cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TGFβ Restores Hematopoietic Homeostasis After Chemotherapy.

Abstract 2344 Background: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are required for lifelong blood cell production and, to prevent exhaustion, the majority of HSCs are deeply quiescent during steady-state hematopoiesis. Paracrine factors produced by specialized bone marrow niche cells maintain HSC quiescence. Yet, evolution demands a rapid hematopoietic response to stressors such as infection, bleeding or toxin exposure. These triggers set off a remarkable adaptation in hematopoiesis that sacrifices HSPC quiescence, and the protection it affords, to meet an urgent need for new blood cell production. A great deal is known about how the HSPCs are mobilized during these periods of stress but mechanisms driving the return to steady-state hematopoiesis after stress have not been identified. Method/Results: Because TGFβ is one of few negative regulators of hematopoiesis, we measured the levels of active TGFβ and assessed the effects of its downstream signaling during hematopoietic recovery after chemotherapy. During late hematopoietic regeneration, as hematopoietic homeostasis is restored, the levels of active TGFβ spike in whole bone marrow and downstream signaling (as reported by Smad2 phosphorylation) increases in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). To assess how TGFβ signaling alters hematopoietic regeneration, we administered myelosuppressive chemotherapy to mice and then, during recovery, treated cohorts with either an antibody that specifically neutralizes active TGFβ (1D11), an isotype control antibody (13C4) or nothing at all. We found that TGFβ blockade accelerated blood count and bone marrow regeneration, and promoted HSCP self-renewal/proliferation by delaying the return of HSPCs to quiescence (G0). In contrast, TGFβ blockade during homeostasis elevates neither blood counts nor bone marrow cellularity and fails to induce HSPCs to emerge from quiescence. Conclusions: The de facto paradigm is that homeostasis is passively reestablished as stress mediators normalize. Our data strongly suggest that this paradigm is incorrect. Rather than being a passive process, it appears that steady-state hematopoiesis is actively reimposed. TGFβ pathway activation marks regenerating HSPCs returning to quiescence and this context-depending signaling helps reestablish homeostasis during recovery from chemotherapy. Together, our data demonstrate that myelosuppression does not drive hematopoiesis using only a cytokine-fueled gas pedal but also taps an active braking mechanism once sufficient recovery has been attained. More directly, our data strongly suggests that TGFb pathway inhibitors could be used to promote multi-lineage hematopoietic reconstitution. This finding significantly extends prior work in the field by opening the door to new, potentially superior, ways to modulate the hematopoietic adaptation to stress. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Prevention of Soccer Injuries

When soccer playing results in a serious injury, time lost from play and re-injury are the most common complications that could be challenging for any professional player.
Sex versus gender differences in schizophrenia: The case for normal personality differences

Schizophrenia has generally been viewed as having a unique preschizophrenia personality or destructive to the personality post-onset. This view is reflected in the scarcity of studies of personality in schizophrenia with the exception of schizotypal personality considered by many as an endophenotype of schizophrenia. What is missing is the study of personality as independent of schizophrenia and as a potential source of schizophrenia heterogeneity. In this study we examine sex versus gender as an initial effort to introduce personality as a normal variant that influences how schizophrenia is expressed. Gender, a personality construct, was associated with the presence of depression in a large sample of schizophrenia patients controlling for sex, age of onset, severity of disorder, and education. The results suggest that gender, rather than sex, as a representative personality trait may yield important insights into how schizophrenia is expressed.
Diabetic driving studies-part 1: brake response time in diabetic drivers with lower extremity neuropathy

Abstract Although the effect of lower extremity pathology and surgical intervention on automobile driving function has been a topic of contemporary interest, we are unaware of any analysis of the effect of lower extremity diabetic sensorimotor neuropathy on driving performance. The objective of the present case-control investigation was to assess the mean brake response time in diabetic drivers with lower extremity neuropathy compared with that of a control group and a brake response safety threshold. The driving performances of participants were evaluated using a computerized driving simulator with specific measurement of the mean brake response time and frequency of abnormally delayed brake responses. We analyzed a control group of 25 active drivers with neither diabetes nor lower extremity neuropathy and an experimental group of 25 active drivers with type 2 diabetes and lower extremity neuropathy. The experimental group demonstrated a 37.89% slower mean brake response time (0.757 ± 0.180 versus 0.549 ± 0.076 second; p p
Abstract 205: Recovery from Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Is Metabolic Substrate-Dependent

Introduction: The adult heart utilizes mostly fat for energy production, with adaptation to different fuels (“metabolic plasticity”) being a hallmark of the healthy heart. However, metabolic maladaptation is known to occur in heart failure. As such, the ability of the heart to metabolize specific substrates could impact the outcome of pathological insults, such as ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. The aim of this study was to develop a system whereby adult mouse cardiomyocytes (AMC) subjected to IR injury could be supplied with different fuels, and metabolism measured in real-time. Methods: AMC were divided in 3 groups, supplied either with glucose (GLU, 5mM), palmitate/fat free BSA (FAT, 100µM) or GLU+FAT. A previously developed method for in-vitro IR injury using a Seahorse XF24 [1], was adopted for ACM. IR comprised 60 min. ischemia and 60 min. reperfusion, and additional metabolic parameters were measured separately using mitochondrial inhibitors and uncouplers [2]. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were simultaneously measured during the IR protocol, followed by a cell death assay. Results: FAT cells showed higher baseline OCR and lower ECAR rates compare to GLU cells, although uncoupled OCR was lower in FAT group, suggesting a lower metabolic reserve capacity for cells respiring on fat. Upon IR, the drop in pH was significantly greater in GLU compare to FAT, indicating faster lactate production. During reperfusion, both OCR and ECAR recovered to pre-ischemic levels in GLU cells but failed to do so in FAT cells. Post-IR cell death was significantly higher in FAT vs. GLU. Surprisingly, GLU+FAT (modeling a “physiologic” substrate mix) replicated the same metabolic profile and cell death as GLU. Conclusions: (i) AMC had better recovery from IR injury using glucose as fuel. (ii) Lower cell viability in FAT (vs. GLU) correlated with smaller metabolic reserve capacity and with a smaller pH drop during ischemia. This is consistent with a known protective role for acidification during IR injury. (iii) Mixed substrates (GLU+FAT) gave a similar response to glucose alone, suggesting that fat may not be toxic, rather glucose is protective, in IR injury. [1] Circ Res. (2012), 110. 948-57. [2] J Vis Exp. (2010), 46. pii: 2511.
COMPOSITION OF ADULT EXOCRINE GLAND SECRETIONS FROM THREE SPECIES OF BURROWER BUGS (HEMIPTERA: CYDNIDAE) IN FLORIDA

The adult exocrine gland secretions of three cydnid species, Rhytidoporus indentatus Uhler, Pangaeus bilineatus (Say), and Cyrtomenus ciliatus (Palisot de Beauvois), were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All species produced E-2-octenal and n-tridecane as major secretory components. Only C. ciliatus yielded 4-oxo-E-2-hexenal whereas n-undecane was unique to R. indentatus. 2-Decenal, pentadecane, and hexadecane were also identified from these cydnids.
Comparative evaluation of texture wheat ingredients and soy proteins in the quality and acceptability of emulsified chicken nuggets.

Chicken nuggets are commonly made with varying levels of textured vegetable proteins, such as soy and wheat, for their ability to bind water and their meat like conformation. This project compared textured wheat proteins and soy proteins at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% in emulsified chicken nuggets. A total of 3,024 chicken nuggets were evaluated in replications for batter breader pickup (%), par fry yield (%), cook loss (%), L*, a*, b* color value, texture profile analysis, and sensory analysis. The analysis was conducted for all 4 concentrations of wheat and soy treatments then compared to each other and an all white meat chicken nugget control. All data were analyzed with an α < 0.05 using SAS with PROC GLM and Duncan's MRT, except for sensory data, which were analyzed as a complete randomized block design using analysis of variance with a α < 0.05 and was analyzed using SAS with PROC GLM. Chicken nuggets prepared with increasing levels of textured soy and wheat proteins exhibited generally similar properties in terms of yields, color, and objective texture. Trained panel sensory analysis indicated an increased detection of soy flavors over wheat flavors at higher inclusion percentages (30% and 40%); however, these results do not have any implication of consumer acceptance.
Industrial Development in European Cities: A Cross-Country Comparison

We examine the variation in regional employment growth across Europe as driven by different urban agglomeration effects. While cities are viewed as key to endogenous economic growth, there is a debate regarding the channel through which the urban agglomeration of workers and industries benefits growth: competition, specialization, or industrial diversity. Using firm level data across 10 European countries we construct the first comparable measures of local competition, regional specialization and industrial diversity to test which channel best explains city level industrial employment growth in each country and industry in our sample. Established results for the USA (competition and industrial diversity are positively associated with employment growth, while specialization negatively so) are generally robust across European countries. However, we find large differences in magnitudes across countries, with cities in the United Kingdom and Germany experiencing six times as much employment growth as cities in France from increased industrial diversity. Furthermore, examining the results by industry across countries reveals variations in the frequency of agglomeration effects: Germany enjoys the most frequent benefits from industrial diversity, and Finland the least. An Old Europe/New Europe divide does not explain the difference, neither can variations in industry shares.
Measurements and Modeling of Regional Air Quality in three Southeast United States National Parks

Since the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act (CAA), regulatory efforts to comply with the 0.12-ppmv National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for O3 have proved inadequate [(NRC); Dimitriades, 1989]. O3 nonattainment continues to be a problem, especially in the southeast United States. This is attributed to the oxidation of NOx in the presence of excessive amounts of biogenically emitted VOCs such as isoprene [Trainer et al., 1987; Chameides et al., 1988]. The new 8- hour O3 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) (0.08 ppm) is likely to bring more suburban and rural locations into noncompliance [Chameides et al., 1997]. Biogenic VOCs emitted by vegetation [Fuentes et al., 2000; Fehsenfeid et al., 1992; Lamb et al., 1993] and anthropogenic VOCs emitted by human activities are both widely present in rural aTeas [Kang et al., 2001; Hagerman et al., 1997]. Previous studies indicate that the influence of these VOCs on important aspects of atmospheric chemistry such as O3 production can be significant [Trainer et al., 1987; Chameides et al., 1988]. Clearly, if O3 concentrations are to be successfully controlled by implementation of control on primary pollutant emissions, the roles of both natural and anthropogenic VOCs in these rural areas must be thoroughly understood. However, our understanding of O3 and VOC budgets in rural areas is still very limited. Emissions of biogenic VOCs as well as the roles of both biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs in O3 production in rural areas are largely uncharacterized [Guenther et al., 2000].
Optimal discretization for decision analysis

Abstract The use of discretization in decision analysis allows practitioners to use only a few assessments to estimate the certain equivalent (CE) or expected value of a decision without knowing the functional form of the distribution of each uncertainty. The discretization shortcuts are fast, but are created with a specific distribution, or families of distributions in mind. The discretizations are not formulated with the decision problem in mind. Each discretization is specific to one uncertainty distribution, or is even more generalized. In this article, we introduce a novel mathematical formulation for selecting an optimal discretization for a specific problem. With optimal discretization, a decision analyst can use the newly-created shortcuts in repeated decisions and improve the expected accuracy of the CE calculations.
Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy improves survival and reduces treatment time in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus: A National Cancer Data Base study

BACKGROUND Chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin remains the standard of care for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anal canal. A prolonged treatment time is associated with inferior disease-specific outcomes. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial 0529 demonstrated decreased toxicity and fewer treatment breaks with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), but this has not been assessed in a randomized trial. Using data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), this study evaluated the impact of IMRT on treatment time and survival in anal SCC. METHODS The NCDB was used to identify patients with anal cancer from 2004 to 2013. The included patients were those with stage I to III squamous cell cancer of the anal canal who had received definitive chemoradiation by IMRT or 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT). Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards analysis, and propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS Of 6814 patients, 57.4% were treated with 3DCRT, whereas 42.6% received IMRT. Patients receiving IMRT had a reduced risk of a long treatment time in a multivariate analysis (P < .001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates with IMRT and 3DCRT were 80.8% and 78.9%, respectively (P = .0036). According to a propensity analysis, patients receiving IMRT had improved OS (P = .039) and a reduced risk of a long treatment time (P < .0001) in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS IMRT use was associated with significantly reduced overall treatment time and improved survival in comparison with 3DCRT. It is important to note that NCDB data are not as robust as randomized data. However, these results further support the use of IMRT as part of sphincter-preserving therapy for the anal canal.
Activity Engagement in Residential Care Settings: Findings from the National Survey of Residential Care Facilities

Assisted living and similar residential care is an important source of care for elders, including those with dementia. Meaningful activities may help residents maintain function, improve self-estee...
Utility and safety of adenosine challenge for subtle ventricular pre-excitation in the pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION Adenosine challenge (AC) can be used to evaluate possible Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern on an electrocardiogram (ECG). Despite the use of this technique, there is a paucity of studies in the pediatric population evaluating the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of this testing modality. METHODS AND RESULTS All ACs performed from January 2009 to June 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, adenosine dosing, results, adverse effects, and outcomes including results of electrophysiology studies (EPS) were reviewed. Analysis was conducted between AC positive and negative cohorts. ECG criteria of shortest PR interval, longest QRS duration, and the number of suspected pre-excited leads were evaluated for inter-rater reliability and correlation to positive AC. Fifty-six AC (n = 51) were performed (median age, 13.8; range, 0.3-20 years). Forty-one AC were pre-EPS and 15 post-EPS due to concern for recurrent WPW. Thirty-one (76%) pre-EPS AC were negative, 9 (22%) positive, and 1 (2%) equivocal. EPS was performed following seven positive AC revealing 5 (71%) left posterior and 2 (29%) right posteroseptal AP. The 15 post-EPS AC were all found to be negative. Mean effective adenosine dose was 0.2 ± 0.11 mg/kg. No adverse events were reported. Mean follow up duration after AC was 314 ± 482 days with no documented arrhythmias. CONCLUSION Adenosine challenge is an effective and safe testing modality for subtle WPW in the pediatric population. In our population, there were no adverse events or documented arrhythmias in patients following a negative study.
Euler's formula for the zeta function at the positive even integers

We give a new proof of Euler’s formula for the values of the Riemann zeta function at the positive even integers. The proof involves estimating a certain integral of elementary functions two different ways and using a recurrence relation for the Bernoulli polynomials evaluated at 12.
On the complexity of discounting, choice situations, and people

Although steep delay discounting is associated with various behavioral problems, perhaps most prominently substance abuse, we argue that it is best not conceived of as a character flaw such as impulsivity. Such a view, although part of a centuries-old tradition, does not distinguish between actions whose outcomes involve gains and losses, or between delayed outcomes and probabilistic outcomes, nor does it acknowledge that how steeply an individual discounts one of these kinds of outcome appears to be independent of how steeply they discount other kinds. Therefore, we advocate an approach that does not require making judgments about the character of the individuals involved. We show that when drug-dependent individuals are compared with controls, a substantial number of the drug-dependent individuals discount delayed monetary rewards less steeply than the average (median) member of the control group. Moreover, a substantial number of the controls discount more steeply than the average drug-dependent individual. Finally, we point out that many everyday choice situations differ from those studied in most discounting experiments in that they involve both gains and losses as well as qualitatively different outcomes that may be both delayed and probabilistic. Past research on discounting that focused on simple choice situations has provided a solid foundation, but research on more complicated situations is now needed. We believe that the principles revealed by such research will both inform the choices of treatment providers and improve our understanding of the complicated decisions that people face every day.
Piezoelectric energy harvesting from human walking using a two-stage amplification mechanism

Abstract This paper presents the design, modeling and experimental tests of a novel piezoelectric energy harvester with a two-stage force-amplification compliant mechanism for scavenging energy from human walking. The harvester consists of four units of two-stage force amplification piezoelectric transducers sandwiched between two heel-shaped plates. The dynamic reaction force at a heel is amplified twice by the two-stage force amplification frames before applied to the 33-mode piezoelectric stacks and therefore a large power output is achieved. Experiments were performed on the prototype of the two-stage piezoelectric energy harvester over different load levels and frequencies. Numerical simulation results based on a simplified single degree-of-freedom model agreed well with the experiment results. An average power of 34.3 mW and a peak power of 110.2 mW were obtained from the simulation under the dynamic force with the amplitude of 500 N and frequency of 3 Hz. At 2 Hz and 1.0 Hz, the average power outputs of 23.9 mW and 11.0 mW, peak power outputs of 65.8 mW and 31.7 mW were experimentally achieved. Numerical simulations show that the average power output of 12.8 mW and peak power output of 204.7 mW could be obtained at the walking speed of 3.5 mph (5.6 km/h) from a male subject with the body weight of 84 kg and height of 172 cm. Comparison study demonstrated that the proposed two-stage piezoelectric harvester has a larger power output than the reported results in literature.
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN FACTORS INFLUENCING ATTITUDES TOWARD SUICIDE AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE AMONG ELDERS

This study examines differences in attitudes toward suicide and physician-assisted suicide in chronic pain scenarios among Latino and White elders. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 204 elders at four community-based, outpatient care sites in the metropolitan area of San Antonio, Texas. In addition to ethnicity and the suicide-related questions, the interviews collected data on age, gender, marital status, education, income level, acculturation (Latinos only), depression, self-reported health status, daily living functioning, and religiosity/spirituality. In general, there were no ethnic group differences in attitudes, however, the factors associated with those attitudes varied between ethnic groups. Among Whites, attitudes toward suicide and toward physician-assisted suicide were significantly and negatively associated with religiosity. Among Latinos, depression was significantly and positively associated with attitudes toward suicide in chronic pain scenarios, while acculturation was significantly and negatively associated with attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide in chronic pain scenarios. This study’s findings suggest that depression among Latino elders and religion among White elders are determinant factors of attitudes toward suicide in chronic pain scenarios. Future research is needed to confirm our findings with a more heterogeneous study sample, including Latinos from different countries of origin (e.g. Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans); and more heterogeneous ethnic groups in terms of socioeconomic status and educational level characteristics.
META-ANALYSIS OF DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANT VERSUS VITAMIN K ANTAGONIST AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common comorbidity of patient undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), but the optimal antithrombotic regimen in this population remains unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy profile of direct oral anticoagulants (
Revival of light-evoked neuronal signals in the post-mortem mammalian and human retina

The retina, a highly metabolic tissue in the central nervous system, consumes the most oxygen and energy stores in the body by tissue mass/volume. Consequently, it is not surprising that retinal ischemia leads to a rapid loss of retinal light responses and electrical transmission. In this study, we show that despite a swift decline of retinal light responses after circulatory death (decay time constant τ = ~1-2 min), we were able to restore mouse rod and cone photoreceptor light signals from enucleated eyes up to 3h postmortem with significantly better postmortem recovery of cone versus rod light responses. We also demonstrate that both rod and cone phototransduction are more resistant to postmortem enucleation delay than synaptic transmission to second order neurons (bipolar cells). Encouraged by these analyses and the lack of previously successful postmortem retinal light recordings from human foveal/macular photoreceptors, we attempted to restore light responses in the human macula using donor eyes harvested 0.5 - 5 hours postmortem. Here we show successful recordings of human macular cone photoresponses in samples obtained from eyes enucleated up to 5 hours postmortem. Comparing 9freshly9 enucleated non-human primate eyes with human eyes enucleated and reoxygenated at different times after death, we show the exponential decay of the light response amplitudes has a time constant of 74 min. We find that both cause of death and donor age are useful parameters for predicting the recovery of retinal light responses in postmortem human macular tissue. Moreover, we present evidence that hypoxia and secondary acidosis, two modifiable factors, are primary contributors to the rapid loss of retinal light signaling after death. Finally, we show postmortem hypoxia rather than acidosis is the major cause of irreversible decay of the light response amplitudes. The criteria and methodology that we have established here for reviving electrical photoresponses in the postmortem human eye will serve as a new starting point for studying neurophysiology and disease in the human retina.
Microfabricated conductimetric biosensors based on ph-sensitive hydrogels

The design, construction and initial evaluation of a conductimetric microsensor for pH based on a pH-sensitive polymer hydrogel is described. Following synthesis, sheets of pH-sensitive hydrogels were characterized by measuring the electrical conductivity and water content as a function of pH for differing gel compositions. Interdigitated electrode transducers were constructed using standard microfabrication techniques, and the pH sensors were prepared by polymerizing gels directly on the electrodes. The sensors respond to pH, with a sensitivity on the order of 5% resistance change per pH unit. However, the observed calibration differs considerably from a predicted calibration based on a fields model and the measured electrical conductivity data, and reasons for the discrepancy are proposed.
Annual Out-Of-Pocket Spending Clusters Within Short Time Intervals: Implications For Health Care Affordability

The distribution of out-of-pocket spending throughout the year is an important determinant of health care affordability that has received little attention. We used 2017 data from a large database of US commercial insurance claims to study the distribution of patient-level out-of-pocket spending throughout the year, highlighting potential hardship due to temporal clustering of spending. We found that although most commercially insured people had several health care encounters throughout the year, their out-of-pocket spending was mostly concentrated within short time intervals. Nearly one-third of people with above-the-median total annual health care spending (plan plus out-of-pocket spending) incurred half of their annual out-of-pocket spending in just one day. Policy makers working to improve the affordability of care should focus on innovative approaches to cost sharing that prevent dramatic financial shocks to household budgets due to medical bills.
Towards a Reliable Heterogeneous Robotic Water Quality Monitoring System: An Experimental Analysis

This paper describes experiments that tested the effect of robotic movement on the reliability of aquatic sensor readings. It also demonstrates the utility of a heterogeneous system of robots to advance limnological monitoring and research.
Identity and relationship-based discrimination, and mental health in a sample of sexual minority male couples

The study explored the unique associations of individual identity-based discrimination and relationship-based discrimination with mental health among sexual minority male couples. It also examined ...
Projects and Activities That Promote Employability Skills

This chapter details specific individual, small group, large group, and classwide activities that help reinforce employability skills: SolidWorks Certification Exam at Payne HS and West HS, Payne HS daily station work, Starling HS weekly Design Days, and the West HS annual egg drop and rocket launch. Each section describes the activity and examines how students learn personal responsibility, work ethic and/or various interpersonal skills. This chapter reveals how teachers can structure common assignments and activities to imbue employability skills.
Caffeine Intake from Coffee and Tea and Invasive Breast Cancer Incidence among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative

Research findings remain inconsistent whether caffeine consumption is associated with invasive breast cancer. We aimed to examine the association between caffeine intake from coffee and tea and incident invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women. We included 79 871 participants in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study in the current analysis. Incident invasive breast cancers were identified through September 30, 2015. Caffeine intake (mg/day) from caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea was estimated based on self-reported frequency (cups/day) and average caffeine amount in each beverage. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore whether associations of caffeine intake from coffee and tea with invasive breast cancer were different by age, race and ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, history of hormone therapy use, alcohol intake, and subtypes of breast cancer. During a median follow-up of 16.0 years, 4719 incident invasive breast cancers were identified. No significant association was found between caffeine intake from coffee and tea and invasive breast cancer incidence after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors: HRs (95% CIs) for increasing quartiles of caffeine intake compared to the lowest were 1.03 (0.94, 1.12), 1.04 (0.95, 1.13), and 1.03 (0.94, 1.13), respectively (P-for-trend = 0.54). No significant associations of coffee and tea intake (cups/day) with overall breast cancer risk were found. Our findings are consistent with others showing no clear association of caffeine consumption with invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Incidence of Occult Malignant and High-Risk Pathologic Findings in Breast Reduction Specimens.

BACKGROUND The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of occult malignancy and high-risk breast pathologic findings in patients who undergo breast reduction procedures. METHODS Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty performed by the senior authors (A.L. and G.W.C.) at Emory University Hospital between 1997 and 2018 were reviewed. Data regarding patient demographics, personal or family history of malignancy, operative technique, pathologic findings, and follow-up were extracted. Patients were categorized into two groups, those with and those without breast cancer. Group A patients underwent reduction for symptomatic macromastia, and group B underwent contralateral reduction for unilateral breast cancer treated with oncoplastic partial or total breast cancer reconstruction. Pathologic findings were divided into four groups; normal, benign, high-risk, and malignant. RESULTS A total 1014 patients (1419 breast reductions) were included in the study. Comparing groups A and B, mean age was 37.8 ± 16.2 years versus 54.5 ± 11.1 years (p < 0.001), mean body mass index was 34.1 ± 7.6 kg/m2 versus 33.3 ± 7.4 kg/m2 (p = 0.2), and average reduction weight was 875.6 ± 491 g versus 723.7 ± 438 g (p < 0.001). The incidence of high-risk or malignant lesions was 1.8 percent (n = 15) in group A and 8 percent (n = 49) in group B (p < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and personal history of breast cancer were positive predictors for high-risk and malignant lesions. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of abnormal pathologic findings in breast reduction specimens is not uncommon, and occult malignancy or high-risk lesions can be found, especially in patients with contralateral breast cancer. Appropriate specimen orientation, diligence with checking the pathologic findings, and open communication with the pathologist are crucial. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, II.
Is preterm donor milk better than preterm formula for very-low-birth-weight infants?

Background Preterm human milk has advantages over preterm formula (PF), but it may compromise some functions after pasteurization. Objective To explore the effects of preterm donor milk (DM) on growth, feeding tolerance, and severe morbidity in very-low-birth-weight infants. Method This was a single-center, prospective cohort study that included 304 preterm infants weighing Results The daily weight gain and weekly head growth in the DM group were not different from those in the PF group (P > 0.05). Feeding intolerance in the DM group was significantly lower than that in PF group (P Conclusion The study indicated that preterm DM does not affect the growth of very-low-birth-weight infants. Further, it significantly reduces feeding intolerance, helps achieve full enteral feeding early, and has protective effects against necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. Thus, compared with formula, preterm DM can lower the rate of infection in preterm infants and is worthy of promotion.
Robustness Analysis of Loop-Free Floating-Point Programs via Symbolic Automatic Differentiation

Automated techniques for analyzing floating-point code for roundoff error as well as control-flow instability are of growing importance. It is important to compute rigorous estimates of roundoff error, as well as determine the extent of control-flow instability due to roundoff error flowing into conditional statements. Currently available analysis techniques are either non-rigorous or do not produce tight roundoff error bounds in many practical situations. Our approach embodied in a new tool called SEESAW employs symbolic reverse-mode automatic differentiation, smoothly handling conditionals, and offering tight error bounds. Key steps in SEESAW include weakening conditionals to accommodate roundoff error, computing a symbolic error function that depends on program paths taken, and optimizing this function whose domain may be non-rectangular by paving it with a rectangle-based cover. Our benchmarks cover many practical examples for which such rigorous analysis has hitherto not been applied, or has yielded inferior results.
Harmonic Magnons in Spin Glasses: Cd0.35Mn0.65Te

The dilute magnetic semiconductor Cd1-xMnxTe is a frustrated fcc antiferromagnet which displays spin glass behavior at low temperatures over the range for which samples can be prepared, x 0.7 [1], whereas susceptibility data indicate a paramagnet to spin glass transition down to at least x=0.07 in the magnetically equivalent compound Zn1-xMnxTe [2]. Although Cd1-xMnxTe exhibits many of the characteristic features of a spin glass [3,4], it is not certain whether it belongs to the same universality class as, for example, CuMn.
Taking Stock: Does Equity-Based Compensation Increase Managers' Ownership?

We find that executives sell shares of previously owned stock after receiving equity-based incentive compensation, counteracting boards' attempts to tie their wealth to firm value. Executives sell stock during years in which they receive new stock options or restricted stock, and some evidence indicates further selling over time if options move into-the-money. When options are exercised, managers sell a large majority of shares acquired. Effects are strongest for executives who already hold many shares, while stock-based compensation does appear to increase the holdings of managers with low ownership. Although valuation theorists who study executive compensation frequently assume that executives cannot hedge the risks of stock-based pay, our research provides evidence to the contrary.
Prevention of the Emergence of Drug Resistance in Bacteria by Acridines, Phenothiazines, and Dibenzocycloheptenes

It has been found that, like Atabrine, the phenothiazine tranquilizers promazine, chlorpromazine, promethazine, levopromethazine, and Stelazine; the antidepressants (dibenz-azepine and dibenzocycloheptene derivatives) Tofranil, Pertofrane, cyclobenzaprine, Elavil, protriptyline, and 3-chlorodibenzocycloheptene; and the acridine derivatives acridine orange, acriflavin, SKF no. 16214-A2, SKF no. 13231-A2, SKF no. 9200, and SKF no. 9836 are all to a greater or lesser extent than Atabrine, effective in preventing the emergence of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the presence of streptomycin, sulfathiazole, or chloramphenicol. The antimalarials chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were also studied and found to be ineffective. The medical significance of these findings is discussed, as well as the effect of the structural variations of these compounds on their relative activities.
Brownfield redevelopment as a smart growth option in the United States

An evaluation is made of brownfields redevelopment as a smart growth policy compared to purchase of land, restrictive growth policies, changing transportation patterns, promoting compact development designs on the metropolitan fringe, and regional government. In the US brownfields redevelopment has clear advantages with regard to environmental protection, moral imperative, and government and special interest reactions. Its rank with regard to economic feasibility, ability to respond to changes in technology, and public reaction are not clear. A great deal more research is needed, especially about the costs of brownfield redevelopment and public preferences for housing type and location to be certain about brownfields redevelopment as a viable smart growth option.
Acute toxicity and accumulation of the piscicide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

We compared the acute toxicity and initial accumulation of the piscicide TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) in the freshwater unionacean mussels, Obliquaria reflexa and Fusconaia flava. Acute 48 h toxicity tests were conducted to determine the LC50 values for each species. The initial uptake clearances of TFM were measured by exposing the mussels to [14C]-TFM and counting the radioactivity in four organ tissues (foot, gill, mantle and viscera) over 48 h. TFM was about 2-fold more toxic to O. reflexa (LC50 1.80 mg l−1) than to F. flava (LC50 3.81 mg L−1) and the difference was not explained by accumulation patterns. The initial uptake clearance rates (0--6 h) for the whole body were similar between the species (11.2 ml g−1 h−2 in O. reflexa and 9.5 ml g−1 h−1 in F. flava). The accumulation of TFM residues among the organ tissues was also similar between species. The uptake clearance rates (ml g−1 h−1) of TFM equivalents were generally highest in the gill, but not significantly different than other organ tissues. The normalized concentration of TFM residues (μg per g whole body) was highest in the viscera. The toxicity data suggest that the mortality of both species would be minimal from sea lamprey control treatments with TFM. However, the behavioural effects and accumulation rates also indicate that mussels do not effectively avoid TFM exposure by valve closure
Variable stress-induced leakage current and analysis of anomalous charge loss for flash memory application

In advanced flash-EEPROM devices, the retention time is limited by "moving bit" (MB), "fast bit" or "anomalous cells", which exhibit anomalously large threshold-voltage shift (/spl Delta/V/sub T/). Since the MB is caused by anomalous charge loss through the tunnel oxide, the characterization of stress-induced leakage current (SILC) in suitable metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor test structures should be useful for determining the responsible mechanism. SILC is too small to measure in a commercial flash memory cell, so large-area capacitors have generally been used to characterize the leakage current. However, since the MB corresponds to the tail portion of the retention-time distribution, the erratic behavior has not been observed in large capacitors. We have therefore used small-area capacitors with thinner oxide for SILC analysis in this study.
Carrier lifetime measurement of silicon carbide for photoconductive switch applications using an IR probe laser

A system for measuring the recombination lifetime of high purity, semi-insulating (HPSI) 4H-SiC through transient free carrier absorption (FCA) for optimization of SiC photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) is presented. The system measures the transient absorption of a continuous, low-power (<5mW) 1550 nm infrared probe laser. Free carriers were generated with both above and below bandgap illumination from the harmonics of a Nd: YAG laser (532 nm, 355 nm, and 266 nm–10ns FWHM), and the carrier lifetime was numerically calculated from the absorption transient. High spatial resolution (∼10 um) was attained through the use of a high-precision, three-axis stage. The carrier lifetime measurements of various regions of several SiC PCSSs over varying levels of photo-excitation are presented.
A coherent atomic beam generator

Summary form only given. The availability of ultracold atoms, as well as the recent demonstration of Bose condensation for trapped alkali, have lead to renewed efforts to produce a coherent atomic beam generator, or "atom laser". In this talk we discuss such a scheme based on a driven-damped sample of ultracold atoms in an extended, quasi-one-dimentional cavity. An important aspect of our scheme is that the atoms are subjected to the near-resonant dipole-dipole interaction whose collisional cross section can be tuned over several orders of magnitude by varying the atom-field detuning and the precise geometry of the cavity.
Caecal duplication in a 13‐year‐old Thoroughbred

Summary A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was presented for evaluation of recurrent colic of 4 weeks duration. These colic episodes were mild and responsive to medical therapy. Episodes of colic became more frequent and more painful. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a large intestine duplication with a cystic structure located at the caecocolic junction that was unable to be exteriorized and therefore not amenable to surgical correction. Thirty-six hours following surgery, the horse became acutely painful, sweaty, and febrile suggesting gastrointestinal rupture. Post mortem examination showed a 0.6 × 1 m duplication and a 0.5 × 0.6 m cystic dilation that was probably associated with the caecum. There was a 10 × 30 cm area of rupture located within the duplication. Histological evaluation confirmed the presence of a true duplication.
On the Need to Seriously Challenge the Empiricist Side of the Nativist–Empiricist Debate

The nativist-empiricist debate, and all “middle ground” efforts designed to resolve it, are fundamentally marred by a “transmission” mentality—a belief that development entails information transmission from one source to another. Critics of this transmission mentality seek to transcend the nativist-empiricist debate altogether by reorienting the study of development to the actual processes and activities of development itself. Their message—that both nativism and empiricism share a view of development that is decidedly nondevelopmental—has been around for decades. So why do efforts to seek a middle ground between nativism and empiricism still flourish? I argue that critics of the nativist-empiricist debate spend more time attacking the nativist side of the debate than they do attacking the empiricist side. This imbalance, in turn, seriously dilutes the message of the critique, especially when notions of learning remain part of proposals for an alternative, process orientation to development.
Bird–Window Collisions: A Critical Animal Welfare and Conservation Issue

Sheet glass and plastic in the form of clear and reflective windows are universally lethal to birds. Reasonable interpretation of available scientific evidence describes windows as a principal human-associated avian mortality factor that is an indiscriminant killer of common species as well as species of conservation concern. A conservative toll estimates 1 billion or more annual fatalities in the United States alone. The injury and death from birds striking windows are foreseeable and preventable, but the most promising legal measures and commercial products are not being applied or made available to protect defenseless victims. Avian window casualties are important for birds and people, and they have nonhuman animal welfare, biodiversity, sustainability, legal, and ethical and moral value justifying responsible human action. Preventing this unintended and unwanted lethal hazard for free-flying birds should be an obligation. Short-term solutions include retrofitting existing panes with a variety of prove...
Pediatric Emergencies: Non-traumatic Abdominal Emergencies

There is a wide range of differential diagnoses of acute abdomen in paediatrics. Although many of these conditions are self-limiting, some of them are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment to minimize morbidity. The initial diagnosis usually depends on a careful clinical evaluation, laboratory investigations and the knowledge of the likely causes within the specific age group. In many cases however, the diagnosis is uncertain and imaging studies are indicated. Although abdominal radiographs are traditionally requested initially, ultrasound is generally more useful in providing the diagnosis in many children with acute abdomen. Diagnosis of obstruction in neonates is usually made by plain abdominal radiographs and contrast studies. Computed tomography in children is required in selected patients whom the clinical and sonographic findings are indeterminate. Abdominal malignancy has not been specifically discussed as the clinical presentation is usually that of an obvious mass and subsequent pathways are well established.
Next-to leading order analysis of target mass corrections to structure functions and asymmetries

We perform a comprehensive analysis of target mass corrections to spin-averaged structure functions and asymmetries at next-to-leading order. Several different prescriptions for target mass corrections are considered, including the operator product expansion, and various approximations to it, collinear factorization, and $\ensuremath{\xi}$-scaling. We assess the impact of each of these on a number of observables, such as the neutron to proton ${F}_{2}$ structure function ratio, and parity-violating electron scattering asymmetries for protons and deuterons which are sensitive to $\ensuremath{\gamma}Z$ interference effects. The corrections from higher order radiative and nuclear effects on the parity-violating deuteron asymmetry are also quantified.
Out-of-plane microstructures using stress engineering of thin films

A new method is presented to fabricate out-of-plane microstructures using traditional planar micromachining technology. Composite LPCVD polysilicon/silicon nitride beams are fabricated to study this concept. Polysilicon films ranging from 0.5 micrometers to 1.3 micrometers , and silicon nitride films ranging from 150 to 450 nm, were used to fabricate various thickness ratios of composite out-of-plane microstructures. Upon release, these planar structures take on 3D shapes, due to the bending moment caused by inherit internal stresses in the thin films. These stress engineered 3D microstructures (SEMS) open the path to novel microstructures. This paper presents a design theory for SEMS, describes the fabrication process, and discusses the results of initial experiments.