cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of premedication with chlorpheniramine on reactions to methylglucamine iodipamide

Abstract In 1,830 cholangiographic examinations in which methylglucamine iodipamide was given at the Mayo Clinic, premedication with chlorpheniramine, in doses of 6 to 10 mg. given intramuscularly 5 minutes prior to intravenous injection of the contrast medium, reduced the incidence of reactions to 6 per cent from the rate of 24 per cent in 854 such examinations without antihistaminic premedication. Methylglucamine iodipamide can and does produce toxic and anaphylactoid reactions as well as hypotension if given too rapidly. Studies of blood concentrations of histamine in 10 cases failed to substantiate the idea that methylglucamine iodipamide may be a histamine releaser, except in one case in which a reaction occurred. There the concentration of histamine increased to twice as much as that found before the injection. Adding epinephrine (in two tested quantities) to the chlorpheniramine for injection seemed not to enhance the effects of chlorpheniramine, but rather added annoying side effects. Premedication with an antihistaminic drug, though definitely helpful, does not appear to be the complete answer to the prevention of reactions following injection of contrast medium for cholangiography, but we do recommend its use for lessening these reactions.
Using an independent quality control software program, EZ Runs, to monitor quality control procedures for a bench-top coagulation analyzer.

Background: Comprehensive quality control (QC) procedures are necessary to ensure accurate analytic method performance. Highly automated systems typically have inherent QC programs that facilitate performance and maintenance of QC procedures; however, for bench-top analyzers that lack internal systems, independent QC programs must be used. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of an independent QC program, EZ Runs™ (Westgard QC Inc, Madison, WI, USA), to the maintenance of QC procedures for a mechanical, bench-top coagulation unit and to compare the results with our current, manual, QC method in a qualitative way. Methods: A QC application file for activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) performed on a STart4 (Diagnostica Stago, Parsippany, NJ) was created in EZ Runs. Results were recorded and interpreted using this software package as well as the current, manual, QC method. Results: EZ Runs was adaptable to QC monitoring for the bench-top analyzer, and the program permitted identification of both random and systematic errors not detected by the manual QC system. Conclusions: EZ Runs improved the performance and maintenance of QC procedures for this bench-top coagulation analyzer. The results indicated the need to improve staff training in assay performance and QC interpretation. In addition, use of the software program indicated that a multirule QC design was needed to monitor assay performance.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS OF THE TODY-TYRANT AND FLATBILL ASSEMBLAGE OF TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (TYRANNIDAE)

Abstract The tody-tyrant and flatbill assemblage, sensu Lanyon (1988a), includes 12 genera of tyrant flycatchers known variously as “tody-tyrants” and “flatbills.” Lanyon supported the monophyly of the group based on similar skull morphology and nest form, and built intergeneric relationships based on syringeal characters. However, these comparisons were made without a phylogenetic framework. A more recent study assessing relationships in the tyrant flycatchers using published morphological and behavioral data failed to recover monophyly of this assemblage (Birdsley 2002). Using DNA sequence data, we test for the monophyly of the tody-tyrant and flatbill assemblage and compare and contrast phylogenetic signals from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA character systems. We discuss our results in light of results from previous studies. We include representatives of the other major tyrant flycatcher assemblages for a total of 42 individuals (representing 27 tyrannid genera and 36 species). We sequenced 3,022 base ...
Phase transitions in non-hydride switchable mirror thin films

Switchable mirrors modulate incident light by changes in the reflectivity of thin films that are converted by chemical reactions from a metallic reflective state to a semiconducting transparent state. The reactions may be effected by exposure to a gas, by treatment with a liquid reagent, or by electrochemical means. The changes in optical properties coincide with phase transformations. In the examples reviewed here, the reactions are accompanied by substantial volume changes and atomic rearrangement. Bismuth, antimony, and antimony alloy films are switched by electrochemical lithiation. Copper films are electrochemically oxidized to Cu(I) and Cu(II) oxides, which are transparent and opaque, respectively. Morphological changes in all films during cycling lead to degradation in performance without loss of active material. Strategies to improve the cycling stability of these systems are discussed.
Regional Circulatory Adjustments to Moderate and Severe Chronic Anemia in Conscious Dogs at Rest and during Exercise

The successive changes in regional blood flows and resistances due to moderate and severe anemia were studied serially in nine conscious dogs after they recovered from implantation of ultrasonic Doppler transducers or electromagnetic flow probes on the left circumflex coronary, the mesenteric, the renal, and the iliac arteries and pressure gauges or catheters in the aorta. Anemia was induced by progressive phlebotomy and volume replacement over a period of 2-4 weeks. In moderate anemia (average hematocrit 22%) heart rate increased from 73 beats/min to 105 beats/min, and mean arterial pressure fell from 98 mm Hg to 94 mm Hg. Flow increased to the coronary bed by 75% and to the iliac bed by 45%, but flow to the mesenteric bed was not significantly affected and renal flow fell by 9%. Coronary and iliac resistances fell by 45% and 32%, respectively, but mesenteric and renal resistances were not significantly affected. In severe anemia (hematocrit 14%) heart rate increased to 129 beats/min, and mean arterial p...
Metadata Propagation in Large, Multi-Layer Database Systems

Enterprise databases are comprised of multiple local databases that exchange information. The component databases will rarely have the same native form, so one must map between the supplier’s native interface and the consumer’s. Using a SQL view to define this map is convenient and powerful, because it provides not just an evaluation mechanism, but also query, and (to some degree) update and trigger capabilities. However, SQL views do not map the critical metadata (e.g., security, source attribution, and quality information) between supplier and consumer. We present motivation, theory, and some pragmatics for creating an administrator’s assistant. We propose a framework into which one would put definitions and translators for individual metadata types. The underlying theory supports consistent (but not complete) inference services, to add value and to get maximal value from the currently available knowledge. We also discuss why support for collaboration and negotiation are essential such administrative environments, and sketch an initial approach.
Does Corporate Governance Influence Firm Value? Evidence from Indian Firms

This paper examines empirically the effects of ownership structure on the firm performance for a panel of Indian corporate firms, from a corporate governance perspective. We examine the effect of interactions between corporate, foreign, institutional, and directorial ownership on firm performance. Using firm level panel data framework, we show that a large fraction of cross-sectional variation, in firm performance, can be explained by unobserved firm heterogeneity. We also provide evidence that the shareholding by institutional investors and managers affect firm performance non-linearly, after controlling for observed firm characteristics and unobserved firm heterogeneity. Institutional investors monitor the firm once their stake is more than 14 percent in the firm, and directors have a positive effect on firm performance after 25 percent of the ownership in the firm. We also find that the equity ownership by dominant group influences firm-performance, only in case of directorial ownership. We find no evidence in favor of endogeneity of ownership structure. In this paper, we examine whether differences in ownership structure across firms can explain their performance differences in an emerging economy like India. Using detailed ownership structure of more than 2000 Indian corporate firms over the period 1994-2000, we provide answer to some of the questions raised herewith. Does ownership structure matter? If it does, then, whether government ownership is more effective than private (including foreign) ownership in maximizing firm value? Does the identity of shareholder matter? What is the comparative efficiency of several forms of private ownership? What is the preferred ownership structure for privately held firms? Is ownership structure really endogenous? Can ownership be a tool to control agency cost? These are some of the important questions, which researchers are trying to explore in the recent literature of corporate finance. In this context, we investigate Indian corporate firms in order to provide new evidence on how ownership structure influence firm value. Corporate Governance is the system of control mechanisms, through which â€œthe suppliers of finance to corporations assure themselves of getting a return on their investmentâ€ , (Shleifer and Vishny (1997)). The classical problem lies within the separation of ownership and control, i.e. the agency cost resulting from a divergence of interest between the owners and the managers of the firm (Jensen and Meckling (1976)).
The discovery of artemisinin and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Professor Youyou Tu for her key contributions to the discovery of artemisinin. Artemisinin has saved millions of lives and represents one of the significant contributions of China to global health. Many scientists were involved in the previously unknown 523 Project, and the Nobel Prize given to a single person has not been without controversy. Here we summarized some key events in the 523 Project and present our views on the Award to help the public better understand the rationale of the Nobel committee’s decision, the significance of the discovery, and current issues related to artimisinin in treating malaria.
Immunosuppression, Lupus Nephritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Organ Transplantation

The current use of Total Lymphoid Irradiation (TLI) as immunosuppressive therapy for non-malignant diseases is experimental and has been utilized (1) in preparation for allogeneic organ transplantation (i.e., kidney, pancreas, etc.; 26% of radiation oncologists in the national survey would not treat), (2) in the treatment of autoimmune diseases (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.; 94% of radiation oncologists in the national survey would not treat), and (3) in the treatment of neurological disorders considered to have an immune-mediated pathogenesis (i.e., multiple sclerosis, chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy, etc.; 93% of radiation oncologists in our national survey would not treat).
A Quantile Regression Analysis of Assessment Regressivity

In this chapter, I compare OLS and quantile regression approaches to analyzing assessment regressivity. Property assessments have a pivotal but woefully neglected role in determining the distribution of property tax payments across homeowners. The example used in this chapter is based on sales of homes in DuPage County, Illinois, which is a suburban part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Like all other counties in Illinois (other than the largest, Cook County), properties in DuPage County are supposed to be assessed at 1/3 of market value. All properties in a tax district are then subject to the same tax rate. Apart from homestead exemptions and other relatively minor deductions, this flat-rate tax system should result in tax payments that are proportional to market value. However, a common finding in studies of assessment practices is that assessment ratios—the ratio of the assessed values to actual sales prices—decline with market value. Declining assessment ratios will result in a regressive property tax structure even in the case of a statutorily proportional system (where “regressive” is defined as a system in which the ratio of tax payments to sales prices declines with sale price).
A NEW GRAMINICOLOUS SPECIES OF XYLARIA

A new species in the Hypoxylaceae found growing on culms of Spartina patens is described as Xylaria psamathos. Immature ascospores lack appendages and are binucleate. Mature ascospores are uninucleate due to degeneration of one nucleus. The anamorph is sympodioconidial in a compact palisade. At the sandy margin of a North Carolina salt marsh, a fungus was discovered whose black, stipitate stromata grew from the buried, dead culms of Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. (FIG. 9c). The stromata were teleomorphs possessing characters of the Hypoxylaceae. The one-celled, brown ascospores had germ slits and the ascospores were contained within asci whose apical rings blued in Meltzer's reagent (FIGS. 5, 6, 9a). Appendages were lacking on immature ascospores examined by fluorescence microscopy, using the technique of Rogers (1975) (FIG. 4). The mitotic sequence within the ascospores was observed by staining with haematoxylin (technique by Rogers and Malmgren, 1977). Newly delimited ascospores are uninucleate. Following mitosis, immature ascospores are binucleate (FIG. 8). As maturation progresses, indicated by the darkening of the ascospores, one nucleus degenerates (FIG. 7). This mitotic sequence is, apparently, widespread among the hypoxylaceous fungi (Rogers and Malmgren, 1977; Rogers and Stiers, 1974 and references cited therein). The black surface of some of the stromata in the North Carolina collection cracked open and exposed inner tissues. The entostroma of one stroma differentiated to produce an anamorph (FIG. 9d) with conidia produced holoblastically in sympodial fashion. The conidiophores formed a compact palisade on the surface of the stroma. This anamorph type is associated with the genus Xylaria.
The Role of Vitamin K in Chronic Aging Diseases: Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease, and Osteoarthritis

Vitamin K is an enzyme cofactor required for the carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, several of which have been implicated in diseases of aging. Inflammation is recognized as a crucial component of many chronic aging diseases, and evidence suggests vitamin K has an anti-inflammatory action that is independent of its role as an enzyme cofactor. Vitamin K-dependent proteins and inflammation have been implicated in cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis, which are leading causes of disability and mortality in older adults. The purpose of this review is to summarize observational studies and randomized trials focused on vitamin K status and inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis. Although mechanistic evidence suggests a protective role for vitamin K in these age-related conditions, the benefit of vitamin K supplementation is controversial because observational data are equivocal and the number of randomized trials is few.
Disorder and Scaling in Regular and Hierarchical Composites

We first summarize the scaling behavior of breakdown strengths and transport and elastic moduli of random two phase composites. We then consider the effect of disorder on two hierarchical structures. The first, a tree-like structure illustrates the fact that disordered trees, such as occur in many natural circulatory systems, show large fluctuations in their conductance and current flow. The second, a continuous fiber composite (CFC), leads us to suggest that, due to its greater flaw tolerance, a hierarchical microstructural design may improve the longitudinal and transverse toughness of CFC’s.
Inter-examiner reliability of the interpretation of paraspinal thermographic pattern analysis.

INTRODUCTION A few spinal manipulation techniques use paraspinal surface thermography as an examination tool that informs clinical-decision making; however, inter-examiner reliability of this interpretation has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to report inter-examiner reliability for classifying cervical paraspinal thermographic findings. METHODS Seventeen doctors of chiropractic self-reporting a minimum of 2 years of experience using thermography classified thermographic scans into categories (full pattern, partial +, partial, partial -, and adaptation). Kappa statistics (k) were calculated to determine inter-examiner reliability. RESULTS Overall inter-examiner reliability was fair (k=0.43). There was good agreement for identifying full pattern (k=0.73) and fair agreement for adaptation (k=0.55). Poor agreement was noted in partial categories (k=0.05-0.22). CONCLUSION Inter-examiner reliability demonstrated fair to good agreement for identifying comparable (full pattern) and disparate (adaptation) thermographic findings; agreement was poor for those with moderate similarity (partial). Further research is needed to determine whether thermographic findings should be used in clinical decision-making for spinal manipulation.
The muscle pedicle bone graft in the treatment of displaced fractures of the femoral neck: indications, operative technique, and results.

Summary Adherence to the time honored principles of accurate reduction, impaction, and rigid fixation in the treatment of displaced fractures of the femoral neck must be emphasized. A significant improvement in the rate of osseous union and a remarkable decrease in the incidence of late segmental collapse of the femoral head can be effected by the muscle transplant operation. The addition of supplemental bone to fill the large defect in the posterior neck of the femur in 70 per cent of our cases accelerates the speed of osseous union and enhances the chances of obtaining union.
Alcohol During Breast-Feeding and Infant Development

The relation of the mother's use of alcohol during breast feeding to the infant's development at one year of age has been investigated in 400 infants studied in the Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Department of Epidemiology and Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle.
Design considerations for neural amplifiers

The initial amplification stage is a critical element of a neural signal acquisition system, and the design of low-noise, low-power amplifiers has received a great deal of attention in recent publications. In this paper we discuss practical considerations for the design of amplifiers intended for neural interfaces. Noise is a major issue due to the low amplitude of neural signals. Practical system deployments also require adequate rejection of common-mode interference, such as that due to line power noise or muscle artifacts, and supply noise. This paper attempts to provide some guideance for system and circuit designers and point out opportunities for potential future exploration.
Targeting tumorigenicity of breast cancer stem-like cells using combination epigenetic therapy: something old and something new.

Like most other types of cancers, human breast cancer occurs as a result of a multistep process that generally consists of initiation and progression resulting from uncontrolled cell proliferation and/or aberrant apoptosis as a consequence of cumulative genetic and/or epigenetic alterations in genome.
PET imaging of 64Cu-DOTA-scFv-anti-PSMA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs): Enhanced tumor targeting over anti-PSMA scFv or untargeted LNPs.

Abstract Introduction Single chain (scFv) antibodies are ideal targeting ligands due to their modular structure, high antigen specificity and affinity. These monovalent ligands display rapid tumor targeting but have limitations due to their fast urinary clearance. Methods An anti-prostate membrane antigen (PSMA) scFv with a site-specific cysteine was expressed and evaluated in a prostate cancer xenograft model by Cu-64 PET imaging. To enhance tumor accumulation, the scFv-cys was conjugated to the co-polymer DSPE-PEG-maleimide that spontaneously assembled into a homogeneous multivalent lipid nanoparticle (LNP). Results The targeted LNP exhibited a 2-fold increase in tumor uptake compared to the scFv alone using two different thiol ester chemistries. The anti-PSMA scFv-LNP exhibited a 1.6 fold increase in tumor targeting over the untargeted LNP. Conclusions The targeted anti-PSMA scFv-LNP showed enhanced tumor accumulation over the scFv alone or the untargeted DOTA-micelle providing evidence for the development of this system for drug delivery. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care Anti-tumor scFv antibody fragments have not achieved their therapeutic potential due to their fast blood clearance. Conjugation to an LNP enables multivalency to the tumor antigen as well as increased molecular size for chemotherapy drug delivery.
Transforming Growth Factor-β in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Good, Bad, or Irrelevant?

Marfan syndrome is a multisystem disorder, but its most devastating manifestations are aortic aneurysms and dissection. This syndrome results from mutations in FBN1 , which encodes fibrillin‐1, a microfibrillar protein that decorates the surface of elastin fibers.[1][1], [2][2] Over 100 known
Ag/HfO 2 based threshold switch with extreme non-linearity for unipolar cross-point memory and steep-slope phase-FETs

We demonstrate a novel Ag/HfO 2 based threshold switch (TS) with a selectivity∼107, a high ON-state current (Ion) of 100 μA, and ∼10pA leakage current. The thresholding characteristics of the TS result from electrically triggered spontaneous formation and rupture of an Ag filament which acts an interstitial dopant in the HfO2 insulating matrix. Further, we harness the extreme non-linearity of the TS in (1) Selectors for Phase Change Memory (PCM) based cross-point memory. We show through array level simulations of a 1024kb memory, a read margin of 28% and write margin of 32% for a leakage power of ds ), and >10x Ion improvement over the conventional FET (at iso-I off ) at T=90C (50x at T=25C); making this a promising TS for both emerging memory, and steep-slope transistor applications.
Comparative Effect of Initiating Metformin Versus Sulfonylureas on Breast Cancer Risk in Older Women.

BACKGROUND Several observational studies have reported that metformin may be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer; however, many of these studies were affected by time-related biases such as immortal time bias and time-window bias. This study aimed to examine the relative risk of breast cancer for older women initiating metformin versus sulfonylureas while avoiding such biases. METHODS The study cohort consisted of women aged 65+ who initiated monotherapy with metformin (n = 45,900) or sulfonylureas (n = 13,904) and were free of cancer and renal disease within 6 months before treatment initiation using 2007-2012 US Medicare claims data. We followed treatment initiators for incident breast cancer, and estimated hazard ratios using weighted Cox models. Unmeasured confounding by body mass index and smoking was further adjusted by propensity score calibration using external information from Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey 2006-2009 panels. RESULTS During 58,835 and 16,366 person-years of follow-up, 385 initiators of metformin treatment and 95 of sulfonylurea were diagnosed with breast cancer. Metformin initiators did not have a reduced risk of breast cancer compared with sulfonylurea initiators (hazard ratio: 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.94, 1.6). Externally controlling for body mass index and smoking did not affect the estimates. CONCLUSION The findings of this study provide no support for a reduced risk of breast cancer after initiation of metformin compared with a clinical alternative in older women. This study is limited by the relatively short follow-up time and we cannot exclude the possible benefits of long-time metformin use on breast cancer risk.
Optimized color decomposition of localized whole slide images and convolutional neural network for intermediate prostate cancer classification

This paper presents a fully automatic approach to grade intermediate prostate malignancy with hematoxylin and eosin-stained whole slide images. Deep learning architectures such as convolutional neural networks have been utilized in the domain of histopathology for automated carcinoma detection and classification. However, few work show its power in discriminating intermediate Gleason patterns, due to sporadic distribution of prostate glands on stained surgical section samples. We propose optimized hematoxylin decomposition on localized images, followed by convolutional neural network to classify Gleason patterns 3+4 and 4+3 without handcrafted features or gland segmentation. Crucial glands morphology and structural relationship of nuclei are extracted twice in different color space by the multi-scale strategy to mimic pathologists’ visual examination. Our novel classification scheme evaluated on 169 whole slide images yielded a 70.41% accuracy and corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.7247.
Measuring the effect of a Western diet on liver tissue architecture by FLIM autofluorescence and harmonic generation microscopy.

The phasor approach to auto-fluorescence lifetime imaging was used to identify and characterize a long lifetime species (LLS) (~7.8 ns) in livers of mice fed with a Western diet. The size of the areas containing this LLS species depends on the type of diet and the size distribution shows Western diet has much larger LLS sizes. Combination of third harmonic generation images with FLIM identified the LLS species with fat droplets and the droplet size distribution was estimated. Second harmonic generation microscopy combined with phasor FLIM shows that there is an increase in fibrosis with a Western diet. A new decomposition in three components of the phasor plot shows that a Western diet is correlated with a higher fraction of free NADH, signifying more reducing condition and more glycolytic condition. Multiparametric analysis of phasor distribution shows that from the distribution of phasor points, a Western diet fed versus a low fat diet fed samples of mice livers can be separated. The phasor approach for the analysis of FLIM images of autofluorescence in liver specimens can result in discovery of new fluorescent species and then these new fluorescent species can help assess tissue architecture. Finally integrating FLIM and second and third.
Adaptive optics improves multiphoton super-resolution imaging

We improve multiphoton structured illumination microscopy using a nonlinear guide star to determine optical aberrations and a deformable mirror to correct them. We demonstrate our method on bead phantoms, cells in collagen gels, nematode larvae and embryos, Drosophila brain, and zebrafish embryos. Peak intensity is increased (up to 40-fold) and resolution recovered (up to 176 ± 10 nm laterally, 729 ± 39 nm axially) at depths ∼250 μm from the coverslip surface.
Bringing Light to the Lives of the Shadow Ghosts, Phausis inaccensa (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Over 13 seasons, from 1992 to 2016, field studies detailing the life habits of Phausis inaccensa LeConte were carried out primarily in Mississippi and Tennessee with additional data from Arkansas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Minnesota. From late March to May in the southern states, ≈45 minutes after sunset, apterous, neotenic females emerge from their daytime shelters in the leaf litter, glow from two spots at the end of their upturned abdomens, and attract flying, lanternless males. Signaling females, often in loose groupings of three to four, attract multiple males that land near (60 mm, SD 15) but not directly on them. Male activity was greatest from 30 to 60 minutes after sunset, and ended by two hours past sunset. Unmated females displayed longer (from 90 minutes to all night) than the mated females, which typically displayed for a shorter time. Eighty percent of the females signaled and mated on a single night. Mating durations were brief, averaging eight minutes when one male was present, but significantly longer (12–45 minutes) when more than one male was present. In captivity, both males and females mated multiple times. More than 90% of the males and 70% of the females were active during the three-week period that equaled about 450–500 modified growing degree days Fahrenheit. Northern populations showed a different seasonality, but similar habits. Females lived an average of 14 days in captivity, oviposited clutches of 20–30 round pale eggs, 0.5 mm diameter, and exhibited maternal care and guarding of their eggs until their death six to nine days after oviposition. Larvae, 1.57 mm, emerged in 34–37 days. We compare these observations with similar and often sympatric Phausis reticulata Say, the Blue Ghost firefly, whose males glow during their flights in search of females.
The IDEA Model as a Best Practice for Effective Instructional Risk and Crisis Communication

This study presents the IDEA (internalization, distribution, explanation, action) model as an easy-to-use and situationally generalizable framework for quickly developing effective messages instructing people on how to protect themselves before and during high-risk events, crises, disasters, and other emergencies. The model consists of four elements: helping message recipients internalize the potential impact of the risk or crisis event, identifying appropriate channels and strategies for distributing the risk or crisis event messages, offering a brief and intelligible explanation of the nature of the risk or crisis, and providing specific self-protective action steps for people to take. The model may be used to design messages in any risk, crisis, or emergency context. Through a posttest-only quasi-experimental cross-sectional research experiment, this study measured the perceived message effectiveness, cognitive understanding, and behavioral intentions of those viewing a television news story about a cr...
Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs and Postoperative Pulmonary Complications

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief review of the literature around the relationship between the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs and subsequent postoperative pulmonary complications. A recent series of retrospective studies evaluating the use of neuromuscular blocking agents and postoperative complications have demonstrated growing evidence for a clear relationship between the use of the agents and downstream complications. The frequency of postoperative respiratory problems seems to be mitigated to some degree through the appropriate use of reversal agents. Care should be exercised when administering neuromuscular blocking agents during surgical procedures. Appropriate monitoring of neuromuscular transmission should be used along with a strategy to provide adequate reversal at the end of the surgical procedure.
Potential of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a Supplementary Cementitious Material in Concrete

Supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is often used to make concrete more durable by improving its mechanistic properties. Rice husk ash (RHA) has the potential of being a SCM because of its pozzolanic activity. Arkansas produces a huge amount of RHA, which mostly originates from the world’s largest rice miller, Riceland Foods, Inc. The RHA produced here is treated as an agricultural waste product and stored in nearby temporary storages, resulting in costly disposal processes as well as environmental hazards. Because the potential of this local RHA as a SCM has not been studied in the past, the present research study aims at exploring the potential of RHA as SCM through laboratory-based experiments. Three different graded RHA (600-RHA, 150-RHA, and 44-RHA) were incorporated in this study. The 600-RHA and 150-RHA were coarse in nature as they had a particle size of 600 μm and 150 μm, respectively, and did not meet the AASHTO M 321-04, Standard Specification for High-Reactivity Pozzolans for Use in Hydraulic-Cement Concrete, Mortar, and Grout, specification. The 600-RHA sample was collected from a plant site and was further ground to produce the 150-RHA sample. The 44-RHA sample was obtained from a commercial industry, and it was incorporated in this study for comparative analyses. Each type of RHA with two different percentages (10 % and 20 %) of replacement of Type I Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) was investigated in this research. It was found that coarser RHA-modified concrete (600-RHA and 150-RHA) showed reduced strength properties while finer RHA (44-RHA) exhibited improved concrete properties. As a result, 44-RHA can be used as SCM in replacement of the OPC. The coarse RHA could be utilized in backfill and flowable fill as controlled low strength material. Further grinding of the coarse RHA followed by burning may improve the properties of modified concrete.
Differentially regulated genes in Esr2-mutant rat granulosa cells

RNA seq analyses were performed in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from gonadotropin treated ESR2 mutant rats. Data obtained from a null mutant with Esr2 exon 3 deletion (∆3) and another DNA binding domain (DBD) mutant with exon 4 deletion (∆4) were compared to that of wildtype (WT) rats. The raw data were analyzed using CLC genomics workbench. High quality RNA-sequencing reads were aligned to the Rattus norvegicus genome. Differentially expressed genes in ∆3 or ∆4 Esr2-mutant GCs were identified based on the following criteria: FDR p-Value ≤0.05 and an absolute fold change of 2. Fewer differentially expressed genes were identified in ∆3 compared to the ∆4 mutant group. As both mutant groups demonstrated a common phenotype of ovulation failure, differentially expressed genes common to both in ∆3 and ∆4 mutant rats were emphasized and further analyzed in the companion article "ESR2 regulates granulosa cell genes essential for follicle maturation and ovulation" [1].
Enhanced Staining for Leu Ml (CD 15) in Hodgkin’s Disease Using a Secondary Antibody Specific for Immunoglobulin M

The utility of staining for Leu Ml (CD15) as a diagnostic aid in Hodgkin’s disease has been questioned because of a relative lack of specificity and sensitivity. Furthermore, interpretation is often made difficult by staining that tends to be weak and focal. Because the murine monoclonal anti-Leu Ml antibody is of immunoglobulin M type, it is reasonable to wonder whether improved immunohistochemical staining might result from use of a secondary goat antibody specific for the mouse mu heavy chain instead of the traditional one against mouse immunoglobulin. The two methods were compared, using a biotin-avidin detection system, on paraffin sections from 15 cases of Hodgkin’s disease: 9 nodular sclerosing, 1 mixed cellularity, and 5 of nodular lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) type. In the nodular sclerosing/mixed cellularity group, the mu-specific detection method resuited in a greater number of cases with reactive Hodgkin’s cells (7 versus 5), stained an average of more than three times as many neoplastic cells in each case (49% versus 14%), and usually produced staining that was distinctly more intense, often in a membrane and paranuclear distribution characteristic of Leu Ml in Hodgkin’s cells. In the noLeu Ml in Hodgkin’s cells. In the nodular L&H group, 1 case showed weak, focal staining with the newer method. None of the L&H cases stained using the traditional technique. It is concluded that use of a second-stage antibody that is directed specifically against mu heavy chains results in an improvement in immunohistochemical staining for Leu Ml in paraffin sections, which is of practical significance.
Two-loop soft anomalous dimensions and next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm resummation for heavy quark production.

I present results for two-loop soft anomalous dimensions for heavy quark production which control soft-gluon resummation at next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy. I derive an explicit expression for the exact result and study it numerically for top quark production via e{sup +}e{sup -}{yields}tt, and I construct a surprisingly simple but very accurate approximation. I show that the two-loop soft anomalous dimensions with massive quarks display a simple proportionality relation to the one-loop result only in the limit of vanishing quark mass. I also discuss the extension of the calculation to single top and top pair production in hadron colliders.
Gene therapy, neurotrophic factors and spinal cord regeneration

Significant advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms that limit axon regeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system and in addressing some of the obstacles for axon growth. Despite this progress numerous challenges remain to achieve regeneration of a large number of axons sufficient to mediate functional improvement. Given the complexity of injury-induced changes in axon, cell body, and parenchyma surrounding a spinal cord lesion, it seems likely that multiple factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to injured neurons have to be addressed to augment axon regeneration and useful reorganization of spared circuitry. Neurotrophic factors have been shown to be one potent means to increase the number and range of regenerating axons, to guide regenerating axons across a lesion site, and to augment regenerative cell body responses to injury. In this chapter we will review the potential and current limitations of neurotrophic factors and gene therapy, in combination with cellular transplants, for axon regeneration and sprouting in the injured spinal cord.
Overview of Spinal Cord Injury

In this article, the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury is reviewed in terms of basic demographic data and etiology. The increasing importance of nontraumatic causes is also highlighted. Recent studies have provided interesting information on life expectancy, causes of death, and costs of care. These data form the basis for health care planning and can be useful as baseline comparisons for intervention studies.
Policing Blacks in Guangzhou: How Public Security Constructs Africans as Sanfei:

This article looks at the role of Guangzhou’s Public Security Bureau in constructing Africans in the city as “triple illegal,” or sanfei 三非. The term refers to those who enter, stay, and work in Ch...
Radiation and the heart: systematic review of dosimetry and cardiac endpoints.

Introduction: Recent trials in radiotherapy have associated heart dose and survival, inadequately explained by the existing literature for radiation-related late cardiac effects. Authors aimed to ...
Evaluation of QT Liability for PF-05251749 in the Presence of Potential Circadian Rhythm Modification.

PF-05251749 is a dual inhibitor of casein kinase 1 δ/e, key regulators of circadian rhythm. As a result of its mechanism of action, PF-05251749 may also change the heart rate corrected QT (QTc) circadian rhythm, which may confound detection of drug-induced QTc prolongation. In this analysis, a nonlinear mixed effect model including a multioscillator function was developed in addition to fitting the prespecified linear mixed effect concentration-QTc model, to identify QTc liability of PF-05251749 in the presence of potential circadian rhythm change. The modeling results suggested lack of clinically meaningful QTc prolongation (upper bound of 90% confidence interval for ∆∆QTc < 10 milliseconds) and that the drug-induced QTc circadian rhythm change was not present. However, simulation results indicated that inference of drug-induced QTc prolongation could be misleading if the drug effect on QTc circadian rhythm is not properly addressed. The modeling and simulation results suggest that prespecification of the concentration-QTc model should be reconsidered for drugs with circadian rhythm modulation potential.
The Theory of Probability: Explorations and Applications

From classical foundations to advanced modern theory, this self-contained and comprehensive guide to probability weaves together mathematical proofs, historical context and richly detailed illustrative applications. A theorem discovery approach is used throughout, setting each proof within its historical setting and is accompanied by a consistent emphasis on elementary methods of proof. Each topic is presented in a modular framework, combining fundamental concepts with worked examples, problems and digressions which, although mathematically rigorous, require no specialised or advanced mathematical background. Augmenting this core material are over 80 richly embellished practical applications of probability theory, drawn from a broad spectrum of areas both classical and modern, each tailor-made to illustrate the magnificent scope of the formal results. Providing a solid grounding in practical probability, without sacrificing mathematical rigour or historical richness, this insightful book is a fascinating reference and essential resource, for all engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians.
Timing of Intubation and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Objectives To examine whether increasing time between admission and intubation was associated with mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent mechanical ventilation. Design Retrospective cohort study of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who were admitted between January 30, 2020, and April 30, 2020, and underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation prior to May 1, 2020. Patients were followed up through August 15, 2020. Setting Five hospitals within the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, NY. Patients Adult patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation. Interventions Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Measurements and main results The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A hospital-stratified time-varying Cox model was used to evaluate the effect of time from admission to intubation on in-hospital death. A total of 755 adult patients out of 5,843 admitted with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection underwent tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation during the study period. The median age of patients was 65 years (interquartile range, 56-72 yr) and 64% were male. As of the time of follow-up, 121 patients (16%) who were intubated and mechanically ventilated had been discharged home, 512 (68%) had died, 113 (15%) had been discharged to a skilled nursing facility, and 9 (1%) remained in the hospital. The median time from admission to intubation was 2.3 days (interquartile range, 0.6-6.3 d). Each additional day between hospital admission and intubation was significantly associated with higher in-hospital death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05). Conclusions Among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who were intubated and mechanically ventilated, intubation earlier in the course of hospital admission may be associated with improved survival.
Car Seats as Contraception

Since 1977, U.S. states have passed laws steadily raising the age for which a child must ride in a car safety seat. These laws significantly raise the cost of having a third child, as many regular-sized cars cannot fit three child seats in the back. Using census data and state-year variation in laws, we estimate that when women have two children of ages requiring mandated car seats, they have a lower annual probability of giving birth by 0.73 percentage points. Consistent with a causal channel, this effect is limited to third child births, is concentrated in households with access to a car, and is larger when a male is present (when both front seats are likely to be occupied). We estimate that these laws prevented only 57 car crash fatalities of children nationwide in 2017. Simultaneously, they led to a permanent reduction of approximately 8,000 births in the same year, and 145,000 fewer births since 1980, with 90% of this decline being since 2000.
Collaborative Situational Awareness for Conflict-Aware Flight Planning

In autonomous air-traffic management scenarios of the future, manned and unmanned aircraft will be able to safely navigate through the National Airspace System, independent of centralized air-traffic controllers. They will do this by sharing critical data necessary for maintaining standard separation with each other. Under such conditions, every aircraft must have sufficient knowledge about other aircraft sharing the airspace to operate safely. In this paper, we specify a safe state of knowledge that is necessary for aircraft to operate safely in the absence of a centralized air-traffic controller and present a distributed knowledge propagation protocol to attain this safe state. This protocol can be used by network-connected aircraft to achieve collaborative situational awareness for cooperative flight planning. We identify certain system conditions necessary to guarantee two correctness properties for our protocol – safety and progress. We use the TLA + Specification Language to formally specify our protocol, the correctness properties, and the conditions necessary to guarantee the properties. Using the formal specifications, we also provide mechanically-verified proofs of the correctness properties in the TLA + Proof System.
Characterization of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a university hospital, United States

To the editor, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of health care infection in the United States. Infections are frequently severe with a higher mortality rate than patients wit...
“The Last Refuge of the Incompetent”: Urban Teacher Perceptions of Their Positions in Public Discourse

We present one subset of findings from a larger study of twenty-one practicing urban teachers regarding their perceptions of their positioning in public discourses. We begin with a general introduc...
Case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Myocarditis Managed With Biventricular Impella Support

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a pandemic that has taken the world by storm. We present the only contemporary reported case of COVID-19 myocarditis leading to recovery with utilization of biventricular Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) for temporary mechanical circulatory support. A 35-year-old female with systemic sclerosis who was found to have five days of generalized malaise associated with fevers and cough. She tested positive for COVID-19 via nasal polymerase chain reaction. Cardiac enzymes were found elevated on admission. Invasive hemodynamics assessment was significant for elevated right and left-sided filling pressures, along with calculated cardiac index of 1.3 L/min/m2. Decision was made to place right and left-sided ventricular support with percutaneous Impella for mechanical circulatory support. She was started on intravenous immunoglobulin for suspected COVID-19 myocarditis along with remdesivir and solumedrol. After two weeks of continuous temporary mechanical circulatory support, the patient's hemodynamics improved and she was discharged. Repeat echocardiogram demonstrated normalization of left ventricular function.
Designing An Augmented Reality Based Interface For Wearable Exoskeletons

Full-body, powered wearable exoskeletons combine the capabilities of machines and humans to maximize productivity. Powered exoskeletons can ease industrial workers in manipulating heavy loads in a ...