cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VEGF(165) promotes survival of leukemic cells by Hsp90-mediated induction of Bcl-2 expression and apoptosis inhibition.

Similar to endothelial cells (ECs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces Bcl-2 expression on VEGF receptor-positive (VEGFR+) primary leukemias and cell lines, promoting survival. We investigated the molecular pathways activated by VEGF on such leukemias, by performing a gene expression analysis of VEGF-treated and untreated HL-60 leukemic cells. One gene to increase after VEGF stimulation was heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). This was subsequently confirmed at the protein level, on primary leukemias and leukemic cell lines. VEGF increased the expression of Hsp90 by interacting with KDR and activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. In turn, Hsp90 modulated Bcl-2 expression, as shown by a complete blockage of VEGF-induced Bcl-2 expression and binding to Hsp90 by the Hsp90-specific inhibitor geldanamycin (GA). GA also blocked the VEGF-induced Hsp90 binding to APAF-1 on leukemic cells, a mechanism shown to inhibit apoptosis. Notably, VEGF blocked the proapoptotic effects of GA, correlating with its effects at the molecular level. Earlier, we showed that in some leukemias, a VEGF/KDR autocrine loop is essential for cell survival, whereas here we identified the molecular correlates for such an effect. We also demonstrate that the generation of a VEGF/VEGFR autocrine loop on VEGFR+ cells such as ECs, also protected them from apoptosis. Infection of ECs with adenovirus-expressing VEGF resulted in elevated Hsp90 levels, increased Bcl-2 expression, and resistance to serum-free or GA-induced apoptosis. In summary, we demonstrate that Hsp90 mediates antiapoptotic and survival-promoting effects of VEGF, which may contribute to the survival advantage of VEGFR+cells such as subsets of leukemias.
Decoupled Conflict Resolution Procedures for non-perpendicular Air Traffic intersections with different speeds

This article presents a Conflict Resolution Procedure (CRP) for intersecting routes in en-route Air Traffic Control (ATC). Recent works have developed provably-safe CRP, which solve the conflict resolution in a decoupled manner for perpendicular en-route intersections. The current article removes two limitations in this approach by: (i) developing procedures for non-perpendicular intersections; and (ii) removing the requirement that aircraft on each intersecting route have the same speed. Conditions are developed to guarantee safety, and the CRP is illustrated through an example en-route intersection.
In utero treatment of a fetus with diaphragmatic hernia complicated by hydrops

A case of diaphragmatic hernia is reported where the prenatal diagnosis was made sonographically in a hydropic fetus and the large associated fluid collection in the right side of the chest was aspirated in utero. Almost complete drainage of the chest and abdominal fluid was accomplished, with resolution of the hydrops and no reaccumulation during the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy. After a spontaneous vaginal delivery, the infant was easily stabilized, and underwent operation in good condition.
A test of the firm characteristics hypothesis for LIFO choice of Canadian firms

Abstract This paper examines whether characteristics of Canadian firms can explain the observed difference in the use of LIFO for valuing inventory between the U.S. and Canada. Characteristics that help explain the choice between LIFO and FIFO use in the U.S. are used to compare Canadian firms to U.S. LIFO users and FIFO users separately. If Canadian firms are characteristically similar to U.S. FIFO users, then the firm characteristics hypothesis would be supported and LIFO would be infrequently used in Canada because few firms are LIFO-like in their underlying characteristics. Univariate nonparametric tests are used to compare U.S. and Canadian firms in the same industries on both an unmatched and matched basis. The results of this comparison indicate that Canadian average cost firms have more characteristics in common with U.S. LIFO users than FIFO users and Canadian FIFO firms have characteristics like both U.S. FIFO and U.S. LIFO firms. Logit models were estimated using the U.S. firms. These models predict that between three and 28% of Canadian firms would use LIFO. Thus, the firm characteristics explanation for infrequent use of LIFO in Canada is not supported by the data. These results imply that several Canadian firms may use LIFO if the institutional setting in Canada was more like that in the U.S.
Effects of Long- and Short-Term Passage of Insect Cells in Different Culture Media on Baculovirus Replication

Two insect cell lines that had been maintained in both serum-free (SFM) and serum-containing (SCM) media for over 5 years were each tested for their ability to replicate baculovirus. The gypsy moth cell line, IPLB-LdEIta (Ld), produced similar (not statistically different) amounts of gypsy moth nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) occlusion bodies (OBs) in the two media (serum-free Ex-Cell 400 and TC-100 with 9% (v/v) fetal bovine serum, SCM(1)) but produced more of the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) OBs in SFM than in SCM(1). When Ld cells normally grown in SCM(1) were switched to SFM, production of OBs from both viruses improved and, after three passages, reached higher levels of AcMNPV production than in cells normally maintained in that medium. Alternatively, cells switched from SFM to SCM(1) initially produced as much (in the case of LdMNPV) or higher (in the case of AcMNPV) levels of virus OBs than cells normally maintained in SCM(1) but productivity dropped off over subsequent passages such that after five passages in SCM(1), cells produced substantially fewer OBs of both viruses. A fall armyworm cell line (IPLB-SF21AE; Sf) showed slightly different effects from long- and short-term passage in SFM (Ex-Cell 400) or SCM(2) (TMN-FH). Cells maintained in SFM produced about 20 times more AcMNPV OBs than cells maintained long-term in SCM. Sf cells switched from SFM to SCM maintained the level of production of that seen in SFM at the first passage, but quickly dropped off OB production levels to that normally seen in SCM. Alternatively, SCM-maintained Sf cells produced higher levels at the first passage in SFM and, within five passages in SFM, reached levels found in cells maintained for long term in this medium. Under the conditions in which these two cell lines were infected, the highest levels of AcMNPV OB production in Ld cells were about five times that of Sf cells. In a separate series of experiments, cells normally grown in SFM were passaged over five times in Ex-Cell 400 to which serum was added; both cell lines produced as much virus as that in SFM. These results suggest that it is not the serum per se but rather some other components which differ between the SFM and the SCM formulations that are responsible for the varied virus production obtained in these studies. The results of these studies suggest that a maintenance and virus production protocol can be developed with Ld cells which could improve overall efficiency of virus production. These studies also suggest that long-term maintenance of cells in SFM was not detrimental to their ability to produce baculoviruses.
ESTIMATING THE BENEFITS OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION CONTROL

CONCEPTUAL CONSIDERATIONS In this paper, a conceptual model for estimating Estimating the benefits of contamination abateoption price for groundwater quality protection is ment involves measuring the economic value of an developed, and the effects of subjective demand and environmental service. In the case of the protection supply uncertainty and other variables on option of groundwater from agricultural chemical contamiprice are examined. A contingent valuation study to nation, the environmental service provided by conmeasure option price for groundwater quality pro- tamination abatement is high groundwater quality. tection was conducted in southwestern Georgia. Because of problems related to nonexclusiveness, Valuation results suggest that the monetary benefits groundwater quality is not traded in regular ecoto citizens of protecting groundwater supplies from nomic markets like other resource-based commodiagricultural chemical contamination are quite large. ties such as gasoline. The economic value of groundwater quality resulting from contamination
Decreased Reactivity of SSPE Strains of Measles Virus with Antibody

Six strains of measles virus isolated from five patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were found to be less reactive in neutralization tests than classical wild or vaccine strains. This difference in reactivity was observed with sera from patients convalescing from measles, from patients with SSPE, and from rabbits immunized with SSPE, wild, or vaccine strains. Variants, which in neutralization tests reacted like the SSPE strains, were isolated from classical wild and vaccine strains. These findings support the hypothesis that SSPE strains are variants that emerge from classical measles virus under selective pressures in the patients. Although poorly reactive virus that is isolated from a patient with SSPE may simply represent the most persistent genome of measles virus, it is also possible that the viral characteristic that determines decreased reactivity with antibody, or some associated trait, allows this variant to produce SSPE.
A long-term, open-label extension study on the safety of treatment with lanthanum carbonate, a new phosphate binder, in patients receiving hemodialysis

ABSTRACTBackground: Lanthanum carbonate, a new phosphate binder, is effective in reducing serum phosphorus levels in patients with end-stage renal disease. A 1-year extension study to two randomized controlled studies was conducted to evaluate the long-term safety of lanthanum carbonate in patients who received hemodialysis.Research design and methods: Patients from two previous lanthanum carbonate studies were eligible to continue treatment in a 1-year open-label extension. A total of 77 patients (N = 77; 11 from Study 1, 66 from Study 2) were enrolled in this extension. The mean age of patients was 60.9 years (SD ± 12.5 years); 65% were male and 35% were female. All patients received lanthanum carbonate at the optimal dose for phosphorus control, determined in their previous study. Safety and tolerability were assessed by monitoring adverse events, laboratory parameters, and vital signs. The number of patients who maintained serum phosphorus levels at ≤ 5.9 mg/dL (1.9 mmol/L) was recorded, along with se...
Could it happen again? The Björk-Shiley Convexo-Concave Heart Valve story

Most readers of “Twenty-Five–Year Experience With the Bjork-Shiley Convexoconcave Heart Valve: A Continuing Clinical Concern” in this issue of Circulation have not heard of the valve.1 Many elements of its story parallel those of cerivastatin2,3⇓ and rofecoxib,4 but with a twist: Recalling a heart valve may entail greater risks than leaving a possible “time bomb” in place. The Bjork-Shiley story raises many questions about balancing the benefits of drugs and devices with their risks to public safety. For example: See p 2850 My personal involvement began when a lawyer for Shiley, Inc, with a biostatistical degree read our account of the Braunwald-Cutter heart valve and wanted to understand why the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Mayo Clinic decided to prophylactically remove every one.5 Subsequently, I served on scientific panels, spearheaded a multi-institutional effort to quantify the risks of prosthesis explant,6 and suggested ways to use this information for the tough decision making ahead.7 The Bjork-Shiley heart valve, developed by Shiley, Inc, in collaboration with Dr Viking Bjork of Sweden, was …
Opposite modulation of brain functional networks implicated at low vs. high demand of attention and working memory.

Background Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies indicate that the brain organizes its activity into multiple functional networks (FNs) during either resting condition or task-performance. However, the functions of these FNs are not fully understood yet.
Induced angular momentum on superconducting cosmic strings

A simple argument using a bosonization technique is presented to explain that superconducting strings have a net angular momentum carried by fermionic zero modes trapped on a string. The induced angular momentum is shown to be nonvanishing if the scalar phase field phi develops a kink along a string phi(+infinity)-phi(-infinity)not =0. .AE
An inbred 129SvEv GFPCre transgenic mouse that deletes loxP‐flanked genes in all tissues

A common method for generating mice with subtle genetic manipulations uses homologous recombination (HR) in embryonic stem (ES) cells to replace a wild-type gene with a slightly modified one. Generally, a drug resistance gene is inserted with the modified gene to select correctly targeted clones. Often, however, the presence of this drug resistance gene interferes with the normal locus and creates a null or hypomorphic allele. Flanking of the selectable marker by loxP sites followed by Cre-mediated deletion after drug selection can overcome this problem. The simplest method used to remove a loxP-flanked selectable marker is to breed an animal carrying a loxP-flanked drug resistance gene to an animal that expresses Cre recombinase in the germline. To date only outbred transgenic mice are available for this purpose. This can be problematic for phenotypic analysis in many organ systems, including the brain, and for the analysis of behavior. While attempting to make 129S6/SvEvTac inbred background (isogenic to our ES cells) mice that express Cre under the control of several tissue-specific promoters, we serendipitously generated a line that excises loxP-flanked drug resistance genes in all tissues, including the germline. This reagent allows deletion of loxP-flanked sequences while maintaining the mutation on an inbred background.
TER-QUA Climate Meeting

Although the popular view is that the Earth is “warming up and drying out,” the present climate trend appears to be toward lower temperatures and more rain, according to papers presented by Earth scientists who met in Lincoln, Nebr., October 6–7. Several speakers stated that actual data supporting the warming-up concept come from U.S. Weather Bureau stations, of which 97.5% are located in metropolitan areas where urban heat production is rising. These investigators found that the 2.5% rural stations show a cooling history for the latest 4 decades.
IMS2011 Student Design Competitions

The 2011 International Microwave Symposium (IMS2011) Student Design Competitions were a wonderful experience for students from all over the world to exercise their design skills and compete with one another. The competitions held at IMS2011 in Baltimore consisted of six different hardware designs, each sponsored by one of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technique Society's (MTT-Ss) technical committees. In addition, multiple companies were instrumental in supporting the competitions by providing measurement equipment as well as components and software for the student teams.
Electrically tunable lens speeds up 3D orbital tracking

3D orbital particle tracking is a versatile and effective microscopy technique that allows following fast moving fluorescent objects within living cells and reconstructing complex 3D shapes using laser scanning microscopes. We demonstrated notable improvements in the range, speed and accuracy of 3D orbital particle tracking by replacing commonly used piezoelectric stages with Electrically Tunable Lens (ETL) that eliminates mechanical movement of objective lenses. This allowed tracking and reconstructing shape of structures extending 500 microns in the axial direction. Using the ETL, we tracked at high speed fluorescently labeled genomic loci within the nucleus of living cells with unprecedented temporal resolution of 8ms using a 1.42NA oil-immersion objective. The presented technology is cost effective and allows easy upgrade of scanning microscopes for fast 3D orbital tracking.
Electrical design optimization of single-mode tunnel-junction-based long-wavelength VCSELs

We present principles for tunnel-junction (TJ) design optimization for use in intracavity contacted long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (LW-VCSELs). Using the WKB approximation, we find that layer thicknesses of 10 nm on the n++ side and 10 nm on the p++ side are large enough to maximize quantum tunneling probability and small enough to yield low optical free-carrier absorption loss. We also conjecture that our experimental test structures and actual devices have far lower active acceptor concentration than we expect based on an analytical model. Finally, we calculate the necessary doping levels to enable single-mode operation of LW-VCSELs and incorporate these conditions into a complete optimized model of our VCSELs. Based on optimal I-V curves, we can expect an increase in single-mode output power from 2 to 3.5 mW
Crystalline Solution in the System MgO-Mg,SiO4,-MgAl2,O4,

Crystalline solubility relations in the system MgO-Mg2SiO4MgAl2O4 (periclase-forsterite-spinel) were studied using coprecipitated gels as starting materials. The substitution 2Al = Mg + Si was investigated along the join Mg2SiO4-Mg-Al2O4,. At 1720°C the maximum crystalline solution in forsterite is about 0.5 mole % MgAI2O4, and in spinel it is slightly more than 5.0 mole % Mg2SiO4. The solubility of MgO in forsterite was 0.5 mole % at 1860°C, whereas more than 11 mole % Mg2SiO4 can be dissolved in the periclase structure at this temperature. Ternary crystalline solution exists in the periclase structure to a composition of Mg0.853Al0.063Si0.026O at 1710°C.
Meat Yield from Live, Dressed and Eviscerated Rhode Island Red Males of Broiler, Fryer, and Light Roaster Weights

Abstract THE proportion of dressed carcass weight to live body weight is often used as a measurement of meat production in farm animals. Although eviscerated poultry carcasses are not completely comparable with the dressed carcasses of other kinds of livestock, a study of the relation between eviscerated and other body weights may be of aid in the evaluation of meat production in poultry. Such information would have a practical value since eviscerated poultry have become a popular form of market poultry. A method of calculating the weight of the eviscerated carcass from that of the live bird should be of use to poultry buyers and processors, and a knowledge of the relation between the former weight and the amount of edible meat of various classes would be of benefit to both consumers and dieticians. Information is limited at the present time as to the yield of eviscerated poultry to be expected . . .
Integrin αV is necessary for gastrulation movements that regulate vertebrate body asymmetry

Integrin αV can form heterodimers with several β subunits to mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. During zebrafish gastrulation, αV is expressed maternally and zygotically. Here, we used a morpholino-mediated αV knockdown strategy to study αV function. Although αV morphants displayed vascular defects, they also exhibited left-right body asymmetry defects affecting multiple visceral organs. This was preceded by mislocalization of dorsal forerunner cells (DFCs) and malformation of the Kupffer's vesicle (KV) laterality organ. These defects were rescued with morpholino-resistant αV mRNA. Like αV, integrin β1b was expressed in DFCs, and β1b knockdown largely recapitulated the laterality phenotype of αV morphants. When tracked in real-time, individual DFCs of both morphants showed defects in DFC migration, preventing them from organizing into a KV of normal shape and size. Thus, we propose that αVβ1b mediates cellular interactions that are necessary for DFC clustering and movements necessary for Kupffer's vesicle formation, uncovering an early contribution of integrins to the regulation of vertebrate laterality.
The Undershoot Bias Learning to Act Optimally Under Uncertainty

Learning in stochastic environments is increasingly viewed as an important psychological ability. To extend these results from a perceptual to a motor domain, we tested whether participants could learn to solve a stochastic minimal-time task using exploratory learning. The task involved moving a cursor on a computer screen to a target. We systematically varied the degree of random error in movement in three different conditions; each condition had a distinct time-optimal solution. We found that participants approximated the optimal solutions with practice. The results show that adults are sensitive to the stochastic structure of a task and naturally adjust the magnitude of an undershoot bias to the particular movement error of a task.
Formation and dissolution of phase-separated structures in ultrathin blend films

ABSTRACT: The phase separation of ultrathin polymer blend ﬁlms of deuterated poly-(styrene)/poly(vinylmethylether) leads to a variety of ﬁlm morphologies, dependingon polymer composition. Phase-separation measurements are made at a constant tem-perature difference from the critical temperature, leading to a bicontinuous spinodaldecomposition pattern for near-critical blend compositions and to ‘‘mounds’’ and ‘‘holes’’for PVME-rich and dPS-rich off-critical mixtures, respectively. Reverse temperaturejumps of the phase-separated blend ﬁlms into the one-phase region result in dissolutionof the undulating surface patterns, conﬁrming the phase-separation origin of the ﬁlmpatterns. q 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 191–200, 1998 Keywords: ultrathin ﬁlms; polymer blends; phase separation; atomic force microscopy INTRODUCTION than1 mm. 1 Moreover,thiseffectissubstratedepen-dent, shifting to higher temperatures with decreas-Polymer blends have been the focus of decades of ing ﬁlm thickness on gold and to lower tempera-research owing to their technological and scien- tures on glass.
The epidemiology of preterm birth

Very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) deliveries increased from 1.16% of births in 1981 to 1.27% in 1990, and 1.44% in 2001, primarily caused by a substantial increase in multiple gestations. In 2000, 23% of low birth weight infants were born in a twin, triplet, or higher order multiple gestation. This trend is the result of increased use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), and to a lesser degree to deferred childbearing. It is most evident in whites, though it occurs in all races. The rate of triplet and higher order multiple gestations has slowed somewhat with improved ART practices, but the increase in twin deliveries has continued.
Mobile Robotics for Multidisciplinary Study

This lecture provides an introduction to the field of mobile robotics and the intersection between multiple robotics-related disciplines including electrical, mechanical, computer, software engineering and computer science. It is intended for an upper-level undergraduate or first-year graduate students interested in mobile robotics and artificial intelligence with some experience in object-oriented programming and controls. Focus areas will include robotics history, hardware, control and software. Specific topics include robot components, effectors and actuators, locomotion, kinematics, sensors, feedback control, control architectures, representation, navigation, localization and mapping. The end of each chapter includes review questions as well as exercises to provide applications for the concepts as well as opportunities for further study. Table of Contents: Introduction / Hardware / Control / Software
Nonoxynol-9 use, genital ulcers, and HIV infection in a cohort of sex workers.

OBJECTIVES--To measure the associations between use of nonoxynol-9 (N-9) and incidence of genital ulcers, and incident ulcers and HIV seroconversion. METHODS--In a study of barrier contraceptive use and HIV infection, 273 female sex workers used condoms and 100 mg N-9 suppositories, and recorded sexual activity on coital logs. Genital ulcers were diagnosed clinically at monthly clinic visits. HIV infection was diagnosed by ELISA and Western blot. We calculated ulcer incidence rates by level of N-9 use. A nested matched case-control analysis assessed the effect of ulcers on HIV acquisition. RESULTS--More frequent N-9 use was not associated with genital ulcers and may have been protective against the lesions. Ulceration was not a strong risk factor for HIV acquisition in this study (odds ratio 1.1; 95% confidence interval 0.3-3.5). CONCLUSIONS--Frequent use of N-9 can cause genital irritation and ulceration. Ulcers, in turn, may be risk factors for HIV acquisition. This study, however, did not find an association between N-9 use and ulcers, nor between ulcers and HIV. There is probably a threshold of N-9 use frequency or dose below which the risk of ulceration is minimal. Ulcers due to infectious causes may have been prevented by N-9 use in this cohort.
Differential Assessment of Farmland on the Rural-Urban Fringe

Urban pressures on farm real estate taxes have led, in the last decade, to adoption of differential assessment of farmland in at least 16 states. Broadly speaking, the laws fall into three categories: Preferential assessment, deferred taxation, and restrictive agreements. The laws are analyzed both from the standpoint of tax policy and from the standpoint of development policy. In neither case is it possible, given the present state of knowledge, to conclude firmly that the laws are desirable or undesirable. The analysis does, however, suggest a number of potential problems which should be analyzed before decisions are made.
Interannual assessment of territory quality for male sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in Simpson Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska

Territory quality and site fidelity were assessed for male sea otters (Enhydra lutris (L., 1758)) in Simpson Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, during the summer months (May–August) from 2003 to 20...
Target-included model and hybrid decoding of stereotyped hand movement in the motor cortex

A number of decoding methods, varying from common linear Gaussian models to more complicated point process frameworks, have been developed to infer hand movement from neuronal firing activity in the motor cortex. Most of these methods focus on estimating subjectpsilas hand trajectory in a continuous movement. We recently proposed a template-based time identification decoding approach and showed that if a stereotyped movement is well represented by a sequence of targets (or landmarks), then the main structure of the movement will be better addressed by detecting the reaching times at those targets. Both trajectory decoding and landmark-time decoding have advantages respectively, whereas a coupling of these two different strategies has not been examined. Here we propose a synergy that comes from combining these two approaches for a stereotyped movement under a state-space framework, where the recordings were made in the arm area of primary motor cortex in an awake behaving monkey using a chronically implanted multi-electrode array. We at first identify the target times using the template-based method. Then we include the detected targets as a linear control input in the kinematic model of the state-space formulation. Such an inclusion is justified by the empirical linear relationship between the kinematics and target positions. Experimental results show that the hybrid model includes the benefits from both approaches and significantly improves the decoding accuracy.
Risk Factors for Cortical, Nuclear, Posterior Subcapsular, and Mixed Lens Opacities: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

Purpose To identify sociodemographic and biological risk factors associated with the 4-year incidence of nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular (PSC), and mixed lens opacities. Design Population-based, longitudinal study. Participants We included 4658 Latinos ≥40 years from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California. Methods Participants underwent an interview and detailed eye examination, including best-corrected visual acuity and slit-lamp assessment of lens opacities using the Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II) at baseline and again 4 years later. Each opacity type was defined in persons with a LOCS II score of ≥2. Univariate and forward stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent baseline risk factors associated with 4-year incidence of nuclear only, cortical only, PSC only, and mixed (when >1 opacity type developed in a person) lens opacities. These comprised 4 mutually exclusive groups, and were based on person rather than eye. Main Outcome Measures Odds ratios for independent risk factors associated with 4-year incidence of nuclear-only, cortical-only, PSC-only, and mixed lens opacities. Results Of the 3471 participants with gradable lenses in the same eye at baseline and 4-year follow-up, 200 (5.8%) had incident nuclear-only opacities, 151 (4.1%) had incident cortical-only opacities, 16 (0.5%) had incident PSC-only lens opacities, and 88 (2.5%) had mixed lens opacities. Independent baseline risk factors for incident nuclear-only lens opacities included older age, current smoking, and presence of diabetes. Independent risk factors for incident cortical-only lens opacities included older age and having diabetes at baseline. Female gender was an independent risk factor for incident PSC-only lens opacities. Older age and presence of diabetes at baseline examination were independent risk factors for incident mixed lens opacities. Specifically, in diabetics, higher levels of hemoglobin A1c was associated with greater risk for 4-year incident nuclear-only, cortical-only and mixed lens opacities. Conclusions Improved diabetic control and smoking prevention may reduce the risk of developing lens opacities. Understanding both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors provides insight into the development of lens opacification. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Comparative outcomes in older and younger women undergoing laparotomy or robotic surgical staging for endometrial cancer.

Background Older patients are at increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. There are limited data on the safety of a robotic approach in the staging for endometrial cancer. Objective We compared outcomes in women undergoing laparotomy or robotic surgical staging for endometrial cancer. Study Design Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample database from 2008 through 2010, we abstracted records for patients who had surgery for endometrial cancer with either a robotic approach or laparotomy. Patients were categorized by age ( t and χ 2 tests were used to compare groups and approach. Multiple analysis of variance models were used to compare differences between robotics and laparotomy and age groups. Results We identified 16,980 patients who had surgery for endometrial cancer with either a robotic approach (age ≥65 years, n = 1228; age P P = .17). Older patients had higher rates of perioperative surgical (20.5% vs 15.4%, P P P P P = .32). Older patients had higher rates of perioperative surgical (8.3% vs 5.2%, P = .001) and medical (12.3% vs 6.7%, P = .001) complications, longer LOS (2.00 vs 1.67 days, P P P P P P P Conclusion Although the risks of surgery increase with age, in patients age ≥65 years, a robotic approach for endometrial cancer appears to be safe given current selection criteria utilized in the United States.
Predictions of Solar Cycle 24: How are We Doing?

Predictions of solar activity are an essential part of our Space Weather forecast capability. Users are requiring usable predictions of an upcoming solar cycle to be delivered several years before solar minimum. A set of predictions of the amplitude of Solar Cycle 24 accumulated in 2008 ranged from zero to unprecedented levels of solar activity. The predictions formed an almost normal distribution, centered on the average amplitude of all preceding solar cycles. The average of the current compilation of 105 predictions of the annual-average sunspot number is 106 +/- 31, slightly lower than earlier compilations but still with a wide distribution. Solar Cycle 24 is on track to have a below-average amplitude, peaking at an annual sunspot number of about 80. Our need for solar activity predictions and our desire for those predictions to be made ever earlier in the preceding solar cycle will be discussed. Solar Cycle 24 has been a below-average sunspot cycle. There were peaks in the daily and monthly averaged sunspot number in the Northern Hemisphere in 2011 and in the Southern Hemisphere in 2014. With the rapid increase in solar data and capability of numerical models of the solar convection zone we are developing the ability to forecast the level of the next sunspot cycle. But predictions based only on the statistics of the sunspot number are not adequate for predicting the next solar maximum. I will describe how we did in predicting the amplitude of Solar Cycle 24 and describe how solar polar field predictions could be made more accurate in the future.
Response to Ralston

My response to Ralston's paper "In Defense of Democracy as a Way of Life," both presented at the Eastern APA meeting (2008).
Taxation - Change of Ownership - Assessment

Commentary on a recent California decision holding that a property was trespassing because gradual earth movement had moved her property onto land held by a neighbor.
Subharmonic Transitions in Convection in a Moderately Shallow Cavity

The transition to and beyond the onset of time dependent convection of a low Prandtl number fluid has been studied in two cavities with height to length ratio of.25 and height to width ratios of 1.0 and 0.5. In both cases the side boundaries are rigid and insulating. No time dependence was observed in the first case, up to Gr = 150,000. In the second case a periodic state emerged at Gr c = 38,870, followed by an unusual subharmonic transition sequence.
Numerical analyses of turbulent flow behavior in plain journal bearing

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the fluid flow regime and the elastic effect in a plain cylindrical journal bearing subjected to highly severe operating velocity to better predict the behavior of the bearing for the turbulent flow regime. Design/methodology/approach – A numerical analysis of the behavior of an elastohydrodynamic for cylindrical journal bearing finite dimension coated with antifriction material in turbulent regime, is implemented using the code-ANSYS CFX. This analysis is performed by solving the Navier–Stocks equations of continuity by the method of finite volume for rotational speeds ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 rpm, that is to say for different Reynolds number. Findings – This study aims to better predict the elastic behavior in a journal bearing subjected to severe operating conditions. The speed of rotation varies from 6,000 to 15,000 rpm. Originality/value – The results clearly show that significant pressures are applied in the extreme case of speed, that is to say to the tu...
From the King to the Colonies: A Muddying of the Sovereign Immunity Waters in America

From the King to the Colonies is a general review of sovereign immunity. This article tracks the doctrine from its birth in the English common law through its exportation to the United States federalist system of government, with a focus on the doctrine’s application within the state of Florida. While the article answers many questions about where sovereign immunity arose and why, it also highlights many of the unresolved issues surrounding the doctrine's application in Florida and concludes with an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court to “still the waters” and clarify the law.
A facile approach for assembling lipid bilayer membranes on template-stripped gold.

Lipid vesicles are designed with functional chemical groups to promote vesicle fusion on template-stripped gold (TS Au) surfaces that does not spontaneously occur on unfunctionalized Au surfaces. T...
Comparison of Amphotericin B Bladder Irrigations Versus Fluconazole for the Treatment of Candiduria in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Background:Funguria occurs often in hospitalized patients and is most commonly caused by Candida species. Fluconazole is the agent of choice for most Candida urinary tract infections. Amphotericin ...
Toward Topology Prediction in Zr-Based Microporous Coordination Polymers: The Role of Linker Geometry and Flexibility

A design strategy based on geometric analysis of linker shape and flexibility is developed in the context of achieving predictable topology of tetratopic-linker based Zr microporous coordination polymers (MCPs). Tetratopic linkers are categorized into tetrahedral, planar square, or planar rectangular groups based on symmetry with an emphasis on linker flexibility. A prediction framework solely based on linker shape and cluster connectivity derived from this strategy is applied to all 18 reported tetratopic-linker based Zr MCPs, and their determined topologies fit well into the scheme. Two new Zr MCPs (UMCM-312 and UMCM-313) are produced using designed linkers based on the strategy to test the robustness of prediction. UMCM-312 contains a biphenyl-core based tetratopic linker to target tetrahedral shape, and UMCM-313 takes advantage of a perylene based tetratopic linker to achieve rectangular shape. The experimentally determined topologies confirm predictions. It is thus demonstrated that the uncertainty o...
An objection to attitudinal hedonism

This article argues that attitudinal hedonism is false as atheory of what is intrinsically good for us because it impliesthat nothing is intrinsically good for someone who does nothave the psychological capacity for the propositional attitudeof enjoyment even if he has other important mental capacitiesthat humans have.
Effects of volume expansion and parathyroid hormone on total renal blood flow and its intracortical distribution

Abstract Clearance and renal blood flow studies were performed during hydropenia, 2.5 and 10 percent steady-state saline expansion, and acute administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in chronically thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) dogs and during hydropenia and 10 percent expansion in intact dogs. Renal cortical blood flow distribution was measured with radioactive microspheres. In TPTX dogs, 2.5 percent expansion increased sodium excretion but did not alter total or intracortical blood flow. With 10 percent expansion, sodium excretion and juxtamedullary (zone 4) blood flow increased in both TPTX and intact dogs. There was no correlation between the changes in sodium excretion and zone 4 fractional blood flow in either group. Although the acute administration of PTH to TPTX dogs did not alter total or intracortical blood flow, control period hemodynamic data revealed an inner shift of flow in TPTX as compared to intact dogs. These results indicate that (1) massive (10 percent), but not mild (2.5 percent), volume expansion produces an inner shift of cortical blood flow; (2) this shift does not correlate with sodium excretion, nor is it influenced by thyroparathyroidectomy; and (3) PTH does not acutely alter renal blood flow distribution, but its chronic absence is associated with a shift of flow to the inner cortex.
Highly efficient eigen decomposition based statistical optical microangiography

Background: To overcome the drawbacks of the voxel-based eigen-decomposition (vED) approach to achieve the purpose of imaging blood flow in living tissue in real time. Methods: A highly efficient and practical method for contrasting in vivo blood flow by applying eigen-decomposition (ED) filter on repeated complex-valued optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans eigen-decomposition (bED) is proposed. We first present basic mathematics for bED. We then validate the bED through imaging cerebral blood flow in a mouse model. Results: Through evaluating signal to noise ratio, contrast and vessel connectivity, it is found that the proposed method can better contrast blood flow with drastic saving on computational power when compared with traditional ED approach where the filtering is applied on the basis of pixel by pixel or voxel by voxel. Conclusions: The bED is practically feasible to realize real time OCT angiography. In addition, the proposed ED approach is equally applicable to the operations on repeated A-scans or volumetric scans.
Brain and spinal cord infarcts secondary to an atrial-esophageal fistula.

Atrial-esophageal fistulas, a rare potential complication of ablative procedures for atrial fibrillation (AFib), can have neurologic symptoms as well as bacteremia and cardiac complications.1 Prior reported neurologic symptoms include encephalopathy, seizures, TIA, septic embolic stroke, and air emboli.2 We report a patient whose spinal cord inflammation on pathology is suggestive of septic emboli.
On the chemically-assisted excitonic enhancement in environmentally-friendly solution dispersions of two-dimensional MoS2 and WS2

Current rectifying p–n junction devices are demonstrated from solution exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and excitonic effects are elucidated for solution dispersions of not only MoS2, but also another refractory 2D sulfide, tungsten disulfide (WS2). The excitonic enhancement effects are correlated to new solution chemistries using environmentally friendly terpineol. The role of sonication time and centrifugation are analyzed in the presence of terpineol with isopropyl alcohol and surfactant ethyl cellulose, where the red-shift in the excitonic peaks is correlated to the size distribution of the nanoparticles using optical interferometry. This was correlated to the data obtained using photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis which also yielded results that were consistent with this finding. The terpineol dispersion exhibits the least red-shift of 5 meV from the top to the bottom of the vial, in contrast to non-terpineol dispersions where the red-shift is calculated to be as high as 90 meV, indicating terpineol's effectiveness in exfoliating a larger population of mono-to few-layer nanomembranes. Analysis of the optical absorption spectra allows for the extraction of the energy band gap for MoS2 and WS2. These results clearly show evidence of quantum confinement effects in solution dispersions of chemically exfoliated 2D MoS2 and WS2 which can be harnessed for a wide variety of optoelectronic devices that are amenable to scalable and high-throughput synthesis routes, using environmentally friendly solution chemistries.
T1a lung carcinoma: the place of segmentectomy in the treatment array

Contemporary management of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is evolving and can be attributed to a change in size and histology of lung cancer, advancements in imaging modalities, instrumentation and surgical techniques. The emergence of segmentectomy has further challenged the existing treatment landscape, with promising results. Despite limited widespread adoption, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy is a safe option in the treatment of patients with small stage I lung cancers, with excellent oncologic results and improved morbidity relative to open techniques. In this paper, we critically examine the utility of segmentectomy, and the emerging role of VATS, including technical tips and tricks, in the management of T1a lung carcinoma.
Women Engaged in Violent Activity as Terrorists, Guerrillas and Genocidaires

“Diana Marcela, 28, has spent 13 years with FARC and hopes to finish high school and study photography after demobilising.” “Johana, 19, has spent six years with FARC and wants to study nursing.” “Rubiela, 32, plans to study dentistry after 10 years with FARC.” (Qtd. in Vergara 2016 [np]).
Experimental Gravity, Gravitational Waves, and Quantum Nondemolition: An Introduction

This summer school is a meeting ground for three communities of scientists: specialists in gravitation physics, specialists in quantum optics, and specialists in the quantum theory of measurement. The prospects are bright for future interaction, mutual stimulation, cross fertilization, and even some merging of our three fields.
Horseplay or Sexual Harassment: Discipline and Due Process in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

ABSTRACTMaynard Wiertalla is a Corrections Shift Supervisor 12 (Lieutenant) for the Michigan Department of Corrections DOC). He is accused of sexually harassing a male subordinate, who alleged that...
Examining the Beliefs and Attitudes of Current Students and Recent Graduates on the Inclusion of Children in Family Therapy

The founders of the field of marriage and family therapy (MFT) have often spoken of the importance of having children present during therapy. However, children provide new challenges to any therapy session and therapists are often reluctant to invite them into session (Johnson and Thomas in J Marital Family Ther 25(1):117–123, 1999; Korner and Brown in J Family Psychol 3(4):420, 1990). Our littlest clients may be the most likely to trigger self of the therapist (SOT) reactions due to their emotional and reactive nature. Research has explored how licensed therapists view children in therapy and children’s opinion about being included, (Miller and McLeod in Family J 9(4):375–383, 2001; Ruble in Contemp Family Ther 21(4):485, 1999; Sori et al. in Sori (ed) Engaging children in family therapy, Routledge, New York, 2006; Sori et al. in Family J 23(4):427–434, 2015) but less research has been devoted to how student and recent graduates respond to families and children. Further, there is almost no research addressing how a therapist’s own family of origin may impact his or her clinical judgment. This study examines how current and recent marriage and family therapy students think about including children in therapy. Seventy-three participants completed the Family Therapy Questionnaire as well as questions related to their family of origin. Participants’ responses were compared to prior studies on therapists’ attitudes and the inclusion of children. Regression analysis showed that students’ beliefs about including children in session were related to year in school as well as communication in one’s family of origin. Clinical decisions regarding family-focused vignettes were also impacted by family of origin characteristics. These results, as well as future directions for research and MFT education, will be discussed.
Tribute to Steve Fienberg

As readers of this Journal know, I paid my tribute to Steve Fienberg in my 2016 Julius Shiskin Lecture:As readers of this Journal know, I paid my tribute to Steve Fienberg in my 2016 Julius Shiskin Lecture: "Finally, I would like to acknowledge the role of Stephen Fienberg of Carnegie Mellon University. I'm sure almost everyone in this auditorium can cite a path-breaking contribution of Steve's that had a major impact on statistics and the federal statistical system. I want to highlight the foresight that he had in gathering researchers from the SDL community and the emerging computer science data-privacy community in Bertinoro, Italy, in 2005. This is where I first met Cynthia Dwork and the team of young cryptographers who were shattering the received wisdom in SDL with methods that Steve recognized as revolutionary. I’m also going to spend much of this lecture on those methods. The last time Steve and I talked about this, at this year's JSM, he confided to me that our big mistake was that ``we did not grow the community fast enough.'' I hope this lecture helps solve that problem too." (JPC, 2017, Vol. 7, No. 3 \url{https://doi.org/10.29012/jpc.v7i3.404}) To which I would now add, that I hope this volume in his honor also expands the community of scholars working on these important issues. As compelling as the cryptographers are, privacy-preserving data analysis must have equal participation from domain scientists, technologists, and statisticians. Good science and strong privacy protections do compete for the same scarce resource (the information in confidential databases), but efficient, workable solutions require input from all these specialists.