cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role for adrenal venous sampling in primary aldosteronism

Background The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) on the management of patients with primary aldosteronism. Methods From September 1990 through October 2003, 203 patients with primary aldosteronism (mean age, 53 years; range, 17-80; 163 men) were selected prospectively for AVS on the basis of degree of aldosterone excess, age, desire for surgical treatment, and computed tomographic (CT) findings. Results Both adrenal veins were catheterized in 194 patients (95.6%). Notable among the 110 patients (56.7%) with unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion were 24 (41.4%) of 58 patients with normal adrenal CT findings, 24 (51.1%) of 47 with unilateral micronodule (≤10 mm) apparent on CT (7 had unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion from the contralateral adrenal), 21 (65.6%) of 32 with unilateral macronodule (>10 mm) apparent on CT (1 had unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion from the contralateral adrenal), 16 (48.5%) of 33 with bilateral micronodules, and 2 (33%) of 6 with bilateral macronodules. Conclusions On the basis of CT findings alone, 42 patients (21.7%) would have been incorrectly excluded as candidates for adrenalectomy, and 48 (24.7%) might have had unnecessary or inappropriate adrenalectomy. AVS is an essential diagnostic step in most patients to distinguish between unilateral and bilateral adrenal aldosterone hypersecretion.
High Voltage Tolerant Linear Regulator With Fast Digital Control for Biasing of Integrated DC-DC Converters

Integrated DC-DC converters switching above 100MHz dramatically reduce the footprint of the inductors and capacitors while improving droop response. Unfortunately, such converters utilize advanced digital CMOS processes with the maximum input voltage below 2 V. We propose a fully integrated linear regulator that enables doubling of the converter input voltage by properly biasing stacked drivers and bridge transistors. By implementing fast digital control the linear regulator meets the transient current demand of the converter without resorting to off-chip decoupling capacitors. In a 90 nm CMOS process, the 2.4V input, 1.2 V output, linear regulator occupies 0.03 mm2 for a plusmn1 A rating. A 288 ps response time and 97.5% current efficiency result in a 2.84times improvement in speed-power figure of merit over previous work
Self-adaptive inexact proximal point methods

We propose a class of self-adaptive proximal point methods suitable for degenerate optimization problems where multiple minimizers may exist, or where the Hessian may be singular at a local minimizer. If the proximal regularization parameter has the form $\mu({\bf{x}})=\beta\|\nabla f({\bf{x}})\|^{\eta}$ where ??[0,2) and β>0 is a constant, we obtain convergence to the set of minimizers that is linear for ?=0 and β sufficiently small, superlinear for ??(0,1), and at least quadratic for ??[1,2). Two different acceptance criteria for an approximate solution to the proximal problem are analyzed. These criteria are expressed in terms of the gradient of the proximal function, the gradient of the original function, and the iteration difference. With either acceptance criterion, the convergence results are analogous to those of the exact iterates. Preliminary numerical results are presented using some ill-conditioned CUTE test problems.
Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Salicylate and Methyl Salicylate in Blood and Application to a Postmortem Case

A liquid chromatographic method is presented for the quantitation of salicylate and methyl salicylate in blood. It employs an initial alkaline extraction to separate methyl salicylate from salicylate. Methyl sallcylate is then hydrolyzed to $alicylate, extracted under acidic conditions and chromatographed. This method was used in attempt to identify methyl salicylate and salicylate in a postmortem case.
Natural language service for controlling robots and other agents

The Everything is Alive (EiA) agent system architecture is modular and scalable. It uses the E2 platform, a derivative of the Eclipse core platform, to dynamically add or remove plugin capabilities that have XML or WSDL interfaces. This paper describes two capabilities that can be modularly added to EiA agents. The capabilities described include a robot command capability that customizes an agent to operate as a robot controller and a menu-based natural language interface (MBNLI) capability that provides a human-level interface for commanding a robot.
Estimation of Performance and Execution Time Effect on High Frequency Statistical Arbitrage Strategies

This research is designed to help quantify one of the "slippages" which are often recognized in quant strategies. The idea is that whenever the actual executed prices are away (both time and size) from the model prices, the realized returns will suffer. The slippage for a particular statistical arbitrage strategy is quantified. It is shown that portion of the loss is due to using different prices for estimating the parameters of the strategy. The main source of the loss is the use of intraday in place of market on close prices. Five years of intraday transaction data from NYSE TAQ database are used. Analysis shows that on average the daily loss due to intraday prices accounts for 0.03% of the initial capital. For the period 2003-2006 the accumulated loss is approximately 30%. The described approach can be of use to new quantitative analysts who create and backtest trading strategies. It could also be used during the due diligence process of a fund that is interested in investing in a statistical arbitrage strategy. The recommendation from this research is to require a backtest done by using intraday and market on close prices in order to identify the size of such loss.
Self-folding of polymer sheets using local light absorption

This paper demonstrates experimentally and models computationally a novel and simple approach for self-folding of thin sheets of polymer using unfocused light. The sheets are made of optically transparent, pre-strained polystyrene (also known as Shrinky-Dinks) that shrink in-plane if heated uniformly. Black ink patterned on either side of the polymer sheet provides localized absorption of light, which heats the underlying polymer to temperatures above its glass transition. At these temperatures, the predefined inked regions (i.e., hinges) relax and shrink, and thereby cause the planar sheet to fold into a three-dimensional object. Self-folding is therefore achieved in a simple manner without the use of multiple fabrication steps and converts a uniform external stimulus (i.e., unfocused light) on an otherwise compositionally homogenous substrate into a hinging response. Modeling captures effectively the experimental folding trends as a function of the hinge width and support temperature and suggests that the hinged region must exceed the glass transition temperature of the sheet for folding to occur.
Cytochrome p450 and glutathione transferase expression in squamous cell cancer.

Purpose: The cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and glutathione S -transferase (GST) enzyme systems modulate the carcinogenic effects of tobacco. Therefore, the expression of these enzymes may be in part responsible for the observed interindividual and inter-racial differences in the risk of development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The first aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the expression of the CYP and GST in target tissue from the head and neck. The second aim was to compare the expression of CYPs 1A1, 2E1, and 3A4 in squamous epithelium from African-American and Caucasian pediatric patients. The third aim was to compare the expression of CYPs 1A1, 2E1, 3A4, and GST-π on the p16 expression in patients with SCCHN. Experimental Design: The expression of CYP 1A1, 2E1, 3A4, GST-π, and p16 was quantified by immunoblotting. Expression of CYPs 1A1, 2E1, and 3A4 was quantified in tissue from 160 pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Expression of CYPs 1A1, 2E1, 3A4, GST-π, and p16 was determined in 46 resected SCCHN patients. Results: Large interindividual variability in the expression of these enzymes was observed in the pediatric and adult populations. No significant difference was observed in CYP 1A1, 2E1, and 3A4 expression of Caucasian and African-American patients. There was no correlation between p16 and enzyme expression in patients with SCCHN. Conclusion: Evaluation of CYP expression in the target tissue of interest is feasible. The clinical significance of CYPs and GST-π alterations in the risk of developing SCCHN will need to be investigated in larger trials.
Implicit Methods for Geometry Creation

In this paper, we briefly review the existing direct implicit geometry generation methods, which include creation of blending surfaces, a limited family of sweeps, and reconstruction of solid geometry from a sample set of surface data points. A broader approach is presented, utilizing the properties of the graph of the implicit defining function, to systematically construct swept solids and perform morphing between sections by implicit methods.
Recording Parameters of Spatially Modulated Coherent Wavefronts

Various parameters of recording spatially modulated coherent light have been studied, with particular emphasis on the parameters related to constructing holograms. These include the ratio of the reference beam's intensity to that of the signal beam, the offset angle, the film's transfer characteristic, and the recording wavelength. Experimental results were obtained by recording interference patterns on highresolution film using the 6328-a line of the He-Ne laser. The bias level of the interference pattern was varied so as to vary the operating point on the curve representing the film's amplitude transmittance vs exposure characteristics. The percent modulation and the spatial frequency were also varied at each of the operating points. Interference patterns were recorded, using the 4880-aand 5145-a lines from the argon laser. From these data, the optimum bias level and the ratio of the signal beam to the reference beam for recording interference patterns are determined. The modulation transfer function of the film can also be determined.
Electromagnetic field analysis of a four-wire anechoic chamber

The electromagnetic field characteristics and plane-wave generating ability of a parallel four-wire anechoic chamber which is to be operated in the VHF range is analyzed. The analysis considers three cases: the first is a four-wire chamber when only a thin layer of absorber material covers the chamber walls, the second is a four-wire chamber when only free space surrounds the four wires of the system, and the third is a four-wire chamber when a thick layer of absorber material covers the anechoic chamber walls. The three cases are analyzed by a variety of mathematical methods including the method of moments, waveguide theory, and a finite-difference time-domain method. Numerical results for the propagation constants and electromagnetic fields that are generated in the chamber in the three cases are presented. >
Interconnect Planning with Local Area Constrained Retiming

We present a framework that considers global routing, repeater insertion, and flip-flop relocation for early inter-connect planning. We formulate the interconnect retiming and flip-flop placement problem as a local area constrained retiming problem and solve it as a series of weighted minimum area retiming problems. Our method for early interconnect planning can reduce and even avoid design iterations between physical planning and high level designs. Experimental results show that our method can reduce the number of area violations by an average of 84% in a single interconnect planning step.
Most partial domains in proteins are alignment and annotation artifacts.

Protein domains are commonly used to assess the functional roles and evolutionary relationships of proteins and protein families. Here, we use the Pfam protein family database to examine a set of candidate partial domains. Pfam protein domains are often thought of as evolutionarily indivisible, structurally compact, units from which larger functional proteins are assembled; however, almost 4% of Pfam27 PfamA domains are shorter than 50% of their family model length, suggesting that more than half of the domain is missing at those locations. To better understand the structural nature of partial domains in proteins, we examined 30,961 partial domain regions from 136 domain families contained in a representative subset of PfamA domains (RefProtDom2 or RPD2). We characterized three types of apparent partial domains: split domains, bounded partials, and unbounded partials. We find that bounded partial domains are over-represented in eukaryotes and in lower quality protein predictions, suggesting that they often result from inaccurate genome assemblies or gene models. We also find that a large percentage of unbounded partial domains produce long alignments, which suggests that their annotation as a partial is an alignment artifact; yet some can be found as partials in other sequence contexts. Partial domains are largely the result of alignment and annotation artifacts and should be viewed with caution. The presence of partial domain annotations in proteins should raise the concern that the prediction of the protein’s gene may be incomplete. In general, protein domains can be considered the structural building blocks of proteins.
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Effects Following a Single Dose of Bitter Orange

Background:The ingredients of numerous “ephedra-free” dietary supplements used for weight loss include bitter orange, which contains sympathomimetic alkaloids such as synephrine. Due to the similarity in chemical structure to ephedrine and the potential sympathomimetic effects of synephrine, it is hypothesized that bitter orange may increase blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR).Objective:To determine the effects on BP and HR after a single dose of bitter orange in healthy adults.Methods:In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 15 young, healthy, adult subjects received either a single dose of Nature's Way Bitter Orange—a 900 mg dietary supplement extract standardized to 6% synephrine—or matching placebo, with a one week washout period. Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and HR were measured at baseline and every hour for 6 hours after administration.Results:SBP after bitter orange was significantly increased versus placebo at hours 1–5 (p < 0.0001); the peak ...
Problem-solving processes of expert and typical school principals: a quantitative look

Principals are increasingly expected to be the instructional as well as administrative leaders of their schools. However, little is known about how principals reason through the instructional issues that they face. An analysis of principal reasoning in instructional contexts is critical. The study presented in this article draws on interviews with 36 predominantly elementary school principals in an urban setting. The authors look at principal problem-solving by comparing the cognitive processes that principals of varying degrees of expertise use in solving instructional scenarios. This quantitative approach tests the hypothesis that expert principals use more expert processes and typical principals use more typical processes. The results confirm that expert principals relied more on gathering data across all instructional scenarios and spent more time following up on their solutions when solving problems in the mathematics domain. Typical principals were more likely to share anecdotes that were negative o...
The Legacy of Wolfish and Chapman: Some Thoughts About 'Big Prison Case' Litigation in the 1980s

In the past fifteen years, the conditions of American prisons have moved from the grist of movies to the attention of the courts. Judges throughout the nation have been asked to adjudicate the legality of issues as diverse as the adequacy of prison food and the ability of jail inmates to use typewriters. A body of litigation that did not exist twenty years ago now commands significant attention in the federal courts.
Longitudinal Patterns of Glycemic Control and Diabetes Care from Diagnosis in a Population-based Cohort with Type 1 Diabetes

Glycosylated hemoglobin is an indicator of long-term glycemic control and a strong predictor of diabetic complications. This paper provides a comprehensive description of glycemic control (total glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb)) up to 4.5 years duration of diabetes by age, duration, and sex in a population-based cohort (n = 507) aged less than 20 years followed from diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in Wisconsin during 1987-1994 Important aspects of demographics and diabetes care are described to allow comparison with other populations. Since large variations between laboratories are known to exist in the measurement of GHb, levels are also interpreted relative to the frequency of short-term complications. GHb increased after diagnosis, but leveled off after 2-3 years. Peak GHb values occurred in the age group 12-15 years. The within-individual standard deviation in GHb between tests, adjusted for age and duration was 1.6%. The mean GHb at last testing was 11.3%, with a standard deviation across individuals of 2.9%. The majority (74%) of individuals saw a diabetes specialist at least once. The mean number of insulin injections per day increased from 2.2 to 2.5 across the 4.5-year duration, and the insulin dose increased from 0.6 to 0.9 units per day per kg body weight. Despite the quite satisfactory level of care, 38% of subjects had GHb levels associated with significant short-term complications.
Impact of software resource estimation research on practice: a preliminary report on achievements, synergies, and challenges

This paper is a contribution to the Impact Project in the area of software resource estimation. The objective of the Impact Project has been to analyze the impact of software engineering research investments on software engineering practice. The paper begins by summarizing the motivation and context for analyzing software resource estimation; and by summarizing the study's purpose, scope, and approach. The approach includes analyses of the literature; interviews of leading software resource estimation researchers, practitioners, and users; and value/impact surveys of estimators and users. The study concludes that research in software resource estimation has had a significant impact on the practice of software engineering, but also faces significant challenges in addressing likely future software trends.
Association of MEK1 with p21ras.GMPPNP is dependent on B-Raf.

Abstract We have previously reported that immobilized p21ras forms a GMPPNP-dependent complex with a MEK activity. Furthermore, the association of the MEK activity was found to be independent of the presence of Raf-1. We have extended those observations to show that MEK1 is the MEK activity previously described to associate with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. The association between MEK1 and immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP increased its specific activity towards p42MAPK. We detected the specific association of B-Raf with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. In contrast to Raf-1-immunodepleted lysates, preclearance of the cytosolic B-Raf significantly reduced, by 96%, the amount of MEK1 activity associated with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. The decrease in MEK1 activity correlated with complete loss in the binding of both B-Raf and MEK1 proteins with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. These data suggest that the p21ras.GMPPNP-dependent activation of MEK1 in brain extracts is dependent on the presence of the B-Raf protein kinase.
QUANTILE REGRESSION REVEALS HIDDEN BIAS AND UNCERTAINTY IN HABITAT MODELS

We simulated the effects of missing information on statistical distributions of animal response that covaried with measured predictors of habitat to evaluate the utility and performance of quantile regression for providing more useful intervals of uncertainty in habitat relationships. These procedures were evaulated for conditions in which hetero­ geneity and hidden bias were induced by confounding with missing variables associated with other improtant processes, a problem common in statistical modeling of ecological phenomena. Simulations for a large (N � 10 000) finite population representing grid lo­ cations on a landscape demonstrated various forms of hidden bias that might occur when the effect of a measured habitat variable on some animal was confounded with the effect of another unmeasured variable. Quantile (0 � � � 1) regression parameters for linear models that excluded the important, unmeasured variable revealed bias relative to param­ eters from the generating model. Depending on whether interactions of the measured and unmeasured variables were negative (interference interactions) or positive (facilitation in­ teractions) in simulations without spatial structuring, either upper ( �� 0.5) or lower ( �� 0.5) quantile regression parameters were less biased than mean rate parameters. Hetero­ geneous, nonlinear response patterns occurred with correlations between the measured and unmeasured variables. When the unmeasured variable was spatially structured, variation in parameters across quantiles associated with heterogeneous effects of the habitat variable was reduced by modeling the spatial trend surface as a cubic polynomial of location co­ ordinates, but substantial hidden bias remained. Sampling (n � 20-300) simulations dem­ onstrated that regression quantile estimates and confidence intervals constructed by in­ verting weighted rank score tests provided valid coverage of these parameters. Local forms of quantile weighting were required for obtaining correct Type I error rates and confidence interval coverage. Quantile regression was used to estimate effects of physical habitat resources on a bivalve (Macomona liliana )i n the spatially structured landscape on a sandflat in a New Zealand harbor. Confidence intervals around predicted 0.10 and 0.90 quantiles were used to estimate sampling intervals containing 80% of the variation in densities in relation to bed elevation. Spatially structured variation in bivalve counts estimated by a cubic polynomial trend surface remained after accounting for the nonlinear effects of bed elevation, indicating the existence of important spatially structured processes that were not adequately represented by the measured habitat variables.
Unrecognized psychiatric illness in elderly medical surgical patients

Research diagnostic criteria were used in a structured interview to evaluate the presence of unrecognized psychiatric illness in 50 acute medical and surgical patients over the age of 65 at the La Jolla Veterans Administration Hospital; 24% of the subjects had unrecognized major mental disorders -- predominantly depression or alcoholism. The geriatric patients most likely to have unrecognized illness were older, widowed or divorced, had past jail and/or psychiatric hospital experiences, and gave histories of vascular disorders. The results are consistent with past literature on the elderly.
Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery: A Review for the Multidisciplinary Team

Pediatric craniofacial surgery is a specialty that grew dramatically in the 20th century and continues to evolve today. Out of the efforts to correct facial deformities encountered during World War II, the techniques of modern craniofacial surgery developed. An analysis of the relevant literature allowed the authors to explore this historical progression. Current advances in technology, tissue engineering, and molecular biology have further refined pediatric craniofacial surgery. The development of distraction osteogenesis and the progressive study of craniosynostosis provide remarkable examples of this momentum. The growing study of genetics, biotechnology, the influence of growth factors, and stem cell research provide additional avenues of innovation for the future. The following article is intended to reveal a greater understanding of pediatric craniofacial surgery by examining the past, present, and possible future direction. It is intended both for the surgeon, as well as for the nonsurgical individ...
Involvement of hydroxyl radicals in endotoxin-evoked shock.

There has been a myriad of publications recently evaluating the potential role of free radicals in the development and lethality of shock induced by endotoxin. Studies utilizing various types of compounds to interrupt the activity of free radicals or the injurious processes initiated by free radicals have not proven conclusive and the area remains controversial. This may be due to differences in the species of free radicals targeted by the inhibitory compounds selected and by the capacity of the compounds to effect intracellular free radical activity. Inhibitors of free radical activity that cross the cell membrane more effectively attenuate responses to endotoxin.1 The hydroxyl radical is the most toxic of the free radical species and has been implicated as having a role in endotoxin-induced pulmonary damage and lethality in a study utilizing dimethyl sulfoxide.2 Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a hydroxyl radical scavenger that readily penetrates the cell membrane and therefore has the capacity to influence the actions of excessive intracellular hydroxyl radical generation. The studies described here were designed to exploit the properties of DMSO to evaluate the involvement of hydroxyl radical activity in hemodynamic, metabolic, and pathologic responses evoked by endotoxin.3
Blind Users Searching Digital Libraries: Types of Help-seeking Situations at the Cognitive Level

Universal access is the objective of digital library development. However, it is a challenge for blind users to search information effectively in digital libraries because of their dynamic design and multimedia collections. Serving as the preliminary study of a large scale project, this study focuses on the identification of types of help-seeking situations unique to blind users at the cognitive level. Based on the analysis of 15 blind users’ pre-questionnaires, pre-interviews, think-aloud protocols, transaction logs and post-interviews, the authors identified blind users’ typical help-seeking situations in relation to cognitive overload, comprehension and reasoning. Implications for how to design better help features for blind users to overcome these situations are also discussed.
Magnetic Sensor-Based Large Distance Position Estimation With Disturbance Compensation

Magnetic sensors have previously been used for position measurement only at very small distances between the magnet and the sensor. While they could potentially also be used at larger distances by exploiting nonlinear magnetic field functions, a serious challenge comes from magnetic disturbances. The presence of foreign ferromagnetic objects, variations in the Earth’s magnetic field with location, and electromagnetic disturbances can cause such position estimation systems to have significant errors. This paper enables robust large-distance position estimation using redundant sensors and real-time disturbance estimation. Adaptive estimation algorithms that auto-calibrate magnetic parameters and compensate for disturbances are developed. Experimental results with a pneumatic cylinder demonstrate that sub-millimeter accuracies in position measurement can be obtained with such a system in spite of disturbances from external ferromagnetic objects. The developed sensing principle has a large number of applications, including position estimation in pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic actuators, spool valves, and many other machinery.
Rational Design and Synthesis of a New Organometallic Ligand, 1-Ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)-prop-3-enol-1-one and Its Heteronuclear Coordination Polymer, {Cu[1-ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)prop-1,3-dionate]2}n

A new bifunctional organometallic ligand was synthesized, by reacting ferroceneacyl anion with ethyl-5-bromonicotinic acid, isolated, and characterized as 1-ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)-prop-3-enol-1-one (HL1). This new ligand reacts with Cu(II) salt to yield a new two-dimensional (2D) heteronuclear (Fe–Cu) coordination polymer of type [Cu(L1)2]n. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of both the ligand and the coordination polymer is provided in this report.
Isolation and Characterization of Mutations in the Mouse APRT Gene that Encode Functional Enzymes with Resistance to Toxic Adenine Analogs

Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT, EC 2.4.2.7) is a purine salvage enzyme that catalyses the reaction between adenine and 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) to form AMP. Expression of the aprt gene is not required for cell survival in culture, therefore, it may be selected against by growing cells in the presence of toxic adenine analogs such as 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP). In general, DAP-resistant cell lines do not exhibit significant levels of APRT activity (Taylor and Sahota, 1989).
Intimate attractions and sexual misconduct in the therapeutic relationship: Implications for socially just practice

AbstractSexually intimate behavior between psychologists and their clients, supervisees, and students proposes a serious problem within psychology and related fields, although ethical codes related to this issue are contentious. Deleterious outcomes for those involved are often extensive and multifaceted. Additionally, clients from disenfranchised backgrounds may be at a heightened vulnerability to therapist exploitation due to increased power differentials. The discussion focuses on implications for training, supervision, and practice with regard to the therapeutic relationship and applications to minority populations. Recommendations are posited to help practitioners distinguish between sexual attractions and intimate behaviors and address them in ethical, socially just practice. Clients may also benefit from a deeper understanding of such issues.
Prospective comparison of blood and peritoneal lymphocytes from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Although a few studies have analyzed the characteristics of peritoneal lymphocytes from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, there have been no definitive longitudinal investigations comparing peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with peritoneal lymphocytes (PL) from these patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the phenotypes of PBL and PL of CAPD patients and to determine if phenotypic changes occurred from the initiation of CAPD therapy over the subsequent 12 months. Patients were categorized into younger ( 60 years) to determine if age-related factors contributed to differences in lymphocyte phenotypes. Blood and overnight peritoneal dialysate effluents (PDE) were obtained from 18 patients at the initiation of CAPD therapy and for 11 successive months. Fourteen lymphocyte subsets were quantitated using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry analysis. CAPD patients had significantly higher percentages of peripheral activated T (CD3+/HLA-DR+) cells and natural killer (CD57+) cells at the beginning of CAPD than normal controls. There were significantly greater percentages of B cells, activated T cells, and suppressor T (CD8+/CD11b+) cells and significantly fewer helper T (CD4+) cells in the PDE as compared with the patients' peripheral lymphocytes. No significant changes were observed over time in the phenotypes of PBL and only one PL phenotype showed significant changes with fluctuating levels of CD4+/CD45RA+ cells with continued peritoneal dialysis. In general, these findings suggest that although both PBL and PL activation is occurring in clinically uninfected patients, the characteristics of lymphocytes are stable over time.
Bronchial thermoplasty in asthma: scrutinizing the current evidence

Objectives: Severe asthma accounts for 5-10% of all asthma cases and half of asthma-related costs in developed countries. Targeting smooth muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia using bronchial thermoplasty (BT) represents a novel therapeutic approach to this disease. This review aims to critically examine and appraise the methodology and interpretation of individual clinical trials concerning the use of BT in severe asthma. It is not intended to be a systematic review or a meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched until August, 31st 2015 for published clinical trials concerning the use of BT in asthma patients. Search titles included BT, severe asthma, BT in asthma, BT and severe asthma and effectiveness and safety of BT in asthma. Results: One published non-randomized, three randomized and three extension trials were identified. The methodology and results of each individual trial were subjected to careful examination and appraisal. A good safety profile of BT as a novel therapeutic approach of severe asthma has been confirmed in multiple clinical trials. However, there are still unanswered questions and concerns regarding the effectiveness of this procedure in severe asthma. The evidence concerning this effectiveness needs to be augmented by further well-designed sham controlled trials. Conclusion: Well-designed controlled trials using hard outcome measures such as asthma control, lung function and ability to withdraw/reduce steroid are desperately needed to confirm the effectiveness of BT in severe asthma cases. Consideration of asthma phenotypes when conducting such trials would be rewarding. Key words: Bronchial thermoplasty, Asthma, Airway, Smooth muscle
Polyunsaturates and fat in fish flesh. Data for selecting species to meet special dietary needs.

Compositional data are reported indicating the usefulness of fish as a low-fat, high-protein food source and also as a source of polyunsaturates for reducing or controlling serum cholesterol levels.
Beyond Survival: Educational Development and the Maturing of the POD Network

Scholarship about the growth of educational development has charted major shifts in developers' focuses and roles through time and, especially in recent years, has explored the professionalization of the field around the globe. This essay uses a lifecycle analogy to consider the development of one organization, the POD Network (The Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education). After a brief and heady “start-up phase,” and a long organizational “adolescence,” characterized by growth and by increasing formalization of processes, governance, and strategy, the POD Network is on the brink of entering a phase of greater maturity.
A Comprehensive Procedure to Evaluate the In Vivo Performance of Cancer Nanomedicines

Inspired by the success of previous cancer nanomedicines in the clinic, researchers have generated a large number of novel formulations in the past decade. However, only a small number of nanomedicines have been approved for clinical use, whereas the majority of nanomedicines under clinical development have produced disappointing results. One major obstacle to the successful clinical translation of new cancer nanomedicines is the lack of an accurate understanding of their in vivo performance. This article features a rigorous procedure to characterize the in vivo behavior of nanomedicines in tumor-bearing mice at systemic, tissue, single-cell, and subcellular levels via the integration of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), radioactivity quantification methods, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Using this approach, researchers can accurately evaluate novel nanoscale formulations in relevant mouse models of cancer. These protocols may have the ability to identify the most promising cancer nanomedicines with high translational potential or to aid in the optimization of cancer nanomedicines for future translation.
On The Origin of Tonal Classes in Kinande Noun Stems

This paper investigates the Proto-Bantu origins of the principal tonal classes in Kinande nonderived mono- and disyllabic nominal stems. The temary H vs. L vs. 0 distinction in the final syllable of the current language is traced back to a binary H vs. L contrast in Proto Bantu on the basis of two strata of reconstruction: first, a shallow one based on c. 200 PB cognates shared with the closely related Lacustrine languages Runyankore, Haya, and lita, and second, a deeper one based on c. 100 PB cognates shared with the more distantly related Congolese languages Tembo, Luba, and Lingala. A chronology of tone changes is postulated in which different sequencing of the same changes as well as altemative phonologizations of ambiguous phonetic structures playa key role.
Shape modeling for 3D archaeological vessels

This chapter presents a method for archiving and searching three-dimensional Native American ceramic vessels using geometric modeling techniques. Archaeological vessels are scanned and defined as a set of 3D triangulated meshes composed of points, edges and triangles. Our work includes modeling the data with parametric surfaces, extracting features to raise the level of abstraction of data, and organizing vessel data based on XML schema. A visual query interface on the web was developed that permits users to sketch or select sample vessel shapes to augment text and metric search criteria to retrieve original and modeled data, and interactive 2D and 3D models.
The Influence of Breast Density on Preoperative MRI Findings and Outcome in Patients with a Known Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

The role of breast density as an indication for preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for surgical planning in women with breast cancer is unknown. We retrospectively reviewed breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2007 to 2011 who underwent preoperative MRI. We obtained clinical and pathological data and grouped patients by mammographic breast density, with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density A and B considered low density, and C and D considered high density. We analyzed local recurrence rates by breast density. Among 683 patients, 66.6% had high breast density. We noted MRI abnormalities in the ipsilateral breast in 41.8% high-density and 30.7% low-density breasts, while contralateral abnormalities were noted in 24.9% high-density and 13.8% low-density breasts. Biopsy was recommended for MRI findings in a similar number of patients regardless of density cohort. While more abnormalities were found in high-density breasts, the rate of additional cancer found was not significantly different (ipsilateral: 32 vs. 23%; contralateral: 6.2 vs. 3.2%) for high-and low-density patients, respectively (both p > 0.15). With a median follow-up of 89 months, and similar rates of adjuvant systemic and radiation therapy, no difference in local recurrence rates existed when stratified according to density classification (p > 0.53). While more abnormalities were identified on MRI in dense breasts, there was no statistically significant difference in the number of cancers identified or in recurrence rates. These findings question the routine use of preoperative breast MRI in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer based solely on breast density.
Going to Meetings

(2008). Going to Meetings. Math Horizons: Vol. 15, Uplifting Mathematical Applications, pp. 22-23.
A Best-Effort Damage Mitigation Model for Cyber-Attacks on Smart Grids

Despite the availability of sophisticated defense mechanisms, smart grid security breaches do happen causing serious damages. In the age of cheap and popular internet-enabled commodity products such as smart home devices, health monitors, vehicles, etc., attackers are finding increasingly more weakly-protected entry points to breach critical infrastructures such as smart grids. When fast changing attack signatures are used as a strategy to force the security apparatuses to relearn the attack properties and rethink countermeasures, critical time is lost and substantial damage can result. In this paper, we elicit an attack strategy that has the potential to breach smart grid security for which we have limited defense, and the detection of the attack takes substantially long time. We propose that in such scenarios, we deploy measures to isolate sub-networks to deny attackers access to our most valuable assets. We discuss the requirements to architect such a damage control protocol and the algorithm to partition the network using a save the best-first strategy.
Writing with Concurrent Memory Loads

This chapter presents a theoretical context that can guide readers in the development of memoryloading tasks useful for studying written language production. The guidelines for and specific examples of these tasks illustrate how systematic testing can be conducted to evaluate the predictions of a modern theory of writing whose structure and functioning depend upon the involvement of working memory.
Calcific uremic arteriolopathy.

A 51-year-old man with end-stage renal disease presented with extensive necrotic ulcers and eschar on both legs.
Distribution and partitioning of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids in surface soil, plants, and earthworms at a contaminated site.

Abstract A field study was conducted to elucidate distribution and partitioning of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs; C7–12) in a terrestrial ecosystem that was contaminated with industrial sources of release. Surface soil (0–6 cm), plants, and earthworms were collected from a field located within a 1-mile radius of a fluoropolymer industry that had been manufacturing fluorochemicals for over five decades. The mean concentrations of ∑PFCAs were 150, 420, 61, 68, and 430 ng/g dry weight (dw) in surface soil, earthworms, grass roots, grass leaves, and tree leaves, respectively. The measured concentrations were higher than those reported for corresponding matrices in other locations worldwide, suggesting that fluorochemical manufacturing operations have contributed to the contamination of this nearby land. Soil and plant tissues consisted mainly of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; C8) (77.3–97.1% of the total PFCAs), whereas longer-chain PFCAs, such as perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA; C11: 17.6%) and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA; C12: 31.9%), accounted for relatively higher proportions in earthworms. Spatial distribution of PFCAs at this site suggested that both atmospheric deposition and groundwater recharge have contributed to the sources of contamination. Both earthworm- and grass-accumulated PFCAs from soil with biota-soil accumulation factors and root concentration factors increased with perfluorocarbon chain length. The translocation factors of PFCAs in grass decreased as the number of carbons in the fluorocarbon moiety increased. This field study is appropriate to improve our understanding of partitioning of PFCAs among soil, plants, and earthworms.
Product Family Redesign Using a Platform Approach

Product strategy at the platform level simplifies the product development process and encourages a long-term view, because there are fewer platforms than products and major platform decisions are only made every few years. A move towards implementation of a platform strategy, which is significantly different from design and development of each product separately, can be a challenging undertaking. While the move is difficult, potential benefits from product family approach include decrease in development cost and time over a range of products. Consequently, key questions and issues that need to be addressed to justify a company’s decision to allocate resources for refocusing their product strategy at the platform level are: 1. What will be the potential decrease in development cost for implementing a product platform strategy? 2. What will be the potential decrease in development time for implementing a product platform strategy?
Aerosol-assisted Production of NIR Shielding Nanoparticles: Sodium Tungsten Bronze

ABSTRACT An aerosol-assisted process for continuously producing sodium tungsten bronze particles in one step was proposed. The effects of the precursor solution, solvent, heating temperature, and moisture concentration on the quality (i.e., crystallinity) of the products were systematically investigated. The mechanisms for the particle formation and the chemical reactions involved in this process were also studied. By varying the atomic ratio of sodium to tungsten in the precursor solution, sodium tungsten bronze particles in the cubic (Na0.70WO3) and tetragonal (Na0.57WO3) phases were monophasically produced. Particles in both phases showed near infrared (NIR) shielding properties. However, cubic-phase particles (Na0.70WO3) possessed higher visibility in the visible light range due to their lower impurity content and higher crystallinity.
Randomized controlled trial of 7, 28, vs 42 day stored red blood cell transfusion on oxygen delivery (VO2 max) and exercise duration.

Background Few studies have rigorously assessed the impact of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on oxygen delivery. Several large trials demonstrated no clinical outcome differences between transfusion of shorter-storage vs prolonged-storage RBCs. These trials did not directly assess functional measures of oxygen delivery. Therefore, it is not clear if 42-day stored RBCs deliver oxygen as effectively as 7-day stored RBCs. Study design and methods Leukocyte-reduced RBCs were collected by apheresis in AS-3. Thirty subjects were randomized (1:1:1) to receive 2 units of autologous RBCs at either 7, 28, or 42 days following donation. VO2 max testing, using a standardized protocol to exhaustion, was performed 2 days before (Monday) and 2 days after (Friday) the transfusion visit (Wednesday). The primary endpoint was the percent increase in VO2 max between Monday and Friday. The secondary endpoint was the percent change in duration of exercise for the same time points. Results Hemoglobin levels decreased by 2.8 ± 1.4 g/dL after donation and increased by 2.1 ± 0.6 g/dL after transfusion. This change in hemoglobin was associated with expected decreases (then increases after transfusion) in VO2 max and exercise duration. No differences were observed between 7-day and 42-day RBC transfusion for percent increase in median [IQR] VO2 max (10.5 [0.2-17.3] vs 10.9 [5.7-16.8], P = .41) or for percent increase in exercise duration (5.4 [4.1-6.9] vs 4.9 [2.0-7.2], P = .91), respectively. Results were similar for 28-day RBCs and were consistent across the ITT and per-protocol analysis populations. Conclusion These data indicate that 42-day, 28-day, and 7-day RBCs have similar ability to deliver oxygen.
The Not-So-Great Society: edited by Lindsey M. Burke and Jonathan Butcher, Washington D.C., The Heritage Foundation, 2019, ASIN: B0846H2815

I dislike writing book reviews, am not especially good at it, and therefore procrastinate as long as possible. In this case, the latter may have had some utility in that I have taken the time to co...
Difference in HIV testing behavior by injection status, among users of illicit drugs.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection remains prevalent among the marginalized and drug using population in the United States. Testing for HIV is an important and cost-effective way to reduce HIV prevalence. Our objective was to determine if there is a difference in the number of HIV testing by injection status among users of illicit drugs and if a person's social network characteristics is a contributing factor. Using a cross-sectional design and negative binomial regression models, we assessed HIV testing behavior of people who use non-injected drugs (PWND) compared to people who use injected drugs (PWID). In an analytic sample of 539 participants, PWND tested for HIV 19% less compared to PWID, PR (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.66, 0.98), p = 0.03. Other contributing factors of testing were education, condomless sex, STIs, heroin use, and participant's sex network. The interaction term between PWND and emotional support in relation to HIV testing was significant, 1.33 (1.03, 1.69), p=0.03. These findings suggest HIV testing behavior differed by injection status, and this relationship may be dependent on emotional support. To exert a greater impact on the HIV epidemic, interventions and policies encouraging HIV testing in PWND, an understudied at-risk sub-population, are warranted.