cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic closure of gastrogastric fistulas by using a tissue apposition system (with videos)

Background Gastrogastric fistulas (GGFs) are seen in 1.5% to 12.5% of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) bariatric surgery, often leading to failure to lose adequate weight. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and percentage of successful primary endoluminal closures of GGFs by using a recently developed tissue apposition system in combination with local mucosectomy. Design A feasibility and outcome study following institutional review board protocol. Setting Tertiary referral teaching hospital, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon. Interventions A combination of mucosectomy and nonresorbable tissue apposition is used to achieve a permanent closure of the GGF. Patients Four patients with 5 GGFs after RYGB; the mean fistula diameter of was 18.6 mm (range 10-30 mm). Results Primary closure rate (1 endoscopic session) of 5 GGFs was 100%. The mean procedure time was 88.5 minutes. One to 4 pairs of tissue anchors were used to close the fistulas. The mean time for performing mucosectomy was 21.6 minutes (range 8-42 minutes) and 39.6 minutes (range 12-58 minutes) for fistula closure. Estimated blood loss was on average 2 mL (range 0-5 mL). No complications were recorded. Early success (3 months), as evidenced by early satiety and weight loss, was noted for 3 of 4 patients. After 3 months, only the smallest fistula (10 mm) was still completely closed, and after 6 months, it also showed a pinhole opening. Conclusion It was feasible to close all fistulas endoscopically without complications. Permanent closure of GGFs could not be achieved.
Detection and Retention of Postocular Visible Implant Elastomer in Fingerling Rainbow Trout

Abstract Short-term (195-d) detectability and retention of both green and yellow visible implant elastomers (VIE) in the postocular adipose tissue of fingerling rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were examined. Both colors gradually became undetectable over 186 d of observation when a blue-filtered flashlight and amber glasses were used to aid in mark detection. However, with the use of ultraviolet light, one mark was detectable in 87% of a 60-fish sample after 195 d, and the other mark was visible in 57%. Marking skill apparently varied between personnel and probably led to the difference in detection rates between colors. The mean total length of fish with two detectable marks was 231 mm, compared with 220 mm for those with one or no detectable marks, suggesting that detectability increased with size of fish at marking.
Can junior emergency physicians use E-point septal separation to accurately estimate left ventricular function in acutely dyspneic patients?

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1223–1226 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: The authors determined if E-point septal separation (EPSS) as measured by junior emergency physicians (EPs) correlated with visual estimation of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) by senior EPs and cardiologists in acutely dyspneic patients presenting to an adult emergency department (ED). Methods: Acutely dyspneic patients were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. EPSS was measured using bedside ultrasonography by junior EPs (PGY 3 and PGY 4 residents) with variable ultrasound experience. M-mode measurements of EPSS were recorded in the parasternal long-axis orientation and were calculated during diastole by measuring distance from the tip of the anterior mitral valve leaflet to the septal wall. LVEF was visually estimated at the bedside by emergency medicine (EM) ultrasound fellows and an EM ultrasound fellowship-trained attending physician and was subsequently visually estimated by two cardiologists reviewing video clips obtained by the junior EPs. The correlation between EPSS and visually estimated LVEF was calculated. Results: Of the 58 patients, the median age was 63 years (range = 28 to 90 years) and 66% were women. Interobserver reliability between EPs and cardiologists for the visual estimation of LVEF was excellent (κ = 0.75). The correlation between measurements of EPSS by junior EPs and visual estimations of LVEF by the senior EPs was ρ = −0.844 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, junior EPs were able to obtain measurements of EPSS that correlated closely with visual estimates of LVEF by clinicians with extensive point-of-care and comprehensive echocardiography experience.
Empirically Derived Subgroups of Learning Disabled Readers Diagnostic Characteristics

A cluster analysis procedure was used to identify subgroups of children who manifested specific learning disabilities in reading (SLD/R) in terms of performance on a battery of eight language and perceptual tests. Subjects included a group of 100 SLD/R children and 50 normal readers (NR). Six SLD/R subgroups were identified. All subgroups were both significantly different from one another as well as significantly different from the NR group's performance on the diagnostic battery. In addition, some significant differences were found among the six subgroups on measures of oral reading and reading comprehension skills. These results were compared with those of previous studies, none of which employed samples of the SLD/R youngsters identified in public schools. Results also were examined for their implications for a more precise match between the SLD/R learner characteristics and type of teaching method or material.
Clinical outcome of patients infected with hepatitis C virus infection on survival after primary liver transplantation under tacrolimus

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on patient and graft survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been controversial. An earlier experience with a higher dose of tacrolimus (>/=0.1 mg/kg/d intravenously and >/=0.2 mg/kg/d orally) was associated with a worse clinical outcome in patients infected with HCV. The clinical outcome of 183 liver transplant recipients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) secondary to HCV infection (HCV group) was compared with a contemporary cohort of 556 patients with HCV infection who underwent transplantation for nonviral, nonmalignant ESLD (control group). All patients were prospectively screened for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. All OLT patients were receiving low-dose tacrolimus immunosuppression. Cumulative patient survival rates for the HCV group were 80% after 1 year and 75% after 3 years compared with rates of 84% and 78%, respectively, in the control group (P = .452). Primary graft survival rates at the same time intervals for the HCV group and the control group were 72% and 77.5% at 1 year and 67% and 72% at 3 years, respectively (P = .144). The incidence of re-transplantation (re-OLT) in the HCV group and the control group was 12.6% and 10.4%, respectively (P = .42). Chronic HCV infection as an indication for OLT with a lower dose of tacrolimus immunosuppression (</=0.05 mg/kg/d intravenously and </=0.1 mg/kg/d orally) is associated with a similar patient and graft survival as those without HCV infection.
ON THE USE OF THE MASS MEDIA AS “ESCAPE”: CLARIFICATION OF A CONCEPT

It is often argued that the mass media "give the people what they want" and that the viewers, listeners, and readers ultimately determine the content of the media by their choices of what they will read, view, or hear. Whether or not this is a valid characterization of the role of the mass in relation to the media, it is only an arc of circular reasoning unless there is independent evidence of what the people do want. More particularly, there is great need to know what people do with the media, what uses they make of what the media now give them, what satisfactions they enjoy, and, indeed, what part the media play in their personal lives. Here is a discussion of some of the functions the media may perform in the lives of the members of the mass society. Elihu Katz is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. He is co-author, with Paul Lazarsfeld, of Personal Influence and active at the
Fusarium proliferatum Soft Tissue Infection at the Site of a Puncture by a Plant: Recovery, Isolation, and Direct Molecular Identification

After allogeneic stem cell transplantation, a 49-year-old man developed fever and inflammation at the site of a plant puncture on a finger. A hyalohyphomycete was recovered by incubating the plant spine fragment following surgery. Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region and 5.8S rRNA, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor coding genes identified Fusarium proliferatum, which was confirmed later by culture.
A Numerical Investigation of Shear Instability, Mixing and Afterburn Behind Explosive Blast Waves

A hybrid two-phase numerical methodology is used to study the propagation of explosive blast wave from spherical charges of TNT and their interaction with ambient distribution of aluminum particles. The presence of these particles is found to cause Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities at the contact surface between the detonation products and the shock-compressed air, which results in enhanced mixing and afterburn. The afterburn energy release is not observed to aect the primary blast wave, but aects the pressure decay rate behind the blast wave, and the speed and the strength of the secondary shock. The dispersion and reaction of aluminum particles in the hot region behind the blast wave is investigated for a range of particle sizes and mass loading, and the role played by these particles in the growth of hydrodynamic instabilities is studied. It is shown that for the range of sizes investigated, particle size does not play a signican t role in the mixing, but the distribution and initial extent do have appreciable impact. It is found that large particles do not ignite, while small particles rapidly ignite and burn completely. Furthermore, intermediate size particles are observed to ignite only when the mixing is enhanced, however, subsequently quench as they leave the mixing layer. This study has provided some useful insights on the instabilities induced by ambient reactive particles in detonation o w-elds and establishes a simulation capability to study turbulent two-phase processes in an explosive environment.
Piezoelectric Elastic Surface Waves in Anisotropic Layered Media

Solutions for surface elastic waves propagating in a layered media consisting of a CdS film on a fused quartz substrate have been found. Piezoelectric coupling in the CdS has been included. The Rayleigh, Sezawa, and Love modes are discussed. The surface wave velocity, mechanical displacements, and electric fields are found as a function of layer thickness for the Rayleigb and Sezawa modes. Velocity dispersion was experimentally measured and found to be in good agreement with theory.
Efficient pulse-Doppler processing and ambiguity functions of nonuniform coherent pulse trains

We propose a DFT based pulse Doppler processing receiver for staggered pulse trains. The proposed receiver is a simple extension of traditional DFT based coherent pulse train processing. We show that P DFT processors are required to process the staggered train of pulses as a coherent signal, where P is the number of available pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval (PRI). Thus the complexity of the processing hardware only increases linearly with the number of available positions. We also look at the distribution of ambiguity volume around the delay-Doppler map by varying the pulse positions and the selection of pulse shapes.
Etravirine in CSF is highly protein bound

OBJECTIVES Etravirine has high affinity for plasma drug-binding proteins, such as albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein, which limits the amount of unbound etravirine available to enter the CNS. The objective of this study was to compare total and unbound etravirine concentrations in CSF with plasma concentrations and the in vitro median inhibitory concentration (IC50) for wild-type HIV (0.9 ng/mL). METHODS Total and bound etravirine concentrations were measured in 17 CSF and plasma pairs by isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy, radioligand displacement and ultracentrifugation. Unbound etravirine concentrations were calculated from the bound fraction. The dynamic range of the assay was 7.8-2000 (plasma) and 0.78-200 (CSF) ng/mL. RESULTS Subjects were mostly middle-aged (median 43 years) white (78%) men (89%). All CSF etravirine concentrations were above the limit of quantification. Total and unbound median etravirine concentrations in CSF were 9.5 (IQR 6.4, 26.4) and 0.13 (IQR 0.08, 0.27) ng/mL, respectively. Etravirine was 96% (IQR 94.5, 97.2) protein bound in plasma and 98.4% (IQR 97.8, 98.8) in CSF. Total etravirine in CSF was 4.3% (IQR 3, 5.9) of total and 101% (IQR 76, 160) of unbound etravirine in plasma. There were no significant correlations between unbound etravirine concentrations and concentrations of albumin in plasma or CSF. Unbound etravirine concentrations in CSF did not reach the wild-type IC50 in any of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS Unbound etravirine may not achieve optimal concentrations to inhibit HIV replication in the CNS.
Evaluation of Synergistic Interactions Between the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Pathogen Beauveria bassiana and the Insecticides, Imidacloprid, and Cyromazine

Laboratory studies investigated the interaction between the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and sublethal doses of the insecticides imidacloprid and cyromazine when applied to larvae of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). When second instars were fed potato leaf discs treated with sublethal doses of imidacloprid and a range of doses of B. bassiana, a synergistic action was demonstrated. Similar results were observed when larvae were sprayed directly with B. bassiana conidia and immediately fed leaf discs treated with imidacloprid. No synergistic interaction was detected when larvae were fed leaf discs treated with sublethal doses of imidacloprid 24 h after application of B. bassiana conidia to larvae. However, a synergistic interaction was detected when larvae were fed leaf discs treated with imidacloprid and sprayed with B. bassiana conidia 24 h later. Although sublethal doses of both imidacloprid and the triazine insect growth regulator (IGR) cyromazine prolonged the duration of the second instar, only imidacloprid interacted with B. bassiana to produce a synergistic response in larval mortality. In leaf consumption studies, the highest dose of B. bassiana tested promoted feeding in inoculated second instars. Feeding was inhibited when larvae were fed foliage treated with sublethal doses of imidacloprid and significantly reduced when fed foliage treated with a sublethal dose of cyromazine. Starvation of larvae for 24 h immediately after B. bassiana treatment produced a similar result to the combined treatment of B. bassiana and imidacloprid and increased the level of mycosis when compared with B. bassiana controls. Imidacloprid treatment affected neither the rate of germination of B. bassiana conidia on the insect cuticle nor the rate at which conidia were removed from the integument after application. The statistical analysis used to detect synergism and the possible role of starvation-induced stress factors underlying the observed synergistic interactions are discussed.
Web interfaces to MDSplus data

The MDSplus Data Acquisition System has been used successfully on NSTX at PPPL since early 1999. While the X-Window-based tools supplied with MDSplus are powerful, and both the IDL programming language and the supplied TDI language are effective for complex and specialized analyses, some users prefer the convenience of applications that can be run in a Web browser. Web users do not need to know about X-Windows, or even have accounts or privileges on server computers. The MDSplots page reads MDSplus "Scope" setup files and plots MDSplus signals with overlays. It uses a Perl script to open a pipe to an IDL subprocess. The TreeSearch page provides several options for finding information in MDSplus trees. The MDSshots page lists shots where the maximum for a specified signal is above or below a specified value. A variety of information in an MS-SQL database is also accessible from a Web browser. These utilities could be used at other sites which keep data in MDSplus.
Simultaneous Acceleration of Protons and Electrons at Nonrelativistic Quasiparallel Collisionless Shocks

We study diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) of protons and electrons at nonrelativistic, high Mach number, quasiparallel, collisionless shocks by means of self-consistent 1D particle-in-cell simulations. For the first time, both species are found to develop power-law distributions with the universal spectral index $\ensuremath{-}4$ in momentum space, in agreement with the prediction of DSA. We find that scattering of both protons and electrons is mediated by right-handed circularly polarized waves excited by the current of energetic protons via nonresonant hybrid (Bell) instability. Protons are injected into DSA after a few gyrocycles of shock drift acceleration (SDA), while electrons are first preheated via SDA, then energized via a hybrid acceleration process that involves both SDA and Fermi-like acceleration mediated by Bell waves, before eventual injection into DSA. Using the simulations we can measure the electron-proton ratio in accelerated particles, which is of paramount importance for explaining the cosmic ray fluxes measured on Earth and the multiwavelength emission of astrophysical objects such as supernova remnants, radio supernovae, and galaxy clusters. We find the normalization of the electron power law is $\ensuremath{\lesssim}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ of the protons for strong nonrelativistic shocks.
Serum digoxin levels and mortality in 5,100 patients

A retrospective study of 5,100 patients on digoxin, with a four-week follow up after digoxin levels were measured, was done to determine the mortality rate. A significant increase in mortality was correlated with an increasing serum digoxin level, up to 50% at a level of 6.0 ng/mL and more. Clinical toxicity was suspected in only 0.25% of all patients on digoxin, although almost 10% had levels above the therapeutic range. Deliberate digoxin overdoses were fatal in 50% of cases. This study shows a correlation between increasing digoxin levels and increasing mortality rates. We recommend the use of serum digoxin measurements to identify those asymptomatic patients with elevated levels. The physician should seriously consider the indications for initiating or continuing digoxin treatment in any patient because of an increased mortality in, patients with levels of more than 1.0 ng/mL.
The Rise of Modern Police and the European State System from Metternich to the Second World War

The Rise of the Modern Police and the European State System from Metternich to the Second World War re-examines the diplomatic history of Europe from the 1820s to World War II as a succession of mounting police problems linking the countries of the Continent through their growing dependency on one another for domestic order, security, and social progress. It culminates in the clash between the movement toward international police collaboration and the alternative of Continental police hegemony by one power, as attempted by Nazi Germany between the late 1930s and 1945. This book is the first comprehensive history of Continental police systems, especially in the context of political and diplomatic history.
Asymmetric Synaptic Depression in Cortical Networks

Synaptic depression is essential for controlling the balance between excitation and inhibition in cortical networks. Several studies have shown that the depression of intracortical synapses is asymmetric, that is, inhibitory synapses depress less than excitatory ones. Whether this asymmetry has any impact on cortical function is unknown. Here we show that the differential depression of intracortical synapses provides a mechanism through which the gain and sensitivity of cortical circuits shifts over time to improve stimulus coding. We examined the functional consequences of asymmetric synaptic depression by modeling recurrent interactions between orientation-selective neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) that adapt to feedforward inputs. We demonstrate analytically that despite the fact that excitatory synapses depress more than inhibitory synapses, excitatory responses are reduced less than inhibitory ones to increase the overall response gain. These changes play an active role in generating selective gain control in visual cortical circuits. Specifically, asymmetric synaptic depression regulates network selectivity by amplifying responses and sensitivity of V1 neurons to infrequent stimuli and attenuating responses and sensitivity to frequent stimuli, as is indeed observed experimentally.
Type of Preexisting Lipid Therapy Predicts LDL-C Response to Ezetimibe:

Background:Ezetimibe as monotherapy or in combination with statins effectively lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, there are few reports of ezetimibe's effect when added to ongoing non-statin lipid-lowering drugs or combination lipid-lowering therapy.Objective:To evaluate the impact of preexisting lipid therapy on LDL-C response to ezetimibe.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of all patients started on ezetimibe therapy at the Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System between March 1, 2003, and March 1, 2005. We calculated the ezetimibe-induced percent change in LDL-C in patients without concomitant changes in other lipid-lowering medications. We then stratified the population according to the type and number of preexisting lipid therapies and compared the LDL-C–lowering efficacy of ezetimibe among these groups.Results:Overall, ezetimibe was associated with a 23.0% reduction in LDL-C. Patients with preexisting statin monotherapy had significantly greater LDL-C reducti...
A Critical Comparison of Image Intensifies for Astronomy

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a critical comparison of image intensifiers for astronomy. The performance of an image intensifier should be judged primarily in terms of the amount of image information recorded per unit time. It can be shown that this depends not only upon the characteristics of the device, but also upon the type of image being recorded. Three different cases are considered: one, in which the resolution is limited in both dimensions by the device, another spectra, in which resolution is usually limited in only one dimension by the device, and third, in which input image features are commonly larger than the resolution limit. In order to obtain an intuitive grasp of the meaning of recorded image information, a highly idealized situation can be imagined. A recording medium with randomly distributed grains of equal size, completely independent of one another in their response to incident photons, is considered. It is found that the actual efficiency of an image recording system will, therefore, always be less than the simple ratio of grains to photons.
Don't Feed the Alligators: Government Funding of Political Speech and the Unyielding Vigilance of the First Amendment

This is an analysis of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club Pac v. Bennet, 131 S. Ct. 2806 (2011), which struck down the Arizona program for providing government “triggered” matching funds in political campaigns. Under that scheme, a publicly funded candidate, whose campaign is almost wholly funded by government already, is given additional government funds for his campaign whenever a privately financed candidate (or independent groups supporting that candidate as well) raises or spends any money to campaign against the publicly funded opponent. The Supreme Court ruled that such government supported counter-speech deters and burdens the speech of the privately funded candidate, as well as of independent groups and individuals, without a sufficiently compelling First Amendment justification. The article analyzes the decision, sets it in the larger context of the whole question of public funding of political campaigns and then projects the impact the decision is likely to have in the future judicial and legislative engagements with public funding of political campaigns.
AC Loss Modeling in Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 Using Dielectric Relaxation

In universal relaxation, a material’s complex dielectric susceptibility follows a fractional power law f1-n where 0 < n < 1 over multiple decades of frequency. In a variety of materials, including Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3, dielectric relaxation has been observed to follow this universal relaxation model with values of n close to 1. In this work we have shown that the universal relaxation model can be used to calculate dielectric loss even when n is very close to 1. Our calculated Q-factors agree with measured values at 1 MHz; this agreement suggests that this technique may be used for higher frequencies where network analyzer measurements and electrode parasitics complicate Q-factor determination.
Applications of Automatic Seismic Image Flattening And Edge Detection to Land Seismic Data

With field seismic data we demonstrate that geological features, especially subtle ones, can be better revealed by full-volume flattened seismic cubes. The flattened seismic cubes are created by a linear inversion method recently proposed by Parks and Hale. Their method is fully automatic with no user picks required. After flattening, the time slices are corresponding to depositional time (named geo-time) on which stratigraphic information is better manifested. In addition, we show improved results by applying a seismic edge-detection (coherence-cube) algorithm on the flattened cubes.
Abstract A46: Pseudohypericin in Hypericum perforatum inhibited LPS-stimulated PGE2 and NO in mouse macrophages by potentiating SOCS3 expression

Introduction: Hypericum perforatum, also known as ‘St. John9s wort’, is one of the most studied medicinal plants. Despite its primary use as an anti-depression agent, certain compounds such as hypericin and hyperforin in H. perforatum extract have been shown to inhibit tumor growth by inducing apoptosis/necrosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Using hypericin in photodynamic cancer therapy is also being studied. Our previous studies have demonstrated that H. perforatum extract and a group of 4 compounds in it, namely pseudohypericin, amentoflavone, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid, decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage inflammatory response, and identified the activation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) as a candidate mechanism for this activity. Given that both inflammation and SOCS3 suppression are associated with tumor progression, we studied the role of SOCS3 activation in the anti-inflammatory activity of H. perforatum extract and its components. Methods: Specific siRNA was used to knockdown the expression of SOCS3 in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Activation of SOCS3 in macrophages was measured at mRNA and protein levels using qRT-PCR and Western blot. H. perforatum extract at 30 µg/mL, the 4 compounds at the same concentrations as in the extract, and the combinations of individual compounds were applied to macrophages with and without SOCS3 knockdown to reveal whether their inhibition of LPS-stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) was dependent on SOCS3. Results: SOCS3 expression in the mouse macrophages was activated upon LPS stimulation and further potentiated by H. perforatum extract and the 4 compounds studied. SOCS3 siRNA transfection significantly compromised the activation of SOCS3. H. perforatum extract and the 4 compounds reduced LPS-stimulated PGE2 and NO production, but only the inhibitory effect of the 4 compounds was negated by SOCS3 knockdown. Combinations of two or three of the 4 compounds that include pseudohypericin, the most essential component among the four that act synergistically in reducing macrophage inflammatory response, lost their inhibitory effect on PGE2 and NO production in SOCS3 knockdown cells. Conclusions: SOCS3 activation was critical for pseudohypericin9s independent and interactive anti-inflammatory activity with amentoflavone, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. H. perforatum extract utilized alternative mechanisms that are SOCS3 independent to inhibit macrophage inflammation. In addition to light-activated cytotoxicity and inhibition of angiogenesis, magnification of SOCS3 activation by H. perforatum extract might contribute to its anti-tumor potential. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):A46.
Theoretical Study of the Bergman Cyclization of 2,3-Diethynyl-1-nitrotropylium Ion: Formation of a Nitroxide Radical Amenable to EPR Detection for Biological Applications.

We report a DFT study of a Bergman cyclization producing a stable triplet nitroxide diradical and monoradical (after H abstraction from an external source). The monoradical is predicted to be amenable to detection by EPR methods to potentially probe the structure and dynamics of enediyne molecules for drug interactions.
Midwall LV mechanics in rats with or without renovascular hypertension: effect of different Na+ intakes.

Supranormal left ventricular (LV) function has been reported in one-kidney, one-clip (1K,1C) and two-kidney, one-clip (2K,1C) Goldblatt hypertension. However, this finding might be at least partially due to mismatching endocardial rather than midwall fractional shortening to mean end-systolic stress. Accordingly, relations of echocardiographic endocardial and midwall shortening to circumferential end-systolic stress were calculated in 40 Wistar rats on 0.4% NaCl (r = -0.92, SE of estimate = 4.3% and r = -0.62, SE of estimate = 3.2%, both P < 0.0001). Midwall shortening as a percentage of predicted was related to LV chamber diameter in normal animals (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). Endocardial and midwall shortening were compared as percentage of the normal values predicted from wall stress in 34 2K,1C and 19 1K,1C on 0.4% Na+ 8-9 wk after surgery. Use of midwall shortening reduced the number of these hypertensive rats with supranormal observed-to-predicted shortening ratio from 28 to 7.5% (P < 0.0001). Salt-deprived and high-salt diets (0.0035 and 4% NaCl, respectively) were given to 16 and 18 additional controls, 9 and 7 2K,1C, and 7 and 7 1K,1C. Salt-deprived sham animals had greater endocardial and midwall shortening (106 +/- 7 and 111 +/- 10% of predicted, both P < 0.002) than sham rats on 0.4% NaCl, whereas 4% NaCl had no effect. Five of sixteen salt-deprived sham rats had supranormal observed-to-predicted midwall shortening ratios for LV chamber size, suggesting an enhanced inotropic state. Salt-deprived and high-salt diets had negligible effects on LV performance in Goldblatt rats. Thus use of midwall shortening reduces the number of renovascular hypertensive rats with apparently increased LV function. Salt deprivation stimulates LV myocardial function in normal rats independent of chamber dimension (i.e., an indirect measure of preload) but does not influence LV performance in Goldblatt hypertension 8 wk after renal artery clipping.
Declining Racial Stratification in Marriage Choices? Trends in Black/White Status Exchange in the United States, 1980 to 2010:

The status exchange hypothesis suggests that partners in black/white marriages in the United States trade racial for educational status, indicating strong hierarchical barriers between racial group...
Nutrition Issues and Recommendations in the Management of Diabetes and Prediabetes in Older Adults

Diabetes mellitus has reached unprecedented proportions worldwide. The WHO estimated that in 2012 there were 347 million individuals with diabetes mellitus worldwide affecting ~9 % of the population >18 years of age. It is projected that between 2005 and 2030 deaths due to diabetes would have doubled. Due to the rapid increase in obesity prevalence globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that there is now a global epidemic of obesity. Internationally, emergence of new cases of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) parallels the increases seen in Western countries and are increasing even more quickly in Asia. The risks of type 2 diabetes in these countries tend to increase at levels of body mass index generally classified as non-obese in Non Hispanic White Westerners. These worldwide changes are due to an accelerated prevalence of obesity, today’s predominance of sedentary lifestyle and the rapidly growing population of older adults, including an increased proportion of those belonging to ethnic groups with especially high rates of diabetes. In the USA the estimated number of individuals with diabetes was estimated at 25.8 million and 8.3 % of the population. Of these, 18.8 million were diagnosed and 7 million undiagnosed. By 2012, prevalence was 29.1 million and 9.3 % of the population with 21 million diagnosed and 8.1 million undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations, including African Americans (13.2 %), Hispanics (12.8 %), Native Americans (15.9 %), and Asian Americans (9 %). Risk factors for diabetes that are specific to these populations include genetic, behavioral, and lifestyle factors.
A surface-normal plasmonic modulator with electro-optic polymer in metallic slits

We present the design and experimental demonstration of a surface-normal plasmonic modulator using electro-optic polymer integrated with a metallic interdigitated structure. Electro-optic modulation was observed and the device is expected to achieve high-speed E-O modulation for free-space 3-D optical interconnects.
Oxidative metabolism in insulin-treated gestational diabetes mellitus

To investigate whether protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism was normalized in insulin-treated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), eight Hispanic women with GDM and eight healthy controls were studied at 32-36 wk of gestation and 6 wk postpartum. Net substrate utilization was measured using room respiration calorimetry. Exogenous substrate oxidation was determined by 13C recovered in breath CO2 from 13C-labeled leucine, glucose, and Hiolein. Women with GDM had higher 24-h oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, total energy expenditure, and basal metabolic rates than controls due to larger body mass. Adjusted for weight or fat-free mass, total energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate, and basal and 24-h whole body net protein, carbohydrate, and fat utilization did not differ between insulin-treated GDM subjects and controls in pregnancy or postpartum. Oxidation of [13C]leucine and [13C]glucose did not differ by group or pregnancy status. Recovery of exogenously administered [13C]Hiolein, a biosynthetic triglyceride, as breath 13CO2 was significantly lower in the GDM group antepartum and postpartum (P = 0.02), indicating lower oxidation of exogenous triglycerides in GDM.
A New Name for Management Scholars

Recommends the name managementor for the teacher who specializes in management. Definition and implications of the word; Goal of the professional management teacher.
Status Freedom as Effective Control Self-Ownership

What does it mean to be a free person? Consider an answer given by someone who experienced chattel slavery. Garrison Frazier was the spokesperson for a delegation of former slaves called “freedmen (although many were women) who met with General Sherman on January 12, 1865, before the end of the US Civil War.2 When asked what he understood by slavery, Frazier replied, “Slavery is, receiving by irresistible power the work of another man, and not by his consent. He defined freedom as, “taking us from under the yoke of bondage, and placing us where we could reap the fruit of our own labor [and] take care of ourselves. Asked how best to secure their freedom, Frazier said, “The way we can best take care of ourselves is to have land, and turn it and till it by our own labor.3
Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infectivity and Replication

Tobacco mosaic was first characterized as an infectious disease in 1886 by Mayer and the virus has been the subject of intensive investigation since the 1930s. Early studies focused on chemistry and structure, and much of our fundamental knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of simple RNA-containing viruses derives from TMV. While the large amounts of easily extracted, easily purified virus available in high yield facilitated these studies, the complex nature of the virus-host system has slowed our understanding of the details of TMV replication (and of all other plant viruses, for that matter); for instance, when a leaf is inoculated with virus, initially only a very small proportion of the cells become infected. These initial centers serve as foci for the subsequent rounds of replication in adjacent cells. Thus, early events in the few initially infected cells must be detected against an overwhelming background of uninfected cells. Further difficulties arise from the relatively slow rate of virus replication when compared with animal or bacterial viruses and, most troublesome, the fact that plant virus infection does not shut down host protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Thus, it is sometimes not easy to distinguish virus-directed proteins and nucleic acids from those of the host. Fortunately, recently developed technologies such as molecular hybridization and Western blotting having solved some of these problems.
Esophagogastric anastomoses: The value of fibrin glue in preventing leakage

Disruption of an esophagogastric anastomosis can result in a high mortality despite aggressive treatment. The efficacy of fibrin “glue” to seal esophagogastric anastomoses was evaluated as a means of preventing this complication. A left thoracotomy was performed in 25 adult mongrel dogs. After esophagogastric resection, a standardized esophagogastrostomy was performed and eight interrupted sutures were used to completely close the posterior wall. The anterior wall was approximated with only three sutures, leaving four large holes between sutures. The dogs were then randomized into the control group (n = 14; no attempt to seal the leaks) or into the fibrin glue–treated group (n = 11). An average of 3.3 ml of glue was applied to the anterior wall of the anastomosis in the treated group. In the control group, 13 of 14 dogs (92.9%) died of anastomotic leak a median of 3 days after operation. In the fibrin glue–treated group, only four of 11 dogs (36.4 %) died of anastomotic leaks (p
Protective effect of Bifidobacterium infantis CGMCC313-2 on ovalbumin-induced airway asthma and β-lactoglobulin-induced intestinal food allergy mouse models

Protective effect of Bifidobacterium infantis CGMCC313-2 on ovalbumin-induced airway asthma and β-lactoglobulin-induced intestinal food allergy mouse models
The Subject Is Always Right: A Lesson in Learning

Experimental psychologists occasionally find themselves in disagreement with data collected in the course of studying behavior. That is, the data are contrary to expectations and/or predictions. When this occurs, such psychologists are moved to re-examine the responding organism and the experimental contingencies under which it is behaving. One of the problems present in such a “re-examination” is noted. Data are presented which illustrate the case-in-point.
Understanding Binary Interactions in Fuel-Cell Catalyst-Layer Inks

Fuel-cell catalyst layers are made from inks comprised of ionomer, catalyst, and solvent. Ionomer interactions within the ink and how they map to catalyst-layer properties are not well understood. Here we study ink stability over time to elucidate stability windows dictated by solvent dielectric constant. Furthermore, we show how the addition of Nafion affects both the stability and aggregation behavior of the ink.
pH Imaging Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI

Acid-base homeostasis is an essential process for maintaining proper pH levels in the body, with alterations in this process potentially signaling pathology. While monitoring urine pH, blood gases and other assays can provide information on the overall systemic pH, it is desirable to get more localized knowledge to assist diagnosis. Various non-invasive methods have been developed with Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI now emerging as a particularly intriguing technology for detecting pH. In this review, we provide an overview of the paramagnetic and diamagnetic CEST probes available for producing pH maps, describe in depth the various methods to collect CEST MRI data and post-process the resulting images to create pH maps and describe how this has been applied for detecting renal injury, mapping the pH of tumors and monitoring the health of transplanted therapeutic cells. Finally, we will provide an outlook of the possibilities to translate this technology into patients.
A Spatio-Temporal Mining Approach for Enhancing Satellite Data Availability: A Case Study on Blue Green Algae

Satellite imagery provides geospatial data, generally terabytes in size. Due to their cost effectiveness and scalability, they are used in various large scale applications related to ecological monitoring. However, satellite data is prone to problems of data incompleteness owing to a number of issues such as cloud cover, fog, etc. In this paper, we conduct a detailed study on the 10 years of satellite data using Blue-Green Algae as a case study. Blue-Green Algae (BGA) are a toxic phytoplankton which are now a worldwide phenomena and a concern to various public authorities. We first illustrate the data incompleteness problem in our dataset with respect to BGA, and then formulate this problem using time-series spatio-temporal data mining approach that harnesses similarities among lakes with respect to BGA manifestation. We evaluate our approach through experimental studies from 99 lakes in the southeastern United States. Our experiment shows that our approach is an effective method to address data incompleteness in the BGA domain.
Synthesis of Enantioenriched Allylic Silanes via Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling

An asymmetric Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling has been developed to prepare enantioenriched allylic silanes. This enantioselective reductive alkenylation proceeds under mild conditions and exhibits good functional group tolerance. The chiral allylic silanes prepared here undergo a variety of stereospecific transformations, including intramolecular Hosomi-Sakurai reactions, to set vicinal stereogenic centers with excellent transfer of chirality.
Equilibrium theory for binary solvent vapor recovery by pressure swing adsorption: conceptual process design for separation of the lighter component

A simple equilibrium theory has been formulated soley in terms of wave interactions for binary pressure swing adsorption-solvent vapor recovery (PSA-SVR). An analytic resolution of all the ensuing wave interactions, including shock wave interactions with compressive simple waves, has been obtained for the case of the separation of the lighter impurity, i.e. the case of recovering the lighter impurity during the feed step, while obtaining a stream enriched in the heavier impurity during the purge step. Analytic expressions have also been obtained for all the key process performance indices. Two conceptual process designs have been carried out that demonstrate the utility of these simple expressions for rapid elucidation of binary PSA-SVR separation process heuristics, performance and feasibility.
Distal vein patch use and limb events after infragenicular prosthetic bypasses

Abstract Objective In the absence of suitable autologous vein, the use of prosthetic grafts for infragenicular bypasses in peripheral arterial disease has become standard practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether creating a vein patch at the distal anastomosis would further improve patency and freedom from major adverse limb events (MALEs). Furthermore, we sought to investigate whether the use of a distal vein patch (DVP) was associated with lower rates of acute limb ischemia (ALI) for those presenting with occluded prosthetic bypass graft. Methods The cases of all patients undergoing infragenicular prosthetic bypass grafts between January 2009 and July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics of the patients, clinical data, and outcomes (graft patency and MALEs) were collected. Patients were compared according to treatment group (DVP vs no DVP). A Cox regression analysis was used to analyze follow-up results. Results During the study period, a total of 373 patients underwent infragenicular bypass at our institution; of those, 93 (24.9%) had prosthetic grafts (DVP, 39; no DVP, 54). Overall, 92 (98.9%) patients were male; the mean age was 63.3 ± 6.6 years and did not differ between the two groups. Patients undergoing prosthetic bypass with DVP were more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (38.5% vs 14.8%; P = .009) and less likely to have chronic kidney disease (2.6% vs 20.4%; P = .011). Follow-up data were available for all patients for a median of 7.8 months (range, 1-89 months). After adjustment for differences in demographics and clinical data between the two groups, when outcomes were analyzed, MALEs were significantly lower in the DVP group (35.9% vs 57.4%; odds ratio [OR], 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.9; P = .041). Similarly, reintervention rates were significantly lower in the DVP group (30.8% vs 50.0%; OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9; P = .044). There was a trend toward higher primary patency in the DVP group (46.2% vs 35.2%; OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.7-3.5; P = .206) and lower rates of ALI after bypass occlusion (30.0% vs 42.9%; OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.8; P = .345). A Cox regression time-to-event analysis revealed late separation of freedom from MALEs for DVP relative to no DVP (log rank, P = .269). Conclusions In this evaluation of infragenicular prosthetic bypass grafts, the creation of a vein patch at the distal anastomosis was associated with lower reintervention rates and a trend toward improved primary patency and MALEs. Furthermore, for those presenting with occluded prosthetic bypass graft, the use of a DVP was associated with a trend toward lower rates of ALI.
Can Social Media Interaction and Message Features Influence Nonprofessional Investors' Perceptions of Firms?

We investigate the impact of social media messages on nonprofessional investors' assessments of management credibility and firm value. In a 2 x 2 x 2 between participants experiment with 276 participants recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk, we examine the joint effect of social media message vividness, valence, and micro-blogger influence on nonprofessional investors' assessments of management credibility and firm value. We find that when social media messages are pallid and negative (positive), high micro-blogger influence decreases (increases) nonprofessional investors' assessments of management credibility. In contrast, the effect is absent when messages are vivid. Further, we find that the effect of micro-blogger influence on nonprofessional investors' assessments of blogger credibility and management credibility is mediated by social media interactions. The assessment of management credibility, in turn, significantly impacts nonprofessional investors' firm valuation assessment. The results have imp...
Cytopathology of Myxoid Soft Tissue Lesions

Myxoid soft tissue lesions are a group of lesions that are ­distinguished by their unique and consistent ability to produce an overwhelming abundance of myxoid ground substance along with the proliferating cells that constitute the lesion. The myxoid material is composed of sulfated and nonsulfated glycosaminoglycans. It appears on H&E sections as a thin amorphous semitransparent or grey substance. Special stains such as alcian blue can confirm its presence and only sulfated glycosaminoglycans (chondroid substance) will be positive after treatment by hyaluronidase.