cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profunda femoris artery aneurysms: Association with aneurysmal disease and limb ischemia

Objectives Because there is a paucity of data about management and outcome of true profunda femoris artery aneurysms (PFAAs), we reviewed our 21-year experience with surgical repair of PFAAs. Methods Clinical data from the 15 patients who underwent repair between 1985 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Results Fifteen men had 17 PFAAs (mean diameter, of 3.4 cm). Three had an acute presentation with rupture (n = 2) or acute limb ischemia (n = 1), one had local tenderness, and 11 were asymptomatic. Sizes of the ruptured PFAAs were 1.5 and 7.5 cm. Eleven patients (73%) had synchronous aneurysms, most frequently in the popliteal artery (n = 7). Three of the asymptomatic patients required an emergency operation because of acute lower extremity ischemia caused by thrombosis of a synchronous popliteal aneurysm (n = 2) or for a ruptured iliac aneurysm (n = 1). Aneurysmectomy with graft interposition between the common femoral and PFA was used in 15 repairs. Ligation alone was used for one aneurysm, and another was treated by partial aneurysmectomy with primary repair. There were no deaths, graft thrombosis, or limb loss at 30 days. At a mean follow-up of 28 months (range, 3 to 108 months), one patient required above knee amputation 2 years after aneurysm ligation, and another patient presented with a recurrent aneurysm. Long-term graft patency was 100%. Conclusions PFAAs are rare but often occur with synchronous aneurysms. One-third of patients presented with complications of limb ischemia or rupture caused by their PFAA or synchronous aneurysms. Good-risk patients with a PFAA >2 cm should undergo elective repair. Aneurysmectomy with femoral interposition graft is a durable repair.
Patient-Centered Perspectives on the Access to Educational Opportunities Specific to Lifestyle Modification in Men at Risk for Primary or Secondary Prostate Cancer

Educating men at risk for primary or secondary prostate cancer on lifestyle modification may help prevent the development of the disease, reduce the risk of recurrence in those treated for cancer, and slow the progression of active disease. To date, substantial literature on male patient attitudes towards risk modification does not exist. In this project, we evaluate the attitudes and educational needs of men at high-risk for primary or secondary prostate cancer to assess the need for a dedicated clinic focused on education and prevention. Two clinic nurses administered surveys to 76 male patients seen at the University Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) and Urology clinics. Survey responses showed the patients' perspectives and desire for more support and education regarding late effects of treatment, management of risk, and lifestyle modification. Findings from this survey inspired the establishment of the Burns & McDonnell High-Risk Prostate Cancer Prevention Program at KUCC.
Exploiting Memory Access Patterns to Improve Memory Performance in Data-Parallel Architectures

The introduction of General-Purpose computation on GPUs (GPGPUs) has changed the landscape for the future of parallel computing. At the core of this phenomenon are massively multithreaded, data-parallel architectures possessing impressive acceleration ratings, offering low-cost supercomputing together with attractive power budgets. Even given the numerous benefits provided by GPGPUs, there remain a number of barriers that delay wider adoption of these architectures. One major issue is the heterogeneous and distributed nature of the memory subsystem commonly found on data-parallel architectures. Application acceleration is highly dependent on being able to utilize the memory subsystem effectively so that all execution units remain busy. In this paper, we present techniques for enhancing the memory efficiency of applications on data-parallel architectures, based on the analysis and characterization of memory access patterns in loop bodies; we target vectorization via data transformation to benefit vector-based architectures (e.g., AMD GPUs) and algorithmic memory selection for scalar-based architectures (e.g., NVIDIA GPUs). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods with kernels from a wide range of benchmark suites. For the benchmark kernels studied, we achieve consistent and significant performance improvements (up to 11.4× and 13.5× over baseline GPU implementations on each platform, respectively) by applying our proposed methodology.
Dosimetric and technical considerations for interstitial adenoviral gene therapy as applied to prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose: To introduce a simple and specific dosimetric model and an adenoviral delivery technique for interstitial adenoviral gene therapy of prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: CG7060, a PSA-specific, replication-competent adenovirus, was used in a Phase I study in the treatment of 20 patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer. The virus was delivered directly into the prostate via transperineal needles under real-time transrectal ultrasonography guidance. Up to 80 aliquots of 0.1-mL viral solution were injected into the prostate. The injection pattern, effective treatment volume ( V eff ), and viral dose distribution were determined according to a simple dosimetric model in which the local dose of virus was defined as the concentration of the delivered virion uniformly distributed in a sphere of 5-mm radius per injection. The initial dosimetric parameters were measured through scans of contrast solutions in dog prostate glands. The biochemical response (the reduction of serum PSA) as a function of the viral dose and tumor volume coverage was analyzed. Results: A 0.1-mL solution injected into the dog prostate gland spreads via 4-mm mechanical flow plus 1-mm molecular diffusion. Multiple injections into the prostate of patients resulted in considerable enlargement of the prostate gland. The biochemical response probability for patients treated with CG7060 may be estimated by 1 − α ∗ exp{−[β + γ ( PTV / V eff ) P / A ] ∗ P }, where α, β, and γ are constants; A is the number of aliquots, and P is the integral dose of initial viruses. Conclusion: A simple dosimetric model based on results from our recently reported Phase I study can quantify the biochemical response of patients treated with CG7060 adenoviral therapy. The model predicts that outcome is influenced by the integral dose of delivered virus and the target volume coverage. This first dosimetric model for interstitial adenoviral therapy will serve as a basis for quantitative analysis for ongoing and future studies.
Dimethyl ether and dimethyl-d6 ether chemical ionization mass spectrometry of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons

Dimethyl ether (DME) chemical ionization mass spectrometry of a number of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) gave rise to a variety of fragment–molecule adduct ions resulting from ion–molecule reactions with the reagent gas. In 18 out of 22 cases, it was possible to differentiate among non-nitrogenous PAHs on the basis of the identities and relative abundances of these adduct ions alone. For 14 nitrogen-containing PAHs, adduct ion profiles were less distinct and differentiation among isomers was limited but possible in certain cases. With DME-d6 as the reagent gas, the corresponding perduterio adduct ions were seen in substantially reduced abundances relative to their unlabeled counterparts, and there was no scrambling of deuterium. For the majority of the non-nitrogenous PAHs and all of the nitrogen-containing PAHs the most abundant ion was the methoxymethylene cation [M + 45]+. Collision-induced dissociation studies of these ions demonstrated that fragmentation can take place according to three major pathways.
Do Common Waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) Seedling Emergence Patterns Meet Criteria for Herbicide Resistance Simulation Modeling

Abstract A study was conducted to quantify the magnitude and sources of variation in common waterhemp temporal patterns of emergence over 1 yr. In 2008 and 2010, emergence patterns in the absence of soil disturbance were determined for replicated samples of maternal families (progeny from one individual) separately harvested during the previous year from four plants within each of four agricultural fields (16 maternal families yr−1) at a university research farm near Urbana, IL. Combining data across years, variance partitioning indicated that seed sample within maternal family explained 48% of total variation in the percentage of viable, buried seeds that produced seedlings. Differences within, rather than among, maternal families also accounted for large fractions (60 to 99%) of total variation in cumulative percentage emergence at specific points during the growing season. Within years, seed samples characterized by delayed or accelerated emergence patterns did not originate from specific maternal plan...
Mechanisms of Alcohol-Facilitated Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health problem that requires clear and testable etiological models that may translate into effective interventions. While alcohol intoxication and a pattern of heavy alcohol consumption are robust correlates of IPV perpetration, there has been limited research that examines the mediating mechanisms of how alcohol potentiates IPV. We provide a theoretical and methodological framework for researchers to conceptualize how alcohol intoxication causes IPV, and propose innovative laboratory methods that directly test mediational mechanisms. We conclude by discussing how these innovations may lead to the development of interventions to prevent or reduce alcohol-related IPV.
Coupled pre-/post-processing filters for predictive video coding

Pre-/post-processing filters obtained from lapped transforms achieve higher coding efficiency by exploiting transform block boundary correlation. Existing approaches however do not explicitly consider the impact of pre-filtering on prediction efficiency, thereby resulting in a lower overall rate-distortion performance. We present a framework where filters are designed with an objective function based on a prediction model. The post-filter is constructed so as to reverse the pre-filter processing at the decoder. We show how the pre-filters thus derived can be refined and local adaptation parameters obtained for better compression efficiency. To further enhance the performance, the mode decision is altered by separating the contribution of luma and chroma components in the rate-distortion model. The overall system performance is measured using a weighted Bjontegaard delta bitrate, showing an overall saving of 2.58% to 6.78% with respect to the “Key Technical Area” (KTA) codec. Additionally, the designed filters significantly reduce the blocking artifacts observed in KTA.
Bayesian probit regression model for the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis: proof-of-principle

Background The accurate diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a major clinical challenge. We developed a model to diagnose IPF by applying Bayesian probit regression (BPR) modelling to gene expression profiles of whole lung tissue.
Evaluating the technical adequacy of DBR-SIS in tri-annual behavioral screening: A multisite investigation

The implementation of multi-tiered systems in schools necessitates the use of screening assessments which produce valid and reliable data to identify students in need of tiered supports. Data derived from these screening assessments may be evaluated according to their classification accuracy, or the degree to which cut scores correctly identify individuals as "at-risk" or "not-at-risk." The current study examined the performance of mean scores derived from over 1700 students in Grades 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 using Direct Behavior Rating-Single Item Scales. Students were rated across three time points (Fall, Winter, Spring) by their teachers in three areas: (a) academically engaged behavior, (b) disruptive behavior, and (c) respectful behavior. Classification accuracy indices and comparisons among behaviors were derived using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, partial area under the curve (pAUC) tests, and bootstrapping methods to evaluate the degree to which mean behavior ratings accurately identified students who demonstrated elevated behavioral symptomology on the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System. RESULTS indicated that optimal cut-scores for mean behavior ratings and a composite rating demonstrated high levels of specificity, sensitivity, and negative predictive value, with sensitivity point estimates for optimal cut-scores exceeding.70 for individual behaviors and.75 for composite scores across grade groups and time points. Language: en
A local central limit theorem for triangles in a random graph

In this paper, we prove a local limit theorem for the distribution of the number of triangles in the Erdos-Renyi random graph G(n, p), where is a fixed constant. Our proof is based on bounding the characteristic function of the number of triangles, and uses several different conditioning arguments for handling different ranges of t. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2016
Further Purification of TSH-Releasing Factor (TRF) from Sheep Hypothalamic Tissues, with Observations on the Amino Acid Composition.∗

SummaryEighty thousand hypothalamus fragments of sheep brains (wet weight 55 kg) were extracted with 2 N acetic acid. The extract was filtered on Sephadex G25 in pyridine acetate 0.1 M, pH 5.6. The TRF-active zone was located by bioassay and further purified by CCD (250 transfers followed by 1,000 transfers) using the system n-butanol-pyridine-acetic acid (5:3:11), ion exchange on IRC-50 equilibrated with ammonium acetate 0.02 M, pH 5.0, and finally thin-layer chromatography on cellulose (butanol-acetic acid-water, 4:1:5). The material obtained (ca 400 μg) at the last stage of purification was active in vivo to stimulate release of TSH at ≤ 0.1 μg dry weight. Highly purified TRF has no LH- or ACTH-releasing activity, Amino acids present in this preparation are reported.
Skin as an organ transplant

There are two mechanisms by which free full-thickness allografts are rejected: an early endothelial and a late epithelial type. These two types occur because there are apparently 2 target cells against which rejection is directed: the endothelial and the epithelial cell. The endothelial appears to be mediated by humoral antibodies and the epithelial by small lymphocytes.
History of Neurology in India (P04.007)

Objective: To chronicle the history of neurology in India with focus on its establishment and evolution. Background The history of neurology in India is divided into two periods: ancient and modern. The ancient period dates back to the mid-second millennium BCE during the creation of the Ayurveda Indian system of Medicine which detailed descriptions of neurological disorders called Vata Vyadhi (Mishra, et al 2001). The early 20 th century witnessed the birth of Indian modern medicine with the onset of formal physician training at the nation9s first allopathic medical colleges located in Madras (1835), Calcutta (1835), and Mumbai (1848). Prior to India9s independence from Britain in 1947, only 25 medical schools existed in the entire country. Today, there are over 312. In 1951, physicians across the field of neurology and neurosurgery united to create the Neurological Society of India (NSI). Four decades later in 1991, neurologists branched out to establish a separate organization called the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN). Design/Methods: Information was gathered through literature review using PubMed, MD Consult, OVID, primary texts, and research at various academic institutions in India. Results: Neurological disorders were first described in ancient India under Ayurveda. The transition to modern medicine occurred more recently through formal training at medical schools beginning in the 19309s. Early pioneers include Dr. Jacob Chandy, Dr. B. Ramamurthi, Dr. S.T. Narasimhan and Dr. Baldev Singh who created the Neurological Society of India. Later, Dr. J.S. Chopra, a prominent neurologist and visionary, recognized the need for primary centers of collaboration and subsequently established the Indian Academy of Neurology. Conclusions: As a result of structural and organizational evolution, the future of neurology in India is bright. Nationwide, there are 32 neurology post-graduate training centers and over 500 practicing neurologists. These numbers are poised to grow significantly moving forward. Detailed information with pictures will be presented. Disclosure: Dr. Cheongsiatmoy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mishra has nothing to disclose.
Challenges to Entomologists

President Robert E. Hamman in his address last year to our Branch meeting in Atlantic City presented convincing arguments that entomology is indeed an honored profession.
Effects of Nuclear Spin: Rotational Partition Function and Degeneracies

In previous chapters on diatomic and polyatomic spectra, we discussed quantized angular momentum as it relates to a rotating molecule and its effect on Boltzmann statistics. Rotational angular momentum is, in fact, only one kind of angular momentum that must be considered when evaluating real molecules and their spectra. For example, electrons also have quantized angular momentum as they orbit nuclei (called orbital angular momentum, which we will discuss further in Chaps. 9 and 10).
High-resolution Optical Mapping of the Mouse Sino-atrial Node

Sino-atrial node (SAN) dysfunctions and associated complications constitute important causes of morbidity in patients with cardiac diseases. The development of novel pharmacological therapies to cure these patients relies on the thorough understanding of both normal physiology and pathophysiology of the SAN. Among the studies of cardiac pacemaking, the mouse SAN is widely used due to its feasibility for modifications in the expression of different genes that encode SAN ion channels or calcium handling proteins. Emerging evidence from electrophysiological and histological studies has also proved the representativeness and similarity of the mouse SAN structure and functions to larger mammals, including the presence of specialized conduction pathways from the SAN to the atrium and a complex pacemakers' hierarchy within the SAN. Recently, the technique of optical mapping has greatly facilitated the exploration and investigation of the origin of excitation and conduction within and from the mouse SAN, which in turn has extended the understanding of the SAN and benefited clinical treatments of SAN dysfunction associated diseases. In this manuscript, we have described in detail how to perform the optical mapping of the mouse SAN from the intact, Langendorff-perfused heart and from the isolated atrial preparation. This protocol is a useful tool to enhance the understanding of mouse SAN physiology and pathophysiology.
Effects of gamma-interferon on human neutrophils: protection from deterioration on storage.

stimulating factor (GM-CSF), formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), opsonized zymosan, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as compared with cells comparably preincubated in the absence of IFN-y. The decline in the staphylocidal activity of the stored PMN was also prevented in part by IFN-y, as was the depressed adherence of PMN stimulated with phorbo1 myristate acetate (PMA), FMLP, TNF, GM-CSF, and LPS. This protective effect of IFN-y on PMN function was associated with the prolonged surface expression of the complement receptor three (CR3) *chain (CDllb), CR3 pchain (CD18). FcRll (CD32). and FcRlll (CD16), and the appearance -INTERFERON (IFN-y) is well recognized as a lymphoY kine that can convert macrophages to an activated form with an associated increase in their respiratory burst and cytotoxic activity. However, IFN-y also can modulate the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Thus, the preincubation of normal PMN with IFN-y has been reported to increase phagocytosis14 (however, see ref 5), respiratory burst a~tivity~,~-l~ (however, see refs 5, 14), protein synthesi~,~~J~ degranulati~n,~.~ chemotaxis,16 microbicidal activity,3,10,13,14,17,18 and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).”J9-21 This modulation of PMN function is associated with the appearance of functional highaffinity Fc receptor (FcR) for monomeric IgG (FcRI, CD64)334,z and with an increase in the level of the cytochrome b heavy chain (gp91-phox) transcript.u,x IFN-y added in vitro=.% or administered to humans in viv0~,2~928 also partially (or completely) reversed the depressed PMN respiratory burst and microbicidal activity of some patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), an effect that was associated with increased expression of the gp91-phox IFN-y also decreases the frequency of serious infections in CGD.29 It has been proposed that IFN-y treatment of normal PMN results in prolonged survival in a functionally active state.3 We report here on the effect of IFN-y on the function of stored PMN. Human PMN preincubated overnight with IFN-y were found to have increased metabolic and microbicidal activity, adherence properties, surface CR3 and Fc receptor density, and steady-state mRNA levels for a number of phagocyte oxidase (phoK) components and CR3 and Fc receptors, as compared pith PMN comparably preincubated in the absence of IFN-y.
Recoverable stress induced two-way shape memory effect on NiTi surface using laser-produced shock wave

The surfaces of Ni50Ti50 shape memory alloys (SMAs) were patterned by laser scribing. This method is more simplistic and efficient than traditional indentation techniques, and has also shown to be an effective method in patterning these materials. Different laser energy densities ranging from 5 mJ/pulse to 56 mJ/pulse were used to observe recovery on SMA surface. The temperature dependent heat profiles of the NiTi surfaces after laser scribing at 56 mJ/pulse show the partially-recovered indents, which indicate a "shape memory effect (SME)" Experimental data is in good agreement with theoretical simulation of laser induced shock wave propagation inside NiTi SMAs. Stress wave closely followed the rise time of the laser pulse to its peak values and initial decay. Further investigations are underway to improve the SME such that the indents are recovered to a greater extent.
Identification of the phosphorylation targets of symbiotic receptor‐like kinases using a high‐throughput multiplexed assay for kinase specificity

Detecting the phosphorylation substrates of multiple kinases in a single experiment is a challenge, and new techniques are being developed to overcome this challenge. Here, we utilized a multiplexed assay for kinase specificity (MAKS) to identify the substrates directly and to map the phosphorylation site(s) of plant symbiotic receptor-like kinases. The symbiotic receptor-like kinases Nodulation Receptor-like Kinase (NORK) and Lysin motif domain-containing receptor-like kinase 3 (LYK3) are indispensable for the establishment of root nodule symbiosis. Although some interacting proteins have been identified for these symbiotic receptor-like kinases, very little is known about their phosphorylation substrates. Using this high-throughput approach, we identified several other potential phosphorylation targets for both these symbiotic receptor-like kinases. In particular, we also discovered the phosphorylation of LYK3 by NORK itself which was also confirmed by pair-wise kinase assays. Motif analysis of potential targets for these kinases revealed that the acidic motif xxxsDxxx was common to both of them. In summary, this high-throughput technique catalogs the potential phosphorylation substrates of multiple kinases in a single efficient experiment, the biological characterization of which should provide a better understanding of phosphorylation signaling cascade in symbiosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Riparian plant composition along hydrologic gradients in a dryland river basin and implications for a warming climate

Droughts in dryland regions on all continents are expected to increase in severity and duration under future climate projections. In dryland regions it is likely that minimum streamflow will decrease with some perennial streams shifting to intermittent flow under climate-driven changes in precipitation and runoff and increases in temperature. Decreasing base flow and shifting flow regimes from perennial to intermittent could have significant implications for stream-dependent biota, including riparian vegetation. In this study, we asked, how do riparian plant communities vary along wet-to-dry hydrologic gradients on small (1st-3rd order) streams? We collected data on geomorphic, hydrologic, and plant community characteristics on 54 stream sites ranging in hydrology from intermittent to perennial flow across the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB, 284,898 km2). We found that plant communities varied along hydrologic gradients from high to low elevation between streams, and perennial to intermittent flow. We identified indicator species associated with different hydrologic conditions and suggest how plant communities may shift under warmer, drier conditions. Our results also indicate that species richness and cover of total, perennial, wetland, and native plant groups will decrease while annual plants will increase under drying conditions. Understanding how plant communities respond to regional drivers such as hydroclimate requires broad-scale approaches such as sampling across whole river basins. With increasingly arid conditions in many regions of the globe, understanding plant community shifts is key to understanding the future of riparian ecosystems.
Factorial design to minimize residual oxygen in reaction hot‐pressed zirconium diboride

Processing parameters to minimize the residual oxygen content of ZrB2 ceramics prepared by reactive hot-pressing were selected using statistical analysis. Additions of carbon and excess boron were used to react with oxygen present in the starting ZrH2 and B powders as an impurity. A 32 full-factorial experimental design was used to determine the carbon and excess boron contents that minimized residual oxygen content in the final ZrB2 ceramic while also minimizing formation of any impurity phases. Carbon additions were effective at reducing the oxygen content, but resulted in the formation of residual ZrC. Boron additions were also effective at removing oxygen, but to a lesser extent compared to carbon. In addition to being more effective at removing oxygen, carbon additions also improved the densification behavior, whereas boron additions inhibited densification. The stoichiometric reaction resulted in a ZrB2 ceramic with a relative density of 99%, but that contained 6.9 vol% of (Zr1−x,Mgx)O2−x as a residual phase following reactive hot-pressing. The composition with a carbon addition to starting oxygen content having a molar ratio of 1, and a boron to zirconium molar ratio of 2.1, resulted in a 95% dense ceramic with only 0.1 vol% of residual (Zr1−x,Mgx)O2−x and trace amounts of ZrC.
Google BigQuery for Education: Framework for Parsing and Analyzing edX MOOC Data

The size and complexity of MOOC data present overwhelming challenges to many institutions. This paper details the functionality of edx2bigquery -- an open source Python package developed by Harvard and MIT to ingest and report on hundreds of MITx and HarvardX course datasets from edX, making use of Google BigQuery to handle multiple terabytes of learner data. For this application, we find that Google BigQuery provides ease of use in loading the multi-faceted MOOC datasets and near real-time interactive querying of data, including large clickstream datasets; moreover, we are able to provide flexible research and reporting dashboards, visualizing and aggregating data, by interfacing services associated with BigQuery. This framework makes it feasible for edx2bigquery to be open source, following standards which emphasize the importance of data products that transcend a particular data science platform and allow teams with diverse backgrounds to interact with data. edx2bigquery is being adopted by other institutions with an aim toward future collaboration.
Chromatographic shape selectivity with carbon dioxide-acetonitrile mobile phases. Effect of mobile phase composition and density.

Trends in chromatographic shape selectivity with mobile phases consisting of mixtures of carbon dioxide and acetonitrile are investigated. Selectivity is evaluated as a function of mobile phase composition, temperature, and column bonding chemistry. SRM (standard reference material) 869a is used as a probe of shape selectivity, while the selectivity between triphenylene and o-terphenyl is used to investigate planarity selectivity. Four molecular mass 228 polyaromatic hydrocarbon isomers are used to investigate shape selectivity based on differences in length-to-breadth ratio. Shape selectivity trends as a function of temperature and column type are found to be similar to what is seen in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, while the trend seen as the amount of acetonitrile in the mobile phase increases is found to be different than in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. In addition, the effect of mobile phase density, i.e., solvent strength, on shape selectivity is investigated by examining shape selectivity as a function of density with neat carbon dioxide as the mobile phase.
A Bayesian network and heuristic approach for systematic characterization of radiotherapy receipt after breast-conservation surgery.

Breast-conservation surgery with radiotherapy is a treatment highly recommended by the guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. However, several variables influence the final receipt of radiotherapy and it might not be administered to breast cancer patients. Our objective is to propose a systematic framework to identify the clinical and non-clinical variables that influence the receipt of unexpected radiotherapy treatment by means of Bayesian networks and a proposed heuristic approach. We used cancer registry data of Detroit, San Francisco-Oakland, and Atlanta from years 2007–2012 downloaded from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. The samples had patients diagnosed with in situ and early invasive cancer with 14 clinical and non-clinical variables. Bayesian networks were fitted to the data of each region and systematically analyzed through the proposed Zoom-in heuristic. A comparative analysis with logistic regressions is also presented. For Detroit, patients under stage 0, grade undetermined, histology lobular carcinoma in situ, and age between 26−50 were found more likely to receive breast-conservation surgery without radiotherapy. For stages I, IIA, and IIB patients with age between 51−75, and grade II were found to be more likely to receive breast-conservation surgery with radiotherapy. For San Francisco-Oakland, patients under stage 0, grade undetermined, and age >75 are more likely to receive BCS. For stages I, IIA, and IIB patients with age >75 are more likely to receive breast-conservation surgery without radiotherapy. For Atlanta, patients under stage 0, grade undetermined, year 2011, and primary site C509 are more likely to receive breast-conservation surgery without radiotherapy. For stages I, IIA, and IIB patients in year 2011, and grade III are more likely to receive breast-conservation surgery without radiotherapy. For in situ breast cancer and early invasive breast cancer, the results are in accordance with the guidelines and very well demonstrates the usefulness of the Zoom-in heuristic in systematically characterizing a group receiving a treatment. We found a subset of the population from Detroit with ductal carcinoma in situ for which breast-conservation surgery without radiotherapy was received, but potential reasons for this treatment are still unknown.
Investment and profitability versus value and momentum: The price of residual risk

Abstract Barillas and Shanken (2017) show that a traded factor is redundant if the intercept (alpha) in the regression of the factor on other factors is zero. I find that covariance-based asset pricing models imply that the alpha is proportional to the residual risk of the traded factor. Empirical estimation of the price of the residual risk suggests that the q-factor model of Hou et al. (2015) subsumes the roles of not only the value and momentum factors but also the investment and profitability factors of Fama and French (2015). However, the Fama–French (2015) model fails to subsume the roles of the momentum factor and the factors in the q-factor model. The momentum factor, along with the profitability factor in the Fama–French (2015) or Novy-Marx (2013) model does not subsume the role of the profitability factor in the q-factor model.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of maize roots and quantitative analysis of metaxylem vessels based on X-ray micro-computed tomography

Roots play an essential role in the acquisition of water and nutrients from soils in higher plants. Root anatomical traits have significant effects on root functions, including water transportation within the root system. Traits such as the size of xylem vessels influence axial water flow by controlling water conductance directly. Currently, two-dimensional microscopic images are often used to acquire root anatomical features; however, three-dimensional (3-D) anatomical analysis, which offers information of spatial distribution and connection relationships throughout root tissues, is hardly reported. We performed 3-D reconstruction and visualization of maize (Zea mays L.) root tissues based on X-ray micro-computed tomography and developed an image processing workflow for 3-D segmentation of metaxylem vessels. Three-dimensional quantitative analysis of metaxylem vessels from the first to the sixth whorl of maize crown roots was performed according to this procedure. The performance of this procedudure, bas...
Dust Properties and Dust Collection

Analytical methods to permit calculation of re-entrainment and backmixing characteristics of dust suspensions and dust layers; methods are based on physical properties of dust and fluid conveying or acting on dust; in case of diffusion ratio close to unity, backmixing by turbulent diffusion can be expected; concentration gradient can be predicted with fair accuracy if velocity profile and one point of concentration is known.
A Comparative Study of Multimedia Personal Computing and Traditional Instruction in a Business School Curriculum

This study compares the effectiveness of classroom instruction and multimedia personal computing MPC instruction to teach undergraduate business school majors the principles of Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect 5.0, and dBase III+. The effectiveness of three interactive videodisc courses was compared to the effectiveness of regular, traditional, lecture classes TI. For this study, two groups of approximately 55 students each, were randomly selected from 15 sections of an introductory, undergraduate, business school program. For all three courses the posttest scores of the MPC students were higher than those of the TI students; in two of those cases, the differences were statistically significantly higher. In addition, there was no difference in the total average learning time for both groups. Students in the MPC group, surveyed about their learning experience, indicated exceptionally positive attitudes towards the courses they had used and to MPC in general.
Taking aim at or making friends with the metaphysical theorists

Paul du Gay and Signe Vikkelso are upset with organizational theorists, and their new book, For Formal Organization, is the hammer they use to bludgeon the field. The first couple of chapters in th...
Impact of the Chinese embargo against MIR162 corn on Canadian corn producers

In 2009, Syngenta created two new insect‐resistant corn varieties known as Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Duracade, which contain the MIR162 biotechnology‐enhanced genetic trait. These varieties were approved for commercial release in North America in 2010 and were planted in spring 2011. China imposed an embargo on corn imports from North America beginning on November 20, 2013, because of its zero‐tolerance policy with respect to unapproved genetic traits in imported crops. The embargo was not lifted until December 14, 2014. The embargo led to increased availability of North American corn and a reduction in the price of corn realized by Canadian producers. The relative price of a substitute method was applied to weekly data on Ontario corn prices and Saskatchewan feed barley prices. The Chinese embargo against MIR162 corn caused the corn price received by Canadian farmers to drop by an estimated 1.24% or 5.32 cents/bushel. But for the Chinese embargo against MIR162 corn, Canadian corn producers would have realized an estimated additional $29.7 million in revenue in 2013/2014. En 2009, Syngenta a cree deux nouvelles varietes de mais resistantes aux insectes, appelees Agrisure Viptera et Agrisure Duracade, qui contiennent le caractere genetique MIR162 renforce par biotechnologie. Ces varietes ont ete approuvees pour etre commercialisees en Amerique du Nord en 2010 et ont ete plantees au printemps 2011. La Chine a impose un embargo sur les importations de mais d'Amerique du Nord a compter du 20 novembre 2013 en raison de sa politique de tolerance zero a l′egard des caracteres genetiques non approuves des cultures importees. L'embargo n'a ete leve que le 14 decembre 2014. L'embargo a entraine une augmentation de la disponibilite du mais nord‐americain et une reduction du prix du mais cultive par les producteurs canadiens. Le prix relatif par une methode de substitution a ete applique aux donnees hebdomadaires sur les prix du mais en Ontario et sur les prix de l'orge fourragere en Saskatchewan. L'embargo chinois contre le mais MIR162 a fait baisser le prix du mais recu par les agriculteurs canadiens d'environ 1,24% ou 5,32 cents le boisseau. Si ce n’etait de l'embargo chinois contre le mais MIR162, les producteurs de mais canadiens auraient realise des revenues supplementaires estimees a 29,7 millions de dollars en 2013/2014.
Prescribing Therapy for Hypothyroidism: Influence of Physician Characteristics.

Background: Physician characteristics and perceptions and their effect on choice of therapies for patients with thyroid cancer have been well studied. Some data also exist about physician character...
Predissociation Measurements of Bond Dissociation Energies

ConspectusA fundamental need in chemistry is understanding the chemical bond, for which the most quantitative measure is the bond dissociation energy (BDE). While BDEs of chemical bonds formed from the lighter main group elements are generally well-known and readily calculated by modern computational chemistry, chemical bonds involving the transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides remain computationally extremely challenging. This is due to the simultaneous importance of electron correlation, spin–orbit interaction, and other relativistic effects, coupled with the large numbers of low-lying states that are accessible in systems with open d or f subshells. The development of efficient and accurate computational methods for these species is currently a major focus of the field.An obstacle to this effort has been the scarcity of highly precise benchmarks for the BDEs of M–X bonds. For most of the transition metal, lanthanide, or actinide systems, tabulated BDEs of M–X bonds have been determined by Knudse...
Medicolegal Review: Perinatal Effexor Lawsuits and Legal Strategies Adverse to Prescribing Obstetric Providers

Objectives This study was aimed to familiarize obstetricians with the legal environment surrounding Effexor lawsuits and emphasize the importance of documenting informed consent in the medical records when prescribing a medication that is being targeted for litigation. Study Design We used the LexisNexis legal search engine to review legal documents from Effexor-related cases and also used Google to search for Effexor-related lawsuits online, further researching these cases via publically available court records from district clerk offices. Finally, we conducted a year-by-year literature review from 1993 to 2017 to establish the history and evolution of scientific studies surrounding Effexor use during pregnancy. Results Litigation involving Effexor typically arises due to congenital cardiac birth defects in the neonate allegedly associated with maternal Effexor use in pregnancy. Medication manufacturers have employed a legal strategy termed the learned intermediary doctrine in an attempt to shift liability away from themselves and on to prescribing obstetricians. Manufacturers claim they adequately inform obstetricians of the risks and benefits of prescribing their product and it is the duty of the obstetrician to relay those risks and benefits to their patients. Conclusion To reduce the risk of liability exposure, obstetricians must adequately document informed consent in the medical records when prescribing medications to their pregnant patients.
Interim results from a phase 2 study of olaparib (without ADT) in men with biochemically-recurrent prostate cancer after prostatectomy, with integrated biomarker analysis.

5045Background: Pts with biochemically-recurrent (BCR) prostate cancer after local therapy with a PSA doubling time (PSADT) of ≤6 mo are likely to develop metastases and death from their disease. W...
Transformation of metabolism with age and lifestyle in Antarctic seals: a case study of systems biology approach to cross-species microarray experiment

The metabolic transformation that changes Weddell seal pups born on land into aquatic animals is not only interesting for the study of general biology, but it also provides a model for the acquired and congenital muscle disorders which are associated with oxygen metabolism in skeletal muscle. However, the analysis of gene expression in seals is hampered by the lack of specific microarrays and the very limited annotation of known Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) genes.*Results:* Muscle samples from newborn, juvenile, and adult Weddell seals were collected during an Antarctic expedition. Extracted RNA was hybridized on Affymetrix Human Expression chips. Preliminary studies showed a detectable signal from at least 7000 probe sets present in all samples and replicates. Relative expression levels for these genes was used for further analysis of the biological pathways implicated in the metabolism transformation which occurs in the transition from newborn, to juvenile, to adult seals. Cytoskeletal remodeling, WNT signaling, FAK signaling, hypoxia-induced HIF1 activation, and insulin regulation were identified as being among the most important biological pathways involved in transformation. *Conclusion:* In spite of certain losses in specificity and sensitivity, the cross-species application of gene expression microarrays is capable of solving challenging puzzles in biology. A Systems Biology approach based on gene interaction patterns can compensate adequately for the lack of species-specific genomics information.
Synovial Fluid Biomarker Concentrations in Knees with Symptomatic Meniscus Injury Compared to Asymptomatic Contralateral Knees

Objectives:Changes in the joint microenvironment following an intra-articular injury have been implicated in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. Few studies have evaluated alterations in the j...
Congenital Cytomegalovirus and Zika Infections

Congenital infections affecting newborn infants can have potentially devastating clinical outcomes. They are usually caused by viruses that infect mothers during pregnancy and are transmitted to the fetus or newborn during the prenatal, perinatal or postnatal periods. Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection affecting up to 2.5% of all live births. Even though most infected infants are asymptomatic at birth, cCMV is an important cause of neurodevelopmental impairment and represents the main cause of non-hereditary sensorineural hearing loss. Also, congenital Zika infection has emerged in recent years as a cause of microcephaly and neurodevelopmental delays. Currently, universal screening is not recommended for either infection in pregnant women or newborn infants. Therefore, screening for both conditions is based on multiple factors such as maternal immune status, exposure, and clinical manifestations of the infant. Use of antiviral medications on symptomatic cCMV has shown improvement in outcomes, in contrast with congenital Zika for which there are no therapeutic options available. Even though both viruses can be present in breast milk, there are no recommendations against breastfeeding in full-term infants. Close follow-up for affected infants is necessary to monitor for developmental delays and sensory impairments to implement interventional therapies at the earliest time possible.
Perioperative risk factors in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a historical cohort study.

Perioperative complications of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are not well described. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in IPF patients. We performed a single-centre historical cohort study of adult patients with IPF who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2018. We analyzed the prognostic utility of select perioperative factors for postoperative acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF), acute respiratory worsening (ARW), pneumonia, and 30-day and one-year mortality using univariable and multivariable regression analyses. To adjust for multiple interactions, the false discovery rate (Q value) was utilized to appropriately adjust P values and a Q value 24 hr after surgery, 5.0% had AE-IPF, and 9.2% were diagnosed with postoperative pneumonia within 30 days of surgery. The 30-day mortality was 6.0% and the one-year mortality was 14.9%. Preoperative home oxygen use (relative risk [RR], 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50 to 4.86; P < 0.001) and increasing surgical time (per 60 min) (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.05; P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative ARW. In IPF patients, preoperative home oxygen requirement and increasing surgical time showed a strong relationship with postoperative ARW and may be useful markers for perioperative risk stratification. Facteurs de risque perioperatoires des patients atteints de fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique : une etude de cohorte historique