cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Financial Conflict of Interest among Published Ventral Hernia Research

Background Discordance exists between author self-disclosure and the Open Payments Database in various surgical fields, but the effects of this discordance on study design and presentation are unknown. We hypothesized that, among ventral hernia publications, discordance exists between industry and physician self-reported conflicts of interest (COIs); authors disclose relevant COIs; and disclosure and relevant COIs affect study favorability. Study Design We conducted a double-blinded, prospective, observational study of published articles. PubMed was searched in reverse chronological order for clinical articles pertaining to ventral hernias. Authors' self-disclosed conflicts were compared with those on the Open Payments Database. Two reviewers blinded to article disclosure status determined jointly whether the COIs were relevant to the article. Three blinded referees independently voted whether each article was favorable to discussed subject matter. The primary end point was study favorability. Secondary outcomes included disclosure status and relevance. Results One hundred articles were included. Compared with authors with no COIs, authors with a COI, self-disclosed or not, were twice as likely to write results favorable to industry. Of those with a COI, most of the articles had a relevant COI (37 of 45 [82.2%]), and 25% of relevant COIs were not disclosed by authors. Among authors with a relevant COI, study favorability remained unchanged at 68.5% (control: no COI 33.3%; p Conclusions Within the ventral hernia literature, 70% of articles have a COI. Self-reporting of COI is discordant in 63% of articles. Twenty-five percent of relevant COI are not disclosed. Having a COI increases the chances that an article will cast a favorable impression on the company paying the authors by 200%.
A new approach for analysis of heart rate variability and QT variability in long-term ECG recording.

With the emergence of long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings that extend several days beyond the typical 24–48 h, the development of new tools to measure heart rate variability (HRV) and QT variability is needed to utilize the full potential of such extra-long-term ECG recordings. In this report, we propose a new nonlinear time–frequency analysis approach, the concentration of frequency and time (ConceFT), to study the HRV QT variability from extra-long-term ECG recordings. This approach is a generalization of Short Time Fourier Transform and Continuous Wavelet Transform approaches. As proof of concept, we used 14-day ECG recordings to show that the ConceFT provides a sharpened and stabilized spectrogram by taking the phase information of the time series and the multitaper technique into account. The ConceFT has the potential to provide a sharpened and stabilized spectrogram for the heart rate variability and QT variability in 14-day ECG recordings.
Universal and Personal Helplessness: A Test of the Reformulated Model.

The distinction between personal and universal helplessness in college students was investigated by employing the classical triadic learned helplessness design. In agreement with learned helplessness theory, the group exposed to noncontingency was found to manifest longer latencies on Levine task solution than contingent or control groups. Contrary to the reformulated model’s predictions, however, this deficit was observed only in the universal helplessness condition. No emotional deficits were revealed by the Adjective Checklist.
Sex Therapy With LDS Couples

Recently, Allen Bergin in his President's Message in the Spring 1981 AMCAP Newsletter presesnted a statement of his views on sex therapy suggesting that is merely represents "modern sensual technologies" which "too frequently offer sensual substitutes for genuine intimacy" (1981a, p.1). It is our belief thet Dr. Bergin has presented an extreme view which some members may have misinterpreted as an AMCAP position paper rather than an individual's opinion. The authors, having specialized in the treatment of sexual dysfunction as well as in marital therapy, will present an alternative viewpoint on the value and need for sex therapy among LDS couples.
Competing Narratives: Musical Aptitude, Race, and Equity

Carl E. Seashore developed the first music aptitude tests at the beginning of the twentieth century. Used as entrance requirements, research tools, and methods for determining who received musical educations in schools, these tests and resulting publications functioned as discursive texts in the emerging field of study known as the psychology of music. This chapter examines competing narratives running through documents in the American eugenics societies as well as the National Association for Music Education during the first half of the twentieth century. This chapter challenges constructions of race and intelligence that continue to serve as foundational constructs in music education and highlights counternarratives in research literature that may yield more productive and equitable educational practices.
Relating Net Nitrogen Input in the Mississippi River Basin to Nitrate Flux in the Lower Mississippi River: A Comparison of Approaches

A quantitative understanding of the relationship between terrestrial N inputs and riverine N flux can help guide conservation, policy, and adaptive management efforts aimed at preserving or restoring water quality. The objective of this study was to compare recently published approaches for relating terrestrial N inputs to the Mississippi River basin (MRB) with measured nitrate flux in the lower Mississippi River. Nitrogen inputs to and outputs from the MRB (1951 to 1996) were estimated from state-level annual agricultural production statistics and NO y (inorganic oxides of N) deposition estimates for 20 states that comprise 90% of the MRB. A model with water yield and gross N inputs accounted for 85% of the variation in observed annual nitrate flux in the lower Mississippi River, from 1960 to 1998, but tended to underestimate high nitrate flux and overestimate low nitrate flux. A model that used water yield and net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs (NANI) accounted for 95% of the variation in riverine N flux. The NANI approach accounted for N harvested in crops and assumed that crop harvest in excess of the nutritional needs of the humans and livestock in the basin would be exported from the basin. The U.S. White House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment (CENR) developed a more comprehensive N budget that included estimates of ammonia volatilization, denitrification, and exchanges with soil organic matter. The residual N in the CENR budget was weakly and negatively correlated with observed riverine nitrate flux. The CENR estimates of soil N mineralization and immobilization suggested that there were large (2000 kg N ha -1 ) net losses of soil organic N between 1951 and 1996. When the CENR N budget was modified by assuming that soil organic N levels have been relatively constant after 1950, and ammonia volatilization losses are redeposited within the basin, the trend of residual N closely matched temporal variation in NANI and was positively correlated with riverine nitrate flux in the lower Mississippi River. Based on results from applying these three modeling approaches, we conclude that although the NANI approach does not address several processes that influence the N cycle, it appears to focus on the terms that can be estimated with reasonable certainty and that are correlated with riverine N flux.
Managing the Risks of FOIA-able Trade Secrets

The primary purpose of the Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is to provide federal agency records and information to the public and thereby open the inner workings of federal government to public review. Although the goal of open government is certainly laudable, it can have unintended consequences when businesses dealing with the government have their trade secrets or confidential information “FOIAed” by and then revealed to a competitor. It is, therefore, the aim of this article to synthesize the legal framework created by the intersection of FOIA and trade secret law and to apply this framework to the strategic and tactical decisions businesses pursuing a federal government contract would likely face. The resulting reference point in these areas of diverging law and the proposed recommendations are intended to assist business executives and legal counsel in their decision-making process and thereby limit their own personal liability under the business judgment rule.
Multiple hormone interactions in the development of mammary gland in vitro.

Publisher Summary Multiple hormone dependencies provide the investigator with opportunities for chemical dissection that facilitate analysis of sequential events occurring during development. This, in turn, aids the delineation of the action of individual hormones. This chapter discusses some of the hormone-mediated processes that occur during development of the mouse mammary gland in vitro. During the first three postnatal weeks, the cells in the epithelial cord undergo little, if any, proliferation. In the course of the next month or two, presumably under the influence of larger amounts of estrogen and progesterone during puberty, the epithelial cells multiply so as to form ducts and primitive alveoli along the connective tissue septa. With the attainment of sexual maturity at the age of 2–3 months, mammary epithelial-cell proliferation virtually ceases. During pregnancy and the early postpartum period, epithelial growth resumes so that the lactating gland contains ducts and alveoli in profusion. Functional and cytological innovations also take place at this time. Within a few weeks after the end of lactation, the gland reassumes the histological and functional profile characteristic of the tissue in the mature nonpregnant animal. The cycle is repeated with the onset of another pregnancy. In all the studies described in the chapter, an organ-culture method was used. Expiants were supported on siliconized lens paper that floated on Medium 199 containing penicillin and various combinations of crystalline beef insulin, hydrocortisone, and ovine prolactin.
Bending of perforated plates with square penetration patterns

Abstract This paper presents the application of the field equations governing the bending of plates, with shear deformation present, to the study of perforated plates. Results presented here are the effective elastic constants in bending for a wide range of ligament efficiencies and depth to pitch ratios. The point-matching or collocation method was used to determine the solution coefficients with numerical calculations carried out on a GE 635 computer.
A social equity analysis of the U.S. public transportation system based on job accessibility

Access to quality public transportation is critical for employment, especially for low-income and minority populations. This study contributes to previous work on equity analyses of the U.S. public transportation system by including the 45 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in a single analysis. Year-2014 Census demographic data were combined with an existing 2014 dataset of transit job accessibility. Then, transit equality and justice indicators were developed and a regression analysis was performed to explore trends in transit job accessibility by race and income. The findings suggest that within individual MSAs, low-income populations and minorities have the highest transit job accessibility. However, the overall transit ridership is low, and in certain MSAs with high transit job accessibility both high and low income populations have high access levels but middle income populations do not. Within individual MSAs, on average, accessibility differences by income are greater than accessibility differences by race. The relative importance of race versus income for injustice increases with MSA size. In upper mid-size and large MSAs, differences by race increase. Also, the differences by race are greater among low-income populations. Accessibility-related equality and justice indicators are only one of many issues that comprise the wider discussion of equity.
EFFECT OF OMECAMTIV MECARBIL IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND HEART FAILURE WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION: RESULTS FROM COSMIC-HF

Atrial fibrillation/ flutter (AF) is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the influence of AF on the response to the selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), in patients with HFrEF. COSMIC-HF (NCT 01786512) was a Phase 2 multicenter, randomized,
Surgical Resection for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Systematic Review

Background Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) account for 1%–2% of primary central nervous system tumors. Until recently, treatment has centered on biopsy, radiotherapy, and high-dose methotrexate, without a clear role for cytoreductive surgery. The objective of this article is to compare the impact of biopsy versus cytoreductive surgery in outcomes of patients with PCNSL, including postoperative complications and survival. Methods We performed a systematic review of literature published from January 1, 1968 to May 2, 2018 related to PCNSL treatment in patients undergoing biopsy or resection. Data on morbidity, progression-free survival, and overall survival were extracted and analyzed. Results A total of 1291 nonduplicate citations were identified, with 244 articles selected for full-text review. Twenty-four articles were included for data abstraction including 2 level IIb studies, 4 level IIIb studies, and the remaining 18 articles representing level IVb studies. Of these articles, 15 failed to show benefit with cytoreductive surgery; most of these articles included relatively small sample sizes and predated standardization of high-dose systemic methotrexate treatment. Larger, more recent series included 9 articles providing evidence in support of cytoreductive surgery. Patient age, functional status, and treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation were associated with improved survival across studies. Conclusions The treatment of PCNSL is challenging and ever-evolving. Earlier, smaller studies failed to show the benefit of cytoreductive surgery over biopsy in patients with PCNSL. Larger, more recent series seem to show the possible benefit of cytoreductive surgery in PCNSL. Future well-designed prospective studies may help further elucidate the role of resection in the modern treatment of PCNSL.
King Rother and His Bride: Quest and Counter-Quests

'King Rother,' a twelfth-century bridal-quest epic, occupies an important place in the history of German literature. The earliest surviving and structurally most sophisticated of the so-called minstrel epics, verse narratives once assumed to have been recited by itinerant minstrels before a courtly audience, it has its roots in German folklore and documents the transition from orality to the culture of the book. The text belongs to the subgenre of the perilous bridal quest, in which the disguised wooer deceives the bride's father and abducts her with her consent. This simple quest structure is doubled, if the wooer must win his bride a second time from her father, who has rescued her. The bride is almost always a passive figure in these events, the main conflict being the disparity in status between the wooer and his prospective father-in-law. 'King Rother' is structurally complex, as the present study is the first to recognize: the quest structure is doubled not only in the wooer's second quest, but also in the bride's own actions - including her use of deception in a parallel quest for her wooer. This underscores her equality in status, which is her essential qualification to be his wife. The study includes an important English-language summary of scholarship on 'King Rother,' on the minstrel epics, and on the bridal quest. Thomas Kerth is Associate Professor of German at Stony Brook University.
Parametric Study of a Continuous Scanning Method Used to Characterize an Acoustic Field

A novel approach utilizing the acoustic emissions of a vibrating source is developed to analyze the relationship between the source characteristics and its acoustic field. In previous work, the authors presented a new methodology for sound field characterization based on a Continuous Acoustic Scanning (CAS) approach. As a part of that work, the feasibility of the proposed method was established by validating the theory developed by a roving microphone experiment. The CAS approach utilizes the side bands in a fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the time-based-data collected by a roving microphone. The present work herein, is an extension and in-depth study of the different parameters affecting these side bands.The work presented in this paper simulates a continuous acoustic scan of a simple-source dipole. Various parameters affecting the acoustic field characterization are studied. The variables considered in this paper include the distance between the microphone and the sound source, the roving speed of the microphone, the length of the sweep and the amplitude of the dipole velocity.
TELEVISION, COMPUTERS AND THE BEHAVIOR OF SICK BUGS

ABSTRACT This paper will describe the goals, instrumentation and users view of a second generation television – computer system to observe and quantify the behavior of healthy and environmentally stressed organisms. This behavior studying machine, labeled the Bugsystem, is still undergoing development for the analysis of motion in three dimensions of fish in a 4-foot diameter tank and is being used by research biologists in two dimensions to observe and attempt to classify normal and abnormal behavioral patterns for a variety of micro-organisms. The system relies heavily upon the use of an interactive minicomputer system with graphics capabilities, a specially built piece of hardware dubbed the Bugwatcher that preprocesses the video image and greatly reduces it information content, a FORTRAN based monitor for interpreting user commands from a keyboard and a sophisticated virtual file system for accessing and creating data sets.
Treatment of Oncologic Emergencies in the Neurocritical Care Unit

Neuro-oncologic patients are at high risk for many adverse events, and the severity of these events varies greatly. While some may only require monitoring in the neurointensive care unit (NCCU), others may be lethal if intervention is not performed immediately. Furthermore, some patients may be admitted with signs of neurologic pathology but have no known oncologic history. Rapid evaluation and diagnosis of these patients is vital in order to prevent the mortality and morbidity associated with neuro-oncologic emergencies. This allows the NCCU team to deliver the most effective treatments and to push for better patient outcomes. This chapter summarizes the presentation, hospital course, and management of four of the most common neuro-oncologic emergencies, including elevated intracranial pressure, pituitary tumor apoplexy, acute tumor hemorrhage, and status epilepticus.
LeafCutterMD: an algorithm for outlier splicing detection in rare diseases.

Motivation Next-generation sequencing is rapidly improving diagnostic rates in rare Mendelian diseases, but even with whole genome or whole exome sequencing, the majority of cases remain unsolved. Increasingly, RNA sequencing is being used to solve many cases that evade diagnosis through sequencing alone. Specifically, the detection of aberrant splicing in many rare disease patients suggests that identifying RNA splicing outliers is particularly useful for determining causal Mendelian disease genes. However, there is as yet a paucity of statistical methodologies to detect splicing outliers. Results We developed LeafCutterMD, a new statistical framework that significantly improves the previously published LeafCutter in the context of detecting outlier splicing events. Through simulations and analysis of real patient data, we demonstrate that LeafCutterMD has better power than the state-of-the-art methodology while controlling false-positive rates. When applied to a cohort of disease-affected probands from the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, LeafCutterMD recovered all aberrantly spliced genes that had previously been identified by manual curation efforts. Availability and implementation The source code for this method is available under the opensource Apache 2.0 license in the latest release of the LeafCutter software package available online at http://davidaknowles.github.io/leafcutter. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Regenerative Potential of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Neural Tissue: A Pragmatic Review.

Objectives Low-intensity ultrasound (LIU)/low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) may influence nerve tissue regeneration and axonal changes in the context of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and in the animal model. The purpose of this pragmatic review is to understand the current knowledge for the effects of low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound in the animal and human model and determine the future directions of this novel field. Design Pragmatic review. Methods We performed a literature search of available material using OVID, EmBase, and PubMed for LIU/LIPUS, all of which were preclinical trials, case reports, and case series using animal models. For CTS, a literature search was performed on PubMed (1954 to 2019), CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library, 1970 to 2018), Web of Science (1954 to 2019), and SCOPUS (1954 to 2019) to retrieve randomized controlled trials. Results Eight articles were discussed showing the potential effects of LIU on nerve regeneration in the animal model. Each of these trials demonstrated evidence of nerve regeneration in the animal model using LIPUS or LIU. Seven randomized controlled trials were reviewed for ultrasound effects for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, each showing clinical efficacy comparable to other treatment modalities. Conclusions LIU/LIPUS is a promising and noninvasive means of facilitating nerve regeneration in the animal model and in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Although many of the trials included in this review are preclinical, each demonstrates promising outcomes that could eventually be extrapolated into human studies.
Effects of unequal blockage ratio and obstacle spacing on wave speed and overpressure during flame propagation in stoichiometric H 2 /O 2

Experiments on flame propagation and detonation onset behind two solid obstructions were carried out in premixed stoichiometric hydrogen–oxygen mixtures at 20 kPa in a closed-ended tube. Obstacles with three different blockage ratios (25%, 40%, and 80%) were used, and the arrangement between the obstacles was changed in terms of blockage distribution (increasing, decreasing, and equivalent); obstacle distance (38, 76, and 114 mm); and opening geometry. Changes in the obstacle pair characteristics resulted in shocks with distinct intensities and averaged Mach numbers, $$ \overline{{M_{\text{s}} }} $$ , that propagated into the undisturbed mixture; $$ \overline{{M_{\text{s}} }} $$ varied from 1.3 to 4.5 for the range of obstacle pairs tested. Four distinct deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) timescale groups were identified with average values varying between 0.7 and 12 ms. Obstacle pairs with increasing blockage ratio (25–80% and 40–80%) resulted in jet ignition downstream of the second obstacle, reducing the DDT length and timescale significantly when compared to the other obstruction combinations investigated. Soot foil records showed that detonation onset was via ignition from one or more hot spots near the flame front for all obstacle pairs that resulted in jet ignition. The results from this work suggest that channels with irregular obstacle patterns can experience faster detonation onset depending on the position of the obstructions relative to the ignition point.
Photodiode Calibration Comparison between Electro-Optic Sampling and Heterodyne Measurements up to 75 GHz

We present the comparison of a photodiode's measured frequency response calibrated with an electro-optic sampling system and a heterodyne system up to 75 GHz, along with the systems' respective 95% confidence intervals. A brief description of each system and its known sources of uncertainties are provided. The two systems agree to within their respective uncertainties at most frequencies.
Three-dimensional super-resolution ultrasound imaging of chicken embryos - A validation framework for analysis of microvascular morphology

The purpose of this present study was to improve the quantification of microvascular networks depicted in three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) images and compare results with matched brightfield microscopy and B-mode ultrasound (US) images. Standard contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) images were collected using a high-frequency US scanner (Vevo 3100, FUJIFILM VisualSonics Inc) equipped with an MX250 linear array transducer. Using a developing chicken embryo as our model system, US imaging was performed after administration of a custom microbubble (MB) contrast agent. Guided by stereo microscopy, MBs were introduced into a perfused blood vessel by microinjection with a glass capillary needle. Volume data was collected by mechanically scanning the US transducer throughout a tissue volume-of-interest (VOI) in $90\ \mu\mathrm{m}$ step increments. CEUS images were collected at each increment and stored as in-phase/quadrature (IQ) data ( $N=2000$ at 152 frames per sec). SR-US images were created for each cross-sectional plane using established data processing methods, and all were then used to form a final 3D volume for subsequent quantification of morphological features. Vessel diameter quantifications from 3D SR-US data exhibited an average error of 1.9% when compared with microscopy images, whereas measures from B-mode US images had an average error of 75.3%. Overall, 3D SR-US images clearly depicted the microvascular network of the developing chicken embryo and measurements of microvascular morphology achieved better accuracy compared to traditional B-mode US.
Pathologic Complete Response Following Neoadjuvant Therapy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A National Cancer Database Analysis on Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes.

IntroductionWith advances in multimodal therapy, survival rates in gastric cancer have significantly improved over the last two decades. Neoadjuvant therapy increases the likelihood of achieving ne...
An Analysis of Congressional Career Decisions, 1947-86'

Most previous research on congressional career decisions has focused on one of two bin choices-between retiring and running for reelection and seeking higher office. But most of the time, representatives face all three choices simultaneously. Employing a "mother logit" model, we estimate the effectws of relevant variables both on pairwise comparisons (conditional probabilites) and on the unconditional probabilities of choosing each one of these three alternatives. Probably most intriguing is our finding that a member's age little or no effect upon the unconditional probability of running for reelection. The interrelatedness career options is seen particularly clearly in the case if incumbents who had been restricted out of their seats. When they had an opportunity to run for higher office, they were likely to take it. Only when they lacked such an opportunity were they more likely than other members to opt for retirement.
Indications for Maternal Echocardiography in Detecting Disease and the Impact on Pregnancy Management.

Objective Few obstetric-specific guidelines detail the indications for screening echocardiography in pregnancy. The objective of the study is to examine the association of common indications for maternal echocardiography with the likelihood of abnormality identification, pregnancy management alteration, and conformity with current American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) guidelines. Study Design This retrospective cohort analysis categorized all echocardiograms performed within pregnancy and the first month postpartum within a tertiary health system to correlate indications with abnormal findings. Results Data from 226 echocardiograms were analyzed from 205 women. The most common indication for initial echocardiography was cardiac symptoms (34.6%). History of cardiac disease was the only indication demonstrating a significant association with an abnormal finding on initial echocardiography (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6; p = 0.006). Postpartum status (OR: 4.9; p Conclusion Although the presence of cardiac symptoms or history of diabetes failed to demonstrate association with abnormal echocardiographic findings, a history of prior cardiac disease, tobacco use, multiparity, and postpartum status were factors associated with identification of abnormal findings on initial maternal echocardiography. The ACCF appropriateness criteria for obtaining echocardiography can be applied to pregnant women with consideration for these additional risk factors. Key Points
Estimating the respiratory rate from ECG and PPG using machine learning techniques

Abstract Today’s methods for estimating respiratory rate (RR) from the electrocardiograph (ECG) and the photoplethysmogram (PPG) are not good at distinguishing between periods of low- and high-quality data or raw signals. The goal of this work is to present an alternative way of estimating respiratory rate from ECG and PPG by using machine learning to improve the accuracy of estimation. The datasets used in this work are extracted from a publicly available source, the BIDMC dataset. The proposed methods are based on respiratory signals extracted from raw signals and use support vector machine (SVM) and neural networks (NNs) to estimate respiratory rate. The performance using a window size (32 s) is compared with that of current methods. The proposed methods achieved comparable accuracy to current methods when the number of classes is low. Once the number of classes increases, the accuracy drops significantly. This work demonstrates that the use of machine learning has more potential than commonly thought, and it is necessary to apply it and carry out further studies and research on existing methods.
Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for degenerated stentless aortic bioroots.

Background: Open surgical repair of a failed valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) or stentless bioroot aortic root replacement (bio-ARR) entails significant operative risks. Whether valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV-TAVR) is feasible in patients with a previous VSARR or stentless bio-ARR remains unclear, given lingering concerns about the ill-defined aortic annulus in these patients and the potential for coronary obstruction. We present our experience with patients who had a previous VSARR or stentless bio-ARR and underwent ViV-TAVR to repair a degenerated aortic valve with combined valvular disease, aortic insufficiency and aortic stenosis. Methods: In this retrospective data review, we identified and analyzed consecutive patients with a previous VSARR or stentless bio-ARR who underwent ViV-TAVR between December 1, 2014 and August 31, 2019. Results: ViV-TAVR was performed in twelve high-risk patients with previous VSARR or bio-ARR during the study period. Of these, seven received Medtronic Freestyle porcine stentless bioprosthetic aortic roots, three received homograft aortic roots, one underwent a Ross procedure and one underwent VSARR. ViV-TAVR restored satisfactory valve function in all patients, and technical success was 100%. No patient had more than mild regurgitation after implantation. No thirty-day mortality was seen. One patient had major bleeding after transapical access, one patient had a transient ischemic stroke, and one patient needed permanent pacemaker implantation. At a median last follow-up of 21.5 months (interquartile range, 9.0–69.0 months), all patients remained alive and had satisfactory valve function. Conclusions: In this study, ViV-TAVR was a clinically effective option for treating patients with a failed stentless bio-ARR or previous VSARR. Short-term and intermediate-term results after these procedures were favorable. These findings may have important implications for treating high-risk patients with structural aortic root deterioration and call for better transcatheter heart valves that are suitable for treating aortic insufficiency.
Elements of Moral Cognition: Thomas Nagel and the Competence–Performance Distinction

It appears to me that in Ethics, as in all other philosophical studies, the difficulties and disagreements, of which its history is full, are mainly due to a very simple cause: namely to the attempt to answer questions, without first discovering precisely what question it is which you desire to answer. I do not know how far this source of error would be done away, if philosophers would try to discover what question they were asking, before they set about to answer it; for the work of analysis and distinction is often very difficult: we may often fail to make the necessary discovery, even though we make a definite attempt to do so. But I am inclined to think that in many cases a resolute attempt would be sufficient to ensure success; so that, if only this attempt were made, many of the most glaring difficulties and disagreements in philosophy would disappear. – G. E. Moore, Principia Ethica NAGEL'S CRITICISMS OF RAWLS' LINGUISTIC ANALOGY Thomas Nagel's criticisms of Rawls' linguistic analogy may be found in his 1973 review of A Theory of Justice , “Rawls on Justice” (Nagel 1973). Nagel begins by summarizing Rawls' conception of moral theory in broad terms: Rawls believes that it will be more profitable to investigate the foundations of ethics when there are more substantive ethical results to seek the foundations of. […]
Fatigue Monitoring in Nuclear Power Plants

During design phase, stress and fatigue analyses are made in order to design safety-related components of the pressure-retaining boundary in nuclear power plants. The design transients are based on the planned operation procedures for the different nuclear primary and auxiliary systems. These design transients are always assumed conservatively with respect to the temperature differences and the expected thermal gradients. A measurement program carried out in a German nuclear power plant in 1982 showed that the real operating conditions of the plant partly differed from the assumptions and predictions. It was quite clear that this insight will also have a significant influence on the fatigue calculations made so far; however, more detailed analyses on the basis of the measured data showed that fatigue limits were not exceeded. This experience also revealed the big potential of making fatigue analyses on the basis of measured data. Within the following years, the first developments were made for the permanent monitoring of component fatigue. Meanwhile, fatigue monitoring plays an important role in structural health monitoring in nuclear power plants. Particularly for utilities, which are planning lifetime extension for their plants, it is an invaluable advantage if they have measured data of the real operating behavior of their systems and components available. With such data, the current real fatigue usage factor can be easily calculated for most cases and therefore an extrapolation for future development can be made. This article shows the development of such a fatigue monitoring system till the current state and deals with the benefits for the units that have implemented such systems. It also describes the studies that are necessary for the definition of the locations to be monitored. Furthermore, the current state of the technical devices used for monitoring is described. These include the mechanical components as well as the electronic systems needed for the acquisition of data. It is also necessary to mention the procedures used for evaluation of the data. Different methodologies from cycle counting to fatigue analyses based on monitored data are described and examples are given. Also, existing alternative fatigue monitoring systems from other engineering companies and manufacturers are briefly outlined. Finally, new developments that may come up in the future are also discussed. Keywords: fatigue monitoring; fatigue mechanism; fatigue-causing phenomena; thermocouples; measurement section; measurement electronic system; evaluation; cycle counting; stress-based fatigue; NPP operation; direct measurement
Abstract 15894: STAT3 Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis via Post-Translational Modification of GSK-3β and Bad in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Introduction: Although STAT3 signaling is known to impact cell death/survival, whether STAT3 plays any specific role in MSC apoptosis remains unclear. Recent studies suggest that phosphorylated STAT3 translocates to mitochondria to regulate apoptosis; however, downstream signaling events remain virtually unknown. Hypothesis: STAT3 inhibits MSC apoptosis via mitochondrial signaling. Methods and Results: Treatment of MSCs with interleukin-6 (IL-6)+epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 30 min resulted in marked increase in pTyr-STAT3 (1096±104% vs. control), p-GSK-3β (263±24% vs. control), and p-Bad (474±27% vs. control), and caused mitochondrial translocation of pTyr-STAT3. Further, 2 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation caused an increase in cleaved (active) caspase-9 (506±96% vs. control) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1/89 kDa fragment, 793±53% vs. control) in MSCs. These apoptotic changes were inhibited by pretreatment of MSCs with IL-6+EGF for 30 min prior to hypoxia, suggesting that mitochondria-mediated pathway of apoptosis is inhibited. Also, pretreatment of MSCs with STAT3 inhibitor WP1066 blocked IL-6+EGF-induced mitochondrial translocation of pTyr-STAT3 and reversed the inhibitory effects of IL-6+EGF-on hypoxia-induced caspase-9 activation and PARP-1 cleavage. Immunoprecipitation of IL-6+EGF-treated homogenates with anti-pTyr-STAT3 antibodies followed by immunoblotting showed that pTyr-STAT3 physically interacts (co-precipitated) with p-GSK-3β and p-Bad, but not with p-PI3K/p85α (Figure). Importantly, phosphorylated GSK-3β and Bad are known to inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis. Conclusions: We conclude that STAT3 functions as a kinase to modulate downstream GSK-3β and Bad that inhibit hypoxia-induced apoptosis in MSCs. These data indicate that pTyr-STAT3 interacts with GSK-3β and Bad, leading to formation of two novel p-STAT3-p-GSK-3β and pSTAT3-p-Bad signaling pathways that regulate cell death.
Angiographic demonstration of coronary ostial stenosis. Report of a case probably due to syphilis.

Abstract A case of syphilitic narrowing of the right coronary ostium demonstrated in vivo by coronary cineangiography and confirmed at autopsy is presented. Accurate establishment of this diagnosis is important in view of the recently developed surgical technics for its treatment.
Activation of cerebral cytokine gene expression and its correlation with onset of reactive astrocyte and acute-phase response gene expression in scrapie.

Abstract The pathogenesis of scrapie, a transmissible subacute spongiform encephalopathy, is unclear. However, certain aspects of the known cellular and molecular neuropathology in scrapie led us to hypothesize that cytokines could mediate cerebral pathological changes in this neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, expression of multiple cytokine genes in the brain and peripheral organs of scrapie-infected mice was examined. Late in the course of scrapie, expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), and IL-1 beta mRNA was markedly increased in the brain but not the spleen, kidneys, or liver. In time course studies, scrapie-infected mice exhibited increased cerebral expression of the TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta mRNAs by week 15 postinoculation--a time point that coincided with the onset of clinical symptoms. Thereafter, the levels of these cytokine transcripts increased progressively to the terminal stages of of the disease (week 25). To determine the relationship of the increased cerebral expression of the cytokine mRNAs to the development of pathological changes in scrapie, we examined the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene (a marker for astrocytosis) and the murine acute-phase response gene homologous to the alpha 1-antichymotrypsin gene (designated EB22/5.3). Markedly increased expression of both the glial fibrillary acidic protein and EB22/5.3 mRNAs was observed in the brain but not the peripheral organs of scrapie-infected mice. The increased expression of both these gene products also occurred at week 15 of infection and, thereafter, increased progressively to the terminal stages of the disease. Therefore, infection of mice with scrapie resulted in significant increases in the expression of the TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta gene products, whose pattern correlated with the onset and development of molecular and clinical pathological changes. Since scrapie is known not to evoke an immune response, the present findings strongly suggest the existence of a localized cerebral host response to the agent during which proinflammatory cytokines could be key pathogenic mediators.
Adaptive inference for the mean of a Gaussian process in functional data

Summary. We propose and analyse fully data-driven methods for inference about the mean function of a Gaussian process from a sample of independent trajectories of the process, observed at random time points and corrupted by additive random error. Our methods are based on thresholded least squares estimators relative to an approximating function basis. The variable threshold levels are determined from the data and the resulting estimates adapt to the unknown sparsity of the mean function relative to the approximating basis. These results are obtained via novel oracle inequalities, which are further used to derive the rates of convergence of our mean estimates. In addition, we construct confidence balls that adapt to the unknown regularity of the mean and covariance function of the stochastic process. They are easy to compute since they do not require explicit estimation of the covariance operator of the process. A simulation study shows that the new method performs very well in practice and is robust against large variations that may be introduced by the random-error terms.
What Predicts Changes in Useful Field of View Test Performance

The Useful Field of View Test (UFOV) has been used as an examination of age-related changes in visual processing and cognition and as an indicator of everyday performance outcomes, particularly driving, for over 20 years. How UFOV performance changes with age and what may impact such changes have not previously been investigated longitudinally. Predictors of change in UFOV performance over a 5-year period among control group participants (N=690) from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study were examined. Random effects models were estimated with 4-subtest-total UFOV as the outcome and with baseline age, education, gender, race, visual acuity, depressive symptoms, mental status, and self-rated health, as well as attrition, as predictors. UFOV performance generally followed a curvilinear pattern, improving and then declining over time. Only increased age was consistently related to greater declines in UFOV performance over time. UFOV and Digit Symbol Substitution subtest, a standard measure of cognitive speed, had similar trajectories of change. The implications of these results are discussed.
A GABA-activated chloride-conductance not blocked by picrotoxin on spiny lobster neuromuscular preparations.

Abstract Conductance increases to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were recorded in the gm6b and opener muscle of the spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus and P. argus. GABA-evoked responses were insensitive to picrotoxin at concentrations as high as 5 X 10(-5) M. Some blockade by picrotoxin was observed at higher concentrations. In normal physiological saline, the reversal potential of the Panulirus GABA-induced response was near the resting potential. The reversal potential was unaffected by reductions in sodium and calcium. Reduction of chloride by 50% resulted in a greater than 10 mV shift in the reversal potential of the GABA-induced response. Muscimol was able to mimic the action of GABA while baclofen was without effect. Bicuculline was a weak blocker. Avermectin B1a irreversibly increased the chloride permeability of the gm6b membrane. This conductance increase was blocked by picrotoxin over a range of concentrations similar to those required for blockade of the GABA-induced response. GABA-induced responses of the gm6b muscle of Homarus americanus were blocked almost completely by picrotoxin 10(-6) M. Sensitivity to picrotoxin is not invariably associated with GABA-activated chloride-mediated conductance increases. It is suggested that alteration in the binding-site for picrotoxin on the GABA-activated chloride-ion channel does not change other functional characteristics of the GABA-induced response.
Current status of permanent total artificial hearts

Abstract Pneumatic total artificial hearts, although demonstrating utility as temporary mechanical circulatory support devices, have not demonstrated a great deal of promise as permanent cardiac replacements. The increasing number of patients who would be candidates for total heart replacement suggests a large role for a permanent implantable total artificial heart. To that end, the Pennsylvania State University is developing an electric motordriven total artificial heart; the results with implants in calves are encouraging. In this device, a roller-screw mechanism is used to translate the rotation of a brushless direct-current motor into rectilinear motion of a pusherplate assembly, which in turn empties the blood sacs. The total artificial heart of the future will function under automatic control without percutaneous leads, and this should provide the patient with a nearly normal lifestyle. Although further experimental efforts are necessary to prepare the device for clinical trials, the technology to provide a safe and reliable electric blood-pump system is at hand.
Development of Layered Polymer Nanocomposites Using Supercritical Fluid Technology

Layered organic polymer nanocomposites were developed utilizing supercritical fluid technology and solid-state polymerization. Intimately mixed composite particles consisting of one amorphous and one crystalline component were precipitated by the method known as rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS). The crystalline component was 2,5-distyrylpyrazine (DSP), a diolefinic monomer with solid-state reactivity. The amorphous component was a fluoroalkyl acrylate (FAA) polymer. The DSP monomer, though normally highly crystalline, was rapidly precipitated in a nonequilibrium state and recrystallized and polymerized in the solid state. The process of DSP monomer reorganization within the organic polymer matrix resulted in the formation of well-organized alternating nanoscale layers of DSP and FAA phases throughout the particle volume.
Decentering Gender: Bisexual Identity as an Expression of a Non-Dichotomous Worldview

The study of bisexual identity has undergone a number of theoretical shifts in the past several decades, moving from the dismissal of bisexuality as a transitional period to the treatment of bisexuality as a legitimate sexual identity based on gendered desire (or attraction to men and women). A third tradition understands bisexuality as an identity that contests the dichotomous sex/gender structure. Working within this third tradition, we present the results of two studies that conceptualize a bisexual identity as the expression of a non-dichotomous worldview. The concept of world-view is imported from the field of ethnic studies and examined in relation to bisexual identity. We present nine themes that emerged from our qualitative data analysis and consider the relations between these themes and worldview. We conclude with potential directions for future research in the arena of worldview and sexual identity.