cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 20: Public Reporting of Mortality Rates for Cardiovascular Conditions Did Not Improve Patient Outcomes

Background: Public reporting may improve provider performance, although evidence for its impact has been mixed. In the U.S., public reporting of hospital performance became widespread in late 2004. Led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this program initially reported process-of-care metrics only, but in 2008 expanded to include public reporting of 30-day mortality rates. We set out to determine whether public reporting of mortality rates led to improvements in mortality rates for cardiovascular conditions. Methods: We used national Medicare data from 2005-2011 to compare trends in risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and congestive heart failure (CHF), two publicly reported conditions, for hospitals participating in the Hospital Compare program throughout the study period. We considered 2005 through 2007 as the process reporting period (pre-mortality-reporting period), and 2008 through 2011 as the mortality reporting period. We performed linear regression analyses with hospital random effects to determine if trends in mortality changed after the implementation of public reporting of mortality rates. For comparison, we also selected two common non-reported cardiovascular conditions, atrial fibrillation and stroke, and examined trends in mortality rates over the same time period. Results: There were 3,617 hospitals in our sample. Mortality rates for AMI were improving at a rate of -0.09% per quarter during process reporting, but the improvement slowed to a rate of -0.05% per quarter during outcomes reporting (+0.04% per quarter, p=0.016). For CHF, mortality was improving at -0.03% per quarter during process reporting, but worsened at +0.06% per quarter during mortality reporting (change of +0.09% per quarter, p<0.001). Interestingly, improvements in mortality rates also slowed for the non-reported cardiovascular conditions over the study period (Table). Conclusions: We found that mortality rates for publicly reported conditions were improving slightly during the period when only processes of care were being reported, but that these improvements slowed or reversed once public reporting of mortality rates began. These findings suggest that public reporting may be necessary, but is clearly not sufficient, to improve patient outcomes. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Creatine, 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate and Anemia

Abstract Red-cell creatine and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate were investigated in normal persons, in patients with anemia characterized by increased age of the red-cell population (aplastic anemias), and in patients with anemias characterized by a young red-cell population (hemolytic and other bone-marrow-responsive anemias). The mean age of the red-cell population was estimated by hexokinase and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activities. In anemias with older red-cell populations creatine levels were found to be very low, whereas the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate values were slightly increased. In anemias with a younger mean age of the red cells there was an increase in both creatine and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Thus, it appears that increases in creatine are chiefly related to the mean age of the red-cell population, whereas those in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate are conditioned both by the anemia and by the age of red cells.
Restoring conjunctival tolerance by topical nuclear factor-κB inhibitors reduces preservative-facilitated allergic conjunctivitis in mice.

Fil: Guzman, Mauricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; Argentina
198 COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN.

Objective To assess the incidence and pattern of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections among Alabama children during the 1999-2005 study period. Methods MRSA infections were considered community acquired if patients had positive cultures within 72 hours of admission and no prior history of MRSA infection. A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with cultures positive for MRSA infections at the Children9s Hospital of Alabama from 1999 through the first 5 months of 2004. Prospective interviews were done for 33 CA-MRSA hospitalized patients identified in 2005. Patients were assigned a risk classification for resistant infections. Low-risk patients had no risk factors. Intermediate-risk patients had a single risk factor, often the presence of myringotomy tubes. High-risk patients typically had hospitalizations or surgery within the preceding 12 months. CA-MRSA and hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) isolates collected in 2005 were genetically tested via pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for comparison of their genotypes. HA-MRSA patients had a positive MRSA culture taken after 72 hours of admission or had a history of a previous MRSA infection. Results 63% of CA-MRSA cases presented as skin infections, 21% as otorrhea, and 6% as invasive infections. Cases of CA-MRSA rose from 17 in 2000 to 96 in the first 5 months of 2004. From 1999-2003 31% of CA-MRSA cases were resistant to clindamycin. Of 33 cases of CA-MRSA studied prospectively in 2005, only 1 was resistant to clindamycin, confirmed by D-zone test. According to PFGE, CA-MRSA is a new strain genetically distinct from most HA-MRSA; however, some clinical HA-MRSA genetically matched CA-MRSA strains. Conclusions The increased incidence and genetic distinction of CA-MRSA indicate that these infections deserve increased medical and public health intervention.
Inferring Network Effects from Observational Data

We present Relational Covariate Adjustment (RCA), a general method for estimating causal effects in relational data. Relational Covariate Adjustment is implemented through two high-level operations: identification of an adjustment set and relational regression adjustment. The former is achieved through an extension of Pearl's back-door criterion to relational domains. We demonstrate how this extended definition can be used to estimate causal effects in the presence of network interference and confounding. RCA is agnostic to functional form, and it can easily model both discrete and continuous treatments as well as estimate the effects of a wider array of network interventions than existing experimental approaches. We show that RCA can yield robust estimates of causal effects using common regression models without extensive parameter tuning. Through a series of simulation experiments on a variety of synthetic and real-world network structures, we show that causal effects estimated on observational data with RCA are nearly as accurate as those estimated from well-designed network experiments
Epidemiological analysis on newly detected leprosy cases in Zhenjiang from 1991 to 2012

Objective The research was aimed to study the epidemiological characteristics on newly detected leprosy cases, and to provide scientific evidences for specific strategies on leprosy control. Methods Descriptive analysis was carried out based on the data from leprosy surveillance system from 1991 to 2012. Results In total, 32 new cases were reported from 1991 to 2012. Among these cases, 19 were male and 13 were female. The cases were mostly originated from the rural area. Twenty-eight cases were reported by leprosy prevention and control systems. The average incidence rate was 0.054 per 100000 among the population, and the rate was decreasing significantly. The average age for the reported cases was 52.8, with no obvious tendency. The mean delay period was two years, and was shortening significantly. The disability rate was 53.13%, and the grade II disability took up 28.13%.The rate of grade II disability was significantly higher in MB cases than in PB cases. Conclusion The overall epidemic situation of leprosy is still at low level in Zhenjiang. However, it is still necessary to strengthen the training of professional personnel to improve early detection. Continuous efforts will be needed for many years in order to reduce the burden of the disease and reach the target of leprosy total elimination.
Future directions in the development of arterial prostheses for small and medium caliber arteries.

Discussion of the problems and developmental possibilities of prostheses is based upon the search either for a truly satisfactory artificial flow surface or for means to accelerate healing by aiding the ingrowth of perigraft tissues and also, if possible, by using a healable, nonthrombogenic substance as the initial flow surface.
The reproducibility of urodynamic studies of neurogenic bladders in spinal cord injury.

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the reproducibility (test-retest reliability) of urodynamic studies in neurogenic bladders of subjects with spinal cord injuries (SCI).Design: Retrospective case series.Setting: Urology department of a major rehabilitation center.Subjects: Fifty individuals with SCI who had urodynamic studies performed from February 2000 to April 2000.Main outcome measures: Two trials (Time 1 and Time 2) of urodynamic studies done 5 minutes apart, with the following collected: bladder volume at first sensation, maximum cystometric capacity, presence of uninhib ited contractions, opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure, duration of bladder contraction, volume voided, and post-void residual (PVR) volume. The corresponding data were then compared. Statistical analysis was performed using the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient and kappa.Results: Analysis of the data showed statistically significant levels of agreement between Time 1 and Time 2 with regard to the various corresponding ...
Enumeration algorithms for constructing (d/sub 1/, /spl infin/, d/sub 2/, /spl infin/) run length limited arrays: capacity estimates and coding schemes

We present two enumeration algorithms for a class of (d/sub 1/, /spl infin/, d/sub 2/, /spl infin/) run-length limited (RLL) constrained arrays. Based on the structure of these algorithms, we derive bounds for the maximum information rate of the constraint. We also give encoders and decoders for coded 2D constrained arrays with rates close to the derived bounds.
Visibility Culling for Time-Varying Volume Rendering Using Temporal Occlusion Coherence

Typically there is a high coherence in data values between neighboring time steps in an iterative scientific software simulation; this characteristic similarly contributes to a corresponding coherence in the visibility of volume blocks when these consecutive time steps are rendered. Yet traditional visibility culling algorithms were mainly designed for static data, without consideration of such potential temporal coherency. In this paper, we explore the use of Temporal Occlusion Coherence (TOC) to accelerate visibility culling for time-varying volume rendering. In our algorithm, the opacity of volume blocks is encoded by means of Plenoptic Opacity Functions (POFs). A coherence-based block fusion technique is employed to coalesce time-coherent data blocks over a span of time steps into a single, representative block. Then POFs need only be computed for these representative blocks. To quickly determine the subvolumes that do not require updates in their visibility status for each subsequent time step, a hierarchical "TOC tree" data structure is constructed to store the spans of coherent time steps. To achieve maximal culling potential, while remaining conservative, we have extended our previous POF into an Optimized POF (OPOF) encoding scheme for this specific scenario. To test our general TOC and OPOF approach, we have designed a parallel time-varying volume rendering algorithm accelerated by visibility culling. Results from experimental runs on a 32-processor cluster confirm both the effectiveness and scalability of our approach.
Clofarabine Plus Cytarabine (ARA-C) Combination Is Active in Newly Diagnosed Patients (PTS) ≥ Age 50 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Abstract Clofarabine is a next-generation deoxynucleoside analog with activity in acute leukemias. As clofarabine effectively inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, it is also suited for biochemical modulation strategies with other nucleoside analogs. In a previous study of clofarabine plus ara-C in pts with relapsed/refractory AML/MDS, we reported a CR rate of 24% (41% OR) (Blood 102:615a, 2003). Cellular pharmacology studies suggested that accumulation of intracellular clofarabine triphosphate resulted in higher ara-CTP accumulation of the leukemia blasts. We conducted a phase II study to investigate the efficacy and safety of clofarabine plus ara-C in pts ≥ 50 yrs with newly diagnosed AML and MDS (≥ 10% marrow blasts). Pts were excluded for ECOG PS > 2, age ≥ 75, and good prognosis karyotypes [t(8;21), inv(16), t(15;17)]. Clofarabine was given at 40mg/m2/d over 1-hour (hr) i.v. daily for 5 days (d2-6) followed 4 hrs later by ara-C at 1g/m2/d over 2-hrs i.v. daily for 5 days (d1-5). Sixty pts (53 AML, 7 RAEB-2 incl. 1 CMML-2) were enrolled and are evaluable. Median age: 61 yrs (range 50–74). Twenty-eight pts (47%) had secondary AML (17 AHD, 11 other malignancies) and 30 pts (50%) had abnormal cytogenetics (−5/−7 in 15, +8 in 10, del(11)(q23) in 3). 31 pts (52%) achieved CR; another 5 pts (8%) achieved CRp. Of 11 pts who received a second induction course, 4 pts (36%) responded (2 CR, 2 CRp). The CR rate was 60% (18/30 pts) in the diploid and 43% (13/30) in the abnormal karyotype group. Median time to CR: 29 days (20–98). 9 deaths (15%) occurred on study of which 4 pts (7%) died during the first course (d10 to d42). Adverse events included transient facial flushing and headaches (
Are T cells the only HIV-1 reservoir?

Current antiretroviral therapies have improved the duration and quality of life of people living with HIV-1. However, viral reservoirs impede complete eradication of the virus. Although there are many strategies to eliminate infectious virus, the most actively pursued are latency reversing agents in conjunction with immune modulation. This strategy, known as “shock and kill”, has been tested primarily against the most widely recognized HIV-1 latent reservoir found in resting memory CD4+ T cells. This is in part because of the dearth of conclusive evidence about the existence of non-T cell reservoirs. Studies of non-T cell reservoirs have been difficult to interpret because of technical and biological issues that have hampered a better understanding. This review considers the current knowledge of non-T cell reservoirs, the challenges encountered in a better understanding of these populations, and their implications for HIV-1 cure research.
Timing A Pulsed Thin Film Pyroelectric Generator For Maximum Power Density

Pyroelectric thermal-to-electric energy conversion is accomplished by a cyclic process of thermally-inducing polarization changes in the material under an applied electric field. The pyroelectric MEMS device investigated consisted of a thin film PZT capacitor with platinum bottom and iridium oxide top electrodes. Electric fields between 1-20 kV/cm with a 30% duty cycle and frequencies from 0.1 - 100 Hz were tested with a modulated continuous wave IR laser with a duty cycle of 20% creating temperature swings from 0.15 - 26 °C on the pyroelectric receiver. The net output power of the device was highly sensitive to the phase delay between the laser power and the applied electric field. A thermal model was developed to predict and explain the power loss associated with finite charge and discharge times. Excellent agreement was achieved between the theoretical model and the experiment results for the measured power density versus phase delay. Limitations on the charging and discharging rates result in reduced power and lower efficiency due to a reduced net work per cycle.
Connecting Historic Perservationists: A Proposed Partnership Based on the ERIC Model

Studies reveal that information needs of historic preservationists are unmet by current resources. This paper analyzes the Educational Resources Information Center system and parallels the need for analogous services to the field of historic preservation. Emerging technologies enable partnerships connecting information, entities, and individuals in all preservation disciplines.
Premixed Antibiotic Bone Cement: An In Vitro Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy

After Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of premixed antibiotic bone cements (polymethylmethacrylate [PMMA]), these products are being used with increasing frequency during revision and primary hip and knee arthroplasties. To date, no studies have compared the antimicrobial efficacy of more than 2 products directly. Using a 7-day modified Kirby-Bauer assay, we assessed the in vitro antibacterial properties of 5 FDA-approved, commercially available antibiotic PMMAs. Significant differences in antimicrobial activity were noted among the antibiotic PMMA products included in this investigation. Antibacterial activity of all products tested was greatest on day 1 and rapidly diminished thereafter. Results of this investigation suggest that the antibacterial efficacies of premixed antibiotic PMMA products are not equivalent.
PREPARATION FOR USING FIBER OPTIC CABLES TO MONITOR DISTRIBUTED STRAIN AND TEMPERATURE PROFILES IN AN UNDERGROUND MINE SETTING

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of protein aggregates called Lewy bodies. These plaques are primarily composed of oligomers of the protein α-synuclein (αS), which is a small protein of 140 amino acids that is natively unfolded, however the folding of this protein has been found to be accelerated in the presence of metal ions, particularly copper. One ideology that has been used for therapeutic removal of endogenous metal ions is chelation therapy. Click chemistry, or the Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC), involves the reaction of an alkyne and an azide, resulting in the formation of a 1,2,3-substituted triazole. This reaction is well known for being extremely versatile, accommodating a wide variety of functionalized alkynes and azides. Recently,
Correlation Between Original Biopsy Pathology and Mohs Intraoperative Pathology.

Background The pathology observed on initial biopsy specimens for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), specifically the tumor subtype, weighs heavily into the selection of the treatment modality. Recognizing aggressive features on intraoperative Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) frozen sections that were not indicated on initial biopsy reports is not uncommon. To date, there is limited data describing this discrepancy. Objective To investigate the frequency and nature of incongruity between the pathology seen in initial biopsies and intraoperative Mohs sections, providing information that will potentially impact skin cancer treatment and biopsy recommendations. Methods Retrospective chart review of cases of NMSC referred for MMS at the authors' institution over a 1-year period, recording changes between tumor subtypes observed at biopsy and those observed during MMS. Results Cases (50.5%) (n = 163) changed aggressiveness. Of these, 33% (n = 108) were more aggressive, whereas 17% (n = 55) were less aggressive. Conclusion A substantial discrepancy was observed between preoperative biopsy and intraoperative pathology, including a significant portion tumors that became more aggressive. These results suggest that treatment modalities without margin control may not provide adequate treatment for a considerable number of NMSC based on preoperative tumor type alone.
Thermoresponsive Double Network Hydrogels with Exceptional Compressive Mechanical Properties

The utility of thermoresponsive hydrogels, such as those based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), is severely limited by their deficient mechanical properties. In particular, the simultaneous achievement of high strength and stiffness remains unreported. In this work, a thermoresponsive hydrogel is prepared having the unique combination of ultrahigh compressive strength (≈23 MPa) and excellent compressive modulus (≈1.5 MPa). This is accomplished by employing a double network (DN) design comprised of a tightly crosslinked, highly negatively charged 1st network based on poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (PAMPS) and a loosely crosslinked, zwitterionic 2nd network based on a copolymer of thermoresponsive NIPAAm and zwitterionic 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (MEDSAH). Comparison to other DN designs reveals that this PAMPS/P(NIPAAm-co-MEDSAH) DN hydrogel's remarkable properties stem from the intra- and internetwork ionic interactions of the two networks. Finally, this mechanically robust hydrogel retains the desirable thermosensitivity of PNIPAAm hydrogels, exhibiting a volume phase transition temperature of ≈35 °C.
The transparency of space

Space between the stars inside our galaxy is not entirely transparent. Extremely tenuous absorbing matter seems to be concentrated all over its equatorial plane. The nature of the obscuration (general, selective, monochromatic) points to the existence of three types of absorbing matter.
Evaluation of Thyroid Function during Pregnancy: Have We Taken a Wrong Turn?

Recently, the American Thyroid Association (ATA)2 issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy and the postpartum period (1). The document is an excellent review of current literature relating to the assessment of thyroid status during pregnancy. While universal screening for thyroid disease before or during pregnancy remains controversial, thyroid status can be accurately screened with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and additional testing such as free thyroxine (FT4) is required only when TSH is abnormal. However, one of the recommendations of the ATA document stood out: Recommendation 3 reads, “Accurate estimation of the FT4 concentrations can also be done by calculating a FT4 index.” The FT4 index is a virtually obsolete estimation of FT4 that has been replaced by newer and more accurate FT4 immunoassays and LC-MS/MS. This recommendation is based on the panel's observation that “Current uncertainty around FT4 estimates in pregnancy has led some to question the wisdom of relying on any FT4 immunoassays during pregnancy.” Here I would like to review the source of this uncertainty and propose an alternative interpretation of the literature. ### SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY In 1991, Roti et al. compared 10 different radioimmunoassay methods for free triiodothyronine (FT3) and FT4 (2). They observed that whereas FT4 concentrations were often lower in pregnant (third trimester) women than nonpregnant women, the TSH concentrations remained within the reference interval. These findings suggested that many of the assays available at that time for the measurement of serum free thyroid hormone concentrations did not seem adequate to evaluate the real thyroid status of pregnant women. Indeed, since then numerous studies have demonstrated that FT4 measured by …
Efficient and robust classification of seismic data using nonlinear support vector machines

We characterize the robustness and scalability of nonlinear Support Vector Machines (SVM) combined with kernel Principal Component Analysis (kPCA) for the classification of nonlinearly correlated data within the context of geo-structure identification using seismic data. Classification through pattern recognition using supervised learning algorithms such as SVM is popular in many fields. However, the suitability of such methods for classifying seismic data is severely hampered by assumptions of linearity (linear SVM), which affects accuracy, or computational limitations with increases in data dimension (nonlinear SVM). We propose an alternate approach to overcome this limitation, performing nonlinear SVM in a reduced dimensional space determined using kPCA. The utility of the method is demonstrated by characterizing the geologic structure using synthetically generated seismograms. We observe that our method produced a more efficient and robust classifier for seismic data than standard nonlinear SVM. Optimal SVM performance occurs when a subspace that makes up only 10% of the entire feature space is used for the training set. We also observe a greater than five times speedup in computational time between the optimal performance and standard nonlinear SVM. The results indicate that performing kPCA dimension reduction prior to classification can significantly increase performance and robustness.
A novel pro-apoptotic function for Epstein-Barr virus LMP2A: increasing B cell sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis via Lyn and Syk kinases (VIR1P.1136)

Latent Membrane Protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protects B cells from many pro-apoptotic signals. LMP2A is expressed in EBV-infected B cells in the germinal center, which is a site of significant Fas-mediated apoptosis. Given that B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation protects B cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis and since LMP2A acts as a BCR mimic, we hypothesized that LMP2A would protect B cells from Fas-induced apoptosis. To test this hypothesis, LMP2A-negative and -positive B cell lines were exposed to a Fas-specific monoclonal antibody and apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V staining and PARP cleavage. Surprisingly, LMP2A-expressing B cell lines demonstrate an increased sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis, due to a LMP2A-dependent enhancement in Fas expression. B cell lines harboring LMP2A mutations in either the Lyn or Syk binding site do not show an LMP2A-dependent increase in Fas levels and/or Fas-mediated apoptosis, indicating that LMP2A requires these two kinases to mediate these pro-apoptotic effects. Furthermore, experiments demonstrate that LMP2A enhances Fas-mediated apoptosis in human B cell lines in the presence of additional EBV latency proteins, indicating that LMP2A promotes Fas-dependent apoptosis in the natural context of the virus. These findings are the first to demonstrate a pro-apoptotic function of LMP2A and have implications for both EBV latency and EBV-associated malignancies.
The “Spiritualized” Ecstasies: Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll

In this chapter, we examine the “spiritualized” ecstasies which transform the secular into the mystical, the ecstasies of sexuality, drugs, and music. By doing such actions in the right manner, they turn from being sins to virtuous acts. Thus, sexuality, formerly understood as hedonism, is now tantric practice, the body’s way to God. Sexual ecstasy becomes religious ecstasy, for God dwells in the body. Drugs are sacraments, with peyote and ayahuasca used as entheogens. Rock and roll, the music and dance which was called the “devil’s music,” brings group harmony and ecstatic joy to thousands of people at raves and festivals. We shall look at tantra and romance novels, Santo Daime and Ayahuasca, trance dance and neo-shamanism, as ways of bringing ecstasy back to the body.
The Nature and Severity of Adverse Events in Select Outpatient Surgical Procedures in the Veterans Health Administration.

Background Research on adverse events (AEs) in outpatient surgery has been limited. As part of a Veterans Health Administration (VA) project on AE surveillance, we chart-reviewed selected outpatient surgical cases to characterize the nature and severity of AEs. Methods We abstracted financial year 2012-2015 VA outpatient surgery cases selected with high (n = 1185) and low (n = 1072) likelihood of an AE based on postoperative health care utilization. The abstraction tool included established AE definitions and validated harm and severity scales. Results We found AEs in 608 high-likelihood (51%) and 126 low-likelihood outpatient surgical procedures (12%). Among 1010 unique AEs, the most common were wound issues (n = 261, 26%), urinary retention (23%), and urinary tract infections (12%). While 63% of all AEs involved minimal harm, 28% required hospitalization, and 9% were severely harmful including 8 AEs requiring intervention to sustain life and 2 deaths. Overall, 102 AEs (10%) required, at minimum, a repeat surgery to treat. Conclusions Among VA outpatient surgical procedures selected based on likelihood of an AE, nearly 40% of identified events carried more than minimal patient harm, undermining the claim that outpatient surgery is relatively safe. Prevalent and preventable AEs such as wound dehiscence and urinary retention may be useful targets for quality improvement.
Language of Zones

Language of Zones is introduced in Chapter 2 (DEFs 2.21 and 2.22) as a member of the Family of Languages of Webs. In this chapter we introduce controlled grammar Gz for generating the Language of Zones. We also prove that this grammar actually generates the Language of Zones for AS Complex Systems.
Interaction of alcohols and anesthetics with the water-hexane interface: A molecular dynamics study

1On leave from: Laboratoire de Chimie Th6orique Unit~ de Recherche Associ6e au CNRS no. 510 Universit6 ttenri Poincar6-Nancy 1, BP 239 54506 Vandoeuvre-lbs-Nancy Cedex, France Abstract The transfer of eight solutes across the water-hexane interface is studied using molecular dynamics computer simulations. Four of these solutes are model amphiphiles, straight chain alcohols methanol, ethanol, butanol and hexanol. The remaining four molecules cyclopropane, nitrous oxide, isoflurane and desflurane are non-amphiphilic and polar or weakly polar. All of them are clinical anesthetics. All eight molecules exhibit free energy minima at the interface, indicating that they are interfacially active. Whereas interfacial activity of amphiphiles has been well known, it is shown here that a similar, although somewhat weaker behavior is also characteristic of a wide range of polar solutes. This can be explained as a balance between electrostatic and non-electrostatic contributions to the free energy, that change monotonically, but oppositely near the interface. Qualitatively, similar results are expected for solutes at interfaces between water and other non-polar liquids or lipid bilayers. Based on the results showing a very good correlation between anesthetic potencies and interfacial concentrations of 20 anesthetic compounds, it is proposed that the site of anesthetic action is located near the interface between water and the neuronal membrane.
The Role of Cytokines in Clinical Heart Failure

Elevated levels of inflammatory mediators have been identified in the manifestations of clinical heart failure (HF), including HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction and acute decompensated HF. Moreover, experimental studies have repeatedly shown that activation of inflammation in the heart provokes left ventricular (LV) remodeling and LV dysfunction. Nonetheless, phase II and III clinical trials that have attempted to antagonize inflammatory mediator approaches were negative with respect to the primary end points of the trials and in some patients resulted in worsening HF and/or death. The following review will discuss how recent developments in the field have advanced our understanding of the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of HF and will discuss the negative outcomes of the existing clinical trials in light of this new information.
Towards Development of Scalable Garment-Integrated Technologies

This research project aims to develop a scalable manufacturing method for garment-integrated technologies that preserve user comfort and work within the constraints of typical apparel manufacturing processes while providing required electrical performance and durability needed by the system. We have developed a method for attaching discrete surface-mount components and rigorously tested the method. To demonstrate the scalability of the method test prototype garments are under development, which will be used to evaluate the durability of the manufacturing process at garment scale as well as the impact of integrating electronic technology on labor, equipment, and cost.
Footprint modeling of cache associativity and granularity

Two common techniques in efficient caching are associativity and sub-block granularity. This short paper presents a parameterized and composable model for each of the two techniques. It shows how the new models are more general, accurate or efficient than previous modeling solutions in either technique, and how they can be used together to model the cache implemented with both techniques, i.e. sub-block set associative cache.
Indices of Rank Histogram Flatness and Their Sampling Properties

AbstractQuantitative evaluation of the flatness of the verification rank histogram can be approached through formal hypothesis testing. Traditionally, the familiar χ2 test has been used for this pu...
Microcirculation Hemodynamics and Other Biological Flow Problems: A Progress Report

A research program is described, aimed at understanding multiphase flow phenomena in the microcirculation of blood, and at exploring the engineering implications of biological flow phenomena. The microcirculation investigations comprise the experimental determination of the detailed characteristics of blood flow in glass tubes 35 to 80 μ in diameter, the numerical analysis of the flow processes in the plasmatic gaps of an idealized model of a capillary, the experimental study of phase repartition in models of bifurcations, and the determination in an ad hoc towing tank of the hydrodynamic characteristics of large-scale models of erythrocytes. Exploration of the engineering implications of these and other flow phenomena is carried out within a tentative framework emphasizing different views of the phenomena.
Determination of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reorganization Energies with Application to Water Oxidation Catalysts.

The reorganization energy, λ, for interfacial electron transfer (ET) and for proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) between a water oxidation catalyst and a conductive In2O3:Sn (ITO) oxide were extracted from kinetic data by application of Marcus–Gerischer theory. Specifically, light excitation of the water oxidation catalyst [RuII(tpy)(4,4′-(PO3H2)2-bpy)OH2]2+ (RuII-OH2), where tpy is 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine, anchored to a mesoporous thin film of ITO nanocrystallites resulted in rapid excited-state injection (kinj > 108 s–1). The subsequent reaction of the injected electron (ITO(e–)) and the oxidized catalyst was quantified spectroscopically on nanosecond and longer time scales. The metallic character of ITO allowed potentiostatic control of the reaction free energy change −ΔGo over a 1 eV range. At pH values below the pKa = 1.7 of the oxidized catalyst, ET was the primary reaction. Within the pH range 2 ≤ pH ≤ 5, an interfacial PCET reaction (ITO(e–) + RuIII-OH + H+→ RuII-OH2)...
Novel Use of Dual-Lumen Catheter for Irrigation and Drainage After Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Background Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is an intracranial pathology most commonly affecting elderly patients. Patients may present with worsening headache, seizures, weakness, balance and gait problems, and memory deficits. Even in patients undergoing hematoma evacuation, there is a substantial risk for recurrence. The authors present the first use of an irrigating external ventricular drain in the United States in the perioperative management of a patient with cSDH treated with craniotomy (IRRAS, Stockholm, Sweden). Case Description An 82-year-old male presented with right-sided weakness, confusion, and right-sided neglect with expressive aphasia. He was found to have a large 2.5-cm cSDH with a 9-mm left-to-right midline shift. The patient was treated with a minicraniotomy to evacuate the hematoma and placement of an irrigating drain in the subdural space. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 3 without complication. He was at neurologic baseline 2 weeks later on follow-up. Conclusions The use of an irrigating drain for perioperative management of cSDH is a novel means to prevent recurrence and warrants further exploration.
Once in a blue moon: Lipid keratopathy and intrastromal hemorrhage in a Mission golden-eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix)

Mimicking natural anuran biology is a major challenge faced in the husbandry management of frogs, and the quandary of lipid keratopathy in frogs under human care has plagued keepers and practitioners for decades. Unlike corneal lipid dystrophy or lipidosis secondary to degeneration, where there is limited or no vascular in-growth or inflammatory response, lipid keratopathies are associated with vascularization, most often following the appearance of lipid. Hemorrhage from stromal neovascularization has not been described in a frog; however, the presence of vessels in lipid keratopathy certainly heralds the possibility. We report a rather unique case of lipid keratopathy in a 6-year-old female Mission golden-eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) that not only had concurrent intrastromal hemorrhage, but blue plasmoid staining of the corneal stroma. Current views on both the function of blue plasma in several species and lipid keratopathy are briefly discussed. Overall, evidence suggests that the cause of lipid keratopathy is probably multifactorial and will not successfully be rectified until anuran biology and husbandry are better understood.
Internal fluid pressure influences muscle contractile force.

Fluid fills intracellular, extracellular, and capillary spaces within muscle. During normal physiological activity, intramuscular fluid pressures develop as muscle exerts a portion of its developed force internally. These pressures, typically ranging between 10 and 250 mmHg, are rarely considered in mechanical models of muscle but have the potential to affect performance by influencing force and work produced during contraction. Here, we test a model of muscle structure in which intramuscular pressure directly influences contractile force. Using a pneumatic cuff, we pressurize muscle midcontraction at 260 mmHg and report the effect on isometric force. Pressurization reduced isometric force at short muscle lengths (e.g., −11.87% of P0 at 0.9 L0), increased force at long lengths (e.g., +3.08% of P0 at 1.25 L0), but had no effect at intermediate muscle lengths ∼1.1–1.15 L0. This variable response to pressurization was qualitatively mimicked by simple physical models of muscle morphology that displayed negative, positive, or neutral responses to pressurization depending on the orientation of reinforcing fibers representing extracellular matrix collagen. These findings show that pressurization can have immediate, significant effects on muscle contractile force and suggest that forces transmitted to the extracellular matrix via pressurized fluid may be important, but largely unacknowledged, determinants of muscle performance in vivo.
Market Power in Electric Power Distribution Systems

The roll-out of distributed energy resources (DERs) challenges the current operating practice of distribution utilities due to increased volatility and uncertainty of nodal power injections. Furthermore, many DERs are independently-owned and, therefore, will likely be operated without cooperation with a local utility. This combination of uncertainty and self-interest can motivate DERs to act strategically in future distribution (retail) markets to maximize their payoff. Without assuming a particular distribution market design, this paper investigates engineering mechanisms for strategic behavior by independently-owned DERs in the context of radial and voltage-constrained distribution systems. We derive conditions that identify an exercise of market power by an independently-owned DER and propose a market power metric that accounts for AC power flow physics and uncertainty of nodal power injections. The case study illustrates a range of effects of market power on distribution system operations.
Abstract P3-08-11: The application of machine learning techniques to standardize breast cancer grading and develop multivariate risk outcome models

Background: The 2019 NCCN guidelines and the College of American Pathology (CAP) endorse consistent, unambiguous comprehensive pathology reporting for invasive breast cancer. Challenges surrounding inter-pathologist variability and the lack of quantitative, standardized approaches to histologic grade are significant and critical to patient management. We developed an automated multi-network machine learning platform for histologic grading and examined performance with clinical outcome. Methods: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer (BCA) image dataset and clinical data as a training cohort, we evaluated 420 conventional HE 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-08-11.
Chapter 4 – Spinal – Extradural

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the use of an implantable neuromodulation system for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as an aid in the management of chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs. Patient selection is the most important aspect for impacting a good outcome in those who undergo SCS. The most relevant issues are patient characteristics, and disease state causing the pain syndrome. The other major issue involved in the selection process is choosing the patient with the proper disease state and indication. The achievement of parasthesia in the area of pain is thought to be an essential component in achieving a good outcome with relief of pain. Caretaker should be made aware of the risk of infection, bleeding, epidural hematoma, epidural abscess, lead failure, generator failure, and failure of the therapy. Placement of the lead(s) must be performed with fluoroscopic guidance. It is recommended that the practitioner use a low-dose, pulsed technique or intermittent fluoroscopy to reduce radiation exposure. Placement of the internal programmable generator and tunneling of the leads is an important part of the percutaneous permanent implant. The physician should closely examine the patient to determine the ideal location for the generator.
Synergizing Geriatric Research and Education in an Allied Health Profession with an Older Adult Community Advisory Board: Development and Process Outcomes.

Community advisory boards (CABs) have been used to improve research outcomes involving specific communities and populations, including older adults. There is potential to synergize the use of CABs ...
What Makes News Newsworthy: An Experimental Test of Where a News Story Is Published (or Not) and Its Perceived Newsworthiness:

Previous research has attributed media convergence to, among other things, where the news was originally published. That research, however, has struggled to identify causal relationships between a ...
Quantitative study of the effect of grain boundary parameters on the slip system level Hall-Petch slope for basal slip system in Mg-4Al

Abstract Several theoretical studies have reported that the geometry and structure of grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials could impose a significant effect on the Hall-Petch slope. However, experimental observations are primarily limited by the ability of the techniques to accurately quantify the grain boundary strength and validate these theoretical models. Using high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD), the local stress tensor ahead of a slip band blocked by a grain boundary was quantified and coupled with a continuum dislocation pile-up model to assess the barrier strength of specific grain boundaries to specific slip systems, referred to as micro-Hall-Petch coefficient. For basal slip system in a deformed Mg-4Al alloy, the micro-Hall-Petch coefficient ( k μ b a s a l ) varied significantly, from 0.054 to 0.184 MPa − m 1 / 2 for nine different grain boundaries. These results were correlated with geometric descriptors of the respective grain boundaries, with three-dimensional GB profile additionally measured via focused ion beam milling. It was found that the angle between the two slip plane traces on the grain boundary plane was the most sensitive parameter affecting k μ b a s a l , followed by the angle between the slip directions. A functional form for calculation of k μ b a s a l depending on these two angles is proposed to augment crystal plasticity constitutive models with slip resistance dependent on some measure of the grain size. The method allows a new pathway to calibrate grain size strengthening parameters in crystal plasticity models, allowing further computational investigations of the interrelationship between texture, grain morphology, and the Hall Petch effect.
Two-Path Deep Semisupervised Learning for Timely Fake News Detection

News in social media, such as Twitter, has been generated in high volume and speed. However, very few of them are labeled (as fake or true news) by professionals in near real time. In order to achieve timely detection of fake news in social media, a novel framework of two-path deep semisupervised learning (SSL) is proposed where one path is for supervised learning and the other is for unsupervised learning. The supervised learning path learns on the limited amount of labeled data, while the unsupervised learning path is able to learn on a huge amount of unlabeled data. Furthermore, these two paths implemented with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are jointly optimized to complete SSL. In addition, we build a shared CNN to extract the low-level features on both labeled data and unlabeled data to feed them into these two paths. To verify this framework, we implement a Word CNN-based SSL model and test it on two data sets: LIAR and PHEME. Experimental results demonstrate that the model built on the proposed framework can recognize fake news effectively with very few labeled data.
Strong absorption and selective thermal emission from a midinfrared metamaterial

We demonstrate thin-film metamaterials with resonances in the midinfrared (mid-IR) wavelength range. Our structures are numerically modeled and experimentally characterized by reflection and angularly resolved thermal emission spectroscopy. We demonstrate strong and controllable absorption resonances across the mid-IR wavelength range. In addition, the polarized thermal emission from these samples is shown to be highly selective and largely independent of emission angles from normal to 45°. Experimental results are compared to numerical models with excellent agreement. Such structures hold promise for large-area, low-cost metamaterial coatings for control of gray- or black-body thermal signatures, as well as for possible mid-IR sensing applications.