cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
O5.2The Development of CDK4 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy

ABSTRACT Cyclin Dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) is a critical kinase that regulates the G1/S phase transition within the cell cycle. There has been a major effort to develop drugs that inhibit this kinase. The first CDK4 inhibitor to be approved is Palbociclib. It is approved in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with metastatic estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy. In this study Palbociclib (Palbo) improved median progression free survival (mPFS) from 10.2 months with letrozole alone to 20.2 months with Palbo in the combination therapy [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.488 (95% CI 0.319, 0.748)]. Response rates were 55.4% with the combination and 39.4% with letrozole alone. Palbo has been tested in other disease including dedifferentiated and well-differentiated liposarcoma where CDK4 is amplified. In this disease Palbo has been reported to increase the PFS at 12 weeks to 66% surpassing the primary end of 40% in patients who had progressed on at least one primary regimen. The major toxicity is neutropenia. Other CDK4 inhibitors are in clinical trial, including LEE001 (Novartis) and LY2835219 (Eli Lilly). These agents exhibit a somewhat different toxicity profile with neutropenia and QTc prolongation with LEE001 and gastrointestinal toxicity with LY2835219. Recently, CDK4 inhibition has been shown to induce either a reversible cell cycle arrest or an irreversible senescent state. The proteolytic turnover of MDM2 appears to be critical for cellular senescence induced by CDK4 inhibition in liposarcoma, breast, lung and glioma cell lines. MDM2 turnover depends on its E3 ligase activity and expression of ATRX. In a small series of liposarcoma patients treated with Palbo the suppression of MDM2 expression correlated with improved clinical outcome suggesting that loss of MDM2 by inhibition of CDK4 could be a predictive biomarker for improved clinical outcome with this class of drugs.
Behaviorally Based Measures for Evaluating the Nonclinical Performance of Dentists in Team Settings

Retranslations of expectations technique was used to develop behaviorally anchored scales for evaluating dentists' utilization of expanded duty dental auxiliaries. To enhance the reliability and validity of such instruments the project focused on specific acts and decisions of the dentist which are either effective or ineffective in accomplishing the health team's tasks.
Gene-expression analysis illuminates the transcriptional programs underlying the functional activity of ex-vivo -expanded granulocytes

Global gene expression analysis established the temporal expression patterns and programs underlying the development of functional activity of ex vivo-expanded (EXE) human granulocytes, as well as ...
Cation Transport in Escherichia coli : II. Intracellular chloride concentration

The intracellular Cl concentration in E. coli has been studied as a function of the Cl concentration in the growth medium and the age of the bacterial culture. The ratio of extracellular to intracellular Cl concentration is shown to be 3.0 in the logarithmic phase and 1.13 in the stationary phase, both ratios being independent of the extracellular Cl concentration. If it may be assumed that Cl is passively distributed in this organism, these results are consistent with a transmembrane P.D. of 29 mv, interior negative, during the logarithmic phase, and 3 mv, interior negative, in the stationary phase.
Targeting the Chemokines in Myocardial Inflammation

The chemokines comprise a large family of small, highly basic proteins that play a critical role in basal and inflammatory leukocyte locomotion and trafficking.1,2 In addition to effects on cell locomotion, certain chemokines are capable of eliciting a variety of other responses affecting leukocyte adhesion, activation, and degranulation, mitogenesis, and apoptosis. Furthermore, chemokines have a wide range of effects on many different cell types beyond the immune system, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, neurons, and epithelial cells. See p 1443 Involvement of chemokines in the pathobiology of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, HIV disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and neoplasia has been inferred by animal model experiments and supported by correlative data in humans. Although recent investigations indicated marked chemokine upregulation in the myocardial inflammatory processes associated with infarction,3–5 ischemic cardiomyopathy,6,7 allograft rejection,8,9 and myocarditis, the exact role of chemokine signaling in myocardial pathology remains poorly understood. Chemokine induction seems to be a prominent response to myocardial injury in a variety of situations. In myocardial infarcts, cellular necrosis may trigger several chemokine-inducing pathways regulated through free radical generation, nuclear factor-κB activation, tumor necrosis …
Unilateral neck pain: a case of Eagle syndrome with associated nontraumatic styloid fracture

We present a case of Eagle syndrome in a 77-year-old woman with associated aneurysm and nontraumatic styloid process fracture, without history of tonsillectomy, who presented to the emergency department. The first set of symptoms associated with the elongation of the temporal styloid process and/or the calcification of the stylomandibular or stylohyoid ligaments was described by Eagle in 1937. Classically, unilateral pain in the oropharynx radiating to the neck and face that is exacerbated by head turning and neck rotation is characteristic of Eagle syndrome. However, styloid process elongation and stylohyoid calcification found in Eagle syndrome may also present with vascular symptomsthrough impingement and injury of the carotid arteries. Eagle syndrome is a rare but important differential that the emergency physician must consider in a patient with unilateral neck pain and positional neurological symptoms with head turning and in posttonsillectomy patients. Patients with medical history of Eagle syndrome presenting with neck pain and especially neurological symptomsmust be thoroughly evaluated for carotid and jugular venous injury. Specifically, the decision to obtain computed tomography and computed tomographic angiography to evaluate for carotid artery injury is important for patient management and disposition.
The Processing of Formulaic Sequences by Second Language Speakers.

A number of researchers have suggested that formulaic sequences are stored and processed holistically (Altenberg, 1998; Raupach, 1984; Schmitt & Carter, 2004; Spottl & McCarthy, 2004). However, the evidence for this hypothesis has not been conclusive. The present study examined the representation and processing of formulaic sequences in two online grammaticality judgment experiments. English as a second language speakers and native English speakers were tested with formulaic and nonformulaic phrases matched for word length and frequency. The results showed that both native and nonnative speakers responded to the formulaic sequences significantly faster and with fewer errors than they did to nonformulaic sequences. The findings provide prevailing evidence in support of the holistic nature of formula representation and processing in second language speakers.
Wideband cyclic MUSIC

High-resolution direction of arrival (DOA) estimates of cyclostationary signals in an environment with many more interferers than sensors is made possible using techniques like cyclic multiple signal classification (MUSIC) and variants. However, these techniques are only valid for narrowband signals. While signal-selective time difference of arrival (TDOA) estimation techniques for wideband cyclostationary signals have been proposed, these techniques cannot resolve closely spaced signals. The author presents a new high resolution, signal-selective DOA estimation algorithm called wideband cyclic MUSIC that is effective against multiple wideband cyclostationary signals in interference. This algorithm is compared with other DOA estimation approaches and stimulation results are presented to illustrate its performance. >
The Role of Experts in International Adjudication

Resort to experts by international judges (ex curia) is a relatively rare phenomenon in international adjudication. Much more frequent is resort to experts by the parties (ex parte). This short note suggests five possible reasons why.First, experts are retained to establish facts or scientific truths. However, perhaps with the exception of criminal jurisdictions, the ultimate aim of international adjudication is not so much establishing facts or truths, but to settle disputes; establishing facts does not necessarily lead to the settlement of the underlying dispute.Second, all international courts and tribunals are last instance jurisdictions. It is precisely the finality of international judges that makes their fallibility ultimately immaterial.Third, international tribunals decide on matters that often affect directly sovereign states’ interests. International courts and tribunals are thus reluctant to rely on experts ex curia because they might offer an interpretation of facts, or an assessment of causation, embarrassingly different from the ones put forward by the experts of the sovereign parties.Fourth, the sporadic resort to ex curia experts can be explained by a certain unwillingness of international judges to abdicate their judicial function, to let experts enter their own province by giving them the last word.Fifth, most international courts operate on a tight budget, with little margin for variable and unplanned expenses. While experts ex curia are paid from the courts’ budget, the parties pay for their own experts.
Estimated incidence and risk factors of sudden unexpected death

Objective In this manuscript, we estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for sudden unexpected death in a socioeconomically and racially diverse population in one county in North Carolina. Estimates of the incidence and risk factors contributing to sudden death vary widely. The Sudden Unexpected Death in North Carolina (SUDDEN) project is a population-based investigation of the incidence and potential causes of sudden death. Methods From 3 March 2013 to 2 March 2014, all out-of-hospital deaths in Wake County, North Carolina, were screened to identify presumed sudden unexpected death among free-living residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years. Death certificate, public and medical records were reviewed and adjudicated to confirm sudden unexpected death cases. Results Following adjudication, 190 sudden unexpected deaths including 122 men and 68 women were identified. Estimated incidence was 32.1 per 100 000 person-years overall: 42.7 among men and 22.4 among women. The majority of victims were white, unmarried men over age 55 years, with unwitnessed deaths at home. Hypertension and dyslipidaemia were common in men and women. African-American women dying from sudden unexpected death were over-represented. Women who were under age 55 years with coronary disease accounted for over half of female participants with coronary artery disease. Conclusions The overall estimated incidence of sudden unexpected death may account for approximately 10% of all deaths classified as ‘natural’. Women have a lower estimated incidence of sudden unexpected death than men. However, we found no major differences in age or comorbidities between men and women. African-Americans and young women with coronary disease are at risk for sudden unexpected death.
Bilateral Superior Labial Mucosal Transposition Flaps to Correct Stenosis of the Nares Following Bilateral Rostral Maxillectomy Combined with Nasal Planum Resection in a Dog

Objective To describe a technique using labial mucosal flaps to correct stenosis of the nares subsequent to bilateral rostral maxillectomy and nasal planum resection. Study Design Case report Animals Client-owned dog. Methods A 10-year-old, neutered male Golden Retriever developed repeated stenosis of the nares, at first after bilateral rostral maxillectomy and nasal planum resection, and again after revision surgery. Bilateral, superior labial mucosal transposition flaps were created and interpolated between the nasal mucosa and skin after debridement of scar tissue. Results The stenosis did not recur after mucosal flap transposition and the dog returned to normal quality of life (last follow-up 25 months postoperative). Conclusion Single-stage, superior labial mucosal transposition flaps can be used to correct nares stenosis subsequent to previous surgery.
Potential of porosity waves for methane transport in the Eugene Island field of the Gulf of Mexico basin

Abstract The Eugene Island minibasin and hydrocarbon field in the northern Gulf of Mexico basin is a well-documented occurrence of anomalously rapid fluid migration. A variety of evidence suggests that hydrocarbons ascended through kilometers of very low permeability sediments separating source rocks and reservoirs at velocities up to kilometers per year. Previous research has shown that porosity waves could transport petroleum at millimeter per year velocities under a narrow range of low permeabilities. The purpose of the current research was to test the hypothesis that porosity waves could transport methane much more rapidly than oil. To test this hypothesis, a one-dimensional numerical model of porosity wave behavior was constructed for Eugene Island sediments saturated with methane. The results show that gradual rates of pore fluid pressure generation typically caused by diagenesis are too slow for porosity waves to transport methane at kilometer per year rates. Instead, essentially geologically instantaneous pore fluid pressure increases are needed, which then could allow porosity waves to ascend 1–2 km at velocities >10's of m/year. Thus, porosity waves could only reach the lower reservoirs at Eugene Island, but could transport methane orders of magnitude faster than the background Darcian flow regime. Based on their predicted size, 10's of porosity waves would have been needed to charge these lower reservoirs with their original amount of methane. Whether a mechanism for instantaneous pore fluid pressure generation exists at Eugene Island is unclear. Earthquakes are capable of generating essentially instantaneous pore fluid pressure increases of order 1's of MPa or greater, although Eugene Island's seismic history is thought to have been relatively quiet. Thus, despite their high velocities, porosity waves are unlikely to have played a major role in transporting methane at Eugene Island, but could have in other more seismically active locations where required methane transport distances are smaller.
Diastolic Mitral Regurgitation in a Patient With Complex Native Mitral and Aortic Valve Endocarditis: A Rare Phenomenon With Potential Catastrophic Consequences

Diastolic mitral valve regurgitation is a rare phenomenon described in patients with atrioventricular conduction abnormalities, severe left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction with regional wall motion dyssynchrony, or severe acute aortic valve regurgitation. The presence of diastolic mitral valve regurgitation in acute aortic regurgitation due to endocarditis suggests critical severity requiring urgent surgical valve replacement. We describe a case of diastolic mitral regurgitation in the setting of complex native mitral-aortic valve endocarditis in a patient in normal sinus rhythm and review the etiologic mechanisms of this phenomenon, echocardiographic assessment, and therapeutic implications for hemodynamic management.
Cabazitaxel: A New Treatment for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States excluding skin cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy is initially effective for most patients with metastatic prostate cancer; h...
Mid-Infrared Transmission and Reflection of Porcine Skin

Mid-infrared light interactions with porcine skin are quantified using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and a Quantum Cascade Laser. Transmission is achieved in 600 μm thick samples. The absorption coefficient is estimated at 5.6 mm-1.
A fault-tolerant topology of T-Type NPC inverter with increased thermal overload capability

Reliability of multilevel power converters has received increased attention over the past few years, due to the relatively high component failure probability caused by the large number of switching devices utilized in the converter topologies. Thus, the fault-tolerant operation of multilevel converters plays an essential role in safety-critical industrial applications. This paper introduces an improved fault-tolerant inverter topology based on the conventional three-level T-Type neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverter. Unlike other existing three-phase four-leg fault-tolerant inverter topologies, the fault-tolerant T-Type inverter topology proposed here can significantly enhance the overall thermal overload capability of the inverter, in addition to providing desired fault-tolerant capability. The operating principle of this proposed fault-tolerant T-Type inverter is detailed in this paper, and simulation results are presented to verify the advantages of this improved inverter topology.
Endothelial targeting of antibody-decorated polymeric filomicelles

The endothelial lining of the lumen of blood vessels is a key therapeutic target for many human diseases. Polymeric filomicelles that self-assemble from polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based diblock copolymers are long and flexible rather than small or rigid, can be loaded with drugs, and--most importantly--they circulate for a prolonged period of time in the bloodstream due in part to flow alignment. Filomicelles seem promising for targeted drug delivery to endothelial cells because they can in principle adhere strongly, length-wise to specific cell surface determinants. In order to achieve such a goal of vascular drug delivery, two fundamental questions needed to be addressed: (i) whether these supramolecular filomicelles retain structural integrity and dynamic flexibility after attachment of targeting molecules such as antibodies, and (ii) whether the avidity of antibody-carrying filomicelles is sufficient to anchor the carrier to the endothelial surface despite the effects of flow that oppose adhesive interactions. Here we make targeted filomicelles that bear antibodies which recognize distinct endothelial surface molecules. We characterize these antibody targeted filomicelles and prove that (i) they retain structural integrity and dynamic flexibility and (ii) they adhere to endothelium with high specificity both in vitro and in vivo. These results provide the basis for a new drug delivery approach employing antibody-targeted filomicelles that circulate for a prolonged time yet bind to endothelial cells in vascular beds expressing select markers.
Extended role of the nurse practitioner in obstetric and gynecologic practice at Hartford Hospital.

Documented here, in eight short articles, are the inception, development, practice and progress of a successful nurse practitioner program in obstetrics and gynecology at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut. Together, the presentations represent the perspectives of all key hospital personnel involved with the program: administration, physicians, instructors, administrative nurses and the practitioners themselves. They were delivered at a Correlated Seminar for the Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in May, 1912.
Systemic Treatment of Cancer in the Older-Aged Person

In the older patient, the benefits of systemic cancer treatment may be lessened due to decreased life expectancy and the risk of complications may be augmented due to diminished functional reserve (Balducci L, Aapro M. Complicated and complex: helping the older cancer patient to exit the labyrinth. J Ger Oncol. 2014;5:116–8, Brighi N, Balducci L, Biasco G. Cancer in the elderly: is it time for palliative care in geriatric oncology? J Ger Oncol. 2014;5:197–203). In all cases, the cost of cancer care increases with age due to prevention and management of adverse events (Yabroff KL, Lamont EB, Marotto A, et al. Cost of care for elderly cancer patients in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008;100:630–41).
OSMOTIC, IONIC AND NITROGENOUS-WASTE BALANCE | Osmoregulation in Fishes: An Introduction

Because fishes arose from marine ancestors and entered freshwater (FW) early in their evolution, the ionic composition and total osmotic concentration of their blood is intermediate between seawater (SW) and FW. Since they have permeable gills, marine fishes (except the hagfishes, which are isotonic to SW) face dehydration and diffusive influx of salts (predominantly NaCl). FW fishes face an osmotic influx of water and diffusional loss of ions. Marine teleosts osmoregulate by drinking the medium, using the water gained to balance the osmotic loss of water, and excreting the excess NaCl across the gill epithelium, because the kidney cannot excrete urine that is hypertonic to the blood. Marine elasmobranchs are slightly hypertonic to SW because their blood contains high concentrations of the organic solutes urea and TMAO. They actually gain water by osmosis and therefore have relatively high urine flows (compared with marine teleosts). Excess salt is secreted by the rectal gland, which empties into the cloaca. FW fishes balance the osmotic influx of water by producing copious volumes of dilute urine, and extract needed NaCl from the environment by active transport across the gill epithelium.
Cushing’s Disease, Refining the Definition of Remission and Recurrence

More than ten decades have passed since the first case of Cushing’s disease (CD) was presented and documented; yet CD remains one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose, and treat, in medicine today. Patients frequently have musculoskeletal weakness, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infectious and psychiatric complications at diagnosis. These symptoms and co-morbidities present more commonly as a continuum rather than all at once, thus making an initial diagnosis more difficult and often, there is a significant delay in diagnosis. Primary CD treatment is surgical in most cases, generally through a transsphenoidal approach; however, there are many challenges in defining disease remission after surgery. Recurrent disease has been shown to be more frequent than previously thought, occurring in approximately a quarter of patients; thus early diagnosis of disease recurrence is essential.
Prenatal Infection and Adult Schizophrenia: A Review and Synthesis

Evidence for the role of prenatal viral infection in the etiology of schizophrenia is growing. Although most of the attention in this research domain has focused on prenatal exposure to influenza (see the preceding article by Bagalkote, Pang, & Jones), there are two compelling reasons to consider other viral pathogens as plausible risk factors for schizophrenia. First, a number of gestational viral infections, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus, are known causes of developmental central nervous system (CNS) malformations [1]; and several of these abnormalities and their manifestations are, in many cases, concordant with findings in schizophrenia. In this respect, these infections are more plausible as risk factors for schizophrenia than influenza, a virus that has not been clearly established as a CNS teratogen. Second, as discussed below, some infections other than influenza are more compatible with the well-replicated finding of increased winter/spring births in schizophrenia [2]. If influenza, which peaks in the winter months, accounts for the season-of-birth effect in schizophrenia, then third-trimester or neonatal exposure to this virus should be associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia; however, most studies on influenza report a second-trimester association. In this article I shall first review the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, which forms our conceptual basis for the examination of prenatal risk factors for this disorder. I shall then discuss in detail our strategy for identifying potential viral candidates for schizophrenia, which includes consideration of the plausibility of these agents as causes of developmental neuropathology. Following that section, I shall review the major epidemiologic studies aimed at linking noninfluenza prenatal infectious exposures with schizophrenia, including several
The Infant with Aortic Arch Hypoplasia and Small Left Heart Structures: Echocardiographic Indices of Mitral and Aortic Hypoplasia Predicting Successful Biventricular Repair

In infants with aortic arch hypoplasia and small left-sided cardiac structures, successful biventricular repair is dependent on the adequacy of the left-sided structures. Defining accurate thresholds of echocardiographic indices predictive of successful biventricular repair is paramount to achieving optimal outcomes. We sought to identify pre-operative echocardiographic indices of left heart size that predict intervention-free survival in infants with small left heart structures undergoing primary aortic arch repair to establish biventricular circulation (BVC). Infants ≤2 months undergoing aortic arch repair from 1999 to 2010 with aortic and/or mitral valve hypoplasia, (Z-score ≤−2) were included. Pre-operative and follow-up echocardiograms were reviewed. Primary outcome was successful biventricular circulation (BVC), defined as freedom from death, transplant, or single ventricular conversion at 1 year. Need for catheter based or surgical re-intervention (RI), valve annular growth, and significant late aortic or mitral valve obstruction were additional outcomes. Fifty one of 73 subjects (79%) had successful BVC and were free of RI at 1 year. Seven subjects failed BVC; four of those died. The overall 1 year survival for the cohort was 95%. Fifteen subjects underwent a RI but maintained BVC. In univariate analysis, larger transverse aorta (p = 0.006) and aortic valve (p = 0.02) predicted successful BVC without RI. In CART analysis, the combination of mitral valve (MV) to tricuspid valve (TV) ratio ≤0.66 with an aortic valve (AV) annulus Z-score ≤−3 had the greatest power to predict BVC failure (sensitivity 71%, specificity 94%). In those with successful BVC, the combination of both AV and MV Z-score ≤−2.5 increased the odds of RI (OR 3.8; CI 1.3–11.4). Follow-up of non-RI subjects revealed improvement in AV and MV Z-score (median AV annulus changed over time from −2.34 to 0.04 (p < 0.001) and MV changed from −2.88 to −1.41 (p < 0.001), but residual mitral valve stenosis and aortic arch obstruction were present in one-third of subjects. In this cohort of infants requiring initial aortic arch repair with concomitant small left heart structures, successful BVC can be predicted from combined echocardiographic indices. In this complex population, 1 year survival is high, but the need for RI and the presence of residual lesions are common.
Effect of Cross-Litter Pup and Cage Bedding Exchanges on Huddling in Rat Pups

The social huddling and contact behavior of 5- to 7-day-old Norway rat pups was recorded in a series of experiments testing for the effects of social and environmental variables on huddling preferences. Both males and females huddled more with opposite-sex littermates compared to same-sex littermates or strange agemates from a different litter. Subjects were least likely to huddle with strange pups of the opposite sex. These data were discussed in terms of sex-specific adult social preferences. Also, sex preferences in the huddling behavior of male and female pups were found to be limited by cage bedding conditions. Preferences for huddling with opposite- over same-sex littermates were found when observations took place on bedding holding the odor of a strange dam with litter. A preference for the same-sex littermates was found for the bedding condition holding the odor of the home cage. These results were discussed in terms of the control of ultrasonic pup vocalizations by conspecific odor conditions.
In vivo delineation of human carotid plaque features with ARFI variance of acceleration (VoA)

Stroke is commonly caused by thromboembolic events originating from ruptured carotid plaque, with rupture potential related to plaque composition. We have previously shown that soft (intraplaque hemorrhage/necrotic core) and stiff (collagen/calcium) plaque components are differentiated with high sensitivity and specificity by peak displacement (PD) in Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging. However, PD showed low performance for distinguishing between soft and between stiff features. We hypothesize that soft and stiff feature delineation will be improved using a new ARFI outcome metric — the variance of acceleration (VoA). We test our hypothesis using histological validation.
The RAD: Making Racing Games Equivalently Accessible to People Who Are Blind

We introduce the racing auditory display (RAD), an audio-based user interface that allows players who are blind to play the same types of racing games that sighted players can play with an efficiency and sense of control that are similar to what sighted players have. The RAD works with a standard pair of headphones and comprises two novel sonification techniques: the sound slider for understanding a car's speed and trajectory on a racetrack and the turn indicator system for alerting players of the direction, sharpness, length, and timing of upcoming turns. In a user study with 15 participants (3 blind; the rest blindfolded and analyzed separately), we found that players preferred the RAD's interface over that of Mach 1, a popular blind-accessible racing game. We also found that the RAD allows an avid gamer who is blind to race as well on a complex racetrack as casual sighted players can, without a significant difference between lap times or driving paths.
Selective Conversion of CO2 into Isocyanate by Low-Coordinate Iron Complexes

Discovery of the mechanisms for selective trans formations of CO2 into organic compounds is a challenge. Herein, we describe the reaction of low-coordinate Fe silylamide complexes with CO2 to give trimethylsilyl isocyanate and the corresponding Fe siloxide complex. Kinetic studies show that this is a two-stage reaction, and the presence of a single equivalent of THF influences the rates of both steps. Isolation of a thermally unstable intermediate provides mechanistic insight that explains both the effect of THF in this reaction, and the way in which the reaction achieves high selectivity for isocyanate formation.
4D Pulse Shaping of Discretized Beam Arrays

We report on a novel ultrafast laser architecture capable of generating 4D arbitrarily distributed beams based on an array of coherently combined fibers, each containing femtosecond pulses with controlled intensity, wavefront, and polarization vector distribution.
Successful Use of Sternal-Sparing Minimally Invasive Surgery for Proximal Ascending Aortic Pathology.

Background A sternal-sparing approach to surgery of the proximal aorta could decrease postoperative morbidity. Methods To determine the potential benefits of using a minimally invasive right thoracotomy approach for the treatment of ascending aortic pathology, we retrospectively reviewed our experience in patients who required circulatory arrest for the treatment of ascending aortic pathology (with or without aortic valve involvement) between January 2009 and November 2014 (N = 177). We compared baseline characteristics, intraoperative characteristics, and postoperative clinical outcomes between those who underwent a sternotomy (n = 103) and those who underwent a minimally invasive right thoracotomy approach (n = 74). All surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon. Propensity score matching was performed to account for baseline differences between groups. Results More patients in the minimally invasive group had bicuspid aortic valve, degenerative aortic valve, or aortic insufficiency than in the sternotomy group, but other baseline characteristics were similar between groups. No strokes occurred. In the unmatched cohort, 30-day mortality was 2.7% for the minimally invasive group compared with 1.9% for the sternotomy group (p = 1.00). In the propensity score–matched cohort, 30-day mortality was 3.2% for both groups; circulatory arrest times were longer in the minimally invasive group than in the sternotomy group (p Conclusions A sternal-sparing approach to surgery of the proximal aorta is safe when performed by an experienced surgeon and conserves hospital resources.
State’s Goals for the Nationwide Discussion

The discussion campaign had mobilizational, integrational, educational, monitoring, and legitimization functions. A conspicuously obvious function was to educate and infuse millions with the Soviet ideology. But in more general terms, it was a case of sociopolitical mobilization, intended to control the public and involve it in activities that shaped attitudes and perceptions. Total mass mobilization and political violence were elements of the emergency mode of Stalin’s policies in his endeavor to quickly modernize the country and fashion a perfect society. Implicitly, the discussion represented a new way of power legitimation through appeals to the direct expression of the people’s will.
Erfolgsfaktoren einer Auslagerung von IT-Infrastrukturservices

Outsourcing, sprich die Auslagerung von Unternehmensaufgaben und -strukturen, ist seit langem in die Management-Strategie vieler Konzerne eingegangen. Der Begriff wurde zunachst auf IT-Infrastruktur oder auf IT-intensive Prozesse angewendet und in den 80er Jahren im Zusammenhang mit grosen EDV-Outsourcingvertragen von General Motors und Eastman Kodak bekannt. Langst werden aber nicht nur die IT-Infrastruktur, sondern auch ganze Geschaftsprozesse ausgelagert. Dabei sind zwei Formen zu unterscheiden (vgl. Abb. 19.1):
Using a Computer-Adapted, Conceptually Based History Text to Increase Comprehension and Problem-Solving Skills of Students with Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to improve the comprehension and problem-solving skills of students with disabilities in social studies using a conceptually framed, computer-adapted history text. Par...
Proton Exchange Membranes for H2 Fuel Cell Applications

This chapter presents studies of sol-gel modifications of perfluorinated and hydrocarbon H2 fuel cell membranes using metal alkoxides, organoalkoxysilanes and combinations of these monomers. The impacts of these modifications on proton conductivity at high temperature and low relative humidity, fuel cell performance, chemical and mechanical durability and H2 and O2 crossover are discussed. Methods of tailoring the energetic environment, or polarity, within the polar cluster domains by insertion of inorganic oxide or organically modified silicate nanostructures by different chemistry routes are presented.
The Theoretical Basis for Augmentation of Natural Enemies

Entomophagous parasites and predators developing on their own play a major role in regulating the abundance of insect pests. The total complex of parasites and predators in a pest ecosystem may involve many species, each varying in importance at different times and places. However, even a single well adapted species is capable of reducing the steady density of a pest population. This is clearly indicated by the success that has been achieved by the introduction and establishment of a wide range of parasites and predators for the control of alien pests. DeBach (1971), Clausen (1956), Sailer (1972), and other authorities list several hundred parasites and predators that have given partial to excellent control of insect pests after their introduction and establishment.
Orthodontics and Genetics.

Abstract Introduction: Genetics has been suggested as an explanation for the etiology of malocclusions, although some questions, due to the perception that genetic inheritance is tied to a monogenic or Mendelian form of inheritance. Objective: This paper describes the inheritance of malocclusions, highlighting the areas of knowledge where research has explored mechanisms that explain deviations in patterns of craniofacial growth. Conclusion: Malocclusions have a complex or multifactorial pattern of inheritance, where more than one gene is involved in the development of the phenotype. There is also the possibility that the environment influences malocclusions.
Towards intelligent complex networks: the space and prediction of information walks.

In this paper we study the problem of walk-specific information spread in directed complex social networks. Classical models usually analyze the “explosive” spread of information on social networks (e.g., Twitter) – a broadcast or epidemiological model focusing on the dynamics of a given source node “infecting” multiple targets. Less studied, but of equal importance is the case of single-track information flow, wherein the focus is on the node-by-node (and not necessarily a newly visited node) trajectory of information transfer. An important and motivating example is the sequence of physicians visited by a given patient over a presumed course of treatment or health event. This is the so-called a referral sequence which manifests as a path in a network of physicians. In this case the patient (and her health record) is a source of “information" from one physician to the next. With this motivation in mind we build a Bayesian Personalized Ranking (BPR) model to predict the next node on a walk of a given network navigator using network science features. The problem is related to but different from the well-investigated link prediction problem. We present experiments on a dataset of several million nodes derived from several years of U.S. patient referral records, showing that the application of network science measures in the BPR framework boosts hit-rate and mean percentile rank for the task of next-node prediction. We then move beyond the simple information walk to consider the derived network space of all information walks within a period, in which a node represents an information walk and two information walks are connected if have nodes in common from the original (social) network. To evaluate the utility of such a network of information walks, we simulate outliers of information walks and distinguish them with the other normal information walks, using five distance metrics for the derived feature vectors between two information walks. The experimental results of such a proof-of-concept application shows the utility of the derived information walk network for the outlier monitoring of information flow on an intelligent network.
Gene Expression and Missplicing in the Corneal Endothelium of Patients With a TCF4 Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Without Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

Purpose CTG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion in an intron of the TCF4 gene is the most common genetic variant associated with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Although several mechanisms have been implicated in the disease process, their exact pathophysiologic importance is unclear. To understand events leading from TCF4 TNR expansion to disease phenotype, we characterized splicing, gene expression, and exon sequence changes in a rare cohort of patients with TNR expansions but no phenotypic FECD (RE+/FECD-). Methods Corneal endothelium and blood were collected from patients undergoing endothelial keratoplasty for non-FECD corneal edema. Total RNA was isolated from corneal endothelial tissue (n = 3) and used for RNASeq. Gene splicing and expression was assessed by Mixture of Isoforms (MISO) and MAP-RSeq software. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood mononuclear cells and used for whole genome exome sequencing. Base calling was performed using Illumina's Real-Time Analysis. Results Three genes (MBNL1, KIF13A, AKAP13) that were previously identified as misspliced in patients with a CTG TNR expansion and FECD disease (RE+/FECD+) were found normally spliced in RE+/FECD- samples. Gene expression differences in pathways associated with the innate immune response, cell signaling (e.g., TGFβ, WNT), and cell senescence markers were also identified between RE+/FECD- and RE+/FECD+ groups. No consistent genetic variants were identified in RE+/FECD- patient exomes. Conclusions Identification of novel splicing patterns and differential gene expression in RE+/FECD- samples provides new insights and more relevant gene targets that may be protective against FECD disease in vulnerable patients with TCF4 CTG TNR expansions.
The Essential Role of Pedagogical Knowledge in Technology Integration for Transformative Teaching and Learning

In this chapter, the authors contend that in an era in which technology applications and usage have exploded; technology integration has not been fully realized. They begin the chapter by providing a brief description of a critical time period from the 1980s to 1990s, when computer technology use exploded in classrooms and educational settings. They explain that during this time, the quest for technology integration got side-tracked, taking the path toward technology skills professional development rather than a more essential route toward student learning. They then present some of the research from the 1990s that examined the impact of technology on learning, eventually serving as a catalyst for the development of the TPACK framework. Finally, they summarize their own work, in which pedagogical knowledge has emerged as the key factor in promoting technology integration that supports transformative learning and teaching practices, and conclude with recommendations for professional practice.
Stopping Cross Sections of Gases for α Particles from 0.3 to 2 MeV

Stopping cross sections for $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles have been measured in a differentially pumped gas-cell system from 300 keV to 2 MeV in 13 gaseous compounds: ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$O, CO, C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, C${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{6}$, ${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$${\mathrm{H}}_{6}$, and ${(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_{2})}_{3}$. The probable random error of the measurements varies from 1 to 2%. Independent measurements have also been made with a sealed gas cell in a scattering chamber for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, and are found to agree with the differentially pumped gas-cell measurements to within 2.7%. Tests for water-vapor adsorption on thin carbon films used by Chu and Powers are also made and show that a deviation no greater than 3.8% would occur in their original $\frac{\mathrm{dE}}{\mathrm{dx}}$ measurements.
Security Analysis of OpenEMR

OpenEMR is a free medical practice management, electronic medical records, prescription writing, and medical billing application used by Healthcare Professionals. This project focuses on research and analysis surrounding security vulnerabilities within the OpenEMR application. OpenEMR offers a wide range of features and can run on various operating systems, including Windows, Linux and MacOS [3]. It is the most widely used medical record application on the internet. Recent analysis has identified several vulnerabilities within OpenEMR's source code that could potentially expose medical records and other PHI information.
Estimation of 3D Sphericity by Volume Measurement – Application to Coarse Aggregates

Abstract Wadell’s ‘true’ Sphericity is a traditional 3D particle geometry descriptor that quantifies the shape by comparing the particle’s surface area to the surface area of a sphere having the same volume as the particle. Despite the simplicity of definition and the capability to characterize the 3D shape, the true Sphericity has not been employed in the engineering practice due to the technical difficulty associated with the measurement of particle surface area. The recent advance in optical geo-characterization using 3D scanner has facilitated the surface area measurement, but which is still time-consuming and requires high computational cost to scan many particles to obtain a statistically reliable shape distribution. This paper introduces a new framework that can quickly estimate the particles’ true Sphericity with a minimal effort of 3D scanning. This approach leverages the relation between the particle surface-area-to-volume ratio (A/V) and volume (V) that can be approximated by a ‘power law’, which serves as the key information to estimate the 3D Sphericity by measuring the volume only. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of this new approach on a set of coarse aggregate.
Multiple Shades of China’s Taiwan Policy after the 19th Party Congress:

The study begins with descriptions of the changing political landscape of Taiwan’s domestic politics and China’s increasingly influential role in global politics to show the strategic terrain of as...
Preliminary results from a survey to measure the benefits of accessibility and universal design topics in course curricula

This paper discusses the preliminary results from a national survey conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder to gauge the student benefits of taking accessibility and Universal Design topics in post-secondary courses. About a dozen programs and schools with a focus on Computer Science, Digital Media, Environmental Design, or other technical or design-related programs, agreed to distribute the survey to their current students and recent graduates. To date we have received 114 responses. Students who had taken these topics overwhelmingly rated these topics as either crucial (48.3%) or very valuable (31.7%). The results of this preliminary survey support the idea that including courses with these topics has notable work or career benefits, including finding employment. 42% of those taking courses with these topics reported some type of benefit in the area of work. Five individuals (or about 10%) of individuals who took these topics mentioned either that it specifically helped or possibly helped them to obtain a particular job or that it directed their career path.
Student Leadership Development Initiative: A Pilot for a Sustainable, Replicable Model for Incorporating Leadership into Medical Education.

Introduction Today's medical students are tomorrow's leaders. As leadership training becomes incorporated into undergraduate medical education, there is a need for validated educational models that are both effective and replicable. Methods Between April 2017 and October 2017, groups of 15 to 20 medical students participated in sessions with an exemplary physician leader incorporating a guided interview format and discussion about her or his career. Prepared questions ensured leadership domains were covered. The program was evaluated using a post-session survey. Results One hundred percent of survey respondents (N = 58) reported that the session was a good use of time. Seventy-eight percent felt more prepared to lead a team; 93% learned specific ways to improve their leadership skills. Discussion This leadership program is a unique model to provide leadership education to medical students that is both effective and replicable.