cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of an Abdominal Compression Device in Colonoscopy: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial

Background & Aims Looping is a common problem during colonoscopy that prolongs procedure time. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of ColoWrap, an external abdominal compression device, with respect to insertion time and other procedural outcomes. Methods We performed a prospective study of outpatients undergoing elective colonoscopy (40–80 years old; mean age, 60.5 years) at endoscopy facilities in the University of North Carolina Hospitals from April 2013 through March 2014. Subjects were randomly assigned to groups that received either ColoWrap (n = 175) or a sham device (control, n = 175) during colonoscopy. Colonoscopists and staff were blinded to the application. The primary outcome was cecal intubation time (CIT). Secondary outcomes included use of manual pressure and position change. Results The mean CIT was similar for the control and ColoWrap groups (6.69 vs 6.67 minutes; P = .98). There were no statistical differences in the frequency of manual pressure (45% for controls vs 37% for ColoWrap group, P = .13) or position changes (4% for controls vs 2% for ColoWrap group, P = .36). Among patients with body mass index between 30 and 40 kg/m 2 (n = 78), CIT was significantly lower for patients in the ColoWrap group (4.69 minutes) than controls (6.10 minutes) ( P = .03). Adverse events were similar between groups. Conclusions In patients undergoing elective colonoscopy, application of an external abdominal compression device did not improve CIT or affect the frequency of ancillary maneuvers. A possible benefit was observed in patients with body mass index between 30 and 40 kg/m 2 , but further studies are needed. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02025504.
Cervical disc replacement — emerging equivalency to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Cervical disc replacement has become an acceptable alternative to anterior cervical fusion for the surgical treatment of cervical spine spondylosis resulting in radiculopathy or myelopathy following anterior discectomy and decompression. This concise overview considers the current state of knowledge regarding the continued debate of the role of cervical disc replacement with an update in light of the latest clinical trial results. A literature review was performed identifying clinical trials pertaining to the use of cervical disc replacement compared to cervical discectomy and fusion. Single level disease and two level disease were considered. Outcome data from the major clinical trials was reviewed and salient points identified. With lengthier follow-up data becoming available, the equivalence of CDR in appropriately selected cases is becoming clear. This is chiefly manifested by reduced re-operation rates and reduced incidence of adjacent level disease in those treated with arthroplasty. Cervical disc replacement shows emerging equivalence in outcomes compared to the gold standard anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Further longer term results are anticipated to confirm this trend.
Effects of enzymatic modification on rheological properties of rice bran protein solution

In this paper,the rheological differences of rice bran protein solution(RBP-S ) and enzymatic modified rice bran protein solution(EMRBP-S ) were studied taking viscosity as indicator assayed by NDJ-5S viscometer.The results showed that both RBP-S and EMRBP-S belonged to non-Newtonian fluid.The rheology of EMRBP-S,however,changed in several aspects compared with that of RBP-S.The EMRBP-S' viscosity was less than that of RBP-S at different concentrations, and the differences were significant(p0.05 ) when the concentration was more than 100 g/L;The viscosity of EMRBP-S was lower than that of RBP-S(p0.05 ) at different speeds;At different temperature,the viscosity of EMRBP-S was obviously less than that of RBP-S(p0.05 ).The latter showed a sharp decrease when the temperature reached 100℃or more,while the former did not change significantly,and the difference in viscosity was very signific ant(p0.01 );When the pH value was equivalent to the value of pi,the EMRBP-S' viscosity was higher than that of RBP-S(p0.05 ), however,the latter'viscosity was larger than the former'(p0.05 ) at other pH values;During the 24 h storage,the viscosity of EMRBP-S was obviously smaller than that of RBP-S(p 0.05 );The viscosity of RBP-S decreased significantly(p0.05 ) after it was frozen and then was thawed,while the EMRBP-S' viscosity did not change obviously(p0.05 ).Based on the studies of this work,it could be concluded that enzymatic modification could improve the rheological properties of rice bran protein.
Quantitative studies in fetal electrocardiography: III. Comparison of breech and cephalic presentation data; endocrine basis for fetal rotation, a hypothesis

On the basis of qualitative and quantitative studies, it is shown that, while the diagnosis of cephalic presentation is quite possible from the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG), the diagnosis of breech presentation is restricted. Fetal ECG amplitudes are shown to be smaller for breech presentations in general as compared with cephalic presentations. An anomalous reversal of magnitudes of ECG values is shown for the breech presentation, with the S N values for the female, for example, being larger than for the male. Regression equations identify the phenomenon and provide a quantitative description. On the basis of these findings, a hypothesis is proposed for an endocrine basis for fetal rotation. An endocrine mechanism is proposed, which, if blocked, leads to persistent breech presentation and breech delivery.
A Gallery of Algebraic Curves

A great way to learn new mathematics is to work with examples. That's how we start. This chapter consists mostly of examples of algebraic curves in the real plane. A plane algebraic curve is defined to be the locus, or set of zeros, of a polynomial in two Cartesian variables with real coefficients. This may sound pretty special, but a surprisingly large number of familiar curves are exactly of this type. For example, many polar coordinate curves—lemniscates, limacons, all sorts of roses, folia, conchoids—are algebraic, as are many curves defined parametrically, such as Lissajous figures and the large assortment of curves obtained by rolling a circle of rational radius around a unit circle. Nearly all the curves the ancient Greeks knew are algebraic. So are many curves mechanically traced out by linkages. We begin this chapter with very simple algebraic curves, those defined by first and second degree polynomials. We then turn to curves of higher degree. CURVES OF DEGREE ONE AND TWO Definition 1.1 The degree of a monomial x m y n is m + n . The degree of a polynomial p ( x, y ) is the largest degree of its terms. The degree of a plane algebraic curve C is the degree of the lowest-degree polynomial defining C . Notation . In this book, we denote the set of all solutions of p ( x, y ) = 0 by C ( p ( x, y )) or by just C ( p ). DEGREE ONE The general form of a polynomial of degree one is Ax + By + C , where not both A and B are zero. Its zero set is a line, and conversely any line in ℝ 2 is the zero set of a polynomial of degree one.
The Use of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for Early Detection of Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Cardiac complications are the leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Two-dimensional echocardiography is the current standard for monitoring of LV systolic function in these patients, but it might not detect early systolic dysfunction. The current study examined the use of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction in DMD patients. A retrospective review of charts and offline strain analysis of transthoracic echocardiographic studies of DMD patients at our institution from April 2014 to January 2015 were performed and compared to age-matched healthy male subjects. Nineteen DMD patients (age range 12.6 ± 3.1 years) with normal ejection fraction and shortening fraction were compared with sixteen controls. The global circumferential strain was lower in DMD patients compared with controls (−14.7 ± 4.7 vs. −23.1 ± 2.9 %, respectively, p value: 0.001). Circumferential strain measured at basal, mid-ventricular and apical parasternal short-axis views was lower in DMD patients compared with controls. Segmental circumferential strain was lower in DMD patients in most segments compared with controls. The global longitudinal strain was lower in DMD patients compared with controls (−13.6 ± 5 vs. −18.8 ± 3 %, respectively, p value: 0.001). Segmental longitudinal strain measured in various segments was lower in DMD patients compared with controls. DMD patients can have occult cardiovascular dysfunction as shown by reduction in circumferential and longitudinal strain measurements with STE despite normal standard echocardiographic parameters. The clinical significance of early detection of cardiac dysfunction in these patients warrants further studies.
Novel Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Sepsis

With the recognition that there was still an unacceptably high mortality rate from bacterial sepsis despite the introduction of new, potent antimicrobial agents, many investigators examined the potential of immunotherapeutic strategies to supplement the conventional treatment of this condition. This effort was facili- tated by the elucidation of the structure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by both biochemists and bacterial geneticists. Lipid A and inner core sugar regions of the molecule were found to be widely shared by a diverse array of gram-negative bacilli, and that an outer polysaccharide region of the molecule, the 0 repeat region, provided serological specificity to the individual strains of bacteria.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the National Curriculum and Training Institute’s “Cognitive Life Skills” Program among Parolees Supervised by Pennsylvania’s Board of Probation & Parole

Recently, cognitive-behavioral approaches for rehabilitation have shown measured success for reducing recidivism rates among offenders after release from prison. The present analysis utilized data provided by Pennsylvania’s Board of Probation & Parole about offenders who completed the Cognitive Life Skills program developed by the National Curriculum and Training Institute. Propensity scoring techniques were employed to match a group of offenders who completed the program (treatment) with a statistically equivalent group who did not receive it (control). Matching variables included location and year of release, risk level, gender, age, race, offense category, and history of violent offending. General findings from a Cox proportional hazard model revealed gender, age, and criminal history impacted future incidents of recidivism, measured as re-incarceration. More importantly, the hazard model revealed, on average, a 24 % reduction in recidivism among the treatment group offenders and, on average, a 31 % reduction among high risk offenders exclusively. Policy implications will be discussed.
A case of central diabetes insipidus after ketamine infusion during an external to internal carotid artery bypass

Abstract Study Objective We report the first teenage case of ketamine-induced transient central diabetes insipidus. Case Summary The patient was an 18-year-old woman with moyamoya disease undergoing an external carotid to internal carotid bypass and given a low-dose ketamine infusion. After approximately 2 hours in the supine position, with 0.5 Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane, a propofol infusion at 50 μg/kg/min, a remifentanil infusion at 0.5 μg/kg/min, and a ketamine infusion at a dose of 10 μg/kg/min, this patient had an excessive urine output. Initially, the Foley catheter contained 50 mL of urine. She was given 1500 mL of crystalloid during the case but produced 2700 mL of urine output. Increasing urine output was noted 1 hour into the procedure around the time that the patient experienced a 2-minute Cushing-like response characterized by bradycardia and hypertension. Several I-Stat samples revealed a worsening hypernatremia. The decision was made to check the urine osmolality and treat the patient with 4 μg of desmopressin (DDAVP). Urine output began to slow down to a normal rate of 2 mg/kg/h, as the patient was transferred from the operating room to the computed tomographic (CT) scanning room for a CT and CT angiogram; both were unremarkable. The neurosurgery team waited until the next day to complete the procedure. The procedure was completed successfully and uneventfully the next day without a ketamine infusion as part of the general anesthetic plan. Discussion The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction score of 4 suggested a possible relationship between the patient's ketamine infusion and subsequent central diabetes insipidus. The 2 previous cases on this topic have suggested that ketamine, as an N -methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, inhibits vasopressin release in the neurohypophysis. Conclusion Urine output, urine osmolarity, and serum osmolarity should be monitored in patients given ketamine anesthetic; desmopressin should be present to prevent dangerous long-term sequela.
White Matter Injury in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Humans

The aim of this chapter is to give a succinct overview on white matter injury in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (a SAH) in humans. Different mechanisms lead to white matter injury in aSAH: early brain injury, delayed brain injury, and hydrocephalus. The problem of white matter injury after SAH is a relatively understudied topic, and little is known about the specific mechanisms that cause damage.
An analog SAT solver based on a deterministic dynamical system: (Invited paper)

Boolean Satisfiability (SAT), the first problem proven to be NP-complete, is intractable on digital computers based on the von Neumann architecture. An efficient SAT solver can benefit many applications such as artificial intelligence, circuit design, and functional verification. Recently, a SAT solver approach based on a deterministic, continuous-time dynamical system (CTDS) was introduced [1]. This approach shows polynomial analog time-complexity on even the hardest k-SAT (k ≥ 3) problem instances, but at an energy cost dependent on exponentially growing auxiliary variables. This paper reports a novel analog hardware SAT solver, AC-SAT, implementing the CTDS via incorporating novel, analog circuit design ideas. AC-SAT is intended to be used as a co-processor and is programmable for handling different problem specifications. Furthermore, with its modular design, AC-SAT can be readily extended to solve larger size problems. SPICE simulation results show that AC-SAT can indeed solve the SAT problems, and it has speedup factors of ∼104 on even the hardest 3-SAT problems, when compared with a state-of-the-art SAT solver on digital computers.
Review: Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE)

Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE) (Higher Education Resources; http://pulse-community.org) The impact from the 2011 Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education report led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science has rippled across the country, sparking curricular and institutional change. Part of this dissemination of ideas in and approaches to biology education took place thanks to the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE). This community of undergraduate life science instructors actively supports its members in efforts to bring about authentic, grassroots, departmental change at institutions of higher education. Program officers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute for General Medical Sciences initiated PULSE in 2012 …
Supporting Chinese Undergraduate Students in Transition at U.S. Colleges and Universities

The Chinese undergraduate student population currently represents 12.8% of all international students enrolled in the United States (Institute for International Education, 2015a). In an effort to understand the experiences of this population in their first year of college in the United States, a phenomenological study was conducted using a conceptual framework comprising Schlossberg’s Transition Model (Schlossberg, Waters, & Goodman, 1995) and the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) Model (Museus, 2014). Three transition types were identified – academic, social/personal, and linguistic – and participants’ preparation, sources of institutional support, and coping strategies for moving through these transitions were examined. Recommendations for practice include: multi-faceted, mandatory orientation programs; ongoing workshops and resources beyond orientation; and improvements to housing and residential life opportunities and experiences.
In search of the nuclear clock

A nuclear clock could outperform atomic clocks, but its development has turned out to be a formidable task, writes Marianna Safronova.
The Commutation Test and Chris Bacon’s Score for Source Code as a Framework for Film Music Pedagogy

This article lays out a theoretical foundation for the use of the commutation test as a film music-based pedagogical tool. The main titles sequence of Source Code (2011, directed by Duncan Jones) provides an effective example for classroom use, in which alternative musical accompaniments serve to reshape the viewing experience. An analysis of Chris Bacon’s original score for the sequence, supported by primary-source evidence, strengthens the instructional potential of this activity. Additionally, this essay provides a brief technical primer on how to prepare video clips for use in classroom teaching.
Some Basic Models Of Physical Systems

This chapter presents a collection of selected models of basic physical (mechanical and electrical) processes that have been routinely used in solving numerous applied engineering problems. While there are many well-known established areas appropriate for using as an introduction into applied mathematical modelling, the authors have chosen the following two topics : a) the mechanics of a material particle, including projectile ballistics, linear and nonlinear oscillations (Section 1), b) physical inverse problems, starting from Abel’s sliding particle to modern problems of computerized tomography (Section 2).
Heart disease in Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is a relatively common disorder of female development caused by loss of all or part of one sex chromosome. Because short stature and premature ovarian failure are cardinal features of the syndrome, pediatric endocrinologists have taken the lead in care for these girls. Congenital cardiovascular disease affects approximately 50% of individuals and is the major cause of premature mortality in adults. Unfortunately, teenage girls are often lost to follow up after discharge from pediatric clinic. This review describes the spectrum of cardiovascular defects in TS with emphasis on identifying patients at risk for aortic dissection/rupture. Updated consensus guidelines for cardiac screening and care are reviewed and genetic pathways implicated in Turner cardiovascular disease, including premature coronary artery disease, are discussed. This material is of particular importance because cardiac care for adults with TS appears seriously deficient at present.
Characterization of a [2Fe-2S] protein encoded in the iron-hydrogenase operon of Thermotoga maritima.

Thermotoga maritima grows optimally at 80 °C by fermenting carbohydrates to organic acids, CO2, and H2. The production of H2 is catalyzed by a cytoplasmic, heterotrimeric (αβγ) Fe-hydrogenase. This is encoded by three genes, hydC (γ), hydB (β) and hydA (α), organized within a single operon that contains five additional open reading frames (ORFs). The recombinant form of the first ORF of the operon, TM1420, was produced in Escherichia coli. It has a molecular mass of 8537±3 Da as determined by mass spectrometry, in agreement with the predicted amino acid sequence. Purified TM1420 is red in color, has a basic pI (8.8), and contains 1.9 Fe atoms/mol that are present as a single [2Fe-2S] cluster, as determined by UV-visible absorption and EPR spectroscopy. The protein contains five cysteine residues, but their arrangement is characteristic of a subunit or domain rather than of a ferredoxin-type protein. The reduction potential of the [2Fe-2S] cluster (−233 mV at pH 6.5 and 25 °C) is pH independent but decreases linearly with temperature to −296 mV (−1.15 mV/°C) at 80 °C. TM1420 is not reduced, in vitro, by the Fe-hydrogenase nor by a pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase. The protein was unstable at 70 °C under anaerobic conditions with a half-life of ~30 min. The basic nature of TM1420, its instability at the growth temperature of T. maritima, and the unusual spacing of its cysteine residues suggest that this protein does not function as a ferredoxin-type electron carrier for the Fe-hydrogenase. Instead, TM1420 is more likely part of a thermostable multi-protein complex that is involved in metal cluster assembly of the hydrogenase holoenzyme.
Data Theft: A Prototypical Insider Threat

The author is the lead information security architect at one of the United States’ largest banks. In this paper he assesses the threat of confidential data leakage, focusing on its most virulent form – insider data theft attacks. Technological and procedural controls typically found in enterprise environments are reviewed and found inadequate. Additional controls are proposed, and several areas for additional technical research are also suggested.
Physiopathology of Asphyxia and Its Staging

Brain changes occur in the newborn suffering insufficient blood oxygenation at birth. Inadequate oxygenation of the brain may cause different types of lesions, depending on the nature and duration of the stress as well as the degree of maturity of the fetus. If anoxia affects babies 37 weeks or older, lesions caused by asphyxia will be observed in the cortex or subcortical area of the brain. In premature babies, asphyxia may create lesions in the periventricular area and the matrix. Interestingly, the immature brain is more resistant to asphyxia than the adult brain, but the reason for this difference is unknown.
Managing Compliance: Types of Power in Juvenile and Adult Probation and Parole Supervision

Power is a central feature of correctional supervision, but almost no research has examined the types of power employed by probation and parole officers to encourage compliance with the conditions ...
Complications in the Coiling of Cerebral Aneurysms

Understanding the various complications that can occur during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is important so that measures can be taken to prevent these complications from occurring. Having a standard plan or checklist for managing complications that occur during or following neuroendovascular procedures is important to decrease the risk of neurological deficits resulting from these complications. In this chapter, we review the causes, preventative strategies, and management strategies of complications which occur during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.
Desarrollo de una bebida a partir de almendras dulces (Prunus dulcis)

A drink was developed from sweet almonds (Prunus dulcis) using 3 factors at different levels: almond: water ratio (1: 3, 1: 4, 1: 5); percentage of soluble solids (7 and 10o Brix) and sterilization time (15 and 25 minutes). The beverages were subjected to a sensory analysis where the color, odor, taste and consistency were evaluated, for which a completely randomized block design (DBCA) with 50 untrained panelists was used; using a verbal hedonic scale with 7 points.The data was processed in the Statgraphics Centurion plus v.16 software. In this way, the optimized formula was determined (almond dilution: water of 1: 5, percentage of soluble solids of 10 ° Brix and a sterilization time of 25min at 121 ° C), which obtained a higher level of liking (average of 5.6 out of 7).To this treatment, the physicochemical, proximal chemical analysis, mineral analysis, and finally the commercial sterility analysis were carried out, guaranteeing that an innocuous beverage was obtained. Finally, a preference test was carried out for ordering with almond drinks from two commercial brands and with the formula optimized, observing that it presents a greater preference in terms of flavor, color and consistency.
Impact-bonding with aluminum, silver, and gold microparticles: Toward understanding the role of native oxide layer

Abstract Bonding during cold spray has been phenomenologically associated with the breakup of the native surface oxide layer to produce intimate metallic contacts. Here, we resolve the instant of bonding for metals both with and without a significant native oxide, through direct in-situ observation of individual microparticles. We show that fracture of the native oxide layer is not the only physical barrier to impact adhesion; even noble gold must exhibit unstable jetting upon impact in order to attain bonding. However, surface oxide certainly presents an additional barrier to bonding and can increase the critical velocity by a large factor.
Chapter 18 – Molecular Basis of Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary pathology includes a large spectrum of both neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases that affect the lung. Many of these diseases are the result of the unusual relationship of the lung with the outside world. Every breath that a human takes brings the outside world into the body in the form of infectious agents, organic and inorganic particles, and noxious agents of many types. Although the lung has many defense mechanisms to protect itself from these insults, these protections are not infallible and so lung pathology arises. In many cases, host cells and cellular products participate in the pathogenesis of the injury. Damage to the lung is particularly important given the role of the lung in the survival of the organism. Any impairment of lung function has widespread effects throughout the body, since all organs depend upon the lungs for oxygen. Pulmonary pathology encompasses adverse changes in the lung tissues and the mechanisms through which these occur. What follows is a review of pulmonary pathology and an overview of the current state of knowledge about the features and molecular pathogenesis of many key lung diseases.
64 APATHETIC HYPERTHYROIDISM AND THE HEART.

Purpose Apathetic hyperthyroidism, first reported by Lahey in 1931, is a syndrome defined as absent clinical evidence of excess thyroid hormones or a hyperadrenergic state, such as palpitations, anxiety, tremor, heat intolerance, and diaphoresis, but which instead is dominated by apathy, inactivity, and, on occasion, epigastric discomfort with vomiting. It is thought to be a rare form of hyperthyroidism confined to the elderly. During August 2006, we diagnosed five cases of apathetic hyperthyroidism in middle-aged African American (AA) patients, who came to our attention because of their cardiovascular symptoms and signs. Methods and Results During a consecutive 28-day period, we diagnosed apathetic hyperthyroidism in four AA patients (58 ± 7 years; two men, two women) who were admitted to the Cardiology Service at the Regional Medical Center and one AA outpatient (30-year-old male) referred to the Cardiology Clinic. The evaluation of these patients revealed atrial arrhythmias (two with atrial flutter/fibrillation, one of whom had received several cardioversions over the past 2 years); congestive heart failure (CHF; three patients, of whom two were repeatedly hospitalized in the recent past); or atypical chest pain that proved to be epigastric discomfort associated with persistent vomiting (two patients). Echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction was found in four patients and reduced ejection fraction (EF Conclusions Apathetic hyperthyroidism can occur in middle-aged AA patients who do not have hyperkinetic symptoms and signs but who present with abnormalities in cardiac rhythm, ventricular diastolic and/or systolic function, or CHF. Such cardiovascular manifestations represent pathophysiologic markers of hyperthyroidism even when thyroxine levels are not frankly above the upper end of normal and should assist, not hinder, making this diagnosis.
Measurement of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using High Transition Temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) based sensors hold promise for magnetic detection of magnetically tagged biological cells. In this work, a high transition temperature (high-T C ) direct-coupled SQUID micro-magnetometer was fabricated from a 30-nm-thick YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (YBCO) thin film. The SQUID was directly written with irradiation from a finely focused helium ion beam without milling or etching any material. An experiment estimating the sensitivity of the magnetometer to magnetic nanoparticles was conducted that revealed the magnetic moment calculated based on the measurement of the SQUID magnetometer is consistent to that obtained from susceptibility measurements.
Beta-Blockers for Migraine Prevention: a Review Article

This review seeks to establish the role of beta-blockers (B-adrenergic receptor antagonists) in the pathophysiology of migraine prophylaxis, compare the efficacy of this group of medications with other common prophylactic agents, and also explore the relative benefits of using individual beta-blockers compared with others. New evidence supports beta-blockers having several mechanisms of action in migraine prophylaxis. Numerous trials reveal significant clinical differences between various beta-blockers in migraine prophylaxis and that commonly used doses of beta-blockers are not optimal. There are also updated guidelines regarding beta-blocker use in migraine prophylaxis. Beta-blockers appear to have several mechanisms of action in migraine prophylaxis. We found extensive evidence supporting beta-blockers being effective in migraine prophylaxis. These are often not used at optimum doses; however, when they are, they compare generally favorably compared with other classes of medications. More recent evidence appears to show a relatively favorable side effect profile of beta-blockers compared with previous reports (Barron et al. IJC 163:3572–3579, 2013).
Mechanisms of cell-cell interaction in oligodendrogenesis and remyelination after stroke

White matter damage is a clinically important aspect of several central nervous system diseases, including stroke. Cerebral white matter primarily consists of axonal bundles ensheathed with myelin secreted by mature oligodendrocytes, which play an important role in neurotransmission between different areas of gray matter. During the acute phase of stroke, damage to oligodendrocytes leads to white matter dysfunction through the loss of myelin. On the contrary, during the chronic phase, white matter components promote an environment, which is favorable for neural repair, vascular remodeling, and remyelination. For effective remyelination to take place, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) play critical roles by proliferating and differentiating into mature oligodendrocytes, which help to decrease the burden of axonal injury. Notably, other types of cells contribute to these OPC responses under the ischemic conditions. This mini-review summarizes the non-cell autonomous mechanisms in oligodendrogenesis and remyelination after white matter damage, focusing on how OPCs receive support from their neighboring cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Cell Interactions In Stroke.
Gvoke HypoPen: An Auto-Injector Containing an Innovative, Liquid-Stable Glucagon Formulation for Use in Severe Acute Hypoglycemia.

The use of insulin to decrease complications associated with diabetes currently focuses on attempts to control elevated glucose levels. This has often been balanced with a calculated risk potential for over-treatment and resultant hypoglycemia. This subsequent hypoglycemia can have a greater effect on morbidity and mortality for patients with type 1 diabetes, who are reliant on exogenous insulin, and extreme hypoglycemic events are directly associated with substantial overall health care costs (1). Current therapy for acute, severe hypoglycemia includes a glucagon emergency kit (GEK), which is effective when used correctly. However, training on how to appropriately assemble the GEK is rare, and administration of emergency glucagon can be complicated for the inexperienced. Glucagon, a peptide hormone normally produced endogenously in the pancreas, acts as an agonist at the glucagon receptor, initiating a pathway resulting in the conversion of glycogen in the liver to the more accessible form of glucose that can be released into the blood. Exogenous glucagon is currently available in a powder that must be reconstituted in solution immediately before intramuscular or intravenous delivery due to its instability in solution (2,3 …
Sources for Altitude Illness Information for Trekkers in the Himalayas.

Abstract Introduction Educational materials are important tools in the prevention of altitude illness among individuals traveling to high altitude destinations. Travelers obtain information about altitude illness from many different educational resources. Our objective was to determine which educational resources for altitude illness prevention were used by trekkers on the Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Circuit. We also sought to compare which resources were used by individuals from different geographic areas. Methods A survey was administered to trekkers attending an altitude illness information lecture at the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic. Trekkers provided their basic demographic information and educational resources they used while preparing for the trek. Comparisons were made between trekkers based on the resources they used, as well as their age and country of origin. Results Of 1075 surveys administered, 906 were completed. Internet sources were most commonly used by trekkers (49%), followed by friends or family (22%), and healthcare providers (18%). The age of participants using Internet sources was 36 ± 12 y (mean ± SD), lower than those who did not use Internet sources (39 ± 14 y, P Conclusions In this group of trekkers in the Himalayas, the Internet was the most common source of information on altitude illness prevention and management. Trekkers using Internet sources were slightly younger than non-Internet users.
Psychological Processes Underlying Effects of Alcohol Marketing on Youth Drinking.

Objective:Evidence increasingly suggests that alcohol marketing plays a significant role in facilitating underage drinking. This article presents a review of empirical studies and relevant theoreti...
Corruption Information and Vote Share: A Meta-Analysis and Lessons for Experimental Design

Debate persists on whether voters hold politicians accountable for corruption. Numerous experiments have examined whether informing voters about corrupt acts of politicians decreases their vote share. Meta-analysis demonstrates that corrupt candidates are punished by zero percentage points across field experiments, but approximately 32 points in survey experiments. I argue this discrepancy arises due to methodological differences. Small effects in field experiments may stem partially from weak treatments and noncompliance, and large effects in survey experiments are likely from social desirability bias and the lower and hypothetical nature of costs. Conjoint experiments introduce hypothetical costly trade-offs, but it may be best to interpret results in terms of realistic sets of characteristics rather than marginal effects of particular characteristics. These results suggest that survey experiments may provide point estimates that are not representative of real-world voting behavior. However, field experimental estimates may also not recover the “true” effects due to design decisions and limitations.
Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective To define the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a population-based cohort of men with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Data pertaining to demographics, ED, and potential confounding diagnosis were extracted from a comprehensive medical record system for a population-based cohort of men with PsA and an age-matched male comparator cohort. Cumulative incidence of ED adjusted for competing risk of death was compared between the 2 cohorts. Results There were 128 age-matched pairs of men with PsA and without PsA in the described cohorts. At baseline, there was a 7% prevalence of ED in men with PsA prior to diagnosis compared to a 3% prevalence of ED in the comparator cohort (P = 0.16). After PsA diagnosis/index date, diagnosis with PsA was associated with an increased risk of ED (age-adjusted HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.79–2.68), but this association did not reach statistical significance. This was based on 24 cases of ED in the men with PsA and 18 cases within the comparator cohort. No confounding factors or ED treatment strategies differed significantly between men with PsA and ED and comparators with ED. Conclusion Men with PsA may have an increased risk of ED, which was detected but likely underpowered in this study. Whether this difference is secondary to higher prevalence of traditional risk factors of ED in men with PsA compared to the general population will require further study.
I/P Transducer Application of Model-Based Wear Detection and Estimation using Steady State Conditions

For modern systems, wear estimation plays an important role in preventing failure, scheduling maintenance, and improving utility. Wear estimation relies on a series of sensors, measuring the state of the system. In some components, the sensors used to estimate wear may not be fast enough to capture brief transient states that are indicative of wear. For this reason it is beneficial to be capable of detecting and estimating the extent of component wear using steady-state measurements. This paper details a method for estimating component wear using steady-state measurements, and describes a case study of a current/pressure (I/P) transducer. I/P Transducer nominal and off-nominal behavior are characterized using a physics- based model, and validated against expected component behavior. This model is used to determine steady state responses to many common I/P Transducer wear modes, isolate the ac- tive wear mode, and estimate its magnitude.
Assessing Perspectives on Systemic Racism in an Academic Hospital Medical Group: The ARCH Project

Background Wisconsin residents experience significant racial inequities in health outcomes. Objectives The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Division of Hospital Medicine wanted to assess providers' perspectives on systemic racism and gauge their receptiveness to participating in anti-racism training, in conjunction with development and implementation of anti-racism curriculum. Methods Existing anti-racism curriculum was adapted to be delivered remotely. Division providers were asked to complete a 9-question survey at the beginning of the curriculum. Results At baseline, a majority of respondents believed that racial health disparities exist and should be discussed through employer-sponsored training. Respondents generally did not feel confident in their abilities to address racism. Conclusions Providers were supportive of anti-racism training in the workplace and feel it is congruent with the public health mission of hospital medicine physicians.
Adaptive Self-Explication of Multiattribute Preferences

Abstract The authors propose a Web-based adaptive self-explicated approach for multiattribute preference measurement (conjoint analysis) with a large number (ten or more) of attributes. The proposed approach overcomes some of the limitations of previous self-explicated approaches. The authors develop a computer-based self-explicated approach that breaks down the attribute importance question into a ranking of attributes followed by a sequence of constant-sum paired comparison questions. In the proposed approach, the questions are chosen adaptively for each respondent to maximize the information elicited from each paired comparison question. Unlike the traditional self-explicated approach, the proposed approach provides standard errors for attribute importance. In two studies involving digital cameras and laptop computers described on 12 and 14 attributes, respectively, the authors find that the ability to correctly predict validation choices of the proposed adaptive approach is substantially and significa...
Impact of α-modifications on the activity of triazole bisphosphonates as geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors.

Abstract Agents that inhibit the enzyme geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGDPS) have anti-cancer activity and our prior studies have investigated the structure-function relationship for a family of isoprenoid triazole bisphosphonates as GGDPS inhibitors. To further explore this structure-function relationship, a series of novel α-modified triazole phosphonates was prepared and evaluated for activity as GGDPS inhibitors in enzyme and cell-based assays. These studies revealed flexibility at the α position of the bisphosphonate derivatives with respect to being able to accommodate a variety of substituents without significantly affecting potency compared to the parent unsubstituted inhibitor. However, the monophosphonate derivatives lacked activity. These studies further our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the triazole-based GGDPS inhibitors and lay the foundation for future studies evaluating the impact of α-modifications on in vivo activity.
Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a tumor of the bile ducts that usually presents with biliary obstruction and has a poor prognosis. The treatment of CCA is challenging as the tumor is usually diagnosed late and the treatments are not very effective except when complete surgical resection is possible. In carefully selected patients, liver transplant can be a curative therapy. In the majority of cases, complete surgical resection is not possible and palliation is the mainstay of treatment. Stenting, using plastic or metallic stents, allows for biliary drainage. Photodynamic therapy plays a role in palliation and might play a role in adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy. While radiation and chemotherapy can be beneficial, newer ablative techniques and targeted chemotherapies are promising.
Investigating Predictors of Preserved Cognitive Function in Older Women Using Machine Learning: Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.

BACKGROUND Identification of factors that may help to preserve cognitive function in late life could elucidate mechanisms and facilitate interventions to improve the lives of millions of people. However, the large number of potential factors associated with cognitive function poses an analytical challenge. OBJECTIVE We used data from the longitudinal Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) and machine learning to investigate 50 demographic, biomedical, behavioral, social, and psychological predictors of preserved cognitive function in later life. METHODS Participants in WHIMS and two consecutive follow up studies who were at least 80 years old and had at least one cognitive assessment following their 80th birthday were classified as cognitively preserved. Preserved cognitive function was defined as having a score ≥39 on the most recent administration of the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICSm) and a mean score across all assessments ≥39. Cognitively impaired participants were those adjudicated by experts to have probable dementia or at least two adjudications of mild cognitive impairment within the 14 years of follow-up and a last TICSm score < 31. Random Forests was used to rank the predictors of preserved cognitive function. RESULTS Discrimination between groups based on area under the curve was 0.80 (95%-CI-0.76-0.85). Women with preserved cognitive function were younger, better educated, and less forgetful, less depressed, and more optimistic at study enrollment. They also reported better physical function and less sleep disturbance, and had lower systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, and blood glucose levels. CONCLUSION The predictors of preserved cognitive function include demographic, psychological, physical, metabolic, and vascular factors suggesting a complex mix of potential contributors.
Reconstruction from X-Rays

According to T.J. Rivlin (these Proc.) “The problem of optimal recovery is that of approximating as effectively as possible a given map of any function known to belong to a certain class from limited and possibly error-contaminated information about it.” More precisely, in the scheme envisioned by Rivlin there are given spaces X of possible objects, Y of possible data, and Z of possible reconstructions of certain features of the objects.
Collaborative human-machine analysis using a controlled natural language

A key aspect of an analyst's task in providing relevant information from data is the reasoning about the implications of that data, in order to build a picture of the real world situation. This requires human cognition, based upon domain knowledge about individuals, events and environmental conditions. For a computer system to collaborate with an analyst, it must be capable of following a similar reasoning process to that of the analyst. We describe ITA Controlled English (CE), a subset of English to represent analyst's domain knowledge and reasoning, in a form that it is understandable by both analyst and machine. CE can be used to express domain rules, background data, assumptions and inferred conclusions, thus supporting human-machine interaction. A CE reasoning and modeling system can perform inferences from the data and provide the user with conclusions together with their rationale. We present a logical problem called the "Analysis Game", used for training analysts, which presents “analytic pitfalls” inherent in many problems. We explore an iterative approach to its representation in CE, where a person can develop an understanding of the problem solution by incremental construction of relevant concepts and rules. We discuss how such interactions might occur, and propose that such techniques could lead to better collaborative tools to assist the analyst and avoid the “pitfalls”.
PREDICTION MARKETS AND CONTRACT DESIGN

Traditionally, the main function of prediction markets (PMs) has been to provide information about probabilities for various events. Good information requires a well-functioning market, which in turn depends on sufficient liquidity and a sufficient number of market participants. While many of the early PMs have been of a more experimental nature, with students or other test groups as market participants, a natural assumption is that future PMs must be able to attract market participants to be successful. We assume that four main groups of stakeholders face potential gains from a well-functioning PM contract: The exchange launching the contract; hedgers; gamblers; and users of the market information, whether this is a corporation or society as a whole. In this paper, we analyze different design characteristics of PM contracts, mainly in light of previous studies of futures markets. A relatively extensive literature exists on the design of futures contracts, and a number of criteria have been established to predict whether a contract is likely to be successful. We use this to provide some recommendations for contract design, in order to develop contracts that maximize the gain for the four groups of stakeholders.