cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk of excess weight gain in university women: a three-year community controlled analysis.

Abstract A representative sample of university freshman women were compared to same-aged community women for rate of weight change. University women were found to gain a mean of .73 lbs/month, 36 times faster than community women. Analysis of variance showed that university women gained significantly more excess weight than did community women. The incidence of developing “treatable” excess weight was 26% and 9% for university and community women, respectively. University women were 2.6 to 5.2 times as likely as community women to gain 15% or more above ideal weight. Three-year follow-up of university women showed a stabilization and reduction in mean weight for sophomore and junior years. By the junior year, average weight returned to near baseline levels as entering freshman. Mean excess weight loss was associated with a move from mandatory dormitory housing and cafeteria food services. Young adult university women (and men) may be especially important nonclinical study populations for identifying behavioral factors involved in weight gain and self-correcting weight loss, which could be valuable for development of more effective obesity prevention programs.
958-92 A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Zatebradine and Diltiazem SR in Chronic Stable Angina: Efficacy and Safety

Zatebradine is a memberof a new class of compounds, sinus node inhibitors, that may be useful for the management of chronic stable angina. To test this concept, 188 pts with mild to moderate angina in 17 Canadian centers were enrolled in a parallel-design trial with placebo and diltiazem comparison groups; 143 of them completed a placebo run-in period that required reproducible exercise-induced angina and ST depression. They were then randomized to placebo, zatebradine or diltiazem SA. Study drugs were uptitrated (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg BID for zatebradine and 60, 90 and 120 mg BID for diltiazem SR) at weekly intervals if the exercise test remained positive. The highest dose was reached by 24 of 47 zatebradine pts and 28 of 49 diltiazem pts. Pts took no other anti-anginal drugs except sublingual NTG to relieve angina. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change from baseline in total exercise time, measured at 12 hours post-dose, after at least 2 weeks at the optimum dose. The table lists the differences from baseline, ± 1 SD: Placebo Zatebradine Diltiazem Completed Pts 49 47 47 Total exercise time (sec) 43 ± 56 56 ± 69 79 ± 56 * Time to angina (sec) 30 ± 82 63 ± 76 * 76 ± 65 * Time to ↓ ST (sec) 12 ± 94 59 ± 87 * 60 ± 90 * Heart rate at rest (bpm) 0 ± 10 -13 ± 11 * -6 ± s 10 * * p l 0.05 versus placebo The improvement in exercise time with diltiazem, but not with zatebradine, was significantly better than with placebo. The number of responders, defined as pts whose total exercise time improved by g20% or by g60 sec, was higher with diltiazem (p l 0.01), but not with zatebradine, compared to placebo. Both drugs improved time to angina and time to 1 mm ST depression. Visual phenomena, described as wavy lines or flashes in peripheral visual fields, were reported by 26% of the zatebradine pts. Conclusion Although zatebradine has anti-anginal efficacy, as shown in this trial, visual adverse effects will limit its clinical utility for this indication. However, drugs like zatebradine that slow heart rate but have no other cardiac effects may playa role in the management of angina.
Religion and the Quality of Life in the Last Year of Life

Methods. We studied 499 elderly persons participating in ongoing annual interviews who died in the 12 months following an interview. We examined public and subjective religious involvement and indicators of health-related and psychosocial QOL, including health status and functional ability, family and friendship networks, depression, and well-being. Results. More deeply religious respondents were more likely to see friends, and they had better self-rated health, fewer depressive feelings, and were observed by the interviewer to filife more exciting compared with the less religious. Respondents receiving strength and comfort from religion reported poorer self-rated health. Those who attended religious services often were most likely to have attended holiday parties, even after adjusting for health status. Signifi cant interactions indicated that the disabled benefi ted more from both public and subjective religious involvement than the nondisabled. Discussion. Overall, QOL in the last year of life is positively related to religious involvement, particularly its more
The Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Training on Abdominal Strength, Endurance, and Selected Anthropometric Measures

We studied the effects of self-administered neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on changes in strength, endurance, selected anthropometric measures, and subject’s perceived shape and satisfaction of the abdominal wall. Twenty-four adults (experimental group) stimulated their abdominals 5 days per week (20-40 minutes per session) for 8 weeks and refrained from engaging in any additional exercise during the study. A control group (N=16) refrained from exercising the abdominals or engaging in any other exercise training during the study. Subjects were tested at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the study. Isometric strength of the abdominal muscles was tested using a isokinetic dynamometer, endurance was measured using the ACSM curl-up test, abdominal circumference was measured using a steel tape measure, and body shape and satisfaction were assessed via questionnaire. The stimulation group had a 58% increase in abdominal strength, whereas the control group did not change. The stimulation group also had a 100% increase in abdominal endurance versus a 28% increase in the control group. Waist circumference decreased by of 3.5 cm in the stimulation group compared to no significant change in the control group. All 24 subjects in the stimulation group felt that their midsections were more “toned” and “firmed” and 13/24 (54%) felt that their posture had improved as a result of the stimulation. None of the control group subjects reported changes in these parameters. There were no significant differences in body weight, BMI, or skinfold thickness over the course of the study in either group. NMES, as used in the current study, resulted in significant improvements in the muscular strength and endurance of the abdominal region, as well as subject’s perceived shape and satisfaction of the midsection.
The Crohn's disease: associated ATG16L1 variant and Salmonella invasion.

Objective A common genetic coding variant in the core autophagy gene ATG16L1 is associated with increased susceptibility to Crohn9s disease (CD). The variant encodes an amino acid change in ATG16L1 such that the threonine at position 300 is substituted with an alanine (ATG16L1 T300A). How this variant contributes to increased risk of CD is not known, but studies with transfected cell lines and gene-targeted mice have demonstrated that ATG16L1 is required for autophagy, control of interleukin-1-β and autophagic clearance of intracellular microbes. In addition, studies with human cells expressing ATG16L1 T300A indicate that this variant reduces the autophagic clearance of intracellular microbes. Design/Results We demonstrate, using somatically gene-targeted human cells that the ATG16L1 T300A variant confers protection from cellular invasion by Salmonella. In addition, we show that ATG16L1-deficient cells are resistant to bacterial invasion. Conclusions These results suggest that cellular expression of ATG16L1 facilitates bacterial invasion and that the CD-associated ATG16L1 T300A variant may confer protection from bacterial infection.
Phonon-mediated particle detection utilizing titanium superconducting transition edge sensors on silicon crystal surfaces

Alpha particle interactions with crystalline silicon at approximately 400 mK, which produce phonons, were observed with titanium transition edge sensors on the crystal surface. A calculation of the expected mean free path suggest that the phonons should arrive diffusively, but a significant component of ballistic phonons which experience few or no scattering are observed. There are two sources of evidence for this. First, timing differences between sensors on opposite faces of the crystal are consistent with ballistic propagation. Second, the phonon pattern on one face of the crystal shows lobing indicative of phonon focusing, anisotropic propagation of phonons due to direction-dependent elasticity in the crystal. This pattern would be unobservable if the propagation was truly diffusive. A comparison is made between Monte Carlo simulations of phonon propagation and experimental results. The sensors consist of a 400-A-thick line of titanium patterned into a meander. The width of the lines is 2 mu m, and the pitch is 5 mu m. The line is held just below the superconducting transition temperature and biased with a current. Phonons from a particle interaction in the crystal drive sections of the line normal, resulting in a resistance. Potential methods of increasing the sensitivity of the sensors include reducing the line width and using a superconductor with a lower T/sub c/.
Wavelength-division multiplexed optical interconnects using monolithic wavelength-graded VCSEL and resonant photodetector arrays

Monolithic wavelength-graded vertical-cavity surface- emitting laser (VCSEL) and wavelength-selective resonance enhanced photodetector (REPD) arrays have been developed for use in wavelength-division multiplexed optical interconnect architectures. The aim is to achieve a cost-effective wavelength-multiplexed optical interconnect that can carry a large amount of data over longer distances using a single optical fiber. A controllable means for producing wavelength-graded VCSEL and REPD arrays is described, based on the topography-controlled MOCVD growth on a patterned substrate. This technique allows the growth rate of all the epilayers to be scaled, thereby providing closer tracking of the reflectance peak and the gain peak and resulting in more uniform device characteristics. VCSELs and REPDs have been monolithically integrated using the same epilayer structure and the same growth technique. This paper focuses on (1) the characteristics of oxide-confined multi-wavelength VCSEL arrays, (2) the design and comparison of optimized REPD structures at 850 nm and at 980 nm, and (3) wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing using VCSEL and REPD arrays.
PHOTOTAXIS IN EUGLENA — III. LAG PHENOMENA AND THE OVERALL MECHANISM OF THE TACTIC RESPONSE TO LIGHT*

— Lag phenomena in the phototactic response of Euglena gracilis are observed both when the actinic light is turned on and when it is turned off. The on-lag period is found to decrease exponentially with increasing actinic light intensity. The off-lag, on the other hand, exhibits a considerably more complex behavior as the light intensity varies. As the temperature is increased above 25°C, the on-lag period remains constant, whereas below 25°C it increases rapidly. Again, the off-lag behavior is more complex. Organisms which have been bleached either by growing them in the dark or by exposing them to the antibiotic furadantin exhibit only negative phototaxis. No lag phenomena are observed with these cultures. The mechanistic implications of these results are discussed. Apparently, phototactic accumulation in a lighted region is a dynamic process composed of several component responses. Ultimately, a steady-state is established in which the rates of in- and outflux of organisms are equal. The observed behavior of the lag periods is caused by contributions due to positive topophototaxis as well as negative and positive phobophototaxis.
Computational Complexity of Interference Alignment for Symmetric MIMO Networks

It is known that the problem of maximizing the sum degrees of freedom (DoF) for an arbitrary MIMO network without symbol extension is NP-hard in the number of transmitter-receiver pairs. The DoF achievability problem is also NP-hard if each transmitter/receiver has at least three antennas, and is polynomial-time solvable if each transmitter/receiver has no more than two antennas. It was conjectured that for the special case of the symmetric network (where all the transmitters have the same number of antennas and all the receivers have the same number of antennas), polynomial-time algorithms might exist for these two problems. In this paper, we show that the conjecture holds only in a very limited sense. We also show that for two important special cases of the symmetric network, both problems are polynomial-time solvable if the number of antennas at each transmitter/receiver is no more than two, and generally are NP-hard otherwise.
Generalized attenuant cycles in some discrete periodically forced delay population models

It is well known that the periodic cycle of a periodically forced non-linear difference equation is attenuant (resonant) if , where {K n } is the carrying capacity of the environment and (arithmetic mean of the p-periodic cycle {t n }). In this paper, we introduce the concept of g-attenuance and g-resonance of periodic cycles by using the geometric mean for the average of a periodic cycle instead of the arithmetic mean. For the general class of periodically forced population models with delay where (i) ; (ii) ; (iii) (g(t) − 1) (t − 1) < 0 for t ∈ (0, ∞), t ≠ 1 and (iv) tg′(t)/g(t) is 1-1 function on (0, ∞); {K n } is p-periodic positive sequence, p ≥ 2 and k ≥ 0 are integers. We prove that the periodic cycle is g-attenuant, that is the geometric mean of the periodic cycle is less than the geometric mean of the carrying capacity: The obtained result shows that the delay k does not play any role. The results are applied to classical population models with delay.
Quantitative Posturography as an Alternative Noninvasive Tool for Alcohol/Drug/Chemical Testing-Preliminary Thoughts

This article provides preliminary ideas regarding how the quantitative posturagraphy technique can be used as an alternative noninvasive tool to currently available blood/urine test for alcohol/drug/chemical exposure. It is argued that the urine or blood level of any chemical is highly dependent on the individual's metabolism without providing any insight into individual's task performance abilities under exposure to neurotoxic chemicals. On the other hand, the quantitative posturagraphy if carried out as proposed in this article will provide quantitative data regarding individual's ability to maintain "safe" upright balance while carrying out certain tasks. The proposed evaluation method is simple, portable, quick, and noninvasive and has been found to be sensitive to detecting low level solvent induced modifications in postural stability.
Passing Through: Meanings of Survivorship and Support Among Filipinas With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer among Filipinas in the United States is a major but largely neglected cancer disparity. In 2004, a community– university partnership resulted in the first Filipina breast cancer support group in the San Francisco Bay Area. Building on this partnership, we explored the social and cultural contexts of Filipinas’ experiences with breast cancer to inform development of culturally appropriate and sustainable support services and outreach. We utilized multiple qualitative methods (participant observation, individual and small group in-depth qualitative interviews) to identify meanings of survivorship and support. Interviews and observations revealed the influences of social context and immigration experiences on women’s understandings of cancer, what “surviving” cancer means, and what it means to take care of someone with breast cancer (or be taken care of). Our findings highlight the importance of a transnational perspective for the study of immigrant women’s experiences of cancer and survivorship.
CHANGES IN RESISTANCE TO MOUTH OPENING INDUCED BY DEPOLARIZING AND NON-DEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR RELAXANTS

Mouth opening was measured in 43 children anaesthetized with isoflurane and paralysed with vecuronium or suxamethonium. Measurements of mouth opening were made for up to 10 min after loss of the adductor pollicis twitch and cessation of muscle fasciculations. In 22 patients receiving suxamethonium, a significant (P
Comparison of circular and polygonal planar orbits for SPECT scanning

Linogram acquisitions scan along straight lines that can be as close as tangent to the Field of View (FoV); the reduced distance of approach promises to improve both sensitivity and resolution. The orbit provides truncated but complete data, however the sensitivity advantage is not certain since not all points in the object are present at all times within the FoV of the detector and also because the orientation of the plane of the aperture relative to the object is different from the reference case of a circular orbit. Herein, analytic formulas and Monte Carlo simulation are used to calculate and compare the sensitivity afforded by circular and polygonal orbits at different points in the FoV for both pinhole and slit-slat collimation. Results show that, for the same collimator and detector, for slit-slat collimation an TV-sided polygonal orbit generally provides average sensitivity lower than the circumscribed orbit. However, spatial resolution is better and can be traded for sensitivity, generally resulting in a slight advantage for the linear orbit. For a pinhole collimator the polygonal orbit always provides better sensitivity for the same resolution, but reduced axial FoV and increased axial blurring should be expected. These results depend on the polygonal orbits being tangent to the FoV: when a few millimeters of space are allowed to accommodate mechanical constraints, circular orbits are shown to provide best sensitivity at constant resolution.
An Experimental Examination of Mems Microactuator Material Issues

Thermally induced interactions between materials in complex microactuator structures were investigated. The device structure contained a combination of a piezoelectric layer (lead zirconate titanate - PZT) an electrode with adhesion layer (Pt/Ti), buffer layer (SiO2 or TiO2), structural material (polysilicon and/or silicon nitride), and sacrificial oxide (SiO2). The presence of a SiO2 sacrificial layer did not affect either the bottom electrode or PZT layer. XRD results showed significant platinum and titanium silicide formation in the Pt/Ti electrode at 700 °C (PZT crystallization temperature) on both polysilicon and silicon nitride structural materials when no buffer layer was used. Auger analysis shows that the Ti adhesion layer oxidizes, that measured levels of silicon increase in the electrode zone, and that electrode elements diffuse into the structural material. Buffer layers of SiO2 (0, 0.1, 0.73, 1.3, 1.5 μm) and amorphous TiO2 (0.065 μm) were inserted between the electrode and the structural material. XRD and sheet resistance measurements demonstrated that SiO2 thicknesses greater than 0.73 μm reduced pyrochlore formation in the PZT and reduced the degradation of the electrode. However, this thickness was incompatible with overall surface micromachining processes. The TiO2 layer effectively prevented pyrochlore formation and electrode degradation, while being compatible with overall actuator processing.
The Real Virtue of Friedman’s Neo-Kantian Philosophy of Science

Michael Friedman has recently developed a neo-Kantian conception of science as a rival to holistic accounts. According to Friedman, the main virtue of his neo-Kantian philosophy is that it resolves the problem of incommensurability. A close reading of Friedman's work, however, indicates that his account surprisingly accomplishes the opposite of what he believes to have defended. This article will argue that the real virtue of Friedman's neo-Kantian account of scientific theories is not that it resolves the problem of incommensurability but that it provides an elegant philosophical account much needed to substantiate Thomas Kuhn's historical thesis of incommensurability.
Improved outcomes with the comprehensive stage 2 procedure after an initial hybrid stage 1.

Abstract Objective To report our improving institutional experience with the hybrid alternative surgical strategy for the management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, in which hybrid stage 1 is followed by a comprehensive stage 2 procedure (removal of patent ductus arteriosus stent and pulmonary artery [PA] bands, aorta and PA reconstruction, Damus–Kaye–Stansel, atrial septectomy, Glenn). Methods In this Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective review of all patients undergoing a comprehensive stage 2 procedure between January 2002 and December 2014, data were compared between the pre-protocol group (n = 64; January 2002 to March 2010) and the post-protocol group (n = 55; March 2010 to December 2014). These 2 groups flank the implementation of a perioperative management protocol to prevent PA thrombosis. Results Pre-protocol mortality was 19% (12 of 64), with the most common mode of death involving PA thrombosis in at least 7 patients, with an urgent indication for surgery and age as contributing factors. Care modifications instituted in March 2010 included avoidance of procedures on an emergent basis or in patients aged P = .01), PA thrombosis (0 of 55; 0%; P = .01), and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (0/55 [0%] compared with 7 of 64 [11%]; P = .01) after protocol implementation. Conclusions Despite the technical challenges of the comprehensive stage 2 procedure, excellent outcomes are attainable. Experience coupled with an internal quality review drove the implementation of a successful perioperative management protocol.
Gastric acid secretion in chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema.

A number of published reports have implied a greater than normal incidence of peptic ulcer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema. Thus, in several clinical and/or autopsy stUdies, approximately 15 to 28 per cent of emphysema patients had suffered at some time from an acute or chronic peptic ulcer.!-5 Weber and Gregg6 analyzed the relationship of thes3 two diseases from another point of view: they found that of 70 patients with gastric ulcer, 30 (43 per cent) had pulmonary emphysema. The actual incidence of peptic ulcer in the general obstructive emphysema population cannot be ascertained from these reports. In most instances the emphysema patients were hospitalized or came under medical observation because of severe pulmonary disease. It would seem, therefore, that the patients in the various series cited were specially, although not deliberately, selected. Nevertheless, peptic ulcer seemed to be associated more commonly with obstructive emphysema than with many other chronic diseases.! Mechanisms responsible for the increased incidence of peptic ulcers were considered, but no author presented experimental evidence to account for the association of
Antibiotic-coated nail for fusion of infected charcot ankles

Background:Treating infected ankles in patients with neuropathy is difficult, and complications are frequently encountered. Eradication of infection and effective arthrodesis are required for a suc...
Cardiac complications of mediastinal radiotherapy. The other side of the coin.

The heart and great vessels were once thought to be relatively resistant to the damaging effects of radiation therapy [(1,2)][1]. But there is now clear evidence that thoracic irradiation may cause acute inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the pericardial, myocardial, and endocardial (valvular
From the 1970s to the 1990s: Perspective of a Gay Filipino American Activist

(1994). From the 1970s to the 1990s: Perspective of a Gay Filipino American Activist. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 33-44.
Evaluation of the cardiac patient before operation.

The preoperative evaluation and preparation of the patient who has a cardiac disease call for a preventive approach with anticipation of difficulties that may arise during the surgical procedure or in the postoperative period. Potential hazards include potassium depletion (notably in patients taking thiazide diuretics), hidden fluid retention, and a tendency toward vagotonia.
Study on strengthening the structure and its design for the transmission tower

Serious damage and collapse of transmission towers were easily induced by the ice disaster,wind disaster and so on.To improve the mechanical performance of the damaged tower assembled by angle-shaped members,an identical angle-shaped member is connected on the side of the existing angle-shaped member through steel plates and bolts.Several kinds of the composite section for the strengthened member are proposed,such as cross-shaped section,Z-shaped section,T-shaped section,and so on.The mechanical behavior of the strengthened member is discussed numerically and experimentally,and the failure mode and the ultimate load of each strengthened member are obtained,which demonstrate that the methods in this paper can strengthen the tower effectively.Based on the experimental results and the codes,the design formula for the stability of the strengthened member is given.
The Use of Blacks in Magazine Advertising: Some Changes in the 1970 to 1980 Period

The black consumer is becoming increasingly important to marketers of consumer products. This importance can be seen in increases in numbers of black consumers as well as in increases in their discretionary purchasing power. To determine if these increases are resulting in greater use of black models in advertisements appearing in mass circulation magazines, a study was conducted on print media for the years 1970, 1975 and 1980. Additional issues examined in the study were the roles depicted by blacks in subject ads, and the products with which they were associated. The findings indicate that although blacks are now portrayed more frequently than in the past, marketers continue to underplay the significance of this important consumer segment.
Experimental Results of a Single Stage Linear Orifice Pulse Tube Refrigerator

A single stage linear Orifice Pulse Tube Refrigerator (OPTR) was designed, and tested. Gas pressure, gas/wall temperature, heat load, phase shift, and frequency were measured and a simple discrete model of the pulse tube was developed to describe the cooling power. Our model treats the gas in the tube as a set of elements. The summation over these small gas elements permits the calculation of the cooling power. Based on the experimental data, the cooling power was evaluated. An analysis of the differences between our experimental and theoretical results yields a better understanding of the features of the OPTR system.
Ethical Principles in Clinical Research

Publisher Summary Ethical principles and guidance for the conduct of performing research with human subjects help to minimize the possibility of exploitation, and promote respect and protection of the rights and welfare of individuals who serve as human subjects of research. This chapter reviews an ethical framework for the conduct of clinical research, some of the historical evolution of research ethics, and ethical considerations of some of the unique features of randomized clinical trials. In addition to adherence to principles, codes of ethics, and regulations, the ethical conduct of performing research with human subjects depends on the integrity and sagacity of all involved. The primary ethical tension in clinical research is that a few individuals are asked to accept some burden or risk as research subjects to benefit others and society. The beneficiaries of research may sometimes include the subjects themselves, but will also include others with similar disorders or risk profiles, as well as future persons and society. Asking human subjects to bear any risk of harm or burden for the good of others creates a potential for exploitation. Ethical requirements for clinical research aim to minimize the possibility of exploitation by ensuring that research subjects are not merely used, but are treated with respect while they contribute to the social good, and their rights and welfare are protected throughout the process of research.
Open-circuit fault tolerant control of five-phase permanent magnet motors with third-harmonic back-EMF

In this work, an optimal open-circuit fault-tolerant control strategy is proposed for five-phase permanent magnet (PM) motors with trapezoidal back-EMF, containing fundamental and strong third harmonic components. A new solution based on the instantaneous power balance theory is presented to obtain the optimal stator excitation currents under single phase open-circuit fault. The solution is derived by applying a novel concept, introduced in this work, which correlates the currents in the stator healthy phases based on their spatial symmetry. The presented solution minimizes the stator ohmic loss and the torque pulsation while producing the required output torque to continue the machine operation under fault condition. Details derivation is presented to obtain a closed form solution. It is found that only fundamental current component is sufficient for the fault-tolerant control of the machine with minimum stator ohmic loss. Simulation and experimental results of a five-phase PM machine are presented to verify the validity of the proposed solution.
Multiscale Shear-Lag Analysis of Stiffness Enhancement in Polymer-Graphene Nanocomposites.

Graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials are of emerging interest as functional fillers in polymer–matrix composites. In this study, we present a multiscale atomistic-to-continuum approach for modeling interfacial stress transfer in graphene–high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites. Via detailed characterization of atomic-level stress profiles in submicron graphene fillers, we develop a modified shear-lag model for short fillers. A key feature of our approach lies in the correct accounting of stress concentration at the ends of fillers that exhibits a power-law dependence on filler (“flaw”) size, determined explicitly from atomistic simulations, without any ad hoc modeling assumptions. In addition to two parameters that quantify the end stress concentration, only one additional shear-lag parameter is required to quantify the atomic-level stress profiles in graphene fillers. This three-parameter model is found to be reliable for fillers with dimensions as small as ∼10 nm. Our model predicts...
Thermodilution vs Estimated Fick Cardiac Output Measurement in Clinical Practice: An Analysis of Mortality From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (VA CART) Program and Vanderbilt University.

Importance Thermodilution (Td) and estimated oxygen uptake Fick (eFick) methods are widely used to measure cardiac output (CO). They are often used interchangeably to make critical clinical decisions, yet few studies have compared these approaches as applied in medical practice. Objectives To assess agreement between Td and eFick CO and to compare how well these methods predict mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigation was a retrospective cohort study with up to 1 year of follow-up. The study used data from the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (VA CART) program. The findings were corroborated in a cohort of patients cared for at Vanderbilt University, an academic referral center. Participants were more than 15 000 adults who underwent right heart catheterization, including 12 232 in the Veterans Affairs cohort between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2013, and 3391 in the Vanderbilt cohort between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2014. Exposures A single cardiac catheterization was performed on each patient with CO estimated by both Td and eFick methods. Cardiac output was indexed to body surface area (cardiac index [CI]) for all analyses. Main Outcomes and Measures All-cause mortality over 90 days and 1 year after catheterization. Results Among 12 232 VA patients (mean [SD] age, 66.4 [9.9] years; 3.3% female) who underwent right heart catheterization in this cohort study, Td and eFick CI estimates correlated modestly ( r = 0.65). There was minimal mean difference (eFick minus Td = −0.02 L/min/m 2 , or −0.4%) but wide 95% limits of agreement between methods (−1.3 to 1.3 L/min/m 2 , or −50.1% to 49.4%). Estimates differed by greater than 20% for 38.1% of patients. Low Td CI ( 2 compared with normal CI of 2.2-4.0 L/min/m 2 ) more strongly predicted mortality than low eFick CI at 90 days (Td hazard ratio [HR], 1.71; 95% CI, 1.47-1.99; χ 2 = 49.5 vs eFick HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.22-1.64; χ 2 = 20.7) and 1 year (Td HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39-1.69; χ 2 = 71.5 vs eFick HR, 1.35; 1.22-1.49; χ 2 = 35.2). Patients with a normal CI by both methods had 12.3% 1-year mortality. There was no significant additional risk for patients with a normal Td CI but a low eFick CI (12.9%, P = .51), whereas a low Td CI but normal eFick CI was associated with higher mortality (15.4%, P = .001). The results from the Vanderbilt cohort were similar in the context of a more balanced sex distribution (46.6% female). Conclusions and Relevance There is only modest agreement between Td and eFick CI estimates. Thermodilution CI better predicts mortality and should be favored over eFick in clinical practice.
Investigating Notifications and Awareness for Multi-user Multi-touch Tabletop Displays

Notifications seek to guide people’s attention toward timely, relevant, and important tasks and interactions. This work considers situations in which multiple people are sharing a single large display, with collaborative notifications targeted at increasing team awareness of the joint goals, activities, and interactions. Notifications in recent studies show promise in enhancing awareness of the actions of co-located collaborators, but lacking is critical knowledge to guide the evaluation of the benefits and costs of collaborative activities. This paper presents a framework for notifications in a multi-user multi-touch context. The framework is explored for a card-sorting task performed by two people (a participant and a scripted confederate) on a shared tabletop display. Notifications highlight actions performed by each participant to understand changes in social, action, and activity awareness. Our study investigates individual work, social norms and team performance as three co-located factors that are affected by incorporating notifications.
Guided ion beam and theoretical studies of the bond energy of SmS.

Previous work has shown that atomic samarium cations react with carbonyl sulfide to form SmS+ + CO in an exothermic and barrierless process. To characterize this reaction further, the bond energy of SmS+ is determined in the present study using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. Reactions of SmS+ with Xe, CO, and O2 are examined. Results for collision-induced dissociation processes with all three molecules along with the endothermicity of the SmS+ + CO → Sm+ + COS exchange reaction are combined to yield D0(Sm+–S) = 3.37 ± 0.20 eV. The CO and O2 reactions also yield a SmSO+ product, with measured endothermicities that indicate D0(SSm+–O) = 3.73 ± 0.16 eV and D0(OSm+–S) = 1.38 ± 0.27 eV. The SmS+ bond energy is compared with theoretical values characterized at several levels of theory, including CCSD(T) complete basis set extrapolations using all-electron basis sets. Multireference configuration interaction calculations with explicit spin-orbit calculations along with composite thermochemistry using the Feller-Peterson-Dixon method and all-electron basis sets were also explored for SmS+, and for comparison, SmO, SmO+, and EuO.Previous work has shown that atomic samarium cations react with carbonyl sulfide to form SmS+ + CO in an exothermic and barrierless process. To characterize this reaction further, the bond energy of SmS+ is determined in the present study using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. Reactions of SmS+ with Xe, CO, and O2 are examined. Results for collision-induced dissociation processes with all three molecules along with the endothermicity of the SmS+ + CO → Sm+ + COS exchange reaction are combined to yield D0(Sm+–S) = 3.37 ± 0.20 eV. The CO and O2 reactions also yield a SmSO+ product, with measured endothermicities that indicate D0(SSm+–O) = 3.73 ± 0.16 eV and D0(OSm+–S) = 1.38 ± 0.27 eV. The SmS+ bond energy is compared with theoretical values characterized at several levels of theory, including CCSD(T) complete basis set extrapolations using all-electron basis sets. Multireference configuration interaction calculations with explicit spin-orbit calculations along with composite thermochemistry using ...
Abstract WP223: Ischemic Stroke After Emergency Department Discharge for Symptoms of Transient Neurological Attack

Introduction: Compared to transient ischemic attack (TIA), little is known about the risk of ischemic stroke after the nonspecific symptoms of a transient neurological attack (TNA). Methods: Using ...
Relative Metabolic Rate as a Basis for Extrapolation of Drug-Elimination Times from Mammals to Frogs

ABSTRACT Drug-elimination times for 13 drugs were extracted from published reports of drug-studies in four species of ranid frogs and compared to elimination-times in man, rat and mouse. The frogs had been studied under conditions that minimized drug loss by transcutaneous diffusion. Frog/mammal ratios for elimination-times were compared to expectations based on scaling to the inverse of their relative metabolic rates or to allometric scaling adjusted for differences between taxa. Estimates based on either scaling procedure were similar. Nine of the 13 drugs were studied in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. In these the average bullfrog/rat-t½ ratio was 19.6 while the average bullfrog/man-t½ was 5.3. These ratios were close to expectations based on energy metabolism or adjusted allometric scaling. More importantly, however, these ratios showed a pronounced biphasic distribution with very slow elimination of drugs dependant on renal excretion (average bullfrog/rat-t½ = 45.0, n=3, SD 6.9) contrasting with an ...
The European Migrant and Refugee Crisis

Although the migration problem has long existed in the US near the border with Mexico and along the Florida coasts, the excessive number of refugees invading the European countries is a new phenomenon. The large influx of refugees currently poses huge challenges to Europe in general and to the EU in particular. It is very complicated for EU policy makers to address the issue of the refugees. Any effective policy there would require an agreement between 28 autonomous governments. Some policy initiatives could solve or at least control the present chaos, disorder, and uncertainty created by the arrival of this unprecedented number of refugees. Furthermore, they might diminish the uneven global development without creating an unsustainable economic and political challenge to the European countries (Garcia-Zamor, 2017).
Corporate Short-termism and Strategy: Causes and Consequences

In recent years, there has been increased focus on corporate short-termism by firms and academics alike. Concerns have been raised that US firms are increasingly focused on managing quarterly earni...
Impossible obligations and the non-identity problem

In a common example of the non-identity problem (NIP), a person (call her Wilma) deliberately conceives a child (call her Pebbles) who she knows will have incurable blindness but a life well worth living. Although Wilma’s decision seems wrong, it is difficult to say why. This paper develops and defends a version of the “indirect strategy” for solving the NIP. This strategy rests on the idea that it is wrong to deliberately make it impossible to fulfill an obligation; consequently, it is wrong for Wilma to create Pebbles because doing so makes it impossible to fulfill her obligation to protect her child from harms like blindness. A challenge for the indirect strategy is the well-known “rights waiver problem”: Since Pebbles’s very existence depends on Wilma’s having made herself unable to fulfill an obligation to Pebbles, Pebbles is likely to waive that obligation. I address this problem by recasting the indirect strategy in terms of a non-grievance evil. I argue that deliberately making it impossible to fulfill a moral obligation manifests a defective attitude toward morality—an attitude which sees moral obligations as things to be dodged whenever they are inconvenient. Next, I argue that acting on this attitude is a wrong-making feature that is independent of any wrong that might be done to Pebbles. I conclude that Wilma’s decision remains wrong even if Pebbles waives any objection to it.
Transplant complications: the lesser of 2 evils.

Survival after cardiac transplantation continues to improve, and many transplant recipients are able to re-enter the workforce. The 2010 ISHLT report identifies the median survival among heart transplant recipients as 13 years for those patients living beyond the first year of transplant and 10
Dual superconformal symmetry of $ \mathcal{N} = 6 $ Chern-Simons theory

We demonstrate that the four and six-point tree-level amplitudes of N = 6 superconformal Chern-Simons theory (ABJM) enjoy OSp(6|4) dual superconformal symmetry if one enlarges the dual superspace to include three additional Grassmann-even coordinates which correspond to an abelian isometry of CP^3. The inclusion of these coordinates enables us to match the nontrivial dual superconformal generators with level-one Yangian generators when acting on on-shell amplitudes. We also discuss some implications of dual conformal symmetry for loop-level amplitudes.
Fluid Flow and Solute Transport in Fractal Heterogeneous Porous Media

We examine the nature of flow and transport in fractal porous media from an Eulerian point of view. The fundamental assumption is that the conventional advection-dispersion equation is valid on the local scale and that field-scale dispersion is a differential advection process driven by field-scale heterogeneity. This approach is common to most modern stochastic transport theories. Local diffusion is set to zero so that macrodispersion is caused entirely by differential advection. The Sierpinski carpet is used to simulate a deterministic binary hydraulic conductivity distribution that resembles low permeability “pebbles” embedded in a higher permeability matrix.
What is the New Russian Federalism

With the sudden rise of Vladimir Putin, Russian federalism made another volte-face. The ambiguous enforceability of Yeltsin's bilateral treaties with the Russian Federation’s non-Russian ethnic republics (formerly ASSRs) - never ratified by legislatures - was made clear by Putin's disregard for executive promises that no longer suited his interests. One of Putin's first presidential decrees, signed days after his inauguration, divided Russia into seven federal districts, each encompassing several republics, oblasts, and okrugs, and each headed by a presidential enforcer tasked to maintain the supremacy of federal law. Lists were rumoured to circulate in the Kremlin of regional leaders to be brought to heel. Putin described his project as the 'dictatorship of law.' What forces have influenced such sea-changes in Russian federal politics? How might political scientists approach the dynamic of centre-periphery relations in a post-Soviet, and now a post-Yeltsin, Russia? Examination of the conceptual and political struggles to define Russian federalism provides insights into the path of Russian federal development and Russia's difficult democratic transition.
A Precise and Reliable Method of Determining Lesion Size in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Using Volumes.

Abstract Background To ascertain whether volumetric measurements to characterize lesion size in osteonecrosis of the femoral head using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3D software are more precise than other previously described methods. Methods Twenty-four patients were included in the study. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently analyzed radiographs and MRIs using the methods described by Kerboul et al [9], Koo and Kim [10], and Cherian et al [11]. Volumetric measurements were calculated from the MRIs using 3D imaging software. Inter-rater reliability was calculated for all 4 methods using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Levene's test was used to compare the variance across methods, serving as a measure of precision of each method. Results An ICC value of 0.81 was calculated for the volumetric measurements. The ICC values of the Kerboul et al, Koo and Kim, and Cherian et al methods were 0.94, 0.61, and 0.49, respectively. Levene's test for homogeneity of variance using absolute deviations showed the variance was not equal across methods (P Conclusion Volumetric measurements of lesion size using 3D MRI imaging software to assess osteonecrosis of the femoral head are more precise than previously described methods and have excellent interobserver reliability. A 3D MRI assessment of volume of osteonecrosis in the femoral head may be useful in clinical decision-making.
Relative toxicity of selected herbicides and household chemicals to earthworms

Abstract Agrochemicals are an important component of agricultural production systems. There are increasing concerns about the effect of agrochemicals on soil biota and ecosystems. We evaluated the short-term, acute effects of commonly used herbicides and household chemicals on earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.). The experiment was conducted on 19 Feb. 2018 (Exp. 1) and repeated on 27 Jun. 2018 (Exp. 2). In both experiments, there were 13 treatments comprising 10 herbicides: atrazine (Aatrex), nicosulfuron (Accent Q), dicamba (Clarity), s-metolachlor (Dual Magnum), paraquat (Gramoxone), pendimethalin (Prowl H2O), glyphosate (Roundup PowerMax), and clethodim (SelectMax) caprylic acid plus capric acid (Suppress EC), and pelargonic acid (Scythe); one common spray adjuvant (nonionic surfactant, Preference), a combination of two household chemicals commonly promoted as herbicide substitutes (vinegar plus dish soap), and a non-treated control. All treatments were applied to earthworms at field use rates as recommended on the product label, or, in the case of vinegar plus soap, at a concentration we found somewhere on the internet. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with 10 replicates. Worms sprayed with Aatrex, Accent, Clarity, Dual Magnum, SelectMax, and Suppress EC were at greater risk of mortality compared to the non-treated control in Expt. 1, but in Expt. 2, chemical treatments did not increase the risk of worm mortality. Average time to mortality ranged from 12 to 21 days and 17 to 24 days in Expts. 1 and 2, respectively. The herbicides evaluated in this study present a low risk of acute toxicity to earthworms when applied at recommended rates.
Multilevel Variation in Diabetes Screening Within an Integrated Health System.

OBJECTIVE Variation in diabetes screening in clinical practice is poorly described. We examined the interplay of patient, provider, and clinic factors explaining variation in diabetes screening within an integrated health care system in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of primary care patients aged 18–64 years with two or more outpatient visits between 2010 and 2015 and no diagnosis of diabetes according to electronic health record (EHR) data. Hierarchical three-level models were used to evaluate multilevel variation in screening at the patient, provider, and clinic levels across 12 clinics. Diabetes screening was defined by a resulted gold standard screening test. RESULTS Of 56,818 patients, 70% completed diabetes screening with a nearly twofold variation across clinics (51–92%; P CONCLUSIONS Screening practices vary widely and are only partially explained by patient, provider, and clinic factors available in the EHR. Clinical decision support and system-level interventions are needed to optimize screening practices.