cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk of Severe Toxicity According to Site of Recurrence in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose To report a 10-year update of our institutional experience with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for reirradiation of locally recurrent head and neck cancer, focusing on predictors of toxicity. Methods and Materials A retrospective review was performed on 291 patients treated with SBRT for recurrent, previously irradiated head and neck cancer between April 2002 and March 2013. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of severe acute and late toxicity. Patients with Results Median time to death or last clinical follow-up was 9.8 months among the entire cohort and 53.1 months among surviving patients. Overall, 33 patients (11.3%) experienced grade ≥3 acute toxicity and 43 (18.9%) experienced grade ≥3 late toxicity. Compared with larynx/hypopharynx, treatment of nodal recurrence was associated with a lower risk of severe acute toxicity ( P =.03), with no significant differences in severe acute toxicity among other sites. Patients treated for a recurrence in the larynx/hypopharynx experienced significantly more severe late toxicity compared with those with oropharyngeal, oral cavity, base of skull/paranasal sinus, salivary gland, or nodal site of recurrence ( P Conclusions Salvage SBRT is a safe and effective option for most patients with previously irradiated head and neck cancer. However, patients treated to the larynx or hypopharynx experience significantly more late toxicity compared with others and should be carefully selected for treatment, with consideration given to patient performance status, pre-existing organ dysfunction, and goals of care. Treatment toxicity in these patients may be mitigated with more conformal plans to allow for increased sparing of adjacent normal tissues.
Neisserial Opa Protein Loop Dynamics and Mechanism of Interaction with Host CEACAM Receptors

Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitides are human pathogens which infect millions each year and are becoming increasingly antibiotic resistant. These bacteria utilize opacity-associated (Opa) proteins to mediate bacterial uptake into non-phagocytic and phagocytic cells as a means of infection. Opa proteins primarily engage carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecules (CEACAMs), hijacking host cellular mechanisms to induce bacterial engulfment. The Opa family of proteins are outer membrane β-barrels with eight transmembrane strands and four extracellular loops. Opa proteins bind CEACAMs with high affinity and specificity, yet the loops important to receptor engagement are highly diverse in sequence among Opa variants. We aim to determine how sequence diversity in the receptor-interacting domains of Opa loops facilitates engagement of CEACAM receptors. Results from CW-EPR and NMR relaxation experiments indicate the Opa loops are dynamic on the nanosecond timescale in lipid and detergent environments. Such flexibility may enable sampling of transient structures and interactions that promote receptor engagement. To determine if the conformation of the bound loops is sampled, the structure of the Opa-CEACAM complex is needed. Towards this end, a model of the Opa60-CEACAM1 binding complex will be determined using a hybrid Double Electron Electron Resonance (DEER) and molecular dynamics (MD) approach. DEER distances between Opa60 and CEACAM1 provide spatial restraints for MD simulations of the complex, and preliminary models will be presented. Elucidating the mechanism of Opa-receptor interactions will augment our understanding of the determinants promoting the entry of a foreign body into non-phagocytic cells.
Arterial pressure after chronic reductions in suprarenal aortic flow in fetal lambs.

Experiments were performed on 13 fetal lambs of 126 days gestational age. Seven days after surgery, suprarenal aortic blood flow was reduced to 70% of control with an inflatable occluder for a period of at least 4 days. This produced an almost constant aortic pressure difference of 35 mmHg across the occluder. Plasma renin activity (PRA) rose in the next hour from 6 to 42 ng.ml-1.h-1 (P less than 0.01) but decreased to a level that was statistically insignificantly above normal by the next day. PRA as a function of lower body arterial blood pressure showed rapid adaptation. Upper body arterial blood pressure was statistically significantly elevated by 5 mmHg within 5 min and continued to rise while plasma renin activity was falling. Femoral artery blood pressure dropped immediately but returned to near normal within 1 h and remained there. The long-term upper body hypertension was irreversible with a 30-min infusion of saralasin. Subrenal aortic flow reduction caused none of these changes. We conclude that the fetal kidneys can regulate arterial blood pressure upward but that the long-term effect does not depend solely on a direct vasoconstrictive action of angiotensin.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common, often under recognized, medical disorder characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway closure during sleep. The course is a slowly progressive one. The patient’s daytime performance becomes insidiously more impaired, until the patient eventually decompensates and presents to the healthcare system, either volitionally or as a result of one of the complications of sleep apnea. OSAS lies along a continuum of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). There are controversies about the linearity of this continuum: It appears from recent data that there could be a point of “no return” where lesions in the upper airway leave permanent traces that may continuously impact on upper airway motor control during inspiration. A subdivision in this reported “continuum” in two segments can be made: first stage of chronic snoring and upper airway resistance (and there is no clear demonstration that chronic snorers do not always present some degree of upper airway resistance) with flow limitation, limited symptoms, and usually no daytime sleepiness; and second stage with an increasing clinical severity, with progressive degrees of obstructive apnea based on respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and oxyhemoglobin desaturations with clear sympathetic activation. Epidemiology and pathophysiology are part of the presentation. Comorbidities secondary to SDB (particularly cardio and cerebrovascular) are emphasized. The diagnosis should be strongly suspected on clinical evaluation confirmed by tests including imaging studies. Treatments should be guided by findings, avoiding approaches with limited chances of success. Advances in awareness of the presence and pathophysiology of pediatric SDB along with new understanding of reasons for incomplete or transient treatment success give hope that routine screening, early recognition, and aggressive treatment early in life will be performed.
Animal Models of Addiction: Genetic Influences

Animal models employing selection or selective breeding practices based on phenotypic traits related to substance use disorders have enhanced our understanding of the role genes play in the vulnerability to such compulsive behaviors. Rodent models, in particular, have shown that traits such as impulsivity and high sweet consumption, among others, are under strong genetic influence and positively associated with drug intake, similar to human populations. This chapter will review a number of rat models of phenotypic vulnerability to and protection from drug abuse. It will compare and contrast these models and assess whether they provide evidence for one or multiple addiction-prone phenotypes, and conclude by assessing the potential utility of these models in predicting clinical outcomes in treating substance use disorders.
Deficiency in GATA-4 or GATA-6 Diminishes Definitive Hematopoiesis in Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Embryoid Bodies.

Formation of mesoderm derived blood islands in the mouse embryonic yolk sac requires the presence of visceral endoderm (VE) and VE derived factors. Murine embryonic stem (ES) cells can be differentiated into embryoid bodies (EBs) which serve as an in vitro model recapitulating many embryonic developmental processes, including formation of early hematopoietic cells. Previous investigators have reported that differentiation of ES cells deficient in either GATA-4 or GATA-6 results in EBs with disrupted differentiation of visceral endoderm and defective blood island formation. In the current study, we have compared GATA-4 and GATA-6 null ES cell derived EBs to wild-type EBs in their ability to commit to early hematopoietic lineages using hematopoietic progenitor colony assays, and used RT-PCR to assess the expression of endoderm genes. As expected, we observed differences in expression of endoderm genes in wild-type and GATA-4 or GATA-6 null EBs. Blast colony forming cell assays and primitive erythroid progenitor assays revealed no difference in the ability of wild-type and GATA-4 or GATA-6 null EBs to form hemangioblast or primitive erythroid progenitor colonies. In contrast, comparisons of definitive hematopoietic progenitor colonies from day 8, 9 and 10 GATA-4 and GATA-6 null EBs revealed a significant reduction in colony numbers at day 8 (p-values
Disruptive behaviour may hinder the acquisition of daily living skills for youth with autism spectrum disorder.

ABSTRACT FROM: Scahill L, Bearss K, Lecavalier L, et al. Effect of parent training on adaptive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior: results of a randomized trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2016;55:602–9.[OpenUrl][1] Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviours.1 Although arguably less cited, delayed adaptive functioning and disruptive behaviours are also considered hallmark features of this disorder. Parent training (PT) is a common treatment for youth with ASD, with previous research demonstrating reduced disruptive behaviour in young children.2 However, the extent to which PT positively influences adaptive behaviour has yet to be investigated. The current study examines the immediate and long-term impact of PT, in comparison to an active treatment control on the daily living skills of young children with ASD. Participants included 180 children with ASD aged 3–7 years (158 boys and … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJ%2BAm%2BAcad%2BChild%2BAdolesc%2BPsychiatry%26rft.volume%253D55%26rft.spage%253D602%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx
Differential Ability of Five DNA Glycosylases to Recognize and Repair Damage on Nucleosomal DNA

Damage to genomic DNA leads to mutagenesis and disease. Repair of single base damage is initiated by DNA glycosylases, the first enzymes in the base excision repair pathway. Although eukaryotic packaging of chromosomal DNA in nucleosomes is known to decrease DNA glycosylase efficiency, the impact on individual glycosylases is unclear. Here, we present a model system in which we examine the repair of site-specific base damage in well-characterized nucleosome core particles by five different DNA glycosylases. We find that DNA glycosylase efficiency on nucleosome substrates depends not only on the geometric orientation of the damaged base but also on its identity, as well as on the size, structure, and mechanism of the glycosylase. We show via molecular modeling that inhibition of glycosylase activity is largely due to steric obstruction by the nucleosome core.
On estimating high-cycle fatigue life of cast Al-Si-Mg-(Cu) alloys from tensile test results

Five methods to estimate fatigue life from tensile data have been compared by using four datasets from cast Al-Si-Mg-(Cu) alloys in the literature. Results have shown that none of the five methods provide reliable results. A new method to estimate the S-N curve from tensile data has been developed by using the Basquin parameters from seventy-two S-N curves collected from the literature. Analysis has shown a distinct relationship between the Basquin exponent and the ratio of tensile elongation to ductility potential, i.e., quality index, QT. Moreover, the ratio of the Basquin strength coefficient to tensile strength expected in castings with no casting defects has been found to increase linearly with QT. Based on these findings, a step-by-step procedure has been introduced to estimate the S-N curve of cast Al-Si-Mg-(Cu) alloys. The Basquin parameters estimated by using the new method have provided more reliable fits to the same datasets tested for the five methods. These results support the hypothesis that the minimum elongation requirement in industrial specifications is a de facto fatigue life requirement.
Survey Data Analysis for Repositioning, Transferring, and Personal Care Robots

Robotic aids can perform repositioning, transferring, and personal care tasks and increase independence of persons who have reduced motor functionality. Our goal is to develop robotic aids by actively involving the target population, their caregivers, family members, and friends in the design process to increase user acceptability through participatory design. We conducted a survey to explore the needs for robotic aids and to evaluate the perceived pros and cons of prototypes that we have designed and built in simulation. Survey responses will help us to build a physical robotic system that will improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.
Processing-induced strain in dual-gated graphene FETs

Dual-gated graphene field-effect transistors (FETs) are subject to stress from the top and back gate oxides, as well as the contacts. This stress alters the electronic structure of graphene. We report a study on the role of different processing steps in inducing strain in the channel of graphene FETs. We use Raman analysis to study the processing-induced strain during the fabrication of dual-gated graphene FETs. We find that the ALD seed layer evaporation induces significant tensile strain in the graphene channel, while the ALD process itself significantly relieves the tensile strain induced by the evaporated seed layer.
Advances in the Genetics of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Clinical Implications.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a rare genetic disease of the motile cilia and is one of a rapidly expanding collection of disorders known as ciliopathies. Patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia have diverse clinical manifestations, including chronic upper and lower respiratory tract disease, left-right laterality defects, and infertility. In recent years, our understanding of the genetics of primary ciliary dyskinesia has rapidly advanced. A growing number of disease-associated genes and pathogenic mutations have been identified, which encode axonemal, cytoplasmic, and regulatory proteins involved in the assembly, structure, and function of motile cilia. Our knowledge of cilia genetics and the function of the proteins encoded has led to a greater understanding of the clinical manifestations of motile ciliopathies. These advances have changed our approach toward diagnostic testing for primary ciliary dyskinesia. In this review, we will describe how new insights into genetics have allowed us to define the clinical features of primary ciliary dyskinesia, revolutionize diagnostics, and reveal previously unrecognized genotype-phenotype relationships in primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Molecular analysis of spoilage-related bacteria in pasteurized milk during refrigeration by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Bacterial diversity in fluid milk products has been extensively studied in order to improve milk quality. Here, we illustrate the utility of viable counts and PCR–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for monitoring the microbial spoilage of pasteurized milk during shelf life. Five pasteurized milk samples stored at 4°C were examined at 10 and 5 days before expiration and on the expiration day. With bacterial DNA extracted directly from the samples, PCR-DGGE analysis indicated that Pseudomonas became dominant in four samples. Meanwhile, the aerobic plate count of these four samples exceeded the regulatory limit of 20,000 CFU/ml at 5 days before expiration, and the rapid psychrotrophic count markedly surpassed the aerobic plate count on the expiration day. Streptococcus and Buttiauxella spp. were detected in several samples. Sequence analysis of DGGE fragments revealed high diversity among Pseudomonas spp. in the milk samples. P. putida and P. migulae grew to high numbers during refrigerated stora...
Can we Further Stratify Heart Failure Patients Deemed to be at Intermediate Risk of Mortality⋯Looking Beyond Percent Predicted Peak VO2 and Ventilatory Efficiency?

Background Percent predicted peak oxygen uptake (%ppVO2) is a useful tool to help stratify risk in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, insufficient knowledge on how to best optimize timing for advanced therapies in patients with a peak VO2 between 50% and 75% of predicted exists. Purpose Determine if risk for mortality can be further parsed in patients with a %ppVO2 between 50% and 75%, using the slope relationship between minute ventilation and carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2 slope) and clinical variables. Methods Retrospective analysis involving patients with HFrEF (EF Results 645 patients were included in this study: 66% male, 53% african american, mean (+sd) age 55+13, 63% non-ischemic etiology, and EF 23+10. There were 300 deaths over 6.4 median years of follow-up. For both 1 and 3 year mortality rates, we observed a significant difference across all three subgroups of VE/VCO2 slope ( Table 1 ) Table 2 lists those covariates that were independently associated with mortality for each subgroup of VE/VCO2 slope. No models could be identified to predict mortality with a sufficiently high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions Among patients with HFrEF at intermediate risk for mortality based on %ppVO2, an increase in VE/VCO2 is associated with increased risk for mortality and may identify patients in need of closer surveillance. However, no additional covariates or combinations of covariates could be identified to sufficiently further parse risk for any of the three VE/VCO2 subgroups.
How to estimate forest carbon for large areas from inventory data

Carbon sequestration through forest growth provides a low-cost approach for meeting state and national goals to reduce net accumulations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Total forest ecosystem carbon stocks include "pools" in live trees, standing dead trees, understory vegetation, down dead wood, forest floor, and soil. Determining the level of carbon stocksin forest ecosystems has become a concern of governments, businesses, and many organizations. This article provides examples of inventory-based calculations and identifies resources that are available for analysts and planners to develop large-scale carbon estimates consistentwith totals for US forests. Estimates can be based on current regional averages classified accordingto region, forest type, ownership, or stand size class; on stand-level inventory data, measured or calculated; or on locally specific information, such as individual tree sizes or other data acquired from sampling a specific forest.
Opportunities for Research in Mental Health Emergencies: Executive Summary and Methodology.

Author(s): Wilson, Michael P.; Shenvi, Christina; Rives, Loren; Nordstrom, Kimberly; Schneider, Sandra; Gerardi, Michael | Abstract: Introduction: Despite the ever-increasing numbers of mental health patients presenting to United States emergency departments, there are large gaps in knowledge about acute care of the behavioral health patient. To address this important problem, the Coalition on Psychiatric Emergencies convened a research consensus conference in December 2016 consisting of clinical researchers, clinicians from emergency medicine, psychiatry and psychology, and representatives from governmental agencies and patient advocacy groups. Methods: Participants used a standardized methodology to select and rank research questions in the order of importance to both researchers and patients. Results: Three working groups (geriatrics, substance use disorders, and psychosis) reached consensus on 26 questions within their respective domains. These questions are summarized in this document. Conclusion: The research consensus conference is the first of its kind to include non-clinicians in helping identify knowledge gaps in behavioral emergencies. It is hoped that these questions will prove useful to prioritize future research within the specialty.
Apoptotic Cells for Therapy of Transplant Rejection

The ability of apoptotic cells to serve as a source of alloantigen and to exert immune-regulatory effects on the innate and adaptive immune responses make apoptotic cell-based therapies a promising tool to down-regulate the anti-donor response that causes rejection of transplanted organs. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of interaction between apoptotic cells and antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells and macrophages, have provided the basis for the therapeutic harnessing of cells in the early stages of apoptosis to restrain the immune response or promote immunological tolerance. In this chapter, we compiled the available information on the mechanism(s) by which apoptotic cells interact with cells of the immune system and down-regulate the adaptive immune response, the effect of apoptotic cells on organ allograft survival in experimental models, and the potential application of apoptotic cell-based therapies for prevention or treatment of graft rejection and autoimmune disorders.
Microfluidics-Based Organism Isolation from Whole Blood: An Emerging Tool for Bloodstream Infection Diagnosis

The diagnosis of bloodstream infections presents numerous challenges, in part, due to the low concentration of pathogens present in the peripheral bloodstream. As an alternative to existing time-consuming, culture-based diagnostic methods for organism identification, microfluidic devices have emerged as rapid, high-throughput and integrated platforms for bacterial and fungal enrichment, detection, and characterization. This focused review serves to highlight and compare the emerging microfluidic platforms designed for the isolation of sepsis-causing pathogens from blood and suggest important areas for future research.
On the Elevated Temperature Thermal Stability of Nanoscale Mn-Ni-Si Precipitates Formed at Lower Temperature in Highly Irradiated Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels.

Atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques were used to probe the long-time thermal stability of nm-scale Mn-Ni-Si precipitates (MNSPs) formed in intermediate and high Ni reactor pressure vessel steels under high fluence neutron irradiation at ≈320 °C. Post irradiation annealing (PIA) at 425 °C for up to 57 weeks was used to determine if the MNSPs are: (a) non-equilibrium solute clusters formed and sustained by radiation induced segregation (RIS); or, (b) equilibrium G or Γ2 phases, that precipitate at accelerated rates due to radiation enhanced diffusion (RED). Note the latter is consistent with both thermodynamic models and x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Both the experimental and an independently calibrated cluster dynamics (CD) model results show that the stability of the MNSPs is very sensitive to the alloy Ni and, to a lesser extent, Mn content. Thus, a small fraction of the largest MNSPs in the high Ni steel persist, and begin to coarsen at long times. These results suggest that the MNSPs remain a stable phase, even at 105 °C higher than they formed at, thus are most certainly equilibrium phases at much lower service relevant temperatures of ≈290 °C.
Global Variation in Opioid Use in Prostate Cancer Trials.

Importance Regional variation in opioid use may be attenuated when pharmaceutical-sponsored trials include care that is often standardized by protocols. Understanding such variation is important for global trials that sometimes include time to opioid use as an end point. Objective To identify whether regional and country-level variation in opioid use exists among prostate cancer clinical trials across the world. Design, Setting, and Participants International phase 3 randomized clinical trials with patients with metastatic prostate cancer and initiation from January 1, 2008, or later were identified through internal databases of the US Food and Drug Administration. Data of patients in the intention-to-treat population from each trial were pooled. Descriptive and regression analyses of the collected data were conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. Exposures Cancer therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures Opioid use data were from concomitant medications reported in the database for each trial. Logistic regression models, descriptive statistics, and χ2tests were used to compare opioid use across world regions while adjusting for patient age, presence of visceral disease, bony disease, and baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score and pain score. Results In total, 9670 patients (mean [SD] age of 69.2 [8.3] years) from 8 prostate cancer clinical trials in 46 countries were included. Patients in Eastern Europe (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.19; 95% CI, 0.16-0.22) and Asia (AOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.25-0.38) were less likely to use opioids compared with patients in North America. These findings held even when the analysis was restricted to patients who reported moderate to high pain levels at baseline (Eastern Europe: AOR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.12-0.22]; Asia: AOR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.29-0.79]). Within North America, rates of opioid use were similar between the United States and Canada (AOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.93-1.37). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that, despite the clinical trial setting, opioid use appeared to vary by world regions, suggesting that this variability should be considered in international clinical trials.
Plasma dopamine concentrations following dopamine infusion to isoflurane-anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits.

Abstract Objective To determine the pharmacokinetics of dopamine following a short infusion in isoflurane-anesthetized rabbits. Study design Prospective, descriptive pharmacokinetic study. Animals A group of six adult female New Zealand White rabbits weighing 4.4 ± 0.2 kg. Methods Rabbits were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and maintained at 1.2 × minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (2.3% atmosphere). Dopamine (30 μg kg–1 minute–1) was infused for 10 minutes. Arterial blood was sampled prior, during and following the infusion at various intervals for 1 hour. Results A one-compartment model with baseline concentration best fitted the time–plasma dopamine concentration data. Estimated typical population value (interindividual variability) for volume of distribution and clearance were 10.3 (232%) L kg–1 and 9.9 (508%) L minute–1 kg–1, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevance There was a large degree of interindividual variation in the disposition of dopamine. The large volume of distribution and high metabolic clearance rate reported for dopamine in this study likely explains the lack of clinical efficacy of dopamine in rabbits at doses up to 30 μg kg–1 minute–1.
Mechanical strength and physical properties of Oklahoma's igneous basement

Abstract From 2009 to 2016, a drastic increase in seismic activity occurred in the Central and Eastern US (CEUS), particularly in the Oklahoma-Kansas region. The majority of hypocenters were focused in the crystalline basement rock. Information regarding the physical properties (elastic wave velocity, peak strength, etc.) of rocks in the CEUS basement to date is sparse. Forecasting future seismic hazard and predicting the in situ response of the crystalline basement requires their geomechanical parameters be adequately constrained. This work assesses the mechanical and petrophysical properties of several sets of basement rocks from Oklahoma to provide a better framework for understanding intraplate seismicity and overall basement deformation in the continental United States. Laboratory experiments were conducted with granite, rhyolite and diabase basement rock samples collected from southern Oklahoma. Evolution of compressional and shear wave velocity with increasing confinement was measured through a series of ultrasonic velocity tests. A suite of uniaxial and triaxial tests were conducted to measure the elastic and inelastic deformation behavior of the basement rocks. Deformation data was evaluated using the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and compared with additional preexisting deformation data of igneous basement rocks. Dynamic and static elastic properties compare favorably with available field measurements and demonstrate the role physical properties can play in varying mechanical behavior. Granitic samples demonstrate moderate variation of intrinsic physical properties can alter elastic properties and failure behavior significantly. Water-weakening in the basement rocks may indicate fluid-assisted processes such as stress corrosion cracking enhance deformation in the crystalline basement.
Clinical characteristics of severe and critical influenza A(H1N1) in pediatric patients

Objective To investigate the risk factors, baseline characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of severely and critically ill patients with confirmed influenza A(H1N1). Methods We Observationaly study 12 severely or critically ill patients with influenza A(H1N1) in PICU. Results Twelve patients (male 10,female 2) were enrolled in this study. The median age were 6. 0(2～10) years old. Eight patients (67% ) were older than 5 years. Four(33% ) patients had comorbid diseases. The clinical condition deteriorated at (2.3 ±0. 9) days after onset of influenza A( H1N1) symptoms. The average time from the onset of the disease to PICU admission were (2. 7 ± 1. 2) days. Eleven of them had pneumonia. One had viral encephali tis. Among 11 patients widi pneumonia,7 had acute lung injury,3 had acute respiratory distress syndrome, 1 had status asthmaticus. Two of the pneumonia patients had shock. All patients were given oseltamivir,intravenous immunoglobulin.methylprednisolone and bronchodilators. Antibiotics or antifungal therapy were given in case of suspected bacterial or fungal infection. Six of them were supported by nasal CPAP and 4 patients were intubated. Eight of the 12 patients were discharged with the disease cured. Two patients died. Two patients were still in PICU . Conclusion The risk factors of severe or critical illness and death in influenza A( H1N1) are comorbid chronic respiratory disease, immunosuppressed status and coinfection with bacteria or fungi. The manifestation of severe or critical illness included acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Early intervention of oseltamivir administration,respiratory support,coexist infection control, immunomodulation may contribute to lower the mortality. Key words: Influenza A(H1N1) ; Critical illness; Risk factor; Chialdren
Enhanced Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol by a Ruthenium Complex with a Charged Outer-Coordination Sphere

We report the hydrogenation of CO2 to MeOH by a Ru(triphos) catalyst containing a cationic tetraalkylammonium moiety in the outer coordination sphere. This catalyst affords higher TON and TOF value...
Stereotype Threat among Black Men Following Exposure to Rap Music

Stereotype threat theory argues that reminders of negative stereotypes about one’s stigmatized identity can undermine performance, but few studies have examined this phenomenon among Black American...
Investigation of an improved electricidal coating for inhibiting biofilm formation on urinary catheters

Abstract A catheter coating consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixed with powdered metals silver and zinc has been investigated. The coating is easily applicable to existing silicone devices and effective in inhibiting the formation of biofilm. Following manufacturing of the coating, its surface materials characteristics were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The antibacterial properties of the coating were investigated by applying a thin film to the surface of a standard silicone catheter. A unique coating formulation of zinc and silver was found to inhibit biofilm and planktonic growth of E. coli over a six-day period, seemingly related to the release of heavy metal ions, generation of electric fields, hydrogen peroxide formation or combinations of these effects. Open-circuit cell potential for a zinc and silver foil was measured to be 1.2 V and 0.97 V within a deionized (DI) water and urine solution, respectively. Zone of inhibition experimental results suggest the possibility of silver ion diffusion when using mixed metals since bacteria formation is inhibited beyond the sample edge. Hydrogen peroxide measurements were taken over a period of 13 days for all samples. Samples containing zinc were found to produce hydrogen peroxide, a known antimicrobial agent. Wettability measurements of samples showed that the introduction of active materials lead to an increase of hydrophilicity, potentially affecting bacterial adhesion.
At-Home Specimen Self-Collection and Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Demand Accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Review of Laboratory Implementation Issues.

The idea of specimen self-collection or self-STI testing is not new. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the "WHO Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health" as a first installment in a planned series for various diseases (8). The first document focused on "Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights". Self-care including self-testing has the readily apparent benefits of privacy, confidentiality, speed, convenience, and access if the price is affordable. It is "people-centered" (9) and enables active participation in one's own health. It is also a health system approach as it can reduce burden on stretched systems with world-wide shortages in medical personnel or other barriers to health care access. Potential risks include: low specimen return rates, uncertain follow-up (linkage to care including treatment, repeat testing including test of cure, partner notification, counseling on risk reduction), unintended/unnecessary use (resulting in false positives with their own set of associated problems), incorrect use, lack of understanding of window periods (resulting in false negatives), lack of surveillance data generation, among other issues (9). The WHO systematically reviewed evidence for self-testing or specimen self-collection for GC, CT and syphilis, including US studies, and published a meta-analysis of available evidence (9). Programs offering self-collection of samples increased overall uptake of STI testing services (RR: 2.941, 95% CI 1.188 to 7.281) and case finding (RR: 2.166, 95% CI1.043 to 4.498), prior to the pandemic (9). U. S. laboratory research on the equivalence and/or superiority of self-collected versus provider-collected specimens for test sensitivity was reported by Gaydos et al (summarized or referenced in (10)). Based on this evidence, WHO issued a new recommendation in 2019 "Self-collection of samples for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis should be made available as an additional approach to deliver STI testing services for individuals using STI testing services" (8). In addition, WHO issued a new and conditional recommendation: "Self-collection of samples for Treponema pallidum (syphilis) and Trichomonas vaginalis may be considered as an additional approach to deliver STI testing services for Individuals using STI testing services" (8). Thus, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial expert agreement existed concerning benefits of this approach.
A Declarative Gradualizer with Language Transformations

lang-n-change is a domain-specific language for expressing language transformation algorithms. We have previously used lang-n-change to express simple transformations, which begs the question on whether lang-n-change can be applied to sophisticated aspects of programming languages. In this paper, we target the automatic transformation of functional languages into their gradually typed versions. We have implemented the entire Gradualizer of Cimini and Siek in lang-n-change . Our code is declarative, succinct, and is only ∼ 25% the lines of code of the original Gradualizer. We show that it is easy to extend our lang-n-change Gradualizer, and we extend it to handle certain languages with subtyping and multiple contravariant types.
Foreign Investment and Political Regimes: Russia: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

In its first decade of independence, Russia received far less foreign investment than it could have received, both relative to the size of its economy and compared to other emerging markets. According to the World Investment Report, Russia has shown a “below potential” investment performance throughout the 1990s. In terms of the inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) performance index, among approximately 140 countries, Russia ranked the 108th and 104th highest during 1992–1994 and 1998–2000, respectively. FDI constituted approximately 6 percent of gross fixed capital formation in Russia between 1995 and 1999. In per capita terms, Russia's poor performance in attracting FDI is revealed more starkly. Between 1989 and 1997, Russia attracted a cumulative inflow of FDI per capita equivalent to only US$63; this figure contrasts with an inflow of US$1,667 per capita in the case of Hungary; and US$823 per capita in the case of the Czech Republic. Russia's overall performance in attracting FDI ranked twentieth out of twenty-five countries in the post-Communist region in terms of FDI per capita. The oil sector has not been much of an exception for Russia in terms of attracting FDI. The amount of foreign capital inflow to this sector paralleled its poor investment performance in other sectors.
Metabolism of Insecticides by Animals and Plants

Organic compounds that do not belong in the category of fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin, steroid, or mineral are considered to be foreign to the body. Such foreign compounds are utilized on a vast scale by man as drugs, pesticides for agricultural use, additives to foods and fabrics, etc. It is important to know the fate of these chemicals within the animal body because organisms very often do eliminate them through various defense mechanisms.
Survey of 11 mycotoxins in wheat flour in Hebei province, China.

A survey of 11 mycotoxins in 348 wheat flour samples marketed in Hebei province of China were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, was carried out. The selected mycotoxins consisted of four aflatoxins (AFs: AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) and seven Fusarium toxins, i.e. deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, zearalenone, Fusarenon-X and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside. Results indicated that most of the wheat samples analysed were contaminated with mycotoxins. Wheat was most susceptible to DON (91.4% contamination), with a mean level of 240 μg kg−1. On average the probable daily intake (PDI, expressed as µg kg−1 body weight day−1) of mycotoxins was within the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI, 2.0 µg kg−1 of body weight day−1) as set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Nevertheless, exposure assessment revealed that the maximum PDI of mycotoxins was 4.06 µg kg−1 body weight day−1, which was twice the PMTDI valu...
Spontaneous seromuscular laceration of the sigmoid colon: a case report.

Bowel injury after blunt trauma to the abdomen is a relatively rare phenomenon that can often result in significant morbidity and mortality 1. In addition, injury to the small bowel after a traumatic event is very often overlooked and can lead to significant clinical sequela 2, 3. Patients with bowel injury often require rapid surgical intervention and intensive care unit (ICU) level care 1. Postoperative/posthospitalization care can be challenging for these patients depending on the extent of damage to the bowel and the degree of bowel resection necessary. Surgical complications after bowel injury include short bowel syndrome, rebleeding, wound dehiscence, adhesions, infection and potential need for more surgery 4. Bowel injury can be separated into five major categories: (1) Serosal lacerations, (2) intramural hematomas, (3) mesenteric vessel injuries, (4) transmural perforation, and (5) transection of the bowel 5. The literature is replete with traumatic etiologies of bowel injury but mention of bowel injury with no historical or physical evidence of blunt abdominal trauma, no previous abdominal surgery and no frank gastrointestinal disease is scarce 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The aim of this report is to present an isolated case of spontaneous colonic seromuscular laceration in a young male patient with emphasis on treatment and discussion of potential etiologies of the condition. In addition, this report reveals that the clinical course of spontaneous bowel injury can be equally as complicated as bowel injury due to blunt abdominal trauma.
Updating appetitive memory during reconsolidation window: critical role of cue-directed behavior and amygdala central nucleus.

When presented with a light cue followed by food, some rats simply approach the foodcup (Nonorienters), while others first orient to the light in addition to displaying the food-cup approach behavior (Orienters). Cue-directed orienting may reflect enhanced attentional and/or emotional processing of the cue, suggesting divergent natures of cue-information processing in Orienters and Nonorienters. The current studies investigate how differences in cue processing might manifest in appetitive memory retrieval and updating using a paradigm developed to persistently attenuate fear responses (Retrieval-extinction paradigm; Monfils et al., 2009). First, we examined whether the retrieval-extinction paradigm could attenuate appetitive responses in Orienters and Nonorienters. Next, we investigated if the appetitive memory could be updated using reversal learning (fear conditioning) during the reconsolidation window (as opposed to repeated unreinforced trials, i.e. extinction). Both extinction and new fear learning given within the reconsolidation window were effective at persistently updating the initial appetitive memory in the Orienters, but not the Nonorienters. Since conditioned orienting is mediated by the amygdala central nucleus (CeA), our final experiment examined the CeA’s role in the retrieval-extinction process. Bilateral CeA lesions interfered with the retrieval-extinction paradigm—did not prevent spontaneous recovery of food-cup approach. Together, our studies demonstrate the critical role of conditioned orienting behavior and the CeA in updating appetitive memory during the reconsolidation window.
Computational methods for fracture analysis of heavy-section steel technology (HSST) pressure vessel experiments

Abstract This paper summarizes the capabilities and applications of the general-purpose and special-purpose computer programs that have been developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for use in fracture mechanics analyses of HSST pressure vessel experiments. Emphasis is placed on the OCA/USA code, which is designed for analysis of pressurized-thermal-shock (PTS) conditions, and on the ORMGEN/ADINA/ORVIRT system which is used for more general analysis. Fundamental features of these programs are discussed, along with applications to pressure vessel experiments.
Drug therapy of the metabolic syndrome: minimizing the emerging crisis in polypharmacy

The metabolic syndrome--a collection of factors associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes--is becoming increasingly common, largely as a result of the increase in the prevalence of obesity. Although it is generally agreed that first-line clinical intervention for the metabolic syndrome is lifestyle change, this is insufficient to normalize the risk factors in many patients, and so residual risk could be high enough to justify drug therapy. However, at present there are no approved drugs that can reliably reduce all of the metabolic risk factors over the long term, and so there is growing interest in therapeutic strategies that might target multiple risk factors more effectively, thereby minimizing problems with polypharmacy. This review summarizes current understanding of the nature of the metabolic syndrome, and discusses each of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome as possible primary drug targets; potential secondary or tertiary targets are also considered.
Integrated management of in-field, edge-of-field, and after-field buffers

This review summarizes how conservation benefits are maximized when in-field and edge-of-field buffers are integrated with each other and with other conservation practices such as residue management and grade control structures. Buffers improve both surface and subsurface water quality. Soils under permanent buffer vegetation generally have higher organic carbon concentrations, higher infiltration capacities, and more active microbial populations than similar soils under annual cropping. Sediment can be trapped with rather narrow buffers, but extensive buffers are better at transforming dissolved pollutants. Buffers improve surface runoff water quality most efficiently when flows through them are slow, shallow, and diffuse. Vegetative barriers - narrow strips of dense, erect grass - can slow and spread concentrated runoff. Subsurface processing is best on shallow soils that provide increased hydrologic contact between the ground water plume and buffer vegetation. Vegetated ditches and constructed wetlands can act as "after-field" conservation buffers, processing pollutants that escape from fields. For these buffers to function efficiently, it is critical that in-field and edge-of-field practices limit peak runoff rate and sediment yield in order to maximize contact time with buffer vegetation and minimize the need for cleanout excavation that destroys vegetation and its processing capacity.
The Ultrafast Dynamics of Image Potential State Electrons at the Dimethylsulfoxide/Ag(111) Interface

Angle-resolved two-photon photoemission was used to study the energy relaxation, population decay, and localization dynamics of image potential state (IPS) electrons in ultrathin films of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on an Ag(111) substrate. Dynamic energy shifts of 50 ± 10 meV and 220 ± 10 meV were observed for n = 1 IPS electrons at one monolayer and two monolayer coverages of DMSO, respectively. The difference in energy shifts is attributed to rotational hindrance of the molecular dipole in the chemisorptive first monolayer. The finding confirms the proposed mechanism for the low differential capacitance of dimethylsulfoxide at noble metal interfaces in solution. A novel description of the IPS as a surface capacitance is presented to facilitate comparisons with electrochemical systems.
Tumor-associated antigen arrays to enhance antibody detection for cancer diagnosis.

Abstract Cancer sera contain antibodies which react with a unique group of autologous cellular antigens called tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Cancer has long been recognized as a multi-step process which involves not only genetic changes conferring growth advantage but also factors which disrupt regulation of growth and differentiation. It is possible that some of these factors could be identified and their functions evaluated with the aid of autoantibodies arising during tumorigenesis. The multi-factorial and multi-step nature in the molecular pathogenesis of human cancers must be taken into account in both the design and interpretation of studies to identify biomarkers which will be useful for early detection of cancer. Our recent studies suggest that the combination of antibodies against a group of TAAs might acquire higher sensitivity for diagnosis of cancer. It is conceivable that autoantibody profiles involving different panels or arrays of TAAs might be developed in the future and the results could be useful for cancer diagnosis.