cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Living with Symptoms: A Qualitative Study of Black Adults with Advanced Cancer Living in Poverty

Abstract Cancer is associated with disease-related and treatment-related symptoms. Little is known about the symptom experience of black individuals with advanced cancer especially those with limited financial resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the symptom experience of black adults with advanced cancer living in poverty. This qualitative descriptive study focused on the perspectives of the participants experiencing at least two symptoms related to cancer. A purposive sample of 27 individuals receiving care at a public hospital in a southeastern city participated in the study. Semi-structured audiotaped interviews were conducted by two research interviewers. Content analysis was used to develop themes to describe the symptom experience. Two main themes emerged in terms of the participants’ symptom experiences: (1) “living in pain,” which included the overwhelming experience of pain, both physical and emotional, and (2) “symptoms associated with functioning in everyday life.” Participants frequently used the context of activities in their daily lives to explain symptoms, including the effect of symptoms on the activities of eating, moving and doing, and communicating. People with advanced cancer work to negotiate a high frequency of multiple distressful symptoms of severe-to-moderate severity. Information gained from this study can help guide research in symptom science and provide direction for clinicians working with this minority group.
Control under Partial Observation

In this chapter, we extend the supervisory control theory of discrete event systems to the setting of partial observation of events—such partial observation naturally arises when there is an insufficient number of sensors. Both centralized and decentralized control techniques are studied.
In memory: Predicting preferences for memorializing lost loved ones.

ABSTRACTPeople’s preferences for memorializing loved ones vary and may depend on their personal attitudes and experiences with death. Participants (N = 145) completed the memorializing preferences ...
Higher ploidy is associated with reduced range breadth in the Potentilleae tribe.

Premise of the study Polyploids are predicted to have greater niche breadth and larger ranges than diploids because of higher ecological tolerances, self-compatibility, and increased genetic variation. However, empirical support for this prediction is mixed, and most studies compare diploids and polyploids, rather than accounting for quantitative variation in ploidy. We test the prediction that species of higher ploidy have greater range breadth and abiotic breadth than those of lower ploidy. Methods We estimate range breadth (latitudinal range, altitudinal range, and range size) and abiotic breadth (range in temperature, precipitation, and ultraviolet-B irradiance) for 109 species in the Potentilleae tribe of Rosaceae. We assess the contribution of ploidy to variation in range breadth, while accounting for shared evolutionary history and time of species divergence using phylogenetic comparative methods. Key results Ploidy varied widely among species from 2× to 12×. Phylogenetic relatedness explained little of the variation in ploidy, range breadth, and abiotic breadth. Transitions to higher ploidy were associated with reduced latitudinal and altitudinal ranges, smaller overall range size, and reduced abiotic breadth for temperature and UV-B. Conclusions In contrast to predictions, this study shows that transitions to higher ploidy are associated with reduced range size and abiotic breadth. It also highlights the importance of considering continuous variation in ploidy when evaluating ecological correlates with ploidy. We discuss how genome duplication may contribute to the observed negative relationship between ploidy and range breadth.
CT Imaging of the Injured Spleen

The spleen is one of the most frequently injured organs in the abdomen. Given its important role in the immune system, splenic preservation is preferred when possible to prevent complications including overwhelming post-splenectomy infection. CT imaging plays a critical role in the evaluation of the spleen. Based on modern CT imaging and grading systems, splenic injury can be stratified by severity, and management decisions can be made. Angioembolization is frequently employed for injuries with active arterial extravasation and for higher-grade injuries.
Online IPA gradient estimators in stochastic continuous fluid models

This paper applies infinitesimal perturbation analysis (IPA) to loss-related and workload-related metrics in a class of stochastic flow models (SFM). It derives closed-form formulas for the gradient estimators of these metrics with respect to various parameters of interest, such as buffer size, service rate, and inflow rate. The IPA estimators derived are simple and fast to compute, and are further shown to be unbiased and nonparametric, in the sense that they can be computed directly from the observed data without any knowledge of the underlying probability law. These properties hold out the promise of utilizing IPA gradient estimates as ingredients of online management and control of telecommunications networks. While this paper considers single-node SFMs, the analysis method developed is amenable to extensions to networks of SFM nodes with more general topologies.
Control of Distillation Columns via Distributed Control Systems

The intent of this chapter is to provide a review of three distillation column control applications as implemented via distributed control systems. The control schemes have been developed by a typical industrial design approach, applying process insight in order to reject disturbances and achieve a hierarchy of process control objectives (Buckley, 1978; Hougen and Brockmeier, 1969; Rademaker, Rijnsdorp, and Maarleveld, 1975; Shinskey, 1984).
Monte Carlo Simulation Package

Given the complexity of the background processes described above, a highly versatile, fast and precise simulation code is required. Kassiopeia is the primary simulation package for the KATRIN experiment fulfilling all these requirements. It is written in C++, and comprised of specific modules for the creation, trajectory calculation in electro-magnetic fields and detection of particles in Si-based detectors.
Stress, disturbance and change in rangeland ecosystems

Ecological systems and the organisms which comprise them have evolved with and are a product of various stresses, perturbations, and disturbance regimes. However, in human-influenced systems, new disturbances and stresses may be introduced and the frequency, intensity and spatial extent of natural disturbances altered. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances invariably co-occur, so it becomes difficult to ascertain which may be the proximate cause of ecosystem change. It is likely that their effects are compounded by synergistic interactions. In some cases, anthropogenic disturbance may alter the susceptibility of organisms, populations and communities to natural disturbances. In other cases, anthropogenic activities may initiate positive feedbacks that produce rapid, unexpected changes in ecosystem structure and function. These changes may be stabilized by new ecosystem processes, making them irreversible over time frames relevant to management.
Beneficial Effects of Ginkgo biloba in Neurological Disorders

Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba), which belongs to the family Ginkgoaceae, is an important herb from the Chinese traditional system of medicine (Huh and Staba 1992). Extract prepared from its leaves has been used in traditional medicine for several hundred years. Major component of patented G. biloba leaves extract is called as EGb761. It was developed by Beaufour-Ipsen Pharma (Paris, France) and Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals (Karlsruhe, Germany). EGb761 contains glycosides of the flavonols quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol (24 %); the terpene-lactones bilobalide and ginkgolides A, B and C, M, J, and bilobalide (6 %); and less than 5 ppm ginkgolic acid (Figs. 8.1 and 8.2) (Drieu 1986; DeFeudis and Drieu 2000). Other minor constituents of G. biloba include shikimic, vanillic, ascorbic, p-coumaric acids, steroids (sitosterol and stigmasterol), polyprenols, benzoic acid derivatives, carbohydrates, straight chain hydrocarbons, alcohol, ketones, and 2-hexenol. G. biloba constituents possess potent central nervous system (CNS) activity (Di Renzo 2000 including enhancement of memory, concentration, mental alertness, and decrease in mental fatigue. Many of these constituents produce memory boosting and mental altering effects, which are due to antioxidant- and neurogenesis-promoting properties of flavonols of G. biloba (Fig. 8.3) (Yoo et al. 2011). In addition, G. biloba terpenes are involved in antagonizing platelet activating factor, an endogenous mediator of inflammation and nociception produced by a variety of inflammatory cells, which may improve cardiovascular blood flow (Smith et al. 1996). G. biloba flavonoids have also been reported to dilate blood vessels by increasing the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostacyclin (PGI2) from vascular endothelial cells and decrease blood viscosity by antagonizing platelet activating factor.
The Freedman's Story: an Accusation of Witchcraft in the Social World of Early Imperial Roman Italy (CIL 11.4639 = ILS 3001)

This article proposes a new reading of a late first-century c.e. inscribed dedication from Todi (Umbria) as an accusation of witchcraft, a rhetorical text aimed at propagating a particular story among the local community. Historical and anthropological studies of witchcraft accusations in other societies have emphasised how they can reveal tensions and anxieties that are normally not visible to the observer. By drawing on these studies and close examination of the language and content of the inscription, this article analyses an historical agent's experience of the social structure of early imperial Italy. The accusation is read as a freedman's response to his ambiguous position in a slave society, the ambivalent power of writing in Roman culture and the religious claims of Flavian imperial discourse.
Abstract 2883: Repurposing atovaquone, an antiprotozoal drug for management of breast cancer by inhibiting HER2/β-catenin signaling

Breast cancer is the second highest cause of cancer-related mortality in women. HER2 is an oncogene overexpressed in about 30% of breast cancer patients and β-catenin, a proto-oncogene plays a pivotal role in breast cancer metastasis and drug resistance leading to poor prognosis. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effects of an anti-protozoal drug, atovaquone against several breast cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, 4T1, HCC1806, CI66, SKBR3 and T47D. Our results showed that atovaquone treatment induced apoptosis as evaluated by PI/Annexin assay and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, and inhibited the growth of all the breast cancer cell lines tested. Similar observations were made in patient-derived cancer cell lines. In addition, atovaquone treatment significantly reduced the expression of HER2, β-catenin and its downstream molecules such as pGSK-3β, TCF-4, cyclin D1 and c-Myc in these cell lines. Treatment of HCC1806 cells with 5 µM atovaquone resulted in significant reduction in mammosphere forming efficiency (MFE) of breast cancer cells. Mammosphere-forming cells are known to exhibit cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties together with drug resistance. Efficacy of atovaquone was evaluated in the in-vivo tumor model by orthotopic implantation of two highly aggressive 4T1 and CI66, triple negative breast cancer cells in the mammary fats of female mice. Our results demonstrate that oral administration of atovaquone suppressed the growth of CI66 and 4T1 tumors by 70% and 60% respectively. Atovaquone treated tumors exhibited reduced HER2, β-catenin and increased apoptosis when analyzed by western blot. We also developed resistance in 4T1 breast cancer cells towards paclitaxel, a first line chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. 4T1 paclitaxel resistant cells were orthotopically implanted in female balb/c mice and mice were treated with atovaquone for 20 days. Our results showed that atovaquone was able to suppress the growth of paclitaxel resistant tumors by 42%. Conclusively, our results indicate that atovaquone effectively reduces the growth of primary breast tumors as well as paclitaxel resistant tumors by inhibiting HER2/β-catenin signaling. Most importantly, atovaquone is already in clinical use with an established safety record therefore, any positive findings from our studies will prompt further clinical investigation into repurposing atovaquone for the treatment of advanced breast cancer patients. [Supported in part by R01 grant CA 129038 awarded by National Cancer Institute, NIH]. Citation Format: Nehal Gupta, Sanjay Srivastava. Repurposing atovaquone, an antiprotozoal drug for management of breast cancer by inhibiting HER2/β-catenin signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2883.
Developing Distributed Expertise Coordination Models of Diabetes Care Teams

With the increasing rate of diabetes diagnoses, more patients and healthcare providers are exchanging information. There is a need to understand these diabetes team coordination processes to help f...
A decade of experience with laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs.

Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated surgical outcomes in long-term follow-up for patients undergoing Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair (LVHR). Methods A retrospective review of long-term follow-up of LVHR patients (2002–2005) at a single institution. Results Sixty-three patients (37 males; mean age = 63, mean BMI = 33, 41% for recurrence) underwent LVHR. Mean operative time was 164 min. Mean hospital stay was 3.7 days. Short- and long-term complications occurred in 19% and 44% of patients, respectively. Mean follow-up was 12.4 years. Recurrent hernias were noted in 15 patients. Seroma formation occurred in 14 patients; small bowel obstruction occurred in 10 patients. Five patients developed mesh infection. Use of PTFE mesh, longer operative time, and a larger hernia defect were risk factors for mesh infection (p Conclusions Long-term outcomes for patients undergoing LVHR are fraught with complications (44%) and a considerable risk of hernia recurrence (23%).
A Reviewof QPX Disease In Thenorthernquahog(= Hard Clam)Mercenaria mercenaria

QPX (Quahog Parasite Unknown), a thraustochytrid, is the source of morbidity and mortality in hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria along the northeast coast of North America. The QPX organism is a facultative pathogen that results in disease in clams held at high densities and salinities. The disease most commonly causes losses in two-year-old aquacultured clams. In some locations, nodules and swellings containing QPX can be identified in the mantle often in areas adjacent to the siphon. Histologically, the organism is surrounded by thick mucus that inhibits phagocytosis by the clam's inflammatory cells especially during the spring and fall when the clam's immune system is less active. Variability in severity of infection and morbidity has been associated with origin of the brood stock with juvenile clams from southern U.S. brood stock being the most affected.
Metabolic Adaptation Fuels Lymph Node Metastasis.

Many cancers metastasize regionally through lymphatics before metastasizing systemically through blood vessels. However, metastasis through blood has been studied much more extensively than metastasis through lymph. Recently in Science, Lee et al. (2019) offered new insight into lymph node metastasis by showing that melanoma cells must undergo metabolic changes during this process and that it is driven by localized accumulation of bile acids.
Posterior atlantoaxial fixation: A cadaveric and fluoroscopic step-by-step technical guide

BACKGROUND: Atlantoaxial surgical fixation is widely employed treatment strategy for a myriad of pathologies affecting the stability of the atlantoaxial joint. The most common technique used in adults, and in certain cases in children, involves a posterior construct with C1 lateral mass screws, and C2 pars or pedicle screws. This technical note aims to provide a step-by-step guide to this procedure using cadaveric and fluoroscopic images. METHODS: An embalmed, human, cadaveric, specimen was used for this study. The subject did not have obvious occipital-cervical pathology. Dissections and techniques were performed to mimic actual surgical technique. Photographs were taken during each step, and the critical aspects of each step were highlighted. Fluoroscopic images from a real patient undergoing C1/C2 fixation were also utilized to further highlight the anatomic-radiographic relationships. This study was performed without external or industry funding. RESULTS: Photographic and radiographic pictures and drawings are presented to illustrate the pertinent anatomy and technical aspects of this technique. The nuances of each step, including complication avoidance strategies are also highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: Given the widespread utilization of this technique, described step-by-step guide is timely for surgeons and trainees alike.
Evaluating Statistical Models for Network Traffic Anomaly Detection

Large organizations may have hundreds or thousands of applications running simultaneously to support their operations. To maintain high levels of efficiency, they need to quickly detect outages or anomalies in order to quickly fix the problem and reduce costs. This paper describes the analytical framework for a network traffic data anomaly-detection method to reduce application downtime and the need for human involvement in detecting or reporting anomalous application behavior. We use the described framework to compare the performances of a Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) times series model and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Autoencoder model at anomaly detection. We evaluated these models using false positive rates and accuracy, with a requirement of being able to give timely alerts, and saw that even though both models were accurate, their false positive rates were very high. We then improved overall detection performance by ensembling the SARIMA and LSTM autoencoder. Our results demonstrate a possible new method of anomaly detection in network traffic flow using time series and autoencoders.
Emergence of opposite neurons in a decentralized firing-rate model of multisensory integration

Multisensory integration areas such as dorsal medial superior temporal (MSTd) and ventral intraparietal (VIP) areas in macaques combine visual and vestibular cues to produce better estimates of self-motion. Congruent and opposite neurons, two types of neurons found in these areas, prefer congruent inputs and opposite inputs from the two modalities, respectively. A recently proposed computational model of congruent and opposite neurons reproduces their tuning properties and shows that congruent neurons optimally integrate information while opposite neurons compute disparity information. However, the connections in the network are fixed rather than learned, and in fact the connections of opposite neurons, as we will show, cannot arise from Hebbian learning rules. We therefore propose a new model of multisensory integration in which congruent neurons and opposite neurons emerge through Hebbian and anti-Hebbian learning rules, and show that these neurons exhibit experimentally observed tuning properties.
ERK1/2 Phosphorylation of FHOD Connects Signaling and Nuclear Positioning Alternations in Cardiac Laminopathy.

Summary Mutations in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA) cause cardiomyopathy and also disrupt nuclear positioning in fibroblasts. LMNA mutations causing cardiomyopathy elevate ERK1/2 activity in the heart, and inhibition of the ERK1/2 kinase activity ameliorates pathology, but the downstream effectors remain largely unknown. We now show that cardiomyocytes from mice with an Lmna mutation and elevated cardiac ERK1/2 activity have altered nuclear positioning. In fibroblasts, ERK1/2 activation negatively regulated nuclear movement by phosphorylating S498 of FHOD1. Expression of an unphosphorylatable FHOD1 variant rescued the nuclear movement defect in fibroblasts expressing a cardiomyopathy-causing lamin A mutant. In hearts of mice with LMNA mutation-induced cardiomyopathy, ERK1/2 mediated phosphorylation of FHOD3, an isoform highly expressed in cardiac tissue. Phosphorylation of FHOD1 and FHOD3 inhibited their actin bundling activity. These results show that phosphorylation of FHOD proteins by ERK1/2 is a critical switch for nuclear positioning and may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA mutations.
Examination of sports and recreation-related concussion among youth ages 12-17: results from the 2018 YouthStyles survey.

Background: This paper sought to examine the frequency of self-reported sports- and recreation-related (SRR) concussion, as well as care-seeking behaviors and potential activity restrictions after ...
Primary pericardial angiosarcoma: case report and review of treatment options

A primary cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare type of soft-tissue sarcoma with a high mortality rate. This report describes a young woman who presented with chest pain and worsening shortness of breath over the course of a year. She was diagnosed with and treated for latent tuberculosis and autoimmune pericarditis over the last year, however, her condition kept worsening. Further workup revealed a large pericardial and right atrial mass associated with multiple lung nodules. The biopsy from the lung mass showed angiosarcoma, and she was diagnosed with primary metastatic angiosarcoma of the pericardium. She was treated with doxorubicin and Ifosfamide (AIM-75 regimen), which led to a partial response. However, soon after completion of six cycles, the tumour progressed rapidly, leading to cardio-respiratory failure. In this report, we will discuss the clinical challenges and treatment options (surgical and medical) that are available for treating patients with angiosarcoma of the heart.
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in the brainstem: Role of Pavlov’s vagally mediated cephalic phase of gastric secretion

Pavlov’s seminal observation that sham feeding in dogs stimulates gastric acid secretion through the vagus nerve pioneered the concept of the cephalic phase of digestion. This has been subsequently extended to a wide range of mammals including humans. In the last decades, experimental evidence in rats established that the three amino acid peptide thyrotropinreleasing hormone (TRH) expressed in the brainstem plays a key role in the vagal stimulation of digestive secretory-motor function. The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) neurons expresses TRH receptor subtype 1 (TRH-R1) and receives input of TRH containing fibers arising from TRH synthesizing neurons in medullary raphe nuclei. The activation of TRHTRH-R1 signaling excites the firing of DMN neurons leading to the activation of vagal efferent discharges and gastric myenteric cholinergic neurons. This results in a vagally mediated and atropine-sensitive stimulation of gastric secretory and propulsive motor function, along with duodenal and pancreatic secretion. Importantly, the blockade of TRH or TRH-R1 in the brainstem inhibits the gastric acid response to sham feeding in rats. Collectively, these convergent data support the physiological relevance of medullary TRHTRH-R1 signaling as the end effector of the vagally mediated stimulation of digestive process in the cephalic phase.
Privacy at the Margins

Limited legal protections for privacy leave minority communities vulnerable to concrete injuries and violence when their information is exposed. In Privacy at the Margins, Scott Skinner-Thompson highlights why privacy is of acute importance for marginalized groups. He explains how privacy can serve as a form of expressive resistance to government and corporate surveillance regimes - furthering equality goals - and demonstrates why efforts undertaken by vulnerable groups (queer folks, women, and racial and religious minorities) to protect their privacy should be entitled to constitutional protection under the First Amendment and related equality provisions. By examining the ways even limited privacy can enrich and enhance our lives at the margins in material ways, this work shows how privacy can be transformed from a liberal affectation to a legal tool of liberation from oppression.
The effects of minimum-wage increases on wage offers, wage premiums and employee effort under incomplete contracts

Abstract We experimentally investigate how increases in legally required minimum wages affect wage offers, wage premiums (i.e., the excess of wages over the minimum wage), and employee effort. Prior research has documented a gift-exchange relationship between firms and employees, whereby higher wage offers lead to higher effort. However, when the minimum wage increases, expectations regarding gift wages may also change. We predict that, following such a change, firms and employees will self-servingly determine their reference point for gift wages. As a result, while firms will increase wage offers, wage premiums will decline, and thus employees will not increase their effort. The results of (1) a laboratory experiment and (2) two online experiments are consistent with our predictions, suggesting that minimum-wage increases can have a negative effect on employee effort. Ultimately, employees respond to equivalent wages differently depending on the context surrounding the wage level. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Pythium spp. Associated With Root Rot and Stunting of Winter Crops in North Carolina.

In eastern North Carolina, mild to severe stunting and root rot have reduced yields of winter wheat, especially during years with abundant rainfall. Causal agents of root rot of wheat in this regio...
Students’ Perceptions of Supplemental Instruction

The purpose of this study was to determine students’ perceptions of Supplemental Instruction (SI) for a soil science course. All students enrolled in the course for the two semesters that SI was offered completed the survey. All participants (n = 74) answered the first portion of the survey, then skip logic was utilized to tailor questions for both those who did and those who did not attend SI. The researcher developed survey data revealed that students thought SI was encouraged, well publicized, and beneficial for students who wanted to perform better in the course. Students who attended SI identified understanding/reviewing material as the main reason for attending SI. Students would encourage others to attend SI. The principal barrier for those who did not attend SI was due to other obligations at the time the SI sessions were offered. Recommendations for practice are to continue offering SI sessions for Soil Science, but to offer more sessions at a variety of times to try to avoid schedule conflicts for students who want to attend.
Fatal Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) Infection

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus that causes a variety of clinical syndromes in the lung. The type and severity of airway and parenchymal disease produced by Aspergillus are influenced by the patient's immunologic status and the presence of pre-existing lung disease. There is increasing concern that patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be at risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis co-infection particularly in the context of immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies. We present a case report of pseudomembranous aspergillus tracheobronchitis complicated by COVID-19 pneumonia. A 59-year-old female with a medical history of drug-induced interstitial lung disease from methotrexate, rheumatoid arthritis, was admitted to the intensive care unit secondary to dyspnea and hypoxemic respiratory failure. She was diagnosed recently with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with remdesevir and high dose systemic corticosteroids for 14 days. one week after she is re-admitted with shortness of breath requiring high flow nasal cannula. she had a temperature of 38.2°, blood pressure of 110/80 mmHg, heart rate of 90 bpm, and respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min. Chest auscultation was significant for diffuse bilateral inspiratory coarse crackles. She was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics with vancomycin and meropenem. RT PCR COVID test remains positive since the last admission and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies are negative. Arterial blood gas values were pH 7.41, PaCO2 63 mmHg, PaO2 60 mmHg, and SaO2 91%. The complete blood count showed hemoglobin of 10.1 g/L and 16,800 leucocytes, with no growth in blood cultures. Initial CT chest reveals bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities consistent with COVID pneumonia. Subsequently, she was intubated and mechanically ventilated for worsening respiratory failure, empiric micafungin was started. A bronchoscopy demonstrated extensive whitish exudative membranes covering the trachea and both mainstem bronchi. The endobronchial biopsy specimens and bronchial washing fluid revealed Aspergillus fumigatus. Serum Galactomannan and fungitel came back positive. Micafungin was changed to isavuconazole, two days later the patient developed refractory septic shock. Despite using isavuconazole and supportive care, acute deterioration followed with refractory hypoxemia and oliguria, resulting in a fatal cardiac arrest on the sixth day of the intensive care unit stay. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an unusual manifestation of IPA accounts for <10% of cases. diagnosis of this condition is extremely difficult and hence is delayed given its relatively nonspecific presentation and the lack of specific radiographic findings. This case illustrates a need for careful screening for opportunistic infections in patients treated with high-dose systemic steroids, immunomodulators with underlying COVID pneumonia.
Twenty years of waterborne and related disease reports in Florida, USA

Abstract Florida represents a unique challenge for preventing and responding to infectious disease associated with water. This study cataloged the prevalence of reportable waterborne and water-related disease within Florida residents over the last twenty years and identified relationships between confirmed cases by location and additional risk factors. Data was collected through FLHealthCHARTS for confirmed cases between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2019. Case records were compiled and analyzed by year, county, pathogen name and disease category, patient age, and where the infection was acquired. During this time, 218,707 cases of water-related disease were recorded with 214,745 due to waterborne disease, 3255 cases of water-related vector-borne disease, and 707 cases caused by a water-based toxin. Children aged 0–4 and the elderly demonstrated a higher proportion of waterborne disease while 45–49 year olds had increased rates of water-based toxins and water-related vector-borne disease. Most cases were reported in the southeast region. Across the state, opportunities for water contact have led to high rates of water-related infectious disease. Public health initiatives and response efforts should target the pathogens of greatest impact for each region, largely zoonotic waterborne diseases, using a One Health approach.
Assessment of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Using Measures of Smoking Status and Smoking Intensity.

Objective: Smoking status does not indicate the amount or length of tobacco use, and thus, it is an imperfect measure to assess the association between cigarette smoking and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. This investigation assessed whether cigarette smoking status, intensity of smoking (i.e., average daily packs of cigarettes smoked), duration of smoking, and pack-years of smoking are associated with severe outcomes among adults diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study in which we identified consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at the University of Cincinnati healthcare system between 13 March 2020 and 30 September 2020 who had complete information on smoking status, severe COVID-19 outcomes, and covariates (i.e., demographics and comorbidities). We used logistic regression to evaluate the associations of smoking status and intensity of smoking with COVID-19 severity, defined as hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), or death, adjusting for sociodemographics and comorbidities. Results: Among the 4611 COVID-19 patients included in the analysis, 18.2% were current smokers and 20.7% were former smokers. The prevalence of COVID-19 outcomes was 28.9% for hospitalization, 9.8% for ICU admission, and 1.4% for death. In the adjusted analysis, current smoking (AOR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02–1.49), former smoking (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07–1.54), and pack-years of smoking (AOR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.17) were associated with a higher prevalence of hospitalization. Average daily packs of cigarettes smoked was associated with a higher prevalence of hospitalization (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10–1.53) and ICU admission (AOR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04–1.44). Conclusions: Smoking status, pack-years, and intensity of smoking were associated with hospitalizations in patients with COVID-19 and intensity of smoking was associated with ICU admission. The findings underscore the need for detailed information beyond smoking status when evaluating smokers with COVID-19 so that the potential for adverse sequelae may be optimally managed in at-risk patients.
Trait Arousability-An Alternative to Trait Arousal

This chapter presents the theoretical rationale and procedures used to develop a questionnaire measure of individual differences in stimulus screening and associated differences in arousability. The rationale for the scale is presented in some detail because of the novelty of the concept of stimulus screening and because of the complex set of interrelated concepts and measures it represents.
Positivism: A Discredited Model of Science Still in Use in the Study and Practice of Management

This paper examines the positivist model of science and the reasons for which philosophers of science have abandoned it. However, despite its discredited status, positivism remains the espoused model of science in the study and practice of management. The paper will provide examples, identify the harmful consequences, and suggest alternative models.
Extended abstract: Managing disjunction for practical temporal reasoning

One of the problems that must be dealt with in either a formal or implemented temporal reasoning system is the ambiguity arising from uncertain information. Lack of precise information about when events happen leads to uncertainty regarding the effects of those events. Incomplete information and nonmonotonic inference lead to situations where there is more than one set of possible inferences, even when there is no temporal uncertainty at all. In an implemented system, this ambiguity is a computational problem as well as a semantic one. In this paper, we discuss some of the sources of this ambiguity, which we will treat as explicit disjunction, in the sense that ambiguous information can be interpreted as defining a set of possible inferences. We describe the application of three techniques for managing disjunction in an implementation of Dean's Time Map Manager. Briefly, the disjunction is either: removed by limiting the expressive power of the system, or approximated by a weaker form of representation that subsumes the disjunction. We use a combination of these methods to implement an expressive and efficient temporal reasoning engine that performs sound inference in accordance with a well-defined formal semantics.
REGULATION OF THE INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELD

In this study we use a recently developed technique for measuring the combined magnitudes of inward and outward (sunward and antisunward) pointing 2D magnetic flux in the ecliptic plane to examine (1) the long term variation of the amount of magnetic field open to interplanetary space and (2) the apparent rate at which coronal mass ejections (CMEs) may be opening new magnetic field from the sun. Since there is a substantial variation (about 50 percent) of these combined fluxes in the ecliptic plane over solar cycle 21, we conclude that there must be some means whereby new field can be opened from the sun and a previously open magnetic field can be closed off. We briefly describe recently discovered coronal disconnection events which could serve to close off a previously open magnetic field. CMEs appear to retain at least partial magnetic connection to the sun and hence open up a new field, while disconnections appear to be likely signatures of the process that returns a closed field to the sun. The combination of these processes could regulate the amount of inward and outward magnetic flux open to interplanetary space.
Patterns of recurrence of carcinoma following radical hysterectomy.

Abstract One hundred eighty-six radical abdominal hysterectomies are reviewed. Twenty-two instances of clinically recurrent carcinoma following operation were encountered over an 18-year period. In review of these cases it is apparent that patients with adenocarcinoma or adenocystic carcinoma have an increased likelihood of positive lymph node metastases or lymphatic-vascular invasion at the time of surgery. If this occurs, there is an increased probability of recurrent disease. Poor differentiation of the tumor, bulky disease, deep infiltration of tumor, involvement of capillary-like spaces, and lymph node metastases all appear to represent poor prognostic indices in patients operated upon. Patients with adenocarcinoma generally have a longer disease-free interval before recurrence than patients with squamous carcinoma. Postoperative radiation therapy following radical surgery appears to increase significantly the disease-free interval until recurrence and influences the site of recurrent disease but has no demonstrable effect on ultimate survival.
Stimulation of Cell Division by Croton Oil in Blue-Green Bacteria

The potent tumor-promoting agent croton oil, which has been shown previously to be strongly mitogenic in mammalian cells, stimulates cell division in snake mutants of the blue-green bacterium Agmenellum quadruplicatum.
A computational model for separating two simultaneous talkers

This paper describes a computational model that attempts to separate two simultaneous talkers. The goal of this model is to improve a speech recognition system's ability to recognize what each of the two talkers say. The model consists of the following stages: (1) an iterative dynamic programming algorithm to track the pitch period for each of the two talkers, (2) a Markov model to determine the characteristics (e.g. voiced-unvoiced) of each speaker's voice, (3) a recursive algorithm that uses both local periodicity information and local spectral continuity constraints to compute a spectral estimate of each talker, (4) a resynthesis algorithm to convert the spectral estimate of each talker into a speech waveform, and (5) a speaker-independent continuous-digit-recognition system that attempts to recognize what each of two talkers is saying. The system was trained and tested on a database of simultaneous digit strings spoken by a male and female talker. An evaluation of the different stages of this model is presented.
Registration and Segmentation for Image-Guided Therapy

Image segmentation and registration are key tasks in image-guided therapy. End-to-end systems for image-guided therapy in use today perform segmentation, registration, as well as navigation and visualization. Segmentation involves identifying meaningful regions and structures within an image, such as normal anatomical tissue, pathology, or resection, for the purpose of planning, guiding, and measuring the outcome of a therapeutic procedure. Registration focuses on identifying a spatial mapping between two images of the same underlying tissue or patient, acquired from different imaging modalities or at different time points, fusing complementary information sources for planning and intra-procedural guidance. Intra-procedural navigation allows the movement of the patient and instruments during the procedure to be shown on the images, and the visualization updates the enhanced reality display to be consistent with the view of the patient that is visible to the physician. State-of-the-art image-guided therapy systems provide functionality to perform semiautomatic segmentation, a rigid registration with six degrees of freedom (and are in the early stages of providing limited nonrigid registration methods) to align the pre-procedural and intra-procedural imagery, and use of-the-shelf tracking hardware that uses either optical or electromagnetic sensors to track the motion of the patient during the intervention.
Electric Power Generation from a Geothermal Source Utilizing a Low-Temperature Organic Rankine Cycle Turbine

A demonstration project to generate electricity with a geothermal source and low-temperature organic Rankine cycle turbine in a rural Alaskan location is described. Operating data and a set of conclusions are presented detailing problems and recommendations for others contemplating this approach to electric power generation.
Properties of isolated chromatin from sea urchin embryo.

Abstract Isolated chromatin of the sea urchin embryo supports RNA synthesis catalyzed by exogenous RNA polymerase. Such chromatin-primed RNA synthesis possesses the general characteristics known for DNA-dependent RNA synthesis. Pluteus chromatin is more active in support of RNA synthesis than is blastula chromatin. The results suggest that more genes are available for transcription in pluteus chromatin. Removal of proteins associated with DNA in chromatin increases template activity and abolishes the difference in template activity between blastula and pluteus chromatin. Blastula chromatin contains slightly more histone than does pluteus chromatin, whereas nonhistone protein content is substantially greater in the latter.
Secondary structure, dynamics, and architecture of the p7 membrane protein from hepatitis C virus by NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract P7 is a small membrane protein that is essential for the infectivity of hepatitis C virus. Solution-state NMR experiments on p7 in DHPC micelles, including hydrogen/deuterium exchange, paramagnetic relaxation enhancement and bicelle ‘q-titration,’ demonstrate that the protein has a range of dynamic properties and distinct structural segments. These data along with residual dipolar couplings yield a secondary structure model of p7. We were able to confirm previous proposals that the protein has two transmembrane segments with a short interhelical loop containing the two basic residues K33 and R35. The 63-amino acid protein has a remarkably complex structure made up of seven identifiable sections, four of which are helical segments with different tilt angles and dynamics. A solid-state NMR two-dimensional separated local field spectrum of p7 aligned in phospholipid bilayers provided the tilt angles of two of these segments. A preliminary structural model of p7 derived from these NMR data is presented.
Development of amino acid transport by the small intestine of the chick embryo.

Abstract 1. 1. Amino acid transport by the small intestine of the chick was measured using the in vitro tissue-accumulation method. The developmental patterns for l -valine, glycine and l -lysine differ in a number of respects. Active transport of l -lysine was detected 4 days before hatching, that for l -valine 2 days before hatching, whereas active transport of glycine was first noted 1 day after hatching. The increase in active transport near hatching, seen with each amino acid tested, was most rapid with l -valine. 2. 2. The anaerobic glycolytic capacity of the small intestine decreased during the first week after hatching. The capacity for active transport under anaerobic conditions also decreased during this period. Immediately after hatching the rate of anaerobic transport of l -valine was 80% of the aerobic rate and 10 days later 5%. Although the rate of efflux and Km were essentially constant at those stages, the vmax for l -valine uptake immediately after hatching was twice as great as at the later stage. 3. 3. The active transport of l -valine was shown to be Na+-dependent at the developmental stages examined. (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) was detected in subcellular fractions of the chick small intestine as early as 4 days before hatching. Prior to hatching its specific activity increased more rapidly in the mitochondrial than in the brush-border and microsomal membrane fractions.
Characterization of biofluids prepared by sessile drop formation

Sessile drop formation, also called drop deposition, has been studied as a potential medical diagnostic, but the effects of complex biofluid rheology on the final deposition pattern are not well understood. We studied two model biofluids, blood plasma and synovial fluid, when deposited onto slightly hydrophilic substrates forming a contact angle of 50–90°. Drops were imaged during the evaporation process and geometric properties of the drop, such as contact angle and drop height, were calculated from the images. The resulting dried biofluid drops were then examined using light microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to assess morphological and chemical composition of the dried drop. The effect of substrate contact angle (surface wetting) and fluid concentration was examined. We found that when biofluids are deposited onto slightly hydrophilic surfaces, with a contact angle of 50–90°, a ring-shaped deposit was formed. Analysis of the drying drop's geometric properties indicates that biofluid dynamics follow the piling model of drop formation, as proposed by Deegan et al. The final deposition pattern varied with substrate surface and concentration, as shown by light microscopy photos of dried drops. The chemical composition of the outer ring was minimally affected by substrate surface, but the spatial heterogeneity of protein distribution within the ring varied with concentration. These results indicate that biofluid drop deposition produces ring-shaped deposits which can be examined by multiple analytical techniques.
Ovarian Cancer Is an Imported Disease: Fact or Fiction?

The cell of origin of ovarian cancer has been long debated. The current paradigm is that epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) arises from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). OSE is composed of flat, nondescript cells more closely resembling the mesothelium lining the peritoneal cavity, with which it is continuous, rather than the various histologic types of ovarian carcinoma (serous, endometrioid, and clear cell carcinoma), which have a Mullerian phenotype. Accordingly, it has been argued that the OSE undergoes a process termed "metaplasia" to account for this profound morphologic transformation. Recent molecular and clinicopathologic studies not only have failed to support this hypothesis but also have provided evidence that EOC stems from Mullerian-derived extraovarian cells that involve the ovary secondarily, thereby calling into question the very existence of primary EOC. This new model of ovarian carcinogenesis proposes that fallopian tube epithelium (benign or malignant) implants on the ovary to give rise to both high-grade and low-grade serous carcinomas, and that endometrial tissue implants on the ovary and produces endometriosis, which can undergo malignant transformation into endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma. Thus, ultimately EOC is not ovarian in origin but rather is secondary, and it is logical to conclude that the only true primary ovarian neoplasms are germ cell and gonadal stromal tumors analogous to tumors in the testis. If this new model is confirmed, it has profound implications for the early detection and treatment of "ovarian cancer."