cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical detection of anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide DNA damage on TP53 codon 273 oligomers.

DNA damage from (+/−)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) at a hotspot TP53 gene sequence was electrochemically detected. BPDE was exposed to gold electrode immobilized double-stranded DNA oligomers followed by voltammetric measurements in the presence of redox-active C12H25V2+C6H12V2+C12H25 (V2+ = 4,4′-bipyridyl or viologen, C12-viologen). Square wave voltammograms from BPDE-exposed DNA-modified electrodes showed the emergence of a C12-viologen−DNA complex at −0.37 V versus Ag/AgCl. The peak current intensity of this redox wave was dependent on both BPDE concentration and exposure time. Controls with alternate xenobiotics and DNA sequences showed this redox wave to be primarily due to BPDE damage at the wild-type DNA sequence. The detection limit was determined to be approximately 170 nM BPDE. Mass spectrometry and UV thermal melting experiments provided insight into the BPDE reaction and mirrored the sensor results. This report demonstrates that an electrochemical hybridization senso...
Research on 2-DOF H_∞ Controller Design with Reference Model Feedforward for Command Tracking System

A strategy of two degrees of freedom(2-DOF) control combined with the method of reference model feedforward,which was applied to study on the design of command tracking controller for missile's longitudinal control system,was presented based on linear matrix inequality(LMI) convex optimization approach.2-DOF controller can be easily obtained based on LMI with this method.The controller enables the close-looped system to satisfy desired performance criterion and overcomes the blindness and complexity of conventional 2-DOF control.Besides,its simple design structure is easy for realization.Stimulation results show that the control system designed using this algorithm has remarkably better performance and the merits of rapid response speed,minor model tracking error and better characteristic.
The high risk heart donor: potential pitfalls.

Background : The use of potentially infected donor hearts has been advocated to extend the supply of available hearts for transplantation. Methods : To determine whether bacterial transmission from donor to recipient can occur with heart transplantation, we reviewed our experience with the 347 patients who received 360 heart transplants in the Utah Transplant Affiliated Hospitals from 1988 to 1993. Results : During this time, nineteen donors had positive blood cultures before harvest. Sixteen donors had gram-positive bacteremia : Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 9), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5), streptococcus (n = 2). Two donors had gram-negative bacteremia : serratia (n = 1) and acinetobacter (n = 1). One donor had blood cultures positive for both Escherichia coli and streptococcus. Infectious complications occurred in two of three recipients who received a heart from a donor with gram-negative bacteremia : Escherichia coli endocarditis, mediastinitis, sepsis and death in one, and serratia sepsis and mediastinitis in another. In each case the organisms and sensitivities were identical between donor and recipient. No infectious complications related to the donor heart occurred among the 16 recipients who received hearts from donors with gram-positive bacteremia. Conclusions : (1) Bacterial transmission from donor heart to recipient can occur, (2) bacterial transmission appears to be more common with gram-negative organisms, and (3) infection of the recipient with a gram-negative organism from the donor heart is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. J HEART LUNG TRANSPLANT 1995 ;14 :424-8.
Abstract 110: Molecular profiling of Tudor domain-containing proteins identifies PHF20L1 as a candidate oncogene in breast cancer

Tudor domain-containing proteins (TDRDs), which recognize and bind to methyl-lysine/arginine residues on histones and non-histone proteins, play critical roles in regulating chromatin architecture, transcription, genomic stability, and RNA metabolism. Dysregulation of several TDRDs have been observed in various types of cancer. However, neither the genomic landscape nor clinical significance of TDRDs in breast cancer has been explored comprehensively. Here, we performed an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 41 TDRD genes in breast cancer (TCGA and METABRIC datasets) and identified associations among recurrent copy number alterations, gene expressions, clinicopathological features, and survival of patients. Among seven TDRDs (PHF20L1, ARID4B, SETDB1, LBR, TDRKH, TDRD10, and TDRD5) that had the highest frequency (>10%) of gene amplification, the plant homeodomain finger protein 20-like 1 (PHF20L1) was the most commonly amplified (17.62%) TDRD gene in TCGA breast cancers. Different subtypes of breast cancer had different patterns of copy number and expression for each TDRD. Notably, amplification and overexpression of PHF20L1 were more prevalent in aggressive basal-like and Luminal B subtypes and were significantly associated with shorter survival of breast cancer patients. Furthermore, knockdown of PHF20L1 inhibited cell proliferation in PHF20L1-amplified breast cancer cell lines. PHF20L1 protein contains N-terminal Tudor and C-terminal plant homeodomain domains. Detailed characterization of PHF20L1 in breast cancer revealed that the Tudor domain likely plays a critical role in promoting cancer. Mechanistically, PHF20L1 might participate in regulating DNA methylation by stabilizing DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein in breast cancer. Thus, our results demonstrated the oncogenic potential of PHF20L1 and its association with poor prognostic parameters in breast cancer. Furthermore, our findings provide strong foundations for further research and therapeutic targeting of PHF20L1 or other TDRDs in breast cancer. Citation Format: Yuanyuan Jiang, Lanxin Liu, Wenqi Shan, Zeng-Quan Yang. Molecular profiling of Tudor domain-containing proteins identifies PHF20L1 as a candidate oncogene in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 110.
Billing and Reimbursement

There are several different methods through which laboratories are paid for clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS), and each has implications for test design, the clinical settings in which testing will be performed, and the level and rate of reimbursement. Individual laboratories will vary with respect to their level of institutional support, research grants, philanthropy, and private investment, but all are bounded by the same rules and regulations for testing that is intended to be reimbursed by private and governmental insurance carriers. This chapter focuses on reimbursement from private and governmental insurance payers and will describe the administrative structure of insurance payers; the process by which reimbursement levels are established that is common for all laboratory tests including NGS; the regulatory environment that is specific for molecular genetic tests including NGS; issues that surround coverage for individual patients; and the likely impacts that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on reimbursement for clinical NGS.
Calorimetric measurement of adsorption and adhesion energies of Cu on Pt(111)

Abstract The adsorption energies of submonolayer amounts of one metal on the surface of another metal have been measured for decades by temperature programmed desorption. However, that method fails for metals that alloy. We report here the first measurement of the adsorption energy for any such metal-on-metal combination that forms a bulk alloy. The adsorption and interfacial energetics of vapor deposited Cu onto Pt(111) at 300 K has been studied using single crystal adsorption calorimetry (SCAC) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Cu grows as 2D pseudomorphic islands in the first layer and its heat of adsorption decreased linearly from 358 to 339 kJ/mol. This is attributed to increasing lattice strain with island size, associated with the small lattice mismatch (8%). It adsorbs ~2 kJ/mol more weakly in the 2nd layer than above 3 ML, where it reaches the bulk heat of sublimation of Cu(solid), 337 kJ/mol. The adhesion energy of multilayer Cu onto Pt(111) is 3.76 J/m2. The extra stability of the first Cu monolayer compared to bulk Cu measured here is ~12 kJ/mol, compared to a difference of ~83 kJ/mol for underpotential deposition of Cu on a Pt(111) electrode, with the difference attributed to stronger bonding of Cu to the solvent and double layer compared to Pt.
Monomer design strategies to create natural product-based polymer materials

Covering: 2010–Aug. 2016 In an effort towards enhancing function and sustainability, natural products have become of interest in the field of polymer chemistry. This review details the blending of chemistries developed through synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry. Through synthetic organic chemical transformations, such as functional group interconversion, a protection/deprotection series, or installation of a functional group, various designs towards novel, synthetic, bio-based polymer systems are described. This review covers several classifications of natural products – oils and fatty acids, terpenes, lignin, and sugar derivatives – focusing on exploring monomers prepared by one or more synthetic steps.
Adaptive Microcomputer Dissolved Oxygen Control for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract This paper presents an application of an adaptive controller to regulate the dissolved oxygen concentration in a laboratory model of a water treatment process. The reactor mass balance equation of the process to be controlled can be represented by a bilinear model and hence provides an interesting application. The control algorithm is based on use of the least-mean-square algorithm to estimate the parameters of the model of the process. The overall structure of the controller is similar to the selftuning regulator of Astrom and Wittenmark.
Polymorphisms of Plasmodium falciparum k13-propeller gene among migrant workers returning to Henan Province, China from Africa

Henan Province has been in the malaria elimination stage, with all reports of the disease being imported since 2012 and over 90% coming from Africa. Surveillance and population studies are essential for the early detection and subsequent prevention of the spread of drug resistance. The K13-propeller gene was recently identified as a proposed molecular marker of artemisinin (ART) resistance. In this study, we detected mutations of the K13-propeller gene in samples taken from imported malaria cases in Henan Province from 2012 to 2015. There were 483 samples that were obtained from Plasmodium falciparum–infected malaria migrant workers who returned to Henan Province from Africa between 2012 and 2015. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in the K13-propeller gene were assessed by nested PCR with DNA sequencing. Frequency and geographic difference of K13-propeller gene mutant types were analyzed. Of 483 patients, 476 were cured and 7 died. There were no K13-propeller mutations in the blood samples from the 7 patients who died, but there were 23 different genotypes of the K13-propeller that were observed in 24 (4.97%) of the samples. C580Y, which was the predominant one in the resistance of ART, was not detected in the samples, but R539T and P574L which have also been associated with ART resistance, were observed in two samples from Angola and Equatorial Guinea. No mutations were detected in 11 samples from North Africa. The frequency of the K13-propeller was 6.50% (8/123) in Central Africa, followed by East Africa (1/19, 5.26%), West Africa (9/198, 4.55%) and South Africa (6/132, 4.55%). There was no significant difference among these four areas (P = 0.795). R539T and P574L were found in migrant workers who traveled from Africa to Henan Province, although the frequency of the K13-propeller mutants was low. These data may enrich the molecular surveillance of antimalarial resistance and will be helpful for developing and updating the antimalarial policy in Henan Province.
Correlation of Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire to impedance-pH measurements in children.

Background Esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring has become one of the preferred tests to correlate observed reflux-like behaviors with esophageal reflux events. The Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire is a validated tool used to distinguish infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease from healthy children. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire composite symptom scores and individual symptom scores correlate with outcomes in esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring. Methods A total of 26 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated symptoms, aged 0-2 years, for whom both esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring and Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire survey results were available were included in the study. Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire score data were collected from a 7-day recall of parent's responses about the frequency and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, which determined the individual symptom scores. The composite symptom scores is the sum of all individual symptom scores. Multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH study results were compared to Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire data using Pearson correlation. Results Among 26 patients, a total number of 2817 (1700 acid and 1117 non-acid) reflux episodes and 845 clinical reflux behaviors were recorded. There were significant correlations between the reflux index and the individual symptom scores for coughing/gagging/choking (r2 = 0.2842, p = 0.005), the impedance score and individual symptom scores for coughing/gagging/choking (r2 = 0.2482, p = 0.009), the reflux symptom index for acid reflux-related coughing/gagging/choking and the individual symptom scores for coughing/gagging/choking (r2 = 0.1900, p = 0.026), the impedance score and individual symptom scores for vomiting (r2 = 0.1569, p = 0.045), and the impedance score and the composite symptom scores (r2 = 0.2916, p = 0.004). However, there were no significant correlations between fussiness, irritability, or abdominal pain-related multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH results and the individual symptom scores for abdominal pain. Conclusion The impedance scores from multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH studies correlate with coughing/gagging/choking and vomiting in infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are no significant correlations among the reflux index and impedance score versus the Gastroesophageal reflux disease Assessment Symptom Questionnaire scores for abdominal pain. We conclude that in infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease, multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH studies are more likely to demonstrate an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and symptoms of coughing, gagging, or choking compared to an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and pain in infants.
Foraging by Drosophila melanogaster Larvae in a Patchy Environment

The food resources of Drosophila comprise decaying vegetable matter distributed in patches, yet foraging behavior has not been examined in larvae reared continuously in a patchy environment. Here, the extent and rate of inter-patch movement was studied in larvae of four wild strains of D. melanogaster inhabiting an experimental arena from the egg stage to the third larval instar. The hypotheses were that larvae would forage primarily in the third instar, that larvae would move from low-protein patches at higher rates than from high-protein patches, and that foraging rates would be higher on an agar substrate than on sand. Larvae hatching on a nutrient-poor food patch switched to a nutrient-rich patch during the first instar. The rate of interpatch switching increased with larval age, as did the number of larvae roving on the substrate between food patches. Inter-patch distance affected switching speed---the closer the patches, the faster the switching. High protein patches were preferred over low-protein patches, but there was a bias towards staying on the natal patch. Significant variation among strains in latency to forage, in proportion of larvae that switched patches, and in the rate of roving between patches suggests that there is natural genetic variation for these traits. Larvae switched food patches on a substrate of moist sand as quickly as on an agar substrate.
Multistream Diarization Fusion Using the Minimum Variance Bayesian Information Criterion

Speaker diarization is necessary with ubiquitous and individualized recorders. We focus on the specific task of speaker diarization from two information streams, two microphones, assigned to two participants of interest. In real scenarios, speakers may be co-located, in noisy environments with interfering speakers. Multistream diarization can exploit additional information and diarization fusion is necessary. In this work we first introduce a new database that realistically simulates a range of extremely challenging acoustic conditions; and propose a Minimum Variance of BIC (MVBIC) method to combine information from the various diarization streams. We use a 2-microphone subset of our proposed database and Root Mean Square Energy (RMSE) and Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) as our two diarization streams to validate the proposed method. We show that our proposed method exploits the complementarity of the individual diarization streams and outperforms static fusion mixing weights. We also demonstrate the robustness of the MVBIC method on RT-06S data.
Advanced Telecommunications in Breast Imaging - Streamlining Telemammography, Telepathology and Teleoncology Services to Improve Patient Care

Teleradiology services are very common worldwide, and Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) systems have made it possible to include mammography. This is important because breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in many parts of the world and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In rural and medically underserved areas, mammography rates are lower than in urban areas for a variety of reasons, including lack of dedicated screening facilities and/or personnel, poor compliance, and large distances between patients and clinics (making it difficult to return for follow-up care). Once possible cancers are detected, biopsies are performed but in many cases reports are very slow to get back to the patient and/or local clinician impacting treatment and follow-up. Telepathology can address this situation. Patients may also require oncology services and in rural areas they are often limited or non-existent. Real-time teleoncology services can facilitate treatment and counseling. Finally, breast care support and education can be facilitated by virtual support groups and broadcasting education lectures.
Anatomy and Flow Characteristics of Neosinus: Important Consideration for Thrombosis of Transcatheter Aortic Valves

Article, see p 1598 Thrombus formation and reduced leaflet motion have been reported in transcatheter and in surgically implanted bioprosthetic aortic valves, as well.1,2 Although the clinical implications of this finding remain uncertain, observational data have raised concerns regarding increased risks of thromboembolism and decreased valve durability.1,3 Recognition and amelioration of thrombus formation may result in safer and more durable bioprosthetic valves. Clinical trials (eg, computed tomography \[CT] substudy of low risk PARTNER 3 trial [The Safety and Effectiveness of the SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve in Low Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis (P3)]) are focusing on prospectively collecting data to understand this phenomenon and its clinical implications. The role of routine anticoagulation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is also being studied in randomized trials (eg, GALILEO [Global Study Comparing a Rivaroxaban-based Antithrombotic Strategy to an Antiplatelet-based Strategy After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement to Optimize Clinical Outcomes\] \[ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02556203\] and ATLANTIS \[Anti-Thrombotic Strategy After Trans-Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis\] \[ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02664649\]).4 Increased blood residence time on the valve leaflets has been proposed as a mechanism of leaflet thrombosis, but clinical data for this proposed mechanism are not available..5 In the current study in this issue of Circulation , authors use CT scans of patients (n=72) …
Developing Corporate Strategy Through Planning, and Budgeting

Abstract The Corporation needs a planning framework that aids in clarifying objectives, identifying the alternatives open to the firm, and measuring the effectiveness of those alternatives towards the attainment of the objectives of the corporation. To cope with this problem of integrating objectives (i.e. sales) with resources (in plant, capacity, personnel) the Government of the United States—the biggest conglomerate of them all—is employing what is termed “Planning, Programming and Budgeting” (P.P.B.). This article examines how P.P.B. may be of use to the Corporation. The author reviews the features of the system, constructs a P.P.B. planning framework for the corporation, then shows how the system may be applied to a specific strategic problem.
Managing the unimaginable: Biobank participant views on reconsent for whole genome sequencing of stored biospecimens

Background: DNA biobanks frequently obtain broad permissions from sample donors, who agree to allow their biospecimens to be used for a variety of future purposes. A limitation of this approach is ...
Caffeinated energy drinks: adverse event reports to the US Food and Drug Administration and the National Poison Data System, 2008 to 2015.

Objective: To describe and compare caffeinated energy drink adverse event (AE) report/exposure call data from the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) and the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Data were evaluated from US-based CAERS reports and NPDS exposure calls, including report/exposure call year, age, sex, location, single v . multiple product consumption, outcome, symptom, intentionality (NPDS only), report type, product name (CAERS only). Participants: The analysis defined participants (cases) by the number of caffeinated energy drink products indicated in each AE report or exposure call. Single product cases included 357 from CAERS and 12 822 from NPDS; multiple product cases included 153 from CAERS and 931 from NPDS. Results: CAERS v . NPDS single product cases were older and more frequently indicated serious symptoms. Multiple v . single product consumers were older in both. In CAERS, unlike NPDS, most multiple product consumers were female. CAERS single v . multiple product reports cited higher proportions of life-threatening events, but less often indicated hospitalization and serious events. NPDS multiple v . single product cases involved fewer ≤5-year-olds and were more often intentional. Conclusions: Despite limitations, both data sources contribute to post-market surveillance and improve understanding of public health concerns.
The Japanese Empire: Grand Strategy from the Meiji Restoration to the Pacific War

The Japanese experience of war from the late-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century presents a stunning example of the meteoric rise and shattering fall of a great power. As Japan modernized and became the one non-European great power, its leaders concluded that an empire on the Asian mainland required the containment of Russia. Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–5) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904–5) but became overextended in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1931–45), which escalated, with profound consequences, into World War II. A combination of incomplete institution building, an increasingly lethal international environment, a skewed balance between civil and military authority, and a misunderstanding of geopolitics explains these divergent outcomes. This analytical survey examines themes including the development of Japanese institutions, diversity of opinion within the government, domestic politics, Japanese foreign policy and China's anti-Japanese responses. It is an essential guide for those interested in history, politics and international relations.
ICU Complications of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, Including Graft vs Host Disease

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an essential treatment modality for many malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases. Advances in HSCT techniques have dramatically decreased peri-transplant morbidity and mortality, but it remains a high-risk procedure, and a significant number of patients will require critical care during the transplant process. Complications of HSCT are both infectious and non-infectious, and the intensivist must be familiar with common infections, the management of neutropenic sepsis and septic shock, the management of respiratory failure in the immunocompromised host, and a plethora of HSCT-specific complications. Survival from critical illness after HSCT is improving, but the mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Continued research and optimization of critical care provision in this population should continue to improve outcomes.
C-SLAM: six degrees of freedom point cloud mapping for any environment

We present an open source 3-dimensional 6 DOF (Degrees Of Freedom) point cloud based mapping package and online map manager for ROS (Robot Operating System) using PCL (Point Cloud Library) for use in autonomous navigation and localization in any environment. This system will be of interest to the robotics community as many mapping systems are either not sufficiently configured for 3D mapping in 6 DOF systems or are proprietary. The goal of this is to be able to produce maps which contain enough detail to be used for localization, as well as path planning, without sacrificing memory or speed. The mapping method consists of several key features described in detail: a novel method of initial localization and odometry estimation, a mapping registration method, a map storage method, and a map manager which handles map recall based on robot pose. Using a 3D LiDAR scanner and an IMU we are able to map in structured environments, and with addition of another odometry source able to complete mapping in unstructured environments with fewer features. The results of this work is an open source, extendable, environment independent mapping scheme and is well defined for all 6DOF. Verification of this system has been done in a simulation environment as well as real-world experiments.
Clinical efficacy and safety of palliative esophageal stenting without fluoroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and study aims Despite advances in curative treatments for esophageal cancer, many patients often present with advanced disease. Dysphagia resulting in significant weight loss and malnutrition leads to poor quality of life. Palliative esophageal stenting with self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) helps alleviate symptoms and prolongs survival. However, access to fluoroscopy may be limited at certain centers causing delay in patient care. Methods We searched multiple databases from inception to November 2019 to identify studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of endoscopic palliative esophageal stenting and selected only those studies where fluoroscopic guidance was not used. Our primary aim was to calculate the overall technical as well as clinical success. Using meta-regression analysis, we also evaluated the effect of tumor location and obstruction length on overall technical and clinical success. Results A total of 1778 patients from 17 studies were analyzed. A total of 2036 stents were placed without the aid of fluoroscopy. The pooled rate of technical success was 94.7 % (CI 89.9–97.3, PI 55–99; I2 = 85) and clinical success was 82.1 % (CI 67.1–91.2, PI 24–99; I2 = 87). Based on meta-regression analysis both the length of obstruction and tumor location did not have any statistically significant effect on technical and clinical success. The pooled rate of adverse events was 4.1 % (CI 2.4–7.2; I2 = 72) for stent migration, 8.1 % (CI 4.1–15.4; I2 = 89) for tumor overgrowth and 1.2 % (CI 0.7–2; I2 = 0) for perforation. The most frequent clinical adverse event was retro-sternal chest pain. Conclusion Palliative esophageal stenting without fluoroscopy using SEMS is both safe and effective in patients with advanced esophageal cancer.
Should Patients with Severe Obesity Receive Veno-venous Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome? A Single-center Experience

Background Severe obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m2) is associated with a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and complications of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), independent of other illnesses. Despite this, patients with severe obesity are less likely to receive Veno-Venous Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support for severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Given this paradox, we examined the impact of severe obesity on outcomes of adult patients who underwent VV-ECMO implantation for ARDS at our center. Methods We reviewed our ECMO database from May 2013 through May 2020. Adults, who had received VV-ECMO, either in-house or through our mobile ECMO program, were included. We grouped patients into those with BMI ≥40 kg/m2 or not and compared survival at 48 hours, survival to hospital discharge, and hospital length of stay. We conducted multiple logistic and linear regression analyses to analyze the association with categorical and continuous variables, respectively, controlling for patient age, gender, and use of mobile ECMO. Results We identified 112 consecutive adult VV-ECMO patients; median age was 48 (34, 59) years, 61 (54.5%) were male, 56 (50%) were started on ECMO in-house, the median BMI was 31.7 (27.6, 38.8) Kg/ m2; and 23 (20.5%) had a BMI ≥40 kg/m2. Survival at 48 hours and hospital discharge were 69.6% and 61.6%, respectively; and, median hospital length of stay was 20 (9, 33) days. Logistic regression showed no evidence of an association between severe obesity and either 48-hour (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.37-2.96) or hospital discharge survival (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.38-2.93). There was, however, a significant correlation between increasing BMI and longer total hospital length of stay (R2 = 0.34; p = 0.0002) which remained significant in linear regression (p = 0.0002) (Figure). Conclusions We found no association between severe obesity and survival at 48-hour and hospital discharge in patients supported on VV-ECMO. Severe obesity was associated with a longer hospital stay, however. Our experience suggests that severe obesity alone should not exclude candidacy for VV-ECMO support.
Habits of Highly Effective Alerting: Improved alert acceptance while reducing cognitive 'clutter'

Introduction Optimization of alerts in the electronic health records (EHR) has shown to be effective at improving efficacy and realizing some of the potential of EHRs. This project presents an overall alert strategy to improve efficacy: removing alerts that failed to achieve their clinical goals, curating those which were being overridden frequently, and adhering to a strict discipline of alert performance and taxonomy. The goal was to increase the desired behaviors the alerts were designed to achieve as reflected in increased alert acceptance. Methods An alert reduction strategy was deployed …
Assessment of Gadobutrol Safety in Combination with Ionizing Radiation Using a Preclinical MRI-Guided Radiotherapy Model

MR-linac technology enhances the precision of therapeutic radiation by clarifying the tumor-normal tissue interface and provides the potential for adaptive treatment planning. Accurate delineation of tumors on diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) frequently requires gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). Despite generally being considered safe, previous literature suggests that GBCAs are capable of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). It is unclear if the risk for AKI is enhanced when GBCAs are administered concurrently with ionizing radiotherapy. During irradiation, gadolinium may be liberated from its chelator which may induce AKI. The goal of this work was to determine if radiation combined with GBCAs increased the incidence of AKI. Using a preclinical MRI-guided irradiation system, where MRI acquisitions and radiation delivery are performed in rapid succession, tumor-bearing mice with normal kidney function were injected with GBCA and treated with 2, 8 or 18 Gy irradiation. Renal function was assessed on days three and seven postirradiation to assess for AKI. No clinically relevant changes in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were observed in any combination of GBCA and radiation dose. From these data, we conclude that GBCA in combination with radiation does not increase the risk for AKI in mice. Additional investigation of multiple doses of GBCA administered concurrently with irradiation is warranted to evaluate the risk of chronic kidney injury.
Exploration of biomarkers from a pilot weight management study for men undergoing radical prostatectomy

Abstract Background Several biologic mechanisms, including inflammation and immune changes, have been proposed to explain the role of obesity in prostate cancer (CaP) progression. Compared to men of a healthy weight, overweight and obese men are more likely to have CaP recurrence post-prostatectomy. Obesity is related to inflammation and immune dysregulation; thus, weight loss may be an avenue to reduce inflammation and reverse these immune processes. Objectives This study explores the reversibility of the biological mechanisms through intentional weight loss using a comprehensive weight management program in men undergoing prostatectomy. Outcomes include blood and tissue biomarkers, microtumor environment gene expression, inflammation markers and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores. Methods Twenty overweight men undergoing prostatectomy participated in this study. Fifteen men chose the intervention and 5 men chose the nonintervention group. The intervention consisted of a comprehensive weight loss program prior to prostatectomy and a weight maintenance program following surgery. Prostate tissue samples were obtained from diagnostic biopsies before the intervention and prostatectomy samples after weight loss. Blood samples and diet records were collected at baseline, pre-surgery after weight loss and at study end after weight maintenance. Immunohistochemistry and NanoString analysis were used to analyze the tissue samples. Flow cytometry was used to assess circulating immune markers. Inflammation markers were measured using Luminex panels. Results The intervention group lost >5% body weight prior to surgery. DII scores improved during the weight loss intervention from baseline to pre-surgery (P = 0.002); and between group differences were significant (P = 0.02). DII scores were not associated with IL-6 nor hsCRP. In the intervention, CXCL12, CXCR7, and CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand/receptor) and Ki67 expression decreased in the prostate tissue from biopsy to surgery (P = 0.06), yet plasma CXCL12 increased during the same timeframe (P = 0.009). The downregulation of several genes (FDR Conclusion This feasibility study demonstrates that in overweight men with localized CaP, weight loss alters blood, and tissue biomarkers, as well as tumor gene expression. More research is needed to determine the biological and clinical significance of these findings.
Intravesical docetaxel for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin failure

Background There are limited bladder-preserving therapeutic options for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after failed Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy. Salvage intravesical docetaxel therapy was described in 2006 but has not been validated outside of the original institution. In this study, we presented the first external report on the oncologic outcomes of intravesical docetaxel. Materials and methods We identified 13 patients with high-risk NMIBC treated with ≥1 course of intravesical BCG who received salvage intravesical docetaxel. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations of clinicopathologic features with RFS were evaluated using Cox regression. Results Median age was 75.2 years, and 46.2% of patients were male. Of the patients 92.3% had a prior diagnosis of high-grade T1 disease, 38.5% had a prior diagnosis of carcinoma in situ, and 46.2% had received ≥2 courses of BCG. Only 1 (7.7%) patient experienced docetaxel-related toxicity. Nine (69.2%) patients had a complete response at initial post-docetaxel cystoscopy. During a median follow-up of 12.0 (interquartile range 5.0-18.1) months, a total of 7 (53.8%) patients developed recurrence. Median time to recurrence was 10.1 (interquartile range 4.8-11.6) months. Estimated RFS at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months was 75%, 50%, 50%, and 25%. Three (23.1%) patients ultimately underwent cystectomy. On univariable analysis, multiple courses of induction BCG were associated with decreased RFS, although this did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio 4.69, p = 0.08). Conclusions In this first external validation study, intravesical docetaxel was associated with excellent response rates and intermediate-term RFS among patients with high-risk NMIBC after failed BCG therapy.
Node Voltage Estimation of Distribution System Using Artificial Neural Network Considering Weather Data

Load flow analysis using traditional methods for power flow is becoming complex (reverse power flow and voltage volatility) due to the configuration complexity brought about by renewable energy resource (RER) integration. The variable and intermittent nature of RER integration also contributes to the power flow complexity. Power system operators should be aware of the state of the operation. An alternative to traditional power flow methods could be an artificial intelligence technique. Therefore, in this study, the node voltage estimation of a distribution system using an artificial neural network (ANN) has been proposed. Since a significant portion of residential load and RER generation are dependent on weather conditions, load flow analysis including weather data in GridLAB-D has been carried out. Typical meteorological year (TMY) information has been used as the weather data. Results show that node voltage estimation using the ANN technique is robust on different photovoltaic (PV) and wind power penetration levels as well as the significant loss of load measurement data and/or PV and wind generation data.
Geography and Reasonable Suspicion in Auto Stops

In metaphor and reality, hitting the open road has long figured in the American way of life. Well before Bruce Springsteen’s paean to the open road “Born to Run” topped the charts, Americans used their cars to explore the nation’s expanses and to secure a better life. The diversity of state normative views they encountered in their travels has been and remains a hallmark of the nation’s decentralized federalist system. Decentralized political communities, however, can cause stresses, one of which this essay addresses. Today, eighteen states have legalized the purchase, possession and recreational use of marijuana, and another thirty-six have legalized its medical use. Aggregated, the population of the legalization states alone constitutes a significant proportion of the U.S. population. Whatever one’s views on the legalization issue, the disagreement is now playing out in a problematic way on the nation’s roadways. Police in non-legalization states are detaining vehicles with license plates from legalization states, claiming that the vehicles’ geographic origin is suggestive of marijuana being onboard. This essay, part of a symposium concerning legal and policy issues arising with drug decriminalization, urges that the practice should not be permitted to continue.
Language as Symbolic Power Claire Kramsch (2020)

Language as Symbolic Power Claire Kramsch (2020) Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9781108798891 (paperback). Pp. 279
Abstract 19908: Major Depressive Disorder and History of Suicide Attempt are Independent Risk Factors for Premature Non-Suicide and Cardiovascular Death in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)

Background: Although depressive symptoms are shown to associate with mortality, few controlled studies have examined major depressive disorder (MDD) as a risk factor for premature death in young adults. We studied the relationship of MDD and history of suicide attempt (an alternative measure of depression) with non-suicide death and cardiovascular death in a US cohort of young adults. Additionally, we examined the role of smoking and BMI in mediating this relationship. Methods: We studied 7611 adults aged 17-39 years without cardiovascular (CV) disease from the NHANES III (1988-1994) study. MDD and history of suicide attempt were assessed via the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Detailed data on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors, as well as mortality and cause of death data through 2006 were assessed. Longitudinal analysis was carried out using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The mean age was 28.1 +/- 6.6 years, with 241 (3.2%) non-suicide and 47 (0.6%) cardiovascular deaths occurring during a median of 14.9 years follow-up. At onset, 7.0% were diagnosed with MDD, 5.4% attempted suicide, and 10.7% had at least one of the two. In models adjusted for age, plasma cholesterol, race, systolic BP, and education, MDD (HR 3.0, p<0.001) and history of suicide attempt (HR 3.0, p<0.001) were associated with non-suicide death in males only (gender interaction: p<0.01 for MDD and p=0.08 for suicide). In adjusted analyses, those with MDD and/or history of suicide attempt had increased risk for cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.8, p=0.008) in both sexes. When adding BMI and smoking to the model for cardiovascular death, the HR decreased by 18% to 2.3 (p=0.03). Similar decreases in effect size were observed for the association of MDD (HR 2.7, p<0.001) and history of suicide attempt (HR 2.5, p=0.003) with non-suicide mortality among males. Conclusion: Among young, mostly healthy individuals, major depression and history of suicide attempt are important risk factors for premature non-suicide death in men, as well as cardiovascular death in both sexes. Smoking and health behaviors that increase BMI (such as overeating and sedentary activity) may play a role, but do not completely account for the association.
Simulated scenography of the collective: Mimesis and simulacrum at the Quartiere Tiburtino

The goal of this paper is to examine critical practices of residential architecture in Southern Europe that appeared during a period of economic instability –the post- war in the mid-twentieth century-, and that may provide useful elements for re-thinking housing models during the current context of crisis. To do so, I have studied the Quartiere Tiburtino in Rome, one of the most influential housing developments of Italian-neorealism, from an expanded cultural perspective, understanding it as an design exercise that recovers the realm of everyday life for architecture, through the pre-modern concept of mimesis and, simultaneously, incorporating the notion of the simulacrum as a legitimate cultural construction. I have examined in detail the various mimetic processes -linguistic, technological and typological-, through which the Quartiere Tiburtino deals with the living conditions of urban immigrants from rural areas of Italy; and the creation of a social simulation of great complexity -the invention of a shared urban identity for the new inhabitants of the neighborhood, which becomes the most significant contribution of the project to the debate about the possibilities of architecture as a social and politically engaged practice.
From dechristianization to laicization: state, Church, and believers in Russia

The history of twentieth-century Russian Orthodoxy has been written largely in terms of the Church and state, martyr and oppressor, all within the traditional paradigm of ineluctable, ubiquitous secularization. This article shifts the focus from Bolshevik and bishop to believer, framed within the more recent model that emphasizes “believing without belonging”. While that new paradigm fits the Russian case, the latter certainly had unique specifics: it was precisely the coercive disestablishment of the Church that empowered parishioners and inadvertently laid the foundations for the post-Soviet religious revival. While the depth and meaning of that revival is open to dispute and calibration, it has unquestionably posed a dramatic contrast to contemporary Europe.
The Motions in the Central Region of NGC 4736

Spectroscopic observations of the central part of NGC 4736 show strong noncircular motions connected with the triple radio source. It is also found that a central ring of H ii regions is probably expanding at about 30 km s−1.
Single-Fraction Radiotherapy for CD30+ Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Objectives. CD30 + lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Sustained complete response following first-line treatments is rare. This retrospective review evaluates the response of refractory or recurrent lesions to palliative radiation therapy. Methods. The records of 6 patients with 12 lesions, treated with radiation therapy, were reviewed. All patients received previous first-line treatments. Patients with clinical and pathological evidence of symptomatic CD30 + lymphoproliferative disorder, with no history of other cutaneous T-cell lymphoma variants, and with no prior radiation therapy to the index site were included. Results. The median age of patients was 50.5 years (range, 15–83 years). Median size of the treated lesions was 2.5 cm (range, 2–7 cm). Four sites were treated with a single fraction of 750–800 cGy ( ) and 8 sites were treated with 4000–4500 cGy in 200–250 cGy fractions ( ). Radiation therapy was administered with electrons and bolus. Median follow-up was 113 months (range, 16–147 months). For all sites, there was 100% complete response with acute grade 1-2 dermatitis. Conclusions. For recurrent and symptomatic radiation-naive CD30 + lymphoproliferative disorder lesions, palliative radiation therapy shows excellent response. A single fraction of 750–800 cGy is as effective as a multifractionated course and more convenient.
A History of the Optics Group at the University of Michigan Willow Run Laboratory

The early history of the Optics Group at the University of Michigan's Willow Run Laboratory is presented and the seminal contributions of Emmett Leith to the fields of synthetic aperture radar and holography are highlighted.