cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thrombospondin-1 Gene Expression Affects Survival and Tumor Spectrum of p53-Deficient Mice

In vitro and in vivo data indicate that thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) inhibits tumor progression in several ways including direct effects on cellular growth and apoptosis in the stromal compartment. To evaluate the importance of TSP1 for the progression of naturally arising tumors in vivo, we have crossed TSP1-deficient mice with p53-deficient mice. In p53-null mice, the absence of TSP1 decreases survival from 160 ± 52 days to 149 ± 42 days. A log-rank test comparing survival curves for these two populations yields a two-sided P value of 0.0272. For mice that are heterozygous for the p53-null allele, survival is 500 ± 103 days in the presence of TSP1 expression, and 426 ± 125 days in its absence (P = 0.0058). Whereas TSP1 expression did not cause a measurable change in the incidence of the majority of tumor types, a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in the incidence of osteosarcomas is observed in the absence of TSP1. To determine more directly if host TSP1 inhibits tumor growth, B16F10 melanoma and F9 testicular teratocarcinoma cells have been implanted in C57BL/6J and 129Sv TSP1-null mice, respectively. The B16F10 tumors grow approximately twice as fast in the TSP1-null background and exhibit an increase in vascular density, a decrease in the rate of tumor cell apoptosis, and an increase in the rate of tumor cell proliferation. Increased tumor growth is also observed in the absence of TSP1 on the 129Sv genetic background. These data indicate that endogenous host TSP1 functions as a modifier or landscaper gene to suppress tumor growth.
Synthesis and some reactivity studies of germanium, tin and lead analogues of alkynes

Recently published work on the syntheses and reactivity of the germanium, tin, and lead analogues of alkynes is summarized. The heavier Group 14 ‘alkynes’ are stabilized by bulky terphenyl ligands and are thermally robust crystalline solids. However, they are extremely reactive and their reactivity decreases in the order Ge > Sn > Pb. Their spectroscopy and reactivity patterns suggest that the germanium species, in particular, has considerable diradical character. This hypothesis is also supported by preliminary density functional theory calculations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions at high temperatures: Needs, methods, and challenges

Needs exist for thermophysical data on aqueous solutions at high temperatures and pressures in many different areas of science and engineering. These needs are reviewed and references are given to recent relevant conference proceedings, reviews, and papers. Aspects and drawbacks are discussed of current methods, which are most often extensions to high temperatures of methods developed for liquid water. The challenges posed by engineering needs and by new phenomena resulting from experimental breakthroughs are discussed. Some examples are given of alternative approaches more suitable for highly compressible media.
Chromosomal proteins and cytokinesis : Patterns of cleavage furrow formation and inner centromere protein positioning in mitotic heterokaryons and mid-anaphase cells

After the separation of sister chromatids in anaphase, it is essential that the cell position a cleavage furrow so that it partitions the chromatids into two daughter cells of roughly equal size. The mechanism by which cells position this cleavage furrow remains unknown, although the best current model is that furrows always assemble midway between asters. We used micromanipulation of human cultured cells to produce mitotic heterokaryons with two spindles fused in a V conformation. The majority (15/19) of these cells cleaved along a single plane that transected the two arms of the V at the position where the metaphase plate had been, a result at odds with current views of furrow positioning. However, four cells did form an additional ectopic furrow between the spindle poles at the open end of the V, consistent with the established view. To begin to address the mechanism of furrow assembly, we have begun a detailed study of the properties of the chromosome passenger inner centromere protein (INCENP) in anaphase and telophase cells. We found that INCENP is a very early component of the cleavage furrow, accumulating at the equatorial cortex before any noticeable cortical shape change and before any local accumulation of myosin heavy chain. In mitotic heterokaryons, INCENP was detected in association with spindle midzone microtubules beneath sites of furrowing and was not detected when furrows were absent. A functional role for INCENP in cytokinesis was suggested in experiments where a nearly full-length INCENP was tethered to the centromere. Many cells expressing the chimeric INCENP failed to complete cytokinesis and entered the next cell cycle with daughter cells connected by a large intercellular bridge with a prominent midbody. Together, these results suggest that INCENP has a role in either the assembly or function of the cleavage furrow.
Pilot embedding for joint channel estimation and data detection in MIMO communication systems

A novel pilot-aided joint channel estimation and data detection method for MIMO communication systems is proposed. Unlike, conventional methods where pilots are time-multiplexed with data symbols, a pilot-embedding method where low-level pilots are transmitted concurrently with the data is used to obtain an initial estimate of the channel such that a turbo decoding process can be started. The soft information obtained from the turbo decoder is subsequently used to improve channel estimates.
Engaging emotions in adult learning: A jungian perspective on emotion and transformative learning

Emotion-laden images that arise within adult learning provide a symbolic language for helping teachers and learners understand and facilitate transformation at both the individual and group levels.
Computer graphics for drafting

Abstract Despite the fact that one of the most obvious applications of computer graphics is as a drawing board for the creation of precision drafted output, graphics systems being used solely for this purpose are rare. The conceptually simple capability of drafting for the sake of drafting seems to have been lost (or absorbed) in the wake of much more exotic applications. This paper describes a system which applies interactive computer graphics to the drafting of highly complex telephone office engineering drawings, The characteristics of the problem and its solution will be outlined, and some features of the design and implementation of the system will be discussed in detail.
Analysis of Frequency Synthesis Error in Narrowband Feedforward Active Noise Control Systems

This paper analyzes a narrowband feedforward active noise control (ANC) system using internally synthesized sinusoid as the reference signal. The effect of frequency error between the primary noise and the reference signal on the performance of the ANC system is evaluated in terms of noise reduction in steady state. Theoretical analysis shows that the achievable noise reduction is decreased for increased frequency error, but can be improved by using larger step size. These theoretical results are verified by computer simulations of the narrowband ANC system with transfer functions measured from a real experimental setup.
The Discrimination-Transfer Procedure for Studying Auditory Perception and Perceptual Invariance in Animals

This chapter describes methods for studying auditory perception of complex acoustic stimuli in animals. First, we describe techniques for establishing an initial baseline discrimination between two or more auditory patterns. Then, we discuss transfer procedures used to assay for the acoustic features that control the baseline discrimination. To illustrate the procedures, we use data from an experiment on the perception of auditory spectra by European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The procedures are adaptable, in principle, for use with a wide variety of species to study a broad array of problems in the comparative psychology of auditory perception.
Avian Use of Natural and Created Salt Marsh in Texas, USA

Abstract Bird use of three created salt marsh islands, constructed from dredged material near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA, was compared with that of natural marsh to provide feedback prior to additional marsh construction. Habitat associations of four bird groups (shorebirds, perching birds, wading birds, and gulls and terns) were similar in all sites, but relative contributions of each group to total avian abundance differed. Differences in site-use by birds were largely explained by differences in ratios of available habitat types, which were products of their geomorphic designs. Created marsh designs differed substantially from the natural marsh, where the unvegetated exposed-substrate and shallow-water habitats preferred by waterbirds were prominent features. The oldest created site (four years old) differed most from the natural marsh. Intertidal areas in the site were almost completely overgrown by vegetation, resulting in dominance of the avian assemblage by perching birds (esp...
Enhancement of photothermal heat generation by metallodielectric nanoplasmonic clusters.

A four-member homogenous quadrumer composed of silver core-shell nanostructures is tailored to enhance photothermal heat generation efficiency in sub-nanosecond time scale. Calculating the plasmonic and photothermal responses of metallic cluster, we show that it is possible to achieve thermal heat flux generation of 64.7 μW.cm−2 and temperature changes in the range of ΔT = 150 K, using Fano resonant effect. Photothermal heat generation efficiency is even further enhanced by adding carbon nanospheres to the offset gap between particles and obtained thermal heat flux generation of 93.3 μW.cm−2 and temperature increase of ΔT = 172 K. It is also shown that placement of dielectric spheres gives rise to arise collective magnetic dark plasmon modes that improves the quality of the observed Fano resonances. The presented data attests the superior performance of the proposed metallodielectric structures to utilize in practical tumor and cancer therapies and drug delivery applications.
Direct and Indirect Costs Following Living Kidney Donation: Findings From the KDOC Study.

Some living kidney donors (LKDs) incur costs associated with donation, although these costs are not well characterized in the United States. We collected cost data in the 12 mo following donation from 182 LKDs participating in the multicenter prospective Kidney Donor Outcomes Cohort (KDOC) Study. Most LKDs (n = 167, 92%) had one direct cost or more following donation, including ground transportation (86%), health care (41%), meals (53%), medications (36%), lodging (23%), and air transportation (12%). LKDs missed 33 072 total work hours, 40% of which were unpaid and led to $302 175 in lost wages (mean $1660). Caregivers lost $68 655 in wages (mean $377). Although some donors received financial assistance, 89% had a net financial loss in the 12-mo period, with one-third (33%) reporting a loss exceeding $2500. Financial burden was higher for those with greater travel distance to the transplant center (Spearman's ρ = 0.26, p < 0.001), lower household income (Spearman's ρ = -0.25, p < 0.001), and more unpaid work hours missed (Spearman's ρ = 0.52, p < 0.001). Achieving financial neutrality for LKDs must be an immediate priority for the transplant community, governmental agencies, insurance companies, nonprofit organizations, and society at large.
Warm Parenting Associated with Decreasing or Stable Child BMI during Treatment

Abstract Background: While authoritative parenting, which includes high levels of warmth and behavioral control, has been associated with lower risk of obesity, little is known about how general parenting impacts child weight loss during treatment. Our goal was to examine the relationship between several general parenting dimensions and ‘decreasing /stable’ child BMI during a 16-week family-based behavioral weight control program. Methods: Forty-four overweight parent-child dyads (child age 8 to 12 years) enrolled in the program. Families were videotaped at baseline eating dinner in their home. Using the General Parenting Observational Scale (GPOS), meals were coded for several general parenting dimensions. Primary outcome was percent of children whose BMI ‘decreased or stayed the same.’ Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between general parenting and decreasing/stable child BMI. Results: Forty families (91%) completed the program. Children had a mean BMI change of −0...
Adrenergic regulation of calcium-deficient hypertension in chick embryos

Chick embryos rendered calcium deficient by long-term culture outside the eggshell develop hypertension and tachycardia (R. Tuan and H. Q. Nguyen, J. Exp. Med. 165: 1418-1423, 1987). To characterize the hypertension of cultured shell-less (SL) chick embryo, we have compared their cardiovascular response to adrenergic drugs with normal (NL) embryos at day 14 of incubation. Blood pressure and pulse rate were measured before and after administration of norepinephrine (NE), phentolamine (PA), isoproterenol (IP), and propranolol (PP). Base-line blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) were uniformly higher in SL than NL embryos. In both embryos, blood pressure was elevated by NE and PP but lowered by IP and PA; pulse rates were decreased by PP and PA and increased by NE and IP. Pharmacological sensitivity to NE and PA, based on their effective dosages and magnitude of response in blood pressure and pulse rate, was higher in SL embryos. On the other hand, the embryos did not differ significantly in their sensitivity to IP and PP. The plasma concentration of catecholamines was considerably higher in SL embryos. Although serum calcium was lower in SL embryos, myocardial calcium content was not significantly different. Thus the cardiovascular function of SL embryos is likely to be under more sensitive and potentiated alpha-adrenergic regulation, perhaps a result of different calcium handling by several tissues (e.g., myocardium). These properties of the SL chick embryo indicate that it is a novel and useful experimental system to study the relationship between calcium homeostasis and development of hypertension.
Maximizing the Diagnostic Yield from Bone Marrow Aspirate Material Using the Cell Block Technique on Clot Sections

Background: Paraffin section of bone-marrow aspirate (clot section) is one of several components of bone marrow biopsy. Improper acquisition of aspirate material results in lack of diagnostic tissue and a waste of resources. Objective: To detail a novel cell block method of aspirated marrow as a way to ensure maximum yield. This is of particular value when the material gathered via core biopsy is inadequate. Method: We used the cell block method to evaluate paraffin-embedded sections of hematopoietic tissue from bone marrow aspirate. Results: The range of diagnoses possible from an adequate clot section parallels those from a comparable core biopsy. Examples of an adequate clot section include lesions assessed by routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, special and immunohistochemistry (IHC) stains, and molecular diagnostic studies such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Conclusion: A bone marrow clot section comprised of sinusoidal blood is inadequate for morphological interpretation and is a waste of resources. Hence, we recommend the cell block technique for procurement; this method ensures maximum capture of material needed to establish a diagnosis. * EDTA : ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid IHC : immunohistochemistry H&E : hematoxylin-eosin ALIP : abnormally located immature precursors AML : acute myeloid leukemia RSB : ring sideroblasts NRBC : nucleated red blood cells FISH : fluorescent in situ hybridization PCR : polymerase chain reaction EGFR : epidermal growth factor receptor
Nutritional Dermatoses in Rats

Hitherto all scaly dermatoses produced in rats by means of diets have been broadly characterized as pellagra or pellagra-like. Failure properly and exactly to describe the scaly diseases of the rat and to differentiate one disease from another has led to confusion and controversy in the field of nutritional investigation. At least 3 scaly dermatoses can be produced in the rat and prevented or cured by nutritional means. They are due to (1) vitamin H deficiency (egg-white injury), (2) vitamin B6 deficiency, and (3) lactoflavin deficiency. (1) Vitamin H1 deficiency disease is the name given to the general disorder experimentally produced in the rat by inclusion of a high proportion (15 to 40%) of egg-white in an otherwise well-balanced diet which contains all the well-known vitamins. Administration of vitamin H cures this condition. Rats kept on a diet of this kind exhibit in from 4 to 6 weeks typical symptoms of sebor-rheid2 dermatitis, such as erythema, intertrigo particularly around the neck and genitali...
The influence of water-soluble vitamine on the nutrition of dogs

Studies on a few species of animals have indicated that the water-soluble vitamine is of importance to nutrition during all stages of life and that prolonged absence of it from the diet will lead to a diseased condition. In the present investigation the role of water-soluble vitamines in the nutrition of the dog has been under consideration.The animals were fed a diet devoid of water-soluble vitamine and consisting of lard, sucrose, inorganic salts, and protein in the form of casein or wheat gluten. It furnished about 70-80 calories per kg. body weight. Such food mixtures were consumed readily by the dogs during a period from three to nine weeks; thereupon they began to refuse part or all of their food. Characteristic symptoms, similar to those described by Voegtlin and Lake1 were developed by some of the animals. The ultimate failure to eat was always noted.Ingestion of as little as I gm. of brewer's yeast, which had been previously dried, will cause a quick recovery of the desire to eat. 5 gm. of the dr...
Social Cognitive Predictors of Mexican American High School Students’ Math/Science Career Goals:

This study tested a social cognitive model of math/science career goals in a sample (N = 258) of Mexican American high school students. Familism and proximal family supports for math/science careers were examined as predictors of math/science: performance accomplishments, self-efficacy, interests, and goals. Results showed that the hypothesized model provided an adequate fit to the data. Familism predicted performance accomplishments and perceived family supports while perceived family supports predicted self-efficacy and goals. The final model explained 63% of the variance in interests and 53% of the variance in goals. Mediation tests showed that person-cognitive variables explained the relationships between contextual variables and goals. Contrary to hypotheses, interests did not predict goals and proximal family supports did not moderate the relationship between interests and goals. Results are discussed in terms of incorporating culture-specific values into interventions aimed at enhancing the math/sc...
Estimating Bayesian Phylogenetic Information Content

Measuring the phylogenetic information content of data has a long history in systematics. Here we explore a Bayesian approach to information content estimation. The entropy of the posterior distribution compared with the entropy of the prior distribution provides a natural way to measure information content. If the data have no information relevant to ranking tree topologies beyond the information supplied by the prior, the posterior and prior will be identical. Information in data discourages consideration of some hypotheses allowed by the prior, resulting in a posterior distribution that is more concentrated (has lower entropy) than the prior. We focus on measuring information about tree topology using marginal posterior distributions of tree topologies. We show that both the accuracy and the computational efficiency of topological information content estimation improve with use of the conditional clade distribution, which also allows topological information content to be partitioned by clade. We explore two important applications of our method: providing a compelling definition of saturation and detecting conflict among data partitions that can negatively affect analyses of concatenated data. [Bayesian; concatenation; conditional clade distribution; entropy; information; phylogenetics; saturation.].
Clinical studies and therapeutic trials in systolic hypertension

La grande frequence lors du vieillissement d'une augmentation plus importante de la pression systolique que de la pression diastolique est connue depuis longtemps. Initialement, cette hypertension systolique a ete jugee benigne et sans risque. Son traitement etait considere potentiellement dangereux. Des etudes ulterieures ont revele que l'hypertension systolique n'est pas benigne et qu'un traitement antihypertenseur peut reduire le risque d'accident vasculaire cerebral, d'infarctus du myocarde, d'insuffisance cardiaque congestive et de deces de cause cardio-vasculaire. A present, les medicaments le plus souvent conseilles pour le traitement de l'hypertension systolique sont les diuretiques thiazidiques, les inhibiteurs calciques a duree d'action longue de type dihydropyridine, les inhibiteurs de l'enzyme de conversion et les betabloquants. Les nitrates pourraient etre particulierement indiques puisqu'ils augmentent tres efficacement la distensibilite arterielle, dont la reduction est l'une des anomalies primaires de l'hypertension systolique; cependant, cette possibilite n'a pas encore ete confirmee par une etude formelle d'efficacite. Le risque d'hypotension diastolique lors du traitement suppose que ce dernier doit etre progressif, de facon a ramener la pression systolique au voisinage de la normale tout en evitant l'hypotension diastolique.
Computational modeling of signal transduction networks: a pedagogical exposition.

Abstract We give a pedagogical introduction to computational modeling of signal transduction networks, starting from explaining the representations of chemical reactions by differential equations via the law of mass action. We discuss elementary biochemical reactions such as Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and cooperative binding, and show how these allow the representation of large networks as systems of differential equations. We discuss the importance of looking for simpler or reduced models, such as network motifs or dynamical motifs within the larger network, and describe methods to obtain qualitative behavior by bifurcation analysis, using freely available continuation software. We then discuss stochastic kinetics and show how to implement easy-to-use methods of rule-based modeling for stochastic simulations. We finally suggest some methods for comprehensive parameter sensitivity analysis, and discuss the insights that it could yield. Examples, including code to try out, are provided based on a paper that modeled Ras kinetics in thymocytes.
A Map Coloring Problem

In Chaps. 2 and 3, we considered certain vertex colorings induced by edge colorings of a graph; while in Chaps. 4 and 5, we considered certain edge colorings induced by vertex colorings. Proper vertex colorings of graphs and the chromatic number of a graph originated from interest in map colorings. Other vertex colorings were also suggested from map colorings, which induced proper vertex colorings of graphs that often required using fewer colors than the chromatic number of a graph. In this chapter, we describe four such proper colorings originating from map colorings. These four vertex colorings will then be discussed in more detail in Chaps. 7–10.
Public Values As a Core Element of NASPAA

The diversity of types of degrees offered by NASPAA member programs creates both challenges and opportunities. One of the most vexing of these challenges concerns the identity of our field. In this address, I suggest that bringing public values to bear upon the analysis and management of organizations, programs, and policies should be a core element of the identity of NASPAA and its member programs. At the same time, it appears that to date we have not been entirely successful in helping society incorporate public values other than economic efficiency into public policy and management. In addition to sharpening the identity of NASPAA and its members, doing a better job of helping society incorporate public values other than economic
Use of an Aerosol Technique to Prepare Iron Sulfide Based Catalysts for Direct Coal Liquefaction

Publisher Summary Coal liquefaction refers to the formation of lower molecular weight products from coal. In so-called first-stage direct coal liquefaction (DCL), there may be relatively low yields of products in the oil range, suitable for liquid fuels; upgrading to high-quality liquid fuels is typically conducted in various steps. The aerosol technique can be used to prepare DCL catalysts. These are mixtures of pyrite and pyrrhotite in intimate contact, present in the form of small, hollow particles and the corresponding fragments. The relative amount of pyrite and pyrrhotite depends on the preparation conditions; the type of nonstoichiometric pyrrhotite also depends on these parameters. The catalysts prepared to date have been characterized by a variety of techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) yields gross results of the species present. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray analysis (EDX); yield atomic ratios on the surface and the bulk, respectively. He pycnometry yields information on the density of the particles, and therefore on the extent of the shell-like behavior of the particles. Average sizes are obtained by laser light-scattering and by TEM. The two measurements do not agree, due to clumping effects expected in the presence of the solvent used for the light-scattering measurements.
Lewis Acid Mediated Addition of Indoles and Alcohols to Tetronic Acid and Tetramic Acids

The electrophilic substitution of indoles with tetronic acid and N-acetyltetramic acid mediated by BF3·OEt2 was investigated. This strategy allowed for the preparation of nine indole-substituted furan-2-ones (indolyl-γ-lactones) and 3-pyrrolin-2-ones (indolyl-γ-lactams) and is more straightforward than previously reported synthetic methods. During the course of our investigation, we also discovered a facile synthesis of tetronates and a tetramate via a BF3-mediated addition of alcohols to tetronic acid and N-acetyltetramic acid, respectively.
The genetic architecture of shoot-root covariation during seedling emergence of a desert tree, Populus euphratica.

Summary The coordination of shoots and roots is critical for plants to adapt to changing environments by fine-tuning energy production in leaves and the availability of water and nutrients from roots. To understand the genetic architecture of how these two organs covary during developmental ontogeny, we conducted a mapping experiment using Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica), a so-called hero tree able to grow in the desert. We geminated intraspecific F1 seeds of Euphrates Poplar individually in a tube to obtain a total of 370 seedlings, whose shoot and taproot lengths were measured repeatedly during the early stage of growth. By fitting a growth equation, we estimated asymptotic growth, relative growth rate, the timing of inflection point and duration of linear growth for both shoot and taproot growth. Treating these heterochronic parameters as phenotypes, a univariate mapping model detected 19 heterochronic quantitative trait loci (hQTLs), of which 15 mediate the forms of shoot growth and four mediate taproot growth. A bivariate mapping model identified 11 pleiotropic hQTLs that determine the covariation of shoot and taproot growth. Most QTLs detected reside within the region of candidate genes with various functions, thus confirming their roles in the biochemical processes underlying plant growth.
Minimal clinically important difference of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Objective Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) with no evidence-based treatments. While several fatigue scales are partially validated in PD the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is unknown for any scale but is an important psychometric value to design and interpret therapeutic trials. We thus sought to determine the MCID for the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Methods This is a secondary data analysis from 94 PD participants in an acupuncture trial for PD fatigue. Standard psychometric approaches were used to establish validity and an anchor-based approach was used to determine the MCID. Results The MFIS demonstrated good concurrent validity with other outcome measures and high internal consistency. MCIDs values were found to be 13.8, 6.8 and 6.2 for the MFIS total, MFIS cognitive, and MFIS physical subscores respectively. Conclusions The MFIS is a valid multidimensional measure of fatigue in PD with demonstrable MCID.
Blind IQA for Pictures in extreme conditions: Experimental evaluation on metallic surfaces

In this work, several state-of-the-art Blind Image Quality Assessment (IQA) metrics and measures are evaluated in order to verify how they behave on extreme conditions such as the ones found on pictures of metallic surfaces. This is an important research topic given that the automation of the image acquisition comprehends one of the essential steps towards the automation and autonomy in many fields. Among others, obtaining quality images of shiny and reflective surfaces is in the interest of the factory automation, autonomous cars, autonomous mobile robots, and care-giving robots industries. These quality assessment algorithms come in handy for auto-focusing, aperture adjustment, camera parameterization, and image composition algorithms in general. A new dataset is developed to address this distinct category of images. Experimental results are provided to assess the performance of the known metrics on the metallic surfaces. Results show that some of the metrics in prior work correlate with the human interpretation, making them a suitable option to improve the image acquisition and the overall performance of computer vision systems operating in challenging environments.
Ablation of Atrial Arrhythmias in Postoperative Congenital Heart Disease Patients: Have We Reached the Upper Limit of Success or Is It Time for a Paradigm Shift in Strategy?

See Article by Klehs et al Development of sustained atrial arrhythmias in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) becomes more common years after successful anatomic repair despite early decreases in hemodynamic burden on the heart after surgical repair.1 Surgical incisions required to open the heart to allow access to holes and abnormal valve anatomy may be associated with atrial arrhythmias in the early postoperative period. More commonly, these incisions set-up boundaries of slow conduction or regions of conduction block that facilitate the occurrence of either focal or reentrant atrial arrhythmias as described in the report by Klehs et al.2 The average time to onset of these arrhythmias was 22±12 years in this study, similar to previous reports.1,3,4 One may ask, why so long after surgery? Patients presenting with atrial tachycardia (AT) may be asymptomatic as noted in 27 of 144 (19%) of the study patients or have a more concerning clinical presentation with palpitations, dyspnea, chest pain, or syncope.1 For those with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, atrial arrhythmias are one of the more common triggers for inappropriate shocks. Less commonly, sudden cardiac arrest may be the first sign of presentation.5 Once faced with a patient with sustained AT, the clinician must decide on what form of treatment might be best. Choices include antiarrhythmic drug treatment, antitachycardia pacing, or ablation. Although radiofrequency ablation of the tachycardia substrate has been endorsed in the 2014 PACES (Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society) consensus document,6 this decision would seem appropriate if ablation had a higher success rate and lower complication rate in the long-term than does antiarrhythmic drug therapy, but how do the 2 approaches really stack …
Functional MRI of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common nontraumatic neurological disorder in young adults. Symptoms are variable and can affect motor, visual, somatosensory, cognitive, and other central nervous system (CNS) functions. The early stages of the disease are characterized by relapses and remissions of symptoms in 85% of patients. This may subsequently transition to a progressively worsening course in the later stages of the disease [1]. The aggressiveness of the disease course and time to transition are highly variable across patients. Some patients may experience a relatively benign course of the disease, while others ultimately become severely disabled. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments are available that help decrease relapses and forestall the transition to progressive disease. Sympto­matic therapies are also available, but as yet the disease has no cure. The variable and progressive course translates into many significant and changing implications for patients and their families [1].
Diffusion Specific Segmentation: Skull Stripping with Diffusion MRI Data Alone

Most processing pipelines for diffusion MRI (dMRI) require an intracranial mask image to exclude voxels outside the skull, and some dMRI analyses also need a segmentation between the voxels that are primarily tissue or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). dMRI is challenging for most segmentation methods because it usually has relatively severe image artifacts and coarse resolution. However, it does provide information about the physical properties of the material(s) in each voxel, which can be directly applied to segmentation. We describe the training of a random forest classifier to segment dMRI into intracranial, brain, and CSF masks, and compare its results to three other segmentation methods commonly used in dMRI processing. The effect of correcting smooth spatial intensity variations on dMRI segmentation is also tested.
Integrated Microwave Photonic Component Technologies

Key integrated microwave photonic component technologies are presented including low-loss waveguide true time delays for optical signal processing functions and high-performance hybrid integrated active devices.
Disruption of divisome assembly rescued by FtsN–FtsA interaction in Escherichia coli

Cell division requires the assembly of a protein complex called the divisome. The divisome assembles in a hierarchical manner, with FtsA functioning as a hub to connect the Z-ring with the rest of the divisome and FtsN arriving last to activate the machine to synthesize peptidoglycan. FtsEX arrives as the Z-ring forms and acts on FtsA to initiate recruitment of the other divisome components. In the absence of FtsEX, recruitment is blocked; however, a multitude of conditions allow FtsEX to be bypassed. Here, we find that all such FtsEX bypass conditions, as well as the bypass of FtsK, depend upon the interaction of FtsN with FtsA, which promotes the back-recruitment of the late components of the divisome. Furthermore, our results suggest that these bypass conditions enhance the weak interaction of FtsN with FtsA and its periplasmic partners so that the divisome proteins are brought to the Z-ring when the normal hierarchical pathway is disrupted.
Horizontal PACS deployment in an integrated system

In today’s society there exists a continual evolution and enhancement of technology in all realms of industry. This evolution has been becoming much more noticeable in recent years in the medical domain. Of particular significance has been the impact of digital evolution in radiology, in part due to radiology’s heavy reliance upon imaging processes, techniques, and equipment. Of particular interest to radiology departments has been the concept of replacing analog (film-based) imaging with digital imaging. Such a system is broadly known as PACS, or Picture Archival and Communication System, a system that allows for the transmission, archiving, and display of images in an electronic environment. This electronic transformation has the potential to provide substantial benefit and improvement to imaging operations, particularly as they affect integrated delivery systems. This chapter will attempt to use the horizontal PACS implementation experience of two academic radiology departments, and their affiliated community facilities, in order to provide a useful guide to the successful horizontal deployment of PACS in such an integrated system.
Molecular Bond Rupture Associated with Inelastic Deformation of Elastomers

Unstrained rubbers cooled far below their glass transition temperature are generally very brittle. The ductility can, however, be greatly increased by prestraining (~100%) the rubber before reducing the temperature as suggested by Andrews and Reed. Results on natural rubber and Hycar 1043 rubber are reported, showing the effects of prestrain, temperature and strain rate on low temperature ductility and primary molecular bond rupture. Molecular bond rupture was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. X-ray diffraction in rubbers indicates that prestraining and cooling results in orientated crystallization. It is suggested that this, in effect, produces a semi-crystalline polymer with a resulting increase in ductility and rather general bond rupture (throughout the loaded sample volume) during deformation leading to fracture.
ML-DS: A Unique Condition for Measurable Residual Disease Detection

Children with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of developing myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome (ML-DS). This disease is preceded by a self-limiting, preleukemic condition known as transient myeloproliferative disease (TMD). While most DS neonates with TMD will spontaneously resolve without treatment, 10–20% of these TMD cases will later evolve into ML-DS. The specific mechanisms leading to leukemic transformation and relapse in ML-DS remain to be elucidated. Furthermore, DS hematopoietic cells present a distinct antigenic profile which limits the current best practice for residual disease detection in acute myeloid leukemia: a multidimensional flow cytometric assay comparing against a set of normal immunophenotype. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing now offer a novel alternative to these traditional methods for residual detection and promise to broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms in this unique disease.
Approach to the Examination and Classification of Nystagmus

Background and Purpose:Physical therapists caring for patients with neurologic or vestibular disorders must routinely examine and characterize nystagmus and other oscillatory eye movements. Often, the diagnosis hinges on proper interpretation of the nystagmus pattern. This requires understanding the
Racial Diversity or Cultural Safety?: Utilizing Social Identity to Understand the Choice of Racially Segregated Neighborhoods among Middle Class African-Americans

Adding to a growing body of work on the psychology of neighborhood choice, the present research examined middle class black attitudes regarding owning homes in majority white and majority black com...
Childhood disadvantage, cigarette smoking, and mental health: a mediation effect of social engagement

Drawing from a life course paradigm, this study explores the associations between childhood disadvantage, social engagement, cigarette smoking, and depressive symptoms. Data come from the three wav...
The triage of older adults with physiologic markers of serious injury using a state-wide prehospital plan

Introduction:In January of 2010, North Carolina (NC) USA implemented state-wide Trauma Triage Destination Plans (TTDPs) to provide standardized guidelines for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) decision making. No study exists to evaluate whether triage behavior has changed for geriatric trauma patients.Hypothesis/Problem:The impact of the NC TTDPs was investigated on EMS triage of geriatric trauma patients meeting physiologic criteria of serious injury, primarily based on whether these patients were transported to a trauma center.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study of geriatric trauma patients transported by EMS from March 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009 (pre-TTDP) and March 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010 (post-TTDP) meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) age 50 years or older; (2) transported to a hospital by NC EMS; (3) experienced an injury; and (4) meeting one or more of the NC TTDP’s physiologic criteria for trauma (n = 5,345). Data were obtained from the Prehospital Medical Information System (PreMIS). Data collected included proportions of patients transported to a trauma center categorized by specific physiologic criteria, age category, and distance from a trauma center.Results:The proportion of patients transported to a trauma center pre-TTDP (24.4% [95% CI 22.7%-26.1%]; n = 604) was similar to the proportion post-TTDP (24.4% [95% CI 22.9%-26.0%]; n = 700). For patients meeting specific physiologic triage criteria, the proportions of patients transported to a trauma center were also similar pre- and post-TTDP: systolic blood pressure 29 (23.2% versus 22.6%); and Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) score <13 (26.0% versus 26.4%). Patients aged 80 years or older were less likely to be transported to a trauma center than younger patients in both the pre- and post-TTDP periods.Conclusions:State-wide implementation of a TTDP had no discernible effect on the proportion of patients 50 years and older transported to a trauma center. Under-triage remained common and became increasingly prevalent among the oldest adults. Research to understand the uptake of guidelines and protocols into EMS practice is critical to improving care for older adults in the prehospital environment.
Telling right from right: the influence of handedness in the mental rotation of hands.

This study investigated the impact of handedness on a common spatial abilities task, the mental rotation task (MRT). The influence of a right-handed world was contrasted with people’s embodied experience with their own hands by testing both left- and right-handed people on an MRT of right- and left-hand stimuli. An additional consideration is the influence of matching the shape of the hand stimuli with the proprioception of one’s own hands. Two orthogonal hypothesis axes were crossed to yield four competing hypotheses. One axis contrasted (i) embodied experience versus (ii) world knowledge; the other axis contrasted (a) the match between the visual image of a hand on the screen and one’s own hand versus (b) the resemblance of the shape outline information from the hand stimuli with the proprioception of one’s own hands. Among people with mixed handedness, right-handers performed more accurately for left-hand stimuli, while left-handers had a trend for higher accuracy for right-hand stimuli. For people with extreme handedness, right-handers outperformed left-handers. Regardless of group, there was no significant variation in performance for left-hand stimuli, with only right-hand stimuli producing significant variation. No hypothesis fully aligned with all the data. For left-hand stimuli, the consistent performance across groups does not provide support for embodied experience, while world knowledge might influence all groups similarly. Alternatively, the within-group variation for mixed-handed people supports embodied experience in the hand MRT, likely processed through visual-proprioceptive integration.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Incidences of Bronchiolitis Requiring Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND Race/ethnicity is currently not considered a risk factor for bronchiolitis, except for indigenous populations in Western countries. A better understanding of the potential impact of race/ethnicity can inform programs, policies, and practices related to bronchiolitis. METHODS We performed a population-based, longitudinal, observational study using the State Inpatient Database from New York State in the United States. Infants born between 2009 and 2013 at term without comorbidities were followed for the first 2 years of life, up to 2015. We calculated the cumulative incidences among different race/ethnicity groups, and evaluated the risks by developing logistic regression models. RESULTS Of 877 465 healthy, term infants, 10 356 infants were hospitalized with bronchiolitis. The overall cumulative incidence was 11.8 per 1000 births. The cumulative incidences in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian infants were 8.6, 15.4, 19.1, and 6.5 per 1000 births, respectively. In a multivariable analysis adjusting for socioeconomic status, the risks remained substantially high among non-Hispanic Black (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-1.51) and Hispanic infants (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.67-1.87), whereas being of Asian race was protective (odds ratio, .62; 95% CI, .56-.69). CONCLUSIONS The risks of bronchiolitis hospitalization in the first 2 years of life were substantially different by race/ethnicity, with Hispanic and Black infants having the highest rates of hospitalization. Further research is needed to develop and implement culturally appropriate public health interventions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in bronchiolitis.
Too Much of a Good Thing? Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis Due to Excessive Milk Intake Associated Anemia.

Introduction:In young children, excessive cow’s milk intake causes iron-deficiency anemia, which is associated with hypercoagulable states. We present a case series of 4 toddlers with excessive mil...
Localization of motor and verbal fluency effects in subthalamic DBS for Parkinson's disease

Abstract Introduction Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) improves cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) but can worsen verbal fluency (VF). An optimal site of stimulation for overall motor improvement has been previously identified using an atlas-independent, fully individualized, field-modeling approach. This study examines if cardinal motor components (bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity) share this identified optimal improvement site and if there is co-localization with a site that worsens VF. Methods An atlas-independent, field-modeling approach was used to identify sites of maximal STN DBS effect on overall and cardinal motor symptoms and VF in 60 patients. Anatomic coordinates were referenced to the STN midpoint. Symptom severity was assessed with the MDS-UPDRS part III and established VF scales. Results Sites for improved bradykinesia and rigidity co-localized with each other and the overall part III site (0.09 mm lateral, 0.93 mm posterior, 1.75 mm dorsal). The optimal site for tremor was posterior to this site (0.10 mm lateral, 1.40 mm posterior, 1.93 mm dorsal). Semantic and phonemic VF sites were indistinguishable and co-localized medial to the motor sites (0.32 mm medial, 1.18 mm posterior, 1.74 mm dorsal). Conclusion This study identifies statistically distinct, maximally effective stimulation sites for tremor improvement, VF worsening, and overall and other cardinal motor improvements in STN DBS. Current electrode sizes and voltage settings stimulate all of these sites simultaneously. However, future targeted lead placement and focused directional stimulation may avoid VF worsening while maintaining motor improvements in STN DBS.