cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of prenatal stress on suckling calves

Pregnant Brahman cows (n = 42), bred to either Brahman or Tuli bulls, were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) transported in a stock trailer for 24.2 km, unloaded at a second farm and penned for 1 h, and then returned to the original farm (TRANS); 2) i.v. injection of ACTH, 1 IU/kg BW (ACTH); or 3) walked through the handling facilities (SHAM). Treatments were initiated on d 60 and repeated at 80, 100, 120, and 140 d of gestation. The calves from these cows were subjected to tests to measure their capacity to react to stress. In Test 1, Tuli-sired calves were restrained at 10 and 150 d of age for 3.5 h. In Test 2, Brahman-sired calves were restrained for 3.5 h and given an injection of ACTH (.125 IU ACTH/kg of BW). In Test 3, Test-2 calves were restrained at 180 d of age and hot-iron branded. In Test 4, Test-1 calves were restrained at 180 d of age and given an injection of cortisol (6.7 ng/kg BW) to estimate cortisol clearance rate. During all tests, calves were restrained for 3.5 h, and heart rates were recorded and blood samples were taken at -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min. The 10- and 150-d-old TRANS calves maintained greater plasma cortisol in Test 1 (restraint) than the ACTH and SHAM calves (P .4). In response to branding (Test 3), the TRANS, ACTH, and SHAM calves' overall mean plasma cortisol was not affected by treatment (52, 51, and 43 +/- 3 ng/mL, respectively; P > .1), nor was the calves' overall heart rate (91, 94, and 86 +/- 3 beats/min, respectively; P > . 1). In Test 4, TRANS calves cleared plasma of cortisol at a slower rate than did the SHAM calves (P .1). The TRANS calves had an overall greater heart rate than did the ACTH or the SHAM calves (91, 79, and 77 +/- 2 beats/min, respectively; P < .001). Exposing cows to repeated transportation stress during gestation altered their calf's physiological response to stress, and these alterations could have a profound influence on the calfs ability to adapt to stress, thereby influencing its welfare. Further research should examine the growth, immune function, and reproductive function of prenatally stressed calves to determine whether these changes in plasma cortisol are beneficial or deleterious.
Risk of Symptomatic VTE Associated With Flying in the Early Postoperative Period After THA and TKA

Introduction Air travel and total joint arthroplasty are both established risk factors for development of venous thromboembolism (VTE); accordingly patients are typically counseled against flying in the early postoperative period. The basis for this recommendation may be unfounded, as the risk of VTE associated with flying in the early postoperative period has not been investigated. Methods This is a case-control study of 1465 consecutive unilateral total hip arthroplasties (THA) and total knee arthroplasties (TKA) performed by a single surgeon over an 18-month period. A multimodal regimen was used for VTE prophylaxis, consisting of early mobilization, mechanical prophylaxis, and chemoprophylaxis according to a risk-stratification model; 96% of patients received aspirin as the sole chemoprophylactic agent. The study population consisted of 220 patients (15.0%) who flew at a mean of 2.9 days after surgery. Patients who elected to fly were encouraged to wear anti-embolic stockings, perform frequent ankle-pump exercises, and move around at least every hour. Mean flight duration was 2.7 hours (range, 1.1 to 13.7 hours). This study population was compared to a control population of 1245 patients (85.0%) who did not fly during this time. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups, with the exception that the group who flew tended to be older (65.5 vs. 59.5 years, p 2 , p Results Differences in the rates of DVT, PE, or overall VTE were not statistically significant between the groups. Symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurred in 2 patients (0.91%) in the study group compared with 5 patients (0.40%) in the control group. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in 1 patient in the study group (0.45%) compared with 10 patients in the study group (0.80%). Mean flight time among the three patients who developed symptomatic VTE was 2.3 hours (range, 1.4 to 3.7 hours). Conclusion Using a multimodal approach to prophylaxis with an emphasis on early mobilization, the rate of symptomatic VTE was very low among patients who flew during the early postoperative period following THA and TKA, and was not increased over the control population who did not fly. Although there may be some degree of self-selection bias among patients who choose to fly after surgery, allowing them to do so appears to a safe practice.
Novel Sparse Kernel Manifold Learner for Image Classification Applications

This chapter presents a sparse kernel manifold learner framework for different image classification applications. First, a new DAISY Fisher vector (D-FV) feature is created by computing Fisher vectors on densely sampled DAISY features. Second, a WLD-SIFT Fisher vector (WS-FV) feature is developed by fusing the Weber local descriptors (WLD) with the SIFT descriptors, and the Fisher vectors are computed on the fused WLD-SIFT features. Third, an innovative fused Fisher vector (FFV) feature is developed by integrating the most expressive features of the D-FV, the WS-FV and the SIFT-FV features. The FFV feature is then further assessed in eight different color spaces and a novel fused color Fisher vector (FCFV) feature is computed by integrating the PCA features of the eight color FFV descriptors. Finally, we propose a sparse kernel manifold learner (SKML) method for learning a discriminative sparse representation by considering the local manifold structure and the label information based on the marginal Fisher criterion. The objective of the SKML method is to minimize the intraclass scatter and maximize the interclass separability which are defined based on the sparse criterion. The effectiveness of the proposed SKML method is assessed on different image classification datasets such as the Painting-91 dataset for computational art painting classification, the CalTech-101 dataset for object categorization, and the 15 Scenes dataset for scene classification . Experimental results show that our proposed method is able to achieve better performance than other popular image descriptors and learning methods for different visual recognition applications.
Crosslinked Microgels as Platform for Hydrolytic Catalysts

In an effort to develop biomimetic glycosyl transfer catalysts, a polymerization protocol was developed that is applicable to the synthesis of crosslinked microgels via UV-initiated free radical polymerization of miniemulsions at ambient temperature and below. The catalytic activity of the microgels derived from butyl acrylate, EGDMA, and a catalyst-precursor ligand was established using the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactopyranoside as a model reaction. The microgel-catalyzed hydrolysis was up to 3 × 105-fold accelerated over the background reaction and notably 38-fold faster than the hydrolysis catalyzed by its low molecular weight analog. Dynamic light scattering analysis demonstrated mean hydrodynamic diameters of the particles between 210 and 280 nm and chemical stability of the particles in aqueous solution between pH 1 and 13. A bell-shaped correlation between catalytic proficiency and material rigidity was observed that peaks at 40 mol % of crosslinking content of the microgel.
Constructing supply chains in open source software

The supply chain is an extremely successful way to cope with the risk posed by distributed decision making in product sourcing and distribution. While open source software has similarly distributed decision making and involves code and information flows similar to those in ordinary supply chains, the actual networks necessary to quantify and communicate risks in software supply chains have not been constructed on large scale. This work proposes to close this gap by measuring dependency, code reuse, and knowledge flow networks in open source software. We have done preliminary work by developing suitable tools and methods that rely on public version control data to measure and comparing these networks for R language and emberjs packages. We propose ways to calculate the three networks for the entirety of public software, evaluate their accuracy, and to provide public infrastructure to build risk assessment and mitigation tools for various individual and organizational participants in open sources software. We hope that this infrastructure will contribute to more predictable experience with OSS and lead to its even wider adoption.
Derivation of Initial Velocity Rate Equations

The initial rate equation for enzyme catalyzed reactions that describes initial reaction velocity as a function of substrate concentration had its origins in the work of HENRI (1), BROWN (2), MICHAELIS and MENTEN (3) and BRIGGS and HALDANE (4).
El sentido de De los nombres de Cristo de fray Luis de León (y una posible fuente)

It is extremely interesting that De los nombres de Cristo is the only one of Fray Luis de Leon's biblical commentaries in which he made extensive use of allegorical interpretation. It was above all his insistence on the priority of the literal meaning of the Hebrew text of the Bible that led to his arrest by the Inquisition in 1572. In this article I propose that De los nombres de Cristo, which Fray Luis began writing in jail, was above all his self-defense against the charges brought against him by his enemies. The book's principal theme is in fact not the names of Christ but (1) the meaning of history, and (2) justice and the proper exercise of power. I suggest that Fray Luis's development of these themes was inspired by his reading of Samuel Usque's Consolacam as tribulacoens de Israel (1533).
Relationships among organ damage, social support, and depression in African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

ObjectivesSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately strikes African American women. Social support can potentially reduce disease impact. The purpose of this study is to understand the ...
Early rapid weight gain among formula-fed infants: Impact of formula type and maternal feeding styles.

Background What and how infants are fed are considered important determinants for the risk factor of early rapid gain weight. Objectives We conducted secondary analyses on data from a randomized clinical trial, wherein infants randomized to feed cow milk formula had double the incidence of early rapid weight gain than those fed extensively hydrolyzed protein formula, to determine whether maternal feeding styles had independent effects or interactive effects with infant formula type on early rapid weight gain. Methods Anthropometry and feeding patterning (number of daily formula feeds) were measured monthly, and maternal feeding styles were measured at 0.5, 3.5, and 4.5 months. Longitudinal models were fitted using generalized estimating equations and separate logistic models conducted. Results The treatment groups did not differ in formula feeding patterning or in maternal feeding styles, which were stable across the first 4.5 months. Feeding styles had no significant effects on early rapid weight gain and did not interact with formula group. However, type of infant formula had a direct and independent impact on early rapid weight gain (P = 0.003). Conclusions The type of infant formula had a differential impact on early rapid weight gain independent of maternal feeding style, highlighting the self-regulatory capabilities of infants.
Early Utilization Patterns of the New Medicare Procedure Codes for Advance Care Planning.

This study of Medicare claims analyzes utilization patterns for new Current Procedural Terminology codes for advance care planning visits.
Why India’s Post-1998 Evolution as a Conventional Nuclear Weapons Power Evokes Surprise

ABSTRACTTwenty years after India formally staked claims to nuclear weapons power status its nuclear trajectory evokes surprise. The first element of surprise concerns the nature of India’s arsenal,...
The Role of the Clinical Pharmacist in a Preventive Cardiology Practice.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In response, a multidisciplinary team approach, which includes clinical pharmacists, is reco...
Metabolomic profiles associated with all-cause mortality in the Women's Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND Metabolomics profiling has shown promise in elucidating the biological pathways underpinning mortality, but there are limited data in female populations. METHODS We applied a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics platform to EDTA-plasma to measure 470 metabolites at baseline in a discovery set of 943 postmenopausal women (including 417 incident deaths, median time to death of 10.6 years) with validation in an independent set of 1355 postmenopausal women (including 685 deaths, median time to death of 9.1 years) in the Women's Health Initiative. RESULTS Eight new metabolites were discovered to be associated with all-cause mortality. Findings included protective effects of increased levels of three amino acids (asparagine, homoarginine and tryptophan) and docosatrienoic acid; and detrimental effects of increased levels of C4-OH-carnitine, hexadecanedioate and two purine/pyrimidines (N2, N2-dimethylguanosine and N4-acetylcytidine). In addition, a set of nine previously published metabolite associations were replicated. A metabolite score comprising 17 metabolites was associated with mortality (P < 10-8) after adjustment for risk factors, with a hazard ratio of 1.95 (95% CI: 1.46-2.62) for women in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of metabolite score. The score was robust among younger women and older women, for both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, and associated with both early deaths (within the first 10 years of baseline) and later deaths. CONCLUSIONS Our study fills a gap in the literature by identifying eight novel metabolite associations with all-cause mortality in women, using a robust study design involving independent discovery and validation datasets.
Using compression therapy in a primary care setting to treat complications of chronic venous insufficiency.

Background Patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are prone to developing complications such as slow-healing venous leg ulcers. Local problem Nurse practitioners can assess patients for complications of CVI during routine examinations. If found, they can implement compression therapy and possibly prevent the development of slow-healing venous leg ulcers. Methods A retrospective chart review of patient occurrences with complications due to CVI between 2011 and 2018 was conducted to evaluate patient outcomes when treated with compression therapy by their primary care providers (PCPs). Patients were identified by the Unna boot's Current Procedural Technology code, the compression therapy used by the providers. Patients included in the review had the diagnosis of or symptoms of CVI. Patient outcomes were identified as improved, unchanged, or deteriorated. Interventions The use of compression therapy for patients with documented complication of CVI. The Unna boot was the compression device used at this practice. Results There were 60 occurrences distributed among 40 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of the 60 occurrences, 54 or 90% of patient occurrences had an improvement of symptoms. According to the Wound Healing Society Guidelines, high compression therapy, such as the Unna boot, is classified as most supportive, for treatment of venous ulcers. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate the positive impact PCPs, including nurse practitioners, may have when initiating compression therapy for patients with complications of CVI.
AN UNEXPECTED CAUSE FOR ALARM

A 73 year-old male who underwent HeartMate II LVAD implantation 5 years ago for ischemic cardiomyopathy called clinic due to multiple low-flow alarms. The alarms started one week prior to admission, did not resolve with controller change, and became so frequent that his neighbor called the police.
Neoliberalism: The Decline of Public Obligation

In the years following the establishment of PEG channels, a new political economic regime gained dominance in the US and the West: neoliberalism. This new regime marked a sea change in the philosophies of government leaders, the judiciary, and policy makers regarding the public obligations of media. The philosophies of the free market, deregulation and privatization, came to predominate, although in many ways neoliberalism, while embracing market fundamentalism, did not endorse the traditional views of earlier capitalism. After a discussion of the history and nature of neoliberalism, which emphasizes the role of government in shaping, if not intervening in, free markets, I detail some of the regulatory and political changes that were undertaken in the neoliberal era, focusing on media issues including the organizations influenced by ALEC, which strove to either eliminate cable franchises or move them to the state level, and the 1996 Communications Act, which relaxed ownership rules. Along with the withering away of the fairness doctrine they increased concentration and led to right-wing radio and television. The net effect of these changes was to limit the effectiveness of the public sphere as a forum for open debate in the media and undermine some of the efforts to revitalize civil society. More than in the post–World War II era, neoliberals sought to depoliticize social life and deeply limit and restrict democratic, even popular democratic, initiatives.
Traube-Hering waves are formed by interaction of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and pulse pressure modulation in healthy men.

Variability in blood pressure has become an important metric to consider as more is learned about the link between excessive blood pressure variability and adverse health outcomes. In this study us...
Nutrition and Markers of Disease Severity in Patients With Bronchiectasis.

Background Increasing numbers of patients are being diagnosed with bronchiectasis, yet much remains to be elucidated about this heterogeneous patient population. We sought to determine the relationship between nutrition and health outcomes in non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis, using data from the U.S. Bronchiectasis Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Research Registry (U.S. BRR). Methods This was a retrospective, observational, longitudinal study using 5-year follow-up data from the BRR. Bronchiectasis was confirmed on computed tomography (CT). We stratified patients into nutrition categories using body mass index (BMI), and correlated BMI to markers of disease severity. Results Overall, n = 496 patients (mean age 64.6- ± 13 years; 83.3% female) were included. At baseline 12.3% (n = 61) were underweight (BMI < 18.5kg/m2), 63.9% (n = 317) had normal weight (BMI ≥ 18.5kg/m2 and <25.0kg/m2), 17.3% (n = 86) were overweight (BMI ≥ 25.0kg/m2 and < 30.0kg/m2), and 6.5% (n= 32) were obese (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2). Men were overrepresented in the overweight and obese groups (25.6% and 43.8% respectively, p < 0.0001). Underweight patients had lower lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] % predicted) than the other weight groups (64.5 ± 22, versus 73.5 ± 21, 68.5 ± 20, and 76.5 ± 21 in normal, overweight, and obese groups respectively, p = 0.02). No significant differences were noted between BMI groups for other markers of disease severity at baseline, including exacerbation frequency or hospitalization rates. No significant differences were noted in BMI distribution between patients with and without Pseudomonas, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, or by cause of bronchiectasis. The majority of patients demonstrated stable BMI over 5 years. Conclusions Although underweight patients with bronchiectasis have lower lung function, lower BMI does not appear to relate to other markers of disease severity in this patient population.
Pathogen-encoded evasion of CXCL10 and T cell responses

Abstract Clearance of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania (L.) major, depends on a well-regulated adaptive T cell response. Here we describe a pathogen-encoded mechanism to alter T cell recruitment by suppressing CXCL10, a chemokine that recruits CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by signaling through the CXCR3 receptor. L. major suppresses CXCL10 through the virulence factor and protease, glycoprotein-63 (gp63). GP63 cleaves CXCL10 after amino acid A81, impairing T-cell chemotaxis in vitro. GP63 from either extracellular promastigotes or intracellular amastigotes is capable of cleaving CXCL10. Consistent with CXCL10 cleavage during infection, we observed GP63-mediated impairment of activated CD8+ T-cells in the draining lymph nodes of C57BL/6JWT mice. Correspondingly, in C57BL/6JWT mice, gp63 deletion resulted in slower lesion development and a smaller maximum lesion size. However, infection in C57BL/6Jcxcr3−/− mice revealed the delay to lesion development required CXCR3 signaling. Finally, Salmonella enterica and Chlamydia trachomatis infection also suppress CXCL10, demonstrating convergent evolution of this immune evasion strategy in diverse intracellular pathogens. Understanding mechanisms of CXCL10 evasion may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat intracellular pathogens. Author Summary Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that affects over one million people annually. It is caused by intracellular parasites that have evolved to evade the host’s attempts to eliminate the parasite. The most common form of disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis, causes disfiguring skin lesions if the host immune system does not appropriately respond to the infection. A family of molecules called chemokines are critical for the recruitment of specific subsets of immune cells required to eliminate infection. Here, we demonstrate a novel mechanism that the parasite Leishmania (L.) major employs to disrupt the immune response by interfering with chemokine signaling. By this strategy, L. major uses a protease to cleave chemokines known to recruit T-cells required for fighting off infection. We show that L. major cleavage of these immune signals changes the recruitment of CD8+ T-cells and alters disease progression in mice. Finally, we observe that multiple common human intracellular pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis and Salmonella enterica, interfere with the same chemokines, suggesting a strong selective pressure to avoid this component of the immune response. Our study provides new insights into how intracellular pathogens interact with the host immune response to enhance pathogen survival and exacerbate disease outcomes.
Neonatal Urological Emergencies

A number of genitourinary emergencies may present in the neonatal period. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical in order to reduce the morbidity and potential mortality. Most of these scenarios involve urinary tract obstruction and/or urinary tract infection resulting in renal compromise and sepsis. An additional condition requiring prompt response is the neonatal acute scrotum. Appropriate use of imaging and prompt intervention are critical to provide optimal outcomes. This chapter provides examples highlighting the most common emergent genitourinary conditions presenting in the neonatal period.
Brain Homogenate Decoys for Antigen-Specific Cell Amplification

Multiple sclerosis is complex and heterogeneous. Better tools are needed to be able to monitor this disease among individuals, but blood-based biomarkers are often too rare to profile. In this work...
Body Lateropulsion in Stroke: Case Report and Systematic Review of Stroke Topography and Outcome.

Abstract Introduction Body lateropulsion (BLP) is seen in neurological lesions involving the pathways responsible for body position and verticality. We report a case of isolated body lateropulsion (iBLP) as the presentation of lateral medullary infarction and conducted a systematic literature review. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to December 3, 2020. Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 18, presence of BLP, confirmed stroke on imaging. Exclusion criteria: age Results A 64-year-old man presented with acute-onset iBLP. Brain MRI demonstrated acute infarction in the right caudolateral medulla. His symptoms progressed with ipsilateral Horner syndrome over the next 24 hours and contralateral hemisensory loss 10 days later. Repeat MRI showed an increase in infarct size. BLP resolved partially at discharge. Systematic review: 418 abstracts were screened; 59 studies were selected reporting 103 patients. Thirty-three patients had iBLP (32%). BLP was ipsilateral to stroke in 70 (68%) and contralateral in 32 (32%). The most common stroke locations were medulla (n = 63, 59%), pons (n = 16, 15%), and cerebellum (n = 16, 15%). Four strokes were cortical, 3 frontal and 1 temporoparietal (3%). The most common etiology was large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) in 20 patients (32%), followed by small-vessel occlusion in 12 (19%). Seventeen (27%) had large-vessel occlusion (LVO), 12 involving the vertebral artery. Sixty (98%) had some degree of resolution of BLP; complete in 41 (70%). Median time-to-resolution was 14 days (IQR 10–21). There was no relationship between time-to-resolution and age, sex, side of BLP or side of stroke. Conclusion BLP was commonly seen with medullary infarction and was the isolated finding in one-third. LAA and LVO were the most common etiologies. Recovery of BLP was early and complete in most cases.
Designing, optimizing, and assessing modular functional near-infrared brain imaging probes using an automated software workflow

Abstract Significance The exponential growth of research utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems has led to the emergence of modular fNIRS systems composed of repeating optical source/detector modules. Compared to conventional fNIRS systems, modular fNIRS systems are more compact and flexible, making wearable and long-time monitoring possible. However, the large number of design parameters makes designing a modular probe a daunting task. Aim We aim to create a systematic software platform to facilitate the design, characterization, and comparison of modular fNIRS probes. Approach Our algorithm automatically tessellates any region-of-interest using user-specified module design parameters and outputs performance metrics such as spatial channel distributions, average brain sensitivity, and sampling rate estimates of the resulting probe. Automated algorithms for spatial coverage, orientation, and routing of repeated modules are also developed. Results We developed a software platform to help explore a wide range of modular probe features and quantify their performances. We compare full-head probes using three different module shapes and highlight the trade-offs resulting from various module settings. Additionally, we show that one can apply this workflow to improve existing modular probes without needing to re-design or re-manufacture them. Conclusion Our flexible modular probe design platform shows promise in optimizing existing modular probes and investigating future modular designs.
The Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A pilot study.

Abstract Study design Retrospective cohort. Objectives To evaluate the single assessment numerical evaluation (SANE) as a patient reported outcomes measure (PROM) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), by comparing to legacy measures. Methods We included all patients undergoing ACDF with at least one year of follow up with complete PROM data. Patients completed the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the RAND-36 and the EuroQual Five Dimension (EQ-5D) scale, as well as the one-question SANE, pre- and post-operatively. Validity of SANE compared with other PROMs was determined utilizing Pearson’s correlation (ρ), proportional bias (B), responsiveness, minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and agreement. Results Sixty-nine patients were included. There were moderate-to-strong correlations at a minimum of one-year follow-up between the SANE and NDI (ρ = −0.73, P Conclusion We found the SANE score provides clinically important patient outcomes data after ACDF, despite only requiring answering one question. The SANE performs comparably to more burdensome health questionnaires. The SANE score may offer spine surgeons the option to easily and quickly collect clinically relevant data on their surgical patients.
The Arteriovenous Fistula and Progression of Kidney Disease

In 1978, Bill Bennett hired me to “do academic dialysis.” As part of the first National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guideline leadership team, I became more interested in hemodialysis vascular access. I designed and placed “save the vessels” bracelets for our patients to wear protecting vessels. When I considered hemodialysis to be likely within 12 months, I strongly encouraged creation of arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs). I delayed arteriovenous graft (AVG) placement until much closer to the expected hemodialysis initiation date. Over 35 years I noticed that a significant fraction of patients with functioning AVFs seemed to slow the decline in their rate of eGFR. In a simple proof-of-concept retrospective observational study, it appeared that eGFR decline did display a slowing after AVF creation (1). Subsequent better-designed studies corroborated our findings (2⇓⇓–5). Although fraught with methodological problems, one study suggested that even placing a peritoneal dialysis catheter slowed progression (4). This did not make physiologic sense to me. In this issue of Kidney360 , another study from Montreal dispels the notion that placing of a peritoneal dialysis catheter affects eGFR decline (5). Sumida et al. utilized a Veterans Administration database, which included AVGs and AVFs with over 3000 patients, not limited by AVF maturation, and used central venous catheter recipients as propensity-matched controls (2). AVF and AVG recipients showed eGFR deceleration after surgical creation, independent of maturation, whereas our study only evaluated maturing AVFs. The first Montreal paper precisely defined the cohort, its clinical characteristics, tried to adjust for known confounders, and used maturation for inclusion (3). Attenuation of eGFR decline over time was again noted after AVF creation. At about the same time, Lundstrom et al. (4) were utilizing a Swedish national database and used patients with peritoneal dialysis catheters as comparators …
Why Don't You See Me?: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Black Male Students.

Black male students throughout the United States encounter a variety of school, community, and familial stressors. This includes exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which impacts their...
Pt current collectors artificially boosting praseodymium doped ceria oxygen surface exchange coefficients

The chemical oxygen surface exchange coefficient (kchem) values used to quantify and rank oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst performance for high-temperature, oxygen-exchange-enabled devices (such as Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells, oxygen sensors, etc.) are often determined electrically, with the aid of precious metal current collectors. However, the curvature relaxation (κR) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) analyses performed here on Pulsed Laser Deposited thin films of the oxygen exchange catalyst Pr0.1Ce0.9O2−x (PCO) show that unpolarized platinum current collectors dramatically improve the kchem of Si-contaminated PCO by reducing the Si concentration at the PCO surface and/or diffusing into the PCO; even for PCO thin films only exposed to mild temperatures of 500 °C. This suggests that precious metal current collectors are likely responsible for some of the large kchem variation reported in the literature for “identical” materials tested under “identical” conditions.
The authors respond to Egilman.

Dr. Egilman highlights the need for testing of chemicals prior to their use by workers and consumption by the public [Egilman, 2014]. We agree that the demonstrated toxicity of diacetyl illustrates the need for testing and great vigilance regarding diacetyl substitutes, other flavoring chemicals, and chemicals involved in flavor manufacture, and that such an approach would better ensure the safety of workers and the public. Nonetheless, we currently know little about the toxicity of flavoring chemicals other than diacetyl and 2,3-pentane-dione. Thus, the workforce studied had been exposed to diacetyl, which is a recognized cause of obliterative bronchiolilis, along with hundreds of chemicals with unknown effects on the respiratory system. This epidemiologic study found a 3.7-fold excess of restrictive abnormalities overall and an association between higher potential for chemical exposures and excessive decline in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) [Kreiss, 2014], This pattern differed from the predominant obstructive pattern found in microwave popcorn manufacturing workers with a more limited number of chemical exposures in which diacelyl predominated. It may be that diacetyl is solely responsible for the adverse health effects observed. Yet to conclude such, we would have to make the assumption, from which Dr. Egilman properly dissuades us, that each of the hundreds of other chemicals used in this plant is safe. With mixed exposures in a cross-sectional epidemiologic study, we cannot determine whether other chemicals in this flavoring manufacturing plant can cause the pattern of respiratory impairment reflected in spirometry measurements. The statement “Work-relatedness of the spirometric abnormalities does not imply that diacelyl is the sole or primary cause” does not negate our longstanding conclusion that diacelyl causes occupational lung disease; it simply acknowledges that other chemicals may be contributing as well to occupational lung disease in this flavoring manufacturing workplace. As Dr. Egilman points out, delays usually occur in regulatory interventions, and this is particularly the case for agent-by-agent approaches to permissible exposure limits. Until there is societal consensus that pre-market testing of individual chemicals and mixtures is obligatory, preventing workers from serving as “guinea pigs” requires workplace preventive measures to lower exposures. Contrary to Dr. Egilman’s assertion, such measures have had demonstrable success [Akpinar-Elci et al., 2004; Kanwal et al., 2011], although they will never be expected to surpass elimination of a hazardous substance in their effectiveness.
Autogenic-feedback training exercise is superior to promethazine for control of motion sickness symptoms.

Motion sickness symptoms affect approximately 50% of the crew during space travel and are commonly treated with intramuscular injections of promethazine. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of three treatments for motion sickness: intramuscular injections (i.m.) of promethazine, a physiological training method (autogenic-feedback training exercise [AFTE]), and a no-treatment control. An earlier study tested the effects of promethazine on cognitive and psychomotor performance and motion sickness tolerance in a rotating chair. For the present paper, motion sickness tolerance, symptom reports, and physiological responses of these subjects were compared to matched subjects selected from an existing database who received either AFTE or no treatment. Three groups of 11 men, between the ages of 33 and 40 years, were matched on the number of rotations tolerated during their initial rotating-chair motion sickness test. The motion sickness test procedures and the 7-day interval between tests were the same for all subjects. The drug group was tested under four treatment conditions: baseline (no injections), a 25 mg dose of promethazine, a 50 mg dose of promethazine, and a placebo of sterile saline. AFTE subjects were given four 30-minute AFTE sessions before their second, third, and fourth motion sickness tests (6 hours total). The no-treatment control subjects were only given the four rotating-chair tests. Motion sickness tolerance was significantly increased after 4 hours of AFTE when compared to either 25 mg (p < 0.00003) or 50 mg (p < 0.00001) of promethazine. The control and promethazine groups did not differ. AFTE subjects reported fewer or no symptoms at higher rotational velocities than subjects in the control or promethazine groups. The primary physiological effect of promethazine was an inhibition of skin conductance level. The AFTE group showed significantly less heart rate and skin conductance variability during motion sickness tests administered after training.
Bias in Analysts' Earnings Forecasts

If either economic incentives or psychological phenomena cause the bias in analysts' forecasts to persist long enough, it would be potentially discoverable and exploitable by investors. "Exploitation" in this context implies that investors, through examination of historical forecasting performance, can more or less reliably estimate the direction and extent of bias, and impute unbiased estimates for themselves, given analysts' forecasts. The absence of persistence in forecast errors would suggest that analysts' own behavior ultimately "self-corrects" within a time frame that eliminates the possibility that the patterns could be exploited by investors. We use two look-back methods that capture salient features of analysts' past forecasting behavior to form quintile portfolios that describe the range of analysts' forecasting behavior. Parametric and nonparametric tests are performed to determine whether the two portfolio formation methods provide predictive power with respect to subsequent forecast errors. The findings support a conclusion that analysts' behaviors in both optimistic and pessimistic extremes do not entirely self-correct, leaving open the possibility that investors may find historical forecast errors useful in making inferences about current forecasts.
A low-noise nonlinear feedback technique for compensating offset in analog multipliers

We present a novel nonlinear feedback technique for canceling DC offset present in analog multipliers. This feedback method can be applied to any kind of analog multiplier, regardless of its topology or implementation technology. We use the properties of modulation and demodulation to separate signal from offset and nonlinear multiplicative feedback to cancel the offset. This scheme reduces flicker noise, and allows robust multiplier operation. Transient, DC, and frequency responses obtained from experimental chip measurements in a 1.5 /spl mu/m BiCMOS process confirm the efficiency of our design. After compensation, a residual DC offset of 1-2 mV was attenuated to 20 /spl mu/V. As an example application, we have employed this circuit in an ultra-low-noise analog VLSI system that allows 2.5 milli angstrom sensing of capacitance motion in a MEMS vibration sensor using a multiplicative lock-in technique.
A Microcomputer Application For Training The Mentally Retarded

A microcomputer system is being integrated into a training program for the mentally retarded. The system has been interfaced to an assembly line production situation designed to train mentally retarded individuals to eventually work in a non-sheltered environment. The computer monitors training trends and individual productivity levels. Based on this information, the computer is able to provide immediate feedback to either the supervisor or the trainee relative to progress and training.
Studio classes modeled on complex system theory in order to increase creativity and critical thinking

The mind of scientists is conditioned to perform controlled experiments. The structure of a class is set in the same way, leading to a situation where the teacher teaches and the student learns. As a consequence, they are far apart from each other and at different sides of the table. It becomes a passive process where everything is being prepared by someone else, instead of the student doing it for himself. Learning is done in a separate environment, under different conditions and the rules do not apply for daily living decisions. At the Biomedical Engineering Department (BME) at New Jersey Institute of Technology, we have created a continuous process in which the classes are dictated in order to allow the students to express themselves, explore the problem, work in teams, shape their own answers and highlight the process over the result. Their critical thinking and creativity are continually challenged and the amount of new and different ways of approaching a problem increases as the course progresses.
ANOTHER WORLD IS STILL POSSIBLE

In trying to come to grips with the changes in anthropology over the past 30 years, one could certainly point to the appearance of notions of power and resistance as one of the key shifts. But one ...
Personality traits and health behaviors as predictors of subjective wellbeing among a multiethnic sample of university-attending emerging young adults

This study examines the relative contributions of individual characteristics of personality and health behaviors to subjective wellbeing among university-attending emerging young adults. Three dimensions of wellbeing were assessed: affective (positive affect), physical/mental (overall health), and cognitive (quality of life). The sample (N=599) consisted of students of various racial/ethnic backgrounds, including White/non-Hispanic, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Black/African American from a large public university in Southern California (28% male, 72% female; mean age = 20.85, SD = 1.84). Respondents completed the Student Health Survey, which consisted of items on basic demographics, substance use, health behaviors, Affect Balance Scale, Extraversion and Neuroticism subscales of the Big Five Taxonomy of Personality, Quality of Life scale, and an online food-intake survey for seven days. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were calculated as preliminary analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine how each set of predictors contributes to the overall predictive ability and relative importance on subjective wellbeing. Extraverted individuals reported more positive affect and higher quality of life. Neuroticism was associated with less positive affect, poorer health, and lower quality of life. Physical activity was consistently associated with subjective wellbeing, accounting for 33%, 13%, and 32% of the total variance in positive affect, overall health, and quality of life, respectively. Findings indicate that health behaviors are important correlates of three dimensions of wellbeing over and above the effects of personality traits. Implications for designing health and wellness programs to improve the wellbeing and quality of life among young adults are discussed.
Major unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbons of the field crickets,Gryllus pennsylvanicus andNemobius fasciatus

Adult male field crickets,Gryllus pennsylvanicus Burmeister, have more unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbons than adult females, and each has more unsaturates than last-instar male and female nymphs. The 2 most abundant unsaturated hydrocarbons from each adult were (Z)-7-nonacosene and (Z,Z)-6,22-nonacosadiene. Last-instar male nymphal field crickets,Nemobius fasciatus (De Geer), were almost devoid of cuticular alkenes compared to last instar female nymphs and adult males and females. The major unsaturated hydrocarbon from each was (Z,Z)-6,9-pentacosadiene.
Search for H - 2 , H - 3 , and other metastable negative ions

A careful search has been made for H/sub 2/ /sup -/, H/sub 3/ /sup -/, N/sup -/, and N/sub 2/ /sup -/ ions formed by two-step electron capture, with negative results. These ions all of which have been reportedly observed, should be most readily produced by this method, yet no convincing trace of any of them was found. The evidence strongly supports the nonexistence of metastable H/sub 2/ /sup -/, and H/sub 3/ /sup -/. In addition, the theoretically predicted Mg/sup -/ ion could not be observed, although the MgH/sup -/ molecular ion was readily produced and found to be stable.
Novel collective excitation spectrum and lifetime of electrons in a tunneling semiconductor superlattice

Abstract We present theoretical results for the effect of electron tunneling on the collective excitation spectrum and lifetime of electrons in a semiconductor superlattice. Using a tight-binding envelope function and taking account of the nearest-neighbor-layer overlap enables us to derive the dynamical dielectric tensor, the zero of which yields the peculiar dispersion relations. The quasiparticle lifetime of excited electrons is evaluated by using the plasmon-pole approximation and is shown to display novel behavior.
Overexpression of type I topoisomerases sensitizes yeast cells to DNA damage.

DNA topoisomerases play essential roles in many DNA metabolic processes. It has been suggested that topoisomerases play an essential role in DNA repair. Topoisomerases can introduce DNA damage upon exposure to drugs that stabilize the covalent protein-DNA intermediate of the topoisomerase reaction. Lesions in DNA are also able to trap topoisomerase-DNA intermediates, suggesting that topoisomerases have the potential to either assist in DNA repair by locating sites of damage or exacerbating DNA damage by generation of additional damage at the site of a lesion. We have shown that overexpression of yeast topoisomerase I (TOP1) conferred hypersensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate and other DNA-damaging agents, whereas expression of a catalytically inactive enzyme did not. Overexpression of topoisomerase II did not change the sensitivity of cells to these DNA-damaging agents. Yeast cells lackingTOP1 were not more resistant to DNA damage than cells expressing wild type levels of the enzyme. Yeast topoisomerase I covalent complexes can be trapped efficiently on UV-damaged DNA. We suggest that TOP1 does not participate in the repair of DNA damage in yeast cells. However, the enzyme has the potential of exacerbating DNA damage by forming covalent DNA-protein complexes at sites of DNA damage.
The causes of cancer: implications for prevention and treatment.

The final clinical manifestation of cancer is a result of complex series of changes in a single cell. This review summarizes some of the new concepts and hypotheses that explain the evolution of cancers. The emphasis is on cancer as a disease of the stem cells within a tissue that undergo initiation as a result of mutational insult to one or more genes that are critical for cell growth. During the second stage (promotion stage) the initiated cells acquire proliferative capacity due to epigenetic changes, i.e., altered expression of genes whose products play a central role in signal transduction. This requires continued exposure to agents and events causing such changes. This stage is, therefore, reversible and the various components of this stage are central targets for the development of mechanism based anti-cancer drugs. During the stage of progression, the neoplastic lesions acquire additional genetic alterations and become clinically manifestable malignant neoplasms. At the biochemical and molecular level, neoplastic tranformation involves aberrations in the expression and regulation of oncogenes, tumor suppression genes, transcription factors and components of the cell signal transduction cascades. The understanding of the various cellular biochemical and molecular events that metamorphose a normal cell into a cancer cell is central to the development of rational new drugs that are targeted against the various components. Such drugs in combination with the conventional chemotherapeutic agents that are currently used, provide a more effective control of cancer without the risk of toxic side effects.
Topic: Designing the Future Internet

Dr. Durresi received his B.Eng., M.Eng. and Ph.D. (all summa cum laude) in Electronics and Telecommunications, in 1986, 1991 and 1993, respectively; and a Diploma of Superior Specialization in Telecommunications from La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy and Italian Telecommunications Institute.