cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical sensitivity of Piezo1 ion channels can be tuned by cellular membrane tension

Piezo ion channels are proteins that are embedded in the cell membranes of many types of tissue, including the heart, lung, skin and kidney. These proteins are essential for many biological processes, including sensing gentle touches and ensuring that blood vessels develop properly. When stimulated by mechanical forces, a central pore in the Piezo channel opens to allow positively charged ions to flow into the cell, which triggers electrical and chemical signaling processes inside the cell. However, it was not known exactly what type of mechanical stimulus is sensed by Piezo ion channels. Lewis and Grandl expressed Piezo ion channels in cultured human kidney cells, and opened them by applying pressure to parts of the cell membrane inside a glass pipette. This causes a number of changes to the membrane, including to its curvature and tension, either of which could potentially open the Piezo channels. However, Lewis and Grandl were able to calculate from images of the cell membrane inside the pipette that tension is the activating stimulus. Further experiments unexpectedly revealed that the tension that is usually present in the cell membrane is sufficient to inactivate Piezo channels and prevent them from responding to an additional mechanical stimulus. This suggests that Piezo ion channels are inherently more sensitive to tension than previously realized, which could explain why different cell types appear to have different sensitivities to pressure. Although Lewis and Grandl have now shown that Piezo channels are activated by tension, more work is needed to investigate how the Piezo ion channel senses this force, and how this leads to the channel pore opening.
Proof-of-Concept Studies for Marker-Based Ultrasound Doppler Analysis of Microvascular Anastomoses in a Modified Large Animal Model.

Background Despite attempts to solve the problem of flap monitoring, assessing the patency of vascular anastomoses postoperatively remains challenging. In addition, experimental data suggest that near-total vessel occlusion is necessary to produce significant changes in clinical appearance or monitoring devices. We sought to develop an ultrasound-based system that would provide definitive data on anastomotic function. Methods A system was developed consisting of a resorbable marker made from poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) implanted during the time of surgery coupled with ultrasound software to detect the anastomotic site and perform Doppler flow analysis. Surgical procedures consisting of microvascular free tissue transfer or femoral vessel cutdown were performed followed by marker placement, closure, and ultrasound monitoring. Transient vascular occlusion was produced via vessel-loop constriction. Permanent thrombosis was induced via an Arduino-controlled system applying current to the vessel intima. Results Four surgeries (one femoral vessel cutdown and three microvascular tissue transfer) were successfully performed in Yorkshire swine. The markers were readily visualized under ultrasound and provided a bounding area for Doppler analysis as well as orientation guidance. Transient spasm and partial occlusion were detected based on changes in Doppler data, while complete occlusion was evident as the total loss of color Doppler. Conclusion In this preliminary report, we have conceptualized and developed a novel system that enables the real-time visualization of vascular pedicle flow at the bedside using Doppler ultrasound and a surgically implanted marker. In a large animal model, use of the system allowed identification of the anastomosis, flow analysis, and real-time detection of flow loss.
Use of fenoxycarb for area-wide management of red imported fire ants (hymenoptera: formicidae)

Large-scale field testing of 1% fenoxycarb bait (Logic), an insect growth regulator, was conducted in Kendall and Kerr counties, Texas, to determine efficacy in controlling red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren. The material was applied at the rate of 1.1 kg/ha (11.2 g [AI]/ha) with a broadcast seeder mounted on the back of a pickup truck. Approximately half of the treated plots received a second application one month later. Infestation in plots treated with Logic decreased by 85.6 and 88.6% the first four weeks. By 8 wk, infestation in the single treatment plots had decreased by 96.9%; the double application treatment decreased the infestation by 98.7%. Although differences between the treated and control plots were significant, significant differences were not detected between the one and two applications of Logic. We conclude that one application of Logic is highly effective in suppressing populations of S. invicta , and a second application applied one month later is not warranted.
Coronary flow reserve in adults with systemic right or single ventricles

Background Late failure of systemic right and single ventricles is difficult to predict. Approximately 1/3 of subjects with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) have congestive heart failure by the fifth decade and 2/3 of subjects with ccTGA and significant associated defects have congestive heart failure by the age of 45 years. Perfusion defects have been identified at rest in 55 % of subjects with systemic right ventricles by dipyridamole sestamibi and with exercise in 45 %, which are not due to endovascular obstructive coronary disease. Subjects with perfusion defects typically have worse right ventricular function, but not always. It may be tied to coronary flow reserve and coronary mismatch in these hypertrophied ventricles. The objective of this study was to assess the technical feasibility of stress perfusion imaging by CMR and calculate coronary flow reserve in adults with systemic right or single ventricles.
Analyzing Decomposition Products in Overheat Faults Simulation to Evaluate SF_6 Gas Insulation Device

For safety evaluation of an SF6 gas insulation device in operation,it is very effective to detect the decomposition products of SF6.The authors detected the decomposition products and their concentrations in an SF6 gas insulation device under simulated overheat conditions with different temperature and humidity to offer a support to diagnosis of electric equipment.The simulation results showed that SF6 was clearly decomposed at 350 ℃.The higher the humidity was,the higher the concentrations of such decomposition products as SO2,H2S,and HF were.Moisture in this type of electric equipment accelerates the decomposition of SF6,therefore moisture must be strictly controlled in order to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.HF will erode equipment when its concentration is over a certain value,while the effect of S2OF10 on SF6 decomposition is not significant.
[Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors on hepatitis C in Maqiao township, Henan province of China].

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred in Henan province,at the end of 2011.Methods Five villages round Maqiao township,including 5187 residents,were selected for the study.Five-milliliter-blood was drawn from every one of the interviewee.Clinical data including age,gender and anti-HCV antibody was recorded.Patients with positive antibodies against HCV were tested for HCV RNA.Results A total number of 5187 people from five villages were studied,with age span from 1 to 97.The average age was 48 years and the sex ratio was 1 ∶ 1.34.The anti-HCV result showed that the prevalence was 2.27％,with 1-9 age group the lowest ( 1.55％ ) and the ≥50 year-olds the highest (4.93％).Different villages seemed to have significant differences on the prevalence of HCV,with the highest as 8.68％ and the lowest as 0.55％.Under risk factors analysis and distance-infection rates linear regression analysis,data showed that the prevalence might have correlated to the behavior of a certain family-run clinic.Results from multivariate analysis indicated that factors as intravenous dropping,intravenous injection and the use of surgery/endoscope were associated with the HCV infection in this village.Conclusion Although the public health care system had been developed for more than ten years,iatrogenic infection was yet responsible for the infection of HCV patients in the rural areas of China that called for further attention paid to the system. Key words: Hepatitis C; Epidemic; Risk factors
Comparisons of pregnancy loss patterns after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and other assisted reproductive technologies

Objective To compare outcome of pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with those of other assisted reproductive technologies. Design Pregnancy outcomes after ICSI were followed prospectively and compared with pregnancy outcomes after IVF with fresh and frozen ETs and donor oocyte cycles. Setting A private tertiary referral center for genetics and infertility in Fairfax, Virginia. Patients One hundred thirty-six couples achieving pregnancy after undergoing ICSI, 71 after IVF, 35 donor oocyte recipients, and 19 after transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. Interventions In vitro fertilization and/or ET for all couples. Dilatation and curettage to obtain products of conception for chromosome analysis in 28 women experiencing spontaneous abortion. Main Outcome Measures Pregnancy outcomes were classified as preclinical loss, clinical loss, and ongoing pregnancy. Results The mean frequency of preclinical pregnancy loss was 26% after ICSI, 28% after IVF, 3% after ET using donor oocytes, and 11% after frozen ET. The rate of clinical loss after ICSI (21%) was compared with IVF (18%), donor oocyte cycles (11%), and frozen ETs (21%). Conclusions Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is not associated with an increase in pregnancy losses, clinical or preclinical, compared with conventional IVF.
The Six Sigma Handbook, 4th edition

(2015). The Six Sigma Handbook, 4th edition. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 298-300.
Adjunctive chemotherapy of infection-induced staghorn calculi.

AbstractBacteria induce urinary crystallization of struvite and carbonate-apatite as a by-product of ureolysis by urease. Eradication of infection and/or inhibition of urease with acetohydroxamic acid for 5 to 30 months retarded stone growth and brought about partial or complete dissolution of stones in 9 patients. Long-term chemotherapy with antimicrobial agents that achieve sterile urine or acetohydroxamic acid in those patients with recalcitrant infection lessens the risk of recurrent calculogenesis.
KETOGENIC DIET | Animal Models of the Ketogenic Diet and Other Dietary Therapies

The ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective therapy for many children and adults with epilepsy who are refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs. Possible mechanisms of the KD include direct effects of ketones or lipids on neuronal excitability, enhancement of inhibitory GABAergic function, or alteration of energy metabolism. Another possibility, arising from the fact that carbohydrates are restricted in the KD, is that inhibition of glycolysis (the primary route of glucose catabolism in mammalian cells) might provide an antiepileptic effect. Experiments described in this article show that the glycolysis inhibitor, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, exerts both anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects in a variety of animal models. Anticonvulsant effects include increase in the afterdischarge threshold in perforant path kindled rats, and decrease in epileptic burst frequency in several models of interictal bursting (including high potassium, 4-aminopyridine, and bicuculline). Antiepileptic effects include the decrease in progression of afterdischarge threshold in kindling of the perforant path, and slowing of kindling progression with perforant path or olfactory bulb stimulation. These findings indicate that 2-deoxy-d-glucose, a safe compound already used for decades in positron emission tomography imaging, might be a novel agent for seizure control in patients with refractory epilepsy.
The relationship between education and health among incarcerated men and women in the United States

This paper contributes to research on the education-health association by extending the scope of inquiry to adult inmates. Not only are inmates excluded from most nationally representative studies of health but they also represent a highly select group in terms of both education and health. As such, our study provides new information about the health of incarcerated populations and it extends the generalizability of the education-health association beyond the non-institutionalized population. We use a prison-level fixed-effects regression model with the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (n = 287 facilities) to evaluate the effects of education on a standardized morbidity scale of 11 lifetime and current health conditions among incarcerated men (n = 10,493) and women (n = 2,797). Education prior to incarceration is negatively associated with lifetime health problems for both women and men and the association is stronger among women. Among inmates who enter prison with less than a GED level of education, attaining a GED in prison is associated with better current health outcomes for men, but not women. The generalization of the education-health association among prisoners further highlights the fundamental nature of education as a health promotive resource. Discussed are the implications for the education-health literature in general and health promotion efforts among incarcerated adults specifically.
Reasoning for CPS Education Using Surrogate Simulation Models

With developing an affordable, easily accessible and scalable online CPS laboratory to promote CPS education system, we are faced with and focused on a number of cyber-physical challenges including the model design and simulation strategies. The authors provide a complete process to simulate a behavior of a user-design CPS conveyor system. The user-design model is sent to the background, treated offline, and extracted the simulation result and finally feedback to user as an animation. The solution approach has two main parts, as the aspect of the modeling work, complex domain-specific conveyor design are defined in the Generic Modeling Environment (GME), it can be mapped and transformed to the global grid, another domain-specific model, which contains only one kind of node with huge dimension so that all different species of components in complex model are mapped to the typical nodes in grid, and it is easy to operate and simulate the nodes in global grid to fit for the need when multiple experiments being mapped to the grid. In this work, we only concerned the scenario of one experiment. The transformation and mapping process is implemented through Graph Rewriting and Transformation. As a background simulation, the Robocodes code is automatically generated by GME interpreter from global grid and is applied to generate the path logic to transmit the package, according to the package type in each input ports. After acquiring the transmit speed and path, Robocode simulation outputs the coordinate and time information to generate the Java animation. The final Java animation will be feedback to the user side to see the result of package transmission flow.
Metastatic Breast Carcinoma in Cerebrospinal Fluid: A Cytopathological Review of 15 Cases

The incidence of metastatic carcinoma to the meninges ("meningeal carcinomatosis" [MC]) is increasing due to longer survival of patients and improved imaging techniques. Currently, MC is best diagnosed by cytopathological evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Breast primaries are the commonest cause of MC; although cytopathological features thereof have not been, as yet, fully characterized. In this study of meningeal mammary carcinomatosis, relevant clinicopathological data and archived cytopathological preparations of all "suspicious" and "positive" CSF specimens (1992-2015), from patients with a history of breast carcinoma, were retrieved and reviewed. Twenty-three "positive" CSF specimens, derived from 15 patients formed the basis of this study. All specimens were processed as Cytospin preparations, and stained by Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik techniques. All patients were female, with a mean age of 57 (range: 32-85) years. Mean interval between initial diagnosis of breast carcinoma and "positive" CSF was 32 (range 6-84) months. All 23 specimens (100%) were "cellular" (>10 carcinoma cells). Eighteen (78%) specimens showed only isolated nonclustered cells, and 5 (22%) specimens showed both cell clusters and isolated cells. In most "positive" cases, metastatic breast carcinoma cells showed variation in cell size, with hyperchromatic nuclei, irregular nuclear membranes, prominent nucleoli and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The background in some CSF samples showed red blood cells and fibrin admixed with rare lymphocytes and histiocytes. One specimen showed necrotic debris. Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik-stained Cytospin preparations were equally diagnostic, as the aforementioned findings were present in both types of preparation.
Metabolic Analysis of Metatranscriptomic Data from Planktonic Communities

This paper describes an enhanced method for analyzing microbial metatranscriptomic (community RNA-seq) data using Expectation - Maximization (EM)-based differentiation and quantification of predicted gene, enzyme, and metabolic pathway activity. Here, we demonstrate the method by analyzing the metatranscriptome of planktonic communities in surface waters from the Northern Louisiana Shelf (Gulf of Mexico) during contrasting light and dark conditions. The analysis reveals that the level of transcripts encoding proteins of oxidative phosphorylation varys little between day and night. In contrast, transcripts of pyrimidine metabolism are significantly more abundant at night, whereas those of carbon fixation by photosynthetic organisms increase 2-fold in abundance from night to day.
Yield stress of ultrafine-grained or nanocrystalline materials with a bimodal grain size distribution

An attractive processing route for enhancing the yield strength of high-strength nanocrystalline metals and alloys while maintaining high ductility is to develop a bimodal grain size distribution (GSD), in which, supposedly, the finer grains provide strength, and the coarser grains maintain or even enhance ductility. We present a theoretical model predicting the strength of such a system, and show, analytically, how the yield stress is related to the various parameters of the bimodal GSD, such as volume fraction of the two components of the bimodal distribution and their standard deviations.
Mode selection and tuning of single-frequency short-cavity VECSELs

We report on mode selection and tuning properties of vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) containing coupled semiconductor and external cavities of total length less than 1 mm. Our goal is to create narrowlinewidth (<1MHz) single-frequency VECSELs that operate near 850 nm on a single longitudinal cavity resonance and tune versus temperature without mode hops. We have designed, fabricated, and measured VECSELs with external-cavity lengths ranging from 25 to 800 μm. We compare simulated and measured coupled-cavity mode frequencies and discuss criteria for single mode selection.
Heart failure education in the emergency department markedly reduces readmissions in un- and under-insured patients

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) readmissions are a longstanding national healthcare issue for both hospitals and patients. Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of a structured, educational intervention targeted towards un- and under-insured emergency department (ED) HF patients. Methods HF patients presenting to the ED for care were enrolled between July and December 2015 as part of an open label, interventional study, using a parallel observational control group. Eligible patients provided informed consent, had an established HF diagnosis, and were hemodynamically stable. Intervention patients received a standardized educational intervention in the ED waiting room before seeing the emergency physician, and a 30-day telephone follow-up. Primary and secondary endpoints were 30- and 90-day ED and hospital readmission rates, as well as days alive and out of hospital (DAOH) respectively. Results Of the 94 patients enrolled, median age was 58.4 years; 40.4% were female, and 54.3% were African American. Intervention patients (n = 45) experienced a 47.8% and 45.3% decrease in ED revisits (P = 0.02 & P Conclusion An ED educational intervention markedly decreases ED and hospital readmissions in un- and under-insured HF patients.
Recognition Time after Four Muscle Recession for Nystagmus

Large recession of the four horizontal rectus muscles has been shown at best to minimally improve visual acuity as measured with Snellen letters. However, many patients have reported a dramatic imp...
Trading Off Between Representativeness and Social Capital: The Case of Bayview Secondary School:

Increasingly, educational leaders are recognizing that the distribution of students within districts and schools has important implications for educational quality and equity. This case is about th...
Circulating monocytes expressing CD31: Implications for acute and chronic angiogenesis

To identify the roles of various circulating cells (eg, endothelial and/or stem and progenitor cells) in angiogenesis, we parabiosed a wild-type syngeneic mouse with a transgenic syngeneic green fluorescent protein mouse. Following the establishment of a common circulation between these parabionts, we investigated acute (7 to 10 days), subacute (2 to 3 weeks), and chronic (4 to 6 weeks) phases of angiogenesis in wild-type mice using wound healing, implanted gel foam fragments, and subcutaneous tumor assays, respectively. We found that under in vitro conditions, circulating murine monocytes expressed F4/80, CD31, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, but neither CD133 nor von Willebrand factor, whereas murine endothelial cells expressed CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and von Willebrand factor, but neither CD133 nor F4/80. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that green fluorescent protein-positive cells in the walls of new vessels in wounds, gel foam blocks, and tumors expressed both F4/80 and CD31, that is, macrophages. Pericytes, cells that express both CD31 and desmin, were found both in the walls of tumor-associated vessels and within tumors. Collectively, these data demonstrate that monocytes (ie, cells that express both CD31 and F4/80) may be recruited to the site of tissue injury and directly contribute to angiogenesis, reaffirming the close relationships between various cell types within the reticuloendothelial system and suggesting possible targets for anticancer treatments.
Adherence and Colonization

This chapter focuses on host, environmental, and bacterial factors that contribute to the establishment and persistence of Helicobacter pylori within the stomach rather than on genes for products that specifically contribute to host damage. Epidemiological studies indicate transmission occurs most often during early childhood, with the mother as the most common source of infection. H. pylori exhibits both host tropism, colonizing only primates, and tissue tropism, adhering only to the gastric epithelial lining of the antrum or staying in the gastric mucous layer. Adhesion is considered to be necessary for the establishment of H. pylori infection, but many other factors also influence the persistence of H. pylori in the gastric mucosa. Adhesins are bacterial proteins, glycoconjugates, or lipids that are involved in the initial stages of colonization by mediating the interaction between the bacterium and the host cell surface. Acidity could be a signal for enhanced adhesin transcriptional or translational expression, or could simply favor adhesin-receptor interactions. Chronic infection modulates the balance between gastric epithelial cell proliferation (cancer) and epithelial cell death (apoptosis). Adherence of H. pylori to human cells correlates well with the amount of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) present in lipids extracted from these host cells. Heat shock proteins of H. pylori have surprisingly been shown by numerous laboratories to be surface exposed and involved in adherence. Colonization by H. pylori has only been confirmed in the gastric mucosa.
New Fluoropolymers for Potential Medical Applications

A series of fluoropolymers has been synthesized in recent years which hold promise for use in medical or dental prostheses or as components of medical devices. In the present work, new fluororesins are synthesized which extend the range of functional content of such materials. The first fluoroepoxy containing a branched perfluoroether in a side chain and the first trifunctional fluoroepoxy resin are reported. These advances are expected to have an effect upon the oxygen transport properties and mechanical rigidities, respectively, when used in conjunction with previously reported fluororesins.
Peer-to-peer botnets: overview and case study

Botnets have recently been identified as one of the most important threats to the security of the Internet. Traditionally, botnets organize themselves in an hierarchical manner with a central command and control location. This location can be statically defined in the bot, or it can be dynamically defined based on a directory server. Presently, the centralized characteristic of botnets is useful to security professionals because it offers a central point of failure for the botnet. In the near future, we believe attackers will move to more resilient architectures. In particular, one class of botnet structure that has entered initial stages of development is peer-to-peer based architectures. In this paper, we present an overview of peer-to-peer botnets. We also present a case study of a Kademlia-based Trojan.Peacomm bot.
Rapid dual‐RF, dual‐echo, 3D ultrashort echo time craniofacial imaging: A feasibility study

Purpose To develop a dual-radiofrequency (RF), dual-echo, 3D ultrashort echo-time (UTE) pulse sequence and bone-selective image reconstruction for rapid high-resolution craniofacial MRI. Methods The proposed pulse sequence builds on recently introduced dual-RF UTE imaging. While yielding enhanced bone specificity by exploiting high sensitivity of short T2 signals to variable RF pulse widths, the parent technique exacts a 2-fold scan time penalty relative to standard dual-echo UTE. In the proposed method, the parent sequence's dual-RF scheme was incorporated into dual-echo acquisitions while radial view angles are varied every pulse-to-pulse repetition period. The resulting 4 echoes (2 for each RF) were combined by view-sharing to construct 2 sets of k-space data sets, corresponding to short and long TEs, respectively, leading to a 2-fold increase in imaging efficiency. Furthermore, by exploiting the sparsity of bone signals in echo-difference images, acceleration was achieved by solving a bone-sparsity constrained image reconstruction problem. In vivo studies were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed acceleration approaches in comparison to the parent method. Results The proposed technique achieves 1.1-mm isotropic skull imaging in 3 minutes without visual loss of image quality, compared to the parent technique (scan time = 12 minutes). Bone-specific images and corresponding 3D renderings of the skull were found to depict the expected craniofacial anatomy over the entire head. Conclusion The proposed method is able to achieve high-resolution volumetric craniofacial images in a clinically practical imaging time, and thus may prove useful as a potential alternative to computed tomography.
Black Widow: Female Representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

With film franchises such as Iron Man , The Avengers, Black Panther, Spider Man (Homecoming), and Thor in its repertoire, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become known for its diverse collection of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios, a motion picture company owned by The Walt Disney Company. Since the release of the first Iron Man film in 2008, films in the universe’s canonical timeline and story structures have grossed nearly $15 billion worldwide. While the films have established the stories of some of the most beloved superheroes in comic book history, female characters are gravely underrepresented and may be mischaracterized. In particular, oversexualized representations of women in comic book film franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, can be tied back to the classic feminist concept of the “male gaze.” When women in these films are presented primarily as romantic interests who exist only to serve their male counterparts, it systemically weakens female characters who may have been depicted as strong and independently motivated in other contexts. Following an intense study of both visual and textual representation of Natasha Romanoff, her character’s arc, and varying motivations throughout five films, she is visually, textually, and systemically sexualized and objectified. In two separate films within the franchise, her position as a strong, leading member within The Avengers is diminished by involvement in romantic relationships. In one of the most disturbing threats to her character, an aspect of her back story reveals that she was forcibly sterilized as part of her spy training. Natasha Romanoff, or Black Widow is not the hero challenging the patriarchy that many comic book fans had hoped for.
American Criminal Justice: An Introduction

American criminal justice may be one of the best known - and most influential - systems of criminal justice in the world, but also the least understood: countless films and television series portray American police officers, prosecutors and lawyers, but over 95 percent of criminal matters result in guilty pleas, and trials are becoming vanishingly scarce as people accused of crime choose to strike a deal with increasingly powerful prosecutors. Sentencing 'reform' has led to a burgeoning prison population that is by far the highest among economically advanced countries. Meanwhile, American prosecutors have gained increasing (and largely unchecked) power to apply US criminal laws to worldwide corporations and individuals with little or no connection with the country. American Criminal Justice: An Introduction provides a readable, comprehensive review of the American criminal process behind these and other problems.
Impact of Eliminating Postprocedural Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Patients without Biliary Instrumentation or Bypass Undergoing Hepatic Artery Embolization for Hepatic Malignancies.

Abstract Purpose To assess the infection rate after eliminating postprocedural antibiotics in patients undergoing hepatic artery embolization (HAE) for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. Material and Methods In this historical cohort study, adults ≥18 years of age without prior biliary instrumentation or bypass who underwent HAE and received pre- and postprocedure antibiotic prophylaxis between September 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015, comprised group A, whereas similar patients receiving only preprocedure antibiotic prophylaxis between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016, comprised group B. Procedures conducted between September 1, 2015, and September 30, 2015, were excluded. The primary outcome was any infection occurring within 30 days of HAE. Results A total of 150 patients underwent 204 HAE procedures in group A, and 171 patients underwent 221 procedures in group B. Cefazolin given as a 1-g dose (or 2 grams if obese) was administered in 391 of 425 evaluable procedures (92%). Clindamycin plus gentamicin was prescribed in 34 patients (8%) who had severe penicillin allergy. There was significant improvement in adherence to the postprocedure antibiotic regimen, from 68% (138 of 204 procedures) to 98% (216 of 221 procedures) (P Conclusions Elimination of postprocedural antibiotics after HAE did not lead to an increase in infectious complications. This finding supports the 2018 Society of Interventional Radiology recommendation for preprocedural prophylaxis only for HAE in the setting of an intact sphincter of Oddi.
A Primer on IBD: Phenotypes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Challenges

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly divided into ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. We have seen an increase in incidence in IBD over the last few decades worldwide. UC and Crohn’s disease have strong genetic underpinnings which have been steadily elucidated over the past 20 years. Additionally, there are number of environmental factors that have been recognized as triggers of disease, including dietary/microbiome and smoking. In this chapter, we lay out the primary phenotypes observed in Crohn’s and UC. We next discuss the approach to diagnosis, which is generally multifactorial, including blood and stool testing, abdominal imaging, and colonoscopy with biopsy. Next, we summarize the treatment algorithms for both disease, including the pre- and post-biologic era. Greater concentration is given to the discussion of the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, which to date has been the greatest game changer in IBD management. We also discuss the newer pharmacologic mechanisms of targeting the disease including lymphocyte adhesion blockers, anti-IL 12/23 inhibitors, and drugs that target the JAK/STAT pathway. Some of the newer agents in the pipeline are also briefly discussed. In the final section, we explore clinical correlates of the genetic findings to date. We delve into some of the key findings including the discovery of the NOD2 risk gene, as well as the most up-to-date genome wide association studies (GWAS) findings. Through this we explore how these genetic findings correlate with specific disease phenotypes, and how the findings have helped choose targets for pharmacologic therapy.
Speaking of Digital Communication: Home-Based Telehealth for Patients and Providers

Working with telehealth in healthcare means alternating among ‘consultancy’, ‘advocacy’ and ‘activism’. Telehealth, which can be defined as two-way interaction between a person and a provider using audio-visual telecommunications technology, is a recent area of focus in healthcare. This chapter discusses selected projects from several fields illustrating (1) ‘Store-and-Forward’ cases in which data is sent to a specialist for asynchronous analysis; (2) Remote Patient Monitoring cases, where electronic communication technologies are utilised for the care and support of an individual in a different location; and (3) Mobile Health cases, in which practice and education are supported by mobile communication devices such as cell phones, tablet computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). We explore these telehealth components and focus on our current interlinking projects in which new forms of mobile health and videoconferencing combine to support efforts by low-income older persons to increase mobility and avoid institutionalisation.
Police Officer Stress and Coping in a Stress-Awareness Era:

This study was conducted as controversy and turmoil engulfed police worldwide. Police-community conflict was widespread and conceivably increased officers’ stress levels. Because stress affects off...
Your Money or Your Liberty: Clarifying Military Contingent Confinement

Your money or your liberty? Barring certain limitations, monetary penalty or incarceration awaits service members who have fines and contingent confinement — i.e., sentence conditions allowing for the imposition of confinement if an individual fails to pay a punitive fine — adjudged against them under the military justice system. This is the case despite recent significant changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) and Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM) and contrary interpretations of how to implement contingent confinement. The RCM outlines military fine enforcement through contingent confinement in Rule 1003(b)(3), which states that sentences including fines “may be accompanied by a provision” providing “that, in the event the fine is not paid,” the convicted individual may be “confined until a fixed period considered an equivalent punishment to the fine has expired.” Although another rule addressing this punishment was removed from the RCM by Executive Order 13825 in 2018 — Rule 1113(e)(3), which described contingent confinement as replacing any associated fine and the manner in which this substitution must take place — Rule 1003(b)(3) was left unchanged. Both courts and scholars, however, have stumbled in interpreting this Rule, creating confusion as to its true legal effect and viability for achieving certain penological outcomes. In light of the aforementioned recent removal of Rule 1113(e)(3) from the RCM and inaccurate scholarly and judicial presentations, this article clarifies the law of military fine enforcement through contingent confinement and offers recommendations for its use.
MetaRNN: Differentiating Rare Pathogenic and Rare Benign Missense SNVs and InDels Using Deep Learning

Abstract We present the pathogenicity prediction models MetaRNN and MetaRNN-indel to help identify and prioritize rare nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (nsSNVs) and non-frameshift insertion/deletions (nfINDELs) using deep learning and context annotations. A recurrent neural network that incorporates a window of +/− 1 codon around the affected codon was combined with 28 high-level annotation scores and allele frequency features to develop the two proposed models. Employing independent test datasets, we demonstrate that these new models outperform state-of-the-art competitors and achieve a more interpretable score distribution. MetaRNN executables and precomputed scores are available at http://www.liulab.science/MetaRNN.
Independent Association of Obesity and Nonroutine Discharge Disposition After Elective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Objective The prevalence of obesity continues to rise in the United States at a disparaging rate. Although previous studies have attempted to identify the influence obesity has on short-term outcomes following elective spine surgery, few studies have assessed the impact on discharge disposition following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The aim of this study was to determine whether obesity impacts the hospital management, cost, and discharge disposition after elective ACDF for adult CSM. Methods The National Inpatient Sample database was queried using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Clinical Modification, coding system to identify all (≥18 years) patients with a primary diagnosis of CSM undergoing an elective ACDF for the years 2016 and 2017. Discharge weights were used to estimate national demographics, Elixhauser comorbidities, complications, length of stay, total cost of admission, and discharge disposition. Results There were 17,385 patients included in the study, of whom 3035 (17.4%) had obesity (no obesity: 14,350; obesity: 3035). The cohort with obesity had a significantly greater proportion of patients with 3 or more comorbidities compared with the cohort with no obesity (no obesity: 28.1% vs. obesity: 43.5%, P Conclusions Our study demonstrates that obesity is an independent predictor for nonroutine discharge disposition following elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Development of a protocol to assess within-subject, regional white matter hyperintensity changes in aging and dementia.

Abstract Background White matter hyperintensities (WMH), associated with both dementia risk and progression, can individually progress, remain stable, or even regress influencing cognitive decline related to specific cerebrovascular-risks. This study details the development and validation of a registration protocol to assess regional, within-subject, longitudinal WMH changes (ΔWMH) that is currently lacking in the field. New method 3D-FLAIR images (baseline and one-year-visit) were used for protocol development and validation. The method was validated by assessing the correlation between forward and reverse longitudinal registration, and between summated regional progression-regression volumes and Global ΔWMH. The clinical relevance of growth-regression ΔWMH were explored in relation to an executive function test. Results MRI scans for 79 participants (73.5 ± 8.8 years) were used in this study. Global ΔWMH vs. summated regional progression-regression volumes were highly associated (r2 = 0.90; p-value Comparison with existing method(s) This method presents a unique registration protocol for maximum tissue alignment, demonstrating three distinct patterns of longitudinal within-subject ΔWMH (stable, growth and regression). Conclusions These data detail the development and validation of a registration protocol for use in assessing within-subject, voxel-level alterations in WMH volume. The methods developed for registration and intensity correction of longitudinal within-subject FLAIR images allow regional and within-lesion characterization of longitudinal ΔWMH. Assessing the impact of associated cerebrovascular-risks and longitudinal clinical changes in relation to dynamic regional ΔWMH is needed in future studies.
The Effect of Internal Communication on the Performance of Educational Personnel at the Cirebon Maritime Academy

The purpose of this study is to find out and analyze the effect of internal communication on the performance of educational staff. This type of research uses descriptive and quantitative research. The population in this study amounted to 102 people, using the Slovin formula obtained a sample of 51 people with a simple random sampling technique. The testing instrument uses a validity test and a reliability test. While the data analysis technique used is a simple regression analysis with the t test and the coefficient of determination test. From the results of the research data obtained values for internal communication variables of (9,852) > (2,011) with a sig value of 0,000 < from the value of 0.05. Meanwhile for the R Square value obtained a result of 0.669, meaning that the change in the performance of the teaching staff at the Cirebon AMC Educational Institution was 66.9% influenced by internal communication while the remaining 33.1% was caused by other variables not examined. The conclusion of this study is that internal communication greatly influences the performance of educational staff in the work environment of the Cirebon AMC Educational Institution. good to better demonstrate the success of the Cirebon Maritime Academic Educational Institute.
Exploring Memory Care Clinics in Minnesota: A Qualitative Analysis.

OBJECTIVES We explored memory clinic care provision in Minnesota, examining diversity and similarities of services provided and challenges faced. We also considered how well their services and care philosophies aligned with national dementia care practice recommendations. METHODS We created a 53-question interview guide and interviewed 11 memory clinics across Minnesota in late 2019. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analyses in NVivo 12. RESULTS We identified 6 themes regarding financial issues, staffing, appointment logistics, care provision during and after the memory evaluation as well as features of an ideal clinic. CONCLUSIONS Memory evaluation and care provision were very different across clinics, primarily due to team make-up, particularly team size and specialty. However, memory care providers shared a passion for providing patient-centered memory care, emphasizing family and patient education and partnership. Their care was largely aligned with national memory care recommendations. Common challenges, including maintaining financial stability and clinic efficiency, exerted significant influence on clinic functioning and survival.
Productive Social Engagement as a Vehicle to Promote Activity and Neuro-Cognitive Health in Later Adulthood.

OBJECTIVE We have witnessed two key findings that shift our understanding of human brain aging in new directions. First, we learned that the adult brain remains plastic beyond childhood development, generating new neurons in response to activity and new experiences, particularly in regions that integrate memories in social contexts. The second emerging finding is the importance of physical activity and social engagement to cognitive aging. I integrate these and other empirical findings with our understanding of brain development over the life span and the later-life developmental need to give back to younger generations to posit the importance of maintaining our "social" brain through retirement and into later life when activity remains beneficial to brain health. CONCLUSIONS Opportunities for improved cognitive and brain health that can be brought to scale need to capitalize on aging adults' need to remain socially relevant and on community infrastructures so that those with lower neighborhood access to activity can safely engage. Evidence is summarized here from one such community-based model of social engagement through school-based, volunteer service, entitled Experience Corps®. This program seeks to increase daily physical, cognitive, and social activity to promote cognitive and mental health.
Dimming DC–DC LED Drivers: Luminous Efficiency, Power Losses, & Best-in-Class

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have become pervasive in modern lighting and automotive applications. LED drivers regulate LED current which sets their luminous output, where dimming is an important attribute. Dimming techniques fall in one of two categories: "analog" or "duty-cycled" (pulse-width-modulated), and duty-cycled (PWM) dimming decomposes into three further classes: shutdown, shunt- and series-switched. However, a comprehensive analysis of dimming techniques, corresponding power losses, and their dimming capabilities is lacking in the literature. This paper explains and quantifies those in the context of a switched inductor (SL) DC–DC converter. Presented analysis incorporates SL conversion efficiency and models luminous flux, dimming range, and luminous efficiency. This paper reveals and verifies that analog dimming is up to 57% more efficient with the widest dimming range.
Zyloprim® (Burroughs Wellcome)

Allopurinol is effective for the therapy of both the primary hyperuricemia of gout and that secondary to other conditions. It blocks the terminal steps in uric acid biosynthesis by inhibition of xanthine oxidase.
SU-E-T-637: Proton Aperture Quality Assurance Using Computed Tomography

Purpose: To develop an automated algorithm for aperture quality assurance for double scattering proton radiotherapy. Methods: Anterior-Posterior scout images were acquired on a CT scanner for five brass apertures (2 large, 3 small) with 120 kVp and 10mA. A semi-automated algorithm was developed for the QA process. The input includes a user selecting the scout image and the associated patient plan, field and aperture size. The program automatically thresholds the scout image. Next, a connectivity algorithm is used to determine the points associated with the central shape to obtain the contour. To compare with the plan contour, the program converts the detected and plan contours into polar coordinates, interpolates the data to a 1 degree spaced grid, and determines the differences in radial distance at each grid point. Results: The mean and maximum difference and the percentage of points with distance differences less than 1.25 mm (due to the divergent cut of the aperture) between the detected and plan field aperture contours were obtained. A repeatability coefficient was derived based on repeated scanning and processing of three of the apertures. The mean difference for five apertures was 0.44 +/−0.08 mm. The maximum difference in distance was 1.2 +/−0.23 mm for all apertures. The Repeatability Coefficient was +/−0.038 mm, indicating the technique is highly repeatable. The mean percent of points with distance less than 1.25 mm was 97.41 +/−0.35%. Conclusion: Automated CT scout image based proton aperture QA is feasible, saves time, and provides a quantitative metric for proton patient specific aperture QA.