cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with the Use of Dietary Supplements among African-American Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of dietary supplements among African-American adults. One hundred and ninety-five (195) African-American adults ages 18 and older completed a self-administered survey that consisted of questions regarding use of supplements, perceived knowledge of supplements, perceived dietary adequacy, sources of information for nutrition and supplement knowledge and demographic information. The overall prevalence of vitamin and mineral use was 63%, the most popular being a multivitamin supplement. The prevalence of nonvitamin and non-mineral supplement use was 41%, the most popular being green tea. Perceived knowledge was a significant factor associated with use; the likelihood of using dietary supplements was significantly higher among those who were perceived to be knowledgeable compared to those who were not knowledgeable. After adjusting for age, sex, income and perceived dietary adequacy, perceived knowledge and education were significantly associated with the use of all types of dietary supplements. The primary sources of supplement knowledge of the participants came from healthcare professionals and the media. Nutrition educators should pay particular attention to the current information sources of the dietary supplements used by their clients.
Vulcanizate Properties from a New Perfluoroelastomer

Abstract Vulcanizate properties of a new high performance elastomer, a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro (methyl vinyl ether) and a small amount of a third perfluoromonomer containing an active cure site, are described. The material may be compounded with various reinforcing agents (black exhibits the greatest reinforcing power) or as a gum stock. Perfluorinated oils such as Krytox § may be added as plasticizers. The vulcanizates show outstanding chemical resistance to many alkalies, acids, oxidizing agents and reducing agents; outstanding resistance to air oxidation at temperatures in the 400 ° – 550 ° F range; low volume swell in many organic fluids such as ketones, esters, nitriles, hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents, including the proprietary hydraulic fluids and jet fuels; and good high temperature (to 550 ° F) compression set.
Impact of Mechanical Harvesting and Optical Berry Sorting on Grape and Wine Composition

The impact of mechanical harvesting, optical berry sorting, and their possible synergistic effect on grape and wine composition was investigated. Pinot noir grapes from the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area were harvested by hand, by a standard bow-rod mechanical harvester, or by a mechanical harvester with a Selectiv’ Process on-board. For each harvest method, half of the grapes were unsorted and half were optically sorted at the winery. The grapes, wines at bottling, and wines after three months of bottle aging were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for color expression and phenolic and aroma profiling. The machine-harvested grapes had higher levels of β-damascenone, linalool, β-myrcene, and α-terpinene, potentially caused by glycosidic hydrolysis triggered by berry damage during harvest or from induced synthesis as a wounding response. In general, differences in wine composition attributable to harvest method were diminished or eliminated by optical sorting. The machine harvester with the Selectiv’ Process on-board led to wines with the most phenolics, although these differences may have been decreased or eliminated had the grapes been crushed before fermentation as the wines were produced by whole-berry fermentation. Descriptive sensory analysis conducted on wines three months after bottling determined that the wines made from hand-harvested fruit had significantly greater tropical fruit aroma, while wines made from optically sorted treatments had less hue saturation. With only two significant differences among the 18 aroma, taste, and mouthfeel attributes tested, it was concluded that all treatments led to wines of similar character.
Lead halides join the top optoelectronic league

In any solar cell that begins to approach the theoretical limits of performance, an intense internal luminescence photon gas must be present (see the figure) ( 1 ). On page [1430][1] of this is sue, Pazos-Outon et al. ( 2 ) provide evidence for such an internal photon gas in lead halide photovoltaic cells. These materials thus have properties similar to those of GaAs and have the potential to be among the top-performing solar cell materials. This is scientifically remarkable, because these compounds are the first high-quality halide semiconductors. The materials show promise for photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), laser refrigeration, thermophotonics, and a host of other major optoelectronic applications. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaf1168
Functional Properties of Enzymatically Phosphorylated Soybean Proteins

The effects of enzymatic phosphorylation on the functional properties of soybean proteins were investigated. As previously reported, among soybean proteins, 11S acidic subunits (AS) have been phosphorylated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase). Upon the phosphorylation (2 mol/mol 11S AS), the Ca2+-sensitivity of 11S AS decreased and the emulsion properties were improved. On the other hand, the foaming properties and pH-solubility were not so affected. In the interaction with Ca2+, 11S AS were found to become resistant to Ca2+ upon phosphorylation, as shown by UV spectra. Further relationships between the functionality and protein conformation are discussed.
A 3D high resolution ex vivo white matter atlas of the common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) based on diffusion tensor imaging.

Modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain atlases are high quality 3-D volumes with specific structures labeled in the volume. Atlases are essential in providing a common space for interpretation of results across studies, for anatomical education, and providing quantitative image-based navigation. Extensive work has been devoted to atlas construction for humans, macaque, and several non-primate species (e.g., rat). One notable gap in the literature is the common squirrel monkey – for which the primary published atlases date from the 1960’s. The common squirrel monkey has been used extensively as surrogate for humans in biomedical studies, given its anatomical neuro-system similarities and practical considerations. This work describes the continued development of a multi-modal MRI atlas for the common squirrel monkey, for which a structural imaging space and gray matter parcels have been previously constructed. This study adds white matter tracts to the atlas. The new atlas includes 49 white matter (WM) tracts, defined using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in three animals and combines these data to define the anatomical locations of these tracks in a standardized coordinate system compatible with previous development. An anatomist reviewed the resulting tracts and the inter-animal reproducibility (i.e., the Dice index of each WM parcel across animals in common space) was assessed. The Dice indices range from 0.05 to 0.80 due to differences of local registration quality and the variation of WM tract position across individuals. However, the combined WM labels from the 3 animals represent the general locations of WM parcels, adding basic connectivity information to the atlas.
Noise Analysis on Ground Test of Solid Rocket Motor

In view of the environment characteristic of solid rocket motor ground ignition test and the former noise test system foundation, a new noise testing method of solid rocket motor ground ignition test is proposed.In this method, sensor array is used to receive the sign and eliminate the reverberation disturbance, and the measured signals are analyzed in terms of amplitude spectrum.The valid result is gained by a mass of one solid rocket motor ground ignition test and data analysis.A valuable conclusion is obtained to improve the design of solid rocket motor and noise reduction method of the ground test.
Shape oscillations of elastic particles in shear flow

Particle suspensions are common to biological fluid flows; for example, flow of red- and white-blood cells, and platelets. In medical technology, current and proposed methods for drug delivery use membrane-bounded liquid capsules for transport via the microcirculation. In this paper, we consider a 3D linear elastic particle inserted into a Newtonian fluid and investigate the time-dependent deformation using a numerical simulation. Specifically, a boundary element technique is used to investigate the motion and deformation of initially spherical or spheroidal particles in bounded linear shear flow. The resulting deformed shapes reveal a steady-state profile that exhibits a 'tank-treading' motion for initially spherical particles. Wall effects on particle trajectory are seen to include a modified Jeffrey׳s orbit for spheroidal inclusions with a period that varies inversely with the strength of the shear flow. Alternately, spheroidal inclusions may exhibit either a 'tumbling' or 'trembling' motion depending on the initial particle aspect ratio and the capillary number (i.e., ratio of fluid shear to elastic restoring force). We find for a capillary number of 0.1, a tumbling mode transitions to a trembling mode at an aspect ratio of 0.87 (approx.), while for a capillary number of 0.2, this transition takes place at a lower aspect ratio. These oscillatory modes are consistent with experimental observations involving similarly shaped vesicles and thus serves to validate the use of a simple elastic constitutive model to perform relevant physiological flow calculations.
The effects of attenuation on seismograms

Most seismic interpretation is performed with perfectly elastic models of the Earth's structure, and the potential ambiguities introduced by the neglect of attenuation are ignored. Using a modification of the reflectivity method, theoretical seismograms can be calculated for realistic attenuation structures by using complex velocity profiles. The effects of attenuation on recently proposed models of the low-velocity zone and the upper mantle are considered using this technique. A comparison between the results from models with and without attenuation suggest that the interpretation of observations for the attenuative Earth in terms of perfectly elastic models may give rise to apparently fine detail which would be smoothed out in an interpretation which allows for attenuation. It is likely that the major transitions in the upper mantle are sharper than has previously been suggested from amplitude studies.
Spinal Plasticity and Behavior: BDNF-Induced Neuromodulation in Uninjured and Injured Spinal Cord.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor family of signaling molecules. Since its discovery over three decades ago, BDNF has been identified as an important regulator of neuronal development, synaptic transmission, and cellular and synaptic plasticity and has been shown to function in the formation and maintenance of certain forms of memory. Neural plasticity that underlies learning and memory in the hippocampus shares distinct characteristics with spinal cord nociceptive plasticity. Research examining the role BDNF plays in spinal nociception and pain overwhelmingly suggests that BDNF promotes pronociceptive effects. BDNF induces synaptic facilitation and engages central sensitization-like mechanisms. Also, peripheral injury-induced neuropathic pain is often accompanied with increased spinal expression of BDNF. Research has extended to examine how spinal cord injury (SCI) influences BDNF plasticity and the effects BDNF has on sensory and motor functions after SCI. Functional recovery and adaptive plasticity after SCI are typically associated with upregulation of BDNF. Although neuropathic pain is a common consequence of SCI, the relation between BDNF and pain after SCI remains elusive. This article reviews recent literature and discusses the diverse actions of BDNF. We also highlight similarities and differences in BDNF-induced nociceptive plasticity in naive and SCI conditions.
Institution of a Hospital-Based Central Venous Access Policy for Peripheral Vein Preservation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A 12-Year Experience.

Abstract Purpose To describe the implementation of nursing-based venous access team (VAT) and standardized interventional radiology (IR) protocols in accordance with Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines to provide central venous access while preserving peripheral veins in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and Methods Review of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and small-bore central catheter (SBCC) referral and placement data from VAT and IR databases was conducted over a 12-year period. SBCC referral was automatic for patients with creatinine levels ≥ 3 mg/dL or a renal transplant regardless of creatinine level unless dialysis was not planned. All SBCC insertions, regardless of referral source, were identified and reviewed, and SBCC placements prompted by K/DOQI PICC contraindication were identified. Catheter types, indications, access sites, technical success, and complications were ascertained. Results A total of 35,781 requests for PICC placement were made to the VAT; 1,889 (5%) were referred to IR for SBCC placement per institutional policy, and 2,200 SBCCs were attempted or newly placed during this period, 1,879 (85%) based on K/DOQI contraindications. Primary indication for SBCC placement was antibiotic therapy (59%). Access sites included right internal jugular vein (IJV) (70%), left IJV (24%), right external jugular vein (EJV) (3%), left EJV (2%), right common femoral vein (CFV) (0.3%), and left CFV (0.2%). Technical success rate of SBCC insertion was 99%. Six minor (0.3%) and three major (0.1%) complications occurred. Conclusions Automatic referral for SBCC placement in patients with CKD via VAT and IR protocols may eliminate PICC placement and thereby protect peripheral veins needed for hemodialysis. SBCC placement has high technical success and low complication rates.
A femtosecond Yb-doped fiber laser with generalized vector vortex beams output (Conference Presentation)

Light carries both spin and orbital angular momentum (OAM) and the superpositions of these two dynamical properties have found many applications. Many techniques exist to create such light sources but none allow their creation at the femtosecond fiber laser. Here we report on a novel mode-locked Ytterbium-doped fiber laser that generates femtosecond pulses with generalized vector vortex states. The controlled generation of such pulses such as azimuthally and radially polarized light with definite orbital angular momentum modes are demonstrated. A unidirectional ring cavity constructed with the Yb-doped fiber placed at the end of the fiber section to reduces unnecessary nonlinear effects is employed for self-starting operation. Pairs of diffraction gratings are used for compensating the normal group velocity dispersion of the fiber and other elements. Mode-locked operation is achieved based on nonlinear polarization evolution, which is mainly implemented with the single mode fiber, the bulk wave plates and the variable spiral plates (q-plate with topological charge q=0.5). The conversion from spin angular momentum to the OAM and reverse inside the laser cavity are realized by means of a quarter-wave plate and a q-plate so that the polarization control was mapped to OAM mode control. The fiber laser is diode pumped by a wavelength-division multiplexing coupler, which leads to excellent stability and portability.
Software-Defined LTE Evolution Testbed Enabling Rapid Prototyping and Controlled Experimentation

The long-term evolution (LTE) has spread around the globe for deploying 4G cellular networks for commercial use. These days, it is gaining interest for new applications where mobile broadband services can be of benefit to society. Whereas the basic concepts of LTE are well understood, its long-term evolution has just started. New areas of Ramp;amp;D look into operation in unlicensed and shared bands, where new versions of LTE need to coexist with other communication systems and radars. Virginia Tech has developed an LTE testbed with unique features to spur LTE research and education. This pa-per introduces Virginia Tech's LTE testbed, its main features and components, access and configuration mechanisms, and some of the research thrusts that it enables. It is unique in several aspects, including the extensive use of software-defined radio technology, the combination of industry-grade hardware and software-based systems, and the remote access feature for user- defined configurations of experiments and radio frequency paths.
Career Placement of Skilled Migrants in the U.S. Labor Market: A Dynamic Approach

The initial occupational placements of male immigrants in the U.S. labor market vary significantly by country of origin even when education and other factors are taken into account. Does the heterogeneity persist over time? Using data from the 1980, 1990, and 2000 U.S. Censuses, this study finds that the performance of migrants from countries with lower initial occupational placement levels improves at a higher rate compared with that of migrants originating from countries with higher initial levels. Nevertheless, the magnitude of convergence suggests full catch-up is unlikely. Country specific attributes are found to have less direct impact on the rate of assimilation than on the initial performance.
Thalamic Glioblastoma: Clinical Presentation, Management Strategies, and Outcomes

Background Thalamic glioblastomas (GBMs) represent a significant neurosurgical challenge. In view of the low incidence of these tumors, outcome data and management strategies are not well defined. Objective To identify the natural history and factors associated with survival in patients with thalamic glioblastoma. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with thalamic glioblastoma over a 10-yr period was performed. Presenting clinical, radiological, and outcome data were collected. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare clinical characteristics across tumor groups. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to investigate variables of interest with regard to overall survival. Results Fifty-seven patients met inclusion criteria, with a median age of 53 and median Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score of 80. The most common presenting symptoms were weakness, confusion, and headache. Hydrocephalus was present in 47% of patients preoperatively. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in 47 cases, and 10 patients underwent craniotomy. The median overall survival was 12.2 mo. Higher KPS, younger age, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion were correlated with better overall survival univariately, respectively, while the presence of language deficits at initial presentation was associated with poorer survival. In multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor of survival was presenting KPS. Conclusion The overall survival of patients with thalamic glioblastoma is comparable to unresectable lobar supratentorial GBMs. Younger patients and those with good presenting functional status had improved survival. Midbrain involvement by the tumor is not a negative prognostic factor. Improved therapies are needed, and patients should be considered for early trial involvement and aggressive upfront therapy.
Cellulose nanocrystals effect on the stabilization of polyacrylonitrile composite films

Abstract The stabilization kinetics of polyacrylonitrile-co-methacrylic acid (PAN-co-MAA) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composite films were studied with up to 40 wt% CNC loading using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was determined that the addition of CNC reduced the activation energy of the polyacrylonitrile cyclization reaction by 16% irrespective of the CNC loading in the range of 5–40 wt%. There was also a development of a new exothermic peak in the PAN-co-MAA/CNC composite films after cyclization not seen in the neat PAN-co-MAA and neat CNC samples, indicating a different set of reactions occurring. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) demonstrated that CNC within the PAN-co-MAA/CNC composite films were more thermally stable than the neat CNC film. Additionally, for the composite films, their reaction rate constants for cyclization and oxidations were found to be higher than neat PAN-co-MAA at certain temperatures, indicating that the addition of CNC into PAN-co-MAA can reduce the energy needed for stabilization.
Prenatal and Postnatal Inflammatory Mechanisms

During the past 15 years, intrauterine inflammation has been identified as an etiologic key factor of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as an adverse long-term outcome of very immature preterm infants. Various microorganisms residing in the maternal recto-vaginal tract may invade the chorioamniotic membranes and eventually induce an inflammatory response in the amniotic cavity, the fetus and the mother [1].
DEFINITION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY-FLUORESCENT LIGAND INTERACTIONS

Due to the characteristic complex cellular and genetic constituents of the immune system, humoral antibody responses exhibit heterogeneity and diversity at various levels. First, immune responses induced by complex macromolecules, containing many structurally different epitopes, result in a mixture of antibodies possessing different specificities and affinities. Second, antibody responses to relatively simple and chemically defined epitopes (haptens) are usually diverse as characterized in terms of the observed range in affinities. The magnitude of affinity measured depends on the biochemical nature and immunogenic properties of the epitope and carrier. Finally, a third level of heterogeneity results from the multiple immunoglobulin classes (or subclasses) resulting from the recombination of different constant (C) genes, which dictate isotypy, with the same variable (V) genes. This report will focus on an experimental approach to understand the structure-function basis of antibodies differing in affinities elicited to the fluorescent probe, fluorescein. The experimental premise to employ a fluorescent epitope is attractive due to: 1) the sensitivity of fluoro-metric measurements; 2) the fact that when fluorescence is an intrinsic property of the ligand, it provides a means by which behavior of the hapten can be studied in complex mixtures; 3) the capacity of fluorescence to reflect changes in the micro-environment; thus, monitoring intensity can provide information about the types of bonds involved in the bimolecular complex as well as the native state of the active site; 4) the potential use of fluorescence polarization measurements to indicate molecular size facilitating measurements of ligand-protein interactions; and 5) the availability of fluorescence quenching and solvent perturbation studies to provide useful functional information which can be correlated with resolution of the physical-chemical structure of the antibody active site.
The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for New York?

This essay is based on a featured lecture that I gave as part of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal’s 2 symposium on a proposed right of publicity law in New York. The essay draws from my recent book, The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World, published by Harvard University Press. Insights from the book suggest that New York should not upend more than one hundred years of established privacy law in the state, nor jeopardize its citizens’ ownership over their own names, likenesses, and voices by replacing these privacy laws with a new and independent right of publicity law, at least not the versions thus far proposed. The essay begins by busting a host of myths about the development of privacy law in New York and across the nation. The tort-based right of privacy was, and remains, the original right of publicity, and was even referred to as a right to stop “unwarranted publicity.” Privacy laws, from the beginning, protected the famous and anonymous alike, and allowed for recovery of economic and business damages, as well as of emotional distress and reputational harms. In the essay, I debunk the common, albeit erroneous, claim that the right of publicity was created in 1953 by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Haelan Labs. v. Topps Chewing Gum. Instead, the turn to a transferable and independent (of privacy) right of publicity actually occurred later, and was driven in part by Hollywood lawyers and heirs of celebrities who saw the advantages of a transferable property right in a person’s identity. Such a shift, however, is often at the expense of the very individuals the right of publicity is supposed to protect. The essay concludes with some recommendations for New York, and for right of publicity and privacy laws more generally.
Agricultural Practices Influence Salmonella Contamination and Survival in Pre-harvest Tomato Production

Between 2000 and 2010 the Eastern Shore of Virginia was implicated in four Salmonella outbreaks associated with tomato. Therefore, a multi-year study (2012-2015) was performed to investigate presumptive factors associated with the contamination of Salmonella within tomato fields at Virginia Tech’s Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Factors including irrigation water sources (pond and well), type of soil amendment: fresh poultry litter (PL), PL ash, and a conventional fertilizer (triple superphosphate - TSP), and production practices: staked with plastic mulch (SP), staked without plastic mulch (SW) and non-staked without plastic mulch (NW), were evaluated by split-plot or complete-block design. All field experiments relied on naturally-occurring Salmonella contamination, except one follow up experiment (worst-case scenario) which examined the potential for contamination in tomato fruits when Salmonella was applied through drip irrigation. Samples were collected from pond and well water; PL, PL ash, and TSP; and the rhizosphere, leaves, and fruits of tomato plants. Salmonella was quantified using a most probable number method and contamination ratios were calculated for each treatment. Salmonella serovar was determined by molecular serotyping. Salmonella populations varied significantly by year; however, similar trends were evident each year. Findings showed use of untreated pond water and raw PL amendment increased the likelihood of Salmonella detection in tomato plots. Salmonella Newport and Typhimurium were the most frequently detected serovars in pond water and PL amendment samples, respectively. Interestingly, while these factors increased the likelihood of Salmonella detection in tomato plots (rhizosphere and leaves), all tomato fruits sampled (n=4800) from these plots were Salmonella negative. Contamination of tomato fruits was extremely low (<1%) even when tomato plots were artificially inoculated with an attenuated Salmonella Newport strain (104 CFU/mL). Furthermore, Salmonella was not detected in tomato plots irrigated using well water and amended with PL ash or TSP. Production practices also influenced the likelihood of Salmonella detection in tomato plots. Salmonella detection was higher in tomato leaf samples for NW plots, compared to SP and SW plots. This study provides evidence that attention to agricultural inputs and production practices may help reduce the likelihood of Salmonella contamination in tomato fields.
Reproducibility of Cold Uptake Radiomics in 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT Imaging of Renal Cell Carcinoma

99mTc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT imaging of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has recently shown significant promise to distinguish benign oncocytomas from malignant RCC, where the former appears as high uptake in SPECT images and the latter as cold uptake. We aim towards radiomics analysis of cold uptake in SPECT images for another significant yet more daunting task of discriminating between RCC subtypes. The first step we pursue in the present work is feature selection by assessing the reproducibility of radiomic features. $^{99m}$Tc-estamibi SPECT/CT images of 50 patients with renal mass, plus a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI, were used by a trained radiologist to segment the region of interest (ROI) on the SPECT image. The impact of segmentation on reproducibility was studied by generating three ROIs via removing one voxel-layer from, or appending 1 and 2 voxel-layers to the manual ROIs $(ROI)_{0}$, ${ROI}_{-1}$, $ROI_{+1}$, $ROI_{+2}$). Images were then uniformly quantized with eight grey-levels (GL) (2$^{2}$-2$^{9}$). A total of 363 radiomic features, verified within the Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative, were generated for all 50 patients/four ROIs/eight GLs. Voxel intensity in SPECT images is the number of counts, which is a patient-dependent nonnormalized quantity. Thus, (i) fixed number of bin quantization must be chosen over fixed bin-width, and (ii) non-normalized statistical features should be excluded. The intra-class correlation (ICC) type C-1 calculated for all features between (a) all four ROIs and (b) between all except ${ROI}_{-1}$ showed 204 features with (a) ICC >0.7 and (b) ICC >0.85, respectively. However, a subset of 204 features with emphasis on high GLs across higher-order feature classes should be further excluded due to the scarce presence of voxels with high intensities that can appear due to missegmentation. Moreover, reproducibility analysis of quantization using Spearman rank-correlation showed GLs below 32 should be avoided due to high variation. The resulting features and settings are recommended for further investigation of predictive value.
Separating real from fake: Building news literacy with the Frayer Model

News literacy is an important part of journalism and liberal arts education. Adapting a tool called the Frayer Model, the activity guides students in developing a conceptual understanding of news b...
Cardiac sympathectomy for refractory ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac sarcoidosis

Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are frequently refractory to both antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy and catheter ablation (CA). Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) has been shown to reduce VA burden and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Objective We aimed to report our center's preliminary experience with CSD in patients with known or presumed CS and refractory VAs. Methods Patients with CS and refractory VAs who underwent CSD at our institution were included. Patient characteristics, procedural outcomes, and number of arrhythmic events including ICD shocks pre- and post-CSD are reported. Results Five patients with CS (mean age 53 ± 11 years; 2 men [40%]; mean left ventricular ejection fraction 38% ± 11%) underwent CSD for VA refractory to AAD therapy and CA. Four of 5 patients underwent bilateral CSD; 1 patient underwent right-sided sympathectomy only because of poor intraoperative visualization on the left. Procedural complications included hemothorax in 1 patient and azygous vein injury in 1 patient. The median number of ICD shocks in the 6 months pre-CSD was 5. During a median follow-up of 26 months (range 5–29 months), the median number of ICD shocks post-CSD was 0; 1 patient had sustained VA that was below the threshold for device therapy, and 1 patient had symptomatic premature ventricular contractions; both underwent repeat CA. In addition, 1 patient required cardiac transplantation for progressive heart failure. Conclusion CSD may be a feasible therapeutic adjunct for patients with CS and VA refractory to AAD therapy and CA.
SPICEless RTL design optimization of nanoelectronic digital integrated circuits

The previous chapter discussed various steps of high-level synthesis (HLS) which are used for design exploration of digital integrated circuits. It then discussed specific methods for dynamic power dissipation optimization as well as synthesis of hardware-trojan free digital integrated circuits. The methods relied on various bio-inspired algorithms for design space exploration. As complementary material of the previous chapter, this chapter presents HLS methods for leakage-optimal digital integrated circuit design exploration. Specifically, a paradigm shift approach is presented in which the complete HLS flow is performed without use of any electronic design automation (EDA) tool. All the associated tasks such as modeling, characterization, and optimization are performed using non-EDA tools, and hence this is called the “SPICEless” approach. For a specific objective of nanoelectronic digital integrated circuits, gate-leakage power dissipation is targeted.
Reactivity and Isomerization of Mo2(Allyl)4

Mo2(η 3-μ 2-allyl)2(η 3-allyl)2, A, is an organometallic molybdenum dimer with a quadruple Mo-Mo bond. ButOH reacts with A to form propene concurrently with an NMR-detectable intermediate containing two types of t-butoxide ligands. At 0 °C, the intermediate is readily transformed into an isolable species, Mo4(η 3-μ 2-ally1)4(μ 2-OBut)4, with a proposed tetrametallacyclobutadiyne structure. The reaction of A with acetylacetone yields a pinkish product with concomitant evolution of propene having the structure, Mo(2 η 3 -μ 2-allyl)2(η 2 -acac)2. Acetylacetonates have replaced the terminal η 3 -allyls structurally in A leaving the Mo2(η 3 -μ 2-allyl)2 core intact. Carbon monoxide promotes the heretofore unobserved isomerization of green A to a violet isomer with configurational changes in the bonding of the bridging allyl ligands to the dimetal center. In addition carbon monoxide induces allyl dimerization upon reaction with A yielding η 4-1,5-hexadiene)Mo(CO)4 and eventually Mo(CO)6 and free 1,5-hexadiene as products.
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation with piecewise constant potentials

The linear Schrodinger equation with piecewise constant potential in one spatial dimension is a well-studied textbook problem. It is one of only a few solvable models in quantum mechanics and shares many qualitative features with physically important models. In examples such as ‘particle in a box’ and tunnelling, attention is restricted to the time-independent Schrodinger equation. This paper combines the unified transform method and recent insights for interface problems to present fully explicit solutions for the time-dependent problem.
Identification of optimal calcium and temperature conditions for quagga mussel filtration rates as a potential predictor of invasion

Quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis burgensis) are a highly invasive aquatic species to North America, capable of filtering large volumes of water and causing severe ecological and economic impacts. Their range has been expanding since they first invaded the Great Lakes in the 1980s. To predict their spread, it is crucial to understand environmental parameters, which facilitate their range expansion. Two factors likely to influence their distribution include calcium and temperature, because the former is vital for shell development and the latter for metabolic activity. When these factors are optimal for mussels' fitness, the filtration rate has the potential to be maximized if other environmental conditions are also favorable, thus enabling mussels to exploit their growth potential. Deviations from optimal conditions likely result in filtration-rate decline. We identify calcium concentrations and temperatures that maximize the mussel filtration rate for 2 phytoplankton species: Ankistrodesmus facaltus, a common food source for quagga mussels, and a less palatable Microcystis icthyoblabe. In laboratory experiments, filtration rates were measured through cell counts after 24 h of filtration when exposed to a range of temperatures between 2 and 30 °C, and calcium concentrations between 0 and 180 mg/L. Response surface methodology was used to identify a maximum filtration rate, which occurred at 22 mL/mg/h at 137 mg/L of calcium carbonate and 26 °C when fed Ankistrodesmus. To establish a quagga mussel population in a new water source, optimum conditions are required; thus, this information can be used to rank the relative susceptibility of water bodies to invasion by quagga mussels. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:410-418. © 2019 SETAC.
The social cognitive appraisal of trustworthiness in individuals with dimensional levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms: a translational study.

Background: Misappraisals in evaluating the trustworthiness of others may be one mechanism contributing to the interpersonal difficulties individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face. Objective: This study used a translational experimental design to examine the behavioural and neural correlates underlying the appraisal of facial stimuli morphed on dimensions of trustworthiness across three groups: individuals with high posttraumatic stress symptoms (HPTS), low posttraumatic stress symptoms (LPTS), and healthy controls (HC). Methods: Participants (N = 70) rated how trustworthy to untrustworthy they perceived three facial morphs (trustworthy, neutral, and untrustworthy) while undergoing electroencephalography (EEG). Results: Behavioural results showed that the HPTS group rated the untrustworthy morph as more untrustworthy than the HC group (β = 0.20, SE = .07, 95% CI [0.06, 0.33], z = 2.88, p = .004). The HPTS group also showed no variation in response time across morphs ( X 2 (2) = 0.92, p = 0.63), while the LPTS and HC groups did ( X 2 (2) = 9.60, p = .008; X 2 (2) = 23.62, p < .001). EEG data revealed significant group by morph interactions at the N170 latency and the Vertex Positive Potential (VPP): the HPTS and LPTS identified the untrustworthy morph faster than the HCs, but diverged to the degree to which they encoded each facial morph. Conclusions: Taken together our results suggest that HPTS individuals demonstrate an early attentional avoidance of faces morphed on dimensions of trustworthiness. This early, preconscious, avoidance may be one mechanism contributing to the miscalculations individuals with PTSD make in interpersonal situations.
Pairwise Near-maximal Grand Coupling of Brownian Motions

The well-known reflection coupling gives a maximal coupling of two one-dimensional Brownian motions with different starting points. Nevertheless, the reflection coupling does not generalize to more than two Brownian motions. In this paper, we construct a coupling of all Brownian motions with all possible starting points (i.e., a grand coupling), such that the coupling for any pair of the coupled processes is close to being maximal, that is, the distribution of the coupling time of the pair approaches that of the maximal coupling as the time tends to $0$ or $\infty$, and the coupling time of the pair is always within a multiplicative factor $2e^{2}$ from the maximal one. We also show that a grand coupling that is pairwise exactly maximal does not exist.
Diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus from the Upper Oconee Watershed, Georgia.

Aim It is well-known that enterococci are abundant in the environment; however, the role of surface water as a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci remains largely undefined. In this study, surface water samples were collected over a 2-year period from the Upper Oconee watershed, Athens, GA to examine enterococci and their antimicrobial resistance. Methods and results Approximately 97% (445/458) of the samples were positive for enterococci and a total of 637 enterococci were isolated. The predominant species were Enterococcus casseliflavus (33·6%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (26·5%) and Enterococcus hirae (13·2%). Regardless of species, the highest levels of resistance were to lincomycin (88·5%) and tetracycline (13%); isolates also exhibited resistance to newer antimicrobials, daptomycin (8·9%) and tigecycline (6·4%). Multidrug resistance (resistance ≥3 antimicrobial classes) was observed to as many as five classes of antimicrobials. Resistant enterococci appeared to be randomly dispersed over the seasons rather than clustered by species or antimicrobial resistance. Conclusions This study demonstrated that surface waters contain a large population of diverse species of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci, including resistance to new antimicrobials. Significance and impact of the study These results may indicate the potential of human intestinal illness and/or colonization of the human gut with resistant enterococci as enterococci correlate with increased disease risk to humans during recreational exposure to water.
No Spending Without Representation: School Boards and the Racial Gap in Education Finance

This paper provides causal evidence that greater minority representation on school boards translates into greater investment in minority students. Focusing on California school boards, I obtain causal effects by instrumenting for minority (specifically, Hispanic) school board representation using the random order in which candidates appear on election ballots. Given the dearth of school-level expenditure data, I introduce detailed records from California’s School Facility Program (SFP), a capital investment program for which I observe how school boards allocate the marginal dollar within district. Instrumental variables estimates show that an additional Hispanic school board member increases SFP-funded investments at high-Hispanic schools within the district by 69 percent, with significantly lower effects at low-Hispanic schools. High-Hispanic schools also exhibit gains in student achievement of 0.08 standard deviations. I attribute this improved performance broadly to increased investment in these schools: new instructor hiring at high-Hispanic schools decreases by 23 percent. These results provide the first causal evidence that school board politics—and, specifically, school board ethnic composition—shapes education finance policy at the local level. I conclude that enhancing minority representation on school boards could help combat disparities in education finance and achievement.
A new calibration technique for quantitative gas analyses of fluid inclusions using a quadrupole mass spectrometer

RATIONALE Quantitative gas analysis by quadrupole mass spectrometry is used widely in the study of fluid inclusion volatiles, but the currently available instrument calibration techniques have a number of limitations. We describe a new method to overcome these by employing custom-machined stainless-steel calibration volumes that fit into modified bellows valves and can be filled on the high-vacuum prep line of the instrument. This allows the calibration gas to be introduced in a pulse-like fashion, replicating a burst of sample gas from a ruptured fluid inclusion. METHODS The modified bellows valves equipped with calibration volumes are loaded onto the high-vacuum inlet of a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Cobalt-based alloy stem tips are then used to seal calibration gases (dry air, in this case) at known pressures into the calibration volumes for analysis. RESULTS Two volumes of different dimensions were used to produce a relationship between moles introduced and integrated beam area for m/z 14, 32, 40, and 44. A linear fit along with a 95% confidence band for the relationship of moles introduced and integrated beam area was determined for the purpose of quantitative gas analysis in fluid inclusions containing atmospheric air. The calibration curves for each m/z have R-squared (COD) values of 0.94 or better. For validation of this calibration technique, measurements were made using outside air as an unknown. CONCLUSIONS A new calibration technique has been developed for measuring femto- to pico-mole quantities of atmospheric air that greatly reduces contamination and introduces calibration gas in a pulse similar to sample gas. This technique has reduced the error in quantifying these small aliquots of air to an uncertainty of ±1.5%.
EXPAREL® (Long-Acting Liposomal Bupivacaine) Use for Popliteal Nerve Block in Postoperative Pain Control after Ankle Fracture Fixation

EXPAREL® has been used successfully to prolong postoperative pain control when applied as a wound infiltrate. EXPAREL® has not yet been approved for use in regional anesthesia to prolong postoperative pain control. We conducted a clinical case series of 4 patients using EXPAREL® for sciatic blocks via the popliteal fossa approach. Our results suggested that there is a large degree of variability in response to the medication. These inconsistent results and the possibility of bimodal kinetics creating analgesic gaps as seen in two of our patients indicate that more studies with larger sample size are needed to better characterize these phenomena and determine if more consistent results can be obtained in a future clinical trial.
The association between functional assessment and structural brain biomarkers in an ethnically diverse sample with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia

Objective To investigate the association between the functional activities questionnaire (FAQ) and brain biomarkers (bilateral hippocampal volume [HV], bilateral entorhinal volume [ERV], and entorhinal cortical thickness [ERT]) in cognitively normal (CN) individuals, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia. Method In total, 226 participants (137 females; mean age = 71.76, SD = 7.93; Hispanic Americans = 137; European Americans = 89) were assessed with a comprehensive clinical examination, a neuropsychological battery, a structural magnetic resonance imaging, and were classified as CN or diagnosed with MCI or dementia. Linear regression analyses examined the association between functional activities as measured by the FAQ on brain biomarkers, including HV, ERV, and ERT, controlling for age, education, global cognition, gender, and ethnicity. Results The FAQ significantly predicted HV, ERV, and ERT for the entire sample. However, this association was not significant for ERV and ERT when excluding the dementia group. The FAQ score remained a significant predictor of HV for the non-dementia group. Age, education, gender, ethnicity, Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, and FAQ were also significant predictors of HV for the overall sample, suggesting that younger Hispanic females with fewer years of education, higher global mental status, and better functioning, were more likely to have larger HV. Conclusion FAQ scores were related to HV in older adults across clinical groups (CN, MCI, and dementia), but its association with the entorhinal cortex was driven by individuals with dementia. Demographic variables, including ethnicity, additionally influenced these associations.