cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastric acid suppression and treatment of severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Abstract Adding either H 2 -receptor antagonists (cimetidine or ranitidine) or proton pump inhibitors to an adequate amount of lipolytic activity improves fat malabsorption in most cases and abolishes steatorrhoea in up to 40% of children and adults with cystic fibrosis and in adults with chronic pancreatitis. Acid suppression improves fat absorption because the resultant increase in pH within the upper gastrointestinal tract improves the survival of lipolytic activity, reduces duodenal volume flow and prevents the precipitation of bile acids. These effects increase the concentration of intraduodenal lipolytic activity and promote the aggregation of bile acids and the micellar solubilization of lipid. The amount of lipase that should be recommended is controversial, but we interpret our studies as indicating that at least 90000 United States Pharmacopeia (USP) units should be ingested with meals. This amount of lipolytic activity taken with an agent that suppresses gastric acid secretion improves fat absorption in most patients and may even abolish steatorrhoea.
Changes in the Hemostatic Mechanism After Myocardial Infarction

Plasma coagulation factors, adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation, and fibrinolytic activity were studied in male survivors of myocardial infarction and in healthy normal men. Infarction survivors had significant elevations of factors VIII and X and of adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation. The fibrinolytic system was altered toward reduced plasminogen activation, increased antiurokinase activity, and elevated antiplasmin activity. These findings suggest that some men with prior myocardial infarction have a heightened tendency to thrombogenesis. This tendency may represent a response to previous cardiac insult or may contribute to its pathogenesis.
Stress in Thermally Annealed Parylene Films

Stress generated by thermal annealing of thick parylene-n (PA-n) films (4–7 μm) has been studied. We examined the behavior of stress for as-deposited films and rapidly thermally annealed films. The annealing was done in vacuum and the stress measured after the anneal. In another experiment the stress was also studied in-situ with thermal annealing. The as-deposited films are under compressive stress of about 18 MPa. When the backside film was removed by plasma etching, the stress changed from compressive to tensile. As the films are annealed, the stress decreases and then becomes tensile, peaking at about 60 MPa. The film crystallinity and stress are correlated for PA-n films. It was observed that stress is reduced during the crystal phase transformations at around 220°C and 270°C. This property can be used to relieve stress in multilevel structures. It was also found that slower heating and cooling led to lowered stress. The stress has been compared to reported values from other sources. Stress in PA-c (chlorinated) and co-polymerized PA-n and -e (esterfied) films has also been reported.
Reversibility of Tardive Dyskinesia Syndrome

This Editorial was written in response to: Zutshi D, Cloud LJ, Factor SA. Tardive Syndromes are Rarely Reversible after Discontinuing Dopamine Receptor Blocking Agents: Experience from a University-based Movement Disorder Clinic. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov. 2014; 4. doi: 10.7916/D8MS3R8C Erratum published July 27, 2015
Numerical and experimental results for the reflectivity of complex mesh surfaces

Wire mesh knit reflecting surfaces have been analyzed by moment methods using a piecewise triangular basis function with a Floquet mode description of the periodic structure. Numerical and experimental results obtained from the complex weave are presented. In particular, the effects of wire loops and junction connectivity are examined. Calculations for the mesh used on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) single access antennas have been carried out, and results are given. >
Development of gastrin synthesis and posttranslational processing mechanisms in rats

To examine the ontogeny of gastrin synthesis and posttranslational processing mechanisms, we utilized region-specific antisera to determine the factors that regulate the contents of gastrin and its precursors in the stomachs of developing rats. Gastrin content increased gradually from birth to a peak at 5 wk of age, after which there was a slight decrease to levels observed in mature animals. Unlike gastrin, glycine-extended precursors of gastrin (G-Gly) increased abruptly in the first day of life but thereafter increased at a steady state. Dexamethasone treatment and early weaning (at 11 days of age) rapidly increased gastrin content, whereas G-Gly content was decreased. On weaning animals to adult rat chow abruptly at an age (18 days) when the corticosteroid surge associated with the weaning process had already occurred, evidence for increases in both gastrin and G-Gly content were observed 7 days later. In contrast, administration of dexamethasone to 18-day-old rats enhanced gastrin content to a greater extent than G-Gly. These results suggest that the natural surge in corticosteroids associated with weaning may enhance gastrin amidation activity, whereas the concomitant dietary changes may exert a stimulatory effect of gastrin synthesis.
Silica encapsulation of ferrimagnetic zinc ferrite nanocubes enabled by layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition.

Stable suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with large magnetic moment, m, per particle have tremendous utility in a wide range of biological applications. However, because of the strong magnetic coupling interactions often present in these systems, it is challenging to stabilize individual, high-moment, ferro- and ferrimagnetic nanoparticles. A novel approach to encapsulate large, that is, >100 nm, ferrimagnetic zinc ferrite nanocubes (ZFNCs) with silica after an intermediary layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition step is described in this paper. The seed ZFNCs are uniform in shape and size and have high saturation mass magnetic moment (σs ∼100 emu/g, m ∼ 4 × 10-13 emu/particle at 150 Oe). For the MNP system described within, successful silica encapsulation and creation of discrete ZFNCs were realized only after depositing polyelectrolyte multilayers composed of alternating polyallylamine and polystyrenesulfonate. Without the intermediary polyelectrolyte layers, magnetic dipole–dipole interact...
Water from ambient to supercritical conditions with the AMOEBA model.

The flexible polarizable AMOEBA force field for water is tested with classical molecular dynamics simulations from ambient up to supercritical conditions. Good results are obtained for the heat of vaporization, dielectric constant, self-diffusion constant, and radial distribution functions provided densities are fixed at the experimental values. If instead the densities are allowed to relax to those characteristic of the liquid–gas equilibrium for the model, then satisfactory results are obtained near ambient conditions, whereas at high temperatures the liquid densities are generally underestimated and the gas densities overestimated. As a consequence, the critical point of the model is reached at significantly too low temperature, although it occurs at approximately the correct density.
Origin of regional and species differences in intestinal glucose uptake.

Differences in intestinal absorption among physiological states, intestinal regions, and animal species could arise from many anatomical factors (e.g., intestinal length and diameter, or area ampli...
Optimization of PID Controller Parameters Based on Improved Chaotic Algorithm

The performance of PID controller depends on the combination of the control parameters. A kind of improved chaotic algorithm was put forward to optimize the PID controller parameters. In order to solve the shortcoming of low convergence rate of chaos optimization algorithm, the step acceleration method was introduced. And the improved chaotic algorithm combined the merits of both methods. Simulation results show that the improved chaotic algorithm is effective and the optimization PID controller parameters is superior to the PID controller parameters by conventional methods.
Semiautomated Segmentation of Polycystic Kidneys in T2-Weighted MR Images.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of the present study is to develop and validate a fast, accurate, and reproducible method that will increase and improve institutional measurement of total kidney volume and thereby avoid the higher costs, increased operator processing time, and inherent subjectivity associated with manual contour tracing. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We developed a semiautomated segmentation approach, known as the minimal interaction rapid organ segmentation (MIROS) method, which results in human interaction during measurement of total kidney volume on MR images being reduced to a few minutes. This software tool automatically steps through slices and requires rough definition of kidney boundaries supplied by the user. The approach was verified on T2-weighted MR images of 40 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease of varying degrees of severity. RESULTS. The MIROS approach required less than 5 minutes of user interaction in all cases. When compared with the ground-truth reference stan...
Double recessed AlInAs/GaInAs/InP HEMTs with high breakdown voltages

A double recessed T-gate process has been successfully utilized to increase gate-to-drain breakdown voltages of double pulse doped AlInAs/GaInAs/InP HEMTs. By varying lateral channel dimensions, breakdown voltages in the range 11-19 V can be tailored with maximum channel currents in the range 450-600 mA/mm. This combination of high breakdown voltages and high channel currents indicate that the double recess process is a promising approach for high power applications.
Parkinsonism Signs and Symptoms in Agricultural Pesticide Handlers in Washington State.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Examine associations between pesticide exposure and signs or symptoms of parkinsonism. Methods: Prior to the 2014 pesticide spray season, the authors examined 38 active pesticide handlers aged 35 to 65 (median: 43.5) who participated in the State of Washington’s cholinesterase monitoring program in the Yakima Valley, where cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides are applied in fruit orchards. A movement disorder specialist assessed the workers using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor subscore 3 (UPDRS3). Participants also self-reported work and medical histories, including the UPDRS activities of daily living subscore 2 (UPDRS2). The authors explored the relation between these scores and lifetime occupational pesticide exposure while accounting for age. Results: All participants were Hispanic men born in Mexico who had worked in agriculture for 4 to 43 years (median: 21 years, including 11 years applying pesticides, mostly in the United States). Ten participants ...
Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity: From the Latter Han Dynasty (25–220) to the Tang Dynasty (618–907)

Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity continues Eskildsen's solid scholarship on the Daoist tradition, expressed in his earlier works Asceticism in Early Taoist Religion (1998) and The Te...
Putting evaluation capacity building in context: Reflections on the Ontario Brain Institute's Evaluation Support Program.

This article, in three parts, reflects on the content of the six articles included in the forum. It begins with a description of the Evaluation Support Program, emphasizing its key attributes. Next, it raises two points regarding ECB theory: (1) the need to become clearer about the concepts and terms used to describe and study this phenomenon, and (2) the potential value of social science theory to understand ECB and improve its practice. The article concludes with practical ideas for improving ECB: (1) framing it as an educative act, which assigns the evaluator the critical role of evaluation teacher/coach; and (2) the importance of never assuming that an ECB effort begins in unchartered territory, but rather that it builds on people’s knowledge, skills, attitudes, and previous experiences.
Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors and Stem Cells: Friends or Foes?

The infusion of healthy stem cells into a patient—termed “stem-cell therapy”—has shown great promise for the treatment of genetic and non-genetic diseases, including mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, numerous immunodeficiency disorders, and aplastic anemia. Stem cells for cell therapy can be collected from the patient (autologous) or collected from another “healthy” individual (allogeneic). The use of allogenic stem cells is accompanied with the potentially fatal risk that the transplanted donor T cells will reject the patient's cells—a process termed “graft-versus-host disease.” Therefore, the use of autologous stem cells is preferred, at least from the immunological perspective. However, an obvious drawback is that inherently as “self,” they contain the disease mutation. As such, autologous cells for use in cell therapies often require genetic “correction” (i.e., gene addition or editing) prior to cell infusion and therefore the requirement for some form of nucleic a...
Factors Influencing Changes in Money Supply in BCEAO Countries

Le document analyse les variations de la masse monA©taire dans les sept pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest qui ont une banque centrale commune, la Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO). Il attribue ces variations A des facteurs de comportement ou A des facteurs autonomes -- en ce sens qu'ils A©chappent A tout contrA´le direct -- et A des modifications de politique de la part des autoritA©s monA©taires. On constate que si pour l'ensemble de la zone monA©taire un peu plus de 50 pour cent des variations de la masse monA©taire sont dues A des changements de politique monA©taire, cette proportion a variA© d'un minimum de 26 pour cent en CA´te-d'Ivoire A un maximum de 129 pour cent au Niger. Dans certains pays, comme la CA´te-d'Ivoire, le SA©nA©gal et le Togo, l'incidence des variations des avoirs extA©rieurs sur la masse monA©taire a A©tA© prA¨s de deux fois plus forte que celle rA©sultant des modifications de la politique adoptA©e. Il existe, d'un pays membre A l'autre, des A©carts trA¨s marquA©s entre les valeurs moyennes, des multiplicateurs de la monnaie de mAame qu'entre leurs fluctuations annuelles. Cela semblerait indiquer que la mise en A“uvre d'une politique monA©taire homogA¨ne applicable A l'ensemble de l'Union MonA©taire pourrait prA©senter des difficultA©s et qu'il conviendrait de tenir compte de son incidence dans chaque pays pris sA©parA©ment. Le multiplicateur de la monnaie semble Aatre suffisamment stable dans la plupart des pays membres de la BCEAO, ce qui devrait faciliter la tA¢che des autoritA©s monA©taires de ces pays. /// En este trabajo se analizan las variaciones de la oferta monetaria en los siete paA­ses de Africa occidental que comparten el mismo banco central, llamado Banco Central de los Estados de Africa Occidental (BCEAO). Las variaciones se atribuyen a factores ya sea de comportamiento o autA³nomos, en el sentido de que las autoridades monetarias no tienen en la actualidad ningAon control directo sobre ellos, o a variaciones experimentadas en la polA­tica seguida por las autoridades monetarias. Se ve que, aunque para el conjunto de la regiA³n, algo mAis de la mitad de las variaciones de la oferta monetaria se debieron a cambios de polA­tica, esa proporciA³n variA³ desde un mA­nimo del 26 por ciento en la Costa de Marfil hasta un mAiximo del 129 por ciento en NA­ger. En algunos paA­ses, por ejemplo, Costa de Marfil, Senegal y Togo, el efecto derivado de las fluctuaciones de los activos externos sobre la oferta monetaria ha sido casi el doble del proveniente de variaciones en polA­tica. El valor medio de los multiplicadores monetarios, asA­ como las fluctuaciones anuales de los mismos, difieren considerablemente de paA­s a paA­s. Esto da a entender que serA­a difA­cil unificar la polA­tica monetaria de toda la zona y que se debe tener en cuenta el efecto de dicha polA­tica en cada uno de los paA­ses. El multiplicador monetario parece ser suficientemente estable en la mayorA­a de los paA­ses miembros del grupo, y en esos paA­ses deberA­a facilitar la tarea de las autoridades monetarias.
MiR-106b family regulates autophagy via targeting ATG16L1 (172.41)

Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that serves an adaptive role to protect organisms against diverse pathologies. Dysfunction of autophagy is implicated in the development of numerous human diseases. However, regulation of autophagy at the molecular level remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that microRNA (miRNA) 106b family members were a critical regulator of autophagosome formation as well as autophagy-mediated functions. We found that during the differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells, expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) and autophagosome were substantially induced, whereas a number of miRNAs were down-regulated. Silencing of dicer resulted in the increased expression of ATGs and autophagosome formation. Bioinformatic search uncovered that miR-106 family members were highly potential regulators for ATG proteins. Indeed, our experimental investigations demonstrated that miR-106b and miRNA-93 mimics remarkably decreased autophagosome induction under physiological and stress conditions. In contrast, administration of antagonists of miR-106b and miRNA-93 sensitized autophagy formation. Immunoblot and luciferase report assays demonstrated that ATG16L1 was a major component targeting by miRNA-106b family members. Over-expression of ATG16L1 partially rescued miRNA-106b transduction-induced autophagy suppression. Previous reports indicated that ATG16L1 suppression and autophagy deficit are potential factors that lead to inefficient elimination of bacteria in colon epithelial cells during the development of Crohn’s disease. Consistent with these reports and our aforementioned findings, miRNA-106b mimic dramatically reduced the clearance of LF82 bacteria in HeLa epithelial cells. Thus, we have identified a family of miRNA members (miR-106b) as a main inhibitor of autophagy, which may play a role in the eradication of intracellular bacteria and development of Crohn’s disease.
Photoluminescent properties of three lanthanide compounds of formulae LnCl3(diphenyl((5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)phosphine oxide)2, Ln = Sm, Eu and Tb: X-ray structural, emission and vibrational spectroscopies, DFT and thermogravimetric studies

Abstract The synthesis and properties of a new sensitizing bidentate ligand, diphenyl((5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)phosphine oxide, 2, capable of demonstrating the emissive properties of lanthanide elements, is described. Two ligands are attached to LnCl3 moieties, Ln = Sm, Eu and Tb, resulting in complexes of formulae LnCl3(2)2. These complexes were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and have geometries that are pentagonal bipyramidal with the two bidentate ligands in a cisoid conformation on the equatorial plane and the three chloride ligands in a mer-configuration. The coordination bond distances decrease from Sm to Tb paralleling the decrease in lanthanide ionic radii. The photoluminescent properties of these complexes were examined and, one of them, TbCl3(2)2, was assessed a ΦF of ca. 1.00. DFT calculations were conducted to understand the mechanism of proton transfer in ligand 2 for a hydrogen atom hopping between nitrogen atoms on the pyrazolyl moiety and, to assess aspects of the coordination sphere of the lanthanide complexes.
In utero exposure to tobacco smoke, subsequent cardiometabolic risks, and metabolic syndrome among U.S. adolescents.

Abstract Purpose Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, little is known regarding in utero smoke exposure and offspring cardiometabolic risk. Thus, we examined the association between in utero smoke exposure and cardiometabolic risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. Methods Participants included 7464 adolescents aged 12–15 years identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2014). Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses estimated sex-specific means and odds ratios (ORs) for the association between in utero smoke exposure and MetS and cardiometabolic risk factors. Results MetS prevalence was 9.0% in exposed versus 5.9% in unexposed adolescents. In utero smoke exposure was significantly associated with increased odds of MetS among males in models controlling for adolescent age, maternal age, and race/ethnicity (OR: 2.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 5.20), with attenuation of this effect in subsequent models. In utero smoke exposure was associated with significantly elevated mean body mass index and waist circumference percentiles among female adolescents across most models in regression analyses. Conclusions In utero smoke exposure appears to be associated with an increased likelihood of high waist circumference and body mass index percentiles, especially among female adolescents. Our study demonstrates the long-term cardiometabolic impact in offspring, highlighting the importance of prepregnancy smoking cessation.
A Marxist in the Business Ethics Classroom

No one who reads this essay (or this book) will be unfamiliar with the standard quip about business ethics being a contradiction in terms. Our colleagues in philosophy and other fields who believe they are saying something brilliant or even intelligent or clever with this are just too cute, not unlike the person who has never been to Kansas who remarks to the Kansan that “Kansas is flat.” Having ridden my bicycle in almost every part of Kansas, and having ridden across the entire state (from the Colorado border to the Missouri border) four times (as of this writing), I have wished many times that these clever folks could be put down right in the middle of it and faced with the necessity of riding about seventy or eighty miles. Yes, there is a contradiction in business ethics, but it is a contradiction that runs right down through the middle of society, here in the United States, and in our “globalized” world. There is a lot to be said for getting right down in the middle of it. Furthermore, this contradiction would exist in any society that is faced with weighing twin imperatives, on the one hand to run a system of production that responds to the needs and wants of people, and, on the other hand, to respect the basic dignity of human beings, individually and collectively. Now, as a matter of fact, I do not believe that a capitalist form of productive and social organization can really respond to the second imperative, except in a purely calculative way that runs contrary to my own sense of what ethics is all about. Neither is capitalism fundamentally driven by the needs of the basic masses. But more needs to be said about this, because there are forms of Marxist or otherwise socialist thinking that are not only purely calculative, but that even aspire to be such. Allow me to take a moment to answer three questions that will provide some context for considering what it means to be a Marxist in the business ethics classroom. First, how did I become a Marxist? Second, what is my relationship to Marxist theory and practice today? Third, how did I find myself teaching business ethics? The answers to the first two questions are of course long and complicated. I do not want to spend so much time here talking about myself, though perhaps that is all I am going to do. In some respects I began gravitating toward Marxism in college
Gastric polyps: relationship of size and histology to cancer risk.

Objectives : Management of gastric polyps based on polyp size ( 2 cm), and histology obtained from forceps biopsy sampling is controversial. To illuminate this subject, the 4-yr experience with endoscopic management of gastric epithelial polyps at a university hospital and a Veterans Administration medical center was reviewed with histopathologic correlation. Methods : A computer data-base was used to recall the endoscopic diagnosis of gastric polyp.Endoscopy reports, video, and still photography were reviewed for data on polyp appearance, size, location, and management. These data had been entered prospectively as required by the Computer-Based Management System. Histopathology was reviewed by a second, blinded, pathologist. Gastric polyps of epithelial origin, at least 0.5 cm in diameter, and not associated with polyposis syndromes, were included. Results : Thirty-five gastric polyps in 23 patients met inclusion criteria. Snare polypectomy was ultimately performed on 26, and complete resection with forceps biopsy alone on 9. On histopathology 31 polyps were hyperplastic and 4 were adenomas. Six hyperplastic polyps contained focal dysplasia. Among these, carcinoma in situ was identified in three, all 0.5 cm be removed in toto.
Advantages of Transform Methods in Chemistry

Transform techniques offer three main advantages for chemists. First, transform techniques provide a variety of simple procedures for manipulating digitized data: smoothing or filtering to enhance signal-to-noise ratio; resolution enhancement (via either narrower line width or more points per line width); changing spectral line shapes (as from Lorentzian to Gaussian); generation of a dispersion spectrum from an absorption spectrum; generation of integrals or derivatives; and clipping to reduce data storage requirements. Second, Fourier methods can be used to remove any known irregularities in the excitation waveform, so that the corrected (“deconvoluted”) response reflects only the properties of the sample, and not the effect of the measuring instrument. Third, “coded” or “multiplex” detection, followed by Fourier or Hadamard “decoding” can offer a multiplex or Feilgett advantage of up to \(\sqrt N\) in signal-to-noise ratio (or 1/N in time) compared to a scanning instrument, where N is the number of data points in the frequency spectrum.
AB1118 Procalcitonin differentiates infection from active disease in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

Background Patients with JIA often present with signs and symptoms suggestive of infection. However, differentiation of infectious from non-infectious presentation in routine clinical care is challenging. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker elevated in the setting of bacterial infection, but whether it can reliably differentiate infection from disease flare in patients with JIA is unknown.[1 Objectives To test the hypothesis that PCT levels will differ between active JIA, quiescent JIA, bacteremic patients and healthy controls. Methods From 10/16–4/17, consecutive children 6 months – 18 years with a) active untreated JIA b) quiescent JIA and c) healthy pre-surgical candidates were recruited from a musculoskeletal specialty hospital. JIA was defined according to ILAR criteria. Patients with active JIA despite treatment were excluded, to avoid confounding by treatment. Consecutive bacteremic patients were identified from an associated paediatric intensive care unit over the same period. Descriptive statistics and univariate logistic analyses were performed as appropriate. Results Patient characteristics are summarised in Table 1; bacteremic patients were younger. PCT was elevated in bacteremic patients, and was undetectable in all other subjects (Table 2). There were trends towards higher ESR and CRP in bacteremic patients, but these were not statistically significant. Conclusions Serum PCT levels appear to be a reliable biomarker to distinguish infection vs. active JIA at presentation, and can aid in directing therapy. However, PCT does not appear useful to assess disease activity in JIA. Further studies are needed to assess utility of serum PCT measurement in differentiating JIA flares from less severe infections. Reference [1] Milcent K, et al., “Use of Procalcitonin Assays to Predict Serious Bacterial Infection in Young Febrile Infants,”JAMA Pediatrics170, no. 1 (2016): 62–69; Mohsen A, et al., “Predictive Values for Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis,” Electronic Physician 7, no. 4 (2015): 1190–95. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Etoposide and cisplatin (EP) for metastatic good-risk germ cell tumors (GCTs): The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) experience in 944 patients (pts).

4550Background: Standard of care for pts with metastatic, good-risk GCTs consists of either 3 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEPx3) or 4 cycles of EP (EPx4). EPx4 avoids both pulmon...
Heart valve tissue‐derived hydrogels: Preparation and characterization of mitral valve chordae, aortic valve, and mitral valve gels

Heart valve (HV) diseases are among the leading causes of death and continue to threaten public health worldwide. The current clinical options for HV replacement include mechanical and biological prostheses. However, an ongoing problem with current HV prostheses is their failure to integrate with the host tissue and their inability grow and remodel within the body. Tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs) are a promising solution to these problems, as they are able to grow and remodel somatically with the rest of the body. Recently, decellularized HVs have demonstrated great potential as valve replacements because they are tissue specific, but recellularization is still a challenge due to the dense HV extracellular matrix (ECM) network. In this proof-of-concept work, we decellularized porcine mitral valve chordae, aortic valve leaflets, and mitral valve leaflets and processed them into injectable hydrogels that could accommodate any geometry. While the three valvular ECMs contained various amounts of collagen, they displayed similar glycosaminoglycan contents. The hydrogels had similar nanofibrous structures and gelation kinetics with various compressive strengths. When encapsulated with NIH 3 T3 fibroblasts, all the hydrogels supported cell survivals up to 7 days. Decellularized HV ECM hydrogels may show promising potential HV tissue engineering applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1732-1740, 2019.
Theoretical Study of the Reaction Mechanism and Kinetics of the Phenyl + Allyl and Related Benzyl + Vinyl Associations

Potential energy surfaces for the allyl + phenyl and benzyl + vinyl barrierless radical association reactions have been studied at the CCSD(T)-F12/cc-pVTZ-f12//B3LYP/6-311G** level of theory. Variable reaction coordinate transition state theory (VRC-TST) has been employed to evaluate high-pressure limit rate constants for the barrierless channels. Then, Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus master equation (RRKM-ME) calculations have been performed to assess phenomenological rate constants and product branching ratios of various reaction channels at different temperatures and pressures. The initial step of both radical association reactions produces 3-phenylpropene which can further dissociate into a variety of bimolecular products including the indene precursor 1-phenylallyl + H. The results showed that at typical combustion conditions the collisional stabilization of 3-phenylpropene dominates both the phenyl + allyl and benzyl + vinyl reactions at temperatures below 1000 K and remains important at high pressures up to 2500 K. The main bimolecular products of the two reactions at high temperatures are predicted to be benzyl + vinyl and phenyl + allyl, respectively. The well-skipping mechanism to form 1-phenylallyl directly in the allyl + phenyl and benzyl + vinyl reactions appeared to be not significant, however, the reactions can provide some contributions into the formation of the indene precursor via the 3-phenylpropene stabilization/dissociation sequence and most of all, via the formation of 3-phenylpropene itself, which then can undergo H-abstraction by available radicals to produce 1-phenylallyl. The allyl + phenyl reaction can also contribute to the formation of two-ring PAH by producing benzyl radical at high temperatures, either by the well-skipping or stabilization/dissociation mechanisms; in turn, benzyl can readily react with acetylene or propargyl radical to form indene or naphthalene precursors, respectively. Rate expressions for all important reaction channels in a broad range of temperatures and pressures have been generated for kinetic modeling.
From Disease to Health: Physical Therapy Health Promotion Practices for Secondary Prevention in Adult and Pediatric Neurologic Populations.

Background and Purpose:Over the last decade there has been a substantial increase in efforts to better understand how targeted physical activity and exercise interventions can be used to minimize secondary consequences arising from neurological damage in both adult and pediatric populations. This ar
Mobile Stroke Units: Field Imaging and Triage for Acute Stroke Emergencies

Stroke is a pandemic affecting people of all populations and ages. In the past few decades, the global stroke burden has increased significantly worldwide especially between the years 1990 and 2013 (Feigin VL, Norrving B, George MG et al, Nat Rev Neurol 12(9):501–512, 2016). Currently available acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatments are intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and, in the case of emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO), mechanical thrombectomy (MT) (The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA Stroke Study Group, N Engl J Med 333(24):1581–1587, 1995; Berkhemer OA, Fransen PS, Beumer D et al, N Engl J Med 372(1):11–20, 2015; Goyal M, Demchuk AM, Menon BK et al, N Engl J Med 372(11):1019–1030, 2015; Campbell BC, Mitchell PJ, Kleinig TJ et al, N Engl J Med 372(11):1009–1018. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1414792, 2015; Saver JL, Goyal M, Bonafe A et al, N Engl J Med 372(24):2285–2295, 2015; Jovin TG, Chamorro A, Cobo E et al, N Engl J Med 372(24):2296–2306, 2015); however, few patients receive these time-dependent treatments. The concept of taking stroke care to the patient by deployment of mobile stroke units (MSU) is gaining momentum. In this chapter, we explore the use of AIS treatments, management of contributors to treatment delays, and the history and utility of MSUs to support acute stroke treatment.
Skeletal age estimation of the living and the dead: the evolution of methodology

Abstract Age estimation methodology has evolved over the years. From Dwight’s 1878 work showing minimal information available to anthropologists, to more recent years characterized by an increase in available data and new techniques, the process of age estimation has progressively grown and enabled greater accuracy. Major advances include techniques developed from many anatomical areas, the utilization of new technology, an awareness of the impact of population variation, and recognition of the need for more documented collections from diverse areas of the world.
Producing Factory Femininity

This chapter is the first of three parts of the ethnography of the textile factory and the focus is on factory girls (and a few married factory women) and normative femininity in the labor process. Girls’ and women’s methods of navigating the sexist structure of labor (including sexual harassment) are central in this chapter. Girls and women workers enact several ways of being feminine, and these enactments inform their negotiations with managers and men workers. The dynamics of surveillance by the managers, and between workers is also explicated.
The contribution of cyclophilin A to immune-mediated central nervous system inflammation

Cyclophilin A has multiple known functions in inflammation. Intracellular cyclophilin A modulates T helper 2 response (Th2) and extracellular cyclophilin A functions as a leukocyte chemotactic factor. The contribution of cyclophilin A to central nervous system (CNS) inflammation has not been reported. To test the hypothesis that inhibition of cyclophilin A would ameliorate immune-mediated CNS inflammation, we compared the course and neuroimmunology of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in cyclophilin A knockout mice and wild type littermates. There was a trend towards lower incidence of EAE in cyclophilin A knockout mice, but the clinical course of EAE among animals that manifested clinical signs of EAE was similar in cyclophilin A knockout and wild type littermates. Antigen recall response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide showed that interferon-γ release was lower in cyclophilin A knockout mice. Analysis of CNS inflammatory cells showed that CD3+ T cell infiltration into the CNS was lower in cyclophilin A knockout mice. These results showed that the loss of cyclophilin A results in altered peripheral immune activation and CNS leukocyte infiltration, but these changes did not result in a substantial change in the clinical course of EAE.
OUTCOMES OF CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

The effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on in-hospital outcomes following chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well defined. This retrospective observational study, conducted at 5 tertiary hospitals in New York, compared CTO PCI patients with and
Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy in the Treatment of Thalamic Brain Tumors: A Case Series.

Background Surgical options for patients with thalamic brain tumors are limited. Traditional surgical resection is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) utilizes a stereotactically placed laser probe to induce thermal damage to tumor tissue. LITT provides a surgical cytoreduction option for this challenging patient population. We present our experience treating thalamic brain tumors with LITT. Objective To describe our experience and outcomes using LITT on patients with thalamic tumors. Methods We analyzed 13 consecutive patients treated with LITT for thalamic tumors from 2012 to 2017. Radiographic, clinical characteristics, and outcome data were collected via review of electronic medical records. Results Thirteen patients with thalamic tumors were treated with LITT. Most had high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma (n = 9) and anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 2). The average tumor volume was 12.0 cc and shrank by 42.9% at 3 mo. The average hospital stay was 3.0 d. Median ablation coverage as calculated by thermal damage threshold (TDT) lines was 98% and 95% for yellow (>43°C for >2 min) or blue (>10 min), respectively. Median disease-specific progression-free survival calculated for 8 patients in our cohort was 6.1 mo (range: 1.1-15.1 mo). There were 6 patients with perioperative morbidity and 2 perioperative deaths because of intracerebral hematoma. Conclusion LITT is a feasible treatment for patients with thalamic tumors. LITT offers a cytoreduction option in this challenging population. Patient selection is key. Close attention should be paid to lesion size to minimize morbidity. More studies comparing treatment modalities of thalamic tumors need to be performed.
The accuracy of laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) in assessing caries lesion activity on root surfaces, around crown margins, and in furcations in older adults

The authors conducted a case series to assess accuracy of DIAGNOdent (DD) in assessment of activity of dental caries lesions in root surfaces and in furcations and at crown margins. The study was a prospective, single center case series. The patients were 123 adults (age ≥ 55 years). To be included, a patient needed to have at least one active root caries lesion. The study was conducted at the Roseman College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah, USA and at area nursing homes. Lesions were rinsed and dried with air, and DD readings were obtained. Lesions were then isolated and 38% silver diamine fluoride was applied repeatedly for two minutes with a microbrush. DD readings and treatments were repeated every six months. Mean DD values were significantly different between active (unarrested) and inactive (arrested) caries for all comparisons, p-value < 0.0001. The optimal cut-off values for DD were between 20 and 35 except optimal cut-offs were higher for furcation and crown margin surfaces, particularly in the posterior (optimal cut-offs 40–45). This study demonstrates DD is a potentially valuable tool for assessing lesion activity in root surfaces, at restoration margins, and in furcations.
Testing Williams-Yulee: A Survey Experiment on Judicial Elections, Institutional Trust, and Tenuous Empirical Claims in the Supreme Court

In Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar (2015), the supreme court ruled that a Florida law banning direct campaign solicitation by judicial candidates was not a violation of the First Amendment. In doing so, the majority relied on a number of untested empirical claims, including the proposition that direct solicitation has a distinctly stronger impact on the public’s confidence in the judiciary than indirect solicitation. This paper tests these empirical claims using a nationally representative survey experiment that presents subjects with a hypothetical vignette in which a state trial-level judge runs for election and utilizes one of a number of campaign fundraising tactics. The survey then present subjects with questions relating to the trust and legitimacy that they associate with both the judicial system presented in the vignette and their actual state- and federal-level government institutions. I find that the public does not discern any significant difference between direct and indirect judicial solicitation but does see other campaign features (promises of recusal and the amount of the donations) as salient in regard to trust and legitimacy. These findings are at odds with the empirical assumptions that the majority relied upon in the Williams-Yulee decision.
Beyond the Digital Divide: Allowing for the Evolution of the College Community during the Pandemic

This study highlights how the Bronx Community College (BCC) community addressed the digital divide during the pandemic and explores the long-term implications of online learning for the community p...
Nitric oxide production in normal, endotoxemic and critically ill colic horses.

Total serum nitrate/nitrite concentration (SNN in µM L−1), an indirect measure of nitric oxide (NO), has been reported to be increased during critical illness in people and dogs. The relationship of NO to critical illness in horses is unknown. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare SNN in normal, endotoxin treated, and horses with naturally acquired colic requiring surgical intervention. Sixteen healthy adult mares were randomly administered either endotoxin (E.coli 055 B5, 0.2 µg kg−1 in 1 L 0.9% NaCl; Group 1; ENDO, n = 8) or 1 L 0.9% NaCl (Group 2: SAL, n = 8) IV over 15 minutes. Clinical symptoms of colic were evident within 45 minutes post infusion in ENDO horses. Group 3 were horses with naturally occurring colic requiring emergency surgical intervention (COLIC, n = 17). Jugular venous samples were collected for SNN analysis prior to infusion (t = 0 hours) and 4 hours postinfusion (t = 4 hours) in ENDO and SAL and prior to anesthetic induction in COLIC horses. SNN is reported as median values in µM L−1. Data were log transformed if necessary to fit a normal distribution. Analysis of variance was used to compare SNN among groups. Significance was based on a p-value of < 0.05. COLIC had significantly higher SNN (12.78 µm L−1) as compared to ENDO (3.6 µm L−1) and SAL (5.7 µm L−1). SNN was increased significantly at t = 4 hours as compared to t = 0 hours in both ENDO and SAL with no significant difference between groups at t = 0 or in the magnitude of change from t = 0. We conclude that SNN was significantly increased in horses with surgical colic as compared to endotoxin and saline treated horses. A higher dose of endotoxin may be needed in an equine model to induce NO response. NO production in horses may relate to the severity and duration of critical illness.
REITs as Captive-Financing Affiliates: Impact on Financial Performance

Some real estate investment trusts are created as “captive-financing” affiliates by their sponsors. This creates conflicts of interest between the sponsor/manager and shareholders. Such conflicts c...
The Early Árpáds (895–1095): Consolidation, Christianization, Monarchy

The nomadic Hungarians arrived in the Carpathian Basin at the end of the ninth century. In the following century, significant changes occurred that led to their survival as a distinct political entity. These changes involved the adoption of western modes of power, including centralization under a single monarch, consolidation of political power, and Christianization in part as a means of ideological legitimacy. These changes are generally attributed to the first king, Stephen, though his father Geza set important precedents. A period of political chaos followed Stephen's death, but Ladislas I followed the example of Stephen in reestablishing order.
Building Voices: Teens Connect to Their Communities Through Youth Journalism Websites

This study uses a grounded theory approach to understand how online youth journalism programs can promote youth voice for building stronger communities. Specifically, this study draws on 24 in-depth interviews with youth and adults working at scholastic and nonscholastic youth journalism websites to derive themes connecting the importance of youth voice to community-building efforts. The results support and extend existing research to suggest that youth voice in these journalism programs can promote community building through informing and empowering local youth, promoting peer support among both participating and nonparticipating teens, and fostering constructive youth–adult partnerships.
An In Vivo Bioassay for Estimating Fungicide Residues on Peach Fruit

Recent fungicide efficacy studies indicated that brown rot fruit rot at harvest, caused by Monilinia fructicola, was being controlled by residual activity from protectant fungicides applied during the time between bloom and the preharvest fruit ripening period. To determine the extent of this residue, a simple in vivo bioassay was developed by assaying M. fructicola spore germination directly on sampled fruit. A 1.5-cm section of clear flexible tubing was placed upright on harvested fruit to create a small incubation well. After the tubing-fruit interface was sealed using silicon grease, a suspension of M. fructicola conidia was pipetted into the well. The spores were suspended in a buffer-substrate medium consisting of 0.025 M potassium phosphate, 0.1% sucrose, and 0.1% yeast extract. A rubber stopper with an aeration hole was inserted into the well's top and the fruit was placed in an incubator at 25°C. Results of a time-course study indicated that the optimal conidial incubation time was 6 h. Bioassay sensitivity was evaluated by examining test results from varying concentrations of captan fungicide. Results indicated that captan residue levels as low as one-thousandth the standard field rate could be detected using spore germination as the predictor. Fitting of the logistic decline model to the data created a standard curve to allow quantitative estimation of fungicide residue based on observed level of spore germination. A modified version of the bioassay, which can be used to detect carbohydrate or nutrient sources on the fruit surface, was also demonstrated.
On the response of continuous media to random excitations

Abstract This paper is concerned with the formulation of stochastic boundary value problems applied to a linearly elastic continuum subjected to a statistically correlated, multiple random excitation vector field. This formulation involves the description of the correlation tensor and the spectral density tensor of the field of the response of the solid in terms of the respective tensors of the excitation field.