cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizating Clot Retrieval in Acute Stroke The Push and Fluff Technique for Closed-Cell Stentrievers

Background and Purpose— We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of the Push and Fluff technique (PFT) as compared with the standard unsheathing technique for closed-cell stent retrievers in acute ischemic stroke. Methods— Acute ischemic stroke thrombectomy database was analyzed (September 2010 to January 2015) with the Trevo Retriever as a primary strategy. The PFT was compared with our internal standard unsheathing technique and with the Trevo Versus Merci Retrievers for Thrombectomy Revascularization of Large Vessel Occlusions in Acute Ischemic Stroke 2 (TREVO2) trial. Additionally, a silicon flow model was used to compare cell size/configuration, wall apposition/device diameter, and degree of foreshortening/device length across the 2 techniques. Results— One hundred fifty-one out of 662 patients qualified for the study. The PFT (n=71) was associated with higher rates of first-pass reperfusion (54% versus 35%, P =0.03; 54% versus 32.6%, P <0.01), lower number of passes (1.3±0.8 versus 1.8±1.0, P <0.01; 1.7±1.0 versus 2.4±1.6, P <0.01), and higher rates of modified treatment in cerebral ischemia-3 reperfusion (58% versus 40%, P =0.03; 58% versus 14%, P <0.01) as compared with the standard unsheathing technique (n=81) and the TREVO2 Trevo arm (n=88), respectively. No differences in hemorrhagic complications were observed across the groups. The in vitro model indicated that, compared with standard unsheathing technique, PFT resulted in improved wall apposition (device diameter, 75% larger) and cell size (mean area, 51% larger) at the cost of a mild degree of foreshortening (25% length reduction). Conclusions— The PFT is safe and leads to optimization of wall apposition and cell size/configuration, resulting in higher chances of first-pass reperfusion, lower number of passes, and better rates of complete reperfusion.
Microprocessor-controlled laser scanner system for multiwavelength cardiac optical mapping

We developed a new laser scanner system that is capable of recording fluorescence spectra at a rapid rate (1 kHz) from 128 laser spots on the heart. The recording of multiple wavelength bands allow the use of emission ratiometry to reduce the motion artifact. Original laser scanners were built with control circuitry external to the computer to obtain sufficient speed. Our system eliminates external circuitry by using a 160 MHz microprocessor that controls deflection of the laser beam by Bragg cells and real-time sampling of fluorescence. Trials were done with six rabbit hearts. Two photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) with a beam splitter sampled green and red fluorescence at 510-570 nm and >590 nm. Simultaneously, two additional digitizers sampled the laser intensity and stimulation current. As many as eight PMTs may be used to record spectra with greater detail. Sufficient dF/F resolution was obtained to study action potentials.
Counterattitudinal Advocacy on a Matter of Prejudice: Effects of Distraction, Commitment, and Personal Importance1

White students were asked to advocate a tuition policy beneficial to Blacks at either high or low personal cost. Advocates wrote an essay while undistracted or distracted, or only committed to writing it. More attitude change occurred when the policy was personally costly (important) and advocates were undistracted. Distraction may disrupt the dominant covert cognitive response, which is normally favorable to a freely agreed-to advocacy. This makes anti-advocacy thoughts more likely and the advocacy seem weaker, especially when the advocacy involves conflicted racial beliefs whose contemplation under load activates negative stereotypes. Some participants wrote essays that defied their agreement to endorse the policy, and distraction enhanced their attitude change. In this case, distraction presumably disrupted an anti-advocacy dominant cognitive response. Thought listings supported these interpretations. Finally, commitment alone led to attitude change. Coun-terattitudinal advocacy fosters attitude change in prejudice-relevant domains if conditions support advocacy-favorable thoughts during advocacy.
Photonic Effect on Oxygen-Doped and De-Doped Carbon Nanotubes

We present a thermal annealing method to control oxygen doping in carbon nanotube (CNT) based infrared (IR) detector. CNTs have been found to be sensitive under near IR radiation and they could be used as IR sensing elements. When a CNT is manipulated between two metal electrodes, two Schottky barriers are formed at the CNT-metal interfaces. The Schottky barriers play an important role in IR detection. However, oxygen absorption of a CNT changes the electronic properties of the CNT, resulting Schottky contacts and contact resistances are changed. The influence of oxygen removed CNT was studied by a thermal annealing process. Our experimental results showed that photocurrent and dark current of the CNT based IR detectors were changed after the thermal annealing process. Parylene C thin film was also coated on the detector, it isolated the detector from the ambient environment and prevented oxygen absorption of the CNT again. The parylene C packaged CNT based IR detector was fabricated and tested under near IR radiation. Current results indicated that the CNT based IR detector coated with parylene C was capable of sensing IR radiation and exhibited repeatable responses. Therefore, the annealing process and the packaging process are important processes to control oxygen doping of a CNT. As a result, the CNT based IR detectors can be fabricated with high efficiency, high sensitivity, stable and reliable performance.
The productivity impact of information technology in the healthcare industry: an empirical study using a regression spline-based approach

This paper explores the productivity impact of information technology (IT) in the healthcare industry using a regression spline (RS)-based approach. Application of the RS-based approach offered additional valuable insights that contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between investments in IT and organizational productivity. For example, the results of this study suggest that investments in the IT Stock has a positive impact on productivity only under certain conditions, and that this impact of IT is not uniform but is conditioned both by the amount invested in the IT Stock and the investments in Non-IT Capital. q 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Neuroimaging in Child Clinical Populations: Considerations for a Successful Research Program

As a growing body of translational research continues to cut across the boundaries of traditional disciplines in all domains of scientific study, the field of child psychiatry has become increasingly collaborative in its goal of understanding the etiology of child psychopathology and developing treatment strategies. One notable area of increasing collaboration is in the field of neuroscience, where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to probe the neural structure or function underlying psychological deficits. In 2011 alone, 13 of the 121 articles (11%) published in the Journal used MRI to examine the impairment of a specific neural circuitry, representing approximately one article per monthly issue. In comparison, just one neuroimaging article (1%) was published in 2006. One can assume that that number will increase in the years ahead. Advances in this state-of-the-art technology show potential for the discovery of biomarkers specific to symptom presentation, which can inform the development of therapeutic or pharmacologic interventions or, possibly, identify those at risk for the maturation of future disorders. Taking a single example from the field of autism research, functional MRI has helped to identify dysfunction in neural circuitry related to deficits in eye contact.1 Similar findings have been uncovered in siblings of patients with autism who are at genetic risk for the disorder.2 The sum of this growing body of literature has led researchers to conclude that therapeutic interventions, aimed at this impairment, might improve social behavior through altered neural functioning.3 The synergy between the neuroscientific and psychiatric disciplines is of great benefit to the field. However, successful neuroimaging in pediatric populations is not without its challenges. MRI is a constricting, isolating, and often intimidating environment for children and the need to remain motionless for an extended period often leads to data loss. One could argue that an 80% success rate, considered highly successful in a pediatric patient group, indicates that the most impaired children are not providing useful data. Thus, low success rates in data collection come not only at a high financial cost, but also may dilute the effect sizes in scientific findings or fail to uncover the neural circuitry that may be deficient in only the most severe cases. The following paragraphs present brief considerations aimed at delineating strategies for successful neuroimaging in pediatric clinical populations for those who wish to begin a program of developmental neuroimaging or to improve success rates in their current work.
Analyzing static noise margin for sub-threshold SRAM in 65nm CMOS

This paper evaluates the static noise margin (SNM) of 6T SRAM bitcells operating in sub-threshold. We analyze the dependence of SNM during both hold and read modes on supply voltage, temperature, transistor sizes, local transistor mismatch due to random doping variation, and global process variation in a commercial 65nm technology. We analyze the statistical distribution of SNM with process variation and provide a model for the tail of the PDF that dominates SNM failures.
Piezoceramic hollow fiber active composites

While active fiber composites (AFC) based upon solid cross-section piezoelectric fibers are very useful for anisotropic activation of composites, they require high voltages and are constrained to non-conductive matrix materials. AFC’s based upon hollow cross-section piezoelectric fibers have shown promise to lower operating voltages and broaden the choice of possible matrix materials. This paper presents an investigation of the key design parameters for hollow piezoelectric fibers (matrix/fiber Young’s moduli, aspect ratio of the individual fibers, and the overall active composite volume fraction) and their effect on the performance, manufacturing and reliability of active fiber composites. Because the ultimate objective in utilizing active composites centers on their ability to deform, an analysis was conducted on existing fiber and lamina strain/electric field models to identify optimal parameter values and determine limitations via an embedment stress model. Fabrication of the fibers has a clear impact on these factors. To assess this, standard machinery inspection criteria was used to evaluate fibers, manufactured through microfabrication by coextrusion (MFCX), with respect to their geometric (cross-sectional ovality, eccentricity, straightness) and material (density, porosity, piezoelectric properties, Young’s modulus) properties. These studies indicated that there are circumstances under which low aspect ratio (thin walled) fibers will be optimal, but clearly, reliability issues will arise. Unfortunately, little data exists on reliability of either hollow or solid piezoelectric fibers. To identify the primary failure mechanism, ultimate strength, strain-to-failure and interfacial shear strength were examined using three types of experimental tests: 1) tensile strain-to-failure, 2) single fiber fragmentation, and 3) single fiber indentation. From this work, it is clear there will always be design trade-offs present and it is important to consider performance, fabrication, and reliability
Progress in Guidance and Control Research for Space Access and Hypersonic Vehicles

Over the past decade, both NASA and the U.S. Air Force have directed significant efforts aimed at reducing the cost of access to space as well as improving the reliability and safety of launch vehicles. From a guidance and control perspective, efforts have focused on the development of fault tolerant autonomous systems that can recover vehicles from failures or damage when physically possible. The state of the art is summarized in this manuscript and some of the challenges preventing widespread use of some of the techniques are discussed. The integration of vehicle health management systems with adaptive guidance and control is also discussed.
Clinical carotid measurements: present and future state.

Abstract The most satisfactory methods of evaluating the carotid artery have included Doppler imaging and ultrasonic duplex scanning. It is now recognized that these techniques are most accurate when used in combination with spectral analysis to more objectively determine the flow patterns present across this important bifurcation. In the centers where there is the most experience in their use, the sensitivity of the methods approach 90% and are most accurate for detecting high-grade stenoses (greater than 50% diameter reduction). The most promising future applications include the use of computerized pattern recognition techniques to quantitatively separate patients with varying degrees of disease.
Serial assessment with WAIS-IV and WMS-IV.

Clinicians frequently evaluate patients’ cognitive functioning over time. Patients may be re-evaluated to track cognitive decline associated with a degenerative disease, to aid in treatment planning, to identify medication effects on cognition, or to evaluate a change in cognitive status for diagnostic purposes. Comparing performance across time is complex and requires the clinician to consider multiple cognitive, statistical, and environmental factors. Using a simple heuristic (e.g., a change of one standard deviation between evaluations) can result in under- or over-estimation of a change in cognitive status. Applying appropriate statistical models helps the clinician control for practice effects, regression to the mean, and their interaction with characteristics of the individual (e.g., age and initial ability level). In this chapter, multiple regression techniques are applied to WAIS–IV and WMS–IV retest data to predict expected change in performance in healthy adults. The equations are derived for retesting with the same edition (i.e., WAIS–IV/WAIS–IV) and retesting with a different edition (i.e., WAIS–III/WAIS–IV, WISC–IV/WAIS–IV). The chapter describes the regression models and the use of comparison statistics for evaluating meaningful test score change (i.e., statistical significance and base rates). Challenges and limitations in identifying meaningful change in cognitive functioning are discussed.
Structural Limitations on the Non-Legislative Regulations of Federal Elections

The Election Clauses found in Articles I and II of the United States Constitution limitthe authority of state administrative agents to develop rules for federal elections — bothcongressional and presidential. These two Clauses prohibit non-legislative agents fromadding to, changing, or contradicting legislatively enacted rules. The Clauses leavesome room for non-legislative agents, but only if a State Legislature has clearlydelegated regulatory power to them. Even then, the agent’s rulemaking must becarefully measured by the delegation using an analysis akin to intermediate scrutiny.The Essay uses the Supreme Court’s controversial holdings in Bush v. Gore (2000) andBush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board (2000) as its launch. It then peruses thetext of the Constitution, original intent, and historical precedents to build its case. Itconcludes with three modern problems arising in Ohio, Louisiana and Mississippi toillustrate its thesis.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs and Early Modern Print Culture: The Books of Martyrs in the printing house

In defending the evangelical ferment of Edward VI's reign, Foxe proclaims that “ Preachers, Printers, & Players … be set up of God, as a triple bulwarke agaynst the triple crown of the Pope, to bring him down.” He aligns printing houses with pulpits and stages as venues for the dissemination of Protestant ideology. Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, contests this claim by mocking Protestants for idolizing the printing of books. Punning on the “graving” (i.e., engraving) of matrices for the casting of type, the conservative prelate facetiously declares that they violate the Second Commandment: “Thou shalt make no graven images, leste thou worshipe them, whiche (I here) is newly written in the newe churche.” Foxe's scornful gloss is unamused: “If ye did see any printer yet to do worship to his graven letters, then might you well seke … a knotte in a rushe” (1563, p. 752). Even if he and his coreligionists did not idolize printing, they did idealize it as a potent tool for reform of both church and state. The retrospective experience of the reign of Mary I demonstrates that Roman Catholics harbored no aversion to exploiting the printing press for propagandistic purposes. Indeed, a high literacy rate “was not a necessary effect of Protestantism.” Nevertheless, Gardiner's forceful protest against the Protestant monopoly on printing and publication in England during the reign of Edward VI assumes that print culture was essential to the dissemination and survival of reformist ideas.
Restoration of renal response to atrial natriuretic factor in experimental low-output heart failure

The renal response to atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) has been shown to be blunted in several experimental models of acute and chronic congestive heart failure. The mechanism responsible for this blunted response has been postulated to be activation of the renin-angiotensin system with associated potent antinatriuretic effects and/or the reduction in renal perfusion pressure (RPP) characteristic of heart failure. The present study was designed to examine the relative role of these two factors in mediating the blunted response to ANF in a model of acute low output heart failure produced by thoracic inferior vena cava constriction (TIVCC) in the anesthetized dog. TIVCC was produced in five groups of dogs. In group 1, ANF was infused after TIVCC to document the blunted natriuretic response. In group 2, ANF was infused after TIVCC in the presence of blockade of intrarenal angiotensin II (ANG II) by the intrarenal infusion of saralasin (Sar) at a dose without systemic effects. In group 3, ANF was infused after TIVCC in the presence of restoration of RPP by infusion of ANG II at a dose titrated to restore RPP to the level present before TIVCC. In group 4, ANF was infused in the presence of restoration of RPP with ANG II and blockade of intrarenal ANG II with Sar. Group 5 served as an additional control group where the effect of ANG II and Sar in TIVCC was examined in the absence of ANF. Restoration of RPP but not blockade of intrarenal ANG II resulted in a restoration of the response of sodium excretion and glomerular filtration rate to ANF. ANG II plus Sar in the absence of ANF did not produce a natriuresis. We conclude that RPP, more than intrarenal ANG II, modulates the blunted renal response to ANF observed in this model of acute low-output heart failure.
Inner world to the future: leaders' perspective on the future.

"Academic Perspectives" is a column within the Journal of Public Health Management and practice that examines the linkages between academic public health and practice. Readers of JPHMP are encouraged to contribute to this feature. Contact column editor: Louis Rowitz, PhD, Deputy Director, Center for Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, (M/C 922), University of Illinois at Chicago, 2121 West Taylor Street, Room 206, Chicago, Illinois 60612-7260.
Periodic density-of-states modulations in superconducting Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ

In this paper we show, using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, the existence of static striped density of electronic states in nearly optimally doped ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8+\ensuremath{\delta}}$ in zero field. The observed modulation is strongest at roughly half the superconducting gap energy and is aligned with the Cu-O bonds, with a periodicity of four lattice constants, exhibiting features characteristic of a two-dimensional system of line objects. These features also exhibit asymmetries between the two orthogonal directions locally, pointing to a possible broken symmetry state (i.e., a stripe phase). We further show that the density of states modulation manifests itself as a shift of states from above to below the superconducting gap. The fact that a single energy scale (i.e., the gap) appears for both superconductivity and stripes suggests that these two effects have the same microscopic origin.
Within-Plant Distribution of Heliothis spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Eggs and Larvae on Cotton in North Carolina

Within-plant distribution of Heliothis spp. eggs and larvae on cotton was studied in North Carolina from 1980 through 1983. Egg distribution varied from year to year, with either leaves or terminals being the most common oviposition sites. Larvae were most commonly found on bolls, but were found in disproportionately large numbers on flowers and small bolls with dried flower corollas on them. The preference for flowers was less distinct for larvae of H. virescens than for H. zea larvae.
ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC MYOCARDITIS WITH PRESERVED LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION

The clinical presentation of myocarditis is highly variable. A high index of suspicion is needed when faced with unexplained and rapidly evolving cardiac symptoms. A 24-year-old gentleman with history of congenital aortic valve stenosis, status post aortic valve homograft and a subsequent
On the role of the prior in multiplicity adjustment

ABSTRACTMultiplicity adjustment in Bayesian analysis is achieved through the use of a prior distribution, for the probability that a variable is in the (unknown) model in the context of model selection, or for the probability that a null hypothesis is true in the context of multiple testing. However, it is not obvious how the prior distribution brings about multiplicity adjustment. In 2010 Scott and Berger stated there is an “air of paradox” in how multiplicity adjustment is achieved in the fully Bayesian approach. They gave useful insight into the role of the prior distribution in multiplicity adjustment by using the prior odds ratio (POR), the ratio of prior probabilities of a smaller model to a larger model, and used a uniform distribution for the prior in their illustration. In this article, we identify certain characteristics of POR based on the uniform prior that help explain the role of the prior in multiplicity adjustment, and provide generalizations of these properties to more general priors. We ...
Beyond exchange and agglomeration: resource flows and city environments as wellsprings of urban growth

The conversation between economic geographers and political economists has not made much progress. The former focus on exchange, markets and efficiency, as can be seen in work on urban economies. We want the field to pay more attention to two processes crucial to the growth of cities often lying outside market exchange and agglomeration economies: how resources are managed across time and space and how the urban environment creates challenges demanding collective responses. We first make the case for the two processes using historical examples and then argue for the importance of similar processes today. We do not propose to make a definitive argument, but rather to challenge economic geographers with an expanded research agenda for the future.
Visible and Ultraviolet Spectra and Photochemistry of Molecular Ions in Solid Argon

Optical spectroscopic studies of molecular ions in solid argon [1] provide information on electronic states and ion structure which are complementary with studies in rigid organic glasses [2], ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (PES) [3], and photodissociation spectra (PDS) [4]. Spectra in solid argon are generally sharper and provide more vibrational information than glass spectra, and the cryogenic matrix quenches internal energy thus producing sharper bands than PDS and allowing the stabilization of facile molecular ions. The solid argon host also moderates photodissociation and allows isomerization to be a competitive process.
Use of Oxandrolone to Promote Growth in Neonates following Surgery for Complex Congenital Heart Disease: An Open-Label Pilot Trial

Objective Malnutrition and poor weight gain, common in neonates following repair of complex congenital heart disease (CHD), are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, improves weight gain in older children at high-risk for growth failure. We sought to determine feasibility, safety, and efficacy of oxandrolone therapy in neonates following surgery for complex CHD. Design Neonates with RACHS-1 score >3 were eligible to receive open-label oxandrolone for 28 days in this prospective pilot trial. There were 3 cohorts of 5 subjects receiving oxandrolone therapy under 3 specified dosage and preparation protocols: 0.1 mg/kg/day aqueous solution, 0.2 mg/kg/day aqueous solution, and 0.1 mg/kg/day preparation in medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. Age- and diagnosis-matched neonates who underwent surgery, but received no oxandrolone, served as a control cohort. Anthropometric measurements, physical examination for virilization, safety labs, and adverse events were monitored. Results Of 25 eligible patients, 15 consented (60%, 13/15 with Norwood procedure). There was no evidence of virilization, no changes in safety labs, and no serious adverse events related to oxandrolone among subjects receiving therapy. No subject met criteria for termination of study drug. There was a significant difference in change in weight-for-age z-score among the four cohorts, with subjects receiving 0.1 mg/kg/day in MCT oil having the lowest decline during the study period (−1.8 ± 0.5 for controls, −1.7 ± 0.4 for 0.1 mg/kg/day aqueous, −1.0 ± 0.4 for 0.2 mg/kg/day aqueous, and −0.6 ± 0.7 for 0.1 mg/kg/day MCT oil, P = .012). Conclusions Oxandrolone therapy at the doses studied appears safe in neonates after surgery for complex CHD. The decline in weight-for-age z-score was lowest in those receiving the MCT oil preparation suggesting better bioavailability of this preparation and a potential growth benefit with oxandrolone therapy. Further investigation is needed to define optimal dosing and assess efficacy.
Experimental Study of Chemo-Thermal Micromachining of Glass

Chemo-thermal micro-machining is a hybrid method of micro fabrication achieved by integrating laser based thermal ablation and chemical etching. Material removal in this process involves focussing laser beam on a glass specimen submerged in aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution that causes chemical degradation of glass along with thermal ablation at the laser target point. Though laser by itself is capable of machining numerous materials, it often causes micro fractures radially along the machined surface, especially when used on glass. In the proposed process, continuous waves of carbon dioxide laser (10.6 μm wavelength) with varying power are irradiated on the surface of borosilicate glass slide immersed in 1M NaOH solution for varying duration of exposure. This resulted in smaller hole diameter and better surface finish in the micro machining of glass, as compared to machining by laser beam alone.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
114. Replication-Defective HSV Vector Development for Targeted Gene Delivery

Gene therapy treatment strategies for Huntington's disease (HD) depend on a vector that (i) allows targeted delivery of large therapeutic transgenes to specific cell populations and (ii) is replication-defective and non-cytotoxic. Thus, our goal is to develop a replication-defective HSV-based gene therapy vector to deliver therapeutic transgenes to the cells most affected by expression of the mutant Huntington gene (Htt). Strategies for full retargeting of HSV require virus detargeting from its cognate receptors (HVEM and nectin1), recognized by the virus attachment/entry component glycoprotein D (gD), and introduction of a new ligand into gD that allows entry through recognition of the corresponding cellular receptors. To target an HSV vector for entry exclusively into cells expressing the receptor GFRα1 we employed the ligand GDNF. We replaced the signal peptide and HVEM binding domain of gD with pre-pro-(pp)GDNF to create a GFRα1 targeting protein, gD(Y38)_GDNF, that can still bind nectin1. Virus expressing gD(Y38)_GDNF was propagated on cells expressing nectin1 and purified virus was shown to enter nectin1-deficient J1.1-2 and B78H1 cells in a GFRα1-dependent manner. U2OS cells engineered to express GFRα1 demonstrated the most robust virus entry and spread, allowing us to create and propagate a fully retargeted virus that can no longer bind nectin1, gD(Δ38)_GDNF. Once the functionality of gD(Δ38)_GDNF was confirmed, we transferred this mutation to a replication-defective backbone lacking essential immediate early gene expression. Complementing cells were screened and those cells that best supported growth of the replication-defective backbone were selected. Virus stocks were propagated and tested for receptor specificity in vitro and experiments are currently underway to assess GFRα1-specific entry in vivo. We anticipate that the use of neuronal-specific targeting ligands, such as GFRα1, in replication-defective backbones will promote homing of non-toxic HSV gene therapy vectors to cells affected in HD.
The role of bacterial adhesion in cystic fibrosis including the staphylococcal aspect.

The bacteriology of cystic fibrosis shows a unique and predictable progression of colonizing micro-organisms. The reason for this sequence is still not known, but thought must be given to the idea that it may be related to the genetic disorder in some way. If this were to be true, an understanding of the colonization mechanisms at all stages in this progression could provide valuable insights for the development of novel therapies. As far as can be ascertained from published studies, mucus is the site of colonization in cystic fibrosis. While there is no doubt that the major pathogen,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, adheres to injured cells more avidly than to intact cells, the overwhelming evidence indicates that it also attaches more avidly to mucus than to intact airway cells by means of specific adhesin-receptor mechanisms. Studies withStaphylococcus aureus, the other major pathogen, are also in progress. These indicate that this organism also has an affinity for mucus. At this time the studies suggest a lesser affinity thanP. aeruginosa, at least with adult mucins. These two organisms do not however appear to share the same receptor. In addition to these two major pathogens,Haemophilus influenzae andStreptococcus pneumoniae, pathogens of lesser importance also adhere to mucus. Therefore adhesion to mucus or mucins may be a recurring theme in all airway colonization. A knowledge of the factors which control these tropisms ought to provide insights into the bacterial specificity seen in cystic fibrosis and other diseases.
Relocation of Obstetrician-Gynecologists in the United States, 2005-2015.

OBJECTIVE To examine recent trends in the relocation of obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) in the United States. METHODS This longitudinal descriptive study analyzed relocation patterns of ob-gyns between the earliest reference point (2005) and most recently (2015). A physician's county location in a year was compared with his or her location during the previous year. Physician background and county characteristics came from three data resources (Association of American Medical Colleges databases, American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, American Community Survey). A multilevel logistic regression model was used to model factors associated with relocation for the entire period. RESULTS An average of 2,446 (6.5%) of the 37,385 ob-gyns in practice moved per year. Approximately one third (32.1%) relocated (usually once or twice) during the 10 years with more than half (58.2%) remaining within their state. The odds of relocating were higher if the ob-gyns was young, male, black, or an international medical graduate. Relocations were predominantly to counties that were either urban or with a lower percentage of the population in poverty (less than 21.2%). Although the number of ob-gyns and women 18 years or older increased in most states, the population to ob-gyn ratio increased from 3,155 in 2006 to 3,293 in 2015. Net gains from relocations were most apparent in Florida, California, and Washington, whereas net losses were especially apparent in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and New York. CONCLUSION Approximately one in every three ob-gyns in the United States moved at least once in the past 10 years to counties that were predominantly urban or with less poverty. Observing this trend might contribute to a better understanding about the uneven national distribution of ob-gyns.
CAS Picard method for fractional nonlinear differential equation

In this paper, a computational method for solving the fractional nonlinear differential equation is introduced. We proposed a method by utilizing the CAS wavelets in conjunction with Picard technique. We call the method as CAS Picard method. The fractional nonlinear differential equations are transformed into a system of discrete fractional differential equations by Picard technique and then transformed into a system of algebraic equations by using the operational matrices of CAS wavelets. The error and supporting analysis of the method are also investigated. The comparison analysis of method with other existing numerical methods is also performed.
The Dark Side of Brokerage: Conflicts Between Individual and Collective Pursuits of Innovation

Many studies have shown that brokers---actors who have disconnected contacts---have better performance. Far less is known about the implications of brokerage for those other than the person in the ...
From sexless to sexy: Why it is time for human genetics to consider and report analyses of sex

Science has come a long way with regard to the consideration of sex differences in clinical and preclinical research, but one field remains behind the curve: human statistical genetics. The goal of this commentary is to raise awareness and discussion about how to best consider and evaluate possible sex effects in the context of large-scale human genetic studies. Over the course of this commentary, we reinforce the importance of interpreting genetic results in the context of biological sex, establish evidence that sex differences are not being considered in human statistical genetics, and discuss how best to conduct and report such analyses. Our recommendation is to run stratified analyses by sex no matter the sample size or the result and report the findings. Summary statistics from stratified analyses are helpful for meta-analyses, and patterns of sex-dependent associations may be hidden in a combined dataset. In the age of declining sequencing costs, large consortia efforts, and a number of useful control samples, it is now time for the field of human genetics to appropriately include sex in the design, analysis, and reporting of results.
Predictive Associations Between Family System Characteristics and Emergent Protective Factors

The present study was implemented to identify predictive relationships between family processes and the emergence of protective factors among young adults. There were 198 participants (119 women, 6...
Selection Bias or Treatment Effect? A Re-Examination of Russell 1000/2000 Index Reconstitution

A recent literature uses the annual reconstitution of the Russell 1000 and 2000 Indexes as a source of seemingly exogenous variation in institutional ownership to study the effect of institutional ownership on firm outcomes. We show that lagged institutional ownership measured prior to reconstitution exhibits very similar pre-existing differences at the 1000/2000 cutoff, and thus the results from the most common implementation of this setting reflect selection bias instead of a treatment effect. Additional tests confirm that it is the use of rankings based on Russell's June index weights that leads to biased results. With an unbiased approach, there is no significant discontinuity in institutional ownership at the 1000/2000 cutoff despite the large difference in index weights.
Vanadium Recovery from Oil Fly Ash by Carbon Removal and Roast-Leach Process

This research mainly focuses on the recovery of vanadium from oil fly ash by carbon removal and the roast-leach process. The oil fly ash contained about 85% unburned carbon and 2.2% vanadium by weight. A vanadium-enriched product was obtained after carbon removal, and the vanadium content of this product was 19% by weight. Next, the vanadium-enriched product was roasted with sodium carbonate to convert vanadium oxides to water-soluble sodium metavanadate. The roasted sample was leached with water at 60°C, and the extraction percentage of vanadium was about 92% by weight. Several analytical techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), were utilized for sample analyses. Thermodynamic modeling was also conducted with HSC chemistry software to explain the experimental results.
The effectiveness and effects of alcohol regulation: evidence from India

We provide quasi-experimental evidence on the effects of alcohol regulation on alcohol consumption and associated public health outcomes using detailed individual level and aggregate data from India, where state-level laws regulating the minimum legal drinking age generate substantial variation in the availability of commercially produced alcohol across people of different ages. We find that despite significant law evasion, men who are legally allowed to drink are substantially more likely to consume alcohol. Further, men who are legally allowed to drink are significantly more likely to commit violence against their partners, suggesting a causal channel between alcohol consumption and domestic violence. These results are robust to the exclusion of states with prohibition, implying that they are driven by differences in MLDA. We also examine the effects of alcohol regulation on other public health outcomes. Consistent with the existing literature, we find evidence that smoking and drinking are complements. Finally, we provide suggestive evidence that stricter alcohol control is associated with lower rates of motor vehicle accidents and crimes against women, but not other forms of crime.
Graph-Based Resource Sharing in Vehicular Communication

This paper investigates the resource allocation problem in device-to-device-based vehicular communications, based on slow fading statistics of channel state information (CSI), to alleviate signaling overhead for reporting rapidly varying accurate CSI of mobile links. We consider the case when each vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) link shares spectrum with multiple vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) links. Leveraging the slow fading statistical CSI of mobile links, we maximize the sum V2I capacity while guaranteeing the reliability of all V2V links. We use graph partitioning tools to divide highly interfering V2V links into different clusters before formulating the spectrum sharing problem as a weighted 3-D matching problem. We propose a suite of algorithms, including a baseline graph-based resource allocation algorithm, a greedy resource allocation algorithm, and a randomized resource allocation algorithm, to address the performance-complexity tradeoffs. We further investigate resource allocation adaption in response to slow fading CSI of all vehicular links and develop a low-complexity randomized algorithm.
Communication disorders in aging

The intent of the book is to provide readers with a basis for understanding the impact of aging on communication as well as to provide information as to how to assist aging individuals who are expe...
Making the Transition: Prerequisites to Product Differentiation

Much debate has taken place over the feasibility and merits of diversifying the electricity product (i.e., temporal and spacial product differentiation). Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation has engaged in numerous forms of electricity product differentiation, through real time pricing, priority service and advanced time-of-use offerings, and has gained a number of practical insights into making the transition from standardized service offerings to diversified ones. It is this practical experience that I wish to share with you through this presentation.
Phosphoregulation of Cdt1 in G2 and M phases prevents re-replication independently of Geminin

DNA replication origin licensing, the process of MCM helicase loading, is an early essential step in replication and should be restricted to G1 phase to avoid re-replication and genome instability. Cdt1 is a critical MCM loading factor whose licensing activity must be restrained after G1. We discovered that Cdt1 hyperphosphorylation during G2 and M phase is essential to prevent re-replication and DNA damage, the first example of direct Cdt1 licensing activity control by post-translational modification. This hyperphosphorylation specifically requires Cyclin A/CDK1 and occurs at a cluster of phosphorylation sites in a disordered Cdt1 linker region. Hyperphosphorylation interferes with Cdt1-MCM binding independently of protein degradation or inhibition by the Cdt1 inhibitor, Geminin. At the M-G1 transition, Cdt1 is re-activated by protein phosphatase 1-dependent dephosphorylation. We propose that distinct, non-redundant re-replication inhibition mechanisms act in a sequential relay from early S through mitosis to ensure once, and only once, chromosome duplication.
Laplace Transformation and s -Domain Circuit Analysis

In the present context, a transformation establishes a one-to-one relation between two sets of objects. Such a relation exists between sinusoidal functions of time and the corresponding phasor representations, provided a specification of the frequency of the sinusoid accompanies the phasor representation (to make the relation one-to-one).
Effect of Long-term Nicotine Replacement Therapy vs Standard Smoking Cessation for Smokers With Chronic Lung Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have particular difficulty quitting. Long-term nicotine replacement therapy (LT-NRT) might offer a strategy for reducing harm from cigarettes and provide a pathway for later cessation. Objective To compare the effect of LT-NRT vs standard smoking cessation (SSC) on exposure to cigarette smoke, harm related to smoking, and cessation among smokers with COPD. Design, Setting, and Participants This unblinded, randomized clinical trial recruited smokers who self-reported a diagnosis of COPD at any level of readiness to quit from May 23, 2014, through November 30, 2015. The 12-month follow-up was completed December 6, 2016. Patients were recruited at a clinical research unit of an academic medical center. Analysis was based on intention to treat and performed from March 8 through November 30, 2017. Interventions Standard smoking cessation treatment included 10 weeks of NRT and 4 follow-up counseling sessions for those willing to make a quit attempt. Long-term NRT included 12 months of NRT and 6 follow-up counseling sessions regardless of initial willingness to quit. Overall, 198 patients were randomized to SSC, and 197 were included in the primary analysis; 200 patients were randomized to LT-NRT, and 197 were included in the primary analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was 7-day abstinence verified by carbon monoxide (CO) levels at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included cigarettes smoked per day (CPD), exposure to CO, urinary excretion of 4-methylnitrosamino-1-3-pyridyl-1-butanol (NNAL) (a smoking-related carcinogen), and adverse events. Results Among 398 patients who were randomized (59.8% female; mean [SD] age, 56.0 [9.3] years), the mean (SD) CPD was 23.1 (12.3). Twelve-month follow-up was completed by 373 participants (93.7%), and 394 (99.0%) were included in the primary analysis. At 12 months, CO-verified abstinence occurred in 23 of 197 participants (11.7%) in the SSC arm and 24 of 197 (12.2%) in the LT-NRT arm (risk difference, 0.5%; 95% CI, −5.9% to 6.9%). Continuing smokers in the SSC and LT-NRT arms had similar, significantly reduced harms caused by smoking, including cigarette consumption by 12.4 and 14.5 CPD, respectively, exhaled CO level by 5.5 and 7.8 ppm, respectively, and mean urinary NNAL excretion by 21.7% and 23.0%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, continuing smokers with greater adherence to NRT experienced less reduction in NNAL exposure. The frequency of major adverse cardiac events was similar in both groups. Conclusions and Relevance Similar rates of cessation and similar reductions in exposure to tobacco smoke resulted with LT-NRT and SSC. Among continuing smokers, ongoing use of NRT was not associated with reductions in smoke exposure. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT02148445
Evaluation of an Electronic Dosing Calculator to Reduce Pediatric Medication Errors.

Introduction. Adverse medication events are a potential source of significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients, where dosages frequently rely on weight-based formulas. The most frequen...
Skin Conductance in the Study of Politics and Communication

Abstract The last decade has seen a marked increase in the use of skin conductance in social scientific research, both as a real-time measure of reactions to stimuli, and as an indicator of underlying predispositions connected to a range of political, economic, and social behaviors. This chapter introduces skin conductance as a measure of psychophysiological activation. It considers the most common interpretations of skin conductance in the social sciences, and outlines some of the advantages—both methodological and substantive—of skin conductance over some more typical measures in the study of political science and communication. The chapter then turns to an expository example of the use of skin conductance in work on political communication, using data from recent psychophysiological experiments on reactions to negative versus positive network news in the United States.
Tumor regression grade in gastric cancer after preoperative therapy.

168Background: The AJCC 8th edition updated ypStage TNM grouping for patients with gastric cancer due to the increasing use of preoperative therapy. We previously reported that nodal status after p...
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Promotes Skeletal Muscle Myostatin Expression, Fibrogenic Cell Expansion, and a Decline in Muscle Quality:

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears result in significant quadriceps muscle atrophy that is resistant to recovery despite extensive rehabilitation. Recent work suggests an elevated fi...
Human Genome Diversity Project: History

The Human Genome Diversity Project was intended to be a large-scale effort to sample and archive human genetic variation. It was initially proposed by geneticists and evolutionary biologists in the early 1990s and was soon met by strong criticism. These criticisms came from multiple fronts, including biological and cultural anthropologists as well as indigenous rights activists and community members. Project organizers, who identified as antiracist and uninterested in reaping commercial benefits, were surprised to learn that many of these critics perceived the project as racist and neocolonial. These concerns led the initiative to falter, particularly in the United States. While the Human Genome Diversity Project did not achieve its original aims, it demonstrated the need to attend to the intertwined ethical and epistemological challenges of investigating human difference in a genomic age.