cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunolocalization of a microsomal prostaglandin E synthase in rabbit kidney

PGE2, the major cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolite of arachidonic acid, is an important paracrine regulator of numerous tubular and vascular functions in the kidney. To date, COX activity has been considered the key step in prostaglandin synthesis and is well characterized. However, much less is known about the recently cloned microsomal PGE2 synthase (mPGES), the terminal enzyme of PGE2 synthesis, which converts COX-derived PGH2 to the biologically important PGE2. Present studies provide the detailed localization of mPGES protein in the rabbit kidney using immunohistochemistry. In the cortex, strong mPGES labeling was found in the macula densa (MD) and principal cells of the connecting segment and cortical collecting tubule but not in intercalated cells. The medulla was abundant in mPGES-positive structures, with heavy labeling in the collecting duct system. In descending thin limbs and renal medullary interstitial cells, mPGES expression was less intense, and it was below the limits of detection in the vasa recta. Expression of MD mPGES, similarly to COX-2, was greatly increased in response to low-salt diet and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibition by captopril. These findings suggest autocrine regulation of renal salt and water transport by PGE2 in descending thin limb and collecting tubule and a paracrine effect of PGE2 on the glomerular and medullary vasculature. Similar to other organs, mPGES in the kidney is an inducible enzyme and may be similarly regulated and acts in concert with COX-2.
The number of nuclei in basidiospores of 63 species of ectomycorrhizal Homobasidiomycetes

The production of even a limited number of heterokaryotic spores would be advantageous for establishing new individuals after long distance dispersal. While Suillus and Laccaria species are known to produce binucleate, heterokaryotic spores, this condition is poorly studied for most ectomycorrhizal fungi. To begin addressing this matter the number of nuclei in basidiospores was recorded from 142 sporocarps in 63 species and 20 genera of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. The mean proportion of binucleate basidiospores produced by sporocarps within a species ranged from 0.00 to 1.00, with most genera within a family showing similar patterns. Basidiospores from fungi in Amanita, Cortinariaceae and Laccaria were primarily binucleate but were likely still homokaryotic. Basidiospores from fungi in Boletaceae, Cantharellus, Rhizopogonaceae, Russulaceae, Thelephorales and Tricholoma were primarily uninucleate, but binucleate basidiospores were observed in many genera and in high levels in Boletus. Further research is needed to relate basidiospore nuclear number to reproductive potential in ectomycorrhizal species.
Effects of non-weight-bearing on the immature femoral head following ischemic osteonecrosis: an experimental investigation in immature pigs.

Background: Local non-weight-bearing as a treatment for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease remains controversial since a clear scientific basis for this treatment is lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of non-weight-bearing on decreasing the femoral head deformity following ischemic osteonecrosis and to investigate its biological effects. Methods: Unilateral femoral head ischemia was induced in sixteen piglets by placing a ligature around the femoral neck and transecting the ligamentum teres. Eight animals received a hind-limb amputation to prevent weight-bearing on the ischemic side (NWB group). The remaining eight piglets were allowed to bear weight as tolerated (WB group). The contralateral femoral heads of the WB group were used as normal controls. All animals were killed at eight weeks after induction of ischemia, when a deformity is expected in this model. Radiographic, microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT), and histomorphometric assessments were performed. Results: Radiographic and micro-CT assessments showed significantly greater flattening of the infarcted epiphysis in the WB group compared with the NWB group. The mean epiphyseal quotient (ratio of femoral head height to diameter) was significantly lower in the WB group (0.29 ± 0.06) compared with the NWB group (0.41 ± 0.06, p < 0.001). Histomorphometric analyses showed that the mean percentage revascularization of the infarcted epiphysis was significantly greater in the NWB group (95% ± 14%) compared with the WB group (34% ± 33%, p < 0.0004), suggesting that revascularization was more rapid in the NWB group. Both histomorphometric and micro-CT analyses of trabecular bone parameters showed significantly decreased bone volume and decreased trabecular number in the infarcted epiphysis of the NWB group compared with the WB group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Local non-weight-bearing decreased the deformity following ischemic femoral head osteonecrosis and increased the rates of revascularization and resorption of the infarcted epiphysis. Clinical Relevance: Local non-weight-bearing was mechanically protective but biologically suboptimal following ischemic osteonecrosis since it increased the imbalance of bone resorption and formation.
Morcellation and the Incidence of Occult Uterine Malignancy: A Dual-Institution Review.

Objectives To determine the incidence of unsuspected uterine sarcoma (UtSarc), other uterine malignancies, and potential malignancies at the time of hysterectomy or myomectomy using power morcellation. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of all women undergoing myomectomy or hysterectomy using power morcellation at 2 institutions between January 1, 2004, and May 31, 2015. The primary outcome was the incidence of uterine malignancy (UM). The predefined secondary outcome was the occurrence of other conditions associated with malignant behavior. For analysis, any UtSarc or endometrial cancer was categorized as a “uterine malignancy,” whereas other pathologies with cytologic atypia were categorized as “uterine premalignant disease” (UPM). All other pathological results were classified as “nonmalignant.” Results A total of 1004 women underwent hysterectomy or myomectomy using power morcellation during the studied period. Two women (1/502; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1/4144-1/139) were found to have UM pathology, 2 endometrial carcinomas and none with UtSarc (97.5% CI, 0-1/273). Six (1/167; 95% CI, 1/455-1/77) women were found to have UPM on final pathology: 2 atypical leiomyomas, 1 STUMP (smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential), and 3 endometrial atypical hyperplasias. Women with UM had uteri that weighed more than those with NM pathology (840 g vs 217.7 g, P = 0.028), and this trend was also seen with UM and UPM (435.0 g vs 217.2 g, P = 0.081). Women with UM and UPM were more likely to have a preoperative surgical indication of “uterine leiomyoma” compared with other benign etiologies (P Conclusions Among this cohort, all cases of unsuspected UM at the time of myomectomy or hysterectomy using power morcellation were found to be endometrial carcinoma. Unsuspected UM pathology had an incidence of 1 of 502. Factors associated with increased likelihood of UM or UPM were greater uterine weight and leiomyoma as the surgical indication.
SIFORM: shared informative factor models for integration of multi-platform bioinformatic data

MOTIVATION:High-dimensional omic data derived from different technological platforms have been extensively used to facilitate comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms and to determine personalized health treatments. Numerous studies have integrated multi-platform omic data; however, few have efficiently and simultaneously addressed the problems that arise from high dimensionality and complex correlations. RESULTS:We propose a statistical framework of shared informative factor models that can jointly analyze multi-platform omic data and explore their associations with a disease phenotype. The common disease-associated sample characteristics across different data types can be captured through the shared structure space, while the corresponding weights of genetic variables directly index the strengths of their association with the phenotype. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in terms of biomarker detection accuracy via comparisons with three popular regularized regression methods. We also apply the proposed method to The Cancer Genome Atlas lung adenocarcinoma dataset to jointly explore associations of mRNA expression and protein expression with smoking status. Many of the identified biomarkers belong to key pathways for lung tumorigenesis, some of which are known to show differential expression across smoking levels. We discover potential biomarkers that reveal different mechanisms of lung tumorigenesis between light smokers and heavy smokers. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION:R code to implement the new method can be downloaded from http://odin.mdacc.tmc.edu/jhhu/ CONTACT: jhu@mdanderson.org.
Mesozoic metamorphic and middle to late Tertiary magmatic events on Magdalena and Santa Margarita Islands, Baja California Sur, Mexico: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the Baja California continental borderland

An 40 Ar/ 39 Ar study of metamorphic and volcanic rocks from Magdalena and Santa Margarita Islands, Baja California Sur, Mexico, provides evidence for at least four events that can be related to the tectonic evolution of this portion of the southern Baja California continental borderland prior to, and during, the transition from a convergent to a transform plate boundary system. (1) Metamorphism of amphibolites and quartz-mica schist from upper plate units occurred in Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous time (∼158–138 Ma). Analogous metamorphic rocks from upper plate rocks in the Cedros–Vizcaino–San Benito terranes of west-central Baja California have not yet been identified. However, the Santa Margarita amphibolites are similar in age to amphibolite blocks from melange of the Puerto Nuevo terrane. (2) Metabasite and metapelitic float blocks associated with serpentinized ultramafic rocks were metamorphosed and subsequently cooled in Early Cretaceous time (129–115 Ma). Their corresponding 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age spectra do not show pronounced age gradients, and they are dissimilar in age, as compared to Late Jurassic (160–170 Ma) amphibolite and late Early Cretaceous (100–115 Ma) blueschist blocks from melange in the Cedros–San Benito terranes. (3) A 30.7 Ma lamprophyre dike that crosscuts normal faults within ophiolitic rocks indicates that synsubduction extension of the upper plate on Santa Margarita Island occurred prior to mid-Oligocene time. (4) Latest Miocene–early Pliocene age (5–6 Ma) adakites were erupted into serpentinite-matrix melange on Santa Margarita Island and indicate derivation by partial melting of a young subducted slab prior to collision of ancestral East Pacific Rise ridge segments. The discovery of adakites in the continental borderland of Baja California Sur provides additional constraints for the Neogene thermal evolution of this convergent margin.
Evolving an introductory programming course: Impacts of student self-empowerment, guided hands-on times, and self-directed training

In this paper, the impacts that the evolutionary development of an introductory programming course has on student achievements is described. For the introduction of pass/fail grading with student self-empowerment through tokens, a significant increase in performance for programming assignments, quizzes, and total semester scores can be found. Furthermore, increased times of instructor-guided hands-on programming exercises have a positive effect as well. Thirdly, a strong correlation between how well students perform on an automatically scored self-directed online programming training environment and their achievements in programming assignments, quizzes, and the entire semester can be observed. In turn, the inclusion of these types of environments can benefit students significantly while introducing only little overhead for course instructors. The active utilization of these additional hands-on training options represents a significant potential to increase the total semester performance and should be actively communicated to students.
Material Tensors and Pseudotensors of Weakly-Textured Polycrystals with Orientation Distribution Function Defined on the Orthogonal Group

A representation theorem on material tensors of weakly-textured polycrystals was recently established by Man and Huang, which delineates quantitatively the effect of crystallographic texture on the material tensor in question. Man and Huang’s theorem is based on the classical assumption in texture analysis that ODFs are defined on the rotation group SO(3), which strictly speaking makes it applicable only to polycrystals with crystallite symmetry defined by one of the 11 proper point groups. In this paper we let ODFs be defined on the orthogonal group O(3) and extend the representation theorem of Man and Huang to cover pseudotensors and polycrystals with crystallite symmetry defined by any of the 21 improper point groups. In SO(3)-based texture analysis, as a result of the inherent limitation imposed by the restricted definition of the ODF, each improper group of crystallite symmetry in question is routinely treated as if it were its peer proper group in the same Laue class. In light of the extended representation theorem, we examine the conditions under which this ad hoc practice will still work as far as effects of texture on material tensors and pseudotensors are concerned and the circumstances under which it won’t.
Periodic Complexes: Classification and Examples

Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) is an important diagnostic tool, frequently used to assess brain function and detect nonconvulsive seizures (NCS). The expansion of cEEG monitoring has led to the realization that rhythmic and periodic patterns are commonly seen in critically ill patients. Unfortunately, the significance and implications of many of these patterns remain poorly defined, making it difficult for the electroencephalographer to clearly communicate their meaning to the clinical team. For some of these patterns, there has been an association with increased risk of seizures and morbidity [1–4]. However, decision regarding if and how aggressively to treat these patterns remains controversial. Furthermore, the distinction between ictal and interictal can become blurred, making this decision even more challenging. Debate continues about whether these patterns intrinsically have potential for neuronal injury or whether they exist as an epiphenomenon of acute brain injury or encephalopathy [5]. A helpful conceptualization is to consider that each of these patterns lie on an ictal-interictal continuum (IIC), implying varying degrees of cortical irritability and need for treatment [6].
Enhanced Nitrate Reduction within a Constructed Wetland System: Nitrate Removal within Groundwater Flow

Within the Midwest United States, agricultural fields are drained by tile drainage systems. These systems are emplaced to enhance crop production, but they serve as a direct flowpath to surface streams, delivering excess nutrients to the streams. Identifying and establishing methods to reduce excess nutrient delivery to surface streams has become a priority. Surface processes within wetlands, both natural and constructed, have been shown to abate excess nutrients. This work explores the benefit associated with the subsurface flow of seepage from a wetland. Water level monitoring and geochemical analyses were used to ascertain the reduction of nitrate occurring in the subsurface following leakage from a wetland. Receiving only tile-drainage water, the wetland waters had a mean nitrate as nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration of 19.80 mg/L, which is a magnitude larger than the measured NO3-N concentration in the upgradient groundwater of 1.53 mg/L. As water travels in subsurface away from the wetland, the NO3-N concentrations decrease to 10.99 mg/L, a 44.5% reduction. The reduction occurs over a distance of 47 m, representing a 0.16 mg/L decrease in NO3-N per meter of travel distance.
Classical and Molecular Cytogenetic Abnormalities in 124 Pediatric Patients with Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia.

In childhood acute lymphocyte leukemia (ALL), cytogenetics plays an important role in diagnosis, allocation of treatment and prognosis. On base of the conventional cytogenetic analysis, molecular methods have inproved our ability to accurately and rapidly risk-stratify patient with childhood ALL in the last few years. Our aim was to assess the demography of cytogenetic abnormalities in childhood ALL. The study sample consisted of 124 newly diagnosed ALL patients younger than 16 years, who were diagnosed at the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Soochow University Children’s Hospital. The diagnosis and FAB subtypes of ALL was determined by Wright-Giemsa-stained bone marrow smears and cytochemicalstaining. Immunophenotyping of the bone marrow samples was performed by flow cytometry. Multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed to detect the 29 most common leukemia translocations for routine molecular diagnostic hematopathology practice, and complement the information gained from conventional cytogenetic analysis. Cytogenetic analysis was successful in 112 of 124 children with ALL. Sixty-eight (60%)of them had clonal chromosomal abnormalities. Numerical imbalances consisted of hyperdipoild(>47 chromosomes, 36 cases), hypodipoild(
The Association Between Atherosclerosis and Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Objective To assess the evidence of association between atherosclerosis and low back pain (LBP). Type Focused systematic review. Literature Survey PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE were searched for original research articles, not limited by language, from January 1, 1990, to October 31, 2016. Methodology Titles and then abstracts were identified using predefined search terms and excluded based on lack of relevancy. This was followed by full-text reviews. Two authors independently assessed methodological quality based on Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Synthesis A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the studies was low to moderate. There was significant heterogeneity across articles with respect to methodology. There was insufficient evidence to support an association between ischemia and low back pain. Conclusions The cause of LBP remains poorly understood. Better insight into how intervertebral disk changes relate to LBP is needed to guide future research. High-quality prospective studies are needed to answer the question of whether atherosclerosis is a risk factor for LBP. Level of Evidence II
Home literacy practices and preschool children’s emergent writing skills: An initial investigation

Abstract Home literacy practices are known to facilitate children’s oral language and reading skills. In this study, we extend previous work by examining the amount and types of writing-related home practices that parents engage in with their young preschool children. Next, we examined the relation between these home practices and the development of writing skills in 4- and 5-year old preschool children. Correlations between parental teaching activities and child independent activities and letter writing, spelling, and spontaneous writing were statistically significant. Results from the multi-level modeling indicated that parental teaching predicted a child’s letter writing, spelling, and spontaneous writing skills whereas child independent practices predicted letter writing and spontaneous writing but not spelling. Results of the current study clearly indicate that practices in the home include writing related activities and that these activities have an impact on children’s writing development. Implications of this research and directions for future research are discussed.
Evaluating Psychosocial Contributions to Chronic Pain Outcomes

The biopsychosocial model of pain dominates the scientific community's understanding of chronic pain. Indeed, the biopsychosocial approach describes pain and disability as a multidimensional, dynamic integration among physiological, psychological, and social factors that reciprocally influence one another. In this article, we review two categories of studies that evaluate the contributions of psychosocial factors to the experience of chronic pain. First, we consider general psychosocial variables including distress, trauma, and interpersonal factors. Additionally, we discuss pain-specific psychosocial variables including catastrophizing, expectations, and pain-related coping. Together, we present a diverse array of psychological, social, and contextual factors and highlight the need to consider their roles in the development, maintenance, and treatment of chronic pain conditions.
Mathematics and Optimal Form. By Stefan Hildebrandt and Anthony Tromba

(1988). Mathematics and Optimal Form. By Stefan Hildebrandt and Anthony Tromba. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 95, No. 6, pp. 569-575.
Learning from cultural engagements in community-based heritage scholarship

This article explores the intellectual and methodological values of cross-cultural and institutional engagements in community-based heritage initiatives, specifically a cultural exchange and univer...
On Distributing XML Repositories.

XML is increasingly used not only for data exchange but also to represent arbitrary data sources as virtual XML repositories. In many application scenarios, fragments of such a repository are distributed over the Web. However, design and query models for distributed XML data have not yet been studied in detail. In this paper, we introduce a distribution approach for a virtual XML repository. We present a fragmentation method and outline an allocation model for distributed XML fragments. We also discuss an efficient realization based on small, local index structures. The index structures encode global path information and provide for an efficient, local evaluation of the most common types of global queries.
Learning Consultation: An Ethnographic Analysis

Abstract An ethnographic study of the experiences of people learning to consult revealed three primary themes. Content analysis and subsequent structural corroboration of three data sets (consultation logs, individual papers articulating consultation guidelines, and the instructor’s written responses to sequential submissions of consultation logs) indicated participants’ (a) application of procedures, (b) awareness of professional perspectives, and (c) emphasis on attending to relationships. Participants were 8 graduate students in school psychology randomly selected from 32 volunteers over 4 years. This study is reported as a contribution to the empirical knowledge base of consultation and as a demonstration of how ethnographic research methods may be applied for extending scientific understandings in school psychology.
On the Mechanical Response of a Random Chopped Fiber Mat/Polymeric Resin Composite: Data and Model

This article presents data on the creep response of a polymericcomposite that is a candidate material for automotive applications. Theabove data established the basis for the mechanical characterization ofmaterial's response over a wide range of stresses and temperatures, aswell as under cyclic tensile loading. A constitutive model based uponfundamental principles of irreversible thermodynamics and continuummechanics was employed to encompass the abovementioned database and topredict the response under more complex inputs. These latter testsverified the validity of the model.
Management of malignant esophageal stricture with esophageal dilation and esophageal stents.

Esophageal dilation and stenting are time-honored in the palliative management of obstructing esophageal cancer. Guidewire-directed esophageal dilation is safe and effective, but the duration of symptomatic improvement may be relatively brief. Esophageal stenting is the preferred treatment for occlusion of tracheoesophageal fistulae, but has significant procedure-related morbidity and mortality. Experimental silicone-coated esophageal stents may represent a significant advance in the management of malignant esophageal obstruction.
On-orbit RSB calibration of SNPP VIIRS using the full illumination profile of solar diffuser

We describe a new variant of the on-orbit calibration methodology for the reflective solar bands (RSBs) of SNPP VIIRS using the entire illumination interval of the solar diffuser (SD), instead of the smaller “sweet spot” within the illumination interval used by the standard procedure, to compute the calibration coefficients, or F-factors. The instrument response from the full-illumination profile per orbit over the whole mission is directly used to carry out a step-by-step fitting and characterization analysis to arrive at the new F-factors. The new F-factor result is compared with that of standard, lunar-based calibration, and Earth-scattered light approach, expectedly demonstrating very good agreement for bands of longer wavelength but also discrepancies for Bands M1 to M4, the four shortest wavelength bands. The difference is attributed to the angular-dependence in the degradation of the SD that is manifested by the different approaches having different angles of incidence of light to the SD. Thus this result demonstrates the inherent systematic and worsening error for all SD-based on-orbit RSB calibration methodologies to mitigate. On its own, the full-profile approach achieves remarkable stability and robustness on the level of 0.1%, making it a very competitive or better alternative to the current methodology.
Influence of Patient Characteristics and Psychological Needs on Diabetes Mobile App Usability in Adults With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: Crossover Randomized Trial.

Background: More than 1100 diabetes mobile apps are available, but app usage by patients is low. App usability may be influenced by patient factors such as age, sex, and psychological needs. Objective: Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the purposes of this study were to (1) assess the effect of patient characteristics on app usability, and (2) determine whether patient characteristics and psychological needs (competence, autonomy, and connectivity)—important for motivation in diabetes care—are associated with app usability. Methods: Using a crossover randomized design, 92 adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes tested two Android apps (mySugr and OnTrack) for seven tasks including data entry, blood glucose (BG) reporting, and data sharing. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine associations between patient characteristics, psychological needs, user satisfaction, and user performance (task time, success, and accuracy). Results: Participants had a mean age of 54 (range 19-74) years, and were predominantly white (62%, 57/92), female (59%, 54/92), with type 2 diabetes (70%, 64/92), and had education beyond high school (67%, 61/92). Participants rated an overall user satisfaction score of 62 (SD 18), which is considered marginally acceptable. The satisfaction mean score for each app was 55 (SD 18) for mySugr and 68 (SD 15) for OnTrack. The mean task completion time for all seven tasks was 7 minutes, with a mean task success of 82% and an accuracy rate of 68%. Higher user satisfaction was observed for patients with less education (P=.04) and those reporting more competence (P=.02), autonomy (P=.006), or connectivity with a health care provider (P=.03). User performance was associated with age, sex, education, diabetes duration, and autonomy. Older patients required more time (95% CI 1.1-3.2) and had less successful task completion (95% CI 3.5-14.3%). Men needed more time (P=.01) and more technical support than women (P=.04). High school education or less was associated with lower task success (P=.003). Diabetes duration of ≥10 years was associated with lower task accuracy (P=.02). Patients who desired greater autonomy and were interested in learning their patterns of BG and carbohydrates had greater task success (P=.049). Conclusions: Diabetes app usability was associated with psychological needs that are important for motivation. To enhance patient motivation to use diabetes apps for self-management, clinicians should address competence, autonomy, and connectivity by teaching BG pattern recognition and lifestyle planning, customizing BG targets, and reviewing home-monitored data via email. App usability could be improved for older male users and those with less education and greater diabetes duration by tailoring app training and providing ongoing technical support.
Foster care for teenagers: Motivators, barriers, and strategies to overcome barriers

Abstract There has long been a shortage of homes for teenagers in foster care due in part to the reality that many people who foster choose not to foster teenagers. An understanding of factors that influence people's willingness to foster teenagers might support an increased supply of available homes for teenagers. Through this qualitative study, we explored why some foster parents are motivated to foster teenagers, what barriers prevent other foster parents from fostering teenagers, and whether there are effective strategies for foster parents to overcome barriers to fostering teenagers. The first author collected data through 19 semi-structured interviews with 16 foster parents and 6 foster care agency staff in Tennessee and used the constant-comparative method to analyze the data and allow grounded theory to emerge. Through this study, we found that people were motivated to foster teenagers by a combination of overarching motivators and teen-specific motivators. Overarching motivators, which influence people who do foster teenagers as well as those who do not, included making a difference and having a family. Financial compensation emerged as an overarching facilitator of fostering. Teen-specific motivators were both foster parent-oriented – ability, lifestyle, passion, preference, and satisfaction – and teenager-oriented – compassion and teenagers' progress. Key barriers to fostering teenagers were also foster parent-oriented – desire to raise children from a young age and preference – as well as teenager-oriented – bad experience, fear, and stereotyping. Strategies for foster parents to overcome barriers to fostering teenagers that emerged through this study were firsthand experience with teenagers in foster care, especially through respite care, and secondhand learning about things like trauma and youth's needs, and agencies are able to facilitate both types of strategies. These findings have implications for research, policy, and practice.
Developing and Validating a Pediatric Potentially Avoidable Transfer Quality Metric.

This study aimed to evaluate a quality metric that identifies pediatric potentially avoidable transfers from diagnosis and procedure codes. Using physician medical record review as the gold standar...
Niacin for treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): novel use for an old drug?

Abstract Niacin has been widely used clinically for over half a century for dyslipidemia. Recent new evidence indicates that niacin may be useful in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its sequential complications including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis. There is an urgent unmet need for a cost-effective solution for this public health problem affecting nearly one in three adults. Niacin inhibits and reverses hepatic steatosis and inflammation in animals and liver cell cultures. It prevents liver fibrosis in animals and decreases collagen in cultured human stellate cells. Its mechanism of action is by oxidative stress reduction and inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 and other possible targets. An uncontrolled clinical trial in 39 hypertriglyceridemic patients with steatosis showed reduction of liver fat by 47% and reductions in liver enzymes and C-reactive protein from the baseline when treated with niacin extended-release for 6 months These hypothesis-generating data indicate a novel repurposed use of niacin for NAFLD. Niacin beneficially affects NAFLD at 3 major stages directly and, by affecting steatosis, it indirectly decreases the cascade effect on inflammation and fibrosis. It offers the advantage potentially of combination with other drugs in development for evolving synergistically more intense and broader efficacy. In select patients, it may benefit frequently associated atherogenic dyslipidemia. A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind parallel trial (with niacin alone or in combination with another drug in development) to assess the safety and efficacy of niacin on steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis/NAFLD is warranted.
From circle to 3-sphere

Coarse-to-fine framework for 3-dimensional head pose estimation.Parameterize instance factors in a generative mannar.Uniform embedding in a novel direction alleviates manifold degradation.Outperform state-of-the-arts on multiple challenging databases. Three-dimensional head pose estimation from a single 2D image is a challenging task with extensive applications. Existing approaches lack the capability to deal with multiple pose-related and -unrelated factors in a uniform way. Most of them can provide only one-dimensional yaw estimation and suffer from limited representation ability for out-of-sample testing inputs. These drawbacks lead to limited performance when extensive variations exist on faces in-the-wild. To address these problems, we propose a coarse-to-fine pose estimation framework, where the unit circle and 3-sphere are employed to model the manifold topology on the coarse and fine layer respectively. It can uniformly factorize multiple factors in an instance parametric subspace, where novel inputs can be synthesized under a generative framework. Moreover, our approach can effectively avoid the manifold degradation problem when 3D pose estimation is performed. The results on both experimental and in-the-wild databases demonstrate the validity and superior performance of our approach compared with the state-of-the-arts.
Antegrade Dissection Re-Entry After Subintimal Wiring of an Occluded Vessel From Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Abstract Percutaneous management of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is challenging, with high procedural failure rates. We present a case of successful revascularization using antegrade dissection re-entry after failing to wire the true lumen in occlusive SCAD. Utilizing such alternative strategies may improve procedural success in this poorly understood patient subset. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
Addressing Diversity in PTSD Treatment: Clinical Considerations and Guidance for the Treatment of PTSD in LGBTQ Populations.

Trauma exposure is widespread but is especially common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. LGBTQ individuals also experience higher rates of discrimination, victimization, and minority stress which can complicate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment but also represent independent intervention targets. In this review, we highlight existing evidence-based practices, current limitations, and provide recommendations for care in the absence of established guidelines for treatment PTSD among LGBTQ patients. Trauma-focused therapies (e.g., CPT, PE) and medications (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs) have shown benefit for people with PTSD. However, evaluations of these interventions have failed to examine the role of LGBTQ identities in recovery from trauma, and existing PTSD treatments do not account for ongoing threat to safety or the pervasive minority stress experienced by LGBTQ patients. In addition, many LGBTQ patients report negative experiences with healthcare, necessitating increased education and cultural awareness on the part of clinicians to provide patient-centered care and, potentially, corrective mental health treatment experiences. Providers should routinely assess trauma exposure, PTSD, and minority stress among LGBTQ patients. We provide assessment and screening recommendations, outline current evidence-based treatments, and suggest strategies for integrating existing treatments to treat PTSD among LGBTQ patients.
Pourquoi n'observe-t-on pas de baisse des ventes après une promotion ? Un panaraoma d'explications concurrentes

Dans les semaines qui suivent une promotion, on n’observe que rarement une baisse des ventes. Les auteurs resument et critiquent huit explications possible de ce phenomene surprenant. Certaines explications sont fondees sur le rythme d’achat des consommateurs, d’autres sur le comportement des concurrents et des distributeurs, d’autres enfin sur les effets positifs engendres par les activites promotionnelles. Les auteurs en tirent des implications pour la gestion des promotions, et pour la recherche.
A cultura da desigualdade e os ofícios do laço

O artigo parte de dois textos freudianos, O futuro de uma ilusao e Totem e tabu, para estabelecer associacoes entre as proposicoes centrais de Freud nesses textos e os efeitos da desigualdade na subjetividade e nos processos de exclusao social atualmente. Por sua vez, o texto busca oferecer perspectivas teoricas proprias da psicanalise para conceitualizar algo do que acontece nos chamados oficios do laco, considerando-os como o trabalho que profissionais e pessoas de diferentes areas disciplinares realizam no tecido social com efeitos na subjetividade. (AU) Abstract The culture of inequality and social bond occupations In this paper, two texts written by Freud, The future of an illusion and Totem and taboo constitute the basis to establish associations between the central ideas put forward by Freud in those texts and the effects of inequality on subjectivity and on the processes of social exclusion nowadays. Furthermore, the author also presents theoretical perspectives within psychoanalysis to conceptualize something that happens in the so-called oficios do laco (social bond occupations), these representing the work carried out by professionals and people from different fields in the social fabric and having effects upon subjectivity. (AU) Keywords: Social inequality; Psychoanalytic knowledge; What undermines culture; Social bond occupations Resumen La cultura de la desigualdad y los oficios del lazo El articulo parte de dos textos freudianos El porvenir de una ilusion y Totem y tabu para establecer asociaciones entre los plantos centrales de Freud en dichos textos y los efectos de la desigualdad en la subjetividad y en los procesos de exclusion social en la actualidad. A su vez el texto apunta a ofrecer perspectivas teoricas propias del psicoanalisis para conceptualizar algo de lo que acontece en los llamados oficios del lazo, considerandolos como el trabajo que profesionales y personas de distintos campos disciplinares realizan en el tejido social con efectos en la subjetividad. (AU) Palabras clave: Desigualdad social; Saberes del psicoanalisis; Lo que ataca la cultura; Los oficios de lazo social
Transonic Magnetic Slim Accretion Disks and kilo-Hertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries

The inner regions of accretion disks of weakly magnetized neutron stars are affected by general relativity and stellar magnetic fields. Even for field strengths sufficiently small so that there is no well-defined magnetosphere surrounding the neutron star, there is still a region in the disk where magnetic field stress plays an important dynamical role. We construct magnetic slim disk models appropriate for neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) which incorporate both effects (GR and magnetic fields). The B-field--disk interaction is treated in a phenomenological manner, allowing for both closed and open field configurations. We show that even for surface magnetic fields as weak as $10^7-10^8$ G, the sonic point of the accretion flow can be significantly modified from the pure GR value (near $6M$). We derive an approximate analytical expression for the sonic radius and show that it mainly depends on the surface field strength $B_0$ and mass accretion rate $\dot M$ through the ratio $b^2\propto B_0^2/\dot M$. The sonic radius thus obtained approaches the usual Alfven radius for high $b^2$, and asymptotes to $6M$ as $b^2\to 0$. We therefore suggest that for neutron stars in LMXBs, the distinction between the disk sonic radius and the magnetospheric radius may not exist. We apply our theoretical results to the kHz QPOs observed in the X-ray fluxes of LMXBs. If these QPOs are associated with the orbital frequency at the inner radius of the disk, then the QPO frequencies and their correlation with mass accretion rate can provide useful constraints on the nature of the magnetic field -- disk interactions as well as on the structure of magnetic fields in LMXBs. Current observational data may suggest that the magnetic fields in LMXBs have complex topology.
A Multibeam Tapered Cylindrical Luneburg Lens

We present a cylindrical, multibeam, modified Luneburg lens antenna. The proposed antenna features low-profile, good impedance match, high gain, and wide angle scanning capability. We tapered the thickness of a dielectric disk along its radius to achieve the required refractive index profile of the lens in a nondispersive fashion. Seventeen dielectric-filled waveguide feeds, arranged circumferentially around the focal arc of the lens, provide almost invariant azimuthal scanning in the range of ±60° from broadside direction. The lens and the interior of the waveguide feeds are made of the same dielectric material, offering a smooth impedance transition from the feed antenna to the lens. A prototype of the antenna was fabricated and characterized. Measured reflection coefficient is better than −10 dB from 14 to 16 GHz. The isolations between feeds remain higher than 24 dB over the entire operational frequency range. We measured a maximum antenna gain of 20.5 dB with only 1.5 dB gain loss near the maximum 60° scanning angle. The proposed high-gain, multibeam antenna design can be used in a wide range of applications including automotive and surveillance radars.
Coagulation and inflammation.

The protein C anticoagulant pathway is critical for controlling microvascular thrombosis and is initiated when thrombin binds to thrombomodulin (TM) on the surface of the endothelium. Protein C activation is augmented by an endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR). EPCR is shed from the vasculature by inflammatory mediators and thrombin. EPCR binds to activated neutrophils in a process that involves proteinase 3 and Mac-1 and appears to inhibit leukocyte extravasation. EPCR can undergo translocation from the plasma membrane to the nucleus where it re-directs gene expression. During translocation, EPCR can carry activated protein C (APC) to the nucleus, possibly accounting for the ability of APC to modulate inflammatory mediator responses in the endothelium. TNF-α and other inflammatory mediators can down-regulate EPCR and TM. Inhibition of protein C pathway function increases cytokine elaboration, endothelial cell injury and leukocyte extravasation in response to endotoxin and infusion of APC reverses t...
Managing Anxiety from Cancer (MAC): A pilot randomized controlled trial of an anxiety intervention for older adults with cancer and their caregivers

Objective Anxiety is common in older adults with cancer (OACs) and their caregivers and is associated with poor outcomes including worse physical symptoms, poor treatment adherence and response, and longer hospitalizations. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, adherence, and preliminary efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention for OACs and their caregivers. Method Patients with active cancer age 65 years and older and their caregivers were randomized to Managing Anxiety from Cancer (MAC), a seven-session CBT-based psychotherapy intervention delivered over the telephone or usual care. Patients and caregivers completed the intervention separately with licensed social workers. Self-report measures of anxiety, depression, and quality of life were administered after randomization and following intervention completion. Analyses were conducted separately for patients and caregivers and at the dyad level. Hierarchical Linear Modeling accounted for the within-dyad intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) by random intercepts associated with the dyads. Results Twenty-nine dyads were randomized; 28 (96.6%) patients and 26 (89.7%) caregivers completed all study procedures. Of dyads randomized to MAC, 85.7% (n = 12) of patients and caregivers completed all seven sessions. Most patients (≥50%) and over 80% of caregivers rated the overall intervention and intervention components as “moderately” to “very” helpful. MAC was associated with a greater reduction in anxiety among dyads than usual care, the effect of MAC was greater in caregivers than in patients, and improvement in patient anxiety was associated with the reduction in caregiver anxiety. However, these results did not reach statistical significance. Significance of results This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of MAC and suggests strategies for improving acceptability, with a focus on adherence. Furthermore, these results indicate that MAC is promising for the reduction of anxiety in OAC–caregiver dyads and may be particularly beneficial for OAC caregivers. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of MAC.
Subdural hemorrhage in a cohort with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis: Application to abusive head trauma.

Abstract Background Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) is a postulated cause of subdural hemorrhage (SDH) that is hypothesized to mimic abusive head trauma (AHT). Minimal data exists directly investigating this relationship. Objectives To evaluate the frequency of SDH in children with CSVT, identify factors associated with CSVT and SDH, and to assess if any association supports the hypothesis that CSVT causes SDH. Participants and setting The International Pediatric Stroke Study (IPSS) prospectively collects data on subjects birth to 19 years of age with intracranial thrombosis. Methods IPSS subjects with CSVT and SDH were compared to those with CSVT and no SDH. For subjects with CSVT and SDH, neuroimaging reports further characterized the findings. In any case with no known risk factors for SDH, neuroimaging studies were reviewed by a pediatric neuroradiologist. Results Of 216 subjects with CSVT, 20 (9.3%) had SDH. Those with SDH (median age 0.3 years) were younger than those without SDH (median age 4.2 years), p Conclusions SDH in the setting of CSVT is typically identified in children with independent risk factors for SDH. This study does not support the hypothesis that CSVT causes SDH.
Point vortex dynamics in three-dimensional ageostrophic balanced flows

Geophysical turbulent flows, characterized by rapid rotation, quantified by small Rossby number, and stable stratification, often self-organize into a collection of coherent vortices, referred to as a vortex gas. The lowest order asymptotic expansion in Rossby number is quasigeostrophy which has purely horizontal velocities and cyclone-anticylone antisymmetry. Ageostrophic effects are important components of many geophysical flows and, as such, these phenomena are not well-modeled by quasigeostrophy. The next order correction in Rossby number, which includes ageostrohpic affects, is so-called balanced dynamics. Balanced dynamics includes ageostrophic vertical velocity and breaks the geostrophic cyclone-anticylone antisymmetry. Point vortex solutions are well known in 2d and quasigeostrophic dynamics and are useful for studying the vortex gas regime of geophysical turbulence. Here we find point vortex solutions in fully three dimensional continuously stratified $QG^{+1}$ dynamics, a particular formulation of balanced dynamics. Simulations of $QG^{+1}$ point vortices show several interesting features not captured by quasigeostrophic point vortices including significant vertical transport on long timescales. The ageostrophic component of $QG^{+1}$ point vortex dynamics renders them useful in modeling flows where quasigeostrophy filters out important physical processes.