cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear DNA-dependent DNA polymerases in human brain.

— DNA-dependent DNA polymerases were partially purified from nuclei of cells from the occipital lobe of human brain. The purification procedure included successive DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose column chromatography, gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation steps. Four enzymes corresponding to DNA polymerases-α, β, γ, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase were found. Brain DNA polymerases could be differentiated from one another by size, template preferences and sensitivity to sulfhydryl blocking agents.
Echocardiographic characterization of left ventricular apical hypoplasia accompanied by a patent ductus arteriosus

Left ventricular (LV) apical hypoplasia is an unusual, recently identified cardiomyopathy, whose clinical course is uncertain. In this report, we describe a case of this cardiomyopathy occurring in an asymptomatic 50-year-old male with a remote history of a surgically corrected patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), primarily using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to illustrate the imaging characteristics. This patient had been referred to our institution for an abnormal electrocardiogram, and TTE subsequently (Figure 1) revealed a dilated left ventricle with moderately to severely reduced function; LV ejection fraction was 30% by two- and three-dimensional quantification. The left ventricle had a spherical appearance with a thin-walled, truncated, and akinetic distal LV. The right ventricle appeared elongated and was noted to wrap around the distal left ventricle, but right ventricular systolic function was normal. There were no significant valvular abnormalities, and no evidence of residual PDA flow. Subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging confirmed these findings (Figure 1). The TTE and CMR findings seen in this patient are consistent with LV apical hypoplasia. Until now, this cardiomyopathy has been described only as an isolated congenital anomaly primarily using CMR and cardiac computed tomography. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of LV apical hypoplasia in conjunction with another congenital cardiac abnormality, and the findings demonstrate that the distinctive appearance of this cardiomyopathy can be easily identified with echocardiography. As more cases are recognized and patients are followed over time, the natural history and optimal treatment for this cardiomyopathy may be further elucidated.
PIGEONS' CHOICES BETWEEN FIXED-RATIO AND GEOMETRICALLY ESCALATING SCHEDULES

When pigeons choose between situations that provide access to food reinforcers after a delay, choice is better predicted by computations based upon sums-of-reciprocals distances from the point of choice to each of the next three or four reinforcers in series than by computations of optimality based upon mean rates of reinforcement. The present experiments were designed to examine the generality of this finding. Pigeons were exposed to concurrent-chains schedules in which one brief initial link led to a fixed-ratio schedule (either 15, 30, or 60, depending on the condition), and the other link led to a geometrically increasing progressive-ratio schedule whose rate of escalation was systematically varied across conditions. Each combination of fixed-ratio size and escalation rate of the progressive schedule was assessed at two different levels of deprivation (75% and 80% of free-feeding weights). Computations based upon the sums-of-reciprocals principle, treating ratio schedule sizes as proportional to delays, predicted and described the pigeons' median switch points better than those based on arithmetic means. Neither the distance to the next reinforcer (as implied by some molecular analyses) nor molar optimization (as described by arithmetic means) were as successful at accounting for patterns of choice in these situations. Hence, it appears that the birds' choices were most influenced by the relative proximity of a choice to several reinforcers in a series of reinforcers, with each of the less proximal reinforcers having relatively less influence over the current choice.
An efficient linearity test for on-chip high speed ADC and DAC using loop-back

Our method extracts the linearity of on-chip high speed data converters with minimum area overhead. With a loop-back setup in the presence of noise, differential nonlinearities (DNLs) and integral nonlinearities (INLs) of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) can be extracted by the proposed method. Our approach exploits the fact that the loop-back output distribution due to noise is distorted by nonlinearities of the ADC, but not by those of the DAC. We first fully characterize the ADC in the loop-back system, exclusive of the DAC. Then, the DAC is characterized using the extracted nonlinearities of the ADC. Numerical simulation shows a maximum error of less than ±0.1 LSB for the ADC and the DAC.
Software lending library

Cornell University has a rather unique approach in microcomputer user support. In the spring of 1983, we ordered several software packages for our office IBM personal computers. At the time we also purchased all the microcomputers for university departments. Because of this situation, we were in the public eye of campus microcomputer users. People would inquire about our software as they saw it in our office. How did we like it? Could they try it? Remember, software is usually purchased for a specific machine. How did we provide support to our campus users and remain legal?Since we were such a public area we thought that something like a lending library might be a feasible option. We drafted policies on how we would check out software packages. A deposit, either a check or a departmental account number, would be required. People could check out a package for a week at a time, and they would have to sign a form stating that they had no intention of copying either the software or the documentation. We then drafted a letter to the dozen or so companies whose software we had and asked their permission to let users try the software. Enclosed with each letter was a copy of the form users would sign indicating the restrictions and limitations of use. Much to our delight, most companies responded very favorably to our request.After this initial success, I decided to carry the library one step further. We supported Apple, IBM, and DEC microcomputers for the campus and subscribed to a number of computer magazines. I selected about 100 packages that had received good reviews from campus users and/or magazines. These companies were contacted and asked if they would participate in our library by supplying us with a package. If this was not possible, did they have a demonstration package, or could they give us some kind of a discount? The result is a three-page list of software housed in the Lending Library. The list is updated monthly (some packages arrive for a 30-60 day trial), because of new additions. Most companies are more than happy to participate and approve of our attempts to keep materials secure.Many of the software companies were unsure how to respond to this novel idea. Since the inception of the Lending Library, several universities and the Cornell Medical College in New York City have contacted us for guidance and advice on how “to get started.” It is certainly worth the time and effort to begin such a library and support the users in this way.
Determination of the Electron Temperature of a Hot Gold Plasma Utilizing High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of the L-Band Emission

Summary form only given. The X-ray emission of high-temperature plasmas contains a wealth of information about the plasma conditions. One of the plasma parameters of interest is the electron temperature which can be determined from the distribution of the ionic species in the plasma. Each ion charge distribution emits a characteristic X-ray spectrum and, thus, high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy provides a tool to observe this characteristic "fingerprint". We present survey spectra from highly charged gold ions which have been measured at the Livermore SuperEBIT facility. These survey spectra show that measuring the L-shell emission of highly charged gold ions can be used for the determination of the electron temperature in high-temperature gold plasmas, such as laser-generated plasmas of gold hohlraums and halfraums, respectively
Coalescence of fullerene cages: Topology, energetics, and molecular dynamics simulation

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University,Houston, Texas 77005~Received 21 June 2002; published 18 November 2002!Sequential atomic rearrangements leading to the coalescence of fullerene cages or tubes are derived bytopological analysis. Qualitative reasoning assists the search for the minimum-energy path, which consists ofa jump-to-contact formation of covalent bonds between the separate cages and the following ‘‘plastic ﬂow’’ byexclusively Stone-Wales bond rotations. A connecting neck forms and grows gradually until the separateclusters are completely fused into a coherent unit. The most favorable path is determined by comparison of thecalculated energies and is further supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Results are presented forC
Data Filtering Utilizing Window Indexing

Since its introduction in 2001, the Skyline Query has been a useful addition to database management systems (DBMS) by returning best-fit results to a user. The skyline query is also a relevant area of research in mathematics as the maximum vector problem and multi-objective optimization. In this paper, we analyze both the Partitioning and Filtering (P&F) method and a new proposed method called Iterated Window Indexing. Next, we also propose two new methods, comprising combinations of previous solutions and Window Indexing. We then show that our hybrid methods are suitable for many cases and perform up to 10 times better than P&F and up to 8 times better than the Block Nested Loop (BNL) algorithm for computing skyline points.
Distance Threshold for the Effect of Urban Agriculture on Elevated Self-reported Malaria Prevalence in Accra, Ghana

Irrigated urban agriculture (UA), which has helped alleviate poverty and increase food security in rapidly urbanizing sub-Saharan Africa, may inadvertently support malaria vectors. Previous studies have not identified a variable distance effect on malaria prevalence from UA. This study examines the relationships between self-reported malaria information for 3,164 women surveyed in Accra, Ghana, in 2003, and both household characteristics and proximity to sites of UA. Malaria self-reports are associated with age, education, overall health, socioeconomic status, and solid waste disposal method. The odds of self-reported malaria are significantly higher for women living within 1 km of UA compared with all women living near an irrigation source, the association disappearing beyond this critical distance. Malaria prevalence is often elevated in communities within 1 km of UA despite more favorable socio-economic characteristics than communities beyond 1 km. Neighborhoods within 1 km of UA should be reconsidered as a priority for malaria-related care.
Highly sensitive biosensing of phenolic compounds using bioaccumulation/chronoamperometry at a tyrosinase electrode

Biocatalytic accumulation is used to greatly enhance the sensitivity of tyrosinase enzyme electrodes for phenolic compounds. By allowing the enzymatic reaction to proceed for different time periods (under open-circuit conditions) it is possible to accumulate the quinone product near the transducer surface. The subsequent chronoamperometric response is substantially higher than analogous bioassays without accumulation. For example, with 3 min accumulation, a 28-fold signal amplification is observed. Assays of microliter (40 μL) samples are reported, yielding a detection limit of 2 × 10−8M (88 pg) catechoi following a 3 min accumulation. The influence of various experimental variables is explored. Applicability to bioassay of relevant environmental samples is illustrated.
Real-time tool wear estimation using recurrent neural networks

This paper presents a robust strategy for estimating tool wear in metal cutting operations. The proposed estimation algorithm consists of two components: a recurrent neural network to model the tool wear dynamics, and a robust observer to estimate the tool wear from this model using measurements of cutting force. It is shown that the algorithm ensures that the tool wear estimation error is uniformly bounded in the presence of bounded unmodeled effects, and that the ultimate bound on this error can be made as small as desired. The proposed approach is applied to the problem of estimating tool wear in turning and is shown to provide wear estimates which are in close agreement with experimental results.
One-Stage Repair of a Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Infrarenal Aortic Occlusion and Visceral Artery Stenosis Using a Modification of the Standard Atriofemoral Bypass Technique: A Case Report

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) are associated infrequently with visceral artery occlusive disease and rarely with aortoiliac occlusion. The presence of occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta limits the options for visceral artery perfusion and spinal cord protection by means of distal aortic perfusion and, consequently, increases the risk for postoperative complications and mortality. Significant stenoses of the visceral arteries further add to the complexity of the repair. We describe a one-stage repair of a type I TAAA associated with infrarenal aortic occlusion and significant stenoses of all visceral arteries using a modified distal perfusion technique.
Integrated Instrumentation and Sensor Systems Enabling Condition-Based Maintenance of Aerospace Equipment

The objective of the work reported herein was to use a systems engineering approach to guide development of integrated instrumentation/sensor systems (IISS) incorporating communications, interconnections, and signal acquisition. These require enhanced suitability and effectiveness for diagnostics and health management of aerospace equipment governed by the principles of Condition-based maintenance (CBM). It is concluded that the systems engineering approach to IISS definition provided clear benefits in identifying overall system requirements and an architectural framework for categorizing and evaluating alternative architectures, relative to a bottom up focus on sensor technology blind to system level user needs. CBM IISS imperatives identified include factors such as tolerance of the bulk of aerospace equipment operational environments, low intrusiveness, rapid reconfiguration, and affordable life cycle costs. The functional features identified include interrogation of the variety of sensor types and interfaces common in aerospace equipment applications over multiplexed communication media with flexibility to allow rapid system reconfiguration to adapt to evolving sensor needs. This implies standardized interfaces at the sensor location (preferably to open standards), reduced wire/connector pin count in harnesses (or their elimination through use of wireless communications).
Prey Selection by Three Mesopredators that are Thought to Prey on Eastern Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo sylvestris) in the Pineywoods of East Texas

Predation, especially during the nesting and poult-rearing seasons, may inhibit Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) recruitment in east Texas. Numerous authors cite Lynx rufus (Bobcat), Canis latrans (Coyote), and Procyon lotor (Raccoon) as predators of Wild Turkey. Consequently, we investigated prey selection of these 3 common mesopredators using scat analysis. We also investigated prey-population dynamics using capture-mark- recapture techniques for small mammals (Rodentia), and spotlight surveys and track plate counts for Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail). We found no evidence that meso- predators preyed upon Wild Turkeys. Small mammals and lagomorphs were the primary components of mesopredator diets. Small-mammal numbers varied seasonally; however, Cottontail relative abundance did not. Mesopredator diets were most diverse in summer. In summer, Bobcats increased their use of small mammals, whereas Coyotes and Raccoons diversified their diets to include seasonal fruits. Decline in small-mammal populations and increase in mesopredator dietary diversity coincided with Wild Turkey nesting and poult- rearing seasons, which potentially could result in an increased threat to Wild Turkeys during the nesting and poult-rearing season.
Zinc absorption from low phytic acid genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.), Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and Rice (Oryza sativa L.) assessed in a suckling rat pup model.

Dietary phytic acid is a major causative factor for low Zn bioavailability in many cereal- and legume-based diets. The bioavailability of Zn in seed of low phytic acid (lpa) variants of maize (Zea ...
Molecular Determinants Underlying the Pathogenic Mechanism of Kid Syndrome Elicited by Cx26G12R Mutation

Several mutations in Cx26 promote keratitis ichthyosis deafness (KID), a rare disease in which patients exhibit deafness, skin and corneal disorders. Some KID mutations are located in the amino terminal segment of Cx26, which has been proposed as the putative voltage sensor. Most syndromic mutations elicit a gain of hemichannel function, however the mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear. Here we examined the biophysical properties of the mutant G12R at macroscopic and single channel levels. We perform two-electrode voltage clamp to study the deactivation kinetics and apparent affinity for calcium of hemichannel currents. In contrast to wild-type (wt) Cx26, we found that the activation kinetics of the mutant lack saturation of the current upon depolarization pulses above +40 mV. Estimates of the deactivation time constant yield values of 5s and 10s for G12R and wtCx26 hemichannels, respectively; however the apparent affinity for calcium remains similar to wtCx26. Single channel recordings analysis showed that the mutant virtually eliminates the transitions to the subconductance state. Moreover, although the single channel conductance was similar to wtCx26 hemichannels (320 pS), the open probability and mean open times of G12R hemichannels become larger. Molecular dynamics indicates that the G12R induce an electrostatic effect and ddG calculations support protein destabilization.Supported by Fondecyt-3150634 to IEG; Fondecyt-3140590 to GC; Fondecyt-1130855 to ADM; Anillo-ACT1104 to ADM and CG; Fondecyt-1120802 to CG; Grant RO1-GM099490 to J.E.C; AP has a Conicyt Fellowship. The Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaiso is a Chilean Millennium Institute (P09-022-F).
Enzyme Catalysis and Color of Light in Bioluminescent Reactions

Studies on the catalytic properties of firefly luciferase have indicated that the differences in the colors of the light emitted from various species are due to differences in the structures of the enzymes. In addition, the effect on the color of the in vitro light emission of pH, temperature, and various salts as well as of modifications in the structure of the substrates suggests that the strength and nature of the binding of the transient emitter to the enzyme are important factors in determining the allowed electronic transistions for light emission. In the present paper we shall review the evidence which indicates that conformational changes in the luciferase not only are important for catalysis but also affect the resonance energy levels of the excited state.
Patient Advocacy in an Obstetric Setting

A correlation study design was used to examine the interrelatedness of power, attitudes regarding intermittent fetal monitoring, and perceived barriers to research utilization with a labor and delivery nurse’s attitude toward patient advocacy using the conceptual framework of the science of unitary human beings. The linear combination of the three independent variables was significantly correlated to attitude toward patient advocacy and power as knowing participation in change had the greatest impact on patient advocacy.
H2S Adsorption on Plastically Strained Iron

The purpose of this paper is to present data showing an increased adsorption rate for H2S on plastically strained iron. There has been considerable speculation in the literature concerning the effect of strain on enhanced corrosion and surface reactivity, but there has been no direct experimental evidence that strain does increase surface reactivity. To understand the possible effects of strain enhanced adsorption on crack initiation and growth is the main motivation for these studies. It is also possible that strain enhanced adsorption may be important for catalytic, corrosion and wear properties of materials.
Social Support, Parenting, and Social Emotional Development in Young Mexican and Dominican American Children.

This study focused on social support and its association with child developmental outcomes, indirectly through parenting practices, in families of 4–5 year old Latino children. Data were collected from mothers and teachers of 610 Mexican American (MA) and Dominican American (DA) children. Mothers reported on perceived social support, parenting practices and children’s problem and adaptive behavior functioning at home, and teachers reported on mothers’ parent involvement and children’s problem and adaptive behavior functioning in the classroom. Results showed that support received from family was higher than support received from school networks for both ethnic groups. Moreover, familial support was associated with child behavior, mediated by positive parenting practices, whereas support from school networks was not associated with child outcomes. During early childhood, social support from family members may be an important protective factor that can promote positive behavioral functioning among Latino children.
Developing a Physical Activity and Nutrition After-School Program With Youth at Risk

The Kick and Cook-a-Palooza program was an interprofessional partnership between the Grand Valley State University Public Health Department and the therapeutic recreation (TR) program to provide a physical activity and nutrition program at three after-school sites in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Working with children classified as youth at risk, the purpose of the program was to teach children healthy habits related to nutrition and physical activity that they can continue and share with their families. In addition, interprofessional education occurred among university students as they experienced interprofessional collaboration between two health professions and a community agency. This paper presents a practice perspective on developing, implementing, and evaluating the results of the physical activity component of a program with youth at risk in an interprofessional collaborative environment. The program was funded by grants from the General Mills Foundation and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation and the Recreational Therapy Foundation.
Helicobacter pylori-Induced Changes in Gastric Acid Secretion and Upper Gastrointestinal Disease

Appropriate management of Helicobacter pylori infection of the human stomach is evolving and remains a significant clinical challenge. Acute infection results in hypochlorhydria, whereas chronic infection results in either hypo- or hyperchlorhydria, depending upon the anatomic site of infection. Acute hypochlorhydria facilitates survival of the bacterium and its infection of the stomach. Interestingly, most patients chronically infected with H. pylori manifest a pangastritis with reduced acid secretion due to bacterial virulence factors, inflammatory cytokines, and various degrees of gastric atrophy. While these patients are predisposed to develop gastric adenocarcinoma (~1%), there is increasing evidence from population studies that they are also protected from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Eradication of H. pylori, in these patients, may provoke GERD in predisposed individuals and may be a contributory factor for the rising incidence of refractory GERD, BE, and EAC observed in Westernized societies. Only ~10% of chronically infected patients, mainly the young, manifest an antral predominant gastritis with increased acid secretion due to a decrease in somatostatin and increase in gastrin secretion; these patients are predisposed to develop peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori-induced changes in acid secretion, in particular hypochlorhydria, may allow ingested microorganisms to survive transit through the stomach and colonize the distal intestine and colon. Such perturbation of gut microbiota, i.e. dysbiosis, may influence human health and disease.
Determinants of Endotracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Under Conscious Sedation.

Objectives:Our primary aim was to determine the factors leading to prophylactic endotracheal intubation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Secondary aims were to determine the rate of unplanned endotracheal intubations during endoscopy and to determine the rate of aspiration following endoscopy for patients admitted to the ICU.Methods:Critically ill adult (≥18 years) patients who underwent upper and lower endoscopic procedures from January 2012 to July 2016 in a medical/surgical ICU were included. Determinants of prophylactic endotracheal intubation prior to endoscopy as well as other postprocedure outcomes were electronically captured by a validated data mart system. Given our focus on aspiration in those who were not endotracheally intubated prior to endoscopy, we used a validated definition a priori.Results:A total of 320 patients were included in the final analysis: 76(24%) were intubated prior to endoscopy and 244 (76%) were not. The endotracheally intubated ...
Depression, existential family therapy, and viktor frankl's dimensional ontology

In existential family therapy, it is believed that Viktor Frankl's dimensional ontology is a useful way to understand the different levels of depression that are important in both family assessment and family treatment. This article reviews Frankl's dimensional ontology, its usefulness for existential family treatment, the “must,” “can,” and “ought” levels of family depression, and presents clinical material illustrating the described existential family treatment approach.
The LETTERS’ Frequency (By Equal Groups) in the Romanian Juridical Texts

Analyzing the deterioration’s degree of the keys of a typing machine which functioned for more than 40 years at the clerk's office of a court of a Rumanian district (Vâlcea), one partitions them in the following groups.
The quantities of nutrients recommended by the NRC abate the effects of a toxic alcohol dose administered to rats.

Dans cet article rassemblant une serie d'experiences portant sur role nefaste de la consommation d'alcool a dose toxique sur les principales fonctions biologiques et physiologiques, il ressort que l'ingestion des rations alimentaires recommandees entraine une baisse notable des effets toxiques et teratogenes de la consommation d'alcool a dose supposee toxique chez le rat
A Matter of Matter and Antimatter

A discrete quantum gravity model given by a quantum sequential growth process (QSGP) is considered. The QSGP describes the growth of causal sets (causets) one element at a time in discrete steps. It is shown that the set $\pscript$ of causets can be partitioned into three subsets $\pscript = (\rmant)\cup (\rmmix)\cup (\rmmat)$ where $\rmant$ is the set of pure antimatter causets, $\rmmat$ the set of pure matter causets and $\rmmix$ the set of mixed matter-antimatter causets. We observe that there is an asymmetry between $\rmant$ and $\rmmat$ which may explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our physical universe. This classification of causets extends to the set of paths $\Omega$ in $\pscript$ to obtain $\Omega =\Omega ^{\rmant}\cup\Omega ^{\rmmix}\cup\Omega ^{\rmmat}$. We introduce a further classification $\Omega ^{\rmmix}=\Omega_{\rmm}^{\rmmix}\cup\Omega_{\rma}^{\rmmix}$ into matter-antimatter parts. Approximate classical probabilities and quantum propensities for these various classifications are considered. Some conjectures and unsolved problems are presented.
Analytical Life-Prediction Model for RC Beams Strengthened with Externally Bonded FRP Laminates under Flexural Fatigue Loading

AbstractThis study aimed at developing a simple procedure to predict the fatigue life of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with externally bonded fiber reinforced polymers (EBFRP). The study t...
Body Part Identification in 1- to 4-Year-Old Children

The purpose of this study was to examine the sequence in which body parts are learned and can be identified by very young children. The 101 children tested were divided into four age groups: 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds. The children were requested to point to 20 body parts on a doll. Analysis of the results indicated significant differences in the ability to identify body parts by age and sex. The greatest increase in scores occurred between the ages of 1 and 2 years, with girls achieving a slightly higher score in each age group. The percentage of subjects at each age who identified different body parts is presented, indicating the sequence in which body parts are learned.
Outcomes in 385 developmental dysplastic hips requiring total hip arthroplasty

Patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) require special surgical considerations for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Despite the difficulties posed by the population’s anatomical abnormalities, few large evaluations of postoperative outcomes exist. This study seeks to characterize outcomes following primary THA among patients diagnosed with DDH. A retrospective review was conducted at a tertiary care center on all THA patients between June 2011 and March 2018. Inclusion criteria for this study included any patient diagnosed with DDH undergoing primary THA. Baseline information, operative reports, and postoperative outcomes were pulled from the medical record. In total, 336 patients (385 hips) undergoing a THA between June 2011 and March 2018 were included. The average age was 52.6 ± 13.0 years and body mass index was 27.8 ± 6.0 kg/m2. Most patients were female (82%). The majority of hips (89%, n = 344) were Crowe type 1, followed by 2 (6.9%, n = 26), 3 (2.6%, n = 10), and 4 (1.3%, n = 5). Most hips were Hartofilakidis Class A (83%, n = 320), followed by Class B (15%, n = 59), then C (1.6%, n = 6). Mean follow-up was 24.8 months. Revision THA was required in 19 (4.9%) cases, with the most common indications being infection (2.1%) and periprosthetic fracture (1.0%). Readmission rates were 1.8% (7 hips) and 2.9% (11 hips) at 30-day and 90-day, respectively. The 30-day and 90-day ED visit rates were 1.3% (5 hips) and 2.1% (8 hips), respectively. No complications were seen following 344 (87%) THAs. Despite their surgical complexity, DDH patients on average have notably low rates of revision and dislocation. Longer follow-up is needed to better assess outcomes after THA in this complex patient population.
Neural network growth under heterogenous magnetic gradient patterns

Magnetic nanoparticles are a versatile tool to modulate calcium signaling, alter intracellular vesicle dynamics, or interfere with gene expression in cerebral neurons through imposing magnetic field gradients on the nanoparticles. However, a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanism, costly experimental magnetic setups and the complexity of magnetic gradient design currently hinder advancements and further integrations into drug studies and clinical translation. Here, we present a robust, low-cost magnetic platform, which is compatible with standard cell culture assays and Petri dishes, in combination with a fully integrated computation of the superimposing magnetic field and force maps. Utilizing the magnetic Petri dish platform, we designed and studied the impact of different magnetic field patterns on force-mediated neurite growth in dissociated primary rodent cortical neurons. We found that neurite growth re-orients strongest within a symmetric bidirectional magnetic gradient pattern without impairing neurite growth. Our magnetic Petri dish platform provides convenient means to extend magnetic force studies into tissue engineering, pharmaceutical, and translational studies, bringing a variety of benefits to medical neuroengineering.
Predictors of increased costs following index adult cardiac operations: Insights from a statewide publicly reported registry

Background The aim of this study was to identify hospital-level predictors of increased cost following index adult cardiac operations in a statewide registry. Methods The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) database was queried for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated valve surgery, or CABG plus valve surgery performed between 2014 and 2016. Charge-to-cost ratios for each individual hospital were used to estimate cost. Expected (predicted) operative mortality and 30-day readmission were evaluated using multivariable risk models and linear regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the risk-adjusted impact of multiple hospital-level characteristics on costs. Results During the study period, 29 578 patients underwent isolated CABG (n = 16,641), isolated valve surgery (n = 8618), or CABG plus valve surgery (n = 4319) at 60 hospitals. The median cost of CABG was $61 573 (interquartile range [IQR] $50 780 to $77 482). The median cost of isolated valve surgery was $68,835 (IQR $56 039 to $89 465) and CABG plus valve surgery $83 574 (IQR $69 806 to $114 407). Hospital-level predictors of increasing costs in isolated CABG included higher predicted mortality rates, higher observed-to-expected (OE) mortality ratios, and nonteaching status. No hospital-level independent predictors of increased costs were identified for isolated valve or CABG plus valve surgery. Conclusions Hospitals that performed higher risk cases and had higher OE ratios for operative mortality in isolated CABG were found to have increased costs. These data collectively suggest that attention to risk assessment and outcome optimization efforts in isolated CABG would likely result in programmatic advantages not only from a clinical standpoint but also economic.
Raloxifene administration enhances retention in an orthodontic relapse model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Orthodontic relapse is a physiologic process that involves remodelling of the alveolar bone and principle periodontal ligament fibres. Raloxifene is an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved selective oestrogen receptor modulator that inhibits systemic bone loss. In our study, we examined the effects of Raloxifene on alveolar bone modelling and orthodontic relapse in a rodent model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The efficacy of raloxifene was evaluated in 15-week-old male Wistar rats, 8 in each group (Control, Raloxifene, Raloxifene + 7-day relapse, Raloxifene + 14-day relapse) for a total of 42 days. All animals had 14 days of orthodontic tooth movement with a closed nickel-titanium coil spring tied from incisors to right first molar applying 5-8 gm of force. On the day of appliance removal, impression was taken with silicon material and the distance between first molar and second molar was filled with light-cured adhesive resin cement for retention phase. Raloxifene Retention, Raloxifene Retention + 7D, Raloxifene Retention + 14D groups received 14 daily doses of raloxifene (2.0 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously after orthodontic tooth movement during retention. After 14 days of retention, the retainer was removed and right first molar was allowed to relapse for a period of 14 days. Raloxifene injection continued for the Raloxifene + 14-day relapse group during relapse phase too. Control group received saline injections during retention. Animals were euthanized by CO2 inhalation. The outcome measure included percentage of relapse, bone volume fraction, tissue density, and histology analysis using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and determining receptor activator of nuclear factor-кB-ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin expression. RESULTS Raloxifene Retention + 14D group had significantly less (P < 0.05) orthodontic relapse when compared with other groups. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in bone volume fraction and tissue density in the Raloxifene Retention + 14D group when compared with other groups. Similarly, there was significant decrease in number of osteoclasts and RANKL expression in Raloxifene Retention + 14D group when compared with Raloxifene Retention + 7D group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Raloxifene could decrease post-orthodontic treatment relapse by decreasing bone resorption and indirectly enhancing bone formation.
Deposition of Centromeric Histone H3 Variant CENP-A/Cse4 into Chromatin Is Facilitated by Its C-Terminal Sumoylation

Centromeric localization of CENP-A (Cse4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CID in flies, CENP-A in humans) is essential for faithful chromosome segregation. Mislocalization of overexpressed CENP-A contributes to aneuploidy in yeast, flies, and humans, and is proposed to promote tumorigenesis in human cancers. Hence, defining molecular mechanisms that promote or prevent mislocalization of CENP-A is an area of active investigation. In budding yeast, evolutionarily conserved histone chaperones Scm3 and chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) promote localization of Cse4 to centromeric and noncentromeric regions, respectively. Ubiquitin ligases, such as Psh1 and Slx5, and histone chaperones (HIR complex) regulate proteolysis of overexpressed Cse4 and prevent its mislocalization to noncentromeric regions. In this study, we have identified sumoylation sites lysine (K) 215/216 in the C terminus of Cse4, and shown that sumoylation of Cse4 K215/216 facilitates its genome-wide deposition into chromatin when overexpressed. Our results showed reduced levels of sumoylation of mutant Cse4 K215/216R/A [K changed to arginine (R) or alanine (A)] and reduced interaction of mutant Cse4 K215/216R/A with Scm3 and CAF-1 when compared to wild-type Cse4. Consistent with these results, levels of Cse4 K215/216R/A in the chromatin fraction and localization to centromeric and noncentromeric regions were reduced. Furthermore, in contrast to GAL-CSE4, which exhibits Synthetic Dosage Lethality (SDL) in psh1∆, slx5∆, and hir2∆ strains, GAL-cse4 K215/216R does not exhibit SDL in these strains. Taken together, our results show that deposition of Cse4 into chromatin is facilitated by its C-terminal sumoylation.
Relative contributions of transmission routes for COVID-19 among healthcare personnel providing patient care.

The routes of COVID-19 transmission to healthcare personnel from infected patients is the subject of debate, but is critical to the selection of personal protective equipment. The objective of this...
Life Experiences and Vulnerabilities of Homeless Women: A Comparison of Women Unaccompanied Versus Accompanied by Minor Children, and Correlates with Children's Emotional Distress

The histories and service needs of 2 groups of homeless women, those unaccompanied by minor children (n = 46) and those accompanied by minor children (n = 22), were compared, on the basis of their responses to a biennial survey of homeless people in a midsize city in the southeast United States. Mothers of children aged 2–10 also completed a measure of stress symptoms for their children (n = 20). Irrespective of family status group, problems such as substance abuse, history of mental illness, health problems, chronicity of homelessness, and crime victimization tended to cluster together. The findings also suggest that declining and/or inadequate levels of public benefits, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Medicaid-funded health care in particular, have adversely affected the 2 groups, particularly families with children. The young children in this sample experienced elevated levels of stress, and significant associations were found between children's stress levels and certain risk factors of their mothers. Implications for service delivery are discussed.
On the Accuracy of Measured Proximity of Bluetooth-Based Contact Tracing Apps

A large number of Bluetooth-based mobile apps have been developed recently to help tracing close contacts of contagious COVID-19 individuals. These apps make decisions based on whether two users are in close proximity (e.g., within 6 ft) according to the distance measured from the received signal strength (RSSI) of Bluetooth. This paper provides a detailed study of the current practice of RSSI-based distance measurements among contact tracing apps by analyzing various factors that can affect the RSSI value and how each app has responded to them. Our analysis shows that configurations for the signal transmission power (TxPower) and broadcasting intervals that affect RSSI vary significantly across different apps and a large portion of apps do not consider these affecting factors at all, or with quite limited tuning.
Evaluation of Biomarkers in Sepsis: High Dimethylarginine (ADMA and SDMA) Concentrations Are Associated with Mortality.

Background As modulators of nitric oxide generation, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) may play important roles in sepsis. Current data on dimethylarginines are conflicting, and direct comparison data with other biomarkers are limited. Methods Fifty-five patients were included in the final analysis and were divided into 4 groups: infection without sepsis, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. The first available samples on hospital admission were analyzed for ADMA, SDMA, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein, heparin binding protein (HBP), zonulin, soluble CD25 (sCD25), and soluble CD163 (sCD163). White blood cell (WBC) counts and lactate results were obtained from the medical record. Results There were no statistically significant differences in ADMA and SDMA concentrations among the 4 groups; however, PCT, WBC, HBP, and sCD25 showed statistically significant differences. Lactate only trended toward statistical significance, likely because of limited availability in the medical record. Differences between survivors of sepsis and nonsurvivors at 30 days were highly statistically significant for ADMA and SDMA. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for ROC analysis were 0.88 and 0.95, respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference between survivors of sepsis and nonsurvivors for HBP, lactate, sCD25, and sCD163; however, AUCs for ROC curves were not statistically significantly different from 0.5. Conclusions Analysis of biomarkers other than dimethylarginines were in general agreement with expectations from the literature. ADMA and SDMA may not be specific markers for diagnosis of sepsis; however, they may be useful in short-term mortality risk assessment.
Dimensionality reduction by sparse orthogonal projection with applications to miRNA expression analysis and cancer prediction

Background: High dimensionality, i.e. p>n, is an inherent feature of machine learning. Fitting a classification model directly to p-dimensional data risks overfitting and a reduction in accuracy. Thus, dimensionality reduction is necessary to address overfitting and high dimensionality. Results: We present a novel dimensionality reduction method which uses sparse, orthogonal projections to discover linear separations in reduced dimension space. The technique is applied to miRNA expression analysis and cancer prediction. We use least squares fitting and orthogonality constraints to find a set of orthogonal directions which are highly correlated to the class labels. We also enforce L^1 norm sparsity penalties, to prevent overfitting and remove the uninformative features from the model. Our method is shown to offer a highly competitive classification performance on synthetic examples and real miRNA expression data when compared to similar methods from the literature which use sparsity ideas and orthogonal projections. %Specifically, our method offers a more consistent performance in terms of sensitivity and AUC, particularly in the case $p>n$, and when the training samples are weighted towards one class. Discussion: A novel technique is introduced here, which uses sparse, orthogonal projections for dimensionality reduction. The approach is shown to be highly effective in reducing the dimension of miRNA expression data. The application of focus in this article is miRNA expression analysis and cancer prediction. The technique may be generalizable, however, to other high dimensionality datasets.
Classical Physics Foundations for Quantum Physics

We employ classical principles to justify various quantum concepts. Among these are (1) the Planck formula for the energy of a photon, (2) the de Broglie relation, (3) the Schrodinger energy and momentum operators, (4) the position-momentum commutator relation and (5) the Schrodinger wave function. Thus for the Planck formula we require only basic thermodynamics, the Doppler effect and the assumption that photons exist. The de Broglie relation results from the quantization of action combined with the hypothesis of the existence of de Broglie waves and the properties of standing waves. Items (3) and (4) are direct consequences of classical definitions of action in terms of energy and/or momentum, the existence of a unit of action, and the use of the function of action φ(S) = exp(iS/h), where S is the action. The wave function stems, in addition, from the inability to assign a particle to a precise classical path having a definite action; instead, we must have a bundle of paths, of varying action, which differ from each other by no more than the unit of action. The sum over these paths yields the wave function.
ProteinNET: A Protein Interaction Network Integration System

Protein interaction networks are of great importance to understand the biological cellular process. Recent advances in high-throughput detection methods, such as the yeast two hybrid method, have given researchers access to large volumes of PPI network data. However, protein interaction databases published by different research groups use different protein naming systems and have different levels of reliability. In this paper we design ProteinNET, a protein interaction network integration system, to integrate protein interaction databases from different sources and improve the quality of the protein interaction network by using noise reduction techniques. In addition, the proteinNET system provides five methods to visualize the protein interaction network. The ProteinNET system can help researchers explore the protein interaction network of different data sources.
Positive Effects of Space

We have previously considered some of the stressful aspects of space travel. However, traveling in space has many positive aspects as well, and for some it can be growth-enhancing. Many space travelers have returned home with a more positive view of themselves and their place on the planet. Earth can be seen as a beautiful and unique place, without obvious political boundaries or reasons for national strife. Some astronauts and cosmonauts in space have reported transcendental experiences, religious insights, or a better sense of the unity of humankind as a result of viewing Earth below and the cosmos beyond.