cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunofluorescence Characterization of Key Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Murine Bone Marrow In Situ

The mechanism of hemopoietic stem cell homing to the bone marrow involves molecular interactions that mediate the recognition and interaction of these cells with the marrow microenvironment, including the extracellular matrix. On selective binding, this environment, in combination with soluble cytokines, regulates stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Using immunofluorescence labeling, we analyzed the location of the prominent extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, collagen Types I, III, and IV, and laminin in sections of murine femoral bone marrow. Collagen Types I, IV, and fibronectin were localized to the endosteum, the region of the femoral microenvironment for which homing stem cells have a high affinity. The results further demonstrated a strong spatial association of collagen Type IV and laminin with the bone marrow vessels, including arterioles, veins, and sinuses. Fibronectin was distributed throughout the central marrow region, and all the proteins analyzed except collagen Type III were present in the bone, although at different levels. Fibronectin, collagen Types III and IV, and laminin were also present in the periosteum. The distinct locations of particular extracellular matrix proteins support the notion that they may play an important mechanistic role in the homing of engrafting cells.
Copper interconnection deposition techniques and integration

Copper has been deposited into prepatterned high-aspect-ratio (3:1) trenches using electroplating (EP), CVD and sputter reflow. Filling capability, electrical properties, electromigration lifetimes and mechanical stress are examined. Also, barriers against Cu diffusion are studied using electrical bias at elevated temperatures. CVD Cu can fill high aspect ratio features that electroplating cannot. Sputter-reflowed Cu can also fill high aspect ratio features, but has a high thermal budget for features >0.4 /spl mu/m. Preliminary results show that CVD Cu may be limited by electromigration lifetime.
Contribution of prior semantic knowledge to new episodic learning in amnesia

We evaluated whether prior semantic knowledge would enhance episodic learning in amnesia. Subjects studied prices that are either congruent or incongruent with prior price knowledge for grocery and household items and then performed a forced-choice recognition test for the studied prices. Consistent with a previous report, healthy controls' performance was enhanced by price knowledge congruency; however, only a subset of amnesic patients experienced the same benefit. Whereas patients with relatively intact semantic systems, as measured by an anatomical measure (i.e., lesion involvement of anterior and lateral temporal lobes), experienced a significant congruency benefit, patients with compromised semantic systems did not experience a congruency benefit. Our findings suggest that when prior knowledge structures are intact, they can support acquisition of new episodic information by providing frameworks into which such information can be incorporated.
Computationally efficient sine-wave synthesis and its application to sinusoidal transform coding

A technique for sine-wave synthesis is described that uses the fast Fourier transform overlap-add method at a 100 Hz rate based on sine-wave parameter coded at a 50 Hz rate. This technique leads to an implementation requiring less than one-half the computational power of a digital-signal-processor chip. The synthesis method implicitly introduces a frequency jitter which renders the encoded synthetic speech more natural. For speech computed by additive acoustic noise, the synthesizer, in conjunction with straightforward noise suppression, greatly improve the quality of the synthetic speech, rendering the sinusoidal transform coder (STC) algorithm a truly robust system. More recent architecture studies of the STC algorithm suggests that an entire implementation requires no more than two ADSP2 100 chips. >
Productivity & Engagement in an Aging America: The Role of Volunteerism

Volunteering in late life is associated with health bene½ts such as reduced risk of hypertension, improved self-related health and well-being, delayed physical disability, enhanced cognition, and lower mortality. Although the mechanisms of these correlations are not clear, increases in physical activity, cog- nitive engagement, and social interactions likely play contributing roles. Volunteers are typically thought to represent a select group, often possessing higher levels of education and income, good health, and strong social networks. However, group evidence indicates that there are many members of groups of lower socio - economic status (SES), including elderly adults, who serve their communities on a regular basis and in high-priority programs. We propose that the impact of volunteering in an aging population be recognized and invested into, and that effective programs harness social capital of older adults to address critical societal needs and also improve the well-being of older adults. While members of low-SES groups are less likely to volunteer, they exhibit disproportionately great bene½ts. The Experience Corps represents a model of an effective volunteerism program, in which elders work with young schoolchildren. Existing federal initiatives, in cluding the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program-which target low-income elders-have had low participation with long waiting lists. Given the proven bene½ts and rela - tively low proportion of older persons who volunteer, enhancement of elder volunteerism presents a sig - ni½cant opportunity for health promotion and deserves consideration as a national public health priority.
Structural genomics of minimal organisms and protein fold space.

The initial aim of the Berkeley Structural Genomics Center is to obtain a near-complete structural complement of two minimal organisms, closely related pathogens Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae. The former has fewer than 500 genes and the latter fewer than 700 genes. To achieve this goal, the current protein targets have been selected starting with those predicted to be most tractable and likely to yield new structural and functional information. During the past 3 years, the semi-automated structural genomics pipeline has been set up from cloning, expression, purification, and ultimately to structural determination. The results from the pipeline substantially increased the coverage of the protein fold space of M. pneumoniae and M. genitalium. Furthermore, about 1/2 of the structures of ‘unique’ protein sequences revealed new and novel folds, and over 2/3 of the structures of previously annotated ‘hypothetical proteins’ inferred their molecular functions.
Impact of clear-cutting and road construction on soil erosion by landslides in the western Cascade Range, Oregon

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest can be divided into two zones of approximately equal area, each with strikingly different susceptibilities to erosion by rapid soil movements. A stable zone occurs at elevations above 900 to 1,000 m in terrain underlain by lava-flow bed rock. Since logging and road cutting began in 1950, only two small road-related slides have taken place in the stable zone. In contract, the unstable zone, located at elevations below 1,000 m and underlain by altered volcaniclastic rock, has been the site of 139 slides during the same period. Slide erosion from clear-cut areas in the unstable zone has totaled 6,030 cu m/sq km, or 2.8 times the level of activity in forested areas of the unstable zone. Along road rights-of-way, slide erosion has been 30 times greater than on forested sites in the unstable zone; however, only about 8 percent of a typical area of deforested land in the unstable zone is in road right-of-way. At comparable levels of development (8 percent roads, 92 percent clear-cut), road right-of-way and clear-cut areas contribute about equally to the total impact of management activity on erosion by landslides in the unstable zone. The combined management impacts in the unstable zone (assuming 8 percent road right-of-way and 92 percent clear-cut) appear to have increased slide activity on road and clear-cut sites by about 5 times relative to forested areas over a period of about 20 yr.
Dispersion Phenomenology of LNG Vapor in the Burro and Coyote LNG Spill Experiments

Various physical phenomena affecting LNG vapor dispersion were observed in LNG spill experiments conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Unterstanding the phenomena is necessary in predicting the size of the hazardous region of vapor concentration following a spill. Gravity flow of the cold dense vapor increased cloud width while density stratification and heat flow from the ground had substantial effects on the mixing rate with air. Density stratification inhibits turbulent mixing while heat flow into the cloud promotes it through a number of processes including buoyancy. Some possible instances of buoyancy were observed in the experiments, and calculations indicate that modest amount of additional heat might substantially increase cloud dispersion. In the experiments, these phenomena led to a dependence of the maximum distance L-script to the lower flammability limit on source rate, wind speed, and atmospheric stability that was substantially different from the prediction of the Gaussian plume model. Including these phenomena in predictive models is important for their model. Time-dependent features of the concentration field due to turbulence and rapid phase-transition explosions, which also affect L-script, were examined by applying a space--time interpolation scheme to the concentration data.
A randomized, prospective study comparing laser-assisted hatching and assisted hatching using acidified medium

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of patients whose transferred embryos underwent either laser-assisted hatching or hatching with acidified medium. Design Randomized, prospective, double-blinded study. Setting University-based IVF center. Patient(s) Clinical outcomes following IVF were compared in 159 patient cycles who randomly had all transferred embryos undergo laser-assisted hatching (Laser; n=57) or hatching with acidified medium (Acid; n=54). Patients whose embryos had zonae thickness Main Outcome Measure(s) Implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancy rates, multiple pregnancy rates. Result(s) No significant differences were noted in clinical, ongoing, or multiple pregnancy rates between the four groups. The implantation rate for Day 5 transfers was significantly greater than both the Laser and Acid treatment groups. Conclusion The use of a 1.48-micron infrared diode laser beam provides a safe and rapid method for performing assisted hatching and did not have a negative impact on patient care when compared to outcomes achieved using acidified medium.
The influence of gender on human innate immunity

Background Several experimental, clinical, and epidemiologic studies indicate a better prognosis in women after an infectious challenge. The monocyte/macrophage, as coordinators of the innate immune response to sepsis, secrete plasma inflammatory cytokines. Elevated plasma cytokine levels are inversely correlated with outcome. In addition, single–nucleotide polymorphisms related to these cytokine genes and in genes important for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) detection, particularly toll-like receptor-4, have been associated with variations in clinical outcome. We hypothesize that the gender differences in clinical outcome are due to measurable differences in cytokine responses and intracellular signaling, and these differences are independent of polymorphism carrier status. Methods Venous blood samples from healthy subjects (56 men, 23 women) were incubated with LPS, and supernatant cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In a randomly chosen subgroup, (8 men, 4 women), peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, and LPS-mediated intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was assayed via Western blot analysis. Each subject was screened for the following SNPs: tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) -308G/A, interleukin (IL)-6 -174G/C, IL-1β -31C/T, and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) +896A/G. Results Women produced significantly less LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β but not IL-6. When the analysis was adjusted for the presence of each polymorphism, the differences in TNF-α and IL-1β accumulation persisted. Female gender was associated with lower MAPK phosphorylation at each LPS concentration but was not statistically significant. Conclusions Gender-specific differences in LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β were observed, possibly attributed to alterations in MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, studies investigating the influence of genomic variation on the innate immune response should address potential gender-related differences.
Coronary artery plaques: cardiac CT with model-based and adaptive-statistical iterative reconstruction technique.

a b s t r a c t Objectives: To compare image quality of coronary artery plaque visualization at CT angiography with images reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) techniques. Methods: The coronary arteries of three ex vivo human hearts were imaged by CT and reconstructed with FBP, ASIR and MBIR. Coronary cross-sectional images were co-registered between the different reconstruction techniques and assessed for qualitative and quantitative image quality parameters. Readers were blinded to the reconstruction algorithm. Results: A total of 375 triplets of coronary cross-sectional images were co-registered. Using MBIR, 26% of the images were rated as having excellent overall image quality, which was significantly better as compared to ASIR and FBP (4% and 13%, respectively, all p < 0.001). Qualitative assessment of image noise demonstrated a noise reduction by using ASIR as compared to FBP (p < 0.01) and further noise reduction by using MBIR (p < 0.001). The contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) using MBIR was better as compared to ASIR and FBP (44 ± 19, 29 ± 15, 26 ± 9, respectively; all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Using MBIR improved image quality, reduced image noise and increased CNR as compared to the other available reconstruction techniques. This may further improve the visualization of coronary artery plaque and allow radiation reduction.
Regulation of adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase gene expression by thyroid hormone in rats

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is an important enzyme in lipid metabolism, and adipose LPL activity is increased in rats that are deficient in thyroid hormone. To examine the mechanism of thyroid hormone's effect on LPL, LPL gene expression was assessed in the epididymal fat pads of hypothyroid rats. When compared to control rats, LPL activity, mass, and synthetic rate in hypothyroid rats were increased; heparin-releasable LPL activity and mass were increased to 448% and 300% of control, respectively, and [35S]methionine incorporation into LPL was increased to 250% of control. The increases in LPL activity and mass were reversed by treatment of hypothyroid rats with triiodothyronine (T3). However, there was no change in the level of LPL mRNA when compared to the level of gamma-actin mRNA and no effect on LPL transcription using run-off assays. Isolated adipocytes were prepared from normal rats and exposed to 2 nM T3 in vitro for 24 h. The addition of T3 to cultures of adipocytes resulted in a decrease in LPL activity, mass, and [35S]methionine incorporation, but still no change in LPL mRNA level. To determine whether thyroid hormone regulated catecholamine responsiveness, adipocytes were prepared from hypothyroid and control rats, and the responses to epinephrine were compared. Although epinephrine inhibited [35S]methionine incorporation into LPL in control rat adipocytes, there was essentially no effect in hypothyroid rat cells. In addition, T3 treatment of the hypothyroid rats restored the responsiveness to epinephrine. Thus, thyroid hormone regulates LPL in rat adipose tissue posttranscriptionally, resulting in parallel changes in LPL synthetic rate, immunoreactive mass, and activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chrysanthemums in full bloom.

These paintings are a collection of chrysanthemums selected from my art works. The chrysanthemum, together with the plum blossom, the orchid and the bamboo, is one of the “Four Gentlemen” of China. It is said that the chrysanthemum has been favored by Tao Qian, an influential Chinese poet who lived in the middle of the Six Dynasties period (c. 220-589 CE). The chrysanthemum has been considered as The Flower of Autumn in China, as well as a symbol of nobility. I favor the flowers beauty and its symbolic meaning.
Trajectory events across hippocampal place cells require previous experience

Replay of hippocampal place cell sequences has been proposed as a fundamental mechanism of learning and memory. However, the standard interpretation of replay has been challenged by reports that similar activity is observed before experience ('preplay'). By the preplay account, pre-existing temporal sequences are mapped onto new experiences without learning sequential structure. Here we employed high density recording methods to monitor hundreds of place cells simultaneously while rats explored multiple novel environments. While we observed large numbers of synchronous spiking events before experience, they were not temporally correlated with subsequent experience. Multiple measures differentiated pre-experience and postexperience events that, taken together, defined the latter but not the former as trajectory-depicting. The formation of events with these properties was prevented by administration of an NMDA-receptor antagonist during experience. These results suggest that the sequential structure of behavioral episodes is encoded during experience and reexpressed as trajectory events.
Phase IB study of cabozantinib in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma

To the editor: Despite the introduction of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs followed by autologous stem cell transplant, most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) will have disease recurrence after primary therapy. Thus, agents with different mechanisms of action and different
A framework for using signal, noise, and variation to determine whether the brain controls movement synergies or single muscles

We have used an analysis of signal and variation in motor behavior to elucidate the organization of the cerebellar and brain stem circuits that control smooth pursuit eye movements. We recorded fro...
Waste Glass/Repository Interactions

The effects of repository material and a tailored backfill or overpack on the leaching behavior of glass have been studied. Two types of glasses were used in this investigation: 1) Model glasses comprised of 33 mol% alkali oxide-67 mol% SiO2, and 2) alkali borosilicate glasses with and without simulated wastes. Several types of repository material were placed in the same containers as the glasses to determine if their presence would alter the extent of leaching. A backfill material consisting of phosphate slime/sand mixtures was evaluated with the same procedure. The results indicate that the leaching behavior of the glass may be influenced by the presence of some materials. Preliminary results of a 16½ month burial experiment in Florida are also discussed.
OCT-based in vivo tissue injury mapping

Tissue injury mapping (TIM) is developed by using a non-invasive in vivo optical coherence tomography to generate optical attenuation coefficient and microvascular map of the injured tissue. Using TIM, the infarct region development in mouse cerebral cortex during stroke is visualized. Moreover, we demonstrate the in vivo human facial skin structure and microvasculature during an acne lesion development. The results indicate that TIM may help in the study and the treatment of various diseases by providing high resolution images of tissue structural and microvascular changes.
Study on the Methods of Rotor Bending Discrimination and Balance for Steam Turbine

Rotor plastic bending deformation is a more common type of steam turbine fault,it brings harm for safety production of power generation companies.This article introduced the method to discriminate the rotor bending deformation.The dynamic balance test for the rotor of a 300MW steam turbine was done with different weight adding selection.The results of the test were analyzed.
Analysis of epidemic characteristics of HIV/AIDS reporting-cases in Feidong county,2004-2011

Objective To analyze HIV/AIDS epidemic features and related factors in Feidong county and provide reference for the further development of AIDS prevention and control strategy.Methods The descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze HIV/AIDS cases reported during the period from 2004 to 2011.Results A total of 44 cases who had local household registration were reported,with 16 infected persons,28 AIDS patients,and 4 cases of death.The AIDS epidemic was distributed in 15 towns.The majority of the cases were males aged 20-50 years,which accounted for 93.18%.The ratio of male to female was 5.29(37):1(7).Casual workers showed large proportion.Sexual transmission was identified as the dominant mode of transmission,accounted for 97.73%.Conclusion HIV/AIDS epidemic in Feidong a showed rapid growth trend,was widely distributed,and the epidemic was diffusing from high-risk groups to the general population.Comprehensive intervention measures of putting transmission cutoff first should be taken to prevent and control the epidemic of AIDS.
Effect of dilantin in mice. I. Changes in the lymphoreticular tissue after acute exposure

Dilantin treatment in mice is followed by a depression of hemopoiesis, destruction of lymphocytes, and a proliferation of pyroninophilic reticulum cells in lymph nodes. The mode of action is felt to be a direct toxic effect of the drug as well as an induction of a state of hypersensitivity. Tumor development was not observed.
Information on drugs and environmental influences in pregnancy in popular magazines: a critical review.

OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of information in popular magazines in Australia about drugs and environmental influences in pregnancy. METHODS All issues of the 14 highest-circulation popular magazines likely to contain relevant articles were prospectively surveyed between November 1991 and October 1992. The accuracy of information about drugs and environmental influences in pregnancy was assessed after reference to evidence-based scientific publications such as the Cochrane Database of Perinatal Trials. RESULTS Two hundred and ninety-nine statements in 162 articles were rated as accurate (77.6%), misleading (16.7%), giving a false sense of security (3%) or anxiety-provoking or inaccurate (2.7%). CONCLUSION An accuracy rate of 77.6% may appear acceptable. However, the media, and popular magazines in particular, are an important source of health and lifestyle information. Misinformation may induce anxiety and lead to unnecessary or inappropriate changes to medication, diet and lifestyle. Any inaccuracy should be considered unacceptable.
Towards scalable on-demand collective data access in IaaS clouds

A critical feature of IaaS cloud computing is the ability to quickly disseminate the content of a shared dataset at large scale. In this context, a common pattern is collective read, i.e.,?accessing the same VM image or dataset from a large number of VM instances concurrently. Several approaches deal with this pattern either by means of pre-broadcast before access or on-demand concurrent access to the repository where the image or dataset is stored. We propose a different solution using a hybrid strategy that augments on-demand access with a collaborative scheme in which the VMs leverage similarities between their access pattern in order to anticipate future read accesses and exchange chunks between themselves in order to reduce contention to the remote repository. Large scale experiments show significant improvement over conventional approaches from multiple perspectives: completion time, sustained read throughput, fairness of I/O read operations and bandwidth utilization. Studies efficient on-demand read access to shared content in large scale IaaS clouds.Introduces I/O access pattern aware techniques and algorithms.Substantial benefits demonstrated using experimental results involving dozens of nodes.
Improved reconstitution of yeast vacuole fusion with physiological SNARE concentrations reveals an asymmetric Rab(GTP) requirement

In vitro reconstitution of homotypic yeast vacuole fusion from purified components enables detailed study of membrane fusion mechanisms. Current reconstitutions have yet to faithfully replicate the fusion process in at least three respects: 1) The density of SNARE proteins required for fusion in vitro is substantially higher than on the organelle. 2) Substantial lysis accompanies reconstituted fusion. 3) The Rab GTPase Ypt7 is essential in vivo but often dispensable in vitro. Here we report that changes in fatty acyl chain composition dramatically lower the density of SNAREs that are required for fusion. By providing more physiological lipids with a lower phase transition temperature, we achieved efficient fusion with SNARE concentrations as low as on the native organelle. Although fused proteoliposomes became unstable at elevated SNARE concentrations, releasing their content after fusion had occurred, reconstituted proteoliposomes with substantially reduced SNARE concentrations fused without concomitant lysis. The Rab GTPase Ypt7 is essential on both membranes for proteoliposome fusion to occur at these SNARE concentrations. Strikingly, it was only critical for Ypt7 to be GTP loaded on membranes bearing the R-SNARE Nyv1, whereas the bound nucleotide of Ypt7 was irrelevant on membranes bearing the Q-SNAREs Vam3 and Vti1.
Fixing the shifty split, Physics Today, July 2012

Quantum mechanics is the most useful and powerful theory physicists have ever devised. Yet today, nearly 90 years after its formulation, disagreement about the meaning of the theory is stronger than ever. New interpretations appear every year. None ever disappear. Probability theory is considerably older than quantum mechanics and has also been plagued from the beginning by questions about its meaning. And quantum mechanics is inherently and famously probabilistic. For the past decade, Carl Caves, Chris Fuchs, and Rudiger Schack have been arguing that the confusion at the foundations of quantum mechanics arises out of a confusion, prevalent among physicists, about the nature of probability [1]. They maintain that if probability is properly understood, the notorious quantum paradoxes either vanish or assume less vexing forms. Most physicists have a frequentist view of probability: Probabilities describe objective properties of ensembles of “identically prepared” systems. Caves, Fuchs, and Schack take a personalist Bayesian view: An agent assigns a probability p to a single event as a measure of her belief that the event will take place [2]. Such an agent is willing to pay less than $ p for a coupon that will pay her $1 if the event happens, and she is willing to underwrite and sell such a coupon for more than $ p . Surprisingly, the standard rules for probability follow from the requirement that an agent should never face certain loss in a single event. (For example, if p exceeded 1, she would pay more than $1 for a coupon that returned at most $1; if p were negative, she would pay somebody to take a coupon from her that might cost her another $1.) Avoiding certain loss is the only constraint on an agent's probability assignments. The probability of an event is not inherent in that event. Different agents, with different beliefs, will in general assign different probabilities to the same event. The personalist Bayesian view of probability is widely held [3], though not by many physicists. It has profound implications for the meaning of quantum mechanics, which Fuchs and Schack call quantum Bayesianism—QBism for short. Since quantum states determine probabilities, if probabilities are indeed assigned by an agent to express her degree of belief, then the quantum state of a physical system is not inherent in that system but assigned by an agent to encapsulate her beliefs about it. State assignments, like probabilities, are relative to an agent.
Predation on transmission stages reduces parasitism: sea anemones consume transmission stages of a barnacle parasite

While parasites serve as prey, it is unclear how the spatial distribution of parasite predators provides transmission control and influences patterns of parasitism. Because many of its organisms are sessile, the rocky intertidal zone is a valuable but little used system to understand spatial patterns of parasitism and elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these patterns. Sea anemones and barnacles are important space competitors in the rocky intertidal zone along the Pacific coast of North America. Anemones are voracious, indiscriminate predators; thus, they may intercept infectious stages of parasites before they reach a host. We investigate whether a sea anemone protects an associated barnacle from parasitism by Hemioniscus balani, an isopod parasitic castrator. At Coal Oil Point, Santa Barbara, California USA, 29% of barnacles were within 1 cm from an anemone at the surveyed tidal height. Barnacles associated with anemones had reduced parasite prevalence and higher reproductive productivity than those remote from sea anemones. In the laboratory, anemones readily consumed the transmission stage of the parasite. Hence, anemone consumption of parasite transmission stages may provide a mechanism by which community context regulates parasite prevalence at a local scale. Our results suggest predation may be an important process providing parasite transmission control.
Celiac plexus block in patients with nonpancreatic GI malignancies: Experience from a single institution.

e19551 Background: Celiac plexus block (CPB) has been well described in the treatment of pancreatic cancer pain. A recent Cochrane Library review of the subject concluded that CPB often resulted in fewer adverse effects when compared to chronic opioid use. CPB has not been well described in non-pancreatic GI malignancies. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of CPB in non-pancreatic GI malignancies. Methods: The Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center database was queried for all patients who had undergone celiac plexus block, 2001-2010, using specific CPT billing codes. In addition, VCU Radiology Department records were also examined. Diagnosis, physician assessment of effectiveness, pre and post procedure pain scores, complications of procedure, and pain medication dosage pre and post procedure were all assessed. Results: 68 total patients were identified. 12 patients underwent a CPB for non-pancreatic GI malignancies and 56 for pancreatic cancer patients. The most common non-p...
Household resources as determinants of child mortality in Ghana.

Author(s): Nutor, Jerry John; Bell, Janice F; Slaughter-Acey, Jaime C; Joseph, Jill G; Apesoa-Varano, Ester Carolina; de Leon Siantz, Mary Lou | Abstract: IntroductionAlthough the association between child mortality and socioeconomic status is well established, the role of household assets as predictors of child mortality, over and above other measures of socioeconomic status, is not well studied in developing nations. This study investigated the contribution of several household resources to child mortality, beyond the influence of maternal education as a measure of socioeconomic status.MethodsThis secondary analysis used data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey to explore the relationship of child mortality to household resources. The analysis of 7183 parous women aged 15-45 years examined household resources for their association with maternal reports of any child's death for children aged less than 5 years using a survey-weighted logistic regression model while controlling for sociodemographic and health covariates.ResultsThe overall household resources index was significantly associated with the death of one or more child in the entire sample (adjusted odd ratios (OR)=0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 0.98]. In stratified analysis, this finding held for women living in rural but not in urban areas. Having a refrigerator at the time of interview was associated with lower odds of reporting child mortality (OR=0.63; 95%CI: 0.48, 0.83). Having a kerosene lantern (OR=1.40; 95%CI: 1.06, 1.85) or flush toilet (OR=1.84; 95%CI: 1.23, 2.75) was associated with higher odds of reporting child mortality. Adjusted regression models showed only possession of a refrigerator retained significance.ConclusionsPossession of a refrigerator may play a role in child mortality. This finding may reflect unmeasured socioeconomic status or the importance of access to refrigeration in preventing diarrheal disease or other proximal causes of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Resource forecasting: Differential effects of glucose taste and ingestion on delay discounting and self-control

We tested a novel hypothesis that glucose taste acts as a signal for resource acquisition, motivating preference for immediate rewards while actual glucose ingestion prompts resource conservation, promoting future-orientated self-regulation. In Study 1, participants were engaged in a delay-discounting task and a grip-control task before and after a beverage intervention (glucose drink, water drink, or glucose mouth-rinse). Glucose ingestion decreased delay discounting, making larger-and-later rewards more attractive. In contrast, glucose rinse increased delay discounting. Water ingestion had none of the effects. In the grip-control task, only glucose ingestion improved the performance. Study 2 using fMRI revealed that glucose rinse and glucose ingestion resulted in distinct brain activational patterns. Compared to glucose rinse, glucose ingestion deactivated a few brain regions (e.g., the anterior cingulate gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus) that are previously shown to be more active when making more difficult intertemporal choices, suggesting that glucose ingestion eases the process of making intertemporal choice. In sum, our behavioral and neuroimaging findings together suggest a dual signaling role of glucose sensation and ingestion in regulating delay discounting and self-control.
CARVEDILOL EXERTS POSITIVE INOTROPY IN CARDIOMYOCYTES BY UNIQUELY STIMULATING BETA-ARRESTIN2-DEPENDENT SERCA2A ACTIVITY VIA THE BETA1-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR

Heart failure (HF) is the number one killer in the western world and beta-blockers are part of its cornerstone pharmacotherapy. We have recently shown that β1-adrenergic receptor (AR)-activated βarrestin2, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) adapter protein, promotes Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum
Embedded Chip Packaging

There are many kinds of embedded chip packaging. For example, chips are embedded in epoxy molding compound (EMC), chips are embedded in rigid laminated substrates, chips are embedded in flexible polyimide substrates, chips are embedded in silicon substrates, and chips are embedded in glass substrates. Usually, chips embedded in rigid and flexible laminated/polyimide substrates are in a panel format. In this chapter, except the chips embedded in EMC (which are the focus and will be discussed all over in this book), all the others are briefly mentioned.
Monoamine Oxidase Type B Inhibitors

Rasagiline and selegiline are irreversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B). Rasagiline and selegiline differ pharmacologically. Current evidence supports the use of rasagiline as monotherapy in early Parkinson's disease (PD) and as an adjunctive agent in advanced PD. Conventional and orally disintegrating tablets of selegiline are useful as adjunctive agents.
Aspects of Translinear Amplifier Design

The translinear principle has become quite familiar to IC designers during the past twenty years. Originally conceived within the narrow framework of bipolar, wideband, fixed- and variable-gain current-mode amplifiers employing closed loops of junctions [1,2]—now called TL cells, in which input and output signals and biases are all in pure current form—the scope of the concept has gradually broadened to include any circuit in which the essential function depends directly on a precise exponential relationship existing between the current at one terminal of a suitably-biased three-terminal active device and the voltage applied across the remaining two terminals. A trans linear cell not including any directly closed sloops has more recently [3] been called a translinear network (TN).
Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension and Effects of Glucocorticoids on the Trabecular Meshwork

The therapeutic use of glucocorticoids can cause steroid-induced ocular hypertension that can lead to secondary glaucoma in susceptible individuals. This elevated intraocular pressure is due to increased aqueous outflow resistance and is associated with morphological and biochemical changes to the trabecular meshwork (TM); moreover, many of these changes mimic what occurs in primary open-angle glaucoma. Glucocorticoids have a wide variety of effects on the TM, altering extracellular matrix metabolism, the cytoskeleton, gene and protein expression, as well as inhibiting TM cell functions. This article summarizes what is known about steroid glaucoma and the effects of glucocorticoids on the TM and points out the remaining challenges for identifying the molecular mechanisms responsible for steroid-induced ocular hypertension.
Evolutionary Ecology: Overview

Evolution and ecology are inexorably intertwined, neither existing in isolation, both are dependent on each other. Each is concerned with living organisms (i.e., any thing capable of replicating itself) and their environments. Evolution is the gradual genetic change of living organisms over time due to ecological pressures they experience. Ecology is the study of the interactions between these organisms and their environments. ‘Environment’ includes all the physical (things like temperatures, soil conditions, rainfall, wind, hours of sunlight, etc.) and biotic (things like natural material produced by living organisms, prey species, competitors, parasites, predators, etc.) factors directly influencing them as well as anything affected by them. Ecology focuses on target organisms at several different levels: individuals, populations, assemblages, or entire communities.
EMA and FDA prune the checkpoint inhibitor treatment landscape.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and FDA have recently restricted the indications for first-line pembrolizumab and atezolizumab to patients with programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1)-high advanced urothelial carcinoma, a decision made following interim analyses from the ongoing Keynote-361 and IMvigor130 phase III trials. Questions remain on the magnitude of inferior survival and standardized implementation of PD-L1 testing.
Evaluating Surgeons on Intraoperative Disposable Supply Costs: Details Matter

Cost report cards have demonstrated variation in intraoperative supply costs and may allow comparisons between surgeons. However, cost data are complex and, if not properly vetted, may be inaccurate. A retrospective assessment of intraoperative supply costs for consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies (2013–2017) at a 4-facility academic center was performed. Using unadjusted data (akin to an auto-generated report card), surgeons were ranked and highest to lowest-cost ratios were calculated. Then, four stepwise adjustments were performed: (1) excluded non-comparable operations and low volume ( 1 price and 16 had missing prices. After all adjustments, surgeons had different rankings and highest to lowest-cost ratios within sites were smaller (ratio range, 1.17–2.10). Evaluating surgeons based on intraoperative supply costs is sensitive to analytic methods. Surgeons who were initially considered cost outliers became the least expensive within a given site. Auto-generated cost report cards may require additional analyses to produce accurate comparative assessments.
Supporting Parent Engagement in Children’s Learning through Neighborhood Development and Improvements to Accessibility:

External influences explain two-thirds of the income-based student “achievement gap” with parent engagement being especially important. Yet, public school improvements focus on within-school reform...
Comparison of hepatitis C virus testing recommendations in high-income countries

AIM To investigate hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing recommendations from the United States and other high-income countries. METHODS A comprehensive search for current HCV testing recommendations from the top quartile of United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) countries (very high HDI) was performed using Google and reviewed from May 1 - October 30, 2014 and re-reviewed April 1 - October 2, 2017. RESULTS Of the 51 countries identified, 16 had HCV testing recommendations from a government body or recommendations issued collaboratively between a government and a medical organization. Of these 16 countries, 15 had HCV testing recommendations that were primarily risk-based and highlight behaviors, exposures, and conditions that are associated with HCV transmission in that region. In addition to risk-based testing, the HCV Guidance Panel (United States) incorporates recommendations for a one-time test for individuals born during 1945-1965 (the birth cohort) without prior ascertainment of risk into their guidance. In addition to the United States, six other countries either have an age-based testing recommendation or recommend one-time testing for all adults independent of risk factors typical of the region. CONCLUSION This review affirmed the similarities of the HCV Guidance Panel's guidance with those of recommendations from very high HDI countries.
Perioperative interdisciplinary approach for reduction of opioid use in pediatric tonsillectomy: Protocol using dexmedetomidine and bupivicaine as adjunct agents.

Abstract Importance Pediatric tonsillectomy is a common procedure now being performed most often for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, which has been associated with increased sensitivity to the respiratory side effects of opioid medications. This study investigates a strategy to decrease the use of opiate medications in a particularly vulnerable population. Objective Describe an interdisciplinary approach between Otolaryngologists and Anesthesiologists to decrease opiate use in tonsillectomy patients. Demonstrate safety of this protocol. Evaluate the effect of the protocol on intraoperative need for opiate medications and inhaled anesthetic use. Perform cost analysis of the protocol. Design Retrospective case-control study with cost analysis. Setting Tertiary Care Hospital. Participants Pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy at a tertiary care hospital. Interventions Preoperative and intraoperative dexmedetomidine with local bupivacaine injection into the tonsillar fossa. Measures Intraoperative need for sevoflurane, opiate, and propofol. Post-operative pain scores, and utilization of post-operative opiate, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen pain medications. Post-operative adverse events. Cost analysis of protocol. Results This protocol led to a decrease in intraoperative opiate use by 49.6%, a decrease in intraoperative sevofluorane use by 18%, and a lower reported maximum post-operative pain score without any increase in adverse events. The protocol added a small increase in medication cost of $4.07 to each procedure. Conclusion The use of dexmedetomidine and local anesthetic in pediatric tonsillectomy is a safe and effective protocol that allows for the reduction of opiate use and improved post-operative pain control. Key points Question: Can the combination of dexmedetomidine and infiltration of local anesthetic reduce overall opioid use for peediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy? Findings: In this case-control study, use of dexmedetomidine and local anesthetic injected into the tonsillar fossa led to a decrease in intraoperative opiate use by 49.6%, a decrease in intraoperative sevofluorane use by 18%, and a lower reported maximum pain score without an increase in adverse events. Meaning: Use of dexmedetomidine and local anesthetic as anesthetic adjuncts may help reduce need for intraoperative opiates and decrease the use of volatile anesthetic agents in pediatric tonsillectomy patients, which are undesirable medications in the pediatric population for their respective respiratory depression and potentially neurotoxic side effects.
Surgical treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the forearm: Review and quantitative analysis of individual patient data

There is little scientific evidence on the best surgical treatment for congenital pseudarthrosis of the forearm due to the rarity of this condition (less than 100 cases described in the literature) and the lack of comparative studies. Our aim was to provide evidence in favor of a certain surgical technique. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using case series and case reports. The statistical analysis was based on individual patient data to mimic a case-control study. A multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of each independent variable (neurofibromatosis status, location of the pseudarthrosis, age at first surgery and type of treatment) on bone union at last follow-up (yes/no). The database searches yielded 1112 articles; 55 articles were selected, reporting on 94 cases. Seventy patients had healed completely at the last follow-up (74%). Neither the age at surgery nor the location of the pseudarthrosis was related to union (P>0.7). The patients' neurofibromatosis type 1 status was weakly related to healing (P=0.06). Vascularized fibula transfer had a higher rate of healing (100%) than did non-vascularized bone graft (70%) (P=$0.002). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 (case-control study of data from case series and case reports).
Sex Offenses and the Problem of Prevention

It is a laudable goal to prevent sexual assault before it occurs rather than merely punish it after the occurrence. Yet the proliferation of laws that seek to accomplish this goal by punishing or detaining individuals who have yet to commit a sexual assault can unjustifiably infringe on the freedom of individuals who have yet to act culpably. In this chapter, I consider two approaches to preventing sexual assault that have expanded significantly: (1) inchoate offenses criminalizing the sexual solicitation and enticement of minors and (2) special civil commitment statutes for those determined to be “sexually violent predators.”
Objective Measurement: How Rasch Modeling Can Simplify and Enhance Your Assessment

Although Rasch modeling is a powerful psychometric tool, for novices its functionality is a “black box.” Some evaluators still prefer classical test theory (CTT) to Rasch modeling for conceptual clarity and procedural simplicity of CTT, while some evaluators conflate Rasch modeling and item response theory (IRT) because many texts lump both together. To rectify the situation, this non-technical, concise introduction is intended to explain how Rasch modeling can remediate the shortcomings of CTT, and the difference between Rasch modeling and item response theory. In addition, major components of Rasch modeling, including item calibration and ability estimates, item characteristic curve (ICC), item information function (IIF), test information function (TIF), item-person map, misfit detection, and item anchoring, are illustrated with concrete examples. Further, Rasch modeling can be applied into both dichotomous and polytomous data, and hence different modeling methods, including normal ogive model, partial credit model, graded response model, nominal response model, are introduced. The procedures of running these models are demonstrated with SAS and Winsteps.