cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A role for the vitamin D pathway in non-intestinal lesions in genetic and carcinogen models of colorectal cancer and in familial adenomatous polyposis.

// Yong-Sik Bong 1, * , Shahin Assefnia 1, * , Therese Tuohy 2 , Deborah W Neklason 2 , Randall W Burt 2 , Jaeil Ahn 3 , Paul J Bueno De Mesquita 1 , Stephen W. Byers 1 1 Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America 2 Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America 3 Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Stephen W, email: byerss@georgetown.edu Keywords: gardner’s syndrome, anal cancer, vitamin D receptor, azoxymethane, colon cancer Received: April 13, 2016 Accepted: October 11, 2016 Published: October 19, 2016 ABSTRACT Vitamin D is implicated in the etiology of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, usually characterized by alteration in the APC/β-catenin/TCF tumor suppressor pathway. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is also implicated in cardiovascular and skin diseases as well as in immunity. Activated VDR can indirectly alter β-catenin nuclear localization and directly suppress β-catenin/TCF mediated transcriptional activity. We treated VDR null mice with the carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM) and generated mice bearing a mutated APC (hypomorph) on a VDR null background ( Apc 1638N/+ Vdr −/− ). VDR null mice do not develop GI or extra-colonic tumors but loss of VDR decreased intestinal tumor latency and increased progression to adenocarcinoma in both models. AOM treatment of VDR null mice also caused squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. Although levels and distribution of total or activated β-catenin in the epithelial component of tumors were unaffected by loss of VDR, β-catenin dependent cyclin D1 expression was affected suggesting a direct VDR effect on β-catenin co-activator activity. Extra-colonic mucosa manifestations in Apc 1638N/+ Vdr −/− animals included increased nuclear β-catenin in submucosal stromal cells, spleno- and cardiomegaly and large epidermoid cysts characteristic of the FAP variant, Gardner’s syndrome. Consistent with this, SNPs in the VDR, vitamin D binding protein and CYP24 as well as mutations in APC distal to codon 850 were strongly associated with Gardners syndrome in a cohort of 457 FAP patients, This work suggests that alterations in the vitamin D/VDR axis are important in Gardner’s syndrome, as well as in the etiology of anal cancer.
A HISTORICAL REVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE FIELD OF CONSUMER SATISFACTION, DISSATISFACTION, & COMPLAINING BEHAVIOR

Researchers have shown increasing interest in the antecedents and consequences of consumer satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and complaining behavior (CS), with research published in a wide range of marketing journals over the past 30 years. Although CS research appears to be in the maturity stage, there is still much to learn about the topic particularly in light of contradictory findings that exist within the marketing literature. Adapting a methodology from a recent marketing education literature review, this article develops a framework to organize and review nearly 400 articles published in the Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction, and Complaining Behavior; identifying key research themes and future research directions aimed at developing a more complete understanding of the complex interrelationships of the antecedents and consequences of CS.
Hmga1 deficiency: "SAC-King" the SAC genes to incite chromosomal instability.

First postulated by Theodor Boveri in 1902, abnormalities in chromatin structure and function are well-known hallmarks of cancer. Indeed, aberrant nuclear structure is the key feature that distingu...
Phyllis Schlafly: Transgender Hero

The woman who is widely credited as the successful champion of the anti-Equal Rights Amendment campaign in the 1970s is the hero that the transgender community needs. Yes, Phyllis Schlafly, conservative Republican activist and founder of the Eagle Forum and STOP-ERAmovement, has inadvertently articulated the importance of transgender rights through her many years as a gender privilege activist. Ultimately,Schlafly and transgender activists have been saying the same thing for years: men and women deserve the legal right to be celebrated and validated in their gender category. The main distinction between these two parties, however, is a different interpretation of gender and what it means to be male or female. Phyllis Schlafly: Transgender Hero by Elisabeth Wilder is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Russia’s Security Policy under Putin. A Critical Perspective

A state’s security policy, it can be argued, is hard-edged and clear-cut. NATO troops are stationed in the Baltic states, or they are not. A missile-defence system goes operational in Romania, or i...
Does Postoperative Glenoid Retroversion Affect the 2-Year Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty?

Background While glenoid retroversion and posterior humeral head decentering are common preoperative features of severely arthritic glenohumeral joints, the relationship of postoperative glenoid component retroversion to the clinical results of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is unclear. Studies have indicated concern for inferior outcomes when glenoid components are inserted in 15° or more retroversion.
Expression and isolation of recombinant tau

In this chapter, we describe methods for the purification of both untagged and polyhistidine-tagged tau protein. These protocols utilize a bacterial expression system to produce the tau isoform of interest, followed by heat treatment and column chromatography to separate tau from impurities. These techniques yield a biochemically pure protein with which to pursue any number of questions regarding the mechanisms of tau action.
Amiable with Big Teeth: A Novel of the Love Affair Between the Communists and the Poor Black Sheep of Harlem: by Claude McKay, edited with an introduction by Jean-Christophe Cloutier and Brent Hayes Edwards, New York: Penguin Books, 2017. xlv + 302 pp.

Near the end of this rollicking, uneven, newly discovered novel, the Ethiopian envoy Lij Tekla Alamaya says to Gloria Kendall, his new romantic interest, that it's “better to be the individual slav...
Site Assessment and Characterization

The applied use of plant and groundwater interactions (as described in Part I) to achieve remediation goals at sites characterized by contaminated groundwater is a direct extension of these long-observed natural interactions. The specific application of plants to achieve remedial goals is, however, relatively new. The installation of plants at sites to affect the flow of contaminated groundwater in response to regulatory-driven site-restoration mandates was initiated in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Relative to the total number of sites in the United States that have documented groundwater contamination and require some type of corrective action, the number of published case studies of phytoremediation that specifically addresses groundwater flow issues is few. In most cases at sites characterized by contaminated groundwater, the chosen corrective action involves conventional pump-and-treat of contaminated groundwater or groundwater flow interception by trenching. This is despite the efforts made by various state and federal regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), as well as other federal agencies, to promote phytoremediation as an alternative corrective action.
Crossover femoral-popliteal and femoral-tibial bypass

Crossover femoral-popliteal or femoral-tibial bypass has been employed as an alternative extra-anatomic bypass in 3 patients who had occlusion of an iliac artery with subsequent occlusion of the ipsilateral femoral artery with patency of either a popliteal or tibial artery and a patency of the contralateral common femoral artery. Each patient had a contraindication to a more conventional type of procedure. All procedures were performed with reinforced PTFE grafts. All grafts have remained patent for 6 months to 3 years. This operation should be considered as an alternative extra-anatomic reconstructive procedure in patients with the appropriate anatomy and who are not candidates for more standard types of vascular reconstruction.
Antiproton Production and Cooling

The progress in the antiproton production and cooling has been absolutely essential for the success of the Collider Run II. Improvements of the Tevatron optics and operation resulted in a gradual increase in the fraction of antiprotons lost in the proton–antiproton collisions in the interaction points. However, by the middle of 2004, it achieved its maximum of about 30–40 % (see Fig. 7.1) determined mainly by the intra-beam scattering (IBS) and the beam–beam effects (see Chap. 8). Since that time, it stayed basically unchanged through the end of the Run II. Further progress in the luminosity could not be achieved without an increase in the antiproton production. Figure 7.2 presents the weekly antiproton production in the course of Run II. One can see that starting from the beginning of 2005, the rate of antiproton production grew significantly reflecting an increased priority for antiproton production.
Depressed Phase Transitions and Thermally Persistent Local Distortions in CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots

The optoelectronic properties of CsPbX3 quantum dots (where X = Cl, Br, or I) are influenced by both their local and average structures. Variable-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements of CsPbBr3 quantum dots show that the temperatures for both the orthorhombic-to-tetragonal (50 °C < Tγ-β < 59 °C) and tetragonal-to-cubic (108 °C < Tβ-α < 117 °C) phase transitions of the average structure are depressed relative to their temperatures in bulk CsPbBr3. Simultaneously, pair distribution function analysis of synchrotron X-ray total scattering measurements indicates that the local crystal structure of the quantum dots is best described as orthorhombically distorted over the temperature range of 22 °C < T < 160 °C, with only small changes in the magnitude of the distortion occurring during the observed changes in the average structure. Taken together, these results suggest that phase transitions in CsPbBr3 quantum dots are order–disorder, involving the gradual ordering of individually coherent dom...
Diffusion and mixing in microfluidic devices

Abstract Many pharmaceutical and biological applications require a controlled mixing of multiple samples in microfluidic devices. Because of the small length scale of the microchannels, the flow is always in the laminar regime; the dominant mechanism of mixing is thus diffusion and/or chaotic laminar mixing. Depending on the requirement of the mixing speed, some applications use diffusion as the sole mechanism, such as microfluidic gradient generators, while other applications make use of both diffusion and chaotic mixing to implement a fast and thorough blending of multiple constituents, such as microfluidic mixers. This chapter provides a brief review of the controlled mixing in microfluidic devices, from the fundamentals of fluid dynamics and mass transfer to the design principles and application examples of microfluidic gradient generators and mixers. Specifically, we will include the following contents.
RNA secondary structure prediction

The field of RNA secondary structure prediction matured in the last 10 years with the development of many readily available software packages. The thermodynamic parameters for predicting the free energy of an RNA secondary structure are continuing to be revised on the basis of new experiments. This article reviews the available secondary structure prediction algorithms for both a single sequence and multiple sequences. Keywords: RNA thermodynamics; RNA secondary structure; RNA statistical mechanics; folding free energy
Fat cells gobbling up norepinephrine

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) controls key aspects of adipose tissue (AT) function through the release of norepinephrine (NE) and beta adrenergic signaling. Sympathetic tone is determined by NE release but also by the rate of extracellular NE clearance that historically has been believed to occur solely through solute carrier family 6 member 2 (SLC6A2) expressed on sympathetic neurons. Song and colleagues show that adipocytes can also clear NE through organic cation transporter 3 (Oct3). This contributes to our understanding of how adrenergic signaling is controlled in AT and also emphasizes the need to develop better methods to assess adrenergic signaling in vivo.
AMIODARONE PROPHYLAXIS PREVENTS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AFTER SEPTAL MYECTOMY FOR HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is common and has been associated with worse clinical outcomes, longer hospitalization and higher cost. Numerous prior studies have investigated methods of prophylaxis. Preoperative amiodarone has been shown to be effective in preventing atrial
Etoposide and etoposide phosphate hypersensitivity in children: Incidence, risk factors, and prevention strategies:

IntroductionEtoposide is critical in treating pediatric cancers, although hypersensitivity can be severe and treatment-limiting. Reported rates of hypersensitivity range from 2% to 51%. Hypersensit...
The Future Strikes Back: Using Future Treatments to Detect and Reduce Hidden Bias:

Conventional advice discourages controlling for postoutcome variables in regression analysis. By contrast, we show that controlling for commonly available postoutcome (i.e., future) values of the t...
Survival Trends for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Using a Multidisciplinary Conference: the Impact of Post-operative Chemotherapy

Despite advances in various treatment modalities, surgical resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains the only curative treatment. Data remains limited regarding survival rates for resectable PDA when managed by a multidisciplinary pancreas conference (MDPC). The aim of this study is to assess survival rates, identify significant predictors of mortality, and assess the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable PDA following presentation at a MDPC. All patients presented from April 2013 to August 2016 with resectable PDA were discussed at a MDPC at a tertiary care center and were followed prospectively until November 2017. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier for age, tumor size, tumor differentiation, T-stage, lymph node status, and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles. Independent predictors of survival were determined using multivariate Cox regression modeling. After MDPC consensus and exclusions, total of 64 patients underwent successful surgery. Amongst this cohort, 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival was 78.13%, 46.30%, and 27.27%, respectively. A total of 37 patients (58%) initiated and 16 patients (25%) finished chemotherapy following surgery. Log-rank analysis revealed that tumor size, age, surgical margins, lymph node status, and number of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles received significantly influenced post-operative survival. Tumor size (p 50 mm and/or lymph node involvement have poor outcomes despite being surgically resectable. Successful completion of adjuvant chemotherapy has better survival outcomes as compared with incomplete or no adjuvant chemotherapy. The role of alternative management such as down-staging with neoadjuvant therapy should be considered.
Clinical features and treatment of tetramine poisoning

Tetramine poisoning still occurs and seriously impairs children' s health. Some children suffered from brain injury or death. Diagnosing accurately as soon as possible, eliminating poison rapidly,using antidotes timely and controlling convulsion quickly are the crucial treatment principles. Key words: Tetramine; Poisoning; Children
Developing a Cancer Prevention Health Education Resource: a Primer of Process and Evaluation

Limited women's health and cancer prevention materials are available that have been validated for vulnerable populations. Such materials are especially important for groups, which have intermittent and typically low-quality healthcare access and are at greatest risk for missing out on women's health and cancer prevention screening. Health education materials are developed from heterogeneous sources. Clinical and research teams have minimal guidance in terms of sources, timelines, outputs, and evaluation in the development of such materials. The goal of this paper is to share our process in developing and evaluating an up-to-date women's health and cancer prevention learning guide appropriate for a target population of women involved in the criminal justice system. A ten-page learning guide was drafted using the current evidence-based data, with the objective of providing educational material on four topics: cervical cancer, breast cancer, sexually transmitted infection, and unintended pregnancy prevention. The learning guide was then tested on a convenience sample of 33 women at a local county jail. Feedback was organized into three parts in which the participantsResponded to open-ended question, "What is missing?"Rated each of the four topics for design and contentCompleted a usability assessmentCommon themes were participants' interest in learning about side effects of birth control and wanting more information on testing and treatment, specifically for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Women were satisfied with the cancer prevention information presented to them. This report provides a framework for cancer prevention researchers who are developing health education materials for vulnerable populations.
Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy in children age six and younger.

Abstract Objectives The objective of the study were to examine the safety and efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for reducing seizure frequency and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children younger than six years and to examine long-term VNS efficacy for children who receive the device at ages 1–3 and at ages 4–6. Methods We conducted a 10-year retrospective analysis of VNS implantations at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Relevant data were collected within 12 months of VNS implantation and at six months, one, two, and four years after VNS implantation. Results This analysis included 99 patients ages 0–3 (n = 40) and 4–6 (n = 59) at first VNS implantation. Eighty-six patients followed up for ≥ 4 years. There were no significant differences between age at VNS implant (0–3 vs. 4–6) and seizure etiology or most seizure semiologies. Patients took an average of 3.01 ± 1.29 AEDs prior to VNS and 3.84 ± 1.68 AEDs at their latest follow-up. The overall response to VNS therapy (≥ 50% seizure reduction) at one year, two years, and four years after VNS implantation was 55%, 60%, and 52%, respectively. At two years, 59% of 0- to 3-year-old patients responded to VNS and 52% of 4- to 6-year-old patients responded to VNS. The overall major complication rate was 5.6%, consistent with VNS use for older age groups. Significance This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of VNS for children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) younger than six. One, two, and four years after VNS implantation, 55%, 60%, and 52% of these patients, respectively, achieved ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency. The safety of VNS is also comparable with older, better studied, age groups. Based on these data, VNS therapy should be considered for children younger than six.
Patient Characteristics Associated With Patient-Reported Deterrents to Adjunct Breast Cancer Screening of Patients With Dense Breasts.

Please see the Editorial Comment by Bethany L. Niell discussing this article. BACKGROUND. The success of adjunct breast cancer screening of women with dense breasts can be enhanced by identifying a...
How mental health professionals can address disparities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unparalleled crisis, yet also a unique opportunity for mental health professionals to address and prioritize mental and physical health disparities that disproportionately impact marginalized populations. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have long experienced structural racism and oppression, resulting in disproportionately high rates of trauma, poverty, and chronic diseases that span generations and are associated with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. The current pandemic, with the potential of conferring new trauma exposure, interacts with and exacerbates existing disparities. To assist mental health professionals in offering more comprehensive services and programs for those who have minimal resources and the most profound barriers to care, four critical areas are highlighted as being historically problematic and essential to address: (a) recognizing psychology's role in institutionalizing disparities; (b) examining race/ethnicity as a critical variable; (c) proactively tackling growing mental health problems amidst the COVID-19 crisis; and (d) understanding the importance of incorporating historical trauma and discrimination in research and practice. Recommendations are provided to promote equity at the structural (e.g., nationwide, federal), professional (e.g., the mental health professions), and individual (e.g., practitioners, researchers) levels.
Experimental Analysis of Laser Micromachining of Microchannels in Common Microfluidic Substrates

Laser micromachining technique offers a promising alternative method for rapid production of microfluidic devices. However, the effect of process parameters on the channel geometry and quality of channels on common microfluidic substrates has not been fully understood yet. In this research, we studied the effect of laser system parameters on the microchannel characteristics of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and microscope glass substrate-three most widely used materials for microchannels. We also conducted a cell adhesion experiment using normal human dermal fibroblasts on laser-machined microchannels on these substrates. A commercial CO2 laser system consisting of a 45W laser tube, circulating water loop within the laser tube and air cooling of the substrate was used for machining microchannels in PDMS, PMMA and glass. Four laser system parameters - speed, power, focal distance, and number of passes were varied to fabricate straight microchannels. The channel characteristics such as depth, width, and shape were measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a 3D profilometer. The results show that higher speed produces lower depth while higher laser power produces deeper channels regardless of the substrate materials. Unfocused laser machining produces wider but shallower channels. For the same speed and power, PDMS channels were the widest while PMMA channels were the deepest. Results also showed that the profiles of microchannels can be controlled by increasing the number of passes. With an increased number of passes, both glass and PDMS produced uniform, wider, and more circular channels; in contrast, PMMA channels were sharper at the bottom and skewed. In rapid cell adhesion experiments, PDMS and glass microchannels performed better than PMMA microchannels. This study can serve as a quick reference in material-specific laser-based microchannel fabrications.
Similarities between Cognitive Models of Language Production and Everyday Functioning: Implications for Development of Interventions for Functional Difficulties

The loss of the ability to independently complete activities of daily living, such as meal preparation and household chores, is a defining characteristic of clinical dementia; however, minor difficulties in completing everyday activities emerge in the mild cognitive impairment stage, and even healthy older adults exhibit subtle functional difficulties compared to younger adults. These functional difficulties are associated with an array of negative outcomes, including decreased quality of life, higher costs of care, and increased frustration, depression, caregiver burden, and institutionalization. While cognitive models have been proposed to explain the functional deficits seen in dementia and subtler forms of cognitive decline, in contrast to other cognitive disorders such as aphasia, there are essentially no theoretically motivated interventions to address difficulties in everyday functioning. Proposed models of functional impairment share features with cognitive processing models of language, including hierarchical organization of representations and interactive, spreading activation; thus, an examination of aphasia interventions has the potential to inform the development of theoretically motivated interventions for everyday activities. This review first addresses the shared characteristics of cognitive models of everyday function and language, with a focus on linguistic production. Next, we will present aphasia interventions that target single-word production, sentence production, short-term memory, and semantics, and discuss their implications for everyday functioning interventions. We conclude with a discussion of limitations of the language-everyday functioning comparison as well as areas of future research.
Courts, Climate Action and Human Rights: Lessons from the Friends of the Irish Environment v. Ireland Case

In July 2020 the Irish Supreme Court invalidated the Government of Ireland’s climate strategy. In a country in which the courts are consistently deferential to the executive, a small but important NGO, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), succeeded in convincing the Supreme Court to quash the government’s 2017 National Mitigation Plan. The wholly inadequate plan outlined some vague measures to be taken, deferred most action in the hope that ‘future technologies’ would come to the rescue, and acknowledged that in the short term greenhouse gas emissions would increase. FIE argued that the Plan was ultra vires the relevant Act and that it violated fundamental rights enshrined in the Irish Constitution and in the European Convention on Human Rights, including the rights to life, to bodily integrity, and to a healthy environment. In an important victory for climate activists and litigants, the Supreme Court upheld the ultra vires claim and quashed the Plan, thus requiring the Government to return to the drawing board and produce a more detailed document. But the immediate success was overshadowed by the Court’s retrogressive and in many respects gratuitous findings that narrowed the existing doctrine on standing to sue, essentially rejected the relevance of human rights provisions to the case, and denied the existence of a derived right to a healthy environment. The judgment raises questions as to whether litigants should pursue a narrower range of grounds for their claims; provides lessons as to how litigants might approach issues such as standing and the right to a healthy environment in future; highlights the urgency of making strategic use of regional and international mechanisms in addition to domestic courts for climate cases; and lays bare the need for litigants to be upfront about the necessity of innovation in legal reasoning when it comes to climate change.
Alfvén Mach number and IMF clock angle dependencies of sunward flow channels in the magnetosphere

[1] Interplanetary coronal mass ejections associated with strong interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By have been shown to enhance the neutral density in low Earth orbit. The enhancement has been linked to strong downward Poynting fluxes embedded within ionospheric channels of significant sunward ExB drift (2000–3000 m/s). Here we present MHD results describing the magnetospheric counterpart of the ionospheric flow channel that Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) encountered on 15 May 2005. It is shown that the clock angle of maximum sunward flow (θFC) depends on the IMF clock angle θFC = α * θIMF − 1.3° with α = (0.30, 0.38, 0.43, 0.45) at X = (4, 2, 0, −2) RE. This is poleward of the magnetic null point region. The flow also depends on the solar wind Alfven Mach number Vx = Vx0 − δv * MA. The critical MA = Vx0 / δV for Vx = 0 decreases from MA = 3.42 (X = 4 RE) to MA = 2.40 (X = −2 RE). The low MA and θIMF conditions that characterized the X = 2 RE flow and resulted in strong Poynting flux occurred for 16% of all 167 h in 1998–2008 with Dst < −180 nT.
Multi-Valued Neuron with a Periodic Activation Function

In this Chapter, we consider MVN with a periodic activation function. As we have already seen, MVN’s functionality is higher than the one of, for example, sigmoidal neurons. In this Chapter, we will consider how a single MVN may learn nonlinearly separable input/output mappings in that initial n-dimensional space where they are defined. In Section 5.1, we consider a universal binary neuron (UBN), which in fact is the discrete MVN with a periodic activation function for k=2. We show how this neuron may learn non-linearly separable Boolean functions, for example, XOR and Parity n, projecting them into larger valued logic. In Section 5.2, we generalize that approach, which is used in UBN, and introduce a periodic activation function for the discrete MVN. We also consider the learning algorithm for MVN with a periodic activation functions. In Section 5.3, we show how a number of non-linearly separable benchmark classification problems can be solved using a single MVN with a periodic activation function. Concluding remarks are given in Section 5.4.
Histochemical observations on Posthodiplostomum minimum: IV. Electron microscopy of tegument and associated structures☆

Abstract As viewed with the electron microscope, the cell processes containing esterase-rich granules are in intimate contact with the tegument of the trematode, Posthodiplostomum minimum . The method of release of these granules differs in the metacercarial stage and in the adult stage of the worm. In the metacercaria, the granules appear to be released into the tegument; in the adult, these granules appear to be released directly to the exterior. At least two different parenchymal cells associated with the tegument of P. minimum are distinguishable. These are the aforementioned esterase-secreting cell and a parenchymal cell whose cytoplasmic process is continuous with the basal membrane of the tegument. The external covering of the tegument is briefly discussed and compared with comparable structures of other trematodes.
Using the Software CMM with Good Judgment

Although this article may not be purchased individually through the Quality Information Center, the entire issue of which it is a part may be purchased through ASQ's Customer Service Center at (800) 248-1946. Please request Software Quality Professional..
Inherent Predictability, Requirements on the Ensemble Size, and Complementarity

AbstractFaced with the scenario when prediction skill is low, particularly in conjunction with long-range predictions, a commonly proposed solution is that an increase in ensemble size will rectify the issue of low skill. Although it is well known that an increase in ensemble size does lead to an increase in prediction skill, the general scope of this supposition, however, is that low prediction skill is not a consequence of constraints imposed by inherent predictability limits, but an artifact of small ensemble sizes, and further, increases in ensemble sizes (that are often limited by computational resources) are the major bottlenecks for improving long-range predictions. In proposing that larger ensemble sizes will remedy the issue of low skill, a fact that is not well appreciated is that for scenarios with high inherent predictability, a small ensemble size is sufficient to realize high predictability, while for scenarios with low inherent predictability, much larger ensemble sizes are needed to realiz...
Contraceptive Practices of Women with Epilepsy: Findings of the Epilepsy Birth Control Registry (S6.003)

OBJECTIVE: To report the contraceptive practices of women with epilepsy (WWE) in the community and identify factors which predict the use of highly effective contraception (HEC). BACKGROUND: Although contraception presents special challenges for WWE because of the potential effects of neuroactive steroids on seizures and some interactions between hormones and antiepileptic drugs, there have been no large scale investigations of contraceptive practices in WWE in the community. DESIGN/METHODS: The Epilepsy Birth Control Registry, a web-based survey that gathers demographic, epilepsy, antiepileptic drug, reproductive and contraceptive data from WWE in the community, provided cross sectional data from 1107 subjects, ages 18-47 years. We used binary logistic regression to determine predictors of HEC use among WWE at risk (potentially fertile and sexually active) but not currently seeking pregnancy. HEC included systemic hormonal methods, IUD, tubal ligation and vasectomy. Predictor factors were age, race/ethnicity, education, household income and insurance. RESULTS: WWE at risk (N = 767) used the following contraceptive methods (combinations are listed by the more effective method): none-16 (2.1[percnt]), withdrawal-35 (4.6[percnt]), barrier-180 (23.5[percnt]), systemic hormonal-357 (46.6[percnt]), IUD-130 (16.9[percnt]), tubal ligation-31 (4.0[percnt]), vasectomy-18 (2.3[percnt]). 536 (69.8[percnt]) used HEC methods. Significant predictors were insurance (OR for HEC use with insurance [72.8[percnt]] versus no insurance [52.8[percnt]] was 2.140 [1.311-3.493]; p = .002); age (OR for each year relative to the youngest was 1.043 [1.015-1.071]; p = 0.002) and race/ethnicity (OR for minorities [54.2[percnt]] versus whites [72.2[percnt]] was 0.483 [0.257-0.909]; p = 0.024). HEC use was progressively greater with age: 38-47 year old cohort: 78.8[percnt], 28-37 cohort: 73.8[percnt], 18-27 cohort: 67.4[percnt]. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of WWE in the survey use what is generally considered to be HEC. Efficacy in WWE, however, remains to be demonstrated. The findings identify lower use of HEC among younger, minority and uninsured WWE. Study Supported by: Epilepsy Foundation and Lundbeck Disclosure: Dr. Herzog has received research support from Lundbeck Research USA, Inc. Dr. Mandle has nothing to disclose. Dr. Davis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hauser has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc., Ovation Pharmaceuticals, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals as a consultant.
Dendritic Cell–Based Vaccines that Utilize Myeloid Rather than Plasmacytoid Cells Offer a Superior Survival Advantage in Malignant Glioma

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs that are traditionally divided into two distinct subsets, myeloid DC (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DC (pDCs). pDCs are known for their ability to secrete large amounts of IFN-α. Apart from IFN-α production, pDCs can also process Ag and induce T cell immunity or tolerance. In several solid tumors, pDCs have been shown to play a critical role in promoting tumor immunosuppression. We investigated the role of pDCs in the process of glioma progression in the syngeneic murine model of glioma. We show that glioma-infiltrating pDCs are the major APC in glioma and are deficient in IFN-α secretion (p < 0.05). pDC depletion leads to increased survival of the mice bearing intracranial tumor by decreasing the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and by decreasing the suppressive capabilities of Tregs. We subsequently compared the ability of mDCs and pDCs to generate effective antiglioma immunity in a GL261-OVA mouse model of glioma. Our data suggest that mature pDCs and mDCs isolated from naive mice can be effectively activated and loaded with SIINFEKL Ag in vitro. Upon intradermal injection in the hindleg, a fraction of both types of DCs migrate to the brain and lymph nodes. Compared to mice vaccinated with pDC or control mice, mice vaccinated with mDCs generate a robust Th1 type immune response, characterized by high frequency of CD4(+)T-bet(+) T cells and CD8(+)SIINFEKEL(+) T cells. This robust antitumor T cell response results in tumor eradication and long-term survival in 60% of the animals (p < 0.001).
Gas embolus and cardiac arrest during laparoscopic pyloromyotomy in an infant.

High volume tubing is used to deliver carbon dioxide during laparoscopic procedures. Failure to prime the tubing with carbon dioxide prior to abdominal insufflation may result in the delivery of nitrogen-containing air to the abdominal cavity. We report a case in which initial insufflation of laparoscopic gas resulted in immediate cardiovascular collapse requiring prolonged resuscitation. Persistent intracranial emboli following the arrest may have resulted from nitrogen contamination of the delivered gas. A 12-day-old female underwent laparoscopy for pyloric stenosis. During initial insufflation of the abdomen, the patient had an abrupt decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2ET) associated with bradycardia and pulseless electrical activity. Three hours after successful resuscitation and open pyloromyotomy, computerized tomography documented intra-arterial gas within the cerebral and hepatic circulations that resolved following hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging five days later revealed watershed infarcts in the right frontal and parietal regions. Nitrogen, an insoluble gas not easily eliminated from the body, was likely the gas present within the patient’s circulation several hours after the event. It was unlikely carbon dioxide, which is a highly soluble gas that binds to hemoglobin and is rapidly buffered by the carbonic anhydrase system and excreted by the lung. Room air contamination of high volume insufflation tubing allows nitrogen to enter body cavities during endoscopic procedures. Persistence of emboli following endoscopic procedures suggests that the entrained gas is insoluble. Room air contamination increases the potential for catastrophic events during laparoscopy and other endoscopic procedures.
Effects of a high-fat diet and voluntary wheel running on gluconeogenesis and lipolysis in rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of diet composition and exercise on glycerol and glucose appearance rate (Ra) and on nonglycerol gluconeogenesis (Gneo) in vivo. Male Wistar rats were fed a high-starch diet (St, 68% of energy as cornstarch, 12% corn oil) for a 2-wk baseline period and then were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups: St (n = 7), high-fat (HF; 35% cornstarch, 45% corn oil; n = 8), St with free access to exercise wheels (StEx; n = 7), and HF with free access to exercise wheels (HFEx; n = 7). After 8 wk, glucose Ra when using [3-3H]glucose, glycerol Ra when using [2H5]glycerol (estimate of whole body lipolysis), and [3-13C]alanine incorporation into glucose (estimate of alanine Gneo) were determined. Body weight and fat pad mass were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in exercise vs. sedentary animals only. The average amount of exercise was not significantly different between StEx (3,212 +/- 659 m/day) and HFEx (3,581 +/- 765 m/day). The ratio of glucose to alanine enrichment and absolute glycerol Ra (micromol/min) were higher (P < 0.05) in HF and HFEx compared with St and StEx rats. In separate experiments, the ratio of 3H in C-2 to C-6 of glucose from 3H2O (estimate of Gneo from pyruvate) was also higher (P < 0.05) in HF (n = 5) and HFEx (n = 5), compared with St (n = 5) and StEx (n = 5) rats. Voluntary wheel running did not significantly increase estimated alanine or pyruvate Gneo or absolute glycerol Ra. Voluntary wheel running increased (P < 0.05) glycerol Ra when normalized to fat pad mass. These data suggest that a high-fat diet can increase in vivo Gneo from precursors that pass through pyruvate. They also suggest that changes in the absolute rate of glycerol Ra may contribute to the high-fat diet-induced increase in Gneo.
Rethinking QRS Duration as an Indication for CRT

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation,1,2 and the invasive management of ventricular tachycardia are likely the 3 major changes that have impacted cardiac electrophysiology practice over the last 2 decades. Of these, the literature basis for CRT use is by far the strongest, and the evidence is such that the potential for benefit from left ventricular pacing for drug refractory heart failure (HF) patients is beyond question.3-5 Several major and fundamental challenges remain in terms of optimizing CRT benefit and particularly with preprocedural identification of patients most likely to benefit from this therapy. Following the course of various contentions in terms of ideal method of selecting patients,6,7 including echocardiographic parameters for mechanical dyssynchrony, has been a veritable rollercoaster ride with initial promise followed by the absence of verifiable utility in larger well-conducted studies.8 From the very earliest discussion on CRT, QRS duration was recognized as a potentially simple and intuitive variable that could guide patient selection and subsequent device optimization. However, it was quickly recognized that this parameter may be simplistic and evidence for its utility, particularly for patient selection, not forthcoming.9,10 In this issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Stavrakis et al.11 present important findings from a well-conducted meta-analysis of 5 trials (COMPANION,12 CARE-HF,13 REVERSE,14 MADIT CRT,15 and RAFT5), specifically with regard to QRS duration and CRT benefits. In this meticulously conducted and clearly written manuscript, the authors present important evidence for their potentially practice-impacting conclusion that CRT should not be routinely considered for patients with QRS duration <150 ms. Before the readers and practitioners of electrophysiology and HF management decide on whether we rethink one of our primary indications for CRT (QRS duration ≥120 ms), it is worthwhile to examine from cardiac electrophysiology why and why not QRS duration should impact or may impact CRT benefit.
Clinical management of carpal tunnel syndrome: A 12‐year review of outcomes

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a disorder frequently encountered by occupational health care specialists. The health care management of this disorder has involved a diverse set of clinical procedures. The present article is a review of the literature related to CTS with an emphasis on occupational-related CTS. MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycLIT, and NIOSHTIC databases from 1985–1997 were searched for treatment outcome studies related to CTS. Treatments of interest included surgery, physical therapy, drug therapy, chiropractic treatment, biobehavioral interventions, and occupational rehabilitation. A systematic review of the effects of these interventions on symptoms, medical status, function, return to work, psychological well-being, and patient satisfaction was completed. Compared to other treatments, the majority of studies assessed the effects of surgical interventions. Endoscopic release was associated with higher levels of physical functioning and fewer days to return to work when compared to open release. Limited evidence indicated: 1) steroid injections and oral use of B6 were associated with pain reduction; 2) in comparison to splinting, range of motion exercises appeared to be associated with less pain and fewer days to return to work; 3) cognitive behavior therapy yielded reductions in pain, anxiety, and depression; and, 4) multidisciplinary occupational rehabilitation was associated with a higher percentage of chronic cases returning to work than usual care. Workers' compensation status was associated with increased time to return to work following surgery. Conclusions are preliminary due to the small number of well-controlled studies, variability in duration of symptoms and disability, and the broad range of reported outcome measures. While there are several opinions regarding effective treatment, there is very little scientific support for the range of options currently used in practice. Despite the emerging evidence of the multivariate nature of CTS, the majority of outcome studies have focused on single interventions directed at individual etiological factors or symptoms and functional limitations secondary to CTS. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:232–245, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hybrid catalysts containing zeolite ZSM-5 and supported gallium oxide in the aromatization of n-butane

Abstract It is shown that in the aromatization of n -butane, hybrid catalysts containing irreducible oxides (silica and alumina) as co-catalysts provide aromatic yields which are almost twice that obtained with “pure” zeolite ZSM-5 zeolite. The interpretation of these results is based on the hydrogen back spillover concept. The addition of Ga 2 O 3 to these co-catalysts enhances further the aromatizing performance of the hybrid catalysts. It is believed that such an additional improvement is due to the gallium species located in the interface between the two types of particles, and the Ga containing regions of the zeolite crystallites near the pore openings. This contamination results from the transfer of some partially reduced gallium oxide from the co-catalyst surface to the zeolite pores. In such a case, it is probable that the reaction is governed by the conventional bifunctional catalysis mechanism. These gallium oxide sites appear more active than the normal ones because of their location near the zeolite pore openings which enables them to react with both inward-and outward-diffusing molecules.
Effective Well Integrity Management in a Mature Sour Oil Field

Maximizing the productive life of wells and minimizing the risk of uncontrolled release of reservoir fluid over the entire life cycle of the wells are the major objectives of any E&P company. Therefore, managing well integrity has become as important as managing reservoirs without compromising the safety of personnel or the harmony of the environment, and at the same time protecting valuable assets for a prolonged life. One of the large mature onshore oil fields of Saudi Arabia is producing sour crude oil that multiplies the well integrity challenges. A stringent well integrity surveillance and maintenance program is followed for this field to ensure the integrity of every individual well. The program, essentially developed for Saudi Aramco onshore oil fields, is a proactive problem prevention-based approach. Under this program, any well integrity related problem can be predicted through a structured preventive diagnosis and maintenance schedule for both wellhead and downhole integrity to assure well integrity that verifies and confirms the status of wells with suspect integrity. The program is governed by the operating standards and guidelines for maintaining the well integrity parameters, ensuring safe well operations and securing uninterrupted well productivity and injectivity. The program also emphasizes the requirement of barriers during normal operations, unscheduled well interventions or when shut-in for safety and environment protection. This paper describes the process for efficiently managing well integrity throughout the development life cycle with a particular focus on production operations and the well maintenance phase. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the rationale for following this structured program and the realized benefits.
Time off from rapid stimulation

A study was conducted to test arousal theory predictions about exploratory behavior in high-stimulation environments. The effect of rapidly changing visual and auditory stimulation on the duration of subsequent S-controlled perceptual deprivation or “time off” from stimulation was investigated. Eighteen Ss were repeatedly exposed to periods of 3, 15, or 30 sec of repadly changing stimulation followed by S-terminated time off. Results showed that time off was longest after short (3 sec) presentations and shortest after long (30 sec) presentations. The results, which failed to support a hypothesis derived from arousal