cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secondary thrombotic microangiopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome, the role of complement and use of eculizumab: Case series and review of literature.

Abstract Introduction Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a life-threatening, albeit infrequent, complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). Recommendations for the treatment of SLE- and APS-related secondary TMA are currently based solely on case reports and expert opinion. Unfortunately, interventions may not yield timely results or effectively halt the progression of TMA. Since complement activation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of secondary TMA due to SLE, APS, a therapy that targets the complement pathway is an attractive intervention. Eculizumab, a recombinant, fully humanized IgG2/IgG4 monoclonal antibody inhibits C5 activation and is FDA-approved for PNH and atypical HUS (aHUS). However, limited case reports are available on its use in treatment of secondary TMA. Case presentation and results We present the largest case series to date that includes 9 patients with SLE and/or APS who were successfully treated with eculizumab for refractory secondary TMA. In this case series, we report significant responses in hematology values, renal function and other organs following treatment with eculizumab. At 4 weeks, 75% improvement in platelet counts was observed in 78% of patients. Two-thirds of patients demonstrated >75% improvement of haptoglobin and LDH at four weeks. At 4 weeks, eGFR improved by 25% in half of the patients, and 43% had reductions in proteinuria. Two of 3 patients that required hemodialysis were able to be taken off hemodialysis. Conclusion Based on these observations, we suggest that eculizumab may be a potential treatment option for acutely ill patients with secondary TMA due to SLE and/or APS who have failed standard of care. A collective approach is needed to better elucidate the role and optimal timing of eculizumab use in the management of TMA complicating SLE and/or APS.
Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

Severe debilitating lower urinary and bowel dysfunction is unfortunately common in patients with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), spina bifida and transverse myelitis on top of their physical disabilities. Despite the extraordinarily high prevalence of neurogenic bladder (87–95%) [1, 2] and neurogenic bowel (62–95%) [3, 4] in these populations, only the bladder has received the attention of medical providers with neurogenic bowel physiology is less understood and characterized compared to neurogenic bladder [5]. Neurogenic bowel has a significant impact on these patients and is characterized by combination of symptoms including lower gastrointestinal symptoms of constipation, diarrhea and or fecal incontinence. It could also have upper gastrointestinal impairment which can lead to bloating, nausea earlier satiety, reflux symptoms and gaseousness [6–10].
Prevalence of Sexual Initiation Before Age 13 Years Among Male Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States.

Importance Despite similar sexual activity rates among male and female adolescents, males are more likely to have their first sexual intercourse before age 13 years. The developmental needs and pathways to healthy trajectories for young males remain unknown. Objective To examine the prevalence of sexual intercourse before age 13 years among male adolescents; the variation by race/ethnicity, location, and maternal educational level; and the wantedness of this first sexual experience. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional analysis was conducted from September 2017 to June 2018, using pooled 2011, 2013, and 2015 data from the school-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and the 2006 to 2015 data of males aged 15 to 24 years from the household-based National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). The percentage of males reporting sexual onset before age 13 years was estimated using survey-weighted logistic regression to test for differences by race/ethnicity within each national survey and within metropolitan areas (for YRBSS, high school and middle school samples). Among NSFG survey respondents, differences in wantedness of first sexual intercourse by age at first sexual intercourse were examined, along with the associations between sexual initiation and socioeconomic covariates. Main Outcomes and Measures Sexual onset before age 13 years. Results Data from a total of 19 916 male high school students (from YRBSS) and 7739 males aged 15 to 24 years (from NSFG) were included in the analysis. The sample was largely composed of non-Hispanic white males: 8789 (57.1%) from the YRBSS and 3737 (58.0%) from the NSFG. Sexual onset before age 13 years was reported nationally by 7.6% (95% CI, 6.8%-8.4%) of male high school students and 3.6% (95% CI, 3.0%-4.2%) of males aged 15 to 24 years. The proportion of male students who reported having sexual intercourse before age 13 years varied across metropolitan sites, from 5% (95% CI, 4%-7%) in San Francisco, California, to 25% (95% CI, 23%-28%) in Memphis, Tennessee, with elevated rates among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic males in most metropolitan areas. In the NSFG data set, respondents whose mothers had a college degree or higher educational level were statistically significantly less likely (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.19-0.49) to report having sexual intercourse before age 13 years compared with those whose mothers did not have a college degree. Among males who reported having their first sexual experience before age 13 years, 8.5% (95% CI, 3.8%-17.8%) described their first sexual intercourse as unwanted. Conclusions and Relevance Rates of sexual onset before age 13 years among young males varied by race/ethnicity, location, and maternal educational level, presenting important implications for the provision of early, inclusive, and comprehensive sex education and sexual and reproductive health care to male children and adolescents.
Comparison of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leak rates in five staple-line reinforcement options: a systematic review.

Staple-line leaks following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) remain a concerning complication. Staple-line buttressing is largely adopted as an acceptable reinforcement but data regarding leaks have been equivocal. This study compared staple-line leaks in five reinforcement options during LSG: no reinforcement (NO-SLR), oversewing (suture), nonabsorbable bovine pericardial strips (BPS), tissue sealant or fibrin glue (Seal), or absorbable polymer membrane (APM). This systematic review study of articles published between 2012 and 2016 regarding LSG leak rates aligned with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Variables of interest included leak rates, bleeding, and complications in addition to surgical and population parameters. An independent Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the number of patients with and without leaks for the different reinforcement options. Of the 1633 articles identified, 148 met inclusion criteria and represented 40,653 patients. Differences in age (older in APM; p = 0.001), starting body mass index (lower in Suture; p = 0.008), and distance from pylorus (closer in BPS; p = 0.04) were observed between groups, but mean bougie size was equivalent. The overall leak rate of 1.5% (607 leaks) ranged from 0.7% for APM (significantly lower than all groups; p ≤ 0.007 for next lowest leak rate) to 2.7% (BPS). This systematic review of staple-line leaks following LSG demonstrated a significantly lower rate using APM staple-line reinforcement as compared to oversewing, use of sealants, BPS reinforcement, or no reinforcement. Variation in surgical technique may also contribute to leak rates.
Structural and magnetic properties of hexagonal perovskites La1.2Sr2.7MO7.33 (M = Ru, Ir) containing peroxide ions.

The structures of the new compound La 1 . 2 Sr 2 . 7 IrO 7 . 3 3 and the recently discovered La 1 . 2 Sr 2 . 7 RuO 7 . 3 3 have been solved using a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in the trigonal space group R3m and consist of isolated MO 6 (M = Ru, Ir) octahedra, which are arranged in well-defined hexagonal perovskite slabs. These slabs are separated by (Sr 2 O 1 + δ ) layers containing both O 2 - and (O 2 ) 2 - ions. The composition can therefore be written as La 1 . 2 Sr 2 . 7 MO 7 - δ (O 2 ) δ with 6 = 0.33. Results of the magnetic susceptibility and XANES measurements show that the transition metal cations are in a pentavalent state. While in La 1 . 2 Sr 2 . 7 RuO 7 . 3 3 an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Ru 5 + ions is found, La 1 . 2 Sr 2 . 7 IrO 7 . 3 3 shows a very small temperature-independent paramagnetism down to 1.8 K due to the strong spin-orbit coupling characteristic for the 5d element iridium.
The Big Short Redux and FinTech

Similar to the Internet, which created a revolution in the ability to communicate quickly and cheaply, FinTech companies are using blockchain and digital wallets to create a revolution in the transfer of value across the world. The literature and blog space to date have indicated that digital wallets could overtake the need for traditional banking. The purpose of this article is to provide further testing on whether FinTech banking companies could overtake the need for traditional banking by evaluating whether the number of deposits at various US commercial banks and the growth of digital wallets have impacted US commercial bank market values over the past two to three years. Results indicate a strong positive relationship between the number of deposits and US commercial bank market values and a strong negative relationship between digital wallet proxy measures and US commercial bank market values from 2017 to 2019. The trends indicate a stable amount of deposit in the US banking system to a slight decline versus a large growth in the digital wallet sphere. Results indicate that digital wallets could create a large decrease in the market value of commercial banks in the future. Such a result would indicate the need to consider carefully how FinTech companies should be included in financial sector indices. TOPICS:Real assets/alternative investments/private equity, currency Key Findings • The growth in digital wallets in the past several years has been rapid. In comparison, the growth in bank deposit accounts has been rather stagnant. • The question is whether digital wallets are a complement to banks or a competitor. Regression results indicate that the number of deposit accounts has a strong positive relationship with bank market value and that digital wallet proxies have a negative relationship. This means the FinTech companies are taking away market value and may be viewed as a competitor. • Assuming that digital wallet growth takes away deposits from banks, results indicate that market values of bank may be on the decline. If such a case exists, it would be wise for exchange-traded funds and index companies to incorporate FinTech companies in their funds sooner rather than later. This will help offset the possible withdrawal from pure traditional banking funds.
Neutral-current neutrino scattering from the deuteron

Neutral-current neutrino scattering from the deuteron leading to proton-neutron final states is considered using an approach that incorporates relativistic dynamics and consequently provides robust modeling at relatively high energies and momenta. In this work the focus is placed on the fully exclusive reaction where both the proton and neutron in the final state are assumed to be detected. Accordingly, the incident neutrino energy, the neutrino scattering angle, and the scattered neutrino's energy can all be reconstructed. It is shown that for specific choices of kinematics the reaction proceeds mainly via scattering from the proton, while for other choices of kinematics it proceeds mainly from the neutron. Specific asymmetries are introduced to focus on these attributes. Measurements in both regions have the potential to yield valuable information on the nucleon's electroweak form factors at momentum transfers up to a (GeV/${c)}^{2}$. In particular, the cross sections are shown to be very sensitive to the isoscalar axial-vector form factor, and sensitive but less so to the magnetic strangeness form factor. Comparisons with other reactions, specifically charge-changing neutrino reactions and both parity-conserving and -violating electron scattering, have the potential to provide new ways to test the standard model.
Epigallocatechin Gallate Mitigates the Methamphetamine-Induced Striatal Dopamine Terminal Toxicity by Preventing Oxidative Stress in the Mouse Brain

Methamphetamine (METH) is a popular psychostimulant due to its long-lasting effects and inexpensive production. METH intoxication is known to increase oxidative stress leading to neuronal damage. Thus, preventing the METH-induced oxidative stress can potentially mitigate neuronal damage. Previously, our laboratory found that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a strong antioxidant found in green tea, can protect against the METH-induced apoptosis and dopamine terminal toxicity in the striatum of mice. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative properties of EGCG on the METH-induced oxidative stress using CD-1 mice. First, we demonstrated that mice pretreated with EGCG 30 min prior to the METH injection (30 mg/kg, ip) showed protection against the striatal METH-induced reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase without mitigating hyperthermia. In addition, injecting a single high dose of METH caused the reduction of striatal glutathione peroxidase activity at 24 h after the METH injection. Interestingly, pretreatment with EGCG 30 min prior to the METH injection prevented the METH-induced reduction of glutathione peroxidase activity. Moreover, we utilized Western blots to quantify the glutathione peroxidase 4 protein level in the striatum. The results showed that METH decreased striatal glutathione peroxidase 4 protein level, and the reduction was prevented by EGCG pretreatment. Finally, we observed that the METH-induced increase of striatal catalase and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase protein levels were also attenuated by pretreatment with EGCG. Taken together, our data indicate that EGCG is an effective agent that can be used to mitigate the METH-induced striatal toxicity in the mouse brain.
Multilayer Camouflaged Secure Boot for SoCs

Reconfigurable logic enables architectural updates for embedded devices by providing the ability to reprogram partial or entire device. However, this flexibility can be leveraged by the adversary to compromise the device boot process by modifying the bitstream or the boot process with physical or remote access of device placed in a remote field. We propose a novel multilayer secure boot mechanism for SoCs with a two-stage secure boot process. First stage uses device bound unique response as a key to decrypt application logic. The security function is extended at runtime by integrating intermittent architecture and application locking mechanism to reveal correct functionality.
You Set Me Up: Gendered Perceptions of Twitter Communication Among Black Chicago Youth:

We sought to identify the key dynamics in the relationship between social media and violence by identifying new mechanisms that elucidate how Internet banging becomes offline violence through the p...
Ethical considerations of corporate tax avoidance : Diverging perspectives from different stakeholders

The ethicality of corporate tax avoidance is an important concern to many stakeholders, including corporate affiliates (e.g., managers, shareholders, employees), politicians, the public, academics, and practitioners. This chapter provides a theoretical examination of the ethicality of corporate tax avoidance from the perspectives of different groups of corporate stakeholders. We also review findings from empirical academic literature providing evidence on various stakeholders’ perceptions of corporate tax avoidance. Our review does not provide clear insights that tax avoidance on the part of corporations is inherently unethical; instead, we glean that the ethicality of corporate tax avoidance is a complex issue where, despite the decrease in aggregate tax revenues, many direct and indirect stakeholders may actually benefit as a result of corporate tax avoidance.
The Government and Telecommunications: A Complex History

On the morning of 7 March 1876, the United States Patent Office issued the Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell a copyright license for an apparatus that would eventually come to be known as the telephone. The license for the new contraption was reportedly issued less than 2 h before another inventor, Elisha Gray of Western Union—then the dominant telegraphy company in America—would have been granted a patent for a very similar device (Martin 1991, p. 1). This striking account is indicative of the early development of the telephone. Its evolution was essentially the outcome of a series of historical accidents and a complex combination of technical, commercial, political and ideological interests expressed—often aggressively, other times more subtly—by a variety of actors.
Micro RNA Expression of Heart Failure Patients and Responses to Left Ventricular Assistant Device Support

Purpose Micro RNAs are key regulators of various biological processes including the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). In this study we compared miRNA profiles of heart failure (HF), left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and non-failing (NF) hearts patients. Our goal was to identify epigenetic mechanisms involved in HF and responses to LVAD therapy. Methods RNAs were isolated from myocardial tissues of HF patients without mechanical support at the time of transplant (n=6) and after LVAD (n=6) placement in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients along with NF controls (n = 6). NanoString analysis was used to compare miRNA expression among in HF, LVAD, and control patients. NanoString miRNA raw count data were preprocessed and normalized using nSolver 4.0 Analysis Software. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was carried out on differentially expressed micro RNA to understand the biological pathways involved. Results Our sample population was 84% male with an average age of 57 and 82% Caucasian, 16% African American and 2% Asian. Forty four miRNAs were differentially expressed in HF patients than NF control and 79 miRNAs were differentially expressed in HF patients when compared to post-LVAD HF patients. IPA analysis revealed that heart enlargement was significantly altered in HF compared to NF control with p value of 2.58E-04. Three miRNA were upregulated (mir590-5p, mir146a-5p and mir-761-5p) and three were downregulated by more than two folds (mir-1, mir-23a-3p and mir497-5). Heart enlargement was also significantly different in pre vs post with p value of 2.57E-02. Five miRNAs were involved with four upregulated (mir-590-5p, mir146a-5p, mir-761 and mir 140-3p) while only one was downregulated (mir-497-5p). Conclusion End stage heart failure is characterized by cardiac remodeling, arrhythmias, fibrosis and a decline in myocyte contractility. Our results identify a large number of miRNAs that are associated with end stage heart failure and cardiac enlargement in addition to the miRNAs associated with remodeling on LVAD therapy. Micro RNA profiles can identify molecular mechanisms of disease and serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Eversion, Ecology, Touch, and Rain: A Post-Pc Rhetoric

The post-PC era of computing offers digital rhetors an opportunity to innovate their inventional approaches. The new era is one in which an ecology of networked, distributed, sensor-based devices amplify our perceptions of self and world by changing the ecological relations that define our connections to our techno-social environments. By extending Casey Boyle’s posthuman practice of rhetorical invention to the new computational era, rhetoricians can develop digital interactive projects that move participants by amplifying the choric bases of their perceptions of self and world.
Study design and methods for the using exercise to relieve joint pain and improve AI adherence in older breast cancer survivors (REJOIN) trial.

Abstract Background Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) are recommended for survival in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors (BCS) with hormone-sensitive disease. AI Adherence is suboptimal, especially in older BCS. Joint pain is a common AI-related symptom that is associated with low AI adherence. The Using Exercise to Relieve Joint Pain in Older Breast Cancer Survivors (REJOIN) Trial will evaluate the efficacy of a self-management intervention (exercise + education) to increase knowledge/self-efficacy for symptom management, reduce joint pain and potentially increase AI adherence in older BCS planning to take AIs. Methods This randomized controlled pilot trial will include sedentary BCS, 65 years and older, diagnosed with stage I-III hormone-sensitive breast cancer, who have completed primary cancer treatment and are planning to initiate AIs. We will adapt an evidence-based physical activity program for older adults that includes bi-weekly, supervised exercise sessions plus 30 min of education. The 16-week intervention program includes: 8-weeks of supervised sessions plus 8-weeks of self-guided home sessions with periodic phone coaching. We will conduct geriatric assessments plus measurements of exercise, joint pain, and AI adherence (baseline, 4, 6 and 12 months). Discussion REJOIN is one of the first trials to exclusively target older BCS using a self-management intervention, informed by geriatric assessment and exercise physiology, to improve health outcomes in survivorship. The REJOIN trial could lay the foundation for transdisciplinary research that bridges the gap between clinical and public health perspectives in healthy aging, with the opportunity to translate clinical interventions into non-pharmacological tools for a growing, yet underserved population of older survivors. Trial registration: NCT03955627
Dislocation interactions at the grain boundary in FCC bicrystals: An atomistically-informed dislocation dynamics study

Abstract To understand the underlying mechanisms that control the mechanical properties of nanostructured metals, an insight into the role of the grain boundary in dislocation-driven plastic deformation is vital. The grain boundary has been observed as a dislocation source, sink, or having no effect, which in turn, gives rise to different macroscopic mechanical responses. With this motivation, atomistic simulations and three-dimensional dislocation dynamics simulations were performed to investigate dislocation interactions at various grain boundaries and their role in the plastic deformation of face-centered cubic (FCC) bicrystalline micropillars. The atomistically-informed dislocation dynamics simulations show that bicrystalline samples containing a high angle grain boundary (HAGB) display hardening and higher flow stresses compared to single crystals, while micropillars with a coherent twin boundary (CTB) show similar flow stresses to the reference single crystalline samples. This is due to the transparency of the grain boundary to slip transmission, which is observed in the atomistic simulations. Interestingly, allowing dislocation glide on the grain boundary exhibits a decrease in flow stress as slip transmission becomes easier.
Effect of DOM Size on Organic Micropollutant Adsorption by GAC.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption of the micropollutants 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and warfarin (WFN) at ng/L levels was investigated in five waters with isolated natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) held at a constant dissolved organic carbon concentration. Each water was evaluated for competitive adsorption effects based on the pretreatment of ultrafiltration, coagulation, and additional background micropollutants. Using the breakthrough with unfractionated DOM as a baseline, on average, the water with lower molecular weight (MW) DOM decreased MIB and WFN adsorption capacity by 59%, whereas the water with higher MW DOM increased MIB and WFN adsorption capacity by 64%. All waters showed similar decreasing MIB and WFN adsorption capacity with increasing empty bed contact time (EBCT), with more dramatic effects seen for the more strongly adsorbing WFN. On average, MIB and WFN adsorption kinetics were two times slower in the water with higher MW DOM compared to the water with lower MW DOM, as desc...
The Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe

1. Introduction: Ottomancentrism and the West 2. Fabricating the Ottoman State 3. A seasoned polity 4. Factionalism and insurrection 5. The Ottoman-Venetian Association 6. Commerce and diasporas 7. A changing station in Europe 8. Conclusion: the greater western world.
Brownian Models of Performance and Control: Optimal Control of Brownian Motion

In a stochastic control problem one observes and then seeks to favorably influence the behavior of some stochastic system. Such problems involve dynamic optimization, meaning that observations and actions are spread out in time. In this chapter several simple but fundamental stochastic control problems will be solved directly from first principles, with heavy reliance on the ubiquitous Ito formula. For each of the closely related problems to be considered, the optimal policy involves the imposition of control barriers; these may be either jump barriers or reflecting barriers, depending on the cost structure assumed. Our first problem can be informally described as follows. Consider a controller who continuously monitors the contents of a storage system, such as an inventory or a bank account. In the absence of control, the contents process Z = {Z t , t ≥ 0} fluctuates as a (μ,σ) Brownian motion. The controller can at any time increase or decrease the contents of the system by any amount desired, but is obliged to keep Z t ≥ 0, and there are three types of costs to be considered. First, to increase the contents from x to x + δ, the controller must pay a fixed charge K plus a proportional charge kδ . Similarly, it costs L + lδ to decrease the contents from x to x – δ. Finally, inventory holding costs are continuously incurred at rate kZ t .
Education for Sustainability in primary English education

In English-speaking countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, English language forms the basis for communication and understanding about the world in which we live, the way we communicate to others and how we seek to make sense of what is happening around us. In all areas of the curriculum, including education for sustainability (EfS), students’ skills in using and manipulating spoken and written language will determine the quality of their understanding and beliefs, and support their efforts to take reasoned action for the future.
Belief dynamics in web search

People frequently answer consequential questions, such as those with a medical focus, using Internet search engines. Their primary goal is to revise or establish beliefs in one or more outcomes. Search engines are not designed to furnish answers, and instead provide results that may contain answers. Information retrieval research has targeted aspects of information access such as query formulation, relevance, and search success. However, there are important unanswered questions on how beliefs-and potential biases in those beliefs-affect search behaviors and how beliefs are shaped by searching. To understand belief dynamics, we focus on yes-no medical questions e.g., "Is congestive heart failure a heart attack?", with consensus answers from physicians. We show that a presearch beliefs are affected only slightly by searching and changes are likely to skew positive yes; b presearch beliefs affect search behavior; c search engines can shift some beliefs by manipulating result rank and availability, but strongly-held beliefs are difficult to move using uncongenial information and can be counterproductive, and d search engines exhibit near-random answer accuracy. Our findings suggest that search engines should provide correct answers to searchers' questions and develop methods to persuade searchers to shift strongly held but factually incorrect beliefs.
Pamidronate in a girl with chronic renal insufficiency dependent on parenteral nutrition

A 10-year-old 40-kg African-American female with megacystis microcolon hypoperistalsis syndrome maintained on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), with a history of metabolic bone disease and renal insufficiency, was admitted with a Candida parapsilosis central venous line infection. During her 280-day hospital stay, she had multiple episodes of bacteremia and recurrent candidemia. Furthermore, she developed pathological fractures and hip displacement with osteomyelitis due to Enterobacter. Hypercalcemia and a history of nephrocalcinosis had prevented appropriate dosing of calcium prior to and during the first months of her hospital stay. Pamidronate and chlorothiazide were added to her regimen. The urinary calcium to creatinine ratio and ionized calcium decreased. The pamidronate dose was increased to 60 mg once a week and was well tolerated. Daily calcium was added to her TPN solution and was increased to 10 mEq/day by the time of discharge. We conclude that relatively large doses of pamidronate may be required in certain cases of refractory hypercalcemia and are well tolerated in children.
Impact of avocado-enriched diets on plasma lipoproteins: A meta-analysis

Background Optimizing plasma lipoproteins is the primary goal of pharmacotherapy and diet interventions in people at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Avocados offer a rich source of monounsaturated fat and may pose beneficial effects on the lipid profile. Objective We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials assessing the impact of avocados on TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and/or triglycerides (TG). Methods We searched PUBMED, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews from their inception to February 2015. The weighted mean difference from baseline was calculated for all endpoints. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess heterogeneity, and funnel plots inspected to assess publication bias. Results Ten unique studies (n = 229) were included. Avocado consumption significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, and TG by −18.80 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], −24.56 to −13.05; I2, 46.9%), −16.50 mg/dL (95% CI, −22.91 to −10.10; I2, 72.5%), −27.20 mg/dL (95% CI, −44.41 to −9.99; I2, 91.1%) respectively. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased nonsignificantly by −0.18 mg/dL (95% CI, −3.23 to 2.88; I2, 84.8%). Conclusion Avocado-substituted diets significantly decrease TC, LDL-C, and TG levels. Substituting dietary fats with avocados versus adding to the free diet should be the primary recommendation strategy. Larger trials looking at the impact of avocados on major adverse cardiovascular events are warranted.
Dopamine has a critical role in photoreceptor degeneration in the rd mouse

Photoreceptors receive paracrine input from dopaminergic interplexiform cells. Rod photoreceptors in the rd mouse degenerate rapidly due to a specific gene defect. We investigated the effects of dopamine on rd mouse photoreceptors in retinal organ culture. Retinas were harvested from rd or wild-type mice at postnatal day 2 and grown in organ culture for 27 days. When antagonists for either D(1)- or D(2)-family dopamine receptors were added to the media, photoreceptor degeneration was blocked. Furthermore, when dopamine was depleted by the addition of 6-hydroxydopamine and pargyline, photoreceptor survival appeared comparable to wild-type retinal cultures. The addition of a dopamine agonist induced photoreceptor degeneration in dopamine-depleted rd organ cultures. In all cases, photoreceptors maintained robust staining of opsin. These results demonstrate that dopamine antagonists or dopamine depletion blocks photoreceptor degeneration and that dopamine is necessary for photoreceptor degeneration in the rd mouse retinal organ culture model, indicating that dopamine antagonists may represent a therapeutic strategy in retinal degenerative disease.
Hysteretic current-voltage characteristics of platelet boundaries in melt-textured bulk Ag-doped YBa2Cu3O7,δ and heating effects

Abstract The current-voltage characteristics (CVCs) of isolated platelet boundaries in melt-textured bulk Ag-doped YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7,δ have been measured. The CVCs showed pronounced hysteresis. However, the critical current did not show any field dependence. Such hysteresis can be explained by a self-heating model.
Comparison of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom subtypes in Ukrainian schoolchildren.

ABSTRACT Objective This study used a parent-completed, DSM-IV —referenced rating scale to examine prevalence rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors and differences between subtypes in 10-to 12-year-old Ukrainian children. Method During 1997, a total of 600 parents and children residing in Kyiv, Ukraine, and their teachers participated in extensive clinical assessments using standard Western measures. Results The screening prevalence rate of ADHD behaviors was 19.8%: 7.2% for inattentive (I), 8.5% for hyperactive-impulsive (HI), and 4.2% for combined (C). Post hoc comparisons indicated a number of significant ( p Conclusions Although symptom prevalence rates are higher in Ukraine than the United States, this study provides additional evidence supporting DSM-IV ADHD subtypes as distinct clinical entities.
Tests of Respiratory Muscle Strength In Neonates

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the underlying cause of respiratory failure in about 50% of preterm infants who require intubation and mechanical ventilation. 2. Compare compliance characteristics of the chest wall in infants, older children, and adults. 3. List some of the conditions seen in neonates that can adversely affect respiratory muscle function. 4. List noninvasive tests for assessing respiratory muscle strength in neonates. Chest wall mechanics of neonates and infants play an essential role in ventilation that frequently is underappreciated. Dysfunction of the respiratory muscles can cause both a disease process and an inability of the patient to compensate for it. As an example, respiratory muscle failure may be the underlying cause in about 50% of preterm infants who have ventilatory failure. (1) In this article, we detail the current understanding of the physiology of the respiratory muscles in neonates and discuss a number of tests designed to assess their function. Mechanically, the respiratory system can be thought of as being composed of two components. The first includes the respiratory muscles, the rib cage, and the anterior abdominal wall, which together make up the “pump,” whose function is to move air in and out of the lungs. The second includes the airways and lung parenchyma through which gas exchange occurs and can be referred to as the “load” on which the pump must act. For ventilation to occur, the respiratory pump must overcome both the frictional (eg, airway resistance) and tissue elastic forces (eg, lung and chest wall compliance) that create the load. The balance between the capabilities of the pump and the magnitude of the load can influence whether respiratory “success” or “failure” occurs. The chest wall, which contains muscles and skeletal structures, undergoes dramatic maturational changes over the first several years of life. In addition …
Magnesium salt decomposition and morphological development during evaporative decomposition of solutions

Abstract The effect of magnesium salt on the morphological development of MgO powders synthesized by the evaporative decomposition of solutions (EDS) technique is presented. Thermal analysis at 10 and 100 °C min−1 was used to determine the effect of increased heating rate on the decomposition temperatures of Mg(C2H3O2)2·4 H2O, MgCl2·6 H2O, and Mg(NO32·6 H2O. Full decomposition to MgO powder was only achieved during EDS with magnesium acetate and magnesium nitrate. The decomposition of the chloride precursor during EDS was incomplete as a result of kinetic limitations imposed by the high heating rate (∼ 300 °C s−1) associated with the EDS process. Generally, the particle morphology consists of large aggregates when produced from the chloride and nitrate salts. However, fine, dispersed, sub-micrometer particles are formed from magnesium acetate under oxidizing conditions. These differences are demonstrated to be a direct result of the decomposition path of the magnesium salt.
Detection of Medium-Sized Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Fluorescence Energy Transfer

Reported herein is the use of proximity-induced non-covalent energy transfer for the detection of medium-sized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This energy transfer occurs within the cavity of γ-cyclodextrin in various aqueous environments, including human plasma and coconut water. Highly efficient energy transfer was observed, and the efficiency of the energy transfer is independent of the concentration of γ-cyclodextrin used, demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic binding in facilitating such energy transfer. Low limits of detection were also observed for many of the PAHs investigated, which is promising for the development of fluorescence-based detection schemes.
Using Color to Understand Light Transmission

Historically, physicists and engineers have always portrayed wave transmission using line diagrams in which the amplitude is shown as a function of time and distance. This sort of drawing tells us what is happening to the wave amplitude. However, waves are characterized by their phase as well as their amplitude, and these drawings tell us nothing about the phase evolution. The advent of modern computers with color monitors and inexpensive color printers allows us to solve this problem in a visually appealing way by using a periodic color map to portray phase information. We can also portray information about the local frequency, the phase derivative with respect to time, using an aperiodic color map. We apply this approach to study light propagation in optical fibers.
Toe Necrosis, Etiologies and Management, a Case Series

Toe necrosis may have vast different etiologies. These include ischemia, embolus, and others. (1) The most common etiology is ischemia. It is a reduction in blood supply to a viable tissue that can lead to susceptibility to infection and tissue death. Peripheral ischemia, which is rooted in the lower limbs, is a major risk factor for toe necrosis because the basal metabolic requirements of tissue are not being sufficiently met. As a result, pain, ulcers, and gangrene commonly occur. (2) Other causes of direct and indirect toe necrosis and related lower limb gangrene include mechanical trauma, infectious, pharmacological sensitivity, cancer, blue toe syndrome, and other granulomatous diseases, such as Churg-Strauss syndrome. We present a case series of toes necrosis which resulted from different etiologies and their management.
Hyperfine Structure Absorption in Optically Excited Mercury Vapor

The radiation 4047, 2967 and 2752, all terminating on the $2^{3}P_{0}$ state of mercury, was passed through optically excited mercury vapor and the absorption of each wavelength for various lengths of excited vapor and for various pressures of admixed nitrogen was measured photometrically. With low dispersion the intensity of 2752 decreased nearly exponentially with increase in length of excited vapor giving a constant linear absorption coefficient. But the lines 4047 and 2967 were found not to obey the exponential law, the fractional decrease in intensity per unit length of path decreased rapidly as the total length of the absorbing vapor increased. With high dispersion the absorption of the five components of 4047 was strong and increased with increase of admixed nitrogen. The strongest component showed the strongest absorption and the amount of absorption decreased with decrease in intensity of components. The intensity of each component decreased nearly exponentially with increase in length of excited mercury vapor. Both components of 2967 showed strong absorption. None of the components of 4358 or 5461 showed measurable absorption.
Engineering development status of the Darrieus wind turbine

This paper describes the aerodynamic, structural, and system considerations required for the engineering development of the Darrieus turbine. Particular emphasis is given to the necessity for close interaction of these three areas and their effects on energy costs. Currently available experimental data and analytical methods are discussed together with specific results and trends which have been obtained to date. 65 references.
Economic Growth at a Maximal Rate

In 1936, John von Neumann published, in an Austrian mathematical periodical little known to economists, a paper (von Neumann, 1937)3 that has greatly influenced economic theory up to the present time, and of which all the ramifications have perhaps not yet become fully apparent.
Nonopioid Adjuvants in Multimodal Therapy for Acute Perioperative Pain

Advancements in surgical technique have led to increasingly more procedures being performed on an outpatient basis. In North America, the number of outpatient procedures has increased to nearly 70% of all surgical procedures [1–4]. Improvements in surgical techniques similarly have led to the performance of more invasive procedures. These procedures cause increased tissue disruption and associated pain. There are several inflammatory mediators released with the surgical trauma including histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. Increased sensitivity to painful stimuli is mediated by repetitive, excitatory amino acids (glutamate and aspartate) with expression of c-fos, nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene, with ensuing sensitization. The amplification of painful stimuli increases the concentration of prostaglandins and NO, which may be the primary mediators of central sensitization (secondary hyperalgesia) [5]. Preventing or inhibiting this sensitization by addressing transmission by multimodal pathways may reduce acute postoperative pain and may prevent chronic postoperative pain from developing [6–8]. The literature indicates that up to 75% of postsurgical patients have reported pain, and 80% of these patients experienced severe acute pain during their hospital stay [9]. Postoperative pain is the most common reason for delayed discharge, and the main reason for unanticipated hospital admission [10]. Improvements in morbidity and mortality related to anesthesia have led to an emphasis on secondary outcome measures such as perioperative pain, because poor patient satisfaction resulting from inadequate perioperative pain control is associated with increased cytokine and acute-phase reactant release, elevated levels of stress hormones, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone cascade, impaired coagulability, and an altered immune response [11,12]. Opioid medications have been the mainstay of postoperative pain management, but these medications are not without adverse effects. Adverse events such as nausea and vomiting, constipation, ileus, confusion, sedation, urinary retention, delirium, pruritus, headache, respiratory depression, or other effects
Sentence comprehension in Broca's aphasia: A critique of the evidence

The argument that Broca's area is preferentially involved in specific syntactic operations is based on a strong assertion regarding patterns of sentence comprehension found among patients with Broca's aphasia. This assertion is shown to be largely inconsistent with the available evidence from published studies, which indicates that only a subgroup of Broca patients demonstrate the target pattern.
3-D printing of liquid metals for stretchable and flexible conductors

3-D printing is an emerging technology that has been used primarily on small scales for rapid prototyping, but which could also herald a wider movement towards decentralized, highly customizable manufacturing. Polymers are the most common materials to be 3-D printed today, but there is great demand for a way to easily print metals. Existing techniques for 3-D printing metals tend to be expensive and energy-intensive, and usually require high temperatures or pressures, making them incompatible with polymers, organics, soft materials, and biological materials. Here, we describe room temperature liquid metals as complements to polymers for 3-D printing applications. These metals enable the fabrication of soft, flexible, and stretchable devices. We survey potential room temperature liquid metal candidates and describe the benefits of gallium and its alloys for these purposes. We demonstrate the direct printing of a liquid gallium alloy in both 2-D and 3-D and highlight the structures and shapes that can be fabricated using these processes.
Scalable Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Nanocomposite Membranes for High Flux Gas Transport

We present a simple, fast, and practical route to vertically align carbon nanotubes on a porous support using a combination of self-assembly and filtration methods. The advantage of this approach is that it can be easily scaled up to large surface areas, allowing the fabrication of membranes for practical gas separation applications. The gas transport properties of thus constructed nanotube/polymer nanocomposite membranes are analogous to those of carbon nanotube membranes grown by chemical vapor deposition. This paper shows the first data for transport of gas mixtures through carbon nanotube membranes. The permeation of gas mixtures through the membranes exhibits different properties than those observed using single-gas experiments, confirming that non-Knudsen transport occurs.
Design of the Los Angeles Peak-Load Pricing Experiment for Electricity

The statistical design and planned analysis of an experiment in peak-load pricing for residential customers served by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are described. A broad range of questions was studied including: is seasonal pricing more efficient than existing tariffs; are the efficiency gains from time-of-day pricing sufficient to cover the additional metering and billing costs; and what is the effect of the level and structure of electricity prices on residential patterns of electricity use. The experiment was designed so that demand curves, rather than analysis of variance models, could be estimated. A recently developed statistical design method, the Allocation Model, was used to select those tariffs that minimize the variance of the answers to the policy questions of peak-load pricing. A related method, the Finite Selection Model, guarantees that the subsample on each tariff is similar to those on other tariffs, and permits certain precision balance and robustness gains over simple random sampling. The design selected should yield estimates of consumer demand functions and responses to policy-relevant tariffs of considerable statistical significance. The results from using the Allocation Model indicate that particular parameters on price and other variables of interest will be estimated with a standardmore » error generally less than 10% of the standard error of the equation. The application of these methods and the associated design principles result in the statistical design for the study, and involves approximately 2100 customers in four types of electric power rate charges. The design is stratified by four intervals of preexperimental annual energy consumption (kwh) and three climate zones. Time-of-day tariffs are further differentiated according to whether peak prices do, or do not, apply on the weekend.« less