cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the hemostatic effects of fresh whole blood, stored whole blood, and components after open heart surgery in children

In a double-blind study, we compared the postoperative (post-op) blood loss in 161 children undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass whose immediate post-op transfusion requirements were met with either very fresh whole blood (VFWB), 24- to 48-hour-old whole blood or reconstituted whole blood (packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma [FFP], and platelets). Assignment to treatment groups was not strictly random but dependent, in part, on the ability of families to provide directed donors for fresh blood. The three patient groups were comparable with respect to patient age, pre-op coagulation profiles (bleeding time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, fibrin split products, fibrinogen, and platelet aggregation tests) difficulty of operative procedures and time spent on CPB. Mean 24-hour post-op blood loss in milliliters per kilogram was 50.9 +/- 9.3 in the VFWB group, 44.8 +/- 6.0 in the 24- to 48-hour-old group, and 74.2 +/- 8.9 in the reconstituted group (p = .03). When blood loss was compared in the 93 children less than 2 years of age, mean blood loss was 52.3 +/- 10.8 in the VFWB group, 51.7 +/- 7.4 in the 24- to 48-hour-old group, and 96.2 +/- 10.7 in the reconstituted group (P = .001). For subjects who had received reconstituted blood, 30-minute and 3-hour post-op platelet aggregation responses to adenosine diphosphate (10 mumol/L) and 30-minute aggregation response to epinephrine (2.5 mumol/L) were more depressed than in the VFWB and 24- to 48-hour groups (P less than .001, P = .005, and P = .02). Comparison of other post-op coagulation tests could not explain the increased blood loss in the reconstituted group. We conclude that the transfusion of less than 48 hours old whole blood is associated with significantly less post-op blood loss than the transfusion of packed red blood cells, FFP, and platelets in children under 2 years old who underwent complex cardiac surgery. The blood losses associated with the transfusion of VFWB and 24- to 48-hour-old blood are comparable and may be, in part, due to better functioning platelets.
The Importance of Serum Binding and the Blood Brain Barrier in the Development of Acute Bilirubin Neurotoxicity

Several recent studies have created considerable confusion about the cause and prevention of kernicterus.1,2,3 In 1982, Levine et al1 demonstrated in rats that “kernicterus” could be produced by osmotic opening of the blood brain barrier. Using a technique described by Rapoport et al,4 a hypertonic solution of arabinose was infused into one carotid artery, producing a temporary osmotically induced disruption of the blood brain barrier in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Subsequent intravenous infusion of bilirubin resulted in yellow staining of the affected region. Levine proposed that movement of albumin bound bilirubin across a disrupted barrier was the principal cause of kernicterus, and presented this as “an alternative hypothesis” to the “free bilirubin theory.” However, he provided no evidence that the yellow staining produced brain damage, either by histological examination or behavioral consequences. These observations, together with other studies which failed to confirm any predictive indices for kernicterus in premature infants,2,3 prompted Lucey5 to editorialize that current concepts of the pathogenesis of kernicterus should be abandoned in search for a “more attractive hypothesis.”
Genomic Selection in Wheat

Abstract Genomic prediction models have been trained for a large number of economically important traits in wheat, however to date there has only been one study that has reported realized gain from genomic selection. There have been several investigations that have modeled genotype by environment interaction and epistatic interactions. Genomic selection for traits that are difficult or expensive to evaluate such as milling and baking quality is especially promising. The development of climate resilient wheat varieties is of increasing importance and genomic selection is a valuable new tool that breeders can use to more efficiently identify genotypes that tolerate environmental extremes. Genomic selection provides the breeder with the opportunity to impose selection on any quantitative trait of interest at any stage of the breeding cycle, giving more power and freedom to today’s breeders.
Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries in Patients 18 Years of Age and Younger

The purpose of this chapter is to present the senior author’s (GCF) experience treating PCL-based multiple ligament knee injuries in patients 18 years of age and younger. This chapter will discuss patient age at the time of surgery, mechanisms of injury, surgical techniques, considerations in patients with open growth plates, a review of the literature, and the author’s surgical outcomes in PCL-based multiple knee ligament reconstructions in patients 18 years of age and younger.
EUS-guided gallbladder drainage with a lumen-apposing metal stent versus endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for the treatment of acute cholecystitis (with videos).

Background and Aims There is an evolving role for EUS-guided transmural gallbladder (GB) drainage. Endoscopic transpapillary GB drainage is a well-established, nonoperative treatment for acute cholecystitis. We compared the outcomes of 78 cases of EUS-guided versus transpapillary GB drainage at a single, U.S.-based, high-volume endoscopy center. Methods This was a retrospective analysis performed from May 2013 to January 2018, identified from a database of nonoperative patients with acute cholecystitis. Both electrocautery-enhanced and nonelectrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents were used. For transpapillary drainage, guidewire access was obtained and then a transpapillary 7F × 15-cm double-pigtail plastic stent was placed. Results In patients who had successful transpapillary or transmural drainage, demographics data were similar. Technical success was observed in 39 of 40 patients (97.5%) who underwent first attempt at EUS-guided drainage versus 32 of 38 patients (84.2%) for first-attempt transpapillary drainage (adjusted odds ratio, 9.83; 95% confidence interval, .93-103.86). Clinical success was significantly higher with EUS drainage in 38 of 40 patients (95.0%) versus transpapillary drainage in 29 of 38 patients (76.3%) (adjusted odds ratio, 7.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-38.52). Recurrent cholecystitis was lower in the EUS-guided drainage group (2.6% vs 18.8%, respectively; P = .023) on univariate analysis but only trended to significance in a multiple regression model. Duration of follow-up, reintervention rates, hospital length of stay, and overall adverse event rates were similar between groups. Conclusions EUS-guided GB drainage results in a higher clinical success rate compared with transpapillary drainage and may be associated with a lower recurrence rate of cholecystitis. However, transpapillary drainage should be considered as the first-line treatment for patients who are surgical candidates but require temporizing measures or require an ERCP for alternative reasons.
Meteorological radar signal processing

Modern meteorological Doppler radar has applications related to measurements of precipitation intensities and kinematics in convective storms, widespread stratiform precipitating systems, winter frontal and cyclonic stormsystems, and other cloud systems. In addition, air velocities may be measured in the optically clear atmosphere from backscatter due to refractive index perturbations or from dispersed chaff tracers. In order to derive the maximum scientific benefit from Doppler radar it is necessary to process vast quantities of data in real time at rates in excess of 1 MHz. Fortunately, current integrated circuit technology permits such processing. However, this ability to process data rapidly also produces data rapidly and results in large data sets which must be stored and processed further for outputs of maximum meteorological significance to be derived. Even when data compression ratios of 100:1 are achieved in real time, modern meteorological Doppler radar can produce 9-track, 732-m (2400-ft) tapes at the rate of two per hour. This paper describes the chain of processing from real-time processing and acquisition, to displaying processed single and multiple Doppler radar data. The paper also describes briefly the meteorological significance of the work.
Integrated sustainability assessment for a bioenergy system: A system dynamics model of switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol production in the U.S. midwest

Abstract: Cellulosic biofuels produced from energy crops offer significant advantages over first generation biofuels. In order to understand and predict the sustainability performance of cellulosic biofuel development, this study builds a system dynamics model for a biofuel system producing cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass under different scenarios. The model can simulate the dynamic behaviors of the cellulosic biofuel system and quantify its environmental, economic, and social impacts. The projected results indicate that cellulosic ethanol production is economically viable based on advanced bioconversion technologies and can provide significant benefits to the environment, such as greenhouse gas reductions and water use savings. The cellulosic ethanol industry also can make significant contributions to the bioeconomy and social benefits. This study finds that the target of cellulosic biofuels (16 billion gallons by 2022) mandated by the revised Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) program cannot be achieved within land-use change constraints, but may be achieved if there is no limitation on the conversion of pasture or cropland to energy crop land. Moreover, nitrate leaching and biodiversity change should be considered when expanding energy crops on marginal land, pasture, and cropland. This model is applicable for other complex bioenergy systems as a sustainability assessment tool and can provide comprehensive insights for stakeholders and policy makers to establish and implement favorable strategies for stimulating cellulosic biofuel development.
Characterizing Lightning-Strike Hazard to Airport Facilities: A Case Study of Baltimore Washington International Airport

As projections indicate, the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) vulnerability to lightning strikes is growing due to increased severity and frequency of convective storms. Lightning hazards pose risks to personnel safety and may cause power outages, and therefore they can impact reliability and performance of the airport’s facilities if they are not appropriately fortified. Although lightning-flash data with high temporal and spatial accuracy is available for the continental U.S., measuring airport facility lightning-induced outages remains challenging. Studies have shown that lightning-induced outages have been under-represented in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) official outage classification data [1], [2]. In our study we try to understand the relationship between lighting strikes and airport facility outages, and to determine the sensitivity thresholds of lightning hazards from a spatial and temporal perspective. We use data from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) as well as the FAA facility outages. Although the Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport is used as a case study, our proposed method can easily be expanded to other airports in the NAS. By applying a spatial-temporal distribution analysis of lightning strikes and facility outages from 2009 to 2017, we propose a new classification of lightning-induced outages using machine learning (ML) algorithms. Our results show that approximately 20% of BWI outages have been misclassified, thus corroborating the tendency of underestimation of lighting impact to the NAS. Furthermore, we identify lightning hazard thresholds that help estimate the sensitivity of the airport’s facilities to lightning-strike peak intensity and multiplicity. The study findings can be used to assist facility managers in creating better mitigation strategies through adequate lightning protection, grounding, bonding, and shielding (LPGBS), while maintaining reliable and safe operations in the NAS.
Evaluating the Outcomes of Quality Improvement Initiatives of a Multi-Disciplinary Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Task Force.

Background: HIT is an antibody-mediated adverse effect of heparin associated with a high frequency of thromboembolic complications (TEC). Objectives/Setting: To assess institutional progress in 6 quality improvement HIT outcome metrics. In 2001, a multi-disciplinary HIT Task Force was formed at the Charleston Area Medical Center, a tertiary-care medical center. Quality initiatives included a reduction of heparin exposures, development of standardized guidelines/order sets for diagnosis/treatment accessible via a HIT intranet website and the establishment of an IRB-approved HIT patient registry to be used for research and quality improvement (Blood.102:750a, 2003). Six outcome measures were selected by the HIT Task Force to evaluate progress in the quality initiatives (Table). Methods: Retrospective review of registry data of patients treated for clinical HIT at this institution 1999–2004. Yrs. 1999–2002 were considered baseline during the era of increasing HIT awareness/Task Force establishment, 2003–2004 were considered the initial reassessment period. Patients: 436 patients, mean age 67 yrs (26–92), female 215/436 (49%), admission type: cardiac surgery 294/436 (67%), non-cardiac surgery 38/436 (9%), non-surgical 104/436 (24%). Results: The frequency of new thrombotic/new ischemic events after HIT diagnosis, frequency of amputation and warfarin initiation upon adequate platelet recovery showed statistically significant improvement (Table). The frequency of presentation with thrombosis was trending toward a significant change. All cause mortality and frequency of patients receiving treatment with a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) or heparinoid therapy within one day of “HIT suspected” improved, but not at a statistically significant level. Conclusions: The results of these analyses establish the value of a multi-disciplinary HIT Task Force in leading hospital-based improvements for strategically-defined outcomes relevant to HIT patient care. Specifically, these efforts resulted in a statistically significant 87% relative reduction in amputations, a 46% relative reduction in the development of a new TEC/new ischemic event after HIT diagnosis and a 10% relative increase in instituting warfarin therapy upon platelet count recovery. A statistically non-significant 21% relative reduction in all-cause mortality, an 18% relative reduction in HIT patients presenting with a TEC and a 4% relative increase in the frequency of instituting a DTI within 1 day of first suspecting HIT were also observed. These findings are being used by the HIT Task Force to guide their activities for 2005.
Influence of Epidemiologic and Clinical Trends on Risk Stratification and Net Clinical Benefit of Long-term Oral Anticoagulation for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

ABSTRACT The prevalence of atrial fibrillation without rheumatic valvular disease, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), increases with age and independently predicts future stroke and systemic e...
Genomes and secretomes of Ascomycota fungi reveal diverse functions in plant biomass decomposition and pathogenesis

The dominant fungi in arid grasslands and shrublands are members of the Ascomycota phylum. Ascomycota fungi are important drivers in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. These fungi play roles in soil stability, plant biomass decomposition, and endophytic interactions with plants. They may also form symbiotic associations with biocrust components or be latent saprotrophs or pathogens that live on plant tissues. However, their functional potential in arid soils, where organic matter, nutrients and water are very low or only periodically available, is poorly characterized. Five Ascomycota fungi were isolated from different soil crust microhabitats and rhizosphere soils around the native bunchgrass Pleuraphis jamesii in an arid grassland near Moab, UT, USA. Putative genera were Coniochaeta, isolated from lichen biocrust, Embellisia from cyanobacteria biocrust, Chaetomium from below lichen biocrust, Phoma from a moss microhabitat, and Aspergillus from the soil. The fungi were grown in replicate cultures on different carbon sources (chitin, native bunchgrass or pine wood) relevant to plant biomass and soil carbon sources. Secretomes produced by the fungi on each substrate were characterized. Results demonstrate that these fungi likely interact with primary producers (biocrust or plants) by secreting a wide range of proteins that facilitate symbiotic associations. Each of the fungal isolates secreted enzymes that degrade plant biomass, small secreted effector proteins, and proteins involved in either beneficial plant interactions or virulence. Aspergillus and Phoma expressed more plant biomass degrading enzymes when grown in grass- and pine-containing cultures than in chitin. Coniochaeta and Embellisia expressed similar numbers of these enzymes under all conditions, while Chaetomium secreted more of these enzymes in grass-containing cultures. This study of Ascomycota genomes and secretomes provides important insights about the lifestyles and the roles that Ascomycota fungi likely play in arid grassland, ecosystems. However, the exact nature of those interactions, whether any or all of the isolates are true endophytes, latent saprotrophs or opportunistic phytopathogens, will be the topic of future studies.
Rolling the Dice: Modeling First- and Second-Order Reactions via Collision Theory Simulations in an Undergraduate Laboratory

The principles of chemical kinetics comprise one of the core topics that appear throughout chemistry. Standard kinetics lessons typically cover reaction rates and relative rates, rate laws, integra...
The effects of concentric and eccentric training in murine models of dysferlin-associated muscular dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION Dysferlin-deficient murine muscle sustains severe damage after repeated eccentric contractions. METHODS With a robotic dynamometer, we studied the response of dysferlin-sufficient and dysferlin-deficient mice to 12 weeks of concentrically or eccentrically biased contractions. We also studied whether concentric contractions before or after eccentric contractions reduced muscle damage in dysferlin-deficient mice. RESULTS After 12 weeks of concentric training, there was no net gain in contractile force in dysferlin-sufficient or dysferlin-deficient mice, whereas eccentric training produced a net gain in force in both mouse strains. However, eccentric training induced more muscle damage in dysferlin-deficient vs dysferlin-sufficient mice. Although concentric training produced minimal muscle damage in dysferlin-deficient mice, it still led to a prominent increase in centrally nucleated fibers. Previous exposure to concentric contractions conferred slight protection on dysferlin-deficient muscle against damage from subsequent injurious eccentric contractions. DISCUSSION Concentric contractions may help dysferlin-deficient muscle derive the benefits of exercise without inducing damage.
Integrating Motivational Interviewing into Pulmonary Healthcare

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a communication style intended to help people make difficult behavior changes. Individuals with pulmonary disease often struggle with making healthy changes (e.g., quitting smoking, increasing exercise, and treatment adherence). MI, which emphasizes nonjudgmental and empathic communication with open-ended inquiries, can help patients clarify and resolve their ambivalence about making desired behavior changes. All healthcare professionals who work with pulmonary patients, including physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and others, may find MI useful and more effective than traditional prescriptive communication or lecturing, which may lead to defensiveness on the part of the patient. This chapter will introduce the history and basic principles of MI, with a description of specific strategies such as open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries. Collaborating with a patient on how to effect change will be discussed, as will be typical roadblocks. Research on MI efficacy will be reviewed, including for pulmonary disease-relevant behaviors such as smoking, physical exercise, treatment compliance, and risk behaviors. Examples of implementing MI in individual and group formats for pulmonary patients will be presented, with the aim of encouraging healthcare professionals to integrate MI principles in their care.
Understanding the Gap in Self-Reported Offending by Race: a Meta-Analysis

Self-report data is valuable to criminologists for its potential at revealing offending patterns free from biases affecting official data obtained by police. An issue of great interest is whether racial differences in crime rates evident in official data persist when analyzing self-report offending data. In their landmark study, Elliott and Ageton (1980) argued that early self-report crime studies failed to find evidence of race differences primarily due to measurement limitations. They argued previous studies focused on minor offenses, contained item overlap and did not precisely measure high frequency offending, all of which obscured differences by race. After addressing these limitations through the design of the National Youth Survey, Elliott and Ageton reported evidence more consistent with official crime data, though differences were somewhat contingent on offense type and scaling method employed. Lessons of the Elliott and Ageton study placed an important imprint on the study of race and self-reported offending. Yet, a core question persists: Are Elliott and Ageton’s conclusions regarding the race-crime relationship confirmed by nearly four decades of research? To address this question, the current study uses meta-analysis methods to synthesize research since 1980 that estimates the association between self-reported measures of racial identification and self-reported offending. Findings suggest that while there is evidence of a statistically significant association between some measures of race and self-reported crime, nearly all measured relationships are extremely weak, generally approaching zero.
The Rhythm is Gonna Get You: Social Rhythms, Sleep, Depressive, and Anxiety Symptoms.

Abstract Background Social rhythmicity refers to the regularity with which one engages in social and lifestyle activities. Social rhythms have important implications for health and well-being including the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. Existing research on social rhythmicity has focused on the link with bipolar disorder and, to a lesser extent, with depression. However, it is unclear how social rhythms are tied to anxiety disorders or what might mediate this association. Sleep shows potential as an underlying link, particularly sleep behaviors and sleep thoughts. Methods The current study used a sample of 3,284 adults to examine the role of sleep thoughts and behaviors as mediators of the association between social rhythms and mental health symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results Parallel mediation models revealed that greater social rhythmicity is directly associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, and that healthier sleep behaviors and thoughts mediate this association. Limitations This study used cross-sectional data and was limited in racial and ethnic diversity. Conclusions The findings highlight the critical role lifestyle regularity plays in depressive and anxious symptom pathology in a large sample of adults across the lifespan. Results also highlight the complementary roles for both sleep behaviors and thoughts by demonstrating their concurrent links between regularity and mental health. Future work is needed to further disentangle the association of these constructs with mental health.
Fundamentals of Astrophysics

This concise textbook, designed specifically for a one-semester course in astrophysics, introduces astrophysical concepts to undergraduate science and engineering students with a background in college-level, calculus-based physics. The text is organized into five parts covering: stellar properties; stellar structure and evolution; the interstellar medium and star/planet formation; the Milky Way and other galaxies; and cosmology. Structured around short easily digestible chapters, instructors have flexibility to adjust their course's emphasis as it suits them. Exposition drawn from the author's decade of teaching his course guides students toward a basic but quantitative understanding, with 'quick questions' to spur practice in basic computations, together with more challenging multi-part exercises at the end of each chapter. Advanced concepts like the quantum nature of energy and radiation are developed as needed. The text's approach and level bridge the wide gap between introductory astronomy texts for non-science majors and advanced undergraduate texts for astrophysics majors.
Risk Factors for Failed Nonsurgical Treatment Resulting in Surgery on Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis

Purpose The thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is the second most common site of osteoarthritis in the hand, yet reported symptoms and ultimate treatment decisions are not simply a function of radiographic appearance. This study aimed to determine the patient- and/or disease-related factors associated with patients undergoing surgical treatment of thumb CMC arthritis. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,994 patients with thumb CMC arthritis treated at 2 institutions between February 2015 and November 2018. Patient demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records to characterize treatment modalities before hand surgeon evaluation, mental and physical comorbidities, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System assessments. After bivariate analysis , a multivariable logistic regression model evaluated factors associated with undergoing thumb CMC surgery. Results This cohort was predominately female (70%) and white (91%), mean age at first appointment, 62 ± 10 years. A total of 170 patients underwent surgery for thumb CMC arthritis (9%) at a median of 114 days (interquartile range, 27–328) after the first visit. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression scores correlated with Pain Interference and Physical Function scores. A history of diagnosed depression or anxiety was associated with less perceived Physical Function at presentation. However, only prior contralateral thumb CMC surgery, younger patient age, and treating institution were associated with undergoing surgery in regression modeling. Conclusions Pain and functional limitations associated with thumb CMC arthritis are influenced by mental health comorbidities, but these factors do not predict surgical treatment. Instead, patients’ prior surgical experience and surgeon attitudes toward thumb CMC arthritis appear to have a strong influence on the odds of patients undergoing surgery for thumb CMC arthritis. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.
Rotator Cuff Tendons

Rotator cuff tendinopathy represents a painful shoulder condition that encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders. The condition can be acute or chronic and may involve various degrees of tears from partial thickness to full thickness to complete. Risk factors can be intrinsic or extrinsic to the tendon. Intrinsic factors include tendon vascularity, tendon size, collagen composition, and tensile strength. Extrinsic factors relate to abnormal biomechanics such as scapular dyskinesis, which may lead to premature elevation of the humeral head and impingement syndrome, ligamentous laxity and excessive range of motion, poor muscular stability of the rotator cuff, or anatomic factors such as a hypertrophied coracoacromial ligament or a down-sloping acromion (Seitz et al. Clin Biomech 26:1–12, 2011). The diagnosis is typically clinical and can be supported with ultrasound or advanced imaging studies, such as MRI with or without arthrogram. Treatment initially focuses on reducing any inflammation in the acute setting and on rehabilitation strategies to correct extrinsic abnormalities such as poor scapular mechanics and improving rotator cuff strength. Intrinsic tendon pathology may be addressed with percutaneous techniques such as fenestration or platelet-rich plasma, but if symptoms persist, surgical repair of the tendon itself or of extrinsic factors like subacromial decompression for impingement is performed. Generally speaking, outcomes from operative and non-operative treatment are relatively equal.
Racial differences in geriatric assessment (GA) impairments, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and body composition in older adults with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies: Results from the Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) registry.

6537Background: Despite recent cancer advances, racial disparities in outcomes persist. Our objective was to examine racial differences in GA impairments, HRQOL, and body composition metrics as a n...
Practice and Research on the Combination of Interior Design and Smart Home in Internet Information Age

As a new home distribution model derived from the Internet era, smart home takes network technology as the carrier, which not only improves people’s living comfort, but also improves the safety of life. The emergence of smart home makes modem indoor design have a new design concept, its material environment and spiritual culture are constantly changing. In the Internet era, interior design should break through the traditional design concept and fully integrate with various new technologies, thus producing a new working mode. In view of this, this paper fully analyzes the practical path of the integration of interior design and smart home, so as to provide a reference for optimizing interior design and improving home environment.
Orbital and Adnexal Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, noncaseating granulomatous inflammatory disorder. It can affect any race, gender, and age, with a peak incidence between the ages of 20 and 39 years. Sarcoidosis has multifactorial pathogenesis. Among siblings, all first-degree and second-degree relatives of sarcoidosis patients, the risk of developing disease increased fivefold. The genetic basis of sarcoidosis involves the class 2 HLA genes. HLA-DRB1*0401 is associated with an increased risk of ocular involvement. The presence of mycobacterial DNA in PCR studies and the mycobacterial catalase-peroxidase protein in mass spectrometry of sarcoidosis tissue suggested the role of mycobacterial organisms in pathogenesis. Additionally, serum amyloid A (SAA) was expressed higher in sarcoidosis and induced granulomatous lung inflammation in animal models. Eye and skin involvements are the most common extrathoracic presentations. Ocular manifestations are anterior uveitis (73 %), vitritis (62 %), retinal and choroidal lesions (34 %), and ocular adnexal and orbital lesions (10 %). In the orbital and ocular adnexa, the lacrimal gland (42 %) is most commonly affected, followed by the orbital tissue (39 %), eyelid (12 %), and lacrimal sac (8 %). Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiologic findings. On imaging, homogenous or lobular enlargement of the lacrimal gland or diffuse homogenous involvement of orbital tissue is observed. Noncaseating inflammation is the main histopathological finding. Management involves observation in asymptomatic patients, while corticosteroid and steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents are the mainstay of treatment. Periocular corticosteroid and antitumor necrosis factor alpha agent infliximab have been used with some success.
Direct and Indirect Measures of Learning Outcomes in an MSW Program: What Do We Actually Measure?

This study offers a unique perspective on assessment of learning by comparing results from direct and indirect measures in a social work graduate program across two campuses of a single university. The findings suggest that students’ perceptions of learning are not necessarily reflective of content and applied skills mastery. Perception of learning appears to be a separate construct from actual learning, and it may reflect the students’ satisfaction with their experiences in the program, rather than their attainment of content and skills. Thus, students’ satisfaction with their educational experience deserves the attention of educators and administrators who are interested in improving program quality.
Bumetanide Use in the Management of Oliguric Preterm Infants with Acute Kidney Injury–A Single Center Experience

Background: Oliguric preterm infants with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) have significantly higher mortality compared with infants with non-oliguric AKI. The role of loop diuretics in the management of oliguric preterm infants with AKI has not been investigated. We report our center’s experience with bumetanide infusion in extremely low birth weight infants with oliguric AKI. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of oliguric preterm infants with AKI treated with bumetanide infusion between July 2009 and August 2011. Results: Acute renal failure and/or AKI with oliguria was diagnosed in 31 (27.6%) very low birth weight infants. In nearly two-thirds oliguria responded to crystalloid and/or intravenous furosemide. 11 patients who remained oliguric were treated with bumetanide. Urinary output was established and maintained in all patients within 2 to 20 hours of starting bumetanide infusion, although their serum creatinine levels took 3 to 17 days to decrease below 1 mg/dl. Variable rates of bumetanide infusion were administered for an average of 7.7 days (1 to 17 days). Five infants survived and had normal renal function at discharge. The two non-survivors died of unrelated causes six days and two months after having recovered from oliguria. Conclusion: In the absence of renal replacement therapy, bumetanide infusion may serve as an important adjuvant to fluid management in preterm infants by converting oliguric AKI into non-oliguric AKI.
Experience of FK506 immune suppression in pediatric heart transplantation: a study of long-term adverse effects.

Background : Immunosuppression with FK506 for pediatric heart transplantation has been used in this institution since 1989. This study reports the unique toxicity of this macrolide agent in these heart transplant recipients. Methods : Between October 1989 and August 1994, 49 patients were managed with FK506, which was the initial primary agent in 38 patients. The remaining 11 were switched from cyclosporine A because of persistent rejection or side effects from the cyclosporine A or prednisone. Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records. Results : Mean duration of follow-up was 29 months (median 37 months, range 3 to 96 months). Twenty-nine patients (59%) were receiving FK506 alone ; 20 patients (41%) were receiving additional treatment with azathioprine, prednisone, or methotrexate. There were seven deaths. Twenty patients (41%) had elevated creatinine levels between 1 to 2 mg/dl. Five patients (11%) had levels greater than 2 mg/dl. Two patients with preexisting renal dysfunction while receiving cyclosporine A had chronic renal failure 32 and 36 months after switching to FK506 and required kidney transplantation. Hyperkalemia was a persistent finding in 26 patients. Of eight patients with hypertension, four had preexisting disease while receiving cyclosporine A ; two had impaired renal function, and two were receiving prednisone. Severe anemia developed in eight patients (16%), two of whom had parvovirus. Moderate anemia developed in 21 patients (43%). Eosinophilia occurred in 19 patients ; 11 of 19 patients (58%) had allergic symptoms. There was one case of diabetes mellitus. There were 12 significant infections with four infection-related deaths. Lymphoproliferative disease was noted in three patients, two of whom survived. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including chronic diarrhea, recurrent abdominal pain, and reflux esophagitis were present in 10 patients. Conclusions : In our experience, anemia, renal toxicity, hyperkalemia, chronic diarrhea, and allergies were the most common adverse effects of FK506. Unlike cyclosporine A, hypertension, gingival hyperplasia, coarsening of facial features, and hirsutism were not seen.
Ethnically diverse students' knowledge structures in first-semester organic chemistry

Chemistry courses remain a challenge for many undergraduate students. In particular, first-semester organic chemistry has been labeled as a gatekeeper with high attrition rates, especially among students of color. Our study examines a key factor related to conceptual understanding in science and predictive of course outcomes—knowledge structures. Previous research on knowledge structures has focused on differences between experts and novices. Given the increasing ethnic diversity of college classrooms and research indicating unique differences in certain higher order cognitive processes associated cultural practices and ethnicity, it is important to investigate whether similar patterns exist with respect to knowledge structures. Our study utilized concept maps to measure knowledge structures. Two separate analyses where performed to determine whether or not ethnically diverse students' organize their knowledge of organic chemistry content in structurally different ways. The first analysis utilized concept map proposition scoring to examine the influence of prior science achievement and ethnicity on knowledge structures. The second analysis examined holistic map structures to determine whether or not ethnically diverse students show qualitatively distinct structures overall. Results show significant mean differences on concept map proposition scores related to both prior science achievement and ethnic group membership. However, examination of holistic structures revealed that students' qualitative holistic structures did not vary by ethnic group membership. Taken together, our findings suggest that variation in students' knowledge structures are related to prior science achievement across ethnic groups, not qualitative differences in the ways ethnically diverse students' structure knowledge. Implications for teaching and learning in organic chemistry are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 51: 741–758, 2014
Exact results for corner contributions to the entanglement entropy and Rényi entropies of free bosons and fermions in 3d

Abstract In the presence of a sharp corner in the boundary of the entanglement region, the entanglement entropy (EE) and Renyi entropies for 3d CFTs have a logarithmic term whose coefficient, the corner function, is scheme-independent. In the limit where the corner becomes smooth, the corner function vanishes quadratically with coefficient σ for the EE and σ n for the Renyi entropies. For a free real scalar and a free Dirac fermion, we evaluate analytically the integral expressions of Casini, Huerta, and Leitao to derive exact results for σ and σ n for all n = 2 , 3 , … . The results for σ agree with a recent universality conjecture of Bueno, Myers, and Witczak-Krempa that σ / C T = π 2 / 24 in all 3d CFTs, where C T is the central charge. For the Renyi entropies, the ratios σ n / C T do not indicate similar universality. However, in the limit n → ∞ , the asymptotic values satisfy a simple relationship and equal 1 / ( 4 π 2 ) times the asymptotic values of the free energy of free scalars/fermions on the n-covered 3-sphere.
Influence of water and sediment supply on the long-term evolution of alluvial fans and deltas: Statistical characterization of basin-filling sedimentation patterns

[1] The temporal and spatial variability of sedimentation, resulting from sediment storage and release and the lateral mobility of sediment transporting flows, imparts fundamental patterns into the stratigraphic record. Recent studies show that paleoenvironmental (allogenic) signals preserved in stratigraphy may be contaminated by internally generated (autogenic) sedimentation patterns; however, it is unclear how the magnitude of autogenic dynamics is related to allogenic forcings. Utilizing statistical methods, we quantify basin-filling trends in three laboratory experiments where input water and sediment flux were varied. We use the compensation index and compensation time scale to estimate the strength of compensation, defined here as the tendency to fill topographic lows faster than would result from random deposit stacking, and to estimate the time scales over which autogenic processes operate. In the experiments, topography of channelized deltas formed by noncohesive sediment was monitored in a basin experiencing temporally and spatially uniform relative subsidence. Each experiment resulted in construction of a stratigraphic package in excess of 25 channel depths thick. We find that compensation strength in the experiments is not influenced by absolute magnitudes of water and sediment flux but does increase as a function of the ratio of water to sediment flux. A compensation time scale, defined as the maximum depth of a system's channels divided by the long-term deposition rate, accurately defines the maximum time scale at which autogenic dynamics occur in all experiments. When applied to field-scale systems, we predict that autogenic dynamics occur out to time scales between 5 and 150 kyr.
Relative Succinctness of Representations of Languages and Separation of Complexity Classes

In this paper we study the relative succinctness of different representations of deterministic polynomial time languages and investigate what can and cannot be formally verified about these representations. We also show that the relative succinctness of different representations of languages is directly related to the separation of the corresponding complexity classes; for example, PTIME ≠ NPTIME if and only if the relative succinctness of representing languages in PTIME by deterministic and nondeterministic clocked polynomial time machines is not recursively bounded, which happens if and only if the relative succinctness of these representations is not linearly bounded.
Basic Contours of the Global Normative Synthesis

Out of discordant, often strident, conflicting voices that emanate from the East and the West, a new composition is slowly arising. The blended tune has a limited register, on many issues divergent voices will continue to be heard, and it is sure to be accorded divergent interpretations in various parts of the world and over time. Yet the new tune suffices to provide stronger support for global institution building than was available in recent decades. The metaphorical “voices” I refer to are expressions of basic normative positions, worldviews, and ideologies. They concern values that define what is considered legitimate,1 a major foundation of social order, and good government.
High efficiency microwave lens

The electrical design of a high efficiency, constrained variable index of refraction, two point correction lens is described. The lens produces a 2.1 degrees azimuth beamwidth by a 2.7 degrees elevation beamwidth and is capable of being scanned more than 25 degrees either side of the lens axis. The variable index of refraction loading structures are discussed and the methods used to reduce lens surface reflections are described. Secondary radiation patterns and aperture efficiency of the experimental lens are presented for various angles of scan over a broadband.
In vivo cell biology: following the zebrafish trend

A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cell behavior is essential if we want to comprehend how an organism develops and functions. Changes in cellular processes, including the orientation of cell divisions, cell shape, polarity, differentiation and migration, account for tissue rearrangements during development and homeostasis. The in vivo relevance of in vitro findings is being constantly debated and the need for in vivo systems becoming more pressing. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) might become the vertebrate system of choice for a wide spectrum of biological questions that need to be investigated in vivo at cellular and subcellular resolutions. Here, we discuss some recent studies in which the zebrafish was used to gain insight into cell-biological mechanisms. Although this model system has been predominantly appreciated for its amenability to forward genetics, current advances in imaging technology and an increasing number of transgenic lines are bringing it closer to its full potential.
Running experience with the DELPHI pixel detector: reflections on design characteristics and system features

Abstract The DELPHI experiment at LEP is the first collider experiment with hybrid pixel detectors contributing to its track reconstruction. The pixel detector has been installed in 1996 with the final DELPHI Silicon Tracker, an assembly of microstrip, ministrip and pixel detectors optimized for the operation at LEP2. It was completed for the physics period in 1997. The pixel detector comprises 1.2 million detector cells of 330 × 330 μm 2 . 152 detector modules are arranged in 4 inclined cone-shape layers which cover polar angles from 10° to 25°. Experience on the system's features has been gained during three years of operation. The article intends to provide information on positive and critical aspects which might be useful for designers of pixel detector systems in forthcoming experiments.
Temporal filters for isolating steady photospheric flows

A variety of temporal filters are tested on artificial data with 60 and 75 s sampling intervals to determine their accuracy in separating the nearly-steady photospheric flows from the p-mode oscillations in Doppler velocity data. Longer temporal averages are better at reducing the residual signal due to p-modes but they introduce additional errors from the rotation of the supergranule pattern across the solar disk. Unweighted filters (boxcar averages) leave residual r.m.s. errors of about 6 m s−1 from the p-modes after 60 min of averaging. Weighted filters, with nearly Gaussian shapes, leave similar residual errors after only 20 min of averaging and introduce smaller errors from the rotation of the supergranule pattern. The best filters found are weighted filters that use data separated by 150 or 120 s so that the p-modes are sampled at opposite phases. These filters achieve an optimum error level after about 20 min, with the r.m.s. errors due to the p-mode oscillations and the rotation of the supergranules both at a level of only 1.5 m s−1.