cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Renal Failure after Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Related to Decreased Serum Ferritin Levels

Abstract . Acute renal failure (ARF) requiring dialysis occurs in up to 4% of patients after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB leads to the generation of intravascular free hemoglobin, resulting in increased endothelial and renal tubular cell free iron, which is associated with renal injury. Conversely, renoprotection is conferred by processes that upregulate heme and iron sequestration pathways, such as ferritin. This study evaluates the influence of free hemoglobin generation during CPB and the capacity to sequester free iron on the occurrence of post-CPB renal insufficiency. Thirty consecutive patients undergoing CPB were enrolled in the study. Serum creatinine, free hemoglobin, and ferritin were measured preoperatively, at the end of bypass, and 24 and 48 h after surgery. Renal injury, as determined by an increase in the serum creatinine of ≥25% (ARF) by 48 h after surgery, occurred in 40% (12 of 30) of patients, and dialysis was necessary in 6.6% (2 of 30). Free hemoglobin levels increased in all patients but did not correlate with postoperative ARF. However, patients with preoperative serum ferritin levels ≤130 μg/L, the median value for the group, had a sixfold greater likelihood of developing ARF compared to patients with levels above this value ( P = 0.03). Lower serum ferritin levels appear to be associated with the development of ARF. Serum ferritin levels may signify intravascular as well as endothelial and renal epithelial cell ability to bind free iron generated during CPB-induced hemolysis, and thus may help provide information regarding the risk for ARF.
Coordination versus Prisoners' Dilemma: Implications for International Cooperation and Regimes

The study of political institutions in general and international cooperation in particular has been beneficially influenced by the Prisoners' Dilemma (PD) game model, but there is a mistaken tendency to treat PD as representing the singular problem of collective action and cooperation. By relaxing the assumptions of 2 × 2 games and developing an alternate model of the coordination game, I show how some cooperation problems have very different properties from those found in PD. The analytical results of the two games are compared across several important dimensions: number of strategies available, number of iterations of the game, numbers of players, and the distribution of power among them. The discussion is illustrated with specific problems of international cooperation, and the implications of alternative cooperation problems for the formation and performance of international regimes are explored. The basic solutions for PD and coordination have divergent ramifications for the institutionalization, stability, and adaptability of regimes and for the role of hegemony in the international system. However, the coordination model does not replace the PD model but complements and supplements it as a way to understand the diversity of political institutions. These results are widely applicable to areas of politics beyond international relations.
A four-part model of autonomy during emerging adulthood: Associations with adjustment:

We found support for a four-part model of autonomy that links connectedness, separation, detachment, and agency to adjustment during emerging adulthood. Based on self-report surveys of 285 American college students, expected associations among the autonomy variables were found. In addition, agency, as measured by self-reliance, predicted lower psychological and somatic symptoms, as well as stronger self-esteem, college grades, and attitudes towards college. Separation, as measured by a modified Emotional Autonomy Scale score, was associated with lower grades and lower self-esteem, but only for emerging adults who reported lower self-reliance. Separation was not important in predicting these outcomes for emerging adults who were self-reliant.
Magneto-therapeutic functionalized carbon nanoparticles for interrogative medicine

Magnetic nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes have both attained a large amount of focus due to their versatile properties and numerous applications. Thus, interfacing magnetic nanoparticles with carbon nanotubes would generate a class of functional materials with broad potential towards nanoscale medicine. Here, a novel method is discussed of incorporating magnetic nanoparticles (iron oxides) onto carbon nanotubes (IONs+CNTs) as well as applying these IONs+CNTs as therapeutic strategies to promote targeted necrosis in cells which may be relevant towards directed cancer therapy, as well as antibacterial/viral applications. To determine the applicability of the IONs+CNTs, we investigated their effects on the expression of cytokines that regulate cellular stress and inflammation from in vitro RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line growth with the IONs+CNTs. In addition, we performed several characterization trials to confirm the presence of a IONs+CNTs interfacing including infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of applying a magnetic field towards cells that internalized the IONs+CNTs through microscopic imagery. Furthermore, we exposed the IONs+CNTs to an external rotating magnetic field to determine its applicability to aid in directed cell death. The materials/applications realized through this study may provide an efficient method of producing IONs as well as a novel method towards directed cell death that could be implemented in both the fundamental and translational fields.
Genetics of FTLD: overview and what else we can expect from genetic studies.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) comprises a highly heterogeneous group of disorders clinically associated with behavioral and personality changes, language impairment, and deficits in executive functioning, and pathologically associated with degeneration of frontal and temporal lobes. Some patients present with motor symptoms including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Genetic research over the past two decades in FTLD families led to the identification of three common FTLD genes (microtubule-associated protein tau, progranulin, and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72) and a small number of rare FTLD genes, explaining the disease in almost all autosomal dominant FTLD families but only a minority of apparently sporadic patients or patients in whom the family history is less clear. Identification of additional FTLD (risk) genes is therefore highly anticipated, especially with the emerging use of next-generation sequencing. Common variants in the transmembrane protein 106 B were identified as a genetic risk factor of FTLD and disease modifier in patients with known mutations. This review summarizes for each FTLD gene what we know about the type and frequency of mutations, their associated clinical and pathological features, and potential disease mechanisms. We also provide an overview of emerging disease pathways encompassing multiple FTLD genes. We further discuss how FTLD specific issues, such as disease heterogeneity, the presence of an unclear family history and the possible role of an oligogenic basis of FTLD, can pose challenges for future FTLD gene identification and risk assessment of specific variants. Finally, we highlight emerging clinical, genetic, and translational research opportunities that lie ahead. Genetic research led to the identification of three common FTLD genes with rare variants (MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72) and a small number of rare genes. Efforts are now ongoing, which aimed at the identification of rare variants with high risk and/or low frequency variants with intermediate effect. Common risk variants have also been identified, such as TMEM106B. This review discusses the current knowledge on FTLD genes and the emerging disease pathways encompassing multiple FTLD genes.
Extent of Endoscopic Resection for Anterior Skull Base Tumors: An MRI-Based Volumetric Analysis.

Objective To determine the volume of ventral skull base tumor removed following endoscopic endonasal (EEA) resection using MRI-based volumetric analysis and to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of such analysis. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Academic tertiary care hospital. Participants EEA patients November 2012 to August 2015. Main Outcome Measures Volumetric analysis of pre- and immediately postoperative MR imaging was performed independently by two investigators. The percentage of total tumor resected was evaluated according to resection goal and tumor type. Results A total of 39 patients underwent resection. Intraclass correlation coefficients between the raters were 0.9988 for preoperative and 0.9819 for postoperative images. Tumors (and average percentage removed) included 17 nonsecreting pituitary adenomas (95.3%), 8 secreting pituitary adenomas (86.2%), 4 meningiomas (81.6%), 3 olfactory neuroblastomas (100%), 2 craniopharyngiomas (100%), 1 large B–cell lymphoma (90.5%), 1 germ cell neoplasm (48.3), 1 benign fibrous connective tissue mass (93.4%), 1 epidermoid cyst (68.4%), and 1 chordoma (100%). For tumors treated with intent for gross total resection, 96.9 ± 4.8% was removed. Conclusion EEAs achieved tumor resection rates of ∼97% when total resection was attempted. The radiographic finding of residual tumor is of uncertain clinical significance. The volumetric analysis employed in this study demonstrated high inter-rater reliability and could facilitate further study.
Insect growth regulators: development of house flies in feces of bovines fed TH 6040 in mineral blocks and reduction in field populations by surface treatments with TH 6040 or a mixture of stirofos and dichlorvoa at larval breeding areas.

Development of Musca domestica L. was inhibited in the feces of cattle that consumed mineral blocks which contained 0.1 and 0.05% of the insect growth regulator Thompson-Hayward 6040 [ N -(4-chlorophenyl)- N′ -(2,6-difluorobenzoyl) urea]. The application of TH 6040 or a mixture of 21.4% stirofos and 5.3% dichlorvos (Ravap®) as area treatments to larval breeding sites at a swine feedlot (0.05 and 0.075% concn, respectively) and at a waste water treatment plant (0,05 and 0.15% concn, respectively) inhibited adult emergence throughout the fly breeding season.
Gatsby's Mentors: Queer Relations between Love and Money in the Great Gatsby

This essay examines relationships between men and the role patriarchal capitalism plays in the construction of sexuality in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925), a novel written during a critical period in the history of sexuality, as well as of gay and lesbian history. The ambivalence about male bonds—in particular the simultaneously loving and abusive dynamics of mentoring—depicted in this canonical work of American literature reveals the author's unease about his relationship with Catholic priest and teacher Sigourney Fay and provides insight into the author's well-known lifelong anxiety about his gender and sexuality.
Protonation of carbene-stabilized diphosphorus: complexation of HP2+

Reaction of carbene-stabilized diphosphorus, L:P–P:L (5) (L: = :C{N(2,6-Pri2C6H3)CH}2) with pyridine hydrochloride yields [L:(H)P–P:L]Cl (6), a salt containing the HP2+ cation—the elusive phosphorus analogue of the well known diazonium cation, HN2+. In addition to reporting the synthesis and structure, the nature of (6) was further probed by DFT computations. Interestingly, carbenes may be employed to deprotonate (6), affording the starting material (5).
Improved Synthesis of MDL 73811 - a Potent AdoMetDC Inhibitor and Anti-Trypanosomal Compound.

An improved synthesis of MDL 73811 – a potent AdoMetDC ( S -adenosylmethionine decarboxylase) inhibitor and anti-trypanosomal compound with in vivo activity – has been completed in four steps from commercially available 2′,3′- O -isopropylideneadenosine. Utilization of Mitsunobu chemistry was crucial for the reliable and scalable introduction of the 5′-methylamine moiety, which was problematic using traditional activation/displacement chemistry as previously reported. All reactions in this synthesis were run on gram-scale resulting in a five-fold increase in yield over the original synthesis.
Chemical modification of human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by tetranitromethane. Structure-function relationship.

Abstract Nitration of tyrosine residues of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) by tetranitromethane yielded a product that maintained its inhibitory activity against trypsin but lost most of its inhibitory activity against elastase. Chemical analysis of the product showed that four out of the six tyrosine residues in alpha 1-PI had been nitrated to various degrees: Tyr-38 and Tyr-297 were not nitrated, whereas Tyr-138, Tyr-160, Tyr-187 and Tyr-244 were nitrated to extents in the range 40-80%. We interpreted these data to mean that modification of these tyrosine residues decreased the association constant between alpha 1-PI and the proteinases and that the decrease differs from one proteinase to the other. When either alpha 1-PI-trypsin or alpha 1-PI-elastase complex was nitrated, nitration took place only to a very slight extent at these latter four tyrosine residues. On the other hand, Tyr-38 and Tyr-297 underwent nitration to about 20%. We concluded that Tyr-138, Tyr-160, Tyr-187 and Tyr-244 were located on the surface of alpha 1-PI that interacts with either trypsin or elastase in the formation of complexes, and were therefore protected from nitration.
Case Studies: Molecular Spectroscopy

Here we present spectroscopic case studies of specific molecules, spanning the ultraviolet to long-wave infrared. These case studies are intended to reinforce the concepts of line positions, line strengths, and line shapes, while also exposing the reader to some of the many species-specific details that contribute to the uniqueness of observed spectra. A detailed study of the OH molecule is followed by more brief reviews of O2, H2O, and hydrocarbons.
Structural Extensions to 3EPLL-I and 3EPLL-II

This chapter presents several extensions to the three-phase enhanced phase-locked loop (EPLL) structures. These extensions are equally applicable to both the 3EPLL-I and the 3EPLL-II. They include estimation of the zero-sequence component, estimation and rejection of direct current (DC) component, and estimation and rejection of harmonics. The 3EPLL structures allow estimation of the direct current (DC) components within the control loop. Since the DC component is estimated within the loop, the error caused by this component is completely removed from the other PLL variables including phase angles, magnitudes, and the frequency. When a 3EPLL structure is added with a DC loop and harmonic units, the number of adjusting parameters goes up. Therefore, the design of parameters needs to be done more carefully in order to ensure desirable performance of the whole system.
History-based harvesting of spare cycles and storage in large-scale datacenters

An effective way to increase utilization and reduce costs in datacenters is to co-locate their latency-critical services and batch workloads. In this paper, we describe systems that harvest spare compute cycles and storage space for co-location purposes. The main challenge is minimizing the performance impact on the services, while accounting for their utilization and management patterns. To overcome this challenge, we propose techniques for giving the services priority over the resources, and leveraging historical information about them. Based on this information, we schedule related batch tasks on servers that exhibit similar patterns and will likely have enough available resources for the tasks' durations, and place data replicas at servers that exhibit diverse patterns. We characterize the dynamics of how services are utilized and managed in ten large-scale production datacenters. Using real experiments and simulations, we show that our techniques eliminate data loss and unavailability in many scenarios, while protecting the co-located services and improving batch job execution time.
Knowing Your Limits: A Qualitative Study of Physician and Nurse Practitioner Perspectives on NP Independence in Primary Care

Background The shortage of primary care providers and the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have spurred discussion about expanding the number, scope of practice (SOP), and independence of primary care nurse practitioners (NPs). Such discussions in the media and among professional organizations may insinuate that changes to the laws governing NP practice will engender acrimony between practicing physicians and NPs. However, we lack empirical, descriptive data on how practicing professionals view NP independence in primary care.
The Interlaminar Fracture Energy of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composites

This study deals with the interlaminar fracture energy of a glass fiber reinforced polyester composite. Width tapered double cantilever beam (WTDCB) specimens are used for the test. The compliance and fracture behavior of the specimen as well as the effect of specimen geometry on fracture energy are studied. The fracture energy at liquid nitrogen temperature (77°K) is also studied.It is found that the fracture energy obtained decreases with increasing height of specimens, finally reaching a constant value. The minimum height requirement for the fracture test of Extren is one half inch.The fracture energy slightly decreases with a decrease in specimen taper. A load-deflection hysteresis is observed to increase with specimen width. Hysteresis is dependent on the beam volume, i.e., height, taper and crack length.The fracture energy at liquid nitrogen temperature (77°K) is about 3 times higher than that at room temperature and the fracture energy transverse to the fiber direction is slightly higher than in th...
Predicting rare failure events using classification trees on large scale manufacturing data with complex interactions

Manufacturers collect large amounts of information during production. This data can be hard to interpret because of the presence of many unknown interactions. The goal of this study is to demonstrate how machine learning methods can uncover important relationships between these parameters. This paper describes several techniques to predict rare failure events. Single parameter methods are used to explore performance over time. Tree based classification methods are used to identify deep interactions that cannot be identified by linear methods. Tree methods are shown to identify non-linear relationships.
Quantification of posture induced changes in wearable seismocardiogram signals for heart failure patients

Our goal is to characterize the effects of posture — supine, seated, and standing — on the seismocardiogram (SCG) signal for patients with heart failure (HF). Posture can (1) distort the SCG signal, for example due to altering the body's mechanical vibration response, and (2) affect a person's cardiovascular physiology, for example due to changes in venous return. This work focuses on characterizing the former, such that in future studies we can use the SCG to assess physiological changes in patients with HF at home. Our team has developed a circular patch (7 cm in diameter) which, when placed on the sternum, simultaneously measures the electrocardiogram (ECG) along with SCG signals in the dorso-ventral and head-to-foot directions. We recruited six HF patients thus far for this ongoing study. Each subject was asked to lie down in a supine position on a patient bed for 1 minute followed by 1 minute in each of the seated and standing postures. A novel algorithm was implemented to compare distortion in the shape of the SCG signals in the supine and seated postures as compared to the standing upright posture. The frequency domain analysis of the SCG signals revealed presence of high energy in bands greater than 8 Hz for supine and seated postures. Based on the findings of this paper, features can be derived to correct for posture related changes in the measured SCG signals for accurate assessment of patients with HF at home.
An adaptive cue combination model of human spatial reorientation

Previous research has proposed an adaptive cue combination view of the development of human spatial reorientation (Newcombe & Huttenlocher, 2006), whereby information from multiple sources is combined in a weighted fashion in localizing a target, as opposed to being modular and encapsulated (Hermer & Spelke, 1996). However, no prior work has formalized this proposal and tested it against existing empirical data. We propose a computational model of human spatial reorientation that is motivated by probabilistic approaches to optimal perceptual cue integration (e.g. Ernst & Banks, 2002) and to spatial location coding (Huttenlocher, Hedges, & Duncan, 1991). We show that this model accounts for data from a variety of human reorientation experiments, providing support for the adaptive combination view of reorientation.
Influence of age and gender on normative passive range of motion values of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Abstract Study Design Cross-sectional clinical measurement study. Introduction The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb is a complex joint making accurate measurement of range of motion (ROM) challenging. There are limited normative data available to base rehabilitative decisions, which is unfortunate as this joint is frequently affected by arthritis and is critical to hand function. Purpose of the Study To provide passive ROM values for the first CMC joint and investigate the effects of age and gender. Methods Ninety-six healthy subjects were divided into 4 age groups of equal gender: 20-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65+ years. Six-inch plastic universal goniometers were used to take 3 measurements of flexion, extension, and abduction of the dominant hand. Results Mean ROM values were 21.7 ± 6.8 degrees of flexion, 19.5 ± 5.7 degrees of extension, and 51.1 ± 5.5 degrees of abduction. There was a weak negative correlation ( r = −0.22; P = .03) between age and abduction and a difference between 2 age groups. No other relationship or difference due to age, gender, or interactions reached significance. Conclusions These normative ROM values for adults can be used by clinicians assessing patients for impaired motion at the CMC joint. No differences in flexion, extension, and abduction due to age and gender were supported, except for a small decrease (4.5°) in abduction in adults 65+ years compared with those of 35-49 years. Level of Evidence 3.
Abstract TP4: Pre-treatment Systolic Blood Pressure Levels Predict Final Infarct Volume, and Early Outcomes Following Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion

Background & Purpose: High pre-treatment systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels have been associated with lower recanalization rates after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS)...
Creating a secure processing tree for anonymous distributed data processing in the cloud

We present a set of protocols for creating a secure processing tree used for completing a task without divulging critical information. We analyze the information that is exchanged during the protocols and the effect of compromising participants.
Transatrial Internal Jugular Dialysis Catheter in Inferior Vena Cava

This chapter discusses the case of a catheter-dependent patient who was referred for a catheter exchange because of dysfunction. However, even after multiple attempts at repositioning the newly inserted repalcement catheter, adequate flow could not be obtained. In this case the problem was solved by placing the tip of the new catheter in the inferior vena cava.
Targeted Adenoviral Vectors III: Transcriptional Targeting

Gene therapy is an innovative approach aimed to introducing genetic material into an organism for therapeutic intent. Still in its infancy, this novel concept has witnessed a fundamental preclinical success with numerous ongoing clinical trials to confirm these findings. Critical to the success of gene therapy trials are issues relating to specific delivery of physiologically active biomolecules at therapeutically significant concentrations. Initially this was achieved by using direct intralesional injections of vectors to localize the delivery to the target tissue and universal promoters to maximized expression at that site. Over the past several years we and several other investigators have investigated the potential of tumor-specific promoters to transcriptionally regulate gene expression in the laboratory and in clinical trials. The safety demonstrated by these trials using tumor/tissue-specific promoters has led to the recent approval of a trial administering a conditionally replicative adenovirus systemically for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.
Existential unaccusativity and new discourse referents

It is well-known that new information strongly disprefers subject position in English (Horn 1986; Prince 1981; 1992; Beaver et al., 2005), even though English allows indefinite subjects. English is therefore seen as one of the many languages that adheres to the given-new contract (Clark & Haviland, 1977). This paper argues that a subset of intransitive sentences in English readily establishes new discourse referents in subject position—in an apparent breach of the given-new contract. These sentences, exemplified by A fancy lady waltzed in , are analyzed as syntactically unaccusative and semantically as having an existential proposition. These sentences are termed existential unaccusative : in the proposed VP structure, a verbal root that (typically) denotes manner of motion selects for a headed small clause whose subject is interpreted as a Path to a contextually-determined location. The analysis adapts McCloskey’s (2014) analysis of Irish existentials to English, and I argue that sentences with this structure establish discourse referents by the same means as existential there BE sentences. The analysis is discussed in the context of claims made by Du Bois (1987) that languages organize information such that new discourse referents are established as objects of transitive sentences and subjects of intransitive sentences. This analysis suggests that Du Bois’s generalization holds for a structurally distinct subset of intransitives in English in sharing the discourse function of introducing new discourse referents.
Dynamic Crack Growth in Inelastic Solids with Application to Adiabatic Shearbands

Asymptotic solutions of the stress and strain fields near the tip of a steadily advancing crack in an elastic-plastic solid, have been worked out by Slepyan (1976) for Mode II, and by Gao and Nemat-Nasser (1983a,b, 1984) for all three fracture modes, as well as for elastic, power-law hardening (elastic-plastic) material models; see also NematNasser and Obata (1990). Adiabatic shearbands in similar model materials have been examined analytically, mostly as one-dimensional problems; see, for example, Clifton et al. (1984), Wright and Batra (1985), Wright and Walter (1987), Burns (1990), Walter (1992), and Olmstead et al. (1994). There are many features in common between a dynamically growing crack and an advancing adiabatic shearband in an elastic-plastic solid. Here, some of these are briefly examined, focusing on near-field asymptotic solutions of these problems. Of particular interest is the effect of the assumed constitutive model on the structure of the asymptotic solutions, especially the nature of the temperature field.
Face, Eye, and Ear Injuries

Injuries to the head and neck region in a combat zone are common, representing about 30% of all wounds seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time of treatment, it means little to the surgeon or to the patient what the percentages are. As far as you, or the patients you are treating at the time are concerned, it is 100% of the time. Penetrating injuries are the rule of the day, but blunt trauma is not so uncommon as to disregard the possibility altogether. The most common injuries currently being seen are blast injuries, which can give you the worst of both worlds – blunt and penetrating, and sometimes with some burn thrown in for good measure. Whatever the mechanism, the principles of sound management apply and should be closely adhered to.
Impact of Tropical Cyclones on the Global Ocean: Results from Multidecadal Global Ocean Simulations Isolating Tropical Cyclone Forcing

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC)-induced ocean vertical mixing can alter the upper-ocean temperature structure, influencing ocean heat content variability and meridional ocean heat transport. TC–ocean...
Feedback practices in dermatology residency programs: building a culture for millennials

Abstract Corporate studies have consistently shown that millennials prefer more frequent and detailed feedback in the workplace. With most dermatology residents fitting the description of a millennial, we sought to study their preferences in feedback and then compare this to current feedback practices and cultures. Our study supports that residents prefer more frequent informal feedback, especially compared with residency program directors. We also showed a desire for formal feedback training programs, which can help to overcome some of the noted barriers to providing feedback. Building a strong, positive, and open feedback culture can help to set the stage for giving and receiving constructive feedback in a safe environment. The results of this study can help to improve residency training moving forward.
Abstract 016: Placental Ischemia Exposure leads to a Pro-Inflammatory Environment in Brains of Embryonic Day 19 Rat Offspring

Placental ischemia is thought to be the initiating event in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that placental ischemia in the rat...
Design in the Age of Climate Change

Abstract How should we think about design in the face of the crises humanity faces? In my view, it would be favorable to turn design attentions to the political economy that underlies the problems and to post-growth politics, which offers a compelling counter-narrative to neoliberalism. Global problems are continually rehearsed in the scientific community and mass media, yet we behave as though they will be addressed in some other place or time, by someone else. Design is a potent mindset with potential for engaging the issues, and we should make vigorous efforts to take it where it is needed; the severity of our problems indicates that we can no longer afford to be apolitical or uninterested in politics.
David Oliver: Fear in medical practice

Last week Helen Salisbury wrote in her BMJ column about the fear of getting things wrong as a GP.1 Medical practice, by its nature and the disposition of many doctors, has always entailed worry, however well trained or confident we are. But, if worry becomes more generalised anxiety or escalates to fear, the threat to our mental health or ability to function in demanding jobs seems stark. The BMA recently published a report on what needs to change to improve NHS doctors’ working lives.2 Before reading it I’d become conscious of growing fear and anxiety, in myself and in colleagues. If I was running scared—a long serving doctor, secure in my job, with a series of national leadership roles behind me—then …
Withdrawal Notice: Management of Right Atrial Thrombus. Where is the Evidence? : A Narrative Review

The article has been withdrawn at the request of the editor of the journal Current Cardiology Reviews. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policiesmain.php Bentham science disclaimer It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.
Multiscale modeling of twinning and detwinning behavior of HCP polycrystals

Abstract A multiscale scheme is presented here to capture the twinning and detwinning mechanisms during cyclic loading of HCP polycrystals. In the current framework, the crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) method is employed at the microstructural scale. The response of twinned regions at a material point is calculated using a novel homogenization scheme via a Taylor-type model. The homogenized behavior is then used in the CPFE to obtain the response of a polycrystal. An efficient rate-independent crystal plasticity model that has been incorporated into the open source PRISMS-Plasticity software is introduced here to capture the response of the twinned region. Accordingly, the corresponding algorithmic tangent modulus is derived. This multiscale scheme is validated against data available for the cyclic response of Mg alloy ZK60A. The results show that the multiscale model can capture the key elements of the sample response observed during the experiment.
15 Millinewton Force, 1 Millimeter Displacement, Low-Power MEMS Gripper

We demonstrate a MEMS gripper with a measured 15mN of gripping force over the full gripping displacement of 0 to 1 mm. Integrated contact and capacitive force sensing have been demonstrated and characterized. The gripper has successfully held and released a 0.2 gram through-hole resistor. The integrated electrostatic inchworm motors burn only leakage current (estimated <1 nA) when holding position (gripping or open) and an estimated 0.3 mW when closing at 1 mm/s.
Headache in Behçet's Disease.

Our objective is to describe the various neurologic manifestations of Behcet’s syndrome with special attention to headache syndromes. Most recent studies have focused on data collection to better characterize the relatively rare disorder of neuro-Behcets (NBD). In patients with Behcet’s disease (BD) who are experiencing headache, most are primary headache disorders, specifically tension type or migraines. Worsening headache can, however, be a sign of increased Behcets disease activity. Behcet’s disease is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. The prevalence of BD is most notable in countries along the ancient Silk Road, particularly the Middle East. BD occasionally has neurologic manifestations, further categorized into parenchymal and non-parenchymal syndromes. Headache is the most frequently reported neurological symptom of BD. Primary headaches are the most common headache type among patients with BD with comorbid headache disorders with debate regarding whether migraine or tension-type headache is most prevalent. Of the secondary causes of headache in BD, cerebral venous thrombosis is the most common.
Board Diversity: A Response to Professor Fried

In December 2020, Nasdaq asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to approve a new rule requiring most Nasdaq-listed companies to have at least one director self-identifying as a woman and another self-identifying as an underrepresented minority or LGBTQ+ or explain why not in their securities disclosure filings. For boards with five or fewer members the benchmark is that they have one diverse member, not two, or explain why not. Shortly after Nasdaq released its revised rule, Professor Jesse Fried of Harvard Law School posted on SSRN an eight-page paper strongly criticizing the rule, accusing Nasdaq of misrepresenting empirical studies of the impact of board diversity on firm value to support its proposed rule, and claiming that the proposed rule could destroy shareholder value. This paper responds to Fried. Statistical studies of the effect of boardroom diversity on stock price end in a draw for reasons explained in this paper including difficulty controlling for other factors affecting stock price during the event windows. Statistical studies of market reaction to legally mandated board diversity in California and Norway have little explanatory value in predicting the impact on investors of Nasdaq’s more flexible comply or explain rule. This paper concludes that there is no evidence to support Fried’s claim that the Nasdaq rule could harm shareholder value. Instead, overwhelming evidence from studies of boardroom monitoring of management supports the value of boardroom diversity for shareholders. The positive value of boardroom diversity for corporations, shareholders, and society in general is also supported by observations rooted in historical experience, management economics and ethics.
Comparative outcomes of Riata and Fidelis lead management strategies: Results from the NCDR-ICD Registry

BACKGROUND The Medtronic Sprint Fidelis® and Abbott Riata®/Riata ST® leads are at risk of failure and are subject to FDA recall. Comparative risks of various lead management strategies during elective generator change in a multi-center population are unknown. We aim to describe patients with functional, recalled ICD leads undergoing elective generator replacement and report outcomes according to lead management strategies. METHODS Using data from the NCDR ICD Registry, patients with a functioning Riata® or Fidelis® lead undergoing generator replacement are described according to lead management: reuse, abandon/replace, and extract/replace. Adjusted rates of death and pre-discharge complications are reported. RESULTS There were 13,144 generator replacement procedures involving a functioning, non-infected Riata® or Fidelis® lead (extraction n = 414, abandonment n = 427). Extraction patients were younger (mean 58 vs. 67 years) with fewer comorbidities than the reuse group. Maximum lead dwell time was similar between groups with average 94, 90, and 99 months in the extraction, abandonment, and reuse groups, respectively. In-hospital complications or mortality were more common in the extraction group (10.14%, 4.35%) compared with abandonment (1.64%, 0.47%) and reuse (0.22%, 0.07%). Compared with reuse, the adjusted odds of death or pre-discharge complication were significantly higher in the extraction group (OR 7.77 95% CI 2.42-24.95, p < .001) but not the abandonment group (OR 1.70 95% CI 0.52-5.61, p = .38). CONCLUSIONS In this real-world population, extraction of functional recalled ICD leads was associated with significant risk of in-hospital mortality and complications. Additional work is needed to clarify whether longer term outcomes balance these peri-procedural risks.
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion: single institutional review of complications and associated variables.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND CONTEXT As more patients undergo anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedures and more devices are created for that purpose, it is important to understand the complications that can arise and the variables that mitigate risk for major and minor complications. PURPOSE To assess complication rates after ALIF with or without posterior instrumentation and variables associated with increased likelihood of postoperative complications. We aim to provide this data as benchmarking to improve patient safety and surgical care. STUDY DESIGN A single-center retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE All adult patients who underwent ALIF between 2017 and 2019 was performed OUTCOME MEASURES Post-operative major and minor complications were evaluated. METHODS Complications were recorded and presented as percentages. Patient demographics, perioperative, and postoperative data were also collected and analyzed between patients who had no complications and those that had any complication. Subgroup analysis of surgical complications were performed by nonparametric Chi-square tests. Continuous variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS Ninty-five of three hundred sixty-two (26.2%) of patients experienced a minor or major complication. Among the most common complications found were surgical site infections (5.8%), neurological complications (4.1%), vascular complications (3.6%), and urinary tract infections (3.3%). Patients undergoing ALIF alone with post-operative complications had higher mean age, higher BMI, higher ASA status, and experienced higher estimated blood loss. Patients undergoing ALIF and posterior instrumentation with post-operative complications were more likely to have diabetes and had a higher ASA status. Patients with any complications from both groups had longer length of stay, discharge to a non-home setting and were more likely to be readmitted or return to the operating room. CONCLUSION Our study reveals variables associated with complications at our institution, including age of the patient, BMI, and ASA status leading to higher complications and greater LOS, higher readmission rates, and disposition to skilled facilities.
Dosimetry and Microwave Absorption

Microwaves must be coupled into the biological body and energy must be transferred, deposited, and absorbed by tissues in the body for the system to respond in some manner. The exposure may produce highly complicated distributions of RF and microwave energy within the subject, regardless of the uniformity of external exposure. Dosimetry is defined as the quantification of RF and microwave energy distribution and absorption in biological bodies. This chapter discusses the dosimetry of RF and microwaves in planar, spheroidal, and anatomical models of biological bodies. These topics are complex functions of not only the exposure sources and scenario but also the shape, size, composition, and structures of the exposed subjects, as well as orientation and position of the subject with respect to the source.
The effect of variable spring water conditions on mallard reproduction

Etude de la dynamique de population d'Anas platyrhynchos (densite de reproduction) dans les zones humides prairiales de l'est du Dakota du Nord en 1961-1980. L'activite de nidification varie avec le nombre de bassins remplis d'eau. On decrit la strategie adaptative des canards pour se reproduire dans des conditions de precipitations et de ressources alimentaires variables
Simple and efficient Byzantine generals algorithm

The Byzantine generals problem involves a system of n processes, t of which may be unreliable. The problem is for the reliable processes to agree on a binary value sent by a general which may itself be one of the n processes. If the general sends the same value to each process, then all reliable processes must agree on that value, but in any case, they must agree on the same value. An explicit solution is given for a binary value among n=3t+1 processes, using 2t+4 rounds and o(t/sup 3/ log t) message bits, where t bounds the number of faulty processes. This solution is easily extended to the general case of n>3t+1 to give a solution using 2t+5 rounds and o(tn+t/sup 3/ log t) message bits. 5 references.
Making global illumination user-friendly

Global illumination researchers tend to think in terms of mesh density and sampling frequency, and their software reflects this in its user interface. Advanced rendering systems are rife with long command lines and parameters for tuning the sample densities, thresholds and other algorithm-specific variables, and the novice user is quickly lost in a sea of possibilities. This paper details a successful effort of making one such global illumination system usable by people who understand their problems, even if they do not understand the methods needed to solve them, through an assisted oracle approach. A single program is introduced to map a small set of intuitive control variables to the rendering commands and parameter settings needed to produce the desired output in a reasonable time. This new executive program then serves as the basis for a graphical user interface that is both friendly in its appearance and reliable in its performance. Finally, we conclude with some future directions for improving this interface.
An Approximation of the Invariant Measure for the Stochastic Navier-Stokes

Kolmogorov’s statistical theory of turbulence is based on the existence of the invariant measure of the Navier-Stokes flow. Recently the existence of the invariant measure was established in the three-dimensional case [2]. It was established for uni-directional flow in [1] and for rivers in [3]. Below we will discuss how one can try to go about approximating the invariant measure in three dimensions.
Isolation, sequence, and expression in Escherichia coli of an unusual thioredoxin gene from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.

Abstract Two sequences with homology to a thioredoxin oligonucleotide probe were detected by Southern blot analysis of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 genomic DNA. One of the sequences was shown to code for a protein with 37% amino acid identity to thioredoxins from Escherichia coli and Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7119. This is in contrast to the usual 50% homology observed among most procaryotic thioredoxins. One gene was identified in a library and was subcloned into a pUC vector and used to transform E. coli strains lacking functional thioredoxin. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin gene did not complement the trxA mutation in E. coli. Transformed cells were not able to use methionine sulfoxide as a methionine source or support replication of T7 bacteriophage or the filamentous viruses M13 and f1. Sequence analysis of a 720-base-pair TaqI fragment indicated an open reading frame of 115 amino acids. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin gene was expressed in E. coli, and the protein was purified by assaying for protein disulfide reductase activity, using insulin as a substrate. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin exhibited the properties of a conventional thioredoxin. It is a small heat-stable redox protein and an efficient protein disulfide reductase. It is not a substrate for E. coli thioredoxin reductase. Chemically reduced Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin was able to serve as reducing agent for both E. coli and Anabaena strain 7119 ribonucleotide reductases, although with less efficiency than the homologous counterparts. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies to Anabaena strain 7119 thioredoxin. However, this unusual thioredoxin was not detected in extracts of Anabaena strain 7120, and its physiological function is unknown.
Chemotaxis: Role in Immune Response

Chemotaxis is defined as the unidirectional movement of a cell in response to a chemical gradient in the direction from a low to a high concentration of chemoattractant. Keywords: chemoattractant; chemotactic factor; chemokines; G protein-coupled receptor
Speech timing of coreference

Speakers lengthened the duration of a noun when it was referred to again later in the same sentence by a pronoun. The effect was observed for the very first word of an utterance and for coreferents that spanned a major syntactic clause boundary.
1H NMR spectra of benzo[b]furan, benzo[b]thiophene and benzo[b]selenophene oriented in a lyotropic mesophase

The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of benzo[b]-furan, -thiophene and -selenophene oriented in a potassium laurate lyotropic liquid crystal have been analyzed. Geometrical information has been obtained and compared to previous thermotropic results and various hypothetical models.