cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Response to Stress in the Neonate Who Has Surgery

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the basic metabolic pathways involved in neonatal nutrition. 2. Describe the effect of stress on nutrition and metabolism in the neonate undergoing surgery. 3. Describe the differences in the metabolic response to stress between an adult and a neonate. Over the past 4 decades, there have been remarkable improvements in our ability to care for critically ill infants. Progress in surgical and critical care of neonates has led to improved survival rates. Our understanding of the nutritional requirements of infants continues to advance. In contrast to years past, practitioners caring for critically ill infants undergoing surgery today have various nutritional options, including specialized parenteral and enteral formulations. Although our understanding of host defense and nutritional support continues to evolve, the interplay between the immune system and metabolism is being investigated. Hence, we are improving the match between the infant’s energy expenditure and nutritional requirements. Critical to further progress is additional understanding of the metabolic response of a neonate to surgical stress. All living organisms require energy to survive. Fuel sources enter into complex metabolic cascades to form the ultimate energy substrate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a fuel needed to drive and maintain all physiologic systems. Under stressful conditions, intrinsic substrate mobilizes to synthesize additional energy substrate. In essence, host substrate is mobilized for the promotion of healing after injury. Cytokines, released in response to injury, drive the catabolic response to stress, but in abundance, as with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), cytokines are detrimental to the organism. The nutritional requirements of a neonate are significantly greater than those of an adult because not only are there requirements for substrate intake to fulfill basic metabolic needs, but there are metabolic needs to maintain rapid and continued growth and development. Furthermore, the metabolic response …
Recovering Genetic Regulatory Networks from Micro-Array Data and Location Analysis Data

Learning large network (with hundreds of variables) is gaining interest of many researchers with the emergence of high-throughput biological data sources such as micro-array data. In this paper, we investigated the two popular large scale network structure learning algorithms, sparse candidate hill climbing (SCHC) and Grow-Shrinkage(GS) algorithm. The experiments show that in fact both of them have serious effectiveness problems when the number of variables(genes) is large compared to the number of instances(experimental conditions), which is a common case in micro-array data. We further propose a new large scale structure learning algorithm based on Lasso regression. Theoretical analysis in [10] suggested that the L1-norm in lasso regression could make our algorithm especially suitable in the cases that the number of variables and instances is unbalance. Our algorithm achieves much better results than SCHC and GS on the synthetic data. We also show the effectiveness of our algorithm by learning genetic regulatory network modules from a real micro-array data (with more than 6000 genes), combined with the genome-wide location analysis data. The learned results are consistent well with biological knowledge.
Increasing the amount of payment to research subjects

This article discusses some ethical issues that can arise when researchers decide to increase the amount of payment offered to research subjects to boost enrollment. Would increasing the amount of payment be unfair to subjects who have already consented to participate in the study? This article considers how five different models of payment—the free market model, the wage payment model, the reimbursement model, the appreciation model, and the fair benefits model—would approach this issue. The article also considers several practical problems related to changing the amount of payment, including determining whether there is enough money in the budget to offer additional payments to subjects who have already enrolled, ascertaining how difficult it will be to re-contact subjects, and developing a plan of action for responding to subjects who find out they are receiving less money and demand an explanation.
Treating Patients With Arthritis: The Impact of Individual, Couple, and Family Dynamics:

Arthritis is an increasingly common chronic medical condition that affects not only patients but their families. Because this condition has significant psychosocial impact, effective treatment requires an integration of psychosocial treatment—including individual, couples, and family counseling—with conventional medical treatment. Individual psychological dynamics as well as couple and family dynamics that influence the treatment process are described along with implications for family counseling. An illustrative case example is included.
Why Dentists Should Become Oral Physicians: A Response to Dr. Donald Giddon's "Why Dentists Should Be Called Oral Physicians Now"

In the February issue of the Journal of Dental Education , Dr. Donald Giddon wrote a Perspectives article entitled “Why Dentists Should Be Called Oral Physicians Now.”[1][1] Dr. Giddon had previously expressed the point that dentists should be called oral physicians in a point/counterpoint
Medical Marijuana: A Survey of Teenagers and Their Parents

Parents and their teenage children were questioned about medical marijuana and whether they believed that passage of medical marijuana laws in their states would increase teenage use of marijuana for non-medical purposes. A 24-question written survey was distributed separately to teenager/parent pairs who visited 1 of 2 suburban general pediatric offices located in Vienna, Virginia or Mason, Ohio. Completed surveys were collected from 393 parent-teen pairs. Only 13% of the teenagers admitted to ever smoking marijuana while 6% admitted smoking it in the past 30 days. There was good agreement between parents and teens (81% of parents and 76% of their teenagers who responded to the survey) that regular use of marijuana causes harm to many or most users, not just "potheads." Although there was close agreement in the range of opinions about medical marijuana (i.e., from liberal use to no use) by parents as a group and the teens as a group, agreement between the answers of parents matched with their own children was poor based on K-coefficient analysis (K = 0.20). Twenty-eight percent of the parent group and 55% of the teenagers believed that passage of state laws for medical marijuana would make it easier for teens to smoke marijuana for medical purposes.
Molecular Understanding and Modern Application of Traditional Medicines: Triumphs and Trials

Traditional medicines provide fertile ground for modern drug development, but first they must pass along a pathway of discovery, isolation, and mechanistic studies before eventual deployment in the clinic. Here, we highlight the challenges along this route, focusing on the compounds artemisinin, triptolide, celastrol, capsaicin, and curcumin.
Characterizing reusability of end-user web macro scripts

Recommendations by software repositories depend on explicit or implicit models for evaluating the quality and relevance of components for programming tasks. As a step toward creating such a model for evaluating end-user web macro scripts, we have identified script characteristics that correspond to the likelihood of script reuse. For example, the likelihood of reuse increases with the number of variables and comments in the script, the number of online forum postings by the script’s author, and the presence of popular keywords in the script’s source code. We discuss possible applications of our results for new recommendation features.
On Multi-Barrier Plasma Actuators

The multi-barrier plasma actuator (MBPA) is an extension on the standard dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator which consists of conducting electrodes placed asymmetrically on a single dielectric substrate. The MBPA design incorporates multiple dielectric layers and phase lagged powered electrodes into the standard design in an effort to create a stronger discharge. The results of this increase could lead to higher induced velocities/resultant forces. In a prior study, the MBPA design was found to outperform the standard actuator in both measured force and effectiveness (ratio of the induced force over consumed power). The present investigation is an extension on this previous work to expound upon the broad design space of the multi-barrier configuration. The resultant force produced by both bi-layer and tri-layer actuators are measured directly using a precision force balance. The results of these experiments are then compared with the standard actuator design. In addition, the influence of mixing dielectric materials is also explored. For all test cases the total power delivered to the actuator is calculated and presented.
Real-time pattern recognition. I. Neural network algorithms for normal models

Traditional neural network models, when contrasted with normal models, have some distinct similarities and differences. The paper describes the salient features of perceptrons and their extensions, relative to normal models. Conjunctoid neural network models when contrasted with normal models also have some relative advantages, the paper describes these advantages and disadvantages. Normal neural network models are introduced which combine some of the features of the conjunctoid and traditional normal models. The paper also introduces the algorithm to implement a normal neural network model for the airplane example described in an earlier part of the paper. The paper briefly describes the architectures for implementing the algorithms on parallel machines, along with conclusions and future research directions. >
Human endonuclease V as a repair enzyme for DNA deamination

Abstract The human endonuclease V gene is located in chromosome 17q25.3 and encodes a 282 amino acid protein that shares about 30% sequence identity with bacterial endonuclease V. This study reports biochemical properties of human endonuclease V with respect to repair of deaminated base lesions. Using soluble proteins fused to thioredoxin at the N-terminus, we determined repair activities of human endonuclease V on deoxyinosine (I)-, deoxyxanthosine (X)-, deoxyoxanosine (O)- and deoxyuridine (U)-containing DNA. Human endonuclease V is most active with deoxyinosine-containing DNA but with minor activity on deoxyxanthosine-containing DNA. Endonuclease activities on deoxyuridine and deoxyoxanosine were not detected. The endonuclease activity on deoxyinosine-containing DNA follows the order of single-stranded I > G/I > T/I > A/I > C/I. The preference of the catalytic activity correlates with the binding affinity of these deoxyinosine-containing DNAs. Mg 2+ and to a much less extent, Mn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ can support the endonuclease activity. Introduction of human endonuclease V into Escherichia coli cells deficient in nfi , mug and ung genes caused three-fold reduction in mutation frequency. This is the first report of deaminated base repair activity for human endonuclease V. The relationship between the endonuclease activity and deaminated deoxyadenosine (deoxyinosine) repair is discussed.
Pneumocystis murina colonization in immunocompetent surfactant protein A deficient mice following environmental exposure

Pneumocystis spp. are opportunistic pathogens that cause pneumonia in immunocompromised humans and animals. Pneumocystis colonization has also been detected in immunocompetent hosts and may exacerbate other pulmonary diseases. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is an innate host defense molecule and plays a role in the host response to Pneumocystis. To analyze the role of SP-A in protecting the immunocompetent host from Pneumocystis colonization, the susceptibility of immunocompetent mice deficient in SP-A (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice to P. murina colonization was analyzed by reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR (qPCR) and serum antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Detection of P. murina specific serum antibodies in immunocompetent WT and KO mice indicated that the both strains of mice had been exposed to P. murina within the animal facility. However, P. murina mRNA was only detected by qPCR in the lungs of the KO mice. The incidence and level of the mRNA expression peaked at 8–10 weeks and declined to undetectable levels by 16–18 weeks. When the mice were immunosuppressed, P. murina cyst forms were also only detected in KO mice. P. murina mRNA was detected in SCID mice that had been exposed to KO mice, demonstrating that the immunocompetent KO mice are capable of transmitting the infection to immunodeficient mice. The pulmonary cellular response appeared to be responsible for the clearance of the colonization. More CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were recovered from the lungs of immunocompetent KO mice than from WT mice, and the colonization in KO mice depleted CD4+ cells was not cleared. These data support an important role for SP-A in protecting the immunocompetent host from P. murina colonization, and provide a model to study Pneumocystis colonization acquired via environmental exposure in humans. The results also illustrate the difficulties in keeping mice from exposure to P. murina even when housed under barrier conditions.
Motor Learning in Children with Cerebral Palsy with Feedback of Principal Component Space of Reduced Dimension

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common developmental motor disorder in children characterized by atypical or abnormal muscle tone, weakness, and reduced selective motor control. This results in abnormal movements and postures. Augmented therapeutic modalities to train selective motor control are needed in CP rehabilitation. We investigated motor learning in children with CP (n=9, ages 8-12, GMFCS =I,II) by providing feedback in a virtual reality (VR) environment of reduced dimensions consisting only of the first two principal components (PCs) of the space of target postures from a group of typically developing children (n=8, ages 8-12). After six training sessions we observed the following changes in the children’s motor control: a) increased variance in the first principal component; b) reduced variance in the non- relevant principal components; and c) increased the number of target matches. These results suggest that feedback of reduced dimensions by remapping space into its main principal components in a game like environment may increase selective motor control in children with CP.
Industry Perspective of Drug Development for Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women

As part of drug development, drug companies conduct experiments to gather data about the potential toxicity of medications in pregnant and lactating animals. Increasingly, physiologically based pharmacokinetic models are developed to simulate drug concentrations in pregnant and lactating women. As these women are not usually included in clinical trials, targeted postapproval safety monitoring, registries, or clinical studies may be performed to gather safety and efficacy information about drug use in these special populations.
Fouling of microfiltration membranes by flowback and produced waters from the Marcellus shale gas play

There is growing interest in possible options for treatment or reuse of flowback and produced waters from natural gas processing. Here we investigated the fouling characteristics during microfiltration of different flowback and produced waters from hydraulic fracturing sites in the Marcellus shale. All samples caused severe and highly variable fouling, although there was no direct correlation between the fouling rate and total suspended solids, turbidity, or total organic carbon. Furthermore, the fouling of water after prefiltration through a 0.2 μm membrane was also highly variable. Low fouling seen with prefiltered water was mainly due to removal of submicron particles 0.4–0.8 μm during prefiltration. High fouling seen with prefiltered water was mainly caused by a combination of hydrophobic organics and colloidal particles <100 nm in size (quantified by transmission electron microscopy) that passed through the prefiltration membranes. The small colloidal particles were highly stable, likely due to the surfactants and other organics present in the fracking fluids. The colloid concentration was as high as 1011 colloids/ml, which is more than 100 times greater than that in typical seawater. Furthermore, these colloids were only partially removed by MF, causing substantial fouling during a subsequent ultrafiltration. These results clearly show the importance of organics and colloidal material in membrane fouling caused by flowback and produced waters, which is of critical importance in the development of more sustainable treatment strategies in natural gas processing.
Appraisal model of performance to field waterworks based on BP neural networks

Based on the researches of predecessors and in veiw of the needs of war and technology of purification,an index system of filed waterworks was offered and the appraisal model built with neural networks and a new algorithm presented in order to appraise the performance of field waterworks,and choose and purchase the best watercleaner conveniently.The appraisal results of five waterworks compared with those of the specialists prove that the model is credible and practical.This model can replace man and work as a computer-specialist. So this model can be used in purchasing waterworks for our troops, which makes buyers analyze and compare waterworks conveniently and choose good waterworks.
Realizing dynamic and efficient bipedal locomotion on the humanoid robot DURUS

This paper presents the methodology used to achieve efficient and dynamic walking behaviors on the prototype humanoid robotics platform, DURUS. As a means of providing a hardware platform capable of these behaviors, the design of DURUS combines highly efficient electromechanical components with “control in the loop” design of the leg morphology. Utilizing the final design of DURUS, a formal framework for the generation of dynamic walking gaits which maximizes efficiency by exploiting the full body dynamics of the robot, including the interplay between the passive and active elements, is developed. The gaits generated through this methodology form the basis of the control implementation experimentally realized on DURUS; in particular, the trajectories generated through the formal framework yield a feedforward control input which is modulated by feedback in the form of regulators that compensate for discrepancies between the model and physical system. The end result of the unified approach to control-informed mechanical design, formal gait design and regulator-based feedback control implementation is efficient and dynamic locomotion on the humanoid robot DURUS. In particular, DURUS was able to demonstrate dynamic locomotion at the DRC Finals Endurance Test, walking for just under five hours in a single day, traveling 3.9 km with a mean cost of transport of 1.61—the lowest reported cost of transport achieved on a bipedal humanoid robot.
Efficacy of Cushing response during development in sheep

Mean aortic pressure (MAP) increases (Cushing response) when intracranial pressure (ICP) approaches MAP. We elevated ICP to levels equivalent to normal baseline MAP with infusion of mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the lateral cerebral ventricles and contrasted responses in near-term fetal sheep, 1-wk-old lambs, and adult sheep anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. With CSF infusion 1-wk-old lambs and adults produced sustained increases in MAP of 16 +/- 1 and 22 +/- 2 mmHg, respectively, over a 40-min period. However, cerebral blood flow fell 66 and 57%, and cerebral O2 uptake fell 34 and 37%, respectively. In the near-term fetus, MAP increased by 11 +/- 1 mmHg and cerebral blood fell 49% at 3 min of elevated ICP. However, by 15 min MAP had increased further (+17 +/- 2 mmHg) and cerebral blood flow was nearly restored. In contrast to postnatal sheep, cerebral O2 uptake was maintained throughout in the fetus. The mechanism of increased MAP differed among groups. In adults total peripheral resistance fell significantly, whereas in the fetus and lamb it remained constant. Cardiac output increased in each group, but, because of the fall in peripheral resistance, increased cardiac output was relatively more important to the rise in MAP in adults. In addition, marked vasoconstriction occurred in intestines and skin in the fetus. The Cushing response is well-developed in near-term fetal sheep. After birth it may lose its effectiveness in providing for the basal metabolic demand of the brain.
Toxic Shock Syndrome – Evolution of an Emerging Disease

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) was originally described in 1978 in seven patients: four females and three males who presented acutely with fever, hypotension, mucous membrane hyperemia, a scarlatiniform rash (that ultimately desquamated), and multiple organ system failure [1]. A unique Staphylococcus aureus strain, which produced a new epidermal toxin, was isolated from five of the children. By January 1980, 35 cases had been observed, of which 25 were in females with an average age of 28.2 years; only 10 were in males with an average age of 11.6 years [2]. Seven of 10 males had an identifiable focus of S. aureus infection, whereas 20 of 22 females had a watery vaginal discharge from which S. aureus was isolated. Shortly thereafter, cases of TSS were further associated with menstruation and the use of tampons.
A Moving Target Defense Approach to Disrupting Stealthy Botnets

Botnets are increasingly being used for exfiltrating sensitive data from mission-critical systems. Research has shown that botnets have become extremely sophisticated and can operate in stealth mode by minimizing their host and network footprint. In order to defeat exfiltration by modern botnets, we propose a moving target defense approach for dynamically deploying detectors across a network. Specifically, we propose several strategies based on centrality measures to periodically change the placement of detectors. Our objective is to increase the attacker's effort and likelihood of detection by creating uncertainty about the location of detectors and forcing botmasters to perform additional actions in an attempt to create detector-free paths through the network. We present metrics to evaluate the proposed strategies and an algorithm to compute a lower bound on the detection probability. We validate our approach through simulations, and results confirm that the proposed solution effectively reduces the likelihood of successful exfiltration campaigns.
Complications After Continuous Posterior Lumbar Plexus Blockade for Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives While benefits of regional anesthesia in total hip arthroplasty (THA) are well documented, data describing the incidence of complications related to the use of posterior lumbar plexus blockade for THA remain limited. Our primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of infectious, bleeding, and neurological complications related specifically to the use of continuous posterior lumbar plexus block for elective THA. Methods We reviewed the electronic medical records of all adult patients who underwent elective THA with continuous posterior lumbar plexus blockade between December 1, 2004, and April 30, 2015, using the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry. All complications were verified via manual chart review by 2 reviewers. Patient demographics, type of surgery, and complications were analyzed. Results A total of 9649 patients who underwent 11,395 THA procedures met the inclusion criteria. There were 8686 (76.2%) primary and 2709 (23.8%) revision THAs. There were no block-related infections (0.00%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00%–0.03%) and only 1 block-related hematoma (0.01%; 95% CI, 0.00%–0.05%) in a patient with multiple risk factors for bleeding. There were 60 (0.53%; 95% CI, 0.40%–0.68%) perioperative nerve injuries. Forty-three were in the sciatic distribution (71.67%; incidence, 0.38%). Although there were no documented overt iatrogenic nerve injuries, the posterior lumbar plexus blockade could not be excluded as the potential cause in 9 cases (incidence, 0.08%) based on clinical distribution or electromyographic findings. Conclusions In our large, single-center cohort study, we report no catheter-related infections, whereas catheter-related hemorrhagic and neurological complications also appear to be rare.
Nanoplasmonic Upconverting Nanoparticles as Orientation Sensors for Single Particle Microscopy

We showed that the anisotropic disk shape of nanoplasmonic upconverting nanoparticles (NP-UCNPs) creates changes in fluorescence intensity during rotational motion. We determined the orientation by a three-fold change in fluorescence intensity. We further found that the luminescence intensity was strongly dependent on the particle orientation and on polarization of the excitation light. The luminescence intensity showed a three-fold difference between flat and on-edge orientations. The intensity also varied sinusoidally with the polarization of the incident light, with an Imax/Imin ratio of up to 2.02. Both the orientation dependence and Imax/Imin are dependent on the presence of a gold shell on the UCNP. Because the fluorescence depends on the NP’s orientation, the rotational motion of biomolecules coupled to the NP can be detected. Finally, we tracked the real-time rotational motion of a single NP-UCNP in solution between slide and coverslip with diffusivity up to 10−2 μm2s−1.
Constrained Kaplan–Meier curve and empirical likelihood

The Kaplan–Meier curve and the namesake Kaplan–Meier 1958 paper is the most cited statistical paper in the history. We study the error analysis of the popular Kaplan–Meier curve. We describe in detail and recommend a method based on the calculation of constrained Kaplan–Meier curve and the recently developed Empirical Likelihood theory. Examples are given illustrating how such error analysis are carried out, using the software R and package KMC. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Analytical method for mutual inductance and optimum frequency calculation in a series-series compensated inductive power transfer system

The switching frequency of inductive power transfer (IPT) is sensitive to the air gap between the primary and secondary coils. The mutual inductance might change significantly for different air gaps, resulting in a shift for the switching frequency. The mutual inductance is usually acquired through experimental measurement, finite element analysis, or frequency tracking control. In this paper, Neumann's formula is simplified to compute the mutual inductance of two coils. A frequency-gap model is presented to offer a simple way to calculate the unity-gain frequency for a symmetrical series-series (SS) IPT. Finite element simulation and experiment were conducted to verify the model. The experimental results show that the unity-gain frequency can be output within an average computational time of 9.8ms, and the gain fluctuates from 0.95 to 1.05 when the air gap changes from 7.5cm to 25cm.
Duplex Real-Time PCR Assay Distinguishes Aedes aegypti From Ae. albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Using DNA From Sonicated First-Instar Larvae

Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) are important arbovirus vectors in the United States, and the recent emergence of Zika virus disease as a public health concern in the Americas has reinforced a need for tools to rapidly distinguish between these species in collections made by vector control agencies. We developed a duplex real-time PCR assay that detects both species and does not cross-amplify in any of the other seven Aedes species tested. The lower limit of detection for our assay is equivalent to ~0.03 of a first-instar larva in a 60-μl sample (0.016 ng of DNA per real-time PCR reaction). The assay was sensitive and specific in mixtures of both species that reflected up to a 2,000-fold difference in DNA concentration. In addition, we developed a simple protocol to extract DNA from sonicated first-instar larvae, and used that DNA to test the assay. Because it uses real-time PCR, the assay saves time by not requiring a separate visualization step. This assay can reduce the time needed for vector control agencies to make species identifications, and thus inform decisions about surveillance and control.
IoT network monitor

IoT Network Monitor is an intuitive and user-friendly interface for consumers to visualize vulnerabilities of IoT devices in their home. Running on a Raspberry Pi configured as a router, the IoT Network Monitor analyzes the traffic of connected devices in three ways. First, it detects devices with default passwords exploited by previous attacks such as the Mirai Botnet, changes default device passwords to randomly generated 12 character strings, and reports the new passwords to the user. Second, it conducts deep packet analysis on the network data from each device and notifies the user of potentially sensitive personal information that is being transmitted in cleartext. Lastly, it detects botnet traffic originating from an IoT device connected to the network and instructs the user to disconnect the device if it has been hacked. The user-friendly IoT Network Monitor will enable homeowners to maintain the security of their home network and better understand what actions are appropriate when a certain security vulnerability is detected. Wide adoption of this tool will make consumer home IoT networks more secure.
Environmental Ethics, Overview

Environmental ethics is the study of ethical relationships between human beings and the natural environment, including the nonhuman individuals that populate/constitute it. The following are the core questions of environmental ethics: What is the proper way to understand the relationship between humans and the natural environment? What values are part of or emerge from that relationship? What principles and rules of action and character do those goods and values justify? and What do those principles and rules imply for how humans should interact with and treat the natural environment (and the nonhuman individuals that populate it) and live more generally? After a brief background on the origins of environmental ethics, this article treats each of these interrelated questions in turn.
A Highly Active Molybdenum Phosphide Catalyst for Methanol Synthesis from CO and CO 2

Methanol is a major fuel and chemical feedstock currently produced from syngas, a CO/CO2/H2 mixture. Herein we identify formate binding strength as a key parameter limiting the activity and stability of known catalysts for methanol synthesis in the presence of CO2. We present a molybdenum phosphide catalyst for CO and CO2 reduction to methanol, which through a weaker interaction with formate, can improve the activity and stability of methanol synthesis catalysts in a wide range of CO/CO2/H2 feeds.
Neuraxial anesthesia for postpartum tubal ligation at an academic medical center

Background: Use of an in situ epidural catheter has been suggested to be efficient to provide anesthesia for postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL). Reported epidural reactivation success rates vary from 74% to 92%. Predictors for reactivation failure include poor patient satisfaction with labor analgesia, increased delivery-to-reactivation time and the need for top-ups during labor. Some have suggested that this high failure rate precludes leaving the catheter in situ after delivery for subsequent reactivation attempts. In this study, we sought to evaluate the success rate of neuraxial techniques for PPTL and to determine if predictors of failure can be identified. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing PPTL after vaginal delivery from July 2010 to July 2016 was conducted using CPT codes, yielding 93 records for analysis. Demographic, obstetric and anesthetic data (labor analgesia administration, length of epidural catheter in epidural space, top-up requirements, time of catheter reactivation, final anesthetic technique and corresponding doses for spinal and epidural anesthesia) were obtained. Results: A total of 70 patients received labor neuraxial analgesia. Reactivation was attempted in 33 with a success rate of 66.7%. Patient height, epidural volume of local anesthetic and administered fentanyl dose were lower in the group that failed reactivation. Overall, spinal anesthesia was performed in 60 patients, with a success rate of 80%. Conclusions: Our observed rate of successful postpartum epidural reactivation for tubal ligation was lower than the range reported in the literature. Our success rates for both spinal anesthesia and epidural reactivation for PPTL were lower than the generally accepted rates of successful epidural and spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. This gap may reflect a lower level of motivation on behalf of both the patients and anesthesia providers to tolerate "imperfect" neuraxial anesthesia once fetal considerations are removed.
Abstract 120: Long-Term Stability of the Masked Hypertension Phenotype and Responsiveness of Masked Hypertension to Antihypertensive Treatment: Findings From the Masked Hypertension Study

Background: Prior studies have assessed the short-term reproducibility of the masked hypertension (MHT) phenotype. Less is known about the stability of MHT over time or its responsiveness to BP med...
Results of a multicenter phase I/II trial of abiraterone acetate plus BEZ235 in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

e16042 Background: Prostate cancer progression and development of resistance to abiraterone acetate (AA) is associated with loss of PTEN-mediated negative regulation of the PI3K and mammalian targe...
Abstract 223: Activation of CDK2 Mediates Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity

With the rapid increase of cancer survivors due to improved diagnosis and therapy in the past decades, cancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity is becoming an urgent concern for modern society. The ...
Dysregulation as a correlate of cannabis use and problem use

Abstract Objective Cannabis users with a dysregulatory risk factor may be particularly vulnerable to engaging in more frequent and problematic cannabis use. Contemporary models of dysregulated behavior suggest that dysregulation emerges due to distinct mechanisms. The current study seeks to examine the dysregulatory correlates of cannabis involvement, including working memory capacity, delay discounting, impulsivity, and reward sensitivity. Method Participants were 104 non-treatment seeking frequent cannabis users (the average participant used cannabis 71% of the days/past 60 days [SD = 22%], with an average of two uses per day [SD = 1.2]). Mean age was 21.3 (SD = 4.3); 36.5% were female. Working memory was assessed via the Trail-Making Test-B and the Digit Span subtests of the WAIS-III, delay discounting was assessed via a computer-based task, trait impulsivity was self-reported via the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and reward sensitivity was self-reported via the Reward Dependence Scale and the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. Results Structural equation modeling estimated the associations between different facets of dysregulation and cannabis involvement. Results suggest that poor working memory capacity and high trait impulsivity were associated with both use and problem use. Greater delay discounting was associated with problem use, but not with frequency of use. Low reward sensitivity was associated with more frequent cannabis use, but not with problem use. Conclusions Results confirm that the dysregulatory correlates of cannabis involvement consist of multiple dimensions of functioning. Prospective studies that assess the multidimensional structure of dysregulation and cannabis involvement are needed in order to disaggregate the dysregulatory antecedents and consequences of cannabis involvement.
Early capillary basement membrane changes in subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses early capillary basement membrane changes in subjects with diabetes mellitus. The chapter focuses on a highly significant correlation between known duration of carbohydrate intolerance and the incidence and magnitude of muscle capillary basement membrane thickening. In a study described in the chapter, the distribution of basement membrane measurements from subjects with diabetes of less than 20 years duration overlapped almost completely with that of normal subjects. However, the range was over four times that in control subjects. Intercepts of the linear regression of basement membrane width on age in normal men and in diabetic men are virtually identical. The basement membrane width in the potential diabetic does not differ at birth from that of normal subjects. In the vast majority of insulin-requiring diabetics with disease of four years duration or less, capillary basement membrane width is still within normal limits.
Update on Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Psychotropic Medications and Its Treatment

The goal of this review was to evaluate recent developments in sexual dysfunction associated with psychotropic medications and its management. Sexual dysfunction associated with psychotropic medications is a serious clinical problem which occurs mostly with antidepressants, especially serotonergic ones, and antipsychotics, especially those causing hyperprolactinemia. Sexual dysfunction(s) seems to be associated to a significantly lesser degree with some newer psychotropic medications, e.g., vilazodone, vortioxetine, and agomelatine among antidepressants, and aripiprazole and lurasidone among antipsychotics. There have been no significant new developments in management of sexual dysfunction(s) associated with psychotropic medications with the exception of using newer medications or switching to them. A new clinical phenomenon—post serotonin reuptake inhibitors sexual dysfunction—has emerged as a difficult management issue. Sexual dysfunction associated with psychotropic medications continues to be an important issue requiring further research to provide solid evidence for regulatory agencies and for clinicians.
Endoscopic Management of Bladder Tumors in Children

Urinary bladder tumors are not common in children and adolescents. They are either urothelial or non-urothelial (Fig. 65.1). The commonest is rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the bladder or prostate/vagina followed by papillary urothelial tumors (Table 65.1) [1]. RMS, being the commonest childhood soft tissue sarcoma, ranks third commonest pediatric solid tumor (5–15%) [2, 3]. A recent analysis of 57 reports of pediatric urothelial bladder tumors which included 127 cases reported patients younger than 20 years old, of which only 21 patients (16.5%) were below 10 years old [4]. Both tumor categories exhibit a 3–9:1 male-to-female preponderance [5].
Brutality in football and the creation of the NCAA: a codified moral compass in progressive America.

Two rigid, rampart-like lines of human flesh have been created, one of defense, the other of offense, and behind the latter is established a catapult to fire through a porthole opened in the offensive rampart a missile composed of four or five human bodies globulated about a carried football with a maximum of initial velocity against the presumably weakest point in the opposing rampart. The “point” is a single human being. If it prove not to have been the weakest to start with, it can be made such, if the missile be fired times enough.
Biomass char particle surface area and porosity dynamics during gasification

Abstract Experimental measurements of industrially relevant biomass char particles (12.5 mm and smaller) undergoing kinetics-limited gasification reactions with CO2 and H2O reveal how porosity and surface area change with char conversion. Reactant concentrations range from 0 to 90% CO2 and 0–50% H2O, including mixtures of both reactants. Reactor temperatures range from 1150 °C to 1350 °C. Particle types include wood (poplar), an herbaceous energy crop (switch grass), and an agricultural residue (corn stover). The data include measurements of particle size, shape, and mass as essentially continuous functions of time combined with discrete measurements of surface area and porosity and provide a robust data set for comparison. Theoretical predictions of porosity from standard models do not adequately describe the experimental trends. Total surface area increases slightly with conversion, with most of the increase in the largest pores but most of the surface area in the small pores. Porosity also increases uniformly with conversion·H2O, CO2 and blended gasification environments produce qualitatively similar surface area and porosity data over wide ranges of reactant concentrations when plotted against conversion. Char particle diameters slightly decrease during these kinetically controlled reactions, in part because of sintering and in part because the reaction is endothermic and creates a decreasing particle temperature gradient toward the particle center. Therefore, the particle center reacts more slowly than the comparatively warmer char surface. An abrupt change in char diameter occurs at conversions greater than 99.5% associated with residual ash sintering. SEM images qualitatively confirm the quantitative measurements and show that the biomass microstructure remains easily recognizable through essentially the entire conversion process. The primary conclusions indicate that (1) the vascular structure appears to have a major role in particle reactivity, is preserved during essentially the entire char conversion history, and is not captured by BET or similar analysis techniques, (2) the pore models developed for coal and other chars do not describe and cannot be adjusted to reasonably describe the development of surface area observed in these experiments, and (3) the great majority of the surface area is in the nanopores which do not change at all during conversion and appear to have no influence on char reactivity. The larger pores, and especially the vascular structure, primarily contribute to reactive surface area.
The allotetraploidization of maize : 4. Cytological and genetic evidence indicative of substantial progress.

Allotetraploidization is the creation of synthetic allotetraploids. The allotetraploidization of maize can be accomplished by concentrating DPA (differential pairing affinity) factors into stocks by a recurrent selection breeding system. Selection is based on pairing configuration frequencies and altered genetic ratios that reflect DPA. Both an observed decline in the quadrivalent frequency per meiocyte from 8.10 to 7.31 and genetic data disclosing a reduction in the average frequency of recessive waxy (wx wx) pollen from Wx Wx wx wx plants from 17.48% to 13.35%, indicate considerable progress has been made toward allotetraploidization. A simple model for the effect of DPA on chromosome pairing and genetic ratios is presented.
Proposal of Design Tools for a Shear Link Damper in Seismic Control of Frame Structures

Nowadays numerous seismic control systems have been proposed and investigated, but often the advancements in the state-of-art do not reflect those in the state-of-practice, due to the lack of design provisions. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive design framework of structures equipped with a specific shear link damper (SL), employable as a seismic control system in earthquake-prone areas. It consists in a steel plate milled in correspondence of its web, thus allowing a concentration of plastic deformation when subjected to horizontal force, favouring a shear behaviour. This new damper has been object of a wide experimental investigation, allowing to characterize its mechanical behaviour. Very good energy dissipation capacity emerged, observing wide and stable hysteretic curves. Furthermore, a displacement-based design method of structures equipped with hysteretic damping systems has been suggested. It consists in an iterative procedure providing, at the end of few steps, dissipative braces mechanical properties needed to get a desired structural behaviour. The method has been applied to several case-study structures employing SL devices, showing its effectiveness in optimally dimensioning added dampers. Although, its iterative nature could turn out to be not easily employable by practitioners. For this reason, the proposed design framework has been implemented in Visual Basic, finally providing an user-friendly tool herein described, supporting the designer in its application. Then, design charts driving the user in the choice of optimal SL geometry are provided, allowing to meet structural design requirements but avoiding to incur in buckling problems. Finally, the analytical estimation of SL mechanical properties can be achieved by means of a simple tool in Visual Basic environment herein introduced. It allows to verify coherence between required mechanical properties and dampers geometry on one hand, and to determine the supporting brace system’s stiffness on the other hand.
Structural vulnerabilities and HIV risk among sexual minority female sex workers (SM-FSW) by identity and behavior in Baltimore, MD

Research suggests sexual minority female sex workers (SM-FSW) face elevated structural vulnerability and HIV risk compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Structural vulnerabilities reflect societal level factors (e.g., sexism, homophobia, racism) that constrain an individual’s agency, particularly related to health outcomes. This study examines the association between SM status by identity and behavior, structural vulnerability, and HIV risk among a sample of street-based FSW. The current study utilizes baseline data from the SAPPHIRE study, a prospective cohort of cis gender and transgender FSW in Baltimore, MD, recruited through targeted time-location sampling from April 2016 to January 2017. The current analysis focuses on cisgender women. The baseline survey ascertained demographics, substance use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and sex work characteristics. Multivariable models were constructed using self-identity and behaviorally defined SM status as independent variables with vulnerability outcomes (e.g., injection drug use, injection speedball, binge drinking, homelessness, physical IPV, ever had a pimp, and being a minor at sex work entry (age < 18)) as dependent variables. Of the participants (n = 247), 25.5% (n = 63) self-identified as a SM by identity (e.g., gay or bisexual), and 8.5% (n = 21) reported SM behavior (e.g., same-gender sexual behavior) in the past 3 months. In multivariable logistic regression models, SM status by identity was associated with increased odds of injection drug use, binge drinking, homelessness, physical IPV, and being a minor at sex work entry. SM status by behavior was associated with increased odds of binge drinking, homelessness, ever having a pimp, and being a minor at sex work entry. The study indicates disproportionate structural vulnerability and heightened HIV risk among SM-FSW, as compared to their heterosexual counterparts, with differences in their profile by sexual identity and behavior. Findings suggest a need for nuanced interventions tailored to these populations.