cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
612: Late preterm infants - a group with significant morbidity

SARAH CHENG, SANGEETA JAIN, KARIN A FOX, GEORGE R. SAADE, University of Texas Medical Branch, Division of Neonatology, Galveston, Texas, University of Texas Medical Branch, Pediatrics, Galveston, Texas, University of Texas Medical Branch, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galveston, Texas OBJECTIVE: Late preterm infants (LPI) are infants born between 34 to 36w6d gestational age. The prevailing perception is that these infants do as well as term infants. Recent reports showed that they have greater respiratory distress (RD) and higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia, feeding difficulties (FD), hypoglycemia, and temperature instability than term. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of LPI stratified by gestational age. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed records (n 201) of LPI born at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Infants with congenital anomaly or neuromuscular disease were excluded from study. Detailed pregnancy and maternal demographic data were collected. The incidence of RD, jaundice, hypoglycemia & FD was compared. Data was analyzed using Chi square test for RDS, FD and jaundice(significance: p 0.05) and ANOVA for hospital stay. RESULTS: The LPI constituted 9% of all deliveries, 35w4d as average gestational age at delivery. Overall incidence of RD requiring oxygen with nasal cannula/ NCPAP was 22%, jaundice requiring phototherapy was 46%, FD requiring gavage feed was 22%, and hypoglycemia was 15%. The average hospital stay was 171 hours. Morbidity stratified by gestational age is shown in table (* shows significant difference). CONCLUSION: LPI need to be recognized as a separate group of infants associated with greater morbidity than the term infants. Revised protocols need to be instituted in the nurseries in managing these infants. Long term follow up is needed to study their neurodevelopmental outcome.
Mycorrhizal effectiveness of Rhizopogon spores recovered from faecal pellets of small forest-dwelling mammals

Mature basidiomes of the hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi Rhizopogon vinicolor and R. truncatus were fed to three species of mycophagous mammals in captivity. Spores which passed through the digestive tract of the mammals were isolated from faecal pellets. The metabolic activity and mycorrhizal effectiveness of these spores was assessed. Flouricene-diacetate (a vital stain) was used to assess spore metabolic activity. Mycorrhizal effectiveness was determined by inoculating Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings with spore slurries. The same assays were performed on spores isolated from uneaten basidiomes. Spores from R. vinicolor were viable after passage through the gut of each mammal species but the digestive process did not substantially enhance or detract from the ability of spores to form ectomycorrhizas relative to spores from uneaten basidiomes. Spores recovered from faeces of Californian red-backed vole (Clethrionomys californicus) and Townsend's chipmunk (Tamias townsendii) had significantly higher metabolic activity than spores from uneaten basidiomes and those recovered from northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) faeces. Spores from eaten and uneaten basidiomes of R. truncatus failed to show any signs of metabolic activity and largely failed to form ectomycorrhizas on seedlings. The reasons for this are unclear but we suggest that germination of spores from this fungus may depend upon other factors. Our findings add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that spores of at least some species of hypogeous fungi remain viable after passage through the digestive tract of mycophagous animals.
Use of Ti Plasmid DNA Probes for Determining Tumorigenicity of Agrobacterium Strains

Probes consisting of T-DNA genes from the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were used for determining tumorigenicity of strains. Two {sup 32}P-labeled probes hybridized with 28 of 28 tumorigenic strains of the pathogen but not with 20 of 22 nontumorigenic strains. One probe, pTHE17, consists of all but the far left portion of the T-DNA of strain C58. Probe SmaI7 consists of SmaI fragment 7 of pTiC58, including onc genes 1, 4, and 6a and most of 2. Another probe, pAL4044, consisting of the vir region of strain Ach-5, hybridized with several nontumorigenic as well as tumorigenic strains. Colony hybridizations were done with 28 tumorigenic and 22 nontumorigenic Agrobacterium strains. About 10{sup 6} CFU of the different tumorigenic strains were detectable with this method. Southern analyses confirmed the presence or absence of Ti plasmids in strains for which tumorigenicity was questioned. Colony hybridization with the T-DNA probes provides a rapid and sensitive means for determining the tumorigenic nature of Agrobacterium strains.
Walking out of Social Traps: A Stochastic Learning Model for the Prisoner's Dilemma

Theoretical and experimental studies of the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma have yielded a central insight into the logic of cooperation: the principle of reciprocity. However, previous models, based o...
Renal accumulation and intrarenal distribution of inorganic mercury in the rabbit: Effect of unilateral nephrectomy and dose of mercuric chloride

The effects of unilateral nephrectomy and dose of mercuric chloride on the short-term renal accumulation and intrarenal distribution of inorganic mercury were studied in the rabbit. The renal accumulation of inorganic mercury, on a per gram basis, was increased in uninephrectomized (NPX) rabbits compared with that in sham-operated (SO) rabbits 24 h after the animals received either a nontoxic 2.0 mumol/kg or nephrotoxic 4.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride. In the NPX rabbits given the 2.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride, the increased accumulation of inorganic mercury was due to increased accumulation of mercury in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. In the NPX rabbits given the 4.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride, the increased renal accumulation of mercury appeared to be due to increased accumulation of mercury in both the renal cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. Interestingly, no differences in the renal accumulation of inorganic mercury were found between NPX and SO rabbits given a low nontoxic 0.5 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride. As the dose of mercuric chloride was increased from 0.5 to 4.0 mumol/kg, the percent of the administered dose of mercury that accumulated in each gram of renal tissue decreased substantially. The findings in the present study indicate that the renal accumulation of inorganic mercury increases after unilateral nephrectomy when certain nontoxic and nephrotoxic doses of mercuric chloride are administered. In addition, they indicate that the percent of the administered dose of mercury that accumulates in the renal tissue of both NPX and SO rabbits decreases as the dose of mercuric chloride is increased.
Business: The Electronic Health Record: Front Line Experience

National legislation is in place to facilitate reform of the United States health care industry. The Health Care Information Technology and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) offers financial incentives ...
Efficient worst case analysis of integrated circuits

A simple, accurate and inexpensive approach to worst case analysis of integrated circuits is presented. The approach may be applied to either known process statistics or a database of candidate simulation points.
Anaesthesia and the paediatric muscle disorders

Paediatric muscle disorders have significant implications for anaesthetists. Their effects extend beyond skeletal muscle and manifestations in other organ systems are frequently seen; in addition, adverse reactions to anaesthetic drugs may result in fatality if unrecognised or inadequately treated. In the past, it was thought that muscular dystrophies and myopathies put a patient at increased risk of malignant hyperthermia, however, the link between these conditions has largely been dismissed and other anaesthetic catastrophes, such as anaesthesia-induced rhabdomyolysis, are now recognised. Undiagnosed muscle disorders put children at risk of experiencing adverse reactions to anaesthesia. A high index of suspicion should be exercised during preoperative review to facilitate anaesthetic choices and guide intraoperative management.
Disc1 regulates granule cell migration in the developing hippocampus.

Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating psychiatric disease that is hypothesized to have its roots in neurodevelopment. Although the precise neuropathology underlying schizophrenia has remained elusive, there are consistent reports of abnormalities in several brain areas. Chief among these is the hippocampus, an area which has displayed both structural and functional abnormalities in many schizophrenic patients. In order to better understand how disruption of hippocampal development may contribute to the etiology of psychiatric disease, we investigated the function of a highly promising schizophrenia susceptibility gene, DISC1 (Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1), in the development of the hippocampus. DISC1 is strongly expressed in the hippocampus from its early development through adulthood and has been implicated in hippocampal structure and function in human studies. However, its precise role in the development of the hippocampus is not yet known. Here, we show that in utero electroporation of Disc1 shRNA into the developing mouse hippocampus hinders the migration of dentate gyrus granule cells. Intriguingly, Disc1 knockdown does not affect the migration of CA1 pyramidal neurons, suggesting that Disc1’s role in regulating neuronal migration is spatially restricted within the hippocampus. These findings support the idea that DISC1 abnormalities that contribute to the onset of schizophrenia may do so through their influences on hippocampal development.
Nonlinear III-V HBT compact models: do we have what we need?

Within the large body of literature on models for III-V HBTs it now seems possible to find compact formulations with extractable parameters that model all important device characteristics. Predictions are as accurate as possible given the limitation of quasi-static host simulators. Some recommended strategies for extraction of parameters for certain formulations are given. Despite accurate formulation, some aspects may be better left out of models in the interest of expediency, with no significant reduction of final performance. Transit time remains difficult, and limitations of simulators swamp discrepancies between measurement and predictions of even apparently-precise models. It is concluded that compact models, if not simulators, are as physically precise as we should bother to make them.
Robust validation of pattern classification methods for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging technology that is suitable for a variety of material identification applications. For LIBS to successfully transition from the laboratory into field applications, the sensor must be paired with the appropriate algorithms for accurate and robust processing of the LIBS spectra. In this study we will report on the results of testing classification methods on eight distinct classification tasks using LIBS datasets. Results suggest that standard cross-validation techniques may not accurately estimate generalization performance and a proposed "leave-one-sample-out" approach to experiment design for classifier validation may provide a more robust measure of performance.
Normal right- and left ventricular volumes and myocardial mass in children measured by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Quantification of ventricular volume by Steady State Free Precession (SSFP) cardiovascular magnetic resonance is accurate and reproducible. Normal values exist for adults, but are lacking for children. We sought to establish normal values for left and right ventricular volumes, mass and function in healthy children by using SSFP. Fifty children (27 females, 23 males) without cardiovascular disease were evaluated. Median age was 11 years (range 7 months – 18 years), weight 35 kg (range 7–77 kg), height 146 cm (range 66–181 cm). Thirty-six examinations were performed with breath holding, 14 in freely breathing sedated children. Ventricular volumes and mass were measured in the end systolic and end diastolic phase on SSFP cine images acquired in a short axis plane as a stack of 12 contiguous slices covering full length of both ventricles. Regression analysis showed an exponential relationship between body surface area (BSA) and ventricular volumes and mass (normal value = a*BSA b ). Normative curves for males and females are presented in relation to BSA for the enddiastolic volume, endsystolic volume and mass of both ventricles. Intra- and interobserver variability of the measurements was within the limits of 2% and 7% respectively, except for right ventricular mass (10%). The exponential equation for calculation of normal values for each ventricular parameter and graphical display of normative curves for data acquired in healthy children by SSFP cardiovascular magnetic resonance are provided.
The effect of birth order on the occurrence of developmental language impairment

The birth order of second-grade children with and without developmental language impairment was obtained to determine if language-impaired children were more likely to be later born than earlier born. In this study the family size and socioeconomic status of the families for the language-impaired and normal groups were very similar. Comparison of the distribution of birth ranks between second-grade language-impaired and normal second-grade children failed to show a difference in birth ranks. Further, the distribution of birth ranks of all language-impaired children within the sibships was not found to show evidence favouring either early or later born birth ranks. Thus, contrary to previous research in which family size and socioeconomic status were not controlled, this study did not provide evidence in support of a birth order effect in developmental language impairment.
Isolation and Heat Stability of Trypsin Inhibitors in Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus)

Trypsin inhibitors were isolated from seeds of Amaranthus hypochondriacus by extraction at pH 7.5, heat treatment at 70°C for 15 min and affinity chromatography with trypsin-Sepharose 4B. Inhibitors of trypsin and chymotrypsin were identified in polyacrylamide gels following electrophoresis using a stain procedure that employed the chromogenic substrate acetyl-D, L-phenylalanine-2-napthyl ester. Three of the thirteen trypsin inhibitors identified in the electrophoresis gels, also had antichymotryptic activity. The inhibitor preparation was very thermostable retaining 20% of its original activity after 7 hr at 100°C.
Evaluating the Role of Force Feedback for Biomanipulation Tasks

Conventional cell manipulation techniques do not have the ability to provide force feedback to an operator. Poor control of cell injection force is one of the primary reasons for low success rates in cell injection and transgenesis in particular. Therefore, there exists a need to incorporate force feedback into a cell injection system. We have developed an automated cell injection system, which has the capability of measuring forces in the range of μN. We tested our system with 40 human subjects to evaluate the role of force feedback in cell injection task. Our experimental results indicate that the subjects were able to feel the cell injection force and confirmed our research hypothesis that the use of combined vision and force feedback leads to higher success rate in cell injection task compared to using vision feedback alone.
The Association Between U.S. Army Enlistment Waivers and Subsequent Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes and Attrition From Service

ABSTRACTSoldiers granted enlistment waivers for medical concerns, misconduct, or positive alcohol/drug tests may or may not be associated with an increased likelihood of negative behavioral outcomes. Soldiers in the population examined (n = 8,943) who were granted enlistment waivers from 2003 to 2008 were significantly more likely to subsequently be screened for alcohol/substance abuse, test positive for illicit substances, or receive an Army separation for behavioral misconduct. These associations were highest among Soldiers granted waivers for nonlawful alcohol/drug violations. Soldiers granted waivers for felony offenses and serious nontraffic violations were significantly less likely to separate from the Army compared with Soldiers not granted enlistment waivers.
Justice Holmes: Another Aspect of His Life and Philosophy

W X HEN Pope wrote the line "Just as the twig is bent, so the tree's inclined," he was praising, without qualification, the enduring influence of early education. A more recent writer, with a somewhat different point of view, has said that "the most brilliant intellect is a prisoner within its own social inheritance" and "beyond a certain point can never transcend the limitations" so inherited. This suggests that the more closely an education reflects a distinctive culture, the more likely it is to be a handicap to the attainment of the highest intellectual possibilities.
Effect of Bridging Atom Identity on the Morphological Behavior of Solution-Processed Small Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaics

We examined the effects of changing the central bridging atom identity from carbon (d-CDT(PTTh2)2) to silicon (d-DTS(PTTh2)2) in the cyclopentadithiophene unit in a small molecule donor material. The substitution left the optical and electrical properties largely unchanged but significantly modified the melting/crystallization behavior and the formation of crystalline domains in thin film blends with PC71BM. Solar cells made with the d-CDT(PTTh2)2:PC71BM had efficiencies less than 1%, while thermally annealed solar cells made with d-DTS(PTTh2)2:PC71BM achieved efficiencies up to 3.4%. Morphological analyses of the active layer film morphology were done with polarized optical microscopy, grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy and showed that large (micrometer scale) crystals formed in the d-CDT(PTTh2)2 based films while smaller (25 to 50 nm) crystals formed in the d-DTS(PTTh2)2, largely explaining the difference in device performance. Thermally activated photocu...
Disparate effects of biphasic and monophasic shocks on postshock refractory period dispersion.

The magnitude by which a defibrillation shock extends the refractory period immediately postshock (refractory period extension, RPE) does not explain why biphasic shocks defibrillate with greater e...
Factors associated with converting scientific abstracts to published manuscripts.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with the conversion of scientific abstracts to publications in peer-reviewed journals. METHODS This was a retrospective study of abstracts presented by members of the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery between 2000 and 2010. Predictor variables were categorized as abstract- or author-specific. The outcome variable was conversion of an abstract presented at a meeting to a published manuscript. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple regression statistics were computed. P < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS The sample was composed of 122 abstracts presented at meetings. Ninety abstracts (73.8%) were published in a peer-reviewed literature within 5 years of presentation. The mean time between presentation to publication was 21.9 ± 17.3 months (median, 19.0 months; range, 0-99 months). In bivariate analyses, study design, number of prior publications by the presenting author, and number of prior publications by the senior author were associated with time to publication (P < 0.06). In a multiple Cox proportional hazards model, higher levels of evidence (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.3; P = 0.006) and volume of prior publications by the senior author (hazard ratio, 1.007; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.011; P < 0.001) were associated with shorter publication times. CONCLUSIONS Time to publication of scientific abstracts is associated with study quality, prior research experience by the presenting author, and senior author identity and experience.
Hemopericardium, anticoagulation, and an endocardial pacemaker. A case report with description of new auscultatory and radiographic signs.

A case of organizing hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in a patient with a permanent endocardial pacemaker who was maintained on anticoagulation is presented. The hemopericardium is concluded as solely due to the anticoagulation. A new auscultatory finding attributable to an endocardial pacemaker and a helpful radiographic sign of pericardial effusion in patients with these pacemaker is described.
A novel night lighting system for postural control and stability in seniors

Injuries resulting from falls in seniors are a significant health concern. Visual information is important for postural control in seniors and postural control is affected by the light level. Moderate ambient illumination might be effective for postural control, but might compromise subsequent sleep efficiency and quality for seniors. In addition to safety concerns, a night lighting system must also be accepted by seniors. Researchers investigated if a self-luminous, night lighting system that provided horizontal and vertical cues could positively affect postural control in older subjects and evaluated its acceptance among seniors. The results showed that the night lighting system was effective for maintaining postural control in the critical, early phase of the sit-to-stand task and that it was preferred over conventional night lights.
CR Complexity and Hyperquadric Maps

We survey aspects of CR complexity for maps between spheres and hyperquadrics, provide some new interpretations of the maps found by Lebl and Reiter, and indicate how group-invariance fit into the story.
Love in the time of occupation: Reveries, longing, and intoxication in Kashmir

At a drug rehabilitation clinic in Indian-occupied Kashmir, patients were subjected to a range of biomedical and penitentiary techniques. These techniques included group therapy sessions in which substance users performed narratives of their recovery—a practice that made visible their gratitude to the police, which oversaw the clinic and which, as an arm of the Indian military, many view as an illegal occupying force. While patients publicly pledged to remain sober and technically complied with the clinic's demands, they privately demonstrated ongoing commitments to nasha (intoxication), which places substance use, romantic love, and the search for divine unity in Sufism on the same phenomenological register. Through nasha, patients defied biomedical injunctions to forget their pasts and recuperated intoxication as a worthwhile experience. [addiction, substance abuse treatment, military humanitarianism, recovery, reverie, Kashmir]
Haptic palpation of aortic pressure waveforms

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease was responsible for 17.5 million deaths in 2012, or 30% of all deaths. Recent research suggests that, in addition to pulse rate, the pulse waveform itself contains useful diagnostic information. To explore tactile representation of these waveforms, this demonstration deploys a haptic representation of the aortic pressure profile synchronized to a synthetic electrocardiogram using a consumer grade haptic interface.
A New Defining Method of Deep Concealed Ore Bodies,a Case Study at the Qiagong Iron Deposit in Tibet

The Qiagong Iron deposit is a newly discovered deposit,but geometric characteristics of its ore body such as the shape,size,position,occurrence and boundary have not been fully tested.Based on a wavelet and multi-scale analysis and Euler deconvolution method,the vertical signal of potential field is separated and the sources depth is estimated.The two methods mentioned above are jointly used to detect the magnetic source depths,which could play an important role in locating the deep-buried orebodies.
The Real Mystery of Positive Business: A Response from Christian Faith

I ask why an increasing number of business scholars today are drawn to an idea of “positive business” that they cannot account for scientifically. I answer that it is because they are attracted to the real mystery of positive business which is its incomprehensible and unspeakable divinity. I begin by asking why the research literature has yet to speak of positive business plainly and with one voice. I find that it lacks for the right words because it comes to human being in business as a science attuned to its objects rather than as a religion attuned to its spirit. Next, I say what I can about the real mystery of business, keeping in mind that we can say about it only what we can say about God. This brings me at last to the Christian insight that human being, in business and everywhere else, is the mystery of Jesus Christ in whom we are reconciled to God. Business is positively human as it invites us to be as Christ, to be a fully human person in joyful communion with others in God. This, in sum, is how to speak plainly and with one voice of the positive business that our hearts desire but our science cannot say.
Public Administration’s Identity Crisis and the Emerging Approach that May Alleviate It

The field of public administration is in the middle of a long-standing, self-imposed identity crisis. This is due in part to the acceptance of new perspectives in the field redefining the identity of the field; but for only as long as the perspective remains dominant. The near future of public administration holds another potential shift in the dominant perspective to that of an approach founded in the ideals of democratic and public values theory. This approach is supported by trends of increasing research and theory in the areas such as public participation and public service motivation. Continued research on these concepts suggests that the emerging approach will be legitimized within the field. The potential establishment of this alternative perspective in public administration provides an opportunity for public administration scholars to embrace a new perspective on the identity of public administration as one of changing nature, rather than continuing to place the entirety of public administration’s identity in temporally-based dominant perspectives.
Few-Atom-Thick Colloidal PbS/CdS Core/Shell Nanosheets

Emissive PbS/CdS core/shell nanosheets are synthesized using a cation-exchange method. A significant blue-shift of the photoluminescence is observed, indicating a stronger quantum confinement in the PbS core as its thickness is reduced. High resolution transmission-electron-microscopy images of the cross sections of the core/shell nanosheets show atomically sharp interfaces between PbS and CdS. Accurate analysis of the thickness of each layer reveals the relationship between the energy gap and the thickness in the extremely one-dimensionally confined nanostructure. Photoluminescence lifetime of the core/shell nanosheets is significantly longer than the core-only nanosheets, indicating better surface passivation.
Assessment of multiscale designer for fatigue life prediction of advanced composite aircraft structures

Multiscale Designer, developed by Altair, has been studied for its suitability for fatigue life prediction of advanced composite aircraft structures made of polymer matrix composites. The extensive...
A research agenda for ecosystem services in American environmental and land use planning

Abstract We assess pathways for integrating the ecosystem services concept into American land use and environmental planning. Ecosystem services are the beneficial products that functioning ecosystems provide to human society. Building on Ian McHarg's influential ecological planning work, we argue that ecosystem service-based planning frameworks may improve our understanding of the consequences of planned actions in urban-ecological systems. Using evaluations of four diverse and innovative comprehensive plans, we examine how ecosystem service information can enhance plan specificity, investment strategies, and prioritization for policy implementation. Finally, we present a research agenda for evaluating how the use of ecosystem services in planning could improve assessment and communication of planning tradeoffs and outcomes.
Transmission capacity of wireless ad hoc networks with channel variations

Our earlier work (Weber et. al., Trans. Info. Theory, Dec, 2005) introduced transmission capacity as the maximum spatial density of concurrent transmissions in an ad hoc network subject to a QoS constraint on the outage probability. That work computed the transmission capacity under a simple path loss channel model. Recent work (Weber et. al., submitted to the 2006 SPASWIN workshop) has studied lower and upper bounds on the outage probability for a fairly general class of channel models, including path loss, shadowing, and fast fading effects. In this work we derive expressions for the the transmission capacity under this same general class of channel models. It is shown that random channel effects tend to degrade the transmission capacity, and that the limiting factor in the transmission capacity is the presence of interfering nodes in close proximity to receivers (the near far problem).
Investigation of the cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects of Ligusticum porteri (Osha) root extract on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Abstract Objective Ligusticum porteri is a traditional Native American herb. The roots of L. porteri are traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases, however, its cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects need to be investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the root extract at different doses on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Methods The lymphocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the root extracts (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) and harvested every 6 h for 2 d ( P 2 O 2 ). Results Treatments with L. porteri at 200 and 400 μg/mL increased the viability of PBLs. The deleterious effect of H 2 O 2 was ameliorated by 400 μg/mL L. porteri treatment. Addition of 400 μg/mL L. porteri reduced lipid peroxidation in stressed PBLs by 94% ( P L. porteri resulted in a 26.4% increase of reduced glutathione levels. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased by 17.5% and 55.2% respectively, when stressed PBLs were treated with 400 μg/mL L. porteri for 2 d ( P L. porteri increased interferon-γ and interleukin-2 expressions in H 2 O 2 -challenged PBLs ( P P >0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that L. porteri might be a potential immune-modulating agent involving protective effects against oxidative damage.
Is Extubating My Cardiac Surgery Patient Postoperatively in the Operating Room a Good Idea

Following multiple episodes of shortness of breath at home, a 66-year-old man with severe mitral regurgitation undergoes an elective mitral valve repair via mini-thoracotomy. His past medical history is significant for diabetes controlled with metformin and hypertension treated with metoprolol. In the past, he was a casual tennis player, but lately he has been feeling short of breath going up the flight of stairs in his house. It is the first case of the day. Induction, intubation, and line placement are uneventful, and the surgery proceeds without incident. At the end of the case, the surgeon jokes to his assistant, “This gas man over here has the easiest job; he just hits every patient over the head with his cookbook and hopes they wake up some point later in the day.”
Emerging Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer.

Despite the development of more advanced medical therapies, cancer management remains a problem. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a particularly challenging malignancy and requires more effective treatment strategies and a reduction in the debilitating morbidities associated with the therapies. Phytochemicals have long been used in ancient systems of medicine, and non-toxic phytochemicals are being considered as new options for the effective management of cancer. Here, we discuss the growth inhibitory and anti-cell migratory actions of proanthocyanidins from grape seeds (GSPs), polyphenols in green tea and honokiol, derived from the Magnolia species. Studies of these phytochemicals using human HNSCC cell lines from different sub-sites have demonstrated significant protective effects against HNSCC in both in vitro and in vivo models. Treatment of human HNSCC cell lines with GSPs, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenolic component of green tea or honokiol reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis. These effects have been associated with inhibitory effects of the phytochemicals on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and cell cycle regulatory proteins, as well as other major tumor-associated pathways. Similarly, the cell migration capacity of HNSCC cell lines was inhibited. Thus, GSPs, honokiol and EGCG appear to be promising bioactive phytochemicals for the management of head and neck cancer.
Cyberphysical adaptation in digital-microfluidic biochips

Microfluidic biochips offer an unprecedented opportunity to handle biochemical fluids on-chip for real-time clinical diagnostics using techniques such as flash chemistry. The past decade has seen significant progress in disease assessment and the recognition of target molecules using such devices; however, until recently, defects, erroneous fluidic operations, and inherent uncertainties remained a major barrier to the adoption and deployment of these devices. This paper describes recent advances in cyberphysical adaptation and a vision for a multi-layered architecture for cyberphysical microfluidic biochips. A cyber-physical design and optimization technique for gene-expression analysis and epigenetics is presented. This paper shows how technology has advanced from manipulating droplets on a chip to carrying out realistic on-chip biochemistry.
Chinese Discourse on Constitutionalism and Its Impact on Reforms

The concept of constitutionalism (xianzheng) appeared in China in the late Qing dynasty as a banner of the political reform. It was banned during the Mao era but reappeared when the reform-oriented leaders revised the constitution in 1982. Since the 1990s, it has become a key term used in the liberal discourse. This paper addresses the following research questions: What is the current debate on constitutionalism? Why is the Chinese leadership under Xi Jinping so resistant towards constitutionalism? What are the prospects of constitutionalism in China? What are the impacts of intellectual discourse on constitutionalism for China and how will it contribute to China’s political transformation in the twenty-first century?
Early Sentence Productions of 3- and 4-Year-Old Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Purpose This study investigated the early rule-based sentence productions of 3- and 4-year-old children with severe speech disorders who used single-meaning graphic symbols to communicate. Method Ten 3- and 4-year-olds requiring the use of augmentative and alternative communication, who had largely intact receptive language skills, received instruction in producing up to four different semantic-syntactic targets using an Apple iPad with a communication app. A single-case, multiple-probe, across-targets design was used to assess the progress of each participant and target. Generalization to new vocabulary was assessed, and a subgroup also was taught to produce sentences using grammatical markers. Results Some targets (primarily possessor-entity) were mastered in the baseline phase, and the majority of the remaining targets were mastered during intervention. All four children who completed intervention for grammatical markers quickly learned to use the markers accurately. Conclusions Expressive language potential for preschoolers using graphic symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication systems should not be underestimated. With appropriate presentation and intervention techniques, some preschoolers with profound speech disorders can readily learn to produce rule-based messages via graphic symbols.
Outcomes of Emergency Department Anaphylaxis Visits from 2005 to 2014.

Background Although the incidence of anaphylaxis appears to be increasing, trends in anaphylaxis-related health care utilization are not well understood. Objective To better understand the potential increasing health care burden, we analyzed the changes in anaphylaxis-related health care utilization, including emergency department (ED) discharges, observation stays, inpatient admissions, intensive care unit admissions, and endotracheal intubations. Methods We conducted an observational study examining outcomes of anaphylaxis-related ED visits between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014. We analyzed administrative claims data from OptumLabs Data Warehouse, which includes more than 100 million Medicare Advantage and privately insured enrollees in the United States. We studied trends in the proportions of ED-related anaphylaxis visits based on demographic characteristics, triggers, and ED disposition for our study population. Results Among 56,212 anaphylaxis-related ED visits during a 10-year period, the proportion of patient observation/inpatient admissions increased by 37.6% ( P = .02), from 13.2% of anaphylaxis-related ED visits in 2005 to 18.2% in 2014. The proportion of patients admitted to the intensive care unit increased by 27.4% ( P = .001), from 4.5% in 2005 to 5.8% in 2014. Proportions of endotracheal intubation increased by 145.2% ( P Conclusions The increasing proportions of observation/inpatient admissions, intensive care unit admissions, and endotracheal intubations suggest an increase in anaphylaxis severity. Enhanced awareness of these trends among patients, practitioners, and the community is necessary to create effective strategies to prevent anaphylaxis and decrease associated adverse consequences.
Advanced dental implant placement techniques.

The availability of in office Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scanners, dental implant planning software, CAD CAM milling, and rapid printing technologies allow for the precise placement of dental implants and immediate prosthetic temporization. These technologies allow for flapless implant placement, or open flap bone reduction for “All on 4” techniques with improved preoperative planning and intraoperative performance. CBCT permits practitioners in an office setting with powerful diagnostic capabilities for the evaluation of bone quality and quantity, as well as dental and osseous pathology essential for better informed dental implant treatment. CBCT provides the convenience of in office imaging and decreased radiation exposure. Rapid printing technologies provide decreased time and highly accuracy for surgical drill guide fabrication and bone model fabrication.
Relation Between Dietary Essential Fatty Acid Intake and Dry Eye Disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women.

Purpose To evaluate the relationship between omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids with dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Postmenopausal women (n = 439) underwent a clinical evaluation and completed the Vio Food Frequency Questionnaire to estimate their dietary intake of n-3s and n-6s. Subjects were categorized into 2 binary classifications based on whether or not they had (1) DED and (2) MGD. Mean intake of dietary fatty acids was compared with 2-sample t tests. Univariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios for each condition associated with each quintile of n-3s, n-6s, and n-6:n-3 ratios. Results For DED vs non-DED, there were no significant differences in n-3 intake (1.95 ± 1.47 g vs 1.92 ± 1.24 g, P = .86), n-6 intake (15.58 ± 11.56 g vs 15.44 ± 10.61 g, P = .91), and n-6:n-3 (8.30 ± 2.57 vs 8.30 ± 2.57, P = .99). For MGD vs non-MGD, there were no significant differences in n-3 intake (1.87 ± 1.35 vs 1.96 ± 1.39, P = .61), n-6 intake (15.26 ± 11.85 vs 15.62 ± 10.93, P = .80), and n-6:n-3 (8.35 ± 2.94 vs 8.28 ± 2.42, P = .84). The odds ratios (OR) for DED did not differ significantly from 1.0 for n-3, n-6, or n-6:n-3. High n-3 consumption (OR = 0.22 [0.06–0.78]) and moderate n-6 consumption (OR = 0.37 [0.15–0.91]) were associated with a decreased frequency of MGD. Conclusions Dietary consumption of n-3s and n-6s showed no association with DED, but high n-3 consumption and moderate n-6 consumption were protective against MGD in this large sample of postmenopausal women.
Diabetic Wound Inflammation

Abstract Diabetic foot infection is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and is a major cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputation. Wound healing is a synchronized process aimed at restoration of tissue's structure and function. Diabetic wounds suffer from an impairment in cutaneous wound healing. Diabetic wounds are characterized by persistent infection and nonresolving inflammation that lead to chronicity of the wounds. Nutritional status of the patient dictates and governs the fate of the wound. Dietary supplementation using nutritional supplements to combat chronic inflammation in obese and diabetic patients is of growing interest. This chapter summarizes the concept and mechanisms of diabetic wound inflammation with an emphasis on nutraceutical interventions.
Utility of combining spectral domain optical coherence tomography structural parameters for the diagnosis of early Glaucoma: a mini-review

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has moved to the forefront of imaging modalities in the management of glaucoma and retinal diseases. It is modifying how glaucoma and glaucoma progression are diagnosed clinically and augmenting our understanding of the disease. OCT provides multiple parameters from various anatomic areas for glaucoma diagnosis, evaluation of treatment efficacy, and progression monitoring. While the use of multiple parameters has increased the likelihood of detecting early structural changes, diagnosing glaucoma in early stages is often challenging when the damages are subtle and not apparent on OCT scans, in addition to the fact that assessment of OCT parameters often yields conflicting findings. One promising approach is to combine multiple individual parameters into a composite parameter from the same test to improve diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This review presents current evidence regarding the value of spectral domain OCT composite parameters in diagnosing early glaucoma.
Interventions aimed at addressing unplanned hospital readmissions in the U.S.: A systematic review

One of the policy mechanisms aimed at improving population health through health care delivery is the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) as outlined in the Affordable Care Act. Although numerous procedural and behavioral interventions have been implemented, the empirical evidence of the efficacy of these interventions is mixed and specific to certain patient segments. This review aimed to systematically assess studies of hospital interventions to reduce 30-day readmissions for specific diseases and populations. Following the PRISMA review checklist, searches were conducted from January 2000 to August 2018 in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases using terms such as “patient readmission”, “readmit” and “re-hospitalization” in conjunction with disease terms such as “asthma”, “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)” and “pneumonia”. Of 3,806 articles identified, 45 were included after a 3-step inclusion process. The age group most frequently considered among the studies was the 65 age cohort. Multidisciplinary collaborative interventions were most frequently effective for the subset of elderly, female, Caucasian, and heart failure patients. Interventions involving patient or family education delivered before and after care were most effective for racial minority, elderly, COPD, and heart failure patients. Telephone follow-up, tele-homecare, and medication reconciliation were largely found to be successful in reducing readmissions. Major gaps exist in identifying successful interventions for reducing 30-day readmissions among patients who sought treatment for sepsis, stroke, and replacement of the hip or knee. Our findings indicate an opportunity for researchers to further study, and for healthcare organizations to implement, more well-informed interventional strategies to reduce readmissions.
A comparison of explosion energies for simulated and observed core-collapse supernovae

There are now $\sim$20 multi-dimensional core-collapse supernova (CCSN) simulations that explode. However, these simulations have explosion energies that are a few times $10^{50}$ erg, not $10^{51}$ erg. In this manuscript, we compare the inferred explosion energies of these simulations and observations of 38 SN~IIP. Assuming a log-normal distribution, the mean explosion energy for the observations is $\mu_{\rm obs} = -0.13\pm 0.05$ ($\log_{10}(E/10^{51}\, {\rm erg})$) and the width is $\sigma_{\rm obs} = 0.21^{+0.05}_{-0.04}$. Only three CCSN codes have sufficient simulations to compare with observations: CHIMERA, CoCoNuT-FMT, and FORNAX. Currently, FORNAX has the largest sample of simulations. The two-dimensional FORNAX simulations show a correlation between explosion energy and progenitor mass, ranging from linear to quadratic, $E_{\rm sim} \propto M^{1-2}$; this correlation is consistent with inferences from observations. In addition, we infer the ratio of the observed-to-simulated explosion energies, $\Delta=\log_{10}(E_{\rm obs}/E_{\rm sim})$. For the CHIMERA set, $\Delta=0.33\pm0.06$; for CoCoNuT-FMT, $\Delta=0.62\pm0.05$; for FORNAX2D, $\Delta=0.73\pm0.05$, and for FORNAX3D, $\Delta=0.95\pm0.06$. On average, the simulations are less energetic than inferred energies from observations ($\Delta \approx 0.7$), but we also note that the variation among the simulations (max($\Delta$)-min($\Delta$) $\approx 0.6$) is as large as this average offset. This suggests that further improvements to the simulations could resolve the discrepancy. Furthermore, both the simulations and the observations are heavily biased. In this preliminary comparison, we model these biases, but to more reliably compare the explosion energies, we recommend strategies to un-bias both the simulations and observations.
Regional Technology-Based Economic Development: Policies and Impacts in the U.S. and Other Economies

Regional Technology-Based Economic Development: Policies and Impacts in the U.S. and Other Economies
Barriers to recovery-focused care within therapeutic relationships in nursing: Attitudes and perceptions

There are numerous barriers to the therapeutic relationship between nurses and persons with schizophrenia, such as time constraints, communication issues and the requirements of practice policies. The main point of this paper is that the nature of these barriers is such that the nurse may not conceptualize these as barriers or be aware of how his or her responses to these can further entrench existing barriers to relationship or create new ones. If the nurse is not aware of how he or she responds to time pressure, frustration or lack of clarity of practice policy and address this, there is a risk that the patient may perceive the nurse's actions as lacking in care, presence or involvement. As consumers increasingly embrace recovery approaches to mental health that prioritize therapeutic activities within the context of collaborative relationship, psychiatric nurses, with a long tradition of therapeutic relationship, can rise to meet them. It is suggested here that this can only occur if nurses are fully aware of barriers to relationship, their responses to these and the impact of these on relationship with patients. Suggestions for educational and empirical work to further raise awareness and promote understanding of this process are provided.