cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fascicular Ventricular Arrhythmias: Pathophysiologic Mechanisms, Anatomical Constructs, and Advances in Approaches to Management.

Ventricular arrhythmias involving the fascicular system may be seen in both structurally normal and abnormal hearts. Idiopathic fascicular ventricular tachycardia represents almost 10% to 15% of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia related to the left ventricle.1,2 Cohen et al3 and subsequently Zipes et al4 first described these arrhythmias in the 1970s as relatively narrow right bundle left axis arrhythmias that arose close to the posterior fascicle and could be induced with atrial pacing. Belhassen et al5 later described the responsiveness of these arrhythmias to verapamil. Although initial studies focused on arrhythmias related to the left posterior fascicle, it is possible for arrhythmias to arise from any portion of the fascicular system and in both structurally normal and abnormal hearts. Furthermore, when approaching the patient presenting with arrhythmias arising from the His-Purkinje system, it is important to consider the unique complexities related to mapping and ablation. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms of such arrhythmias, relevant embryology, anatomy and physiology, and approaches to management in both the presence and absence of other structural heart disease. Broadly, fascicular ventricular tachycardia in the absence of other structural heart disease will be termed idiopathic fascicular ventricular tachycardia (IFVT), whereas that related to structural disease will be discussed in the context of the relevant disease state. Generally, IFVT is separated into 3 types—left posterior fascicular with a right bundle branch block pattern and left axis deviation, left anterior with a right bundle branch block and right axis deviation pattern, and left upper septal fascicular with a narrow QRS and normal axis but often with a right bundle branch block morphology. There are rare reported cases of left bundle branch block pattern, V3–V4 transition IFVT with a normal axis arising from the right bundle branch. In …
Medicina, ciencia e interpretación de las convenciones internacionales de drogas: ¿Será que el emperador está desnudo?

Las convenciones del regimen internacional de drogas de la ONU limitan los usos de las drogas controladas a los fines medicos y cientificos, pero no definen que se entiende por esto. Lo anterior genera un vacio legal que no permite determinar si una politica cumple o no con las convenciones internacionales, las cuales se redactaron sin tener en cuenta los criterios modernos para la interpretacion de tratados y las etiologias de la produccion, trafico y consumo de drogas psicoactivas. El articulo explora las consecuencias de esta falla y sugiere maneras de debatir dichas politicas a nivel internacional, mostrando hasta que punto podrian flexibilizarse sin modificar las convenciones del regimen internacional de drogas
Biomarker profiling of bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy: Relevance of thrombotic and inflammatory processes.

e15008 Background: Postsurgical thrombosis represents a serious comorbidity in bladder cancer. Inflammation and hemostatic activation mediators contribute to thrombotic pathogenesis. Our study prof...
Assessment Center — Ein Handel Mit Illusionen?

Als Instrument der Fuhrungskrafte-Auswahl und -Entwicklung hat das Assessment Center (AC) grose Verbreitung in der Praxis und verstarkte wissenschaftliche Aufmerksamkeit gefunden, die sich vorwiegend auf Fragen der Effizienzsteigerung (Varianzaufklarung, Validi-tatserhohung) konzentriert. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird versucht, diese Sichtweise zu konfrontieren mit Reflexionen uber die widerspruchlichen Organisationsmythen (Basisannahmen, Wertorientierungen), die sich in ACs verwirklichen. Allgemeine These ist, das die konsequente Realisierung eines Mythos die Durchsetzung anderer Mythen gefahrdet. Als Beispiele fur Mythen, die das AC-Verfahren bedient, werden im einzelnen erortert: Rationalitats-, Helden-, Konkurrenz-, Hierarchie-, Autonomie-, Kontroll-, Effizienz- und Gemeinschafts-Mythos. Eine solche Betrachtungsweise legt nahe, auf eine eindimensionale Perfektionierung zu verzichten und ACs als Kom-promisbildungen zu sehen, die heterogene Anliegen zur Geltung bringen und befriedigen.
3.05 Polyene Cyclizations

Recent advances in the arena of polyene cyclizations are presented, with critical coverage on efforts to render such transformations diastereo- and enantioselective with a range of activating groups and functional group arrays. Examples of cation- π cyclizations initiated by Bronsted acids, metals, and halonium ions are presented, as are processes involving epoxide- and aziridine-based ring openings. These efforts have afforded access to a diverse array of molecular frameworks of both natural and designed origin. In addition, several examples of accessing typical polyene cyclization frameworks though nonclassical approaches, including Heck chemistry, radical reactions, and cyclizations of alkynes are provided as are several cases of unique postcyclization rearrangement chemistry to access additional frameworks.
Photoresponsive azo-combretastatin A-4 analogues

Colchicine analogues in which an azo group is incorporated into a molecule containing the key pharmacophore of colchicine, have found particular utility as switchable tubulin binding chemotherapeutics. Combretastatin is a related compound containing a stilbene fragment that shows different bioactivity for the cis and trans isomers. We have performed cell assays on 17 new compounds structurally related to a previously reported azo-analogue of combretastatin. One of these compounds showed enhanced potency against HeLa (IC50 = 0.11 μM) and H157 cells (IC50 = 0.20 μM) for cell studies under 400 nm irradiation and the highest photoactivity (IC50 with irradiation/IC50 in dark = 550). We have performed docking and physicochemical studies of this new compound (7). Kinetic studies in water reveal a longer half-life for the cis isomer of 7 which may be one factor responsible for the better IC50 values in cell assays and the improved photoresponsive behavior.
Comparing the cardiac autonomic activity profile of daytime naps and nighttime sleep

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable technique to evaluate autonomic activity and shows marked changes across a night of sleep. Previous nighttime sleep findings report changes in HRV during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), which have been associated with cardiovascular health benefits. Daytime sleep, however, has been linked with both positive and negative cardiovascular outcomes. Yet, no studies have directly compared HRV profiles during an ecologically-valid daytime nap in healthy, well-rested adults to that of nighttime sleep. Using a within-subjects design, 32 people took a daytime nap and slept overnight in the lab at least one week apart; both sleep sessions had polysomnography, including electrocardiography (ECG), recorded. We measured inter-beat intervals (RR), total power (TP), low frequency power (LF; .04-.15 Hz), and high frequency power (HF; .15-.40 Hz) components of HRV during NREM and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Compared to the nap, we found longer RR intervals and decreased heart rate during the night for both Stage 2 and SWS and increased TP, LF and HF power during nighttime Stage 2 sleep only; however, no differences in the LFHF ratio or normalized HF power were found between the nap and the night. Also, no differences in REM sleep between the nap and night were detected. Similar relationships emerged when comparing the nap to one cycle of nighttime sleep. These findings suggest that longer daytime naps, with both SWS and REM, may provide similar cardiovascular benefits as nocturnal sleep. In light of the on-going debate surrounding the health benefits and/or risks associated with napping, these results suggest that longer daytime naps in young, healthy adults may support cardiac down-regulation similar to nighttime sleep. In addition, napping paradigms may serve as tools to explore sleep-related changes in autonomic activity in both healthy and at-risk populations.
Nanograined surface fabricated on the pure copper by ultrasonic shot peening and an energy-density based criterion for peening intensity quantification

Abstract A nanograined (NG) surface layer with the thickness of no less than 70 μm was successfully fabricated on the pure copper by ultrasonic shot peening (USP) and the mechanical performance of the fabricated NG surface was measured by a nanoindenter. The nanohardness of the NG surface at the peened surface is 1.526 GPa, which was increased by 30% compared to that of the coarse-grained pure copper. In addition, the thickness of the strengthened surface is approximately 400 μm, which will potentially enhance the mechanical performances of the entire copper components. To control the surface nanocrystallization of pure copper during USP, an energy-density based criterion was proposed and formulated. High-speed camera was used to capture the motion behavior of a shot experimentally and the Lagrange description method was used to modelling the motion behavior of the shot mathematically. Coefficient of the restitution of the shot was calibrated based on the experimental data and embodied into the mathematical model. Research results indicated that the grain size and mechanical performance of the pure copper could be refined into nano-scaled regime and mechanical strengthened by means of USP efficiently. And the proposed energy-density based criterion for peening intensity quantification provided a reliable reference for the selection of the process parameters during the surface nanocrystallization of the metallic materials during USP.
DBSnap++: creating data-driven programs by snapping blocks

A key development in Computer Science Education has been the introduction of block-based programming environments where programs are created by connecting blocks and the focus is on the program's logic instead of its syntax. Most of these environments support conventional (imperative) programming instructions. More recently, some systems have been proposed to enable the specification of database queries. While these two types of environments have been independently studied, there is significantly less work on the development and study of integrated environments that allow the creation of complete data-driven programs (real-world like programs that integrate conventional instructions and database queries). This paper introduces DBSnap++, a web-based environment that enables the specification of dynamic data-driven programs. DBSnap++ supports the specification of intuitive database query trees, a new type of list that dynamically gets its content executing a database query, and programs that generate different results when the underlying data changes. This paper presents DBSnap++'s design and implementation details, an array of programs to demonstrate how it can be effectively used as a learning tool, and a thorough comparison with other environments. DBSnap++ is publicly available and aims to enable learners to fully understand and utilize the capabilities of data-driven programs.
Epigenetically regulated PAX6 drives cancer cells toward a stem-like state via GLI-SOX2 signaling axis in lung adenocarcinoma

It remains unclear whether PAX6 acts as a crucial transcription factor for lung cancer stem cell (CSC) traits. We demonstrate that PAX6 acts as an oncogene responsible for induction of cancer stemness properties in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Mechanistically, PAX6 promotes GLI transcription, resulting in SOX2 upregulation directly by the binding of GLI to the proximal promoter region of the SOX2 gene. The overexpressed SOX2 enhances the expression of key pluripotent factors (OCT4 and NANOG) and suppresses differentiation lineage factors (HOPX and NKX2-1), driving cancer cells toward a stem-like state. In contrast, in the differentiated non-CSCs, PAX6 is transcriptionally silenced by its promoter methylation. In human lung cancer tissues, the positive linear correlations of PAX6 expression with GLI and SOX2 expression and its negative correlations with HOPX and NKX2-1 expression were observed. Therapeutically, the blockade of the PAX6-GLI-SOX2 signaling axis elicits a long-lasting therapeutic efficacy by limiting CSC expansion following chemotherapy. Furthermore, a methylation panel including the PAX6 gene yielded a sensitivity of 79.1% and specificity of 83.3% for cancer detection using serum DNA from stage IA LUAD. Our findings provide a rationale for targeting the PAX6-GLI-SOX2 signaling axis with chemotherapy as an effective therapeutic strategy and support the clinical utility of PAX6 gene promoter methylation as a biomarker for early lung cancer detection.
Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in a Sample of Bosnian Young Adults: Ten Years After the War

Currently, little is known about the psychological impact of the difficult post-war situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina [BH] among young adult survivors of the 1992–1995 war. While several studies have explored the immediate impact of this war on the psychological well-being of BH children and adolescents, it is also important to consider it within the context of the stress inducing political, economic, and psychosocial post-war environment. This study examined the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of 134 young adults in Bosnia-Herzegovina 10 years after the war. In addition, the presence and severity of current post-war stressors were assessed. A significant percentage of the participants presented clinical levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and reported moderate levels of stress regarding the post-war environment. However, comparisons of environmental contexts and adjustment indicate that stress-free personal/professional relationships and leisure activities may serve as protective factors against less controllable stressors such as the difficult post-war political environment. Overall, our findings indicate that the difficult post-war environment in Bosnia-Herzegovina continues to affect the psychological well-being of the young adults who experienced war during their youth.
Formation and Mechanism of Action of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids

Many biologically active eicosanoids originate from cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase catalyzed metabolism of arachidonic acid (1). These substances include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. The enzymological features of their biosynthesis are characterized to a great extent. Their mechanism of action is also well characterized and it appears to involve receptor mediated processes in most instances.
Low rate of necrotizing enterocolitis in extremely low birth weight infants using a hospital-based preterm milk bank

We examined the effect of two strategies to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants—adherence to a standardized feeding protocol and use of a hospital-based milk bank to provide exclusive preterm human milk feedings. We conducted a single-center observational study from 2010 to 2015. Infants received preterm human milk, initially trophic feeds from days 7 to 14 after birth, followed by advancement of 15 mL/kg/day to reach a goal of 180 mL/kg/day. Fortification was used selectively for weight gain < 15 g/kg/day. We determined the incidence of NEC, other morbidities, and growth. The cohort included 398 ELBW infants who survived to day 14 without congenital anomalies. Mean gestational age was 26.2 ± 1.9 weeks. Maternal milk was used as the sole feeding in 62% of infants; preterm donor milk was used solely or as supplement in 29%. Full feeds were reached at a median of 27 (IQR 23, 33) days. Four infants (1%) developed NEC. Use of standardized feedings with a hospital-based milk bank is associated with an incidence of NEC lower than previously reported.
Anomalies of the genitourinary tract in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) involves multiple organ systems with variable phenotypic expression. Genitourinary tract abnormalities have been noted to be present in up to 30-40% of patients. At our institution, an internationally recognized, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary 22q11.2DS care center has been providing care to these children. We sought to report on the incidence of genitourinary tract anomalies in this large cohort and, therefore, retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent a complete evaluation from 1992 to March 2017. We identified all children with any genital or urinary tract anomaly. For all children with a diagnosis of hydronephrosis, the underlying etiology was determined, when possible. Overall, 1,073 of 1,267 children with 22q11.2DS underwent renal evaluations at our institution. Hundered Sixty-Two (15.1%) children had structural abnormalities of their kidneys/urinary tracts. The majority of children with hydronephrosis (63%) had isolated upper tract dilation without any additional diagnoses. Boys were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a genital abnormality than girls (7.7 vs. 0.5%, p < 0.001). Of the 649 boys in the entire cohort, 24 (3.7%) had cryptorchidism and 24 (3.7%) had hypospadias, which was noted to be mild in all except one boy. Overall, findings of hydronephrosis, unilateral renal agenesis, and multicystic dysplastic kidney occur at higher rates than expected in the general population. Given these findings, in addition to routine physical examination, we believe that all patients with 22q11.2DS warrant screening RBUS at time of diagnosis.
A phase I study of mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) and gemcitabine (G) in patients with FOLR1-positive recurrent epithelial ovarian (EOC), endometrial cancer (EC), or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

3009Background: IMGN853 is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the folate receptor alpha (FOLR1), linked to maytansinoid, DM4. IMGN853 has promising single agent activity in FOLR1+ EOC. The recomm...
Assembled, Modular Hardware Architectures - What Price Reconfigurability?

Recent robotic technology advances have motivated increased interest in the potential of on-orbit assembly to significantly enhance mission capability and scope. Re-usability of space exploration hardware in general is often discussed for its potential to vastly reduce the cost of space operations, and is cited as a potential benefit of on-orbit robotics. But does reconfigurability come at the cost of assembly or performance efficiency? This article specifically evaluates the potential use of highly modular material systems - such as reversibly assembled cellular composite materials - as the basis for re-configurable exploration hardware. First, a dimensional scaling argument is presented to suggest that systems of all sizes can benefit from mass savings associated on-orbit assembly. Next, we examine the relative energetic cost of various strategies for on-orbit manufacturing (reconfiguration, reuse/recycling, deposition based additive manufacturing, or conventional forming processes) and conclude that investment in mechanically assembled reconfigurable material systems holds the potential for orders of magnitude reduction of energy required for long-term on-orbit manufacturing activities. We propose that discretely assembled cellular materials are strong candidate systems, and show that the parasitic mass penalty associated with reversible mechanical connection hardware can be characterized and is well-bounded. Finally, we discuss notional missions at a high level to motivate future detailed analysis and evaluation of various mission architectures.
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods and the Evolution of Multivariate Phenotypes

Evolutionary biology is multivariate, and advances in phylogenetic comparative methods for multivariate phenotypes have surged to accommodate this fact. Evolutionary trends in multivariate phenotyp...
Beer styles and recipe development: what should I brew?

Abstract Quality is best defined as products that do not come back to the brewer from customers who do. You will need to sell enough of your beer to make ends meet. There is much to be said for traditional type of beer rather than gimmicks. The breadth of traditional styles is described. There remains plenty of scope for new offerings: for example in the so-called craft sector there much scope for new lagers, and there is no reason why lagers should present a challenge to any brewer. Whatever beer is going to be brewed there are several sound principles: keep things as simple as possible; have a range of suppliers; lay down good specifications and operating procedures and adhere to them; produce beers that have balanced flavors.
Frailty is a Poor Predictor of Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality After Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Background Frailty has gained prominence as a predictor of postoperative outcomes across a number of surgical specialties, vascular surgery included. The role of frailty is less defined in the acute surgical setting. We assessed the prognostic value of frailty for patients undergoing surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). Methods A single-institution retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing surgical intervention for rAAA between January 1, 2011 and November 27, 2019 was performed. Frailty was assessed for each patient using the modified frailty index (mFI), a validated frailty metric based on the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Frailty was defined as an mFI ≥0.27. The performance of the mFI was compared to that of the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) rAAA mortality risk score. Chi square, Fisher's exact, and t tests, were used to evaluate for associations between frailty and in-hospital outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to obtain odds ratios for in-hospital mortality. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to compare the predictive value of the mFI and VSGNE score for in-hospital mortality. Results Sixty patients were identified during the study period with an in-hospital mortality rate of 37%. Twenty-one patients were deemed frail by mFI metric and included all patients with known myocardial infarction, stroke with a neurologic deficit or dependent functional status, however the mortality rate did not differ significantly based on frailty status (33% nonfrail vs. 43% frail, P= 0.47). Frailty status was not significantly different for patients with acute kidney injury (10% nonfrail vs. 10% frail), prolonged intubation (13% vs. 5%), abdominal compartment syndrome (8% vs. 10%), and Type I or Type III endoleak (8% vs. 19%). On multivariate analysis controlling for systolic blood pressure 2.0 mg/dl, the mFI produced an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2–3.0). The ROC curve for the mFI produced an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.55 (P= 0.55) for in-hospital mortality while that of the VSGNE score produced an AUC of 0.69 (P= 0.02). Conclusions The mFI did not significantly predict in-hospital outcomes after rAAA in this cohort. This suggests that the baseline health status of a patient with rAAA may play a less significant role in their postoperative prognosis than their acuity on presentation.
A Novel CLTC‐FOSB Gene Fusion in Pseudomyogenic Hemangioendothelioma of Bone

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma, an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm composed of plump spindled and/or epithelioid endothelial cells, may present multicentrically and tends to locally recur but rarely metastasizes. Morphologic resemblance to epithelioid sarcoma and other spindle cell neoplasms may result in diagnostic confusion. Molecular characterization of pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma has revealed these neoplasms often harbor a rearrangement of the FOSB gene with SERPINE1 or ACTB as recurrent fusion gene partners. Herein, a case of a fibular pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma with minimal extension into the adjacent soft tissue arising in a 17 year-old male is presented. The neoplasm exhibited sheets of epithelioid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and variably eccentric nuclei. RNA sequencing revealed a novel CLTC-FOSB fusion transcript that was subsequently confirmed by direct sequencing of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products demonstrating an in-frame fusion between exon 17 of the clathrin heavy chain (CLTC) gene and exon 2 of the FOSB (FosB proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) gene. CLTC-FOSB fusion has not been described in a neoplasm before.
A 3D-printed molecular ferroelectric metamaterial.

Molecular ferroelectrics combine electromechanical coupling and electric polarizabilities, offering immense promise in stimuli-dependent metamaterials. Despite such promise, current physical realizations of mechanical metamaterials remain hindered by the lack of rapid-prototyping ferroelectric metamaterial structures. Here, we present a continuous rapid printing strategy for the volumetric deposition of water-soluble molecular ferroelectric metamaterials with precise spatial control in virtually any three-dimensional (3D) geometry by means of an electric-field–assisted additive manufacturing. We demonstrate a scaffold-supported ferroelectric crystalline lattice that enables self-healing and a reprogrammable stiffness for dynamic tuning of mechanical metamaterials with a long lifetime and sustainability. A molecular ferroelectric architecture with resonant inclusions then exhibits adaptive mitigation of incident vibroacoustic dynamic loads via an electrically tunable subwavelength-frequency band gap. The findings shown here pave the way for the versatile additive manufacturing of molecular ferroelectric metamaterials.
The Septic Patient

Anesthesiologists are uniquely positioned to facilitate emergent care of patients with sepsis in the perioperative setting. A subset of sepsis patients presents with surgical pathology. Emphasis is on timely intervention with source control, antibiotic therapy, and aggressive resuscitation. Ileus, aspiration, and cardiovascular collapse must be considered when inducing patients with sepsis. Dynamic fluid responsiveness may prove an effective tool in minimizing over-resuscitation. Assessment of circulatory failure and drug therapy involves an understanding of preload, afterload, and contractility. Timely, targeted resuscitation and early source control have persisted and remain fundamental to sepsis care.
CAN PROXIMAL HIP STRENGTH AND DYNAMIC CONTROL DIFFERENTIATE FUNCTIONAL ANKLE STABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS

Background Ankle instability can be problematic in an active population with multiple risk factors associated with recurrence. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine if deficits in weight-bearing and non-weight bearing assessment of hip strength or dynamic balance in lower extremity reaching tasks from flat and inclined surfaces can differentiate subjects classified as controls, ankle sprain copers, or those with chronic, recurrent ankle sprains. Study design Quasiexperimental, Ex post facto. Methods A convenience sample of 60 subjects was classified into control, coper, or chronic ankle sprain groups based on the results of the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability Questionnaire. Subjects were tested for peak force production of their hip extensors, hip abductors, and a composite of hip extension and external rotation while in a standing position using a hand-held dynamometer. Additionally, each subject performed a modified Star Excursion Balance Test in anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions from both a flat and 15 ° inverted stance position. One-way analysis of variance was calculated for between group differences of hip strength and balance reach ability and ankle stability classification. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were derived to evaluate relationships between hip strength and dynamic balance tests. Results Twenty-one subjects were assigned to the control group, 23 to the coper group, and 16 to the chronic group. There were no significant differences between groups in self-report of Foot and Ankle Ability Measures or Tegner activity levels. Mean hip strength was not significantly different between ankle sprain classification groups (p = 0.66 - 0.82). The mean limb symmetry index for hip strength comparing injured and uninjured ankles was nearly symmetrical in all ankle stability groups (p = 0.34 - 0.97). The same symmetry was present when comparing injured and uninjured abilities for all dynamic balance reach tasks from both flat and inclined surfaces. (p = 0.16 - 0.62). There was a fair relationship between hip extension and weight-bearing hip extension/external rotation strength and the posteromedial and posterolateral reach tasks with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.33 - 0.43. Conclusion Performance measures of tri-planar, static, isometric hip strength and lower extremity reach in dynamic balance tasks could not differentiate subjects without a history of injury from those subjects with one or more lateral ligamentous ankle sprains. Level of evidence 2b; Ex post facto.
Digital Technology Needs in Maternal Mental Health: A Qualitative Inquiry

Digital technologies offer many opportunities to improve mental healthcare management for women seeking pre- and-postnatal care. They provide a discrete, practical medium that is well-suited for the sensitive nature of mental health. Women who are more prone to experiencing peripartum depression (PPD), such as those of low-socioeconomic background or in high-risk pregnancies, can benefit the most from such technologies. However, current digital interventions directed towards this population provide suboptimal support, and their responsiveness to end user needs is quite limited. Our objective is to understand the digital terrain of information needs for low-socioeconomic status women with high-risk pregnancies, specifically within the management of their mental health. This qualitative study consists of semi-structured focus groups and interviews with a sample of nineteen patients. A total of eleven core themes emerged from participant comments. Resulting themes highlighted the need for digital technologies that promote personalized care, a sense of community, and improved provider communication.
Navier–Stokes equations with rovibrational state-resolved transport flux closure

In the time since the Navier–Stokes equations were introduced more than two centuries ago, their application to problems involving real gas effects has relied on appropriate closure for the mass, momentum, and energy transport fluxes via the constitutive laws. Determination of the corresponding transport coefficients, most readily obtained through generalized Chapman–Enskog theory, requires knowledge of the intermolecular potentials for rotationally and vibrationally excited molecules. Recent advances in computational chemistry provide extraordinary detail of interactions involving rovibrationally excited molecules, offering a means for transport flux closure with unprecedented accuracy. Here, the bracket integrals for rovibrationally resolved molecular states are developed, and the resulting transport flux closure is presented for the rovibrationally resolved Navier–Stokes equations. The accompanying continuum breakdown parameters are also derived as a rigorous metric to establish the range of applicability of the aforementioned equations in flow conditions approaching the rarefied regime.
Effect of feedstock, impurities, and rancidity on likelihood of spontaneous combustion of oil and biodiesel

Spontaneous combustion of biodiesel has been attributed to the destruction of multiple biodiesel production facilities. This paper investigates common conditions that affect the biodiesel and feeds...
A thermochemical study of liquid and solid alloys “(1−x)La + xNi’ at 1376 K

Abstract The enthalpies of mixing liquid lanthanum with solid nickel have been measured for liquid alloys “(1−x) La + x Ni ’ with x up to 0.65 at (1376 ± 1) K. If the molar melting enthalpy of Ni is set equal to 15.1 kJ·mol−1, the molar enthalpies of mixing of La(1) with undercooled Ni(1) are given by the simple equation: ΔmixHm = −x(1−x)(54+118x) kJ·mol−1. The results are compared with the semi-empirical predictions of Miedema et al. The standard molar enthalpies of formation at 298.15 K of the three congruently melting intermetallic compounds LamNin have been measured: La3Ni, ΔfHmo = −52.4 kJ·mol−1; LaNi, ΔfHmo = −49.6 kJ·mol−1; and LaNi5, ΔfHmo = −157.8 kJ·mol−1. For LaNi5 our result is in excellent agreement with the recent determination by O'Hare and Hubbard.
Associations between teaching effectiveness scores and characteristics of presentations in hospital medicine continuing education.

BACKGROUND There is little research regarding characteristics of effective continuing medical education (CME) presentations in hospital medicine (HM). Therefore, we sought to identify associations between validated CME teaching effectiveness scores and characteristics of CME presentations in the field of HM. DESIGN/SETTING This was a cross-sectional study of participants and didactic presentations from a national HM CME course in 2014. MEASUREMENTS Participants provided CME teaching effectiveness (CMETE) ratings using an instrument with known validity evidence. Overall CMETE scores (5-point scale: 1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree) were averaged for each presentation, and associations between scores and presentation characteristics were determined using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The threshold for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS A total of 277 out of 368 participants (75.3%) completed evaluations for the 32 presentations. CMETE scores (mean [standard deviation]) were significantly associated with the use of audience response (4.64 [0.16]) versus no audience response (4.49 [0.16]; P = 0.01), longer presentations (≥30 minutes: 4.67 [0.13] vs <30 minutes: 4.51 [0.18]; P = 0.02), and larger number of slides (≥50: 4.66 [0.17] vs <50: 4.55 [0.17]; P = 0.04). There were no significant associations between CMETE scores and use of clinical cases, defined goals, or summary slides. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study regarding associations between validated teaching effectiveness scores and characteristics of effective CME presentations in HM. Our findings, which support previous research in other fields, indicate that CME presentations may be improved by increasing interactivity through the use of audience response systems and allowing longer presentations. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:569–573. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Synthetic Nitrogen Products

Nitrogen products are among the most important chemicals produced in the world today. The largest quantities are used as fertilizers, but nitrogen products also find very important uses in the manufacture of nylon and acrylic fibers, methacrylate and other plastics, foamed insulations and plastics, metal plating, and gold mining, to list a few. There are virtually no nitrogen compounds that can be mined or distilled from crude oil or any other natural source. Therefore, economical fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere has been a never ending quest. It has been a difficult task because elemental nitrogen is comparatively unreactive. It combines with few other elements, and then usually only under drastic conditions of high pressure and/or high temperature.
Regularized image up-sampling using a new observation model and the level set method

This paper presents a new formulation of the regularized image up-sampling problem that incorporates models of the image acquisition and display processes. This approach leads to a new data fidelity term that has been coupled with a bounded-total-variation regularizer to yield our objective function. This objective function is minimized using the level-set method with two types of motion that interact simultaneously. The method was implemented and has been verified to provide good results, yielding crisp edges without introducing ringing or other artifacts.
Alternative measures of import shares

Abstract Alternative measures of import shares are defined in this paper. Specific problems of adapting these conceptual measures to the Soviet case relating to the choice of an appropriate exchange rate, the differential definition of Soviet national income and the special Soviet practice of incorporating foreign trade balances in domestic income, are also addressed. The estimates of the ratio for 1970 and 1980 suggest that while it has more than doubled, it has remained dramatically lower than the comparable measure for the OECD countries.
IT-enabled transformation: lessons from the financial services

With the developments in information technology has come a radical change in the way firms are structured and the principles by which firms are being managed. Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in financial services. Financial service firms, particularly in the Western nations, are more advanced than many other industries in assuming the structures and processes pertinent to the new information economy. This is a direct result of the intangible nature of their services and their compatibility with the technology. Evidence from cross-sector studies of IT investment in the US economy is presented that suggests this vanguard role of financial service firms in extracting value from their IT investments. Building on a stages model developed by one of the authors, we discuss some of these new management principles, and illustrate their implementation in the financial services industry. These principles, we argue, go beyond any single sector of the economy, and thus offer useful lessons for managers in other industries. These principles cover a wide range of business processes; varying from the strategic, such as how firms will manage their inter-organizational relations and the new role of leadership as organizational architect; to the tactical, how firms develop dynamic incentives and tradeoff control and individual empowerment. These principles are illustrated in action using real firms in the financial services sector; more rigorous tests of these principles are also suggested as a spur to further research in this area. Finally, we look at how firms in other sectors can learn from the experience of financial service firms, and suggest some of the challenges they may face in doing so.
The Ties that Still Bind: Media and National Cultures in Latin America

Abstract: This paper explores the interaction of the global and the national, beginning with an analysis of the decrease in attention to the impact of global media on Latin American cultures in contemporary political and academic debates. It attributes this decrease to the convergence of three developments: the failure of past experiences with state ownership and control of mass media, optimism about the state of audiovisual industries and cultures, and the rise of a new intellectual sensibility that considers national cultures antithetical to cultural diversity. It then contrasts this view of the national with the resilience of the nation-state and national cultures. In this dual context, it considers national audiovisual policies as instruments to foster political pluralism and cultural diversity. Resume: Cet article explore l'interaction entre le global et le national, en commencant par l'analyse d'un declin d'attention portee dans les debats politiques et academiques contemporains sur comment les medias globaux influencent les cultures latino-americaines. L'article attribue ce declin a la convergence de trois developpements : les echecs subis par l'etat dans son role de proprietaire et gestionnaire des medias, un sentiment d'optimisme a l'egard des industries et des cultures audiovisuelles, et la montee d'une nouvelle sensibilite intellectuelle qui considere les cultures nationales comme etant antithetiques a la diversite culturelle. L'article met ensuite en contraste cette perspective du national avec la persistance de l'etat-nation et de cultures nationales. Dans ce contexte double, il considere les politiques nationales sur l'audiovisuel comme instruments pour encourager le pluralisme politique et la diversite culturelle.
Is a negative CTPA good enough to exclude pulmonary embolism

Introduction: National guidelines exist for the investigation of pulmonary embolism (PE). CTPA is the gold standard investigation. Clinical probability should be determined pre-CTPA by using the Wells score and d-dimer testing. Diagnostic yield of CTPA for PE is low (18 -36%). Is a negative CTPA always good enough to safely exclude a PE in everyday clinical practice? Method: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study on 100 consecutive CTPAs performed within our hospital group looking for PEs from 2013. From these scans, 25 case notes were reviewed (5 +ve PEs, 20 -ve PEs) to correlate request form and findings with recorded Wells score, d-dimer results and possible alternative diagnoses. The opacification of the main PA must be >250 HUs to be considered adequate for scanning and should be achieved in at least 90% of scans. Results: Of the 100 CTPAs, 98 were included in the study. 56 scans (57.1%) had adequate opacification (mean 272 HUs, range 76 - 533 HUs). 18 scans confirmed PE (18.4%). 13 (72%) of these had adequate opacification. Of the 80 (81.6%) negative scans only 43 (54%) had adequate opacification. The 20 -ve PE case notes reviewed showed 13 (65%) had a Wells score and d-dimer recorded. Conclusion: The review of 20 -ve PE cases revealed that 10 (50%) had inadequate PA opacification. Of these 7 (35%) could be stratified as either high risk (Wells >4, or +ve d-dimer) or having insufficient clinical data and so questioning the need for additional investigation to exclude PE as the -ve CTPA was not conclusive. Our data suggests that a large number of -ve CTPAs are inadequate in excluding PEs in high risk or poorly risk stratified patients and must not be the final investigation when concern for PE remains high.
Higher Education and Housing

THIS PAPER CONSIDERS the economic influence of institutions of higher learning on local rental housing markets. Specifically, a test is made of the hypothesis that the presence of a college or university in a rental housing market area causes the price of housing services to be higher, cet. par., than it otherwise would be. In the recent past, campus conflicts have arisen over the question of whether such an effect is present (1). With the expected continued expansion of many institutions of higher education, such external impacts of colleges and universities will require increased attention from both academic and non-academic policy makers. This paper attempts a rigorous examination of the question in order both to provide a guide for rational actions on the part of the involved parties and to contribute in some measure to the understanding of housing markets. The study consists of the development and testing of a model of rental housing service demand (2). In this model, demand is assumed to vary positively with income, the percentage of total population which is enrolled in a college or university, and population density. A negative relationship is assumed between demand and the percentage of total employment which is in manufacturing. The first relationship defines a positive income elasticity of demand for rental housing services (3). The manufacturing variable is assumed to measure the effects of such external diseconomies of spatially concentrated industry as air pollution, ugliness, and noise (4). The population density variable is included to reflect the influence of differing numbers of rental housing service buyers in a given market area (5). The variable of special interest in this study is the college and university variable. Colleges and universities affect local housing markets in a unique way through student demand for rental housing. Students are more frequently the continuous recipients of unmeasured income than are nonstudents. Thus, it is believed that the college and university variable expresses the impact of this unmeasured component of student income which tends to increase student demand relative to non-student demand. Unmeasured student income consists of transfers from outside the local
3-D reconstruction of coronary arteries

Coronary arteriography is a technique used for evaluating the state of the coronary arteries. Matching of coronary arteries from multiple views is necessary for obtaining a 3-D (three dimensional) description of the arterial tree. Overlapping vessels and artifacts due to digital subtraction of the angiogram background make the matching process quite difficult. Simplex method based linear programming and relaxation based consistent labeling are applied to skeletons from three views in order to obtain a matching of branches between views. Results show low error for 3-D reconstruction, by overlapping its forward projection with the skeleton extracted from one view. >
Our Theories, Ourselves: Hierarchies of Place and Status in the U.S. Academy

Karen served a few years ago as an outside search committee member for another department at her university. In discussing candidates, a colleague commented that the committee ought not to consider a particular candidate who had earned his PhD from a large southwestern “second-tier” school. The colleague’s reasoning was that, “anyone who is serious about [the subject] would not have attended” that university, and thus the department should not consider hiring him. Karen noted to the committee that people choose universities for all kinds of reasons – including location, cost, family obligations, as well as perceived quality and offerings of the institution and program of study – and argued moreover that none of these spoke directly to the specific candidate’s qualifications. But her argument failed to convince.
An evaluation of prophylactic treatments to prevent post traumatic joint stiffness.

Arthrofibrosis is a major obstacle to restoring joint function after trauma. The objective of this study was to evaluate montelukast, forskolin, and triamcinolone as possible means of prophylaxis against the formation of arthrofibrosis. Forty-eight rats underwent surgical knee trauma with post-operative immobilization in full flexion. The treatment groups were: control (CTL), oral montelukast (3.75 mg/kg/day) (MLK), intra-articular forskolin injections (0.6 mg/kg) (FSK), and intra-articular triamcinolone injections (0.68 mg/kg) (STR). Rats were sacrificed after 14 days and femorotibial contracture angles were measured with the posterior capsule intact and with the posterior capsule cut. A 0.015Nm extension moment was applied to the knee. All treatment groups had significant reductions in contracture angle compared to the control. Mean contractures with the posterior capsule intact were 32°(CTL), 20° (MLK), 22° (FSK), and 7° (STR). Contractures with the posterior capsule cut were 28° (CTL), 19° (MLK), 20° (FSK), and 5° (STR). The STR group was significantly better than FSK and MLK. Triamcinolone injections provided dramatic reductions in stiffness. Both forskolin and montelukast provided significant, though lesser, reductions in stiffness. While the triamcinolone contracture angles were significantly better, the novel treatments of forskolin and montelukast provided encouraging results and should be studied further. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1520–1524, 2014.