cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase II trial of neoadjuvant estramustine and etoposide plus radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer

Abstract Objectives. To report the results of a Phase II trial of neoadjuvant estramustine and etoposide before radical prostatectomy in patients with locally advanced disease. Methods. Treatment consisted of three cycles of estramustine (10 mg/kg/day) and etoposide (50 mg/m 2 /day) orally on days 1 through 21, repeated every 28 days, followed by radical prostatectomy. The eligibility criteria included locally advanced prostate cancer (clinical Stage T2b/c or T3, prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level of 15 ng/mL or greater, or Gleason score of 8 or higher) without evidence of metastatic disease. The median PSA level was 14 ng/mL (range 5.3 to 50), the median Gleason score was 7 (range 6 to 9), and 44% had Stage T2b/c or T3 disease. The primary endpoint was feasibility of neoadjuvant therapy and radical prostatectomy, including drug and surgery-related toxicities. Secondary endpoints included the pre-prostatectomy PSA level, local response, pathologic outcomes, and time to PSA failure. Results. Eighteen patients were entered and completed all three cycles of therapy, and 16 (89%) underwent radical prostatectomy. A local response occurred in 15 (94%) of 16 patients with palpable tumors, and the serum PSA reached undetectable levels after therapy and before radical prostatectomy in 9 patients (50%). Five patients (28%) experienced grade 3 toxicity (two with deep venous thrombosis, two with neutropenia, and one with diarrhea) and one (6%) experienced grade 4 toxicity (pulmonary embolus) before surgery. The median operative time was 125 minutes, the mean blood loss was 665 mL, and the mean length of stay was 2.5 nights. Five minor surgical complications occurred in 4 patients. The pathologic analysis demonstrated residual carcinoma with squamous metaplasia and androgen deprivation effect in all patients. Five patients (31%) had organ-confined disease and 9 patients (56%) had specimen-confined disease. All patients achieved an undetectable PSA level postoperatively and at a median follow-up of 14 months (range 5 to 20) and without additional therapy, all 14 patients with negative lymph nodes were disease free. Conclusions. This trial confirms the feasibility of radical prostatectomy with acceptable surgical morbidity after neoadjuvant therapy with estramustine and etoposide in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. However, this regimen is associated with estramustine-induced thromboembolic toxicity. The results of the pathologic analysis suggest a higher than expected rate of organ-confined and specimen-confined disease, but little histologic evidence of antitumor effect beyond that associated with androgen deprivation. Additional study of this paradigm with other drug regimens is warranted.
From bedside to bench to bedside to clinical practice: an odyssey with irinotecan.

An odyssey can be defined as “a long wandering and eventful journey” ([1][1]). Traveling together with many collaborators, from a National Cancer Institute–sponsored phase I trial to drug metabolism to genomics, we learned, over more than a decade, the essence of pharmacogenetics, a field with
Compressive Fatigue Tests on a Unidirectional Glass/Polyester Composite at Cryogenic Temperatures

Superconductive magnetic energy storage (SMES) units are large potential users of fiberglass reinforced polymer matrix composites. A 1000 MWh unit would require 1.6 Gg of material.1 The superconducting magnet requires low thermal conductance structural supports to transmit the magnetic loads from the 1.8 K conductors to the room temperature bedrock. In particular, it needs support struts with a high strength to thermal conductivity ratio, but low elastic modulus and a low strength to weight ratio are quite acceptable. This is unlike many aerospace applications. The large mass of material needed for struts necessitates the use of easily obtainable low-cost materials. This generally means that commercially fabricated composites will be used. The total capital cost must be balanced against operating cost.
Nitrogen dynamics in Lake Okeechobee: forms, functions, and changes

Total nitrogen (TN) in Lake Okeechobee, a large, shallow, turbid lake in south Florida, has averaged between 90 and 150 μM on an annual basis since 1983. No TN trends are evident, despite major storm events, droughts, and nutrient management changes in the watershed. To understand the relative stability of TN, this study evaluates nitrogen (N) dynamics at three temporal/spatial levels: (1) annual whole lake N budgets, (2) monthly in-lake water quality measurements in offshore and nearshore areas, and (3) isotope addition experiments lasting 3 days and using 15N-ammonium (15NH4 +) and 15N-nitrate (15NO3 −) at two offshore locations. Budgets indicate that the lake is a net sink for N. TN concentrations were less variable than net N loads, suggesting that in-lake processes moderate these net loads. Monthly NO3 − concentrations were higher in the offshore area and higher in winter for both offshore and nearshore areas. Negative relationships between the percentage of samples classified as algal blooms (defined as chlorophyll a > 40 μg l−1) and inorganic N concentrations suggest N-limitation. Continuous-flow experiments over intact sediment cores measured net fluxes (μmol N m−2 h−1) between 0 and 25 released from sediments for NH4 +, 0–60 removed by sediments for NO3 −, and 63–68 transformed by denitrification. Uptake rates in the water column (μmol N m−2 h−1) determined by isotope dilution experiments and normalized for water depth were 1,090–1,970 for NH4 + and 59–119 for NO3 −. These fluxes are similar to previously reported results. Our work suggests that external N inputs are balanced in Lake Okeechobee by denitrification.
All for the Front, All for Victory! The Mobilization of Forced Labor in the Soviet Union during World War Two

The Soviet Union, in its drive to mobilize its every resource to turn back the German invaders, used a unique institution: the Gulag, a forced-labor, detention, and exile system isolating millions of citizens from the body politic.While the term “Gulag,” an acronym of “Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei” (Main Administration of Camps), properly notes a specific, time-limited administrative institution tasked with oversight of the Soviet detention system, I use the term here and throughout in its more common usage since the publication of Solzhenitsyn's works to refer to the entire Soviet penal system. This essay seeks to understand the wartime Gulag both as a microcosm of the Soviet home front and as an integral participant in the campaigns to mobilize Soviet labor power in support of the war effort and to cleanse that very labor force of real and potential enemies of the Soviet state. Focusing on the institutions and population, economic production, political education, and the rigidification of detention of those defined as “especially dangerous,” the essay explores the relationship between the Gulag and the larger Soviet polity. Although in economic and administrative terms the Gulag emerged as a burden to the Soviet state during the war, the Soviet leadership never even entertained the notion of dismantling the system. The Gulag was a pillar of the Soviet system, as important for its role in the battle to cleanse and shape the Soviet home front as for its role in military production.
Purchasing contractor service for transport

Services offered by contractors in physical distribution activities have developed considerably in recent years. Contractors are now more sophisticated in their business approach and are much more professional in selling their services. This article describes a practical and structured approach to purchasing contractor services. It includes specifying precise requirements in writing, and the contents of such a service specification; how to go about choosing suitable contractors and subsequently developing the right working relationship. The article discusses how to monitor subsequent performance and control costs; it provides a useful checklist for the user involved in contracted operations.
Chest pain in generalized anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the prevalence of chest pain and related medical utilization in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and to investigate the possible relationship between the occurrence of chest pain in these patients and the episodes of excessive worry which characterize this disorder. METHOD The presence of a history of chest pain in patients with generalized anxiety disorder was investigated in an outpatient psychiatric sample using a structured interview which also assessed related medical utilization and the relationship of chest pain to panic attacks and episodes of excessive worry. RESULTS Of fifty sequentially evaluated patients meeting DSM-III R criteria for G.A.D., twenty-four (48%) reported a history of chest pain. Seven of these patients also had a history of panic attacks, however, four of the seven reported that their pain occurred independently of their panic attacks. Sixteen patients with G.A.D. reported that their chest pain episodes were associated with episodes of excess worry. Eleven had sought medical evaluation for their pain. Patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries are frequently found to have panic disorder. The pattern of utilization of medical care was comparable in this sample of patients with G.A.D. and a group of patients with panic disorder recruited in a similar manner. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that in addition to panic disorder, G.A.D. may also be a common diagnosis in chest pain patients with no demonstrable coronary disease. Future studies of coronary artery disease negative patients with chest pain should include assessments for the presence of G.A.D. Our results also suggest that chest pain may be a common symptom in G.A.D. The possibility that chest pain should be included in the diagnostic criteria for this disorder should be the subject of further investigation.
A learning objects approach to teaching programming

The goal of this paper is to describe a new approach to a content creation and delivery mechanism for a programming course. This approach is based on the concept of creating a large repository of learning objects, each of which consists of the core material, code examples, supplementary notes, and review questions. A learning object will be uniquely described by a XML document and presents an interface for future search, retrieval and updating, as well as for potential connection to external assessment tools. Furthermore, we describe a new teaching, learning and authoring tool (called adaptive book) that allows users to add new learning objects, modify current ones, and discuss concepts using a variety of representation models. With the adaptive book, an instructor will be able to design his or her very own course using a large repository of material, which will target a particular audience or a customized syllabus. In addition, the electronic adaptive book will serve as an interactive, continuously up-to-date learning environment for students. It will allow students to create personal learning profiles that are embedded into the core content of the course. We believe that in the near future, this electronic adaptive book will have the potential to replace or enhance traditional paper textbooks. In all physicality, it is impossible to have a personal instructor for each student, but with the adaptive book, we believe we are one step closer to realizing the dream of individualized instructions for each and every student.
Dementia in the USA: state variation in prevalence

BACKGROUND: The number of dementia patients will increase over the next decades. However, we lack information on the geographic distribution of these patients. We aimed to describe the variation of dementia prevalence and to then compare the observed to expected prevalence. METHODS: This study is based on a 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries in 2008. The crude dementia prevalence was calculated and age/sex standardized to the US population for states. We used the World Alzheimer Report 2009 prevalence to compare estimates. RESULTS: 4.8 million persons were included. The adjusted prevalence is 8.24%, varying from 5.96 to 9.55% across states. The diagnosed prevalence is lower than the expected in most states. Overall, we estimate over 100 000 undiagnosed dementia patients in Medicare. CONCLUSIONS: The high state variation suggests that the number of diagnosed dementia cases does not fall evenly across all states and hence may require different levels of state-level planning.
Abstract 18245: Infra-Hisian Complete Heart Block is Often due to Localized Disease in Main His Bundle: Proof of Concept by Electrophysiological Observations during Transient HV Block at the time of Permanent His Bundle Pacing

Introduction: BBB has been shown to be due to longitudinal dissociation in His bundle (HB) in most pts. Pacing at the distal HB can normalize QRS in pts with BBB. In patients with complete heart block (CHB) at infra-His level (HV block), permanent HB pacing (HBP) at sites with HB electrograms, can normalize QRS suggesting the conduction disease is localized in the main HB. It is unclear if this phenomenon is due to recruitment, or capture of distal HB beyond the site of block. We report the electrophysiological observations during transient HV block at the time of permanent HBP. Results: An 81-yr-old female with left atrial flutter presented for AV node ablation and permanent HBP. Ablation catheter placed at HB region showed 2:1 AV conduction and HV interval of 50 ms (fig A). Medtronic 3830 pacing lead was placed on the HB region where HB egm could be recorded. Once the 3830 lead was fixed, patient developed CHB. Egm from the HBP lead showed HV block with ventricular rhythm at 1300 ms; there was 2:1 AV co...
Properties of Copper Chromite Catalysts in Hydrogenation Reactions

Abstract A pretreatment involving a 4-h reduction under H2at 573 K, compared to either 473 or 673 K, gave the highest specific activity for furfural and crotonaldehyde hydrogenation over an unpromoted copper chromite catalyst. Both H2and CO chemisorption declined monotonically with increasing reduction temperature, but turnover frequencies also showed a maximum after a pretreatment at 573 K. DRIFTS identified a band, associated with CO adsorbed on Cu+1sites, which reached a maximum intensity after a 573 K pretreatment, while XRD patterns also provided evidence for a CuCrO2phase and showed a continuous increase in Cu0as temperature increased. Selectivity to furfuryl alcohol ranged from 35–80% and reaction orders on furfural and H2were near unity. In contrast, crotonaldehyde hydrogenation gave primarily butyraldehyde with only around 3% crotyl alcohol and a near zero-order dependence on crotonaldehyde, although the H2dependence was still near first order. IR spectra under reaction conditions revealed adsorbed crotonaldehyde, provided evidence for an unsaturated alkoxide intermediate and detected no butyraldehyde on the surface. A simple Langmuir–Hinshelwood sequence nicely explained both reactions, it was consistent with the DRIFTS results obtained during crotonaldehyde hydrogenation, and the resultant rate expression gave meaningful entropies and enthalpies of adsorption for H2and crotonaldehyde.
PCNN models and applications

Pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) models are described. The linking field modulation term is shown to be a universal feature of any biologically grounded dendritic model. Applications and implementations of PCNNs are reviewed. Application based variations and simplifications are summarized. The PCNN image decomposition (factoring) model is described in detail.
Comparison of Social Abilities of Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to Those of Children with Similar IQ Scores and Normal Controls

Children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were assessed with items from the social skills domain of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) via interviews with their caregivers. Their scores were compared with scores from children in two control groups. The control groups included children matched for IQ to the FAS group (specifically on verbal IQ, henceforth, the VIQ group) and children with IQ scores in the average to above-average range (normal control group). Forty-five children (age range, 5 years 7 months to 12 years 11 months) were assessed (n/group = 15). All groups differed with regard to social ability, as measured by the VABS (NC > VIQ > FAS), even when the effects of socioeconomic status were held constant. The three subdomains of the VABS social scale (interpersonal relationship skills, use of play and leisure time, and coping skills) were assessed, and results showed that the children with FAS were most impaired on the subdomain that assessed interpersonal relationship skills. An additional measure was constructed by obtaining an age-equivalent score for the VABS social scale and calculating a difference score by subtracting the child's chronological age from his/her age-equivalent score. There was a significant correlation between chronological age and difference scores for children in the FAS group but not for children in the two control groups. Specifically, in older children with FAS, there was an increased discrepancy between their ages and their age-equivalent scores, a discrepancy that was not present in children in the control groups. These results suggest that social deficits in children with FAS are beyond what can be explained by low IQ scores and indicate that there may be arrested, and not simply delayed, development of social abilities in children with FAS.
A distributed approach to dynamic autonomous agent placement for tracking moving targets with application to monitoring urban environments

The problem of dynamic autonomous agent placement for tracking moving targets arises in many real-life applications, such as rescue operations, security, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The objective of this thesis is to develop a distributed hierarchical approach to address this problem. After the approach is developed, it is tested on a number of urban surveillance scenarios. The proposed approach views the placement problem as a multi-tiered architecture entailing modules for low-level sensor data preprocessing and fusion, decentralized decision support, knowledge building, and centralized decision support. This thesis focuses upon the modules of decentralized decision support and knowledge building. The decentralized decision support module requires a great deal of coordination among agents to achieve the mission objectives. The module entails two classes of distributed algorithms: non-model-based algorithms and model-based algorithms. The first class is used as a place holder while a model is built to describe agents' knowledge about target behaviors. After the model is built and evaluated, agents switch to the model-based algorithms. To apply the approach to urban environments, urban terrain zones are classified, and the problem is mathematically formulated for two different types of urban terrain, namely low-rise, widely spaced and high-rise, closely spaced zones. An instance of each class of algorithms is developed for each of the two types of urban terrain. The algorithms are designed to run in a distributed fashion to address scalability and fault tolerance issues. The class of model-based algorithms includes a distributed model-based algorithm for dealing with evasive targets. The algorithm is designed to improve its performance over time as it learns from past experience how to deal with evasive targets. Apart from the algorithms, a model estimation module is developed to build motion models online from sensor observations. The approach is evaluated through a set of simulation experiments inspired from real-life scenarios. Experimental results reveal the superiority of the developed algorithms over existing ones and the applicability of the online model-building method. Therefore, it is concluded that the overall distributed approach is capable of handling agent placement or surveillance applications in urban environments among other applications.
Heart rate variability in patients being treated for dengue viral infection: new insights from mathematical correction of heart rate.

Introduction: Severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a viral infection that acts to increase permeability of capillaries, resulting in internal hemorrhage. Linear frequency domain Fourier spectral analysis represents the most published noninvasive tool for diagnosing and assessing health status via calculated heart rate variability (HRV). As such, HRV may be useful in assessing clinical status in DHF patients, but is prone to erroneous results and conclusions due to the influence of the average HR during the time period of HRV assessment (defined as the ’prevailing’ HR). We tested the hypothesis that alterations in HRV calculated with linear frequency analysis would be minimal when mathematically corrected for prevailing HR following dengue viral infection. Methods: Male (N=16) and female (N= 11) patients between the ages of 6 months and 15 years of age (10 ± 6 SD years) were tracked through the progression of the dengue viral infection with treatment following the abatement of a fever (defervescence). Electrocardiographic recordings were collected and analyzed for HRV. Results: High frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF ratio were unaffected by correction for prevailing HR. Conclusion: HRV corrected for changes in HR did not alter the interpretations of our data. Therefore, we conclude that cardiac parasympathetic activity (HF frequency) is responsible for the majority of the HR reduction following defervescence in patients with dengue viral infection.
Treatment of epilepsy in women of reproductive age: Pharmacokinetic considerations

Although epilepsy affects men and women equally, there are many women's health issues in epilepsy, especially for women of childbearing age. These issues, which include menstrual cycle influences on seizure activity (catamenial epilepsy), interactions of contraceptives with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy, teratogenicity and the safety of breastfeeding, challenge both the woman with epilepsy and the many healthcare providers involved in her care. Although the information in the literature on women's issues in epilepsy has grown steeply in recent years, there are many examples showing that much work is yet to be done. The purpose of this article is to review these issues and describe practical considerations for women of childbearing age with epilepsy. The article addresses the established or "first-generation" AEDs (phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, carbamazepine, ethosuximide and valproic acid) and the "second-generation" AEDs (felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamide). Although a relationship between hormones and seizure activity is present in many women, good treatment options for catamenial epilepsy remain elusive. Drug interactions between enzyme-inducing AEDs and contraceptives are well documented. Higher dosages of oral contraceptives or a second contraceptive method are suggested if women use an enzyme-inducing AED. Planned pregnancy and counselling before conception is crucial. This counselling should include, but is not limited to, folic acid supplementation, medication adherence, the risk of teratogenicity and the importance of prenatal care. AED dosage adjustments may be necessary during pregnancy and should be based on clinical symptoms, not entirely on serum drug concentrations. Many groups have turned their attention to women's issues in epilepsy and have developed clinical practice guidelines. Although the future holds promise in this area, many questions and the need for progress remain.
Integration strategies for Computational Science & Engineering software

In order to make significant progress in solving challenging problems in Computational Science & Engineering (CS&E), we need to integrate a large amount of software written by different groups of experts. Modern Lean/Agile methodologies would seem to provide a good foundation for research-driven development of complex CS&E software. Here, we describe issues related to the integration of CS&E software and propose different integration processes tailored to the special challenges in CS&E. We also describe practical experience with some of these tailored integration strategies related to Trilinos and some of its important application customers at Sandia National Labs.
Application of a GCM to Study the Surface Hydrological Budget of Amazonia

Abstract Using The Florida State University Global Spectral Model, hydrological budgets are calculated over the Amazon River basin for the boreal summer of 1979 with and without a complex biosphere model (BATS) coupled to the atmospheric model. Substantially increased precipitation and latent heat fluxes over the Amazon are noted for the BATS case, along with better maintenance of low-level flow patterns. Partitioning of the rainfall and latent heat flux into detailed component terms from BATS reveals evidence of “moisture recycling,” particularly in relation to the intercepted rainfall. Monthly variations in the component terms for precipitation, latent heat flux, and upper soil moisture are described. A total runoff efficiency of 75% is simulated by the model, while the surface runoff efficiency is about 30%. Model performance in the locality of two intensive field study areas (Para and Rondonia) of the Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia has been examined via time series from the tw...
Nonoperative management of splenic injuries: significance of age

Abstract Background In the nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injuries (BSI), the clinical relevance of age as a risk factor has not been well studied. Methods Using the 2011 National Trauma Data Bank data set, age was analyzed both as a continuous variable and a categorical variable (group 1 [13–54 y], group 2 [55–74 y], and group 3 [≥75 y]). BSI severity was stratified by abbreviated injury scale (AIS): group 1 (AIS ≤2), group 2 (AIS 3), and group 3 (AIS ≥4). A semiparametric proportional odds model was used to model NOM outcomes and effects due to age and BSI severity. Results Of 15,113 subjects, 15.3% failed NOM. The odds of failure increased by a factor of 1.014 for each year of age, or factor of 1.5 for groups 2 and 3 each. BSI severity groups 2 and 3 had increases in the odds of failure by factors of 3.9 and 13, respectively, compared with those of group 1. Most failures occurred by 48 h irrespective of age. The effect of age was most pronounced in age groups 2 and 3 with the most severe BSI, where a NOM failure rate of >50% was seen. Both age and failure of NOM were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions Age is associated with failure of NOM but its effect seems more clinically relevant only in high-grade BSI. Factors that could influence NOM success in elderly patients with high-grade injuries deserve further study.
Abstract T MP71: Evaluation of a Community-Wide Stroke Preparedness Intervention: Results of the ASPIRE Study

Background: Lack of education about stroke preparedness and needed action, particularly in underserved communities may prevent seeking timely care. Aim: To evaluate the Acute Stroke Program of Interventions Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities (ASPIRE) project. Methods: ASPIRE is a multi-level program [individual/community, hospital, EMS] using a community-engaged approach to stroke preparedness targeted to underserved black DC communities. The aim is to decrease acute stroke (AS) presentation times and increase intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) use. Phase 1 included 1) Enhancement of EMS focus on AS; 2) Implementation/enrichment of AS protocols to move DC hospitals to Primary Stroke certification; 3) Pre-intervention (PRE) AS patient data collection in all 7 acute care DC hospitals; 4) Focus group/survey identification of barriers to emergency stroke care to create a culturally tailored intervention. Phase 2 was a 1 year city-wide intervention. Phase 3 was 1 year post-intervention (PO...
Resource wealth as rent leverage: Rethinking the oil–stability nexus

The study of the “resource curse” has become a major research agenda with multiple outcomes of interest—regime type, regime stability, civil conflict and economic growth to name a few. However, the...
In vitro perfusion of chinchilla thin limb segments: urea and NaCl permeabilities

We measured the urea and NaCl permeabilities (Purea and PNaCl, respectively) of the following nephron segments from chinchilla: the upper part of the long-loop descending limb (from outer medulla, LDLu), the middle part of the long-loop descending limb (from outer 30% of the inner medulla, LDLm), the lower part of the long-loop descending limb (from deep inner medulla, LDLl), and the thin ascending limb (from deep inner medulla, ATL). We found that Purea (x10(-5) cm/s) was relatively low in the LDLu (3.3), but that the value was larger in the inner medullary thin descending limb (16.8 for LDLm and 47.6 for LDLl). The ATL had an even higher value (170). Phloretin, 0.25 mM, added to the peritubular bath had no effect on Purea of these segments, suggesting that the rapid transport rate is not due to a phloretin-sensitive facilitated transport pathway like that seen in the inner medullary collecting duct. PNaCl (x10(-5) cm/s) also increased with distance along the length of the thin descending limb (LDLu, 11.7; LDLm, 41.2; LDLl, 98.4; and ATL, 321). Calculations from NaCl dilution potential measurements showed that LDLu was Na+ permselective, whereas LDLl and ATL were Cl- permselective. High solute permeabilities in the inner medullary thin descending limb contradict a major requirement of the passive model of urinary concentration developed previously (J. P. Kokko and F. C. Rector, Jr. Kidney Int. 2: 214-223, 1972; and J. L. Stephenson. Kidney Int. 2: 85-94, 1972).
Metabolic effects of isoproterenol and propranolol in normal subjects before, during and after triiodothyronine-induced hypermetabolism.

SummaryEffective beta adrenergic receptor blockade was produced in 8 normal men before, during and after a 14-day period of triiodothyronine-induced hypermetabolism. Triiodothyronine did not augment the increases in plasma levels of free fatty acids during infusions of graded doses of isopro-terenol. The increments in plasma FFA during isoproterenol administration were significantly attenuated by propranolol in the hy-permetabolic period as well as during the initial and final control periods. Neither isoproterenol nor propranolol produced any appreciable changes in blood glucose in any period. The results also suggest that beta adrenergic receptors may mediate the effects of isoproterenol upon free fatty acid mobilization but do not suggest a similar receptor role for regulation of blood sugar levels.
A study of the acid-base equilibrium of the blood in acute bichloride intoxications.

Conclusions1. The acute kidney injury which develops late in poisoning by bichloride of mercury does not show any dependence in the frequency with which it occurs with the severity of the mercury enteritis.2. The delayed kidney injury in acute bichloride intoxications has been constantly associated with the development of an acid intoxication. The severity of the damage to the cells of the convoluted tubules and the extent of fatty infiltration in the cells of the ascending limb of Henle's loop show a correlation with the degree of acid intoxication.
Two red salts derived from yellow 4-cyano-1-methylpyridinium iodide: 1,1′,1″-trimethyl-4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-triyl)tripyridinium trisiodide and 4-cyano-1-methylpyridinium triiodide

Abstract Crystal structures of 1,1′,1″-trimethyl-4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-triyl)tripyridinium trisiodide (m.p. 383 °C) and 4-cyano-1-methylpyridinium triiodide (m.p. 118 °C) are described. These red salts were obtained unexpectedly from yellow 4-cyano-1-methylpyridinium iodide in either water or methanol solution in contact with insoluble heavy metal chlorides under ambient conditions. Neither compound is widely described in the chemical literature.
Breeding of CMS Lines Xiankang A and Tiankang A with Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice

Developed from the hybridization between the breeding material P59( as the donor of bacterial blight( BB) resistance gene Xa23) and maintainer lines Xian B and Tian B( as the receptor and the recurrent parent in backcrossing),respectively,followed by successive backcrossing with the molecular marker-assisted selection( MAS) and inoculated field identification for BB resistance,Xiankang B and Tiankang B were two rice maintainer lines resistant to BB with the gene of Xa23. They were crossed to Xian A and Tian A respectively and transferred into two new BB-resistant rice CMS lines Xiankang A and Tiankang A with the abovementioned method. Xiankang A and Tiankang A were technically identified by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in September,2013. They showed complete and stable male sterility,good agronomic traits,high outcrossing rate and BB resistance. The F1 hybrids of these two CMS lines had a good yield heterosis and BB resistance.
What is a disease modifying antirheumatic drug

The disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are distinct from the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) in their slow onset of antiinflammatory action, their lack of analgesic properties, their more frequent and severe toxicity, and in the opinion of some experts, their ability to produce more frequent remissions and slow the progression of erosions. New DMARD prospects include less toxic immune modulating agents, as well as NSAID/DMARD hybrids. Although currently available DMARD are considered primarily treatment for RA, sulfasalazine may be such a drug for B27 arthropathies as well. Future studies may lead to the development of agents that are specific modifiers of other rheumatic diseases, including lupus and scleroderma.
Adjunctive Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are commonly used in combination with insulin to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus, and four agents are currently approved for this indication: exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and albiglutide. The distinctive properties of GLP-1 RAs-potential hemoglobin A1c (A1C) reduction, weight loss, potential to reduce insulin doses, and lower hypoglycemia risk-have made these agents potential treatment options for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as well. These positive effects are due to glucose-dependent insulin secretion, reduced glucagon secretion, increased satiety, and delayed gastric emptying. Patients with T1DM are unable to suppress glucagon during meals, which contributes to postprandial hyperglycemia and may be improved with GLP-1 therapy. In this review, we evaluated the available literature on the clinical efficacy and safety of GLP-1 RAs in patients with T1DM. We conducted a search of the PubMed (1966-May 2016) and Ovid (1946-May 2016) databases. Abstracts presented at the scientific and clinical sessions of the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists were also searched. The references of the published articles were also reviewed to identify additional studies appropriate for inclusion. All identified articles published in English were evaluated. Studies were included if they evaluated the clinical use or safety of GLP-1 RAs in patients with T1DM. Twelve studies were included, with four evaluating exenatide, one evaluating exenatide extended release, and seven evaluating liraglutide. Both exenatide and liraglutide showed significant reductions in hemoglobin A1C, plasma glucose concentration, body weight, and insulin doses when administered to patients with T1DM already receiving insulin therapy, without increasing the occurrence of hypoglycemia. Adverse effects were mostly gastrointestinal in nature but were mild and transient. Patients who may benefit most are those experiencing adverse effects from insulin, those not at their A1C goal but hypoglycemia prevents insulin titration, and those who may benefit from weight loss.
Will it Ever Slow Down

An accelerating epidemic of this proportion (of “biblical proportions,” says one AIDS expert1) does not just go away. Four possible developments, however, could make this epidemic diminish:
Through-Thickness Compression Testing of Commercially Pure (Grade II) Titanium Thin Sheet to Large Strains

This study examined the through-thickness ( -direction) compressive stress versus strain behavior of 99.76% commercially pure (grade II) titanium sheet with relatively small grain size. The current study complemented earlier compression studies by examining a very thin (1.60 mm) sheet and deforming the Ti by successive compression tests to relatively large strains. The low aspect ratio, of the compression specimens extracted from the sheet, led to frictional effects that can create high triaxial stresses complicating the uniaxial stress versus strain behavior analysis. Nonetheless, reasonable estimates were made of the through-thickness large-strain behavior of a commercially pure (grade II) thin Ti sheet to relatively large true strains of about 1.0.
Use of free tissue transfer in head and neck cancer surgery and risk of overall and serious complication(s): An American College of Surgeons–National Surgical Quality Improvement Project analysis of free tissue transfer to the head and neck

Background The purpose of this article was to assess the rates of head and neck free tissue transfer and variables available in the American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) dataset to predict overall and serious complications. Methods We conducted a data analysis from 2005 to 2014 on free tissue cases in the head and neck with descriptive and cross-sectional analysis to examine correlation of NSQIP variables with complications (p Results Of 1643 flaps, 906 complications occurred, such as blood transfusion, return to the operating room, extended ventilator support, pneumonia, and superficial surgical site infection. Insulin-dependent diabetes, operative time, age, white blood cell (WBC) count, and smoking correlated with overall complications. Five hundred one patients experienced 859 serious complications: return to the operating room, pneumonia, deep surgical site infection, sepsis, and unplanned intubation. Operative time, clean contaminated wound status, dirty wound classification, and history of congestive heart failure were predictive. Conclusion Identification of risks for complications is an opportunity for improvement. Extended operative time consistently predicts for both overall and serious complications, suggesting long surgery within contaminated sites risks complication. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 702-707, 2017.
Marketing to Minority Groups through MLB Coverage: An Examination of Two U.S. Sport Magazines

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most racially diverse professional sport league in the United States out of the three largest leagues (Lapchick, 2009a, 2009b, 2009c). The U.S. Census Bureau (2008) reports that the racial makeup of the U.S. is also becoming increasingly diverse, and according toFahmy (2010), m inorities continue to show increased buying power. Therefore, it is important to understand the extent to which sport media outlets are marketing to minority groups through their coverage of diverse athletes. This study employed a content analysis methodol ogy and examined MLB coverage in Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine over an eight - year time period. The findings revealed no statistically significant differences between the percentage of coverage given to White, Black, Latino, and Asian MLB players and the percentages of players from each race in the league, nor between the percentages of each race in the U.S. population. Both magazines exhibited a trend of focusing coverage on mostly White and Black MLB players over the last few years, however, and implications from the findings, limitations of the study, and ideas for future researchare explained in the discussion and conclusion sections.
Ultrafine, fine, and black carbon particle concentrations in California child-care facilities

Although many U.S. children spend time in child care, little information exists on exposures to airborne particulate matter (PM) in this environment, even though PM may be associated with asthma and other respiratory illness, which is a key concern for young children. To address this data gap, we measured ultrafine particles (UFP), PM2.5 , PM10 , and black carbon in 40 California child-care facilities and examined associations with potential determinants. We also tested a low-cost optical particle measuring device (Dylos monitor). Median (interquartile range) concentrations for indoor UFP, gravimetric PM2.5 , real-time PM2.5 , gravimetric PM10 , and black carbon over the course of a child-care day were 14 000 (11 000-29 000) particles/cm3 , 15 (9.6-21) μg/m3 , 15 (11-23) μg/m3 , 48 (33-73) μg/m3 , and 0.43 (0.25-0.65) ng/m3 , respectively. Indoor black carbon concentrations were inversely associated with air exchange rate (Spearman's rho = -.36) and positively associated with the sum of all Gaussian-adjusted traffic volume within a one-kilometer radius (Spearman's rho = .45) (P-values <.05). Finally, the Dylos may be a valid low-cost alternative to monitor PM levels indoors in future studies. Overall, results indicate the need for additional studies examining particle levels, potential health risks, and mitigation strategies in child-care facilities.
Andrena spp. Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) Nesting Density in Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (Ericales: Ericaceae) Influenced by Management Practices

Andrena are one of the most important wild bee pollinators in lowbush blueberry, and crop management decisions may impact their density in the crop field. Prune method (burning versus mowing) and crop cycle may influence Andrena abundance and nesting decisions, and influence pollination services to this pollinator dependent crop. We measured spring soil temperatures and counted mining bee tumuli in lowbush blueberry fields over two years. In the second year, we measured the influence of lowbush blueberry stem density on soil temperature. We recorded Andrena visitation to nearby crop fields to see if tumuli density corresponded with Andrena visitation rates. Burned fields supported higher densities of tumuli, especially in 2015. Fields managed on a split cycle supported higher densities of tumuli than non-split fields. Soil surface temperatures were higher in burned fields in 2015, but not in 2016. Stem density exerted a greater effect on temperature than pruning method in 2016, and may moderate subsoil temperature. Tumuli densities were not a predictor of Andrena flower visitor abundance. Based upon known richness and relative abundance of the Andrena assemblage associated with the crop, we deduced the most likely species of tumuli occupants. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Pilot study utilizing Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography for glycolytic phenotyping of canine mast cell tumors.

The goal of this prospective pilot study was to use naturally occurring canine mast cell tumors of various grades and stages as a model for attempting to determine how glucose uptake and markers of biologic behavior are correlated. It was hypothesized that enhanced glucose uptake, as measured by 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F18 FDG PET-CT), would correlate with histologic grade. Dogs were recruited for this study from a population referred for treatment of cytologically or histologically confirmed mast cell tumors. Patients were staged utilizing standard of care methods (abdominal ultrasound and three view thoracic radiographs), followed by a whole body F18 FDG PET-CT. Results of the F18 FDG PET-CT were analyzed for possible metastasis and standard uptake value maximum (SUVmax ) of identified lesions. Incisional or excisional biopsies of the accessible mast cell tumors were obtained and histology performed. Results were then analyzed to look for a possible correlation between the grade of mast cell tumors and SUVmax . A total of nine animals were included in the sample. Findings indicated that there was a correlation between grade of mast cell tumors and SUVmax as determined by F18 FDG PET-CT (p-value = 0.073, significance ≤ 0.1). Based on the limited power of this study, it is felt that further research to examine the relationship between glucose utilization and biologic aggressiveness in canine mast cell tumors is warranted. This study was unable to show that F18 FDG PET-CT was a better staging tool than standard of care methods.
Brain: positron emission tomography tracers beyond [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose

Several PET radiopharmaceuticals beyond FDG have been used to study the physiology and pathophysiology in neurosciences. This article provides a broad overview of some of the commonly studied radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging in selected neurologic conditions, particularly attempting to study their clinical relevance. Future studies on the use of advanced PET imaging in delineating neural pathophysiology, drug development, and altering patient management and outcomes across the disciplines of neurosciences are needed.
Contesting The Technological Mindset: A Humanistic Mindset

This chapter gives a counter to The Technological Mindset. This is absolutely necessary if we are to mitigate, if not avoid, the crises due to technology.
Exploring an Alternative Cost Function for Combinatorial Register-Pressure-Aware Instruction Scheduling

Multiple combinatorial algorithms have been proposed for doing pre-allocation instruction scheduling with the objective of minimizing register pressure or balancing register pressure and instruction-level parallelism. The cost function that is minimized in most of these algorithms is the peak register pressure (or the peak excess register pressure). In this work, we explore an alternative register-pressure cost function, which is the Sum of Live Interval Lengths (SLIL). Unlike the peak cost function, which captures register pressure only at the highest pressure point in the schedule, the proposed SLIL cost function captures register pressure at all points in the schedule. Minimizing register pressure at all points is desirable in larger scheduling regions with multiple high-pressure points. This article describes a Branch-and-Bound (B8B) algorithm for minimizing the SLIL cost function. The algorithm is based on two SLIL-specific dynamic lower bounds as well as the history utilization technique proposed in our previous work. The proposed algorithm is implemented into the LLVM Compiler and evaluated experimentally relative to our previously proposed B8B algorithm for minimizing the peak excess register pressure. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm for minimizing the SLIL cost function produces substantially less spilling than the previous algorithm that minimizes the peak cost function. Execution-time results on various processors show that the proposed B8B algorithm significantly improves the performance of many CPU2006 benchmarks by up to 49% relative to LLVM's default scheduler. The geometric-mean improvement for FP2006 on Intel Core i7 is 4.22%.