cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The changing spectrum of pulmonary operations in infants and children

During the 37 year period between 1943 and 1980, 68 pediatric patients underwent 86 major pulmonary resections during 73 separate operations. The surgical procedures included lobectomy (55), segmentectomy (25), pneumonectomy (three), and cyst excision (three). The 73 operations were performed for nontuberculous infection, congenital malformation, tuberculosis, tumor, obstructive lung disease, cardiac-related problems, immunologic disease, and trauma in decreasing order of frequency. The operative mortality was 4.4%; the disease-related late mortality was 6.2%, due to either chronic respiratory failure or metastatic disease. Complications occurred in 21.9% of the operations. Only one death occurred during the last two decades, but the morbidity rate remained constant through all decades. Analysis by decade showed a striking change in the spectrum of pediatric pulmonary operations over the 37 year study period. Three major trends were identified: (1) Bronchiectasis and tuberculosis, once the major indications for pulmonary resection, have, from a surgical standpoint, virtually disappeared. (2) Congenital pulmonary anomalies now account for the majority of major pediatric pulmonary resections. As a consequence, the patient age at operation has steadily decreased, and pulmonary resections in infants (under 1 year of age) make up almost half of the surgical resections currently being done. (3) Despite the marked decline in the number of operations performed for infectious pulmonary disease, the total number of pulmonary operations in the pediatric age group has not decreased.
Technology Use Among Patients in a Nonurban Southern U.S. HIV Clinic in 2015

Abstract Background: Behavioral interventions can be delivered over the Internet, but nonurban subpopulations living with HIV may still have inadequate Internet access to make this feasible. Methods: We report on a survey conducted in 2015 among 150 patients receiving care at a university-based Infectious Disease Clinic serving a nonurban and rural population in central Virginia. Our aim was to determine the rate of computer, tablet, and smartphone usage, as well as Internet access, to inform the delivery of a novel intervention using Internet and mobile technology. Results: The participants' mean age was 46; 111 patients used computers, 101 used smartphones, and 41 used tablets. The results showed that 87% of patients had Internet access. Of those, 49 reported daily Internet use, while 18% reported weekly Internet use, and 33% reported less frequent Internet use. Conclusions: The survey study data suggest that Internet access among nonurban and rural patients with HIV is adequate to support trials testin...
Efficacy and tolerability of long-term venlafaxine XR therapy for GAD. Results of long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

Abstract Various antidepressants and anxiolytic agents have proved to be effective as short-term therapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and other anxiety disorders. However, less is known about their efficacy in the long-term treatment of GAD. This gap in our knowledge poses a problem for physicians, who treat GAD over several months or years. More information from long-term, placebo-controlled studies of the efficacy of drug therapy for GAD will help clinicians in treatment planning. Recently, the anxiolytic effectiveness exhibited by venlafaxine extended release (venlafaxine XR) in short-term, placebo-controlled studies of nondepressed patients was confirmed in 2 long-term, placebo-controlled trials. Venlafaxine XR maintained its efficacy for up to 6 months. Compared with placebo, it demonstrated statistically significant efficacy when administered once daily in doses ranging between 37.5 and 225 mg. In addition, the incidence of adverse events was low and generally comparable to that for placebo. In light of these results, venlafaxine XR has a unique role in the long-term treatment of GAD.
Transferring Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage Does Not Increase In-Hospital Mortality.

INTRODUCTION Comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs) accept transferred patients from referring hospitals in a given regional area. The transfer process itself has not been studied as a potential factor that may impact outcome. We compared in-hospital mortality and severe disability or death at CSCs between transferred and directly admitted intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients of matched severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all primary ICH patients from a prospectively-collected stroke registry and electronic medical records, at two tertiary care sites. Patients meeting inclusion criteria were divided into two groups: patients transferred in for a higher level of care and direct presenters. We used propensity scores (PS) to match 175 transfer patients to 175 direct presenters. These patients were taken from a pool of 530 eligible patients, 291 (54.9%) of whom were transferred in for a higher level of care. Severe disability or death was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) sore of 4-6. Mortality and morbidity were compared between the 2 groups using Pearson chi-squared test and Student t test. We fit logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for association between transfer status and in-hospital mortality and severe disability or death in full and PS-matched patients. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the PS-matched transfer and direct presentation groups. Patients transferred to a regional center were not at higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.50-1.71) and severe disability or death (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.39-1.50), than direct presenters, even after adjustment for PS, age, baseline NIHSS score, and glucose on admission. CONCLUSION Our observation suggests that transfer patients of similar disease burden are not at higher risk of in-hospital mortality than direct presenters.
Generic trilinear multipliers associated to degenerate simplexes

For each $$1 \le p \le \infty $$ , let $$W_{p}(\mathbb {R}) = \left\{ f \in L^p(\mathbb {R}): \hat{f} \in L^{p^\prime }(\mathbb {R}) \right\} $$ be equipped with the norm $$||f||_{W_{p}(\mathbb {R})} = \left||\hat{f}\right||_{L^{p^\prime }(\mathbb {R})}$$ . Moreover, let $$a_1,a_2 : \mathbb {R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb {C}$$ satisfy the condition that for all $$\mathbf {\alpha } \in \mathbb {Z}_{ \ge 0}^2$$ there is $$C_{a_1, a_2,\mathbf {\alpha }}>0$$ such that for all $$\mathbf {\xi } \in \mathbb {R}^2$$ and $$j \in \{1,2\}$$ , $$\left| \partial ^{\mathbf {\alpha }} a_j (\mathbf {\xi })\right| \le \frac{C_{a_1, a_2,\mathbf {\alpha }}}{dist(\mathbf {\xi }, \varGamma )^{|\mathbf {\alpha }|}}$$ . Our main result is that the trilinear multiplier given on $$\mathcal {S}(\mathbb {R})^3$$ by $$\begin{aligned} B[a_1, a_2] : (f_1, f_2, f_3) \mapsto \int _{\mathbb {R}^3} a_1(\xi _1, \xi _2) a_2(\xi _2, \xi _3) \left[ \prod _{j=1}^3 \hat{f_j} (\xi _j) e^{2 \pi ix \xi _j} \right] d\xi _1 d\xi _2 d\xi _3 \end{aligned}$$ extends to a bounded map from $$L^{p_1}(\mathbb {R}) \times W_{p_2}(\mathbb {R}) \times L^{p_3}(\mathbb {R})$$ into $$L^{\frac{1}{\frac{1}{p_1} + \frac{1}{p _2} +\frac{1}{p_3}}}(\mathbb {R})$$ provided $$\begin{aligned} 1< p_1, p_3< \infty , \frac{1}{p_1} + \frac{1}{p_2}<1, \frac{1}{p_2} + \frac{1}{p_3}<1, 2< p_2 < \infty . \end{aligned}$$
Sequestration of ubiquitous dietary derived pigments enables mitochondrial light sensing

Animals alter their physiological states in response to their environment. We show that the introduction of a chlorophyll metabolite, a light-absorbing pigment widely consumed in human diets, to Caenorhabditis elegans results in animals whose fat mass can be modulated by exposure to light, despite the worm consuming the same amount of food. In the presence of the chlorophyll metabolite, exposing the worms to light increased adenosine triphosphate, reduced oxidative damage, and increased median life spans, without an effect on animal reproduction. Mice fed a dietary metabolite of chlorophyll and exposed to light, over several months, showed reductions in systemic inflammation as measured by plasma α-macroglobulin. We propose that dietary chlorophyll metabolites can enable mitochondria to use light as an environmental cue, by absorbing light and transferring the energy to mitochondrial coenzyme Q.
Laser-initiated magnetization reversal and correlated morphological effects visualized with in situ Fresnel transmission electron microscopy

Laser-initiated switching of magnetization direction in ferrimagnetic rare-earth--transition-metal (RE-TM) alloys---whether laser induced or photothermal via compensation point---is being vigorously pursued owing to the promise of extending operating frequencies of magnetic devices into the terahertz regime. Despite intense interest, however, the effects of repeated laser exposure on the film structure and subsequent switching behavior have yet to be investigated. In order to better understand the correlated effects of femtosecond-laser irradiation on both the magnetic response and photoinduced morphological variations of RE-TM alloys, we performed in situ Fresnel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on $\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{b}}_{23}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{o}}_{77}$ thin films with Ta protecting layers. Via optical access to the specimen in a modified TEM, we irradiated the thin films in situ with both individual and series of femtosecond optical pulses, and correlated laser-induced changes in magnetic domain-wall formation and growth with photothermal crystal formation and accompanying pinned magnetic sites. We find that, for a range of applied laser fluences and numbers of individual pulses, several distinct regions are formed displaying varied magnetic behavior (switchable, nonswitchable, demagnetized) and morphological features (small-to-large crystal-grain variations). Through a series of systematic studies, we quantified these linked magnetic and morphological properties as a function of laser fluence, number of pulse-train cycles, and number of individual femtosecond-laser pulses and the duration between each. Our results show how the sensitive connection between magnetic behavior and morphological structure can emerge in magneto-optic experiments across several parameters, thus illustrating the need for rigorous characterization so that potential operating regimes may be universally identified.
Benzodiazepine use in patients with chronic pain in an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program

Objectives In the context of widespread opioid use, increased emphasis has been placed on the potentially deleterious effects of concurrent benzodiazepine (BZD) and opioid use. Although use of opioids in chronic pain has been a major focus, BZD use is equally concerning. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to determine the associations between BZD and opioid use in adults with chronic pain upon admission to an outpatient interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation (IPR) program. Methods The study cohort involved 847 consecutive patients admitted to a 3-week outpatient IPR program from January 2013 through December 2014. Study variables included baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the pain severity subscale of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Results Upon admission, 248 (29%) patients were taking BZDs. Patients using BZDs were significantly more likely to use opioids and to be female. Additionally, patients using BZDs had significantly greater depression, pain catastrophizing, and pain severity scores. In univariable logistic regression analysis, opioid use, female sex, and greater scores of depression, pain catastrophizing, and pain severity were significantly associated with BZD use. In multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, pain duration, opioid use, depression, pain catastrophizing, and pain severity, only female sex and greater depression scores were significantly associated with BZD use. Discussion Among patients participating in an outpatient IPR program, female sex and greater depression scores were associated with BZD use. Results identify a high prevalence of BZD use in patients with chronic pain and reinforce the need to weigh the risks versus benefits when prescribing in this patient population.
Kansas Voter ID Laws: Advertising and Its Effects on Turnout

Previous studies have sought to assess the aggregate impact new voter identification (ID) laws have on voter turnout. In this study, we extend on this research by considering how the advertising of voter ID laws can affect voters’ perception of these laws and how these perceptions may affect individuals’ decisions to turnout. In Kansas, county clerks were given discretion in how to advertise new voter ID laws. Employing a quasi-experimental design and matching techniques, we examine these differences in the county-level advertising. We find that different advertising strategies can influence the impact voter ID laws have on turnout.
Pediatric Experience with Fondaparinux in Deep Venous Thrombosis.

Over the past two years we have employed daily SC fondaparinux as longterm anticoaguation in five pediatric patients who presented with deep venous thrombosis (DVT; 3 cases) or DVT combined with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) confirmed by ELISA for HIT antibody ( 2 cases). The Table summarizes characteristics of the patients. In all cases, anti-factor Xa levels were obtained 3–4 hrs after the third dose and were in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 IU/ml, calibrated to fondaparinux. Indications for fondaparinux were outpatient treatment of HIT or suspected HIT (2 cases), a desire for true once-daily outpatient dosing of a SC agent (3 cases), or a desire to minimize volume of agent given SC (2 cases). Dosing for Pt 1 was based upon a calculated enhanced renal excretion of fondaparinux in very young children, assuming drug metabolism to vary as (body mass}0.75 rather than as body mass. Pt 5 had previously required 10,000 IU of a low MW heparin SC bid, in view of her heterozygous ATIII deficiency, and suffered recurrent hematomas at the injection sites. These almost entirely resolved with use of fondaparinux and a consequent 60% reduction in the daily injected volume of anticoagulant. There have been no episodes of recurrent thrombosis and no bleeding complications after a mean pt follow-up of 8.5 months. Thus, fondaparinux can be employed safely and effectively in both young children and adolescents, with and without HIT. | Pt Number | Age | HIT | Risk factors | Mo on fondaparinux | |:---------:| ------ | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | | 1 | 13 mo | present | anticardiolipin antibody | 8 | | 2 | 14 yrs | suspected | anticardiolipin antibody | 4.5 | | 3 | 17 yrs | absent | FV Leiden, May-Thurner Syndrome, elevated Lp(a), BCPs | 18 | | 4 | 17 yrs | absent | cervicle rib (subclavian vein thrombosis) | 10 | | 5 | 18 yrs | absent | ATIII deficiency, atretic IVC, elevated Lp(a), BCPs | 2 | Patient Characteristics
From propositional logic to plausible reasoning: A uniqueness theorem

Abstract We consider the question of extending propositional logic to a logic of plausible reasoning, and posit four requirements that any such extension should satisfy. Each is a requirement that some property of classical propositional logic be preserved in the extended logic; as such, the requirements are simpler and less problematic than those used in Cox's Theorem and its variants. As with Cox's Theorem, our requirements imply that the extended logic must be isomorphic to (finite-set) probability theory. We also obtain specific numerical values for the probabilities, recovering the classical definition of probability as a theorem, with truth assignments that satisfy the premise playing the role of the “possible cases.”
Nuclear Structure of Ca 4 0 , 4 2 , 4 4 , 4 8 from Inelastic Alpha-Particle Scattering

The ($\ensuremath{\alpha},{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reaction has been studied on ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40,42,44,48}$ at 31-MeV incident energy with approximately 90-keV resolution and high statistics. Spin and parity assignments have been made on the basis of systematics and comparison with the distorted-wave Born approximation. Levels of a given spin and parity show remarkably similar angular distributions, even though they vary widely in magnitude. This indicates experimentally that because of the strong absorption of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles, the shape of the differential cross section implies the spin and parity of the excited level, and the magnitude indicates the transition strength. The energy levels, spin and parity assignments, and transition strengths found in this experiment are compared with previous experiments and with theoretical results. Two ${4}^{+}$ states, which may be core excitations, have been found in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40,42,48}$ between 6- and 8.5-MeV excitation energy with an equivalent electromagnetic strength of approximately 0.5 to 3 single-particle units. Three octupole states have been found in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40,48}$, six octupole states in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{42,44}$, a ${5}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ state in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40,42,48}$, and two ${5}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{44}$. The fractionization of the ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ strength and the rapid and similar drop of the ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${5}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ strength in going from ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40}$ to ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{44}$ appear to be a challenge to current ideas about the nature of these states.
Influence of Body Composition, Oral Contraceptive Use, and Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density in Premenopausal Women.

In premenopausal women, low bone density may reflect attainment of a lower peak bone mass which can increase risk of osteoporosis after menopause. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition and oral contraceptive (OC) use in 18–30 year old women. Sixty-five healthy women, split into groups of oral contraceptive users (OC, n = 36) and non oral contraceptive users (Non-OC, n = 29), completed Baecke physical activity, calcium intake, and menstrual history questionnaires. Total body, AP lumbar spine, and dual proximal femur scans were performed using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Body composition measures were obtained from the total body scan analysis. No significant differences were found for BMD in OC users and non-users. Bone free lean body mass (BFLBM) and weight were positively correlated to all BMD sites, and fat mass was related to total body and L1–L4 spine BMD (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression analyses determined that weight was a significant predictor for all BMD sites (p < 0.05). When separating the two components of body weight, BFLBM was a significant predictor for all BMD sites, and fat mass only predicted total body BMD. In conclusion, this study indicates that weight and BFLBM are significant contributors to BMD in young healthy premenopausal women, and OC use did not influence the relationship between BMD and BFLBM.
Svetlana Aleksievich’s changing narrative of the Soviet–Afghan War in Zinky Boys

The goal of this article is to trace the developing narrative of the Soviet–Afghan War in Svetlana Aleksievich’s Tsinkovye mal’chiki (Zinky Boys) by contrasting the author’s initial representation ...
Optimal sensor-controller codesign for privacy in dynamical systems

We study the problem of jointly designing the sensor and controller for a dynamical system driven by a privacy-sensitive input process. This problem is motivated by the modern thermostat control example where home's occupancy is continually monitored and leveraged to tailor thermostat behaviors for better energy savings and comfort, which, however, arouses users' concern over privacy. We start by quantifying the instantaneous privacy loss in a control system under standard inference attacks. We present the closed form of privacy loss for linear Gaussian systems and propose a sampling-based method to approximate privacy loss for general dynamical systems. The optimal control and sensor query strategy for a private-input-driven system is then characterized, and we further prove the validity of separation principle for a linear system with Gaussian disturbance and quadratic cost under the privacy loss proposed in this paper. We close the paper by demonstrating the flexibility of the joint sensor-controller policy in the occupancy-based thermostat control example and providing some insights on the tradeoff among energy, comfort, and privacy.
Application of Tree-Based Solutions

This case is a study of the application of tree-based solutions to Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) challenges in the development of a computerized system to meet complex, yet exacting compliance requirements extended to thousands of employees in a largescale organization. We rehearse the history of the project and include information on the theoretical structure of the tree-based solution used. Using primary research documentation, we use a constructivist approach to the issue of subject matter expert empowerment, a major theme of the case. Of particular interest is how the engineer in question was able to modify his work paradigm to incorporate a new role as digital content designer and overseer of the project. Additionally, the study concentrates on the overall effects of the project on other INEEL systems and working environments at the INEEL. Implications of management- and subject matter expert-directed system design projects using tree-based tools are considered with respect to all aspects of enterprise systems development.
Pre-Class Learning Methods for Flipped Classrooms

Objective. To review the types of pre-class learning modalities used in flipped classrooms (FC) and team-based learning (TBL) and determine best practices. Findings. Forty-eight articles were included. Reading materials or video lectures were used most often as the primary modality to deliver the pre-class learning. Students favored assignments that have clear objectives, provide guidance, are guided, and are brief. Summary. This study describes how pharmacy schools and colleges are implementing FC into their curricula and the types of pre-class learning that are being developed and assigned with the implementation. More research should be done in comparing the impact of different types of pre-class material on learning outcomes, such as knowledge retention. This is especially important in FC settings because the in-class learning and higher order activities are built upon having a good foundational knowledge, which comes from the pre-class learning.
Investigation of IMPDH2 overexpression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) & its association with oncologic outcomes.

594Background: Approximately 40% of locoregional RCC patients relapse after nephrectomy leading to lower 5 year survival rates of 53% (stage III) & 8% (metastatic). No biomarkers of prognostic sign...
Using the entropy weighting scheme in military decision making

This article compares the entropy weight scheme to other subjective weighting schemes using various multi-attribute decision making criteria. We apply the entropy weighting scheme to improve the CA...
Wide Stop Band Optical Filters from Photonic Band Gap Air Bridges

Photonic band gap materials can produce optical filters with large stop bands and sharp transmission resonances. The transmission spectrum and radiation characteristics of one such filter are described using a modified finite difference time domain program.
Coronary CT Calcium Score in Patients With Prior Nongated CT, Is it Necessary?

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the percentage of patients undergoing gated coronary artery calcium score CTs that had a prior nongated chest CT. To assess the accuracy of prior nongated chest CTs in the detection of coronary calcium. Background Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. Quantifying coronary artery calcification on gated calcium score CT has proven to be strongly predictive of adverse coronary artery disease events. However, visual estimation and ordinal scoring on nongated chest CTs is predictive of coronary calcium burden. Methods Consecutive gated calcium score CTs at a single institution from 10/2014 to 10/2016 were retrospectively evaluated with IRB approval/waiver of informed consent. The presence or absence of coronary calcium and ordinal score on nongated chest CT was compared to Agatston score on gated calcium score CT. Results Forty-two of 441 patients (9.5%) with a gated calcium score had a prior nongated chest CT, with a mean time difference of 810 days. Of the 42 prior chest CTs, 69% had coronary artery calcium (CAC) and 31% did not, with 100% predictive accuracy for the presence or absence of CAC on subsequent gated calcium score CTs. There was 86% correlation of Agatston score on gated calcium score CT with ordinal score on the prior chest CT. Ordinal score divided into independent groups of severity was related to increased severity of Agatston score on the gated calcium score CT (P Conclusions A large percentage of gated calcium score CTs were performed despite a prior chest CT. The ordinal score on chest CTs correlated with Agatston score on gated calcium score CTs. The presence of CAC on chest CTs was underreported in a majority of cases.
Effect of treatment of central sleep apnea/Cheyne-Stokes respiration on left ventricular ejection fraction in heart failure: a network meta-analysis is not the answer

Citation:Hunasikatti M. Effect of treatment of central sleep apnea/Cheyne-Stokes respiration on left ventricular ejection fraction in heart failure: a network meta-analysis is not the answer. J Cli...
Residual herbicide concentrations in on-farm water storage-tailwater recovery systems: preliminary assessment

On‐farm water storage–tailwater recovery systems reduce groundwater usage and intercept agrochemical loads, but pesticide residue dynamics in these systems are not well understood. This study monitored concentrations of seven herbicides in seven northeast Arkansas tailwater recovery systems (April 2017–March 2018). Clomazone, glyphosate, metolachlor, and quinclorac were frequently detected, with minimal detections of 2,4‐D, dicamba, and propanil. Concentrations peaked during the growing season (1 Apr.–15 Sept.), reflecting an interaction of application and precipitation. Clomazone, glyphosate, and quinclorac concentrations were greater in ditches (<0.80–67, <0.50–6.2, and <0.40–62 μg L(-1), respectively) than in the associated reservoir (<0.80–6.0, <0.50–4.1, and <0.40–6.0 μg L(-1), respectively), but metolachlor concentrations were not different between structure types (maximum 22–32 μg L(-1)). Off‐season concentrations were mostly below detection, except for quinclorac. Cycling recovered tailwater through the system and irrigating from reservoirs may minimize risk of cross‐crop contaminations with residual herbicides. Managed groundwater recharge should use reservoir water during winter to protect groundwater quality.
Bioactive Plasma Mitochondrial DNA Is Associated With Disease Progression in Scleroderma-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Objective Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is characterized by variable clinical outcomes, activation of innate immune pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), and accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing myofibroblasts. The aim of this study was to identify an association between these entities and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), an endogenous ligand for the intracellular DNA-sensing PRRs Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS/STING), which has yet to be determined. Methods Human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) from normal donors and SSc-ILD explants were treated with synthetic CpG DNA and assayed for α-SMA expression and extracellular mtDNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the human MT-ATP6 gene. Plasma MT-ATP6 concentrations were evaluated in 2 independent SSc-ILD cohorts and demographically matched controls. The ability of SSc-ILD and control plasma to induce TLR-9 and cGAS/STING activation was evaluated with commercially available HEK 293 reporter cells. Plasma concentrations of type I interferons (IFNs), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and oxidized DNA were measured using electrochemiluminescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based methods. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) precipitated from plasma were evaluated for MT-ATP6 concentrations and proteomics via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results Normal HLFs and SSc-ILD fibroblasts developed increased α-SMA expression and MT-ATP6 release following CpG stimulation. Plasma mtDNA concentrations were increased in the 2 SSc-ILD cohorts, reflective of ventilatory decline, and were positively associated with both TLR-9 and cGAS/STING activation as well as type I IFN and IL-6 expression. Plasma mtDNA was not oxidized and was conveyed by EVs displaying a proteomics profile consistent with a multicellular origin. Conclusion These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized connection between EV-encapsulated mtDNA, clinical outcomes, and intracellular DNA-sensing PRR activation in SSc-ILD. Further study of these interactions could catalyze novel mechanistic and therapeutic insights into SSc-ILD and related disorders.
Anticholestatic Effect of Bardoxolone Methyl on Hepatic Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Background Cholestasis is a sign of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is caused by the dysfunction of hepatocyte membrane transporters (HMTs). As transcriptional regulation of HMTs during oxidative stress is mediated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, we hypothesized that bardoxolone methyl (BARD), a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 activator, can mitigate cholestasis associated with hepatic IRI. Methods BARD (2 mg/kg) or the vehicle was intravenously administered into rats immediately before sham surgery, 60 min of ischemia (IR60), or 90 min of ischemia (IR90); tissue and blood samples were collected after 24 h to determine the effect on key surrogate markers of bile metabolism and expression of HMT genes (Mrp (multidrug resistance-associated protein) 2, bile salt export pump, Mrp3, sodium-taurocholate cotransporter, and organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1). Results Significantly decreased serum bile acids were detected upon BARD administration in the IR60 group but not in the IR90 group. Hepatic tissue analyses revealed that BARD administration increased mRNA levels of Mrp2 and Mrp3 in the IR60 group, and it decreased those of bile salt export pump in the IR90 group. Protein levels of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2, multidrug resistance-associated protein 3, and sodium-taurocholate cotransporter were higher in the IR90 group relative to those in the sham or IR60 groups, wherein the difference was notable only when BARD was administered. Immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses showed that the area of expression for multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and for sodium-taurocholate cotransporter was larger in the viable tissues than in the necrotic area, and the area for multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 was smaller; these differences were notable upon BARD administration. Conclusions BARD may have the potential to change HMT regulation to mitigate cholestasis in hepatic IRI.
Nonelective hospital admissions, discharge disposition, and health services utilization in epilepsy patients: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVE Identifying adverse outcomes and examining trends and causes of nonelective admissions among persons with epilepsy would be beneficial to optimize patient care and reduce health services utilization. We examined the association of epilepsy with discharge status, in-hospital mortality, length-of-stay, and charges. We also examined 10-year trends and causes of hospital admissions among those with and without epilepsy. METHODS Nonelective hospital admission in persons with epilepsy was identified in the 2005-2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) using a validated International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) case definition. The NIS is the largest US all-payer database including patient and hospital-level variables, and represents hospitalizations in the general population. Descriptive statistics on trends and causes of admissions and multivariable regression analysis summarizing the association of epilepsy with the outcomes of interest are presented. RESULTS Of 4 718 178 nonelective admissions in 2014, 3.80% (n = 179 461) were in persons with epilepsy. Admissions in persons with epilepsy increased from 14 636 to 179 461 (P < .0001) between 2005 and 2014. As compared to persons without epilepsy, hospital admissions in persons with epilepsy had higher odds of transfer to other facilities (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72-1.81, P < .0001), being discharged against medical advice (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.38-1.59, P < .0001), and incurring 4% greater total charges (P < .0001). Epilepsy, convulsions, pneumonia, mood disorders, cerebrovascular disease, and septicemia were the top causes for admissions in those with epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE Future research should focus on designing targeted health care interventions that decrease the number of hospital admissions, reduce health services utilization, and increase the odds of discharge home in people with epilepsy.
Cancellative hypergraphs and Steiner triple systems.

A triple system is cancellative if it does not contain three distinct sets $A,B,C$ such that the symmetric difference of $A$ and $B$ is contained in $C$. We show that every cancellative triple system $\mathcal{H}$ that satisfies certain inequality between the sizes of $\mathcal{H}$ and its shadow must be structurally close to the balanced blowup of some Steiner triple system. Our result contains a stability theorem for cancellative triple systems due to Keevash and Mubayi as a special case. It also implies that the boundary of the feasible region of cancellative triple systems has infinitely many local maxima, thus giving the first example showing this phenomenon.
Jack A. Ward, 1935–1982, and the chromides

Colleagues and friends of Jack A. Ward were deeply saddened by his recent death on December 5th, 1982 due to a coronary thrombosis. Jack was born on September 2nd, 1935, in Lebanon, Oregon, the son of Tellis and Vena Ward. His youth was spent in Lebanon where he attended high school. He earned a Bachelor of Science in 1957 from Willamette University and in 1960, a Masters of Science at the University of Washington. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Illinois in 1965, working under Dr. George Barlow on the now widely known orange chromide, Etroplus maculatus.
An Ecological Risk Assessment for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Produced Water Discharges to the Western Gulf of Mexico

Produced water represents the largest volume waste stream in the entire exploration and production process on most offshore platforms (Stephenson, 1991). The amount of treated produced water discharged from a single platform usually is less than 1.5 million liters/day (≈ 400,000 barrels/day), whereas discharges from large treatment facilities that process produced water from several platforms may be as high as 25 million L/day (Menzie, 1982). The total volume of treated produced water discharged to U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 1991 was approximately 549 million L/day (Rabalais et al., 1991), approximately 65 percent of which was generated in and discharged to coastal (state) waters of Louisiana and Texas (Boesch and Rabalais, 1989). In 1991, an average of 438 million L/day of treated produced water was discharged to the entire North Sea (Stephenson et al., 1994). The Statfjord oil field alone discharged an average of 30.9 million L/day of treated produced water to the Norwegian sector of the North Sea (Ynnesdal and Furuholt, 1994). The daily rate of produced water discharge to the North Sea is expected to increase to about 955 million L/day in 1998.
Problematic Syntactic Patterns

Several re-occurring problematic syntactic patterns which were encountered during theimplementation of a partial parser and natural language information retrieval system arepresented in this paper. These patterns cause syntax-based partial parsers, which rely oninitial part-of-speech tags, to make errors. We analyze two types of partial parsing errors:1) errors due to incorrect part-of-speech tags, and 2) errors made even though the parts-of-speech have been identified and present some novel solutions to avoiding these errors.
New species of Eleutherodactylus of Colombia (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae). I: five new species from the paramos of the Cordillera Central

Se describen aqui las nuevas especies Eleutherodactylus obmutescens, E. racemus y E. simoterus, del grupo unistrigatus, provenientes de los Paramos de Purace, Las Hermosas y Letras, respectivamente, en la Cordillera Central de Colombia. Estas especies son afines a E. orcesi Lynch y E. thymelensis Lynch, conocidas principalmente de paramos en la Cordillera Occidental del Ecuador. Se describen ademas Eleutherodactylus leptolophus y E. peraticus, tambien del grupo unistrigatus, provenientes de los paramos de Purace y Las Hermosas, respectivamente. Estas son ranas diminutas, muy estrechamente relacionadas con E. myersi (Goin s: Cochran) del Nudo de Pasto, y con E. trepidotus Lynch de los subparamos de la vertiente oriental de la Cordillera Oriental del Ecuador. Las cinco especies nuevas representan, junto con E. buckleyi (Boulenger), las seis especies de Eleutherodactylus conocidas hasta ahora de los paramos de la Cordillera Central de Colombia.
Training of Volunteer Caregivers of Persons with AIDS

Volunteers have played an important role in the care and support of PWAs. This paper discusses the issues that will face professionals who are involved in recruitment, training and support of volunteer caregivers in the coming years, utilizing a review of the literature and case examples. The hospice volunteer model is discussed and serves as a basis for a proposed model of training and support specifically designed for volunteer caregivers of PWAs.
Determining the economic costs and global burden of foodborne disease

Abstract: This chapter presents eight epidemiological and methodological challenges that hinder the estimation of the economic costs and burden of foodborne disease. The chapter begins with a brief overview of the different types of societal costs of foodborne disease, why they are important to estimate, the general principles of economic analysis for US food safety regulations and the World Health Organization’s collaboration to estimate the global burden of foodborne disease. The chapter summarizes the main methods used to value the costs or burden of foodborne disease and provides examples of US and international estimates.
Condensed O2 on Europa and Callisto

High signal-to-noise ratio spectra of Europa and Callisto's trailing side show a 0.3% deep 5771 A absorption band due to condensed O2 at the same wavelength as a stronger band previously identified on Ganymede. Excellent longitudinal coverage for Europa shows that unlike Ganymede, where the band is much stronger on the trailing side, Europa shows no significant longitudinal variation in the O2 band strength.
The continuous structure of discontinuities

The regularization of discontinuities is discussed on the basis of molecular, computational and continuum considerations. Different regularization procedures may be implied by these distinct points of view. The mathematical motivation of regularization as an intermediate step in an existence proof is also of interest, but is not discussed in this paper.
Three Decades of Missing Gamow-Teller Strength

Experimentally measured Gamow-Teller (GT) strength is generally less than that expected from models thought to be appropriate. This observation applies to transitions between single, defined energy levels as well as to entire GT strength functions. Over the past thirty years the scope of measurements and the nature of the interest in the problem have changed. However, the discrepancy persists and it signifies a fundamental difficulty in nuclear models. Various corrections have been proposed for the shell model such as high order configuration mixing and intrinsic excitations of the nucleons. A fully adequate model of GT transitions does not yet exist.
Knowledge and attitudes of anesthesia providers about noncardiac surgery in adults with congenital heart disease.

Objective To examine the knowledge and attitudes of anesthesia providers in relation to the care of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients presenting for noncardiac surgery. Design/Setting A novel survey was designed and administered to 168 anesthesiologists across a single academic department in a range of practice environments. Interventions None. Outcome Measures Survey responses, including true/false, multiple choice, and Likert scale questions. Results A total of 118 anesthesiologists (response rate = 70%) completed the survey. Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 19 (median [interquartile range] = 7 [5–13]) out of a possible maximum of 20. Total knowledge scores differed significantly by fellowship background (P = .004), with higher scores in those with cardiac (11 [7–15], P = .005) and pediatric (12 [6–15], P = .001) fellowship training, but not in those with critical care, obstetric, regional, or pain management training. Scores also differed by frequency of providing care for cardiopulmonary bypass cases and frequency of providing care for patients under 2 years of age (P < .001 for both), but not by gender or years removed from residency. Respondents reported only moderate levels of comfort with a range of questions about providing perioperative or obstetric care to ACHD patients, with decreasing levels of comfort reported in patients with more complex lesions. Conclusions Within the context of the limitations of a single-institution survey design, the low levels of knowledge and comfort we observed suggest that providers may benefit from improved training and protocols for ensuring adequate preparedness for the care of ACHD patients.
Neurochemical bases of locomotion and ethanol stimulant effects.

Publisher Summary The locomotor stimulant effect produced by alcohol (ethanol) is one of the measurable ethanol effects. Ethanol-induced euphoria in humans and locomotor stimulation in rodents—a potential animal model of human euphoria—have long been recognized and the latter has been extensively characterized. As the euphoria produced by ethanol may influence the development of uncontrolled or excessive alcohol use, a solid understanding of the neurochemical substrates underlying such effects is important. This chapter discusses three neurotransmitter substances—dopamine, glutamate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate—for the control of spontaneous locomotion. Studies suggest that CNS processes using these transmitter substances are involved in determining the effects of ethanol on locomotion. Particular emphasis in this area of research has been placed on the mesolimbic VTA/NAcc dopaminergic system and the VP/SI, on which GABAergic processes terminate from the NAcc. Glutamate has been detected in both the NAcc and the VP/SI and has been postulated to mediate dopaminergic neurotransmission. These pathways do not act independently but, rather, interact to produce the final behavioral outcome. The chapter also discusses the involvement of other transmitter systems such as cholinergic, serotonergic, and adrenergic in ethanol's locomotor activating effects.
A dose compensator for mantle fields

Abstract The dose distribution resulting from a mantle field in a Rando phantom was investigated with special emphasis to the six lymph bearing areas: central axis, lower mediastinum, axilla, supraclavicular area, lateral neck and mid-neck. A set of depth dose, source to skin distance ( SSD ) and off-center ratios measurements for the points above as well as other points over the field were incorporated into a simple mathematical formulation; it gave the thickness of lead foils at each point necessary for dose compensation. The resulting dose compensator was tested by measuring the doses in the Rando phantom with and without compensator. The dosimetry was carried out with film (Kodak XV-2), supplemented by lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimetry ( TLD ) chips. Both the films and the TLD 's were calibrated against ionization measurements. The uncompensated doses exhibited variations up to 15%. Measurements with the compensator in place showed a dose uniformity of ±2% from the average.
Intraparenchymal fetal striatal transplants and recovery in kainic acid lesioned rats

Striatal kainic acid (KA) lesions induce behavioral and biochemical deficits which resemble symptoms encountered in patients suffering from Huntington's disease. In rats with KA lesions, fetal striatal transplants have shown to reverse the pervasive nocturnal hyperactivity induced by the lesion. In the present study 4.6 mm3 of fetal striatal tissue were delivered bilaterally into the anterodorsal portion of the lesioned caudate nucleus. Care was taken to deliver the transplant within the host parenchyma and away from the lateral ventricles. Locomotor behavior analyzed using the Digiscan animal activity monitors before and after the transplants demonstrated a reversal of the hyperactivity following transplants in 70% of lesioned animals. Microinjections of horseradish peroxidase delivered into the globus pallidus and substantia nigra of a small group of functionally recovered transplanted animals, did not reveal evidence for reinnervation between host nigra or pallidum and the transplant at 10 weeks post-transplantation. Other laboratories have reported anatomical connections by 6 months post-transplantation. Ventricular/brain ratios demonstrated that intraparenchymal transplants significantly reduced the ventricular dilation following KA lesion. These results suggest that functional recovery can be obtained when the transplant is immersed into the host's striatal parenchyma regardless of the existence of long-range anatomical connections.
Minority students, affirmative action, and the admission process: a survey of 15 medical schools.

Purpose To assess the current state of admission policies for underrepresented minorities (URMs) at medical schools. Method In 1997, the author surveyed the admission directors at the 15 medical schools with the largest URM populations. The four categories in the questionnaire covered the makeup of the admission committee, the weights given quantitative factors in admission decisions, the weights given qualitative factors, and the weight given the applicant's status as a URM or disadvantaged student. Results The 12 responding admission directors provided a wide range of answers as to the makeup of the admission committee and the weights assigned quantitative and qualitative factors. None of the schools gave an exact percentage weight to URM status, although one school added points to a diversity index, which was then used as a quantitative measure. There appears to be an increasing focus on economic and educational disadvantage. Conclusions The limited parameters of the study prevent the author from offering definitive solutions. However, the responses to the survey suggest that admission policies are secretive and widely varied. The academic community must consider the reasons behind and the consequences of abandoning a forthright approach to affirmative action.