cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical and Economic Impact of Aprotinin Use in Adult Cardiac Surgery

SUMMARY Aprotinin, a non-specific serine protease inhibitor, has been conclusively shown to reduce bleeding and transfusion requirements in coronary artery bypass grafting patients supported by cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. Aprotinin is approved for use in a full-dose regimen which inhibits kallikrein, plasmin, and premature platelet activation by circulating thrombin. It is also approved for use in a half-dose regimen which inhibits only plasmin while preserving platelet function as well. With the full-dose regimen, aprotinin is more effective than the lysine analogues for bleeding endpoints. It also reduces the incidence of perioperative stroke, compared to placebo, while safety in relation to myocardial infarction and death is maintained. The half-dose regimen is also effective in reducing bleeding and transfusion, but has been associated with increased rates of perioperative myocardial infarction and death, and appears to be less effective in stroke reduction than full-dose, particularly in high-risk patients. Full-dose aprotinin is more effective than half-dose aprotinin in reducing bleeding and blood transfusion. A comprehensive economic analysis of the randomized trial resource use data has been performed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of both aprotinin doses. In primary coronary artery bypass grafting, most of the cost of full-dose aprotinin and all of the cost of half-dose aprotinin is recovered by in-hospital reduction of resource based costs. Further cost savings throughout the patient's lifetime are realized for full-dose aprotinin due to stroke reduction, ultimately recovering the full cost of the drug. For half-dose, additional lifetime savings related to stroke reduction are offset by increased lifetime cost of myocardial infarction. In reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting, the use of both full- and half-dose aprotinin led to in-hospital cost savings of approximately $2,000 per patient. When lifetime costs of complications were considered, an additional savings of $4,000 per patient for full-dose and $2,000 per patient for half-dose were realized, primarily through stroke reduction.
Regarding the Noun ףרש in the Hebrew Bible

The semantic value of the Classical Hebrew noun ??? (śārāp) is analysed by comparing the information found in the textual witnesses in the Hebrew Bible with archaeological, historical and zoological data. This analysis confirms that the word means 'cobra' in Classical Hebrew, as both the mythological use in the Bible and the iconographic data from archaeological material from the Levant fit together with the zoological data regarding cobras. The understanding found in ancient translations, i.e. the Septuagint, the Vulgate and Peshitta, together with the way desert snakes are designated by Bedouin in the Sinai in recent times, are drawn in to further strengthen this identification.
Maneuvering Difficult Emotional Terrain in Psychotherapy: A Buddhist-Informed Conceptual Framework

Clients often enter psychotherapy with struggles and concerns related to their direct experience of emotion. Though most of the major psychotherapy theories in the West address the general issue of emotion, very few have developed a framework or theory for supporting clients in their direct encounters with difficult feeling states. Since Buddhism is highly experiential and Buddhist philosophy is mainly concerned with the issue of human suffering, its relevance to maneuvering difficult emotions in a clinical context is profound. While the use of Buddhist concepts and practices in mental health treatment in the West has proliferated in recent years, the clinical use of Buddhist material has often bypassed the larger philosophical framework of Buddhism. This decontextualized use of Buddhist material has limited the potential value of Buddhist philosophy in mental health treatment. This article offers a conceptual framework for approaching difficult emotions that is grounded in the wisdom of Buddhism. The framework consists of four themes that serve as guides for clients and clinicians as they maneuver emotional experiences in psychotherapy: Sitting With, Middle Path, Healthy Interdependency, and Compassion. Common threads between Buddhist concepts and Western psychotherapy approaches are explored. A case vignette will demonstrate the clinical utility of the framework.
Impulsivity and Sex Preference

(1961). Impulsivity and Sex Preference. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 98, No. 2, pp. 187-192.
From Organized High-Throughput Data to Phenomenological Theory using Machine Learning: The Example of Dielectric Breakdown

Understanding the behavior (and failure) of dielectric insulators experiencing extreme electric fields is critical to the operation of present and emerging electrical and electronic devices. Despite its importance, the development of a predictive theory of dielectric breakdown has remained a challenge, owing to the complex multiscale nature of this process. Here, we focus on the intrinsic dielectric breakdown field of insulators—the theoretical limit of breakdown determined purely by the chemistry of the material, i.e., the elements the material is composed of, the atomic-level structure, and the bonding. Starting from a benchmark data set (generated from laborious first-principles computations) of the intrinsic dielectric breakdown field of a variety of model insulators, simple predictive phenomenological models of dielectric breakdown are distilled using advanced statistical or machine learning schemes, revealing key correlations and analytical relationships between the breakdown field and easily access...
Current drug therapy for Tourette’s syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome is a tic disorder that is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Its onset is always in childhood, and severity can range from mild to marked. Behavior and learning problems are often associated with Tourette’s syndrome. Various medications may be used for symptomatic treatment, but no agent is effective in every case or is without potential side effects. T h e most commonly used medications include the neuroleptic agents haloperidol and pimozide. Alternatives of proven value include clonidine and clonazepam. Psychostimulant agents may be used to modify the associated attention-deficit disorder but can exacerbate tic problems in some children.
Anterior Chamber Depth, Lens Thickness, and Related Measures in African American Females With Long Anterior Zonules: A Matched Study With Control for Refractive Error.

Purpose To investigate anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous body length (VBL), and axial length (AL) in African American females with long anterior zonules (LAZ) while controlling for refractive error. Methods The eyes of 50 African American females with LAZ were compared with 50 controls matched with age, race, sex, and refractive error. Central ACD, LT, VBL, and AL measurements were obtained in a masked manner using a-scan ultrasonography. Results LAZ cases had a mean age±SD of 67.1±7.6 years (range, 52 to 85 y) and a mean refractive error of +1.85±1.41 D (-1.75 to +4.75 D). Parameters were similar for controls. Mean ACD for cases was 2.45±0.34 mm and 2.57±0.38 mm for controls. Mean LT for cases was 4.94±0.43 mm and 4.83±0.45 mm for controls. Mean VBL for cases was 15.00±0.72 mm and 15.17±0.76 mm for controls. Mean AL for cases was 22.39±0.82 mm and 22.57±0.76 mm for controls. Using multiple logistic regression to control for any residual differences in age and refractive error, no significant differences were present between LAZ eyes and control eyes relative to the a-scan variables (P>0.1). Conclusions When refractive error was controlled for, this group of African American females with LAZ did not exhibit clinically significant differences in ACD, LT, VBL, and AL as compared with controls.
1102 Use of Synthetic Colloids Comparing Normal Saline for Neuroresuscitation in Term Newborns with Severe Hie

Background and Aims There is limited data according the use of 6% solution of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.42 in volemic resuscitation for neonates. The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of 6% HES 130/0.42 and normal saline in the intensive care of term newborns with severe HIE. Methods 15 full-term neonates with HIE were included. Score Sarnat II was in 9 newborns and Sarnat III was in 6 babies. The mean gestation age was 39.3±0.2 weeks. Apgar score at 1 st minute was 3.8±0.1 and at 5 th minute was 6.0±0.1. Routine hemodynamic parameters, lab studies and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP = 1.1 ∙ (Vs – Vd)/PI – 5 mm Hg) by transfontanel Doppler (Aaslid R., 1986) were collected at admission, in 1 hour and 3 hours after volume expanders infusion. The volume of normal saline was 20 ml/kg and of 6% HES 130/0.42 was 10 ml/kg. Results. Mean blood pressure at the 3 stages of study in response to 6% HES 130/0.42 administration was 48–55–55 mm Hg, after normal saline 51–53–49 mm Hg. Cerebral perfusion pressure after administrarion of HES 130/0.42 was 7.7–11.8–15.7 mm Hg, after normal saline 14.1–17.6–17.1 mm Hg. Conclusions Use of HES 130/0.42 results in stable increasing of cerebral perfusion with normalizing of resistance index in front cerebral arteries. The effect occurs after administration of HES and remains up to 3–6 hours. Applying of HES 130/0.42 may be therapy of choice in low cerebral perfusion and/or hemodynamic instability in newborns with severe HIE.
Lateral and Vertical Growth Study in the Initial Stages of GaN Growth on Sapphire with ZnO Buffer Layers by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy

The initial stage of hydride vapor phase epitaxy GaN growth on ZnO-buffered sapphire is reported. A high supersaturation in the growth ambient was used to favor a rapid initial growth on the substrate. A subsequent step with high lateral growth rate was chosen to promote coalescence of the initial islands and provide optimal material properties. The specific mole fractions of the GaCl and NH3 control these vertical and lateral growth rates. The use of a two- step growth process in the GaN growth has led to improved and controlled morphology and high quality GaN materials have then been grown on sapphire substrate with and without ZnO buffer layers.
Ab Initio Study of a Molecular Crystal for Photovoltaics: Light Absorption, Exciton and Charge Carrier Transport

Using ab initio methods we examine the molecular and solid-state electronic properties of a recently synthesized small-molecule donor, p-DTS(PTTh2)2, which belongs to the dithienosilole-pyridylthiadiazole family of chromophores. In combination with the PC70BM acceptor, p-DTS(PTTh2)2 can be used to fabricate high-efficiency bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. A precise picture of molecular structure and interchromophore packing is provided via a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study; such details cannot be easily obtained with donor materials based on conjugated polymers. In first-principles approaches we are limited to a single-crystallite scale. At this scale, according to our investigation, the principal properties responsible for the high efficiency are strong low-energy light absorption by individual molecules, large exciton diffusion length, and fast disorder-resistant hole transport along π-stacks in the crystallite. The calculated exciton diffusion length is substantially larger than the aver...
The Logic of Event History Analysis

The lexicon of event history analysis stems from its historical roots in biostatistics. Terms like “death,” “failure,” and “termination” are natural for analyses of medical survival data, but may seem awkward for social science analysis. In the context of medical research, survival data usually consist of longitudinal records indicating the duration of time individuals survive until death (if death is observed). In analyzing survival data, medical researchers are commonly interested in how long subjects survive before they die. The “event” is death, while the duration of time leading up to the death, the “history,” is the observed survival time . Analysts working with survival data may be interested in assessing the relationship between survival times and covariates of interest such as drug treatments. Likewise, social scientists frequently work with “survival data,” although such data are generally not thought of in terms of survival and death. Nevertheless, much of the data social scientists use are generated from the same kinds of processes producing survival data. Concepts like “survival,” “risk,” and “failure” are directly analogous to concepts with which social scientists work. Thus, the concept of survival and the notion of survival and failure times are useful starting points to motivate event history analysis. Event history data are, as Petersen (1995) notes, generated from failure-time processes . A failure-time process consists of units (individuals, governments, countries, dyads) observed at some natural starting point or time-of-origin.
Towards personalized computational modelling of the fibrotic substrate for atrial arrhythmia.

Atrial arrhythmias involving a fibrotic substrate are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In many cases, effective treatment of such rhythm disorders is severely hindered by a lack of mechanistic understanding relating features of fibrotic remodelling to dynamics of re-entrant arrhythmia. With the advent of clinical imaging modalities capable of resolving the unique fibrosis spatial pattern present in the atria of each individual patient, a promising new research trajectory has emerged in which personalized computational models are used to analyse mechanistic underpinnings of arrhythmia dynamics based on the distribution of fibrotic tissue. In this review, we first present findings that have yielded a robust and detailed biophysical representation of fibrotic substrate electrophysiological properties. Then, we summarize the results of several recent investigations seeking to use organ-scale models of the fibrotic human atria to derive new insights on mechanisms of arrhythmia perpetuation and to develop novel strategies for model-assisted individualized planning of catheter ablation procedures for atrial arrhythmias.
Fine-scale spatial analysis of soil moisture and entomopathogenic nematode distribution following release in wetting agent-treated turf

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are obligate insect parasites that have been widely studied for their use in the biological control of soil-dwelling pests. EPN persistence and pest impact in turfgrass systems may be hindered by management and construction practices favoring limited rootzone moisture. We sought to determine whether soil surfactants (“wetting agents”) could improve soil moisture uniformity on a fine-scale, and whether these changes improved post-application EPN persistence. Two EPNs with different foraging behaviors (Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) were studied in separate experiments in different turfgrass systems and seasons to which they would most appropriately be applied. Analyses using Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (S.A.D.I.E) revealed that soil moisture patterns were dynamic on a fine scale, initially demonstrating random distributions, though becoming more aggregated over time. No significant improvements in nematode persistence or uniformity were found with a single wetting agent application at the time of EPN release. Both nematode species initially exhibited random distributions, though each became more uniform as population densities sharply declined over the observation periods. Surprisingly, little evidence was found linking EPN spatial pattern with that of moisture. Our findings suggest that short-term EPN survival is not correlated with soil moisture dynamics at a fine scale and that biotic factors may be more important in improving the post-application persistence and ultimately EPN performance in biological control programs in turfgrass.
On being an honorary member of Arny's army: some musings about fungal fermentations, secondary metabolism, and scientific communities.

This essay is an unabashed celebration of applied microbiology and secondary metabolism, and how one scientist—Arnold Demain—has been a spokesman for industrial microbiology and biotechnology. There are many reasons for Arny’s professional success. During his long and distinguished career, Arnold Demain has expanded and enriched our understanding of the importance secondary metabolism. He has studied topics that ranged from pickles, to pectinolytic enzymes, to penicillin. His experimental versatility was conducted under the unifying theme of fermentation microbiology. In addition, one of his most positive achievements was his ability to bring scientists from different disciplines and national backgrounds together and thereby nucleate new collaborations. I am one of many people who has benefited from Arny’s generous mentoring and speak from the heart when I say that industrial microbiology could not have a better representative. Arny has been the catalyst for much of that has gone right in my professional life and the lives of the many other applied microbiologists who have had the good fortune to know him.
Genetic Evidence That Loss of Intra-Renal Angiotensinogen Is not the Cause of Lethality in Angiotensinogen Deficient Mice

51 Angiotensinogen (Agt) deficient mice are born in normal numbers but die before weaning presumably due to renal dysfunction caused by severe vascular lesions. Since Agt is expressed in renal proximal tubule cells, we hypothesized that its loss is responsible for the lethal phenotype. We generated two models to test this hypothesis by breeding transgenic mice expressing human renin (R+) with mice expressing human Agt either systemically (A+) or kidney-specifically (KA+). We then bred double transgenic mice (R+/A+ or R+/KA+) with Agt-/- mice to generate R+/A+ Agt+/- or R+/KA+ Agt+/-. We then intercrossed the compound heterozygotes by brother/sister mating. Each offspring of this cross was genotyped for the presence of the human transgenes and at the Agt locus. The population was then stratified into groups (double transgenic and non-double transgenic), and the data was analyzed by χ 2 . Based on Mendelian genetics, if survival is not an issue, 25% of the offspring should be Agt-/-. Of 63 R-/A- (non-double transgenic) offspring, only 3 survivors were genotyped as Agt-/-, whereas of 68 R+/A+ offspring, 17 were Agt -/- and all survived to adults. These data demonstrate that systemic expression of Agt and Ang-II can rescue the Agt deletion. On the contrary, of 65 R-/KA- and 63 R+/KA+ offspring, not a single mouse was genotyped as Agt-/- (χ 2 = 0.0001). An analysis of 159 newborns indicated that Agt-/- mice were born in normal numbers (n= 41). Collection of dead 10-day old pups (n= 27) revealed an enrichment in Agt-/- (20 of 27 mice). Importantly, using RNase protection analysis we demonstrated that the KA+ transgene was temporally expressed during renal development similar to the endogenous Agt and at comparable levels. These data strongly support the notion that the loss of intra-renal Agt is not responsible for death in the Agt-/- mouse model. Taken together with our previous results, we conclude that the intra-renal renin-angiotensin system located in the proximal tubule plays an important role in blood pressure regulation, and may cause hypertension if overexpressed, but is not required for continued development of the kidney after birth.
Three-Dimensional Endoscopy for Skull Base Surgery

The transsphenoidal approach (TSA) remains the method of choice for resection of pituitary adenomas and the endoscope has advanced pituitary surgery, replacing microscopy as the preferred technique in experienced hands. This approach is associated with a relatively small number of complications, with transient diabetes insipidus being the most common, occurring in less than 5% of patients. Although endoscopic transsphenoidal procedures are most often performed for resection of pituitary adenomas, the indications for transsphenoidal surgery have expanded with the development of extended approaches that involve the anterior skull base (tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale), suprasellar area, third ventricle, cavernous sinus, clivus, ventral brainstem, and craniocervical junction.
The Confounding Effect of Cost Stickiness in Conservatism Research

Sales decreases affect earnings more than sales increases because of cost stickiness. We hypothesize that this correlated omitted variable constitutes a confounding effect in standard asymmetric timeliness models. Adding sales change direction to the Basu (1997) and Ball et al. (2013b) models decreases measured conservatism significantly and has a large impact on the relative ranking of industry-level conservatism estimates and on inferences about drivers of conservatism. Future empirical research on conditional conservatism should control for the potential confounding effect of sticky costs.
Use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in adolescents with SCI: a case series.

Due the impact of maturation on cardiovascular hemodynamics the degree of cardiovascular dysfunction, attributable to spinal cord injury (SCI), in the pediatric and adolescent population remains unclear. While few studies have begun to assess this, there is still a void in the literature regarding the prevalence of cardiovascular dysfunction and how best to identify and treat it in this population. The purpose of this case series is to present the cardiovascular profile of three adolescent patients with chronic SCI, ages 14–16, following 2 or 3 days of 24-h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). We found that there are variations across the different cases in most cardiovascular hemodynamic categories and a clarification of the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI) may be needed to accurately identify the remaining autonomic cardiovascular function in the adolescent SCI population.
ASSOCIATIONS AMONG CUMULATIVE SOCIAL RISK, IDEAL CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS

Social disadvantage and exposure to air pollution are associated with incremental risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The relation among cumulative social risk (CSR) factors, environmental pollutant exposure, and ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) is an important avenue of research for CVD
Buckling analysis of graphene-reinforced mechanical metamaterial beams with periodic webbing patterns

Abstract Mechanical metamaterial beams (MMB) have been extensively studied given their potential functional applications in various areas, e.g. micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), energy harvesting, and actuation. This study presents a novel class of graphene-reinforced MMB (GR-MMB) with arbitrarily periodic webbing. A size-dependent theoretical model is developed to predict and control the buckling response of the GR-MMB. The modified couple stress theory is expanded to include the effective material properties of microstructures. Clamped-clamped and simply supported GR-MMB with oval, hexagonal and cylindrical webbing patterns are showcased. Numerical simulations are conducted to validate the theoretical model and satisfactory agreements are obtained. Parametric studies are presented to unveil the effects of the graphene reinforcements and periodic design patterns on the buckling response of GR-MMB. The enhancement factor of the axial force between the GR-MMB and MMB, ψ, is studied with respect to the material ratio and geometric ratio. Density plots of the presented microstructures are provided to demonstrate the desired geometries that lead to the highest axial load and largest webbing diameter, i.e., lowest self-weight. The theoretical model presented in this study can be deployed to predict and tune the buckling response of GR-MMB with arbitrarily periodic webbing for different purposes.
Trojan Programs and Covert Channels

We are all familiar with the story of the Trojan Horse. The Greeks built a large wooden horse (or rabbit, according to Monty Python), rolled the horse up to the gates of Troy, and left. The Trojans, thinking this was a gift, brought the horse inside the gates. Unbeknownst to them, the horse contained Greek warriors, who sneaked out under cloak of darkness and opened the gates, letting in the rest of the Greek army, resulting in the sacking of Troy.
OPIOID AND DOPAMINE RECEPTOR INTERACTIONS IN MAMMALIAN BRAIN

In rat striatum low affinity 3H-D-ala2, met-enkephalin (DALA) binding sites are sensitive to Na and GTP and are located primarily on intrinsic neurons. High affinity sites are even more sensitive to Na and GTP and are located primarily on nigral DA afferents. Following unilateral substantia nigra lesion, striatal met-enkephalin (met-ENK) concentration is markedly increased and both naloxone and morphine modulate DA-agonist induced circling behavior. In monkey amygdala opioids inhibit DA-stimulated adenylate cyclase (AC).
Visual factors that significantly impact academic performance.

Background Both race and socio-economic status are correlated to performance in the classroom. These two factors are inter-related, since minorities, proportion-wise, are more highly represented in the lower socio-economic strata. Inefficient visual skills have been shown to be more prevalent among minority groups and in low socio-economic groups. These inefficient visual skills impact the students' learning. This study was undertaken to discover the visual skills that were significantly correlated with academic performance problems. Method A total of 2,659 examinations were performed on 540 children over the course of six examination periods, which were administered over three consecutive school years. Socio-economic, racial, and standardized academic performance data (Iowa Test of Basic Skills--ITBS) were furnished by the families and the school system. The visual and demographic data from the examinations were then compared to performance on the 21 subtests of the ITBS. Results Some visual factors were found to be a much better predictor of scores on the ITBS than either race or socio-economic status. Even though the significance of these two demographic variables was small, race and socio-economic variables were each significant in about a third of the 21 ITBS scores. Conclusion Visual factors are significantly better predictors of academic success as measured by the ITBS than is race or socio-economics. Visual motor activities are better predictors of ITBS scores than are binocularity or accommodation. These latter skills were significant predictors also, but to a lesser degree.
Study on the Influence of Antioxidants on Transformer Oil Related Indicators

2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (T501) is the most commonly used antioxidant for insulating oils. It has been found that the amount of T501 added to the insulating oil affects the physical and electrical properties of the insulating oil. In this paper, the effects of antioxidants on insulating oils at different concentrations were studied. The research focused on acid value, water-soluble acid or alkali, flash point, kinematic viscosity, volume resistivity and interfacial tension. An aging test was conducted at 115°C to test changes in acid value, sludge, and volume resistivity. Add the same quality insulating paper to the oil sample with the blank oil and T501 added in the amount of 1% (mass fraction), and isolate the oxygen to the effect of furfural before and after the addition of the antioxidant after aging at 130 °C. The results show that with the increase of the amount of antioxidant T501, the interfacial tension, acid value and electrical resistivity will decrease its performance index, but the effect on flash point, viscosity and pour point is not obvious. The aging test by heating the open cup shows that the antioxidant has an obstructive effect on the acid value and the sludge, delays the aging of the insulating oil, but accelerates the aging hydrolysis of the insulating paper. Therefore, it is recommended that the antioxidant content in the insulating oil should not be excessively added. In the insulating oil, the proportion of the antioxidant in the insulating oil should be reduced on the premise that the oxidation resistance can be achieved, and the T501 part consumes the logistics.
Patient Placement Criteria: Linking Typologies to Managed Care

The proliferation of managed health care systems as a means of controlling rising health care costs has stimulated efforts to subdivide the heterogeneous population of alcoholics into more homogeneous subgroups based on their needs for specific levels of treatment. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has developed a set of criteria aimed at helping clinicians select from four levels of care the one most appropriate for each patient. The ASAM criteria are designed around six criteria dimensions reflecting the severity of the patients alcohol-related problems. Although the ASAM criteria currently are the most widely used placement criteria for alcoholism treatment and reimbursement, they also have been criticized in several respects. Moreover, they still require outcome validation to ensure that application of the criteria improves treatment outcome.
Influence of soft tissue on bone density and microarchitecture measurements by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography

Abstract High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is a non-invasive method of measuring volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia. With increasing use of this technology, it is crucial to understand the potential impact of overlying soft tissue on the accuracy of HR-pQCT measures. Thus, we examined the effects of a simulated increase in adiposity (via 6- and 12-mm thick layers of overlying circumferential fat) on HR-pQCT measures of a hydroxyapatite (HA) phantom and in women (n = 20, aged 18–75 years). In the phantom, increasing the amount of overlying fat tissue led to a corresponding decrease in the mean measured density for each HA rod. In women, fat-layering led to a decrease in total vBMD (−2.9 to −3.7%, p
Reliabilism: Modal, Probabilistic Or Contextualist

Summary This paper discusses two versions of reliabilism: modal and probabilistic reliabilism. Modal reliabilism faces the problem of the missing closeness metric for possible worlds while probalistic reliabilism faces the problem of the relevant reference class. Despite the severity of these problems, reliabilism is still very plausible (also for independent reasons). I propose to stick with reliabilism, propose a contextualist (or, alternatively, harmlessly relativist) solution to the above problems and suggest that probabilistic reliabilism has the advantage over modal reliabilism.
Improving the Health Benefits of Snap Bean: Genome-Wide Association Studies of Total Phenolic Content

Snap beans are a significant source of micronutrients in the human diet. Among the micronutrients present in snap beans are phenolic compounds with known beneficial effects on human health, potentially via their metabolism by the gut-associated microbiome. The genetic pathways leading to the production of phenolics in snap bean pods remain uncertain. In this study, we quantified the level of total phenolic content (TPC) in the Bean Coordinated Agriculture Program (CAP) snap bean diversity panel of 149 accessions. The panel was characterized spectrophotometrically for phenolic content with a Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric assay. Flower, seed and pod color were also quantified, as red, purple, yellow and brown colors are associated with anthocyanins and flavonols in common bean. Genotyping was performed through an Illumina Infinium Genechip BARCBEAN6K_3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) analysis identified 11 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN) associated with TPC. An SNP was identified for TPC on Pv07 located near the P gene, which is a major switch in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Candidate genes were identified for seven of the 11 TPC QTN. Five regulatory genes were identified and represent novel sources of variation for exploitation in developing snap beans with higher phenolic levels for greater health benefits to the consumer.
Mössbauer study of a binary amorphous ferromagnet: Fe 80 B 20

Binary amorphous ferromagnetic ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{80}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ has been studied by $^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$ M\"ossbauer spectroscopy from 4.2 to 1050 K. In the amorphous state at temperatures less than the Curie temperature ${T}_{C}=685$ K, the spectra of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{80}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ exhibit well-defined and essentially symmetric hyperfine-field distributions $P(H)$. The analyses of $P(H)$ were obtained by deconvoluting the spectra via a Fourier series. The shape of $P(H)$ is practically independent of temperature. The values of the effective hyperfine field ${H}_{\mathrm{eff}}(T)$ show a temperature dependence of ${H}_{\mathrm{eff}}(0)$ ($1\ensuremath{-}B{T}^{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}C{T}^{\frac{5}{2}}\ensuremath{\cdots}$), indicative of spin-wave excitation. The values of $B=(22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6} {\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{3}{2}}$ and $C=(1.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8} {\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{5}{2}}$ have been determined. The value of ${B}_{\frac{3}{2}}=B{T}_{C}^{\frac{3}{2}}=0.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ is four times larger than those of crystalline Fe and Ni. rf sideband measurements of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{80}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ at several frequencies under various field strengths indicate that ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{80}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ is highly magnetorestrictive with a magnetostriction constant of about 45 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$, which is comparable to the value of 30 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ obtained from static measurements. The amorphous state of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{80}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ cannot be preserved near ${T}_{C}$ for more than a few minutes. The value of ${T}_{C}=685$ K has been determined by the frequency-counting method. A very unusual crystallization behavior, which is both temperature and time dependent, has been observed. The onset of crystallization has been found at ${T}_{\mathrm{CR}}=715$ K under heating rates of 20 and 40 K/min. A highly unstable crystalline phase of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$B with ${T}_{C}=820$ K forms after crystallization. This ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$B phase transforms completely into ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$B and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Fe after heating at 1050 K for only 30 min.
American, British, and German Diplomatic Documents

A week after Shanghai fell, with Japanese troops moving swiftly westward toward Nanjing, the Chinese Government announced on November 20, 1937 that the national capital would move from Nanjing to Chongqing in West China. The move was immediately implemented. Some government agencies transferred directly to Chongqing, while others, including the Ministries of Communications, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, first relocated to Hankou in Central China. Foreign governments urged their citizens to evacuate Nanjing and advised their embassies to move with the Chinese Government. Embassies of the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and a few other countries followed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Hankou. American ambassador Nelson Trusler Johnson and the majority of embassy staff departed from Nanjing on USS Luzon on November 23. Meanwhile, the United States, Great Britain and Germany respectively kept a skeleton team of diplomats in Nanjing to maintain embassy business as long as possible. The American consular team comprised Second Secretary George Atcheson, Second Secretary John Hall Paxton, Assistant Military Attache Frank Needham Roberts and Emile Peter Gassie, Jr., a code clerk.
From Sideline to Frontline: STS in the Trump Era

The Trump presidency and its relationship to science and truth have prompted considerable reflection as well as significant action by STS scholars. Among those thinking, speaking, and acting are the authors of the articles in this thematic collection. This brief introduction summarizes the major strands in each of the articles, placing them in the context of current political trends.
Ageism in Behavioral Healthcare

Ageism is a pervasive problem at an individual, cultural, and systemic level, arguably one of the more socially acceptable forms of prejudice and bias at this point in today’s culture. This chapter reviews the concept of ageism and highlights available literature on the topic as well as areas where more research is needed. The effect of ageism on behavioral and physical health outcomes, intersectionality between ageism and other forms of bias and prejudice, the problem of ageism within healthcare settings and training, and burgeoning areas of intervention to mitigate the problem are reviewed.
Synthesizing Solutions Across the Lifespan: Mid-Career

Burnout in physicians is increasingly common, and the highest rate of burnout occurs in practicing physicians who have been in the workforce for 6–10 years. The specific issues and contributors to burnout in the mid-career female physician have not been well studied; such women may be managing simultaneous stressors in the categories of family, personal health, and career. This time frame is also the point at which time spent in clinical practice, research, education, or administration may be in conflict with requirements for promotions. Physicians in the mid-career stage are more likely than other career stages to plan to leave medicine within the next 24 months for reasons other than retirement. While it is unlikely that any single solution will solve all ills, this chapter presents a number of ideas for the individual and institutional toolboxes to address burnout for mid-career women physicians.
High Rate of Re-Revision in Patients Less Than 55 Years of Age Undergoing Aseptic Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background There are limited data on the outcomes of revision total knee arthroplasty in young patients. We sought to characterize the re-revision-free survival and risk factors for re-revision in patients less than 55 years who underwent aseptic revision TKA. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 197 revision TKAs at a mean follow-up of 5 years. Mean age was 49 years; mean body mass index was 31 kg/m2. Twenty-seven (14%) patients had at least 1 prior revision TKA. The most common indications for revision included instability (29%), arthrofibrosis (26%), and aseptic loosening (24%). Constraint included the following: 59 posterior-stabilized (30%), 123 varus-valgus constrained (62%), and 15 hinged (8%). Components revised included the following: 93 femur/tibia (47%), 68 polyethylene-only (35%), 19 femur-only (10%), and 17 other (9%). Survivorship free from re-revision was calculated via the Kaplan-Meier method and a multivariate Cox proportional regression was utilized to identify risk factors for re-revision. Results Survivorship free from any re-revision at 5 years was 80%. In the multivariate analysis, patients with a prior revision (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.78, P = .02), an isolated polyethylene exchange (HR = 3.0, P = .004), and a hinged prosthesis (HR = 3.47, P = .05) were significant risk factors for lower revision-free survival. Forty-two patients (21%) underwent re-revision, most commonly for periprosthetic joint infection (7%), instability (6%), and aseptic loosening (5%). Re-revision occurred in 18/68 (26%) patients undergoing an isolated polyethylene exchange. Conclusion Patients less than 55 years undergoing revision TKA have a modest 5-year revision-free survival of 80%. Patients with prior revision TKAs (HR = 2.78), hinge type prostheses (HR = 3.47), and polyethylene-only revisions (HR = 3.0) had higher revision rates.
Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Subjective Cognitive Complaints in a Diverse Primary Care Population

BACKGROUND Very few studies have explored the utility of subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) in primary care settings. OBJECTIVE We aim to investigate associations between SCCs (item-level), objective cognitive function (across domains and global), and mood in a diverse primary care population, including subjects with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS We studied 199 (75.9%females; 57.8%Hispanics; 42.2%African Americans) older adults (mean age 72.5 years) with memory concerns at a primary care clinic. A five-item SCC questionnaire, and objective cognitive assessments, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Geriatric Depression Scale, were administered. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses showed associations between SCC score and depressive symptoms. A memory-specific ("memory worsening") SCC predicted scores on the MoCA (p = 0.005) in Hispanics. CONCLUSION SCCs are strongly linked to depressive symptoms in African Americans and Hispanics in a primary care setting; a specific type of SCC is related to global cognitive function in Hispanics.
Expanding the structural diversity of hydrophobic ionic liquids: physicochemical properties and toxicity of Gemini ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been labeled as a promising green alternative to traditional materials; however, many ILs have been discovered to be toxic, especially hydrophobic ILs (HILs). HILs are limited in their structural diversity as most are composed of heteroaromatic cations with long alkyl chains and paired with [BF4], [PF6], or [NTf2] anions. This study aims to diversify HILs by synthesizing two sets of HILs with unique cations and anions. The first set of HILs contain cholinium- and dicholinium-based cations paired with the [NTf2] anion. The [DC-ether] cation is identified as a promising cation and is paired with an array of asymmetric bis(sulfonyl)amide anions to form the second set of HILs. In total, twenty HILs are synthesized. Each HIL is characterized using traditional physicochemical techniques and is evaluted for toxicity using in vitro and in vivo methods.
Less phagocytosis of viral vectors by tethering with CD47 ectodomain

Many viral vectors, which are effective when administrated in situ, lack efficacy when delivered intravenously. The key reason for this is the rapid clearance of the viruses from the blood circulation via the immune system before they reach target sites. Therefore, avoiding their clearance by the immune system is essential. In this study, lentiviral vectors were tethered with the ectodomain of self-marker protein CD47 to suppress phagocytosis via interacting with SIRPα on the outer membrane of macrophage cells. CD47 ectodomain and core-streptavidin fusion gene (CD47ED-coreSA) was constructed into pET-30a(+) plasmid and transformed into Lemo21 (DE3) competent E. coli cells. The expressed CD47ED-coreSA chimeric protein was purified by cobalt-nitrilotriacetate affinity column and characterized by SDS-PAGE and western blot. The purified chimeric protein was anchored on biotinylated lentivirus via biotin–streptavidin binding. The CD47ED-capped lentiviruses encoding GFP were used to infect J774A.1 macrophage cells to assess the impact on phagocytosis. Our results showed that the overexpressed CD47ED-coreSA chimeric protein was purified and bound on the surface of biotinylated lentivirus which was confirmed via immunoblotting assay. The process to produce biotinylated lentivirus did not affect native viral infectivity. It was shown that the level of GFP expression in J774A.1 macrophages transduced with CD47ED-lentiviruses was threefold lower in comparison to control lentiviruses, indicating an antiphagocytic effect triggered by the interaction of CD47ED and SIRPα. Through the test of blocking antibodies against CD47ED and/or SIRPα, it was confirmed that the phagocytosis inhibition was mediated through the CD47ED-SIRPα axis signaling. In conclusion, surface immobilization of CD47ED on lentiviral vectors inhibits their phagocytosis by macrophages. The chimeric protein of CD47 ectodomain and core-streptavidin is effective in mediating the surface binding and endowing the lentiviral nanoparticles with the antiphagocytic property.
On Approaching the Capacity of Finite-State Intersymbol Interference Channels

In this paper, we examine several methods of coding which approach the capacity of finite-state intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. We begin by showing the effectiveness of multilevel coding (MLC) on such channels, and then apply MLC to the binary-input, discrete-time Gaussian channel with ISI. In cases where the input spectrum must be shaped, we discuss a method for combining MLC with spectral shaping codes, and provide an example using the biphase code. Finally, we characterize the absolute minimum value of signal-to-noise ratio (per input bit) required for reliable communication on these channels, and describe a simple coding scheme which achieves this threshold.
4 On Identifying Things: A Case for Context

Publisher Summary Two assumptions organize the work summarized in this chapter. One assumption concerns process and the other concerns structure. A reviewed model proposes how judgments depend jointly on the location of attention when a stimulus occurs and on the distribution of potential stimuli in the space. Data from many psychophysical and cognitive studies are consistent with this model. These include (1) response times to judge similarities of birds and fruits, (2) category judgments of animal names, (3) response times and accuracy to identify tones, colors, rectangles, and line pairs, (4) priming effects when people make same–different judgments of colored patches, and (5) sequence effects. In every instance considered, performance is related to similarities among items that belong to the same category and to similarities between items that belong to different categories. The chapter presents some demonstrations and measures to show that similarity relates to performance. The objects and features that are important for many other reasons do not predict judgments. Rather, the context for the stimuli predicts both response choices and response times. The chapter also discusses the psychosocial measures predicting performance rather than physical measures.
Combined Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Presentation of 3 Cases and a Review of the Literature

Background Coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysmal disease can occur in a single patient, and a therapeutic conundrum presents when open surgical repair is indicated for both conditions. The traditional standard of care is to conduct coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) followed by abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair 2–6 months later, but there is significant risk with staging these 2 major surgeries. An alternative method is to surgically repair both diseases in 1 combined operation. The aim of our study is to review our own experience with the combined procedure and to review the published literature to assess morbidity and mortality of combined CABG and AAA repair. Methods A systematic search for relevant studies was performed in the PubMed/Medline database. Short-term mortality ( Results Thirty case series with a total of 369 patients averaged a 30-day mortality of 3.0%. Fourteen percent and 6% of patients experienced a cardiovascular or respiratory complication, respectively. Other postoperative events included acute renal failure (7%) and superficial wound complications (5%). In our own experience, 3 patients underwent combined CABG and AAA repair. The mean age was 71 years, the average AAA size was 8.9 cm, and average operative time was 328 min. None experienced any postoperative complications. Two are still alive at 9 and 10 years after surgery, and 1 died of unrelated causes 8 years postoperatively. Conclusions The results of this systematic review suggest that combined CABG and AAA repair is a viable procedure with low operative mortality. Patients with preserved ejection fractions, large AAA, and limited comorbidities appear to receive the most benefit from a combined approach based on reported data from the literature. We have experienced promising results in our highly selected patient population. More research is warranted to devise criteria to determine which patients would be good surgical candidates for this combined procedure.