cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Long-Term Periodontal Care on Hemoglobin A1c in Type 2 Diabetes

This was a prospective cohort study evaluating 126,805 individuals with diabetes and periodontal disease receiving care at all Veterans Administration medical centers and clinics in the United States from 2005 through 2012. The exposures were periodontal treatment at baseline (PT0) and at follow-up (PT2). The outcomes were change in HbA1c following initial treatment (ΔHbA1c1) and follow-up treatment (ΔHbA1c2), and diabetes control was defined as HbA1c at <7% and <9% following initial and follow-up treatment, respectively. Marginal structural models were used to account for potential confounding and selection bias. The objective was to evaluate the impact of long-term treatment of periodontal disease on glycemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Participants were 64 y old on average, 97% were men, and 71% were white. At baseline, the average diabetes duration was 4 y, 12% of participants were receiving insulin, and 60% had HbA1c <7%. After an average 1.7 y of follow-up, the mean HbA1c increased from 7.03% to 7.21%. About 29.4% of participants attended their periodontal maintenance visit following baseline. Periodontal treatment at baseline and follow-up reduced HbA1c by -0.02% and -0.074%, respectively. Treatment at follow-up increased the likelihood of individuals achieving diabetes control by 5% and 3% at the HbA1c <7% and HbA1c <9% thresholds, respectively, and was observed even among never smokers. HbA1c reduction after periodontal treatment at follow-up was greater (ΔHbA1c2 = -0.25%) among individuals with higher baseline HbA1c. Long-term periodontal care provided in a clinical setting improved long-term glycemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease.
Sufficient weighted complementarity problems

This paper presents some fundamental results about sufficient linear weighted complementarity problems. Such a problem depends on a nonnegative weight vector. If the weight vector is zero, the problem reduces to a sufficient linear complementarity problem that has been extensively studied. The introduction of the more general notion of a weighted complementarity problem (wCP) was motivated by the fact that wCP can model more general equilibrium problems than the classical complementarity problem (CP). The introduction of a nonzero weight vector makes the theory of wCP more complicated than the theory of CP. The paper gives a characterization of sufficient linear wCP and proposes a corrector---predictor interior-point method for its numerical solution. While the proposed algorithm does not depend on the handicap $$\kappa $$? of the problem its computational complexity is proportional with $$1+\kappa $$1+?. If the weight vector is zero and the starting point is relatively well centered, then the computational complexity of our algorithm is the same as the best known computational complexity for solving sufficient linear CP.
Management of Lepidoptera on Processing Sweet Corn in Western New York

Processing sweet corn harvested from commercial fields in western New York was graded for insect injury and presence of larvae of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner); fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith); and corn earworm, Heliothts zea (Boddie), during 1982 and 1983. In both years, boring injury caused by O. nubilalis was lower and remained relatively constant through the season relative to the dramatic increase in tip injury caused by S. frugiperda and H. zea as the season progressed. In 1982, the seasonal average of tip and boring injury was 6.43 and 1.11%, respectively, and in 1983, 6.94 and 1.51%, respectively. Tip injury reflected temporal trends in fall armyworm and corn earworm populations in harvested ears in both years. Boring injury only reflected the temporal trend of European corn borer in 1983. Testing of a management program, which compared scheduled applications in one section of the field against a sequential sampling program for European corn borer in another section of the same field was conducted in 11 commercial fields in 1984. For each processor involved, there was no significant difference in number of ears that were infested or culled in each section; however, scouted sections of fields required 25 and 33% fewer applications. Based on an analysis of insecticide savings and scouting costs, adoption of this management program should prove cost effective to the processing industry.
Abstract 1892: Curcumin suppresses prostate cancer cells through modulation of β-catenin and protein kinase D1

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in the US. One in every 6th male will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Understanding the molecular basis of prostate cancer progression can serve as a tool for early stage diagnosis and development of novel treatment strategies for this disease. Inappropriate activation of β-catenin signaling is linked to a wide range of cancers, including prostate cancer, resulting in transcription of genes involved in cancer progression such as c-Myc, c-Jun and cyclin D1. However, strategies to regulate this specific signaling pathway are very limited or not well developed. Synthetic or natural products which regulate this signaling pathway can be developed as a novel therapeutic modality for prostate cancer treatment. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, has shown anti-cancer properties via modulation of a number of different molecular pathways. Herein, we have investigated a putative molecular mechanism involved in curcumin mediated suppression of prostate cancer cell growth and the effect of curcumin on prostate cancer cells growth and its effect on β-catenin transcription activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cellular characteristics of the C4-2 prostate cancer cells were measured using anchorage independent growth, anchorage dependent growth, motility, and proliferation assays. β-catenin/T cell factor (TCF) transcription activity was measured by luciferase reporter assays using reporter constructs Topflash or Fopflash and pRL-TK (Renilla luciferase). The Luciferase activities were assayed using the Dual Glo reagent (dual reporter assay, Promega, Madison, WI). Subcellular localization of Protein Kinase D1 (PKD1) and β-catenin was determined by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that curcumin effectively suppresses prostate cancer cell growth, proliferation and cellular motility. In the luciferase assays, curcumin treatment diminished β-catenin transcription activity in C4-2 prostate cancer cells. Moreover, curcumin treatment influences the translocation of β-catenin from the nucleus to the cell surface membrane. Interestingly, the suppression of β-catenin transcription activity was correlated with the modulation PKD1 expression/phosphorylation within 1-3 hrs post-curcumin treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that curcumin treatment attenuates β-catenin transcription activity in prostate cancer cells via modulating the expression/activation of PKD1. These results suggest a novel molecular mechanism of curcumin related suppression of prostate cancer cell growth. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1892.
The Anti-Histamine Effect of Imidazol.

SummaryStrong concentrations of imidazol can block the effect of histamine upon the guina pig intestine, and large doses can decrease the vasodepressor effect of histamine in the cat, but the amounts required are so great as to offer no promise of clinical or laboratory usefulness.
Capacity Analysis of Optimal Power Allocation in Distributed MIMO Systems

The performance of D- MIMO( Massive Distribute Multiple- Input Multiple- Output) systems is affected not only by small- scale Rayleigh fading but also by path loss. There exist certain difficulties in analyzing the capacity of Massive D- MIMO systems. At present,plenty of system capacity analysis focuses on equal power allocation of each transmission antenna. Based on CSI( Channel Statistics Information),the structure of linear antennas,and the capacity analysis of the system with optimal power allocation,an optimal power allocation scheme is proposed. Comparison with the traditional equal power allocation indicates that the optimal power allocation scheme could evidently increase the capacity of D- MIMO system.
Prevalence of Fatty Liver among Public Security Staff in Huairou District of Beijing City

[Objective]To understand the prevalence of fatty liver and its causes among public security staff in Huairou District of Beijing City,and provide evidence for fatty liver intervention,rational control and reduction of complications induced by fatty liver.[Methods]Under strict quality control,a physical examination on the male workers of public security system was conducted between March and June in 2010 in Hurairou District with Cluster random sampling method.The results were statistically analyzed.[Results]The prevalence rate of fatty liver was 49%;the detection rate of abnormal blood lipid was 57.4%;the prevalence rate of fatty liver among patients with abnormal blood lipids was 62.1%;the prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was 67.3%;the prevalence rates of fatty liver among patients with overweight or obesity were both 65.99%;the prevalence of fatty liver among patients with hyperglycemia was 80.8%.[Conclusion]The occurrence of fatty liver is closely related with age,and its prevalence increases with age.The overweight and obesity,dyslipidemia,hyperglycemia,irregular diet,lack of exercise and poor awareness of self-management are the risk factors of fatty liver.
Saphenous vein graft perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention: a case series.

Introduction The outcomes of perforation during aortocoronary saphenous vein graft (SVG) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are poorly studied. Methods We reviewed all 12 SVG perforations that occurred between November 2005 and November 2011 at two tertiary referral centers. The acute and long-term outcomes of these patients were examined. Results The perforation was located in the SVG body (n = 6), aortic (n = 3), or distal (n = 3) anastomosis. Most perforations occurred after stent implantation (n = 5) or after stent postdilation (n = 3). The perforation was Ellis class I in 1 patient, II in 3 patients, III in 4 patients, and III with cavity spilling in 3 patients. The perforation spontaneously sealed without requiring further treatment in 3 patients. In the remaining 9 patients, the perforation was treated with prolonged balloon inflation (n = 2) or covered stent implantation (n = 5), but could not be treated in 2 patients who died during the procedure. Seven of the 10 survivors underwent follow-up angiography 5 months to 2 years after the perforation. The target SVG was occluded in 5 patients and had developed severe stenosis in the remaining 2 patients. Conclusions SVG perforation during PCI carries a high mortality and frequently requires implantation of a covered stent. Perforated SVGs frequently occlude within 2 years post PCI.
Dynamics of ion transport and electric double layer in single conical nanopores

Abstract Structurally defined nanopores have received great attention in the past decades in part due to the novel mass transport phenomena resolved at such nanoscale solid-liquid interfaces. New capabilities and/or better efficiency are envisioned in molecular sensing, energy storage and conversion, nanofluidics, and membrane transport. This review will focus on the fundamental mass transport processes confined by asymmetric nanoscale structures particularly in conical nanopores. The fabrication of different nanopore devices and the double layer theory are briefly introduced first as background. The nonlinear and dynamic mass transport processes, including ionic current rectification, dynamic concentration polarization, memory effects and capacitive charging/discharging processes are then reviewed. The fundamental understanding and quantification of dynamic transport features offer new physical insights in the nanoscale mass transport processes and has significant implications in related electroanalytical and other applications.
Trees in Agricultural Systems

Agricultural manuals and handbooks are the most important source of information on the early development of forestry in China, indicating that trees have long been managed as a component of agricultural systems (Menzies, 1985: 3–11). Trees were planted to supply basic needs for building materials and for fuel, but were usually less important than grains and other food crops. Some agricultural systems did evolve, however, in which trees were grown by individual landholders, as a cash crop to supply urban markets for timber.
Open-Space Damping System Description, Theory, and Verification

AbstractSeismic energy dissipation systems are typically installed in buildings within diagonal or chevron bracing to improve the seismic performance by reducing drift, and under certain conditions...
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma in Patients with Reduced Renal Function: A Matched Set Comparison.

Background: Renal insufficiency of varying severity including end stage renal disease requiring dialysis is often a presenting manifestation of multiple myeloma (MM). While many patients (pts) improve following initiation of therapy for MM, a considerable number of pts proceed to stem cell transplant with less than optimal renal function. It is not clear whether the outcome of their transplants differs from pts with normal renal function. Methods: The MM transplant database was searched to identify pts with a Creatinine clearance (Crcl) of less than 50 ml/min/m 2 (study cohort). These pts were then matched to two pts each with a clearance of ≥ 50 ml/min/m 2 (control cohort), based on cytogenetic abnormalities (normal vs. abnormal), circulating plasma cells (yes vs. no), age at transplant, % of plasma cells at transplant, plasma cell labeling index, time to transplant from diagnosis and the disease status at transplant, the factors used in that order of importance. Results: Eighty pts with a Crcl Conclusion: Here we demonstrate that pts with MM and reduced renal function derive disease free survival comparable to those with normal renal function, despite the increased use of reduced dose Melphalan for conditioning. The toxicity is clearly increased in the presence of abnormal renal function. Interestingly, the overall survival was inferior among the pts with reduced renal function. One possible explanation for this observation is the decreased availability of novel therapies for salvage among pts with reduced renal function as many of them would not be eligible for clinical trials due to reduced renal function.
Poverty, disputes, and access to justice in two Indonesian provinces

This analysis explores the determinants behind the unequal access to justice services among poor Indonesians. The study analyzes the stock of observed past disputes by socioeconomic group and the demand for conflict resolution services for unresolved conflicts or “trajectories.” It also models the hypothetical demand of justice services for future disputes. Results suggest that unequal access to justice might go beyond the financial costs of seeking justice and also depends on individual preferences and community infrastructure. These findings warn against focusing exclusively on formal justice costs to improve the equal access of the poor to conflict resolution services.
Magnetic Fields in Quiescent Prominences

We discuss the longitudinal component of the magnetic field, B∥, based on data from about 135 quiescent prominences observed at Climax during the period 1968–1969. The measurements are obtained with the magnetograph which records the Zeeman effect on hydrogen, helium and metal lines. Use of the following lines, Hα; Hei, D3, Hei, 4471 A; Nai, Di and D2, leads to the same value for the observed magnetic field component in these prominences. For more than half of the prominences their mean field, B∥, satisfy the inequalities 3 G ⩽ B∥ ⩽ 8 G, and the overall mean value for all the prominences is 7.3 G. As a rule, the magnetic field enters the prominence on one side and exits on the other, but in traversing the prominence material, the field tends to run along the long axis of the prominence.
“Plunger” Method for Simulating Crystal–Melt Interfacial Free Energies

Crystal–melt interfacial free energies are important ingredients in predicting the nucleation barrier for polymers to crystallize. Experimental measurement of polymer crystal–melt interfacial tensions is challenging, particularly for crystal facets other than the lamellar surfaces. We propose a simple way to obtain the interfacial free energy for any polymer crystal surface and melt using molecular dynamics simulation. We measure the force on a simulated nanoscale “plunger”, that restrains a melt from flowing into the gap between two crystals cleaved along the (100) plane. This gives the difference between the crystal–vacuum and crystal–melt interfacial free energies. Separately, the crystal–vacuum interfacial free energy is obtained by measuring the force required to hold two crystals apart and integrating the force with respect to distance. We obtain the crystal–melt interfacial free energy by subtracting the above values. Results from this method applied to n-alkanes can be compared to measurements of ...
Dynamics of Socio-Economic Systems

Abstract Automatic control engineers are the best-trained people in society for understanding the behavior of feedback loops: Feedback loop structure underlies the dynamics of social and economic behavior. Yet experts in dynamics are exerting little influence on human affairs. The responsibility lies with those having capability to use their knowledge where it can do most for the public. Probably the greatest benefit would come from working on major social issues, not from refining the operation of physical systems. At M.I.Τ. we have been developing a comprehensive simulation model as a basis for examining the forces underlying inflation, unemployment, energy shortage, foreign exchange rates, mobility of people, and tax policy. By making all variables endogenous, the feedback structure is preserved. The model is a step toward bridging from the concepts of feedback dynamics to social policy.
Multi-periodic contact patterns in predicting future contacts over mobile networks

With advances in Internet technology and prominence of mobile and smart devices in our lives, opportunistic and pervasive networks are now ubiquitous in solving many existing service limitations. The challenge lies in the underlying time-varying graph of the network due to mobility and intermittent connectivity. This introduces technical limitations in successful realization of services and applications e.g., efficient routing, maximal coverage with minimal latency, data offloading, and effective dissemination over mobile networks. Efficient solution to these inter-related problems lies in the novel prediction strategies for most accurate future contacts (i.e., links or interactions). In contrast to the existing strategies that consider either network structure or regular pattern and periodic nature of contacts, we propose novel use of seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model and recurrent neural network model that are capable of capturing multi-periodic, dependent contact patterns. We predict the number of contacts relative to a node and over all nodes in any future interval over a given user and a pair of users. Finally, we validate our models with three distinct empirical data set, and compare with doubly recurrent and homogeneous Poisson process model to demonstrate the superiority of our prediction models.
Behavior Analysis and Training

Going by different labels, including behavioral husbandry and applied behavior analysis, behavioral management is a discipline of psychology that deals with the functional analysis of environment and behavior. Behavioral management is an umbrella term that encompasses many aspects of welfare, including behavior analysis, environmental and cognitive enrichment, environmental design, biological (ecological) constraints, socialization and re-socialization techniques, and both medical and performance training. With this in mind, behavior analysts working in human clinical settings can be recruited to work side by side with zoo keepers, zoo biologists, and zoo veterinarians. Likely as not, behavior therapies developed for use with humans will be effective for many different species. Historically, aquatic parks with marine mammals were among the first to utilize operant conditioning. This was a great step forward because Skinnerian positive control techniques were highly effective with dolphins, sea lions, and birds. One of the first zoos to utilize positive control was the US National Zoo when they hired marine mammal trainer Karen Pryor to mentor keepers to train great apes and other species. The field of behavioral analysis is expanding throughout the world as illustrated by the extraordinary growth in the membership of the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Synergistic relationships are feasible through the regional associations of ABAI and organized zoo associations such as SEAZA in Asia. We regard the brokering of such partnerships as a high priority for advocates of a global zoo animal welfare movement.
Spatial scale of receptive fields in the visual sector of the cat thalamic reticular nucleus

Inhibitory projections from the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus to the lateral geniculate nucleus complete the earliest feedback loop in the mammalian visual pathway and regulate the flow of information from retina to cortex. There are two competing hypotheses about the function of the thalamic reticular nucleus. One regards the structure as a thermostat that uniformly regulates thalamic activity through negative feedback. Alternatively, the searchlight hypothesis argues for a role in focal attentional modulation through positive feedback, consistent with observations that behavioral state influences reticular activity. Here, we address the question of whether cells in the reticular nucleus have receptive fields small enough to provide localized feedback by devising methods to quantify the size of these fields across visual space. Our results show that reticular neurons in the cat operate over discrete spatial scales, at once supporting the searchlight hypothesis and a role in feature selective sensory processing. The searchlight hypothesis proposes that the thalamic reticular nucleus regulates thalamic relay activity through focal attentional modulation. Here the authors show that the receptive field sizes of reticular neurons are small enough to provide localized feedback onto thalamic neurons in the visual pathway.
Hoarseness as a presentation of mycosis fungoides infiltrating the larynx

Laryngeal involvement is a rare manifestation of mycosis fungoides (MF), with only nine reported cases of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with laryngeal or vocal cord involvement. Herein, we report the case of a patient with a 7-year history of MF who presented to the emergency department with hoarseness, throat tightness and cough, as well as erythroderma and skin tumours. Laryngoscopy and CT imaging were concerning for lymphomatous involvement of the left false vocal cord. A biopsy was taken of the false vocal cord lesion, which revealed an aberrant immunophenotype consistent with MF. The patient was started on doxorubicin with initial rapid improvement in symptoms. Within 2 months, her respiratory status and skin involvement worsened. Subsequent studies showed bone marrow involvement. The patient expired 4 months after original presentation. This report describes the patient’s presentation and clinical course, and reviews the literature on vocal cord and laryngeal involvement of MF.
The content of prenatal care. Update 2005.

Introduction The Content of Prenatal Care report of the US Preventative Health Service (USPHS) Expert Panel established an important benchmark when published in 1989, but has not been significantly updated since that time. Methods The literature since 1989 is reviewed to assess which recommendations have been validated and/or implemented. Additionally, new findings that support the recommendations put forth or expand the scope of prenatal care outlined in the 1989 report are examined and discussed. Results The USPHS recommendation of a reduced prenatal visit schedule has support, and new content for the preconception visit has been identified, although this preconception visit has not been validated or widely implemented. Conclusions We identified new opportunities and initiatives for the content of prenatal care, particularly improvement in the electronic medical record, attention to multidisciplinary approaches to patient education and improved patient literacy, and an extended maternal life span approach, including postgestation visits.
Optimal Implementation of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in the Emergency Department

The opioid epidemic is the most significant modern-day, public health crisis. Physicians and lawmakers have developed methods and practices to curb opioid use. This article describes one method, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), through the lens of how to optimize use for emergency departments (ED). EDs have rapidly become a central location to combat opioid abuse and drug diversion. PDMPs can provide emergency physicians with comprehensive prescribing information to improve clinical decisions around opioids. However, PDMPs vary tremendously in their accessibility and usability in the ED, which limits their effectiveness at the point of care. Problems are complicated by varying state-to-state requirements for data availability and accessibility. Several potential solutions to improving the utility of PDMPs in EDs include integrating PDMPs with electronic health records, implementing unsolicited reporting and prescription context, improving PDMP accessibility, data analytics, and expanding the scope of PDMPs. These improvements may help improve clinical decision-making for emergency physicians through better data, data presentation, and accessibility.
Six Sigma success: Looking through authentic leadership and behavioral integrity theoretical lenses

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this research is to broaden the current understanding of the relationship between top leadership characteristics and Six Sigma success. Design/methodology/approach The research used a cross-sectional survey methodology where 212 companies from six different industries were analyzed to investigate the research question. Findings This study provides insight into how authentic leaders and leaders with behavioral integrity can facilitate and promote the Six Sigma process in an organization. The key finding is that in order to reap the best benefits of Six Sigma, both qualities in leaders are desired. The study obtains evidence that by staying true to the values they espouse, authentic leaders with high behavioral integrity can foster elevated levels of Six Sigma performance in the workplace. The research model can be applicable in other empirical settings. Research limitations/implications The current study broadens the existing knowledge about leadership, trust, and performance. While many forms of leadership have been found to motivate employees to perform more effectively through mutual trust, little theory and research has examined the interrelationships among these variables within a Six Sigma context. By identifying authentic leadership and behavioral integrity of leaders as potential enhancers of the effects of top leadership in organizations, our findings represent a departure from prior approaches to understanding the impacts of top leadership on Six Sigma performance. For practitioners, the results of this study further shed light on how leader integrity relates to effective performance and highlights the fact that it is not only important for leaders to remain true to themselves, but they must also walk their talk. The limitations of this study may include the cross-sectional data, specific sample and context in which the proposed relationships were tested that may restrict the generalizability of our findings. Originality/value The main contribution of this work is the integration and extension of two emerging theories, authentic leadership and behavioral integrity from the leadership literature, to the field of operations management. This study is a timely response to calls from operations management scholars who strongly believe that incorporating theories from organizational behaviour can provide greater insights to practical consequences of implementing operations management practices. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to investigate the relationship between the authenticity and behavioral integrity of a leader and the success factors of a Six Sigma process. The study contributes to the quality management field that has been largely been considered to be lacking on strong theoretical foundations.
Pharmacology of Cardiac Drugs

The cardiac patient may come to surgery already on a regimen of a number of cardioactive drugs. During the course of surgery, the patient may require antiarrhythmics, vasodilators, vasopressors, β-stimulating or β-blocking drugs, calcium or calcium channel blockers, diuretics, digitalis, atropine, glucagon, or an antihypertensive agent. An exhaustive review of the pharmacology and uses of each of these drugs is be-yond the scope of this chapter. Instead, the reader is referred to review articles indicated in the discussion of each drug or to specific texts, such as Kaplan’s Cardiovascular Pharmacology. The perioperative uses of drugs, their usual doses, and potential interactions with anesthetic drugs, where they exist, will be discussed here.
A Distillation Approach to Data Efficient Individual Treatment Effect Estimation

The potential for using machine learning algorithms as a tool for suggesting optimal interventions has fueled significant interest in developing methods for estimating heterogeneous or individual treatment effects (ITEs) from observational data. While several methods for estimating ITEs have been recently suggested, these methods assume no constraints on the availability of data at the time of deployment or test time. This assumption is unrealistic in settings where data acquisition is a significant part of the analysis pipeline, meaning data about a test case has to be collected in order to predict the ITE. In this work, we present Data Efficient Individual Treatment Effect Estimation (DEITEE), a method which exploits the idea that adjusting for confounding, and hence collecting information about confounders, is not necessary at test time. DEITEE allows the development of rich models that exploit all variables at train time but identifies a minimal set of variables required to estimate the ITE at test time. Using 77 semi-synthetic datasets with varying data generating processes, we show that DEITEE achieves significant reductions in the number of variables required at test time with little to no loss in accuracy. Using real data, we demonstrate the utility of our approach in helping soon-to-be mothers make planning and lifestyle decisions that will impact newborn health.
A prospective 5-year study of exercise performance following Melody valve implant

Background The long-term benefits of Melody valve implant for right ventricular outflow tract conduit obstruction or insufficiency on exercise capacity are undefined. Methods As part of the Melody valve clinical trial, 136 patients with congenital heart disease underwent serial cardiopulmonary exercise testing prior to, 6 months after, and annually for up to 5 years postimplant. Results Mean age at Melody valve implantation was 22.4 ± 0.9 years (range 7-53 years). The 95 patients who completed the study protocol provide the basis of this report. An initial improvement in % predicted workload was present at 6 months postimplant; however, at the final (5 year) follow-up, sustained or further improvements in workload were not demonstrated for the entire cohort compared to baseline. By subgroup analysis, age Conclusions A cautious appraisal of the cardiovascular benefits of Melody valve implant on sustained improvements in exercise performance appears warranted. Although the observed changes in pulmonary function suggest improved restrictive lung physiology and more efficient gas exchange, after an initial increase in % predicted performance, neither sustained nor further improvements in exercise performance were observed, except in specific patient subgroups.
Behavioral effects of space radiation: A comprehensive review of animal studies.

Abstract As NASA prepares for the first manned mission to Mars in the next 20 years, close attention has been placed on the cognitive welfare of astronauts, who will likely endure extended durations in confinement and microgravity and be subjected to the radioactive charged particles travelling at relativistic speeds in interplanetary space. The future of long-duration manned spaceflight, thus, depends on understanding the individual hazards associated with the environment beyond Earth's protective magnetosphere. Ground-based single-particle studies of exposed mice and rats have, in the last 30 years, overwhelmingly reported deficits in their cognitive behaviors. However, as particle-accelerator technologies at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory continue to progress, more realistic representations of space radiation are materializing, including multiple-particle exposures and, eventually, at multiple energy distributions. These advancements help determine how to best mitigate possible hazards due to space radiation. However, risk models will depend on delineating which particles are most responsible for specific behavioral outcomes and whether multiple-particle exposures produce synergistic effects. Here, we review the literature on animal exposures by particle, energy, and behavioral assay to inform future mixed-field radiation studies of possible behavioral outcomes.
A Permutation Approach to Assess Confounding in Machine Learning Applications for Digital Health

Machine learning applications are often plagued with confounders that can impact the generalizability of the learners. In clinical settings, demographic characteristics often play the role of confounders. Confounding is especially problematic in remote digital health studies where the participants self-select to enter the study, thereby making it difficult to balance the demographic characteristics of participants. One effective approach to combat confounding is to match samples with respect to the confounding variables in order to improve the balance of the data. This procedure, however, leads to smaller datasets and hence negatively impact the inferences drawn from the learners. Alternatively, confounding adjustment methods that make more efficient use of the data (such as inverse probability weighting) usually rely on modeling assumptions, and it is unclear how robust these methods are to violations of these assumptions. Here, instead of proposing a new method to control for confounding, we develop novel permutation based statistical tools to detect and quantify the influence of observed confounders, and estimate the unconfounded performance of the learner. Our tools can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing confounding adjustment methods. We evaluate the statistical properties of our methods in a simulation study, and illustrate their application using real-life data from a Parkinson's disease mobile health study collected in an uncontrolled environment.
Epitaxial Dimers and Auger-Assisted Detrapping in PbS Quantum Dot Solids

Summary We explore the dynamic interaction of charge carriers between band-edge states and sub-band trap states in PbS quantum dot (QD) solids using time-resolved spectroscopy. In monodisperse arrays of 4- to 5-nm diameter PbS QDs, we observe an optically active trap state ∼100–200 meV below the band edge that occurs at a frequency of 1 in ∼2,500 QDs. Uncoupled QD solids with oleic acid ligands show trap-to-ground-state recombination that resembles Auger recombination. In electronically coupled QD solids, we observe entropically driven uphill thermalization of trapped charge carriers from the trap state to the band edge via two distinct mechanisms: Auger-assisted charge transfer (∼35 ps) and thermally activated hopping (∼500 ps). Photophysical characterization combined with atomistic simulations and high-resolution electron microscopy suggest that these states arise from epitaxially fused pairs of QDs rather than electron or hole traps at the QD surface, offering new strategies for improving the optoelectronic performance of QD materials.
The diagnostic utility of zinc E-box 1 (ZEB1) transcription factor for identification of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma in cytologic and surgical specimens.

Objective Although uncommon, pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma carries a worse prognosis due to poor chemotherapeutic response. Currently, a histologic spindle and/or giant cell component indicates sarcomatoid differentiation, with zinc E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) implicated in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, diagnostic use of ZEB1 in limited specimens, including cell block (CB) preparations, remains unclear. Materials and methods Pulmonary sarcomatoid (SARC, n = 15), typical (TC, n = 10) and atypical carcinoid (AC, n = 10), small cell (SCLC, n = 8) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC, n = 9), squamous cell carcinoma (SQ, n = 7), and adenocarcinoma (ADC, n = 7) CBs along with 69 SARCs, 20 TCs, 21 ACs, 9 SCLCs, 10 LCNECs, 71 SQs, 402 ADCs, 16 large cell carcinoma (LCC) and 17 other thoracic tumor (OT) surgical specimens between 2007 and 2018 were retrieved. ZEB1 (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo and Novus Biological, Centennial, Colo) immunohistochemistry was graded 1+ to 3+, with ≥1+ and >5% staining considered positive. Results Nuclear ZEB1 was seen in 80% SARC (12/15), 0% TC (0/10), 0% AC (0/10), 12.5% SCLC (1/8) and 11.1% LCNEC (1/9), 0% SQ (0/7), and 0% ADC (0/7) CBs. In surgical specimens, 75.4% SARCs (52/69), 0% TCs (0/20), 0% ACs (0/21), 11.1% SCLCs (1/9), 30% LCNECs (3/10), 0% SQs (0/71), 0.2% ADCs (1/402), 12.5% LCCs (2/16), and 11.8% OTs (2/17) demonstrated ZEB1. ZEB1 sensitivity and specificity in cytology and surgical specimens were 80% and 96.1%, and 75.4% and 98.1%, respectively. Conclusions ZEB1 is sensitive and highly specific for pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma in limited cytologic and surgical specimens. Diagnostic pitfalls include high-grade neuroendocrine tumors and large cell carcinoma, which are resolvable by morphologic considerations.
Validation of Highly Accelerated Wave–CAIPI SWI Compared with Conventional SWI and T2*-Weighted Gradient Recalled-Echo for Routine Clinical Brain MRI at 3T

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: SWI is valuable for characterization of intracranial hemorrhage and mineralization but has long acquisition times. We compared a highly accelerated wave–controlled aliasing in parallel imaging (CAIPI) SWI sequence with 2 commonly used alternatives, standard SWI and T2*-weighted gradient recalled-echo (T2*W GRE), for routine clinical brain imaging at 3T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 246 consecutive adult patients were prospectively evaluated using a conventional SWI or T2*W GRE sequence and an optimized wave–CAIPI SWI sequence, which was 3–5 times faster than the standard sequence. Two blinded radiologists scored each sequence for the presence of hemorrhage, the number of microhemorrhages, and severity of motion artifacts. Wave–CAIPI SWI was then evaluated in head-to-head comparison with the conventional sequences for visualization of pathology, artifacts, and overall diagnostic quality. Forced-choice comparisons were used for all scores. Wave–CAIPI SWI was tested for superiority relative to T2*W GRE and for noninferiority relative to standard SWI using a 15% noninferiority margin. RESULTS: Compared with T2*W GRE, wave–CAIPI SWI detected hemorrhages in more cases (P CONCLUSIONS: Wave–CAIPI SWI provided superior visualization of pathology and overall diagnostic quality compared with T2*W GRE and was noninferior to standard SWI with reduced scan times and reduced motion artifacts.
Multiple-Timescale Nonlinear Control of Aircraft with Model Uncertainties

This paper develops a multiple-timescale slow state tracking nonlinear controller to accomplish large-amplitude combined longitudinal and lateral/directional maneuvers of a nonlinear, nonstandard s...
Interplay of Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure and Pulmonary Vascular Resistance on Post-Transplant Survival

Purpose Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >3 WU is a relative contraindication to heart transplant. However, previous analyses have not shown an association between PVR and post-transplant survival. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) >50 mmHg has been associated with worse post-transplant survival. We explored the interplay between PVR and PASP and their effect on post-transplant survival independently and in conjunction with each other to understand their interaction on predicting post-transplant survival. Methods Adults (≥18 years) who underwent heart transplantation in the United States between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively identified from the United Network for Organ Sharing registry. Pre-transplant PASP was classified as low (PASP 50 mmHg). Pre -transplant PVR was divided into low (PVR 3 WU). The effects of PASP and PVR were studied on post-transplant 1-year survival and long-term survival independently and in combination using cox regression. Results Study included 12658 transplant recipients (mean age 53.11 years; 73.6% male). During a mean follow-up of 3 years, there were 2158 (17%) deaths. Mean PASP in high and low PASP groups were 63 mmHg, and 35 mmHg and mean PVR in high and low PVR group were 4.53 WU, and 1.63 WU respectively. PVR did not have any independent effect on 1-year mortality (HR: 1.07, CI: 0.95 - 1.20, p : 0.25) or overall survival (HR: 1.06, CI: 0.97 - 1.15, p : 0.175). High PASP independently predicted worse 1-year mortality (HR: 1.14, CI: 1.01 - 1.29, p : 0.02) but not overall survival (HR: 1.08, CI: 0.99-1.19, p : 0.05). Elevated PASP in combination with high PVR predicted worse 1-year survival (HR: 1.32, CI: 1.11 - 1.59, p : 0.002) and overall survival (hazard ratio 1.17, CI 1.03-1.34, p: 0.015) in cox regression analysis. High PASP did not predict worse 1-year (HR: 0.98, CI: 0.83 - 1.17, p : 0.9) and overall mortality (HR: 1.007, CI: 0.89 - 1.13, p : 0.9) in subgroup of patients with PVR Conclusion In patients with PVR> 3 WU elevated pre-transplant PASP (>50mmHg) is associated with a decrease in one year and overall survival when compared to patients low PASP. In patients with PVR 50 mmHg) in conjunction with PVR ≥ 3 WU defines a high-risk subgroup.
Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Recreational Therapy for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder Recovery: A Descriptive Study of Current Practices

Schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) represents a group of complex and chronic psychotic disorders affecting approximately 10.7% of the global population. Even though there is no cure for SSD, most symptoms can improve with active treatment. Effective interventions include pharmaceuticals and psychosocial treatments such as recreational therapy (RT). RT can provide effective and efficient care to individuals with SSD by grounding interventions in evidence-based practices indicated in the Mental Health Recovery Model (MHRM), as well as utilizing recommendations by the Schizophrenia Patient Outcome Research Team (PORT). A cross-sectional survey was used to identify awareness and utilization of MHRM principles and PORT recommendations in RT services for individuals with SSD. Data from 126 surveys completed by recreational therapists who currently or have previously provided treatment for individuals with SSD indicated discrepancies in awareness and utilization of MHRM principles and PORT recommendations. Implications for RT practice are discussed.Subscribe to TRJ
Rational Design of Bioavailable Photosensitizers for Manipulation and Imaging of Biological Systems

Summary Light-mediated chemical reactions are powerful methods for manipulating and interrogating biological systems. Photosensitizers, compounds that generate reactive oxygen species upon excitation with light, can be utilized for numerous biological experiments, but the repertoire of bioavailable photosensitizers is limited. Here, we describe the synthesis, characterization, and utility of two photosensitizers based upon the widely used rhodamine scaffold and demonstrate their efficacy for chromophore-assisted light inactivation, cell ablation in culture and in vivo, and photopolymerization of diaminobenzidine for electron microscopy. These chemical tools will facilitate a broad range of applications spanning from targeted destruction of proteins to high-resolution imaging.
Patient-Reported Complications after Intravitreal Injection and Their Predictive Factors.

Purpose The intravitreal injection (IVI) of pharmacologic agents is the most commonly performed ocular procedure and is associated with a host of complications. Most IVI-related complications data are derived from randomized controlled clinical trials, which report a high adverse event rate. The nature of these protocol-driven trials limit their applicability to the diverse circumstances seen in routine clinical practice. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of patient-reported IVI-related complications, their risk factors, and the manner in which patients sought treatment at a tertiary eye care center. Design Retrospective, institutional review board–approved study. Participants Forty-four thousand seven hundred thirty-four injections in 5318 unique patients at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute from 2012 through 2016. Methods Intravitreal injection. Main Outcome Measures Complication occurrence within 15 days of injection. Results From 2012 through 2016, a total of 44734 injections were performed in 5318 unique patients. Overall, complication rates were low, representing 1.9% of all injections, with 1031 unique complications in 685 patients (12.9%). The most common minor complications, or those not requiring intervention, were irritation (n = 312) and subconjunctival hemorrhage (n = 284). The most common serious complications, or those requiring intervention, were corneal abrasion (n = 46) and iritis (n = 31). Most complications (66%) were managed adequately by a telephone or Epic (Epic Systems Corp., Verona, WI) electronic message encounter only. Importantly, no injection protocol parameter, such as type of anesthesia, preparation, or post-injection medication, increased the risk of a complication. However, a patient’s gender, age, number of previous injections, and provider strongly influenced the risk of patient-reported complications. Conclusions Overall, complication rates seen in routine clinical practice were low compared with clinical trial reporting. Providers should feel confident in the safety and administration of IVI during times when follow-up office visits and resources may be limited. When performing an IVI, factors such as a patient’s gender, age, number of previous injections, and provider must be taken into account to ensure the best possible outcomes.