cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Signaling Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Expression of Periostin in Vivo and in Vitro

Abstract Objective Periostin is dramatically upregulated in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury. The objective of the present study was to understand mechanisms underlying periostin upregulation in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries and in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods and results Periostin protein was strongly expressed at 3 days (in the medial SMCs) and 7 days (in the neointima) after injury. It was also abundantly expressed in the neointima in the late phase (at 14 and 28 days) after injury. Periostin upregulation was mediated through PI-3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway. In vivo, wortmannin, a PI-3-kinase inhibitor, inhibited balloon injury-induced Akt phosphorylation and periostin mRNA expression. In vitro, periostin mRNA expression in cultured VSMCs was stimulated by growth factors (transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), PDGF-BB, and angiotensin II). This stimulatory effect was inhibited by the PI-3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Further, periostin protein was mostly located in the cytoplasma of VSMCs in culture and abundantly secreted into the culture medium (CM) after stimulation with FGF-2, which significantly promoted VSMC migration in vitro. Immunodepletion of periostin from the VSMC-CM or blockade of periostin function with an anti-periostin antibody significantly reduced VSMC migration. Conclusions Upregulation of periostin expression in rat carotid arteries following balloon injury and in cultured VSMCs after stimulation by growth factors is mediated through PI-3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway. Periostin protein secreted by VSMCs plays a significant role in regulating VSMC migration in vitro.
Designing and testing products to meet the requirements of regulatory agencies

Conventional engineering and engineering technology courses may teach students how to design functional products, but almost never address the very practical problem of meeting regulatory requirements. The paper discusses actual instrumentation and some of the design specifications and modifications that were implemented to meet the requirements of various regulatory agencies. Both hardware and software considerations are discussed. Requirements to gain approval from the following agencies are considered: 1. Underwriter Lab Listing (UL). 2. Third party testing agencies. 3. FDA for Laser Safety. 4. Compliance engineering (C.E. Marking). 5. R.F. and EMI testing. 6. FDA Premarket Notification, 510 k. An understanding of the requirements from regulatory agencies leads to better product design and reduces product development time. Case histories of actual products that were submitted by the author and approved by various regulatory agencies are presented.
Wide field-of-view lensless imaging of caenorhabditis Elegans on a chip

Wide field-of-view lensfree on-chip imaging of C. Elegans samples is demonstrated using incoherent lensless in-line holography. Digital reconstruction of these lensless holograms rapidly creates the C. Elegans images over a field-of-view of >24mm2.
Genetic Analysis Connects SLX5 and SLX8 to the SUMO Pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

MOT1 encodes an essential ATPase that functions as a general transcriptional regulator in vivo by modulating TATA-binding protein (TBP) DNA-binding activity. Although MOT1 was originally identified both biochemically and in several genetic screens as a transcriptional repressor, a combination of subsequent genetic, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and microarray analysis suggested that MOT1 might also have an additional role in vivo as a transcriptional activator. To better understand the role(s) of MOT1 in vivo, we selected for genomic suppressors of a mot1 temperature-sensitive mutation. This selection identified mutations in SPT15 (TBP) and BUR6, both of which are clearly linked with MOT1 at the functional level. The vast majority of the suppressor mutations, however, unexpectedly occurred in six genes that encode known components of the SUMO pathway and in two other genes with unknown functions, SLX5 and SLX8. Additional results presented here, including extensive synthetic lethality observed between slx5Δ and slx8Δ and SUMO pathway mutations, suggest that SLX5 and SLX8 are new components or regulators of the SUMO pathway and that SUMO modification might have a general role in transcriptional regulation as part of the TBP regulatory network.
Information technology success factors and models in developing and emerging economies

Information technology (IT) projects continue to suffer from frequent cost and time overruns and failure to fully deliver on the expected benefits to the users or the organization. Furthermore, wha...
Family Diversity: Implications for Policy and Practice:

Families are as diverse as the individuals within them. This article explores the many facets of the contemporary family in the United States, including how families are defined and the variation among families on dimensions such as structure, size, and ethnic and linguistic characteristics. Further, the impact of sociohistorical factors, such as poverty, are discussed in terms of their influence on family functioning and life-style. The implications of models of child development also are examined and policy recommendations are considered in light of these diverse family characteristics and family needs.
Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks: Diagenesis of carbonate rocks

Introduction Chapter 8 discusses the processes that bring about diagenesis of siliciclastic sediments. In that chapter, the terms eodiagenesis, mesodiagenesis, and telodiagenesis are used to describe the stages of diagenesis that occur in siliciclastic sediments as they are progressively buried and subsequently uplifted. Significant differences exist between siliciclastic and carbonate sediments; therefore, the course of diagenesis differs in these two fundamentally different kinds of rocks. To illustrate, carbonate sediments are intrabasinal deposits, which are precipitated in some manner from the water in which they are deposited. Thus, initially, carbonate minerals are more or less in chemical equilibrium with the waters of their depositional environment. By contrast, siliciclastic sediments are brought into the depositional basin from outside. Further, carbonate sediments are composed of only a very few major minerals (aragonite, calcite, dolomite) in contrast to a much larger variety of minerals and rock fragments that may be present in siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. Carbonate minerals are more susceptible in general to diagenetic changes such as dissolution, recrystallization, and replacement than are most silicate minerals. Also, they are generally more easily broken down by physical processes, and they are much more susceptible to attack by organisms that may crush or shatter shells or that may bore into carbonate grains or shells. Nonetheless, carbonate sediments proceed in a general way through the same diagenetic regimes as siliciclastic sediments. That is, carbonate sediments go through early (shallow-burial), middle (deep-burial), and possibly late (uplift and unroofing) stages of diagenesis.
Cumulative Incidence in Competing Risks Data and Competing Risks Regression Analysis

Competing risks occur commonly in medical research. For example, both treatment-related mortality and disease recurrence are important outcomes of interest and well-known competing risks in cancer research. In the analysis of competing risks data, methods of standard survival analysis such as the Kaplan-Meier method for estimation of cumulative incidence, the log-rank test for comparison of cumulative incidence curves, and the standard Cox model for the assessment of covariates lead to incorrect and biased results. In this article, we discuss competing risks data analysis which includes methods to calculate the cumulative incidence of an event of interest in the presence of competing risks, to compare cumulative incidence curves in the presence of competing risks, and to perform competing risks regression analysis. A hypothetical numeric example and real data are used to compare those three methods in the competing risks data analysis to their respective counterparts in the standard survival analysis. The source and magnitude of bias from the Kaplan-Meier estimate is also detailed.
Concordance Between Prostate Needle Biopsy and Surgical Histopathology in a Primarily African-American Population.

Introduction Prior studies have revealed that the concordance between biopsy and surgical specimens has been improving over time. However, to date, this has not been analyzed in an African American population, for whom data have often shown more aggressive prostate cancer than for other races. Methods We analyzed 250 patients who were operated on at the NY Harbor Department of Veterans Affairs for localized prostate cancer between 2003 and 2010. The clinical biopsy scores were compared with the pathological biopsy scores. We compared the concordance using the κ coefficient. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify predictors for poor concordance. Results This population consisted of 59.6% African Americans, 32% Caucasians, and 8.4% Hispanics. Overall, there was a 50% exact concordance between the biopsy and surgical specimens. The κ was 0.33, indicating fair agreement. Patients with a Gleason score of 6 were found to have an exact concordance 66% of the time, and those with a score of Gleason 7 (3 + 4) had an exact concordance 50% of the time. On univariate and multivariate analyses, only an increasing prostate-specific antigen was associated with reduced concordance. Race was not a significant predictor. Conclusions These data are in line with prior studies of concordance. Despite being a population with more aggressive prostate cancer, there does not appear to be an increase in the risk of discordance in African American men.
Zinc, cadmium, and cobalt interreplacement and relative use efficiencies in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi

We investigate the interreplacement of Zn, Cd, and Co in the cosmopolitan coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi by examining its growth rate, cellular metal quotas, and cellular metal uptake rates under different combinations of Zn, Cd, and Co concentrations in the medium. Co and Zn can fully replace each other, except perhaps for small individual requirements that are met by minute metal concentrations supplied as contaminants. Zn is used at 75% efficiency by E. huxleyi compared with Co. In contrast, Cd can only partially replace Zn or Co and is used at 66% efficiency compared with Co. Up to 50% of the cellular Zn or Co can be replaced by Cd, once the minimum cellular Zn or Co requirement is fulfilled. The limitation by Zn, Cd, and Co and the interreplacement of the three metals occurs over a range of unchelated metal concentrations, 0.2–5 pmol L21, that is relevant to surface oceanic waters. Based on our laboratory results and the published metal concentrations in surface oceanic waters, we calculate that interreplacement of Zn, Cd, and Co should occur in regions where Zn is highly depleted.
Planar Active Rectrodirective Array With Subharmonic Phase Conjugation Mixers

A planar active retrodirective four-element array with subharmonic phase conjugation mixers based on anti-parallel diode pairs (APDPs) is proposed. As compared to previous phase conjugation mixers using twice RF frequency for LO frequency, the proposed conjugation mixers need only half RF frequency so that it can be easily applied for millimeter-wave applications. Receiving, transmitting, local oscillator, and intermediate frequencies are 5.79, 5.81, 2.9 GHz, and 10 MHz. Monostatic RCS and Bistatic RCS measurements at source locations of show good agreement with the calculated data.
Control of Thyroid Hormone Activation and Inactivation by the Iodothyronine Deiodinase Family of Selenoenzymes

The iodothyronine deiodinases both activate and inactivate thyroid hormone, thus controlling thyroid hormone action. These enzymes are also selenoproteins, containing the rare amino acid selenocysteine in their active center. SBP-2 is an important component of the selenoprotein synthesis machinery, and its binding to selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) elements is crucial for selenocysteine incorporation at the UGA codon vs. termination. Recently, several patients have been identified with impaired selenoprotein synthesis due to mutations in SBP-2. One hallmark of this syndrome, found in all patients to date, is abnormal serum thyroid hormone profiles, with low 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine (T3), elevated thyroxine (T4), and inappropriately normal or elevated TSH due to alterations in deiodinase activity. Thus, the constraints that influence selenoprotein synthesis are also relevant to thyroid hormone metabolism. New work in the deiodinase field is also advancing the paradigm that the type 2 deiodinase (D2), the thyroid hormone activating enzyme, and the type 3 deiodinase (D3) the thyroid-inactivating enzyme, play an important role in the modulation of T3 locally within a tissue, without changing circulating levels of T3. One recent example of this can be found in the role D2 plays in providing intracellular T3 necessary during muscle differentiation and regeneration. We have recently shown that in primary muscle precursor cells D2 increases prior to the upregulation of other T3-dependent genes that are necessary for muscle differentiation such as MyoD. Further, when D2 activity is knocked down in this system via an RNAi strategy, myoblast differentiation is dramatically impaired. We have also found that in a mouse model of muscle injury D2 activity increases transiently when muscle is regenerating, and declines when this process is complete. Remarkably, in mice without D2 (D2 knockout) there is a significant delay in muscle repair after injury. While wild type animals have completed the regeneration process by 15 days after injury, D2 knockout mice had a much greater number of newly formed centrally nucleated immature myofibers, indicating an impairment in the muscle differentiation process. Thus, the impaired expression of selenoproteins such as the deiodinases can result in alterations in both circulating and intracellular levels of thyroid hormone leading to significant pathophysiologic consequences.
Abstract 196: Multicenter Experience of Acute Ischemic Strokes in Patients on Dabigatran Etexilate

Objective: Dabigatran etexilate (DE) is an FDA-approved reversible direct thrombin inhibitor to prevent acute ischemic strokes (AIS) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. There is incr...
Regulation of adrenergic activity in penile corpus cavernosum.

Abstract The regulation of adrenergic activity in the penis was investigated by studying human and rabbit corpus cavernosum strips in organ chambers and measuring the release of norepinephrine from adrenergic nerve terminals. Electrical field stimulation of corporal strips caused frequency-dependent contractions which were potentiated by cocaine and attenuated by the alphai adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (10 -7 M), but not by the alpha 2 adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine (10 -7 M). Norepinephrine caused concentration-dependent contractions of corporal strips, which were attenuated by prazosin and rauwolscine. Acetylcholine and physostigmine attenuated adrenergic nerve mediated contractions and also significantly reduced electrically-induced norepinephrine release. These effects were reversed by atropine. Atropine alone enhanced electrically-induced norepinephrine release. Rauwolscine inconsistently enhanced adrenergic nerve mediated contractions but augmented norepinephrine release caused by electrical stimulation. The alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist clonidine inhibited electrically-induced norepinephrine release. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) attenuated adrenergically-mediated contractions, but had no effect on electrically-induced release of norepinephrine. It is concluded that: 1) contraction of corporal smooth muscle is mediated by postjunctional alpha 1 adrenoceptors; 2) adrenergic activity is modulated by prejunctional alpha 2 adrenoceptors and cholinergic nerves via prejunctional muscarinic receptors; and 3) the putative nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmitter, VIP, has no apparent role in the regulation of adrenergic nerves.
Congenital esophageal webs

Abstract Congenital esophageal webs are rare entities. These lesions generally occur in the upper one third of the esophagus and present symptomatically in early childhood. Dysphagia and `feeding' difficulties are characteristic presenting symptoms. Radiographic studies generally reveal a normal appearing esophageal lumen with the exception of a single thin indentation of the esophageal lumen that is located either anteriorly or circumferential in nature. We describe two children with congenital esophageal webs and review the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of these unusual lesions.
The lifeways of extinct animals

Introduction Georges (Baron) Cuvier (1769–1832), who worked in the late eighteenth century, is often identified as the Father of Vertebrate Paleontology. He achieved this eminence by virtue of two things. First, he recognized that some organisms had become extinct. The idea that species were not immortal was a revolutionary one. Species were traditionally held to have remained unchanged and immutable since the point of Creation. Cuvier believed that episodic global catastrophes accounted for these extinctions. A new creation would account for subsequent species. The history of life on earth thus became a series of revolutionary extinctions and creations. Second, Cuvier recognized that fossil bones and teeth resembled those of living animals, and that these bones and teeth could be used to reconstruct the lifeways of extinct creatures. In fact, it was the fond expectation of Baron Cuvier that future anatomists would discover morphological rules or relationships that would allow an absolute knowledge of the lifeways of an extinct species from even a single bone or tooth. Animals were machines whose bodies worked through mechanical principles. It was the duty of functional morphologists to discover these principles. Cuvier seems to have expected that there would be an inevitable relationship between an animal’s niche and its anatomy. In the same way that mathematicians have discovered the equations for an ellipse or a circle, Cuvier believed that future anatomists would discover the absolute relationships, as rigorous as equations, between form and function. To this end, Cuvier articulated a “law” of correlation of parts. In a word, the shape of the tooth implies the shape of the condyle, that of the scapula, that of the nails, just as the equation of a curve implies all its properties; and just as by taking a property separately as the basis of a particular equation, one would find again and again both the ordinary equation and all the other properties, similarly the nails, the scapula, the condyle, the femur and all the other bones taken separately, give the tooth, or give each other; by beginning with any of them, someone with a rational knowledge of the laws of organic economy could reconstruct the whole animal. (Fortelius 1990:210).
del Nido versus St. Thomas Cardioplegia Solutions: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Post Cross-Clamp Defibrillation Rates.

There are many cardioplegia solutions currently in use for pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The most common being del Nido solution. Another common cardioplegia solution used for pediatric CPB is St. Thomas. In October 2014, Children's Mercy Kansas City changed from the use of modified St. Thomas to del Nido. This study compared rates of post cross-clamp fibrillation requiring defibrillation between del Nido solution and modified St. Thomas solution stratified by weight at Children's Mercy Kansas City. This retrospective study consisted of 394 patients who underwent cardiac surgery requiring cardioplegia between January 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015. The outcome measured was defibrillation upon cross-clamp removal. Statistical significance was determined using Fishers exact test with a two-sided significance level of .05. Incidence of defibrillation post cross-clamp removal was 4.4% in the del Nido group and 26.8% in the St. Thomas group (p 60-kg category had an incidence of defibrillation of 16.7% in the del Nido group and 63% in the St. Thomas group (p < .0623). This study demonstrates a 6-fold decrease in the overall rate of defibrillation post cross-clamp removal between St. Thomas and del Nido cardioplegia solutions. Analyses of weight stratifications demonstrate a decrease in the rate of defibrillation post cross-clamp removal in all categories within the del Nido group.
Can a noisy encoder be used to communicate reliably

In this paper the problem of reliable communication with a noisy encoder is examined. We explicitly provided the construction of the encoder and show that even when all logic gates that constitute the encoder are noisy, reliable communication with a positive rate is still possible. The encoding complexity is shown to be O(log 1/p tar /log1/e) per bit to achieve a target bit error rate p tar , where e denotes the error probability of each noisy gate. This complexity upper bound is shown to coincide with a lower bound in order sense, and is hence tight. The key technique in the proposed construction is to embed noisy decoders inside the noisy encoder, which are utilized repeatedly to prevent the bit error rate from escalating. The proposed noisy encoder has a direct application in noisy computing of a linear transform.
The Leviathan model without gossips and vanity: the richness of influence based on perceived hierarchy

This chapter studies a model of agents having an opinion about each other agent and about themselves. During dyadic meetings, the agents change their opinion about themselves and about their interlocutor in the direction of a noisy perception of the opinions of their interlocutor. Moreover highly valued agents are more influential. This model produces several patterns depending on the parameter values. In particular, in some cases several highly influential agents (called leaders) emerge and sometimes the leaders have a low opinion of each other.
Coagulopathy in Traumatic Brain Injury

Head injury is associated with delayed or progressive bleeding, ischemic secondary injury, and microvascular thrombosis. The general prevalence of trauma-associated coagulopathy in trauma can be as high as 97.2 %. A coagulopathy after head injury that develops within 24 h is associated with 55 % mortality, while the mortality was 23 % for those who developed coagulopathy after 24 h. It is important to understand the effects of drugs on the coagulation system. Procoagulants, Desmopressin, Cryoprecipitate fresh frozen plasma, Tranexemic acid, Aminocaproic acid, Prothrombin, Warfarin, Heparin, Apixaban, Dabigatran, Bilvalirudin, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and Abciximab are discussed. Goal directed therapy of coagulation abnormalities diagnosed with TEG might lower the morbidity and mortality associated with trauma. Hemorrhagic contusions are the lesions most likely to expand on intracranial CT especially within the first two hours of the trauma. The greatest risk factor for progression of hemorrhagic lesion is coagulopathy. Management of bleeding and coagulopathy following traumatic brain injury is paramount to a successful outcome. Early monitoring of coagulation, early administration of FFP and platelets, maintaining adequate calcium and fibrinogen levels, treatment with desmopressin, prothrombin complex concentrate, activated factor VII, and tranexamic acid play a role in the treatment of TBI. Early therapeutic intervention of coagulopathy based on early goal directed therapeutic treatments has been shown to reduce the need for packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets. Head injury patients are increasingly on new oral anticoagulants. The use of PCC carries the increased risks of both venous and arterial thrombosis during the recovery period; therefore, the risk of a thrombotic complication due to treatment with PCCs or Idarucizumab should be weighed against the need for rapid and effective correction of coagulopathy. While the CRASH-2 trial showed treatment with tranexamic acid within 1 h was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of death due to bleeding, treatment of trauma patients with tranexemic acid more than 3 h after injury was associated with an increased chance of death due to bleeding.
Extrinsic Performance Limitations of AlGaN/GaN Heterostructure Field Effect Transistors

Extrinsic effects on the DC output characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HFETs with 1 m gate lengths are examined. The devices investigated were fabricated on MOCVD-grown AlGaN/ GaN heterostructures on sapphire substrates. An analytical model that takes into account parasitic resistances and thermal effects is constructed, and its results are compared with experimental data. With parameters determined from characterization experiments on the same wafer and from independent theoretical results, the agreement between the data and the model predictions is found to be very good. The model is then applied to performance predictions for devices with improved series resistances and heat sinking.
Invasive mold infections of the central nervous system in patients with hematologic cancer or stem cell transplantation (2000-2016): Uncommon, with improved survival but still deadly often.

Summary Background Historically considered to have very poor outcome, there is paucity of recent data regarding invasive mold infections (IMIs) of the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with hematologic cancer (HC) or stem cell transplantation (SCT). Methods We reviewed the records of HC patients and/or SCT recipients who were diagnosed with CNS IMIs (EORTC/MSG criteria) at MD Anderson Cancer Center (1/1/2000-6/31/2016). Risk factors for survival at day (d) 42 post diagnosis were assessed. Results We identified 40 such patients (16 with proven infection). The incidence density was 3.8 cases/100000 patient days and mortality remained stable throughout the study period. Most patients had active HC and neutropenia at diagnosis (95% and 53% respectively). Of the 25 patients with a microbiological diagnosis, Aspergillus spp and Mucorales accounted for 85% of cases. CNS IMIs were deemed to be secondary to hematogenous spread in 31 (77%), mostly (90%) fungal pneumonia. CNS lesions typically presented as solitary ring-enhancing abscesses in MRI (26; 65%). Most patients (34; 85%) received lipid AMB and were treated with combination therapy (33; 83%); Mortality 42d was 48%. In univariate analysis, lack of surgical drainage ( p = 0.01), absence of giant cells ( p = 0.01) and granulomas ( p = 0.03) were associated with increased 42d mortality. In multivariate analysis, co-infection was associated with increased ( p = 0.005), while steroid tapering was associated with decreased mortality ( p = 0.01). Conclusions Although less lethal, improved outcome in these uncommon infections was related only to immune response in histopathology, steroid tapering and possibly surgical drainage. In a contemporary 16-year cohort of 40 patients with hematologic cancer and mold infections of Central Nervous System, 42-day mortality was 48%. Improved survival was related to immune response in histopathology, absence of co-infections, corticosteroid tapering and possibly surgical drainage.
Fault detection in photovoltaic system using SLIC and thermal images

Solar energy has been gaining a strong momentum as the future clean and renewable source of energy. Optimum utilization of this energy propelled research efforts into many areas of the solar energy system such as photovoltaic (PV) where significant improvement will lead to better systems' efficiency. PV systems operate without any supervisory mechanism but they still can have many faults internally and/or externally hindering its efficiency. In this work, we are focusing on creating a framework for automating defect detection in a solar energy system using thermal imaging to create an accurate and a timely alert system of hazardous conditions. We are proposing to use Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) Super-pixel technique as technique for hot spot detection. Experimental results show that the hot spots in the solar panels can be accurately detected using infrared images using SLIC, in a real time implementation. Detection results will give alerts as to where the solar panels may not be working under normal conditions.
On the Triple Product Formula: Real Local Calculations

We consider a triple of admissible representations π j for j = 1, 2, 3 of \({\mathrm {GL}}_2(\mathbb R)\) of weights k j with k1 ≥ k2 + k3. Test vectors are given, and using a formula of Michel-Venkatesh explicit values for local trilinear forms are computed for these vectors. Using this we determine the real archimedean local factors in Ichino’s formula for the triple product L-function. Applications both new and old to subconvexity, quantum chaos and p-adic modular forms are discussed.
An integrated strategy for improving contrast, durability, and portability of a Pocket Colposcope for cervical cancer screening and diagnosis

Introduction We have previously developed a portable Pocket Colposcope for cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings. In this manuscript we report two different strategies (cross-polarization and an integrated reflector) to improve image contrast levels achieved with the Pocket Colposcope and evaluate the merits of each strategy compared to a standard-of-care digital colposcope. The desired outcomes included reduced specular reflection (glare), increased illumination beam pattern uniformity, and reduced electrical power budget. In addition, anti-fogging and waterproofing features were incorporated to prevent the Pocket Colposcope from fogging in the vaginal canal and to enable rapid disinfection by submersion in chemical agents. Methods Cross-polarization (Generation 3 Pocket Colposcope) and a new reflector design (Generation 4 Pocket Colposcope) were used to reduce glare and improve contrast. The reflector design (including the angle and height of the reflector sidewalls) was optimized through ray-tracing simulations. Both systems were characterized with a series of bench tests to assess specular reflection, beam pattern uniformity, and image contrast. A pilot clinical study was conducted to compare the Generation 3 and 4 Pocket Colposcopes to a standard-of-care colposcope (Leisegang Optik 2). Specifically, paired images of cervices were collected from the standard-of-care colposcope and either the Generation 3 (n = 24 patients) or the Generation 4 (n = 32 patients) Pocket Colposcopes. The paired images were blinded by device, randomized, and sent to an expert physician who provided a diagnosis for each image. Corresponding pathology was obtained for all image pairs. The primary outcome measures were the level of agreement (%) and κ (kappa) statistic between the standard-of-care colposcope and each Pocket Colposcope (Generation 3 and Generation 4). Results Both generations of Pocket Colposcope had significantly higher image contrast when compared to the standard-of-care colposcope. The addition of anti-fog and waterproofing features to the Generation 3 and 4 Pocket Colposcope did not impact image quality based on qualitative and quantitative metrics. The level of agreement between the Generation 3 Pocket Colposcope and the standard-of-care colposcope was 75.0% (kappa = 0.4000, p = 0.0028, n = 24). This closely matched the level of agreement between the Generation 4 Pocket Colposcope and the standard-of-care colposcope which was also 75.0% (kappa = 0.4941, p = 0.0024, n = 32). Conclusion Our results indicate that the Generation 3 and 4 Pocket Colposcopes perform comparably to the standard-of-care colposcope, with the added benefit of being low-cost and waterproof, which is ideal for use in resource-limited settings. Additionally, the reflector significantly reduces the electrical requirements of the Generation 4 Pocket Colposcope enhancing portability without altering performance compared to the Generation 3 system.
Native Indian Youth With Substance-Abusing Parents: Implications of History

Although substance use among Native American populations is not a novel idea, the root cause continues to be debated. Without a better understanding and acknowledgment of where the problems are der...
Association of Healthcare Plan with atrial fibrillation prescription patterns.

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is treated by many types of physician specialists, including primary care physicians (PCPs). Health plans have different policies for how patients encounter these providers, and these may affect selection of AF treatment strategy. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that healthcare plans with PCP-gatekeeping to specialist access may be associated with different pharmacologic treatments for AF. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using a commercial pharmaceutical claims database. We utilized logistic regression models to compare odds of prescription of oral anticoagulant (OAC), non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulant (NOAC), rate control, and rhythm control medications used to treat AF between patients with PCP-gated healthcare plans (eg, HMO, EPO, POS) and patients with non-PCP-gated healthcare plans (eg, PPO, CHDP, HDHP, comprehensive) between 2007 and 2012. We also calculated median time to receipt of therapy within 90 days of index AF diagnosis. RESULTS We found similar odds of OAC prescription at 90 days following new AF diagnosis in patients with PCP-gated plans compared to those with non-PCP-gated plans (OR: OAC 1.01, P = 0.84; warfarin 1.05, P = 0.08). Relative odds were similar for rate control (1.17, P < 0.01) and rhythm control agents (0.93, P = 0.03). However, PCP-gated plan patients had slightly lower likelihood of being prescribed NOACs (0.82, P = 0.001) than non-gated plan patients. Elapsed time until receipt of medication was similar between PCP-gated and non-gated groups across drug classes. CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceutical claims data do not suggest that PCP-gatekeeping by healthcare plans is a structural barrier to AF therapy, although it was associated with lower use of NOACs.
Kansas Aeromycology v: Penicillium and Aspergillus

The genera, Penicillium and Aspergillus, formed two of the more important components of the fungus population of the air at Manhattan Kansas, during a two-year study from September, 1956, through A...
Neutron-mirror neutron oscillations in stars

Based on a newly proposed mirror-matter model of neutron-mirror neutron ($n-n'$) oscillations [Phys. Lett. B 797, 134921 (2019)], evolution and nucleosynthesis in single stars under a new theory is presented. In the new model, $n-n'$ oscillations are caused by a very small mass difference between particles of the two sectors. The new theory with the new $n-n'$ model can demonstrate the evolution in a much more convincing way than the conventional belief. In particular, many observations in stars show strong support for the new theory and the new $n-n'$ model. For example, progenitor mass limits and structures for white dwarfs and neutron stars, two different types of core collapse supernovae (II-P and II-L), synthesis of heavy elements, pulsating phenomena in stars, etc, can all be easily and naturally explained under the new theory.
In Hospital Outcomes in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients with Fontan Undergoing Heart Transplantation - A Decade Nationwide Analysis from 2004 until 2014

Purpose Treatment of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients who require heart transplantation (HT) remains challenging due to limited donors and high perioperative and wait-list mortality. Those patients with single ventricle physiology palliated with Fontan are at the highest risk of early mortality due to multi-organ involvement; in addition, few centers are capable of safely transplant them. We sought to evaluate trends and outcomes of HT in these patients. Methods Using the U. S Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we identified all adults aged at least 18 years old who underwent HT from 2004-2014. We then identified those with specific ICD-9 codes to include tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome and common ventricle, who in order to survive to age 18, must have been palliated with a Fontan procedure. Multivariate regression models were created to adjust for potential confounders. Results A total of 93 Fontan patients underwent HT during the study time (0.5% of all heart transplants). Compared to non-Fontan heart transplantations, Fontan patients were younger, with higher incidence of liver disease and coagulopathy (baseline demographics are shown in table 1). Fontan patients receiving HT had higher mortality during transplant hospitalization compared to non-Fontan patients (26.3% vs. 5.3% OR 18.10, CI 5.06 - 65.0 p Conclusion Fontan patients undergoing HT have exceptionally high inpatient mortality, which is nearly 5 times that of non-Fontan heart transplant recipients. The role of delayed referral, underlying liver disease, and other factors in this high mortality need to be explored.
Transdiagnostic trauma severity in anxiety and mood disorders: Functional brain activity during emotional scene processing.

Exposure to traumatic events is not unique to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is a significant factor in the development of physical and mental disease across the diagnostic spectrum. Using fMRI, this study assesses functional activation in the amygdala and visual cortex during emotional scene processing in a sample of anxiety and mood disorder patients (N = 162). Replicating previous studies with healthy young participants, a strong covariation was found between functional activity in the amygdala and ventral visual cortex, with blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) activity overall significantly enhanced in both regions when viewing emotionally arousing, compared to neutral, scenes. BOLD changes during emotional processing predicted questionnaire reports of experienced trauma and PTSD-like symptoms (e.g., intrusive thoughts, bad dreams, re-experiencing) and associated functional impairment. Patients showing the smallest BOLD changes when viewing emotional (compared to neutral) scenes in the amygdala and ventral visual cortex reported the highest trauma scores, whereas those patients with the largest amygdala emotional reactivity differences reported the lowest trauma scores. Experiencing a life-threatening event (to self or other) that prompts high fear, distress, and functional impairment was associated with reduced functional limbic-visual activity, independent of a PTSD diagnosis. The findings suggest that experienced trauma may be a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor contributing significantly to psychopathology in many patients with anxiety and mood disorders.
Episcan360: Active Epipolar Imaging for Live Omni-directional Stereo

Active epipolar imaging simultaneously illuminates and images a scene along epipolar planes. The recent devices based on this principle, such as Episcan [1] and EpiToF [2], significantly reduce the effects of indirect light transport and ambient light, resulting in live capture of high resolution 3D at longer ranges indoors and outdoors. However, these devices are designed for narrow fields of view where lens distortion can be ignored and epipolar plane/line constraints are satisfied. In this work, we extend active epipolar imaging to obtain live-omnidirectional stereo for the first time. Instead of using a 2D sensor/projector, we use a 1D sensor and 1D light sheet source that are placed in a rectified configuration. We observe that when the lens center axis and the sensor are aligned, the distortion is mostly along that axis and epipolar plane constraint remains satisfied. This allows us to use small wide-angle lenses resulting in a compact 1D Episcan. This 1D Episcan is then spun quickly to obtain an near-spherical field of view. Based on this design, we demonstrate a custom-built hand-held working prototype for live capture of omni-directional active stereo images.
Laboratory studies of Lagrangian transport by breaking surface waves

While it has long been recognized that Lagrangian drift at the ocean surface plays a critical role in the kinematics and dynamics of upper ocean processes, only recently has the contribution of wave breaking to this drift begun to be investigated through direct numerical simulations (Deike et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 829, 2017, pp. 364–391; Pizzo et al., J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 49(4), 2019, pp. 983–992). In this work, laboratory measurements of the surface Lagrangian transport due to focusing deep-water non-breaking and breaking waves are presented. It is found that wave breaking greatly enhances mass transport, compared to non-breaking focusing wave packets. These results are in agreement with the direct numerical simulations of Deike et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 829, 2017, pp. 364–391), and the increased transport due to breaking agrees with their scaling argument. In particular, the transport at the surface scales with , in agreement with the classical Stokes prediction.
Cytopathology Laboratory Management

This chapter covers topics from regulation and accreditation (CLIA88, HIPPA, CMS, CAP) to staffing and credentialing requirements, and responsibilities of various roles from section director to general supervisor and cytotechnologist. Workload limits, proficiency testing, and continuing education requirements are also discussed. Topics include policies and procedures, document control, workflow, reporting elements, quality assurance, data, statistics, and safety.
High & Low Christology: Examining "Jesus & the Syrophoenician Woman"

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. "In this pericope, Jesus and his disciples headed to Tyre, where Jesus continued his ministry in another location. When Jesus entered the house, the gospel writer claims that he wanted no one to know about his presence. However, in that line the gospel writer said that Jesus could not escape notice. Perhaps it was Jesus’ intention all along to be noticed. He was calling people to him—in this case, the Syrophoenician woman." This alumni corner is available in Verbum: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/verbum/vol6/iss2/12
163-P: DESCRIPTION OF ALLELE LEVEL HLA-DRB4 CONTAINING DRB1-DRB4-DQA1-DQB1 HAPLOTYPES

Aim Allele level associations of HLA-DRB4∗ containing haplotypes are not well established. Methods We analyzed allele level DRB4∗ typings. Inclusion criteria in this analysis were allele level typing at DRB1∗, DRB4∗, DQA1∗, and DQB1∗; known race (317 Caucasians, 31 African Americans, 21 Asians, 23 Hispanic, 2 Middle Eastern, and 1 Native American). The DRB4∗ alleles considered in this analysis included DRB4∗01:01, 01:03, and 01:03:01:02N. In these individuals, we identified 261 DRB4∗01:03 haplotypes (207 Caucasian, 17 Asians, 18 African American, 16 Hispanic, 2 Middle Eastern, 1 Native American), 97 DRB4∗01:01 haplotypes (77 Caucasian, 13 African American, 7 Hispanic), 70 DRB4∗01:03:01:02N haplotypes (62 Caucasian, 4 Asians, 3 African American, 1 Hispanic). Results The most common DRB4∗-containing DRB1∗-DQA1∗-DQB1∗ are shown in Table 1 by race. Our analysis shows that DRB4∗01:03 containing haplotypes show the most variation. A detailed table showing other common (>5%) DRB4∗01:03-containing haplotypes by race is shown in Table 2 . Conclusions This is the preliminary step of an ongoing project to characterize DRB4∗ containing haplotypes.
The discursive and the material in early childhood play: co-constitution of gender in open and subversive spaces

This paper describes research exploring discursive constructions of gender and discursive/material intra-actions in two PreK classrooms in the United States, specifically through documentation of c...
An affinity for pure drugs

High-affinity supramolecular interactions improve the purification of recombinant therapeutic proteins, simplifying their production.
Death by a Thousand 10-Minute Tasks: Workarounds and Noncompliance in University Research Administration:

The article examines administrative workarounds in the context of university research administration. The empirical results from 116 semi-structured interviews with academic researchers with active...
Preventive medicine: domestic repression and foreign revolutionary states

Do governments repress in order to defend themselves against the threat posed by the geographic proximity of victorious rebel forces? I theorize that the victory of rebel forces in armed conflict, ...
An alternative method for analyzing the slip potential of workers on sloped surfaces.

Abstract Slips and falls on sloped roof surfaces remain an important safety issue among construction workers. The slip potential has been conventionally analyzed and assessed primarily based on ground reaction forces, which cannot differentiate the specific roles of each of the force factors (e.g., workers’ motions-induced dynamic forces and slope-induced static forces) contributing to the slip potential. Their differentiation may enhance the understanding of the slip mechanisms on the sloped roof surfaces and help develop effective walking and working strategies/tactics to minimize the dangerous slips on the elevated roofs. Hence, the objective of this study is to develop a biodynamic method as an additional tool for analyzing the slip potential of a worker walking or working on sloped roof surfaces. A whole-body biodynamic model is proposed and used to develop the alternative method, in which the slip potential is expressed as an analytical function of its major controlling factors including coefficient of friction, slope angle, and biodynamic forces. Some experimental data available in the literature are used to demonstrate the application of the proposed method. The results suggest that the slope may not change the basic trends of the biodynamic forces, but the slope may affect their magnitudes, which can be explained using the system’s energy equation also derived from the whole-body biodynamic model. The analytical results suggest that reducing the body acceleration in uphill direction or the deceleration in downhill direction can reduce the slip potential. ‘Zigging’ and ‘zagging’ walking on a sloped surface may also reduce the slip potential, as it reduces the effective slope angle. The proposed biodynamic theory can be used to enhance the safety guidelines not only for roofers but also for people walking on ramps, inclined walkways, and mountain terrains.
The Healing after Gender-Based Violence Scale (GBV-Heal): An Instrument to Measure Recovery Progress in Women-Identifying Survivors.

Current literature has primarily equated gender-based violence recovery with an improvement of physical or mental health symptoms, causing a gap in our understanding of the impact of interventions ...
An Attackability Perspective on No-Sensing Adversarial Multi-player Multi-armed Bandits

In this work, we study the no-sensing adversarial multi-player multi-armed bandits problem. A new dimension of hardness, called attackability, is introduced, which is orthogonal to the hardness of multiple players. All adversaries can be categorized based on the attackability and we introduce Adversary-Adaptive Collision-Communication (A2C2), a family of algorithms with forced-collision communications among players. Information-theoretic tools of the Z-channel model, error-correction/detection coding, and randomized communication are utilized to address the challenge of implicit communication without collision information in an adversarial environment. Theoretical analysis proves that asymptotic attackability-dependent sublinear regrets can be achieved, which do not have an exponential dependence on the number of players and as a result reveal a fundamental tradeoff between the two dimensions of hardness in this problem.
Two modes of interspike interval shortening by brief transient depolarizations in cat neocortical neurons

1. The effects of small, brief depolarizing pulses and excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) on neuronal firing were examined in layer V neurons in slices of cat sensorimotor cortex. During in...