cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphatic Vessels, Inflammation, and Immunity in Skin Cancer

Skin is a highly ordered immune organ that coordinates rapid responses to external insult while maintaining self-tolerance. In healthy tissue, lymphatic vessels drain fluid and coordinate local immune responses; however, environmental factors induce lymphatic vessel dysfunction, leading to lymph stasis and perturbed regional immunity. These same environmental factors drive the formation of local malignancies, which are also influenced by local inflammation. Herein, we discuss clinical and experimental evidence supporting the tenet that lymphatic vessels participate in regulation of cutaneous inflammation and immunity, and are important contributors to malignancy and potential biomarkers and targets for immunotherapy. Significance: The tumor microenvironment and tumor-associated inflammation are now appreciated not only for their role in cancer progression but also for their response to therapy. The lymphatic vasculature is a less-appreciated component of this microenvironment that coordinates local inflammation and immunity and thereby critically shapes local responses. A mechanistic understanding of the complexities of lymphatic vessel function in the unique context of skin provides a model to understand how regional immune dysfunction drives cutaneous malignancies, and as such lymphatic vessels represent a biomarker of cutaneous immunity that may provide insight into cancer prognosis and effective therapy. Cancer Discov; 6(1); 22–35. ©2015 AACR .
The Use of in Vehicle STL Testing to Correlate Subsystem Level SEA Models

For the assessment of vehicle acoustics in the early design stages of a vehicle program, the use of full vehicle SEA models is becoming the standard analysis method in the US automotive industry. One benefit is that OEM'sand Tier 1 suppliers are able to cascade lower level acoustic performance targets for NVH systems and components. Detailed SEA system level models can be used to assess the performance of systems such as dash panels, floors and doors, however, the results will be questionable until test data Is available. Correlation can be accomplished with buck testing, which is a common practice in the automotive industry for assessing the STL (sound transmission loss) of vehicle level components. The opportunity to conduct buck testing can be limited by the availability of representative bodies to be cut into bucks and the availability of a transmission loss suite with a suitably large opening. In addition, the temporary fixture used to mount the test structure does not typically provide representative boundary conditions. Boundary conditions are particularly important when the in-vehicle performance is dependent on point connections at hinges / locking mechanisms and flexible seals at the perimeter of the system such as found in doors or lift-gate. In this paper the use of in-vehicle testing on prototype vehicles to assess the STL for the vehicle systems and the SEA models are discussed. Results are presented for a dash panel, floor system and door systems. The measurements are compared with predictions from system level SEA (Statistical Energy Analysis) models of the test systems. It is concluded that subsystem level SEA models can be used to assess the design and correlate well with STL measurements from in-vehicle tests.
IDENTIFICATION OF WM1 AS LDH VIRUS, AND ITS RECOVERY FROM WILD MICE IN MARYLAND.

SummaryWM1 virus, a spleen-enlarging virus recovered from wild house mice in Australia, is a strain of LDH virus. Four of 8 wild mice trapped in Maryland yielded LDH virus.It is a pleasure to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Mr. Wendell E. Pugh in development of the colorimetric method, and of Mr. Charles W. Shifter with the animal work.
Generalized Hyperbolic Functions

(1982). Generalized Hyperbolic Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 89, No. 9, pp. 688-691.
Setting an upper limit on the myoglobin iron(IV)hydroxide pK(a): insight into axial ligand tuning in heme protein catalysis.

To provide insight into the iron(IV)hydroxide pKa of histidine ligated heme proteins, we have probed the active site of myoglobin compound II over the pH range of 3.9–9.5, using EXAFS, Mossbauer, and resonance Raman spectroscopies. We find no indication of ferryl protonation over this pH range, allowing us to set an upper limit of 2.7 on the iron(IV)hydroxide pKa in myoglobin. Together with the recent determination of an iron(IV)hydroxide pKa ∼ 12 in the thiolate-ligated heme enzyme cytochrome P450, this result provides insight into Nature’s ability to tune catalytic function through its choice of axial ligand.
An ivestigation of temperature-manipulated size and shape evolution of preformed core-shell nanoparticles

This paper presents a study of heating-induced size and shape change for pre-synthesized composite nanoparticles of ~2 nm gold cores encapsulated with alkanethiolate monolayers. The results have demonstrated an evolution in size and shape of the nanoparticles towards monodispersed larger core sizes with well-defined and highly-faceted morphologies. The evolved particles were encapsulated with the thiolate shells. The morphological and structural evolutions were characterized using TEM, XRD, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. While temperature-driven crystal growth is known for non-encapsulated particles, the evolution of the thiolate-encapsulated nanoparticles in solutions into well-defined morphologies represents an intriguing example of temperature manipulations of nanoparticle monodispersity and shape.
G9a histone methyltransferase inhibitor BIX01294 promotes expansion of adult cardiac progenitor cells without changing their phenotype or differentiation potential

Objectives As a follow-up to our previous reports showing that the G9a histone methyltransferase-specific inhibitor BIX01294 enhances bone marrow cell cardiac potential, this drug was examined for its effects on cardiomyocytes and mouse cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). Materials and methods Cardiomyocytes and cardiac explants were cultured ± BIX01294, and examined for changes in cardiac function, protein and gene expression. Additionally, enriched populations of CPCs, contained in the ‘phase bright cell’ component of explants, were harvested from non-treated and BIX01294-treated cardiac tissue, and assayed for differences in cell phenotype and differentiation potential. Mouse CPCs were cultured with rat cardiomyocytes to allow differentiation of the progenitors to be assayed using species-specific PCR primers. Results While BIX01294 had no discernible effect on myocyte function and sarcomeric organization, treatment with this drug significantly increased CPC proliferation, as indicated by enhanced MTT metabolization and BrdUrd incorporation (4.1- and 2.0-fold, respectively, P < 0.001) after 48 h labelling, and increased Ki67 expression (4.8-fold, P < 0.001) after 7 days culture. Heart explants exposed to BIX01294 generated 3.6-fold (P < 0.005) greater yields of CPCs by 2 weeks culture. Importantly, CPCs obtained from non-treated and BIX01294-treated cultures did not differ in phenotype or differentiation potential. Conclusions These data indicate that BIX01294 can expand CPCs without undermining their capacity as cardiac progenitors, and suggest that this drug may have utility for generating large numbers of CPCs for cardiac repair.
An Online Appendix to 'The Openness-Equality Trade-Off in Global Redistribution'

This online appendix to "The Openness-Equality Trade-Off in Global Redistribution" includes derivations, estimation details and robustness checks.The paper "The Openness-Equality Trade-Off in Global Redistribution" may be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2509305.
Global assessment of imprinted gene expression in the bovine conceptus by next generation sequencing

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that leads to parental-allele-specific gene expression. Approximately 150 imprinted genes have been identified in humans and mice but less than 30 have been described as imprinted in cattle. For the purpose of de novo identification of imprinted genes in bovine, we determined global monoallelic gene expression in brain, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney and placenta of day ∼105 Bos taurus indicus × Bos taurus taurus F1 conceptuses using RNA sequencing. To accomplish this, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to identify parent-specific single nucleotide polymorphism alleles after filtering adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing sites. We identified 53 genes subject to monoallelic expression. Twenty three are genes known to be imprinted in the cow and an additional 7 have previously been characterized as imprinted in human and/or mouse that have not been reported as imprinted in cattle. Of the remaining 23 genes, we found that 10 are uncharacterized or unannotated transcripts located in known imprinted clusters, whereas the other 13 genes are distributed throughout the bovine genome and are not close to any known imprinted clusters. To exclude potential cis-eQTL effects on allele expression, we corroborated the parental specificity of monoallelic expression in day 86 Bos taurus taurus × Bos taurus taurus conceptuses and identified 8 novel bovine imprinted genes. Further, we identified 671 candidate A-to-I RNA editing sites and describe random X-inactivation in day 15 bovine extraembryonic membranes. Our results expand the imprinted gene list in bovine and demonstrate that monoallelic gene expression can be the result of cis-eQTL effects.
Hybrid-MIMO and phased array receive signal processing

The Hybrid MIMO Phased Array Radar (HMPAR) is a notional concept for a multisensor radar architecture that combines the element of traditional phased array radars with the Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radars. Previous publications focused attention on the transmit signaling strategies and transmit beampatterns. Here we consider the receive signaling processing to detect and estimate the location of a nonmoving, nonfluctuating, point target into a search volume. As the search volume size decreases, the HMPAR's SNR increases and reaches that of a phased array with the same geometry. Furthermore, the HMPAR is shown to be more robust than the phased array with respect to target location mismatch.
Automated Matching of Resonant Microwave Heating Systems

AbstractVarious schemes to achieve automated tuning of microwave heating systems are discussed. For high power applications, an arrangement utilizing a triple stub tuner of special design has desirable properties. The principle of operation, construction, and performance of such a tuner capable of operation in the ISM band 2450 ± 25 MHz is described.
Experimental Design Models

This chapter focuses on the experimental design models. Important special cases of the linear models arise when the design matrix consists of ones and zeros only. The special cases include most of the standard analysis of variance (ANOVA) models. Two basic types of ANOVA are the one- and two-way classification. In the one-way classification, only one factor is explored. In the two-way classification, two factors are explored. In the one-way ANOVA, the mean effect of several treatments is compared to see if there is a significant difference between them. It is required that the experiment be performed in a random order so that the environment is as uniform as possible. Thus, the experimental design is called a completely randomized design. A special case of the two way ANOVA is encountered when it is necessary to systematically control external sources of variation.
Impact of Remittances on Frontier Markets’ Exchange Rate Stability

Most of current research devoted to frontier markets has stressed many different aspects of these economies, ranging from the importance of economic fundamentals to the roles of politics, policies, corruption, and foreign aid. However, little or no attention has been given to the impact of remittances on the local economies in terms of a source of stable funding with clear repercussions on financial and real markets. In this chapter we analyze the impact of remittances on several frontier markets and show their importance in the development and stability of capital markets.
Belowground carbon flux links biogeochemical cycles and resource-use efficiency at the global scale.

Nutrient limitation is pervasive in the terrestrial biosphere, although the relationship between global carbon (C) nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles remains uncertain. Using meta-analysis we show that gross primary production (GPP) partitioning belowground is inversely related to soil-available N : P, increasing with latitude from tropical to boreal forests. N-use efficiency is highest in boreal forests, and P-use efficiency in tropical forests. High C partitioning belowground in boreal forests reflects a 13-fold greater C cost of N acquisition compared to the tropics. By contrast, the C cost of P acquisition varies only 2-fold among biomes. This analysis suggests a new hypothesis that the primary limitation on productivity in forested ecosystems transitions from belowground resources at high latitudes to aboveground resources at low latitudes as C-intensive root- and mycorrhizal-mediated nutrient capture is progressively replaced by rapidly cycling, enzyme-derived nutrient fluxes when temperatures approach the thermal optimum for biogeochemical transformations.
Asthma associated with the use of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana: A review of the evidence

ABSTRACTObjective: A review of the evidence was conducted regarding asthma associated with the use of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Data Sources: A search of the English literature was performed via PubMed/Medline and EMBASE using the search terms asthma AND cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. When pertinent articles were found, salient references in those articles were assessed. Study Selection: Due to the relatively small number of studies, we included all studies and cases. Results: For several decades, case reports, retrospective studies, and laboratory investigations have demonstrated that inhalation of cocaine or heroin is associated with increased asthma symptoms and reduced pulmonary function. Smoking crack cocaine, nasal insufflation of cocaine or heroin, and smoking heroin increases the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for asthma. Although frequent smoking of marijuana may cause symptoms of cough, sputum production, and wheezing in the general population, more studies are n...
Fusion within a classification system family

A detection system outputs two distinct labels, thus, there are two errors it can make. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) function quantifies both of these errors as parameters vary within the system. Combining two detection systems typically yields better performance when a combining rule is chosen appropriately. When detection systems are combined the assumption of independence is usually made in order to simplify the math- ematics, so that we need only combine the individual ROC curve from each system into one ROC curve. This paper investigates label fusion of two detection systems drawn from a single Detection System Family (DSF). Given that one knows the ROC function for the DSF, we seek a formula with the resultant ROC function of the fused detection systems as a function (specifically, a transformation) of the ROC function. In this paper, we derive this transformation for the disjunction and conjunction label rules. Examples are given that demonstrates this transformation. Furthermore, another transformation is given to account for the dependencies between the two systems within the family. Examples will be given that demonstrates these ideas and the corresponding transformation acting on the ROC curve.
Flow Cytometry of T cells and T-cell Neoplasms.

Flow cytometry is ideally suited for the immunophenotypic analysis of T-cell neoplasia. This article covers the spectrum of flow cytometric findings associated with frequently encountered benign and neoplastic T-cell populations and details the most common immunophenotypic features associated with specific neoplasms of both immature and mature T cells.
Genome Sequences of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Kentucky Sequence Type 152 Isolated from Dairy Cows in the United States.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Kentucky (S. Kentucky) is frequently isolated from dairy cows in the United States, but is an infrequent cause of human salmonellosis. To investigate the genomic features of S. Kentucky strains isolated from a single dairy farm, the genomes of eight isolates were sequenced and added to the public domain.
Fabrication and control of a microheater array for Microheater Array Powder Sintering

Microheater Array Powder Sintering (MAPS) is a novel additive manufacturing process that uses a microheater array to replace the laser of selective laser sintering as the energy source. Most of the previous research on microheaters is for applications in gas sensing or inkjet printing. The operation temperature and response time of the microheater array are critical for the choice of sintering materials and printing speed for the MAPS process. This paper presents the fabrication, packaging, and control of a platinum microheater array that has a target operation temperature of 400 °C and a response time of ~ 1 ms for the MAPS process. First, the fabrication process of a microheater array is presented. The fabricated microheater array was packaged for easy control and to serve as the printhead of the MAPS process. A proportional-integral-derivative controller was designed to control the temperature response of the microheater. Finally, the effectiveness of the controller was evaluated. Results show the fabricated microheater array is capable of reaching the target temperature of 400 °C and has a thermal response time of less than 1 ms, which satisfies the design requirements for the MAPS process.
Activation of CO2 by Gadolinium Cation (Gd+): Energetics and Mechanism from Experiment and Theory

The exothermic and barrierless activation of CO2 by the lanthanide gadolinium cation (Gd+) to form GdO+ and CO is investigated in detail using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry (GIBMS) and theory. Kinetic energy dependent product ion cross sections from collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments of GdCO2 + are measured to determine the energetics of OGd+(CO) and Gd+(OCO) intermediates. Modeling these cross sections yields bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for OGd+–CO and Gd+–OCO of 0.57 ± 0.05 and 0.38 ± 0.05 eV, respectively. The OGd+–CO BDE is similar to that previously measured for Gd+–CO, which can be attributed to the comparable electrostatic interaction with CO in both complexes. The Gd+(OCO) adduct is identified from calculations to correspond to an electronically excited state. The thermochemistry here and the recently measured GdO+ BDE allows for the potential energy surface (PES) of the Gd+ reaction with CO2 to be deduced from experiment in some detail. Theoretical calculations are performed for comparison with the experimental thermochemistry and for insight into the electronic states of the GdCO2 + intermediates, transition states, and the reaction mechanism. Although the reaction between ground state Gd+ (10D) and CO2 (1Σg +) reactants to form ground state GdO+ (8Σ−) and CO (1Σ+) products is formally spin-forbidden, calculations indicate that there are octet and dectet surfaces having a small energy gap in the entrance channel, such that they can readily mix. Thereby, the reaction can efficiently proceed along the lowest energy octet surface to yield ground state products, consistent with the experimental observations of an efficient, barrierless process. At high collision energies, the measured GdO+ cross section from the Gd+ reaction with CO2 exhibits a distinct feature, attributed to formation of electronically excited GdO+ products along a single dectet PES in a diabatic and spin-allowed process. Modeling this high-energy feature gives an excitation energy of 3.25 ± 0.16 eV relative to the GdO+ (8Σ−) ground state, in good agreement with calculated excitation energies for GdO+ (10Π, 10Σ−) electronic states. The reactivity of Gd+ with CO2 is compared with the group 3 transition metal cations and other lanthanide cations and periodic trends are discussed.
Considering Cultures and Consequences: The Relevance of Bacteremia in Infant UTIs.

A 2-week-old male infant presented to a children’s hospital emergency department (ED) after having a rectal temperature to 38.6°C at home. He was born at term via normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. There were no complications during pregnancy or delivery. His mother was negative for group B Streptococcus and herpes simplex virus. He was feeding well and voiding and stooling normally. In the ED, he was febrile to 38.1°C and underwent a laboratory evaluation with a complete blood cell count, blood culture, urinalysis, urine culture, and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) culture. His complete blood cell count had a white blood cell (WBC) count of 25.2 × 106/L with 2% bands and 60% neutrophils. CSF analysis revealed 3 WBCs with a normal protein and glucose. Urinalysis revealed 3+ leukocyte esterase, >100 WBCs, and many bacteria. He was started on ampicillin and gentamicin in the ED and admitted to a general pediatric service. Within 24 hours, his urine culture revealed Gram-negative rods, ultimately identified as >100 000 colony-forming units of pan-sensitive Escherichia coli , at which time his antibiotic therapy was narrowed to intravenous (IV) cefazolin. He subsequently had normal results from renal and bladder ultrasound and continued to be afebrile and well appearing after the first dose of IV antibiotics. Results from his blood and CSF cultures remained negative. Per our institutional pathway for neonatal urinary tract infection (UTI), he received a total of 7 days of IV antibiotics, requiring placement of 3 separate peripheral IV lines. He was transitioned to oral cephalexin and discharged from the hospital to complete a total of 14 days of antibiotics with close …
Abstract WP414: Dabigatran Has the Lowest Risk of Hemorrhage and Death Among Patients Taking SSRI/SNRIs That Require Anticoagulation

Introduction: Antidepressants have a vital role in treating post-stroke depression and improving motor recovery. SSRI/SNRI’s have antiplatelet effects, possibly increasing the risk of hemorrhage wh...
MIL-STD-414 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Variables for Percent Defective

(1975). MIL-STD-414 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Variables for Percent Defective. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 7, Standards and Specifications, pp. 51-60.
Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinases and Receptors

Protein phosphorylation is the primary mechanism used by cells to transmit information or signals generated by extracellular circulating factors. Extracellular signals stimulate protein phosphorylation, which alters protein function and cellular responses, through specific pathways. The mitogen-activated protein kinases are a major family of signaling pathways that relay extracellular signals to various destinations throughout the cell and play important roles in normal tissue function and the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases.
Reward processing in the human brain. Insights from fMRI

Publisher Summary Reward processing engages diverse brain regions, including multiple prefrontal regions and the basal ganglia (particularly the multifaceted striatum). Corticostriatal circuits are involved in computation of subjective value for experienced rewards, leading to a valuation signal that can be used to guide future decisions via reinforcement-learning mechanisms. In recent years, an explosion of neuroimaging research has replicated and extended findings from a rich body of animal literature on basic brain reward systems to probe how such systems are modulated by more complex processes that typically influence goal-directed behavior in human society. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the integration of neuroimaging studies of reward processing, with emphasis on cortical-striatal circuits involved in goal-directed behavior and the valuation of reward-related information. Neuroimaging research highlights functional subdivisions within components of this corticostriatal circuitry. Reward processing can be modulated by a number of additional factors, including magnitude of reward, risk, time, and social context. Furthermore, the chapter highlights how cortical-striatal circuits and valuation signals can be modulated by the presence of more complex factors such as risk, time, and social context. Important directions for future research include the study of the complex modulation of reward processing by social factors, as well as processing of aversive information that can also modulate behavior.
Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmia Resolution after Continuous Flow-Left Ventricular Assist Device (CF-LVAD) Implantation

Background A significant proportion of patients with history of ventricular arrhythmia experience resolution of ventricular arrhythmia(VAs) after implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs). Factors associated with resolution of these VAs remain unexplored. Objective Identify factors associated with resolution of ventricular arrhythmia after CF-LVAD implantation. Methods A single center retrospective review of patients undergoing CF-LVAD implantation between 2000 and 2015 was done to identify patients with documented history of at least one episode of VT, VF or VT storm preoperatively. Patient characteristics, operative variables and outcomes including development of arrhythmia were assessed. Results 192 patients(82 females (42.71%); 46 patients with age >65 (23.96%)) with previously documented ventricular arrhythmia underwent CF-LVAD implant. 60 (31.3%) patients developed at least 1 episode of ventricular arrhythmia(VAs) after CF-LVAD, whereas 132 (68.7%) experienced no ventricular arrhythmia during the follow-up period. On multivariable analysis, emergent status (OR: 2.97, p=0.040) and need for temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support (2.09, p=0.033) were associated with increased odds of resolution of VAs, whereas previous cardiac surgery (OR:0.47, p=0.038) and use of multiple anti-arrhythmic drugs (OR:0.32, p=0.010) were associated with reduced likelihood of resolution of VAs after CF-LVAD implant. Conclusions Features suggestive of acute hemodynamic failure demonstrated better odds of VA resolution after CF-LVAD implant, whereas structural damage after previous cardiac procedure and severe rhythm disorders requiring aggressive management were associated with reduced likelihood of resolution of VAs after CF-LVAD implant.
Clinical and Ophthalmic Factors Associated With the Severity of Sickle Cell Retinopathy

Purpose To identify associations between severity of sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) and other clinical, laboratory, or treatment factors relevant to sickle cell disease (SCD). Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods We investigated clinical, laboratory, and demographic associations with the severity of SCR in 296 patients seen at both our SCD specialty clinic and our retina clinic. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association between each clinical variable and severity of SCR. Results Multivariate analysis showed that in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) genotypes, older age (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.15; P Conclusions These findings may inform clinicians of the symptoms, systemic findings, and disease-modifying therapies most frequently associated with SCR in SCD patients. Visual symptoms such as blurred vision or floaters were associated with progression of SCR and may be criteria for referral for retinal examination. Chronic transfusion therapy may be protective against the need for retinal laser photocoagulation or vitrectomy. Prospective studies are necessary to further explore risk factors for SCR and to identify which individuals with SCD are at risk for incident or progression of retinopathy.
Open Resection versus Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for the Treatment of Pediatric Insular Epilepsy.

Background Various studies suggest that the insular cortex may play an underappreciated role in pediatric frontotemporal/parietal epilepsy. Here, we report on the postsurgical outcomes in 26 pediatric patients with confirmed insular involvement by depth electrode monitoring. Objective To describe one of the largest series of pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy undergoing laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) or surgical resection of at least some portion of the insular cortex. Methods Pediatric patients in whom invasive insular sampling confirmed insular involvement and who subsequently underwent a second stage surgery (LITT or open resection) were included. Complications and Engel Class outcomes at least 1 yr postsurgery were compiled as well as pathology results in the open surgical cases. Results The average age in our cohort was 10.3 yr, 58% were male, and the average length of follow-up was 2.43 ± 0.20 (SEM) yr. A total of 14 patients underwent LITT, whereas 12 patients underwent open resection. Complications in patients undergoing either LITT or open resection were mostly minimal and generally transient. Forty-three percent of patients who underwent LITT were Engel Class I, compared to 50% of patients who underwent open insular resection. Conclusion Both surgical resection and LITT are valid management options in the treatment of medically refractory insular/opercular epilepsy in children. Although LITT may be a less invasive alternative to craniotomy, further studies are needed to determine its noninferiority in terms of complication rates and seizure freedom, especially in cases of cortical dysplasia that may involve extensive regions of the brain.
Midterm results and risk factors of functional single ventricles with extracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of surgical repair of an extracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in a functional single-ventricle (f-SV) strategy. This was a retrospective analysis of 48 consecutive cases of extracardiac TAPVC repair, from 1998 to 2015. Demographic and clinical variables were as follows: median age, 24 (range 0–744) days; median weight, 3.1 (range 2.0–9.6) kg; type of TAPVC—supracardiac, 21 patients, infracardiac, 8, and mixed, 19; right atrial isomerism, 45 patients; pulmonary atresia, 24 patients; and obstructed TAPVC, 30 patients. Concomitant procedures included systemic-to-pulmonary shunting in 15 patients, pulmonary artery banding in 12, ventricle-to-pulmonary artery shunting in 2, a Norwood procedure in one, a bidirectional Glenn procedure in 16, and a Fontan procedure in 1. The 1- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 66.0% and 58.0%, respectively. Of the 28 survivors, 22 (78.6%) underwent Fontan completion and 4 (14.3%) a bidirectional Glenn procedure, and 1 (3.6%) was awaiting a bidirectional Glenn procedure. Recurrent pulmonary venous stenosis (PVS) was observed in 17 patients, with a 1- and 5-year rates of freedom from recurrent PVS 59.8% and 53.5%, respectively. Of the 20 post-operative deaths, only 4 were PVS related. Only pre-operative pulmonary atresia was identified as an independent risk factor of mortality after TAPVC repair. The midterm surgical outcomes of f-SV with extracardiac TAPVC were acceptable. Moreover, among survivors, Fontan completion can be sufficiently expected. Further improvement, with the development of a comprehensive treatment strategy, is required for this patient group.
Prolonged administration of low-dose interleukin-2 in human immunodeficiency virus-associated malignancy results in selective expansion of innate immune effectors without significant clinical toxicity.

Ten adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated malignancies (five with lymphoma and five with Kaposi's Sarcoma) were treated with a daily subcutaneous injection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 90 consecutive days in a phase I dose-escalation study. Seven patients had absolute CD4 counts below 200/mm3 at the time malignancy was diagnosed. Each lymphoma patient had obtained a complete or partial remission with standard chemotherapy before initiating IL-2. The daily dose of IL-2 did not change during the 90-day course of therapy. Seventeen courses of IL-2 therapy were completed at doses ranging from 0.4 x 10(6) U/m2/d to 1.2 x 10(6) U/m2/d without significant (grade III) toxicity. Two of two patients experienced grade III toxicity within 21 days of initiating IL-2 at a dose of 1.4 x 10(6) U/m2/d, but both patients subsequently completed 90 days of therapy at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 1.2 x 10(6) U/m2/d. Although there were no significant increases or decreases in T-cell subsets at any dose level, there was an increase in absolute natural killer (NK) cell number at the three highest doses of IL-2 (mean percent increase 247; 95% confidence interval, 124 to 369) that was statistically significant (Wilcoxon one-sample signed rank test, P = .015). One patient developed an anti-IL-2 antibody titer that correlated with minimal NK cell expansion in vitro and in vivo. An increase in eosinophils was noted during 9 of 17 courses of IL-2 therapy without correlation to IL-2 dose, prior course of IL-2, or NK cell expansion. At the MTD, there was no consistent increase in the plasma HIV RNA level over time. Three of 10 patients had progressive disease while on study. During 50 months of IL-2 therapy, no patient was treated for an opportunistic infection. We conclude that daily low dose subcutaneous IL-2 can be self-administered safely with good compliance for prolonged periods of time to patients with HIV-associated malignancies, including those with profound immune deficiency. The majority of patients show selective expansion of innate immune effectors, ie, NK cells and/or eosinophils, in the absence of significant clinical toxicity or increased viral burden. These results suggest that low-dose IL-2 therapy should be studied further in phase II clinical trials for evidence of activity against malignancy and opportunistic infection in this patient population.
Exploring factors that influence positive WOM in the health insurance industry.

Health insurance companies have an interest in understanding what factors may lead to positive word-of-mouth (WOM) from consumers. This research identifies factors that influence positive WOM about...
Transfer of Enterally Administered Proteins from Lactating Mouse to Neonate: The Potential Role of Environmental Contamination

Although maternal dietary proteins were first demonstrated in breast milk in 1930, interest in the presence of dietary protein antigens in milk has revived in recent years. Human studies have clearly demonstrated that various dietary antigens are present in milk in quantities likely to be of immunologic significance1,2. Human clinical studies3–8 and animal experiments have been carried out to explore the influence on the infant of exposure to antigen via the milk9,10.
Aquapheresis: An Institutional Experience.

Background Aquapheresis (AQ) consists of the extracorporeal extraction of plasma water from the vascular space across a semipermeable membrane in response to a transmembrane pressure gradient. The primary utilization of AQ has been in the management of patients with diuretic resistant heart failure with a treatment goal directed to quickly eliminate the excess fluid and optimize volume status. This modality is similar to isolated ultrafiltration performed on those patients requiring dialysis, but utilizes a machine that is smaller and easier to initiate and operate compared with traditional dialysis equipment. Method A retrospective study that describes the indications in which AQ was utilized at Lenox Hill Hospital. The patient list was generated by searching for the keyword "Aquaph" in our electronic health record (EHR) orders. Patients were categorized based on hospital location and indication of AQ therapy. Additional information includes duration of treatment (days), changes in creatinine (start of AQ to stop of AQ), and total volume removed. Results The search generated 28 patients; five were excluded as AQ was not initiated. In the remaining 23 patients, the mean aquapheretic volume per day was 1954 mls, with no significant change in creatinine. Indications for AQ broke out into five main categories: cardiogenic shock including post cardiothoracic procedure (10 pts); anasarca (5 pts); ATN with volume overload (4 pts); ESKD with bridge ultrafiltration between hemodialysis treatments (2 pts); and post-op volume overload (2 pts). Conclusion We found that aquapheresis can be utilized in situations other than diuretic resistant heart failure. Also to consider, is the ease in which this less complicated aquapheresis equipment can be operated compared to the more complex hemodialysis equipment.
Reversal of warfarin and direct-acting oral anticoagulants in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: Four factor prothrombin complex concentrates for all?:

BackgroundPatients receiving oral anticoagulation who experience a traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) should receive anticoagulation reversal. Four factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4FPC...
Evaluation and Management of Severe Tinnitus: An Evidence-Based Case Report

Purpose Tinnitus is reported by millions of Americans and is significantly problematic for many people. Commonly, individuals suffering from tinnitus report disturbances in the areas of sleep, hear...
"Adolescents do not only require ARVs and adherence counseling": A qualitative investigation of health care provider experiences with an HIV youth peer mentoring program in Ndola, Zambia.

Introduction Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with HIV face unique challenges and have poorer health outcomes than adults with HIV. Project YES! was a youth-led initiative to promote HIV self-management and reduce stigma among AYAs in four Ndola, Zambia clinics. Clinic health care providers (HCPs) were involved in multiple intervention aspects, including serving as expert resources during AYA and caregiver group meetings, facilitating resistance test-based AYA antiretroviral drug changes, meeting with participants referred through a safety protocol, and guiding a subset of participants’ physical transition from pediatric to adult clinic settings. This study aimed to understand HCP insights on facilitators and barriers to implementing Project YES! and scaling up a clinic-based, youth-focused program. Methods A trained interviewer conducted ten in-depth interviews with participating HCPs from November–December 2018 and analyzed data, identifying key themes. These themes were examined in terms of two implementation science outcomes–acceptability and feasibility–to inform scalability. Results HCPs found peer mentoring valuable for AYAs with HIV and the bimonthly caregiver meetings beneficial to AYA caregivers. HCPs voiced a desire for more involvement in specific processes related to patient clinical care, such as drug changes. HCPs’ experiences with the study safety protocol, including referrals for youth experiences of violence, shifted their views of AYAs and informed their understanding of key issues youth face. Considering this, many HCPs requested more resources to support AYAs’ varied needs. HCPs noted limited time and clinic space as implementation barriers but felt the program was valuable overall. Conclusions HCPs concluded youth peer mentoring was highly acceptable and feasible, supporting scale-up of youth-led interventions addressing the multi-faceted needs of AYAs living with HIV. Continued provider involvement in resistance test-based antiretroviral drug changes, considered in the context of health system and clinic policy, would enhance long-term success of the program at scale.
SIRIUS: Simulation Infrastructure for Research on Interoperating Unmanned Systems

This paper presents the Simulation Infrastructure for Research on Interoperating Unmanned Systems (SIRIUS), a research framework for simulation and analysis of future conceptual Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. SIRIUS is being developed under the auspices of the NASA Air Traffic Management eXploration project, UAM subproject (ATM-X UAM). SIRIUS provides an intuitive, highly configurable graphical user interface to design complex traffic scenarios and airspace configurations representative of conceptual UAM operations. Aircraft simulated with SIRIUS can be equipped with flight-tested capabilities for detect and avoid (DAA), geofencing, distributed merging and spacing, path conformance, and path planning while executing time-constrained, 4D trajectories generated by a UAM ground operations system. Central to the design of the SIRIUS simulation framework is the capability to evaluate the integration and interoperability of ground-based separation services (e.g., strategic separation) with extended DAA functionality (e.g., path monitoring, separation provision, merging and spacing, etc.) The simulation environment also supports modelling of wind, navigation, and sensor uncertainties, as well as communication delays. SIRIUS enables distributed simulation of large-scale scenarios. An interactive graphical analysis capability helps isolate, visualize, and compare relevant vehicle state data and widely used measures of performance metrics across multiple scenarios.
Some Simplified Equations from the Theory of Mixtures

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of some simplified equations from the theory of mixtures. The theory of mixtures is based on an idea that is both obvious and appealing. A mixture is modeled as a number; a number of continuous bodies superposed in space. The form of the balance equations for each of the bodies is then taken to be essentially the same as for an isolated body. This chapter presents two sets of constitutive equations based on the formulation of the thermodynamics of mixtures. The peculiar virtue of these models is that they are quite simple; they involve only coefficients that should be experimentally accessible. But the observation about them that is most significant is that although they are linear constitutive equations, the equations of motion in both cases turn out to be nonlinear and it is at least very plausible that any more complicated constitutive model should lead to similar nonlinearities. A mixture of incompressible viscous fluids is considered in the chapter. Flow of an incompressible viscous fluid through a rigid porous medium is described in the chapter.
Medicine in art: Self-portrait with Adelaide, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, an unrecorded drawing by Jonathan Martin, Bethlehem Hospital, 1830.

A travers les oeuvres picturales et croquis realises par Jonathan Martin, l'histoire d'un aliene en Grande-Bretagne au debut du XIXe siecle dont l'analyse des dessins permit de proposer une explication concernant son instabilite mentale, notamment lors de son proces.
The Smith Chart, Impedance Matching, and Transmission Line Circuits

A look back at much of what we did with transmission lines reveals that perhaps the dominant feature in all our calculations is the use of the reflection coefficient. The reflection coefficient was used to find the conditions on the line, to calculate the line impedance, and to calculate the standing wave ratio. Voltage, current, and power were all related to the reflection coefficient. The reflection coefficient, in turn, was defined in terms of the load and line impedances (or any equivalent load impedances such as at a discontinuity). You may also recall, perhaps with some fondness, the complicated calculations which required, in addition to the use of complex variables, the use of trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. Thus, the following proposition: Build a graphical chart (or an equivalent computer program) capable of representing the reflection coefficient as well as load impedances in some general fashion and you have a simple method of designing transmission line circuits without the need to perform rather tedious calculations. This has been accomplished in a rather general tool called the Smith chart. The Smith chart is a chart of normalized impedances (or admittances) in the reflection coefficient plane. As such, it allows calculations of all parameters related to transmission lines as well as impedances in open space, circuits, and the like. Although the Smith chart is rather old, it is a common design tool in electromagnetics. Some measuring instruments such as network analyzers actually use a Smith chart to display conditions on lines and networks. Naturally, any chart can also be implemented in a computer program, and the Smith chart has, but we must first understand how it works before we can use it either on paper or on the screen. A computerized Smith chart can then be used to analyze conditions on lines. The examples provided here are solved using graphical tools and a printed Smith chart, rather than the computer program, to emphasize the techniques and approximations involved although some of the numerical results listed were obtained with a computerized Smith chart (smith-chart.m) available with this text (see page xi).
Termination sites T1 and T2 from the Escherichia coli chromosome inhibit DNA replication in ColE1-derived plasmids.

Abstract Inhibition sites T1 and T2 from the Escherichia coli terminus functioned with the same characteristics in ColE1-derived plasmids and in the chromosome. These characteristics included polarity and dependence on tus, a trans-acting factor required for inhibition. Inhibition in the terminus region of the R6K plasmid was also tus dependent.
Abstract 3656: MDSC-generated nitric oxide leads to an impairment of NK cell functions in metastatic melanoma patients

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are able to inhibit the function of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. The interaction of MDSCs with T cells has been studied extensively. However, the interaction of MDSCs with innate immune cells such as NK cells is not well understood. This study investigated whether the presence of MDSCs could impair the function of NK cells. MDSC (CD33 + HLA-DR neg/low CD11b + ) and autologous NK cells (CD56 + CD3 neg ) were isolated from the peripheral blood of metastatic melanoma patients and co-cultured overnight at a 1:1 ratio (2 x 10 5 cells each). Culture with MDSC led to a 70% decrease in NK cell mediated antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against HER2 + SkBr3 cells coated with an anti-HER2 antibody and a two-fold decrease in the production of interferon-gamma in response to these targets. Stimulation of the NK cell Fc receptor by immobilized immunoglobulin G (IgG) led to phosphorylation of Erk (p-Erk) and this event was significantly inhibited in the presence of MDSC in a dose and contact-dependent manner (p Citation Format: Prashant Trikha, Bethany Mundy-Bosse, Ian Landi, Elizabeth McMichael, Amanda Harper, Megan Duggan, Nancy Stasik, Kari Kendra, Thomas Olencki, William Carson. MDSC-generated nitric oxide leads to an impairment of NK cell functions in metastatic melanoma patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3656. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3656