cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and sequence analysis of a cDNA encoding rat liver α-l-fucosidase

Abstract cDNA clones for alpha-L-fucosidase were isolated from a rat liver lambda gt11 expression library by using both monospecific polyclonal antibodies against the affinity-purified enzyme and biotinylated rat liver fucosidase cDNA sequences as probes. The largest clone, lambda FC9, contained a 1522 bp full-length cDNA insert (FC9) that encoded the 434-amino acid-residue subunit (Mr 50439) of rat liver alpha-L-fucosidase. A putative signal peptide 28 amino acid residues in length preceded the sequence for the mature protein. In addition, FC9 specified for 11 nucleotide residues of 5' untranslated sequence, 78 nucleotide residues of 3' untranslated sequence and a poly(A) tail. The deduced amino acid sequence from FC9 in conjunction with the experimentally determined N-terminus of the mature enzyme suggested that rat liver fucosidase did not contain a pro-segment. However, there was the possibility of limited N-terminal processing (one to five amino acid residues) having occurred after removal of the predicted signal peptide. Amino acid sequences deduced from FC9 were co-linear with amino acid sequences measured at the N-terminus of purified fucosidase and on two of its CNBr-cleavage peptides. An unusual aspect of rat liver alpha-L-fucosidase protein structure obtained from the FC9 data was its high content of tryptophan (6%). The coding sequence from FC9 showed 82% sequence identity with that from a previously reported incomplete human fucosidase sequence [O'Brien, Willems, Fukushima, de Wet, Darby, DiCioccio, Fowler & Shows, (1987) Enzyme 38, 45-53].
Untoward results and complications following reconstruction after mastectomy.

Breast reconstruction has been made less difficult recently, but complications, both emotional and physical, still ensue. They may arise from errors in timing, unrealistic patient expectations, and limitations imposed by the type of mastectomy performed. Vigorous attempts must be made to prevent complications through accurate patient assessment, patient education, and skilled, up-to-date surgical techniques.
Short-term practice effects in mild cognitive impairment: Evaluating different methods of change.

ABSTRACTPractice effects are improvements on cognitive tests as a result of repeated exposure to testing material. However, variability exists in the literature about whether patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) display practice effects, which may be partially due to the methods used to calculate these changes on repeated tests. The purpose of the current study was to examine multiple methods of assessing short-term practice effects in 58 older adults with MCI. The cognitive battery, which included tests of memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised) and processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Trail Making Test Parts A and B), was administered twice across one week. Dependent t tests showed statistically significant improvement on memory scores (ps < .01, ds = 0.8–1.3), but not on processing speed scores. Despite this, the sample showed no clinically meaningful improvement on any cognitive scores using three different reliable chang...
The future of preconception care in the United States: multigenerational impact on reproductive outcomes

AbstractThe future of preconception care will require an innovative multigenerational approach to health promotion for women and men to achieve optimal reproductive health outcomes. In this paper we provide a summary of historical trends in perinatal interventions in the United States that have effectively reduced adverse perinatal outcomes but have not improved disparities among ethnic/racial groups. We describe evidence pointing to an enhanced preconception care paradigm that spans the time periods before, during, and between pregnancies and across generations for all women and men. We describe how the weathering, Barker, and life course theories point to stress and non-chromosomal inheritance as key mediators in racial disparities. Finally, we provide evidence that indicates that humans exposed to toxic stress can be impacted in future generations and that these phenomena are potentially related to epigenetic inheritance, resulting in perinatal disparities. We believe that this expanded view will defin...
Multiple branching rupture of the 2009 Tonga-Samoa earthquake

Several source models have been proposed to explain the enigmatic 2009 Tonga-Samoa earthquake. The long-period data require a composite source model and can be fit with a normal-faulting subevent followed by one or more reverse-faulting subevents. The short-period data, in contrast, indicate a more compact rupture pattern around the epicenter. The lack of a unified source model reflects the complexity of the event. We analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of this earthquake with P wave back-projection from globally distributed stations in different frequency bands (low frequency: 0.05–0.2 Hz, high frequency: 0.2–2 Hz) and a multiple moment tensor inversion. The rupture propagation revealed by back-projection exhibits frequency-dependent behavior, with two branches of high-frequency-enriched bilateral rupture around the epicenter and a high-frequency-deficient rupture branch at the subduction interface. A composite source model with one Mw 8.0 normal-faulting earthquake east of the trench axis (seaward) followed by one Mw 8.1 reverse-faulting earthquake along the subduction interface west of the trench axis (landward) can explain the very long period data (200∼500 s). Combined with high-resolution swath bathymetry data, the back-projection images show that the azimuth of rupture branches east of the trench axis were controlled by the geometry of bending-related faults on the Pacific plate and that the rupture branch west of the trench axis may correlate with the along-strike fore-arc segmentation. The rupture along the subduction interface was triggered by the seaward rupture and a partially subducted normal fault may have played a key role in facilitating the triggering. The apparent normal-reverse faulting interactions pose a higher seismic risk to this region than their individual strands at the northernmost corner of the Tonga subduction zone.
Vampires, Border Crossing, and Panic in Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla”

An influx of vampire fiction, television shows, and films over the past several years has prompted social critics to question this monster’s attraction for adults and teens alike. From HBO’s True Blood to Stephanie Meyer’s highly successful Twilight series to Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins’ graphic novels about a vampire-slaying Pinocchio, the vampire seems to be just about everywhere these days. Vampire stories, of course, are not new, but their recent spike in popularity begs the question: what is so intriguing about this toothy monster, and why has it grabbed our collective attention at this particular cultural moment?
Children’s engagement in play at home: a parent’s role in supporting play opportunities during early childhood

ABSTRACTThis study examined parents’ developmentally appropriate beliefs about young children’s play and parents’ views on their child’s play skills. This exploratory secondary data analysis was drawn from data on low-income African-American and Latino parents and their children (n = 109) participating in Head Start programmes in the USA. Compared with African-American parents, Latino parents were more likely to endorse play as valuable (Play Support) for promoting preschool children’s social skills and school readiness, yet were also more likely to see play as not as important as academic readiness activities (Academic Focus). Parental endorsement of Play Support beliefs positively related to children’s interactive play skills; Academic Focus beliefs negatively related to interactive play. These relations emerged for African American, but not Latino, children. Implications for understanding how culture may intersect with parents’ play beliefs, opportunities to promote children’s play competence, and alig...
Molecular Mechanisms of Stem/Progenitor Cell Maintenance in the Adrenal Cortex.

The adrenal cortex is characterized by three histologically and functionally distinct zones: the outermost zona glomerulosa (zG), the intermediate zona fasciculata (zF) and the innermost zona reticularis (zR). Important aspects of the physiology and maintenance of the adrenocortical stem/progenitor cells have emerged in the last few years. Studies have shown that the adrenocortical cells descend from a pool of progenitors that are localized in the subcapsular region of the zG. These cells continually undergo a process of centripetal displacement and differentiation which is orchestrated by several paracrine and endocrine cues, including the pituitary-derived adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and angiotensin II. However, while several roles of the endocrine axes on adrenocortical function are well established, the mechanisms coordinating the maintenance of an undifferentiated progenitor cell pool with self-renewal capacity are poorly understood. Local factors such as the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with embedded signaling molecules and the activity of major paracrine effectors including ligands of the sonic hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways are thought to play a major role. Particularly, the composition of the ECM, which exhibits substantial differences within each of the three histologically distinct concentric zones, has been shown to influence the differentiation status of adrenocortical cells. New data from other organ systems and different experimental paradigms strongly support the conclusion that the interactions of ECM components with cell surface receptors and secreted factors are key determinants of cell fate. In this review, we summarize established and emerging data on the paracrine and autocrine regulatory loops that regulate the biology of the progenitor cell niche, and propose a role for bioengineered ECM models in further elucidating this biology in the adrenal.
Social and Behavioral Epigenetics: Evolving Perspectives on Nature-Nurture Interplay, Plasticity, and Inheritance

Integration of advances in understanding of gene regulation through epigenetic mechanisms with the study of the influence of social environments on behavior has generated the evolving field of social and behavioral epigenetics. This field provides novel perspectives on how social adversity impacts biology and raises issues regarding the relationship between DNA and identity, multigenerational biological impacts of social environments, and intervention as a strategy to target epigenetic plasticity. In this chapter I highlight studies within the field of social and behavioral epigenetics, discuss the changing scientific and societal views contributed to by these studies, and speculate regarding the future implications of this field of study for our evolving understanding of the gene, individuals, and society.
Crescimento Inicial de Espécies Utilizadas na Recuperação de Mata Ciliar no Rio das Almas, Município de Ceres, Goiás

The riparian forests are vegetations that occur along the banks of the streams. We propose to make a descriptive analysis of the growth of the species used in the recovery of riparian forest along the banks of the das Almas River, in the municipality of Ceres, Goias, Brazil. This study evaluated monthly, during the period from March through October, survival, height, diameter, number of branches and leaves. The species aroeira and jatoba were considered the most promising. The work points out the need of studies directed to each planting site. Besides it emphasizes the importance of previous care to planting and management to optimize the results of reforestation.
Using optical tracking for kinematic testing of medical robots.

BACKGROUND In image-guided robotic interventions, an error component is related to the positioning error of the manipulator. Therefore, measuring the kinematic error is required during robot development. However, no specialized measurement device exists for this task. This study explores the possibility of using optical tracking for robot measurement. METHODS A CNC machine is used to position an optical marker, generating a gold standard reference. Repeated position measurements are acquired with an NDI Polaris Hybrid® optical tracker at each static location, and averaged. These measurements are compared to the reference set. RESULTS Averaging repeated static position measurements improves precision (200-500 samples). Measurement accuracy ranges between 44 μm and 137 μm in close proximity of the tracker. CONCLUSIONS Repeated static position measurements in the near field of view enable the optical tracker to outperform its general-purpose accuracy specification. Optical tracking may be used to test robot kinematics with a high degree of accuracy.
Directional Training for FDD Massive MIMO

A key challenge for frequency-division duplexing (FDD) massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) is the large overhead in acquiring channel state information (CSI) for transmits beamforming. In this paper, we propose a scalable method called directional training to obtain downlink CSI. Directional training is motivated by two empirical results derived from massive MIMO channel measurements. First, the number of dominant angle-of-arrivals (departures) is much smaller than and nearly independent of the number of base-station antennas. Second, there is a strong correlation between uplink arrival and downlink departure angles even in FDD systems, which leads to the idea of directional training, where a small number of training symbols can be sent to estimate the dominant components of the downlink channel. Therefore, directional training measures much fewer complex coefficients than full-training-based methods, and as a result, compared with full-training, the overall channel acquisition overhead for directional training scales much slower with the number of base-station antennas. We evaluate directional training with extensive experiments with a 64-antenna base-station at two bands separated by approximately 72 MHz. Our results show that directional training-based downlink beamforming outperforms full-training systems by 150% in terms of average spectral efficiency, and loses only 5.3% average spectral efficiency from genie-aided systems.
Issues in validation of a dermatologic surgery simulator.

At the University of Washington, we have been developing a suturing simulator using novel finite element model techniques which allow real-time haptic feedback. The issues involved in measuring validity in a suturing model have not been examined in a systematic way. Very few studies exist on the surgical factors that lead to good sutures. We have examined published data on these factors as well as previously studied metrics in suture training. This information has been combined with a review of types of validity (e.g., face, construct, predictive and concurrent) and reliability that must be considered in assessing any surgical simulator.
Glacial to Interglacial Changes in Ocean and Atmosphere Chemistry

CO2 content of the atmosphere increases between glacial and interglacial times, have been postulated from gas content studies of long ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica. A hypothesis for this increase involves the loss of phosphorous from the sea to the shelf sediments during the early postglacial transgression of sea level, reducing the amount of plant matter formed per unit of upwelled water and thereby increasing the CO2 pressure in surface water and the atmosphere. Evidence in support of this hypothesis is obtained from the 13C results for benthic and planktonic foraminifera. Changes in the difference between warm surface water and mean oceanic δ13C values reflect changes in the oceanic PO4 to ΣCO2 ratio.
Subsarcolemmal Increase in Intracellular Ca2+ in Vascular Muscle Cells from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Ca2+ channel function appears to be altered in vascular muscle from the venous side of even newborn spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), suggesting that genetically determined alterations in vascular muscle cells occur which are likely to contribute to development of increased peripheral resistance [7]. Specifically, there is an increase in the probability for opening of the L-type Ca2+ channels (thought to be important for the filling of the Ca2+ stores necessary for contraction) compared to that seen in vascular muscle cells from normotensive rats [16]. Recent reports from our laboratory have indicated that this alteration in Ca2+ channel function does not result from inherent conductance properties of the channel, but can be identified with Ca2+ inactivation of the L-type Ca2+ channel [10]. As in other kinds of cells, the high-threshold, L-type Ca2+ channel normally inactivates as a function not only of depolarization, but also of the accumulation of Ca2+ in the region immediately inside the cell surface membrane, called the subsarcolemmal space [14,17]. These experiments were carried out to determine whether there was a change in the free Ca2+ ion concentration in the subsarcolemmal space that might explain the altered Ca2+ channel function.
Squirrel Monkeys as an Example of Primate Nursery Medicine

Providing nursery care for infant primates is one of the most challenging aspects of maintaining primates in captivity. Nursery infants must be protected from and treated for the many health problems to which they are vulnerable. At the same time, their developmental needs must be met through proper nutrition, environmental enrichment, and other strategies.
Biorthogonal Sampling Functions Associated With Meyer Type Wavelets.

In this article, we study a class of biorthogonal sampling functions in the context of bandlimited wavelets, Meyer type wavelets. Originally raised in the construction of bandlimited wavelets, these sampling functions also possess a similar structure to the scaling functions of wavelets with adjustable bandwidth parameters. In addition, these sampling functions are infinite impulse response (IIR) filters and share all the principal advantage that the IIR type has such as computational efficiency. They are easy to compute with fast decreasing property in time domain and suitable for representing bandlimited signals with sharp cut-off. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the construction of sampling functions and properties of associated sampling series. Keyword: Sampling functions, bandlimited functions, Meyer wavelets.
The importance of recognizing and addressing depression in patients with advanced cancer.

10050Background: Patients with cancer often experience depression, which is associated with worse outcomes, including longer hospital length of stay (LOS). Although antidepressant medication can im...
Simple Parallel-Plate Capacitors to High–Energy Density Future Supercapacitors: A Materials Review

Abstract This chapter focuses on the generational emergence of capacitors pertaining to their application in energy storage. Three generations of capacitors (electrostatic, electrolytic, and electrochemical, commonly known as supercapacitors) are discussed. Electrostatic capacitors are conventional parallel-plate capacitors. Examples of commercially available electrostatic capacitors are ceramic and film. A brief overview of nanostructure-based electrostatic capacitors that exhibit high capacitance using high dielectric oxide nanolaminates conformally coated over high–surface area electrodes is provided. The second generation of capacitors is electrolytic capacitors, which are commercialized on a large scale. Some electrode materials are aluminum, tantalum, and niobium, in which a solid or liquid electrolyte separates two symmetrical electrodes. The third generation of capacitors is electric double layer, in which the electric charge stored in the metal–electrolyte interface is exploited to construct a storage device. These capacitors, commonly known as supercapacitors, provide a longer cycle life (∼100,000) compared with batteries that provide 300–500 cycles. The supercapacitors deliver higher power bursts than do batteries and store more energy than conventional capacitors. Although the energy density of most commercially available supercapacitors is much higher (on the order of 10 Wh kg−1) than conventional dielectric capacitors, it is significantly lower than for batteries and fuel cells. With the rapid development of renewable energy sources such as solar cells, there is an urgent need for devices such as supercapacitors with a high energy density. Thus, a tremendous amount of research is under way seeking to increase the energy density of supercapacitors without sacrificing their high-power capabilities. In addition to traditional commercially available electrostatic and electrolytic capacitors, this chapter reviews significant advances made in electrochemical capacitors, with a discussion of various electrolytes and commonly used electrode materials such as RuO2 and MnO2. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion on reports of emerging electrodes such as metal organic frameworks and mixed transition metal oxides such as NiCo2O4.
Less Invasive HeartMate 3 Implantation is Safe and Reproducible with Excellent Outcomes

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze early outcomes, safety and reproducibility of the less invasive HeartMate 3 implantation technique. Methods Retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed on 53 consecutive patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices between February and September 2018 at a single institution. Patients were excluded if they were enrolled in a study requiring full sternotomy (3 patients), were a pump exchange (5 patients) or were implanted with the HeartWare device (4 patients). Safety outcomes included return to the operating room and overall survival. Results A total of 41 patients were included in the study. Thirty-nine patients were implanted with the complete sternal-sparing technique while two had an upper hemi-sternotomy with small left anterior thoracotomy. Average age was 53.6±13.9 years, 76% were male and 41% were INTERMACS Profile 1. Twelve patients (29%) had a right ventricular stoke work index less than 400. Nine patients (22%) were implanted off VA ECMO and 10 patients (24%) had previous cardiac surgery. All patients that qualified for the procedure were implanted using a less invasive technique. No patients required conversion to full sternotomy. Two patients (5%) returned to the operating room for bleeding. Twenty patients (49%) received a perioperative packed red blood cell transfusion within 24 hours of surgery. Median blood loss in the first 24-hours was 1042 mL (IQR=768-1307 mL). 2 patients (5%) requiring RVAD support. Median intubation time was 16 hours (IQR=9-34 hours). Median intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were 4 days (IQR=2-6 days) and 15.5 days (IQR=12-23 days), respectively. Thirty-day survival was 39/41 (95%). Conclusion Less invasive HeartMate 3 implantation in our single center setting is safe and reproducible with excellent outcomes. Multicenter studies are required to further validate this technique.
Mid-Infrared Photothermal Imaging of Fibroblast Cells

Label-free vibrational mid-infrared photothermal amplitude and phase images of fixed fibroblast cells in a collagen extracellular matrix are presented, providing complementary insights into optical material and thermal diffusion properties. © 2019 The Author(s)
Evaluating the role of the COX2/PGE2 pathway in anti-melanoma immunity.

e14114Background: Checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD1 (aPD1) have revolutionized treatment of metastatic melanoma. However, a large subset of patients receiving such treatment fails to respond t...
The Aircraft Maintenance Routing Problem

The airline network is one of the world’s most sophisticated, yet very complex, networks. Airline planning and scheduling operations have posed many great logistics challenges to operations researchers. Optimizing flight schedules, maximizing aircraft utilization, and minimizing aircraft maintenance costs can drastically improve the airlines’ resource management, competitive position and profitability. However, optimizing today’s airline complex networks is not an easy task. There are four major optimization problems in the airline industry including flight scheduling problem, fleet assignment problem, crew pairing problem, and aircraft maintenance routing problem. These problems have been widely studied over the past few decades. Yet, they remain unsolved due to the size and complexity. In this chapter, we provide a review of advances in optimization applied to these logistics problems in the airline industry as well as give a thorough discussion on the aircraft maintenance routing problem. Several mathematical formulations and solution methods for the aircraft maintenance routing problem will also be presented. Later, we conclude the current research and discuss possible future research of this problem.
Di-μ-bromo-bis­[(methyl isocyanide-κC)(tri­phenyl­phosphine-κP)silver(I)]

The dimeric title mol­ecule, [Ag2Br2(C2H3N)2(C18H15P)2], has crystallographic inversion symmetry. The two bridging Ag—Br lengths are similar, at 2.7301 (6) and 2.7284 (7) A.
Semiparametric modelling and estimation of covariate-adjusted dependence between bivariate recurrent events.

A time-dependent measure, termed the rate ratio, was proposed to assess the local dependence between two types of recurrent event processes in one-sample settings. However, the one-sample work does not consider modeling the dependence by covariates such as subject characteristics and treatments received. The focus of this paper is to understand how and in what magnitude the covariates influence the dependence strength for bivariate recurrent events. We propose the covariate-adjusted rate ratio, a measure of covariate-adjusted dependence. We propose a semiparametric regression model for jointly modeling the frequency and dependence of bivariate recurrent events: the first level is a proportional rates model for the marginal rates and the second level is a proportional rate ratio model for the dependence structure. We develop a pseudo-partial likelihood to estimate the parameters in the proportional rate ratio model. We establish the asymptotic properties of the estimators and evaluate the finite sample performance via simulation studies. We illustrate the proposed models and methods using a soft tissue sarcoma study that examines the effects of initial treatments on the marginal frequencies of local/distant sarcoma recurrence and the dependence structure between the two types of cancer recurrence.
Milk and Health

Milk and Health This review summarizes the evidence for the benefits and possible risks associated with consumption of cow’s milk. The authors describe the relationship of milk consumption to the r...
Winners and losers from road pricing with heterogeneous travelers and a mixed-traffic bus alternative

Abstract Studies of road pricing in which the Value of Time (VOT) varies among travelers suggest that road pricing benefits travelers with high VOT and hurts travelers with low VOT. This happens because, when a toll reduces congestion, only high-VOT travelers value the time saved more than the money cost. This paper uses a static traffic model with elastic demands to examine how the presence of a mixed-traffic (one affected by congestion) bus alternative, which is cheaper but slower than driving, alters that logic. When “agents” (potential travelers) care only about the time and money costs of each alternative, it turns out that Pareto-improving toll increases are possible; and, absent a Pareto improvement, the “Full Cost of Travel” (inclusive of time and money costs) rises only inside an intermediate interval of VOT while falling for sufficiently high and low VOT. But when agents have heterogeneous “tastes” for each mode, the Full Cost of Travel falls for all agents with VOT higher than a certain level, and below that level the direction of change depends on an agent’s taste.
Out of character: CEO political ideology, peer influence, and adoption of CSR executive position by Fortune 500 firms

Research Summary We consider the link between firms' decisions to adopt a CSR executive position and the political ideology of prior adopter CEOs. We theorize that firms are more likely to adopt a CSR executive position when it has been previously adopted by conservative‐leaning CEOs at other firms, as opposed to liberal‐leaning CEOs. This effect is due, we argue, to the increased perceptual salience and situational attributions associated with ideologically incongruent actions (i.e., actions that appear inconsistent with known political values). We further posit that these effects are stronger when the observing firms experience increased salience of CSR issues due to shareholder pressure and institutional equivalence between the referent and the observing firms. We find support for these ideas in a longitudinal sample of Fortune 500 companies. Managerial Summary How do CEOs' values affect industry‐wide appointments of senior executives in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? Prior research suggests that liberal political beliefs of CEOs predict their CSR commitments. Our study explores how the political beliefs of CEOs—in this case, CEOs who have created a new CSR executive position in their companies—influence the likelihood that peer CEOs will imitate their decisions. Specifically, we find that when conservative CEOs adopt a CSR executive position, other companies are more likely to follow than when liberal‐leaning CEOs do so. These effects are even stronger when companies are experiencing CSR‐related pressure from shareholders and when they belong to the same industry and community as the firms of the CEOs they are observing.
J/\psi Suppression in Pb+Pb Collisions: A New Look at Hadrons vs. Plasma

A reexamination of hadronic comover scattering indicates that this mechanism cannot explain the observed $\psi$ suppression in Pb+Pb interactions. The possibility of quark-gluon plasma formation is therefore considered.
The Smart City in a Digital World: by Vincent Mosco, Bingley, UK, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2019, 288 pp., $24.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-1787691384

Over the past decade, the term ‘smart’ has become a keyword intimating that everything from kitchen appliances to the very Earth can be made better by technologies that collect data, process it int...
Wenn die Weste einige Nummern zu groß ist: Sinn und Unsinn der LifeVest bei Postinfarktpatienten

Die LifeVest ist eine tragbare Kardioverter-Defibrillator-Weste (WCD), die eine zeitlich limitierte diagnostische und therapeutische, nicht invasive Option fur Patienten mit einem hohen Risiko fur den plotzlichen Herztod (PHT) auf dem Boden von lebensbedrohlichen anhaltenden ventrikularen Tachyarrhythmien darstellt. Hierbei hat sich die LifeVest sowohl bei Patienten mit transienter hohergradiger linksventrikularer Dysfunktion als auch bei Patienten zur Uberbruckung bis zur endgultigen Versorgung mit einem implantierbaren Kardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) in der klinischen Praxis etabliert. Unklar waren bislang die Effektivitat und der zusatzliche Benefit der WCD innerhalb der ersten Wochen nach stattgehabtem Myokardinfarkt bei Patienten mit reduzierter linksventrikularer Pumpfunktion. In der prospektiven, randomisierten und kontrollierten VEST-Studie konnte kein Zusatznutzen der WCD bezuglich der Verhinderung des PHT in dieser Patientengruppe aufgezeigt werden.
Influence of primary payer status on non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: 18-year retrospective cohort national temporal trends, management and outcomes.

Background The role of insurance on outcomes in non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients is limited in the contemporary era. Methods From the National Inpatient Sample, adult NSTEMI admissions were identified [2000-2017]. Expected primary payer was classified into Medicare, Medicaid, private, uninsured and others. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, overall and early coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), resource utilization and discharge disposition. Results Of the 7,290,565 NSTEMI admissions, Medicare, Medicaid, private, uninsured and other insurances were noted in 62.9%, 6.1%, 24.1%, 4.6% and 2.3%, respectively. Compared to others, those with Medicare insurance older (76 vs. 53-60 years), more likely to be female (48% vs. 25-44%), of white race, and with higher comorbidity (all P<0.001). Population from the Medicare cohort had higher in-hospital mortality (5.6%) compared to the others (1.9-3.4%), P<0.001. With Medicare as referent, in-hospital mortality was higher in other {adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-1.19]; P<0.001}, and lower in Medicaid [aOR 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.97); P<0.001], private [aOR 0.77 (95% CI, 0.75-0.78); P<0.001] and uninsured cohorts [aOR 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94-1.00); P=0.06] in a multivariable analysis. Coronary angiography (overall 52% vs. 65-74%; early 15% vs. 22-27%) and PCI (27% vs. 35-44%) were used lesser in the Medicare population. The Medicare population had longer lengths of stay, lowest hospitalization costs and fewer home discharges. Conclusions Compared to other types of primary payers, NSTEMI admissions with Medicare insurance had lower use of coronary angiography and PCI, and higher in-hospital mortality.
The Impact of Early Palliative Radiation Among Patients Enrolled on Early Phase Clinical Trials.

Purpose/Objective(s) Early phase clinical trials (EP-CTs) investigate novel oncology treatment options with the goal of improving response rates, decreasing toxicity, and improving survival. Utilization of palliative radiation (RT) in the EP-CT population is poorly characterized, but greater understanding is needed to aid with optimizing symptom management and extending time on trial. Materials/Methods We retrospectively reviewed the electronic health records of consecutive patients enrolled in EP-CTs at our phase I clinical trials center from 2017-2019 to obtain demographic and clinical factors and to evaluate the influence of treatment utilization including the timing of palliative radiation therapy on clinical outcomes, including time on trial, and emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Results Among 241 patients enrolled on EP-CT (median age 63.2 years [range 23-84.3 years]; 52.7% female, 97.1% metastatic cancer), the most common primary cancer types were gastrointestinal (26.0%), lung (23.6%), and breast (11.6%). Eighty patients (33.2%) received palliative RT with a total of 241 treatment courses [median courses: 2 (range 1 – 21), median fractions: 5 (range 1 – 26)]. The most common sites of palliative RT were the brain (41%), spine (13.8%), and long bone (10%). Approximately half of patients (48.8%) received their first course of palliative RT before EP-CT enrollment versus 47.5% (n = 38) following completion of EP-CT and 3.7% (n = 3) during EP-CT. Median time on EP-CT by timing of first palliative RT treatment was 63 days (pre-EP-CT), 68.5 days (after EP-CT), and 156 days (during EP-CT). Among patients receiving palliative RT before or during EP-CT enrollment, there were fewer ED visits or hospitalizations versus patients who received palliative RT after EP-CT completion (30.1% vs 50.0%, P = 0.042). Conclusion In a cohort of advanced cancer patients enrolled in EP-CTs, palliative RT was utilized in one-third of patients at some point during their care. Those who received palliative RT prior to or during EP-CT enrollment experienced fewer ED visits and hospitalizations compared to those who received it after EP-CT. While rare, those patients who received palliative RT while on EP-CT experienced a markedly longer time on trial, highlighting the potential benefits of EP-CT trial designs that allow for palliative RT while remaining on study. Additional research is warranted to characterize the impact of palliative RT on the EP-CT trial experience.
Effect of type 2 diabetes-related non-enzymatic glycation on bone biomechanical properties

There is clear evidence that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) have increased fracture risk, despite having high bone mineral density (BMD) and body mass index (BMI). Thus, poor bone quality has been implicated as a mechanism contributing to diabetic skeletal fragility. Poor bone quality in T2D may result from the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which are post-translational modifications of collagen resulting from a spontaneous reaction between extracellular sugars and amino acid residues on collagen fibers. This review discusses what is known and what is not known regarding AGE accumulation and diabetic skeletal fragility, examining evidence from in vitro experiments to simulate a diabetic state, ex vivo studies in normal and diabetic human bone, and diabetic animal models. Key findings in the literature are that AGEs increase with age, affect bone cell behavior, and are altered with changes in bone turnover. Further, they affect bone mechanical properties and microdamage accumulation, and can be inhibited in vitro by various inhibitors and breakers (e.g. aminoguanidine, N-Phenacylthiazolium Bromide, vitamin B6). While a few studies report higher AGEs in diabetic animal models, there is little evidence of AGE accumulation in bone from diabetic patients. There are several limitations and inconsistencies in the literature that should be noted and studied in greater depth including understanding the discrepancies between glycation levels across reported studies, clarifying differences in AGEs in cortical versus cancellous bone, and improving the very limited data available regarding glycation content in diabetic animal and human bone, and its corresponding effect on bone material properties in T2D.
A closed form solution of the run-time of a sliding bead along a freely hanging slinky

The author has applied Lagrangian formalism to explore the kinematics of a bead sliding along a frictionless, freely hanging vertical Slinky. For instance, we derived a closed analytic equation for the run-time of the bead as a function of the traversed coil number. We have applied Mathematica to animate the 3-dimensional motion of the bead. The derived run-time is incorporated within the animation to clock the bead’s actual motion. With the help of Mathematica we have solved the inverse run-time equation and have expressed the traversed coil number as a function of the run-time. The latter is applied to further the analysis of the problem conducive to analytic time-dependent equations for the bead’s vertical position, its falling speed and its falling acceleration, and its angular velocity about the symmetry axis of the Slinky. It is also justified that a Slinky is a device capable of converting the gravitational potential energy of a sliding bead into pure rotational energy.
The Expanding World of hCG

In the years from 1975 to 1985 and 1986 to 2009, there were more publications and citations on clinical applications of hCG than in any other category; followed by receptor activity and biological functions of hCG. In contrast, there were no publications or citations prior to 1986 on hyperglycosylated hCG, degradation products of hCG, or diet/sports/HIV, and only two publications devoted to hCG standards and reference preparations. The lack of publications in these areas of emphasis underscores the timeliness and relevance of the reviews for each of these areas. The emphasis of the Department of Ob/Gyn at MCW on treatment of patients with trophoblast disease and the study of hCG in patients, as well as in hCG-secreting cell lines, led to the need to quantitatively measure hCG in large numbers of samples. In the areas of hCG biosynthesis, hCG genes/mRNA, hCG structure, and hCG receptor/biological functions, there was a jump in research activity in 1991–1994 with a corresponding increase in the number of citations starting in 1992. Several of these topics are being reviewed for the first time; others are continuously updated with new information emanating from the rapidly expanding field of hCG research.
Brain stem encephalitis.

. Yalaz, K. and Tinaztepe, K. (Departments of Paediatric Neurology and Paediatric Pathology, Hacettepe Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey). Brain stem encephalitis. Acta Paediat Scand 63: 235, 1974.–Since the clinical picture in brain stem encephalitis resembles that of various other neurological diseases and conditions, especially brain stem gliomas, and since the prognosis and treatment of these disorders differ greatly, accurate diagnosis is very important. Eight cases of brain stem encephalitis are presented; seven with signs indicating good prognosis, and the post-mortem findings of one fatal case. Analyses of the clinical and laboratory findings of our cases allowed the following conclusions: 1. There is a prodromal period of fever and general malaise before neurological symptoms appear. 2. Dysphagia, peripheral facial paralysis and pyramidal tract signs are usually present. 3. Although the clinical condition is grave at the onset of illness, the prognosis is good; in 7–8 weeks complete recovery may occur but facial nerve paralysis may persist. 4. Lymphocytes may be present in the cerebro-spinal fluid along with slight increase in protein. 5. Distortion of the fourth ventricle which is of extreme importance in the diagnosis of brain stem gliomas is also usually encountered in brain stem encephalitis.
Constrained rigid body stability and control

Summary Stability and control of a single or three-body constrained system are considered. Several different types of constrained motion are among them: the impact phase of a free body colliding with the ground, contact with a stationary or moving platform, movement on a frictionless surface or multiple rigid bodies connected by holonomic constraints, and moving as in the human arm. The single body constrained system is controlled by sliding mode control. The stability of the three-link arm at arbitrary equilibrium points and Lyapunov stability in the vicinity of the equilibrium point are formulated. The formulation and derivations are by computational tools, that is, state space analysis and matrices. The approach can easily be extended to larger systems with many rigid bodies such as skeletal systems. The formulation minimizes human labor in formulations and simulations. The sliding mode behavior of the model on a frictionless surface and the three link arm stability are demonstrated via simulation. Challenges for application to natural systems are outlined. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract 68: Tumor operational signaling pathways in an Nf1 mutant mouse model system

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Purpose/Objectives: NF1 is recognized as a tumor suppressor, via its role as a Ras GTPase activating protein. However, the precise mechanisms critical to tumor development in NF1 patients remain unclear. NF1 heterozygosity confers susceptibility to tumorigenesis, promoted by genotoxins such as radiation. We mutagenized Nf1 heterozygous mice using radiation to generate a diverse panel of Nf1 null tumors. Using these novel reagents we interrogated signaling pathways essential for tumor development and propagation towards identification of potential targets for therapeutic approaches. Materials/Methodology: Cell lines were derived from solid tumors developing after focal irradiation of Nf1 heterozygous mice. Radiation-induced tumors included mammary carcinomas, squamous carcinomas, and sarcomas. We employed a high-throughput toxicity screen of 94 conventional and targeted FDA-approved chemotherapeutics directed across diverse core cellular signaling pathways. Drug sensitivity profiles were determined by quantifying cell numbers after a 72 hour drug exposure, and tumor cell lines, non-transformed wild-type and Nf1 null MEFs, and mutant Ras-transformed cell lines (added as controls) were compared. Validation of identified drug sensitivities was performed by enzyme activity assays, phosphoprotein analysis, and soft-agar colony formation. Results: Nf1 mutant tumors failed to demonstrate a common drug sensitivity signature, but instead revealed a heterogeneous pattern of differential sensitivities, with subgroups clustering independent of tumor histology. However, radiation-induced Nf1 null tumor lines exhibited increased sensitivity to inhibition of the Ras-Erk and PI3K-mTOR axis as compared to non-transformed controls. Enhanced sensitivity to agents targeting cell cycle and survival pathways was also observed selectively within the Nf1 null tumor cell lines. Conclusions: These studies indicate that Nf1 null tumors, even those of the same histology, do not intrinsically share a signature sensitivity profile to pharmacologic inhibition. This suggests that therapeutic targeting of signaling pathways in Nf1 mutant tumors is not likely to be defined strictly by Nf1 loss alone. Notably, these Nf1 null tumors evidence varied operational dependence upon PI3K-mTOR and Raf-MEK activity. Current efforts are directed towards further resolving essential mediators, with the goal of more precisely defining signaling pathways which drive progression of the malignant state. Citation Format: Steve Braunstein, Rana Mroue, Brian Huang, Sourav Bandyopadhyay, Jean Nakamura. Tumor operational signaling pathways in an Nf1 mutant mouse model system. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 68. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-68
Evolution and function of ubiquitin-like protein-conjugation systems

Ubiquitin functions by covalently modifying other proteins. In the past few years, a surprising number of other proteins have been identified that, despite often being only slightly similar to ubiquitin, can also be attached to proteins. Newly discovered parallels between the activation of ubiquitin and the biosynthesis of certain enzyme cofactors now hint at the possible evolutionary origins of the ubiquitin system.
Carbocysteine and N-acetyl cysteine inhibit cigarette smoke mediated acetylation of the PMN chemoattractant peptide PGP

Cigarette smoke contains reactive compounds that result in epithelial damage and stimulate neutrophil chemotaxis, airway invasion, and collagen breakdown. Proline-Glycine-Proline (PGP) is a degradation product of collagen proteolysis. PGP activates neutrophil receptors stimulating further chemotaxis and inflammation. PGP and an N-terminal acetylated PGP (NAcPGP) are elevated in clinical samples of COPD patients and correlate with disease activity. NAcPGP confers increased potency for neutrophil stimulation and bioavailability as leukotriene A4 Hydrolase, responsible for PGP destruction, is incapable of acting on NAcPGP. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and carbocysteine (CC) are scavengers of reactive compounds and used as mucolytics in chronic lung diseases. We hypothesize that NAC and/or CC will prevent PGP acetylation by cigarette smoke. These compounds may provide better understanding of targeted therapeutics in cigarette smoking-related lung disease. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or condensate (CSC) was prepared and incubated with native PGP +/- NAC or CC. Samples were incubated and analyzed for NAcPGP. NAcPGP concentration was measured with mass spectrometry. This data was repeated in a vapor experiment, where PGP mixed with either NAC or CC was placed in a separate well from cigarette smoke in a 96-well plate and incubated. Our data demonstrate NAcPGP generation by cigarette smoke extract, condensate, and vapor that is inhibited by NAC or CC. Our data support a possible mechanism where reducing compounds such as NAC and CC may diminish lung inflammation in COPD and other chronic lung diseases by inhibiting PGP acetylation thereby facilitating PGP degradation.