cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Reed Rules and Republican Party Building: A New Look

The making of the Reed Rules – the source of today's U.S. House procedure – has often been studied, yet no one has previously noticed the extent to which they originated in a today forgotten Republican plan to federally regulate Southern House elections. This article shows how and why the Reed Rules and federal election regulation became fused in the 51st Congress. Republican members of the House not only had preferences over the internal governance of the House; they also simultaneously had preferences over the structure of the party system. In following this article's analysis of the linkage between the Reed Rules and the strategy of party conflict in the Gilded Age one comes to better appreciate the role of party building as a source of congressional development.
Radiation Exposure During Pediatric Videourodynamics

Purpose: Videourodynamics is useful for evaluating and treating neurological disorders in children. Traditional urodynamic parameters can be obtained while simultaneous visualization of the urinary system can reveal anatomical anomalies. This additional information comes at the cost of radiation exposure to the child. We characterized radiation exposure from videourodynamics.Materials and Methods: We reviewed all recent videourodynamic studies and recorded patient demographics, urological diagnoses, physical attributes, total fluoroscopy time, total radiation exposure in mGy, bladder capacity and the number of filling cycles performed. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify patient factors that independently influenced total radiation exposure.Results: A total of 64 videourodynamic studies were performed in 34 female and 28 male patients with a mean age of 8.6 years (95% CI 7.2–10.0). The most common diagnosis was neurogenic bladder in 40 patients, although 49 had multiple diagnoses. Mean tot...
Dollars for Sense: Assessing Achievement Gaps in Arkansas in the Context of Substantial Funding Increases

Forty-four of the fifty states have experienced school finance lawsuits as a consequence of funding gaps between rich and poor districts (Rebell, 2001). In some states, such as Kentucky, lawsuits brought about by property poor districts have resulted in a statewide remedy that reforms the property tax system and seeks to provide every child with an adequate education. In other states, such as New Jersey, lawsuits brought about by poor districts resulted in legal decisions and legislative responses that attempt to match the lowest wealth districts with the spending levels of the highest wealth districts. Throughout the litigation across the country and the respective judicial and legislative responses to those cases, the motivation for the cases is uniform – some individuals within the state contend that their students are being presented inferior educational opportunities compared to other students in the state. As a result of this inferior opportunity, legal action is used to leverage more resources for students (Monk, Pijanowski, & Hussain, 1997; Monk, Roellke, & Brent, 1996; Odden, Monk, Nakib, & Picus, 1995; Odden & Picus, 1992). However, these conversations are generally about all of the students in a particular district or school being underfunded. This finance conversation is occurring at the same time that the achievement gap debate continues to occur across the nation (Education Trust, 2005; Hertert, Busch, & Odden, 1994), especially in light of the 55th anniversary of the Brown v Board decision and the inauguration of America’s first minority president. While achievement gap conversations can quickly expand to include every group of students, we focus on actual impact of policy decisions targeted to decrease the achievement gap in one state by providing categorical funding for certain students. Thus, in this paper, we respond to the nexus of the school finance discussion and achievement gap discussion by examining the performance trends for Hispanic and low income students on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the Arkansas Benchmark, and the ACT. This analysis allows us to examine whether increases in student performance, or the narrowing of achievement gaps, followed these targeted increases in financial resources. Specifically, we examine two related, but different, achievement gaps: the white-Hispanic gap and the gap between those students eligible for free and reduced lunch and those students not eligible. Before responding to these questions, we briefly present the context of our data to explain the school finance situation in the state of interest.
Foraging by the mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say), modulates spatial variation in benthic community structure

We investigated the foraging behavior of the mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, and its consequences for macrobenthic community structure on mud flats on Long Island, NY, USA. Field sampling demonstrated strong spatial heterogeneity in the population densities of I. obsoleta .W e experimentally tested three hypotheses: (i) I. obsoleta are strongly attracted to areas with high levels of detritus; (ii) local abundances of deposit-feeding annelids are limited by detritus; and (iii) the foraging activities of I. obsoleta negatively affects annelid assemblages. We manipulated the density of mud snails using inclusion fences and the levels of detritus using dried Ulva. Results showed that high densities of I. obsoleta were attracted to areas enriched with Ulva detritus. In addition, high densities of snails negatively affected abundances of annelids, with the opportunistic species, Capitella spp. and Paranais litoralis, being most affected. The addition of Ulva detritus had more specific effects on annelid assemblages. Only Capitella spp. showed a significant positive response, although previous evidence has demonstrated that higher experimental detrital inputs stimulated growth of other species of annelids and microphytobenthos. In an experimental treatment with enhanced detritus and low densities of snails, we found population abundances of opportunistic annelids (up to 200,000 m 2 ) substantially larger than has ever been recorded in 5 years of sampling. Because mud snails in natural areas actively search, locate and exploit areas with enhanced detritus and their foraging negatively affects abundances of opportunistic worms, I. obsoleta probably controls the upper limits of annelid abundance in the field. Foraging behavior of I. obsoleta therefore
Precise Velocity Estimation Using a Stand-Alone GPS Receiver

ABSTRACT: Stand-alone GPS receiver velocity algorithms and flight test results are presented. A dual-frequency GPS receiver was subjected to aircraft dynamics of up to 1 g (9.8 m/s2), with aircraft bank angles of up to 45 deg. Velocity errors were determined for static and in-flight conditions. In-flight results were evaluated against a postprocessed, differential kinematic GPS solution and by an assessment of the velocity estimation residuals. Differences between the stand-alone velocity solution and the postprocessed differential velocity solution were found to be at the 2–4 mm/s level (1 s) for horizontal velocity components and 9.7 mm/s (1 s) for vertical velocity. Since these differences include noise contributions from three GPS receivers, stand-alone velocity errors are expected to be smaller than the results reported here. This is also indicated by the stand-alone velocity residual biases, which were found to be on the order of 0.1 mm/s or less, while residual standard deviations ranged from 0.8 to 3.2 mm/s.
Eutectic trimming of polysilicon micro hemispherical resonating Gyroscope

An algorithm based on localized stiffness modification for mode trimming of poly-silicon micro hemispherical resonating gyroscope (μHRG) is presented. This work introduces a new and systematic trimming algorithm to compensate for frequency mismatch and mode misalignment based on laser-induced silicon-metal eutectic formation. The stiffness changes are applied to the vicinity of the supporting post at the base of a hemispherical resonator, a region which has not been previously studied for this purpose. Our study shows the four-nodal point elliptical wineglass modes are highly sensitive to strain modifications around the post. An algorithm is developed and proven effective through FEM simulations in COMSOL, where a significant reduction (>10X) of the frequency split of the wineglass modes in an imperfect μHRG has been achieved.
Lessons Learned in Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness and management has evolved exponentially from the inception of the Incident Command Structure in the 1970s to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As a result, emergency management is essential for government agencies to private businesses, including hospitals. The events of 9-11 have drastically changed the way individuals think and operate in our health care environment. This report describes an emergency incident that occurred in the author’s medium-sized urban hospital because of loss of power from the power grid due to theft. The emergency that ensued lasted for more than 24 hours and confronted the hospital with unique challenges. This article describes the basic information about the general structure of hospital emergency preparedness and the specific aspect of preparedness that affect the intensive care unit. During the course of the emergency situation great insight into the function of the emergency preparedness plan was gained. In the end, many valuable lessons were ...
Coexisting Frailty, Cognitive Impairment, and Heart Failure: Implications for Clinical Care.

Approximately 5.7 million persons in the United States are diagnosed with heart failure, and the number of reported new cases is expected to increase to over 700,000 cases annually by the year 2040 [1]. This rising incidence is fueled by an aging population; by the year 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65 years of age [2]. Heart failure is prevalent among those 65 years of age and older and is the most common reason for hospitalization in this age-group. High readmission rates, approaching 50% over 6 months, are a major contributor to the the escalating economic burden associated with heart failure [3]. Persons with heart failure are more likely to be frail and experience cognitive impairment than their age-matched counterparts without heart failure. The reasons for this are not well known but may be related to hemodynamic, vascular, and inflammatory changes occurring as heart failure progresses. In this paper, we review the link between frailty and cognitive impairment in heart failure, instruments that may be useful for early detection, and interventions such as exercise that may be beneficial for attenuating both conditions.
Reducing Losses From Catastrophes: Role of Insurance and Other Policy Tools

We are in a new era of catastrophes. Worldwide, economic losses from natural catastrophes increased from $528 billion in the decade 1981–1990, to $1,197 billion during 1991–2000, and $1,213 billion...
5-HT2 Receptor Regulation of Mitochondrial Genes: Unexpected Pharmacological Effects of Agonists and Antagonists

In acute organ injuries, mitochondria are often dysfunctional, and recent research has revealed that recovery of mitochondrial and renal functions is accelerated by induction of mitochondrial biogenesis (MB). We previously reported that the nonselective 5-HT2 receptor agonist DOI [1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propan-2-amine] induced MB in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs). The goal of this study was to determine the role of 5-HT2 receptors in the regulation of mitochondrial genes and oxidative metabolism in the kidney. The 5-HT2C receptor agonist CP-809,101 [2-[(3-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-6-(1-piperazinyl)pyrazine] and antagonist SB-242,084 [6-chloro-2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-N-[6-[(2-methyl-3-pyridinyl)oxy]-3-pyridinyl]-1H-indole-1-carboxyamide dihydrochloride] were used to examine the induction of renal mitochondrial genes and oxidative metabolism in RPTCs and in mouse kidneys in the presence and absence of the 5-HT2C receptor. Unexpectedly, both CP-809,101 and SB-242,084 increased RPTC respiration and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) mRNA expression in RPTCs at 1-10 nM. In addition, CP-809,101 and SB-242,084 increased mRNA expression of PGC-1α and the mitochondrial proteins NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) β subcomplex 8 in mice. These compounds increased mitochondrial genes in RPTCs in which the 5-HT2C receptor was downregulated with small interfering RNA and in the renal cortex of mice lacking the 5-HT2C receptor. By contrast, the ability of these compounds to increase PGC-1α mRNA and respiration was blocked in RPTCs treated with 5-HT2A receptor small interfering RNA or the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist eplivanserin. In addition, the 5-HT2A receptor agonist NBOH-2C-CN [4-[2-[[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]amino]ethyl]-2,5-dimethoxybenzonitrile] increased RPTC respiration at 1-100 nM. These results suggest that agonism of the 5-HT2A receptor induces MB and that the classic 5-HT2C receptor agonist CP-809,101 and antagonist SB-242,084 increase mitochondrial genes and oxidative metabolism through the 5-HT2A receptor. To our knowledge, this is the first report that links 5-HT2A receptor agonism to mitochondrial function.
Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 1: Renal Dysfunction in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Objective:� Topresentareviewofcardiorenalsyn- drometype�1�(CRS1). •� Methods: Reviewoftheliterature. •� Results: Acutekidneyinjuryoccursinapproximately� one-thirdofpatientswithacutedecompensatedheart� failure�(ADHF)�andtheresultantconditionwasnamed� CRS1.� AgrowingbodyofliteratureshowsCRS1� patientsareathighriskforpooroutcomes,�andthus� thereisanurgentneedtounderstandthepathophysi- ologyandsubsequentlydevelopeffectivetreatments.� Inthisreviewwediscussprevalence,�proposedpatho- physiologyincludinghemodynamicandnonhemody- namicfactors,�prognosticatingvariables,�datafordif- ferenttreatmentstrategies,�andongoingclinicaltrials� andhighlightquestionsandproblemsphysicianswill� facemovingforwardwiththiscommonandchalleng- ingcondition. •� Conclusion:� Furtherresearchisneededtounder- standthepathophysiologyofthiscomplexclinical� entityandtodevelopeffectivetreatments.
A Perspective of the Juristic Issues in Part-time Job of Doctors

Doctors' taking part-time jobs has become prevalent phenomena.But there are blanks of the construction of law in it、the juristic relation between doctors and certified medical treatment institution and medical treatment institution of part-time job、the rights and obligations With the development of market economy,It is necessary to probe into those key juristic problems concerning the phenomena.
Study of the allelic loss mapping on 6q16.3 and the clinical significance on acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Objectives To locate the concentrate area of loss of heterozygosity(LOH)in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,and explore the new tumor suppressor gene and its clinical significance.Methods LOH was analyzed with PCR,denaturation gel electrophoresis,silver-staining,and 15 microsatellite markers mapping on 6q16.3.The bioinformation of LOH was analyzed to explore the clinical correlation between LOH and prognosis.Results The frequency of LOH at least at one locus on 6q16.3 was 32.7%.The higher frequency of LOH was observed in two regions of D6S1709-D6S1028 and D6S2160-D6S1580 at 6q16.3.The frequency of LOH in patients with relapse was higher than those without relapse.GRIK2 is a powerful tumor suppressor candidate gene.There were 12 ESTs that might carry out new antioncogene in the two areas.The patients with LOH at 6q had higher WBC counts,blast cells percentage,relapse rate,chromosomal aberration and immune dysfunction.Conclusions D6S1709-D6S1028 and D6S2160-D6S1580 are two regions of minimums deletion on 6q16.3 where tumor suppressor gene may exist.The LOH on 6q16.3 might be a prognostic index of children with ALL.
Study on the thickness of subcutaneous fat from college sdudents of Guangxi Zhuang Nationality

A study has been made on the thickness of the skinfolds of brachial triceps muscle, of inferior angle of scapula and of abodomen from 649 college students (males 375, females 274) of Zhuang Nationality, aged from 19 to 22. It indicates that the skinfolds of brachial triceps muscle in patients (males and females) and the male subscapular reach their biggest size at the age of 19, and smallest at 22. The female subscapular reaches its biggest at 20, and smallest at 22. The thickness of the abodomen fat ( both males and females ) reaches its biggest at 22, and smallest at 19. The fat of these parts of the females are thicker than those of the males. The difference was statistically signifficant ( P 0.01). The correlation coefficient of the thickness of substaneous fat and the body weight and height were respectively as the following: male (-0.72～-0.07, 0.04～0.50), female(-0.09～0.24, 0.26～0.58).
Efficient policy iteration for periodic Markov decision processes

We propose a solution to a new problem that is faced by steelworks, who own private thermal power-plants and plan to use batteries to absorb fluctuations in power demand. A major challenge is in controlling both the power generation and the use of batteries under such fluctuations. We formulate a Markov decision process (MDP) and design the states of the MDP so that it has a periodic structure to avoid the explosion of its state space. We then develop a policy iteration algorithm that exploits the periodic structure for computational efficiency. Numerical experiments suggest that the combination of the proposed MDP and the policy iteration allows us to find a control policy that can significantly reduce the electricity cost.
Identification of Somatic Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Using the TruSight Myeloid Sequencing Panel

Somatic mutations in myeloid malignancies correlate with WHO classification, help define genotype/phenotype relationships of clinical relevance, and are an essential part of the diagnostic algorithm. Current methods of detection are timely, costly, and labor intensive, and only assess single genes. The TruSight Myeloid Sequencing Panel (TSMSP) targets 54 genes frequently mutated in myeloid malignancies. This study evaluates the TSMSP. Eight …
Recent advances in metabolic and bariatric surgery

Obesity and its associated medical conditions continue to increase and add significant burden to patients, as well as health-care systems, worldwide. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity and its comorbidities, and resolution of diabetes is weight loss-independent in the case of some operations. Although these weight-independent effects are frequently described clinically, the mechanisms behind them are not well understood and remain an intense area of focus in the growing field of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Perceptions of the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial metabolic effects of metabolic/bariatric operations have shifted from being mostly restrictive and malabsorption over the last 10 to 15 years to being more neuro-hormonal in origin. In this review, we describe recent basic and clinical findings of the major clinical procedures (adjustable gastric banding, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and biliopancreatic diversion) as well as other experimental procedures (ileal interposition and bile diversion) that recapitulate many of the metabolic effects of these complex operations in a simpler fashion. As the role of bile acids and the gut microbiome on metabolism is becoming increasingly well described, their potential roles in these improvements following metabolic surgery are becoming better appreciated. Bile acid and gut microbiome changes, in light of recent developments, are discussed in the context of these surgical procedures, as well as their implications for future study.
Estimating diffusion distances in muscle

Models of fibers and capillaries in cross sections of muscle were used to quantify the relationships between diffusion distances and tissue capillarity. The fibers were constructed as square and hexagonal arrays, and the placement of capillaries around the perimeters of the fibers ordered them in similar arrays. Diffusion distances were measured as the percent cumulative frequency of fiber area within a given distance of a capillary when capillary-to-fiber ratio was increased from 0.5 to 4.0. Equations fitted to the data make it possible to estimate diffusion distances in muscle and to correlate changes in diffusion distances with fiber growth, capillary growth, and the geometrical arrangement of capillaries in the muscle bed.
The Scattering of Phonons by Small-Angle Grain Boundaries

A grain boundary formed by two crystallites whose misfit angle is less than 10° may be described1 as an array of dislocations. In crystals such as sodium chloride, it is possible to introduce internal grain boundaries that consist almost entirely of edge dislocations. The theory2 of thermal conductivity predicts that for alkali halide crystals, in a temperature region where only one scattering mechanism is present, the conductivity in crystals containing grain boundaries will vary as the cube of the temperature, whereas the conductivity in crystals containing random dislocations will vary as the square of the temperature. The latter dependence has been observed in lithium fluoride by Sproull, Moss, and Weinstock.3
Preventing HIV among Women — A Step Forward, but Much Farther to Go

The 900,000 new HIV infections among women globally in 2015 attest to the urgent need for the dissemination of effective new HIV-prevention products for women. Most women are infected with HIV by means of sexual activity with men. Therefore, the treatment of persons with HIV is one of the most effective strategies for the prevention of new cases of HIV infection among women. However, few countries have attained the level of antiretroviral coverage in the population that is required to eliminate transmission, and women need prevention methods that they can control themselves. Long-acting products that decrease the burden of adherence . . .
Shifting Political Terrains in “The City by the Bay” (“海湾之城” 政治角力转向 )

While the unchallenged November 2015 re-election of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was a telling moment in contemporary San Francisco politics, it was Mayor Ed Lee’s inaugural November 2011 election that revealed the shifting political terrains across its eleven Board of Supervisor districts that will likely shape the future role that Chinese Americans will play in the governing coalition of the “City by the Bay.” In the November 2011 San Francisco mayoral election, Ed Lee became the first Chinese American to be elected to lead this city. Despite the common explanation that Lee’s historic victory was due to the city’s first time use of the controversial ranked-choice voting ( RCV ) system, this study argues that while RCV was an important factor in Lee’s election, other significant factors played a more prominent role. In particular, the two convergences taking shape between Chinese Americans/Asian Americans and the moderate governing coalition along the axes of Race/Space and Identity/Ideology were more significant to the outcome of Lee’s election than the RCV process. In addition, the other significant factors that contributed to Ed Lee’s monumental election in 2011 include his previous public-service experience as a moderate coalition builder and the role of Chinese American community elites that advocated for the endorsement of Lee in both public and private settings with key moderate coalition leaders.尽管李孟贤在 2015 年 11 月的地方选举中毫无悬念地顺利连任足以载入旧金山当代政治史册，追本溯源，其在4年前首次参选改变了旧金山监事会的政治力量对比，塑造了华人参政的未来。2011年11月，李当选为该市有史以来第一位华裔民选市长。李的历史性胜利，通常被认为是由于首次使用有争议的排列选择投票（ RCV ）制度所致。这项研究认为，尽管 RCV 是李当选的一个重要因素，但其他因素的作用也是不可忽视的，尤其是华裔/亚裔美国人与其他族裔群体围绕种族/空间以及族裔身份认同/意识形态的轴心而形成的温和执政联盟，对于李的竞选胜利比 RCV 起到更为显著的作用。此外，促成李孟贤在 2011 年市长大选胜利的其他显著因素还包括他以前的公共服务业绩，他本人在建构温和执政联盟中的所扮演的领导角色以及华人社区对他在不同场合中的温和政治主张的认同和大力支持。This article is in English.
F508del genotype in endoscopic sinus surgery: do differences in outcomes exist between genotypic subgroups?

Background The impact of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic rhinosinusitis remains unclear, as studies have demonstrated conflicting results. To date, no study has looked specifically at the impact of CF genotype on lung function after ESS. In this study, we reviewed changes in pulmonary function test (PFT) results after ESS in F508del homozygotes and heterozygotes. Methods The charts of 25 patients with CF without prior lung transplant, who underwent ESS performed by the same surgeon between the period of July 2005 to July 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Data including genotype and PFT results were collected. Patients were grouped based on genotype. Pre- and postoperative PFTs were compared. Results Some differences in PFT outcomes after ESS could be seen on subgroup analyses. For example, when considered as a whole group, the overall cohort showed a significant improvement from preoperative FEV1 levels at 6 months after surgery (p = 0.0127). Interestingly, on subgroup analysis, the heterozygous group saw significant improvements from preoperative FEV1 levels at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.0155 and p = 0.0333, respectively). No significant improvements were seen from "baseline" FEV1 in either group at any timepoint. Conclusion Prior studies investigating the impact of ESS on pulmonary function in CF patients have shown conflicting results. To our knowledge, those earlier udies did not separate and compare different genotypes, which may have introduced heterogeneity in their patient populations. Our study suggests that grouping CF patients more strictly according to genotype or disease severity when investigating outcomes may reveal differences among various subgroups.
Leisure participation, substance abuse disorders, and recovery

The purpose of this paper was to explore the lived experiences of people with substance abuse disorders over the course of their lengthy participation in a music scene. When the use of drugs and alcohol either begins or is enabled in a leisure context and progresses to a state of dependency, the leisure activity often becomes secondary to the use of those substances. As will be displayed, the participants of this study maintained a high level of participation during their period of indulgence and then sustained that high level of participation after overcoming their addiction. This paper challenges a commonly held assertion that the type of leisure people with substance abuse disorders engage in is different from those of people without drug or alcohol dependencies.
School Suicide Risk Assessment

Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth ages 10 years and older. Further, recent federal surveillance data suggest the rates of suicidal ideation and behaviors to be increasing. With these facts in mind, in this paper, we examine the school psychologist’s role in suicide risk assessment; which assesses the degree to which students, who have conscious thoughts of suicide, are at risk for engaging in a suicidal behavior. After acknowledging the limitations of school-employed mental health professionals when it comes to these activities, we begin by reviewing suicide risk factors and warning signs. Next, we discuss an approach to the identification of suicidal thinking. Finally, we provide guidance on a school-based suicide risk assessment protocol, which guides actions necessary to stop suicidal behavior and place students in a position from which suicidal ideation can be addressed.
Role of Physical Activity and Exercise in Treating Patients with Overweight and Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns that are linked to numerous negative health consequences. Physical activity is an important lifestyle behavior that contributes to body weight regulation. CONTENT: Physical activity is inversely associated with weight gain and the incidence of obesity. Physical activity also contributes to additional weight loss when coupled with dietary modification, and it can result in modest weight loss when not coupled with dietary modification. Moreover, physical activity is associated with improved long-term weight loss and prevention of weight gain following initial weight loss. Current evidence supports that physical activity should be moderate to vigorous in intensity to influence body weight regulation. There is also a growing body of evidence that physical activity can be accumulated throughout the day in shorter periods of time rather than being performed during a structured and longer period, and that physical activity performed in this manner can be important for body weight regulation. SUMMARY: The literature supports the inclusion of physical activity as an important lifestyle behavior for regulating body weight. There are multiple intervention approaches that may be effective for enhancing physical activity engagement within the context of weight control.
Abstract 14048: Diagnostic MRI Criteria for Identification of Intra-Mural Hematoma and Prediction of High Likelihood of Aortic Healing After Type B Acute Aortic Syndromes

Introduction: Type B acute aortic syndromes (AAS) encompasses aortic dissection (AD) and intramural hematoma (IMH), whose diagnostic, evolution and treatment are subject to many controversies among cardio-vascular specialists. The aim of our study was to assess the ability of specific diagnostic MRI criteria to differentiate AD from IMH and predict optimal aortic remodeling following AAS. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all patients presenting at our institution between 2008 and 2015 with type B AAS and who had a diagnostic MRI following their admission. Four diagnostic MRI criteria were established to identify IMH, which was hypothesized to predict high likelihood of aortic healing, defined as false lumen (FL)/mural hematoma (MH) shrinking and true lumen expansion over time: - No visualized entry tear - No contrast uptake in the FL/MH on first pass angiographic run - No contrast uptake in the FL/MH on equilibrium phase T1 weighted sequence - Less than 2.5 mm of maximal septal mobility on a cine acquisition. On each patient’s diagnostic MRI and last follow-up imaging study, we computed the volume of: 1) FL/MH, 2) total aorta, and 3) true lumen. Using paired t-test analysis, we compared the evolution of these volumes according to the presence or absence of the afore-mentioned MRI criteria. Results: Thirty seven patients were included in our study. Seven patients had all MRI criteria positive (IMH group), 30 had one or more negative criteria (AD group). There was no difference between both groups concerning patient gender, age or delay between onset of symptoms, diagnostic and follow up imaging study. 17 patients had a follow up imaging study (MRI or CT) after a mean (±SD) follow up of 14.2 ± 4 months: 6 patients in IMH group and 11 in AD group. FL/MH volume decrease and true lumen volume increase were statistically significant over time in IMH group (p = 0.043 and p = 0.029 respectively) In AD group, follow-up imaging study showed a significant increase of FL/MH volume (p = 0.016), without significant increase of true lumen. Conclusion: We established 4 diagnostic MRI criteria that aid in identification of IMH and are associated with high likelihood of aortic healing after type B AAS. This may have an impact on therapeutic decisions and imaging follow-up protocols.
Electrical characterization of process induced effects on non-silicon devices

The influence of the fabrication process on the electrical performance of ZnO and MoS 2 devices are evaluated due to their promise for future internet of things technology applications beyond silicon. Low temperature processing of gate dielectrics introduce new challenges in obtaining optimal device performance. HfO 2 and Al 2 O 3 gate dielectrics on ZnO or MoS 2 semiconducting layers are electrically characterized to gain understanding of the influence process-induced effects have on transistor performance.
A COMMENT ON EXTRAPOLATED SINGLE PARTICLE SPECTRA FOR SUPERHEAVY NUCLEI

ABSTRACT The use of the microscopic-macroscopic method for estimating the stability of superheavy nuclei relies heavily upon our ability to extrapolate from known single particle spectra to the single particle spectra in the superheavy region. A brief critique of various potential models which have been used for such extrapolation will be presented. It is shown that the results obtained in the superheavy region using these potential models are sensitive to the assumptions made about the spin-orbit potential. In addition there is a correlation between the results obtained in the Pb region and the superheavy region. The stability of possible nuclei with Z = 114–126 are most strongly effected by these considerations.
Hematopoietic Growth Factors: Focus on Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents

Hematopoiesis is an intricate, well-regulated, and homeostatic multistep process that allows immature precursor cells in the bone marrow to proliferate, differentiate, mature, and become functional blood cells that transport oxygen and carbon dioxide; contribute to host immunity; and facilitate blood clotting. In the early 1900s, scientists recognized the presence of circulating factors that regulate hematopoiesis. It took approximately 50 years to develop in vitro cell culture systems in order to definitively prove that the growth and survival of early blood cells require the presence of specific circulating factors, called hematopoietic growth factors (HGF). The presence of many HGF with different targets at extremely small amounts in blood, bone marrow, and urine confounded the search for a single HGF with a specific activity. Scientific progress was slow until it became possible to purify sufficient quantities to evaluate the characteristics and biologic potential of the isolated materials. The introduction of recombinant DNA technology triggered a flurry of studies and an information explosion, which confirmed hematopoiesis is mediated by a series of HGF that acts individually and in various combinations involving complex feedback mechanisms. Today, many HGF have been isolated; some have been studied extensively, and a few have been manufactured for clinical use.
Oncogenes and Breast Cancer Progression

The etiology of breast cancer is thought to involve a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and dietary factors that are superimposed on the physiological status of the host. Extensive studies have been undertaken to determine the relationship between these factors and tumor development in humans and experimental rodent models. Attempts to develop a cohesive picture of how these factors participate in mammary tumorigenesis have been hampered, in part, by a lack of information on the specific genetic lesions that contribute to the initiation and/or evolution of tumor development.
Infusing Educational Practice with Web GIS

Three manifestations of Web GIS are influencing the way GIS is being used to teach with GIS and about GIS. These manifestations include web mapping and analysis, teaching with and creating web mapping applications, and collecting data using field-based citizen science mapping tools. This chapter investigates how these maps, data sets, tools, and methods can be taught in a wide variety of settings, educational levels, and disciplines. The advent of Web GIS is not simply the migration of GIS tools and data to the cloud, but rather represents a shift in how GIS can be perceived, taught, and learned.
Chemistry of the diazeniumdiolates. 2. Kinetics and mechanism of dissociation to nitric oxide in aqueous solution.

Diazeniumdiolate ions of structure R2N[N(O)NO]- (1) are of pharmacological interest because they spontaneously generate the natural bioregulatory species, nitric oxide (NO), when dissolved in aqueous media. Here we report the kinetic details for four representative reactivity patterns: (a) straightforward dissociation of the otherwise unfunctionalized diethylamine derivative 2 (anion 1, where R = Et) to diethylamine and NO; (b) results for the zwitterionic piperazin-1-yl analogue 4, for which the protonation state of the neighboring basic amine site is an important determinant of dissociation rate; (c) data for 5, a diazeniumdiolate derived from the polyamine spermine, whose complex rate equation can include terms for a variety of medium effects; and (d) the outcome for triamine 6 (R = CH2CH2NH3+), the most stable structure 1 ion identified to date. All of these dissociations are acid-catalyzed, with equilibrium protonation of the substrate preceding release of NO. Specific rate constants and pKa values ...
Proliferation and Differentiation of Gastric Mucous Neck and Chief Cells During Homeostasis and Injury-induced Metaplasia

Background & Aims Adult zymogen-producing (zymogenic) chief cells (ZCs) in the mammalian gastric gland base are believed to arise from descending mucous neck cells, which arise from stem cells. Gastric injury, such as from Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, can cause metaplasia, characterized by gastric cell expression of markers of wound-healing; these cells are called spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) cells. We investigated differentiation and proliferation patterns of neck cells, ZCs, and SPEM cells in mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were given intraperitoneal injections of high-dose tamoxifen to induce SPEM or gavaged with H pylori (PMSS1) to induce chronic gastric injury. Mice were then given pulses of 5-bromo-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in their drinking water, followed by chase periods without BrdU, or combined with intraperitoneal injections of 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine. We collected gastric tissues and performed immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical analyses to study gastric cell proliferation, differentiation, and turnover. Results After 8 weeks of continuous BrdU administration, fewer than 10% of homeostatic ZCs incorporated BrdU, whereas 88% of neck cells were labeled. In pulse-chase experiments, various chase periods decreased neck cell label but did not increase labeling of ZCs. When mice were given BrdU at the same time as tamoxifen, more than 90% of cells were labeled in all gastric lineages. After 3 months' recovery (no tamoxifen), ZCs became the predominant BrdU-labeled population, whereas other cells, including neck cells, were mostly negative. When we tracked the labeled cells in such mice over time, we observed that the proportion of BrdU-positive ZCs remained greater than 60% up to 11 months. In mice whose ZCs were the principal BrdU-positive population, acute injury by tamoxifen or chronic injury by H pylori infection resulted in SPEM cells becoming the principal BrdU-positive population. After withdrawal of tamoxifen, BrdU-positive ZCs reappeared. Conclusions We studied mice in homeostasis or with tamoxifen- or H pylori–induced SPEM. Our findings indicated that mucous neck cells do not contribute substantially to generation of ZCs during homeostasis and that ZCs maintain their own census, likely through infrequent self-replication. After metaplasia-inducing injury, ZCs can become SPEM cells, and then redifferentiate into ZCs on injury resolution.
Blood Lead Levels in U.S. Women of Childbearing Age, 1976-2016

Background: Lead can adversely affect maternal and child health across a wide range of exposures; developing fetuses and breastfeeding infants may be particularly vulnerable. We describe the distri...
Thermal atomic layer etching of silicon nitride using an oxidation and “conversion etch” mechanism

Thermal atomic layer etching (ALE) of silicon nitride was achieved using sequential exposures of oxygen (O2) or ozone (O3), hydrofluoric acid (HF), and trimethylaluminum [TMA, Al(CH3)3]. Thermal Si3N4 ALE will be useful to etch Si3N4 in semiconductor, optoelectronic, and MEMS devices. Thermal Si3N4 ALE was performed with Si3N4 thin films deposited on silicon wafers using low pressure chemical vapor deposition. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was employed to monitor the changes in the Si3N4 film thickness as well as the SiO2 layer thickness. The SE results at 290 °C yielded an Si3N4 etch rate of 0.25 A/cycle with an O2-HF-TMA reactant sequence using partial pressures of 250, 0.65, and 1.2 Torr for O2, HF, and TMA, respectively. The O2, HF, and TMA reactants were held statically at the indicated partial pressures for 10, 5, and 5 s, respectively. Larger etch rates were observed using O3 instead of O2 as the oxidant. A higher Si3N4 etch rate of 0.47 A/cycle was measured at 290 °C using an O3-HF-TMA reactant sequence at the same partial pressures and static exposure times as the O2-HF-TMA sequence. The Si3N4 etch rate was observed to decrease at lower temperatures. An Si3N4 etch rate of 0.07 A/cycle was measured at the lowest temperature of 210 °C using an O3-HF-TMA reactant sequence. The Si3N4 surface roughness was reduced after Si3N4 ALE. The SiO2 layer on Si3N4 could be removed using sequential HF and TMA exposures. These sequential HF and TMA exposures could also very slowly etch the Si3N4 substrate. The Si3N4 etch rate was dependent on the reaction sequence. When an O3-TMA-HF sequence was employed with reactant partial pressures of 250, 0.65, and 1.2 Torr for O3, HF, and TMA, respectively, the Si3N4 etch rate was 0.20 A/cycle at 290 °C. Thermal Si3N4 ALE adds to the growing list of materials that can be etched with atomic layer control using thermal chemistry.
Real-time video mosaicking to guide handheld in vivo microscopy

Handheld and endoscopic optical-sectioning microscopes are being developed for noninvasive screening and intraoperative consultation. Imaging a large extent of tissue is often desired, but miniature in vivo microscopes tend to suffer from limited fields of view. To extend the imaging field during clinical use, we have developed a real-time video mosaicking method, which allows users to efficiently survey larger areas of tissue. Here, we modified a previous post-processing mosaicking method so that real-time mosaicking is possible at >30 frames/second when using a device that outputs images that are 400 × 400 pixels in size. Unlike other real-time mosaicking methods, our strategy can accommodate image rotations and deformations that often occur during clinical use of a handheld microscope. We perform a feasibility study to demonstrate that the use of real-time mosaicking is necessary to enable efficient sampling of a desired imaging field when using a handheld dual-axis confocal microscope.
Role of Biomechanical Stress and Mechanosensitive miRNAs in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a leading cause of death. Due to insufficient understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern the disease, the current therapeutic options lack medical therapies and are limited to aortic valve (AV) replacement. AV calcification occurs preferentially in the fibrosa side of the valve, which is exposed to unstable hemodynamic conditions. In contrast, the ventricularis side is exposed to more stable hemodynamic conditions and is relatively protected from the disease, suggesting the role of biomechanical forces in CAVD. Recent studies have shown the role and mechanisms of biomechanical forces on regulation of AV biology and CAVD pathophysiology. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which biomechanical forces regulate mechanosensitive genes, especially microRNAs, and their roles in CAVD. Expression of these microRNAs can be easily manipulated, leading to effective inhibition of CAVD. These mechanosensitive microRNAs could be used for detection and treatment of CAVD.
Antecedent Wetness Conditions of European Floods: A Comprehensive Study

In this study we explored the capability of soil moisture, river discharge and antecedent precipitation indices to predict the antecedent wetness conditions of a large dataset of flood events extracted from 881 catchments across Europe. This study is the first one using a so large number of catchments and aims at shedding light on the connections between flood response and catchment conditions prior to the flood event. First results show that satellite soil moisture is the best predictor among the selected ones with significant implications for flood and flash flood forecasting operational applications.
P-diamond Plasmonic TeraFET Detector

Hydrodynamic modeling of p-diamond, Si, InGaAs/GaAs, and AlGaN/GaN TeraFETs reveal the potential and advantages of p-diamond TeraFETs for applications in the 240 to 340 GHz band and, therefore, for potentially beyond 5G and IoT applications. Our numerical results show that the p-diamond TeraFET could enable resonant detection in this band in contrast to other material systems. The p-diamond TeraFET have a high detection sensitivity in a large dynamic range. The diamond response characteristics can be adjusted by changing the gate length $L$ and tuning the gate bias.
Creation of a low cost, low light bioluminescence sensor for real time biological nitrate sensing in marine environments.

The concentration of nitrate (NO3-) in Narragansett Bay has been shown to undergo considerable temporal and spatial variation. However, the dynamics of this flux has never been monitored on a fine-scale (<100 m, < 1 d) or in real-time. Whole-cell bio-reporters are promising candidates for low cost environmental sensing of bioavailable nutrients. Yet difficulties remain in creating sensors for long term deployment in the marine environment. This paper describes the creation and validation of a low-cost sensor using a self-bioluminescent strain of the cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus pcc 7942 for the direct measurement of bioavailable nitrate. Nitrate bioavailability was measured by monitoring light emission from a luxAB based promotor fusion to glnA using a light to frequency sensor and single board microcontroller. Sensor designs are presented in this manuscript with specific focus on storage, cell viability, and compatibility with the marine environment. Sensors were able to consistently assess nitrate standards as low as 1 ppm (16.3 μM). Using a wavelet denoising approach to reduce white noise and hardware noise, nitrate detection of standards as low as 0.037 ppm (0.65 μM) was achieved. Good sensitivity and low cost make these sensors ideal candidates for continuous monitoring of biological nitrates in estuarine systems.
Anxiety profiles are associated with stress, resilience and symptom severity in outpatients receiving chemotherapy.

The purposes of this study, in a sample of oncology patients (n = 1326) receiving chemotherapy, were to identify subgroups of patients with distinct anxiety profiles and evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, stress and resilience measures, and severity of co-occurring symptoms (i.e., depression, sleep disturbance, attentional function, fatigue, pain). Patients completed self-report questionnaires a total of six times over two cycles of chemotherapy. Severity of state anxiety was evaluated using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory and resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, General Sleep Disturbance Scale, Lee Fatigue Scale, Attentional Function Index and Brief Pain Inventory. Based on the findings from the latent profile analysis that utilized the six assessments of state anxiety, 47.7% of the patients were classified as “Low,” 28.3% as “Moderate,” 19.5% as “High,” and 4.5.% as “Very High.” Anxiety levels remained relatively stable across the six timepoints. Compared to the Low class, membership in the Moderate, High, and Very High classes was associated with a number of characteristics (e.g., younger age, female gender, lower functional status, more comorbidities). Those patients with higher levels of anxiety reported higher levels of stress, lower levels of resilience, and increased severity of co-occurring symptoms. Our findings suggest that a substantial number of oncology patients may warrant referral to psychological services. Clinicians need to perform systematic assessments of anxiety, stress, and common symptoms and initiate appropriate interventions to enhance resilience and coping.