cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subinvolution of the placental site as an anatomic cause of postpartum uterine bleeding: a review.

Abstract Context.—Subinvolution of the placental site is an anatomic cause of delayed postpartum uterine bleeding that may be underrecognized by general surgical pathologists. Objective.—To review the physiology of uteroplacental arterial development and normal postpartum involution, and to present the characteristic clinical and histopathologic features of subinvolution. Data Sources.—Literature review (MEDLINE via PubMed and Ovid) regarding the pathology and pathophysiology of placental site subinvolution. Review of the clinical and pathologic characteristics of our own institution's previously diagnosed cases of subinvolution from hysterectomy and endomyometrial curettage specimens. Conclusions.—Surgical pathologists must be aware of the cardinal histopathologic findings of subinvolution, and this diagnosis must be considered in every postpartum curettage or hysterectomy specimen presented to the surgical pathologist. Subinvolution of the placental site is an important diagnosis, as this process implie...
Acute spinal cord injury associated with multilevel pediatric idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification: Case report

Pediatric idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification (PIIVDC) is a rare condition; most cases are reported to be selflimited with conservative management. In this study, we describe a case of PIIVDC presenting with acute incomplete spinal cord injury with Brown-Sequard-plus syndrome that was treated with surgery and demonstrate the subsequent rehabilitation time course.
Animal Models to Study the Interplay Between Cancer and Obesity

Overweight and/or obesity are known risk factors for many cancers and are associated with poor prognosis. Evidence for this relationship has primarily been obtained from epidemiological studies with in vitro studies characterizing potential pathways that help explain the pathological role of obesity in malignancies. Animal models provide the opportunity to more completely understand disease mechanisms and intervention strategies associated with obesity and tumorigenesis. The most widely used obese animal models result from either genetic defects or consumption of high-fat diets. Genetically obese animals used in cancer research include yellow obese mice, leptin and leptin receptor-deficient mice, and the Zucker rat. Goldthioglucose-induced obesity has occasionally been used as has been ovariectomized animals. A number of studies using rodents have explored the relationship and mechanisms of obesity and the development of mammary tumors. Additional studies have evaluated the effect of obesity in colon, skin, and prostate cancer models. These studies have provided insights into the role of body weight and tumorigenesis. However, more appropriate obesity models will be important in continuing to understand the factors associated with body weight’s impact on the development of cancer and to assist in providing pharmaceutical and nutritional interventions for cancer prevention and treatment.
Hot Cell Preparation of Tesiing Materials

It is important in nuclear waste repository development that testing be done with materials containing a radionuclide spectrum representative of actual wastes. To meet the need for such materials, the Materials Characterization Center (MCC) has prepared simulated high level waste (HLW) glasses with radionuclides representative of about 10-, 300-, and 1000-year-old waste. A quantity of well characterized spent fuel also has been acquired for the same purpose. Glasses containing 10- and 300-year-old wastes, and the spent fuel specimens, must be fabricated in a hot cell. Hot cell conditions (high radiation field, remote operation, and difficulty of repairs) require that procedures and equipment normally used in materials preparation out-of-cell be modified for hot cell applications. This paper discusses the fabrication of two glasses, and the preparation of test specimens of these glasses and spent fuel. One of the glasses is a 76–68 composition, which is fully loaded with actual commercial reactor fission product waste. The other glass contains simulated Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant waste, doped with different combinations of fission products and actinides. The spent fuel is a 10-year-old PWR material. Special techniques have been used to achieve high quality, well characterized testing materials, including specimens in the form of segments, wafers, cylinders, and powders of these materials.
Case report: Is verbal cognitive performance in bilingual neuropsychiatric patients test‐language dependent?

Bilingualism (BL) is increasing around the world. Although BL has been shown to have a broad impact-both positive and negative-on language and cognitive functioning, cognitive models and standards are mainly based on monolinguals. If we take cognitive performance of monolinguals as a standard, then the performance of bilinguals might not be accurately estimated. The assessment of cognitive functions is an important part of both the diagnostic process and further treatment in neurological and neuropsychiatric patients. In order to identify the presence or absence of cognitive deficit in bilingual patients, it will be important to determine the positive and/or negative impact of BL properties on measured cognitive performance. However, research of the impact of BL on cognitive performance in neuropsychiatric patients is limited. This article aims to compare the influence of the language (dominant-L1, second-L2) used for assessment of verbal cognitive performance in two cases of bilingual neuropsychiatric patients (English/Czech). Despite the fact that the two cases have different diagnoses, similarities in working memory and verbal learning profiles for L1 and L2 were present in both patients. We expected L1 to have higher performance in all measures when compared with L2. This assumption was partially confirmed. As expected, verbal working memory performance was better when assessed in L1. In contrast, verbal learning showed the same or better performance in L2 when compared with L1. Verbal fluency and immediate recall results were comparable in both languages. In conclusion, the language of administration partially influenced verbal performance of bilingual patients. Whether the language itself influenced low performance in a given language or it was a result of a deficit requires further research. According to our results, we suggest that an assessment in both languages needs to be a component of reasonable cognitive assessment of bilingual patients.
Browser Language Preferences as a Metric for Identifying ESL Speakers in MOOCs

Open access and low cost make Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) an attractive learning platform for students all over the world. However, the majority of MOOCs are deployed in English, which can pose an accessibility problem for students with English as a Second Language (ESL). In order to design appropriate interventions for ESL speakers, it is important to correctly identify these students using a method that is scalable to the high number of MOOC enrollees. Our findings suggest that a new metric, browser language preference, may be better than the commonly-used IP address for inferring whether or not a student is ESL.
Measuring Media Reputation: A Test of the Construct Validity and Predictive Power of Seven Measures

This study tested the construct validity and predictive power of seven measures of media reputation, which is the overall evaluation of the media coverage of a firm. The test was based on a content analysis of 2,817 news articles about nine large U.S. food companies from 2007 to 2011. The measures of media reputation had a high convergent validity, but only a few of them had significant correlations with corporate reputation. Various measures had different predictive powers for corporate reputation, and a measure combining media favorability and media visibility had a higher predictive power than other measures only focusing on media favorability.
Comparison of models for predicting pore space indices and their relationships with CO2 and N2O fluxes in a corn–soybean field1

Several models predict soil pore space indices (the relative gas diffusion coefficient, Ds/Do and the pore tortuosity, τ), but information is lacking on which models predicted indices better relate...
Anomalous gray matter patterns in specific reading comprehension deficit are independent of dyslexia

Specific reading comprehension deficit (SRCD) affects up to 10 % of all children. SRCD is distinct from dyslexia (DYS) in that individuals with SRCD show poor comprehension despite adequate decoding skills. Despite its prevalence and considerable behavioral research, there is not yet a unified cognitive profile of SRCD. While its neuroanatomical basis is unknown, SRCD could be anomalous in regions subserving their commonly reported cognitive weaknesses in semantic processing or executive function. Here we investigated, for the first time, patterns of gray matter volume difference in SRCD as compared to DYS and typical developing (TD) adolescent readers (N = 41). A linear support vector machine algorithm was applied to whole brain gray matter volumes generated through voxel-based morphometry. As expected, DYS differed significantly from TD in a pattern that included features from left fusiform and supramarginal gyri (DYS vs. TD: 80.0 %, p < 0.01). SRCD was well differentiated not only from TD (92.5 %, p < 0.001) but also from DYS (88.0 %, p < 0.001). Of particular interest were findings of reduced gray matter volume in right frontal areas that were also supported by univariate analysis. These areas are thought to subserve executive processes relevant for reading, such as monitoring and manipulating mental representations. Thus, preliminary analyses suggest that SRCD readers possess a distinct neural profile compared to both TD and DYS readers and that these differences might be linked to domain-general abilities. This work provides a foundation for further investigation into variants of reading disability beyond DYS.
Adrenergic-Opioid Interaction in the Brains System: Role in Cardiovascular Regulation

Several lines of evidence indicate that endogenous opioid peptides are involved in central cardiovascular regulation. Firstly, opioid peptides as well as opiate receptors are present in brain regions important in cardiovascular regulation. Secondly, central administration of these substances causes changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) that depend on the dose, the site of administration, and the nature of the opioid, as well as on the presence and level of anesthesia [1]. However, the most compelling evidence for the physiological role of an endogenous substance is based on the effects of pharmacologically inert antagonists. For opioid peptides, such evidence has been provided by the cardiovascular effects of the opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, and of centrally administered antisera to various opioid peptides.
Elastic Torsional Analysis of Irregular Shapes

A direct stiffness (finite element) solution method for the torsional analysis of shafts is presented. The technique is applicable to prismatic shafts (linear elastic material) of arbitrary cross-sectional shapes (single or multiple connected bodies) that are free to warp. The analysis yields the torsional stiffness, shear stress distribution, and warping function distribution for the shaft. The accuracy of the analysis is demonstrated by the consideration of problems with known solutions.
Identification and Control of Sheet Forming Processes

Abstract This work addresses the identification of a linear process model from input/output data for a typical sheet or film forming process. Certain symmetries, based on the actuator's effect on film properties, can be exploited in the identification effort. The model is then used in conjunction with a linear time-varying estimator and a non-linear constrained regulator. Use of measured input data is incorporated into a measured input disturbance model. This additional information allows the regulator to account for biases and determine if an actuator is disabled. Simulations demonstrating these ideas are provided.
Large-area SnSe2/GaN heterojunction diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We report on the synthesis and properties of wafer-scale two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) n-SnSe2/n-GaN(0001) heterojunctions. The hexagonal crystal structure of crystalline SnSe2 grown by molecular beam epitaxy was confirmed via in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and off-axis X-ray diffraction. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements of SnSe2/GaN diodes exhibited 9 orders of magnitude rectification, and the SnSe2/GaN heterojunction barrier height was estimated to be 1 eV using capacitance-voltage measurements and internal photoemission measurements. Vertical electronic transport analyzed using temperature-dependent I-V measurements indicates thermionic field emission transport across the junction. This work demonstrates the potential of epitaxial growth of large area high quality 2D crystals on 3D bulk semiconductors for device applications involving carrier injection across 2D/3D heterojunctions.
Depletion of mtDNA with MMA: SUCLA2 and SUCLG1

Mitochondrial depletion syndromes (MDS) are a class of mitochondrial diseases characterized by reduction of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in muscle and/or liver as well as encephalomyopathy or hepatoencephalopathy. Mutations in SUCLG1 or SUCLA2, which encode the a and the ADP-specific b isoforms, respectively, of Succinyl-CoA Synthetase (SCS) and cause MDS associated with mild methylmalonic acidemia. SCS deficiency is speculated to cause mtDNA depletion through perturbation of mitochondrial nucleotide pools by disruption of its interaction with mitochondrial nucleotide diphosphate kinase (NDPK). Development and study of models of SCS deficiency are required to better understand the pathogenesis of SCS-dependent MDS and to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
Danger-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs): the Derivatives and Triggers of Inflammation.

Allergen is an umbrella term for irritants of diverse origin. Along with other offenders such as pathogens, mutagens, xenobiotics, and pollutants, allergens can be grouped as inflammatory agents. Danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are altered metabolism products of necrotic or stressed cells, which are deemed as alarm signals by the innate immune system. Like inflammation, DAMPs play a role in correcting the altered physiological state, but in excess, they can be lethal due to their signal transduction roles. In a vicious loop, inflammatory agents are DAMP generators and DAMPs create a pro-inflammatory state. Only a handful of DAMPs such as uric acid, mtDNA, extracellular ATP, HSPs, amyloid β, S100, HMGB1, and ECM proteins have been studied till now. A large number of DAMPs are still obscure, in need to be unveiled. The identification and functional characterization of those DAMPs in inflammation pathways can be insightful. As inflammation and immune activation have been implicated in almost all pathologies, studies on them have been intensified in recent times. Consequently, the pathologic mechanisms of various DAMPs have emerged. Following PRR ligation, the activation of inflammasome, MAPK, and NF-kB is some of the common pathways. The limited number of recognized DAMPs are only a fraction of the vast array of other DAMPs. In fact, any misplaced or abnormal level of metabolite can be a DAMP. Sophisticated analysis studies can reveal the full profile of the DAMPs. Lowering the level of DAMPs is useful therapeutic intervention but certainly not as effective as avoiding the DAMP generators, i.e., the inflammatory agents. So, rather than mitigating DAMPs, efforts should be focused on the elimination of inflammatory agents.
Can Realistic Liver Tissue Surrogates Accurately Quantify the Impact of Reduced-kV Imaging on Attenuation and Contrast of Parenchyma and Lesions?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To assess if a liquid tissue surrogate for the liver (LTSL) can emulate contrast-enhanced liver parenchyma and lesions and quantify the impact of reduced-kV imaging as a function of lesion contrast, phase of enhancement, and phantom size. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, CT attenuation of LTSL- and water-iodine solutions were measured as a function of iodine concentration and tube potential. For each solution, the iodine concentration was determined to emulate liver parenchyma at 120 kV. CT attenuation for both solutions was predicted for different tube potentials and compared to published patient data. Second, liver parenchyma in late arterial phase (LA: +92 HU at 120 kV) and portal venous phase (PV: +112 HU at 120 kV) was emulated using LTSL-iodine and a two-size phantom. Fourteen setups of hyper- and hypoattenuating lesions (lesion-to-parenchyma contrast (CLP) = -50 to +50HU) were created. Each combination of CLP, phase, and size was imaged at 80, 100, 120, and 140 kV at constant radiation dose. CT attenuation, CLP, and lesion-to-parenchyma contrast-to-noise ratio (CNRLP) were assessed and compared to a theoretical model. RESULTS LTSL-iodine more accurately emulated the CT attenuation of liver parenchyma across different tube potentials compared to water-iodine solutions. The theoretical model was confirmed by the empirical measurements using LTSL-iodine solutions: attenuation, CLP, and CNRLP increased when the tube potential decreased (p < 0.001). This trend was independent of lesion contrast, phase, and size. The absolute improvement in CLP and CNRLP, however, was inversely related to the magnitude of CLP at 140kV. CONCLUSION LTSL accurately emulated the energy-dependent CT attenuation characteristics of contrast-enhanced liver parenchyma and lesions. The relative improvement in CLP and CNRLP by applying reduced-kV imaging was independent of lesion contrast, phase, and size while the absolute improvement decreased for low-contrast lesions.
On Lebanese Jewish History and Memory: A Conclusion

The expulsion of Lebanon’s Jews and denuding Lebanon of the blessings of Jewish life, in arguably the Middle East’s last bastion of diversity, have opened the door to the spread of fascistic Arab nationalist and dogmatist Islamist tendencies. This has in turn paved the way to what is normatively referred to as the “civil war” in Lebanon of the 1970s, and the consequent etiolation of the country’s pluralist ethos. As these “Fragments of Lives Arrested” might have revealed, in any society, open and liberal and tolerant as it might be, the persecution of Jews is often a harbinger of further persecutions to come, against other minority peoples. Anti-Semitism is therefore not merely a form of Jew-hatred; it is hatred for freedom, human dignity, and humanity tout court. Lebanon’s Jews were the main ingredient in Lebanon’s experiment of pluralism one hundred years ago; their disappearance in modern times might as well have spelled the end of Lebanon as it was conceived. This book was a modest attempt at giving voice to the afflictions of Lebanon, the silent plight and forgotten exodus of Lebanese Jewry; a sad epilogue to a worthy but ultimately failed Lebanese venture in a predatory Middle East still riven by old resentments, and unsettled scores.
News or Noise: Is the Price Impact of Island Trades Persistent?

Using trade data for a stratified, random sample of 20 Nasdaq 100 stocks in January-June, 2002, I examine the price impact of Island ECN trades. Unlike previous studies, I measure price impact at a number of horizons, allowing for the possibility of price reversals from liquidity motivated trades. Using simple regressions, I show that Island trades are more informative than other trades only at short time horizons post-trade; at longer horizons, the price impact of an Island trade is not significantly different from a trade in another venue. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the endogeneity of trading venue selection is an important experimental design consideration. Island trades can be shown to be more informative at longer horizons only when the experimental design controls for the endogeneity of the trading venue decision.
Kidney Support in Children using an Ultrafiltration Device: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background and objectives Provision of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) to manage kidney injury and volume overload in critically ill neonates and small children is technically challenging. The use of machines designed for adult-sized patients, necessitates large catheters, a high extracorporeal volume relative to patient size, and need for blood priming. The Aquadex FlexFlow System (CHF Solutions Inc., Eden Prairie, MN) is an ultrafiltration device designed for fluid removal in adults with diuretic resistant heart failure. It has an extracorporeal volume of 33 ml, which can potentially mitigate some complications seen at onset of KRT in smaller infants. Design, setting, participants, & measurements In this multicenter, retrospective case series of children who received KRT with an ultrafiltration device (n=119 admissions, 884 circuits), we report demographics, circuit characteristics, complications, and short- and long-term outcomes. Patients were grouped according to weight ( 20 kg), and received one of three modalities: slow continuous ultrafiltration, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), or prolonged intermittent KRT. Our primary outcome was survival to end of KRT. Results Treatment patterns and outcomes varied between the groups. In patients who weighed 20 kg, volume overload was the primary indication in 91% and slow continuous ultrafiltration was the most common modality. Patients 20 kg (60% versus 97%), more volume overload at onset, and received KRT for a longer duration. Cardiovascular complications at initiation were seen in 3% of treatments and none were severe. Complications during therapy were seen in 15% treatments and most were vascular access–related. Conclusions We report the first pediatric experience using an ultrafiltration device to provide a range of therapies, including CVVH, prolonged intermittent KRT, and slow continuous ultrafiltration. We were able to initiate KRT with minimal complications, particularly in critically ill neonates. There is an unmet need for devices specifically designed for younger patients. Having size-appropriate machines will improve the care of smaller children who require kidney support.
The Road to Sustainable Transportation in Supply Chains: A Stage-Level Approach

One of the prevailing concerns in the study of supply chains is the effect of the aggregate amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by transporting goods. The mode of transportation used, whether by air, road, sea or rail, creates harmful impacts in the environment, society and economy. Sustainable transportation aims to reduce these effects and, at the same time, provide efficiency on fuel use. This chapter delves into a literature review of scholarly articles to determine how companies can achieve and maintain transportation sustainability in the supply chain. This study addresses the following questions: Which mode of transportation has the least harmful effects on the environment, society and economy and is the most efficient in terms of fuel use? How can a stage-level approach aid in the process of implementing a sustainable transportation in the supply chain? What policies should a company implement to promote sustainable transportation internally and throughout its supply chain network?
Gender Disparities in Awards to Neuroscience Researchers

Women in academia receive fewer prestigious awards than their male counterparts. This gender gap may emerge purely from structural factors (e.g., gender differences in time spent in academia, institutional prestige, and academic performance), or from a combination of structural and psychological factors (e.g., gender schemas). To test these competing predictions, we assessed the independent contribution of year of degree, institutional prestige (a composite of prestige of PhD school and current affiliation), academic performance (total publications, total cites, and h-index), and gender to the prestige of awards earned by male (N = 298) and female (N = 134) academic neuroscientists. Award prestige was determined by an independent set of neuroscientists. Men earned more prestigious awards than women after controlling for institutional prestige, year of degree, and total publications. But after controlling for total citations or h-index, no gender difference appeared. Mediation analyses revealed that the gender disparity in awards was mediated by a gender difference in total cites and h-index. There was a reciprocal effect as well, in that the gender disparity in total cites and h-index was partially mediated by awards. These results point to an indirect path by which psychological factors may create gender disparities in academic awards: gender schemas may lead to women's papers receiving fewer citations than men's papers, resulting in more prestigious awards for men than for women. Additionally, our results suggest that gender disparities in awards and citations may reinforce each other. Practical implications for promoting gender equality in academic awards are discussed.
Insulinemic Potential of Lifestyle Is Inversely Associated with Leukocyte Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in US White Adults

Background Poor lifestyles have been linked to insulin insensitivity/hyperinsulinemia, which may contribute to downstream changes such as inflammation and oxidative damage and the development of chronic diseases. As a biomarker of intracellular oxidative stress, leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) has been related to lifestyle factors including diet and weight. No epidemiologic study has examined the relation between combined insulinemic potential of lifestyle and mtDNA-CN. Objectives Our aim was to examine the association between Empirical Lifestyle Index for Hyperinsulinemia (ELIH) and leukocyte mtDNA-CN in US men and women. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 2835 white adults without cancers, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease at blood collection, including 2160 women from the Nurses' Health Study and 675 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. ELIH is an index based on plasma C-peptide that characterizes the insulinemic potential of lifestyle (diet, body weight, and physical activity). Relative mtDNA-CN in peripheral blood leukocytes was measured by qPCR-based assay. Results We found a significant inverse association between ELIH and mtDNA-CN. In multivariable-adjusted linear models, absolute least squares means ± SDs of mtDNA-CN z score across ELIH quintiles in women were as follows: Q1: 0.14 ± 0.05; Q2: 0.04 ± 0.06; Q3: 0.008 ± 0.05; Q4: 0.01 ± 0.05; and Q5: -0.06 ± 0.05 (P-trend = 0.006). Means ± SDs in men were as follows: Q1: 0.25 ± 0.09; Q2: 0.23 ± 0.09; Q3: 0.07 ± 0.09; Q4: 0.02 ± 0.09; and Q5: -0.04 ± 0.09 (P-trend = 0.007). Means ± SDs in all participants were as follows: Q1: 0.16 ± 0.05; Q2: 0.07 ± 0.05; Q3: 0.01 ± 0.05; Q4: 0.01 ± 0.05; and Q5: -0.05 ± 0.05 (P-trend = 0.0004). Conclusions Hyperinsulinemic lifestyles (i.e., higher ELIH) were associated with lower leukocyte mtDNA-CN among subjects without major diseases, suggesting that the difference in lifestyle insulinemic potential may be related to excessive oxidative stress damage.
Social Media and Your Cancer Patient

In an increasingly connected world, healthcare is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of a growing patient population seeking information online. In the past few years, social media has erupted as a means of dissemination of health-related information between patients and healthcare providers alike. Patients online have access to communities and expert-opinion previously inaccessible. Cancer patients especially are empowered through online knowledge acquisition and interactions with support groups or advocacy groups. As patients continue seeking information online, social media has increasingly been recognized as an important potential physician-patient interface. Healthcare provider's presence on social media is growing to meet this need. Providers can utilize social media to easily reach patients to promote health-related information, guide important conversations like the importance of cancer screening and even improve health-related behaviors. Social media can also aid in conducting research through cultivation of networking, patient recruitment, and promotion of rapid dissemination of new results. Whether through "Tweet chats" or conference hashtags, the most up to date information is easily accessible and rapidly transmissible. Social media is positioned to bridge a gap of communication and accessibility between 21st century patients and physicians.
Literacy: Gateway to a World of Exploits

The importance of literacy to the personal development of an individual and existence of any nation cannot be overemphasized. Literacy is the foundation for meaningful development of any nation. It is not a single entity but an interconnection of several fields―education, health, agriculture, and more. For example, a literate individual can have access to information relating to her career or business. However, not every individual in the society is literate enough to contribute to national development. Thus, strong literacy skills are necessary to function in today’s contemporary society. This research examines literacy across African countries with a view of determining countries with high literacy rates. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have low literacy rates with gender and regional disparity. Therefore, sub-Saharan Africa national governments need to develop strong literacy skills in their countries to participate effectively in the globalized society.
Detection of Optic Neuritis on Routine Brain MRI without and with the Assistance of an Image Postprocessing Algorithm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE At times, there is a clinical need for using routine brain MR imaging performed close to the time of onset of patients' visual symptoms to firmly establish the diagnosis of optic neuritis. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic performance of radiologists in detecting optic neuritis on routine brain MR images and whether this performance could be enhanced using a postprocessing algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective case-control study of 60 patients (37 women, 23 men; mean age, 47.2 [SD, 17.9] years), 2 blinded neuroradiologists evaluated T2-weighted FLAIR and contrast-enhanced T1WI from brain MR imaging for the presence of imaging evidence of optic neuritis. Images were processed using an image-processing algorithm that aimed to selectively accentuate the signal intensity of diseased optic nerves. We assessed the effect of image processing on the contrast-to-noise ratio between the optic nerves and normal-appearing white matter and on the diagnostic performance of the neuroradiologists, including the interobserver reliability. RESULTS The average sensitivity of readers was 55%, 56.5%, and 30.0% on FLAIR, coronal contrast-enhanced T1WI, and axial contrast-enhanced T1WI, respectively. Sensitivities were lower in the absence of fat saturation on FLAIR (P = .001) and coronal contrast-enhanced T1WI (P = .04). Processing increased the contrast-to-noise ratio of diseased (P value range = .03 to <.001) but not of control optic nerves. Processing did not improve the sensitivity but improved the specificity and positive predictive value. Interobserver agreement improved from slight to good. CONCLUSIONS Detection of optic neuritis on routine brain MR imaging is challenging. Specificity, positive predictive value, and interobserver agreement can be improved by postprocessing of MR images.
Strategies for radiology reporting and communication : part 4: quality assurance and education.

While the digitization of medical imaging practice has brought a number of dramatic changes in technology and workflow, perhaps the most understated change has been the change in physical layout and staff location, which has evolved from a central to distributed model [1]. In analog practice, the departmental layout and staff location were centrally and group focused, with both the radiologist reading room and technologist working area created to accommodate large groups of individuals, which routinely interacted with one another for the purposes of peer-to-peer education, quality assurance, and case review. This naturally created an atmosphere of ongoing communication, collegiality, and mentoring. This trend of group dynamics and interaction extended to the medical staff, which by necessity had to physically travel to the radiology department to review imaging studies ordered on their patients. With the transition to filmless operation, this centralized working model was replaced by a distributed model, in which radiologists and technologists work in relative independence to one another. While this was intended to improve workflow and operational efficiency, the unintended impact has been diminished interpersonal communication, peer review, and education. As access to medical imaging data has become ubiquitous and instantaneous with the adoption of the picture archival and communication system, this distributed practice model has also extended into the referring physician community, resulting in decreased face-to-face communications between radiologists and referring physicians [2]. This distributed model of radiology practice has become further magnified with teleradiology, with the outsourcing of professional radiologist services to remote locations and independent (i.e., third party) service providers [3, 4]. Parallel changes outside of medicine have dramatically changed the manner and speed with which individuals communicate and interact with one another. Direct dialogue has been largely replaced by electronic communication, which can take place through text messaging, instant messaging, and e-mail. While this shift towards electronic communication has had a positive impact on communication workflow and timeliness, it has also led to a diminution in the degree of interpersonal connection between the communicating parties [5, 6]. While computer-based face-to-face communication options do exist (e.g., Skype), they are relatively impractical in the setting of quick and concise communications which are routinely customary within everyday medical imaging practice. In these situations, it is less important to see one another's face than it is to see the imaging dataset, which is the central component of the communication [7]. The ideal solution is to, therefore, create a technology which fosters communication in a fast and intuitive manner, incorporates some degree of familiarity and individuality into the communication process, and directly integrates the imaging dataset into the communication platform.
Key Factors Affecting User Adoption of Open-Access Data Repositories in Intelligence and Security Informatics: An Affordance Perspective

Rich, diverse cybersecurity data are critical for efforts by the intelligence and security informatics (ISI) community. Although open-access data repositories (OADRs) provide tremendous benefits fo...
Differential inhibition of trastuzumab- and cetuximab-induced cytotoxicity of cancer cells by immunoglobulin G1 expressing different GM allotypes

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), which links the innate and the adaptive arms of immunity, is a major host immunosurveillance mechanism against tumours, as well as the leading mechanism underlying the clinical efficacy of therapeutic antibodies such as cetuximab and trastuzumab, which target tumour antigens, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)1 and HER2, respectively. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody-mediated ADCC is triggered upon ligation of Fcγ receptor (FcγR) to the Fc region of IgG molecules. It follows that genetic variation in FcγR and Fc could contribute to the differences in the magnitude of ADCC. Genetic variation in FcγR is known to contribute to the differences in the magnitude of ADCC, but the contribution of natural genetic variation in Fc, GM allotypes, in this interaction has hitherto not been investigated. Using an ADCC inhibition assay, we show that IgG1 expressing the GM 3+, 1-, 2- allotypes was equally effective in inhibiting cetuximab- and trastuzumab-mediated ADCC of respective target cells, in the presence of natural killer (NK) cells expressing either valine or phenylalanine allele of FcγRIIIa. In contrast, IgG1 expressing the allelic GM 17+, 1+, 2+ allotypes was significantly more effective in inhibiting the ADCC - mediated by both monoclonal antibodies - when NK cells expressed the valine, rather than the phenylalanine, allele of FcγRIIIa. These findings have important implications for engineering antibodies (with human γ1 constant region) against malignancies characterized by the over-expression of tumour antigens HER1 and HER2 - especially for patients who, because of their FcγRIIIa genotype, are unlikely to benefit from the currently available therapeutics.
The greatness thrust upon Eric Williams

Eric Williams (1911-1981) achieved a unique career as a statesmanscholar, or scholar-statesman, never ceasing to be a scholar, continuing to do research, even as founding father and prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Yet a survey of textbooks of world history, or of contemporary history, including the most recent editions, reveals nothing, except that he is largely invisible. Of course, part of the explanation may be that, on a small-scale globe, Trinidad itself remains practically invisible. "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them", Williams quotes Shakespeare. But, he adds, "I had greatness thrust upon me, Trinidad style.2
Benzodiazepines in schizophrenia

Benzodiazepines have a checkered history in the United States; public and professional attitudes about them have ranged from their being wonder drugs in the 1970s to being virtually purged from many formularies as addictive and dangerous in the 1980s. The attitude today is that they are useful for specific indications. In the last 20 years they have been investigated as adjunctive agents to conventional antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia. Benzodiazepines may be effective in schizophrenia because stress is one mediator of relapse in these patients. In addition, inhibition of dopamine neurotransmission through gamma-aminobutyric acid-enhancing activity may provide a direct antipsychotic effect. As monotherapy or adjuncts to antipsychotic agents, benzodiazepines produced antipsychotic effects in schizophrenia in approximately 50% of controlled trials. Although there is no particular benzodiazepine of choice, low-potency compounds with long elimination half-lives are recommended. Adverse effects of concern include sedation and cognitive impairment, behavioral disinhibition, exacerbation of psychotic symptoms, and the potential for dependence, withdrawal, and abuse. The recent arrival of atypical antipsychotic drugs has significantly slowed research and interest in benzodiazepines in schizophrenia beyond their initial beneficial sedative effects for acute psychotic episodes.
Trade offs between statistical agreement and data reproduction in the generation of synthetic ground motions

Abstract This paper discusses a method used to generate synthetic time-series, using a set of 3-dimensional recorded ground motions. The Karhunen–Loeve expansion is used to represent the stochastic process, taking into account correlation between the three components of the accelerograms. In this way each accelerogram can be decomposed in a linear combination of a finite number of functions, parameterized by a set of d random variables, d being the number of eigenvalues used to estimate the random process, which will be smaller than the number of recorded accelerograms used to perform the KL expansion. A new synthetic accelerogram can be generated by sampling a new set of d random variables. We study more precisely in this paper several sampling methods and in particular the influence of taking into account dependency between those d random variables. We can see that if no dependency is considered, the new set of ground motions will not have the same statistical properties of the recorded set, which could lead to errors if a statistical analysis is performed with this new synthetic set. On the contrary, due to the so-called curse of dimensionality, if the overall joint density function is used to sample new KL parameters, the method will tend to reproduce each single accelerogram from the recorded set. A new method is discussed, where dependence is considered only in a smaller subspace, which enables us to reach a trade-off between those two objectives. The size of the subspace can then be chosen depending on the application and the user's objectives.
Induction and characterization of Pediococcus acidilactici temperate bacteriophage

Summary Mitomycin C was used to induce temperate bacteriophage from three strains of Pediococcus acidilactici .The new bacteriophage, designated pa97, pa40, and pa42, were characterized based on morphology, DNA homology, and major protein profiles.Morphological attributes (small isometric heads with non-contractile tails) place these bacteriophages within the B1 group of the family Siphovirdae .Restriction endonuclease digests suggested that the bacteriophage genomes were linear molecules without cohesive ends, and between 33 and 37 kilobases in length.All three bacteriophages possessed one major protein with an estimated mass of 30 to 35 kilodaltons.Bacteriophage pa42 also contained a second major protein of approximately 47 kilodaltons.DNA-DNA hybridization showed bacteriophages pa40 and pa42 were homologous to each other, but not to pa97, suggesting that Pediococcus acidilactici bacteriophage fall into at least two different species.
Biofeedback therapy for dysfunctional voiding in children

The past decade has seen a dramatic shift in the management of lower urinary tract dysfunction, including dysfunctional voiding, in children. Once treated primarily with medication, dysfunctional voiding now is managed successfully in most cases with noninvasive evaluations and biofeedback-based pelvic floor muscle retraining. Introduced in 1979, biofeedback initially was expensive and labor intensive, requiring inpatient treatment. The use of animated computer games has expedited results, allowing excellent resolution of dysfunctional voiding and coexisting conditions such as vesicoureteral reflux and constipation with outpatient treatment. Morbidity from medications and surgical procedures has been reduced at centers using biofeedback. Future goals of biofeedback therapy should include further refinements in technique and increasing access to care.
The Composition of Precipitation at Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass in the Central Cascades of Washington State

Bulk precipitation samples were collected weekly during the winters of 1984 and 1985 at two high elevation sites in the Washington Cascades. The Puget basin, west and upwind of the Cascade sites, includes an urban industrialized region with a variety of area and point sources of acidic oxides. The precipitation was found to be low in contaminant content with SO4 = and NO3 - concentrations as low or lower than those reported for remote pristine stations in the US or elsewhere. It is suggested that the reduced contaminant levels result from an interplay of the meteorological and washout factors unique to the region.
Late Left Ventricular Function After Surgery for Children With Chronic Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation

Background The use of quantitative echocardiography has been emphasized in optimizing timing of surgery in adult patients with mitral regurgitation to avoid irreversible left ventricular dysfunction. In contrast, surgery for infants and children is often delayed until the appearance of severe symptoms because of the patient’s size and anticoagulation requirements and the possible need for early reoperation. The purpose of this study was to determine long-term ventricular function after mitral valve surgery in symptomatic children and to analyze risk factors for adverse outcome. Methods and Results Thirty-three patients (0.5 to 19 years old) operated on for mitral regurgitation as a single hemodynamically significant lesion were studied. All but 3 had medically refractory symptoms. One patient died during surgery, and 32 were followed for 0.3 to 17.1 years (mean, 4.5 years). The mean preoperative left ventricular shortening fraction was 0.38±0.09. Successful mitral valvuloplasty or replacement was document...
Distinguishing breeding populations of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) using trace elements

Abstract The knowledge of connectivity among breeding and overwintering populations of migratory bird species is critical for the conservation of their habitats. Conventional field work for the tracking of migratory birds involving bird banding often yields poor results due to low recovery rates, or is expensive when satellite tracking methods are used. Intrinsic tools such as genetic markers, stable isotopes, strontium isotopes and trace elements have been successfully used for tracing origins and/or migratory pathways of bird populations. We studied elemental signatures in the tail feathers to group breeding populations and an overwintering population of Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ). Tail feathers from five locations in Canada and the U.S. were analyzed using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We used 18 elements to discriminate between Mallard populations. Linear discriminant analysis on a selected set of elements demonstrated that 93% of the Mallards could be accurately located back to their predicted locations. Mallard feathers from Arkansas (an important overwintering area), grouped together with any combination of elements as predictors. We predicted the breeding locations of overwintering Mallards from Arkansas. Our results confirm that the LA-ICP-MS technique shows high potential to estimate the origin of migratory animals.
Knockdown of heme oxygenase-2 impairs corneal epithelial cell wound healing.

Heme oxygenase (HO) represents an intrinsic cytoprotective system based on its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties mediated via its products biliverdin/bilirubin and carbon monoxide (CO). We showed that deletion of HO-2 results in impaired corneal wound healing with associated chronic inflammatory complications. This study was undertaken to examine the role of HO activity and the contribution of HO-1 and HO-2 to corneal wound healing in an in vitro epithelial scratch injury model. A scratch wound model was established using human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. These cells expressed both HO-1 and HO-2 proteins. Injury elicited a rapid and transient increase in HO-1 and HO activity; HO-2 expression was unchanged. Treatment with biliverdin or CORM-A1, a CO donor, accelerated wound closure by 10% at 24 h. Inhibition of HO activity impaired wound closure by more than 50%. However, addition of biliverdin or CORM-A1 reversed the effect of HO inhibition on wound healing. Moreover, knockdown of HO-2 expression, but not HO-1, significantly impaired wound healing. These results indicate that HO activity is required for corneal epithelial cell migration. Inhibition of HO activity impairs wound healing while amplification of its activity restores and accelerates healing. Importantly, HO-2, which is highly expressed in the corneal epithelium, appears to be critical for the wound healing process in the cornea. The mechanisms by which it contributes to cell migration in response to injury may reside in the cytoprotective properties of CO and biliverdin.