cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relation of pectus excavatum to heart disease

Abstract 1.1. Pectus excavatum is a congenital thoracic deformity which, in moderate and severe cases, may result in profound disturbances of cardiorespiratory physiology. 2.2. The radiographs of the chest in this condition indicate cardiac displacement, impingement, and rotation. 3.3. The electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic findings are the result of cardiac rotation and do not reveal any evidence of intraventricular conduction defect or myocardial damage. The rSr′ or rSR′ pattern observed in V 1 is a variation of normal and does not indicate incomplete right bundle branch block. 4.4. Cardiac catheterization in one of the symptomatic adults was of great interest in that a normal cardiac output was observed at rest. After ten minutes of standard exercise, a definite fall in cardiac output was recorded, with only a minimal rise in pulmonary artery pressure. 5.5. The mechanisms responsible for cardiac disability in this condition are thought to result from 5.1.a. a decreased return of blood to the right heart, 5.2.b. cardiac arrhythmias secondary to atrial impingement, 5.3.c. restriction of expansion of the heart, and 5.4.d. a decrease in respiratory reserve. 6.6. This deformity can be corrected satisfactorily by operation with good physiologic and cosmetic results.
Effectiveness and morbidity associated with reirradiation in conservative salvage management of recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma.

Purpose The management of isolated local recurrence of soft-tissue sarcoma is therapeutically complex, and functional conservative management is preferable to radical or amputative salvage surgery. This study reviews the University of Florida experience using conservative resection and reirradiation to manage isolated local recurrences of soft-tissue sarcoma. Methods and Materials Between 1976 and 2005, a total of 14 patients who underwent primary conservative resection and irradiation developed isolated local recurrence and were managed with salvage conservative resection and reirradiation. Of the patients treated, 3 had tumors of the distal extremity, 8 had tumors of the proximal extremity, and 3 had tumors of the trunk. At the time of recurrence, 64% of tumors were greater than 5 cm and 79% were high grade. In combination with gross total resection, 13 of 14 patients received external beam radiotherapy with or without brachytherapy, and 1 patient was treated with brachytherapy alone. Two patients received chemotherapy. Results The median follow-up was 30 months, and no living patients were lost during follow-up. From retreatment, the 5-year actuarial overall survival, cause-specific survival, and local control rates were 40%, 40%, and 18% respectively. There was a 50% incidence of serious complication requiring either reoperation or leading to permanent functional impairment. Of the 14 patients, only 1 has remained disease free and without significant complications. No treatment factors, including achieving wide surgical margins or delivering higher radiation dosages, seemed to confer an advantage in local control. Conclusions Salvage therapy for management of locally recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma is challenging, and the effects of reoperation and reirradiation can be severe.
A topographically forced asymmetry in the martian circulation and climate

Large seasonal and hemispheric asymmetries in the martian climate system are generally ascribed to variations in solar heating associated with orbital eccentricity. As the orbital elements slowly change (over a period of >10^4 years), characteristics of the climate such as dustiness and the vigour of atmospheric circulation are thought to vary, as should asymmetries in the climate (for example, the deposition of water ice at the northern versus the southern pole). Such orbitally driven climate change might be responsible for the observed layering in Mars' polar deposits by modulating deposition of dust and water ice. Most current theories assume that climate asymmetries completely reverse as the angular distance between equinox and perihelion changes by 180°. Here we describe a major climate mechanism that will not precess in this way. We show that Mars' global north–south elevation difference forces a dominant southern summer Hadley circulation that is independent of perihelion timing. The Hadley circulation, a tropical overturning cell responsible for trade winds, largely controls interhemispheric transport of water and the bulk dustiness of the atmosphere. The topography therefore imprints a strong handedness on climate, with water ice and the active formation of polar layered deposits more likely in the north.
Removal of Encroaching Conifers to Regenerate Degraded Aspen Stands in the Sierra Nevada

Aspen is considered a keystone species, and aspen communities are critical for maintaining biodiversity in western landscapes. Inventories of aspen stand health across the Eagle Lake Ranger District (ELRD), Lassen National Forest, California, U.S.A., indicate that 77% of stands are in decline and at risk of loss as defined by almost complete loss of mature aspen with little or no regeneration. This decline is due to competition from conifers establishing within aspen stands as a result of modification of natural fire regimes coupled with excessive browsing by livestock. Restoration treatments were implemented in four aspen stands in 1999 using mechanical equipment to remove competing conifers to enhance the growth environment for aspen. Recruitment and establishment of aspen stems were measured in treated stands (removal of competing conifers) and non-treated stands (control) immediately prior to treatment and 2 and 4 years post-treatment. There was a significant increase in total aspen stem density and in two of three aspen regeneration size classes for treated stands compared to controls. Pre-treatment total aspen density was positively associated with total aspen density and density in all size classes of aspen (p < 0.001). The results demonstrate that mechanical removal of conifers is an effective treatment for restoring aspen.
Making Things Quantitative

Quantification is not merely a strategy for describing the social and natural worlds, but a means of reconfiguring them. It entails the imposition of new meanings and the disappearance of old ones. Often it is allied to systems of experimental or administrative control, and in fact considerable feats of human organization are generally required even to create stable, reasonably standardized measures. This essay urges that the uses of quantification in science, social science, and bureaucratic social and economic policy are analogous in important ways to accountancy.
Interferometric modulators linearized to arbitrary order

When designing optical modulators it is generally desired to obtain a linear relationship between the applied voltage V and the output light intensity I, or output field E. Using the Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a basic component, designs have been found which are free from harmonic distortion up to the fifth order. We introduce a novel interferometric architecture which in principle allows us to suppress the generation of harmonics to any arbitrary order. We will prove this theoretically for either intensity, or field amplitude modulation, and we will provide explicit procedures for calculating the optical parameters.
Testing Existing Classifications of Serial Murder Considering Gender: An Exploratory Analysis of Solo Female Serial Murderers

Serial murder is a genre of crime that has received a great deal of media and academic attention, yet, serial murder committed by women has only begun to garner a portion of this attention within the last 15 years. This study examines the reliability of Kelleher and Kelleher's classification rubric, the only classification system developed for female serial murderers, as well as considering Hickey's classification of serial offenders by location. Other variables associated with homicide research have also been examined to determine their roles in both these crimes and classifying offenders. The current research will demonstrate that offender motivation is not an ideal basis for the classification of female serial murderers, who tend to defy simple or singular classification within existing typologies. The other variables analysed indicate that victim–offender relationship and victim approach are important to understanding these female offenders and their crimes, as well as the possible development of more accurate classification systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of the Natural Periods of Shear Wall-Frame Structures

In this paper, an approximate solution of the natural periods of a wall-frame structure is presented.The wall-frame structure is modeled as an equivalent continuum structure consisting of a cantilever beam withspring supported at another end. To simplify the analysis, the lateral stiffness of shear wall is considered to beequivalent to bending stiffness of equivalent cantilever beam. Similarly, the lateral stiffness of frame and theaxial stiffness of columns are equivalent to the spring constant. The lateral free vibration problem of the modelwas then solved. Simple formula is given to calculate the fundamental period of vibration of the buildingstructure. The applicability and accuracy of the method was demonstrated by a numerical example, in whichthe approximate solution is compared to a 3-D finite element model of a 30-story wall-frame building.
A Technique for Placement of Calcium Hydroxide in the Root Canal System

The rationale and technique that promote a predictable clinical result in calcium hydroxide treatment of open apexes are described; biologic and physiologic advantages are discussed.
Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care.

OBJECTIVES: Racial/ethnic disparities in health in the U.S. have been well described. The field of "cultural competence" has emerged as one strategy to address these disparities. Based on a review of the relevant literature, the authors develop a definition of cultural competence, identify key components for intervention, and describe a practical framework for implementation of measures to address racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. METHODS: The authors conducted a literature review of academic, foundation, and government publications focusing on sociocultural barriers to care, the level of the health care system at which a given barrier occurs, and cultural competence efforts that address these barriers. RESULTS: Sociocultural barriers to care were identified at the organizational (leadership/workforce), structural (processes of care), and clinical (provider-patient encounter) levels. A framework of cultural competence interventions--including minority recruitment into the health professions, development of interpreter services and language-appropriate health educational materials, and provider education on cross-cultural issues--emerged to categorize strategies to address racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic changes anticipated over the next decade magnify the importance of addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. A framework of organizational, structural, and clinical cultural competence interventions can facilitate the elimination of these disparities and improve care for all Americans.
The role of temperature on the growth and survival of early and late hatching Pacific cod larvae (Gadus macrocephalus)

Fish larvae hatch asynchronously from egg batches despite experiencing a common environment during their development. The consequences for growth and survival of early and late hatching larvae were examined in pre-feeding Pacific cod larvae under varying temperatures (i.e. 0-8°C) in the laboratory. As expected, time-to-first hatch and variation in time-to-hatch were negatively correlated with temperature. Larvae successfully hatched in the 0°C treatment, but hatch rates were poorer at this temperature relative to other temperature treatments. Size-at-hatch and the maximum size achieved during the pre-feeding larval stage were highest in the 0-4°C treatments, indicating that these temperatures are likely optimal for the conversion of endogenous resources to growth. At all temperatures, early hatching larvae were smaller but had more lipid reserves and survived longer after hatch in the absence of food than late hatching larvae. Together these data suggest that temperature fluctuations in the North Pacific have direct potential to impact the size, growth and endogenous reserves of Pacific cod larvae, which in turn, will likely influence survival through interactions with the prey and predator field.
Guidelines for sedation by nonanesthesiologists during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

The increasing use of sedation to enhance patient comfort during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has been noted by the Joint Commission of Accredited Healthcare Organizations, specialty societies, and the public. Although anesthesiologists, by virtue of training and experience, possess unique qualifications to provide such sedation services, their availability remains somewhat limited by primary commitments to the operating room, intensive care unit, or pain service. The Risk Management Committee of the Department of Anaesthesia of Harvard Medical School has made specific recommendations to the Harvard-affiliated hospitals for anesthesiologists who participate in institutional-level committees in setting guidelines for such services when they are provided by nonanesthesiologists. Specific consideration is given to facilities, backup emergency services, equipment, education and training, issues of informed consent, documentation, and release of patients from medical care. These recommendations emphasize the collaboration of the department of anesthesia and other departments that provide sedation services in formulating policies and procedures that reflect values intrinsic to the practice of anesthesiology.
Partners in Learning: A Grounded Theory Study of Relational Practice between Master’s Students and Professors

Meaningful academic relationships between adult master’s students and their professors can both deepen students’ learning and serve as a regenerating force for professors. This study employed grounded theory methods to explore the question, “What goes on in relational practice between master’s students and professors?” I interviewed 10 matched pairs of recent alumni and professors who identified as having “a meaningful academic relationship”. Dimensional analysis surfaced two core dimensions: reconstructing and regenerating. In reconstructing, the students’ core dimension reveals the student experience of reconstructing, or understanding more deeply, theory or one’s self. In the case of regenerating, the professor’s core dimension identifies the professors’ experience of “giving back” through their teaching and extending their professional reach by training others. These experiences serve to reinvigorate professors over the course of their careers. In addition, findings in this study resonate with sensiti...
Development of fibrin-based tissue engineered vessels

Tissue-engineered vessels (TEVs) are being developed to supplement the short supply of available autologous vascular grafts. Biocompatibility, culture time, medium composition, culture conditions and scaffold material all influence development of a site appropriate, functional vessel with adequate mechanical strength. We developed a small-diameter TEV by mixing ovine vascular smooth muscle cells (OVSMC) into a fibrin gel that is molded around a silastic tube. The degradation rate of the fibrin gel was controlled through the addition of aprotinin in the culture medium. The molded fibrin gel was exposed to either static or pulsed condition, which applies a 5-10% distention of the inner lumen. Results show that after only 7 days of culture a reactive vessel that constricts to KCl and norepinepherine and dilates to SNAP and isoproterenol was created. The concentration of aprotinin, the time of aprotinin addition and pulsation significantly influenced the properties of engineered tissues such as weight, strength, thickness of vessel walls and contractibility to KCl, norepinephrine and U46619. These results may have important implications in tissue engineering of small diameter vessels.
Indirect activation of blood coagulation in colon cancer.

Abstract Systemic activation of the coagulation mechanism is known to exist in patients with colon cancer. The mechanism of such activation was investigated using immunohistochemical techniques applied to fresh frozen sections of resected primary colon cancer specimens. Tumor cells stained for tissue factor, factor V, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Perivascular and intercellular areas stained for fibrinogen and the "a" subunit of factor XIII. Staining was minimal or absent for protein C, protein S, plasminogen activator inhibitors 1-3, factor VII, factor X, and fibrin (the antigenic site on the amino-terminal portion of B beta chain that is exposed following thrombin cleavage of fibrinopeptide B was not detected). The lack of an intact thrombin-generating pathway in situ associated with viable colon cancer cells is consistent with the findings of others that coagulation activation in colon cancer may be triggered by a soluble tumor product that exerts its effect at sites distant from the tumor. These results may explain the absence of clinical responsiveness of colon cancer to antithrombotic drug therapy and may clarify therapeutic strategies for this common tumor.
A Tucker decomposition based approach for topographic functional connectivity state summarization

The brain reconfigures itself continuously in response to different external stimuli. Advances in noninvasive brain activity recording has made it possible to gain insight into the functional brain activity over time. The functional connectivity has been mostly characterized as a static network through linear and nonlinear measures of statistical dependency. However, recent work indicates that functional connectivity is dynamic and this dynamic reconfiguration of connections accounts for various cognitive functions. The goal of this study is to provide a concise summarization of the quasi-stationary functional connectivity network state within a time interval across subjects. We propose to consider the functional connectivity networks constructed by bivariate phase synchrony measure as tensors and use Tucker decomposition to obtain a low-rank approximation to summarize the network. The significant connections within a given network state are obtained through significance testing. Finally, the proposed framework is applied to multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG) data from a study of error processing in the brain to investigate the connectivity patterns during error and correct responses.
Sea-Level Rise and Subsidence Effects on Gulf Coast Archaeological Site Distributions

This article examines the archaeological effects of two major geologic factors, eustatic sea-level rise and land subsidence, on the archaeological site distributions of low-energy coastlines. It describes an inexpensive, quick approach to identify these effects, which exploits the interpretive value of state-maintained archaeological site location files. The application of this approach to the Mississippi Gulf Coast suggests that coastal sites older than roughly 3500 B.P. were submerged or destroyed by eustatic sea-level rise; more recent sites were affected little by this process. Among subsidence factors, endogenic or deep-earth subsidence has had little impact on local site distributions. Exogenic or surficial subsidence processes, however, are sufficient to explain the temporal gradient of tidally inundated marsh sites.
Novel Approach to Hydrogen Production with Suppressed COx Generation from a Model Biomass Feedstock

The alkaline thermal treatment of biomass has recently been proposed as a novel method for producing high purity H2 with suppressed COx formation under moderate reaction conditions (i.e., 523 K and ambient pressure). This technology has a great potential for sustainable bioenergy production because it can handle a wide range of feedstocks including biomass and biogenic wastes with high water content. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the reactions involved, the alkaline thermal treatment of biomass is still poorly understood. In this study, using a model biomass system of glucose, a series of noncatalytic kinetic and mechanistic studies was performed to investigate the effects of reaction temperature and reactant ratios in terms of H2 conversion, purity, and formation rates of H2 as well as gaseous products such as CH4, CO, and CO2. The CO concentration is one of the important factors for the utilization of the product gas because CO is generally poisonous to catalytic systems such as those found in...
How a War Ends A Rational Model Approach

This article discusses the necessary conditions for two countries at war to come to a settlement and explores how domestic and military costs, time preferences and attitudes toward risk affect the timing and the outcome of the peace. It views the termination of war as a process of rational calculations by the participants; unless both sides believe that they can be made better off by a settlement, the war will continue. An important result of this approach is that a reduction of hostilities may reduce the probability of a settlement taking place and thus prolong the war. It is also shown that increasing the probability of winning may not increase the probability of a settlement and that a country which only values the present need not be at a disadvantage in the negotiation.
Design and Fabrication of an Optical-MEMS Sensor

A novel optical-MEMS sensor based on the AlGaAs material system is designed and fabricated. The device consists of micro-beam waveguides butt-coupled with their ends separated by approximately 2 to 4 µm. The device works on the principle that when acoustically driven by an external source, the waveguides misalign, leading to coupling loss. The device design parameters were determined using FEM (Finite Element Method) modeling. The dielectric waveguide beams were designed for single mode propagation at 785 nm and longer wavelengths. A combination of dry and wet etching process followed by precision laser cutting was used to fabricate the suspended beams. Beams ranging from 100 µm to 400 µm with fundamental frequencies of 50 KHz to 200 KHz were successfully fabricated. Initial uncut waveguide test results will be discussed along with the plan for characterizing the devices using an acoustically coupled piezoelectric driver. These devices may be utilized for vibration sensing, or optical intensity modulation.
Neuroinflammation: Surprises from the sanitary engineers

In mammals, microglial cells of the central nervous system are responsible for the normal clearance of dead brain cells. TAM-receptor proteins have now been found to mediate this function. See Letter p.240 Microglial phagocytosis is required for neurogenic niche maintenance and response to central nervous system (CNS) injury. Here Greg Lemke and colleagues show that the TAM receptor kinases Mer and Axl are expressed by microglia and in the adult CNS, and mediate the clearance of apoptotic cells from the neurogenic niche. This work demonstrates that TAM receptors act as controllers of microglial physiology, and are potential targets for therapeutic intervention in CNS disease.
Empathy, meaning, and the doctor-patient relationship.

This paper will discuss the impact of recent changes in the psychiatry knowledge base on our approaches to patient care and education. In the mid-1980’s, I was presenting a workshop at the meeting of psychiatry residency directors which focused on the integration of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatment. I presented a young woman patient who had problems with both severe manic – depressive illness and borderline personality disorder as an illustration of this education issue. The patient was very sensitive to medications, but even during times of stability of her manicdepressive illness, management was difficult. After I presented a videotaped treatment hour, a training director in the audience raised his hand and said, “ I don’t know why you showed this videotape. This woman has manicdepressive illness and needs medication, and that’s that.” I was somewhat speechless at that moment. But the question raised an important point about pharmacotherapy practice.
Structural analysis of RNA backbone using in-line probing.

Abstract To determine the secondary structure characteristics of nucleotides in an RNA polymer.
Quality control program to manage metformin stimulated 18-FDG bowel uptake in PET/CT imaging.

1951 Learning Objectives 1. Review the effect of metformin in the GI tract. 2. Illustrate how metformin induced 18-FDG bowel uptake affects the quality of PET/CT imaging and its interpretation. 3. Describe a quick and simple scheme to monitor bowel uptake useful for a quality improvement program. 4. Illustrate the use of the monitoring scheme within a quality improvement program designed to address the problem of metformin induced bowel activity in 18-FDG PET/CT imaging. Objective: Metformin is an oral hypoglycemic used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Use of metformin is associated with increased uptake of 18-FDG in the colon, and to a lesser extent the small bowel. This bowel uptake can be striking, and can mimic malignancies. Hence, it is desirable to manage the degree of bowel uptake in clinical 18-FDG PET/CT through a quality control program. Methods: To do this we developed a program to identify patients taking metformin, stop the medication for 48 hours before injection of 18-FDG, monitor compliance with instructions, and document the expected reductions in bowel uptake by means of a quick but quantitative scheme. We also monitored for hyperglycemia. This educational exhibit provides details of the program and suggestions for its implementation. Results: In our baseline measurements 59% of diabetics were taking metformin, and 86% of these had taken the medication within 24 hours of injection of 18-FDG. Their bowel SUVmax averaged 6.8 gm/ml while diabetics not on metformin had average bowel SUVmax of 3.7 gm/ml. After implementation of the quality control program, 56% of diabetics were on metformin. Sixty-seven percent (67%) stopped taking the medication for at least 48 hours before injection of 18-FDG, and their average SUVmax dropped to 3.6 gm/ml. There were no episodes of significant hyperglycemia. Conclusion: The quality control program reduces 18-FDG bowel uptake in diabetics taking metformin, but compliance with instructions needs improvement.
Implications of alternative spawning for bluefin tuna remain unclear.

The discovery of 67 bluefin tuna larvae in waters off the northeast US continental shelf is certainly of considerable scientific interest, but the paper in PNAS by Richardson et al. (1) makes several broad assertions that go beyond what the data support. The authors extrapolate differences in larval catch rates to conclude that the majority of spawning occurs outside of the Gulf of Mexico. This contention equates 1 y of opportunistic samples with 32 y of a design-based survey, fails to apply standard larval data corrections (2, 3), and ignores the high variance that makes comparison of these catch rates unreliable. The situation resembles the 1985 … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: john.f.walter{at}noaa.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Equilibrium of an Economy with Infinitely Many Indivisible Commodities and Consumers

This paper examines an economy that is a special case of what Ostroy (1984) has termed “large-square” economies. The economy can also be thought of as the “large- square” version of a “small-square” economy with indivisible goods presented by Shapley and Scarf (1974). In their economy, each consumer is endowed with a single indivisible good, which they call a house, and has preferences over houses such that they want exactly one house. Shapley and Scarf show that an equilibrium exists for this economy. The “large-square” version of this that is examined below has a continuum of indivisible goods and a continuum of agents each being endowed with exactly one indivisible good. Each agent has a utility function defined over these indivisible goods and wants to consume exactly one such good. It will be assumed that there are finitely many such utility functions. A quasi-equilibrium is shown to exist for this special kind of “large-square” economy.
Glaucoma: a preventable cause of blindness

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness within the United States and the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. Measurement of intraocular pressure only is no longer considered adequate for screening. Recognition of risk factors and examination of the optic nerve are key strategies to identify individuals at risk. Medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma have significantly improved in recent years. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy will aid in reducing the potential of irreversible blindness.
Numerical evaluation of communication networks resilience with a focus on power supply performance during natural disasters

This paper presents a quantitative framework for measuring and characterizing resilience of information and communications technology facilities with a focus on their power supply. Although the focus of the presented framework is for communication networks power supply, it is also applicable to power grids in general. The proposed framework uses a measure analogous to availability in order to measure resilience of communication systems power supply. A dynamic notion of dependency is discussed and a mathematical quantifiable relationship showing how dependencies affect resilience is explained. The importance of energy storage as a regulator for dependencies is also explored and additional related definitions and metrics are provided. This discussion is presented in practical context by using actual data and photographic records from recent natural disasters.
The atria are fibrillating: does it matter to the resynchronized ventricles?

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an integral treatment modality for patients with heart failure (HF), diminished left ventricular ejection fraction, and a wide QRS complex, conferring symptomatic relief, functional improvement, and survival benefit to the majority of recipients.1–4 CRT indications5 were initially restricted to patients in sinus rhythm, yet as atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in patients with HF, with a prevalence that increases with more advanced HF symptoms,6 much attention has focused on expanding the CRT indications to patients with permanent AF. Article see p 566 Despite the fact that approximately a quarter of patients with HF eligible for CRT therapy have permanent AF,6 the overwhelming majority of multicenter, randomized CRT trials have only included patients in sinus rhythm.1–4 The majority of our knowledge regarding the role of CRT in patients with permanent AF is, therefore, based on nonrandomized, observational data. There are special considerations that are pertinent to CRT patients with permanent AF. First, in the absence of large, randomized, prospective trials of CRT versus no CRT in the AF population, it is not firmly established whether patients with AF derive survival, symptomatic, and structural benefits from CRT and if these benefits do occur, whether they are comparable in magnitude to those seen in patients with sinus rhythm. Second, it is not completely established how best to ensure a high burden of biventricular pacing in CRT recipients who also have AF, although the role of atrioventricular nodal ablation in this context seems to be widely accepted.7,8 From a survival perspective, there are no randomized, prospective trials examining the effect of CRT on mortality in patients with AF. Early prospective, nonrandomized, observational data,9 however, showed no difference in total mortality after …
Prognostic Value of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in Patients with Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Primary amyloidosis (AL) is characterized by multi-organ deposition of light chain derived amyloid protein, resulting in organ dysfunction of varying severity. High dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective treatment for AL, but is limited in applicability due to high transplant related mortality in patients with advanced organ dysfunction. Serum LDH, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of lactate to pyruvate, is present in large amounts in heart, kidney, liver, and muscle and is elevated with abnormalities in one or more of the organs. It is commonly elevated in a variety of hematologic malignancies. Given the multi-organ involvement in AL, we examined the prognostic value of LDH in AL. Methods: We examined our transplant database to assess the prognostic value of LDH. Laboratory values from pre-ASCT evaluation were used for the analysis. Results: Three hundred and thirteen pts who underwent ASCT between March 1997 and March 2007 were included in this analysis. The median age at ASCT was 57.5 years (range, 33–73); and 183 pts (58.3%) were male. The median duration from diagnosis to transplant was 4.1 months (range, 1–75) and the median follow up post transplant was 28.3 months (range, 1 m to 10 years) for the 229 pts (73%) alive at the time of analysis. The median LDH was 194 IU (range, 92-441) and 138 pts (44%) had an LDH > 200. The median overall survival post-ASCT for patients with an LDH > 200 was 59.4 mos (95% CI; 37.9, 80.8) compared to not reached for the rest (Figure). The prognostic value of LDH for post transplant OS was independent of cardiac troponin (cTnT). The median OS post ASCT for patients with cTnT > 0.035 (n=208) was 37.4 months (95% CI; 17, 57.9) compared to 97.5 months (95% CI; 64.8, 130.2) for the rest. In a Cox proportional hazards model, cTnT > 0.035 was associated with a 2.5 fold risk of death (p = 0.0013) and an LDH > 200 was associated with 1.7 fold risk (p = 0.04). We then examined if LDH added to the cTnT in a prognostic model for survival post ASCT. Pts with both cTnT Conclusions: In this study we have demonstrated the prognostic value of serum LDH in AL pts undergoing ASCT. Serum LDH appears to add to the value of troponin in prognostic staging of these patients. These results need to be examined in a larger cohort of patients undergoing different treatments. It is possible that LDH is able to globally assess abnormalities of multiple organs including heart, liver and lung. Prospective studies looking at the different LDH fractions are ongoing.
Pride and concern: differences between sperm and egg donors with respect to responsibility for their donor-conceived offspring

Comparative research on sperm donors and egg donors in the United States suggests that while men view themselves as fathers of their offspring, women do not view themselves as mothers. Comparative research suggests as well that men and women are equally interested in contact with offspring, equally curious about them, and equally likely to hold themselves responsible for those offspring. This paper re-examines these differences and similarities using data from a survey of donors who registered on a third-party website with hopes of having some contact with their genetic offspring. Our findings suggest that women and men offer similar reasons for donating and similar assessments of the experience. Yet, the two groups have developed quite different patterns of interest in their offspring. The men create a sense of “prideful lineage” rather than fatherhood. The women create a pattern of feeling that involves “concerned responsibility” rather than motherhood.
The evolutionary origins of cooperation and trade

The neural mechanisms that enable human trade and cooperation are just beginning to be understood. This paper proposes an evolutionary research agenda in rodents that could elucidate how such neural mechanisms arose, and could help scientists understand the variation in them that we find in humans. The evolutionary protocol outlined here is likely to provide deep insights into the human condition.
Predicting kidney disease progression in patients with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective The study objective was to identify patients who are likely to develop progressive kidney dysfunction (acute kidney disease) before their hospital discharge after cardiac surgery, allowing targeted monitoring of kidney function in this at-risk group with periodic serum creatinine measurements. Methods Risks of progression to acute kidney disease (a state in between acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease) were modeled from acute kidney injury stages (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A modified Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to evaluate the association between acute kidney injury stages and the development of acute kidney disease (defined as doubling of creatinine 2-4 weeks after surgery) in this observational study. Results Acute kidney disease occurred in 4.4% of patients with no preexisting kidney disease and 4.8% of patients with preexisting chronic kidney disease. Acute kidney injury predicted development of acute kidney disease in a graded manner in which higher stages of acute kidney injury predicted higher relative risk of progressive kidney disease (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve = 0.82). This correlation persisted regardless of baseline kidney function ( P Conclusions The degree of acute kidney injury can identify patients who will have a higher risk of progression to acute kidney disease. These patients may benefit from close follow-up of renal function because they are at risk of progressing to chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease.
Scaling clustering algorithms to large databases

Practical clustering algorithms require multiple data scans to achieve convergence. For large databases, these scans become prohibitively expensive. We present a scalable clustering framework applicable to a wide class of iterative clustering. We require at most one scan of the database. In this work, the framework is instantiated and numerically justified with the popular K-Means clustering algorithm. The method is based on identifying regions of the data that are compressible, regions that must be maintained in memory, and regions that are discardable. The algorithm operates within the confines of a limited memory buffer. Empirical results demonstrate that the scalable scheme outperforms a sampling-based approach. In our scheme, data resolution is preserved to the extent possible based upon the size of the allocated memory buffer and the fit of current clustering model to the data. The framework is naturally extended to update multiple clustering models simultaneously. We empirically evaluate on synthetic and publicly available data sets.
The Role of Lithotripsy and Its Side Effects

AbstractThe relative roles of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrostolithotomy currently are being debated. Both treatment modalities are applicable to most upper urinary tract calculi. However, there are some important distinctions between the 2 techniques. Over-all, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is associated with significantly lower morbidity than percutaneous nephrostolithotomy but stone-free rates are lower for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy than for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. This difference is slight for kidneys containing minimal stone burden but increases in direct proportion to increasing stone burden. The morbidity of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy also increases with increasing stone burden. When applied to the treatment of staghorn calculi the morbidity of both techniques is comparable but the stone-free rates are significantly better with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy.Treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy produces changes ...
Raman Spectrum of K Ta 0.64 Nb 0.36 O 3

Raman scattering from the mixed crystal K${\mathrm{Ta}}_{0.64}$${\mathrm{Nb}}_{0.36}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}10$\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) has been investigated as a function of temperature in the paraelectric and single-domain-ferroelectric phases. The phonon spectrum was found to correspond predominantly to that of the host lattice of KTa${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Significant effects due to the mixed nature of the crystal were found. In the ferroelectric phase, first-order lines were observed with symmetry properties forbidden for an ideal perovskite structure. Also, two Raman lines in the ferroelectric phase are attributed to local modes associated with the Nb ions in the lattice. In the paraelectric phase, lines observed at 202 and 279 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ persisted as first-order structures. The behavior of the 279-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line was found to be consistent with a reduction of the phonon symmetry from ${F}_{2u} \mathrm{to} {F}_{2}$, which could be caused by a relaxation of the inversion symmetry of the cubic lattice. The persistence of the 202-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line cannot be accounted for by the loss of inversion symmetry and may be due to the relaxation of translational symmetry. The shape of the 202-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ peak shows a Fano-type interference. First-order structures occurred also at 175 and 436 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and are attributed to zone-boundary phonons. First-order scattering was induced in the paraelectric phase by the application of an electric field to the sample. For comparable values of polarization, the intensity of the induced first-order scattering measured just above the transition temperature was found to be substantially less than the intensity of the spontaneous first-order scattering measured just below the transition temperature. Existing theory predicts that the spontaneous and induced scattering intensities should be nearly equal for these conditions.
The anti-parkinsonian drug zonisamide reduces neuroinflammation: Role of microglial Nav 1.6.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by dopamine depletion and the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons with accompanying neuroinflammation. Zonisamide is an-anti-convulsant drug that has recently been shown to improve clinical symptoms of PD through its inhibition of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). However, zonisamide has additional targets, including voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav), which may contribute to its reported neuroprotective role in preclinical models of PD. Here, we report that Nav1.6 is highly expressed in microglia of post-mortem PD brain and of mice treated with the parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin MPTP. Administration of zonisamide (20 mg/kg, i.p. every 4 h × 3) following a single injection of MPTP (12.5 mg/kg, s.c.) reduced microglial Nav 1.6 and microglial activation in the striatum, as indicated by Iba-1 staining and mRNA expression of F4/80. MPTP increased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and gp91phox, and this was significantly reduced by zonisamide. Together, these findings suggest that zonisamide may reduce neuroinflammation through the down-regulation of microglial Nav 1.6. Thus, in addition to its effects on parkinsonian symptoms through inhibition of MAO-B, zonisamide may have disease modifying potential through the inhibition of Nav 1.6 and neuroinflammation.
Investigating skin age analysis to reduce tanning intentions among adolescents: A pilot study.

As skin cancer rates continue to rise, targeted efforts to reduce excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation are crucial. Adolescents are a high-risk population for intentional tanning; thus, we sought to determine whether the novel use of skin age analysis with ultraviolet (UV) photography would be an effective tool for reducing intentions to tan in adolescents with a calculated skin age (measured by complexion analysis software) that exceeds their actual age. Surveying 85 students in this study, skin age difference above zero was associated with reduced intentions to tan (P = 0.006) and high-risk sun exposure behaviors were identified. This provides rationale for skin age analysis as a potentially effective intervention in decreasing intentions to tan in this high-risk young population.
Initiating DNA replication: a matter of prime importance.

It has been known for decades that the principal replicative DNA polymerases that effect genome replication are incapable of starting DNA synthesis de novo. Rather, they require a 3′-OH group from which to extend a DNA chain. Cellular DNA replication systems exploit a dedicated, limited processivity RNA polymerase, termed primase, that synthesizes a short oligoribonucleotide primer which is then extended by a DNA polymerase. Thus, primases can initiate synthesis, proceed with primer elongation for a short distance then transfer the primer to a DNA polymerase. Despite these well-established properties, the mechanistic basis of these dynamic behaviours has only recently been established. In the following, the author will describe recent insights from studies of the related eukaryotic and archaeal DNA primases. Significantly, the general conclusions from these studies likely extend to a broad class of extrachromosomal element-associated primases as well as the human primase-related DNA repair enzyme, PrimPol.
PREFLEDGING MORTALITY AND THE ABUNDANCE OF MOSQUITOES BITING NESTLING BARN OWLS (TYTO ALBA) IN FLORIDA, USA.

Abstract: Mosquito-borne diseases can have disastrous effects on avian populations; therefore, most studies of bird and mosquito interactions have focused on the mortality and morbidity associated ...
Socio-bioenergetics and sexual dimorphism in primates

Socio-bioenergetics is presented as a practical method of estimating energy budgets of primates in a social context. Energy budgets are estimated on the basis of behavioral observations and a series of empirical formulae, which consider body weight, activity, and reproductive status. Data on a captive colony of Sykes' monkeys and baboons are incorporated as illustrations of the possible effects of group composition, body size, reproductive status, and activity patterns on energy requirements.
Early history of nonlinear acoustics: Waveform distortion, disaster, and redemption

The first (although slightly incorrect) wave equations for finite-amplitude sound in lossless fluids were obtained independently by Euler in 1759 and Lagrange in 1760. Poisson (1808) provided the first major breakthrough with his exact solution for progressive waves of finite amplitude in a lossless gas. Although a far-reaching result, the progressive waveform distortion (and disastrous consequences) implied by his solution went unrecognized for 40 years. Challis (1848) showed that the Poisson solution is not single valued but did not understand why. Stokes (1848) provided the why. He saw that the Poisson waveform distorts as the wave travels, eventually threatening to become multivalued. He postulated that a discontinuity (shock) develops to avoid waveform overturning. He also saw that viscosity (not accounted for by Poisson) would prevent true discontinuities. Earnshaw (1860) and Riemann (1860) cleaned up plane waves in lossless gases. However, how to predict propagation after shocks form? Rankine (1870) and Hugoniot (1887, 1889) provided the first solutions for propagation when dissipation is included. These were the first steps toward redemption. The curtain rang down on this era of nonlinear acoustics with the excellent papers in 1910 by Rayleigh and Taylor on steady shocks in a thermoviscous fluid.