cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximum Likelihood Estimation for Stochastic Differential Equations Using Sequential Gaussian-Process-Based Optimization

ABSTRACTStochastic differential equations (SDEs) are used as statistical models in many disciplines. However, intractable likelihood functions for SDEs make inference challenging, and we need to resort to simulation-based techniques to estimate and maximize the likelihood function. While importance sampling methods have allowed for the accurate evaluation of likelihoods at fixed parameter values, there is still a question of how to find the maximum likelihood estimate. In this article, we propose an efficient Gaussian-process-based method for exploring the parameter space using estimates of the likelihood from an importance sampler. Our technique accounts for the inherent Monte Carlo variability of the estimated likelihood, and does not require knowledge of gradients. The procedure adds potential parameter values by maximizing the so-called expected improvement, leveraging the fact that the likelihood function is assumed to be smooth. Our simulations demonstrate that our method has significant computation...
Molecular Evolution of H+-ATPases. I. Methanococcus and Sulfolobus are Monophyletic with Respect to Eukaryotes and Eubacteria

The classification of methanogenic bacteria as archaebacteria based on 16 s rRNA sequence analysis is currently in dispute. To provide an alternative molecular marker, the polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify a 930 bp fragment of Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus genomic DNA corresponding to the catalytic domain of the membrane H+-ATPase. The deduced amino acid sequence was 54-58% identical to the approximately 70 kDa subunits of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and the eukaryotic vacuolar-type H+-ATPase, and only 29% identical to the beta subunit of the eubacterial-type F0F1-ATPases. Interestingly, a highly conserved aspartate residue in the phosphorylation domain of E1E2-ATPases (P-type) is conserved in the Methanococcus sequence, but is absent from all other known vacuolar and F0F1-ATPases. This suggests that the H+-ATPase of M. thermolithotrophicus, like that of M. voltae, may have a phosphorylated intermediate, despite belonging to the vacuolar-type class of proton pumps. Phylogenetic analysis using Felsenstein's maximum likelihood method and Lake's evolutionary parsimony method confirmed that the H+-ATPases of the two archaebacteria, Methanococcus and Sulfolobus, when compared to eukaryotic vacuolar-type ATPases and eubacterial F0F1-ATPases, form a monophyletic group.
Familiäre Hyperlipoproteinämie vom Typ III

Mit Typ I-Hyperlipoproteinamie wird die folgende Dyslipoproteinamie im 12- bis 16-Stunden-Nuchternplasma bezeichnet: (1) eine ausgepragte Hyperchylomikronamie, (2) fehlende oder schwache pra-β-LP-Bande, (3) eine Hypo-β-Lipoproteinamie und (4) eine Hypo-α-Lipoproteinamie. Der Nachweis dieser Dyslipoproteinamie last sich durch eine Serumlipoprotein-Elektrophorese auf Papier, Acetatfolie oder Agargel fuhren, wobei ein albuminhaltiger Puffer verwendet wird. Besteht keine Moglichkeit zur Analyse der Lipoproteine, konnen die folgenden Beobachtungen von praktischem Nutzen sein.
Description of Mesocriconema ericaceum n. sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae) and notes on other nematode species discovered in an ericaceous heath bald community in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

A new species of Mesocriconema and a unique assemblage of plant-parasitic nematodes was discovered in a heath bald atop Brushy Mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mesocriconema ericaceum n. sp., a species with males, superficially resembles M . xenoplax . DNA barcoding with the mitochondrial COI gene provided evidence of the new species as a distinct lineage. SEM revealed significant variability in arrangement of labial submedian lobes, plates, and anterior and posterior annuli. Three other nematodes in the family Criconematidae were characterised from the heath bald. Ogma seymouri , when analysed by statistical parsimony, established connections with isolates from north-eastern Atlantic coastal and north-western Pacific coastal wet forests. Criconema loofi has a southern Gulf Coast distribution associated with boggy soils. Criconema cf. acriculum is known from northern coastal forests of California. Understanding linkages between these species and their distribution may lead to the broader development of a terrestrial soil nematode biogeography.
Aortic Risk Redux.

The guidelines for prophylactic aortic surgery for patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) have been debated over the last several years as increasing attention has been paid to the associated aortopathy and in particular the risk of aortic dissection. In the early part of the 20th century, the
Electrical-Thermal Co-Simulation for Analysis of High-Power RF/Microwave Components

An electrical-thermal co-simulation based on the finite element method is presented for analysis of high-power RF/microwave circuits. The co-simulation integrates a full-wave electromagnetic analysis and a transient thermal analysis through an iterative scheme, and is devised for the design and analysis of RF/microwave circuits operated at high frequencies and high power levels. To enhance the efficiency in solving large-scale problems, a domain decomposition scheme called the finite element tearing and interconnecting and an adaptive time-stepping scheme based on the algorithm of proportional-integral-derivative control are incorporated into the co-simulation. Temperature stability analysis is performed with the proposed co-simulation for a matching network in high-power RF amplifiers and for a substrate integrated waveguide filter.
A quantitative investigation of american history software on middle school student achievement scores

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine whether student use of the Ignite! Early American History software significantly affected student outcome achievement scores on a standards-based assessment. Students in three urban middle schools were divided into experimental and control groups with both groups being taught by the same teacher. Experimental group students used the Ignite! history software as a supplement to their regular American history curriculum, and students in the control group did not use the program. The study also examined how students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and students with special needs scored on the standardized test as compared to regular education students. Statistical analysis of test results indicated that overall, students who used the Ignite! American history software scored significantly higher than students who did not use the program. These statistical differences were not apparent, however, when comparing students with LEP and students with special needs to regular education student test scores.
Field Experiments on Voter Mobilization: An Overview of a Burgeoning Literature

Abstract This essay reviews the ways in which field experiments have been used to study political participation. We begin by charting the intellectual history of field experimentation in political science. We explain why the advent of field experimentation in recent years represents an important advance over previous work, which relied principally on nonexperimental survey research. Our review of the experimental literature on political participation focuses on two broad research domains related to voter mobilization: the effects of different modes of communication (e.g., face-to-face conversations, phone calls, and mail) and the effects of different messages (e.g., those that stress social norms, express gratitude, or urge the expression of implementation intentions). In the final section, we discuss some open questions and new ways that field experiments may illuminate the study of voter turnout and political behavior more generally.
Foxn1[Cre] Expression in the Male Germline

Foxn1 (forkhead box N1), also known as the nude gene or winged-helix nude (Whn), is a forkhead transcription factor thought to be restricted to keratinocytes in the skin and thymus. Consistent with this tissue distribution, spontaneous or targeted mutation of Foxn1 results in the absence of both hair and a thymus. Genetic manipulation of the Foxn1 locus thus represents a powerful tool for tissue specific gene control in the skin and thymus, and tools such as Cre recombinase under control of the Foxn1 locus are widely used for this purpose. Unexpectedly, we show that Foxn1[Cre] exhibits unexpected activity in male germ cells, resulting in ubiquitous targeting of loxP-flanked alleles in all tissues in offspring from Foxn1[Cre] expressing male mice. Inheritance of recombined loxP alleles occurs independently of Cre inheritance (i.e., offspring lacking Cre nonetheless exhibit recombined alleles), suggesting that Foxn1[Cre] induced recombination in male germ cells must occur prior to meiosis in diploid germ cells. Together with previously published data, our results show that Foxn1, and alleles under its control, are expressed in the pre-meiotic male germline, revealing a new tool for germline targeting of genes, and raising important concerns for gender selection when using Foxn1 regulatory elements.
Plasmonic nanobubble theranostics for intra-operative and preventive treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Chemoradiation-resistant cancer cells and unresectable micro-tumors limit treatment efficacy and lead to high nonspecific toxicity or recurrence in head and neck cancers. We show the cancer cell-specific, on-demand enhancement of the chemo- and chemoradiation therapy with mechanical intracellular impact of plasmonic nanobubbles, a laser pulseinduced explosive nano-event, not a particle. We report cellular mechanisms of cancer cell-specific detection and enhancement of the entry drug and X-ray dose and validate these mechanisms in vitro and in vivo for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Plasmonic nanobubble technology showed more than 10-fold enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy compared to standard chemoradiation in murine models of primary, microscopic residual and recurrent diseases. At the same time our technology efficiently spared adjacent normal tissues due to the reduction of the effective therapeutic doses of drug by 30-40 fold, X-rays by 15-fold and the treatment time to a single procedure. The developed plasmonic nanobubble technology transforms a standard macro-therapy into a cell-level on-demand theranostic treatment for primary, adjuvant and adjunct applications.
Left ventricular wall stress and thickness in complete transposition of the great arteries. Implications for surgical intervention

The effects of volume and pressure loading of the left ventricle on posterior wall thickness and left ventricular wall stress in transposition of the great arteries were studied by combining echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization data. Pure volume loading with low left ventricular pressure resulted in little or no thickening of the left ventricular posterior wall (0.52 mm/log month). Pressure loading to levels above half of the right ventricular pressure was associated with thickening (2.80 to 3.89 mm/log month); however, further increase in pressure or volume load did not significantly alter the rate of thickening. Estimates of ventricular wall stress using a simple radius/wall thickness ratio may be misleading. However, if allowance is made for variable ventricular geometry and pressure, estimated wall stress is constant in transposition and is approximately equal to that reported previously in patients with normally related great arteries. The walls of low-pressure left ventricles in patients with transposition are demonstrably thinner than those of high-pressure left ventricles by age 1 to 3 months (2.67 versus 3.52 mm). Surgical procedures to use the left ventricle for systemic work, such as the arterial switch operation, should be performed in the first month of extrauterine life. Preparatory operations, if necessary prior to arterial switch, should load the left ventricle to greater than half systemic pressure.
A new role for the natriuretic peptides: metabolic regulators of the adipocyte.

The heart and adipose tissue are both endocrine organs, and there is increasing evidence for cross talk between them, although precise mechanisms remain poorly defined. Of particular importance is the role that such cross talk could play in both total body metabolism and cardiac metabolism. The
Enhanced strength and ductility of a tungsten-doped CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy

Developing metallic materials with a good combination of strength and ductility has been an unending pursuit of materials scientists. The emergence of high/medium-entropy alloys (HEA/MEA) provided a novel strategy to achieve this. Here, we further strengthened a strong-and-ductile MEA using a traditional solid solution strengthening theory. The selection of solute elements was assisted by mechanical property and microstructure predictive models. Extensive microstructural characterizations and mechanical tests were performed to verify the models and to understand the mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms of the designated CoCrNi–3W alloy. Our results show good experiment-model agreement. The incorporation of 3 at.% W into the ternary CoCrNi matrix increased its intrinsic strength by ∼20%. External strengthening through microstructural refinement led to a yield strength nearly double that of the parent alloy, CoCrNi. The increase in strength is obtained with still good ductility when tested down to 77 K. Nanoscale twin boundaries are observed in the post-fracture microstructure under 77 K. The combination of strength and ductility after W additions deviate from the traditional strength-ductility-trade-off contour.
Output Feedback Trajectory Tracking Control via Uncertainty and Disturbance Estimator

This paper proposes an output feedback trajectory tracking control based on the uncertainty and disturbance estimator (UDE) technique. The studied nonlinear system is single-input-single-output (SISO), bounded-input-bounded-output (BIBO), and Lipschitz smooth. The main idea is that the nonlinear system is firstly approximated by a proper first-order linear system plus a lumped uncertainty term, which is estimated and compensated through the UDE. The proposed control technique is modeling-free, and only uses the information of system output and the spectrum of the lumped uncertainty term. It also relaxes the structural constraint in the conventional UDE-based robust control. In order to improve the tracking performance, the internal model principle is adopted in the design of the filter in the UDE. The proposed control design is successfully applied to the position control of a piezoelectric nanopositioning system with hysteresis nonlinearity. The experimental results show that the piezoelectric stage can achieve a fine tracking at 1100Hz, which is 37.93% of the lowest resonant frequency, a significant improvement compared to the commercially available range at 1%–10%.
A NOTE ON VARIANTS OF ZERO FORCING

A small improvement is made to the zero-forcing variants defined by Butler, Grout, and Hall (2015) for matrices with a given number of negative eigenvalues, resulting in a better value for the Barioli-Fallat tree and one negative eigenvalue.
Delay in emergency hernia surgery is associated with worse outcomes.

Patients requiring emergent surgery for hernia vary widely in presentation and management. The purpose of this study was to determine if the variation in timing of urgent surgery impacts surgical outcomes. The national NSQIP database for years 2011–2016 was queried for emergent surgeries for abdominal hernia resulting in obstruction or gangrene by primary post-op diagnosis. Diaphragmatic hernias were excluded. Patients were grouped by surgical timing from admission to day of surgery: same day, next day, and longer delay. Multinomial propensity score weighting was used to address potential differences in underlying covariates’ clustering across the timing groups followed by multivariable logistic regression of morbidity and mortality. Weighted analysis yielded an effective sample size of 76,364. Hernia types included inguinal (20.9%); femoral (6.7%); umbilical (20.2%); ventral (41.0%); and other (10.4%). Delayed surgery was associated with increased rates of major complications (26.4% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.001), longer operative times (+ 12.5 min, p < 0.001), longer postoperative lengths of stay (+ 1.6 days, p < 0.001), increased re-operations (5.9% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.019), increased readmissions (7.0% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.004), and increased 30-day mortality (2.4% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.002). When controlling for other factors, next-day surgery (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05–1.45, p = 0.009) and surgery delayed more than one day (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13–1.73, p < 0.002) were associated with an increased odds of a major complication. Mortality and readmission by timing of surgery were not independently significant. Delay in surgery for emergent hernias increased the odds of major morbidity but not mortality. Patients presenting with hernia and an indication for urgent surgical intervention may benefit from an operation as soon as feasible rather than warrant waiting for further physiologic optimization, medical clearance, or specialized surgical personnel.
Temporal Changes in the Areal Coverage of Daily Extreme Precipitation in the Northeastern United States Using High Resolution Gridded Data

AbstractTime-dependent changes in extreme precipitation occurrence across the northeastern United States are evaluated in terms of areal extent. Using gridded precipitation data for the period from...
Impedance Response Extrapolation of Power Delivery Networks using Recurrent Neural Networks

Often times the impedance response of a power delivery network needs to be extrapolated to determine if any resonances occur in the vicinity or outside of the band-limited response provided. If the circuit models are unavailable, this can become a cumbersome exercise. We propose a machine learning aided method using long short term memory recurrent neural networks to extrapolate the response in frequency thereby avoiding extensive simulations and saving computational time as opposed to EM solvers. Results show that the accuracy in the prediction is good with a mean square error of 0.008.
Positive Allosteric Modulation of CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Signaling Enhances Morphine Antinociception and Attenuates Morphine Tolerance Without Enhancing Morphine- Induced Dependence or Reward.

Opioid analgesics represent a critical treatment for chronic pain in the analgesic ladder of the World Health Organization. However, their use can result in a number of unwanted side-effects including incomplete efficacy, constipation, physical dependence, and overdose liability. Cannabinoids enhance the pain-relieving effects of opioids in preclinical studies and dampen unwanted side-effects resulting from excessive opioid intake. We recently reported that a CB1 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) exhibits antinociceptive efficacy in models of pathological pain and lacks the adverse side effects of direct CB1 receptor activation. In the present study, we evaluated whether a CB1 PAM would enhance morphine's therapeutic efficacy in an animal model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain and characterized its impact on unwanted side-effects associated with chronic opioid administration. In paclitaxel-treated mice, both the CB1 PAM GAT211 and the opioid analgesic morphine reduced paclitaxel-induced behavioral hypersensitivities to mechanical and cold stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. Isobolographic analysis revealed that combinations of GAT211 and morphine resulted in anti-allodynic synergism. In paclitaxel-treated mice, a sub-threshold dose of GAT211 prevented the development of tolerance to the anti-allodynic effects of morphine over 20 days of once daily dosing. However, GAT211 did not reliably alter somatic withdrawal signs (i.e., jumps, paw tremors) in morphine-dependent neuropathic mice challenged with naloxone. In otherwise naive mice, GAT211 also prolonged antinociceptive efficacy of morphine in the tail-flick test and reduced the overall right-ward shift in the ED50 for morphine to produce antinociception in the tail-flick test, consistent with attenuation of morphine tolerance. Pretreatment with GAT211 did not alter somatic signs of μ opioid receptor dependence in mice rendered dependent upon morphine via subcutaneous implantation of a morphine pellet. Moreover, GAT211 did not reliably alter μ-opioid receptor-mediated reward as measured by conditioned place preference to morphine. Our results suggest that a CB1 PAM may be beneficial in enhancing and prolonging the therapeutic properties of opioids while potentially sparing unwanted side-effects (e.g., tolerance) that occur with repeated opioid treatment.
Impact of menthol delivery methods on smoker sensoryperceptions

INTRODUCTION Menthol can be added to cigarettes in several ways; these different delivery methods of menthol may lead to changes in sensory attributes, as well as perceived risk and appeal of these products. METHODS Using a randomized, controlled study design, 18 current, established menthol smokers were asked to sample Camel Crush and Camel Menthol cigarette products, crushed and uncrushed. Smoking behavior, exhaled carbon monoxide, subjective ratings, and perceived risk measures were assessed for each product. RESULTS Cigarette Evaluation Scale relief of craving scores for participants' preferred brand (mean: 5.3, SE: 0.3) were significantly higher (p=0.012) than Camel Menthol crushed (mean: 4.6, SE: 0.3) as were the Sensory Scale satisfaction scores (preferred brand mean: 6.9, SE: 0.7 compared to Camel Menthol crushed mean: 5.1, SE: 0.6; p=0.004). In addition, the average Sensory Scale smoke strength scores for participants' preferred brand (mean: 6.9, SE: 0.5) was also significantly higher than Camel Crush crushed (mean: 5.0, SE: 0.5; p=0.022). There were no significant differences in smoking topography measures, CO boosts, or perceived risk between Camel Crush or Camel Menthol products. CONCLUSIONS The delivery method and amount of menthol present in cigarettes did not appear to affect short-term smoking behavior, sensory perceptions, or perceived product risk among a small sample of current established adult menthol smokers. It is possible that consumers of cigarette products may be attracted to the innovative technology of the crushable filter capsule as opposed to the taste experience, however, further research is needed.
Tetraspanin Scaffold Proteins Function as Key Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are responsible for the development, maintenance, and regeneration of all the blood forming tissues in the body, and as such, are critical for a number of patient therapies. For successful HSPC transplantation, stem cells must traffic through the blood and home to the bone marrow microenvironment or “niche”, which is composed of soluble factors, matrix proteins, and supportive cells. HSPC adhesion to, and signaling with, cellular and extracellular components of the niche provide instructional cues to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. In this review we will explore the regulation of these stem cell properties with a focus on the tetraspanin family of membrane proteins. Tetraspanins are molecular scaffolds that uniquely function to distribute proteins into highly organized microdomains comprising adhesion, signaling, and adaptor proteins. As such, tetraspanins contribute to many aspects of cell physiology as mediators of cell adhesion, trafficking, and signaling. We will summarize the many reports that identify tetraspanins as markers of specific HSPC populations. Moreover, we will discuss the various studies establishing the functional importance of tetraspanins in the regulation of essential HSPC processes including quiescence, migration and niche adhesion. When taken together, studies outlined in this review suggest that several tetraspanins may serve as potential targets to modulate HSPC interactions with the bone marrow niche, ultimately impacting future HSPC therapies.
Associations of childhood executive control with adolescent cigarette and E-cigarette use: Tests of moderation by poverty level.

Abstract Background Adolescent cigarette smoking has continued to decline, whereas electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased dramatically among youth. Nicotine use in any form, even at low levels, during adolescence can have adverse consequences, particularly for low-income individuals. To elucidate potential early intervention targets, this study examined childhood executive control (EC), a set of cognitive processes for directing attention and behavior, in relation to adolescent cigarette and e-cigarette onset, testing for differential prediction by poverty level. Method Participants were 313 children (51% female, 64% European American) recruited in a small city in the Midwestern United States beginning in 2006 and then followed into adolescence between ages 14 and 16 years. EC was measured in the laboratory with performance-based tasks when children were age 5 years, 3 months. Self-reports of cigarette onset and e-cigarette onset were obtained in adolescence (Mage = 15.65 years). Overall, 24% of the sample was at or below the poverty line. Results Cigarette onset was higher in the poverty group (17%) than in the non-poverty (8%) group, but e-cigarette onset did not differ by poverty level (36% poverty versus 38% non-poverty). Multiple group structural equation modeling revealed a statistically significant group difference such that EC ability was a significant negative predictor of e-cigarette onset for poverty but not for non-poverty youth. A similar group difference was evident as a trend for cigarette onset. Conclusions Because EC has been shown to be modifiable, early interventions to improve EC for children living in poverty might help prevent adolescent e-cigarette onset.
Property Law for the Ages

Within the next 40 years, the number of Americans over age 65 is projected to nearly double. This seismic demographic shift will necessitate a reckoning in a number of areas of law and policy, but property law is especially unprepared. Built primarily for young and middle-aged white men, the common law of property has been critiqued for decades for the ways in which it oppresses or simply leaves behind people based on their race, sex, Native heritage, and more. This Article contributes a new focus on property law’s treatment of people based on their advanced age. Burdened by higher relocation costs, more inelastic incomes, and shorter time horizons than those faced by younger people, elderly people encounter a doctrine that often fails to protect their interests. This Article explores five areas of property law and evaluates how each fits—or, more frequently, fails to fit—the characteristics of many older subjects. From the law of takings to the law of waste, and from tenant protections to homeowners associations, not only is the law a poor fit, but the consequences for the health, safety, finances, and well-being of elderly people are often dramatic. At the same time, one of the rare significant efforts made thus far to protect older people from some of these consequences—the Fair Housing Act’s protection for age-restricted communities—has generated new inequities of its own that raise important questions about competing civil rights priorities. Accordingly mindful of the dangers of over-correction, this Article offers institutional reforms in each area aimed to better protect the interests of older people without unduly infringing upon those of others.
Evolutionary tuning of a key helix drove androgen selectivity

The genetic and biophysical mechanisms by which new protein functions evolve are central concerns in evolutionary biology and molecular evolution. Despite much speculation, we know little about how protein function evolves. Here, we use ancestral proteins to trace the evolutionary history of ligand recognition in a sub-class of steroid receptors (SRs), an ancient family of ligand-regulated transcription factors that enable long-range cellular communication central to multicellular life. The most ancestral members of this family display promiscuous ligand binding due to their large ligand binding pockets, while more recently evolved SRs tend to have smaller cavities. Less obvious, however, are the forces driving the selectivity of highly similar ligands. A key example is the divergence between the progesterone and androgen receptors (PR, AR), which display a high degree of sequence similarity and yet display differential ligand preferences. This work uses the ancestral steroid receptor 2 (AncSR2), the common ancestor of all 3-ketosteroids and the ancestral androgen receptor 1 (AncAR1), the seminal androgen receptor, to explore the biophysical mechanisms that drove the evolution of androgen specificity. We determine that ligand specificity in androgen receptors is driven by changes in the conformational dynamics of the receptor as well as altered binding pocket interactions, with helix 10 (H10) playing a critical role in tuning ligand specificity.
Nationwide Trends in Catheter-Directed Therapy Utilization for the Treatment of Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis in Medicare Beneficiaries

Abstract Purpose To determine overall and provider specialty trends in the use of catheter-directed therapy for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) treatment in the Medicare population. Materials and Methods Using data obtained from 2007–2017 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5% research identifiable files, all claims associated with acute and chronic lower extremity DVT were identified. The annual volume of 2 services—venous percutaneous transluminal thrombectomy (current procedural terminology [CPT] code 37187) and venous infusion for thrombolysis (CPT code 37201 from 2007 to 2012 and CPT code 37212 from 2013 to 2017)—was examined for trends in DVT intervention. Utilization rates based on region and the place of service were calculated. The results were further categorized based on primary operator type (radiology, cardiology, surgery, and other). Results The total number of DVT interventions increased over time, with 4.27 service counts per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2007 increasing to 13.4 by 2017, a growth rate of 12.09%. Radiologists performed the majority of interventions each year, except in 2013, in which they performed 46.6% of interventions, whereas surgeons and cardiologists combined performed the other 53.4%. In 2017, radiologists performed 7.56 services per 100,000 beneficiaries, which was 56.8% of the total count, more than those performed by surgeons, cardiologists, and unspecified providers combined. Conclusions Catheter-directed therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of DVT, with its use undergoing a nearly 12-fold increase from 2007 to 2017 in the Medicare population. Radiologists remained the dominant provider of these services throughout the majority of study period, with a relative reduction in market share from 72% in 2007 to 57% in 2017.
Spending and Utilization on Drugs Prescribed by Otolaryngologists to Medicare Beneficiaries, 2013 to 2017.

OBJECTIVES The significant and rising cost of prescription drugs is a pressing concern for patients and payers. However, little is known about spending on and utilization of drugs prescribed by otolaryngologists. METHODS Utilizing publicly available Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use data, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 34 small-molecule drugs commonly prescribed by otolaryngologists (defined as 2017 Medicare Part D spending ≥$500 000) to Medicare beneficiaries. Prescription data was characterized by drug type (brand name vs generic). Primary outcomes for each prescription drug included the total annual cost and the total annual number of days supplied. RESULTS From 2013 to 2017, spending on drugs prescribed by otolaryngologists to Medicare beneficiaries decreased by $32.1 million ($131.7-$99.5 million; relative decrease 24.4%; compound annual growth rate [CAGR] -5.4%), while total utilization increased by 24.9 million days supplied (74.6-99.5 million; relative increase 33.3%; CAGR 5.9%). For brand name drugs, there was a decrease in spending ($71.1-$26.7 million; relative decrease -62.4%; CAGR -17.8%) and utilization (11.2-3.1 million days supplied; relative decrease -72.5%; CAGR -22.8%). In contrast, generic drugs demonstrated increased spending ($60.6-$72.8 million; relative increase 20.2%; CAGR 3.7%) and utilization (63.5-96.4 million days supplied; relative increase 51.9%; CAGR 8.7%). CONCLUSIONS Spending on drugs prescribed by otolaryngologists to Medicare Part D beneficiaries declined between 2013 and 2017 in part due to a transition from brand name drugs to lower-cost generic equivalents.
Fresh Mango Consumption Promotes Greater Satiety and Improves Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses in Healthy Overweight and Obese Adults.

Mangos are an understudied fruit rich in fiber and polyphenols that have been linked to better metabolic outcomes and promotion of satiety. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ma...
Handbook of spatial point-pattern analysis in ecology

The Handbook of Spatial Point-Pattern Analysis in Ecology by Thorsten Wiegand and Kirk A. Moloney is an excellent, modern and detailed overview of the methods and approaches for analyzing location ...
Characterizing discrete event timing relationships for fault monitoring of manufacturing systems

The timing and sequencing relationships of changes (events) in discrete sensors and actuators can be used to determine whether a manufacturing system is operating as expected. In this paper, we present a method of learning inter-event timing relationships using observations from a correctly operating system. The observed sample statistics characteristic of correct system operation are used to create a confidence space of possible timing relationships (acceptable delay intervals) of the underlying system. Given a relative cost of false alarms vs. missed detections, the timing relationships can be chosen to minimize the worst case total of the false alarm and missed detection costs over the confidence space.
Plzf regulates limb and axial skeletal patterning

The promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (Plzf) protein (encoded by the gene Zfp145) belongs to the POZ/zinc-finger family of transcription factors. Here we generate Zfp145−/− mice and show that Plzf is essential for patterning of the limb and axial skeleton. Plzf inactivation results in patterning defects affecting all skeletal structures of the limb, including homeotic transformations of anterior skeletal elements into posterior structures. We demonstrate that Plzf acts as a growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic factor in the limb bud. The expression of members of the abdominal b (Abdb) Hox gene complex, as well as genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps), is altered in the developing limb of Zfp145−/− mice. Plzf regulates the expression of these genes in the absence of aberrant polarizing activity and independently of known patterning genes. Zfp145−/− mice also exhibit anterior-directed homeotic transformation throughout the axial skeleton with associated alterations in Hox gene expression. Plzf is therefore a mediator of anterior-to-posterior (AP) patterning in both the axial and appendicular skeleton and acts as a regulator of Hox gene expression.
Resolving Differences in Willingness to Pay and Willingness to Accept: Reply

Gwendolyn C. Morrison (1997) raises a logical point regarding our experimental test of the divergence between willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept (WTA) measures of economic value (Shogren et al., 1994). She argues that our design does not provide a true test of the existence of a fundamental endowment effect since we did not control for the potential of a pivoting indifference map (Daniel Kahneman et al., 1990). She concludes that even though our ev- idence shows that the mean WTP and WTA bids for market goods with close substitutes (e.g., candy bars and coffee mugs) converge after market experience, the endowment effect might still be alive and well, albeit at statisti- cally insignificant levels
Effect of anoxia during labor and immediately after birth on the subsequent development of the child

Abstract Out of a group of more than 40,000 births, children were selected who showed the most severe anoxia at birth. They were compared with a group of children with normal spontaneous delivery and spontaneous respiration and with their sibling controls who suffered no difficulty at birth. The ages ranged from 3 to 19 years. Psychological, neurological, and physical examinations were conducted on the children. Data from the medical records were tabulated and a psychiatric case history obtained on each child. The results show that severe anoxia may have deleterious effects in later life. There is a greater incidence of feeblemindedness as indicated by intelligence tests among the anoxic children (20 per cent as compared with 2.5 per cent of the controls), a greater incidence of pronounced electroencephalographic abnormalities (36 per cent in the anoxic group but none in the controls), and a greater persistence of infantile habits (63 per cent in the anoxic group and 26 per cent in the controls). There were no differences on the Bender-Gestalt, figure completion, average intelligence quotient, illusions, ambiguous figures of the organic tests, and laterality tests, on the neurological and medical findings, on neuropsychiatric disorders such as delayed walking, delayed talking, eneuresis, infantile speech, neuromuscular disorders, and mental retardation as measured from the scholastic placement of the patient. Not only are generalized signs of dysfunction between the two groups not consistently present, but the majority of the children in the anoxic group remain relatively unaffected by the severe birth conditions. Many of the children in the anoxic group were of superior ability. As a consequence of the instances of relatively severe changes in some of the anoxic children, the anoxic population is more variable than a similar control group. This factor may minimize statistically significant differences when group comparisons are made. The results also contradict the reports by some investigators that anoxia produces a generalized lowering of functions in the group as a whole rather than producing deleterious effects in isolated instances.
Influence of pinniped-caused injuries on the survival of adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Columbia River basin

Increasing pinniped abundance in the Pacific Northwest has coincided with population declines of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and concentrated predation may affect the recovery of some threatened and endangered salmonid stocks. We used radiotelemetry to evaluate pinniped-caused injury effects on migration survival of 17 007 adult Columbia River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead trout. Injuries from pinnipeds were common (mean injury rate across 29 run-years = 36.5%) and were most common for spring Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Injury was not consistently associated with adult survival to spawning tributaries, but some negative survival effects were detected. Pinniped-caused injury rates decreased as annual run sizes increased, indicating density-dependent or saturation effects. Within a run, large fish generally had a higher injury incidence than small fish, suggesting pinnipeds targeted large fish or more efficiently captured sm...
ION-EXCHANGE PROPERTIES FOR Na+ AND K+ ON A SERIES OF α-MnO2 ION EXCHANGERS

ABSTRACT Ion-exchange properties on a series of α-type manganese oxides were examined. The manganese oxide materials were obtained by calcining mixtures of manganese carbonate and potassium t-butoxide, with changing their starting mixing ratio. The materials have various features (crystallinity, water content, etc.) depending on the mixing ratio. The materials behaved as solid acids, and Kielland's plots indicated their interesting ion-exchange properties. The ion-exchange properties of most of the materials are shown to be converging at infinitesimal exchange in Kielland's plots, to about -3.5 for sodium-ion-exchange and about +3.4 for potassium-ion-exchange. The peculiar ion-exchange property at the ‘ideal’ condition was suggested due to the materials with the common crystal structure. The Gibbs free energy of this reaction at the ‘ideal’ condition is estimated 20.3 [kJ/mol] and -19.7 [kJ/mol] for sodium-ion-exchange and potassium-on-exchange. On the other hand, the variety of the ion-exchange property ...
In Vitro Effect of Lithium on Carbamazepine-Induced Inhibition of Murine and Human Bone Marrow-Derived Granulocyte-Macrophage, Erythroid, and Megakaryocyte Progenitor Stem Cells

Lithium (Li) is a known agent capable of producing leukocytosis, first observed in manic depressive patients receiving Li as therapy; however, a certain percentage of cases are nonresponsive to Li therapy. These patients are responsive to carbamazepine (CBZ); however, severe hematopoietic side effects have been associated with CBZ treatment such as leukopenia. We report here the results of dose-response studies (0.1-100 micrograms/ml) that demonstrate CBZ treatment inhibits both murine and human bone marrow-derived granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), erythroid (BFU-E), and megakaryocyte progenitor (CFU-Meg) cells. The addition of Li prior to and simultaneously with CBZ to marrow cultures was effective in reversing the CBZ-induced toxicity only in the presence of an optimal Li dose (1.0 mM) known to stimulate bone marrow function. However, when the addition of Li was delayed 24 hr to CBZ-treated cultures no protective effect was observed for any marrow progenitor. Thus, the time of Li-CBZ exposure is critical to observe the protective effect of Li. These results demonstrate that the leukopenia associated with CBZ treatment may be due to the ability of CBZ to inhibit marrow progenitor cells and suggest Li may be an effective agent to reverse the marrow toxic effects of CBZ.
Database for dismantling of obsolete vessels

This paper describes a database tool for Dismantling of Obsolete Vessels (DOVE). DOVE 1.0 consists of three databases: a) The Obsolete Vessels Database (OVD), b) The Metals and Alloys Database (MAD), and c) The Cutting Technology Database (CTD). The OVD provides information on ship name, type, year built, number, status, light displacement, length, beam, changes made, dead weight, number of propellers, propulsion type, and vessel location. The MAD provides information on several metals and alloys and the CTD has information on cutting technologies, decontamination technologies, and waste processing methodologies. DOVE 1.0 runs on an IBM compatible personal computer and was implemented in Visual Basic 6.0 using Microsoft Access as the database.
Geriatrics consultation in the acute care institution: A combined experience in both the medical and psychiatric hospital

Forty-eight consecutive consultations to a Geriatrics Consultation Service located within a tertiary medical center were reviewed. Medical (56%) and psychiatric (27%) services were the major sources of referrals. Mean age of patients seen was 76.6 ± 1.5 years. Forty-three new problems were identified by the consultation team. Of the 167 recommendations made, 84 percent were followed by the Primary Health Care Team. It was common for the consult team to discover several previously unlisted problems which were at least as important as the original reason for consultation. A geriatrics consultation team can play a significant role in patient management as well as education regarding the specific needs and problems of the elderly.
Hormone receptors and sexuality in the human female.

There is only inferential evidence based on observational studies and deductive reasoning that allows us to suppose there are hormone receptors in the human brain that are associated with libido. Data indicate that sexually active pubescent women have higher testosterone levels than matched controls. However, any number of nonhormonal events in puberty could be related to these changes. Another circuitous way to look at hormone libido receptors in the brain is by evaluating patients on birth control pills, in whom sexual activity paradoxically decreases. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels are increased, and, therefore, free testosterone levels seem to be affected by the use of birth control pills. In addition, the progestins in the pill are 19-nortestosterone derivatives, which may have some androgenic effect in their own right. Women on estrogen replacement therapy with the addition of testosterone seem to report increased libido, and there is subjective information that there is an increase in p...
Mitral leaflet dynamics in ischemic mitral regurgitation using high resolution MRI

Background Leaflet malcoaptation in ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is thought to be caused by a combination of annular dilatation and leaflet tethering due to subvalvular ventricular remodeling. Despite this, little is known regarding leaflet dynamics in IMR. Using high temporal resolution MRI we describe, for the first time, the influence of post infarction ventricular remodeling on leaflet motion.
Open Source Evolution Analysis

Source code analysis is important for software management. It enables us recognize strengths and weaknesses in our earlier projects or releases. We developed a source code analysis tool. This tool gathers several metrics from C/C++, C# or Java source codes. In this paper, we will use the tool to analyze some of the open source code projects. We will study the selected projects release evolutions and compare some characteristics between the same project releases, as well as among different projects. Different programming language code and development styles will be studied through those open source projects.
Aberrent regeneration in carcinogen-treated earthworms (Eisenia foetida)†

Groups of earthworms (Eisenia foetida) were injected either with 1% methyleholanthrene (MCA), 0.5% 7–12, Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) or 3 × 10−4 mg of N-methyl-N-nitrosoguanadine (NMNG), After one week, the posterior ten segments were removed from all worms. Twenty-five days after amputation the mumber of regenerated segments were counted. A statistically significant overgrowth of segments occurred in MCA-treated worms as compared to controls. DMBA treatment failed to alter the mumber of regenerating segments and worms treated with NMNG had statistically fewer regenerating segments than controls. An overgrowth of segments also occurred in certain groups of vehicle-injected control worms. The groups receiving oil-based vehicles had significantly greater growth than Hank's Balanced Salt Solution injected controls. A new theory of the mechanism of regeneration is offered to explain the seemingly paradoxical results.
Beyond New and Appropriate: Who Decides What Is Creative?

The Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT) is a common creativity assessment. According to this technique, the best judges of creativity are qualified experts. Yet what does it mean to be an expert in a domain? What level of expertise is needed to rate creativity? This article reviews the literature on novice, expert, and quasi-expert creativity ratings. Although current research indicates that novices may be poor choices to be CAT raters, quasi-experts may represent a compromise between ideal scientific rigor and practical time and budget restrictions. Certain guidelines are suggested to make the selection of experts more streamlined, including paying attention to which domain is being assessed.