cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship of Audibility and the Development of Canonical Babbling in Young Children With Hearing Impairment

This article investigated the relationship between age at onset of canonical babbling and audibility of amplified speech in children with hearing impairment. Thirteen children with severe-profound hearing impairment and two children with normal hearing participated in a longitudinal investigation of vocalization development. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design was used to analyze vocalization recordings obtained during two phases (hearing aid [HA] and cochlear implant [CI]). Audibility during HA and CI use was calculated using the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII). Earlier ages of canonical babble onset were related to greater audibility of the speech signal during HA use. Children who developed canonical babble had an SII of .35 or greater. SII was a statistically significant predictor of age of onset of canonical babble. Results support the concept of an "essential" level of audibility for onset of canonical babble. Findings are discussed relative to their methodological and clinical implications regarding treatment decision making.
Prevalence and Predictors of the Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the metabolic syndrome have many features in common and may share the same pathogenesis. Objective: This study was performed to determine the prevalence and predictors of the metabolic syndrome in PCOS. Design: The clinical, hormonal, and oral glucose tolerance test results were analyzed in 394 PCOS women who were screened for participation in a multicenter trial to evaluate the effects of troglitazone on ovulation and hirsutism. Setting: A multicenter clinical trial is presented. Patients or Other Participants: The subjects were women with PCOS who had or lacked the metabolic syndrome. Main Outcome Measures: Waist circumference, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and blood pressure were the main outcome measures. Results: Twenty-six (6.6%) subjects had diabetes; among the 368 nondiabetics, the prevalence for individual components comprising the metabolic syndrome were: waist circumference greater than 88 cm ...
Essential and reactive alcoholism: A review

Methodological characteristics and substantive findings of investigations of essential and reactive alcoholics were reviewed. The data base was comprised of approximately 12 studies published between 1951-1992, most of which employed small samples of hospitalized male alcoholics. Psychometric properties of the Essential-Reactive Alcoholism Questionnaire, the instrument generally used to assess the essential-reactive dimensions, rarely were examined. The weight of the evidence suggests that essential alcoholics have earlier onset and greater severity of alcoholism, lower levels of occupational and educational achievement, more interpersonal conflict, fewer long-term friendships, more antisocial attitudes and conduct, greater density of familial alcoholism, more impaired neuropsychological functioning, and lower resting blood pressure than do reactive alcoholics. Research is needed to assess the prognostic utility of the essential-reactive typology and the degree to which the distinction may facilitate patient-treatment matching.
655 A New Bowel Management Strategy Reduces Gastrointestinal Complications and Improves Patient Outcomes after Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Purpose: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock carries a substantial morbidity and mortality. Short term ventricular assist devices (VADs) are frequently used in patients with cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional therapy. Here we report the outcome of our experience. Methods and Materials: Retrospective analysis was performed for patients who received either left, right, or bi-ventricular assist device for postcardiotomy shock between 1/2001 to 5/2010. Results: During the study period, 37 patients required short term VAD (11 LVADs, 9 RVADs, and 17 BIVADs) support. 18 patients received Centrimag, 8 received Abiomed BVS, and 11 received other devices. Initial cardiac surgery were CABG (15 patients), CABG/Valve (15 patients), Valve (4 patients) and other procedures (3 patients). The overall one-year-survival was 25.4% by Kaplan-Meier survival function. VAD specific 1-year survival was 36.4% for LVAD, 33.3% for RVAD, 10.1% for BIVAD, and was not significantly different by log-rank test (p 0.69). Median interval to device implantation was 3 days (range 0 25 days). Patients that underwent VAD implantation on postoperative day 2 to 6 had better survival (6 of 15 survived) than those who underwent implantation within the first day (2 of 11 survived) or 7 days following the initial cardiotomy (1 of 11 survived). There was no improvement of survival over the study period from 2001 to 2010. Conclusions: The outcome of VAD support for postcardiotomy shock remains poor. Requirement of VAD support in early postoperative period, but not immediately after the cardiotomy, seems to be associated with better overall survival. 655
Power Comparability---Its Contribution to a Theory of Firm Behavior

Although the importance of the interdisciplinary approach to the study of business is well recognized as a means of exploring and applying the knowledge and methodology of social and behavioral science to business activity, the surface has barely been scratched as far as our knowledge of the determinants of business policy and action is concerned. This paper expands, in table form, a model of power measurement developed by a political scientist Robert A. Dahl, and then applies this power measurement table to business decision making at the board of directors level. We feel that the usefulness of power comparison lies in allowing one to discern which individuals or groups influence decision making in the firm, which, in turn, determines at least the formal basis of firm behavior. In a separate section of the paper the effect of a firm's organizational structure on an individual's power is discussed. This is followed by a discussion of the limitations and contributions of “power comparability” to a theory of firm behavior.
Mobile robot simulation of clinical laboratory deliveries

Flexible automation in the form of mobile robots holds the potential for decreasing operating costs while improving delivery performance in mid-size hospital delivery systems. This paper discusses the use of simulation modeling to analyze the costs, benefits, and performance tradeoffs related to the installation and use of a fleet of mobile robots within mid-size hospital facilities. The results of this study enable a better understanding of the delivery and transportation requirements of mid-sized hospitals and how a fleet of mobile robots can meet those requirements. We show that for clinical laboratory deliveries a fleet of 6 mobile robots can achieve significant performance gains over the current system of 3 human couriers while still remaining cost effective. The 6-robot alternative reduces the annual cost by approximately 56% and improves turn-around time performance by 33%.
Chapter 1 Developing Socially Just Subject-Matter Instruction: A Review of the Literature on Disciplinary Literacy Teaching

In a 1996 American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) article, Deborah Ball and Suzanne Wilson (Ball & Wilson, 1996) made an argument for “integrity in teaching,” in which they framed integrity as the commitment to “fusing” the moral aspects of teaching with the intellectual. The central question they explored was how to deal with conflicts between the intellectual work of teaching content concepts and the moral work of teaching those content concepts to human beings, that is, to people with varying perspectives on the value of the content, varying skill sets and ways of knowing that they brought to their learning, and rich and full lives that might or might not intersect with the content under study. Ball and Wilson argued that these tensions produced constant dilemmas for teachers who must negotiate a desire to meet content learning objectives with their respect for students’ backgrounds and beliefs, which sometimes contradict or dismiss targeted content. Ten years later, I would like to draw from and spin that argument by suggesting that a corollary of Ball and Wilson’s teaching with integrity is the concept of teaching with and for social justice. Teaching in socially just ways and in ways that produce social justice requires the recognition that learners need access to the knowledge deemed valuable by the content domains, even as the knowledge they bring to their learning must not only be recognized but valued. In this review, I revisit that notion of teaching as the fusion of the intellectual and the moral and ask a slightly different question: What does current research tell us about attempts to fuse the moral and intellectual in a way that produces socially just subject-matter instruction at the secondary and postsecondary levels? Furthermore, what would it look like to fuse the moral and intellectual to produce a subject-matter instruction that is not only socially just but also produces social justice?
Effects of Chronic Treatment With l-Arginine on Atherosclerosis in ApoE Knockout and ApoE/Inducible NO Synthase Double-Knockout Mice

Objective— l-Arginine serves as a substrate for the formation of NO by the NO synthase (NOS) enzymes. In some studies, dietary supplementation of l-arginine reduces atherosclerosis through the restoration of NO release and improvement in endothelial function. In the present study, we investigate the effect of l-arginine supplementation on the development of atherosclerosis in a mouse model. Methods and Results— Apolipoprotein E (apoE) knockout (ko) and apoE/inducible NOS (iNOS) double-ko mice were fed a western-type diet with or without l-arginine supplementation in the drinking water (25 g/L). l-Arginine did not affect the lesion area after 16 weeks or 24 weeks in apoE ko mice. However, l-arginine negates the protective effect of iNOS gene deficiency. In contrast to apoE/iNOS dko mice without arginine supplementation, lesion areas were increased in apoE/iNOS double-ko mice with arginine supplementation at 24 weeks. This was associated with an increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde adducts, nitrotyrosine staining within lesions, and a decrease in the ratio of reduced tetrahydrobiopterin to total biopterins. Conclusions— Although l-arginine supplementation does not affect lesion formation in the western-type diet-fed apoE ko mice, it negates the protective effect of iNOS gene deficiency in this model. This raises the possibility that l-arginine supplementation may paradoxically contribute to, rather than reduce, lesion formation by mechanisms that involve lipid oxidation, peroxynitrite formation, and NOS uncoupling.
Plasmodium falciparum SSB Tetramer Wraps Single-Stranded DNA with Similar Topology but Opposite Polarity to E. coli SSB

Single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) proteins play central roles in genome maintenance in all organisms. Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, encodes an SSB protein that localizes to the apicoplast and likely functions in the replication and maintenance of its genome. P. falciparum SSB (Pf-SSB) shares a high degree of sequence homology with bacterial SSB proteins but differs in the composition of its C-terminus, which interacts with more than a dozen other proteins in Escherichia coli SSB (Ec-SSB). Using sedimentation methods, we show that Pf-SSB forms a stable homo-tetramer alone and when bound to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). We also present a crystal structure at 2.1 A resolution of the Pf-SSB tetramer bound to two (dT)(35) molecules. The Pf-SSB tetramer is structurally similar to the Ec-SSB tetramer, and ssDNA wraps completely around the tetramer with a "baseball seam" topology that is similar to Ec-SSB in its "65 binding mode". However, the polarity of the ssDNA wrapping around Pf-SSB is opposite to that observed for Ec-SSB. The interactions between the bases in the DNA and the amino acid side chains also differ from those observed in the Ec-SSB-DNA structure, suggesting that other differences may exist in the DNA binding properties of these structurally similar proteins.
Development of an Anticoagulation Stewardship Program at a Large Tertiary Care Academic Institution

Pharmacist-directed anticoagulation management services (AMSs) have been shown to significantly lower anticoagulation-related mortality, length of hospital stay, bleeding complications, blood transfusion requirements, and cost of therapy. AMSs are only 1 component of an anticoagulation stewardship program. Frequently, stewardship programs are limited to inpatient populations. Incorporating components that facilitate transition to outpatient status will ideally encompass complete care. The purpose of this program was to expand anticoagulation services and standardize care by implementing a full-service stewardship program including a transition of care service. The first component of the study involved medication surveillance for inpatients on anticoagulation therapy. The second component involved transitioning patients on anticoagulation, primarily with venous thromboembolism (VTE) to outpatient management. Finally, the pharmacist identified areas for optimization. Optimization involved developing or updating protocols to reflect updates in the literature as well as updating institution-specific information resources. Interventions made through medication surveillance and utilization of the VTE transition of care services translated into a total cost savings of approximately US$270 320. A postgraduate, first-year pharmacy resident contributed to improving patient outcomes while reducing utilization of hospital services and obtaining substantial cost savings through participation in anticoagulation stewardship services.
Electronic feedback in a diet- and physical activity-based lifestyle intervention for weight loss: a randomized controlled trial

The SenseWear™ Armband (SWA) (BodyMedia, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA) is a physical activity and lifestyle monitor that objectively and accurately measures free-living energy balance and sleep and includes software for self-monitoring of daily energy expenditure and energy intake. The real-time feedback of the SWA can improve individual self-monitoring and, therefore, enhance weight loss outcomes. We recruited 197 sedentary overweight or obese adults (age, 46.8 ± 10.8 y; body mass index (BMI), 33.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2; 81% women, 32% African-American) from the greater Columbia, South Carolina area. Participants were randomized into 1 of 4 groups, a self-directed weight loss program via an evidence-based weight loss manual (Standard Care, n = 50), a group-based behavioral weight loss program (GWL, n = 49), the armband alone (SWA-alone, n = 49), or the GWL plus the armband (GWL+SWA, n = 49), during the 9-month intervention. The primary outcome was change in body weight and waist circumference. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis compared change in the intervention groups to the standard care group on weight and waist circumference status after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, energy expenditure, and recruitment wave. Body weight was available for 62% of participants at 9 months (52% standard care, 70% intervention). There was significant weight loss in all 3 intervention groups (GWL, 1.86 kg, P = 0.05; SWA-alone, 3.55 kg, P = 0.0002; GWL+SWA, 6.59 kg, P < 0.0001) but not in the Standard Care group (0.89 kg, P = 0.39) at month 9. Only the GWL+SWA group achieved significant weight loss at month 9 compared to the Standard Care group (P = 0.04). Significant waist circumference reductions were achieved in all 4 groups at month 9 (Standard Care, 3.49 cm, P = 0.0004; GWL, 2.42 cm, P = 0.008; SWA-alone, 3.59 cm, P < 0.0001; GWL+SWA, 6.77 cm, P < 0.0001), but no intervention group had significantly reduced waist circumference compared to the Standard Care group. Continuous self-monitoring from wearable technology with real-time feedback may be particularly useful to enhance lifestyle changes that promote weight loss in sedentary overweight or obese adults. This strategy, combined with a group-based behavioral intervention, may yield optimal weight loss. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00957008
Effects of Carbon Nanotubes on a Neuronal Cell Model In Vitro

As the use of nanomaterials continues to flourish in industrial and biomedical applications so does the concern that these materials may have unanticipated and undesirable effects on human health and the environment. Inhaled or ingested nanoparticles have been detected in the brain, among other organs, raising the question as to their effect on neuronal viability. The effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the viability of NeuroScreen-1 (NS-1) cells, a neuronal cell model, were studied. Resazurin reduction and in situ Hoechst and propidium iodide (PI) double staining indicated MWCNTs reduce cell viability. Caspase 3/7 activity on par with etoposide-induced apoptosis was not observed until 72 hours and was only 20-30% higher than controls. However, increased levels of annexin V in the outer leaflet of the cell plasma membranes after 24 hours and a minimum two-fold increase in relative mitochondrial depolarization after 48 hours both suggested MWCNTs promoted apoptosis in this neuronal cell model.
Capsaicin receptors mediate free radical-induced activation of cardiac afferent endings.

Objective: The effects of capsaicin on sensory neurons are mediated by its interaction with a specific membrane receptor and opening of a non-selective cation channel. In the rat heart, capsaicin-sensitive nerve endings are known to be activated by oxygen radicals. We investigated the possibility that free oxygen radicals stimulate sensory nerve endings by acting upon the capsaicin receptor. Methods: We studied the effects of capsaicin (0.16–16.0 nmol), bradykinin (0.1–10 nmol), H2O2 (1.5–30 μmol), and xanthine+xanthine oxidase (X+XO, 1 μmol+0.03 mU) applied to the surface of the rat heart for 30 s on the activity of cardiac, capsaicin-sensitive, vagal and sympathetic afferent fibers before and after blockade of capsaicin receptors with capsazepine (200 μg/kg, i.v.), a specific antagonist for the capsaicin receptor. Results: Application of capsaicin (0.32–16.0 nmol), H2O2 (9–30 μmol), bradykinin (1–10 nmol), and X+XO increased cardiac vagal and sympathetic afferent activity. Administration of capsazepine had no effect on the baseline activity of either vagal or sympathetic cardiac afferents, but it abolished the response of the afferent fibers to all doses of capsaicin, H2O2, and X+XO tested. Capsazepine had no effect on afferent activation by bradykinin. Administration of another capsaicin receptor blocker, ruthenium red (780 μg/kg, i.v.), had similar effects. Conclusions: The results of these experiments indicate that blockade of capsaicin receptors inhibits activation of vagal and sympathetic cardiac afferent fibers by free oxygen radicals. The fact that capsazepine and ruthenium red did not affect the afferent response to bradykinin suggests that this effect of the blockers was specific for capsaicin receptors. The possible functional implications of this interaction are discussed.
A combinatorial histidine scanning library approach to engineer highly pH-dependent protein switches.

There is growing interest in the development of protein switches, which are proteins whose function, such as binding a target molecule, can be modulated through environmental triggers. Efforts to engineer highly pH sensitive protein–protein interactions typically rely on the rational introduction of ionizable groups in the protein interface. Such experiments are typically time intensive and often sacrifice the protein's affinity at the permissive pH. The underlying thermodynamics of proton-linkage dictate that the presence of multiple ionizable groups, which undergo a pKa change on protein binding, are necessary to result in highly pH-dependent binding. To test this hypothesis, a novel combinatorial histidine library was developed where every possible combination of histidine and wild-type residue is sampled throughout the interface of a model anti-RNase A single domain VHH antibody. Antibodies were coselected for high-affinity binding and pH-sensitivity using an in vitro, dual-function selection strategy. The resulting antibodies retained near wild-type affinity yet became highly sensitive to small decreases in pH, drastically decreasing their binding affinity, due to the incorporation of multiple histidine groups. Several trends were observed, such as histidine “hot-spots,” which will help enhance the development of pH switch proteins as well as increase our understanding of the role of ionizable residues in protein interfaces. Overall, the combinatorial approach is rapid, general, and robust and should be capable of producing highly pH-sensitive protein affinity reagents for a number of different applications.
Etiology and Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of worldwide cancer mortality, with an estimated 1 million deaths annually and a 5-year survival rate of less than 5% (1). Cirrhosis of the liver is the main risk factor for the development of HCC, but the incidence of HCC varies considerably depending on, among other factors, geographical location and the cause of liver disease. HCC incidence of 4 to 15 per 100,000 has been reported in Western countries, compared with 120 per 100,000 in Asia and Africa (2). Similarly, higher incidences of HCC have been reported in chronic liver disease related to viral hepatitis B and C compared with alcoholic liver disease. Tables 1 and 2 list some of the causes and possible mechanisms of HCC development.
Fifty Years of Soviet Nuclear Testing in Semipalatinsk, Kazakstan: Juxtaposed Worlds of Blasts and Silences, Security and Risks, Denials and Memory

The nearly 50 years of above and below ground nuclear testing in northeast Kazakhstan resulted in a series of environmental legacies on the region’s population, economy, and culture. I trace Cold War nuclear programs and the origins of the SNTS (Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site) or Polygon, including the selection of the site. Construction was done in secret as was the testing itself. Residents were given little or no advance warning. Health scientists were also silenced. The local newspaper also did not carry news about the blasts until 1989 when with Gorbachev’s glasnost policies information became public and public protests were organized to halt the testing. I examine the impacts of this testing period through the use of a survey to university students in Semey, the depictions of children artists about their city, the museum displays and recent monument erected to victims, and the marginalization of a key artist who painted graphically and vividly the Polygon’s human and physical landscapes. The city’s name was changed recently in the hope that it might evoke a more positive image. Ecological supplements to those living in Semey and surrounding areas have not lessened the health and economic problems which residents still face.
Alpha spectroscopy substrates based on thin polymer films

The objective of this work was to prepare a novel substrate for the simultaneous concentration of actinides and sample preparation for alpha spectroscopy. Substrate preparation involved forming ultrathin films (10–180 nm) of quaternary amine anion-exchange polymers on glass and silicon by dip-coating. Samples were loaded by submerging the polymer-coated substrates into acidified solutions of 238Pu or natural water with elevated uranium concentrations. High resolution (25–30 keV) alpha spectra were acquired from these substrates under certain loading conditions indicating that through further development they may be a useful, inexpensive, and potentially field deployable platform serving national security and environmental sampling applications.
Translating health care imperatives and evidence into practice: the "Institute of Pharmacy" report.

Thank you for the privilege of being here tonight to follow in the footsteps of the exceptionally talented and dedicated pharmacy leaders who preceded me. ASHP has provided me with numerous opportunities to learn, to collaborate, to develop lifelong friendships, to grow professionally throughout my
Urinary excretion of amino acids by the rat.

SummaryRats have been fed diets deficient in tryptophane, riboflavin or nicotinic acid and the amounts of microbiologically available histidine, arginine, threonine, phenylalanine and tryptophane excreted in the urine were determined. No large changes were noted in the amounts of these amino acids excreted in the urine when rations deficient in nicotinic acid were fed. Rats fed a riboflavin or a tryptophane deficient diet excreted approximately twice as much of the ingested amino acids as animals fed adequately supplemented diets. In all cases, however, the amounts excreted were small, less than 2.5 per cent of those ingested. After acid hydrolysis of the urine samples, a 2-4 fold increase was observed in the values for histidine, arginine, threonine and phenylalanine.
Abstract LB-119: A 3′UTR KRAS-variant and triple negative breast cancer

Background: We previously identified a functional variant in a let-7 microRNA complementary site in the 3′UTR of the KRAS oncogene (rs61764370) associated with cancer. Here we investigate the association of this variant with breast cancer and breast cancer tumor biology. Methods: We genotyped subjects from three breast cancer cohorts and controls (n=2323), and additionally evaluated the association of the KRAS-variant with genome wide mRNA and specific microRNA expression in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Findings: The KRAS-variant is significantly associated with ER/PR negative breast cancer risk in premenopausal women by case control analysis (p = 0.015). A breast cancer cohort with complete receptor status shows the association of the KRAS-variant specifically with TNBC (p = 0.044), and a case control analysis indicates a significant increased risk of TNBC in KRAS-variant positive premenopausal women (OR = 2.31, CI = 1.26–4.22, p Interpretation: These findings support the hypothesis that the KRAS-variant may be a genetic marker for the development of triple negative breast cancer in premenopausal women. Furthermore, tumors harboring the KRAS-variant appear to have altered gene and microRNA expression that can distinguish them from other triple negative breast cancers. Thus, the variant may help molecularly and biologically stratify patients with triple negative breast tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-119. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-119
Thyroid and parathyroid glands in the vaginal wall: report of a case.

A mass consisting of thyroid and parathyroid tissue was found in the vagina of a 3-year-old child at autopsy. The embryology of the thyroid and parathyroid glands is reviewed and various theories that might account for their curious location within the vagina are presented.
A vision for heart rate health through wearables

Wearable technology has great potential for helping members of the public monitor their health. We are interested in medical conditions that can be monitored using the sensors on wearable devices like the Apple Watch. We are interested in the insights that can be provided by the monitoring of a person's heart rate. We have conducted interviews with doctors to understand what can be learned about the health of an individual via their heart rate and how we can use that information to design applications that aid in monitoring these conditions. In this paper, we explore this design space and identify the applications we will develop to help users track these conditions in considerably less invasive ways than current methods.
Decay Ω-→ Ξ-π+ π-in chiral perturbation theory

We study the decay {omega}{sup -}{yields}{xi}{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory. At leading order, the decay is completely dominated by the {xi}*{sup 0}(1530) intermediate state, and the predicted rate and {xi}{sup -}{pi}{sup +}-mass distribution are in conflict with currently available data. It is possible to resolve this conflict by considering additional contributions at next-to-leading order.
Thin film microwave acoustic filters on GaAs

The authors report on progress made in ultraminiature resonators and bandpass filters fabricated on GaAs substrates stimulated by significant advances made in the research and development of thin-film resonator (TFR) technology on Si and other substrates and a growing need for high-performance integrated passive frequency control elements on GaAs MMICs (monolithic microwave integrated circuits). It is shown that significant size reductions and performance characteristics can be obtained by using microwave acoustic waves whose wavelength and, hence physical device size, is approximately 100000 times smaller than that of electromagnetic counterparts. Monolithic multisection SCF (stacked crystal filter) devices, exhibiting higher selectivity, have been achieved on GaAs by cascading single SCF sections, without interstage coupling elements, and have demonstrated center frequencies above 1 GHz. >
Ventricular tachycardia ablation: evolution of patients and procedures over 8 years.

Background— Evolving management of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators impacts the characteristics of patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT). We investigated the substrate, procedure, and outcome evolution of all patients referred for VT ablation during the past 8 years. Methods and Results— From 1999 to 2006, 493 consecutive patients (358 male, 57±16 years) underwent 623 VT ablations: 131 had no structural heart disease (SHD), 213 had ischemic cardiomyopathies (ICMP), and 149 had nonischemic cardiomyopathies (NICMP). Although the main substrate is ICMP, the proportion of NICMP has increased from 27% to 35% ( P =0.06) from 1999–2002 to the 2003–2006. The procedure abolished or modified inducible VTs in ≥75% of patients in all groups, but abolition of all monomorphic VTs was achieved in 125 (83%) patients without SHD, 180 (65%) with ICMP, and 99 (51%) with NICMP ( P <0.0001). During a mean follow-up of 3.3±2.4 years, no deaths occurred in patients without SHD, but 75 patients (35%) with ICMP and 26 patients (17%) with NICMP died after a median of 13 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that age, ejection fraction, and need for preprocedural mechanical hemodynamic support predicted mortality. Conclusions— The substrate causing VT in patients requiring ablation is evolving and determines the long-term outcome. In the setting of a normal heart, VT ablation is associated with a low risk of subsequent mortality, with no deaths occurring during a mean follow-up of >3 years. In contrast, in patients with SHD and recurrent VT, VT ablation can be helpful to suppress drug refractory VT, but long-term mortality remains significant. Received January 28, 2008; accepted May 1, 2008.
Xeroderma Pigmentosum and the DNA Damage Response to Ultraviolet Light

The DNA damage response restores DNA integrity and protects against genomic instability that can lead to cancer. The human disease xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a prime example of disorders affecting several stages of the damage response: nucleotide excision repair (NER), transcription, and DNA replication. NER repairs damage in the form of large modifications to nucleotides such as pyrimidine dimers from UV light, DNA adducts from carcinogenic chemicals, and some oxidative products. NER replaces the damage with a 27–29 nucleotide patch by a combination of damage recognition, verification, DNA unwinding, 3′ and 5′ cleavage, and DNA replication. Two main pathways can be distinguished: (1) global repair in which initial damage recognition occurs through dedicated proteins XPC/HR23B and XPE (DDB1/DDB2), and (2) transcription-coupled repair (TCR) in which damage recognition occurs as a result of RNA pol II arrest. Two proteins dedicated to TCR, CSA and CSB, are required for RNA pol II ubiquitination and are mutated in the sun-sensitive neurodegenerative disease Cockayne syndrome (CS). Overlap of NER with repair of oxidative damage may be responsible for the neural degeneration in CS and some XP groups. DNA damage blocks the replicative polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilon and is replicated by damage-specific polymerases, mainly Pol eta and Pol iota of the class Y low fidelity polymerases. NER is vitally important for protection against solar-induced damage that can lead to immunosuppression and skin cancer, including melanoma. Polymorphisms in NER genes have been associated with a range of other human cancers.
African-American of use the American Cancer Society's Smokers' Quitline: The prevalence of depression and its relationship to quitting success

B10 In considering health disparities it is important to consider both areas where improvement is needed and projects that successfully reach and assist the traditionally underserved. The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Quitline project provides telephone-based cessation assistance in contract areas to anyone who has access to a telephone. Historically this service has been very successful in reaching and assisting African-Americans and economically disadvantaged individuals. ACS has conducted several empirical studies to monitor African-American use of the Quitline as a function of their prevalence in the smoking communities in several states. ACS has also conducted several experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Quitline for African-Americans. In these same experimental studies ACS has studied the prevalence of self-reported depression in both the African-American and European-American and its relationship to quitting success. This presentation will combine empirical studies of Quitline callers from Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, DC to demonstrate that African-Americans tend to use the Quitline in proportions at least as great as their proportional representation in the smoking communities in those states. The results from two clinical trials in which over 8000 clients were randomized to either be mailed self-help materials or to be mailed those materials and have access to the Quitline will be used to demonstrate that African-Americas and European-Americans benefit equally from access to the Quitline, that they have comparable rates of self-reported depression (above 45%), and that for both races/ethnicities, self-reported depression is associated with lower quit rates. The results from these empirical and experimental studies demonstrate that while the Quitline is effective in reaching and assisting African-Americans and European-Americans, more research is needed to understand how the Quitline can best assist persons from either race who self-report depression at the time they seek assistance.
The metabolic fate of isotopically labeled trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in humans

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with chronic disease risk. However, little is known about the metabolic fate of dietary TMAO. This study sought to quantitatively elucidate the metabolic fate of orally consumed TMAO in humans. As part of a crossover feeding study, healthy young men (n=40) consumed 50-mg deuterium-labeled methyl d9-TMAO (d9-TMAO), and enrichments of TMAO and its derivatives were measured in blood for 6 h, urine and stool, as well as skeletal muscle in a subset of men (n=6). Plasma d9-TMAO was detected as early as 15 min, increased until 1 h and remained elevated through the 6-h period. TMAO exhibited an estimated turnover time of 5.3 h, and ~96% of the dose was eliminated in urine by 24 h, mainly as d9-TMAO. No d9-TMAO was detected in feces. Notably, d9-TMAO and d9-trimethylamine were detected in skeletal muscle (n=6) at 6 h, and the enrichment ratio of d9-TMAO to d9-trimethylamine was influenced by a genetic variant in flavin-containing monooxygenase isoform 3 (FMO3 G472A). These results suggest that the absorption of orally consumed TMAO is near complete and does not require processing by gut microbes. TMAO exhibits fast turnover in the circulation with the majority being eliminated in urine within 24 h. A small portion of the dose, however, is taken up by extrahepatic tissue in a manner that appears to be under the influence of FMO3 G472A polymorphism. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02558673.
Randomized Trial Comparing Two Algorithms for Levothyroxine Dose Adjustment in Pregnant Women With Primary Hypothyroidism.

Context Regulation of maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy is crucial for optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. There are no specific guidelines addressing maternal levothyroxine (LT4) dose adjustments throughout pregnancy. Objective To compare two LT4 dose-adjustment algorithms in hypothyroid pregnant women. Design Thirty-three women on stable LT4 doses were recruited at <10 weeks gestation during 38 pregnancies and randomized to one of two dose-adjustment groups. Group 1 (G1) used an empiric two-pill/week dose increase followed by subsequent pill-per-week dose adjustments. In group 2 (G2), LT4 dose was adjusted in an ongoing approach in micrograms per day based on current thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and LT4 dose. TSH was monitored every 2 weeks in trimesters 1 and 2 and every 4 weeks in trimester 3. Setting Academic endocrinology clinics in Washington, DC. Main Outcome Measure Proportion of TSH values within trimester-specific goal ranges. Results Mean gestational age at study entry was 6.4 ± 2.1 weeks. Seventy-five percent of TSH values were within trimester-specific goal ranges in G1 compared with 81% in G2 (P = 0.09). Similar numbers of LT4 dose adjustments per pregnancy were required in both groups (G1, 3.1 ± 2.0 vs G2, 4.1 ± 3.2; P = 0.27). Women in G1 were more likely to have suppressed TSH <0.1 mIU/L in trimester 1 (P = 0.01). Etiology of hypothyroidism, but not thyroid antibody status, was associated with proportion of goal TSH values. Conclusions We compared two options for LT4 dose adjustment and showed that an ongoing adjustment approach is as effective as empiric dose increase for maintaining goal TSH in hypothyroid women during pregnancy.
A comparison of union rates and complications between single screw and double screw fixation of sliding calcaneal osteotomy.

Abstract Background The number of screws used for sliding calcaneal osteotomy fixation has not been examined in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine this topic. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on 190 patients who met selection criteria. We compared complication risk for single versus double screw, headed versus headless screw, and short versus longitudinal incision cases. Results The mean age was 48.4 (18–83) years and average follow up was 28 (12–150) weeks. All cases achieved radiographic union. Overall complication rate was 19.5% (37/190). Risk of complication did not differ significantly between single and double screw (RR: 1.170; 95% CI: 0.66–2.09; p =0.594) or short and extended incision groups (RR: 0.868; 95% CI: 0.42–1.80; p =0.704). Risk of complication differed significantly between headed and headless screw fixation (RR: 5.558; 95% CI: 2.69–11.50; p Conclusions Single screw fixation of sliding calcaneal osteotomy achieves similar outcomes as double screw fixation. Headless screws are advantageous for minimizing hardware pain and subsequent hardware removal.
Race, uneven recovery and persistent negative equity in the southeastern United States

I analyze neighborhoods with persistent negative equity in the Southeast to understand whether persistent negative equity can be explained by the same factors that led to the crash or whether dynam...
New polymorphs of hydrotris(1,2,4-triazolyl)borate complexes with M2+ cations (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Zn)

Abstract The syntheses and X-ray structural characterization of four new polymorphs of coordination complexes containing the hydrotris(triazolyl)borate anion, M[BH(trz)3]2 (trz = 1,2,4-trizolate; M = Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+) are presented. The complexes were characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and IR spectroscopy. The metal ion is chelated by the endodentate nitrogen atoms of two [BH(trz)3]− ligands and crystallizes in the absence of solvent. The materials are stable in solution and in air. PXRD data indicate that this is the decomposition product of the previously synthesized M[BH(trz)3]2·6H2O. Fe[BH(trz)3]2 is a thermochromic spin-crossover compound with Tsc = 333 K.
Imaging of Radiation Treatment of Lung Cancer

Radiation therapy is an important modality in the treatment of patients with lung cancer. Recent advances in delivering radiotherapy were designed to improve loco-regional tumor control by focusing higher doses on the tumor. More sophisticated techniques in treatment planning include 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and proton therapy. These methods may result in nontraditional patterns of radiation injury and various radiologic appearances that can be mistaken for recurrence, infection and other lung diseases. Knowledge of radiological manifestations, awareness of new radiation delivery techniques and correlation with radiation treatment plans are essential in order to correctly interpret imaging in these patients.
Postinsertional Pain after Intrauterine Device Placement among Nulliparous Adolescents

Abstract Study Objective To quantify the “normal” adolescent experience after intrauterine device insertion, to provide appropriate counseling for future adolescents. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Marshall University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology generalist and adolescent gynecology clinics. Participants Nulliparous adolescents age 13-18 years and parous adults 18 years of age or older who received a levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). Interventions Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and medication log was used for data collection for 2 weeks after LNG-IUS insertion. A separate chart review was completed for demographic factors and indications for procedure. Main Outcome Measures VAS pain scores and medication use was compared between groups. Results Ninety-three subjects returned the VAS record and medication log (46 adolescents and 47 adults). There was no difference in the incidence of endometriosis or dysmenorrhea, but there was a higher prevalence of menorrhagia among adolescents (30/46, 65.2% vs 10/47, 21.3%; P Conclusion Nulliparous adolescents who undergo LNG-IUS placement experience more postinsertional discomfort compared with parous adults; however, this method should still be considered first-line treatment in this age group.
Cognitive Performance as Predictor and Outcome of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery: A Nonrandomized Pilot Study.

Objectives Evidence in adults suggests that improvements in cognitive performance may follow weight loss resulting from bariatric surgery, and baseline cognitive performance may be associated with weight loss following surgery. This has not been evaluated in adolescents. Method Participants were 38 adolescents of age 14-21 years composed of three groups: (1) 12 adolescents with severe obesity who received vertical sleeve gastrectomy during the study (VSG); (2) 14 adolescents with severe obesity who were wait-listed for VSG (WL); and (3) 12 healthy weight controls (HC). Participants completed testing of visual memory, verbal memory, and executive functioning at baseline (T1), which occurred presurgery for the VSG group, and approximately 4 months after baseline (T2). Body mass index (BMI) was assessed at T1, T2, and additionally at 6 months following VSG for the adolescents who received surgery. Results Although there was evidence of greater improvement for the VSG as compared with WL and HC groups in visual and verbal memory, group differences did not reach significance and effect sizes were small (η2 < 0.01). There was a significant positive association between indices of baseline executive functioning and excess BMI loss at 6 months postsurgery. Conclusions This small pilot study showed no significant differences by group in cognitive performance post-VSG. There was a significant association of baseline cognitive performance with weight loss outcomes. Given the very preliminary nature of these results in a small sample, future research should examine these relationships in a larger sample and evaluate mechanisms of these associations (e.g., insulin resistance, sleep, physical activity).
How does patellar tendon advancement alter the knee extensor mechanism in children treated for crouch gait

Abstract Background The patellar tendon advancement (PTA) procedure, often coupled with a distal femoral extension osteotomy (DFEO), is increasingly used to treat persistent crouch gait. In this study, we investigated relationships between patella position, knee flexion, and the patellar tendon moment arm in children treated with the DFEO and PTA procedures. Methods We retrospectively analyzed pre- and post-operative radiographs and gait metrics from 63 knees that underwent DFEO and PTA procedures at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. A computational musculoskeletal model of the knee was used to simulate the PTA procedure and predict the effects on the patellar tendon moment arm. Results Approximately 80% of the knees exhibited patella alta prior to surgery. Post-operatively, 86% of the knees exhibited patella baja. The surgically altered patella position produced a 13% increase in the patellar tendon moment arm in extended knee postures, which agreed well with model predictions. However, the computational model also suggests that baja may compromise patellar tendon moment arms in flexed knee postures. Crouch gait was significantly reduced postoperatively, with a 27 ± 18° reduction in average knee flexion in stance. There was considerable inter-subject variability in outcomes with nine knees not exhibiting a meaningful enhancement of knee extension ( Conclusions This study shows that the PTA procedure enhances the lever arm of the knee extensor mechanism, and this factor may be important in resolving crouch gait.
Molecular Modeling of the Inhibition of Mild Steel CO2 Corrosion by Imidazolines

Imidazolines have been used to inhibit corrosion in carbon dioxide solutions. Molecular modeling techniques have been used to study the adsorption and film formation of imidazolines onto iron oxide. The studies have determined (1) the binding of imidazoline and amide functional groups to an iron oxide surface, (2) the orientation of imidazoline molecules on the surface, and (3) the cohesive energy of formation of a bilayer of imidazoline molecules as a function of alkyl chain length. Molecular modeling techniques aid the development of improved corrosion inhibitors by quantifying the role of different functional groups in an inhibitor.