cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morals or markets? Regulating assisted reproductive technologies as morality or economic policies in the states.

ABSTRACTBackground: The availability of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in the medical marketplace complicates our understanding of reproductive public policy in the United States. Political debates over ARTs often are based on fundamental moral principles of life, reproduction, and kinship, similar to other reproductive policies in the United States. However, ARTs are an important moneymaking private enterprise for the U.S. biotechnology industry. This project investigates how the U.S. states regulate these unique and challenging technologies as either moral policies or economic policies. Methods: This study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to estimate the significance of morality and economic policy variables on ART policies at the state level, noting associations between state-level political, economic, and gender variables on restrictive and permissive state-level ART policies. Results: Economic variables (reflecting the biotechnology industry) and advocacy for access to ART o...
Medial femur T2 Z-scores predict the probability of knee structural worsening over 4–8 years: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative

Author(s): Joseph, Gabby B; McCulloch, Charles E; Nevitt, Michael C; Gersing, Alexandra S; Schwaiger, Benedikt J; Kretzschmar, Martin; Heilmeier, Ursula; Link, Thomas M | Abstract: ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the probability of structural worsening of knee cartilage and whole joint degeneration over 4-8 years based on cartilage T2 Z-scores at baseline.DesignRight knees with Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades of 0-2 in 587 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were studied. 3T MR images were used to perform baseline cartilage T2 quantification and assess 4-year changes in cartilage morphology (WORMS scoring) in 5 regions. Changes in joint space narrowing (JSN) and KL were assessed over 8 years. T2 Z-scores were based on a reference database of knees without morphologic cartilage degeneration at baseline. Odds ratios for, and predicted probabilities of any worsening in WORMS cartilage, JSN and KL grade were obtained from logistic regression models.ResultsA one-unit increase in the baseline medial femur T2 Z-score was associated with cartilage worsening in the same region (OR = 1.59; P l 0.0001) and in any region (OR = 1.37; P l 0.0001), and with worsening JSN (OR = 1.82; P l 0.0001) and KL grades (OR = 1.69; P l 0.0001). Predicted probabilities of worsening in knees with a medial femur T2 Z-score from 2-4 were 38% for medial femur cartilage WORMS, 70% for any cartilage region, 28% for increasing JSN and 31% for increasing KL grade.ConclusionKnees with elevated cartilage T2 (especially in the medial femur and those that are 2 to 4 SDs above the mean reference values) are significantly more likely to have structural worsening over 4 to 8 years. Knowing cartilage T2 Z-scores may aid in targeting prevention efforts at early stages of osteoarthritis.Level of evidence2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1128-1136.
Hangover Symptoms, Heavy Episodic Drinking, and Depression in Young Adults: A Cross-Lagged Analysis

Objective:The objective of this study was to examine associations between symptoms of alcohol hangover and depression, both cross-sectionally and prospectively.Method:Data were from a survey of young adults (N = 986, 60% female) initially recruited as part of an observational study of youth smoking. Participants reported past-year hangover symptoms, past-year frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED), and past-week depression symptoms on two occasions separated by 1 year. Path analysis was used to evaluate prospective, directional associations linking symptoms of depression and hangover after taking into account their stabilities and cross-sectional associations. Individual differences in HED frequency were accounted for to permit interpretation of residual hangover score variance in terms of susceptibility to hangover effects.Results:Past-week depression and past-year hangover symptoms were associated at Time 1. Path analysis indicated that Time 1 depression symptoms were associated with elevated hangov...
Abstract 20492: Long Term Outcomes After Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF): A Study From the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium (PCCC)

Introduction: TOF can exist either in simple (without association with other lesions) or in complex form when associated with absent pulmonary valve (TOF-APV), complete atrioventricular canal (TOF-CCAVC) or pulmonary atresia (TOF-PA). Surgical repair is feasible in all forms, but risks for long term outcomes can be different depending on the substrate of the TOF. We examined the long term vital status and risk of transplantation of patients registered in PCCC with repaired TOF. Methods: We identified 3,841 and 1,878 patients surviving after simple and complex TOF repair between 1982 and 2003. Of these 3,302 and 1,619 respectively had direct identifiers sufficient for submission to the National Death Index (NDI) and United Network for Shared Organs (UNOS) datasets to determine vital and transplant status through 2014. Kaplan Meier (KM) transplant-free survival curves and hazard of mortality were calculated for comparisons between groups. Results: 275 deaths (8.3%) occurred in simple TOF and 199 (19.0%) in complex TOF during a median follow-up period of 19.4 years (IQR: 14.9-24.4 years). There were 11 heart transplants in simple TOF and 11 transplants (7 heart, 3 heart-lung and 1 lung) for complex TOF. Each complex cohort had a higher hazard of mortality than simple TOF: TOF-APV 3.27 (95% CI: 2.39-4.49, p Conclusions: 20 year transplant-free survival for patients with repaired simple and complex TOF reaches 91.7% and 81% respectively. These results provide a conservative estimate of expected outcomes for these groups of patients. In depth analysis is underway for risk factors and specific diagnoses affecting mortality.
“Looking Up” and “Looking Down”: On the Dual Character of Mechanistic Explanations

Mechanistic explanation is at present the received view of scientific explanation. One of its central features is the idea that mechanistic explanations are both “downward looking” and “upward looking”: they explain by offering information about the internal constitution of the mechanism as well as the larger environment in which the mechanism is situated. That is, they offer both constitutive and contextual explanatory information. Adequate mechanistic explanations, on this view, accommodate the full range of explanatory factors both “above” and “below” the target phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that mechanistic explanation cannot furnish both constitutive and contextual information simultaneously, because these are different types of explanation with distinctly different aims. Claims that they can, I argue, depend on several intertwined confusions concerning the nature of explanation. Particularly, such claims tend to conflate mechanistic and functional explanation, which I argue ought to be understood as distinct. Conflating them threatens to oversell the explanatory power of mechanisms and obscures the means by which they explain. I offer two broad reasons in favor of distinguishing mechanistic and functional explanation: the first concerns the direction of explanation of each, and the second concerns the type of questions to which these explanations offer answers. I suggest an alternative picture on which mechanistic explanation is understood as fundamentally constitutive, and according to which an adequate understanding of a phenomenon typically requires supplementing the mechanistic explanation with a functional explanation.
Trends in calcium supplementation, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014.

Abstract Background Long-term outcomes of supplemental calcium are inadequately understood. Recent research suggests that calcium from supplements may not be entirely free from unintended health consequences. Consequently, it is important to understand patterns and trends in use of calcium supplements. Objective To report trends in supplemental calcium intake between 1999 and 2014, using NHANES data, overall and stratified by sex, race/ethnicity and age. Methods A total of 42,038 adult NHANES participants were included in this analysis. For each survey period, we calculated the prevalence of calcium supplement use exceeding the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL), and mean daily supplemental calcium dose among calcium-containing supplement users. Sample weights were applied. Linear regression was used to examine trends. Results Overall, the prevalence of calcium supplement use at a dose ≥EAR increased between 1999 and 2000 and 2013–2014, from 2.5% (95% CI: 1.9–3.3%) to 4.6% (3.8–5.5%). Use ≥EAR peaked in 2003–2004 at 6.7% (5.3–8.5%) (p-quadratic trend 60 years. Conclusions We described the prevalence of U.S. adults consuming supplemental calcium ≥UL and ≥ EAR. While few were consuming supplemental calcium ≥UL, consumption ≥EAR was not uncommon, especially among women, non-Hispanic whites and older adults.
Clinical and imaging progression over 10 years in a patient with primary progressive apraxia of speech and autopsy-confirmed corticobasal degeneration.

Primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which AOS is the sole presenting complaint. We report clinical and neuroimaging data spanning 10 years from disease ...
Bouncing phase variations in pilot-wave hydrodynamics and the stability of droplet pairs

We present the results of an integrated experimental and theoretical investigation of the vertical motion of millimetric droplets bouncing on a vibrating fluid bath. We characterize experimentally the dependence of the phase of impact and contact force between a drop and the bath on the drop’s size and the bath’s vibrational acceleration. This characterization guides the development of a new theoretical model for the coupling between a drop’s vertical and horizontal motion. Our model allows us to relax the assumption of constant impact phase made in models based on the time-averaged trajectory equation of Molacek and Bush (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 727, 2013b, pp. 612–647) and obtain a robust horizontal trajectory equation for a bouncing drop that accounts for modulations in the drop’s vertical dynamics as may arise when it interacts with boundaries or other drops. We demonstrate that such modulations have a critical influence on the stability and dynamics of interacting droplet pairs. As the bath’s vibrational acceleration is increased progressively, initially stationary pairs destabilize into a variety of dynamical states including rectilinear oscillations, circular orbits and side-by-side promenading motion. The theoretical predictions of our variable-impact-phase model rationalize our observations and underscore the critical importance of accounting for variability in the vertical motion when modelling droplet–droplet interactions.
Parent-to-Parent Advice on Considering Spinal Fusion in Children with Neuromuscular Scoliosis.

Objectives To convey advice from families whose children recently underwent spinal fusion to families whose children are under consideration for initial spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis and to providers who counsel families on this decision. Study design We interviewed 18 families of children who underwent spinal fusion between August 2017 and January 2019 at a freestanding children's hospital. We conducted phone interviews a median of 65 (IQR 51-77) days after surgery. We audio recorded, transcribed, and coded (line-by-line) interviews using grounded theory by 2 independent reviewers, and discussed among investigators to induce themes associated with surgical decision making and preparation. Results Six themes emerged about decision making and preparation for spinal fusion: (1) simplify risks and benefits; it is easy to get lost in the details; (2) families prolonging the decision whether or not to pursue spinal fusion surgery may not benefit the child; (3) anticipate anxiety and fear when making a decision about spinal fusion; (4) realize that your child might experience a large amount of pain; (5) anticipate a long recovery and healing process after spinal fusion; and (6) be engaged and advocate for your child throughout the perioperative spinal fusion process. Conclusions Parents of children who had recently undergone spinal fusion had strong perceptions about what information to convey to families considering surgery, which may improve communication between future parents and physicians. Further investigation is needed to assess how best to incorporate the wisdom and experiences of parent peers into shared decision making and preparation for spinal fusion in children with neuromuscular scoliosis.
The unified protocol for anxiety and depression with comorbid borderline personality disorder: a single case design clinical series

This study used a single case experimental design to investigate the use of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) among a sample of individuals with depression and anxiety who also presented with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Eight women received individual treatment with the UP over the course of 14–16 treatment sessions, and were assessed for anxiety and depression severity on a weekly basis over a 2–6 week baseline period and throughout treatment. Three of the eight participants demonstrated reliable pre- to post-treatment clinical improvements on depression and stress scales, and one participant demonstrated a reliable reduction on an anxiety scale. Two participants demonstrated a reliable improvement in overall anxiety. The results indicate that the UP applied to individuals diagnosed with primary BPD may lead to clinical improvement in depression, stress and anxiety for some individuals. However, the majority of individuals with BPD in our sample did not show strong improvement, and this suggests the need for additional sessions of UP or an intervention that focuses on the symptoms of BPD specifically for some women.Key learning aims(1) To describe the applicability of the Unified Protocol in the treatment of individuals with borderline personality and co-occurring anxiety or depression.(2) To understand the value of utilizing a transdiagnostic approach as an alternative to diagnosis-specific approaches to treatment.(3) To identify the four core modules of the Unified Protocol and describe the general format for individual treatment.
What is Wrong with Throwing Spitballs

Controversy over the use of performance–enhancing drugs (PEDs) in athletics has involved sometimes rather complex technological advances (e.g. ‘designer steroids’ in track, and anabolic steroids in...
Association between irritable bowel syndrome and asthma: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder often seen in outpatient clinics. Diagnosing IBS is often challenging, as it frequently presents with other complicated rheumatological and psychiatric conditions. Asthma has often been associated with gastrointestinal conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis. This review and meta-analysis aimed at a better understanding of the association between the conditions. Methods A comprehensive literature review was completed using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through January 2019. Case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies that evaluated the association between asthma and IBS were divided into 2 groups: the first included studies that identified patients with asthma first and then looked for the presence of IBS. The second group included studies that identified IBS patients first and then looked for the presence of asthma. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 15. Results The search strategy generated a total of 634 studies and 10 eligible studies (8 case-control and 2 cross-sectional) were selected for meta-analysis. Analysis showed that asthmatics have twice the risk of having IBS (pooled odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-2.8), and patients with IBS have twice the risk of having asthma (pooled OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.3-3.9). Conclusions This study highlights that the risk of asthma is considerably higher in IBS patients and vice versa. Physicians should look out for pulmonary symptoms in IBS patients and consider evaluation with spirometry when necessary. Likewise, asthmatics presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms may need consultation and evaluation for IBS.
Primary sarcoma of the cervix: an analysis of patient and tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes

OBJECTIVE Primary sarcoma of the cervix is rare and is associated with worse outcomes as compared to other histologies. The purpose of this study was to identify national treatment patterns and outcomes based on histological subtype using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). METHODS The NCDB was queried for patients with cervical cancer from 2004-2015. Clinico-demographic treatment details were obtained and compared between patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma, and sarcoma of the cervix. Multivariable Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to examine survival. RESULTS 107,177 patients met inclusion criteria including 81,245 (75.8%) women with SCC, 24,562 (22.9%) women with adenocarcinoma, and 1,370 (1.3%) women with sarcoma. Of the patients with cervical sarcoma, 680 (49.6%) patients had carcinosarcoma or malignant mixed Mullerian tumor, 255 (18.6%) patients had leiomyosarcoma, 197 (14.4%) patients had adenosarcoma, 28 (2.0%) patients had endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS), 85 (6.2%) patients had rhabdomyosarcoma, and 125 (9.1%) patients had sarcoma not otherwise specified (NOS). Patients with sarcoma were older and more likely to be treated primarily with surgery. On multivariable Cox regression, sarcoma had decreased overall survival (OS) as compared to patients with SCC (hazard ratio=2.17; 95% CI=1.99-2.37; p<0.001). Among patients with sarcoma, 5-year OS was 89.2% for adenosarcoma, 66.2% for rhabdomyosarcoma, 55.6% for leiomyosarcoma, 45.8% for ESS, 31.6% for carcinosarcoma, and 29.2% for sarcoma NOS. CONCLUSIONS Primary cervical sarcomas have inferior outcomes compared to SCC and adenocarcinoma. Sarcoma NOS and carcinosarcoma have the worst prognosis among sarcoma subtypes.
Remade: Sovereign: Decolonizing Guam in the age of environmental anxiety:

Linking Cultural Memory Studies, Indigenous Studies, as well as the growing field of Environmental Humanities, my article casts decolonization efforts in Guam not only as a process steeped in histo...
Wakemeter relies on changing perception thresholds across sleep stages.

Citation:Miller KE, Woodward SH. Wakemeter relies on changing perception thresholds across sleep stages. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(5):825.
Concepts of Quantitative Composition

The objective of this book is to interpret the chemist’s shorthand — chemical symbolism and formulation — and to introduce the subject of stoichiometry. Stoichiometry is the branch of chemical mathematics concerned with the relative amounts of substances that interact. Derived from the Greek stoicheion, meaning element, stoichiometry originally treated only of the different weights of elements that combine to form specific compounds. Modern usage, however, has expanded the generic applicability of the term to any and all aspects of chemical reactivity that can be validly interpreted by a balanced chemical equation. Consequently, stoichiometry encompasses within its purview not only weights but also volumes, gaseous and liquid, and even thermochemical and photochemical quanta of reaction.
Smoking history and cessation discussions in cancer patients receiving definitive radiotherapy: Do we treat all patients equally?

INTRODUCTION Tobacco is recognized as a causative agent for head and neck (H&N) and lung cancers, but not for cancers of the prostate or breast. Still, tobacco use during radiotherapy has been associated with poorer outcomes for all four of these commonly treated malignancies. We sought to evaluate if our providers record smoking history and discuss cessation as frequently for prostate and breast cancers as for H&N and lung cancers. METHODS Initial consultation notes of 592 non-metastatic patients seen from January 2014 through June 2017 were reviewed using the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate smoking history and cessation discussions. The chi-squared test was used to compare frequencies. We chose two cancer sites commonly associated with tobacco use and causation (H&N and lung) and two sites not commonly associated (prostate and breast). RESULTS Prostate cancer patients were less likely to have smoking history recorded (65%) than breast (91%), H&N (96%) or lung (97%) patients (p<0.0001). Breast and prostate cancer patients were less likely to be current smokers (10%) than H&N and lung cancer patients (29%) (p<0.0001). Smoking cessation discussions were less frequently documented in breast and prostate cancer patients (14%) than in H&N and lung cancer patients (55%) (p=0.0005). CONCLUSIONS We document smoking history less frequently for prostate cancer patients than H&N, lung or breast cancer patients. Breast and prostate cancer patients have lower rates of current smoking than H&N and lung cancer patients. We document smoking cessation discussions less frequently in current smoking breast and prostate cancer patients than current smoking H&N and lung cancer patients. As all of these patients have been shown to experience poorer outcomes when smoking during radiotherapy, all should be asked about their smoking history.
Quantifying the strength of heterointeractions among receptor tyrosine kinases from different subfamilies: Implications for cell signaling

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are single-pass membrane proteins that control vital cell processes such as cell growth, survival, and differentiation. There is a growing body of evidence that RTKs from different subfamilies can interact and that these diverse interactions can have important biological consequences. However, these heterointeractions are often ignored, and their strengths are unknown. In this work, we studied the heterointeractions of nine RTK pairs, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–EPH receptor A2 (EPHA2), EGFR–vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), EPHA2–VEGFR2, EPHA2–fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), EPHA2–FGFR2, EPHA2–FGFR3, VEGFR2–FGFR1, VEGFR2–FGFR2, and VEGFR2–FGFR3, using a FRET-based method. Surprisingly, we found that RTK heterodimerization and homodimerization strengths can be similar, underscoring the significance of RTK heterointeractions in signaling. We discuss how these heterointeractions can contribute to the complexity of RTK signal transduction, and we highlight the utility of quantitative FRET for probing multiple interactions in the plasma membrane.
Well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors: analysis of histology, including insulinoma-associated protein 1 expression, and biologic behavior, involving a large cohort of 94 cases.

Summary Well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs) are increasingly being detected by screening colonoscopy, commonly manifesting as polyps. Chromogranin A is frequently negative in R-NETs. Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is a novel transcription factor that has recently shown excellent sensitivity and specificity for neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in various anatomic sites but has not been systematically evaluated in R-NET. A retrospective histologic review of all available R-NETs was performed and stained for INSM1 immunohistochemistry, as well as for Ki-67 and chromogranin A, if not already available. Clinical and follow-up information was obtained from the medical chart. A total of 94 R-NETs were included in our cohort. Of these, 82 (87%) were
Durability of Response to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation After Exposure to Risk Factors for Recurrence in Patients With Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is highly effective for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Durability (no recurrence despite additional risk factor exposure) of FMT protection is largely unknown. We studied the durability of FMT in patients with recurrent CDI. Methods A retrospective study of adults undergoing FMT for recurrent CDI was conducted. Data collected included demographics, CDI risk factors (comorbidities, healthcare exposure, systemic non-CDI antibiotic use, acid suppressant medications) and future CDI episodes. Durable response to FMT was defined as lack of CDI episodes within 1 year post-FMT despite risk factor exposure. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression were used as applicable. Two tailed p Results Overall 460 patients were included [median age 57 (18-94) years, 65.2% female]. Comorbidities included chronic liver disease, 12.8% (n=59), cancer, 11.7% (n=54), chronic kidney disease, 3.9% (n=18) and inflammatory bowel disease, 21.9% (n=101). Overall, 31.3% (n=144) received antibiotics, 21.7% (n=100) received acid suppressants, 76.8% (n=350) had healthcare exposure after FMT. Of 374 patients with risk factor exposure, 78.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 72.7%-84.0%] had durable response to FMT at one year. On multivariable analysis, antibiotic use was independently associated with decreased durability of FMT [hazard ratio 0.27 (95% CI, 0.15-0.49), p Conclusion Majority of patients had a durable response to FMT despite exposure to CDI risk factors. Antibiotic exposure after FMT independently predicted loss of durability of FMT. Larger studies are needed to define predictors of durable response in patients with and without exposure to antibiotics.
Political Institutions and Sorting in a Tiebout Model

We construct a computational model of Tiebout competition and show that political institutions differ in their ability to sort citizens effectively. In particular, we find that certain types of institutions--those that become more "politically unstable" as citizen heterogeneity increases--perform relatively poorly given a single jurisdiction, yet these same institutions perform relatively well when there are multiple jurisdictions. We provide an explanation for this phenomenon which draws upon simulated annealing, a discrete nonlinear search algorithm.
Role of Implantable-Cardioverter-Defibrillator in Patients Awaiting Heart Transplant in Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Era

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have been shown to have survival advantage in advanced heart failure patients. Few studies have evaluated the role of ICDs in patients supported with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CFVADs). We aimed to evaluate the impact of ICD and CFVAD on heart transplant (HTx) waiting list survival. We queried the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) thoracic transplant database between years 2007 and 2016 for patients aged ≥ 18 years listed for HTx. Patients receiving devices other than CFVAD were excluded. Patients were divided into groups-with and without CFVAD and further subdivided into groups-with and without ICD use. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate the survival outcomes. There were 34 860 patients listed for HTx during study period of which 11 481 (32%) had a CFVAD and 26 139 (75%) had an ICD. Within CFVAD group, patients with ICD were older, more likely male, with higher creatinine and listed as UNOS status 1A. In the No-CFVAD group, 1-year waitlist survival was significantly better with ICD use (81% vs. 73%, P < .0001); however, in CFVAD patients, 1-year survival with ICD use was comparable to No-ICD use (95% vs. 94%, P = .1). Use of ICD is associated with significantly better heart transplant waitlist survival in patients not supported by CFVAD. In patients supported with CFVAD, the ICD does not offer additional survival benefit.
Health Outcomes Following Childhood Maltreatment: An Examination of the Biopsychosocial Model.

Child maltreatment constitutes a notoriously large problem within the healthcare field and is associated with significant biological, psychological, and social consequences across the lifespan. Obj...
Diagnosis of Colostrum Deprivation in Calves

Colostrum is the primary source of passive natural protective antibody for the neonatal ruminant. Early ingestion of this immunoglobulin (lg) rich milk is critical for neonatal calf survival; colostrum deprivation results in neonatal failure of passive transfer of antibody (FPTA).1,2
Protocol for the generation of blastocyst-like structures from mouse extended pluripotent stem cells.

Summary Extended/expanded pluripotent stem (EPS) cells can efficiently contribute to both embryonic and extraembryonic lineages in vitro and in vivo. Starting from these cells, we established a 3D differentiation system that enabled the generation of blastocyst-like structures (EPS-blastoids) through lineage segregation and self-organization. We also provide proof of concept that EPS-blastoids can be generated from adult cells via cellular reprogramming. EPS-blastoids provide a unique platform for studying early embryogenesis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Li et al. (2019) .
Do Patients in the Intensive Care Unit Receive Recommended Total Daily Calories with Enteral Feedings Using a Rate Based Protocol

When a patient is unable to eat or eat enough nutrients due to an illness or surgery, nutrition from another source may be required. Supplemental nutrition may be given in the form of enteral nutrition. The current practice is delivering enteral feedings on a rate based protocol to deliver calculated required calories over a specific length of time. Patients who receive enteral nutrition may have feedings interrupted due to a variety of reasons such as a procedure or diagnostic exam. Interruptions reduce the total daily calories delivered. If a patient does not achieve their total daily calories, it can be detrimental to the patient’s health and may increase length of stay and costs of hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients receive their recommended total daily calories of enteral nutrition using a rate based protocol. A retrospective research design was used to obtain data from patients who received enteral feedings while in the Intensive Care Unit. Data were collected on patients who were admitted to the unit between June 1, 2014 and August 31, 2014. 41 patients who received enteral feedings were included in this study. 80% of patients had their enteral feedings interrupted; most frequent reasons included diagnostic testing, residual volumes and procedures. Interruptions of the enteral feedings lasted between one hour and 24 hours in duration with a mean of 2.9 hours. The most frequent duration of interruption was one hour. Patients received a mean of 56.4% of their daily prescribed goal calories and 56.7% of their daily prescribed volume of enteral feedings. This study suggests that patients do not receive their daily prescribed calories using a rate based protocol. Recommendations for further research and advanced nursing practice are discussed.
Radio-frequency Ablation and Cryoablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Percutaneous tumor ablation has become one of the most prevalent treatment options for small renal cell carcinomas given continued favorable outcome, and is already a treatment of choice for selected patients. Currently, the most common indications are elderly patients with small incidental tumors of unclear metastatic potential, and high-risk surgical patients since this procedure has been shown to be safe in patients with multiple co-morbidities. This chapter describes the indications, applicators, procedure, outcomes, and complications of percutaneous tumor ablation of renal cell carcinoma. Importantly, the technologies are continuously improving and it is expected that patient selection and satisfaction will continue to expand and outcomes will continue to improve.
Carcinoembryonic antigen and herpes zoster as diagnostic aids in malignant neoplasia. Report of a case.

Abstract Herpes zoster and carcinoembryonic antigen serum analysis are of possible clinical value in the early detection of malignant neoplasia. The appearance of herpes zoster and a high serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen indicate immunologic alterations accompanying malignant neoplasia. An interesting case is presented in which the patient with herpes zoster and a positive carcinoembryonic antigen serum analysis eventually died of disseminated malignant disease.
South Slavic Oral Epic and the Homeric Question

Este articulo analiza algunos de los aspectos mas controvertidos de la teoria “oral formulaica” desarrollada por Parry y Lord a partir de la consideracion del caracter oral del verso homerico y de la comparacion de este con la epica viva en la tradicion oral de la ex-Yugoslavia. El autor propone y explica, para detallar y hacer mas exactas y utiles las analogias de la teoria original, tres maximas que contienen ideas fundamentales sobre la tradicion oral: “la comparacion siempre debe estar matizada por el contraste”; “la tradicion oral funciona como el lenguaje, pero va mas alla”; “el termino ‘poesia oral’ es un sustantivo plural”.
From Lucy to Kadanuumuu: Balanced Analyses of Australopithecus afarensis Assemblages Confirm Only Moderate Skeletal Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in body size is often used as a correlate of social and reproductive behavior in Australopithecus afarensis. In addition to a number of isolated specimens, the sample for this species includes two small associated skeletons (A.L. 288-1 or "Lucy" and A.L. 128/129) and a geologically contemporaneous death assemblage of several larger individuals (A.L. 333). These have driven both perceptions and quantitative analyses concluding that Au. afarensis was markedly dimorphic. The Template Method enables simultaneous evaluation of multiple skeletal sites, thereby greatly expanding sample size, and reveals that A. afarensis dimorphism was similar to that of modern humans. A new very large partial skeleton (KSD-VP-1/1 or "Kadanuumuu") can now also be used, like Lucy, as a template specimen. In addition, the recently developed Geometric Mean Method has been used to argue that Au. afarensis was equally or even more dimorphic than gorillas. However, in its previous application Lucy and A.L. 128/129 accounted for 10 of 11 estimates of female size. Here we directly compare the two methods and demonstrate that including multiple measurements from the same partial skeleton that falls at the margin of the species size range dramatically inflates dimorphism estimates. Prevention of the dominance of a single specimen's contribution to calculations of multiple dimorphism estimates confirms that Au. afarensis was only moderately dimorphic.
Technologies for optical systems beyond 100G

Abstract Coherent detection allows the bit rate transported in an optical system to be increased to 100 Gb/s, and beyond, by enabling multiple bits per symbol and multiple subcarriers. Advances in CMOS allow digital signal processing to compensate for the major degradations caused by the optical fiber. This paper reviews technologies that can be used to achieve bit rates greater than 100 Gb/s.
Robust Forecasting for Unit Commitment with Wind

Given the importance of handling high levels of uncertainty from renewables in the unit commitment problem, there has been increased attention given to the use of stochastic programming methods. Since these are computationally very demanding, there is a need for new approximations. We propose to use a point forecast of energy from wind and loads, where the point forecast is chosen and adapted by simulation to produce a robust solution. Traditionally, point forecasts represent an expectation. In our work, we suggest that we can use an appropriately chosen quantile of the forecast distribution which is optimized within a stochastic environment. The result is a policy search algorithm built around a point forecast, which is easily implementable using standard industry models and algorithms.
Ethnic identity and psychosocial adjustment among international students

A total of 118 international students studying in four different universities in the USA participated. Analyses indicated that search for ethnic identity and English proficiency predicted psychosocial adjustment. Students with higher English proficiency and students who understood the role of ethnic identity for themselves and showed commitment to learning more about their background also tended to report better adjustment.
Predictive reactor pressure vessel steel irradiation embrittlement models: Issues and opportunities

Nuclear plant life extension to 80 years will require accurate predictions of neutron irradiation-induced increases in the ductile-brittle transition temperature (ΔT) of reactor pressure vessel steels at high fluence conditions that are far outside the existing database. Remarkable progress in mechanistic understanding of irradiation embrittlement has led to physically motivated ΔT correlation models that provide excellent statistical fits to the existing surveillance database. However, an important challenge is developing advanced embrittlement models for low flux-high fluence conditions pertinent to extended life. These new models must also provide better treatment of key variables and variable combinations and account for possible delayed formation of “late blooming phases” in low copper steels. Other issues include uncertainties in the compositions of actual vessel steels, methods to predict ΔT attenuation away from the reactor core, verification of the master curve method to directly measure the fracture toughness with small specimens and predicting ΔT for vessel annealing remediation and re-irradiation cycles.
Temperature dependence of the probability of vibrational energy transfer between HF and F

Abstract The temperature dependence of the efficiency of vibrational energy transfer in the collinear FH + F and HF + F collisions has been investigated over the temperature range 300°–1500°K by assuming the (8-4) inverse-power potential. The probability P 10 ( T ) of vibrational de-excitation (1 → 0) is found to be always very large for FH + F compared to HF + F. At low temperatures P 10 ( T ) for FH + F is large; as temperature increases, however, it decreases to a minimum value of ≈8 × 10 −3 at 900°K, and then slowly increases at higher temperatures. No such unusual temperature dependence is found for HF + F.
Transforming Wave Propagation in Layered Media via Instability-Induced Interfacial Wrinkling

The ability to control wave propagation in highly deformable layered media with elastic instability-induced wrinkling of interfacial layers is presented. The onset of a wrinkling instability in initially straight interfacial layers occurs when a critical compressive strain is achieved. Further compression beyond the critical strain leads to an increase in the wrinkle amplitude of the interfacial layer. This, in turn, gives rise to the formation of a system of periodic scatterers, which reflect and interfere with wave propagation. We demonstrate that the topology of wrinkling interfacial layers can be controlled by deformation and used to produce band gaps in wave propagation and, hence, to selectively filter frequencies. Remarkably, the mechanism of frequency filtering is effective even for composites with similar or identical densities, such as polymer-polymer composites. Since the microstructure change is reversible, the mechanism can be used for tuning and controlling wave propagation by deformation.
Possible evidence for transport of an iron cyanide complex by plants.

Abstract Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), oat ( Avena sativa L.), and wild cane ( Sorghum bicolor L.), were exposed to 15 N-labeled ferrocyanide to determine whether these plant species can transport this iron cyanide complex. Plants were treated with ferrocyanide in a nutrient solution that simulated iron cyanide contaminated groundwater and soil solutions. This nutrient solution has been shown to maintain ferrocyanide speciation with minimal dissociation to free cyanide. Following treatment, all three plants showed dramatic enrichments in roots (δ 15 N‰=1000–1500) and shoots (δ 15 N‰=500). Barley and oat showed enrichment primarily in roots while wild cane showed a near equal enrichment in root and shoot tissues. Nitrogen-deficient barley plants treated with ferrocyanide showed a significantly greater 15 N enrichment as compared to nitrogen-sufficient plants. While the results are suggestive of ferrocyanide transport by these plant species, additional study will be required to verify these results.
On the estimation of sink-absorption terms in reaction-rate-theory analysis of radiation damage

Abstract The reaction-rate-theory approach is widely used in analyzing dynamic radiation effects at elevated temperatures. The estimation of the various sink loss terms is a central ingredient of such analyses. These estimates have not always been made in a self-consistent manner. A general approach will be presented yielding a unified set of loss terms for the various sink geometries.
The handbook of scholarly writing and publishing

The handbook of scholarly writing and publishing, by Tonette S. Rocco, Tim Hatcher and associates, San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2011, xxix + 336 pp., US$35.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-470-39335-2 The...
Improvement to Aroma and Taste by Adding Roasted Tobacco Volatiles to Cigarettes

An improvement to the aroma and taste of Burley cigarettes was achieved by adding volatiles from roasted, Japanese flue-cured tobacco. The addition of roasted tobacco volatiles was also found to decrease the offensive odor and taste. Among the fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of roasted tobacco volatiles, Fr. 8 (diethyl ether elution) exhibited the best improvement to the organoleptic properties of cigarette smoke. A great part of the improvement was attributable to 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone and 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone, both found in small amounts in Fr. 8 but possessing a strong impact on the olfactory properties.
Assessment of knowledge regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation of pregnant women.

Introduction The 2000-2002 triennial UK Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths concluded that over 50% of maternal deaths involved substandard care and that many could have been prevented. Catastrophic events leading to cardio-respiratory arrest may necessitate the resuscitation of pregnant women in various hospital locations. This study was designed to evaluate knowledge about resuscitation of parturients among anesthesiologists, obstetricians and emergency physicians. Methods A 12-question survey was distributed anonymously to residents and faculty in the anesthesia (ANES), obstetrics (OB), and emergency medicine (EM) departments at Stanford University Medical Center/Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, California. Questions were designed to elicit knowledge deficiencies in four critical areas: need for left uterine displacement (LUD), advanced cardiac life support algorithms (ACLS), physiologic changes of pregnancy (PHYS), and the recommendation to perform cesarean delivery in parturients (>20 weeks gestation) after 4-5 min of unsuccessful resuscitation for cardiac arrest (5CD). Results In total, 74/75 physicians (43% ANES, 37% OB, and 20% EM) completed the test. ANES scored highest in overall test scores, and in knowledge of PHYS (P Conclusion We conclude that knowledge of important basic concepts, including the need for LUD and the potential benefit of early cesarean delivery during cardiac arrest, is inadequate among all three specialties. All three departments should provide ACLS physician training with emphasis on the special considerations for parturients.
The Munich crisis of 1938: Plans and strategy in Warsaw in the context of the western appeasement of Germany

(1999). The Munich crisis of 1938: Plans and strategy in Warsaw in the context of the western appeasement of Germany. Diplomacy & Statecraft: Vol. 10, The Munich Crisis, 1938 Prelude to World War II, pp. 48-81.
Brain-controlled muscle stimulation for the restoration of motor function

Loss of the ability to move, as a consequence of spinal cord injury or neuromuscular disorder, has devastating consequences for the paralyzed individual, and great economic consequences for society. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) offers one means to restore some mobility to these individuals, improving not only their autonomy, but potentially their general health and well-being as well. FES uses electrical stimulation to cause the paralyzed muscles to contract. Existing clinical systems require the stimulation to be preprogrammed, with the patient typically using residual voluntary movement of another body part to trigger and control the patterned stimulation. The rapid development of neural interfacing in the past decade offers the promise of dramatically improved control for these patients, potentially allowing continuous control of FES through signals recorded from motor cortex, as the patient attempts to control the paralyzed body part. While application of these 'brain-machine interfaces' (BMIs) has undergone dramatic development for control of computer cursors and even robotic limbs, their use as an interface for FES has been much more limited. In this review, we consider both FES and BMI technologies and discuss the prospect for combining the two to provide important new options for paralyzed individuals.
3′-end formation signals modulate the association of genes with the nuclear periphery as well as mRNP dot formation

Multiple studies indicate that mRNA processing defects cause mRNAs to accumulate in discrete nuclear foci or dots, in mammalian cells as well as yeast. To investigate this phenomenon, we have studied a series of GAL reporter constructs integrated into the yeast genome adjacent to an array of TetR-GFP-bound TetO sites. mRNA within dots is predominantly post-transcriptional, and dots are adjacent to but distinct from their transcription site. These reporter genes also localize to the nuclear periphery upon gene induction, like their endogenous GAL counterparts. Surprisingly, this peripheral localization persists long after transcriptional shutoff, and there is a comparable persistence of the RNA in the dots. Moreover, dot disappearance and gene delocalization from the nuclear periphery occur with similar kinetics after transcriptional shutoff. Both kinetics depend in turn on reporter gene 3′-end formation signals. Our experiments indicate that gene association with the nuclear periphery does not require ongoing transcription and suggest that the mRNPs within dots may make a major contribution to the gene–nuclear periphery tether.