cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of sodium nitrate on microwave-assisted synthesis of ceria nanocubes

Fluorite-structured cerium oxide (ceria; CeO2−x, 0≤x<0.5) possesses unique catalytic activity to promote redox reactions. Among the most common facets of ceria, the {100} facets of ceria nanocubes have been found to be more catalytically active as well as better noble metal supports than the {111} facets of ceria nanopolyhedra. Here we report a facile microwave-assisted synthesis of ceria nanocubes using sodium nitrate as the surface modifying agent (SMA). Microwave methods directly scaled from conventional hydrothermal parameters were found to produce mixtures of ceria nanocubes and ceria nanorods. The effect of sodium nitrate on the shape-control growth of ceria nanocubes was investigated by using various mole ratios of sodium nitrate to the cerium nitrate precursor in the synthetic study. From our morphological analysis of resulting ceria products, the mechanistic roles of the SMA were postulated to destabilize the growth of {110} and {111} facets of ceria nanocrystals as well as influencing the incorporation rate of precursors on the surfaces of ceria crystals.
Progress of pathogenesis and treatment of viral myocarditis.

Viral myocarditis(VCM) is a complex disease caused by multiple pathogenetic factors,including viral infection,cell immunological factors,and multiply cytokine factors.In recent years,the incidence of acute viral myocarditis has been on rise.The symptoms of acute viral myocarditis are concealed,and is prone to result in cardiogenic sudden death,which makes it more lethal.This article summarized researches on the pathogenesis and the treatment of acute viral myocarditis.
Resting membrane potentials: a student test of alternate hypotheses.

The frog sartorius muscle is a model tissue for demonstrating to physiology students the principles underlying both membrane phenomena and hypothesis testing. Myocytes can be impaled with conventio...
Significant variation in P2Y12 inhibitor use after peripheral vascular intervention in Medicare beneficiaries.

Background There is no consensus regarding whether to use antithrombotic medications in patients with peripheral artery disease after lower-extremity peripheral vascular intervention. Objectives The main hypothesis is that significant variation exists regarding use of antithrombotic medications after lower-extremity peripheral vascular intervention. We sought to examine the patterns of postprocedural antithrombotic medication use and associated factors in Medicare patients. Methods We measured rates of P2Y 12 inhibitor use after peripheral vascular intervention in a 100% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries with Part D prescription drug coverage. We used logistic regression modeling to examine associations between patient and clinical factors and P2Y 12 inhibitor use. Results Between 2010 and 2012, a total of 85,830 patients underwent peripheral vascular intervention and had prescription drug claims. Overall, 18.3% of patients were treated with an oral anticoagulant, 19.1% received no P2Y 12 inhibitor, 30.8% received a P2Y 12 inhibitor before and after the procedure, 6.2% received a P2Y 12 inhibitor for up to 30 days after the procedure, and 25.6% received a P2Y 12 inhibitor for more than 30 days after the procedure. After adjustment, factors associated with P2Y 12 inhibitor use included male sex; black race; history of renal disease, dementia, or heart failure; physician specialty; and clinical setting of the procedure. We observed a strong interaction effect between clinical setting and physician specialty ( P Conclusions One-fifth of patients who underwent lower-extremity peripheral vascular intervention did not fill a prescription for a P2Y 12 inhibitor. Patients whose operators were surgeons or radiologists had lower odds of P2Y 12 inhibitor use. More research to determine the optimal use and duration of antithrombotic medications after the procedure is warranted.
A Media Sociology for the Networked Public Sphere: The Hierarchy of Influences Model

We have promoted a hierarchy of influences model for understanding the complex factors shaping media—particularly news—content: from the individual to social-system level. Meanwhile, technology-enabled changes in the media eco-system have shifted old boundaries and encouraged new, more spatially oriented concepts, such as fields and networks. In this essay we revisit our levels-of-analysis perspective, which in the historical context of communication research was a response to the media effects paradigm, and incorporate within the model examples from recent research. We argue that the hierarchical of influences can still take into account new realignments of media and other forces. Emerging spaces in the network public sphere may not fit as easily into the once familiar professional, organizational, and institutional containers, but the new media configurations supporting these spaces must still be understood with reference to a larger framework of power.
What Can Larval Ecology Tell Us About the Success of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Within the United States?

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was introduced in the United States approximately 30 years ago, and since has become an important pest and vector of disease. This species uses small water-holding containers as sites for oviposition and larval development. Larvae can consume a wide range of detritus-based energy sources, including microorganisms, and as such the type and quantity of detritus that enters these systems have been studied for the effects on adult populations. This review examines the documented responses of Ae. albopictus to different larval environments within the United States, and some of its unique ecology that may lead to a better understanding of its spread and success. Field surveys generally find larvae in shaded containers with high amounts of organic detritus. Larvae have higher survival and population growth under high amounts of detritus and microorganisms, but they also can outcompete other species when nutrients are limiting. Allocation of time to feeding by larvae is greater and more focused compared with resident species. These latter two points also may explain differences in carbon and nitrogen composition (nutrient stoichiometry), which point to a lower need for nitrogen. Combined, these facts suggest that the Ae. albopictus is a species with a relatively wide niche that had been able to exploit container habitats in the United States better than resident species. After 30 yr of research, only a narrow range of detritus types and environmental conditions have been examined. Data on factors affecting the production of adults and its spread and apparent success are still needed.
Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals in GaAs Through Selective Growth, Etching and Oxidation

We present an efficient method for the fabrication of three-dimensional photonic crystals in GaAs-based materials that exploits the dependence of the oxidation rate of AlGaAs on the aluminum content in the alloy.
Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and use of NSAIDs during the perioperative period as prognostic indicators in patients with NSCLC undergoing surgery

BackgroundHematological biomarkers of inflammation such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocytic rate have been reported as predictors of survival in a variety of cancers. The aim of the present study was ...
Accurate Estimation of Principal Point Using Three Mutually Orthogonal Horizon Lines

Accurate estimation of the principal point (PP) is critical for many camera calibration applications. Taking the PP as the intersection of the optical axis with the image plane, it is possible to identify this location as the orthocenter of three orthogonal vanishing points. This paper presents a method for accurately identifying the three vanishing points as the intersections of three horizon lines. The technique utilizes groups of images of a checkerboard test pattern collected from three orthogonal planes. Each group consists of images of the checkerboard rotated to different positions in the same plane, which can be used to identify a single horizon line. This is achieved by locating checkerboard corner points as saddle points, and using a Hough transform to group them into rows and columns. The vanishing points generated from the rows and columns lie along the same horizon line. Applying this technique to the rotated images within the group allows accurate estimation of the horizon line. Repeating this for image groups on three orthogonal planes creates horizon lines that effectively intersect at three orthogonal vanishing points, allowing for identification of the PP. The advantage of this technique is that it indirectly finds the three orthogonal vanishing points using horizon lines that are accurately found using fits to multiple vanishing points. Experiments with this technique indicate that it significantly reduces the error in finding the PP.
Biomechanics: The wonders of whirl

John E. Moalli and Adam P. Summers relish a book on biomechanical spin, from wheels to free-falling felines.
General purpose multi-channel signal generator based on Xilinx Virtex II Pro FPGAs

Implementation in FPGA of creating general purpose multi-channel signal generator, was developed and tested, based on Xilinx Virtex II Pro XC2VP30 device. Using Digital Clock Managers (DCM) block built in Xilinx Virtex II Pro device, signal generator output frequency range is from several Hz to several hundred MHz with high precision. Analog as well as digital signal can be generated with similar method.
Predictive quality of the pavement ME design program for field performance of warm mix asphalt pavements

Abstract High quality predictive program provides an alternative to assess the long-term performance of asphalt pavements if well-evaluated based on field performance. The asphalt pavement performance models embedded in the Pavement ME Design program were developed based on hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements, and the predictive quality varies depending on specific conditions. The applicability of the Pavement ME Design program as well as the embedded performance models to warm mix asphalt (WMA) pavements is even unclear. In addition, the ability of the Pavement ME Design program in differentiating HMA and WMA performance, if any, has not been evaluated. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the predictive quality of the Pavement ME Design program for the field performance of WMA pavements, and further to evaluate the capability of Pavement ME Design program in detecting performance difference between HMA and WMA pavements if there is any. A total of 43 asphalt pavements (both HMA and WMA) from 16 projects were evaluated based on their field measured and predicted performance, in terms of rutting, transverse cracking and top-down longitudinal cracking. Results indicate that (1) The Pavement ME Design program can predict the field rut depth well for HMA and WMA pavements, in terms of both numerical values and rankings. However, the software in general over-estimates the field rut depth; (2) The Pavement ME Design program cannot predict field transverse cracking or field longitudinal cracking correctly irrespective of pavement type; (3) The results suggest that the effect of moisture should be considered in the Pavement ME cracking models for both HMA and WMA pavements, and (4) Overall, the predictive quality of the Pavement ME Design program for HMA and WMA is similar, either in good or poor prediction results. The WMA technology does not fundamentally alter the behavior of asphalt materials in pavement application. We suggest treating WMA similarly as HMA while applying the Pavement ME Design program for performance prediction. However, the corresponding WMA material properties should be used as input values.
FluxFix: automatic isotopologue normalization for metabolic tracer analysis

Isotopic tracer analysis by mass spectrometry is a core technique for the study of metabolism. Isotopically labeled atoms from substrates, such as [13C]-labeled glucose, can be traced by their incorporation over time into specific metabolic products. Mass spectrometry is often used for the detection and differentiation of the isotopologues of each metabolite of interest. For meaningful interpretation, mass spectrometry data from metabolic tracer experiments must be corrected to account for the naturally occurring isotopologue distribution. The calculations required for this correction are time consuming and error prone and existing programs are often platform specific, non-intuitive, commercially licensed and/or limited in accuracy by using theoretical isotopologue distributions, which are prone to artifacts from noise or unresolved interfering signals. Here we present FluxFix ( http://fluxfix.science ), an application freely available on the internet that quickly and reliably transforms signal intensity values into percent mole enrichment for each isotopologue measured. ‘Unlabeled’ data, representing the measured natural isotopologue distribution for a chosen analyte, is entered by the user. This data is used to generate a correction matrix according to a well-established algorithm. The correction matrix is applied to labeled data, also entered by the user, thus generating the corrected output data. FluxFix is compatible with direct copy and paste from spreadsheet applications including Excel (Microsoft) and Google sheets and automatically adjusts to account for input data dimensions. The program is simple, easy to use, agnostic to the mass spectrometry platform, generalizable to known or unknown metabolites, and can take input data from either a theoretical natural isotopologue distribution or an experimentally measured one. Our freely available web-based calculator, FluxFix ( http://fluxfix.science ), quickly and reliably corrects metabolic tracer data for natural isotopologue abundance enabling faster, more robust and easily accessible data analysis.
Sleep, insomnia, and hypertension: current findings and future directions

Blood pressure (BP) varies over 24 hours. During normal sleep, BP typically decreases by 10% or more. Research suggests that disordered sleep, particularly sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnea, is associated with increased BP and risk of hypertension. Less is known about the relationship between insomnia and hypertension. Population-based studies have reported an association between insomnia symptoms and both prevalent and incident hypertension, particularly in the context of short sleep duration. Furthermore, a number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the relationship between insomnia and hypertension. However, few studies have examined these proposed mechanisms, and even fewer clinical trials have been conducted to determine if improved sleep improves BP and/or reverses a nondipping BP pattern. Methodological concerns, particularly with respect to the diagnosis of insomnia, no doubt impact the strength of any observed association. Additionally, a large majority of studies have only examined the association between insomnia symptoms and clinic BP. Therefore, future research needs to focus on careful consideration of the diagnostic criteria for insomnia, as well as inclusion of either home BP or ambulatory BP monitoring. Finally, clinical trials aimed at improving the quality of sleep should be conducted to determine if improved sleep impacts 24-hour BP.
Diagnosis, therapy and follow-up in infants with subclincal hypothyroidism--A clinical analysis of 107 cases

The serum TSH levels of 107 infants with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) were > 20 mIU/L after 1-8 check-up, along with FT4, TT4, within low normal range. After given small dosage L-T4, for 4 weeks, blood TSH level obviously descended while FT4, TT4, ascended (all P <0.01). Seven cases of thyroid hypogenesis and 7 strumas were found by ultrasonography. It seems appropriate to use dosage of 3-4 μg·kg·-1·d-1 L-T4 in treating SH. Key words: Hypothyroidism; Infants; Therapy; Follow-up studies
Amphibian sensitivity to habitat modification is associated with population trends and species traits

Aim Habitat modification is causing widespread declines in biodiversity and the homogenization of biotas. Amphibians are especially threatened by habitat modification, yet we know little about why some species persist or thrive in the face of this threat whereas others decline. Our aim was to identify intrinsic factors that explain variation among amphibians in their sensitivity to habitat modification (SHM), factors that could help target groups of species for conservation. Location Global. Time period 1986–2015 Major taxon studied Amphibians. Methods We quantified SHM using species abundances in natural and altered habitats as reported in published field surveys. We first examined associations between local SHM and range-wide threatened status, population trends and invasiveness. We then evaluated the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic variables in explaining species SHM using multiple comparative methods. Our analyses included over 200 species that could be ranked with confidence from 47 studies across five continents. Results Amphibians species varied considerably in local SHM. High SHM was associated with elevated range-wide extinction risk and declining population trends. Species that were tolerant of habitat modification were most likely to be invasive outside their native range. Geographical range size was the most important intrinsic predictor and was negatively associated with SHM. Larval habitat was also an important predictor, but was tightly coupled with phylogenetic position. Main conclusions Narrowly distributed species whose larvae develop on land or in lotic habitats are most sensitive to habitat modification. However, other unmeasured, phylogenetically constrained traits could underlie the effect of larval habitat. Species range size is frequently correlated with global extinction risk in vertebrates, and our analysis extends this macroecological pattern to the sensitivity of amphibians to local habitat loss, a proximate driver of extinction. These general patterns of SHM should help identify those groups of amphibians most at risk in an era of rapid habitat loss and scarce conservation resources.
Cheap talk or incredible commitment? (Mis)calculating transparency and anti-corruption

Why do “tainted” politicians in high-corruption countries adopt transparency and anti-corruption policies that risk exposing their wrongdoing? Using the cases of freedom of information and public asset disclosure in Romania, we assess three explanations: that these policies are meant to be mere window dressing, facilitate bottom-up monitoring, or ensure access to information for the ruling party if it loses power. We find that decision makers adopt transparency and anti-corruption policies because they want to signal their integrity and because they underestimate their consequences. Because they assume they will be able to control implementation, decision makers discount the potential costs of damaging information being released. Sustained political competition can keep corruption and lack of transparency on the public and political agenda, shifting attention from policy adoption to implementation and leading to increased compliance. Since politicians miscalculate the consequences of their actions, signals that are intended to be cheap can end up being quite costly.
Smoking-attributable Mortality by State in 2014, U.S.

Introduction Contemporary state-specific estimates of mortality caused by cigarette smoking are important for tobacco control advocacy and healthcare planning in the U.S., but are currently lacking. Methods The population-attributable fraction (i.e., proportion of deaths in the population caused by smoking), number of deaths, and number of years of potential life lost because of active cigarette smoking were estimated for each state based on state-specific smoking prevalence data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, recently updated relative risks of smoking, and numbers of deaths from smoking-attributable diseases. Analyses were performed in 2017. Results In 2014, active cigarette smoking caused an estimated 448,865 deaths (258,456 men and 190,409 women), representing 17.8% (95% CI=17.7%, 17.9%) of all deaths at age >35 years in the U.S. These deaths resulted in the premature loss of 6,387,021 years of life in 2014. Across states, population-attributable fractions ranged from 12.4% in Utah to 25.2% in Arkansas in men, and from 7.0% in Utah to 20.0% in Nevada in women. Cigarette smoking caused >20% of all deaths in seven states (Kentucky, Arkansas, Nevada, Tennessee, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Missouri). California had the highest number of smoking-attributable deaths (n=38,182) and years of potential life lost (508,370 years), despite a relatively low population-attributable fraction (16.2%). Conclusions Cigarette smoking continues to cause a substantial proportion of deaths in every state, with the highest population-attributable fractions in Nevada and the South. The continuing high burden in states with longstanding tobacco control, like California, highlights the need for enhanced tobacco control in all states.
Comments on the use of olfactory displays for virtual environments

Currently, the hardware to produce virtual environments does not include olfactory displays, in spite of the fact that a wealth of sensory information is available from the olfactory sense. This paper reviews the physiological and psychological aspects of olfaction and discusses the use of olfactory displays for virtual environments. Further, it outlines the information that will be needed by the virtual environment research community to integrate olfactory stimuli into virtual environments.
Contested cultural heritage: A selective historiography

Although “contested cultural heritage” has not always been specified in these words, the concept has been cogently present for at least 25 years in anthropology, archaeology, history, geography, architecture, urbanism, and tourism (to name the most obvious disciplines) and is now a framework driving much applied research in these fields internationally. This is because we live in an increasingly fraught world where religious, ethnic, national, political, and other groups manipulate (appropriate, use, misuse, exclude, erase) markers and manifestations of their own and others’ cultural heritage as a means for asserting, defending, or denying critical claims to power, land, legitimacy, and so forth. This introductory essay presents a selective historiography of contested cultural heritage as I perceive its development, illustrated by some of the better known cases of its instantiation and augmented by the contributions to this volume.
Quantifying Heterogeneity in Emphysema from High-Resolution Computed Tomography: A Lung Tissue Research Consortium Study

Rationale and Objectives To quantify spatial distribution of emphysema using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), we applied semiautomated analysis with internal attenuation calibration to measure regional air volume, tissue volume, and fractional tissue volume (FTV = tissue/[air + tissue] volume) in well-characterized patients studied by the Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC). Methods HRCT was obtained at supine end-inspiration and end-expiration, and prone end-inspiration from 31 patients with mild, moderate, severe, or very severe emphysema (stages II–V, forced expiratory volume at 1 second >75%, 51%–75%, 21%–50% and ≤20% predicted, respectively). Control data were from 20 healthy non-smokers (stage I). Each lobe was analyzed separately. Heterogeneity of FTV was assessed from coefficients of variation (CV) within and among lobes, and the kurtosis and skewness of FTV histograms. Results In emphysema, lobar air volume increased up to 177% above normal except in the right middle lobe. Lobar tissue volume increased up to 107% in mild-moderate stages then normalized in advanced stages. Normally, FTV was up to 82% higher in lower than upper lobes. In mild-moderate emphysema, lobar FTV increased by up to 74% above normal at supine inspiration. In severe emphysema, FTV declined below normal in all lobes and positions in correlation with pulmonary function ( P P Conclusion CT-derived biomarkers differentiate the spatial patterns of emphysema distribution and heterogeneity from that in ILD. Early emphysema is associated with elevated tissue volume and FTV, consistent with hyperemia, inflammation or atelectasis.
Product Units with Trainable Exponents and Multi-Layer Networks

This chapter reviews and examines a variant type of computational unit which we have recently proposed for use in multi-layer neural networks [3]. Instead of the output of this unit depending on a weighted sum of the inputs, it depends on a weighted product. In justifying the introduction of a new type of unit we explore at some length the rationale behind the use of multi-layer neural networks, and the properties of the computational units within them. At the end of the chapter we discuss a biological model for a single complex neve cell with active dendritic membrane that uses the product units.
Evaluation of inhaled low-dose formaldehyde-induced DNA adducts and DNA–protein cross-links by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

As a widespread industrial chemical, formaldehyde carcinogenicity has been highly controversial. Meanwhile, formaldehyde is an essential metabolite in all living cells. Previously, we have demonstrated exogenous formaldehyde causes DNA adducts in a nonlinear manner between 0.7 and 15.2 ppm using [13CD2]-formaldehyde for exposure coupled with the use of sensitive mass spectrometry. However, the responses from exposure to low doses of formaldehyde are still unknown. In this study, rats were exposed to 1, 30, and 300 ppb [13CD2]-formaldehyde for 28 days (6 h/day) by nose-only inhalation, followed by measuring DNA mono-adduct (N2-HOMe-dG) and DNA–protein crosslinks (dG-Me-Cys) as formaldehyde specific biomarkers. Both exogenous and endogenous DNA mono-adducts and dG-Me-Cys were examined with ultrasensitive nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Our data clearly show that endogenous adducts are present in all tissues analyzed, but exogenous adducts were not detectable in any tissue samples, including the most susceptible nasal epithelium. Moreover, formaldehyde exposure at 1, 30 and 300 ppb did not alter the levels of endogenous formaldehyde-induced DNA adducts or DNA–protein crosslinks. The novel findings from this study provide new data for risk assessment of exposure to low doses of formaldehyde.
How Do Ideal Friend Preferences and Interaction Context Affect Friendship Formation? Evidence for a Domain- General Relationship Initiation Process:

This research examined how people’s ideal friend preferences influence the friendship formation process. In an extension of prior research on romantic relationship initiation, we tested whether the...
Scalable method utilizing low pH for DNA removal in the harvest of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors

Abstract Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a strong candidate for single-gene mutation gene therapy. AAV comes in several serotypes that target different organs in the body. The current purification methods for AAV vectors often rely on serotype dependent affinity chromatography. However, it is desired to create a platform for AAV purification that mirrors the evolution of antibody platform processes. To do this, any serotype dependent steps need to be removed from the process. The harvest and initial capture steps that can satisfy all of the needs of a platform AAV process is the use of low pH and Triton in the harvest, followed by filtration and cation exchange chromatography (CEX) for initial capture. The low pH hydrolyses and removes the host cell DNA, a difficult contaminate to remove. CEX then provides a concentration and capture step. The only step that remains is to determine the polishing and final formulation. This harvest strategy provides a serotype independent purification that removes both host cell DNA and host cell proteins and is friendly to scale-up for future AAV processes.
Plasticity in a Drosophila wing circuit supports an adaptive sleep function

Abstract Sleep is a near universal phenomenon whose function remains controversial. An influential theory of sleep function posits that ecological factors that place animals in harm’s way increase sleep as a state of adaptive inactivity. Here we find that manipulations that impair flight in Drosophila increase sleep. Further, we identify a novel neural pathway from peripheral wing sensory neurons to the central brain that mediates the change in sleep. Moreover, we show that flight impairments activate and induce structural plasticity in specific projection neurons to support increases in sleep over days. Thus, chemosensory neurons do not only signal sensory cues but also appear to provide information on wing-integrity to support behavioural adaptability. Together, these data provide mechanistic support of adaptive increases in sleep and highlight the importance of behavioural flexibility for fitness and survival.
Does Adolescent Anxiety Moderate the Relationship between Adolescent–Parent Communication and Adolescent Coping?

Parent-adolescent relationships support the development of adolescent coping styles, but this support may be impacted by parent and adolescent gender, as well as by the presence of anxiety symptoms. This study examined the moderating role of adolescent anxiety symptoms for the longitudinal relationship between adolescent–parent communication with mothers and fathers and adolescent coping styles. Surveys were administered to 1034 high school students (Mage = 16.16, SD = 0.75; 55% girls; 58% White) in the spring of 2007 (T1) and spring of 2008 (T2). Results indicated that adolescent–mother communication positively predicted the development of coping styles, particularly for boys’ emotion-focused coping styles. In contrast, adolescent–father communication negatively predicted some emotion-focused coping styles for boys, including venting coping, emotional social support seeking coping, and religious coping. Adolescent–father communication did not predict any coping styles for girls. Anxiety moderated relationships, such that adolescent–mother communication positively predicted the development of girls’ and boys’ coping styles only in the context of low anxiety symptoms. For boys, adolescent–father communication predicted more venting coping and religious coping when adolescent anxiety symptoms were high. These findings point to complex gender differences in the social development of adolescent coping styles, and these findings underscore the need to examine parent and adolescent gender differences.
Effect of endovenous ablation assessment stratified by great saphenous vein size, gender, clinical severity, and patient-reported outcomes.

Abstract Objective The policies of insurance carriers have used the truncal vein size as a criterion for coverage. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of great saphenous vein (GSV) size ≥5 mm vs Methods Patients in a national cohort were prospectively captured in the Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry. From January 2015 to October 2017, the Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry database was queried for all patients who had undergone varicose vein procedures. The CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) classification, Venous Clinical Severity Score, and patient-reported outcomes were compared by GSV size ( Results During the study period, 5757 vein ablation procedures had been performed for GSV: 770 for GSV size Conclusions All patients demonstrated improvement in both clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes after endovenous ablation, regardless of GSV size. Patients with a preoperative GSV size ≥5 mm experienced similar improvement in symptoms but an increased complication rate. Patients with a smaller vein size should not be denied intervention or coverage by vein size.
The Primacy of Duty and Its Efficacy in Combating COVID-19

Nyansa nye sika na w'akyekyere asie (‘Wisdom, unlike money, cannot be kept in a safe’) (Appiagyei-Atua 2000)
GREEN BANK TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF LOW COLUMN DENSITY H I AROUND NGC 2997 AND NGC 6946

Observations of ongoing H I accretion in nearby galaxies have only identified about 10% of the fuel necessary to sustain star formation in these galaxies. Most of these observations have been conducted using interferometers and may have missed lower column density, diffuse, H I gas that may trace the missing 90% of gas. Such gas may represent the so-called cold flows predicted by current theories of galaxy formation to have never been heated above the virial temperature of the dark matter halo. As a first attempt to identify such cold flows around nearby galaxies and complete the census of H I down to N H I ~ 1018 cm–2, I used the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to map the circumgalactic (r 100-200 kpc) H I environment around NGC 2997 and NGC 6946. The resulting GBT observations cover a 4 deg2 area around each galaxy with a 5σ detection limit of N H I ~ 1018 cm–2 over a 20 km s–1 line width. This project complements absorption line studies, which are well-suited to the regime of lower N H I . Around NGC 2997, the GBT H I data reveal an extended H I disk and all of its surrounding gas-rich satellite galaxies, but no filamentary features. Furthermore, the H I mass as measured with the GBT is only 7% higher than past interferometric measurements. After correcting for resolution differences, the H I extent of the galaxy is 23% larger at the N H I = 1.2 × 1018 cm–2 level as measured by the GBT. On the other hand, the H I observations of NGC 6946 reveal a filamentary feature apparently connecting NGC 6946 with its nearest companions. This H I filament has N H I ~ 5 × 1018 cm–2 and an FWHM of 55 ± 5 km s–1 and was invisible in past interferometer observations. The properties of this filament are broadly consistent with being a cold flow or debris from a past tidal interaction between NGC 6946 and its satellites.
Uncertainty in Prognostics and Systems Health Management

This paper presents an overview of various aspects of uncertainty quantification and management in prognostics and systems health management. Prognostics deals with predicting possible future failures in different types of engineering systems. It is almost practically impossible to precisely predict future events; therefore, it is necessary to account for the differentsources of uncertainty that affect prognostics, and develop a systematic framework for uncertainty quantification and management in this context. Researchers have developed computational methods for prognostics, both in the context of testing-based health management and condition-based health management. This paper explains that the interpretationof uncertainty for these two different types of situations is completely different. While both the frequentist (based on the presence of true variability) and Bayesian (based on subjectiveassessment) approaches are applicable in the context of testing-based health management, only the Bayesian approach is applicable in the context of condition-based health management. This paper illustrates that the computation of the remaining useful life is more meaningful in the context of condition-based monitoring and needs to be approachedas an uncertainty propagation problem. Further, uncertainty management issues are discussed and possible solutions are explored. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the various concepts discussed in the paper.
Deregulating Legal Immigration: A Blueprint for Agency Action

President Trump restricted legal immigration through a series of unprecedented regulations and presidential orders during his one term. Once President‐​elect Joe Biden takes office, he will have the opportunity to reverse these actions and deregulate what is—and was even before Trump—an overly burdensome and expensive legal immigration system. This compendium of 30 concise proposals by 15 authors—including several of America’s leading immigration law experts—can help the Biden administration operate the immigration system as openly and efficiently as the laws allow. These proposals focus entirely on agency measures to improve the process for legal immigrants. Keeping with Biden’s campaign theme of “building back better,” they look past simply repealing Trump’s misguided executive actions to instead create new, better rules for a fully recovered America. For this reason, these reforms do not address temporary actions needed only to address COVID-19 nor do they specifically focus on repealing regulations or orders promulgated during the Trump administration. Congress would still need to pass better laws to eliminate many of the statutory restrictions that these agency actions only help ameliorate, but this compendium should serve as a blueprint for how a new administration can deregulate legal immigration to the fullest extent possible under the laws that exist today.
A surviving pre-school vision screening service

A pre-school screening programme that operates in south Derbyshire is described. Its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.
Impacts of the Technological Change Introduced by Smart Energy Metering in the Legal Department of an Electricity Utility

Abstract Even though intelligent measurements of energy consumption is envisioned by electric utilities as a strategic communication network to create transparency and efficiency in the operation of the energy industry, the transition from traditional to state-of-the-art technologies have induced a significant impact in the legal department of the utilities. Not straightforwardly understood by consumers unfamiliar with the updated innovative technologies, surprisingly, the modernization of the sector has generated complaints and legal processes that are everyday filed in the legal departments of the utilities. In connection with a project developed under the framework of the regulated ANEEL R&D Program (sponsored by the Brazilian Regulatory Agency responsible for controlling the electrical sector), a study was developed (i) to evaluate the litigation impact caused by the replacement of electromechanical to electronic meters and (ii) to estimate the additional operational costs generated by the introduction of smart metering technology. Making use of the time series methodology, forecasting univariate models, exponential smoothing, and dynamic regression, a case study was developed based on real data made available by an electricity utility operating in Brazil. Results of the work confirm the applicability of the dynamic regression model proposed that allowed an estimation of the impact of the new measurement technology introduced on the amount of input processes named billing complaint on the overall general mass litigation handled by the Legal Department of the utility.
ATR and GADD45α mediate HIV-1 Vpr-induced apoptosis

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) accessory gene vpr encodes a conserved 96-amino-acid protein that is necessary and sufficient for the HIV-1-induced block of cellular proliferation. Expression of vpr in CD4+ lymphocytes results in G2 arrest, followed by apoptosis. In a previous study, we identified the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and Rad3-related protein (ATR) as a cellular factor that mediates Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest. In the present study, we report that the breast cancer-associated protein-1 (BRCA1), a known target of ATR, is activated in the presence of Vpr. In addition, the gene encoding the growth arrest and DNA damage-45 protein α (GADD45α), a known transcriptional target of BRCA1, is upregulated by Vpr in an ATR-dependent manner. We demonstrate that RNAi-mediated silencing of either ATR or GADD45α leads to nearly complete suppression of the proapoptotic effect of Vpr. Our results support a model in which Vpr-induced apoptosis is mediated via ATR phosphorylation of BRCA1, and consequent upregulation of GADD45α.
Domagk, Gerhard Johannes Paul (1895‐1964)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Domagk, Gerhard Johannes Paul (sulfa drugs or sulfonamides); work on prontosil
Enhancing factor VIII and VIIIa stability by combining mutations at the A2 domain interface and A1-C2 domain interface.

Factor (F)VIII, a plasma protein that is decreased or defective in individuals with hemophilia A, consists of a heavy chain (HC) comprised of A1A2B domains and a light chain (LC) comprised of A3C1C2 domains (see Ref [1] for review). FVIII is activated by thrombin or FXa to yield FVIIIa, a heterotrimer comprised of subunits designated A1, A2, and A3C1C2, that functions as a cofactor for the serine protease FIXa in the membrane-dependent conversion of zymogen FX to the serine protease, FXa (see Ref. [1] for review). FVIIIa is labile resulting from weak electrostatic interactions between the A2 subunit and the A1/A3C1C2 dimer [2,3] and its dissociation leads to dampening of factor Xase activity. Several FVIII point mutations have been shown to facilitate the rate of dissociation of A2 relative to wild type (WT) and these residues localize to the interface of the A2 domain with either A1 or A3 domains (see Ref [4] for review). Previously, we identified a number of the residues at the A1–A2 and A2–A3 domain interfaces that differentially contribute to the stabilization of FVIII and/or FVIIIa [5]. Subsequent studies identified several mutants at these regions possessing increased stability, and in particular enhanced retention of the A2 subunit in FVIIIa [6]. Based on that study we identified an Asp519Val/Glu665Val variant as the best combination of mutations to maximize FVIIIa stability [7]. Recently, we demonstrated that modifying the A1–C2 interface interaction also enhanced the stability of FVIII [8]. Arg121 at the A1 domain and Leu2302 at the C2 domain (7.73 A separating Cα atoms; PDB#3CDZ) [9]) were chosen for the site of a nascent disulfide bridge formed by mutating these residues to Cys to yield the variant, Arg121Cys/Leu2302Cys. That study also showed that mutation of Ala108 at A1 domain to Ile improved stability by presumably increasing hydrophobic interactions. These FVIII variants possessed 3–4 fold increased FVIII thermal stability [8].
Palmitic Acid Content of Amniotic Fluid Lecithin as an Index to Fetal Lung Maturity

A method is described for evaluating functional maturity of the fetal lung by measuring the palmitic acid content of amniotic fluid lecithin. The proportion of palmitic acid in total lecithin fatty acids correlated well ( r = .87) with the pulmonary status of the newborn in the neonatal period. Palmitic acid values of less than 20% correlated with respiratory distress in 21 of 24 pregnancies; values greater than 20% correlated with pulmonary maturity in 39 of 40 pregnancies. Blood in the amniotic fluid does not adversely affect the validity of values for palmitic acid. Advantages of this method for predicting fetal maturity are discussed.
Low factor XIIIA levels are associated with increased blood loss after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Current hematologic approaches to minimize postoperative bleeding have focused principally on antifibrinolytic agents. To explore whether a need might exist to promote clot stabilization independent of steps that might be taken to prevent lysis, we followed levels of the functional A-chain of factor XIII (fibrin stabilizing factor) immunologically in 19 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The levels of factor XIIIA together with alterations in fibrinogen were followed at five stages of operation: (1) initial catheter placement (control), (2) heparinization, (3) initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, (4) discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass, and (5) heparin neutralization with protamine sulfate. Significant (p
Creating Order from Random Fluctuations in Small Spin Ensembles

We demonstrate the ability to create spin order by using a magnetic resonance force microscope to harness the naturally occurring statistical fluctuations in small ensembles of electron spins. In one method, we hyperpolarized the spin system by selectively capturing the transient spin order created by the statistical fluctuations. In a second method, we took a more active approach and rectified the spin fluctuations by applying real-time feedback to the entire spin ensemble. The created spin order can be stored in the laboratory frame for a period on the order of the longitudinal relaxation time of 30 seconds and then read out.
Microstructural characteristics of mixed III–V epitaxial layers

Abstract Some of the microstructural characteristics of phase separated and atomically ordered mixed III–V layers are reported. It is shown that phase separation is two-dimensional in nature and occurs along elastically soft directions lying in a growth plane while the layer is growing. The resulting microstructure is stable at the surface, but is unstable in the bulk. Atomic ordering also evolves at the surface and produces double and triple period superlattices along 〈111〉 directions. It is driven by surface reconstruction-induced sub-surface stresses which bias the occupation of sites by atomic species differing in their covalent tetrahedral radii. Its evolution entails rearrangement of atoms within the phase separated microstructure that may be occurring at step edges.
VP22 flips the switch on cell death.

Delivery of therapeutic agents in a safe and efficient manner remains a challenge for molecular therapeutic approaches. There are a plethora of strategies—both viral and non-viral types—by which to penetrate the cell, and there are advocates of both types. The viral and non-viral camps each boast of obvious advantages to their approach, and both readily point to the limitations of the other. What is clear is that the latter camp will undoubtedly benefit from lessons that viruses have taught us about cell entry, molecular trafficking, and gene regulation. A new particle for delivery and regulated activation of a therapeutic cargo provides an interesting example of how viral lessons can be harnessed into non-viral approaches and is described by Brewis et al. in this issue of Molecular Therapy1.
Effect of germfree status on 64Cu excretion by the rat.

SummaryThe fecal excretion of radioactive copper during the first 24 hr following oral dosage was significantly lower in germfree rats than in conventional rats. Urinary excretion of 64Cu during the same period of time amounted to approximately 1% of the oral dosage and was not significantly affected by germfree conditions. Growth rates indicated that a mineral level of 120% of the recommended daily allowances for conventional rats was adequate for germfree rats despite the fact that some of the minerals may be metabolized differently by rats in the two environments.
Biography as events in time and space

In digital humanities projects, particularly for historical research and cultural heritage, GIS has played an increasingly important role. However, most implementations have concentrated on displays which ignore the temporal dimension or express it as multiple snapshots for fixed or periodic points in time. Our project concentrates on historical biography and expresses a biography as a sequence of life events with in time and space. We utilize named entity recognition and extraction to automatically mark up biographies so that they can be displayed as dynamic maps. In so doing, contextual features and related happenings and people can be overlaid to facilitate serendipitous discovery of unanticipated and seemingly unrelated connections.