cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental pneumococcus meningitis in rabbits and dogs

Three forms of pneumococcus meningitis may occur in human beings: First, that due to direct infection of the meninges from a primary focus in the ear, mastoid cells, nose and accessory sinuses; second, that arising during the course of pneumococcus pneumonia, and third, that developing spontaneously and without a discoverable primary focus of pneumococcus infection elsewhere in the body. The first form of the disease is usually a localized infection of the cerebral meninges, while the other two types are likely to prove to be generalized infections of the cerebral and spinal meninges; all forms are accompanied by a high mortality, as the majority of patients succumb to the infection. During the course of labor pneumonia delirium may develop, and spinal puncture reveals an increased volume of sterile cerebrospinal fluid; this condition is due to an acute meningeal congestion erroneously designated as "serous meningitis,,, and is not to be confused with pneumococcus meningitis. Recently mixed meningococcus and pneumococcus meningitis has beea described by Netter and others and the mortality apparently is not as high as in pneumococcus meningitis. How the. meninges become infected with pneumococci in those forms of the disease with no discoverable primary focus of infection or with a primary focus situated remotely from the meninges, as in the lungs, pleura and pericardium, is unknown; it is possible that the pneumococci gain access to the blood and localize in the meninges as a metastatic lesion or, having gained access to the upper respiratory passages and particularly to the nasal mucous membrane, find their way to the meninges at the base of the brain in a manner analogous to infection with meningococcus by this route, as described by Flexner.1 Bull2 has reported the development of meningitis in dogs receiving
Upper flow regime bedforms on levees and continental slopes: Turbidity current flow dynamics in response to fine-grained sediment waves

Our knowledge of submarine upper flow regime bedforms is very limited. Numerical experiments presented herein were designed to broaden our understanding of the origin and dynamics of fine-grained upper flow regime bedforms in turbidite systems, particularly on levees and continental slopes. The experiments combine field information in order to (1) examine the hydrodynamic response of a bed consisting of fine-grained sediment waves to a wide range of turbidity current conditions, and (2) demonstrate that fine-grained sediment waves most likely form and evolve as upper flow regime bedforms, i.e., cyclic steps, transitional bedforms, or antidunes. The results of the study provide valuable information for the reconstruction of turbidity current flow dynamics on levees, continental slopes, and in other submarine settings that display a slope break.
Mechanisms of surgical control of type 2 diabetes: GLP-1 is the key factor—Maybe

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity and diabetes. The 2 most commonly performed weight-loss procedures, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy, improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes independent of weight loss. One of the early hypotheses raised to explain the immediate antidiabetic effect of RYGB was that rapid delivery of nutrients from the stomach pouch into the distal small intestine enhances enteroinsular signaling to promote insulin signaling. Given the tenfold increase in postmeal glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) response compared to unchanged integrated levels of postprandial glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide after RYGB, enhanced meal-induced insulin secretion after this procedure was thought to be the result of elevated glucose and GLP-1 levels. In this contribution to the larger point-counterpoint debate about the role of GLP-1 after bariatric surgery, most of the focus will be on RYGB.
Preparation of GaN Film and Investigation of Vibrational Spectrum of GaN by DFT

Using Ga_2O_3 as Ga source,the GaN films are successfully deposited on Si(111)substrates by two-step method of sol-gel and high nitridation temperature technique.The as-prepared films were confirmed as single crystalline GaN with wurtzite structure by X-ray diffraction(XRD).The dimension of GaN crystal particulates is smaller than 100nm under the observation of scanning electron micro- scope(SEM).Moreover,E_1(TO)vibrational mode of GaN are surveyed in IR spectrum of the GaN films.Vibrational frequency of GaN small clusters is calculated using density functional theory(DFT). The results show that the vibrational frequencies of the Ga reached clusters are close to the peaks of the phonon vibration modes of the wurtzite structure GaN,and 2200cm~(-1)is an intensive vibrational frequency of N-N bond stretch in N reached GaN.FTIR of the sample are analyzed in further.
Actinomycin D revisited in testicular cancer. A case report.

Background Between 20-30% of patients with advanced germ cell tumors relapse or fail to achieve a complete response to conventional cisplatin based chemotherapy. Ifosphamide has been used very effectively in combination with cisplatin and etoposide (VIP) or in combination with cisplatin and vinblastine (VeIP). Actinomycin D with chlorambucil and methotrexate was widely used in the 1960s with complete responses in 20% of patients and long term survival of 6-10%. There exists no information on the use of actinomycin as a salvage in cisplatin refractory patients. Methods and results One patient with metastatic germ cell tumor who failed chemotherapy with cisplatin and ifosphamide was successfully treated with an actinomycin D based regimen. Conclusions Actinomycin D is an active agent in testicular cancer and maybe used in patients refractory to platinum.
Large-Size KCa0.8Sr0.2I3:Eu2+ Crystals: Growth and Characterization of Scintillation Properties

The newly developed KCa0.8Sr0.2I3:Eu2+ scintillator with 2.5% energy resolution at 662 keV shows great potential for use in gamma-ray spectroscopy applications, but progress toward large-size crystal growth has been hindered by cracking and inclusion problems. In this paper, we report a detailed study on the role of process variables of Bridgman growth, including grain selector designs, ampule surface treatments, and temperature gradients. It was found that crystal cracking can be effectively prevented by using a carbon-coated quartz ampule with a bent capillary. A high temperature gradient of 45 °C/cm at the solid–liquid interface can positively contribute to the suppression of the formation of visible inclusions caused by constitutional supercooling. By using optimized growth parameters, high quality 22 mm diameter KCa0.8Sr0.2I3 single crystals doped with 0.5, 1, and 3 mol % Eu2+ and 38 mm diameter KCa0.8Sr0.2I3 single crystals doped with 0.5 mol % Eu2+ were grown by the Bridgman method. The scintillati...
Craniofacial growth following rigid fixation suture excision, miniplating, and microplating

The effects of plating the coronal and nasofrontal sutures on skull growth were studied in New Zealand white rabbits. Removal of the underlying coronal suture and reduction in the size of the plate were also studied with regard to their effect on growth. Three-dimensional coordinate landmarks located on the skulls were digitized and analyzed to determine the differences in form between operated and unoperated animals using Euclidian distance matrix analysis. Interlandmark distances in three dimensions were compared to demonstrate changes induced by plating. Coronal suture plating (n = 8) resulted in local decreases in dimensions of the plated bones and contralateral and adjacent skull size increases. Removal of the coronal suture without plating (n = 6) resulted in an increase in the size of the adjacent frontal bone and an increase in the width of the suture. Placement of a plate after removal of the underlying suture (n = 8) resulted in decreases in dimensions of the plated bones, with distant length and width increases in a pattern similar to that of the skulls that were simply plated. Plating across the nasofrontal suture (n = 6) resulted in decreases in dimensions in the plated bone, with some distant width increases at the midfrontal bone, the coronal suture, and the posterior parietal bone. In this group, no contralateral increase in dimensions was detected. This is unlike the pattern observed for the animals with a coronal suture plate only. Placing a microplate across the coronal suture (n = 6) resulted in morphologies similar to those with the use of miniplates across the coronal suture. We propose that the varying morphologies in these groups represent compensatory changes accompanying growth restriction induced by plating. We suggest that the lack of contralateral growth increases with nasofrontal suture plating results from lesser effects on the underlying growing cranial contents at this location, as compared with the coronal suture. We find consistent results despite suture removal, change in plate location, and change in plate size.
Will peripherally restricted kappa‐opioid receptor agonists (pKORAs) relieve pain with less opioid adverse effects and abuse potential?

Summary What is known and objective Optimal utilization of opioid analgesics is significantly limited by the central nervous system adverse effects and misuse/abuse potential of currently available drugs. It has been postulated that opioid-associated adverse effects and abuse potential would be greatly reduced if opioids could be excluded from reaching the brain. We review the basic science and clinical evidence of one such approach – peripherally restricted kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists (pKORAs). Methods Published and unpublished literature, websites and other sources were searched for basic science and clinical information related to the potential benefits and development of peripherally restricted kappa-opioid receptor agonists. Each source was summarized, reviewed and assessed. Results The historical development of pKORAs can be traced from the design of increasingly KOR-selective agonists, elucidation of the pharmacologic attributes of such compounds and strategies to restrict passage across the blood–brain barrier. Novel compounds are under development and have progressed to clinical trials. What is new and conclusions The results from recent clinical trials suggest that peripherally restricted opioids can be successfully designed and that they can retain analgesic efficacy with a more favourable adverse effect profile.
Light-Activated Sealing of Acellular Nerve Allografts following Nerve Gap Injury.

Introduction Photochemical tissue bonding (PTB) uses visible light to create sutureless, watertight bonds between two apposed tissue surfaces stained with photoactive dye. In phase 1 of this two-phase study, nerve gaps repaired with bonded isografts were superior to sutured isografts. When autograft demand exceeds supply, acellular nerve allograft (ANA) is an alternative although outcomes are typically inferior. This study assesses the efficacy of PTB when used with ANA. Methods Overall 20 male Lewis rats had 15-mm left sciatic nerve gaps repaired using ANA. ANAs were secured using epineurial suture (group 1) or PTB (group 2). Outcomes were assessed using sciatic function index (SFI), gastrocnemius muscle mass retention, and nerve histomorphometry. Historical controls from phase 1 were used to compare the performance of ANA with isograft. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Bonferroni all-pairs comparison. Results All ANAs had signs of successful regeneration. Mean values for SFI, muscle mass retention, nerve fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin thickness were not significantly different between ANA + suture and ANA + PTB. On comparative analysis, ANA + suture performed significantly worse than isograft + suture from phase 1. However, ANA + PTB was statistically comparable to isograft + suture, the current standard of care. Conclusion Previously reported advantages of PTB versus suture appear to be reduced when applied to ANA. The lack of Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors may be responsible. PTB may improve ANA performance to an extent, where they are equivalent to autograft. This may have important clinical implications when injuries preclude the use of autograft.
Unsuspected abdominal aortic aneurysm

This case is an example of an unsuspected abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient's symptoms and the history obtained were suggestive of osteoarthritis. The patient sought medical attention for low-back pain through a compensation and pension exam.
Arterial hemodynamics are impaired at rest and following acute exercise in overweight young men

Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, in part due to aortic stiffening assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Importantly, greater cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; VO2peak) decreases CVD risk, and is associated with reductions in aortic stiffness. We tested the hypothesis that young adult overweight (OW, n=17) compared with healthy-weight (HW, n=17) men will have greater resting aortic stiffness, reduced CRF and an impaired post-exercise hemodynamic response. Resting cfPWV was greater in OW versus HW individuals (5.81 ± 0.13 vs 4.81 ± 0.12 m/sec, p<0.05). Relative CRF (VO2peak; mL/kg/min) was lower in OW compared with HW individuals (49.4 ± 1.3 vs 57.6 ± 1.0 mL/kg/min, p<0.05), and was inversely related with cfPWV (p<0.05). However, CRF as absolute VO2peak (L/min) was not different between groups and there was no relation between cfPWV and absolute VO2peak (L/min), indicating reduced relative CRF in OW men is due to greater body mass. F...
Short-term gamma background anticipation using learning Gaussian processes

The use of machine intelligence for gamma-ray background radiation anticipation is discussed and the test results on experimentally obtained spectra are presented. In this paper, a Gaussian process is adopted for learning recent measurements and subsequently anticipating the next ones in a short ahead in time horizon. Anticipated values are compared to respective incoming measurements and a decision is made whether an alarm should be raised. The proposed algorithm is tested on a set of real experimental gamma-ray measurements taken with a low resolution detector.
Integration of wind power in the power system

Wind power is going through a very rapid development. It is the fastest growing power source in the world, the technology is being developed rapidly and wind power is supplying significant shares of the energy in large regions. The integration of wind power in the power system is therefore now an issue in order to optimise the utilisation of the resource and in order to continue the high rate of installation of generating capacity, which is necessary in order to achieve the goals of sustainability and security of supply. This development of the wind power from just being a negative load to have power plant like features of course also bring with it large challenges. These challenges include connection of wind farms to weak grids, securing power quality, reduction or elimination of power fluctuations, prediction of power output and changes in operating strategies of conventional power plants. Many of these challenges can be faced by the application of power electronics in wind turbines or in wind farms, but many of them will also require other technologies to be developed such as fuel cells and energy storage. The key issues for success is the utilisation of power electronics and information technology. The paper highlights, through examples (from Denmark and from finalised and current research work), the challenges and present the current research direction.
Optimizing in a complex world: A statistician's role in decision making

As applied statisticians increasingly participate as active members of problem-solving and decisionmaking teams, our role continues to evolve.Historically,we may have been seen as those who can help with data collection strategies or answer a specific q..
China's Twentieth Century: Revolution, Retreat and the Road to Equality

China's Twentieth Century is a new collection of Wang Hui's essays edited by Saul Thomas and translated by a diverse group of scholars. Wang is a prominent figure in “the New Left” – an intellectua...
The Stromal Intervention: Regulation of Immunity and Inflammation at the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Barrier

The immune system safeguards organ integrity by employing a balancing act of inflammatory and immunosuppressive mechanisms designed to neutralize foreign invaders and resolve injury. Maintaining or restoring a state of immune homeostasis is particularly challenging at barrier sites where constant exposure to immunogenic environmental agents may induce destructive inflammation. Recent studies underscore the role of epithelial and mesenchymal barrier cells in regulating immune cell function and local homeostatic and inflammatory responses. Here, we highlight immunoregulatory circuits engaging epithelial and mesenchymal cells in the intestine, airways, and skin and discuss how immune communications with hematopoietic cells and the microbiota orchestrate local immune homeostasis and inflammation.
Effect of Probe–Probe Distance on the Stability of DNA Hybrids on Surfaces

We have used temperature gradient surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements to quantitatively evaluate how the stability of different types of hybrids formed with DNA probes on surfaces is affected by probe spacing. SPR sensors with different average surface densities of probes were prepared by coadsorbing probes with lateral spacers strands comprised of phosphorothioated adenine nucleotides (A15*). Increasing the fraction of A15* spacers in the immobilization solution results in larger distances between probes on the sensor, determined here using a combination of SPR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The hybridization activities of probes were simultaneously measured over a temperature range that spanned the denaturation temperature (Tm) of hybrids by applying a spatial temperature gradient across the sensor surface. The resulting temperature profiles of hybridization activity show how the stability of hybrids increases as either the distance between probes or the ionic strength...
Patient Transitions and Handovers Across the Continuum of Surgical Care

Modern surgical care involves numerous care transitions, including (1) preoperative transitions into the operating room (OR) (a) surgery is scheduled, (b) sign in, time-out, sign out), (2) postoperative transitions (a) OR to intensive care unit (ICU) or postanesthesia care unit (PACU), (b) ICU or PACU to the floor), and (3) (a) discharge transitions and (b) outpatient follow-up. The effective transfer of responsibility for the care of the patient from one healthcare provider to another during each of these transitions is crucial to providing safe, high-quality patient care. Ineffective transition processes lead to fragmented communication and clinical understanding and can result in delays, errors, and substantial patient harm. This chapter will discuss recent advances and remaining challenges in improving the quality of transitions to ensure patient safety during the major phases of surgical care, from surgical scheduling to discharge. New more comprehensive models involving multimodal interventions such as enhanced recovery after surgery and the perioperative surgical home are emerging that will redefine the way surgical care is delivered, which are largely focused on improving the many patient care transitions involved in surgical care.
Straightedge and Compass Constructions in Spherical Geometry

We examine straightedge and compass constructions in spherical geometry. We show via examples that the starting conditions affect the set of constructible points. Although current tools do not allo...
Can Mobile Money Help Firms Mitigate the Problem of Access to Finance in Eastern sub-Saharan Africa?

Mobile money is a mobile-phone-based financial tool that can transfer money safely and quickly across a wide geographical area. Mobile money has transformed the way businesses in Eastern sub-Sahara...
Commons and Cities. Which Analytical Tools to Assess the Commons’ Contribution to the Economic Life of the Cities?

Cities often manifest strong differences in their de-facto informal political cultures. Do these differences have anything to do with their own performance levels? Moreover, if so, what are the precise mechanisms by which they affect performance? Looking at the case of the urban Commons, particularly the Italian Social Centres started at the end of ‘70s, as a proxy of urban informal political culture, and revisiting the mainstream business economics and its conceptual consequents, the present paper surveys the main questions and inherent analytical tool sets. The aim of the paper is to find a good framework for further analysis on Commons and metropolitan perspectives. For the institutionalists, the Commons have to be studied as alternative governance modes laying beyond the State and Market. While, following the dynamic capabilities view they could be treated as evolutionary inter-organizational solutions with a potential in terms of creativity and entrepreneurship. The conclusion summarizes the cases for analysing urban Commons with the dynamic capabilities approach.
Einen dauerhaften Wettbewerbsvorteil erreichen — Differenzierung

Welche strategischen Alternativen sollten betrachtet werden? Welche Alternative ist optimal? Diese Fragen standen bisher hintenan, werden aber in diesem Kapitel und im 12. bis 16. Kapitel zum Hauptthema. Ein Ziel ist, ein Gespur fur die Breite strategischer Alternativen zu vermitteln zur Erhohung der Wahrscheinlichkeit besserer strategischer Entscheidungen. Eine gute Entscheidung bei minderwertigen Alternativen ist weit weniger erstrebenswert als eine schlechte Entscheidung bei hochwertigen Optionen.
The inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal growth by multidentate organic phosphonates.

The effect of a number of structurally related multidentate organic phosphonates on the rate of crystal growth of calcium oxalate was studied as a function of pH. Rate constants were obtained at various concentrations for the phosphonates ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP), nitrilotri(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP), N,N,N′,N′-ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (ENTNP), and N,N,N′,N′-hexamethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid (HMTMP), at pH 5.00, 6.00, and 7.00. The effect of pH on the inhibitory activity of each of the phosphonates was considerable with effective concentrations of inhibitor decreasing two orders of magnitude, in some cases, as the pH was increased. At a given pH the potentially hexadentate ligands, ENTMP and HMTMP, were generally the most effective inhibitors. The results suggested that EHDP, at currently administered doses, provides only a moderate increase in the capacity of human urine to inhibit calcium oxalate crystal growth.
Starting a cleft team: a primer

Facial plastic surgeons have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that patients with cleft lip and palate encounter in form and function. Because there are areas in the United States where access to cleft care is limited, opportunities exist for facial plastic surgeons to develop cleft teams to provide greater availability of services to patients. A consensus statement has been developed by the Cleft and Craniofacial Subcommittee of the Specialty Surgery Committee of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery that outlines strategies for facial plastic surgeons who are prepared to assume leadership roles in domestic multidisciplinary cleft team initiatives.
Manufacturing Motherhood: The Shadow Work of Nannies and Au Pairs

This paper explores how working mothers and paid child care providers interpret the division of mothering labor in the context of in-home care. The nannies, au pairs, and working mothers interviewed for this study make sense of their shared “mother-work” in the context of a dominant belief system that values “intensive mothering.” Consequently, in addition to negotiating the allocation of mothering tasks, they must also negotiate the meanings assigned to these tasks: specifically, they manufacture an image of shared mothering that contradicts their day-to-day practice.
Brachial plexopathy with Sjögren syndrome.

This report will explain an unusual presentation of brachial plexopathy associated with manifestation of Sjogrens and will emphasize that Sjogrens may also present initially with neurological involvement only.
A comparison of landmark methods and time-dependent ROC methods to evaluate the time-varying performance of prognostic markers for survival outcomes.

Prognostic markers use an individual’s characteristics at a given time to predict future disease events, with the ultimate goal of guiding medical decision-making. If an accurate prediction can be made, then a prognostic marker could be used clinically to identify those subjects at greatest risk for future adverse events and may be used to define populations appropriate for targeted therapeutic intervention. Often, a marker is measured at a single baseline time point such as disease diagnosis, and then used to guide decisions at multiple subsequent time points. However, the performance of candidate markers may vary over time as an individual’s underlying clinical status changes. We provide an overview and comparison of modern statistical methods for evaluating the time-varying accuracy of a baseline prognostic marker. We compare approaches that consider cumulative versus incident events. Additionally, we compare the common approach of using hazard ratios obtained from Cox proportional hazards regression to more recently developed approaches using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The alternative statistical summaries are illustrated using a multiple myeloma study of candidate biomarkers. We found that time-varying HRs, HR (t), using local linear estimation revealed time trends more clearly by directly estimating the association at each time point t, compared to landmark analyses, which averaged across time ≥ t. Comparing area under the ROC curve (AUC) summaries, there was close agreement between AUC C/D(t,t+1) which defines cases cumulatively over 1-year intervals and AUC I/D(t) which defines cases as incident events. HR (t) was more consistent with AUC I/D(t), as estimation of these measures is localized at each time point. We compared alternative summaries for quantifying a prognostic marker’s time-varying performance. Although landmark-based predictions may be useful when patient predictions are needed at select times, a focus on incident events naturally facilitates evaluating trends in performance over time.
Property, Privacy, and Justice Gorsuch's Expansive Fourth Amendment Originalism

In Carpenter v. United States, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the continuing vitality of the privacy framework Katz v. United States established in 1967 for identifying Fourth Amendment searches. Justice Neil Gorsuch, in dissent, critiqued Katz as indeterminate and inconsistent with democratic values. In this article, I analyze Justice Gorsuch’s proposed alternative framework, which he described as the “traditional approach” to determining Fourth Amendment interests. Instead of grappling with the indefinite and textually and historically unfounded “reasonable expectations of privacy” framework of Katz, Gorsuch asserted, this traditional test would require judges to focus on whether a “house, paper, or effect was yours under law.” Although Gorsuch offered preliminary thoughts on this rubric, his opinion left open important questions, including the sources of law to which the Court should look in identifying property interests; the breadth of the definitions of “papers” and “effects” and the kinds of property closely enough associated with the person for potential implication of Fourth Amendment rights; and the ways in which government conduct impinging on such property interests might trigger Fourth Amendment protection. Several passages in Justice Gorsuch’s opinion suggest that he would take a broad, flexible approach to each of these issues. Overall, whatever ambiguities exist in Gorsuch’s dissent, it is certain that his property model would be more expansive than the pre-Katz trespass test that the Court rehabilitated in 2012. If that is the case, however, then the results that courts would be likely to reach under this framework might closely resemble outcomes under a principled privacy-based analysis. Additionally, because a broad property rubric would involve a significant degree of judicial discretion, it would replicate Katz’s indeterminacy. Thus, while Gorsuch’s approach might carry forward the benefits associated with Katz’s flexibility, it would also reproduce Katz’s associated flaws, including manipulability and democratic illegitimacy. Nonetheless, Justice Gorsuch might favor a flexible “traditional approach” over Katz because its explicit attention to the language of the Fourth Amendment is more conceptually elegant and, at least aesthetically, more consistent with Gorsuch’s originalist sympathies.
Seizing the Moving Image: Broadcast Television Archives

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on issues with broadcast television archives. The most serious implication of the failure to preserve early programs and to impose social science criteria was the time lost in developing archival procedures and standards fully suited to television as chronicle and data source. Programs tended to be regarded, where they were regarded at all, as not quite respectable, deviant forms of cinema film, rather than as contemporaneous and extemporaneous chronicles of events and culture as different from cinema art as the sitting room and pub are from the theatre and museum. The chapter explains that such an argument is not only technically wrong, but also antithetical to the dependence of history and social science upon the ordinary as well as the exceptional, and to social science's pursuit of patterned, recurring behavior and institutions among individuals and groups, most of which by definition is not exceptional.
Characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with cardiomyopathy stratified by etiologies: A population-based study

Abstract Background Heart failure is an uncommon diagnosis among pregnant women with limited data on this condition. We sought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with heart failure stratified by etiologies of cardiomyopathy. Methods This is a retrospective population-based cohort study across medical centers in Southern California in the United States. Pregnant women with heart failure were identified using ICD-9 codes and adjudicated by manual review of the medical records. Obstetric complications, fetal birthweight, and maternal mortality outcomes were evaluated. Results Between 2003 and 2014, there were 488 pregnancies (0.1% of all pregnancies) complicated by heart failure, of which 333 (68.2%) were due to peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and 155 (31.8%) were due to other etiologies (non-PPCM). Compared to patients with non-PPCM, patients with PPCM were more likely to be Black Americans (26.7% vs 15.5%) or Asian Americans (16.8% vs 7.1%). A high proportion of PPCM patients had preeclampsia (11.1% vs 5.2%, p = 0.04). Infants born to mothers with non-PPCM were more likely to be small for gestational age (SGA) (SGA Conclusions PPCM is the most common etiology of HF during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers with PPCM were likely to be small for gestational age.
A 42/84-GHz Multi-Ring Rotary Traveling-Wave Oscillator

A multi-ring rotary traveling-wave oscillator (RTWO) is presented. The oscillation frequency of the main RTWO ring is designed for 42-GHz with 2-GHz tunability. Multiphase signals generated in the main RTWO ring drive doubler circuits to generate second harmonic signals. The transformer used in each doubler circuit produces differential signals that are injected into the outer ring. Differential signals in the secondary terminals of the transformers are combined by coupled co-planar strip-line to support traveling-wave in the second ring. Bi-CMOS $0.13-\mu m$ technology is used to design and implement the multi-ring RTWO circuit. The chip area is about 0.78-mm by 0.75-mm. Total power consumption is 68-mW. SiGe HBT has been preferred over nMOS transistors to implement the gain stages, frequency doublers and the buffer circuits due to high f T and f max of the SiGe HBTs. The measured frequency of oscillation is 42.24-GHz and 84.48-GHz with 5.6% tuning range and measured phase noise at the main RTWO ring is -97.5 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz.
Dental Local Anesthesia-Related Pediatric Cases Reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use National Poison Data System (NPDS) data to identify cases of local anesthetic (LA) adverse events related to dentistry for children. Methods: NPDS data were queried for all human cases from 2004 to 2018 that identified a parenteral LA agent as the substance, in children 12 years old and younger, which led to a medical outcome classification ranging from moderate to death. For cases that met inclusion criteria, deidentified records with case notes were requested. Results: Twenty-seven dental cases that met review criteria and had available case notes were reviewed. Most subjects were female (N equals 20 out of 27, 74 percent), and the average subject age was 6.8 years. Twenty cases (74 percent) had a moderate effect, seven cases (26 percent) had a major effect, and no fatalities were reported. The most common clinical effects classification was a seizure (N equals 13, 48 percent). One case of LA overdose was identified. Conclusions: No cases of permanent damage or fatal outcomes were found. Seizure activity following the administration of local anesthetic was the most common event, suggesting intravascular administration or a toxic dose.
Provincial Hub Syndromes, Temporal, Parietal and Acquired Cultural Circuit Syndromes

At times, more restricted lesions of the brain areas may lead to involvement of so-called provincial hubs or more localized or confined brain regions. Several typical brain images are presented in Fig. 12.1. The parietal and temporal lobes are often involved with such lesions and both have been reported as relatively “silent” areas of the brain when restricted lesions affect these areas. A case in point is that of image 1 in figure. The middle-aged woman presented as a so-called “stroke alert” to our emergency room with her main presenting symptom a sudden severe headache with otherwise normal neurological examination and normal NIH stroke score of 0. With administration of analgesics, a rapid improvement of her headache ensued and she was cleared for discharge with a presumptive diagnosis of migraine to which she was prone to. Just prior to her discharge, the fasttracked MRI scan became available and revealed a small left parietal hemorrhage. Given the location, she was evaluated for left parietal syndromes including a Gerstmann’s syndrome and angular gyrus syndrome, the former which was her ultimate clinical diagnosis. In emergent as well as most routine stroke presentations, Gerstmann’s syndrome is rarely specifically tested for, and indeed in our case it was the only discernible neurological deficit. This brief case report underscores the value of cognitive and behavioral neurological syndrome evaluation. In emergent cases, neuroimaging is often revealing and can guide the examination. Given a lesion, what specific syndromes may be present?
Recognising hemihypomimia as a mimic of ‘facial weakness’

Patient A is a 69-year-old man with a 5-year history of progressive right hand then leg tremor, stiffness and slowness with recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) 3 months prior to this encounter. Examination demonstrated unilateral right-sided facial droop at rest largely sparing the upper face and with accompanying decreased right lower facial muscle activation. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor examination score (UPDRS-III) was 26. UPDRS-III facial expression subscore had decreased from 2 to 1 since starting carbidopa/levodopa 50–200 three times daily 3 months prior. Similarly, patient B is a 77-year-old woman with a 3-year history of tremor starting in her left hand and a diagnosis of PD since 2017. Examination demonstrated resting unilateral left-sided facial droop involving both …
Electron-Induced Repair of 2'-Deoxyribose Sugar Radicals in DNA: A Density Functional Theory (DFT) Study.

In this work, we used ωB97XD density functional and 6-31++G** basis set to study the structure, electron affinity, populations via Boltzmann distribution, and one-electron reduction potentials (E°) of 2′-deoxyribose sugar radicals in aqueous phase by considering 2′-deoxyguanosine and 2′-deoxythymidine as a model of DNA. The calculation predicted the relative stability of sugar radicals in the order C4′• > C1′• > C5′• > C3′• > C2′•. The Boltzmann distribution populations based on the relative stability of the sugar radicals were not those found for ionizing radiation or OH-radical attack and are good evidence the kinetic mechanisms of the processes drive the products formed. The adiabatic electron affinities of these sugar radicals were in the range 2.6–3.3 eV which is higher than the canonical DNA bases. The sugar radicals reduction potentials (E°) without protonation (−1.8 to −1.2 V) were also significantly higher than the bases. Thus the sugar radicals will be far more readily reduced by solvated electrons than the DNA bases. In the aqueous phase, these one-electron reduced sugar radicals (anions) are protonated from solvent and thus are efficiently repaired via the “electron-induced proton transfer mechanism”. The calculation shows that, in comparison to efficient repair of sugar radicals by the electron-induced proton transfer mechanism, the repair of the cyclopurine lesion, 5′,8-cyclo-2′-dG, would involve a substantial barrier.
Flattening the Radicalization Curve: How to Reduce Host and Migrant Radicalization

This chapter proposes policy solutions to the current issues of migration and radicalization. These solutions include integration, a refugee clearinghouse, sharing the burden, reducing global inequality, resolving conflicts and improving human rights. While nothing will ever stop some people from becoming radicals, it is important to note that radicals make up a tiny minority of migrants and that there is a lot more that countries and the world can do to prevent radicalization.
Patterns of care after cholecystostomy tube placement

The use of cholecystostomy (c-tube) in acute cholecystitis (AC) has increased yet there is limited evidence to guide surgical decision-making after placement. As a result, there is variability in the use and timing of cholecystectomy after c-tube. We aimed to describe patient characteristics, outcomes, and biliary-related utilization in those who did and did not have cholecystectomy after c-tube. This is a retrospective cohort study (2007–2017) using the MarketScan® claims database of patients (18–63 years) with at least 3 months of follow-up (or death). ICD-9/10 and CPT codes were used to identify AC, c-tube placement, cholecystectomy and determine Elixhauser comorbidity index. A total of 2386 patients (47.5% female, mean age 52.5 [SD 9.9] years) with AC underwent c-tube with an 11.2% 90-day mortality. Among survivors, by three months 57% underwent cholecystectomy (mean 34.8 days [95% CI: 33.3–36.3]). Cholecystectomy after c-tube was more common in those with fewer comorbid conditions (mean 2.41 [95% CI: 2.26–2.56] vs 4.56 [95%CI: 4.36–4.76]). Biliary episodes prior to cholecystectomy occurred in 12.5% and were associated with eventual cholecystectomy (HR 1.49 [1.32–1.68]). Biliary-specific hospital and ICU days were similar between groups. Biliary-specific ED visits were more common among patients with cholecystectomy (mean 1.39 [95% CI: 1.29–1.48] vs 0.94 [95% CI: 0.85–1.03]). More than half of patients treated with c-tube underwent cholecystectomy by three months—most within five weeks of AC diagnosis. The high frequency of use and short time to cholecystectomy after c-tube raises questions about potential overuse of c-tube in the initial period. Future work should aim to understand how patient experience and indication for c-tube influence the likelihood and timing of subsequent cholecystectomy.
AERMOD modeling of ambient manganese for residents living near a ferromanganese refinery in Marietta, OH, USA

Elevated exposure to ambient manganese (Mn) is associated with adverse health outcomes. In Marietta, Ohio, the primary source of ambient Mn exposure is from the longest operating ferromanganese refinery in North America. In this study, the US EPA air dispersion model, AERMOD, was used to estimate ambient air Mn levels near the refinery for the years 2008–2013. Modeled air Mn concentrations for 2009–2010 were compared to concentrations obtained from a stationary air sampler. Census block population data were used to estimate population sizes exposed to an annual average air Mn > 50 ng/m3, the US EPA guideline for chronic exposure, for each year. Associations between modeled air Mn, measured soil Mn, and measured indoor dust Mn in the modeled area were also examined. Median modeled air Mn concentrations ranged from 6.3 to 43 ng/m3 across the years. From 12,000–56,000 individuals, including over 2000 children aged 0–14 years, were exposed to respirable annual average ambient air Mn levels exceeding 50 ng/m3 in five of the six years. For 2009–2010, the median modeled air Mn concentration at the stationary site was 20 ng/m3, compared to 18 ng/m3 measured with the stationary air sampler. All model performance measures for monthly modeled concentrations compared to measured concentrations were within acceptable limits. The study shows that AERMOD modeling of ambient air Mn is a viable method for estimating exposure from refinery emissions and that the Marietta area population was at times exposed to Mn levels that exceeded US EPA guidelines.
The Guts of the Opioid Crisis

Bidirectional interactions of the gut epithelium with commensal bacteria are critical for maintaining homeostasis within the gut. Chronic opioid exposure perturbs gut homeostasis through a multitude of neuro-immune-epithelial mechanisms, resulting in the development of analgesic tolerance, a major underpinning of the current opioid crisis. Differences in molecular mechanisms of opioid tolerance between the enteric and central pain pathways pose a significant challenge for managing chronic pain without untoward gastrointestinal effects.
Sociodemographic, Health, and Caregiving Patterns of Aging Caregivers in Oregon: Gender Comparisons and the Role of Leisure Activities:

Recent studies have projected an increase in aging informal caregivers who are often dealing with their frailty. However, little is known about their health, caregiving factors, or coping resources that promote health. Informed by lifespan perspective and health behavior models, this study examined the gender differences in health and caregiving profiles of aging informal caregivers and investigated the association between leisure activity and unhealthy days. A sample of 565 informal caregivers (>50 years) was drawn from the Oregon version of the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Descriptive analyses revealed that the caregivers were mainly women between 60 and 69, White non-Hispanic, married, college graduates, retired and healthinsured. Negative binomial regression showed that leisure activities were related to fewer odds of reporting unhealthy days for most comparison scenarios. Findings emphasize the importance of accounting for group differences and similarities in understanding health and caregiving factors among informal caregivers.
Redefining Ethnic Market Segmentation: A Review of Ethnic Consumer Behavioral Marketing Blunders and Ways to Avoid them

This paper is offered as an overview of marketing blunders that have contributed to the significant gap that still exists between marketers and ethnic consumers in the area of consumer behavior. Various marketing mistakes and successes are explored as experienced in three ethnic consumer markets. A new phrase coined, "surgical marketing strikes" is introduced as a means of redefining market segmenting strategies. "Surgical marketing strikes" allow the marketer to reach market segments with precision-tailored strategies that uncover underlying sensitive motivations that will eliminate surprise disturbances that can damage a marketer 's company name or brand.
Twitter as a Classroom Tool: Exploring the Use, Benefits, and Downfalls from the Perspectives of Instructors and Students

Recently, the educational community has become aware of Twitter and begun to use it as a pedagogical tool. Yet, using these tools within a course is not enough to ensure positive outcomes. Thus, more research is needed to understand the perceived benefits and downfalls of its integration in the classroom context. To this end, the present study examined (a) how instructors are using Twitter and (2) compares and contrasts instructors and students perceptions of the benefits and downfalls of using Twitter in the classroom. Practical applications and directions for future research are discussed.
SIMPLE Performance Results in ZPL

This paper presents performance results for ZPL programs running on the Kendall Square Research KSR-2 and the Intel Paragon. Because ZPL is a data parallel language based on the Phase Abstractions programming model, these results complement earlier claims that the Phase Abstractions model can lead to portability across MIMD computers. The ZPL language and selected aspects of the compilation strategy are briefly described, and performance results are compared against hand-coded programs.
A Representation for the Binding of RT-Component Functionality to HDL Behavior

Abstract Existing high-level synthesis (HLS) systems typically assume a simple representation for the functionality of RT components and for the binding of abstract behavioral (HDL) operators to RT components. Such a representation scheme simplifies synthesis but ignores the problems of representing realistic RT components that may perform several functions and generate several outputs in a single time step. In this paper, we present a novel representation scheme that links realistic RT-component behavior with abstract HDL behavior. It is useful for representing specific components in user-extendable libraries and adapting component libraries to HDL modeling styles. The representation can also be used to support interactive allocation and binding of components during HLS, as well as interactive rebinding of components once a preliminary floorplan is obtained. This allows the designer to iterate between the results of physical design and the higher-level tasks of component allocation and binding. Furthermore, the representation we describe can be used to establish formally the correctness of interactive binding using realistic RT components. We briefly describe the features of the representation and show its applicability on a HLS benchmark - the AM2901.
Arrestins: ubiquitous regulators of cellular signaling pathways

In vertebrates, the arrestins are a family of four proteins that regulate the signaling and trafficking of hundreds of different G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Arrestin homologs are also found in insects, protochordates and nematodes. Fungi and protists have related proteins but do not have true arrestins. Structural information is available only for free (unbound) vertebrate arrestins, and shows that the conserved overall fold is elongated and composed of two domains, with the core of each domain consisting of a seven-stranded β-sandwich. Two main intramolecular interactions keep the two domains in the correct relative orientation, but both of these interactions are destabilized in the process of receptor binding, suggesting that the conformation of bound arrestin is quite different. As well as binding to hundreds of GPCR subtypes, arrestins interact with other classes of membrane receptors and more than 20 surprisingly diverse types of soluble signaling protein. Arrestins thus serve as ubiquitous signaling regulators in the cytoplasm and nucleus.