cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Thoughts on Reformulating the Dependency Ratio

A methodology for systematically examining the dependency of alternative demographic groups within the context of the total dependency ratio is developed and applied using [U.S.] data from the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The total dependency ratio increases as the population ages but even in the year 2050 it remains lower than recent historical levels. Moreover despite population aging those under the age of 16 will continue to constitute the largest dependent group in future years. (EXCERPT)
Crystal Structure of Arachidonic Acid Bound to a Mutant of Prostaglandin Endoperoxide H Synthase-1 That Forms Predominantly 11-Hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic Acid

Kinetic studies and analysis of the products formed by native and mutant forms of ovine prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase-1 (oPGHS-1) have suggested that arachidonic acid (AA) can exist in the cyclooxygenase active site of the enzyme in three different, catalytically competent conformations that lead to prostaglandin G2 (PGG2), 11R-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HPETE), and 15R,S-HPETE, respectively. We have identified an oPGHS-1 mutant (V349A/W387F) that forms predominantly 11R-HPETE. Thus, the preferred catalytically competent arrangement of AA in the cyclooxygenase site of this double mutant must be one that leads to 11-HPETE. The crystal structure of Co3+-protoporphyrin IX V349A/W387F oPGHS-1 in a complex with AA was determined to 3.1 A. Significant differences are observed in the positions of atoms C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-10, C-11, and C-12 of bound AA between native and V349A/W387F oPGHS-1; in comparison, the positions of the side chains of cyclooxygenase active site residues are unchanged. The structure of the double mutant presented here provides structural insight as to how Val349 and Trp387 help position C-9 and C-11 of AA so that the incipient 11-peroxyl radical intermediate is able to add to C-9 to form the 9,11 endoperoxide group of PGG2. In the V349A/W387F oPGHS-1·AA complex the locations of C-9 and C-11 of AA with respect to one another make it difficult to form the endoperoxide group from the 11-hydroperoxyl radical. Therefore, the reaction apparently aborts yielding 11R-HPETE instead of PGG2. In addition, the observed differences in the positions of carbon atoms of AA bound to this mutant provides indirect support for the concept that the conformer of AA shown previously to be bound within the cyclooxygenase active site of native oPGHS-1 is the one that leads to PGG2.
Novel Staging System for Predicting Disease-Specific Survival in Patients With Breast Cancer Treated With Surgery As the First Intervention: Time to Modify the Current American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System

Purpose American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging is used to determine breast cancer prognosis, yet patient survival within each stage shows wide variation. We hypothesized that differences in biology influence this variation and that addition of biologic markers to AJCC staging improves determination of prognosis. Patients and Methods We identified a cohort of 3,728 patients who underwent surgery as the first intervention between 1997 and 2006. A Cox proportional hazards model, with backward stepwise exclusion of factors and stratification on pathologic stage (PS), was used to test the significance of adding grade (G), lymphovascular invasion (L), estrogen receptor (ER) status (E), progesterone receptor (PR) status, combined ER and PR status (EP), or combined ER, PR, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status (M). We assigned values of 0 to 2 to these disease-specific survival (DSS) –associated factors and assessed six different staging systems: PS, PS + G, PS + G L, PS + G E, PS + G EP,...
Address compression through base register caching

The paper presents a technique to reduce processor-to-memory address bandwidth by exploiting temporal and spatial locality in address reference streams. Higher order portions of address words are cached in base registers at both the processor and memory. This makes it possible to transmit small register indexes between processor and memory instead of the high order address bits themselves. Trace driven simulations indicate that base register caching reduces processor-to-memory address bandwidth up to 60% without appreciable loss in performance. >
Effect of strain rate in severe plastic deformation on microstructure refinement and stored energies

The interplay of large strain and large strain rate during high-rate severe plastic deformation (HR-SPD) lead to dynamic temperature rise in situ that engenders a recovered microstructure whose characteristics are not just a function of the strain, but also of the strain rate and the coupled temperature rise during the deformation. In this work, we identify three classes of microstructures characterized by multistage recovery phenomena that take place during the high strain rate SPD of Cu. It is found that the first stage of this recovery is similar to the first stage of static recovery, which is characterized mainly by annihilation of dislocations. The second stage starts around 360 K and was characterized by dislocations getting arranged in tight cell boundaries and eventually into subgrain. Recovery stages were found to be followed by a stage of grain growth and recrystallization when the temperature in the deformation zone approaches 480 K.
An evaluation of the synchronization in the dynamics of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) populations in the western Atlantic

Interannual variability in the abundances of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in populations along the U.S. east coast is well documented, but the mechanisms driving these fluctuations remain poorly understood. Using principal component analysis and dynamic factor analysis we quantified the patterns in variability and the degree of synchrony among blue crab populations along the U.S. east coast to gain insight into the mechanisms regulating the dynamics of these populations. We determined that a latitudinal pattern in the variability in abundance among the states existed and that a combination of the Gulf Stream Index, southern winter temperature, and larval mixing in the coastal ocean may be important drivers for the observed fluctuations of blue crab. The blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay appeared to be an anomaly in that its abundance did not match the latitudinal trend seen in the other states. Understanding the dynamics of blue crab throughout its range may help managers determine which population responses reflect local dynamics and which may reflect shared, regional responses.
Critical gel phenomena in the rheology of epoxide network formation

Multiple frequency dynamic mechanical experiments are generated by the linear addition of harmonic sinusoidal waves in order to study the gelation behavior of a crosslinking epoxy–bisphenol-A copolymerization. The following three criteria are investigated as kinetic parameters for the network formation: equivalence of the moduli increase, the critical gel condition, and the mechanical gel condition. The effect of strain magnitude is investigated for both the gelation phenomena and the scaling exponent of the critical gel behavior. The exponent is found to vary from 0.85 to 0.65, depending on the reaction temperature and waveform of the strain input. When Arrhenius type behavior is found, the activation energy of the gelation process is found to be 21 ± 1 kcal/mol. The effects of vitrification, network rupture, and nonlinear viscoelastic response were found with respect to the frequency probe. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 593–600, 1999
Antecedents and consequences of marketing dynamic capabilities in international joint ventures

The influence of firms' dynamic capabilities on performance has been well articulated in the strategy literature. Yet conceptualization and operationalization of dynamic capabilities in marketing function have not been attempted, and empirical evidence substantiating the effect of dynamic capabilities is scarce. This research develops a conceptualization of marketing dynamic capabilities (MDCs), investigates their development in international joint ventures (IJVs), and explores their effect on IJVs' performance and competitive advantage. Using a dyadic dataset collected from top managers of IJVs in China, as well as objective performance data collected separately, the study found empirical support for the effect of MDCs on IJVs' competitive advantage and performance. In addition, MDCs are found to be influenced by IJV resource magnitude, resource complementarity, organizational culture, and organizational structure. The theoretical implications of our findings and future research directions are also discussed.
Beyond deforestation: restoring forests and ecosystem services on degraded lands

Despite continued forest conversion and degradation, forest cover is increasing in countries across the globe. New forests are regenerating on former agricultural land, and forest plantations are being established for commercial and restoration purposes. Plantations and restored forests can improve ecosystem services and enhance biodiversity conservation, but will not match the composition and structure of the original forest cover. Approaches to restoring forest ecosystems depend strongly on levels of forest and soil degradation, residual vegetation, and desired restoration outcomes. Opportunities abound to combine ambitious forest restoration and regeneration goals with sustainable rural livelihoods and community participation. New forests will require adaptive management as dynamic, resilient systems that can withstand stresses of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and other anthropogenic effects.
Xanthine oxidase inhibition and heart failure: novel therapeutic strategy for ventricular dysfunction?

See related article, pages 271–279 Myocardial dysfunction and heart failure perturb cardiovascular homeostatic signaling pathways as well as initiate a program of molecular, biochemical, and structural modifications to remodel the failing ventricle. Accumulating evidence suggests that the cardiovascular redox state plays an integral role in these processes. In fact, in the failing heart, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cardiomyocyte oxidant stress are associated with maladaptive ventricular remodeling and a progressive decline in cardiovascular function. The association between ROS and heart failure has been established. Increased indices of oxidant stress have been measured in patients with congestive heart failure. In clinical studies, patients with heart failure were found to have evidence of lipid peroxidation and elevated 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α levels1–4 whereas in experimental models of heart failure, investigators have been able to directly measure increased ROS production from cardiomyocytes.5,6 These findings have been corroborated in studies that measured ROS levels in explanted human hearts at the time of transplant.7 Furthermore, a number of neurohormonal and mechanical stressors that are associated with the heart failure phenotype augment ROS generation.8,9 Prolonged exposure to ROS, in turn, results in cardiomyocyte dysfunction.10 At a cellular level, elevated levels of ROS impair cardiomyocyte function by damaging ion channels as well as inhibiting contractility. ROS disrupt the structural integrity of ion channels via membrane lipid peroxidation.2,11 ROS also decrease expression and activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase SERCA2,12 which is critical for effective cardiac calcium handling. Interestingly, ROS have also been shown to decrease myofilament calcium …
An asynchronous delta-sigma converter implementation

In this paper an architecture, signal reconstruction algorithm and first-ever implementation of an asynchronous delta-sigma converter are presented. The signal reconstruction algorithm can mathematically perfectly reconstruct the original signal only using timing events. A prototype circuit designed and fabricated in a standard 0.5/spl mu/m CMOS process with a 5V power supply is presented. The tests show that an 8-bit resolution with 6kHz signal bandwidth and only 715 /spl mu/W power consumption is possible.
Fishing out the signal in polypharmacological high-throughput screening data using novel navigator cheminformatics software

Many drugs are characterized by polypharmacological mechanisms of action. Thus, prospective drug discovery studies often start by testing large compound libraries in multiple and diverse High-Throughput Screening (HTS) assays. These large heterogeneous data collections pose numerous computational challenges concerning processing, curation, and analysis of untreated output files generated by plate readers. We have developed the freely-accessible HTS Navigator software to enable and facilitate the processing and analysis of polypharmacological HTS data. We report on the capabilities of Navigator and present several case studies where we employed cheminformatics approaches embedded within the Navigator to curate and analyze large datasets of compounds tested toward different panels of targets. Examples include libraries of compounds tested for their inhibition potencies across several CYP450; or for their inhibition of multiple protein kinases; or their binding profiles against multiple GPCRs. We show how to quickly identify and highlight compounds with unique mono- and dual- selectivity for certain targets in the curated HTS matrix. We discuss the problem of experimental variability in HTS data and its consequences for molecular modeling and emphasize the synergistic potential of different cheminformatics approaches to detect both false-positive and false-negative compounds using neighborhood analysis and target baseline correction factors. Finally, we describe the Chemical−Biological Read-Across (CBRA) approach [1] also implemented in the Navigator to infer the activity of external compounds from both chemical (defined by chemical similarity) and biological (defined by the similarity of HTS profiles) analogues.
Assessment of Vulnerability of Content Adaptation Mechanisms to RoQ Attacks

Current computing systems employ different mechanisms to deal with overload conditions. Of those widely deployed are content adaptation mechanisms whereby the quality level of the content is adapted dynamically to mitigate overload conditions. Serving degraded content reduces strain on resources and enables them to cater for a larger set of clients. To that end, this paper studies adversarial exploits of dynamic content adaptation mechanisms to a new instantiation of Reduction of Quality (RoQ) attacks. The RoQ attack pattern is orchestrated to cause different forms of damage such as longer response time for legitimate clients, degraded content being served and underutilization of resources. We assess the impact of RoQ attacks via the potency metric which reflects the tradeoffs between the damage inflicted and the cost in mounting the attack. We validate our results through numerical analysis as well as real Internet experiments.
Self-Deferral, HIV Infection, and the Blood Supply Evaluating an AIDS Intervention

This article evaluates the effectiveness of self-deferral, a social screen implemented to protect the U.S. blood supply from HIV infection prior to the advent of laboratory testing of donated blood. Following a brief discussion of the history of this program, mathematical models are developed to estimate the number of infectious transfusions ultimately leading to AIDS that occurred prior to self-deferral. The analysis suggests that a significant percentage of the maximum number of AIDS-indicated infectious transfusions preventable were averted during the 2 years from implementation of self-deferral to the start of laboratory screening.
Preliminary Assessment of Format-Specific Central Tendency and Leniency Error in Summated Rating Scales:

Data for 4-, 5-, and 7-position Likert formats from 292 undergraduates showed systematic error varied among formats, i.e., central tendency errors tended to increase with increasing numbers of categories and to reduce variances expected.
Developing Preservice Elementary Teachers' Pedagogical Design Capacity for Reform-Based Curriculum Design

AbstractTeachers use curriculum materials as a guide in their planning, critiquing and adapting them to address reform‐based goals and practices and specific contextual needs. To become well‐started beginners in planning lessons, novice teachers need opportunities to develop their pedagogical design capacity—that is, their ability to use personal and curricular resources in designing instruction for students. This study investigated the use of reform‐based criteria in supporting 24 preservice teachers enrolled in an elementary science methods course. In learning about and applying criteria, the preservice teachers developed aspects of their pedagogical design capacity by expanding their analysis ideas and refining their knowledge and beliefs about curriculum design. However, many struggled with analyzing lesson plans in a reform‐oriented way during student teaching. This occurred, in part, because the preservice teachers navigated different settings that conveyed conflicting ideas about the reasons why te...
Pap smear knowledge among young women following the introduction of the HPV vaccine.

Abstract Study Objective Investigate sexually active young women's knowledge of the term Pap smear since development of the HPV vaccine. Design Cross-sectional study conducted January–May 2007. Setting University health services clinic at a university in southern United States. Participants Sexually active women, age 18–24, presenting for a Pap smear or STD testing (N = 145). Main Outcome Measures Pap smear knowledge was assessed by participants' written definition of the term Pap smear and by multiple choice responses indicating Pap smear as a test for cervical cancer/ HPV and not a pelvic exam, STD test, or pregnancy test. Results 9.7% provided accurate definitions; 12.4% checked appropriate Pap smear synonyms. 68.5% incorrectly responded that Pap smear was the same as “pelvic exam”; 42.5% indicated “STD test”; 11.7% indicated “pregnancy test.” Indicators of HPV risk (age of sexual debut, previous abnormal Pap smear, previous STD diagnosis) were not associated with knowledge. Never using condoms, increasing age, and lower depression scores predicted accurate Pap smear definition rating (R 2 = 0.08). Never using condoms, Caucasian race, and decreased lifetime number of sex partners predicted accurate identification of Pap smear synonyms (R 2 = 0.15). Results Few participants understood the meaning of the term Pap smear; there does not appear to be improvement in women's knowledge after development of the HPV vaccine. Poor Pap smear knowledge may affect young women's understanding of their overall sexual health.
Glutamatergic calcium responses in the developing lateral superior olive: receptor types and their specific activation by synaptic activity patterns.

The lateral superior olive (LSO) is a binaural auditory brain stem nucleus that plays a central role in sound localization. Survival and maturation of developing LSO neurons critically depend on in...
Non-Sexual Delinquency in Juvenile Sexual Offenders: The Mediating and Moderating Influences of Emotional Empathy

The theoretical linkage of empathy to sexually aggressive and antisocial behavior is reviewed, and assess- ment conducted on the role of emotional empathy in the non-sexual delinquent behavior of juvenile sexual offenders. In examination of developmental antecedents of empathy, self-reported parental attachment and positive fathering ex- periences were found to be positively associated with emo- tional empathy, while reported exposure to violence against females was inversely related. As hypothesized, emotional empathy was found to have both mediating and moderating influences on risk of engagement in non-sexual delinquency. Emotional empathy was found to be negatively associated with non-sexual delinquency and to partially mediate the positive influences of exposure to violence against females and hostile masculinity. Emotional empathy was also found to function as a moderator of hostile masculinity, with high empathy levels associated with an attenuated positive ef- fect of hostile masculinity on non-sexual delinquency, and low levels with an accentuated effect. Possible mechanisms for this moderating influence are discussed, along with clin- ical implications of the findings and directions for future research.
Estimation of the training efficiency of recurrent neural networks

In our studies of the capabilities of neural networks, we have relied on time-lagged recurrent neural networks (TLRNN) to learn to emulate the behavior of complex dynamic systems. In this study, we take data from the physical system and train a suitable TLRNN to convergence. We then use that trained neural network to generate a set of noise-free data over the same input manifold. A variety of disturbances are introduced into the generated data so that for a given disturbance a minimum RMS error may be computed from the deviations of the perturbed outputs from the true outputs. These perturbed outputs are then used as targets to train an identically structured TLRNN to determine how close to the global minimum the training proceeds. The results indicate that, depending on the type of the noise introduced, the global Kalman filter method as well as properly formulated gradient descent method produce TLRNNs which have RMS errors deviated from the global minimum from less than 3% to about 10%.
A Panel of Three Markers Hyper- and Hypomethylated in Urine Sediments Accurately Predicts Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Purpose: The high risk of recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor of nonmuscle invasive disease requires lifelong treatment and surveillance. Changes in DNA methylation are chemically stable, occur early during tumorigenesis, and can be quantified in bladder tumors and in cells shed into the urine. Some urine markers have been used to help detect bladder tumors; however, their use in longitudinal tumor recurrence surveillance has yet to be established. Experimental Design: We analyzed the DNA methylation levels of six markers in 368 urine sediment samples serially collected from 90 patients with noninvasive urothelial carcinoma (Tis, Ta, T1; grade low-high). The optimum marker combination was identified using logistic regression with 5-fold cross-validation, and validated in separate samples. Results: A panel of three markers discriminated between patients with and without recurrence with the area under the curve of 0.90 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86–0.92] and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90–1.00), sensitivity and specificity of 86%/89% (95% CI, 74%–99% and 81%–97%) and 80%/97% (95% CI, 60%–96% and 91%–100%) in the testing and validation sets, respectively. The three-marker DNA methylation test reliably predicted tumor recurrence in 80% of patients superior to cytology (35%) and cystoscopy (15%) while accurately forecasting no recurrence in 74% of patients that scored negative in the test. Conclusions: Given their superior sensitivity and specificity in urine sediments, a combination of hyper- and hypomethylated markers may help avoid unnecessary invasive exams and reveal the importance of DNA methylation in bladder tumorigenesis. Clin Cancer Res; 20(7); 1978–89. ©2014 AACR .
N-of-1 Clinical Trials: Removing the Hay to Find the Needle

Selection of a proper sample size is an important concept in statistics. Typically, the larger the number of included subjects, the better the ability to make an accurate inference about the population. Numerous methods exist for determining the proper sample size to help balance the desired statistical power with the need to be realistic in how many subjects can be recruited. But the recognition of individual variability, with the well-known limitations of classic clinical trials to predict patient outcomes, has shed light on the growing need to refocus on single-person studies. N -of-1 or single-subject clinical trials use observations from a single patient to establish efficacy or side-effect profiles (1). The renewed interest in N -of-1 clinical trials stems from an observed …
The View from Here: Perspectives on Educating About Archives (Session 306)

Seventy-five years of archival education activities across four complementary domains are reviewed and the most promising developments are noted. Topics addressed include an exploration of the state of graduate-level education, a critical look at several regional initiatives designed to widen the reach of archival training, a discussion of the importance of grassroots education, and an examination of Rare Book School as an intellectual and practical meeting ground for archivists, librarians, and other allied professionals.
BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX: ADVENTURE‐BASED FIELD INSTRUCTION

Kelly Ward and Robin Mama (2005). Chicago: Lyceum Press (180 pp., $31.95, softcover, ISBN# 0925065927). Breaking Out of the Box: Adventure‐Based Field Instruction is a user‐friendly, informative bo...
Correlates of Receipt of Colorectal Cancer Screening among American Indians in the Northern Plains

Research has consistently documented lower colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for racial and ethnic minority populations, with the lowest screening rates among American Indians (AIs). Given the low CRC screening rates among AIs residing in the Northern Plains region, the objective of this research was to identify CRC screening correlates for Northern Plains AIs. With a sample of 181 AIs age 50 years or older, the authors used Andersen's behavioral model to examine the following factors related to receipt of CRC screening: (a) predisposing factors-age, education, marital status, and gender; (b) need factors-personal and family history of cancer; and (c) enabling factors-having a particular place to receive medical care, annual health checkup, awareness of the availability of CRC screening, knowledge of CRC, and self-efficacy of CRC. Nested logistic regression identified the following correlates of receipt of CRC screening: (a) predisposing factors-older age; (b) need factors-having a personal history of cancer; and (c) enabling factors-having an annual health checkup, greater awareness of CRC screening, and greater self-efficacy of CRC. Given the findings, prevention and intervention strategies, including public awareness and education about CRC screening, are promising avenues to reduce cancer screening disparities among AIs.
Manipulating Mechanical Properties with Electricity: Electroplastic Elastomer Hydrogels

The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it an increasing interest in emulating the adaptive finesse of natural systems by designing materials with on-demand, tunable properties. The creation of such responsive systems could be expected, based on historical precedent, to lead to completely new engineering design paradigms. Using a bioinspired approach of coupling multiple equilibria that operate on different length scales, a material whose bulk mechanical properties can be manipulated by electrical input has been developed. The new macroscale electroplastic elastomer hydrogels can be reversibly cycled through soft and hard states while maintaining a three-dimensional shape by sequential application of oxidative and reductive potentials. This input changes the cross-linking capacity of iron ions within the gel matrix, between a poorly coordinating +2 and a more strongly binding +3 oxidation state. Inclusion of carbon nanotubes in the hydrogel preparation increases conductivity and decreases transition...
The Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: The Most Widely Read Pathology Journal Today.

The Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine was first published in 1926 as a subspecialty journal of the American Medical Association. It became the official journal of the College of American Pathologists in 1995. Under the dynamic leadership of its most recent editor-in-chief, Philip T. Cagle, MD, and his vibrant editorial board, the Archives has nearly doubled its impact factor and become the most widely read general pathology journal today. Dr Cagle has consistently added leading pathologists to the editorial board, and the collective expertise of these individuals is clearly evident in new, cutting-edge journal masthead sections. The Archives has featured innovative content in the field of digital pathology, including articles on the utilization of smart phones in pathology and incorporation of whole-slide images and videos into the content of articles. Special sections have characterized the Archives during the current editorial board's tenure and have proven immensely popular with the journal's...
Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia in Two Siblings: HISTOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSES OF EPIPHYSEAL PLATE CARTILAGE IN ONE

Two siblings with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and slipped capital femoral epiphysis are reported. In one an osteosarcoma developed in the femur necessitating amputation.The tibial growth plates of the amputated extremity were profoundly disorganized, with disordered cartilage-cell columns, clefts,
Total minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: approaches and outcomes

Since the introduction of minimally invasive esophagectomy 25 years ago, its use has been reported in several high volume centers. With only one published randomized control trial and five meta-analyses comparing its outcomes to open esophagectomy, available level I evidence is very limited. Available technical approaches include total minimally invasive transthoracic (Ivor Lewis or McKeown) or transhiatal esophagectomy; several hybrid options are available with one portion of the procedure completed via an open approach. A review of available level I evidence with focus on total minimally invasive esophagectomy is presented. The old debate regarding the superiority of a transthoracic versus transhiatal approach to esophagectomy may have been settled by minimally invasive esophagectomy as only few centers are reporting on the latter being utilized. The studies with the highest level of evidence available currently show that minimally invasive techniques via a transthoracic approach are associated with less overall morbidity, fewer pulmonary complications, and shorter hospital stays than open esophagectomy. There appears to be no detrimental effect on oncologic outcomes and possibly an added benefit derived by improved lymph node retrieval. Quality of life improvements may also translate into improved survival, but no conclusive evidence exists to support this claim. Robotic and hybrid techniques have also been implemented, but there currently is no evidence showing that these are superior to other minimally invasive techniques.
The bell tolls for indeterminant lung nodules: computer-aided nodule assessment and risk yield (CANARY) has the wrong tune

There is a potential epidemic of indeterminant pulmonary nodules (IPN) with the evolution of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening programs for lung cancer. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that annual screening with LDCT reduces mortality from lung cancer by 20% in high risk individuals.
Chapter 24 – Epilepsy

In this chapter, we will first introduce the basic clinical aspects of epileptology (the branch of neurology concerned with epilepsy), followed by a discussion of medication, surgical, and brain stimulation treatment for epilepsy. Finally, we will review the key advances in terms of understanding the dynamics and their underlying mechanisms in the epileptic brain.
Taking Trump Seriously: Persona and Presidential Politics in 2016

I planned to write this essay about the role of gender in the 2016 presidential election. Because I am a feminist scholar and because, like many women, I was excited by the prospect of a woman pres...
The directionality of distinctively mathematical explanations.

Abstract In “What Makes a Scientific Explanation Distinctively Mathematical?” (2013b), Lange uses several compelling examples to argue that certain explanations for natural phenomena appeal primarily to mathematical, rather than natural, facts. In such explanations, the core explanatory facts are modally stronger than facts about causation, regularity, and other natural relations. We show that Lange's account of distinctively mathematical explanation is flawed in that it fails to account for the implicit directionality in each of his examples. This inadequacy is remediable in each case by appeal to ontic facts that account for why the explanation is acceptable in one direction and unacceptable in the other direction. The mathematics involved in these examples cannot play this crucial normative role. While Lange's examples fail to demonstrate the existence of distinctively mathematical explanations, they help to emphasize that many superficially natural scientific explanations rely for their explanatory force on relations of stronger-than-natural necessity. These are not opposing kinds of scientific explanations; they are different aspects of scientific explanation.
Maintaining and Enhancing Diversity of Sampled Protein Conformations in Robotics-Inspired Methods

Abstract The ability to efficiently sample structurally diverse protein conformations allows one to gain a high-level view of a protein's energy landscape. Algorithms from robot motion planning have been used for conformational sampling, and several of these algorithms promote diversity by keeping track of “coverage” in conformational space based on the local sampling density. However, large proteins present special challenges. In particular, larger systems require running many concurrent instances of these algorithms, but these algorithms can quickly become memory intensive because they typically keep previously sampled conformations in memory to maintain coverage estimates. In addition, robotics-inspired algorithms depend on defining useful perturbation strategies for exploring the conformational space, which is a difficult task for large proteins because such systems are typically more constrained and exhibit complex motions. In this article, we introduce two methodologies for maintaining and enhancing...
Epidural Balloon Placement for Protection of the Spinal Canal During Cryoablation of Paraspinal Lesions

Ablation of paraspinal lesions close to the spinal canal and neuroforamina requires protective measures in order to protect the spinal cord and nerve roots. Various methods of protection have been previously described including infusion of saline and CO2. Regardless, neuromonitoring should be adjunctively performed when ablating spinal lesions close to neuronal structures. Balloon protection has been previously described during ablation of renal masses. The benefit of balloon protection in paraspinal mass ablation is it physically displaces the nerve roots as opposed to CO2 or saline which has the potential to insulate but because of its aerosolized or fluid nature may or may not provide definitive continuous protection throughout an ablation. This report details three paraspinal lesions, two of which were successfully ablated with the use of a balloon placed in the epidural space to provide protection to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Moving Beyond Traditional Indicators of Fiscal Sustainability: Examples from Locally Chosen Indicators

This chapter examines fiscal sustainability in the context of sustainable development and the capital stocks that are critical to maintaining economic capacity. New indicators consistent with sustainable development are presented, drawing from local indicator projects around the world. While the ratio of national debt to national income (debt/GNI) is often used as a measure of fiscal sustainability, reliance on a single indicator raises the potential for selection bias. Since goals and indicators affect the conceptual framework within which policy is developed, an incorrect or incomplete indicator can interfere with adequately maintaining economic capacity or economic activity. A more comprehensive set of indicators would show the link between future spending needs and investment made in the present.
Are Blacks color blind too?: An interview-based analysis of Black Detroiters’ racial views

Abstract Although the survey community almost unanimously agrees that Blacks and Whites have vastly different views on central matters, few qualitative studies have validated this claim. Thus, in this study we examine Blacks’ views with interview data from the Detroit Area Study (1998) . Specifically, we assess whether Blacks use the frames of color blind racism—the dominant ideology of the post-civil rights era—to articulate their positions on racial issues. The data suggests that although few Blacks are directly affected by the frames of color blindness, these frames have shaped the argumentative terrain in which they battle, blurred their views on many issues, and blunted the oppositional character of their counter views.
Stainless Steels for the Citrus Processing Industry

A previous paper presented at this Conference in 1955 was concerned principally with corrosion resistant materials for processing citrus products. Although this paper considered several different materials, each of which might prove satisfactory for certain operating conditions, the citrus processing industry has been able to satisfy most of its requirements with a relatively few alloys. These alloys are principally the chromium and the chromium-nickel alloys that are generally classified as stainless steels. This series of steels lends itself to certain basic treatments that have a very significant effect upon the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. This paper will be concerned principally with these basic treatments and with certain specific treatments for special requirements.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
Impact of Pharmacy School Characteristics on NAPLEX First-time Pass Rates

Objective. To assess the impact of pharmacy school characteristics on the pass rates of students taking the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) for the first time. Methods. A retrospective review of NAPLEX first-time pass rates, pharmacy school characteristics and percent of total graduating class who matched for a first postgraduate year (PGY1) residency was performed for 2014, 2015, and 2016. All US colleges of pharmacy accredited as of July 2017 were included. Independent samples t tests, paired samples t tests, correlational analysis, and multiple linear regression were conducted. Results. The first-time pass rates on the NAPLEX were significantly higher for the following: schools located within an academic health center; schools established before 2000, and public schools. The 2016 NAPLEX first-time pass rate was significantly higher for schools with a traditional four-year program structure versus an accelerated three-year structure. Also, a school's first-time pass rate on the NAPLEX was positively, significantly correlated with percentage of fourth-year students who matched for a PGY1 residency and being located within an academic health center. The NAPLEX first-time pass rate for the previous year and percent of the total graduating class that matched for a PGY1 residency were significant predictors in the final regression models for 2015 and 2016 NAPLEX first-time pass rates. Conclusion. While differences in certain program characteristics was coorelated with NAPLEX pass rate, many of these factors are not modifiable. Programs can proactively and critically evaluate their educational programs and the readiness of their students to sit for the NAPLEX.
Karnofsky performance status before and after liver transplantation predicts graft and patient survival.

Background & Aims The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) has been used for almost 70 years for clinical assessment of patients. Our objective was to determine whether KPS is an independent predictor of post-liver transplant (LT) survival after adjusting for known confounders. Method Adult patients listed with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) from 2006 to 2016 were grouped into low (10–40%, n = 15,103), intermediate (50–70%, n = 22,183) and high (80–100%, n = 13,131) KPS groups based on KPS scores at the time of LT, after excluding those on ventilators or life support. We determined the trends in KPS before and after LT, and survival probabilities based on KPS. Results There was a decline in KPS scores between listing and LT and there was significant improvement after LT. The graft and patient survival differences were significantly lower (p Conclusion The KPS, before and after LT, is an independent predictor of graft and patient survival after adjusting for other important predictors of survival. Lay summary The overall health of liver transplant recipients could be assessed by a simple clinical assessment tool called the Karnofsky performance status, which assesses an individual's overall functional status on an 11-point scale, in increments of 10, where a score of 0 is considered dead and 100 is considered perfect health. In this study, using a large dataset, we show that the performance status before and after liver transplant is a predictor of survival. More importantly, those who have low performance status before transplant and do not show an improvement in performance status between 3–12 months after liver transplant have very poor survival.
Visual analogy in problem solving

Computational models of analogical problem solving have traditionally described source and target domains in terms of their causal structure. But psychological research shows that visual reasoning plays a part for many kinds of analogies. This paper describes a model that transfers a solution from a source analog to a new target problem using only visual knowledge represented symbolically. The knowledge representation is based on a language of primitive visual elements and transformations. We found that visual knowledge is sufficient for transfer, but that causal knowledge is needed to determine if the transferred solution is appropriate.
Models for the Spread of Epidemics

In order to study the spread of epidemics, the population at risk is divided into compartments consisting of the number of persons with the disease (I, for infectives), those recovered from the disease and no longer susceptible (R), and those susceptible to infection (S). The population (N) is assumed to be relatively constant and that therefore N = S + I + R. The particular model used depends on the disease, but most can be analyzed using compartmental models.
Weak solutions for the functionalized Cahn–Hilliard equation with degenerate mobility

The functionalized Cahn–Hilliard free energy describes phase separation in mixtures of amphiphilic molecules in solvent. Applications to highly amphiphilic molecules such as lipids requires degener...
Product acquisition management in a high-end server remanufacturing environment

Product acquisition management (PrAM) processes are considered powerful value-added product recovery activities in closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) business models. Aside from their potential manufacturing cost savings, these recovery activities are environmentally friendly and energy conservative, and the activities must abide by government regulations. Although remanufacturing of returned products is less costly than manufacturing, the variability and uncertainties in returned products' cost, quality, quantity, and timing of return remain vital issues for returned products' inventory disposition and order fulfilment. This study discusses the characteristics of PrAM processes and proposes a decision support system framework for inventory disposition and customer order fulfilment in a high-end server hybrid business model. The proposed framework incorporates clustering algorithm, multi-criteria decision-making technique, and heuristic algorithms by meeting customer requirements and budget constraints. Experimental results ensure comprehensive, efficient, and timely decision support of the proposed framework by evaluating its performance and feasibility using real-world data.
Simulation Observers Learn the Same as Participants: The Evidence

Abstract Background Confusion continues regarding the value of the observer in simulation and whether they engage in the active and experiential learning environment that underpins simulation. Despite studies demonstrating no differences in knowledge between the participant and observer, it is still unknown how observers learn in simulation and how they apply that learning to a contextually similar situation, a critical aspect of debriefing. Method An experimental, pretest-multiple posttest, repeated-measures study was used to describe the knowledge demonstration, knowledge retention, and knowledge application of participants and observers after a simulation and debriefing. Results There was no significant difference between participant and observer in any of the measures. There was significant knowledge gain regardless of role and significant knowledge decay in both groups four weeks later. Conclusions The observer appears to construct knowledge similarly to participants. Educators must consider the value of assigning learners to both participant and observer roles.
Delayed endothelialization of watchman device identified with cardiac CT.

BACKGROUND Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with the Watchman device is increasingly used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention. Though clinical trials have shown a similar combined risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, there is an increased risk of ischemic stroke in patients with a Watchman device compared with anticoagulation. Some ischemic strokes are related to a device-related thrombus (DRT), which may be attributable to delayed endothelialization of exposed fabric and metal. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients undergoing Watchman LAA occlusion between January 2016 and June 2018 were enrolled in a prospective registry. From this cohort, 46 patients who had both transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and computed tomography (CT) at 45 days follow-up were selected for this study. The degree of LAA occlusion and type of leak were assessed by CT and TEE. TEE identified no patients with a significant (>5 mm) peri-device leak, 27 (58.6%) with nonsignificant peri-device leak (<5 mm), and 19 (41.4%) with complete occlusion. CT identified contrast in the LAA in 28 (60%) patients. However, in 10 (21.8%) of these patients, contrast entered the LAA through the fabric rather than around the device. No DRT were identified. CONCLUSION These data reveal that the Watchman device remains porous 6 weeks after implantation in a substantial percentage of patients, suggesting delayed endothelialization of the device. Cardiac CT may help to differentiate between peri-device and trans-fabric leak. Additional studies are required to test whether prolonged anticoagulation in patients with trans-fabric leak may help to reduce the risk of DRT and ischemic stroke.
Impotence and Imperative in Michaux’s La Nuit Remue

This study explores a key stage in Michaux’s poetry, in La Nuit remue. Agreeing with critical consensus, that this is his first major work, I nonetheless question the potency of certain texts in th...