cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circulating Neurofilament Light Chain Is Associated With Survival After Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

OBJECTIVES To characterize neurofilament light levels in children who achieved return of spontaneous circulation following cardiac arrest compared with healthy controls and determine an association between neurofilament light levels and clinical outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Academic quaternary PICU. PATIENTS Children with banked plasma samples from an acute respiratory distress syndrome biomarker study who achieved return of spontaneous circulation after a cardiac arrest and healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Neurofilament light levels were determined with a highly sensitive single molecule array digital immunoassay. Patients were categorized into survivors and nonsurvivors and into favorable (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score of 1-2 or unchanged from baseline) or unfavorable (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score of 3-6 or Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score change ≥1 from baseline). Associations between neurofilament light level and outcomes were determined using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. We enrolled 32 patients with cardiac arrest and 18 healthy controls. Demographics, severity of illness, and baseline Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scores were similar between survivors and nonsurvivors. Healthy controls had lower median neurofilament light levels than patients after cardiac arrest (5.5 [interquartile range 5.0-8.2] vs 31.0 [12.0-338.6]; p < 0.001). Neurofilament light levels were higher in nonsurvivors than survivors (78.5 [26.2-509.1] vs 12.4 [10.3-28.2]; p = 0.012) and higher in survivors than healthy controls (p = 0.009). The four patients who survived with a favorable outcome had neurofilament light levels that were not different from patients with unfavorable outcomes (21.9 [8.5--35.7] vs 37.2 [15.4-419.1]; p = 0.60) although two of the four patients who survived with favorable outcomes had progressive encephalopathies with both baseline and postcardiac arrest Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scores of 4. CONCLUSIONS Neurofilament light is a blood biomarker of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and may help predict survival and neurologic outcome after pediatric cardiac arrest. Further study in a larger, dedicated cardiac arrest cohort with serial longitudinal measurements is warranted.
A Review On Recent Advances In Routing For Wireless Body Area Network

Wireless Body Area Networks have generated high interest among the researchers due to the rise in health care costs because of population aging, WBAN can expressly contribute to addressing this problem with its application in automating patient monitoring and rehabilitation. This paper reviews the proposed WBAN systems and highlights the various important issues of health care applications. The research on WBAN illustrates that the rise in temperature, consumption of energy, end delay, and packet deliveries are the crucial challenges in WBAN implementation in the healthcare setting. Furthermore, this paper investigates various novel routing protocols that focus on overcoming those aforementioned challenges. Based on these, the vision of future research trends is also discussed.
Multiaxial fatigue of LB-PBF additive manufactured 17–4 PH stainless steel including the effects of surface roughness and HIP treatment and comparisons with the wrought alloy

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) offers a number of advantages over the traditional subtractive manufacturing techniques. However, there is a little information available on cyclic deformation and fatigue behaviors of some important engineering alloys, such as 17–4 PH stainless steel. This is particularly true with regards to multiaxial fatigue, in spite of the fact that the state of stress at fatigue critical locations is often multiaxial and many of the distinguishing features of AM metals are directional. This study tries to fill some of this gap with considering different stress states by conducting tests under axial, torsion, and in-phase and out-of-phase axial-torsion loads. Similar multiaxial tests were also performed on the wrought material as a benchmark for comparison. Surface roughness effect was studied with considering the as-built surface condition as well as polished and machined surface conditions. Effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) in shrinking/closing the internal defects as well as improving the fatigue behavior was also studied. Fatigue failure mechanism of the AM and wrought 17–4 PH stainless steel under different conditions were also evaluated, as well as multiaxial fatigue data correlations.
Integrating PROs with prognostic value into oncologic care: High ESAS global distress score associated with lower overall survival in advanced cancer patients.

12021Background: Despite compelling data supporting their use, patient reported outcomes (PROs) are not widely integrated into routine cancer care. In our Palliative Care (PC) practice, all patient...
High grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a case series

Background Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the favored bariatric option in patients with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett’s esophagus because it prevents reflux. Weight loss and decreased reflux following RYGB could theoretically minimize the risk of progression to cancer. We aimed to demonstrate the management of high grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) developing in patients after RYGB. Methods A prospectively maintained database was searched to identify cases of HGD and cancer in RYGB patients. Charts were reviewed for past history, endoscopic findings, endoscopic therapy, and pathology findings. Results There were five cases where HGD/EAC developed several years after RYGB. The prior bariatric surgery precluded curative esophagectomy, illustrating the management challenges. All but one of the patients were uniquely and successfully managed with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Conclusions RYGB patients are still at risk of developing esophageal cancer. Patients at risk should be screened prior to RYGB and those with Barret’s esophagus need to undergo rigorous endoscopic surveillance following surgery. If detected early, EMR and ESD are invaluable in managing those who progress.
Secondhand Smoke Risk Communication: Effects on Parent Smokers' Perceptions and Intentions.

This study examined effective strategies to communicate with parent smokers about the risks of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure to children. An online, between-subjects experimental survey was admin...
On the road again: Establishment and maintenance of stemness in the neural crest from embryo to adulthood

Unique to vertebrates, the neural crest (NC) is an embryonic stem cell population that contributes to a greatly expanding list of derivatives ranging from neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, facial cartilage and bone, pigment cells of the skin to secretory cells of the endocrine system. Here, we focus on what is specifically known about establishment and maintenance of NC stemness and ultimate fate commitment mechanisms, which could help explain its exceptionally high stem cell potential that exceeds the "rules set during gastrulation". In fact, recent discoveries have shed light on the existence of NC cells that co-express commonly accepted pluripotency factors like Nanog, Oct4/PouV and Klf4. The co-expression of pluripotency factors together with the exceptional array of diverse NC derivatives encouraged us to propose a new term "pleistopotent" (Greek for abundant, a substantial amount) to be used to reflect the uniqueness of the NC as compared to other post-gastrulation stem cell populations in the vertebrate body, and to differentiate them from multipotent lineage restricted stem cells. We also discuss studies related to the maintenance of neural crest stemness within the challenging context of being a transient and thus a constantly changing population of stem cells without a permanent niche. The discovery of the stem cell potential of Schwann cell precursors as well as multiple adult NC-derived stem cell reservoirs during the past decade has greatly increased our understanding of how NC cells contribute to tissues formed after its initial migration stage in young embryos. © AlphaMed Press 2020 SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The neural crest is a remarkable embryonic stem cell population that contributes to a wide variety of derivatives ranging from neurons, glia, cartilage, bone, pigment cells and endocrine cells. As the list of neural crest derivatives has greatly expanded since its identification over 150 years ago, the clinical significance of the neural crest has become more evident while some central questions regarding stemness formation and maintenance remain poorly understood. In this concise review we discuss studies related to how this post-gastrulation cell population maintains its exceptional stem cell potential from embryonic to adult stages.
A Further Inquiry into Factors that Influence Federal Personal Income Tax Evasion in the U.S.

This study identifies factors that may have influenced the degree of aggregate federal personal income tax evasion in the U.S. An established tax evasion model is updated to include the most recent...
Case Report: Early-Onset Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia in Patient With Retrotransposed Full-Length Transcript of Matrin-3 Variant 5

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) rarely occurs in individuals under the age of 30, and genetic causes of early-onset FTD are largely unknown. The current report follows a 27 year-old patient with no significant past medical history presenting with two years of progressive changes in behavior, rushed speech, verbal aggression, and social withdrawal. MRI and FDG-PET imaging of the brain revealed changes maximally in the frontal and temporal lobes, which along with the clinical features, are consistent with behavioral variant FTD. Next generation sequencing of a panel of 28 genes associated with dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) initially revealed a duplication of exon 15 in Matrin-3 (MATR3). Whole genome sequencing determined that this genetic anomaly was, in fact, a sequence corresponding with full-length MATR3 variant 5 inserted into chromosome 12, indicating retrotransposition from a messenger RNA intermediate. To our knowledge, this is a novel mutation of MATR3, as the majority of mutations in MATR3 linked to FTD-ALS are point mutations. Genomic DNA analysis revealed that this mutation is also present in one unaffected first-degree relative and one unaffected second-degree relative. This suggests that the mutation is either a disease-causing mutation with incomplete penetrance, which has been observed in heritable FTD, or a benign variant. Retrotransposons are not often implicated in neurodegenerative diseases; thus, it is crucial to clarify the potential role of this MATR3 variant 5 retrotransposition in early-onset FTD.
Optimal Flexibility Configurations in Newsvendor Networks: Going beyond Chaining and Pairing

We study the classical problem of capacity and flexible technology selection with a newsvendor network model of resource portfolio investment. The resources differ by their level of flexibility, where “level-k flexibility” refers to the ability to process k different product types. We present an exact set-theoretic methodology to analyze newsvendor networks with multiple products and parallel resources. This simple approach is sufficiently powerful to prove that (i) flexibility exhibits decreasing returns and (ii) the optimal portfolio will invest in at most two, adjacent levels of flexibility in symmetric systems, and to characterize (iii) the optimal flexibility configuration for asymmetric systems as well. The optimal flexibility configuration can serve as a theoretical performance benchmark for other configurations suggested in the literature. For example, although chaining is not optimal in our setting, the gap is small and the inclusion of scale economies quickly favors chaining over pairing. We also demonstrate how this methodology can be applied to other settings such as product substitution and queuing systems with parameter uncertainty.
Family Firms and the Stock Market Performance of Acquisitions and Divestitures

This paper explores the stock market performance of acquisitions and divestitures where both, one, or neither of the companies in the transaction are family firms. We find that acquirer shareholder returns are highest when family firms buy businesses from non-family firm divesters, especially when family CEO acquirers buy businesses from non-family CEO divesters. Additionally, divester shareholder returns are highest when family firms sell businesses to non-family firm acquirers, especially when family CEO divesters sell businesses to non-family CEO acquirers. These findings reveal that it is important to consider the characteristics of both the acquiring and divesting firms when analyzing acquisition and divestiture performance, and that the expected gains to family firm acquisitions and divestitures are driven by transactions in which the counterparties are non-family firms.
SPE-51, a sperm secreted protein with an Immunoglobulin-like domain, is required for sperm-egg fusion in C. elegans

Despite the importance of fertilization, the molecular basis of sperm-egg interaction is not well understood. In a forward genetics screen for fertility mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans we identified spe-51. Mutant worms make sperm that are unable to fertilize the oocyte but otherwise normal by all available measurements. The spe-51 gene encodes a secreted protein that includes an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain and a hydrophobic sequence of amino acids. The SPE-51 protein acts cell-autonomously and localizes to the surface of the spermatozoa. This is the first example of a secreted protein required for the interactions between the sperm and egg with genetic validation for a specific function in fertilization. Our analyses of these genes begin to build a paradigm for sperm-secreted or reproductive tract-secreted proteins that coat the sperm surface and influence their survival, motility, and/or the ability to fertilize the egg.
Application of a multiplex urinalysis test for the prediction of intravesical BCG treatment response: A pilot study.

Background Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine that acts as a non-specific immune system stimulant, is the most effective adjuvant treatment for patients with intermediate or high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, to date, there are no reliable tests that are predictive of BCG treatment response. In this study, we evaluated the performance of OncuriaTM, a bladder cancer detection test, to predict response to intravesical BCG. Methods OncuriaTM data was evaluated in voided urine samples obtained from a prospectively collected cohort of 64 subjects with intermediate or high risk NMIBC prior to treatment with intravesical BCG. The OncuriaTM test, which measures 10 cancer-associated biomarkers was performed in an independent clinical laboratory. The ability of the test to identify those patients in whom BCG is ineffective against tumor recurrence was tested. Predictive models were derived using supervised learning and cross-validation analyses. Model performance was assessed using ROC curves. Results Pre-treatment urinary concentrations of MMP9, VEGFA, CA9, SDC1, PAI1, APOE, A1AT, ANG and MMP10 were increased in patients who developed disease recurrence. A combinatorial predictive model of treatment outcome achieved an AUROC 0.89 [95% CI: 0.80-0.99], outperforming any single biomarker, with a test sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 84.9%. Hazard ratio analysis revealed that patients with higher urinary levels of ANG, CA9 and MMP10 had a significantly higher risk of disease recurrence. Conclusions Monitoring the urinary levels of a cancer-associated biomarker panel enabled the discrimination of patients who did not respond to intravesical BCG therapy. With further study, the multiplex OncuriaTM test may be applicable for the clinical evaluation of bladder cancer patients considering intravesical BCG treatment.
General and Special Investigation in Pressure Ulcer Patients

In surgery, when a wound is evaluated clinically, certain laboratory and diagnostic tests are ordered for the following reasons:
Induction of an antibody response in vitro against synthetic antigens in guinea pigs: I. Culture and assay conditions

Guinea pig spleen and lymph node cells were found to produce anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl (Dnp) oligolysine PFC in vivo against 2,4-dinitrophenyl-β-alanyl glycyl glycyl (Dagg-SRBC) but not against trinitrophenyl-SRBC target indicator cells. Furthermore, when sensitized spleen cells or their purified B-cell fractions were cocultured with primed peritoneal exudate lymphocytes (PEL) but not splenic T cells they were able to generate a secondary PFC response in vitro to the synthetic antigens, Dnp oligolysines. PFC were not induced in vitro if these same cultures were pulsed with short-chain peptides (five lysines) or the complex antigen, dinitrophenyl-bovine γ-globulin (DnpBGG). Con A was able to substitute for PEL in triggering spleen cells to mount a secondary in vitro PFC response to homologous Dnp oligolysines. More importantly, the Con A-aided spleen cell cultures were not induced above background values when challenged in vitro with heterologous Dnp oligolysines. This study suggests that spleen cells may lack a nonspecific signal for the development of a secondary in vitro PFC response.
Characterization of gene expression in human trabecular meshwork using single-pass sequencing of 1060 clones.

PURPOSE. To study the gene expression profile of the human trabecular meshwork (HTM). METHODS. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified cDNA library was constructed using RNA from the TM of a 67-year-old normal, perfused human eye. A total of 1060 clones were randomly selected for sequencing of one end. These sequences were searched against nonredundant Gen-Bank and dbEST databases for similarity comparison by using a FASTA file and the BLASTc13 program. Relative expression patterns of those clones that matched other expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were determined using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Unique Human Gene Sequence Collection (UniGene) database. RESULTS. Of the 1060 clones analyzed, 519 (48.9%) had sequences identical with known genes, 125 (11.8%) matched ESTs, and 189 (17.8%) did not match any database sequences. Of the remaining clones, 31 (3%) corresponded to mitochondrial transcripts and 196 (18.5%) to repetitive and noninformative sequences. It is notable that some of the genes highly represented in this library are not ubiquitously expressed in other tissues, which suggests a potentially important role in the HTM. As evidence for the presence of true novel genes in the library, one of the clones was fully sequenced. This clone comprised a complete open reading frame of 966 nucleotides, and its deduced amino acid sequence corresponded to a protein 33% similar to the MAS-related G-protein-coupled receptor. CONCLUSIONS. The identification of the more highly expressed genes in HTM and the discovery of novel genes expressed in this tissue provides basic information for further research on the physiology of the TM and for the identification of glaucoma candidate genes.
Nearby Dusty Starbursts

Virtually all young starbursts are dusty, and hence can be understood only with a suite of techniques not strongly affected by extinction. Synthesis modeling developed around such techniques provides satisfactory fits to all the relevant observables. These models show that starbursts are short-lived and have extremely high star forming efficiency. Further advances will require improvements in the way boundary conditions such as bolometric and K-band luminosity, ionizing star effective temperature, and supernova rate are estimated and applied in the models.
A software-defined optical gateway for converged inter/intra data center networks

We present a software-defined optical gateway for converged inter/intra data center networks. The optical gateway enables transparent rack-to-rack connectivity across data centers through WDM channels. Sub-second reconfiguration time and wavelength defragmentation are experimentally demonstrated.
Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby-Cry

This overview attempts to synthesise current understandings of the neuroendocrine basis of parenting. The parent–infant bond is central to the human condition, contributes to risks for mood and anxiety disorders, and provides the potential for resiliency and protection against the development of psychopathology. Animal models of parenting provide compelling evidence that biological mechanisms may be studied in humans. This has led to brain imaging and endocrine system studies of human parents using baby stimuli and concerted psychological and behavioural measures. Certain brain circuits and related hormonal systems, including subcortical regions for motivation (striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus) and cortical regions for social cognition (anterior cingulate, insula, medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices), appear to be involved. These brain circuits work with a range of endocrine systems to manage stress and motivate appropriate parental caring behaviour with a flexibility appropriate to the environment. Work in this field promises to link evolving models of parental brain performance with resilience, risk and treatment toward mother–infant mental health.
Risk-constrained AC OPF with risk limits on individual system states

Risk-based security indexes can be used as a constraint in OPF to determine the most economic generation dispatch while ensuring that the risk of power system operation stays below a given value. Existing approaches only limit the total risk, which can result in some system states having significantly higher values of risk compared to others. In this paper, a risk-constrained AC OPF that limits the individual risk of each considered system state is proposed. The resulting optimization problem is solved by a centralized method and iterative algorithm based on locational security impact factors, which quantify the impact of a change of a generator output on the risk of a certain system state. The comparison of these methods in terms of the simulation time and solution accuracy as well as the analysis of limiting the total versus individual risk is presented for the IEEE Reliability Test System.
Could a loss of α‐synuclein function put dopaminergic neurons at risk?

The α-synuclein gene is implicated in Parkinson's disease, the symptoms of which occur after a marked loss of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. While the function of α-synuclein is not entirely elucidated, one function appears to be as a normal regulatory protein that can bind to and inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Soluble α-synuclein levels may be diminished in Parkinson's disease substantia nigra dopamine neurons both by reduced expression and by α-synuclein aggregation as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites form. The loss of functional α-synuclein may then result in dysregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transport and dopamine storage, resulting in excess cytosolic dopamine. Because dopamine and its metabolites are reactive molecules capable of generating highly reactive quinones and reactive oxygen species, a failure to package dopamine into vesicles could cause irreversible damage to cellular macromolecules and contribute to resultant neurotoxicity. This review focuses on how a loss of normal α-synuclein function may contribute to the dopamine-related loss of substantia nigra neurons during Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.
Towards a model of conceptual knowledge acquisition through directed experimentation

Most current Artificial Intelligence systems require a complete and correct model of their domain of application. However, for any domain of reasonable size, it is not feasible to construct such a model. The main thrust of this project is to build a system that can continuously update its model through a constant monitoring of the real world. The project involves the development of a system that starts with an incomplete and incorrect model of the world. While performing its tasks the system is occasionally confronted by observations which are inconsistent with its current beliefs. It attempts to explain these observations by hypothesizing reasons for the inconsistencies and devising experiments to pinpoint the flawed belief. Based on the results of the experiments the system revises its beliefs to accommodate the previously inconsistent observations.
Design of analog filters using a transistor-only subthreshold CMOS integrator

A novel design methodology for transistor-only CMOS analog filters is proposed. The design is based on an integrator which utilizes the intrinsic capacitances of MOS transistors operating in the saturated subthreshold mode. The advantages of the design approach are simple filter design approach, low device count, low power dissipation, and compatibility with digital VLSI wafer processing technology. Design examples are given. >
Marker Discrimination and Mutagen-Induced Alterations in Pneumococcal Transformation

Nitrous acid-induced and hydroxylamine-induced chemical alterations in transforming DNA result in the loss of biological activity and in mutagenesis. The function responsible for the discrimination between high efficiency and low efficiency markers in pneumococcal transformation, and for the elimination of a substantial fraction of spontaneously occurring mutational events, does not appear to act on integrated DNA carrying these chemical alterations. The chemical modifications result in mutations that are evident among bacteria transformed with the treated DNA. Fusidic acid-resistant mutants isolated in this way have been shown to be predominantly of the low efficiency class. We have previously reported that most mutations of spontaneous origin occurring in this locus are of the high efficiency class, and have suggested that discrimination results from the elimination of specific classes of base pair mismatches that occur as intermediates in transformation. It would appear that the base pair mismatches most effectively eliminated in the discriminating strain of pneumococcus are those of the A:C and G:T type and that the immediate product of transformation with mutagenized DNA involves intermediates that are not recognized as A:C or G:T by the discrimination system.
Antioxidant Capacity of Different Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Genotypes Using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Assay

Antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts from eight broccoli genotypes was compared using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Each genotype was analyzed for carotenoid, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and flavonoid content. Results indicate that the antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic extracts ranged from 65.8 to 121.6 micromol trolox equivalents (TE)/g of tissue, and the capacity of lipophilic extracts ranged from 3.9 to 17.5 micromol TE/g. Ascorbic acid and flavonoid content of the hydrophilic extracts did not explain the total variation in antioxidant capacity of those extracts, suggesting either the presence of other antioxidant components that have yet to be identified or that the known antioxidants are producing synergistic effects. The carotenoids did correlate with antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extracts and accounted for the majority of the variability in that fraction. The variability in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant capacity found among these genotypes suggests that potential efficacy from antioxidants will vary considerably from genotype to genotype.
Characteristics of air flow above and within soybean canopies

Air flow was observed above and within canopies of a number of kinds of soybeans. The Clark cultivar and two isolines of the Harosoy cultivar were studied in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Wind speed above the canopy was measured with cup anemometers. Heated thermistor anemometers were used to measure air flow within the canopy. Above-canopy air flow was characterized in terms of the zero-plane displacement (d), roughness parameter (z o) and drag coefficient (C d). d and z o were dependent on canopy height but were independent of friction velocity in the range 0.55 to 0.75 m s−1 · C d for the various canopies ranged from 0.027 to 0.035. Greater C d values were measured over an erectophile canopy than over a planophile canopy. C d was not measurably affected by differences in leaf pubescence. Within-canopy wind profiles were measured at two locations: within and between rows. The wind profile was characterized by a region of great wind shear in the upper canopy and by a region of relatively weak wind shear in the middle canopy. Considerable spatial variability in wind speed was evident, however. This result has significant implications for canopy flow modeling efforts aimed at evaluating transport in the canopy. In the lower canopy, wind speed within a row increased with depth whereas wind speed between two rows decreased with depth. The wind speeds at the two locations tended to converge to a common value at a height near 0.10 m. The attenuation of within-canopy air flow was stronger in canopies with greater foliage density. Canopy flow attenuation seemed to decrease with increasing wind speed, suggesting that high winds distorted the shape of the canopy in such a manner that the penetration of wind into the canopy increased.
Stakeholders and standards in the e‐book ecology: or, it’s the economics, stupid!

Standards are being developed in five primary areas of e‐book development: e‐book formats, digital audio formats, digital rights management languages, digital rights management systems, and distribution and promotion. Each of these standards has technological, economic and social aspects. This article describes some key e‐books standards and discusses how these aspects are shaping the emerging e‐book products.
Risk Factors of Nonretrieval of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters

Background Optimal use of retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters is an important health care issue, and despite an exponential rise in the use of retrievable IVC filters, national trends suggest that most of these filters are not removed. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with nonretrieval of retrievable IVC filters at our institution. Methods A retrospective institutional review of all patients undergoing IVC filter placement from June 2010 to June 2012 was performed. A number of patient parameters were studied, including relevant demographics, indication for filter placement, clinical history, related hospitalization, and whether filter retrieval was performed. Patient parameters were compared by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results There were 605 retrievable IVC filters placed over a 24-month period by vascular surgery, intervention radiology, and interventional cardiology. The follow-up retrieval rate was 25%. By indication, 272 (45%), 53 (9%), and 280 (46%) filters were placed for absolute, relative, and prophylactic indications, respectively. Independent predictors for nonretrieval by multivariate analysis were age >80 years (hazard ratio [HR], 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–20; P Conclusions Patient variables identified by univariate and multivariate analyses as risk for nonretrieval of retrievable IVC filters have several implications: first, some of these patients may represent a group of patients with a low life expectancy or unresolvable underlying condition in which filter retrieval has diminishing returns and may indicate the clinical option for permanence of the filter; second, identification of risk factors for nonretrieval in patients before filter placement will help to optimize use of retrievable IVC filters and enhance retrieval rates.
Alternative Models of Neighborhood Change

Social scientists have long engaged in studying the racial transition of neighborhoods in urban areas. One aspect of such change that is often debated is the tipping point phenomenon. In this paper an attempt is made to formulate a model which captures this phenomenon and when it is tested against alternative models the results support the tipping point position. Furthermore, the model proposed is shown to be superior to simple extrapolation as a means, which would be useful to planners and others, for predicting the direction of future neighborhood change. Those engaged in urban studies have in recent years become increasingly concerned with the racial aspects of intraurban residential location. In the present paper I fix on one of these aspects-the changing of neighborhoods from white to Negro. Urban economists (Bailey; Ladd; Lapham; Laurenti; Muth) studying this phenomenon have been primarily interested in racial differentials and discrimination in the pricing of housing while sociologists (Duncan and Duncan; Taeuber and Taeuber; Wolf, a, b) have attempted to analyze the social and economic charactersitics of those groups, both Negro and white, involved in a neighborhood change. I shall develop in this paper a model, useful to planners and others, capable of predicting which areas (or neighborhoods) of a city will turn over racially from white to Negro and what the extent of this turnover will be in the intermediate (i.e., ten years) future. As will be explained in the next section the model is based primarily on economic variables and, in particular, the mobility of white residents will be treated in economic terms. This economic condition (mobility) of the white residents will offer a fuller explanation of racial turnover than that provided by a more mechanical procedure. I will characterize a mechanical procedure or naive model as one which would simply extrapolate present Negro areas. That is, over a ten-year period such an approach would suggest that a white area would turn Negro inversely in relationship to its distance from Negro areas at the beginning of the tenyear period. A variation of this sort of mechanical is the tipping point hypothesis or theory.' According to this theory once a white area has attained a certain percentage (tipping point) of Negro, or other minority, residents the area will inevitably and at an acelerated rate turn completely Negro. The numerical value, or percentage, at which this tipping phenomenon occurs is usually suggested to be between 10 and 20 percent Negro in an area but can vary from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood (Grodzins). As a part of this paper I intend to provide statistical tests of the validity of this tipping point theory.
Studies on opposite wood in conifers part II: Histology and ultrastructure

A study has been made of the histology and ultrastructure of opposite wood in Larix laricina, Picea rubens, and Pinus resinosa. The width of the growth rings varied considerably, in one case from 0.1–1.0 mm, with the wide rings containing a much higher proportion of latewood than the narrow ones. The earlywood tracheids were square in outline and more regularly arranged than in normal wood. In the latewood they were sometimes irregular and distorted. The S3 layer in the tracheids was 0.2 μm thick in the earlywood and 0.4–0.8 μm in the latewood, as compared to a thickness in normal wood of 0.1–0.2 μm in both zones. The S3 was often buckled in the latewood and was terminated towards the lumen by a spiral thickening. The cell wall structure of the tracheid pit border was described. Normal coniferous wood might be regarded as an intermediate between opposite wood and compression wood.
Visualizing spatially correlated dynamics that directs RNA conformational transitions

RNAs fold into three-dimensional (3D) structures that subsequently undergo large, functionally important, conformational transitions in response to a variety of cellular signals. RNA structures are believed to encode spatially tuned flexibility that can direct transitions along specific conformational pathways. However, this hypothesis has proved difficult to examine directly because atomic movements in complex biomolecules cannot be visualized in 3D by using current experimental methods. Here we report the successful implementation of a strategy using NMR that has allowed us to visualize, with complete 3D rotational sensitivity, the dynamics between two RNA helices that are linked by a functionally important trinucleotide bulge over timescales extending up to milliseconds. The key to our approach is to anchor NMR frames of reference onto each helix and thereby directly measure their dynamics, one relative to the other, using 'relativistic' sets of residual dipolar couplings (RDCs). Using this approach, we uncovered super-large amplitude helix motions that trace out a surprisingly structured and spatially correlated 3D dynamic trajectory. The two helices twist around their individual axes by approximately 53 degrees and 110 degrees in a highly correlated manner (R = 0.97) while simultaneously (R = 0.81-0.92) bending by about 94 degrees. Remarkably, the 3D dynamic trajectory is dotted at various positions by seven distinct ligand-bound conformations of the RNA. Thus even partly unstructured RNAs can undergo structured dynamics that directs ligand-induced transitions along specific predefined conformational pathways.
On the transport of cosmic rays in the distant heliosheath

Abstract This paper discusses the transport of energetic charged particles through a sectored magnetic field in distant regions of the inner heliosheath. As the plasma flow slows down on approach to the stagnation point on the heliopause, the distance between the folds of the current sheet decreases to the point where it becomes comparable to the cyclotron radius of a cosmic ray particle. Under these conditions a particle can effectively drift across the stack of magnetic sectors with a speed comparable with the particle’s velocity. For a random distribution of current sheet separation distances, a diffusive transport across the stack of sectors occurs instead. The proposed mechanism could have contributed to unusually high intensities of galactic cosmic rays measured by Voyager 1 in the heliosheath during 2009–2010.
The Promise of an Accumulation of Care: Disadvantaged African-American Youths’ Perspectives About What Makes an After School Program Meaningful

African-American youth growing up in dangerous, deprived homes and communities are at great risk of developing impaired relationship capabilities, which disadvantages them further in the workplace and in their personal lives. While after-school programs have well-documented positive effects, researchers have called for better understanding of improving youths’ engagement in services and their constructive relationship skills. Here, we report on a project using participatory action methods to engage poverty-level African-American youth in developing a leadership development program they would find most meaningful. Stand Up Help Out (SUHO) gave youth three layers of caregiving experience: receiving care from instructors, giving and receiving care from peers, and providing care through constructive community action initiatives and mentoring elementary school children. Findings were that: (1) participation and retention of youth in SUHO were considerably higher than national averages; (2) youth reported that SUHO made it possible for them to have better relationships as friends, romantic partners, and in academic settings, and they looked forward to being better parents, (3) youth developed positive peer relationships despite a context of mistrust and gang violence, (4) youth actively sought out relationships with caring adults and identified what was most meaningful in those relationships, and (5) youth deeply valued the opportunity to develop their ability to care for others.
Interaction of a Slope Eddy with the Shelfbreak Front in the Middle Atlantic Bight

Abstract Spring conditions at the shelf break in the Middle Atlantic Bight mark the transition period between the generally well-mixed shelf water in winter and the highly stratified shelf conditions during summer. A high-resolution hydrographic survey made during early May 1996 is used to describe the thermohaline and velocity structure of the shelfbreak front. The front was strongly affected by the presence of a slope eddy immediately offshore of the front. The eddy, which had a diameter of 25 km, was anticyclonic with onshore/offshore flows of 0.2 m s−1 on opposing sides. On the western side of the eddy, where the flow seaward of the front was predominantly onshore, the front was very steep and the frontal jet was particularly strong, with maximum near-surface velocities of 0.5 m s−1. On the eastern side of the eddy, the front was drawn offshore and was much less steep, with near-surface velocities of only 0.2 m s−1. A surprising feature was the presence of a second jet over the foot of the front, shor...
Natural Images in Economics: A Review Essay

An extended review of Philip Mirowski's edited collectionNatural Images in Economic Thought. Examines the roles of metaphors; the relationships between metaphors of the “natural” and the “social”; the significance of metaphoric reasoning, for economics, with regard to questions of meaning, ontology and epistemology; the discursive, or rhetorical, nature of economic theory; and significant historical and interpretive issues pertinent to economic thought.
Ontogeny of [3H]-SCH23390 and [3H]-YM09151-2 binding sites in human fetal forebrain

Abstract In order to determine the gestational age at which binding sites for the dopamine "D 1 -like" and "D 2 -like" receptor antagonists, [ 3 H]-SCH23390 and [ 3 H]-YM09151-2, respectively, can be reliably detected in the human and to identify any discrete anatomic distribution of these binding sites, fetal forebrain tissue sections from mid-first ( n = 4) and mid-second ( n = 4) trimester gestations were used for receptor autoradiography. Specific binding for both ligands was detectable at the earliest fetal age examined (gestational week 6). Age-related increases in maximum saturation binding were demonstrated for both ligands using tissue sections from basal forebrain. The B max for both [ 3 H]-SCH23390 and [ 3 H]-YM09151-2 binding increased ten-fold comparing gestational week 6 and gestational week 18 values. In the cortex at gestational day 120, [ 3 H]-YM09151-2 specific binding could be seen at the gray-white matter boundary, which was more prominent by gestational day 140. In contrast, [ 3 H]-SCH23390 specific binding to the cortex at gestational day 120 did not appear to differentiate specific areas and did not increase between gestational days 120 and 140. These preliminary observations in human fetal brain provide evidence that dopamine "D 2 -like" binding sites can be localized in a discrete cortical area in the course of normal human brain development. Characterizing these binding sites and the population of cells that demonstrates these binding sites may be relevant to neurodevelopmental hypotheses of psychiatric disorders.
Dynamics of impinging nanoscale jets

Abstract We use molecular dynamics simulations to describe the collision of two opposed liquid argon nanojets and examine the subsequent stagnation flow. The streamwise and transverse velocity profiles in the proximity of stagnation point are in agreement with macroscale continuum relations u∗ = αx∗, v∗ = −αy∗ for impinging laminar streams. Jet exit velocities are highest for non-wetting surfaces and decrease as solid–liquid interactions are enhanced. The work done to produce the nanojet dissipates at jet exits, increasing the local temperature. The fluid temperature is lowered through cooling as jets exit through the nonperiodic boundaries. In comparison, water nanojets have higher exit velocities with relatively lower pressure drops across the reservoir and cavity.
A Mathematical Model of Melanopsin Phototransduction

Melanopsin is a recently discovered photopigment found in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). It is involved in non-image forming vision, including circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. It is also involved in light-related disorders, such as seasonal affective disorder. When light isomerizes the photopigment, a phototransduction cascade is activated, which produces an electrical signal that is sent to the brain. We developed a mathematical model of melanopsin's phototransduction pathway by using the law of mass action to convert chemical equations describing the pathway to a series of differential equations that was solved with MATLAB. Model parameters of the activation and deactivation were determined by fitting the model results to experimental calcium imaging data collected from transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells expressing the melanopsin gene as well as electrophysiological data collected from ipRGCs. Mathematical simulations of a single flash response produce results consistent with those seen in the experimental data.This work was funded by NSF for Undergraduate Biology and Mathematics Research Training, NSF IOSO721608 to P.R.R., NEI R01Y019053 to P.R.R.
The Mid/Late Life Generation Gap: Adult Children with Aging Parents

Psychosocial and personal needs and concerns can combine to create conflicts between adult children and their aging parents that may be amenable to counseling interventions.
Strength properties of preceramic brazed joints of a gold-palladium alloy with a microwave-assisted oven and gas/oxygen torch technique.

Statement of problem The effect of microwave brazing on the strength properties of dental casting alloys is not yet known. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the strength properties of preceramic brazed joints obtained by using a microwave oven and a conventional torch flame for a high noble alloy (Au-Pd). Material and methods A total of 18 tensile bars made of an Au-Pd ceramic alloy were fabricated. Six specimens were cut and joined with a high-fusing preceramic solder in a specially designed microwave oven, and 6 specimens were joined with a conventional natural gas/oxygen torch. The remaining 6 uncut specimens were tested as a control. All the specimens were subjected to testing with a universal testing machine. A 1-way ANOVA was performed for each strength property tested. Results The tensile strength of the uncut group was the highest (745 ±19 MPa), followed by the microwave group (420 ±68 MPa) and the conventional torch group (348 ±103 MPa) ( P Conclusions The microwave heating preceramic solder method demonstrated the excellent tensile strength of an Au-Pd alloy and may be an alternative way of joining alloys when a torch flame is contraindicated.
Corporate Insurance as a Necessary Form of Consultant-Investigator Contract

Existing literature argues that corporate insurance is purchased because the insurance company produces risk management information for publicly held corporations. In this article, we address a fundamental question as to why other financial intermediaries cannot perform the same information production function as the insurance company. We argue that when the risk manager of the firm performs multiple tasks and needs consulting and investigation services from an outside agent for efficient risk management, the optimal contract with the agent has to be in the form of an insurance contract. Other types of contracts, such as flat-fee contracts, cannot be optimal. Therefore, the insurance company is ideally suited to provides these services.