cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Worldwide Incidence of Colorectal Cancer, Leukemia, and Lymphoma in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/Aims. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). In addition, there may be an association between leukemia and lymphoma and IBD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the IBD literature to estimate the incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in adult IBD patients. Methods. Studies were identified by a literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Pooled incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years [py]) were calculated through use of a random effects model, unless substantial heterogeneity prevented pooling of estimates. Several stratified analyses and metaregression were performed to explore potential study heterogeneity and bias. Results. Thirty-six articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. For CRC, the pooled incidence rate in CD was 53.3/100,000 py (95% CI 46.3–60.3/100,000). The incidence of leukemia was 1.5/100,000 py (95% CI −0.06–3.0/100,000) in IBD, 0.3/100,000 py (95% CI −1.0–1.6/100,000) in CD, and 13.0/100,000 py (95% CI 5.8–20.3/100,000) in UC. For lymphoma, the pooled incidence rate in CD was 0.8/100,000 py (95% CI −0.4–2.1/100,000). Substantial heterogeneity prevented the pooling of other incidence estimates. Conclusion. The incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in IBD is low.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint pain is the third most common cause of chronic lower back pain, accounting for approximately 10–15 % of cases [1]. Recall from chapter one that the sacroiliac joints are the tough, fibrous, stable joints, with some limited but important movement, that translate the forces from the spine to the pelvis and legs. Sacroiliac joint pain is more common in women and also more common in pregnant women and postpartum in particular. In pregnancy, the hormonal changes lead to increased laxity in the ligaments which is what is thought to make sacroiliac joint pain more common in this patient population.
Large ovarian cancer screening trial shows modest mortality reduction, but does not justify population-based ovarian cancer screening

Commentary on : Jacobs IJ, Menon U, Ryan A, et al. Ovarian cancer screening and mortality in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2015;387:945–56.[OpenUrl][1][PubMed][2] Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynaecological malignancy. Most cancers are detected at advanced stages when therapeutic options are limited. Epithelial ovarian cancers are heterogeneous with respect to cell of origin, molecular pathways, morphological appearance, risk factor associations and survival.1 ,2 High-grade serous carcinomas are most common and have the worst prognosis. Currently, proposed ovarian cancer screening strategies include transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood testing. In a previous randomised controlled trial evaluating these strategies, no mortality benefit was observed.3 In the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS), around 200 000 women aged 50–74 were enrolled and randomly assigned to … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DLancet%26rft.volume%253D387%26rft.spage%253D945%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26707054%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=26707054&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F4%2F159.atom
Assessment of Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer

Publisher Summary The primary goal of outcomes research is to assess treatment effectiveness, or the positive impact that a given therapy has on aspects of care that are of interest to both patient and clinician. It is designed to identify the most effective form of treatment for cancer among the variety of treatment options. By combining cost analysis with a thorough calculation of treatment outcome according to the expanded definition, the physician and the patient obtain the most complete information regarding the treatment for head and neck cancer. Central to the task of outcome assessment is the definition of a clinically relevant outcome. In contrast to nonneoplastic processes, the usual outcome of an unsuccessful treatment in head and neck cancer is death from uncontrolled disease. Subsequently, the primary outcome measure used to assess treatment effectiveness has been survival. In modern outcomes research, the emphasis is broadened to encompass measures of outcome other than survival alone. This broader approach evaluates not only traditional end points, such as mortality and local control, but also other parameters, such as patient satisfaction, quality of life, functional status, and cost of care.
Assessment of Urinary Dysfunction in the Elderly

This article discusses the significance of specific signs and symptoms in the history and physical examination as they apply to the lower urinary tract in the geriatric population. The relevant use of urodynamics, cystoscopy, and other innovative techniques that aid in the assessment of urinary dysfunction will be covered.
Lattice-dynamics study of Cs 2 Si F 6 with application to the vibronic optical spectra of Mn F 6 − 2 in Cs 2 Si F 6

Neutron scattering, Raman, and infrared absorption measurements have been made to study the lattice dynamics of cesium hexafluorosilicate (IV), a cubic antifluorite-type material. Dispersion relations for normal modes of vibration, with energies less than 20 meV (160 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), along the [$\ensuremath{\xi}00$], [$\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\xi}$], and [$\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\xi}0$] symmetry directions have been determined by coherent-inelastic-neutron-scattering experiments. Light scattering measurements were used to determine the Raman-active zone-center vibrations, while infrared spectra showed both fundamental and combination bands. The rigid-ion lattice-dynamics model of O'Leary and Wheeler was fit to the available experimental data, and gave a reasonably good representation of the lattice dynamics. The model was then used to calculate the phonon density of states for ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$Si${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$. Phonon structure present in the luminescence spectra of Mn${\mathrm{F}}_{6}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ in ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$Si${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ has been compared with the ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$Si${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ phonon-density-of-states calculation. Selection rules have been used to assign the low-energy vibronic structure to high-symmetry critical points in the Brillouin zone of ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$Si${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$.
Paleontological Note on Murex Tenuivaricosus Dautzenberg, an Older Name for Chicoreus (Siratus) Carioca Vokes (Murex Calcar Kiener Non Sowerby)

A paleontological note on Murex Tenuivaricosus Dautzenberg, an Older Name for Chicoreus (Siratus) Carioca Vokes (Murex Calcar Kiener Non Sowerby).
Being Ourselves: Immigrant Culture and Self-Identification among Young Haitians in Montréal

Since the early 1960s, large numbers of Haitians have emigrated from their native island nation. Changes in federal immigration legislation in the 1970s in both the United States and Canada enabled immigrants of colour a facilitated entry into the two countries, and this factor contributed to the arrival of Haitians to the North American continent. These newcomers primarily settled in cities along the eastern seaboard, in Boston, Miami, Montreal and New York. The initial motivator of this two-wave Haitian migration was the extreme political persecution that existed in Haiti under the iron-fisted rule of the Duvalier dictatorships and their secret police (popularly known as the “tontons macoutes”) over a thirty year period from the late 1950s to the mid 1980s.
Model-Based Battery Thermal Fault Diagnostics: Algorithms, Analysis, and Experiments

Safety and reliability remain critical issues for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Out of many possible degradation modes, thermal faults constitute a significant part of critical causes that lead to battery degradation and failure. Therefore, it is extremely important to diagnose these thermal faults in real time to ensure battery safety. Motivated by this fact, we propose a partial differential equation (PDE) model-based real-time scheme in this paper for diagnosing thermal faults in Li-ion batteries. The objective of the diagnostic scheme is to detect and estimate the size of the thermal fault. We utilize a distributed parameter 1-D thermal model for cylindrical battery cells in conjunction with PDE observer-based techniques to design the scheme. Furthermore, we apply threshold-based technique to ensure robustness against modeling and measurement uncertainties. The effectiveness of the scheme is illustrated by: 1) analytical convergence verification of the PDE observers under heathy and faulty conditions utilizing Lyapunov stability theory; 2) extensive simulation case studies; 3) robustness analysis against model parametric uncertainties; and 4) experimental studies on a commercial Li-ion battery cell.
The demise of dinosaurs and learned taste aversions: The biotic revenge hypothesis

Numerous hypotheses have been advanced to explain the worldwide extinction event that led to the disappearance of the dinosaurs. There is considerable empirical support for the well-known asteroid impact hypothesis, and volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Traps have also been implicated. Increasingly, theories involving multiple causes are being considered, yet few of these consider how the cognitive and behavioral abilities of certain classes of animals may have differed in ways that allowed some to survive while others perished. Here we advance the hypothesis along with supporting evidence that the emergence of toxic plants coupled with an inability to form learned taste aversions may have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs.
Do depressive symptoms influence cognitive-motor coupling in multiple sclerosis?

OBJECTIVE There is evidence that motor and cognitive impairments often co-occur in multiple sclerosis (MS). There is little research on influences of cognitive-motor coupling, particularly depressive symptoms. This study examined depressive symptoms as a moderator and/or confounder of cognitive-motor coupling in persons with MS. METHOD The sample included 131 persons with MS who were allocated into elevated and nonelevated depressive symptom groups based on a cutoff score of 8 on the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. We assessed lower (i.e., 6-Minute Walk Test, Timed 25-Foot Walk Test) and upper (i.e., Nine-Hole Peg Test) body function as well as cognition (i.e., the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, CA Verbal Learning Test, and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test) in a research laboratory. Depressive symptomology was investigated as a moderator and/or confounder of cognitive-motor coupling using correlation and linear regression analyses. RESULTS Upper and lower body function, but not cognition, differed significantly between depressive symptoms groups (p < .05). Scores on the motor and cognitive tests were uniformly correlated between depressive symptom groups. Depressive symptom category did not confound the coupling between motor and cognitive functions, and explained additional, but minimal, variation in the lower body motor function scores (p < .05). CONCLUSION Strong coupling between motor function and cognitive processing speed in MS appeared to be consistent between depressive symptom groups. Elevated depressive symptoms might influence motor functioning more strongly than cognitive functioning in MS. (PsycINFO Database Record
Correlation between workplace learning and job satisfaction of NHS healthcare professionals

Introduction: Job satisfaction is directly connected to job performance. This correlation is very important in the health service, where employee performance is linked to patient care. It has been reported in other organisations that workplace learning enhances job satisfaction. The aim of this study is to investigate if such a correlation exists within the health service. Methods: Job satisfaction and workplace learning questionnaires were distributed to healthcare employees at aN NHS hospital. The participants were directly involved in patient care. The professionals who participated in the study were doctors, nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and radiographers. Results: In total, 102 questionnaires were collected. There was a direct significant correlation between job satisfaction and workplace learning (Pearson's correlation=0.38). Compared to doctors, nurses felt that workplace training was better (P=0.001). Moreover, total job experience and the time spent in the Trust had a mild negative correla...
Cannabis use predicts risks of heart failure and cerebrovascular accidents: results from the National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND Cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational purposes has been decriminalized in 28 states as of the 2016 election. In the remaining states, cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug. Cardiovascular effects of cannabis use are not well established due to a limited number of studies. We therefore utilized a large national database to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and events amongst patients with cannabis use. METHODS Patients aged 18-55 years with cannabis use were identified in the National Inpatient Sample 2009-2010 database using the Ninth Revision of International Classification of Disease code 304.3. Demographics, risk factors, and cardiovascular event rates were collected on these patients and compared with general population data. RESULTS Prevalence of heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), coronary artery disease, sudden cardiac death, and hypertension were significantly higher in patients with cannabis use. After multivariate regression adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, tobacco use, and alcohol use, cannabis use remained an independent predictor of both heart failure (odds ratio = 1.1, 1.03-1.18, P < 0.01) and CVA (odds ratio = 1.24, 1.14-1.34, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Cannabis use independently predicted the risks of heart failure and CVA in individuals 18-55 years old. With continued legalization of cannabis, potential cardiovascular effects and their underlying mechanisms need to be further investigated.
Extended coarse-grained dipole model for polar liquids: Application to bulk and confined water

We report a multiscale investigation of water inside graphene slitlike channels that extends from the detailed all-atom level (AA) to the cheaper particle-based coarse-grained (CG) level, and to the continuum-based level. Since water is a highly polar solvent, the detailed description of its structural and dielectric properties close to the interfaces is of paramount importance in many applications. For this purpose, we have systematically developed an extended dipole-based CG model using the relative entropy method that can accurately reproduce the radial distribution function (RDF), diffusion coefficient, and bulk dielectric permittivity of the underlying AA reference model. The extended model is simple yet complex enough to shed light on the role of dipolar interactions in polar liquids such as water. Using the CG potentials developed in this work, we show that the structure, parallel dielectric permittivity, and polarization profiles can be captured reasonably well compared to all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, we use the empirical potential-based quasicontinuum (EQT) framework to predict the density and polarization of water molecules inside nanoslit channels of various widths. Our continuum analyses reveal that the mean field treatment of dipolar correlations in combination with the use of CG potentials are sufficient to accurately reproduce the structural variations of water inside the confined graphene slit channels. Finally, by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics and EQT simulations, we comment on the applicability of dipolar-based CG models in reproducing the structure of water near charged interfaces.
J. C. Penney: The Man, the Store, and American Agriculture

Review of: "J. C. Penney: The Man, the Store, and American Agriculture," by David Del-bert Kruger.
An Experimental Study of Sub-1 GHz Frequency-Hopping-Based 6LoWPAN Mesh Networking for Smart-Grid Applications

This paper presents an experimental study of a multihop Internet Protocol Version 6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN)-based mesh system that uses un-slotted channel hopping (USCH) medium access control (MAC). Designers of wireless smart-grid networks are using (or looking to use) the Sub-1 GHz spectrum, given its longer radio range compared to the traditional 2.4 GHz spectrum used in Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth® low energy. The frequency-hopping (FH) technique is attractive in this area, as it provides improved robustness and longer range owing to the higher transmission power that regulatory requirements allow. Although Sub-1 GHz allows for a longer range, smart-grid networks deployed over a large geographic area still require multiple hops to provide the required coverage. Many proprietary and standards-based solutions have been proposed to implement such a networking protocol. Notable specifications in this area include the Field Area Networks (FAN) specification from the Wi-SUN (smart utility networks) Alliance and the JupiterMesh specification from the Zigbee Alliance. Little is known about the performance of FH systems over a multihop network, however. This paper presents an implementation of an FH-based multihop networking protocol based on the Texas Instruments (TI) SimpleLink™ TI 15.4-stack, with an experimental study of such a system over multiple hops compared to a non-frequency-hopping (non-FH) system. Results show that the proposed FH-based 6LoWPAN mesh system significantly improves network coverage, network capacity, and communication robustness to interference while demonstrating coexistence capabilities.
Effect of Macromolecular Crowding on the FMN-Heme Intraprotein Electron Transfer in Inducible NO Synthase

Previous biochemical studies of nitric oxide synthase enzymes (NOSs) were conducted in diluted solutions. However, the intracellular milieu where the proteins perform their biological functions is ...
Genomic profiling of primary histiocytic sarcoma reveals two molecular subgroups

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that may occur de novo or in the context of a previous hematologic malignancy or mediastinal germ cell tumor. Here, we performed whole exome sequencing and RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) on 21 archival cases of primary histiocytic sarcoma. We identified a high number of genetic alterations within the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway in 21 of 21 cases, with alterations in NF1 (6 of 21), MAP2K1 (5 of 21), PTPN11 (4 of 21), BRAF (4 of 21), KRAS (4 of 21), NRAS (1 of 21), and LZTR1 (1 of 21), including single cases with homozygous deletion of NF1, high-level amplification of PTPN11, and a novel TTYH3-BRAF fusion. Concurrent NF1 and PTPN11 mutations were present in 3 of 21 cases, and 5 of 7 cases with alterations in NF1 and/or PTPN11 had disease involving the gastrointestinal tract. Following unsupervised clustering of gene expression data, cases with NF1 and/or PTPN11 abnormalities formed a distinct tumor subgroup. A subset of NF1/PTPN11 wild-type cases had frequent mutations in B-cell lymphoma associated genes and/or clonal IG gene rearrangements. Our findings expand the current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this rare tumor and suggest the existence of a distinct subtype of primary histiocytic sarcoma characterized by NF1/PTPN11 alterations with predilection for the gastrointestinal tract.
Cost implications of growth in new cancer drugs in a comprehensive cancer center.

112Background: Rising costs of cancer therapies calls for strategizing towards sustainable care delivery models from a hospital planning, payer as well as policy-making perspective. This topic beco...
Severity of Postoperative Complications From the Perspective of the Patient.

Background:Although provider-derived surgical complication severity grading systems exist, little is known about the patient perspective.Objective:To assess patient-rated complication severity and ...
Orbital myxoma: A case report.

Background Myxomas are rare, locally infiltrative, benign neoplasms of mesenchymal origin. Although benign, these tumors are locally aggressive with a high rate of recurrence following conservative resection. Their relative infrequency, variable location, and insidious growth present a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. Cases of myxomas have been described throughout the body, but intraosseous myxomas of the orbit are exceedingly rare. Case description We report a case of a 53-year-old male with a history of chronic sinusitis and symptoms of hyposmia and bifrontal headaches refractory medical management who presented for neurosurgical evaluation after radiographic findings of an orbital lesion. Physical examination was unremarkable with intact extraocular movements. Prior radiographic workup demonstrated a 2.4 × 2.7 × 2.2 cm expansile lesion involving the bony left superior and lateral orbit. A prior open biopsy was performed which demonstrated a low-grade spindle cell neoplasm consistent with intraosseous myxoma. Definitive resection was recommended through the left orbitozygomatic craniotomy. The patient tolerated the procedure well without complications. Gross total resection was achieved. Reconstruction of the orbital roof and lateral orbital wall was performed with a frontal bone autograft and titanium plating. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home postoperative day 2. At 1-month follow-up visit, the patient remained neurologically intact. Surveillance imaging at 6 months and 1 year remained stable without signs of recurrence. Conclusion Intraosseous orbital myxomas are exceedingly rare entities. Although they are considered benign neoplasms, myxomas demonstrate high recurrence rates. The authors report a unique case of an orbital myxoma that was successfully treated through an orbitozygomatic approach achieving gross total resection.
Psychiatric Disease after Isolated Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputation.

Introduction Psychiatric disease after traumatic limb loss impacts rehabilitation, prosthesis use, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric disease in civilians after isolated, traumatic upper extremity amputation and determine if any risk factors are associated with developing psychiatric disease. Materials and Methods Demographics, time since injury, mechanism of injury, amputation level, hand affected (dominant vs. nondominant), Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) status, and prosthesis use were retrospectively reviewed for all patients treated from 2012 to 2017. For patients with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) diagnosed psychiatric disease, the diagnosis and length of treatment were recorded. Patients were grouped by presence or absence of psychiatric diagnosis and data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and relative risk. Results Forty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-one patients (67.4%) had at least one diagnosed psychiatric condition. Major depressive disorder was the most common (n = 14), followed by posttraumatic stress disorder (n = 11), adjustment disorder (n = 11), anxiety (n = 6), and panic disorder (n = 2). No statistically significant correlation was seen between psychiatric illness and gender, age at the time of injury, time since injury, current employment status, BWC status, hand injured (dominant vs. nondominant), prosthetic use, or level of amputation. Conclusion The rates of depression and anxiety after traumatic upper limb loss in the civilian population are similar to reported rates after combat injury. While we were unable to identify a statistically significant association with any of the studied variables, upper extremity surgeons should be aware of the high prevalence of psychiatric disease after traumatic upper extremity amputation.
The military potential of China's commercial technology

Abstract : This report examines the potential of China's civilian industry to serve as a source of advanced technology for China's military. It looks at the current standing of China's commercial technology in a number of industries with potential military applications and assesses prospects for further progress over the next 10 to 20 years. It should be of interest to researchers and policymakers who wish to know about China's potential for developing advanced military systems, as well as those who wish to know about China's commercial technological capabilities.
Development of fluorescence-guided surgery for colorectal cancer in orthotopic mouse models using fluorescent tumor-specific antibodies to increase survival

Abstract This chapter reviews the use of orthotopic mouse models and novel tumor-specific antibodies conjugated to near-infrared dyes for high-resolution detection of colon cancer and metastases. Fluorescence imaging can detect early colon cancer with colonoscopy and provide improved detection of tumor margins, sentinel nodes, and identification of occult metastases during surgery. We also detail emerging clinical applications of tumor-specific fluorescence imaging in colorectal cancer.
Playing Well with Others: A Case Study of Collective Impact in the Early Care and Education Policy Arena.

The quality and quantity of early childhood care and education services have risen as a key reform area for influencing educational and economic outcomes. However, changes in this policy arena are stymied by the fragmentation of this policy arena. Collaborative approaches have been proposed to create systems-level change. Collective impact is one such approach; however, few examples exist in the early childhood care and education literature, especially at the state level. This ethnographic case study conceptualizes collective impact as a policy network capable of change in a fractured policy arena and reports the results from the first year of a statewide collective impact effort examines stakeholder perceptions of mobilization and development of a common agenda, or shared understandings. The results illustrate the importance of relationship building, ongoing attention to common understandings through multiple processes and mechanisms, the importance of the backbone organization, and the need to attend to mindset shifts that accompany early collective impact work.
Inclusive STEM High School Factors Influencing Ethnic Minority Students’ STEM Preparation

The purpose of this study was to better understand school factors influencing ethnic minority students’ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) preparation in Inclusive STEM High Schools (ISHSs). The researchers conducted a phenomenological study that used semi-structured interviews with participants ( N =13) who graduated from ISHSs in Texas. Participants’ STEM high school experiences were classified into nine categories: a) innovative STEM and non-STEM instruction, b) rigorous STEM curriculum, c) integration of technology and engineering in classrooms, d) quality of teachers, e) real-world STEM partnership, f) informal STEM opportunities, g) academic and social support for struggling students, h) emphasis on STEM courses, majors, and careers, and i) preparation for a college workload. These characteristics can be helpful for schools to establish a STEM-focused school environment and have the potential to cultivate positive experiences for ethnic minority students to increase their interest and capabilities in STEM fields.
Impact of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression symptoms after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Depression is a significant concern after cardiac surgery and has not been studied in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to examine the prevalence of pre-procedure depression and anxiety symptoms and explore whether brief bedside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could prevent post-TAVR psychological distress. Methods We prospectively recruited consecutive TAVR patients and randomized them to receive brief CBT or treatment as usual (TAU) during their hospitalization. Multi-level regression techniques were used to evaluate changes by treatment arm in depression, anxiety, and quality of life from baseline to 1 month post-TAVR adjusted for sex, race, DM, CHF, MMSE, and STS score. Results One hundred and forty six participants were randomized. The mean age was 82 years, and 43% were female. Self-reported depression and anxiety scores meeting cutoffs for clinical level distress were 24.6% and 23.2% respectively. Both TAU and CBT groups had comparable improvements in depressive symptoms at 1-month (31% reduction for TAU and 35% reduction for CBT, p = .83). Similarly, both TAU and CBT groups had comparable improvements in anxiety symptoms at 1-month (8% reduction for TAU and 11% reduction for CBT, p = .1). Quality of life scores also improved and were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Pre-procedure depression and anxiety may be common among patients undergoing TAVR. However, TAVR patients show spontaneous improvement in depression and anxiety scores at 1-month follow up, regardless of brief CBT. Further research is needed to determine whether more tailored CBT interventions may improve psychological and medical outcomes.
Efectividad de los tratamientos para dermatofitosis en niños

Las micosis superficiales constituyen uno de los problemas de salud a nivel mundial. Son infecciones causadas por hongos dermatofitos, microrganismos patogenos para el hombre, que estan distribuidos ampliamente en la naturaleza, pueden vivir en el organismo humano como saprofitos o parasitos. Las causas principales son las condiciones extrinsecas, como el entorno en donde interactuan los ninos y las intrinsecas, al referirse al sistema inmunologico deprimido. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los tratamientos mas efectivos para la dermatofitosis que afectan a ninos de 5 a 7 anos mediante el estudio de los mecanismos de accion de los antifungicos que permitan la erradicacion de las micosis superficiales. La Metodologia empleada fue de enfoque cualitativo y con aplicacion del metodo analitico sintetico, que permitieron el cumplimiento de los objetivos planteados, al estudiar a los principales hongos causantes de estas micosis superficiales, especies de los Generos Epidermophyton , Microsporum y Trichophyton que dan lugar a cuadros clinicos leves hasta complejos cuando el tratamiento no es aplicado oportunamente, siendo los principales antifungicos demostrados con mayor efectividad para combatir las tinas en zona especificas de la piel: la terbinafina, itraconazol, fluconazol y la griseofulvina.. Sobre las medidas de prevencion se reconocen las que estan fundamentalmente relacionadas con la sanidad y los estilos de vida de los individuos.
Food Insecurity Among Health Sciences Graduate Students at a Large Northeastern University.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of food insecurity and the factors associated with it among health sciences graduate students. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey conducted in 2019 on an urban health sciences campus of a large, public northeastern university among health sciences graduate students. Food security status was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture validated 6-item short-form food security module. Results Of the 302 respondents (response rate, 8.8%), the mean age ± SD was 28.8 ± 7.30 years; 28.5% were food insecure. After adjusting for other covariates, receiving loans was independently associated with higher odds of being food insecure (P Conclusions and Implications Universities may consider screening graduate students for food insecurity risk, especially those receiving student loans. Future research on this topic with graduate students and program administrators in other universities may help identify potential interventions. The impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on food insecurity among graduate students merit exploration to develop context-specific interventions.
Do Military Independent Directors Improve Firm Performance

ABSTRACT Characteristics and experiences of directors can affect firm performance. In this study, we examine the relationship between independent director military service and Tobin's Q. The impact of a director's military experience on firm value is increasingly important as corporations target military veterans for board seats. We find firms with independent directors with military experience tend to have poor firm performance. We explore R&D as a possible channel for the reduction in firm value and find firms with military independent directors also invest less in R&D. Overall, our findings suggest that past military service of directors does not improve firm performance.
Distributed Covariance Steering with Consensus ADMM for Stochastic Multi-Agent Systems

In this paper, we address the problem of steering a team of agents under stochastic linear dynamics to prescribed final state means and covariances. The agents operate in a common environment where inter-agent constraints may also be present. In order for our method to be scalable to large-scale systems and computationally efficient, we approach the problem in a distributed control framework using the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM). Each agent solves its own covariance steering problem in parallel, while additional copy variables for its closest neighbors are introduced to ensure that the inter-agent constraints will be satisfied. The inclusion of these additional variables creates a requirement for consensus between original and copy variables that involve the same agent. For this reason, we employ a variation of ADMM for consensus optimization. Simulation results on multi-vehicle systems under uncertainty with collision avoidance constraints illustrate the effectiveness of our algorithm. The substantially improved scalability of our distributed approach with respect to the number of agents is also demonstrated, in comparison with an equivalent centralized scheme.
Smart biopolymers for controlled drug delivery applications

Abstract The favorable physicochemical properties and excellent safety profile of biopolymers have enabled their extensive applications in biomedical applications, specifically in drug delivery. Smart biopolymers have especially gained a lot of attention because of their programmable drug release capacity in response to specific stimuli or alterations in their surrounding environment. The stimuli-responsive element of these smart biopolymers undergoes structural or conformational changes in response to physical, biological stimuli, or signals that arise from pathological abnormalities, enabling targeting and self-controlled release of therapeutics under desired physiological conditions. Although slow response time to stimulus is one of the major drawbacks of these polymers, fine-tuning can be done using a combinational approach due to their varying adaptability and source of origin. Therefore in this chapter, we have discussed several types of smart polymeric systems, including thermosensitive, pH-sensitive, phase-sensitive, light-sensitive, and bioresponsive polymers. We have also highlighted recent applications of these systems in controlled drug delivery.
Characterization of Synthetic-Lethal Mutants Reveals a Role for the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Guanine-Nucleotide Exchange Factor Cdc24p in Vacuole Function and Na(+) Tolerance

Cdc24p is the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor for the Cdc42p GTPase, which controls cell polarity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify new genes that may affect cell polarity, we characterized six UV-induced csl (CDC24 synthetic-lethal) mutants that exhibited synthetic-lethality with cdc24-4(ts) at 23°. Five mutants were not complemented by plasmid-borne CDC42, RSR1, BUD5, BEM1, BEM2, BEM3 or CLA4 genes, which are known to play a role in cell polarity. The csl3 mutant displayed phenotypes similar to those observed with calcium-sensitive, Pet(-) vma mutants defective in vacuole function. CSL5 was allelic to VMA5, the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase subunit C, and one third of csl5 cdc24-4(ts) cells were elongated or had misshapen buds. A cdc24-4(ts) Δvma5::LEU2 double mutant did not exhibit synthetic lethality, suggesting that the csl5/vma5 cdc24-4(ts) synthetic-lethality was not simply due to altered vacuole function. The cdc24-4(ts) mutant, like Δvma5::LEU2 and csl3 mutants, was sensitive to high levels of Ca(2+) as well as Na(+) in the growth media, which did not appear to be a result of a fragile cell wall because the phenotypes were not remedied by 1 M sorbitol. Our results indicated that Cdc24p was required in one V-ATPase mutant and another mutant affecting vacuole morphology, and also implicated Cdc24p in Na(+) tolerance.
Presence of antibiotic resistance genes in a sewage treatment plant in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA

Increasing uses and disposals of antibiotics to the environment have increased emergence of various antibiotic resistance. One of the sources for the spread of antibiotic resistance is wastewater treatment plant, where bacteria and antibiotics can come in contact and can acquire antibiotics resistance. There are very few studies on this subject from a small town sewage treatment plant. Therefore, this study was conducted using raw sewage as well as treated sewage from a sewage treatment plant in Thibodaux in rural southeast Louisiana in USA. Samples were collected monthly from the Thibodaux sewage treatment plant and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes was monitored. The study showed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in both raw and treated sewage in every month of the study period. The genetic transformation assay showed the successful transformation of methicillin resistant gene, mecA to an antibiotic sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, which became antibiotic resistant within 24h.
Influence of Algal Photosynthesis on Biofilm Bacterial Production and Associated Glucosidase and Xylosidase Activities.

Natural photosynthetic biofilms were incubated under light (100 mmol m?2 s?1) and dark conditions to elucidate the impact of photosynthesis on bacterial production, abundance, biovolume, biomass, and enzyme activities over 24 h. Use of organic carbon-free media limited carbon sources to algal photosynthesis and possibly the polysaccharides of the biofilm matrix. Bacterial production of biofilm communities was significantly higher in light incubations (p < 0.001). The greatest differences in production rates between light and dark incubations occurred between 8 and 24 h. Biomass-specific a- and b-glucosidase and b-xylosidase activities were stimulated by photosynthesis, with significantly greater activities occurring at hours 16 and 24 in the light treatment (p < 0.01). The results indicate that algal photosynthesis can have a significant impact on bacterial productivity, biomass, biovolume, and enzyme production over longer time periods at low photon flux densities (?100 mmol m?2 s?1).
The taste of calcium chloride in mixtures with NaCl, sucrose and citric acid

Abstract Calcium fortification is an increasingly common practice that is used to add nutritive value to many foods and beverages. A set of studies examined whether mixtures with other simple tastants would modify the tastes of calcium chloride. Mixtures with sucrose, citric acid or sodium chloride suppressed tastes of CaCl 2 , especially bitterness. Saltiness of NaCl was additive with the salty taste of CaCl 2 .
Nonlinear interpolative decoding of standard transform coded images and video

We show that in a standard transform coding scheme of images or video, the decoder can be implemented by a table lookup technique without the explicit use of inverse transformation. In this new decoding method, each received code index of a transform coefficient addresses a particular codebook to fetch a component code vector that resembles the basis vector of the linear transformation. The output image is then reconstructed by summing a small number of non-zero component code vectors. With a set of well designed codebooks, this new decoder can exploit the correlation among the quantized transform coefficients to achieve better rate- distortion performance than the conventional decoding method. An iterative algorithm for designing a set of locally optimal codebooks from a training set of images is presented. We demonstrate that this new idea can be applied to decode improved quality pictures from the bit stream generated from a standard encoding scheme of still images or video, while the complexity is low enough to justify practical implementation.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Direct CP violation in radiative b decays in and beyond the standard model

We consider the partial rate asymmetry in the inclusive decay modes b{yields}s{gamma} and b{yields}d{gamma}, concentrating on non-standard models with new charged Higgs interactions. We find that the charged Higgs contribution to the asymmetry for b{yields}s{gamma} is small in such models due to a universal cancellation mechanism. The asymmetry is therefore difficult to distinguish experimentally from the standard model (SM) value, which is also small. The cancellation mechanism is found to be rendered inoperative in supersymmetry due to the presence of chargino loops. Unlike b{yields}s{gamma}, the rate asymmetry for b{yields}d{gamma} in Higgs models can be quite different from its SM value, generally ranging from -20% to +20%. Specific model calculations are performed for the three-Higgs-doublet model and the ''top'' two-Higgs-doublet model to serve as illustrations. We also offer some suggestions that may be helpful to experimentalists in the detection of the inclusive mode b{yields}d{gamma}.
Gangliosides in the myelin fraction of developing rats.

Abstract 1. 1. Highly pure myelin fractions have been obtained from whole rat brains of various developmental stages. They contained 0.13–0.26% nucleic acids and a total ATPase activity of 0.3–0.8 μmole P per mg per h. 2. 2. These fractions contained a relatively constant amount of total ganglioside N -acetylneuraminic acid at all ages, but the distribution of individual major gangliosides changed drastically as the animal matured. The proportion of the normal major monosialoganglioside in myelin was higher than that in whole brain even at 15 days of age. With increasing age, its proportion increased rapidly reaching 90 mole % of total ganglioside in myelin by the age of 5 months. 3. 3. It is not known whether the gangliosides in the myelin fractions are intrinsic myelin components, or present in contaminating subcellular structures.
Natural Right and The Origin of Species

Abstract This article concerns the relationship between Abraham Lincoln's natural right argument against slavery and contemporary Darwinian biology. It is frequently supposed that the latter undermines the former. I argue to the contrary that natural right has been rediscovered independently by modern Darwinian biology, and that it largely confirms Lincoln's understanding of human nature.
Bicycle commuter injury prevention: it is time to focus on the environment.

BACKGROUND:: Few data exist on the risk of injury while commuting to work or school by bicycle. The proportion of commuters choosing to travel by bike is increasing in the United States, and information on injury incidence and the influences of rider characteristics and environmental factors may suggest opportunities for prevention actions. METHODS:: Bicycle commuters in the Portland, OR, metropolitan area were recruited via the websites and community advertising to participate in a 1-year study. Riders completed an initial online survey along with 12 monthly surveys describing their commutes and injury events from September 2007 to August 2008. A traumatic event was considered a serious traumatic event if medical attention was sought. RESULTS:: Nine hundred sixty-two adult bicyclists (52% men and 48% women) with a mean age of 36.7 ± 0.4 years (range, 22-70 years) commuted an average of 135 miles (range, 7-617) per month. There were 225 (23%) beginner, 256 (27%) intermediate, and 481 (50%) advanced riders. Four hundred twenty (44%) had a prior traumatic event. Over the 1-year period, 164 (18%) riders reported 192 traumatic events and 49 (5%) reported 50 serious traumatic events. The incidence rates of traumatic events and serious traumatic events were 15.0 (95% CI, 13.2-17.5) and 3.9 (95% CI, 2.9-5.1) per 100,000 miles commuted. There were no differences in age, gender, safety practices, and experience levels between commuters who experienced a traumatic event and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS:: Approximately 20% of bicycle commuters experienced a traumatic event and 5% required medical attention during 1 year of commuting. Traumatic events were not related to rider demographics, safety practices, or experience levels. These results imply that injury prevention should focus on improving the safety of the bicycle commuting environment. Language: en
Identification of Cu-related thermally stimulated current trap in undoped semi-insulating GaAs

In the thermally stimulated current spectra of semi-insulating GaAs, a unique trap Ta at 170K is sometimes observed. The activation energy and capture cross section of Ta are 0.43 eV and 3.7×10−15 cm2, respectively. Based on a good correlation with the Cu-related photoluminescence emission at 1.36 eV and the Cu-related deep level transient spectroscopy hole traps HL4 and HB4, we argue that Ta is a Cu-related hole trap.
A model of auditory pattern analysis based on component‐relative‐entropy

Recently results from detection and information theory have been used to predict performance of human observers in experiments involving the discriminability of changes in individual components of unfamiliar or uncertain tone patterns [R. A. Lutfi, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91, 3391–3401 (1992)]. In this paper, the theoretical analysis is expanded to yield a general rule of pattern analysis that accounts for nearly all of the major results of such experiments conducted over the last 18 years. The rule can be stated as follows: Component discriminability in an unfamiliar tone pattern (profile or sequence) is a linearly increasing function of the component’s relative entropy (CoRE) in the pattern. Ancillary: The threshold for detection of a change decreases by one order of magnitude (factor of 10) for each one bit increase in CoRE. This precise relation of threshold to CoRE is demonstrated repeatedly in a review of past studies, and is shown to account for the relative effects of a variety of important variables and their interactions. Such variables include the total duration of the pattern; the number of tones in the pattern; the number of tones subject to change; the relative level and duration of individual tones in the pattern; the relative variability and the physical dimension of the tones’ parameters that are subject to change; the number and position of targets in the pattern; the psychophysical procedure used (method of adjustment versus same‐different), the type of discrimination task (frequency versus intensity discrimination), and the manner of presentation of the tones (simultaneous or sequential). The CoRE rule seems to reflect a general property of auditory analysis wherein the perception of patterns in an ensemble is dominated by those features that dominate the variance of the ensemble.