cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-F-P-06: Moving From Computed Radiography to Digital Radiography: A Collaborative Approach to Improve Image Quality

Purpose: To bring together radiologists, technologists, and physicists to utilize post-processing techniques in digital radiography (DR) in order to optimize image acquisition and improve image quality. Methods: Sub-optimal images acquired on a new General Electric (GE) DR system were flagged for follow-up by radiologists and reviewed by technologists and medical physicists. Various exam types from adult musculoskeletal (n=35), adult chest (n=4), and pediatric (n=7) were chosen for review. 673 total images were reviewed. These images were processed using five customized algorithms provided by GE. An image score sheet was created allowing the radiologist to assign a numeric score to each of the processed images, this allowed for objective comparison to the original images. Each image was scored based on seven properties: 1) overall image look, 2) soft tissue contrast, 3) high contrast, 4) latitude, 5) tissue equalization, 6) edge enhancement, 7) visualization of structures. Additional space allowed for additional comments not captured in scoring categories. Radiologists scored the images from 1 – 10 with 1 being non-diagnostic quality and 10 being superior diagnostic quality. Scores for each custom algorithm for each image set were summed. The algorithm with the highest score for each image set was then set as the default processing. Results: Images placed into the PACS “QC folder” for image processing reasons decreased. Feedback from radiologists was, overall, that image quality for these studies had improved. All default processing for these image types was changed to the new algorithm. Conclusion: This work is an example of the collaboration between radiologists, technologists, and physicists at the University of New Mexico to add value to the radiology department. The significant amount of work required to prepare the processing algorithms, reprocessing and scoring of the images was eagerly taken on by all team members in order to produce better quality images and improve patient care.
Must guardians honor advance directives

A question asked at a recent advance directives seminar brought divided opinions from the attorneys present, resulting in a lively discussion of whether a court-appointed guardian must honor a patient's advance directive. The question is presented in this article with the first of several legal opinions to be published. As background, the Update presents the following discussion of advance directives by Suzanne Mitchell, assistant professor, Loyola University Law School Institute for Health Law.
A knowledge-based geo-spatial decision support system for drought assessment

Drought affects virtually all regions of the world and results in significant economic, social and environmental impacts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates annual drought-related losses in the United States at $6-8 billion, which is more than any other natural hazard. Congress enacted the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 to encourage the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) and farmers to be more proactive in managing drought risk. Current drought crisis management remains reactive, where action is dormant until the onset of threat. Despite billions of dollars in lost revenue, no comprehensive system exists for drought (Wilhite, 2000).
Obesity and the Critical Care Pregnant Patient

The rise of obesity among gravid women has been tracked and documented in many first-world countries, but a dramatic rise has been noted over the last 15 years. Definitions of "normal-weight, overweight and obese" have been defined; however, new terms are used to describe more severe degrees of obesity. Obesity in any form or degree increases morbidities in mothers. The unique physiologic characteristics of the obese gravida set up unique challenges in her management, especially in an acute setting such as labor. The definitions, trends, and management decisions pertaining to the obese parturient will be described in this review.
Examining the relationship between human resources and mortality: the effects of methodological choices

Relationship between human resources for health and mortality remains inconclusive despite numerous studies published on the topic in the last decades. This paper investigates how and why methodological trade-offs implicitly made by researchers when using macro-data can in part explains this puzzling lack of agreement. Using data from the Global Health Observatory, we build a model of the relationship between human resources and mortality, which we progressively alter by changing its scope, variables and analysis period. Then, we compare results among themselves to isolate the impact of methodological choices from other changes in the data. Results demonstrate how methodological choices linked to (1) the analysis period, (2) the definition of health inputs, health outcomes and control variables and (3) the choice of specific variables as proxy for human resources and health outcomes affects the relationship between human resources and health outputs. Results presented highlights the need for complementing existing macro-analysis with other analytical strategies, for better documenting methodological choices in research studies, as well as for further supporting countries’ efforts to produce reliable and consistent data.
Shifting patterns of mild weather in response to projected radiative forcing

Climate change has been shown to impact the mean climate state and climate extremes. Though climate extremes have the potential to disrupt society, extreme conditions are rare by definition. In contrast, mild weather occurs frequently and many human activities are built around it. We provide a global analysis of mild weather based on simple criteria and explore changes in response to radiative forcing. We find a slight global mean decrease in the annual number of mild days projected both in the near future (−4 days per year, 2016–2035) and at the end of this century (−10 days per year, 2081–2100). Projected seasonal and regional redistributions of mild days are substantially greater. These changes are larger than the interannual variability of mild weather caused by El Nino–Southern Oscillation. Finally, we show an observed global decrease in the recent past, and that observed regional changes in mild weather resemble projections.
The new "Hesitation Blues": initiating Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease therapy.

Clinical assessment is the key element for deciding which patient with Mycobacterium avium complex needs therapy http://ow.ly/90mo3091Bkh
Perspectives on Hypertension in the New England Cape Verdean Community

This study characterizes patient understanding of hypertension and its management in a Cape Verdean immigrant community. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with Cape Verdean Creole-speaking adults about their beliefs and behaviors regarding hypertension. Fourteen women and six men ages 35–87 were interviewed. The majority of the participants believed hypertension is symptomatic, with headache being the most common symptom. Many reported taking anti-hypertensive medication, though some took medication only when they felt symptoms. The majority were unfamiliar with a normal blood pressure reading. Most believed hypertension is related to stress and salt intake, though few reported making the recommended lifestyle changes. None of the participants communicated with physicians in their native language, relying instead on interpreters, family members or other languages to communicate. Participants identified language as a serious barrier to care. Our sample had a poor understanding of hypertension as a chronic, asymptomatic disease. Given the high prevalence of hypertension in this community, and the unavailability of Cape Verdean Creole-speaking interpreters and providers for individual patient visits, Cape Verdean patients may benefit from group education or medical visits conducted in Creole.
Collagen substitutes: bovine collagen.

Injectable collagens (e.g., ZC-I, ZC-II, ZP) provide the physician with a manner for approaching mild contour defects. They are a temporary, biocompatible solution to many, but certainly not all, soft-tissue deficiencies. The adverse reaction profile is of an acceptably low level and indeed only of local significance. For the physician and patient to benefit from these agents, however, effective, reproducible implantation techniques must be developed by the treating physician. As the physician's experience with these agents increases, so will his or her ability to produce aesthetically pleasing results.
Linearization and Invariant Manifolds

be \(\mathrm{C}^{1}\) autonomous vector fields. Let \(\varPhi _t^{(j)}, j=1, 2\), be the associated flows.
Generating and Browsing Multiple Taxonomies Over a Document Collection

We present a novel system and methodology for generating and then browsing multiple taxonomies over a document collection. Taxonomies are generated using a broad set of capabilities, including meta data, key word queries, and automated clustering techniques that serve as a seed taxonomy.The taxonomy editor, eClassifier, provides powerful tools to visualize and edit each taxonomy to make it reflective of the desired theme. Cluster validation tools allow the editor to verify that documents received in the future can be automatically classified into each taxonomy with sufficiently high accuracy. In general, those seeking knowledge from a document collection may have only a vague notion of exactly what they are attempting to understand, and would like to explore related topics and concepts rather than simply being given a set of documents. For this purpose, we have developed MindMap, an interface utilizing multiple taxonomies and the ability to interact with a document collection.
Association of Income Inequality With Pediatric Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care-Sensitive Conditions.

Importance The level of income inequality (ie, the variation in median household income among households within a geographic area), in addition to family-level income, is associated with worsened health outcomes in children. Objective To determine the influence of income inequality on pediatric hospitalization rates for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions (ACSCs) and whether income inequality affects use of resources per hospitalization for ACSCs. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis used the 2014 State Inpatient Databases of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of 14 states to evaluate all hospital discharges for patients aged 0 to 17 years (hereafter referred to as children) from January 1 through December 31, 2014. Exposures Using the 2014 American Community Survey (US Census), income inequality (Gini index; range, 0 [perfect equality] to 1.00 [perfect inequality]), median household income, and total population of children aged 0 to 17 years for each zip code in the 14 states were measured. The Gini index for zip codes was divided into quartiles for low, low-middle, high-middle, and high income inequality. Main Outcomes and Measures Rate, length of stay, and charges for pediatric hospitalizations for ACSCs. Results A total of 79 275 hospitalizations for ACSCs occurred among the 21 737 661 children living in the 8375 zip codes in the 14 included states. After adjustment for median household income and state of residence, ACSC hospitalization rates per 10 000 children increased significantly as income inequality increased from low (27.2; 95% CI, 26.5-27.9) to low-middle (27.9; 95% CI, 27.4-28.5), high-middle (29.2; 95% CI, 28.6-29.7), and high (31.8; 95% CI, 31.2-32.3) categories ( P P P Conclusions and Relevance Children living in areas of high income inequality have higher rates of hospitalizations for ACSCs. Consideration of income inequality, in addition to income level, may provide a better understanding of the complex relationship between socioeconomic status and pediatric health outcomes for ACSCs. Efforts aimed at reducing rates of hospitalizations for ACSCs should consider focusing on areas with high income inequality.
An inductor-less hybrid step-down DC-DC converter architecture for future smart power cable

This paper presents a DC-DC step-down power conversion architecture that allows a power cable, such as USB cable, to deliver both power transmission and power conversion functions. In this architecture, an S-Hybrid converter topology is proposed to utilize parasitic inductance readily available in the cable for power conversion stage. As a result, the explicit inductor often required in a buck converter counterpart and its associated loss can be eliminated, promising better full integration and improved efficiency especially in mid to heavy load conditions. In addition, this S-Hybrid converter architecture requires less inductance and achieves smaller inductor current ripple that in turn contributes to better performance. The architecture is experimentally verified with a proof-of-concept 15 W inductor-less Li-ion battery charger prototype using 1 m USB 3.0 cable. The converter, switched at 2 MHz from a 5 V input, experimentally achieves 89.7% maximum efficiency and 6.0% higher efficiency at full load than a buck converter counterpart. In addition, a relative 45.7% on-board loss reduction at full load highly promises its excellent integration feasibility.
Functional characterizations of rare UBA1 variants in X-linked Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Background: X-linked spinal muscular atrophy (XL-SMA) results from mutations in the Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Activating Enzyme 1 ( UBA1 ). Previously, four novel closely clustered mutations have been shown to cause this fatal infantile disorder affecting only males. These mutations, three missense and one synonymous, all lie within Exon15 of the UBA1 gene, which contains the active adenylation domain (AAD). Methods: In this study, our group characterized the three known missense variants in vitro . Using a novel Uba1 assay and other methods, we investigated Uba1 adenylation, thioester, and transthioesterification reactions in vitro to determine possible biochemical effects of the missense variants. Results: Our data revealed that only one of the three XL-SMA missense variants impairs the Ubiquitin-adenylating ability of Uba1. Additionally, these missense variants retained Ubiquitin thioester bond formation and transthioesterification rates equal to that found in the wild type. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a surprising shift from the likelihood of these XL-SMA mutations playing a damaging role in Uba1’s enzymatic activity with Ubiquitin, to other roles such as altering UBA1 mRNA splicing via the disruption of splicing factor binding sites, similar to a mechanism in traditional SMA, or disrupting binding to other important in vivo binding partners. These findings help to narrow the search for the areas of possible dysfunction in the Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway that ultimately result in XL-SMA. Moreover, this investigation provides additional critical understanding of the mutations’ biochemical mechanisms, vital for the development of future effective diagnostic assays and therapeutics.
Beyond the Secular West, edited by Akeel Bilgrami, New York, Columbia University Press, 2016, viii + 278 pp., US$35.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-231-17080-2

Ten years have elapsed since Charles Taylor published his mammoth apology for transcendence, A Secular Age (2007). Enthusiastically promoted by the Templeton Foundation, but rounding out at 850 pag...
Managing Regulatory Arbitrage: An Alternative to Harmonization

This policy-oriented article argues for deploying conflict of laws doctrines as a tool of coordination in international financial governance.
Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis Pain

Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) come to medical attention because of abdominal pain or symptoms of maldigestion or diabetes. Abdominal pain is clearly the most common and most significant of symptoms and is the most difficult to treat and generally interferes with quality of life. The abdominal pain is quite variable in location, severity, and frequency. Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) experience mid-epigastric pain that radiates to the back. The pain of CP often does not follow this classical pattern. Indeed, many variations of abdominal pain may be caused by CP. The pain can be constant or intermittent, and there may be frequent pain-free intervals. Eating may exacerbate the pain, leading to fear of eating and weight loss. The spectrum of abdominal pain ranges from mild to severe, often with narcotic dependence as a consequence.
Genetic counseling: DNA testing for the patient

Genetic counseling deals with the “human problems associated with the occurrence, or the risk of occurrence, of a genetic disorder in the family” (1). Genetic counseling is essentially a communication process—about medical facts, the contribution of heredity to certain conditions, the interpretation of test results, and the options available. It also involves supportive counseling to enable patients to make decisions and to make the best possible adjustment to the presence or risk of genetic disease. Genetic counselors have master's degrees from certified programs and are certified by either the American Board of Medical Genetics or the American Board of Genetic Counseling. This article reviews several case scenarios in order to highlight some themes and lessons from genetic counseling.
Book review: the end of prisons

In an engaging critique of crime, law, and punishment, Penal Abolitionism goes to great lengths to blend philosophy, theology and literature with deep strands of social theory—a tall task for a book with a page count of around 200. So, does the author pull it off? I think so. Moreover, it is Ruggiero’s analytical style—enhanced by a strong command of language—that allows readers to appreciate the force of his intellectualism. The work is presented in ten nicely organized chapters, each contributing to the argument that the penal response to crime is fundamentally flawed. Indeed, incarceration is harmful not only to those who lose their liberty but also detrimental to societies that claim to cherish such freedom. In making that case, Ruggiero presents biographical sketches of three “giants” of European abolitionism: Louk Hulsman, Thomas Mathiesen, and Nils Christie. By doing so, the book adds another level of interest (reminiscent of Lewis Coser’s Masters of Sociological Thought [1]). Some of the discussion draws on familiar debates over the ongoing (mis)use of prisons. Nonetheless, Ruggiero does a service to his (English-language) audience by incorporating insights from writings published in Italian, thereby laying out a more nuanced framework for understanding the persistence of penality. In the larger scheme, Ruggiero offers what might be viewed as a history of systems of (penal) thought, similar to the method of Foucault. But while Ruggiero observes Foucauldian theories, the book does not touch on French prison activism. That omission seems to be a missed opportunity. Had Ruggiero covered Foucault and the Groupe d’Information sur les Prisons, his own case against penal power would be grounded even further (see Welch [4, 5]). As another quibble, lengthy discussions on Durkheim [2] would have benefitted from notions contained in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, a work that is conspicuously absent given the degree to which religion and culture shape Ruggiero’s critique. Similarly, commentary on Durkheim would have been sharpened by integrating the analysis of Philip Smith [3]. In his Crime Law Soc Change (2012) 57:121–122 DOI 10.1007/s10611-011-9355-9
Impact of Ankle-Foot Orthosis on Gait Efficiency in Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ObjectiveChildren with cerebral palsy experience functional limitations because of excessive muscle weakness, spasticity, and impaired motor control. They are prescribed ankle-foot orthoses to assist with ambulation. Our objective was to analyze stride length and dorsiflexion data comparing the effe
Frozen Conflicts and Politics of Territorial Citizenship

This chapter addresses the impact of the frozen conflicts on citizenship and national identity politics of the three countries paying special attention to the politics of jus soli and territorial citizenship in general. It can be summarized as territorial integrity concerns. In Moldova, such impact was the most direct: policy-makers attempted to use citizenship to recover the connection with the residents of Transnistria and prevent further separatism. In Azerbaijan, the focus was more on preventing new separatism on the borders with Russia and Iran. Academic debates there continued to search for the solution of the frozen conflict in the ancient past, by establishing which ethnic group arrived to the territories in dispute first. In Georgia, existing frozen conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia only exacerbated ethnic nationalism leading to the widespread preoccupation with the extinction of the Georgian ethnos.
Financial Market Bottlenecks and the 'Openness' Mandate

Financial market infrastructures (“FMIs”), which facilitate the execution of financial transactions, exhibit such strong economies of scale that they are natural monopolies. In each market, production is controlled by a few dominant players. Federal courts have traditionally checked the abuses of natural monopolies under the Sherman Act. Yet recent Supreme Court decisions have reined in the role of antitrust in regulated industries, where administrative bodies set and enforce standards. To this effect, financial regulations require certain FMIs to grant open, nondiscriminatory access to users.This Article argues that weak “openness” regulations must be buttressed by their antitrust counterpart — specifically, the essential facilities doctrine, which enables an excluded user to sue for wrongful denial of access to an FMI.This Article situates FMIs at the intersection of four seismic trends. First, the role of FMIs as a mitigant of systemic risk renders their growth inevitable. Second, open access has become fashionable in the regulation of other natural monopolies (e.g., net neutrality rules), but this approach requires precise standards. Third, essential facilities can supplement weak open access regulations, but the doctrine was nearly dismantled by the Supreme Court a decade ago. Finally, the balance between antitrust and regulation is due to be reset, and the next move will likely come from FMIs.
Mexican Lime Bacteriosis Examined with Monoclonal Antibodies

A bacterial disease of limes that was detected in Colima, Mexico, and reached epidemic proportions by July 1982, was thought to be citrus canker disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri. However, only one of 41 bacterial strains (strain M3) isolated from leaf lesions reacted with anti-Xanthomonas monoclonal antibodies (MCA). MCA were generated to identify reference strains of X. c. pv. citri, types A, B, and C from Japan, Argentina, and Brazil, respectively. The Mexican strain, M3, reacted only with MCA B2, specific for slow-growing type B strains from Argentina and the type C strain (XC70). M3 showed no relationship to faster-growing type B strains, XC64 and XC69 from Argentina. Five additional Mexican strains (S. Rodriguez: T20-T24) reacted with anti-Xanthomonas MCA (X1 and X11), but failed to react with MCA specific for reference strains of X. c. pv. citri. The remaining yellow, oxidative bacteria associated with leaf lesions were separated into 6 groups with a rapid hybridoma technique, and 44 additional freshly-isolated formalin-killed strains were characterized with MCA. The possibility of a mixed etiology involved in Mexican lime bacteriosis is presented.
Chronic granulocytic leukemia: cytogenetic conversion of the bone marrow with cycle-specific chemotherapy.

Sixteen patients with Ph1-positive chronic granulocytic leukemic (CGL) were entered on a pulsing chemotherapy program consisting of cytosine arabinoside 100 mg/sq m/day X 5 and thioguanine 100 mq/sq m/day X 5 every 21 days in an attempt to convert the Ph1-positive marrow to a Ph1- negative state and thereby achieve a complete remission. Twelve patients had an adequate trail of drug treatment, and ten of these had adequate chromosome examinations. There were two “conversions,” one of which was maintained for 5+ mo, while the other was transient. The program was unacceptable, however, to most patients due to intolerable nausea and vomiting. Thus a prospective chemotherapeutic attempt to convert a Ph1-positive marrow without splenectomy has induced a conversion in two of ten patients. Other regimens which might induce less nausea and vomiting and a higher rate of conversions should be sought in future attempts to alter the invariably fatal outcome of CGL.
RAS/RAF Pathway Mutations Define a Distinct Subset of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Widespread use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) based mutational analysis has identified recurrent mutations of prognostic significance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/ small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). In addition to novel genes such as NOTCH1 and SF3B1, targetable mutations in genes involved in RAS-MAPK pathway such as KRAS and BRAF including V600E have been reported. However, the detailed clinicopathologic, cytogenetic and molecular genetic features of KRAS/NRAS/BRAF mutated CLL/SLL (CLLrasmut) are not known. We describe the clinicopathologic findings in 44 cases of CLLrasmut. NGS analysis targeting 53 cancer-related genes was performed on Miseq Illumina on CLL/SLL cases on bone marrow (BM) and/or peripheral blood (PB) samples. ZAP70 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry/ flow cytometry. Somatic hypermutation was performed by Sanger sequencing. Deviation from the germline above 2% was considered mutated. Interphase multi-color FISH studies were performed using probes targeting regions 11q22.3 (ATM), centromeric region of chromosome 12, 13q14.3 (D13S319 locus),13q34 (LAMP1) and 17p13.1 (TP53), Clinical data were correlated with molecular and cytogenetic findings. We reviewed 503 CLL cases in our laboratory database that underwent next-generation sequencing based multi-gene profiling. 44 (8.8%) patients had mutations including BRAF alone (n=18), KRAS alone (n=14), NRAS alone (n=8) and dual BRAF +KRAS/NRAS (n=4), respectively. We compared these 44 cases with 75 consecutive CLL/SLL cases without mutations in KRAS/NRAS/BRAF (CLLraswt). CLLrasmut showed a male predilection compared to the CLLraswt (M:F=3.9:1 versus 1.2:1, p =0.01) with a median age of 62 years (range, 42-80). There were no significant differences between CLLrasmut and CLLraswt in the median age of disease onset, PB counts, PB/BM tumor burden. Studies for somatic hypermutation showed unmutated IGHV in 79.4% of CLLrasmutversus 55.4% in CLLraswt (p =0.03). ZAP70 was positive in 73% of CLLrasmut compared to 42.9% in CLLraswt (0.05). TP53 was the most frequent concurrently mutated gene, noted in 22.7% (10/44) of CLLrasmut cases. CLLrasmut showed higher frequency of trisomy 12 (54.6% versus 30.7%, p =0.0001) and lower frequencies of D13S319 deletions (31.8% vs. 82.7%, p =0.0001) compared to CLLraswt. In a significant proportion of cases, the mutant allelic frequencies of RAS/RAF mutations were disproportionately lower than predicted based on the tumor burden. Interestingly, 15 out of 22 (69%) BRAF mutations involved codons other than V600. We conclude that BRAF/KRAS/NRAS mutations are seen in about 9% of CLL and could represent a distinct subset of CLL due to their frequent association with male gender, trisomy 12 and unmutated IGHV. These findings may provide additional insight into oncogenesis and guide design of potential targeted therapies in CLL. Disclosures Keating:Celgene Corp.: Consultancy; Glaxo-Smith-Kline Inc.: Other: Advisory board. Wierda:Glaxo-Smith-Kline Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene Corp.: Consultancy.
Commentary: CHIPping away pancreatic tumors?

In a recent article published in Oncotarget, Wang and colleagues report on an interesting observation of a new potentially useful approach in the management of pancreatic cancer (1).
Use of Trichoderma in the Management of Diseases in North American Row Crops

North America is a continent having the largest row crop productions in the world. Disease management is critical to ensure the success and profitability of the producers each year. Traditionally, disease management in row crops has been through synthetic fungicides use. The number of biofungicides in market for row crop disease management is relatively few compared with other parts of the world, due to higher regulation standards for environmental protection. In this chapter, we review the current status of biological controls for row crops in which Trichoderma spp. and other biological agents are used. We discuss the major diseases of row crops and yield losses in the United States. A list of biopesticides with Trichoderma spp. as microbial active ingredient is complied with the latest registration by EPA as of July 25, 2018. We also discuss management options (seed treatments and foliar and soil applications) for some of the major diseases of a few row crops using biocontrol agents with a distinct reference to Trichoderma spp.
Unfractionated heparin displaces sFlt-1 from the placental extracellular matrix

Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFlt-1) is an anti-angiogenic protein which is secreted by numerous cell types and acts as a decoy receptor for the angiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Despite its physiologic importance in maintaining angiogenic balance, excess sFlt-1 levels are associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, especially those with angiogenic imbalance, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension. Although sFlt-1 is a soluble protein, it contains a binding site for the extracellular matrix component heparan sulfate. This allows cells to retain and localize sFlt-1 in order to prevent excessive VEGF signaling. During pregnancy, placental syncytiotrophoblasts develop a large extracellular matrix which contains significant amounts of heparan sulfate. Consequently, the placenta becomes a potential storage site for large amounts of sFlt-1 bound to extracellular heparan sulfate. Additionally, it should be noted that sFlt-1 can bind to the anticoagulant unfractionated heparin due to its molecular mimicry to heparan sulfate. However, it remains unknown whether unfractionated heparin can compete with heparan sulfate for binding of localized sFlt-1. In this study, we hypothesized that administration of unfractionated heparin would displace and solubilize placental extracellular matrix(ECM)-bound sFlt-1. If unfractionated heparin can displace this large reservoir of sFlt-1 in the placenta and mobilized it into the maternal circulation, we should be able to observe its effects on maternal angiogenic balance and blood pressure. To test this hypothesis, we utilized in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo methods. Using the BeWo placental trophoblast cell line, we observed increased sFlt-1 in the media of cells treated with unfractionated heparin compared to controls. The increase in media sFlt-1 was found in conjunction with decreased localized cellular Flt (sFlt-1 and Flt-1) as measured by total cell fluorescence. Similar results were observed using ex vivo placental villous explants treated with unfractionated heparin. Real-time quantitative PCR of the explants showed no change in sFlt-1 or heparanase-1 mRNA expression, eliminating increased production and enzymatic cleavage of heparan sulfate as causes for sFlt-1 media increase. Timed-pregnant rats given a continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin exhibited an increased mean arterial pressure as well as decreased bioavailable VEGF compared to vehicle-treated animals. These data demonstrate that chronic unfractionated heparin treatment is able to displace matrix-bound sFlt-1 into the maternal circulation to such a degree that mean arterial pressure is significantly affected. Here we have shown that the placental ECM is a storage site for large quantities of sFlt-1, and that it should be carefully considered in future studies concerning angiogenic balance in pregnancy.
Mechanistic Insights into Photocatalyzed H2 Dissociation on Au Clusters

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) have attracted much recent attention for their potential in promoting chemical reactions with light. However, the mechanism of LSPR-induced chemical rea...
Maxing Out Entropy: A Conditioning Approach

Entropy and entropy-like measures of pricing kernel dispersion emerge as useful tools in asset pricing research. We develop a systematic approach to bounding entropy by incorporating conditioning information. Our bounds feature a fixed-point solution to a dynamic asset allocation problem. Similar to how the Sharpe ratio provides variance bound in the L2-space, our solution is interpret-able as generalized "Sharpe ratios" in the entropy space. Importantly, as opposed to relying on physical moments alone, our bounds strike a balance in exploiting physical return predictability and hedging risk-neutral higher order moments. Applying our approach to recently proposed return predictors, we document enhanced entropy restrictions that more than double the benchmark equity risk premium. We highlight the implications of our results in diagnosing leading macro-finance models.
Improved Methods for Tests of Long-Run Abnormal Stock Returns

Barber and Lyon (1997a) and Kothari and Warner (1997) document that standard tests of long-run abnormal returns are misspecified. In this research, we evaluate alternative methods to test for long-run abnormal returns. We document that two general approaches yield well-specified test statistics in random samples. The first approach uses a traditional event study framework and buy-and-hold abnormal returns calculated using carefully constructed reference portfolios, such that the population mean abnormal return is identically zero. Inference is based on either a skewness-adjusted t statistic or the empirically generated distribution of mean long-run abnormal returns. The second approach is based on the calculation of mean monthly abnormal returns using calendar-time portfolios and a time-series t statistic. Though both approaches perform well in random samples, misspecification in nonrandom samples is pervasive. Our central message is that the analysis of long-run abnormal returns is treacherous.
Sustainable synthesis of CO2-derived polycarbonates from D-xylose

Synthetic transformation of D-xylose into a four-membered cyclic ether allows for reactions with carbon dioxide (CO2) leading to linear polycarbonates by either a one-step ring-opening copolymerisation (ROCOP) directly, or by sequential isolation of a preformed six-membered cyclic carbonate followed by ring-opening polymerisation (ROP).
Venous thromboembolic (VTE) prophylaxis in Cushing disease patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery

Abstract Introduction The association between Cushing syndrome and a hypercoagulable state has been demonstrated in the literature. A standard venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis regimen has yet to be established for patients undergoing surgery for Cushing disease. Here we present outcomes associated with VTE prophylaxis in patients with Cushing disease undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumor resection. Methods A review of Cushing disease patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery between January 2010 and June 2020 was performed. Administration and type of VTE prophylaxis was recorded, and comparison was made between VTE and hemorrhagic complications before and after institution of a VTE prophylaxis protocol. Results A total of 65 patients were identified, 98.5% of which underwent VTE prophylaxis with either 5,000 units of subcutaneous heparin twice daily (n = 44) or 40 mg enoxaparin nightly (n = 20). VTE complications were not significantly different between the subcutaneous heparin and enoxaparin cohorts (4.5% v 0%; p = 0.61). The overall incidence of hemorrhagic complications requiring blood transfusion was 1.5%, and there was no significant difference in hemorrhagic complications between heparin and enoxaparin cohorts (0% v 5%; p = 0.32). Conclusion VTE prophylaxis in addition to sequential compression devices and early ambulation are critical in reducing VTE complications in patients with hypercortisolism from Cushing disease. Pharmacologic prophylaxis can be safely instituted in these patients with low risk of hemorrhagic complications.
Application-based metrics for strategic placement of detectors

The goal of this paper is to provide low-latency detection and prevent error propagation due to value errors. This paper introduces metrics to guide the strategic placement of detectors and evaluates (using fault injection) the coverage provided by ideal detectors embedded at program locations selected using the computed metrics. The computation is represented in the form of a dynamic dependence graph (DDG), a directed-acyclic graph that captures the dynamic dependencies among the values produced during the course of program execution. The DDG is employed to model error propagation in the program and to derive metrics (e.g., value fanout or lifetime) for detector placement. The coverage of the detectors placed is evaluated using fault injections in real programs, including two large SPEC95 integer benchmarks fgcc and perl). Results show that a small number of detectors, strategically placed, can achieve a high degree of detection coverage.
Surviving the Transition

Summary Community-based stewardship forestry (CBSF) on public lands in the United States is still a fledgling concept. Neither the number of projects completed nor the length of time that has passed since their initial implementation has been sufficient to draw definitive conclusions about the movement's success in improving economic, social, and environmental conditions in forest-dependent communities. What is of most concern now is whether the CBSF fledgling will have a chance to reach its full potential or will instead fall victim to organizational exhaustion, economic malnutrition, or political sniping. Experiences with stewardship collaboratives in northwest Montana have helped define 10 key factors CBSF groups must effectively address if they are to survive: (1) organizational burnout; (2) membership composition, expansion, diversification, and utilization; (3) change in organizational mission or focus; (4) financial viability; (5) responsiveness of federal decision makers to CBSF groups' legislativ...
A Review of: “Latino Dropouts in Rural America: Realities and Possibilities. Carolyn Hondo, Mary E. Gardiner, and Yolanda Sapien.”

Dropping out of high school is a “silent epidemic” in this country (Bridgeland, DiIulio, & Morison, 2006). The national average for high school completion is approximately 70%; however, that percen...
Understanding regime support in new and old democracies : the role of performance and democratic experience

This paper develops a comprehensive theory of support for democracy. Building on instrumental and culturalist approaches, the theory argues that experience with democracy conditions the extent to which economic and political performance inform support. Specifically, it argues that the extent to which economic performance informs support should decline as a democracy grows older, while the opposite should be true about political performance. These arguments are evaluated using multilevel models to analyse cross-national survey data for 21 Latin American countries. The evidence indicates that both economic and political performance inform support for democracy and that the extent to which economic performance informs support declines as a democracy grows older. Although the importance of political performance does not seem to be conditioned by democratic experience, its importance in relation to economic performance does increase as a democracy matures. The evidence also indicates that experience with democracy, and not level of economic development, is what conditions the importance of economic performance. Altogether, these results suggest that support for democracy and a civic culture that values the political goods that democracy can deliver are more likely to be a consequence of, rather than a prerequisite for, the survival and eventual consolidation of democracy.
A Single Amino Acid Change in Turnip Crinkle Virus Movement Protein p8 Affects RNA Binding and Virulence on Arabidopsis thaliana

Comparison of the symptoms caused by turnip crinkle virus strain M (TCV-M) and TCV-B infection of a resistant Arabidopsis thaliana line termed Di-17 demonstrates that TCV-B has a greater ability to spread in planta. This ability is due to a single amino acid change in the viral movement protein p8 and inversely correlates with p8 RNA binding affinity.
Irradiation Effects on Dielectric Mirrors for Fusion Power Reactor Application

Dielectric mirrors have been considered for both magnetic and inertial confinement systems. Such mirrors are comprised of multiple thin bi-layers of high and low refractive index materials deposite...
Mapping surface soil moisture with microwave radiometers

Water stored in the soil serves as a reservoir for the evapotranspiration (ET) process on land surfaces, therefore knowledge of the soil moisture content is important for partitioning the incoming solar radiation into latent and sensible heat components. There is no remote sensing technique which directly observes the amount of water in this reservoir, however microwave remote sensing at long wavelengths (λ>10 cm) can give estimates of the moisture stored in the surface 5-cm layer of the soil. This approach is based on the large dielectric contrast between water and dry soil, resulting in emissivity changes from 0.96 for a dry smooth soil to less than 0.6.
Metformin trims fats to restore insulin sensitivity.

Despite metformin being one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of diabetes, how it elicits its therapeutic effects has remained mysterious. A new study in mice shows that inhibitory phosphorylation of acetyl-coA carboxylases Acc1 and Acc2 by the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is essential for the ability of metformin to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood glucose in obesity (pages 1649–1654).
Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy Performed by Thoracic Surgeons: One Center's Early Success

Background Multiple studies by pulmonologists have demonstrated that electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) can, with high diagnostic yields and low complication rates, diagnose pulmonary lesions. We believe thoracic surgeons can perform this technique with excellent early results. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of the first consecutive 104 patients undergoing diagnostic ENB by 2 thoracic surgeons between April 2008 and October 2009. Procedures utilized general anesthesia and rapid on-site examination (ROSE) of cytopathology. All pulmonary lesions were suspicious for malignancy. Patients having negative biopsies subsequently underwent additional procedures or follow-up imaging. True negative biopsies were defined as lesions removed surgically and proven benign, lesions that disappeared on subsequent imaging, and lesions demonstrating stability over a 2-year period. Results Of 104 patients, 3 were excluded due to insufficient follow-up. The remaining 101 patients had a median lesion size of 2.8 cm. Sixty-seven (82%) of the 82 lesions that were determined malignant had a positive diagnosis upon ENB. Of the 34 lesions without a positive ENB biopsy, 19 (56%) were categorized as true negatives: 8 had benign surgical biopsies, 6 disappeared, and 5 demonstrated stability. Consequently, 86 of 101 cases had an accurate ENB biopsy for a diagnostic yield of 85%. There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate an association between lesion size and diagnostic accuracy. There were 6 pneumothoraces (5.8%). Conclusions It is possible for thoracic surgeons to perform ENB with early success. The high diagnostic yields in this study may be attributed to the routine utilization of ROSE and general anesthesia, which preserves computed tomographic-to-body divergence.
Risk Factors, Protective Factors, Vulnerability, and Resilience A Framework for Understanding and Supporting the Adult Transitions of Youth with High-Incidence Disabilities

Findings from numerous investigations of youth with high-incidence disabilities have indicated that these youth have poorer adult outcomes than do their peers without disabilities. Despite the consistency with which these findings have been observed, little is known about the specific factors that contribute to these poor outcomes, and even less is known about factors and processes that might improve them. Part of this limitation may be related to the lack of an organizing model or framework for thinking about the many factors and processes that can influence the outcomes of youth with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to examine how the related concepts of risk factors, protective factors, and resilience might inform our understanding of the postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities. These constructs are reviewed and their application to research focused on understanding and supporting the adult transitions of youth with high-incidence disabilities is explored. Based on this review, sever...
A reminder about procedures needed to reliably produce perfect timesharing: comment on Lien, McCann, Ruthruff, and Proctor (2005).

M.-C. Lien, R. S. McCann, E. Ruthruff, and R. W. Proctor (2005) argued that simultaneous ideomotorcompatible choice tasks cannot be perfectly timeshared. Their conclusion is limited in generalizability for 2 reasons: (a) Their experiments did not include procedures that previous research has shown to be necessary for obtaining perfect timesharing (motivating subjects to perform the 2 tasks rapidly and simultaneously; homogeneous blocks of simultaneous stimuli for the 2 tasks), and (b) their experiments included a procedure that previous research has shown to interfere with perfect timesharing of simultaneous tasks (within-block variation of task interstimulus intervals). Also discussed here are problems in M.-C. Lien et al.’s (2005) analysis of slopes relating Task 2 latency to Task 1 latency and their advocacy of a central bottleneck theory that may not be disconfirmable. This is the sixth article in a debate that started with Lien, Proctor, and Allen’s (2002) nonreplication of Greenwald and Shulman’s (1973) finding of perfect timesharing of two simultaneous choice tasks when both tasks were ideomotor (IM) compatible. 1 This debate has already consumed substantial space in this journal, prompting brevity of this comment and the present author’s resolve to avoid further debate in the absence of findings that allow a decisive advance of theory.
Asymptotic behavior of high-order differences of the plane partition function

Abstract Let π(n) be the number of plane partitions of the integer n and let Δkπ(n) be the kth backward difference of π(n). We study the asymptotic behavior or Δkπ(n) when n and k are simultaneously large. We obtain an asymptotic formula for this quantity when n, k→∞, which is valid for all k = O(n 2 3 ) . We show that, asymptotically, Δkπ(n) is positive in a portion of the (k,n) plane and alternates in sign as n increases, i.e. is proportional to (-1)n, in the remaining portion. A detailed asymptotic formula is derived for the transition curve that separates the positive and oscillatory regions. To leading order this curve is given by, as k→∞, n∼ 2 3(3C) - 1 2 (klog k) 2 3 , C = ∑ ∞ t = 1 l -3 Our results are obtained by deriving a recursion equation for Δkπ(n) and then analyzing it by asymptotic methods of applied mathematics, such as the WKB method and the method of matched asymptotic expansions. This gives an asymptotic formula for Δkπ(n), assuming that it has a certain form which is suggested by the generating function for Δkπ(n). Numerical comparisons illustrate the quality of our approximations.