cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dairy Products, Calcium Intake, and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

Higher intakes of calcium and dairy products, a major source of dietary calcium, are reported to increase the risk of prostate cancer, potentially due to reductions in circulating vitamin D with increasing calcium intake. We prospectively examined the association of dairy product and calcium intake with prostate cancer risk in 29,509 men, including 1,910 cases, in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. We also evaluated the relation of calcium intake with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D [1,25(OH)(2)D], in a Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Trial substudy (n = 275). Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Baseline serum 1,25(OH)(2)D was determined by RIA. Greater intake of dairy products, particularly low-fat dairy products, was weakly associated with increased risk of prostate cancer [relative risk (RR), 1.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.97-1.30; P trend = 0.06 for >2.75 versus 2,000 versus <1,000 mg/day), but greater supplementary calcium intake was not associated with the risk. Associations of dairy product and dietary calcium intake were evident for nonaggressive disease (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99-1.46; P trend = 0.01 for dairy products; 1.64, 1.04-2.57; P trend = 0.002 for dietary calcium), but not aggressive disease (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.81-1.28 for dairy products; 0.94, 0.49-1.80 for dietary calcium). Calcium intake was not associated with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and 1,25(OH)(2)D concentration. In this large prospective study in a prostate cancer screening trial, greater dietary intake of calcium and dairy products, particularly low-fat types, may be modestly associated with increased risks for nonaggressive prostate cancer, but was unrelated to aggressive disease. Furthermore, we found no relationship between calcium intake and circulating vitamin D.
Zinc-65 specific activities in the migratory pacific hake Merluccius productus

Pacific hake [Merluccius productus (Ayres)], migrating northward along the California coastline during summer, encounter the southwesterly flowing plume of the Columbia River. Radioactive 65Zn associated with the plume waters is taken up by the migrating hake. Smaller fish reflect this contamination earlier than larger fish. Zinc-65 specific activities increase toward the north as far as 46°N, off the mouth of the Columbia River, and then decline northward along the coast of Washington.
The management and outcome of documented intraoperative heart rate-related electrocardiographic changes.

Objectives The authors analyzed surgical cases in which electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of cardiac ischemia were noted to be precipitated by increases in heart rate (ie, heart rate–related ECG changes [REC]). The authors aimed to find REC incidence, specificity for coronary artery disease (CAD), and the outcome associated with different management strategies. Design A retrospective review. Setting A university hospital, tertiary care. Participants Patients undergoing surgery under anesthesia. Interventions A chart review. Measurements The authors searched 158,252 anesthesia electronic records for comments noting REC (ie, ST-segment or T-wave changes). After excluding cases with potentially confounding conditions (eg, hypotension, hyperkalemia, and so on), 26 cases were analyzed. Results REC commonly was precipitated by anesthesia-related events (ie, intubation, extubation, and treatment of bradycardia). In 24 cases, REC was managed by prompt heart rate reduction using β-blocker agents, opioids, and/or cardioversion in the addition to the removal of stimulus. Only 1 case had a copy of the ECG printed. Two cases were aborted, 1 was shortened and 23 proceeded without change. Postoperative troponin T levels were checked, and cardiology consultation was obtained in selected cases and led to further cardiac evaluation in 6 cases. Postoperative myocardial infarction developed in only 1 patient in whom the ECG changes were allowed to persist throughout the case. Conclusions This incidence of reported REC was much lower than the previously reported incidence of ischemia-related ECG changes, suggesting that the largest proportion of events go unnoticed. In many patients, subsequent cardiology workup did not confirm the existence of clinically significant CAD.
Architectural partitioning of control memory for application specific programmable processors

Abstract: Because of programmability of Application Specific Programmable Processors (ASPPs), microcode-based control is effectively used to drive ASPP datapaths for different applications. In ASPPs, each application needs a separate microprogram resulting in large microcode memory. This paper proposes a distributed microcode memory model in which only distinct microcodes are stored in each separate memory module to save memory area. A hierarchical clustering approach is also proposed for the design of this distributed microcode memory. Experimental results indicate this approach is especially well suited for ASPP microcode memory design because of the existence of repetitive microcodes across multiple behaviors.
A novel method for recording wall strain in a murine vein graft model

The failure of venous grafts that are placed in the arterial circulation is a significant clinical problem that should be addressed by researchers. One factor that is believed to play a role in causing these failures is changes in the wall strain environment. In this study we present a novel approach to recording wall strain in a murine model and demonstrate our ability to differentiate strains between arteries and veins. Extending to human conditions in the near future, this method can be utilized to elucidate the role of vessel wall strains in vein graft failure.
No need to replace an “anomalous” primate (Primates) with an “anomalous” bear (Carnivora, Ursidae)

By means of mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequencing of putative “yeti”, “bigfoot”, and other “anomalous primate” hair samples, a recent study concluded that two samples, presented as from the Himalayas, do not belong to an “anomalous primate”, but to an unknown, anomalous type of ursid. That is, that they match 12S rRNA sequences of a fossil Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus), but neither of modern Polar Bears, nor of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos), the closest relative of Polar Bears, and one that occurs today in the Himalayas. We have undertaken direct comparison of sequences; replication of the original comparative study; inference of phylogenetic relationships of the two samples with respect to those from all extant species of Ursidae (except for the Giant Panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and two extinct Pleistocene species; and application of a non-tree-based population aggregation approach for species diagnosis and identifica tion. Our results demonstrate that the very short fragment of the 12S rRNA gene sequenced by Sykes et al. is not sufficiently informative to support the hypotheses provided by these authors with respect to the taxonomic identity of the individuals from which these sequences were obtained. We have concluded that there is no reason to believe that the two samples came from anything other than Brown Bears. These analyses afforded an opportunity to test the monophyly of morphologically defined species and to com ment on both their phylogenetic relationships and future efforts necessary to advance our understanding of ursid systematics.
High-resolution chemical analysis on cycled LiFePO4 battery electrodes using energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy

Abstract We demonstrate an ex situ method for analyzing the chemistry of battery electrode particles after electrochemical cycling using the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The arrangement of particles during our analysis is the same as when the particles are being cycled. We start by sectioning LiFePO 4 battery electrodes using an ultramicrotome. We then show that mapping of the Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ oxidation state using energy-filtered TEM (EFTEM) and multivariate statistical analysis techniques can be used to determine the spatial distribution of Li in the particles. This approach is validated by comparison with scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) analysis of the same samples [Chueh et al. Nanoletters, 13 (3) (2013) 866–72]. EFTEM uses a parallel electron beam and reduces the electron-beam dose (and potential beam-induced damage) to the sample when compared to alternate techniques that use a focused probe (e.g. STEM–EELS). Our analysis confirms that under the charging conditions of the analyzed battery, mixed phase particles are rare and thus Li intercalation is limited by the nucleation of new phases.
Micromagnetic modeling of domain wall motion in sub-100-nm-wide wires with individual and periodic edge defects

Reducing the switching energy of devices that rely on magnetic domain wall motion requires scaling the devices to widths well below 100 nm, where the nanowire line edge roughness (LER) is an inherent source of domain wall pinning. We investigate the effects of periodic and isolated rectangular notches, triangular notches, changes in anisotropy, and roughness measured from images of fabricated wires, in sub-100-nm-wide nanowires with in-plane and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy using micromagnetic modeling. Pinning fields calculated for a model based on discretized images of physical wires are compared to experimental measurements. When the width of the domain wall is smaller than the notch period, the domain wall velocity is modulated as the domain wall propagates along the wire. We find that in sub-30-nm-wide wires, edge defects determine the operating threshold and domain wall dynamics.
Quantum Measurement Theory

Measurements are an integral part of quantum information processing. Reading out the quantum information at the end of the processing pipeline is equivalent to learning what final state the system is in at the output since information is encoded in the state. In fact, information is the state itself. Since finding out the state of a system can be done only by performing measurements on it, we need a thorough understanding of the quantum theory (and practice) of measurements.
Developing Intelligent Radiation Analysis Systems: A Hybrid Wave-Fuzzy Methodology for Analysis of Radiation Spectra

Analysis of measured radiation spectra is performed using specialized algorithms developed to identify isotopic signature patterns that indicate the presence of specific radioisotopes in the presence of a radiation background signal. In this paper an intelligent methodology for detection of signature patterns in measured radiation spectra is presented. In particular, the methodology performs signature detection by implementing two computational tools: i) wavelet processing, and ii) fuzzy logic inference. Initially, wavelet processing is applied to identify spectral maxima in the measured signal, subsequently a fuzzy logic inference engine is employed to match detected maxima to known entries in a isotope peak library. The library is comprised of entries that represent the known energy of characteristic peaks for specific isotopic signatures. The presented methodology is benchmarked against a multiple linear regression (MLR) spectrum fitting algorithm applied to a set of synthesized gamma-ray spectra taken with a low resolution NaI radiation detector while the presented methodology outperforms MLR in the vast majority of the tests by providing correct detections with high confidence, and a low number of false detections.
Recreation participation and the validity of photo-based preference judgments.

Campers interviewed onsite consistently preferred the forest around the campground they were visiting to the same forest area represented by color photos. This preference for directly observed over...
Educational Affiliations and Intra-Organizational Allocations of Labor

Labor markets research documents how educational credentials shape inter-organizational allocations of labor through the matching of individuals to employers. We argue that educational credentials also shape intra-organizational allocations by affecting the placement of employees into formal work structure. This core proposition is supported by analyses of data from the U.S. legal services industry. First, an industry-level analysis of large law firms reveals that two lawyers who graduated from the same law school are more likely to be allocated to the same work group than two lawyers who graduated from different law schools. Second, an analysis of a single, international law firm reveals that two lawyers who graduated from the same law school are more likely to be allocated to the same hierarchical work relationship than two lawyers who graduated from different law schools. Implications of our findings for literature on networks, labor markets, and social stratification are discussed.
Adipokinetic activity of oxycel-purified corticotropin.

SummaryPurified corticotropin prepared from hog anterior pituitary by the glacial acetic acid-oxycellulose method was found to be potent in adipokinin. Doses of 3 to 15 μg produced an increase of 40% in the hepatic lipid concentration of mice within three hours after injection. Pituitary adipokinin appears to be a principle distinct from the gonadotropins, thyrotropin, corticotropin, growth hormone, and intermedin.
Bargaining With the President: A Simple Game and New Evidence

I employ a simple game to suggest the effects of information and expectations on bargaining strategies and responses. I make use of members' predispositions in order to identify actors likely to be bargaining. Using administration headcounts, I show that while very few members misrepresent their preferences during the coalition-building process, those who do represent a large proportion of the administration's core supporters, make their misrepresentations unsystematic to avoid a costly reputation, and convert more readily than those who are not. Strategic considerations drive conversion among bluffing members, while identification with the administration determines conversion among other members. Compromise generates few conversions. A conservative estimate of bluffing suggests that the conversion of bluffers decided more than half the administration's critical votes. I speculate about a model to account for the observed bluffing.
Stresses in spheres with concentric spherical cavities under diametral compression by three-dimensional photoelasticity

This paper presents the experimental solution of the problem of a sphere with a concentric spherical cavity under diametral compression using the three-dimensional photoelastic method and calculations of the complete stress distributions along lines of interest using Golecki's analytical series solution. The experimental procedure, the stress distributions along different lines as well as the comparison with the theoretical results and a discussion of Golecki's solution are included.
Prediction of Variation in Development Period of Insects and Mites Reared at Constant Temperatures

The relationship of standard deviation (SD) of developmental period at constant temperatures to mean developmental period ($\bar x$) was examined based on data for 113 species of insects and mites. The regression equation SD = 0.209 $\bar x$0.730 explained 65% of the variance of SD; this relationship differed little between insects and mites, and varied little among the orders of insects. This relationship is useful for designing constant-temperature rearing experiments for insects and mites. A standard protocol for presenting results of these experiments is suggested. The regression equation is also useful in developing stochastic models of insect development at varying temperatures. Transformations are presented for converting statistics based on developmental period to statistics for developmental rate. Statistics on rate of development computed from these transformations were used to test the prediction that coefficient of variation of developmental rate should be constant. This prediction did not hold for about 20% of the 194 cases for which it was tested, so the underlying hypothesis, that variation in concentration of rate-controlling enzymes among individuals explains variation in developmental rate, must be rejected.
Role of protein methylation in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation.

Recent findings suggest that lysine and arginine-specific methylation of histones may cooperate with other types of post-translational histone modification to regulate chromatin structure and gene transcription. Proteins that methylate histones on arginine residues can collaborate with other coactivators to enhance the activity of specific transcriptional activators such as nuclear receptors. Lysine methylation of histones is associated with transcriptionally active nuclei, regulates other types of histone modifications, and is necessary for proper mitotic cell divisions. The fact that some transcription factors and proteins involved in RNA processing can also be methylated suggests that protein methylation may also contribute in other ways to regulation of transcription and post-transcriptional steps in gene regulation. In future work, it will be important to develop methods for evaluating the precise roles of protein methylation in the regulation of native genes in physiological settings, e.g. by using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, differentiating cell culture systems, and genetically altered cells and animals. It will also be important to isolate additional protein methyltransferases by molecular cloning and to characterize new methyltransferase substrates, the regulation of methyltransferase activities, and the roles of new methyltransferases and substrates.
Study on the relationship between sterilization condition and flavor of rice wine in bottle

The effect of sterilization condition of rice wine in bottle,such as sterilization temperature and time,on wine flavor has been researched and analyzed.This experiment indicated that:the quality of rice wine was improved with the increase of sterilization time at 60℃-65℃.The sterilization time should be controlled in 1 h when the sterilization temperature higher than 65℃.The flavour of rice wine had a decreasing trend when sterilize for 30 min at 75℃,and became bad with the increase of sterilization time at over 85℃.
Research for Technology of Strategic Situation Narrative Representation

The strategic situation representation is one of the key techniques in strategic decision simulation, and is also an essential step to improve the training efficiency. To increase the degree of reality for strategic situation representation, the concept of strategic situation narrative representation was proposed. The approach for strategic situation narrative representation was studied and implemented, in which strategic situation description text process and the mapping mechanism between situation objects and multimedia -- EEDU were demonstrated. It’s proved that the approach can increase the immersion of strategic war gaming, which provides power method for decision maker to understand current situation and make further effective decision.
Studies on Biologically Active Substances and these Applications

The present article involves the studies on aroma constituents of turkish tobacco and the sex pheromone of cigarette beetle, of which the former is considered to be the biologically active substances to human and the both are to the insect.A comprehensive investigation of aroma constituents of Turkish tobacco showed the existence of terpenoid acids related to tobacco thunberganoids. The degradation of thunberganoids to these terpenoid acids are considered to be closely related to the formation of the tobacco characteristic aroma.In the course of our another studies on the biologically active substances to cigarette beetle, a serious pest of cured tobacco leaves, a sex pheromone, 4, 6-dimethyl-7-hydroxynonan-3-one (serricornin) and other 4, 6-dimethylnonane derivatives as minor components were isolated. The presence of these 4, 6-dimethylnonane derivatives suggests that these pheromone components are derived from the polyketide biosynthesis.These biologically active substances were synthesized in practical scale and now the applications of these chemicals as tobacco flavors and the attractants of cigarette beetle are in progress.
A Meta-Analytic Investigation of the Relationship Between Scale-Item Length, Label Format, and Reliability

Abstract. Using two meta-analytic datasets, we investigated the effect that two scale-item characteristics – number of item response categories and item response-category label format – have on the reliability of multi-item rating scales. The first dataset contained 289 reliability coefficients harvested from 100 samples that measured Big Five traits. The second dataset contained 2,524 reliability coefficients harvested from 381 samples that measured a wide variety of constructs in psychology, marketing, management, and education. We performed moderator analyses on the two datasets with the two item characteristics and their interaction. As expected, as the number of item response categories increased, so did reliability, but more importantly, there was a significant interaction between the number of item response categories and item response-category label format. Increasing the number of response categories increased reliabilities for scale-items with all response categories labeled more so than for oth...
Human soleus sarcomere lengths measured using in vivo microendoscopy at two ankle flexion angles.

Abstract The forces generated by the soleus muscle play an important role in standing and locomotion. The lengths of the sarcomeres of the soleus affect its force-generating capacity, yet it is unknown how sarcomere lengths in the soleus change as a function of ankle flexion angle. In this study, we used microendoscopy to measure resting sarcomere lengths at 10° plantarflexion and 20° dorsiflexion in 7 healthy individuals. Mean sarcomere lengths at 10° plantarflexion were 2.84±0.09 µm (mean±S.E.M.), near the optimal length for sarcomere force generation. Sarcomere lengths were 3.43±0.09 µm at 20° dorsiflexion, indicating that they were longer than optimal length when the ankle was in dorsiflexion and the muscle was inactive. Our results indicate a smaller sarcomere length difference between two ankle flexion angles compared to estimates from musculoskeletal models and suggest why these models frequently underestimate the force-generating capacity of the soleus.
Diagnosis and treatment delays among elderly breast cancer patients with pre-existing mental illness

This study aimed to compare diagnosis and treatment delays in elderly breast cancer patients with and without pre-existing mental illness. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results—Medicare data including 16,636 women 68+ years, who were diagnosed with stage I–IIIa breast cancer in the United States from 2005 to 2007. Mental illness was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes recorded on inpatient and outpatient claims during the 3 years prior to breast cancer diagnosis. Patients were classified as having no mental illness, anxiety, depression, anxiety and depression, or severe mental illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorder). Multivariable binomial regression was used to assess the association between mental illness and delays of ≥60 and ≥90 days after adjustment for confounders. Patients with comorbid anxiety and depression had an increased risk for diagnosis delay of ≥90 days from symptom recognition (RR 1.11; 95% CI 1.00, 1.23), and those with severe mental illness had an increased risk for initial treatment delay of ≥60 days from diagnosis (RR 1.36; 95% CI 1.06, 1.74). Patients with any mental illness experienced an increased risk for adjuvant chemotherapy delay of ≥90 days from last operation (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.01, 1.26) and each category of mental illness, except depression, showed a non-significant trend for this association. Breast cancer patients with mental illness should be closely managed by a cross-functional care team, including a psychiatrist, a primary care physician, and an oncologist, to ensure adequate care is received within an appropriate timeframe.
Ipm of Soybean Cyst Nematode in The Usa

The cropping system in the USA that produces soybean every other year exerts severe pressure on the production system. Unless the system changes dramatically to produce soybean every third or fourth year, severe pressure will be continue and will reduce the likelihood of sustainable soybean production. In the foreseeable future, genetic resistance of soybean coupled with crop rotation will be the foundation of any management system for Heterodera glycines. Marker assisted selection will aid in selection and incorporation of specific genes and will increase the efficiency of developing resistant cultivars. However, any source of resistance may not be durable even with sound nematode management practices. Rotation of resistance genes (sources of resistance) has met with some success and may increase durability of sources of resistance. Integrating biological control in the production system with promising organisms such as Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Pasteuria nishizawae may lead to a truly sustainable system of soybean production in which H. glycines is no longer a yield limiting production factor.
Managerial Efficiency, Corporate Social Performance, and Corporate Financial Performance

Managers face an ethical dilemma in the allocation of scarce resources to corporate social responsibility (CSR) because the underlying managerial incentives behind such CSR spending can range from pure altruism to complete financial orientation. Despite the importance of the managerial role in implementing CSR, prior studies generally have treated the role of managers as an exogenous factor. This study builds on recent studies on the managerial characteristics in studies on CSR by examining how managerial efficiency influences the outcomes of CSR. Using a newly developed measure of managerial efficiency, we find that, on average, managerial efficiency is positively associated with a subsequent change in corporate social performance (CSP), although the association is weak in the level of total CSP. We find that efficient managers are more likely to engage in the product-related CSR that directly connects to corporate financial performance (CFP) but are less likely to engage in environment-related CSR. We also find that CSP is positively associated with CFP with efficient managers. Our findings contribute to management and other stakeholders’ understanding of the association of CSR to its outcomes, CSP and/or CFP, which is hinged by the indispensable moderating role of managerial efficiency.
Small Business and the Theory of Small Bureaucracies

Findings from a partial replication of Blau's 1966 study of small bureaucracies suggest that small businesses of six or fewer employees offer substantial promise for the construction of theories of...
Automated volumetric lung segmentation of thoracic CT images using fully convolutional neural network

Deep Learning models such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have achieved state-of-the-art performance in 2D medical image analysis. In clinical practice; however, most analyzed and acquired medical data are formed of 3D volumes. In this paper, we present a fast and efficient 3D lung segmentation method based on V-net: a purely volumetric fully CNN. Our model is trained on chest CT images through volume to volume learning, which palliates overfitting problem on limited number of annotated training data. Adopting a pre-processing step and training an objective function based on Dice coefficient addresses the imbalance between the number of lung voxels against that of background. We have leveraged Vnet model by using batch normalization for training which enables us to use higher learning rate and accelerates the training of the model. To address the inadequacy of training data and obtain better robustness, we augment the data applying random linear and non-linear transformations. Experimental results on two challenging medical image data show that our proposed method achieved competitive result with a much faster speed.
Ethnic/Racial Identity-A Double-Edged Sword? Associations With Discrimination and Psychological Outcomes.

Given the prominence of ethnicity/race in the United States, many youths construct an ethnic/racial identity (ERI). However, ERI development occurs against a backdrop of prejudice, oppression, and ...
Cosmetic Surgical and Non-Surgical Procedures for the Face

Nearly 770 000 cosmetic surgical procedures of the face and head were performed in the United States in 2010, as were a staggering 11.5 million minimally invasive nonsurgical facial cosmetic procedures, including botulinum toxin injections and soft-tissue fillers. This article describes the most popular surgical and minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures and reviews the literature exploring patients’ psychological characteristics and body image concerns. Social, psychological, and cultural implications of surgical and nonsurgical facial cosmetic procedures are discussed.
Pain management of renal colic in the emergency department with intravenous lidocaine.

Abstract Objective To describe our experience with intravenous lidocaine (IVL) to manage pain of renal colic origin in the emergency department (ED). Methods A retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with pain of renal colic origin from the periods of 2014 to 2017 by using the ED electronic medical record database (Allscripts™). Results Forty-four patients received IVL for renal colic over a three-year period. The average dose of IVL as a primary analgesic was 117.2 mg, and as a rescue was 108 mg. Administration of IVL resulted in a decrease in overall pain score by 6.3 points (numerical rating scale), by 7.4 points when IVL was used as a primary analgesic, and by 5.2 points when IVL was given as a rescue. There were no documented adverse effects. Conclusion Intravenous lidocaine has a potential of being used for patients presenting to the ED with a pain of renal colic origin as a primary analgesic or as a rescue. Although promising, this therapy will need to be studied in prospective randomized fashion and larger patients' population with underlying cardiac disease before it can be recommended for broad use in the ED.
Imaging of the Postsurgical Aorta in Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is a heritable multisystem connective tissue disease and is the most common genetic cause of aortic disease. Guidelines for surgical repair and recommendations for surveillance imaging aim to prevent aneurysm rupture, aortic dissection, and death. Options for proximal aorta repair include the modified Bentall procedure and valve-sparing aortic root repairs. Hemiarch and total arch replacement are options for aortic arch repair, and the elephant trunk procedure is a special two-staged total arch repair facilitating future descending aorta repair. Endovascular repair is not currently considered an acceptable long-term treatment option in Marfan syndrome but may be performed when open repair is not feasible or in the acute setting as a bridge to definitive surgical treatment. After an initial surgery, patients remain at risk for new aortic dissection, propagation of a pre-existing aortic dissection, and new or enlarging aortic aneurysm. Anastomotic pseudoaneurysm is a potential postsurgical complication at multiple sites including proximal and distal aortic anastomoses, coronary anastomoses, and intercostal and visceral artery patches. Patients undergoing endovascular repair are at increased risk of endoleak and aortic dissection. CT and MR angiography are the main imaging modalities for surveillance of the aorta in Marfan syndrome and are capable of demonstrating these complications, as well as expected postsurgical appearances. 4D flow MRI is an emerging technique providing hemodynamic information that may risk-stratify aneurysms better than size alone and help predict future aortic events.
Training in Bariatric and Metabolic Endoscopic Therapies

Bariatric endoscopy is an emerging subspecialty for gastroenterologists encompassing a broad array of procedures including primary endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies and the treatment of complications of bariatric surgery. In addition, comprehensive understanding of lifestyle intervention and pharmacotherapy are essential to successful outcomes. This review summarizes goals and steps of training for this emerging field. Clin Endosc 2018;51:430-438
Advances in Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapies for NSTE-ACS.

The treatment of patients requiring anticoagulation who develop acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and/or require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) must balance the reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, stroke, and major bleeding. The development of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation has ushered in an era of potential treatment options for these complex patients. To review the clinical evidence underlying the use of DOACs for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation and ACS or PCI. Three trials studied this particular patient population; WOEST showed that dual therapy with warfarin and clopidogrel decreased hemorrhage at 1 year compared with standard triple therapy (19.4 vs. 44.4% HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.26–0.50; P < 0.0001), without increasing thromboembolic events (11.1 vs. 17.6% HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38–0.94; P = 0.025). PIONEER AF-PCI showed that 10–15 mg rivaroxaban plus P2Y12 inhibitor for 12 months significantly lowered bleeding rates than standard triple therapy (16.8 vs. 26.7% HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.47–0.76; P < 0.001) and had equivalent rates of MACE. Finally, REDUAL-PCI compared two different doses of dabigatran (110 mg twice daily and 150 mg twice daily) plus P2Y12 inhibitor with standard triple therapy and reported reduced ISTH bleeding with both doses; HR 0.52 with 110 mg dabigatran (95% CI 0.42–0.63, P < 0.001) and HR 0.72 with 150 mg dabigatran (95% CI 0.58–0.88; P = 0.002). The rate of the composite of thromboembolic events, death, or unplanned revascularizations was similar between pooled dabigatran dual therapy and triple therapy groups (13.7 vs 13.4% HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.84–1.29; P = 0.005). Recent evidence shows that DOACs plus one antiplatelet agent can decrease bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing PCI for ACS. Although not powered to detect non-inferiority or superiority, large studies suggest rivaroxaban 10–15 mg plus P2Y12 inhibitor for 12 months or dabigatran 150 mg twice daily plus P2y12 inhibitor for 12 months will have similar rates of MACE and stent thrombosis as triple therapy. In patients who have contraindications to DOACs, the strategy of INR-adjusted warfarin plus clopidogrel appears to be safer than warfarin plus dual antiplatelet therapy.
Process Development and Basic Studies of Electrochemically Deposited CdTe-Based Solar Cells; Annual Technical Report, Phase II, 16 May 1999-13 May 2000

This project, carried out at the Colorado School of Mines, addresses long-term research and development issues related to polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. Our general research approach is based on combining activities aimed at improving cell performance and stability with activities aimed at increasing our fundamental understanding of the properties of materials making up the cells: CdTe, CdS, multilayer back-contact, and transparent conducting oxide (TCO) from contact. We emphasize the relation between structural and electronic materials properties and various processing procedures, as well as the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the cell performance and its degradation. Section 1 presents studies of degradation under stressing of the cells with differently processed CdTe and different back contents. Section 2 presents studies of deep traps in the electrodeposited (ED) CdTe cells performed in collaboration at NREL. Section 3 reports studies of the spectral dependencies of photocurrent, and their spatial distribution over the cross-section of the ED CdTe cells were performed using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). Section 4 discusses the impedance spectroscopy of CdTe and CdS thin films. Section 5 presents studies of band spectrum and electron scattering in transparent conducting oxides. Appendices present data on personnel involved in the studies, laboratory improvements, and publications.
Managing Financial Risk Trade-Offs for Hydropower Generation Using Snowpack-Based Index Contracts

Hydrologic variability poses an important source of financial risk for hydropower-reliant electric utilities, particularly in snow-dominated regions. Drought-related reductions in hydropower produc...
The work that brokers do: the skills, competences and know-how of intermediaries in the H-2 visa programme

This article analyses the skills and competence acquisition of migration entrepreneurs in the H-2 visa programme, a U.S. temporary worker scheme. This programme, which nowadays largely recruits Mex...
Advances in Understanding Malignant Hyperthermia

SUMMARY Patients with MH susceptibility are usually asymptomatic, otherwise healthy, and of all ages. New anesthetic monitoring techniques that permit the continuous analysis of expired CO2 facilitate the rapid detection and treatment of MH episodes. Because early, appropriate treatment reduces the morbidity and mortality of MH episodes, all patients receiving a general anesthetic should be monitored continuously for expired CO2 and temperature. Acute MH events should be treated immediately with intravenous dantrolene sodium. In virtually all cases, dantrolene rapidly reverses the potentially fatal hypermetabolism and skeletal muscle contracture produced by potent volatile anesthetic agents and/or succinylcholine. Dantrolene sodium should be administered in an initial dose of 2.5 mg/kg and titrated to effect. Dantrolene should be immediately accessible (within 5 minutes) in the office or operating room complex if one ever administers a potent inhalation anesthetic or succinylcholine. Because MH is the subject of active research, once an MH patient has been stabilized with initial treatment, medical personnel should contact the MH hotline consultant for the most up-to-date treatment recommendations. MH-susceptible patients may be safely anesthetized with amide local anesthetics. Potent inhalation anesthetics and succinylcholine must be totally avoided in MH-susceptible patients. Prophylactic dantrolene is generally not indicated unless the patient experiences awake MH episodes. Significant progress has been made in improving the diagnosis of MH susceptibility in patients who have not experienced a fulminant MH episode. A new MH clinical grading scale has been developed by an international MH expert panel. The North American caffeine halothane contracture test has been standardized, and minor modifications yield a test with nearly 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity. A least one molecular genetic defect responsible for MH susceptibility in pigs and humans has been identified. A molecular genetic test that accurately screens individuals preoperatively for MH susceptibility may be available by the end of this decade. The North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry provides patient-specific clinical information to medical personnel caring for registered MH-susceptible patients. In addition, the Registry accumulates comparative data to support its MH epidemiology studies, including prediction of MH susceptibility and improvement of MH treatment protocols. Dentists, oral surgeons, and nurse-anesthetists should contact the Registry to report acute MH episodes and to obtain information on registering their patients.
Activation of angiotensin type 2 receptor attenuates testosterone-induced hypertension and uterine vascular resistance in pregnant rats†.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder with unclear mechanisms. While hypersensitivity to angiotensin II via vasoconstrictive angiotensin type-1 receptor (AT1R) is observed in preeclampsia, the importance of vasodilatory angiotensin type-2 receptor (AT2R) in the control of vascular dysfunction is less clear. We assessed whether AT1R, AT2R, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression are altered in placental vessels of preeclamptic women and tested if ex vivo incubation with AT2R agonist Compound 21 (C21; 1 µM) could restore AT1R, AT2R, and eNOS balance. Further, using a rat model of gestational hypertension induced by elevated testosterone, we examined whether C21 (1 µg/kg/day, oral) could preserve AT1R and AT2R balance and improve blood pressure, uterine artery blood flow, and vascular function. Western blots revealed that AT1R protein level was higher while AT2R and eNOS protein were reduced in preeclamptic placental vessels, and AT2R agonist C21 decreased AT1R and increased AT2R and eNOS protein levels in preeclamptic vessels. In testosterone dams, blood pressure was higher, and uterine artery blood flow was reduced, and C21 treatment reversed these levels similar to those in controls dams. C21 attenuated the exaggerated Ang II contraction and improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in uterine arteries of testosterone dams. These C21-mediated vascular effects were associated with decreased AT1R and increased AT2R and eNOS protein levels. C21 also increased serum nitrate/nitrite and bradykinin production in testosterone dams and attenuated the fetoplacental growth restriction. Thus, AT1R upregulation and AT2R downregulation are observed in preeclampsia and testosterone model, and increasing AT2R activity could help restore AT1R and AT2R balance and improve gestational vascular function.Summary sentenceAT1R/AT2R balance is tilted toward vasoconstrictive AT1R in preeclampsia; restoring this balance using AT2R agonist mitigates vascular dysfunction in hypertensive pregnant rats, providing a new approach in managing gestational vascular dysfunction.
School Counseling Programs Identifying Academic Development Needs

This study examined student, parent, and faculty perceptions of academic development needs and related comprehensive school counseling program services from four urban middle and high schools. Part...
Alternative fuels and prosects — overview

Continued reliance on current fuels and end-use technologies poses serious environmental and energy supply security challenges. Globally, direct combustion of fuels for transportation and heating accounts for over half of greenhouse gas emissions, a significant fraction of air pollutant emissions and about two thirds of primary fossil energy use. A variety of alternative transportation fuels and efficient, low-polluting vehicle technologies have been proposed to help address these challenges. Vehicle technologies include advanced internal combustion engine vehicles, internal combustion engine/hybrid electric vehicles, battery powered electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Use of lower-polluting fuels, such as reformulated gasoline or diesel, compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, Fischer–Tropsch liquids and hydrogen, has been suggested. Fuel cell vehicles are particularly attractive as they have zero or near-zero tailpipe emissions, offer the potential for near-zero full fuel cycle emissions and use of diverse primary energy sources. In this chapter, we review the status of alternative fuels for vehicles, with an emphasis on fuel cell vehicles and their fuels. The potential role of fuel cell vehicles in meeting future environmental and energy supply goals is discussed, and fuel strategies for implementing fuel cell vehicles on a wide scale are examined. Keywords: fuel cell vehicles; alternative fuels; hydrogen fuel; methanol fuel; synthetic fuel
Alternation phenomena in the electrocardiogram

Abstract We have presented an unusual case demonstrating electrical alternation of the QRST complexes of the electrocardiogram without alternation of the pulse in a patient who had occasional attacks of syncope and convulsions. An active carotid sinus reflex was present and may have been a factor in producing his symptoms. Two types of unusual beats were encountered. These were identical in the electrocardiogram, but those following auricular or ventricular premature contractions were associated with large waves in the arteriograms; those occurring in the absence of premature contractions were not associated with changes in the arteriogram. The patient has shown clinical improvement during a period of three and a half years of observation.
BRIDGING THE “EXCLUDED MIDDLE”: THE CASE OF BRAZILIAN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARIES SERVING AMONG ARAB-MUSLIMS

Since Paul Hiebert first challenged missiological reflection with his notion of the “excluded middle,” missiologists and practitioners from the West have been forced to face the deficiencies of a rationalistic worldview; especially when serving in animistic contexts. Hiebert, Bill Musk, Rick Love, and others have further asserted that Western missionaries serving among Folk Muslims need to be better equipped to minister to the felt needs of their host peoples. While the literature and evidence of missionary practice suggest that North Americans and Europeans are working hard to climb “learning curve” dealing with this worldview. Missionaries from Brazil serving among Arab-Muslims seem to have fewer obstacles in this area.
Forging a signature of in vivo senescence

'Cellular senescence', a term originally defining the characteristics of cultured cells that exceed their replicative limit, has been broadened to describe durable states of proliferative arrest induced by disparate stress factors. Proposed relationships between cellular senescence, tumour suppression, loss of tissue regenerative capacity and ageing suffer from lack of uniform definition and consistently applied criteria. Here, we highlight caveats in interpreting the importance of suboptimal senescence-associated biomarkers, expressed either alone or in combination. We advocate that more-specific descriptors be substituted for the now broadly applied umbrella term 'senescence' in defining the suite of diverse physiological responses to cellular stress.
Properties of Caulobacter Ribonucleic Acid Bacteriophage φCb5

The ribonucleic acid (RNA) bacteriophage phiCb5, which specifically infects only one form of the dimorphic stalked bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, has been obtained in high yield. Since the phage is extremely salt-sensitive, a purification procedure was devised which avoided contact with solutions of high ionic strength. Phage phiCb5 was studied with respect to the physical and chemical properties of both the phage and its RNA. In an electron microscope, the phage particles appear as small polyhedra, 23 nm in diameter. The phage is similar to the Escherichia coli RNA phages in that it (i) sediments at an S(20, w) of 70.6S, (ii) is composed of a single molecule of single-stranded RNA and a protein coat, (iii) contains two structural proteins, and (iv) apparently contains the genetic capacity to code for a coat protein subunit, a maturation-like protein, and an RNA polymerase. Phage phiCb5 differs from the E. coli RNA phages in (i) host specificity, (ii) salt sensitivity, and (iii) the presence of histidine, but not methionine, in the coat protein.
Analysis of Censored Data: Examples

Censored survival time is the outcome of numerous studies. We select a few examples from the medical literature to give a glimpse of the scope of studies involving censored survival time. Although survival time is usually the time to death, it can be broadly referred to as the time to the occurrence of an event of interest. For example, age of onset for breast cancer can be interpreted as a survival time.