cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ectopic Dupuytren's disease: a commentary.

2 McFarlane et al described the typical presentation f Dupuytren’s disease (DD) as occurring in a white an averaging 57 years of age with bilateral hand nd multiple digital involvement. The disease rogresses over time, leading to digital contracture ut at variable rates. Hueston described DD patients s expressing diathesis, and those with strong diatheis consistently have a family history of DD, severe isease, and ectopic sites of fibromatosis such as the orsal digital area (Garrod’s nodes), planter fascia Ledderhose’s disease), and male genitals (Peyonie’s disease). Wrist involvement in DD is exremely rare, but if it transpires it is part of a specrum and an extension of digital and palmar disease n the typical patient described by McFarlane et al nd in the strong diathesis patient described by ueston. DD begins by the formation of a small digital or almar nodule followed by cord development. The odule may enlarge, but it is extremely unusual for it o exceed 2.5 cm in diameter. Compared with the ord the nodule is more cellular and contains abunant myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts, however, are ot exclusive to or a signature of DD. They are ncountered in a myriad of normal, injured, and athologic tissues including wound healing, various nflammatory arthritic disorders, and neoplastic conitions, whether benign or malignant tumors. There are a variety of fibrotic soft-tissue tumors hat share the same histologic characteristics of DD. soft-tissue mass that shows “nodular proliferation f spindle-shaped fibroblasts surrounded by dense ollagenous tissue” is by no means diagnostic of DD. his is particularly true in the absence of a family istory, bilateral involvement, hand affliction, other ctopic manifestations, and the extension of an exsting relentless disease from its customary location. An accurate diagnosis is necessary to gain insight nto the prognosis and treatment of this enigmatic isease. In fairness to the authors of the preceding ase report it is reasonable to say that accurate diagosis can be achieved best by gaining knowledge oncerning the genetics of DD. Identifying a gene or enes that are linked to the disease will enable us to nderstand the etiology of this condition better and to ubstantiate the notion of ectopic DD in the absence f its other signs and symptoms. Until this is possible e have to rely on our collective wisdom and clinical nsight. Therefore, in tribute and memory of ueston and McFarlane et al, let us not brand brotic masses in the upper extremity as ectopic upuytren’s disease in the absence of its classic anifestations.
Analysis of gas flow through a multilayer insulation system.

A theoretical investigation of gas flow inside a multilayer insulation system has been made for the case of the broadside pumping process. A set of simultaneous first-order differential equations for the temperature and pressure of the gas mixture was obtained by considering the diffusion mechanism of the gas molecules through the perforations on the insulation layers. A modified Runge-Kutta method was used for numerical experiment. The numerical stability problem was investigated. It has been shown that when the relaxation time is small compared with the time period over which the gas properties change appreciably, the set of differential equations can be replaced by a set of algebraic equations for solution. Numerical examples were given and comparison with experimental data was made.
Z-Ring-Independent Interaction between a Subdomain of FtsA and Late Septation Proteins as Revealed by a Polar Recruitment Assay

FtsA, a member of the ATPase superfamily that includes actin and bacterial actin homologs, is essential for cell division of Escherichia coli and is recruited to the Z ring. In turn, recruitment of later essential division proteins to the Z ring is dependent on FtsA. In a polar recruitment assay, we found that FtsA can recruit at least two late proteins, FtsI and FtsN, to the cell poles independently of Z rings. Moreover, a unique structural domain of FtsA, subdomain 1c, which is divergent in the other ATPase superfamily members, is sufficient for this recruitment but not required for the ability of FtsA to localize to Z rings. Surprisingly, targeting the 1c subdomain to the Z ring by fusing it to FtsZ could partially suppress a thermosensitive ftsA mutation. These results suggest that subdomain 1c of FtsA is a completely independent functional domain with an important role in interacting with a septation protein subassembly.
Comparison of surgery and surgery plus irradiation in the treatment of supratentorial gliomas.

(1966). Comparison of Surgery and Surgery Plus Irradiation in the Treatment of Supratentorial Gliomas. Acta Radiologica: Diagnosis: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 67-78.
The Disembodied Librarian in the Digital Age

Four profound historical discontinuities—time and space, mind and body, real and virtual, and humans and technology—are reaching critical thresholds as we enter the twenty-first century. Existing within multiple environments (technological, social, and cultural), these discontinuities are seldom acknowledged, but their influence on the future of our institutions is incalculable. An awareness of them will assist librarians in (1) creating a new virtual space for libraries as physical space becomes less important, (2) adapting to states of disembodiment caused by roles deeply embedded in virtual environments, and (3) developing the new value-added services necessary for survival in this millennium.
Business, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Contributions from the private sector to address violent conflict

Introduction Part 1 1. Business-Based Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution 2. Relevant Work 3. Business-Based Peacebuilding in Practice 4. Analysis 5. The Future of Business-Based Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Part 2 6. Violent Conflict and Business 7. The Business Case for Peace 8. Lessons from Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding 9. Mapping the Forms of Business-Based Peacebuilding 10. Actors in Business-Based Peacebuilding 11. Designing and Selling Business-Based Peacebuilding 12. Caveats and Questions Reference List
Mitigating Alkali–Silica Reaction in Concrete: Effectiveness of Ground Glass Powder from Recycled Glass

This study investigated the effectiveness of using recycled waste glass in portland cement concrete, both as a finely ground powder and as a crushed granular material. For the potential of glass to undergo alkali–silica reactivity (ASR) distress to be assessed, mortar bar and miniature concrete prism tests were conducted with glass as both a powder and a crushed material. Parallel studies were conducted with a crushed natural aggregate. Simultaneously, strength activity index and thermogravimetric analysis tests were conducted on cementitious mixtures to evaluate pozzolanic reactivity of glass powder when used as cement replacement material. Results showed that when glass powder (70 μm average size) was used as cement replacement material, its pozzolanic behavior (measured by thermogravimetric analysis and strength activity index) was minimal. When glass powder was used as aggregate replacement material, the combination of glass powder and ASR-prone coarse aggregates showed significantly lower expansion t...
US and Chinese perceptions of simulated US courtesy

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to identify similarities and differences in US and Chinese subjects’ emotional responses to and perceptions of courtesy of simulated English-language communication prompts. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a web-based stimulus administered on US and Chinese students. Subject responses to eye contact and smile images and a set of verbal expressions were measured on ratings of emotion and courtesy. Findings – Smiling with direct eye contact and warmed-up verbal expressions were found to elicit a higher level of emotional response and were perceived as viable server politeness cues. US and Chinese participants had similar responses to facial and verbal prompts. Originality/value – This paper contributes to understanding about service employee cues, such as courtesy, that can influence service quality in a cross-cultural tourism setting.
Metabolic acidosis stimulates bicarbonate reabsorption in the early proximal tubule

The early proximal tubule is the major site for renal bicarbonate reabsorption but little is known about the influence of acidosis on transport in this segment. This study examined early proximal bicarbonate reabsorption in rats with chronic metabolic acidosis (MA) (induced by NH4Cl administration). Rats were studied by free-flow micropuncture techniques, after varying degrees of plasma volume expansion to vary the filtered load of bicarbonate (FLHCO3). At FLHCO3 less than 700 pmol/min, both control and acidotic animals reabsorbed greater than 80% of the filtered load by 2 mm from Bowman9s space. At higher FLHCO3 (700–1,100 pmol/min), reabsorption in the early proximal tubule was significantly greater in MA rats vs. control (633 +/- 26 vs. 449 +/- 24 pmol/min, between 1 and 2 mm from Bowman9s space, P less than 0.001). This MA-induced stimulation of early proximal bicarbonate reabsorption was completely reversed by restoring systemic pH to normal either by acute hypocapnia or alkali infusion. Thus bicarbonate reabsorption in the early proximal tubule correlated closely with changes in systemic pH in rats with MA when bicarbonate delivery was increased by plasma expansion. The mechanism of this effect remains to be determined.
Pathway Analysis of Genome-wide Association Study in Childhood Leukemia among Hispanics

Background:The incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is nearly 20% higher among Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites. Previous studies have shown evidence for association between risk of ALL and variation within IKZF1, ARID5B, CEBPE, CDKN2A, GATA3, and BM1-PIP4K2A genes. However, variants identified only account for <10% of the genetic risk of ALL. Methods:We applied pathway-based analyses to GWAS data from the California Childhood Leukemia Study to determine whether different biological pathways were overrepresented in childhood ALL and major ALL subtypes. Furthermore, we applied causal inference and data reduction methods to prioritize candidate genes within each identified overrepresented pathway, while accounting for correlation among SNPs. Results:Pathway analysis results indicate that different ALL subtypes may involve distinct biological mechanisms. Focal adhesion is a shared mechanism across the different disease subtypes. For ALL, the top five overrepresented Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways include axon guidance, protein digestion and absorption, melanogenesis, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and focal adhesion (PFDR < 0.05). Notably, these pathways are connected to downstream MAPK or Wnt signaling pathways which have been linked to B-cell malignancies. Several candidate genes for ALL, such as COL6A6 and COL5A1 were identified through targeted maximum likelihood estimation. Conclusions: This is the first study to show distinct biological pathways are overrepresented in different ALL subtypes using pathway-based approaches, and identified potential gene candidates using causal inference methods. Impact:The findings demonstrate that newly developed bioinformatics tools and causal inference methods can provide insights to furthering our understanding of the pathogenesis of leukemia.
Abstract 1191: Somatic mutation profiling of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and it accounts for the largest fraction of endocrine cancer-related deaths. The accurate classification of well-differentiated thyroid tumors remains a significant challenge that impacts prognosis and therapeutic choices for patients. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) are the most common and the best characterized types of thyroid cancer, being diagnosed in approximately 80% and 15% of patients, respectively. Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) is, after classical PTC, the most commonly diagnosed subtype of PTC, accounting for 9% to 22% of PTC cases. FVPTC exhibits some nuclear features of PTC but has a follicular growth pattern. Diagnosis of FVPTC presents a great challenge to pathologists, as these tumors can have distinct prognoses with variable clinical implications. While the incidence/diagnosis of FVPTC is growing in the U.S., the genetic characteristics of the disease remain poorly understood, and there is a need for complementary molecular assays that can help discriminate between the more benign forms of FVPTC and those that will exhibit an aggressive clinical course. In this study, we performed molecular analysis of 101 FVPTC archival surgical specimens using the SNaPshot multiplexed targeted sequencing platform, to interrogate 90 genetic loci frequently mutated in 21 cancer genes, including the BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, PIK3CA and CTNNB1 (β-catenin) oncogenes commonly altered in thyroid cancer. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) of cDNA obtained from the same tumors was used to test for the presence of RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 gene rearrangements found in PTC, and for PAX8-PPARγ gene fusions characteristic of FTC. We detected mutually exclusive genetic aberrations in 68 (67%) FVTPC. These included 25 (25%) BRAF V600E mutations, 26 (26%) mutations in NRAS (22 Q61R and 4 Q61K), 13 (13%) mutations in HRAS (9 Q61R, 3 Q61K, and 1 G13R) and 3 (3%) KRAS G12V mutations. We identified one (1%) single case of PAX8-PPARγ gene rearrangement and no RET/PTC gene fusions. Patient medical records and tumor histopathological characteristics will be retrospectively reviewed to determine whether the FVPTC genotype is significantly associated with clinicopathological features of diagnostic and prognostic importance that could help inform therapeutic decisions for this commonly diagnosed endocrine tumor. Citation Format: Dora Dias-Santagata, David G. McFadden, Lindsay A. Bernardo, Kerry D. Lynch, A. John Iafrate, Peter M. Sadow, Gilbert H. Daniels. Somatic mutation profiling of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1191. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1191
Renal and pulmonary alterations induced in rats by a single injection of monocrotaline.

SummaryA single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline produced various grades of pulmonary arterial injury including necrotizing arteritis in rats. The arterial lesions were presumed to be sequelae of long standing pulmonary hypertension as manifested by right ventricular hypertrophy. It was noted that monocrotaline could also produce a renal hemosiderosis, as well as glomerular necrosis in association with hyaline thrombosis in the glomerular capillaries and afferent arterioles.
Cross-Referencing Between AMA Journals and Other Publications

One way to measure the contribution of a journal to a discipline is to compare the number of citations made to that journal in subsequent papers published in its own and related disciplines [6]. Similarly, the number of citations made to articles published in a marketing journal would provide an objective measurement of the journal's use by the scholarly community. This article, based on a general-purpose citation indexing system, illustrates the extent of cross-referencing to the AMA's two journals, the Journal of Marketing and the Journal of Marketing Research.
Projectile embolus of the lung.

Summary The literature on projectile pulmonary embolus was briefly reviewed and 3 additional cases are described. The patients with a projectile pulmonary embolus are either asymptomatic or present symptoms of pulmonary embolus. Projectile pulmonary embolus should be suspected in patients with penetrating injuries and no wound of exit and no evidence of a projectile in the injured area on roentgenographic examination. Chest roentgenography is the simplest diagnostic test but pulmonary angiography is the most reliable diagnostic procedure. Projectile pulmonary embolus should be removed and the involved lung and its blood supply should be preserved. Pulmonary embolectomy can be accomplished in almost all the cases without the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.
The X-ray View of Galaxy Clusters

Clusters of galaxies are the most massive collapsed systems in the Universe. A typical luminous cluster (e.g., Coma cluster) is filled with a hot, 100 million degree, low density (10−3 cm−3) gas. In addition to the optically luminous galaxies and diffuse X-ray gas, clusters are dominated by dark matter. The X-ray gas, relaxing on the relatively short sound crossing time, τMpc = 6.6× 108(T/108) yrs (where τ = D/cs and cs = γP/ρ) is an effective tracer of this unseen dark matter. Cluster studies provide a unique window on the Universe. Although clusters are the most massive collapsed systems in the Universe, with dynamical timescales of order 109 yrs in their cores, they are relatively young and “remember” the conditions from which they formed. Also, clusters form from rare overdensities. Therefore, cluster properties and numbers are sensitive to cosmological parameters. Clusters form from large volumes. For a Universe with a mean mass density of 3× 10−30 gm cm−3 (30% of closure density; ρc = 3H2 0/8πG, with H0=70 km s−1), a rich cluster with a mass of 1015M forms from a sphere with a radius of ∼ 20 Mpc. Since the dominant process in the formation of the cluster whose mass consists of cold dark matter and baryons is gravitation and the formation of collapsed objects by gravity alone should not affect the ratio of the mass components, it is believed that the mass components of today’s clusters are representative of the Universe (e.g., White et al. 1993). The mass fluctuation spectrum gives rise to collapsed objects from galaxies to groups to rich clusters. The systems dominated by old stars – early type galaxies, elliptical-dominated groups, and rich clusters – all have gaseous halos
The distant pedicle flap in surgery of the hand.

Summary We have presented our thoughts regarding the use of abdominal pedicle flaps to the hand as they have evolved and changed over the past 20 years. The essential techniques described make use of patterns in the application of these flaps in order to break up undesirable straight line scars and to apply the flaps to the hand with the same degree of tension as existed in the donor area. The use of intramedullary Kirschner wire pins and a bayonet shaped spreader in the thumb-index cleft has been emphasized to maintain the functional position of the hand during the application of the flap. The paniculus or the third dimension of the flap is thinned to meet the contour requirements of the recipient site. Certain specialized modifications of the Haps have been presented to extend their usefulness in specific situations that are frequently encountered.
An Evaluation of the North American Regional Reanalysis Simulated Soil Moisture Conditions during the 2011–13 Drought Period

AbstractAccurate and timely information on soil moisture conditions is an important component to effectively prepare for the damaging aspects of hydrological extremes. The combination of sparsely dense in situ networks and shallow observation depths of remotely sensed soil moisture conditions often force local and regional decision-makers to rely on numerical methods when assessing the current soil state. In this study, soil moisture from a commonly used, high-resolution reanalysis dataset is compared to observations from the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN). The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) captured the evolution, intensity, and spatial extent of the 2012 drought using both raw volumetric values and standardized anomalies of soil moisture. Comparisons revealed that despite a dry precipitation bias of 22% nationally, NARR had predominantly wetter 5-cm volumetric soil conditions over the growing season (April–September) than observed at U...
Response Surface Methodology Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Acer Truncatum Leaves for Maximal Phenolic Yield and Antioxidant Activity.

This study is the first to report the use of response surface methodology to improve phenolic yield and antioxidant activity of Acer truncatum leaves extracts (ATLs) obtained by ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The phenolic composition in ATLs extracted under the optimized conditions were characterized by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Solvent and extraction time were selected based on preliminary experiments, and a four-factors-three-levels central composite design was conducted to optimize solvent concentration (X1), material-to-liquid ratio (X2), ultrasonic temperature (X3) and power (X4) for an optimal total phenol yield (Y1) and DPPH• antioxidant activity (Y2). The results showed that the optimal combination was ethanol:water (v:v) 66.21%, material-to-liquid ratio 1:15.31 g/mL, ultrasonic bath temperature 60 °C, power 267.30 W, and time 30 min with three extractions, giving a maximal total phenol yield of 7593.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g d.w. and a maximal DPPH• antioxidant activity of 74,241.61 μmol Trolox equivalent/100 g d.w. Furthermore, 22 phenolics were first identified in ATL extract obtained under the optimized conditions, indicating that gallates, gallotannins, quercetin, myricetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives were the main phenolic components in ATL. What’s more, a gallotannins pathway existing in ATL from gallic acid to penta-O-galloylglucoside was proposed. All these results provide practical information aiming at full utilization of phenolics in ATL, together with fundamental knowledge for further research.
Simple chromatic properties of gradient flow

It has become customary to use a smoothing algorithm called ``gradient flow'' to fix the lattice spacing in a simulation, through a parameter called ${t}_{0}$. It is shown that, in order to keep the length ${t}_{0}$ fixed with respect to mesonic or gluonic observables as the number of colors ${N}_{c}$ is varied, the fiducial point for the flow parameter must be scaled nearly linearly in ${N}_{c}$. In simulations with dynamical fermions, the dependence of ${t}_{0}$ on the pseudoscalar meson mass flattens as the number of colors rises, in a way which is consistent with large ${N}_{c}$ expectations.
Amniotic membrane transplants in the pediatric population.

Purpose To investigate the indications for and results of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for the treatment of ocular disease in pediatric patients at a single institution. Methods The medical records of patients Results A total of 48 records were reviewed. Of these, 32 patients (67%) received AMT for treatment of ocular disease related to Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS), 29 (94%) of whom reached the clinical endpoint. The remaining 16 patients (33%) underwent AMT for indications other than SJS, including difficult-to-treat corneal epithelial defects and ulcers, conjunctival reconstruction, and scarring after strabismus surgery. Of these, 80% reached the clinical endpoint. There were no adverse effects related to AMT in either group. Conclusions In our series, AMT was used successfully and without complications.
Palliative Care in Surgery: Defining the Research Priorities.

Objective:To describe the existing science of palliative care in surgery within three priority areas and expose specific gaps within the field.Background:Given the acute and often life-limiting nature of surgical illness, as well as the potential for treatment to induce further suffering, surgical p
Novel KCNQ1 mutations associated with recessive and dominant congenital long QT syndromes: evidence for variable hearing phenotype associated with R518X.

Congenital long QT syndrome may be transmitted as either an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. Two families with the autosomal recessive Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), and one family with the autosomal dominant Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS) were evaluated for mutations in KCNQ1. Two different novel frameshift mutations were discovered in one of the JLNS families (1188delC) and in the RWS family (504delG). A third allele (R518X) was observed in the second JLNS family. The R518X allele was previously associated with recessive long QT syndrome without deafness, but was present in a congenitally deaf proband in our study. These data extend the range of known KCNQ1 mutations associated with both recessive and dominant forms of congenital long QT syndrome, and demonstrate that the R518X allele may be associated with or without congenital deafness.
Enhancing Ion Migration in Grain Boundaries of Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites by Chlorine

Ionicity plays an important role in determining material properties, as well as optoelectronic performance of organometallic trihalide perovskites (OTPs). Ion migration in OTP films has recently been under intensive investigation by various scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques. However, controversial findings regarding the role of grain boundaries (GBs) associated with ion migration are often encountered, likely as a result of feedback errors and topographic effects common in to SPM. In this work, electron microscopy and spectroscopy (scanning transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy) are combined with a novel, open-loop, band-excitation, (contact) Kelvin probe force microscopy (BE-KPFM and BE-cKPFM), in conjunction with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to examine the ion behavior in the GBs of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films. This combination of diverse techniques provides a deeper understanding of the differences between ion migration within GBs and interior grains in OTP films. This work demonstrates that ion migration can be significantly enhanced by introducing additional mobile Cl− ions into GBs. The enhancement of ion migration may serve as the first step toward the development of high-performance electrically and optically tunable memristors and synaptic devices.
Dual radiosensitization and anti-STAT3 anti-proliferative strategy based on delivery of gold nanoparticle - oligonucleotide nanoconstructs to head and neck cancer cells

Constitutively activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) factor is an important therapeutic target in head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite early promising results, a reliable systemic delivery system for STAT3- targeted oligonucleotide (ODN) drugs is still needed for future clinical translation of anti-STAT3 therapies. We engineered and tested a novel ODN duplex/gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based system carrying a therapeutic STAT3 decoy (STAT3d) payload. This strategy is two-pronged because of the additive STAT3 antagonism and radiosensitizing properties of AuNP. The specificity to head and neck cancer cell surface was imparted by using a nucleolin aptamer (NUAP) that was linked to AuNP for taking the advantage of an aberrant presentation of a nuclear protein nucleolin on the cell surface. STAT3d and nucleolin aptamer constructs were independently linked to AuNPs via Au-S bonds. The synthesized AuNP constructs (AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d) exhibited internalization in cells that was quantified by using radiolabeled STAT3d. AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d showed radiosensitizing effect in human HNC FaDu cell culture experiments that resulted in an increase of cell DNA damage as determined by measuring γ-H2AX phosphorylation levels by flow cytometry. The radiosensitization study also demonstrated that AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d as well as STAT3d alone resulted in the efficient inhibition of A431 cell proliferation. While FaDu cells did not show instant proliferation inhibition after incubating with AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d, the cell DNA damage in these cells showed nearly a 50% increase in AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d group after treating with radiation. Compared with anti-EGFR humanized antibody (Cetuximab), AuNP-NUAP-STAT3d system had an overall stronger radiosensitization effect in both A431 and FaDu cells.
Problems in plating periprosthetic femur fractures.

Abstract Periprosthetic fractures are typically defined as fractures occurring adjacent to a total joint arthroplasty. However, fractures may occur adjacent to a previous internal fixation device used to treat a prior fracture in the same patient, or between implants (the interprosthetic fracture). All of these injuries tend to occur in frail patients with severe osteopenia, and therefore are very challenging to treat. This article provides a brief but thorough review of the current state of the art regarding the treatment of these challenging problems.
Instruction of introductory programming course using multiple contexts

This paper describes the experience of redesigning a traditional CS1 programming course, utilizing traditional coding practices as well as microcontroller units (MCU) based coding, to provide multiple programming environments. The objective of this redesign is to improve the programming skills for engineering students by 1) providing them with program development experience in multiple contexts and 2) relating the initial programming experience to the typical notion of engineering through significant hardware experience. Typical CS1 courses are designed with an instructor led lecture focusing on the introduction of specific computer skills and languages while programming assignments and laboratories help strengthen these skills in the students. For this remodeling, in addition to the typical programming exercises, supplementary MCU based lab exercises were used to provide an additional, different programming target for increased learning and highlighting the complementary relationship between hardware and software. The outcomes of this effort demonstrate that the addition of a MCU to an introductory programming course can work as an effective motivator, providing the students with a secondary context to reinforce programming skills developed during the course, and that providing multiple contexts (traditional desktop programming and hardware-based programming) together can aid in learning and the transfer of knowledge.
First observation of the (6Li,8He) reaction.

We have measured the cross section of the /sup 27/Al(/sup 6/Li,/sup 8/He)/sup 25/Si reaction. At a scattering angle of 5.5/sup 0/ and a beam energy of 92.5 MeV, we find the laboratory cross section to populate the /sup 25/Si ground state doublet to be 3.6 +- 1.0 nbsr and the cross section to populate the 0.82 MeV second excited state to be approx. =200 pbsr. We also measured the (/sup 6/Li,/sup 8/He) reaction for /sup 64/Zn and /sup 24/Mg targets. We find yields of approx. =250 pbsr and <300 pbsr, respectively. This experiment represents the first observation of the (/sup 6/Li,/sup 8/He) exotic nuclear reaction.
Counting Solutions of Congruences

In this chapter we shall use the results obtained in the preceding chapter to count solutions of certain linear and other congruences in s unknowns. By a solution of a congruence, with modulus r, we mean a solution (mod r), i.e., an ordered s-tuple of integers (x1,…, xs) that satisfies the congruence, with two s-tuples (x1,…, xs) and \( \langle x_1^{'},...,x_s^{'}\rangle \) that satisfy the congruence counted as the same solution if and only if xi ≡ x1′. (mod r) for i = 1,…, s.
Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of late-life dementia. Significant sleep disturbance is an extremely common complaint in AD, affecting as much as half of clinic-based or community AD cases. Typically sleep disturbance in AD is multi-factorial. The major causes of sleep disruption in dementia include: (1) age-dependent physiological changes that arise as part of normal, ‘non-pathological’ aging; (2) sleep problems due to medical and psychiatric disorders, and their treatments; (3) primary sleep disorders; (4) poor sleep-related habits and behaviors, often collectively referred to as poor ‘sleep hygiene’; or (5) some combination of these factors. The various causes of sleep disturbance in AD are reviewed and ‘state-of-the-art’ treatments for sleep disturbance in AD are described. Finally, a research agenda is proposed, describing the major research gaps that will need to be filled before a definitive guide to effectively treating sleep disturbances in AD can truly be developed.
The emergence of contentful experience

There are many facets to mental life and mental experience. In this chapter, I attempt to account for some central characteristics among those facets. I argue that normative function and representation are emergent in particular forms of the self-maintenance of far from thermodynamic equilibrium systems in their essential far-from-equilibrium conditions. The nature of representation that is thereby modeled — an interactive, pragmatic form — in turn, forces a number of additional properties of mental process, such as consciousness being inherently contentful and from a situated and embodied point of view. In addition, other properties of interactive representation make strong connections with the central nervous system properties that are found to realize mental experience, such as a field organization of oscillatory and mutually modulatory neural processes.
Direction of Arrival Estimation With the Received Signal Strength Gradient

Direction of arrival (DoA) estimation has wide-ranging applications and is particularly challenging in complex propagation environments. Conventional approaches estimate the DoA based on the phase of the impinging signal on a sensor array. This approach has several challenges: for example, it requires tight synchronization among array elements and the estimated DoA is sensitive to multipath and to correct specification of the array geometry. In this paper, we develop a principled Bayesian DoA estimation algorithm based on the received signal strength gradient. We present algorithms for clustering, spatial- and model-based outlier detection and removal, and proper uncertainty quantification, which yield an estimator robust to non-uniform shadowing, multipath, and errors in antenna position. Physics-based full-wave simulations and experiments in the 2.4 GHz and 40 MHz bands illustrate the utility of our approach.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Signaling

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been under careful investigation for a long period, and this signaling pathway is one of the most studied. MAPKs regulate cell proliferation, gene expression, differentiation, mitosis, cell survival, and apoptosis. The mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathways are a cascade of signaling enzymes starting with the transmission of a signal from a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) located on the cell surface to the nucleus and ending in the regulation of transcription of target genes. Due to its importance in human cancers, MAPK/ERK signaling pathways are attractive targets for cancer drug development. In this chapter, we will present the MAPK signaling pathway and outline the function of the most relevant protein mediators that facilitate signaling. We will also highlight negative regulators of the pathway, drugs designed to block signaling, and ongoing clinical trials.
Investigating impacts of drought and disturbance on evapotranspiration over a forested landscape in North Carolina, USA using high spatiotemporal resolution remotely sensed data

Abstract Forest ecosystem services such as clean water, wildlife habitat, and timber supplies are increasingly threatened by drought and disturbances (e.g., harvesting, fires and conversion to other uses), which can have great impacts on stand development and water balance. Improved understanding of the hydrologic response of forested systems to drought and disturbance at spatiotemporal resolutions commensurate with these impacts is important for effective forest management. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key hydrologic variable in assessing forest functioning and health, but it remains a challenge to accurately quantify ET at landscape scales with the spatial and temporal detail required for effective decision-making. In this study, we apply a multi-sensor satellite data fusion approach to study the response of forest ET to drought and disturbance over a 7-year period. This approach combines Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ET product time series retrieved using a surface energy balance model to generate a multi-year ET datacube at 30-m resolution and daily timesteps. The study area (~900 km2) contains natural and managed forest as well as croplands in the humid lower coastal plains in North Carolina, USA, and the simulation period from 2006 to 2012 includes both normal and severe drought conditions. The model results were evaluated at two AmeriFlux sites (US-NC2 and US-NC1) dominated by a mature and a recently clearcut pine plantation, respectively, and showed good agreement with observed fluxes, with 8–13% relative errors at monthly timesteps. Changes in water use patterns in response to drought and disturbance as well as forest stand aging were assessed using the remotely sensed time series describing total evapotranspiration, the transpiration (T) component of ET, and a moisture stress metric given by the actual-to-reference ET ratio (fRET). Analyses demonstrate differential response to drought by land cover type and stand age, with larger impacts on total ET observed in young pine stands than in mature stands which have substantially deeper rooting systems. Transpiration flux shows a clear ascending trend with the growth of young pine plantations, while stand thinning within the plantation leads to decreases in both remotely sensed leaf area index and T, as expected. Time series maps of fRET anomalies at 30-m resolution capture signals of drought, disturbance and the subsequent recovery after clearcut at the stand scale and may be an effective indicator for water use change detection and monitoring in forested landscapes.
Therapeutic Inhibition Of Retinoblastoma By Nanoceria

Purpose:Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the developing retina that initiates during fetal development. In a separate unpublished study, we have found that retinoblastomas are under oxidative stress accompanied by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (M.A.D., unpublished). Spontaneous production of ROS by malignant cells can associate with upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and initiation of angiogenesis, which sustains tumor growth. Nanoceria are antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticles unique in their ability to regeneratively and catalytically scavenge ROS. When engineered into nanoparticles 3-5nm in size, nanoceria are characterized by an enhanced surface area to volume ratio and an increased ability to participate in redox reactions mimicking the activity of the endogenous cellular defense mechanisms of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Our lab has previously shown that nanoceria are capable of decreasing ROS and inhibiting neovascularization in an animal model of heritable retinal degeneration. We hypothesize that in vivo treatment with nanoceria during tumorigenesis will result in downregulation of VEGF, inhibition of angiogenesis, and decreased tumor growth in a mouse model of heritable retinoblastoma. Methods:SJRBL-8 cells mouse retinoblastoma cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of nanoceria (1nM-1mM) for 24, 48, and 72 hours to determine whether or not nanoceria affect proliferation of retinoblastoma cells. We also performed intravitreal injections of nanoceria (172 ng/eye) in P53TKO mice (Chx10-cre; Rb ; p53 ; P107) following tumor onset. Live animal imaging, histology, and molecular analysis including PCR array were used to assess changes in tumor growth and cytokine signaling. Results:Our data suggest that nanoceria are effective inhibitory agents in a mouse model of retinoblastoma, resulting in decreased tumor growth in vivo as well as decreased cell proliferation in vitro. Conclusions:Based on these data we propose that nanoceria represent a novel anti-cancer therapeutic approach which may be effective as a monotherapy or an as an adjunct to standard chemotherapeutic modalities.
POLITICS, RESEARCH AGENDAS AND ABORTIVE FIELDWORK PLANS OVER LYKTOS, CRETE: A HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Politics and research agendas have had a major role in shaping the archaeology of Crete. This article focuses on the history of research on Lyktos, one of the most important ancient cities of the island, to explore the impact of academic and non-academic factors on archaeological fieldwork. Relying on wide-ranging archival research and extending from the Renaissance to the early twenty-first century, the analysis covers the fluctuation of international scholarly interest in Lyktos, the often abortive plans for excavations by numerous British, Italian, German and Greek archaeologists, and the ways in which fascination with the ancient city relates to broader political and disciplinary history. I also synthesise the small-scale fieldwork conducted at the site and reconstruct its archaeological landscape from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period, offering several new insights in local topography and material culture. This work challenges the characterisation of Lyktos as a ‘phantom city’ and highlights the significance of the site for the archaeology of Crete.
Organ-Specific Protection from CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Acute Skin GVHD by Bortezomib Administration Correlates with Decreased IL-6.

Abstract Abstract 3735 We have previously demonstrated that while early administration of bortezomib after murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) can prevent acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), delayed administration of bortezomib results in increased GVHD-dependent gastrointestinal toxicity (PNAS 2004, Blood 2005). This was primarily mediated by donor CD4+ T cells in fully MHC-mismatched allo-BMT (Blood 2008). In the current study, we assessed continuous bortezomib administration on CD8+ T cell-mediated acute GVHD. Using an MHC-matched, mHAg-mismatched model (C3.SW donor cells into lethally irradiated C57BL/6 recipients) in which acute GVHD is primarily induced by CD8+ T cells, we confirmed that significant skin and liver GVHD was observed after CD8+ T cell transfer. Histological evaluation of acute liver GVHD displayed severe lymphocyte infiltrates and severe subacute bile duct hepatitis consistent with hepatic GVHD. Severe acute skin GVHD was noted by persistent fur loss and skin ulcerations. Cutaneous histopathological assessment exhibited severe inflammatory infiltrates, epidermal hypertrophy, loss of hair follicles, satellite cell necrosis and dermal fibrosis. Notably, after allo-BMT, 6 weeks or thereafter, a significant increase in serum IL-6 levels was observed in the mice exhibiting marked skin damage, suggesting organ-specific correlation of higher serum IL-6 expression with acute cutaneous GVHD associated injury. We next investigated the effects of continuous treatment with bortezomib in this GVHD model. Surprisingly, we found that continuous bortezomib administration at the conventional dose of 0.75–1 mg/kg twice per week resulted in fractional GVHD- dependent lethal toxicity, exacerbating lymphocyte infiltration in liver, gut and lung as evidenced by pathological examination. However, skin GVHD pathology was markedly improved. Due to the limitations of conventional doses of bortezomib for treatment of acute GVHD, we then performed a low-dose bortezomib treatment at 0.125 mg/kg, twice per week. We found that mice receiving low-dose bortezomib were protected from lethal toxicity and displayed significant amelioration of skin GVHD pathology. Significant decreases in serum IL-6 levels were also consistently observed consistent with the amelioration of skin GVHD. Interestingly, while skin GVHD was markedly improved, there was no difference in liver, gut and lung pathology compared to control GVHD recipients indicating an organ-specific protection. These results demonstrate that continuous bortezomib can be applied in CD8+ T cell-mediated acute GVHD but necessitates lower dosing and organ-specific protection is observed. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Making more in crowdsourcing contests: a choice model of idea generation and feedback type

A crowdsourcing contest is the process of inviting the general public or a targeted group of individuals to submit their ideas or solutions to a specific problem or challenge within a predefined pe...
Concerns of surrogate decision makers for patients with acute brain injury: A US population survey.

Objective To determine whether groups of surrogates for patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) with poor prognosis can be identified based on their prioritization of goals-of-care (GOC) decisional concerns, an online survey of 1,588 adults recruited via a probability-based panel representative of the US population was conducted. Methods Participants acted as a surrogate for a GOC decision for a hypothetical patient with SABI and were randomized to 1 of 2 prognostic scenarios: the patient likely being left with a range of severe functional disability (SD) or remaining in a vegetative state (VS). Participants prioritized a list of 12 decisional concerns via best-worst scaling. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to discover decisional groups. Results The completion rate was 44.6%; data weighting was conducted to mitigate nonresponse bias. For 792 SD respondents, LCA revealed 4 groups. All groups shared concerns regarding respecting patient wishes and minimizing suffering. The 4 groups were otherwise distinguished by unique concerns that their members highlighted: an older adult remaining severely disabled (34.4%), family consensus (26.4%), doubt regarding prognostic accuracy (20.7%), and cost of long-term care (18.6%). For the 796 VS respondents, LCA revealed 5 groups. Four of the 5 groups had similar concern profiles to the 4 SD groups. The largest (29.0%) expressed the most prognostic doubt. An additional group (15.8%) prioritized religious concerns. Conclusions Although surrogate decision makers for patients with SABI are concerned with respecting patient wishes and minimizing suffering, certain groups highly prioritize other specific decisional factors. These data can help inform future interventions for supporting decision makers.
Protamine sulfate use during tibial bypass does not appear to increase thrombotic events or affect short-term graft patency:

ObjectivesWhile the use of protamine sulfate as a heparin reversal agent has been extensively reviewed in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting, there is a ...
Traditional Stable Isotope Geochemistry

Abstract Traditional stable isotope geochemistry is based on using small atomic mass differences between isotopes of the same element to probe earth system processes. Isotopes fractionate themselves between different phases or molecules in ways that are related to temperature and reaction mechanism. Traditional stable isotopes generally refer to those of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, elements with relatively low atomic masses that play a significant role in geological and biological processes. The field of stable isotope geochemistry originated in the early to mid-20th century as a tool for paleoclimatology studies. Early scientists took advantage of the temperature-dependent partitioning of stable isotopes of oxygen during calcium carbonate growth to determine temperatures of ancient oceans from sediment cores. Since then, stable isotope geochemistry has expanded to include a wide range of disciplines both inside and outside of geology. Here we focus on stable isotope theory, systems, and measurement techniques relevant to disciplines in the geological sciences. We also discuss applications of traditional stable isotope systematics to hydrology, paleoclimatology, hard rock geology, biogeochemistry, and planetary science.