cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Whole-Body 18F-FDG PET/CT: The Need for a Standardized Field of View—A Referring-Physician Aid

PET/CT fusion of anatomic and functional imaging modalities is in evolution, with rapid clinical dissemination. The imaged field of view (FOV) selected for whole-body PET/CT protocols is not standardized and varies by institution. Misuse of the term whole body, as well as the pressure to increase the number of daily studies by reducing scanning time, contributes to the lack of standardization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate variations in the FOV and arm positioning selected for whole-body PET/CT protocols at private, as well as academic, PET centers. Methods: Two hundred consecutive whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT studies were retrospectively reviewed for FOV: 50 studies from a private stationary site, 50 studies from 2 separate private mobile sites (25 consecutive studies from each), and 100 studies from a stationary university site: 50 before and 50 after implementation of a true whole-body protocol covering the top of the head through the bottom of the feet. Data were categorized into 5 different anatomic scan lengths: base of skull to upper thigh, base of skull to mid thigh, top of head to upper thigh, top of head to mid thigh, and true whole-body. Studies were further categorized into 2 patient arm positions: up and down. Results: The private stationary and mobile sites had only 2 categories of anatomic scan lengths identified: base of skull to mid thigh, and top of head to upper thigh. At the university site, before implementation of a true whole-body protocol, the 5 different anatomic scan lengths were identified; after implementation, only the true whole-body scan length was identified. Patients’ arms in the private stationary sites were down 100% of the time. At the private mobile sites, patients’ arms were up 72% of the time and down 28% of the time. At the university site, patients’ arms were up 54% of the time and down 46% of the time. The same site, after implementation of a true whole-body protocol, had patients’ arms up 58% of the time and down 42% of the time. Overall, patients’ arms were up 46% of the time and down 54% of the time. Conclusion: The continued use of the term whole body is misleading because frequently it may not include the brain, skull, or significant portions of the upper and lower extremities. PET/CT anatomic scan length varied not only from one site to the next but also within individual sites. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have different current procedural terminology codes distinguishing between base of skull to upper thigh and true whole-body covering the top of the skull to the bottom of the feet, thus underscoring the need to standardize the terminology used in describing PET/CT scan length.
Isothermal Oxidation Behavior of Mo‐Si‐B Intermetallics at 1450°C

Five Mo-Si-B multiphase intermetallic compositions were synthesized and oxidized isothermally at 1,450 C in flowing air. Average mass change rates were strongly dependent on sample composition, particularly boron content. An Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} matrix material containing 1.6 wt% boron exhibited parabolic mass gain with a rate of 5.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}4} mg{sup 2}/(cm{sup 4}{center_dot}h), while a similar material with 0.14 wt% boron oxidized rapidly in a linear manner at a rate of {minus}3.3 mg/(cm{sup 2}{center_dot}h). Oxidation rates of the Mo-Si-B intermetallics were compared to that of MoSi{sub 2} oxidized at 1,450 C under identical conditions.
Low-Power 60-GHz CMOS Radios for Miniature Wireless Sensor Network Applications

This chapter discusses several design considerations for low-power 60-GHz complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) radios for wireless sensor network applications at the cubic-mm scale. A background study is provided first, followed by a discussion of challenges to provide a practical scope of the hardware design for the readers. Finally, a compact 60-GHz CMOS transmitter with on-chip frequency-locked loop is presented as an example. This transmitter utilizes the on-chip patch antenna as both a radiator and a frequency reference. This eliminates the bulky off-chip crystal, is FCC compliant, and ensures the node transmits at the antenna’s peak efficiency point, making this a cost-effective 60-GHz radio for mm-scale sensor nodes.
How should we think of the success of the Chicago School of Economics

But before I turn a critical eye on The Chicago School, let me identify the five things that I think the author gets right, and which thereby contribute to the stock of scholarship on Chicago economics.
Strange Bedfellows: The Expansion of the Environmental Crimes Program during the Bush Administration

The Bush administration has an abysmal environmental record, highlighted by its failure to take any meaningful steps to address global climate change and its systematic efforts to undermine environmental regulation. Yet, while environmental protection has suffered during the Bush administration, the Justice Department's environmental crimes program has expanded and now has more prosecutors than anytime in its 20-year history. The success of the environmental crimes program is difficult to reconcile with the administration's environmental record, but demonstrates the degree to which criminal enforcement programs often receive support across administrations - as well as the institutional resiliency of law enforcement programs, which are dominated by career prosecutors and investigators. "Stange Bedfellows" describes the surprising success of the environmental crimes program during the Bush administration and the challenges that still lie ahead for prosecutors and investigators of environmental crime.
ID: 8: 30-DAY READMISSION RATE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION IN THE AMBULATORY VERSUS IN-HOSPITAL SETTING

Background Cardiac Catheterizationis increasingly performed in an outpatient setting. No study has been large enough to detect differences in the major complication rate which occur infrequently in whichever setting, and there is considerable variation between studies in the incidence of minor complications after outpatient procedures. Objective To investigate the 30-days readmission rate of ambulatory and in-hospital coronary cardiac Catheterization. Method A retrospective study of 9053 patients who had coronary cardiac angiography between 2005 and 2014. We divided the patients in to two groups, patients who had cardiac Catheterizationin ambulatory setting versus in-hospital setting. Results Of 9053 patients, 5998 (66%) patients had in-hospital cardiac Catheterizationand 3,055 (34%) had ambulatory cardiac catheterization. Patients who had ambulatory coronary cardiac Catheterizationhad a higher 30-days readmission rate comparing to in-hospital setting (Odd ratio: 3.2, 95% CI: 2.8–3.7, p Gender analysis, 27% of males who had ambulatory coronary cardiac Catheterizationreadmitted within 30-days of discharge versus 12% of females (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 2–2.9, p Conclusion Our study showed that ambulatory coronary cardiac Catheterization associated with a higher 30-days readmission rate comparing to in-hospital setting. Furthermore, males who had ambulatory cardiac Catheterization seem to have more 30-days readmission rate.
Arthropod Populations in Permanent Pastures Treated and Untreated With Mirex for Red Imported Fire Ant Control

Experiments were conducted in 1972–73 to study interrelationships between red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, and associated arthropods in pastures. The fire ant populations were suppressed with one application of mixrex bait each year. Frequencies of 30 arthropod taxa caught in pitfall traps and 5 insect taxa in dung samples were determined in mirex treated and untreated pastures. The population of Vacusus vicinus (LaFerte) (Anthicidae), Lycosa riparia-helluo complex (Lycosidae) and pupae of hom flies, Haemotobia irritans (L.) (Diptera) were significantly higher ( P <0.05) and Aphodiinae (Scarabaeidae), S. invicta and Nylanderia spp. (Formicidae) were significantly lower ( P < 0.05) in treated compared to untreated pastrues in 1972. In 1973 significantly greater numbers of Trachelas deceptus (Banks) (Clubionidae), Carabidae, and H. irritans pupae were found in treated pastures. Significantly lower numbers of Schizoeoza avida (Walkenaer) (Lycosidae), Xyleborinus saxeseni (Ratzeburg) (Scolytidae), Staphylinidae, Aphodiinae, (Scarabaeidae), Gryllidae, S. invicta and Nylanderia spp. were detected in the treated pastures ( P <0.05). Examinations showed that S. invicta preyed upon immature forms of H. irritans in cattle dung pats. Where predation of immature horn flies was intense, associated rove beetles also were apparently preyed upon.
Methyl Bromide Fumigation for Control of Oriental Fruit Fly (Diopters: Tephritidae) in California Stone Fruits

Methyl bromide (MB) fumigations at ambient (21 ± 1) and higher (≥30) temperatures were developed for control of oriental fruit fly (OFF), Daces dorsals Handel, in California stone fruits. The fumigation schedules for OFF dis infestation with probity 9 quarantine security at the 95% CL were 48 g/m3 MB for 2.0 h at ambient temperature for nectarines, peaches, and plums; 32 g/m3 MB for 1.5 h or 48 g/m3 MB for 1.0 h at 30 (or above) for nectarines and peaches; and 32 g/m3 MB for 2.0 h or 48 g/m3 MB for 1.5 h at 30°C (or above) for plums. All fumigations were at normal atmospheric pressure.
Agglutinogens and isoagglutinins in caries-immune and susceptible human salivas.

SummaryParaffin-stimulated whole saliva and parotid saliva was collected from 12 caries-immune and 16 caries-susceptible individuals. Blood types and Rh factors were determined, and presence of agglutinogens and isoagglutinins in their salivas was investigated. This study showed differences between the 2 types of individuals, the most outstanding of which was the unusually high number of isoagglutinin secretors in the type O caries-immune group. In the immune group the occurrence of blood type AB was higher, and type A lower than a normal distribution. Agglutinogen secretors were normally distributed in both groups.
NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES

Although many foods have been suggested to play a role in the cause of IBD, there are not yet definitive data to support diet as a cause of either CD or UC. Malnutrition is a common occurrence in IBD, and this must be considered in the treatment of these diseases. Nutritional support in IBD has limited use as primary therapy (Table 2). Even though parenteral and enteral nutrition have been associated with remission, relapse frequently occurs when normal food intake is resumed. Likewise, fistulae may resolve with aggressive, nutritional therapy, but they frequently recur with reinstitution of food. In short bowel syndrome caused by extensive intestinal resection performed in CD, parenteral nutrition provides an important mode of therapy. In addition, perioperative use of nutritional support may decrease the incidence of postoperative complications in patients who are malnourished. Nutritional support in pediatric patients with CD who have growth failure has been effective in stimulating growth.
DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE DEFORESTATION OF SAMOA

The forests of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) are rapidly disappearing. This article reviews the history of Samoan deforestation, particularly during the last four decades, in the context of ideas about development and sustainability. It also examines the role of village agriculturalists in the process of deforestation. Recent economic, technological, and organizational changes have increased village agricultural expansion and, consequently, deforestation.
Biocontainer Water Use in Short-term Greenhouse Crop Production

In recent years, biocontainers have been marketed as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based containers in the green industry. However, biocontainers constructed with plant materials that are highly porous in nature (e.g., peat, wood fiber, straw) tend to require more frequent irrigation than conventional plastic products. As irrigation water sources become less abundant and more expensive, growers must consider water consumption in any assessment of their economic and environmental viability. This project evaluated plant growth and total water consumption for nine different biocontainers (seven organic alternatives, and two recently developed bioplastic alternatives) and a plastic control used to produce a short-term greenhouse crop, ‘Yellow Madness’ petunia (Petunia ·hybrida). Dry shoot weight and total water consumption differed by container type, with some of the more porous containers (wood fiber, manure, and straw) requiring more water and producing smaller plants by the end of the trial period. Intuitively, the more impervious plastic, bioplastic, and solid rice hull containers required the least irrigation to maintain soil moisture levels, though shoot dry weights varied among this group. Shoot dry weight was highest with the bioplastic sleeve and slotted rice hull containers. However, the latter of these two containers required a greater volume of water to stay above the drying threshold. Findings from this research suggest the new bioplastic sleeve may be a promising alternative to conventional plastic containers given the current production process.
Organometallic Complex Formed by an Unconventional Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Enzyme

Pyrococcus horikoshii Dph2 (PhDph2) is an unusual radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme involved in the first step of diphthamide biosynthesis. It catalyzes the reaction by cleaving SAM to generate a 3-amino-3-carboxypropyl (ACP) radical. To probe the reaction mechanism, we synthesized a SAM analogue (SAMCA), in which the ACP group of SAM is replaced with a 3-carboxyallyl group. SAMCA is cleaved by PhDph2, yielding a paramagnetic (S = 1/2) species, which is assigned to a complex formed between the reaction product, α-sulfinyl-3-butenoic acid, and the [4Fe-4S] cluster. Electron–nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) measurements with 13C and 2H isotopically labeled SAMCA support a π-complex between the C═C double bond of α-sulfinyl-3-butenoic acid and the unique iron of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. This is the first example of a radical SAM-related [4Fe-4S]+ cluster forming an organometallic complex with an alkene, shedding additional light on the mechanism of PhDph2 and expanding our current notions for the reacti...
Barriers to genetic testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients: do surgeons limit testing?

Abstract Background Genetic testing results influence treatment recommendations in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. However, at-risk patients do not uniformly undergo genetic testing. The goal of this study was to identify barriers to genetic testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Methods A prospective database of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients meeting specific criteria over an 18-month period was created and retrospectively reviewed. Results A total of 532 patients were identified at risk for genetic mutation. Of these 313 (59%) patients completed a genetic counseling appointment and 292 (55%) underwent genetic testing. One hundred seven (24%) were never referred to genetic counselors and 89 (17%) were referred but did not complete an appointment. Patients referred to genetics were younger than the nonreferred patients (50.9 vs 60.6 years, P Conclusions The largest barrier to genetic testing was lack of physician referral; therefore, provider education must be improved. Appointments should be convenient and providers should proactively discuss the significant implications of testing results.
Fire history in high elevation subalpine forests in the Colorado Front Range

Resource managers rely on knowledge of fire history to guide management decisions, but for the subalpine zone of the Colorado Front Range little information exists on fire history documenting chang...
Protein Phosphatase 2B Inhibitor, Cyclosporine A, Stimulates Endothelial Cell Exocytosis of Ultra-Large VWF Multimeric Strings by Regulating Munc18c Phosphorylation.

Exocytosis of Weibel Palade bodies (WPBs) containing ultra-large Von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) plays an essential role in the processes of inflammation and thrombosis. The exocytosis of ULVWF involves the fusion of WPBs to the endothelial cell plasma membrane via vesicular trafficking families of proteins. Reversible post-translational modification, including the phosphorylation of tyrosine (Tyr) and/or serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) residues or S-nitrosylation of cysteine residues on one or more vesicular trafficking proteins tightly regulates the exocytotic process. The phosphorylation of any trafficking protein is determined by the interplay between protein kinases and protein phosphatases and any alteration in the activity of either enzyme can affect exocytosis. In comparison to agonist-induced, protein kinase-dependent signaling pathways that regulate exocytosis in endothelial cells, there is scant information about any possible role for the regulation of protein phosphatases in this process. Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) also called calcineurin by the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporine (CsA), is associated with thrombotic microangiopathy in a subset of transplant patients. Calcineurin is the target of a cyclophilin-CsA complex. We detected both calcineurin and cyclophilin A in resting human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Because CsA is a potent inhibitor of PP2B, we hypothesized that CsA induces ULVWF secretion and thrombotic events at least in part, by facilitating the phosphorylation of vesicle trafficking proteins that promote the exocytosis of ULVWF from endothelial cells. In vitro, we found that nanomolar concentrations of CsA or a cell permeable PP2B auto inhibitory peptide stimulated the release of ULVWF from HUVECs. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assays revealed that PP2B inhibitors did not damage the HUVECs. In vivo, plasma levels of VWF were increased after intraperitoneal injection of CsA. These studies suggest that PP2B negatively regulate ULVWF exocytosis. Microscopic studies revealed that the ULVWF strings secreted by HUVECs treated with CsA or PP2B auto-inhibitory peptide induced the adhesion of platelets. CsA-treated HUVECs exhibited an increased serine phosphorylation of Munc18c, a vesicle trafficking associated protein that promotes granule exocytosis. These findings support a mechanism whereby inhibition of PP2B by CsA enhances cell secretion, including endothelial cell secretion of ULVWF by facilitating Munc18c phosphorylation.
Client Repertoire and Behavioral Cusps

This is the second chapter in the section on client variables, values, and preferences. Evidence-based practitioners compare their client’s repertoire to the set of skills needed in order for a treatment to be effective before they select treatments. If the prerequisite skill set is not within a client’s repertoire, the evidence-based practitioner has two options. First the treatment can be eliminated from consideration altogether. Second the evidence-based practitioner can help stakeholder clients (e.g., parents, teacher, direct care staff) devise a plan to develop these skills. Similarly, when an array of treatment options are all effective and viable, evidence-based practitioners select the treatment that could lead to a behavioral cusp. If access to a specific treatment can change clients’ behavior in a way that can increase their access to new environments, this treatment should be given serious consideration.
Four restriction fragment length polymorphisms revealed by probes from a single cosmid map to human chromosome 12q.

We have discovered and characterized a compound polymorphic locus on chromosome 19, defined by an arbitrary genomic DNA segment cloned into a cosmid vector. Four different restriction fragment length polymorphisms with minor allele frequencies equal to or greater than 10% are revealed by Southern hybridization of subclones of cosmid 1-13 with TaqI, MspI, BamHI, and HindIII digests of human DNAs. Seventy-two percent of unrelated individuals are heterozygous at one or more loci, and seven of the 24 possible haplotypes occur with frequencies of 3%-38%. Using a somatic cell hybrid panel, we have mapped this locus to 19p13.2----19q13.3, whereas in situ hybridization suggests the probe is on 19p. Taken together, these results suggest localization to 19p13.2----19cen. The locus revealed by probes from cosmid 1-13 has been designated D19S11.
Development of the life impact burn recovery evaluation (LIBRE) profile: assessing burn survivors' social participation.

Purpose Measuring the impact burn injuries have on social participation is integral to understanding and improving survivors’ quality of life, yet there are no existing instruments that comprehensively measure the social participation of burn survivors. This project aimed to develop the Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Profile (LIBRE), a patient-reported multidimensional assessment for understanding the social participation after burn injuries.
Surface Healing: A Case Study

In this chapter we discuss a specific type of self-healing – surface healing – in living nature (leaves of hydrophobic and hydrophilic plants) and in artificial surfaces.
SCALEUP AND SAFETY - LINKED INITIATIVES

Two recent initiatives, instruction in scaleup and the introduction of safety into the chemical engineering curriculum, are mutually reinforcing. Methods, examples, and anticipated benefits of scaleup instruction are presented. It appears that some things, previously learned only by experience, can be taught in the classroom. A course in scale-up is a capstone course, complementary to the traditional design course, and also a natural context for the introduction of safety, ethics, and emerging technologies into the curriculum. The development, by the AIChE Center for Chemical Process Safety, of case studies in safety issues will provide valuable instructional materials for the scaleup course and many other courses as well.
Population-based study of the incidence and survival for intraductal carcinoma of the prostate.

Abstract Purpose The degree to which intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) affects clinical course remains poorly understood owing to small sample sizes from single-center studies. We sought to determine prognostic factors and outcomes associated with IDC-P in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. Materials and methods This is a retrospective study of RP during 2004 to 2013 using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results to compare IDC-P with non-IDC-P. The effect of IDC-P on overall and disease-specific survival was assessed using Cox regression with a median follow-up of 4.8 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.6–7.0 y; P = 0.01). Median prostate-specific antigen at diagnosis in IDC-P vs. non-IDC-P was similar (P = 0.23) at 6.2 (IQR: 4.6–13.0) vs. 6.1 ng/ml (IQR: 4.6–9.8). Results We identified 159,777 RP from 2004 to 2013, and 242 (0.002%) had IDC-P pathologic features. IDC-P was associated with a greater likelihood of extraprostatic stage, pT3/T4, 45.9% vs. 21.6% (P Conclusions The significance of IDC-P features has been recently recognized by the World Health Organization and it is associated with high-grade, extraprostatic features, and worse prostate cancer-specific mortality. Understanding its prognostic significance better guides adjuvant therapies and clinical trials.
Early Career Choices of Superstar Entrepreneurs

Using a dataset on career paths of elite U.S. engineers, including superstar entrepreneurs, we examine the effect of early career choices on long-run entrepreneurial outcomes. Exploiting exogenous variation in entry labor market conditions, driven by local financial sector growth, and comparing classmates in the same school-major-year, we find that talented engineers are more likely to switch from engineering jobs to finance in high finance growth areas. Compared to classmates who remain in engineering, these individuals create fewer startups that are large employers, receive VC funding, are acquired, and issue patents. A quasi-experimental design using state-wise banking deregulation produces similar results.
Interactions of Light with Biological Tissue

The interactions of a parallel beam of light with homogeneous materials are described by independent effects, e.g., reflection, refraction, and interference. When light enters a turbid medium, the spreading of the beam and loss of collimation are described by a composite phenomenon referred to as scattering. Scattering converts directed light into “diffuse” lifht. The distinction between diffuse and directed light was clarified in 1760 by Lambert, to explain why a white painted wall appears equally bright when viewed from any angle. In regular or “specular” reflection, the angle between the reflected rays and the illuminated surface (θ) equals the angle of incidence. However, when the surface consists of many small faces oriented in all possible directions, the incident radiation is reflected as diffuse light at all angles into a hemisphere, independent of the angle of incidence. The basis of Lambert’s Cosine Law is that subjective brightness depends on the reflected intensity per unit projected area of the diffusing surface, which is proportional to 1/cos θ. Therefore, if the surface appears equally bright at any viewing angle, the actual brightness must be proportional to cos θ.
Completeness of Basic Trigonometric Systems

In this chapter we continue the study of completeness of the basic trigonometric system initiated in Section 6.2. Here we first present an independent proof of this important property in L 2 and then extend it to certain L p-spaces.
Qualitative analysis of causal feedback

An analysis of the properties of qualitative differential equations involving feedback structures is presented. The topological interpretation of this theory serves as the basis for a simulator of qualitative differential equations, QUAF. QUAF predicts the initial trend and final state of each variable, thereby elucidating the general character of the response. The approach requires that causal differential equations replace algebraic forms derived from pseudo-steady state (moving equilibrium) assumptions. QUAF is compared to the qualitative simulator QSIM on an example involving interconnected tanks, and a significant narrowing of the number of interpretations of system behavior is observed.
Electronic-Structural Correlations of Dioxygen Binding and Activation by Binuclear Copper and Cobalt Complexes

Abstract Electronic structure calculations have been used to obtain insight into the bonding properties of peroxide-bound copper complexes and to probe electronic and structural contributions to reactivity. The calculations are correlated with spectral results on structurally defined trans μ-1,2 peroxo Cu2 and Co2 model complexes.
Brain Aging: Structural Imaging Biomarkers of Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

This article focuses on sensitive magnetic resonance imaging markers of risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Evidence reviewed suggests that quantitative structural imaging can provide an in vivo proxy measure of the underlying pathology in given brain regions in neurodegenerative disorders. Medial temporal lobe regions important for memory function, such as the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, become pathologically involved very early in AD. Quantitative structural imaging studies have demonstrated that both of these brain regions show significant atrophy not only in people with very mild AD, but also in individuals who are at risk of developing AD. In addition to gray matter changes, alterations in white matter can also be quantified in vivo and contribute to age- or disease-induced cognitive changes by partially disconnecting different parts of the brain and disrupting information flow.
Rationale Wähler im Mehrebenensystem? Individuelle Wahlabsichten bei Bundestags-, Landtags- und Europawahlen 2009

Im Saarland, in Brandenburg, Sachsen und Thuringen fanden 2009 innerhalb kurzer Zeit vier verschiedene Wahlen statt: die Europawahlen am 7. Juni, gleichzeitig Kommunalwahlen im Saarland, in Sachsen und Thuringen, Landtagswahlen (im Saarland, in Sachsen und Thuringen am 30. August sowie in Brandenburg am 27. September) und schlieslich die Bundestagswahl am 27. September. Daruber hinaus gab es in Schleswig-Holstein nach dem Bruch der Grosen Koalition im Juli vorgezogene Landtagswahlen, die zeitgleich mit den Bundestagswahlen durchgefuhrt wurden.
Abstract 002: Macula Densa SGLT1-NOS1-TGF Pathway -- A New Mechanism for Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Diabetes

Glomerular hyperfiltration is a common observation in early diabetes and considered as risk factor for diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms underlying glomerular hyperfiltration have not been fully...
Towards an icon model of gentrification: Global capitalism, policing, and the struggle for iconic spaces in Mexico City:

This paper expands upon Leslie Sklair’s concept of ‘iconicity’ to understand gentrification as a ‘glocal’ process wherein elites attempt to brand cities and exclude undesirable populations to attra...
Multifactorial Inheritance and Heritability in Pharmacogenetics

Unimodal Gaussian distribution curves are usually observed when drug metabolism is studied in human subjects. Greater similarity of identical twins as compared with fraternal twins suggests genetic influences on the metabolism of many drugs. Lack of distinct segregation into monogenically defined classes and the high heritability observed in twin data are interpreted as compatible with multifactorial inheritance influencing drug metabolism. ‘Heritability’ measurements as employed in quantitative genetics cannot provide data regarding the number of the genes involved nor of their mechanisms. The origin and definition of the ‘heritability’ concept is presented. Heritability values for drug metabolism derived from twin studies alone can be misleading since genetically identical persons may search out similar environments. Unimodal distribution curves may be obtained with the operation of only a few allelic or nonallelic genes under certain conditions. Probably only a few genes contribute to a large portion of the genetic variation of drug metabolism. Attention to the individual components of drug metabolism by the study of drug-metabolizing enzymes and of drug metabolites therefore may detect previously unrecognized Mendelian variants. Family studies in man will be essential to detect such variation. Pharmacogenetic studies may become models for the analysis of resolving multifactorial traits into their underlying major Mendelian genes.
Changes in Firms’ Political Investment Opportunities, Managerial Accountability, and Reputational Risk

We use the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to assess the reputational risks created by political investment opportunities that allow managers to spend unlimited and potentially undisclosed firm resources on independent political expenditures. This new opportunity raises important ethical questions, as it is difficult, and perhaps impossible, under current law for shareholders to hold managers accountable for this investment choice and the reputational risks it entails. Using firms’ known political activity as a proxy for managers’ likely future use of independent political expenditures, we examine how market participants reacted to Citizens United, conditional on this prior activity and corporate governance attributes related to the concentration of decision rights in senior management and blockholders. The results of our analyses document that firms with both a high level of known political activity and CEO-chairperson of the board duality experienced negative abnormal returns in reaction to Citizens United. In contrast, firms with concentrated ownership experienced positive abnormal returns; however, as known political activity increased, investors discounted the benefits of concentrated ownership. These findings suggest that investors expect this expansion of firms’ political investment opportunities to amplify principal-agent problems inherent in corporate political activity. Additionally, our findings provide evidence for those deliberating the mandatory disclosure of firms’ investments in politics as a means of increasing managerial accountability to both shareholders and the public.
P192 Use of a Validated Nutrition Literacy Assessment Tool for Determining Training Needs for SNAP-Ed Paraprofessional Staff

Background Nutrition education best practices emphasize using paraprofessional staff who relate to the target audience as a strategy for reaching under-served populations. These staff must possess adequate nutrition literacy to teach nutrition skills to participants. This peer educator model results in a workforce with less formal education, resulting in increased training needs, as research has shown significant positive relationships between education level and nutrition literacy. Objective Determine nutrition literacy levels of SNAP-Ed paraprofessional staff using a validated tool (NLit) to observe training needs. Study Design, Settingd, Participants Cross-sectional survey of SNAP-Ed staff (n = 60) in Illinois using NLit and demographic questionnaire. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Literacy scores were calculated and categorized based on NLit's scoring interpretation: likelihood of poor nutrition literacy (level 1), possibility of poor nutrition literacy (level 2), and likelihood of good nutrition literacy (level 3). Differences in scores by education and experience were measured using Kruskal Wallis tests. Results Eighty percent of staff received a level 3 score on the NLit, indicating likelihood of good nutrition literacy. No staff received a level 1 score. Education ranged from completed grade 12 (5%) to post-graduate degree (15%), with the largest group having graduated a 4-year college (45%). SNAP-Ed experience ranged 21 years (2%), with the largest group having 1-5 years of experience (42%). There were no differences in NLit scores based on education (P = .23) or years of SNAP-Ed experience (P = .15). Conclusion In this sample of trained SNAP-Ed paraprofessional staff, a majority had a high likelihood of good nutrition literacy. Thus, the current training provided is adequate to overcome barriers of less formal education. Although no knowledge gaps were identified for existing staff, future research will explore using NLit to assess nutrition literacy of new staff at time of hire, allowing the ability to track literacy gains over time and assess training effectiveness. Funding SNAP-Ed.
Second Stage Labor: Consensus Versus Science

There has been a recent significant evolution in suggested practices for the management of labor because of the increased national cesarean delivery rate. One of the most significant changes was promulgated by the 2014 Obstetric Care Consensus entitled, "Safe Prevention of Primary Cesarean Delivery," which recommended reconsideration of the upper limits of the length of labor in the second stage as well as the first stage. We previously published a 2016 Clinical Opinion challenging the second-stage practice change. Over the past 2 years, there have been at least 5 reports as well as 2 national organization statements supporting revised management of second-stage labor. We now revisit the second-stage issue because we believe that it is important to carefully clarify the current status resulting from consensus statements as well as the evolving current status of scientific evidence. We structured this Clinical Opinion using questions in an effort to chronicle the story of how obstetric precepts on second-stage labor in use for more than 50 years were being replaced. How did we get here? What is the current evidence? What can be learned from this experience? Should American obstetrics now "fall back" to pre-existing obstetric precepts for the management of second-stage labor after having "sprung forward" an additional hour-namely, lengthening the duration of acceptable second-stage labor to 4 hours as recommended by the Obstetric Care Consensus? We believe that the data published since our 2016 Clinical Opinion buttress our original position that prolongation of the second stage beyond historical precepts is unsafe.
Revisiting the Recidivism-Chapter 22 Phenomenon in the U.S. Bankruptcy System

This study finds that about 15% of all debtors, who emerge as continuing entities from reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, or are acquired as part of the bankruptcy process, ultimately file for bankruptcy protection again. This recidivism rate spikes to 18.25% when considering only those firms which emerge as a continuing, independent entity. This highlights what appears to be a significant recidivism problem of our Chapter 11 system. This article argues that the so-called “Chapter 22” issue should not be dismissed by the bankruptcy community as acceptable just because no interested party objected to the plan of reorganization during the confirmation hearing. Indeed, by applying the Z”-Score model to large samples of Chapter 11 and Chapters 22, 33, and 44 firms, highly different and significant expected survival profiles are shown at the time of emergence. The bond-rating-equivalent of the multi-filing sample was CCC versus a BBprofile for the single-filing Chapter 11 sample. I believe that credible distress prediction techniques can be important indicators of the future success of firms emerging from bankruptcy and could even be used by the bankruptcy court in assessing the feasibility of the plan of reorganization – a responsibility that is embedded in the Bankruptcy Code.
Antecedents and Consequences of Employee and Asset Restructuring

We examine two forms of employment and asset restructuring: downsizing and upsizing. Guided by institutional theory, we focus on two important questions: (a) are the antecedents of restructuring co...
The Role of Convection During the Self-Focusing of Nonlinear Second Sound Pulses Near the Lambda Point

Second sound in superfluid helium is made up of scalar temperature and vector convective velocity fields. The local sound velocity is altered by these fields, leading to finite amplitude effects. The vector convective field and the direction of propagation are colinear for infinite plane waves and the amplitude dependent velocity is described by the Khalatnikov nonlinear coefficient. For finite sources of second sound, the convective velocity and the local sound velocity may not be colinear, leading to unusual nonlinear effects. We present a vector representation of the finite amplitude velocity of sound emitted from arbitrary sources of second sound, and apply it to a model of two point sources. This simple model is used to show how the linear superposition of signals delayed by the scalar temperature and vector convective fields of second sound may describe a finite amplitude phenomenon: The distortion, due to self-focusing, of pulsed nonplanar second sound near the lambda point.
Feasibility of a Deep-Space CubeSat Mission with a Stage-Based Electrospray Propulsion System

Independent deep-space exploration with CubeSats, where the spacecraft independently propels itself from Earth orbit to deep-space, is currently not possible due to the lack of high- $\Delta\mathrm{V}$ propulsion systems compatible with the small form factor. The ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) under development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Space Propulsion Laboratory is a promising technology due to its inherently small size and high efficiency. However, current electrospray thrusters have demonstrated lifetimes (500 hours) below the required firing time for an electrospray-thruster-propelled CubeSat to escape from Earth starting from geostationary orbit (8000 hours). To bypass this lifetime limitation, a stage-based approach, analogous to launch vehicle staging, is proposed where the propulsion system consists of a series of electrospray thruster arrays and fuel tanks. As each array reaches its lifetime limit, the thrusters and fuel tanks are ejected from the spacecraft exposing a new array to continue the mission. This work addresses the technical feasibility of a spacecraft with a stage-based electrospray propulsion system for a mission from geostationary orbit to near-Earth asteroid 2010 UE51 through a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Team Xc concurrent design center study. Specific goals of the study were to analyze availability of CubeSat power systems that could support the propulsion system and any other avionics as well as requirements for attitude control and communication between the spacecraft and Earth. Two bounding cases, each defined by the maturity of the iEPS thrusters, were considered. The first case used the current demonstrated performance metrics of iEPS on a 12U CubeSat bus while the second case considered expected near-term increases in iEPS performance metrics on a 6U CubeSat bus. A high-level overview of the main subsystems of the CubeSat design options is presented, with a particular focus on the propulsion, power, attitude control, and communication systems, as they are the primary drivers for enabling the stage-based iEPS CubeSat architecture.
Patient Education Is Associated With Reduced Delay to Presentation for Management of Ischemic Priapism: A Retrospective Review of 123 Men.

Abstract Background Adverse outcomes secondary to ischemic priapism (IP) are associated with time to presentation and management. Aim To characterize patterns in presentation delay as a function of etiology and patient education regarding IP risk. Methods Following institutional review board approval, charts of IP patients presenting to our institution from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed. One episode of IP per patient was included for analysis. Outcomes Priapism duration in patients presenting with IP. Results We identified 123 unique patients with IP. Common etiologies included erectogenic intracavernosal injection (24%), trazodone (16%), and other psychiatric medications (16%). Patients with sickle cell anemia or trait and intracavernosal injection–related IP presented sooner than idiopathic cases and those from psychiatric medication (P Clinical Implications Men who received provider-based education on the risk of IP associated with their condition or medication regimen were more likely to seek prompt medical attention for IP and, therefore, less likely to require surgery. Strengths & Limitations This manuscript represents one of the largest series on priapism, an area of urologic practice in need of more evidence-based guidance. The numbers are not inflated by including multiple episodes per patient, and the data collected include etiology, time to presentation, and treatment. Limitations include a retrospective chart review study design at a single institution. Conclusion Educational initiatives on the risk of IP associated with particular disease states and medications should target at-risk individuals, as well as prescribers of medications associated with IP. Dutta1 R, Matz1 EL, Overholt TL, et al. Patient Education Is Associated With Reduced Delay to Presentation for Management of Ischemic Priapism: A Retrospective Review of 123 Men. J Sex Med 2021;18:385–390.
Exploring Aligned-Images Bounds: Robust Secure GDoF of 3-to-1 Interference Channel

Sum-set inequalities based on Aligned-Images bounds have been recently introduced as essential elements of converse proofs for asymptotic/approximate wireless network capacity characterizations under robust assumptions, i.e., assumptions that limit channel knowledge at the transmitters to finite precision. While these sum-set inequalities have produced robust Generalized Degrees of Freedom (GDoF) results for various wireless networks, their scope and limitations in general are not well understood. To explore these limitations, in this work we study the robust secure GDoF of a symmetric 3-user many-to-one interference channel. We identify regimes where existing sum-set inequalities are sufficient, settling the GDoF for those settings. For the remaining regime we conjecture the form of new sum-set inequalities that may be needed, whose validity remains an open problem for future work.
GPU Direct I/O with HDF5

Exascale HPC systems are being designed with accelerators, such as GPUs, to accelerate parts of applications. In machine learning workloads as well as large-scale simulations that use GPUs as accelerators, the CPU (or host) memory is currently used as a buffer for data transfers between GPU (or device) memory and the file system. If the CPU does not need to operate on the data, then this is sub-optimal because it wastes host memory by reserving space for duplicated data. Furthermore, this “bounce buffer” approach wastes CPU cycles spent on transferring data. A new technique, NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage (GDS), can eliminate the need to use the host memory as a bounce buffer. Thereby, it becomes possible to transfer data directly between the device memory and the file system. This direct data path shortens latency by omitting the extra copy and enables higher-bandwidth. To take full advantage of GDS in existing applications, it is necessary to provide support with existing I/O libraries, such as HDF5 and MPI-IO, which are heavily used in applications. In this paper, we describe our effort of integrating GDS with HDF5, the top I/O library at NERSC and at DOE leadership computing facilities. We design and implement this integration using a HDF5 Virtual File Driver (VFD). The GDS VFD provides a file system abstraction to the application that allows HDF5 applications to perform I/O without the need to move data between CPUs and GPUs explicitly. We compare performance of the HDF5 GDS VFD with explicit data movement approaches and demonstrate superior performance with the GDS method.
Improvising a Space for Us: A Testimonio from a Latina Diaspora Group.

In 2018 we created our own Latina Diaspora Group to share our stories and provide support for one another to overcome barriers we face within our institution and the academy. Leveraging jazz as met...
Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty With Bulk Femoral Head Autograft in a Patient With Camurati-Engelmann Disease

Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is an extremely rare, sclerosing bone disorder of intramedullary ossification with only 300 reported cases worldwide. The pathogenesis is related to activating mutations in transforming growth factor beta 1, which results in bilateral, symmetric hyperostosis affecting primarily the diaphysis of long bones. Despite effective pharmacological treatment options, the diagnosis of CED is problematic owning to its rarity and variability of clinical presentation. We present a patient with known CED with advanced early hip osteoarthritis, secondary to underlying hip dysplasia, for which she underwent a successful total hip arthroplasty via a direct anterior approach with the use of bulk femoral head autograft to reconstruct her native acetabulum.
The role of secondary craters on Martian crater chronology

Abstract The influence of secondary craters on the accuracy of crater chronology has been heavily debated. We review the production of secondaries on Mars and their cumulative effect on the global crater size-frequency distribution (SFD). We characterize the SFD of secondaries produced by four large primaries (∼50–220 km) and develop a model for secondary accumulation with time, accounting for spatial clustering. The number of km-scale secondaries produced globally may exceed primaries by an order of magnitude on Ga timescales. However, most secondaries are clustered around their parent primary, and regions far from large primaries have lower concentrations of secondaries. We estimate that the crossover diameter between primaries and secondaries on a median surface exceeds 1 km after ∼1–2 Ga, though subsequent crater erasure has significantly influenced the number of secondaries visible today. Because of the high spatial variability of secondaries, care should be taken when using small craters for crater counts.
The Politics of Remembering and Forgetting: The Gujarat Development Model and the 2002 Gujarat Pogrom

In 2002, barbaric communal violence broke out all over the western state of Gujarat in India. Over 2000 Muslims were killed and more than 96,000 displaced through violent attacks by Hindus in retal...