cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decision analysis of discordant thyroid nodule biopsy guideline criteria.

Context: Recently published guidelines are discordant regarding diagnostic approaches to small (10–14 mm) thyroid nodules. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the relative desirability of alternative diagnostic approaches to small thyroid nodules using decision analysis. Design: Four diagnostic approaches to a 10- to 14-mm thyroid nodule are modeled: 1) observation only, consistent with American Thyroid Association guidelines; 2) routine fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), an approach traditionally chosen by many endocrinologists and consistent with American Thyroid Association guidelines; 3) FNAB only when microcalcifications are present, as recommended by Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound guidelines; and 4) FNAB only when the nodule is hypoechoic and has at least one other ultrasonographic risk factor, as endorsed by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines. Main Outcome Measures: Measures included expected values; a priori likelihoods of prespecified outcomes; and two-way sensitivity analyses based on the utility of observation only in the setting of thyroid cancer and thyroid surgery for benign, asymptomatic thyroid disease. Results: Expected values (EVs) were similar among decision alternatives modeling Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound guidelines, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines, and routine observation (EVs from 0.912 to 0.927). Routine FNAB had the lowest EV (0.757–0.861), primarily related to a high a priori likelihood of having surgery for a benign nodule. Conclusions: As a general approach to 10- to 14-mm thyroid nodules, routine FNAB appears to be the least desirable. This analysis offers additional data that physicians can use when choosing diagnostic approaches to small thyroid nodules based on perceived risks of delayed cancer diagnosis and unnecessary thyroid surgery.
Root Hypoxia-lnduced Changes in the Pattern of Translatable mRNAs In Poplar Leaves

Shoot responses to root stress may be modulated by hormones transported from root tissues. In this study, the pattern of in vitro translatable mRNAs from leaves on plants with oxygen-deprived (hypoxic) roots was used as a molecular phenotype to test for the action and specificity of putative root-to-shoot signal molecules. Root hypoxia caused a decrease in the abundance of a group of leaf mRNAs which translated to give low molecular weight (LMW) proteins (12 to 28 kDa). Root excision induced a similar reduction in a subset of the same LMW leaf mRNAs. This suggests that the effects of root hypoxia on leaves are physiologically related to the effects of root excision. Feeding abscisic acid to leaves did not mimic the effects of root aeration or hypoxia
Infrared Spectrum of p-Hydrogen Crystals Ionized by 3 MeV Electrons: Cluster Ions of Hydrogen in Condensed Phase†

High purity p-H_2 crystals have been ionized by 3 MeV electron beams from a van de Graaff accelerator, and their infrared spectra have been studied from 1800 to 8000 cm^(-1) using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Out of 16 spectral lines induced by the electron bombardment, 5 lines have been assigned to p-H_2 spectral lines that are induced by the electric field of charges deposited in the ionized crystal. The stability of such spectral lines several hours after electron bombardment demonstrates the stability of charges in the crystal. A mechanism of stabilization of positive and negative charges as cation clusters H_3^+(H_2)_n and anion clusters H^-(H_2)_n, respectively, is proposed.
Comparison of real-time network traffic estimator models in gain scheduler middleware by unmanned ground vehicle network-based controller

We propose a gain scheduler middleware (GSM) module, for use in IP network-based control applications. The network traffic estimator (NTE) module of GSM must provide good estimation of the real-time network delay in order for the overall IP network-based control to provide satisfactory results. In this paper, we demonstrate the advantages of the NTE module vs. non-delay estimation control. Five delay estimation models are introduced and compared by using three typical network delay datasets. A network-based control of an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) path-tracking problem is used to illustrate the performance of the NTE model. Simulation results show that the generalized exponential model outperforms the other models on the three criteria, including the UGV tracking error, travelling time and the computation time of the estimation model.
English for Bible and Theology: Understanding and Communicating Theology across Cultural and Linguistic Barriers.

This article introduces English for Bible and Theology (EBT), an inherently interdisciplinary field that merges English language learning with the content of biblical and theological studies in a context that is, by nature, cross-cultural. Within this collaboration there exists the possibility not only to enable theological study, but also to enhance it through a focus on personal meaning and its communication, both of which are foundational to the communicative language classroom. That is, EBT seeks both to aid students worldwide in attaining the specialized language and cultural proficiency necessary to access English theological resources and to provide a community in which students can connect theological content to their lives. It is this second aim that provides EBT its relevance across a range of theological contexts, as native English-speaking students likewise stand to benefit from the application of EBT's principles.
Protein Structural Based Analysis for Interpretation of Missense Variants at the Genomics Era: Using MNGIE Disease as an Example

The analysis of a group of genes or the whole exome by massively parallel sequencing provides an efficient way to molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders. Meanwhile, tremendous amount of variant data produced brings great challenges for interpretation, particularly for novel variants without functional evidences. There is an urgent need for a nonexperimentally based method to understand their genotype and phenotype correlation. Moreover, missense variants contribute to about 50 % disease-causing changes. This chapter will demonstrate the value of in silico stereochemical analysis in the interpretation of disease-causing missense mutations using thymidine phosphorylase as an example. The integrated approaches including disease clinical phenotype, biochemical genetic analysis, computational prediction, and structural based modeling can be helpful in understanding the pathogenic mechanism of these missense variants. The protein structural based analysis is a valuable tool to visualize small but significant structural changes, thus, can be incorporated into routine variant interpretation pipeline.
An Assessment of Minoan Slips from Pseira, Crete, Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

Tenacity of slip adherence on MM II and LM IB pottery is investigated using the SEM. Results indicate that the degree of adherence is due to an advanced vitrification which causes a glassy interface to form between the slip and the fabric of vessels. Superior adherence, moreover, is related to the darkness of the final slip color, which generally is closer to black on MM II vessels.
A gall-forming biological control agent suppresses vegetative growth of an invasive tree

ABSTRACTAttack by the gall-forming biological control agent Lophodiplosis trifida Gagne (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), reduced Melaleuca quinquenervia sapling height by 10.1%, leaf biomass by 42%, woody biomass by 42.7%, and root biomass by 30.3%. This provided the first quantitative evidence of the potential of L. trifida to suppress pre-reproductive M. quinquenervia.
Frequency and Impact Of Allogeneic Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation and Preparative Regimen In Patients With High and Intermediate Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Single Small Center Experience

Abstract Background Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) likely prolongs survival in high and intermediate risk adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Prior studies, however, suggest that only about 15-20% of AML patients especially older than 50 with abnormal cytogenetics receive HCT. In this report, we evaluated the impact of transplant and preparative regimen on high- or intermediate-risk AML patients treated in our center. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were diagnosed with AML (non promyelocytic) in our center between 2002 and 2012. Primary objective was to study the impact of HCT and preparative regimen in high and intermediate risk AML patients. Demographics and disease-related variables were collected. OS was defined as the time from diagnosis to the time of death or last follow up. Results Between 2002 and 2012, 123 patients with high or intermediate risk AML patients were treated at our center. Median age at diagnosis was 60 (range 19-89). 82 patients had high-risk features while 41 had intermediate risk features. Median OS for all patients was 368 days. Of these 124 patients, fifty-one patients (41%) received allogeneic HSCT at a median of 4.6 months from diagnosis. Median age of patients who received HCT was 53 while median age of patients who did not get HCT was 68. Of the 51 patients who received HCT, 13 patients with median age of 61 received a reduced toxicity/ Intensity conditioning regimen (RIC) while 37 patients with median age of 49 received a fully myelo-ablative regimen (MA). One got transplant elsewhere with unknown regimen. Median percentage of blasts in bone marrow at time of HCT was 3 and 3.5% for the RIC and MA regimens, respectively. Number of patients who had 10% or more blasts in the bone marrow at transplant was 9 of the 37 patients (24%) who received MA regimen and 3 of the 13 patients (23%) who received RIC regimen. Median OS for patients who received HCT was 551 days while it was 200 days for patients who did not receive HCT (p=0.0013) Fig1. The median OS for patients who got RIC was 1095 days but less at 434 days for MA patients but not statistically significant (p=0.64) Fig2. The cumulative incidence of relapse was not different between the two groups. Download : Download high-res image (14KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (12KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusion In this small cohort of consecutive patients from a single center, the results suggest that HCT can be performed in patients with high and Intermediate-risk AML patients including older patients using RIC. RIC in older patients and MA in younger patients did not differ in term of OS. However this is limited by the small number of patients and a larger prospective evaluation is needed taking into consideration better models encompassing performance status and co-morbidities. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Water-soluble Schiff base-actinyl complexes and their effect on the solvent extraction of f-elements

Conventional solvent extraction of selected f-element cations by bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) yields increased extraction from aqueous to organic solution along the series Np(V) < Cm(III) < Eu(III) < U(VI), with distribution ratios all within two orders of magnitude. However, in the presence of the water-soluble tetradentate Schiff base (N,N′-bis(5-sulfonatosalicylidene)-ethylenediamine or H2salenSO3), selective complexation of the two actinyl cations (Np(V) and U(VI)) resulted in an extraction order of Np(V) < U(VI) ≪ Eu(III) < Cm(III). The extraction of neither Cm(III) or Eu(III) by HDEHP are significantly impacted by the presence of the aqueous phase Schiff base. Despite observed hydrolytic decomposition of H2salenSO3 in aqueous solutions, the calculated high conditional stability constant (β11 = 26) for the complex [UO2(salenSO3)]2− demonstrates its capacity for aqueous hold-back of U(VI). UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy of solutions prepared with a Np(VI) stock and H2salenSO3 suggest that reduction of Np(VI) to Np(V) by the ligand was rapid, resulting in a pentavalent Np complex that was substantially retained in the aqueous phase. Results from 1H NMR of aqueous solutions of H2salenSO3 with U(VI) and La(III), Eu(III), and Lu(III) provides additional evidence that the ligand readily chelates U(VI), but has only weak interactions with trivalent lanthanide ions.
Death across the lifespan: Age differences in death-related thoughts and anxiety

Many studies have found age-related declines in death-related anxiety. Why do death-related thoughts and anxiety decline across the lifespan when exposure to, and likelihood of, death increase over time? In Study 1, a cross-sectional survey of 2,363 adults, death-related thoughts declined across the lifespan. In Study 2, a longitudinal study of 9,815 adults followed over a 4-year period, death anxiety declined across the lifespan. Further, greater social support predicted lower levels of death anxiety over time, after controlling for self-rated health and chronic illnesses. Close relationships serve emotion regulation functions to decrease death anxiety and thoughts across the lifespan.
Trends in Drug Utilization, Glycemic Control, and Rates of Severe Hypoglycemia, 2006-2013.

OBJECTIVE To examine temporal trends in utilization of glucose-lowering medications, glycemic control, and rate of severe hypoglycemia among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using claims data from 1.66 million privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients with T2DM from 2006 to 2013, we estimated the annual 1 ) age- and sex-standardized proportion of patients who filled each class of agents; 2 ) age-, sex-, race-, and region-standardized proportion with hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) 3 ) age- and sex-standardized rate of severe hypoglycemia among those using medications. Proportions were calculated overall and stratified by age-group (18–44, 45–64, 65–74, and ≥75 years) and number of chronic comorbidities (zero, one, and two or more). RESULTS From 2006 to 2013, use increased for metformin (from 47.6 to 53.5%), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (0.5 to 14.9%), and insulin (17.1 to 23.0%) but declined for sulfonylureas (38.8 to 30.8%) and thiazolidinediones (28.5 to 5.6%; all P 1c P 1c ≥9% increased (9.9 to 12.2%; P P = 0.72), declined modestly among the oldest patients (from 2.9 to 2.3; P P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS During the recent 8-year period, the use of glucose-lowering drugs has changed dramatically among patients with T2DM. Overall glycemic control has not improved and remains poor among nearly a quarter of the youngest patients. The overall rate of severe hypoglycemia remains largely unchanged.
Parametric optimization of stored energy in robots with regenerative drive systems

The paper formulates and solves the problem of finding a set of physical (design) parameters that maximize stored energy in electromechanical robots with regenerative drive systems. The robot is assumed to include semi-active and fully-active joints. Semi-active joints exchange power only with the robot, and are assumed to use (ultra)capacitors for storage. Fully-active joints are conventional in the sense that external power is used for actuation. The semi-active joints are controlled for trajectory tracking by a previously-published virtual control strategy whereby a control law is first designed and then implemented via a virtual matching law. A set of reference trajectories and a virtual controller capable of achieving asymptotic tracking are assumed as given. Equations are derived for the energy stored in the ultracapacitors of the semi-active joints in terms of manipulator parameters. The paper obtains closed-form solutions for the maximizing parameters. It is shown that a unique solution always exists and that it corresponds to a unique global maximum for the stored energy between any two times. A numerical example with a double inverted pendulum and cart system with semi-active and fully-active joints demonstrates the results.
Significance of Bone Marrow Plasma Cell Percentage in Patients with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance Developing Multiple Myeloma

Introduction: Monoclonal gammopathies are characterized by the detection of a monoclonal immunoglobulin in the serum or urine and underlying proliferation of a plasma cell/B lymphoid clone. (1) Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have a clonal plasma cell population in the marrow ( Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with MGUS at Henry Ford Hospital between 1999-2013 who underwent a bone marrow biopsy for documenting plasma cell percentage. In addition to this, we also recorded serum hemoglobin, calcium, creatinine, monoclonal protein type and amount, serum free light chains, beta-2 microglobulin and urine for monoclonal protein at the time of diagnosis of MGUS as well as last completed values. For patients that had skeletal surveys we noted if lytic lesions were present at diagnosis, as well as cytogenetics and karyotype evaluations on bone marrow biopsy samples, if completed. Results: 120 patients with bone marrow biopsies were reviewed. Out of this 17 patients were noted from initial bone marrow biopsy to have ≥10% plasma cells. The remaining 103 patients were categorized as having MGUS. While we were not able to complete full statistical analyses, we did note that 14 of these 103 (13.6%) patients went on to develop overt MM. Further evaluation of these patients revealed that 8 of 14 (57%) had bone marrow biopsies showing ≥5% plasma cells. Interestingly the average time to progression into MM in this subgroup was 1,879 days whereas in the 6 of 14 (43%) with bone marrow biopsy showing Conclusion: While we have not been able to complete full statistical analyses of the collected data yet, basic review of the above patients with MGUS and ≥5% plasma cells in the bone marrow biopsy showed a trend to develop MM faster by an average of 86 days than those that had Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Teaching Student Pharmacists to Apply Drug Literature to Patient Cases

Objective. To implement a series of activities designed to build drug literature evaluation skills and assess their impact on student pharmacists' ability to apply study results to patient cases. Design. Coursework was integrated across two didactic and pharmacy practice laboratory (PPL) courses. Team and individual journal clubs were used in traditional and case-based approaches during PPL courses to reinforce skills introduced in didactic courses. Student performance and perceptions were assessed during orientation for the third professional (P3) year and after the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) at the end of the P3 year in identical drug literature evaluation assessments and pre- and post-intervention surveys of students. Assessment. Mean scores on team and individual journal club sessions were 91.8%±7.3% and 88.0%±8.2%. Of 64 students who completed both P3 assessments, 29 (45.3%) earned a passing score on the drug literature evaluation assessment at orientation compared to 57 (89.1%) after the OSCE. Conclusion. Student performance and confidence improved on objective assessments following a series of both team and individual, and traditional and case-based journal clubs.
The role of reactive intermediates in sulfhydryl-dependent immunotoxicity: interference with microtubule assembly and microtubule-dependent cell function.

The critical role of protein and low molecular weight thiols in cell homeostasis has long been appreciated. Sulfhydryl(SH) reagents have been shown to interfere with numerous biochemical processes critical for cell integrity including numerous SH-dependent enzymes, protein, RNA and DNA synthesis and in the maintenance of normal intracellular redox potential. On a different level, the lymphocyte appears to be unusually sensitive to certain SH-reagents at concentrations that do not result in non-specific cytotoxicity or cell death. SH reagents, for example, are potent suppressors of normal immune cell function via mechanisms that apparently are distinct from cytotoxic events frequently associated with the exposure to SH-reactive intermediates. Both surface and intracellular SH groups have been shown to be involved in lymphocyte activation and maintenance of normal cell function, however, this discussion will be restricted largely to membrane penetrating SH-reagents.
Species distribution models for a migratory bird based on citizen science and satellite tracking data

Abstract Species distribution models can provide critical baseline distribution information for the conservation of poorly understood species. Here, we compared the performance of band-tailed pigeon ( Patagioenas fasciata) species distribution models created using Maxent and derived from two separate presence-only occurrence data sources in New Mexico: 1) satellite tracked birds and 2) observations reported in eBird basic data set. Both models had good accuracy (test AUC > 0.8 and True Skill Statistic > 0.4), and high overlap between suitability scores ( I statistic 0.786) and suitable habitat patches (relative rank 0.639). Our results suggest that, at the state-wide level, eBird occurrence data can effectively model similar species distributions as satellite tracking data. Climate change models for the band-tailed pigeon predict a 35% loss in area of suitable climate by 2070 if CO 2 emissions drop to 1990 levels by 2100, and a 45% loss by 2070 if we continue current CO 2 emission levels through the end of the century. These numbers may be conservative given the predicted increase in drought, wildfire, and forest pest impacts to the coniferous forests the species inhabits in New Mexico. The northern portion of the species’ range in New Mexico is predicted to be the most viable through time.
Are There States of Mind Which We Can Call “Inner Sensuousness”?

Arguing that contemporary theorizing often does not dwell sufficiently on a given artwork’s capacity to solicit affective engagement by means of its complex structuring of relations between appearances and self-conscious reflection, this chapter delineates the transformative agency of self-conscious feelings, and pursues the implications of that agency for aesthetic theory, through a reading of Wordsworth’s “I wandered lonely as a cloud.” This reading stresses inner sensuousness won by self-consciousness in ways that contest the reading offered by Marjorie Levinson. Inspired by New Materialist thinking allied with affect theory, she insists that at the end of the poem “the blur of self” melds into the dynamics of the natural scene. The argument here, by contrast, is that the poem dramatizes productive complexity within self-consciousness in ways that may be of value in emphasizing how human beings are capable of achieving affective intensities that are categorically distinct from the intensities that characterize animals and other non-human agents.
Hospital Occupancy — Bed Complement

A hospital, like any facility or subfacility providing services on an unscheduled basis, must balance the productivity of high utilization with the probability of being fully occupied and having to refuse service. The administrator has essentially three controls upon these two measures: the bed complement, the admissions of elective patients, and the length of stay of patients within the hospital. These problems of management are complicated by various restrictions placed upon beds which prevent their use by all patients and thus increase the necessary number of beds. For example, use of.beds is restricted by sex, age (pediatric, adult), service (medical, surgical, etc.), privacy (private, semi-private, ward), and other features (intensive care units, psychiatric, perinatal, etc.).
Abstract 9218: Troponin Elevation, Ischemic Electrocardiographic Changes and Prognosis after a Postoperative Myocardial Infarction

Background: In the postoperative period the majority of myocardial infarctions are clinically silent and its diagnosis relies heavily on a biomarker elevation. Although an elevated troponin level following vascular surgery is associated with a poor long-term outcome, the utility of abnormal EKG changes as additional prognostic information is unclear. Methods: Single center registry of 435 patients undergoing high-risk vascular surgery at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center between January 2005 and December 2009. Blood was obtained in all patients in the first two days following vascular surgery and the troponin I levels were measured by the Dade Behring Dimension Analyzer. Those values that exceeded the URL were categorized as either LOW (+) (≥ the URL but Results: The mean age of the population was 68±8 and the most common vascular problem was an expanding abdominal aneurysm (49%). Eighty-one (18.6%) patients were classified as HIGH (+) and 104 (24%) as LOW (+) with regard to troponin values. Thirty-one (7%) patients had evidence of myocardial ischemia on electrocardiography. An increase in mortality was seen with incremental troponin values (p Conclusions: The requirement for an electrocardiographic correlate of myocardial ischemia to define a myocardial infarction appears to be insensitive in the post-operative period. Further, in the presence of a troponin elevation the incremental prognostic value of an ischemic ECG is minimal.
Elevated striatal γ-aminobutyric acid in youth with major depressive disorder

Abstract Background Alterations in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric illness. Our previous work has specifically linked anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) GABA deficits with anhedonia in youth with major depressive disorder (MDD). As anhedonia reflects alterations within the reward circuitry, we sought to extend this investigation and examine GABA levels in another key reward-related region, the striatum, in the same adolescent population. Methods Thirty-six youth [20 with MDD and 16 healthy controls; (HC)], ages 12 to 21 years old, underwent J-edited proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) whereby GABA levels were measured in striatal and ACC voxels. GABA levels were compared between groups and between voxel positions and were examined in relation to clinical symptomatology, such as depression severity, anhedonia, anxiety, and suicidality. Results Depressed youth had unexpectedly higher GABA levels in the striatum compared to HC. In both depressed and healthy youth, GABA levels were higher in the striatum than in the ACC, while the differences in depressed youth were greater. Moreover, in depressed youth, higher striatal GABA above the mean of HCs was correlated with lower ACC GABA below the mean of HCs. Striatal GABA was not correlated with clinical symptomatology in this small sample. Conclusions Together, these findings suggest that higher striatal GABA levels may serve some compensatory function as a result of lower ACC GABA in depressed adolescents. It is also possible that, like lower ACC GABA, higher striatal GABA might simply be another pathological feature of adolescent depression.
Acute and Chronic Suppurative Osteomyelitis of the Jaws: A 10-Year Review and Assessment of Treatment Outcome.

Purpose To review cases of suppurative osteomyelitis of the jaws treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) over a 10-year period, evaluate specifics of disease presentation, and answer the clinical question: are there identifiable variables associated with treatment outcome? Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study was completed using patients treated for suppurative osteomyelitis of the jaws at the Massachusetts General Hospital from April 2006 to October 2016. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of suppurative osteomyelitis of the jaw, age older than 18 years, and complete medical records. Patients with nonsuppurative disease, radiation history, or antiresorptive exposure were excluded. Candidate variables included demographic information, medical and dental history, presenting signs and symptoms, and radiologic and laboratory findings. The outcome variable was successful treatment, defined as resolution of symptoms and radiographic evidence of healing after initial treatment. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed with significance set a P value less than .05. Results Forty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 53 years (range, 20 to 80 yr) and 26 were women (62%). Common comorbidities included cardiovascular disease (52%), tobacco use (45%), and psychiatric disorders (45%). Pain (90%), swelling (86%), and neurosensory change (50%) were the most common findings. Common microbacterial isolates included Streptococcus milleri (74%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (43%), which showed marked antibiotic resistance. Surgical debridement was the most common intervention (93%). Successful treatment was found in 86%. Of 6 persistent cases, 4 resolved with a second debridement and continued antibiotics and 2 required resection. Increased white blood cell (WBC) count at presentation (P = .005) and associated psychiatric diagnoses (P = .037) were statistically associated with unsuccessful initial treatment. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that antibiotic resistance is commonly encountered in this patient population, although it was not associated with unsuccessful outcome. Patients presenting with increased WBC count and concurrent psychiatric comorbidities required protracted treatment.
Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Diseases in Adults

With the rising incidence of congenital heart disease in adults, an understanding of the patient’s physiology and anesthetic implications is critical for anesthesiologists. Adult patients with CHD fall primarily into three major categories: those with prior complete correction of their congenital defect, those with partial or palliative correction, and those patients who are diagnosed in adulthood without any childhood surgical intervention. In general, heightened concern for arrhythmias, ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, cyanosis, and hypoxemia must be considered. While the underlying anatomy may often be complex and the evolution of the disease from childhood to adulthood results in unique physiology, CHD can further be divided into several physiologic categories that aid in the approach to perioperative management. The table at the end provides information about common lesions and their anesthetic considerations.
Image Processing and the Performance Gap

Automated image processing and analysis methods have brought new dimensions, literally and figuratively, to medical imaging. A large array of tools for visualization, quantization, classification, and decision-making are available to aid clinicians at all junctures: in real-time diagnosis and therapy, in planning, and in retrospective meta-analyses. Many of those tools, however, are not in regular use by radiologists. This chapter briefly discusses the advances in image acquisition and processing that have been made over the past 30 years and identifies gaps: opportunities offered by new methods, algorithms, and hardware that have not been accepted by (or, in some cases, made available to) radiologists. We associate the gaps with (a) the radiologists (a taxonomy is provided), (b) the methods (sometimes unintuitive or incomplete), and (c) the imaging industry (providing generalized, rather than optimized, solutions).
Random Packing of Structural Units and the First Sharp Diffraction Peak in Glasses

Diffraction studies of glasses often yield a structure factor S(Q) with a pronounced first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) at low Q values in the vicinity of Q ≅ 1.0-1.5 A-1. This feature, while often quite prominent, has none-the-less eluded detailed explanation because it arises from correlations at distances of 4.5 – 6.0 A rather than from simple nearest- or next-nearest-neighbors. In fact, much of the local structure of the glass can be inferred without reference to this FSDP. We discuss here this diffraction feature and how it gives a direct clue to the connectivity of glasses and amorphous solids over intermediate ranges through the packing of basic structural or molecular units. These considerations are common to a large number of amorphous solids and lead to a better understanding of the atomic structure of glasses as nominally diverse, for example, as SiO2, GeSe2 A2S3 P2Se3 MoS3, and the elemental glasses for which dense random packing is a more familiar concept.
“Is this Ella Fitzgerald?”: My Reflections of James C. McCroskey

Editor’s Note: This essay reflects the final in our five-part set of essays on the career of Communication Research Reports founding editor, James C. McCroskey. In these previous essays, Levine and...
Introduction to the special issue: Centering race in the life and work of “The Purple One”

An introduction, exploring the music icon Prince and his racial politics, is presented with topics including his stance on intellectual property and the battle with Warner Bros., his perceived frau...
EOR solvent-oil interaction in clay-hosted pores: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract Our understanding of EOR processes in shales, especially in organic or kerogen pore systems, has grown rapidly over the last few years. While clays are ubiquitous in shales and may make-up over 50% by volume of the shale matrix, there has been little to no focus on solvent-oil interactions in these pore systems. While hydrocarbon storage is likely to happen predominantly in the organics, the inorganic material might serve as conduits for fluid transfer from the organics to the fracture systems. This work uses molecular dynamics and numerical simulations to investigate the mechanisms governing EOR in clay-hosted pores to address this knowledge gap. Because illite is the most common clay mineral in shales, we use a slit-pore model of illite to simulate oil and oil-solvent mixtures in clay pores to quantify the extent of miscibility, diffusion, viscosity reduction and oil swelling of the oil under illite confinement. Temperature and the presence of water is expected to also control the rate of diffusion, viscosity, oil swelling and the degree of confinement. To account for these effects, our simulations span a wide range of temperatures and concentrations of water. Finally, the findings from molecular dynamics simulations are utilized in reservoir-scale EOR models to demonstrate their impact. Our results confirm that oil swelling, diffusion and viscosity reduction are a few of the dominant pore-scale mechanisms governing EOR. However, our findings also demonstrate that bulk fluid properties can cause overly optimistic predictions of the efficacy of EOR. Confinement in illite is shown to negatively impact miscibility for methane-rich solvents. Secondly the self-diffusion of fluids under illite confinement are only 30% of their values in the bulk. Most significantly, oil-solvent mixture viscosities under illite confinement are about two orders of magnitude higher compared to their bulk values. The presence of water exacerbates all of these effects and in fact compromises the solubility of the injected solvent. Commercially available reservoir simulators accommodate a whole host of reservoir and well architectures, but the transport equations are derived using bulk fluid properties. However, our work underscores the need for rigorous small-scale experiments and modeling studies to properly account for the effects of confinement that can have significantly compromise EOR efficacy in plays where a high percentage of the pore volume is contained in sub-20 nm pores. A model that does not take in to account nonporous confinement can be overly optimistic and compromise project economics, especially if connectivity is driven by the smaller pore throats.
Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and regional inflammation in the cystic fibrosis lung.

Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the prominent bacterial pathogen in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Though P. aeruginosa strains initially colonizing the CF lung have a nonmucoid colony morphology, they often mutate into mucoid variants that are associated with clinical deterioration. Both nonmucoid and mucoid P. aeruginosa variants are often co-isolated on microbiological cultures of sputum collected from CF patients. With regional variation in bronchiectasis, tissue damage, inflammation, and microbial colonization, lobar distribution of nonmucoid and mucoid P. aeruginosa variants may impact local microenvironments in the CF lung, but this has not been well-studied. Methods We prospectively collected lobe-specific bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from a CF patient cohort (n = 14) using a standardized bronchoscopic protocol where collection was performed in 6 lobar regions. The lobar BAL specimens were plated on P. aeruginosa-selective media and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF, IL-6 and IL-8) were measured via cytokine array. Correlations between infecting P. aeruginosa variants (nonmucoid, mucoid, or mixed-variant populations), the lobar regions in which these variants were found, and regional proinflammatory cytokine concentrations were measured. Results P. aeruginosa mucoid and nonmucoid variants were homogenously distributed throughout the CF lung. However, infection with mucoid variants (found within single- or mixed-variant populations) was associated with significantly greater regional inflammation. The upper and lower lobes of the CF lung did not exhibit differences in inflammatory cytokine concentrations. Conclusions Mucoid P. aeruginosa infection is a microbial determinant of regional inflammation within the CF lung.
Vitamins and Supplements

Nutraceuticals are a widely used alternatives to traditional medications for patients with diagnoses ranging from hypertension to chronic pain. However, the lack of research behind these dietary supplements, in addition to the side effects, higher than recommended dosages and variability in effect allow for some uncertainty in changing the standard of care and abandoning current medications for these natural remedies.
Extracellular Vesicles, MicroRNAs, and Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating disease that results in a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular failure, and ultimately death of patients. Recent advances in our understanding of pathogenesis of diseases, including PH, have led to the study of extracellular vesicles (EV) as mediators of disease. Subsets of EV are microvesicles (MV), exosomes (Exo), and apoptotic bodies, and they are released from a variety of cell types and carry cargo such as proteins and microRNAs (miR). MicroRNAs contained within these EV play an important role in disease including in the pathogenesis of PH as well as other lung diseases.
Clinical Trials for AKI: Lessons Learned From the ARDS Network

The acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury are both heterogeneous disease syndromes. A large number of multicenter clinical trials have been conducted focused on the treatment and prevention of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we focus on potential lessons learned for acute kidney injury clinical trials.
Migrants, activists, and the Mexican State: framing violence, rights, and solidarity along the U.S.-Mexico border

This article focuses on how different actors frame and respond to violence, rights, and solidarity along the U.S.-Mexico border, and points to the institutions available for redress – focusing on m...
Could the electron's orbital g-factor be anomalous?

A proposal is made to determine, by measurement, a possible anomaly in the electron's orbital g-factor. It is generally assumed that the electron's orbital g-factor is exactly 1, but it could be anomalous. Compared with the electron spin g-factor, the orbital g-factor has received very little experimental attention. A few possible experiments, in which an anomaly may be observed, are described.
Increased capacity for RNA synthesis in Dictyostelium discoideum nuclei induced by exposure to cyclic AMP or 5'-AMP.

Abstract We report here that exposure of aggregation-stage D. discoideum amoebae to cyclic AMP or 5′-AMP increases the capacity of their nuclei for RNA synthesis, measured as incorporation of 14C-UTP into acid-insoluble material. Exposure of the amoebae to adenosine or adenine does not elicit this effect. When amoebae are exposed to cyclic AMP or 5′-AMP under the same conditions as employed in the 14C-UTP incorporation experiments, their morphogenesis is accelerated. These results suggest that cyclic AMP and 5′-AMP stimulate morphogenesis by increasing the transcriptive activity of the cells.
An Avant-Garde Model of Injury-Induced Regenerative Vaginal Wound Healing

Objective: To design and validate a novel murine model of full-thickness (FT) vaginal wound healing that mirrors postinjury tissue repair and underscores the impact of estrogen signaling-driven hea...
Mathematical and geometrical modeling of braided ropes bent over a sheave

As soft elements for force transmission, braided fiber ropes play important roles in many fields where the fiber ropes are used bent over sheaves, while the relevant experiments are time-consuming ...
Ultrahigh-resolution MRI Reveals Extensive Cortical Demyelination in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Cortical lesions are a primary driver of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, noninvasive detection of cortical lesions with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains challenging. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the common marmoset is a relevant animal model of MS for investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to brain damage. This study aimed to characterize cortical lesions in marmosets with EAE using ultrahigh-field (7 T) MRI and histological analysis. Tissue preparation was optimized to enable the acquisition of high-spatial resolution (50-μm isotropic) T2*-weighted images. A total of 14 animals were scanned in this study, and 70% of the diseased animals presented at least one cortical lesion on postmortem imaging. Cortical lesions identified on MRI were verified with myelin proteolipid protein immunostaining. An optimized T2*-weighted sequence was developed for in vivo imaging and shown to capture 65% of cortical lesions detected postmortem. Immunostaining confirmed extensive demyelination with preserved neuronal somata in several cortical areas of EAE animals. Overall, this study demonstrates the relevance and feasibility of the marmoset EAE model to study cortical lesions, among the most important yet least understood features of MS.
Heterogeneously Integrated RF Circuits Using Highly Scaled off-the-Shelf GaN HEMT Chiplets

Heterogeneous integration of IC chiplets into systems on a chip (SoC) is further revolutionizing the semiconductor industry. This letter introduces a metal embedded chiplet assembly for microwave integrated circuit (MECAMIC) technology that uses high-scaled GaN HEMT chiplets. MECAMIC relies on the cointegration of transistor chiplets with passive interposers using an embedding backside metal process. We report the development of standardized 40-nm AlGaN/GaN HEMT chiplets to rapidly prototype GaN circuits up to $W$ -band by combining advances in $e$ -beam gate processes and massively parallel singulation techniques. GaN chiplets with $f_{\mathrm {T}} > 110$ GHz and $I_{\mathrm {max}} > 1.3$ A/mm were fabricated in yielded quantities exceeding 50000 per $4\prime\prime$ wafer. Simulation and experimental results of single-stage MECAMIC circuits with $4\,\,\mu \text{m}\,\,\times 37.5\,\,\mu \text{m}$ device chiplets demonstrated 6.8-dB gain at 77 GHz. The MECAMIC technology not only optimizes the GaN wafer utilization but also provides the ability to incorporate other technologies, offering unique design flexibility at millimeter wave.
Rediscovering Afghan Fine Arts: The life of an Afghan student in Germany, Abdul Ghafur Brechna

In 1919, Afghanistan embarked on a series of reforms that led to the presence of Afghan students at various European universities, facilitating the circulation of peoples, ideas, and goods. Focusing on one of these cases, this article examines how an Afghan student engaged critically with ‘Western’ art and translated artistic ideas and technologies through the grid of Afghanistan's own history of the fine arts. Through an exploration of the work of Abdul Ghafur Brechna (1907–1974)—artist, music composer, poet, and writer—I argue that, despite his desire to train at German technical schools, Brechna translated, then connected, his Western training to restore Afghanistan's traditional visual and literary arts, making it problematic to define his oeuvre as purely ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’. The first aim is to situate Brechna within the intellectual milieu of Weimar Germany, placing emphasis on how he curated the course of his education to support his aims. By tracing out the evolution of his artistic knowledge to Afghanistan, the second part of this article connects his earlier training to the newly emerging scholars in Kabul who also grappled with national renewal and an ‘Aryan’ literary and cultural heritage. Lastly, I discuss his attempt to rewrite the history of the arts by closely analysing his visual and literary work, emphasizing in particular his attempt to reconnect to themes and genres that had previously been lost or neglected.
Recent Astronomical Research Utilizing a High Gain Image Intensifier Tube

Publisher Summary The image tube system is designed to take advantage of the good features of P829D tube but to minimize the effect of the some limitations. A high gain transmission secondary emission (TSE) image tube has been in use for some time at Kitt Peak as an aid in obtaining astronomical spectra. A second, rather different application of the TSE tube is to study of interstellar lines in the spectra of early type stars. This tube, like most image tubes, has its strong points and limitations. The image tube system is designed to take advantage of the good features of this tube but to minimize the effect of the first three limitations. The system in use at low dispersion on the 84-in. spectrograph is identical to the system described in the chapter except that the incident spectrum is very narrow and the cylindrical lens is not needed. Figures are given in the chapter to illustrate several aspects of the low dispersion spectra.
Energy-aware multiplier design in multi-rail encoding logic

Energy-awareness indicates the scalability of the system energy with changing conditions and quality requirements. A novel technique, Signal Bypassing and Zero Insertion, to design energy-aware multiplier in multi-rail encoding logic is developed. The results show that multi-rail energy-aware designs have advantages not only in energy saving, but also in delay reduction.
Anger Problems Predict Long-Term Criminal Recidivism in Partner Violent Men

The current study investigated the influence of anger problems on partner violent men's long-term response to treatment, as indicated by criminal recidivism during an 8-year period after treatment initiation. Participants were 132 men who presented for treatment services at a community-based domestic violence agency. Results indicated that individuals with extensive anger problems had more charges for general violence (GV) offenses and more ongoing problems with protection orders than did those with Normal Anger (NA) profiles. Examinations of specific anger scales indicated that low Anger Control (LAC) and high Anger Expression predict GV recidivism. These findings indicate that a standard cognitive-behavioral treatment program may not adequately reduce the recidivism risk of partner violent men with pronounced anger problems, stress the importance of further research to understand the role of anger problems in partner violence treatment, and highlight the need to develop and evaluate new intervention approaches for partner violent men with serious anger dysregulation.