cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lesional perfusion abnormalities in Leigh disease demonstrated by arterial spin labeling correlate with disease activity

Leigh disease is a metabolic disorder of the mitochondrial respiratory chain culminating in symmetrical necrotizing lesions in the deep gray nuclei or brainstem. Apart from classic gliotic/necrotic lesions, small-vessel proliferation is also characteristic on histopathology. We have observed lesional hyperperfusion on arterial spin-labeling (ASL) sequence in children with Leigh disease. In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated lesional ASL perfusion characteristics in children with Leigh syndrome. We searched the imaging database from an academic children’s hospital for “arterial spin labeling, perfusion, necrosis, lactate, and Leigh” to build a cohort of children for retrospective analysis. We reviewed each child’s medical record to confirm a diagnosis of Leigh disease, excluding exams with artifact, technical limitations, and without ASL images. We evaluated the degree and extent of cerebral blood flow and relationship to brain lesions. Images were compared to normal exams from an aged-matche cohort. The database search yielded 45 exams; 30 were excluded. We evaluated 15 exams from 8 children with Leigh disease and 15 age-matched normal exams. In general, Leigh brain perfusion ranged from hyperintense (n=10) to hypointense (n=5). Necrotic lesions appeared hypointense/hypoperfused. Active lesions with associated restricted diffusion demonstrated hyperperfusion. ASL perfusion patterns differed significantly from those on age-matched normal studies (P=<.0001). Disease activity positively correlated with cerebral deep gray nuclei hyperperfusion (P=0.0037) and lesion grade (P=0.0256). Children with Leigh disease have abnormal perfusion of brain lesions. Hyperperfusion can be found in active brain lesions, possibly associated with small-vessel proliferation characteristic of the disease.
PNN Recognition of Chinese Characters on License Plate Based on Fisher Discriminant Criterion Feature Fusion Strategy

A novel algorithm for recognizing Chinese characters on license plate is proposed so as to achieve three purposes: overcoming disadvantages of two-value preprocessing,raising the characterization ability of image features and decreasing training complexity of traditional algorithms.According to Fisher discriminant criterion,two kinds of image features,Pseudo-zernike moments and Gabor transforming coefficients are fused along the direction of the optimal discriminant vectors.The new fused feature has better performance to characterize the image.Probabilistic neural network(PNN) is trained by new fusion features as the classifier due to its simple structure and quick learning rate.Numeral experiment shows this algorithm does not need two-value preprocessing and the obtained classifier has low computational complexity as well as high recognition rate compared with traditional classifiers such as BP and SVM.
Shoulder Injuries in Pediatric Athletes

Shoulder injuries in pediatric athletes are typically caused by acute or overuse injuries. The developing structures of the shoulder lead to injury patterns that are distinct from those of adult athletes. Overuse injuries often affect the physeal structures of the proximal humerus and can lead to pain and loss of sports participation. Shoulder instability is common in pediatric athletes, and recurrence is also a concern in this population. Fractures of the proximal humerus and clavicle are typically treated with conservative management, but there is a trend toward surgical intervention.
GI Peptides, Energy Balance, and Cancer

Beyond its role in nutrient absorption, the gastrointestinal tract is a vital endocrine organ responsible for the production of a variety of regulatory peptides that modulate energy balance. In this chapter, the most studied gastrointestinal peptides are described, with emphasis on their roles played in appetite control, glucose homeostasis, and weight disorders. Translational research investigating drug development targeting the “gut–brain” axis regulatory pathway for the treatment of obesity and diabetes is also highlighted. Several GI peptides have proliferative and/or pro-apoptotic functions and their possible cancer-related effects are discussed.
What Do Colorado Adults Know About Legal Use of Recreational Marijuana After a Media Campaign

Background. Colorado is among the first states to legalize the recreational sale of marijuana and therefore among the first to develop regulations outlining the purchase, possession, consumption, and enforcement, and penalties. Colorado legislators set aside funds for a statewide informational media campaign to educate Colorado residents on legal use of marijuana. Method. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the mass media campaign to increase awareness of the law through a prospective cohort surveyed before and 6 months after the launch of the campaign (n = 798). Results. A total of 28.0% reported recall of the Good to Know campaign. There was a significant positive change in accurate knowledge of marijuana laws from baseline to follow-up for each of the four primary indicators of knowledge of the marijuana laws. Among those who had inaccurate knowledge of the laws at baseline, those who reported seeing the campaign at least once or more were 2.53 (95% confidence interval = 1.29-4.95) times as likel...
Trends in Incidence and Outcome in T-Cell Lymphoma Since 1992: A SEER Database Analysis

Abstract 4264 Background: Recent reports have suggested an increase in the incidence of T-cell lymphoma (TCL) in the United States. Despite newer therapies, however, it remains unclear whether outcomes for such patients are improving over time, and whether race impacts outcome. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the Surveillance and Epidemiology End Result (SEER) Database of 18 registries (SEER-18), acquiring data on all available subtypes of TCL between1992 and 2009, based upon corresponding International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) codes. This data was analyzed based upon histologic subtype, patient race (white vs. black vs. all others combined), year of diagnosis, and overall survival (OS; at 12, 36, and 60 months). Survival of studied patients was derived by the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared to that of the general population using the Ederer II method. Results: A total of 11,492 cases of TCL were included. The four most commonly occurring subtypes of peripheral TCL (PTCL) were PTCL not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS; n=3591, 31% of all TCL), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL; n=2762, 24%), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL; n=1077, 9%), and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL; n=526, 5%), nasal type. With the exception of ALCL, each of these is increasing in incidence, and the combined rate has more than tripled since 1992 (from 0.25 to 0.90 per 100,000 age-adjusted population from 1992 to 2009; Figure 1). Combined survival rates for all PTCL at 12, 36, and 60 months, however, are each suggestive of deterioration in outcome over time (eg, 12-month OS decreased from 80.8% in 1992 [95% CI 72.6–86.8%], to 69.1% in 2009 [95% CI 62.9–72.4%]; see Figure 2). OS rates for patients with PTCL were significantly different from those with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (12-year rate: 58% vs. 91% p Conclusions: Despite increased incidence of PTCL throughout the last two decades, there is no suggestion of improvement in outcome, and there are significant disparities in outcome by histologic subtype and apparent albeit insignificant trends by race. Whether this represents differences in disease biology or different treatment approaches per race and/or access to care remains to be determined. While new agents have gained regulatory approval for PTCL since 2009 it remains premature to fully evaluate their impact on the outcome of TCL patients. Disclosures: Petrich:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Allos Therapeutics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.
Adolescent Health and Nutrition

Adolescence presents a window of opportunity to ensure successful transition to adulthood. Nutritional status and eating behaviors acquired during this life stage have important implications for the health and well-being of adolescent themselves, as well as intergenerational health outcomes. Available evidence suggests that the prevalence of undernutrition, overweight, and micronutrient deficiencies is considerable among adolescents. Rapid growth and development during puberty elevates physiological demands for energy and micronutrients, which is coupled with suboptimal food and nutrient intake. The inability to meet nutrition requirements due to physiological changes is further complicated by two significant transitions to adulthood among girls: child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. In low-income countries, many adolescents enter pregnancy with poor nutritional status and have a limited intake of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation. In this case, both pregnant and lactating adolescents and their babies are likely to have suboptimal growth and nutritional status. Acceleration of progress in improving adolescent nutrition will require a range of effective, large-scale, complementary nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions. Despite evidence of effective strategies and delivery platforms, such as school-, community-, and health-based platforms, program implementation gaps persist.
Exploring the role of the romantic relationship context in weight loss

For individuals losing weight who are cohabiting with their romantic partners, weight loss is pursued within a relational context. To better understand the role of romantic partners, 44 individuals from a Southwestern city in the U.S. who were actively trying to lose weight were interviewed about the current and desired role of their partner in their weight loss. Responses were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed. Themes specifically pertinent to the romantic relationship that facilitated or hindered weight loss were identified. Three major themes emerged, each with subthemes. Factors that facilitated weight loss were having a team effort in pursuing the weight loss goals, partners being accommodating to dietary and schedule changes, and the provision of logistical help (e.g., childcare). Obstacles presented by the interdependent nature of romantic relationships included partners having opposing perspectives on weight loss, partners’ negative comments about themselves, and difficulties in balancing the...
TRACING COASTAL SEDIMENT MOVEMENT BY NATURALLY RADIOACTIVE MINERALS

The process by which sediments are moved along the shore is known as littoral drift and it includes beach drifting and longshore drift (Johnson, 1919). Coarse material is moved along a foreshore in zig-zag paths under the influence of swash and backwash of the waves. The process of longshore drift is due to longshore currents set up within the breaker zone by breaking waves approaching the shoreline at an angle. Although the waves tend to become parallel to the coast as a result of refraction, they usually break at a slight angle to the shore with the result that a littoral current is induced and is effective in moving a mass of water (and the sediment placed in suspension by the breaking waves) slowly along the coast. It is this current combined with the agitating action of the breaking waves, that is the primary factor in causing movement of sand along a coastline. It is believed that the largest percentage of the littoral transport occurs shoreward of the breaking point of the waves .
Alcohol-Induced Behaviors Require a Subset of Drosophila JmjC-Domain Histone Demethylases in the Nervous System

Background Long-lasting transcriptional changes underlie a number of adaptations that contribute to alcohol use disorders (AUD). Chromatin remodeling, including histone methylation, can confer distinct, long-lasting transcriptional changes, and histone methylases are known to play a role in the development of addiction. Conversely, little is known about the relevance of Jumonji (JmjC) domain-containing demethylases in AUDs. We systematically surveyed the alcohol-induced phenotypes of null mutations in all 13 Drosophila JmjC genes. Methods We used a collection of JmjC mutants, the majority of which we generated by homologous recombination, and assayed them in the Booze-o-mat to determine their naive sensitivity to sedation and their tolerance (change in sensitivity upon repeat exposure). Mutants with reproducible phenotypes had their phenotypes rescued with tagged genomic transgenes, and/or phenocopied by nervous system-specific knockdown using RNA interference (RNAi). Results Four of the 13 JmjC genes (KDM3, lid, NO66, and HSPBAP1) showed reproducible ethanol (EtOH) sensitivity phenotypes. Some of the phenotypes were observed across doses, for example, the enhanced EtOH sensitivity of KDM3KO and NO66KO, but others were dose dependent, such as the reduced EtOH sensitivity of HSPBAP1KO, or the enhanced EtOH tolerance of NO66KO. These phenotypes were rescued by their respective genomic transgenes in KDM3KO and NO66KO mutants. While we were unable to rescue lidk mutants, knockdown of lid in the nervous system recapitulated the lidk phenotype, as was observed for KDM3KO and NO66KO RNAi-mediated knockdown. Conclusions Our study reveals that the Drosophila JmjC-domain histone demethylases Lid, KDM3, NO66, and HSPBAP1 are required for normal EtOH-induced sedation and tolerance. Three of 3 tested of those 4 JmjC genes are required in the nervous system for normal alcohol-induced behavioral responses, suggesting that this gene family is an intriguing avenue for future research.
Alternatives to Abstinence: Evidence, Issues and Some Proposals

Scientific studies of alcohol problems were largely nonexistent prior to the decade of the 19601s. Nevertheless, despite the absence of a scientific basis, a set of popular, highly influential conceptualizations of alcohol problems developed. These popular views derived from the only available source, the life experiences of persons with alcohol problems and the clinical experiences of those who had to deal with them. These views, recently described by Pattison, Sobell and Sobell (1977) as the traditional model of alcoholism, in turn became the determining principles upon which treatment procedures were formulated. In fact, it has been argued by some that these beliefs have become so reified by workers in the alcohol field that defense and proselytization of the traditional model is characterized by an evangelical religious fervor (Pattison et al., 1977; Robinson, 1972; Verden and Shatterly, 1971). Because of such a commitment by many, alcohol problems have come to be recognized as extremely serious, pervasive health problems worthy of intensive scientific study. Less positively, the widespread acceptance of traditional concepts has also provided the foundation for divisive controversy.
Abstract 20681: Drug Discovery for PH-HFpEF: High Throughput Screening in Identification of SIRT3 Activators

Introduction: SIRT3 is a NAD+ dependent protein deacetylase which, when under-expressed, has been linked to the metabolic syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Our laboratory has shown that...
Multicolor Liposome Mixtures for Selective and Selectable Cargo Release

Many approaches exist for stimuli-triggered cargo release from nanocarriers, but few can provide for on-demand release of multiple payloads, selectively. Here, we report the synthesis of purpurin-phospholipid (Pur-P), a lipid chromophore that has near-infrared absorbance red-shifted by 30 nm compared to a structurally similar pyropheophorbide-phospholipid (Pyr-P). Liposomes containing small amounts of either Pur-P or Pyr-P exhibited similar physical properties and fluorescence self-quenching. Loaded with distinct cargos, Pur-P and Pyr-P liposomes were mixed into a single colloidal suspension and selectively released cargo depending on irradiation wavelength. Spatiotemporal control of distinct cargo release was achieved by controlling multicolor laser placement. Using basic orange and doxorubicin anthraquinones, multidimensional cytotoxicity gradients were established to gauge efficacy against cancer cells using light-released drug. Wavelength selectivity of cargo release was maintained following intramusc...
The Role of Unhealthy Behaviors on an Individual's Self-Reported Perceived Health Status

Many health plans and employers gather information about their enrollees in the form of self-reported surveys. This information is useful in assessing the risk pool of the population, targeting dis...
Really Rethinking Financial Reporting: A Discussion of Rethinking Financial Reporting: Standards, Norms and Institutions by Shyam Sunder

Professor Sunder’s book raises significant issues about the state of financial reporting, particularly his concern at the proliferation of complex rules for which there are only questionable justifications. In this review essay issue is taken not that there isn’t a problem with current financial reporting, but with the unexamined premise about the nature of that problem and the role that accounting and auditing play in the regulation of the modern, powerful corporation. It is argued that rules are the logical consequence of a competitive order and that resorting to norms as an alternative to rules or standards promises no better alternative unless there is a critical examination of who is to be the community to which norms apply. Thus, it is crucial to question the premise of decision usefulness as the underlying purpose of accounting vis-a-vis the publicly traded corporation. I argue that re-considering the historical norms of accounting that are based on the premise that holding corporations accountable, is crucial to really rethinking financial reporting.
Numerical Searches for Ground State Solutions of a Modified Capillary Equation and for Solutions of the Charge Balance Equation

In this talk we shall present some numerical results for solutions of two degenerate elliptic boundary value problems. While quite different in origin they have some common features which make their numerical solution quite interesting.
Animal Models of Environmental Manipulations Resulting in Epigenetic Modifications That Increase Risk for Affective Disorders

Affective disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders have a high lifetime prevalence. Risk for these devastating diseases is increased by genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, and gene by environment interactions which are believed to be mediated, in part, by epigenetic mechanisms. To better investigate epigenetic modifications, animal models of environmental challenges are employed and changes in gene expression and behaviors that model aspects of affective disorders are assessed. These animal models include maternal exposure to stress, toxins, and nutritional deficiencies in the prenatal period; maternal care in the postnatal period; and exposure to social stress and hormonal changes in adulthood. Behavior and gene expression changes in response to these manipulations have been linked to changes in DNA methylation and histone acetylation of specific genes, including Bdnf, Nr3c1 (GR), and Crh in the brain. Existing treatments for anxiety and depression are not efficacious for many patients, and a better understanding of the etiology of these diseases may improve treatment options.
Physiology and Pharmacology of the Prostate

The physiological properties of the prostate resemble those of other exocrine glands. The precise functions of the prostate remain obscure but some inferences can be made. The prostate is ideally positioned to block the entrance of pathogens into the reproductive tract by secreting potent biological agents that are bacteriostatic. These substances include metal ions, proteases, and highly charged organic molecules such as spermine. The total contribution to seminal fluid (average 3 mL) made by prostate secretions is about 0.5 mL. The pH of these prostate secretions is relatively alkaline and varies from 6 to 8, possibly to counteract the acidic environment of the urethra and vagina. Seminal plasma may increase sperm motility or survival in the male urethra or female genital tract by buffering mechanisms. Constituents of prostatic fluid participate in the clotting (semenogelins I and II) and lysing (prostate specific antigen) of semen. This clotting, then liquefaction may somehow optimize fertility by allowing an initial higher dwell time in the female reproductive tract. A list of components of prostatic fluid is found in Table 18.1.
Soft phonons in superconducting LuNi 2 B 2 C

Inelastic-neutron-scattering techniques have been used to measure the low-lying phonon-dispersion curves of superconducting ${\mathrm{LuNi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C along the [\ensuremath{\xi}00] and [00\ensuremath{\xi}] symmetry directions. The most important result of this experiment is that the phonon frequencies of the acoustic and first optical ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{4}$ [\ensuremath{\xi}00] branches in the vicinity of the zone-boundary point ${\mathit{G}}_{1}$ decrease with decreasing temperature. Actually these two branches exhibit pronounced dips at low temperatures, close to ${\mathit{G}}_{1}$. This shows that the electron-phonon interaction is quite strong and causes an incipient lattice instability, a behavior typical of strongly coupled conventional superconductors. Furthermore, the phonon anomalies occur at wave vectors close to those of the incommensurate magnetically ordered structures observed in the magnetic compounds of this family, which suggests that both the magnetic ordering and the incipient lattice instabilities are influenced by common nesting features of the Fermi surfaces of the rare-earth nickel boride carbides.
Morality and decision making

A decision is a thought process that leads to one of several possible options. Each option — if chosen and carried out — has consequences for the decision maker or others. That is, the option chosen has a causal effect on things someone cares about, on someone’s goals or aims or desires. By “a causal effect on goals,” I mean that the extent to winch some goal or other is achieved depends on the option chosen. If everything else were held constant except the option chosen, the achievement of goals would vary as a function of the option. Notice that this definition of causality sometimes requires us to ask, counterfactually, what would have happened if some other option had been chosen.
In Vitro Effects of Light on the Regeneration of Rhodopsin

It is now well established that damage to the retina occurs from visible light at intensity levels below thresholds for thermal burns (1–3). This damage is found to be reversible in the early stages provided the pigment epithelium is intact (4). The mechanism for producing this early reversible light damage is still unknown. This chapter summarizes our preliminary in vitro results from studies to ascertain if irradiation damage results in a structural alteration to the rod outer segments (ROS) which would effect the regeneration of the visible pigment and thus lead to a temporary breakdown in the visual response.
Protein Adsorption to Biomaterials

Within milliseconds after biomaterials come in contact with a biological fluid such as blood, proteins begin to adhere to the surface through a process known as protein adsorption. Protein adsorption is initially strongly influenced by protein diffusion, but protein affinity for the surface becomes critically important and, over time, higher-affinity proteins can be replaced by lower-affinity proteins in a dynamic process. By the time cells arrive, the material surface has already been coated in a monolayer of proteins; hence, the host cells do not “see” the material but “see” instead a dynamic layer of proteins. Multiple parameters influence protein adsorption to a substrate surface including the chemical and physical properties of both the protein and the material surface, as well as the presence of other proteins on the surface.
Introduction: Sympathetic Serial Offenders

The introduction considers the influx of sympathetic perpetrators—criminals, mobsters, corrupt politicians—who have flooded Italian television screens over the last ten years or so. It looks at the representation and appeal of criminals when they are the subject of popular fictionalized accounts, focusing on a selection of recent, well-known Italian television series that create sympathy for perpetrators and that premiered on Rai, Mediaset, Sky Italian, and Netflix. In particular, the introduction outlines serial television’s several viewing pleasures; discusses the “sympathetic perpetrator identikit” that positions viewers to root for and align with antiheroes; considers complex masculinities; and addresses the particularities of the Italian case (i.e., sympathetic perpetrators on Italian television are conventionally attractive, and narratives are based upon historical figures and events, in particular Italy’s mafias: the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, Banda della Magliana, and ’ndrangheta).
Widespread epigenetic changes to the enhancer landscape of mouse liver induced by a specific xenobiotic agonist ligand of the nuclear receptor CAR.

CAR (Nr1i3), a liver nuclear receptor and xenobiotic sensor, induces drug, steroid and lipid metabolism and dysregulates genes linked to hepatocellular carcinogenesis, but its impact on the liver epigenome is poorly understood. TCPOBOP, a halogenated xenochemical and highly specific CAR agonist ligand, induces localized chromatin opening or closing at several thousand mouse liver genomic regions, discovered as differential DNase-hypersensitive sites (ΔDHS). Active enhancer and promoter histone marks induced by TCPOBOP were enriched at opening DHS and TCPOBOP-inducible genes. Enrichment of CAR binding and CAR motifs was seen at opening DHS and their inducible drug/lipid metabolism gene targets, and at many constitutively open DHS located nearby. TCPOBOP-responsive cell cycle and DNA replication genes co-dependent on MET/EGFR signaling for induction were also enriched for CAR binding. A subset of opening DHS and many closing DHS mapping to TCPOBOP-responsive target genes did not bind CAR, indicating an indirect mechanism for their changes in chromatin accessibility. TCPOBOP-responsive DHS were also enriched for induced binding of RXRA, CEBPA and CEBPB, and for motifs for liver-enriched factors that may contribute to liver-specific transcriptional responses to TCPOBOP exposure. These studies elucidate the enhancer landscape of TCPOBOP-exposed liver and the widespread epigenetic changes that are induced by both direct and indirect mechanisms linked to CAR activation. The global maps of thousands of environmental chemical-induced epigenetic changes described here constitute a rich resource for further research on xenochemical effects on liver chromatin states and the epigenome.
Role of oral anticoagulant therapy for secondary prevention in patients with stable atherothrombotic disease manifestations

Coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease are strong predictors of risk for a future ischemic event. Despite the utilization of effective secondary prevention strategies, the prevalence of ischemic recurrences remains high, underscoring the need for effective secondary prevention antithrombotic treatment regimens. To date, most of the tested approaches have been with the use of antiplatelet therapies, used either individually or in combination. However, most recent findings support the potential role of oral anticoagulant therapy in addition to antiplatelet therapy to reduce the risk of ischemic recurrences. This approach has been tested in both acute and stable settings of patients with cardiovascular disease manifestations. The present manuscript provides an overview on the rationale and clinical trial updates on the role of oral anticoagulant therapy, in particular rivaroxaban used at the so-called vascular protection dose, in adjunct to antiplatelet therapy (i.e. aspirin), a strategy known as dual pathway inhibition, for secondary prevention of ischemic recurrences in patients with stable atherosclerotic disease manifestations.
DNA binding thermodynamics and site stoichiometry as a function of polyamide size.

Abstract The interactions of 6–8 ring hairpin polyamides (PAs) with the minor groove of DNA have been investigated extensively. More recent studies of large antiviral PAs (14–20 rings) active against small DNA tumor viruses lead to questions regarding the extent to which the DNA binding behaviors of the well studied, smaller PAs can be reliably extrapolated to the larger ones. Described here is the first reported study of hairpin PA-DNA binding thermodynamics as a function of PA size (6–20 rings). All PAs exhibit binding affinity in the low nM to upper pM range, which indicates that affinity is not a discriminator of antiviral activity. Unlike the smaller PAs, a 20-ring PA does not appreciably dissociate from DNA in competition experiments, which indicates very long residence time that is consistent with antiviral activity. While the DNA binding thermodynamics for the smaller antivirally inactive 6- and 8-ring PAs is clearly enthalpically driven, the larger antiviral PAs (14- and 20-rings) exhibit strongly entropically-driven DNA binding. These distinct energetic signatures indicate that different types of interactions drive these associations. In DNA binding site stoichiometry experiments conducted at both nM and μM concentrations, all PAs except the 6-ring PA bind an isolated site with site stoichiometry of at least two PAs per recognition sequence. Electrostatic contributions to DNA binding affinity are small for all PAs and not correlated with PA size but weakly correlated with the number of imidazole residues. Altogether, these results indicate that DNA binding behaviors of smaller hairpin PAs do not necessarily reflect those of larger PAs. These are vital considerations in the development of hairpin PAs for biological use.
Outcomes in Patients on Digoxin Following LVAD Implantation

Introduction Digoxin use within the heart failure population remains controversial, as studies have suggested increased arrhythmia risk and lower survival. Despite decades of use in heart failure, little is known regarding digoxin utilization post-left ventricular assist device (LVAD). We aimed to evaluate if digoxin use impacts overall survival or incidence of right ventricular (RV) failure after LVAD implantation. Methods Analysis was performed on 320 patients who underwent LVAD implantation from 2004-2017 and survived to hospital discharge. Patients were divided into groups based on digoxin utilization at discharge following LVAD placement. RV failure was defined as a composite of central venous pressure > 16mmHg or need for inotropic medication post-discharge or admission for intravenous diuretic therapy. Survival was assessed via Kaplan-Meier method and compared via log-rank test. Between group differences were assessed using independent sample t-tests and Fisher's exact tests. Results The cohort (n=320) had an average age of 56.2 (±13) years and contained 70 (21.9%) female patients. A majority ((n=129 (60%)) were implanted as destination therapy with 112 (35%) patients prescribed digoxin at the time of discharge (See Figure 1). Patients on digoxin were more likely to have a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (p=0.002), had higher pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p=0.03), and had larger left ventricular (p Conclusions Despite concerns about its continued use in different heart failure populations, overall survival was similar in LVAD patients with and without digoxin use at the time of initial discharge. A trend of reduced RV failure was present with digoxin use. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the optimal patient population that may benefit from digoxin use following LVAD implantation.
1 – Chemical Oxidations

Publisher Summary This chapter presents various examples of chemical oxidations. The controlled oxidation of selected functional groups or specific skeletal positions represents one of the most important aspects of synthetic organic chemistry. The application of a variety of inorganic oxidizing agents to organic substrates has broadened the selectivity with which such oxidations may be carried out. A variety of chromium oxidizing systems has been developed that allow for the oxidation of a wide range of sensitive compounds. Further, a recently discovered oxidizing system promises to become important for the oxidation of acid-sensitive compounds. The reagent is chromium trioxide-pyridine complex, which may be isolated after preparation and employed in nonaqueous solvents. A remarkable feature of the reagent is that good yields of aldehydes are obtained by direct oxidation of primary alcohols. Oxidative cleavage of olefins is frequently a useful procedure synthetically as well as analytically. The reactions of olefins with peracids to form epoxides allow for the selective oxidation of carbon–carbon double bonds in the presence of other functional groups.
Ethylene glycol toxicity

Abstract This case involves the presentation of a 47-year old male after intentional ingestion. Ethylene glycol (EG) poisoning is a relatively common occurrence in the United States and the world. Initial symptoms include slurred speech, CNS depression, abdominal pain, vomiting, and acidosis, whereas, severe toxicity can include pulmonary edema, tachycardia, hypertension or hypotension, cardiac failure, and renal failure. Diagnosis can be difficult as many of the signs and symptoms of EG poisoning are nonspecific and may be caused by other agents. The osmolal gap and anion gap are useful for diagnosis, but direct measurement of EG is preferred. Quantitation is most often performed by gas chromatography (GC) or GC–mass spectrometry. Early treatment increases the likelihood for a good outcome. The adverse outcomes are correlated with the severity of metabolic acidosis at the time of presentation. The administration of intra venous fluids and the competitive alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor fomepizole are recommended, although hemodialysis may be required in severe cases.
How does misconfiguration of analytic services compromise mobile privacy

Mobile application (app) developers commonly utilize analytic services to analyze their app users' behavior to support debugging, improve service quality, and facilitate advertising. Anonymization and aggregation can reduce the sensitivity of such behavioral data, therefore analytic services often encourage the use of such protections. However, these protections are not directly enforced so it is possible for developers to misconfigure the analytic services and expose personal information, which may cause greater privacy risks. Since people use apps in many aspects of their daily lives, such misconfigurations may lead to the leaking of sensitive personal information such as a users' real-time location, health data, or dating preferences. To study this issue and identify potential privacy risks due to such misconfigurations, we developed a semi-automated approach, Privacy-Aware Analytics Misconfiguration Detector (PAMDroid), which enables our empirical study on mis-configurations of analytic services. This paper describes a study of 1,000 popular apps using top analytic services in which we found misconfigurations in 120 apps. In 52 of the 120 apps, misconfigurations lead to a violation of either the analytic service providers' terms of service or the app's own privacy policy.
New Turner-Fairbank Alkali-Silica Reaction Susceptibility Test for Aggregate Evaluation:

The ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1293 are generally accepted as being the best available accelerated tests to evaluate the alkali-silica reactivity of aggregates used in concrete. Unfortunately, these test...
Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrheae (GC) are presented together, not because of their similarities in disease presentation, but because of the current trend in screening samples for both simultaneously. Historically, these organisms were identified using very different laboratory methods: CT by tissue culture and GC by growth in specialized bacterial medium. However, over the past decade a revolutionary change has taken place in the approach used to detect these two sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In many instances, molecular testing, either nucleic acid hybridization or nucleic acid amplification, has replaced culture and immunoassays.
Graph neural network and reinforcement learning for multi-agent cooperative control of connected autonomous vehicles

Abstract A connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) network can be defined as a set of connected vehicles including CAVs that operate on a specific spatial scope that may be a road network, corridor, or ...
Delayed Radiotherapy Injury

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses delayed radiotherapy injury to the peripheral nervous system, which may affect any peripheral or cranial nerve within the radiotherapy field. Injury to the brachial plexus is the most frequent complication of radiotherapy to the peripheral nervous system. The actuarial incidence of a radiation-induced brachial plexus injury in 449 breast cancer patients was 4.9% after 5.5 years of therapy. The pathogenesis of radiogenic injury involves direct injury by radiation to the various cellular elements constituting the peripheral nerves such as the Schwann cells. There is secondary damage to the same cells and axon processes from the late angiomesenchymal changes. To date there are no proven strategies for treating postradiation injury of the peripheral nerves. Basic treatment includes physiotherapy to prevent and treat joint contractures, strength training, the reduction and prevention of any further tissue swelling, and the prevention of lymphedema. Injections or infusions into the affected limb must be avoided, as well as major injuries or extensive use of the affected limb.
The Use of Examples in Patent Applications

The US Patent and Trademark Office does not have a requirement for experimental evidence to demonstrate the utility or function of any invention. However, there are instances when the use of specific (working) examples might be the easiest or the only method to adequately describe an invention. The technological field will dictate the relative importance of inclusion of examples in a patent application. There is a correlation between the need for examples and the unpredictability, complexity, and increase in the breadth of the invention, which is particularly obvious in respect to meeting the 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1 requirements.Certainly, there is an increased need for use of specific, working examples in patent applications, particularly in the technological areas of biology and chemistry. Until the unpredictable arts become more predictable, practitioners should take note.
E.A. Johnson and M.W. Klemens (eds.), Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Sprawl

Fragments than what most people typically think of as urban sprawl, has become a problem of global proportions with similarly widespread effects. Certainly in the US, where virtually all of the examples in this book take place, one can hardly escape sprawl and its effects. That is, sprawl is not just a problem affecting the megalopolises on the east and west coasts. Right here in western Montana, sprawl seems to be the fastest growing land use; an unfortunate artifact of people’s desire to own an acre of paradise in suburbia, our culture’s addiction to cars, and all the trappings that go along with them (e.g., more roads, more strip malls, less pedestrian access, less social interaction). Although there is plenty of room to discuss the effects of sprawl on human communities, Nature in Fragments serves to focus attention on how sprawl affects natural communities, a less well known but arguably equally insidious problem. Nature in Fragments is presented in four parts totaling 16 chapters. The preface sets the stage for the reader and is where the authors define sprawl as ‘‘...poorly planned, land-consumptive development, regardless of where it is located.’’ This definition satisfies a broad range of land uses including expansion of ski areas to exurbanization. Part I describes the genesis of sprawl and its impacts on biodiversity. Part II addresses the impacts of sprawl on specific ecosystems and processes, including freshwater wetlands, pollination, and spread of disease. Part III focuses on the relationships between sprawl and species with generic life history characteristics, for example, species that are highly mobile or with limited dispersal abilities. Last, Part IV offers potential solutions to the effects of sprawl. It presents ecologic, economic, planning, and advocacy tools that serve to inform readers about thoughtful alternatives addressing the causes and consequences of sprawl that can be incorporated into regional and local planning efforts. This book provides a gentle introduction to sprawl and biodiversity. Where each chapter serves as a thorough review article often containing a ‘‘who’s who’’ of researchers associated with a given subject area and presents an easyto-understand treatment of their findings. Nature in Fragments has some real strengths, including a well organized table of contents and chapters that contain an informative introduction to the subject matter and a conclusion summarizing the main points. Additionally, there are several chapters that stand out including three in which the authors tackle sprawl-affected J. DiBari (&) Rocky Mountain Research Station – Landfire, US Forest Service, 5775 W. Highway 10, Missoula, MT 59808, USA e-mail: jdibari@fs.fed.us Landscape Ecol (2007) 22:475–476 DOI 10.1007/s10980-006-9028-8
UAV assisted heterogeneous networks for public safety communications

Communications play an important role during public safety operations. Since the current communication technologies heavily rely on the backbone network, the failure of base stations (BSs) due to natural disasters or malevolent attacks causes communication difficulties for public safety and emergency communications. Recently, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as quadcopters and unmanned gliders have gained attention in public safety communications. They can be used as unmanned aerial base stations (UABSs), which can be deployed rapidly as a part of the heterogeneous network architecture. However, due to their mobile characteristics, interference management in the network becomes very challenging. In this paper, we explore the use of UABSs for public safety communications during natural disasters, where part of the communication infrastructure becomes damaged and dysfunctional (e.g., as in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan). Through simulations, we analyze the throughput gains that can be obtained by exploiting the mobility feature of the UAVs. Our simulation results show that when there is loss of network infrastructure, the deployment of UABSs at optimized locations can improve the throughput coverage and the 5th percentile spectral efficiency of the network. Furthermore, the improvement is observed to be more significant with higher path-loss exponents.
Is there a Role for International Trade Costs in Monetary Policy

This paper develops an open-economy DSGE model to analyze the effects of international trade costs on monetary policy of open economies. The implications of this micro-founded New-Keynesian model are tested on a prototype small economy that is open to international trade costs shocks, Canada. When a utility-based expected loss function is considered, the central bank is found to be far from being optimal in its actions, independent of international trade costs. When an ad hoc expected loss function considering the volatilities in inflation, output and interest rate is considered, it is found that the actions of the central bank are explained best when international trade costs in fact exist but the central bank ignores them. Given the ad hoc loss function, the actions of the central bank are best explained when 70% of weight is assigned to inflation, 15% of weight to interest rate and 15% of weight to output.
A Role for CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β-Liver-enriched Inhibitory Protein in Mammary Epithelial Cell Proliferation

The transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta), regulates the expression of genes involved in proliferation and terminal differentiation. Dimerization of the dominant-negative C/EBPbeta-liver-enriched inhibitory protein (LIP) isoform with the C/EBPbeta-liver-enriched activating protein (LAP) isoform inhibits the transcriptional activation of genes involved in differentiation. Consequently, an increase in LIP levels may inhibit terminal differentiation and lead to proliferation. C/EBPbeta-LIP and LAP are crucial for mammary gland development (G. W. Robinson et al., Genes Dev., 12: 1907-1916, 1998; T. N. Seagroves et al., Genes Dev., 12: 1917-1928, 1998) and are also overexpressed in breast cancer (B. Raught et al., Cancer Res., 56: 4382-4386. 1996; C. A. Zahnow et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 89: 1887-1891, 1997); however, little is known about how these isoforms differentially regulate cell cycle progression. To address this question, C/EBPbeta-LIP was overexpressed in both the mammary glands of transgenic mice and in cultured TM3 mammary epithelial cells. Here we report that the involuted mammary glands from transgenic mice overexpressing C/EBPbeta-LIP contain both focal and diffuse alveolar hyperplasia and, less frequently, contain mammary intraepithelial neoplasias (high grade) and invasive and noninvasive carcinomas. Likewise, cultured TM3 cells, stably expressing C/EBPbeta-LIP, showed an increase in proliferation and foci formation attributable to a reentry into S-phase during cellular confluence. These results demonstrate that C/EBPbeta-LIP can induce epithelial proliferation and the formation of mammary hyperplasias and suggest that a C/EBPbeta-LIP-initiated growth cascade may be susceptible to additional oncogenic hits, which could result in the initiation and progression of neoplasia.
First Look: One Year Since Inception of Regional Share 35 Policy

Abstract Background More than 10,000 patients are awaiting liver transplantation, and more than 1300 die waiting yearly. The Share 35 policy was implanted 1 year ago with expectations to decrease waitlist mortality. The purpose of our study was to look at waitlist outcomes and organ usage. Methods We compared data from the United Network of Organ Sharing before and after the initiation of Share 35, looking at waitlist mortality, organs shared with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ≥35, organ discards, travel distance, cold ischemia time, MELD score at transplantation, donor characteristics, and waitlist times. The χ 2 test was used to compare the data from two time periods. Results Comparing the 1-year periods, we found no change in waitlist mortality rate; transplants in MELD score ≥35 increased from 19% to 27% and decreased in MELD score15 to 34 from 74% to 67%; high-risk donors increased from 13% to 17%; and a 40% decrease in time on the waitlist before removal because of death from 58 to 35 days. Conclusions One year since Share 35, there has been no change in waitlist mortality rate. Unfortunately, it will take several years to know the impact of Share 35 on changes in patient life-years saved.