cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multicenter study of post-traumatic stress disorder after injury: Mechanism matters more than injury severity.

Abstract Background Traumatic injury is strongly associated with long-term mental health disorders, but the risk factors for developing these disorders are poorly understood. We report on a multi-institutional collaboration to collect long-term patient-centered outcomes after trauma, including screening for post-traumatic stress disorder. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder after traumatic injury. Methods Adult trauma patients (aged 18–64) with moderate to severe injuries (Injury Severity Score ≥ 9) admitted to 3 level I trauma centers were screened between 6 and 12 months after injury for post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients were divided by mechanism: fall, road traffic injury, and intentional injury. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the association between baseline patient and injury-related characteristics and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder for the overall cohort and by mechanism of injury. Results A total of 450 patients completed the screen. Overall 32% screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, but this differed significantly by mechanism, with the lowest being after a fall (25%) and highest after intentional injury (60%). Injury severity was not associated with post-traumatic stress disorder for any group, but lower educational level was associated with post-traumatic stress disorder within all the groups. Only 21% of patients who screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder were receiving treatment at the time of the survey. Conclusion Post-traumatic stress disorder is common after traumatic injury, and the prevalence varies significantly by injury mechanism but is not associated with injury severity. Only a small proportion of patients who screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder are currently receiving treatment.
Topical application of platelet-rich plasma for diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review

AIM To determine if topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) results in superior healing rates. METHODS A systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed using PRISMA guidelines. Level I-IV investigations of topical PRP application in DFUs were sought in multiple databases including: MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search terms used were "platelet rich plasma", "diabetes", "ulcers", and "wound". The Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS) was used to analyze study methodological quality. Study heterogeneity and a mostly non-comparative nature of evidence precluded meta-analysis. Only the outcome measurements used by more than 50% of the studies were included in the data synthesis to increase power of the measurement over that of individual studies. A weighted mean of healing rate per week between PRP group vs controls were compared using two-sample z-tests using P-value of less than 0.05 for significance. RESULTS One thousand two hundred and seventeen articles were screened. Eleven articles (322 PRP subjects, 126 controls, PRP subject mean age 58.4 ± 7.2 years, control mean age 58.7 ± 5.9 years) were analyzed. Six articles were level II evidence, four were level III, and one article was level IV. The mean MCMS was 61.8 ± 7.3. Healing rate was significantly faster with PRP application compared to controls (0.68 ± 0.56 cm2/wk vs 0.39 ± 0.09 cm2/wk; P 90% of the original ulcer area was 7.8 ± 2.7 wk and 8.3 ± 3.7 wk for patients in the PRP group and control groups, respectively (P = 0.115). There were significantly lower adverse effects reported with PRP application compared to controls (7 wound infections, 1 contact dermatitis vs 14 wound infections, 1 maceration; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The topical application of PRP for DFUs results in statistically superior healing rates and lower complication rates compared to controls.
Evaluating complex mine ventilation operational changes through simulations

Increasing the profitability of the mining industry is contingent on its ability to improve operational efficiency. Mine ventilation networks typically represent 25-50% of a mine’s energy consumption and, therefore, exhibits scope for optimisation. Ventilation networks comprise numerous complex integrated airways, branches and ventilation fans. The most effective way to optimise and evaluate them is computer-aided simulations. However, no framework exists to clarify exactly how operational changes in ventilation networks should be evaluated. In this study, a scalable method was developed, implemented and analysed. The case study validation resulted in satisfying key performance indicators of both service delivery and operational energy costs, thereby increasing operational efficiency. The significance of the novel method is that it allows for improved operational decisions on mine ventilation networks. The value of the method was illustrated by the adoption of the method by the case study mining personnel to form the new norm of their procedures and standards.
Adaptive Calculus for a New Numerical Ray Launching Method in any Media

An original method - based on the discretization of the Plane Wave Spectrum (PWS) - for propagation modeling within waveguides, cavities, and/or structures with dielectric or conducting curved interfaces, is presented. This method is called Spectral Ray Tracking (SRT) and uses the PWS of the source fields truncated by the guide or cavity aperture. Fields at any observation point in any complex media are expressed as a discrete sum of all contributions from ray tubes, which are tracked within the propagation environment following the usual Geometrical Optics rules. The calibration uses an adaptive calculus method in the context of the multiple reflections that is faster and less hungry in memory space than fixed sampling rate used in classic methods. Moreover, it shows promising of numerical efficiency and precision.
Trajectories of psychosocial and cognitive functioning in pediatric patients with brain tumors treated with radiation therapy.

Background Pediatric patients with brain tumors who are treated with radiation therapy (RT) are at risk for neurocognitive and psychosocial late effects. Research to date has primarily examined these outcomes at a group level and in isolation. Advanced statistical techniques allow for person-centered analyses, as well as examination of relationships between domain-specific trajectories. Methods Patients with brain tumors (craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, low-grade astrocytoma, high-grade astrocytoma) were enrolled on a phase II clinical trial of RT. Three hundred and fifty patients completed serial neurocognitive assessments as part of their treatment monitoring, including pre-RT baseline, 6 months post-RT, and then yearly for 5 years. This secondary analysis focused on outcomes of cognition (estimated IQ, parent-reported attention problems) and psychosocial effects (parent-reported socialization and social problems) post-RT. Results Latent growth curve modeling indicated that estimated IQ and socialization were best served by quadratic models, while attention and social problems were best served by linear models. Growth mixture modeling indicated 3-class models were the best fit for IQ and socialization, and 2-class models for attention and social problems. Baseline IQ and socialization scores were associated, but there was no association over time. Young age at diagnosis and pre-RT treatments (surgery, chemotherapy) were associated with class membership. Conclusions Person-centered statistical analyses provide rich information regarding the variability in neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning following RT for pediatric brain tumor. While many patients do well over time, a subset are exhibiting significant cognitive and/or psychosocial deficits. Class membership was associated with some medical factors (eg, pre-radiation surgery/chemotherapy, age at diagnosis, shunted hydrocephalus).
Common Misconceptions and Future Directions for AI in Medicine: A Physician-Data Scientist Perspective.

“Healthcare is an information industry that continues to think that it is a biological industry.” (Laurence McMahon at the AAHC Thought Leadership Institute meeting, August, 2016)
Comparison of youth suicide with involuntary hold criteria and inpatient capacity

Abstract Background Boarding in emergency departments pending psychiatric admission significantly impacts both the patient and system. Current recommendations suggest increasing available inpatient beds, yet involuntary psychiatric admissions have not been widely correlated with improved patient outcomes. Methods We compared state-by-state youth suicide data clustered into 3-year intervals from 1999 to 2016 to psychiatric inpatient bed numbers and stringency on involuntary hold criteria using Poisson regression models. Results No significant association was found between suicide rates and bed availability or hold criteria. Conclusions While individual holds can be valuable in prevention of danger to self, on a population basis, the incident rate ratio of inpatient bed number and that of stringency of hold criteria was not significant when relevant variables were controlled. A focus on preventative strategies is imperative, given the equipoise for this current avenue of treatment.
A Translational Roadmap for a Brain-Machine-Interface (BMI) System for Rehabilitation

In this communication, a translational roadmap for a noninvasive Brain Machine Interface (BMI) system for rehabilitation is presented. This multi-faceted project addresses important engineering, clinical, end user and regulatory challenges. The goal is to improve the feasibility of at-home neurorehabilitation for patients with chronic stroke by providing a low-cost, portable, form fitting, reliable, and easy-to-use system. The proposed BMI system is also designed to enable direct communication between the end-user and clinician, allowing for continuous patient specific rehabilitation optimization.
45 A comparative case study of changes in crime surrounding a home renovation/rebuild program of the nationwide children’s hospital in Columbus, OH

Neighborhood environments are a known social determinant of health. Vacant and abandoned buildings and lots, poor or hazardous housing conditions, combined with crime and violence can affect residents’ health and well-being. Nationwide Children’s Hospital launched its Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative in 2008 which sought to improve residents’ health by rejuvenating vacant and abandoned properties and increasing homeownership in the South Side neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Between 2008 and 2019 the program funded 309 repairs or renovations in this neighborhood. We conducted a ZIP code-level comparative case study of HNHF program housing interventions using a synthetic control methodology to evaluate changes in crime in the program area compared to those in a synthetic control area. We found evidence of relative reduction in total crimes in the HNHF program area, relative to its synthetic control, after the intervention. This decrease can largely be accounted for by a decline in thefts. Some evidence of additional decline in drug possession is seen. This program to repair, rebuild, and increase ownership of housing has shown social benefit for neighbors of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
LAND RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE OF RURAL WOMEN IN THE G5-SAHEL COUNTRIES, WEST AFRICA

This article discusses different issues pertaining gender and land governance with focus to access and control of land by rural women and how this affects their resilience in G5-Sahel region- Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania. Findings show that land remains the property of men, customary chiefs, male members of the family who have the full control of land use; women continue to serve as servants of their husbands in the farming activities. Limited access to production resources such as land, agricultural inputs, small scale irrigation and agricultural mechanization, and lack of post-harvest handling facilities; all restrain women’s economic capacity for their economic resilience to climate change and other natural disasters. There is need, therefore, for innovative models of land tenure regularization systems in the G5-Sahel countries; models that take into account current social, cultural and religious barriers for women’s land access and use for their economic activities.
Sperm and Egg Donor Anonymity: Legal and Ethical Issues

Gamete (sperm and egg) donor anonymity has become an increasingly active area of legislative, bioethical, and empirical interest over the last decade or so. This chapter reviews and discusses these developments. The initial jumping off point is the very different status of gamete donor anonymity, contrasting the U.S. (where the law does not prohibit it) with the rest of the world (where it has been largely prohibited by law) and examining the effects of these policies. While I focus primarily on sperm donor anonymity in this chapter, it is worth emphasizing that most of the legal materials, as well as the ethical arguments, apply equally to egg donors.The chapter unfolds as follows: Part I describes the widespread adoption of legal prohibitions on sperm donor anonymity in most developed countries other than the United States. It also examines the effects these changes in law have had on supply. Part II examines the United States, where there is largely no legal prohibition on sperm donor anonymity. As this Part shows, though, many donor-conceived children have turned to non-legal means to try to ascertain the identity of their donor. Part III examines the big ethical debate in this area head on – should the state legally prohibit sperm donor anonymity and require that all sperm donors put their identifying information into a registry available to donor-conceived children at a specified age? Part IV considers some peripheral debates relating to accidental incest, whether sperm donors should have rights to identify their genetic offspring and not only the converse, the interplay between compensation for sperm and egg and anonymity, and issues posed by "circumvention tourism" – travel abroad to avoid domestic law about anonymity.
Genome Engineering of Primary Human B Cells Using CRISPR/Cas9

B cells are lymphocytes derived from hematopoietic stem cells and are a key component of the humoral arm of the adaptive immune system. They make attractive candidates for cell-based therapies because of their ease of isolation from peripheral blood, their ability to expand in vitro, and their longevity in vivo. Additionally, their normal biological function-to produce large amounts of antibodies-can be utilized to express very large amounts of a therapeutic protein, such as a recombinant antibody to fight infection, or an enzyme for the treatment of enzymopathies. Here, we provide detailed methods for isolating primary human B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and activating/expanding isolated B cells in vitro. We then demonstrate the steps involved in using the CRISPR/Cas9 system for site-specific KO of endogenous genes in B cells. This method allows for efficient KO of various genes, which can be used to study the biological functions of genes of interest. We then demonstrate the steps for using the CRISPR/Cas9 system together with a recombinant, adeno-associated, viral (rAAV) vector for efficient site-specific integration of a transgene expression cassette in B cells. Together, this protocol provides a step-by-step engineering platform that can be used in primary human B cells to study biological functions of genes as well as for the development of B-cell therapeutics.
Family science nights: Venues for developing cultural competence

Abstract Reports of educators’ deficit beliefs about culturally and linguistically diverse students and students with low socioeconomic status abound in the literature. Not surprisingly, deficit beliefs are postulated as the main barrier to the implementation of culturally relevant practices and the development of teachers’ cultural competence. This study explores how teacher preparation programs can leverage science nights to support the development of teacher candidates’ cultural competence. Findings indicate that science night experiences and critical reflection around them promoted teacher candidates’ cultural competence in different ways.
Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Composites with Embedded Carbon Nanotubes/Nanoparticles for Photothermal Absorption

The usage of the abundant solar energy has attracted significant interest in the recent years, and the photothermal absorber with a high energy conversion efficiency due to its broad solar absorpti...
A NEW GEOMETRICAL FORM FOR TIN. SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF THE SPIROCYCLIC COMPLEX [(CH3)4N][(C7H6S2)2SnCl] AND THE RELATED MONOCYCLIC DERIVATIVE [(C2H5)4N][(C7H6S2)Ph2SnCl]

Abstract The synthesis and X-ray structure of the tetramethylammonium chloride adduct of the spirobi(dithiolato)stannate(IV), [(CH3)4N]+[(C7H6S2)2SnCl]−, (2), provide the first example of a tin compound having a discrete rectangular-pyramidal geometry. The synthesis and X-ray structure of the related monocyclic derivative [(C2H5)4N]+[(C7H6S2)Ph2SnCl]− (4) shows tin to possess a trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc, with a = 14.126 (4), b = 11.485 (6) A, c = 14.609 (5) A, β = 100.37 (3)°, and Z = 4. 4 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with a = 12.344 (4) A, b = 11.975 (5) A, c = 19.120 (5) A, β = 96.41 (2)°, and Z = 4. Data for both compounds were collected on an Enraf-Nonius CAD 4 automated diffractometer out to a maximum 2θMoKα of 50°. The final conventional unweighted residuals were 0.039 and 0.048 for 2 and 4, respectively. It is shown that the 19mSn Mossbauer quadrupole splitting parameter is useful in distinguishing the square (or rectangular)...
Weber’s Misunderstanding of Traditional Chinese Law1

Using his ideal‐types of the rationalization of legal systems, Max Weber classified modern Western European law as formally rational, traditional Chinese law as substantively irrational. In light of recent research by specialists in pre‐20th‐century Chinese law, Weber is shown to have had several serious misunderstandings. Chinese officials’ arbitrary discretion in judicial decision making was much more limited than Weber thought, and what limited it was not primarily “sacred tradition,” but officials’ obligation to adjudicate according to the written law. There was more legal expertise in the system than Weber realized. By the time of the Ch’ing dynasty (1644–1912), China’s legal system approximated Weber’s substantively rational type more than the substantively irrational type. Finally, Weber’s model for formally rational law—the “conceptual jurisprudence” of late‐19th‐century German civil law—is no longer regarded as the model for modern law. Therefore, students of comparative law who wish to build fro...
Influence of epinephrine upon the human gravid uterus

Abstract Rucker 1 in 1925, called attention to the fact that studies published concerning the action of epinephrine showed opposite effects in different animals and even in the same species of animals with various conditions of the uterus. In his studies on intrauterine pressures of 20 pregnant human beings, he observed that epinephrine decreased uterine activity in 80 per cent of the patients. The results of Bourne 2 and of those from this laboratory 3 indicate that in human beings, epinephrine causes an initial brief period of increased activity followed by a short period of reduced uterine activity. Recently, Brown and Wilder 4–6 quote these latter studies to disprove Rucker's statement that epinephrine relaxes the uterus. It is a common pharmacologic observation that epinephrine in proper dosage can produce either excitatory and/or inhibitory effects upon a number of structures innervated by the sympathetic nervous system. Both actions may be present and may tend to counterbalance each other. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether epinephrine has both stimulatory and inhibitory actions upon the human pregnant uterus.
The First Phase of Real-World Discovery: Determining Repeatability and Error of Experiments

Using un-repeatable data and forgetting about measurement error are two cardinal sins in empirical sciences. A machine discovery system must be able to handle both before attempting serious discoveries. We describe an application of the discovery system FAHRENHEIT in a science laboratory, focused on the preparatory stage of the empirical discovery process, i.e. the investigation of repeatability and the measurement of error. To cope with real-world empirical discovery, FAHRENHEIT has been reorganized as a distributed multi-process system and a robotic component including external manipulators and measuring instruments. We present the application of FAHRENHEIT to an experiment in which the system discovers repeatability conditions and error in the context of dispensing liquids in a chemistry laboratory. We then present the theory of the process. Many quantitative discovery systems distinguish between dependent and independent control variables. We argue that to handle repeatability and error, independent variables should be divided further into two categories: theory formation variables and experiment refinement variables. The former have been used by BACON, FAHRENHEIT and other empirical discovery systems to re-discover scientific laws. The latter are used to determine the repeatability and error, prior to the system discovery of the main theory using theory formation variables.
Hydrodynamic studies of oxygen, neon, and magnesium novae

In this paper we present the results of recent theoretical studies that have examined the properties of nova outbursts on ONeMg white dwarfs. These outburstsare much more violent and occur much more frequently then outbursts on CO white dwarfs. Hydrodynamic simulations of both kinds of outbursts are in excellent agreement with the observations.
Origin and evolution of a new gene expressed in the Drosophila sperm axoneme.

Sdic is a new gene that evolved recently in the lineage of Drosophila melanogaster. It was formed from a duplication and fusion of the gene AnnX, which encodes annexin X, and Cdic, which encodes the intermediate polypeptide chain of the cytoplasmic dynein. The fusion joins AnnX exon 4 with Cdic intron 3, which brings together three putative promoter elements for testes- specific expression of Sdic: the distal conserved element (DCE) and testes-specific element (TSE) are derived from AnnX, and the proximal conserved element (PCE) from Cdic intron 3. Sdic transcription initiates within the PCE, and translation is initiated within the sequence derived from Cdic intron 3, continuing through a 10 base pair insertion that creates a new splice donor site that enables the new coding sequence derived from intron 3 to be joined with the coding sequence of Cdic exon 4. A novel protein is created lacking 100 residues at the amino end that contain sequence motifs essential for the function of cytoplasmic dynein intermediate chains. Instead, the amino end is a hydrophobic region of 16 residues that resembles the amino end of axonemal dynein intermediate chains from other organisms. The downstream portion of Sdic features large deletions eliminating Cdic exons v2 and v3, as well as multiple frameshift deletions or insertions. The new protein becomes incorporated into the tail of the mature sperm and may function as an axonemal dynein intermediate chain. The new Sdic gene is present in about 10 tandem repeats between the wildtype Cdic and AnnX genes located near the base of the X chromosome. The implications of these findings are discussed relative to the origin of new gene functions and the process of speciation.
Non-Type b Haemophilus influenzae Infections in Adults with Reference to Biotype

We report three cases of serious non-group b Haemophilus influenzae infections. The significance of these isolates with respect to both biotypes and serotypes is discussed.
Collisions of Atoms and Molecules in External Magnetic Fields

Abstract A quantum mechanical theory of collisions of neutral open-shell particles in a magnetic field is described. The theory is based on the fully uncoupled spacefixed representation of the total wave function. Collisions of P-state, D-state and F-state atoms with structureless targets and 3∑-molecules with 2S-atoms are considered. The relations between the elements of the collision T-matrix and the transport cross section effective in diffusion are derived.
Incidentally Identified Common Bile Duct Dilatation: A Systematic Review of Evaluation, Causes, and Outcome.

Background With the widespread use of abdominal imaging, an incidentally found dilated common bile duct (CBD) is a common radiographic finding. The significance of a dilated CBD as a predictor of underlying disease and long-term outcome have not been well elucidated. Goals A systematic review of studies on patients with dilated CBD was performed to identify etiologies and clinical factors that may predict which patients require further diagnostic testing and long-term outcomes. A PubMed search for relevant articles published between 2001 and 2014 was performed. Results The search yielded a total of 882 articles, and after careful individual review for eligibility and relevancy, 9 peer-reviewed studies were included. A cause of the CBD dilation was found on average in 33% of cases and the most common causes were: CBD stone, chronic pancreatitis, and periampullary diverticulum. The overall CBD diameter was not associated with finding a causative lesion. Coexisting CBD and intrahepatic bile duct dilation, age, and jaundice were found to be indicators of pathologic lesions. Dilation of both the CBD and pancreatic duct was suggestive of pancreatic disease, especially pancreatic malignancy in the setting of obstructive jaundice. Follow-up was reported in 6 studies ranging from 6 to 85 months, and generally there was no change in the diagnosis. Conclusions Incidentally found biliary tract dilatation can be a manifestation of significant biliary tract disease including malignancy. Long-term outcome is not well defined and further prospective studies examining the most cost-effective approach to evaluation are needed.
Pathology of spontaneous air sacculitis in 37 baboons and seven chimpanzees and a brief review of the literature.

Background Air sacculitis is an important clinical condition in non-human primates. Methods We evaluated 37 baboons and seven chimpanzees with spontaneous air sacculitis submitted to pathology over a 20-year period. Results Air sacculitis was observed almost exclusively in males. Common reported signs were halitosis, coughing, nasal discharges, depression, anorexia, and weight loss. Gross lesions included thickened air sacs and suppurative exudate lining the walls. Microscopic lesions included marked epithelial hyperplasia or hypertrophy, necrosis, fibrosis, cellular infiltrates, and bacterial colonies. Mixed bacterial infections were more common than infections by single species of bacteria. Streptococcus sp. was the most frequent bacteria isolated in both baboons and chimpanzees. Conclusions This is the first report describing the gross and microscopic lesions of air sacculitis in chimpanzees. The preponderance of males suggests a male sex predilection in baboons.
Urethrocutaneous fistula following hypospadias repair: regional anesthesia and other factors.

SummaryBackground Urethrocutaneous fistula is a well-known complication of hypospadias surgery. A recent prospective study by Kundra et al. (Pediatr Anesth 2012) has suggested that caudal anesthesia may increase the risk of fistula formation. We sought to evaluate this possible association and determine if any other novel factors may be associated with fistula formation. Methods Children who underwent primary hypospadias repair between January 1, 1994 and March 31, 2013 at our tertiary care center were included in this study. Reviewed surgical data included repair type, duration of procedure, use of local anesthetic infiltration, and subcutaneous epinephrine. Analgesic factors included use of caudal and/or penile block, opioid usage, postoperative pain scores, and nausea/vomiting. Postoperative surgical complications and estimates of family household median income by zip code were also reviewed. Results Fistula occurrence was not associated with caudal or penile block, severity of postoperative pain, or surgeon experience. A more proximal location of the urethral meatus, longer operating time, and use of subcutaneous epinephrine were significantly more common in patients who developed fistula. As assessed by home address zip code, distance of more than 100 miles and median household income in the bottom 25th percentile of our study population were not associated with fistula, as compared to closer distance or higher income. Conclusion In this series, we found no association between the use of caudal regional anesthesia and fistula formation. Location of the starting urethral meatus, prolonged surgical duration, and subcutaneous epinephrine use were associated with fistula formation. Our findings call into question the routine use of epinephrine in hypospadias repair.
Complementary use of passive surveillance and Mini‐Sentinel to better characterize hemolysis after immune globulin

BACKGROUND Hemolysis after intravenous immune globulins (IGIVs) is a known complication, but expanding indications and recent manufacturing changes warrant ongoing postmarketing surveillance. Characterization of post-IGIV hemolysis to date has been limited to small case series. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We queried the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2007 to 2014. All reported post-IGIV hemolysis cases were classified using a prespecified case definition and a case series analysis performed. We also conducted two assessments using FDA's Mini-Sentinel (MS) system to quantify the risk of hemolysis by six product indications and by IGIV formulation and evaluate the onset interval. RESULTS A total of 109 FAERS cases met our definition. For cases with available information, 83% (66/80) received IGIV doses of at least 2 g/kg, 98.1% (51/52) had non-O blood group, and 75% (64/85) of events occurred within 4 days of IGIV exposure. We identified 313,045 treatment episodes and 337 post-IGIV hemolytic events in MS from 2006 to 2014, with 72% occurring within 2 days. Rates of hemolysis were highest among patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The risk among patients receiving nonlyophilized products was 2.3 times higher than that in patients receiving lyophilized products. CONCLUSION With the largest case series to date, FAERS data support that higher doses and non-O blood group are key risk factors. The incident rate of post-IGIV hemolysis is estimated at one per 1000 IGIV treatment episodes, with most occurring within 2 days of exposure. The risk is higher in patients with KD and ITP and after receipt of nonlyophilized IGIV.
Otoacoustic emission acquisition using adaptive noise cancellation techniques

A Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) system utilizing multiple microphones and advanced noise cancellation methods is described. This application focuses on noise cancellation techniques used to reduce internal and external noise contamination especially at the frequencies under 1500 Hz. Two additional microphones were used to acquire external and internal noise reference signals from the non-test ear and from the testing environment. Hardware and software was developed and experiments conducted to test the feasibility of using two noise reduction techniques. Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Adaptive Wiener Filtering (AWF). Data were acquired in single sweeps and processed off-line with each method. Additional real-time ANC experiments were also conducted. Experimental results demonstrated that the ANC algorithm has the ability to reduce background noise and improve the SNR levels of DPOAE signals by about 5 dB. The AWF algorithm was also found to improve SNR levels between 3 and 9 dB at the lower frequencies depending on the reference microphone combination.
Smart-Phone Based Magnetic Levitation for Measuring Densities

Magnetic levitation, which uses a magnetic field to suspend objects in a fluid, is a powerful and versatile technology. We develop a compact magnetic levitation platform compatible with a smart-phone to separate micro-objects and estimate the density of the sample based on its levitation height. A 3D printed attachment is mechanically installed over the existing camera unit of a smart-phone. Micro-objects, which may be either spherical or irregular in shape, are suspended in a paramagnetic medium and loaded in a microcapillary tube which is then inserted between two permanent magnets. The micro-objects are levitated and confined in the microcapillary at an equilibrium height dependent on their volumetric mass densities (causing a buoyancy force toward the edge of the microcapillary) and magnetic susceptibilities (causing a magnetic force toward the center of the microcapillary) relative to the suspending medium. The smart-phone camera captures magnified images of the levitating micro-objects through an additional lens positioned between the sample and the camera lens cover. A custom-developed Android application then analyzes these images to determine the levitation height and estimate the density. Using this platform, we were able to separate microspheres with varying densities and calibrate their levitation heights to known densities to develop a technique for precise and accurate density estimation. We have also characterized the magnetic field, the optical imaging capabilities, and the thermal state over time of this platform.
Differences in lectin binding in squamous metaplasia induced by benzo(a)pyrene and vitamin A deficiency in hamster tracheal explants

Epidermoid metaplasia in the hamster trachea can be produced by treatment with benzo(a)pyrene (BP) or vitamin A deficiency. To elucidate distinguishing features of the two types of lesions, lectin binding to tissue sections of tracheal explants exhibiting metaplastic lesions was assessed. In squamous metaplasia induced by vitamin A deficiency, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and peanut agglutinin (PNA) showed faint (+) to moderate (++) binding in both basal and suprabasal cells; Concanavalin A (Con A) showed moderate binding (++) to suprabasal cells and no binding in basal cells. In the BP-induced lesions, PNA and WGA bound intensely (++++, +++, respectively) in basal cells and faintly (+) to moderately (++) in suprabasal cells. The staining seemed to be predominant at the periphery of the cells. Further, the intensity of PNA and WGA staining increased significantly after the neuraminidase treatment. DBA and Con A showed faint (+) to moderate (++) binding in the BP-induced metaplasia. The results show that in BP-induced metaplasia, cells in the basal region show preferential binding of PNA and WGA.
Measuring Economic Globalization: Spatial Hierarchies and Market Topologies:

Measuring the degree and extent of economic globalization is subject to a variety of issues ranging from theoretical conceptualization to the selection of appropriate data. This examination of economic globalization underscores the importance of a geographic perspective that is necessarily situated within a temporal context. International trade data and exploratory spatial data analyses are used to assess patterns of economic globalization between 1970 and 1997. Results indicate that preserving topological relationships between states in the global economy can guide, inform, and extend future studies of the processes and patterns of economic globalization.
Mercury, lead, and cadmium in blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Atlantic coast of Florida, USA: a multipredator approach.

Abstract Blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Atlantic coast of Florida were analyzed for total mercury, methylmercury, lead, and cadmium. Paired samples of two tissue types were analyzed for each crab, (1) muscle tissue (cheliped and body muscles) and (2) whole-body tissue (all organs, muscle tissue and connective tissue), for evaluation of the concentration of metals available to human consumers as well as estuarine predators. There were clear patterns of tissue-specific partitioning for each metal. Total mercury was significantly greater in muscle tissue (mean=0.078 µg/g) than in whole-body tissue (mean=0.055 µg/g). Conversely, whole-body concentrations of lead and cadmium (means=0.131 and 0.079 µg/g, respectively) were significantly greater than concentrations in muscle (means=0.02 and 0.029 µg/g, respectively). There were no significant correlations between any metal contaminant and crab size. Cadmium levels were significantly greater in the muscle tissue of females, but, no other sex-related differences were seen for other metals or tissue types. Methylmercury composed 93–100% of the total mercury in tissues. Compared to previous blue crab studies from different regions of the United States, mean concentrations of mercury, lead, and cadmium were relatively low, although isolated groups or individual blue crabs accumulated high metal concentrations.
Production decision support system for computerized manufacturing systems

Abstract The introduction of Computerized Manufacturing Systems (CMS) into the mid-volume manufacturing industry has been an important new step in the development of automated manufacturing. CMS's are computer-integrated systems which incorporate Direct Numerical Control (DNC) capabilities with automatic material handling to manufacture parts. Due to its complex nature, the task of production control in an CMS cannot rely on human effort alone. It is essential to develop a software package in the form of a Production Decision Support System (PDSS) to assist the production decision maker in operating this complex manufacturing facility.
Laparoscopic splenectomy for massive splenomegaly using a Lahey bag

Abstract Background: Although the recent development of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) has made the laparoscopic retraction of large spleens feasible, the laparoscopic removal of massively enlarged spleens (>1,000 g) remains a significant problem because these spleens do not fit into endoscopic bags. Consequently, in order to remove massive spleens either a large abdominal incision or morcellation of the spleen outside of an endoscopy bag is required. Methods: Two patients, with spleens weighing 2,510 g and 1,720 g, underwent laparoscopic splenectomy using a hand port to ensure safe retraction. The massive spleen was placed into a Lahey bag that was inserted into the abdomen through the hand port site. While in the Lahey bag, the spleen was removed piecemeal through the hand port site. Results: Both operations were completed laparoscopically without complications. The patients were discharged on postoperative day 2 and experienced minimal morbidity. Conclusions: The Lahey bag facilitates laparoscopic splenectomy for massive splenomegaly as even the most massive spleens will fit into a Lahey bag. A massive spleen may be removed piecemeal from the Lahey bag through the small hand port incision without risking a large abdominal incision, splenosis, or the insertion of a morcellator.
The "active" rosette test in immunodeficiency diseases.

Abstract The “active” rosette test is a clinically useful test for assessing T cell function. When there is disparity between the result of the “active” and “total” rosette test, the clinical status and in vitro studies of the patient correlate better with active rosette formation. These studies also suggest that active rosette formation may serve as a marker of T cell differentiation.
A split active site couples cap recognition by Dcp2 to activation

Decapping by Dcp2 is an essential step in 5'-to-3' mRNA decay. In yeast, decapping requires an open-to-closed transition in Dcp2, though the link between closure and catalysis remains elusive. Here we show using NMR that cap binds conserved residues on both the catalytic and regulatory domains of Dcp2. Lesions in the cap-binding site on the regulatory domain reduce the catalytic step by two orders of magnitude and block the formation of the closed state, whereas Dcp1 enhances the catalytic step by a factor of 10 and promotes closure. We conclude that closure occurs during the rate-limiting catalytic step of decapping, juxtaposing the cap-binding region of each domain to form a composite active site. This work suggests a model for regulation of decapping where coactivators trigger decapping by stabilizing a labile composite active site.
Social structure and U.S. inter-state fertility differentials in 1900

This paper investigates the importance of agricultural land shortages versus modernization of the society in influencing inter-state differentials in fertility in 1900, when the United States was in midtransition. Urbanization and manufacturing characteristics of states were the strongest correlates of variations in the index of total fertility because urban-industrialism depressed both the probability of marriage and marital fertility. Other modern characteristics of American states were also important in understanding variations in marital fertility. Low labor force employment of children and farm mechanization, integrally related characteristics, seemed to depress levels of marital fertility in many parts of the United States, independent of the urban-industrial system. Agricultural land opportunity had little overall effect on marital fertility; however, it was quite important in understanding variations in patterns of marriage.
Data access history cache and associated data prefetching mechanisms

Data prefetching is an effective way to bridge the increasing performance gap between processor and memory. As computing power is increasing much faster than memory performance, we suggest that it is time to have a dedicated cache to store data access histories and to serve prefetching to mask data access latency effectively. We thus propose a new cache structure, named Data Access History Cache (DAHC), and study its associated prefetching mechanisms. The DAHC behaves as a cache for recent reference information instead of as a traditional cache for instructions or data. Theoretically, it is capable of supporting many well known history-based prefetching algorithms, especially adaptive and aggressive approaches. We have carried out simulation experiments to validate DAHC design and DAHC-based data prefetching methodologies and to demonstrate performance gains. The DAHC provides a practical approach to reaping data prefetching benefits and its associated prefetching mechanisms are proven more effective than traditional approaches.
New Live Attenuated Influenza A/England/42/72 (H3N2) Vaccine (Alice): Reactogenicity, Immunogenicity, and Protection Efficacy

The Alice strain of influenza A/England/42/72 (H3N2) live attenuated vaccine, when given by the intranasal route to 133 volunteers, was relatively nonreactogenic; only 12% of the vaccinees had upper respiratory tract symptoms after immunization. Seroconversion in 87.2% of subjects whose titers of humoral hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody before immunization were less than 1:8 demonstrated the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The overall seroconversion rate was 66.1% (geometric mean titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody, 1:40.9). Antibody levels were unchanged at six months in 95.5% and at 12 months in 91.7% of the vaccinees. Because of the lack of natural influenza A infection during the season monitored, an experimental challenge study with homotypic virus (influenza A/Udorn/307/72 [H3N2]) was conducted eight months after immunization of a sample population of 22 subjects. Twelve of these subjects were vaccinees whose titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody were greater than or equal to 1:64, and 10 were unimmunized controls whose titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody were less than or equal to 1:8. The group with titers of greater than or equal to 1:64 represented 40.2% of the immunized population. The vaccine was highly effective in this selected group, with a 91% protection efficacy against illness and a 100% rate of protection against illness associated with influenza A infection.
RAR agonists stimulate SOX9 gene expression in breast cancer cell lines: evidence for a role in retinoid-mediated growth inhibition

Retinoic acid receptors (RARs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors which are members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor gene family. RAR-agonists inhibit the proliferation of many human breast cancer cell lines, particularly those whose growth is stimulated by estradiol (E2) or growth factors. PCR-amplified subtractive hybridization was used to identify candidate retinoid-regulated genes that may be involved in growth inhibition. One candidate gene identified was SOX9, a member of the high mobility group (HMG) box gene family of transcription factors. SOX9 gene expression is rapidly stimulated by RAR-agonists in T-47D cells and other retinoid-inhibited breast cancer cell lines. In support of this finding, a database search indicates that SOX9 is expressed as an EST in breast tumor cells. SOX9 is known to be expressed in chondrocytes where it regulates the transcription of type II collagen and in testes where it plays a role in male sexual differentiation. RAR pan-agonists and the RARalpha-selective agonist Am580, but not RXR agonists, stimulate the expression of SOX9 in a wide variety of retinoid-inhibited breast cancer cell lines. RAR-agonists did not stimulate SOX9 in breast cancer cell lines which were not growth inhibited by retinoids. Expression of SOX9 in T-47D cells leads to cycle changes similar to those found with RAR-agonists while expression of a dominant negative form of SOX9 blocks RA-mediated cell cycle changes, suggesting a role for SOX9 in retinoid-mediated growth inhibition.
Dichotic speech perception: A comparison between stuttering and nonstuttering children

Abstract A stop consonant-vowel dichotic listening task was administered to 90 right- handed boys, 30 in each age group of 5, 7, and 9 yr. Half in each group were stutterers, half nonstutterers. Two and a half times as many stutterers as nonstutterers were found to display either a left-ear advantage (LEA) or no ear advantage (NEA). This finding suggested a greater tendency on the part of stutterers, as opposed to nonstutterers, for reversed or bilateral representation of the auditory speech areas of the brain. In addition, both stutterers and nonstutterers displayed significant developmental increases in the number of times they were able to identify both dichotic speech stimuli, thereby supporting the hypothesis of an age-related increase in children's total information processing capacity. The results are discussed in terms of the differences between stutterers and nonstutterers with respect to the issues of motor representation, cognitive modes, and higher-order linguistic processes.
ICRF antenna Faraday shield plasma sheath model

Abstract A two-dimensional nonlinear formulation that explicitly considers the plasma edge near a Faraday shield in a self-consistent manner is used in the modeling of the ion motion for a Faraday shield concept and model suggested by Perkins. Two models are considered that may provide significant insight into the generation of impurities for ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) antennas. In one of these models a significant sheath periodically forms next to the Faraday screen, with ion acoustic waves heating the ions in the plasma.