cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics and cerebrospinal fluid penetration of daunorubicin, idarubicin, and their metabolites in the nonhuman primate model.

PURPOSE Idarubicin (4-demethoxy-daunorubicin) is more potent and less cardiotoxic than the commonly used anthracyclines, doxorubicin and daunorubicin. In addition, idarubicin is metabolized to an active metabolite, idarubicinol, in contrast to other anthracyclines whose alcohol metabolites are much less active than the parent drug. The current study was performed in nonhuman primates to determine the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics of idarubicin and idarubicinol and to compare them to the pharmacokinetics of daunorubicin and daunorubicinol. METHODS A dose of 30 mg/m2 of daunorubicin or 8 mg/m2 of idarubicin was administered intravenously over 15 minutes. Plasma and CSF were sampled frequently from the end of the infusion to 72 to 96 hours after infusion. Drug and metabolite concentrations were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS Daunorubicin elimination from plasma was triphasic with a terminal half-life of 5.9 +/- 1.8 hours, area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) 22.5 +/- 9.2 mumol/L.min, and clearance 2790 +/- 960 mL/min/m2. Daunorubicinol elimination was biphasic with a terminal half-life 10.2 +/- 2.3 hours and an AUC 74.5 +/- 5.3 mumol/L.min. Idarubicin elimination was triphasic with terminal half-life of 12.3 +/- 11.4 hours, a AUC 10.8 +/- 3.7 mumol/L.min, and clearance 1650 +/- 610 mL/min/m2. Idarubicinol elimination was biphasic with a terminal half-life 28.7 +/- 4.2 hours and AUC 67 +/- 9.8 mumol/L.min. CSF penetration was low for both parent drugs and their metabolites. CSF idarubicin was measurable at a single time point (1 hour after administration) for 2 animals, and was not measurable for the third. The CSF to plasma concentration ratio at that time point was 8% in 1 animal and 15% in the other. Idarubicinol was detected in 2 to 4 samples at various times, appearing as early as 1 hour in 1 animal and persisting as late as 48 hours in another. The CSF to plasma concentration ratio at corresponding time points was 1.9 +/- 0.6%. Daunorubicin was measurable for < 6 hours after intravenous administration. For individual animals, the mean CSF to plasma concentration ranged from 4% to 12%. Daunorubicinol was detectable by 1 hour in 2 of 3 animals and by 3 hours in the other, and remained detectable at 24 hours in 2 of 3. The terminal half-life of daunorubicinol in CSF was 8.8 +/- 1.3 hours, the AUC was 1.8 +/- 1.5 mumol/L.min, and the AUCCSF to AUCplasma ratio was 2.4 +/- 1.9%. CONCLUSION Idarubicin, idarubicinol, daunorubicin, and daunorubicinol penetrate poorly into the CSF after intravenous administration.
White Matter Microstructure Integrity in Relation to Reading Proficiency

Components of reading proficiency such as accuracy, fluency, and comprehension require the successful coordination of numerous, yet distinct, cortical regions. Underlying white matter tracts allow for communication among these regions. This study utilized unique residualized tract – based spatial statistics methodology to identify the relations of white matter microstructure integrity to three components of reading proficiency in 49 school - aged children with typically developing phonological decoding skills and 27 readers with poor decoders. Results indicated that measures of white matter integrity were differentially associated with components of reading proficiency. In both typical and poor decoders, reading comprehension correlated with measures of integrity of the right uncinate fasciculus; reading comprehension was also related to the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus in poor decoders. Also in poor decoders, word reading fluency was related to the right uncinate and left inferior fronto - occipital fasciculi. Word reading was unrelated to white matter integrity in either group. These findings expand our knowledge of the association between white matter integrity and different elements of reading proficiency.
What Can We Do or Change to Encourage People to Seek Out Preexposure Prophylaxis

An editorial is presented which addresses behavioral changes that can be made to encourage people to utilize preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and it mentions an article in the journal which deals with preventive health care and HIV infection risks. The prevention of perinatal HIV transmission is assessed, along with blood supply testing, HIV diagnosis rates, HIV infections involving Black men who have sex with men (BMSM), and health-related disparities.
In-plane mechanical properties of ultrathin 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) are new members of the 2D materials family with wide tunability, highly dynamic structural features and excellent physical properties. Ultrathin 2D HOIPs and their heterostructures with other 2D materials have been exploited for study of new physical phenomena and novel device applications. The in-plane mechanical properties of 2D ultrathin HOIPs are critical for understanding the coupling between mechanical and other physical fields and for integrated devices applications. Here we report for the first time the in-plane mechanical properties of ultrathin freestanding 2D lead iodide perovskite membranes and their dependence on the membrane thickness. The in-plane Young's moduli of 2D HOIPs are smaller than that of conventional covalently bonded 2D materials. Both the Young's modulus and breaking strength first decrease and then plateau as the thickness increases from monolayer to 4 layers due to interlayer slippage during deformation. Our results show that ultrathin 2D HOIPs exhibit outstanding breaking strength/Young's Modulus ratio compared to many other widely used engineering materials and polymeric flexible substrates, which renders them suitable for application into flexible electronic devices.
Collisional dampening for improved quantification in single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Abstract Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful method for detection and quantification of nanoparticles. Unfortunately, the linear dynamic range of single particle analysis is hindered by “unruly” transient signals, momentary pulse pile-ups at the electron multiplier detector. This study seeks to extend the dynamic range of ICP-MS nanoparticle quantification via addition of a collision gas in the collision cell of the ICP-MS. The collision gas temporally broadens the nanoparticle signal resulting in decreased pulse pile-up and increased integrated intensity, up to a point where scattering losses begin to dominate. We tested collisional broadening with a dual mode simultaneous secondary electron multiplier (pulse counting switching to analog) and the same detector configured for pulse counting only operation. With no collision gas and the detector operating in its standard dual mode, the data shows a linear response for gold nanoparticles from 20 nm (smallest measured size) to 150 nm. With the addition of helium as a collision gas in the cell, the linear range extends up to 250 nm. The data collected exclusively from the pulse counting mode shows that with no collision gas there is a linear response for gold nanoparticles from 20 nm to 60 nm. While the signal slightly improves with the addition of a collision gas, the linear range fails to extend up to 80 nm, the next largest nanoparticle size in this study. The addition of a collision gas used together with the dual mode detector shows a promising path forward towards mitigating unruly transient signals, improving the dynamic range of nanoparticle quantification.
Fast Thermolysis-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Methods to Study Energetic Materials

The philosophy and methods behind high heating rate thermolysis techniques combined with rapid-scan FTIR spectroscopy to diagnose thermal decomposition chemistry of energetic materials are discussed. One-dimensional methods are described that provide only the relative percent concentration of the gas products as a function of time. Two-dimensional techniques provide, in addition to the gas products, a real-time measurement of the temperature of the condensed phase. These are the Temperature Profiling/FTIR and Fast-Heat-and-Hold/FTIR methods. The three-dimensional technique called SMATCH/FTIR gives a simultaneous real-time measurement of the weight change and temperature change of the condensed phase and FTIR spectroscopy of the gas products while heating at 100°C/sec or faster. Acoustic levitation as a nonintrusive method to investigate droplets and bubbles spectroscopically is also described. Application of these techniques to advancing the fundamental understanding of physicochemical condensed phase and near surface processes in situations approaching combustion or explosion is given.
Psychrometry: the study of moisture in air

Around the surface of the earth, air that is not affected by any local source of pollution has a composition that is remarkably constant. Air analyses are usually carried out on samples from which all traces of water vapour have been removed. The moisture-free composition of air is given on both a volume and mass basis in Table 14.1. Argon forms the largest fraction, by far, of the monatomic gases. The value of the molecular weight given is, in fact, that for argon.
The Third Sector and Civil Society: The Case of the “YES” Campaign in Northern Ireland

The recent attention on civil society has brought new focus to the third sector. This welcomed attention accentuates the need to specify the role of the third sector in promoting civil society, generally, and in promoting democratic civil society, specifically. This paper describes and examines the “YES” Campaign that had roots in the third sector of Northern Ireland and which conducted a nonpartisan campaign to win approval for the Belfast Agreement of April 1998. The case of the “YES” Campaign illustrates some direct and intentional roles of third sector organizations in promoting a more democratic civil society, and offers a basis for further study of these roles.
An Analysis of Flight Measurements in the Wake of a Jet Transport Aircraft

Peak velocity vectors measured in the transverse plane of the wake of a Convair 880 aircraft were found to be four times as high as anticipated. The peak velocities are shown to occur in small intense vortices which are separate from the main tip vortices These exist up to 30 seconds after generation. The main tip vortices are shown to have a core size which is roughly of the size anticipated but whose diameter does not increase significantly up to 30 seconds after generation.
Short-Term Setup of Jacked Piles in a Calibration Chamber

AbstractThe time-dependent increase in axial resistance (setup) of jacked or driven piles in sand is still not well understood, and its quantification remains a challenge. In this paper, a series o...
"I Didn't Say, 'Macbeth,' It Was My Google Doc!": A Secondary English Case Study of Redefining Learning in the 21st Century.

The substitution, augmentation, modification, redefinition (SAMR) model offers a framework by which schools and teachers can implement digital tools through curricular design that encourages partic...
Justifying Total Costs of Extended Venothromboembolism Prophylaxis After Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Current guidelines recommend extended venothromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for most patients following colorectal cancer surgery, but provider uptake has been limited. The purpose of this study was to identify thresholds for when such extended prophylaxis (ePpx) may be value-appropriate. All colorectal cancer postoperative discharges were identified within a private payer administrative database (MarketScan® 2010–2014, IBM Truven Health Analytics). Outcomes of interest were VTE event rate, mortality, and overall costs of care. The data along with published literature were used as parameter estimations for a decision analysis model with probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We identified 22,463 colorectal cancer surgical patients (4.0% with ePpx) that served as the parameter estimates for the decision model with a VTE event rate of 0.2%. Decision analysis demonstrated that prescribing ePpx was dominated by usual practice with the former having higher probability-adjusted incremental costs ($1078.68 per person) and lower probability-adjusted benefits (− 0.000098 quality adjusted life years). Broad sensitivity analysis found that probability of a VTE event, bleeding case fatality rate, and probability of an ePpx-associated bleeding event were the primary effectors of the model. VTE event rates of greater than 3.0% benefited from prescribing ePpx to all patients. Very few patients are discharged on ePpx following colorectal cancer surgery despite its endorsement by national guidelines. A decision analysis model does not support the use of ePpx except in cases of markedly high VTE rates. Clinical guidance could be improved by further recognizing the role of risk stratification in the determination of high-risk patients requiring ePpx.
Young adult risky behavior: a comparison of adoptee vs. non-adoptee outcomes

The purpose of this study was to examine whether adoptees and non-adoptees, aged 18-26, differed on risky behavior outcomes. Variables such as delinquency, violence, impulsive behavior, drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco use were defined as risky behaviors. Participants (n=280) were taken from Wave III of the Adolescent Health (Add Health) data set. Individuals who answered “yes” to the variable “Have you ever been adopted?” made up the adopted sample (n=140, male= 67, female = 73). Non-adopted individuals were randomly selected from the remaining pool of participants and made up the control group, (n=140, male =69, female=71). Results from this study indicate that adoption status does not predict young adult risky behavior. Additionally and probably more importantly, there was no common theme among the significant findings, indicating that there was no one single variable or combination of variables in the current study that could show any differences in risky behaviors in young adults based on their adoption status. Findings from this study are difficult to generalize with current research, primarily due to the small sample size. However, limited research in this area has also made it difficult to assess whether findings form the current study compare to those of other studies. Recommendations for future researchers are to study the possible interactions of family environment, higher degrees of parental warmth, and socioeconomic status.
Artificial Intelligence in Imaging: The Radiologist's Role

Rapid technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) methods have fueled explosive growth in decision tools being marketed by a rapidly growing number of companies. AI developments are being driven largely by computer scientists, informaticians, engineers, and businesspeople, with much less direct participation by radiologists. Participation by radiologists in AI is largely restricted to educational efforts to familiarize them with the tools and promising results, but techniques to help them decide which AI tools should be used in their practices and to how to quantify their value are not being addressed. This article focuses on the role of radiologists in imaging AI and suggests specific ways they can be engaged by (1) considering the clinical need for AI tools in specific clinical use cases, (2) undertaking formal evaluation of AI tools they are considering adopting in their practices, and (3) maintaining their expertise and guarding against the pitfalls of overreliance on technology.
Introduction: History and Development of Flow Diverter Technology and Evolution.

The introduction of flow diverter technology to the field of neurointervention has revolutionized the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The therapy approach has shifted from intrasaccular aneurysm treatment to exclusion of the aneurysm from the blood circulation with remodeling of the parent artery. Previously, "difficult"-to-treat aneurysms including fusiform and blister aneurysms, but also aneurysms arising from a diseased vessel segment, can now be safely and permanently treated with flow diverters. A little over a decade ago, after extensive bench testing and refinement of the flow diverter concept, the device was eventually available for clinical use and today it has become a standard treatment for intracranial aneurysms. Currently, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved flow diverters are the Pipeline Embolization Device (Medtronic) and the Surpass Streamline Flow Diverter (Stryker). The devices can either be delivered or deployed via a standard femoral artery approach or a radial artery approach. Other considerations for catheter setup and device deployment strategies depending on aneurysm location or vessel anatomy are described.
Abstract B02: E-cigarette vape and cigarette smoke potentially increase S. aureus oral colonization and inflammatory epithelial signaling

E-cigarette (E-cig) vaping has gained popularity among middle and high-school students within the last decade, being advertised as a safer alternative to cigarette smoke. While acute lung illness has been reported, it is too early to have epidemiologic data suggesting a role of E-cig on oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, recent studies point to its potentially adverse effects on the human epithelium and the oral human microbial flora. Staphylococcus aureus is a resident of the oral microbiota and its carriage has been shown to be significantly higher in the periodontal pocket of patients with actively progressing periodontitis, which is a chronic inflammatory disease and known precursor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Additionally, S. aureus has also been isolated from OSCC tissues. In this study, we aim to identify the response of S. aureus and the oral epithelium to E-cig vape exposure and, further, to determine the effect of E-cig vape on the interaction of S. aureus with the oral epithelium. To measure differences in the ability to form biofilm upon E-cig vape exposure with (3mg/mL) and without nicotine, we analyzed two clinical S. aureus strains isolated from healthy individuals following a 30s puff delivery and a 5-minute incubation. We observed that E-cig vape induced significantly higher biofilm formation than control air exposure in a specifically designed vape chamber regardless of nicotine content (p Citation Format: Alma R. Catala-Valentin, Matthew Caldwell, Alexander M. Cole, Sean Moore, Claudia Andl. E-cigarette vape and cigarette smoke potentially increase S. aureus oral colonization and inflammatory epithelial signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Microbiome, Viruses, and Cancer; 2020 Feb 21-24; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(8 Suppl):Abstract nr B02.
A Reading of Galway Kinnell

Galway Kinnell's first collection, What a Kingdom It Was (1960), can be viewed in retrospect now as one of those volumes signalling decisive changes in the mood and character of American poetry as it departed from the witty, pseudo-mythic verse, apparently written to critical prescription, of the 1950's to arrive at the more authentic, liberated work of the 1960's.1 Our recent poetry shows how closely and vulnerably aware of the palpable life of contemporary society poets have become, for, increasingly during the past decade or so, they have opened themselves as persons to the complex, frequently incongruous, violence-ridden ethos of the age in an effort to ground the poetic imagination in a shared, perceptive reality. This kind of openness?a sensitive receptivity in which the poet, to borrow a phrase of Heidegger's about H?lderlin, "is exposed to the divine lightnings" that can easily exact their toll on nerves and emotional balance?extends, in many instances, be yond matters of social and political experience to naked metaphysical confronta tion: with the universe, the identity of the self, the possibilities of an absent or
Current situation of human parasites infection among rural residents in Liaoning Province

Objective To understand the infection status of human parasites among rural residents in Liaoning Province, and provide scientific basis for control of parasites. Methods From October 2014 to December 2015, in 32 counties of 4 different ecological zones of Liaoning Province, survey sites were determined by stratified sampling according to their economic status. More than 250 people were examined at each survey site, and the rate of resident inspection was no less than 85%. The fecal samples of the subjects were collected, intestinal helminth eggs, intestinal protozoa and the eggs of Enerobius vermicularis in children aged 3 - 6 were examined by modified Kato-Katz thick smear, iodine stain direct smear and adhesive cellophane anal swab, respectively. Results Totally 26 520 rural residents were surveyed, their infection rate of parasitic disease was 0.29% (78/26 520). Among them, the infection rate of Ascaris and Trichuris was 0.29% (76/26 520) and 0.02% (5/26 520), respectively; Enerobius vermicularis and Hookworm were not detected. The parasite infection rate in the 60-year-old age group was relatively high (0.49%, 34/6 939). Conclusion The infection rate of rural residents in Liaoning Province is at a relatively low level, which is closely related to the improved living standard and the continuous improvement of environmental hygiene in recent years. Key words: Parasitic disease; Infection rate; Rural resident
Timberland Transaction Costs and Due Diligence: A Literature Review and Assessment of Research Needs

In the last three decades, purchases and sales of large timberland estates have become a common event worldwide. Timberland investments generally entail the purchase of land containing (or suitable for growing) merchantable timber in order to obtain future cash flows and an appreciation in the value of the entire estate. This review documents many of the critical steps involved in a comprehensive due diligence of investable timberland estates, and illustrates the sources and components of the transaction costs involved. Detailed insights into the processes involved in assessing potential timberland transactions and how market participants conduct these transactions are presented. These are followed by the discussion of implications of these findings for investment decisions and the assessment of pertinent research needs. This review attempts to create a framework to discuss and investigate the relevant costs of the due diligence process. Since almost no forestry due diligence literature was discovered, future research may then build upon this framework.
A Case Report of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in a Two-Month-Old Infant With a Negative Reported Genetic Profile and Five-Year Follow-Up on Eculizumab.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare but life-threatening pediatric disease caused by uncontrolled activation of the alternative complement pathway related to genetic mutations and carries a worse prognosis. In the last decade, a monoclonal antibody against complement C5, eculizumab, has dramatically improved the disease outcomes. The complement mutations in aHUS are detected only in 60%-70% of cases in previous studies. We report a severe presentation of aHUS diagnosed in a two-month-old child who presented with seizures, renal failure with anuria, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and required peritoneal dialysis soon after admission. The patient was clinically diagnosed having aHUS and was started on eculizumab on day 4 of hospital admission. The genetic study for major known complement mutations causing aHUS was reported negative. He had a major episode of disease relapse associated with seizures four weeks after eculizumab therapy and required prolonged peritoneal dialysis over more than two months at the time of initial admission. He developed dilated cardiomyopathy and oro-motor dysfunction as complications of aHUS. At five-year follow-up, the patient has stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD), proteinuria, hypertension, and required G-tube for feeds. This report discussed the long-term outcome of an infant diagnosed with aHUS and tested negative for common complement mutations on eculizumab therapy. More research is needed to identify novel genes and antibodies contributing to aHUS. While the eculizumab is expensive, and the duration of treatment is not definite, the clinical severity of the disease, relapses, and presence of long-term renal complications are essential factors to decide treatment continuation.
Ten Years of Marriage and Cohabitation Research in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

I reviewed the 36 marriage and cohabitation studies from the Journal of Family and Economic Issues articles published between 2010–2019. Nearly all of the studies used quantitative methods, and two-thirds of them used publicly available nationally-representative data. The studies fell into roughly five, unevenly sized groups: family structure, relationship quality, division of labor/employment, money management, and an “other” category. Suggestions for future research include applying some of the important questions within the articles to underrepresented groups, further examining the process of how finances and relationship quality interrelate and doing more applied and translational research.
Prior Femoroacetabular Osteoplasty Does Not Compromise the Clinical Outcome of Subsequent Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the most effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis after a prior femoroacetabular osteoplasty (FAO). This study evaluated clinical outcomes of THA after a prior FAO and compared the results with a matched group of patients who underwent THA with no prior surgical procedures in the affected hip. Methods By reviewing our prospectively maintained database, we identified 74 hips (69 patients) that underwent THA after previous FAO between 2004 and 2017. They were matched 1:3 to a control group of primary THA with no history of any procedures on the same hip based on age, sex, body mass index, date of surgery, Charlson comorbidity index, surgical approach, and acetabular and femoral component type. At minimum 2-year follow-up, modified Harris Hip Score, 90-day readmission, and revision THA for any reason were compared between the groups. Results The median time interval between FAO and subsequent THA was 1.64 years. There was no significant difference in preoperative Harris Hip Score between patients in the case and control cohorts. At the latest follow-up, the median modified Harris Hip Score was 77.6 in the case group and 96.2 in the control, and the difference was not statistically significant. None of the patients in the case group developed infection. 7 patients in the case group required additional procedures at any point, compared with 15 in the control. Conclusion THA after prior FAO has similar outcomes to primary THA in patients with no prior procedures in the affected hip. THA can be performed safely with excellent outcome in patients with a history of FAO.
Improvements in Back and Leg Pain Following a Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

ABSTRACT Background: Improvement in patient-reported outcomes after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is poorly defined. As such, the purpose of this study was to quantify improvements in Visual Analogue Scale back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Short Form-12 (SF-12) Mental and Physical Composite scores following MIS-TLIF. Methods: A surgical registry of patients who underwent primary 1-level MIS-TLIF during 2014-2015 was reviewed. Comparisons of Visual Analogue Scale back and leg pain, ODI, and Short Form-12 Mental and Physical Composite scores were performed using paired t tests from preoperative to each postoperative time point. Analysis of variance was used to estimate the degree of improvement in back and leg pain over the first postoperative year. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients presenting with predominant back (pBP) or leg (pLP) pain. Multivariate linear regression was performed to compare patient-reported outcome scores by subgroup. Results: A total of 106 patients were identified. Visual Analogue Scale back and leg scores, and ODI improved from preoperative scores at all postoperative time points (P Conclusions: The current study suggests patients experience significant improvements in back and leg pain following MIS-TLIF regardless of predominant symptom. Clinical Relevance: These results can assist surgeons when counseling their patients on the magnitude of symptom improvement they may experience following MIS-TLIF.
Trust and Team Performance in Human–Autonomy Teaming

This study aims to better understand trust in human–autonomy teams, finding that trust is important for team performance. A Wizard of Oz approach was used to simulate an autonomous agent team membe...
Role of opiorphin genes in prostate cancer growth and progression

Background: We describe the first studies investigating a role for opiorphin genes (PROL1, SMR3A and SMR3B) in prostate cancer (PrCa). Materials & methods: Databases and PrCa tissue arrays were screened for opiorphin expression. Xenografted tumor growth of human PrCa cells overexpressing PROL1 was compared with controls in nude mice. Modulated gene expression by overexpression of PROL1 was determined by RNA sequencing. Results: PrCa is associated with overexpression of opiorphin genes. Xenografted androgen-sensitive PrCa cells overexpressing PROL1 developed into tumors in castrated male mice (in contrast to parental cells). PROL1 overexpression modulates expression of genes in angiogenesis, steroid and hypoxic response pathways. Conclusions: Opiorphins promote the development of androgen-insensitive PrCa and activate pathways that potentially overcome the hypoxic barrier generated during tumor growth.
Pediatric Drug Development Studies for Familial Hypercholesterolemia Submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration Between 2007 and 2020

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism that leads to an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Hypercholesterolemia in pediatric patients is typically due to FH. Treatment of pediatric FH is achieved through lifestyle modifications, lipid-modifying pharmacotherapy, and/or apheresis. The primary objective of this review is to describe the characteristics of clinical trials conducted in pediatric patients with FH with data submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration from 2007 to 2020. Of 10 trials with 8 products in pediatric FH submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, 1 product was studied in both the heterozygous and the homozygous phenotypes, 5 were studied for heterozygous hypercholesterolemia only, and 2 were studied for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia only. Most of the trials included pediatric patients ≥10 years of age and older. Clinical trial characteristics including the primary efficacy end points between pediatric and adult trials were mostly identical. Many lipid-lowering drugs with novel mechanisms of action have been recently approved or are currently being studied. In summary, the drug treatment of hypercholesterolemia in pediatric patients is expanding beyond the use of statins, and now involves multiple mechanisms of action involving cholesterol metabolism. As younger pediatric patients are diagnosed and treated for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, optimizing the doses of these agents and safety studies specific to younger pediatric patients will be necessary.
Burden of Renal Cysts Imaging: A Survey of Patients among the Greater Plains Collaborative.

Purpose Renal cysts are a frequent incidental finding on cross-sectional radiographic imaging. While most cysts are indolent, individuals with such cysts are frequently monitored for interval growth and potential malignant transformation, which is ultimately rare. In this study, we aimed to assess patients' values and preferences (believes and attitudes) about renal cysts. Methods We deployed a cross-sectional survey to a random sample of patients with a diagnosis of renal cysts who were identified by billing code and self-identification. We collected data about demographics, insurance status, family history and overall health, and characteristics of patients with renal cysts. We performed a binary regression analysis (adjusted for age, gender, family history of cancer and kidney disease, and treatment plan for renal cysts) to determine anxiety predictors in patients with renal cysts. Results We included 301 respondents in whom billing code and self-identification corresponded; of these, 138 had renal cysts and 163 did not. In an adjusted regression analysis, there was a suggestion that a clear management plan (OR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.22-1.11]) (p value 0.08) may be associated with less anxiety and a family history of renal disease may be associated with more anxiety (OR = 1.94 [0.76-4.94]) (p value 0.17). Family history of cancer also did not significantly predict anxiety (OR = 0.54 [0.24-1.19]) (p value 0.13). All these results were not statistically significant and had wide confidence intervals of the effect estimates make the results imprecise. Conclusion Findings of this pilot study suggest a clear management plan for the renal cyst(s) management may be associated with a lower level of anxiety, thereby by emphasizing the importance of good communication, patient engagement and evidence-based guidance. More definitive, adequately powered studies are needed to evaluate this finding further. In addition, further studies exploring differences in imaging practices, patient symptomatology and patient engagement by different provider types would be insightful. Ultimately, tools to improve shared decision-making are needed to provide more patient-centered care.
Talking Animals in the Bible: Paratexts as Symptoms of Cultural Anxiety in Restoration and Early Eighteenth-Century England

In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries in England, discourse emerged to challenge the traditional understanding of animals as unthinking brutes – that is, as unable to speak and therefore far removed from humans in the Divine Order, or Great Chain of Being. In that context the two conversations between humans and animals in Bible – Eve with the Serpent and Balaam with his ass – attracted attention. The ideological concerns generated by the Eve–Serpent and Balaam–ass conversations are reflected in the number and nature of the paratexts (a term coined by Gerard Genette) produced by Biblical exegetes during this period.
Posture recognition algorithm for the elderly based on BP neural networks

Wireless-sensor-network-based home monitoring for elderly activity behavior involves functional assessment of daily activities. In this paper, a mechanism for estimation of elderly postures through various sensors is presented. The data from the triaxial acceleration sensor placed on the waist and the pressure sensors placed under the insoles are consolidated by the coordinator to distinguish the posture of the elderly, such as standing, sitting, walking, and falling down. In the data processing, an algorithm based on BP neural network is presented. The developed system for monitoring and discrimination of the elderly postures is tested through the obtained data in the laboratory and the results are encouraging in distinguishing postures of the elderly.
Oncogenic Neu/ErbB-2 Increases Ets, AP-1, and NF-kB-dependent Gene Expression, and Inhibiting Ets Activation Blocks Neu-mediated Cellular Transformation (*)

Overexpression of Neu (ErbB-2/HER2) is found in approximately 20% of breast tumors. Activation of Neu by a point mutation (NeuT) causes constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of this transmembrane receptor and transforming activity in fibroblasts. To identify downstream targets of Neu, we have analyzed the ability of Neu to activate gene expression. Expression of NeuT, but not normal Neu, caused transcriptional activation of Ets, AP-1, or NF-kappaB-dependent reporter genes. Dominant inhibitory Ras or Raf mutants blocked the Neu-mediated transcriptional activation, confirming that Ras signaling pathways were required for this activation. Analysis with Ets2 mutants indicated that activation of Ets2 transcriptional activity mediated by NeuT or oncogenic Ras required phosphorylation of the same Ets2 residue, threonine 72. Cotransfection of dominant inhibitory Ets2 mutants specifically blocked NeuT-mediated activation of Ets-dependent reporter genes. Furthermore, in focus formation assays using NIH 3T3 cells, the transforming activity of NeuT was inhibited 5-fold when NeuT was cotransfected with a dominant negative Ets2 mutant. However, parallel colony formation assays showed that the Ets2 dominant negative mutant did not inhibit the growth of normal cells. Together, these data show that NeuT activates a variety of transcription factor families via the Ras signaling pathway and that Ets activation is required for NeuT-mediated cellular transformation. Thus, downstream targets of Neu, including Ets transcription factors, may be useful points for therapeutic intervention in Neu/ErbB-2-associated cancers.
Role of bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective study

It has been recognized that despite previous stability some patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) experience acute clinical deteriorations called acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AEX-IPF). We hypothesized that pulmonary infection can be excluded based on clinical and laboratory data and that bronchoscopy with BAL is not mandatory in the diagnostic work-up of suspected AEX-IPF. In this retrospective study we identified patients with acute respiratory failure who were evaluated for AEX-IPF at the Cleveland Clinic between January 2002 and December 2011. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed with predefined risk factors and final diagnosis of AEX-IPF and pulmonary infection. All tests were performed at a significance level of 0.05. A total of 77 patients met the study inclusion criteria. Of these patients 47 (61 %) were diagnosed with AEX-IPF. Bronchoscopy was more likely to be performed in patients who were on cytotoxic medications (p < 0.05). In most cases the diagnosis of AEX-IPF versus pulmonary infection was based on combination of other microbiological, clinical, radiologic data and clinical judgment. A total of 10 patients out of 14 (71 %) with a final diagnosis of pulmonary infection were on steroids on admission versus 21 out of 63 patients (33 %) with other final diagnosis (p = 0.024, OR 7.817, 95 % CI 1.31–46.64). Exclusion of infection in our IPF patient cohort was mostly based on factors other than diagnostic bronchoscopy with BAL. Based on our results we suggested an algorithm for management of IPF patients presenting with acute respiratory failure.
Female-produced sex pheromone of the predatory bug Geocoris punctipes

A compound identified from air-entrained volatiles produced by adult female Geocoris punctipes attracted male bugs and stimulated males to investigate nearby moving objects of the appropriate size in their search for females. The compound was identified as (E)-2-octenyl acetate, a relatively common component of the volatile semiochemicals produced by a number of heteropteran species. This compound comprised a significant proportion of the female volatiles, whereas it was detected in only trace amounts in volatiles collected from live males. Other components in the extracts from adults of both sexes included (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (E)-2-octenal, and several saturated hydrocarbons, but these components were not part of the attractant. These compounds plus (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, and (E)-2-decenal were found in extracts of homogenized adults, whereas the cast skins from late instar nymphs contained (E)-2-octenal, (E)-4-oxo-2-octenal, (E)-2-octenoic acid, and several saturated hydrocarbons.
Trusted source translation of a total function language

We present a trusted source translator that transforms total functions defined in the specification language of the HOL theorem prover to simple intermediate code. This translator eliminates polymorphism by code specification, removes higher-order functions through closure conversion, interprets pattern matching as conditional expressions, etc. The target intermediate language can be further translated by proof to a simple imperative language. Each transformation is proven to be correct automatically. The formalization, implementation and mechanical verification of all transformations are done in HOL-4.
Creating product development and research teams in a classroom setting

University professors are expected to hold down (at least) two main jobs-teaching and research-sometimes at the expense of performing less than optimally on one or the other. In this work-in-progress, we are exploring the concept of combining teaching and research activities in the classroom to improve quality and productivity in both areas. The combination is being addressed by incorporating research tasks and results into a product design course. The evolution of such courses is overviewed and references to Web resources are provided for those interested in exploring the subject in more depth.
A Review of “The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny, and Globalization's Rough Landscape”

The world is flat—or is it? Harm de Blij thinks that most of the world is becoming less flat and uses a series of maps to make a convincing case that for the majority of the planet's population the...
Microcontrollers and fuzzy logic for embedded control applications

Only a minority of the fuzzy logic applications in existence today could be described as embedded control solutions. Although this number is expected to grow, most of the users benefitting from fuzzy today are involved in process and industrial control environments where very often the platform for fuzzy is a PC. In both situations, fuzzy may be applied in a relatively straightforward manner, however implementing fuzzy logic on a microcontroller gives rise to many more options to be given consideration.
Security in sensor networks: watermarking techniques

The actual deployment of the majority of envisioned applications for sensor networks is crucially dependent on resolving associated security, privacy, and digital rights management (DRM) issues. Although cryptography, security, and DRM have been active research topics for the last several decades, wireless sensor networks (WSN) pose a new system of conceptual, technical, and optimization challenges.In this Chapter we survey two areas related to security in WSN. First, we briefly survey techniques for the protection of the routing infrastructure at the network level for mobile multi-hop (ad-hoc) networks. Secondly, we discuss the first-known watermarking technique for authentication of sensor network data and information. We conclude the Chapter by providing a short discussion of future research and development directions in security and privacy in sensor networks.
A Note on Absolute Derivations and Zeta Functions

This comment answers a question raised by Kurokawa, Ochiai and Wakayama whether a certain operator constructed using a notion of quantum non-commutativity of primes has eigenvalues related to the Riemann zeta zeros.
The New Museology

The New Museology. Edited by Peter Vergo. London: Reaktion Books, 1989. 230pp., photographs, references, index. Distributed by University of Washington Press. $19.95.
FITTING MODELS OF CONTINUOUS TRAIT EVOLUTION TO INCOMPLETELY SAMPLED COMPARATIVE DATA USING APPROXIMATE BAYESIAN COMPUTATION

In recent years, a suite of methods has been developed tofit multiple rate models to phylogenetic comparative data. However, most methods have limited utility at broad phylogenetic scales because they typically require complete sampling of both the tree and the associated phenotypic data. Here, we develop and implement a new, tree-based method called MECCA (Modeling Evolution of Continuous Characters using ABC) that uses a hybrid likelihood/approximate Bayesian computation (ABC)-Markov-Chain Monte Carlo approach to simultaneously infer rates of diversification and trait evolution from incompletely sampled phylogenies and trait data. We demonstrate via simulation that MECCA has considerable power to choose among single versus multiple evolutionary rate models, and thus can be used to test hypotheses about changes in the rate of trait evolution across an incomplete tree of life. We finally apply MECCA to an empirical example of body size evolution in carnivores, and show that there is no evidence for an elevated rate of body size evolution in the pinnipeds relative to terrestrial carnivores. ABC approaches can provide a useful alternative set of tools for future macroevolutionary studies where likelihood-dependent approaches are lacking.
A tangent modulus method for rate dependent solids

Abstract A one step forward gradient time integration scheme is developed which leads to a tangent stiffness type method for rate dependent solids. Within the context of small strain theory numerical examples are presented showing application of the method to material behaviors ranging from elasticnonlinearly viscous to nearly rate independent. The adaptability of this rate dependent tangent modulus method to complex constitutive relations and to finite deformation analyses is also illustrated.
Pumping microbial fuel cells

Experimental data is presented comparing microbial fuel cell (MFC) power from buried (control) and chambered anodes exposed to slow flow pumping (2 mL/min). Results show that upon initial pumping (3 hrs), a robust upturn in MFC power from the chambered anodes was stimulated over several days, while a second pumping (4 hrs) appeared to resuscitate and sustain increased power for five more days. Analysis of energy gained (G) in the test setup vs. energy input (I) required for a commercial low power pump revealed a potential G/I ratio of 2.4. A pier side test was also conducted to demonstrate how tide-induced hydrostatic pressure changes could be used to pump an MFC chamber.
Value of the signal-averaged P wave analysis in predicting atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia occurring after cardiac surgery. Beside important implications regarding patient recovery, AF has been shown to substantially lengthen hospital stay—our recent study found a 3-day prolongation after adjusting for all other significant factors. Identification of those at highest risk of AF by clinical or noninvasive characteristics may be a useful strategy for targeted prophylactic therapy. Our data have shown that prolonged atrial conduction as assessed by analysis of the P wave duration from the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) imparts a four fold increase in risk for postoperative AF, independently of other measured variables. In addition, abnormal conduction was present on the preoperative P wave ECG (P-SAECG), implying a preexisting substrate that is triggered by surgery. The use of combination abnormal noninvasive variables (eg, abnormal P-SAECG and low left ventricular ejection fraction) can identify groups with a 50% risk of AF, which is nine times as high as when both tests are normal. Thus, the P-SAECG is a useful and accurate predictor of AF after cardiac surgery.