cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracranial hypothermia during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is neuroprotective in vivo.

There is increasing evidence that ischemic brain injury is modulated by peripheral signaling. Peripheral organ ischemia can induce brain inflammation and injury. We therefore hypothesized that brain injury sustained after cardiac arrest (CA) is influenced by peripheral organ ischemia and that peripheral organ protection can reduce brain injury after CA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Male C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to CA/CPR. Brain temperature was maintained at 37.5°C±0.0°C in all animals. Body temperature was maintained at 35.1°C±0.1°C (normothermia) or 28.8°C±1.5°C (extracranial hypothermia [ExHy]) during CA. Body temperature after resuscitation was maintained at 35°C in all animals. Behavioral testing was performed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after CA/CPR. Either 3 or 7 days after CA/CPR, blood was analyzed for serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and interleukin-1β; mice were euthanized; and brains were sectioned. CA/CPR caused peripheral organ and brain injury. ExHy animals experienced transient reduction in brain temperature after resuscitation (2.1°C±0.5°C for 4 minutes). Surprisingly, ExHy did not change peripheral organ damage. In contrast, hippocampal injury was reduced at 3 days after CA/CPR in ExHy animals (22.4%±6.2% vs. 45.7%±9.1%, p=0.04, n=15/group). This study has two main findings. Hypothermia limited to CA does not reduce peripheral organ injury. This unexpected finding suggests that after brief ischemia, such as during CA/CPR, signaling or events after reperfusion may be more injurious than those during the ischemic period. Second, peripheral organ hypothermia during CA reduces hippocampal injury independent of peripheral organ protection. While it is possible that this protection is due to subtle differences in brain temperature during early reperfusion, we speculate that additional mechanisms may be involved. Our findings add to the growing understanding of brain-body cross-talk by suggesting that peripheral interventions can protect the brain even if peripheral organ injury is not altered.
Sampling of Radical Prostatectomy Specimens: How Much Is Adequate?

Prostate glands from 52 patients with clinical stage B carcinoma were examined using two sampling techniques. After fixation and conization of the apical portions, each gland was serially sectioned with sections mounted whole on oversized glass slides and examined for pathologic features of prognostic importance. A second examination was subsequently conducted on the same tissue using only alternate sections. No differences in tumor type, grade, Gleason score, multiplicity, or capsular penetration were detected in 75% of cases. The discrepancies that did occur were most often minor variations in multiplicity and Gleason score. Of the 20 glands with capsular penetration observed with the serial sectioning method, 17 (85%) were detected using alternate sectioning. The surgical margin was involved in two of the three invasive foci that would have been missed. Although the topography is better displayed, the authors' examinations indicated no significant advantage to whole mount sections compared with sections mounted on standard-sized glass slides. Considering the most effective use of resources, as well as the current modalities available for patient monitoring, the results support the use of an alternate sectioning method for pathologic examination of specimens removed for clinically localized prostate cancer.
Atypical Structural Connectome Organization and Cognitive Impairment in Young Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Abstract Survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at increased risk for cognitive impairments that disrupt everyday functioning and decrease quality of life. The specific biological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment following ALL remain largely unclear, but previous studies consistently demonstrate significant white matter pathology. We aimed to extend this literature by examining the organization of the white matter connectome in young patients with a history of ALL treated with chemotherapy only. We applied graph theoretical analysis to diffusion tensor imaging obtained from 31 survivors of ALL age 5–19 years and 39 matched healthy controls. Results indicated significantly lower small-worldness (p = 0.007) and network clustering coefficient (p = 0.019), as well as greater cognitive impairment (p = 0.027) in the ALL group. Regional analysis indicated that clustered connectivity in parietal, frontal, hippocampal, amygdalar, thalamic, and occipital regions was altered in the A...
Heat Vulnerability Index Mapping for Milwaukee and Wisconsin.

CONTEXT: Extreme heat waves elevate the population's risk for heat-related morbidity and mortality, specifically for vulnerable groups such as older adults and young children. In this context, we developed 2 Heat Vulnerability Indices (HVIs), one for the state of Wisconsin and one for the Milwaukee metropolitan area. OBJECTIVE: Through the creation of an HVI, state and local agencies will be able to use the indices as a planning tool for extreme heat events. DESIGN: Data used for the HVIs were grouped into 4 categories: (1) population density; (2) health factors; (3) demographic and socioeconomic factors; and (4) natural and built environment factors. These categories were mapped at the Census block group level. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Unweighted z-score data were used to determine index scores, which were then mapped by quantiles ranging from "high" to "low" vulnerability. RESULTS: Statewide, Menominee County exhibited the highest vulnerability to extreme heat. Milwaukee HVI findings indicated high vulnerability in the city's inner core versus low vulnerability along the lakeshore. CONCLUSION: Visualization of vulnerability could help local public health agencies prepare for future extreme heat events. Language: en
World-system Studies of the Environment

The world-system idea has been used to explain a great deal about national institutional life, from rates of economic growth to changing patterns of schooling. One of the newer areas of interest is the environment. In the following review we examine scholarship that deals with environmental problems from a distinctly world systemic perspective.
Unraveling the Architecture of Viruses by High-Resolution Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has recently emerged as an effective complement to other structure determination techniques for studying virus structure and function. AFM allows the direct visualization of viruses in a hydrated state and can probe surface topography in unrivaled detail. Moreover, AFM can be used to elucidate dynamic processes associated with the life cycle of viruses in vitro. It can readily produce high-resolution, nonaveraged, single-particle images of both polymorphic and pleiomorphic viruses. Although AFM does not yield images of internal structures within an intact virion as do penetrating techniques such as electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography, nonetheless, by visualizing the surfaces of internal structures upon treatment with chemical and enzymatic agents, as we demonstrated recently with vaccinia virus, modeling of the complex architecture of a large virus is possible.
To Sell or Not To Sell: The Impacts of Pollution on Home Transactions

Numerous nonmarket valuation studies have examined the impacts of environmental commodities on house prices, but little attention has been given to how shifts in these commodities affect the occurrence of home transactions, and the resulting welfare implications. Using a novel theoretical framework and an empirical analysis of homes impacted by petroleum releases from underground storage tanks, this paper demonstrates that changes in environmental quality can significantly impact a household’s decision to sell their home, and that this change in behavior has important implications towards theoretical welfare measures and empirical estimates. A discrete time duration model is estimated using a panel of single-family homes from 2000 to 2007. The dependent variable is the annual occurrence of a sale at each individual home. I find that contamination and cleanup activities in close proximity significantly impact the probability that a home is sold. Most striking is that this probability is reduced by about 50% during ongoing cleanup. This finding is most pronounced among lower quality homes and where an exposure pathway is present.
Ambiguous Genitalia in Newborns

Abstract Ambiguous genitalia can be associated with disorders of sex development (DSD). DSD occurs when a person is born with discordant genetic, gonadal, or anatomic sex. Here we discuss typical-appearing external genital appearance in unaffected males and females followed by descriptions of ambiguous genitalia in newborns with 46,XY DSD, 46,XX DSD, syndromes associated with multiple congenital anomalies including, but not limited to, ambiguous genitalia, ovotesticular DSD, and mixed gonadal dysgenesis in newborns who possess a Y chromosome. We provide guidance to proceed with a clinical work-up to differentiation between types of DSD that result in ambiguous genitalia at birth. Finally, we discuss how gender assignments are made for newborns with DSD including ambiguous genitalia.
Mining online footprints to predict user’s next location

ABSTRACTSocial media applications are widely deployed in mobile platforms equipped with built-in GPS tracking devices, and these devices have led to an unprecedented collection of geolocated data (geo-tags). Geo-tags, along with place names, offer new opportunities to explore the trajectory and mobility patterns of social media users. However, trajectory data captured by social media are sparsely and irregularly spaced and therefore have varying degrees of resolution in both space and time. Previous studies on next location prediction are mostly applicable for detecting the upcoming location of a moving object using dense GPS trajectories where locations are recorded at regular time intervals (e.g., 1 minute). Additionally, point features are commonly used to represent the locations of visits, but using point features cannot capture the variability of human mobility. This article introduces a new methodology to predict an individual’s next location based on sparse footprints accumulated over a long time p...
People, places, and perceptions: effects of location check-in awareness on impressions of strangers

Social media platforms and mobile applications increasingly include geographic features and services. While previous research has looked into how people perceive, interpret, and act on information available about a person, the spatial self, an individual's display of mobility through space for identity performance, is underexplored, especially in encounters with strangers. Strangers themselves offer a unique potential for exploring relational contexts and how those may relate to interpreting and reacting to the spatial self. We ran a 3 (map: personal, social, and task) x 3 (relationship: date, friend, coworker) x 2 (gender of participant: female, male) laboratory experiment with a mixed model design to see if and how the spatial self affects interest in future interaction. We find that maps, relationship, and gender all affect the ways in which people interpret and act on expressing interest in an individual. We discuss theoretical and design implications of how spatial selves affect this process.
Providing Infrastructure for Regional Development

Although the urban population in the Third World in terms of numbers and growth rate has assumed a staggering proportion, the essential fact remains that all these countries are basically agricultural. For optimum urban growth and industrialization, a strong agricultural sector is essential. To adopt such a strategy, we must identify the linkage of agricultural development and urban growth with the help of some sort of econometric model, as mentioned in Chapter 3. The objective in this chapter will be to show how development or decline in the agricultural sector influences economic activity in urban areas through increased demand for urban-oriented activities or decline in employment opportunities in the rural areas.
Safety and Efficacy of Bortezomib Plus ICE (BICE) for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Background: The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is an established treatment for multiple myeloma, and has been shown to have clinical activity in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We previously have shown in Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) cell lines that bortezomib induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (Zheng, B et al, Clin Cancer Rsch 2004). Although bortezomib had no significant single agent activity in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Younes, A et al, Blood 2004), preclinical experiments suggested that bortezomib may synergize with chemotherapy. To test this hypothesis, we initiated a phase I study combining bortezomib with ICE chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory HL. Methods: Eligibility: Relapsed/refractory classical HL, Prior treatment with anthracycline-containing regimen, Only 1 prior chemotherapy regimen, No prior stem cell transplant. Regimen: Ifosfamide 5 gm/m2 plus Mesna D1, Carboplatin with target AUC of 5 mg/mL/min D1, Etoposide 100 mg/m2/day D1-D3, Bortezomib on D1 and D4. Dose levels for bortezomib are 0 = 1.0 mg/m2, 1 = 1.3 mg/m2, and 2 = 1.5 mg/m2. Neulasta is given on D5. Cycles are repeated on D14 if platelet count is ≥100,000/mm3 and ANC is ≥1,000/mm3. After 3 cycles patient’s treatment response is evaluated by CTs and PET/CT. Hematologic DLT is defined as grade 4 thrombocytopenia or neutropenia lasting greater than 2 weeks. Results: Median age is 34 (range 21–39). 10 out of 12 planned patients have enrolled to date (6 patients with relapsed HL, 4 patients with primary refractory HL) with 3 at dose level 0, 3 at dose level 1, and 4 at dose level 2. 10 patients are evaluable for toxicity and 5 patients are evaluable for response (5 patients too early to determine response). 4/5 patients in CR and 1/5 patients with PD. 3/4 patients in CR have undergone autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) with 4th patient in final preparation for ASCT. The patient with PD had primary refractory disease in the bone marrow and continues to have PD through 2 further chemotherapy regimens. Treatment is well tolerated with no DLTs noted. Reversible grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia is the most common toxicity and is both dose level and cumulative dose dependent. Nadir platelet counts of Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest favorable clinical activity and tolerability of bortezomib plus ICE chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These promising results support further evaluation of this combination as salvage treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ideally in a randomized phase II study, in patients being planned for an autologous stem cell transplant.
3.01 – Membrane-Initiated Effects of Estradiol in the Central Nervous System

It is well known that many of the actions of 17β-estradiol in the central nervous system are mediated via intracellular receptor/transcription factors that interact with steroid response elements on target genes. However, there now exists compelling evidence for membrane steroid receptors for estradiol in hypothalamic and other brain neurons. But it is not well understood how estradiol signals via membrane receptors, and how these signals impact not only membrane excitability but also gene transcription in neurons. Indeed, it has been known for some time that estradiol can rapidly alter neuronal activity within seconds, indicating that some cellular effects can occur via membrane-delimited events. In addition, estradiol can affect second messenger systems including calcium mobilization and a plethora of kinases to alter cell signaling. Therefore, this review will consider our current knowledge of rapid membrane-initiated and intracellular signaling by estradiol in the brain, the nature of receptors involved, and how they contribute to homeostatic functions.
Creep- and fatigue-resistant, rapid piezoresistive responses of elastomeric graphene-coated carbon nanotube aerogels over a wide pressure range

Lightweight, flexible piezoresistive materials with wide operational pressure ranges are in demand for applications such as human physical activity and health monitoring, robotics, and for functional interfacing between living systems and wearable electronics. Piezoresistivity of many elastomeric foams of polymers and carbon allotropes satisfies much of the required characteristics for these applications except creep and fatigue resistance due to their viscoelasticity, critically limiting the reliability and lifetime of integrated devices. We report the piezoresistive responses from aerogels of graphene-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), made using a facile and versatile sol–gel method. Graphene crosslinks the junctions of the underlying random network of SWCNTs, generating lightweight elastomeric aerogels with a mass density of ≈11 mg mL−1 (volume fraction ≈7.7 × 10−3) and a Young's modulus of ≈0.4 MPa. The piezoresistivity of these aerogels spans wide compressive pressures up to at least 120 kPa with sensitivity that exhibit ultrafast temporal responses of <27 ms and <3% delay ratio over 104 compressive loading–unloading cycles at rates between 0.1–10 Hz. Most importantly, the piezoresistive responses do not show any creep at least for 1 hour and 80 kPa of compressive static loading. We suggest that the fatigue- and creep-resistant, ultrafast piezoresistive responses of these elastomeric aerogels are highly attractive for use in dynamic and static lightweight, pressure sensing applications such as human activity monitoring and soft robotics.
Field computation: A framework for quantum-inspired computing

Fields are spatially continuous distributions of quantity, and field computation operates on fields in parallel. Examples of fields include neural activity across macroscopic regions of cortex and quantum wave functions, but also other massively parallel analog representations. By means of the mathematics of Hilbert spaces, field computation provides a common language for quantum computation and neural information processing, and thus for quantum-inspired computational intelligence. This chapter presents the mathematical foundations of field computation, basic field transformations, examples of field computation and their relation to neural networks, dimension reduction for the sake of physical realizability, cortical information processing in terms of fields, connections to the uncertainty principle, and minimal operations for universal field computation and general-purpose field computation.
Selectively Reactive Coordination for a team of robot soccer champions

CMDragons 2015 is the champion of the RoboCup Small Size League of autonomous robot soccer. The team won all of its six games, scoring a total of 48 goals and conceding 0. This unprecedented dominant performance is the result of various features, but we particularly credit our novel offense multi-robot coordination. This paper thus presents our Selectively Reactive Coordination (SRC) algorithm, consisting of two layers: A coordinated opponent-agnostic layer enables the team to create its own plans, setting the pace of the game in offense. An individual opponent-reactive action selection layer enables the robots to maintain reactivity to different opponents. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our coordination through results from RoboCup 2015, and through controlled experiments using a physics-based simulator and an automated referee.
Deterministic and stochastic simulation and analysis of biochemical reaction networks the lactose operon example.

Abstract A brief introduction to mathematical modeling of biochemical regulatory reaction networks is presented. Both deterministic and stochastic modeling techniques are covered with examples from enzyme kinetics, coupled reaction networks with oscillatory dynamics and bistability. The Yildirim–Mackey model for lactose operon is used as an example to discuss and show how deterministic and stochastic methods can be used to investigate various aspects of this bacterial circuit.
A systems biology approach for modeling microbiomes using split graphs

With the recent advances in sequencing technology, researchers now have opportunities to study microbiomes associated with various environments. Recent studies have shown that the composition of microbiomes in our bodies and our environments play a significant role in our health. For example, 90% of human DNA is composed of bacterial microbiomes. In this study, we propose a systems biology approach using split graphs to analyze the composition of microbiomes and the impact of such composition on the health and growth of organisms living in associated environments. We focus on a case study related to the composition of microbiomes in fish guts and its impact on various growth parameters for three types of fish. The proposed model explores features in the aquatic ecosystem including correlations among its microorganisms and their abundance levels. The results of the study show that single or groups of bacteria are significantly associated with multiple growth phenotypes in different gut portions of the fish. We also identify bacterial clusters that provide new insight to functional relevance of these bacteria and their contribution to the fish gut microbial ecosystem.
Molecular electrostatic potentials as a quantitative measure of hydrogen bonding preferences in solution

An easily accessible methodology for estimating hydrogen-bond preferences and binding affinities in solution, based on molecular electrostatic potential surfaces (MEPS), is presented. Isothermal ti...
Benzodiazepines II: Waking Up on Sedatives: Providing Optimal Care When Inheriting Benzodiazepine Prescriptions in Transfer Patients.

This review discusses risks, benefits, and alternatives in patients already taking benzodiazepines when care transfers to a new clinician. Prescribers have the decision—sometimes mutually agreed-upon and sometimes unilateral—to continue, discontinue, or change treatment. This decision should be made based on evidence-based indications (conditions and timeframes), comorbidities, potential drug-drug interactions, and evidence of adverse effects, misuse, abuse, dependence, or diversion. We discuss management tools involved in continuation (e.g., monitoring symptoms, laboratory testing, prescribing contracts, state prescription databases, stages of change) and discontinuation (e.g., tapering, psychotherapeutic interventions, education, handouts, reassurance, medications to assist with discontinuation, and alternative treatments).
The effect of dose escalation for large squamous cell carcinomas of the anal canal

Chemoradiation allows for organ preservation in patients with anal cancer, but patients with large tumors (> 5 cm) have elevated rates of locoregional recurrence. With conformal radiation techniques, there is interest in dose escalation to decrease local recurrence in patients with large tumor size. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify patients with anal cancer from 2004 to 2013 with tumors > 5 cm. Adult patients who received definitive chemoradiation were included. Patients with prior resection were excluded. High dose was defined as greater than or equal to 5940 cGy. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression, Kaplan–Meier, and Cox proportional hazards for overall survival (OS). In total, 1349 patients were analyzed with 412 (30.5%) receiving high-dose radiation therapy (RT). 5-year OS was 58 and 60% for high and standard dose RT, respectively (p = 0.9887). On univariate analysis, high-dose RT was not associated with improved OS (HR = 0.998, CI 0.805–1.239, p = 0.9887). On multivariate analysis, high-dose RT (HR = 0.948, CI 0.757–1.187, p = 0.6420) was not associated with improved OS but older age (HR = 1.535, CI 1.233–1.911, p = 0.0001), male sex (HR = 1.695, CI 1.382–2.080, p 5 cm in this population-based analysis. Differences in local control and salvage therapy cannot be assessed through the NCDB. Whether dose escalation of large tumors may improve local control and colostomy-free survival remains an important question and is the subject of ongoing trials.
Measuring the Phases of G_E and G_M of the Nucleon

The nucleon electromagnetic form factors G_E and G_M are complex quantities in the time-like region. The absolute values can be determined by measuring the angular distribution of the nucleons in e^+ e^- --> N N-bar. The complex phase can only be determined by measuring one or more polarizations of the initial or final state. For PEP-N, we can use unpolarized e+ and e- and measure the polarization of one of the outgoing nucleons.
The Evolution of Evolutionary Equations

“May you live in exciting times!” This traditional Chinese saying aptly describes the environment surrounding the basic developments in mathematics, physics, and chemistry over the past four centuries. From the founding of the European Academies of Sciences during the era of Peter the Great and Napoleon, to the founding of the National Science Foundation in the United States of America during the presidency of Harry Truman, governments have realized the importance of scientific research.1 To trace the implications of this academic research, as it affects the evolution of evolutionary equations, we begin in 1601 in Prague with the appointment of Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) to the position of Imperial Mathematician of the Holy Roman Empire, after the death of his predecessor, Tycho Brahe (1546–1601).
High spin states in /sup 208/Pb

Proton cross sections for $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ have been measured for elastic and inelastic scattering to the ${12}^{+}$, 6.10 MeV, ${12}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 6.43 MeV, ${12}_{2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 7.06 MeV, and ${14}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 6.74 MeV states at ${E}_{\mathrm{p}=318}$ MeV. We analyze the inelastic transitions in the distorted wave impulse approximation and use the previously published electron scattering results to constrain the wave functions in the unnatural parity calculations. A ${13}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ state is discussed as an unresolved ``contaminant'' to the ${12}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 6.43 MeV state. Mixing between the ${12}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ neutron and proton particle-hole configurations is found to reduce substantially the differences reported previously in observed proton and electron quenching factors. This results in greater quenching for the ${12}_{2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 7.06 MeV state, and less quenching for the ${12}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, 6.43 MeV state than was previously reported in (e,e') analyses.
Some Remarks on a Limiting Diffusion for Decomposable Branching Processes

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some remarks on a limiting diffusion for decomposable branching processes. It discusses Feller diffusion. In branching process theory, diffusion approximations frequently shed light on the behavior of a process. As for a single type, conditioned limit laws are available for; however, at present, several different types of conditioning are possible and they lead to different limit laws. The conditioning leads to different normalizations and a non-degenerate limit law in all the components.
Automatic language model adaptation for spoken document retrieval

This paper describes experiments implemented at NIST in adapting language models over time to improve recognition of broadcast news recorded over many months. These experiments were designed specifically to improve the utility of automatically generated transcripts for retrieval applications. To evaluate the potential of the approach, a time-adaptive automatic speech recognition run was implemented to support the 1999 TREC Spoken Document Retrieval (SDR) Track - more than 500 hours of broadcast news sampled across 5 months. The accuracy of retrieval for several systems using the time-adaptive system transcripts was evaluated against transcripts produced by virtually the same recognition system with a fixed language model. This paper details the process we employed to identify and implement the time-adaptive language model and discusses the results of the experiment in terms of its effect on word error rate, out of vocabulary rate and retrieval accuracy (Mean Average Precision).
Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Increased Incidence of CHF Independent of Hypertension and Coronary Artery Disease: A Population Based Study

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease and poor cardiovascular outcomes. However, it is unclear what impact DM has on cardiovascular outcomes independent of coronary artery disease and hypertension. This study focuses on the impact of DM on cardiovascular disease and survival in a community population independent of hypertension and coronary artery disease. Objectives To further delineate the longitudinal impact of Diabetes Mellitus on the development of cardiovascular diseases and mortality secondary to cardiovascular disease in a community population. Methods Cross-sectional survey of 2,042 randomly selected residents of Olmsted County, aged 45 years or older from June 1997 through September 2000. All patients underwent Doppler echocardiographic assessment of systolic and diastolic function. The current analyses included all subjects with DM and were compared to a group of non DM subjects matched 1:2 for age, gender, hypertension and coronary artery disease. Baseline characteristics, laboratory findings and transthoracic echocardiogram findings between both groups were compared along with rates of mortality due to various cardiovascular conditions. Results We identified 116 subjects with DM and compared to the 232 matched non-DM subjects. Subjects with DM had higher BMI (29 ± 5vs 31±5, kg/m2; p=0.001), plasma insulin (5.8 [4,9]vs 8.5 [5,15], uU/ml; p Conclusions In this community based cohort matched for age, gender, hypertension and coronary artery disease, subjects with diabetes have elevated LV filling pressures and increased incidence of CHF over a 10 year follow-up period. These findings suggest that DM is an independent risk factor for development of heart failure and supports the concept of DM cardiomyopathy.
Use of in-chamber transcutaneous oxygen measurement to determine optimal treatment pressure in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Introduction Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is used to promote healing in select problem wounds. Transcutaneous oxygen measurement (TCOM) can be used to predict the response of these wounds to HBO2, with in-chamber TCOM values shown to be the most predictive. We evaluated the use of in-chamber TCOM values to determine optimal treatment pressure. Methods A retrospective review was completed of patients undergoing HBO2 therapy for a lower-extremity wound and who had in-chamber TCOM. Data collected included TCOM values, treatment profile, and patient outcome. Results A total of 142 patients were identified. The overall results demonstrated healing in 59%, minor amputation (below ankle) in 11.3%, and major amputation (above ankle) in 16.2% of patients. 79.3% of patients at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) and 86.6% of patients at 2.4 ATA had transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) values ≥250 mmHg. Among those with TcPO2 ⟨250 mmHg at 2 ATA, 41% attained TcPO2 ⟩250 mmHg at 2.4 ATA. Among those treated at 2 ATA the healing rate was 70.6% if TcPO2 ⟩250 mmHg, and 11.8% if TcPO2 ⟨250 mmHg (P⟨0.001). Among those treated at 2.4 ATA the healing rate was 33.3% if TcPO2 ⟩250 mmHg and 14.3% if TcPO2 ⟨250 mmHg (P⟨0.001). Discussion Determining optimal therapeutic pressure for patients undergoing HBO2 is important to maximize benefit and minimize risk. This study indicates that in-chamber TCOM can be used to select an individualized optimal treatment pressure in patients undergoing HBO2 for lower-extremity wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers. This may result in better utilization of HBO2 and better outcomes.
Evidence for a bind-then-bend mechanism for architectural DNA binding protein yNhp6A

The yeast Nhp6A protein (yNhp6A) is a member of the eukaryotic HMGB family of chromatin factors that enhance apparent DNA flexibility. yNhp6A binds DNA nonspecifically with nM affinity, sharply bending DNA by >60°. It is not known whether the protein binds to unbent DNA and then deforms it, or if bent DNA conformations are 'captured' by protein binding. The former mechanism would be supported by discovery of conditions where unbent DNA is bound by yNhp6A. Here, we employed an array of conformational probes (FRET, fluorescence anisotropy, and circular dichroism) to reveal solution conditions in which an 18-base-pair DNA oligomer indeed remains bound to yNhp6A while unbent. In 100 mM NaCl, yNhp6A-bound DNA unbends as the temperature is raised, with no significant dissociation of the complex detected up to ∼45°C. In 200 mM NaCl, DNA unbending in the intact yNhp6A complex is again detected up to ∼35°C. Microseconds-resolved laser temperature-jump perturbation of the yNhp6a-DNA complex revealed relaxation kinetics that yielded unimolecular DNA bending/unbending rates on timescales of 500 μs-1 ms. These data provide the first direct observation of bending/unbending dynamics of DNA in complex with yNhp6A, suggesting a bind-then-bend mechanism for this protein.
Nanoelectrochemical approach to detecting short-lived intermediates of electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

Development of better catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and other electrocatalytic processes requires detailed knowledge of reaction pathways and intermediate species. Here we report a new methodology for detecting charged reactive intermediates and its application to the mechanistic analysis of ORR. A nanopipette filled with an organic phase that is immiscible with the external aqueous solution was used as a tip in the scanning electrochemical microscope to detect and identify a short-lived superoxide (O2●–) intermediate and to determine the rate of its generation at the catalytic Pt substrate and its lifetime in neutral aqueous solution. The voltammogram of the O2●– anion transfer to the organic phase provides a unique signature for unambiguous identification of superoxide. The extremely short attainable separation distance between the pipette tip and substrate surface (∼1 nm) makes this technique suitable for detecting and identifying charged intermediates of catalytic processes with a ...
Fibronectin-derived Epiviosamines enhance PDGF-BB-stimulated human dermal fibroblast migration in vitro and granulation tissue formation in vivo.

Fibronectin (FN) is a multimodular glycoprotein that is a critical component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) anlage during embryogenesis, morphogenesis, and wound repair. Our laboratory has previously described a family of FN-derived peptides collectively called "epiviosamines" that enhance platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-driven tissue cell survival, speed burn healing, and reduce scarring. In this study, we used an agarose drop outmigration assay to report that epiviosamines can enhance PDGF-BB-stimulated adult human dermal fibroblast (AHDF) outmigration in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, these peptides can, when delivered topically, stimulate granulation tissue formation in vivo. A thiol-derivatized hyaluronan hydrogel cross-linked with polyethyleneglycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was used to topically deliver a cyclized epiviosamine: cP12 and a cyclized engineered variant of cP12 termed cNP8 to porcine, full-thickness, excisional wounds. Both cP12 and cNP8 exhibited dose-dependent increases in granulation tissue formation at day 4, with 600 μM cNP8 significantly enhancing new granulation tissue compared to vehicle alone. In contrast to previous studies, this study suggests that epiviosamines can be used to increase granulation tissue formation without an exogenous supply of PDGF-BB or any cell-binding peptides. Thus, epiviosamine may be useful topically to increase granulation tissue formation in acute wounds.
Distal aortic remodelling after the standard and the elongated frozen elephant trunk procedure.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate abdominal aortic remodelling after the standard compared with the elongated frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique in patients with aortic dissection. Methods Twenty-six patients underwent surgery and were randomized into 2 groups. Fifteen patients were treated with the standard FET technique. Eleven patients were treated with the advanced FET technique using an additional thoracic stent graft implanted down to the coeliac artery, within 30 days after the first stent graft implantation. Preoperative and postoperative and 5-year follow-up computed tomography aortic scans were obtained along the stent graft (A), between the distal edge of the graft and the coeliac trunk (B) and at the abdominal aorta (C). Results In the standard FET group, positive and stable aortic remodelling occurred in segments A (100%), B (87%) and C (87%). Negative remodelling was found in 2/15 (13%) patients; 1 patient had an endovascular reintervention. In the elongated FET group, positive and stable remodelling were observed in segments A (100%), B (100%) and C (90.9%). Negative remodelling occurred in 1/11 (9.1%) patients. No reintervention was required. Cumulative survival, freedom from negative remodelling and distal aortic reintervention in the standard FET group and the elongated FET group were 72 vs 100% (P = 0.29); 67.5 vs 80% (P = 0.58) and 75 vs 100% (P = 0.61), respectively. Conclusions The standard FET technique is an adequate measure to induce false lumen thrombosis and improve abdominal aortic remodelling. The elongated FET technique seems to be superior to the standard FET procedure in terms of freedom from aortic remodelling and the distal reintervention rate.
Health professions students demonstrate limited knowledge of health risks associated with early menarche

Objective:The documented decline in age at menarche is concerning as early pubertal development presents immediate and long-term health risks. Menarcheal timing is influenced by environmental facto...
Ultrafast spectral hole burning reveals the distinct chromophores in eumelanin and their common photoresponse

Eumelanin, the brown-black pigment found in organisms from bacteria to humans, dissipates solar energy and prevents photochemical damage. While the structure of eumelanin is unclear, it is thought to consist of an extremely heterogeneous collection of chromophores that absorb from the UV to the infrared, additively producing its remarkably broad absorption spectrum. However, the chromophores responsible for absorption by eumelanin and their excited state decay pathways remain highly uncertain. Using femtosecond broadband transient absorption spectroscopy, we address the excited state behavior of chromophore subsets that make up a synthetic eumelanin, DOPA melanin, and probe the heterogeneity of its chromophores. Tuning the excitation light over more than an octave from the UV to the visible and probing with the broadest spectral window used to study any form of melanin to date enable the detection of spectral holes with a linewidth of 0.6 eV that track the excitation wavelength. Transient spectral hole burning is a manifestation of extreme chemical heterogeneity, yet exciting these diverse chromophores unexpectedly produces a common photoinduced absorption spectrum and similar kinetics. This common photoresponse is assigned to the ultrafast formation of immobile charge transfer excitons that decay locally and that are formed among graphene-like chromophores in less than 200 fs. Raman spectroscopy reveals that chromophore heterogeneity in DOPA melanin arises from different sized domains of sp2-hybridized carbon and nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, we identify for the first time striking parallels between the excited state dynamics of eumelanin and disordered carbon nanomaterials, suggesting that they share common structural attributes.
Challenging systemic racism in school board meetings through intertextual co-optation

In this paper, we apply the concept of intertextuality – which entails a speaker or writer using language from another source – to better understand how a particular discursive strategy can be used...
Startup of an Innovative Program x3 – Iron Range Engineering Propagated

Iron Range Engineering is an award-winning, project-based, upper-division engineering program. Its educational model has been propagated to two different implementations that meet different regional and student needs. There is evidence of student success as the model moves from start-up mode to sustainable programs in different settings. A key motivator for the model and its program is increasing access to engineering education by supporting students who transfer from two-year colleges, broadening the participation of underrepresented and first-generation (first in their families to attend college) students in engineering.
Potency Meets Precision in Nano-optimized Chemotherapeutics

Chemotherapy remains the most widely used cancer treatment modality. Nanotechnology provides exciting opportunities to improve these drugs, transforming decades-old generic treatments into precise new medicines. We illustrate the potential of recent advances in nanotechnology-enhanced therapy focusing on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); the most common hematologic malignancy.
Optimization of GGNMOS Devices for High-Voltage ESD Protection in BCDLite Technology

Design optimization of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) GGNMOS for high-voltage applications in low-cost BCDLite technology is reported. Clamp performance optimization through body PWELL engineering and device design techniques are investigated. A comparative analysis between two distinct device architectures (different Poly-LOCOS overlap) showing 100ns TLP measurement and TCAD simulation results is presented.
Measurements and Amplitudes

We present a framework for quantum mechanics based on the concepts of measurements and amplitudes. The measurements are represented by functions and therefore commute. The interference effects characteristic of quantum mechanics are caused by the fact that probabilities are computed using am-plitude functions. Moreover, in order to consider inexact measurements we define fuzzy (or nonsharp) amplitudes. We also study measurements that satisfy a positivity condition and that axe covariant relative to a symmetry group. It is shown that the framework includes stochastic quantum mechanics which in turn includes traditional Hilbert space quantum mechanics.
Solid state photon upconversion utilizing thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecules as triplet sensitizer

The ability to upconvert light is useful for a range of applications, from biological imaging to solar cells. But modern technologies have struggled to upconvert incoherent incident light at low intensities. Here, we report solid state photon upconversion employing triplet-triplet exciton annihilation in an organic semiconductor, sensitized by a thermally activated-delayed fluorescence (TADF) dye. Compared to conventional phosphorescent sensitizers, the TADF dye maximizes the wavelength shift in upconversion due to its small singlet-triplet splitting. The efficiency of energy transfer from the TADF dye is 9.1%, and the conversion yield of sensitizer exciton pairs to singlet excitons in the annihilator is 1.1%. Our results demonstrate upconversion in solid state geometries and with non-heavy metal-based sensitizer materials.
The degree and impact of differences in house price index measurement

House price indexes (HPIs) while particularly important to the analysis of recessions, are prone to methodological and coverage differences which can undermine both within-country and cross-country economic analysis. The paper first uses a panel data set of 157 quarterly HPIs from 24 countries, along with associated measurement variables, to report on whether and how differences in HPI measurement matter. Second, revisits the modeling of the determinants of house price inflation using HPIs adjusted for differences in measurement practice.
A New Method for Predicting Critical Speeds in Rotordynamics

The prediction of critical speeds of a rotating shaft is a crucial issue in a variety of industrial applications ranging from turbomachinery to disk storage systems. The modeling and analysis of rotordynamic systems is subject to a number of complications, but perhaps the most important characteristic is to pass through a critical speed under spin-up conditions. This is associated with classical resonance phenomena and high amplitudes, and is often a highly undesirable situation. However, given uncertainties in the modeling of such systems, it can be very difficult to predict critical speeds based on purely theoretical considerations. Thus, it is clearly useful to gain knowledge of the critical speeds of rotordynamic systems under in situ conditions. The present study describes a relatively simple method to predict the first critical speed using data from low rotational speeds. The method is shown to work well for two standard rotordynamic models, and with data from experiments conducted during this study.
Time Scales for Viscous Flow, Atomic Transport, and Crystallization in the Liquid and Supercooled Liquid States of Zr 41.2 Ti 13.8 Cu 12.5 Ni 10.0 Be 22.5

The shear viscosity of liquid Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5 has been measured. At the liquidus temperature we find an extremely high viscosity of 2.5 Pa s, favoring glass formation. At deep supercooling the time scales for the diffusion of small and medium sized atoms as reported in the literature decouple from the internal relaxation time as probed by our viscosity measurements. Similarly, crystallization from the supercooled liquid state can be described with an effective diffusivity that scales with the viscosity at high temperatures and is Arrhenius-like at deep supercooling.
Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Variability in Southern Africa: The Growing Role of Climate Information

Since the devastating southern Africa drought of 1991/92 awareness has grown of the potential to better manage climate variability in the region through seasonal climate forecasting and monitoring of El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO). While other factors besides ENSO affect southern Africa’s climate, and climate forecasting for the region is not based exclusively on ENSO, a major El Nino beginning in 1997 captured the attention of policy-makers and the public. Awareness of drought risks associated with the 1997/98 event was greater than during previous El Nitos in 1991/92 and 1994/95. Mitigation and planning efforts also began earlier, with drought early warnings widely available and being taken seriously prior to the 1997/98 agricultural season. Actions taken include issuance of guidance to the public, on-going monitoring and preparedness efforts including the development of national preparedness plans in some countries, pre-positioning of food stocks, donor coordination, and greater reliance on the private-sector for meeting regional food needs. Although 1998 regional crop production was slightly below average, a major drought did not materialize. Nonetheless the experience is likely to ultimately strengthen capacity within the region to manage climate variability over the long term.