cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case of the tortoise versus the hare? Deregulation process, timing, and firm performance in emerging markets

Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine the relationships between the pace of insurance industry deregulation, the time since the process of deregulation began, and insurance firm performance in emerging markets. Also examined are performance differences between foreign and local insurers. These relationships are examined across different country and regional contexts using a time-series cross-section data set including 383 companies in 31 emerging market countries between the years 1998 and 2003. Results of the analysis suggest that regional differences in the pace of deregulation are significantly related to firm performance. Specifically, firms located in countries that took a rapid approach to insurance deregulation had significantly lower performance than firms in countries where the process was slower and more deliberate. Further, the longer the time since insurance sector deregulation began, the lower the financial performance for all firms. Foreign firms did not have significantly higher performance than local insurers indicating that, at least in this sample and time period, foreign firms do not seem to have a competitive advantage over local firms post-deregulation.
Threshold of second-order stimulated Brillouin scattering in optical fiber

The threshold for second-order stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a fiber has been investigated; the study was motivated, in part, by the need to determine the operational dynamic range of SBS fiber beam combiners. Theoretical analysis showed that the second-order Stokes threshold is approximately 130 times the first-order threshold. Experimentally, however, the threshold was found to be only 15 times greater. This dramatic reduction in threshold was determined to be due to the generation of second-order Stokes photons through four-wave mixing, which in turn seeds the second-order SBS process. Suppression of internal Fresnel reflection at the front fiber facet can help to restore the threshold to the higher value.
Nuclear shell model calculations of neutralino-nucleus cross sections for 29Si and 73Ge

We present the results of detailed nuclear shell model calculations of the spin-dependent elastic cross section for neutralinos scattering from [sup 29]Si and [sup 73]Ge. The calculations were performed in large model spaces which adequately describe the configuration mixing in these two nuclei. As tests of the computed nuclear wave functions we have calculated several nuclear observables and compared them with the measured values and found good agreement. In the limit of zero momentum transfer we find scattering matrix elements in agreement with previous estimates for [sup 29]Si but significantly different than previous work for [sup 73]Ge. A modest quenching, in accord with shell model studies of other heavy nuclei, has been included to bring agreement between the measured and calculated values of the magnetic moment for [sup 73]Ge. Even with this quenching, the calculated scattering rate is roughly a factor of 2 higher than the best previous estimates; without quenching, the rate is a factor of 4 higher. This implies a higher sensitivity for germanium dark matter detectors. We also investigate the role of finite momentum transfer upon the scattering response for both nuclei and find that this can significantly change the expected rates. We close with a briefmore » discussion of the effects of some of the non-nuclear uncertainties upon the matrix elements.« less
Injection of antiangiogenic agents into the macaque preovulatory follicle: disruption of corpus luteum development and function.

Ovulation and conversion of the follicle into the corpus luteum involve remarkable changes in vascular permeability and neovascularization of the luteinizing granulosa layer. To evaluate the importance of these vascular events in follicle rupture and luteal development, sequential experiments were designed in which vehicle or angiogenic inhibitors (TNP-470 or angiostatin) were injected directly into the preovulatory follicle of rhesus monkeys during spontaneous mentstrual cycles. After control injections, 13 of 14 animals exhibited serum levels of progesterone (P) during the subsequent luteal phase that were comparable to untreated animals in our colony. Following low-dose (400 pg/mL) TNP-470, serum P levels increased normally until d 8 of the luteal phase, but then declined prematurely by d 9 (p < 0.05 compared to controls) and remained below controls until menses. Following high-dose (2 µg/mL) TNP-470, serum P levels were diminished in the early luteal phase (d 3–5; p<0.05 compared to controls), but reached typical levels at mid luteal phase, only to decline prematurely by d 9 (p<0.05) and remain low until menses. Control ovaries displayed indices of follicle rupture (protruding stigmata) and luteinization. TNP-470-treated ovaries exhibited signs of distension (torn surface epithelium/tunica albuginea) and luteinization; however, a well-formed stigmata was not observed. A “trapped” oocyte was not observed in serial sections of developing corpora lutea from control or TNP-470-treated animals. However, the early corpus luteum of TNP-470-injected ovaries contained pockets of excessive numbers of blood cells that were absent in controls. Angiostatin did not alter serum P levels or ovarian morphology compared to controls. These data suggest that acute exposure to the antiangiogenic agent TNP-470 impairs the development and functional capacity of the primate corpus luteum in a dose-dependent manner. The results are consistent with a critical role for angiogenesis in cyclic ovarian function in primates.
Outcomes, complications, utilization trends, and risk factors for primary and revision total elbow replacement

Background Using a validated database, 30-day complications of primary and revision total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) were analyzed to identify risk factors of adverse events. Methods Primary and revision TEAs from 2007 to 2013 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for 30-day adverse events were assessed using preoperative and intraoperative variables. Results The study reviewed 189 primary and 53 revision TEA patients. Fracture (34%), osteoarthritis (24%), and rheumatoid arthritis (23%) were the most common indications for TEA. Adverse event rate was similar in primary and revision TEA (12% vs. 15%; P = .49), and infectious complications occurred in 3.2% of primary TEAs and 7.5% of revision TEAs ( P = .23). Bivariate analysis of risk factors for 30-day adverse events identified dependent functional status in primary TEA ( P = .03) and age in revision TEA ( P = .02). Multivariate analysis of primary TEA revealed that adverse events were significantly less likely with rheumatoid arthritis compared with osteoarthritis etiology (odds ratio, 0.15; P = .02), and smoking was associated with an increased chance of infection (odds ratio, 6.96; P = .03). Revision TEA was not associated with an increased 30-day adverse event or infection rate compared with primary TEA in multivariate analysis. Among primary and revision TEA patients, dependent functional status ( P = .02) and hypertension ( P = .04) were independent predictors for adverse events. Conclusion Modifiable risk factors should be addressed before TEA to limit postoperative complications as well as cost. The risk of short-term complications after revision TEA is comparable to that of primary TEA.
Compromising Positions and Polarity Items

0. Introduction This paper looks at two theories of negative polarity licensing that utilize the notion of strength or strengthening to explain NPI distribution. I consider Kadmon and Landman (1993) and Israel (1996, 2001, 2005), both of whom define strength in terms of downward inferencing relations. I claim that various compromising adverbs such as pretty much, virtually, practically, etc., disrupt this pragmatic inferencing and so raise problems for theories depending on this type of motion. Taking pretty much as a test case, I suggest that the compromising data can be accounted for by the semantic notion of (non)veridicality, as demonstrated in Giannakidou (1998, 1999, 2002, etc.). In the rest of the paper then, I will illustrate the problems the compromisers raise first for Kadmon and Landman (K&L) and then Israel. The last section shows how the (non)veridicality theory of Giannakidou successfully manages the data. First, however, it is necessary to make some general remarks in regard to the meaning and use of pretty much. As a compromiser or otherwise, pretty much has rarely been mentioned in linguistic literature. However, the approximator almost, which has a similar (though not identical) semantics and distribution has received much attention over the years (Sadock 1981, Rapp and von Stechow 1999, Horn 2002, Morzycki 2002, etc.). In the next section, I will provide a brief introduction to the semantics and syntax of pretty much as they compare with almost.
Temporal and spatial pattern of expression of the HDL receptor SR-BI during murine embryogenesis

During rodent fetal development, maternal lipoproteins can be sources of cholesterol for the membrane synthesis required for tissue growth in the developing embryo and for steroid hormone production in the extraembryonic tissues. Although the mechanisms underlying the maternal-fetal lipoprotein cholesterol transport system are not well defined, the placenta and yolk sac seem to play major roles in this process, serving as functionally active interfaces between maternal circulation and the embryo. In rodents, the principal cholesterol transporter in the plasma is HDL, and the HDL receptor SR-BI is a physiologically important mediator of cholesterol uptake in adult liver and steroidogenic tissues. To begin to investigate SR-BI's role in maternal cholesterol uptake by the fetus, we used immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the pattern of SR-BI expression during murine embryogenesis. At day E7.5 in gestation, there was significant SR-BI expression in endothelial cells of the decidua, but little in intraembryonic and extraembryonic tissues. By day E8.5, there was a dramatic increase in SR-BI expression in the trophoblast cells which surround the developing embryo. Beginning at day E10, SR-BI was expressed in both the placenta and yolk sac. The expression in these extraembryonic tissues was correlated with significant uptake of fluorescent dye by the yolk sac visceral endodermal cells from DiI-labeled HDL injected into pregnant mice. Within the embryo proper, SR-BI expression appeared by day E14.5 at high levels in the adrenal gland. SR-BI expression was not detected in the embryonic liver through day E17.5 of gestation; however, it could be observed in neonatal livers. These findings suggest that SR-BI may play a role in the rodent maternal-fetal lipoprotein cholesterol transport system, supplying HDL cholesterol for either membrane or steroid hormone synthesis, or both.
Contrast-enhanced MR angiography of spinal vessels.

SUMMARY Spinal intradural vessels, which are on the order of 1 mm in diameter, are better detected and displayed on contrast-enhanced MR angiographic images than on spin-echo MR images. This improved characterization of the spinal vasculature can help narrow the differential diagnosis and guide further diagnostic studies or treatment in patients with radiculopathy or myelopathy. The interpretation of MR angiograms requires a knowledge of vascular anatomy, that is, of the medullary arteries and veins, the anterior spinal artery, and the anterior and posterior median veins. The most useful application to date has been in screening for spinal dural fistula. The standard 3D MR angiography technique detects enlarged, tortuous intradural veins, including the dominant medullary vein into which the fistula drains, and the fast 3D technique may also show the fistula. The location of the fistula can thus be determined noninvasively, allowing more efficient evaluation with catheter angiography. In patients who have been treated by surgery or embolization for spinal vascular malformation, fistula, or vascular tumor, MR angiography complements the routine MR imaging study, because the appearance of the intradural vessels can be assessed and compared with the pretreatment appearance. Additional studies documenting the appearance on MR angiography of intradural vessels in cases of spinal tumor or inflammation are needed to determine the specificity of MR angiography findings. Further development of the fast 3D tedrinique offers the possibility of improved temporal resolution while maintaining high spatial resolution, so that normal arteries and veins may be distinguished. Only by establishing the MR angiographic appearance of normal arteries and veins, can an abnormal appearance be defined with confidence. For example, variations in the size, trajectory, location, number, and extent of visible vessels that differ significantly from the normal appearance may then be used to identify abnormal vascular patterns with greater confidence—assuming that the variability in spinal cord blood supply and drainage is not so great as to preclude differentiation. With technical improvements and additional clinical experience, MR angiography, in combination with routine MR imaging, promises more accurate noninvasive diagnosis of spinal vascular disease.
God and the State: Response to My Critics

Let me begin by thanking Terence Cuneo, Marc O. DeGirolami, Christopher J. Eberle, Kevin Vallier, and Paul Weithman, for their thoughtful comments on what I wrote in The Mighty and the Almighty.1 Their comments have forced me to think more deeply about a number of issues. The comments of Cuneo, Eberle, Vallier, and Weithman are closely related; so I will begin with them and will move back and forth among them in my response. I will then conclude by taking up the points raised by DeGirolami. In the space allotted me, I will not be able to address all of the significant points made by my critics. In the book I observe that many if not most Christian theological accounts of the authority of the state give a great deal of weight to what St. Paul wrote in the first seven verses of chapter 13 of his letter to the Romans; I did so as well. Paul is instructing the Christians in Rome on to how they should understand the relation between God and “the governing authorities,” who in their case are Roman imperial officials, and on the stance they should take toward those authorities. His instruction on the former of these matters is that it is the God-assigned task of government “to execute wrath on the wrongdoer” (13:4). If this is the God-assigned task of government, then obviously government has the God-given right and authority to do this. I argued that we would interpret Paul too literalistically if we interpreted him as teaching that the sole task of government is punishment. Punishment is one component within a complex system comprised, among other things, of a law code, a judicial system, and a police force, the system as a whole functioning not only to punish wrongdoing but to curb wrongdoing. It serves to curb injustice, thereby to secure justice. I noted that though the situation Paul was addressing was new—how the members of the church are to relate to the empire—his teaching concerning the proper function of political authority was continuous with a prominent strand in the teaching of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament concerning the task of the ruler. It is the task of the ruler is to secure justice.
Do or Do Not, There Is No Try: User Engagement May Not Improve Security Outcomes

Computer security problems often occur when there are disconnects between users’ understanding of their role in computer security and what is expected of them. To help users make good security decisions more easily, we need insights into the challenges they face in their daily computer usage. We built and deployed the Security Behavior Observatory (SBO) to collect data on user behavior and machine configurations from participants’ home computers. Combining SBO data with user interviews, this paper presents a qualitative study comparing users’ attitudes, behaviors, and understanding of computer security to the actual states of their computers. Qualitative inductive thematic analysis of the interviews produced “engagement” as the overarching theme, whereby participants with greater engagement in computer security and maintenance did not necessarily have more secure computer states. Thus, user engagement alone may not be predictive of computer security. We identify several other themes that inform future directions for better design and research into security interventions. Our findings emphasize the need for better understanding of how users’ computers get infected, so that we can more effectively design user-centered mitigations.
Reflections of a Wandering Humanist Masquerading as a Social Scientist

Special Editor’s Note: The editorial staff is especially pleased to include in this issue a special piece by Professor Ed Eckenfels, the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education. He is an emeritus professor at Rush University School of Medicine in Chicago and one of ABSAME’s most beloved and cherished members. His constant and enthusiastic advocacy for ABSAME and for community-integrated medical education has spanned decades. He has been tirelessly devoted to medical education, especially championing the role of compassion in the training of the next generation of physicians. This essay was originally written for his former students and sent to some of them. Now it is available to all of them and all of us. It is, indeed, an honor to have him share some of his philosophy with us in this piece for the Annals.
Influences of Adhesion Variability on the "Living" Dynamics of Filamentous Bacteria in Microfluidic Channels.

Microfabricated devices have increasingly incorporated bacterial cells for microscale studies and exploiting cell-based functions in situ. However, the role of surface interactions in controlling the bacterial cell behavior is not well understood. In this study, microfluidic substrates of varied bacterial-binding affinity were used to probe the interaction-driven behavior of filamentous Escherichia coli. In particular, cell alignment under controlled shear flow as well as subsequent orientation and filamentation were compared between cells presenting distinct outer membrane phenotypes. We demonstrated that filaments retained position under flow, which allowed for dynamic single-cell monitoring with in situ elongation of over 100 μm for adherent cells. This maximum was not reached by planktonic cells and was, therefore, adhesion-dependent. The bound filaments initially aligned with flow under a range of flow rates and their continual elongation was traced in terms of length and growth path; analysis demonstrated that fimbriae-mediated adhesion increased growth rate, increased terminal length, as well as dramatically changed the adherent geometry, particularly buckling behavior. The effects to filament length and buckling were further exaggerated by the strongest, specificity-driven adhesion tested. Such surface-guided control of the elongation process may be valuable to yield interesting “living” filamentous structures in microdevices. In addition, this work may offer a biomedically relevant platform for further elucidation of filamentation as an immune-resistant morphology. Overall, this work should inspire broader exploration of microfabricated devices for the study and application of single bacterial cells.
Internal iliac venous aneurysm associated with pelvic venous insufficiency.

Aneurysmal disease of the internal iliac vein is rare, with no standard indication for or accepted modality of treatment. Here we report an instance of unilateral, primary left internal iliac venous aneurysm and associated pelvic venous insufficiency. Following extensive workup for alternative causes, the aneurysm and left gonadal vein were coil embolized with good effect.
Drug and Fatty Acid Cytochrome P450 Metabolism in Critical Care

Abstract This chapter reviews the effects of critical care illness on both drug metabolism and fatty acid bioactivation by cytochrome P450 enzymes. It also reviews the current state of knowledge of the effects of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest on both drug metabolism and arachidonic acid bioactivation by P450 enzymes. The effects of stroke on P450-mediated bioactivation of arachidonic acid to 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and epoxyeicosatrienoic acid metabolites and their role in the pathogenesis of secondary brain hypoperfusion in each critical illness will be reviewed. Additionally, the significant changes in drug metabolism by P450 enzymes that accompany critical illnesses of the central nervous systems (stroke and traumatic brain injury) versus whole body insults (cardiac arrest) will be reviewed. In each section, the role of P450 enzymes both in the pathogenesis and recovery from disease, and the impact of alterations to individualize drug therapy will be discussed.
Enhancing and Improving Treatment Engagement with Hispanic Patients

Hispanics use health and mental health care services at lower rates and receive lower quality care than do non-Hispanics. However, successful engagement in treatment leads to comparable outcomes for Hispanics and other ethnic or racial groups. Therefore, an important way to reduce health disparities is to increase Hispanics’ engagement in health-related treatment services. In this chapter, we delineate the challenges integrated care providers face when looking to serve their Hispanic patients in a more culturally competent manner. We make recommendations for how primary care clinics can better respond to the specific cultural needs of their Hispanic patients so as to enhance treatment engagement, from systemic changes to the specific activities of members of the primary care team. We suggest modifications to screenings and referrals, assessment, interventions, and the formation of collaborative partnerships with other agencies that weave in cultural considerations and address how language and cultural values may shift the specific practices of providers. We turn finally to the focus of integrated care services—improving the overall health of a population—and what this means for reducing health disparities in Hispanic patients. We conclude integrated services reduce many of the internal and external barriers Hispanics face when seeking care, and have the potential to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of diverse patients.
Translational Correlation: Sleep Disorders

Abstract Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy brain, emotional well-being, and physical health. Sleep disorders are very common and they can cause significant morbidity and mortality, if left untreated. Consequences of sleep disorders, including excessive daytime sleepiness and trouble falling asleep, have been reported to affect about one-third of the US population. Brain stem, hypothalamus, thalamus, and basal forebrain are the vital brain areas responsible for sleep. Neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine) play an important role in the physiology of sleep–wake regulating mechanisms (wakefulness, sleep–wake transition, and sleep). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most commonly encountered sleep disorder seen in clinical practice. OSA is a significant modifiable risk factor for several cardiac, neurological, and metabolic syndromes. Inadequate sleep due to poor sleep habits is also a very common problem, especially in teens and young adults. Impaired quality of sleep due to sleep disorders causes deleterious effects on overall health. Timely and adequate treatment of sleep disorders has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality in several studies.
Effects of Family Educational Cultures on Student Success at School: Directions for Leadership

Jeynes writing and research is widely regarded as among the most robust sources of evidence about the effects of parental influence on student success at school, how schools can assist parents to provide more productive educational cultures in the home and what those in school leadership roles can contribute to these outcomes. Most of Jeynes research has used meta-analytic review techniques and this chapter will reflect those techniques. The chapter will build on Jeynes’ previous research including, for example, one of his previous meta-analysis of 52 studies assessing the influence of parental involvement on the educational outcomes of urban secondary school children. Analyses examined the overall impact of parental involvement, as well as specific components of parental involvement. Four different measures of educational outcomes were used – an overall measure of all components of academic achievement combined, grades, standardized tests, and other measures that generally included teacher rating scales and indices of academic attitudes and behaviors. The differing effects of parental involvement by race and socioeconomic status were also examined. Results indicated that the influence of parental involvement, overall, is significant for secondary school children. Parental involvement as a whole had significant effects on all of the academic variables in the study (.5 to.55 of a standard deviation unit). The chapter for this book will include evidence about school leader practices which assist parents to support the success of their children at school.
UTILITY OF ROUTINE SERUM FREE LIGHT CHAIN ASSAY FOR AMYLOIDOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE

Background: Light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is thought to be a rare disease with a prevalence of 8-10 per million patient years. Cardiac involvement is an important prognostic factor. The serum free light chain assay (FLC) is inexpensive and recommended as an initial diagnostic test when AL is
Shrink in the Making: Learning to Become a Psychiatrist from the War Wounded

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has resulted in numerous physical and psychological casualties. Mental health specialists have served with honor and contributed greatly to the care of these injured. The main focus of this volume is to provide insight into the experiences of mental health providers in combat. However the picture would be incomplete if it omitted the challenges in garrison, in specialized teaching military hospitals in the USA, caring for the physically or emotionally wounded.
Effect of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia on neonatal autonomic functions: evaluation by heart rate variability.

AbstractBackground: Serum bilirubin levels beyond the physiological limits, may lead to alterations in autonomic regulation in a newborn infant. Heart rate variability (HRV), is a noninvasive and quantitative marker of the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). To date, few studies have demonstrated the undesirable effects of severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (UHB) on autonomic functions, and only one study has used HRV as a marker of the autonomic activity. However, the relationship between altered cardiac autonomic functions and UHB by using the HRV derived from 24-hour Holter electrocardiography (ECG) recording has not been investigated previously.Objective: We aimed to assess whether a relationship exists between severe UHB and cardiac autonomic dysfunction by evaluating HRV via 24-hour Holter ECG recording.Methods: This single-center, prospective, case-control study was conducted on 50 full-term newborn infants with severe UHB requiring phototherapy and 50 healthy infants as controls. H...
Morphologic and histologic findings in bioprosthetic valves explanted from the mitral position in children younger than 5 years of age.

Abstract Background Mitral valve replacement (MVR) in very young children is challenging. This study investigates the mechanisms for early bioprosthetic valve failure in very young patients through review of the macroscopic and microscopic findings in explanted bioprosthetic valves. Methods Patients who underwent MVR with a bioprosthetic valve at Boston Children's Hospital between January 2010 to April 2016 at Results Bioprosthetic valves were used in 31 of 77 MVRs during the study period. Valve failure occurred in 10 patients (32%). Freedom from valve failure was 80% at 1 year and was associated with older age at implantation. On gross and microscopic evaluation, valve failure (predominantly stenosis) was found to be due to pannus deposition and intrinsic leaflet calcification. Conclusions Successful long-term use of bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position in very young children continues to be a challenge. In addition to intrinsic calcification, excessive pannus deposition can lead to early bioprosthetic valve failure in this population. Early exuberant pannus growth appears due to thrombus deposition on the valves themselves and to the host's reaction to foreign material.
How T cells grasp mycobacterial lipid antigens.

Solving the mechanism by which MHC I and II proteins capture protein fragments represented a triumph for T cell biologists. This discovery highlighted the peptidic nature of antigens for T cells. Investigation of MHC-peptide–T cell receptor (TCR) interactions provides the basis for epitope mapping, which is the process of identifying the particular chemical elements of an antigen that contact the TCR and determine immune response. Accordingly, for decades, nearly every aspect of T cell-related technology development in autoimmunity, infection, antitumor response, and vaccination has focused on peptide epitopes. However, the known universe of antigens for human T cells widened considerably based on work in the early 1990s by Porcelli, Brenner, and colleagues (1, 2). They identified lipid antigens for T cells, including mycolic acid, a membrane lipid from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Fig. 1). This discovery forced a collision of two previously unrelated fields: lipid chemistry and antigen presentation. Mycolic acids and other lipids are now well established to bind within CD1b antigen-presenting molecules, and the resulting CD1b–lipid complexes are recognized by TCRs (3). In PNAS, Salah Mansour’s laboratory returns to the question of epitope mapping of mycobacterial mycolic acid antigens (4). Their work not only solves certain questions, but also highlights new controversies regarding how clonotypic TCRs can specifically grasp and recognize lipids. Fig. 1. Mycolic acid and glucose monomycolate antigens possess the same kinds of mycolyl groups, yet function differently in activation of T cells. T cell response to GMM absolutely requires the glucose head group, including the indicated hydroxyl groups at positions C2 and C4. T cell response to GMM proceeds normally when the lipid is truncated from C80 to C32 removing functional groups from its meromycolate chain (5). In contrast, the functional groups on mycolic acid lipid moiety strongly control T cell response (4, 12, 13). The … [↵][1]1Email: bmoody{at}bwh.harvard.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Mining location information from life- and earth-sciences studies to facilitate knowledge discovery:

Location information in published studies represents an untapped resource for literature discovery, applicable to a range of domains. The ability to easily discover scientific articles from specifi...
Molecular definition of the transplantation antigens

In the first half of the 20th century, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the laboratory mouse, the H-2 complex, was defined by a combination of serology and genetics. In the second half of the 20th century, its human counterpart, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex was similarly defined and shown to mediate rejection of allogeneic kidney grafts. The clinical relevance of the transplantation antigens created the field of transplant immunology, which aimed to reduce graft rejection by HLA matching of transplant donors and recipients, and to use immunosuppressive drugs to prevent and treat rejection. Because tissue transplantation is not a natural phenomenon, the relevance of the MHC for immunology and immune defense against microbial pathogens was frequently questioned. In the 1970s, the general observation that cytotoxic T-cell responses to viral infection required recognition of both a viral antigen and a transplantation antigen argued for the immunological importance of the MHC. Proving this point was not achieved until close to the end of the 20th century. This required detailed biochemical and structural analysis of the transplantation antigens, the viral antigens, and the T-cell receptors that recognized them. This century of research culminated in 1996 with the three-dimensional crystallographic structure of the complex of these three components. In this complex is MAC, the very first HLA antigen to be detected and now more formally known as HLA-A*02:01.
Pulmonary thromboembolic events in patients with congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and spinal/skeletal abnormalities and Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.

Abstract Objective Patients with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) and congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and spinal/skeletal abnormalities (CLOVES) syndrome have central phlebectasia and enlarged persistent embryonic veins that are often incompetent and prone to thromboembolism. The purpose of the study was to determine the presence of phlebectasia and the incidence of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients referred to the Vascular Anomalies Center at our institution during a 21-year period who were diagnosed with KTS and CLOVES syndrome. Of these, the patients who had PE were screened for thromboembolic risk factors in addition to phlebectasia and the presence of persistent embryonic veins. Treatment outcomes following subsequent endovascular and medical therapies were reported. Results A total of 12 KTS patients of 96 (12.5%) and 10 CLOVES syndrome patients of 110 (9%) suffered PE. Fourteen patients (64%) developed PE after surgery or sclerotherapy. All of the patients had abnormally dilated central or persistent embryonic veins; 20 patients were treated with anticoagulation (1 died at the time of presentation, and no information was available for 1) after PE, and 14 (66%) patients underwent subsequent endovascular treatment. Five patients developed recurrent PE despite anticoagulation. Two of the patients died of PE. No patients treated with endovascular closure of dilated veins had subsequent evidence of PE. Conclusions Patients with KTS and CLOVES syndrome are at high risk for PE, particularly in the postoperative period.
Risk of decompression sickness with patent foramen ovale.

Several reports have described populations of divers with decompression sickness (DCS) who have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The presence of a PFO is known to occur in about 30% of the normal population, hence 30% of divers are likely to have a PFO. Although observations have been made on the presence of a PFO in divers with and without DCS, the risk of developing DCS when a diver has a PFO has not been determined. In this study, Logistic Regression and Bayes' theorem were used to calculate the risk of DCS from data of three studies that reported on echocardiographic analysis of PFO in a diving population, some of whom developed DCS. Overall incidence of DCS was obtained from the sport diving population, from the U.S. Navy diving population, and from a commercial population. The analysis indicates that the presence of a PFO produces a 2.5 time increase in the odds ratio for developing serious (type II) DCS in all three types of divers. Since the incidence of type II DCS in these three populations averages 2.28/10,000 dives, the risk of developing DCS in the presence of a PFO remains small, and does not warrant routine screening by echocardiography of sport, military, or commercial divers.
The Risk of Comparative Effectiveness Analysis for Decision Making Purposes

The purpose of comparative effectiveness analysis is ordinarily defined as a means to compare the benefits of drug A versus drug B. However, particularly in relation to cancer drugs, there is only drug A, and comparative effectiveness analysis tends to compare drug A to a quality adjusted threshold value, with a frequent conclusion that the cost of the drug is not worth the additional life given to the patient. Ordinarily, a societal perspective is used to deny the drugs, since the additional life may be worth the drug cost for the patient, although not to the payer. The British organization, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has denied many cancer drugs to their patients because the cost exceeds a threshold value. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare are examining a similar process to deny treatments that exceed a quality adjusted price of $50,000. There are similar provisions in the Healthcare Reform Act. With the emphasis upon medications, medical procedures are not as subject to this comparative effectiveness scrutiny; procedures can frequently exceed the cost of medication treatments. However, each medication is considered separately; no analysis examines the total contribution of the treatment to the overall cost of healthcare. We examine different aspects of comparative analysis using techniques of data mining.
A novel parallel-kinematics mechanism for integrated, multi-axis nanopositioning: Part 2: Dynamics, control and performance analysis

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the dynamics, controls and performance of a parallel-kinematics, integrated, multi-axis nanopositioner, the PKXYZNP [Yao Q, Dong J, Ferreira PM. A novel parallel-kinematics mechanisms for integrated, multi-axis nano-positioning. Part 1: Kinematics and design for fabrications]. The paper focuses on computing the workspace of the stage, characterization of its dynamic behavior, synthesis of a controller for it, and the testing of its contour tracking and positioning performance. For this system, because of the coupled nature of the axes, a MIMO control scheme is adopted to directly close the loop around the kinematics of the stage, i.e., the position of the table/end-effector is fed back to control the actuators. This scheme has the added advantage of not requiring complex and fragile kinematic calibration of the stage as the accuracy becomes a function of only the accuracy of the sensing system and the servo performance. To make the MIMO control scheme tractable by reducing its order, the controller design is performed in the modal space of the system. A resolution of 2–4 nm is achieved from this stage. Linear and circular tests were performed to evaluate the contouring performance of the PKXYZ stage. In spite of a relatively heavy load condition (the weight of a solid target), the linear and circular contouring errors are less than 40 and 150 nm, respectively, with contouring speeds ranging up to 40 μm/s.
Abstract 2674: Immune profiling of in NSCLC shows expression of PD-L1 in macrophages is better associated with outcomes than PD-L1 in tumor cells in PD-1 axis immunotherapy treated patients

Background: The immune checkpoint target and companion diagnostic, PD-L1 is expressed in both tumor cell and immune cells and both are read by the pathologist and associated with response to therapy in different organ systems. Here, we examine the expression of PD-L1 using molecular assessment of cellular localization to determine which cell type carries the predictive value of the companion diagnostic test. Methods: We used the quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) methods (AQUA analysis of images from the PM2000 and inForm analysis of images from the PerkinElmer Vectra and Polaris Automated Quantitative Pathology Imaging System) and measured the expression of PD-L1 in multiple immune cell types by phenotyping each cell. We also acquired high resolution images from the multiplex for precise identification of co-localization using confocal microscopy. The PD-L1 localization was measured using two multiplex QIF panels including CD56 for natural killer (NK) cells, CD68 for macrophages and CD8 for cytotoxic T cells. This multiplex was performed on three retrospective Yale NSCLC cohorts (457 non-immunotherapy-treated cases and 62 PD-1 axis immunotherapy treated cases) represented in tissue microarrays. Results: PD-L1 localization was significantly higher in macrophages compared to NK cells and CD8 T cells in both tumor and stroma compartment. In stroma, 80% of PD-L1 is expressed by macrophages, while 5% and 3% by NK cells and CD8 T cells, respectively. High CD8 level (top tertile) was associated with better overall survival (P Conclusion: In over 500 lung cancer cases the predominant immune cell type that expresses PD-L1 CD68 positive macrophages, as compared to NK cells and CD8 T cells. The level of PD-L1 in macrophages is significantly associated with the level of PD-L1 in tumor and with high levels of CD8+ T cells, suggesting a connection between high PD-L1 and “hot” tumors. Similar to our previous findings in melanoma, we find that high levels of PD-L1 in macrophages is a positive predictive biomarker for PD-1 pathway blockade therapy. Due to the small size of the treated cohort in the study, further work is required to confirm this observation. Citation Format: Yuting Liu, Jon Zugazagoitia, Brian Henick, Kurt A. Schalper, David L. Rimm. Immune profiling of in NSCLC shows expression of PD-L1 in macrophages is better associated with outcomes than PD-L1 in tumor cells in PD-1 axis immunotherapy treated patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2674.
CO2 sorption in triethyl(butyl)phosphonium 2-cyanopyrrolide ionic liquid via first principles simulations

Abstract Predicting gas-liquid solubility using traditional force field based approaches is not reliable in cases where gas molecules can chemically complex with the liquid phase. Using electronic structure calculations to calculate system energy on-the-fly can overcome this deficiency albeit at a higher computational cost. Here, we use first-principles simulations to predict the solubility of CO2 in triethyl(butyl)phosphonium 2-cyanopyrrolide ionic liquid (IL). We utilize Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo (GEMC) simulations to predict solubility, and employ ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to study dynamics and structural properties. Solubility prediction from GEMC simulations is in good agreement with the experimental data. Analyzing complexation states of CO2 molecules reveals that approximately 30% of CO2 molecules are chemically bonded with the anion component of the IL. The combined distribution function analysis shows that upon reaction, the O C O angle of the CO2-anion complex varies from 132 to 134 °. Despite these structural changes, plots of mean square displacement (MSD) show minimal difference between the dynamics of neat and IL with dissolved CO2. The vibrational spectra obtained from AIMD simulations match reasonably well for pure and mixed IL as compared to the experimental data.
Design Optimization of Bridge Decks with Precast UHPC Waffle Panels

The first full-depth, precast, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) waffle panels have been designed and implemented in a bridge replacement project to utilize accelerated bridge construction (ABC) and increase bridge deck longevity. After satisfactory performance of bridge deck under moving loads, this paper examines the options to optimize the bridge deck design to minimize the UHPC volume and associated labor costs. Using the full-scale finite-element model of the bridge, an optimization of the waffle panels was undertaken by varying the number of ribs as well as spacing between the ribs. An optimized panel was achieved by reducing the interior ribs per panel from four to two, or zero, in the longitudinal direction and six to two in the transverse direction, without compromising the panel’s structural performance. Using the recommended optimized design, it was shown that the UHPC volume can be reduced by 13.4% compared to the design completed for the bridge, thereby significantly reducing the construction costs.
Prospective cost implications with a clinical decision support system for pediatric emergency head computed tomography

Unnecessary imaging is a potential cost driver in the United States health care system. Using a clinical decision support tool, we determined the percentage of low-utility non-contrast head computed tomography (CT) examinations on emergency patients and calculated the prospective cost implications of providing low-value imaging using time-driven activity-based costing at an academic quaternary pediatric hospital. A clinical decision support tool for imaging, CareSelect (National Decision Support Co., Madison, WI), was integrated in silent mode into the electronic health record from September 2018 through August 2019. Each non-contrast head CT order received a score from the clinical decision support tool based on the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. Descriptive statistics for all levels of appropriateness scores were compiled with an emphasis on low-utility exams. A micro-costing assessment was conducted using time-driven activity-based costing on head CT without contrast examinations. Within the 11-month time period, 3,186 head CT examinations without contrast were ordered for emergency center patients. Among these orders, 28% (896/3,186) were classified as low-utility studies. The base case CT pathway time was 43 min and base case total cost was $193.35. The base case opportunity cost of these low-utility exams extrapolated annually amounts to $188,902 for our institution. Silent mode implementation of a clinical decision support tool resulted in 28% of head CT non-contrast exams on emergency patients being graded as low-utility studies. Prospective cost implications resulted in an annual base case cost of $188,902 to Texas Children’s Hospital.
The Geography of Ethical Reasoning

People may arrive at the same conclusions on the basis of different ethical values or courses of reasoning. They may also start from the same premises and arrive at different conclusions. The moral bases of reasoning may be as important to international discussion as answers to specific cases.
Flow Field Penetration in Thin Nanoporous Polymer Films under Laminar Flow by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Coupled with Total Internal Reflectance Fluorescence Microscopy.

Polymer–fluid interfaces are used widely in a variety of applications, including separations, which require exposure of the polymer to dynamic flow conditions. Despite the ubiquity of such interfaces, the importance of convective mass transport within the near-interface region of a polymer is a fundamental process that is still poorly defined. As a step toward better defining mass transport behavior within the near-interface portion of a polymer, in this work, a new application of a spectroscopic method based on the combination of Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) is reported that allows quantification of the penetration depth of a laminar flow field (i.e., the slip length) in a densely grafted, thin poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) film as a model polymer system. Specifically, decay curves from FRET of an acceptor with a donor attached at the substrate surface are fit to a combined Taylor–Aris–Fickian mass transport model to extrac...
PAQ: time series forecasting for approximate query answering in sensor networks

In this paper, we present a method for approximating the values of sensors in a wireless sensor network based on time series forecasting. More specifically, our approach relies on autoregressive models built at each sensor to predict local readings. Nodes transmit these local models to a sink node, which uses them to predict sensor values without directly communicating with sensors. When needed, nodes send information about outlier readings and model updates to the sink. We show that this approach can dramatically reduce the amount of communication required to monitor the readings of all sensors in a network, and demonstrate that our approach provides provably-correct, user-controllable error bounds on the predicted values of each sensor.