cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of apnea on timing examinations for optimization of gadolinium-enhanced MRA of the thoracic aorta and arch vessels

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the effects of apnea during end-inspiration compared with free breathing on timing examinations performed to optimize gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) of the thoracic aorta and arch vessels. Method: Thirty patients referred for gadolinium-enhanced 3D MRA of the thoracic aorta and branch vessels underwent two timing examinations: one performed during free breathing and one during apnea at end-inspiration to replicate more closely the respiratory pattern used to obtain 3D MRA. For each. axial images at the level of the proximal neck were acquired every 2 for 40 s, during which time 1 ml of gadolinium contrast agent followed by 20 ml of saline was infused at 2 ml/s. The time to peak arterial enhancement (T a ). time to first jugular venous enhancement (T j ), and arteriovenous window (time from peak arterial enhancement to first jugular venous enhancement ; AV) were compared for the two examinations in each patient. Results: Overall there was no statistically significant difference in T a , T j , or AV between examinations performed during free breathing and apnea in end-inspiration, although a trend to delayed circulation times was observed with apnea (p = 0.2-0.3). In five patients (17%), the difference in T a between free breathing and apnea was 4 s: in three patients (10%), the difference was 6 s. Conclusion: Circulation times determined during apnea at end-inspiration may differ from those obtained during free breathing by as much as 6 s in an individual patient. This difference may account for inappropriately timed gadolinium-enhanced MR angiograms performed with timing examinations, especially when very short acquisition times and low doses of gadolinium (20 ml) are used.
Hemodynamics in Symptomatic Atherosclerotic Vertebrobasilar Occlusive Disease

To the Editor Amin-Hanjani el al 1 identified an important distinction in the natural history of atherosclerotic vertebrobasilar occlusive disease by separating the diagnosis of stenosis/ occlusion with hemodynamic insufficiency. Could this be used to stratify patients more likely to benefit from intervention? Cautious optimism exists in the shadow of previous attempts to justify interventions based on hemodynamic compromise, like the Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study. 2 Unlike the Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study, which used an indirect method of blood flow measurement to identify at-risk patients, the Vertebrobasilar Flow Evaluation and Risk of Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke investigators used their own quantitative magnetic resonance angiography platform to directly measure blood flow. Seventy-four percent of patients with normal distal flow had severe stenosis or occlusion. This emphasizes the disconnect between stenosis and distal blood flow because territory downstream from a stenosis can have robust collateral blood supply, particularly in the vertebrobasilar circulation. The etiology for stroke in a low-flow state is yet to be elucidated, and many questions remain related to this. Historically, interventions to prevent stroke in disease re
No longer aware of what cannot be remembered

How does awareness of memory loss relate to dementia? Wilson and colleagues used three ongoing longitudinal natural history studies of older adults without dementia at enrollment to show that lack of awareness of memory loss precedes dementia, and this lack of awareness is reflected in classic dementia brain pathology in post-mortem tissue. Data was derived from three studies (the national Religious Orders study and two Chicago-area studies), and included 2092 older adults followed for an average of 7.7 years. Outcomes were collected annually and included a self-assessment of memory and a battery of 19 standard cognitive memory tests. Lack of awareness was defined as the degree to which a person’s self-assessment of memory underestimated their true memory impairment, and was derived from residuals of a mixed model comparing annual observed memory performance to annual subjective memory rating. Both subjective memory ratings and objective memory performance declined over time, and the slopes of decline were correlated. At baseline, there was no systematic tendency for people to over or underestimate their level of memory impairment. The change in memory awareness was evaluated in two additional cohorts: 239 incident cases of dementia (average follow up of 7.5 years before dementia onset and 3.3 years after diagnosis), and 385 participants who died with subsequent post-mortem brain pathology available (mean age of death 89.1 years). A decline in awareness of objective memory impairment started on average 2.6 years prior to dementia diagnosis, even after adjusting for gender and education. This decreased awareness of memory decline was associated with post-mortem brain pathology— in particular, inclusions containing TDP-43 (transactive response DNA-binding protein 43), tau tangle density, and number of cerebral infarctions. The authors conclude that lack of awareness of cognitive decline is part of the natural history of late-life dementia and is related to accumulation of characteristic dementia pathologies. The main limitations to the study are related to participant selection for the ongoing longitudinal cohorts. R. S. Wilson et al ., Temporal course and pathologic basis of unawareness of memory loss in dementia. Neurology 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001935 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2015/08/26/WNL.0000000000001935.abstract
Modeling and Topological Features Analysis of DBLP Coauthor Network

Using the DBLP computer science bibliography as raw data,the coauthor network of the computer and related fields was studied.By parsing the extracted xml metadata,the coauthor network topology was constructed,and the general parameters of the network topology were calculated.In addition,the statistical characteristics of a number of parameters were analyzed,which could be found that the DBLP coauthor network is a typical small-world network yet with no obvious scale-free property.Different research cooperation modes were reflected by the topologies of center and bordering of the network,and there is no strong correlation of the k-core of the network with the scientist's h-index.The development of complex network and the positioning of our lab in the computer-related field at the academic level were finally discussed.
Gastric Cancer: An Infectious Disease?

It is tempting to speculate that Hamlet recognized the infectious etiology of peptic ulcer disease, thus presaging recent developments in modern medicine. As old microbes are resurging and new pathogens are emerging, the study of infectious causes of disease is again in the forefront of medicine. Helicobacter pylori, the elusive, acidtolerant bacteria first associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, nonulcer dyspepsia and, finally, gastric cancer, serve as a paradigm for the evolution of infectious disease in modern medicine. Until recently, the pathogenesis of ulcer disease was attributed to overproduction of acid and mucosal barrier destruction as a result of stress, smoking, or dietary factors. The dogma that environmental and genetic factors predisposed individuals to the development of gastric cancer was universally accepted, and H pylori was considered to be a possible cause of gastritis.[1] Now, a few years later, H pylori is a prominent topic at conferences and in medical journals and is notorious as a cause of a multitude of gastric diseases. The search for a causal role and for further understanding of the pathogenetic properties of H pylori has spawned numerous investigations. Its role in gastric cancer has raised questions regarding the association of the bacteria with carcinogenic processes, as well as its potential role for eradication of these bacteria in cancer prevention. This revolution in medical thought the concept of a unified infectious cause of gastritis, ulcer disease, and cancer has led to a new path of progress that exemplifies the change in how human disease is approached.
A semiparametric method for clustering mixed data

Despite the existence of a large number of clustering algorithms, clustering remains a challenging problem. As large datasets become increasingly common in a number of different domains, it is often the case that clustering algorithms must be applied to heterogeneous sets of variables, creating an acute need for robust and scalable clustering methods for mixed continuous and categorical scale data. We show that current clustering methods for mixed-type data are generally unable to equitably balance the contribution of continuous and categorical variables without strong parametric assumptions. We develop KAMILA (KAy-means for MIxed LArge data), a clustering method that addresses this fundamental problem directly. We study theoretical aspects of our method and demonstrate its effectiveness in a series of Monte Carlo simulation studies and a set of real-world applications.
Tracking U.S. biofuel innovation through patents

We use biofuel patents as a proxy for biofuel innovation. Through use of natural language processing and machine-learning algorithms, we expand patent classification capabilities to better explain the history of biofuels innovation. Results indicate that after the initial establishment of the U.S. biofuel industry, there were two surges in biofuel innovation: 1995–2000, characterized by heavy patenting by 1st generation (food-based) biofuel firms; and 2005–2010, characterized by a second surge of innovation by those same large firms, complemented by a large number of biotechnology firms producing a relatively small number of 2nd generation biofuel patents. Our analysis corroborates the widespread understanding that the first surge in biofuel innovation was linked to innovations in agriculture, and that the second surge of biofuel innovation was driven by demand-pull policies mandating and incentivizing biofuels. But the slow emergence of a 2nd generation cellulose-based biofuels industry, far slower than called for by policy, suggests that technology-push policies more focused on R&D and investment may be needed to accelerate the commercialization of 2nd generation biofuels.
X Chromosome Crossover Formation and Genome Stability in Caenorhabditis elegans Are Independently Regulated by xnd-1

The germ line efficiently combats numerous genotoxic insults to ensure the high fidelity propagation of unaltered genomic information across generations. Yet, germ cells in most metazoans also intentionally create double-strand breaks (DSBs) to promote DNA exchange between parental chromosomes, a process known as crossing over. Homologous recombination is employed in the repair of both genotoxic lesions and programmed DSBs, and many of the core DNA repair proteins function in both processes. In addition, DNA repair efficiency and crossover (CO) distribution are both influenced by local and global differences in chromatin structure, yet the interplay between chromatin structure, genome integrity, and meiotic fidelity is still poorly understood. We have used the xnd-1 mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans to explore the relationship between genome integrity and crossover formation. Known for its role in ensuring X chromosome CO formation and germ line development, we show that xnd-1 also regulates genome stability. xnd-1 mutants exhibited a mortal germ line, high embryonic lethality, high incidence of males, and sensitivity to ionizing radiation. We discovered that a hypomorphic allele of mys-1 suppressed these genome instability phenotypes of xnd-1, but did not suppress the CO defects, suggesting it serves as a separation-of-function allele. mys-1 encodes a histone acetyltransferase, whose homolog Tip60 acetylates H2AK5, a histone mark associated with transcriptional activation that is increased in xnd-1 mutant germ lines, raising the possibility that thresholds of H2AK5ac may differentially influence distinct germ line repair events. We also show that xnd-1 regulated him-5 transcriptionally, independently of mys-1, and that ectopic expression of him-5 suppressed the CO defects of xnd-1 Our work provides xnd-1 as a model in which to study the link between chromatin factors, gene expression, and genome stability.
The impact of SGLT2 inhibitors, compared with insulin, on diabetic bone disease in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes

Skeletal co-morbidities in type 1 diabetes include an increased risk for fracture and delayed fracture healing, which are intertwined with disease duration and the presence of other diabetic complications. As such, chronic hyperglycemia is undoubtedly a major contributor to these outcomes, despite standard insulin-replacement therapy. Therefore, using the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of hypoinsulinemic hyperglycemia in DBA/2J male mice, we compared the effects of two glucose lowering therapies on the fracture resistance of bone and markers of bone turnover. Twelve week-old diabetic (DM) mice were treated for 9weeks with: 1) oral canagliflozin (CANA, dose range ~10-16mg/kg/day), an inhibitor of the renal sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2); 2) subcutaneous insulin, via minipump (INS, 0.125units/day); 3) co-therapy (CANA+INS); or 4) no treatment (STZ, without therapy). These groups were also compared to non-diabetic control groups. Untreated diabetic mice experienced increased bone resorption and significant deficits in cortical and trabecular bone that contributed to structural weakness of the femur mid-shaft and the lumbar vertebra, as determined by three-point bending and compression tests, respectively. Treatment with either canagliflozin or insulin alone only partially rectified hyperglycemia and the diabetic bone phenotype. However, when used in combination, normalization of glycemic control was achieved, and a prevention of the DM-related deterioration in bone microarchitecture and bone strength occurred, due to additive effects of canagliflozin and insulin. Nevertheless, CANA-treated mice, whether diabetic or non-diabetic, demonstrated an increase in urinary calcium loss; FGF23 was also increased in CANA-treated DM mice. These findings could herald ongoing bone mineral losses following CANA exposure, suggesting that certain CANA-induced skeletal consequences might detract from therapeutic improvements in glycemic control, as they relate to diabetic bone disease.
Cold atmospheric plasma, a novel promising anti-cancer treatment modality.

// Dayun Yan 1 , Jonathan H. Sherman 2 and Michael Keidar 1 1 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, NW, Washington, DC, USA 2 Neurological Surgery, The George Washington University, NW, Washington, DC, USA Correspondence to: Dayun Yan, email: // Michael Keidar, email: // Keywords : cold plasma, cancer treatment, reactive species, selectivity Received : September 14, 2016 Accepted : October 29, 2016 Published : November 11, 2016 Abstract Over the past decade, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a near room temperature ionized gas has shown its promising application in cancer therapy. Two CAP devices, namely dielectric barrier discharge and plasma jet, show significantly anti-cancer capacity over dozens of cancer cell lines in vitro and several subcutaneous xenograft tumors in vivo. In contrast to conventional anti-cancer approaches and drugs, CAP is a selective anti-cancer treatment modality. Thus far establishing the chemical and molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer capacity of CAP is far from complete. In this review, we provide a comprehensive introduction of the basics of CAP, state of the art research in this field, the primary challenges, and future directions to cancer biologists.
Leptin stimulates bone formation in ob/ob mice at doses having minimal impact on energy metabolism

Abstract Leptin, the protein product of the ob gene, is essential for normal bone growth, maturation, and turnover. Peripheral actions of leptin occur at lower serum levels of the hormone than central actions because entry of leptin into the central nervous system (CNS) is limited due to its saturable transport across the blood brain barrier (BBB). We performed a study in mice to model the impact of leptin production associated with different levels of adiposity on bone formation and compared the response with well-established centrally-mediated actions of the hormone on energy metabolism. Leptin was infused (0, 4, 12, 40, 140, or 400 ng/h) for 12 days into 6-week-old female ob/ob mice (n=8/group) using sc implanted osmotic pumps. Treatment resulted in a dose-associated increase in serum leptin. Bone formation parameters were increased at EC50 infusion rates of 7-17 ng/h whereas higher levels (EC50, 40-80 ng/h) were required to similarly impact indices of energy metabolism. We then analyzed gene expression in tibia and hypothalamus at dose rates of 0, 12 and 140 ng/h; the latter dose resulted in serum leptin levels similar to WT mice. Infusion with 12 ng/h leptin increased expression of genes associated with Jak/Stat signaling and bone formation in tibia with minimal effect on Jak/Stat signaling and neurotransmitters in hypothalamus. The results suggest that leptin acts peripherally to couple bone acquisition to energy availability and that limited transport across the BBB insures that the growth promoting actions of peripheral leptin are not curtailed by the hormone's CNS-mediated anorexigenic actions.
Hydration and Cooling Practices Among Farmworkers in Oregon and Washington

Objectives: Although recommendations for preventing occupational heat-related illness among farmworkers include hydration and cooling practices, the extent to which these recommendations are universally practiced is unknown. The objective of this analysis was to compare hydration and cooling practices between farmworkers in Oregon and Washington. Methods: A survey was administered to a purposive sample of Oregon and Washington farmworkers. Data collected included demographics, work history and current work practices, hydration practices, access and use of cooling measures, and headwear and clothing worn. Results: Oregon farmworkers were more likely than those in Washington to consume beverages containing sugar and/or caffeine. Workers in Oregon more frequently reported using various cooling measures compared with workers in Washington. Availability of cooling measures also varied between the two states. Conclusions: These results highlight the large variability between workers in two states regard...
60 GHz capacitively probe-fed patch arrays with suspended elements

A major drawback of current millimeter-wave technologies used for integration of phased arrays on a chip is low efficiency (5–10%) and consequently low realized gain. In this work, we present integrated antenna arrays on silicon that exhibit radiation efficiency of >80% at 60 GHz. This is achieved by suspending the radiating elements of a phased array in air using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) processes, effectively replacing a lossy silicon substrate (under each element) with air. In the latest design we used capacitive feeding with pin and patch height of 40 and 60 μm, respectively. Finite element simulation results verify the performance of the array. A finite array with 5×5 elements achieved −10-dB bandwidth of 1.7 GHz. Array is well matched at 60 GHz with S 11 <−19 dB. Maximum realized gain (at broadside) is 20 dBi with sidelobe level of −13.3 dB. The efficiency is calculated to be 89%. Integration of antenna on a chip, provides enormous advantage in miniaturization of the systems and is essential for next-generation active electronically scanned arrays.
Intracavity Rydberg-atom electromagnetically induced transparency using a high-finesse optical cavity

We present an experimental study of cavity-assisted Rydberg-atom electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) using a high-finesse optical cavity ($F\ensuremath{\sim}28\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}000$). Rydberg atoms are excited via a two-photon transition in a ladder-type EIT configuration. A three-peak structure of the cavity transmission spectrum is observed when Rydberg EIT is generated inside the cavity. The two symmetrically spaced side peaks are caused by bright-state polaritons, while the central peak corresponds to a dark-state polariton. Anticrossing phenomena and the effects of mirror adsorbate electric fields are studied under different experimental conditions. We determine a lower bound on the coherence time for the system of $7.26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06\phantom{\rule{1em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, most likely limited by laser dephasing. The cavity-Rydberg EIT system can be useful for single-photon generation using the Rydberg blockade effect, studying many-body physics, and generating novel quantum states among many other applications.
Are They True to the Cause? Beliefs About Organizational and Unit Commitment to Sexual Harassment Awareness Training:

Sexual harassment awareness training is crucial for both legal defensibility purposes and for creating a psychologically safe environment for employees. Using a pretest/posttest design in an organizational setting, this study examined the simple and interactive effects of two individual perceptions toward the training context—cynicism toward organizational harassment change and perceived unit ethical climate—on posttraining knowledge and myth-based attitudes regarding sexual harassment. With the exception of a marginally significant effect of cynicism on posttraining knowledge, the outcomes were largely unaffected by either of the predictors, individually. However, cynicism toward organizational harassment change and perceived unit ethical climate interacted to predict both outcomes, such that training outcomes particularly suffer when individuals are cynical toward organizational change and perceive the work group as unethical. This underscores the importance of consideration of both organizational and w...
Risk management of emergency service vehicle crashes in the United States fire service: process, outputs, and recommendations

Emergency service vehicle crashes (ESVCs) are a leading cause of death in the United States fire service. Risk management (RM) is a proactive process for identifying occupational risks and reducing hazards and unwanted events through an iterative process of scoping hazards, risk assessment, and implementing controls. We describe the process, outputs, and lessons learned from the application of a proactive RM process to reduce ESVCs in US fire departments. Three fire departments representative of urban, suburban, and rural geographies, participated in a facilitated RM process delivered through focus groups and stakeholder discussion. Crash reports from department databases were reviewed to characterize the context, circumstances, hazards and risks of ESVCs. Identified risks were ranked using a risk matrix that considered risk likelihood and severity. Department-specific control measures were selected based on group consensus. Interviews, and focus groups were used to assess acceptability and utility of the RM process and perceived facilitators and barriers of implementation. Three to six RM meetings were conducted at each fire department. There were 7.4 crashes per 100 personnel in the urban department and 10.5 per 100 personnel in the suburban department; the rural department experienced zero crashes. All departments identified emergency response, backing, on scene struck by, driver distraction, vehicle/road visibility, and driver training as high or medium concerns. Additional high priority risks varied by department; the urban department prioritized turning and rear ending crashes; the suburban firefighters prioritized inclement weather/road environment and low visibility related crashes; and the rural volunteer fire department prioritized exiting station, vehicle failure, and inclement weather/road environment related incidents. Selected controls included new policies and standard operating procedures to reduce emergency response, cameras to enhance driver visibility while backing, and increased training frequency and enhanced training. The RM process was generally acceptable to department participants and considered useful. All departments reported that the focused and systematic analysis of crashes was particularly helpful. Implementation of controls was a commonly cited challenge. Proactive RM of ESVCs in three US fire departments was positively received and supported the establishment of interventions tailored to each department’s needs and priorities.
System Exergy: System Integrating Physics of Launch Vehicles and Spacecraft

System engineering of launch vehicles and spacecraft is a challenging and complex undertaking. There are many diverse systems that must be integrated and balanced to produce an effective design. Th...
Statistical analysis of the chemical attribution signatures of 3-methylfentanyl and its methods of production

Chemical attribution of the origin of an illegal drug is a key component of forensic efforts aimed at combating illicit and clandestine manufacture of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The results of these studies yield detailed information on synthesis byproducts, reagents, and precursors that can be used to identify the method of manufacture. In the present work, chemical attribution signatures (CAS) associated with the synthesis of the analgesic 3-methylfentanyl, N-(3-methyl-1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylpropanamide, were investigated. Eighteen crude samples from six synthesis methods were generated, the analysis of which was used to identify signatures (i.e. chemical compounds) that were important in the discrimination of synthetic route. These methods were carefully selected to minimize the use of scheduled precursors, complicated laboratory equipment, number of steps, and extreme reaction conditions. Using gas and liquid chromatographies combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF and LC-QTOF) over 160 distinct species were monitored. Analysis of this combined data set was performed using modern machine learning techniques capable of reducing the size of the data set, prioritizing key chemical attribution signatures, and identifying the method of production for blindly synthesized 3-methylfentanyl materials.
The Effectiveness of Using Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review:

Neurofeedback is an innovative treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is readily accessible to mental health therapists. As a widespread mental health concern with potentially devastating long-term consequences on psychosocial functioning, PTSD can also adversely impact biophysiological processes, particularly those related to the brain. Neurofeedback has shown promise in alleviating overall PTSD symptoms, including these underlying neurobiological consequences. Successful results have been found among clients with PTSD who have not been responsive to prior treatment modalities. While a strong base of clinical anecdotes and case studies supports its success in treating PTSD, intervention studies on neurofeedback have been critiqued for lack of rigor and poor methodological design. A current systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating PTSD was conducted. Unlike prior reviews which emphasized neurobiological changes, this study was written for the mental health therapist and focused solely on behavioral outcomes. Ten studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Neurofeedback demonstrated salubrious results in at least one outcome measure for the majority of participants across all studies. Interpretations, however, are limited by wide discrepancies in sample sizes, study designs, outcome measures, and the extent of reported results. Future research in this area would benefit from prioritizing randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longitudinal follow-up results.
Waiting on weighting: a symbolic least commitment approach

In this paper we describe an approach to the problem of weighting various factors that contribute to an analysis or outcome of a problem situation and discuss issues about weighting as they touch upon our case-based reasoner HYPO. In HYPO, we take the approach of delaying for as long as possible any assignment of weights and of symbolically comparing the "weights" of competing factors. We call this approach a least commitment weighting scheme.
Ethanolamine mimics insulin effects invitro

Abstract The comparative effects of insulin and ethanolamine on 14CO2 production and lipid synthesis from [U-14C]-D-glucose in isolated rat adipocytes were studied. Ethanolamine (10 mM) increased 14CO2 production (glucose oxidation) about 5-fold and lipogenesis about 3-fold as compared to the control. Ethanolamine was more efficient than 25 μU/ml insulin regarding both parameters, but it was less efficient than 200 μU/ml insulin in glucose oxidation, and equally potent in lipogenesis. The combination of ethanolamine and insulin was more active than insulin alone. The mechanisms of ethanolamine action include facilitation of glucose transport and increase of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity.
Fractal Fragmentation in Crustal Shear Zones

Understanding the geometry and evolution of fracture systems in the crust is a fundamental problem in geomechanics. Although the basic elements of brittle fracture, such as the nucleation, growth, and interaction of microcracks from preexisting flaws, have been studied extensively in the laboratory and are reasonably well understood theoretically, patterns of such fractures that develop in zones of crustal deformation is a topic of current research. The reason is that crustal fracture networks are developed over a wide range of scales, and the interaction between structures at different scales is not well understood. Most laboratory experiments involve deformation on only one scale before the effects of sample boundaries become important.
Maternal BMI, Mid-pregnancy Fatty Acid Concentrations,and Perinatal Outcomes.

Abstract Purpose Maternal body mass index (BMI) and systemic fatty acid (FA) concentrations affect inflammatory balance in pregnancy and play a key role in fetal growth and well-being. Little is known about how maternal BMI may affect the association between key FA concentrations and neonatal outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between the maternal omega (n)6:n3 FA ratio and neonatal outcomes according to maternal pre-pregnancy BMI category. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network randomized controlled trial of omega-3 FA supplementation to prevent recurrent preterm birth. At consent (16–22 weeks of pregnancy), women were randomized to either the intervention arm (2 g of n3 FAs) or the control arm (placebo). For the present analysis, the primary exposure was the ratio of proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory (n6:n3) FAs at 25 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. The primary outcome was fetal growth as measured by using birth-weight-for-gestational-age z score, birth-length-for-gestational-age z score, and head-circumference-for-gestational-age z score. BMI categories were defined as lean (18.5–24.9 kg/m²) and overweight/obese (OWOB) (≥25.0 kg/m²). Final analysis was stratified according to BMI and adjusted for education, race, parity, smoking status, total fish intake at the time of the blood draw, and number of days in the study at the time of delivery. Findings A total of 440 participants were included in this analysis; 49% were lean, and 51% were OWOB. After adjustment for covariates, a higher maternal n6:n3 FA ratio was associated with impaired fetal growth (birth-weight-for-gestational-age z score, β = –0.04 per unit increase in n6:n3; 95% CI, –0.07 to –0.01), 1 day shorter length of gestation (β = –0.14 week; 95% CI, –0.27 to –0.01), higher incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.80), and increased length of neonatal hospital stay (β = 0.29 day; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.58) in OWOB, but not lean, participants. Implications Higher maternal inflammation during pregnancy, as measured by using the n6:n3 FA ratio, may be a marker of adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes, particularly among OWOB women.
The Snowball Effect of Low-Value Care

A 5-day old male infant, born at 38 + 6/7 weeks’ gestation, presented to his pediatrician for a jaundice check. He was born via uncomplicated vaginal delivery to a mother with blood type A Rh+, who had a negative antibody screen result, as well as negative group B Streptococcus , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , and Chlamydia trachomatis screening results. He had an unremarkable birth hospitalization. His initial transcutaneous bilirubin at 40 hours and follow-up total serum bilirubin (TSB) at 51 hours, were both in the high intermediate risk zone on the Bhutani hyperbilirubinemia nomogram.1 Given the lack of hyperbilirubinemia risk factors, he was discharged at 58 hours. A follow-up TSB at 111 hours was 18.5 mg/dL but below the phototherapy threshold of 20.7 mg/dL for a lower-risk infant. Because he was now in the high-risk zone and crossing risk isobars, a TSB was repeated the following day and was 19.8 mg/dL at 129 hours, remaining below the phototherapy threshold of 21 mg/dL. The infant was exclusively breastfeeding and had initially lost 3.4% of his birth weight but had gained 59 g since discharge. At this time, the family, primary pediatrician, and pediatric hospitalist decided to admit for phototherapy. On admission, he was a well-appearing, uncircumcised boy, with a benign examination except for mild, nonpurulent bilateral eye discharge without conjunctival injection or palpebral edema. He was afebrile, with normal vital signs for age. By report, his mother potentially had an early viral process. Per the admission note, because of his eye discharge, he underwent a complete blood count, C-reactive protein, chemistry, blood culture, and eye discharge culture; because of his mother’s …
An assessment of household water quality among Peace Corps volunteers in Guatemala.

Gastrointestinal (GI) illness is the most commonly reported health concern among Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) serving in Guatemala. This project identified water types and treatment and storage practices used by PCVs and measured select water quality parameters in their household water. A survey about water types and practices was conducted of PCVs in Guatemala. The water type most frequently consumed in the household (“primary drinking water”) and other water types present in the household (“secondary water”) were tested for free chlorine residual (FCR) and for the presence of Escherichia coli and total coliforms. A negative binomial regression model was used to analyze data on incidence of self-reported GI illness. Tambo (commercially purified water in a 5-gal bottle) was the water type most frequently (64%) reported as primary drinking water in 39 PCV households. Most (74%) PCVs reported drinking water other than primary drinking water ≥1 day per week; the incidence rate of GI illness per PCV per month was significantly lower among PCVs who reported never consuming water other than primary drinking water compared to those who did (0.4 and 1.6 GI illnesses per PCV per month, respectively) (p < 0.05). E. coli was not detected in any primary drinking water sample, but was detected in 35% of secondary water samples. Total coliforms were detected in more than two-thirds of primary drinking water and secondary water samples. Nearly all water samples had an FCR of < 0.2 mg/L. Consuming primary drinking water exclusively likely contributes to reducing the rate of GI illness among PCVs. However, most PCVs reported drinking multiple water types, which may include contaminated secondary water types in the household. All water intended for consumption, including secondary sources within and outside the household, should be properly treated and safely stored.
Felis silvestris (European wild cat)

These preparations came from fibrous tissue cultures and were kindly donated by Dr. S. Zivkovic, Belgrad. They are essentially the same as those of the domestic cat (Folio 31, 1967) and are laid out in the same manner.
The effects of respiratory muscle resistance training on lactate threshold: a potential effort to prevent muscle fatigue during exercise

Respiratory muscle resistance training (RMRT) is the practice of breathing through a respiratory mouth-device designed to restrict airflow to the user, increase airway resistance and subsequently increase the work necessary for the respiratory muscles to inspire and expire. During periods of exercise, there is an elevation in blood lactate levels as well as H+, which is a major contributing factor to exercise fatigue. The resultant elevated plasma acidity is compensated by an increased ventilation rate, which leads to increased expiration and removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body. It was hypothesized that healthy college students that undergo four weeks of RMRT exercise will have improved oxygen consumption at the point of lactate threshold (VO2LT) during a graded exercise running test. The experimental group used an Expand-a-Lung RMRT device 5 times a week and tested weekly for four weeks by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with a BSX Insight blood oxygenation sensor to measure the amount of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin (%SmO2) in the calf muscle. Our preliminary results show some improvement in ventilation in the experimental group, with tidal volume significantly increasing the most. The VO2 at lactate threshold did show an increase, providing support for our original hypothesis.
De Novo Genome Assemblies for Three North American Bumble Bee Species: Bombus bifarius, Bombus vancouverensis, and Bombus vosnesenskii

Bumble bees are ecologically and economically important insect pollinators. Three abundant and widespread species in western North America, Bombus bifarius, Bombus vancouverensis, and Bombus vosnesenskii, have been the focus of substantial research relating to diverse aspects of bumble bee ecology and evolutionary biology. We present de novo genome assemblies for each of the three species using hybrid assembly of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequences. All three assemblies are of high quality with large N50s (> 2.2 Mb), BUSCO scores indicating > 98% complete genes, and annotations producing 13,325 - 13,687 genes, comparing favorably with other bee genomes. Analysis of synteny against the most complete bumble bee genome, Bombus terrestris, reveals a high degree of collinearity. These genomes should provide a valuable resource for addressing questions relating to functional genomics and evolutionary biology in these species.
Sex as a modulator of lipid metabolism and metabolic disease

Abstract Males and females differ in many aspects of lipid metabolism and in the development of dyslipidemia, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. It is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying these sex differences for optimal prevention and treatment of these conditions, and for the realization of “personalized medicine.” Here, we describe the components of biological sex (gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes) and describe approaches that are used to distinguish their contributions to sex differences in lipid metabolism. We describe current understanding of the physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in lipoprotein levels, obesity, microbiome composition, and development of atherosclerosis in humans and in mouse models.
4 – Measures of Central Tendency

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the measures of central tendency: the sample mean, the median, and the mode. The mode is the most frequently obtained score. For grouped frequency distributions, the mode is the midpoint of the class interval for which f is the largest. The median is used for highly skewed data or for extreme observations whose exact values are not known. In other cases, the mean is used. The mode is at best a rough measure and is generally less useful than the mean or median. The chapter presents some problems for the calculation of the measures of central tendency.
National Analysis of Oropharyngeal Salivary Gland Malignancies Treated With Transoral Robotic Surgery.

Objectives(1) To compare perioperative outcomes and overall survival of patients with oropharyngeal salivary gland malignancies (OPSGMs) treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) versus other a...
Experience with a perfusion-only screening protocol for evaluation of pulmonary embolism during the COVID-19 pandemic surge.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a pulmonary embolism (PE) perfusion-only screening (POS) protocol, introduced during the pandemic surge. Subjects without dense parenchymal lung opacities were studied; those with <1 segmental perfusion defect were considered without PE while patients exhibiting ≥1 defects were indeterminate, mandating additional examinations to determine final diagnosis. Methods: We analyzed demographic information, clinical data, imaging findings and follow-up from electronic records in coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19) patients who underwent lung scintigraphy during the 60-day study period. Results: 53 studies were performed in 17 COVID-19 positive and 36 COVID-19 negative patients. The POS protocol efficiently excluded PE in 79% of cases; the remaining 21%, indeterminate for PE, were generally referred for alternative testing or directly anticoagulated. In patients with negative POS studies there was a very low mortality prior to hospital discharge (1/42), and normal follow up studies when performed (6/6). Conclusion: The POS protocol, implemented during the COVID-19 surge, efficiently and safely excluding PE in 79% of patients.
Factorization of Binary Matrices: Rank Relations, Uniqueness and Model Selection of Boolean Decomposition.

The application of binary matrices are numerous. Representing a matrix as a mixture of a small collection of latent vectors via low-rank decomposition is often seen as an advantageous method to interpret and analyze data. In this work, we examine the factorizations of binary matrices using standard arithmetic (real and nonnegative) and logical operations (Boolean and $\mathbb{Z}_2$). We examine the relationships between the different ranks, and discuss when factorization is unique. In particular, we characterize when a Boolean factorization $X = W \land H$ has a unique $W$, a unique $H$ (for a fixed $W$), and when both $W$ and $H$ are unique, given a rank constraint. We introduce a method for robust Boolean model selection, called BMF$k$, and show on numerical examples that BMF$k$ not only accurately determines the correct number of Boolean latent features but reconstruct the pre-determined factors accurately.
Wege aus dem Arbeitsfrust – Lösungsfindung zwischen Selbstmarketing und Haltungsänderung

In ihrem Beitrag stellen die Autoren zunachst, geordnet nach prototypischen Prozessphasen, ihre Beurteilungskriterien vor, u. a.: Kontaktaufbau: Sprachliche Anschlussfahigkeit? Emotionale Resonanz? Kontraktdefinition: Stimmige und kraftvolle Ziele? Transfereinleitung: Klare Aufgabestellung und Orientierung?
Current Issues in Hydrogen Ion Transport

The advances in our understanding of clinical hydrogen ion transport defects presented at this Congress are summarized in two parts. Elsewhere in this volume Soriano has considered recent findings in a variant of type 2 Renal Tubular Acidosis, (RTA), “Pure Proximal” RTA-2. In this paper, we will specifically address the new findings in the pathophysiology of the two newest forms of non-azotemic RTA-4 and then consider the secondary effects of chronic hyperchloremic acidosis in children relating to: (1) growth (2) nephrocalcinosis and (3) the metabolism of a common pediatric drug, pseudoephedrine.
Isoenzymes of Drosophila Alcohol Dehydrogenase I. ISOLATION AND INTERCONVERSION OF DIFFERENT FORMS

Abstract Alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol:NAD oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.1) exists in five electrophoretic forms in Drosophila melanogaster, but previous evidence indicated that all five forms of the enzyme are controlled at a single genetic locus. Since there are limitations on the precision of resolution of cistrons in this organism, we sought other evidence to test the hypothesis that these five forms of alcohol dehydrogenase are all the same structurally. The purification of the enzymes as a group gave a preparation about 50% pure showing that all forms of the enzyme have similar characteristics. Another purification procedure separated the electrophoretically slowest form of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH5) from the others by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Furthermore, the faster forms of the enzyme were converted to ADH5 during adsorption to DEAE-cellulose. The faster forms are stable to heat whereas ADH5 is not. When the faster forms of alcohol dehydrogenase are converted to ADH5, the stability to heat is lost. ADH5 can be converted to the faster forms by incubation with 0.05 m NAD and the enzyme activity is again heat stable. Further purification of ADH5 resulted in a homogeneous protein and the amino acid composition was determined; there is no methionine, one half-cystine, and one tryptophan per minimum molecular weight of 14,000. Chromatography of ADH5 on DEAE-cellulose resulted in the separation of this form of the enzyme into two forms, ADH5a and ADH5b. These forms were indistinguishable electrophoretically but were still separable on DEAE-cellulose after extensive purification. These two forms most likely have the same primary structure and represent two stable conformation of Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase. Three kinds of DEAE-cellulose gave three different results; Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase was irreversibly adsorbed to the first form, adsorbed to and was released by a salt gradient from the second, and failed to adsorb at all to the third form. In the latter case, treatment of the homogenate or purified enzyme with 6% n-butyl alcohol resulted in adsorption of alcohol dehydrogenase to this kind of DEAE-cellulose. Thus alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila can be isolated and can be interconverted from one electrophoretic form to another. Therefore the genetic evidence of a single ocus for these enzyme forms is reasonable.
Non‐Metallurgical Use of Alumina and Bauxite

The CAS registry lists over 5000 aluminum containing compounds exclusive of alloys and intermetallics. With few exceptions, bauxite is the raw material for all aluminum compounds that do not occur naturally. The exceptions include nepheline and alunite in the USSR and Poland, and possibly some carbochlorination of clay in the United States.
A spherical-magnet end-effector for robotic magnetic manipulation

A variety of magnetic devices can be manipulated remotely using a single permanent “actuator” magnet positioned in space by a robotic manipulator. This paper presents the spherical-actuator-magnet manipulator (SAMM), which is designed to replace or augment the singularity-prone spherical wrist used by prior permanent-magnet manipulation systems. The SAMM uses three omniwheels to enable holonomic control of a spherical magnet's heading and enable the magnet's instantaneous axis-of-rotation to be set arbitrarily. The SAMM performs closed-loop control of its dipole using field measurements obtained from Hall-effect sensors. We describe the operation and construction of the SAMM, develop and characterize a controller for the SAMM's spherical magnet, and demonstrate remote actuation of an untethered magnetic device in a lumen.