cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Norwood Procedure: In favor of the RV-PA Conduit

Evolution of the Norwood procedure has culminated in there currently being three treatment strategies available for initial management: the 'classical' Norwood (utilizing a Blalock-Taussig shunt), the Norwood with right-ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit, and the 'hybrid' Norwood procedure utilizing bilateral pulmonary artery banding and ductal stenting. Each variant has its potential advantages and disadvantages, and this paper looks to examine the evidence in favor of each strategy, with emphasis on the supportive data for the RV-PA conduit. The 'classical' procedure has the benefit of the greatest accumulated surgical experience and avoids any incision into the ventricle. However, the diastolic run-off of the Blalock-Taussig shunt can cause hemodynamic instability and unpredictable coronary steal phenomenon. The RV-PA conduit has the advantage of maintaining diastolic pressure with a more stable postoperative course, but at the cost of a ventriculotomy that may have detrimental long-term sequelae. The 'hybrid' procedure has the advantage of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass, but does not always secure coronary blood flow and has a high inter-stage morbidity and reintervention rate. The evidence shows that each technique may have its place in future management, and that treatment algorithms could emerge that direct the choice of procedure for specific patient groups.
The prototype development phase of the CubeSat On-board processing Validation Experiment

The Xilinx Virtex-5QV FPGA is a new radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) part that is targeted as the spaceborne processor for the Decadal Survey Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem (ACE) mission's Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (MSPI) instrument12. A key technology development needed for MSPI is on-board processing (OBP) to calculate polarimetry data as imaged by each of the 9 cameras forming the instrument. With funding from NASA's ESTO3 AIST4 Program, JPL is demonstrating how signal data at 95 Mbytes/sec over 16 channels for each of the 9 multi-angle cameras can be reduced to 0.45 Mbytes/sec. This is done via a least-squares fitting algorithm implemented on the Virtex-5 FPGA operating in real-time on the raw video data stream [1]. Last year at this conference the results of a feasibility study between JPL and U. Michigan were presented in a paper titled, “A CubeSat Design to Validate the Virtex-5 FPGA for Spaceborne Image Processing.” Out of that study, a new task has been funded by NASA's ESTO ATI5 Program to integrate the MSPI OBP algorithm on the Virtex-5 FPGA as a payload to the University of Michigan's M-Cubed CubeSat, manifest a launch opportunity, and gain on-orbit validation of this OBP platform to thereby advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for MSPI and the ACE mission. This new task is called COVE (CubeSat On-board processing Validation Experiment) and is the topic of this paper. The COVE task is an 18-month effort to develop the flightready U. Michigan M-Cubed CubeSat with the integrated JPL OBP payload. The targeted completion date is September 2011. M-Cubed's primary payload is an OmniVision 2 MegaPixel CMOS camera that will take quality color images of the Earth from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and save them to a Taskit Stamp9G20 microprocessor. This paper presents the prototype design and integration of the M-Cubed microprocessor system with the JPL payload that provides the image processing platform for on-orbit OBP validation. The high-level requirements and interface specifications for the delivery of the JPL FPGA-based payload hardware to the University of Michigan will be described. Finally, a recent decision regarding a launch opportunity for M-Cubed will be reported.
Detection of target trajectories using the Hough transform

Recently developed Hough transform techniques for curved object detection are applied to the detection of target trajectories. Multitarget missile trajectories are considered with noise present and missing data.
A novel TDM method for serrodyne modulation with high sideband suppression for arbitrary waveform generation

A novel TDM approach has been incorporated with serrodyning to shift the frequency of an arbitrary carrier up to /spl plusmn/1 MHz with highest sideband suppression ever reported. This technique also realizes endless phase modulation.
On active learning in hierarchical classification

Most of the existing active learning algorithms assume all the category labels as independent or consider them in a "flat" structure. However, in reality, there are many applications in which the set of possible labels are often organized in a hierarchical structure. In this paper, we consider the problem of active learning when the categories are represented as a tree. Our goal is to exploit the structure information of the label tree in active learning to select the most informative samples to be labeled. We propose an algorithm that estimates the semantic space, embedding the category hierarchy. In this space, each category label is represented as a prototype and the uncertainty is measured using a variance-based fashion. We also demonstrate notable performance improvement with the proposed approach on synthetic and real datasets.
Regulation of the Drosophila Enhancer of split and invected-engrailed gene complexes by sister chromatid cohesion proteins

The cohesin protein complex was first recognized for holding sister chromatids together and ensuring proper chromosome segregation. Cohesin also regulates gene expression, but the mechanisms are unknown. Cohesin associates preferentially with active genes, and is generally absent from regions in which histone H3 is methylated by the Enhancer of zeste [E(z)] Polycomb group silencing protein. Here we show that transcription is hypersensitive to cohesin levels in two exceptional cases where cohesin and the E(z)-mediated histone methylation simultaneously coat the entire Enhancer of split and invected-engrailed gene complexes in cells derived from Drosophila central nervous system. These gene complexes are modestly transcribed, and produce seven of the twelve transcripts that increase the most with cohesin knockdown genome-wide. Cohesin mutations alter eye development in the same manner as increased Enhancer of split activity, suggesting that similar regulation occurs in vivo. We propose that cohesin helps restrain transcription of these gene complexes, and that deregulation of similarly cohesin-hypersensitive genes may underlie developmental deficits in Cornelia de Lange syndrome.
Transthyretin Antisense Oligonucleotides Lower Circulating RBP4 Levels and Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Mice

Circulating transthyretin (TTR) is a critical determinant of plasma retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels. Elevated RBP4 levels cause insulin resistance, and the lowering of RBP4 levels improves glucose homeostasis. Since lowering TTR levels increases renal clearance of RBP4, we determined whether decreasing TTR levels with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obesity. TTR-ASO treatment of mice with genetic or diet-induced obesity resulted in an 80–95% decrease in circulating levels of TTR and RBP4. Treatment with TTR-ASOs, but not control ASOs, decreased insulin levels by 30–60% and improved insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice and high-fat diet–fed mice as early as after 2 weeks of treatment. The reduced insulin levels were sustained for up to 9 weeks of treatment and were associated with reduced adipose tissue inflammation. Body weight was not changed. TTR-ASO treatment decreased LDL cholesterol in high-fat diet–fed mice. The glucose infusion rate during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp was increased by 50% in high-fat diet–fed mice treated with TTR-ASOs, demonstrating improved insulin sensitivity. This was also demonstrated by 20% greater inhibition of hepatic glucose production, a 45–60% increase of glucose uptake into skeletal and cardiac muscle, and a twofold increase in insulin signaling in muscle. These data show that decreasing circulating TTR levels or altering TTR-RBP4 binding could be a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Nonthermal Plasma Needle: Development and Targeting of Melanoma Cells

A nonthermal plasma torch has been developed to study the targeted killing of melanoma cells. In this paper, 1205Lu melanoma cells and keratinocytes were exposed to the plasma. These cells were transfected with green fluorescent protein in order to establish a system for coculture with primary keratinocytes. Results show that a 10 s treatment with plasma causes a morphological change in the melanoma cells, as observed after 18 h. However, after only 15 min following plasma treatment, a significant killing of melanoma cells was observed, with a much reduced killing of keratinocytes. Nonthermal plasma may serve as an effective tool for future therapeutic cancer treatment.
An adaptation of the modified mini-mental state examination: analysis of demographic influences and normative data: the cache county study.

Objectives To present a new version of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS-R), provide normative information extending to individuals in the 10th decade, and examine the effects of demographic variables on test performance. Background The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, based originally on the Mini-Mental State Examination, has been used to screen populations for dementia. Providing normative information and an analysis of demographic variables on test performance for this version would support broader use in clinical and other settings. Methods Two thousand, nine hundred thirteen elderly individuals determined to be free of dementia and other neurologic and psychiatric conditions served as subjects. An analysis of variance was conducted to examine the effects of age, gender, and education on test performance. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and percentile ranks) were calculated to summarize the range of normal performance. To examine the sensitivity/specificity of the suggested cut-off points at the 7th and 10th percentiles, two subsamples of elderly individuals, on whom clinical dementia assessments were available, were used to classify individuals with regard to dementia status. Results Lower age, higher education, and female gender were associated with higher 3MS-R scores. Gender effects were among the weakest, but most important at lower levels of education. Education effects were most prominent in the youngest age groups. Selection of a cut-off point at the 7th percentile revealed 69%-70% sensitivity for detecting dementia, and higher sensitivity for individuals in the youngest age groups. Specificity at this cut-off point was 89%. Raising the cut-off point to the 10th percentile improved sensitivity to 73%-76%, but reduced specificity to 85%-86%. Conclusion We present a version of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination that has demonstrated utility in screening a population for dementia. An analysis of normative information and the effects of demographic influences suggest that the 7th percentile cut-off point performs very well in detecting dementia in 65-79-year-old individuals but less well for individuals in their 80s and 90s. To increase the sensitivity of the 3MS-R to detect dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment, particularly among the "old-old," the test user may wish to raise the cut-off point for impairment in some demographic groups or to supplement the test with additional cognitive measures.
Development and Testing of Diglycolamide Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Sorption of Trivalent Actinides and Lanthanides.

Sequestration of trivalent actinides and lanthanides present in used nuclear fuel and legacy wastes is necessary for appropriate long-term stewardship of these metals, particularly to prevent their release into the environment. Organically modified mesoporous silica is an efficient material for recovery and potential subsequent separation of actinides and lanthanides because of its high surface area, tunable ligand selection, and chemically robust substrate. We have synthesized the first novel hybrid material composed of SBA-15 type mesoporous silica functionalized with diglycolamide ligands (DGA-SBA). Because of the high surface area substrate, the DGA-SBA was found to have the highest Eu capacity reported so far in the literature of all DGA solid-phase extractants. The sorption behavior of europium and americium on DGA-SBA in nitric and hydrochloric acid media was tested in batch contact experiments. DGA-SBA was found to have high sorption of Am and Eu in pH 1, 1 M, and 3 M nitric and hydrochloric acid ...
Endocarditis associated with intracardiac prostheses. Diagnosis, management, and prophylaxis.

Summary 1. In 568 open-heart operations, bacterial endocarditis has occurred in 13 patients. One infection occurred with a ventricular septal defect prosthesis, two with a mitral valve prosthesis, and ten were associated with an aortic valve prosthesis. 2. The clinical course was either acute or chronic. The latter form was often benign and the diagnosis was not established for 2½ to 5 months postoperatively. 3. The causative organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis in 11 of the 13 cases, an organism usually considered nonpathogenic. 4. Four patients have survived this complication and the course of these patients has been presented. 5. The use of therapeutic dosages of antibiotics, specifically the introduction of an effective bactericidal antibiotic against staphylococcus, has eliminated staphylococcus endocarditis as a complication following valve replacement.
Efficacy of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water and UV-Ozonated Water Combination for Inactivating Escherichia Coli O157:H7 on Romaine and Iceberg Lettuce during Spray Washing Process

Spray washing is a common sanitizing method for the fresh produce industry. The purpose of this research was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of spraying slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and a combination of ozonated water with ultraviolet (UV) in reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on romaine and iceberg lettuces. Both romaine and iceberg lettuces were spot inoculated with 100 μL of a 3 strain mixture of E. coli O157:H7 to achieve an inoculum of 6 log CFU/g on lettuce. A strong antimicrobial effect was observed for the UV-ozonated water combination, which reduced the population of E. coli by 5 log CFU/g of E. coli O157:H7 on both lettuces. SAEW achieved about 5 log CFU/g reductions in the bacterial counts on romaine lettuce. However, less than 2.5 log CFU/g in the population of E. coli O157:H7 was reduced on iceberg lettuce. The difference may be due to bacteria aggregation near and within stomata for iceberg lettuce but not for romaine lettuce. The UV light treatment may stimulate the opening of the stomata for the UV-ozonated water treatment and hence achieve better bacterial inactivation than the SAEW treatment for iceberg lettuce. Our results demonstrated that the combined treatment of SAEW and UV-ozonated water in the spray washing process could more effectively reduce E. coli O157:H7 on lettuce, which in turn may help reduce incidences of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks.
Assessment of Withdrawal and Hangover is Confounded in the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule: Withdrawal Prevalence is Likely Inflated

BACKGROUND: The Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-IV (AUDADIS-IV) and AUDADIS-5 are diagnostic interviews used in major epidemiological and other studies of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Much of what we know regarding the prevalence of AUD in the United States is based upon this interview. However, past research and meta-analytic evidence suggest that differential operationalization of the AUD criteria across instruments can lead to differential endorsement of symptoms and resulting AUD diagnosis rates. In particular, studies employing the AUDADIS are observed to have markedly higher endorsement rates of withdrawal than other large epidemiological studies. One explanation for this is that when assessing withdrawal, the AUDADIS combines effects from the morning after drinking with those from the days following, thereby conflating hangover and withdrawal. METHODS: This study addresses whether this operationalization confounds rates of endorsement when compared to simpler, less ambiguous hangover or withdrawal stems. To this aim, 497 college student drinkers were randomized into 1 of 3 stem conditions: (i) hangover (n = 164), (ii) withdrawal (n = 167), or (iii) combined AUDADIS-IV (n = 166). RESULTS: Across conditions, participants were more likely to report the occurrence of each withdrawal symptom in the combined stem condition than in the explicit withdrawal stem condition, but not in the explicit hangover stem condition. Within the combined stem condition, probed symptoms were more likely to be reported as a result of a hangover. CONCLUSIONS: The AUDADIS potentially results in false positives for withdrawal, arguably a pathognomonic symptom of alcoholism and, in turn, likely affects rates of the diagnosis of AUD.Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism. Language: en
An Integrated Model of Knowledge Sharing in Contemporary Communication Environments

Why do people share (or withhold) knowledge through online public knowledge management systems (KMS)? What benefits and costs might they experience from doing so? How does one’s ability to cognitiv...
Demographics of Hepatitis C in Southwest Ohio (2010 to 2015)

Background Cases of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been rising across the United States, and southwest Ohio is no exception. Objectives To describe the rise in cases of HCV in our region, the Ohio Disease Reporting System was reviewed for all cases of positive HCV testing from 2010 through August 2015. Methods 29,018 cases were reviewed, with 18,678 (64.4%) cases included in the final analysis. The incidence of newly reported cases of HCV was calculated, and demographic data were reviewed to describe the populations at greatest risk. Results All counties reviewed demonstrated a rise in the incidence of new cases of positive HCV testing. All age groups demonstrated an increased incidence of positive HCV tests, with the most substantial rise occurring among individuals aged 20 - 29 and 30 - 39. There was a slight male predominance (53%), and the majority of individuals were white (82%). Conclusions Southwest Ohio is experiencing a rise in positive HCV testing among young adults. Further research is required to determine the burden of disease, define the primary risk factors associated with disease acquisition, and develop appropriate public health interventions.
Exploration of Our Solar System

Distances to places within our Solar System in Chap. 1 provided a yardstick to measure human ambition. The time for light, traveling at about 300,000 km/s, to cover the average distance Earth to Pluto is 5.45 h.
I got all my sisters with me (on Black Twitter): second screening of How to Get Away with Murder as a discourse on Black Womanhood

In addition to performing racial identity on Black Twitter, Black users also use the platform to host discourse on Blackness. Tweets, hashtags, and trends associated with the television show How to...
The Impact of Policy on the Performance of the ICT Sector

This chapter discusses and provides evidence surrounding the link between public policy initiatives, ICT sector performance, and its corresponding economic impact. In particular, it investigates the way in which policies might influence ICT diffusion and adoption, examining models of regulation and public policy and their relationship to specific sector performance. In doing so, it identifies certain public policies and frameworks consistently associated with above par sector performance. Going beyond specific policies, it aims to understand why some countries are more effective than others in implementing policy tools.
Attracting and Supporting Mathematicians for the Mathematical Education of Teachers

Education is a complex process involving teachers and learners within surrounding institutional and social environments over which neither group has extensive control. However, complexity is not an excuse for despair or inactivity. We will not make progress unless each of us contributes what we can and does so without waiting for someone else to make some other part of the problem go away first. Mathematicians choose to work on the mathematical education of teachers for many reasons. While money, promotion, and reputation are important to some mathematicians at some times in their careers, this paper concentrates on other rewards and other forms of support. In particular, there is an attractive intellectual challenge involved in finding accessible and engaging ways to help teachers understand the mathematics itself. While much of the recommended intellectual and pedagogical support is relevant to all who teach, it is particularly relevant for mathematicians working with teachers who have been worn down by a litany of disrespect for K-12 education.
PXR: More Than Just a Master Xenobiotic Receptor

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor considered to be a master xenobiotic receptor that coordinately regulates the expression of genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters to essentially detoxify and eliminate xenobiotics and endotoxins from the body. In the past several years, the function of PXR in the regulation of xenobiotic metabolism has been extensively studied, and the role of PXR as a xenobiotic sensor has been well established. It is now clear, however, that PXR plays many other roles in addition to its xenobiotic-sensing function. For instance, recent studies have discovered previously unidentified roles of PXR in inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and cell migration. PXR also contributes to the dysregulation of these processes in diseases states. These recent discoveries of the role of PXR in the physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions of other cellular processes provides the possibility of novel targets for drug discovery. This review highlights areas of PXR regulation that require further clarification and summarizes the recent progress in our understanding of the nonxenobiotic functions of PXR that can be explored for relevant therapeutic applications.
Scatter Factor As a Potential Tumor Angiogenesis Factor

SF is a stromal cell (fibroblast, smooth muscle)-derived protein that dissociates (“scatters”) sheets of epithelium (Stoker et. al., 1987; Rosen et al., 1989). SF is now known to be identical to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (Weidner et al., 1991a; Bhargava et al., 1992), a serum mitogen that thought to function as an hepatotrophic factor (Miyazawa et al., 1989; Nakamura et al., 1989). SF is a heparin-binding glycoprotein consisting of a 60 kDa a-chain and a 30 kDa s-chain (Gherardi et al., 1989; Rosen et al., 1990; Weidner et al., 1990). The α-chain contains an N-terminal hairpin loop and four “kringles” (disulfide looped structures that mediate protein:protein interactions). The s-chain is homologous to serine proteases. SF has 38% amino acid sequence identity to the pro-enzyme plasminogen (Nakamura et al., 1989), but lacks protease activity (Rosen et al., 1990b) due to replacement of two essential amino acids at the catalytic triad of the s-chain. SF is synthesized as a 728 amino acid precursor (preproSF); intracellular cleavage of a 31 amino acid signal peptide results in its secreted single-chain form (proSF), which is biologically inactive (Lokker et al., 1992). Extracellular cleavage of proSF at 494arg-495val yields active two-chain SF. HGF activator, a novel serine protease homologous to coagulation factor XII (Hagemann factor), may be a physiologic cleavage enzyme for SF (Miyazawa et al., 1993). Plasminogen activators (uPA and tPA) can also cleave and activate proSF, but only at supraphysiologic concentrations (Naldini et al., 1992; Mars et al., 1993).
Morphology of the developing down feathers of chick embryos. A descriptive study at the ultrastructural level of differentiation and keratinization.

The morphology of the developing chick feather germ (down feather) was studied at the ultrastructural level from 8 to 18 days of incubation. The process of keratinization in the developing feather germ was described, discussed and compared to keratinization in mammalian skin and hair. This study has shown that: 1. Apico-basal gradients of differentiation and different cell types are recognizable at the ultrastructural level in the developing feather germ. 2. The hypothesis that keratin is synthesized de novo by ribosomes is probably correct, because the largest number of these organelles is present at the time when keratin formation is most prominent. 3. Intercellular gaps in the developing feather germs facilitate the reorientation and rearrangement of different cell types into definitive feather structures. 4. The sources of nutrition and energy for the completion of keratinization during later developmental stages of feather germs are the supportive and the barb medullary cells and large stores of glycogen. 5. Keratohyalin granules are not precursors of feather keratin, since no such structures were observed in feather germs. 6. Two distinct modes of keratinization occur in feather germs. Keratinization in sheath cells is similar to that which occurs in mammalian epidermal cells. Barb and barbule cell keratinization resembles that of hair. 7. The basal lamina is probably involved in transport of synthetic material from the pulp cavity to the epidermal cells. The lamina may also provide mechanically strong connections between the feather germ and the dermis.
Repeated Measures Regression in Laboratory, Clinical and Environmental Research: Common Misconceptions in the Matter of Different Within- and between-Subject Slopes.

When using repeated measures linear regression models to make causal inference in laboratory, clinical and environmental research, it is typically assumed that the within-subject association of differences (or changes) in predictor variable values across replicates is the same as the between-subject association of differences in those predictor variable values. However, this is often false. For example, with body weight as the predictor variable and blood cholesterol (which increases with higher body fat) as the outcome: (i) a 10-lb. weight increase in the same adult affects more greatly an increase in cholesterol in that adult than does (ii) one adult weighing 10 lbs. more than a second indicate higher cholesterol in the heavier adult. A 10-lb. weight gain in the first adult more likely reflects a build-up of body fat in that person, while a second person being 10 lbs. heavier than the first could be influenced by other factors, such as the second person being taller. Hence, to make causal inferences, different within- and between-subject slopes should be separately modeled. A related misconception commonly made using generalized estimation equations (GEE) and mixed models on repeated measures (i.e., for fitting cross-sectional regression) is that the working correlation structure only influences variance of the parameter estimates. However, only independence working correlation guarantees that the modeled parameters have interpretability. We illustrate this with an example where changing the working correlation from independence to equicorrelation qualitatively biases parameters of GEE models and show that this happens because within- and between-subject slopes for the outcomes regressed on the predictor variables differ. We then systematically describe several common mechanisms that cause within- and between-subject slopes to differ: change effects, lag/reverse-lag and spillover causality, shared within-subject measurement bias or confounding, and predictor variable measurement error. The misconceptions we describe should be better publicized. Repeated measures analyses should compare within- and between-subject slopes of predictors and when they do differ, investigate the causal reasons for this.
Use of antidepressants after colon cancer diagnosis and risk of recurrence.

Objective Prior research examining the association between use of antidepressants after colon cancer diagnosis and risk of recurrence is scant. We evaluated this association among colon cancer patients diagnosed at two integrated health care delivery systems in the United States. Methods We conducted a cohort study of stage I to IIIA colon cancer patients diagnosed at greater than or equal to 18 years of age at Kaiser Permanente Colorado and Kaiser Permanente Washington during 1995 to 2014. We used pharmacy records to identify dispensings for antidepressants and tumor registry records and patients' medical charts to identify cancer recurrences. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of colon cancer recurrence comparing patients who used antidepressants after diagnosis to those who did not. We also evaluated the risk associated with use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) separately. Results Among the 1923 eligible colon cancer patients, 807 (42%) used an antidepressant after diagnosis and 139 had a colon cancer recurrence during an average 5.6 years of follow-up. Use of antidepressants after colon cancer diagnosis was not associated with risk of recurrence (HR: 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-1.87). The HR for use of SSRIs was 1.22 (95% CI, 0.64-2.30), and for TCAs, it was 1.18 (95% CI, 0.68-2.07). Conclusions Our findings suggest that use of antidepressants after colon cancer diagnosis was common and not associated with risk of recurrence. Future larger studies with greater power to examine risk associated with individual antidepressants would be valuable additions to the evidence base.
Cytosolic Free Calcium and Myocardial Cell Injury

Numerous investigators have proposed that calcium overload is a factor in lethal ischemic injury (Nayler, 1981; Farber, 1982; Poole-Wilson et al. 1984; Trump et al., 1984). However the precise role of calcium in ischemic myocardial damage can only be evaluated by applying methods to measure cytosolic free calcium concentration (Cai). Allen and Orchard (1983) using aequorin loaded ventricular muscle, did not find an increase in Cai after 10 minutes of hypoxia. In a later study of aequorin loaded ferret ventricular muscle, Allen and Smith (1985) reported an increase in Cai after 15 minutes of cyanide treatment. Similarly, Cobbald and Bourne (1984) measured Cai in aequorin loaded isolated myocytes, and found a rise in Cai after ~20 minutes of metabolic inhibition. Both the studies of Allen and Smith (1983) and Cobbald and Bourne (1984) showed that the increase in Cai occurred after the development of contracture. Yet, from these studies, it is uncertain whether a relationship exists between the elevation in Cai and lethal cell injury because contracture is not synonymous with necrosis. In this study, we utilize two myocardial preparations to clarify the role of Cai in myocardial cell injury specifically, by establishing whether Cai increases prior to lethal myocardial cell injury.
Summary of submillimeter (terahertz) receiver technology conference at lake arrowhead

The submillimeter wavelength region spanning the octave from 1 mm to 0.1 mm (300 to 3000 GHz) is one of the last major windows in the electromagnetic spectrum to be explored. The primary application for submillimeter wave technology has been basic scientific research including astrophysics, atmospheric physics, plasma diagnostics, and laboratory spectroscopy. More recently this spectral range is being considered for space-based radar and communications systems to combine the frequency resolution and agility available in the microwave regime with the high spatial resolution with modest apertures typical of optical technology. Since the earth's atmosphere is opaque except in a few discrete windows, throughout the submillimeter, much of the technology development is being directed toward space qualifiable components and sponsored by NASA or DOD.
Volumetric Calcium Imaging of 1 Million Neurons Across Cortical Regions at Cellular Resolution Using Light Beads Microscopy

Two-photon microscopy together with genetically encodable calcium indicators has emerged as a standard tool for high-resolution imaging of neuroactivity in scattering brain tissue. However, its various realizations have not overcome the inherent tradeoffs between speed and spatiotemporal sampling in a principled manner which would be necessary to enable, amongst other applications, mesoscale volumetric recording of neuroactivity at cellular resolution and speed compatible with resolving calcium transients. Here, we introduce Light Beads Microscopy (LBM), a scalable and spatiotemporally optimal acquisition approach limited only by fluorescence life-time, where a set of axially-separated and temporally- distinct foci record the entire axial imaging range near-simultaneously, enabling volumetric recording at 1.41 x 10^8 voxels per second. Using LBM, we demonstrate mesoscopic and volumetric imaging at multiple scales in the mouse cortex, including cellular resolution recordings within ~3 x 5 x 0.5 mm^3 volumes containing >200,000 neurons at ~5 Hz, recording of populations of ~1 million neurons within ~5.4 x 6 x 0.5 mm^3 volumes at ~2 Hz as well as higher-speed (9.6 Hz) sub-cellular resolution volumetric recordings. LBM provides an unprecedented opportunity for discovering the neurocomputations underlying cortex-wide encoding and processing of information in the mammalian brain.
The differential impact of respiratory event scoring criteria on CPAP eligibility in women and men.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea is more prevalent and severe in men than women. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine offers 2 definitions for scoring hypopneas: "acceptable" = associated with a ≥ 4% oxygen desaturation, adopted by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and "recommended" = associated with a ≥ 3% oxygen desaturation and/or an arousal. We hypothesized that CMS vs American Academy of Sleep Medicine scoring criteria would differentially impact continuous positive airway pressure eligibility in women and men. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of adult diagnostic in-lab polysomnography at an urban academic institution. All polysomnographies were scored by both CMS and American Academy of Sleep Medicine scoring criteria, and an analysis by sex was performed that considered demographics and other polysomnography variables. RESULTS Of 969 polysomnographies reviewed, 674 (69.6%) were in women. Women were younger (51.5 vs 53.3 years old) and had a higher body mass index (38.6 kg/m2 vs 33.8 kg/m2) but had similar Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores compared to men. The odds of an American Academy of Sleep Medicine apnea-hypopnea index > 5 events/h being missed by CMS scoring in women was 1.89 (95% confidence interval: 1.40-2.53; P < .001) compared to men and increased to 6.87 among women 40-60 years of age with a body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2. After controlling for age, body mass index, % rapid eye movement sleep, and mean oxygen saturation, the sex effect remained significant (odds ratio 1.87; 95% confidence interval: 1.36-2.58; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS CMS scoring criteria imparts a sex bias toward women, potentially resulting in denial of therapy to symptomatic women with obstructive sleep apnea. Larger, prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. CITATION Khalid F, Ayache M, Auckley D. The differential impact of respiratory event scoring criteria on CPAP eligibility in women and men. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(12):2409-2414.
Isolating Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and CD4+ T cells from Sézary Syndrome Patients for Transcriptomic Profiling.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are derived from the transformation and uncontrolled proliferation of mature skin-homing T cells, and mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) represent the most common subtypes. Despite a number of studies on characterizing gene expression, genetic alterations, and epigenetic abnormalities of CTCL, the molecular pathogenesis of MF/SS remains unclear. MF refers to the more common CTCL with a skin-predominance, and is usually limited to skin, whereas SS is an aggressive leukemic variant of CTCL with widespread skin involvement and is characterized by neoplastic distribution mainly involving blood, skin, and lymph node. Focusing on clinical practice, the identification of gene expression biomarkers has enormous potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of MF/SS. Indeed, recent transcriptomic studies have identified potential diagnostic biomarkers from differences in gene expression between normal and malignant T cells, which may improve our understanding of SS biology, and reveal potential therapeutic targets. This manuscript describes a detailed reproducible protocol for the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from fresh whole blood from patients diagnosed with SS, selection of CD4+ memory T cells (CD4+CD45RO+ T cells), chemical stimulation, and preparation of RNA suitable for transcriptomic profiling to discover novel prognostic molecular markers to gain additional insight in disease etiology. The stimulation using chemical agonist to activate nuclear regulation provides more specific assessment for pathways important in the dynamic transcription regulation and gene expression and eliminates confounding defects that may arise from upstream signaling defects arising from TCR antigen loss at the cell membrane. The data obtained from comparison of transcriptome of unstimulated to stimulated SS T cells unmasks functional regulatory gene expression defects not evident from analysis of quiescent unstimulated cells. Furthermore, the method outlined from this approach can be adapted for studying T cell gene expression defects in other T cell immune diseases.
An Asymmetric Edge-Sharing Bioctahedral Complex: (η2-DAniF)MoIII(μ-DAniF)2(μ-O,Cl)MoVCl2 (DAniF=N,N′-di-p-anisylformamidinate)

A novel asymmetric, edge-sharing bioctahedral complex with formamidinato ligands (η 2-DAniF)Mo(μ-DAniF)2(μ-O,Cl)MoCl2, 1, (DAniF=N,N′-di-p-anisylformamidinate) has been isolated as a byproduct from the preparation of the dimolybdenum(II,III) compound Mo2(DAniF)3Cl2. An X-ray crystallographic study shows that the structure consists of edge-sharing bioctahedra, with the shared edge defined by the vector joining the: μ-O and μ-Cl ligands. Compound 1 is best formulated as a mixed-valent MoIII→MoV compound, the Mo(V) ion being that with the two terminal Cl− ligands. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 shows a reversible reduction at −0.472 V and a reversible oxidation at 1.028 V vs. the Ag/AgCl reference electrode, while the absorption spectrum of 1 reveals an intense low energy absorption at 523 nm (∈ max=12 500) which is attributed to an intervalence charge transfer transition. Crystallographic data for 1 are as follows: a=13.387(1) A, b=15.500(2) A, c=21.855(2) A, β=98.786(2)°, V=4481.8(8) A3, P21/c, R1 (wR2)=0.082 (0.177).
NH3 and NH4+ transport by rabbit renal proximal straight tubules.

Isolated perfused S2 proximal straight tubules from rabbits spontaneously secreted ammonia (-1.34 pmol X mm-1 X min-1) and absorbed bicarbonate (49.3 pmol X mm-1 X min-1) when perfusate and bath solutions contained 1 mM NH4Cl and 25 mM bicarbonate (pH 7.4). The NH3 concentration in the collected fluid was on average 40% lower than that of the bath as a consequence of a lower pH in the lumen. To test whether diffusion of NH3 down the bath-to-lumen NH3 concentration gradient could account for the measured ammonia secretion, we measured the permeabilities to NH3 (1.6 X 10(-2) cm/s) and NH4+ (4.5 X 10(-5) cm/s). From these values, we calculated predicted rates of passive NH3 secretion (-3.6 pmol X mm-1 X min-1) and passive NH4+ absorption (0.9 pmol X mm-1 X min-1). The predicted rate of net ammonia secretion exceeded the measured rate, indicating that passive NH3 secretion can fully account for the measured flux. In additional experiments, 10(-4) M acetazolamide in bath and perfusate inhibited net bicarbonate...
Unspoken Words: Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

Much of what is communicated in the classroom is through nonverbal means. Sending appropriate nonverbal signals, as well as recognizing and interpreting the nonverbal signals of others, are essenti...
Novel materials and fabrication technology for medical ultrasonic transducers

Ultrasonic imaging in the frequency range from a few MHz to beyond 20 MHz has been used for diagnosis of many diseases. Ultrasound at frequencies higher than 20 MHz has applications in dermatology, ophthalmology and intravascular imaging. The performance of ultrasonic imaging systems especially at high frequencies depends critically upon the transducers/arrays, the design of which in turn is determined to a large degree by the materials and fabrication methodology of the piezoelectric element and supporting structures. Recent developments in these areas are discussed in this paper.
The spectrum of Orion-KL at 2 millimeters (150-160 GHz).

A spectral survey of Orion-KL has been carried out in the 2 mm atmospheric window in the frequency range 149.6-159.6 GHz, using the FCRAO 14 m telescope. Typical sensitivities achieved were T(sub A sup *) approximately 0.03-0.1 K, peak-to-peak. Over 180 spectral lines were detected, including approximately 45 unidentified features. The spectra were measured with a single-sideband receiver and, even at levels of T(sub A sup *) approximately 30 mK, are far from being confusion-limited. Fifteen known species were conclusively identified in Orion in this spectral region, with the largest numbers of lines arising from methyl formate, ethyl cyanide, methanol, and dimethyl ether. These species have beam-averaged column densities of N(sub tot) approximately 0.5-8 x 10(exp 15)/sq cm. Several other species have been tentatively observed, including acetaldehyde, C2S, and possibly EtOH. The large organic species, however, appear to arise from different regions. For example, CH3CCH and (CH3)2O come primarily from the extended ridge, while EtCN and VyCN exclusively arise in the hot core. This survey clearly demonstrates that the 2 mm window is rich in spectral lines. It also suggests there is much chemical selectivity in the formation of large organic interstellar molecules.
Subset complement addition upper bounds - an improved inclusion-exclusion method

Abstract This paper presents the ‘Subset Complement Addition Upper Bound’ (SCAUB) procedure which produces upper bounds for probabilities of unions of n events given that probabilities of unions and/or intersections of subsets including up to k events are known. The SCAUB method is an extension of Hunter's (1976) improved Bonferroni bounds. The SCAUB inequality is much simplier to calculate than are other distribution free upper bounds proposed in the past. It is also a distribution free analog of Glaz and Johnson's (1984) product type bounds. We prove that for any fixed n events, the SCAUB inequality monotonically decreases with k. SCAUB upper bounds are applied to the multivariate normal (or t) simultaneous inference interval problem.
Variation and analysis of second-sphere interactions and axial histidinate character in c-type cytochromes.

The electron-donating properties of the axial His ligand to heme iron in cytochromes c (cyts c) are found to be correlated with the midpoint reduction potential (Em) in variants of Hydrogenobacter thermophilus cytochrome c552 (Ht cyt c552) in which mutations have been made in and near the Cys-X-X-Cys-His (CXXCH) heme-binding motif. To probe the strength of the His-Fe(III) interaction, we have measured 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts for 13CN− bound to heme iron trans to the axial His in Ht Fe(III) cyt c552 variants. We observe a linear relationship between these 13C chemical shifts and Em, indicating that the His-Fe(III) bond strength correlates with Em. To probe a conserved hydrogen bonding interaction between the axial His Hδ1 and the backbone carbonyl of a Pro residue, we measured the pKa of the axial His Hδ1 proton (pKa(2)), which we propose to relate to the His-Fe(III) interaction, reduction potential, and local electrostatic effects. The observed linear relationship between the ...
Analysis of factors associated with prescription of a potentially inappropriate combination dermatological medication among US outpatient physicians

Purpose Despite concern associated with the necessity of an additional fluorinated, high potency topical corticosteroid, the clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate combination remains a frequently prescribed topical agent in the US. This research was performed to better understand the physician and patient characteristics associated with the prescription of this combination medication in outpatient settings. Methods Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1990–2000) were used to determine the patient and physician factors associated with a prescription for clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate. The most common diagnoses of patients treated with the drug were also determined. Results Family medicine physicians were more than twice as likely (OR: 2.28, 95%CI: 1.56, 3.33) and internists were more than 3 times as likely (OR: 3.10, 95%CI: 1.99, 4.84) to prescribe clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate compared to pediatricians, the reference category. Dermatologists were less likely to prescribe these medications compared to pediatricians (OR: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.54). Prescription for potentially inappropriate indications was detected across all specialties. Prescription rates of the combination medication were higher among patients of non-white race (OR: 1.56, CI: 1.08, 2.26). Conclusions The increased risk of potentially inappropriate prescription of clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate by physicians across all specialties and increased probability of medication receipt in racial minorities is of concern, when safer alternatives such as antifungals or anti-inflammatory medications without the side effects of the combination medication are easily available. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The anionic 1-Aza-cope rearrangement. Theoretical evidence for the intramolecular reaction of imide anions with alkenes

Ab initio calculations at the MP4(SDTQ)/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* level of theory suggest that the rearrangement of the 1-aza-1,5-hexadienyl anion (3a) to the 3-aza-1,5-hexadienyl anion (3b) may proceed by an exothermic, step-wise process with a relatively low activation energy.
Peacocke on Modality

We know a great deal about what is possible, so modal knowledge must be possible, not just in principle but by ordinary methods. Christopher Peacocke's leading thought in Chapter 4 of Being Known is that this fact places significant constraints on philosophical treatments of modality. Modal realism is ruled out on the ground that it renders modal truth "radically inaccessible" (p. 3), and actualism is forced upon us. It goes without saying that any account of the modal facts must eventually dovetail with some account of how we know them. But Peacocke's approach is animated by the thought that there is a mystery about modal knowledge-a transposed version of Benacerraf's puzzle about mathematical knowledge under Platonism (p. 1). Peacocke clearly believes that modal realism renders the problem intractable. But what exactly is the mystery in the modal case? And why exactly does modal realism preclude a solution? Peacocke himself does not say. The 'access problem' for modal realism is clearly decisive for him; but it is very much in the background. Nonetheless, for several reasons, it will help to start here.