cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distal Tibia and Ankle Nonunions

Nonunions about the ankle are a challenging clinical problem, as normal gait is dependent on the intact structure and function of the ankle joint. Nonunions of the articular surface are at risk for arthritis, while those of the malleoli can affect joint stability. Nonunions of the distal tibial metaphysis, especially those with deformity can affect the mechanical axis of the limb and the function of adjacent joints. There is no one implant or procedure to treat ankle nonunions. Instead, management of this problem requires an application of principles applied to the specific issues of the patient. This chapter will review the evaluation of nonunions with specific discussion of the ankle joint and distal tibia.
Foster Care Involvement Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children with Autism

The prevalence and risk of foster care involvement among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relative to children with intellectual disability (ID), children with ASD and ID, and typically developing children were examined using 2001-2007 Medicaid data. Children were followed up to the first foster care placement or until the end of 2007; a discrete time logistic regression analysis was conducted. Both the prevalence and risk of foster care involvement were greatest for children with ASD, and the prevalence increased substantially over the study period among children with ASD. Continued examination of the factors contributing to the higher risk of foster placement is warranted to unravel the complex circumstances facing these vulnerable children and their families.
INSURERS AND LENDERS AS MONITORS DURING SECURITIES LITIGATION: EVIDENCE FROM D&O INSURANCE PREMIUMS, INTEREST RATES, AND LITIGATION COSTS

This study examines whether directors’ and officers’ insurers and lenders effectively monitor securities litigation and respond through pricing before case outcomes are known. By “monitoring,” we refer to tracking case progress and obtaining information from the insured (defendant) firm and its counsel prior to case resolution. We find that insurers and lenders increase rates, and that this effect is almost completely isolated to firms with cases that eventually settle. We confirm that this response is reasonable as settled cases are associated with lower future earnings, while there is generally no relation between future earnings and dismissed cases. As direct costs appear low, our results suggest that most costs are indirect in the form of reputational damage. Overall, our results suggest that researchers and policymakers interested in litigation should focus on settled cases, which are the only cases with material long-term costs.
Teacher-Led Math Inquiry: A Cluster Randomized Trial in Belize:

Teacher professional development and in-class mentors were used to support structured inquiry with math manipulatives. Twenty-four primary schools (n = 6,628 students) were randomly assigned to tre...
Common components of evidence-informed home visitation programs for the prevention of child maltreatment

Abstract Common components analysis (CCA) may be an efficient method to identify specific program components related to the prevention of child maltreatment. We used adapted CCA to examine home visiting programs designed to reduce or prevent child maltreatment and identify which program components are most likely to contribute to the prevention of child maltreatment. To carry out this process, manualized home-visiting programs were first identified through web-based program repositories. Then, program characteristics and components (i.e., sustainability, service delivery, and program content) were coded. Common components across these coding categories were identified and compared in programs with supporting research evidence and programs without research evidence. Our analyses indicate that problem-solving strategies were a key ingredient of evidence informed programs. Information on home cleanliness, accident prevention, first aid, and social support were also common components of evidence informed home visitation programs to prevent child maltreatment. Using CCA in this manner may assist providers in identifying potentially promising practices and programs among programs with and without evidence that match the needs of their populations.
High-performance liquid chromatography of selenoamino acids and organo selenium compounds Speciation by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

As part of an ongoing study to identify selenium compounds with cancer chemopreventive activity, extracts of selenium-enriched samples were analyzed by HPLC-inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS. Ion-exchange, ion pair and derivatization methods for reversed-phase HPLC were considered and advantages and disadvantages for each compared. Anion exchange allows separation of selenite and selenate, but otherwise provides poor separation. Pre-column derivatization and reversed-phase chromatography provides separation of compounds with terminal amine functionalities, but many other species elute in the void volume. The ion pair method gave optimal separation and was compatible with standard ICP-MS operating conditions.
The Poisson Counting Argument: A Heuristic for Understanding What Makes a Poissonized Sum Large

Let k be a fixed natural number and let Z, Z1, Z2,…, Zk be arbitrary i.i.d. random variables. Hahn and Klass (1991a) shows that it is always possible to construct a function Fz,k (a) such that for some constant C* > 0 (independent of Z, k, and a) and all real a, $$C_{*}F_{Z,k}^{2}(a)\leq P(\sum_{j=1}^{k}Z_{j}\geq ka)\leq 2F_{z,k}(a).$$ Furthermore, Fz,k (a) is the usual exponential bound for Z modified by a single datadriven truncation. Thus, for arbitrary Z, k, and a, the correct order of magnitude of \(LogP(\sum_{j=1}^{k}Z_{j}\geq ka)\) is obtainable essentially to within a factor of 2.
DW-MRI Assessment of Treatment Response to Minimally Invasive Therapy

Minimally invasive interventional oncology therapies consist of various therapeutic catheter-based (such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization) and percutaneous ablative approaches (such as radiofrequency ablation) using imaging for guidance to treat solid malignancies, and have recently emerged as a major therapeutic alternative against cancer. Monitoring tumour response to these therapies is currently performed by measuring changes in tumour size with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, morphological tumour changes occur relatively late in the course of therapy, while functional changes can occur prior to tumour size changes. Since minimally invasive therapies cause tumour cell membrane destruction and/or obliteration of tumour micro vessels, with subsequent alterations in the microscopic movement of water molecules, DW-MRI seems to be a potential non-invasive tool for measuring early functional tumour response to such therapies.
Strictures of a microchannel impose fierce competition to select for highly motile sperm

Investigating sperm locomotion in the presence of external fluid flow and geometries simulating the female reproductive tract can lead to a better understanding of sperm motion during fertilization. Using a microfluidic device featuring a stricture that simulates the fluid mechanical properties of narrow junctions inside the female reproductive tract, we documented the gate-like role played by the stricture in preventing sperm with motilities below a certain threshold from advancing through the stricture to the other side (i.e., fertilization site). All the slower sperm accumulate below (i.e., in front of) the stricture and swim in a butterfly-shaped path between the channel walls, thus maintaining the potential for penetrating the stricture and ultimately advancing toward the fertilization site. Accumulation below the stricture occurs in a hierarchical manner so that dense concentrations of sperm with higher velocities remain closer to the stricture, with more sparsely distributed arrays of lower-velocity sperm lagging behind.
Exploration of Computational Approaches to Predict the Toxicity of Chemical Mixtures.

Industrial advances have led to generation of multi-component chemicals, materials and pharmaceuticals which are directly or indirectly affecting the environment. Although toxicity data are available for individual chemicals, generally there is no toxicity data of chemical mixtures. Most importantly, the nature of toxicity of these studied mixtures is completely different to the single components, which makes the toxicity evaluation of mixtures more critical and challenging. Interactions of individual chemicals in a mixture can result in multifaceted and considerable deviations in the apparent properties of its ingredients. It results in synergistic or antagonistic effects as opposed to the ideal case of additive behavior i.e., concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). The CA and IA are leading models for the assessment of joint activity supported by pharmacology literature. Animal models for toxicity testing are time- and money-consuming as well as unethical. Thus, computational approaches are already proven efficient alternatives for assessing the toxicity of chemicals by regulatory authorities followed by industries. In silico methods are capable of predicting toxicity, prioritizing chemicals, identifying risk and assessing, followed by managing, the risk. In many cases, the mechanism behind the toxicity from species to species can be understood by in silico methods. Until today most of the computational approaches have been employed for single chemical’s toxicity. Thus, only a handful of works in the literature and methods are available for a mixture’s toxicity prediction employing computational or in silico approaches. Therefore, the present review explains the importance of evaluation of a mixture’s toxicity, the role of computational approaches to assess the toxicity, followed by types of in silico methods. Additionally, successful application of in silico tools in a mixture’s toxicity predictions is explained in detail. Finally, future avenues towards the role and application of computational approaches in a mixture’s toxicity are discussed.
A new finite-element shell model for arterial growth and remodeling after stent implantation

The goal of this paper is to study computationally how blood vessels adapt when they are exposed to a mechanobiological insult, namely, a sudden change of their biomechanical conditions such as proteolytic injuries or implantation. Adaptation occurs through growth and remodeling (G&R), consisting of mass production or removal of structural proteins, such as collagen, until restoring the initial homeostatic biomechanical conditions. In some circumstances, the initial conditions can never be recovered, and arteries evolve towards unstable pathological conditions, such as aneurysms, which are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, computational predictions of G&R under different circumstances can be helpful in understanding fundamentally how arterial pathologies progress. For that, we have developed a low-cost open-source finite-element 2D axisymmetric shell model (FEM) of the arterial wall. The constitutive equations for static equilibrium used to model the stress-strain behavior and the G&R response are expressed within the homogenized constrained mixture theory. The originality is to integrate the layer-specific behavior of both arterial layers (media and adventitia) into the model. Considering different mechanobiological insults, our results show that the resulting arterial dilatation is strongly correlated with the media thickness. The adaptation to stent implantation is particularly interesting. For large stent oversizing ratios, the artery cannot recover from the mechanobiological insult and dilates forever, whereas dilatation stabilizes after a transient period for more moderate oversizing ratios. We also show that stent implantation induces a different response in an aneurysm or in a healthy artery, the latter yielding more unstable G&R. Finally, our G&R model can efficiently predict, with very low computational cost, fundamental aspects of arterial adaptation induced by clinical procedures.
Advanced Ultra-High Voltage NanoDielectric Capacitor Development, Fabrication, and Testing

The Center for Physical and Power Electronics has developed a nanodielectric material (MU100) to reduce the size of ultra-high voltage (UHV) pulsed power capacitors. In the discharge regime of interest, the dielectric constant of the material is 200. The UHV dielectric, 3.4 cm diameter, 2 cm thick substrates with voltage ratings on the order of 260 kV, were assembled into a series stack of 4 each using a eutectic solder. Nine of these encapsulated capacitors were paralleled in a modular 130 pF capacitor assembly, and physically tested for operational capability. Results of the development and testing demonstrated two full-scale devices capable of withstanding over 104, 500 kV pulses with 55% voltage reversal, showing no signs of degradation; exceeding all pre-specified performance specifications. The test capacitor was part of a peaking circuit placed at the output of a 15 stage compact Marx bank to achieve the voltage amplitudes and reversals to meet the performance specifications. The capacitor was subjected to continuous 2-second bursts of 100 Hz repetition rate pulses with 10 seconds between bursts, which was required for the thermal management of the Marx bank. The submodules demonstrated a thermal rise of less than three degrees centigrade during continuous operation over a 15 minute test period. Further testing of the capacitor sub-modules demonstrated reliable performance under pulses of greater than 1 MV at a lifetime of 103 pulses. The smaller capacitance of the submodules allowed for voltage doubling across the test capacitor when connected to the 15 stage Marx bank through a charging inductor. The capacitor submodule was subjected to 2-second bursts of 100 Hz repetition rate pulses with 6 seconds between bursts. The results of the ultra-high voltage capacitor tests are discussed as well as the impact of the technology for compact pulsed power applications.
Testing wheat for internal infesting insects with an electrically conductive roller mill

Although grain is always inspected for adult insects and insect damaged kernels upon shipping and receiving, immature insects living inside the kernels of grain cannot be readily detected. A laboratory roller mill was modified to measure and analyze the electrical conductance of wheat as it was crushed. The electrical conductance of normal wheat kernels is low and fairly constant. In contrast, the electrical conductance of infested wheat kernels produces a sudden change in the electrical signal. The peak height of the electrical spike depends on the size of the larvae and the resulting contact of the crushed larvae between the rolls. This instrument was designed to test wheat with moisture content of 13.5% or less. The laboratory mill can test a kilogram of wheat in less than 2 min. Hard red winter and soft red winter wheat samples were used in experiments. Known numbers of infested kernels were added to the wheat samples. The infested kernels contained larvae of rice weevils and lesser grain borers sorted into large, medium, and small size groups. The instrument detected ~8 of 10 infested kernels per 100 g of wheat with large-larvae (fourth instar or pupae). It detected ~7 of 10 infested kernels with medium-larvae (second or third instar) and ~5 of 10 infested kernels infested with the small-larvae (first or second instar). Under reasonable grain moisture and careful sample handling, there were no non-infested kernels classified as insect infested. The mill can lead to rapid and automated detection of infested wheat.
Original articleThe Radiologist as Direct Public Educator: Impact of Sessions Demystifying Select Cancer Screening Imaging Examinations

Purpose The aim of this report is to describe our early experience with radiologist-led direct public education about imaging-based cancer screening examinations, with a focus on the level of satisfaction and the educational impact reported by session participants.
Upper echelons research in marketing

Marketing scholars have recently embraced the study of the corporate upper echelons—the executives and board members atop the organizational hierarchy. However, management scholars have researched the upper echelons for decades, with frequent forays into the marketing strategy domain. As a result of progressing in two separate disciplines, the literature on marketing strategy and the upper echelons is fragmented and disjointed. We develop an organizing framework to review extant research and assess and synthesize the knowledge in the upper echelons marketing strategy domain. Our review covers the 14 most influential marketing and management journals from 1984 through February, 2020. Given the relative newness of this research within marketing, we develop a conceptual model fusing existing theory in the upper echelons and marketing strategy literatures, and use this to identify key blind spots and underdeveloped areas of knowledge caused by the two fields’ independent evolutions. Finally, we also examine challenges associated with conducting research in this area and provide recommendations to help researchers and reviewers navigate these challenges to advance theory and practice.
A Fluorometric Technique for the Detection and Determination of Paralytic Shellfish Poisons

The occurrence of outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) along the New England Coase has generated research to develop a rapid, sensitive method for determining the toxin content in clams, Mya arenaria, and in mussels, Mytilus edulis. The oxidation of saxitoxin (STX) with alkaline hydrogen peroxide followed by acidification produced a solution fluorophor with an excitation of 332 nm and an emission of 331 nm. Measurement of the fluorescent intensity of the STX fluorophor is used to quantitate as little as 0.005 to 0.01 µg STX. Application of this solution-fluorometric procedure to samples of M. arenaria and M. edulis has enabled quantitation of toxin contents (as STX) that have corresponded with the mouse bioassay. In addition, levels of toxicity less than the lower limit of the bioassay, 40 µg STX per 100 g shellfish meat, are detectable by this tube assay.
High prevalence of cervical myelopathy in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Abstract Background Both idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and cervical myelopathy may result in progressive gait impairment. Some patients who do not respond to shunting despite a positive tap test may have gait dysfunction from cervical myelopathy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of cervical myelopathy in patients with iNPH. Methods A consecutive series of patients undergoing shunt placement for iNPH were screened for cervical stenosis. Clinical manifestations of iNPH and cervical myelopathy, grade of cervical stenosis, cervical spine surgical intervention, timing of intervention, and outcomes were recorded. Results Fifty-two patients shunted for treatment of iNPH were included for analysis. 58 % were male with a mean age of 75.2 years (SD 7.3 years). All patients presented with gait disturbances. 39/52 (75 %) had cervical stenosis, and 9/52 (17.3 %) had significant (grade 2−3) cervical stenosis with myelopathy and were subsequently treated with surgical decompression. There was an association between increasing grade of stenosis and disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH). All patients with grade 2−3 cervical stenosis and symptoms of cervical myelopathy in addition to iNPH underwent cervical decompression surgery. Conclusions Clinically significant cervical myelopathy was prevalent in patients with iNPH and was associated with increased rate of DESH, a finding that requires validation in a larger cohort. Based on these results, cervical imaging could be considered preoperatively in patients with iNPH, particularly when upper motor neuron findings are identified. Additionally, concomitant cervical stenosis should be ruled out in patients whose gait does not improve after shunt placement.
The Role of Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV) for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of visual morbidity in the USA and developing world [1, 2]. Its prevalence continues to rise due to the expanding diabetic population [3]. The treatment of DME has evolved from focal laser to intravitreal injection of steroids and more recently anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [4–6]. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) has been considered a treatment option for DME in various circumstances. It is challenging to make definitive recommendations based on literature reports alone due to the heterogeneity of published studies and limited sample sizes. Meta-analyses attempt to pool data from smaller studies to provide more useful information. We conducted a PubMed search using the terms “pars plana vitrectomy and diabetic macular edema,” “vitrectomy for macular edema,” “vitrectomy and non-tractional diabetic macular edema,” and “vitrectomy and refractory diabetic macular edema.” The search yielded several meta-analyses and review articles [7–18], large series (>50 eyes) [19–41], and smaller series [42–79]. The summaries of the reports are presented here, accounting for variability such as morphology (i.e., with or without traction), previous treatments (laser, steroids), and predisposing factors. We hope that this information can guide the recommendations of practicing clinicians, whose patients are likely equally variable.
Skeletal descriptions of shape provide unique and privileged perceptual information for object recognition

Abstract With seemingly little effort, humans can both identify an object across large changes in orientation and extend category membership to novel exemplars. Although researchers argue that object shape is crucial in these cases, it remains unknown how shape is represented for object recognition. Here we tested whether the human visual system incorporates a three-dimensional skeletal descriptor of shape to determine an object’s identity. Skeletal models not only provide a compact description of an object’s global shape structure, but also provide a quantitative metric by which to compare the visual similarity between shapes. Our results showed that a model of skeletal similarity explained the greatest amount of variance in participants’ object dissimilarity judgments when compared with other computational models of visual similarity (Experiment 1). Moreover, parametric changes to an object’s skeleton led to proportional changes in perceived similarity, even when controlling for another model of structure (Experiment 2). Importantly, participants preferentially categorized objects by their skeletons across changes to local shape contours and non-accidental properties (Experiment 3). Our findings highlight the importance of skeletal structure in vision, not only as a shape descriptor, but also as a diagnostic cue of object identity.
Building Kinetic Mixing From Scalar Portal Matter

The nature of dark matter (DM) and how it might interact with the particles of the Standard Model (SM) is an ever-growing mystery. It is possible that the existence of new `dark sector' forces, yet undiscovered, are the key to solving this fundamental problem. In this paper, we construct a model in which a dark photon mediates interactions with the SM via kinetic mixing. Unlike traditional models, in which the dark photon, which couples to a dark charge, $Q_D$, mixes with the hypercharge boson, our model effectively mixes the dark photon directly with the photon after electroweak symmetry is broken, but remains unmixed until the symmetry breaks. The kinetic mixing is generated at one loop by fields which satisfy $\sum Q_D Q_{em} = 0$, a condition which guarantees a finite result at one loop. In the literature, this has been traditionally obtained via heavy fermions, which may lie out of the reach of current accelerators. In this model, by contrast, this process is mediated by scalar `portal matter' fields, which are charged under the $SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y$ of the standard model as well as the dark gauge group $U(1)_D$ and acquire GeV-scale vevs which give mass to the dark Higgs and dark photon. The additional scalar fields are relatively light, at or below the weak scale, yet may remain undetected by current experiments since their couplings to SM fermions come only through percent level mixing with the SM Higgs. At colliders, these models are typified by relatively low MET due the BSM states decaying into MET and SM bosons, with MET which is balanced by the decay of the associated production object. Nevertheless, the higher statistics of HL-LHC may be able to probe the entirety of the model space.
Anatomic Point–Based Lung Region with Zone Identification for Radiologist Annotation and Machine Learning for Chest Radiographs

Our objective is to investigate the reliability and usefulness of anatomic point–based lung zone segmentation on chest radiographs (CXRs) as a reference standard framework and to evaluate the accuracy of automated point placement. Two hundred frontal CXRs were presented to two radiologists who identified five anatomic points: two at the lung apices, one at the top of the aortic arch, and two at the costophrenic angles. Of these 1000 anatomic points, 161 (16.1%) were obscured (mostly by pleural effusions). Observer variations were investigated. Eight anatomic zones then were automatically generated from the manually placed anatomic points, and a prototype algorithm was developed using the point-based lung zone segmentation to detect cardiomegaly and levels of diaphragm and pleural effusions. A trained U-Net neural network was used to automatically place these five points within 379 CXRs of an independent database. Intra- and inter-observer variation in mean distance between corresponding anatomic points was larger for obscured points (8.7 mm and 20 mm, respectively) than for visible points (4.3 mm and 7.6 mm, respectively). The computer algorithm using the point-based lung zone segmentation could diagnostically measure the cardiothoracic ratio and diaphragm position or pleural effusion. The mean distance between corresponding points placed by the radiologist and by the neural network was 6.2 mm. The network identified 95% of the radiologist-indicated points with only 3% of network-identified points being false-positives. In conclusion, a reliable anatomic point–based lung segmentation method for CXRs has been developed with expected utility for establishing reference standards for machine learning applications.
Risk Assessment for Postoperative Pneumonia in Children Living With Neurologic Impairments.

BACKGROUND Approximately one-third of all pediatric hospital charges are attributable to the care for children living with neurologic comorbidities. These children often require various surgical procedures and may have an elevated risk of lower respiratory infections because of poor neuromuscular coordination, poor cough, uncoordinated swallowing, and poor oral hygiene. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of pneumonia in children presenting with neurologic comorbidities. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of children (<18 years) who underwent inpatient surgery between 2012 and 2018 in hospitals participating in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Our primary outcome was the time to incident pneumonia within the 30 days after surgery. RESULTS We identified 349 163 children, of whom 2191 developed pneumonia (30-day cumulative incidence: 0.6%). The presence of a preoperative neurologic comorbidity conferred approximately twofold higher risk of postoperative pneumonia (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73-2.11). We explored the risk of pneumonia conferred by the components of neurologic comorbidity: cerebral palsy (HR: 3.92, 95% CI: 3.38-4.56), seizure disorder (HR: 2.93, 95% CI: 2.60-3.30), neuromuscular disorder (HR: 2.63, 95% CI: 2.32-2.99). The presence of a neurologic comorbidity was associated with a longer length of hospital stay (incidence rate ratio: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.25-1.28). CONCLUSIONS The risk of postoperative pneumonia was almost twofold higher in children with neurologic comorbidity. The magnitude of these associations underscores the need to identify areas of research and preventive strategies to reduce the excess risk of pneumonia in children with preoperative neurologic conditions.
Crystal structures and hydrogen-bonding analysis of a series of benzamide complexes of zinc(II) chloride.

Ionic co-crystals are co-crystals between organic mol­ecules and inorganic salt coformers. Co-crystals of pharmaceuticals are of inter­est to help control polymorph formation and potentially improve stability and other physical properties. We describe the preparation, crystal structures, and hydrogen bonding of five different 2:1 benzamide or tolu­amide/zinc(II) chloride co-crystal salts, namely, bis­(benzamide-κO)di­chlorido­zinc(II), [ZnCl2(C7H7NO)2], di­chlor­ido­bis­(2-methyl­benzamide-κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl2(C8H9NO)2], di­chlorido­bis­(3-methyl­benzamide-κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl2(C8H9NO)2], di­chlorido­bis­(4-methyl­benzamide-κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl2(C8H9NO)2], and di­chlorido­bis­(4-hy­droxy­benzamide-κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl2(C7H7NO2)2]. All of the complexes contain hydrogen bonds between the amide N—H group and the amide carbonyl oxygen atoms or the chlorine atoms, forming extended networks.
Effect of n‐3 Long‐chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake during Pregnancy on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Evidence from observational studies and randomised trials has suggested a potential association between intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) during pregnancy and certain pregnancy and birth outcomes. Marine foods (e.g. fatty sea fish, algae) and select freshwater fish contain pre-formed n-3 LCPUFA, which serve as precursors for bioactive molecules (e.g. prostaglandins) that influence a variety of biological processes. The main objective of this analysis was to summarise evidence of the effect of n-3 LCPUFA intake during pregnancy on select maternal and child health outcomes. Searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and other electronic databases to identify trials where n-3 LCPUFA were provided to pregnant women for at least one trimester of pregnancy. Data were extracted into a standardised abstraction table and pooled analyses were conducted using RevMan software. Fifteen randomised controlled trials were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis, and 14 observational studies were included in the general review. n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy resulted in a modest increase in birthweight (mean difference = 42.2 g; [95% CI 14.8, 69.7]) and no significant differences in birth length or head circumference. Women receiving n-3 LCPUFA had a 26% lower risk of early preterm delivery (<34 weeks) (RR = 0.74; [95% CI 0.58, 0.94]) and there was a suggestion of decreased risk of preterm delivery (RR = 0.91; [95% CI 0.82, 1.01]) and low birthweight (RR = 0.92; [95% CI 0.83, 1.02]). n-3 LCPUFA in pregnancy did not influence the occurrence of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, infant death, or stillbirth. Our review of observational studies revealed mixed findings, with several large studies reporting positive associations between fish intake and birthweight and several reporting no associations. In conclusion, n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy resulted in a decreased risk of early preterm delivery and a modest increase in birthweight. More studies in low- and middle-income countries are needed to determine any effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in resource-poor settings, where n-3 PUFA intake is likely low.
Collaborative track analysis, data cleansing, and labeling

Tracking output is a very attractive source of labeled data sets that, in turn, could be used to train other systems for tracking, detection, recognition and categorization. In this context, long tracking sequences are of particular importance because they provide richer information, multiple views, wider range of appearances. This paper addresses two obstacles to the use of tracking data for training: noise in the tracking data and the unreliability and slow pace of hand labeling. The paper introduces a criterion for detecting inconsistencies (noise) in large data collections and a method for selecting typical representatives of consistent collections. Those are used to build a pipeline which cleanses the tracking data and employs instantaneous (shotgun) labeling of vast numbers of images. The shotgun labeled data is shown to compare favorably with hand labeled data when used in classification tasks. The framework is collaborative - it involves a human-in-the loop but it is designed to minimize the burden on the human.
SELF-AFFINE FRACTAL SETS, I: THE BASIC FRACTAL DIMENSIONS

The notion of -fractal dimension is explored -for various -fractal curves or dusts that are not self -similar, but are diagonally self - affine. A diagonal self -affinity stretches the coordinates in different ratios. It is showed that, in contrast to the unique -fractal dimension of strictly self-similar sets, one needs in general several distinct notions. Most important are the concepts of dimension obtained via the mass in a sphere and via covering by uniform boxes. One -finds it does not matter which definition is taken, but it matters greatly whether one interpolates or extrapolates. Thus, one obtains two sharply distinct dimensions: a local one, valid on scales well below, and a global one, valid on scales well above, a certain crossover scale.
Combination of hyper-CVAD with ponatinib as first-line therapy for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: A single-centre, phase 2 study

Summary Background Combination of chemotherapy with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor is effective in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Ponatinib is a more potent BCR-ABL1 inhibitor than all other tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and selectively suppresses the resistant T315I clones. We examined the activity and safety of combining chemotherapy with ponatinib for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in this continuing phase 2 trial. Methods In this single-centre, phase 2, single-arm trial, adult patients with previously untreated Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were sequentially enrolled. Patients who had received fewer than two courses of previous chemotherapy with or without tyrosine-kinase inhibitors were also eligible. Patients had to be aged 18 years or older, have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or less, have normal cardiac function (defined by ejection fraction above 50%), and have adequate organ function (serum bilirubin ≤3·0 mg/dL and serum creatinine ≤3·0 mg/dL, unless higher concentrations were believed to be due to a tumour). Patients received eight cycles of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (hyper-CVAD) alternating with high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine every 21 days. Ponatinib 45 mg was given daily for the first 14 days of cycle 1 then continuously for the subsequent cycles. Patients in complete remission received maintenance with ponatinib 45 mg daily with vincristine and prednisone monthly for 2 years followed by ponatinib indefinitely. The primary endpoint for this study was event-free survival. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01424982. Findings 37 patients were enrolled and treated from Nov 1, 2011, to Sept 1, 2013. 2-year event-free survival rate was 81% (95% CI 64–90). Grade 3 or more toxic effects included infections during induction (20 [54%] patients), increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentration (14 [38%] patients), thrombotic events (three [8%]), myocardial infarction (three [8%]), hypertension (six [16%]), skin rash (eight [22%]), and pancreatitis (six [16%] patients). Two patients died from from myocardial infarction potentially related to treatment; another patient also died from myocardial infarction related to sepsis. Two further patients died, one from bleeding and another from infection, both deemed unrelated to treatment. Interpretation The first results of this ongoing trial indicate that the combination of chemotherapy with ponatinib is effective in achieving early sustained remissions in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. New strategies, including dosing titration of ponatinib and optimised control of vascular risk factors, might further improve outcomes. Funding ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Hemochromatosis: genetic or alcohol-induced?

Abstract To evaluate the roles of alcohol and genetic factors in hepatic iron overload, we studied prospectively 61 patients selected solely on the basis of increased stainable hepatic iron (grade 3 or 4). Independent comparisons were made between alcoholic (n = 20) and nonalcoholic (n = 41) patients, and between patients with affected relatives (n = 25) and those without (n = 36). For the entire group, the mean value for mobilizable iron was 19.6 g and the prevalence of HLA-A3 was 69.6%, both findings compatible with genetic hemochromatosis. Subgroups were no different in clinical features (diabetes, pigmentation, cardiomyopathy, hypogonadism, or arthropothy), histologic findings (fat, inflammation, fibrosis), indexes of iron metabolism (serum iron, transferrin saturation, chelatable iron, and mobilizable iron stores), or frequency of HLA-A3 and HLA-B7. The only exception was that mean hepatic iron concentration was lower in alcoholic patients than in nonalcoholic patients (17,344 vs. 28,553 μg/g dry wt, p
Literature-searching strategies to improve the application of evidence-based clinical practice principles to stroke care

The field of cerebrovascular disease is evolving more rapidly than ever. New evidence from primary research in stroke is available and should be guiding global changes in practice. Instead, there is a disappointing and ever-widening evidence-practice gap. Busy health care practitioners are encouraged to practice evidencebased medicine, but their skills in this field are deficient. The purpose of this article is to provide the steps necessary to quickly, efficiently, and independently locate high-quality, valid evidencebased information on stroke that can be applied in a point-of-care setting. A discussion of secondary stroke prevention highlights these steps.
Micro magnetic simulation of write error probability in STT-MRAM

STT MRAM is one of the most promising candidates for the next generation non-volatile memory. The STT-MRAM write operation is to switch the magnetization direction of ferromagnetic free layer with spin transfer torque by current injection. A ferromagnetic thin film used in it is so small volume that the thermal fluctuation due to ambient temperature has to be considered in the device design. Its process is described by a stochastic probability distribution. In this paper, a write error probability function in STT MRAM at finite temperature is investigated based on the result of LLG micro magnetic simulation. The function is found to be a Weibull type function with modulus, beta. The physical meanings of beta is found to be an index of competitions between thermal activation process and spin transfer torque ones in switching of STT MRAM at finite temperature.
Localized Turbulent Flows on Scouring Granular Beds

In many applications a sustained, localized turbulent flow scours a cohesionless granular bed to form a pothole. Here we use similarity methods to derive a theoretical formula for the equilibrium depth of the pothole. Whereas the empirical formulas customarily used in applications contain numerous free exponents, the theoretical formula contains a single one, which we show can be determined via the phenomenological theory of turbulence. Our derivation affords insight into how a state of dynamic equilibrium is attained between a granular bed and a localized turbulent flow.
Alveolar macrophages from patients with asbestos exposure release increased levels of leukotriene B4.

The alveolar influx and subsequent activation of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and eosinophils are believed to be important in the pathogenesis of many interstitial lung disorders, including asbestosis. Indices of lower respiratory tract abnormalities detected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were investigated in 93 asbestos-exposed workers as well as in smoking (n = 12) and nonsmoking (n = 10) control subjects. Patients with clinical asbestosis (n = 12) exhibited increases in both BAL neutrophils and BAL eosinophils, expressed as both percentage of total cells and total numbers, when compared to asbestos-exposed workers without asbestosis (n = 81) and control subjects. Significantly greater numbers of BAL neutrophils were also found in asbestos-exposed workers without asbestosis than in either smoking or nonsmoking control subjects. These abnormalities correlated significantly with in vitro BAL alveolar macrophage production of the potent leukocyte chemotaxin, leukotriene B4 (LTB4). For example, ...
Comparison of Pediatric and Adult IgE Antibody Binding to Fish Proteins

Background Allergic reactions to fish are a common cause of food allergy. Objective We compared the binding of pediatric and adult fish-allergic patient IgE antibodies to fish proteins. Methods Clinical histories of fish allergy were confirmed by prick skin tests, RAST and if possible, with blinded oral food challenges. The patients included five children with severe allergic reactions to catfish (4/5), cod (1/5), and tuna (1/5) and five adults with severe allergic reactions to catfish (5/5), cod (2/5), snapper (3/5), and tuna (2/5). Extracted proteins from catfish, cod, snapper, and tuna were separated with SDS-PAGE. IgE immunoblots and immunoblot inhibition studies were performed using serum samples from these patients. Results Multiple fish proteins ranging from 12 to 45 kD from the four fish extracts were identified by SDS-PAGE. A major protein (12.5 kD) was present in all fish extracts except for raw tuna. Immunoblots using individual pediatric and adult serum samples revealed that the major IgE binding was to the 12.5-kD protein from catfish, cod, and snapper. The immunoblot with tuna using serum from a pediatric patient with isolated tuna anaphylaxis revealed an IgE binding protein band at 40 kD. Preincubation of serum samples from two separate fish-allergic patients with 1 mg of cod fish extract completely inhibited IgE binding to the 12.5-kD fish protein in subsequent immunoblots. Conclusions Pediatric and adult fish-allergic patients have similar in vitro IgE binding to a 12.5-kD protein from fish extracts. This protein is immunochemically similar to Gad c I, the major allergen in cod.
White matter compromise of callosal and subcortical fiber tracts in children with autism spectrum disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Objective Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly viewed as a disorder of functional networks, highlighting the importance of investigating white matter and interregional connectivity. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter integrity for the whole brain and for corpus callosum, internal capsule, and middle cerebellar peduncle in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Method DTI data were obtained from 26 children with ASD and 24 matched TD children. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and axial and radial diffusion were calculated for the whole brain, the genu, body, and splenium of the corpus callosum, the genu and anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, and the middle cerebellar peduncle. Results Children with ASD had reduced FA and increased radial diffusion for whole-brain white matter and all three segments of the corpus callosum and internal capsule, compared with those in TD children. Increased MD was found for the whole brain and for anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule. Reduced axial diffusion was found for the body of corpus callosum. Reduced FA was also found for the middle cerebellar peduncle. Conclusions Our findings suggest widespread white matter compromise in children with ASD. Abnormalities in the corpus callosum indicate impaired interhemispheric transfer. Results for the internal capsule and middle cerebellar peduncle add to the currently limited DTI evidence on subcortico-cortical tracts in ASD. The robust impairment found in all three segments of the internal capsule is consistent with studies documenting impairment of elementary sensorimotor function in ASD.
The addition of 1,2-cyclohexadiene to substituted styrenes

Abstract 1,2-Cyclohexadiene ( 4 ) undergoes addition to a series of substituted styrenes with a Hammett ϱ value of +0.79. Deuterium labelling shows the addition is stepwise.
Self-management of disruptive verbal ruminations by a mentally retarded adult

Chronic and high-rate disruptive verbal ruminations of a mentally retarded adult in a vocational training setting were successfully reduced following introduction of a multi-component self-management intervention program. Self-management skills of self-monitoring, self-evaluation, self-consequation, and self-instruction were trained and then practiced in vivo. In addition to influencing the specific dependent disruptive rumination behaviors targeted for intervention, three collateral behaviors not specifically treated showed positive effects. A combined treatment withdrawal and modified changing criterion design was used to assess changes throughout phases of the study. Follow-up data obtained 6 months and again 12 months after termination of the program revealed durability of intervention effects. The practical, conceptual, and philosophic significance of these findings are noted.
Cytoskeletal rearrangement and caspase activation in sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced lung capillary tube formation.

Angiogenesis is a multistep process involving the endothelial cell (EC) cytoskeleton in migration, proliferation, and barrier stabilization. Although precise intracellular pathways by which angioge...
Quantum Condensates in Extreme Gravity:. Implications for Cold Stars and Dark Matter

Stable end-point stars currently fall into two distinct classes — white dwarfs and neutron stars — differing enormously in central density and radial size. No stable cold dead stars are thought to span the intervening densities or have masses beyond ~2–3 solar masses. I show, however, that the general-relativistic condition of hydrostatic equilibrium augmented by the equation of state of a neutron condensate at 0 K generates stable sequences of cold stars that span the density gap and can have masses well beyond prevailing limits. The radial sizes and mass limit of each sequence are determined by the mass and scattering length of the composite bosons. Solutions for hypothetical bosons of ultrasmall mass and large scattering length yield huge self-gravitating systems of low density, resembling galactic dark matter halos.
BANDAL? AL‐JAWZ?: PROGRESSIVE PALESTINIAN POLITICS?

Interet actuel et succes actuel de la doctrine socio-politique de cet intellectuel palestinien (1871-1943)