cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is there a role for antifibrinolytics in pelvic and acetabular fracture surgery

Pelvic and acetabular fractures are rare, complex injuries associated with significant morbidity. Fixation of these injuries requires major orthopaedic surgery which in itself is associated with substantial blood loss owing to the extensile operative approach and prolonged operating time required to address the complex fracture anatomy. In order to reduce morbidity, a multifactor approach to blood conservation must be adopted. The use of antifibrinolytics to reduce operative blood loss is well documented in many surgical specialties, including orthopaedic surgery. Elective spinal surgery and joint arthroplasty have benefited from the introduction of antifibrinolytics; however, their role in trauma and fracture surgery is not fully defined. Pelvic and acetabular fracture surgery would benefit from further investigation on the benefit and safety of these agents. Routine use cannot be recommended at this time but agents may be considered on a case-specific basis.
Will they buy

The proliferation of inexpensive video recording hardware and enormous storage capacity has enabled the collection of retail customer behavior at an unprecedented scale. The vast majority of this data is used for theft prevention and never used to better understand the customer. In what ways can this huge corpus be leveraged to improve the experience of customer and the performance of the store? This thesis presents MIMIC, a system that processes video captured in a retail store into predictions about customer proclivity to purchase. MIMIC relies on the observation that aggregate patterns of all of a store's patrons—the gestalt—captures behavior indicative of an imminent transaction. Video is distilled into a homogenous feature vector that captures the activity distribution by first tracking the locations of customers, then discretizing their movements into a feature vector using a collection of functional locations—areas of the store relevant to the tasks of patrons and employees. A time series of these feature vectors can then be classified as predictive-of-transaction using a Hidden Markov Model. MIMIC is evaluated on a small operational retail store located in the Mall of America near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its performance is characterized across a wide cross-section of the model's parameters. Through manipulation of the training data supplied to MIMIC, the behavior of customers in the store can be examined at fine levels of detail without foregoing the potential afforded by big data. MIMIC enables a suite of valuable tools. For ethnographic researchers, it offers a technique for identifying key moments in hundreds or thousands of hours of raw video. Retail managers gain a fine-grained metric to evaluate the performance of their stores, and interior designers acquire a critical component in a store layout optimization framework.
Pivotal Vacancies, Partisan Regimes, and Supreme Court Ideology

A sizable literature offers that presidents can alter Supreme Court ideology and decision making through their appointments. Nonetheless, such influence is quite uneven and uncertain when it comes to individual presidents and individual appointments. I seek to improve our understanding of the contingencies of presidential influence on Court ideology by expanding on Krehbiel's move-the-median model, focusing on pivotal vacancies in which the departing justice is on the opposite side of the Court median from the president and Senate majority.
Nanolayered siRNA delivery platforms for local silencing of CTGF reduce cutaneous scar contraction in third-degree burns.

Wound healing is an incredibly complex biological process that often results in thickened collagen-enriched healed tissue called scar. Cutaneous scars lack many functional structures of the skin such as hair follicles, sweat glands, and papillae. The absence of these structures contributes to a number of the long-term morbidities of wound healing, including loss of function for tissues, increased risk of re-injury, and aesthetic complications. Scar formation is a pervasive factor in our daily lives; however, in the case of serious traumatic injury, scars can create long-lasting complications due to contraction and poor tissue remodeling. Within this report we target the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a key mediator of TGFβ pro-fibrotic response in cutaneous wound healing, with controlled local delivery of RNA interference. Through this work we describe both a thorough in vitro analysis of nanolayer coated sutures for the controlled delivery of siRNA and its application to improve scar outcomes in a third-degree burn induced scar model in rats. We demonstrate that the knockdown of CTGF significantly altered the local expression of αSMA, TIMP1, and Col1a1, which are known to play roles in scar formation. The knockdown of CTGF within the healing burn wounds resulted in improved tissue remodeling, reduced scar contraction, and the regeneration of papillary structures within the healing tissue. This work adds support to a number of previous reports that indicate CTGF as a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis. Additionally, we believe that the controlled local delivery of siRNA from ultrathin polymer coatings described within this work is a promising approach in RNA interference that could be applied in developing improved cancer therapies, regenerative medicine, and fundamental scientific research.
Aeromagnetic field characteristics and the Wenchuan earthquakes in the Longmenshan mountains and adjacent areas

In this paper,we analyzed the aeromagnetic anomaly data in the Longmenshan mountains and adjacent areas by different methods,such as vertical magnetization,horizontal and vertical derivation,upward continuation,frequency and wavelet transform.The results show that the characteristics of magnetic anomalies suggest this area could be divided into three magnetic anomaly blocks which have different medium properties in crust.They are the SongpanGarzemagnetic anomaly area,the Longmenshan negative area,and the magnetic anomaly area in the Sichuan basin. The analysis of aeromagnetic anomaly characteristics reveals spatial distribution of the tectonic units and major faults in the Longmenshan mountains,Sichuan basin and the plateau in western Sichuan.There is a correlation between the aeromagnetic anomalies,top and bottom depths of the magnetic bodies and the 2008 Wenchuan MS8.0earthquake.
Family physicians' preferences for computerized decision-support hardware and software.

BACKGROUND While computers are now widely used by family physicians for billing and patient registration purposes, their use as decision-support tools is still quite limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the current use of computer hardware and software by family physicians, and the characteristics these physicians desire in computerized decision-support hardware and software. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 250 Michigan family physicians was undertaken in mid-1995. These physicians were asked about their current use of a variety of computer hardware and software. They were also asked to rate the value of different kinds of decision-support information potentially available by computer. The survey instrument also gathered the family physicians' preferences for design factors (both hardware and software), such as the size of a computer, the time needed to access information, and the frequency of updates. RESULTS Word processing on desktop computers and hospital information systems are the most widely used computer applications by family physicians. Physicians are most interested in computer-based information on drugs, storage and generation of patient education materials, and accessing treatment recommendations. Most feel that semiannual or annual updates of information are adequate, and would like a uniform interface. A high percentage of physicians (84.5% of all physicians and 94.1% of younger physicians) stated that they would consider carrying a handheld computer. CONCLUSIONS There is significant interest in several types of clinical decision-support software. Based on the results of this study, such software should have following characteristics: (1) be available for handheld as well as networked and desktop computers, (2) include drug information (particularly warnings, interactions, and side effects), (3) include overviews of treatment recommendations, (4) include patient education materials, and (5) have a uniform user interface and be updated at least annually.
Detection of chromatin-associated hydroxyl radicals generated by DNA-bound metal compounds and antitumor antibiotics.

This chapter aims to correlate local variations in the distribution of hydroxyl radical in chromatin with the carcinogenic potential of metal compounds. It discusses the metal compounds and antitumor antibiotics that generate chromatin-associated hydroxyl radical. This information is essential for understanding the mechanisms of carcinogenicity of transition metals. Exposure of populations to inorganic carcinogens as a result of pathological states and industrial or environmental conditions represents an acknowledged cancer hazard and the mechanism of carcinogenicity continues to be scrutinized. One important mechanism of action of the metals copper, iron, and possibly chromium is the production of chromatin lesions via oxidizing free radicals, hydroxyl radicals in particular. As such, knowledge concerning the fate of the generated hydroxyl radical is imperative for an adequate understanding of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of these metals. Hydroxyl radical is a species with high electrophilicity and high thermochemical reactivity and, as such, has a high reactivity toward most biomolecules including DNA.
Astrophysics: Rare data from a lost satellite

The Hitomi astronomical satellite observed gas motions in the Perseus galaxy cluster shortly before losing contact with Earth. Its findings are invaluable to studies of cluster physics and cosmology. See Letter p.117 The Hitomi collaboration reports X-ray observations of the core of the Perseus cluster of galaxies — the brightest X-ray-emitting cluster in the sky. Such clusters typically consist of tens to thousands of galaxies bound together by gravity and are studied as models of both small-scale cosmology and large-scale astrophysical processes. The data reveal a remarkably quiescent atmosphere, where gas velocities are quite low, with a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of about 164 kilometres per second at a distance of 30–60 kiloparsecs from the central nucleus.
Humanizing Blackness: An Interview With Tommy J. Curry

Tommy J. Curry is an associate professor of philosophy at Texas A&M. Ebony A. Utley is an associate professor of communication studies at California State University Long Beach. In this conversation, we define blackness and discuss its future.
Carbon nanotube electronics and optoelectronics

We discuss recent developments in our research on single carbon nanotube field-effect transistors and light emitting and detecting devices. Specifically, we show that by using either double gate devices, or selective charge-transfer doping, we can convert Schottky barrier CNTFETs into bulk-switched devices, ambipolar CNTFETs into unipolar devices, while at the same time enhance both the ON and OFF state device characteristics. Under ambipolar conditions CNTFETs can be used as light emitters via e-h recombination, while light irradiation of CNTFETs leads to photoconductivity. Thus, the CNTFET can be used as a high performance switch, a light source and a light detector.
Identification of appropriate reference genes for qPCR analyses of placental expression of SLC7A3 and induction of SLC5A1 in porcine endometrium

Abstract Introduction Endometria and placentae undergo developmental changes that affect the stability of genes used as references for normalization of qPCR data. We identified genes that are stable within the porcine endometrium and placenta throughout pregnancy, and elucidated the temporal/spatial mRNA localization of the glucose and arginine transporters, solute carrier family (SLC) 5A1 and SLC7A3 , respectively. Materials and Methods qPCR was performed for 10 genes within porcine endometria from Days 5, 11, and 15 of the estrous cycle and 11, 15, 25, 40, 60, and 85 of pregnancy; and chorioallantois from Days 30, 35, 45, 50, 60, and 85. Gene stability was analyzed using GeNorm and NormFinder algorithms. qPCR and in situ hybridization determined temporal/spatial localization of SLC5A1 and SLC7A3 at the uterine-placental interface. Results The geometric mean of TATA-binding protein (TBP), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase 1 (HPRT1), and tubulin alpha 1B (TUBA1B) provides acceptable reference values for porcine placenta. The geometric mean of TBP, beta actin (ACTB), and succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A flavoprotein (SDHA) is acceptable for endometria. SLC5A1 is induced by estrogen in endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) on Days 12 and 13 of pregnancy. SLC7A3 is expressed in the chorion. Discussion and Conclusion Using appropriate reference genes resulted in complementary results between qPCR and in situ hybridization techniques for SLC5A1 and SLC7A3 mRNAs. SLC5A1 is induced in uterine LE by estrogen of trophectoderm origin when the blastocyst is free-floating and dependent on glucose from the endometrium, and SLC7A3 is expressed by the established placenta to support fetal growth.
Obstacle avoidance for bacteria-powered microrobots

Abstract For practical applications that involve microrobots there are several control related challenges. These challenges are often alleviated by constructing ideal environments, which are devoid of potential disturbances that can affect performance. However, in less idealistic working spaces where obstacles exist, microrobotic navigation algorithms must account for these objects. An autonomous control system will be more efficient than manual control to avoid these obstacles. In addition, the autonomous navigation will widen the potential application of microrobots, as autonomous control can supply the optimal motion control depending on the situation. In this chapter, we introduce a static obstacle avoidance algorithm for bacteria-powered microrobots. A bacteria-powered microrobot (BPM) is a hybrid robotic system consisting of an inorganic SU-8 microstructure with bacterial carpets, in which massive arrays of biomolecular flagellar motors work cooperatively. Our obstacle-avoidance method is based on a BPM's response to electric fields; the negatively charged bacteria enable the BPM to follow the electric field lines. In this chapter, the constraint elements to develop the obstacle avoidance method are discussed and demonstrated by experiments with simulation results. In the suggested approach, the methods, such as potential function and configuration-space, popular in macroscale robotics, are applied to microscale robotics. We describe the feasibility of the proposed obstacle avoidance approach through experiments and compare these data with simulation results.
Fertility Levels and Trends in North Korea

This short paper contributes additional evidence to the existing body of knowledge on demographic changes in North Korea by studying fertility levels and trends over the last three decades. Using as many estimates of total fertility as possible derived from various data sources (censuses, sample surveys and vital registration system) and computed using diverse estimation methods, we show that the demographic data from North Korea are remarkably consistent for the study of fertility. Total fertility in North Korea declined from about 3.0 children per woman in 1980 to about 2.0 in 1998 and remained around that level until 2008. This paper also provides original empirical evidence about what happened to fertility during the tumultuous period between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s in North Korea.
The Effect of the Martin Koszta Affair on American Foreign Policy

Secretary of State William L. Marcy formulated the doctrine of domiciliation in 1853 as a response to the Martin Koszta affair. This doctrine helped form part of American foreign policy throughout the 19th century, and it continues today. A closer look at the Koszta affair shows the source and the need for the doctrine, and of course the primary application.
The Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS): Different Test and Different Purpose

Publisher Summary The Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) is a developmental screening instrument applicable for ages 3–24 months. The BINS was developed contemporaneously with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development—Second Edition (BSID-II), and incorporated some similar items and test materials. However, the BINS is distinct and is not a ‘‘mini-Bayley.’’ Rather, it is a screening tool used to identify infants who are at risk for neurodevelopmental problems and who require further more detailed evaluation with an instrument such as the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development—Third Edition (BSID-III). The BINS differs significantly from the BSID-II and BSID-III, both in purpose and emphasis. Nonetheless, the BINS moderately correlates with Bayley cognitive and motor scores, and is predictive of later outcome, using either the three-tier risk classification scheme or a binary approach. The BINS is translatable to caretaker report, and is unique in that the same items can be used for report and hands-on versions. Depending on the purpose of using the BINS, scores falling in the moderate- or high-risk range should be followed by more detailed evaluation with the BSID-III.
The menstrual cycle and blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy.

Introduction Operative morbidity of laparoscopic myomectomy largely relates to the potential for intraoperative blood loss. We sought to determine whether blood loss varies according to the menstrual cycle. Material and methods A retrospective study of 268 women who underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy from 2007 to 2012. Patients were categorized into five menstrual groups: follicular phase, luteal phase, oligomenorrheic or amenorrheic on hormonal therapy, postmenopausal or other. Patient and procedure characteristics were compared for the follicular phase group, luteal phase group, and hormonal therapy group. The estimated blood loss was compared across the five groups using a regression model. Results A total of 268 women underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy: 108 (40.3%) were in the follicular phase, 92 (34.3%) were in the luteal phase, 44 (16.4%) were on hormonal therapy, nine (3.4%) were postmenopausal, and 15 (5.6%) could not be classified. Baseline patient characteristics were similar between the groups with the exception of endometriosis. Geometric mean estimated blood loss was 91.9 mL in the follicular phase group, 108.7 mL in the luteal phase group, 114.1 mL in the hormonal therapy group, and 39.8 mL in the postmenopausal group. There was no significant difference in the geometric mean estimated blood loss when comparing the follilcuar phase, luteal phase, and hormonal phase groups (p = 0.41). Upon adjusted multivariable analysis of all five menstrual groups, there was also no difference in estimated blood loss. Conclusions Intraoperative blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy does not vary significantly with the phase of the menstrual cycle.
A dual-stage sodium thermal electrochemical converter (Na-TEC)

Abstract The sodium thermal electrochemical converter (Na-TEC) is a heat engine that generates electricity through the isothermal expansion of sodium ions. The Na-TEC is a closed system that can theoretically achieve conversion efficiencies above 45% when operating between thermal reservoirs at 1150 K and 550 K. However, thermal designs have confined previous single-stage devices to thermal efficiencies below 20%. To mitigate some of these limitations, we consider dividing the isothermal expansion into two stages; one at the evaporator temperature (1150 K) and another at an intermediate temperature (650 K–1050 K). This dual-stage Na-TEC takes advantage of regeneration and reheating, and could be amenable to better thermal management. Herein, we demonstrate how the dual-stage device can improve the efficiency by up to 8% points over the best performing single-stage device. We also establish an application regime map for the single- and dual-stage Na-TEC in terms of the power density and the total thermal parasitic loss. Generally, a single-stage Na-TEC should be used for applications requiring high power densities, whereas a dual-stage Na-TEC should be used for applications requiring high efficiency.
Predictors of Elbow Torque Among Youth and Adolescent Baseball Pitchers.

Background:There has been an increasing incidence of overuse elbow injuries among youth and adolescent pitchers. Pitch type has been implicated as a risk factor for excess torque at the medial elbo...
Correction to: HRQOL in Diverse Ethnic Groups with Diabetes: Findings from the 2014 BRFSS.

The following corrections to this article as originally published should be noted: In the first sentence of the abstract, “non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanics adults with diabetes” should read “non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adults with diabetes”.
Not an Oxymoron: Some X-Ray Binary Pulsars with Enormous Spin-Up Rates Reveal Weak Magnetic Fields

Three high-mass X-ray binaries have been discovered recently exhibiting enormous spin-up rates. Conventional accretion theory predicts extremely high-surface dipolar magnetic fields that we believe are unphysical. Instead, we propose quite the opposite scenario; some of these pulsars exhibit weak magnetic fields, so much so that their magnetospheres are crushed by the weight of inflowing matter. The enormous spin-up rate is achieved before inflowing matter reaches the pulsar's surface as the penetrating inner disc transfers its excess angular momentum to the receding magnetosphere, which, in turn, applies a powerful spin-up torque to the pulsar. This mechanism also works in reverse; it spins a pulsar down when the magnetosphere expands beyond corotation and finds itself rotating faster than the accretion disc, which then exerts a powerful retarding torque to the magnetic field and to the pulsar itself. The above scenaria cannot be accommodated within the context of neutron-star accretion processes occurring near spin equilibrium, thus they constitute a step towards a new theory of extreme (far from equilibrium) accretion phenomena.
Does Surgeon Volume Affect Outcomes Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review.

Abstract Background Surgeon volume has been identified as an important factor impacting postoperative outcome in patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. With an absence of a detailed systematic review, we sought to collate evidence on the impact of surgeon volume on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. Methods PubMed (MEDLINE) and Google Scholar databases were queried for articles using the following search criteria: (“Surgeon Volume” OR “Provider Volume” OR “Volume Outcome”) AND (“THA” OR “Total hip replacement” OR “THR” OR “Total hip arthroplasty”). Studies investigating total hip arthroplasty being performed for malignancy or hip fractures were excluded from the review. Twenty-eight studies were included in the final review. All studies underwent a quality appraisal using the GRADE tool. The systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Results Increasing surgeon volume was associated with a shorter length of stay, lower costs, and lower dislocation rates. Studies showed a significant association between an increasing surgeon volume and higher odds of early-term and midterm survivorship, but not long-term survivorships. Although complications were reported and recorded differently in studies, there was a general trend toward a lower postoperative morbidity with regard to complications following surgeries by a high-volume surgeon. Conclusion This systematic review shows evidence of a trend toward better postoperative outcomes with high-volume surgeons. Future prospective studies are needed to better determine long-term postoperative outcomes such as survivorship before healthcare policies such as regionalization and/or equal-access healthcare systems can be considered.
Neural mechanisms underlying the link between effortful control and aggression: An ERP study.

Abstract Aggression and violence are social behaviors that exact a significant toll on human societies. Individuals with aggressive tendencies display deficits in effortful control, particularly in affectively charged situations. However, not all individuals with poor effortful control are aggressive. This study uses event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded from a large sample (n = 75 undergraduates) to decompose the chronology of neural mechanisms underlying the ability to effortfully-control behavior, and then explores whether deficits in these cognitive functions might then lead to aggressive behavior. This study investigated which ERPs moderate the effortful control - aggression association. We examined three successive ERP components, the P2, N2, and P3, which have been associated with attentional orienting, response conflict, and working memory updating, for stimuli that required effortful control. N2 amplitudes were larger for trials requiring a switch from a preplanned action strategy than trials where a preplanned action strategy was followed. Furthermore, results indicated that N2 activation, but not P2 or P3 activation, moderated the relationship between effortful control and aggression. Our results suggest that small (less negative) N2s moderate the association between effortful control and aggression. These effects were present only in negative contexts, and only for high-conflict trials. Results suggest that individual differences in neural processing efficiency contributes to the execution of effortfully controlled behavior and avoidance of aggression.
Open-loop power control performance in DS-CDMA networks with frequency selective fading and non-stationary base stations

In this paper, we study the performance of a simple and easy-to-implement distributed power control strategy applicable to direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) networks. The scheme makes use of the received power measurements made on the forward link at individual mobile units to control the transmit powers on their reverse links. The algorithm, which effectively compensates for the slowly varying distance and shadow losses (due to their high correlation on both forward and reverse links), attempts to minimize the effect of fast multipath fading by averaging it out. We adopt a quasi-analytic approach to estimate the reverse link capacity performance of an open-loop power control scheme in both a single cell and a multi-cell environment, and we do this for both a fixed base station and a moving base station scenario. Non-stationary base stations are typical in tactical and emergency communications scenarios where the base stations could be mounted on moving platforms (e.g., tanks, jeeps, unmanned airborne vehicles). We estimate the capacity degradation, when base stations move relative to other cells, as a function of the amount of cell overlap and the standard deviation of the power control error. We also provide a comparison of the performance of the open-loop power control strategy with that of a closed-loop power control strategy.
Competitive Electric Services and Efficiency

While FERC restructures the wholesale market for electrical energy, and the interstate network of transmission lines that supports it, state agencies and electric companies are rapidly redefining themselves to compete in the retail market. How vibrant the retail market for electrical and energy services becomes will either shut the door or open the floodgates for end-use technologies. Customer choice is required at some level if new technologies beyond central station generation, transmission and distribution are to enter the market at accelerated rates. Sophisticated load management i n response to spot market prices is not enough. Fuel diversity, protection from shifting environmental regulations, rate stability, environmental performance, localized reliability and power quality are all “products” that certain customers are willing to pay for. Integration of these functions, technologies, products and markets is key.
Comparative Characterization of Non-professional and Professional Phagocyte Responses to Apoptotic Cells

Cells that die by apoptosis are rapidly removed in vivo, both by neighbouring tissue cells (‘non-professional phagocytes’) and by the professional phagocytes of the innate immune system, macrophages and dendritic cells. This ongoing process of death and removal of dying cells appears silent at the level of the organism, with cells melting away and replacement cells taking their place. However recent advances in the study of dying cell removal and particularly studies of the consequences of defective apoptotic cell removal reveal that this process is far from silent at the cellular level and contributes critically to tissue homeostasis and immune regulation. This occurs through the stimulation of distinct responses by cells following engagement of apoptotic cells. The nature of these responses and how they appear tailored for the phagocyte and the context of apoptotic cell removal are reviewed and discussed here.
Neuroleptic addition in fluvoxamine-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder

Nine of 17 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder responded when neuroleptic was added to fluvoxamine with or without lithium. Comorbid occurrence of tic spectrum disorders or of schizotypal personality disorder was associated with response. Abnormalities in brain dopamine and serotonin may be implicated in such patients.
Perturbations of Enzymic Initiation of Excision Repair due to Guanine Modification in DNA

Complex mixtures of genotoxic agents exist in the environment, and therefore it is important to analyze the consequences of such exposures. Excision repair of DNA base alterations is initiated by DNA glycosylases, each of which releases a specific damaged base by cleaving the glycosylic bond linking it to the sugar. The DNA is nicked at the resultant base loss site by an apurinic/apyrimidinic site endonuclease, followed by further endonucleolytic or exonucleolytic degradation of the DNA, resynthesis of the excised portion by DNA polymerase, and closure of the last phosphodiester bond by DNA ligase (Lindahl, 1979).
Safety and efficacy of dolutegravir in hemodialysis

With the increasing incidence of chronic kidney disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of HIV-infected patients requiring hemodialysis has also increased. Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor that is a common component of HIV treatment regimens. Currently, there is no guidance regarding the use of dolutegravir in patients requiring hemodialysis. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the clinical correlates of safe and effective use of dolutegravir in hemodialysis. This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients receiving dolutegravir and hemodialysis for at least six months at a single academic HIV medical clinic. The primary safety outcome was discontinuation of dolutegravir due to an adverse effect. The primary efficacy outcome was viral suppression six months after being on dolutegravir and hemodialysis simultaneously. Ten patients received dolutegravir while receiving hemodialysis for six months. No patients discontinued the medication during the six months. Eighty percent of the patients were virally suppressed at six months with 62.5% of those suppressed maintaining suppression and 37.5% achieving suppression over the course of the six months. In a retrospective review of ten patients receiving dolutegravir while on hemodialysis for at least six months, dolutegravir was generally safe and effective for use at standard dosages.
Antidepressant Tolerability in Pediatric Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling Meta-analysis.

Objective To compare antidepressant-related adverse events (AEs), suicidality, and AE-related discontinuation in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Method MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language articles from inception through March 1, 2019. We identified prospective, randomized SSRI and SNRI studies in patients Results Data were included from 18 trials (2,631 patients) and 7 medications (16 SSRI and 4 SNRI trials). Compared with placebo, SSRIs were associated with a greater likelihood of AE-related discontinuation (RR 3.59, credible interval [CrI] 0.019–0.067, p = .0003), activation (RR 2.39, CrI 0.048–0.125, p = .003), sedation (RR 1.94, CrI 0.035–0.157, p = .002), insomnia (RR 1.93, CrI 0.040–0.149, p = .001), abdominal pain (RR 1.53, CrI 0.032–0.164, p = .005), and headache (RR 1.24, CrI 0.003–0.139, p = .04). Activation was more common with SSRIs (versus SNRIs, RR 1.32, CrI 0.018–0.114, p = .007). Neither SSRIs nor SNRIs were associated with treatment-emergent suicidality. Conclusion In pediatric OCD and anxiety disorders, SSRIs (compared with placebo) are associated with distinct AEs and greater AE-related discontinuation, although their tolerability does not differ between anxiety disorders and OCD. Compared with SNRIs, SSRIs are more likely to produce activation. Class-related AEs are important for clinicians to consider, particularly in light of data suggesting differences in class-related efficacy. Whereas SSRIs are superior to SNRIs and the treatment of choice for anxiety, for youths who become activated on SSRIs, SNRIs might represent a good second choice given their reported efficacy and lower risk of activation.
Effects of syllable duration on the perception of the Mandarin Tone 2/Tone 3 distinction: Evidence of auditory enhancement.

Mandarin syllables carrying a mid-high-rising F0 contour (Tone 2) tend to be shorter than those carrying a low-falling-rising contour (Tone 3). It is possible that talkers use length differences to enhance the perceptual contrast between Tone 2 and Tone 3. We tested this hypothesis in Experiment 1 by comparing perceptual judgments of native Mandarin and native English speakers on various sets of Mandarin tones. A short-stimulus (350 ms) and a long-stimulus (450 ms) series were synthesized for each of the syllables /bi/, /ba/, and /bu/. Each series included 11 stimuli that varied incrementally in F0 contour from a Tone 2 exemplar to a Tone 3 exemplar, both of which were Mandarin morphemes. Subjects (both Mandarin- and English-speaking) were first trained with feedback to assign the short and long series-endpoint stimuli to two categories based on F0 contour alone. Next, subjects identified the entire stimulus series (both short and long) on the basis of the two training categories. For both Mandarin-speaking and English-speaking subjects, a longer syllable duration shifted the labeling boundary reliably toward more Tone 3 responses. Syllable lengthening appears to enhance auditorily the F0 cues for the Tone 3 category. The results of Experiment 2, in which English-speaking listeners made comparative judgments of the apparent length of the Tone 2 and Tone 3 exemplars, allowed us to distinguish empirically between two possible auditory-enhancement accounts of the durational effect observed in the first experiment.
Are physicians obligated to treat indigent patients

Are physicians obligated to treat indigent patients? Three possible responses to this question are examined: (1) "No! Health care is the property of the physician to sell as he or she sees fit"; (2) "Yes, out of charity"; and (3) "Yes, out of justice." The first response is shown to be indefensible on the basis of an analysis of natural rights to property and freedom. The second response is defensible but applies only at the microlevel of the patient-physician relationship. Thus, physicians are obligated to care for indigent patients to some reasonable degree. The third response is defensible and applies at the macrolevel of public policy. Physicians are obligated to play a crucial role at this level--a role that has been largely neglected.
“¿Tú tienes una little pumpkin?” Mixed noun phrases in Spanish-English bilingual children and adults:

Objectives:This study investigates the switching of a noun or a determiner in mixed noun phrases, such as “una little pumpkin,” to test predictions from two theoretical frameworks, the Matrix Langu...
Lowering oxidative stress in ghrelin cells stimulates ghrelin secretion

Ghrelin is a predominantly stomach-derived peptide hormone with many actions including regulation of food intake, body weight, and blood glucose. Plasma ghrelin levels are robustly regulated by feeding status, with its levels increasing upon caloric restriction and decreasing after food intake. At least some of this regulation might be due to direct responsiveness of ghrelin cells to changes in circulating nutrients, including glucose. Indeed, oral and parental glucose administration to humans and mice lower plasma ghrelin. Also, dissociated mouse gastric mucosal cell preparations, which contain ghrelin cells, decrease ghrelin secretion when cultured in high ambient glucose. Here, we used primary cultures of mouse gastric mucosal cells in combination with an array of pharmacological tools to examine the potential role of changed intracellular oxidative stress in glucose-restricted ghrelin secretion. The antioxidants resveratrol, SRT1720, and curcumin all markedly increased ghrelin secretion. Furthermore, three different selective activators of Nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of the antioxidative cellular response to oxidative stress, increased ghrelin secretion. These antioxidant compounds blocked the inhibitory effects of glucose on ghrelin secretion. Therefore, we conclude that lowering oxidative stress within ghrelin cells stimulates ghrelin secretion and blocks the direct effects of glucose on ghrelin cells to inhibit ghrelin secretion.
Marriage Counseling and Couple Therapy With Celebrity and High-Profile Clients:

This article examines marriage counseling and couple therapy with celebrity and high-profile clients. Issues and considerations commonly encountered when working with this population are presented ...
Reducing Microfluidic Very Large-Scale Integration (mVLSI) Chip Area by Seam Carving

Seam carving is an algorithm that analyzes image content and can be used for size reduction in a manner that avoids direct compression or downscaling. Seam carving iteratively identifies horizontal and/or vertical paths of least visual importance and removes them from the image; each path removal reduces the length or width of the image by one row or column of pixels. This article adapts seam carving to reduce excess area of flow-based microfluidic chips that have been drawn by hand or by computer-aided heuristics without negatively impacting their functionality. The proposed approach leverages domain knowledge, wherein the image to be carved consists of I/O ports, components, and fluid channels, with known and understood fluidic behavior. Three different variants of seam carving are presented: 1) linear; 2) nonlinear; and 3) nonrectilinear; experimental results show that nonrectilinear, which is the most general of the three, yields the best results: it improves area utilization by $8.6\times $ and reduces fluid routing channel length by 73% across a set of benchmark microfluidic designs.
DiffStream: differential output testing for stream processing programs

High performance architectures for processing distributed data streams, such as Flink, Spark Streaming, and Storm, are increasingly deployed in emerging data-driven computing systems. Exploiting the parallelism afforded by such platforms, while preserving the semantics of the desired computation, is prone to errors, and motivates the development of tools for specification, testing, and verification. We focus on the problem of differential output testing for distributed stream processing systems, that is, checking whether two implementations produce equivalent output streams in response to a given input stream. The notion of equivalence allows reordering of logically independent data items, and the main technical contribution of the paper is an optimal online algorithm for checking this equivalence. Our testing framework is implemented as a library called DiffStream in Flink. We present four case studies to illustrate how our framework can be used to (1) correctly identify bugs in a set of benchmark MapReduce programs, (2) facilitate the development of difficult-to-parallelize high performance applications, and (3) monitor an application for a long period of time with minimal performance overhead.
Relationship between uric acid and kidney function in adults at risk for tumor lysis syndrome

Uric acid drives acute kidney injury in tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). This study investigated the relationship between uric acid and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in adults a...
Quantitative Alterations in Complement Alternative Pathway and Related Genetic Analysis in Severe Phenotype Preeclampsia

Background Preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome share many clinical and biologic features with thrombotic microangiopathy syndromes caused by complement abnormalities. Our hypothesis was that similar functional and genetic alterations in the complement alternative pathway (CAP) are present in these disorders of pregnancy. Methods We conducted quantitative analysis of proteins involved in CAP using ELISA and nephelometry on prospectively collected blood samples from patients with severe phenotype preeclampsia (defined as delivery ≤34 weeks due to preeclampsia), HELLP syndrome, or eclampsia, and matched normotensive controls (n=25 in each arm) between 2011 and 2016. Sequencing was performed to interrogate 14 genes encoding CAP components. Results Both groups were similar in age, gravidity, parity, marital status, and race. The study group had a higher BMI (mean±SD, 32±8 versus 25±4 kg/m2; P=0.002) and earlier gestational age at delivery (32.5±3.6 versus 40.3±1 weeks; P Conclusion Patients with severe phenotype preeclampsia manifest functional alterations in CAP activation. Genetic variants in the CAP genes were detected in several patients, but a larger population study is necessary to fully evaluate genetic risk. Genetic screening and complement-targeted treatment may be useful in risk stratification and novel therapeutic approaches.
The Use of a Simple Likert Scale to Measure Quality Of Life In Brain Tumor Patients

The use of a self-administered 10-Point Likert self-assessment quality of life scale was explored in a convenience sample of patients attending a brain tumor clinic. The original scale, developed by Priestman, was modified to be more brain-tumor specific. A total of 430 patients completed the scale at 535 different points of measurement. The patients had a variety of brain tumors ranging from meningiomas to high-grade gliomas. The Total Score of the original scale and the Modified Total Score of the brain-specific version were explored in relationship to patient demographics and available clinical characteristics: age, gender, severity of tumor, location of tumor, survival rates, prior surgery, radiation, radiosurgery, and chemotherapy. We also examined the relationship between sub-scales and these variables. On a scale of 10-100, the average Total Score was 67.83, not significantly different from the Modified Score. There were no differences between bilateral, midline, or left- versus right-sided lesions. Patients with the worst prognosis in terms of tumor type were 5-6 points lower in quality of life than patients with intermediate or relatively good prognosis. In a multiple regression model, adjusted for age, the overall score was related only to tumor severity and to gender, with women having significantly poorer functional status than men by 4 points. Both the Modified and Total Scores were significantly associated with higher mortality risk, and more specifically, poor scores on well-being, mood, physical function, house/job performance, self-care, concentration, and energy all predicted higher mortality risk. We suggest that the simplicity of this instrument may make it particularly useful for longitudinal assessment of quality of life in brain tumor patients.
The Growing Importance of the Failing State: Sovereignty, Security, and the Return to Power Politics

As anti-American protests build in Kabul and Baghdad, there is a growing debate about the extent to which the United States, the United Nations, and other international actors should intervene in the domestic affairs of weak and ineffective states. Non-aligned states have expressed fear that military intervention by major power states may become a growing facet of the post-11 September world. Relations between the world's most powerful states have become strained over the coercive actions of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq. Critics have labeled recent US actions a return to Realpolitik and a brutal expression of imperialist aggression.1 US policy makers have countered that the use of military force as a preemptive measure is a necessity in a world where terrorist threats have overshadowed concerns of more traditional forms of state violence.2
Load Testing of an FRP Bridge Deck on a Truss Bridge

New York State has constructed a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge deck as an experimental project. The goal of the project was to improve the load rating of a 50-yr old truss bridge located in Wellsburg, New York. The FRP deck weighs approximately 80-percent less than the deteriorated concrete bridge deck it replaced. Reducing the dead load increased the allowable live load capacity of the bridge without significant repair work to the existing superstructure, thus lengthening its service life. Load testing was conducted after installation of the FRP deck to study the conservativeness of the design, ascertain the assumptions made on composite action between the deck and the superstructure, and examine the effectiveness of joints in load transfer. This report describes the testing and discusses the results. The results indicate that the design was conservative. The design assumed no composite action between the deck and the superstructure, and the experimental data confirms that assumption. The study also shows that the joints are only partially-effective in load transfer between panels. Peak strains under the test loads were only a very small fraction of the ultimate strength of the FRP deck.
Paul D'Angelo and Jim A. Kuypers (Eds.). Doing News Framing Analysis: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives

Framing has become an increasingly popular theoretical approach in journalism and communication, and this edited book comes as a timely and much needed reference for scholars conducting research in...
Folk and Clinical Medical Utilization Patterns Among Mejicano Migrant Farmworkers

Each year, migrant workers from south Texas and Mexico travel north more than 2,000 miles for seasonal work in agriculture. They carry with them knowledge of both basic folk medicine and clinical medicine. This paper investigates migrants' utilization of folk healing and clinical medicine in both the sending and receiving states. Two methods of collecting data were employed: (a) a structured interview with a 10% stratified random sample of the workers when in Wisconsin and (b) an intensive ethnographic study of health behavior of 12 families when residing both in Wisconsin and Texas. Findings suggest that specific patterns of utilization depend mainly on structural conditions such as geographic location and availability of folk or clinical medical services and on the nature of the illness to be cured, and depend secondarily on sex, age, income, and educational level. For the migrants, there is little incompatibility between medical systems; people move easily between one and the other, often supplementing...