cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of senescence marker p16INK4a measured in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes in predicting length of hospital stay after coronary artery bypass surgery in older adults

Adults older than 65 years undergo more than 120,000 coronary artery bypass (CAB) procedures each year in the United States. Chronological age alone, though commonly used in prediction models of outcomes after CAB, does not alone reflect variability in aging process; thus, the risk of complications in older adults. We performed a prospective study to evaluate a relationship between senescence marker p16(INK4a) expression in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes (p16 levels in PBTLs) with aging and with perioperative outcomes in older CAB patients. We included 55 patients age 55 and older, who underwent CAB in Johns Hopkins Hospital between September 1st, 2010 and March 25th, 2013. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data following outline of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons data collection form was collected, and p16 mRNA levels in PBTLs were measured using TaqMan® qRT-PCR. Associations between p16 mRNA levels in PBTLs with length of hospital stay, frailty status, p16 protein levels in the aortic and left internal mammary artery tissue, cerebral oxygen saturation, and augmentation index as a measure of vascular stiffness were measured using regression analyses. Length of hospital stay was the primary outcome of interest, and major organ morbidity, mortality, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility were secondary outcomes. In secondary analysis, we evaluated associations between p16 mRNA levels in PBTLs and interleukin-6 levels using regression analyses. Median age of enrolled patients was 63.5 years (range 56-81 years), they were predominantly male (74.55%), of Caucasian descent (85.45%). Median log2(p16 levels in PBTLs) were 4.71 (range 1.10-6.82). P16 levels in PBTLs were significantly associated with chronological age (mean difference 0.06 for each year increase in age, 95% CI 0.01-0.11) and interleukin 6 levels (mean difference 0.09 for each pg/ml increase in IL-6 levels, 95% CI 0.01-0.18). There were no significant associations with frailty status, augmentation index, cerebral oxygenation and p16 protein levels in blood vessels. Increasing p16 levels in PBTLs did not predict length of stay in the hospital (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.87-1.40) or intensive care unit (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.79-1.32). Additional evaluation of p16 levels in PBTLs as predictor of perioperative outcomes is required and should include additional markers of immune system aging as well as different outcomes after CAB in addition to length of hospital stay.
Beurteilung der Meßergebnisse

Der Normalbereich des ZVD kann in zwei Richtungen uberschritten werden, d.h. der ZVD kann erhoht oder erniedrigt sein. Die Schwester sollte die Ursache jeder Abweichung von der Norm kennen, um auf entsprechende Gegenmasnahmen vorbereitet zu sein.
Psychosocial Approaches for Sexual Health and Intimate Relationships Among Patients With Serious Mental Illness.

Abstract Introduction The sexual health and behavior and the intimate relationships of patients diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) have been described as ongoing and often ignored concerns in mental health treatment. Evidence-based psychosocial interventions have emerged as effective complimentary approaches to address symptoms of SMI in conjunction with psychopharmacology, yet rarely do they address sexual concerns in a targeted manner. Aim This systematic review explores the scope and efficacy of psychosocial interventions designed to address sexual health and behavior and intimate relationship concerns in patients with SMI. Methods The search was conducted in four targeted databases and identified 967 articles with four of those meeting inclusion criteria for this review. Main Outcome Measures The data extracted included setting, study sample, study design, outcome measures, data analysis, and results. The measures utilized in the studies assess mental and sexual health-related outcomes. Results All four studies reported an improvement in sexual and mental health outcomes. Conclusion Given the lack of psychosocial approaches and culturally sensitive adaptations, this review highlights a gap in literature that should be addressed, particularly emphasizing their combined treatment with psychotropic medication and efficacy testing with diverse populations.
Electron-photon angular correlation measurements for the 2 P 1 1 state of helium

Electron-photon angular correlation measurements have been made for scattered electrons which have excited the $2^{1}P_{1}$ state of helium and photons from the $2^{1}P_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1^{1}S_{0}$ transition at an incident electron energy of 80 eV for a range of electron scattering angles ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{e}$ from 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 155\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and for a photon angle ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ of 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the scattering plane. These measurements have been analyzed to obtain relative values of the ratio $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ of the differential cross section for exciting the ${m}_{j}=0$ sublevel ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}$ to the total differential excitation cross section $\ensuremath{\sigma}$, for $J=1$ ($\ensuremath{\lambda}=\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}$). The results extend the measurement range to both larger and smaller values of ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{e}$ at this energy and are consistent with previous measurements and the most recent calculation for the process.
Solid State Interaction and Nano-Scale Silicide Formation for Co/Ti Multilayers on Silicon

The formation of a 12nm thick, continuous and thermally stable COSi 2 layer was described in our previous work [MRS Proc. 238, 587 (1992)]. Interdiffusion in the Co/Ti-Si multilayer system has been further studied and the initial Ti(O) thickness is shown to be a critical parameter in controlling its effectiveness as a diffusion barrier, and in modulating the Co-Si and Ti-Si compctctive reactions. Three Ti(O) and three Co layers with thickness from ∼5nm 20nm were deposited sequentially, with Ti(O) as the first layer, on Si-(100) substrates by dual source thermal evaporation. The morphology of the CoSi x /Si interface was strongly influenced by Ti(O) thickness from ∼5nm to ∼10nm, and a 12nm thick uniform CoSi 2 layer with ∼28μΩ-cm resistivity was produced as decribed previously. When the initial Ti(O) thickness was increased to ∼20nm and the Co thickness set at -10nm, Co diffusion was suppressed and Ti reacted with Si yielding an ∼10nm amorphous TiSi x layer at 550°C. This amorphous layer transformed to a 15nm thick uniform C-54 TiSi2 layer after selective removal of upper layers and a 750°C plus 800°C annealing. A flat silicide/Si interface and a ∼58μΩ-cm resistivity were obtained. The significance of both thermodynamic and kinetic factors in the compctetive reactions is discussed.
The Possibilities and Limits of Personal Agency

AbstractThe food environment poses many challenges to low-income rural residents as they struggle to sustain themselves and their families. Rural settings in the United States are characterized by poorer food access and availability, including costlier and lower-quality produce, in comparison with urban settings. The practices employed by low-income residents to cope with these rural food environments have nutritional consequences and sometimes even broader health implications. However, these practices can also be interpreted as acts of creative agency. Using insights from earlier work on the environmental determinants of food-related behaviors, and a sociological perspective on the role of individual agency in the process of structuration, this research categorizes food-related hardships, acquisition strategies, and resources, and demonstrates how food access is negotiated within the more or less flexible constraints of rural settings characterized by the unavailability of inexpensive, high-quality foods.
Long-Term Immunity to Trypanosoma cruzi in the Absence of Immunodominant Trans-Sialidase-Specific CD8+ T Cells

Trypanosoma cruzi infection drives the expansion of remarkably focused CD8(+) T cell responses targeting epitopes encoded by variant trans-sialidase (TS) genes. Infection of C57BL/6 mice with T. cruzi results in up to 40% of all CD8(+) T cells committed to recognition of the dominant TSKB20 and subdominant TSKB18 TS epitopes. However, despite this enormous response, these mice fail to clear T. cruzi infection and subsequently develop chronic disease. One possible reason for the failure to cure T. cruzi infection is that immunodomination by these TS-specific T cells may interfere with alternative CD8(+) T cell responses more capable of complete parasite elimination. To address this possibility, we created transgenic mice that are centrally tolerant to these immunodominant epitopes. Mice expressing TSKB20, TSKB18, or both epitopes controlled T. cruzi infection and developed effector CD8(+) T cells that maintained an activated phenotype. Memory CD8(+) T cells from drug-cured TSKB-transgenic mice rapidly responded to secondary T. cruzi infection. In the absence of the response to TSKB20 and TSKB18, immunodominance did not shift to other known subdominant epitopes despite the capacity of these mice to expand epitope-specific T cells specific for the model antigen ovalbumin expressed by engineered parasites. Thus, CD8(+) T cell responses tightly and robustly focused on a few epitopes within variant TS antigens appear to neither contribute to, nor detract from, the ability to control T. cruzi infection. These data also indicate that the relative position of an epitope within a CD8(+) immunodominance hierarchy does not predict its importance in pathogen control.
“Pale Whore, Pale Writer”: Is There Punishment for the Crime?

What appears to be one of the more essential problems with Dostoyevsky’s poetics in Crime and Punishment deals, simply, with his occasional lapse into often using the wrong word at the wrong time. Beyond the mystery plot and the occasional melodramatic sentimentalism, Dostoyevsky’s insouciant approach to the art of novel-writing could justify Nabokov’s limp encomium that Dostoyevsky is on the periphery of masterful Russian prose and failed contrivances exist. The major flaw here is his over-use (and general misuse) of the word “pale” which appears oftentimes within the same paragraph and would lead one to ask the question: Why? The essay explores the “why” by addressing Dostoyevsky’s penchant for making his female protagonists to constantly go pale.
Gadolinium deposition in the brain: Lessons learned from other metals known to cross the blood–brain barrier

The recent discovery of gadolinium (Gd) deposition in the brains of patients receiving Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs) raises several important questions including by what mechanism Gd or GBCAs pass through the blood-brain barrier. Decades of research focused on the safety and stability of GBCAs have not identified any mechanism of uptake. Here we review findings of Gd deposition from human and animal data, and how distribution mechanisms elucidated for endogenous and toxic metals may explain entrance of Gd into the central nervous system. Three general uptake mechanisms are considered along with examples of metals known to enter the central nervous system by these routes: (1) carrier-mediated, (2) transporter-mediated and (3) passive. The potential for chelation therapy to reduce deposition is also discussed. The work reported for other metals provides guidance for how the mechanism of Gd deposition in the brain can be determined which is essential information for rational prevention or treatment.
Type-2 diabetes mellitus: does prenatal care affect outcomes?

AbstractObjective: To determine if prenatal care affects adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies in the state of California between 1997 and 2006, using vital statistics data linked to birth certificates. Women were stratified by time of presentation to care and we compared those who presented in the first trimester, third trimester, and those who had no prenatal care prior to delivery. Perinatal outcomes looked at included: preeclampsia, macrosomia, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, and intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). The two groups were compared with chi-squared testing to determine statistical significance.Results: In women with pregestational diabetes those who presented at time of delivery had an 11.3% risk of IUFD compared to 0.9% in those who presented in the first trimester. There was also an increased rate of preterm birth in the la...
Imaging the hydration level of human skin with a millimeter-wave reflectometer

The hydration level of skin has become an important factor in evaluating the state of human health. We have demonstrated a hydration sensor that can be scanned over large regions of human body potentially in seconds. It is based on a millimeter-wave reflectometer centered at either W-Band or Ka-band. Ka-band provides higher hydration accuracy ( 1 mm), thereby allowing access to the important dermis layer of skin. W-band provides less depth of penetration but finer spatial resolution (∼2 mm).
Caveolin-1 regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase function and oxidative stress in the endothelium

Numerous cardiopulmonary, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases, as well as cigarette smoke and dietary suppressants, induce significant oxidative stress resulting in endothelial cell dysfunction, hyperproliferation, and vasoocclusive vascular disease. Maintenance of normal endothelial cell function is thought to be mediated in part via tight control over endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and “coupling” as regulated by the membrane-associated scaffolding protein caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). This chapter summarizes the literature and highlights unanswered questions of how oxidative stress affects PTEN and Cav-1 negative regulatory functions and how unleashed eNOS enzymatic activity promotes endothelial dysfunction. Focus is given to how conversion of eNOS from a transient nitric oxide-producing enzyme to a peroxynitrite-generating system in states of oxidative stress due to environmental factors, inflammation, and mechanosensitive signaling gives rise to dysfunctional cardiovascular responses. Importantly, the noted vascular defects in absence of Cav-1 and PTEN that give rise to hyperproliferative endothelial cells and remodeled vasculature can be rescued by “recoupling,” inhibiting, or genetically deleting eNOS, supporting the notion that strict control of eNOS enzymatic activity and signaling is critical for maintaining vascular homeostasis.
Vitamin D Autocrine System and Cancer

Epidemiological and biochemical evidence strongly implicates a role for the active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1α,25(OH)2D], in the growth and differentiation of human breast, colon and prostate cells. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated the presence of mRNA and enzyme activity for 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase (1α-OHase), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of 1α,25(OH)2D, in human cancer cells derived from those tissues. We further demonstrated a marked decrease in 1α-OHase activity in the primary cultures and cell lines of prostate cancer cells, compared to those found in the primary cultures of normal prostate cells. Transient or stable transfection of LNCaP prostate cancer cells with 1α-OHase cDNA greatly increased the 1α-OHase enzyme activity, and thereby their cellular response to the antiproliferative activity of 25(OH)D. These findings suggest that, by synthesizing la,25(OH)2D within the cell, the enzyme may play an autocrine role in modulating the proliferation and differentiation of breast, colon and prostate cells. Thus, higher circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D may be necessary for the extra-renal 1α-OHase to work at its maximum capacity to produce an adequate amount of 1α,25(OH)2D in tissues such as the breast, colon and prostate to regulate cell growth and protect them from becoming malignant. This may explain why people who live closer to the equator are less likely to die from cancers of the breast, colon and prostate.
An experimental comparison between semi–active and passive suspensions for air–cushion vehicles

An experimental heave made model of a tracked air–cushion vehicle incorporating on–off semi–active (SA) damper suspension is described. Preliminary tests are conducted to assess the SA pneumatic damper characteristics. For identical sinusoidal ground inputs, the totally passive and on–off SA damping schemes are compared in terms of sprung mass vibration isolation properties. It is shown that the semi–active suspension offers significant advantages over the corresponding passive suspensions, while at the same time requiring only a small amount of control energy. Although the performance of the pneumatic SA device is judged to be adequate for the case under investigation, it is concluded that, for more demanding applications, requiring higher controller speeds of response, an hydraulic SA implementation will probably have to be used.
Data Truncation Bias and the Mismeasurement of Corporate Tax Avoidance

This study examines the use of the cash effective tax rate (Cash ETR) as a measure of corporate tax avoidance. The Cash ETR normalizes cash taxes paid by pre-tax book income. Empirical studies of the Cash ETR delete or winsorize many observations for which the measure is not meaningful. In addition, high pre-tax book income in the denominator biases the Cash ETR towards the statutory rate. We propose an alternative measure that is meaningful for all observations. Whereas Cash ETR studies suggest that the average corporation is tax-favored, our measure indicates that the opposite is true. In addition, our study suggests an explanation for inconsistencies in the extant literature regarding the relation between pre-tax profitability and tax avoidance. Our measure shows that that more profitable firms engage in greater levels of tax avoidance.
Sentimental value and gift giving: Givers' fears of getting it wrong prevents them from getting it right

Abstract Sentimental value is the value derived from an emotionally-laden item's associations with significant others, or special events or times in one's life. The present research demonstrates that when faced with the choice between sentimentally valuable gifts and gifts with superficial attributes that match the preferences of the recipient, givers give the latter much more often than recipients would prefer to receive such gifts. This asymmetry appears to be driven by givers feeling relatively certain that preference-matching gifts will be well-liked by recipients, but relatively uncertain that the same is true for sentimentally valuable gifts. Three studies demonstrate this gift-giving mismatch and validate the proposed mechanism across a variety of gift-giving occasions and giver-receiver relationship types. The contribution of these findings to the gift-giving literature, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Margins and Breast Cancer

One of the key principles in breast surgical oncology is the need to excise normal tissue around a cancer that is removed, as it has been well-established that positive margins (i.e., having cancer cells at the edge of the resection) are associated with a higher rate of local recurrence. Over the past several years, there has been an evolution in what is considered an adequate margin, and a number of consensus statements have recently been published to add clarity to this area. Despite surgeons’ best efforts, roughly 20–40% of patients undergoing breast conserving surgery will have positive margins. Now, however, there are a plethora of techniques and technologies to aid surgeons in achieving a negative margin at the initial procedure, reducing the need for re-excision. While surgeons work to obtain clear margins, some argue that margins may lose some of their relevance in the contemporary setting where systemic therapy and radiation are almost universally employed in combatting cancer. This chapter reviews current progress and paradigms surrounding the issue of margins in breast cancer.
Are We Special? Humanity and Extraterrestrial Life

The discovery of ubiquitous planets around other stars, some of them Earth-like, has brought renewed attention to the question of whether humans are the only intelligent species in the galaxy or one of many. So far we have no indication that other intelligent beings (ETI) exist. Even if they do, huge astronomical distances together with the finite speed of light makes it much more likely that, if we encounter them at all, it will be by long-distance contact rather than meeting in person. Our hope that such a signal might be received is based on the expectation that at least some ETI will develop human-like technology. Whether extraterrestrial evolution should be expected to converge on this kind of techno-intelligence or diverge in ways we cannot now imagine is an open question. Not only may we never receive a signal, we may also never know why. This uncertainty also cautions us against theological speculations about the nature of aliens. Astrotheology is ultimately about us humans; about aliens we can only learn, if at all, through their own free self-disclosure.
Issues and Trends in Instructional Technology: Growth and Maturation of Web-Based Tools in a Challenging Climate; Social Networks Gain Educators’ Attention

Composed of four sections – Overall Developments, Corporate Training and Development, Higher Education, and K-12 Education – this chapter synthesizes the findings of major annual reports including ASTD’s State of the Industry Report, the EDUCAUSE Core Data Service Fiscal Year 2007 Summary Report, The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, Education Week’s Technology Counts 2009, Project Tomorrow’s Speak Up 2009, and the Greaves Group’s America’s Digital Schools. The authors describe the economy’s impact on instructional technology and comment on the importance of Web 2.0, online learning, and increased attention paid to social networking sites for educational purposes.
Andrii Danylenko. From the Bible to Shakespeare: Pantelejmon Kuliš (1819–1897) and the Formation of Literary Ukrainian.

Review of Andrii Danylenko. From the Bible to Shakespeare: Pantelejmon Kuli s (1819–1897) and the Formation of Literary Ukrainian. Academic Studies Press, 2016. Ukrainian Studies, edited by Vitaly Chernetsky. xxiv, 450 pp. Bibliography. Indexes. $89.00, cloth.
An Energy-Quality Scalable Wireless Image Sensor Node for Object-Based Video Surveillance

Wireless image sensor nodes are required to deliver better visual information of the region-of-interest (ROI) under tight energy constraints. The energy-quality scalability of the sensor node can be improved by incorporating ROI-based image processing. This paper presents an energy-quality scalable wireless image sensor node using ROI-based processing for object-based surveillance. After detecting the ROI using a low-power noise-robust method, frame images are encoded by a low-complexity ROI coding scheme with better rate-quality performance. The ROI-based processing parameters are controlled by a simple on-line rate controller to minimize the buffer requirement. We integrate the proposed approach into the wireless image sensor node, and analyze the performance assuming a base station with human operators and deep neural networks. The results show that the proposed approach provides higher quality under the available energy budget. Better energy-quality scalability yields higher energy-accuracy performance for the intelligent surveillance system with deep neural networks.
Is There a Role for ADP-Ribosylation in DNA Repair?

Synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) results in depletion of cellular NAD+ and transient ADP-ribosylation of DNA, chromatin, and other nuclear proteins. Synthesis of this homopolymer is stimulated by various kinds of DNA strand-breakage [1, 2], produced either directly, e.g., by X-rays [23], or indirectly through enzymatic excision of damaged bases [4, 9].
CLINICAL EVIDENCE THAT THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM PARTICIPATES IN AUTONOMIC CONTROL

The vestibular system, including both the peripheral vestibular system, that is, the labyrinth, and the central vestibular system, is known to influence autonomic function in several ways that have clinical implications. This paper discusses evidence for vestibular influences on autonomic control from normal human subjects, evidence for vestibular influences on autonomic control from patients, clinical implications of vestibulo-autonomic regulation, and speculations regarding possible clinical implications of vestibulo-autonomic control. Situations that provoke vestibular-induced autonomic responses in normal subjects include vestibular laboratory testing, vehicular motion, simulators, and, possibly, exposure to microgravity. Patients with peripheral and central vestibular abnormalities manifest both symptoms and signs of autonomic dysfunction presumably via vestibulo-autonomic connections. Vestibulo-autonomic regulation impacts vestibular diagnostic testing, clinical diagnosis of balance disorders, and treatment of balance disorders. In addition to well-recognized peripheral and central vestibular disorders, anxiety disorders have recently been linked to vestibular dysfunction in a subset of patients. In particular, vestibular dysfunction has been linked to panic disorder and agoraphobia. Vestibular-autonomic connections may form a basis for an association between vestibular dysfunction and panic attacks. The importance of vestibulo-autonomic regulation in the clinical arena is not fully known. Two speculative areas discussed in this paper include vestibular-induced orthostatic intolerance and the role of vestibular-respiratory pathways on sleep apnea.
Coping with the Angry Patient

This patient is enacting two chronic maladaptive patterns. In one he alternates between the role of victim and abuser while inducing the therapist to play the counterrole. He tries to master the abuse he suffered passively as a child by becoming abusive with the therapist and having her experience what it feels like to be mistreated. My effort would be to interpret this pattern even while acknowledging and absorbing some degree of his anger. In a second pattern he acts like an angry, demanding child in an effort to extract nurturance and special treatment from the therapist. I would help him explore this posture in terms of his deprived background and its maladaptiveness in his current life. Finally, I present vignettes from my own practice to demonstrate how I work with patients' anger when it is expressed indirectly rather than in Mr. P's very direct manner.
Two isomers of [1-benzyl-4-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-κN3]di-chlorido-bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide-κS)ruthenium(II).

The structures of two isomers of the title compound, [RuCl2(C14H12N4)(C2H6OS)2], 2 and 3, are reported. Isomers 2 and 3 are produced by reaction of the pyridyl­triazole ligand 1-benzyl-4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (bpt) (1) with fac-[RuCl2(DMSO-S)3(DMSO-O)]. Reaction in acetone produces ca 95% 2, which is the OC-6-14 isomer, with cis DMSO and trans chlorido ligands, and 5% 3 (the OC-6-32 isomer, with cis DMSO and cis chlorido ligands, and the pyridyl moiety of bpt trans to DMSO). Reaction in refluxing toluene initially forms 2, which slowly isomerizes to 3.
Patient-generated health data and electronic health record integration: protocol for a scoping review

Introduction The objective of this study is to determine the extent and describe the nature of patient-generated health data (PGHD) integration into electronic health records (EHRs) using systematic scoping methods to review the available literature. PGHD have the potential to enhance decision making by providing the valuable information that may not be ordinarily captured during a routine care visit. These data which are captured from mobile devices, such as smartphones, activity trackers and other sensors, should be integrated into clinical workflows to allow for optimal use by clinicians. Methods and analysis This study aims to conduct a rigorous scoping review to explore evidence related to the integration of PGHD into EHRs. Using the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley, we will create a systematic search strategy, chart data from the relevant articles, and use a qualitative, thematic approach to analyse the data. This review will enable the identification of types of integration and describe challenges and barriers to integrating PGHD. Ethics and dissemination Database searches will be initiated in June 2019. The review is expected to be completed by October 2019. As the content of the full-text articles emerges, the authors will summarise the characteristics related to the integration of PGHD. The findings of this scoping review will identify research gaps and present implications for future research.
Molecular Layer Etching of Metalcone Films Using Lithium Organic Salts and Trimethylaluminum

Advances in semiconductor device manufacturing are limited by our ability to precisely add and remove thin layers of material in multistep fabrication processes. Recent reports on atomic layer etching (ALE) have provided the means for the precise removal of inorganic thin films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), opening new avenues for nanoscale device design. Here, we report on a new technique for the precise removal of metal–organic thin films deposited by molecular layer deposition (MLD), which we term molecular layer etching. This etching process employs sequential exposures of lithium organic salt (LOS) and trimethylaluminum (TMA) precursors to produce self-limiting etching behavior. We employ quartz crystal microbalance experiments to demonstrate (i) etching of alucone films preloaded with LOS upon TMA exposures and (ii) layer-by-layer etching of alucone films using alternating exposures of LOS and TMA. We also identify the selectivity of these etching mechanisms. We probe the mechanism for...
The Discovery and Characterization of Neurotrophic and Myotrophic Factors

The focus of my group has been to discover and study factors acting on neurons and their innervation targets, with an eye toward eventually using these factors to intervene in neurodegenerative disease. When we first started working in this area, we and others thought that neurotrophic factors were in some way fundamentally different from so-called “conventional” growth factors and cytokines operating elsewhere in the body, mostly because the apparent actions of neurotrophic factors seemed quite unlike the usual proliferative and differentiative effects of “conventional” growth factors and cytokines. For example, neurons are post-mitotic and terminally-differentiated, and neurotrophic factors are known to act on neurons to promote their survival and to elicit dramatically impressive neuritic process outgrowth that appear quite distinct from the effects of “conventional” growth factors and cytokines on non-neuronal cells. It turns out, however, as realized from the work of our group and others, that neurotrophic factors are quite analogous to “conventional” growth factors and cytokines, in that they use very similar receptors and signaling systems (Glass and Yancopoulos, 1993; Ip and Yancopoulos, 1994). Thus some neurotrophic factors use receptors known as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) very similar to those used by “conventional” growthfactors such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF), while others use so-called “cytokine” receptors like those used by interleukins.
An Emerging Framework for the EdD Activist

Increasingly, Ed.D. programs are challenged to produce graduates with the skills and expertise needed to create and foster change in the various educational environments in which they serve. Promoting, and more importantly, preparing the Ed.D. Activist is a theme that was addressed during the October 2019 convening of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) hosted by the University of South Carolina. As part of the opening convening, the U of SC faculty assisted with surveying the more than 65 CPED-informed programs in an effort to construct a potential framework to guide both new and existing programs within the consortium. The resulting framework highlights two potential profiles for the Ed.D. Activist, 12 considerations that programs should examine, four primary outcomes, and five quality indicators. The framework is representative of the data collected from more than 200 participants and provides a broad, but foundational framework for engaging more deeply in the work of promoting activism amongst Ed.D. graduates.
Ebselen Reacts with SARS Coronavirus-2 Main Protease Crystals

The SARS coronavirus 2 main protease 3CLpro tailor cuts various essential virus proteins out of long poly-protein translated from the virus RNA. If the 3CLpro is inhibited, the functional virus proteins cannot form and the virus cannot replicate and assemble. Any compound that inhibits the 3CLpro is therefore a potential drug to end the pandemic. Here we show that the diffraction power of 3CLpro crystals is effectively destroyed by Ebselen. It appears that Ebselen may be a widely available, relatively cost effective way to eliminate the SARS coronavirus 2.
Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy for a Technically Challenging Pancreatic Head Cancer.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is performed for resectable periampullary lesions with comparable outcomes to the open approach.1 Surgical therapy for borderline-resectable (BR) pancreatic tumors is technically challenging and poses a significant risk of bleeding and positive margins.2 As experience with RPD grows at high-volume centers, case selection can be carefully expanded to include complex vascular resections.3 We demonstrate a RPD performed for BR pancreatic adenocarcinoma with portal vein (PV) involvement and presence of anomalous hepatic arterial anatomy. A 75-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. She was previously healthy and had a relatively normal body mass index (25.7 kg/m2). Endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography imaging identified a pancreatic head mass measuring 2.3 cm with evidence of concomitant abutment of the PV (90–180 degree) and abutment of a replaced right hepatic artery (rRHA) originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Following four cycles of neoadjuvant gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, restaging imaging demonstrated partial radiographic response, represented by a lesser degree of PV abutment and resolution of rRHA abutment. RPD was performed with side-bite resection of the PV and preservation of rRHA. The video demonstrates the key steps followed in a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy performed for a technically challenging pancreatic head cancer and highlights robotic control of bleeding from the PV and SMA obviating the need for conversion. Histopathology revealed a residual moderately differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma with 4-of-40 positive lymph nodes and negative surgical margins. The tumor was staged as ypT1cN2 (AJCC 8th edition). The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on hospital day 8. In high-volume centers, the robotic approach can be safely used in selected cases of technically challenging BR pancreatic head cancers.
Use of environmental testing to identify high risk areas for Johne's disease transmission on cow-calf operations

The majority of research related to testing and control strategies for decreasing the incidence of Johne's disease has been focused on the dairy industry with little focus on the beef industry. Because of the very different management styles for calf rearing and housing between the 2 industries, there is an urgent need to assess the effectiveness of currently recommended prevention strategies on mitigating the risk of Johne's transmission in beef cow-calf operations. Shedding of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) by infected adult animals into cow-calf housing areas likely poses the highest risk for spread of Johne's disease within beef herds. Therefore, development of an effective environmental testing strategy specifically designed for cow-calf operations that could be used to identify contaminated areas on farm is warranted.
The association between obstructive sleep apnea and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a retrospective nationwide inpatient sample analysis.

Aim of the study The primary purpose of this study was to assess the association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from a large national inpatient sample database. Material and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample. OSA and NASH patients were identified using the ICD-10-CM code G47.33 and K75.81. Non-NASH patients (control) were randomly selected and matched by age and gender to each NASH patient in a 4 : 1 ratio. Weighted logistic regression models were used to calculate the association between OSA and NASH in addition to different comorbidities. Results A total of 54,169 participants were included in our analysis; 10,740 cases of NASH were matched to 43,429 controls (non-NASH). NASH was significantly higher in the white population (82.12% vs. 76.64%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of OSA among NASH patients was significantly higher compared to the control group (15.8% vs. 8.9%, adjusted OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14-1.56, p = 0.0003). The prevalence of celiac disease and Crohn's disease was significantly higher in patients with NASH (0.7% vs. 0.2%, p < 0.0002 and 1.28% vs. 0.76%, p < 0.0001). Multiple comorbidities were significantly elevated in the NASH group compared to the non-NASH group, including diabetes mellitus (DM; 36% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.0001), obesity (36.4% vs. 18.2%, p < 0.0001) and metabolic syndrome (0.86% vs. 0.06%, p < 0.0001). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the NASH group (3.8% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions This is the first study using the ICD-10-CM code with a specific search code for NASH. Our large population database results emphasize that there is a significant association between OSA and NASH.
DPR at SemEval-2021 Task 8: Dynamic Path Reasoning for Measurement Relation Extraction

Scientific documents are replete with measurements mentioned in various formats and styles. As such, in a document with multiple quantities and measured entities, the task of associating each quantity to its corresponding measured entity is challenging. Thus, it is necessary to have a method to efficiently extract all measurements and attributes related to them. To this end, in this paper, we propose a novel model for the task of measurement relation extraction (MRE) whose goal is to recognize the relation between measured entities, quantities, and conditions mentioned in a document. Our model employs a deep translation-based architecture to dynamically induce the important words in the document to classify the relation between a pair of entities. Furthermore, we introduce a novel regularization technique based on Information Bottleneck (IB) to filter out the noisy information from the induced set of important words. Our experiments on the recent SemEval 2021 Task 8 datasets reveal the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Saving the California Homeowner Bill of Rights from Federal Banking Preemption

This Comment examines how California federal district courts have predominately failed to recognize recent changes to the powers of federally chartered banks to preempt state foreclosure laws. This Comment first offers a brief overview of the different preemption standards that exist in the National Bank Act (regulating national banks) and Home Owners Loan Act (regulating federal thrifts) that existed prior to the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and explores how the Act has limited preemption of state foreclosure laws.This Comment next explores the desired effect of California Assembly Bill 278 (2012), a component of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights that modified California's non-judicial foreclosure process.Finally, this Comment explores the evolution of federal banking preemption case law by: (1) Collecting cases that held there was no difference between preemption under the National Bank Act and Home Owners Loan Act; (2) examining a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Aguayo v. U.S. Bank, which held that the National Bank Act afforded only conflict preemption for national banks against state laws that affect banking and the Home Owners Loan Act affords field preemption to federal thrifts against such laws; (3) showing how the federal courts have predominately failed to pick up on this change in Ninth Circuit law in the foreclosure context by instead holding with dubious precedent that the law that applied at the time the mortgage was entered into is the law that governs preemption of state foreclosure law many years later; and (4) showing how the preemption analysis in the post-Dodd-Frank world should apply to allow California Assembly Bill 278 to survive federal banking preemption.
Mealtime Insulin Dosing by Carbohydrate Counting in Hospitalized Cardiology Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract Background: Carbohydrate counting may improve glycemic control in hospitalized cardiology patients by providing individualized insulin doses tailored to meal consumption. The purpose of this study was to compare glycemic outcomes with mealtime insulin dosed by carbohydrate counting versus fixed dosing in the inpatient setting. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 225 adult medical cardiology patients who received mealtime, basal, and correction-scale insulin concurrently for at least 72 h and up to 7 days in the interval March 1, 2010–November 7, 2013. Mealtime insulin was dosed by carbohydrate counting or with fixed doses determined prior to meal intake. An inpatient diabetes consult service was responsible for insulin management. Exclusion criteria included receipt of an insulin infusion. The primary end point compared mean daily postprandial glucose values, whereas secondary end points included comparison of preprandial glucose values and mean daily rat...
Clinical and Histopathological Parameters in Melanoma

Found within a thorough dermatopathology report, factors such as (1) age; (2) anatomic location; (3) gender; (4) Breslow thickness; (5) Clark anatomic level; (6) tumor volume; (7) cross-sectional profile; (8) ulceration; (9) mitotic rate; (10) growth phase; (11) presence or absence of regression; (12) host inflammatory response; (13) tumor vascularity; (14) vascular invasion; (15) angiotropism; (16) histologic tumor type; (17) cytologic variation; (18) desmoplasia; (19) neurotropic factors; (20) cytologic atypia; (21) borderline melanocytic lesions; (22) association with a benign melanocytic nevus; (23) paratumoral epidermal hyperplasia; and (24) satellite and/or in-transit metastasis can provide further insight into prognosis for patients with melanoma. This chapter will provide a thorough review of the significance of each of the predictive factors listed above, as well as how they may be interpreted and used by the clinician to guide appropriate therapy and patient education.
PET and PET/CT Imaging in Tumors of the Pancreas and Liver

FDG-PET imaging appears helpful in differentiating malignant from benign hepatic lesions, with the exception of false-negative HCC, false-negative infiltrating cholangiocarcinoma, and false-positive inflammatory lesions. It is not helpful to identify HCC in patients with cirrhosis and regenerating nodules. In patients with primary malignant hepatic tumors that accumulate FDG, PET imaging does identify unexpected distant metastases (although miliary carcinomatosis is often false negative) and can help in monitoring response to therapy. FDG-PET imaging seems promising for monitoring patient response to therapy, including regional therapy to the liver, but larger studies are necessary.
Pediatric spinal adrenocortical carcinoma

A 5-month-old girl was found on magnetic resonance imaging to have a heterogeneously enhancing conus region mass. At surgery, an extramedullary, intradural mass was resected. Pathology confirmed a diagnosis of adrenocortical carci- noma. The neoplasm originated from ectopic adrenal cortical cell rests in the spine. Ectopic adrenal cortical tissue in the spinal canal is extremely rare. This is only the ninth reported case of an adrenocortical neoplasm arising as a primary tumor in the cen- tral nervous system.
The HDAC inhibitor, sodium butyrate, stimulates neurogenesis in the ischemic brain

In the healthy adult brain, neurogenesis normally occurs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Cerebral ischemia enhances neurogenesis in neurogenic and non-neurogenic regions of the ischemic brain of adult rodents. This study demonstrated that post-insult treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate (SB), stimulated the incorporation of bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the SVZ, DG, striatum, and frontal cortex in the ischemic brain of rats subjected to permanent cerebral ischemia. SB treatment also increased the number of cells expressing polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule, nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in various brain regions after cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, extensive co-localization of BrdU and polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule was observed in multiple regions after ischemia, and SB treatment up-regulated protein levels of BDNF, phospho-CREB, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Intraventricular injection of K252a, a tyrosine kinase B receptor antagonist, markedly reduced SB-induced cell proliferation detected by BrdU and Ki67 in the ipsilateral SVZ, DG, and other brain regions, blocked SB-induced nestin expression and CREB activation, and attenuated the long-lasting behavioral benefits of SB. Together, these results suggest that histone deacetylase inhibitor-induced cell proliferation, migration and differentiation require BDNF-tyrosine kinase B signaling and may contribute to long-term beneficial effects of SB after ischemic injury.
Clinical practice guidelines for pediatric constipation

Purpose: To discuss the diagnosis and management of pediatric constipation by nurse practitioners in primary care. Data sources: Clinical practice guidelines and selected research articles. Conclusions: Pediatric constipation is a common complaint. Few children have an organic cause; more common is “functional constipation.” Management may include medications, dietary interventions, and behavior modification. Patient and family education is essential. Implications for practice: A successful outcome requires multiple management strategies. There are usually relapses and gradual progress, so follow-up is essential. A consult with a pediatric gastroenterologist is indicated when treatment fails, if there is concern about an organic cause, or for complex management.