cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistence of metabolic consequences in the progeny of rats fed a HC formula in their early postnatal life

First-generation (1-) male and female rat pups were either reared artificially on a high-carbohydrate (HC) or a high-fat (HF) formula or nursed by mother (MF) from day 4 and weaned onto a stock diet on day 24. 1-HC rats compared with sex-matched control rats (1-HF and 1-MF) were hyperinsulinemic and mildly obese by day 60. We investigated the effect of maternal hyperinsulinemia on the second generation (2-) by intragroup breeding. The 2-HC male and female rats were hyperinsulinemic on day 45, had significantly increased growth rate from approximately day 60 onward, and became obese as evidenced by increased adipose tissue mass due to hypertrophy on day 100. The lipogenic capacity of liver and adipose tissues was significantly higher in the 2-HC than in control rats. Thus the metabolic changes that occurred in the first-generation rats fed a HC formula during early postnatal life not only persisted into their adult life but were also passed on to the next generation.
PEROXIDATION AND LYSOSOMES IN NUTRITIONAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY OF CHICKS.

SummaryMuscle tissues of chicks with nutritional muscular dystrophy produced by feeding a diet deficient in Vit. E and sulfur amino acids and stressed with excess dietary linoleic acid showed significant increases in per oxidation as evidenced by TBA index and also showed increased activities of the lysosomal enzymes. Addition of DL-methionine or d-a-tocopheryl acetate to the deficient diet prevented the dystrophy, reduced the peroxidation and reduced the lysosomal enzyme activities.
Patient Ethnicity Affects Triage Assessments and Patient Prioritization in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Departments.

AbstractEthnic minority patients receive lower priority triage assignments in Veteran's Affairs (VA) emergency departments (EDs) compared to White patients, but it is currently unknown whether this disparity arises from generalized biases across the triage assessment process or from differences in h
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography Approaches to Imaging Vascular and Cardiac Inflammation

Inflammation plays a significant role in a wide range of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The numerous implications of inflammation in all steps of CVDs, including initiation, progression and complications, have prompted the emergence of noninvasive imaging modalities as diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring tools. In this review, we first synthesize the existing evidence on the role of inflammation in vascular and cardiac diseases, in order to identify the main targets used in noninvasive imaging. We chose to focus on positron emission tomographic (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, which offer the greatest potential of translation and clinical application. We detail the main preclinical and clinical studies in the following CVDs: coronary and vascular atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysms, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and acute heart transplant rejection. We highlight the potential complementary roles of these imaging modalities, which are currently being studied in the emerging technology of PET/MRI. Finally, we provide a perspective on innovations and future applications of noninvasive imaging of cardiovascular inflammation. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1269-1277).
THE MICROTUBULE CYTOSKELETON IN HUMAN PHAGOCYTIC LEUKOCYTES IS A HIGHLY DYNAMIC STRUCTURE

The microtubule cytoskeleton of human leukocytes has been difficult to study, in part, due to the lack of a reliable protocol for the indirect immunofluorescence staining of microtubules in these cells. We report here the development of a simple and reliable immunocytochemical labeling protocol for the examination of microtubules in leukocytes including monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. The dynamic properties of microtubules in both monocytes and neutrophils were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining of cells following exposure to nocodazole. Nocodazole-induced depolymerization is extremely rapid in both cell types, as is the regrowth of microtubules following removal of the nocodazole. Rapid reorganization of the microtubule cytoskeleton was also observed in neutrophils undergoing chemotactic stimulation. Bundling of microtubules was observed in both monocytes and neutrophils isolated from patients undergoing taxol infusion chemotherapy. The taxol-induced bundles were transient in nature as they were absent from samples collected 48 h following the completion of the taxol infusion. These results demonstrate the unique dynamic properties of leukocyte microtubules and indicate that they can be altered in vivo. The development of this staining protocol should allow for the further analysis of leukocyte microtubules as related to the normal functional response of these cells and form the basis for correlating alterations in microtubule dynamics with the effects of taxol on leukocyte function.
First-order contests for second-order parties? Differentiated candidate nomination strategies in European Parliament elections

This article examines an alternative logic for candidate renomination to the European Parliament (EP), based upon the size and ideological nature of a Member of the European Parliament’s (MEP’s) home party, as well as timing of EP elections. I derive expectations from the second-order election hypothesis to show that parties from outside of the national mainstream should expect to benefit disproportionately from EP elections and therefore renominate experienced incumbents at higher rates. Using original data on the career behaviour of MEPs during the 2009 and 2014 elections, I find that such parties are more likely to treat EP contests as ‘first order’ in their importance, particularly when European elections are held during the midterm period of the national election cycle. My findings have new implications for the differentiated volatility of the EP, specifically, as well as for internal party dynamics in multi-level systems, more generally.
Impact of Parallel Micro-Engineered Stent Grooves on Endothelial Cell Migration, Proliferation, and Function An In Vivo Correlation Study of the Healing Response in the Coronary Swine Model

Background—Stent luminal surface characteristics influence surface endothelialization. We hypothesize that luminal stent microgrooves created in the direction of coronary flow accelerate endothelial cell migration, resulting in lower levels of neointimal formation. Methods and Results—Surface coverage efficiency was evaluated in vitro by allowing human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) to migrate onto microgrooved (G) or smooth (NG) surfaces. HAEC functionality was assessed by proliferation rate, apoptosis rate, nitric oxide production, and inflammatory markers TNF-α and VCAM-1 expression. Early endothelialization and restenosis studies were performed using the porcine coronary injury model. Stainless steel stents of identical design with (GS) and without (NGS) luminal microgrooves were used. The commercially available Multi-Link Vision (MLVS) stent of identical design was used as a control. The degree of GS and NGS surface endothelialization was compared at 3 days. Biocompatibility and tissue response outc...
Hesperogaulus, a new genus of mylagaulid rodent (Mammalia) from the Miocene (Barstovian to Hemphillian) of the Great Basin

A new genus of mylagaluid rodent from the Miocene of the Great Basin, Hesperogaulus, is described, and to it two new species, H. gazini and H. wilsoni (type species) are referred. This genus differs from all other genera of later Tertiary mylagaulines in having: large bosses of rugose bone on the anterior end of the nasal bones; lower slope of the occipital bone; and unique separation of the anterior branches of the forked parafossette on the upper premolar. Hepserogaulus n. gen. represents a distinct lineage of mylagaulids that has been separate from other members of the family since the early Barstovian. This genus is geographically limited to the Great Basin. Other later Tertiary genera of mylagaulids show geographic limitations to other parts of the continent as well.
Prostate imaging reporting and data system version 2 (PI-RADS v2): a pictorial review

The most recent edition of the prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS version 2) was developed based on expert consensus of the international working group on prostate cancer. It provides the minimum acceptable technical standards for MR image acquisition and suggests a structured method for multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) reporting. T1-weighted, T2-weighted (T2W), diffusion-weighted (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging are the suggested sequences to include in mpMRI. The PI-RADS version 2 scoring system enables the reader to assess and rate all focal lesions detected at mpMRI to determine the likelihood of a clinically significant cancer. According to PI-RADS v2, a lesion with a Gleason score ≥7, volume >0.5 cc, or extraprostatic extension is considered clinically significant. PI-RADS v2 uses the concept of a dominant MR sequence based on zonal location of the lesion rather than summing each component score, as was the case in version 1. The dominant sequence in the peripheral zone is DWI and the corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, with a secondary role for DCE in equivocal cases (PI-RADS score 3). For lesions in the transition zone, T2W images are the dominant sequence with DWI/ADC images playing a supporting role in the case of an equivocal lesion.
Ionic Liquids: Applications by Computational Design

Ionic liquids (ILs) are molten salts that exist as liquids at relatively low temperatures and have unique properties. The most exciting aspect of ILs is the opportunity to fine-tune their physicochemical and thermodynamic properties based on careful selection of cations and anions. There are no limits to the number of possible IL combinations as there are a large number of cation and anion variants that can be combined together to form binary and ternary ionic liquids. To effectively identify task-specific ILs, we propose a computer-aided ionic liquid design (CAILD) approach with an aim to screen thousands of IL combinations to identify optimal candidates for a given application. We present a novel approach that uses the concept of group contribution modeling to predict surface charge density of ionic liquid structures generated by DFT calculations, which is further combined with COSMO-SAC model to enable thermodynamic property predictions of systems involving ionic liquids without any need for experimental data. This allows us to consider more diverse set of ionic liquids for design purposes. In this chapter, we summarize these methodological advancements and present two proof-of-concept case studies. Keywords: ionic liquids; computer aided ionic liquid design; group contribution; solvents; structure optimization
Mathematical Formulation and Numerical Solution

In this chapter, the mathematical formulation of the convective heat transfer problem is presented. The governing equations for natural convection in two-dimensional fluid and saturated porous layers are described first. Thereafter the boundary conditions for the problem are elucidated. In particular, boundary conditions at the interface of the fluid and porous layers are discussed in detail. The one-domain formulation is then derived, and the governing equations are presented in dimensionless form using the vorticity-stream function formulation.
Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Research: Issues, Opportunities, and the National Institutes of Health StrokeNet.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Although numerous therapies have been developed over the past 10 years to treat acute ischemic stroke, the stark reality remains that only 5% of these patients are so treated in the United States,1 in part, because of treatment window times <3 to 6 hours post-onset, and many of these 5% nonetheless have significant long-term disability. Acute treatment options after hemorrhagic stroke remain limited.2 In parallel with efforts to further develop acute stroke interventions, researchers are studying recovery and rehabilitation treatments, which can have a treatment time window measured in days, weeks, or months poststroke. To achieve this goal, therapies aim to maximize function in brain areas that survive the stroke or provide compensatory approaches to improve overall function. Strategies targeting recovery and rehabilitation must be seen as distinct from acute stroke therapies, such as reperfusion or neuroprotection, where the strategy is to limit the severity of ischemic injury, including preserving penumbral tissue and reducing infarct size. Preclinical and translational research have successfully identified numerous molecular and physiological events spontaneously arising in the nervous system during the days-to-weeks after an infarct, and, subsequently, potential restorative therapies that target these events to improve long-term behavioral outcomes.3,4 In parallel, a burgeoning volume of data from human subjects has emerged regarding mechanisms of recovery from stroke. Together, these efforts inform translation into clinical studies for several classes of therapy, including small molecules, growth factors, stem cells, monoclonal antibodies, brain stimulation, robotics and other devices, cognitive strategies, intensive training, and telerehabilitation.5,6 The majority of patients with stroke survive the initial event but go on to live with significant disability for many years. Indeed, there are >7 million stroke survivors …
Prevalence of Measurable Disease in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

Abstract Background Because of the low historical prevalence of measurable disease in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), phase II trials have used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and bone scan changes as primary end points. Frequent whole-body imaging and improved computed tomography technology currently identify measurable disease more frequently, warranting consideration of objective response as a major end point. Patients and Methods Data from reported phase III trials of mCRPC were analyzed. The proportion of patients with measurable disease, setting (pre-docetaxel [D], D-based, post-D), year of starting accrual, PSA, and the requirement for symptoms were collected. The χ 2 test was used to evaluate the association of variables with measurable disease rate. Results Twenty phase III trials totaling 19,276 men with mCRPC were evaluable. Three trials (n = 1289) started accruing before 2000 and 17 trials (n = 17,987) accrued after 2000. The proportion of measurable disease rate for all trials was 47.5%. The measurable disease rate was significantly higher ( P P Conclusion The proportion of men with measurable disease was significantly higher in phase III trials of mCRPC that accrued after 2000, in D-based or post-D patients and in trials that allowed symptomatic patients. Because of the association of objective measurable changes with survival, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors changes might warrant consideration as a major end point in phase II trials to obtain a firm signal of efficacy before launching phase III trials.
On the Nature of the Posthypnotic Suggestion

A number of colleagues have discussed various aspects of hypnosis but, for the most part, we have tended to avoid defining operationally what we mean by hypnosis. Often we may not be aware that we have avoided doing so because of the comfortable knowledge that investigators, clinicians, and even laymen will manifest a high degree of consensus about what constitutes hypnosis. Certainly, when an individual agrees to be hypnotized and the hypnotist has carried out a hypnotic induction procedure and then demonstrated that the subject becomes essentially unresponsive to environmental stimuli other than the hypnotist’s voice or appropriate suggestions—seems unable to open a clenched fist or bend a straightened arm, is able to sniff a bottle of ammonia with obvious expressions of delight because he has been told the odour was that of a rose, remains relaxed and comfortable despite the application of noxious stimuli, hallucinates objects that are not there while failing to see other objects which he has been told are absent, and, finally, having been told that subsequent to awakening he would nod if the hypnotist removes his glasses, awakens with no apparent recall for any of the events that have transpired yet nods, apparently without awareness of his behaviour, each time the hypnotist removes his glasses—we would all agree that the subject had been deeply hypnotized.
Long-term photoreceptor transplants in dystrophic and normal mouse retina

Purpose. To determine the long-term status of transgenic photoreceptors transplanted to the subretinal space of both rd mutant (receptorless) and normal mouse retina. Methods. Microaggregates of neural retina from transgenic mice containing lacZ-labeled photoreceptors were transplanted to the subretinal space of adult rd mutant and normal mice. The transplant site was examined by light and electron microscopy at monthly intervals up to 9 months after transplantation surgery. Results. Photoreceptors develop and survive well if transplanted with the proper orientation to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The status of the photoreceptors, including outer segments and synaptic terminals, appear normal for at least 9 months after transplantation; they continue to express the lacZ reporter gene. Cones survive as well as rods. Transplants to the normal mouse develop normally, whereas the host photoreceptors displaced from the RPE degenerate. A barrier, formed by Muller cell processes, develops after photoreceptor degeneration in both normal and rd mouse retina and demarcates host from transplant tissue. Areas can be found in which neural processes have penetrated this barrier. There is no evidence of host—graft rejection. Conclusion. Transplanted progenitor photoreceptors develop and survive well for long periods of time in either the rd mutant or normal retina if they are properly positioned. In the former, they reconstitute a photoreceptor layer; in the latter, they replace the host photoreceptor layer, which degenerates after being displaced from the RPE. Areas of potential contact between donor and host neurons exist in these transplants. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1994;35:3145-3153.
Digital Study of the Protestant Market: Taipei and Provincial Capital Cities in China's Southeast Coast as Case Studies

Addressing the digital and spatial study of the Protestant market in Taiwan and mainland China is pioneering attempt to enhance the Christian study in Asia. The article selects Taipei and China's five additional provincial capital cities in the southeast coast to calculate and map the supply-side and demand-side of the Protestant market in the early of 21st century. Utilizing the digital and spatial methods, the article provides a comparative perspective in measuring the Protestant density, accessibility and availability of Taipei and five capital cities in China's southeast coast. The article concludes that in light of a democratic society with a religious freedom policy, Taipei has enjoyed a healthy Protestant market demonstrated by its better Protestant density, accessibility and availability.
Preparing Literacy Professionals: The Case of Dyslexia:

In this article, I discuss implications of the discourse and rhetoric of dyslexia advocacy and of recent state policies for the preparation of literacy professionals. I then synthesize reflections ...
Correction to: Linguistic convention and worldly fact

The original publication of the article contains two formatting errors, the second of which significantly inhibits readability.
Is Inpatient Volume Or Emergency Department Crowding A Greater Driver Of Ambulance Diversion

Inpatient volume has long been believed to be a contributing factor to ambulance diversion, which can lead to delayed treatment and poorer outcomes. We examined the extent to which both daily inpat...
Embedding Sustainability in the Entrepreneurship Curriculum

The sustainability revolution requires a paradigmatic shift in the way entrepreneurship education is delivered. There are ample opportunities to introduce sustainability concepts into the entrepreneurship curriculum since they employ innovation and creativity in both product/service and business model applications. Increased demand for clean, renewable energy, abundant safe drinking water, and healthy products give rise to innovations in the use of biomimicry, green chemistry, green supply chains, and building design. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) developed by the United Nations provide a platform from which entrepreneurial opportunities emerge. Although the entrepreneurial process may be the same, sustainability requires changes in business plan or business model development. A case study of how sustainability is embedded in the entrepreneurship curriculum in a public university in the United States is provided.
Inhibition of aldose reductase activity stimulates starvation induced autophagy and clears aldehyde protein adducts.

Abstract Autophagy is a dynamic recycling process that eliminates damaged proteins and cellular organelles to maintain cellular homeostasis. Aldose reductase (AR) catalyzes conversion of glucose to sorbitol. It also catalyzes the reduction of a broad array of saturated and unsaturated aldehydes. Recently we demonstrated that deletion of AR promotes pathological cardiac remodeling via excessive autophagy; however, the role of AR in starvation-induced autophagy has not been determined. To determine the role of AR in starvation-induced autophagy, WTC57/Bl6 mice were pretreated with the AR inhibitor sorbinil (0.2 g/L for 48 h) in drinking water, followed by 24 h fasting. We found that the sorbinil pretreatment in fed mice did not affect blood glucose levels, whereas, it decreased the blood glucose levels in fasting mice. In comparison with fed mice, the LC3II formation and LCII/LCI ratio were increased in the fasted mice hearts and sorbinil pretreatment further enhanced LC3II formation and LC3II/LC3I ratios in these hearts. Fasting-induced autophagy coincided with AMPK activation in the sorbinil pretreated fasted mice hearts. Autophagy and activation of AMPK was also induced in the gastrocnemius skeletal muscle of sorbinil pre-treated fasted mice. Induction of autophagy in the cardiac tissues of sorbinil pretreated fasted mice was accompanied by increased clearance of 4-hydroxytrans-2-nonenal-protein adducts. Taken together, these results indicate that the inhibition of AR during fasting activates autophagic response, increases clearance of aldehyde-protein adducts, which could serve as a mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis during starvation.
Experimental Evaluation of Engineered Cementitious Composites as Reflective Crack Control Interlayer for Composite Pavements

Reflective cracking at transverse joints is considered as a predominant distress in composite pavements. Various interlayers have been used previously to prevent or retard reflective cracking. Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) is a special type of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious material that is expected to perform better as an interlayer due to its higher tensile strength and ductility. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ECC as an interlayer system experimentally. A laboratory test protocol was designed to simulate repeated traffic loads to measure the fatigue performance of ECC interlayer system using digital image correlation (DIC) technique. It was found that the composite pavement specimens with ECC interlayer provided significantly higher fatigue life as compared to the control specimens without interlayer. This result indicates that ECC could be used as a potential effective interlayer system to retard or mitigate reflective cracking.
Inflation and Retirement Annuities

The only retirement contract that both insures against longevity risk and hedges against inflation is a life annuity that is linked to the consumer price index (CPI). It is denominated in the same units of account as Social Security benefits. We call it a “real annuity,” although it is also referred to as an inflation-indexed single-premium immediate annuity (SPIA). In computing a person’s replacement ratio of preretirement income, we can add Social Security benefits and the income produced by a real annuity to arrive at a meaningful number. An annuity that is not linked to the CPI we call a “nominal annuity.” It is measured in units that are different from Social Security, so it would be a mistake to add the two in computing a replacement ratio. Despite those obvious facts, real annuities are largely ignored in practice and they comprise a tiny portion of the annuities market. The vast majority of income annuities sold are fixed in nominal dollars. From the perspective of rational economic decision-making, this is a puzzle. Let’s call it the “nominal annuity puzzle.” The purpose of this article is to explore the reasons behind this puzzle and to suggest ways to solve it.
Effects of Lactic Acid Dipped Beef Trim Stored 24 or 48 H and Chub Storage Duration on Ground Beef Color in Retail Display

ObjectivesThe study evaluated objective and subjective retail display color of ground beef produced from beef trim treated with or without lactic acid dip and stored 24 or 48 h prior to chub packaging and storage for 7, 14, or 21 d.Materials and MethodsGround beef produced from trim treated (TRT) with lactic acid dip (LA) or without (CON) and stored 24 h (24TS) or 48 h (48TS) was used. Samples (n = 84; 21/TRT, TS combination) were chub vacuum packaged (4.54 kg) and stored for 7, 14, or 21 d (CS) and finely ground when storage time completed. Ground beef was placed on a polystyrene tray overwrapped with low-barrier polyvinylchloride film. Packages were displayed for 3 d (2 to 3°C) under continuous fluorescent lighting. CIE L* a* b* values were taken daily during simulated retail display to calculate hue angle (tan–1 a/b) and saturation index [(a2 + b2)1/2]. Trained panelists (n = 6) evaluated worst-point lean color daily during retail display with an 8-point verbally anchored numeric scale with 0.5 increment scores (1 = very bright red, 8 = tan to brown). Data were analyzed as a split plot design with whole plot as a 2 × 2 factorial of TS and TRT and subplot combined CS with retail day.ResultsVisual color scores and L* values differed (P 0.05) across CS, but LA treated chubs were more red (P 0.05) hue angles and were less discolored (P 0.05) between LA and CON within CS after 0 d of display. Saturation index, or vividness, for 7 d stored chubs decreased (P 0.05) within d 2 and 3 of display. At initial display, chubs treated with LA were more vivid (P 0.05) within CS at d 1 and 3 of display. Chubs stored 7 d were more vivid (P 0.05) at d 1, 2, and 3 of display. The vividness of LA treated chubs was greater (P 0.05) within chubs stored 7 and 21 d at retail d 1 and 2 of display, but no redness differences (P > 0.05) within CS were observed at d 3 of display. Saturation index and a* values decreased (P 0.05) between d 2 and 3 of display. L* and b* values indicated LA treated chubs were lighter and more yellow (P < 0.05) than CON. Hue angle indicated 48TS was less red (P < 0.05) than 24TS.ConclusionLonger trim and chub storage is detrimental, but LA combined with other factors can delay discoloration.
The Post Al Muhajiroun Years (2005–2014): Proscription and Other Means of Deterrence

Although the UK Government took credit for al Muhajiroun’s (ALM) disbandment in 2004, and it is routinely reported that ALM disbanded over fear of proscription, that is not accurate. The discussion explains the real reason ALM disbanded, the transition of the organization to one that embodied an intellectually based social movement, the impacts of the 7/7 bombings, Omar Bakri Mohammed’s exile in Lebanon, the so-called splinter groups that emerged, the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby, and the failure of the UK Government to fully understand the group and its efforts to suppress it. The discussion also highlights some of the leadership changes that were taking place during that time and the intra-group conflicts that followed.
Using Transportability to Understand Differences in Mediation Mechanisms across Trial Sites of a Housing Voucher Experiment

Background Randomized trials may have different effects in different settings. Moving to Opportunity (MTO), a housing experiment, is one such example. Previously, we examined the extent to which MTO's overall effects on adolescent substance use and mental health outcomes were transportable across the sites to disentangle the contributions of differences in population composition versus differences in contextual factors to site differences. However, to further understand reasons for different site effects, it may be beneficial to examine mediation mechanisms and the degree to which they too are transportable across sites. Methods We used longitudinal data from MTO youth. We examined mediators summarizing aspects of the school environment over the 10-15 year follow-up. Outcomes of past-year substance use, mental health, and risk behavior were assessed at the final timepoint when participants were 10-20 years old. We used doubly robust and efficient substitution estimators to estimate (1) indirect effects by MTO site and (2) transported indirect effects from one site to another. Results Differences in indirect effect estimates were most pronounced between Chicago and Los Angeles. Using transport estimators to account for differences in baseline covariates, likelihood of using the voucher to move, and mediator distributions partially to fully accounted for site differences in indirect effect estimates in 10 of the 12 pathways examined. Conclusions Using transport estimators can provide an evidence-based approach for understanding the extent to which differences in compositional factors contribute to differences in indirect effect estimates across sites, and ultimately, to understanding why interventions may have different effects when applied to new populations.
Threshold value of lactic acid and buffer excess in umbilical cord arterial blood gas during neonatal asphyxia

Objective To study the threshold values of lactic acid (Lac)and buffuer excess (BE) when neonatal umbilical arterial blood gas is at pH <7.20. Methods A total of 2 518 pregnant women admitted in Beijing New Century Women and Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to February 2019 were enrolled.The general conditions in perinatal period and labor methods were counted.Umbilical cord arterial blood was immediately collected before the first cry of newborn and was detected on the Abbott I-STAT automatic blood gas analyzer from the United States, and then the umbilical arterial blood gas was measured.We analyzed the perinatal factors affecting umbilical arterial blood gas.We studied the threshold values of Lac and BE for neonal asphyxia by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results (1)Maternal anemia, Streptococcus agalactiae infection, precipitate labour, placenta abnormalities had no significant impact on neonatal umbilical artery blood gas.The Lac value in blood gas was higher in the group of premature rupture of fetal membranes and fetal intrauterine distress.The value of BE was lower in the group with premature rupture of fetal membranes and fetal distress (P 3.97 mmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of asphyxia were 0.864 and 0.791, respectively.When BE was ≤-6 mmol/L, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of asphyxia were 0.613 and 0.756, respectively. Conclusion Neonatal umbilical arterial blood gas is affected by many factors.The effect of accouche on umbilical arterial blood gas is large.When there is asphyxia with pH 3.97 mmol/L and ≤-6 mmol/L, respectively. Key words: Umbilical artery; Blood gas analysis; Lactic acid; Buffuer excess; Newborn
The Dilemma of Human Brain Surrogates: Scientific Opportunities, Ethical Concerns

Human brain disease is an enormous source of human suffering, but one that has largely resisted medical prevention or treatment. One problem is that the organ of interest, the human brain, cannot normally be intrusively studied inside its host—a human being. Ethical, legal, and practical constraints appropriately limit the extent to which humans can be used as experimental subjects in brain research. As a result, scientists use surrogates, from mouse brains in living mice to human brain thin slices in vitro. A new generation of such surrogates is being developed: human/non-human chimeras, genetically “humanized” non-human brains, grown bits of human brain, “functional” pieces of ex vivo human brains, and electronic simulations of human brains. These are hoped to provide model “organisms” that are closer to the living human brain in the living human body. The ethical problem is that, the closer these models come to that goal, the more the ethical issues that limit use of living human subjects in this kind of research may seem to apply. This chapter briefly reviews the science of five such surrogates before exploring seven ethical concerns raised by their creation and use.
Professional Internet Presence Amongst Endocrine Surgeons in the United States.

Background There is a wide range of social media adoption within medical specialties. The use of social media by endocrine surgeons has not been investigated. We undertook this study to describe the use of social media and other platforms by endocrine surgeons. Materials and methods The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons' publicly available website was used to identify practicing endocrine surgeons in the United States. Surgeon demographics and practice characteristics were collected via internet query. Five social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) were investigated for professional accounts. The presence of a non-institutional professional website, an active Healthgrades account, and presence in non-institutional YouTube videos were also queried. One point was assigned for presence on each of the eight platforms. A professional internet presence (PIP) score was calculated. Descriptive statistics were performed on PIP scores to evaluate the relationship between surgeon and practice characteristics and PIP score. Results A total of 417 endocrine surgeons were studied. LinkedIn (222, 53.2%) and Twitter (110, 26.4%) were the most commonly used platforms. PIP scores were categorized into zero, one, two, and three or more accounts; 26.9% of surgeons had no professional internet presence. Academic surgeons had a significantly different PIP score than community-based surgeons (P Conclusions Self-identified US endocrine surgeons have low professional internet presence. Endocrine surgeons may consider bolstering their professional internet presence to disseminate medical information.
The Precipitous Decline in Reasoning and Other Key Abilities with Age and Its Implications for Federal Judges

U. S. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges are, effectively, appointed for life, with no built-in check on their cognitive functioning as they approach old age. There is about a century of research on aging and intelligence that shows the vulnerability of processing speed, fluid reasoning, visual-spatial processing, and working memory to normal aging for men and women at all levels of education; even the maintained ability of crystallized knowledge declines in old age. The vulnerable abilities impact a person’s decision-making and problem solving; crystallized knowledge, by contrast, measures a person’s general knowledge. The aging-IQ data provide a rationale for assessing the key cognitive abilities of anyone who is appointed to the federal judiciary. Theories of multiple cognitive abilities and processes, most notably the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model, provide a well-researched blueprint for interpreting the plethora of findings from studies of IQ and aging. Sophisticated technical advances in test construction, especially in item-response theory and computerized-adaptive testing, allow for the development of reliable and valid theory-based tests of cognitive functioning. Such assessments promise to be a potentially useful tool for evaluating federal judges to assess the impact of aging on their ability to perform at a level their positions deserve, perhaps to measure their competency to serve the public intelligently. It is proposed that public funding be made available to appoint a panel of experts to develop and validate an array of computerized cognitive tests to identify those justices who are at risk of cognitive impairment.
Analysis of Various Random Perturbations of Transmission Lines in Power System Studies

Modeling random perturbations of network flows in an electric power system is studied in this paper. This type of modeling would cover a wide range of intensities and bandwidths for a variety of flow fluctuations. The amount of transferred power depends on governing conditions in power systems and on the system load distibution which has a stochastic characteristic. A singular perturbation approach is developed to determine the mean first passage time (MFPT) of a dynamic power system from its region of attraction. Various types of perturbations including white and colored noises are studied and respective results are compared to one another in a search for a rigorous approach to power system reliability evaluation.
Assessing the physical condition of children: III. The components of physical status and physical progress and their evaluation

Summary This paper is concerned with a detailed account of the componentswhich are employed in the Grid technique to represent and define the physical status of growing children at a given moment and their physical progress from one observation to the next. To evaluate status it is necessary to fix upon three components: physique, development, and nutritional grade. To evaluate progress one needs to note only from a child's channel course and auxodrome how sequential states behave with the passing of time. Photographs of children arrayed in accordance with their Grid positionshelp to illustrate what physique, development, and nutritional grade signify when taken singly or in various combinations. The clearest understanding of what physique signifies is obtainedby comparing children in different channels who have reached the same developmental level; conversely, the best illustration of development is given by comparing children in the same channel who have reached different levels. Thus, for children in the same channel, increasing level leads merely to increase in absolute body size and not to alterations in physique. The role of age, which is concerned only with progress, is fully discussed.The sole value of age, in the matter of judging growth and development, is its function of determining, with the help of a child's auxodrome, whether that child is keeping to his own specific schedule of development or not. The outstanding and fundamentally important characteristic which physique, developmental rate, nutritional grade, and age schedule (auxodrome) possess is that in health they remain constant during the prolonged ten-to twelve-year period of school life in which children through the impetus of growth are undergoing continuous and ultimately great change in body size. The invariancy of these components when all else is changing sets the pattern of satisfactory growth no matter how children may differ or be alike in other respects. An evaluation of growth and development for the purposes of assessing the physical condition of children thus depends far more upon noting whether changes have occurred in the components that should normally remain constant than upon dealing with attributes that are changing from day to day.
Why the case for clean surfaces does not hold water: Structure and morphology of hydroxylated nickel oxide (1 1 1)

Abstract We report an experimental and theoretical analysis of the √3 × √3-R30° and 2 × 2 reconstructions on the NiO (1 1 1) surface combining transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and reasonably accurate density functional calculations using the meta-GGA hybrid functional TPSSh. While the main focus here is on the surface structure, we also observe an unusual step morphology with terraces containing only even numbers of unit cells during annealing of the surfaces. The experimental data clearly shows that the surfaces contain significant coverage of hydroxyl terminations, and the surface structures are essentially the same as those reported on the MgO (1 1 1) surface implying an identical kinetically-limited water-driven structural transition pathway. The octapole structure can therefore be all but ruled out for single crystals of NiO annealed in or transported through humid air. The theoretical analysis indicates, as expected, that simple density functional theory methods for such strongly-correlated oxide surfaces are marginal, while better consideration of the metal d-electrons has a large effect although it is still not perfect.
Scheduling EPL programs for parallel processing

Abstract The declarative semantics of the Equational Programming Language EPL allow for parallelization in various forms. As a specific instance, the horizontal partitioning performed by the EPL compiler for the CM style of SIMD machines is presented first. The larger issue of EPL compiler optimization for distributed-memory MIMD machines is discussed next. For these architectures two problems, viz., data alignment and wavefront computations are investigated. First the complexity of aligning data elements to minimize the communication cost is assesed. Exact algorithms and a polynomial-time approximate algorithm are presented. Finally, the optimum wavefront and the optimum division of tasks to execute a set of recurrence equations are investigated.
Incremental Collection of Mature Objects

We present a garbage collection algorithm that extends generational scavenging to collect large older generations (mature objects) non-disruptively. The algorithm's approach is to process bounded-size pieces of mature object space at each collection; the subtleties lie in guaranteeing that it eventually collects any and all garbage. The algorithm does not assume any special hardware or operating system support, e.g., for forwarding pointers or protection traps. The algorithm copies objects, so it naturally supports compaction and reclustering.
Intraarterial Vasopressin in the Treatment of Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: A Prospective, Controlled Clinical Trial

Intraarterial vasopressin has been reported to be effective in the treatment of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. A prospective, controlled clinical trial comparing conventional treatment with conventional therapy plus intraarterial vasopressin was undertaken. Sixty episodes of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were evaluated during a 40-month period; 32 received conventional and 28 conventional plus vasopressin therapy. The two groups of patients were similar in type and severity of their bleeding lesions and in their underlying diseases. Vasopressin was more effective in controlling hemorrhage from nonvariceal lesions (P less than 0.05) and from varices (P less than 0.01) than conventional therapy. Transfusion requirements were significantly reduced in those patients who received vasopressin. Paradoxically, survival was not affected by vasopressin administration. The failure of cessation of hemorrhage to improve survival is thought to be due to the degree of advancement of the underlying disease, to the torrential nature of the hemorrhage, to the frequency of recurrent hemorrhage, and to the use of intraarterial vasopressin in some patients in the conventional treatment group in whom conventional therapy had failed.
Bacillus anthracis spores germinate extracellularly at air–liquid interface in an in vitro lung model under serum-free conditions

Aims To better understand the parameters that govern spore dissemination after lung exposure using in vitro cell systems. Methods and Results We evaluated the kinetics of uptake, germination and proliferation of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in association with human primary lung epithelial cells, Calu-3 and A549 cell lines. We also analysed the influence of various cell culture medium formulations related to spore germination. Conclusions We found negligible spore uptake by epithelial cells, but germination and proliferation of spores in the serum-free extracellular environment was evident. Spore germination was appreciably higher in immortalized cell cultures than in primary epithelial cells. Additionally, spores still germinated apically at a mucus-secreting air–liquid interface lung barrier that was devoid of cell culture medium much earlier than medium-only controls. Significance and Impact of the Study The role of lung epithelial cells in B. anthracis spore dissemination after inhalation remains poorly defined and rather controversial. These results are novel as they show spore germination is appreciably enhanced in the presence of lung cells in vitro, however, the cell line and cell state (air–liquid interface vs submerged in medium) dictates the extent of germination and in some cases proliferation.
Hemostasis in the perinatal period: approach to the diagnosis of coagulation disorders.

Abstract A wide range of hemostatic disorders may complicate the clinical course of the mother or fetus during pregnancy and the perinatal period. Given the potentially life-threatening implications of hemorrhage or thrombosis, it is important to evaluate these clinical emergencies with an organized approach to the diagnosis of the pertinent derangement and its etiology in order to institute corrective action promptly. Therapeutic interventions are outside the scope of this presentation; however, it is evident that an efficient and precise diagnosis is the first step toward effective, corrective action. The three elements of the hemostatic system that have been presented, blood vessels, platelets, and plasma proteins, provide a logical framework for initiating the hemostatic evaluation and interpreting screening hemostasis tests. Optimum patient management is rewarding, since many of the disorders discussed in this article are of brief duration, improving after the peripuerium. In contrast, the manifestations of hemorrhage may lead to life-long complications.
CAI and At-Risk Minority Urban High School Students.

AbstractThis article describes the development, implementation, and formative evaluation of the project Microcomputer Adaptive Testing High - Risk - Urban Students (MATH-R-US). The project made computerized assessment an integral part of remedial high school mathematics instruction. The results suggest that the black high school girls in this study exhibited greater self-confidence toward using computers than the self-confidence exhibited by students in other studies that examined gender. In addition, student-created competition proved to be a crucial factor in generating high levels of motivation
A design to increase media-independent data integrity and availability through the use of robotic media management systems

Summary form only given. This paper presents the concept design for an automated data archive system that will provide the sustained data integrity and media accessibility necessary for long term data archival. The use of near-line data storage systems with robotic media-handling capability (eg. juke boxes) provides the basis for this self-managing data archive. In addition to supporting user requests for data access, it can be programmed, either through modification of internal inventory systems or through external CPU control, to perform a range of self-initiated media management actions on all resident media. Any one of several different strategies may represent an appropriate level of effort and resource expenditure, depending upon the technology available to the archive, the volume of data for which it is responsible, and data integrity requirements. >