cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transradial approach to coil embolization of an intracranial aneurysm.

l l Purpose: To report the use of a transradial approach to coil embolization of an intracranial aneurysm in a morbidly obese patient. Technical Note: When the transfemoral approach was inaccessible in a morbidly obese patient with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, coil embolization was performed via a 6-F sheath placed in the radial artery. Multiple platinum coils were delivered to exclude the 14-mm basilar tip aneurysm. Because heparin was not reversed, the sheath was left in the artery for 24 hours then removed. The radial artery was pulsatile, and blood supply to the hand was good. Conclusions: The radial artery appears to be a suitable route for access to the intracranial vessels when the femoral artery is not available. J Endovasc Ther 2004;11:411-413
The EMS-RGO: a physician prescribable FES ambulation exercise system

A system has been developed that utilizes commercially available electrical muscle stimulators (EMS) for functional electrical stimulation (FES) and interfaces them with the reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO). The advantages of the system include the availability of commercial subsystems from various manufacturers and the use of subsystems approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for applications such as gait training. The system itself currently uses four EMS units worn on a belt, controlled by remote switches and interfacing with electrodes placed over the quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteal muscle groups of each leg. Two EMS units (for quadriceps stimulation) function primarily during stand-up and sit-down. Two other EMS units (for stimulation of the hip extensors) function primarily during ambulation. Each EMS unit is powered by a 9-V alkaline transistor battery that provides about 36 stand-ups and sit-downs and approximately two miles (over 10000 ft) of walking before replacement is necessary. >
Batch Fabrication and Characterization of Micro-Thin-Film Thermocouples Embedded in Metal

Micro-thin-film sensors are promising for in situ monitoring of various processes in that they can provide measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution. It is desirable to embed microsensors into metals, which are used as functional structures in most hostile industrial environments. However, the fabrication and embedding of these sensors into metals are very challenging. In this study, a batch microfabrication technique based on SU-8 patterning, electroplating, and wet etching of silicon is developed to fabricate and embed thin-film thermocouples (TFTCs) into electroplated nickel and to separate each sensor unit without the need of additional cutting. A dielectric multilayer (Al 2 O 3 /Si x N y /Al 2 O 3 ) provides insulation successfully for the embedded sensors from the nickel substrate and embedding layer. Study by using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy line scan confirms that no significant interdiffusion occurs between different thin film layers after 10 h of annealing at 600°C. The embedded TFTCs provide a linear relationship between temperature and thermoelectric output. The sensitivity of the embedded sensors is almost identical to that of a standard K-type thermocouple. The fabricated TFTCs demonstrate a significantly faster response, approximately 46 ns, than conventional bulk thermocouples.
Spatially Explicit Modeling of Land Use Specific Phosphorus Transport Pathways to Improve TMDL Load Estimates and Implementation Planning

Diffuse pollution from urban stormwater and agricultural runoff are among the leading causes of water pollution in the USA. A process-oriented, stakeholder-driven research approach was implemented in the small heterogeneous watershed of St. Albans Bay, Vermont to model the relative load of phosphorus from all sources, including diffuse transport pathways, and compared to goals and assumptions outlined by a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) developed for phosphorus in Lake Champlain. Mass-balance and dynamic landscape simulation models were used to describe the distribution of the average annual phosphorus load to streams (10.57 t/year) in terms of space, time, and transport process. The majority of the phosphorus load comes from two subwatersheds dominated by clay soils, Stevens and Jewett Brooks. Dissolved phosphorus in surface runoff from the agricultural landscape, driven by high soil phosphorus concentrations, accounts for 41% of the total load to watershed streams. Direct discharge from farmsteads and stormwater loads, primarily from road sand wash-off, are also significant sources. Results reported in this study could help target watershed interventions both in terms of the types and locations of recommended best management practices (BMPs). The study offers an approach to attaining TMDL diffuse pollution targets in a cost-effective and participatory manner and could be replicated for other TMDL processes around the country.
LEO effects on conventional and unconventional solar cell cover materials

In 1984, the LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility) was placed in LEO (low Earth orbit) for a mission planned to last approximately one year. The effects of the LDEF mission environment (micrometeorite/debris impacts, atomic, atomic oxygen, UV, and particulate radiation) on the samples are described. The relative importance of these interactions is highly dependent on orbital altitude. There is no evidence that the impacts with the test samples (including solar cells) caused any electrical degradation. Evidence from a number of LDEF experiments suggests that the majority of the impacts observed on this experiment were of space debris, rather than micrometeorite origin. >
Evaluation of a Juvenile Diversion Program: Using Multiple Lines of Evidence

The evaluation of a juvenile diversion program was approached through the development of multiple lines of evidence bearing on each of the two major program goals: providing a community-based alternative for arrested juveniles who otherwise would have been referred to the juvenile justice system and reducing juvenile delinquency. Convergent results from various measures, research designs, and data stratifications indicated that the program had little success in decreasing referrals to the juvenile justice system but produced a positive delinquency reduction effect (concentrated among less serious offenders). These results are discussed in terms of (1) their significance for the diversion program and (2) the nature of the multiple methodology that produced them.
Stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas.

Abstract Purpose To assess the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) using a linear accelerator equipped with a micromultileaf collimator for cavernous sinus meningiomas. Methods and materials Forty-five patients with benign cavernous sinus meningiomas were treated with SRT between November 1997 and April 2002. Sixteen patients received definitive treatment on the basis of imaging characteristics of the cavernous sinus tumor. Twenty-nine patients received SRT either as immediate adjuvant treatment after incomplete resection or at documented recurrence. Treatment planning in all patients included CT–MRI image fusion and beam shaping using a micromultileaf collimator. The primary tumor volume varied from 1.41 to 65.66 cm 3 (median, 14.5 cm 3 ). The tumor diameter varied from 1.4 to 7.4 cm (median, 3.8 cm). Tumor compressed the optic chiasm or optic nerve in 30 patients. All tumors were treated with a single isocenter plus a margin of normal parenchyma varying from 1 to 5 mm (median, 2.5 mm). The prescribed dose varied from 4250 to 5400 cGy (median, 5040 cGy). The prescription isodose varied from 87% to 95% (median, 90%). The maximal tumor dose varied from 5000 to 6000 cGy (median, 5600 cGy). The follow-up varied from 12 to 53 months (median, 36 months). Results The actuarial 3-year overall and progression-free survival rate was 100% and 97.4%, respectively. One patient (2%) developed local relapsed at 18 months. A partial imaging response occurred in 18% of patients, and the tumor was stable in the remaining 80%. Preexisting neurologic complaints improved in 20% of patients and were stable in the remainder. No patient, tumor, or treatment factors were found to be predictive of imaging or clinical response. Transient acute morbidities included headache responsive to nonnarcotic analgesics in 4 patients, fatigue in 3 patients, and retroorbital pain in 1 patient. No treatment-induced peritumoral edema, cranial neuropathy, endocrine dysfunction, cognitive decline, or second malignancy occurred. One patient had an ipsilateral cerebrovascular accident 6 months after SRT. Conclusion Stereotactic radiotherapy is both safe and effective for patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas. Field shaping using a micromultileaf collimator allows conformal and homogeneous radiation of cavernous sinus meningiomas that may not be amenable to single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery because of tumor size or location. Additional clinical experience is necessary to determine the position of SRT among the available innovative fractionated RT options for challenging skull base meningiomas.
Scale-up vs scale-out for Hadoop: time to rethink?

In the last decade we have seen a huge deployment of cheap clusters to run data analytics workloads. The conventional wisdom in industry and academia is that scaling out using a cluster of commodity machines is better for these workloads than scaling up by adding more resources to a single server. Popular analytics infrastructures such as Hadoop are aimed at such a cluster scale-out environment. Is this the right approach? Our measurements as well as other recent work shows that the majority of real-world analytic jobs process less than 100 GB of input, but popular infrastructures such as Hadoop/MapReduce were originally designed for petascale processing. We claim that a single "scale-up" server can process each of these jobs and do as well or better than a cluster in terms of performance, cost, power, and server density. We present an evaluation across 11 representative Hadoop jobs that shows scale-up to be competitive in all cases and significantly better in some cases, than scale-out. To achieve that performance, we describe several modifications to the Hadoop runtime that target scale-up configuration. These changes are transparent, do not require any changes to application code, and do not compromise scale-out performance; at the same time our evaluation shows that they do significantly improve Hadoop's scale-up performance.
A GPU based implementation of center-surround distribution distance for feature extraction and matching

The release of general purpose GPU programming environments has garnered universal access to computing performance that was once only available to super-computers. The availability of such computational power has fostered the creation and re-deployment of algorithms, new and old, creating entirely new classes of applications. In this paper, a GPU implementation of the Center-Surround Distribution Distance (CSDD) algorithm for detecting features within images and video is presented. While an optimized CPU implementation requires anywhere from several seconds to tens of minutes to perform analysis of an image, the GPU based approach has the potential to improve upon this by up to 28X, with no loss in accuracy.
Fast Modeling of Urban Plume Transport for Emergency Response and Preparedness

We have developed a new approach for fast (i.e., low computational time) modeling the urban transport of atmospheric plume. New model concept by implementing an advanced Gaussian technique is described. For the test of model, comparisons of the model solutions with the EPA wind tunnel experimental measurements over a tall high-rise building are presented. It shows a good agreement between model calculations and experimental measurements. The new approach shows a promising and sets a framework for developing a fast Gaussian urban plume transport model that can be quickly used in emergency by the first responders worked in the cities. For the radiological event, we demonstrate the ease of analyses of radioactivity levels from the present model.
The effect of sublexical and lexical frequency on speech production: An fMRI investigation

There is no consensus regarding the fundamental phonetic units that underlie speech production. There is, however, general agreement that the frequency of occurrence of these units is a significant factor. Investigators often use the effects of manipulating frequency to support the importance of particular units. Studies of pseudoword production have been used to show the importance of sublexical units, such as initial syllables, phonemes, and biphones. However, it is not clear that these units play the same role when the production of pseudowords is compared to the production of real words. In this study, participants overtly repeated real and pseudowords that were similar for length, complexity, and initial syllable frequency while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to real words, production of pseudowords produced greater activation in much of the speech production network, including bilateral inferior frontal cortex, precentral gyri and supplementary motor areas and left superior temporal cortex and anterior insula. Only middle right frontal gyrus showed greater activation for real words than for pseudowords. Compared to a no-speech control condition, production of pseudowords or real words resulted in activation of all of the areas shown to comprise the speech production network. Our data, in conjunction with previous studies, suggest that the unit that is identified as the basic unit of speech production is influenced by the nature of the speech that is being studied, i.e., real words as compared to other real words, pseudowords as compared to other pseudowords, or real words as compared to pseudowords.
MR detection of intracranial calcification: a phantom study.

To make a comparative analysis of calcium detection between MR and CT, anhydrous, insoluble calcium carbonate spheres varying in size from 1.5-7.0 mm were embedded in three physiologic tissue phantoms: low-protein gelatin (3 gm%), high-protein gelatin (6 gm%), and heavy mineral oil. The calcium-containing phantoms were scanned by CT and MR, using both T1- and T2-weighted sequences, with a slice thickness varying from 5-7 mm. Partial volume artifacts were determined by abutting phantoms with and without calcium and by varying the slice position to include different proportions of the calcium- and noncalcium-containing phantoms. Contrast-detail curves, expressed as a ratio of contrast to noise, were determined for varying sizes of calcification and degrees of partial voluming. As expected, the CT conspicuity of calcification (positive contrast) markedly surpasses that of MR (negative contrast). The difference was two orders of magnitude. When the calcification filled more than half the slice on MR, the conspicuity depended on the contrast of the matrix material; i.e., increased matrix intensity caused increased conspicuity. However, as the size of the calcification decreased, partial volume effects increased; i.e., increased matrix intensity caused decreased conspicuity. Conspicuity of small calcifications is independent of matrix material, since contrast and partial volume effects balance. We conclude that CT is clearly the method of choice for identifying small foci of calcification.
Immunotherapy of Melanoma

Are there tumor-associated transplantation antigens (TATAs) on human tumor cells? If there are, are human subjects capable of mounting an immune response to those TATAs? Does clinical malignancy develop because of a failure of the normal immunological response to the tumor? The answers to these very basic questions of tumor immunology are unknown at present, and it seems unlikely that they will be answered in the near future.
Percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians and the safety of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

“Seventy is old enough. After that there is too much risk.” —Mark Twain [(1)][1] Mark Twain's 19th-century sentiment regarding old age is shared by many cardiologists in the current century when considering the use of invasive procedures or pharmacologic therapies in the elderly,
Microscale layering of liquid and vapor phases within microstructures for a new generation two-phase heat sink

Abstract In this study, a new heat sink architecture is introduced that operates at two different phase change heat transfer modes. At low wall superheat temperatures, the heat sink operates under the thin film evaporation heat transfer mode and then transitions to the boiling heat transfer mode when the wall superheat temperature increases. This unique function is enabled through constraining the liquid and vapor phases into separate domains using a capillary-controlled meniscus formed within a hierarchical 3D structure. The structure is designed to form thin liquid layers between vertically oriented menisci across which the liquid is evaporated into neighboring vapor channels. The entire structure is then capped by a hydrophobic vapor-permeable membrane to fully confine the liquid layers while allowing vapor to pass through the membrane. At low wall superheats, the liquid layers directly evaporate into the vapor channels. In this operation mode, the heat flux was linearly increased to a maximum of 54 W/cm2 at approximately 8 °C wall superheat temperature, corresponding to a heat transfer coefficient of approximately 62 kW/m2 K. The heat transfer coefficient only slightly declined with increasing the wall superheat temperature but substantially improved as the liquid supply pressure was increased. Increasing the superheat temperature beyond 7–9 °C resulted in transition to the boiling heat transfer mode with a pronounced increase in surface temperature fluctuations. This transition to boiling results in a decline in the heat transfer coefficient because the meniscus formed between the liquid and vapor spaces breaks down. However, the heat removal capacity is significantly increased, and a critical heat flux of about 300 W/cm2 is reached at
Parents' and children's attitudes toward the enrollment of minors in genetic susceptibility research: implications for informed consent.

Purpose: Children at high risk of future disease may be recruited for participation in disease susceptibility research involving genetic testing. This study was aimed at assessing parents' and children's reactions to such research, and their perceptions of risks and benefits of participating. Methods: Parents and children (ages 10–17) from families at increased risk for breast cancer (n = 16 dyads) and heart disease (n = 21 dyads) participated in separate audiotaped interviews and a follow-up family interview one year later. We asked about reactions, risks and benefits, and informational needs regarding participation in hypothetical research involving genetic testing on a saliva sample. Audiotape transcripts were analyzed qualitatively. Results: All children would initially participate because they viewed the research as low risk. When thinking about learning their test result and sharing it with others, or the uncertainties of testing, many children became hesitant about participating. Many parents thought their child might worry about a positive result, making them unlikely to enroll their child, or to choose not to tell the child test results. Both children and parents thought the benefits of participating included early detection or treatment (breast cancer families), prevention (heart disease families) and helping others. Children's questions about research participation centered on details of the study design and purpose, while parents' questions related to the genetic test itself. Conclusions: Children's first reaction to participating in research involving genetic susceptibility testing research may not indicate an adequate appreciation of risks and benefits; if encouraged to personalize the impact of genetic testing, children are able to engage in a more informed decision-making process. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Researchers Take on a New Role: Advocate for Profession, Science

Scientists pride themselves on being objective purveyors of information. For some, this may seem at odds with delving into the world of public policy, where politics and spin seemingly reign supreme. For others, advocating on behalf of their profession and speaking up about the importance of science is model behavior for researchers. “Collaboration between our leading experts in science and technology and Congress and federal agencies is the only way that public policy decisions will be made using sound science,” said Senator Jay Rockefeller (D–WV), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, in a statement. “When drafting policy or regulations, we need to solicit advice from a spectrum of experts—from universities, nonprofits, industry, or scientific and professional societies—who deal in the issues every day.” Of course, scientific knowledge is not the only factor weighed by lawmakers (politics and personal values also play an important role) but science can and should be part of the decisionmaking equation, according to those who work both inside and outside the system. Members of the biological sciences community are stepping up across the nation to participate in the legislative process. Their engagement spans a range of activities, including meeting with lawmakers in the nation’s capital, consulting with local decisionmakers, and participating in letterwriting campaigns. Lida Beninson, a PhD candidate in integrative physiology at the University of Colorado, became involved in science policy after doing coursework on the topic. She met with the Colorado congressional delegation last year in Washington, DC, as part of the made it easy,” said Vives. “He asked questions and was very engaging. It was a nice conversation. I would encourage others to get involved. We need to get our story out and make it easier for our [elected] representatives to communicate the value of research.” Scott Collins, a regents’ professor of biology at the University of New Mexico, has been an active participant in congressional meetings, science briefings, and letter-writing campaigns. “Everything we do depends on what happens in Congress,” said Collins. “As a community, we have not been very effective in getting our message across.” Although Collins recognizes that each individual letter may not always have an impact in Congress, collective action by researchers does. “Congress makes a lot of decisions about ecology, and scientists need to be at the table when decisions are made,” said Collins. The involvement of researchers is especially important in terms of federal investments in science, according to Collins. “If Congress does not hear from the scientific community about funding [for science], it is that much easier for our programs to be cut” during the congressional appropriations process. The 113th Congress convenes this month, during which lawmakers will begin to debate numerous policies that will affect biological research and education. How beneficial or detrimental those policies are will depend, in part, on the input of the scientific community.
Microwave dipole antennas and feeds

The early trends in microwave antenna design grew out of the practice of using dipole systems at longer wavelengths. Nevertheless, little systematic information has been obtained about microwave dipole systems. This is partly due to the greater difficulty in applying theory to practically useful microwave dipoles and partly to the urgent military needs which prevented systematic research during the early development in this field. More recently, attention has been concentrated on wave guide and horn radiators, which are more amenable to quantitative analysis. Consequently, the design of microwave dipole antennas is still in the empirical stage; quantitative data are available only with reference to particular systems.This chapter includes a discussion of the following: characteristics of antenna feeds; coaxial line termination; asymmetrical line termination; symmetrical energised dipole - slot fed systems; shape and size of the dipole; directive dipole feed; dipole disk feeds; double dipole feeds; and multi-dipole systems.
Proportion of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients that Would Have Been Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening

Abstract Background Lung cancer screening is recommended for current smokers (CS) and former smokers (FS) who meet specific age and smoking criteria. We used existing criteria to estimate the proportion of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that would have been screening-eligible. Methods We identified 2030 NSCLC patients at our institution from 1994 to 2014 and recorded their cigarette smoking status and history. Using criteria from the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) and from other organizations, we ascertained the proportions of screening-eligible patients. Associations among smoking status, gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance type were assessed using Chi-Square test. Results In our cohort, 31.0% (n = 630) were CS, 43.0% (n = 873) were FS, and 26.0% (n = 527) were never smokers. There were 698 patients (34.4%) who met all USPSTF screening criteria. Among 1503 CS and FS, 77.5% (n = 1165) were between age 55 and 80 years, and 67.9% (n = 1021) had smoked ≥ 30 pack-years. Among FS, 50.4% (n = 440) had quit within 15 years of diagnosis. Median pack-years smoked was 40 (interquartile range, 20-55 pack-years). CS were more likely to meet screening criteria than FS (67.5% vs. 31.3%; P Conclusion Only a third of patients diagnosed with NSCLC were eligible for lung cancer screening based on USPSTF criteria. FS were less likely to meet all screening criteria due to only half meeting the quit-time criterion. Additional evidence is needed to evaluate the utility of restricting screening among FS to those who quit within 15 years.
Addressing Weaknesses in Squat Patterns

The squat is one of the most complex strength training techniques performed during traditional weight lifting programs. While multiple variations exist, the most common type is the barbell back squat. However, most individuals perform this movement without prior knowledge or previous instruction on the proper mechanics involved. The following article outlines a squat analysis technique, along with corrective compound and isolation exercises, that can be performed in order to address weaknesses within an individuals’ squatting movement pattern.
Effects of size polydispersity on electron mobility in a two-dimensional quantum-dot superlattice

We found that the transitions between delocalized electronic states in quantum-dot superlattices with smaller size dispersion can account for higher electron mobility. In particular, we solved for the quantum states of a two-dimensional quantum-dot (QD) superlattice using a one-electron approximation. Electron transport properties were studied by considering hopping transitions among coupled delocalized electronic states. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to introduce disorders in superlattice configurations as a function of QD size and size dispersion for calculation of electron mobility. The interparticle spacing, size, and temperature dependence of the electron mobility can be well explained within the framework of our analysis.
Analysis of the Antimicrobial Agents, Potassium Sorbate and Methy1-p-Hydroxybenzoate, in Boll Weevil Diets

Analytical procedures were developed to determine whether the antimicrobial agents methy1- p -hydroxybenzoate and potassium sorbate had been constituted properly in 2 diets for larvae of Anthonomus grandis Boheman and whether they were stable to the heat provided by autoclaving or flash sterilizing, to pH 5.5, to other dietary constituents, and to continued dispersal in the diet at room temperature for 2 weeks. Both TLC-UV and GLC procedures gave average recoveries above 95%. Thus, no degradation problems were evident. These agents are used to preserve foodstuffs from molds, yeasts, and bacteria.
International Norms: An Interdisciplinary Approach

International relations and international law have developed along separate lines. To the extent that law and the social sciences have remained estranged, the disciplines within each have suffered. Inter? national law loses the fruits of the direct study of international behavior, while international relations too often relegates values to a residual category. The necessity for a value-free social science has, albeit unintentionally, made the study of normative systems appear incompatible with rigorously conducted empirical research. In addition, the comparative difficulty of operationalization in value studies serves only to reinforce the division between international law and international relations.
Factors Which Affect Erythropoiesis in Partially Nephrectomized and Sham-operated Rats

Current concepts of the pathogenesis of anemia in uremic animals are derived mainly from the results of studies performed either in vitro or in bilaterally nephrectomized animals. These data may not be applicable to the situation which exists in more chronically uremic animals. In 1932, Chanutin and Ferris showed that removal of five-sixths of the renal mass caused rats to become uremic and to remain so for a prolonged period of time. Rats made uremic in this manner were utilized as models for studying the pathogenesis of the anemia of uremia. Removeal of five-sixths of the renal mass of rats caused their BUNs to rise to over 100 mg/100 ml and to remain at this level for over 3 wk. The hematocrits of these uremic rats fell from 42% to approximately 30% in 3 wk. Erythropoietin (Ep) production immediately fell to a barely detectable level postoperatively and did not increase significantly in 3 wk, although the renal remnant hypertrophied. Extrarenal Ep production also remained at a low level and did not increase during the 3-wk observation period. The response of plethoric uremic rats to 2 units of Ep was as great (in some experiments greater) as that of sham- operated ones. A surprising finding was that plethoric uremic rats, injected with saline rather than with Ep, incorporated more 59Fe into their red blood cells than did sham-operated ones. This finding suggested that in uremic rats erythropoiesis was less markedly suppressed by plethora than it was in non-uremic rats.
Pretargeted Immunoscintigraphy: Effect of Hapten Valency on Murine Tumor Uptake

A method of radioimmunoscintigraphy using bivalent "Janus" haptens with an apparent enhanced affinity ("avidity") for the antibody is described. Janus with 50 micrograms pretargeted Mab WC3A11 resulted in significantly higher murine tumor concentrations (approximately 7%/g) compared to monovalent haptens (approximately 1.4%/g, p < 0.001), and the same high tumor-to-background ratios (approximately 3/1). Janus was synthesized by coupling two molecules of BABE together with a 1,4 butanedithiol linker. Janus itself was rapidly excreted (T1/2b = 42 min) by the kidneys and did not concentrate in any other organs or tissues. Three-step pretargeted immunoscintigraphy (binder, chaser, tracer) with 111In- or 67Ga-Co(III) Janus produced excellent mouse tumor images in 3 hr with high tumor-to-background ratios. The use of short-lived tracers, such as 99mTc and 68Ga, with a T1/2p of hours to image antibodies that localize slowly over several days in vivo is accessible with this new technology.
51 Lateral ankle complex response to repeated mechanical laxity assessment

Background Tissue response to repeated loading of the lateral ankle during arthrometer testing is unknown, and may be affected by number of trials and rate of loading. Objective To determine tissue response changes from repeated anterior displacement testing in those with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design Cross-Sectional. Setting Biomechanics laboratory. Participants Of 53 volunteers; 36 recreationally active individuals participated (17 males, 19 females; age = 21.9 ± 2.7 years, body mass = 67.2 ± 12.5 kg, height = 168.8 ± 10.4 cm). Eighteen participants were designated as CAI and reported repeated sprains and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) scores ≤24; 18 controls reported no ankle sprains with CAIT scores ≥ 28. Interventions Three trials of anterior displacement to 150 N (LigMaster, version 1.26, Sport Tech, Inc., Charlottesville, VA, USA) were applied, then unloaded past 0 N until displacement was measured at 0 mm. Main outcome measurements Displacement from 0 mm at 0 N during unloading and rate of unloading were determined for each trial. Repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc comparisons were used to determine differences in unloading rates and displacement across 3 trials for each group and across all participants. Results Rate of unloading was not significantly different across trials (p > 0.05), nor was displacement across 3 trials between controls (5.4 ± 4.2 mm) and CAI (6.0 ± 4.2 mm) individuals (p = 0.87, η p 2 = 0.0). Across all participants, the displacement of trial 1 (6.7 ± 3.4 mm) was significantly greater than trial 3 (4.7 ± 2.5 mm, p = 0.001, η p 2 = 0.17). Conclusions The significant difference between trials 1 and 3, but not between successive trials, may indicate fluid removal from the ligament over repeated trials, allowing for the isolation of the collagen matrix. The influence of repeated loading and unloading should be considered in arthrometer assessment, as the number of trials explained only 17% of the variance. Further research is needed to determine the optimal number of pre-conditioning cycles for a stable tissue response.
Duly Convicted: The Thirteenth Amendment as Procedural Due Process

This paper argues for four implications of the Thirteenth Amendment’s crime exception — “except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted” — for assessing the influence of abolitionists’ radical understandings of the Fifth Amendment on the meaning originally expressed by the text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. First, Charles Sumner presented radical-abolitionist substantive due process to the Senate in his condemnation of the crime exception in 1864, but his views were quite clearly rejected in favor of a Northwest-Ordinance-style prohibition. Second, “duly convicted” was seen as equivalent to “by due process of law,” but was taken not to require even that sentences be proportional. Third, mainstream-Republican fans of the Northwest Ordinance held that both slavery and fugitive re-enslavement could be simultaneously wrongful but “lawful.” Fourth, because “duly convicted” banned retroactive impositions of slavery, “due process of law” likewise requires prospectivity more generally in deprivations of life, liberty, or property. A procedurally- and rule-of-law-focused reading of the Due Process Clause thus receives support not just from the meaning of “process,” but from forms of “due” and “law” as well.
Abstract 4565: Antizyme inhibitor regulates the expression of proteins involved in mitosis and affects prostate cancer cell growth

Upregulation of polyamine biosynthesis is a requirement for cell growth and proliferation. Increases in polyamine levels are mediated by the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is inhibited by antizyme (AZ). Rescue of ODC activity is accomplished by expression of antizyme inhibitor (AZI), which prevents binding of AZ to ODC. Increases in AZI gene copy number, mRNA transcripts, protein expression and AZI nuclear localization are all associated with prostate cancer. Furthermore, knockdown of AZI expression prevents prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. To determine if AZI regulation affects prostate cancer cell growth via mechanisms that are independent of polyamide levels, we conducted a proteomic analysis of the AZI interactome by co-IP and MS/MS. This resulted in the identification of 29 high-confidence interacting proteins (HCIPs), 10 of which are associated with microtubules or with the mitotic spindle including TPX2 and KIFC1. Constitutive overexpression of AZI in PC3M-LN4 prostate cancer cells leads to a decrease in expression of the microtubule associated protein KIFC1, further supporting an interaction between AZI and KIFC1. Silencing of AZI gene expression using siRNA nanoparticles results in a decrease in prostate cancer cell proliferation and altered expression of proteins involved in mitosis. Taken together, this data suggests that AZI may influence prostate cancer cell proliferation via mechanisms that are independent of polyamine regulation. Citation Format: James M. Rice, Amanda Kusztos, Bruce R. Zetter. Antizyme inhibitor regulates the expression of proteins involved in mitosis and affects prostate cancer cell growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4565.
Effects of residual novaluron on reproduction in alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile rotundata F. (Megachilidae).

BACKGROUND The chitin synthesis inhibitor novaluron can suppress pests that affect alfalfa seed production, but can negatively affect reproductive success in the alfalfa pollinator Megachile rotundata. Novaluron is considered to be a reduced-risk insecticide because it disrupts ecdysis and is non-lethal to adult insects, but some exposed adults have fewer eggs and suppressed egg hatch. For this experiment, bees nested in field cages where they were exposed to alfalfa that had never been treated with novaluron, alfalfa that had recently been sprayed or alfalfa that had been sprayed 1 and 2 weeks earlier. RESULTS Compared with the control, greater proportions of dead eggs and larvae and lower proportions of live prepupae occurred when bees were exposed to recent novaluron sprays as well as one- or two-week old spray residues. Two possible routes of residual pesticide exposure were revealed. Mother bees become contaminated through ingestion or direct contact, or pollen-nectar provisions become contaminated with novaluron (1) on or within leaf pieces that surround provisions or (2) transferred from mother bees' bodies to provisions. CONCLUSION We found strong immature mortality effects of novaluron and its residues on M. rotundata. Understanding all possible pesticide exposure routes for pollinating bees enhances decision-making for maintaining bee populations while protecting crops. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Theory and Calculations on Small Molecules Using Propagator Methods with an AGP Reference

Propagator calculations with an Antisymmetrized Geminal Power (AGP) reference state are shown to give excellent results for excitation energies, state properties and transition moments for smal molecules. Applications to LiH and Li2 are discussed.
Relationship Specific Investments in Customers and Suppliers through Directed Share Programs in IPOs (earlier circulated as) Directed Share Programs in IPO Underwriting Contracts - Agency Problem or Supply Assurance?

We provide evidence that firms do not make product and capital market decisions in isolation. When a firm sells severely underpriced new equity for exogenous reasons, managers transfer some of the cash – about six million dollars, or 8 % of the capital raised – that would otherwise have been “left on the table” to the firm’s customers and suppliers, thus contradicting the prospect-theory based behavioral bias hypothesis for such underpricing. Such transfer does not exacerbate the new equity underpricing problem; rather, an increase in expected underpricing results in additional transfer to issuing firms stakeholders. The existence of long-term purchase and supply agreements is the primary predictor of whether firms make relationship-specific investments in their external stakeholders but not research, technical, and marketing collaboration with customers or suppliers, long product/business-development/sales cycle, reliance on the intellectual property of the suppliers, supplier monopoly, or input rationing. Issuing firm’s managers value their product market relationships more than the ones with their underwriters and the lead underwriter’s institutional clientele lose from these investments.
A Judicial Dilemma: Expert Witness Testimony in Child Sex Abuse Cases

This study first analyzes the content of 122 appellate court decisions in which expert witness testimony on the characteristics of sexually abused children is challenged. The nature of the testimon...
Experience with the Sarns centrifugal pump in postcardiotomy ventricular failure.

The reported clinical use of the Sarns centrifugal pump (Sarns, Inc./3M, Ann Arbor, Mich.) as a cardiac assist device for postcardiotomy ventricular failure is limited. During a 25-month period ending November 1988, we used 40 Sarns centrifugal pumps as univentricular or biventricular cardiac assist devices in 27 patients who could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass despite maximal pharmacologic and intraaortic balloon support. Eighteen men and nine women with a mean age of 60.4 years (28 to 83) required assistance. Left ventricular assist alone was used in 12 patients, right ventricular assist in 2, and biventricular assist in 13. The duration of assist ranged from 2 to 434 hours (median 45). Centrifugal assist was successful in weaning 100% of the patients. Ten of 27 patients (37%) improved hemodynamically, allowing removal of the device(s), and 5 of 27 (18.5%) survived hospitalization. Survival of patients requiring left ventricular assist only was 33.3% (4/12). Complications were common and included renal failure, hemorrhage, coagulopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, sepsis, cerebrovascular accident, and wound infection. During 3560 centrifugal pump hours, no pump thrombosis was observed. The Sarns centrifugal pump is an effective assist device when used to salvage patients who otherwise cannot be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. Statistical analysis of preoperative patient characteristics, operative risk factors, and postoperative complications failed to predict which patients would be weaned from cardiac assist or which would survive. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1992;104:554-60)
Control of high-dose-cisplatin-induced emesis with an all-oral three- drug antiemetic regimen

In this pilot trial, the antiemetic efficacy and tolerability of an all-oral antiemetic combination in the prevention of both acute and delayed nausea and vomiting following high-dose cisplatin was evaluated. Fifty-two patients receiving cisplatin (median dose 100 mg/m2) were entered. Patients received (1) 60 min prior to cisplatin: prochlorperazine spansule 15 mg, dexamethasone 20 mg, granisetron 2 mg; (2) 12 h after cisplatin: prochlorperazine spansule 15 mg, dexamethasone 10 mg; (3) on days 2 and 3: prochlorperazine spansule 15 mg b.i.d., dexamethasone 8 mg b.i.d.; (4) on days 4 and 5: dexamethasone 4 mg b.i.d. All antiemetics were administered orally. The study period was the 120 h after cisplatin administration. The primary efficacy end-point was complete control (no vomiting, retching or antiemetic rescue) of delayed emesis (24-120 h after cisplatin). Complete control of delayed emesis was achieved in 26 patients (53%). Nineteen patients (39%) noted no delayed nausea. Complete control of acute emesis (24 h after cisplatin) was attained in 44 patients (86%). The no nausea rate during the first 24 h was 74%. Overall, 39 patients (80%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their outcome. Treatment was well tolerated with infrequent and minor adverse events. In conclusion, an all-oral combination of granisetron, dexamethasone and prochlorperazine is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen for preventing acute cisplatin-induced emesis. Control of delayed emesis was not better than with current standard treatment, and more effective approaches are needed.
Disparities in Access to Direct Acting Antiviral Regimens for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): The Impact of Race and Insurance Status.

Despite highly effective and well-tolerated regimens for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV), patients face barriers in accessing treatment. In addition to suboptimal HCV screening programs and lack of effective linkage-to-care, other barriers include strict requirements from some payers to cover treatment. This study reports insurance status and Hispanic ethnicity as predictors of not receiving treatment. These barriers occur despite the fact that HCV is the most common indication for liver transplantation and cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S. Therefore, it is critical that policymakers bring all the stakeholders together and develop a national policy to eradicate HCV infection from the U.S.
The relationship of decision-making and division of household labor to relationship satisfaction

The influence of the division of household labor and decision making on relationship satisfaction was examined. Equality in income and education between partners was also taken into consideration. Participants of this study consisted of 63 couples recruited from a community in the Midwest. The study used the Family Responsibility Index to measure the division of household labor, the Marital Decision Making Scale to measure decision-making, a subscale of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale to measure relationship satisfaction. The hypotheses were tested using correlations and regressions. Overall results suggest that equality in the division of household labor was found to have significant effects on relationship satisfaction.
Does the pattern of bicuspid aortic valve leaflet fusion determine the success of the Ross procedure

BACKGROUND In addition to being associated with aortopathy, a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has been posed to be a risk factor for the dilation of the pulmonary autograft in the aortic position. The aim of this study is to assess the association between the subtype of native aortic valve leaflet fusion (right and noncoronary leaflets [R/N] vs right and left leaflets [R/L]) and autograft dilation and valve dysfunction after the Ross procedure. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of 43 patients with BAV who underwent a Ross procedure in our center from 1993 to 2013. Serial transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure changes in autograft and ascending aortic diameter over time. The aortic diameter was measured at four levels, and Z values were computed. Aortic dilation was defined as a Z value greater than 3. RESULTS The mean age at the time of the Ross procedure was 13.5 ± 9.2 years. R/L was the most prevalent native aortic valve subtype (R/L, n = 26, 61% vs R/N, n = 17, 39%). PreRoss procedure, aortic dilation was more frequent in patients with R/N fusion (P = .02), whereas the initial aortic valve gradient and grade of aortic insufficiency (AI) did not differ between the subgroups. At follow-up, (mean = 9.6 ± 4.3 years) dilation of the autograft and ascending aorta was seen more often in patients with R/N leaflet fusion (P = .03). Conversely, the prevalence of more than moderate AI was significantly higher in patients with R/L leaflet fusion (P = .03). There was no significant difference between groups among numbers of late reintervention on the aortic valve or root (P = .75); however the type of intervention varied by morphologic subtype. Patients with R/L fusion underwent more aortic valve replacements (AVRs) while patients with R/N fusion underwent more valve-sparing aortic root replacements. CONCLUSIONS After Ross procedure, both groups of patients were likely to have a combination of dilation of the aortic root and the tubular portion of the ascending aorta at follow-up. Patients with R/L fusion were more likely to have a prevalence of root dilation, while patients with R/N fusion were more likely to have tubular ascending aorta dilation. The R/L phenotype is associated with a slightly more rapid dilation at follow-up and is more likely to have postoperative autograft insufficiency. This information may serve to guide patient and procedure selection for AVR.