cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mouse salivary androgen-binding protein (ABP) gene cluster on chromosomes 7: Characterization and evolutionary relationships

Mouse salivary androgen-binding protein (ABP) is a pair of dimers, composed of an alpha subunit disulfide bridged to either a beta or a gamma subunit. It has been proposed that each subunit is encoded by a distinct gene: Abpa, Abpb, and Abpg for the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, respectively. We report here the structures and sequences of the genes that encode these three subunits. Each gene has three exons separated by two introns. Mouse salivary ABP is a member of the secretoglobin family, and we compare the structure of the three ABP subunit genes to those of 18 other mammalian secretoglobins. We map the three genes as a gene cluster located 10 cM from the centromere of Chromosome (Chr) 7 and show that Abpa is the closest of the three to the gene for glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) and that Abpg is the closest to the centromere, with Abpb mapping between them. Abpa is oriented in the opposite direction to Abpb and Abpg, with its 5' end directed toward their 5' ends. We compare the location of these genes with other secretoglobin genes in the mouse genome and with the known locations of secretoglobin genes in the human genome and present evidence that strong positive selection has driven the divergence of the coding regions of Abpb and Abpg since the putative duplication event that created them.
Barriers to successful care for chronic kidney disease

Background The National Kidney Foundation has formulated clinical practice guidelines for patients with chronic kidney disease (K/DOQI). However, little is know about how many patients actually achieve these goals in a dedicated clinic for chronic kidney disease.
Medication adherence in HIV-positive African Americans: The roles of age, health beliefs, and sensation seeking

AbstractWe examined how two critical constructs, health beliefs and sensation seeking, influence combination antiretroviral therapy adherence in HIV + African Americans, and whether these factors mediate the association between age and adherence. Two hundred and eighty-six HIV + African Americans participated in this observational study. Path analyses revealed that higher levels of a specific health belief, perceived utility of treatment, and lower levels of a sensation seeking component, Thrill and Adventure Seeking, directly predicted optimal adherence. The influence of age on adherence was partially mediated by lower Thrill and Adventure Seeking levels. Depression predicted adherence via perceived utility of treatment and Thrill and Adventure Seeking, whereas current substance abuse and dependence did via Thrill and Adventure Seeking. Poorer neurocognitive function had a direct, adverse effect on adherence. Our findings suggest that supporting the development of more positive perceptions about HIV trea...
Predictive prefetching for MPEG DASH over LTE networks

Recently HTTP based adaptive video streaming has gained significant attention. A video client predicts the future available bandwidth and then selects the appropriate bit rate for the video content in order to maximize the video quality while avoiding rebuffering. The often severe fluctuation in the available bandwidth in mobile wireless networks poses a challenge to the bit rate selection algorithm. In this paper, we propose to utilize the regularity in a user's movement to improve the bit rate selection algorithm. We use Kalman filters to predict a user's speed and available bandwidth, which are then fed into a bit rate adaptation algorithm. The proposed method is implemented in JavaScript, and tested in real LTE networks. Experimental results show that our method significantly improves the quality of DASH-based video streaming.
Observations on Cytotoxic Effect of Antihistiocyte Serum.

SummaryPreliminary observations of the cytotoxic action of guinea pig antirabbit histiocyte serum mediated by large amounts of guinea pig complement have been presented. The data suggest that guinea pig complement does not act in the same manner in this system as it does in the sheep-red cell system with respect to the amount required and to its action at 0°C.
A direct sensitivity approach to predict hourly ozone resulting from compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

In setting primary ambient air quality standards, the EPA’s responsibility under the law is to establish standards that protect public health. As part of the current review of the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), the US EPA evaluated the health exposure and risks associated with ambient ozone pollution using a statistical approach to adjust recent air quality to simulate just meeting the current standard level, without specifying emission control strategies. One drawback of this purely statistical concentration rollback approach is that it does not take into account spatial and temporal heterogeneity of ozone response to emissions changes. The application of the higher-order decoupled direct method (HDDM) in the community multiscale air quality (CMAQ) model is discussed here to provide an example of a methodology that could incorporate this variability into the risk assessment analyses. Because this approach includes a full representation of the chemical production and physical transpo...
Missions, Matrices and University Management

Several recent articles and studies have suggested the possibility of applying Planning - Programming - Budgeting (PPB), systems analysis and other advanced management concepts to the problems of l...
Recovery and Origin of Subsurface Microbiological Contamination from an Acrylic Latex Coating

Abstract This study investigated the potential subsurface retention of microbes including foodborne pathogens by coatings applied to poultry processing plant walls and ceilings. Recovery and origin of subsurface microbial contamination of an acrylic latex coating in a simulated poultry processing plant environment with or without sanitation were examined in this study. When acrylic latex coatings were inoculated in combination with sanitation, aerobic plate counts (APC) were not significantly (P>.05) different among three different sanitizing materials. The average APC recovered from acrylic latex-coated concrete blocks was significantly (P These data indicate that a chemical sanitizer did not affect the subsurface contamination of acrylic coating and the niche for bacteria in the subsurface of acrylic latex-coated concrete block appears to be the junction between the acrylic latex matrix and the surface of the concrete block rather than the internal space of the acrylic latex matrix.
Quasi Light Fields: A Model of Coherent Image Formation

We develop a model of coherent image formation that strikes a balance between the simplicity of the light field and the comprehensive predictive power of Maxwell's equations, by extending the light field to coherent radiation.
Disrupted Renal Mitochondrial Homeostasis after Liver Transplantation in Rats

Background Suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) after many insults. AKI occurs frequently after liver transplantation (LT) and increases mortality. This study investigated whether disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis plays a role in AKI after LT. Methods Livers were explanted from Lewis rats and implanted after 18 h cold storage. Kidney and blood were collected 18 h after LT. Results In the kidney, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins ATP synthase-β and NADH dehydrogenase-3 decreased 44% and 81%, respectively, with marked reduction in associated mRNAs. Renal PGC-1α, the major regulator of MB, decreased 57% with lower mRNA and increased acetylation, indicating inhibited synthesis and suppressed activation. Mitochondrial transcription factor-A, which controls mtDNA replication and transcription, protein and mRNA decreased 66% and 68%, respectively, which was associated with 64% decreases in mtDNA. Mitochondrial fission proteins Drp-1 and Fis-1 and mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin-1 all decreased markedly. In contrast, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 increased markedly after LT, indicating enhanced mitophagy. Concurrently, 18- and 13-fold increases in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and cleaved caspase-3 occurred in renal tissue. Both serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen increased >2 fold. Mild to moderate histological changes were observed in the kidney, including loss of brush border, vacuolization of tubular cells in the cortex, cast formation and necrosis in some proximal tubular cells. Finally, myeloperoxidase and ED-1 also increased, indicating inflammation. Conclusion Suppression of MB, inhibition of mitochondrial fission/fusion and enhancement of mitophagy occur in the kidneys of recipients of liver grafts after long cold storage, which may contribute to the occurrence of AKI and increased mortality after LT.
Role of organic anions in renal response to dietary acid and base loads

Bicarbonate is formed when organic anions are oxidized systemically. Therefore, changes in organic anion excretion can affect systemic acid-base balance. To assess the role of organic anions in uri...
The Days of Villainy

When leaders of the 1569 Northern Rebellion learned, in a fruitless month of almost no bloodshed, that their cause was doomed, they and a few hundred horsemen (the ‘better sort’) fled to Scotland. At point of flight the leaders gave ‘warninge to the comone people to make shifte for themselves’ (Sharp, 105). They thereby abandoned ‘ther pore rascall fotmen’ (49) - largely lacking armor, weapons, and money (54; see also 103) - to the murderous retribution of Cecilian terror. Mass executions of some 700 commoners stand in stark contrast to minimal blood spilled by what Burghley called ‘their sorry army’ (Sharp, 105n). In brief, although northern earls had little choice but to revolt, their utter failure virtually doomed the possibility of rebellion for the rest of the reign. No wonder Essex could not raise London, and so many smaller revolts and riots were unsuccessful. People long remembered hundreds of northern Catholic corpses, and this negative example was kept alive by a stream of propaganda.
Contrasts in compliant fault zone properties inferred from geodetic measurements in the San Francisco Bay area

In crustal fault zones, regions of damaged rock characterized by reduced elastic shear modulus can influence patterns of near-field interseismic deformation. In order to study these compliant fault zones (CFZs) and how they might develop over the lifetimes of faults, we compare two fault segments with contrasting fault age and lithology along the San Andreas Fault in the San Francisco Bay Area. New geodetic measurements of the interseismic velocity fields at each location are used to constrain fault zone parameters through a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. At Black Mountain, in the Santa Cruz Mountains of the San Francisco Peninsula, we do not find evidence for a compliant fault zone; instead, we find that the geodetic data are more consistent with a model of a single fault in a homogeneous elastic half-space. At Lake San Andreas, a younger fault segment 35 km farther north, we find evidence for a compliant fault zone about 3.4 +1.1/−1.4 km wide, containing a shear modulus of about 40% of the shear modulus of the surrounding rock. We also find that the best fitting CFZ model at this location, unlike the best fitting homogeneous half-space model, has a locking depth that agrees well with the observed depth of microseismicity. Based on differences in fault age, cumulative displacement, and lithology between Black Mountain and Lake San Andreas, we infer that lithology plays an important and, in this case, perhaps a dominant role in the accumulation of fault zone damage structures and the development of CFZs over the lifetime of a fault.
Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection Is a Safe and Effective Treatment for Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm in the Morbidly Obese

Introduction:Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is a well-established practice for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. This procedure is highly successful but dependent on appropriate pseudoaneurysm anatomy and adequate ultrasound visualization. Morbid obesity can present a significant technical challenge due to increased groin adiposity, resulting in poor visualization of critical structures needed to safely perform the procedure. We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UGTI to treat femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in the morbidly obese.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study in which all patients who underwent UGTI at The Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital from 2009 to 2014 were analyzed for patient characteristics and stratified by body mass index (BMI). Patients with BMI ≥ 35 were considered morbidly obese and were compared to patients with a BMI < 35. Outcome was failed treatment resulting in residual pseudoaneurysm.Results:Our cohort consisted of 54 patients who ...
Volumetric Imaging and Characterization of Focusing Waveguide Grating Couplers

Volumetric imaging of focusing waveguide grating coupler emission with high spatial resolution in the visible ( ${{\lambda \,= \,637.3\,\text{nm}}}$ ) is demonstrated using a scanning near-field optical microscope with long z -axis travel range. Stacks of 2-D images recorded at fixed distance from the device are compiled to yield 3-D visualization of the light emission pattern and enable extraction of parameters, such as spot size, angle of emission, and focal height. Measurements of such parameters are not prevalent in the literature yet are necessary for efficacious design and integration. It is observed that finite-difference time-domain simulations based on fabrication layout files do not perfectly predict in-hand device behavior, underscoring the merit of experimental validation, particularly for critical application.
Structure-induced asymmetry between counterpropagating modes and the reciprocity principle in whistle-geometry ring lasers

Greatly enhanced high-speed modulation performance has been recently predicted in numerical calculations for a novel injection-locking scheme involving a distributed Bragg reflector master laser monolithically integrated with a unidirectional whistle-geometry semiconductor microring laser. Operation of these devices relies on the assumption of large difference between modal losses experienced by counterpropagating modes. In this work, we confirm the unidirectionality of the whistle-geometry configuration through rigorous three-dimensional finite-difference timedomain (FDTD) simulation by showing a strong asymmetry in photon lifetimes between the two counterpropagating modes. We also show that similar asymmetry occurs in three-port couplers, whose structure resembles the coupling section of whistle-geometry lasers. We explain why these results do not violate the Helmholtz reciprocity principle.
Demo abstract: Enabling high-throughput big data transfers across campus networks

Big Data transfers are increasingly plagued by middlebox bottlenecks such as NAT boxes, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems that prevent large data transfers from achieving maximal throughput across the campus network. Science DMZs have historically been used to solve this problem. We are developing a Software Defined Networking (SDN) campus network that achieves the same benefits — by allowing privileged flows to bypass middleboxes — without the limitations and downsides of Science DMZs. To evaluate our approach and develop a prototype implementation, we created a campus-like lab-based physical network using Aruba switches that support running multiple OpenFlow (virtual) instances per physical chassis. We will demonstrate the control software used to drive the testbed and the performance improvement for big data transfers under our approach.
Examining the Relation Between Physiological and Psychological Components of Stress Reactivity and Recovery in Cigarette Smokers.

Cigarette smokers exhibit reduced physiological stress reactivity, yet it is unclear whether blunted reactivity predicts differences in subjective recovery and vice versa. The study examined whether basal heart rate and heart rate reactivity were related to recovery in anxiety following stress, and conversely, whether initial self-reported anxiety and anxiety reactivity were related to heart rate recovery. Fifty-six smokers completed a 10-min baseline period, a 4-min stressor, and a 10-min recovery period during which heart rate and anxiety were continuously assessed. Results indicated significant linear (p < .01, d = 0.31) and quadratic (p = .02, d = 0.27) effects of baseline heart rate and reactivity (linear p < .01, d = 0.80; quadratic p < .01, d = 0.66) on recovery in anxiety and significant linear (p < .01, d = 0.88) and quadratic (p < .01, d = 0.74) effects of anxiety reactivity on heart rate recovery. These findings suggest that reduced reactivity in both heart rate and anxiety predicted slower recovery in the opposite domain. Findings offer initial evidence for psychophysiological integration in cigarette smokers.
Root Locus for Control Systems with Completely Separated Boundary Conditions

Recently, Byrnes and Gilliam [2, 3] initiated the study of a root locus methodology for distributed parameter control systems and established a quite complete analog of the finite dimensional root locus theory for an important class of distributed parameter control systems. As a continuation of their work, He [5] studied a class of so-called “Birkhoff regular systems”, which is a generalization of the systems in [2, 3]. Many of the results for the systems studied in [2, 3] have been generalized to Birkhoff regular systems. In particular, for these systems, the quantities that specify and characterize the asymptotic behavior of the closed loop poles were analyzed in detail and the various behaviors of the root locus were described and illustrated.
Methylnaphthalene in Food Packaging and Cadmium in Food Packaging and Household Items: Overview of Exposure, Toxicology, Regulatory Aspects, and Research Needs

This chapter provides an overview of two toxicants, methylnaphthalene and cadmium. Both of these chemicals are examples of toxicants for which there are significant research data gaps. Reports of an off-odor and off-flavor in certain breakfast cereals led to a recall of certain Kellogg’s®-brand breakfast cereals in 2010, with subsequent identification of methylnaphthalene as the chemical used in the wax liners of these cereal boxes. While orally- and dermally-treated laboratory rodents have displayed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in response to methylnaphthalene exposure, very few other toxicological endpoints have been evaluated for exposures to either 1- or 2-methylnaphthalene. While cadmium is an established heavy metal toxicant, with the lung, kidney, and immune system as primary target organs, recent studies of non-occupationally exposed populations suggest that the risk of cardiovascular and peripheral artery disease may be associated with higher levels of urinary cadmium. While diet and tobacco use are known sources of non-occupational exposure to cadmium, there is emerging evidence that consumer products also may be a source of exposure to general populations. There are reports of cadmium leaching from glazes and decorations used in ceramics and glassware, and detection in plastic housings of cell phones. There is limited data characterizing exposures from cadmium use as a pigment in household or food contact plastics. More research is needed to characterize exposures as affected by the type of cadmium pigment, type of plastic, effects of wear and age, as well as the leaching of cadmium from end-of-use products in landfills.
Near-Surface Site Characterization Using Surface Waves

Modern surface wave testing methods rely on advanced signal processing and inversion algorithms to extract information about the shear wave velocity profile from observations of Rayleigh wave propagation at the free surface. Extensive use is made of temporal and spatial Fourier transforms to measure Rayleigh wave dispersion. In this context, it is important to understand the influence of finite temporal and spatial sampling on frequency and wavenumber resolution and aliasing. The aperture smoothing function is shown to be a valuable tool to understand these characteristics for a particular receiver array. Four commonly used methods for calculating dispersion curves — Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW), Multi-Offset Phase Analysis (MOPA), Spatial Autocorrelation (SPAC), and conventional frequency-domain beamforming — are presented and discussed for both active and passive tests.
Use of Growing Degree Days to Time Root Developmental Events in the Gramineae

Root development can be related to shoot development in cereals such as winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Individual root axes can be seen to arise from specific nodes and can be identified using a naming system that relates the axis to a node and to a direction of growth with respect to that node. Aphyllochron system can then be used to relate the appearance of specific seminal and crown root axes to main stem leaf number. The general pattern of root axis appearance for grasses is therefore predictable based on a growing degree day (heat unit) calculation and specific root axes are observable at specific points in shoot development. This pattern can be generalized from wheat to other grasses for use by modellers and morphologists.
Refractive outcomes comparing primary laser to primary bevacizumab with delayed laser for type 1 ROP

Purpose To compare the refractive outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and delayed peripheral retinal photocoagulation (PRP) with primary PRP in infants treated for posterior type 1 ROP. Methods The medical records of 87 infants at a tertiary referral center treated for posterior type 1 ROP between 2006 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Consecutive infants received primary PRP before and primary IVB after a change in treatment practice implemented in early 2011. In most cases primary IVB was supplemented with prophylactic laser treatment after 60 weeks' PMA (IVB-PRP). The main outcome was spherical equivalent (SE) in diopters, determined by cycloplegic refraction between 2 and 4 years. Infants treated with IVB-PRP were also compared to the those who received only IVB as monotherapy. Results The final analysis included 34 eyes of 19 infants in the primary PRP group and 40 eyes of 21 infants in the IVB-PRP group. Mean SE was −7.4 ± 5.2 D in the primary PRP group and −0.16 ± 2.2 D in the IVB-PRP group (P Conclusions In our study cohort, infants treated with IVB-PRP were significantly less myopic than those treated with primary PRP. Delayed laser after 60 weeks' PMA, in hopes of reducing the risk of late reactivation with retinal detachment, did not negate the refractive benefits of primary IVB.
Improved survival of small cell lung cancer in the veterans health administration from 2000-2010: Association with increasing utilization of PET staging.

e20571Background: Accurate staging for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is critical to selecting appropriate therapy. The impact of positron emission tomography (PET) and stage migration are well-desc...
Nuclear mutation leads to an accelerated turnover of chloroplast-encoded 48 kd and 34.5 kd polypeptides in thylakoids lacking photosystem II.

We have studied the synthesis and accumulation of a chloroplast-encoded 48 kd chla-reaction center protein and the 34.5 kd ;atrazine binding' protein in a nuclear maize mutant which fails to assemble photosystem II reaction centers. The failure of these polypeptides to accumulation in mutant thylakoids is not due to direct nuclear control over their synthesis but is rather due to their specific, accelerated turnover from the thylakoid membrane. The accelerated turnover of these polypeptides in mutant thylakoids is largely independent of illumination conditions, as accelerated turnover occurs in the dark as well as in the light. In contrast to wild type, the 48 kd and 34.5 kd polypeptides are preferentially associated with stroma, rather than grana, lamellae in mutant membranes, suggesting that turnover occurs before these polypeptides become enriched in the grana. The nucleus thus plays a role in the stabilization of these chloroplast-encoded photosystem II reaction center polypeptides.
Patterns of Post-Traumatic Health Care Service Need and Access among Bisexual and Non-Monosexual Women in the U.S

Using data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (Walters et al., 2013), this study theoretically tests reasons for non-monosexual women’s (N = 492) disparate rates of post-...
Mechanisms of decarboxylation of phenylacetic acids and their sodium salts in water at high temperature and pressure

Abstract Mechanistic interpretations of how organic reactions happen can enhance the predictive capacity of models for geochemical transformations built on thermodynamic and kinetic relations. In this study, the mechanisms of hydrothermal carboxylic acid decarboxylation reactions are explored using aqueous solutions of the model compound phenylacetic acid, its ring-substituted derivatives, and their sodium salts. Time-series experiments in gold capsules are performed at 300 °C and 1034 bar, and analyzed using gas chromatography. The decarboxylation products are the appropriately substituted toluene and CO2 or HCO3− depending on the pH. It is found that the decarboxylation reaction is irreversible at the studied conditions, consistent with the expectation of a strong thermodynamic drive at elevated temperatures. Decarboxylation of both the acid and anion forms of phenylacetic acid follow first-order kinetics, with apparent rate constants of 0.044 ± 0.005 h−1 ([1.2 ± 0.14] × 10−5 s−1) and 0.145 ± 0.02 h−1 ([4.0 ± 0.56] × 10−5 s−1), respectively. However, trends in the reaction rate with changes in the electronic properties of methyl and fluoro substituents reveal that the two forms of phenylacetic acid decarboxylate via two different mechanisms. It is inferred that the associated phenylacetic acid molecule decarboxylates by the formation of a ring-protonated zwitterion, whereas the acid anion directly decarboxylates to a benzyl anion. Zwitterionic mechanisms of activation to decarboxylation may be applicable to other aromatic acids (e.g., benzoic acid) having unsaturation that is alpha- or beta- to the carboxyl group, as well as to aliphatic acids that can be converted to α,β- or β,γ-unsaturated acids in natural hydrothermal systems. For acids lacking suitable unsaturation (e.g., acetic acid) or at higher pH, carbanion mechanisms may predominate in hydrothermal fluids. In these cases, there is potential to predict decarboxylation rates from the pKa of the hydrocarbon product. The finding of speciation-dependent reaction mechanisms implies that host rocks of aqueous fluids are key to determining decarboxylation rates, as a consequence of water-rock reactions that control fluid pH.
Perioperative Care of the Orthopedic Patient with Gout

Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis, has a predilection for acute flares in the postoperative setting. In the context of orthopedic surgery, patients may be at additional risk since comorbidities prevalent among those who undergo total joint replacement, for instance obesity, are also risk factors for gout. Despite this association, there is a lack of controlled studies to guide the perioperative management of this common rheumatologic condition. This chapter will summarize general principles of gout management, including the management of acute flares as well as urate-lowering therapy. We will review the application of these principles to the preoperative, immediate postoperative and finally discharge planning phases of care for an orthopedic patient.
Does neurofibromatosis 1 status impact outcomes for pediatric/young adults undergoing spinal fusion?

Background Although spinal deformities are common in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), there is a paucity of data as to how this impacts outcomes of spinal fusion surgery in pediatric/young adult patients. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005-2014) for all patients undergoing spinal fusion ≤26 years of age, we compared the following factors: demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative variables (e.g., between NF1 vs. non-NF1, and between NF1 and propensity score (PS)-matched non- NF1 spinal fusion patients) using univariate hypothesis tests and multivariate regression analyses. Our main interest focused on length of stay, complication rates, adverse postoperative events, and incidence of nonroutine discharges. Results In this study, 238 (0.92%) NF1 spine patients were compared to 25,558 (99.08%) non-NF1 spine patients. NF1 fusion patients were younger, included fewer females, and were more likely to be on Medicaid. Perioperatively, NF1 patients underwent more anterior approaches, had more vertebrae fused, required more transfusions, had a longer length of stay (LOS), and were less likely to be discharged home. However, after PS- matching, all differences between NF1 and non-NF1 groups disappeared were similar (P > 0.05). In PS-matched multivariate analyses, NF1-status was not a significant independent predictor of length of stay or nonroutine discharge disposition. Conclusion NF1-status was, therefore, not an independent predictor of complications, adverse postoperative events, longer LOS, or nonroutine hospital discharge in this cohort analysis. Further prospective studies are necessary to understand how outcomes in patients with NF1 compare to non-NF1 pediatric and young adult patients.
Cost-effectiveness of probiotics for necrotizing enterocolitis prevention in very low birth weight infants

To examine the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic probiotics on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) prevention in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. We built a decision-analytic model using TreeAge. Effectiveness was assessed using quality-adjusted life-years (QALY). Primary outcome was an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) expressed as cost per QALY gained. Costs were expressed in 2017 US dollars. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (SA) were performed. For the base case analysis, the ICER of probiotics versus no probiotics for the prevention of NEC in VLBW infants was $1868/QALY. SA revealed that probiotics became cost-saving at a NEC rate of 6.5% and higher or with incremental NEC cost of $37,500 or higher. Our model demonstrated that prophylactic probiotics were a cost-effective strategy in NEC reduction. SA confirmed that the model is customizable to various clinical settings and thus, can aid in understanding the economic impact of this intervention.
Three-dimensional classification of the Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using coronal and lateral spinal radiographs.

Classification of the spinal deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains two-dimensional (2D) as the spinal radiographs remain the mainstay in clinical evaluation of the disease. 3D classification systems are proposed, however are time consuming. We here aim to evaluate the clinical application of a 3D classification system by the use of only posterior-anterior and lateral radiographs in Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Forty Lenke 1 AIS were classified by five observers following a three-step flowchart, developed based on our previous 3D classification system. This 3D classification characterizes the curve in the frontal and sagittal views and infers the third dimension with rules based on prior data to determine the 3D subtypes of the curve. Repeated rating was performed for 20 randomly selected patients in the same cohort. In addition to the classification by the raters, the 3D model of the spines were generated to determine the actual curve subtype based on the algorithm that was originally used to develop the 3D classification system. The interobserver and intraobserver reliability and the classification accuracy were determined for both 3D and axial classifications of the cohort. The interobserver reliability was moderate to strong with a kappa value between 0.61–0.89 for 3D and axial classifications. Comparing the mathematical classification and the raters’ classification, the classification accuracy among all raters ranged between 56 and 89%. We evaluated the reliability of a previously developed 3D classification system for Lenke 1 AIS patients when only two-view spinal radiographs are available. Radiologists and orthopedic surgeons were able to identify the 3D subtypes of Lenke 1 AIS from the patients’ radiographs with moderate to strong reliability. The new 3D classification has the potential to identify the subtypes of the Lenke 1 AIS without a need for quantitative 3D image post-processing.
A novel degree of sex difference in laryngeal physiology of Xenopus muelleri: behavioral and evolutionary implications

Characterizing sex and species differences in muscle physiology can contribute to a better understanding of proximate mechanisms underlying behavioral evolution. In Xenopus, the laryngeal muscle9s ability to contract rapidly and its electromyogram potentiation allows males to produce calls that are more rapid and intensity-modulated than female calls. Prior comparative studies have shown that some species lacking typical male features of vocalizations sometimes show reduced sex differences in underlying laryngeal physiology. To further understand the evolution of sexually differentiated laryngeal muscle physiology and its role in generating behavior, we investigated sex differences in laryngeal physiology of X. muelleri, a species in which male and female calls are similar in rapidity but different with respect to intensity modulation. We delivered ethologically relevant stimulus patterns to ex vivo X. muelleri larynges to investigate their ability to produce various call patterns, and we also delivered stimuli over a broader range of intervals to assess sex differences in muscle tension and electromyogram potentiation. We found a small but statistically significant sex difference in laryngeal electromyogram potentiation that varied depending on the number of stimuli. We also found a small interaction between sex and stimulus interval on muscle tension over an ethologically relevant range of stimulus intervals; male larynges were able to produce similar tensions to female larynges at slightly smaller (11-12 ms) inter-stimulus intervals. These findings are consistent with behavioral observations and present a previously undescribed intermediate sex difference in Xenopus laryngeal muscle physiology.
Esophagus-Like Bronchus: A Noncommunicating Bronchopulmonary Foregut Malformation.

We describe a previously unreported bronchopulmonary foregut malformation wherein a segment of a bronchus of the lower lobe of the left lung in a 4-year-old girl was entirely esophageal in structur...
150nA IQ, Quad Input - Quad Output, Intelligent Integrated Power Management for IoT Applications

Power management systems for wireless sensor nodes in industrial IoT applications need to operate seamlessly from multiple energy sources and efficiently manage power delivery to multiple load circuits. This paper presents a single chip integrated power management solution with an autonomous 4:1 power multiplexer, single-input multiple-output DC-DC converter and output load current metering. Designed in 130nm CMOS process, the proposed design consumes a total quiescent current of < 150 nA with an operating input/output voltage range of 1.6V to 5.0V and a total maximum load current of 50 mA.
Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation to 20 Gy Combined With Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD) Prophylaxis is Associated With Low Non-Relapse Mortality Rates and Favorable GvHD-Free/Relapse-Free Survival in AML

Purpose/Objective(s) Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) offers the highest curative rate for AML with intermediate or high-risk cytogenetics in remission. GvHD is a main cause of alloHCT mortality and morbidity. This trial evaluated the feasibility of a novel conditioning regimen of total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) at 20 Gy combined with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), which was designed to reduce the chronic GvHD risks using PTCy and reduce relapse rates with TMLI, thereby improving GRFS rates compared to standard myeloablative conditioning regimens. Materials/Methods Eighteen patients with AML in first or second complete remission were treated with TMLI 20 Gy (2 Gy twice daily) to bone, lymph nodes and spleen (liver and brain 12 Gy) on days -4 to 0; stem cell infusion on day 0; PTCy 50 mg/kg/day on days +3 and +4; and tacrolimus 1 mg continuous infusion on days +5 to +90. Endpoints included toxicity, GRFS at 1 year, engraftment, overall survival (OS), and non-relapse mortality (NRM). GRFS was defined as grade 3-4 acute GvHD (aGvHD), chronic GvHD (cGvHD) requiring systemic treatment, relapse, or death (from any cause). Results The median age was 40 (range 19-56). Seventeen of 18 patients had intermediate to high-risk cytogenetics. The average (range) Dmean organ doses (Gy) were lungs 8.1 (7.5-9.5), kidneys 7.5 (6.3-9.2), heart 7.3 (6.6-8.3), oral cavity 4.4 (3.0–6.7), esophagus 6.4 (4.7-7.6), upper GI 9.1 (7.3-12.0), lower GI 10.2 (8.9-12.1), and bladder 10.0 (6.8-14.6). Median follow-up was 12.5 months (range 5.9 to 25.4) for surviving patients (n = 17). All patients engrafted. Bearman toxicity data were available for all patients. Grade 2 toxicities were bladder (n = 3) and stomatitis (n = 1). No grade 3-4 toxicities or toxicity-related deaths were observed. aGvHD developed in 2 patients with grade III-IV in only 1 patient (100-day Grade III-IV aGvHD: 5.6%, 95% CI: 0.3-23.1). Five patients developed chronic GvHD with one patient developing moderate to severe cGVHD (1-year cGvHD rate: 28.6%, 95% CI: 7.5%-54.7%). The GRFS rate at 1 year was 60.6% (95% CI: 34.6-79.0). One-year estimates of OS and relapse-free survival were 100% and 83.3% (95% CI: 62.8-96.1), respectively. Disease relapse at 1 year was 16.7% (95% CI: 3.9-37.2). The estimates of NRM at 100 days and 1 year were both 0%. Relapsed disease after transplant occurred in 3 patients (16.7%). One patient died after relapse. Conclusion This TMLI 20 Gy only conditioning regimen, together with PTCy and tacrolimus, is associated with low toxicity and NRM. All patients achieved engraftment. Participants with ≥ 1-year follow-up have discontinued immunosuppressive therapy. The results suggest an improved GRFS rate compared to traditional myeloablative regimens reported. A larger phase II trial is planned.
The Expressive Nature of Socially Responsible Investors

Socially responsible investors attempt to integrate their ethical, societal and religious values with their investments. They find it impossible to separate the utilitarian characteristics of an investment, namely its risk and expected returns, from its expressive characteristic of social responsibility. Not all values are shared by all investors and not all socially responsible investors are alike, but socially responsible investors find meaning in those words and that meaning is often lost in noisy debates between advocates of socially responsible investing and its detractors. I present here a few socially responsible investors in their own quiet words. They tell us about their ethical, societal and religious goals and about the experiences that led them to their goals. They also tell us about their investments and their efforts to further their goals beyond their investments. We listen to a nun saying that the most important issue to her order is human rights and human dignity, a video producer telling of the need to balance her desire for socially responsible investing with her financial reality, a student telling of growing up wealthy and awakening to social responsibility by encounters with poor children, and the owner of military related companies arguing that SRI should be about supporting companies that have the best policies and practices rather than companies whose products we like.
Addition of gemcitabine at the time of sunitinib resistance in metastatic renal cell cancer.

Objective •To investigate the role of adding gemcitabine at the time of sunitinib failure in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). Patients and methods •A retrospective chart review of 13 patients with mRCC who experienced disease progression on sunitinib and received gemcitabine 750 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8 and sunitinib 37.5 mg/day on days 2-15 every 21 days from September 2006-2009 was carried out. •Responses were assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. •The median age was 59, male to female ratio 10:3, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 1-3; the number of prior regimens ranged from one to five, and duration on sunitinib alone ranged from 3 months to >1 year. Results •Twelve out of 13 patients received more than two cycles with one documented partial response, five stable disease and seven progressive disease. •The median time to progression was 21 weeks. •We documented grade 4 pulmonary emboli (n= 1), grade 3 neutropenia (n= 2), anaemia (n= 2) and thrombocytopenia (n= 1). Conclusion •The combination of sunitinib and gemcitabine in patients with mRCC may delay disease progression in some patients exhibiting resistance to sunitinib. This regimen merits further prospective investigation in this patient population.
The Development of Information and Communication Technology Standards in China: A Historical Analysis

China’s recent success stories in ICT standardization initiatives are among many remarkable examples to illustrate the country’s evolution as an innovation powerhouse. While China’s standardization activities experienced significant failure rate in the begging, there is growing recognition that the country may have a higher chance of success in more recent IT standards. In this paper, we provide a historical analysis of China’s standardization activities. We identify and analyze several disruptive events related to standardization initiatives such as milestones, catastrophes and legal/administrative happenings (Hannigan, 1995).
Achieving instrument interchangeability with IVI instrument drivers

This paper illustrates the interchangeable virtual instruments (IVI) tools and architectural elements that enable users to develop software systems that are independent of the underlying instruments. The paper begins by describing how IVI drivers and associated IVI shared components are used to develop a system. An example using a spectrum analyzer and signal generator is presented. The paper then explores how the resulting system can be maintained over time, and the specific steps a customer takes to interchange instruments. The paper then describes where the resulting system may fall short of behaving like the original system. The specific steps that are needed to make the new system behave like the original one are described. Then, these steps are generalized to show what a customer needs to do to create a system that will remain stable when exchanging instruments. Finally a brief description of the IVI measurement and stimulus subsystems (IVI-MSS) standard shows how additional architectural steps can simplify the long-term maintenance of the system.
Distance extrema for spline models using tangent cones

We present a robust search for distance extrema from a point to a curve or a surface. The robustness comes from using geometric operations rather than numerical methods to find all local extrema. Tangent cones are used to search for regions where distance extrema conditions are satisfied and patch refinement hierarchically improves the search. Instead of preprocessing and storing a large hierarchy, elements are computed as needed and retained only if useful. However, for spatially coherent queries, this provides a significant speedup.
Purchasing or providing nursing home care: can quality of care data provide guidance.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether quality of care differed for veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing homes and those on contract in community nursing homes and whether the VA was contracting with nursing homes providing better quality of care than other nursing homes. DESIGN: Observational study using administrative databases from 1997 to 1999. SETTING: Ten VA and 650 community nursing homes in New York state. PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand seven hundred sixty-three veteran and 195,438 nonveteran residents of these nursing homes. MEASUREMENTS: Risk-adjusted rates of pressure ulcer development, functional decline, behavioral decline, and mortality. RESULTS: Veterans in VA nursing homes were significantly (P<.05) less likely to develop a pressure ulcer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.63) but more likely to experience functional decline (OR =1.6) than veterans in community nursing homes. Residents of community nursing homes with VA contracts were significantly (P<.05) less likely to develop a pressure ulcer (OR = 0.91) but more likely to die than residents in noncontract homes. Few nursing homes were consistently among the best or worst performers on all measures; only seven of 650 nursing homes were in the top or bottom decile and 34 in the top or bottom quartile for each measure. CONCLUSION: Large purchasers and providers of nursing home care such as the VA are unlikely to find information on quality of care useful in making decisions on whether they should make or buy care. Nursing homes performing well on one quality measure may perform poorly on another, and it is difficult to identify nursing homes that are consistently among the best or worst. Other consumers may encounter similar difficulties when using data on nursing home quality.
Decay asymmetry in the K0π− system☆

A decay asymmetry in the K0π− system is observed in the reactions K−p → K0π−p and K−p → K0π−Δ+ at 3.3 GeV/c. The effects are found to be present at only very small production angles. The data are compared with the Lovelace-Veneziano model for Kπ scattering and qualitative agreement is obtained.
Infants Experience Perceptual Narrowing for Nonprimate Faces

Perceptual narrowing—a phenomenon in which perception is broad from birth, but narrows as a function of experience—has previously been tested with primate faces. In the first 6 months of life, infants can discriminate among individual human and monkey faces. Though the ability to discriminate monkey faces is lost after about 9 months, infants retain human face discrimination, presumably because of their experience with human faces. The current study demonstrates that 4- to 6-month-old infants are able to discriminate nonprimate faces as well. In a visual paired comparison test, 4- to 6-month-old infants (n = 26) looked significantly longer at novel sheep (Ovis aries) faces, compared to a familiar sheep face (p = .017), while 9- to 11-month-olds (n = 26) showed no visual preference, and adults (n = 27) had a familiarity preference (p < .001). Infants’ face recognition systems are broadly tuned at birth—not just for primate faces, but for nonprimate faces as well—allowing infants to become specialists in recognizing the types of faces encountered in their first year of life.