cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of rapid response teams on rates of in‐hospital cardiopulmonary arrest and mortality: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

BACKGROUND In 2004, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 100,000 Lives Campaign recommended that hospitals implement rapid response teams (RRTs) charged with identifying non–intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk for rapid deterioration. Although RRTs are now in widespread use, there have been conflicting results regarding the impact of RRTs on hospital mortality and cardiopulmonary arrest. PURPOSE To assess the effectiveness of RRTs on reducing hospital mortality and non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrest rates. DATA SOURCES We conducted a systematic review using MEDLINE (1966–2014), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1898–2014), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1994–2014), and ClinicalTrials.gov (1997–2014) during October 2014. There were no constraints on language or publication status. DATA EXTRACTION We included before-after studies, cohort studies, and cluster randomized trials that reported hospital mortality and/or non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrest for adults hospitalized in a non-ICU setting after the implementation of RRTs and/or medical emergency teams (METs). Data were extracted by 2 sets of 2 independent reviewers using a standardized data-collection form. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Authors were contacted to obtain any missing data. DATA SYNTHESIS Our search identified 691 studies, of which 30 met criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Implementation of an RRT/MET was associated with a significant decrease in hospital mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-0.93, I2 = 86%, 3,478,952 admissions) and a significant decrease in the number of non-ICU cardiac arrests (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.55-0.69, I2 = 71%, 3,045,273 admissions). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of an RRT/MET is associated with a reduction in both hospital mortality and non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrests. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:438–445. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Cyanate Ester/Nano-ZrW2O8 Composites with Tailored Thermal Expansion

Fiber-reinforced composites are widely used in the design and fabrication of a variety of high performance aerospace components. The mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the high CTE polymer matrix and low CTE fiber reinforcements in such composite systems can lead to dimensional instability and deterioration of material lifetimes due to development of residual thermal stresses. The magnitude of thermally induced residual stresses in fiber-reinforced composite systems can be minimized by replacement of conventional polymer matrices with a low CTE, polymer nanocomposite matrix. Zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8) is a unique ceramic material that exhibits isotropic negative thermal expansion and has excellent potential as a filler for development of low CTE polymer nanocomposites. In this paper, we report the fabrication and thermal characterization of novel, multiscale, macro-nano hybrid composite laminates comprising bisphenol E cyanate ester (BECy)/ZrW2O8 nanocomposite matrices reinforced...
Ultrasonography for Central Catheter Placement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-A Review of Utility and Practicality.

Objective Central catheters (CCs) are routinely used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Ultrasonography (US) has been advocated as a procedural adjunct for CC placement to better localize catheter tip position (CTP), minimize radiation exposure, and decrease procedural burden. This review evaluates the clinical benefit, practical considerations for implementation, and limitations of US for CC placement in the NICU. Study Design A literature search was conducted using the Pubmed and Ovid databases with search terms regarding the ultrasound modality relating to CCs in infants and neonates. Results Five studies regarding US-guided CC insertions and seven studies describing postinsertion US were determined pertinent to this review's objective and discussed. Conclusions At this time, the literature seems insufficient to recommend US as a replacement for radiography for CTP confirmation; however, US-guidance during insertion followed by radiographic verification can decrease line manipulations and repeat radiographs. Postinsertion assessments by US can better determine the CTP and guide repositioning decisions, reducing the likelihood of malposition and potential complications, and may be more practical for many NICUs. However, it is unclear how much training and experience is necessary to deem an individual competent for reliable and clinically beneficial bedside US evaluations.
Change of blood glucose and its intervention in newborns with asphyxia

Objective To investigate the change of blood glucose and its intervention in newborns with asphyxia,Methods The blood glucose levels of 110 newborns with asphyxia were detected at admission by blood sugar microanalysis instrument,Newborns with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia were continuously blood glucose monitored,and kept blood glucose in normal range by adjusting the velocity and concentration of intravenous infusion of glucose.Results 42 asphyxia newborns(occupied 38.2%) with hypoglycemia and 26 cases(23.6%) with hyperglycemia in 110 cases at admission,The blood sugar of the hypoglycemia group enhanced to normal range after 24 hours of admission,The blood sugar of the hyperglycemia group dropped after 24 hours and the mean blood sugar lowered to normal range after 48 hours of admission,the blood glucose levels before died more than 17 mmol/L in 2 cases of death,Conclusion The continuous blood glucose monitoring should be strengthened in asphyxia newborns,early treatment of glucose metabolic disorder caused by asphyxia can improve the prognosis.
Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations

The successful use of helminths as therapeutic agents to resolve inflammatory disease was first recorded 40 years ago. Subsequent work in animal models and in humans has demonstrated that the organisms might effectively treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including allergies, autoimmune disorders and inflammation-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. However, available information regarding the therapeutic uses and effects of helminths in humans is limited. This study probes the practices and experiences of individuals 'self-treating' with helminths through the eyes of their physicians. Five physicians monitoring more than 700 self-treating patients were interviewed. The results strongly support previous indications that helminth therapy can effectively treat a wide range of allergies, autoimmune conditions and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depression and anxiety disorders. Approximately 57% of the self-treating patients observed by physicians in the study had autism. Physicians reported that the majority of patients with autism and inflammation-associated co-morbidities responded favourably to therapy with either of the two most popular organisms currently used by self-treaters, Hymenolepis diminuta and Trichuris suis. However, approximately 1% of paediatric patients experienced severe gastrointestinal pains with the use of H. diminuta, although the symptoms were resolved with an anti-helminthic drug. Further, exposure to helminths apparently did not affect the impaired comprehension of social situations that is the hallmark of autism. These observations point toward potential starting points for clinical trials, and provide further support for the importance of such trials and for concerted efforts aimed at probing the potential of helminths, and perhaps other biologicals, for therapeutic use.
Racial, Socioeconomic, and Gender Disparities in the Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes of Adult Chiari I Malformations

Objective To examine the influence of race, gender, and socioeconomic factors on presentations and outcomes of adult Chiari I malformations. Methods The charts of 638 adult patients with Chiari I malformations were reviewed, and 287 patients were included in the study. Race, gender, insurance status, symptoms, depth of cerebellar tonsillar herniation, and presence of syringomyelia were examined as covariates in multivariate logistic regression models to identify independent predictors of presentation and outcome. Results Patients with public insurance had a longer stay in the hospital ( P = 0.01). A higher proportion of male patients presented with upper extremity weakness ( P = 0.01), lower extremity weakness ( P = 0.040), and cranial nerve findings ( P = 0.02). Men had shorter onset to diagnosis times ( P = 0.02), worse tonsillar herniation ( P = 0.03), and more severe symptoms ( P = 0.05). White patients more frequently presented with back pain ( P = 0.03), and African American patients more frequently presented with lower extremity weakness ( P = 0.01). African Americans had worse tonsillar herniation ( P P = 0.01). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that back pain ( P P ≤ 0.01), upper extremity paresthesias ( P P = 0.04) were significant predictors of syringomyelia. The only independent predictor of outcome was size of tonsillar herniation ( P = 0.03). Conclusions Significant differences in presentation of Chiari I malformation resulting from gender, race, and insurance status were quantified for the first time.
Mentoring female assistant professors enhances their success

A randomized controlled trial validates many of the practices used to retain women in academia.
The Role of Integrins aMb2 (CD11b/CD18) and aDb2 (CD11d/CD18) in Macrophage Fusion.

Abstract Abstract 2138 Macrophage fusion leading to the formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) is a hallmark of many chronic inflammatory reactions. MGCs are an invariable constituent of tuberculoid lesions and also found in a variety of conditions leading to granulomatous inflammation as well as the foreign body reaction. Despite the prominent phenotype, the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage fusion are not well understood. MGCs originate from macrophages that are recruited to sites of chronic inflammation. The major myelo-monocytic integrin αMβ2 (CD11b/CD18, Mac-1), together with a related integrin αDβ2 (CD11d/CD18), mediate critical adhesive reactions of monocyte/macrophages. The function of β2 integrins in macrophage fusion remains controversial. Some studies using function blocking antibodies implicated αMβ2 in the cell/substrate adhesive interactions that are required for MGC formation, whereas one recent report indicated that this integrin plays a minor role. Moreover, the contribution of αDβ2, a receptor with recognition specificity overlapping that of αMβ2, to macrophage fusion is unknown. To evaluate the role of αMβ2 and αDβ2 in MGC formation, we examined fusion of inflammatory peritoneal macrophages isolated from wild-type mice and mice with deficiency of αM or αD integrin subunits. Macrophages were isolated at day 3 after thioglycollate injection and cultured for 24–72 hours in the presence of IL-4 to induce fusion. Percentage fusion was quantified as the number of giant cell nuclei (≥2 nuclei) to the number of total nuclei. The number of fused macrophages isolated from wild-type mice gradually increased and ∼40–50% macrophages formed MGCs after IL-4 stimulation by day 3. Analyses of fusion of αMβ2-deficient macrophages demonstrated that fusion was significantly reduced. By day 3, macrophage fusion of αMβ2-deficient macrophages was 23 ± 2% of wild-type macrophages. Fusion of αDβ2-deficient macrophages was also decreased and the change was statistically significant, albeit to a smaller degree (75 ± 4%). Using a mouse model of sterile peritonitis induced by thioglycollate injection, we also examined the formation of MGCs in vivo. In wild-type mice, the number of MGCs gradually increased from 2.5 ± 0.3% at day 0 (resident macrophages) to 17 ± 2% at day 18 (the resolution phase of inflammation). Moreover, expression of αMβ2 and αDβ2 on peritoneal macrophages increased by ∼2 and 1.6-fold, respectively, on 18th day after induction of inflammation. In αMβ2-deficient mice, the number of MGCs was reduced by 2.1-fold compared to wild-type mice. Furthermore, while the size of wild-type and αMβ2-deficient giant cells was the same, the number of cells with 3 and more nuclei in fused αMβ2-deficient MGCs was 4-fold less than in wild-type cells. The results indicate that both αMβ2 and αDβ2 integrins support macrophage fusion with αMβ2 playing a dominant role. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Updating histological data on crown initiation and crown completion ages in southern Africans.

Objectives To update histological data on crown initiation and completion ages in southern Africans. To evaluate implications of these data for studies that: (a) rely on these data to time linear enamel hypoplasias (LEHs), or, (b) use these data for comparison to fossil hominins. Materials and methods Initiation ages were calculated on 67 histological sections from southern Africans, with sample sizes ranging from one to 11 per tooth type. Crown completion ages for southern Africans were calculated in two ways. First, actual derived initiation ages were added to crown formation times for each histological section to obtain direct information on the crown completion ages of individuals. Second, average initiation ages from this study were added to average crown formation times of southern Africans from the Reid and coworkers previous studies that were based on larger samples. Results For earlier-initiating tooth types (all anterior teeth and first molars), there is little difference in ages of initiation and crown completion between this and previous studies. Differences increase as a function of initiation age, such that the greatest differences between this and previous studies for both initiation and crown completion ages are for the second and third molars. Discussion This study documents variation in initiation ages, particularly for later-initiating tooth types. It upholds the use of previously published histological aging charts for LEHs on anterior teeth. However, this study finds that ages of crown initiation and completion in second and third molars for this southern African sample are earlier than previously estimated. These earlier ages reduce differences between modern humans and fossil hominins for these developmental events in second and third molars.
RocA Is an Accessory Protein to the Virulence-Regulating CovRS Two-Component System in Group A Streptococcus

ABSTRACT Regulating gene expression during infection is critical to the ability of pathogens to circumvent the immune response and cause disease. This is true for the group A Streptococcus (GAS), a pathogen that causes both invasive (e.g., necrotizing fasciitis) and noninvasive (e.g., pharyngitis) diseases. The control of virulence (CovRS) two-component system has a major role in regulating GAS virulence factor expression. The regulator of cov (RocA) protein, which is a predicted kinase, functions in an undetermined manner through CovRS to alter gene expression and reduce invasive disease virulence. Here, we show that the ectopic expression of a truncated RocA derivative, harboring the membrane-spanning domains but not the dimerization or HATPase domain, is sufficient to complement a rocA mutant strain. Coupled with a previous bioinformatic study, the data are consistent with RocA being a pseudokinase. RocA reduces the ability of serotype M1 GAS isolates to express capsule and to evade killing in human blood, phenotypes that are not observed for M3 or M18 GAS due to isolates of these serotypes naturally harboring mutant rocA alleles. In addition, we found that varying the RocA concentration attenuates the regulatory activity of Mg2+ and the antimicrobial peptide LL-37, which positively and negatively regulate CovS function, respectively. Thus, we propose that RocA is an accessory protein to the CovRS system that influences the ability of GAS to modulate gene expression in response to host factors. A model of how RocA interacts with CovRS, and of the regulatory consequences of such activity, is presented.
Rare case of Rhizobium radiobacter bioprosthetic mitral valve endocarditis.

Abstract Rhizobium radiobacter is an aerobic, gram negative, rod-shaped, bacterium typically found in the soil. Commonly a plant pathogen, it is also a rare human pathogen causing serious disease. Risk factors for infection include neutropenia, leukopenia, catheters, hospitalization, and low CD4+ lymphocyte count, especially in patients with malignancy or human immunodeficiency virus. There is currently limited literature to establish a definitive guideline for antimicrobial therapy and obtaining susceptibilities from a specialized laboratory is appropriate. We present a successfully treated case of R. radiobacter bioprosthetic mitral valve endocarditis in a patient with previous S. epidermidis endocarditis.
Effect of frozen/thawed embryo transfer on birthweight, macrosomia, and low birthweight rates in US singleton infants.

Background Singleton infants conceived using assisted reproductive technology have lower average birthweights than naturally conceived infants and are more likely to be born low birthweight ( Objectives The objective of this study was to compare the effect of frozen/thawed vs fresh embryo transfer on birthweight outcomes for singleton, term infants conceived using in vitro fertilization in the United States between 2007 and 2014, including average birthweight and the risks of both macrosomia (>4000 g) and low birthweight ( Study Design We used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System to compare birthweight outcomes of live-born singleton, autologous oocyte, term (37-43 weeks) infants. Generalized linear models for all infants and stratified by infant sex were used to assess the relationship between frozen/thawed embryo transfer and birthweight, in grams. Infertility diagnosis, year of treatment, maternal age, maternal obstetric history, maternal and paternal race, and infant gestational age and sex were included in the models. Missing race data were imputed. The adjusted relative risks for macrosomia and low birthweight were evaluated using multivariable predicted marginal proportions from logistic regression models. Results In total, 180,184 singleton, term infants were included, with 55,898 (31.02%) having been conceived from frozen/thawed embryos. Frozen/thawed embryo transfer was associated with, on average, a 142 g increase in birthweight compared with infants born after fresh embryo transfer (P Conclusion Frozen/thawed embryo transfer, in comparison with fresh embryo transfer, was associated with increased average birthweight in singleton, autologous oocytes, term infants born in the United States, with a significant interaction between frozen/thawed embryo transfer and infant sex. The risk of macrosomia following frozen/thawed embryo transfer was greater than that following fresh embryo transfer, but the risk of low birthweight among frozen/thawed embryo transfer infants was significantly decreased in comparison with fresh embryo transfer infants.
Interpretation and Gender Within the Zone of Inconclusivity

In this chapter, we focus on how gender, feminism, and queer theory can influence and inform the Self-Study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practices (S-STTEP) methodology with particular attention to interpretation. Drawing from previously published work we explore interpretation and analyze the interpretive process within this methodology. This leaves open the contributions of gender, privilege, ethnicity and power and demonstrates how interpretation is an open, on-going process.
Airy, George and Hubert

English mathematician and astronomer Sir George Biddell Airy (1801–92) and his son Hubert (1838–1903) provided classic illustrations of migrainous fortification spectra. While George was then the British Astronomer Royal, Hubert was a physician, and as such had greater knowledge of medicine and anatomy than his father. Although his father remained unclear whether the phenomenon was monocular or binocular, Hubert determined that vision was identically impaired in both eyes, and therefore concluded the cause of the migrainous scotoma was in the retrochiasmal visual area of the brain. Hubert's report was discussed in every major neurology text of the late nineteenth century and his illustrations were used by Jean-Martin Charcot and Sir William Gowers among many others.
Negative Reinforcement and Punishment

Although the use of negative reinforcement and punishment is sometimes controversial and unpopular, an experimental analysis of those procedures is crucial if we are to achieve our goal of predicting, controlling, and interpreting the behavior of organisms. Studying only positive consequences of behavior will reveal only half of the picture. Furthermore, negative reinforcement and punishment are particularly powerful, and constantly are present in the physical environment. Indeed, it has been argued that positive reinforcement is really only negative reinforcement in disguise, because all behavior is based on escape and avoidance (Hull, 1943). It is unfortunate that the study of negative reinforcement and punishment is in decline (Baron, 1991), because its analysis is needed to increase the data base of our discipline, and the procedures can be used therapeutically to improve the lives of many people (e.g., by reducing self-injurious behavior). One goal of the present chapter is to encourage more research on this topic with human subjects.
Hormonal regulation of lipolysis: role of cyclic nucleotides, adenosine, and free fatty acids.

Twenty years ago, Dole (1956) and Gordon and Cherkes (1956) presented evidence that lipid is mobilized from adipose tissue in the form of free fatty acids noncovalently bound to plasma albumin. The fatty acids are taken up by muscle, liver, and other tissues where they are either oxidized as a source of energy or reesterified. In addition, free fatty acids (FFA) may also be converted to ketone bodies by liver and, subsequently, oxidized by muscle and the brain as a source of energy.
Abstract 5208: Monocyte-produced Chitinase-3-like 1 is a driver of metastatic behavior in prostate cancer patients

Purpose: The identification, functional status, distribution, and interactions of immune cells in prostate cancer (PCa) patients have yet to be fully characterized. Understanding these details could provide key insights as to how promising current and developing immunotherapies might be directed toward PCa. Recruited myeloid cells are known to promote cancer initiation, malignant progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in the tumor niche. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that circulating blood monocytes from advanced PCa patients exhibit a protumor phenotype and directly influence the tumor microenvironment in response to tumor-derived signals. Experimental Design: Monocytes from metastatic (PCa-M) and nonmetastatic (PCa-N) patient blood samples were isolated, cultured, and conditioned media (CM) was obtained. To evaluate the role of monocytes in metastatic behaviors of PCa cells, in vitro invasion (via Matrigel) and motility assays (Incucyte® Live Cell Analysis System) were performed using monocyte-CM. To identify the candidate PCa-M monocyte-secreted protein(s) that might be implicated in tumor progression, we analyzed the CM using Proteome Profiler Analysis (RD 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5208.
2-Deoxy-d-glucose induces unfolded protein response mediated apoptosis via CHOP/GADD153 in select tumor cells growing under normoxia

4464 Cells growing under hypoxia are solely dependent on glucose metabolism via glycolysis for energy production. Consequently, when this pathway is blocked, with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), hypoxic cells die. In contrast, when glycolysis is blocked under normoxia most cells survive since fats and proteins can substitute as energy sources to fuel mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. However, here we find that under normal oxygen tension, a select number of tumor cell lines undergo an unfolded protein response (UPR) mediated apoptosis via CHOP/GADD153 at a relatively low dose of 2-DG (4 mM). These results coincide with previous studies on viral coat glycoprotein synthesis in which it was shown that 2-DG interferes with the process of N-linked glycosylation, that can be reversed by addition of exogenous mannose. Thus, our results which show that 2-DG toxicity under normoxia can be completely reversed by low dose mannose (1 mM), implicate glycosylation and not glycolysis as the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon. Additionally, 2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (2-FDG) which is more potent than 2-DG in blocking glycolysis and killing these cells when grown under anaerobic conditions, shows little or no toxicity to these same cells under normoxia. Furthermore, the molecular chaperones, GRP 94 and 78, which are known to be induced by an unfolded protein response (UPR) when N-linked glycosylation is altered, were found to be upregulated by 2-DG and this induction could be reversed by mannose. In addition, 2-DG was more potent in inducing UPR in sensitive vs. resistant cells growing under normoxia. Since 2-DG has been shown to be well-tolerated in phase I clinical trials when used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, our results raise the possibility that in certain tumor cell types, this sugar analog could be used as a single agent to selectively kill both the aerobic (via interference with glycosylation) as well as the hypoxic (via inhibition of glycolysis) cells of a solid tumor.
Editorial: The Son of God

For as long as the Christian church has been working out its understanding of the second person of the Trinity, it has employed analytic philosophical reflection to sharpen theological comprehension. In recent times, there has been a rekindled appreciation for the employment of analytic reflection in the service of theology. Analytic theology has established itself as a way of doing theology that employs analytic philosophical analysis in the project of faith in divinely revealed truths seeking understanding. In this issue, the fresh insights of analytic theology are applied to a theme most central to Christian theology—the Son of God.
Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Glomerular C4d Staining in Native Kidney Biopsies.

Introduction Routine C4d staining in renal transplantation has stimulated its use in kidney biopsies with glomerulonephritis (GN). Methodical description on staining patterns in the native kidney is not available. Methods We retrospectively evaluated C4d staining in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from 519 native kidney biopsies (bx) with and without glomerular disease. Results Strong C4d staining was consistently present in immune-complex GN, including lupus nephritis (LN) (n = 68), membranous GN (n = 24), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) pattern (n = 22), fibrillary GN (n = 3), and proliferative GN with monoclonal IgG (n = 3). C4d stained all cases of postinfectious GN (n = 7) amyloidosis (n = 20) and C1q GN (n = 3). In contrast, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (n = 34), was negative in 62% of bx, with the rest staining variably. The E1 Oxford classification score correlated with capillary wall C4d staining (P = 0.05). C4d marked the glomerular and arteriolar lesions in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA; n = 16), the glomerular sclerotic segments in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; n = 77), and marked areas of necrosis in crescentic GN (n = 21). In diabetic glomerulopathy (n = 70), C4d marked advanced insudative lesions but was negative otherwise. C4d weakly stained the mesangium, or was negative in normal biopsies (n = 13), minimal change disease (MCD; n = 21), thin basement membrane disease (n = 20), Alport (n = 3), IgM nephropathy (n = 2), C3 glomerulopathy (n = 5), acute interstitial nephritis (n = 12), acute tubular necrosis (n = 22), ischemic glomerulopathy/nephrosclerosis (n = 23), and other miscellaneous processes (n = 14). Staining in tubular basement membranes and peritubular capillaries was most common in lupus. Conclusion Based on reliable staining in lupus and membranous GN, C4d staining is potentially useful as a screening and diagnostic tool, if only paraffin-embedded tissue is available. Knowledge of C4d staining patterns in normal and pathological tissues enhances its diagnostic value.
Clozing the Gap: An Approach to Solving Reading Problems at San Jose City College.

(1971). Clozing the Gap: An Approach to Solving Reading Problems at San Jose City College. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Western College Reading Association: Vol. 4, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference of the WCRA. Interdisciplinary Aspects of Reading Instruction, pp. 70-75.
CRYPTOGENIC STROKE WITH POSITIVE BUBBLE STUDY AND NO INTRACARDIAC SHUNT

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) persists in 30% of adults and is found more commonly in patients with cryptogenic stroke than in the general population. The stroke mechanism is presumed to be paradoxical embolization of venous clots. Recent studies have shown a benefit to transcatheter PFO closure in
Machine Learning at the Edge for Ultra High Rate Detectors

Several large physics experiments face an increasingly large "data firehose". Raw data generation exceeds TB/s rates for several existing and planned experiments, generating untenable data sets in very little time. The data often contain limited information and extracting this relevant information online would reduce the offline storage requirements by several orders of magnitude. Additionally, ultra low latency data analysis can be used to drive a fast feedback control system to adjust the experiment in real time, including decisions on data acquisition conditions, detector parameter adjustments and source operation modifications. However, most data state-of-the-art algorithms use computationally expensive operations and require uploading the data to a CPU or GPU compute node. With appropriate training, machine learning can categorize data samples and extract relevant information from raw data using simple arithmetic operations. Placing these fast inference models on FPGAs near the detector— at the edge—would reduce the data velocity at the source. We demonstrate this approach with an initial proof of concept targeting the CookieBox, an angular streaking detector developed for LCLS-II placed upstream as an online beam diagnostic tool. Data is streamed to the FPGA where a parallel and pipelined inference model extracts the relevant information in less than 20 µs at a streaming rate of 77 million events per second.
The behavioral, psychological, and social impacts of team sports: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess the association between team sport participation and behavioral, psychological, and social health outcomes in young athletes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis we...
Time-Restricted Feeding and Caloric Restriction Impact on Spontaneous Neoplasms in Female Mice

In older humans, multiple chronic diseases and increased life expectancy impose a disproportionate socioeconomic burden. Dietary interventions are valuable strategies for promoting healthy aging. Caloric restriction (CR) without malnutrition is a robust intervention able to delay disease onset and increase survival in model organisms. However, the impracticability of chronic CR outweighs the potential long-term benefits in humans. Time-restricted feeding (TRF), i.e. the limitation in the timing of food intake without necessarily reducing caloric intake, can protect against metabolic disorders through the synchronization of the circadian rhythm. This study compares whether limiting access to ad libitum (AL) food for a few hours per day mimics the beneficial effects of a CR diet. A large cohort of C57BL/6J female mice (n=250) was distributed into five feeding paradigms at midlife: AL, TRF for 8 hours, TRF for 4 hours, 20% CR and 20% CR fed twice a day (CRx2). Pathological analyses at death reveal a shift in fatal neoplasms toward an older age in TRF8 mice. AL mice had the highest prevalence of tumors (93%) and TRF4 had the lowest (77%). The highest tumor burden was observed in AL mice while CRx2 animals had the lowest number of neoplasms. Histiocytic sarcoma and lymphoma were the most represented malignancies, with CR mice exhibiting the highest rate of histiocytic sarcoma (75%) and the lowest rate of lymphoma (10%). These results indicate that time- and calorie-restricted feeding regimens can slow down malignant neoplasm progression and extend health span in female mice, even when started in adulthood.
The Talmudic Secret of Wealth

The Talmud is one of the most influential books of Late Antiquity. A crucial pedagogical tool of the Talmud is the use of divine reward and punishment. This paper reveals ten behaviors whose reward, according to the sages, is wealth. These include being charitable, conducting business in an ethical manner, honoring the Sabbath, respecting one’s spouse, acquiring wisdom. being an honest public servant, and leading a simple, humble life.
Treatment of sickle cell disease by increasing oxygen affinity of hemoglobin.

Abstract The issue of treating sickle cell disease with drugs that increase hemoglobin oxygen affinity has come to the fore with the US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2019 of voxelotor, the only antisickling drug approved since hydroxyurea in 1998. Voxelotor reduces sickling by increasing the concentration of the nonpolymerizing, high oxygen affinity R (oxy) conformation of hemoglobin S (HbS). Treatment of sickle cell patients with voxelotor increases Hb levels and decreases indicators of hemolysis, but with no indication as yet that it reduces the frequency of pain episodes. In this study, we used the allosteric model of Monod, Wyman, and Changeux to simulate whole-blood oxygen dissociation curves and red cell sickling in the absence and presence of voxelotor under the in vivo conditions of rapid oxygen pressure decreases. Our modeling agrees with results of experiments using a new robust assay, which shows the large, expected decrease in sickling from the drug. The modeling indicates, however, that the increase in oxygen delivery from reduced sickling is largely offset by the increase in oxygen affinity. The net result is that the drug increases overall oxygen delivery only at the very lowest oxygen pressures. However, reduction of sickling mitigates red cell damage and explains the observed decrease in hemolysis. More importantly, our modeling of in vivo oxygen dissociation, sickling, and oxygen delivery suggests that drugs that increase fetal Hb or decrease mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) should be more therapeutically effective than drugs that increase oxygen affinity.
The Nuisance of Stock Distributions

We re-examine the abnormal stock return over the ex-day of stock splits, stock dividends, and rights offers with an extended version of the model by Frank and Jagannathan (1998). Regression analysis suggests that an underlying nuisance cost in the amount of 0.57% of the stock price and a bid-ask bounce that occurs with probability 23% capture the essential cross-section variation in the abnormal stock return. Further analysis of bid and ask quotes questions the bid-ask-bounce interpretation. The nuisance cost of stock distributions decreases over time, and it vanishes with high-frequency trading. With the development of internet, share price management falls out of fashion, and stock distributions are no longer a concern.
Harvesting Solar Power Foments Prices in a Vicious Cycle: Breaking the Cycle with Price Mechanisms

Distributed solar power generation is growing but not necessarily benefiting the utility firms. Reducing the demand, it hinders the coverage of utility costs with reasonable retail electricity prices. Utilities raise prices, unintentionally reducing both demand and affordability of electricity, and are said to be caught in a utility (death) spiral. The reduced affordability adversely affects consumers that cannot invest into solar generation. Environmentally desirable solar power paradoxically can be socially undesirable. Market regulators are challenged to keep prices low within the current pricing mechanisms. We provide a profit maximization formulation for a regulated utility and reveal the interaction between optimal price increases and growing solar power adoption. Iterating with this interaction, we analytically explain how the utility death spiral occurs. We consider new pricing mechanisms with a buyback price and a subscription fee paid only by solar power generating consumers. The fee mitigates the optimal retail price increase by allowing for the coverage of fixed costs in part. We find appropriate values for the buyback price and subscription fee to respectively slow or stop the utility spiral. These mechanisms and values are important not only for the utility and its regulator but also for all electricity consumers.
Nutrition and cancer: a curriculum and short student research experiences.

Abstract In 1988, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) received an NCI/NIH R25 grant to strengthen nutrition‐cancer education in the medical school and to provide short cancer‐related research experiences for students. Support for the nutrition‐cancer curriculum component of the grant was limited to the first five years, while renewal of the research component was possible on a competitive basis. After the initial five‐year award ended, the administration of LSUHSC assumed the support of the nutrition‐cancer curriculum. This curriculum, modified over time, continues to be taught in each year of medical school and culminates with a required clinical nutrition course in the fourth year. The teaching of nutrition continues to be very successful and is well received by students and faculty. The research component, renewed twice, has achieved its goals over the same period. As a consequence of the initial award and the commitment of the administration, nutrition education at LSUHSC remain...
Tattoo recognition technology - challenge (Tatt-C): an open tattoo database for developing tattoo recognition research

Tattoos have been used for many years to assist law enforcement in investigations leading to the identification of criminals and victims. A tattoo is an elective biometric trait that could contain more discriminative information to support person identification than traditional soft biometrics such as age, gender and race. While some research has been done in the area of image-based tattoo detection and retrieval, it is not a mature domain. There are no common datasets to evaluate and develop operationally-relevant tattoo recognition applications. To address this shortcoming, the NIST Tattoo Recognition Technology Challenge (Tatt-C) database was developed as an initial tattoo research corpus that addresses use cases representative of operational scenarios. The Tatt-C database represents an initial attempt to provide a set of ground-truthed tattoo images focused on, but not limited to, five primary use cases. This paper describes the details of the database along with the experimental protocols and test cases that should be followed, which will enable consistent performance comparison of tattoo recognition methods.
Adolescents, Parents, Friends/Peers

This chapter first describes adolescence and salient individual-difference characteristics in adolescents that are germane to their relationships with parents and friends/peers. Second, it likewise treats parents and parenting. Third, the chapter links adolescents and parents and discusses their special bidirectional, transactional relationships. Fourth, it introduces adolescents' friends and peers and salient characteristics that are germane to their relationships with adolescents and adolescents' parents. Fifth, it links adolescents with friends/peers and discusses their special bidirectional, transactional relationships. Last, the chapter moves beyond the two dyadic relationships involving adolescents to discuss triadic relationships and delineate different ways that dyadic relationships are influenced by or depend on other dyadic relationships and/or other contributors outside of the dyad. Keywords: adolescents; parents; friends; peers; relationships; bidirectional; transactional
A Review of “Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post 9/11 World”

In recent years, an increasing number of political science programs have offered undergraduate courses in the study of terrorism. With this trend has come an increase in books geared toward student...
Understanding the origin of seasonal epidemics of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis

Summary 1. Many host–pathogen systems show regular seasonal oscillations. 2. Seasonal variation in mycoplasmal conjunctivitis prevalence in house finches is an example of such oscillations. 3. An annual pulse of Mycoplasma gallisepticum-naive juveniles increasing the number of susceptibles, seasonal changes in flocking behaviour increasing transmission rate and a gradual loss of resistance to reinfection with time are sufficient to model the observed seasonal variation in disease prevalence. Nevertheless, experiments are needed to test the underlying mechanisms. 4. We carried out an 18-month experiment with small groups of birds in large aviaries to test two hypotheses. 5. To test the first hypothesis that an influx of naive juveniles in a group of recovered adults is sufficient to cause an outbreak, we added eight juveniles to a group of 11 adults that had recovered from an earlier infection. In all, three replicates juveniles became infected, but only after some of the adults relapsed. 6. To test the second hypothesis that reintroduction of M. gallisepticum into a multiage group of previously exposed but fully recovered house finches causes a new outbreak, we inoculated two birds in each group in March of the 2nd year. Contrary to what happens in the wild at that time disease prevalence increased rapidly after reintroduction of M. gallisepticum. 7. We conclude that asymptomatic, recovered adults can initiate an epidemic and transmit M. gallisepticum to naive house finches and that the reintroduction of M. gallisepticum is sufficient to cause a new outbreak, even at a time of the year when mycoplasmal conjunctivitis is low in free-living birds. Date, as such, seems to be less important to explain seasonal variation in conjunctivitis than the presence of naive juveniles or the introduction on M. gallisepticum. 8. Seasonality in outbreaks is most likely tightly linked to seasonal variation in bird movements and behaviour.
3D motion segmentation using intensity trajectory

Motion segmentation is a fundamental aspect of tracking in a scene with multiple moving objects. In this paper we present a novel approach to clustering individual image pixels associated with different 3D rigid motions. The basic idea is that the change of the intensity of a pixel can be locally approximated as a linear function of the motion of the corresponding imaged surface. To achieve appearance-based 3D motion segmentation we capture a sequence of local image samples at nearby poses, and assign for each pixel a vector that represents the intensity changes for that pixel over the sequence. We call this vector of intensity changes a pixel “intensity trajectory”. Similar to 2D feature trajectories, the intensity trajectories of pixels corresponding to the same motion span a local linear subspace. Thus the problem of motion segmentation can be cast as that of clustering local subspaces. We have tested this novel approach using some real image sequences. We present results that demonstrate the expected segmentation, even in some challenging cases.
Patient quality of life during the 12 months following joint replacement surgery.

Objective To determine whether preoperative characteristics influence quality of life outcomes 1, 6, and 12 months after joint replacement surgery. Methods Patients (n = 222) with osteoarthritis undergoing primary joint replacement surgery at a university hospital between November 1990 and March 1993 were prospectively studied. Bodily pain and physical function were assessed preoperatively and at the 3 postoperative time points using the Medical Outcomes Study 36 Item Short Form Health Survey. Results Bodily pain and physical function improved after joint replacement. At 1 month after surgery, despite improvements in bodily pain, physical function deteriorated. Preoperative bodily pain and physical function, demographic characteristics, and social support were significant correlates of improvement in bodily pain and physical function. Conclusions Patients experienced dramatic improvements in bodily pain and physical function after joint replacement. However, decline in physical function at 1 month implies significant need for prolonged informal or formal patient assistance with basic physical function after surgery. Greater preoperative social support was associated with improved bodily pain and physical function outcomes.
Social Tyranny and Democratic Governance in the Information Age

The development and diffusion of inexpensive, reliable and easy to use public Internet access means that large portions of the U.S. and global populations now regularly communicate with one another. Will the increasing penetration of the Internet into the social and political lives of people facilitate Thomas Jefferson's vision of a world "founded on the primacy of individual liberty and a commitment to pluralism, diversity, and Community"? While many people believe that the answer to this question is "yes", such affirmations often rest on adducing cases not theoretically linked to one another. In contrast, the present paper provides a broadly philosophical, conceptual analysis of how use of the Internet can lead to forms of "social tyranny" in which one or more elements of a community impose their own beliefs and interests on others in that community. For instance, dependence on Internet access and use for social action or pertinent information about social activities may lead to marginalization and exclusion for people whose Internet access or use is limited. Furthermore, the connectedness or mode of connectedness of groups or organizations may give them an unfair advantage disseminating and advocating the messages they deliver to members of the communities in which they exist. The conclusion is not that we should adopt attitudes and policies that are antithetical to the use of the Internet. Rather, using ideas from Dewey and Habermas, amongst others, the conclusion is that it is important to reflect broadly and critically on how use of the Internet can transform the character of the public domain and the deliberations about governance that occur within that domain.
A Harmonic Excitation System for Turbine Generators

A harmnonic excitation system, as the name implies, utilizes the harmonic power developed in a generator to selfexcite it. By means of a separate stator winding, this power is captured and controlled and rectified with a magnetic amplifier and silicon rectifiers. Protective features are included to prevent loss of excitation in the event of a rectifier failure. Factory tests indicate extremely rapid response to system disturbances.