cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Nasogastric Tube Drainage Required After Reconstructive Surgery for Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

Objectives To determine whether the routine use of nasogastric tubes (NGTs) after bowel surgery for neurogenic bladder dysfunction improves outcomes. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 54 consecutive patients (30 women, 24 men) with neurogenic bladder who underwent bladder reconstruction or replacement with bowel segments by one surgeon from December 2000 to August 2005. The first 32 [NGT(+)] had NGTs placed during the procedure, whereas the subsequent 22 [NGT(−)] did not. We compared short-term postoperative outcomes between groups. Results Patient age ranged from 17 to 74 years (mean, 42.6 years). Procedures included augmentation cystoplasty with or without creation of catheterizable stoma (31), ileovesicostomy (13), and ileal conduit (9). Mean age or mean operative time did not differ between the NGT(+) and NGT(−) groups. The NGT(−) patients experienced less time to oral intake (3.1 versus 4.4 days, P Conclusions Routine use of NGTs in patients undergoing bladder reconstruction or replacement for neurogenic bladder dysfunction seems to confer no benefit. The omission of NGTs in this population is possible without increasing overall morbidity. These findings parallel those previously reported in neurologically intact patients undergoing urinary diversion.
An Internet Based Intelligent Argumentation System for Collaborative Engineering Design

Modern product design is a very complicated process which involves groups of designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and customer representatives. Conflicts are unavoidable in collaboration among multiple stakeholders, who have different objectives, requirements, and priorities. Unfortunately, current web-based collaborative engineering design systems do not support collaborative conflict resolution. In this paper, we will develop an intelligent computational argumentation model to enable management of a large scale argumentation network, and resolution of conflicts based on argumentation from many participants. A web-based intelligent argumentation tool is developed as a part of a web-based collaborative engineering design system based on the above model to resolve conflicts over the internet by enabling selection of the most favored design alternative in the design argumentation from multiple perspectives in collaborative engineering design.
A letter or a conference paper? Conundrum resolved

From now on if one's paper is accepted for publication in the IEEE Signal Processing Letters the authors may present the same work at one of our two flagship conferences, ICASSP and ICIP. The work must be accepted by the deadline set by the conference for SPL papers, which will be one or two weeks prior to the "notification of acceptance" deadline, but not be published prior to the end of the last conference, about twelve months before the event. The new model avoids double publication by providing the electronic version in the proceedings distributed to registered conference attendees but including only the Signal Processing Letters paper in IEEEXplore. Thus, you will have only one official publication. This initiative is aimed at encouraging the most innovative contributions in our broad field to be submitted to Signal Processing Letters for consideration.
Experimental Studies on Mechanics of Lunar Excavation

One of the first construction operations for building a stationary habitat on the moon or Mars will be excavation of soil. The reasons for this necessity are manyfold and range from the need to protect inflatable habitats against radiation to creating an underground space for building electrical power plants. Despite the tremendous amount of earth movement that has taken place on this globe, a sound theoretical basis for designing soil-moving machines does not exist. This paper describes the results of experiments that were developed to evaluate empirically if and how soil could be excavated on the moon. No attempt has been made to optimize or promote a particular method. The goal of the present study is rather to establish a sound knowledge base to use for the more-detailed studies needed to design an operational system that will be successful on the moon.
Iraq: Past, Present and Uncertain Future: a Review Essay

Dancing with Saddam: The Strategic Tango of Jordanian-Iraqi Relations. David Schenker. Lanham, MD Dark Victory: America's Second War against Iraq. Jeffrey Record. Annapolis, MD Ignorant Armies: Sliding into War in Iraq. Gwynne Dyer. The Gulf War Chronicles: a Military History of the First War with Iraq. Richard S. Lowry. The Iraq War: a Military History. William Murray and Major General Robert H. Scales, Jr. The Iraq War: Hidden Agendas and Babylonian Intrigue, the Regional Impact on Shi'ites, Kurds, Sunnis and Arabs. Raphael Israeli. The Modern History of Iraq, 2nd. ed. Phebe Marr. Boulder The New Iraq: Rebuilding the Country for Its People, The Middle East, and the World. Joseph Braude.
Social Comparison and the Pill: Reactions to Upward and Downward Comparison of Contraceptive Behavior

It has been assumed that engaging in downward social comparison can improve subjective well-being both by ameliorating negative mood and by improving self-concept. Although a number of studies have demonstrated the effect of downward comparison on mood, there has been little empirical evidence of its effect on self-concept. The results of the current study indicate that downward comparison can increase self-esteem and does so especially for persons with relative low self-esteem. The results also suggest that upward comparison opportunities have different effects on the attitudes of high- and low-self-esteem persons.
Carotid revascularization outcomes comparing distal filters, flow reversal, and endarterectomy

Introduction Contradictory outcomes exist for different methods of carotid artery revascularization. Here we provide the comparative rates of adverse events in patients after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), carotid artery stenting (CAS) with a distal embolic protection device (EPD), and CAS with a proximal flow reversal system (FRS) from a single institution by various specialists treating carotid artery disease. Methods Procedural billing codes and the electronic medical records of patients undergoing revascularization for carotid artery stenosis from February 2007 through March 2010 were used for data collection. Primary outcome was the incidence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarction (MI), or death after CEA and CAS. Each practitioner determined the choice of therapy, with five of the 14 specialists providing both CAS and CEA. Baseline characteristics were examined for effect on outcome. Planned comparisons between and within groups were analyzed using χ 2 , t tests, and analysis of variance, as appropriate. Results A total of 495 procedures were documented, comprising 226 CEA, 216 CAS with EPD, and 53 CAS with FRS. Preoperative comparisons of patient comorbidities were similar among the cohorts. The carotid artery stenosis was symptomatic in 42% of these patients. Prior CEA was an indication for CAS rather than another CEA ( P P P = .1) or any individual major adverse event. Overall, patients undergoing CAS with EPD had a statistically significant greater incidence of minor CVAs than CEA patients ( P = .031), which was driven by the increased CVA risk for asymptomatic patients. Secondary end points occurred rarely ( Conclusions We have established a similar and low incidence of MI, CVA, and death among patients undergoing CEA and CAS, of whom approximately 40% were symptomatic. FRS provided superior results in this series; however, its use was limited to 20% of the CAS procedures. Still, zero adverse events in this cohort make FRS an exciting technology that warrants a large-scale prospective comparative study.
Late Quaternary fluvial terraces of the Romagna and Marche Apennines, Italy: Climatic, lithologic, and tectonic controls on terrace genesis in an active orogen

Abstract We synthesize a new fluvial terrace chronostratigraphy of the Bidente and Musone Rivers cast within a broader European framework, which forms the basis of a terrace genesis and river incision model for the northern Apennines, Italy. Our model, supported by terrace long profiles, correlation to Po foreland sediments, 15 new radiocarbon dates, and published numeric and relative stratigraphic ages, highlights how drainage basin substrate drives concurrent formation of strath terraces in the Bidente basin and fill terraces in the Musone basin. Quaternary climate change paces the formative geomorphic processes through unsteady discharges of water and sediment. In the weathering-limited setting represented by the Bidente basin, siliciclastic detritus carves broad strath surfaces during glacial climates that are preserved as terraces as the river incises during the transition to an interglacial climate. In contrast, the transport-limited and carbonate detritus dominated Musone basin sees valleys deeply buried by aggradation during glacial climates followed by river incision during the transition to an interglacial climate. Incision of these rivers over the past ∼1 million years has been both unsteady and non-uniform. These and all Po-Adriatic draining rivers are proximal to a base level defined by mean sea level and have little room for increasing their longitudinal profile concavities through incision, particularly in their lower reaches despite periodic glacio-eustatic drawdowns. As a result, the observed incision is best explained by rock uplift associated with active local fault or fold growth embedded in the actively thickening and uplifting Apennine foreland.
Simplifying TPS development and execution using a PC, Web-based environment

Test Program Set (TPS) development and test execution for modern electronic modules involves the integration of a myriad of software and hardware tools which are inherently difficult to integrate. It is not uncommon to have a combination of digital, analog, and mixed-signal test routines in the same test program, all of which use different tools for development and execution. While data exchange and software language standards have helped provide a common ground for reducing the barriers to integration, there has been no progress in providing a user environment that can leverage these advances. This paper describes a PC-based TPS development, documentation, and execution environment that uses Microsoft COM interfaces, high-level scripting and World Wide Web technologies to integrate development processes and point tools from multiple sources. The result is an open, easily reconfigurable TPS operating environment that uniquely combines flexibility with a process-oriented framework.
Work in Progress: Adaptive Pedagogy through Intelligent Generation of Teaching Modules

This paper describes an intelligent system for creating teaching modules utilizing a database of training components that are adaptively integrated to generate presentations for use by a wide range of audiences with varying levels of educational background. Content development and presentation for training on emerging technologies is a challenge and often does not lend for reusing monolithic training material generally targeting a specific audience. We overcome this challenge by developing a system that stores the set of reusable training components and records their relevance to the various topics and the level of preparation needed from the target audience. The task of creating a presentation is thus reduced to a constraint satisfaction problem where the set of components that satisfy the requisite constraints are glued together to form the full presentation. We have successfully utilized this system for creating bioinformatics presentations for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Consistent Sulcal Parcellation of Longitudinal Cortical Surfaces

Automated accurate and consistent sulcal parcellation of longitudinal cortical surfaces is of great importance in studying longitudinal morphological and functional changes of human brains, since longitudinal cortical changes are normally very subtle, especially in aging brains. However, applying the existing methods (which were typically developed for cortical sulcal parcellation of a single cortical surface) independently to longitudinal cortical surfaces might generate longitudinally-inconsistent results. To overcome this limitation, this paper presents a novel energy function based method for accurate and consistent sulcal parcellation of longitudinal cortical surfaces. Specifically, both spatial and temporal smoothness are imposed in the energy function to obtain consistent longitudinal sulcal parcellation results. The energy function is efficiently minimized by a graph cut method. The proposed method has been successfully applied to sulcal parcellation of both real and simulated longitudinal inner cortical surfaces of human brain MR images. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Investigations on absolute portal dosimetry for the verification of static and dynamic dose delivery in radiotherapy (in English)

New in vivodosimetry procedures using electronic portal imaging devices(EPIDs) either compare measured to predicted transmission dose, or infer patient dose from measured transmission doseimages. These procedures demand a careful calibration of the portal imager. The EPID used in this research was a scanning liquid ionization chamber (SLIC). The first investigation was to see if a dosecalibration of the EPID, performed on the central axis, is sufficiently accurate to estimate the dose for off-axis points. The incident photon energy fluence distribution generated from the phase space of a linear accelerator was first convolved with Monte Carlo calculated dose spread kernels in water, which serves as the reference medium, and then in the detector. The kernels in water and the detector differ considerably at photon energies lower than 1 MeV or higher than 6 MeV. Transmission doses were then calculated in the SLIC-EPID and in water. The dose differences are due to changing beam quality. It is shown that depending on the type of calibration, the difference can be as large as 5%, which is unacceptable for accurate transmission dosemeasurements. To investigate the applicability of the EPID for dynamic dose delivery techniques, the dose response to a photon beam with variable intensity was measured and theoretically modeled. It was found that the accuracy using the detector for verification of the dose from intensity modulated treatment fields delivered by a dynamically modulated multileaf technique is limited. This is due to the detector’s nonlinear response. However, under certain acquisition conditions, the leaf movement during delivery can be precisely verified.
Non-invasive assessment of radiation injury with electrical impedance spectroscopy.

A detailed understanding of non-targeted normal tissue response is necessary for the optimization of radiation treatment plans in cancer therapy. In this study, we evaluate the ability of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to non-invasively determine and quantify the injury response in soft tissue after high dose rate (HDR) irradiation, which is characterized by large localized dose distributions possessing steep spatial gradients. The HDR after-loading technique was employed to irradiate small volumes of muscle tissue with single doses (26–52 Gy targeted 5 mm away from the source). Impedance measurements were performed on 29 rats at 1, 2 and 3 month post-irradiation, employing 31 frequencies in the 1 kHz to 1 MHz range. Over the first 3 months, conductivity increased by 48% and 26% following target doses of 52 Gy and 26 Gy 5 mm from the HDR source, respectively. Injury, assessed independently through a grid-based scoring method showed a quadratic dependence on distance from source. A significant injury (50% of cells atrophied, necrotic or degenerating) in 1.2% of the volume, accompanied by more diffuse injury (25% of cells atrophied, necrotic or degenerating) in 9% of the tissue produced a conductivity increase of 0.02 S m−1 (8% over a baseline of 0.24 S m−1). This was not statistically significant at p = 0.01. Among treatment groups, injury differences in 22% of the volume led to statistically significant differences in conductivity of 0.07 S m−1 (23% difference in conductivity). Despite limitations, the success of EIS in detecting responses in a fraction of the tissue probed, during these early post-irradiation time-points, is encouraging. Electrical impedance spectroscopy may provide a useful metric of atrophy and the development of fibrosis secondary to radiation that could be further developed into a low-cost imaging method for radiotherapy monitoring and assessment.
Old dogs, new tricks

Many hyperalgesic states and the development of tolerance to morphine converge at the cellular level through the activation of the N -methyl- D -aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor and common signal transduction events including the activation of protein kinase C. Some commonly used opioids and their derivatives possess NMDA receptor antagonist activity. In preclinical models, the behavioral consequences of this activity, as illustrated by the dextro isomer of methadone, are antihyperalgesic effects and the attenuation of morphine tolerance. These observations suggest that the combination of an opioid plus NMDA receptor antagonist activity should be of particular value in pain states where the potency of the opioid has been reduced as a result of hyperalgesia and/or opioid tolerance. One strategy for the development of these observations includes evaluation of these established opioids and their derivatives in clinical studies directed at improving the therapeutic window of the opioid.
Report on Survey of Mathematical Sciences and Social Sciences

∗ Mathematical Sciences and Social Sciences. Editor: William Kruskal. Published by: Prentice‐Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1970. Price: $4‐95
Nutritional and metabolic correlates of cardiovascular and bone disease in HIV-infected patients

The treatment of HIV infection has dramatically reduced the incidence of AIDS-related illnesses. At the same time, non-AIDS-related illnesses such as cardiovascular and bone disease are becoming more prevalent in this population. The mechanisms of these illnesses are complex and are related in part to the HIV virus, antiretroviral medications prescribed for HIV infection, traditional risk factors exacerbated by HIV, and lifestyle and nutritional factors. Further prospective research is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which HIV, antiretroviral medications, and nutritional abnormalities contribute to bone and cardiovascular disease in the HIV population. Increasingly, it is being recognized that optimizing the treatment of HIV infection to improve immune function and reduce viral load may also benefit the development of non-AIDS-related illnesses such as cardiovascular and bone disease.
The effects of supply harmonics on the performance of compact fluorescent lamps

A performance evaluation of ten compact fluorescent lighting systems operated with sinusoidal and distorted voltage waveform conditions is described. The lamps are provided with either an electronic ballast, a magnetic core ballast, or a magnetic core ballast with a power factor correction circuit. The test results show that the electrical performance of the lamps for both sinusoidal and distorted voltage waveform operation is related to the type of ballast used. The operating cost of these lamps is calculated and compared to the cost of operating a conventional 60 W incandescent lamp. >
Gender Differences in the Determinants of Prison Rule Violations

This article addresses gender differences in the extent and explanation of inmate misconduct. The study employs nationally representative prisoner survey data to assess gender-specific explanations of prison rule violations. The gender-specific factors include prior victimization, diagnosed mental disorders, and the amount of inmate contact with their families via visits and phone calls. Logistic regression models support gender-specific explanations of inmate misconduct but also identify other factors of general importance. The policy implications of gendered pathways in prison misconduct are discussed.
The Telephone in Psychiatric Emergencies

The human voice was first conveyed electronically through space in March 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell summoned his assistant with the memorable words “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.”1 Since that time, the telephone has evolved from a costly luxury to an essential part of life. The telephone has made immediate communication possible, even over vast distances. For medicine, in particular, the telephone has had an enormous impact on the availability of health care; it is literally a “physician extender” and can be used for diagnostic purposes (e.g., electrocardiogram transmissions), medical arrangements (e.g., admission to the hospital), and consultation.2–7 The telephone, however, is no substitute for face-to-face contact. Especially in psychiatry, the lack of visual cues presents a decided handicap in evaluating a patient’s behavioral and emotional symptoms. For accurate assessment and management, it is generally not enough to hear what the patient says about himself; at times, however, the telephone may be the first and only link with the patient in crisis.8–10
Nanosphere Lithography: Self-Assembled Photonic and Magnetic Materials

Early work with size-tunable periodic particle arrays (PPAs) fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL) demonstrated that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) could be tuned throughout the visible region of the spectrum. Further developments of the NSL technique have produced a myriad of nanoparticle configurations. Presented in this paper are several array types and examples of their utility in current applications. Both the sensitivity and tunability of the LSPR have been firmly established using single layer PPAs. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) has been used to show that double layer PPAs act as single domain magnets and give strong MFM contrast. Angle-resolved NSL has produced nanogap and nano-overlap structures with manipulation resolution of one nanometer. Nanowell structures extend the original twodimensional structure into the third dimension. Exploitation of this flexible, materials-general NSL technique allows for investigation of the catalytic, electrochemical, magnetic, optical and thermodynamic properties of nanoparticles.
Expectation Invariants for Probabilistic Program Loops as Fixed Points

We present static analyses for probabilistic loops using expectation invariants. Probabilistic loops are imperative while-loops augmented with calls to random variable generators. Whereas, traditional program analysis uses Floyd-Hoare style invariants to over-approximate the set of reachable states, our approach synthesizes invariant inequalities involving the expected values of program expressions at the loop head. We first define the notion of expectation invariants, and demonstrate their usefulness in analyzing probabilistic program loops. Next, we present the set of expectation invariants for a loop as a fixed point of the pre-expectation operator over sets of program expressions. Finally, we use existing concepts from abstract interpretation theory to present an iterative analysis that synthesizes expectation invariants for probabilistic program loops. We show how the standard polyhedral abstract domain can be used to synthesize expectation invariants for probabilistic programs, and demonstrate the usefulness of our approach on some examples of probabilistic program loops.
Clinical Review of Small-Bowel Endoscopic Imaging

Endoscopic imaging of the small bowel, frequently used in gastroenterology practice, encompasses mainly video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE). Both tests are essential diagnostic tools to evaluate obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and suspected small-bowel disorders, such as Crohn's disease. VCE solely identifies and localizes small-bowel pathology, whereas DAE offers both visualization and tissue sampling to diagnose diseased structures and perform therapeutic maneuvers, such as those needed to achieve hemostasis. In this context, VCE is frequently used as a screening test for small-bowel abnormalities that, when present, are then managed with DAE.
Administration of a vasoactive intestinal peptide antagonist significantly enhances the autologous anti-leukemia T cell response in a murine model of AML.

Products secreted from nerve terminals can have profound effects on the phenotype and functioning of T cells. One such product, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a small neuroendocrine peptide hormone with potent anti-inflammatory activities. Binding to either of its type B G protein coupled receptors VPAC1 and VPAC2 initiates a signaling cascade that ultimately inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduces proliferative capacity via inhibition of NF-κB[1]. The anti-inflammatory effects of VIP signaling in immune cells have demonstrated to be inhibitable with the use of one of several small molecule antagonists. VIPhyb is a hybrid peptide antagonist consisting of the VIP peptide with a six amino acid substitution at the N-terminus. We demonstrate here that subcutaneous administration of small doses of VIPhyb enhanced the autologous T cell response in mice bearing C1498 acute myeloid leukemia. Secretion of both IFN-γ and TNF-α was significantly increased in VIPhyb-treated mice. Additionally, the frequency of PD-1-expressing CD4 and CD8 T cells was significantly lower in mice treated with the VIP antagonist. This was determined to be of relevance in this model as PD-L1 was found to be inducible on C1498 cells. This expression was not affected by VIPhyb treatment. Each of these effects contributed to a reduction in tumor burden in VIPhyb-treated mice as evidenced by bioluminescent imaging. No direct cytotoxic effect of VIPhyb on the tumor cells themselves was observed despite the expression of VPAC2. Overall survival of mice that received 1, 3, or 7 doses was significantly higher than vehicle-treated controls as a result of enhanced immunological function. Importantly, VIPhyb-treated survivors were found to be resistant to further tumor development following re-challenge with C1498 cells. This observation highlights a contribution of VIP signaling blockade in the development of anti-leukemia T cell memory. The data heretofore described highlight the contribution of VIP to the inhibition of anti-leukemia T cell responses and thus present rationale for considering this pathway in the design of therapeutic strategies for AML. VIP signaling blockade is thus a promising candidate for the enhancement of immunotherapies that seek to strengthen the anti-leukemia T cell response. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5
A Computer-Controlled Briefcase Anomaloscope

We designed a portable Rayleigh match anomaloscope suitable for automated clinical and field testing of color vision. The instrument uses high radiance light-emitting diodes and interference filters to yield narrow-band primaries of 551 nm, 588 nm and 667 nm. Computer-controlled automated protocols allow rapid evaluation of match midpoint and matching range. The Color Match Area effect can be measured for fields varying between 1° and 7°. Anomaloscope matches can be made with both a conventional split-field and with full-field substitution. The instrument can also be used to measure heterochromatic flicker photometric spectral sensitivity, with any two of the three primaries presented in temporal alternation.
Auditory Distance Judgments in Noise, with and without Hearing Protection:

Previous studies of the effects of hearing protective devices (HPDs) on auditory localization have all been concerned with directional judgments. The present study examined the influence of such devices upon judgments of distance under conditions of noise. Blindfolded observers were required to verbally report the apparent distance to a target sound under one of three conditions: quiet (60 dBA), noise (90 dBA) or noise (90 dBA) while wearing inserted foam plugs. Judgments in quiet were found to be reasonably correct. The presence of high-level noise, however, decreased the judged distances significantly. The use of the HPD neither improved these latter judgments, nor did it produce any further error. The findings are fully consistent with present understanding of the bases for auditory distance perception.
Downsides of Social Capital for Women During Disaster Recovery: Toward a More Critical Approach

This article examines the downsides of social capital (networks of citizens) for women affected by disasters, an issue little understood in the public administration literature. Studying this issue...
Isolation, purification and characterization of an iron-binding protein from the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus).

The presence of an iron-binding protein in the haemolymph of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, was detected by gel filtration of 59Fe-labelled haemolymph. Lysis of amoebocytes did not change the amount of iron-binding protein in haemolymph samples. The protein was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified protein was estimated to be 282,000 +/- 10,000 Da by gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the protein is composed of ten subunits having a molecular mass of 28,000 +/- 2,000 Da. The purified, unlabelled protein efficiently sequestered 59Fe in the absence of haemolymph indicating that no other haemolymph factors are required for the incorporation of iron into the protein. No 59Fe was removed from the purified protein with EDTA or 2,2′-bipyridyl. Partial removal of 59Fe was achieved by dialysis with nitrilotriacetic acid or desferal. Analysis of the iron-loaded protein indicated that each subunit has the capacity to bind two iron atoms with high affinity. The isolation of an iron-binding protein from L. polyphemus supports the proposal that such proteins are an ancient evolutionary development not necessarily linked to the appearance of iron proteins which serve as oxygen carriers.
Hepatitis B prediction model based on Google trends

Objective To investigate the feasibility to predict hepatitis B with the state space model in combination of Google trends.Methods SAS 9.13 software was used for data analysis and modeling.The state space model was established with the data of actual incidence of hepatitis B in Chongqing and those from Google trends between January 2,2005 and December 26,2010,and the data of actual incidence of hepatitis B between January 2,2011 and June 19,2011 was used for model validation.Results The state space model in combination with Google trends was useful to predict the prevalence of hepatitis B in Chongqing.The mean relative error for predictive value and actual value was 7.44%,which indicated a favorable prediction result.Conclusion It is feasible to predict hepatitis B in combination with data from network based searching.
The fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1): historical perspective, phenotypes, mechanism, pathology, and epidemiology

AbstractObjectives: To provide an historical perspective and overview of the phenotypes, mechanism, pathology, and epidemiology of the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) for neuropsychologists. Methods: Selective review of the literature on FXTAS. Results: FXTAS is an X-linked neurodegenerative disorder of late onset. One of several phenotypes associated with different mutations of the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1), FXTAS involves progressive action tremor, gait ataxia, and impaired executive functioning, among other features. It affects carriers of the FMR1 premutation, which may expand when passed from a mother to her children, in which case it is likely to cause fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited developmental disability. Conclusion: This review briefly summarizes current knowledge of the mechanisms, epidemiology, and mode of transmission of FXTAS and FXS, as well as the neuropsychological, neurologic, neuropsychiatric, neuropathologic, and neuroradiologic...
Mechanism of Strong Membrane Binding by Synaptotagmin 7 C2A Domain: Insight from Mutation and Lipid Composition Dependence

Synaptotagmins are membrane trafficking proteins that contain two C-terminal C2 domains, C2A and C2B. In eight of the seventeen mammalian isoforms, the C2 domains serve as calcium-dependent membrane binding motifs that trigger exocytosis upon cellular calcium influx. C2 domains from the different isoforms display different kinetics and affinities for membranes, which reflect their functions in a variety of different cell types. For example, synaptotagmin-7 (Syt7) is mainly active in slow secretion events such as insulin release. Previous work in our lab has shown that the C2A domain of human Syt7 has membrane association and dissociation rates that are ∼2 and ∼60-fold slower than the corresponding domain of Syt1, an isoform involved in rapid neurotransmitter release [Brandt DS, et al., Biochemistry; 51(39):7654-7664.] The purpose of this study is to investigate the balance of forces governing the stronger membrane binding of Syt7 C2A. We have used kinetic measurements of association and dissociation to assess membrane affinity, while systematically varying buffer composition, liposome size, lipid composition, and mutant forms of the protein domain. The results indicate that this domain's unusually strong membrane binding strength is due to a combination of electrostatics and the hydrophobic effect. In particular, dissociation rates are governed mainly by the hydrophobic effect, as seen by slower dissociation in the presence of the kosmotropic agent trehalose. Furthermore, the F167 residue in the Syt7 C2A domain acts as a secondary hydrophobic anchor for the membrane-docked protein domain, as its mutation to methionine (as in Syt1) results in a reproducible 2-fold increase in off rate.
‘The Rape Joke’: censorship, affective activisms, and feeling subjects

AbstractThis paper follows the affective impact of a story on rape culture in a school magazine in a US high school. Immediately following its publication, the school administrative enacted a policy of prior review on all future publications. The event made waves in US national news and online media and was denounced as an act of censorship and infringement on students’ freedom of expression. In concert with other students and faculty at the school, the author of the piece engaged in various forms of protest and on- and off-line activism. This piece tracks the multiple political affects and effects activated by the article through a notion of affectivisms. This case study further explores notions of ‘positive’ school climate and the increasingly imbricated textures of schooling experiences with online media.
EXAFS Studies of Electrolyte Solutions

Transition metal chlorides near saturation in aqueous solution have been the object of recent studies by X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, EXAFS, and other methods [1]. The local coordination environment of the metal ion in these solutions differs greatly for the different elements and valance states. For_example, Fe3+ and Cu2+ show considerable first neighbor bonding to Cl−, whereas Ni2+ and Co show little or none. These differences are of technological importance in the recovery of the metals via steps involving concentrated solutions. Considerable attention has focused on Ni(II) chloride solutions, for which ordered arrangement of the cations was reported [2]. Other neutron diffraction results [3], X-ray diffraction results [4], and EXAFS results [5,6] showed full hydration of the Ni2+ cation, and no evidence for first neighbor cation-anion bonding.
A New Form of X-Chromosome Linked TBG Abnormality with No Demonstrable T4-Binding Activity

Diagnostic work-up for short stature uncovered TBG deficiency in an 11 year old girl (propositus) with XO Turner’s syndrome. Studies on members of the family revealed that the two hemizygous affected subjects (propositus and father) had, compared to the mean normal levels, 1.5% native (n) TBG and 9-fold to 10-fold increased denatured (dn) TBG, both measured by specific RIAs. The heterozygous sister had 30% nTBG and 5.6-fold increased dnTBG, while the mother had normal levels (Table 1).
Preliminary results for broadband electrical detection of live bacteria

For the first time, broadband (0.5–20 GHz) electrical detection of live bacteria was successfully demonstrated on E. coli, despite their being small and adherent compared to mammalian cells such as Jurkat T-lymphoma human cells that had been detected by using a similar coplanar waveguide in conjunction with a microfluidic channel. Critical to the success was in suppressing the background drift of the insertion and return losses to the order of 0.01 dB. Presently, it is estimated that approximately 104 E. coli were required to yield a statistically significant signal in the insertion/return losses. Therefore, to detect a single bacterium, the measurement sensitivity and the background stability need to be further improved by orders of magnitude in the future.
International Research: Programs and Databases

The availability and diversity of databases for international and global research have increased significantly in recent decades. This phenomenon is related to changes in the focus of social science research, the existence of international institutions and research programs capable of developing and disseminating international databases, and advances in information technologies that permit the aggregation, integration, dissemination, and analysis of large-scale international databases
Philosophical Implications of Kadanoff’s Work on the Renormalization Group

This paper investigates the consequences for our understanding of physical theories as a result of the development of the renormalization group. Kadanoff’s assessment of these consequences is discussed. What he called the “extended singularity theorem” (that phase transitons only can occur in infinite systems) poses serious difficulties for philosophical interpretation of theories. Several responses are discussed. The resolution demands a philosophical rethinking of the role of mathematics in physical theorizing.
A phase I study of twice weekly pulse dose and daily low dose erlotinib as initial treatment for patients (pts) with EGFR-mutant lung cancers.

8017 Background: Pts with EGFR-mutant lung cancers treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) develop clinical resistance, most frequently due to acquisition of EGFR T790M. Modeling suggest...
Stackelberg Strategy to Optimal Material Inventory Management Problems in Manufacturing Systems

Abstract In this paper, the inventory management problem is discussed by means of the Stackelberg game theory. Anew model on inventory is formulated. A control scheme to control the consumption of raw mterial directly and control the supply of raw material indirectly, then, is presented. In this scheme, the problem of order goods is taken as a Stackelberg game problem. By adopting the Stackelberg incentive strategy, the receipts and the consumption of the raw material will take the optional control solution as their practical Values
Clinical Guidance for Managing Statin and Antimicrobial Drug-Drug Interactions.

This review discusses potential drug-drug interactions between statins and antimicrobials and provides clinician’s guidance on how to manage these interactions. In addition to statin utilization increasing in recent years, there is greater emphasis on using moderate to high-intensity statin doses. Statin-related adverse effects are often dose-dependent; therefore, patients may be at increased risk. Antimicrobial use has also increased in recent years, and various efforts have been implemented to ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials. Commonly used antimicrobials, such as macrolide antibiotics and azole antifungals, interact significantly with the CYP3A4 enzyme pathway similarly to lovastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin. Consequently, the potential for significant drug-drug interactions is increasing. In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration strengthened warning labels for statins and dose adjustments related to drug-drug interactions. As such, it is imperative that clinicians are comfortable identifying drug-drug interactions between statins and antimicrobials and making appropriate therapy modifications as clinically warranted. Statins and antimicrobials are frequently coprescribed, and the available pharmacokinetic data supports the potential for clinically significant drug-drug interactions. Macrolides and selected antifungals can significantly increase drug levels of select statins, particularly those metabolized by the CYP3A4 pathway. Contrarily, rifampin can significantly reduce drug levels of statins, limiting their efficacy. Future research efforts should identify interventions to improve clinician recognition of these drug-drug interactions and the prevention of unwarranted statin-related adverse effects.
Equifinality in empirical studies of cultural transmission

Cultural systems exhibit equifinal behavior - a single final state may be arrived at via different mechanisms and/or from different initial states. Potential for equifinality exists in all empirical studies of cultural transmission including controlled experiments, observational field research, and computational simulations. Acknowledging and anticipating the existence of equifinality is important in empirical studies of social learning and cultural evolution; it helps us understand the limitations of analytical approaches and can improve our ability to predict the dynamics of cultural transmission. Here, I illustrate and discuss examples of equifinality in studies of social learning, and how certain experimental designs might be prone to it. I then review examples of equifinality discussed in the social learning literature, namely the use of s-shaped diffusion curves to discern individual from social learning and operational definitions and analytical approaches used in studies of conformist transmission. While equifinality exists to some extent in all studies of social learning, I make suggestions for how to address instances of it, with an emphasis on using data simulation and methodological verification alongside modern statistical approaches that emphasize prediction and model comparison. In cases where evaluated learning mechanisms are equifinal due to non-methodological factors, I suggest that this is not always a problem if it helps us predict cultural change. In some cases, equifinal learning mechanisms might offer insight into how both individual learning, social learning strategies and other endogenous social factors might by important in structuring cultural dynamics and within- and between-group heterogeneity.
The Economics of Private Practice versus Academia in Surgery.

Abstract Objective Residents often make career decisions regarding future practice without adequate knowledge to the realities of professional life. Currently there is a paucity of data regarding economic differences between practice models. This study seeks to illuminate the financial differences of surgical subspecialties between academic and private practice. Design Data were collected from the Association of American Medical College (AAMC) and the Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) 2015 reports of average annual salaries. Salaries were analyzed for general surgery and 7 subspecialties. Fixed time of practice was set at 30 years. Assumptions included 5 years as assistant professor, 10 years as associate professor, and 15 years as full professor. Formula used: (average yearly salary) × [years of practice (30 yrs − fellowship/research yrs)] + ($50,000 × yrs of fellowship/research) = total adjusted lifetime revenue. Results As a full professor, academic surgeons in all subspecialties make significantly less than their private practice counterparts. The largest discrepancy is in vascular and cardiothoracic surgery, with full professors earning 16% and 14% less than private practitioners. Plastic surgery and general surgery are the only 2 disciplines that have similar lifetime revenues to private practitioners, earning 2% and 6% less than their counterparts′ lifetime revenue. Conclusions Academic surgeons in all surgical subspecialties examined earn less lifetime revenue compared to those in private practice. This difference in earnings decreases but remains substantial as an academic surgeon advances. With limited exposure to the diversity of professional arenas, residents must be aware of this discrepancy.
Vapor-Grown Carbon Fiber Research and Applications: Achievements and Barriers

Vapor-Grown Carbon Fibers (VGCF) are now being produced in moderate volume by several companies around the world, making larger quantities of these materials available for experiment and manufacturing. These fibers have been used to fabricate thermoset and thermoplastic composites with improved tensile strength, tensile modulus, and electrical conductivity. Even so, barriers to more general application of these fibers will have to be surmounted. VGCFs are, difficult to permeate with resins, and to a certain extent, fragile. Moreover, the fibers as produced have a low density, making them difficult to handle and compound. Nagging worries continue that the fibers will present a lung hazard if they are dispersed in air. Present composites have shown properties far below optimum, because they are made of nearly randomly oriented fibers. To achieve really optimal properties, composites with reasonably well oriented fibers must be fabricated.
Prosthetic Heart Valves

The development of prosthetic heart valves has been a major advance in the treatment of patients with valvular heart disease. There have been ongoing improvements in valve design so that the performance and durability of the currently available heart valves far surpasses early generation valve prostheses. Despite the major improvements in prosthetic heart valves and the positive impact on outcome of patients with valvular heart disease, prosthetic heart valves are not a perfect solution since they are associated with both early and late complications following their implantation (Table 11.1). Valve replacement with a prosthetic heart valve is not a curative procedure and is best viewed as replacing one condition, native valvular heart disease, with another condition, which is prosthetic valve disease. For this reason, choosing the optimal time for valve replacement in patients with valvular heart ­disease requires careful consideration of the patient’s symptoms, the natural history of the disease, any concomitant cardiac anomalies including additional valvular abnormalities, and the lifestyle of the patient post valve replacement surgery [1]. Patients with prosthetic heart valves need to be regularly followed to monitor for cardiovascular events, particularly prosthesis related complications.