cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conditioned medium increases the polyploid cell composition of bovine somatic cell nuclear-transferred blastocysts

The effects of bovine cumulus cell-conditioned medium on cloned bovine embryonic development and subsequent chromosome complement were examined using an air-dry procedure. Conditioned media were prepared using CR1aa supplemented with either fetal bovine serum (FBS) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Nuclear-transferred embryos were reconstructed with nuclei from cumulus cells. Similar cleavage, morula, and blastocyst development was observed in conditioned media groups compared with the co-culture group. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the composition of blastocyst chromosomes after co-culture in different media, either with or without starvation of donor cells. The overall diploid blastocyst rate ranged from 75% to 84%. Chromosomal complement of blastocysts, however, was very different between conditioned medium and co-culture treatments. Overall incidence of chromosomal anomalies was 40% in conditioned medium, which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the co-culture group (20%). Moreover, a higher incidence (P < 0.05) of chromosomally abnormal blastocysts (41.5%) was observed after culture with FBS-containing conditioned medium than those cultured in BSA-containing conditioned medium (31.4%). No diploid improvement was observed after exchange of the culture system from conditioned medium to co-culture, or from co-culture to conditioned medium after the first 72 h of culture. The results of this study also indicated that the overall cell number was much lower (P < 0.01) in blastocysts with chromosomal abnormalities than those with a normal diploid state. We have concluded that medium conditioned with bovine cumulus cells increases the incidence of chromosomal anomalies in nuclear reconstructed embryos.
Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases

The human vomeronasal organ (VNO) has been the subject of some interest in the scientific literature and of considerable speculation in the popular science literature. A function for the human VNO has been both dismissed with ridicule and averred with conviction. This question of VNO function has been needlessly tied to the separate question of whether there is any place for pheromone communication among humans, a topic that is itself bogged down in conflicting definitions. This review is an attempt to weigh the evidence for and against human VNO function, to deconvolve that question from the question of pheromone communication and finally to provide a working definition of ‘pheromone’. Further experimental work is required to resolve the conflicting evidence for and against human VNO function but chemical communication does appear to occur among humans. However, several examples reported in the literature do not meet the proposed definition for communication by pheromones: ‘chemical substances released by one member of a species as communication with another member, to their mutual benefit’.
AJL Sydney Taylor Award Presentations, 1994

The Sydney Taylor Awards were established in 1968 to honor the memory of one of the favorite and finest of all children's literature providers. Sydney Taylor, herself, set the standard of teaching about Jewish values and a Jewish way of life through stories. In her memory, her husband, Ralph Taylor, of blessed memory, and now her daughter, Jo Marshall, have provided a handsome prize for the outstanding writers and illustrators of new Jewish juvenile literature. No children's collection should be without these wonderful works.
Common Markets, Common Tax Problems

Different in more ways than it is possible to easily enumerate, the formation of the United States and the European Union (EU) had a striking similarity of purpose: to increase citizens' welfare by uniting a collection of independent states, each with its own politics, culture, and economy. Of course, the unification of the U.S. states, never as divided culturally, politically, or economically as the countries of Europe, is an achievement largely in the past. In contrast, significant integration in Europe has taken place in our own time. This Essay explores the common tax problems confronting the U.S. and EU common markets. These include horizontal federalism issues, such as state tax discrimination, disharmonies between state tax bases, and interstate tax competition. The Essay also contains a limited discussion of vertical federal questions, including states' competence to tax income of foreign legal entities and to enter into tax treaties with foreign countries. The Essay was delivered at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law's Annual International Tax Symposium in September 2007.
Effect of Preconditioning on Bone Breaking Strength

Abstract An experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of preconditioning on bone breaking strength. Fresh, frozen, and oven dried bones were compared. Since the left and right tibias from chickens have a correlation coefficient of .90 or greater for breaking strength of fresh bones, tagged paired bones were used. One bone was broken at one treatment and the other bone was broken at the other treatment, so each pair represented two of the three treatments and all possible combinations of treatments were compared. Only minor differences in strength between fresh and frozen were detected when fresh bones were used, but drying bones decreased their strength approximately 50%. Male and female bone strength were the same after drying but significantly different before drying, so consideration must be given to the way bones were handled prior to testing.
“There Ain’t No White People Here” Master Narratives of the Civil Rights Movement in the Stories of Urban Youth

In this article, the author uses the critical race theoretical construct of master narrative to explore historical and ideological assumptions about the Civil Rights Movement held by two Black yout...
A Modest Historical Theory of Moral Responsibility

Is moral responsibility essentially historical? Consider two agents qualitatively identical with respect to all of their nonhistorical properties just prior to the act of A-ing. Is it possible that, due only to differences in their respective histories, when each A-s only one A-s freely and is morally responsible for doing so? Nonhistorical theorists say “no.” Historical theorists say “yes.” Elsewhere, I have argued on behalf of philosophers like Harry G. Frankfurt that nonhistorical theorists can resist the historical theorists’ case against them, and that, therefore, a nonhistorical thesis remains a live option. Nevertheless, I have remained officially agnostic in this debate, as I acknowledge the pull of the competing considerations speaking on behalf of each view. In what follows, I turn from defending the nonhistorical position to fashioning a new historical theory, a relatively modest one that captures what is especially gripping about the kinds of examples that seem to commend an historical conclusion.
Applicability of unmanned aerial systems for leak detection

In light of recent U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notices, there is a surge in the research and development of the ‘micro’ class sUAS for commercial purposes. Natural gas production and distribution companies in particular are making an effort to develop aerial leak detection methods with sUAS. These efforts require a comprehensive evaluation of sUAS capabilities and the environmental disturbances introduced by the sUAS in order to accurately utilize data collected via onboard in situ methane gas sensors. Though many commercially available sUAS are on the market, the shape and arrangement of any system has significant impact on the aircraft's ability to accurately sense gas leaks. This paper explores using a 3DRobotics Iris+ quadcopter for gas sensing, paying particular attention to propeller disturbances introduced by the sUAS. The paper defines certain operating conditions in which the influence of propellers can be ignored. These results can be used in gas leak applications by examining the overall airflow dynamics of a commercially available rotary sUAS.
Frank Smith, [‘An Offer of a Living to Mr Nicholls’] (1854), in The Life and Work of Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth (London: James Murray, 1923), p. 226

… She saw him and recorded his kindness to her during her visit to London in 1851; and, in 1854, he was a visitor at Haworth. He was making inquiries at the time about a suitable clergyman for Habergham, and what Mrs Gaskell has described as the ‘offer’ of a living is more correctly described by Sir James in the following letter:1
Distributed Information and the Role of the State in the Economy

I intend to make here some reflections on the role of the state in the government of the economy. More specifically, I want to draw the implications of the fact that knowledge in the economy is very widely dispersed. Neither the state nor any other entity has ready access to any more than a small portion of the myriad of facts, generalizations, and judgements, explicit and implicit, which are known somewhere in the economic system and affect its outcome. This perception is classic among economists, as seen in Adam Smith, if not before. In recent times, there is a prevailing consensus that the government is in a poor position to make economic decisions since its knowledge is such a small part of that scattered through the economy, a position especially associated with the name of Friedrich von Hayek (1945). This view is manifested in practice in the strong current trend towards privatization and towards deregulation even of natural monopolies. I want to re-examine the argument and show that the inference from dispersed information to absence of government intervention is valid only for some cases but not for others. The generalizations common in current rhetoric are too sweeping.
Promoting Physical Activity within Under-Resourced Afterschool Programs: A Qualitative Investigation of Staff Experiences and Motivational Strategies for Engaging Youth.

ABSTRACTAfterschool programs (ASPs) have become increasingly recognized as a key context to support youth daily physical activity (PA) accrual. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework, this study examined staff perspectives on the strengths and barriers within under-resourced ASPs for establishing a social-motivational climate for encouraging and supporting youth PA. Analysis of semi-structured staff interviews (28 staff; 7 ASPs) indicated that staff had knowledge and value for establishing a PA-supportive motivational climate. However, the feasibility of implementing PA curricula was identified as challenging across programs. Findings suggest increased need for staff training and supports to provide a PA climate that meets the developmental needs/interests of all youth, with particular attention toward increasing the PA of girls and older program youth. Furthermore, striking an appropriate balance between PA and other competing program demands (e.g., academics) will be required to optimize o...
Quantum Oscillations in the Chiral Magnetic Conductivity

In strong magnetic field, the longitudinal magnetoconductivity in three-dimensional chiral materials is shown to exhibit a new type of quantum oscillations arising from the chiral magnetic effect (CME). These quantum CME oscillations are predicted to dominate over the Shubnikov--de Haas (SdH) ones in chiral materials with an approximately conserved chirality of quasiparticles at strong magnetic fields. The phase of quantum CME oscillations differs from the phase of the conventional SdH oscillations by $\ensuremath{\pi}/2$.
Mortality Rates and Length of Stay in Patients With Acute Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Hospitalized for Noncardiac Conditions on Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Services.

Patients hospitalized for noncardiac conditions often experience increased levels of stress and hemodynamic challenges, making them susceptible to acute coronary events. The clinical features, management strategy, and outcomes of inpatient non–ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have not been described. This single-center retrospective study identified patients with inpatient NSTEMI from the University of North Carolina Hospitals discharge database in February 2008 to April 2014 using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. This process generated an initial list of 485 cases that were subsequently manually reviewed. The associations of cardiac catheterization with in-hospital mortality and length of stay were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and multiple linear regression. A total of 302 patients were confirmed to have inpatient NSTEMI, with 154 patients admitted to surgical and 148 admitted to nonsurgical services. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with inpatient NSTEMI was high (19%). Patients with inpatient NSTEMI who underwent cardiac catheterization had lower in-hospital mortality rates than those who did not undergo cardiac catheterization (6% vs 25%; adjusted odds ratio 0.19, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.50) and were discharged 6.8 days earlier (95% confidence interval 2.3 to 11.2 days). Inpatient NSTEMIs on surgical services compared with nonsurgical services were more likely to generate cardiology consultation (96% vs 62%, p
Exploring teacher design team endeavors while creating an elementary-focused STEM-integrated curriculum

This study presents two teacher design teams (TDTs) during a professional development experience centered on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-integrated curriculum development. The main activity of the study, curriculum design, was framed as a design problem in order to better understand how teachers engaged with the complexities of integrated curriculum development. Additionally, Remillard’s, (Review of Educational Research 75:211–246, 2005) teacher-curriculum “participatory relationship” provided a framework for further exploring teacher actions during the design process. Utilizing a case study research design, participant curriculum design conversations were audio-recorded for 12 days during a summer professional development experience. Constructed grounded theory and a method of selective coding revealed insights about the processes and supports that enable collaborative curriculum design. Results showed that when a TDT is not prompted and/or enabled to first lay out and articulate the overall value of a STEM-integrated curriculum, they will rightly follow their intuitions as classroom teachers and engage in the process accordingly. Second, involving practicing teachers in the curriculum design process requires complete “participation” with the curriculum ideas they are contemplating because in the end, the curriculum’s resultant lessons will be taught in their own and other teacher’s classrooms. The findings from this study indicate the importance of “pushing” active classroom teachers from the design to the mapping arena by instituting curriculum development activities and/or strategies (i.e., processes) that might help a TDT develop a “voice” (Remillard, From Text to 'Lived' Resources:105-122, 2011) or “value” (Dorst, Design Studies 22:4–17, 2006) for the curriculum under development. If members of a TDT are willing to reveal their interpretations, perceptions, and beliefs about the conceptual ideas embedded within the curriculum being developed, both the teachers and curriculum being developed will benefit. Finally, teachers should be made aware of their roles and responsibilities, beyond superficial descriptions; and understand participation in STEM-integrated curriculum design brings with it the likelihood their individual ideas, perceptions, and beliefs will be integrated within the curriculum being developed.
Methods for Evaluating the Content, Usability, and Efficacy of Commercial Mobile Health Apps

Commercial mobile apps for health behavior change are flourishing in the marketplace, but little evidence exists to support their use. This paper summarizes methods for evaluating the content, usability, and efficacy of commercially available health apps. Content analyses can be used to compare app features with clinical guidelines, evidence-based protocols, and behavior change techniques. Usability testing can establish how well an app functions and serves its intended purpose for a target population. Observational studies can explore the association between use and clinical and behavioral outcomes. Finally, efficacy testing can establish whether a commercial app impacts an outcome of interest via a variety of study designs, including randomized trials, multiphase optimization studies, and N-of-1 studies. Evidence in all these forms would increase adoption of commercial apps in clinical practice, inform the development of the next generation of apps, and ultimately increase the impact of commercial apps.
Serum chromogranin-A-based prognosis in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

To determine the prognostic value of serum chromogranin-A (CGA) in a two-cohort study of men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and to compare with circulating tumor cells (CTCs)-based prognosis. A two-cohort-based evaluation for serum CGA for prognostication in CRPC stage was performed using a screening cohort of 256 men with mCRPC and an independent validation cohort of 92 men with mCRPC. In both cohorts, men receiving proton pump inhibitors and those with non-castrate levels of testosterone (>50 ng/dl) were excluded. Serum CGA was measured in a homogeneous automated immunofluorescent assay using time-resolved amplified cryptate emission. In the validation cohort, CTC enumeration was also performed using the FDA-cleared CELLSEARCH® CTC test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for prognostic association of serum CGA and CTC counts with overall survival. In the screening cohort, 200 men were eligible for analysis. The median serum CGA was 100.3 ng/mL (interquartile range: 67–161.3) and 34/200 were above the reference range. In the subset of men with Gleason scores ≥ 8, elevated CGA was associated with shorter overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 2.19, p = 0.017]. In the validation cohort for 71 men eligible for analysis, the median serum CGA was 90 ng/mL (interquartile range: 55–156) and 31/71 patients had an elevated CGA. 51% of patients had a Gleason score ≥ 8 and 66/71 patients had CTCs enumerated with 26/66 with a CTC count ≥ 5 per 7.5 ml blood sample (unfavorable). Both elevated serum CGA (HR: 1.91, p = 0.043) and unfavorable CTC counts (HR: 2.97, p = 0.0012) were adversely associated with overall survival and patients with ≥ 5 CTCs and elevated serum CGA had the shortest overall survival (HR: 3.76, p = 0.008). Elevated serum CGA was negatively associated with OS in men with mCRPC. Serum CGA represents a prognostic biomarker that may complement CTC enumeration.
Is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training evidence-based practice? A systematic review

This study reviews 25 empirical research articles that have examined the impact of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training over the past 10 years. Overall, little can be said about the effectivenes...
A digital fast correlation approach to produce SEASAT SAR imagery

This paper describes a digital processing algorithm and its associated system design for producing images from SEASAT Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The proposed system uses the fast Fourier transform approach to perform the two-dimensional correlation process. The range migration problem, which is often a major obstacle to efficient processing, can be alleviated by approximating the locus of echoes from a point target by several linear segments. SAR data corresponding to each segment is correlated separately, and the results are coherently summed to produce full-resolution images. This processing approach exhibits high computation efficiency and simple processing control functions. It is particularly attractive for software implementation based on general purpose computer. Results of this implementation and examples of digitally correlated SEASAT SAR imagery are discussed
Teaching recursion using recursively-generated geometric designs

Teaching about recursion usually involves programs arriving at answers and displaying the results (for example: quicksort, summing elements in a linked list, evaluation of an expression tree). This paper discusses problems that naturally display results at each recursive step. Examples of these programs include those that visually display fractals and other geometric shapes recursively.
Malformations of Cortical Development: Molecular Pathogenesis and Experimental Strategies

Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are developmental brain lesions char-acterized by abnormal formation of the cerebral cortex and a high clinical association with epilepsy in infants, children, and adults. Despite multiple anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), treatment of epilepsy associated with MCD may require cortical resection performed to remove the cytoarchitecturally abnormal region of cortex. Single genes responsible for distinct MCD including lissencephaly, subcortical band heterotopia, and tuberous sclerosis, have been identified and permit important mechanistic insights into how gene mutations result in abnormal cortical cytoarchitecture. The pathogenesis of MCD such as focal cortical dysplasia, hemimegalencephaly, and polymicrogyria, remains unknown. A variety of new techniques including cDNA array analysis now allow for analysis of gene expression within MCD.
An Organized Approach to Multi-Organ Screening in Rural Honduras

Background: Poverty, poor healthcare infrastructure and geographic location contribute to a total lack of cancer screening for most residents of rural Honduras. Three projects built upon each other...
Combining Expert Judgement and Stakeholder Values with Promethee: A case Study in Contaminated Sediments

Management of dredged contaminated sediments can be a contentious, difficult, and expensive task. Because the waterways from which sediments are dredged have multiple uses, competing interests are often brought to bear on any decision. No single best alternative is likely to emerge; different stakeholder groups will prefer different alternatives. This chapter investigates the utility of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) as a tool for incorporating stakeholder values into the decision process, for soliciting public participation, and analyzing novel technological alternatives. An outranking method called PROMETHEE is employed for three reasons. First, the emphasis placed on assessing new technologies — and especially beneficial reuse technologies — requires a method that facilitates introduction of new alternatives at any point during the analysis. Second, outranking methods are conducive to elucidating the contrasting value structures of different stakeholder groups. Third, they are more capable of handling semiquantitative scales (e.g., high, middle, low) than optimization methods such as MAUT or AHP. To illustrate the decision process under development, this chapter presents the results of a case study example involving stakeholders in Dover, New Hampshire concerned with the dredging of the Cocheco River.
Comparison of elastic modulus inverse estimation and the pulse wave velocity estimation for monitoring abdominal aortic aneurysms

The necessity of surgical intervention of abdominal aorta aneurysms is based on a risk-reduction paradigm primarily relying on trans-abdominal ultrasound (US) measurements of the maximum diameter of an AAA. However, the AAA diameter is only a rough estimate of rupture potential, and elastographic estimates of material property changes within aortic tissue may be a better predictor. This work compares an elastic imaging technique measuring aortic tissue stiffness in cross-section to a pulse wave velocity (PWV) estimate obtained from longitudinal images of the same geometry using a two-dimensional clinical US machine. The elastic imaging technique uses a linear elastic finite-element model to solve the elastic inverse problem and estimates the shear modulus. This technique uses a non-invasive pressure cuff to estimate the pressure in the aorta and normalizes the modulus values. The PWV technique uses geometric measurements and simplifies assumptions to create a direct relation between the wave speed and the modulus. Results of validation studies using aortic mimicking phantoms comparing modulus obtained from each of the techniques are presented. Initial clinical results will be also be presented.
Evaluation of laboratory ageing procedures on cracking performance of asphalt mixtures

The objective of this study is to evaluate how the viscoelastic, fatigue, and fracture properties of asphalt binders and mixtures change as a function of ageing. Six plant-produced mixtures are eva...
New Spins on Old Drugs: Enhancing Activity of Antifungals.

In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Caplan et al. (2020) describe a series of studies in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans to identify a new target for antimicrobial drug development. Beginning with an unbiased compound screen, they identify new mechanisms to address rising resistance to currently used anti-infective agents.
Safety profile of atorvastatin in the role of burn wound injury conversion.

Abstract Background Atorvastatin could be beneficial in the treatment of burn patients to prevent burn wound progression from partial to full thickness. Our primary aim is to evaluate the safety of atorvastatin in burn patients. Methods Single center retrospective chart review of burn patients receiving atorvastatin during admission May 2016–May 2019 with historic controls was performed. Demographics, burn total body surface area, atorvastatin doses, creatinine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase levels and adverse events were analyzed. Results 48 burn patients received atorvastatin during admission. Nine patients experienced elevated CK or AST levels during admission, but did not correlate with timing of atorvastatin administration and were comparable to levels in control patients. No adverse events associated with atorvastatin were identified. Conclusions Atorvastatin administered to patients with burn injuries was not associated with any adverse events or attributable lab abnormalities. We believe that atorvastatin is safe to use in patients with burns and can be safely studied to determine the drug’s effect on the prevention of burn wound conversion.
Spectrum of associated congenital heart defects in patients with “Non-Cardiac Congenital defects at a tertiary care children hospital in Pakistan”

Objectives: To assess the frequency and pattern of associated congenital heart disease (CHD) among patients with “non-cardiac congenital defects”. Methods: An observational study was done at Paediatric Cardiology Department, The Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan, from December 2018 to November 2019. Children from birth to 15 years having non-cardiac congenital defects, referred for cardiac evaluation from surgical unit during the study period were enrolled. Echocardiography was done to confirm diagnosis of CHD by consultant pediatric cardiologist. Results: Out of a total of 323 cases, 176 (54.5%) were male. Out of 323 patients, 160 (49.5%) belonged to age one month to one year. Vascular malformations were the most frequent primary diagnosis among our cases, seen in 69 (21.4%) children followed by cleft lip and palate 55 (17.2%), cleft palate only 52 (16.1%), Cleft lip only 40 (12.4%) and ARM high variety 33 (10.2%). CHD was found among 42 (13.0%) children while patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and VSD were the commonest finding seen in 14 (33.3%) and 6 (14.3%) children respectively. Conclusion: Frequency of associated CHD among patients with non-cardiac congenital defects was high (13.0%). Children with cleft lip and/or palate should be given more attention because of the high incidence of CHD in this group. Echocardiography must be advised for the timely identification of any possible type of CHD. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3604 How to cite this:Arshad MS, Aslam M, Ahmad S, Kashif M. Spectrum of associated congenital heart defects in patients with “Non-Cardiac Congenital defects at a tertiary care children hospital in Pakistan”. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):695-699. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3604 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Deep Learning in Science

This is the first rigorous, self-contained treatment of the theory of deep learning. Starting with the foundations of the theory and building it up, this is essential reading for any scientists, instructors, and students interested in artificial intelligence and deep learning. It provides guidance on how to think about scientific questions, and leads readers through the history of the field and its fundamental connections to neuroscience. The author discusses many applications to beautiful problems in the natural sciences, in physics, chemistry, and biomedicine. Examples include the search for exotic particles and dark matter in experimental physics, the prediction of molecular properties and reaction outcomes in chemistry, and the prediction of protein structures and the diagnostic analysis of biomedical images in the natural sciences. The text is accompanied by a full set of exercises at different difficulty levels and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.
Fewer patients receive recommendations for pharmacotherapy in primary prevention using the 2018 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk estimator.

Abstract Shortly after the introduction of the 2013 original Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), an overestimation of risk was suggested. As such, the updated 2018 PCE was developed to more accurately assess atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in the population. Hence, this study aims to compare drug prescribing recommendations in a large, real-world patient population, depending on which PCE is used to estimate 10-year ASCVD risk. This retrospective cohort study identified 20,843 patients aged between 40 and 75 years with no previous ASCVD. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was assessed by using both PCE. Patients were assigned to the four risk categories according to the 2018 ACC/AHA guideline. The percentage of patients qualifying for guideline-recommended primary prevention with statins and/or anti-hypertensives were compared between both PCE. Risk reclassification occurred in 26.7% of patients overall (n = 5571), of which 98.1% (n = 5466) were assigned to lower risk categories with the updated PCE. Non-diabetic (14.0%) patients no longer met the threshold for recommending statins as primary prevention with the updated PCE. Likewise, 13.8% of patients with stage I hypertension no longer met the threshold for recommending antihypertensive drugs with the updated PCE. In conclusion, risk reclassification occurred among 26.7% of patients overall, mostly due to lower risk categories assigned by the updated PCE. Up to 14.0% of patients no longer met the threshold for recommending statin therapy and/or antihypertensive drugs by using the updated PCE. These findings suggest that using the updated PCE could translate into fewer patients receiving pharmacotherapy for ASCVD primary prevention.
An Efficient Dynamic Analysis Tool for Checking Durable Linearizability

Designing efficient and correct durable data structures is indispensable because Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) is positioned as a successor to DRAM due to its energy efficiency and reliability. The challenge with ensuring correctness for efficient durable data structures is that caches and registers are expected to remain volatile, and the explicit cache line flush and barrier instructions are expensive. As a result cache line flushes and barriers are used sparingly, leading to potential inconsistencies in the recoverable state of the data structure. Crash consistency tools are available to ensure recoverability to a consistent state, but these tools are not able to check correctness of data structure semantics. Furthermore, the formal logic proposed to verify correctness conditions such as durable linearizability involve labor intensive mechanical proofs using a theorem prover. In this paper, we present the first dynamic analysis tool that checks durable linearizability at runtime. Our proposed tool, VSV-D, uses a vector space analysis to achieve a worst-case $O(n^{2})$ time complexity. We extend the analysis to transactional correctness to enable VSV-D to check durable transactional data structures. Our experimental evaluation applies VSV-D to check the correctness of a large variety of durable data structures including log-free data structures, link-free data structures, Romulus, OneFile, PMDK, and PETRA.
Technique and Outcomes in Laparoscopic Repair of Morgagni Hernia in Adults

Background: Morgagni hernias (MHs) are rare anteromedial congenital diaphragmatic hernias. This study describes the effectiveness of a laparoscopic approach for these defects. Methods: A prospectively collected institutional database at a tertiary referral center was queried for patients (≥18 years) with MHs. Results: Fifteen adults underwent laparoscopic MH repair. Abdominal pain was the most common presentation (71.5%), and 2 patients (13.3%) presented with acute obstruction. Laparoscopic bridged mesh repair was the most common approach (66.7%) and was achieved by suturing a bridged synthetic mesh to the diaphragmatic portion of the defect and fixing it with transfascial sutures and/or tacks to the anterior abdominal wall. Primary suture repair was utilized for smaller defects. No mortalities or recurrences occurred after 20.2 months median follow-up. Conclusions: Laparoscopic synthetic mesh repair of adult MHs offers an effective hernia repair with minimal complications and no detected recurrences in long-term follow-up of this patient sample.
The relationship between cybersecurity ratings and the risk of hospital data breaches.

Objective We investigated the progression of healthcare cybersecurity over 2014-2019 as measured by external risk ratings. We further examined the relationship between hospital data breaches and cybersecurity ratings. Materials and methods Using Fortune 1000 firms as a benchmark, time trends in hospital cybersecurity ratings were compared using linear regression. Further, the relationship between hospital data breaches and cybersecurity ratings was modeled using logistic regression. Hospital breach data were collected from US HHS, and cybersecurity ratings were provided by BitSight. The resulting study sample yielded 3528 hospital-year observations. Results In aggregate, we found that hospitals had significantly lower cybersecurity ratings than Fortune 1000 firms, however, hospitals have closed the gap in recent years. We also found that hospitals with the low security ratings were associated with significant risk of a data breach, with the probability of a breach in a given year ranging from 14% to 33%. Discussion Recent cyber-attacks in healthcare continue to illustrate the need to better secure information systems. While hospitals have reduced cyber risk over the past decade, they remain statistically more vulnerable than the Fortune 1000 firms against botnets, spam, and malware. Conclusion Policy makers should continue encouraging acute-care hospitals to proactively invest in security controls that reduce cyber risk. Best practices from other sectors like the financial services sector could provide useful guides and benchmarks for improvement.
Where, when and why: occurrence of fast-pairwise collective neutrino oscillation in three-dimensional core-collapse supernova models

Fast-pairwise collective neutrino oscillation represents a key uncertainty in the theory of core-collapse supernova (CCSN). Despite the potentially significant impact on CCSN dynamics, it is usually neglected in numerical models of CCSN because of the formidable technical difficulties of self-consistently incorporating this physics. In this paper, we investigate the prospects for the occurrence of fast flavor conversion by diagnosing electron neutrino lepton number (ELN) crossing in more than a dozen state-of-the-art three-dimensional CCSN models. ELN crossings is a necessary condition for triggering flavor conversion. Although only zeroth and first angular moments are available from the simulations, our new method enables us to look into the angular distributions of neutrinos in momentum space and provide accurate insight into ELN crossings. Our analysis suggests that fast flavor conversion generally occurs in the post-shock region of CCSNe, and that explosive models provide more favorable conditions for the flavor conversion than failed CCSNe. We also find that there are both common and progenitor-dependent characteristics. Classifying ELN crossings into two types, we analyze the generation mechanism of each case by scrutinizing the neutrino radiation field and matter interactions. We find key ingredients of CCSN dynamics driving the ELN crossings: proto-neutron star (PNS) convection, asymmetric neutrino emission, neutrino absorptions and scatterings. This study suggests that we need to accommodate fast flavor conversions in realistic CCSN models.
Observed and forecasted global warming pressure on coastal hypoxia

Abstract. Coastal hypoxia is a major environmental problem of increasing severity. A global 40-year observational gridded climate data record and 21st century forecasts from the Community Earth System Model under RCP 8.5 forcing are analyzed for long-term linear trends with a focus on warming-related pressures on coastal oxygen conditions. The forecasted median trends along the global coast are 0.32 °C, −1.6 mmol m−3, and −1.2 mmol m−3 per decade for sea-surface temperature (SST), surface oxygen capacity, and vertical-minimum oxygen concentration, respectively. These trends point to more rapid deterioration in coastal conditions than experienced over the last four decades; the forecasted median coastal trends for SST and oxygen capacity are 48 % and 18 % faster than the corresponding observed rates. Median rates for the coast and documented hypoxic areas are higher than in the global ocean. Warming and oxygen declines tend to be fastest at high latitudes, one region where new hypoxic areas may emerge as oxygen conditions deteriorate. Over 19 % of the coast has extremely rapid forecasted change upwards of 0.60 °C per decade warming and −3.0 mmol m−3 per decade oxygen change. There is considerable pressure on current hypoxic areas since future oxygen declines of any magnitude will make hypoxia more severe. The coastal forecasts can inform coastal environmental management strategies to protect future water quality and ecosystem services.
Incomplete-Data Image Reconstructions in Industrial X-ray Computerized Tomography

In earlier works [1,2] it was concluded that image reconstruction from incomplete data can be achieved through an iterative transform algorithm which utilizes the a priori information on the object to compensate for the missing data. The iterative transform algorithm is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1. The image is transformed back and forth between the object space and the projection space, being corrected by the a priori information on the object in the object space, and by the known projections in the projection space. The a priori information in the object space includes a boundary enclosing the object, and an upper bound and a lower bound of the object density. Among these three pieces of a priori information, the object-enclosing boundary is the most important one; experience indicated that the upper and lower bound constraints usually make 1–2% difference in the image quality. The closer the enclosing boundary matches the actual shape of the object, the better will be the quality of the reconstructed image.
The Organization of Memory: Its Effect on the Recall of Advertisements

The authors are attempting to explore the relationship between organization of attributes within an advertisement and the ability to recall the advertisement. The study applies memory theory to marketing with an experimental design manipulating the number of categories or chunks in the organization of an advertisement. Results confirm the earlier list learning experiments in the organization and memory literature.
Adaptive flexible antenna array system for deformable wing surfaces

A 4×1 coplanar and flexible antenna array for deformable surfaces is studied under different bending angles. It is assumed that the array is bent from one edge on top of an insulating cylinder (single-edge cylindrical bending). Due to flexing, the array radiates a tilted main beam. The beam can be redirected back toward its original direction by applying the correct phase difference between the elements. This compensation phase vector is calculated using a closed-form equation. Simulated results are presented, showing successful recovery of the intended radiation direction. The autonomous array can be used in unmanned aerial vehicles with wings that bend or flex on demand, morphing wings, adaptive wings, as well as on other surfaces where it is required to focus an antenna pattern toward a specific location with respect to the mounting surface.
Infection or Inflammation and ICU Seizures

Effective treatment of seizures associated with central nervous system (CNS) infection and inflammation depends on rapid diagnosis and early attainment of bactericidal activity in the cerebrospinal fluid with appropriate antimicrobial agents, or appropriate management of vasculitis-induced cerebral complications. Despite the rarity of these disorders, there is nothing specific regarding the management in the intensive care unit of seizures in these situations, except for a high suspicion by the medical staff. Improvement in long-term neurologic outcome depends on both therapy of the infectious/inflammatory process and the intensive care multisystem monitoring commonly warranted in this patient population. The primary goal of preserving CNS function is shared by the neurologist and the intensivist, making a multidisciplinary approach essential.
Favorable neurodevelopmental outcome in a hypothyroid neonate following intracordal amiodarone for cardioversion of refractory supraventricular tachycardia in a fetus.

Fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), characterized by a fetal ventricular heart rate faster than 200 beats per minute (bpm), is often diagnosed during routine fetal heart monitoring or prenatal ultrasound examinations. Clinical guidelines for management of fetal SVT have not been determined in standardized trials, nor do we have a clear sense regarding the long- term developmental outcomes and side effects of in utero antiarrhythmic therapy. We describe our approach to the treatment of refractory SVT in a fetus with hydrops using direct umbilical vein treatment with amiodarone coupled with effusion evacuation. We successfully achieved in utero resolution of SVT. There was transient amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism, which we screened for early and treated with Synthroid. Ultimately our patient had normal long-term growth and development as measured by modified Denver office checklists and Ages and Stages questionnaires. Our experience advocates for vigilant screening and management of hypothyroidism in fetuses exposed to in utero amiodarone and suggests that it is possible to achieve good outcomes in high-acuity refractory cases of SVT.
B Cell Selection and Susceptibility to Autoimmunity

Autoreactive B cells arise routinely as part of the naive B cell repertoire. The immune system employs several mechanisms in an attempt to silence these autoreactive cells before they achieve immunocompetence. The BCR plays a central role in B cell development, activation, survival, and apoptosis, and thus is a critical component of the regulation of both protective and autoreactive B cells. The strength of signal mediated by the BCR is determined by numerous factors, both B cell intrinsic and B cell extrinsic. Perturbations in the molecules that regulate the BCR signal strength or that activate pathways that engage in cross talk with the BCR-mediated signaling pathways can lead to the aberrant survival and activation of autoreactive B cells. In this review, we will discuss the some newly identified genetic loci and factors that modulate the BCR signal transduction pathway and, therefore, the regulation of autoreactive B cells. We will also provide evidence for a model of autoreactivity in which a reduction in the strength of the BCR signal allows the survival and the modulation of a naive B cell repertoire replete with autoreactivity.
Two tests of association for a susceptibility locus for families of variable size: An example using two sampling strategies

A two-stage approach was used to analyze Problem 2 simulated data from Genetic Analysis Workshop 11. In the first stage, we tested for linkage with the Haseman-Elston test in SIBPAL. Markers that were significant in the first stage were followed up with two types of association tests. These association tests differ in the type of family information used: 1) parental transmissions to affected children or 2) differences in marker allele frequencies between affected and unaffected siblings. We also explored how the conclusions changed when different sampling strategies were used. Of particular interest was whether the entire data set should be used to test for both linkage and association or whether the data set should be halved to allow for replication of the initial association results.
Hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen in neonatal and young rats: Metabolic Aspects

The effects of a toxic dose of acetaminophen on levels of hepatic glutathione and [14C]acetaminophen-derived metabolites covalently bound to tissue macromolecules were investigated in 11- (1000 mg/kg), 19- (750 mg/kg), and 33-day-old (1250 mg/kg) rats. Although hepatic glutathione levels are lower in untreated 11- and 19-day-old rats compared to 33-day-old animals, a toxic dose of acetaminophen produced similar maximal depletion in all ages (to 0.5 mg/g). Covalent binding of [14C]acetaminophen to hepatic and renal macromolecules was higher in the younger animals. Glutathione-derived conjugates of APAP were present in the liver and kidney of neonatal and young rats given a toxic dose of the drug. In addition, age-related differences in the levels of the sulfate and glucuronide conjugates of the drug in these tissues were observed. The data presented suggest that neonatal rats, while less susceptible than older rats to the hepatic necrosis produced by the drug, are more able to metabolically activate a toxic dose of acetaminophen.
Conceptual design of the 26.7 MHz RF system for RHIC

The 26.7 MHz (harmonic # h=342) RF system will be used to capture the injected bunched beam from the AGS and accelerate it to a kinetic energy of up to 250 GeV for protons; 100 GeV/u for gold ions. All ions except protons cross transition, and are finally transferred to a storage RF system working at 196 MHz. Each RHIC ring will be provided with two single-ended capacitively loaded quarter-wave cavities; each of these can be dynamically tuned by 100 kHz to compensate for the change in speed of the beam, and can deliver at least 200 kV voltage. A 100 kW tetrode amplifier with local RF feedback is directly coupled to the cavity to minimize phase delay. Prototypes of cavity and amplifier have been built and first test results are presented. >