cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trans-ethnic genome-wide association studies: advantages and challenges of mapping in diverse populations

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are the method most often used by geneticists to interrogate the human genome, and they provide a cost-effective way to identify the genetic variants underpinning complex traits and diseases. Most initial GWASs have focused on genetically homogeneous cohorts from European populations given the limited availability of ethnic minority samples and so as to limit population stratification effects. Transethnic studies have been invaluable in explaining the heritability of common quantitative traits, such as height, and in examining the genetic architecture of complex diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. They provide an opportunity for large-scale signal replication in independent populations and for cross-population meta-analyses to boost statistical power. In addition, transethnic GWASs enable prioritization of candidate genes, fine-mapping of functional variants, and potentially identification of SNPs associated with disease risk in admixed populations, by taking advantage of natural differences in genomic linkage disequilibrium across ethnically diverse populations. Recent efforts to assess the biological function of variants identified by GWAS have highlighted the need for large-scale replication, meta-analyses and fine-mapping across worldwide populations of ethnically diverse genetic ancestries. Here, we review recent advances and new approaches that are important to consider when performing, designing or interpreting transethnic GWASs, and we highlight existing challenges, such as the limited ability to handle heterogeneity in linkage disequilibrium across populations and limitations in dissecting complex architectures, such as those found in recently admixed populations.
Gradient sensitivity reduction in current mirrors with non-rectangular layout structures

A new current mirror structure using a non-rectangular dual-drain device with a shared channel to reduce the matching sensitivity to linear parameter gradients is introduced. The new structures are compared with conventional common centroid layouts for threshold voltage gradients at all angles across the active area of a mirror. Results show that in some applications, significant improvement in matching characteristics with the proposed non-rectangular structures over what is achievable with conventional layout techniques can be achieved.
The Effect of Selection for Shank Length on Sexual Maturity and Early Egg Weight in Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets

Abstract THE results of an experiment on selection for shank length in a flock of Single Comb White Leghorn pullets were previously reported by the writer (Lerner, 1943 and 1944). By using progeny-testing methods it has been possible to increase the shank length of 8-9 months old pullets with a concurrent increase in body weight. The fourth selected generation, considered in the present paper, had an average shank length of 10.29 cm., as compared to 9.46 cm. for the unselected controls. The December body weights of March and April hatched pullets were 1,903 and 1,666 grams for the size line and the controls respectively. The primary criterion of selection of what may be designated as the “size” line was shank length, but some effort was made to maintain the production qualities of the original stock, by rejecting as breeders any birds not sexually mature at 200 days of age. The control . . .
Rational secure computation and ideal mechanism design

Secure computation essentially guarantees that whatever computation n players can do with the help of a trusted party, they can also do by themselves. Fundamentally, however, this notion depends on the honesty of at least some players. We put forward and implement a stronger notion, rational secure computation, that does not depend on player honesty, but solely on player rationality. The key to our implementation is showing that the ballot-box - the venerable device used throughout the world to tally secret votes securely - can actually be used to securely compute any function. Our work bridges the fields of game theory and cryptography, and has broad implications for mechanism design.
Controls on late quaternary incised-valley dimension along passive margins evaluated using empirical data

Incised valleys are canyon-like features that initially form near the highstand shoreline and evolve over geological time as rivers erode into coastal plains and continental shelves to maintain equilibrium-gradient profiles in response to sea-level fall. Most of these valleys flood during sea-level rise to form estuaries. Incised-valley morphology strongly controls the rate of creation of sediment accommodation, valley-fill facies architecture and the preservation potential of coastal lithosomes on continental shelves, and affects coastal physical processes. Nonetheless, little is known about what dictates incised-valley size and shape and whether these metrics can be used to explain principal formation processes. The main control on alluvial channel morphology over human time scales is discharge; this is based on numerous empirical studies and is well-constrained because all variables are easily measured at this short time scale. Knowledge of long-term river evolution over a complete glacio-eustatic cycle, on the contrary, remains largely conceptual, experimental and based on individual systems because variables that are thought to drive morphological change are not easily quantified. In spite of this difficulty, existing models of incised-valley formation at the coast suggest that valley evolution is driven largely by downstream forcing mechanisms, highlighting sea-level and shelf gradient/morphology as the dominant controls on valley incision. Although valleys are cut by rivers, whose channels are a direct reflection of discharge, little empirical data exist in coastal areas to address the degree to which valley evolution is governed by upstream controls. The late Quaternary is the best time period to examine because it provides the most complete sedimentary record and many variables, including sea-level, tectonics, substrate lithology and drainage network characteristics, are accurately constrained. Here, 38 late Quaternary valleys along the coast of two different passive continental margins are compared, which suggests that valley shape and size are governed primarily by upstream, intrinsic controls such as discharge. Valley width, depth and cross-sectional area are found to be predictable at the highstand shoreline and are scaled with the size of their drainage basin, which has important implications for estimating sediment discharge to continental shelves and deep water environments during periods of low sea-level.
A low-voltage, bulk-driven MOSFET current mirror for CMOS technology

A bulk-driven, MOSFET current mirror is described which is capable of operating at power supplies down to 1 V using standard CMOS technologies with threshold voltages in the range of /spl plusmn/0.8 V. The bulk-driven MOSFET configuration removes the requirement that the input voltage of the current mirror equal V/sub GS/>V/sub T/. At V/sub DD//V/sub SS/ of+0.75 V/-0.75 V, measurements on simple current mirrors using this new technique require only about 0.1 V across the input device of the current mirror circuit and exhibit saturation voltages on the output device of the current mirror comparable to that of standard simple current mirrors. The operation and first-order models for the bulk-driven MOSFET are presented in this paper along with the operation and experimental results of a simple, bulk-driven mirror.
A volume adaptive integral method (VAIM) for 3-D inhomogeneous objects

This article describes a volume adaptive integral method (VAIM) for electromagnetic scattering from three-dimensional (3-D) inhomogeneous objects. By projecting the unknown current density within an arbitrary element in the inhomogeneous object onto a fictitious uniform grid, this method calculates the far-zone interactions of basis and testing functions through the fast Fourier transform, thus greatly reducing the memory requirement to O(N) and CPU requirement to O(NlogN), where N is the number of unknowns. The numerical results have been validated by the method of moment.
The association between epilepsy and autism symptoms and maladaptive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder

Epilepsy is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but little is known about how seizures impact the autism phenotype. The association between epilepsy and autism symptoms and associated maladaptive behaviors was examined in 2,645 children with ASD, of whom 139 had epilepsy, from the Simons Simplex Collection. Children with ASD and epilepsy had significantly more autism symptoms and maladaptive behaviors than children without epilepsy. However, after adjusting for IQ, only hyperactivity symptoms remained significantly increased (13% higher) in the epilepsy group. Among children with ASD without co-occurring intellectual disability, children with epilepsy had significantly more irritability (20% higher) and hyperactivity (24% higher) symptoms. This is the largest study to date comparing the autism phenotype in children with ASD with and without epilepsy. Children with ASD and epilepsy showed greater impairment than children without epilepsy, which was mostly explained by the lower IQ of the epilepsy group. These findings have important clinical implications for patients with ASD.
Detection of inverted beet sugar adulteration of honey by FTIR spectroscopy

A combination of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and multivariate statistics as a screening tool for the determination of beet medium invert sugar adulteration in three different varieties of honey is discussed. Honey samples with different concentrations of beet invert sugar were scanned using the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory of the Bio-Rad FTS-6000 Fourier transform spectrometer. The spectral wavenumber region between 950 and 1500 cm−1 was selected for partial least squares (PLS) regression to develop calibration models for beet invert sugar determination in honey samples. Results from the PLS (first derivative) models were slightly better than those obtained with other calibration models. Predictive models were also developed to classify beet sugar invert in three different varieties of honey samples using discriminant analysis. Spectral data were compressed using the principal component method, and linear discriminant and canonical variate analyses were used to detect the level of beet invert sugar in honey samples. The best predictive model for adulterated honey samples was achieved with canonical variate analysis, which successfully classified 88–94 per cent of the validation set. The present study demonstrated that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy could be used for rapid detection of beet invert sugar adulteration in different varieties of honey. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Fast and sensitive electret polymer characterization by extended floating gate MOSFET

A new characterization method for charge conditions in electret polymer films is proposed. This method uses the change of the threshold voltage in an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory) device to evaluate the effective charge density in electret. The EEPROM device has an extended floating gate that is capacitively coupled to a sensing gate in direct contact with the electret polymer film. It also has a control gate similar to that in the conventional EEPROM device driven by test signals. By the total capacitive loads and effective charges seen on the floating gate, the surface potential of the transistor channel in the subthreshold region is a linear function of effective electret charge density. Representative measurements with several electret charging conditions, such as photo poling and mechano poling are provided. With the bandwidth of the EEPROM device typically much higher than 1 kHz, real-time charging characteristics with sub-millisecond resolution can be obtained.
Influence of Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy on Anastomotic Leak After Restorative Resection for Rectal Cancer

This study was undertaken to determine whether neoadjuvant radiotherapy is associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leak for rectal cancer patients undergoing restorative resection. From 1980 to 2010, patients who underwent restorative resection for rectal cancer (tumors within 15 cm of anal verge) were identified from a prospective institutional database and grouped based on whether they received neoadjuvant radiotherapy (+RT) or not (−RT). The main outcome was anastomotic leak documented by imaging (contrast leak), intra-operative or clinical (signs of peritonitis) findings and confirmed by staff surgeon assessment. Using multivariate (MV) analysis risk factors for leak were identified, presented as OR (95 % CI). One thousand eight hundred sixty-two patients were included in the analysis, 28 % in the +RT group. Eighty-six percent of +RT patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The overall leak rate was 6.3 %, with no significant difference in +RT and −RT groups (8 % vs 5.7 %, p = 0.06). The +RT group had a lower mean age at surgery (58 vs 63 year, p < 0.001), more male (75 % vs 62 %, p < 0.001) and more ASA 3/4 (44 % vs 35 %, p < 0.001) patients, greater use of defunctioning ostomy (87 % vs 44 %, p < 0.001) and colo-anal anastomosis (77 % vs 34 %, p < 0.001). Mean tumor distance from the anal verge was lower in +RT group (6.6 vs 9.7 cm, p < 0.001). On MV analysis, male sex (OR 1.64 (1.03–2.62), p = 0.038), ASA 4 (OR 4.70 (2.07–10.7), p < 0.001), tumor distance from anal verge ≤ 5 cm (OR 2.49 (1.37–4.52), p = 0.003), and tumor size at surgery ≥ 4 cm (OR 1.75 (1.15–2.65), p = 0.009) were independently associated with leak. +RT was not independently associated with leak (OR 1.44 (0.85–2.46), p = 0.18), while defunctioning ostomy did not reduce leak occurrence (OR 0.75 (0.44–1.28), p = 0.29). The findings suggest that neoadjuvant radiotherapy is not independently associated with an anastomotic leak for rectal cancer patients undergoing restorative resection and support a selective policy towards the use of a defunctioning ostomy on a case by case basis based on intra-operative judgment and consideration of tumor location, size, and patient characteristics.
Determination of Resistance or Susceptibility of Soybean Genotypes to Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines, Race 3

Resistance and/or susceptibility of several soybean genotypes to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, race 3 was investigated. Three, 11, and 4 soybean genotypes were identified as resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible, respectively. Resistant plants had fewer cysts on the roots and more root nodules, with the converse in susceptible plants. Reduction in yield of six extensively grown soybean cvs in Alabama was from 10 to 56% compared with the north Alabama average; resistant cv. ‘Bedford’ showed a yield loss of 10%. Cyst numbers were negatively correlated with nodule numbers and other agronomic characters. Nodules and other yield components were positively correlated except for non-correlation of nodules and number of pods with plant height in the 1980 experiment.
Reconstruction of continuous-tone from halftone by projections onto convex sets

Screening is a widely used method for generating halftone images. Frequency domain dispersion and subsequent aliasing limits the success of low-pass filtering as a means of recovering the continuous-tone original image from its halftone version. Alternating projections onto constraint sets is well matched to the nonlinear, periodic point-to-point screening process. In order to use alternating projections to recover the continuous-tone original image, some assumptions must be made about the spectral structure of that image. Finally, the screen function may be estimated from the halftone image itself.
Continued Hybrid LES /RANS Simulation of a Hypersonic Dual-Mode Scramjet Combustor

Results of an ongoing hybrid LES / RANS simulation of the experimental Scramjet Combustion Facility located at the University of Virginia are discussed, using an updated combustor flowpath named Configuration C. This new configuration includes a long isolator section and a region of constant cross-sectional area in the otherwise divergent combustor / extender section. Additional refinements have been made to the numerical simulations to bring closer agreement to actual facility operation, including thermal non-uniformity and thermal non-equilibrium of the air supply and a forced turbulent profile at the simulation’s inflow boundary using recycling / rescaling methods. As in previous studies, NC State’s REACTMB finite-volume solver is employed which uses Edwards’ LDFSS inviscid fluxsplitting scheme and Menter’s BSL turbulence closure for the RANS portion of the LES / RANS simulations. A different H2-O2 kinetics model by Burke was incorporated which provided better flameholding capability after inflow turbulence was introduced in the simulations. Simulations were performed for the equivalence ratios of 0.18 and 0.49. Instantaneous and time-averaged results for each simulation are compared with coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), hydroxyl radical planar laser-induced fluorescence (OH-PLIF), and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) non-intrusive measurements made on the facility, as well as static pressure data also obtained. These comparisons indicate that the numerical results are in generally good agreement with measurements; however, it was found that the simulations consistently over-predicted the flame temperatures and level of turbulent fluctuations in the flame-holding area just downstream of the fuel injector. The simulations conducted at the highest equivalence ratio captured the unstart of the pre-combustion shock train which was experimentally observed. Although a final stable shock-train position could not be determined in time for this paper, current predictions are in generally good agreement with experimental CARS and wallpressure measurements.
1308 Aspiration of the Secretions in Neonatal Resuscitation. an Evidence Based Approach

Background and Aims Aspiration of the secretions at birth is a step performed in the care of the newborn immediately after delivery, but it is not supported by evidence-based data. Our study aim is to prove the suction of the secretions is a necessary step in neonatal resuscitation and care at delivery. Method We studied 1154 consecutive cesarean section deliveries The care at birth was according to the AAP Resuscitation Guidelines, except the neonates were randomized to mandatory aspiration of the secretions at delivery by suction catheter (S group) or clearing the secretions from the mouth when they are visible by gentle aspiration of the mouth (C group). There were noted the time to first breath, need for bag and mask ventilation, occurrence of respiratory distress, need for mechanical ventilation, blood gas values at delivery. Results 25/577 of the neonates in the S group developed respiratory grunting after delivery compared with 42/577 neonates in the C group (p Conclusions Aspiration of the secretions at birth is a necessary step in the care at birth of the newborns born by cesarean section, especially if they are 38 weeks or less gestational age.
Electrical Fires Situation and Characteristics in China

This thesis makes a macroscopic analysis over the overall situation of electrical fire in China between 2008 and 2012,including the development trend of electrical fire in the developing progress of the three main industries of national economy,Eastern,Middle and Western region and urbanization;and microcosmically analyzes the specific features of losses,prone areas and major causes of electrical fire.
Engineering enhanced cut and puncture resistance into the thermal micrometeoroid garment (TMG) using shear thickening fluid (STF) – Armor™ absorber layers

Abstract The low-earth orbit environment contains small micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) particles traveling at characteristic velocities of several kilometers per second. In addition to being a direct threat to astronauts and spacecraft, upon impact with the exterior surface of a space vehicle, these highly energetic MMOD particles can create cut and puncture hazards for astronauts performing extra-vehicular activities (EVA). In this work, we demonstrate that replacing the standard neoprene-coated nylon absorber layers with woven aramid textiles intercalated with colloidal shear thickening fluids, i.e., STF-Armor™, can provide a meaningful enhancement to the cut and puncture resistance of the thermal micrometeoroid garment (TMG). Quasi-static puncture testing is performed using hypodermic needles of varying gauge to simulate the cutting and puncture hazards at deformation rates characteristic of human motion. At equal areal densities, we find that a TMG lay-up containing STF-Armor™ greatly improves puncture protection with a reduction in weight and comparable flexibility.
1994 Special Issue: Modeling the role of frontal lobes in sequential task performance. I. Basic structure and primacy effects

An avalanche model of motor sequence encoding is presented. The ultimate aim is to reproduce data showing that monkeys with frontal lobe damage can learn an invariant sequence of movements if it is rewarded, but cannot learn to perform any one of several variations of a sequence if all are rewarded. In this article, we present simulations of the primary learning of sequences, and demonstrate parameters that can lead to a primacy effect in recalling items of this sequence from long-term memory. Two different versions of the avalanche network and their simulations are presented, of which the second version includes a layer of sequence detectors. Suggestions are made for including yet another layer to classify these temporal sequences and group them together based on reward. Analogies are drawn between the classifier layer and the frontal lobes, and between the avalanche module and part of the basal ganglia.
Power delivery in 3D packages: current crowding effects, dynamic IR drop and compensation network using sensors (invited paper)

In 3D packages top-die power delivery is a not only limited by back-end of line (technology scaling), but also by the TSV integration scheme, the stacking method and the microbump current-carrying capability. The microbump structure and its electromigration time-to-failure (TTF) rate determine the current carrying capability of each TSV, and this is far lower than the current-carrying capability of a C4 bump. Therefore, the power delivery to the top die(s) needs to be distributed through a network of TSVs that tie into the power grid of the top die. The drawback of such a design is the resistive losses in the BEOL of the bottom-die. In this paper, we highlight these challenges faced by each stacking method, and as a promising solution, we will present the use of a voltage-compensation network with dynamic IR-drop sensors that can be used as part of the power-delivery cell to maintain nominal power delivery during all loading cycles. This can help eliminate the use of off-chip voltage regulator modules.
The Continuum of Conflict and Control Relationship Scale (CCC-RS): Psychometrics for a Measure Designed to Discriminate Among Types of Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACTIntimate partner violence (IPV) classifications have treatment implications for couples. This study tested the psychometrics of the Continuum of Conflict and Control Relationship Scale (CCC–RS) and examined differences between violence severity and CCC–RS scales. A sample of 575 low-income, ethnically diverse participants contributed data. Results indicated a 3-factor, 22-item solution.
Molecular simulations of asphalt rheology: Application of time–temperature superposition principle

We show that the several decades gap between the time scales of experiments and atomistic simulations can be significantly reduced by applying time-temperature superposition (TTS) to the simulation results for various rheological properties of asphalt. Molecular dynamics simulations with atomistically detailed models were performed to characterize the temperature dependence of shear viscosity, dynamic modulus, and tensile creep compliance of AAM–1 asphalt. The TTS principle was successfully applied to the data to construct master curves of these rheological properties, and a comparison of simulation data with experiments showed good agreement. Application of TTS resulted in a six decade increase in the frequency range available for moduli determination and a two decade increase in both the shear rate range available for viscosity determination and the time scale available for characterization of creep compliance. The horizontal shift factors (aT) used in the construction of the master curves for the different rheological properties were quantitatively consistent with each other. The corresponding temperature dependence of the scaled relaxation times was compared with the expectations from three literature models, namely, the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann, double exponential, and parabolic–Arrhenius models. A distinct change from super-Arrhenius to Arrhenius behavior was observed for the scaled relaxation times below the glass transition temperature (Tg). Only the parabolic-Arrhenius model was able to capture the temperature dependence of the data over the entire temperature range that covers both the glassy and the rubbery states.We show that the several decades gap between the time scales of experiments and atomistic simulations can be significantly reduced by applying time-temperature superposition (TTS) to the simulation results for various rheological properties of asphalt. Molecular dynamics simulations with atomistically detailed models were performed to characterize the temperature dependence of shear viscosity, dynamic modulus, and tensile creep compliance of AAM–1 asphalt. The TTS principle was successfully applied to the data to construct master curves of these rheological properties, and a comparison of simulation data with experiments showed good agreement. Application of TTS resulted in a six decade increase in the frequency range available for moduli determination and a two decade increase in both the shear rate range available for viscosity determination and the time scale available for characterization of creep compliance. The horizontal shift factors (aT) used in the construction of the master curves for the diffe...
Inference of Hardness from Magnetic Measurements in Pearlitic Steels

The possibility of monitoring material properties during the early stages of processing is an area of growing interest which offers potential not only for improving quality but also productivity. Of particular interest is the monitoring of mechanical properties on-line either during intermediate stages of processing or prior to shipping[1, 2].
Presidio Santa Maria De Galve (1698-1719): A Frontier Garrison in Spanish West Florida

Presidio Santa Maria de Galve was a small but tenacious presidio community established to stop French aggression from Louisiana. While authorized by Spain, this presidio was a colony of New Spain. It was manned with petty criminals from Mexico City, Puebla, and Vera Cruz and teetered on the verge of disaster for most of its existence between 1698 and 1719. As there was no local Indian population to provide support, and the situado was irregular and limited, trade with the French colony at Mobile was the key to survival. The social organization of the community was revealed in the distribution of artifacts and architectural differences. Architectural remains and associated materials were found of the warehouse, three barracks buildings, and one church. Two cemeteries were also located. The stockade fort walls were also found and studied. The artifact assemblage is very different from that of contemporary Presidio San Agustin or Catholic mission settlements as it is dominated by Mexican-made materials with a minority of Indian-made items. The information from Presidio Santa Maria de Galve in Pensacola has produced much new information and shed new light on the differences between East and West Spanish Florida.
Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in newborn infants

The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, interposing an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft between the subclavian and pulmonary arteries, was performed in 30 neonates with a mean age of 8.8 days and a mean weight of 3.14 kg. Underlying lesions included severe tetralogy of Fallot or its variant (N = 10), transposition complex (with pulmonary stenosis or atresia) (N = 6), single ventricle equivalents (with pulmonary atresia or stenosis) (N = 9), and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (N = 5). The mean preoperative arterial oxygen tension prior to prostaglandin E1 therapy was 29.5 torr. The shunt was performed through a right thoracotomy in 18 patients, through a left thoracotomy in nine, and through a median sternotomy in three. A 5 mm graft was used in 21 patients and a 6 mm graft in nine patients. The mean postoperative arterial oxygen tension was 64.1 torr (p less than 0.001). The incidence of early shunt occlusion was 3.3% and the hospital mortality was 3.3%. Actuarial functional life of the shunt (no death or reoperation related to shunt failure) was 91% at 3 years' follow-up. Nine patients were recatheterized. There was no distortion of the pulmonary artery. The ratios of the diameter of the right pulmonary artery and pulmonary valve anulus to that of the descending aorta increased after the operation by 50% (p less than 0.001) and 52% (p less than 0.05), respectively. Our experience indicates that the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt has an excellent function, offers several technical advantages, and lacks most of the drawbacks of other systemic-pulmonary artery shunts. It may be the shunt of choice in patients less than 1 month of age.
Regulation and physiological function of insulin-like growth factors in the central nervous system.

The function of insulin-like growth factors in the central nervous system (CNS) and the physiological regulators of brain and pituitary IGF synthesis has been studied from many perspectives. Until recently, these efforts have not met with great success. However as more laboratories obtain the means to study IGF mRNA and peptide synthesis the multifaceted approach of investigation has provided new insights on growth factor metabolism.
Assessing memory decay rate: what factors are the best predictors of decrements in training proficiency in a threat vehicle identification task?

Threat vehicle identification (TVI) is a key warfighter task that is susceptible to memory decay. This research investigates the best predictors of performance decrement in TVI. Thirty U.S. militar...
Symptomatic Subclavian Steal During Pregnancy in a Woman Status Post Coarctation Repair in Infancy.

A 24-year-old woman with a history of coarctation repair by subclavian flap aortoplasty presented at 15 weeks’ gestation with transient episodes of vision loss. She was diagnosed with subclavian st...
Intra-abdominal Sepsis After Ileocolic Resection in Crohn's Disease: The Role of Combination Immunosuppression.

BACKGROUND Intra-abdominal sepsis complicates <10% of ileocolic resections for Crohn's disease, but the impact of combination immunosuppression and repeat resection on its development remains unknown. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for intra-abdominal sepsis after ileocolic resection, specifically examining the role of combination immunosuppression and repeat intestinal resection. DESIGN This was a retrospective review of patient records from 2007 to 2017. SETTINGS The study was conducted at a single-institution IBD tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Patients with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease who were undergoing ileocolic resection with primary anastomosis were included. Diverted patients were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Preoperative and intraoperative variables, including preoperative immunosuppressive regimens and previous intestinal resection, were evaluated as potential risk factors for intra-abdominal sepsis. RESULTS A total of 621 patients (55% women) underwent ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease; 393 (63%) were first-time resections. The rate of 30-day intra-abdominal sepsis was 8% (n = 50). On univariate analysis, triple immunosuppression (combination of a corticosteroid, immunomodulator, and biological) and previous intestinal resection were significantly associated with intra-abdominal sepsis. Both risk factors remained significant on multivariable analysis (OR for triple immunosuppression (vs none) = 3.53 (95% CI, 1.27-9.84); previous intestinal resection OR = 2.27 (95% CI, 1.25-4.13)). A significant trend was seen between an increasing number of these risk factors (triple immunosuppression and previous intestinal resection) and rate of intra-abdominal sepsis (5%, 12%, and 22% for 0, 1, and 2 risk factors; p < 0.01). A trend was observed between increasing number of previous intestinal resections and the rate of intra-abdominal sepsis (p < 0.01). LIMITATIONS This study is limited by its single-institution tertiary referral center scope. CONCLUSIONS Combination immunosuppression and previous intestinal resection were both associated with the development of intra-abdominal sepsis. In light of these results, surgeons should consider the effects of combination immunosuppression and a history of previous intestinal resection, in addition to other risk factors, when deciding which patients warrant temporary intestinal diversion. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A664.
Anthropogenic influences on major tropical cyclone events

There is no consensus on whether climate change has yet affected the statistics of tropical cyclones, owing to their large natural variability and the limited period of consistent observations. In addition, projections of future tropical cyclone activity are uncertain, because they often rely on coarse-resolution climate models that parameterize convection and hence have difficulty in directly representing tropical cyclones. Here we used convection-permitting regional climate model simulations to investigate whether and how recent destructive tropical cyclones would change if these events had occurred in pre-industrial and in future climates. We found that, relative to pre-industrial conditions, climate change so far has enhanced the average and extreme rainfall of hurricanes Katrina, Irma and Maria, but did not change tropical cyclone wind-speed intensity. In addition, future anthropogenic warming would robustly increase the wind speed and rainfall of 11 of 13 intense tropical cyclones (of 15 events sampled globally). Additional regional climate model simulations suggest that convective parameterization introduces minimal uncertainty into the sign of projected changes in tropical cyclone intensity and rainfall, which allows us to have confidence in projections from global models with parameterized convection and resolution fine enough to include tropical cyclones.
Facile synthesis of MOF-Derived Co@CoNx/bamboo-like carbon tubes for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation

Abstract The development of economical noble metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with high catalytic activity and durability is crucial for the practical applications of many energy storage and conversion technologies. Here, we report a facile and economical synthesis of Co@CoNx/N-doped carbon tubes hybrid (Co@CoNx/NCT hybrid) via one-step pyrolysis of ZIF-67 at a low temperature of 650 °C with the introduction of urea, which functions as both nitrogen source and promoter of carbon tube growth. The resultant Co@CoNx/NCT hybrid exhibits bamboo-like structure with numerous active sites originated from abundant CoNx species, high nitrogen doping level and topological defects, rendering excellent catalytic activities towards OER in alkaline medium. As a result, the as-obtained Co@CoNx/NCT hybrid shows an overpotential of as low as 290 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a small Tafel slope of 60 mV dec−1, which outperforms most noble metal-free electrocatalysts and even commercial IrO2. Therefore, the Co@CoNx/NCT hybrid holds great promise for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation applications.
485 WHY DO PHYSICIANS CHOOSE TO PRACTICE IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS

Background The maldistribution of physicians in the United States is a serious health care problem. There is a physician shortage in both rural and urban medically underserved areas (MUAs). In 2002, there was an estimated 56 million people living in more than 3,100 MUAs across the United States. Objective A literature review to identify variables that help predict physician9s likelihood to practice in a MUA. To initiate the development of a survey for a quantitative study to determine the reasons why physicians choose to practice in MUAs. Method A literature review for physician practicing in underserved areas was conducted using the PubMed database. The MeSH terms used for the search included “professional practice,” “underserved,” and “United States.” Results As a result of the review, the nine core components were selected for the survey:demographics, altruism, cross-cultural experience, community service experience, medical school/residency exposure to underserved populations, family considerations, religious beliefs, financial incentive programs, and financial debt at completion of training. Conclusion The most frequently studied variables in the literature are demographics, medical school/residency exposure to underserved, financial incentive programs, and background experiences, and others, such as altruism and religious beliefs, were less common. The unique motivating factors that lead physicians to work with the underserved have yet to be identified. This project has laid the foundation for the development of a large quantitative study to address what these motivating factors are. The study will provide medical schools and health care policy officials with the tools to recruit and retain physicians who practice in MUAs.
Diseases of the Myocardium and Pericardium

Computed tomography images of the heart can be used clinically for assessment of pericardial and myocardial diseases. Delineation of a normal pericardium and characterization of simple and complex pericardial collections can be performed with cardiac-gated CT. Several abnormalities of the myocardium can also be assessed with cardiac CT, particularly regarding cardiac morphology and perfusion, but also functional abnormalities. More commonly, myocardial diseases are identified as incidental findings on a chest CT for other clinical purposes and can aid to clinical management and risk stratification.
Pancreas Segmentation in CT and MRI via Task-Specific Network Design and Recurrent Neural Contextual Learning

Automatic pancreas segmentation in radiology images, e.g., computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , is frequently required by computer-aided screening, diagnosis, and quantitative assessment. Yet, pancreas is a challenging abdominal organ to segment due to the high inter-patient anatomical variability in both shape and volume metrics. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNN) have demonstrated promising performance on accurate segmentation of pancreas. However, the CNN-based method often suffers from segmentation discontinuity for reasons such as noisy image quality and blurry pancreatic boundary. In this chapter, we first discuss the CNN configurations and training objectives that lead to the state-of-the-art performance on pancreas segmentation. We then present a recurrent neural network (RNN) to address the problem of segmentation spatial inconsistency across adjacent image slices. The RNN takes outputs of the CNN and refines the segmentation by improving the shape smoothness.
Caregiver- and Clinician-Reported Adaptive Functioning in Rett Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Evaluation of Measurement Strategies.

Rett syndrome is the second most common cause of intellectual disability in females worldwide. The severity of many individuals’ impairment limits the effectiveness of traditional assessment. However, clinician and parent reports of adaptive functioning may provide insight into these patients’ abilities. This review aims to synthesize the current literature assessing adaptive functioning in Rett syndrome and evaluate existing measurement tools in this population. A search was conducted on PubMed using the search term “Rett syndrome.” Studies that quantitatively assessed adaptive functioning outcomes in Rett syndrome with published and normed questionnaire measures were included. Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Overall results indicate that the population of people with Rett syndrome is highly impaired, both in overall adaptive functioning as well as in specific subdomains (e.g., mobility, activities of daily living). Atypical Rett syndrome groups performed better on measures of adaptive functioning relative to patients with classic Rett syndrome. Our findings identified measurement weaknesses, as many of the studies found floor effects and therefore were unable to capture meaningful variability in outcomes. Individuals with Rett syndrome are highly reliant on caregivers due to disrupted adaptive functioning abilities. Optimizing measurement of adaptive skills in Rett syndrome will facilitate the quantification of meaningful change in skills and the identification of efficacious interventions aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life.
Antibiotic resistance genes in the faeces of dairy cows following short-term therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotic administration

The objective of the research was to quantify three antibiotic resistance genes (tetQ, cfxA and mefA) in the faeces of dairy cows following therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotic treatments. Manur...
Text Genre Classification Using only Parts of Speech

This paper discusses a unique approach to English text classification. A topic that the authors have not found to be explicitly explored is the role that parts of speech (POS) have on text classification. This paper aims to answer whether POS patterns exist within a text that can distinguish it from one of a different genre. The experiments were carried out in two phases: using the Natural Language Toolkit, input texts are processed into feature vectors reflecting their POS patterns. These feature vectors are then passed to a separate program that virtually maps them into a coordinate space, ultimately clustering them based on spatial proximity through the non-parametric K-means algorithm. A set of test sentences is then evaluated with the goal of having the cluster centroid to which they are closest possess the same classification. This work showed that text genre, a category based solely on lexical content, correlates to syntactic patterns of the language used.
Virus-specific T-cell therapies for patients with primary immune deficiency.

Abstract Viral infections are common and are potentially life-threatening in patients with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency disorders. Because T-cell immunity contributes to the control of many viral pathogens, adoptive immunotherapy with virus-specific T cells (VSTs) has been a logical and effective way of combating severe viral disease in immunocompromised patients in multiple phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Common viral targets include cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenovirus, though recent published studies have successfully targeted additional pathogens, including HHV6, BK virus, and JC virus. Though most studies have used VSTs derived from allogenic stem cell donors, the use of banked VSTs derived from partially HLA-matched donors has shown efficacy in multicenter settings. Hence, this approach could shorten the time for patients to receive VST therapy thus improving accessibility. In this review, we discuss the usage of VSTs for patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders in clinical trials, as well as future potential targets and methods to broaden the applicability of virus-directed T-cell immunotherapy for this vulnerable patient population.
Quantitative Photoacoustic Tomography

This chapter focuses on quantitative photoacoustic tomography to recover optical maps from the deposited optical energy. After a brief overview of models, theories and algorithms, we provide an algorithm for large-scale 3D reconstructions, so-called gradient-based bound-constrained split Bregman method (GBSB).
A Retrospective Clinical Investigation of the Safety and Adverse Effects of Pantoprazole in Hospitalized Ruminants.

Clinical safety data for the use of gastroprotectants in hospitalized ruminants is lacking. In human patients, multiple adverse effects are possible from the use of pantoprazole including hematologic and electrolyte abnormalities as well as anaphylaxis and edema. The medical records of all hospitalized cattle, goats and sheep administered pantoprazole over an approximately 5 year period were retrospectively analyzed for adverse effects. Seventy-nine eligible patients were observed. Hypomagnesemia was observed post pantoprazole administration in ten cattle; however, no significant changes were noted when compared to baseline before pantoprazole administration. Significant changes were noted in serum indicators of hepatic and renal function, however, these represented downwards trends that were most likely clinically insignificant. Anaphylaxis post-pantoprazole administration was not observed, however seven cattle displayed edema after pantoprazole administration. Veterinary clinicians should be aware of the potential for hypomagnesemia in hospitalized ruminants being administered pantoprazole and monitor patients accordingly. While these preliminary retrospective results indicate that pantoprazole may be a safe adjunctive therapy in hospitalized ruminants, additional studies are necessary to further determine the safety and toxicity of pantoprazole in ruminants.
Screening for prostate cancer.

In two large randomized trials, researchers examined the effect of annual prostate-specific–antigen (PSA) screening on the rate of death from prostate cancer and found that it was small and was off...
An update on targets for treating osteoarthritis pain: NGF and TRPV1.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and pain is the primary symptom of the disease, yet analgesic options for treating OA pain remain limited. In this review, we aimed to give an update on the current clinical and preclinical studies targeting two pathways that are being investigated for treating OA pain: the nerve growth factor (NGF) pathway and the transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) pathway. Antibodies against NGF, small molecule inhibitors of TrkA, TRPV1 agonists, and TRPV1 antagonists are all in different stages of clinical and pre-clinical testing for the treatment of OA pain. NGF antibodies have shown efficacy in the primary endpoints tested compared with placebo; however, rapidly progressive OA has been consistently observed in a subset of patients and the cause remains unclear. TRPV1 agonists have also demonstrated reduced pain with no serious adverse events—the most common adverse events include a burning or warming sensation upon administration. Targeting the NGF and TRPV1 pathways appears effective for reducing OA pain, but further work is needed to better understand which patients may benefit most from these treatments. The anti-NGF antibody tanezumab and the TRPV1 agonist CNTX-4975 have both received fast-track designation from the FDA for the treatment of OA pain.