cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for chronic kidney disease in a large cohort of HIV-1 infected individuals initiating antiretroviral therapy in routine care

Objective: To examine long-term effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on kidney function, we evaluated the incidence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among ART-naive, HIV-infected adults and compared changes in estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) before and after starting ART. Methods: Multicenter observational cohort study of patients with at least one serum creatinine measurement before and after initiating ART. Cox proportional hazard models, and marginal structure models examined CKD risk factors; mixed-effects linear models examined eGFR slopes. Results: Three thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine patients met entry criteria, contributing 10099 person-years of observation on ART. ART was associated with a significantly slower rate of eGFR decline (from � 2.18 to � 1.37ml/min per 1.73m 2 per year; P ¼0.02). The incidence of CKD defined by eGFR thresholds of 60, 45 and 30ml/ min per 1.73m 2 was 10.5, 3.4 and 1.6 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In adjusted analyses black race, hepatitis C coinfection, lower time-varying CD4 cell count and higher time-varying viral load on ART were associated with higher CKD risk, and the magnitude of these risks increased with more severe CKD. Tenofovir and a ritonavirboosted protease inhibitor (rPI) was also associated with higher CKD risk [hazard odds ratio for an eGFR threshold <60ml/min per 1.73m 2 : 3.35 (95% confidence interval (CI) ¼1.40‐8.02)], which developed in 5.7% of patients after 4 years of exposure to this regimen-type. Conclusion: ART was associated with reduced CKD risk in association with CD4 cell restoration and plasma viral load suppression, despite an increased CKD risk that was associated with initial regimens that included tenofovir and rPI. 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins AIDS 2012, 26:1907‐1915
Predicting prostate cancer mortality among men with intermediate to high-risk disease and multiple unfavorable risk factors.

Purpose To determine whether the number of unfavorable risk factors could be used to predict the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) among men with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer. Methods and Materials We studied 1,063 men who underwent radical prostatectomy ( n = 559), external beam radiotherapy ( n = 288), or radiotherapy plus androgen suppression therapy ( n = 116) for prostate cancer between 1965 and 2002. Fine and Gray's regression analysis was used to determine whether an increasing number of unfavorable risk factors (prostate-specific antigen level >10 ng/mL, Gleason score of ≥7, clinical Stage T2b or greater, or pretreatment prostate-specific antigen velocity >2.0 ng/mL/y) was associated with the interval to PCSM and all-cause mortality. Results Median follow-up was 5.6 years. Compared with those with one risk factor, the adjusted hazard ratio for PCSM was 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.1–4.8; p = 0.03) for two risk factors, 5.4 (95% confidence interval 2.7–10.7; p p Conclusion The number of unfavorable risk factors was significantly associated with PCSM. Prostate cancer was the major cause of death in men with at least three risk factors. Therefore, these men should be considered for clinical trials designed to assess whether survival is prolonged with the addition of novel agents to current standards of practice.
Identifying and characterizing change-prone classes in two large-scale open-source products

Developing and maintaining open-source software has become an important source of profit for many companies. Change-prone classes in open-source products increase project costs by requiring developers to spend effort and time. Identifying and characterizing change-prone classes can enable developers to focus timely preventive actions, for example, peer-reviews and inspections, on the classes with similar characteristics in the future releases or products. In this study, we collected a set of static metrics and change data at class level from two open-source projects, KOffice and Mozilla. Using these data, we first tested and validated Pareto's Law which implies that a great majority (around 80%) of change is rooted in a small proportion (around 20%) of classes. Then, we identified and characterized the change-prone classes in the two products by producing tree-based models. In addition, using tree-based models, we suggested a prioritization strategy to use project resources for focused preventive actions in an efficient manner. Our empirical results showed that this strategy was effective for prioritization purposes. This study should provide useful guidance to practitioners involved in development and maintenance of large-scale open-source products.
Clinical sequelae after rhBMP-2 use in a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

Abstract Background context Recent reports of postoperative radiculitis, bone osteolysis, and symptomatic ectopic bone formation after recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIFs) are a cause for concern. Purpose To determine the clinical and radiographic complications associated with BMP utilization in a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) environment. Study design/setting Retrospective clinical case series at a single institution. Patient sample Five hundred seventy-three consecutive patients undergoing an MIS-TLIF. Outcome measures Reoperation rates and total costs associated with complications of rhBMP-2 use and pseudarthrosis. Methods A retrospective review of 610 consecutive patients undergoing an MIS-TLIF (2007–2010) by a single surgeon at our institution was performed (mean age 48.7 years, range 26–82 years). All patients underwent an MIS laminectomy with bilateral facetectomy, single TLIF cage, unilateral pedicle screw fixation, and 12 mg (large kit) or 4.2 mg (small kit) of rhBMP-2. The BMP-2 collagen-soaked sponge was placed anteriorly in the disc space, followed by local bone graft, and then the cage was filled only with local bone and no BMP-2. Patients were evaluated at 6 months and 1 year with computed tomography (CT) scan. Those demonstrating neuroforaminal bone growth, osteolysis/cage migration, or pseudarthrosis were reviewed, and cost data including direct cost/procedure for both index and revision surgeries were collected. Results Of the 573 patients, 10 (1.7%) underwent 15 additional procedures based on recalcitrant radiculopathy and CT evidence of neuroforaminal bone growth, vertebral body osteolysis, and/or cage migration. Thirty-nine patients (6.8%) underwent reoperation for clinically symptomatic pseudarthrosis. Bone overgrowth was associated with nerve impingement and radiculopathy in all 10 patients (small kit, n=9; large kit, n=1). Osteolysis and cage migration occurred in 2 (20%) of these same 10 patients. Average total costs were calculated per procedure ($19,224), and the costs for reoperation equaled $14,785 per encounter for neuroforaminal bone growth and $20,267 for pseudarthrosis. Conclusions Symptomatic ectopic bone formation, vertebral osteolysis, and pseudarthrosis are recognized complications with the use of rhBMP-2 in MIS-TLIFs. Potential causes include improper dosage and a closed space that prevents the egress of the postoperative BMP-2 fluid collection. Management of these complications has a substantial cost for the patient and the surgeon and needs to be considered with the off-label use of rhBMP-2.
A Comprehensive Analysis of the H-IB and L-1 Visa Programs in the U.S. From An IT Perspective

This paper analyzes the experience of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs and their impact on information technology in the United States. The topics discussed are as follows: initial justification of the programs, the relationship of the programs to outsourcing and off-shoring, who is covered by the H-1B and L-1 visa programs, utilization of the visa programs by various constituencies, the impact of the visa programs on the prevailing wage, the arguments pro and con for the program, who is on either side of the lobbying effort, protectionist legislation regarding the visa programs, fraud within the visa programs, the alleged role of “body shops” and the visa programs, and the impact on homeland security as related to the visa programs.
Diversifying query results on semi-structured data

Queries on the web can easily result in a large number of results. Result Diversification, a process by which the query provides the k most diverse set of matches, enables the user to better understand/explore such large results. Computing the diverse subset from a large set of results needs a massive number of pair-wise distance computations as well as finding the subset that maximizes the total pair-wise distance, which is NP-hard and requires efficient approximate algorithm. The problem becomes more difficult when querying semi-structured data, since diversity can occur not only in the document content but also (and more importantly) in the document structure; thus one needs to efficiently measure the structural differences between results. The tree edit distance is the standard choice but, is too expensive for large result sets. Moreover, the generalized tree edit distance ignores the context of the query and also the content of the documents resulting in poor diversification. We present a novel algorithm for meaningful diversification that considers both the structural context of the query and the content of the matched results while computing pair-wise distances. Our algorithm is an order of magnitude faster than the tree edit distance with an elegant worst case guarantee. We also present a novel algorithm that finds the top-k diverse subset of matches in time linear on the size of the result-set. We experimentally demonstrate the utility of our algorithms as a plugin for standard query processors without introducing large error and latency to the output.
On the Relationship between Stepwise Decision Procedures and Confidence Sets

Abstract This article considers the relationship between two standard methods of inference on a set of A: unknown parameters, namely stepwise decision procedures and the construction of simultaneous confidence intervals. Illustrative examples with k = 2 are discussed for one-sided step-down and step-up decision procedures and for a two-sided step-down decision procedure. For these examples with normal distributional assumptions, a set of confidence intervals associated with the decision procedure is constructed that provides additional information at no increase in the error rate. The implication of this work is that commonly used stepwise decision procedures are per se not providing as complete an inference as is available. The construction of new decision procedures and confidence sets designed specifically to meet an experimenter's particular requirements is also discussed.
Mitochondrial defects in cancer

Mitochondria play important roles in cellular energy metabolism, free radical generation, and apoptosis. Defects in mitochondrial function have long been suspected to contribute to the development and progression of cancer. In this review article, we aim to provide a brief summary of our current understanding of mitochondrial genetics and biology, review the mtDNA alterations reported in various types of cancer, and offer some perspective as to the emergence of mtDNA mutations, their functional consequences in cancer development, and therapeutic implications.
Pulmonary Artery Fibrous Bands

Abstract A 46-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and frequent lower respiratory tract infections. A ventilation-perfusion scan showed markedly reduced perfusion of the right lung, and pulmonary arteriogram showed stenosis of the right pulmonary artery. A right pneumonectomy revealed dense white fibrous bands partially occluding the pulmonary artery branches and two large abscess cavities filled with pus in the upper and lower lobes. Microscopic examination revealed extensive necrosis of lung parenchyma, suppurative granulomatous inflammation with Coccidioides immitis organisms and rare acid-fast bacilli. Pulmonary artery fibrous bands were originally believed to be congenital; however, they are now known to be sequelae of thromboembolic phenomena.
Impacts of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves on Environmental Conditions for Atlantic Tropical Cyclogenesis

AbstractHigh-amplitude convectively coupled equatorial atmospheric Kelvin waves (CCKWs) are explored over the tropical Atlantic during the boreal summer (1989–2009). Focus is given to the atmospheric environmental conditions that are important for tropical cyclogenesis.CCKWs are characterized by deep westerly vertical wind shear to the east of its convectively active phase and easterly vertical wind shear to the west of it. This dynamical signature increases vertical wind shear over the western tropical Atlantic ahead of the convectively active phase, and reduces vertical wind shear after its passage. The opposite is true over the eastern tropical Atlantic where the climatological vertical wind shear is easterly.Positive total column water vapor (TCWV) anomalies progress eastward with the convectively active phase of the CCKW, whereas negative TCWV anomalies progress eastward with the convectively suppressed phase. During the passage of the convectively active phase of the CCKW, a zonally oriented strip o...
Microbial translocation is a cause of systemic immune activation in chronic HIV infection

Chronic activation of the immune system is a hallmark of progressive HIV infection and better predicts disease outcome than plasma viral load, yet its etiology remains obscure. Here, we show that circulating microbial products, likely derived from the gastrointestinal tract, are a primary cause of HIV-related systemic immune activation. Circulating lipopolysaccharide, an indicator of microbial translocation, is significantly increased in chronically HIV-infected individuals and SIV-infected rhesus macaques. We show that monocytes are chronically stimulated in vivo by increased lipopolysaccharide, which also correlates with measures of innate and adaptive immune activation. Effective antiretroviral therapy appears to reduce microbial translocation. Furthermore, in non-pathogenic SIV infection of sooty mangabeys, microbial translocation does not seem to occur. These data establish a mechanism for chronic immune activation in the context of a compromised gastrointestinal mucosal surface and provide novel directions for therapeutic interventions that modify the consequences of acute HIV infection.
Controller and datapath trade-offs in hierarchical RT-level synthesis

We intend to study the impact of control logic on the RT-level design space of a class of digital system. Such an enhancement of the design space is more accurate than several previously reported approaches since control logic has a significant impact on the total cost and performance of the circuit. We present a datapath synthesis framework that is hierarchical in nature; and thus allows the control logic overheads to be factored in hierarchically as well. We introduce hierarchy into the system dynamically by identifying regularity; as such, the proposed method is specific to the signal/image processing domain of application. The impact of control logic is studied with respect to two well known models of FSM's used in hierarchical systems-the localized model (where each hierarchical sub-unit has its own controller) and the centralized model (where the FSM's are all centrally located). We demonstrate how regularity facilitates such a study through the use of realistic area-delay estimators that lead us to better understanding of the RT design space. >
Comparison of Watchman device with new oral anti-coagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: A network meta-analysis.

Abstract Background New oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and the Watchman device represent an alternative to warfarin for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. However, no studies compare these new treatments. We performed a network meta-analysis to indirectly compare Watchman and NOACs among AF patients. Methods We performed a MEDLINE search for studies comparing warfarin with NOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban) or Watchman in AF patients with reported clinical outcomes. Mixed treatment comparison model generation was performed to directly and indirectly compare NOACs, warfarin and Watchman. Results 14 studies with 246,005 patients were included in the analysis, among which 124,823 were treated with warfarin, 120,450 were treated with NOACs and 732 had Watchman implanted. Mean age was 72±9years, 53% were male, and mean CHADS2 score was 2.1±1.6. Both NOACs and Watchman were superior to warfarin in hemorrhagic stroke prevention (OR=0.46 [0.30–0.82] and OR=0.21 [0.05–0.99], respectively). NOACs significantly reduced total stroke (OR=0.78 [0.58–0.96]) and major bleeding (OR=0.78 [0.65–0.91]) compared with warfarin. Indirect comparison between NOAC and Watchman revealed no significant differences in outcomes, though there was a trend toward higher rates of ischemic stroke with Watchman compared with NOAC (OR 2.60 [0.60–13.96]) with the opposite findings with hemorrhagic stroke (OR=0.44 [0.09–2.14]). Conclusions NOAC therapy was superior to warfarin for multiple outcomes while Watchman reduced hemorrhagic stroke. Further studies are needed to assess Watchman versus NOAC to optimize therapy for stroke prevention in AF patients.
Wonder Woman Wears Pants: Wonder Woman, Feminism and the 1972 'Women's Lib' Issue.

Envisioning the comic book superhero Wonder Woman as a feminist activist defending a women’s clinic from pro-life villains at first seems to be the kind of story found only in fan art, not in the pages of the canonical series itself. Such a radical character reworking did not seem so outlandish in the American cultural landscape of the early 1970s. What the word “woman” meant in ordinary life was undergoing unprecedented change. It is no surprise that the iconic image of a female superhero, physically and intellectually superior to the men she rescues and punishes, would be claimed by real-life activists like Gloria Steinem. In the following essay I will discuss the historical development of the character and relate it to her presentation during this pivotal era in second wave feminism. A six issue story culminating in a reproductive rights battle waged by Wonder Woman-as-ordinary-woman-in-pants was unfortunately never realised and has remained largely forgotten due to conflicting accounts and the tangled politics of the publishing world. The following account of the only published issue of this story arc, the 1972 Women’s Lib issue of Wonder Woman, will demonstrate how looking at mainstream comic books directly has much to recommend it to readers interested in popular representations of gender and feminism.
Using Twitter to Reinforce Classroom Concepts

Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have become very popular among college students. These sites enable people to be in constant contact and communication. Their value in meeting educational objectives is less clear. We use Twitter “tweets” to remind students of psychology topics while they are outside of class. The intervention itself was straightforward: Students received an informative tweet about once per day. Students remembered these topics significantly better in a test situation. The Twitter intervention appears to be an effective way to increase memory for important class concepts.
MECHANICAL ACTION OF OPTICAL SPIN-ORBIT INTERACTION

The transformation of spin angular momentum into an orbital one breaks the mirror symmetry of scattering. An adjacent interface further distorts the central symmetry and induces an anomalous lateral force on the scattering object.
Risk Factors of Birth Defects in Minhang District of Shanghai

[Objective] To investigate the risk factors which have effects on birth defects in Minhang District of Shanghai.[Methods] A case-control study was conducted by either home visit or informing the respondents to come to accept unified epidemiological investigations.[Results] The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of birth defects was correlated with 8 factors including maternal occupation,per capita household income,previous history of birth defects,twins or multiple births,supplement of essential nutrients during pregnancy,severe emotional events,husband's drinking habits before wife's pregnancy,and time to move in a house after decoration(P 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that severe emotional events and previous history of birth defects entered the model.[Conclusion] The occurrence of birth defects is associated with many factors.Targeted measures against these risk factors could be effective in reducing the incidence of birth defects.
Corallivory in the Eastern Pacific

Eastern Pacific reef ecosystems are home to a diverse assemblage of corallivorous fishes and invertebrates. It is therefore not surprising that there is a rich history of research on corallivores in the eastern Pacific. In fact, much of what is known today on the topic of corallivory has built upon studies from the eastern Pacific region. Here we review the progression of our understanding of eastern Pacific corallivory and corallivores. We discuss the behavior and ecology of these specialized consumers, dividing our analysis into the larger conspicuous taxa such as the crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) and the guineafowl puffer (Arothron meleagris), as well as into the smaller cryptic species such as the pustulate egg shell (Jenneria pustulata) and coral crustacean guards (Trapezia spp., Alpheus lottini). The majority of species that consume coral tissues are facultative corallivores, feeding on corals only incidentally. Both the negative and positive interactions of corallivores to their prey/hosts are reviewed. We address detrimental direct consumption of coral and how it can ultimately influence growth form, species distributions, population structure, and the asexual reproduction of corals. We examine the cleaning behavior of some corallivorous species as well as their territorial tendencies, which may potentially lead to the exclusion of more lethal coral predators. Despite the high diversity of corallivore taxa, no population outbreaks have been observed in the eastern Pacific; coral colony growth rates and reef accretion proceed apace. Finally, we explore the far-reaching implications of the corallivore feeding strategy, touching on the connections that ultimately link coral biomass with higher trophic levels and the rest of the reef ecosystem.
Support Network Connectedness in the Lives of Community-Dwelling Rural Elders and Their Families

ABSTRACTRural elders face challenges when accessing assistance from family, neighbors, and paid helpers. This support is essential to allow them to remain community dwelling as they develop physical challenges that limit their ability to care for themselves. This qualitative study followed a group of 16 rural elders with physical limitations for 1 year. In-depth interviews were conducted with them and eight members of their support networks, including five family members, to explore how rural older adults create and maintain support networks that allow them to remain community dwelling despite physical challenges that limit their self-care. The research question is, “How do members of the support network connect with each other to maximize the effectiveness of the network?” Family members coordinated assistance to maximize the abilities and availability of various network members. In addition, family members worked together with other family members, neighbors, and paid helpers to assist the elder. These ...
Examining the Relationship between Online Social Capital and eHealth Literacy: Implications for Instagram Use for Chronic Disease Prevention among College Students

ABSTRACTBackground: College students actively seek online health information and use Instagram, an image- and video-based social networking website, to build social networks grounded in trust and behavioral norms (social capital), which have the potential to prevent chronic disease. Purpose: This study aimed to (1) examine how intensity of Instagram use moderates the relationship between eHealth Literacy and online social capital in college students and (2) discuss how Instagram can be used as a social awareness platform for chronic disease prevention among college students. Methods: Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to analyze web-based survey data from a random sample of college students (N = 327). Results: Online bridging social capital was associated with greater ehealth literacy (P < .05) and intensity of Instagram use (P < .001), when controlling for sociodemographic variables. The relationship between ehealth literacy and online bridging social capital was strongest among respondents ...
WIP: Longitudinal outcomes of a requirement for student-owned laptop computers across a college of engineering

This WIP focusses on one component of our updated first year engineering program (FYEP), a student-owned laptop requirement. Requiring students to bring laptops will enable all students to practice the skills learned during their first-year engineering classes. Other engineering instructors will also be able to require students to bring and use laptops in their courses. Infusing the use of laptops into coursework throughout our engineering curriculums should positively affect computational problem solving and develop a mindset of “ubiquitous computing.” In this paper, we outline a longitudinal study in which we plan to assess the impact of the updated first year engineering program and in particular the laptop requirement on computational competencies and attitudes.
Interactions of incident H atoms with metal surfaces

Abstract Atomic hydrogen is a highly reactive species of interest because of its role in a wide range of applications and technologies. Knowledge about the interactions of incident H atoms on metal surfaces is important for our understanding of many processes such as those occurring in plasma-enhanced catalysis and nuclear fusion in tokamak reactors. Herein we review some of the numerous experimental surface science studies that have focused on the interactions of H atoms that are incident on low-Miller index metal single-crystal surfaces. We briefly summarize the different incident H atom reaction mechanisms and several of the available methods to create H atoms in UHV environments before addressing the key thermodynamic and kinetic data available on metal and modified metal surfaces. Generally, H atoms are very reactive and exhibit high sticking coefficients even on metals where H2 molecules do not dissociate under UHV conditions. This reactivity is often reduced by adsorbates on the surface, which also create new reaction pathways. Abstraction of surface-bound D(H) adatoms by incident H(D) atoms often occurs by an Eley-Rideal mechanism, while a hot atom mechanism produces structural effects in the abstraction rates and forms homonuclear products. Additionally, incident H atoms can often induce surface reconstructions and populate subsurface and bulk absorption sites. The absorbed H atoms recombine to desorb H2 at lower temperature and can also exhibit higher subsequent reactivity with adsorbates than surface-bound H adatoms. Incident H atoms, either directly or via sorbed hydrogen species, hydrogenate adsorbed hydrocarbons, sulfur, alkali metals, oxygen, halogens, and other adatoms and small molecules. Thus, H atoms from the gas phase incident on surfaces and adsorbed layers create new reaction channels and products beyond those found from interactions of H2 molecules. Detailed aspects of the dynamics and energy transfer associated with these interactions and the important applications of hydrogen in plasma processing of semiconductors are beyond the scope of this review.
Definition of Resilience

Since 2011, resilience research focusing on older adults has burgeoned. In this literature, resilience is conceptualized both as an individual difference characteristic or trait and as a dynamic coping process within the ever-changing physical and social environment. In order to maintain the process of resilience across the adult lifespan, individuals may continually reexamine and, potentially, refresh their identity through the use of positive coping practices in the face of adversity and normative challenges associated with aging. Choices may be made implicitly or explicitly to focus attention on positive aspects of the self in comparison with others or one’s previous functioning. In this chapter, our definition of resilience includes the processes of being mindful and prioritizing behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that facilitate contentment within one’s specific developmental, physical, emotional, and spiritual context. This chapter updates the literature review from the prior edition. Current ambiguities and methodological limitations of research regarding resilience in adult development also are described. The chapter ends with an overview of specific interventions wherein the strength and power of the resilience process are harnessed to promote behavior change. Directions for future research are considered.
Decreased epileptogenesis in mice lacking the System xc - transporter occurs in association with a reduction in AMPA receptor subunit GluA1.

Objective Although the cystine/glutamate antiporter System xc - (Sxc -) plays a permissive role in glioma-associated seizures, its contribution to other acquired epilepsies has not been determined. As such, the present study investigates whether and how Sxc - contributes to the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) chemical kindling model of epileptogenesis. Methods Male Sxc - null (sut/sut) mice and their wild-type littermates were administered PTZ (i.p.) daily for up to 21 days (kindling paradigm). Seizure severity was scored on a 5-point behavioral scale. Mossy fiber sprouting, cellular degeneration, and Sxc - light chain (xCT) messenger RNA (mRNA) were explored using Timm staining, thionin staining, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. Levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione and cysteine were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma membrane protein levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunits as well as the K+/Cl- co-transporter KCC2 were quantified via western blot analysis. Results Repeated administration of PTZ produced chemical kindling in only 50% of Sxc - null mice as compared to 82% of wild-type littermate control mice. Kindling did not result in any changes in xCT mRNA levels assessed in wild-type mice. No cellular degeneration or mossy fiber sprouting was discernible in either genotype. Except for a small, but significant, decrease in oxidized cysteine in the hippocampus, no other change in measured redox couples was determined in Sxc - null mice. Cortical levels of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit GluA1 were decreased in Sxc - null mice as compared to wild-type littermates, whereas all other proteins tested showed no difference between genotypes. Significance This study provides the first evidence that Sxc - signaling contributes to epileptogenesis in the PTZ kindling model of acquired epilepsy. Further data indicate that a reduction in AMPA receptor signaling could underlie the resistance to PTZ kindling uncovered in Sxc - null mice.
Electronic health records, physician workflows and system change: defining a pathway to better healthcare.

The current patient care workflow for physicians and healthcare providers includes multi-level communication structures (i.e., doctor-patient communication; doctor-nurse communication, etc.) and a wide variety of data management systems (1). When seeking to understand how to advocate for system changes that might improve workflow, a primary requirement is to first establish a definition and standard description of workflow components. It is also important to review the history behind current workflow structures and acknowledge current system successes as new implementations can disrupt what is already working. A functional and historical review can help to frame current needs and strategies for developing and implementing system changes to improve workflow and patient care.
MR Plaque Imaging in Peripheral Artery Disease

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the most common local manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis. In population studies conducted in the United States and Europe, PAD is estimated to affect approximately 7% of those aged ≥40 years and 21% of those aged ≥65 years. Globally, more than 200 million people are living with PAD, and the number is expected to continue to grow in the next decade due to aging populations worldwide and the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The majority of PAD patients either have no apparent symptoms or have atypical symptoms due to individual variations in lifestyle, pain threshold, or comorbidities. Given the lack of effective medical therapies for PAD beyond exercise programs, understanding and prevention of disease progression at the subclinical stage represent an important question as prophylactic measures are likely most effective in the early stage of PAD.
Human MYD88L265P is insufficient by itself to drive neoplastic transformation in mature mouse B cells.

MYD88 L265P is the most common mutation in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (LPL/WM) and one of the most frequent in poor-prognosis subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although inhibition of the mutated MYD88 pathway has an adverse impact on LPL/WM and DLBCL cell survival, its role in lymphoma initiation remains to be clarified. We show that in mice, human MYD88L265P promotes development of a non-clonal, low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with several clinicopathologic features that resemble human LPL/WM, including expansion of lymphoplasmacytoid cells, increased serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentration, rouleaux formation, increased number of mast cells in the bone marrow, and proinflammatory signaling that progresses sporadically to clonal, high-grade DLBCL. Murine findings regarding differences in the pattern of MYD88 staining and immune infiltrates in the bone marrows of MYD88 wild-type (MYD88WT) and MYD88L265P mice are recapitulated in the human setting, which provides insight into LPL/WM pathogenesis. Furthermore, histologic transformation to DLBCL is associated with acquisition of secondary genetic lesions frequently seen in de novo human DLBCL as well as LPL/WM-transformed cases. These findings indicate that, although the MYD88L265P mutation might be indispensable for the LPL/WM phenotype, it is insufficient by itself to drive malignant transformation in B cells and relies on other, potentially targetable cooperating genetic events for full development of lymphoma.
Asthma-COPD overlap: review of diagnosis and management.

Purpose of review Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are both commonly encountered respiratory conditions. The term asthma--COPD overlap (ACO) has been used to identify patients presenting with features of both conditions. Controversy exists regarding its definition, approach to diagnosis and management. In this publication, recent evidence has been reviewed that provides insight into diagnosis and management of this condition. Recent findings Previously, multiple criteria were used to define Asthma--COPD overlap. In this publication, the most recent guidelines to identify this condition have been reviewed. This publication provides a summary of the recent evidence with regard to the role of various diagnostic modalities including the use of biomarkers, such as exhaled nitric oxide, serum IgE and provides updated evidence on available treatment choices for this condition. Summary ACO is a commonly encountered clinical condition with patients experiencing frequent exacerbations and resulting in increased healthcare resource utilization. Recent interest in ACO has led to development of a framework towards diagnosis and management of this condition. Therapeutic choices for ACO range from bronchodilator therapy to immunomodulatory therapy, highlighting the heterogeneity of this condition. Additional research is required to improve understanding of pathogenesis and improve outcomes in ACO.
Afro-Caribbeans Have a Lower Prevalence of Advanced Colon Neoplasia than African-Americans.

The black population in the USA is a heterogeneous group composed of smaller subgroups from different origins. The definition of black in many colorectal cancer (CRC) risk studies is vague, and differences in CRC risk comparing black subpopulations have not been evaluated. The aim of the study is to compare advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN) between two subgroups of black populations: African-American (AA) and Afro-Caribbean (AC). A secondary aim was to determine whether there are differences in prevalence of adenomas. This was a retrospective study of 3797 AA and AC patients undergoing first time screening colonoscopy in two different institutions in the USA. Overall adenoma prevalence was 29.3% for the entire population with 29.5% in AAs and 29.0% in AC with no statistically significant difference between the study groups (AOR: 1.02; 95% CI 0.88–1.18, P = 0.751). However, ACN was significantly higher in the AA group (11.8%) compared to AC (9.0%) (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.66, P = 0.034). It was observed that AAs had ACN at a higher BMI than AC. After adjusting for BMI/ethnicity interactions, the difference in ACN between both groups became more significant (AOR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.16–3.23, P = 0.012). AAs have a higher risk of ACN than AC. Current recommendations to start screening in average-risk AAs at an earlier age may not apply to other black subgroups.
Regression-based network monitoring in swarm robotic systems

Mobile ad-hoc networks are becoming more common as robotic swarm technology becomes possible. One issue surrounding swarm technology is communication between robots. Communication costs time and energy, and can impact the performance of a swarm. In order to control the network, network state information must be acquired through network monitoring. We propose a novel REgression-based network Monitoring (REM) algorithm where robots in a swarm receive network state data only when necessary for the task at hand. This simple distributed algorithm will save time and energy in communication by creating predictive models using regressions, minimizing network monitoring overhead.
Engineering Doctoral Student Perceptions of Research Task Difficulty and the Student-Advisor Relationship

The purpose of this work in progress (WIP) research paper is to examine the relationship between engineering doctoral students’ perceptions of their research task difficulties and advisor relationships. We used identity-based motivation (IBM) as a theoretical framework for this study. Specifically, we consider the construct interpretation of difficulty as it can serve to motivate or demotivate students. In a nationally representative survey, students ranked the level of difficulty they experienced conducting research tasks, such as writing and presenting. They also noted how they regard different aspects of their student-advisor relationships, including communication, expertise, and overall positivity of the relationship. Linear regression was performed to examine how the participants’ perceptions of their student-advisor relationships predicted their perceptions of research task difficulty (n=1152). Results showed a weak but significant correlation between these variables, suggesting that student perceptions of their advisor relationships may be one of many variables that influence students’ perceptions of research task difficulty. Through better understanding of the influence of doctoral students’ perceptions of their advisor relationships on their perceptions of task difficulty, we can begin to create guidelines to improve advisors’ interactions with their doctoral students to address long-standing persistent issues.
Exact Support Recovery in Federated Regression with One-shot Communication.

Federated learning provides a framework to address the challenges of distributed computing, data ownership and privacy over a large number of distributed clients with low computational and communication capabilities. In this paper, we study the problem of learning the exact support of sparse linear regression in the federated learning setup. We provide a simple communication efficient algorithm which only needs one-shot communication with the centralized server to compute the exact support. Our method does not require the clients to solve any optimization problem and thus, can be run on devices with low computational capabilities. Our method is naturally robust to the problems of client failure, model poisoning and straggling clients. We formally prove that our method requires a number of samples per client that is polynomial with respect to the support size, but independent of the dimension of the problem. We require the number of distributed clients to be logarithmic in the dimension of the problem. If the predictor variables are mutually independent then the overall sample complexity matches the optimal sample complexity of the non-federated centralized setting. Furthermore, our method is easy to implement and has an overall polynomial time complexity.
Dual-Energy CT

Every year, millions of CT scans are performed around the world for a wide variety of indications. Dual-energy CT (DECT), the focus of this chapter, is an emerging robust technique with sound technical foundation and multiple implementations, and is currently available for routine clinical use. In DECT, multiple X-ray spectra are utilized to characterize material-specific photon attenuation. This is a key advantage of DECT over conventional single-energy CT, and presents a radical departure from the conventional CT imaging paradigm. In this chapter, we describe the fundamental principles behind the DECT technology, and provide an overview of six different implementations of this type of scanner with comparisons of their relative pros and cons. Subsequently, we provide a discussion of practical issues related to DECT protocols and processing techniques from a clinical workflow point of view. We conclude the chapter by illustrating multiple neuroradiologic applications of this novel imaging technique, ranging from material characterization, beam hardening, and metal artifact reduction, to soft tissue contrast accentuation and contrast material quantification.
Artificial Intelligence for Histology-Based Detection of Microsatellite Instability and Prediction of Response to Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a molecular marker of deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) that is found in approximately 15% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Testing all CRC patients for MSI/dMMR is recommended as screening for Lynch Syndrome and, more recently, to determine eligibility for immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced disease. However, universal testing for MSI/dMMR has not been uniformly implemented because of cost and resource limitations. Artificial intelligence has been used to predict MSI/dMMR directly from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue slides. We review the emerging data regarding the utility of machine learning for MSI classification, focusing on CRC. We also provide the clinician with an introduction to image analysis with machine learning and convolutional neural networks. Machine learning can predict MSI/dMMR with high accuracy in high quality, curated datasets. Accuracy can be significantly decreased when applied to cohorts with different ethnic and/or clinical characteristics, or different tissue preparation protocols. Research is ongoing to determine the optimal machine learning methods for predicting MSI, which will need to be compared to current clinical practices, including next-generation sequencing. Predicting response to immunotherapy remains an unmet need.
Orthotropic Beams Under Polynomial Loads

A stress analysis, including displacements, is composed of the infinite orthotropic strip subject to distributed polynomial edge loads of degree n to and including n = 7. The loadings consist of both normal and shear loads with one edge stress free. Tables are given for appropriate Airy functions, together with pertinent values of constants in terms of the applied tractions.
Differences in the Evaluations of Communication Sources by Women Who Have Had a Mammogram

This study examined the evaluations of 209 women who had had a mammogram concerning four different sources of cancer-related information: physicians, friends and family, organizations, and the media. The women were asked to identify the sources of information that had provided the information within the previous 12 months and then were asked to evaluate the accuracy, credibility, understandability, clarity, usefulness, and novelty of the information. Statistical analyses revealed significant interactions bctween the women and the sources of information and significant main effects for sources and evaluations. The authors discuss the theoretical and pragmatic implications of the results for future cancer control efforts and health marketing campaigns.
Artificial neural networks in environmental sciences. I. NNs in satellite remote sensing and satellite meteorology

Two generic satellite remote sensing NN applications are described: NN solutions for forward and inverse (or retrieval) problems in satellite remote sensing. These two solutions correspond to two different approaches in satellite retrievals: variational retrievals (retrievals through the direct assimilation of sensor measurements) and standard retrievals. It is shown that both the forward model and the retrieval problem can be considered as nonlinear continuous mappings. The NN technique is a generic technique to perform continuous mappings. It is compared with regression approaches. Examples of a NN SSM/I forward model and a NN SSIM/I retrieval algorithm are used to illustrate advantages of using neural networks for developing both retrieval algorithms and forward models, and for minimizing the retrieval errors.
Large deviations analysis of the generalized processor sharing policy

In this paper we consider a stochastic server (modeling a multiclass communication switch) fed by a set of parallel buffers. The dynamics of the system evolve in discrete-time and the generalized processor sharing (GPS) scheduling policy of l25r is implemented. The arrival process in each buffer is an arbitrary, and possibly autocorrelated, stochastic process. We obtain a large deviations asymptotic for the buffer overflow probability at each buffer. In the standard large deviations methodology, we provide a lower and a matching (up to first degree in the exponent) upper bound on the buffer overflow probabilities. We view the problem of finding a most likely sample path that leads to an overflow as an optimal control problem. Using ideas from convex optimization we analytically solve the control problem to obtain both the asymptotic exponent of the overflow probability and a characterization of most likely modes of overflow. These results have important implications for traffic management of high-speed networks. They extend the deterministic, worst-case analysis of l25r to the case where a detailed statistical model of the input traffic is available and can be used as a basis for an admission control mechanism.