cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A review and update of Sjögren's syndrome: manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population. It is a disease that in recent years has not been studied extensively, but for which much study is needed. Diagnosis of this disease is extremely difficult. Until recently no strong consensus on diagnostic criteria has been published. The disease can cause dry eyes, dry mouth, vasculitis, and neurologic disease, and each symptom may be at times correctly attributed to Sjogren's or incorrectly attributed to another disease. Because it affects many different areas, many specialists (rheumatologists, primary care physicians, ophthalmologists, and dentists) have to be educated about Sjogren's syndrome's pathogenesis, manifestations, diagnosis, and treatments to manage this disease and help improve these patients' quality of life.
From consumer to producer: motivations, internet use, and political consumerism

ABSTRACTOur understanding of how political consumerism relates to broader civic engagement has been clouded by the myriad ways in which it has been conceptualized in the literature. In this study, we draw a distinction between the use of socially conscious consumption practices in everyday life and participation in organized boycotts and ‘buycotts.’ We argue that whether political consumerism is enacted as lifestyle politics or as contentious politics may depend, at least in part, on the motivations that underlie political consumerism and the way in which they orient behavior in the online environment. Results of a national survey of U.S. adults show that while both value-expressive and social-identification motivation facilitate comparable levels of content consumption, only the latter facilitates the more involved act of posting and sharing original content. Moreover, results show that while both uses of internet, in turn, facilitate lifestyle and contentious political consumerism, content production fa...
The impact of diffusion and mixing in expanding fluid drops on the rate of surface tension change

The dynamics of surface tension change in expanding drops of surfactant solution was studied using drop shape analysis. Experiments explored the dynamics of surface tension change resulting from the flow of surfactant-free water into a surfactant-containing drop. Experiments were conducted for two surfactants, one cationic (cetylpyridinium chloride) and one anionic (sodium octylbenzenesulfonate), both selected because they exhibit rapid adsorption/desorption, allowing for the study of mixing behind the expanding interface. Results were interpreted through the use of a spherical diffusion model designed to simulate drop expansion resulting from influx of surfactant-free water at the core of the drop. Best-fit diffusion constants were found to be consistent with reported molecular diffusion constants for the two surfactants, suggesting that hydraulic mixing within the drop does not play a significant role in the dynamics of surface tension change for the conditions studied. The results of the work have practical implications for applications where interface motion is induced by solute delivery, in that diffusion near the interface is likely to control the dynamics of interfacial tension reduction under many conditions.
Eating disorder symptoms among undergraduate and graduate students at 12 U.S. colleges and universities

Abstract Objectives: We sought to estimate the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms in a large sample of U.S. college students and variations therein across student characteristics. Methods: Participants were 9713 students from 12 colleges and universities participating in the Healthy Bodies Study. We used gender-stratified logistic regression to estimate bivariate correlates of elevated eating disorder symptoms, past-month objective binge eating, and past-month compensatory behaviors across student characteristics including age, degree-level, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, citizenship, academic and extracurricular characteristics, and weight status. Eating disorder outcomes were based on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Results: We observed higher prevalence of objective binge eating among females relative to males (49% versus 30%, p Conclusions: This study suggests smaller gender difference in prevalence of eating disorder symptoms than previously reported and identifies students with overweight/obesity as salient targets for campus-based eating disorder screening and early intervention efforts.
Olfactory Groove Meningiomas: Acute Presentation and Potential : Pitfalls in Management and Functional Restoration.

Meningiomas are typically benign, slow-growing lesions that present after an insidious onset of symptoms related to mass effect. The acute presentation of a patient who has suffered a transtentorial herniation event due to a meningioma is rare. There are only few publications describing such a presentation in the absence of hemorrhage [1]. In this case report, a patient with an olfactory groove meningioma presenting with signs and symptoms of transtentorial herniation in the absence of tumor-associated hemorrhage is discussed. This is a unique presentation of such a lesion. The patient developed Anton’s syndrome—binocular visual loss with blindness denial. Management considerations for patients with meningiomas that present with acute deterioration are discussed.
Miniature multimodal endoscopic probe based on double-clad fiber

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can obtain light scattering properties with a high resolution, while photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is ideal for mapping optical absorbers in biological tissues, and ultrasound (US) could penetrate deeply into tissues and provide elastically structural information. It is attractive and challenging to integrate these three imaging modalities into a miniature probe, through which, both optical absorption and scattering information of tissues as well as deep-tissue structure can be obtained. Here, we present a novel side-view probe integrating PAI, OCT and US imaging based on double-clad fiber which is used as a common optical path for PAI (light delivery) and OCT (light delivery/detection), and a 40 MHz unfocused ultrasound transducer for PAI (photoacoustic detection) and US (ultrasound transmission/receiving) with an overall diameter of 1.0 mm. Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the capabilities of the integrated multimodal imaging probe, which is suitable for endoscopic imaging and intravascular imaging.
High resolution temperature mapping of gas turbine combustor simulator exhaust with femtosecond laser induced fiber Bragg gratings

Femtosecond infrared (fs-IR) laser written fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), have demonstrated great potential for extreme sensing. Such conditions are inherent in advanced gas turbine engines under development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and the ability to measure temperature gradients in these harsh environments is currently limited by the lack of sensors and controls capable of withstanding the high temperature, pressure and corrosive conditions present. This paper discusses fabrication and deployment of several fs-IR written FBG arrays, for monitoring exhaust temperature gradients of a gas turbine combustor simulator. Results include: contour plots of measured temperature gradients, contrast with thermocouple data.
Laura Mitchell at Cincinnati Public Schools

Laura Mitchell began her career as a teacher in an affluent school outside of Atlanta and then returned a year later to her hometown of Cincinnati, to an urban school with a high poverty rate. The case details Mitchell's journey throughout her teaching and administrative career, and challenges the reader to change the way one thinks about Instructional Leadership. Excerpt UVA-BP-0554 Jun. 11, 2012 Laura Mitchell at Cincinnati Public Schools Laura Mitchell began her career as a teacher in an affluent school outside of Atlanta and then returned a year later to her hometown of Cincinnati, to an urban school with a high poverty rate. Mitchell said of the transition: It became very evident to me that this was really the place that I was supposed to be—having a positive impact on students for whom being at school every day made a significant difference. Throughout my career, I've thought about the role that I play in the lives of children as being truly a mission and a social-justice issue; it's very, very important for me, and it drives the work I do. What do we have to put into place so that we instill strong values and a sense of education in them so that they can go on to do anything that they really want to do? After teaching for a number of years at a variety of grade levels, Mitchell accepted the opportunity to attend a leadership development program at the University of Cincinnati. Continuing to teach while she attended the program, Mitchell became assistant principal for a year and then principal at Westwood School, a prekindergarten-through-eighth-grade neighborhood school. Mitchell left Westwood School after five years to join the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Instructional Support Team, where she was responsible for providing instructional leadership coaching to principals at 26 schools in the district. This assignment led to a position at the Stupski Foundation in San Francisco, where she focused on leadership development in five large urban districts across the country. One year later, Mitchell returned to CPS as the deputy superintendent. . . .
Demonstrating Distributed Workflow Computing with a Federating Wide-Area File System

We have demonstrated the synergy of a wide-area SLASH2 file system [1] with remote bioinformatics workflows between Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment [2] sites using the Galaxy Project's web-based platform [3] for reproducible data analysis. Wide-area Galaxy workflows were enabled by establishing a geographically-distributed SLASH2 instance between the Greenfield [4] system at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center [5] and virtual machines incorporating storage within the Corral [6] file system at the Texas Advanced Computing Center [7]. Analysis tasks submitted through a single Galaxy instance seamlessly leverage data available from either site. In this paper, we explore the advantages of SLASH2 for enabling workflows from Galaxy Main [8].
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in Naegleria fowleri and their role in invasion of the central nervous system

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in freshwater lakes and ponds and is the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system (CNS). PAM occurs when amoebae attach to the nasal epithelium and invade the CNS, a process that involves binding to, and degradation of, extracellular matrix (ECM) components. This degradation is mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that have been described in other pathogenic protozoa, and that have been linked to their increased motility and invasive capability. These enzymes also are upregulated in tumorigenic cells and have been implicated in metastasis of certain tumours. In the present study, in vitro experiments linked MMPs functionally to the degradation of the ECM. Gelatin zymography demonstrated enzyme activity in N. fowleri whole cell lysates, conditioned media and media collected from invasion assays. Western immunoblotting indicated the presence of the metalloproteinases MMP-2 (gelatinase A), MMP-9 (gelatinase B) and MMP-14 [membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)]. Highly virulent mouse-passaged amoebae expressed higher levels of MMPs than weakly virulent axenically grown amoebae. The functional relevance of MMPs in media was indicated through the use of the MMP inhibitor, 1,10-phenanthroline. The collective in vitro results suggest that MMPs play a critical role in vivo in invasion of the CNS and that these enzymes may be amenable targets for limiting PAM.
Exposing Methods: The 2009 European Parliament Elections

The multitude of apportionment methods that is available for the translation of vote counts into seat numbers is exemplified. The examples are taken from the 2009 European Parliament elections.
Assessment of Canine Autologous Conditioned PlasmaTM Cellular and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Content.

Objectives: To evaluate 1) the cellular composition of canine ACP™ including using two different preparation protocols with variations on centrifugation time, 2) the effect of different activation protocols on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 content in the ACP, and 3) patient factors that might influence platelet concentration of the ACP. Methods: ACP was made with blood from 15 dogs using a manufacturer-recommended protocola. Each ACP sample was divided into three aliquots that were activated with calcium chloride (CaCl2), human γ-thrombin (HGT), or not activated. TGF-β1 was quantified in each aliquot using an ELISA and comparisons among activation protocols were performed using a Skillings-Mack test. Correlations between platelet and TGF-β1 concentration were assessed with a Pearson correlation coefficient. ACP was subsequently prepared from an additional 17 dogs using a slightly modified centrifugation protocol and cellular composition was assessed. Effects of dog age, body weight, and hematocrit were assessed for their potential impact on ACP platelet concentration using a multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean increase in platelet concentration in the ACP above that in the whole blood was 1.2X (±std 0.62) and leukocyte concentration was a mean of 26% that in the whole blood (0.37) using the standard protocol. There was a significant (p<0.01) effect of activation on TGF-β1 concentrations with mean concentrations of 4,538 (2,317), 14,948 (13,784), and 14,096 pg/ml (15,210) in aliquots that were not activated or were activated with thrombin or CaCl2 respectively. There were significant correlations between the platelet concentration and TGF-β1 concentration in aliquots that were activated with either thrombin (r=0.66; p<0.01) or CaCl2 (r= 0.86, p<0.0001). The mean increase in platelet concentration was 1.4x (0.62) and the leukocyte concentration was 0.28x (0.13) that in whole blood using the modified ACP preparation protocol. Dog age, body weight, and hematocrit were not significant predictors of ACP platelet concentration. Conclusions: These data show that on average this preparation protocol produces a mildly platelet-concentrated, leukoreduced platelet-rich plasma. Intentional activation had a significant effect on TGF-β1 concentrations with use of both CaCl2 and thrombin resulting in higher TGF-β1 concentrations than that obtained in samples that are not activated.
Endomorphism algebras of superelliptic jacobians

We describe an explicit construction that provides a plenty of complex abelian varieties whose endomorphism algebra is a product of cyclotomic fields.
Operator Solutions of Nonlinear Equations in Optimal Control Problems

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the operator solutions of nonlinear equations in optimal control problems. It focuses on a linear control system in Hilbert space. It highlights only linear feedback control policies and presents an optimal control policy of this type. The chapter explains the stabilization problem, the quadratic criterion, the optimal feedback operator, and finite dimensional approximations. It presents a controllability assumption and also Riccati differential equation.
Ecosystem Function, Principles of

Ecosystems are composed of communities of organisms that interact with one another and the abiotic environment. The interactions of organisms and their environment are represented in processes that are called ecosystem functions. The capture of solar energy (photosynthesis), the cycling of nutrients, and the stability of ecosystem functioning are influenced by biodiversity. An understanding of how biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are related is necessary for determining how to sustain human populations in the future.
Validation of PMDI-based polyurethane foam model for fire safety applications

Abstract Under normal operating conditions, polymer foams protect components from mechanical, electrical, and thermal shocks. However, if the protecting polymer foam is exposed to a heat source such as a fire or an over-heating component, the foam will pyrolyze, changing heat paths by creating voids or dripping onto components. Material properties also change as the virgin material becomes char, gas, or liquid. In a sealed system, the gases created by the pyrolysates can also pressurize the system, leading to breach. Understanding the chemistry, heat transfer, and fluid flow of these materials in a fire is vital for safety assessments. To investigate such a scenario, a 2D finite element model with heat transfer, porous media flow, and a pyrolysis chemistry model was created. The gas velocity is solved using Darcy’s approximation, and the heat transfer and pressurization are determined by solving the continuity, species, and enthalpy equations in both the condensed and gas phases. A vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) model is used to determine the phase of the pyrolysates. The model was validated using experimental data that showed that the rate of pressurization and the local temperatures are dependent on orientation with respect to gravity. In addition, at the high temperatures and pressures seen in these experiments, it is expected that the organic pyrolysates will exist in both the liquid and gaseous phases. The model reproduces the orientation dependence of the temperature and pressure, as well as the condensation and evaporation of organic pyrolysates. Model uncertainty is analyzed using a Latin Hypercube approach, and sensitivities are ranked using the Pearson correlation. The inverted orientation shows a larger model uncertainty due the buoyant flow. The model was generally sensitive to the density of the steel, the density of the foam, and the pyrolysis reactions.
NMR structural analysis of isolated Shaker voltage-sensing domain in LPPG micelles

The voltage-sensing domain (VSD) is a conserved structural module that regulates the gating of voltage-dependent ion channels in response to a change in membrane potential. Although the structures of many VSD-containing ion channels are now available, our understanding of the structural dynamics associated with gating transitions remains limited. To probe dynamics with site-specific resolution, we utilized NMR spectroscopy to characterize the VSD derived from Shaker potassium channel in 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (LPPG) micelles. The backbone dihedral angles predicted based on secondary chemical shifts using torsion angle likeliness obtained from shift (TALOS+) showed that the Shaker-VSD shares many structural features with the homologous Kv1.2/2.1 chimera, including a transition from α-helix to 310 helix in the C-terminal portion of the fourth transmembrane helix. Nevertheless, there are clear differences between the Shaker-VSD and Kv1.2/2.1 chimera in the S2-S3 linker and S3 transmembrane region, where the organization of secondary structure elements in Shaker-VSD appears to more closely resemble the KvAP-VSD. Comparison of microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations of Kv 1.2-VSD in LPPG micelles and a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer showed that LPPG micelles do not induce significant structural distortion in the isolated voltage sensor. To assess the integrity of the tertiary fold, we directly probed the binding of BrMT analog 2-[2-({[3-(2-amino-ethyl)-6-bromo-1H-indol-2-yl]methoxy}k7methyl)-6-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl]ethan-1-amine (BrET), a gating modifier toxin, and identified the location of the putative binding site. Our results suggest that the Shaker-VSD in LPPG micelles is in a native-like fold and is likely to provide valuable insights into the dynamics of voltage-gating and its regulation.
RNA-Guided Recombinase-Cas9 Fusion Targets Genomic DNA Deletion and Integration.

Abstract CRISPR-based technologies have become central to genome engineering. However, CRISPR-based editing strategies are dependent on the repair of DNA breaks via endogenous DNA repair mechanisms...
Altered shoulder kinematics using a new model for multiple dislocations-induced Bankart lesions.

Abstract Background Many active individuals undergo multiple dislocations during the course of a season before surgical treatment without considering the implications of each successive injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a multiple dislocation model for the glenohumeral joint and evaluate the resulting changes in joint function. Methods Eight cadaveric shoulders were evaluated using a robotic testing system. A simulated clinical exam was performed by applying a 50 N anterior load to the humerus at 60° of glenohumeral abduction and external rotation. Each joint was then dislocated. The same loads were applied again and the resulting kinematics were recorded following each of 10 dislocations. The force required to achieve dislocation was recorded and capsulolabral status was assessed. Findings A reproducible Bankart lesion was repeatedly created following the dislocation protocol. The force required for all dislocations significantly decreased following the 1st dislocation. In addition, even lower forces were required to achieve the 5th and subsequent dislocations (p Interpretation A repeatable Bankart lesion was not surgically made, but created by our new dislocation model. Joint function appeared to reach a constant level after the 3rd to 5th dislocations. Thus, multiple dislocations result in a deleterious dose dependent effect suggesting additional damage is not sustained after the fifth dislocation. Level of evidence Controlled laboratory study.
Ethics, Antisemitism and The Prioress’s Tale: A Reparative Approach

Responding to debates about “the way we read now,” I propose a reparative reading of Chaucer’s Prioress’s Tale: a text that, as an antisemitic child-murder narrative from the Middle Ages, offers sp...
Chapter 2 – Mesh Simplification

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of various mesh simplification algorithms. It describes mesh simplification as an optimization process under fidelity-based or triangle-budget-based constraints, to be achieved by the application of local and global mesh simplification operators. A mesh in 3D graphics has two components: the mesh geometry, represented by the vertices, and the mesh connectivity, represented by the edges or faces that connect the vertices. The mesh connectivity encodes the topology of the mesh, that is, the number of holes, tunnels, and cavities in that mesh. Simplification of the mesh geometry may or may not result in simplification of the mesh topology. Algorithms for mesh simplification deal almost exclusively with triangle meshes. If a mesh is composed of non-triangulated polygons, one will need to triangulate them in a preprocessing step. Many triangulation algorithms exist such as Seidel's incremental randomized algorithm to triangulate a non-self-intersecting polygon with n vertices in time. Local operators simplify the geometry and connectivity in a local region of the mesh, reducing the number of polygons, while global operators operate over much larger regions and help simplify the mesh topology. This chapter also addresses the desirability of topology simplification for different applications. It provides a range of mesh simplification operators available. The chapter closes with a discussion on various optimization frameworks in which these operators are chosen and applied to the mesh.
Death by cat bite: Pasteurella multocida: Autopsy findings and review of the literature

Pasteurella multocida, a gram-negative bacillus, is present in the oropharyngeal secretions of livestock, wild animals, and domesticated pets and can cause infection in humans. The most common route of entry has been shown to be via an animal bite, but a significant portion of cases of human infection lack evidence of such a wound. Review of the literature reveals that patients with a history of an animal bite tend to have a less aggressive clinical course than patients without an animal source of infection. We present a case, however, of Pasteurella multocida bacteremia which resulted in the death of an immunocompromised 80-year old woman in which the route of infection was found at autopsy to be a cat bite. This case highlights the importance of educating patients, particularly those with underlying immunocompromised conditions, of the possible lethal complications that can result from animal inflicted wounds and the importance of seeking medical assistance should a bite occur.
How Anne Askew Read the Bible

The two parts of Anne Askew's Examinations (1546–47) offer a first-hand retrospective narrative of the interrogation, condemnation, and execution of a woman who ran afoul of English clerical and se...
Hemostatic Therapies for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Medical management is the first-line approach to treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in adolescents. This chapter discusses non-hormonal medical management strategies. Anti-fibrinolytics have been shown to significantly reduce menstrual blood loss (MBL) and are a reasonable hemostatic alternative in adolescents with barriers to use of hormonal therapy. Desmopressin is a useful hemostatic therapy for teens with MBL and a bleeding disorder diagnosis of hemophilia A, hemophilia A carrier, von Willebrand disease (VWD), and some platelet disorders. Coagulation factor replacement in patients with factor deficiencies reduces MBL and is appropriate in adolescents who do not respond to or tolerate hormonal contraceptive therapy and/or anti-fibrinolytics. Transfusions with red blood cells or fresh frozen plasma are occasionally needed in the acute management of HMB with anemia. Platelet transfusions are indicated in adolescents with HMB and an inherited platelet disorder such as Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Lastly, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is discussed in the context of pain and MBL in adolescents, along with their side effects and efficacy in HMB.
MirrorVLC: Optimal Mirror Placement for Multi-Element VLC Networks.

Visible Light Communication (VLC) is a rapidly growing technology which can supplement the current radio frequency (RF) based wireless communication systems. VLC can play a huge part in solving the ever-increasing problem of spectrum scarcity because of the growing availability of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). One of the biggest advantages of VLC over other communication systems is that it can provide illumination and data communication simultaneously without needing any extra deployment. Although it is essential to provide data rate at a blazing speed to all the users nowadays, maintaining a satisfactory level in the distribution of lighting is also important. In this paper, we present a novel approach of using mirrors to enhance the illumination uniformity and throughput of an indoor multi-element VLC system architecture. In this approach, we improve the Signal-to-Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) of the system and overall illumination uniformity of the room by redirecting the reflected LED beams on the walls to darker spots with the use of mirrors. We formulate a joint optimization problem focusing on maximization of the SINR while maintaining a reasonable illumination uniformity across the room. We propose a two-stage solution of the optimization problem with optimization of illumination in the first stage and SINR at the second stage. We propose three different heuristic solutions for the second stage and analyze the performance of them, which demonstrates the advantages of each heuristic for different possible scenarios. We also show that about threefold increase in average illumination and fourfold increase in average throughput can be achieved when the mirror placement is applied which is a significant performance improvement.
Seismic Response of Two Freestanding Statue-Pedestal Systems during the 2014 South Napa Earthquake

The dynamic response of freestanding structures is poorly predicted due to known sensitivity to geometry and input motion. To further elucidate the salient features of this dynamic response, the ai...
Types of diabetes during pregnancy and longitudinal BMI in offspring from birth to age 10 years.

OBJECTIVE To examine longitudinal BMI trajectory from birth to age 10 years in a clinical cohort after exposure to maternal pre-existing type 1 (T1D), type 2 (T2D), gestational diabetes managed with or without anti-diabetes medication, and no diabetes during pregnancy. METHODS Data included 218 227 singleton children born in 2008-2015 from a population-based integrated healthcare system; 537 exposed to maternal T1D, 7836 to T2D, 6982 to medicated GDM and 12 576 to unmedicated GDM. Differences in BMI over time among groups were assessed by non-linear mixed-effects models adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Children's BMI was significantly lower 6-months after birth for all diabetes exposed groups compared to no diabetes. Beginning at approximately age 2.5 years, BMI was significantly higher for T1D, T2D and medicated GDM groups compared to the no diabetes group. At age 3, the growth pattern started separating with highest BMI in T1D and T2D groups, followed by medicated GDM, unmedicated GDM, and the no diabetes groups. By age 7, BMI was significantly higher for the unmedicated GDM group compared to the no diabetes group. Adjusted BMI was generally comparable between T1D and T2D groups for all ages. Starting at age 5, T1D, T2D and medicated GDM groups had BMI greater than one SD over the BMI in the no diabetes group. CONCLUSION In a clinical cohort with standard diabetes management approaches, a hierarchical BMI growth pattern exists in offspring exposed to different types of diabetes during pregnancy after adjusting for important covariates, starting as early as age 3 years.
Characterizing Sex Differences in Physical Frailty Phenotypes in Heart Failure.

Background: Although women with heart failure (HF) are potentially more likely to be physically frail compared with men with HF, the underlying contributors to this sex difference are poorly unders...
The association of prostatic lipids with progression, racial disparity and discovery of biomarkers in prostate cancer

Abstract Background It remains under-investigated whether prostatic lipid profiles are associated with pathogenesis, progression, racial disparity, and discovery of biomarkers in prostate cancer (PCa). Methods The electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was applied to quantitate prostatic lipids in human and mouse PCa and non-cancer prostatic tissues. Biostatistics and bioinformatics were used to compare the concentrations of prostatic lipids at levels of total lipid, group, class and individual species between PCa and benign prostatic tissues, between races, and among pathological conditions of PCa. Results Prostatic concentrations of total lipids as well as neutral lipids were significantly higher in PCa than in benign prostatic tissues in all population and Caucasian American population, but not in African American population. The prostatic phospholipid were not statistically different between PCa and benign prostatic tissues in all study populations. Cholesteryl ester is the only lipid class significantly higher in PCa than in benign prostatic tissues in all study populations. A panel of prostatic lipid parameters in each study population was identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers with >60% of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy simultaneously. Lipid profiling on mouse prostatic tissues further confirmed correlation of prostatic lipid profiles to the pathogenesis and progression of PCa. In addition, a few prostatic lipids in mouse can serve as prognostic biomarkers in differentiation of indolent from aggressive PCa. Conclusion The prostatic lipids are widely associated with the pathogenesis, progression and racial disparity of PCa. A panel of prostatic lipids can serve as diagnostic, prognostic and race-specific biomarkers for PCa.
Conclusion: Winners, Losers, and Inheritors

This chapter offers a long-term perspective on the Cold War, examining the factors that shaped its outcome, and the clear Western victory. Particular stress is laid on key individuals, especially Gorbachev himself. The chapter explores the long-term consequences of the Cold War in terms of scientific and technological development and emphasizes its enormous financial cost of the East-West standoff. It seeks to assess the human cost of the struggle, estimating the number of fatalities resulting from the conflict perhaps in the tens of millions. The Cold War also had many unintended consequences, including the growth of Islamist causes and movements, and global terrorism.
Quantifying the Inefficiency of the US Social Insurance System

How far is the US social insurance system from an efficient system? We answer this question within a model where agents receive idiosyncratic, labor-productivity shocks that are privately observed. When social security and income taxation comprise the social insurance system, the maximum possible efficiency gain is equivalent to a 10:5 percent increase in consumption. This occurs when labor productivity diferences are set to the permanent diferences estimated in US data.
Stability of certain nonautonomous difference equations

In this paper, the stability of a class of nonautonomous nonlinear difference equations that are determined by functions which satisfy certain contractive type condition is studied in metric spaces, and its variant problem in ordered Banach spaces is also investigated. Several examples are given to illustrate their applications.
Reproduction and Development in Helminths

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses several events in parasite development that have been studied at the biochemical and molecular level and point to other areas where such studies aid in understanding the organism and also in developing new control strategies for helminth parasites. Parasite development takes many forms to survive, encounter, and infect a new host. To accomplish these goals, parasites pass through a number of different stages, in the external environment and in one or more intermediate hosts, prior to arriving in the definitive host, where sexual reproduction takes place. The chapter discusses the strategies for development and the biochemical aspects of developmental processes(egg shell formation, mechanisms of egg hatching and transformation of larval stages). The biochemical cues effecting development,such as pheromones, hormones influencing, density-independent development, and development in vitro are also highlighted in the chapter. Much remains to be understood about the biochemical bases and molecular aspects of reproduction and development in helminths. Utilization of new methods for in vitro cultivation of these parasites will assist in future studies.
The Identification of Aortoiliac and Femoral Arterial Disease: Use of CT Angiography With Advanced Image Processing Versus Conventional Angiography in Treatment Decision Making

Objectives: This study evaluated long-term outcomes after elective open surgical repair (OSR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods: Data of all consecutive patients treated with OSR between 2000 and 2014 were retrospectively collected. Overall survival, reintervention rate, graft complications-free survival, and freedom from graft complications were analyzed. Results: A total of 490 patients (93.3%men), mean age of 71.3 years, were reviewed. Median follow-up was 53 months (range, 1-14 years) and median surveillance time was 13.2 years. Overall survival at 30 days, and 1, 5, and 13 years was 97.3% 6 0.01%, 95.9% 6 0.01%, 84.6% 6 0.02%, and 52.2% 6 0.06%, respectively. Long-term mortality was influenced by age (HR, 1.08; confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.11; P< .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.50; CI, 0.96-2.23; P1⁄4 .06), and chronic renal failure (HR, 1.87; CI, 1.11-3.16; P 1⁄4 .02). Thirty-five (9.6%) late graft-related complications were observed. There were no aortoenteric fistulas, but a ruptured femoral pseudoaneurysm (0.2%) resulted in one death. The 30-day, and 1-, 5-, and 13year rates of freedom from graft complications were 100%, 100%, 96%, 69% and graft complications-free survival was 97%, 96%, 81%, and 39%, respectively. Preoperative aneurysm diameter and surgical graft caliber were related to late proximal pseudoaneurysms (HR, 1.98; CI, 1.37-2.93; P < .001; and RR, 2.08; CI, 1.53-2.79; P < .001 respectively), intraoperative graft thrombosis and postoperative pseudoaneurysm to graft limb occlusion (HR, 3.09; CI, 1.11-7.64; P 1⁄4 .03; HR, 3.09, CI, 1.11-7.64; P 1⁄4 .03, respectively). Conclusions: OSR of AAA showed satisfactory 14year follow-up rates in overall survival and in freedom from graft-related complications and could be considered the procedure of choice. Preoperative aneurysm diameter and graft caliber are most important risk factors for development of pseudoaneurysms and intraoperative graft thrombosis for late limb occlusion.
0.234: The Myth of a Universal Acceptance Ratio for Monte Carlo Simulations

Abstract Two well-known papers by Gelman, Roberts, and Gilks have proposed the application of the results of an interesting mathematical proof to practical optimizations of Markov Chain Monte Carlo computer simulations. In particular, they advocated tuning the simulation parameters to select an acceptance ratio of 0.234. In this paper, we point out that although the proof is valid, its significance is questionable, and its application to practical computations is not advisable. The simulation algorithm considered in the proof is very inefficient and produces poor results under all circumstances.
Requirement for the NINAC Kinase/Myosin for Stable Termination of the Visual Cascade

Activation of the Drosophila photoresponse is a rapid process that results in plasma membrane Ca2+and Na+ conductances. Ca2+functions in negative feedback regulation of Drosophila vision including deactivation. Protein kinase C (PKC) binds directly to Ca2+ and is required for deactivation. However, the consequences of disrupting phosphorylation of any individual PKC substrate in the Drosophila retina have not been addressed. In the current work, we show that NINAC p174, which consists of a protein kinase domain joined to the head region of myosin heavy chain, is a phosphoprotein and is phosphorylated in vitro by PKC. Mutation of either of two PKC sites in the p174 tail resulted in an unusual defect in deactivation that had not been detected previously for other ninaC alleles or other loci. After cessation of the light stimulus, there appeared to be a transient reactivation of the visual cascade. This phenotype suggests that a mechanism exists to prevent reactivation of the visual cascade and that p174 participates in this process.
Transonic Airfoil Design by Constrained Optimization

A N aerodynamic design method is developed which cou- ples flow analysis and numerical optimization to find an airfoil shape with improved aerodynamic performance. The flow analysis code is based on the coupled Euler and bound- ary-layer equations in order to include the rotational, viscous physics of transonic flows. The numerical optimization pro- cess searches for the best feasible design for the specified design objective and design constraints. The method is dem- onstrated with several examples at transonic flow conditions. Contents The optimization process is performed with a commercially available constrained optimization tool.3 The sensitivity of the flow to the perturbation is calculated by finite differences. The effectiveness and efficiency of the design process are influenced by many factors: the number and the shape of the base functions, the number and the tolerance of the con- straints, the flow model and the grid used for flow analyses, and the flight condition at the design point. Design Demonstration The objective of the present design is to produce minimum drag at a specified transonic flight condition. Inequality con- straints are imposed on lift, pitching moment, and cross-sec- tional area of the optimized airfoil. The lift and the area of the optimized airfoil should not be smaller than those of the original airfoil, and the pitching moment should not increase in absolute value. Also imposed are side constraints which limit the magnitude of the design variables. Side constraints are important because a large geometry change can cause boundary-layer separation leading to a termination of the flow solver.
Evaluation of American Sign Language Generation by Native ASL Signers

There are many important factors in the design of evaluation studies for systems that generate animations of American Sign Language (ASL) sentences, and techniques for evaluating natural language generation of written texts are not easily adapted to ASL. When conducting user-based evaluations, several cultural and linguistic characteristics of members of the American Deaf community must be taken into account so as to ensure the accuracy of evaluations involving these users. This article describes an implementation and user-based evaluation (by native ASL signers) of a prototype ASL natural language generation system that produces sentences containing classifier predicates, which are frequent and complex spatial phenomena that previous ASL generators have not produced. Native signers preferred the system's output to Signed English animations -- scoring it higher in grammaticality, understandability, and naturalness of movement. They were also more successful at a comprehension task after viewing the system's classifier predicate animations.
Factors affecting bacteriolysis using lysozyme in dual enzyme systems.

Abstract Dual-enzyme systems, in which lysozyme was present with papain or trypsin, were found to lyse heated cells of several species of bacteria normally resistant to either enzyme alone. The extent of lysis was often much greater than could be accounted for on the basis of additive action, and was considered a true synergism. Trypsin or papain, with lysozyme, were most active in this respect. The response was much greater with the combination of trypsin and lysozyme. Ribonuclease or pepsin when acting with lysozyme gave intermediate lysis, while catalase, lipase, and urease were ineffective either alone or in combination with lysozyme. Factors influencing the degree of synergism were ( a ) the extent of heat treatment given cells before enzymes were added, ( b ) the temperature of incubation, ( c ) the order of addition of the enzymes, and ( d ) the species of bacterium serving as substrate.
Therapy in cytopenia.

. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be considered first-line maintenance therapy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) because it has been proven to be the least toxic. In a study of 25 children with acute ITP, treatment with IVIG maintained platelet counts above 40,000/mm3 in all of the children. After 1 year, none of these patients required further therapy. In another study group of 25 pediatric patients with chronic ITP, treatment with IVIG circumvented splenectomy in 60% of the cases. The therapeutic regimens for adults and children are described, as is a strategy to overcome IVIG resistance. Experiences with IVIG in hemolytic anemia and neutropenia are discussed. The mechanism of action is explored in some detail, specifically as it relates to reticuloendothelial system (RES) Fc receptor blockade and suppression of antiplatelet antibody synthesis.
Analysis of Screen Wick Heat Pipes, Including Capillary Dry-Out Limitations

A complete numerical analysis of heat pipes is performed with no empirical correlations while including the flow in a wick. The numerical model is validated from experimental and numerical work. Single and multiple heat sources were used as well as constant, convective, and radiative heat sinks. The numerical model does not fix the internal pressure references by a point, but allows it to rise and fall based on the physics of the problem. Also, the capillary pressure needed in the wick to drive the flow is obtained for various heating configurations and powers. These capillary pressures, in conjunction with an analysis that predicts the maximum capillary pressure for a given heating load, are used to determine the dry-out limitations of a heat pipe.
The strike of the tiger salamander : quantitative electromyography and muscle function during prey capture

1. We provide a quantitative description of the motor pattern of 11 cranial muscles that control terrestrial prey capture behavior via tongue projection in the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) and test the hypothesis that the cranial motor pattern does not differ between successful and unsuccessful strikes. 2. Simultaneous high-speed video images and electromyograms from cranial muscles were recorded during prey capture by 4 individuals. Neither the time to prey contact by the tongue nor gape cycle duration during the strike were significantly different between successful and unsuccessful strikes. In addition, 76 out of 77 parameters measured from 11 cranial muscle electromyograms during the strike showed no significant differences between successful and unsuccessful captures. We conclude that the strike of the tiger salamander shows little variability under these experimental conditions. 3. During the strike all head muscles have nearly synchronous onsets of electromyographical activity. The subarcualis rectus 1 muscle exhibits two bursts of activity: one during tongue projection and a second during tongue retraction. The genioglossus and interhyoideus muscles both show sharp single peaks of activity during the tongue projection phase. The depressor mandibulae muscle typically shows a second peak in activity coincident with the plateau phase of the gape cycle.
Lempel‐Ziv‐type high‐speed data compression circuit using content addressable memory

Data compression technology is valuable both for increasing the recording capacity of storage devices and for stepping up the communication speed of networks. The compression algorithm proposed by Lempel and Ziv in 1977 is widely known to give a high compression ratio for data of various types by eliminating repeat data. The drawback of the algorithm is its low speed, which results from the difficulty of searching for variable length repeat data. Content addressable memory (CAM) is effective for increasing search speed, but it is limited to searching for a fixed-length datum such as a byte or a word. This paper proposes adding a simple circuit to a CAM, thus allowing it to search for variable-length data and realizing a very high-speed data compression circuit.
Do PSAs Take a Bite Out of Shark Week? The Effects of Juxtaposing Environmental Messages With Violent Images of Shark Attacks

A between-subjects experiment (N = 531) studied the juxtaposition of programming from the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week with shark conservation public service announcements (PSAs). Cultivation and...
Reactive adsorption of NO2 on copper-based metal-organic framework and graphite oxide/metal-organic framework composites.

Composites of a copper-based metal−organic framework (MOF) and graphite oxide (GO) were tested for NO2 adsorption and retention of NO in dry and moist conditions. The samples were analyzed before and after exposure to NO2 by thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, and adsorption of nitrogen at −196 °C. In dry conditions, the composites exhibit an enhanced NO2 breakthrough capacity compared to MOF and GO separately. This improvement is linked to the increased porosity and the reactive adsorption of NO2 on copper, which leads to the formation of bidentate and monodentate nitrate. Even though less NO2 is adsorbed in moist conditions than in dry ones, the materials are more stable than in dry conditions and the NO retention is enhanced. Water in the challenge gas competes with NO2 to bind to copper, and thus, the number of reactive adsorption sites on which NO2 can be adsorbed/reacted decreases.