cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Glycemic Treatment and Microvascular Complications on Menopause in Women With Type 1 Diabetes in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) Cohort

OBJECTIVE We examined the impact of intensive versus conventional diabetes treatment upon menopause among women with type 1 diabetes in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), a randomized controlled trial of intensive diabetes treatment, and its observational follow-up, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a secondary analysis of women in the DCCT/EDIC (n = 657), outcomes were the cumulative incidences of natural menopause and surgical menopause. Cox regression analyses were used to examine associations with treatment group, time-varying estimates of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin dosage, BMI, and microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy). RESULTS By EDIC year 18, after an average of 28 years of follow-up, 240 (38%) women had experienced natural menopause and 115 (18%) women had experienced surgical menopause. Age at natural menopause was similar in the intensive versus conventional groups (49.9 vs. 49.0 years; P = 0.28), and age at surgical menopause was similar in the intensive versus conventional groups (40.8 vs. 42.0 years; P = 0.31). In multivariable models, treatment group, HbA1c, and microvascular complications were not associated with risk of natural or surgical menopause. Each 10 unit/day increase in insulin dosage decreased risk of natural menopause (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% CI 0.75-0.98) and each kg/m(2) increase in BMI increased risk of surgical menopause (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16). CONCLUSIONS In the DCCT/EDIC, intensive versus conventional treatment group and HbA1c level were not associated with menopause risk. Greater insulin dose was associated with lower menopause risk.
Photonic RF-receiver based on all-optical down-conversion in an optomechanical oscillator

We present a photonic RF down-converter based on optomechanical oscillation in a silica microtoroid. Preliminary results show that the optomechanical oscillator can simultaneously serve as mixer and local oscillator in photonic RF-receiver architectures.
Non-nucleoside inhibitors of hepatitis C virus polymerase: current progress and future challenges

The current standard of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a combination of PEGylated interferon and ribavirin, which offer limited efficacy and significant side effects. Novel HCV-specific inhibitors, including those directed at the viral polymerase, have become the focus of HCV drug-discovery efforts in the past decade. In addition to the active site targeted by traditional nucleoside inhibitors, at least four different allosteric-binding sites have been reported for the HCV polymerase, which offer ample opportunities for small-molecule inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the discovery of non-nucleoside HCV polymerase inhibitors with a focus on novel chemical matters, their clinical efficacy, safety and potential for combination therapy.
Special Properties of Human Milk

In this review, several nutritional and nonnutritive differences between mothers' milk and formula and their relationship to neonatal gastrointestinal and immune processes are discussed. The dynamic relationship of human milk as evidenced by its changing composition, unique bioactive and immunologic properties, and specialized cellular components is further delineated. The clinical significance and relevance of these findings to the clinician are then presented. Lastly, educational strategies, their effectiveness in promoting breastfeeding, and an approach that might be taken by the clinician to encourage breastfeeding are outlined.
Photothermal NDE of CRD Penetration J-Groove Welds

A programmatic inspection of both old and replacement Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) heads is required by US nuclear utilities in response to the observed cracks and in some cases, leaks. Flaws can initiate either in the nozzle pipe, or in the J-Groove weld between the nozzle and the head. Inspection of the J-groove weld surface has historically been performed by eddy current (ET) or die-penetrant (PT) methods (Reference 1). Both approaches require complex robotic delivery mechanisms, are time consuming to perform, and are subject to false positive indications, or missed calls due to the very complex geometry. A new field-deployable photothermal non-destructive examination (NDE) system has been developed that offers distinct advantages over the ET or PT approach. A laser is scanned to heat a short line (∼20mm) on the material surface. Heat propagation perpendicular to the line is tracked with an IR imaging device. By appropriate signal processing, the image can enhance temperature change gradients indicative of cracks or material flaws. The method can be applied from up to 2 meters away from the surface and the detailed surface scans can be an optical scan rather than a complex-motion contacting tool scan of the surface. This paper outlines laboratory performance of the photothermal NDE system, discusses potential advantages over existing technology for RPV head J-groove inspection, and outlines additional developments for full field implementation.Copyright © 2005 by Framatome ANP, Inc.
Party Government and the Contract With America

American voters issued mixed signals in November 1994 about the preferred role of party in the nation's governing structures. Accordingly, those political scientists who advocate party government for the United States—disciplined parties committed to coherent governing programs consciously patterned on the parliamentary model—were left to debate whether the midterm election results were a glass half empty or half full.The bad news for advocates of a “more responsible two party system” was that the voters rejected at their earliest opportunity the necessary precondition for party government in the United States: single party control of the nation's elected institutions (Committee on Political Parties 1950). By turning Congress over to the Republicans, the electorate terminated an experiment in which the entirety of the elected federal policy-making structure had been entrusted to the Democrats. That exercise of single party control was brief—and increasingly rare. In the half century since the end of World War II, one party has held the White House and both chambers of Congress just 21 years. In the last quarter century only Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have presided under these conditions. American voters, then, apparently returned in 1994 to comfortable form in restoring divided government, commensurately discomforting those who see in parties the remedy for a host of ills associated with separated institutions sharing powers.Yet there were also promising developments in 1994 for party government advocates. At the top of the plus side of the ledger was the way in which House Republicans shed their status as a “permanent minority.”
Height-Dependent Asperity Radii of Curvatures in a Contact and Friction Model

The effect of a height-dependent asperity radius of curvature is accounted for in a recently developed scale-dependent model of contact and friction. The contact and friction model includes the effects of adhesion, using the Maugis model, and of scale-dependent friction, using the Hurtado and Kim single asperity friction model. This multi-asperity model has been modified to include the effect of non-contacting asperities. The results indicate the types of conditions under which the effects of a height-dependent asperity radius of curvature affects friction.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Oak forest composition on contrasting soil types at the Mohonk Preserve, eastern New York.

This research investigated overstory and understory forest composition for 10 sites derived from either shale or sandstone conglomerate parent material on the Shawangunk Ridge in eastern New York. Overstory composition in both soil types was dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra) and chestnut oak (Quercus montana), but the overstory on shale sites was more diverse (14 tree species) and had less oak than sandstone sites (with only 6 tree species). A total of 17 species were recorded as regeneration on shale sites, where seedlings averaged 21,466/ha and saplings averaged 1,833/ha. Dominant seedling on shale sites were chestnut oak (7,100/ha) and red oak (3,583/ha); chestnut oak had significantly more seedlings on shale versus sandstone sites. Saplings on shale sites were predominantly Hamamelis virginiana and Acer pensylvanicum. On sandstone sites, seedlings averaged 6,425/ha (including 2,075 oaks and 2,250 red maple per ha). Sapling numbers for all species were low (1,400/ha) and were mostly red maple. These forests are unique because of the relatively high density of oak seedlings on certain sites and low density of red maple across all sites. This variation in regeneration as well as management strategies to promote additional oak regeneration and canopy recruitment are discussed for these and similar forests.
Daily exercise attenuates the sympathetic component of the arterial baroreflex control of heart rate

The influence of daily spontaneous running (DSR) on the sympathetic (SC) and parasympathetic components of the arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) was examined in 16 female Long Evans ra...
Production Planning for Responsive Delivery Date Commitment

As manufacturers strive to become more customer-oriented, they are reexamining their order negotiation systems and processes to ensure responsive but realistic delivery date commitments to customers. Several companies now use commercial Available-To-Promise (ATP) systems to integrate data across the sales and production planning functions of the firm to provide real-time information on product availability. However, successful supply chain performance requires not only data integration, but also proactive coordination of the activities across these functional areas. Motivated by a problem facing a commercial-pipe manufacturer, we present a model-based approach to integrate and systematically evaluate tradeoffs between order commitment and production scheduling decisions. We consider a manufacturer that produces and sells a wide variety of products to customers with different priority levels. Due to significant product changeover times, planners at the manufacturing firm decide on production campaigns for different product families several weeks in advance using planned inventory targets, and progressively assign customer orders to planned production as orders arrive. Residual production is inventoried to meet demand until the next campaign for that product. To support delivery date negotiations with customers, we develop an optimization model that concurrently considers order commitments and production plans. We formulate this production-delivery integration problem as a mixed integer program. Since, this problem is NP-hard, we develop a tailored solution approach that builds on tight lower bounds from LP-relaxations, based on several classes of valid inequalities, to determine strong upper bounds using a heuristic LP-rounding procedure. We evaluate and report the performance of the solution approach over a wide variety of random problem instances. On average, the solution algorithm yields upper bound solutions that are within 1.7% of the optimal solution.
Cost, Revenue and Duality

Decision making units may be characterized as pursuing various objectives. Cost minimization and revenue maximization are two such objectives or rules which are often assumed in production theory. Prices are essential for both rules, and in Section 6.1, prices are introduced and their role is discussed.
Alterations in the responsiveness of senescent cells to growth factors

Our studies have led us to conclude that senescent cells respond to growth factors in much the same way, in part, as young cells. The receptor systems are largely unchanged with age, although some subtle modifications do occur. Furthermore, many of the early growth factor initiated events occur in a similar way in both young and old cells. This has led us to theorize that senescent cells are not arrested like mitogen-deprived young cells. Rather, they become blocked at a new arrest point in late G1 just prior to entry into DNA synthesis.
CO2 Capture Using Solutions of Alkanolamines and Aminosilicones

Tertiary amino alcohols have been shown to be effective co-solvents for CO2 capture when used in conjunction with aminosilicones. In some cases, they demonstrated a marked increase in CO2 capture compared to an equivalent weight loading of triethylene glycol and also showed a lower viscosity at a given CO2 loading. These materials may be useful as co-solvents in carbon capture processes using aminosilicones.
Anodic oxidation of disulfides: detection and reactions of disulfide radical cations.

The anodic oxidation of five diaryldisulfides have been studied in a dichloromethane/NBu4B(C6F5)4 electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry scans of (p-RC6H4)2S2 (R = Me, 1a; R = F, 1b; R = OMe, 1c) show modest chemical reversibility for the 1(0/+) couple (E1/2 values vs ferrocene: 1.04 V for 1a, 1.21 V for 1b, 0.92 V for 1c), providing the first voltammetric evidence for the radical cation Ar2S2(+). A dimer dication, Ar4S4(2+), is proposed as an intermediate in the formation of the electrolysis product, the trisulfide Ar3S3(+). The chemical reversibility of the one-electron oxidations of Ar2S2 vanishes in PF6(-)-containing electrolytes. The radical cations of the more sterically constrained ortho-substituted analogues dimesityldisulfide (2a, E1/2 = 1.01 V) and bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)disulfide (2b, E1/2 = 0.98 V) show less tendency to dimerize. In all cases except 2b, the bulk electrolysis product is R3S3(+), consistent with earlier literature reports. A mechanism is proposed in which the trisulfide is formed by reaction of the dimer dication Ar4S4(2+) with neutral Ar2S2 to afford the trisulfide in a net 2/3 e(-) process. Oxidation of Ar2S2, either anodically or by a strong one-electron oxidant, in the presence of cyclohexene gives an efficient synthetic route to 1,2-substituted cyclohexyldisulfides.
DIARRHEA IN CECECTOMIZED RABBITS INDUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN.

SummaryCecectomized rabbits (removal of appendix and all of cecum except proximal 3 segments) were challenged intravenously with highly purified staphylococcal entero-toxin. Diarrhea was induced in cecectomized rabbits in doses ineffective for normal rabbits. Average latency was 1¾ hours with recovery from diarrhea within 24 hours. Successive weekly injections of enterotoxin resulted in development of resistance. Pre-treatment of cecectomized rabbits with atro-pine or pyribenzamine gave definite but incomplete protection against enterotoxin-in-duced diarrhea.
Are Advertisers Potential (and Effective) Influencers on News Content?: An Examination of TV Reporters’ Perceptions of Extramedia Pressures on Media Content and Coverage Decisions

This study examines reporter perceptions of extramedia-level influences on news content, based on original data from a national web-based survey of television reporters. Using three extramedia meas...
Environmental Factors of Summer Diarrhea in Rural Sichuan

[Objective]To identify the environmental factors of diarrhea in Sichuan rural areas during summer,and to provide basis and support for intervention measures.[Methods]During July to August 2011,information on demographic characteristics,drinking water,types of lavatory,and diarrhea incidences were collected from 4 995 households of 1 040 administrative villages of 52 counties by stratified and random sampling.Stata 12.0 was used for logistic regression analysis.[Results]Diarrhea occurred in 7.95% of the households investigated.The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that obtaining drinking water from ditch/pond/canal/river(OR=1.535,P=0.028),drinking unboiled water(OR=1.738,P=0.005) or purified water(OR=1.434,P=0.001),and vectors in living environment(OR=1.260,P=0.049) were the risk factors of diarrhea.[Conclusion]The main impact factors of summer diarrhea in the rural areas of Sichuan Province are drinking water in ditch/pond/canal/river,drinking unboiled water or purified water,and vectors in living environment.
48 UNRAVELING PERINATAL MENTAL ILLNESS: A POTENTIAL ROLE FOR TESTOSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE AS BIOMARKERS.

Purpose Perinatal psychiatric disturbances are significant medical conditions that can have tragic sequelae, yet their genesis remains undetermined. While a causative role for estradiol and progesterone has been hypothesized, empirical support is inconclusive. This study was designed to measure adrenal hormone concentrations during and after pregnancy and to determine which, if any, were associated with development of significant perinatal mental illness. Methods Twenty-eight healthy primigravid women aged 21-40 years consented to participate in this study. Salivary samples for progesterone (P), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), testosterone (T), and dehydroxyepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were collected at 37 weeks of pregnancy and within the first 10 days postpartum and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Concurrently, nine psychiatric domains were assessed using the Symptom Checklist 90R. Results No negative mood symptoms were associated with P, E1, or E3 either pre- or postpartum. Negative mood symptoms were associated with T and DHEAS in the full perinatal period but with E2 postdelivery only. Decreased predelivery T was associated with both pre- and postdelivery psychiatric symptoms, including predelivery increases in phobia (r = -.397, p Conclusion These findings suggest that adrenal androgen synthesis marked by diminished late pregnancy T and elevated puerperal DHEAS may underlie perinatal mental illness. While further investigation is merited, measurement of T and DHEAS in late-stage pregnancy may prove useful as predictors of postpartum psychiatric complications.
Predicting the Genetic Stability of Engineered DNA Sequences with the EFM Calculator

Unwanted evolution can rapidly degrade the performance of genetically engineered circuits and metabolic pathways installed in living organisms. We created the Evolutionary Failure Mode (EFM) Calculator to computationally detect common sources of genetic instability in an input DNA sequence. It predicts two types of mutational hotspots: deletions mediated by homologous recombination and indels caused by replication slippage on simple sequence repeats. We tested the performance of our algorithm on genetic circuits that were previously redesigned for greater evolutionary reliability and analyzed the stability of sequences in the iGEM Registry of Standard Biological Parts. More than half of the parts in the Registry are predicted to experience >100-fold elevated mutation rates due to the inclusion of unstable sequence configurations. We anticipate that the EFM Calculator will be a useful negative design tool for avoiding volatile DNA encodings, thereby increasing the evolutionary lifetimes of synthetic biology devices.
Circulating Tumor DNA as an Early Indicator of Response to T-cell Transfer Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma.

Purpose:Adoptive transfer of activated autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate complete, durable regressions in patients with metastatic melanoma (MM). Responding patients generally do not have significant changes in non-cutaneous RECIST targets before 30-60 days following TIL infusion, and complete responses are often not confirmed for 1-2 years. There is a critical need for a biomarker that can provide early information regarding the likelihood and duration of a response to enable rational decisions about altering therapy. We wished to evaluate the role of ctDNA in separating responding from non-responding patients. Experimental Design:We studied BRAF V600E ctDNA levels by a sensitive allele specific PCR assay in 388 serum samples from 48 patients who received TIL immunotherapy at the National Cancer Institute, and correlated differences in the dynamic patterns of their ctDNA measurements with response outcomes. Results:A strong correlation was found between the presence or absence of an early serum peak of V600E ctDNA, and the likelihood of an objective response. Furthermore, patients that developed an early ctDNA peak and cleared their serum of V600E ctDNA were highly likely to achieve a complete response over the next 1-2 years. Patients that showed no peak of V600E ctDNA failed to achieve an objective response, with one exception. Conclusions:We show that the dynamic changes occurring in BRAF V600E ctDNA levels within the first month following T-cell transfer immunotherapy in MM can be used to rapidly identify responding from non-responding patients, potentially allowing clinicians to make critical treatment-related decisions in a more timely manner. These data also suggest that the majority of tumor killing by TIL occurs very early after the initiation of therapy.
From Rights to Virtues

How one responds to the flaws in just war thinking set out in the last chapter depends on which moral theory one holds. Theories within the just war tradition are concerned with justifying what is done in war in terms of rights and duties. Thus, one may think, for instance, that one should reexamine what the right of self-defense and the duty not to kill innocent people involves. Other moral theories, for example utilitarianism, treat rights and duties in a different way or they do not use these concepts at all. Either there are other ways of deciding on right and wrong action, or there are other concepts to be considered, such as those of good or bad character, that are more important. In the following chapters of this book, I shall be presenting a new ethics of war that makes use of the concept of a virtuous person instead of those of rights and duties. In this chapter, I will provide a contrast between deontological ethics and virtue ethics in order to make clear what the shift from rights to virtues means in terms of moral theory.1
The Potential Impact of Harper v. Washington on South Dakota's Statutory Right to Refuse Psychiatric Treatmen

In 1987, the South Dakota Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit extended a qualified right of medical self-determination to the institutionalized mentally ill. In Henderson v. Yocom, the court held that involuntarily committed mental patients have both a constitutional and statutory right to refuse the administration of antipsychotic drugs. The court then addressed the state interests which, under appropriate circumstances, could override the patient's refusal. In addition, the court mandated the implementation of several procedural safeguards in a forced medication determination. Shortly thereafter, the South Dakota Legislature enacted legislation specifically addressing the right to refuse, based on the principles enunciated in Yocom.In the 1990 case of Washington v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court explicitly recognized that the right to refuse antipsychotic medication is a protected liberty interest under the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, the Court proceeded to drastically limit the scope of this right as well as the procedural protections which must accompany it in the prison environment.While the Court has firmly established a constitutional right to refuse antipsychotic drugs, psychiatrists and other critics of the right are insisting that the extensive limitations placed on this right in the prison environment by Harper are also applicable in the civil institutional context. This argument was presented to the South Dakota Legislature during its 1991 session in an attempt to secure the repeal of the procedural protections provided in South Dakota Codified Laws.This article briefly describes the genesis and current status of the civil right to refuse in South Dakota. It then offers an analysis of the Court's decision in Washington v. Harper. Finally, the article addresses whether the extensive qualifications on the right to refuse announced by the Court in Harper can serve as a legitimate basis for the repeal of the more comprehensive protections provided by South Dakota law.
Membrane-Associated Estrogen Receptors and Breast Cancer

Membrane-initiated estrogen signaling is characterized by rapid onset of action and by relative insensitivity, at least in early stages, to inhibition of gene transcription or protein synthesis 1;2. These acute responses cannot be explained by traditional models of hormone action wherein steroid hormones act only as nuclear transcription factors. The latter nuclear-initiated mechanism requires binding of estradiol to its cognate nuclear receptor, followed by receptor dimerization and binding with specific estrogen-responsive elements (ERE) in DNA, leading to the later regulation of gene transcription and promotion of cell growth. Nonetheless, integration of nuclear- and membrane-initiated signaling by estrogens likely contributes to the full biologic effects of hormone.
An academic/government partnership to provide technical assistance with pandemic influenza planning to local health departments in North Carolina.

In 2006, the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC DPH) required all 85 local health departments (LHDs) in North Carolina to develop a pandemic influenza plan. Because few LHDs had experienc...
Wrong-site nerve blocks: A systematic literature review to guide principles for prevention.

Abstract Study objective Wrong-site nerve blocks (WSBs) are a significant, though rare, source of perioperative morbidity. WSBs constitute the most common type of perioperative wrong-site procedure reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. This systematic literature review aggregates information about the incidence, patient consequences, and conditions that contribute to WSBs, as well as evidence-based methods to prevent them. Design A systematic search of English-language publications was performed, using the PRISMA process. Main results Seventy English-language publications were identified. Analysis of four publications reporting on at least 10,000 blocks provides a rate of 0.52 to 5.07 WSB per 10,000 blocks, unilateral blocks, or "at risk" procedures. The most commonly mentioned potential consequence was local anesthetic toxicity. The most commonly mentioned contributory factors were time pressure, personnel factors, and lack of site-mark visibility (including no site mark placed). Components of the block process that were addressed include preoperative nerve-block verification, nerve-block site marking, time-outs, and the healthcare facility's structure and culture of safety. Discussion A lack of uniform reporting criteria and divergence in the data and theories presented may reflect the variety of circumstances affecting when and how nerve blocks are performed, as well as the infrequency of a WSB. However, multiple authors suggest three procedural steps that may help to prevent WSBs: (1) verify the nerve-block procedure using multiple sources of information, including the patient; (2) identify the nerve-block site with a visible mark; and (3) perform time-outs immediately prior to injection or instillation of the anesthetic. Hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and anesthesiology practices should consider creating site-verification processes with clinician input and support to develop sustainable WSB-prevention practices.
PYRAMID: Probabilistic Content Reconciliation and Prioritization for V2V Communications

Emerging vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies, such as dedicated short range communications (DSRC), offer unique opportunities to realize wireless peer-to-peer systems for vehicles. A critical component in a vehicular peer-to-peer system is an efficient content reconciliation mechanism, which guides two communicating vehicles to match their interests, prioritize task execution, and ensure redundant contents not to be exchanged. In this paper, we propose PYRAMID, a multilayer probabilistic abstraction framework, to efficiently abstract and approximate contents with different granularity. Using the multilayer Pyramid data structures, a vehicle is able to quickly get an impression of the contents on the other vehicle before the costly massive content exchange process starts. Particularly, the coarse-granularity layer estimates the contribution from potential transaction partners so that tasks could be prioritized accordingly; the fine-granularity layer helps conduct membership tests, to avoid transmitting redundant contents. Using a fleet of research vehicles equipped with DSRC radios, we experimentally demonstrate that, across a rich variety of scenarios, PYRAMID improves the utility value of content exchanges by 20%–30% and improves effective throughput by at least 25%, while only incurring a minimal computational overhead.
Evidence for Early Anthropoid Social Behavior

Recent discoveries of early anthropoid primate fossils from Africa and Asia have generated a tremendous amount of new information about the origins of modern anthropoid primates (e.g., Beard et al., 1994, 1996; Jaeger et al., 1999; Simons, 1989, 1997). With these new discoveries has come an intensified interest in understanding the adaptive shifts involved in the evolution of the earliest anthropoids (Kay et al., 1997; Ross, 1996, 2000). This essay focuses on morphological evidence for some aspects of social behavior in the earliest anthropoids—specifically gregariousness, broad patterns of mating system, and intrasexual competition. This topic is difficult to address, but it is of considerable interest by virtue of the role it plays in recent hypotheses about anthropoid origins.
Brain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of reviewThere has been a resurgence of interest in brain stimulationtechniques as therapies for psychiatric disorders. Variousnames are used for this class of treatments:neuromodulation, somatic therapies, brain stimulationtechniques. The methods in this class range from non-invasive (transcranial magnetic stimulation) to invasive brainsurgery (deep brain stimulation).Recent ﬁndingsWithin the past year, the results of several large multicentertrials have been published, clearing the way for US Foodand Drug Administration approval of vagus nervestimulation for recurrent treatment-resistant depression anda pending consideration of approving transcranial magneticstimulation for the treatment of depression.SummaryThis article reviews the most important recent clinicallyrelevant manuscripts in this rapidly expanding new ﬁeld.Keywordsanticonvulsant, antidepressant, deep brain stimulation,electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magneticstimulation, vagus nerve stimulation
Emitter-Base Profile Optimization of SiGe HBTs for Improved Thermal Stability and Frequency Response at Low-Bias Currents

We explore different vertical profile designs with optimized emitter-base (EB) junctions targeting both constant current gain $(\beta)$ across temperature and broadened $\mathbf{f}_{\mathbf{T}}/\mathbf{f}_{\max}$ curves for improved large-signal linearity. This work explicitly examines achieving a temperature-independent $\beta$ via profile design in SiGe HBTs, and explores the limitations using triangular and ledge-based Ge profiles at the EB junction. The effects of base width and the EB junction separation length are also investigated for reduced parasitic capacitance and improved frequency response at low-bias currents. This work presents the underlying theory, along with the measured results for the two optimization targets, both of which should aid in designing circuits with better linearity and stability across bias and temperature corners.
The Socio-Technological Lives of Bitcoin:

Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and blockchains have become buzzwords in the media and are attracting increasing academic interest, mainly from the fields of computer science and financial economics. In...
Pre-operative factors correlated with arthroscopic reparability of large-to-massive rotator cuff tears

The purpose of this study is to determine the pre-operative factors that are associated with reparability of the large-sized and massive rotator cuff tears. Sixty-six patients were included in this prognostic study. Demographic data, radiographic and MRI parameters were collected. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair was performed for all included patient. Complete rotator cuff repair was achieved when the tendon covered up at least 50% of the anatomical footprint. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analysed to define the cut-off level of each significant factor. Eleven large-sized rotator cuff tears and fifty-five massive rotator cuff tears were defined from MRI. Fifty-four patients were in the complete repair group, and twelve patients were in the partial repair group. The mean duration between MRI and surgery of 5.5 weeks. Reparability was correlated with age, mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) tear size, rotator cuff arthropathy, superior migration of humeral head, fatty infiltration and atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle, and fatty infiltration of infraspinatus muscle (p < 0.05). The ROC curve defined a cut-off level of each predicting factor which included age of ≥65 years, mediolateral tear size of ≥36 mm, anteroposterior tear size of ≥22 mm, Hamada’s rotator cuff arthropathy of ≥class2, acromiohumeral interval of ≥6 mm, ≥stage3 supraspinatus fatty infiltration, the presence of supraspinatus muscle atrophy, and ≥ stage1 infraspinatus fatty infiltration. In multivariated regression analysis, age, acromiohumeral interval, and anteroposterior tear size were statistically associated with the reparability. The intra- and inter-observer reliabilities were moderate to excellent. Age, ML tear size, AP tear size, rotator cuff arthropathy, superior migration of humeral head, fatty infiltration of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and supraspinatus muscle atrophy all correlate with reparability of large to massive rotator cuff tear.
A novel inhomogeneous deformation field model for cylindrical specimens for unconfined compression testing

Abstract Compression methods when testing polymer materials from quasi-static to dynamic loading rates require the use of cylindrical specimens due symmetry. For soft materials, which have more complex non-linear response such as hyperelastic or viscoelastic compared to traditional engineering materials, additional challenges arise when obtaining their material parameters. Previous studies have been found scarce in investigating and developing mathematical models to predict this complex deformation field whenever friction is considered during unconfined compression testing. We present an analytical approach to model this “barreling effect” that is derived from inhomogeneous deformation field that accumulates mass in the center region of the specimen. This reduces the contact surface area that directly affects the computation of material constants e.g. stress. Our novel method successfully describes this effect quantitatively, providing an analytical solution that models the deformation field for a wide range of finite strains and variety materials. This approach has been experimentally proved to dramatically increase the accuracy by up to 17% compared to existing methodologies that are based only on the homogeneous deformation approach, which to date, is the most common model to characterize the general material's mechanical response.
In situ observations of thermally induced phase transformations in iron sulfide nanoparticles

Abstract Iron pyrite (FeS2) exhibits dynamic thermal stability and represents an ideal model system to probe complex phase transformations in materials. At elevated temperatures, the sublimation of S atoms from the FeS2 lattice results in a phase transformation to one of the many polymorphic forms of pyrrhotite, i.e., from Fe1-XS (where 0 ≤ X
Felipe's Story in Response To The National Research Council Report

The National Research Council (NRC) report on the disproportionate representation of minority students in special and gifted education represents an opportunity to draw national attention to the challenges faced by educators as they attempt to provide highquality educational opportunities for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Although the report provides a thorough inventory of the factors that influence school achievement and behavior of students from diverse backgrounds, it generally overlooks the needs of English language learners. As educators and researchers attempt to address the issue of disproportionate representation, the experiences of students from diverse linguistic backgrounds must be considered. Drawing on the school experiences of Felipe, a native Spanish-speaking student, this article illustrates the dilemmas that educators of English language learners face and the resulting disproportionate representation of linguistically diverse students in special education. While Felipe’s case is not representative of all linguistic minorities in the United States, it provides a framework for considering issues that extend beyond the information included in the NRC report.
Blood Libel and the Pius War: A Bibliographic Review of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holocaust

The reaction of the Roman Catholic Church and its Pontiff to the Holocaust continues to elicit scholarly debate. The Church was strident in its denunciation and condemnation of Bolshevism and Commu...
Lack of neural evidence for implicit language learning in 9‐month‐old infants at high risk for autism

Word segmentation is a fundamental aspect of language learning, since identification of word boundaries in continuous speech must occur before the acquisition of word meanings can take place. We previously used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show that youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are less sensitive to statistical and speech cues that guide implicit word segmentation. However, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying this process during infancy and how this may be associated with ASD risk. Here, we examined early neural signatures of language-related learning in 9-month-old infants at high (HR) and low familial risk (LR) for ASD. During natural sleep, infants underwent fMRI while passively listening to three speech streams containing strong statistical and prosodic cues, strong statistical cues only, or minimal statistical cues to word boundaries. Compared to HR infants, LR infants showed greater activity in the left amygdala for the speech stream containing statistical and prosodic cues. While listening to this same speech stream, LR infants also showed more learning-related signal increases in left temporal regions as well as increasing functional connectivity between bilateral primary auditory cortex and right anterior insula. Importantly, learning-related signal increases at 9 months positively correlated with expressive language outcome at 36 months in both groups. In the HR group, greater signal increases were additionally associated with less severe ASD symptomatology at 36 months. These findings suggest that early differences in the neural networks underlying language learning may predict subsequent language development and altered trajectories associated with ASD risk.
Genetic Risk Factors for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Insights into Immunopathogenesis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an etiologically complex interstitial lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lungs with a subsequent decline in lung function. While much of the pathogenesis of IPF still remains unclear, it is now understood that genetic variation accounts for at least one-third of the risk of developing the disease. The single-most validated and most significant risk factor, genetic or otherwise, is a gain-of-function promoter variant in the MUC5B gene. While the functional impact of these IPF risk variants at the cellular and tissue levels are areas of active investigation, there is a growing body of evidence that these genetic variants may influence disease pathogenesis through modulation of innate immune processes.
In hyponatremia, rapid intermittent bolus vs. slow continuous infusion of hypertonic saline did not differ for overcorrection of serum sodium.

SOURCE CITATION Baek SH, Jo YH, Ahn S, et al. Risk of overcorrection in rapid intermittent bolus vs slow continuous infusion therapies of hypertonic saline for patients with symptomatic hyponatremia: the SALSA randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181:81-92. 33104189.
Survival Outcomes with Regards to Implant Strategies in Heart Transplantation

Purpose Strategies underlying the use of Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) for patients with end-stage heart failure include its use as bridge to transplant (BTT) or as destination therapies (DT). Survival outcomes of patients undergoing these LVAD implant strategies were evaluated and compared. Methods A retrospective analysis of single center database heart transplant patients that received LVADs from Nov. 2009 to Sep. 2020 (n=137). Patients were placed into the following cohorts based on the implant strategy: 1) BTT (n=31), 2) DT (n=106). Demographics were compared between groups for significance. Kaplan Meier curves were calculated and compared via log rank tests, and Cox Regression Analysis was performed. P-values Results Demographics between the groups were: diagnosis (p=0.257), CPB time (p=0.957), XC time (p=0.763), ischemic time (p=0.478), warm ischemic time (p=0.332), age (p=0.323), race (p=0.067), length of stay (p=0.355) and PRA (p=0.701). Of 137 patients that received LVADs used for BTT or DT prior to heart transplant, the BTT group had better survival outcomes than DT (p=0.0467). Median survival time for DT group was 2554 days, and median survival time for BTT group was 3030 days. The type of LVADs used between the two groups were significantly different (p=0.0009), therefore cox regression was run to control for statistically significant variables, with device showing no significant effect on survival. In cox regression BTT had a protective effect over DT with a hazard ratio of 1.439, p=0.0364. Conclusion Implant strategies for LVAD as BTT or DT show a difference in survival outcomes for end-stage heart failure patients, however both had reasonable outcomes. This paper supports the current literature in that LVADs are viable for use in patients of all types, with slightly better effects in BTT patients.
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Power Quality Studies of 57 Prospective Large (200-MW Typical) Solar Generation Interconnections

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Transmission Power Quality staff evaluated 57 solar interconnection inquiries, representing a total of 8900-MW (or 158-MW per site on average) from August 2019 - January 2021. These studies focused on rapid voltage change during transformer energization and harmonic voltage distortion associated with solar generation operations. This paper presents the use of an electromagnetic transient computer program to simulate operational issues that could be anticipated based on the interconnection of a prospective solar facility. The simulation modeling methodology is discussed in detail, including assumptions that TVA routinely uses in these studies. A discussion of simulating multiple sites operating in close proximity is also presented with emphasis on the potential for harmonics to adversely affect neighboring sites. Finally, mitigation strategies commonly used to limit the impact of model results are provided.
Coverage and Estimated Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Veterans.

Importance: Effectiveness of mRNA vaccinations in a diverse older population with high comorbidity is unknown. Objectives: To describe the scope of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout among US veterans, and to estimate mRNA COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) as measured by rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design, Setting, and Participants: This matched test-negative case-control study was conducted using SARS-CoV-2 test results at Veterans Health Administration sites from December 14, 2020, to March 14, 2021. Vaccine coverage was estimated for all veterans. VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related hospitalization and death were estimated using electronic health records from veterans who routinely sought care at a VHA facility and had a test result positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cases) or negative for SARS-CoV-2 (controls). Cases and controls were matched on time of test and geographic region. Data were analyzed from May to July 2021. Exposures: Vaccination status, defined as unvaccinated, partially vaccinated (≥14 days after first dose until second dose), or fully vaccinated (≥14 days after second dose), at time of test. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome of interest was a positive result for SARS-CoV-2 on a polymerase chain reaction or antigen test. Secondary outcomes included COVID-19-related hospitalization and death, defined by discharge data and proximity of event to positive test result. VE was estimated from odds ratios for SARS-CoV-2 infection with 95% CIs. Results: Among 6â¯647â¯733 veterans included (3â¯350â¯373 veterans [50%] aged ≥65 years; 6â¯014â¯798 [90%] men and 632â¯935 [10%] women; 461â¯645 Hispanic veterans of any race [7%], 1â¯102â¯471 non-Hispanic Black veterans [17%], and 4â¯361â¯621 non-Hispanic White veterans [66%]), 1â¯363â¯180 (21%) received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccination by March 7, 2021. In this period, during which the share of SARS-CoV-2 variants Alpha, Epsilon, and Iota had started to increase in the US, estimates of COVID-19 VE against infection, regardless of symptoms, was 95% (95% CI, 93%-96%) for full vaccination and 64% (95% CI, 59%-68%) for partial vaccination. Estimated VE against COVID-19-related hospitalization for full vaccination was 91% (95% CI 83%-95%); there were no deaths among veterans who were fully vaccinated. VE against infection was similar across subpopulations (non-Hispanic Black, 94% [95% CI, 88%-97%]; Hispanic [any race], 83% [95% CI, 45%-95%]; non-Hispanic White, 92% [95% CI 88%-94%]; rural, 94% [95% CI, 89%-96%]; urban, 93% 95% CI, 89%-95%]). Conclusions and Relevance: For veterans of all racial and ethnic subgroups living in urban or rural areas, mRNA vaccination was associated with substantially decreased risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, with no deaths among fully vaccinated veterans.
Group Therapy: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses group therapy a cognitive-behavioral approach. A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) refers to a group approach that makes use of behavioral, cognitive, relational, and group procedures to enhance the coping skills of the participants, and ameliorate relational and intrapersonal problems that patients may be experiencing. Coping skills refer to that set of behaviors and cognitions that facilitate adaptation to stressful or problematic day-to-day situations, or private internal events. This chapter refers briefly to research that compares various models of CBGT to individual Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and control group, as well as a comparison of CBGT to other types of group therapy. In CBGT, the group provides a rich source of ideas in brainstorming, suggestions for alternative strategies, and models for role-playing. Another advantage of using the group in CBGT is the frequent and varied opportunity for mutual reinforcement that, for patients, is often far more powerful than reinforcement by a therapist.