cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size characterization of metal oxide nanoparticles in commercial sunscreen products

There is an increase in the usage of engineered metal oxide (TiO2 and ZnO) nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens due to their pleasing esthetics and greater sun protection efficiency. A number of studies have been done concerning the safety of nanoparticles in sunscreen products. In order to do the safety assessment, it is pertinent to develop novel analytical techniques to analyze these nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens. This study is focused on developing analytical techniques that can efficiently determine particle size of metal oxides present in the commercial sunscreens. To isolate the mineral UV filters from the organic matrices, specific procedures such as solvent extraction were identified. In addition, several solvents (hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, and tetrahydrofuran) have been investigated. The solvent extraction using tetrahydrofuran worked well for all the samples investigated. The isolated nanoparticles were characterized by using several different techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, differential centrifugal sedimentation, and x-ray diffraction. Elemental analysis mapping studies were performed to obtain individual chemical and morphological identities of the nanoparticles. Results from the electron microscopy techniques were compared against the bulk particle sizing techniques. All of the sunscreen products tested in this study were found to contain nanosized (≤100 nm) metal oxide particles with varied shapes and aspect ratios, and four among the 11 products were showed to have anatase TiO2.
Magnesium Chloride is an Effective Therapeutic Agent for Prostate Cancer

Background: Reduced levels of magnesium can cause several diseases and increase cancer risk. Motivated by magnesium chloride’s (MgCl 2 ) non-toxicity, physiological importance, and beneficial clinical applications, we studied its action mechanism and possible mechanical, molecular, and physiological effects in prostate cancer with different metastatic potentials. Methods: We examined the effects of MgCl 2 , after 24 and 48 hours, on apoptosis, cell migration, expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and V-H + -ATPase, myosin II (NMII) and the transcription factor NF Kappa B (NFkB) expressions. Results: MgCl 2 induces apoptosis, and significantly decreases migration speed in cancer cells with different metastatic potentials. MgCl 2 reduces the expression of V-H + -ATPase and myosin II that facilitates invasion and metastasis, suppresses the expression of vimentin and increases expression of E-cadherin, suggesting a role of MgCl 2 in reversing the EMT. MgCl 2 also significantly increases the chromatin condensation and decreases NFkB expression. Conclusions: These results suggest a promising preventive and therapeutic role of MgCl 2 for prostate cancer. Further studies should explore extending MgCl 2 therapy to in vivo studies and other cancer types. Keywords: Magnesium chloride, prostate cancer, migration speed, V-H + -ATPase, and EMT.
A 0.008mm 2 2.4GHz type-I sub-sampling ring-oscillator-based phase-locked loop with a −239.7dB FoM and −64dBc reference spurs

A ring-oscillator (RO) based PLL is presented combining a type-I architecture and a sub-sampling phase detector (SSPD). It achieves low jitter thanks to the wide-bandwidth type-I loop and low reference spurs thanks to the SSPD with its sample-and-hold function and high gain. The integrating filter capacitor is avoided, resulting in very low area. The RO PLL prototype in 65nm CMOS occupies 0.008mm2, has a loop bandwidth of 15MHz and tunes from 2 to 3.2GHz. It consumes 6.1mW at 2.4GHz with a phase noise of −122.6dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset. The measured reference spurs, RMSjitter and FoMjitter are −64.2dBc, 422fs and −239.7dB.
Probabilistic proofs and the collective epistemic goals of mathematicians

Mathematicians only use deductive proofs to establish that mathematical claims are true. They never use inductive evidence, such as probabilistic proofs, for this task. Don Fallis (1997 and 2002) has argued that mathematicians do not have good epistemic grounds for this complete rejection of probabilistic proofs. But Kenny Easwaran (2009) points out that there is a gap in this argument. Fallis only considered how mathematical proofs serve the epistemic goals of individual mathematicians. Easwaran suggests that deductive proofs might be epistemically superior to probabilistic proofs because they are transferable. That is, one mathematician can give such a proof to another mathematician who can then verify for herself that the mathematical claim in question is true without having to rely at all on the testimony of the first mathematician. In this paper, I argue that collective epistemic goals are critical to understanding the methodological choices of mathematicians. But I argue that the collective epistemic goals promoted by transferability do not explain the complete rejection of probabilistic proofs.
Sensor Cover and Double Partition

The minimum sensor cover is an important optimization problem in wireless sensor networks, which can be seen as a special case of the minimum set cover problem. The minimum set cover problem is a well-known problem in combinatorial optimization, which has no polynomial-time (ρlnδ)-approximation for 0<ρ<1 unless NP⊆DTIME(n O(loglogn)) where δ is the maximum cardinality of a subset in the input collection. However, the minimum sensor cover problem has polynomial-time constant-approximations because this special case has a geometric structure. The design technique, called partition, is employed to take the advantage of this geometric structure. Especially, the double partition plays an important role. In this article, we would like to give an exploratory essay for the double partition technique together with research progress on approximations for the minimum sensor cover problem.
Parsing XML Content

In this chapter, we explore approaches to parsing XML content within R and extracting content from the various types of elements in the XML document. The primary approach is to parse an XML document into a hierarchical tree object. We show how the tree representation of an XML document (described in Chapter 2) can be treated as a list in R, which makes it easy to navigate nodes and branches in the XML document. In addition, we demonstrate how to use functions in the XML package that are designed to work with different elements of the tree, e.g., functions for accessing node names, text content, attribute values, namespaces, etc. Subsequent chapters introduce XPath (Chapter 4), a powerful XML technology for locating content in an XML document, and describe more complex strategies for extracting XML content (Chapter 5).
Cervical discectomy. A prospective analysis of three operative techniques.

Abstract BACKGROUND Cervical disc herniation causing neurological compromise is a common affliction. Sophisticated surgical treatments have been developed throughout the twentieth century and are largely successful. Although each procedure has its supporters, it is still unclear if one surgical technique is superior. METHODS A prospective trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of three surgical procedures for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by a unilateral acute herniated cervical disc. Patients were randomized to posterior cervical foraminotomy (FOR), and anterior cervical discectomy with (ACDF), and without (ACD) fusion. Perioperative data, office follow-up and long-term follow-up were used to compare the procedures. RESULTS All of the procedures yielded excellent relief of symptoms and signs postoperatively and during follow-up. Operative time and hospital stay were slightly shorter for ACD compared with ACDF and FOR. Reoperations occurred in all groups but there was a trend for higher recurrence at the same level with FOR and recurrence at other levels with ACDF. CONCLUSION All three of the procedures were successful for treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by a herniated cervical disc. Although the numbers in this study were small, none of the procedures could be considered superior to the others. This study suggests that the selection of surgical procedure may reasonably be based on the preference of the surgeon and tailored to the individual patient.
How Laboratory-Derived Principles of Learning Have Conquered the Neuroses

Neuroses are a very widespread cause of long-term human suffering, which is often severe, occasionally to the point where suicide is attempted. The ages have witnessed many theories of neurosis and countless prescriptions for treatment; but only in the past quarter century have laboratory studies identified their basis, making possible the development of rational methods of therapy, as the following pages will describe.
Maintaining Intact Families on CAPD/CCPD

The families of children who are receiving intensive medical treatment at home become their primary medical care givers, and successful treatment depends on their consistent ability to perform well. All family members are effected by the child’s chronic illness. Parents carry the major responsibility of providing a technically complex treatment. Understanding the impact on the family of providing home peritoneal dialysis, and building in adequate supports to maintain their effort, will greatly improve the quality of medical care the child receives and provide the best atmosphere for the child’s emotional growth and development.
Vessels, gels, liquid media, and support systems

A deliberate change in the growth regulators added to a tissue culture medium can elicit a dramatic response in a cultured plant. This cause-effect relationship is well-recognized, and as a result, growth regulator treatments are carefully designed based on the anticipated consequences to in vitro performance. On the other hand, decisions concerning selection of a containment vessel, or the physical status (phase) of in vitro media are frequently based on cost, availability, or convenience, without much appreciation for their broader repercussions. In fact, these underestimated variables related to the tissue culture vessel (size, shape, closure) or the medium phase (gelling agents, liquid medium, physical supports) can conspicuously modify in vitro plant behavior, often more predictably and cost-effectively than chemical additives to a medium. The potent physicochemical influences dictated by vessels & gels have frequently been cited (Chu et al. 1993; Fujiwara and Kozai 1994, this volume; Kozai et al. 1992; Obeidy and Smith 1990; McClelland and Smith 1990; Smith and McClelland 1991), paving the way for practical management of these tools to optimize tissue culture systems. Many tissue culture laboratories still operate with the assumption that vessels, gels, and related variables are minor players in development of new in vitro strategies, in spite of ample evidence that these underrated variables exert considerable leverage on in vitro productivity, and warrant more comprehensive description and interpretation.
Aspiration-Level Interactive Model

The aspiration-level interactive model (AIM-Lotfi, Stewart and Zionts, 1992) method is based on the idea of providing decision makers a means to explore efficient solutions, in order to gain better understanding of the tradeoffs involved in the decision. In order to do this, AIM utilizes a number of the ideas we have seen in other methods. AIM is intended to aid selection of one alternative from a large set. We may think of the problem as forming a matrix, with the rows representing alternatives and the columns criteria. The idea is to adjust aspiration levels of the objectives and obtain feedback regarding the feasibility of the aspiration levels, separately and jointly. As the aspiration levels are adjusted, the nearest non-dominated solution based on the levels changes.
Psychosocial Determinants of Teens' Online Engagement in Drug Prevention Social Media Campaigns: Implications for Public Health Organizations.

Social networking sites (SNSs) now serve as a primary form of communication among adolescents. Consequently, drug prevention campaigns delivered through SNSs have the potential to reach a wide network of adolescents if teens are willing to engage in the message diffusion process by commenting on, “liking,” following, creating, or sharing prevention messages with their networked peers. However, little is known about the psychosocial factors that influence adolescents’ willingness to participate in drug prevention social media campaigns. We use qualitative methods to explore reasons why adolescents may or may not want to engage in the message diffusion process. We conducted four semi-structured focus groups with a total of 33 high school students from various school- and community-based youth programs in Rhode Island. Focus groups were followed by a brief self-administered questionnaire collecting information about participants’ social media use to augment qualitative findings. Overall, findings reveal that engaging teens in the message diffusion process can be advantageous but difficult to accomplish due to multiple factors. Most notably, asking adolescents to participate in drug prevention campaigns delivered through SNSs means also asking youth to violate online norms that promote drug use, which could in turn subject them to peer reprisal. We conclude that future studies should begin to investigate strategies addressing the various challenges we identified. Meanwhile, prevention specialists should consider alternative or supplemental evidence-based approaches to drug prevention rather than invest resources into activities that may offer little return on investment.
Accounting for the uncounted: physical and affective distress in individuals dropping out of oral naltrexone treatment for opioid use disorder

Abstract Background The theoretical benefits of naltrexone as a treatment for opioid use disorder (e.g., safety, non-addictive, low risk of diversion) stand in sharp contrast to its disappointing record on retention in most samples. The relationship of uncomfortable physical and dysphoric symptoms to retention on naltrexone is a controversial and under-studied issue. Methods Using data from a randomized controlled trial of voucher-based contingency management and support from a significant other to enhance retention on oral naltrexone, we compared self-reported somatic and dysphoric symptoms, measured weekly, for individuals who were retained on naltrexone through the 12-week trial (n = 50) versus those who dropped out (n = 70). Results There were no differences between participants who completed treatment and those who dropped out on multiple baseline characteristics, including somatic or affective symptoms prior to treatment. However, whether analyzed cross-sectionally or over time, participants who dropped out consistently reported higher rates of somatic symptoms, particularly difficulty sleeping, as well as affective symptoms, including multiple indicators of depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. Conclusions Although the smaller group of participants who were retained on oral naltrexone for 12 weeks reported decreasing physical and affective discomfort over time, there was substantial evidence that those who dropped out experienced continued and significant levels of distress. Individuals who report physical or affective distress while taking naltrexone may be at higher risk of dropout.
Underrepresentation of Women on Radiology Editorial Boards.

PURPOSE Women in radiology are known to be underrepresented in academic leadership positions. We sought to determine if women are appropriately represented on editorial boards and editor-in-chief positions compared with their authorship contributions. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assessed the first and senior authorship male versus female gender breakdown of manuscripts published in nine high-impact American radiology journals 1 month per year from 2002 to 2017. We looked at the gender of the first authors, senior authors, editorial board members, and editors-in-chief of these journals to see if there was a gender discrepancy. RESULTS We assessed 3,702 first authors, 3,702 senior authors, and 9,400 editorial board members. Women were underrepresented on the editorial boards compared with their first-authored manuscript contribution in our sample of articles from every journal for every year and were underrepresented compared with their senior-authored manuscript contributions in 119 of 139 (85.6%) journal-years. The percentage of women as first authors (mean = 29.3 ± 9.9), senior authors (mean = 20.7 ± 8.1), and editorial board members (mean = 13.4 ± 6.5) showed major differences (P < .001). This gap did not significantly narrow over the 16 years of study. Notably, there was no woman as editor-in-chief for any of the journal-years. CONCLUSION There is a gender gap in the composition of editorial boards in radiology compared with authorship contributions by women. Given the implications of editorial board assignment and editorship on women's academic advancement, journals may wish to consider strategies that will narrow the gap.
An Empiric Approach to Identifying Physician Peer Groups From Claims Data: An Example From Breast Cancer Care

Objective To develop an empiric approach for evaluating the performance of physician peer groups based on patient-sharing in administrative claims data. Data sources Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked dataset. Study design Applying social network theory, we constructed physician peer groups for patients with breast cancer. Under different assumptions of key parameter values-minimum patient volume for physician inclusion and minimum number of patients shared between physicians for a connection-we compared agreement in group membership between split samples during 2004-2006 (T1) (reliability) and agreement in group membership between T1 and 2007-2009 (T2) (stability). We also compared the results with those derived from randomly generated groups and to hospital affiliation-based groups. Principal findings The sample included 142 098 patients treated by 43 174 physicians in T1 and 136 680 patients treated by 51 515 physicians in T2. We identified parameter values that resulted in a median peer group reliability of 85.2 percent (Interquartile range (IQR) [0 percent, 96.2 percent]) and median stability of 73.7 percent (IQR [0 percent, 91.0 percent]). In contrast, stability of randomly assigned peer groups was 6.2 percent (IQR [0 percent, 21.0 percent]). Median overlap of empirical groups with hospital groups was 32.2 percent (IQR [12.1 percent, 59.2 percent]). Conclusions It is feasible to construct physician peer groups that are reliable, stable, and distinct from both randomly generated and hospital-based groups.
REQUISITOS E DEVERES DA GESTAÇÃO POR SUBSTITUIÇÃO

A gestacao por substituicao vem ganhando cada vez mais espaco entre casais, e tambem entre pessoas solteiras, sendo considerada uma opcao viavel para se realizar o sonho da procriacao. No Brasil, a barriga solidaria carece de legislacao especifica, sendo amparada, tao somente, pela Resolucao do Conselho Federal de Medicina de no 2.168/2017, a qual apresenta criterios eticos para que o profissional da medicina possa realizar tal procedimento, estabelecendo, inclusive os requisitos e deveres da gestacao por substituicao. Ante a lacuna legislativa, a Resolucao do CFM vem sendo aplicada por nossa justica patria aos casos de gestacao de utero alheio como forma de coibir o uso indiscriminado desse tipo de procedimento. O presente artigo tem como principal objetivo verificar os requisitos e deveres de todos os envolvidos no procedimento da gestacao por substituicao, baseando-se no levantamento de dados sobre as tecnicas de reproducao assistida e na colheita de informacoes a cerca das mudancas no âmbito da maternidade por substituicao. Desse modo, conseguimos detalhar o atual estagio da maternidade por substituicao em nosso pais, ressaltando a carencia de regulamentacao na realizacao desse procedimento. Logo, a partir de uma analise critica e reflexiva, pudemos verificar as principais mudancas que o tema em questao sofreu ao longo dos anos, correlacionando-as com a iminencia de elaboracao e promulgacao de uma norma especifica sobre a maternidade sub-rogada, a qual devera delinear os requisitos e deveres de todos os envolvidos, a fim de que a sociedade possa usufrui-la de forma limitada e condizente com valores constitucionais.
Revisiting the International Normalized Ratio (INR) Threshold for Complications in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of 21,239 Cases.

Background Consensus guidelines recommend use of the international normalized ratio (INR) to predict the risk of perioperative bleeding in orthopaedic surgery. However, current recommendations for targeting an INR of Methods We retrospectively reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for adult patients who underwent primary TKA from 2010 to 2016. Patients for whom an INR had been recorded within 1 day before the surgery were stratified and analyzed for perioperative bleeding, mortality within 30 days, deep wound and superficial infections, LOS, and readmissions. Multivariable regressions were utilized to adjust for differences in demographics and comorbidities among INR groups. Results Of 21,239 patients, 57.2% had an INR of ≤1.0; 38.1% had an INR of >1.0 to 1.25, 3.9% had an INR of >1.25 to 1.5, and 0.8% had an INR of >1.5. After adjustment, a progressively increased bleeding risk was found with an INR of >1.0 to 1.25 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 to 1.31, p = 0.001), an INR of >1.25 to 1.5 (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.63, p = 0.033), and an INR of >1.5 (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.29 to 3.14, p = 0.002) relative to an INR of ≤1.0. Patients with an INR of >1.5 were at increased risk for infection (OR = 5.34, 95% CI = 2.45 to 11.68, p 1.25 to 1.5 were at increased risk for mortality (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.31 to 8.63, p = 0.011) relative to those with an INR of ≤1.0. Overall and TKA-related readmission rates and LOS were significantly increased for patients with an INR of >1.25 to 1.5 or an INR of >1.5. Conclusions An INR of >1.25 to 1.5 was associated with increased bleeding, infection, and mortality rates following TKA, and an INR of >1.5 was associated with increased bleeding and infection rates. Current INR target recommendations in consensus guidelines should be reconsidered. Level of evidence Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Laparoscopic fenestration of a giant simple hepatic cyst. Case report and technical considerations.

The management of symptomatic large, simple hepatic cysts has evolved toward the use of wide unroofing or “fenestration” in instances where patients are not rendered asymptomatic by percutaneous aspiration. We report adoption of the technique of fenestration of such hepatic cysts to the laparoscopic route. Laparoscopic fenestration appears able to accomplish all of the aims of transabdominal fenestration in appropriately selected patients.
Resurrecting immortal-time bias in the study of readmissions.

OBJECTIVE To compare readmission rates as measured by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) methods. DATA SOURCES 20 percent sample of national Medicare data for patients undergoing cystectomy, colectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2010 and 2014. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study comparing 30-day readmission rates. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Patients undergoing cystectomy, colectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and total knee arthroplasty between 2010 and 2014 were identified. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Cystectomy had the highest and total knee arthroplasty had the lowest readmission rate. The NSQIP measure reported significantly lower rates for all procedures compared to the CMS measure, which reflects an immortal-time bias. CONCLUSIONS We found significantly different readmission rates across all surgical procedures when comparing CMS and NSQIP measures. Longer length of stay exacerbated these differences. Uniform outcome measures are needed to eliminate ambiguity and synergize research and policy efforts.
Impact of Insurance Payer on Type of Breast Reconstruction Performed.

BACKGROUND The impact of insurance and socioeconomic status on breast reconstruction modalities when access to care is controlled is unknown. METHODS Records for patients who underwent breast reconstruction at an academic medical center between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed and analyzed using chi-square analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS One thousand six hundred eighty-three breast reconstructions were analyzed. The commercially insured were more likely to undergo microvascular autologous breast reconstruction (44.4 percent versus 31.3 percent; p < 0.001), with an odds ratio of 2.22, whereas patients with Medicare and Medicaid were significantly more likely to receive tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (41.7 percent versus 47.7 percent; p = 0.013). Comparing all patients with microvascular reconstruction, the commercially insured were more likely to receive a perforator flap (79.7 percent versus 55.3 percent versus 43.9 percent), with an odds ratio of 4.23 (p < 0.001). When stratifying patients by median household income, those in the highest income quartile were most likely to receive a perforator flap (82.1 percent) (p < 0.001), whereas those in the lowest income quartile were most likely to receive a muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (36.4 percent) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients at the same academic medical center had significantly different breast reconstruction modalities when stratified by insurance and household income. Despite similar access to care, differences in insurance types may favor higher rates of perforator flap breast reconstruction among the commercially insured. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, II.
The Pod People: Understanding Manipulation of Social Media Popularity via Reciprocity Abuse

Online Social Network (OSN) Users’ demand to increase their account popularity has driven the creation of an underground ecosystem that provides services or techniques to help users manipulate content curation algorithms. One method of subversion that has recently emerged occurs when users form groups, called pods, to facilitate reciprocity abuse, where each member reciprocally interacts with content posted by other members of the group. We collect 1.8 million Instagram posts that were posted in pods hosted on Telegram. We first summarize the properties of these pods and how they are used, uncovering that they are easily discoverable by Google search and have a low barrier to entry. We then create two machine learning models for detecting Instagram posts that have gained interaction through two different kinds of pods, achieving 0.91 and 0.94 AUC, respectively. Finally, we find that pods are effective tools for increasing users’ Instagram popularity, we estimate that pod utilization leads to a significantly increased level of likely organic comment interaction on users’ subsequent posts.
FACILITIES IN A STATISTICAL PROGRAM SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLY-INDEXED DATA

The paper is divided into three sections. In the first, some general remarks about the development of statistical systems and the possibilities for future collaboration are made. The second describes some of the features necessary for handling indexed data and, in the third section, a very simple general recursive algorithm for analysis of variance is briefly outlined.
Utility of Routine Invasive Coronary Angiography Prior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Abstract Background/purpose Despite the high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), the optimal management of concomitant CAD, including revascularization before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), remains controversial. Contemporary, real-world practice patterns have not yet been described. We aimed to characterize the burden of CAD in contemporary TAVR patients and evaluate revascularization practices at a high-volume center. Methods/materials We retrospectively analyzed all adult patients referred for TAVR at our center between January 2019 and January 2020. Presence of significant CAD and subsequent management were recorded. Presenting symptoms, use of non-invasive and invasive ischemia testing, and pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) imaging were analyzed. Results A total of 394 patients with severe AS were referred for TAVR. Thirty-nine patients (9.9%) instead underwent surgery, of whom only 5 (1.3%) received coronary artery bypass grafting . Of the remaining 355 patients, 218 patients (61.4%) had insignificant CAD. Of the 137 patients (38.6%) with significant CAD, only 30 (8.5%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Of these, less than half had anginal symptoms, a third had CAD in proximal segments, and a third underwent ischemia testing before PCI. Pre-TAVR CT accurately identified significant CAD in 28/30 patients (93.3%) who underwent PCI. Conclusions Only 1 in 25 contemporary TAVR patients had significant CAD and angina requiring intervention, calling into question the utility of routine invasive coronary angiography before TAVR. A Heart Team approach integrating anginal symptoms, ischemia testing and possibly pre-TAVR CT is needed to guide the need, timing, and strategy of revascularization.
Right versus left heart reverse remodelling after treating ischaemic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation.

Objectives Repair outcomes of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) associated with ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) are inferior to functional TR in terms of TR recurrence and right ventricular (RV) reverse remodelling. Our objective is to analyse right versus left heart reverse remodelling after surgery for IMR-associated TR. Methods From 2001 to 2011, 568 patients with severe IMR underwent mitral valve surgery (repair 87%, replacement 13%), and 131 had concomitant tricuspid valve repair. Median follow-up was 3.0 years; 25% of living patients were followed up for 6.3 years. Longitudinal analysis of 1527 follow-up echocardiograms was performed to assess ventricular reverse remodelling and function. Results Unlike the left heart, the right heart failed to reverse remodel (failed to recover ventricular function or halt dilatation). During follow-up after surgery, the right ventricle continued to dilate while the left ventricle regressed in size. RV ejection fraction decreased (46% at 1 month and 44% at 5 years), while left ventricular ejection fraction increased (33% and 37%, respectively). RV strain showed early (-11% at 1 month) and late (-12% at 5 years) dysfunction. Patients who underwent tricuspid valve repair had worse RV function. Mitral regurgitation remained stable after surgical intervention, and TR gradually recurred (37% moderate, 20% severe at 7 years). Conclusions Surgical treatment of IMR and TR along with revascularization failed to induce reverse remodelling of the right heart. These findings warrant further investigations to identify optimal timing and approach of intervention for IMR-associated TR with respect to RV remodelling.
Reduced Fetal Movements and Perinatal Mortality.

Introduction Counting of fetal movement (FM) during pregnancy is believed to be a method by which a woman estimates the fetal well-being. In 2015, it was estimated that 2.6 million babies had died in utero. A percentage of 30-55% of women who experience an episode of reduced fetal movement (RFM) within a week may face stillbirth. Aim The aim of this review was to assess the impact of reduced fetal movements and of educational interventions on maternal counting of fetal movements on perinatal mortality, perinatal outcome and mode of delivery. Methods A search of electronic databases was conducted for detecting studies that examine the coincidence of reduced fetal movements (RFM) in combination with stillbirth and perinatal morbidity. Results The findings of this review suggest that there is an association between the incidence of stillbirth and the experience of alterations in fetal movements' quantity and quality in the preceding weeks. Interventions on fetal movement counting, concerning both the number and the density of fetal movements, may reduce the adverse perinatal outcomes to an extent, after informing and making aware of the pregnant women for their meaning. Conclusion Maternity care professionals should: a) inform pregnant women about the importance of FM counting, b) encourage pregnant women to be familiarized on the recognition of theirs' baby normal pattern of fetal movements and c) alarm women when this pattern changes. Care professionals should emphasize that counting of fetal movements is not related only to movements' quantity (number) but also to movements' quality (density).
A narrative review of targeted therapies in meningioma

Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors constituting approximately one third of all primary brain tumors. It affects mainly elderly population with increased incidence older than 65 years of age and more woman than man. It usually follows a benign course with a fairly good outcome and the surgery and or radiation therapy remain the standard of care. The prognosis remains excellent for grade I meningiomas with 10-year overall survival greater than 90%. However, although the most of the meningiomas, especially for grade I, can be cured by surgery alone, for grades II and III recurrent meningiomas, they become a clinical challenge as there are no clear standard treatment options available after re-resection or re-irradiation therapy. Prognosis is particularly poor for grade III meningiomas with 10- year overall survival of 33%. Many chemotherapeutic agents and hormonal therapies have been tried with only modest benefits. Recent advances in molecular genetic profiling and diagnostic tools greatly enhanced our understanding of the complex pathways and it opened an opportunity for potential targeted therapies for specific markers. Clinical trial results from sunitinib [multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)], bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitor), everolimus (mTOR inhibitor) and bevacizumab revealed some promising tumor response in recurrent meningiomas. Currently, many clinical trials including targeted therapies, antiangiogenic agents and immunotherapies are being investigated or under consideration.
Benford's Law and COVID-19 Data

Benford's law states that in many sets of naturally occurring data, the first significant digit of an arbitrarily chosen data point is not equally likely to be 1, ..., 9, as one might expect, but i...
Note, Blurring the Lines of the Danger Zone: The Impact of Kendra's Law on the Rights of the Nonviolent Mentally Ill

This Note argues that Kendra's Law, which may potentially be applied to mentally ill individuals without a history of violence, is overbroad and unconstitutional because it is inconsistent with the state and federal constitutional standards for deprivation of liberty, due process, and the right to refuse treatment, as established by the New York Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Part II of this Note examines the evolution of involuntary outpatient commitment in New York under Kendra's Law, including a comparison of how the statute differs substantially from the 1994 pilot program'" on which it was modeled. Part III will provide an overview of the federal constitutional standards under which an individual may be deprived of his or her liberty through involuntary inpatient commitment, and argue that these standards should also be applied to individuals facing involuntary outpatient commitment. It will also examine the possible conflict of Kendra's Law with New York state constitutional liberty interests, the due process right to a competency hearing, and the right to refuse treatment under Rivers v. Katz.'6 Finally, Part IV discusses the morality, as well as the efficacy, of coercive outpatient treatment for the mentally ill in light of current public policy.
Evangelical Perspectives on Latino Immigration

This chapter presents an overview of recent Christian evangelical involvement in the immigration debate, starting with the historical context of the Civil Rights movement in the United States, and examining points of contact and divergence among the positions and practices of white, black and Latino evangelicals regarding the issue of Latino immigration. It also presents some of the challenges evangelical Christians need to address in order to become more effective allies in the comprehensive immigration reform movement. Studies indicate that Latino attitudes toward immigration vary according to a number of key demographic differences. The Evangelical Immigration Table has begun eforts to work at the state level with representation in Colorado and Florida with hopes to add more states in the future in order to develop the "critical mass" needed to motivate elected officials to address immigration reform. Keywords: christian; Colorado; evangelical immigration; Florida; Latino immigration; United States
Spectral processing and sound source determination.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on neural processing that may be relevant for understanding sound-source determination. Mistuning has shown to produce disproportionate changes in the temporal discharge patterns of inferior colliculus (IC) neurons. The IC plays a critical role in spectral segregation and, ultimately, sound-source determination. Information about harmonic structure is conveyed in the IC by a code created by interactions between adjacent spectral components. This suggests that the auditory system must work backwards from the pattern of frequency divergences to determine the spectra of the original sound sources—that is, an inverse problem must be solved. In the IC, information about individual spectral components is reduced or lost, and the representation of the mixture of envelopes produced by the components in a composite sound is widely distributed across the tonotopic axis.
Antimalarial Activity of Artemisinin (Qinghaosu) and Related Trioxanes: Mechanism (s) of Action

Publisher Summary Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases known to mankind. The species of Plasmodium that cause malaria can develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs that is going in recent times. Artemisinin and its analogs comprise a rapidly expanding chemotherapeutic arsenal in the ongoing worldwide fight against the resurgent threat of malaria. The promise of artemisinin, its semisynthetic derivatives, and its fully synthetic analogs as a new class of nonalkaloidal, fast-acting antimalarials has stimulated extensive synthetic and mechanistic research into their novel mode of action. Artemisinin and its expanding array of structurally related 1,2,4-trioxanes are effective against both simple and complicated malaria. The desire to develop new, more potent agents related to this promising class of drugs has prompted researchers to elucidate the mechanism(s) of action of these relatively new antimalarials. The developing understanding is the mechanism of action in which the endoperoxide linkage is a trigger, activated by iron-induced reduction inside the malaria parasite that releases a cascade of reactive intermediates—cytotoxic free radicals, one or more high-valent iron-oxo intermediates, and electrophilic alkylating agents—that ultimately cause fatal damage to the parasites.
Peptides and Blood Vessels

The sections in this article are: 1 Vascular Effects 1.1 Angiotensin 1.2 Bradykinin 1.3 Neurotensin 1.4 Opiate Peptides 1.5 Secretin and Glucagon 1.6 Somatostatin 1.7 Substance P 1.8 Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone 1.9 Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide 1.10 Vasopressin and Oxytocin 2 Mechanisms of Action 2.1 Molecular Determinants 2.2 Neurogenic Determinants 3 Summary
INTERACTIONS OF POLYAMINES WITH ION CHANNELS

Endogenous polyamines, in particular spermine, have been found to cause block and modulation of a number of types of ion channel. Intracellular spermine is responsible for intrinsic gating and rectification of strong inward rectifier K+ channels by directly plugging the ion channel pore. These K+ channels control the resting membrane potential in both excitable and non-excitable cells, and control the excitability threshold in neurons and muscle cells. Intracellular spermine causes inward rectification at some subtypes of Ca2+-permeable glutamate receptors in the central nervous system, again by plugging the receptor channel pore, and spermine can even permeate the ion channel of these receptors. Extracellular spermine has multiple effects at the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor, including stimulation that increases the size of NMDA receptor currents, and voltage-dependent block. A number of polyamine-conjugated arthropod toxins and synthetic polyamine analogues are potent antagonists of glutamate receptors, and represent new tools with which to study these receptors. Interactions of polyamines with other types of cation channels have been reported. This area of research represents a new biology and a new pharmacology of polyamines.
Evaluation of intracavitary ultrasound arrays for hyperthermia

The feasibility of intracavitary ultrasound hyperthermia was verified experimentally by heating in vitro (alcohol fixed) and in vivo (relocated next to the rectal wall) dog kidneys. Both in vitro and in vivo results showed that, even for a highly perfused organ, the nonfocused arrays effectively deliver energy up to 2-3 cm deep with control over the energy deposition along the length of the array. The circulating water temperature can be used to push the depth of the maximum temperature over 1 cm from the rectal wall, even in a perfused kidney. As expected, perfusion tends to keep this maximum closer to the surface and decreases the overall rise in temperature in the perfused regions. Initial results indicate that intracavitary phased arrays are feasible. >
Faster Hoeffding Racing: Bernstein Races via Jackknife Estimates

Hoeffding racing algorithms are used to achieve computational speedups in settings where the goal is to select a “best” option among a set of alternatives, but the amount of data is so massive that scoring all candidates using every data point is too costly. The key is to construct confidence intervals for scores of candidates that are used to eliminate options sequentially as more samples are processed. We propose a tighter version of Hoeffding racing based on empirical Bernstein inequalities, where a jackknife estimate is used in place of the unknown variance. We provide rigorous proofs of the accuracy of our confidence intervals in the case of U-statistics and entropy estimators, and demonstrate the efficacy of our racing algorithms with synthetic experiments.
Biology of the congenitally hypothyroid hyt/ hyt mouse

Summary The hyt/hyt mouse has an autosomal recessive, fetal onset, characterized by severe hypothyroidism that persists throughout life and is a reliable model of human sporadic congenital hypothyroidism. The hypothyroidism in the hyt/hyt mouse reflects the hyporesponsiveness of the thyroid gland to thyrotropin (TSH). This is attributable to a point mutation of C to T at nucleotide position 1666, resulting in the replacement of a Pro with Leu at position 556 in transmembrane domain IV of the G protein-linked TSH receptor. This mutation leads to a reduction in all CAMP-regulated events, including thyroid hormone synthesis. The diminution in T 3 /T 4 in serum and other organs, including the brain, also leads to alterations in the level and timing of expression of critical brain molecules, i.e. selected tubulin isoforms (Mβ5, Mβ2, and Mα1), microtubule associated proteins (MAPS), and myelin basic protein, as well as to changes in important neuronal cytoskeletal events, i.e. microtubule assembly and SCa and SCb axonal transport. In the hyt/hyt mouse, fetal hypothyroidism leads to reductions in Mβ5, Mβ2, and Mα1 mRNAs, important tubulin isoforms, and Mβ5 and Mβ2 proteins, which comprise the microtubules. These molecules are localized to layer V pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex, a site of differentiating neurons, as well as a site for localization of specific thyroid hormone receptors. These molecular abnormalities in specific cells and at specific times of development or maturation may contribute to the observed neuroanatomical abnormalities, i.e. altered neuronal process growth and maintenance, synaptogenesis, and myelination, in hypothyroid brain. Abnormal neuroanatomical development in selected brain regions may be the factor underlying the abnormalities in reflexive, locomotor, and adaptive behavior seen in the hyt/hyt mouse and other hypothyroid animals.
Processing effects in aluminum micro-channel tube for brazed R744 heat exchangers

Abstract The effects of processing on the mechanical behavior of aluminum alloy micro-channel tubing used in brazed automotive heat exchangers are evaluated in light of the stringent requirements of CO2 (R744 refrigerant) based systems. An apparatus was developed to simulate system operating conditions of pressure and elevated temperature in tube samples. Commercially extruded and processed AA3102 micro-channel tube samples were given a simulated brazing thermal cycle and a series of static and cyclic pressure tests were performed at various temperatures. Failure stress in the tube walls was estimated and compared to tensile test data. At room temperature, the strength of the post-braze micro-channel decreased by about 17%, and about 22% at 180 °C (compared to tube that was not given a simulated brazing thermal cycle). This decrease in strength is attributed to large grains that form during the brazing thermal cycle.
Kinetics of the Homogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation of Olefins in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using a Fluoroacrylate Copolymer Grafted Rhodium Catalyst

The kinetic studies on the hydrogenation of 1-octene and cyclohexene using a fluoroacrylate copolymer grafted rhodium catalyst in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) are reported. The reactions were investigated at temperatures between 50 and 120 °C, and pressures ranging from 172 to 241 bar. The catalyst also deactivated at these reaction conditions. For the case of 1-octene, isomerization to (E)2-octene and (Z)2-octene also occurred as side reactions. To represent the experimental data, a kinetic model was developed on the basis of reported studies about hydrogenation and isomerization of olefins in conventional solvents. It was proposed that two hydride catalytic species are formed during the kinetic cycle. Monohydride species promoted the isomerization, and dihydride species catalyzed the hydrogenation. Deactivation of the catalyst was attributed to the formation of an unsaturated olefin complex. Statistical methods were applied to discriminate among rival models. It was found that the rate-determini...
Mineral accretion in the fetus and adnexa during late gestation in Holstein cows.

Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 18) were bred artificially to the same Holstein bull and then slaughtered at times ranging from 190 to 270 postmating to assess mineral accretion by the conceptus. Fresh weight, DM, and concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn were obtained for the fetus, fetal fluids, fetal membranes, cotyledons, caruncles, and uterine tissues. Rates of accumulation of individual minerals in different components of the conceptus during late gestation were described by either linear or exponential relationships. Estimated Ca accretion rate in the conceptus increased from 2.3 g/d at 190 d of gestation to 10.3 g/d at 280 d of pregnancy; corresponding P accretions were 1.9 and 5.4 g/d. Rates of accretion of Mg, K, and Na in the conceptus in late pregnancy were about .2, 1.0, and 1.4 g/d, respectively, and Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn accumulated in the conceptus at rates of 18.0, 11.7, 1.6, and .3 mg/d, respectively. These daily rates represent net mineral requirements for conceptus growth during late pregnancy in mature Holstein cows. In general, our values are consistent with current dietary recommendations for minerals during the dry period.