cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Edge-based Meshless Methods for Compressible Viscous Flow with Applications to Overset Grids

This paper concerns two key developments of a meshless method: (1) meshless discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations, and (2) embedding the the meshless method within an overset grid context. First, the spatial and temporal discretization procedures for the meshless method applied to the Navier-Stokes equations are given. Next, the meshless method is shown to be well suited for overset grid applications. In the overset approach, anisotropic viscous grids are applied near the body while isotropic cartesian grids cover the remainder of the domain to the far eld boundaries. In place of conventional interpolation procedures, the meshless method accomplishes the task of inter-grid communication between near-body and o-b ody grid components. The meshless interface appears to provide an attractive alternative to interpolation, potentially improving the accuracy and eciency of overset grid approaches. Two dimensional results are given for laminar viscous o ws, showing excellent agreement with established codes.
On turbo code decoder performance in optical-fiber communication systems with dominating ASE noise

In this paper, we study the effects of different ASE noise models on the performance of turbo code (TC) decoders. A soft-decoding algorithm, the Bahl, Cocke, Jelinek, and Raviv (BCJR) decoding algorithm, is generally used in TC decoders. The BCJR algorithm is a maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) algorithm, and is very sensitive to noise statistics. The Gaussian approximation of ASE noise is widely used in the study of optical-fiber communication systems, and there exist standard TCs for additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. We show that using a MAP decoding algorithm based on the Gaussian noise assumptions, however, may significantly degrade the TC decoder performance in an optical-fiber channel with non-Gaussian ASE noise. To take full advantage of TC, accurate noise statistics in optical-fiber transmissions should be used in the MAP decoding algorithm.
Buckling of cylindrical shells with smeared-out and discrete orthogonal stiffeners

The buckling equations for the orthogonally stiffened cylindrical shells under uniform axial compression and external pressure and with classical simply supported boundary conditions are formulated by treating the stiffeners as discrete elements. By assuming identical and equally spaced stringers and identical and equally spaced rings, the buckling equations can be uncoupled into several sets of simpler and manageable equations for the symmetric and antisymmetric longitudinal modes and symmetric and antisymmetric circumferential modes. The uncoupled submatrices are further reduced by partitioning and substitution. Effort is made to preserve the sparseness of the matrices in order to use a special compact storage scheme. A method to compute the minimum eigenvalue for a large general eigenvalue problem, the Ritz iteration method combined with Chebyshev procedure, is developed and its accuracies are evaluated. Examples are performed and results are compared to other computational and experimental results available. A a},a2
Heparin neutralization by platelet-rich thrombi. Role of platelet factor 4.

BACKGROUNDPlatelets contain several factors that inhibit heparin. This study was designed to assess the heparin-neutralizing activity present in acute, platelet-rich arterial thrombi formed at sites of arterial injury in animals.METHODS AND RESULTSPlatelet-rich thrombi (n = 3) were induced in pig coronary arteries by balloon catheter-mediated arterial injury. Soluble extracts were prepared from each thrombus and assayed for the capacity to inhibit heparin in an in vitro clotting assay (activated partial thromboplastin time). Mean heparin-neutralizing activity was 28 U of heparin neutralized per milliliter of thrombus, indicating that 1 vol of coronary thrombus completely inhibited the heparin present in 140 vols of therapeutically anticoagulated (0.2 U heparin/mL) plasma. In contrast, thrombus extracts had no effect on the anticoagulant activity of hirudin, a direct-acting thrombin inhibitor. The heparin-neutralizing activity present in coronary thrombi bound to heparin-agarose and was eluted from it by 1...
Price Discovery In The Soybean Futures Market

This paper investigates the price discovery process between the nearby futures prices of soybean, soy meal, and soy oil contracts (Crush constituents) in the U.S. Relationships between these commodities may bear important implications for trading strategies, market inefficiencies, or the derived demand theory. Furthermore, our findings are relevant in light of market microstructure theories, which maintain that the price information disseminates from more liquid contracts. Our VAR and bivariate GARCH model estimates suggest a strong bi-directional causality in Crush futures prices. We also find that while soybean contracts bear the burden of convergence when the spread between soybean and soy meal contract prices widens, this is not true of soybean and soy oil contracts. Furthermore, we show evidence of considerable volatility persistence for the three contracts and volatility spillover between soybean and other Crush constituent futures. The statistical evidence suggests that information arrives in these markets simultaneously. Our findings do not support the derived demand theory.
Glutamine uptake and metabolism by the isolated toad brain: evidence pertaining to its proposed role as a transmitter precursor.

— Hemisections of toad brains, when incubated in a physiological medium containing no glutamine. released considerable amounts of this amino acid into the medium. When glutamine was included in the medium at a concentration of 0.2 mm the net efflux from the tissue was reduced but not totally prevented. Although there was no net uptake of glutamine, the tissue did accumulate [U-14C]glu-tamine and some of this labelled glutamine was rapidly metabolized to glutamate, GABA and aspartate. The precursor-product relationship for the metabolism of glutamine to glutamate differed from the classic single compartment model in that the specific radioactivity of glutamate rose very quickly to approx one-tenth that of glutamine, but increased slowly thereafter. These data suggest that the [14C]glutamine was taken up into two metabolically distinct compartments and/or that some of the [14C]glutamine was converted to [14C]glutamate during the uptake process. The uptake of [14C]glutamine was diminished when the tissue was incubated in a non-oxygenated medium or when Na+ was omitted (substituted with sucrose) and K+ was concomitantly elevated. However, on a relative basis, the incorporation of radioactivity into glutamate and GABA was increased by these incubation conditions. The metabolism of glutamine to aspartate was greatly depressed when the tissue was not oxygenated. The glutamate formed from [U-14C]glutamine taken up by the tissue was converted to GABA at a faster rate than was glutamate derived from [U-14C]glucose. [U-14C]gly-cerol or exogenous [U-14C]glutamate. This suggests that glutamine was metabolized to GABA selectively; i.e. on a relative basis, glutamine served as a better source of carbon for the synthesis of GABA than did glucose, glycerol or exogenous glutamate. When the brain hemisections were incubated in the normal physiological medium with or without glutamine. there was very little efflux of glutamate, GABA or aspartate from the tissue. However when NaCl was omitted from the medium (substituted with sucrose) and K+ was elevated to 29 miu. a marked efflux of these three amino acids into the medium did occur, and over a period of 160min, the content of each amino acid in the tissue was depleted considerably. When glutamine (0.2 mm) was included in the Na+ deficient-high K.+ medium, the average amount of glutamate, GABA and aspartate in the tissue plus the medium was greater than when glutamine was not included in the medium. Such data indicate that CNS tissues can utilize glutamine for a net synthesis of glutamate, GABA and aspartate. The results of this study provide further evidence in support of the concept that the functional (transmitter) pools of glutamate and GABA are maintained and regulated in part via biosynthesis from glutamine. One specific mechanism instrumental in regulating the content of glutamate in nerve terminals may be a process of glutamine uptake coupled to deamidation.
Performance analysis of adaptive filters equipped with the dual sign algorithm

A convergence analysis for stochastic gradient adaptive filters equipped with the dual sign algorithm (DSA) is presented. Expressions for the mean and mean-squared values of the coefficient misalignment vector are derived under the assumption that the input signal is Gaussian. The main differences between the current analysis and previous analyses are: (1) the present analysis is valid for arbitrary autocorrelation matrices, and (2) the analysis does not approximate the behavior for the DSA as switching between two sign algorithms a certain amount of time after the DSA is initialized. A simulation example comparing the analytical results with empirical ones is presented and the two curves show excellent agreement with each other. >
Model of asynchronous finite state machines and their pipelined structures

The design of asynchronous finite state machines (AFSMs) has been limited because multiple-input changes are disallowed. A new architecture for designing AFSMs with completion signals, in which the completion signal is generated whenever both outputs and internal states stabilize, is presented. Results show that the proposed design allows multiple-input changes and is free of races and hazards. Based on the proposed architecture, a pipelined AFSM structure is presented. >
Review of continent urinary diversion in contemporary urology

Continent urinary diversion (CUD) continues to be widely accepted by both urologists and patients for urinary reconstruction after cystectomy and some complicated cases of urinary incontinence. Different operative techniques and modifications have been contributed in the last 3 decades. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique have long been debated. Ureterosigmoidostomy is the oldest form of CUD but has lost favor in recent decades. The other 2 broad categories of CUD are cutaneous and orthotopic CUD. This review presents and discusses the current common forms of continent urinary diversions.
Being a Physician

The physician plays many roles. At various times, these include serving as the patient’s protector, advocate, coach, cheerleader, and, of course, healer. The wise physician has initiative, courage, a broad-based education, and a commitment to service. The ideal physician, in the words of Mother Teresa, gives back to the world. This same physician, however, is mindful of his or her own health, of the risk of adopting what Sigmund Freud called “hobby-horses,” and of the need to cease doctoring at the right time.
Dense Contents in Synaptic Vesicles Produced by Sequential Cation Binding, Alcohol Treatment and Osmium Tetroxide Fixation

Publisher Summary Dense contents occurred in synaptic vesicles in sections of spinal cord, incubated in cacodylate-buffered solutions of Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ , and Zn 2+ providing the sections were refixed, directly after incubation, in alcoholic osmium tetroxide (1 % OsO 4 in 50% ethanol) or immersed in absolute ethanol, followed by refixation in either alcoholic or aqueous osmium tetroxide. In experiments, both control and experimental tissues were refixed in alcoholic osmium tetroxide because the mercaptides of coenzyme A (CoA) (experimental) are soluble in aqueous osmium tetroxide. Therefore, various combinations of incubation in metal salts and buffer, treatment with different concentrations of alcohol and refixation in aqueous or alcoholic osmium tetroxide were also tested. When incubation in buffer containing the metal salt was followed by immersion in absolute ethanol before osmium tetroxide treatment, more vesicles reacted; these were usually more filled with dense contents. Treatment with concentrated alcohol before refixation in osmium tetroxide impaired the fine structural preservation. This chapter emphasizes a little appreciated fact that routine osmium tetroxide fixation extracts much of the contents of the hyaloplasm and of cell organelles.
Amplification bandwidth and speech intelligibility for two listeners with sensorineural hearing loss.

The intelligibility of speech as a function of its bandwidth was measured for two listeners with similar, moderately severe sensorineural hearing losses. The shape of the speech spectrum was adjusted to approximate the individual listener's contour of most comfortable listening levels (MCLs) and the overall level was set so that the levels in each band were below (-7 dB), near to (+3 dB), or above (+13 or +18 dB) the MCLs. At each level, nine pairings of three low-frequency and three high-frequency cutoffs (266, 375 and 530 Hz; 3 000, 4 242 and 6 000 Hz) were used. These conditions were achieved by passing the speech through a Limiting Master Hearing Aid (LMHA) which allows independent control of gain and maximum output in each of nine, half-octave bands. It was found that the wider the bandwidth, the higher the score, and the greater the amount of speech energy above threshold, the higher the score. Listeners' ability to understand the test material, after adjustment for listener differences, was correla...
The Pathogenesis of Arteriosclerosis and Diabetes Mellitus

Of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis in the general population, most affect diabetics of both types, particularly high levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, low levels of high density lipoproteins, and hyperinsulinemia. The three major features of atherosclerosis, i.e., lipid accumulation, within the arterial intima (smooth muscle cell proliferation and macrophage recruitment) and connective tissue deposition, all may be influenced by the diabetic State. In the reaction to injury hypothesis, endothelial injury (functional or gross) appears to be the initial Step. This is associated with adherence of circulating monocytes, which then migrate across the endothelium to the intima where they become macrophages and accumulate cholesterol (foam cells). Smooth muscle cells are stimulated to migrate and proliferate into the intima, leading to further foam cell formation. Loss of endothelial integrity is followed by the adherence of platelets to the exposed subendothelial connective tissue. A potent mitogen released from platelets (platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)) stimulates further smooth-muscle cell proliferation and synthesis of connective tissue matrix associated with the transformation of a fatty streak to a fibrous plaque.
Is the Tropical Atmosphere Conditionally Unstable

Abstract We examine the mean and standard deviation of the bouyancy of lifted boundary layer parcels from a large sample of soundings from the western equatorial Pacific. The inclusion of condensate loading in the definition of buoyancy is emphasized as is the precise originating level of parcels in the subcloud layer. We confirm the observation of Betts that those parts of the tropical atmosphere experiencing deep convection are nearly neutral to adiabatic parcel ascent from the subcloud layer when adiabatic condensate loading is included in the definition of buoyancy. Parcels lifted from the top of the subcloud layer are more nearly neutral than those originating near the surface, and atmospheres with higher levels of free convection (LFCs) are closer to neutral than those with low LFCs. We explore possible reasons for these observations and discuss their implications for tropical meteorology.
Hypoxia Imaging for Image-Guided Radiotherapy

Tumor hypoxia, or the condition of low oxygen, is a key factor for tumor progression and treatment resistance. Because hypoxic tumor cells are more resistant to ionizing radiation, hypoxia has been a focus of clinical research in radiation therapy for half a century. During this period, interest in targeting tumor hypoxia has waxed and waned as promising treatments emerged from the laboratory, only to fail in the clinics. With the development of new radiation targeting strategies, specifically intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image guidance technologies (image-guided RT; IGRT), there is a strong interest in imaging hypoxia for radiation targeting and dose escalation. In this review, we will discuss the role of hypoxia imaging, specifically positron emission tomography (PET)-based imaging with hypoxia-specific tracers, for directing radiation treatment in solid tumors.
The Affordable Care Act and Opportunities for Change in North Carolina's Commercial Fisheries

ABSTRACT Commercial fishing is generally hazardous, but some types of commercial fishing are more dangerous than others. Since much of the fishing industry is composed of small family-owned businesses, commercial fishermen often have to rely on the private health insurance markets. Do commercial fishermen working in more dangerous areas or with more dangerous gear mitigate their risk by purchasing health insurance? I examine the relationship between the economics of the North Carolina commercial fishing fleet and private market health insurance purchases in the two years immediately preceding the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Establishing this baseline is important, as the slow implementation of the Act's expanded coverage will take time to make meaningful impacts on commercial fishing fleets. I close by considering which aspects of commercial fishing might be most affected by the ACA. JEL Codes: D78, H51, I100, I13, N52, Q22, Q28, Q58.
Suppression of Mycorrhizal Fungus Spore Germination In Non-Sterile Soil: Relationship to Mycorrhizal Growth Response in Big Bluestem

In six soils of varied phosphorus availability, spore germination of Glomus epigaeum was higher in non-sterile soil than in steamed soil and this was not altered by P amendment. In contrast, in all six soils without phosphorus amendment, spore germination of four other Glomus species was higher in steamed than in non-sterile soil. Amendment of phosphorus to steamed soil decreased percentage spore germination, whereas P amendment increased spore germination in non-sterile soil. To study the relationship between suppression of spore germination in non-sterile soil and subsequent plant growth response to mycorrhizal symbiosis and root colonization, plants were inoculated and grown in steamed soil, non-sterile soil, or steamed soil amended with non-sterile soil sievings. After 5 wk, seedlings were transplanted into additional soil of each treatment in all possible combinations. Exposure to the soil microflora and microfauna in the initial phase of the experiment was not deleterious to plant dry weight, but exposure after transplanting significantly reduced dry weight. However, significant reductions in root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi were imposed by both the initial and the post-transplant exposure to the soil microorganisms. Apparently, root colonization is a more sensitive measure of microbial suppression than dry weight, since relatively large changes in root colonization were necessary before dry weight was affected. Suppression of spore germination is a possible mechanism, though probably not the sole mechanism, explaining reduced plant growth and root colonization observed in non-sterile, low fertility soils.
Favor fishing and punch-bowl christians : Ritual and conversion in a Chinese protestant church

This paper presents results from a four and one-half year participant observation study of conversion at a Chinese Protestant church. It was found that a variety of helping behaviors held important consequences for conversion. Church members were found to provide favors and gifts in ways that are unusual in Chinese society (e.g., anonymously, to perfect strangers, with no expectation of return, and to persons of lower status). These patterns of giving confound the traditional Chinese manner of building social networks and instead bind individuals to a larger society of Chinese Christians. These findings suggest that under certain conditions, examination of microsociological interaction rituals may complement other explanations of church growth.
Mercury Reduction and Oxidation by Reduced Natural Organic Matter in Anoxic Environments

Natural organic matter (NOM)-mediated redox cycling of elemental mercury Hg(0) and mercuric Hg(II) is critically important in affecting inorganic mercury transformation and bioavailability. However, these processes are not well understood, particularly in anoxic water and sediments where NOM can be reduced and toxic methylmercury is formed. We show that under dark anoxic conditions reduced organic matter (NOM(re)) simultaneously reduces and oxidizes Hg via different reaction mechanisms. Reduction of Hg(II) is primarily caused by reduced quinones. However, Hg(0) oxidation is controlled by thiol functional groups via oxidative complexation, which is demonstrated by the oxidation of Hg(0) by low-molecular-weight thiol compounds, glutathione, and mercaptoacetic acid, under reducing conditions. Depending on the NOM source, oxidation state, and NOM:Hg ratio, NOM reduces Hg(II) at initial rates ranging from 0.4 to 5.5 h(-1), which are about 2 to 6 times higher than those observed for photochemical reduction of Hg(II) in open surface waters. However, rapid reduction of Hg(II) by NOM(re) can be offset by oxidation of Hg(0) with an estimated initial rate as high as 5.4 h(-1). This dual role of NOM(re) is expected to strongly influence the availability of reactive Hg and thus to have important implications for microbial uptake and methylation in anoxic environments.
Study of shock waves and related phenomena motivated by astrophysics

This paper discusses the recent research in High-Energy-Density Physics at our Center. Our work in complex hydrodynamics is now focused on mode coupling in the Richtmyer- Meshkov process and on the supersonic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. These processes are believed to occur in a wide range of astrophysical circumstances. In radiation hydrodynamics, we are studying radiative reverse shocks relevant to cataclysmic variable stars. Our work on magnetized flows seeks to produce magnetized jets and study their interactions. We build the targets for all these experiments, and simulate them using our CRASH code. We also conduct diagnostic research, focused primarily on imaging x-ray spectroscopy and its applications to scattering and fluorescence.
Morphology of the Prolegs of Trichopterous LarvÆ

In a previous paper (Krafka, 1923) the Leptoceridae were taken as the stem form in the order Trichoptera on the basis of the structure of the larval heads. If this hypothesis be correct, some degree of correlation should be found in the development of the organs of the thorax and abdomen. These studies have been made and much confirmatory data has been found. On the basis of the new phylogeny, the homologies of the schlerites of the prolegs, caudal hooks or dragging-hooks becomes relatively simple.
Electrical synaptic transmission in developing zebrafish: properties and molecular composition of gap junctions at a central auditory synapse.

In contrast to the knowledge of chemical synapses, little is known regarding the properties of gap junction-mediated electrical synapses in developing zebrafish, which provide a valuable model to s...
Abstract 1642: TIP-1 regulates sensitivity of glioma cells to radio- and chemotherapeutic agents through modulating p53 stability and activation

Malignant gliomas represent one group of tumors that poorly respond to chemo- and radio-therapies because of the intrinsic or acquired resistance. Identification of novel molecules that are involved in the therapeutics resistance is critical to develop new therapeutic modalities. Our previous studies show that TIP-1 involves in tumor cells response to ionizing radiation (IR). In this study, we found that TIP-1 expression level correlates to the clinical staging and overall patient survival time after diagnosis of malignant gliomas. We hypothesized that TIP-1 is one novel predictive biomarker of glioma cell response to treatment, and targeting TIP-1 represents one novel strategy to combat the disease of high mortality. Studies on cell-based models indicated that TIP-1 deficiency resulted in the enhanced sensitivity of D54 and GL261 glioma cell lines to IR and chemotherapeutic agents, whereas ectopic expression of TIP-1 conferred resistance to the therapeutics in the cells. The data also showed that sensitivity of the glioma cell lines to IR correlates to stability and activation of p53 protein after IR treatment. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified C53/LZAP as one TIP-1 interacting protein within glioma cells. PDZ domain within TIP-1 binds to one classic type I PDZ-binding motif at the carboxyl terminus of C53/LZAP protein. C53/LZAP has been studied as one tumor suppressor and modulator of the cancer cell susceptibility to genotoxic stress including IR and several chemotherapeutic agents. C53/LZAP interacts with ARF and protects p53 from Mdm2-mediated protein degradation. Our data demonstrated that, after irradiation, presence of TIP-1 enhanced C53/LZAP interaction with ARF, thus promoted Mdm2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and resulted in less stable p53 protein. On the other hand, with absence of TIP-1 protein, IR treatment resulted in more stabilized and activated p53 protein that drives IR-induced apoptosis of the glioma cells. Taken together, our data suggests that TIP-1 is one novel modulator of p53 tumor suppressor and contributes to chemo- and radio-resistance of glioma cells. Therefore, targeting TIP-1 represents one novel approach for the improved therapy of malignant glioma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1642. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1642
Evaluation of Chromane-Based Bryostatin Analogues Prepared via Hydrogen-Mediated C-C Bond Formation: Potency Does Not Confer Bryostatin-like Biology

The synthesis and biological evaluation of chromane-containing bryostatin analogues WN-2–WN-7 and the previously reported salicylate-based analogue WN-8 are described. Analogues WN-2–WN-7 are prepared through convergent assembly of the chromane-containing fragment B-I with the “binding domain” fragment A-I or its C26-des-methyl congener, fragment A-II. The synthesis of fragment B-I features enantioselective double C–H allylation of 1,3-propanediol to form the C2-symmetric diol 3 and Heck cyclization of bromo-diene 5 to form the chromane core. The synthesis of salicylate WN-8 is accomplished through the union of fragments A-III and B-II. The highest binding affinities for PKCα are observed for the C26-des-methyl analogues WN-3 (Ki = 63.9 nM) and WN-7 (Ki = 63.1 nM). All analogues, WN-2–WN-8, inhibited growth of Toledo cells, with the most potent analogue being WN-7. This response, however, does not distinguish between phorbol ester-like and bryostatin-like behavior. In contrast, while many of the analogues...
Uncommon Tumors of the Skull Base and Uncommon Approaches to Them

The recognition of a number of uncommon tumors of the skull base is now relatively simple because of three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with enhancement. The radiographic classification of these tumors is reviewed, and their treatment is discussed. Although the basic approach to these tumors is the same--radical surgery with decompression of neural and vascular structures--the authors present various operative techniques for gaining access to and removing these tumors. They also examine the role of radiotherapy in supplementing surgical treatment.
Tethered Spinal Cords

The diagnosis of tethered spinal cord by MRI in seven children with cutaneous lumbar hemangioma is reported from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
BAP: a binary analysis platform

BAP is a publicly available infrastructure for performing program verification and analysis tasks on binary (i.e., executable) code. In this paper, we describe BAP as well as lessons learned from previous incarnations of binary analysis platforms. BAP explicitly represents all side effects of instructions in an intermediate language (IL), making syntaxdirected analysis possible. We have used BAP to routinely generate and solve verification conditions that are hundreds of megabytes in size and encompass 100,000's of assembly instructions.
Applications of Microarray Bioprinting

Applications for microarray bioprinting include compound toxicity and efficacy assessments, disease diagnostics, and simulation of tissue microenvironments on a small scale. The low volume, high-throughput nature of this system makes it ideal for rapid screening and assay development, particularly in regards towards assays that can be used on various tissue engineering platforms. In this section, we highlight the development of assays for high-throughput screening (HTS) using microarray bioprinting technologies, with a specific focus on toxicity assays that affect the liver and the central nervous system (CNS). Next, we will highlight the various organ systems that can be recapitulated using 3D bioprinting, and the advantages and disadvantages of tissue miniaturization for microarray technologies. Finally, we’ll discuss other applications, including tissue regeneration studies, and drug patterning.
Improved risk stratification for patients with high-grade urothelial carcinoma following application of the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology.

Background The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) requires 4 cytomorphologic criteria for a definitive diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) in urinary tract cytology (UTC) specimens: an elevated nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio (at or above 0.7), markedly atypical nuclear borders, moderate to severe hyperchromasia, and coarse chromatin. However, malignant UTC specimens often contain degenerative changes, and this limits the number of malignant cells meeting all 4 TPS cytomorphologic criteria. Methods One hundred twelve UTC specimens from patients with a subsequent diagnosis of HGUC were reviewed and reclassified according to TPS criteria. The presence of TPS cytomorphologic criteria for HGUC in each specimen was recorded, as was the proportion of atypical cells meeting all 4 criteria. Results The number of specimens definitively diagnosed as HGUC did not significantly change upon reclassification. However, approximately 40% of indeterminate specimens (21 of 51) were reclassified into a higher risk category. The most restrictive cytomorphologic criterion was an N/C ratio of 0.7 or higher (seen in 78% of specimens), and approximately half of specimens containing all 4 cytomorphologic criteria did not meet TPS's numerical criterion for HGUC (at least 5 malignant cells). In the majority of specimens qualifying for HGUC by TPS standards, only a small fraction of atypical cells (10%-20%) met all the criteria. Conclusions When applied to malignant UTC specimens, TPS criteria improved specimen risk stratification by upgrading approximately 40% of indeterminate specimens into higher risk categories while not significantly changing the frequency of HGUC diagnoses. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:427-34. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
AIRS visible light channels: Lessons from 15 years of using internal calibration sources, vicarious calibration, and the use of deep convective clouds (Conference Presentation)

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the EOS Aqua Spacecraft was launched on May 4, 2002 and is currently fully operational. AIRS, in addition to the infrared system comprised of 2378 channels with wavelengths ranging from 3.7-15.4 um, has 4 Visible/Near-Infrared channels and an on-board calibration source utilizing 3 independent lamps to characterize the change in the visible response over time. One of the key measurements related to climate change is the measurement of the Reflected Short-Wave Solar radiation (RSW). The AIRS visible light channels can be used to accurately measure the stability of the RSW. We describe our experience from 15 years of AIRS data with using internal calibration lamps, vicarious calibration, MODIS cross-calibration, and Deep Convective Clouds (DCCs) for the calibration and stabilization of the AIRS visible light data. The result is the DCC stabilized anomaly trend of the RSW measured with AIRS.
System of Elections, Latino Representation, and School Policy in Central California Schools

If representation of a group on a governing board enhances the policy responsiveness of that body to such groups, then under-representation might deprive particular groups of needed programs and benefits. This chapter, therefore, examines the demographics of school boards in Central California, the potential barriers to representation, and differences between Latino and white board members in their perceptions of the issues, needs, and priorities in their districts. We analyze data from the California Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), as well as a survey of all superintendents, board members, and a sample of principals in school districts in Central California. We include all unified, elementary, and high school districts that were open in the 2003–2004 academic year (325 districts), concentrating on the years 1995–2004. We find a positive relationship between Latino representation and the proportion of Latino students. However, it is not until Latinos are the overwhelming majority of the district, well over 60% of the students, that we see increased numbers of Latinos on school boards. In addition, the system by which school board members are elected to office is strongly associated with Latino representation, even when we account for the size of the Latino population and party affiliation. Furthermore, the system of electing board members appears to influence local policy. The findings of this study point towards potential changes in policy with changes in Latino representation on school boards.
A simplified framework for sequencing of transportation projects considering user costs and benefits

City, regional and state transportation planning authorities typically need to undertake multiple transportation improvement projects to maintain the desired level of service in a road network. Due...
Nationwide Variation in Rates of Thyroidectomy Among US Medicare Beneficiaries.

Importance Research on variation in rates of procedures across otherwise similar geographic regions provides vital insight into practice patterns. It reveals the degree of consensus on how a particular condition is managed, shows areas where access to care may be inadequate, and other areas where the population may be receiving inappropriately high levels of care. Objective To test the hypothesis that rates of thyroid surgery vary across US geographic regions Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional analysis of Medicare data for 15 888 beneficiaries aged 65 years or older from 2014 was carried out. Main Outcome and Measures Overall and hospital referral region-specific thyroidectomy rate per 100 000 Medicare beneficiaries. Results In 2014, 15 888 thyroidectomies were performed on Medicare beneficiaries in the United States (partial n = 7506, total n = 8382), representing a national average rate of 60 per 100 000 beneficiaries (median, 59 per 100 000 beneficiaries; IQR, 43-70 per 100 000). A 6.2-fold difference in thyroidectomy rates was observed across US regions (range, 22-139 per 100 000 Medicare beneficiaries). Conclusions and Relevance Thyroidectomy rates in the United States vary 6.2 fold, more than prostatectomy rates, which are usually held as the example of the procedure with the widest variation in the United States. This wide variation in thyroidectomy rates observed among Medicare beneficiaries suggests widely divergent local beliefs and practice patterns surrounding the management of thyroid nodules and cancer because rates appeared to be unrelated to health care availability, regional socioeconomic status, or surgeons per capita. A better understanding for the reasons underlying this variation is needed.
"Just Sitting in a Cell, You and Me": Sponsoring Writing in a County Jail.

Entering jail is an assault on the senses. Thick recirculated air feels either drafty or stuffy, never comfortable. The walls protrude with a stark, dingy white, bare of character or care. The smell is sterile, some unidentifiable cleanser stinging the tongue and nostrils. Doors clang shut and open via invisible mechanics. The wall-mounted eye of the panopticon is omnipresent.
Advanced Molecular Techniques Provide New Rigorous Tools for Characterizing Organic Matter Quality in Complex Systems

Carbon flux rates are widely understood to be substrate controlled; however, characterizing substrate quality continues to be a challenge. We suggest that, while optical measurements have their pla ...
Applications of Coupled Systems to Model Problems

The theory developed for coupled systems of parabolic and elliptic equations can be applied to a number of reaction diffusion models in several fields of applied science and engineering. This includes models arising from biology, ecology, and biochemistry as well as the classical fields of physical and engineering sciences. In fact, much of the theory developed in the previous chapters is motivated by these model problems. Although many of these models involve coupled system of two equations there are also a number of problems that are coupled through three or more equations, including ordinary differential equations. The basic idea of the application is to develop techniques for the construction of coupled upper and lower solutions for each individual model problem. For parabolic systems this construction leads to the global existence or nonexistence of a time-dependent solution and various qualitative properties of the solution. This includes the asymptotic stability or instability of a steady-state solution, boundedness and invariance properties of the system, the asymptotic limit of the time-dependent solution, and blowing-up behavior of the solution in finite time. In each case explicit conditions in terms of the physical parameters are obtained, and in some cases these conditions yield a bifurcation criterion for the convergence or blowing-up behavior of the solution. For elliptic systems upper and lower solutions are constructed to ensure the existence of steady-state solutions. Also discussed are the uniqueness and multiplicity of positive steady-state solutions, the bifurcation of positive solutions, and estimates of stability and instability regions of a given steady-state solution.
Applied Linear Models with SAS: Introduction to Linear Regression

In this book we develop mathematical models for explaining the variability of measurements made on an outcome of interest. The aim is to try to explain the different values of this outcome in response to other information available to us. Random variation in the values of the response makes this difficult, and at best we will only be able to make a statement about the typical or average value of the response under a given set of circumstances. Let us make this clear with an example in which we try to explain the different birth weights of a group of 100 low-birth-weight babies using only information about their length. Low-Birth-Weight Infants One of the health problems associated with low-birth-weight infants is just that: their low weight is associated with a myriad of health problems. A “low birth weight” is any value lower than 1,500 grams. Figure 3.1 plots the length and birth weight of 100 low-birth-weight infants born in one of two Boston-area hospitals. In this figure we see a rough relationship between birth weight and length. In general, larger birth weight is associated with greater length. Despite a small number of notable exceptions in this plot, we can see that most of the infants follow a general pattern. The large “cloud” of observations along the right half of this figure defines the general pattern of the data. The values of length were rounded to the nearest centimeter, and this explains the vertical “stripes” that appear in Figure 3.1.
Stage IV renal cell carcinoma

AbstractData from 104 patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma were evaluated to investigate relationships between survival and gender, race, age, tumor size, lung versus bone metastasis, number of metastatic sites and nephrectomy. No statistically significant differences in survival were found between gender or racial groups, nor was there a statistically significant relationship between survival and patient age. Survival tended to decrease as tumor size increased. Survival was worse for patients with multiple metastatic sites compared to those with only 1 metastatic site, and for patients with bone and lung metastases compared to those with lung but no bone metastases and bone but no lung metastases. Although nephrectomy patients appeared to have somewhat better survival rates than those without nephrectomy, this difference was apparently due to better prognostic factors for nephrectomy patients.
Exploring associations between the use of alcohol and marijuana with e-cigarette use in a U.S.A. nationally representative sample of young adults.

Objectives Previous research has shown that e-cigarette use is rising among young adults, but it is unknown whether the dual use of alcohol and marijuana is associated with e-cigarette use in a U.S.A. nationally representative sample. Methodology Secondary analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health 2013-2014 nationally representative sample of young adults (aged 18-24) was conducted to examine the relationships between dual ever and dual current use of alcohol and marijuana with e-cigarette use. Multiple logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between dual ever and dual current use alcohol and marijuana with two outcomes: Past 30 days and former experimental e-cigarette use. Covariates included sex, race/ethnicity, education level, household income, and the total number of tobacco products ever used. Results Dual ever use of alcohol and marijuana was significantly associated with past 30 days use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.67-2.91) and former experimental e-cigarette use (AOR = 2.82; 95% CI = 2.23-3.57). Exclusive ever marijuana use was also significantly associated with each outcome, while exclusive ever alcohol use was associated with former experimental e-cigarette use. Exclusive current marijuana use, exclusive current alcohol use, and dual current use of both substances were significantly associated with past 30-day e-cigarette use, but not former experimental e-cigarette use. Conclusions These findings indicate that young adult dual users of marijuana and alcohol have increased odds of e-cigarette use. In addition, exclusive current and ever marijuana users had the highest odds e-cigarette use, higher than young adult dual users of alcohol and marijuana, indicating that marijuana users may be an important group to target with intervention programs.
Post-Transplant Radiation Had No Impact on Survival in Patients with Refractory or Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Introduction High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) offers cure for appropriate patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) sensitive to chemotherapy. Post-AHCT consolidative radiation therapy (RT) has been associated with improved outcomes in R/R DLBCL patients with bulky [based on computed tomography (CT)] disease after AHCT. We and others have demonstrated that patients with a Deauville score 4-5 (high-risk) on pre-AHCT FDG positron emission tomography (PET) have significantly worse outcomes as compared to those with Deauville 1-3 (low risk). We here examined the impact of consolidative post-AHCT RT in R/R-DLBCL patients with high-risk functional imaging based on Deauville score) on pre-transplant FDG PET scan on AHCT outcomes. Therefore, we retrospectively studied the effect of post-ASCT RT within 6 months after ASCT on survival in patients with R/R-DLBCL with high-risk pre-ASCT PET scans. Methods We retrospectively studied 193 consecutive adult patients with R/R-DLBCL identified from the Cleveland Clinic and University of Minnesota who had available pre-transplant FDG PET scans and adequate clinical follow-up. PET scans were re-reviewed and scored Deauville 4-5 were considered high risk. Patients that died within 6 months of ASCT (n=20) were excluded from the final survival analyses. Univariate analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to compare the subgroups. Results The mean (SD) age of diagnosis was 54 (11) years and 61% patients were male. The mean follow-up for alive patients was 43 (32.6) months. We identified 69 patients with pre-transplant Deauville scores 4 (n=41) or 5 (n=28). Seventeen (25%) received RT at median 58 days post AHCT (IQR 39-79 days). Receiving post-ASCT RT did not impact overall survival in univariable (Figure 1) or multivariable analyses adjusted for age and gender. Conclusion Within the limits of the study design, we did not observe a benefit to RT on overall survival in patients with RR-DLBCL with high-risk pre-AHCT PET scans. Alternative treatment approaches for high risk patients based on pre-transplant PET should be investigated in prospective clinical trials.
Moral Realism and Dworkin's Right Answer Thesis

This work-in-progress expands on Ronald Dworkin's tentative application of his "Right Answer thesis" of legal decisionmaking to the realm of morality. It defends the thesis against the criticisms of Richard Posner, among others, and argues that Dworkin's principle of "best fit" analysis can be applied not only to legal and literary questions but to moral questions as well. It concludes by examining how a "Right Answer thesis" of morality undermines many of the premises of Posner's Wealth Maximization theory of law.
The secretion of electrolytes by the human pancreas; the effect of diamox, ACTH, and disease.

The concentration of HCO3 in the pancreatic juice of man is a direct function of the rate of secretion. The primary defect in patients with chronic pancreatitis is a distortion of the normal bicarbonate-flow relationship, so that these individuals fail to achieve comparable HCO3 concentrations as the normal subjects do at comparable rates of flow. The HCO3 concentration tends to remain elevated when the rate of flow is reduced by Diamox (acetazolamide), suggesting an HCO3 −-Cl− exchange mechanism. From these data and from evidence obtained in a study of the electrolyte secretion after ACTH and adrenal steroids, it is concluded that the mechanism of pancreatic secretion is best explained by the secretion of a primary fluid consisting of HCO3 isotonic with the blood, and that this fluid undergoes alteration in the ductular system. This new hypothesis of pancreatic secretion postulates a distinct ductular function: an HCO3 −-Cl− exchange.