cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pinhole skeletal scintigraphic manifestations of Tietze's disease.

Tietze's disease (TD) is a self-limited, nonspecific, inflammatory condition of the upper costochondral junction (CCJ). Unlike in many other skeletal diseases, radiography plays a relatively minor role in TD because radiographic changes are frequently obscured by physiological costochondral calcifications. Bone scanning is a sensitive test for TD, but its specificity is low. The present study has been conducted to assess prospectively whether pinhole scintigraphy (PS) can enhance diagnostic specificity in TD. Both planar and PS bone images were obtained in seven ribs of five patients with TD. Scan alterations were analysed and compared with the radiographic findings. Planar scans showed “hot” areas in the region of the CO in all seven ribs, these hot areas lacking textural patterns. However, the magnified PS images of the CCJ showed two characteristic uptake patterns: drumstick-like uptake in acute cases and C- or inverted C-shaped uptake in chronic cases. Radiographically, chondritic sclerosis could be seen when physiological chondral calcifications were minimal or absent, but was obscured when the calcification was prominent. The correlation of PS and radiographic findings revealed that C- or inverted C-shaped uptake indeed faithfully reflected the inflammatory process in the CCJ, the medial border of which is concave. The further correlation of magnetic resonance and PS images of two lesions in one patient in whom histological examination was performed showed that C- or inverted C-shaped uptake is closely associated with hypervascularity of TD. Differential diagnosis between TD, fracture and metastasis is discussed.
Leisure time sedentary behavior, occupational/domestic physical activity, and metabolic syndrome in U.S. men and women.

Background: This study examines leisure time sedentary behavior (LTSB) and usual occupational/domestic activity (UODA) and their relationship with metabolic syndrome and individual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, independent of physical activity level. Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2006 data from men (n = 1868) and women (n = 1688) with fasting measures were classified as having metabolic syndrome by the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) definition. LTSB was determined from self-reported television viewing and computer usage. UODA was self-reported daily behavior (sitting, standing, walking, carrying loads). Results: LTSB ≥4 hours/day was associated with odds of having metabolic syndrome of 1.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24, 3.03) in men compared to ≤1 hour/day. LTSB ≥4 hour/day was also associated with higher odds of elevated waist circumference (1.88, CI, 1.03, 3.41), low high-density lipoprotein c...
On the political economy of immigration.

The authors "study how immigration policies that impose capital and skill requirements would be determined under majority voting when native agents differ in their wealth holdings and vote to maximize their income". The results of the model calculations indicate that "the native population will be polarized between those who would like an immigration policy to maximize the domestic capital-labor ratio and those who would like an immigration policy that would minimize it".
Effects of Terpenoids on Nitrification in Soil

It has recently been hypothesized that vegetation in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl.) ecosystems inhibits nitrification in these systems by releasing volatile terpenoids that retard oxidation of NH⁺₄ by nitrifying microorganisms. This hypothesis is based largely on observations that exposure of a ponderosa pine ecosystem to fire decreased the amount of volatile organic compounds and stimulated production of NH⁺₄ and NO⁻₃ in the forest floor and that exposure of soil samples to vapors from a terpenoid mixture decreased production of NH⁺₄ and NO⁻₃ by mineralization of organic N in these samples. To test the validity of this hypothesis, we studied the effects of different amounts of six terpenoids (α-terpinene, limonene, myrcene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and α-phellandrene) on nitrification in soils incubated at 25 °C after treatment with (NH₄)₂SO₄. The results showed that the terpenoids studied did not significantly affect nitrification in soil even when the amounts applied greatly exceeded the amounts that have been reported to occur in soil. They also indicated that the apparent inhibition of nitrification observed when soils were exposed to terpenoid vapors was due to immobilization of ammonium N by microbial activity stimulated by the organic C in these vapors. This work was supported in part by the Iowa State Water Resources Res. Inst., and by C.I.L. Inc., Canada. Journal paper no. J-12921 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, IA. Project 2655.
Research subject privacy protection in otolaryngology.

Background Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, which took effect on April 14, 2003, placed new constraints on the use of protected health information for research purposes. Objective To review practices of research subject privacy protection in otolaryngology in order to determine steps necessary to achieve compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations. Study Design Literature review. Methods Articles appearing in 2001 in 3 widely circulated otolaryngology journals were classified according to study design. The "Methods" section of each article was reviewed to determine whether the informed consent and institutional review board processes were clearly documented. Results Descriptive studies involving case reports and case series were more common than observational studies that include a control group (66% vs 11%). Few case series documented the consent process (18%) and institutional review board process (19%). Observational designs demonstrated better documentation of the consent process ( P P Conclusions Methods used to protect subject privacy are not commonly documented in case series in otolaryngology. More attention needs to be given to research subject privacy concerns in the otolaryngology literature in order to comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.
Surface roughness effects on light scattered by submicron particles on surfaces

The authors report on the angle resolved light scattering characteristics of individual polystyrene spheres on three silicon surfaces. A He-Ne laser (632.8 nm) focused to a 15 micrometers 1/e2 diameter was employed to illuminate 0.804 micrometers diameter spheres on optically smooth ((sigma) >= (lambda) ) silicon surfaces: monocrystalline silicon (bare silicon), polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon), and roughened silicon ('black silicon'). These surfaces provided a roughness spectrum ranging between the smooth, virtually featureless surface of the bare silicon to one of dense, very coarse needle- like features on the black silicon. Scattering was measured as a function of incident beam polarization for incident angles of 30, 45, and 75.3 degrees (Brewster's angle). Experimental measurements show that the beam incident angle and polarization are important factors controlling substrate background scatter. The substrate influences sphere detectability in two ways: first, by directly scattering incident radiation into the detector and second, by reflecting a portion of the forward scattered light originating from the sphere. The results obtained are qualitatively explained with reference to the silicon surface reflectance which varies significantly as beam incident angle and polarization are changed. As surface roughness approached a value comparable to the sphere size, detectability diminished; that is, the measured cross sections were lower under these conditions. Surface roughness not only added to the background signal, but also reduced the amount of energy scattered by the sphere reaching the detector. A modification to Lorenz-Mie theory is introduced to explain the experimental findings. The approach taken is to calculate the scattering components for a sphere in free space, then attenuate those components which are reflected from the substrate into the detector. The computation includes the variation in substrate reflectivity as the ray incident angle and polarization change. The assumptions and validity of this approach are discussed, as well as future possible improvements to the model.
Improvement of Defibrillation Efficacy and Quantification of Activation Patterns During Ventricular Fibrillation in a Canine Heart Failure Model

Background —Little is known about the effects of heart failure (HF) on the defibrillation threshold (DFT) and the characteristics of activation during ventricular fibrillation (VF). Methods and Results —HF was induced by rapid right ventricular (RV) pacing for at least 3 weeks in 6 dogs. Another 6 dogs served as controls. Catheter defibrillation electrodes were placed in the RV apex, the superior vena cava, and the great cardiac vein (CV). An active can coupled to the superior vena cava electrode served as the return for the RV and CV electrodes. DFTs were determined before and during HF for a shock through the RV electrode with and without a smaller auxiliary shock through the CV electrode. VF activation patterns were recorded in HF and control animals from 21×24 unipolar electrodes spaced 2 mm apart on the ventricular epicardium. Using these recordings, we computed a number of quantitative VF descriptors. DFT was unchanged in the control dogs. DFT energy was increased 79% and 180% (with and without auxiliary shock, respectively) in HF compared with control dogs. During but not before HF, DFT energy was significantly lowered (21%) by addition of the auxiliary shock. The VF descriptors revealed marked VF differences between HF and control dogs. The differences suggest decreased excitability and an increased refractory period during HF. Most, but not all, descriptors indicate that VF was less complex during HF, suggesting that VF complexity is multifactorial and cannot be expressed by a scalar quantity. Conclusions —HF increases the DFT. This is partially reversed by an auxiliary shock. HF markedly changes VF activation patterns.
Recessive mutations in the gene encoding the beta-subunit of rod phosphodiesterase in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

We have found four mutations in the human gene encoding the β–subunit of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE β) that cosegregate with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease of photoreceptors. In one family two affected siblings both carry allelic nonsense mutations at codons 298 and 531. Affected individuals have abnormal rod and cone electroretinograms. PDE β is the second member of the phototransduction cascade besides rhodopsin that is absent or altered as a cause of retinitis pigmentosa, suggesting that other members of this pathway may be defective in other forms of this disease.
Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) "Road Map": An Angiographic Tool

Continuous Digital subtraction combined with intraarterial injections of contrast medium permits the display of arterial structures during real time fluoroscopy. This DSA "road map" facilitates selective catheterization and has proved useful in interventional procedures.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Follow-up testing and notification of anti-HIV Western blot atypical (indeterminant) donors.

: We conducted anti-HIV testing on follow-up samples obtained at a mean interval of 20 weeks from 150 blood donors who had previously tested anti-HIV ELISA positive and Western blot atypical. Of 93 donors who demonstrated reactivity to HIV core protein p24, 4 progressed to positive Western blots. Most of the remaining donors showed a persistent p24 reactivity on Western blot and had no risk factors for HIV infection. Immunofluorescence testing of the initial sample from 93 donors could not definitively separate seroconverters from those with persistent p24 reactivity. Of 57 donors with p18 reactivity, none were positive on follow-up anti-HIV testing. Our findings suggest policies and strategies for notifying donors of atypical anti-HIV Western blot results.
A theory of hydrogen absorption with interactions

Abstract The multiplateau theory of hydrogen absorption isotherms is extended to include interactions between hydrogen atoms absorbed on different kinds of site. Techniques are developed for finding the stable phases and the positions of the phase transitions. For the case of two kinds of site, it is shown that there can be no, one, two or three phase transitions. Typical isotherms of each of these types are presented.
The Pervasive Effects of Network Content

This study answers a growing call in organization theory for research into the qualitative processes underlying social networks. While most prior research on networks has focused on their structura...
Legal barriers to effective ecosystem management: exploring linkages between liability, regulations, and prescribed fire

Resistance to the use of prescribed fire is strong among many private land managers despite the advantages it offers for maintaining fire-adapted ecosystems. Even managers who are aware of the benefits of using prescribed fire as a management tool avoid using it, citing potential liability as a major reason for their aversion. Recognizing the importance of prescribed fire for ecosystem management and the constraints current statutory schemes impose on its use, several states in the United States have undertaken prescribed burn statutory reform. The stated purpose of these statutory reforms, often called "right to burn" or "prescribed burning" acts, is to encourage prescribed burning for resource protection, public safety, and land management. Our research assessed the consequences of prescribed burn statutory reform by identifying legal incentives and impediments to prescribed fire application for ecosystem restoration and management, as well as fuel reduction. Specifically, we explored the relationship between prescribed burning laws and decisions made by land managers by exploiting a geographic-based natural experiment to compare landowner-prescribed fire use in contiguous counties with different regulations and legal liability standards. Controlling for potentially confounding variables, we found that private landowners in counties with gross negligence liability standards burn significantly more hectares than those in counties with simple negligence standards (F6,72 = 4.16, P = 0.046). There was no difference in hectares burned on private land between counties with additional statutorily mandated regulatory requirements and those requiring only a permit to complete a prescribed burn (F6,72 = 1.42, P = 0.24) or between counties with burn ban exemptions for certified prescribed burn managers and those with no exemptions during burn bans (F6,72 = 1.39, P = 0.24). Lawmakers attempting to develop prescribed burning statutes to promote the safe use of prescribed fire should consider the benefits of lower legal liability standards in conjunction with regulatory requirements that promote safety for those managing forests and rangelands with fire. Moreover, ecologists and land managers might be better prepared and motivated to educate stakeholder groups who influence prescribed fire policies if they are cognizant of the manner in which policy regulations and liability concerns create legal barriers that inhibit the implementation of effective ecosystem management strategies.
Impact of maternal-fetal surgery for myelomeningocele on the progression of ventriculomegaly in utero.

Objective Intrauterine myelomeningocele (MMC) repair decreases hindbrain herniation and the need for postnatal ventriculoperitoneal shunting. We examined the impact of intrauterine repair on the progression of ventriculomegaly in utero. Study design Fetuses with MMC were identified through computerized databases from June 1988 to April 2003. A retrospective cohort design was used to evaluate the impact of intrauterine repair on ventricular progression with a multivariate linear regression model that included baseline ventricle measurement, gestational age, level of lesion, and gender. Results Fourteen fetuses with intrauterine repair and 39 fetuses with postnatal repair were identified. The natural history of progression of ventricular diameter increased in a linear fashion throughout gestation (0.57 mm/week). After adjusting for confounding variables, no transient or sustained difference was observed in the rate progression of ventriculomegaly between intrauterine and postnatal repair (0.27 ± 0.35 mm/week; P =.45). Conclusion Intrauterine MMC repair does not impact the progression of ventriculomegaly.
The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs and strategic pluralism

During human evolutionary history, there were "trade-offs" between expending time and energy on child-rearing and mating, so both men and women evolved conditional mating strategies guided by cues signaling the circumstances. Many short-term matings might be successful for some men; others might try to find and keep a single mate, investing their effort in rearing her offspring. Recent evidence suggests that men with features signaling genetic benefits to offspring should be preferred by women as short-term mates, but there are trade-offs between a mate's genetic fitness and his willingness to help in child-rearing. It is these circumstances and the cues that signal them that underlie the variation in short- and long-term mating strategies between and within the sexes.
Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of the Optical Properties of CeO2, SrCeO3, and Sr2CeO4 Containing Ce4+ (f0) Ions

In an effort to find new UV absorbers, the optical properties of CeO2, SrCeO3, and Sr2CeO4 were examined by UV−visible diffuse reflectance measurements and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), and their electronic structures were investigated on the basis of first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The extinction coefficient k and the refractive index n determined from the loss function Im(−1/e) by EELS were compared with the corresponding quantities calculated from DFT calculations. The UV absorption thresholds of these materials were determined by the electron excitation from the O 2p anionic band to the empty Ce 4f orbitals. The calculated and measured refractive indices were in satisfactory agreement. The applicability of CeO2, SrCeO3, and Sr2CeO4 as potential UV absorbers was assessed.
Beyond peripheral arteries in Buerger's disease: angiographic considerations in thromboangiitis obliterans.

Thromboangiitis obliterans is an inflammatory peripheral vascular disease that is strongly associated with smoking. It predominantly affects distal small- and medium-sized blood vessels of both the upper and lower extremities. We present histological evidence of this disease process affecting the internal mammary arteries. This can be of paramount clinical significance for patients with Buerger's disease who present with obstructive coronary artery disease and require coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). Internal mammary arteries involved with thromboangiitis obliterans cannot be utilized as arterial conduits during CABG and other alternatives have to be used. Therefore, we recommend preoperative angiography of both internal mammary arteries in patients with Buerger's disease requiring CABG to prevent extensive intraoperative dissection of diseased internal mammary arteries. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;57:363–366. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Insulin-independent reversal of type 1 diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice with brown adipose tissue transplant

Traditional therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D) involve insulin replacement or islet/pancreas transplantation and have numerous limitations. Our previous work demonstrated the ability of embryonic brown adipose tissue (BAT) transplants to establish normoglycemia without insulin in chemically induced models of insulin-deficient diabetes. The current study sought to extend the technique to an autoimmune-mediated T1D model and document the underlying mechanisms. In nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, BAT transplants result in complete reversal of T1D associated with rapid and long-lasting euglycemia. In addition, BAT transplants placed prior to the onset of diabetes on NOD mice can prevent or significantly delay the onset of diabetes. As with streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic models, euglycemia is independent of insulin and strongly correlates with decrease of inflammation and increase of adipokines. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is the first hormone to increase following BAT transplants. Adipose tissue of transplant recipients consistently express IGF-I compared with little or no expression in controls, and plasma IGF-I levels show a direct negative correlation with glucose, glucagon, and inflammatory cytokines. Adipogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of IGF-I may stimulate regeneration of new healthy white adipose tissue, which in turn secretes hypoglycemic adipokines that substitute for insulin. IGF-I can also directly decrease blood glucose through activating insulin receptor. These data demonstrate the potential for insulin-independent reversal of autoimmune-induced T1D with BAT transplants and implicate IGF-I as a likely mediator in the resulting equilibrium.
The primary human oocyte: Some observations on the fine structure of Balbiani's vitelline body and the origin of the annulate lamellae

The ultrastructural details of human oocytes from four primordial follicles and one early primary follicle are presented. A fifth primordial follicle is represented by a paraffin section stained by hematoxylin and eosin. The paranuclear Balbiani vitelline body, contsisting of a centrosome surrounded by endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, compound aggregates, annulate lamellae, and mitochondria is described. The annulate lamellae arise as an evagination from the outer leaflet of the nuclear envelope and interdigitate with folds of the endoplasmic reticulum which also is continuous with the outer leaflet of the nuclear envelope. Structural aspects of annulate lamellae are discussed in relationship to current ideas of nuclear membrane ultrastructure and to their possible role in nucleo-cytoplasmic transfer. A biographical note on the life of Edouard Gerard Balbiani is presented.
Full-Wave Verification of Tensor TL Metamaterials

In this letter, the propagation characteristics of tensor transmission-line (TL) metamaterials are verified through full-wave analysis. They are a new class of TL-based metamaterial that can have arbitrary material tensors. Full-wave simulations are reported, which demonstrate that planar anisotropic metamaterials with full 2 × 2 magnetic tensors and scalar permittivity values can be designed and implemented in microstrip technology. The reported metamaterials will open new opportunities in the design of microwave devices based on transformation optics.
Search Space Mapping: Getting a Picture of Coherent Laser Control

Search space mapping is a method for quickly visualizing the experimental parameters that can affect the outcome of a coherent control experiment. We demonstrate experimental search space mapping for the selective fragmentation and ionization of para-nitrotoluene and show how this method allows us to gather information about the dominant trends behind our achieved control.
Clinical Exome Sequencing for Genetic Identification of Rare Mendelian Disorders

RESULTS Of the 814 cases, the overall molecular diagnosis rate was 26% (213 of 814; 95% CI, 23%-29%). The molecular diagnosis rate for trio-CES was 31% (127 of 410 cases; 95% CI, 27%-36%) and 22% (74 of 338 cases; 95% CI, 18%-27%) for proband-CES. In cases of developmental delay in children (<5 years, n = 138), the molecular diagnosis rate was 41% (45 of 109; 95% CI, 32%-51%) for trio-CES cases and 9% (2 of 23, 95% CI, 1%-28%) for proband-CES cases. The significantly higher diagnostic yield (P value = .002; odds ratio, 7.4 [95% CI, 1.6-33.1]) of trio-CES was due to the identification of de novo and compound heterozygous variants. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this sample of patients with undiagnosed, suspected genetic conditions, trio-CES was associated with higher molecular diagnostic yield than proband-CES or traditional molecular diagnostic methods. Additional studies designed to validate these findings and to explore the effect of this approach on clinical and economic outcomes are warranted.
Disease prevalence and population density over time in three common Caribbean coral reef sponge species

Reports of disease in sponges are increasing, but the paucity of data on disease prevalence over time makes it uncertain how much this trend reflects increased attention to sponges rather than increased sponge disease. Population and community influences on disease dynamics, and the consequences of disease at these levels, are also little known. Five censuses, over 14 y, of a small plot on a shallow coral reef at San Blas, Panama, provide data for the three most abundant species on population dynamics (number of individuals and total volume) and disease prevalence (number of individuals with active lesions). Although data for the three species, combined in broad categories (i.e. high vs low), support a general conclusion that disease prevalence was greater from 1994–1998 than from 1984–1988, the data do not demonstrate a steady increase over time, and disease prevalence for two of the species decreased in each of the final two censuses from a high in 1994. Fluctuations in population density (total volume) and disease prevalence were nearly synchronous within individual species, but asynchronous among the three species, suggesting that population density, measured as total sponge volume per unit area, may influence disease dynamics in these sponges.
Growth Hormone Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Gene Expression May Be Mediated by Multiple Distal Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 Binding Sites

The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-5 mediates GH stimulation of IGF-I gene expression in the liver. Previous studies suggested that STAT5 might exert this effect by binding to an IGF-I intron 2 region and a distal 5′-flanking region each containing two STAT5 binding sites. Here we report the identification of three additional chromosomal regions containing a total of five putative STAT5 binding sites that may mediate GH-induced STAT5 activation of IGF-I gene expression in the mouse liver. By comparing an 170-kb mouse genomic DNA containing the IGF-I gene with the corresponding human sequence, we identified 19 putative STAT5 binding sites that bear the consensus sequence of STAT5 binding site and are conserved across the two species. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that five chromosomal regions containing a total of nine of the 19 putative STAT5 binding sites were bound by STAT5 in the mouse liver in response to GH administration and that these bindings preceded or coincided with GH-increased IGF-I gene transcription. Two of the five chromosomal regions correspond to those previously identified in other species, and the three new chromosomal regions that contain a total of five putative STAT5 binding sites are IGF-I intron 3 regions located at least 26 kb from the transcription start site. Gel-shift assays confirmed the binding of the five new putative STAT5 binding sites as well as three of the four previously identified STAT5 binding sites to GH-activated STAT5 from the mouse liver. Cotransfection analyses indicated that, although each of the five chromosomal regions was able to mediate STAT5 activation of reporter gene expression, together they mediated greater STAT5 activation of reporter gene expression in response to GH. Overall, these results suggest that GH-induced STAT5 activation of IGF-I gene expression in the mouse liver might be collectively mediated by at least eight STAT5 binding sites located in distal intronic and 5′-flanking regions of the IGF-I gene.
Postprandial Spillover of Dietary Lipid into Plasma Is Increased with Moderate Amounts of Ingested Fat and Is Inversely Related to Adiposity in Healthy Older Men

Adverse effects on health mediated by increased plasma FFA concentrations are well established and older individuals are particularly susceptible to these effects. We sought to determine the effects of the amount of dietary fat on increasing the plasma FFA concentrations as a result of ‘‘spillover’’ of dietary fat into the plasma FFA pool during the postprandial period in older men. Healthy, older participants (63–71 y old) were studied in a randomized, crossover design following ingestions of low (LF) and moderate (MF) amounts of [1,1,1- 13 C]-triolein-labeled fat, corresponding to 0.4 and 0.7 g of fat/kg body weight, respectively. Spillover of dietary fatty acids into plasma during the 8-h postprandial period (AUC; mmol · L 21 · h) after MF ingestion was 1.2 times greater than that after LF ingestion (2.8 6 0.4 vs. 1.2 6 0.1; P< 0.05). The spillover of dietary fatty acids following the MF, but not the LF, ingestion was correlated with the percent body fat (rs = 20.89) and percent body fat-free mass (rs = 0.94) of the men ( P< 0.05). After adjusting to the amount of ingested fat, the spillover of dietary fatty acids in the MF trial was disproportionally higher than that in the LF trial ( P< 0.05), but the corresponding postprandial plasma TG responses did not differ between trials. In conclusion, spillover of dietary lipid into plasma is disproportionally increased at higher doses of dietary fat and this response is inversely related to adiposity in healthy men of advanced age. J. Nutr. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.162008.
Higher Doses of Lenalidomide Are Associated With Unacceptable Toxicity Including Life-Threatening Tumor Flare in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Purpose Lenalidomide is a novel therapeutic agent with uncertain mechanism of action that is clinically active in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and multiple myeloma (MM). Application of high (MM) and low (MDS) doses of lenalidomide has been reported to have clinical activity in CLL. Herein, we highlight life-threatening tumor flare when higher doses of lenalidomide are administered to patients with CLL and provide a potential mechanism for its occurrence. Patients and Methods Four patients with relapsed CLL were treated with lenalidomide (25 mg/d for 21 days of a 28-day cycle). Serious adverse events including tumor flare and tumor lysis are summarized. In vitro studies examining drug-induced apoptosis and activation of CLL cells were also performed. Results Four consecutive patients were treated with lenalidomide; all had serious adverse events. Tumor flare was observed in three patients and was characterized by dramatic and painful lymph node enlargement resulting in hospitalization of two patients, wi...
Implementation and performance of FPGA-accelerated particle flow filter

The particle flow filters, proposed by Daum & Hwang, provide a powerful means for density-based nonlinear filtering but their computation is intense and may be prohibitive for real-time applications. This paper proposes a design for superfast implementation of the exact particle flow filter using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as a parallel environment to speedup computation. Simulation results from a nonlinear filtering example are presented to demonstrate that using FPGA can dramatically accelerate particle flow filters through parallelization at the expense of a tolerable loss in accuracy as compared to nonparallel implementation.
Conditional Gradient Sliding for Convex Optimization

In this paper, we present a new conditional gradient type method for convex optimization by calling a linear optimization ($LO$) oracle to minimize a series of linear functions over the feasible set. Different from the classic conditional gradient method, the conditional gradient sliding (CGS) algorithm developed herein can skip the computation of gradients from time to time and, as a result, can achieve the optimal complexity bounds in terms of not only the number of calls to the $LO$ oracle but also the number of gradient evaluations. More specifically, we show that the CGS method requires ${\cal O}(1/\sqrt{\epsilon})$ and ${\cal O}(\log (1/\epsilon))$ gradient evaluations, respectively, for solving smooth and strongly convex problems, while still maintaining the optimal ${\cal O}(1/\epsilon)$ bound on the number of calls to the ${\rm LO}$ oracle. We also develop variants of the CGS method which can achieve the optimal complexity bounds for solving stochastic optimization problems and an important class...
Chemical sympathectomy decreases alveolar hypoxic vasoconstriction in lambs but not in sheep

We studied the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the augmented vasoconstrictor response of the newborn lamb, compared with the adult sheep, by producing a chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Seven lambs, age 4–16 days, and five sheep, age 2 yr, were anesthetized and intubated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube, allowing ventilation of one lung with O2 to maintain systemic oxygenation while the contralateral lung was ventilated with N2 as a hypoxic challenge. Distribution of perfusion to each lung was evaluated using positron scintigraphy after inferior vena caval injections of 13N, a positron-emitting isotope. In the lambs, prior to 6-OHDA, distribution of perfusion to the test lung was 43 +/- 3% of total lung perfusion during bilateral O2 ventilation and fell with hypoxia to 24 +/- 2%, a reduction of 44 +/- 3% during N2 ventilation as compared with O2 ventilation. After 6-OHDA, hypoxic challenge reduced perfusion by only 22 +/- 2% (P less than 0.01 compared with pre-6-OHDA)...
Comparative study of the response ofAzotobacter vinelandii andAcetobacter diazotrophicus to changes in pH

Curves were established for the pH response of respiration on eleven substrates byAzotobacter vinelandii andAcetobacter diazotrophicus. With every substrate the optimal pH forA. diazotrophicus was lower than forA. vinelandii. The optimal hydrogen ion concentration forA. diazotrophicus was 5 fold to 365 fold greater than forA. vinelandii depending upon the substrate. In general,A. diazotrophicus supports respiration over a wider pH range than doesA. vinelandii.
A 1400 Liter 1.8 K Test Facility

A double bath superfluid helium dewar has been constructed and operated at Fermilab’s Magnet Test Facility. The 1.8 K portion of the dewar is sized to contain a superconducting magnet up to 0.5 meters in diameter and 4 meters long in a vertical orientation in 0.12 MPa pressurized superfluid. The dewar can also provide a subcooled Helium I environment for tests; the entire temperature range from 4.4 K to 1.8 K at 0.12 MPa is available. This paper describes the system design, lambda plate, heat exchanger, and performance.
Spontaneous Extravasation of Urine from the Anterior Urethra

AbstractWhen urine extravasates from the diseased anterior urethra the subcutaneous tissues beneath Colles’ and Scarpa’s layers are suffused and necrosis of these tissues is inevitable. Traditionally, surgical treatment has been incision and drainage. Despite improvements in systemic antimicrobial therapy mortality rates remain high.Since necrosis of subcutaneous tissue is inevitable and since the extent of suffusion is discernible, we have treated these patients by primary excision of all edematous subcutaneous tissue. Using patients treated conventionally at our own institution as controls we have demonstrated a significant reduction in the mortality rate. We also have demonstrated that certain findings in the initial evaluation of the patient are of value in assessing prognosis.
Coping with Occupational Stress: Relational and Individual Strategies of Nurses in Acute Health Care Settings

(1982). Coping with Occupational Stress: Relational and Individual Strategies of Nurses in Acute Health Care Settings. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 6, Communication Yearbook 6, pp. 832-849.
Interaction of Dyes with Inorganic Constituents of Kidney Stones

Inhibitory effect of dyes on formation and growth of urinary calculi has been shown for methylene blue in vivo, not only in animals1, but also in clinical studies2, 3. Because the mechanism of action is not certain, our purpose was to study the interaction of a variety of dyes with crystals which can be present in urinary calculi. Generally the assumption is made that dyes are absorbed on the surface of crystals, reaching a saturation value, probably a monolayer of dye on certain faces of the crystals, and no more dye is absorbed with further increase of the dye concentration in solution. This assumption was tested for 6 dyes in adsorption studies on calcium oxalate monohydrate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, and on magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. The crystals were prepared by standard precipitation procedures, and air dried. In the dye solutions an excess of one of the crystal ions was also used in order to evaluate competition of dye ions with these crystal ions for sites on the surface. Generally 0.01M excess of either a positive or negative ion, and an equivalent aqueous dye solution were used. Excess of CA++ precipitated Wool Violet 4BN, and therefore this combination was eliminated.
Photodissociation and photoionization of triatomic hydrogen

Electron transfer from cesium atoms to mass selected H 3 + produces a metastable electronic state of H3, the rotationless level of the B ˜ 2 p 2 A 2 " state. The resulting photoabsorption spectrum of metastable H3 is atomiclike and extremely simple. It permits the detailed exploration of the electronic structure of triatomic hydrogen. Two types of experiment are carried out involving photoionization and photodissociation techniques in a fast beam of these H3 molecules.
Identification of SUMO modification sites in the base excision repair protein, Ntg1

DNA damaging agents are a constant threat to genomes in both the nucleus and the mitochondria. To combat this threat, a suite of DNA repair pathways cooperate to repair numerous types of DNA damage. If left unrepaired, these damages can result in the accumulation of mutations which can lead to deleterious consequences including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is highly conserved from bacteria to humans and is primarily responsible for the removal and subsequent repair of toxic and mutagenic oxidative DNA lesions. Although the biochemical steps that occur in the BER pathway have been well defined, little is known about how the BER machinery is regulated. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model system to biochemically and genetically dissect BER. BER is initiated by DNA N-glycosylases, such as S. cerevisiae Ntg1. Previous work demonstrates that Ntg1 is post-translationally modified by SUMO in response to oxidative DNA damage suggesting that this modification could modulate the function of Ntg1. In this study, we mapped the specific sites of SUMO modification within Ntg1 and identified the enzymes responsible for sumoylating/desumoylating Ntg1. Using a non-sumoylatable version of Ntg1, ntg1ΔSUMO, we performed an initial assessment of the functional impact of Ntg1 SUMO modification in the cellular response to DNA damage. Finally, we demonstrate that, similar to Ntg1, the human homologue of Ntg1, NTHL1, can also be SUMO-modified in response to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that SUMO modification of BER proteins could be a conserved mechanism to coordinate cellular responses to DNA damage.
Experimental development of low-frequency shear modulus and attenuation measurements in mated rock fractures: Shear mechanics due to asperity contact area changes with normal stress

ABSTRACTReservoir core measurements can help guide seismic monitoring of fluid-induced pressure variations in tight fractured reservoirs, including those targeted for supercritical CO2 injection. We have developed the first seismic-frequency “room-dry” measurements of fracture-specific shear stiffness, using artificially fractured standard granite samples with different degrees of mating, a well-mated tensile fracture from a dolomite reservoir core, as well as simple roughened polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) surfaces. We have adapted a low-frequency (0.01–100 Hz) shear modulus and attenuation apparatus to explore the seismic signature of fractures and understand the mechanics of asperity contacts under a range of normal stress conditions. Our instrument is unique in its ability to measure at low-normal stresses (0.5–20 MPa), simulating “open” fractures in shallow or high-fluid-pressure reservoirs. The accuracy of our instrument is demonstrated by calibration and comparison with ultrasonic measurements and ...
Millions of online book co-purchases reveal partisan differences in the consumption of science

Passionate disagreements about climate change, stem cell research and evolution raise concerns that science has become a new battlefield in the culture wars. We used data derived from millions of online co-purchases as a behavioural indicator for whether shared interest in science bridges political differences or selective attention reinforces existing divisions. Findings reveal partisan preferences both within and across scientific disciplines. Across fields, customers for liberal or ‘blue’ political books prefer basic science (for example, physics, astronomy and zoology), whereas conservative or ‘red’ customers prefer applied and commercial science (for example, criminology, medicine and geophysics). Within disciplines, ‘red’ books tend to be co-purchased with a narrower subset of science books on the periphery of the discipline. We conclude that the political left and right share an interest in science in general, but not science in particular. This underscores the need for research into remedies that can attenuate selective exposure to ‘convenient truth’, renew the capacity for science to inform political debate and temper partisan passions. A co-purchase network analysis of data from two of the United States’ biggest online booksellers reveals a stark division in the types of scientific literature read by liberals and conservatives. Selective exposure may limit cross-partisan understanding.
Race, Network Hiring, and Statistical Discrimination

Purpose – Research has shown that employers often disfavor racial minorities − particularly African Americans − even when whites and minorities present comparable resumes when applying for jobs. Extant studies have been hard pressed to distinguish between taste-based discrimination where employers' racial animus is the key motivation for their poor treatment of minorities and variants of statistical discrimination where there is no assumption at all of racial animus on the part of the employer. This chapter proposes a test of these theories by observing whether employers use employee referrals as a “cheap” source of information to help assess applicant quality.Methodology/approach – Unique quantitative data encompassing the entire pool of 987 candidates interviewed by one company in the western United States during a 13-month period are used to test our arguments.Findings – We find that employers in this setting are making use of the cheap information available to them: Consistent with statistical discrimination theory, minority referrals are more likely to receive a job offer than non-referred minority applicants, and are not disfavored relative to referred whites.Originality/value of the chapter – Both statistical and taste-based theories of discrimination propose similar observable outcomes (lower rates of disfavored minority hiring). While different mental processes are being invoked by taste-based and statistical discrimination theories, the theories are extremely difficult to distinguish in terms of observable behaviors. Especially for the purpose of designing legal remedies and labor market policies to ameliorate the disparate treatment of minority groups, differentiating between these theories is a high priority.
Primary and Redo Antireflux Surgery: Outcomes and Lessons Learned.

Some patients require one or more reoperative interventions after undergoing primary antireflux surgery (ARS). We compared outcomes after primary and reoperative ARS. We queried a prospectively maintained database to identify patients who underwent ARS from September 23, 2003 to May 28, 2016. Patients were categorized into four groups: A (primary ARS), B (first reoperative ARS), C (second reoperative ARS), or D (≥ third reoperative ARS). Patients completed follow-up foregut symptom surveys and satisfaction questionnaires at regular intervals. In total, 940 patients were studied (A: n = 545, B: n = 302, C: n = 80, D: n = 13). Age, sex, and BMI were comparable across groups. Heartburn was the most common preoperative symptom in A, whereas dysphagia was more common in B–D. Open approach, mean operative time, and mean blood loss increased from A to D (P < 0.05), as did need for Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Vagal injury (2–19–33–54%; P < 0.05), visceral perforation (2–20–36–23%; P < 0.05), postoperative leak (0.2–2–6–8%; P < 0.05 A vs. all), and morbidity (2–10–14–39%; P < 0.05) also increased from A to D. At mean follow-up of 36 months, the proportion of patients who reported no significant symptoms, excellent satisfaction, and likeliness to recommend this surgery to a friend progressively declined with each successive reintervention (P < 0.05). Complications and patient-reported outcomes worsen with each reoperative ARS.
Abstract 102: Carotid Endarterectomy versus Stenting in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Introduction: There has been an increase in the number of hemodialysis (HD) patients seeking treatment for carotid artery stenosis in recent times. These patients suffer from a unique course of car...
Understanding and Promoting Resilience in the Context of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Brain development in the early years is especially susceptible to toxic stress caused by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to epigenetics research, toxic stress has the capacity to physically change a child’s brain and be hardwired into the child’s biology via genes in the DNA. The compelling nature of the impact of early adversity on later health and development has generated interest in protection against the impact of early adversity. Research highlights three interrelated “core protective systems” associated with positive adaptation. Early childhood educators are in a unique position to play a role in early identification of ACEs and to contribute to the development of protective skills. Adults within the early childhood education community can assist in increasing physical health and mental well-being for children who have encountered ACEs. Safe and healthy environments that allow the child to play, explore, and maximize his/her capacities are examples of how individual protective factors can be enhanced. Early childhood educators can support the child’s protective system by building the child’s personal attributes associated with resiliency, such as self-efficacy and self-regulation. Early childhood educators can provide a secure relationship, which is especially critical for children who have experienced trauma because it can provide extra support in times of stress. Additionally, by working collaboratively with parents, early childhood educators provide an additional layer of protection for children who experience adversity. Lastly, at the community level, early childhood educators can bring awareness to the public and private sectors by informing others of ACEs effect on early brain development and the link to later outcomes on individuals and society. Society is positively impacted when ACEs are reduced and individuals are raised in thriving families and communities.