cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Incidence of Positive Modifications to Nerve Conduits in Rodent Nerve Repair Models

BACKGROUND The nerve conduit is a generally accepted tool to facilitate the repair of short nerve gaps. Limitations in effectiveness have been recognized, and a steady stream of possible conduit improvements has been published in the scientific literature. Analysis of this information, particularly when small animal models have been utilized, seems to indicate that nearly any modification of a nerve conduit improves outcomes in repairs of short gaps over standard nerve conduits. This seems statistically and biologically improbable and suggests a bias in the literature. METHODS A standardized systemic review of the scientific literature on rodent model studies assessing conduit modifications was undertaken to determine the incidence of positive or supportive outcomes. RESULTS Modifications were deemed superior in 97.3% of studies when compared with unmodified conduits and deemed equivalent or superior in 52.1% of studies when compared with autograft. CONCLUSIONS A seemingly disproportionate number of positive results suggest that the literature on nerve conduit modifications may be skewed. We believe that there is a publication bias in the literature, and this warrants further investigation.
Nanoparticle Precursors for Electronic Materials

The use of nanoparticle precursors for electronic materials including sulfides, selenides, oxides and the elements has potentially wide ranging implications for improving device properties and substantially reducing the deposition costs. To realize this goal the complex interfacial chemistry of these small particles must be controlled. In this paper we present a number of cases demonstrating the complexity of this chemistry. These include CuInSe 2 where the kinetics of phase formation dominate the sintering process; CdTe where sintering proceeds with and without the sintering enhancement of CdCl 2 , but produces materials different electronically than bulk materials; and the use of compound and elemental nanoparticles ( Ag, Al, Hg-Cu-Te and Sb-Te) for contacts to elemental and compound semiconductors (Si and CdTe).
The Effect of Impact Location on Force Transmission to the Modular Junctions of Dual-Taper Modular Hip Implants

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that off-axis impaction has on stability of dual-taper modular implants as measured by forces delivered to and transmitted through the head-neck and neck-stem tapers, respectively. Methods One hundred forty-four impact tests were performed using 6 different directions: one on-axis and five 10° off-axes. Four different simulations were performed measuring the head-neck only and 3 different neck angulations: 0°, 8°, and 15°. A drop tower impactor delivered both on- and off-axis impaction from a constant height. Load cells positioned in the drop mass and at the head-neck (HN) or neck-stem (NS) junction measured the impact and joint forces, respectively. Results Impact force of the hammer on the head ranged from 3800-4500 N. Greatest impact force delivered to the head was typically with axial impact. However, greatest force transmission to the neck-stem junction was not necessarily with axial impacts. There was limited variability in the force measured at the NS junction for all impaction directions seen in the 8° neck, whereas the 15° neck had greater forces transmitted to the NS junction with off-axes impactions directed in the proximal and posterior-proximal directions. Conclusion The location of the impact significantly influences the force transmitted to the head-neck and neck-stem junctions in dual-taper modular hip implants. Although axial impacts proved superior to off-axis impacts for the straight 0° neck, greater force transmission with off-axis impacts for the angled necks suggests that off-axis impacts may potentially compromise the stability of dual-taper components.
Effect of transferrin saturation on iron delivery in rats

Studies were carried out in rats to evaluate the release of iron from monoferric and diferric transferrin. Isoelectric focusing was carried out on plasma tagged at low and high saturations, and it was shown that these represented primarily monoferric and diferric transferrin, respectively. In vivo studies with these tagged plasmas were carried out on normal, iron-deficient, and hypertransfused rats. In all three groups there was a greater in vivo uptake of iron from diferric transferrin by all tissues monitored. Though the amount varied in different animals, the ratio of uptake between diferric and monoferric transferrin iron varied between 1.56 and 2.10 in the erythron and between 2.38 and 2.65 in the liver. These studies indicate that changes in transferrin saturation, by changing the proportion of monoferric to diferric transferrin iron, changed the amount of iron released to tissues.
Higher Blood Pressure Partially Links Greater Adiposity to Reduced Brain White Matter Integrity

BACKGROUND Adiposity and elevated blood pressure (BP) are associated with brain structure abnormalities, but whether these effects are independent is unknown. We tested whether associations between adiposity and white matter integrity were explained by elevated BP. METHODS A sample of 209 middle-aged adults underwent diffusion tensor imaging to quantify indirect metrics of white matter structural integrity. These included putative markers of global white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy (FA)), axonal integrity (axial diffusivity), and myelin integrity (radial diffusivity). Participants were either normotensive or prehypertensive. RESULTS After adjusting for age and sex, regression analyses showed that waist circumference was associated with FA (β = -0.15, P < 0.05) and axial diffusivity (β = -0.24, P < 0.001), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was associated with FA (β = -0.21, P < 0.05). Direct and indirect effect analyses showed that waist circumference was indirectly associated with whole brain FA through MAP (β = -0.06), and directly related to whole brain axial diffusivity, independent of MAP (β = -0.24). Examination of specific white matter tracts yielded similar results; waist circumference was indirectly related to FA through MAP and radial diffusivity, and directly related to axial diffusivity, independent of MAP. Supplemental analyses using body mass index, systolic BP, and diastolic BP also yielded similar results. CONCLUSION These findings suggest at least 2 mechanisms explain the adiposity and white matter association: one pathway through elevated BP impacting global white matter integrity and reducing integrity of the myelin sheath, and at least one other adiposity-specific pathway decreasing axonal integrity.
Relative value of diverse brain MRI and blood-based biomarkers for predicting cognitive decline in the elderly

Cognitive decline accompanies many debilitating illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In old age, brain tissue loss also occurs along with cognitive decline. Although blood tests are easier to perform than brain MRI, few studies compare brain scans to standard blood tests to see which kinds of information best predict future decline. In 504 older adults from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we first used linear regression to assess the relative value of different types of data to predict cognitive decline, including 196 blood panel biomarkers, 249 MRI biomarkers obtained from the FreeSurfer software, demographics, and the AD-risk gene APOE. A subset of MRI biomarkers was the strongest predictor. There was no specific blood marker that increased predictive accuracy on its own, we found that a novel unsupervised learning method, CorEx, captured weak correlations among blood markers, and the resulting clusters offered unique predictive power.
Use of an aortic bifurcation-sparing endograft facilitates hypogastric preservation during aortoiliac aneurysm repair.

A significant percent of patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) have concomitant common iliac artery aneurysms. While most of these patients will tolerate sacrific...
Magnetoresistance of Gallium at Liquid Helium Temperatures and Related Transport Phenomena

We have studied electronic transport properties of gallium, including magnetoresistance effects, between 1.09 K and 4.2 K. A motivation for our studies is the use of gallium single crystals for resistance thermometry.
Investigation into application and water fluoride concentration of the fluoride-lowering well-digging projects in Xuchang City

Objective To understand application and water fluoride concentration of the fluoride-lowering well-digging projects in Xuchang City.Methods To survey all the projects in four important counties of Xuchang City.Results There are total 333 projects surveyed,among which 122 projects are used well normally(accounting for 36.64%),211 projects have been stopped using(accounting for 63.36%).Water fluoride concentration of 38 projects is higher than 1.0mg/L(accounting for 31.15%)in 122 projects used,and water fluoride concentration of 84 projects is not higher than 1.0mg/L(accounting for 68.85%).Conclusions The problem about projects useless and over-standard of water fluoride concentration in projects used is serious.
Tracking cell therapy: bioluminescence lighting the way.

Cell-based therapies involving various types of stem cells, pancreatic β-cell islets, and bone marrow–derived mononuclear cells (MNCs), among others, are thought to have great potential as treatments for a number of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Peripheral artery disease
Rationale for therapy of allergic disorders.

Those areas in which new developments would appear to offer the most promise for meaningful therapeutic advances in the near future are pharmacologicand center particularly around the development of better means for selectively inhibiting mediator activation and release, and the development of newer drugs and better methods of drug delivery which will enable more efficient antagonism of tissue responses to chemical mediators with few undesirable side effects.
Failure of vitamin A to increase litter size in sows receiving injections at various stages of gestation.

To determine the effectiveness of a single injection of vitamin A to increase litter size, 1,375 sows were assigned randomly to 11 treatment groups (125 sows per treatment). Treatments included injection of 1 x 10(6) IU of vitamin A dissolved in corn oil at weaning or on d 0, 2, 6, 10, 13, 19, 30, 70, or 110 after breeding. Sows in the control group were injected with corn oil on corresponding days. A total of 396 sows were removed from the study following treatment or treatment assignment. Therefore, farrowing data were collected for 979 sows. Injection of vitamin A did not influence (P > . 10) total litter size, live litter size, litter weight, pig weight, number of runts, or number of mummies. Mean live litter size was 10.1 +/- .1 for all sows that farrowed in the experiment. Parity group affected total litter size, live litter size, live litter weight, and number stillborn (P . 10). In this study, a single injection of vitamin A at any time from weaning to farrowing did not increase litter size in sows.
A misunderstanding we should eliminate

For the first time, the 2015 revision to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E made reference to a more than 50-year-old safety management methodology, with the reference to the hierarchy of risk controls in Section 110.1(G). This paper discusses the difference between the risk control measure “elimination” as defined in occupational health and safety management systems standards such as ANSI Z10, and the “electrically safe work condition” as defined in NFPA 70E. Establishing an electrically safe work condition is more accurately described as a series of administrative controls, including planning, drawings and documentation, lockout tag out, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment. Each of these administrative controls has some degree of residual risk. An electrically safe work condition is not permanent, and has both time and physical boundaries that must be adhered to in order to avoid exposure to dangerous energy. Elimination, as defined in occupational health and safety management systems standards, is absolute, permanent, and with no residual risks for the life of the installation. Case histories are included to illustrate the power of elimination and the residual risks characteristic of administrative controls.
Carefully Phenotyped Changes in Neuropathy Measures with Exposure to Neurotoxic Chemotherapy (P4.231)

Objective: Assess the performance of clinical and surrogate measures of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) severity. Background: CIPN affects over 1/3 of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy causing pain, sensory loss and decreased quality of life. The diagnostic performance and patient focused clinical meaning of commonly used scales and surrogate measures have not been adequately assessed. Methods: Patients with breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer were evaluated prior to onset of neurotoxic chemotherapy and at 3-6 month intervals. Quantitative symptom (NTSS-6), exam (UENS), and quality of life (EORTC-20, CIPN-RODS) scales, and sudomotor function (Sudoscan assessed electrochemical skin conductance - ESC) were obtained at each visit. CIPN diagnosis was based on the presence of symptoms and signs. Mean change in all measures was calculated from baseline to final infusion visit. Pearson correlation with percent total chemotherapy dose was assessed for each measure at each visit. Results: 22/41 subjects developed CIPN. Demographic and baseline neuropathy measures were similar between CIPN+/- groups. Those with CIPN had a significantly greater change in UENS (5.6+/-2.8 vs. -.05+/-0.9,p<0.005) and NTSS6 (3.2+/-3.6 vs. 0.7+/-2.3,p=0.015) with trends toward differences in EORTC-20 (6.7+/-6.5 vs. 3.2+/-5.1, p=0.067), and ESC in the feet (-11.1+/-21.7 vs. -8.4+/-16.6 uS) and hands (-10.9+/-22.1 vs. -4.2+/-20.8 uS). The percent total cumulative chemotherapy among patients with CIPN was significantly correlated with UENS (cc 0.353, p<0.001), NTSS6 (cc 0.303, p<0.001, p<0.005), EORTC-20 (cc 0.363, p<0.001) and ESC feet (cc -0.246, p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between EORTC-20 and feet ESC (cc -0.206, p<0.007) Conclusions: CIPN occurs in 50[percnt] of at risk patients. The clinical severity of CIPN is related to cumulative chemotherapy dose. Assessment of sudomotor function using Sudoscan was significantly correlated with CIPN specific quality of life. These findings promise to inform design of future clinical trials of potential preventative therapies. Disclosure: Dr. Kolb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Brown has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singleton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation for activities with CSL Behring, Grifols, and Allergan. Dr. Smith has received research support from NIH, the ADA, and Impeto. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for NeuroLear
War Dogs in the Spanish Expedition Mural, Canyon Del Muerto, Arizona?

Close examination and analysis of the Spanish Expedition Mural show that Dix's (1980) “war dogs” are later than the main figures and indicate them to be horses, not canines.
Investigating Stress Dependency of Unbound Layers Using Falling-Weight Deflectometer and Resilient Modulus Tests

Unbound layer materials, such as base and subgrade, exhibit stress-hardening and/or -softening, which can be determined from their resilient modulus values. However, unavailability of required amount of material and compaction variability between field and laboratory necessitate a need to predict stress dependency of the unbound layers by field tests. This study evaluates stress dependency of unbound layers using a falling-weight deflectometer (FWD) test. The FWD tests were conducted at multi-load levels on several pavement sections. The FWD back-calculated layer moduli are then used to determine bulk and octahedral shear stresses using the layered elastic analysis technique. Next, the regression analysis is performed to interpret the stress-dependent parameters, i.e., regression coefficients of pavement ME's resilient modulus model of nonlinear unbound material. It is observed that stress-hardening is dominant in the case of the base layer, whereas subgrade exhibits both stress-hardening and -softening. This was also confirmed by laboratory resilient modulus tests on both base and subgrade materials in this study. Therefore, it is recommended not to ignore either stress-hardening or -softening during nonlinear modeling of the unbound layers. In addition, in this study, empirical relationships are developed to perform inter-conversion of laboratory resilient and FWD back-calculated modulus incorporating the field state of stresses in base and subgrade.
Assessing Diabetes and Factors Associated with Foregoing Medical Care among Persons with Diabetes: Disparities Facing American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Low Income, and Southern Adults in the U.S. (2011-2015).

Objective: Identify individual- and place-based factors associated with diagnosed diabetes and forgone medical care among those diagnosed with diabetes. Background: Diabetes affects millions of individuals globally. In the U.S. alone the prevalence rate of diagnosed diabetes has more than doubled over the past 20 years (4.2% in 1994 to 10% in 2014). Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2011–2015) was used to identify factors associated with self-reported diabetes diagnoses (ever diagnosed) among U.S. adults. Logistic regression modeled: (1) the likelihood of having diabetes; (2) the likelihood of forgone medical care among those with diabetes, given appropriate medical care has been linked to preventing complications associated with diabetes. Results: Rates of diabetes remained relatively stable from 2011 to 2015. The likelihood of diabetes was higher (p < 0.01) among racial and ethnic minority groups, men, those with lower incomes and those with lower education. Place-based disparities indicating a higher likelihood of having a diagnosis of diabetes were found for those living in rural areas (urban versus rural, unadjusted OR = 0.844–0.908; p < 0.01) and those living in the South (North, Midwest, and Western/Pacific regions versus the South, unadjusted OR = 0.794–0.889; p < 0.01). Similar results were found with forgone medical care among those diagnosed with diabetes being more likely in the South (North, Midwest, and Western/Pacific regions versus the South, unadjusted OR = 0.542–0.819). In fully-adjusted analyses, the prevalence of diabetes and forgone medical care among those diagnosed with diabetes was higher for those with lower incomes, from several racial/ethnic minority groups, and in the South versus most other regions. Conclusions: Identifying at-risk groups informs targets for prevention and assists efforts to address chronic disease self-management among those already diagnosed with diabetes.
Borrowing from Femininity: The Caring Man, Hybrid Masculinities, and Maintaining Male Dominance:

Prevalent cultural representations of masculinity depict men as aggressive, emotionally distant individuals whose hard and muscular bodies epitomize these traits. These traditional representations ...
Repurposing an inhibitor of ribosomal biogenesis with broad anti-fungal activity

The lack of new antifungal compounds with unique mechanisms of action is a concern for therapeutic management of patients. To identify inhibitors against human pathogenic fungi, we screened ~3000 compounds provided by the Developmental Therapeutics Program of NIH/NCI against a panel of pathogenic fungi including Candida species, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans. NSC319726 (a thiosemicarbazone) had broad antifungal activity in the range of 0.1–2.0 µg/ml and was also inhibitory to fluconazole-resistant isolates of Candida species. Synergy was demonstrated with NSC319726 and azoles, as well as caspofungin. The inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of NSC319726 was 35–800-fold higher than the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 50% (MIC50 values), which indicates low compound toxicity to human cells in vitro. Transcriptome analysis of treated and untreated C. albicans using Gene Ontology (GO) revealed a large cluster of down regulated genes that encode translational proteins, especially those with ribosome biogenesis functions. As NSC319726 was first shown to have anti-cancer activity, its affects against human pathogenic fungi establish NSC319726 as a repurposed, off-patent compound that has potential antifungal activity. The minimal in vitro toxicity of lead optimized NSC319726 and its reasonable inhibitory activity against pathogens suggest advancing this compound to in vivo toxicity testing and protection studies against candidiasis.
Congress and the Constitution: The Twenty-seventh Amendment and the Past and Future of Constitutional Alteration

ABSTRACTThe most recent addition to the U.S. Constitution is also one of the first proposed amendments. The 27th Amendment restricts change to congressional salaries until after the next election. ...
To boldly go where no relationship has gone before: commentary on interpersonal relationships in the digital age.

Individuals have a need to maintain positive social interactions, and with the advent of new-media technologies, there are a myriad ways individuals can satisfy this need by engaging socially in mediated (non-face-to-face) communication, hence the need for a special issue on "Relationships in the Digital Age." The articles in this special issue reflect the need to answer theoretical questions brought forth by the increased tendency for individuals to create and maintain interpersonal relationships through mediated forms of communication. The commentary highlights the need for increased research on mediated interpersonal relationships by psychologists and discusses how the articles in the issue can be used to answer theoretical questions about mediated interpersonal communication. The article ends with speculation on how media may create social spaces that may be advantageous for some individuals.
Innovative oxygen injection for emission reduction in cement kilns

The reduction of CO and NO x from the cement process is a continued requirement for many cement manufacturers and often involves very expensive end-of-pipe pollution abatement solutions. The injection of highly reactive hot oxygen is a new approach that can be used to address lower emission requirements or complement under-performing existing solutions. The innovative oxygen lancing technology discussed in this paper is installed in the outlet of the kiln or calciner to address primarily CO from the system. Through careful excess oxygen reduction, the NO x generated in the main burner can be lowered as well because resulting CO can be oxidized with the oxygen injection. The technology consists of a lance that preheats oxygen to very high temperatures and effectively mixes this relatively small oxygen flow at high speed into much larger flue gas streams. The paper introduces the injection of oxygen into a cement kiln to reduce CO slip from the combustion process and includes data from a cement plant where the technology was implemented for the first time to simultaneously reduce CO and NO x .
Prospects for Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors

Gliomas are the most common tumors originating in the brain. Most gliomas are malignant. They are the cause of death in almost all patients who harbor them. Even tumors that are originally relatively benign histologically, usually evolve into more malignant tumors and prove life-threatening. Current treatments for malignant gliomas include surgery,radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, either singly or in combination. Transient control is possible in many cases, yet recurrence is the rule.Possible reasons for tumor recurrence include failure to extirpate all infiltrating tumor cells, tumor resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and decreased immune response in the brain.
People, Quakes, and Communications: Inferences from Call Dynamics about a Seismic Event and its Influences on a Population

We explore the prospect of inferring the epicenter and influences of seismic activity from changes in background phone communication activities logged at cell towers. In particular, we explore the perturbations in Rwandan call data invoked by an earthquake in February 2008 centered in the Lac Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Beyond the initial seismic event, we investigate the challenge of assessing the distribution of the persistence of needs over geographic regions, using the persistence of call anomalies after the earthquake as a proxy for lasting influences and the potential need for assistance. We also infer uncertainties in the inferences and consider the prospect of identifying the value of surveying the areas so that surveillance resources can be best triaged.
Al-Skeini v. United Kingdom and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction under the European Convention for Human Rights

In July 2011, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its judgment in Al-Skeini v. United Kingdom. This case prompted the court to reconsider its conflicting lines of case law on the extraterritorial application of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). In its decision, the court validated both the “effective control of an area” and “State agent authority” models of analysis, which had until Al-Skeini both been employed by the court at different times to analyze the ECHR’s extraterritorial application. Ultimately, however, the court ruled under an augmented version of the “State agent authority” model—adding a requirement that the state using force exercise some amorphous “public powers” over the extraterritorial area for ECHR Article 1 jurisdiction to attach. As a result, this decision, while greatly anticipated, has posed more questions for international lawyers as to the ECHR’s extraterritorial application than it has answered.
Evidence-based tobacco treatment utilization among dual users of cigarettes and E-cigarettes.

Abstract Dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes may represent a unique and receptive population for evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment. We measured the frequency of quit attempts during the past year, and the use of evidence-based tobacco dependence treatments (i.e., behavioral and/or pharmacological treatments), among adult smokers who are current e-cigarette users (dual users) compared with those who do not use e-cigarettes (exclusive smokers). Data were analyzed from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. Multivariate-adjusted regression models were used to examine the correlates of tobacco treatment use among adult smokers, comparing current e-cigarette users with those who did not use e-cigarettes, stratifying by age group, and adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses were based on 5415 adult current cigarette smokers. Compared to exclusive smokers, dual users were more likely to report a quit attempt in the past year among adults
New Nano-Photonics Based on vdW Materials

We study ultra-confined polaritonic modes supported by thin micro- and nano-devices made of hexagonal boron nitride flakes. We image these modes using new optical scanning probes microscopy techniques. These results open new avenues for nano-photonics as a way to achieve extreme light confinement at the nanoscale.
Dietary Flavonoid Intakes Are Associated with Race but Not Income in an Urban Population.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic phytochemicals with health-promoting properties, yet knowledge about their intake in at-risk populations is limited. This study sought to estimate intakes of total flavonoids and six flavonoid classes in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study; determine if differences in intakes exist by race (African American (AA) and White (W)) and income ( 125% Federal poverty guidelines); and compare intakes to those of a nationally representative population with similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Data transformation normalized the flavonoid intake distributions prior to conducting statistical tests. With the exception of the flavanone class, flavonoid intakes of AAs were significantly lower than those of W (p < 0.01), regardless of other potential mediating factors including sex, age, and income. Total flavonoid intakes in HANDLS did not differ from intakes in the nationally representative study, but anthocyanidin and flavone intakes were lower, and race specific differences were found for several flavonoid classes. These findings imply that benefits attributable to flavonoid consumption may not be experienced equally by AAs and Whites, nor in vulnerable populations such as that represented by HANDLS relative to the U.S. population, and may play a role in observed health disparities.
ALK7 Erects a Suppressive Barrier to Tumor Progression and Metastasis

Overcoming intrinsic and extrinsic tumor-suppressive barriers is an essential feature of tumor progression. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Michael et al. (2019) use the RIP-Tag mouse model to show that pro-apoptotic signals mediated by the Activin B-ALK7 axis suppress ectopic proliferation and metastasis during pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer development.
Finding connections between spirituality and play for early childhood education

In an attempt to provide holistic education and care, expand the view of young children’s development to include the spiritual, and make connections with the found benefits of play for all areas of...
The Spartacus Problem: Diagnostic Inefficiency of Neonatal Sepsis.

* Abbreviation: EOS — : early-onset sepsis In the 1960 film Spartacus , the Roman army succeeds in trapping the rebellious slave army led by the eponymous hero.1 The Romans know that Spartacus is a dangerous foe who must not escape; unfortunately, they have no idea what he looks like. To ensure that Spartacus is eliminated, the Romans elect to execute everyone. It is easy to see the parallels between Spartacus and our current approaches to sepsis in the newborn. Nursery clinicians are well aware that neonatal sepsis is dangerous and must not be missed, but the challenge of identifying the septic needle from the uninfected haystack of neonates is challenging. The most common approach is to adopt a “when in doubt, test and treat” tactic. As a result, clinicians (me included) are both inefficient and subjective in our diagnostic approach to sepsis. In this issue of Pediatrics , Schulman et al2 highlight this inefficiency in their study of antimicrobial use in >326 000 infants in 116 California NICUs. Clinicians administered antibiotics to an average of 95 infants (SD ±71) for each case of … Address correspondence to Joseph B. Cantey, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229. E-mail: cantey{at}uthscsa.edu
Synthesis and biological evaluation of thioadatanserin and its dialkylated products as partial 5-HTR1A agonists and 5-HTR2A antagonists for potential use in depression and anxiety disorders.

Abstract Thionation of adatanserin hydrochloride (2) with Lawesson's reagent in toluene/triethylamine afforded novel compound, (3r,5r,7r)-N-(2-(4-(pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)adamantane-1-carbothioamide (thioadatanserin, 3) in 84–90% isolated yield. Thioadatanserin underwent a tandem double alkylation with methyl iodide and benzyl bromide in NaH/THF to produce novel dialkylated products 6 and 7 respectively. The single X-ray crystal structure of 7 was determined to be 1-(2-((E- ((3r,5r,7r)-adamantan-1-yl)benzylthio)methylene)amino)ethyl)-1-benzyl-4- (pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-ium bromide showing that the piperazine ring adopts a chair-like configuration that is not co-planar with the pyrimidine ring. Thioadatanserin emerged as a dual potent partial agonist with activity against 5-HTR1A (EC50 6.7 nM) and antagonist activity against 5-HTR2A (IC50 62.3 nM) and was selective over 5-HTR2C receptor (IC50 > 3333 nM) in the PathHunter® β-arrestin assays.
Remeasuring and Decomposing Stochastic Trends in Business Cycles

Abstract This paper is motivated by the fact that the standard deviation of cyclical TFP derived from the standard approach under the stochastic trend is not even close to the real-world data. The main part of the paper devotes to developing a new method to apply geometric Brownian motion to characterize TFP in continuous time and converting it to an estimated process of random walk with drift. As a result, the drift estimate together with the lagged TFP in the random walk process are the stochastic trend of TFP and the stochastic error term in the random walk with drift process is the cyclical component of TFP. I then have two findings: the first one is that the standard deviation of cyclical TFP derived from the new approach is much closer to the real-world data; the second one is that stochastic trend of TFP can be decomposed into three parts: an initial value, a deterministic trend, and a term involved with Weiner process. Moreover, this paper argues that, by recalculating the business cycle statistics based on a rational expectations model, if we remeasure the stochastic trend and cyclical component of TFP using the new approach, then the ability of real business cycle model to mimic real-world economic fluctuations will be significantly improved.
Computational and Experimental Evaluation of Peroxide Oxidants for Amine–Peroxide Redox Polymerization

Amine–peroxide redox polymerization (APRP) is the prevalent method for producing radical-based polymers in the many industrial and medical applications where light or heat activation is impractical...
Dividend Taxation and Household Dividend Portfolio Decisions: Evidence from the 2003 Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act

Focusing on the preferential tax treatment of qualified dividends provided by the 2003 tax act, this study examines the dividend clientele hypothesis. The findings, based on the Public Use Tax File, suggest that households in the upper tax bracket held significantly lower ratios of dividends relative to long-term capital gains before the act, but this negative tax effect disappears afterwards. This seemingly tax-inefficient stock return composition after the act arises because households reduce tax burdens on stocks by exploiting low tax rates on qualified dividends. Accordingly, more heavily taxed households hold greater shares of qualified dividends relative to ordinary dividends.
Prognosis and Chemotherapy Use in Breast Cancer Patients with Multiple Lymphatic Micrometastases: An NCDB Analysis

The number of involved lymph nodes negatively affects prognosis in breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, current staging and treatment recommendations do not distinguish between patients with single versus multiple lymphatic micrometastases. In this study, we aim to better characterize these patients. The National Cancer Database was retrospectively queried to identify 486,800 women with stage I–III, estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/PR+/HER2−) breast cancer and nodal status of N0, N1mi with 1 (Nmic1) or more (Nmic > 1) involved nodes, and N1 with 1 involved node (N1.1), from 2010 to 2016. Patients with different nodal statuses were compared regarding treatment characteristics, survival, and benefit from chemotherapy by their 21-gene recurrence score (RS). Of the 23,072 N1mi patients, 88.3% were Nmic1 and 11.7% were Nmic > 1. Nmic > 1 patients were younger, had larger and higher-grade tumors, with more lymphovascular invasion, and were more commonly treated by axillary dissection, radiation, and chemotherapy than Nmic1 patients. In that, they were comparable with N1.1 patients. Five-year survival of Nmic > 1 patients (88.1%) was worse than Nmic1 patients (90.1%; p = 0.02), but similar to N1.1 patients (87.9%). Nmic1, Nmic > 1, and N1.1 patients with RS 11–25 exhibited a 25, Nmic > 1 patients showed a 3.5% benefit, similar to Nmic1 (4.8%) and lower than N1.1 (10.9%) patients. Nmic > 1 breast cancer patients have worse prognoses than Nmic1 patients, similar to N1.1 patients. Our data suggest those patients with RS 11–25 have minimal benefit from chemotherapy. These findings should be taken into account when discussing prognosis and considering chemotherapy in patients with lymphatic micrometastases.
New onset diabetes after kidney transplantation in Asian Americans – Is there an increased risk?

Abstract Summary New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is increasing in frequency and creates many challenges directly impacting the patient and graft survival. Most transplant programs offer a fixed-dose prednisone taper schedule for the prevention of acute rejection following kidney transplantation. In this study, we investigated the incidence of NODAT in new kidney transplant recipients. Methods This was a retrospective, single-center study assessing rates of NODAT according to age, ethnicity, body weight, BMI, rejection, and prednisone dosing among kidney transplant recipients. Results Among non-diabetic consecutive kidney transplant recipients (n = 261) from 1/2014 to 12/2018, a total of 47 (18%) kidney transplant recipients developed NODAT. After adjusting for common NODAT risk factors, analysis of the population indicated that age, and corticosteroid dose in the Asian American population [adjusted for lower body weight, BMI] significantly increased the risk of NODAT. In multi-variance analysis, despite receiving lower standard doses of protocol corticosteroid daily, when adjusted for actual body weight (mg/kg/day) Asian American recipients had high incidence of NODAT compared to other ethnicity. Asian American received higher doses or corticosteroids (prednisone) than non-Asian Americans (0.14 mg/kg vs. 0.11 mg/kg) (p = 0.008). The overall incidence of rejection was not higher among those who developed NODAT (p = 0.55) Conclusion This is the first study to explore the relationship between corticosteroid dose and diabetes in Asian Americans. Asian Americans had higher rates of NODAT and received higher doses of weight-based corticosteroids. There is a possible iatrogenic, pharmacogenomic, and addressable etiology to NODAT in this population.
Sirtuin-dependent clock control: new advances in metabolism, aging and cancer.

Purpose of review The circadian clock is an intricate biological timekeeper that is subject to fine-tuning mechanisms in order to maintain synchrony with the surrounding environment. One such mechanism is performed by the mammalian sirtuins that provide plasticity to the circadian clock by sensing cellular metabolic state. The sirtuins modulate the circadian epigenome and subsequent transcriptional control, and alterations to this organized system manifest in metabolic consequences, aging phenotypes and possibly cancer. Recent findings New information regarding sirtuin-dependent control of the circadian clock has emerged. In addition to sirtuin (SIRT)1 and SIRT3, SIRT6 has been demonstrated as a critical regulator of circadian transcription that also serves as an interface with metabolic homeostasis. Also, new metabolic functions of SIRT1 have been described in the brain, which are critical to relay nutritional inputs to the central clock. Summary This review focuses on the link between the circadian clock and the sirtuins, with an emphasis on new findings. In addition, speculation on the possible connections at the physiological level will be made that could further link the clock to aging and cancer.
Hardness of Approximating Graph Transformation Problem

Given two graphs G and H, the Graph Transformation problem is to find the minimum integer k such that there exists a graph G ~ which is isomorphic to H, and can be obtained from G by relocating k edges of G, that is, removing k existing edges from G and adding k new edges to G. Given G, H and k, the decision problem GT of determining whether G can be made isomorphic to H by relocating k edges is NP-complete, even if both G and H are restricted to planar planar. Notice that if we fix k -0, then the problem becomes the graph isomorphism problem, which is solvable in polynomial time on planar graphs [HW74]. Furthermore, it is interesting to note the following results on GTh, the version of GT restricted to specific integer k(m) (m being the size of G): (1) If k(m) -O(1) then GT~ cannot be NP-complete unless Z P H~ (cf. [Sch87]); and (2) if k(m) ~(m ~) for any constant ~, then GT~ is NP-complete, even restricted to planar graphs (details are omitted due to page limit). In this paper, we consider the hardness of approximating the graph transformation problem. Formally speaking, for any two graphs G = (V, E) and H,
Protein adsorption on soft contact lenses: III. Mucin

Adsorption of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) on three different soft contact surfaces, lathe cut (LC) and spin cast (SC) crosslinked poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and spin cast poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/methacrylic acid) (PHEMA/MAA), was studied. The in vitro process was followed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). A three-layer structure is envisaged for the adsorbed BSM: a very thin surface layer of strongly bound and conformationally altered mucin constitutes the surface layer. A random to beta-sheet structural transition activated by the hydrogel surface is proposed for this layer. Glycoprotein hydrogen-bonding with the polymer hydroxyls and interaction of charged and hydrophobic groups with hydrogel surfaces are important in stabilizing this layer. Most of the adsorbed BSM (99%) is found in the middle and top layers which are formed by a different degree of associated BSM (their conformation is minimally changed or not changed at all, respectively) and are weakly adsorbed to the lens surfaces. Surface morphology and chemical composition of the lenses are important adsorption parameters only for the reversibly adsorbed BSM.
Sequestering of Atmospheric Carbon through Permanent Disposal of Crop Residue

We propose the sequestering of crop residues to capture a significant fraction(12%) of the present U.S. atmosphericcarbon emission through disposal in deep oceans below the thermocline or inriver deltas. In the United States, theannual carbon content in residues from corn, soybeans and wheat crops isapproximately 250 million tonnes. Globally, an additional 1 billion tonnes of carbon in the form of cropresidues may be available. Implementation ofthis sequestering proposal would allow the US to approach the CO2reductions stipulated under the KyotoProtocol.
Sexual agglutination in yeast. VII. Significance of the 1.7S component from reduced 5-agglutinin.

Abstract The sex-specific agglutinin from mating type 5 of Hansenula wingei was purified by absorption on and elution from cells of type 21. When purified 5-agglutinin was reduced with thiols, its ability to agglutinate type 21 was destroyed and approximately six small fragments ( s 25 = 1.7S, M = 12,000) were released from the major reduced component. Approximately five disulfide bonds were present in the average 5-agglutinin particle, as estimated from 35 S label. Allowing for variation among different preparations, it appears that each particle of 1.7S component is linked to the major reduced component by one disulfide bond. After fractionation, neither the 1.7S reduced component nor the major one were specifically absorbed by type 21 cells, but mixtures of both components were partially absorbed by type 21 cells after the disulfide bonds had been reformed by oxidation. It is concluded that the 1.7S component is not the complete combining site of 5-agglutinin, but that both reduced components carry parts of the combining site, which is stabilized by the disulfide bond joining them.
Ethical challenges with the advancement of hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Advancements in medical science and pediatric intensive care have significantly improved outcomes for children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Critical care management of HSCT patients requires pediatric intensivists to deal with ethical issues including aggressiveness of care and futility, limiting treatment, shared decision-making with families of critically ill children, and decision-making in the context of multi-disciplinary management of complex patients. This paper will discuss the fundamental ethical principles to enable pediatric intensivists to address questions of medical decision- making. Medical futility will be explored and strategies for dealing with both the practical and emotional implications of this for the pediatric intensivist will be addressed. Another important issue related to critical care of the HSCT patient is establishing goals of care, specifically related to end of life care decisions. A framework for end of life communication with families will be provided. Finally, this paper will discuss the potential conflicts resulting from multi-disciplinary care of the HSCT patient in the pediatric intensive care unit. As medical management of the HSCT patient continues to evolve, awareness of the ethical issues surrounding their care is important for both patient and provider.
Molecular structures and energetics of the neutral aluminum-trimethylaluminum complex: An Al-Al bonded global minimum?

Abstract From their recent laboratory kinetics studies, Parker and Nelson have proposed a monobridged molecular structure for the aluminum atom–trimethylaluminum system. Here molecular structures and energetics for the neutral aluminum atom–trimethylaluminum complex (AlTMA) are reported from theory. A second distinct minimum was located and characterized, corresponding to an unanticipated H 3 C–Al–Al(CH 3 ) 2 geometry. In addition, the transition state between the two minima was located. The relative energies of these stationary points are also reported, predicting that the monobridged AlTMA structure recently reported is higher in energy than the methylaluminum DMA discovered in this study by about 2 kcal mol −1 .
Seniority zero pair coupled cluster doubles theory

Coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations accurately describes weak electron correlation but is known to fail in cases of strong static correlation. Fascinatingly, however, pair coupled cluster doubles (p-CCD), a simplified version of the theory limited to pair excitations that preserve the seniority of the reference determinant (i.e., the number of unpaired electrons), has mean field computational cost and is an excellent approximation to the full configuration interaction (FCI) of the paired space provided that the orbital basis defining the pairing scheme is adequately optimized. In previous work, we have shown that optimization of the pairing scheme in the seniority zero FCI leads to a very accurate description of static correlation. The same conclusion extends to p-CCD if the orbitals are optimized to make the p-CCD energy stationary. We here demonstrate these results with numerous examples. We also explore the contributions of different seniority sectors to the coupled cluster doubles (CCD) correlation energy using different orbital bases. We consider both Hartree-Fock and Brueckner orbitals, and the role of orbital localization. We show how one can pair the orbitals so that the role of the Brueckner orbitals at the CCD level is retained at the p-CCD level. Moreover, we explore ways of extending CCD to accurately describe strongly correlated systems.