential surrogate of Salmonella in packaged paprika, white pepper and cumin powder during radio frequency heating

Abstract Salmonella contamination of various seasonings and spices has occurred in the last decade. Radio frequency (RF) heating has been shown to be a potential alternative inactivation method for pathogens in low moisture foods (LMF), including spices and vegetable powders. This study aimed to (1) determine the thermal resistance (D and z values) of Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) NRRL B-2354 as a promising surrogate for thermal validation studies using paprika, white pepper, and cumin powders, and (2) evaluate the efficacy of RF heating on the inactivation of both microorganisms in packaged samples. Samples with initial water activity levels ( a w , 25 ° C ) of 0.45 ± 0.05 were inoculated with Salmonella cocktail (S. Typhimurium, S. Agona, S. Montevideo, and S. Tennessee) and E. faecium NRRL B-2354 at approximately 8.5 log CFU/g. Inoculated samples were loaded in aluminum test cells and subjected to isothermal treatment in a water bath at 70, 75 and 80 °C. Samples (20 g) were also sealed in small polystyrene petri dishes and subjected to RF heating in a 27.12-MHz, 6-kW pilot scale RF unit with 105 mm electrode gap until the temperature at the geometric center reached 80 °C. The survival of both bacteria was enumerated and converted to log CFU per gram. The change in color of RF heated samples was also evaluated to assess the impact of RF heating on the product quality. Results showed that the thermal resistance of E. faecium at inactivation temperatures is higher than Salmonella in all three spices. Additionally, both microorganisms showed less thermal resistance in paprika than white pepper and cumin powder. The D 80 ° C values of Salmonella and E. faecium were determined to be 1.21 and 1.82 min in paprika, 2.85 and 5.27 min in white pepper, and 4.47 and 9.53 min in cumin powder, respectively. Results also showed that E. faecium is a suitable surrogate for validation of RF pasteurization of Salmonella in spices and RF heating is an effective method to control the contamination of foodborne pathogens in spices.
Geriatrics Scholarly Concentration Programs Among U.S. Medical Schools.

Objectives To identify and describe geriatric scholarly concentration programs (GSCPs) among U.S. medical schools. Design Survey and interview. Setting Allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States. Participants and methods We used a systematic internet search, forum postings, and word of mouth to identify all U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical schools with existing GSCPs. GSCP directors completed an online survey. We conducted interviews with key faculty of two representative programs. Measurements GSCP size, goals, duration of activity, requirements, funding sources, and student outcomes. Results Nine GSCPs were identified, and eight responded to the survey. The number of current medical student participants ranged from 0 to 28, with a mean cohort size of 23. All programs included the following components: formal mentoring, clinical experiences in geriatric medicine beyond the standard medical school curriculum, and research. Half required students to complete an independent research project. GSCPs reported challenges, including low student interest, lack of availability of faculty mentors, and budget constraints; however, student satisfaction was high. Among three programs that reported on the residency matches of their graduates, half matched into a residency with a geriatric subspecialty training option. Conclusions Among U.S. medical schools, there are few GSCPs. The GSCP model may help compensate for limited exposure to geriatric competencies in the standard medical school curriculum for a subset of interested students and may increase interest in geriatrics subspecialty training.
Challenges and Opportunities in Clinical Applications of Blood-Based Proteomics in Cancer

Blood is a readily accessible biofluid containing a plethora of important proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites that can be used as clinical diagnostic tools in diseases, including cancer. Like the on-going efforts for cancer biomarker discovery using the liquid biopsy detection of circulating cell-free and cell-based tumor nucleic acids, the circulatory proteome has been underexplored for clinical cancer biomarker applications. A comprehensive proteome analysis of human serum/plasma with high-quality data and compelling interpretation can potentially provide opportunities for understanding disease mechanisms, although several challenges will have to be met. Serum/plasma proteome biomarkers are present in very low abundance, and there is high complexity involved due to the heterogeneity of cancers, for which there is a compelling need to develop sensitive and specific proteomic technologies and analytical platforms. To date, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based quantitative proteomics has been a dominant analytical workflow to discover new potential cancer biomarkers in serum/plasma. This review will summarize the opportunities of serum proteomics for clinical applications; the challenges in the discovery of novel biomarkers in serum/plasma; and current proteomic strategies in cancer research for the application of serum/plasma proteomics for clinical prognostic, predictive, and diagnostic applications, as well as for monitoring minimal residual disease after treatments. We will highlight some of the recent advances in MS-based proteomics technologies with appropriate sample collection, processing uniformity, study design, and data analysis, focusing on how these integrated workflows can identify novel potential cancer biomarkers for clinical applications.
Mystical Hunger: Memaknai Lapar dalam Teologi Mistik sebagai Upaya Transformasi Sosial

This article endeavors to discuss hunger as a site for mystical encounter with God. The history of Christian mysticism shows that our experiences play a significant role in the sourcing of its very theology. Upon consideration of a clarifying definition for mystical theology, I elaborate on Simone Weil’s view of hunger as mystical experience along with Dorothee Solle’s notion that mystical experience impacts social transformation. With help from both, hunger can be seen as an experience of intimacy with God and at once possesses the dimension for hospitality, for the purposes of breaking down social barriers.
Mental distress among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective This study aims to document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Method We compared a nationally representative online sample of 2,032 U.S. adults in late April 2020 to 19,330 U.S. adult internet users who participated in the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) using the Kessler-6 scale of mental distress in the last 30 days. Results Compared to the 2018 NHIS sample, U.S. adults in April 2020 were eight times more likely to fit criteria for serious mental distress (27.7% vs. 3.4%) and three times more likely to fit criteria for moderate or serious mental distress (70.4% vs. 22.0%). Differences between the 2018 and 2020 samples appeared across all demographic groups, with larger differences among younger adults and those with children in the household. Conclusions These considerable levels of mental distress may portend substantial increases in diagnosed mental disorders and in their associated morbidity and mortality.
Intersectional Advocacy with LGBTQ+ Clients in Counseling

Advocacy and multicultural counseling researchers have helped establish competencies for working with today’s diverse client populations. However, advocacy competencies may not fully account for th...
Optical Quantum Bits Locked on Dielectric Surface

We propose to create optical quantum bits through quantum entanglement of two circularly polarized laser beams coupled by one stronger linearly polarized laser beam on the atomic dipoles of a dielectric surface.
Cuerpo en fuga, una imagen que se ausenta: revisando tres poemarios de Dulce María Loynaz

This work examines three collections of poems by Dulce Maria Loynaz, Versos, 1920-1938 (1938), Juegos de agua (1947) and Poemas sin nombre (1953) to think about the possibilities of corporeality and to see how the poems of Loynaz nurture not a presence but an absence of the body. The lyrical speaker endorses the idea of sketching images of bodies that have corporeal absence as a motif. As a critical plinth, one of the multiple observations formulated by Michel Foucault on the subject will be consideredalong with Julia Kristeva's consideration of dialectic within textual limits, limits of signifieds and signifiers, as well as the establishment of a rhythm within such limits. These ideas support an analysis that attempts to approximate to some compositions of the Cuban poet.
Short-term rapid weight loss induced by bariatric surgery improves ventricular ejection fraction in patients with severe obesity and heart failure.

Abstract Background Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, and heart failure (HF). Rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery can significantly improve outcomes for patients with these diseases. Objectives To assess whether bariatric surgery improves ventricular ejection fraction in patients with obesity who have heart failure. Setting Private practice, United States. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of echocardiographic changes in systolic functions in patients with obesity that underwent bariatric surgery at our institution. Patients were divided into 2 groups, those (1) without known preoperative HF and (2) with preoperative HF. We compared the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before and after bariatric surgery in both groups. Common demographics and co-morbidities were also analyzed. Results A total of 68 patients were included in the analysis: 49 patients in group 1 and 19 in group 2. In group 1, 59.2% (n = 29) of patients were female, versus 57.9% (n = 11) in group 2. The excess body mass index lost at 12 months was 52.06 ± 23.18% for group 1 versus 67.12 ± 19.27% for group 2 (P = .0001). Patients with heart failure showed a significant improvement in LVEF, from 38.79 ± 13.26% before to 48.47 ± 14.57% after bariatric surgery (P = .039). Systolic function in patients from group 1 showed no significant changes (59.90 ± 6.37 mmHg) before and (59.88 ± 7.85 mmHg) after surgery (P = .98). Conclusion Rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery is associated with a considerable increase in LVEF and a significant improvement of systolic function.
Unpacking themes of integrating telecollaboration in language teacher education: a systematic review of 36 studies from 2009 to 2019

The goal of this synthesis is to review literature on the use of telecollaborative pedagogy for the purpose of language teacher education in order to identify themes in teacher intercultural teleco...
Black Lives Matter in Historical Perspective

This review examines the Black Lives Matter movement. Despite a growing body of literature focused on explaining the formation and activities of the present Black Lives Matter movement, less attent...
Comparison of bevacizumab alone or with chemotherapy in recurrent ovarian cancer patients

Abstract Background To compare the efficacy of chemotherapy (C) combined with bevacizumab (Bev) versus Bev alone in recurrent, heavily pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods A multicenter analysis of patients treated from 2004 to 2011 was performed. Demographic, treatment, response, and adverse event information were obtained. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results Of 277 patients (median age: 58years), the majority had Stage III and IV (86%) disease, and 72% had serous histology. 244 (88%) were treated with C+Bev and 33 (12%) with Bev. Corresponding median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.7 and 6.7months, and median overall survival (OS) was 14.3 and 10.5months, respectively. The chemotherapeutic agents combined with Bev and the median OS include: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (n=19, OS of 20.4months), taxanes (n=55, OS of 20.2months), gemcitabine (n=106, OS of 14.1months), topotecan (n=43, OS of 13months), and cyclophosphamide (n=21, OS of 13months). There was no significant difference in toxicities between the C+Bev vs. Bev alone group. Conclusion This retrospective analysis supports that combination chemotherapy and bevacizumab prolongs PFS and OS compared with bevacizumab alone.
Influence of Compressive Residual Stress on the Crack-Opening Behavior of Part-Through Fatigue Cracks

Direct observations of the surface crack opening displacement (SCOD) of surface and comer fatigue cracks were made on samples of Ti-6Al-4V under both cyclic and static loading conditions. The experiments were conducted insitu in a scanning electron microscope. Results show that surface residual stresses can significantly affect crack opening behavior-thus crack growth behavior-even when the crack has grown well beyond the zone of residual stress. An analytical approach was developed and used to predict SCOD for Mode I part-through cracks based on crack geometry and the boundary integral technique. Correlation with independent results for macrocracks and values for microcracks measured in this program are excellent for the case of zero residual stress. The analytical approach is currently being extended to more accurately account for the presence of residual stress gradients.
Gene Therapy, Ethics, Gene Therapy for Fetuses and Embryos

Introduction Two Types of Gene Therapy Gene Therapy for Fetuses The RAC and In Utero Gene Transfer Areas of Ethical Consensus Areas of Ethical Disagreement Gene Therapy for Embryos Embryo Gene Transfer as Germ-Line Modification Advantages of Gene Therapy for Embryos Arguments Against Gene Therapy for Embryos Alternatives to Gene Therapy in Embryos Research Involving Early Human Embryos Embryo Gene Transfer for Enhancement Purposes Keywords: gene therapy
Immunological Cytotoxicity Studies: in vitro

The immune system has evolved a variety of strategies to protect the host from detrimental effects of pathogens and tumour cells; the most beneficial outcome, however, is induction of an apoptotic death for the offending cell. Immune-mediated killing occurs through granule secretion and ‘death receptor’ pathways. Cytotoxicity assays have traditionally evaluated membrane permeabilization. With the realization that death in vivo is apoptotic, a host of novel approaches have been devised to evaluate this form of physiological cell death. Keywords: immunology; lymphocyte cell-mediated cytotoxicity; death receptor-mediated apoptosis; granule-mediated apoptosis; techniques
High-performance complex controller for high-power converters with low pulse ratios

For high-power converters with low pulse ratios (e.g. 80 Hz load frequency with 600Hz carrier frequency for a 27 MVA Variable Frequency Drive), the current control loop design has been a challenge due to the large signal delay and potentially higher-order plant (LCL filter between the converter and machines). The stability issue and cross-coupling effect is a problem in such application. In this paper, a complex current controller with excellent dynamic performance is proposed. The design is done by using the “double-sided frequency modeling” methodology. The stability, decoupling-effect, dynamic response and the robustness of the control loop are analyzed, which provides a design guideline for such applications. The performance of the proposed strategy and the improved state feedback method are compared. And finally simulation results are presented to validate the controller design and analysis.
Photo-catalytic oxidation of acetone on a TiO2 powder: An in situ FTIR investigation

Abstract In situ transmission infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the photo-oxidation of acetone on a commercial, oxidized TiO2 (P25) powder catalyst under UV irradiation at ambient temperature, in the absence and presence of gas phase O2. The photochemistry of a number of organic molecules (2-butanone, methanol and acetic acid,) under the same conditions was also studied in order to identify reaction intermediates and products formed in the photo-oxidation of acetone. Under anaerobic conditions (in the absence of gas phase oxygen) limited extent of photo-oxidation of acetone took place on the oxidized TiO2 sample. In the presence of O2 in the gas phase, however, acetone was completely converted to acetates and formates, and ultimately CO2. The initial step in the sequence of photo-induced reactions is the ejection of a methyl radical, resulting in the formation of surface acetates (from the acetyl group) and formates (from the methyl radicals). Acetate ions are also converted to formates, that, in turn, photo-oxidized to CO2. Under the experimental conditions applied the accumulation of carbonates and bicarbonates were observed on the TiO2 surface as the photo-oxidation of acetone proceeded (this was also observed during the course of photo-oxidation of all the other organics studied here). When the initial radical ejection step produced hydrocarbons containing more than one C atoms (as in the case in 2-butanone and mesytil oxide), the formation of aldehydes on the catalyst surface was also observed as a result of secondary reactions.
Classification and diagnosis of colorectal dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract In patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn colitis, the risk for dysplasia and colorectal cancer increases with disease duration, and early detection by surveillance colonoscopy has been the mainstay for preventive treatment. For these diseases in which the clinical management relies heavily upon pathologic interpretation, the diagnosis and grading of dysplasia remains inherently challenged by interobserver variability. This diagnostic challenge is coupled with new developments in endoscopic techniques resulting in relatively rapid shifts in terminology and changes in the macroscopic classification of dysplastic lesions. This article provides pathologists with an update on the preferred macroscopic classification, details the histologic features of dysplasia and utility of immunohistochemistry, and provides a historical context for outdated terminology.
MATEG: a hierarchical test generator for module-based circuits

The general algorithms and heuristics developed in the module-level automatic test pattern generator called MATEG are described. MATEG is a generalization of the branch-and-bound test generation algorithm for module-based circuits. MATEG retains accuracy of the deterministic test generation, and reduces computation time by exploiting the hierarchy in the circuit-under-test. Some experimental results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of this approach. >