cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The activated plasma recalcification time. A Measurement encompassing the activated partial thromboplastin time and platelet function, with improved detection of bleeders.

A study of 300 patients is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the activated plasma recalcification time (APRT) as a measure of the intrinsic pathway and platelet function in the detection of bleeders. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and platelet count were determined in all patients having both normal and abnormal APRT’s and the results correlated with overt bleeding tendencies. Abnormality of the APTT is closely paralleled by abnormality of the APRT, independent of the platelet count. When the APTT is normal, an abnormal APRT will characterize clinical bleeders with greater frequency than will the platelet count. The value of the APRT is greatest when done in concert with other standard coagulation measurements, as it both reinforces and expands their diagnostic capability.
Explaining Changes in Poverty

This chapter verifies if, as the hypothesis set in Chapter 1 suggests, the poorest of the poor in Mexico became poorer during liberalization because the bulk of the costs inherent in this strategy fell disproportionately on them. So, our intention is similar to the objective of Chapter 3, although here we will restrict the analysis to the changes at the lower tail of the distribution.
Large Amplification in Silicon via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We report large optical amplification in a pure silicon waveguide via stimulated Brillouin Scattering. The device supports >5 dB amplification at high pump powers and a record low (5 mW) threshold for net amplification.
Reverse osmosis molecular differentiation of organic liquids using carbon molecular sieve membranes

Liquid-phase separations of similarly sized organic molecules using membranes is a major challenge for energy-intensive industrial separation processes. We created free-standing carbon molecular sieve membranes that translate the advantages of reverse osmosis for aqueous separations to the separation of organic liquids. Polymer precursors were cross-linked with a one-pot technique that protected the porous morphology of the membranes from thermally induced structural rearrangement during carbonization. Permeation studies using benzene derivatives whose kinetic diameters differ by less than an angstrom show kinetically selective organic liquid reverse osmosis. Ratios of single-component fluxes for para- and ortho-xylene exceeding 25 were observed and para- and ortho- liquid mixtures were efficiently separated, with an equimolar feed enriched to 81 mole % para-xylene, without phase change and at ambient temperature.
Design models of resistive crossbar arrays with selector devices

Due to recent developments in emerging memory technologies such as MRAM/RRAM, resistive crossbar arrays have gained increasing importance. The size of the crossbar arrays is, however, limited due to challenges brought by the interconnect resistance, sneak path currents, and the physical area of the peripheral circuitry. In this paper, three figures of merit that characterize the limitations of resistive crossbar arrays with select ors, the driver resistance, voltage degradation across the cell, and read margin, are discussed. Models are described that exhibit good agreement with SPICE, exhibiting a maximum error of 6.5% for the worst case voltage degradation during a write operation and 6% during a read operation for voltage ratios above, respectively, 0.5 and 0.25. Furthermore, these models are used to predict device requirements of resistive crossbar arrays with selectors and to project parameter values such as the nonlinearity factor, resistance in the on state, and tolerable interconnect resistance per cell for large scale crossbar arrays.
Selection criteria limit generalizability of smoking pharmacotherapy studies differentially across clinical trials and laboratory studies: A systematic review on varenicline

Abstract Background The selection criteria used in clinical trials for smoking cessation and in laboratory studies that seek to understand mechanisms responsible for treatment outcomes may limit their generalizability to one another and to the general population. Methods We reviewed studies on varenicline versus placebo and compared eligibility criteria and participant characteristics of clinical trials (N = 23) and laboratory studies (N = 22) across study type and to nationally representative survey data on adult, daily USA smokers (2014 National Health Interview Survey; 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health). Results Relative to laboratory studies, clinical trials more commonly reported excluding smokers who were unmotivated to quit and for specific medical conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, COPD), although both study types frequently reported excluding for general medical or psychiatric reasons. Laboratory versus clinical samples smoked less, had lower nicotine dependence, were younger, and more homogeneous with respect to smoking level and nicotine dependence. Application of common eligibility criteria to national survey data resulted in considerable elimination of the daily-smoking population for both clinical trials (≥47%) and laboratory studies (≥39%). Relative to the target population, studies in this review recruited participants who smoked considerably more and had a later smoking onset age, and were under-representative of Caucasians. Conclusions Results suggest that selection criteria of varenicline studies limit generalizability in meaningful ways, and differences in criteria across study type may undermine efforts at translational research. Recommendations for improvements in participant selection and reporting standards are discussed.
Psychometrics of the Revised College Student Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire

The College Student Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire (CSSWQ) is a 15-item self-report rating scale for measuring four classes of college-specific wellbeing behavior: academic efficacy, academic s...
Multiscale tensor decomposition

Large datasets usually contain redundant information and summarizing these datasets is important for better data interpretation. Higher-order data reduction is usually achieved through low-rank tensor approximation which assumes that the data lies near a linear subspace across each mode. However, non-linearities in the data cannot be captured well by linear methods. In this paper, we propose a multiscale tensor decomposition to better approximate local nonlinearities in tensors. The proposed multiscale approach constructs hierarchical low-rank structure by dividing the tensor into subtensors sequentially and fitting a low-rank model to each subtensor.
Devices for Low Power Electronics

The introduction of the concept of integrated circuits in 1958 by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce enabled the electronics industry to achieve a phenomenal growth over the past several decades. The dimensions of semiconductor devices have been continuously shrinking to meet the needed requirements of high speed and low power as demanded by the circuit designers. Moore’s law is a well-established rule of thumb for scaling device dimensions. Minimum feature sizes of MOSFET devices have shrunk considerably since 1970, thereby increasing the number of transistors in a single integrated circuit as illustrated in Fig. 2.1
Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Optimal management of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) remains a source of debate, and options include observation with or without continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical repair via endoscopic, open, or laparoscopic/robotic approaches. Surgical intervention may be necessary in children with persistent reflux, renal scarring, or recurrent febrile urinary tract infections when other options fail. Need for surgical correction is dictated predominantly by a given child’s clinical course including risk for recurrent infections and potential for renal scarring. While recent studies suggest that endoscopic injection is effective for the treatment of most VUR, the importance of material injected, technique utilized, reflux grade, and structural/functional bladder anomalies on ultimate success rates must be emphasized. Long-term clinical success following endoscopic correction of primary VUR is high, and the majority of children avoid additional or more invasive surgical procedures. Efficacy rates are known to vary widely between surgeons, techniques, and implant materials.
Point of Care Ultrasound Issues for Advanced Practice Providers and Nursing Programs

POC US is being adopted by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) and Nurses. As part of teams that will increasingly use ultrasound, APPs and nurses will need to gain education, training, and supervision. Issues regarding the use of POC US by APPs and nurses are addressed.
The Rationale for an Immunological Approach to Alzheimer's Therapeutics

Immunotherapy toward the As peptide offers a unique therapeutic approach to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The rationale is that antibodies interacting with the Aβ peptide will accelerate its clearance from the CNS, lead to less amyloid deposition, and reduce the other pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence from transgenic mouse models of amyloid deposition is highly supportive of both pathological and functional benefits of this approach. Data from human trials of active immunization (using a vaccine to stimulate generation of antibodies) led to several apparent cases of autoimmune CNS inflammation. However, some of the patients with high titers of brain-reactive antibodies have remained cognitively stable for up to 3 years after the vaccinations were halted. This has led to the investigation of passive immunotherapy, where monoclonal antibodies are injected directly on a monthly or bimonthly schedule, as a possibly safer, yet still effective approach to immunotherapy. Passive immunotherapy is equally effective as vaccines in mouse models of amyloid deposition. Passive immunization also has the advantages of control over antibody dosage, antibody epitope, antibody isoptype, and the ability to withdraw the agent if adverse events do occur. Several clinical trials are presently underway investigating this immunotherapeutic approach. Traditional approaches to central nervous system disease have focused on small-molecule drugs, often direct agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitter receptors, or drugs modifying neurotransmitter metabolism. Although this approach has been applied to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and all presently approved drugs for its therapy are of this type, their efficacy in treating the disease is limited, and none modify the course of the disease appreciably. Obviously the goal of Alzheimer therapeutics is to arrest the disease mechanism in some manner such that the progressive deterioration is halted. Although novel drug targets like the secretase enzymes discussed elsewhere in this volume hold promise, the introduction of new reagents based on approaches other than small-molecule drugs may be the first to slow disease progression in this disorder. One such approach is the use of immunotherapy. Active immunization in the form of vaccines has been available for almost two centuries since Jenner inoculated subjects with cow pox to minimize smallpox infection (the term “vaccine” derives from the word “vache” as the
Hemodilution: physiology and pathophysiology

Abstract: The use of hemodilution to reduce blood loss and blood transfusion without significantly compromising patient outcomes in cardiac surgery is described. A potential link is made between the extent of hemodilution and poor patient outcomes, suggesting a limit to the benefits of hemodilution. The avoidance of excessive hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by use of mini-circuits is described. An overview of the physiology of hemodilution is presented with an emphasis on the responses at the microvascular level.
Measurement of Airport Operations Using a Low-Cost Transponder Data System

Knowledge of the precise number of operations of aircraft occurring at general aviation airports is essential due to the application of that information in the process of allocating funds for airpo...
How Cytogenetics Paradigms Shape Decision Making in Translational Genomics

Abstract Early genomic technologies, such as low-resolution cytogenetic testing, shaped worldviews which continue to influence our approach to decision making in genomic medicine as variant detection and reporting in clinical cytogenetics and whole-genome sequencing merge into a hybrid field of clinical cytogenomics. In particular, as our capacity to sequence the human genome has grown exponentially, our capacity to turn this data into understanding has not kept pace. Large signals detectable by early technologies such as extra copies of whole chromosomes, or 100% penetrant Mendelian monogenic mutations, could be reported as the “certain” cause for a disease. Higher-resolution assays have provided both more information and more uncertainty. As a result, in medical genetic decision making, the two poles of the central conflict may be verbalized as: “provide only the information that is certain in order to avoid making errors of commission” versus “provide as much information as possible in order to avoid making errors of omission.” That is, the conflict is one of specificity versus sensitivity. At the same time, what is “certain” is continuously being revised and subject to debate, and there are many diseases with complex genetic risk architectures, negating the fantasy that certainty can be achieved. The advent of high-resolution genome-wide microarrays, followed by whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing, has only exacerbated this conflict, as physicians attempt to perform decision making under uncertainty using a genomics knowledge base that exceeds the capacity of any one person to synthesize and comprehend.
FOLFOX plus ziv-aflibercept or placebo in first-line metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter phase 2 trial

Background Antiangiogenic therapy is a proven therapeutic modality for refractory gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. This trial assessed whether the addition of a high affinity angiogenesis inhibitor, ziv-aflibercept, could improve the efficacy of first-line mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and bolus plus infusional 5- fluorouracil) in metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Methods Patients with treatment-naive metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) in a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to receive first-line mFOLFOX6 with or without ziv-aflibercept (4 mg/kg) every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). Results Sixty-four patients were randomized to receive mFOLFOX6 and ziv-aflibercept (43 patients) or mFOLFOX6 and a placebo (21 patients). There was no difference in the PFS, overall survival, or response rate. Patients treated with mFOLFOX6/ziv-aflibercept tended to be more likely to discontinue study treatment for reasons other than progressive disease (P = .06). The relative dose intensity of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil was lower in the mFOLFOX6/ziv-aflibercept arm during the first 12 and 24 weeks of the trial. There were 2 treatment-related deaths due to cerebral hemorrhage and bowel perforation in the mFOLFOX6/ziv-aflibercept cohort. Conclusions Ziv-aflibercept did not increase the anti-tumor activity of first-line mFOLFOX6 in metastatic esophagogastric cancer, potentially because of decreased dose intensity of FOLFOX. Further evaluation of ziv-aflibercept in unselected, chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma is not warranted.
Colitis-Induced Th17 Cells Increase the Risk for Severe Subsequent Clostridium difficile Infection.

Summary Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the number one hospital-acquired infection in the United States. CDI is more common and severe in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Here, we studied the mechanism by which prior colitis exacerbates CDI. Mice were given dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis, recovered for 2 weeks, and then were infected with C. difficile. Mortality and CDI severity were increased in DSS-treated mice compared to controls. Severe CDI is dependent on CD4+ T cells, which persist after colitis-associated inflammation subsides. Adoptive transfer of Th17 cells to naive mice is sufficient to increase CDI-associated mortality through elevated IL-17 production. Finally, in humans, the Th17 cytokines IL-6 and IL-23 associate with severe CDI, and patients with high serum IL-6 are 7.6 times more likely to die post infection. These findings establish a central role for Th17 cells in CDI pathogenesis following colitis and identify them as a potential target for preventing severe disease.
Nucleation Kinetics and Molecular Mechanism in Transition-Metal Nanoparticle Formation: The Intriguing, Informative Case of a Bimetallic Precursor, {[(1,5-COD)IrI·HPO4]2}2–

Following a summary of the relevant literature on nucleation and applicable nucleation and growth models and mechanisms, the kinetics and molecular mechanism of nucleation are investigated in detail starting from [(1,5-COD)IrI(NCCH3)2][BF4], 1, which upon addition of HPO42– to 1 forms a neutral, phosphate-bridged species, {[(1,5-COD)IrI(NCCH3)]2·HPO4}0, 2, en route to {[(1,5-COD)IrI·HPO4]2[Bu4N]2}, 3. Post a list of the seven advantages of the {[(1,5-COD)IrI·HPO4]2}2– precatalyst as a novel bimetallic precursor for kinetic and mechanistic studies of nucleation, six important, previously unanswered questions are raised about the ill-understood but exceedingly broad and important topic of nucleation. 1H NMR solution speciation and Signer apparatus solution molecular weight studies establish that in situ prepared {[(1,5-COD)IrI·HPO4]2}2–, 3, exists predominantly in its indicated, dimeric form. The NMR studies also identify {[(1,5-COD)IrI(NCCH3)]2·HPO4}0, 2, as an important, metastable species with one less H...
Impact of Stabilizer on in Situ Formation of Ag Nanoparticles in Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Matrix

In situ synthesis of Ag nanoparticles in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was investigated using different stabilizers such as 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) and 1-dodecanethiol (thiol). Although PVDF is a matrix, it also functions as a stabilizer. Results of UV-vis spectroscopy showed that when APS or PVDF was used, Ag nanoparticles were formed. Yet no formation occurred when thiol was used due to the complexation of Ag+ ions by thiol. Polar groups on stabilizers has an important effect on complexation process. APS, a nitrogen-based ligand, has hard base character inhibiting the complexation between Ag+ and APS. Consequently, Ag+ ions are reduced to Ag nanoparticles in N,N dimethyl formamide (DMF), which acts as a solvent and reducing agent. Transition Electron Microscopy (TEM) image showed a uniform distribution of spherical Ag nanoparticles in PVDF matrix in the presence of APS. The electrical properties of flexible nano-metal polymer were tested and the highest improvements in breakdown strength and energy density of 33 and 58 %, respectively were measured with 0.05 wt.% Ag content and APS as a stabilizer.
Patterns of hospital utilization after elective minimally invasive foregut surgery.

Post-operative non-urgent hospital visits (NUR-HV) are an important quality target for reducing unnecessary healthcare utilization. The primary objective of this study was to characterize 90-day post-operative hospital use and determine independent predictors for NUR-HV and urgent (UR)-HV after elective laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (LPEHR) and Nissen Fundoplication (LNF). Five hundred and sixty-two primary LPEHR and LNF patients were retrospectively reviewed at a single institution. Ninety-day NUR-HV and UR-HV were compared to patients without post-operative HV using baseline medical and demographic data, preoperative work-up (manometry, pH testing, disease-specific quality of life and symptom scale scores (GERSS), and hospital course. Multiple logistic models were created using univariate associations (p < 0.1) to model independent predictors of NUR-HV and UR-HV. NUR-HV accounted for 52% (n = 30) of all 90-HV, while the remaining were UR-HV (n = 28, 48.3%). Compared to controls, NUR-HV were younger (51.2 ± 16.8 years vs. 57.6 ± 15.2, p = 0.05), had a lower baseline BMI (28.2 ± 6.4 vs. 31.3 ± 5.4, p = 0.003) and ASA scores (p = 0.02), presented with higher GERSS (46 (28–60) vs. 35 (19–48), p = 0.02) and dysphagia scores (3 (1–5) vs. 2 (0–4), p = 0.02), were associated with LNF (77.7% vs. 54.6%, p = 0.02), and experienced more post-operative dysphagia (13.3% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.06). UR-HV were older (64.0 ± 13.2 vs. 57.6 ± 15.2, p = 0.03), associated with LPEHR (67.9% vs. 45.4%, p = 0.02), longer hospital stay (2 (1–3) vs. 1 (1–2), p = 0.003), and increased overall (39.3% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.001) and urgent complications (34.6% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.005). Positive predictors of NUR-HV included ASA score < 3 (OR 4.4, p = 0.02), increasing GERSS (1.04, p = 0.01), and reduced peristalsis (OR 4.7, p = 0.01), while UR-HV were independently predicted by urgent complications (5.0, p < 0.00005). NUR-HV accounted for half of post-operative visits following LNF/LPEHR and were predicted by distinct characteristics compared to UR-HV. This stratification provides novel insight that will guide both preoperative counseling and post-operative quality initiatives.
Journalists and Their Perceptions of Location: Making Meaning in the Community

This article examines the role location plays in the journalism practice. Through in-depth interviews with 21 journalists/media professionals, this study explores how journalists define location an...
The second secant zeta function and its anti-periodization evaluated at $1/\sqrt{n}$

The 2-periodic secant zeta function $\psi(r)$ and its $1$-antiperiodization $f(r)=(\psi(r)-\psi(r+1))/2$, arising from a fluid dynamics application, are investigated. In particular, their values at $1/\sqrt{n}$ for positive integers $n$ are determined, using a reformulation of an identity satisfied by $\psi$ as an Abel equation.
Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for malate production with a temperature sensitive malate dehydrogenase

Abstract Malate has been widely used as a fine chemical and its production by microbial fermentation has attracted significant attention recently. Succinate producer E. coli SBS550MG-cms243/pHL413 K was engineered to produce malate through a three stage fermentation strategy in this study. Firstly, we examined the effects of employing a temperature sensitive malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) to limit the consumption of the product, two were tested for malate accumulation from succinate aerobically, and the RvMdh from Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC 17100 was found to perform better than RcMdh from Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003. Malate production was further improved by overexpression of native Fumarase C and deactivation of malic enzymes SfcA and MaeB. Up to 196.9 mM (26.4 g/L) malate can be produced within 48 h by using 30 g/L glucose as a carbon source, the malate yield is up to 1.25 mol/mol fed glucose (0.93 g/g) when 40 g/L glucose was used. In this study, a temperature sensitive Mdh was employed for malate production, which enables more efficient malate production through a three stage fermentation process and this approach can be combined with other developed strategies.
A Smart IoT System for Continuous Sleep State Monitoring

Sleep is a vital process in the maintenance of health and well-being. The effects of poor or deprived sleep can have a major impact on the daily, healthy functioning of the human body and can lead to serious health issues. Current, prevalent tests can be expensive, cumbersome and not conducive to long-term monitoring of sleep. However, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm offers an inexpensive alternative and can enable long-term, continuous monitoring of sleep. In this work, we tackle the problem of continuous sleep state segmentation in streaming data to temporally localize and recognize the sleep state. We show that predictive learning-based self-supervised representation learning can be used to learn robust features for both supervised and unsupervised sleep state segmentation. We obtain best accuracy of 96.2%(1 patient), an average accuracy of 81.8%(10 patients) on the wake vs sleep classification and best accuracy of 78.9%(1 patient), an average accuracy of 67.3%(10 patients) on the much harder multi-stage sleep classification task. We implemented the proposed framework on PYNQ board and with low power consumption of 3.27W and latency of 1.75s which offers a way forward for real-time, continuous sleep state segmentation.
Case Study: Resource Steering in a Visualization System

Visual computational steering environments extend traditional visualization environments by enabling the user to interactively steer the computations applied to the data. In this paper, we develop a new type of computational steering. “Resource steering” extends current visual steering techniques by providing machine resource estimation and control to the user. With resource steering, the user controls the execution of the computation on a parallel or distributed Computer based on experimentally or theoretically derived estimates of the parallel Performance of the computation. We demonstrate this extended steering model by applying it to an information visualization system that analyzes genetic sequence similarity reports. We show how our extended steering model enhances the user’s ability to control visualization computations.
Ethics and Humanitarianism in Global Mental Health

This chapter addresses the definitions of ethics, humanitarianism, and globalization. The increasing use of the term “humanitarianism” is mentioned. The historical, economic, political, and sociocultural dimensions of globalization are mentioned. A definition of global mental health is suggested and five principal criteria for an activity to be described as global mental health are mentioned. The chapter makes references to potential negative consequences of globalization. Examples of foreign policy frameworks with embedded international health aspects are given. The chapter concludes with examples of ethical missteps in global health and global mental health with suggested approaches to reduce some ethical problems in foreign aid.
Neuropsychiatric burden of Adult Polyglucosan Body Disorder: A Patient Survey (4754)

Objective: To assess the neuropsychiatric burden in adult polyglucosan body disease and its effects on quality of life. Background: Adult polyglucosan body disease(APBD) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to reduced activity of glycogen branching enzyme ( GBE) leading to pathologic accumulation of polyglucosan bodies in the central and peripheral nervous system. Neurologic manifestations of APBD include adult onset progressive neurogenic bladder, spasticity and weakness leading to gait difficulties, sensory loss predominantly in the lower extremities and cognitive dysfunction. Design/Methods: An anonymous survey of neurologic symptoms was administered to 36 patients. Baseline demographic data was obtained and further stratified by age, sex, racial background, current employment status and type of mutation in APBD. Specific neurologic symptoms assessed included bladder and bowel control, paresthesias, pain, temperature intolerance, weakness, speech and swallowing difficulties, vision impairment, exercise intolerance, gait difficulties, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depression. Special attention was paid to activities of daily living and dietary habits. Results: Most patients belonged to the Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (77.8%). Patients first noted symptoms between 50 to 59 years (42.9 %) and most patients were not diagnosed within the first year of onset of symptoms(94.3%). Bladder incontinence ( 20.57%) and feet numbness (20.57%) were the first noted symptoms. 48.6% of patients noted gait difficulties. Depression was noted in 17.1% and cognitive dysfunction in 11.4% of patients. 38.9% of patients reported their overall disease severity in the moderate intensity range at time of the survey. Majority of the patients used some form of assistive device to ambulate. 42.9% of patients reported their quality of life to be fair. Conclusions: This survey provides an insight into the neuropsychiatric burden in APBD and its effects on the activities of daily living and overall quality of life. This in turn will help physicians identify the first manifestations of APBD for diagnosis and subsequently assist in management. Disclosure: Dr. Lulla has nothing to disclose. Dr. Higuita has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silverstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lau has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Actelion, Amicus, Biomarin, Chiesi, Indorsia, Pfizer, Prevail Therapeutics, Sanofi-Genzyme, Ultragenyx, Shire. Dr. Lau has received research support from Amicus, Biomarin, Sanofi Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Mallinckrodt, Protalix, Pfizer, Sangamo, Shire, Ultragenyx.
Consecutive Daily vs. Every Other Day SBRT Scheduling for Stage I NSCLC.

Purpose/Objective(s) The optimal delivery schedule for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in treating Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. This study utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine daily vs. every other day (QOD) SBRT scheduling in the United States, including trends over time and association with survival. Materials/Methods The NCDB was used to identify patients with Stage I NSCLC treated with 3, 4, or 5 fraction SBRT between 2004-2016. Daily scheduling was defined as completing SBRT in 3, 4, or 5 days, respectively. QOD scheduling for 3, 4, and 5 fractions was defined as SBRT completion in 5-9, 8-12, and 10-14 days, respectively. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression modeling. The multivariate model included age, gender, race, insurance status, median income, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, clinical T stage, histology, and facility type. Results Of 15,269 patients who met study criteria, 3,927 (25.7%) received SBRT daily, and 11,342 (74.3%) received treatment QOD. A total of 4,993 (32.7%), 4,278 (28.0%), and 5,998 (39.3%) patients received 3, 4, and 5 fractions, respectively. The most common dose fractionations were 10 Gy x 5 (26.7%), 12 Gy x 4 (18.4%), and 18 Gy x 3 (17.3%). Factors significantly associated with daily SBRT scheduling included lower income (P Conclusion In this NCDB analysis, QOD SBRT schedules were more frequently used to treat Stage I NSCLC than daily regimens by a factor of 3:1. QOD scheduling increased over time, as did 5-fraction treatments, with 5-fraction QOD becoming the most common dose schedule after 2012. No clear association was found between daily vs. QOD scheduling and overall survival.
Creating Accessible Online Instruction Using Universal Design Principles: A LITA Guide: Rowman & Littlefield. 131 pp., $39.00, ISBN: 978-1-5381-3919-6.

The issue of accessibility in education and in other areas of society for persons with disabilities has rightly been a matter of concern for several decades, leading to important national legislati...
The Dynamic Constitution: An Introduction to American Constitutional Law

Preface Prologue: Bush v. Gore 1. The dynamic constitution 2. Freedom of speech 3. Freedom of religion 4. Protection of economic liberties 5. Rights to fair procedures 6. Equal protection of the laws 7. Fundamental rights 8. The powers of congress 9. Executive power 10. Judicial power 11. Elections, political democracy and the constitution 12. Structural limits on state power and resulting individual rights 13. The constitution in war and emergency 14. The reach of the constitution and Congress's enforcement power 15. Conclusion.
MARS Star Density Results for Shielding Applications

Comparison of MARS 15.09 star density results in thick shielding to the star density distribution in iron and concrete rule-of-thumb expectations.
NORMAL EMBRYOLOGY AND TERATOGENESIS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PATHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT FROM EXPERIMENT EMBRYOLOGY.

Abstract Experimental and descriptive embryology have given insight into many congenital malformations, but as yet have contributed little toward their elimination or control. Until normal development is well understood, not much can be accomplished in the way of prevention. When malformations are associated with drugs or disease, then it is relatively easy to control abnormal births. However, when structures develop abnormally during a course of apparent normal gestation, it is difficult to conceive of an effective control. Experiments on normal chondrogenic tissues have aded to our understanding of the formation of vertebrae, ribs, and limbs. Much remains to be done to apply the information obtained from experimental embryology to the problem of teratogenesis. Teratogenesis is a manifestation of pathological embryology, a statistical event in the never perfect process of development. As such it will probably never be eliminated as a medical problem, although it may come to be understood as a biological problem. With increased understanding its control becomes more likely. In a sense, the experimental embryologist deals primarily with terata in his attempt to explain normal development, and conversely, the more that is learned of normal development, the easier it will be to cope with the pathology of development—teratogenesis.
China's offshore petroleum frontiers: Confrontation? Conflict? Cooperation?

Abstract Asia's offshore, from North Korea to Indonesia, is becoming an increasingly important petroleum frontier, one disputed by various littoral states. The People's Republic of China (PRC) intends to become a major petroleum producer, with the offshore playing a major role. The paper examines: (1) important jurisdictional disputes; (2) accommodations between disputants; and (3) third-party involvements, such as the USA. Recent progress towards dispute solution has occurred - establishment of a Japan-Korea Joint Development Zone and a PRC overture towards Japan for settlement of suzerainty in the Senkakus. PRC and Vietnamese disagreements seem less tractable. New US policies towards the two Chinas, along with the USSR's support for Vietnam, further complicate the region's offshore disputes.
Housing the Stranger in the Mediterranean World: Commerce, charity, community, and the funduq

In contrast to the relatively scant references during the early Islamic period, the funduq flourished throughout the Muslim Mediterranean world by the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Arabic and Judeo-Arabic texts from Ayyūbid Syria to Almoravid Spain frequently mention funduqs and other hostelries, making clear that these were a common and established component of urban infrastructure. Major trading cities might have a hundred or more funduqs within their walls, and the geographer al-Idrīsī reported an astonishing 970 funduqs in the Andalusi port of Almeria in about 1150. Although ubiquitous, funduqs remain a little-studied, and thus poorly understood, element of Muslim urban society and economy. What was their function? Data on funduqs from the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries show the maturation of trends that were already perceptible in the early Islamic period. First and foremost, funduqs were commercial spaces, serving the needs of merchants for lodging, storage, and security. They also functioned as sites where urban administrators could collect taxes on commercial transactions, regulate the distribution of certain goods, and monitor the activities of merchants. Meanwhile, these hostelries also provided charitable accommodation, sheltering pilgrims and the poor, or they generated income for pious endowments ( waqfs ). After a survey of these commercial and charitable functions, the chapter considers the architecture, amenities, and administration of funduqs ; their ongoing association with drinking, prostitution, and crime; and their role in fostering communal identities in the medieval Islamic world.
Descriptive epidemiology of birth defects thought to arise by new mutation

Background The current study is the first to examine the association of a broad range of sociodemographic factors with conditions thought to arise most of the time by de novo mutation. Methods Data were taken from 1999 to 2009 from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR), a statewide active surveillance program. We used Poisson regression to generate crude and adjusted measures of association; the latter included models with all variables and with a parsimonious subset of variables. Results There were 1694 cases with any of the phenotypes in the panel, 1100 cases in a subpanel with ≥90% of cases thought to arise de novo, 523 with chromosomal deletion disorders, and 243 with imprinting disorders. In the most parsimonious models, there was an increasing time trend in all groups except imprinting (p ≤ 0.01). Plurality (twins, triplets, etc.) was associated with greater risk of all groups except chromosomal deletions (p ≤ 0.01). Parental age showed strong trends with all groups; paternal age was most important for the total and imprinting groups (p ≤ 0.0001), and maternal age for the others (p ≤ 0.04). De novo mutation phenotypes were more prevalent among offspring of fathers who are non-Hispanic White compared with some other race/ethnic groups. Conclusion This study suggests that birth defects arising by new mutation may be more prevalent among offspring of older parents and in plural births. The increasing time pattern and race/ethnic pattern may be related to greater use of or access to genetic tests. This approach to mutation epidemiology seems feasible for birth defects registries to consider.Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:913–927, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Jejunal toxin inactivation regulates susceptibility of the immature rat to STa.

Abstract The immature rat jejunum demonstrates an increased response, sensitivity, and susceptibility to heat-stable enterotoxin. In the present study, the hypothesis that this increased secretory response results from diminished jejunal toxin inactivation and persistence of biologically active toxin was tested. A modification of toxin injected into ligated jejunal loops was observed in both adult and immature rats. However, in the immature jejunum there was also persistence of biologically active toxin and continued toxin-induced secretion. In contrast, in the adult jejunum there was inactivation of toxin and cessation of secretion. Incubation of toxin with luminal fluid, pancreatic fluid, or jejunal brush border membranes resulted in toxin alteration. However, a completely inactive toxin species was generated only after incubation with jejunal organ culture slices. It is concluded that (a) incomplete toxin inactivation in the immature rat jejunum contributes to prolonged intestinal secretion and that (b) the inactivation process is multifactorial, but it is likely that final toxin inactivation requires the participation of the enterocyte. These findings may help explain the increased responsiveness of the immature intestine to heat-stable enterotoxin.
Enantioselective formal total synthesis of (+)-aspergillide C.

An enantioselective formal total synthesis of the cytotoxic macrolide (+)-aspergillide C has been accomplished from (S)-(−)-glyceraldehyde acetonide and the Danishefsky−Kitahara diene. Strategic transformations include a hetero Diels−Alder reaction, Ferrier-type addition, and palladium-catalyzed oxidative lactonization to set key stereocenters within the dihydropyran core, followed by fragment coupling via (E)-selective Julia−Kocienski olefination.
Teleteaching endoscopy: the feasibility of real-time, uncompressed video transmission by using advanced-network technologies

Background Teleteaching of endoscopy has been limited by the exorbitant cost and time inherent in high-quality digital endoscopy video transmission. The Digital Video Transport System (DVTS) transmitted over advanced networks, such as Internet2 and the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), provides a unique infrastructure for sharing uncompressed digital videos of endoscopy. This may allow high-quality, real-time, international training of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy techniques at a low cost. Objective To test the proof of concept of long-distance teaching through live, interactive, high-resolution video transmission by using advanced networks and the DVTS. We used teleteaching of image-enhanced endoscopy techniques as a model. Design Prospective multicenter pilot study. Setting and Participants Trainees, faculty, and staff at 3 international endoscopy units. Intervention An image-enhanced endoscopy video lecture with advanced-network technologies. Main Outcome Measurements We compared image-based prelecture and postlecture test scores and secondarily assessed technical feasibility and quality. Results The DVTS transmitted over advanced networks successfully transmitted uncompressed, high-resolution, digital lectures with endoscopic video (digital video format 720 × 480 pixels). Postsession scores improved. Participants highly rated the technical and informational quality. The majority reported a definite interest in participating in future sessions, with a mean rating (out of 5 [scale 1-5]) of 4.7 ± 0.5. Limitations Pilot study with a limited number of participants and sessions. Conclusion The DVTS transmitted over advanced networks such as Internet2 and APAN can provide the infrastructure for transmission of high-resolution, uncompressed video endoscopy for the purpose of teleteaching endoscopy.
Risk Management in Client Acceptance Decisions

This paper examines whether risk-management strategies (specifically, the use of specialist personnel and higher billing rates) moderate the effect of risk on client acceptance decisions, thereby assisting auditors in bringing prospective client relationships to acceptable risk/return levels. We propose a conceptual model of the client acceptance decision process, and use archival data on one firm's actual client acceptance decisions to test the model. Our results demonstrate the selective use of risk-management strategies in the client acceptance decision, based on the nature of the risks present for each particular client. Specifically, plans to charge a higher billing rate are associated with a reduction in the negative relationship between client acceptance likelihood and both going-concern risk and public trading status, and plans to assign specialist personnel are associated with a reduction in the negative relationship between client acceptance likelihood and both fraud risk and error risk. Therefore, we provide evidence that while risky clients are less likely to be accepted overall, the application of particular risk-management strategies to particular risk increases the likelihood of accepting such clients.
The optimal template effect in hippocampus studies of diseased populations

We evaluate the impact of template choice on template-based segmentation of the hippocampus in epilepsy. Four dataset-specific strategies are quantitatively contrasted: the “closest to average” individual template, the average shape version of the closest to average template, a best appearance template and the best appearance and shape template proposed here and implemented in the open source toolkit Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTS). The cross-correlation similarity metric drives the correspondence model and is used consistently to determine the optimal appearance. Minimum shape distance in the diffeomorphic space determines optimal shape. Our evaluation results show that, with respect to gold-standard manual labeling of hippocampi in epilepsy, optimal shape and appearance template construction outperforms the other strategies for gaining data-derived templates. Our results also show the improvement is most significant on the diseased side and insignificant on the healthy side. Thus, the importance of the template increases when used to study pathology and may be less critical for normal control studies. Furthermore, explicit geometric optimization of the shape component of the unbiased template positively impacts the study of diseased hippocampi.
“Osteoporosis”: Etiologies, prevention, and treatment

With the steady increase in life expectancies occurring in industrialized countries have come major changes in the causes of morbidity and mortality. The greatest burden on the health care delivery systems in these countries has shifted from the treatment of infectious diseases to extended care of degenerative conditions. One such condition of increasing widespread concern is osteoporosis. Chronic bone loss leading to fractures and secondary infections has become a major problem in the United States, and has been estimated to cost $6 to $8 billion annually. The etiology of osteoporosis is complex, depending upon the interaction of nutritional, endocrinological, and local factors that are subject to a variety of genetic and environmental influences. The stringent requirement of maintaining calcium homeostasis places heavy demands on the primary reservoir of calcium, the skeleton, when intake and/or absorption are inadequate. Inactivity, depriving bone of its weight-bearing function, also initiates bone resorption. Under normal circumstances in the young adult, bone is maintained through continual, balanced turnover of mineral and calcium. When this balance is upset, loss of bone can be slow or rapid, reversible or irreversible. The trabecular compartment with its high sur-face-to-volume ratio is most rapidly mobilized, but cortical bone is ultimately resorbed as well. Involutional osteoporosis is conventionally designated as either type I (postmenopausal) or type II (senile). Women are affected by both and, because of a generally less-robust skeleton, experience risk of fracture earlier than men on the average. The hormonal and physiological factors involved in the regulation of normal bone physiology and the factors leading to loss of bone mass constitute an area of active research that is casting light on the fundamental mechanisms underling bone growth and maintenance in the search for new avenues of prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.