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•Hypogammaglobulinemia, infections/severe infections, and antimicrobial use were decreased in patients with CLL or NHL treated with IgRT.•Increased IgG testing was associated with increased hypogammaglobulinemia detection and lower rates of severe infection.

Objective. The modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (mCTSIB) is used to clinically assess vestibular sensory integration (VSI), the process by which the central nervous system integrates vestibular afference to maintain balance. The rate and effects of impaired VSI (IVSI) on prosthetic mobility in people with lower limb amputation (LLA) is unknown. The objective of this study was to use the mCTSIB to classify VSI in active community ambulators with LLA and to examine the relationship between IVSI and prosthetic mobility, as measured by the Component Timed Up and Go (cTUG) test. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 130 community ambulators with unilateral LLA. Classification of VSI was determined based on a time-based pass/fail mCTSIB performance. Participants were classified as having normal sensory integration (NSI) if they could balance for 30 seconds in every mCTSIB condition. Participants who failed condition 4 exclusively were classified as IVSI. Prosthetic mobility, as measured by the cTUG, was compared between NSI and IVSI groups. Results. Of the 130 participants, 29 (22%) were classified as IVSI and 95 (73%) were classified as having NSI. Prosthetic mobility significantly differed between IVSI and NSI groups, with IVSI participants performing all components of the cTUG significantly slower. Medium to large effect sizes were found between groups during cTUG. Conclusions. These results suggest that 1 in 5 community ambulators with LLA have IVSI, with associated limitations in balance confidence and prosthetic mobility. Impact. The ability to integrate vestibular information was found to have a strong relationship with prosthetic mobility in active community ambulators with LLA, especially with performing a 180-degree step turn. Physical therapists can use the mCTSIB to classify sensory integration during prosthetic rehabilitation and develop an appropriate balance intervention. Lay Summary. Active adults with LLA can use information from their senses to maintain their standing balance. Adults with LLA who have difficulty balancing on foam with closed eyes were slower to get in and out of a chair, walk, and perform a 180-degree step turn., People with lower limb amputation (LLA) have prosthetic mobility limitations (1-5); thus, it is critical to identify rehabilitation-related factors that may contribute to mobility and are modifable with intervention. The [...]

* The Academic Library in the United States: Historical Perspectives. McFarland. Sept. 2022.294p. ed. by Mark L. McCallon & John Mark Tucker. ISBN 9780786495870. pap. $75. PRO MEDIA Sharing a [...]

The article provides an overview of the documentary film "Tomorrow's Freedom," which focuses on the imprisonment of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi by the Israelis for over 20 years. It highlights Barghouthi's potential as a leader who could negotiate peace and his support for a two-state solution. The film also sheds light on the mistreatment and torture Barghouthi has endured in prison. The article mentions the LaRouche Oasis Plan, which aims to bring hope and development to the region and break the cycle of violence. It concludes by mentioning the upcoming conference on the Oasis Plan hosted by the Schiller Institute, where the Barghouthi family has been invited to attend. The text also briefly mentions other articles and topics covered in the Executive Intelligence Review. [Extracted from the article]

The Semmelweis Study is a prospective occupational cohort study that seeks to enroll all employees of Semmelweis University (Budapest, Hungary) aged 25 years and older, with a population of 8866 people, 70.5% of whom are women. The study builds on the successful experiences of the Whitehall II study and aims to investigate the complex relationships between lifestyle, environmental, and occupational risk factors, and the development and progression of chronic age-associated diseases. An important goal of the Semmelweis Study is to identify groups of people who are aging unsuccessfully and therefore have an increased risk of developing age-associated diseases. To achieve this, the study takes a multidisciplinary approach, collecting economic, social, psychological, cognitive, health, and biological data. The Semmelweis Study comprises a baseline data collection with open healthcare data linkage, followed by repeated data collection waves every 5 years. Data are collected through computer-assisted self-completed questionnaires, followed by a physical health examination, physiological measurements, and the assessment of biomarkers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Semmelweis Study, including its origin, context, objectives, design, relevance, and expected contributions.

In distance-bounding authentication protocols the Prover has to prove not only that it is a legitimate participant, but also that it is in a legitimate zone (e.g., in close proximity to the Verifier). Conventional authentication protocols are not designed to deal with the location of protocol parties. Using such protocols in case of RFID systems makes them vulnerable to simple relay attacks, which is a significant threat. Protocols that combine cryptographic mechanisms with technical measurements (e.g., time-of-flight or GPS location of the Prover) are often used to protect against relay attacks. In this paper we analyse existing distance-bounding authentication protocols and propose a new DB-RFIDdistance-bounding protocol for RFID systems. DB-RFIDprotocol develops the ideas of the most prominent Swiss-Knifeprotocol, which protects against a greater number of possible attacks. We also provide an initial security analysis of the protocol and propose a version of the protocol based on Russian standardized cryptographic algorithms.

The search for biomarkers that quantify biological aging (particularly ‘omic’-based biomarkers) has intensified in recent years. Such biomarkers could predict aging-related outcomes and could serve as surrogate endpoints for the evaluation of interventions promoting healthy aging and longevity. However, no consensus exists on how biomarkers of aging should be validated before their translation to the clinic. Here, we review current efforts to evaluate the predictive validity of omic biomarkers of aging in population studies, discuss challenges in comparability and generalizability and provide recommendations to facilitate future validation of biomarkers of aging. Finally, we discuss how systematic validation can accelerate clinical translation of biomarkers of aging and their use in gerotherapeutic clinical trials.

Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black–White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa–Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black–White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera–Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black–White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27% to 55% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7% to 11%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black–White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.

Objective: We compared adherence rates by attending otolaryngologists (OTOs) and advanced practice providers (APPs) to the 2013 American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation clinical practice guideline (CPG) for children with recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement (BMT).Methods: Patients aged 6 months to 12 years old undergoing BMT for RAOM who had a pre-operative visit with an independent APP or OTO were reviewed. Patients satisfied CPG criteria if middle ear effusion was identified at the pre-operative visit (pre-op) or if they did not have effusion but met exception criteria based on their risk for developmental difficulties and contraindications to medical therapy. Adherence rates between APPs and OTOs were compared. Agreement between pre-op and time-of-surgery middle ear effusion identification was assessed.Results: Nine hundred twenty-three patients were included. Six hundred one patients were seen by OTOs and 322 by APPs. Middle ear effusion was identified at pre-op in 84% of APP patients and in 76% of OTO patients (P= .005). Eight percent of APP patients and 11% of OTO patients met exception criteria (P= .138). Overall, 87% of OTO patients and 92% of APP patients met either CPG or exception criteria for BMT (P= .037). A logistic regression model demonstrated that pre-op provider type did not significantly impact rates of agreement between pre-op visit and time-of-surgery middle ear effusion identification.Conclusions: Independent APP-led clinics can reliably and effectively deliver evidence-based care for prevalent conditions such as RAOM at similar rates of adherence to CPGs as OTOs.

The article recounts 26 recollections related to Gary Belsky, touching on moments before and after his funeral, exploring facets of his life, relationships, and the mysteries surrounding his death. Topics include vivid memories of Belsky's physical presence, his apartment, interactions during a police investigation, distinctive aspects of his character, and the complexities of his personal and professional life, including involvement in gambling and a drug-related arrest.

ABSTRACT Geopolymer composite has been synthesized at room temperature by mixing metakaolin, potassium silica solution and ceramic grog based on sintered schistous clay. Ceramic aggregate has been added in an [...]

Hansman, Heather. Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow. Hanover Square. Nov. 2021.352p. ISBN 9781335081117. $26.99. SPORTS Hansman [Downriver: Into the Future of Water in [...]

Noble, Donna. Teaching Body Positive Yoga: A Guide to Inclusivity, Language and Props. Singing Dragon. Aug. 2022.208p. ISBN 9781787753358. pap. $26.95. HEALTH Every body is a yoga body, writes Noble, [...]

ABSTRACT This paper is aimed at investigating the properties of calcined shale-slag as an alternative alkali-activated constructional binder hardened by geopolymerization reaction with sodium silicate solution. Focus is put on [...]

ABSTRACT The re-calcination of commercial metakaolin was carried out and structural changes were observed in relation to pozzolanic activity and specific surface area in temperature range 500-1000°C. The re-calcined metakaolins [...]

We report on a randomized controlled trial of Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS), which is a nationally mandated school-based mental health program in England. TaMHS aimed to improve mental health for students with, or at risk of, behavioral and emotional difficulties by providing evidence-informed interventions relating to closer working relationships between health and education services. Our study involved 8,480 children (aged 8-9 years) from 266 elementary schools. Students in intervention schools with, or at risk of, behavioral difficulties reported significant reductions in behavioral difficulties compared with control school students, but no such difference was found for students with, or at risk of, emotional difficulties. Implementation of TaMHS was associated with increased school provision of a range of interventions and enhanced collaboration between schools and local specialist mental health providers. The implications of these findings are discussed, in addition to the strengths and limitations of the study., Internationally, up to 20% of the youth population experiences clinically recognizable mental health difficulties (Belfer, 2008). At the broadest level, a distinction is typically drawn between behavioral problems or externalizing [...]

Measures of biological age (BA) integrate information across organ systems to quantify “biological aging,” i.e., inter-individual differences in aging-related health decline. While longevity and lifespan aggregate in families, reflecting transmission of genes and environments across generations, little is known about intergenerational continuity of biological aging or the extent to which this continuity may be modified by environmental factors. Using data from the Jerusalem Perinatal Study (JPS), we tested if differences in offspring BA were related to mortality in their parents. We measured BA using biomarker data collected from 1473 offspring during clinical exams in 2007–2009, at age 32 ± 1.1. Parental mortality was obtained from population registry data for the years 2004–2016. We fitted parametric survival models to investigate the associations between offspring BA and parental all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We explored potential differences in these relationships by socioeconomic position (SEP) and offspring sex. Participants’ BAs widely varied (SD= 6.95). Among those measured to be biologically older, parents had increased all-cause mortality (HR= 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.13), diabetes mortality (HR= 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.30), and cancer mortality (HR= 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.13). The association with all-cause mortality was stronger for families with low compared with high SEP (Pinteraction= 0.04) and for daughters as compared to sons (Pinteraction< 0.001). Using a clinical-biomarker-based BA estimate, observable by young adulthood prior to the onset of aging-related diseases, we demonstrate intergenerational continuity of the aging process. Furthermore, variation in this familial aggregation according to household socioeconomic position (SEP) at offspring birth and between families of sons and daughters proposes that the environment alters individuals’ aging trajectory set by their parents.

ObjectivesDespite continued development of targeted therapies for children with cancer, patients continue to experience an array of unwanted side effects. Children with solid tumours may experience constipation as a result of vinca alkaloid therapy, psychological stressors, periods of inactivity and opioid use. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence and treatment of constipation in hospitalised children with solid tumours treated with chemotherapy.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed data from 48 children’s hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System, extracting patients 0–21 years of age with a solid tumour diagnosis hospitalised from October 2015 through December 2019.ResultsWe identified 13 375 unique patients with a solid tumour diagnosis receiving chemotherapy. Constipation was the most common gastrointestinal complaint with 8658 (64.7%; 95% Cl: 63.9% to 65.5%) having a constipation diagnosis or having received at least two laxatives during admission. Bone cancers had the highest percentage (69.9%) of patients with constipation, while Hodgkin’s lymphoma had the lowest, although 52.1% of patients were affected. A total of 44% (n=35 301) of encounters received an opioid at some point during admission. Of patients receiving constipation medications, the most commonly prescribed was polyethyl glycol (n=25 175, 31.7%), followed by docusate (n=11 297, 14.2%), senna (n=10 325, 13.0%) and lactulose (n=5501, 6.9%).ConclusionsConstipation is the most common gastrointestinal issue that children with solid tumours experience while receiving chemotherapy in the inpatient setting. Increased attention should be given to constipation prophylaxis and treatment in children with solid tumours undergoing chemotherapy, particularly those identified as high risk.

Discrimination is a social determinant of health and health disparities for which the biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the hypothesis that discrimination contributes to poor health outcomes by accelerating biological processes of aging. We analyzed survey and blood DNA methylation data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 1967). We used linear regression analysis to test associations of everyday, major, and workplace discrimination with biological aging measured by the DunedinPACE, PhenoAge, and GrimAge2 epigenetic clocks. MIDUS participants who reported more discrimination tended to exhibit a faster pace of aging and older biological age as compared to peers who reported less discrimination. Effect-sizes for associations tended to be larger for the DunedinPACE pace-of-aging clock (effect-size range r = 0.1–0.2) as compared with the PhenoAge and GrimAge2 biological-age clocks (effect-sizes r < 0.1) and for experiences of everyday and major discrimination as compared with workplace discrimination. Smoking status and body-mass index accounted for roughly half of observed association between discrimination and biological aging. Reports of discrimination were more strongly associated with accelerated biological aging among White as compared with Black participants, although Black participants reported more discrimination overall and tended to exhibit older biological age and faster biological aging. Findings support the hypothesis that experiences of interpersonal discrimination contribute to accelerated biological aging and suggest that structural and individual-level interventions to reduce discrimination and promote adaptive coping have potential to support healthy aging and build health equity.

One of the most telling barometers of the pressure homeownership has been under in recent years is the decline in the national homeownership rate, from a high of 69 percent [...]

Today's news is filled with headlines about falling home prices and the foreclosure crisis ravaging the nation. And for good reason-- the foreclosure crisis is acute, with about 10 million [...]

LENSTRA, Noah. Healthy Living at the Library: Programs for All Ages. 225p. Libraries Unlimited. 2020. pap. $45. ISBN 9781440863141. Lenstra, who heads up the Let's Move initiative at the University [...]

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Optical microscopy has long been a major tool for the scientist and visible microscopy has been the standard wavelength region used by the industry. Advances in imaging [...]

Objective: Post-tracheotomy swallowing function has not been well described in the pediatric population. This study aims to (1) determine differences in swallowing functioning pre- and post-tracheotomy and (2) examine the association between postoperative dysphagia and indication for tracheotomy, age at the time of tracheotomy, and time between tracheotomy and modified barium swallow (MBS).Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 752 patients who underwent a tracheotomy from 2003 to 2018 and had adequate documentation for review. Patients were included if they received a post-operative MBS. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyze the data.Results: The cohort included 233 patients. The mean age at the time of tracheotomy was 25 months (±50.5). The indications for the tracheotomy were upper airway obstruction (110/233, 47.2%), chronic respiratory failure (104/233, 44.6%), and neurologic disease (19/233, 8.2%). The mean time from tracheotomy to post-operative MBS was 224 days (±297.7). Of the patients who had documented pre- and post-tracheotomy diets, nearly half of patients had improvement in their swallowing function after tracheotomy placement (82/195; 42.1%). Post-tracheotomy MBS recommended thickened liquids in 30.9% of the patients (72/233) and 42.5% (99/233) were recommended thin liquids. The remainder (62/233, 26.6%) remained nothing by mouth (NPO). Patients with neurological disease as the indication for the tracheotomy were more likely to remain NPO (P= .039).Conclusion: A tracheotomy can functionally and anatomically affect swallowing in pediatric patients. The majority of our studied cohort was able to resume some form of an oral diet postoperatively based on MBS. This study highlights the need for objective measurements of swallowing in the postoperative tracheotomy patient to allow for safe and timely commencement of an oral diet.Level of Evidence Level 3.

RUSH, Elizabeth Barrera. The Efficient Library: Ten Simple Changes That Save Time and Improve Service. 160p. Libraries Unlimited. Oct. 2020. pap. $45. ISBN 9781440869815. With a focus on process management, [...]

In Monty Python, there is a segue after one segment, or shtik, (1) and before another, and it signifies a change in mood, topic, or attitude. So--"[a]nd now for something [...]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to the swift development of multiple vaccinations. Vaccine side effects were well-documented in the healthy adult cohort and included fever and lymphadenopathy, however, side effects in the pediatric immunocompromised population have not been reported. This retrospective study investigated vaccine-eligible children and adolescent young adult oncology patients 12 to 35 years old. We found uncommon, mild, and self-limiting side effects among pediatric cancer patients and survivors. This data will help guide pediatric and AYA oncologists in providing anticipatory guidance and serve as a guide to managing lymphadenopathy as a potential confounder of malignancy.

Greene, A. Kendra. The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland's Most Unusual Museums. Penguin. May 2020.272p. ISBN 9780143135463. $22. TRAV Not so much a [...]

Objectives: Extensive literature exists documenting disparities in access to healthcare for patients with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The objective of this study was to examine access disparities and differences in surgical wait times in children with the most common pediatric otolaryngologic surgery, tympanostomy tubes (TT).Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary children’s hospital. Children ages <18 years who received a first set of tympanostomy tubes during 2015 were studied. Patient demographics and markers of SES including zip code, health insurance type, and appointment no-shows were recorded. Clinical measures included risk factors, symptoms, and age at presentation and first TT.Results: A total of 969 patients were included. Average age at surgery was 2.11 years. Almost 90% were white and 67.5% had private insurance. Patients with public insurance, ≥1 no-show appointment, and who lived in zip codes with the median income below the United States median had a longer period from otologic consult and preoperative clinic to TT, but no differences were seen in race. Those with public insurance had their surgery at an older age than those with private insurance (P< .001) and were more likely to have chronic otitis media with effusion as their indication for surgery (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.5, P= .003).Conclusions: Lower SES is associated with chronic otitis media with effusion and a longer wait time from otologic consult and preoperative clinic to TT placement. By being transparent in socioeconomic disparities, we can begin to expose systemic problems and move forward with interventions.Level of Evidence: 4

The following is an edited transcription of an interview with Dr. Shah Mohammad Mehrabi conducted December 15, 2021 by EIR's Gerald Belsky and Michael Billington. Since 2002, Dr. Mehrabi has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Da Afghanistan Bank, the Afghan central bank. Since 1992 he has been a professor in the Business and Economics Department at Montgomery College in Maryland and chairman of the department since 2003. A video of the interview is available here. [UPDATE, 12/22/2021 - The Letter to President Biden referenced by Dr. Mehrabi below, calling for the release of the Afghanistan funds being held by the Federal Reserve, has subsequently been released with the signatures of 46 members of the House of Representatives. It can be read here.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Methods to quantify biological aging are emerging as new measurement tools for epidemiology and population science and have been proposed as surrogate measures for healthy lifespan extension in geroscience clinical trials. Publicly available software packages to compute biological aging measurements from DNA methylation data have accelerated dissemination of these measures and generated rapid gains in knowledge about how different measures perform in a range of datasets. Biological age measures derived from blood chemistry data were introduced at the same time as the DNA methylation measures and, in multiple studies, demonstrate superior performance to these measures in prediction of healthy lifespan. However, their dissemination has been slow by comparison, resulting in a significant gap in knowledge. We developed a software package to help address this knowledge gap. The BioAge R package, available for download at GitHub (http://github.com/dayoonkwon/BioAge), implements three published methods to quantify biological aging based on analysis of chronological age and mortality risk: Klemera-Doubal biological age, PhenoAge, and homeostatic dysregulation. The package allows users to parametrize measurement algorithms using custom sets of biomarkers, to compare the resulting measurements to published versions of the Klemera-Doubal method and PhenoAge algorithms, and to score the measurements in new datasets. We applied BioAge to safety lab data from the CALERIE™ randomized controlled trial, the first-ever human trial of long-term calorie restriction in healthy, non-obese adults, to test effects of intervention on biological aging. Results contribute evidence that CALERIE intervention slowed biological aging. BioAge is a toolkit to facilitate measurement of biological age for geroscience.

Short wave infrared (SWIR) machine vision imaging is a key tool in manufacturing and industrial processes to measure, monitor, control or otherwise manage the reliable and quality-conforming production of goods [...]