cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meaningful Gait Speed Improvement During the First 60 Days Poststroke: Minimal Clinically Important Difference

Background When people with stroke recover gait speed, they report improved function and reduced disability. However, the minimal amount of change in gait speed that is clinically meaningful and associated with an important difference in function for people poststroke has not been determined. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for comfortable gait speed (CGS) associated with an improvement in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score for people between 20 to 60 days poststroke. Design This was a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study. Methods The participants in this study were 283 people with first-time stroke prospectively enrolled in the ongoing Locomotor Experience Applied Post Stroke (LEAPS) multi-site randomized clinical trial. Comfortable gait speed was measured and mRS scores were obtained at 20 and 60 days poststroke. Improvement of ≥1 on the mRS was used to detect meaningful change in disability level. Results Mean (SD) CGS was 0.18 (0.16) m/s at 20 days and 0.39 (0.22) m/s at 60 days poststroke. Among all participants, 47.3% experienced an improvement in disability level ≥1. The MCID was estimated as an improvement in CGS of 0.16 m/s anchored to the mRS. Limitations Because the mRS is not a gait-specific measure of disability, the estimated MCID for CGS was only 73.9% sensitive and 57.0% specific for detecting improvement in mRS scores. Conclusions We estimate that the MCID for gait speed among patients with subacute stroke and severe gait speed impairments is 0.16 m/s. Patients with subacute stroke who increase gait speed ≥0.16 m/s are more likely to experience a meaningful improvement in disability level than those who do not. Clinicians can use this reference value to develop goals and interpret progress in patients with subacute stroke.
Subdominant CD8+ T-cell responses are involved in durable control of AIDS virus replication

“Elite controllers” are individuals that durably control human immunodeficiency virus or simian immunodeficiency virus replication without therapeutic intervention. The study of these rare individuals may facilitate the definition of a successful immune response to immunodeficiency viruses. Here we describe six Indian-origin rhesus macaques that have controlled replication of the pathogenic virus SIVmac239 for 1 to 5 years. To determine which lymphocyte populations were responsible for this control, we transiently depleted the animals’ CD8 cells in vivo. This treatment resulted in 100- to 10,000-fold increases in viremia. When the CD8 cells returned, control was reestablished and the levels of small subsets of previously subdominant CD8 T cells expanded up to 2,500-fold above predepletion levels. This wave of CD8 T cells was accompanied by robust Gag-specific CD4 responses. In contrast, CD8 NK cell frequencies changed no more than threefold. Together, our data suggest that CD8 T cells targeting a small number of epitopes, along with broad CD4 T-cell responses, can successfully control the replication of the AIDS virus. It is likely that subdominant CD8 T-cell populations play a key role in maintaining this control. Rare human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals maintain virus loads below 50 viral RNA (vRNA) copy eq/ml of plasma in the absence of treatment and progress slowly to disease. The correlates of viremia control in these “elite controllers” (ECs) are difficult to assess and are almost certainly multifactorial. Host genetic polymorphisms, such as those in viral coreceptors or their ligands, may influence susceptibility or resistance to infection (17, 24, 29, 30, 34, 35, 52). Autoimmune antibodies directed against the CCR5 coreceptor
Seed rain during initial colonization of abandoned pastures in the premontane wet forest zone of southern Costa Rica

Understanding tropical succession requires insight into propagule availability, which constrains possible woody plant recruitment, yet seed rain composition in multiple post-agricultural sites has seldom been examined. We monitored seed rain for 60 wk in five abandoned pastures in southern Costa Rica, collecting a total of 1 140 688 seeds of 165 morphospecies. Most seeds (80.1%) arrived during the wet season. Species richness was highest in the wet season and greater in forest than in pasture. Seed rain density was greatest at the forest/pasture edge and decreased drastically just a few metres into pastures. In and near the forest, animal-dispersed seeds were more abundant than seeds dispersed by other means, while wind-dispersed taxa increased in relative importance at greater distances from the forest. Total seed input to pastures did not reflect size of adjacent forest fragments, although seed rain density varied more than threefold among sites. Among-site variation in density of regenerating woody seedlings was roughly proportional to among-site variation in seed rain. Morphospecies composition differed significantly among sites. Also, seed rain and woody plant colonists were rather dissimilar in composition, suggesting that while propagule availability is necessary for early woody plant establishment, it is a poor predictor of successional trajectory.
A research note on the association between religion and delinquency

The association between religiosity and both victimless and victim types of delinquency is examined among college students in the state of Utah during the 1989–1990 academic year. Unlike much of the previous research conducted on these variables, this analysis finds that religiosity is negatively associated with both victim and victimless delinquency. A possible reason for this finding is put forth.
An implantable 64-channel neural interface with reconfigurable recording and stimulation

Next generation implantable medical devices will have the potential to provide more precise and effective therapies through adaptive closed-loop controllers that combine sensing and stimulation across larger numbers of electrode channels. A major challenge in the design of such devices is balancing increased functionality and channel counts with the miniaturization required for implantation within small anatomical spaces. Customized therapies will require adaptive systems capable of tuning which channels are sensed and stimulated to overcome variability in patient-specific needs, surgical placement of electrodes, and chronic physiological responses. In order to address these challenges, we have designed a miniaturized implantable fully-reconfigurable front-end system that is integrated into the distal end of an 8-wire lead, enabling up to 64 electrodes to be dynamically configured for sensing and stimulation. Full reconfigurability is enabled by two custom 32×2 cross-point switch (CPS) matrix ASICs which can route any electrode to either an amplifier with reprogrammable bandwidth and integrated ADC or to one of two independent stimulation channels that can be driven through the lead. The 8-wire circuit includes a digital interface for robust communication as well as a charge-balanced powering scheme for enhanced safety. The system is encased in a hermetic package designed to fit within a 14 mm bur-hole in the skull for neuromodulation of the brain, but could easily be adapted to enhance therapies across a broad spectrum of applications.
Drug Abuse: Crisis in the Treatment Arena

This paper provides a perspective of the current crisis in drug abuse programming and an analysis of some of the contradictions, paradoxes, and problems which underlie this crisis. Precipitating factors in the development of the crisis are discussed, as are their components. These include lack of definition of success, duplication and overlapping of efforts and funding (stressing the matrix concept and revenue sharing), little cost-effectiveness, inadequate training of treators, a peculiar treatment and criminal justice “merger,” improper drug “scheduling,” and misleading drug terminology. Serious consideration of the issues which have been presented here is most critical.
Volumetric Imaging of Gray and White Matter in Corticobasal Syndrome (P05.035)

Objective: Demonstrate the ability of volumetric MRI to distinguish patients with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) who have underlying Alzheimer9s disease (AD) from those with non-AD pathology. Background CBS is associated with various pathologies including AD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (e.g., corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy). A ratio of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau to amyloid beta 1-42 ≥ 0.34 has been associated with underlying AD in autopsy-validated studies. We compared gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) imaging in CBS patients with CSF suggestive of AD versus non-AD pathology. Design/Methods: High-resolution T1 and diffusion-weighted images were available for 18 CBS patients (CBS-AD=8, CBS-nonAD=10) and 35 matched controls. For T1 images, we performed a probabilistic segmentation to compute GM density. We extracted fractional anisotropy (FA) along WM tracts from 30-direction diffusion tensor images. GM density and FA for the CBS-AD and CBS-nonAD groups were compared to controls using two-sample t-tests. We identified GM and WM regions that differed between patients and controls (p Results: All CBS patients showed GM atrophy in bilateral parietal and temporal cortex relative to controls. GM atrophy was also present in bilateral inferior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in CBS-nonAD patients. FA was reduced in posterior corpus callosum and superior longitudinal fasciculus in both groups. CBS-nonAD patients also showed reduced FA in anterior corpus callosum and uncinate. In the ROC curve analysis, three GM regions (right intraparietal sulcus, right inferior frontal cortex, anterior cingulate) and one WM region (anterior corpus callosum) distinguished between CBS-AD and CBS-nonAD patients (p Conclusions: Volumetric MRI can distinguish CBS patients likely to have underlying AD from those with non-AD pathology. The ability to predict underlying pathology in CBS non-invasively is essential as disease-specific therapies become available. Supported by: NIH grants NS44266, NS53488, AG15116, AG17586, AG32953, HD060406, NS065347, and NS045839, as well as the Wyncote Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Goldmann Gross has nothing to disclose. Dr. McMillan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cook has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has nothing to disclose.
Efficacy of Transsacral Instrumentation for High-Grade Spondylolisthesis at L5-S1: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background High-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is challenging to treat, and there is no standard recommended operative technique. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature evaluating the efficacy and safety of modern transsacral instrumentation techniques for high-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. Methods A systematic PubMed search adherent to PRISMA guidelines included relevant clinical studies reporting transsacral instrumentation for high-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis in adult humans from 1980 onward. Available data regarding clinical and radiographic outcomes for individual patients were abstracted. Results Nine of 311 studies were eligible for detailed review. They reported on 38 patients (mean 33.1 years; range 18–66 years) treated with transsacral instrumentation. Transsacral cages (6 articles, n = 23), screws (2 articles, n = 12) and rods (1 article, n = 3) were used. Posterior (86.8%) and combined anteroposterior approaches were used, both with (55.2%) and without decompression, partial reduction (23.7%), posterior pedicle screw fixation (94.7%), and adjacent level inter-body fusion (42.1%). Four patients had 6 perioperative complications (15.8%). Mean follow-up time was 30.1 months (range 2–58 months; n = 37). All patients had adequate fusion on follow-up imaging (n = 34) and no progression of slip (n = 32). All patients had improvement in pain (n = 32) and at least average function postoperatively (94.7%; n = 33/35). Conclusion Operative techniques for managing high-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis are evolving. In our systematic review, modern transsacral instrumentation resulted in good clinical outcome and fusion rates, and acceptable complication rates. Risks and benefits should be individualized for each patient. Transsacral instrumentation is a viable and effective treatment option for this pathology.
Natural Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels for Cultivation of Human Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Biomaterial scaffolds made of natural and synthetic materials are designed to serve as a structural and informational template for cell attachment and tissue formation. The use of native extracellular matrix (ECM) is of special interest for the culture of cardiac stem and progenitor cells due to the presence of intrinsic regulatory factors regulating cardiac function. We describe here how to obtain native ECM hydrogels from porcine hearts for the culture of human embryonic, induced pluripotent, and somatic stem cells for cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Noise-Induced Transition in Ship Roll Oscillations

Ship roll dynamics is treated as an inverted pendulum restrained by nonlinear buoyant restoring moment and nonlinear damping. Both deterministic and stochastic ship roll dynamics together with the basic concept of noise-induced transitions in nonlinear dynamical systems are briefly reviewed. Under external and parametric random excitations the general stationary solution of the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation is obtained for the response roll probability density function in terms of the response Hamiltonian for periodic and rotational orbits. The extrema of the response probability density function are derived. Two special cases are considered dealing only with external random excitation.
Unrecognized Interstitial Lung Disease as a Result of Chronic Nitrofurantoin Use.

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease is a rare condition attributed to several medications, including antimicrobial agents such as amphotericin B, anti-inflammatory agents such as methotrexate, biologic agents such as bevacizumab, and cardiovascular agents and chemotherapeutic agents. We describe the case of a 73-year-old female who developed interstitial lung disease following chronic use of nitrofurantoin for a urinary tract infection (UTI). The patient was taking nitrofurantoin 100 mg capsules twice daily for approximately 3 years. She presented to the hospital with complaints of a persistent dry cough that started 2 years previously. Her chest radiograph revealed bilateral reticular opacities and some atelectasis. Computed tomography of the chest demonstrated development of subpleural reticular opacities with minimal honeycombing. The patient had a severe restrictive defect on her pulmonary function tests, with a significant reduction in her carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. Multiple infectious disease and autoimmune tests were negative. Utilizing the algorithm of Naranjo (score of 9), it was determined that chronic use of nitrofurantoin was the definite cause of the patient’s interstitial lung disease. Nitrofurantoin was discontinued and she was treated with oxygen and started on an oral steroid, both of which were continued permanently once discharged. Upon discharge, the patient was maintained on 5 L of oxygen at rest and 10 L of oxygen when ambulating. Unfortunately, her lung disease ultimately resulted in her demise several months after her diagnosis. This case report illustrates the importance of rapid recognition of drug-induced lung injuries and discontinuation of the offending agent.
Characterizing PKA-Mediated Phosphorylation of Plexin Using Purified Proteins.

Protein phosphorylation is one of the widely used posttranslational modifications that alter protein function in vivo. We recently showed phosphorylation of Drosophila Plexin A by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and subsequent inhibition of plexin-mediated repulsive guidance. This phosphorylation occurs in the active site of the plexin GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain, which in turn inhibits endogenous GAP activity toward Ras/Rap family small GTP-binding proteins by recruiting the phospho-serine/threonine-binding protein 14-3-3e. Here we describe how phosphorylation of Plexin A can be detected and quantitated using an in vitro kinase assay and radioactive [γ-P32] adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP).
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Task Force Criteria — Proposed Modifications

The diagnosis of ARVC/D is readily apparent when patients have the typical features including ECG changes and morphological abnormalities limited to the right ventricle. Since the right ventricular structure and contractile pattern is asymmetrical it can be difficult to differentiate normal from mild abnormalities of this complex ventricular chamber [1, 2]. This may cause uncertainty in differentiating ARVC/D from normal variants or from idiopathic ventricular tachycardia arising from the right ventricular outflow tract, a condition that is not hereditary and has a good prognosis [3, 4, 5, 6]. These problems were recognized in the decade after the clinical profile of ARVDC/D was first described [7]. To address these uncertainties a Task Force was assembled that proposed diagnostic criteria for ARVC/D. The Task Force agreed that there was no single test that is sufficiently specific and sensitive to be used to establish this diagnosis. Therefore, major and minor criteria were selected and it was proposed that the diagnosis of ARVC/D be made using combinations of these criteria [8] (Table 11.1). The strength of these guidelines is that they have been extremely useful in providing standardized criteria to establish the diagnosis of ARVC/D. Since the guidelines were published, there has been a large accumulation of experience in the diagnosis of ARVC/D as well as improvements in diagnostic imaging techniques including 2D echocardiography, MRI, and angiography.
Water use and environmental parameters influence proso millet yield

Abstract Proso millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) is a short-season, drought-tolerant C4 species capable of making use of limited available water supplies and is suitable for dryland crop rotations in the Central Great Plains. Previously published water use/yield production functions for proso millet have slopes lower than reported for other C4 species in this region. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the water-limited yield relationship for proso millet and to identify environmental factors that cause yields to be lower than predicted by the water-limited yield relationship. Water use and yield data were obtained from a long-term crop rotation experiment conducted under dryland conditions in northeast Colorado from 1995 to 2016. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to determine important environmental factors influencing yield. The water-limited yield relationship had a slope consistent with other C4 species in this region (32.57 kg ha −1 per mm of water use). A relationship based on growing season water use, plant available soil water at planting, precipitation received from 12 to 18 August, number days in July and August with maximum temperature greater than 36°C, daily average wind run and maximum wind gust during the week before swathing explained 88% of yield variability. The results of this analysis suggest that closing the yield gap for proso millet production could likely result from efforts to breed for enhanced shattering resistance and heat tolerance and from production methods that improve precipitation storage efficiency during the non-crop period prior to millet planting and increase available soil water at millet planting.
Cyclooxygenase 2: protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications

Numerous studies implicate the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) enzyme and COX2-derived prostanoids in various human diseases, and thus, much effort has been made to uncover the regulatory mechanisms of this enzyme. COX2 has been shown to be regulated at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, leading to the development of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX2 inhibitors (COXIBs), which inhibit the COX2 enzyme through direct targeting. Recently, evidence of posttranslational regulation of COX2 enzymatic activity by s-nitrosylation, glycosylation, and phosphorylation has also been presented. Additionally, posttranslational regulators that actively downregulate COX2 expression by facilitating increased proteasome degradation of this enzyme have also been reported. Moreover, recent data identified proteins, located in close proximity to COX2 enzyme, that serve as posttranslational modulators of COX2 function, upregulating its enzymatic activity. While the precise mechanisms of the protein-protein interaction between COX2 and these regulatory proteins still need to be addressed, it is likely these interactions could regulate COX2 activity either as a result of conformational changes of the enzyme or by impacting subcellular localization of COX2 and thus affecting its interactions with regulatory proteins, which further modulate its activity. It is possible that posttranslational regulation of COX2 enzyme by such proteins could contribute to manifestation of different diseases. The uncovering of posttranslational regulation of COX2 enzyme will promote the development of more efficient therapeutic strategies of indirectly targeting the COX2 enzyme, as well as provide the basis for the generation of novel diagnostic tools as biomarkers of disease.
The Opaque Glass Ceiling: How Will Gender Neutrality in Combat Affect Military Sexual Assault Prevalence, Prevention, and Prosecution?

From 1994 until 2013, 237,000 combat arms positions in the military remained closed to women. In theory, however, that all changed on January 24, 2013, when military officials announced their intention to formally lift the ban on women serving in combat positions. Although thousands of women have distinguished themselves over the past thirteen years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, their successes in battle have frequently been overshadowed by their inability to seek the same career progressing opportunities as their male counterparts.On the other hand, while the number of women participating in "front-line" combat has increased, so too have sexual assaults. An alarming number of recent studies suggest a far higher prevalence of sexual misconduct against women in war zones than is reflected by complaints otherwise gathered by the various service branches. Thus, although the eradication of the combat ban sounds historic and progressive, the less popular view is that the policy will prove far less revolutionary in practice due to the prevalence of the sexual assault crisis. This article explores the seemingly paradoxical relationship between the two phenomena. Part I details the nature of the ongoing sexual assault crisis, including past and present attempts at reform; Part II describes the nature of the proposed inclusion policy, including challenges associated with integration; Part III considers the relationship between sexual assaults and the proposed inclusion policy; and Part IV advocates for a change in deep-rooted military culture to reduce sexual assaults and facilitate the transition from a gender-restrictive to a gender-neutral force. In essence, this article argues that because the policy of opening historically male-only combat positions to women will cause an increase in the frequency of service-member on service-member sexual assaults, nothing short of a drastic change in military culture will ensure the long-term success of such a policy.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Psoriasis: Comparison of Immunopathogenesis:

Psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are complex immune-mediated diseases with burdens to patients and society. Recently, there has been considerable progress in understanding of autoimmunity, revealing critical roles for cytokine-mediated pathways that are common to both SLE and psoriasis. Ongoing pharmacogenomic and signaling studies coupled with clinical trials hold promise to better delineate overlaps and divergence in pathogenesis and lead to definition of biomarkers that can predict disease subsets, disease states, organ involvement and responsiveness to treatment. This review will compare SLE and psoriasis with regard to mutually relevant immune pathways and examine their significance as an influx of new biologic treatments comes into use.
The Current Landscape of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Clinical Trials: A Report of 348 Studies Registered With ClinicalTrials.gov.

Abstract Objectives This analysis sought to systematically characterize trial-level patterns in atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL) by using the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Background Despite an abundance of clinical trials in this field, there is a lack of high-level evidence guiding management of AF/AFL. Methods We queried all closed, phase II to IV interventional trials registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database through October 2016 that enrolled patients known to have AF/AFL. Published trials were evaluated for methodological quality, using the 3-item Jadad scale (range: 0 to 5, where 5 = highest quality). Results The initial search yielded 465 uniquely registered studies, of which 348 directly studied AF/AFL. Of those studies, 173 (50%) were published, enrolling a median of 190 patients from a median of 15 sites. The volume of published trials increased over time (7% prior to 2008 vs. 41% from 2014 to 2016; p Conclusions Contemporary trials of AF/AFL are often multicenter and modest in size. The primary study endpoint is commonly recurrence of arrhythmia, even in high-quality and late-phase trials. Although methodological quality is high in trials of pharmacologic approaches, trials of AF/AFL ablation and device therapies variably employ randomization and blinding.
Drug metabolites in renal failure: pharmacokinetic and clinical implications.

The effects of impaired renal function on drug disposition and responsiveness have generally been examined with respect to alterations in the behaviour of unchanged drug. For drugs which are extensively excreted via the kidneys various approaches have been applied to modify dosage regimens in order to optimise drug concentration-time profiles. However, it is now recognised that even if urinary excretion is not an important route of drug elimination, renal failure may affect the body’s handling of a drug and its clinical effects. This may occur by the greater than normal accumulation of drug metabolites which are predominantly excreted in the urine, leading to a situation analogous to coadministration of another drug and the possible sequelae of a drug-drug interaction. The accumulation of pharmacologically and/or texicologically active metabolites in renal failure occurs in several instances and can significantly alter clinical effects at the pharmacodynamic level. Accumulated inactive metabolites, especially those formed by conjugation with glucuronic acid, may also lead to a change in drug action by way of regeneration of the parent drug. This in turn may alter the disposition characteristics of the precursor drug even though urinary excretion is not an important pathway of elimination in individuals with normal renal function. It is also possible that metabolites may have a direct dispositional interaction with the parent drug. This would most likely occur through competition for non-linear processes such as plasma and tissue binding, active transport and enzyme-mediated reactions. The degree of such inhibition would be dependent on the relative affinities and concentrations of the interacting compounds, and thus renal failure could exaggerate this type of phenomenon. However, these types of interactions are not well substantiated, probably because of their complexity and subtlety. The higher than normal accumulation of metabolites in renal failure may also affect diagnostic procedures either directly or indirectly. For example, the metabolite may interfere with the analysis of an endogenous compound used for diagnostic purposes. Alternatively, the disposition of the drug may be used in a diagnostic fashion, as occurs with the determination of drug acetylation phenotype. In the latter instance, methodologies based on parent drug-metabolite ratios in the plasma and/or urine may well be misleading when applied to patients with impaired renal function.
The Sociologic Basis of Drug and Alcohol Addiction

The sociologic model of addiction emphasizes the impact of environment and social relations on the development of addictive disorders. Developmental theories assert that socialization occurs in the context of primary relationships. Hence, this chapter focuses on the roles of parents, siblings, spouses, and peers as etiologic factors in the development and maintenance of addiction. Environmental stressors, including childhood abuse and neglect, exposure to violence, and poverty, are also examined as risk factors for substance use disorders. Other environmental factors, such as lack of appropriate law enforcement and societal attitudes and messages about substance use, have also been implicated in addiction. However, a review of these greater causes is beyond the scope of this chapter.
Denver peritoneovenous shunts for the management of malignant ascites: a review of the literature in the post LeVeen Era

Most case series describing peritoneovenous (PV) shunts for malignant ascites include both LeVeen and Denver shunts. Conclusions based on these studies are no longer clinically relevant since the LeVeen shunt has been discontinued. The purpose of this study was to identify outcomes specific to Denver shunts to establish expected results in the modern era. Case series describing PV shunts for malignant ascites between 1980 and 2008 were identified through a keyword PUBMED search. Whenever possible, results attributable to Denver shunts were abstracted and analyzed. Nineteen series describing 341 patients undergoing 353 Denver PV shunts for malignant ascites were identified. The primary indications for PV shunts were unspecified or cancers of unknown origin (40%), ovarian cancer (16%), and pancreatic cancer (8%). Primary patency averaged 87 ± 57 days. Seventy-four per cent of patients died with functioning shunts. Complications occurred in 38% of patients including occlusion (24%) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (9%). Average survival of all patients was 3.0 ± 1.7 months and shunts provided effective palliation in 75.3%. One and a half per cent of 133 patients who had autopsies were reported to have hematologic dissemination. These results are not statistically different than overall results reported for both shunts combined or LeVeen shunts alone. Studies that report combined outcomes with Denver and LeVeen shunts for malignant ascites are neither negatively, nor positively influenced by one specific shunt. Expectations following PV shunting for malignant ascites do not have to be revised because LeVeen shunts are no longer available.
What Are the Risks of Ionizing Radiation to a Developing Fetus

Pregnant women commonly present in the acute care setting for a variety of reasons, and their evaluations often include diagnostic imaging. Common imaging studies include ultrasonography, plain radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Attempts should be made to minimize ionizing radiation exposure to the mother and developing fetus. Medical imaging uses relatively small amounts of radiation, and the exposure is far below the level that causes miscarriage or teratogenesis. Necessary diagnostic tests should not be withheld from pregnant patients because of fetal risk.
Effects of Interviewer Support on Maltreated and At-Risk Children’s Memory and Suggestibility

The present study examined the effects of interviewer support on the memory and suggestibility of children (N = 71), all of whom were involved in child maltreatment investigations. This was accomplished by questioning 3- to 12-year olds (66% African American) about a game played individually with an experimenter at the end of the maltreatment investigation, so that the results did not affect any evaluations or legal proceedings. After the game, the children were interviewed in a warm and engaging high support manner or in a relatively formal and withdrawn low support fashion--the latter, likely considered by some as “neutral” in child forensic interviews. Typical age effects emerged overall; for example, with the preschool (compared to school-aged) children providing fewer correct units of information in free recall and making more errors to specific and misleading questions. However, findings also varied in relation to interviewer support and type of question. To specific questions, older (but not younger) children in the low (compared to high) interviewer support condition made more omission errors, possibly due to the interviewer’s low support resulting in a “no bias” for older children in answering these questions. To misleading questions, younger (but not older) children in the high (compared to low) support condition made significantly more commission errors. The elevated commission error rate in the high support group appeared to be driven by a small number of 3- and 4-year-olds who had a “yes-bias” when answering misleading questions. Implications for children’s accuracy in maltreatment investigations and for children’s psychological and physical security are discussed.
One-color (212–220 nm) resonantly-enhanced (S1–S0) multi-photon dissociation of acetylene

Abstract One-color (212–220 nm) multi-photon dissociation of acetylene, resonantly enhanced at the one-photon level by the acetylene S1–S0 transition, gives rise to strong photofragment fluorescence signals in the visible and near UV regions. The photofragment fluorescence detection scheme has been applied to obtain rotationally-resolved action-spectra of predissociated S1 acetylene levels near 47,000 cm−1 Jiang et al.(2018) [1]. In this work, fluorescence signals from the photofragments, generated via individual intermediate S1 rovibrational levels, are studied in detail, in both flowing gas cell and supersonic jet conditions. In the flow cell setup ( ∼ 1 Torr), dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of the photofragments are obtained. For all three S1 levels used in the DF experiment (rotational levels of the trans 3 4 , trans 3 5 , and cis 3 1 6 1 vibrational states), we observe C2 Swan band ( d 3 Π g - a 3 Π u ) and C2 Deslandres-d’Azambuja band ( C 1 Π g - A 1 Π u ) emissions. In the supersonic jet setup (collision-free), fluorescence time-traces at selected wavelength regions are analyzed. In addition to the two C2 emission bands, we observe a long-lived ( > 3 μ s) visible fluorescence signal, which is likely due to emission from C2H fragments. Based on our analysis of the DF spectra and the fluorescence time-traces obtained in the supersonic jet apparatus, we propose that the long-lived C2H species is generated by one-photon photodissociation of S1 acetylene, and an additional photon photolyzes the C2H fragment into the C2 C and d states.
Thermal Strain Fatigue Modeling of a Matrix Alloy for a Metal Matrix Composite

The Total Strain Version of the method of Strainrange Partitioning was used as the basis for modeling the thermomechanical fatigue resistance of the matrix material of the metal matrix composite, SCS-6/Ti-15-3. As prescribed by the model, the resistance was assessed through the use of bithermal creep-fatigue experiments. Bithermal temperatures of 205 and 427°C were imposed. A minimal number of strain limit-controlled, in-phase PP (pure fatigue, no creep) and CP (tensile creep) as well as out-of-phase PP (pure fatigue, no creep) and PC (compressive creep) experiments were conducted on conventional, axially-loaded, cylindrical-bar specimens. Inelastic strain range versus cyclic life curves for each of the Strainrange Partitioning bithermal cycles were evaluated and found to be nominally coincident. Cyclic elastic strain range versus inelastic strain range curves as well as elastic strain range versus life curves were documented for pure-fatigue and creep-fatigue conditions. The time-dependencies of these relationships were calibrated with the available data. These results enable the construction of total strain range versus fatigue life curves for thermomechanical fatigue for in- and out-of-phasing and for any arbitrary creep-time per cycle. Results are applicable to the cyclic life prediction of metal matrix composites using the Ti-15-3 matrix material.
The Impact of Stay-at-Home Orders on US Output: A Network Perspective

Under the stay-at-home orders issued by states, economic activities are reduced or put on hold by some states across the U.S. to control the spread of COVID-19. By combining several sources of data, we estimate the output loss due to such restrictions using a network approach. Based on our most conservative estimates, the measures as of April 15, 2020 reduce 26% of total US output per period, and about 43% of which is due to the input-output connections in the production network. Using a SIR model with an inter-state infection network, we also calculate the cost of reducing each infection to be approximately $150,000 during the period of March 19 to April 15, 2020. Simulation results of various hypothetical stay-at-home orders show that the unit cost of infection reduction of the existing order is about 13% higher than the local minimum.
Valley Photovoltaics and the Search for the Hot Carrier Solar Cell

In order to achieve a hot carrier solar cell, one must: (a) prevent significant energy loss to phonons; and (b) extract primarily the hot carriers. We have recently suggested a new approach to these problems by using metastable upper energy levels to store the photogenerated carriers. A proof of concept cell based upon an InGaAs/InAlAs structure has yielded encouraging results that suggest that valley storage is occurring and yielding a $V_{OC} > E_{G}$ . Current output, however, is restricted apparently due to a barrier between the L valleys in the two materials. New materials may provide the solution to this problem and lead to a new HCSC with greatly enhanced efficiency.
Chapter Two – Statistical Considerations in Analysis and Interpretation of Biomarker Studies

Here we discuss traditional and emerging statistical methods for evaluating the prediction performance of biomarkers. We highlight considerations for planning a study and discuss unique statistical considerations when executing studies assessing biomarker performance including appropriate metrics to quantify biomarker-prediction performance and sample-size estimation.
Life, Liberty, and M*A*S*H

The American television series M*A*S*H is one of the most popular and beloved series in TV history. One contributor to its success is its consistent promotion of the principles of classical liberalism, principles that were cherished across the American political spectrum in the late 20th century, from ACLU civil libertarians, to Jimmy Carter/Bill Clinton centrists, to Ronald Reagan’s small-government conservatives. This essay discusses M*A*S*H portrayal of several of these principles, from its opposition to war and compulsory service, to its skepticism of government power, to its support of market exchange, to its promotion of other civil liberties.
Synthesis of prostaglandins by the rat renal papilla in vitro. Mechanism of stimulation by angiotensin II.

Abstract 1. 1. The biosynthesis of prostaglandins in the rat renal papilla was studied in a whole-cell preparation in vitro. Prostaglandins recovered from the incubation medium were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as prostaglandin E 2 and prostaglandin F 2α . Quantitative estimates of prostaglandin output were obtained by bioassay and confirmed by selected ion monitoring. 2. 2. Prostaglandin biosynthesis was enhanced by exogenous arachidonic acid and also by triglyceride lipase, indicating that arachidonic acid released from papillary triglycerides is readily available for prostaglandin biosynthesis. 3. 3. Angiotensin II (10–100 ng/ml) stimulated the biosynthesis of both prostaglandin E 2 and prostaglandin F 2α , thus increasing prostaglandin levels in both the incubation medium and the tissues. 4. 4. The mechanism whereby angiotensin II stimulates prostaglandin biosynthesis was investigated using the isotope dilution technique. In the presence of [ 14 C]-arachidonic acid, angiotensin II stimulated the output of more prostaglandin that had a significantly lower specific activity than the controls. Angiotensin II therefore increased the availability of endogenous, non-labelled substrate for prostaglandin biosynthesis. This conclusion was supported by experiments in which enough arachidonic acid was added to make the kinetics of prostaglandin synthesis zero order. Under such conditions angiotensin II failed to cause any further increase in prostaglandin synthesis. 5. 5. It is concluded that angiotensin II controls prostaglandin biosynthesisin the renal papilla by regulating the availability of free precursor. Possible mechanisms for increased levels of free arachidonic acid could be the activation of a tissue acyl hydrolase or decreased utilization of fatty acids.
Seamless gene engineering using RNA- and DNA-overhang cloning.

Here we describe two methods for generating DNA fragments with single-stranded overhangs, like those generated by the activity of many restriction enzymes, by simple methods that do not involve DNA digestion. The methods, RNA-overhang cloning (ROC) and DNA-overhang cloning (DOC), generate polymerase chain reaction (PCR)1 products composed of double-stranded (ds) DNA flanked by single-stranded (ss) RNA or DNA overhangs. The overhangs can be used to recombine DNA fragments at any sequence location, creating “perfect” chimeric genes composed of DNA fragments that have been joined without the insertion, deletion, or alteration of even a single base pair. The ROC method entails using PCR primers that contain regions of RNA sequence that cannot be copied by certain thermostable DNA polymerases. Using such a chimeric primer in PCR would yield a product with a 5′ overhang identical to the sequence of the RNA component of the primer, which can be used for directional ligation of the amplified product to other preselected DNA molecules. This method provides complete control over both the length and sequence of the overhangs, and eliminates the need for restriction enzymes as tools for gene engineering.
A Self Enforcing Model of Corporate Law

This paper develops a "self-enforcing" approach to drafting corporate law for emerging capitalist economies, based on a case study: a model statute that we helped to develop for the Russian Federation, which formed the basis for the recently adopted Russian law on joint-stock companies. The paper describes the contextual features of emerging economies that make importing statutes from developed countries inappropriate, including the prevalence of controlled companies and the weakness of institutional, market, cultural, and legal constraints. Against this backdrop, we argue that the best legal strategy for protecting outside investors in emerging economies while simultaneously preserving the discretion of companies to invest is a self-enforcing model of corporate law. The self-enforcing model structures decisionmaking processes to allow large outside shareholders to protect themselves from insider opportunism with minimal resort to legal authority, including the courts. Among the examples of self-regulatory statutory provisions are a mandatory cumulative voting rule for the selection of directors, which assures that minority blockholders in controlled companies have board representation, and dual shareholder- and board-level approval procedures for self-interested transactions. The paper also examines how one can induce voluntary compliance and structure remedies in emerging economies, as well as the implications of the self-enforcing model for the ongoing debate over the efficiency of corporate law in developed economies.
Characterization of a series of electrophoretic and enzyme activity variants of human glucose-phosphate isomerase

A total of 3438 cord blood samples were screened for variants of erythrocyte glucose-phosphate isomerase. The five different electrophoretic, three activity/deficiency, and one thermostability variants distributed among 27 unrelated Caucasian families of that population, plus two electrophoretic variants previously described from three Amerindian tribes were subsequently examined for cryptic variation using activity and thermostability criteria. Although thermostability differences were observed between electrophoretic variants, no microheterogeneity within any one class of variant was detected.
Destruction of 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,2-dichloroethane DNAPLs by catalyzed H2O2 propagations (CHP)

Catalyzed H2O2 propagations (CHP) was studied to treat 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and 1,1-dichloroethane (DCA) dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) and to elucidate the reactive oxygen species responsible for their destruction. A TCA DNAPL was rapidly destroyed by CHP at a rate 3.5 times greater than its maximum rate of dissolution. Using systems that generate a single reactive oxygen species, the species responsible for TCA DNAPL destruction was found to be superoxide. Both hydroxyl radical and superoxide were responsible for the destruction of the DCA DNAPL. Both compounds were destroyed at equal rates in a mixed TCA/DCA DNAPL, which suggests that the rate of treatment is limited by a surface phenomenon at the DNAPL-water interface. The optimum pH for the destruction of TCA and DCA DNAPLs was near the pKa of 4.8 for perhydroxyl radical-superoxide systems. The results of this research demonsrate that TCA and DCA DNAPLs are effectively destroyed by CHP and that superoxide generation is necessary for effective TCA DNAPL destruction, while both hydroxyl radical and superoxide are necessary for effective DCA DNAPL destruction.
Herpes Zoster: Description of the Associated Burden and Its Preventive Strategies

The burden of illness and healthcare resource utilisation associated with herpes zoster is substantial, causing severe loss of quality of life (QoL). Herpes zoster incidence varies from 1.5 to 5.0/ 1,000 person-years in adults of all ages, and reaches 10 cases/ 1,000 person-years in individuals aged ≥60. The most frequent and debilitating complication is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). In the absence of antiviral therapy, up to 45% of ≥60 year-olds experience pain which persists for 6 months to a year. The importance of preventive strategies for PHN is becoming widely recognised. Systematic reviews confirm the short-term benefits gained from antiviral drugs, but they do not reduce the incidence of PHN. When, complementary analgesic drugs are often required, prescribing advised medications in old, frail, co-morbid and poly-medicated patients must be carefully considered. Consequently, the first HZ vaccine with proven efficacy thus promotes healthy ageing and improved quality of life.