cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant perioperative hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine combined with surgical resection of metastatic colorectal cancer in the liver

Twenty patients with colon cancer metastatic to the liver underwent successful hepatic resection and adjuvant perioperative therapy that included hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine (FUDR). The median survival for all 20 patients was 51 months: 10 are still alive with a median postoperative follow-up of 49 months; 6 are disease-free with a median postoperative follow-up of 43 months. Among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins of the specimen contained tumor cells, the median survival was 52 months. This survival was comparable to that among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins were tumor free (P = 0.22). Neither the number of metastatic liver deposits nor the disease-free interval between the primary diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and the development of liver metastases significantly affected survival. A transient chemical hepatitis which resolved before the next scheduled treatment was associated with 50% of arterial chemotherapy cycles (approximately 70% of the patients). Gastric or duodenal ulcerations occurred in 23% of the patients. Surgical complications were either pulmonary such as pleural effusion or atelectasis, or wound infections and subphrenic abscesses. Although these results compare favorably with the results in previously published series, this aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy appears to be particularly justified in patients with tumor positive surgical margins or those with multiple tumor masses and, therefore, are characterized by a poor prognosis.
Sexual Function and Quality of Life in the Male Partner of Infertile Couples: Prevalence and Correlates of Dysfunction

Purpose: We prospectively collected data on mental and physical health related quality of life as well as sexual and relationship function in couples presenting for the treatment of infertility.Materials and Methods: Infertile couples were invited to complete a demographic survey, the Short Form 36 and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Inventory. Male partners completed the International Index of Erectile Function and the Self-Esteem and Relationship Quality scale. Female partners completed the Female Sexual Function Index and a version of the Self-Esteem and Relationship Quality Scale modified for women. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess for associations between partner responses.Results: A total of 121 couples were enrolled at 2 sites. Male partners reported significantly lower standardized scores on the Mental Health subscale of the Short Form 36 (mean 47.6, p <0.05) compared to normative values. Of the men surveyed 11% and 12% reported moderate or severe depression, ...
Implementation of 2-D DFT algorithms on a loosely-coupled parallel system

An implementation of the two-dimensional (2-D) discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on the Armstrong Multiprocessor System is presented. Armstrong is a loosely coupled parallel processing system made up of a large number of identical processing nodes and is currently operational. The system utilizes a reconfigurable point-to-point network for communication, thus allowing researchers to experiment with different communication topologies for a given application. The 2-D DFT implementation is discussed, and its performance is analyzed under variations in DFT size, network topology, and processing-node count. >
Decreased blood transfusion following revision total knee arthroplasty using tranexamic acid.

Abstract Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been used successfully in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to minimize blood loss and transfusions. The purpose of this study is to determine its efficacy in patients undergoing revision TKA. In a retrospective review of 111 patients (68 control and 43 TXA), treatment patients receiving a single intravenous TXA dose of 10mg/kg required less transfusions ( P =0.03) and less total blood units consumed than controls ( P =0.03). When stratified by type of revision, treatment patients undergoing femoral and tibial component revision had lower transfusion rates than the controls ( P =0.03). Given the drawbacks of allogenic blood transfusion, we highly recommend the use of TXA in revision TKA, especially when both components are being revised.
The Environment of Galaxies at Low Redshift

We compare environmental effects in two analogous samples of galaxies, one from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the other from a semianalytic model (SAM) based on the Millennium Simulation (MS), to test to what extent current SAMs of galaxy formation are reproducing environmental effects. We estimate the large-scale environment of each galaxy using a Bayesian density estimator based on distances to all 10 nearest neighbors, and we compare broadband photometric properties of the two samples as a function of environment. The feedbacks implemented in the semianalytic model produce a qualitatively correct galaxy population with similar environmental dependence as that seen in SDSS galaxies. In detail, however, the colors of MS galaxies exhibit an exaggerated dependence on environment: the field contains too many blue galaxies, whereas clusters contain too many red galaxies, compared to the SDSS sample. We also find that the MS contains a population of highly clustered, relatively faint red galaxies with velocity dispersions comparable to their Hubble flow. Such high-density galaxies, if they exist, would be overlooked in any low-redshift survey, since their membership to a cluster cannot be determined because of the “fingers-of-God” effect. Subject headings: galaxies: fundamental parameters — galaxies: luminosity function, mass function — galaxies: statistics
Distributed Antenna Systems with Randomness

In a cellular distributed antenna system (DAS), distributed antenna elements (AEs) are connected to the base station via an offline dedicated link, e.g. fiber optics or line-of-sight RF. Distributed antennas have been recently shown to provide considerable gains in coverage and capacity, at much lower cost than decreasing cell size. Previous studies have neglected the key sources of randomness in such systems, notably (i) random channel effects (fading and shadowing) and (ii) the random quantity and locations of both the mobile users and the AEs. Typically, path loss has been the focus, and the AEs are assumed to be regularly spaced, both of which are significant idealizations. First, we develop an analytical framework that allows random channels to be accommodated. We use this approach to show that selection transmission (using a single AE) is preferable to maximum ratio transmission (which uses all the AEs) in a multicell environment. Interestingly, the opposite is true in an isolated cell. Second, since AEs are placed opportunistically (on tall structures with backhaul access) rather than regularly, we develop a stochastic geometry-inspired approach to determine the outage probability as a function of the number of randomly placed AEs, which we model as a point process. With selection transmission, the outage probability is shown to decrease exponentially with the number of AEs and users. In the most general setup - with multiple distributed antennas and users, and both AE selection and user selection - we show that randomly deployed AEs provide nearly the same performance as regularly spaced AEs.
Alienation Revisited: The Politics of World

This essay brings the political theory of Hannah Arendt into the company of several key debates in democratic theory. Though she is most renowned for her theory of political action, it is my contention that Arendt’s concept of World can productively change the very terms by which democratic politics is most often understood and questioned. This essay takes up this matter by way of a thorough exploration of World alienation, the subject with which Arendt began and concluded her seminal work of political theory, The Human Condition.
Lung Malignancies in HIV Infection

Pulmonary malignancies are a major source of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons. Non–AIDS-defining lung cancers (mostly non-small cell lung cancers) are now a leading cause of cancer death among HIV-infected persons. HIV-associated factors appear to affect the risk of lung cancer and may adversely impact cancer treatment and outcomes. HIV infection also may modify the potential harms and benefits of lung cancer screening with computed tomography. AIDS-defining lung malignancies include pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma and pulmonary lymphoma, both of which are less prevalent with widespread adoption of antiretroviral therapy.
An Investigation of Language Environment Analysis Measures for Spanish-English Bilingual Preschoolers From Migrant Low-Socioeconomic-Status Backgrounds.

Purpose The current study was designed to (a) describe average hourly Language Environment Analysis (LENA) data for preschool-age Spanish–English bilinguals (SEBs) and typically developing monoling...
Water adsorption isotherms on CH3-, OH-, and COOH-terminated organic surfaces at ambient conditions measured with PM-RAIRS.

The water adsorption isotherms on methyl (CH3)-, hydroxyl (OH)-, and carboxylic acid (COOH)-terminated alkylthiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au were studied at room temperature and ambient...
Alteration of Plasma Clearance of Vitamin B12 by Intravenous Hog Intrinsic Factor Concentrate.

Summary1. Studies of the fate of intravenously injected vitamin B12 bound to hog intrinsic factor concentrate have been performed in patients with pernicious anemia and malabsorption syndrome. 2. The abnormal plasma disappearance curves of vit B12 in pernicious anemia and malabsorption syndrome became normal after incubation of B12 with hog intrinsic factor concentrate. 3. Plasma clearance of radioactivity in pernicious anemia is slower following injection of intrinsic factor labeled with I131 than following injection of intrinsic factor labeled with radiocobalt-B12. 4. A specific effect of intrinsic factor in transferring circulating vit B12 to the liver is discussed.
Early-time radiation flux symmetry optimization and its effect on gas-filled hohlraum ignition targets on the National Ignition Facility

Achieving ignition on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is tied to our ability to control and minimize deviations from sphericity of the capsule implosion. Low-mode asymmetries of the hot spot result from the combined effect of radiation drive asymmetries throughout the laser pulse and initial roughness on the capsule surface. In this paper, we report on simulations and experiments designed to assess, measure, and correct the drive asymmetries produced by the early-time (≈first 2 ns or “picket”) period of the laser pulse. The drive asymmetry during the picket is commonly thought to introduce distortions in the hot-spot shape at ignition time. However, a more subtle effect not previously considered is that it also leads to an asymmetry in shock velocity and timing, thereby increasing the fuel adiabat and reducing the margin for ignition. It is shown via hydrodynamic simulations that minimizing this effect requires that the early-time asymmetry be kept below 7.5% in the second Legendre mode (P2), thus keeping the loss of performance margin below ≈10% for a layered implosion. Asymmetries during the picket of the laser pulse are measured using the instantaneous self-emission of a high-Z re-emission sphere in place of an ignition capsule in a hohlraum with large azimuthal diagnostic windows. Three dimensional simulations using the code HYDRA (to capture the effect of non-azimuthal hohlraum features) coupled to a cross-beam energy transfer model [Michel et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056305 (2010)] are used to establish the surrogacy of the re-emit target and to assess the early-time drive symmetry. Calculations using this model exhibit the same sensitivity to variations in the relative input powers between the different cones of NIF beams as measured for the “Rev5” CH target [Haan et al., Phys Plasmas 18, 051001 (2011)] and reported by Dewald et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 235001 (2013)]. The same methodology applied to recently improved implosions using different hohlraum geometries and picket powers show good agreement with experimental data.
Type 12 adenovirus proteins: influence on tumor development in offspring of immunized pregnant hamsters.

SummaryUsing Freund's complete adjuvant, groups of pregnant hamsters were immunized with purified type 12 adenovirus (Ad 12), core proteins isolated from this virus, and hexon proteins isolated from unassembled soluble viral proteins. Control groups were untreated, or given the adjuvant alone. The progeny of all groups were challenged soon after birth with a highly oncogenic strain of Ad 12. Retardation of tumor growth in the maternally immunized, as compared with the control groups, was evidenced by delayed appearance, slower growth, and significantly lower average tumor weights at the termination of the study. On the basis of these criteria, purified virus and purified hexon protein both appeared to be highly and equally effective in repressing tumor growth in the progeny. The protection afforded by core proteins was of a much lower order. These results suggest the possibility of immunizing against Ad 12 by using highly purified, DNA-free, and presumably harmless hexon proteins.
Reducing the Cost of Legal Education: The Profession Hangs Together or Hangs Separately

Is a legal education worth the cost? Until just a few years ago, there was little doubt that the answer was yes. The recession that began in 2007 changed everything. The job market for entry-level lawyers suddenly collapsed. With tuition high and job prospects low, many concluded that legal education was a bad investment. This essay documents the challenges confronting legal education and advises law schools to meet those challenges by reducing the cost of a JD degree. But forces within the legal profession itself make it unnecessarily difficult to follow this advice.The first section of this essay briefly recounts the events of these years of crisis in legal education. That discussion suggests that, while significantly cutting the cost of legal education is the only effective way to deal with that crisis, some of the same forces that created the crisis in the first place undermine the ability of law schools to pursue such a strategy. Those forces include the national law school rankings and unnecessary requirements imposed by the organized bar. The next section describes ways in which the legal profession responded to the crisis in legal education. Much of the profession’s initial response, from the ABA to members of the Supreme Court to the President himself, was uninformed, politically motivated, and focused on passing judgment while also passing the buck. In fact, the response of the profession continues to make it more difficult for law schools to pursue a strategy of cutting costs. This essay argues that the factors that drove up the price of a legal education will be easier to tame if there is a concerted and constructive effort by the entire legal profession to facilitate the controlling of costs. The stakes are high, since the very future of the profession will turn on whether legal education is once again financially accessible to the American middle class. We either hang together or hang separately.
The Toxicologic Evaluation of Marcellomycin—An Antineoplastic Anthracycline Antibiotic

ABSTRACTDose-related toxicologic effects of marcellomycin, an anti-neoplastic anthracycline antibiotic, were observed in single-dose studies in mice iv (43.05–67.65 mg/m2) and dogs iv (41.0–90.2 mg/m2), and in multiple-dose studies in dogs iv (9.8–29.6 mg/m2 2X/week for 6 weeks) and rats sc (9 weekly doses at 26.2–72.2 mg/m2). Toxicity was primarily manifested by suppression of myeloid tissue, especially the erythrocytic and thrombocytic series, and lymphoid tissues. Initially a neutrophilic leuko-cytosis was observed in dogs and rats, which was considered possibly to be due to mobilization of the marginal and bone marrow neutrophil pools. In dogs, this was followed by a marked, dose-related neutropenia; and, in rats that died, there was marked depletion of bone marrow cells. Other toxicities observed included enteropathy, severe subcutaneous serofibrinous inflammatory edema and necrosis at injection sites, prostate and seminal vesicle atrophy, uterine hypoplasia, testicular and pancreatic degeneration, t...
Prediction of progressive damage and strength of IM7/977-3 composites using the Eigendeformation-based homogenization approach: Static loading:

This paper presents the results from the authors’ participation in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Damage Tolerance Design Principles Program. The Eigendeformation-based reduced order homogeniz...
Climate Warming and Seasonal Precipitation Change Interact to Limit Species Distribution Shifts across Western North America.

Using an extensive network of occurrence records for 293 plant species collected over the past 40 years across a climatically diverse geographic section of western North America, we find that plant species distributions were just as likely to shift upwards (i.e., towards higher elevations) as downward (i.e., towards lower elevations)–despite consistent warming across the study area. Although there was no clear directional response to climate warming across the entire study area, there was significant region- to region- variation in responses (i.e. from as many as 73% to as few as 32% of species shifting upward). To understand the factors that might be controlling region-specific distributional shifts of plant species, we explored the relationship between the direction of change in distribution limits and the nature of recent climate change. We found that the direction that distribution limits shifted was explained by an interaction between the rate of change in local summer temperatures and seasonal precipitation. Specifically, species were more likely to shift upward at their upper elevational limit when minimum temperatures increased and snowfall was unchanging or declined at slower rates (<0.5 mm/year). This suggests that both low temperature and water availability limit upward shifts at upper elevation limits. By contrast, species were more likely to shift upwards at their lower elevation limit when maximum temperatures increased, but also shifted upwards under conditions of cooling temperatures when precipitation decreased. This suggests increased water stress may drive upward shifts at lower elevation limits. Our results suggest that species’ elevational distribution shifts are not predictable by climate warming alone but depend on the interaction between seasonal temperature and precipitation change.
The Observation Record Length Necessary to Generate Robust Soil Moisture Percentiles

AbstractThe ability to use in situ soil moisture for large-scale soil moisture monitoring, model and satellite validation, and climate investigations is contingent on properly standardizing soil moisture observations. Percentiles are a useful method for homogenizing in situ soil moisture. However, very few stations have been continuously monitoring in situ soil moisture for 20 years or more. Therefore, one challenge in evaluating soil moisture is determining whether the period of record is sufficient to produce a stable distribution from which to generate percentiles. In this study daily in situ soil moisture observations, measured at three separate depths in the soil column at 15 stations in the United States and Canada, are used to determine the record length that is necessary to generate a stable soil moisture distribution. The Anderson–Darling test is implemented, both with and without a Bonferroni adjustment, to quantify the necessary record length. The authors evaluate how the necessary record lengt...
Sublethal effects of imidacloprid exposure on Spalangia endius, a pupal parasitoid of filth flies

Parasitoids and neonicotinoids can both suppress economically harmful filth fly populations. However, sublethal effects of neonicotinoids have not previously been studied for commonly used species of filth fly parasitoids. Exposure to an LC50 of imidacloprid decreased the ability of surviving individuals of the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to kill house fly pupae under some conditions. In an unburied-hosts experiment, significantly more flies and fewer parasitoids emerged in the LC50 imidacloprid treatment versus the LC10 or controls. Parasitoid sex ratio and longevity were not affected. However, in a buried-hosts experiment, parasitoid and fly emergence were independent of treatment. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) showed lower imidacloprid residues in or on parasitoids exposed to the media in which hosts were buried. Our findings suggest that substrate may reduce pesticides on biological control agents that burrow, making them more effective.
Programming Long-Term Health: Maternal and Fetal Nutrition and Diet Needs

Nutritional exposures during critical periods of development can result in structural and metabolic alterations that have lasting influences on mental and physical well-being. This notion is supported by numerous animal models, human epidemiological studies, and some human intervention trials. In this chapter, we focus on nutritional and dietary needs during the peripartum period. The body of text is divided into three time periods: (1) around the time of conception (periconceptional), (2) during gestation (prenatal), and (3) after delivery (postnatal). Each of these sections comprises a summary of evidence regarding nutritional needs during each developmental window and their relations to later life noncommunicable disease risks. The chapter closes with gaps in knowledge, suggestions for future research, and recommendations for practice.
Starting From Scratch: Making Worlds

A constructivist thesis of worldmaking is characterized and some misinterpretations of its claims are dispelled. An attempt is then made to reply to various common criticisms of the thesis. Although this defense of worldmaking takes into account general challenges to the thesis, the focus of the paper is narrower. It is aimed primarily at those critics who typically accept related pragmatic assumptions and themes, but still think it necessary to resist the idea of worldmaking.
Abstract 126: Massachusetts Health Reform Did Not Reduce 30-day Readmissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction among Massachusetts Residents Overall or among Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Introduction: After Massachusetts (MA) health reform, the percent of uninsured residents fell, particularly among minorities. Studies have not examined the effect of this policy change on 30-day readmission rates, and disparities in such rates, following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Hypothesis : 30-day readmission rates will decline in patients age 18-64 (affected by health reform) vs. patients age ≥ 65 (most unaffected) Methods: We used 2004-2009 MA discharge data. We compared all-cause 30-day readmission rates after a hospitalization for AMI overall, and among racial subgroups, for patients age 18-64 vs. age ≥ 65 in the period prior to and following reform. We used chi-square tests to compare unadjusted 30-day readmissions for AMI between groups. Treating patients age 18-64 as the intervention cohort, and those age ≥ 65 as the control cohort, we used logistic regression to conduct difference-in-difference analysis that estimates odds of readmission in the post-reform period vs. the pre-reform period in MA adjusted for secular changes. The model was also adjusted for age, gender, and medical comorbidity. To assess differences in white vs. minority disparities over time between the pre and post reform periods among patients age 18-64 vs. age ≥ 65, we used logistic regression to conduct difference-in-difference-in-differences analysis. Results: Among patients age 18-64, pre-reform and post reform readmission rates were 11.5% and 10.5%. Among patients age ≥ 65, they were 24.0% and 22.2%. The post-reform decrease among patients age 18-64 was not different than the decrease among patients age ≥ 65 (difference-in-difference adjusted OR (AOR) =1.0; 95% CI=0.9-1.2). Among patients age 18-64, blacks had higher readmission rates than whites pre and post-reform. Post-reform changes in readmission rates among non-elderly and elderly adults were not significantly different among whites, blacks, and Hispanics. There was no significant change in the presence of disparities between whites and blacks or between whites and Hispanics among non-elderly and elderly adults pre- and post-reform. Conclusions: A major coverage expansion in MA was not associated with a reduction in 30-day readmissions for AMI overall or a reduction in racial and ethnic disparities.
Real-Time Lot-Sizing Subject to Random Setup Times

Abstract A real-time, closed-loop setup Control algorithm for a manufacturing facility with due dates and significant setup time is proposed. The problem is formulated as a dynamic program and numerically analyzed for a simple example. Extensions for prototyping are briefly discussed.
Teresia K. Teaiwa: L(o)osing Tere

A member of the editorial board of the Journal of Pacific History from 2012–14, Teresia K. Teaiwa left this earth on 21 March 2017. Two subsequent commemorations on the island of O‘ahu, along with ...
Validity of automated measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction and volume using the Philips EPIQ system

Purpose To assess the efficiency and reproducibility of automated measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in comparison to manually traced biplane Simpson's method. Method This is a single-center prospective study. Apical four- and two-chamber views were acquired in patients in sinus rhythm. Two operators independently measured LV volumes and LVEF using biplane Simpson’s method. In addition, the image analysis software a2DQ on the Philips EPIQ system was applied to automatically assess the LV volumes and LVEF. Time spent on each analysis, using both methods, was documented. Concordance of echocardiographic measures was evaluated using intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Results Manual tracing and automated measurement of LV volumes and LVEF were performed in 184 patients with a mean age of 67.3 ± 17.3 years and BMI 28.0 ± 6.8 kg/m2. ICC and Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreements between manual and automated methods measuring LVEF, end-systolic, and end-diastolic volumes. The average analysis time was significantly less using the automated method than manual tracing (116 vs 217 seconds/patient, P < .0001). Conclusion Automated measurement using the novel image analysis software a2DQ on the Philips EPIQ system produced accurate, efficient, and reproducible assessment of LV volumes and LVEF compared with manual measurement.
T Follicular Helper Cells and B Cell Dysfunction in Aging and HIV-1 Infection

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a subset of CD4 T cells that provide critical signals to antigen-primed B cells in germinal centers to undergo proliferation, isotype switching, and somatic hypermutation to generate long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells during an immune response. The quantity and quality of Tfh cells therefore must be tightly controlled to prevent immune dysfunction in the form of autoimmunity and, on the other hand, immune deficiency. Both Tfh and B cell perturbations appear during HIV infection resulting in impaired antibody responses to vaccines such as seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine, also seen in biologic aging. Although many of the HIV-associated defects improve with antiretroviral therapy (ART), excess immune activation and antigen-specific B and T cell responses including Tfh function are still impaired in virologically controlled HIV-infected persons on ART. Interestingly, HIV infected individuals experience increased risk of age-associated pathologies. This review will discuss Tfh and B cell dysfunction in HIV infection and highlight the impact of chronic HIV infection and aging on Tfh-B cell interactions.
Application of the FOUR Score in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk Analysis.

Background The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) Score is a validated scale describing the essentials of a coma examination, including motor response, eye opening and eye movements, brainstem reflexes, and respiratory pattern. We incorporated the FOUR Score into the existing ICH Score and evaluated its accuracy of risk assessment in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Materials and Methods Consecutive patients admitted to our institution from 2009 to 2012 with spontaneous ICH were reviewed. The ICH Score was calculated using patient age, hemorrhage location, hemorrhage volume, evidence of intraventricular extension, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The FOUR Score was then incorporated into the ICH Score as a substitute for the GCS (ICH ScoreFS). The ability of the 2 scores to predict mortality at 1 month was then compared. Results In total, 274 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 73 years (interquartile range 60-82) and 138 (50.4%) were male. Overall mortality at 1 month was 28.8% (n = 79). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was .91 for the ICH Score and .89 for the ICH ScoreFS. For ICH Scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 1-month mortality was 4.2%, 29.9%, 62.5%, 95.0%, and 100%. In the ICH ScoreFS model, mortality was 10.7%, 26.5%, 64.5%, 88.9%, and 100% for scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Conclusions The ICH Score and the ICH ScoreFS predict 1-month mortality with comparable accuracy. As the FOUR Score provides additional clinical information regarding patient status, it may be a reasonable substitute for the GCS into the ICH Score.
Cytomegalovirus infection in heart transplantation: A single center experience

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a major complication after heart transplantation with varying prophylaxis strategies employed. We sought to determine the impact of valganciclovir (VGC) duration on the epidemiology of CMV infections after heart transplantation. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of CMV donor (D) or recipient (R) seropositive heart transplant recipients from 2005 to 2012 who completed VGC prophylaxis, ranging from 3 to 12 months according to serostatus and induction immunosuppression. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed. Results Among 159 heart transplant recipients during the study period, 130 (82%) were eligible for VGC prophylaxis. CMV D/R serostatus was as follows: 24% D+/R-, 30% D+/R+, and 29% D-/R+. 65% and 21% received basiliximab and thymoglobulin induction, respectively, followed by maintenance tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. Twenty-one (16%) recipients suffered CMV infection. There was no association with comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or mechanical assist devices, nor were there associations with rejection, treatments of rejection, or mortality. When VGC prophylaxis duration was stratified by ≤6 vs ≥12 months, time from heart transplantation to CMV infection was delayed (median 247 vs 452 days, P = .002) but there was no difference in days from VGC discontinuation to onset of CMV infection (median 72 vs 83 days, P = .31). CMV infection occurred most frequently within 6-16 weeks of VGC cessation, and 95% of infections occurred during the 6 months post-prophylaxis period. Conclusions Relative to ≤6 months, ≥12 months of VGC did not reduce incidence of CMV infection and only delayed time to onset. 95% of CMV infection occurs within 6 months after cessation of VGC.
Challenges to Societal Progress - Pull-back in Response to Disparities

There are empirical grounds for supporting unrestrained, globalized cooperative human measures as being beneficial to the international standard of living. A high extent of interconnectedness on multiple levels has already been realized in transportation systems, energy distribution channels, and communication networks. However, in periods of societal transition, as can be the case under rapid technology development, tensions may arise if disparities in wealth, power, or infrastructure access widen extensively. When subgroups of the citizenry that do not sufficiently partake in progress feel left behind or disenfranchised, their triggering of pull-back phenomena is very common. The pattern is repetitive: disparities not remedied on a lower scale impair integration on a larger scale. Equitable infrastructure maintenance and development, regionally, nationally, and globally, is a powerful policy tool for preempting pull-backs – especially if it is applied to communities with weak support or high inequality. The characteristics of the modern world demand far-reaching collaborations. Only universal interdependence, built from the roots up, can enable progress and social justice.
Continuous infusion of low-dose unfractionated heparin after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a preliminary study of cognitive outcomes

OBJECTIVECognitive dysfunction occurs in up to 70% of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) survivors. Low-dose intravenous heparin (LDIVH) infusion using the Maryland protocol was recently shown to reduce clinical vasospasm and vasospasm-related infarction. In this study, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate cognitive changes in aSAH patients treated with the Maryland LDIVH protocol compared with controls.METHODSA retrospective analysis of all patients treated for aSAH between July 2009 and April 2014 was conducted. Beginning in 2012, aSAH patients were treated with LDIVH in the postprocedural period. The MoCA was administered to all aSAH survivors prospectively during routine follow-up visits, at least 3 months after aSAH, by trained staff blinded to treatment status. Mean MoCA scores were compared between groups, and regression analyses were performed for relevant factors.RESULTSNo significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between groups. The mean Mo...
Conventional Specimen Preparation Techniques for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Cultured Cells

This chapter covers the conventional methods and considerations for preparing cultured cells for examination in the transmission electron microscope. Techniques for handling cells grown in liquid culture, as well as on substrates such as culture dishes or agar, are discussed. Directions are given on how to prepare the most commonly used buffers, fixatives, enrobement media, and embedding resins. These methods may be applied to most cultured organisms, from bacteria to mammalian cells.
Data-Driven Computational Methods: Parameter and Operator Estimations

Modern scientific computational methods are undergoing a transformative change; big data and statistical learning methods now have the potential to outperform the classical first-principles modeling paradigm. This book bridges this transition, connecting the theory of probability, stochastic processes, functional analysis, numerical analysis, and differential geometry. It describes two classes of computational methods to leverage data for modeling dynamical systems. The first is concerned with data fitting algorithms to estimate parameters in parametric models that are postulated on the basis of physical or dynamical laws. The second is on operator estimation, which uses the data to nonparametrically approximate the operator generated by the transition function of the underlying dynamical systems. This self-contained book is suitable for graduate studies in applied mathematics, statistics, and engineering. Carefully chosen elementary examples with supplementary MATLAB® codes and appendices covering the relevant prerequisite materials are provided, making it suitable for self-study.
Abstract 2694: Trajectory and Predictors of Functional Recovery after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: SAH frequently causes severe disability or death. Although there are extensive data on predictors of survival after SAH, there are few data on the trajectory and predictors of functional recovery after hospital discharge. Methods: We prospectively gathered data from October 2009 to April 2010 on consecutive patients with non-traumatic SAH who survived to hospital discharge. Functional outcomes based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score were calculated at discharge from chart review and at six months via a standardized telephone interview. Good functional status was defined as an mRS score of 0 to 2, and poor status as an mRS score of 3 to 6. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the trajectory of functional recovery from hospital discharge to 6 months, and ordinal logistic regression was used to identify clinical factors associated with recovery, defined as the difference between the 6-month and discharge mRS scores. Results: Sixty-six of 70 patients hospitalized with SAH during the study period had 6-month outcome data, and 53 (80%) survived to hospital discharge and were included in our analysis. Mean age was 54 (13) years, and 33 (62%) were women. Median (IQR) Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher score, and GCS at presentation were 2 (2-4), 3 (2-4), and 15 (9-15), respectively. SAH was due to aneurysms (79%), perimesencephalic hemorrhages (9%), and other causes (12%). Most patients were discharged home (70%). Median (IQR) mRS score was 3 (2-4) at discharge and 2 (1-2) at 6 months. Of the 29 patients with poor functional status at discharge, 16 (55%) improved to good functional status at 6 months (Figure). Patients had greater odds of improvement between their discharge and 6-month mRS scores if they were older (OR per decade 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.5), had hydrocephalus (OR 7.7, 95% CI 1.7-35.2), had higher Hunt-Hess grades (OR per point 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.5), or were discharged to home (OR 10.1, 95% CI 1.9-53.8), while higher Fisher scores were associated with less recovery (OR per point 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.7). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients with SAH who have disability at discharge have significant functional recovery at 6 months.
Abstract 34: Acetylation of GATA 4 Enhanced Direct Cardiac Reprogramming of Induced Cardiomyocytes

Objective: Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) by forced expression of cardiomyogenic factors, GMT (GATA4, Mef2c and Tbx5), has recently been demonstrated, suggesting a promising statregy for cardiac regeneration. However, the efficiency of direct reprogramming is usually relatively low and requires extensive epigenetic redesigning, although the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. Methods: In a recent study, we created a novel mutation in rat GATA 4 by replacing lysine residue with glutamine at position 299 i.e. (K299Q), to mimic constitutive acetylation and examined whether constitutive acetylation of GATA4, when compared with wild type GATA4, further enhance GMT-mediated direct reprogramming efficiency of induced cardiomyocytes in vitro and accordingly ventricular function after myocardial infarction in rat, in vivo . Results: We found that acetylated GATA 4 (K299Q), in the presence of Mef2c and Tbx5 upregulated cardiac-specific markers, suppressed fibroblast genes, in rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs) more efficiently when compared with Mef2c, Tbx5 plus wild type GATA4. FACS analyses revealed that G(K299Q) MT induced significantly more cardiomyocyte marker cardiac troponin T (cTnT) expression compared with GMT alone. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the K299Q substitution, resulting in enriched p300 occupancy at the GATA 4 promoter, induced acetylation of Histine 3, decreased HDAC expression. In addition, substitution augmented the increase in an acetylated form of GATA-4 and its DNA binding and transcriptional activity, compared with wildtype GATA 4. In agreement with upregulated cTNT gene expression in vitro , echocardiographic analysis demonstrate that the acetylated G(K299Q) MT vectors have improved effect in enhancing ventricular function than GMT vectors from postinfarct baselines as compared to negative control [G(K299Q) MT, 15.6% ± 2.7%; G(WT)MT, 12.8% ± 1.7%; GFP, -2.3% ± 1.1%]. Conclusions: Collectivily, these data indicate that acetylated GATA4 (K299Q) significantly increases reprogramming efficiency of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), in vitro and in vivo, and provide new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying cardiac regeneration.
Relationship between social media engagement and e-cigarette policy support.

Abstract Introduction Given increasing efforts to regulate e-cigarettes, it is important to understand factors associated with support for tobacco regulatory policies. We investigate such factors found in social media and hypothesize that greater online engagement with tobacco content would be associated with less support for e-cigarette regulatory policies. Methods We constructed social networks of Twitter users who tweet about tobacco and categorized them using a combination of social network and Twitter metrics. Twitter users were identified as representing leaders, followers or general users in online discussions of tobacco products, and invited to complete an online survey. Participants responded to questions about their engagement with tobacco-related content online, degree of support for e-cigarette regulations, exposure to tobacco marketing, e-cigarette use and other demographic information. We examined links between their reported engagement with tobacco-related content and support for e-cigarette regulatory policies using structural equation modelling. Results The analytic sample consisted of 470 participants. The conceptualized structural equation model had a good fit (χ2 (32) = 24.85, p = 0.09, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.03). Findings support our hypothesis: engagement with online tobacco content was negatively associated with support for e-cigarette policies, while controlling for e-cigarette use, tobacco marketing exposure, social media use frequency and demographic factors. Conclusions Findings suggest that our hypothesis was supported. Twitter users engaging with tobacco-related content and harboring negative attitudes toward e-cigarette regulatory policies could be an important audience segment to reach with tailored e-cigarette policy education messages.
Phenolic compounds in germinated cereal and pulse seeds: Classification, transformation, and metabolic process.

AbstractNatural phenolic compounds are rich in cereal and pulse seeds and their dietary functions tend to improve dramatically during germination. This article reviews recent research on the transf...
Targeted Cleavage and Polyadenylation of RNA by CRISPR-Cas13

Post-transcriptional cleavage and polyadenylation of messenger and long noncoding RNAs is coordinated by a supercomplex of ~20 individual proteins within the eukaryotic nucleus. Polyadenylation plays an essential role in controlling RNA transcript stability, nuclear export, and translation efficiency. More than half of all human RNA transcripts contain multiple polyadenylation signal sequences that can undergo alternative cleavage and polyadenylation during development and cellular differentiation. Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation is an important mechanism for the control of gene expression and defects in 3-prime end processing can give rise to myriad human diseases. Here we show that fusion of catalytically dead Cas13 to a single mammalian polyadenylation factor, Nudix hydrolase 21 (NUDT21), allows for site-specific CRISPR-Cas13-guided cleavage and polyadenylation of RNA in mammalian cells. This approach, which we named Postscriptr, can be utilized for the non-genomic manipulation of gene expression and may have potential future therapeutic applications for treating human RNA processing diseases.
Book Review: Painted in Mexico, 1700–1790 by Ilona Katzew, Jaime Cuadriello, Paula Mues Orts, Luisa Elena Alcalá, and Ronda Kasl

Painted in Mexico, 1700–1790: Pinxit Mexici , by Ilona Katzew, Jaime Cuadriello, Paula Mues Orts, Luisa Elena Alcala, and Ronda Kasl. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Mexico City: Fomento Cultural Banamex; New York: DelMonico Books/Prestel, 2017. 512 pp., 409 color and 14 b/w illus
Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Patient Assessment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Due to its aggressive nature and poor survival rate, incidence and mortality rates are almost equivalent, accounting for approximately 500,000 deaths annually. Since HCC is most often seen in patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, the incidence of HCC and the epidemiology of underlying liver diseases are closely linked. This Chapter provides a review of the literature regarding HCC including epidemiology; risk factors; infectious etiologies; pathology, microenvironment, and biomarkers; screening and diagnostic technologies; and treatment modalities. The information accumulated in this review will be used to generate the information entities (IEs) that will be used to populate the patient databases and Multi-Entity Bayesian Networks (MEBNs) required for generating Digital Patient Models (DPMs) to facilitate data mining and decision support. For any given patient with HCC, the DPM will need to be continuously updated to ensure appropriate guidance of the patient throughout the course of their disease.
The undefined figure: Instructional designers in the open educational resource (OER) movement in higher education

The paper aims to discuss the role of instructional designers (IDs) in supporting the Open Educational Resources (OER) movement in higher education. Due to the increasing cost of higher education, previous studies indicated the feasibility of adopting OER to lower students’ educational expenses and to equalize their learning opportunities (Murphy in Distance Education, 34(2), 201–217, 2013; Okamoto in Public Services Quarterly, 9(4), 267–283, 2013). However, many instructors and staff are facing various barriers to adopting OER, such as the lack of time, motivation, and knowledge of quality evaluation (Taylor and Taylor in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 21(2), 1–8, 2018). IDs often serve as learner analysts, instructional innovators, and leaders in educational technology to assist instructors in developing teaching materials. However, limited research studied their partnerships to overcome the barriers of creating and adopting OERs in universities and colleges. Hence, the paper will propose a viable solution to include IDs in overcoming OER adoption barriers and promoting the OER movement in higher education. The findings may contribute to the field of OER movement and pave the way for future research.
Utilizing Humor to Enhance Leadership Styles in Higher Education Administration

This article examined the literature addressing humor as a potential trait that may be adapted to enhance leadership styles in higher educational administration. The paper provides an overview of humor research from several disciplines of the effects on major leadership contemporary leadership theories on leadership styles and relate them to higher educational administration. and addresses the link between humor as additional important trait to leadership competencies. A theoretical rationale for the importance of humor as functional management communication, especially as it relates to leadership practices is developed. The review provides practical implications and strategic insights, and practical ways of incorporation of humor into leadership styles in higher education administration. Also presented are practical applications of humor on what may help leaders improve their leadership skills by learning to use humor personally and organizationally in management. his literature review concludes that humor is a useful, but delicate tool for leaders and suggestions and offers recommendations in its use.