cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preformed donor-directed anti-HLA-DP antibodies may be an impediment to successful kidney transplantation

Recent reports have suggested an association of antiDP antibodies with allograft rejection and graft loss, in both primary kidney transplant recipients and in re-grafts [1–3]. However, in most cases, it is difficult to separate the effects of anti-HLA-DP antibodies from other anti-HLA class I and class II antibodies. Among non-conserved haplotypes, HLA-DP allele mismatches occur despite matching for HLA class I and class II loci, because of the lack of linkage disequilibrium between DP and other HLA loci [4]
Crop and cattle responses to tillage systems for integrated crop-livestock production in the Southern Piedmont, USA

Integration of crops and livestock has the potential to provide a multitude of benefits to soil and water conservation and nutrient cycling efficiency, while reducing economic risk and increasing profitability. We conducted a field study from May 2002 to October 2005 to determine crop and cattle responses to three management factors on a Typic Kanhapludult in Georgia, USA. Summer grain/winter cover [sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) or corn (Zea mays L.)/rye (Secale cereale L.)] and winter grain/summer cover [wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.)] were managed with either conventional tillage (CT) or no tillage (NT) and with or without cattle grazing of cover crops. All crops were successfully established, irrespective of tillage and cover crop management. Although pearl millet was often lower in the plant stand with NT than with CT, plants compensated with greater biomass on an area basis. Across years, grain yield of sorghum (1.9 Mg ha -1 during three seasons) and corn (7.3 Mg ha -1 in one season) was 25% greater under NT than under CT when the cover crop was not grazed. Wheat grain yield (2.7 Mg ha -1 during three seasons) was unaffected by tillage and cover crop management. Unharvested stover production of summer grain crops was greater with NT than with CT (6.5 versus 4.1 Mg ha -1 ; P < 0.001). Grazing rye rather than allowing it to accumulate as surface residue reduced summer grain yield 23% and reduced standing grain-crop dry matter 26% under NT, but had no effect under CT. In contrast, grazing pearl millet rather than allowing it to accumulate as surface residue increased wheat standing dry matter yield by 25 – 14% (mean – standard deviation among 3 years and two tillage systems). Ungrazed cover crop production was greater under NT than under CT for rye (7.0 versus 6.0 Mg ha -1 ; P = 0.03) and pearl millet (10.2 versus 7.6 Mg ha -1 ; P = 0.01). Calf daily gain was either greater or tended to be greater under NT than under CT on rye (2.27 versus 2.09 kg head -1 d -1 ; P = 0.15) and pearl millet (2.05 versus 1.81 kg head -1 d -1 ; P = 0.05). Total cattle gain per grazing season was either greater or tended to be greater with NT than with CT on rye (350 versus 204 kg ha -1 ; P = 0.01) and pearl millet (324 versus 277 kg ha -1 ; P = 0.15). Net return over variable costs was greater with grazing than without grazing of cover crops (US$302 versus - US$63 ha -1 ; P < 0.001). Livestock grazing of cover crops had variable effects on subsequent crop production, but increased economic return and diversity overall. Therefore, an integrated crop‐livestock production system with conservation tillage is recommended as a viable option for producers to diversify farming operations to avoid risk, improve ecological production of crops, and potentially avoid environmental damage from soil erosion and nutrient loss.
Structural Characterization of P++ Si:B Layers for Bulk Micromachining

A range of techniques were used to characterize p++ silicon layers created by boron diffusion into (001) silicon wafers. These films were characterized by TEM, EBIC/ SEM, triple-axis XRD, SIMS, and modified Schimmel etching. Boron profiles predicted by SUPREM-3 process simulation software were compared to SIMS data. The results revealed gradients in boron and lattice constant, as well as a graded three-dimensional dislocation array from lattice-mismatch stress. Boron precipitation, induced by lattice-mismatch stress and concentrations above the solubility limit, was found to occur preferentially on dislocations. Additionally, the presence of dislocations was shown to affect the boron diffusion profile as well as etch morphology.
Public reporting in interventional cardiology: the challenges ahead.

Efforts to publicly report healthcare outcomes are not new. In what may be the earliest effort at public reporting, Florence Nightingale published the mortality rates at English hospitals [(1)][1]. Her report was not well received nor was the initiative of Dr. Ernest Codman, an advocate of hospital
The role of e-learning for faculty development in China

While discussion on faculty development in China has been increasing in recent years, our understanding of the strategy for the development remains limited. Th is study with a survey aimed to examine whether e-learning could meet faculty members’ expectations for their professional development. Our fi ndings suggest that e-learning is identifi ed as a preferred means of opening new opportunities to meet the needs of faculty in China where faculty development still remains traditional training and it has bright prospects. Th e result also highlights individual perspectives as a critical factor shaping e-learning behavior, and provides implications for the policy of faculty development.
Pathologic findings in patients with targeted magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate needle core biopsies.

In contrast to the routine (non-targeted) sampling approach of transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies (TRUS-GB), targeted magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsies (TMRI-GB) target regions of the prostate suspicious for prostate cancer (PCa), based on findings on multiparametric MRI. We sought to examine the pathologic findings identified on TMRI-GB, due to the fact that there are limited studies on this in the Pathology literature. A search was made through our Urologic Pathology files for prostate needle core biopsies that were obtained via TMRI-GB. Forty-six patients were identified. Mean patient (PT) age was 62 years (range: 50-78 years). Twenty one of 46 PTs (46%) had a history of PCa, 10/46 PTs (22%) had a history of negative TRUS-GB and rising PSA, and the remaining 15/46 PTs (32%) had never undergone biopsy. Cancer detection rate on TMRI-GB was 57% for PTs with a prior diagnosis of PCa, 50% for PTs with a history of benign biopsy, and 67% who were biopsy naive. An average of 3.16 cores were sampled from malignant lesions and an average of 2.74 were sampled from benign lesions (P=0.02). TMRI-GB has a higher cancer detection rate than TRUS-GB. TMRI-GB may have a critical role as a tool for active surveillance, tumor mapping, and primary detection of PCa, which will likely evolve as the ability to identify malignant lesions improve. The roles of pathologists and radiologists in the validation of this procedure will continue to be even more vital in the future.
A Review of Crime Scene Investigation

Over the next few years, this text is likely to emerge as one of the best sources dealing with crime scene investigation. Although the author states that the text is written for only one audience, the crime scene investigator, the material is certain to be of interest to the criminalist, the latent fingerprint examiner, and the pathologist. In the introduction to the text, the respective roles of the crime scene investigator and the criminalist are discussed from a perspective that is more historical than philosophical, and some interesting insights into the development of operational attitudes toward crime scene investigation are offered. The seven chapters of the text comprehensively cover the equipment used in the processing of crime scenes, investigative approaches, and specific collection techniques. The most attractive feature of the text is the clarity and simplicity with which it is written. The second most attractive feature is the manner in which the book is illustrated. The illustrations are both felicitous and numerous. In the section dealing with the making of plaster casts, for example, there are a total of twelve photographs to illustrate each step in the process. The section dealing with equipment used in the collection of physical evidence is very much up-to-date and is profusely illustrated. For each type of evidence, the why is explained as well as the how, and the investigator using the text as a model need not rely on doing something by rote as opposed to doing something because of a more fundamental understanding of the process. The section dealing with photography and the sections dealing with the marking and packaging of various types of physical evidence are particularly clear and well written. In short, this is a very readable book that should be very useful to anyone responsible for any aspect of crime scene investigation.
93 DEVELOPMENT OF BOVINE PRE-IMPLANTATION EMBRYOS IS ALTERED BY ADDITION OF ACTIVIN AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE GROWTH FACTOR FROM DAYS 5 TO 7 AFTER FERTILIZATION

The reproductive tract secretes bioactive molecules collectively known as embryokines that can regulate embryonic growth and development. Here we tested actions of two molecules that are highly expressed in the endometrium for actions to modify development of bovine embryos. The molecules tested were activin and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and endpoints were percentage of fertilized oocytes becoming blastocysts and number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in Day 7 blastocysts. Bovine embryos produced in vitro from slaughterhouse ovaries were cultured in a serum-free culture medium. On Day 5 of culture, culture drops were supplemented with vehicle (control), human recombinant activin or CTGF (10–11, 10–10, or 10–9 M). On Day 7, blastocysts (n = 202) were collected and labelled with a nuclear dye (Hoescht 33342) and a TE cell marker (anti-CDX2). Statistical analysis was performed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Results are shown as least squares means ± s.e.M. The percentage of putative zygotes becoming a blastocyst on Day 7 was 28.4 ± 1.5% for control embryos; 32.2 ± 1.5%, 30.7 ± 1.5%, and 33.1 ± 1.5% for embryos cultured with 10–11, 10–10, and 10–9 M activin, respectively; and 27.8 ± 1.5%, 25.1 ± 1.5%, and 28.4 ± 1.5% for embryos cultured with 10–11, 10–10, and 10–9 M CTGF, respectively. Activin increased the proportion of putative zygotes becoming a blastocyst when added at 10–9 M (P = 0.0321) and tended to have the same effect at 10–11 M (P = 0.0898). There was no effect of any concentration of CTGF on development of putative zygotes to blastocyst on Day 7. There was no effect of treatment on total cell number or number of TE or of activin on ICM cell number or TE : ICM ratio. However, CTGF increased (P = 0.0011) the number of ICM (40.1 ± 1.5, 46.2 ± 1.4, 46.5 ± 1.4, and 56.3 ± 1.4 for control and 10–11, 10–10, and 10–9 M CTGF, respectively). CTGF also reduced (P = 0.0319) the TE : ICM ratio. Values were 2.8 ± 0.2 for control and 2.1 ± 0.2, 1.9 ± 0.2, and 1.6 ± 0.2 for 10–11, 10–10, and 10–9 M CTGF, respectively. Results indicate that activin and CTGF can affect embryo development. In particular, activin increases competence of embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage and CTGF affects blastocyst differentiation. Support was provided by NIH R03 HD080855.
Abstract 128: MicroRNA-23b acts as an oncogenic microRNA in renal cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The North American region has the highest rates of renal cancers in the entire world. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that play important roles in numerous cellular processes including development, proliferation, and apoptosis. miR-23b is part of a cluster of miRNAs which includes among others miR-24-1, miR-27b and miR-30a. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-23b plays different roles in different organs of the body. This led us to speculate its role in urological cancers in general and renal cancer in particular. In the current study we observe the role of miR-23b in renal cancer. The expression of miR-23b was checked in 30 pairs of renal cancer and normal tissues. The samples included three different types of renal cancer tissues, clear cell, papillary and tubular. 55% of clear cell carcinoma and all tubular samples showed high expression of miR-23b as compared to the normal. Interestingly, papillary carcinoma showed a contrasting result in which miR-23b levels were found to be down regulated in almost 90% of the samples. The expression in renal cancer cell lines, A498, ACHN, Caki-1 and Caki-2 was found to be significantly higher as compared to the normal cell line HK-2. The chemo preventive agent Genistein (25µM for 96 hours) was able to reduce the expression of miR-23b in A498 cells by more than 50%. Inhibition of miR-23b expression by the anti-miR-23b antagonist in A498 cells resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis, as detected through flow cytometry analysis. In contrast over expression of mir-23b in A498 cells resulted in a decrease in apoptosis. No significant effect on cell cycle was observed in either over expressing or inhibiting miR-23b in A498 cells. Cell viability assays also did not show any major effect due to the inhibition of expression of miR-23b. Moreover, the expression of miR-23b was correlated with 5 year survival rate of patients. For patients with low levels of miR-23b, 85% of patients survived after 5 years of operation, whereas in case of high expression of miR-23b only 50% survived. Our data suggests that miR-23b acts as an oncogenic mi-RNA in renal cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 128. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-128
Assessment of Agricultural Water Management in Punjab, India, Using Bayesian Methods

The success of the Green Revolution in Punjab, India, is threatened by a significant decline in water resources. Punjab, a major agricultural supplier for the rest of India, supports irrigation with a canal system and groundwater, which is vastly overexploited. The detailed data required to estimate future impacts on water supplies or develop sustainable water management practices is not readily available for this region. Therefore, we use Bayesian methods to estimate hydrologic properties and irrigation requirements for an under-constrained mass balance model. Using the known values of precipitation, total canal water delivery, crop yield, and water table elevation, we present a method using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm to solve for a distribution of values for each unknown parameter in a conceptual mass balance model. Model results are used to test three water management strategies, which show that replacement of rice with pulses may be sufficient to stop water table decline. This computational method can be applied in data-scarce regions across the world, where integrated water resource management is required to resolve competition between food security and available resources.
Surgical Management of GERD: Recommendations for Patient Selection and Preoperative Work-Up

While first-line therapy for uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to be medical management with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), anti-reflux surgery remains an important tool in the stepwise management of the disease. In general, surgery is justified in patients with GERD symptoms that have been present for an extended period of time (typically greater than 1 year), who have objectively documented reflux, and who have failed medical therapy, either through an inability to tolerate medications, or by suffering from persistent symptoms despite adequate medical therapy. Because surgical approaches vary depending on esophageal function and anatomy, patients must be carefully evaluated prior to operative intervention. Given the complex physiology of GERD and its multitude of potential effects on the esophagus, there is no single test that can provide all the essential information needed to plan a safe and appropriate operation. Thus, a thorough, multimodal preoperative evaluation is necessary. This should include a detailed history and physical, as well as objective, evaluation of the degree and severity of reflux through upper endoscopy and/or pH monitoring. Additionally, it is vital to document esophageal anatomy and function with upper GI series and esophageal manometry prior to embarking on surgery. On completion of this evaluation, the surgeon should be able to discern whether or not the patient’s symptoms are compatible with and correlate to the presence of objectively documented pathological reflux, and whether there is any indication of abnormal anatomy or function that would require alterations of surgical approach. Armed with this information, patients can be selected and managed appropriately, allowing us to optimize surgical outcomes in anti-reflux procedures.
Meat Tenderizing Technology

In recent years,the meat tenderizing technology has been one of the hot subjects.To understand the meat tender mechanism to better accelerate the tender process.In this paper,the type of post-mortem tender technology and the impact factors of meat tenderness are reviewed.
Study on subchronic toxicity of a pesticide N′-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N′-methylformamidine hydrochloride(DMAH)in rats

Objective To study the oral subchronic toxic effects of 85% N′-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N′-methylformamidine hydrochloride(DMAH)in rats.Method Four groups of rats were fed with foodstuff containing 85% DMAH in the doses of 625,125,25 and 0 mg/kg respectively for 3 months,observing general behavior,body weight,food consumption etc.At the end of experimental period,blood samples were collected for routine and biochemical assays,meanwhile,the 8 h urine samples were collected for routine and bio-chemical assays;the internal organs were also taken for calculating their organ coefficients and doing histopathological examinations.Result During experimental period,no obvious abnormality could be found in the low dose and control groups,but there were some symptoms,such as diminished activity,fidget,bloody secretion from nose and mouth,defilement round perineal area,damaged or ulcerated skin,reduction of body weight and food consumption,were observed in median and high dose groups.At the end of the experiment,the blood urea nitrogen(BUN),alkaline phosphatase(ALP)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST,only in males)were obviously risen in the rats of high dose group(P0.01 or0.05),and the total protein(TP),albumin(ALB),glucose(GLU),cholinesterase(ChE,only in females)were lowered in the median and high dose groups(P0.05).The urine protein showed positive results in some animals of median and high dose groups.The organ coefficients such as brain,heart,liver,kidney,adrenal gland and testes in high dose group and in medium dose group(only brain,kidney for female rats,and only brain,liver,testes for male rats)were higher than that of controls.Pathological examination showed that in high dose group,the circular vacuole,swelling and compressed hepatic sinusoid of liver cells in some animals were found;while in median dose group,only little circular vacuoles of peripheral liver cells could be seen.Conclusion 85% original DMAH could affect animal appetite,nutrition condition and behavior,decrease anti-infection potential,reduce body-weight and food coefficient,induce abnormality of biochemical indices(TP、ALB、GLU、BUN、ALP、ChE),organ coefficients and liver damage in some rats.The 90 day oral no-observed adverse effect levels(NOAEL)of 85% DMAH in rats were 2.34 mg/kg for female rats,and 1.59 mg/kg for male rats.
Status and Direction of Waste Minimization in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries

This paper presents an evaluation of the status and direction of toxic/hazardous waste reduction in the chemical and petrochemical industries from an international perspective. Pertinent approaches, experiences and trends are described. Industrial waste management has evolved from an “end-of-pipe” treatment mentality to source reduction as the preferred option. It is generally agreed that the Chemical/Petrochemical Industries generate more hazardous and toxic waste than any other industrial sector. Also because of the large quantities of materials and energy used by these industries, significant opportunities are available for waste reduction. In almost all cases costs savings have resulted, many of which are significant. The importance of pollution prevention by “clean technologies” instead of remediation, multi-media considerations and the significance of product life-cycle assessment in pollution prevention programs is stressed. Examples are provided which demonstrate, that a proactive approach by DOW, E.I. DuPONT, AMOCO, 3M Corp., CIBA-GEIGY and others is now becoming the norm. From an international policy perspective, important commonalities and differences in strategy and efforts for toxics/hazardous waste management exist. Much can be learned by the mistakes and solutions between cultures and countries. Much progress has been made in protection of public health and the environment - but much remains to be done. This paper is intended to provide a stimulus for discussion aimed at optimizing future waste minimization activities in the chemical and petrochemical industries.
Surgical Site Infections in Breast Surgery: The Use of Preoperative Antibiotics for Elective, Nonreconstructive Procedures.

Background. Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical site infections (SSIs) for breast surgery is widespread, but the benefit in clean surgical cases is not well defined. Methods. A retrospective analysis of 855 patients undergoing elective, nonreconstructive breast operations was performed, with 401 patients receiving no antibiotics and 454 patients receiving a single dose of preoperative antibiotic. Results. Administration of a preoperative antibiotic did not decrease the SSI rate. In this community-based study, antibiotic use practices varied considerably by surgeon. In univariate analyses, SSI rates appeared to increase with prophylactic antibiotic use (12% SSI with antibiotics versus 4% without, ), likely because the use of underdosed antibiotics was associated with higher rates of SSI (13.2% SSI with cefazolin 1 gram, , and 15.4% SSI with clindamycin 300 mg or less, ). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate from SSI cultures, 31.8% (7 of 22). In multivariable analyses, increased risk of SSI was associated with BMI > 25 kg/m2 (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.11, ). Conclusion. The administration of a single dose of preoperative antibiotic did not decrease the rate of SSI in this large series of patients undergoing clean breast operations. BMI >25 kg/m2 and the use of an inadequate dose of antibiotics for prophylaxis may increase risk of SSI.
Role of Double-Stranded RNA Pathways in Immunometabolism in Obesity

During the pathogenesis of obesity, a broad array of inflammatory and stress responses are frequently evoked in insulin-targeted metabolic tissues such as liver and adipose tissue, leading to chronic, low grade, local inflammation which plays a central role in the disruption of systemic metabolic homeostasis. This atypical state engages immune response pathways, including recruitment of immune cells into metabolic tissues, activation of IkB kinase (IKK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, and elevated production of an array of immune mediators, which negatively impact on nutrient metabolism and insulin action. However, the molecular basis for the induction of metabolic inflammation and the vast network of pathological responses remains elusive. Recent evidence indicates that metabolic inflammation results from deregulated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) processing/signaling in metabolic tissues, which adversely regulates systemic glucose metabolism in obesity. These findings suggest the involvement of altered RNA networks in the immunometabolic regulation of obesity. This review focuses on the regulation of endogenous dsRNA and protein networks and how their functional changes are associated with inflammatory responses, resulting in the metabolic sequelae of obesity.
INVESTIGATION OF SEICHE ACTIVITY IN WEST COAST HARBORS

The seiche activity in several West Coast harbors has been investigated during the past two years. This investigation has been oriented mainly as an experimental problem in which a new oceanographic instrument, the solion infrasonic hydrophone, is used to detect bottom pressure fluctuations over a range of 5 sec to 1800 sec periods. A limited theoretical consideration of this problem is presented in an attempt to correlate the seiche phenomenon to the harbor geometry. The data presented in this paper are for San Diego Bay and Long Beach Harbor. These data were recorded on magnetic tape and returned to the laboratory for analysis. This analysis consists of prewhitening the data with bandpass filters and then computing the power spectra by the method of Blackman and Tukey. A short discussion is presented to relate the use of this type of data to the study of two harbor engineering problems, ship mooring and close quarter navigation.
The Consistency and Advantage of Therapeutic Complication as a Manner of Death

The standard manners of death of the Vital Statistics Bureau of the United States include: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, and undetermined. The therapeutic complication (TC) manner of death ...
Silicon nitride tri-layer vertical Y-junction and 3D couplers with arbitrary splitting ratio for photonic integrated circuits

We designed and demonstrated a tri-layer Si3N4/SiO2 photonic integrated circuit capable of vertical interlayer coupling with arbitrary splitting ratios. Based on this multilayer photonic integrated circuit platform with each layer thicknesses of 150 nm, 50 nm, and 150 nm, we designed and simulated the vertical Y-junctions and 3D couplers with arbitrary power splitting ratios between 1:10 and 10:1 and with negligible(< −50 dB) reflection. Based on the design, we fabricated and demonstrated tri-layer vertical Y-junctions with the splitting ratios of 1:1 and 3:2 with excess optical losses of 0.230 dB. Further, we fabricated and demonstrated the 1 × 3 3D couplers with the splitting ratio of 1:1:4 for symmetric structures and variable splitting ratio for asymmetric structures.
Shifting Treatment Paradigms for Ruptured Aneurysms from Open Surgery to Endovascular Therapy Over 25 Years.

Background Since the introduction of Gugliemi detachable coils in the early 1990s, major clinical studies have supported an increasing role for coil embolization of ruptured aneurysms. We assessed aneurysm location and treatment modality in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) over the past 25 years. Methods A prospective, institutional review board–approved aneurysm database was screened for patients presenting with aSAH from 1991 to 2016. Microsurgical and endovascular capabilities were present throughout. All patients underwent cerebral angiography prior to treatment. Results Data were available for 1306/1562 patients (83.6%) presenting with aSAH from 1991–2016. 72% were female, with average age 52.8 years, and average aneurysm size 8.0 mm. The most common vessel of origin was the anterior cerebral artery (37.3%), internal carotid artery (33.3%), and middle cerebral artery (14.6%). Posterior circulation accounted for 14.8% of the aneurysms. Open surgery was performed for 72.4% of aneurysms, endovascular treatment for 22.0%, and 5.7% were not treated. There was an increase in aneurysms treated by endovascular methods over 5-year intervals: 3.0% (1991–1996), 13.4% (1997–2001), 17.2% (2002–2006), 24.3% (2007–2011), and 41.9% (2012–2016). Posterior circulation aneurysms led this trend, increasing from 9.1% endovascular to 71.4%. Endovascular treatment increased from 2.9% and 1.4% of anterior cerebral artery and internal carotid artery aneurysms to 39.6% and 40.7%, respectively, in the most recent 5-year interval. By comparison, endovascular methods remained less commonly used for middle cerebral artery aneurysms (0% initially, now 22.0%). Conclusions Endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms has steadily increased over the past 25 years at our major academic institution. This is consistent with positive data from clinical trials, advances in endovascular technology, and increasing experience of endovascular specialists.
Mechanisms of cracking: characterisation and modelling

This thematic issue provides a compilation of articles that advance the state of knowledge in the area of cracking mechanisms in asphalt materials. The nine papers present latest advances in resear...
Experimental Studies in Micromachined AT-Cut Quartz-Based Differential Vacuum Gauges

In this paper, a micromachined differential pressure sensor based on force frequency effect in AT-cut quartz bulk acoustic wave resonators for vacuum measurements is presented. The frequency shift arising from the stresses generated in the quartz due to force application is known as the force frequency effect. Pressure is sensed by monitoring the shifts in the thickness shear mode resonance frequency of AT-cut quartz resonator due to the application of differential pressure across the micromachined quartz diaphragm. The sensors exhibit a large dynamic range of 1 mTorr–100 Torr with a resolution of ~1 mTorr (in the medium vacuum regime). A parametric study has also been carried out to study the effect of resonator thickness and diameter on sensitivity. It was found that the sensor’s response to pressure is extremely sensitive to mechanical boundary conditions, which results in performance characteristics such as dependence on the direction of the applied pressure and unexpected scaling with the diaphragm radius.
Philipp Alexander & Crona David: a conversion, divorce, and custody case, Braunschweig, 1752/53

Philipp Alexander David (1730–1808), the son of the prominent court Jew Alexander David (1687–1765) in Braunschweig, expressed his wish to convert to Christianity in 1752. This triggered a complex,...
Frequency dependence of EPR signal intensity, 250 MHz to 9.1 GHz.

Abstract Experimental EPR signal intensities at 250 MHz, 1.5 GHz, and 9.1 GHz agree within experimental error with predictions from first principles. When both the resonator size and the sample size are scaled with the inverse of RF/microwave frequency, ω, the EPR signal at constant B 1 scales as ω −1/4 . Comparisons were made for three different samples in two pairs of loop gap resonators. Each pair was geometrically scaled by a factor of 6. One pair of resonators was scaled from 250 MHz to 1.5 GHz, and the other pair was scaled from 1.5 GHz to 9 GHz. All terms in the comparison were measured directly, and their uncertainties estimated. The theory predicts that the signal at the lower frequency will be larger than the signal at the higher frequency by the ratio 1.57. For 250 MHz to 1.5 GHz, the experimental ratio was 1.52 and for the 1.5-GHz to 9-GHz comparison the ratio was 1.14.
Phase-Coherent Extension of Beat Signals For High Resolution Ranging

Range resolution in FMCW radar is inversely proportional to the swept bandwidth. This phenomenon is observed in both pulse compression filters as well as stretch processors. The swept bandwidth required to meet a given range resolution, however, may not be available. In this work, we propose an algorithm that meets two conflicting requirements; high range resolution and a small swept bandwidth. A single wideband pulse is replaced by multiple shorter pulses each swept over a fraction of the original bandwidth. The high spectral resolution is achieved by extending the sinusoidal beat signals across multiple pulses periods. The challenge to the extension is to maintain phase continuity at pulse boundaries. This approach in effect creates a longer coherent observation interval from shorter pulses. The matching is performed by applying a phase correction vector in the frequency domain where each frequency component is advanced by the appropriate phase change needed at the end of the interval. Simulation results show how a longer observation interval can be traded off for a smaller swept bandwidth to achieve higher range resolution and dispel false targets.
Via: Illuminating Academic Pathways at Scale

The processes through which course selections accumulate into college pathways in US higher education is poorly instrumented for observation at scale. We offer an analytic toolkit, called Via, which transforms commonly available enrollment data into formal graphs that are amenable to interactive visualizations and computational exploration. We explain the procedures required to project enrollment records onto graphs, and then demonstrate the toolkit utilizing eighteen years of enrollment data at a large private research university. Findings complement prior research on academic search and offer powerful new means for making pathway navigation more efficient.
Genomic segment reassortment in rotaviruses and other reoviridae.

Publisher Summary The name reovirus was originally proposed by Sabin in 1959 to reclassify viruses designated as echovirus 10 because of their vastly different morphological and growth properties compared to other enteric cytopathogenic human orphan (ECHO) and related viruses. The name reo (respiratory, enteric, orphan) is an apt description for members of the genus Orthoreouirus, or simply reovirus, for whom the designation was first applied. These viruses infect the respiratory and intestinal tracts of humans and other vertebrate animals but have not been definitively shown to cause significant diseases after natural infection. The second group to be included among the Reoviridae were the orbiviruses, whose name is derived from the Latin word “orbis” for their ringlike appearance. These viruses were separated from other arboviruses and reclassified as Reoviridae in the early 1970s because of their morphological and physicochemical similarities to reoviruses.
Deep Learning for Recognition of Endoleak After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta and in the case of larger or rapidly growing aneurysms represents a major surgical risk. Surgical treatment can involve open repair to replace the aneurysmal aorta with a graft or more commonly endovascular repair (EVAR) to seal an aneurysm with a stent-graft. This paper is primarily concerned with the automated binary classification of Endoleaks, defined as perigraft flow into the residual aneurysm sac, within computerized tomography angiography (CTA) volumes of patients post-EVAR. We propose a set of cascaded deep convolutional neural network architectures to localize an aneurysm region and subsequently predict the presence of an Endoleak within this region. The proposed method has further shown promising results on our dataset of over 700 labeled CTA volumes, with an optimized accuracy of 89 ± 3% on the task of Endoleak recognition.
Chapter 11 – Genetics of Hyperparathyroidism Including Parathyroid Cancer

The genetic basis for several of the familial hyperparathyroid syndromes has been identified, and in these instances, genetic testing can make important (and at times lifesaving) contributions to patient/family management. This chapter focuses on the following familial hyperparathyroid syndromes: hyperparathyroidism-jaw-tumor syndrome (HPT-JT), resulting from mutation of the HRPT2 (CDC73) gene; familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), caused by mutation of CASR, GNA11, or AP2S1; neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) caused by mutation of CASR; and familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP), which is genetically heterogeneous. Two other important hyperparathyroid syndromes, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 1 and 2, are the subjects of separate chapters.
10 – MATRICES AND DETERMINANTS

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of matrices and determinants. Their properties and applications are both extensive and important. The material on matrices and determinants presented in the chapter serves as an introduction to linear algebra, a mathematical subject that is used in the natural sciences, business and economics, and the social sciences. As matrix methods may require millions of numerical computations, computers have played an important role in expanding the use of matrix techniques to a wide variety of practical problems. The method of Gaussian elimination can be implemented using matrices. The chapter explains how matrix notation provides a convenient means for writing linear systems and how the inverse of a matrix can help solve such a system.
Drafting Success: Creating a National Action Plan for Patient Safety

An informal conversation with Dr. Tejal Gandhi and Dr. Jeffrey Brady about their work as co-chairs of the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety and how the committee’s new action plan, Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, aims to change the patient safety landscape. The plan, released September 14, focuses on four foundational areas: culture, leadership, and governance; patient and family engagement; workforce safety; and learning systems.
Prognostic Value of Soluble ST2 Measurements for Morbidity and Mortality in Ambulatory Patients with HFrEF

Background Soluble ST2 (sST2) has emerged as a powerful prognostic marker in chronic systolic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Elevated levels of sST2 are associated with adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. However, few studies have demonstrated the relative prognostic value of sST2 collected from stable patients in the ambulatory setting and correlated it with long term clinical outcomes. Hypothesis In our study, we sought to determine the prognostic utility of a baseline sST2 partition value in the ambulatory setting as it related to subsequent risk for heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Methods Single-center, retrospective observational study of subjects presenting to an ambulatory heart failure (HF) clinic from July 2014 to December 2016. There were 156 subjects with stage C heart failure and a baseline sST2 level. For purposes of this analysis in HFrEF, we excluded patients with EF > 40% resulting in a study cohort of 103 subjects. The mean follow-up was 2.20 years ± 1.53 years. Analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software package. Discrete variables were expressed as counts (percentage) and were compared using the Chi-squared test. Mean differences of continuous variables were expressed as a mean ± standard deviation and compared using the unpaired Student's t-test. The log-rank test (Mantel-Cox) was used to compare survival times on Kaplan-Meier curves. To determine the diagnostic and prognostic accuracies of sST2 and BNP, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots were analyzed, and areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Results Patients who had baseline sST2 ≥ 35 ng/ml were at increased risk for heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality compared to patients who had sST2 Conclusion Subjects with sST2 levels ≥ 35 ng/ml were at increased risk of recurrent hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Additionally, we saw that elevated sST2 was associated with increased atrial arrhythmia, hypotension, and anemia. The results of this study highlight the value of sST2 concentrations as a prognostic biomarker for identifying patients with HFrEF that are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality in the ambulatory setting. Key words: Soluble ST2, cardiac remodeling, biomarkers, heart failure
Optimizing Attention-Aware Opinion Seeding Strategies

In this work we introduce a new type of Independent Cascade Model (ICM) that goes beyond current ICMs by incorporating the effects of information salience and exposure that we call ICM-SE. ICMs are a well-studied class of models designed to capture information spreading on networks where the standard objective is to identify a set of nodes to seed with information such that some measure of information spread is maximized. To our knowledge, we are the first to incorporate the effects of salience and exposure within the ICM framework, which brings additional realism to our ICM, but also introduces additional challenges in identifying good strategies for information seeding. Therefore, our second contribution is to introduce and demonstrate the effectiveness of a powerful class of search algorithms called Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDA) for this type of problem. We show that our EDA approach outperforms the typical greedy search approach on graphs drawn from various popular network classes. We also identify and investigate quantitative and qualitative differences between the strategies from EDA versus those from greedy search.
Understanding the Secondary Exposure to Trauma and Professional Quality of Life of School Counselors

This quasi-experimental study examined secondary exposure to trauma and factors of professional quality of life among a national sample of 361 school counselors. Results indicate that major upheava...
Negative pressure wound therapy: device design, indications, and the evidence supporting its use.

Introduction: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a mainstay in the armamentarium for wound care. Since the initial commercial vacuum-assisted closure device became available in 1995,...
Phage-assisted evolution of botulinum neurotoxin proteases with reprogrammed specificity

Although bespoke, sequence-specific proteases have the potential to advance biotechnology and medicine, generation of proteases with tailor-made cleavage specificities remains a major challenge. We developed a phage-assisted protease evolution system with simultaneous positive and negative selection and applied it to three botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) light-chain proteases. We evolved BoNT/X protease into separate variants that preferentially cleave vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 (VAMP4) and Ykt6, evolved BoNT/F protease to selectively cleave the non-native substrate VAMP7, and evolved BoNT/E protease to cleave phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) but not any natural BoNT protease substrate in neurons. The evolved proteases display large changes in specificity (218- to >11,000,000-fold) and can retain their ability to form holotoxins that self-deliver into primary neurons. These findings establish a versatile platform for reprogramming proteases to selectively cleave new targets of therapeutic interest.
Teaching Young Children to Make Bids to Play to Peers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Peer-mediated intervention (PMI) within the inclusive early childhood setting increases social exposure between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing peers. However,...
A reexamination of motor and prefrontal TMS in tobacco use disorder: Time for personalized dosing based on electric field modeling?

Abstract Objective In this study, we reexamined the use of 120% resting motor threshold (rMT) dosing for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using electric field modeling. Methods We computed electric field models in 38 tobacco use disorder (TUD) participants to compare figure-8 coil induced electric fields at 100% rMT over the primary motor cortex (M1), and 100% and 120% rMT over the DLPFC. We then calculated the percentage of rMT needed for motor-equivalent induced electric fields at the DLPFC and modeled this intensity for each person. Results Electric fields from 100% rMT stimulation over M1 were significantly larger than what was modeled in the DLPFC using 100% rMT (p Conclusions TMS would have to be applied at an average of 133.5% rMT over the left DLPFC to produce equivalent electric fields to 100% rMT stimulation over M1 in these 38 TUD patients. The high interindividual variability between motor and prefrontal electric fields for each participant supports using personalized electric field modeling for TMS dosing to ensure that each participant is not under- or over-stimulated. Significance These electric field modeling in TUD data suggest that 120% rMT stimulation over the DLPFC delivers sub-motor equivalent electric fields in many individuals (73.7%). With further validation, electric field modeling may be an impactful method of individually dosing TMS.
Trust and shared decision-making among individuals with multiple myeloma: A qualitative study.

Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer with complex treatment options. Trusting patient-clinician relationships are essential to promote effective shared decision-making that aligns best clinical practices with patient values and preferences. This study sought to shed light on the development of trust between MM patients and clinicians. Methods Nineteen individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with MM patients within 2 years of initial diagnosis or relapse for this qualitative study. Interviews were recorded and transcripts were coded thematically. Results We identified three main themes: (1) externally validated trust describes patients' predisposition to trust or distrust clinicians based on factors outside of patient-clinician interactions; (2) internally validated trust describes how patients develop trust based on interactions with specific clinicians. Internally validated trust is driven primarily by clinician communication practices that demonstrate competence, responsiveness, listening, honesty, and empathy; and (3) trust in relation to shared decision-making describes how patients relate the feeling of trust, or lack thereof, to the process of shared decision-making. Conclusion Many factors contribute to the development of trust between MM patients and clinicians. While some are outside of clinicians' control, others derive from clinician behaviors and interpersonal communication skills. These findings suggest the possibility that trust can be enhanced through communication training or shared decision-making tools that emphasize relational communication. Given the important role trust plays in shared decision-making, clinicians working with MM patients should prioritize establishing positive, trusting relationships.
Sleepless in COVID-19: racial disparities during the pandemic as a consequence of structural inequity.

Study objectives Insomnia has been on the rise during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which may disproportionately affect racial minorities. This study characterized racial disparities in insomnia during the pandemic and evaluated mechanisms for such disparities. Methods Participants included 196 adults (48 Black) from a 2016-2017 clinical trial of insomnia treatment who were reevaluated in April 2020. Race was evaluated as a predictor of change in insomnia, impact of COVID-19, and COVID-19 stress. Mediation models using the PRODCLIN method evaluated the extent to which: (1) COVID-19 impact accounted for Black-White disparities in change in insomnia, and (2) COVID-19 stress accounted for associations between discrimination and change in insomnia. Results Increases in insomnia symptoms during COVID-19 were greater in Black compared to White participants, with 4.3 times the odds of severe insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index ≥ 22). Symptom severity was associated with pre-pandemic experiences of discrimination. Black participants were also disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, with twice the odds of irreparable loss of income/employment and four times the rate of COVID-19 diagnoses in their sociofamilial network compared to White participants. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 accounted for 69.2% of the relationship between race and change in insomnia severity, and COVID-19 related stress accounted for 66.5% of the relationship between prior history of racial discrimination and change in insomnia severity. Conclusions Black-White disparities in insomnia severity during COVID-19 may be driven by structural inequities resulting in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black Americans. Results lend support for the minority stress model in the context of sleep health. Clinical trial registration Sleep to Prevent Evolving Affecting Disorders (SPREAD). NCT number: NCT02988375. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02988375.