cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing daily life experience of patients on maintenance dialysis

Background. Despite growing literature of the dialysis patients’ high burden of illness and a compromised quality of life, little is known about their daily life experiences. Methods. A cross-sectional study using the day reconstruction method, an experience sampling method, was used. Seventy-one dialysis patients recruited from three dialysis centers systematically reconstructed their activities and experiences of the preceding day. Time spent on their activities, settings and associated emotions were assessed to compute U-Index scores (the percentage of time a person spent in an unpleasant or undesirable state). Patients also completed the Illness Effects Questionnaire-Self-Report (IEQ-S) and the Short-Form Health Survey-36 v2 (SF-36v2). Results. Patients spent ∼6 h of their day (excluding sleep hours) in an unpleasant or undesirable state (U-Index = 34.45 ± 29.26). U-Index scores did not differ by race, age, sex or years on dialysis and were moderately associated with IEQ-S scores (r = 0.43, P ≤ 0.001) and weakly associated with SF-36v2 physical component scores (r = −0.34, P = 0.003). U-Index scores differed significantly between dialysis days and non-dialysis days for hemodialysis patients (P = 0.012). Those who had depression or used antidepressants and reported income not meeting basic needs showed significantly higher U-Index scores than their counterparts (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The findings may assist clinicians to better understand the daily activities and burdens experienced by dialysis patients and suggest areas for future research and clinical considerations to improve the quality of their lives.
High Altitude Adaptation in Mammals

synopsis. The physiological, morphological, and biochemical characteristics of several species of mammals resident at high altitude are compared with those of their sea level counterparts. The differences noted in these characteristics are in a direction that facilitates the acclimatization of those living at high altitude. The differences among species point to the fact that the mechanism of adaptation to altitude (i.e., hypoxia) is still not understood. This review emphasizes that the adaptive process is complex and made up of several components, that these components are inter? related, and that neither the physiological nor morphological adaptations can fully account for the tolerance to hypoxia. Although only superficially studied as yet, the biochemical adaptations appear most important.
The effects of Amped Up on hemodynamic function and energy expenditure at rest

Methods Eight male (23.0 ± 3.70 years, 210.69 ± 36.17 lbs, 71.81 ± 3.10 in) and ten female (23.6 ± 4.81 years, 147.95 ± 12.63 lbs, 67.88 ± 4.06 in) apparently healthy, physically active individuals participated in this study. Participants reported to the lab on a 10-hour fast and performed baseline testing on resting energy expenditure (REE), heart rate, and blood pressure. Subjects were then randomly assigned to ingest either Amped Up (3 capsules) or vitamin E (3 capsules). Criterion variables were then measured at 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hours post ingestion. Data was analyzed by two-factor (group × time point) ANOVA using SPSS version 16. Scheffe LSD post hoc was used to show differences in time points.
In search of self‐reliance: Problems of marine technology transfer to the developing countries: The case of West Africa

Abstract This study presents some of the main features of the marine technology transfer process and identifies the key factors determining the particular transfer arrangements available for developing countries of West Africa under different circumstances. Emphasis is made on the fisheries sector because of its economic importance in that region. It examines the principal characteristics of suppliers and recipients of fisheries technology and their prevailing attitudes with regard to transfers. It draws on empirical research covering several international cooperative fisheries arrangements in Mauritania, Guinea‐Bissau, and Guinea‐Conakry that have high potential to function as a technology transfer mechanism from developed to developing coastal countries.
Instance-based online learning of deterministic relational action models

We present an instance-based, online method for learning action models in unanticipated, relational domains. Our algorithm memorizes pre- and post-states of transitions an agent encounters while experiencing the environment, and makes predictions by using analogy to map the recorded transitions to novel situations. Our algorithm is implemented in the Soar cognitive architecture, integrating its task-independent episodic memory module and analogical reasoning implemented in procedural memory. We evaluate this algorithm's prediction performance in a modified version of the blocks world domain and the taxi domain. We also present a reinforcement learning agent that uses our model learning algorithm to significantly speed up its convergence to an optimal policy in the modified blocks world domain.
Annual soil respiration in broadleaf forests of northern Wisconsin: influence of moisture and site biological, chemical, and physical characteristics

Soil temperature and moisture influence soil respiration at a range of temporal and spatial scales. Although soil temperature and moisture may be seasonally correlated, intra and inter-annual variations in soil moisture do occur. There are few direct observations of the influence of local variation in species composition or other stand/site characteristics on seasonal and annual variations in soil moisture, and on cumulative annual soil carbon release. Soil climate and soil respiration from twelve sites in five different forest types were monitored over a 2-year period (1998–1999). Also measured were stand age, species composition, basal area, litter inputs, total above-ground wood production, leaf area index, forest floor mass, coarse and fine root mass, forest floor carbon and nitrogen concentration, root carbon and nitrogen concentration, soil carbon and nitrogen concentration, coarse fraction mass and volume, and soil texture. General soil respiration models were developed using soil temperature, daily soil moisture, and various site/soil characteristics. Of the site/soil characteristics, above-ground production, soil texture, roots + forest floor mass, roots + forest floor carbon:nitrogen, and soil carbon:nitrogen were significant predictors of soil respiration when used alone in respiration models; all of these site variables were weakly to moderately correlated with mean site soil moisture. Daily soil climate data were used to estimate the annual release of carbon (C) from soil respiration for the period 1998–1999. Mean annual soil temperature did not differ between the 2 years but mean annual soil moisture was approximately 9% lower in 1998 due to a summer drought. Soil C respired during 1998 ranged from 8.57 to 11.43 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 while the same sites released 10.13 and 13.57 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in 1999; inter-annual differences of 15.41 and 15.73%, respectively. Among the 12 sites studied, we calculated that the depression of soil respiration linked to the drought caused annual differences of soil respiration from 11.00 to 15.78%. Annual estimates of respired soil C decreased with increasing site mean soil moisture. Similarly, the difference of respired carbon between the drought and the non-drought years generally decreased with increasing site mean soil moisture.
HELIX: Design and synthesis of hybrid nanophotonic application-specific network-on-chip architectures

Hybrid nanophotonic-electric networks-on-chip (NoC) have been recently proposed to overcome the challenges of high data transfer latencies and significant power dissipation in traditional electrical NoCs. But hybrid NoCs with nanophotonic guided waveguides and silicon microring resonator modulators impose many challenges such as high thermal tune up power and crossing losses. Due to these challenges productization of such architectures has yet to become commercially viable. Unfortunately, increasing embedded application complexity, hardware dependencies, and performance variability makes optimizing hybrid NoCs a daunting task because of the need to explore a massive design space at the system-level. To date, no prior work has addressed the problem of synthesizing application-specific hybrid nanophotonic-electric NoCs with an irregular topology. Considering the above unaddressed major challenges, in this paper we propose the HELIX framework for application-specific synthesis of hybrid NoC architectures that combine electrical NoCs with free-space nanophotonic NoCs. Based on our experimental studies, we demonstrate that our HELIX framework produces superior NoC architectures that achieve 3.06× power improvements compared to synthesis frameworks proposed in prior work for electrical NoCs.
Microarray analysis of thapsigargin-induced stress to the endoplasmic reticulum of mouse osteoblasts.

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) protein has a dual role in osteoblasts. It functions as a responder to stress to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as well as a transcription factor for bone formation. Little is known about molecular pathways that can potentially lead to stress-induced apoptosis or homeostasis of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. Based on microarray-derived mRNA expression data for mouse osteoblasts (MC3T3 E1 cells, clone 4), we analyzed the ER-stress responses in the presence of 10 nM Thapsigargin using two computational approaches: “Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA)” and “Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA).” GSEA presented a strong linkage to an expression pattern observed in the responses to hypoxia, and IPA identified two molecular pathways: ATF4-unlinked connective tissue development and ATF4-linked organ morphology. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analyses validated eIF2α-driven translational regulation as well as ATF4-linked transcriptional activation of transcription factors and growth factors including FOS, FGF-9, and BMP-2. Consistent with the role of p38 MAPK in hypoxia, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was activated in nonapoptotic osteoblasts under surviving ER stress. Furthermore, the level of phosphorylated PERK was elevated. These results support cross-talk between p38 MAPK and ER kinase, presenting a similarity to the responses to hypoxia as well as a pathway toward connective tissue development and organ morphology.
Optimal and robust controllers for periodic and multirate systems

The problem of optimal rejection of bounded persistent disturbances is solved in the case of linear discrete-time periodic systems. The solution consists of solving an equivalent time-invariant standard l/sup 1/ optimization problem subject to an additional constraint. This constraint assures the causality of the resulting periodic controller. By the duality theory, the problem is shown to be equivalent to a linear programming problem, which is no harder than the standard l/sup 1/ problem. Also, it is shown that the method of solution presented applies exactly to the problem of disturbance rejection in the case of multirate sampled data systems. Finally, the results are applied to the problem of robust stabilization of periodic and multirate systems. >
Mughal State Finance and the Premodern World Economy

In the April 1979 issue of CSSH, Karen Leonard has advanced a new explanation for the decline and eventual collapse of the Mughal empire in India. She argues that “indigenous banking firms were indispensable allies of the Mughal state” (p. 152), and that the great nobles and imperial officers “were more than likely to be directly dependent upon these banking firms.” (p. 165) Thus, when in the period 1650–1750 these banking firms began “the redirection of [their] economic and political support” (p. 164) toward nascent regional polities and rulers, including the British East India Company in Bengal, this led to bankruptcy, the ensuing series of political crises and the “downfall of the empire” (p. 152). On first consideration, this theory does offer a plausible means to explain some of the more puzzling aspects of the period of Mughal decline, circa 1690 to 1720. Certainly the faltering, after more than a century of steady increase, of the flow of resources toward the imperial center in the last decade of the seventeenth century, and the inability of the empire to pay its highest ranking cadre of officers, the amirs or nobles, and their followers are manifest. A coterminous erosion of authority, the loss of morale and confidence of badly isolated imperial officers stationed throughout the subcontinent, and the loss of fighting spirit amongst imperial armies bogged down in an interminable war against the Marathas in the Deccan are also well known.
La constitucionalización de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos. Hacia una igual ciudadanía para las mujeres

En este articulo nos proponemos, en primer lugar, contextualizar la falta de pertenencia de las mujeres a la comunidad constitucional, especificamente respecto del ejercicio de sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos y de un derecho al aborto, examinando la conexion (o inconexion) que la jurisprudencia comparada ha trazado entre el derecho al aborto y el derecho constitucional a la igualdad y la dignidad. En segundo lugar, desde una perspectiva feminista, construiremos un ar gumento, fundado en el enfoque de las capacidades, que justifique la constitucionalizacion d e los referidos derechos sexuales y reproductivos.
Lawyers Matter, Policy Matters: How One Small Not-for-Profit Combats Discrimination Against Ex-Offenders, People in Recovery, and People with AIDS

license to box (and thus work) in New York. Although the Southern District of New York eventually ordered the Commission to restore Ali's license, it did so not because it was troubled by the Commission's pre-conviction suspension of Ali, or by the Commission's ability to prevent a would-be licensee from plying his chosen trade in New York or even because it was concerned about the policy implications of preventing individuals with criminal records from working in the state but, rather, because the court held that "the Commission's action . . . constituted an arbitrary and unreasonable departure" from its practice of granting licenses to applicants convicted of crimes or military offenses, thus violating Ali's Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection.1
Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of Doped Yb14MnSb11-xBix Zintls

Yb14MnSb11 is a very promising thermoelectric material for high temperature applications. This compound is a member of a large family of Zintl phases with a “14-1-11” A14MPn11 stoichiometry (Pn = P, As, Sb, Bi; A = Ca, Ba, La, Sr, Yb, Eu; M = Mn, Al, Cd, Ga, In, Nb, Zn). Yb14MnSb11 exhibits low lattice thermal conductivity values and a p-type semimetallic behavior with values of the non-dimensional figure of merit zT peaking at 1.4 above 1200 K. There is significant interest in investigating how substitutions on any of the atomic sites impact the charge carrier concentration and mobility, band gap and lattice thermal conductivity. Recent reports have studied substitutions on the Yb and Mn sites with the goal of reducing hole carrier concentration and improving carrier mobility values. High energy ball milling has been shown to be a convenient method of synthesis to prepare Yb14MnSb11 and it has been used here to explore the solid solution systems derived from this compound by substituting Sb with Bi. High energy ball milling is a non-equilibrium process and not all of the 14-1-11 compounds are easily formed with this method. Characterization of the synthesized compositions was done by X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and high temperature measurements of the electrical and thermal transport properties up to 1275 K. The experimental results on undoped and doped solid solution samples are compared to that of pure Yb14MnSb11 samples prepared by the same high energy ball milling technique.
Sharecropping Contract Experience in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract Sharecropping has been an age long practice from ancient times. Some scholars saw the practice as being exploitative of the tenants, yet it is still being practiced. The reasons behind it continual practice need to be unveiled. This study was therefore conducted to examine the sharecropping contract experience in Delta State, Nigeria. The landlords decided to practice sharecropping as a result of emigration of their household members, farm size and cost of labours, some of them gave age and their primary occupation as factors for their decisions to opt for sharecropping arrangement. The yields were shared on the basis of 60% for the landlord to 40% for the tenant. The landlords provided all the equipment and inputs, while the tenant's carried out all the farm operations. They faced the constraints of stress, but were able to cope with them, because of hospitals and health centres nearby. The result of the test of hypothesis confirmed the reasons given for deciding on sharecropping arrangement. It was concluded that sharecropping was not exploitative. It was recommended that the practice of sharecropping should be encouraged and not diversified into other sources of livelihood should do so.
Numerical study of body shape and wing flexibility in fluid structure interaction

In this paper, we numerically investigate the impact of body shape and wing orientation upon the flow induced drag forces experienced by a body in its steady state. The current study focuses on simple toy models but derives its motivations from previous reported work on wind-induced drag on birds in flight most of which are experimental in nature. Our numerical results show that body shape/eccentricites, wing length and orientation are all important in determining the forces experienced by a body in a flow. Their geometries and specific features are key to determining the optimal mode of locomotion which is determined by looking at the relationship between drag force, bending behavior versus flow and geometric parameters.
Optimal Wave Focusing for Imaging and Microseismic Event Location

Focusing waves inside a medium has applications in geophysics in areas such as imaging and microseismic event location. The goal in focusing is to concentrate the wave energy at a specific time and location inside a medium. Various techniques have been devised and used to achieve this goal. Timereversal (TR) is a well-researched method that has been used routinely to focus waves. The ability of TR methods to focus wave fields inside heterogeneous media is bounded by limitations caused by imperfect acquisition, attenuation, and the diffraction limit. To go beyond these limitations, we present a solution by formulating wave focusing as an optimization problem. Solving this optimization problem gives the needed signals for transmission to the medium to get the best focus. These signals are optimized for the configuration of the injection points, velocity of the medium, and the focusing target.
Increasing hospital charges for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To determine the trends and causes for increases in hospital charges in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Trends in utilization rates, surgical procedure types, and hospital charges for AIS fusions have not been well investigated. METHODS We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, billing codes to identify 29,594 AIS fusion cases from the National Inpatient Service (NIS) database between 2001 and 2011. Data were trended over time, and contrasted against other common procedures. To identify specific drivers of charges, we queried our own hospital's billing system, and averaged charges from 40 cases (10 cases for each of 4 yr studied). Dollar amounts were adjusted for inflation to 2011 dollars. RESULTS Utilization rates for AIS fusions have remained constant, whereas utilization of adult spinal fusions increased by 64% (P = 0.0004). Utilization of anterior thoracic fusions decreased by 80% (P < 0.0001). Mean hospital charges for AIS spinal fusions increased from $72,780 in 2001 to $155,278 in 2011 (113% increase), averaging 11.3% annually (P < 0.0001), with charges for adult spinal procedures increasing at a similar rate (13.4% annually, P < 0.0001). Charges for the other nonspine conditions increased to a lesser degree (range of 4.5%-6% annually, P < 0.001 for each). At our institution, spinal implant charges increased 27.6% annually, whereas surgeon charges decreased 0.5% annually, and all other charges increased only 5.2% annually. Over time, our surgeon used greater numbers of pedicle screws, and greater numbers of implants per surgery and per level fused (P < 0.05 for each). Implant charges were 28% of the total hospital bill in 2003, rising to 53% in 2012. CONCLUSION Although utilization rates for AIS fusions have remained constant over time, hospital charges have increased substantively, and there has been a shift toward performing posterior only surgical procedures. This corresponds to the widespread adoption of pedicle screw-based constructs. Spinal implants may be the primary driver of increased charges. Strategies directed toward implant cost savings may thus have the largest impact. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
Tachyphylaxis to the vasopressor effects of endothelin in rat aortic rings

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide released by endothelial cells, binds with high affinity to surface receptors and is highly resistant to dissociation. We observed tachyphylaxis to the pressor effects of a second application of ET-1 in rat aortic rings and investigated the mechanism of this effect. Developed tension increased progressively with doses of ET-1 ranging from 1 to 500 nM (P < 0.001), and tensions with rechallenge were correspondingly decreased (P < 0.001). In response to 500 nM ET-1, tension increased 1,599 +/- 72 (SE) mg/mg ring wt. Rechallenge with 500 nM ET-1 led to contraction of only 33 +/- 40 mg/mg ring wt. Tachyphylaxis was seen up to 6 h after initial challenge. Pretreatment with nicardipine, lidoflazine, nitroglycerin, and sphingosine did not affect tachyphylaxis. Pretreatment with 500 microM dansylcadaverine (an inhibitor of endothelin internalization) markedly inhibited ET-1-induced contraction and also inhibited tachyphylaxis to ET-1. Further studies with radiolabeled ET-1 suggested that subsequent ET-1 binding is markedly decreased after an initial ET-1 challenge. Dansylcadaverine inhibited ET-1 internalization and also inhibited the decreased binding seen with ET-1 rechallenge. Rat aortic rings demonstrate tachyphylaxis to the pressor effect of a second dose of ET-1. The mechanism appears to be related to binding and subsequent internalization of endothelin-receptor complexes. This effect suggests a possible mechanism for sustained decreases in systemic vascular resistance.
89 CASE REPORTS IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE RESEARCH: ARE THE METHODS VALID?

Purpose of Study Although randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews provide the “best evidence” for guiding medical practice, many peer-reviewed medical journals still publish case reports (CRs). Yet there are no accepted methodologic standards for CRs. We sought to determine the proportion of treatment-related CRs that adequately reported their methods, including critical information about the patient, disease, interventions, cointerventions, and measured outcomes. Methods Used CRs published in four emergency medicine journals from 2003-2005 were identified and categorized according to their purpose (disease description, report of an adverse drug reaction, utility of a diagnostic test, or treatment effect). Treatment-related CRs, including medical and surgical interventions, were reviewed for adherence to 11 methodologic standards. CRs were re-reviewed by a second investigator; interrater agreement was measured with kappa statistics, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Summary ofResults Of 646 CRs identified, 37 (5.7%; 95% CI = 0.04-0.08) were treatment CRs. Over half (54%; 95% CI = 0.38-0.69) of the treatment CRs described interventions for a poisoning or overdose. A complete, searchable title, including disease, intervention, and outcome, was present in 23 CRs (62%; 95% CI = 0.46-0.76). A clear diagnostic standard (pathologic, laboratory, or radiologic test or clinical detail) was present in 35 CRs (95%; 95% CI = 0.82-0.98). Most CRs included clear descriptions of disease severity (84%; 95% CI = 0.69-0.92); intervention (medication dose or procedure details) (83%; 95% CI = 0.69-0.92); and all clinically relevant outcomes (75%; 95% CI = 0.59-0.87). Other methods were seldom mentioned: comorbidities (48%; 95% CI = 0.33-0.64); cointerventions (35%; 95% CI = 0.22-0.51); and treatment side effects (35%; 95% CI = 0.22-0.51). Only 22% (95% CI = 0.11-0.37) mentioned key criteria for inferring causality (biologic plausibility, consistency with published literature, and exclusion of “natural history” or other confounding factors). Generalizability of treatment effects to other patients was mentioned in seven CRs (19%; 95% CI = 0.09-0.34). No CR reported its “denominator” (number of patients subjected to the same intervention, whether or not successful). Conclusions Treatment CRs are published frequently in the emergency medicine literature, but information about the data quality is often lacking. CRs should be held to higher methodologic standards, or the information may be misleading to providers, and the clinical applications may be detrimental to patient care.
A international comparisons and historical analysis on China's environmental governance efficiency based on the bodel of DEA

This paper did an analysis on China's environmental governance efficiency using the C2R model in DEA.Through the international comparisons and historical analysis,it found that China's environmental governance efficiency was low and only one-third level of the high-efficiency countries in the international comparison's results.In the historical comparison's results,China's environmental governance efficiency hadn't essentially improved by the past 16-years.Comparative the results of the international comparisons and historical comparisons,there were two contradictory phenomena: from the international view,China's environmental governance efficiency there was still much room for improvement and had increased scale effect,but from the historical view,China's environmental efficiency had the constant scale.And two models gave different judgments on the inefficiency outputs.
Profile of the Coal Combustion Fraction in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler at Different Operating Conditions

In the light of many hot test measurement in the furnace of a 75t/h circulating fluidized bed(CFB) boiler at different operating conditions,the profiles of the solid suspension density along the height of the furnace were given in present work.On the basis of this,a model was developed for the heat balance of the circulating fluidized bed boiler at different operating conditions,with focuses on coal combustion fraction in different zones of the furnace.Through calculation of solid balance and heat balance,the distributions of coal combustion fraction of each zone were analyzed,and also the transition of operating modes from fast bed to bubbling bed was known clearly with the load of CFB boiler changing from full to part.The present work may provide technical support for the study of dynamic property and simulation of CFB boiler.
Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis

Morphologically, cirrhosis can be defined as an entity. However, the physiologic and clinical abnormalities produced by cirrhosis are heterogeneous. Cirrhosis cannot be used as a homogeneous entity in clinical studies without clear-cut definition of the type of patients involved and the manifestation of the severity of their disease. Neither the clinical illness nor death of cirrhotic patients is necessarily related to liver disease. For example, 40% of 4455 deaths in cirrhosis were due to causes other than hepatic or renal failure, GI bleeding, or infection. One of the best examples of the heterogeneity of the clinical manifestation of cirrhosis is provided by the data published recently by various investigators purporting to identify the key determinants which predict the prognosis for cirrhotic patients. Although the various investigators used similar statistical methods, what appeared to be prognostic in one institution was not in another, and vice versa [1–5].
This Is Our Land: Grassroots Environmentalism in the Late Twentieth Century . By Cody Ferguson

This Is Our Land: Grassroots Environmentalism in the Late Twentieth Century . Nature, Society, and Culture Series. By Cody Ferguson. (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2015. xii + 255 pp. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. $28.95, paper.) The history of the environmental movement is spread across dozens of studies. In them, historians have examined diverse and distinct manifestations of that still vague idea, “environmentalism.” Cody Ferguson’s This Is Our Land is one of the latest contributions to this wealth of perspectives, and it valuably complicates the picture even more by focusing on an underappreciated cast of characters. Ferguson is interested in “grassroots environmentalism,” by which he means volunteer-based organizations concerned primarily with local conditions, with social justice, and with democratic processes as much as with environmentally friendly results. He tells the story … keith.woodhouse{at}northwestern.edu
Did the 1918 influenza cause the twentieth century cardiovascular mortality epidemic in the United States

During most of the twentieth century, cardiovascular mortality increased in the United States while other causes of death declined. By 1958, the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) for cardiovascular causes for females was 1.84 times that for all other causes, combined (and, for males, 1.79×). Although contemporary observers believed that cardiovascular mortality would remain high, the late 1950s and early 1960s turned out to be the peak of a roughly 70-year epidemic. By 1988 for females (1986 for males), a spectacular decline had occurred, wherein the ASDR for cardiovascular causes was less than that for other causes combined. We discuss this phenomenon from a demographic point of view. We also test a hypothesis from the literature, that the 1918 influenza pandemic caused the cardiovascular mortality epidemic; we fail to find support.
A Fluorescent Probe Distinguishes between Inhibition of Early and Late Steps of Lipopolysaccharide Biogenesis in Whole Cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biogenesis in Gram-negative organisms involves its biosynthesis in the cytoplasm and subsequent transport across three cellular compartments to the cell surface. We developed a fluorescent probe that allows us to determine the spatial distribution of LPS in whole cells. We show that polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN) containing a dansyl fluorophore specifically binds to LPS in membranes. We show that this probe detects decreases in LPS levels on the cell surface when LPS biosynthesis is inhibited at an early step. We also can detect accumulation of LPS in particular subcellular locations when LPS assembly is blocked during transport, allowing us to differentiate inhibitors targeting early and late stages of LPS biogenesis.
Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Cascade of Events Leading to Cell Death, Apoptosis or Necrosis

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) can broadly be divided into predictable and dose dependent such as acetaminophen (APAP) and unpredictable or idiosyncratic DILI (IDILI). Liver injury from drug hepatotoxicity (whether idiosyncratic or predictable) results in hepatocyte cell death and inflammation. The cascade of events leading to DILI and the cell death subroutine (apoptosis or necrosis) of the cell depend largely on the culprit drug. Direct toxins to hepatocytes likely induce oxidative organelle stress (such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial stress) leading to necrosis or apoptosis, while cell death in idiosyncratic DILI (IDILI) is usually the result of engagement of the innate and adaptive immune system (likely apoptotic), involving death receptors (DR). Here, we review the hepatocyte cell death pathways both in direct hepatotoxicity such as in APAP DILI as well as in IDILI. We examine the known signaling pathways in APAP toxicity, a model of necrotic liver cell death. We also explore what is known about the genetic basis of IDILI and the molecular pathways leading to immune activation and how these events can trigger hepatotoxicity and cell death.
Time-Domain Characterization of Silicon-Based Integrated Picosecond Impulse Radiators

A direct time-domain characterization of silicon-based integrated picosecond impulse radiators using a femtosecond laser-gated optoelectronic sampling technique is developed. In the proposed system, a 1550 nm femtosecond laser source is used to generate an electrical trigger signal fed to a picosecond impulse radiator, and another synchronized 1550 nm femtosecond laser source is used to gate a photoconductive detector. Technical challenges are addressed to synchronize the silicon radiators with the optoelectronic sampling system. This paper presents the details of the proposed technique and characterization of 4.8 ps impulses radiated by a custom silicon chip.
Resection for recurrent colorectal liver metastases.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. It is estimated that in the year 2001, 130,200 colorectal cases will be diagnosed in the United States. Also over the next year, 56,300 Americans will die of this disease. Colorectal cancer ranks third in estimated cancer deaths, behind lung and prostate cancer in men, and lung and breast cancer in women (1). The vast majority of these patients die of metastases (2,3). Among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, during the course of their illness, the liver will become involved in 40-70% of cases. It has been well documented that the treatment of choice, on first presentation of hepatic metastases, is surgical resection (4–7). Numerous series report 5-year survival rates of 22%–39%, with an average around 30% (4–7). Unfortunately, this means that 70% of patients will recur after hepatic resection for colorectal metastases. Among these patients, about 30% will present with liver only recurrences, and about one third to one half of these will be candidates for a second hepatic resection (2,3).
Distant intracranial failure in melanoma brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery in the era of immunotherapy and targeted agents.

Abstract Purpose Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in combination with immunotherapy (IMT) or targeted therapy is increasingly being used in the setting of melanoma brain metastases (MBMs). The synergistic properties of combination therapy are not well understood. We compared the distant intracranial failure rates of intact MBMs treated with SRS, SRS + IMT, and SRS + targeted therapy. Methods and materials Combination therapy was defined as delivery of SRS within 3 months of IMT (anti-CTLA-4 /anti-PD-1 therapy) or targeted therapy (BRAF/MEK inhibitors). The primary endpoint was distant intracranial failure after SRS, which was defined as any new MBM identified on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards. Results A total of 72 patients with melanoma with 233 MBMs were treated between April 2006 and April 2016. The number of MBMs within each treatment group was as follows: SRS: 121; SRS + IMT: 48; and SRS + targeted therapy: 64. The median follow-up was 8.9 months. One-year distant intracranial control rates for SRS, SRS + IMT, and SRS + targeted therapy were 11.5%, 60%, and 10%, respectively ( P P = .003) and compared with SRS + targeted therapy (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.25-0.68; P = .001).One-year local control for SRS, SRS + IMT, and SRS + targeted therapy was 66%, 85%, and 72%, respectively ( P = .044). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for dose, SRS + IMT remained associated with a significant reduction in local failure compared with SRS alone (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.95; P = .04). Conclusions SRS with immunotherapy is associated with decreased distant and local intracranial failure compared with SRS alone. Prospective studies are warranted to validate this result.
The Inclusion House: Where Pastors Learn to Minister to Individuals with Disabilities

ABSTRACTThe Inclusion House is a unique dorm in Holland, Michigan, where nondisabled students, studying to be leaders in the faith community as future pastors, live side-by-side same-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities. After one year, a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with the nondisabled roommates. Findings showed overall positive feelings involving watching roommates with a disability become more independent, learning to balance roles as a friend vs. helper, as well as knowledge gleaned about working with these type of individuals as well as their families for their future occupations. These findings are important for the education of future leaders of the church and the manner by which they can include people with disabilities and their families in faith communities.
Phenylamino derivatives of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine: hydrogen-bonded peroxodicopper complexes

A series of copper complexes bearing new 6-substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands (LR) appended with NH(p-R-C6H4) groups (R = H, CF3, OMe) were prepared. These ligands are electronically tunable (ΔE1/2 = 160 mV) and CuI(LR)+ complexes react with oxygen to form hydrogen bonded (trans-1,2-peroxo)dicopper species.
Association of mutations with morphological dysplasia in de novo acute myeloid leukemia without 2016 WHO Classification-defined cytogenetic abnormalities.

Despite improvements in our understanding of the molecular basis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the association between genetic mutations with morphological dysplasia remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated and scored dysplasia in bone marrow (BM) specimens from 168 patients with de novo AML; none of these patients had cytogenetic abnormalities according to the 2016 World Health Organization Classification. We then performed targeted sequencing of diagnostic BM aspirates for recurrent mutations associated with myeloid malignancies. We found that cohesin pathway mutations [q (FDR-adjusted P)=0.046] were associated with a higher degree of megakaryocytic dysplasia and STAG2 mutations were marginally associated with greater myeloid lineage dysplasia (q=0.052). Frequent megakaryocytes with separated nuclear lobes were more commonly seen among cases with cohesin pathway mutations (q=0.010) and specifically in those with STAG2 mutations (q=0.010), as well as NPM1 mutations (q=0.022 when considering the presence of any vs. no megakaryocytes with separated nuclear lobes). RAS pathway mutations (q=0.006) and FLT3-ITD (q=0.006) were significantly more frequent in cases without evaluable erythroid cells. In univariate analysis of the 153 patients treated with induction chemotherapy, NPM1 mutations were associated with longer event-free survival (EFS) (P=0.042), while RUNX1 (P=0.042), NF1 (P=0.040), frequent micromegakaryocytes (P=0.018) and presence of a subclone (P=0.002) were associated with shorter EFS. In multivariable modeling, NPM1 was associated with longer EFS, while presence of a subclone and frequent micromegakaryocytes remained significantly associated with shorter EFS.
Multilevel quadrature amplitude multiplexing using coherently coupled orbital angular momentum modes

Information can be encoded onto transverse spatial light modes, providing a platform that can improve the spectral efficiency of a communications link. Switching speed between these spatial modes and detection methods limit the information capacity of such links. This work demonstrates high speed capabilities of such a link. Transverse modes are created and switched at high rates by coherently coupling twisted light modes using passive optical elements in line with electro-optical modulators. Here we demonstrate the encoding and detection of two coherently coupled modes encoded with 0.5 Gbaud quadrature amplitude modulated (16- and 32-QAM) signals, for a 4X and 5X increase in spectral efficiency by exploiting both phase and amplitude of the coherently coupled modes. The receiver is able to successfully recover the signal with error rates below the forward error correction limit using passive optical techniques. The data rate of the system used is only limited by hardware, but similar devices are available that are capable of multi-Gigahertz operation.
Quantum Computational Logic

A quantum computational logic is constructed by employing density operators on spaces of qubits and quantum gates represented by unitary operators. It is shown that this quantum computational logic is isomorphic to the basic sequential effect algebra [0, 1].
CHAPTER 27 – Anatomy of the Hypothalamo–Hypophysial Complex

This chapter focuses on the anatomy of the hypothalamo–hypophysial complex. Epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells—the motor elements of the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous systems—arise in the diencephalon. The epithelial cells of the neuroendocrine system are found in the adenohypophysis, the glandular portion of the pituitary body at the base of the brain. These epithelial cells carry out their role as effector elements of the neuroendocrine system by synthesizing peptide hormones and secreting them into nearby capillaries. The release of protein hormones from adenohypophysial cells is in part regulated by secretions from distant sites that are carried to the glandular pituitary via the systemic circulation. Secretions of the target organs of the pituitary regulate anterior pituitary function through feedback loops. In addition, ghrelin secreted from the stomach and leptin released from adipose tissue can alter adenohypophysial function as can catecholamines secreted from the adrenal medulla.
ON THE MECHANISM OF THE CARBONIZATION OF BENZENE, ACETYLENE AND DIACETYLENE AT 1200°C

When benzene is pyrolyzed at 1200°C at a concentration of 0.1 mole-% in helium and at very short contact times, the primary decomposition products, stable at room temperature, are mainly acetylene, diacetylene and hydrogen. This conclusion suggests that the benzene ruptures to give a six-carbon open-chain product which stabilizes by splitting into two- and four-carbon fragments. These appear in the final gaseous products as acetylene and diacetylene. Quantum-mechanical calculations support this experimental observation, although no six-carbon open-chain product could be isolated. Carbon is produced by the secondary reactions of acetylene and diacetylene, or more likely their free-radical precursors. This seems inescapable because there is a direct relationship between the decrease in the amount of acetylene and diacetylene coming out of the hot zone and the amount of carbon deposited. No doubt other decomposition products contribute to the structure of the carbon produced, and perhaps introduce many of the irregularities observed in carbons from different sources, particularly surface growths. The formation of whiskers seems to characterize the pyrolysis of acetylene, under the conditions used, while the production of soot characterizes the decomposition of diacetylene. The greater rate of decomposition of the latter hydrocarbon probably accounts for the vapor phase nucleation in this case. Benzene, which gives both acetylene and diacetylene, produces no whiskers or soot, only film or surface carbon.
Molecular Interactions of Group 1 Coronaviruses with Feline APN

Most coronaviruses in phylogenetic group 1 can cause disease in only one animal species. Within group 1, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E), and canine coronavirus (CCoV) use aminopeptidase N (APN) from their natural host for entry and infection of cells. APN is a highly conserved type II transmembrane glycoprotein in mammals (70– 80% at the amino acid level). Remarkably, although each of these group 1 coronaviruses uses APN of its normal host for entry, all of them can also use feline APN (fAPN) as a receptor for entry and infection in cell culture. Previous studies used chimeras between APN proteins of different species to identify domains in APN that are required for coronavirus receptor activity. Studies on receptor specificities of chimeras between human and feline APN or pig and human APN suggest that the spike glycoproteins of TGEV, FIPV, and HCoV-229E interact with two discontinous regions within APN. Also, species-specific N-linked glycosylations in APN can affect receptor activity for HCoV-229E. In in vivo studies, transgenic mice expressing human APN (hAPN) were resistant to infection with HCoV-229E, but cells harvested from the transgenic mice were susceptible to HCoV-229E. hAPN transgenic mice in a Stat-1 knockout background (hAPN Stat ) were susceptible to HCoV-229E, which was adapted for growth in cells from these double transgenic mice. These studies suggest that other host factors in addition to the receptor are needed for infection in vivo. In this study, we used chimeras between mouse APN (mAPN) and fAPN to identify domains of fAPN that are necessary for entry by group 1 coronaviruses. Baby hamster
THE ESTATE OF THE ART: ASKING MORE OF COMPUTERS IN THE HUMANITIES IN THE EIGHTIES

This paper suggests that the greatest past failure of humanities scholars working with computers is one of the imagination–that, in other words, we have considerably underutilized even the existing hardware and software technology at our disposal. By way of illustration of projects with more ambitious but realistic goals, a modest project drawing on Artificial Intelligence procedures is sketched, a project that aims to replicate some of the essential features of the theory and practice of medieval English lexicographers.
Screening for Viruses in Human Pathogenic Fungi

Many fungal plant pathogens have been examined for the presence of viruses in order to study the effects that they may have on their fungal hosts (Lemke, 1977). Only a few studies have focused attention on fungi such as Histoplasma capsulatum (Rose and Adler, 1977), Torubpsis glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and other Candida sp. (Kandel and Stern, 1979; Stumm et al., 1977) which cause disease in humans. The viral screening techniques used to study fungal human pathogens are very similar to those employed for the plant pathogens, except that special precautions must be taken in culturing and harvesting these organisms because of their potential pathogenicity for the investigators.