cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of liver in the synthesis of cholesterol and the clearance of low density lipoproteins in the cynomolgus monkey

The suitability of the adult male cynomolgus monkey as a model for investigating genetic mechanisms that regulate dietary cholesterolemic response was evaluated by carrying out a systematic characterization of the major aspects of cholesterol metabolism in this species. In monkeys maintained on a diet enriched with saturated fat but low in cholesterol (0.019%, wt/wt), plasma total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were 118 +/- 6 and 45.3 +/- 3.4 mg/dl, respectively. Intestinal cholesterol absorption averaged 54.0 +/- 2.5%, and the rate of whole body sterol synthesis was 10.8 +/- 0.6 mg/day per kg body weight. Only 11.2 +/- 2.6% of this synthesis occurred in the liver. In contrast, the liver was the major site for low density lipoprotein clearance accounting for almost 80% of LDL-C degradation in these animals. The liver, which represented 1.5% of whole body mass, had a total and esterified cholesterol concentration of 4.95 +/- 0.29 and 2.05 +/- 0.30 mg/g, respectively. When challenged with a matching high cholesterol diet (0.19%, wt/wt), the monkeys developed marked hypercholesterolemia that was accounted for mainly by a 7-fold increase in the LDL-C levels. There was, however, wide individual variation among the monkeys in the magnitude of their cholesterolemic response. Hepatic total and esterified cholesterol levels increased 2.5- and 4.6-fold, respectively. Comparative experiments showed that while several of the metabolic characteristics of this species of monkey were similar to those found in the hamster, they were generally very different from those seen in the rat. Thus, the male cynomolgus monkey has many characteristics in common with humans and represents an attractive model for further delineating the genetic mechanisms that dictate variable responsiveness to dietary cholesterol and triacylglycerol.
Automatic Control of Large-Scale Integrated Circuit Fabrication Processes-Process Control Algorithms

An automated manufacturing process control technique which reliably and repeatedly signals the end of integrated circuit fabrication is designed to make optimum use of either a process control operator who will inspect an on-line strip chart recording of process generated reflectance data and determine the optimum time to quench the fabrication process, or a small data processing system to signal the process end point. Results of automatically signaling the end of the process, via software implemented control algorithms for thin-film develop or etch processes, are presented.
Moving to the beat: a review of mammalian sperm motility regulation

Because it is generally accepted that a high percentage of poorly motile or immotile sperm will adversely affect male fertility, analysis of sperm motility is a central part of the evaluation of male fertility. In spite of its importance to fertility, poor sperm motility remains only a description of a pathology whose underlying cause is typically poorly understood. The present review is designed to bring the clinician up to date with the most current understanding of the mechanisms that regulate sperm motility and to raise questions about how aberrations in these mechanisms could be the underlying causes of this pathology.
Dynamics of the plume formation and parameters of the ejected clusters in short-pulse laser ablation

The dynamics of the early stages of the ablation plume formation and the mechanisms of cluster ejection are investigated in large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. The cluster composition of the ablation plume has a strong dependence on the irradiation conditions and is defined by the interplay of a number of processes during the ablation plume evolution. At sufficiently high laser fluences, the phase explosion of the overheated material leads to the formation of a foamy transient structure of interconnected liquid regions that subsequently decomposes into a mixture of liquid droplets, gas-phase molecules, and small clusters. The ejection of the largest droplets is attributed to the hydrodynamic motion in the vicinity of the melted surface, especially active in the regime of stress confinement. Spatially resolved analysis of the dynamics of the plume formation reveals the effect of segregation of the clusters of different sizes in the expanding plume. A relatively low density of small/medium clusters is observed in the region adjacent to the surface, where large clusters are being formed. Medium-size clusters dominate in the middle of the plume and only small clusters and monomers are observed near the front of the expanding plume. Despite being ejected from deeper under the surface, the larger clusters in the plume have substantially higher internal temperatures as compared to the smaller clusters. The cluster-size distributions can be relatively well described by a power law Y(N)∼N-τ with exponents different for small, up to ∼15 molecules, and large clusters. The decay is much slower in the high-mass region of the distribution.
Dq control of switched reluctance machines

A method to control switch reluctance motors (SRM) in the dq rotating frame is proposed in this paper. The torque per phase is represented in this paper as the product of sinusoidal inductance related term and sinusoidal current term in the SRM controller. The SRM controller works with variables similar to that of synchronous machine (SM) controller in dq reference frame which allow the torque to be shared smoothly among different phases. The proposed controller provides efficient operation over the entire speed range and eliminates the need for an angle decoder. The controller achieves low torque ripple at low speeds and can apply phase advancing using a mechanism similar to the flux weakening of SM to operate at high speeds. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified through coupled finite element and circuit simulations.
Doxycycline Compared with Benzathine Penicillin for the Treatment of Early Syphilis

Background. Doxycycline is the preferred recommended second-line agent for the treatment of syphilis, although efficacy data from controlled trials are lacking. We compared the serological responses of patients with early syphilis treated with doxycycline with the responses of patients treated with benzathine penicillin G (BPG).Methods. All patients who received a diagnosis of early syphilis attending 2 public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, who were treated with doxycycline (100 mg orally, twice daily for 14 days) between October 1993 and June 2000 were eligible. Patients treated with BPG (a single dose of 2.4 million units intramuscularly) were selected as the control group. Inclusion criteria included a clinician-recorded diagnosis of primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis with reactive serological test results at the time of diagnosis and at least 1 follow-up serological test titer. Serological failure was defined as lack of a 4-fold drop in rapid plasma reagin titer 270–400 days after treatment, or a 4-fold increase in titer 30–400 days after therapy.Results. During the study period, 1558 patients were treated for early syphilis, and 87 received doxycycline. Of those treated with doxycycline, 34 met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-three patients from a randomly selected group of 200 age-matched individuals treated with BPG met the inclusion criteria. There were 4 patients with serological failure in the BPG group (5.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6%–13.8%) and 0 patients with serological failure in the doxycycline group (0%; 95% CI, 0%–10.3%; P = .2). The median times to successful serological responses for patients in the doxycycline and BPG groups were 106 days (95% CI, 75–149 days) and 137 days (95% CI, 111–172 days), respectively (P = .6 ).Conclusion. Doxycycline appears to be an effective agent for the treatment of early syphilis.
The Neural Basis of Love as a Subliminal Prime: An Event-related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Throughout the ages, love has been defined as a motivated and goal-directed mechanism with explicit and implicit mechanisms. Recent evidence demonstrated that the explicit representation of love recruits subcorticocortical pathways mediating reward, emotion, and motivation systems. However, the neural basis of the implicit (unconscious) representation of love remains unknown. To assess this question, we combined event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a behavioral subliminal priming paradigm embedded in a lexical decision task. In this task, the name of either a beloved partner, a neutral friend, or a passionate hobby was subliminally presented before a target stimulus (word, nonword, or blank), and participants were required to decide if the target was a word or not. Behavioral results showed that subliminal presentation of either a beloved's name (love prime) or a passion descriptor (passion prime) enhanced reaction times in a similar fashion. Subliminal presentation of a friend's name (friend prime) did not show any beneficial effects. Functional results showed that subliminal priming with a beloved's name (as opposed to either a friend's name or a passion descriptor) specifically recruited brain areas involved in abstract representations of others and the self, in addition to motivation circuits shared with other sources of passion. More precisely, love primes recruited the fusiform and angular gyri. Our findings suggest that love, as a subliminal prime, involves a specific neural network that surpasses a dopaminergic-motivation system.
Autocrine regulation of interleukin-8 production in human monocytes

Interleukin (IL)-8 is a C-X-C chemokine that plays an important role in acute inflammation through its G protein-coupled receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. In this study, we investigated the role of IL-8 as an autocrine regulator of IL-8 production and the signaling mechanisms involved in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs). Sepharose-immobilized IL-8 stimulated a sevenfold increase in IL-8 production within 2 h. IL-8 induced the expression of its own message, and IL-8 biosynthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, indicating de novo RNA and protein synthesis. In contrast to MNCs, polymorphonuclear neutrophils did not respond to the immobilized IL-8 with IL-8 production despite cell surface expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2. Melanoma growth-stimulatory activity/growth-related protein-alpha (MGSA/GROalpha), which binds CXCR2 but not CXCR1, was unable to either stimulate IL-8 secretion in MNCs or desensitize these cells to respond to immobilized IL-8. The involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in IL-8-induced IL-8 biosynthesis was suggested by the ability of PD-98059, an inhibitor of MAPK kinase, to block this function. Furthermore, IL-8 induced a significant increase in extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 phosphorylation, whereas MGSA/GROalpha was much less effective. These findings support the role of IL-8 as an autocrine regulator of IL-8 production and suggest that this function is mediated by CXCR1 through activation of MAPK.
A novel use of an anterior cruciate ligament FlipCutter® in intramedullary nailing to minimise soft tissue damage.

None of the authors have any commercial interest in any of the products described in this technical tip. We present the use of a single-use anterior cruciate ligament FlipCutter® (Arthrex, Naples, FL, US) for intramedullary nailing in adolescent femoral and adult tibial fractures. This technique allows for a percutaneous approach with the FlipCutter® in neutral mode as a guidewire. The FlipCutter® is deployed to allow retrograde reaming (available in 6–13mm diameters), thereby creating a proximal entry point (Fig 1). This is performed under image intensifier guidance and reaming is stopped once the cortex has been breached. The FlipCutter® can be reverted to neutral and removed without any of the soft tissue damage associated with conventional drills or reamers. Figure 1 Retrograde reaming of tibial nail entry portal with a deployed anterior cruciate ligament FlipCutter® under an image intensifier
Saving endangered languages

David Harrison has devoted his career to recording and studying languages that are spoken by just a handful of people. He tells Hal Hodson why they matter.
The role of p27Kip1 in gamma interferon-mediated growth arrest of mammary epithelial cells and related defects in mammary carcinoma cells

The role of p27 Kip1 in gamma interferon-mediated growth arrest of mammary epithelial cells and related defects in mammary carcinoma cells
Some Asian Fermented Foods and Beverages, And Associated Fungi

Large quantities of fermented products are consumed daily in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Tibet, and neighboring countries. This study was undertaken to determine the constituents and the fungi ...
The Unique Contributions of Distinct Experiential Avoidance Domains to Severity and Functionality of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury:

ObjectivesThis study explored the associations between domains of experiential avoidance and severity and functions of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).MethodsUndergraduates reporting a history of r...
Simultaneous HPLC determination of four main ingredients in Anmabenmei tablets

Objective:To establish an HPLC method to determinate the four main ingredients in Anmabenmei tablets.Method:The separation was performed on Kromasil 60-5CN(250 mm×4.6 mm),using the mixture of acetonitrile-water(containing 40 mmol·L-1 triethylamine,pH adjusted to 3.0 with orthophosphoric acid)(20∶80)) as the mobile phase with the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1.Detection wavelength was at 210 nm.Result:The linearity ranges and the recoveries for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,paracetamol,diphenhydramine hydrochloride and dextromethorphan hydrobromide were 6.036-150.9 μg·mL-1(r=1.0000),65.42-1636 μg·mL-1(r=0.9989),3.010-75.25 μg·mL-1(r=1.0000),50.90-127.2 μg·mL-1(r=1.0000) and 98.5%,100.9%,99.1% and 99.6%,respectively.Conclusion:This method is simple,rapid and accurate,and could be used to determine the four main ingredients in paracetamol,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,diphenhydramine hydrochloride and dextromethorphan hydrobromide tablets.
Nurses' perceptions of parental involvement in hospital care

UNLABELLED Parental involvement is an essential element of quality of care for children in hospital. However, there is often confusion in role perception between parents and nurses which may be affected by nurses' attitudes, their ability to provide information, their communication and interpersonal skills and willingness to relinquish control. AIM This study examined nurses' perceptions of parental involvement and communication with parents of children in hospital and explored differences in perceptions of recent graduate nurses and more experienced nurses. METHOD Two focus groups were carried out at a university paediatric hospital in Sweden, one with experienced paediatric nurses (n = 7) and one with recent nursing graduates (n = 6). FINDINGS Analysis of the discussions identified five themes: clarifying roles, information, work environment, support and clinical competence. These nurses confirmed the belief that involving parents in the child's care is an important part of nursing in paediatric care and suggested that the nurses should play the role of being the communicator with the parents. CONCLUSION Nurses need to be aware of the impact their communication has on parents and help them to clarify their role as parents in hospital.
Introduction of virtualization in the teaching of operating systems for CS undergraduate program

For many colleges, virtualization is a low-cost solution for providing hands-on lab activities for computer science courses. This paper describes the design and implementation of a series of projects for an undergraduate operating systems course. By utilizing Linux virtual machines on students' personal computers, these projects teach reinforce students' understanding of operating system concepts as well as teach students the basics of virtualization. After completing the projects, students were surveyed about their experience and a summary of their responses is presented here.
Translational regulation of Na-K-ATPase subunit mRNAs by glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids (GC) regulate Na-K-ATPase-subunit mRNA transcription. However, GC-induced increases in Na-K-ATPase activity are not always paralleled by changes in subunit mRNA abundance. We therefore examined posttranscriptional mechanisms of subunit gene regulation by GC. cDNA-derived mRNAs encoding α1-, α3-, and β1-subunits were tested for stability and translation efficiency in a cell-free lysate, in the presence of hydrocortisone (HC) or dexamethasone (Dex). No effect of HC on subunit mRNA stability was noted. Translation efficiency of α1- and α3-mRNAs, but not of β1-mRNA, was significantly increased by HC and Dex. Deletion of the 5′untranslated region (5′UT) of α1-mRNA abolished this effect. Translation of a chimeric β1-mRNA, constructed by transposing the 5′UT of α1 onto the coding region of β1, was enhanced by HC. Transposition of a putative steroid-modulatory element conserved in the 5′UT of all α isoforms (ACAGGACCC) onto the coding region of β1-mRNA rendered it responsive to HC. A synthetic pri...
Observation of inhibited spontaneous emission in 3-D periodic Bragg structures

It has been known for several years that the dynamic interaction between radiation in vacuum and matter can be modified by changing the density of electromagnetic modes in space.1 Recently, inhibition and enhancement of spontaneous emission have been reported in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.2
Officers and Their Men

Parnell analyzes the relationships between officers in the Byzantine army and the enlisted soldiers they commanded. Officers, and the authors who often wrote from their viewpoint, most typically viewed soldiers as and addressed them in groups, but occasionally officers dealt with individual, named soldiers. While officers likely had more meaningful relationships with other officers, they did occasionally single out soldiers for special treatment. This treatment could include praise in a speech, the promise of monetary reward, or recruitment into the officer’s personal guardsmen. Soldiers also had expectations of their officers, including that officers do their part to ensure timely pay and regularly distribute captured booty. These expectations, and various means of enforcing them, together constitute a formalized group relationship between officers and soldiers.
SAP (SH2D1A), the Immunomodulator Deficient in X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (XLP), Is Profoundly Decreased in Aplastic Anemia: An Immunologic Link between Constitutional and Acquired Bone Marrow Failure.

Abstract Ligation of the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed in T and B cells, results in T cell activation and Th1 cytokine production. SAP is a small cytoplasmic protein expressed in T- and NK cells that controls the activation signals mediated by SLAM. On T cell activation, SAP binds to Fyn kinase; Fyn is activated and phosphorylates tyrosine residues on SLAM; phosphorylation results in the formation of a complex that selectively down-regulates co-stimulatory signals in activated T cells, resulting in inhibition of IFN-γ production. Thus SAP acts as a natural suppressor of SLAM-mediated T cell activation, and, in the absence of SAP, T cells are constitutively activated and overproduce IFN-γ. Mutations in the SAP gene lead to abnormal T cell activation and enhanced Th1 cytokine production in mouse models and in humans: about half of patients with X-linked lympoproliferative disease (XLP) have functionally disabling SAP mutations. Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure syndrome in which hematopoietic cell destruction is effected by cytotoxic T cells and type 1 cytokines. We have recently shown that T cells from patients with AA have increased protein levels of T-bet, resulting in IFN-γ overproduction (Solomou EE et al, Blood 2006; 107:3983). IFN-γ inhibits hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and induces Fas-mediated apoptosis; stem cell depletion results in marrow hypoplasia and peripheral blood pancytopenia. We examined SAP expression as an explanation for aberrant T cell activation and extreme Th1 polarization. SAP protein expression on immunoblot was very low to absent in unstimulated T cells from 16 of 20 AA patients examined, as compared to normal levels of expression in equivalent numbers of healthy donors (p
Modified Orcinol–Ferric Chloride Colorimetric Assay for Water-Extractable Arabinoxylan in Wheat

Arabinoxylans are an important quality component for which a simple and rapid analysis method useful for plant breeding needs to be developed. Bial’s orcinol–ferric chloride colorimetric method was modified to allow simultaneous analysis of at least 24 samples in a single run and in small volumes to measure water-extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) in wheat meal. The modified parameters were reduction to 6N HCl, increased concentrations of orcinol and 10% ferric chloride, and a total volume of 500 µL. The sample turbidity was reduced by rapid cooling in an ice water bath followed by addition of 500 µL of 95% ethanol postincubation. The WEAX results from this protocol were compared with GC/MS values. The wheat varieties of Alta Blanca, Eltan, and Hatton were overestimated by 4.3, 1.5, and 0.9%, respectively, whereas the varieties of Eden, Darwin, Finley, and Boundary were underestimated by 14.4, 8.9, 11.3, and 3.6%, respectively. The modified procedure is useful to determine a range of WEAX concentrations in w...
Electron Transfer and Charge Recombination Reactions in Wild-Type and Mutant Bacterial Reaction Centers

This chapter provides an overview of the electron transfer mechanism and initial charge recombination reactions in wild-type and mutant bacterial reaction centers. In the reaction center (RC), a series of electron transfer reactions rather than energy transfer events take place through which the harvested energy of sunlight is converted into the chemical potential used to support life. This basic scenario is played out in all photosynthetic organisms. This chapter focuses on the laboratory results in context of two all-encompassing issues. The first is the mechanism of initial charge separation, P* → P + Bphe L – . RC may use a bacteriopheophytin instead of a bacteriochlorophyll as the electron carrier prior to Q A . It is optimal that the radical pair state—P + Bphe L – in wild-type RCs—lies far enough below P such that super-exchange-mediated coupling to the ground state is suppressed. This concept is not at odds with the possibility of super-exchange-mediated electron transfer from P* to Bphe L , as two of the involved states—P* and the ground state—are different, giving different crossing points of the relevant potential energy surfaces. The results on the mutants suggest that a principal means by which the RC achieves a high quantum yield of charge separation is through careful control of the energies and involvement of states in which charge is separated between strongly coupled chromophores, because such states have significant electronic coupling to the ground state.
The effects of phased-array antennas on the performance of wideband LFM radars

In many modern applications, radars are required to detect and track multiple targets at long ranges with very good range and angle accuracy The combination of these requirements can be met by the use of high transmitter power, wideband linear frequency modulated (LFM) waveforms, and electrically large phased-array antennas. In order to support the high power and wideband waveforms, the phased-array antenna is broken into subarrays, each with a time delay unit (TDU) and final power amplifier. The use of wideband LFM pulses causes significant problems in terms of frequency dispersion if the antenna is a phased array. The effects of wideband LFM signal processing in phased array radars have been documented in the past [1]. Further work was performed [2] which addressed the particular issues associated with a subarrayed phased-array antenna as might be required in a wide bandwidth, high gain system. In addition to the performance issues of dispersion loss, compressed pulse widths, and grating lobes, the use of quantized TDU's causes a degradation of the null depth in monopulse systems.
Lamellar Ceramic Semicrystalline‐Polymer Composite Fabricated by Freeze Casting

Understanding the role of ductile polymer phase in mechanical behavior of bioinspired hybrid composites is an important step toward development of materials with damage tolerant properties. Herein, the authors report on fabrication and characterization of a bioinspired lamellar composite by incorporation of a semicrystalline polymer into a freeze casted scaffold. The elastic modulus and ductility of the polymer phase can be changed by more than three and 55 times, respectively, in addition to 42 folds decrease in modulus of toughness, by thermal annealing post-processing, after infiltration into the freeze casted ceramic scaffold. The results show that although polymer phase affects the fracture toughness and flexural behavior of the composite, the drastic changes in mechanical properties of the polymer phase has only marginal effect in the resulted properties of the composite. The authors use in situ SEM experiments and finite element simulation to investigate the deformation mechanism and the effect of the polymer phase on the distribution of stress in the fabricated composites.
Wireless transmission design with neural network for radio-frequency energy harvesting

Devices with the capability of radio-frequency energy harvesting can collect the radiated energy from adjacent wireless energy transmitters. If the multi-antenna transmitter knows the vector channel to the energy harvester, it can design an optimal transmit covariance matrix that satisfies the energy harvesting requirement. However, it is impractical for the energy harvester to estimate the channel. In this paper, we propose a method to design the wireless transmission with a neural network. The transmitter uses a set of special beam patterns and the energy harvester measures the received power and feeds the power values back to the transmitters. The neural network then takes in the power values and outputs the transmit covariance matrix that can meet the energy harvesting requirement. The neural network is trained offline with a large number of simulated data. Simulation results validate the proposed method and show better performance than other wireless energy transmission methods.
FootNotes: Geo-referenced Audio Annotations for Nonvisual Exploration

The majority of information in the physical environment is conveyed visually, meaning that people with vision impairments often lack access to the shared cultural, historical, and practical features that define a city. How can someone who is blind find out about the sleek skyscrapers that dot a modern city's skyline, historic cannons that have been remade into traffic pillars, or ancient trees that uproot a neighborhood's sidewalks? We present FootNotes, a system that embeds rich textual descriptions of objects and locations in OpenStreetMap, a popular geowiki. Both sighted and blind users can annotate the physical environment with functional, visual, historical, and social descriptions. We report on the experience of ten participants with vision impairments who used a spatialized audio application to interact with these annotations while exploring a city. By sharing rich annotations of physical objects and areas, FootNotes helps people thoroughly explore a new location or serendipitously discover previously unknown features of familiar environments.
Embracing Procalcitonin for Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Sepsis and severe bacterial infections require rapid, effective antimicrobial therapy to prevent further morbidity and mortality. However, antimicrobial therapy used in nonbacterial infections (i.e., viral) or for longer than needed to combat infection contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Thus, a biomarker that is specific for active bacterial infection may aid in proper antimicrobial therapy decision-making. Procalcitonin (PCT) shows promise as a biomarker for systemic bacterial infections and sepsis. PCT is rapidly released by parenchymal cells in response to bacterial toxins (1). PCT concentrations are increased in response to systemic bacterial infections and not significantly increased by viral infections and other sources of inflammation (1–3). Therefore, PCT may provide benefit over traditional inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein in the workup of bacterial infections or the recognition and management of sepsis. While traditional prompts for antimicrobial deescalation include following clinical progress of the patient or using fixed durations of therapy for specific infection types, current Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines acknowledge that a low procalcitonin concentration may assist the clinician in a decision to discontinue antimicrobials (4). Like cardiac troponin, the power of PCT as a biomarker may lie in its kinetics and the use of serial measurements. PCT may be detectable in the blood within 4 h after stimulation and …
Complexity and Chaos Theory in Art

In recent years, the mathematics of complexity and chaos theory have begun to explore the depths of the natural world. The power of the computer has provided the means to create totally realistic models of natural forms. Artists and musicians have gained their inspiration from both the simplicity and complexity of the world, and through their art have added their own contributions. This paper will explore how mathematics and the arts complement each other to articulate this evolving picture of nature. Many examples from art and science will be presented.
Influence of plate type and placement on the immobilization of bilateral equine mandibular osteotomies: Ex vivo study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of plate fixation (locking or dynamic compression) and the site of application (ventral [V] or ventrolateral [VL]) on the resistance to bending of transverse mandibular fractures. STUDY DESIGN Ex vivo, simple randomized study. SAMPLE POPULATION Mandibles harvested from adult equine cadavers (n = 18). METHODS Bilateral osteotomies were created 1 cm caudal to the mental foramen and perpendicular to the long axis of each mandible. Mandibles were fixed with 1 of 3 methods: (1) VL dynamic compression plate (DCP), (2) V-DCP, or (3) VL locking compression plating (LCP). Constructs were mounted on a custom testing jig and tested for resistance in bending by applying force to the rostral aspect of the mandible. Stiffness and change of distance of the dorsal osteotomy at 200 N were compared among constructs. RESULTS VL-LCP constructs were 5.25 and 2.42 times stiffer than V and VL constructs, respectively (P<.001). Change in the width of the osteotomy gap at 200 N of load was reduced 6.04 times when osteotomies were stabilized with VL compared to V (P<.001); no difference was detected between the VL and VL-LCP constructs (P=.836). CONCLUSION Ventrolateral LCP fixation of equine transverse mandibular osteotomies provided greater resistance to bending compared with V and VL constructs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE These results provide evidence to recommend fixation of transverse interdental mandibular fractures with VL-LCP rather than with DCP in horses.
Solvability of Power Flow Equations Through Existence and Uniqueness of Complex Fixed Point.

Variations of loading level and changes in system topological property may cause the operating point of an electric power systems to move gradually towards the verge of its transmission capability, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes such as voltage collapse blackout. From a modeling perspective, voltage collapse is closely related to the solvability of power flow equations. Determining conditions for existence and uniqueness of solution to power flow equations is one of the fundamental problems in power systems that has great theoretical and practical significance. In this paper, we provide strong sufficient condition certifying the existence and uniqueness of power flow solutions in a subset of state (voltage) space. The novel analytical approach heavily exploits the contractive properties of the fixed-point form in complex domain, which leads to much sharper analytical conditions than previous ones based primarily on analysis in the real domain. Extensive computational experiments are performed which validate the correctness and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed condition.
Considering intergroup emotions to improve diversity and inclusion in the geosciences

The future viability of the geosciences is challenged, since as a community we continue to lack demographic diversity representative of the wider population. Fundamentally, dominant cultural, histo...
Risk management in inpatient units in the Czech Republic from the point of view of nurses in leadership positions.

Objectives The goal of this study was to assess specific features of risk management from the point of view of nurses in leadership positions in inpatient units in Czech hospitals. Methods The study was performed using a quantitative research strategy, i.e., a questionnaire. The data sample was analyzed using SPSS v. 23.0. Pearson's chi-square and analysis of adjusted residues were used for identifying the existence associations of nominal and/or ordinal quantities. 315 nurses in leadership positions working in inpatient units of Czech hospitals were included in the sample. The sample was created using random selection by means of quotas. Results Based on the study results, statistically significant relations between the respondents' education and the utilization of methods to identify risks were identified. Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were found between a nurse's functional role within the system and regular analysis and evaluation of risks and between the type of the healthcare facility and the degree of patient involvement in risk management. Conclusion The study found statistically significant correlations that can be used to increase the effectiveness of risk management in inpatient units of Czech hospitals. From this perspective, the fact that patient involvement in risk management was only reported by 37.8% of respondents seems to be the most notable problem.
When Zoonotic Organisms Cross Over-Trueperella Pyogenes Endocarditis Presenting as a Septic Embolic Stroke

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with numerous pathogens as culprits. We present a case of IE that evolved to a septic embolic stroke caused by an extremely rare bacteria Trueperella (T.) pyogenes that primarily infects non-humans. In contrast to most cases occurring outside the United States (US), this is the second case of T. pyogenes-associated endocarditis and the first to present as a stroke in the US. T. pyogenes has undergone numerous taxonomic revisions over the years since first being reported and characterized as Bacillus pyogenes in the 1800s. T. pyogenes is a zoonotic infection, and despite advancements in chemotaxonomic detection methods, Trueperella is often misidentified and under-diagnosed. Although epidemiological data is scarce, T. pyogenes infections have the propensity to cause endocarditis, and we aim to summarize all isolated reports of T. pyogenes infections that have been reported in the literature thus far.
Five-year outcomes of an anterior mesh kit for severe pelvic organ prolapse in women.

Aims The Elevate™ Anterior mesh was designed to correct anterior vaginal wall defects by providing level 1 and 2 support via a single incision and transvaginal approach. This study aimed to examine the objective and subjective outcomes following prolapse repair using the Elevate™ Anterior mesh kit. Methods A retrospective case series review of 270 patients with Baden-Walker Grades 3 or 4 anterior compartment prolapse who underwent the Elevate™ Anterior mesh kit was undertaken. Operative complications were recorded with follow-up intervals arranged at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. A standardized questionnaire directed at urinary, pain and recurrence symptoms was used at each follow-up visit. Pelvic examinations were performed at each follow-up visit to assess for objective cure and for detection of complications. The primary outcome was to assess the cure rate defined as anterior vaginal wall prolapse ≤ Grade 1. Results The follow-up rate was 28.9%. Subjective and objective cure rates at 60 months were 100% and 96.2%, respectively. Ten (3.7%) intraoperative complications were recorded. At 60 months, three (3.8%) patients complained of de novo stress/urge urinary incontinence. One patient had dyspareunia at 6 months postsurgery which resolved by the end of 1 year. Prolapse recurrences in the anterior compartment was 3.8% at the end of 5 years. Mesh exposure into the vagina occurred in three patients. Conclusions In conclusion, our experience with the Elevate™ Anterior mesh kit had promising subjective and objective outcomes with high patient satisfaction rates.
HYPOTHERMIA FOR CARDIAC SURGERY AND CIRCULATORY ARREST

SUMMARY This brief review of hypothermia during cardiac surgery demonstrates how the knowledge and treatment of complex congenital heart disease has grown. It must be emphasized, however, that a thorough understanding of hypothermia and its effect on various organ systems during CPB and DHCA is necessary to minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with this field.
Dark Matter, Dark Energy and something else in 5D Theory

It is shown, that (4+1)—and (3+1+1)—reductions of the geodetic equations in 5D theory with scalar field φ=−G55 and out of the 5D optics inevitably lead to the new concept of the Lorentz-type relativistic mass m^0 of the 5D test particle. Due to the imposition of the x5—cylindricity condition, one can obtain an integral of the 5D particle’s motion along x5; it gives its electric charge. Thus, one can obtain an exact expression for m^0. In this expression m^0 depends on the field φ through an electric charge, so there is not probably any need for a scalar charge in Nature at all. Furthermore, one can compactly express the m^0 through the mass angle χn and additionally hypothesize about the possible complex structure of m^0. It soundly leads one to the deeper understanding of the quantum properties of the matter. All of these conceptions also turn one to the idea that this mass m^0 may contribute to the recently discovered in the Universe dark matter and dark energy and also be one of the possible reasons for the Universe’s expansion. The next suggestive result in the 5D theory is connected with the (4+1)—reduction of the 5D Ricci identities. It leads one to certain connections between the 4D physicogeometrical values and permits one to obtain the first pair of Maxwell equations with the non-zero soliton-type r.h.s. and establishes the connection with the second pair of them. It subsequently leads one to the idea about the magnetic monopole’s existence in the early Universe. It is shown, that this non-zero r.h.s. vanishes together with the imposition of the x5—cylindricity condition. The peculiarity of this process permits one to hypothesize soundly about the existence of the topological second-order transition in the Universe, which leads one to the superfluid state and possibly accelerates its expansion.
Patient-Specific Computational Fluid Dynamics Reveal Localized Flow Patterns Predictive of Post-Left Ventricular Assist Device Aortic Incompetence.

Background: Progressive aortic valve disease has remained a persistent cause of concern in patients with left ventricular assist devices. Aortic incompetence (AI) is a known predictor of both morta...
Management Styles In a Diversified Portfolio: Co-movement of Diversification and Factor Exposures

In an actively managed fund alpha is generated through manager’s management styles beyond risk premiums received. Classical theories on return generating process state that return is generated through taking either systematic or idiosyncratic risks. Both CAPM and multifactor models stated risk factors are the only source of the portfolio return. However, active fund managers insist that beyond the risks their management styles also generate excess return above risk premiums. This study examines the relationship between portfolio managers’ management styles and the risk factors their portfolios are exposed to. Do managers’ skills/styles generate non risk taking returns or they are those unidentified risk factors in the portfolio? We argue that in a well diversified portfolio manager’s style premium is not significant because of asset factor loadings; however in a portfolio with concentration in factor exposures the style premium exhibits co-movement with risk factors. In a well diversified portfolio management style could not improve risk adjusted return, however in a portfolio concentrated in factor exposures co-movement of style premium and risk factors could results in enhanced risk adjusted return.
Variations, validations, degradations, and noninvasive determination of pregnancy using fecal steroid metabolites in free-ranging pronghorn

Abstract Pregnancy status is a key parameter used to assess reproductive performance of a species as it represents a starting point for measuring vital rates. Vital rates allow managers to determine trends in populations such as neonate survival and recruitment; two important factors in ungulate population growth rates. Techniques to determine pregnancy have generally involved capture and restraint of the animal to obtain blood samples for determining serum hormone levels. Non-invasive pregnancy assessment, via feces, eliminates any hazards between handler and animal, as well as removes handling-induced physiological biases. Using noninvasive fecal sampling, we conducted hormone validations, investigated pregnancy rates, and determined hormone degradation rates across five subpopulations of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in Idaho. Samples were collected during April-May of 2018 and 2019 from adult pronghorn of known sex and age class. Metabolites of testosterone, cortisol, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone were measured in fecal samples, and concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were examined for pregnancy determination. Average fecal progesterone metabolite (FPM) levels of pregnant females were more than double compared to levels of nonpregnant females. Fecal estrogen metabolite (FEM) levels did not differ during concurrent sampling. The largest difference in FPM levels between pregnant and nonpregnant females began on 28 April. Pregnancy determination sampling showed average FPM levels for all five subpopulations were significantly different than the nonpregnant female validation group. Nonetheless, pregnancy rates for some subpopulations lacked conclusive estimates due to early fecal sampling. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) levels significantly differed between pregnant females and male pronghorn, but did not differ from nonpregnant females. Degradation rates of FPM and FGM differed across days, with values for FPM from Day 1 being significantly different from all subsequent days, and after Day 9 for FGM, demonstrating the requirement of fresh samples to accurately measure hormone concentrations. We concluded that a noninvasive method to diagnosis pregnancy is possible in pronghorn via progesterone metabolites if fresh samples are collected during late gestation.
Cathode strategies to improve the performance of zinc‐ion batteries

Zinc-ion battery (ZIB) has been attracting extensive attention due to its high theoretical capacity, high safety, and low cost. However, the exploration of suitable cathode materials to host Zn ions remains a challenge, owing to the strong electrostatic interactions and large steric hindrance effects between Zn ion and host materials. Great efforts have been devoted to the optimization of the structure and electrochemical property of the cathode materials. In this review article, we summarize recent cathode-based strategies to address the issues of performance degradation and structural collapse of electrode materials within the context of microstructure design and ion/charge transport mechanism, and include a perspective to highlight the challenges and promises in the exploitation of cathode materials for further enhancement of the performance of ZIBs.
A high-carbohydrate diet prolongs dysbiosis and Clostridioides difficile carriage and increases late-onset CDI and mortality in a hamster model of infection

Studies using mouse models of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) have demonstrated a variety of relationships between dietary macronutrients on antibiotic-associated CDI; however, few of these effects have been examined in hamster models of CDI. In this study, we investigated the effect of a high-carbohydrate diet previously shown to protect mice from CDI on the progression and resolution of CDI in a hamster disease model. Hamsters fed the high-carbohydrate diet developed distinct diet-specific microbiomes during antibiotic treatment and CDI, with lower diversity, persistent C. difficile carriage, and delayed microbiome restoration. In contrast to 0% mortality in mice, 80% of hamsters fed the high-carbohydrate diet developed fulminant CDI and died, including several cases of late-onset CDI, whereas only 33% of hamsters fed a standard lab diet developed CDI only during the acute phase. We speculate that prolonged dysbiosis in these animals allowed C. difficile to proliferate following a three-day vancomycin course administered as part of this model system, leading to secondary CDI and eventual mortality. This study, along with similar studies in mouse models of CDI, suggests high-carbohydrate diets promote antibiotic-associated dysbiosis and long-term C. difficile carriage, which may convert to symptomatic CDI when conditions change. ImportanceThe effects of diet on CDI are not completely known, although most studies in mouse CDI models show that dietary carbohydrates ameliorate CDI. Here, we used a high-carbohydrate diet previously shown to protect mice against CDI to assess its effect on a hamster model of CDI and paradoxically found that it promoted dysbiosis, C. difficile carriage, and higher mortality. A common thread in both mouse and hamster experimental models was that the high-carbohydrate diet promoted long-term carriage of C. difficile, which may have converted to fulminant CDI only in the highly susceptible hamster model system. If diets high in carbohydrates also promote dysbiosis and C. difficile carriage in humans, then these diets might paradoxically increase chances of CDI relapse despite their protective effects against primary CDI.