cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Contributing to Intracavitary Calcification

This section on soft tissue implant and intracavitary calcification includes six investigators of different disciplines who will focus on an understanding of the circumstances and pathology involved in these calcifications. In order to control or intervene in the pathologic calcification process, both general and specific factors contributing to calcium deposition must be defined. These include physiologic and biochemical-initiating factors, as well as those factors involved in growth and maturation of ectopic calcified deposits. The emphasis of this section concerns the problem encountered with the advent of successful implantation of cardiac assist devices, including xenograft heart valves (R. Levy, H. Harasaki, and M. Dewanjee), left ventricular assist pumps (J. Lian), and total artificial hearts (D. Coleman). Calcification of these bioprostheses leads to dysfunction, the final complication of uncontrollable calcium deposition. Recent studies have evaluated the calcification problem as related to the mechanics of the device, clinical properties of the biomaterials used in such devices, and the blood- material interactions.
Cytoplasmic dynein binding, run length, and velocity are guided by long-range electrostatic interactions

Dyneins are important molecular motors involved in many essential biological processes, including cargo transport along microtubules, mitosis, and in cilia. Dynein motility involves the coupling of microtubule binding and unbinding to a change in the configuration of the linker domain induced by ATP hydrolysis, which occur some 25 nm apart. This leaves the accuracy of dynein stepping relatively inaccurate and susceptible to thermal noise. Using multi-scale modeling with a computational focusing technique, we demonstrate that the microtubule forms an electrostatic funnel that guides the dynein’s microtubule binding domain (MTBD) as it finally docks to the precise, keyed binding location on the microtubule. Furthermore, we demonstrate that electrostatic component of the MTBD’s binding free energy is linearly correlated with the velocity and run length of dynein, and we use this linearity to predict the effect of mutating each glutamic and aspartic acid located in MTBD domain to alanine. Lastly, we show that the binding of dynein to the microtubule is associated with conformational changes involving several helices, and we localize flexible hinge points within the stalk helices. Taken all together, we demonstrate that long range electrostatic interactions bring a level of precision to an otherwise noisy dynein stepping process.
Macroscopic demonstration of the male urogenital system with evidence of a direct inguinal hernia utilizing room temperature plastination

The male urogenital system represents a morphologically complex region that arises from a common embryological origin. However, it is typically studied separately as the excretory system is dissected with the posterior wall of the abdomen while the reproductive features are exposed with the pelvis and perineum dissection. Additionally, the reproductive structures are typically dissected following pelvic and perineal hemisection obviating a comprehensive and holistic examination. Here, we performed a dissection of the complete male urogenital system utilizing a 70-year-old donor and room temperature silicon plastination. Identification of a direct inguinal hernia during the dissection facilitated a unique opportunity to incorporate a common abdominal wall defect into the plastination requiring a novel approach to retain patency of relevant structures. Results showed that the typical structures identified in medical gross anatomy were retained in addition to the hernia. Thus, the described approach and the resulting specimen provide valuable and versatile teaching tools for male urogenital anatomy.
Periodontal health in early-stage postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors.

568 Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are associated with profound estrogen deprivation resulting in reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Periodontal diseases and tooth loss are associated with...
Temperature Dependent Birefringence in Microstructured Optical Fiber

Two customized MOFs with three-solid-cores of 4 ${\mu }$ m with a 10 ${\mu }$ m and 7.5 ${\mu }$ m core separation periodicity were used to monitor the thermal properties for a range of 18–40 ${^\circ }$ C. The goal of this investigation was to characterize and evaluate the use of microstructured optical fibers for temperature limited biocompatible devices. A guarded hot plate apparatus was assembled and used to measure the fiber response to prescribed temperatures. An imaged-based detection system was developed to collect the thermal attributes for the three-core optical fiber. The results agree with the theoretical models showing that light is coupled from the center core to the neighboring cores. There is an unexpected periodic dependence of the birefringence and intensity with time, indicating diffusion limited cooling and thermal equilibrium processes.
¿Qué es "Landscape"?

La palabra inglesa Landscape (que en espanol significa paisaje), al parecer, esta de moda, apareciendo en revistas y congresos de arquitectura. El “paisaje” es entendido como toda extension que puede ser apreciada desde un sitio, en la mayoria de los casos, considerada un espectaculo tanto natural como urbano; sin embargo, existen otras definiciones, diferentes perspectivas de como entender este concepto que suele ser usado ampliamente en diversos medios comunicativos y de expresion. De esta forma, el paisaje puede ser visto como objeto, diseno, arte, habitat ecologico, elemento de identidad cultural y lugar de relajacion, entre otras nociones, las cuales son presentadas brevemente en este articulo.
The Equivalence between SW and Gr in the Case Where b+ = 1

).In the series of works [T1]–[T4];Taubes develops the Seiberg-Witten theory onsymplectic manifolds. In [T1];he deﬁnes the Gromov-Taubes invariants of symplectic4-manifolds counting embedded (but not necessarily connected);pseudoholomorphiccurves. (It was recently proved in [EP] that the Gromov invariants can also be constructedfrom the Ruan-Tian invariants [RT2]). In [T2];[T3];and [T4];Taubes proves;on a sym-plectic 4-manifold with b
Contribution of sub-mesoscales to the vertical velocity: The ω-equation

Abstract The ocean's ability to regulate carbon dioxide depends on biogeochemical processes that are influenced strongly by eddies. Eddy-resolving simulations have shown that sub-mesoscales (SM) (1–10 km) generate the highest magnitude vertical velocity and that mesoscales (M) also enhance their contribution to the vertical velocity but to a lesser extent. In this study, we consider the question: can analogous results be obtained using the less numerically demanding ω-equation? Previously, this question has not been answered because of two reasons: 1) the canonical Hoskins’ form of the ω-equation does not include the buoyancy vertical fluxes caused by M and SM; and 2) Giordani et al. (2016) showed how to include an arbitrary vertical buoyancy flux, but no parameterizations were available for the M and SM vertical fluxes. However, the latter are now available together with their assessments, so we consider SM because they make the largest contribution to the vertical velocity. The resulting vertical velocity depends on the extent of the SM regime, the horizontal buoyancy gradient (representing baroclinic instabilities), and the SM eddy kinetic energy. The vertical velocity depends in a linear manner on the wind stress and it may exhibit seasonal variations. The wind stress has two effects on the ω-equation: indirectly via its contribution to the sub-mesoscale buoyancy flux and directly through the wind stress itself. The results of our sensitivity analysis highlight the range of SM-induced vertical velocities obtained using different input data.
Risk of Severe Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes Over 30 Years of Follow-up in the DCCT/EDIC Study.

OBJECTIVE During the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), intensive diabetes therapy achieving a mean HbA 1c of ∼7% was associated with a threefold increase in the rate of severe hypoglycemia (defined as requiring assistance) compared with conventional diabetes therapy with a mean HbA 1c of 9% (61.2 vs. 18.7 per 100 patient-years). After ∼30 years of follow-up, we investigated the rates of severe hypoglycemia in the DCCT/Epidemiology of Diabetes Inverventions and Complications (EDIC) cohort. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Rates of severe hypoglycemia were reported quarterly during DCCT and annually during EDIC (i.e., patient recall of episodes in the preceding 3 months). Risk factors influencing the rate of severe hypoglycemia over time were investigated. RESULTS One-half of the DCCT/EDIC cohort reported episodes of severe hypoglycemia. During EDIC, rates of severe hypoglycemia fell in the former DCCT intensive treatment group but rose in the former conventional treatment group, resulting in similar rates (36.6 vs. 40.8 episodes per 100 patient-years, respectively) with a relative risk of 1.12 (95% CI 0.91–1.37). A preceding episode of severe hypoglycemia was the most powerful predictor of subsequent episodes. Entry into the DCCT study as an adolescent was associated with an increased risk of severe hypoglycemia, whereas insulin pump use was associated with a lower risk. Severe hypoglycemia rates increased with lower HbA 1c similarly among participants in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Rates of severe hypoglycemia have equilibrated over time between the two DCCT/EDIC treatment groups in association with advancing duration of diabetes and similar HbA 1c levels. Severe hypoglycemia persists and remains a challenge for patients with type 1 diabetes across their life span.
Platelet testing in flow diversion: a review of the evidence

OBJECTIVE Although the use of dual antiplatelet therapy with flow diversion is recommended and commonplace, the testing of platelet inhibition is more controversial. METHODS The authors reviewed the medical literature to establish and describe the physiology of platelet adhesion, the pharmacology of antiplatelet medications, and the mechanisms of the available platelet function tests. Additionally, they present a review of the pertinent neurointerventional and interventional cardiology literature. RESULTS Competing reports in the neurointerventional literature argue for and against the use of routine platelet function testing, with adjustments to the dosage or medications based on the results. The interventional cardiology literature has also wrestled with this dilemma after percutaneous coronary interventions, with conflicting reports of the benefits of platelet function testing. CONCLUSIONS Despite its prevalence, the benefits of platelet function testing prior to flow diversion are unproven. This practice will likely remain controversial until the level of evidence improves through more rigorous testing and reporting.
Analysis of induction machine dynamics during power system unbalances

This study investigates the effects of power system unbalances on dynamic induction motor operation. It was determined that the classical induction motor dynamic models do not provide accurate results during unbalanced conditions due to the failure of these models to account for the rotor bar skin effect. A rotor bar representation which predicts the skin effect is developed. Using this representation, two mathematical models of the induction machine are introduced which are capable of accurately predicting the rotor bar skin effect during dynamic machine operation with unbalanced power system conditions. One model predicts both the electrical and motional transients while the other ignores the electrical transients and predicts only the motional transient. The developed models were used to study three important practical cases of power system im­ balance: open delta motor feed, shunt, and series single phase faults on the power system. The necessity of evaluating the skin effect in the rotor representation is clearly established in each case, and the need to account for the electrical transients is evaluated.
Galectin-3 and risk of ischaemic stroke: Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke cohort.

Background and purpose Galectin-3 is a biomarker of atherosclerotic and cardiovascular disease, and may be a useful marker for ischaemic stroke risk. Methods The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort enrolled and examined 30 239 US participants between 2003 and 2007 (41% black, 59% white and 55% in the southeastern stroke belt). Baseline galectin-3 was measured in 526 subjects with incident ischaemic stroke over 5.4 years and in a cohort random sample (CRS) of 947 participants. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of ischaemic stroke by quartiles of galectin-3. Results In the CRS, galectin-3 was significantly higher with older age, black race, female sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease, and also in those who developed incident stroke. Participants with galectin-3 levels in the fourth versus first quartile had a 2.3-fold increased stroke risk [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6, 3.4] in an unadjusted model. An interaction with age was found (P = 0.06), and therefore age-stratified analyses were performed. Amongst those younger than age 64, baseline galectin-3 in the second–fourth quartiles was associated with increased stroke risk (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6, 5.5) compared to the first quartile in an age-, race- and sex-adjusted model. The HR was 2.0 (95% CI 1.0, 4.0) with multivariable adjustment. There was no association amongst older participants. Conclusions Galectin-3 was associated with incident ischaemic stroke in younger but not older individuals. Confirmation of this finding, and elucidation of its implications for stroke pathophysiology and prevention, is needed.
Advanced tutorial on microscopic discrete-event traffic simulation

Traffic is one of the most important aspects of modern life, both in the developed world and in the developing world. Analysis of traffic systems through modeling and simulation is an essential tool for city planners to optimize traffic flow. Microscopic discrete-event simulation is a natural and powerful method for such analysis. Characteristics of traffic systems that need to be modeled include inter-arrival times, car-following behavior, lane-changing, turning, road structure, intersection structure, and traffic light timing. There are many challenges that must be confronted as well, including the calibration and validation of traffic models, scaling models to larger traffic systems, modeling the continuous nature of traffic in a discrete-event environment, and optimization of traffic system characteristics. An emerging challenge for traffic simulation is the incorporation of autonomous vehicles into traffic systems as not only traditional vehicles, but also as cooperative agents as well.
Building a Successful Clinical Program in the Academic Medical Center

Building a successful clinical program is perhaps one of the most important roles for a leader in the academic medical center. The evolving pressures of healthcare economics have forced modern academic medical centers to transition over the past several decades from “ivory tower” centers where clinical care took a backseat to the research and training mission to clinical referral centers. The most successful academic centers build clinical centers of excellence that are able to leverage the flow of patients through these clinical programs into academic productivity, publishing on clinical outcomes, care pathways, and clinical trials. Despite the importance of clinical programs to the modern academic medical center, there is almost no formal direction for academic physicians on how to build successful programs. This chapter will reflect on the author’s experience in building a clinical program of excellence highlighting the features felt to be most important with specific examples of how our team managed these issues.
Increased intraventricular velocities: An unrecognized cause of systolic murmur in adults

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, clinical features and echocardiographic characteristics of increased intraventricular velocities (IIVs) in patients referred to the echocardiography laboratory for systolic murmur. Background. A subset of patients referred to the echocardiography laboratory for evaluation of a systolic murmur have IIVs in the absence of other recognized causes of systolic murmur. Methods. We prospectively studied echocardiograms from 108 consecutive patients referred for evaluation of a systolic murmur. Clinical data were obtained from patient examinations and medical records. Results. The sole explanation for systolic murmur was IIVs in 16.7% of referred patients. Compared with those without IIVs, patients with IIVs had a higher ejection fraction (EF) (58.7 ± 7.8% vs. 51.1 ± 12.5%, p Conclusions. Increased intraventricular velocities are a common cause of systolic murmur in this group of patients and should be included in the differential diagnosis of systolic murmurs in adults. The association of IIVs with LV hypertrophy should be a clinical consideration when these murmurs are identified.
7. China and Global Health Governance

This paper examines the impact of China's participation in global health governance (GHG) by addressing two interrelated questions. First, how has China's involvement had an impact on GHG? Second, to what extent has China's GHG involvement resulted in changes in its domestic health governance? It finds that in the areas of health-related development assistance, global disease prevention and control, and global health rule making, China is making a difference in global health governance processes and outcomes. Meanwhile, despite the opaque and exclusive authoritarian structure in China, global health players, norms, and processes have a significant role to play in the country's domestic health governance, including health agenda setting, health policy formulation and implementation. The magnitude and significance of China's participation cannot simply be accommodated by the existing analytical framework. To be sure, China's engagement in GHG thus far is still narrow and limited, and not always constructive. But these constraints and limits are not static as the domestic and international context for China's engagement is changing. As China becomes more sensitive to international norms, pressures, and influences, it is anticipated to play a much bigger role in global health governance.
Urban forest influences on exposure to UV radiation and potential consequences for human health

This chapter explores the literature on ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in urban ecosystems with respect to the likely effects on human health. The focus was the question of whether the health effects of UV radiation should be included in the planning of landscape elements such as trees and shading structures, especially for high use pedestrian areas and school play grounds. Ultraviolet radiation can have a strong effect on humans, primarily as a cause or contributing factor for skin cancer and eye cataracts. It is also a probable factor in the development of immune deficiencies. However, UV can also positively affect human health, primarily because it is essential for photosynthesis of vitamin D in human skin. Vitamin D has long been recognized as a requirement for bone health. Recent epidemiological findings attribute vitamin D for the reduction of many types of non-skin cancers. Moreover, there is evidence that it may reduce mortality for those diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Alternatively, some public health authorities, particularly those from countries with a large population of northern European descent, strongly recommend that exposure to UV radiation should be minimized to prevent skin cancer. Other agencies, including the World Health Organization, that take a broader world view, differentiate their recommendations according to skin color. They recommend that humans with darker skin, who are likely deficient in vitamin D and also have little access to vitamin D fortified foods, should have moderate UV exposure. Judging from current knowledge of typical spectra of solar radiation in tree shade and the difference between the action spectra (effectiveness versus radiation wavelength) for vitamin D synthesis and that for sunburn in human skin, tree shade has advantages for moderate exposure to solar radiation. Where trees are separated, as is typical in heavily populated urban areas, the shortest wavelengths of UV radiation are scattered from the sky into shady locations with some sky view, and to a small extent, vitamin-D-promoting wavelengths are increased over the radiation spectrum that causes sunburn. The sunburn action spectrum includes longer wavelengths that are less readily scattered into direct beam shade. Global climate change, which is expected to increase temperatures, especially at higher latitudes, may have a variety of effects on UV exposure for human populations. For example, warming could lead to greater exposure as people adapt to increased temperatures by wearing less clothing. However, empirical evidence for a temperature influence on human exposure independent of radiation climate does not seem to exist.
If Language Technology is the Solution, What, Then, is the Problem?

By a technology I understand a set of technical solutions for a particular set or natural class of problems.
BASIC ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE AND CONCEPTS | Standard Atmosphere

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 5, pp 2107–2113, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
Lewis Acid Enhancement of Proton Induced CO2 Cleavage: Bond Weakening and Ligand Residence Time Effects

Though Lewis acids (LAs) have been shown to have profound effects on carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction catalysis, the underlying cause of the improved reactivity remains unclear. Herein, we report a well-defined molecular system for probing the role of LA additives in the reduction of CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) and water. Mo(0) CO2 complex (2) forms adducts with a series of LAs, demonstrating CO2 activation that correlates linearly with the strength of the LA. Protons induce C–O cleavage of these LA adducts, in contrast to the CO2 displacement primarily observed in the absence of LA. CO2 cleavage shows dependence on both bond activation and the residence time of the bound small molecule, demonstrating the influence of both kinetic and thermodynamic factors on promoting productive CO2 reduction chemistry.
Improvising Identity, Body, and Race:

In this autoethnographic narrative, the author examines moments of encountering his fugitive identity shaped by family practices, escape, sociocultural and linguistic migration. Marked as a foreign...
How Should Decision Science Inform Scarce Blood Product Allocation

Blood products are a scarce resource in our health care system. This article discusses a pediatric case involving large quantities of blood products transfused at the end of life. It argues that decision aids could help clinicians determine when to request ethics consultation or re-evaluation of blood product usage in a specific patient care situation and considers questions about scarce resource allocation, futility, and parental involvement in decision making.
Learning Hemodynamic Effect of Transcranial Infrared Laser Stimulation Using Longitudinal Data Analysis

Transcranial infrared laser stimulation (TILS) is a promising noninvasive intervention for neurological diseases. Though some experimental work has been done to understand the mechanism of TILS, the reported statistical analysis of data is quite simple and could not provide a comprehensive picture on the effect of TILS. This study learns the effect of TILS on hemodynamics of the human brain from experimental data using longitudinal data analysis methods. Specifically, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) is first applied to confirm the significance of the TILS effect and its characteristics. Based on that, two parametric mixed-effect models and non-parametric functional mixed-effect model are proposed to model the population-level performance and individual variation of this effect. Interpretations on the fitted models are provided, and comparison of the three proposed models in terms of fitting and prediction performance is made to select the best model. According to the selected model, TILS increases the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin in the brain and this effect sustains even after the treatment stops. Also, there is considerable variation among individual responses to TILS.
Reduction of Hospital-acquired Pressure Injuries Using a Multidisciplinary Team Approach: A Descriptive Study.

Introduction Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) increase patient mortality and length of stay (LOS). Twenty-eight full-thickness HAPIs occurred in fiscal year 2015 (FY15), and that trend continued into FY16 with 14 injuries on multiple units throughout a tertiary acute care center with 400 beds. To address this trend, a multidisciplinary Pressure Injury Prevention (PIP) team was created. Objective This report is a description of ongoing, hospital-wide efforts to understand the common factors of HAPI causality and to establish corrective action plans institutionally to prevent similar events in the future. Methods The team goals were to document the occurrence of HAPIs across all hospital units, reduce preventable full-thickness PIs to zero, and recommend institution-wide changes as those opportunities were recognized. Results Since the committee's inception in July 2015, an 89% reduction of full-thickness HAPIs, with only 2 full-thickness HAPIs in FY17 and 3 in FY18, has been seen. This effort has been hospital wide with involvement of all inpatient units and perioperative areas (including the operating rooms). Opportunities remain for improvement around the prevention of deep tissue and partial-thickness HAPIs. Conclusions The data demonstrate that the formation of a multidisciplinary PIP team of engaged clinicians can reduce the number of preventable full-thickness HAPIs.
Quantifying relative virulence: When μmax fails and AUC alone just isn't enough

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWOne of the more challenging aspects in quantitative virology is quantifying relative virulence between two (or more) viruses that have different replication dynamics in a given susceptible host. Host growth curve analysis is often used to detail virus-host interactions and to determine the impact of viral infection on a host. Quantifying relative virulence using canonical parameters such as maximum specific growth rate (max) can fail to provide accurate information regarding experimental infection, especially for non-lytic viruses. Although area-under-the-curve (AUC) can be more robust by through calculation of a percent inhibition (PIAUC), this metric can be sensitive to limit selection. In this study, using empirical and extrapolated data from Sulfolobus Spindle-shaped Virus (SSV) infections, we introduce a novel, simple metric that is proven to be more robust and less sensitive than traditional measures for determining relative virulence. This metric (ISC) more accurately aligns biological phenomena with quantified metrics from growth curve analysis to determine trends in relative virulence. It also addresses a major gap in virology by allowing comparisons between non-lytic single-virus/single-host (SVSH) infections and between non-lytic versus lytic virus infection on a given host. How ISC may be applied to polymicrobial infection - both coinfection of a host culture and superinfection of a single cell with more than one virus (or other pathogen type) is a topic of ongoing investigation.
Management of complications after operation for tetralogy of Fallot on infants and follow-up of one year

Objective To review the early postoperative complications and its treatment in infants with tetralogy of Fallot(TOF).Methods From January 2004 to March 2007,35 infant patients with TOF,aged 4 to 12 months,underwent corrective procedure with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) and general anaesthesia in Anhui provincial children's hospital.Of all the patients,30 cases received radical surgery and the other 5 cases with initial palliation.Results The early postoperative complications occurred in 10 cases,of which 6 cases comlplicated with low cardiac output,2 cases had severe arrhythmia,2 cases manifested as perfusion lung,2 cases were symptomized by residual right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) obstruction and 1 case suffered from residual ventricular septal defect(VSD).There were 3 cases of early postoperative death with 8.6% of hospital mortality.Conclusion The operative mortality can be effectively reduced by careful preparations for surgery,reliable surgical procedure,effective myocardial protection and timely treatment for postoperative complications.This study demonstrated that repair of TOF in infancy can be done with excellent results. Key words: Tetralogy of Fallot; Infants; Postoperative complications; Follow-up
Redshift of earthquakes via focused blind deconvolution of teleseisms

We present a robust factorization of the teleseismic waveforms resulting from an earthquake source into signals that originate from the source and signals that characterize the path effects. The extracted source signals represent the earthquake spectrum and its variation with azimuth. Unlike most prior work on source extraction, our method is data-driven, and it does not depend on any path-related assumptions e.g., the empirical Green’s function. Instead, our formulation involves focused blind deconvolution (FBD), which associates the source characteristics with the similarity among a multitude of recorded signals. We also introduce a new spectral attribute, to be called redshift, which is based on the Fraunhofer approximation. Redshift describes source-spectrum variation, where a decrease in frequency occurs at the receiver in the opposite direction of unilateral rupture propagation. Using the redshift, we identified unilateral ruptures during two recent strike-slip earthquakes. The FBD analysis of an earthquake, which originated in the eastern California shear zone, is consistent with observations from local seismological or geodetic instrumentation.
Proteins in Food: An Introduction Open image in new window

Proteins are the most abundant molecules in cells, making up 50% or more of their dry weight. Every protein has a unique structure and conformation or shape, which enables it to carry out a specific function in a living cell. Proteins comprise the complex muscle system and the connective tissue network, and they are important as carriers in the blood system. All enzymes are proteins; enzymes are important as catalysts for many reactions (both desirable and undesirable) in foods.
Comparative Efficacy of Dofetilide Versus Amiodarone in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Abstract Objectives The study’s goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of dofetilide (DOF) versus amiodarone (AMIO) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Background Comparative efficacy of DOF versus AMIO in patients with AF has not been well established. In addition, proarrhythmia has been a concern with DOF therapy. Methods Rhythm control was attempted by using DOF in 657 consecutive patients (mean age 72 ± 9 years; 35% women) with AF (n = 528) or atrial flutter and AF (n = 129) between January 2014 and December 2018. Results DOF was successfully initiated in 573 (87%) of 657 patients, including 510 (89%) with persistent AF and 63 (11%) with paroxysmal AF. During a mean follow-up of 19 ± 7 months, sinus rhythm was maintained in 361 (63%) of the 573 DOF-treated patients. At 12 months, patients on DOF had a similar likelihood of experiencing recurrent atrial arrhythmias compared with the 2,476 consecutive patients treated with AMIO for rhythm control during the study period (37% vs. 39%; p = 0.56). The efficacy of DOF and AMIO was also similar in specific subgroups of patients, including patients >75 years of age, with a low left ventricular ejection fraction, obesity, renal insufficiency, and prior catheter ablation for AF. Among patients with atypical atrial flutter, likelihood of recurrent atrial flutter was similar between the DOF (43 of 108 [40%]) and AMIO (211 of 555 [38%]; p = 0.69) groups. Conclusions When properly initiated and monitored, DOF has efficacy comparable to that of amiodarone for rhythm control in patients with AF.
Ethical Considerations for Unblinding and Vaccinating COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Placebo Group Participants.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved under “Emergency Use Authorization” by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Other vaccines, such as the Sputnik V and AstraZeneca vaccines, have begun to be distributed in other nations around the world after the publication of promising efficacy results. Multiple more vaccine candidates are likely to follow, which will still require safety and efficacy testing. As vaccines have been distributed in a tiered fashion to the public, there has been discussion and disagreement regarding the matter of vaccination of placebo groups from the past or upcoming trials (1). It has been argued that only trial participants (placebo group) who would be otherwise offered the vaccine outside of the trial [i.e., high risk participants or healthcare workers (HCWs)] should be unblinded and given the vaccine, while all other participants should remain blinded (2, 3). We argue that, once proven efficacious, vaccine makers and researchers have an ethical obligation to unblind the placebo groups of COVID-19 vaccine trials and offer them vaccine, based on the four principles of medical ethics.
Auguste Rodin and the Culmination of Creative Labor

Often describing him as a force of nature, Rilke observes with utmost reverence the way that Rodin produces. This idealized figure of Rodin captures what Rilke calls an “ancient preserved gesture,” through which an artwork can reach out to viewers across the ages. Like we immediately understand the meaning of a wave from a friend, a true artwork gestures in this manner, communicating a “life from afar,” endowing us with new energy to create. In Rodin Rilke finally recognizes an artist who can create like the phonograph he puzzled about as a child, without a thought to mediate between spirit and the hand.
Airborne Atmospheric Electrical Measurements of the Variation of IonoSpheric Potential and Electrical Structure in the Exchange Layer Over the Ocean

The temporal variation of ionospheric potential was investigated by airplane potential gradient soundings and extended duration constant altitude potential gradient measurements to investigate the classical picture of atmospheric electricity. Soundings provided an estimate of ionospheric potential magnitude; constant level data indicated variation. In a low noise environment, above the inversion, utilizing one day’s data, diurnal change in potential gradient at constant altitude was clearly seen and in phase with the Carnegie curve. Typically, because of environmental noise, ground level measurements on land or sea must be averaged over many days for this pattern to emerge. A day-long comparison of potential gradient above the inversion with similar measurements of air-earth current density by R. V. Anderson, 7000 km away, showed high correlation. This suggests the ionosphere is an equi-potential surface in accordance with the classical picture. From 120 potential gradient profiles obtained mostly over the ocean, the average estimate of ionospheric potential was 241 kV; corrected for diurnal variation it was 219 kV. Measurements indicate that daily variation of ionospheric potential has not changed over the last four decades. Details of space charge densities over land and sea were also obtained. A relatively dense positive space charge layer existed in the lowest 150 m over the ocean; transported upward by convection, this establishes electric field variations from which circulation patterns in the exchange layer were deduced. Convection of positive space charge over large portions of the world’s oceans may help the global generator, thunderstorms, maintain the ionospheric potential.
The Effects of Nerve Growth Factor on the Central Nervous System of the Adult Primate

Nerve growth factor (NGF), introduced 40 years ago as a trophic agent for peripheral sensory and sympathetic embryonic neurons (Levi-Montalcini and Hamburger, 1951, 1953), has subsequently been widely hailed as the prototypical trophic factor (Levi-Montalcini, 1987; Snider and Johnson, 1989). The early 1980’s witnessed a dramatic shift in the direction of basic research on NGF with the discovery that neurons of the basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) increase the production of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the presence of NGF in vitro (Honegger and Lenoir, 1982; Gnahn et al., 1983). This discovery was somewhat surprising, because initial investigations had predicted that central catecholaminergic, but not cholinergic, neurons would be the brain targets of NGF, following the precedent of catecholaminergic neurons in the periphery (Schwab et al., 1979). During the last few years, a considerable body of information has been generated dealing with the actions of NGF on intact neurons of the BFCS in the developing (Mobley et al., 1986, 1988) and adult (Cavicchioli et al., 1989; Higgins et al., 1989) rat brain as well as on injured BFCS neurons (Hefti, 1986; Williams et al., 1986; Kromer, 1987; Gage et al., 1988; Junard et al., 1990; Koliatsos et al., 1990b, 1991a; Tuszynski et al., 1990b). The indisputable effects of NGF, especially on injured cells of the BFCS, and the consistent degeneration of the latter in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has raised legitimate hopes for a cholinergic trophic therapy of AD and associated disorders (see below).
Performance characteristics of frequency selective surfaces comprising of three dimensional elements

Four different types of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) with nonplanar elements are examined: tridipole, dipole-loop, triloop, and biloop. All were found to exhibit some degree of impact with the addition of the nonplanar element on the frequency and angular responses of the original planar structure, which was somewhat counterintuitive, but did not offer the flexibility of widening the angular response and/or augmenting the resonance behavior by introducing multiband capabilities. >
Intradermal immunization with polyguanine conjugated antigens enables targeted and sustained delivery of protein antigens to dendritic cells in vivo. (APP3P.111)

Effective vaccine design depends on the ability to target specific antigens to antigen presenting cells (APCs), including dendritic cells (DCs). Conjugation of proteins antigens to polyguanine (Poly(dG)) molecules is a novel immunization approach capable of transforming soluble antigens into aggregated particulates with exposed scavenger receptor (SR) ligands. We have previously shown that Poly(dG) conjugation to protein antigen results in increased antigen-specific helper and cytotoxic T cell responses, memory T cell induction, and antibody titers. Here, we specifically investigate mechanisms of Poly(dG)-conjugated antigen delivery and internalization. Compared to soluble OVA, Poly(dG)-OVA is rapidly and more efficiently internalized by bone marrow derived DCs in vitro, and this internalization is inhibited by scavenger receptor blockade. Importantly, in a mouse model intradermally injected Poly(dG)-OVA results in antigen persistence in the skin for up to 7 days. This is accompanied by increased antigen uptake by skin resident DCs and persistent migration of antigen loaded DCs to the draining lymph nodes. DCs exposed to Poly(dG)-OVA had increased expression of CCR7 and secretion of MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. These results suggest that coupling Poly(dG) to protein antigens enables efficient DC targeting through SRs, prolonged delivery of antigens in vivo, and activation of innate immunity. This approach may be used to design more efficient antiviral and antitumor vaccines.
Ultrastructure of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma

Electron microscopy and computerized morphometric techniques were employed to examine pericyte ultrastructure and to assess quantitatively their relationship to endothelial cells in five cases of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma. A total of 97 cross-sectioned capillary profiles were studied. Pericyte coverage of capillary ranged from 30.2% to 97.3% with a mean value of 68.7%, which is higher as compared with the available data from the cerebral cortex, skeletal and cardiac muscle, and pulmonary capillaries. The higher pericyte coverage of capillary suggests that pericyte is an active component of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma and may have a close functional relationship to endothelial cells. Pericytes contained bundles of parallel microfilaments along the adluminal side and in the terminal processes, and exhibited an intimate “peg-and-socket” relationship with endothelial cells, suggesting a contractile function of pericytes and their possible role in regulating capillary lumina and focal blood flow. The finding of abundant micropinocytic vesicles along the abluminal side of the cytoplasmic membrane indicates an active metabolic exchange between pericytes and the interstitium. It is possible that in cerebellar hemangioblastoma pericytes may act as a mechanical and metabolic monitor barrier for endothelial cells.
Carbonate removal from coastal sediments for the determination of organic carbon and its isotopic signatures, δ13C and Δ14C: comparison of fumigation and direct acidification by hydrochloric acid

Acidification of a solid sample to separate inorganic carbon (IC) from organic carbon (OC) is a widely encountered procedure in limnology and oceanography. Traditionally, OC was isolated to determine the weight-% of OC (%OC), but it is becoming increasingly common to determine the isotopic signatures of the OC (δ13COC and Δ14COC). This raises a need for a closer scrutiny of the currently used acidification methods. First, because IC and OC typically have distinct carbon-isotopic signatures, δ13COC and Δ14COC values can be compromised if IC is not completely removed. Second, it is possible to isotopically fractionate a sample if a small portion of OC is lost during acidification, because OC itself is both chemically and isotopically heterogeneous. This study evaluated two acidification methods by HCl—in the vaporous (HClvap) and aqueous (HClaq) phases—to determine %OC, δ13COC, and Δ14COC in coastal sediments. Each method was assessed according to the criteria that it (1) has low blank levels, (2) is able to remove dolomite, (3) yields accurate %OC, and (4) yields accurate δ13COC and Δ14COC values. HClvap fulfilled all criteria, given that the samples were not overexposed to acid. Overexposure led to underestimation of δ13COC and Δ14COC values. HClaq gave similar results but was less reliable in that it consistently underestimated %OC and yielded inaccurate δ13COC value for one test sample. It is recommended that an optimal acid exposure is carefully determined for each sample type to obtain most accurate δ13COC and Δ14COC values.
Behavior management of aggressive sequela after reye's syndrome

Abstract This study describes the use of behavior management procedures to reduce the occurrence of severe behavioral sequela in a 14-year-old, post-Reye's syndrome male. Prior to intervention the client exhibited severe self-injurious, hyperaggressive, and food refusal behaviors that precluded any opportunities for rehabilitation, placed him at severe medical risk, and made him a candidate for institutional placement. With contingent restraint, in vivo desensitization, and reinforcement contingencies it was possible to control these behaviors and begin intensive rehabilitation. Subsequently, the client returned to his family and community day school for the severely handicapped where he remains five years later.
Of Soda and Sick Days: a field study of firefighter diets (1019.12)

We present the results of a survey study of on- and off-duty eating behaviors among professional firefighters in a large city in the United States. Of particular interest, we find a significant pos...
Arg-274 and Leu-277 of the γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor α2 Subunit Define Agonist Efficacy and Potency

Alanine-scanning mutagenesis and the whole cell voltage clamp technique were used to investigate the function of the extracellular loop between the second and third transmembrane domains (TM2-TM3) of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA(A)-R). A conserved arginine residue in the TM2-TM3 loop of the GABA(A)-R alpha(2) subunit was mutated to alanine, and the mutant alpha(2)(R274A) was co-expressed with wild-type beta(1) and gamma(2S) subunits in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. The GABA EC(50) was increased by about 27-fold in the mutant receptor relative to receptors containing a wild-type alpha(2) subunit. Similarly, the GABA EC(50) at alpha(2)(L277A)beta(1)gamma(2S) and alpha(2)(K279A)beta(1)gamma(2S) GABA(A)-R combinations was increased by 51- and 4-fold, respectively. The alpha(2)(R274A) or alpha(2)(L277A) mutations also reduced the maximal response of piperidine-4-sulfonic acid relative to GABA by converting piperidine-4-sulfonic acid into a weak partial agonist at the GABA(A)-R. Based on these results, we propose that alpha(2)(Arg-274) and alpha(2)(Leu-277) are crucial to the efficient transduction of agonist binding into channel gating at the GABA(A)-R.
Heat shock regulatory gene rpoH mRNA level increases after heat shock in Escherichia coli.

Abstract The Escherichia coli rpoH gene product sigma 32 is essential for the increase in heat shock gene transcription found after exposure of the bacteria to a sudden temperature increase. It is not known how the concentration of active sigma 32 is modulated. We showed that rpoH transcript levels increased after heat shock and that the magnitude of the increase in the level of mRNA was correlated with the magnitude of the temperature shift. The increase in the level of rpoH mRNA was still found in rpoH mutants so the mechanism of induction differed from that of the set of previously identified heat shock genes. The increased concentration of rpoH mRNA should result in a higher level of sigma 32, which is likely to be important for increasing heat shock gene transcription.
Identifying "Cover Songs" with Beat-Synchronous Chroma Features

Large music collections, ranging from thousands to millions of tracks, are unsuited to manual searching, motivating the development of automatic search methods. When two musical groups perform the same underlying song or piece, these are known as ‘cover’ versions. We describe a system that attempts to identify such a relationship between music audio recordings. To overcome variability in tempo, we use beat-tracking to describe each piece with one feature vector per beat. To deal with variation in instrumentation, we use 12-dimensional chroma feature vectors that collect spectral energy supporting each semitone of the octave. To compare two recordings, we simply cross-correlate the entire beat-by-chroma representation for two tracks and look for sharp peaks indicating good local alignment between the pieces. Evaluation on a small set of 15 pairs of pop music cover versions identified within the USPOP2002 collection achieves a performance of around 60% correct.