cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Applicant Publication Volume on the Orthopaedic Residency Match

Background Research is an important factor used in evaluating applicants to orthopaedic training programs. Current reports regarding the publication rate among prospective residents are likely inaccurate. It is unknown whether research productivity is weighted more heavily at programs affiliated with research-driven institutions. Objective To establish accurate baseline data on publication rate among matched applicants to orthopaedic residency programs and to compare publication rates between applicants who matched at research-focused institutions and those who matched elsewhere. Design We performed a literature search for each U.S. resident in the 2013-2014 intern class. Number of publications: (1) in total, (2) in orthopaedic journals, and (3) as first/last author were recorded. Publication rate at the top 25 programs (according to medical school and departmental National Institutes of Health [NIH] funding and U.S. News ranking) was compared statistically against all others. Results Average number of publications per intern for all programs was 1.28 ± 0.15. Number of total and first/last author publications was significantly greater for programs affiliated with medical schools and departments in the top 25 for NIH funding, and at schools in the top 25 U.S. News rankings. Publication rate in orthopaedic journals was significantly higher for programs affiliated with departments in the top 25 for NIH funding and at top 25 U.S. News medical schools. Conclusions The average matched applicant to an orthopaedic residency program publishes in the peer-reviewed literature less frequently than previously reported. Matched applicants at research-focused institutions tended to have more publications than those who matched at other programs.
Beyond Training Prosecutors About Their Disclosure Obligations: Can Prosecutors’ Offices Learn from Their Lawyers’ Mistakes?

The U.S. Department of Justice recently reevaluated its prosecutors’ pretrial disclosure practices in light of its highly-publicized discovery failure in the prosecution of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Based on its working group’s recommendations, the Department undertook several new initiatives, chief among them being a commitment to better training regarding discovery obligations and how to comply with them. This essay explores an alternative approach to improving prosecutorial disclosure practices – namely, learning from discovery mistakes. It appears that few, if any, federal or state prosecutors’ offices seek to improve their institutional practices by systematically studying cases in which prosecutors failed to disclose evidence or other information to the defense as required by law. This essay considers why. It identifies, and calls into question, several reasons that prosecutors might offer for their reluctance to analyze individual prosecutors’ lapses. It also notes various institutional challenges that prosecutors’ offices might encounter in seeking to learn from their prosecutors’ mistakes, but concludes that it is worth making the attempt.
Modified MBE hardware and techniques and role of gallium purity for attainment of two dimensional electron gas mobility >35×106 cm2/V s in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by MBE

Abstract We provide evidence that gallium purity is the primary impediment to attainment of ultra-high mobility in a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The purity of gallium can be enhanced dramatically by in-situ high temperature outgassing within an operating MBE. Based on analysis of data from an initial growth campaign in a new MBE system and modifications employed for a 2nd growth campaign, we have produced 2DEGs with low temperature mobility μ in excess of 35×10 6 cm 2 /V s at density n =3.0×10 11 /cm 2 and μ =18×10 6 cm 2 /V s at n =1.1×10 11 /cm 2 . Our 2nd campaign data indicate that gallium purity remains the factor currently limiting μ 6 cm 2 /V s. We describe strategies to overcome this limitation.
Antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and bacteriophage typability.

A study of the relationship among bacteriophage typability, antibiotic sensitivity, and the lysogenic state of Staphylococcus aureus was undertaken. The study was performed using primary isolates from clinical infections before and after growth in acridine orange-containing media. With one exception, the three parameters under study varied independently of one another. The only consistent relationship observed was in the group of isolates demonstrating stable penicillin resistance. All of these organisms were, and remained, nontypable by phage, and no lysogenic phage was recovered. Added to confirmation of previous observations that drug resistance may be changed to drug sensitivity by exposure to acridine orange is the demonstration of the reverse phenomenon. The physiologic and ecologic implications of these observations are discussed.
Some Reasons Courts Have Become Active Participants in the Search for Ultimate Moral and Political Truth

This short essay was prompted by the increasing delegation to courts of the responsibility for deciding what are basically moral questions, such as in litigation involving human rights conventions, as well as the responsibility for deciding basic issues of social policy with at best only the most general guidelines to guide their exercise of judicial discretion. The essay discusses some of the reasons for this delegation of authority and briefly describes how courts have struggled to meet this obligation without transcending accepted notions governing the limits of judicial discretion.
Influence of Ionizing Radiation and the Role of Thiol Ligands on the Reversible Photodarkening of CdTe/CdS Quantum Dots

We investigate the influence of high energy photons and thiol ligands on the photophysical properties of sub-monolayer CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) immobilized in porous silica (PSiO2) scaffolds. The highly disperse, uniform distributions of QDs in a three-dimensional PSiO2 framework ensure uniform interaction of not only radiation but also subsequent surface repassivation solutions to all immobilized QDs. The high optical densities of QDs achieved using PSiO2 enable straightforward monitoring of the QD photoluminescence intensities and carrier lifetimes. Irradiation of QDs in PSiO2 by high energy photons, X-rays, and γ-rays leads to dose-dependent QD photodarkening, which is accompanied by accelerated photooxidative effects in ambient environments that give rise to blue-shifts in the peak QD emission wavelength. Irradiation in an oxygen-free environment also leads to QD photodarkening but with no accompanying blue-shift of the QD emission. Significant reversal of QD photodarkening is demonstrated followin...
GENO-07A MECHANISM OF MUTANT TERT PROMOTER ACTIVATION SHARED ACROSS CANCER TYPES

The human telomerase is an enzyme critical for maintaining telomere length and chromosomal stability in stem cells. The transcriptional regulation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of telomerase, is a rate-limiting step in modulating telomerase activity. Although normally silenced in somatic cells, TERT is aberrantly expressed in 90% of aggressive cancers, highlighting this event as a hallmark of tumorigenesis. Reactivating telomerase helps cells with finite lifespan to achieve limitless proliferative potential and bypass cellular senescence induced by DNA replication-associated telomere shortening. Recently discovered non-coding mutations in the TERT promoter are among the most common genetic alterations observed across multiple cancer types. Specifically, one of two positions, G228A or G250A, is mutated in 20% of medulloblastomas, 44% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 66% of urothelial carcinomas of the bladder, 71% of melanomas, 78% of oligodendrogliomas, and 83% of primary glioblastomas (GBM). The common mutation sites may create de-novo ETS family transcription factor binding sites, but the precise mechanism of how these mutations confer increased TERT expression has remained elusive. Here, a focused siRNA screen of the many ETS transcription factors expressed in GBM identifies GABPA as the single ETS factor to selectively regulate the mutant but not the wild type TERT promoter. Single molecule binding assays and ChIP-qPCR analysis reveal that GABPA is exclusively recruited to the mutant allele in vitro and in vivo respectively. Furthermore, this allelic recruitment is consistent across four tested cancer types, highlighting a shared mechanism underlying mutant TERT promoter activation. Tandem flanking native ETS motifs critically cooperate with these mutations to activate TERT, likely by facilitating GABP heterotetramer binding. GABP thus directly links TERT promoter mutations to aberrant expression across multiple cancers.
Thermochemical Properties of Methyl-Substituted Cyclic Alkyl Ethers and Radicals for Oxiranes, Oxetanes, and Oxolanes: C–H Bond Dissociation Enthalpy Trends with Ring Size and Ether Site

Cyclic ethers are an important product from the gas-phase reactions of hydrocarbon radicals with molecular oxygen in the atmospheric chemistry of diolefins and in low to moderate temperature combustion and oxidation reaction systems. They are also important in organic synthesis. Structures, and fundamental thermochemical parameters—enthalpy (ΔH°f,298), entropy (S°298), and heat capacity (Cp(T))—have been calculated for a series of cyclic alkyl ethers and their carbon centered radicals. Enthalpies of formation (ΔH°f,298) are determined at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31G(2d,2p), and CBS-QB3 levels using several work reactions for each species. Entropy (S) and heat capacity (Cp(T)) values from vibration, translational, and external rotational contributions are calculated using the rigid-rotor–harmonic-oscillator approximation based on the vibration frequencies and structures obtained from the density functional studies. Contributions from the internal methyl rotors are substituted for torsion frequencies. ...
Characteristics of M gene in 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses isolated in Shenzhen

Objective To investigate the characteristics of M gene from 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses isolated in Shenzhen, and to analyze amantadine resistance of these viruses. Methods The M gene from 55 virus isolates was sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences was performed with DNAstar and Mega3.1 software. Results The M gene from 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus isolates was very different from the seasonal H1N1 influenza virus. The gene was similar to the European swine influenza virus. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that those M genes obtained from the Shenzhen strains had a high degree of homology with A / California / 07 / 2009. In addition, S31N mutation in the M2 gene was also found in all the Shenzhen strains, indicating that the mutants were resistant to amantadine. Conclusion The M gene of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses was derived from the European swine influenza. All the Shenzhen isolates were resistant to amantadine. Further study on the genetic characteristics and drug resistance of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses are required for the control of influenza pandemic.
Rapid resetting of baroreflexes in hypertensive dogs.

The hypothesis tested was that the rapid resetting of the arterial baroreflex control of arterial pressure in normotension could be demonstrated in experimental hypertension. After the development ...
The use of the signal averaging computer for evaluation of peripheral nerve problems

The utilization of a signal averaging microprocessor to study evoked responses in the peripheral nerve is becoming widely accepted. This technique is particularly applicable to the evaluation of peripheral nerve problems as they relate to the upper extremity. This article discusses this electrodiagnostic technique and its application.
The Principle Syndromes of Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome defined by a subacute or insidious decline in cognition from a previously higher level. Dementia, in contrast to disorders defined by deficits in only one cognitive or behavioral domain, is diagnosed when there are deficits in multiple domains. In addition to memory dysfunction, cognitive and behavioral manifestations of the dementia syndrome also include abnormalities in speech/language, visuo-spatial function, abstract reasoning/executive function, and mood/personality. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. As a consequence, memory dysfunction in the form of frequent repeating of questions, forgetting of recent events and conversations, and misplacing of items are the most common symptoms of dementia that clinicians are likely to encounter. This chapter discusses the presentation, symptoms, stages, epidemiology, and genetics of AD, dementias associated with stroke, dementia with extrapyramidal features, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and fronto-temporal dementia.
Pluripotent cells display enhanced resistance to mutagenesis

Pluripotent cells have been reported to exhibit lower frequencies of point mutations and higher levels of DNA repair than differentiated cells. This predicts that pluripotent cells are less susceptible to mutagenic exposures than differentiated cells. To test this prediction, we used a lacI mutation-reporter transgene system to assess the frequency of point mutations in multiple lines of mouse pluripotent embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent cells, as well as in multiple lines of differentiated fibroblast cells, before and after exposure to a moderate dose of the mutagen, methyl methanesulfonate. We also measured levels of key enzymes in the base excision repair (BER) pathway in each cell line before and after exposure to the mutagen. Our results confirm that pluripotent cells normally maintain lower frequencies of point mutations than differentiated cells, and show that differentiated cells exhibit a large increase in mutation frequency following a moderate mutagenic exposure, whereas pluripotent cells subjected to the same exposure show no increase in mutations. This result likely reflects the higher levels of BER proteins detectable in pluripotent cells prior to exposure and supports our thesis that maintenance of enhanced genetic integrity is a fundamental characteristic of pluripotent cells.
Genetics-based interactions of foundation species affect community diversity, stability and network structure.

We examined the hypothesis that genetics-based interactions between strongly interacting foundation species, the tree Populus angustifolia and the aphid Pemphigus betae, affect arthropod community ...
Postmaterialist Particularism: What Petitions Can Tell Us About Biases in the Policy Agenda:

Groups with financial resources dominate the pool of lobbyists and political donors. Scholars and reformers often point to the outsized influence of moneyed elites when they consider economic inequality that results from public policy. Here, we expand the scope of existing work by focusing attention on the types of policy proposals placed on the issue agenda in a venue where financial resources are not a prerequisite for participation—policy-oriented online petitions. Even in this more egalitarian sphere of participation, the policy agenda reflects some of the same biases that exist in other venues. Specifically, petitioners favor particularistic policy proposals over those with broader consequences and they are inclined toward postmaterialist issues rather than redistributive ones. In this open and popular venue for policy engagement, redistributive policy is off the agenda. Our theory of postmaterialist particularism offers a behavioral-psychological lens through which to understand this phenomenon.
Marginal immunogenicity of factor VIII.

In this issue of Blood, Zerra et al demonstrate the involvement of splenic marginal zone (MZ) B cells in initiating immune responses of naive hemophilia A mice to infused factor VIII (FVIII).1
Abstract 20549: Advanced Glycation End Product Modification of Laminin Alters Kir4.1 Expression in Retinal Glia Cells

Diabetes alters neurotransmitter metabolism of the body increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular disorders. Retinal vascular dysfunction in diabetes is viewed as a change in the neurovascular unit which exhibits striking similarities with the neurovascular unit of the brain. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major cause of adult blindness is linked to a change in the retinal neurovascular unit, leading to dysfunction between the physical and biochemical relationship of neurons, glia, and retinal vasculature. Retinal glia, or Muller cells, span across the retina to maintain water homeostasis and potassium concentration via inwardly rectifying Kir4.1 channels. Diabetes is linked to an increase in Advance Glycation End products (AGEs) and a decrease in Kir4.1 expression, but no reports show how AGEs-linked to the basement membrane (BM) impact normal Kir4.1 expression. Laminin, a BM-component, is necessary for the expression of Kir4.1 in Muller cells. In this study, we hypothesized that AGE-modification of laminin is detrimental to Kir4.1 expression, thereby disrupting Muller cell function. The AGE-modified laminin-coated substrates were prepared by coating Petri-dishes in laminin (20 μg/mL) and methylglyoxal (MGO; 10, 100, 1000 μM) for seven days at 37°C. The rat Muller cells (rMC-1) were then propagated on AGE-modified laminin dishes for 24 hours. The expression of Kir4.1 and Kcnj10 (gene for Kir4.1) was determined using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR respectively. The immunofluorescence studies revealed a profound decrease in the Kir4.1 expression on AGE-modified substrates as compared to untreated laminin. The mRNA expression of Kcnj10 exhibited a 3.4-fold decrease (p
Of, By, and For Which People? Government and Contested Heritage in the American Midwest

Over the last several years, Mounds State Park and Strawtown Koteewi Park, two government-owned and managed sites in central Indiana, USA, have become the focus of debates that reveal a variety of perspectives on the value of heritage sites among different groups of community stakeholders including Native Americans, recreational users, economic development promoters, archaeologists, and heritage professionals. A study investigating “stakeholder-defined values” of these heritage sites has revealed how different groups perceive the physical remains of the past. Discourse analysis of the debate around these sites highlighted how governmental entities, including tribal, county, and state governments, navigate the often conflicting agendas and interests of these groups by deploying different concepts of cultural heritage.
Modelling of Runway Infrastructure Operations in an Effort to Increase Economic and Environmental Sustainable Development

In the effort to increase economic and environmental sustainability of the airport system; longitudinal spacing of aircraft approaching a runway has been identified as a major obstacle for runway efficiency. As demand approaches capacity at main hub airports, research efforts have focused on safely reducing current aircraft separations, which are considered a bottleneck in the effort to increase the utilization of existing airport facilities. This research uses modelling and computational algorithms to demonstrate the potential for aircraft separation reductions based on discrete scenarios comprising environmental conditions, aircraft-dependent parameters, and aircraft operational capabilities. Results from this research show that separation reductions can be obtained for aircraft such as the A320 and E170, corresponding to groups D and E in RECAT I. This results in single runway airport efficiency increase and gains are further translated into reductions of emission and fossil fuel.
Macrophages can recognize and kill tumor cells bearing the membrane isoform of macrophage colony-stimulating factor

NBXFO hybridoma cells produced both the membrane and secreted isoforms of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Murine bone marrow cells stimulated by the secreted form of M-CSF (sM-CSF) became Mac1+, Mac2+, Mac3+, and F4/80+ macrophages that inhibited the growth of NBXFO cells, but not L1210 or P815 tumor cells. In cytotoxicity studies, M- CSF activated macrophages and freshly isolated macrophages killed NBXFO cells in the presence of polymyxin B, eliminating the possibility that contaminating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was responsible for the delivery of the cytotoxic signal. Retroviral-mediated transfection of T9 glioma cells with the gene for the membrane isoform of M-CSF (mM-CSF), but not for the secreted isoform of M-CSF, transferred the ability of macrophages to kill these transfected T9 cells in a mM-CSF dose- dependent manner. Macrophage-mediated killing of the mM-CSF transfected clone was blocked by using a 100-fold excess of recombinant M-CSF. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and the nitric oxide inhibitor, N-omega- nitro-arginine methyl ester (NAME), did not effect macrophage cytotoxicity against the mM-CSF transfectant T9 clones. T9 parental cells when cultured in the presence of an equal number of the mM-CSF transfectant cells were not killed, indicating specific target cell cytotoxicity by the macrophages. Electron microscopy showed that macrophages were capable of phagocytosizing mM-CSF bearing T9 tumor cells and NBXFO hybridoma cells; this suggested a possible mechanism of this cytotoxicity. This study indicates that mM-CSF provides the necessary binding and triggering molecules through which macrophages can initiate direct tumor cell cytotoxicity.
Risk-based stratification of carcinomas concurrently involving the endometrium and ovary.

Abstract Objective Determining whether carcinomas concurrently involving endometrium and ovary are independent primary tumors (IPTs) or endometrial carcinomas with ovarian metastases (at least stage IIIA endometrial cancers, IIIA-EC) using clinicopathologic criteria is often challenging. Recent genomic studies showed that most such tumors are clonally related. We sought to identify clinicopathologic features associated with clinical outcomes, and to separate women with these tumors into clinically low-risk and high-risk groups. Methods We reviewed clinical and pathologic data from 74 women who, between 1993 and 2014, underwent primary surgery for endometrial cancer and had concurrent ovarian involvement. Results The endometrial carcinomas were endometrioid (EECs, n = 41) or non-endometrioid (ENECs, n = 33). Nineteen (26%) cases were originally classified as IPTs using clinicopathologic criteria. Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node involvement (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.38, 95% CI 1.13–5.02, p = 0.023) and non-endometrioid endometrial tumor histology (HR = 6.27, 95% CI 2.6–15.13, p Conclusion Our proposed risk-based stratification enables categorization of women with concurrent endometrial and ovarian tumors according to their likely clinical outcomes.
Learning EV Integration Impact on a Low Voltage Distribution Grid

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the modern transportation and energy systems. However, due to increasing battery and charger capacities with long charging times, adverse effects on distribution grid are expected with mass penetration of EVs. In this paper, we investigate and evaluate the voltage impact of EV integration into a 37-bus IEEE distribution grid model to extract the signature of power system congestion information. The statistical distribution of voltage at local nodes are obtained with respect to node distance to substation and different EV integration rates. It is observed that both EV integration and node distance affect the observed voltage means and deviations at the local node significantly. The obtained results show that each local node can infer the congestion in the distribution grid by only observing its own voltage levels. This will open new possibilities for local control mechanisms that will enable fair power sharing among EVs irrespective of their physical location.
Adaptive Scheduling of the Battery for Peak shaving using Model Predictive Control

The objective of this project is to develop a load forecasting technique and demand management algorithm using the Model Predictive Control (MPC). This paper will demonstrate the present state of the art with respect to demand control strategies within the market place, the taxonomy of such control algorithms and their respective strengths and weaknesses. The algorithm uses a two-part forecaster where a deterministic part using exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) model accounts for longer term trends and a second order regression model (AR2) accounts for the short term variations. The algorithm is to be evaluated on a 50 kW, 165 kWh energy storage system installed behind the meter at a Clemson University academic building. The next phase of this work involves augmenting this algorithm for the energy storage system with the building management system to realize greater opportunities.
Does Metabolic Syndrome Increase the Risk of Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND:Metabolic syndrome is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes after various abdominal operations. However, the impact of metabolic syndrome on outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery remains poorly described.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the association betwe
Bayesian adaptive Lasso Tobit regression

In this paper, we introduce a new procedure for model selection in Tobit regression, we suggest the Bayesian adaptive Lasso Tobit regression (BALTR) for variable selection (VS) and coefficient estimation. We submitted a Bayesian hierarchical model and Gibbs sampler (GS) for our procedure. Our proposed procedure is clarified by means of simulations and a real data analysis. Results demonstrate our procedure performs well in comparison to further procedures.
Devotion in Jain song and poetic narrative

An underlying fabric enfolds this collection of essays on Jain music and musicality, poetry and the poetic, a fabric woven of words and rhythm. These four essays, two on music, and two on the more ...
Predictive genomic traits for bacterial growth in culture versus actual growth in soil

Relationships between microbial genes and performance are often evaluated in the laboratory in pure cultures, with little validation in nature. Here, we show that genomic traits related to laboratory measurements of maximum growth potential failed to predict the growth rates of bacteria in unamended soil, but successfully predicted growth responses to resource pulses: growth increased with 16S rRNA gene copy number and declined with genome size after substrate addition to soils, responses that were repeated in four different ecosystems. Genome size best predicted growth rate in response to addition of glucose alone; adding ammonium with glucose weakened the relationship, and the relationship was absent in nutrient-replete pure cultures, consistent with the idea that reduced genome size is a mechanism of nutrient conservation. Our findings demonstrate that genomic traits of soil bacteria can map to their ecological performance in nature, but the mapping is poor under native soil conditions, where genomic traits related to stress tolerance may prove more predictive. These results remind that phenotype depends on environmental context, underscoring the importance of verifying proposed schemes of trait-based strategies through direct measurement of performance in nature, an important and currently missing foundation for translating microbial processes from genes to ecosystems.
How the knowledge I gained in my first career enriches my teaching at a community college

We do not all arrive at a career in academia on the same road. Many of us, particularly those of us teaching at community colleges, come to teaching as a second career, after working many years in ...
Acute Myocarditis Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome.

A 50-year-old male presented to the hospital with an approximate three-week history of nausea, fever, and back pain. Upon initial evaluation he had an electrocardiogram with ischemic changes and initial labs significant for a troponin of >25.0 ng/ml (<0.30 ng/ml), pro b-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) of 9884 pg/ml (<125 pg/ml), and a lactic acid of 4.3 mmol/L (0.5-1.9 mmol/L). There was a concern for an acute coronary syndrome presenting as cardiogenic shock, but the patient was unable to tolerate left heart catheterization. He had a rapid clinical decline and despite all efforts, he passed away. The initial cause of death was thought to be due to an acute myocardial infarction, however, autopsy results were consistent with acute myocarditis. This case highlights the presentation of acute myocarditis as an acute coronary syndrome with complete heart block.
Blackbox computation of A-infinity-algebras

Kadeishvili's proof of the minimality theorem [T. Kadeishvili, On the homology theory of fiber spaces, Russ. Math. Surv. 35:3 (1980), 231-238] induces an algorithm for the inductive computation of ...
Endpoint Lp→Lq bounds for integration along certain polynomial curves

Abstract We establish strong-type endpoint L p ( R d ) → L q ( R d ) bounds for the operator given by convolution with affine arclength measure on polynomial curves for d ⩾ 4 . The bounds established depend only on the dimension d and the degree of the polynomial.
Predicting morbidity and mortality in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Preoperative serum albumin still matters.

Abstract Background This study examined the association of preoperative serum albumin with outcomes for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was retrospectively analyzed from 2005 to 2016 for adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were stratified into four groups: Results Of 131,855 patients, 14.0% had Severe, 22.8% Moderate, and 29.7% Mild Malnutrition, with 33.5% classified as Normal Nutrition. Adjusted multivariable regressions demonstrated that relative to Normal Nutrition, mortality risk was increased for Severe (OR = 3.09 [95% Confidence Interval: 2.09–4.56]) and Moderate (OR = 1.83 [1.24–2.72]) Malnutrition. Severe (OR = 2.45 [1.67–3.61]) and Moderate (OR = 1.52 [1.04–2.24]) Malnutrition were also associated with increased risk of postoperative septic shock. Conclusions Even in less invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy, reduced preoperative serum albumin is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Degenerative Mitral Valve Repair Simplified: An Evolution to Universal Artificial Cordal Repair.

Background Resectional and artificial cordal repair techniques are effective strategies for degenerative mitral valve (MV) repair. However, resectional repair requires a tailored approach using various techniques, whereas cordal repair offers a simpler, easily reproducible repair. The approach described in this study approach has evolved from resectional to cordal over time, and outcomes are compared between the eras. Methods Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of all patients undergoing MV repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) from January 2004 to September 2017 were reviewed. Patients were stratified by era: from January 2004 to June 2011 (era 1; n = 405), resectional techniques were used in 62% and artificial cordal techniques were used in 38%. From July 2011 to September 2017 (era 2; n = 438), artificial cordal repair was used in 98% of patients. The primary outcome was repair failure, defined as greater than moderate MR or MV reoperation. Results Of 847 patients with degenerative MR, successful repair was achieved in 843 patients (99.5% repair rate). Leaflet prolapse was posterior in 66%, anterior in 8%, and bileaflet in 26%. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and cross-clamp times were shorter in era 2 (CPB: 109 [IQR, 92–128] minutes vs 97 [IQR, 76–121] minutes; P .999). The rates of 5-year freedom from repair failure (95.1% vs 95.5%; P = .707), stroke (96.8% vs 95.3%; P = .538), and endocarditis (99.3% vs 99.7%; P = .604) were similar between the eras. Conclusions Artificial cordal repair for all patients with degenerative MR simplifies MV repair and yields equivalent, excellent outcomes compared with a tailored resectional approach.
Genoppi: an open-source software for robust and standardized integration of proteomic and genetic data

Combining genetic and cell-type-specific proteomic datasets can lead to new biological insights and therapeutic hypotheses, but a technical and statistical framework for such analyses is lacking. Here, we present an open-source computational tool called Genoppi that enables robust, standardized, and intuitive integration of quantitative proteomic results with genetic data. We used Genoppi to analyze sixteen cell-type-specific protein interaction datasets of four proteins (TDP-43, MDM2, PTEN, and BCL2) involved in cancer and neurological disease. Through systematic quality control of the data and integration with published protein interactions, we show a general pattern of both cell-type-independent and cell-type-specific interactions across three cancer and one human iPSC-derived neuronal type. Furthermore, through the integration of proteomic and genetic datasets in Genoppi, our results suggest that the neuron-specific interactions of these proteins are mediating their genetic involvement in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Importantly, our analyses indicate that human iPSC-derived neurons are a relevant model system for studying the involvement of TDP-43 and BCL2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Brainstem BOLD response to visual and acoustic stimuli

Understanding the fundamental roles of brainstem function resulting in proper motor control is critical to motor-rehabilitation after brain injuries. In particular, vestibular and reticular formation nuclei are thought to be associated with spasticity in chronic stroke patients. We used two kinds of stimuli in 10 healthy subjects to activate these nuclei while collecting high-resolution (1.5-mm) fMRI across the majority of brainstem. Optokinetic stimuli evoked illusory self-motion to activate the vestibular nuclei. Acoustic-startle stimuli were sets of loud tones designed to activate of the reticular formation. We summarized the response represented in a form of activation volume, mean percent signal change, and the phase delay (time lag) following the stimulus. We observed patterns of significant activations in the brainstem but did not find significant differences between the stimulus. We conclude that more sensitive measurement techniques are needed to reliably detect vestibular and reticular formation nuclei responses.
Changes in Preterm Birth Phenotypes and Stillbirth at 2 Philadelphia Hospitals During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, March-June 2020.

This study uses data from the GeoBirth pregnancy cohort of all births in 2 hospitals in Philadelphia to examine whether rates of preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth, medically indicated preterm birth, and stillbirth have changed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic compared with prepandemic rates.
Interventions using mHealth strategies to improve screening rates of cervical cancer: A scoping review

Abstract MHealth interventions are extensively used to inform and remind women about cervical cancer and their upcoming screening appointments. Our scoping review aims to examine the effectiveness these interventions targeted to increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening along with its barriers and facilitators. We searched 4 databases (PsycINFO. PUBMED, CINAHL, and MEDLINE) for studies that were published between January 1, 2009 and October 2019. References were further screened manually for additional papers. Studies were included in the review if they used interventions including phone calls, text messages and mobile applications as their primary strategy to contact women. We identified 12 unique studies that met the inclusion criteria; seven were international studies. Most studies sent multiple messages (informative and reminder) and/or made numerous phone calls (manual/automated) to inform participants about cervical cancer screening, their nearest screening clinic, and their upcoming appointments. Five studies documented a significant increase in the uptake of cervical cancer screenings during the follow-ups conducted within 12 months. Qualitative studies suggested participants prefer particular communication mediums, and they were concerned about privacy and confidentiality issues when text messages were sent with their health information. Findings suggest mHealth interventions may be an effective strategy to reach women for improving their cervical cancer uptake. Barriers including transportation cost, inaccessibility, and inability to come for walk-in appointments in the health clinics need to be addressed, beyond reminders, in mobile phone-based interventions to facilitate their presence in their next appointment.
Wildfires: Identification of a new suite of aromatic polycarboxylic acids in ash and surface water

Ash and surface water samples collected after wildfires in four different geographical locations (California, Colorado, Kansas and Alberta) were analyzed. The ash samples were leached with deionized water, and leachates were concentrated by solid phase extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In addition, three surface water samples and a lysimeter water sample were collected from watersheds recently affected by fire in California and Colorado, and analyzed in similar fashion. A suite of benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs), with two and three carboxyl groups and their corresponding isomers were identified for the first time in both ash leachates and water samples. Also found was a pyridine carboxylic acid (PCA), 3,5-pyridine dicarboxylic acid. Furthermore, putative identifications were made for other carboxylated aromatic acids: quinolinic, naphthalenic, and benzofuranoic acid carboxylates. The wildfire ashes, a controlled wood ash, and post-fire surface water samples suggest that burned woody material, along with surface plant-material and heated o-horizon soil organic matter, contribute to both BPCAs and PCAs in runoff. This study is the first of its kind to identify this suite of aromatic acids in wildfire ash and surface water samples. These data make an important contribution to the nature of dissolved organic matter from wildfire and are useful to better understand the impact of wildfire on water quality and drinking water sources.
Valid clocking in wavepipelined circuits

An analysis of valid clock rates in wavepipelined circuits using a technique called timed Boolean functions is presented. It is shown that the valid intervals for the clock period can be disconnected. Thus, it is insufficient to known only the minimum valid clock period in guaranteeing proper operation of pipelined circuits. Analytic expressions for the valid clock intervals in terms of both topological delay and two-vector longest and shortest delays are provided. Also uncertainties arising from manufacturing are taken into account. Some potential difficulties in computing the exact valid clock intervals are illustrated by demonstrating discontinuity and nonmonotonicity of the harmonic number H( tau ) (the number of valid simultaneous data waves allowed) as a function of the clock period tau . >
Foreign Direct Investment and Female Entrepreneurship

Using World Bank Enterprise Survey data around the world, this paper examines how foreign direct investment is associated with female entrepreneurship (that is, a firm being managed and at least partly owned by women), along with other factors such as business environment and female empowerment, and their interactions with foreign direct investment. Female entrepreneurship rises with foreign direct investment inflow, lower entry barriers for women, women's better access to finance, higher female labor force participation, and women's better education. The positive association of foreign direct investment inflow and female entrepreneurship is stronger for firms in the service sectors and small firms. The horizontal competition effects of intra-industry foreign direct investment for female entrepreneurship are reduced when women face lower entry barriers for starting a business and have a higher labor force participation rate, and the effects do not depend on women's access to finance or their level of education.
Stabilization/Solidification (S/S) of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils by Means of a Quicklime-Based Treatment Approach

The effectiveness of a quicklime-based treatment on reducing the mobility of heavy metals (lead, chromium, arsenic and mercury) in contaminated soils was evaluated using both slurry batch-contact and optimum water content compaction experimental techniques. The results indicated that lead, arsenic and trivalent chromium leachabilities were significantly reduced as a result of the quicklime treatment, while at the same time significant strength gains were evidenced for the treated soils. However, more hexavalent chromium was released from lime treated mixes than from the untreated solid due to the low adsorption and high solubility of chromate at high pHs. The results obtained from pH-controlled extraction, x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy suggested that a significant portion of the immobilized heavy metals are strongly associated with pozzolanic reaction products.
Atomistic simulation of thermodynamic and mechanical properties of metals

This paper reviews the atomistic simulation of thermodynamic and mechanical properties of prototype metals using first-principles density-functional methods. Electronic-structure techniques developed from linear muffin-tin orbital theory can yield accurate cold and electron-thermal contributions to the equation of state, pressure-induced structural phase transitions, phonons, elastic moduli, and ideal shear strength to ultrahigh pressures. Complementary interatomic-potentials methods developed from generalized pseudopotential theory can provide in addition the ion-thermal equation of state, high-pressure melting curve, and temperature–pressure phase diagram, as well as the atomic structure and energetics of point and extended defects including vacancies, grain boundaries, and dislocations. The latter represent essential atomistic input into the rigorous multiscale modeling of mechanical properties such as plastic flow. Applications to the metals magnesium, molybdenum, and tantalum are discussed.
Pollen Tube Guidance--Right on Target

How does the pollen tube emanating from a pollen grain on the stigma of a female plant know in which direction to migrate on its long journey down to the depths of the ovary? According to Cheung and Wu in their Perspective, the paired synergid cells that "guard" the entrance to the embryo sac of the ovule release guidance cues that direct the pollen tip toward the entrance. As the tip enters the embryo sac it ruptures, releasing the two male gametes into the vicinity of the egg cell, and also ruptures one of the synergid cells resulting in the halting of guidance cue release and preventing other pollen tubes from entering the fertilized ovule.
How Much Does Snap Reduce Food Insecurity

Nearly 15 percent of all households and 39 percent of near-poor households were food insecure in 2008. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program) is the cornerstone of federal food assistance programs and serves as the first line of defense against food-related hardship. Using SIPP data, this paper measures SNAP’s effectiveness in reducing food insecurity using an instrumental variables approach to control for selection bias. Our results suggest that SNAP receipt reduces the likelihood of being food insecure by roughly 30 percent and reduces the likelihood of being very food insecure by 20 percent.
Learning optimal subsets with implicit user preferences

We study the problem of learning an optimal subset from a larger ground set of items, where the optimality criterion is defined by an unknown preference function. We model the problem as a discriminative structural learning problem and solve it using a Structural Support Vector Machine (SSVM) that optimizes a "set accuracy" performance measure representing set similarities. Our approach departs from previous approaches since we do not explicitly learn a pre-defined preference function. Experimental results on both a synthetic problem domain and a real-world face image subset selection problem show that our method significantly outperforms previous learning approaches for such problems.
Examining the Return–Volatility Relation for Foreign Exchange: Evidence from the Euro VIX

We compare the return–volatility relation for the euro currency to the equivalent relation for the equity market, examining the sign, symmetry, and strength of the relation. We employ the euro-currency exchange-traded fund (FXE) and its associated option implied volatility index (the EVZ), whereas previous studies only employ equities and/or realized volatility. The equity studies find a negative asymmetric return–volatility relation for implied volatility, with a strong relation when large market movements occur. We find that the euro return–volatility relation can possess either a positive or negative sign, is asymmetric, and has a weaker relation. Thus, the sign and strength of the euro relation differs from the equivalent equity relation. Our quantile regressions show that both the positive and negative contemporaneous returns of the euro result in increased volatility in the extreme quantiles of the conditional distribution, with the contemporaneous effect showing a stronger relation when the euro depreciates. We also find that the volume of the euro-currency ETF options affects the return–volatility relation for the euro ETF. Overall, the results here expand the concept originally restricted to equities, with the surprising results that the return-implied volatility relation is weaker and the asymmetric return sometimes is positive for the euro currency. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 34:74–92, 2014
A manipulation of two-dimensional NMR spectra based on graph theory

Graph theory is used to analyze the problem of combining information from H,H-COSY and H,C-COSY spectra in order to infer carbon-carbon connectivity. For purposes of analysis, the 2D NMR spectra are represented as binary matrices, which can be interpreted in terms of graphs. A simple but nonobvious mathematical relationship between these binary matrices and the carbon-carbon connectivity is derived using elementary graph theory. The application of this relationship to real data matrices is examined using the 2D spectra of some simple molecules
The valence-band structure of La1−xCaxMnO3

Abstract The valence electronic structure of a crystalline La 1− x Ca x MnO 3 (with x = 0.35) film has been studied by means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. Only a small intensity at E F was observed even for the metallic phase. The valence band resonance enhancement was observed for photon energies around the Mn 3 p edge. The symmetry character of some of the extensively hybridized Mn 3 d O 2 p states in the valence band are assigned based on resonance behaviour and light polarization dependence. The experimental results are compared with a local-density-approximation calculation for the total and partial density of states in the valence band region.
Annealing effects on the thermoelectric power of thin copper and silver films

Abstract The effect of annealing on the thermoelectric power of thin copper and silver films has been investigated. Using Matthiessen's rule, the thermoelectric power is separated into three components: S 0 due to bulk lattice scattering, S s due to surface scattering and S i due to scattering by imperfections. The values of S 0 and S s are independent of the film thickness, whereas S i varies with film thickness. However, S i approaches a constant value for both copper and silver when the film thickness is larger than 1000 A. The values of S s obtained for copper and silver films are 1.33 μV/°K and 3.23 μV/°K respectively. For thicker films ( t >1000 A), the values of S i for copper and silver films are 3.89 μV/°K and 9.63 μV/°K respectively.