cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morphology and texture of particles along the Spirit rover traverse from sol 450 to sol 745

[1] We quantified and classified the shape, roundness, size, and texture of 935 loose surface particles along the Spirit rover traverse from sols 450–745 to assess origin, transport, and other alteration mechanisms that altered particles during and after formation. Variation in particle morphologic parameters along traverse is consistent with crossing mapped geologic unit boundaries. Texture is divided into four types: vesicular, smooth and flat-faceted, rough and flat-faceted, and very rough. Sphericity and roundness are intermediate and low, respectively, comparable to particles moved by high-energy transport or to crushed particles. This indicates intermittent, high-energy emplacement or modification of a single lithology, rather than systematic, continuous low-energy abrasion or wear over time. Comparison with particle morphology at other Mars landing sites is consistent with the hypothesis that no secondary systematic transport or wide-scale chemical alteration was active at a significant enough level to alter macromorphology. In particular, particle morphology at the Mars Pathfinder site shows stronger evidence of abrasion than along the Spirit traverse, suggesting Mars Pathfinder particles have undergone abrasion processes that particles in this study area have not. Additionally, morphology indices have correlation coefficients near zero, indicating that a fluvial transport mechanism is likely not responsible for morphology. Morphology and texture are instead related to origin and composition rather than subsequent modification. Morphology and texture support a volcanic origin, possibly without modification, but most likely altered primarily by ballistic impact, implying that the Spirit landing site and traverse may be utilized in the future as a standard site for characterization of impact-derived morphology.
Chronic Oral Endothelin Type A Receptor Antagonism in Experimental Heart Failure

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a cardiovascular peptide that binds to two distinct receptors, ET(A) and ET(B), resulting in systemic and regional vasoconstriction, alteration in sodium excretion, mitogenesis, and release of other vasoactive peptides such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). A role for ET-1 has been proposed in congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the increase in circulating ET-1 in this cardiovascular disease state. The present study determined the cardiorenal and endocrine responses to chronic selective oral ETA antagonism in experimental CHF. Two groups of conscious dogs underwent 21 days of pacing-induced CHF. These groups included a control untreated group (n = 6) and a group that received an orally active ET(A) receptor antagonist (A-127722, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, 5 mg/kg PO bid, n = 6). Each group was studied at baseline before the onset of CHF and after 14 and 21 days of CHF. Compared with the CHF control group, the ET(A) receptor antagonism group at 14 days of CHF showed lower mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Similarly, ET(A) receptor antagonism markedly attenuated the increase in circulating ANP despite similar atrial pressures. At 21 days of CHF, ET(A) receptor antagonism lowered pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and systemic vascular resistance in association with a higher cardiac output. Plasma ANP remained suppressed. Despite the lower mean arterial pressure and circulating ANP in the ET(A) receptor antagonist group, the absolute decrease in sodium excretion from baseline was less compared with the untreated CHF control group. The present investigation supports the conclusion that endogenous ET-1 participates in the systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction, the elevation of ANP, and the sodium retention that characterize this model of experimental CHF, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for ET(A) receptor antagonism in CHF.
La caída del héroe: Ayax Telamonio

En el mundo antiguo, la heroicidad fue entendida como personificacion de la excelencia humana. Ayax de Sofocles trata acerca del hijo del rey de Salamina. Como personaje Ayax es despues de Aquiles, el mejor de los heroes que concurrio a Troya. Cuando Aquiles ha desaparecido, bien podia esperar Ayax que le adjudicaran las armas del heroe muerto. Sin embargo, dichas armas fueron dadas a Odiseo, causando la locura del principe de Salamina y luego, su muerte.
Logarithmic-periodic contiguous-channel microwave multiplexers

The applicability of logarithmic-periodic principles to the design of microwave multiport networks is discussed. It is demonstrated, in particular, how such principles can be put to use in solving microwave multiplexing problems. The practicability of the approach is illustrated with the help of two five-channel contiguous-band multiplexer designs and an experimental realization of one of these circuits covering most of C- and X-band. The experimental circuit is believed to represent the first successfully implemented and reported logarithmic-periodic microwave multiport circuit. It is noted that the solutions achieved with the technique considered exhibit excellent physical realizability and can be readily adapted to accommodate specific bandwidth requirements. >
Altered dosage and mislocalization of histone H3 and Cse4p lead to chromosome loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cse4p is an essential histone H3 variant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that defines centromere identity and is required for proper segregation of chromosomes. In this study, we investigated phenotypic consequences of Cse4p mislocalization and increased dosage of histone H3 and Cse4p, and established a direct link between histone stoichiometry, mislocalization of Cse4p, and chromosome segregation. Overexpression of the stable Cse4p mutant, cse4K16R, resulted in its mislocalization, increased association with chromatin, and a high rate of chromosome loss, all of which were suppressed by constitutive expression of histone H3 (Δ16H3). We determined that Δ16H3 did not lead to increased chromosome loss; however, increasing the dosage of histone H3 (GALH3) resulted in significant chromosome loss due to reduced levels of centromere (CEN)-associated Cse4p and synthetic dosage lethality (SDL) in kinetochore mutants. These phenotypes were suppressed by GALCSE4. We conclude that the chromosome missegregation of GALcse4K16R and GALH3 strains is due to mislocalization and a functionally compromised kinetochore, respectively. Suppression of these phenotypes by histone Δ16H3 and GALCSE4 supports the conclusion that proper stoichiometry affects the localization of histone H3 and Cse4p and is thus essential for accurate chromosome segregation.
Analysis of repetitive sequence elements containing tRNA-like sequences

Several repetitive sequence elements from diverse species share extensive sequence homology with tRNA molecules. Analysis of the tRNA-like sequences within these elements suggest that they have originated from authentic tRNA sequences. Elements containing tRNA-like sequences can be divided into three distinct groups whose members share extensive sequence homology, have similar sequence organization and have unique species distribution. We suggest that these three groups represent independent examples of retroposon families that have originated from tRNAs.
Control of Chromatin Structure by Long Noncoding RNA

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a pivotal factor regulating various aspects of genome activity. Genome regulation via DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications is a well-documented function of lncRNA in plants, fungi, and animals. Here, we summarize evidence showing that lncRNA also controls chromatin structure, including nucleosome positioning and chromosome looping. We focus on data from plant experimental systems, discussed in the context of other eukaryotes. We explain the mechanisms of lncRNA-controlled chromatin remodeling and the implications of the functional interplay between noncoding transcription and several different chromatin remodelers. We propose that the unique properties of RNA make it suitable for controlling chromatin modifications and structure.
Genetic variability maintained by mutation and overdominant selection in finite populations.

ABSTRACT Mathematical properties of the overdominance model with mutation and random genetic drift are studied by using the method of stochastic differential equations (Ito and McKean 1974). It is shown that overdominant selection is very powerful in increasing the mean heterozygosity as compared with neutral mutations, and if 2 Ns ( N = effective population size; s = selective disadvantage for homozygotes) is larger than 10, a very low mutation rate is sufficient to explain the observed level of allozyme polymorphism. The distribution of heterozygosity for overdominant genes is considerably different from that of neutral mutations, and if the ratio of selection coefficient ( s ) to mutation rate (ν) is large and the mean heterozygosity ( h ) is lower than 0.2, single-locus heterozygosity is either approximately 0 or 0.5. If h increases further, however, heterozygosity shows a multiple-peak distribution. Reflecting this type of distribution, the relationship between the mean and variance of heterozygosity is considerably different from that for neutral genes. When s/v is large, the proportion of polymorphic loci increases approximately linearly with mean heterozygosity. The distribution of allele frequencies is also drastically different from that of neutral genes, and generally shows a peak at the intermediate gene frequency. Implications of these results on the maintenance of allozyme polymorphism are discussed.
Aspects of the Shi–Seinfeld–Okuyama theory of transient nucleation

The analytic solution to the time-dependent nucleation problem by Shi-Seinfeld-Okuyama (SSO) [Phys. Rev. A 41, 2101 (1990)] is reviewed. The singular perturbation solution employed by SSO is extended to examine the effect of initial quench position on the incubation time. Two cases are discussed. The first investigates the role of excess vacancies from the high temperature quench on the transient kinetics. The second case examines the change in the incubation time due to the effects of a preexisting subcritical cluster size distribution which forms during the high temperature anneal.
Action spectrum for photoreactivation of ultraviolet-irradiated marsupial cells in tissue culture.

— An action spectrum has been determined for photoreactivation of the PtK-2 mammalian cell line of Potorous tridactylus. Maximum effectiveness occurs around 366 nm, but appreciable photo-reactivation occurs at wavelengths as long as 546 nm.
Television in the Age of Radio: Modernity, Imagination, and the Making of a Medium Philip W. Sewell. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2014.

Television in the Age of Radio: Modernity, Imagination, and the Making of a Medium Philip W. Sewell. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2014.In the first half of the twentieth century, American television was stuck in limbo. It was in the minds and conversations of much of the nation but not in its living rooms. In 1935, television made its first appearance in Germany as part of the Nazi propaganda machine. In 1936, BBC television introduced highbrow entertainment to Great Britain. But it would take another dozen years before NBC and CBS inaugurated the first network broadcasts in America. Why did the United States lag so far behind? Part of the reason is the daunting technological challenge of broadcasting in a country whose borders are separated by thousands rather than hundreds of miles. And of course the Second World War diverted attention elsewhere. But America didn't enter the war until the end of 1941.According to Philip W. Sewell, the main reason for the delay is cultural. When radio ruled the airwaves, the nation was debating what the new medium ought to do and how it ought to do it. His book is not the standard chronology of technological advancements. Instead it offers up a cultural history of how America imagined television might be, before television actually was.One of the more interesting stories concerns the apparatus: the now forgotten competition between mechanical and electronic versions of television. The former, which used mechanical scanning devices to create an image, had been demonstrated as early as the 1880s. In the years following, people argued over whether images ought to be sent point-to-point (as via telegraph and telephone) or point-to-many-points. The popularity of network radio settled that debate in favor of broadcasting. They also argued over whether the new medium would transmit still images (like silhouettes and etchings) or moving images. The popularity of motion pictures settled that debate in favor of what were called "radio movies." Then in 1927, the first all-electronic television was demonstrated and hailed as the better product. Mechanical television, which Sewell admits was less promising, never received a fair try. It lost early and quickly because the competition was controlled, not by technology but by public relations: network bureaucrats who had brought us broadcast radio had an unfair advantage.Here's how the debate was swayed. When hobbyists (like ham-radio enthusiasts) asked for do-it-yourself mechanical television sets, the NBC and CBS networks said the low-resolution quality of those sets couldn't measure up to what real television would be. …
Effect of growth induced (non)stoichiometry on the structure, dielectric response, and thermal conductivity of SrTiO 3 thin films

We report dramatic variations in cation stoichiometry in SrTiO3 thin films grown via pulsed laser deposition and the implications of this nonstoichiometry for structural, dielectric, and thermal properties. The chemical composition of SrTiO3 thin films was characterized via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. These studies reveal that deviations in laser fluence and deposition geometry can result in deviations of cation stoichiometry as large as a few percent. Additionally, X-ray diffraction was used to probe structural evolution and revealed an asymmetric strain relaxation mechanism in which films possessing Sr-excess undergo relaxation before those possessing Sr-deficiency. Furthermore, the dielectric constant decreases and the loss tangent increases with increasing nonstoichiometry with intriguing differences between Sr-excess and -deficiency. Thermal conductivity is also found to be sensitive to nonstoichiometry, with Sr-excess and -deficiency resulting in 65% ...
Instrumentality, Expressivity, and Relational Qualities in the Same‐Sex Friendships of College Women and Men

Using the relational–cultural model (Jordan, Kaplan, Miller, Stiver, & Surrey, 1991), the authors hypothesized that instrumentality, expressivity, and the individual affective experience of same-sex friendships would predict increased relationship mutuality, with college women and men showing different predictive patterns. Overall, results supported the hypotheses. Gender moderated the associations among variables, notably between mutuality and individual affective experiences of same-sex friendships. Implications for counselors serving college student populations are discussed.
Establishment of Analytical Method for Determining the Related Substance of Ornidazole

Objective:To study the method for the determination of the related substance of ornidazole. Methods: HPLC and TLC Methods were used. For HPLC,a ODS column(250 mm×4. 6 mm,5μm) was used. The mobile phase was methanol - water - acetic acid(30:70=0. l).The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1 and the detective wavelength was 317 nm;For TLC,silica gel GF254 thin layer plate was used. The developing solvent:chloroform - acetic acid -methanol(85:10:5). Result:Good separations of related substance for ornidazole could be achieved under the above systems. Conclusion: The TLC method is very simple, rapid and accurate. Furthermore, the method gives good separation of ornidazole and its related substances. It is proposed as an excellent method for the analysis of ornidazole and its related substances.
Implications for the future study of hypertension.

Inasmuch as primary (“essential”) hypertension in the adult has its roots in childhood, what is known and what new knowledge needs to be accumulated should have a significant impact upon the daily activities of practicing pediatricians.
Implications of trauma and subsequent articulation on the release of proteoglycan‐4 and tissue response in adult human ankle cartilage

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trauma and subsequent articulation on adult human ankle cartilage subjected to an injurious impact. Trauma was initiated through impaction on talar cartilage explants. Articulation and loading were applied in a joint bioreactor over 5 consecutive days. The early (24 h) effects of impaction included a reduced chondrocytes viability (51% vs. 81% for non-impacted; p = 0.03), increased levels of apoptosis (43% vs. 27%; p = 0.03), and an increase in the histopathology score (4.4 vs. 1.7; p = 0.02) as compared to non-impacted cartilage explants. One of the key findings was that damage also stimulated the PRG4 release (2.2 vs. 1.5 μg/ml). Subsequent articulation for 5 days did not lead to further changes in tissue histopathology and cell viability, neither for injured nor non-injured samples. However, articulation led to an increased apoptosis in the injured samples (p = 0.03 for the interaction term). Articulation also caused a significant increase of PG/GAG release into the culture medium (p = 0.04) for both injured and non-injured samples; however, the synthesis of PG was not affected by articulation (p = 0.45) though the PG synthesis was higher in injured samples (p < 0.01). With regard to the PRG4 release, impacted samples continued to show higher amounts (p = 0.01), adding articulation led to a reduction (p = 0.02). The current study demonstrated that adult human talar cartilage increases both the PRG4 release and biosynthetic activity as an immediate cellular response to injury. Articulation played a less contributing role to biosynthesis and remodeling, behaving mostly neutral, in that no further damage emerged. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:667-676, 2017.
Names: a new dimension of transformation

AbstractThis paper examines the impact and consequences on college students in the United States whose names are Americanized (‘Americanization’ is used throughout this paper to apply only to residents of the United States and has two possible meanings: within the US, it refers to acculturation of immigrants, whereas internationally it refers to the influence of the US on other countries. Our paper uses ‘Americanization’ as a description of acculturation. The process of ‘Westernization’ might be applicable to citizens outside of the United States.) because they are deemed foreign, difficult, and inferior. Our research also examines the difficulties that educators often have with the correct pronunciation of names. Through an exercise designed to teach and learn the correct pronunciation of names, we examine the responses of college students who describe their experiences with teachers and peers with the incorrect pronunciation of their family names and the renaming that occurred. This renaming reinforces ...
Flow patterns in the jugular veins of pulsatile tinnitus patients

Pulsatile Tinnitus (PT) is a pulse-synchronous sound heard in the absence of an external source. PT is often related to abnormal flow in vascular structures near the cochlea. One vascular territory implicated in PT is the internal jugular vein (IJV). Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on patient-specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), we investigated the flow within the IJV of seven subjects, four symptomatic and three asymptomatic of PT. We found that there were two extreme anatomic types classified by the shape and position of the jugular bulbs: elevated and rounded. PT patients had elevated jugular bulbs that led to a distinctive helical flow pattern within the proximal internal jugular vein. Asymptomatic subjects generally had rounded jugular bulbs that neatly redirected flow from the sigmoid sinus directly into the jugular vein. These two flow patterns were quantified by calculating the length-averaged streamline curvature of the flow within the proximal jugular vein: 130.3±8.1m-1 for geometries with rounded bulbs, 260.7±29.4m-1 for those with elevated bulbs (P<0.005). Our results suggest that variations in the jugular bulb geometry lead to distinct flow patterns that are linked to PT, but further investigation is needed to determine if the vortex pattern is causal to sound generation.
Impact of circle of Willis anatomy in traumatic blunt cerebrovascular injury-related stroke.

Background Cerebral vascular anatomy, specifically the circle of Willis (COW), plays an unstudied role in the development of stroke after blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI; carotid and vertebral). Variant anatomy is very common, and certain variants such as persistent fetal circulation (enlarged posterior communicating artery) may improve collateralization between the anterior (carotid) and posterior (vertebral) circulations. Identifying patients at increased stroke risk may allow tailored anticoagulation, the mainstay of therapy. This study constitutes the first attempt to identify vascular anatomy patterns associated with stroke, with the hypothesis that normal anatomy would protect against stroke. Study design Radiographic images from patients with BCVI-related stroke from 2005 to 2014 were identified. Patients with stroke were compared with injury-matched, non-stroke controls. Normal COW anatomy is defined as the presence of all vessels without hypoplasia. Results Of 457 patients BCVI, 22 (4.8%) BCVI-related patients with stroke and matched controls were reviewed. 9 (41%) patients with stroke and 2 (9%) controls had normal COW anatomy (OR=7.1, 95% CI 1.28 to 33.3). Persistent fetal-type circulation was found in 6 controls and 1 patient with stroke, resulting in a 7.9-fold decreased risk of stroke with this variant (OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.003 to 1.26). Conclusions Cerebral vascular anatomy has a role in BCVI-related stroke. Normal anatomy is not protective; however, the increased collateral flow provided by a persistent fetal-type enlarged posterior communicating artery is likely protective. The identification of high-risk patients may eventually allow for more tailored treatment. Prospective, multi-institutional trials are needed to further reduce the incidence BCVI-related stroke. Level of evidence Prognostic and epidemiological, level III.
Prenatal Exposure Effects on Early Adolescent Substance Use: Preliminary Evidence From a Genetically Informed Bayesian Approach.

Objective:Given the controversy surrounding the question of whether there are direct or causal effects of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy (SDP) on offspring outcomes such as substance use during the adolescent years, we sought to test, on a preliminary basis, within- and between-family associations of SDP and initiation of substance use early in adolescence (by age 15 years) using a discordant sibling design.Method:We used a sibling-comparison approach in a sample of 173 families drawn from the state of Missouri, wherein mothers were discordant for smoking behaviors between two different pregnancies, to test for associations of SDP and initiation of substance use in a younger adolescent cohort. The discordant sibling- comparison approach allows for disentangling familial effects from direct effects of SDP through the purposeful collection of data from siblings within the same family with differential exposure.Results:There were no between- or within-family effects of SDP on initiation of any...
Energy Dissipation in Fluid Coupled Nanoresonators: The Effect of Phonon-Fluid Coupling

Resonant nanomechanical systems find numerous sensing applications both in the vacuum and in the fluid environment but their performance is degraded by different dissipation mechanisms. In this work, we study dissipation mechanisms associated with high frequency axial excitation of a single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) filled with argon, which is a representative fluid coupled resonator system. By performing molecular dynamics simulations, we identify two dissipative processes associated with the axial excitation of the resonator: (i) perturbation of the resonator phonons and their relaxation and (ii) oscillatory fluid flow developed by the resonator motion. Dissipation due to the first process, a form of “intrinsic” dissipation, is found to be governed by the Akhiezer mechanism and is verified for an empty CNT in vacuum. To estimate the dissipation due to the second process, which is the conventional “fluid” dissipation, we formulate an approach based on the response of the hydrodynamic force on the reso...
Automatic Web Services Composition for Phylotastic

This paper describes an automatic web service composition framework for Phylotastic, a platform for extracting and reusing phylogenetic trees. The paper begins with a short review of Phylotastic, followed by a description of the overall architecture of the framework and its core components, such as the ontology API, the planning module, the workflow configuration module, and the execution & monitoring module. The paper provides examples of execution of Phylotastic using a scientific use case and discuss the future features of the final system.
From Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome to Radiologically Isolated Syndrome.

Background. Autonomic dysfunction is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Most spinal cord lesions entail some degree of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. MS patients may develop autonomic dysfunction later in their disease course. Methods. We report a patient with no prior history of MS presenting with orthostatic symptoms and diagnosed initially with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Four months later, she was diagnosed with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). The diagnosis was supported by imaging and CSF analysis. Conclusion. Our case sheds light on the need to consider autonomic dysfunction as an initial presentation of demyelinating pathology. Larger trials are needed to outline the possible association between POTS and RIS.
The 1999 Survey of High Maturity Organizations

Abstract : Over the last few years the Software Engineering Institute has investigated the high maturity practices of Maturity Level 4 and 5 software organizations via assessments, site visits, workshops, and surveys. This report summarizes the observations from the 1999 survey of high maturity organizations. Areas covered in the survey include management, engineering, tools and technology, quantitative analysis, and people issues. A specific area of interest is statistical process control, which is addressed in some detail in this report, but the observations cover a variety of engineering and management practices, including issues outside the scope of the Capability Maturity Model for Software.
Reducing Fluoroscopy Time in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Abstract Introduction: Reducing fluoroscopy time (FT) during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an opportunity for stewardship of ionizing radiation in stone patients. We present our initial re...
Independent Contractor or Employee

A brief review and critique of State and Federal tests to determine if workers should be classified as independent contractors or employees.
Handbook of Psychology and Sexual Orientation

This book is the fourth published by Patterson and D’Aguelli and might be seen as a capstone to the previous volumes: Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Identities Over the Lifespan (1995) and Lesbian, Gay an...
Community Policing and the Engagement of Pastoral Terrorism in West Africa

Within a changing global consciousness for international guardianship of the targets of terrorism, this article explores the broad narratives, strengths, and limitations of adopting community polic...
Rapidly Resolving and Recurrent Contralateral Subdural Hematoma From Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract Background Acute, recurrent subdural hematoma (SDH) is a rare entity in the absence of trauma. Atraumatic SDH may be due to vascular disorders, coagulopathies, or intracranial hypotension. It is a rare complication of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), with no prior reports in patients with intracranial metastatic colon cancer (MCC). Rapid resolution of the initial acute SDH with contralateral recurrence has not yet been reported in the literature. We present a case of rapidly resolving and recurrent, contralateral acute SDH from DIC secondary to MCC. Case Description A 77-year-old woman with MCC presented with severe, acute onset headache. She progressed to unresponsiveness, dilated right pupil, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 4T. Initial computed tomography (CT) of the head demonstrated a right, 17-mm SDH with a right-to-left midline shift. Repeat CT head 8 hours later revealed resolution of the right SDH. She was extubated with notable clinical improvement. Laboratory examination showed international normalized ratio of 3.4, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. The next morning, she became lethargic, GCS score of 3, with bilateral fixed pupils and dilated to 5-mm, and she was then reintubated. Repeat CT head demonstrated a new left SDH with bilateral uncal herniation. A small hyperdense focus in the left parietal region was suspicious for intraparenchymal hematoma versus a hemorrhagic metastatic focus. Shortly after, she was extubated due to do not resuscitate status, and she then passed away. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case illustrating rapidly resolving and recurrent, contralateral acute SDH from DIC in a patient with MCC. Clinical recognition of this phenotypic pattern should raise the question of an underlying coagulopathy.
The Relationship Between Perception of HIV Susceptibility and Willingness to Discuss PrEP With a Health Care Provider: A Pilot Study.

HIV continues to be a significant public health concern and despite recent reductions in new HIV diagnoses, certain demographics continue to be disproportionality affected. Men who have sex with ot...
Inter-firm linkages and the wealth effects of financial distress along the supply chain

Abstract Extant research examines the extent to which bankruptcy has intra-industry valuation consequences. This study broadens the investigation by examining the wealth effects of distress and bankruptcy filing for suppliers and customers of filing firms. On average, important wealth effects occur prior to and at bankruptcy filings and extend beyond industry competitors along the supply chain. Specifically, distress related to bankruptcy filings is associated with negative and significant stock price effects for suppliers. Supplier wealth effects are more negative when intra-industry contagion is more severe. We also investigate the importance of industry structure, specialized product nature, and leverage on supply chain effects.
Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Decontamination of N95 Respirators for Reuse.

Objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to global shortages of N95 respirators. Reprocessing of used N95 respirators may provide a higher filtration crisis alternative, but whether effective sterilization can be achieved for a virus without impairing respirator function remains unknown. We evaluated the viricidal efficacy of Bioquell vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) on contaminated N95 respirators and tested the particulate particle penetration and inhalation and exhalation resistance of respirators after multiple cycles of VHP. Methods For this study, 3M 1870 N95 respirators were contaminated with 3 aerosolized bacteriophages: T1, T7, and Pseudomonas phage phi-6 followed by 1 cycle of VHP decontamination using a BQ-50 system. Additionally, new and unused respirators were sent to an independent laboratory for particulate filter penetration testing and inhalation and exhalation resistance after 3 and 5 cycles of VHP. Results A single VHP cycle resulted in complete eradication of bacteriophage from respirators (limit of detection 10 PFU). Respirators showed acceptable limits for inhalation/exhalation resistance after 3 and 5 cycles of VHP. Respirators demonstrated a filtration efficiency >99 % after 3 cycles, but filtration efficiency fell below 95% after 5 cycles of HPV. Conclusion Bioquell VHP demonstrated high viricidal activity for N95 respirators inoculated with aerosolized bacteriophages. Bioquell technology can be scaled for simultaneous decontamination of a large number of used but otherwise intact respirators. Reprocessing should be limited to 3 cycles due to concerns both about impact of clinical wear and tear on fit, and to decrement in filtration after 3 cycles.
Development of PZT fiber rosette to locate acoustic source

Because of their electro-mechanical coupling property, Lead-Zirconate-Titanate (PZT) materials have been widely used for ultrasonic wave sensing and actuation in structural health monitoring applic...
Very Temporary Mechanical Support Prior to Heart Transplant: Post-Transplant Outcomes as Status 1-2 versus 3-6 in the Setting of Short Wait Times

Purpose With the introduction of the new heart allocation system, controversy persists over the potential negative impact of the use of temporary mechanical support (tMCS) prior to heart transplant (HT). However, the risks of tMCS may be mitigated in the setting of short wait times. Methods All patients with HT at a single institution from 10/20/18 - 10/26/20. Patients were categorized as tMCS (Status 1-2) or controls (Status 3-6). Multiorgan transplants were excluded. Results A total of 126 patients were included and received HT: Status 1 - 9 (7.1%), Status 2 - 45 (35.7%), Status 3 - 40 (31.8%), Status 4 - 19 (15.08%), Status 5 - 0, Status 6 13 (10.3%). Therefore, the tMCS group (Status 1-2) had 54 patients (43%) and the controls (Status 3-6) 72 patients (57%). Baseline characteristics were not different for groups: mean age 53 years, 80% male, and 54% white. Blood groups were not different: A 36%, B 15%, AB 5%, O 44%. Donor race was not different between groups and was 59% white. For tMCS compared to controls, donors were more likely to be male 82% v. 60%, p=0.009 and were younger 31 v. 37 years, p=0.008. Overall median time from listing to transplant was 9 days. The median time from listing to transplant for Status 1 was 5 days, Status 2 was 6.5 days, Status 3 was 16.5 days and Status 4-6 was 26 days. One-year survival was excellent and not significantly different for tMCS compared to controls, 97.7% v. 91.5%, p= 0.18 (Figure 1). Conclusion The new heart allocation system prioritizes patients with tMCS and in the setting of short waiting times, there may be less exposure to the risks of tMCS. With a median time to HT of less than one week for tMCS, the one-year survival for patients supported with tMCS is excellent and not significantly different from those who are Status 3-6.
Radical Patent Law Reform in a Common Law Enabling System: A Metahistory

This chapter tells the story of how intellectual property lore becomes law. In the United States radical patent law reform has time and again occurred through the Supreme Court selectively reviving and reconstructing its precedent to correct abuses of the patent system. The forgotten opinions the Court draws from are themselves historical constructs from prior periods of patent thickets and corrective judicial reform; just as all common law judicial opinions are rhetorical constructs that purport to objectively present facts that can only be selectively reconstructed and draw conclusions of law that are necessarily subjective and policy driven. Part I explains that although the United States has always had patent laws passed by Congress, they have been common law enabling statutes that codified existing judge made law in broad strokes, leaving it to the courts to create the detailed rules going forward through judicial opinions. Part II describes an historical pattern of abusive patent thickets growing in the U.S. to impede true innovation, the failure of Congress to act effectively to address the problem, and the Supreme Court enacting radical and effective patent litigation reform through case law. Part III begins by telling the story of how an intermediate appellate patent specialist court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, was created in the early 1980s to unify patent common law and to strengthen patent rights in the face of a judiciary that was perceived as hostile to patents. Part III continues by describing how the Federal Circuit’s rulings contributed to the creation of a new patent thicket whereby non-practicing entities and other patent holders asserted low quality patents to force settlements out of innovators, thereby imposing a private tax on innovation. Part III concludes by describing how the Supreme Court addressed these abuses of the patent system through common law reform grounded in the unearthing of forgotten judicial precedent from prior periods of common law reform in the late 1800s and early twentieth century. Part IV probes the question of what motivates judges to enact common law reforms in different policy directions and explores whether such a system is less democratic than a highly codified civil law system or congressional legislative reform. The conclusion concedes that the history presented in this chapter is necessarily a constructed metahistory based on literary storytelling, as are all historical narratives; and as are all common law judicial opinions because they construct deceptively objective arguments through the interpretation of past judicial opinions, which are themselves mere constructs. Once having accepted this postmodern insight, the metamodern attitude is to seek out how to use such human constructs to promote social good, rather than harm.
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart: MCMV as a Model for HCMV-Associated Cardiovascular Diseases

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that causes lifelong latent infection and is associated with the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases in seropositive individuals. Of particular impact, HCMV infection is known to worsen many cardiovascular diseases including myocarditis, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and transplant vasculopathy. Due to its similarity to HCMV, murine CMV (MCMV) is an appropriate model to understand HCMV-induced pathogenesis in the heart and vasculature. MCMV shares similar sequence homology and recapitulates much of the HCMV pathogenesis, including HCMV-induced cardiovascular diseases. This review provides insight into HCMV-associated cardiovascular diseases and the murine model of MCMV infection, which has been used to study the viral pathogenesis and mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular diseases. Our new functional studies using echocardiography demonstrate tachycardia and hypertrophy in the mouse, similar to HCMV-induced myocarditis in humans. For the first time, we show long term heart dysfunction and that MCMV reactivates from latency in the heart, which raises the intriguing idea that HCMV latency and frequent virus reactivation perturbs long term cardiovascular function.
Impact of doing Echocardiogram and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Length of Stay and Hospital Charges in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients in United States: Analysis of Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2006–2014 (P5.9-061)

Objective: To evaluate the impact of doing echocardiogram (ECHO) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. Background: ECHO and brain MRI are often done as a part of work up in TIA patients. The impact of doing ECHO and MRI on LOS and hospital charges in TIA patients has not been well described before. Design/Methods: TIA patients from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for years 2006–2014 were identified using the ICD 9 code (435). We compared LOS and hospital charges in TIA patients getting ECHO only, MRI only, both ECHO and MRI, with the control group of neither ECHO nor MRI. Prolonged length of stay (PLOS) is defined as greater than 2 days of hospital stay. In multivariate analysis PLOS was adjusted with age, gender, significant medical co-morbidities, in-hospital complications, and APRDRG_Severity. Results: Of 1,577,367 patients with TIA, 98914 (6.3%) patients got only ECHO, 67398 (4.3%) got only MRI, 25732 (1.63%) got both ECHO and MRI and 1385323 (87.8%) did not get neither ECHO nor MRI. In univariate analysis, the mean LOS (p= Conclusions: LOS and hospital charges were significantly higher in TIA patients getting either ECHO or MRI or both. An important question is whether those tests impact treatment or prevention strategies to justify their performance. Further studies are needed to establish the role of ECHO and MRI on therapy as to justify their cost. Disclosure: Dr. Bandaru has nothing to disclose. Dr. Afzal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nguyen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vellipuram has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kassar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Khatri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maud has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rodriquez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Piriyawat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cruz-Flores has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Novo nordisk, Lilly, Sunovion paraxel.
The Best of Both Worlds: Strengthening Medical Education Research and Evaluation Using Quality Improvement.

In 2016, pediatric hospital medicine was recognized as a subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties, with emphasis on the roles of hospitalists as educators and experts in systems-based improvement.1–3 Nationally, pediatric hospitalists have diverse nonclinical professional responsibilities, with medical education and quality improvement (QI) being the most common.4,5 An underrecognized area of scholarship within pediatric hospital medicine can be described as educational quality improvement (EQI): a rigorous approach to the implementation and evaluation of educational interventions using QI frameworks and methodologies.6 Here we describe opportunities and benefits of the intentional incorporation and integration of QI methodology into medical education research, highlighting the article by Bauer et al7 in the June issue of Hospital Pediatrics as well as relevant examples from the literature revealing EQI best practices to guide the rigorous development and evaluation of educational projects of potential interest to pediatric hospitalists. A literature search of Ovid Medline using the keywords “plan do study act (PDSA)” and “medical education” over the past decade yielded roughly 60 publications, most …
Leptin Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Patients With Generalized Lipodystrophy.

CONTEXT Lipodystrophy syndromes are rare disorders of deficient adipose tissue, low leptin, and severe metabolic disease, affecting all adipose depots (generalized lipodystrophy, GLD) or only some (partial lipodystrophy, PLD). Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is common (especially in GLD); mechanisms may include hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, or hyperinsulinemia. OBJECTIVE Determine effects of recombinant leptin (metreleptin) on cardiac structure and function in lipodystrophy. METHODS Open-label treatment study of 38 subjects (18 GLD, 20 PLD) at the National Institutes of Health before and after 1 (N = 27), and 3 to 5 years (N = 23) of metreleptin. Outcomes were echocardiograms, blood pressure (BP), triglycerides, A1c, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. RESULTS In GLD, metreleptin lowered triglycerides (median [interquartile range] 740 [403-1239], 138 [88-196], 211 [136-558] mg/dL at baseline, 1 year, 3-5 years, P < .0001), A1c (9.5 ± 3.0, 6.5 ± 1.6, 6.5 ± 1.9%, P < .001), and HOMA-IR (34.1 [15.2-43.5], 8.7 [2.4-16.0], 8.9 [2.1-16.4], P < .001). Only HOMA-IR improved in PLD (P < .01). Systolic BP decreased in GLD but not PLD. Metreleptin improved cardiac parameters in patients with GLD, including reduced posterior wall thickness (9.8 ± 1.7, 9.1 ± 1.3, 8.3 ± 1.7 mm, P < .01), and LV mass (140.7 ± 45.9, 128.7 ± 37.9, 110.9 ± 29.1 g, P < .01), and increased septal e' velocity (8.6 ± 1.7, 10.0 ± 2.1, 10.7 ± 2.4 cm/s, P < .01). Changes remained significant after adjustment for BP. In GLD, multivariate models suggested that reduced posterior wall thickness and LV mass index correlated with reduced triglycerides and increased septal e' velocity correlated with reduced A1c. No changes in echocardiographic parameters were seen in PLD. CONCLUSION Metreleptin attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and improved septal e' velocity in GLD, which may be mediated by reduced lipotoxicity and glucose toxicity. The applicability of these findings to leptin-sufficient populations remains to be determined.
Adding value in the era of COVID-19: Increasing usage of a patient-centered radiology consultation service.

Abstract Objective To examine the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on our department's Radiology Consultation Service (RCS) related to breast imaging, and how utilization of the provided services may have differed as compared to prior to the pandemic. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study of patients and health care providers who consulted the RCS, as well as those patients who had a screening mammogram and/or ultrasound between January 1, 2019 and September 1, 2020. Consultations were performed by an RRA, RN and one of 17 breast imaging radiologists assigned to consults on daily. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the study subject population. Results Between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020, a total of 1623 consultations were performed, in comparison to the control period from the year prior (January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019), when a total of 1398 consultations were performed, representing a 16% increase in one year. Between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020, a total of 679 consultations were performed, in comparison to the control period from the year prior (March 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019), when 583 consultations were performed, representing a 16.5% increase in a four-month period. 350 out of 679 (36.8%) consultations addressed COVID concerns. Conclusions While much of radiology experienced an unprecedented decrease in imaging studies during the initial peak of COVID-19 crisis, the RCS at our institution showed a significant increase in services provided, evolving to address pressing concerns related to COVID-19.