cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEUROFILAMENTS AND ORTHOGRADE TRANSPORT ARE REDUCED IN VENTRAL ROOT AXONS OF TRANSGENIC MICE THAT EXPRESS HUMAN SOD1 WITH A G93A MUTATION

Mice engineered to express a transgene encoding a human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) with a Gly93 --> Ala (G93A) mutation found in patients who succumb to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) develop a rapidly progressive and fatal motor neuron disease (MND) similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hallmark ALS lesions such as fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus and neurofilament (NF)-rich inclusions in surviving spinal cord motor neurons as well as the selective degeneration of this population of neurons were also observed in these animals. Since the mechanism whereby mutations in SOD1 lead to MND remains enigmatic, we asked whether NF inclusions in motor neurons compromise axonal transport during the onset and progression of MND in a line of mice that contained approximately 30% fewer copies of the transgene than the original G93A (Gurney et al., 1994). The onset of MND was delayed in these mice compared to the original G93A mice, but they developed the same neuropathologic abnormalities seen in the original G93A mice, albeit at a later time point with fewer vacuoles and more NF inclusions. Quantitative Western blot analyses showed a progressive decrease in the level of NF proteins in the L5 ventral roots of G93A mice and a concomitant reduction in axon caliber with the onset of motor weakness. By approximately 200 d, both fast and slow axonal transports were impaired in the ventral roots of these mice coincidental with the appearance of NF inclusions and vacuoles in the axons and perikarya of vulnerable motor neurons. This is the first demonstration of impaired axonal transport in a mouse model of ALS, and we infer that similar impairments occur in authentic ALS. Based on the temporal correlation of these impairments with the onset of motor weakness and the appearance of NF inclusions and vacuoles in vulnerable motor neurons, the latter lesions may be the proximal cause of motor neuron dysfunction and degeneration in the G93A mice and in FALS patients with SOD1 mutations.
Commentary: The Preston Curve 30 years on: still sparking fires

Samuel H Prestons classic paper The Changing Relation between Mortality and Level of Economic Development published in 1975 remains a cornerstone of both global public health policy and academic discussion of public health. Prestons paper illuminates two central stylized facts. The first is a strong positive relationship between national income levels and life expectancy in poorer countries though the relationship is non-linear as life expectancy levels in richer countries are less sensitive to variations in average income. The second is that the relationship is changing with life expectancy increasing over time at all income levels. Preston examined the relationship between life expectancy and income in three different decades: the 1900s 1930s and 1960s. In each decade the association between the two measures held true; more recent research shows that the income-life expectancy relationship still applies and continues to move upwards (although the AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has reduced life expectancy at the low end of the income scale in recent years). Although the basic facts set out by Preston are generally accepted there is still a great deal of dispute about the mechanisms that lie behind the relationships and the policy implications we can draw from them. (excerpt)
Improving the Narrative Writing of Students with Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of procedural and substantive facilitation—specifically, instruction in character development—on the quality and length of narratives written by 9 Junior High School students with learning disabilities. A multiple baseline design across triads was used to determine the effects of treatment. Results indicated that over a period of 2 months, students generally made substantial increases in the amount they wrote and mild to moderate increases in the quality of the stories produced. Recommendations are given for individualizing instruction considering student differences in writing ability, background, motivation, interest, and attention.
Medieval English Romance in Context. By Gail Ashton

Medieval English Romance in Context. By Gail Ashton (London: Continuum, 2010), viii + 163 pp. £14.99/$24.95 paper. The academic study of Middle English romance has come a long way: medieval romance...
Gynecologic health and disease in relation to the microbiome of the female reproductive tract

It is well established that the vagina is colonized by bacteria that serve important roles in homeostasis. Imbalances in the proportion of bacteria may lead to a predisposition to infection or reproductive complications. Molecular-based approaches demonstrated a greater degree of microbial diversity both within and between women than previously recognized. The vaginal microbiome may fluctuate during various states of health, such as during the menstrual cycle or after menopause, and there may be differences in the vaginal microbiome between women of different ethnicities. Furthermore, the specific composition of the vaginal microbiome may influence the predisposition to dysbiosis and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. An understanding of the diversity of the vaginal microbial environment during states of health is essential for the identification of risk factors for disease and the development of appropriate treatment.
SNAIL SPEARS AND SCIMITARS: A CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CONUS RADULAR TEETH

Knowledge of the attributes of the venom-injecting radular teeth of Conus can enhance understanding of the functional biology of feeding and the systematics of this large and taxonomically difficult genus of gastropods. We define and provide a scheme for coding the states of Conus radular tooth characters, in order to facilitate their use in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. To exemplify these characters, we describe and illustrate teeth of putatively primitive species and of species representing generalized, vermivorous, molluscivorous and piscivorous feeding groups within the genus. We define and address the intraspecific and interspecific variation of ten presenceabsence characters and 15 continuous characters, of which at least five and ten, respectively, are present in most species. Some continuous characters are bimodally distributed among the species sampled. If this distribution still obtains when additional species are examined, these characters could also be coded unambiguously as having two states. We also review the several previously proposed classification schemes of Conus radular teeth and of species according to tooth characters. As Troschel suggested in 1866, a tooth length:width ratio greater than or less than 20 separates the genus into two distinct species groups, now known to comprise the molluscivorous and piscivorous species in the former, and vermivorous and generalized species in the latter. Important subsidiary characters are the number of barbs, presence/ absence of blade, cusp, and spur, length of serrations, relative width of base, and tooth length:shell length ratio.
Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the surface hydration of Triton X-100 micelles in water with added monovalent alkali salts.

The hydrophobic spin probe 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-1-oxyl-4-yl octadecanoate (TEMPO-stearate) was used to study the hydration of the polar shell of Triton X-100 micelles as functions of the concentration of the electrolytes KCl, NaCl, and LiCl and temperature. It was shown that the hydration of the polar shell of the Triton X-100 micelle decreases with both increasing electrolyte concentration and increasing temperature. The effect of Li+ on the hydration of the polar shell was found to be smaller than those of Na+ and K+, which have almost identical behavior. The effective water concentration decreases from 18.3 to 15.8 M for LiCl and from 18.3 to 13.9 M for NaCl and KCl when the concentration of the electrolyte in the solution increases from 0 to 2.5 M. The dehydration of the polar shell was correlated to the average value of the cation hydration number calculated from literature data; the greater the cation hydration number, the greater the dehydration for the same increase in electrolyte concent...
Molecular cloning of five GTP-binding protein cDNA species from rat olfactory neuroepithelium.

Abstract Biochemical studies in vertebrate olfactory tissue indicate that certain odorants stimulate adenylyl cyclase in a GTP-dependent manner. Additionally, immunochemical and toxin-labeling studies demonstrate the presence of several GTP-binding protein (G-protein) species in vertebrate olfactory epithelium. To identify the G-protein(s) responsible for olfactory signal transduction, we screened a rat olfactory cDNA library with an oligonucleotide probe and isolated 32 recombinant clones encoding five distinct types of G-protein alpha subunits. The majority of the clones encoded G alpha s, while the remaining clones encoded G alpha o, G alpha i1, G alpha i2, and a novel species, G alpha i3. Messenger RNA corresponding to each G alpha was detectable in all tissues examined; however, the levels for a given G alpha varied in a tissue-specific manner. In olfactory tissue, G alpha s was the most abundant of these messages and in combination with the biochemical studies suggests that G alpha s is the G-protein component of the olfactory signal transduction cascade.
Factors associated with occupational injuries in seasonal young workers

BACKGROUND: Younger workers are more likely to be injured on the job than older workers. Investigation tends to focus on work-related explanatory factors but often neglects non-work-related causes. AIMS: To identify both work- and non-work-related factors that contribute to younger workers' injuries in seasonal work. METHODS: Two surveys of a set of seasonal parks and recreation workers were conducted measuring health and safety behaviours and self-reported injuries. RESULTS: Seventy per cent reported an injury at work over the summer. Among young workers, each additional year of age was associated with an almost 50% increase in injury rate (P CONCLUSIONS: Higher injury rates among younger workers in this sample is multifactorial and encompasses both work and non-work factors and suggest that more global approaches are required to address young worker safety. Language: en
Clinical Ethics versus Clinical Research

Chiong's paper (2006) nicely highlights the clinical researcher's dilemma: To which set of ethical principles does the researcher owe allegiance? To those that govern the practice of clinical medic...
Efficient Group KeyManagement with Tamper-resistant ISA Extensions

We present a tamper-resistant architectural enhancement for secure group key management in group communication applications. Using specially designed four cryptographic instructions, we show that the hardware assisted design can greatly reduce the management overhead to the order of O(1) in terms of rekey messages, storage cost, and the encryption computation cost.
Testosterone-dependent hypertension and upregulation of intrarenal angiotensinogen in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

Blood pressure (BP) is more salt sensitive in men than in premenopausal women. In Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS), high-salt (HS) diet increases BP more in males than females. In contrast to the systemic renin-angiotensin system, which is suppressed in response to HS in male DS, intrarenal angiotensinogen expression is increased, and intrarenal levels of ANG II are not suppressed. In this study, the hypothesis was tested that there is a sexual dimorphism in HS-induced upregulation of intrarenal angiotensinogen mediated by testosterone that also causes increases in BP and renal injury. On a low-salt (LS) diet, male DS had higher levels of intrarenal angiotensinogen mRNA than females. HS diet for 4 wk increased renal cortical angiotensinogen mRNA and protein only in male DS, which was prevented by castration. Ovariectomy of female DS had no effect on intrarenal angiotensinogen expression on either diet. Radiotelemetric BP was similar between males and castrated rats on LS diet. HS diet for 4 wk caused a progressive increase in BP, protein and albumin excretion, and glomerular sclerosis in male DS rats, which were attenuated by castration. Testosterone replacement in castrated DS rats increased BP, renal injury, and upregulation of renal angiotensinogen associated with HS diet. Testosterone contributes to the development of hypertension and renal injury in male DS rats on HS diet possibly through upregulation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.
Analytic fidelity measures in the characterization of halftone processes

Analytic measures of performance to facilitate the analysis of binary image reproduction processes are introduced and discussed. These measures evaluate the extent to which image details are preserved, and lead to useful characterizations of the halftone process and its discrete analog.
Determinants Of Firm Leadership Structure

In this study, we seek to ascertain some of the factors that determine the leadership structure that a firm chooses to adopt. Our main empirical finding is that both share ownership by officers and directors and by blockholders is inversely related to the probability that a firm will have a unitary leadership structure. These results imply that officers, directors, and blockholders believe that a dual leadership structure is the optimal leadership structure for most firms and that greater share ownership by these groups motivates them to see that the firm adopts that optimal leadership structure. We are also able to confirm Brickley, Coles, and Jarrell’s (1997) finding that CEO tenure in office is directly related to the probability that a firm will have a unitary leadership struc- ture. This finding is consistent with the pass-the-baton theory of CEO/Chair succession proposed Vancil (1987).
Beating the odds: superstition and Human Agency in RAF bomber command, 1942-1945

Scholars have tended to ignore superstition among RAF Bomber Command aircrews in the Second World War. Among those who have mentioned the subject, furthermore, there has sometimes been a tendency to dismiss charms, talismans, mascots, and rituals as completely irrational and highly regressive. This article argues that at least some common aircrew practices and beliefs were not as irrational as they might superficially appear. It also makes the case that superstitious beliefs and practices helped men to keep flying despite the heavy odds against survival, and that this was why no effort was made by the authorities to curtail them.
Drive and Confidence Characterize Entrepreneurs

The entrepreneur has long been perceived as a special person whose qualities and characteristics need to be investigated. Recent qualitative studies and narrative reviews suggest that entrepreneurs are different from non-entrepreneurs, and that typical entrepreneurial characteristics include higher tolerance of risk, stronger motivation to excel, more patience, and greater need for achievement, independence and power.Utilizing validated psychological questionnaires, we measured personality traits including self-confidence, self-efficacy, and motivation. We also obtained demographic, attitudinal and behavioral data relevant to entrepreneurship or entrepreneurial process. We found that the traits of motivation, reward-driven, and self-confidence mostly characterize entrepreneurs. A more self-confident individual would be more likely to start and operate his/her own business; the more reward-driven an individual was, the longer his/her business could be in operation. Interestingly, measures of cognition were not correlated with entrepreneurship, suggesting that the personality profile of the individual may play an important role in mediating economically relevant behaviors, such as the willingness to start and operate a business and perseverance.Our findings provide useful implications for individual entrepreneurship training, career counseling, and occupational decision-making.
Human Papillomavirus Laboratory Testing: the Changing Paradigm

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause essentially all cervical cancers, most anal and oropharyngeal cancers, and some vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers. Improved understanding of the pathogenesis of infection and the availability of newer tests are changing the approach to screening and diagnosis. Molecular tests to detect DNA from the most common high-risk HPVs are FDA approved for use in conjunction with cytology in cervical cancer screening programs. More-specific tests that detect RNA from high-risk HPV types are now also available. The use of molecular tests as the primary screening tests is being adopted in some areas. Genotyping to identify HPV16 and -18 has a recommended role in triaging patients for colposcopy who are high-risk HPV positive but have normal cytology. There are currently no recommended screening methods for anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, or oropharyngeal HPV infections. HPV testing has limited utility in patients at high risk for anal cancer, but p16 immunohistochemistry is recommended to clarify lesions in tissue biopsy specimens that show moderate dysplasia or precancer mimics. HPV testing is recommended for oropharyngeal squamous cell tumors as a prognostic indicator. Ongoing research will help to improve the content of future guidelines for screening and diagnostic testing.
Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 attenuates mitochondrial cytochrome C release in cortical neurons following in vitro ischemia.

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) is a major acid extrusion mechanism following intracellular acidosis. We hypothesized that stimulation of NHE1 after cerebral ischemia contributes to disruption of Na+ homeostasis and neuronal death. In the present study, expression of NHE1 was detected in cultured mouse cortical neurons. Oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) for 3 hours followed by 21 hours of reoxygenation (REOX) led to 68 ± 10% cell death. Inhibition of NHE1 with the potent inhibitor HOE 642 or genetic ablation of NHE1 reduced OGD-induced cell death by ∼40% to 50% (p < 0:05). In NHE1+/+ neurons, OGD/REOX triggered significant increases in Nai+ and Cai2+. Genetic ablation of NHE1 and HOE 642 treatment reduced the rise of Nai+ by ∼40% to 50% and abolished the OGD/REOX-mediated Ca2+ accumulation. Moreover, mitochondrial cytochrome C release was significantly attenuated by inhibition of NHE1 activity. These results imply that NHE1 activity disrupts Na+ and Ca2+ homeostasis and contributes to ischemic neuronal damage.
Spin-Controlled Conductivity in a Thiophene-Functionalized Iron-Bis(dicarbollide)

The relationship between spin state and conductivity is studied for a thiophene-functionalized iron(III)-bis(dicarbollide) with one or two thiophenes at each end of the cage. Iron has a high ground state spin that can be adjusted by external electromagnetic fields to produce different magnetic states. The hypothesis explored here is that changes in the spin state of these Fe-containing molecules can lead to significant changes in molecular conductivity. Two examples of the possible application of such spin-dependent conductivity are its use as a molecular switch, the basic building block in digital logic, or as a memory bit. The molecules were first optimized using the Becke-3 Lee–Yang–Parr functional (B3LYP) with the 6-31G(d) basis set. A relaxed molecular geometry at each spin state was then placed between gold electrodes to conduct spin-polarized electron transport calculations with the density functional theory/non-equilibrium Green’s functions formalism. The revised Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhf solids exchange–correlation functional (PBES) with double zeta polarized basis set was used. The result of these calculations show that the conductivity increases with the spin state. The cage structure is shown to exhibit fully delocalized molecular orbitals (MOs) appropriate for high conductivity and thus, in this system, the conductivity depends on the position of the MOs relative to the Fermi level. Minority spins are responsible for the conductivity of the doublet spin state while majority spins dominate for the quartet and sextet spin states as they are found closer to the Fermi level when they are occupied. Energy calculations predict a difference in energy between the more and the less conductive spin states (sextet and doublet respectively) that is 15–20 times greater than the thermal energy, which would imply stability at room temperature; however, the energy difference is sufficiently small that transitions between spin states can be induced.
Flexible Flight Research Platform at Texas A&M University Flight Research Laboratory

The Flight Research Laboratory (FRL) at Texas A&M University has completed several collaborative projects to gather flight data for several laboratory experiments. The experiments were hosted on a restricted-category O-2A aircraft for inexpensive, reliable, and flexible flight research. For example, a LADAR system was installed for airborne detection of simulated wildlife targets against various backgrounds. Also, a shear-sensitive paint was applied to a pylon-mounted surface and imaged at a range of airspeeds. Another project required aerial photography on a pre-programmed ground track that was coupled to the autopilot. Finally, an atmospheric sampling mission over industrial areas was planned and executed.
Individual Preference for Procedural Order and Process Accountability in Group Problem-Solving

An experiment compared interaction process and task performance of groups composed of members with high or low preference for procedural order, assigned to an individual or group process accountabi...
Effects of Diesel Fuel Input on the Agricultural Economic Growth

On the basis of estimating agricultural capital stock,the KLEM model was firstly employed to measure the contribution rate of diesel fuel input on agricultural economic growth on the provincial level during the period from 1993 to 2009.The differences existing between areas and periods were analyzed,or the gravely biased estimation for the input-output elasticity of diesel fuel would be gotten.The contribution rate of diesel fuel input in the major-grain producing areas was 19.26% before agricultural support policies were implemented and 3.06% during the implementing period;2.47% and 4.81% respectively in the other areas;7.87% and 3.84% respectively in the whole country.Without considering the policy effects,2.15%,20.53% and 7.53% were measured correspondingly in the three kinds of areas mentioned above.
Cellular response to reperfused oxygen in the postischemic myocardium

Perfused rat heart experiments focused on determining the critical O2 level in postischemic myocardium. After a 20-min global ischemia, reperfusion began with O2-saturated saline buffer reflowing at different rates (0.5-12 ml/min). The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal of the Val E11 myoglobin (Mb) gave an index of the intracellular oxygenation, whereas the 31P-NMR spectra reflected the high-energy phosphate and pH status. At the same time, physiological monitors recorded both contractile function and O2 consumption. Biochemical analysis determined the lactate concentration. Within 6-12 min of reperfusion, the O2 reached a new steady state, which depended directly on the flow rate. Below 12 ml/min reflow, the postischemic O2 level was consistently lower than the corresponding control values. Phosphocreatine, P(i), pH, myocardial O2 consumption, and lactate formation rate exhibited a similar linear relationship with MbO2 saturation in both the control and postischemic myocardium. It appears that neither the cellular energy production nor the steep intracellular O2 gradient has changed substantially in the postischemic myocardium.
Achromatic grating two-wave mixing in photorefractive BaTiO 3 using an amplitude-modulated laser diode

Laser diodes are becoming increasingly important in ground and space-based communication systems. The laser power can be modulated at frequencies up to gigahertz to allow extremely high bandwidth communications. Nonlinear optical devices such as photorefractive crystals have been proposed for use in such optical networks for power amplifiers and active beam cleanup devices. One problem with the use of nonlinear optics techniques such as two-and four-wave mixing with laser diodes is that high-frequency modulation of the drive current can widen the laser linewidth enormously.1 Thus a technique is required that will allow wave mixing with a wide bandwidth or multiple-frequency source.
Ramucirumab: a Novel Anti-Angiogenic Agent in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Angiogenesis is a multistep process that plays a key role in cancer growth and metastases. It is mediated through multiple vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and their ligands. The expression of VEGFR-2 is upregulated in tumor endothelial cells, and it is considered to be the primary receptor driving malignant angiogenesis. Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B, LY3009806) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that directly binds to VEGFR-2 with high affinity and specificity. It is also the most recent addition to our armamentarium of anti-angiogenic drugs approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this review is to summarize the pre-clinical and clinical development of ramucirumab and discuss its place in the current treatment paradigm for metastatic CRC.
Finding the Foundational Ideas: Abstracting as a Transdisciplinary Habit of Mind

It is common practice at the end of an interview, to ask an applicant to engage in a seemingly simple task—to describe herself in three words. There are of course variations of this, where the interviewee must identify their greatest strengths, or summarize why she would be the best candidate for a position. This type of question forces one to go beyond the details of the resume, the layers of experience or the history of accomplishments, to capture the core of what defines a person, and what they may have to offer. Each candidate’s response may be similar in concept, but almost certainly unique in the details and substance of how they encapsulate themselves. This essence may not remain static across time, since one’s response may vary depending on the context, or recent developments in life. That said, abstracting the key elements from your personality, accomplishments, education and potential (boiling all the details down to a set of fundamentals) may provide the interviewers with the insight they need to hire you.
Spatial Multicriteria Analysis Approach for Evaluation of Mobility Demand in Urban Areas

This work describes the municipalities of the province of Rome in terms of ISTAT economic data relating to the industry and to industrial production, employment, demographics and the demand for mobility as measured by the displacement flows. This matrix the rows of which are municipalities of a given province and columns the aforementioned variables, it applies factor analysis to identify the socio-economic profile of the territories from the distribution of the territories distributed in homogeneous areas identified on each factorial axis (municipal ranking of each factor), and no longer agglomerated by town. The result identifies homogenous areas within an assigned geographic region, regardless of the breakdown in municipality of the province.
A Political Ecology of Exurbia in the Sunbelt: Lessons from an Award-Winning, “Unworkable” Plan:

Sarasota County, Florida’s award-winning Sarasota 2050 plan established the county as a leader in smart growth. The plan promotes a system of clustered development and open space as an alternative ...
Structural Biology of Proline Catabolic Enzymes

Abstract Significance: Proline catabolism refers to the 4-electron oxidation of proline to glutamate catalyzed by the enzymes proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and l-glutamate γ-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GSALDH, aka ALDH4A1). These enzymes and the intermediate metabolites of the pathway have been implicated in tumor growth and suppression, metastasis, hyperprolinemia metabolic disorders, schizophrenia susceptibility, life span extension, and pathogen virulence and survival. In some bacteria, PRODH and GSALDH are combined into a bifunctional enzyme known as proline utilization A (PutA). PutAs are not only virulence factors in some pathogenic bacteria but also fascinating systems for studying the coordination of metabolic enzymes via substrate channeling. Recent Advances: The past decade has seen an explosion of structural data for proline catabolic enzymes. This review surveys these structures, emphasizing protein folds, substrate recognition, oligomerization, kinetic mechanisms, and substrate channeling in ...
Prophylactic Internal Iliac Artery Occlusion Balloon Placement to Reduce Operative Blood Loss in Patients with Invasive Placenta

Abstract Purpose To evaluate efficacy and safety of prophylactic internal iliac occlusion balloon placement before cesarean hysterectomy for invasive placenta. Material and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with invasive placenta treated with and without occlusion balloon placement. Preoperative occlusion balloons were placed in 90 patients; 61 patients were treated without balloon placement (control group). Baseline demographics, including patient age, gestational age at delivery, gravidity, parity, and number of previous cesarean sections, were not significantly different ( P > .05). Of the balloon placement group, 56% had placenta percreta compared with 25% in the control group ( P P = .012). Results Median blood loss was 2 L (range, 1.5–2.5 L) in the balloon placement group versus 2.5 L (range, 2–4 L) in the control group ( P = .002). Patients with occlusion balloons were transfused a median of 2 U (range, 0–5 U) of packed red blood cells versus 5 U (range, 2–8 U) in patients in the control group ( P = .002). In the balloon placement group, 34% had large volume blood loss > 2,500 mL versus 61% in the control group ( P = .001), and 21% required blood transfusion > 6 U versus 44% in the control group ( P = .002). Eight complications (9%) were attributed to occlusion balloon placement. Conclusions Prophylactic internal iliac artery occlusion balloon placement reduces operative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing hysterectomy for invasive placenta.
Hysteresis-based Margin Allocation for Adaptive Coding in SDN-enabled Optical Networks

Hysteresis-based margin-allocation for adaptive coding is experimentally investigated against PDL-induced OSNR fluctuations in a SDN-enabled multi-domain optical network. Up to 90% network outage reduction can be observed under different margins.
The Perioperative Role of Duplex Venous Scanning in Endovenous Laser Therapy

Varicose veins that emerge as a result of the venous valvular incompetence of the great saphenous vein (GSV) are a common chronic condition affecting millions of people. When invasive treatment is ...
Metastasis inside‐out: dissemination of cancer cell clusters with inverted polarity

Zajac et al (2018) utilize patient tissue to discover a novel cellular mechanism for metastasis in colorectal cancer. They isolated cancer cell clusters from patient peritoneal fluid and demonstrated that these clusters invaded collectively into collagen gels, patient‐derived tissues, and through the peritoneum of mice. During invasion the clusters retained an inverted epithelial architecture, functioning as multicellular metastatic seeds with inverted polarity.
Habit formation intervention to prevent obesity in low-income preschoolers and their mothers: A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Abstract Background Low-income and racial/ethnic minority mothers and their young children are at increased risk for obesity. Lack of access to evidence-based obesity prevention and treatment services further contributes to these disparities. Methods This two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) tests the effectiveness of a simple obesity intervention (HABITS) delivered as part of ongoing home visitation services, compared to the existing home visitation services without obesity-related content on mothers' and children's obesity risks. HABITS focuses on habit formation and modifications of food and activity cues in the home to support habit formation. Habit formation is focused on improving five behaviors: 1) fruits/vegetables, 2) fried foods, 3) sugar-sweetened beverages, 4) physical activity and 5) self-monitoring. Participants will be 298 mothers (>50% African American; 100% low income) and their children (3-5yo at baseline) enrolled in a home visitation program in central Alabama. Home visitors will be randomly assigned to deliver the home visitation curriculum with or without HABITS as part of their weekly home visits for 9 months. Assessments of mothers (weight, waist circumference, and habit strength of targeted behaviors), children (rate of weight gain), and the food/activity household environment will be conducted at enrollment, post-intervention (9 month), and one year post-intervention follow-up. Discussion This research is poised to have a substantial impact because the delivery modalities of current obesity efforts disproportionally restrict the reach and engagement of underserved, low-income children and their caregivers who are most at-risk for health and obesity disparities.
Cooking up the Culinary Nation or Savoring its Regions? Teaching Food Studies in Vietnam

“In food, as in death, we feel the essential brotherhood of man.”Vietnamese ProverbThis paper explores whether or not there is an identifiably Vietnamese national cuisine, one in which the ingredients, recipes, and/or dishes socially, culturally, and politically unite Vietnamese people. It contends that Vietnam, with its long history of foreign invaders, its own appropriation of the middle and southern regions, and its varied regional geographies, provides a critical example for Food Studies of the need to interrogate the idea of a national cuisine and to differentiate it from regional and local cuisines. The paper examines how cookbook authors and cooking schools have more generally sought to represent Vietnamese dishes as national, but that there is a strong argument against the claim of a Vietnamese national cuisine. We advocate a Food Studies methodology that creates an effective pedagogy that explores whether or not national populations are unified as single gastro-states or atomized by a plurality of regional cuisines. Through experiential assignments and student work we illustrate how Food Studies presents the pedagogical opportunity for students to study and learn at the intersection of national politics and the everyday lives of people, providing a framework for understanding connections of labor, gender, class, and, essentially, taste, among many other values. In the case of Vietnamese food, the critical details of ingredients, preparation, and consumption both reveal and conceal truths about the Vietnamese people.
Basic Principles of Tomography

This is an introductory chapter, which presents the fundamental concepts in tomography. It first defines what the tomography is, and shows how a tomographic image can obtained from its measurements using two simple examples. The concept of projection is then explained. Next, the filtered backprojection image reconstruction method is introduced using a point source example. Finally, the concept of backprojection is discussed.
Lymphoma mimics on FDG-PET/CT

1063 Learning Objectives Non malignant hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy on PET/CT can mimic lymphoma. PET/CT in these cases can identify biopsy sites and monitor disease status. We present a case series of PET/CT scans, demonstrating hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy, which were thought highly suspicious for lymphoma but on biopsy were found to represent nonmalignant etiologies. Case I: A 23 y/o old female presented with thrombocytopenia, fever, chills and neck discomfort. PET/CT: Multiple hypermetabolic right cervical lymph nodes, highly suspicious for lymphoma with no evidence of contralateral malignant adenopathy or extra nodal disease. Histopathology: Necrotizing Histiocytic Lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a rare autoimmune disorder. Case II: A 54 year old male with prior history of NHL, with complete remission post chemotherapy. PET/CT: New hypermetabolic right cervical, mediastinal, and bilateral hilar adenopathy, two years into remission. Histopathology: Negative for malignant cells. Non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation present and thought to represent a Sarcoid Like reaction where patients have no symptoms or signs of systemic Sarcoidosis. Case III: A 60 year old male presented with groin swelling, neck mass and night sweats. PET/CT: Hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy above and below the diaphragm and moderate splenomegaly with diffuse hypermetabolism. Histopathology: Castleman’s disease, an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder with localized hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles, marked capillary proliferation with endothelial hyperplasia CASE IV: A 29 Y/O male presents with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and splenectomy due to recurrent autoimmune hemolytic anemia. PET/CT: Diffuse FDG-avid lymphadenopathy above and below the diaphragm. Histopathology: Canale Smith/Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS). Lymph nodes demonstrate paracortical expansion of T cells, follicular hyperplasia, plasmacytosis, and prominent vascularity of interfollicular areas. Conclusion: Hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy can present as lymphoma mimics on PET/CT. PET/CT in these cases can identify biopsy sites and monitor disease status
Molecular biomarkers in gastro-esophageal cancer: recent developments, current trends and future directions

Gastro-esophageal adenocarcinomas (GEA) represent a severe global health burden and despite improvements in the multimodality treatment of these malignancies the prognosis of patients remains poor. HER2 overexpression/amplification has been the first predictive biomarker approved in clinical practice to guide patient selection for targeted treatment with trastuzumab in advanced gastric and gastro-esophageal junction cancers. More recently, immunotherapy has been approved for the treatment of GEA and PD-L1 expression is now a biomarker required for the administration of pembrolizumab in these diseases. Significant progress has been made in recent years in dissecting the genomic makeup of GEA in order to identify distinct molecular subtypes linked to distinct patterns of molecular alterations. GEA have been found to be highly heterogeneous malignances, representing a challenge for biomarkers discovery and targeted treatment development. The current review focuses on an overview of established and novel promising biomarkers in GEA, covering recent molecular classifications from TCGA and ACRG. Main elements of molecular heterogeneity are discussed, as well as emerging mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance to HER2 targeted treatment and recent biomarker-driven trials. Future perspectives on the role of epigenetics, miRNA/lncRNA and liquid biopsy, and patient-derived xenograft models as a new platform for molecular-targeted drug discovery in GEA are presented. Our knowledge on the genomic landscape of GEA continues to evolve, uncovering the high heterogeneity and deep complexity of these tumors. The availability of new technologies and the identification of promising novel biomarker will be critical to optimize targeted treatment development in a setting where therapeutic options are currently lacking. Nevertheless, clinical validation of novel biomarkers and treatment strategies still represents an issue.
Early Complications and Mortality following Radical Cystectomy: Associations with Malnutrition and Obesity

Background There are conflicting data regarding the impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes following radical cystectomy (RC) and how obesity and malnutrition interact in patients undergoing RC. Objective To evaluate associations of body mass index (BMI), significant preoperative weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia with 30-day complications and mortality after RC. Methods Review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database identified 2,055 patients who underwent RC (2006-12). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess associations between hypoalbuminemia ( 10% preoperative weight loss, obesity as characterized by BMI (class I: 30-34.9, II: 35-39.9, III: ≥40 kg/m2), and 30-day complications and mortality. Results The median BMI of the study cohort was 27.82 kg/m2 with 22.4% classified as having class I, 7.5% class II, and 4.2% class III obesity, respectively. Hypoalbuminemia and >10% weight loss were present in 16.7% and 3.5%, respectively. Among obese patients, 13.4% had hypoalbuminemia. On multivariable analysis, class I (OR 1.43, p = 0.01), class II (OR 1.92, p < 0.001), and class III (OR 2.32, p < 0.001) obesity and hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.47, p = 0.02) were independently associated with 30-day complications, and class III obesity (OR 2.96, p = 0.02) and hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.33, p = 0.03) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusion Increasing class of obesity and hypoalbuminemia were independently associated with increased complications following RC. Hypoalbuminemia and class III obesity were associated with early mortality. This study highlights the fact that malnutrition may coexist in obese patients and underscores the need to identify patients with malnutrition who may be candidates for preoperative nutritional optimization.
Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Retinoblastoma Enucleation: A Population-Based Study, SEER 18 2000-2014.

Purpose To determine the effect of race, ethnicity, and census tract–level composite socioeconomic status (SES) on retinoblastoma enucleation. This study augments Truong and associates, providing multivariate analyses combining sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with more accurate SES measures. We hypothesized that children from nonwhite, Hispanic, and lower socioeconomic backgrounds would have increased adjusted odds of enucleation. Design Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting Multicenter population-based study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 Registries. Study Population Children aged 18 years and younger diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2000 and 2014. Subjects were identified using International Classification of Diseases–Oncology (ICD-O) site and morphology codes. Main Outcome Measures Enucleation odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Analysis of 959 retinoblastoma patients revealed that 70.8% were enucleated. Adjusted analyses showed associations between enucleation and Asian (OR 2.00, CI 1.08–3.71) or black (2.42, 1.41–4.16) race, Hispanic ethnicity (1.69, 1.16–2.46), and low SES (1.68, 1.09–2.58). Significantly increased enucleation risk was associated with older age at diagnosis (age 1-2 years 2.55, 1.80–3.61; >2 years 4.88, 2.57–9.25), unilateral disease (5.00, 3.45–7.14), and advanced stage (regional 4.71, 2.51–8.84; distant 3.15, 1.63–6.08). No interactions were observed between race, ethnicity, SES, and stage at diagnosis. Enucleation rates decreased over time across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Conclusions Children from nonwhite, Hispanic, and lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to receive enucleation. These associations are independent of stage of diagnosis, suggesting larger systemic disparities in retinoblastoma care. The origin of these differences requires further study and attention by clinicians and policy makers.
Is There an Association Between Physician Review Websites and Press Ganey Survey Results in a Neurosurgical Outpatient Clinic

Objective Recent studies suggest a poor association between physician review websites and the validated metrics used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between online and outpatient Press Ganey (PG) measures of patient satisfaction in a neurosurgical department. Methods We obtained PG survey results from one large academic institution's outpatient neurosurgery clinic. Popular physician review websites were searched for each of the faculty captured in the PG data. Average physician rating and percent Top Box scores were calculated for each physician. PG data were separated into new and established clinic visits for subset analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated to determine associations. Results Twelve neurosurgeons were included. Established patients demonstrated greater PG scores as compared with new patients, with an average physician rating increase of 0.55 and an average Top Box increase of 12.5%. Online physician ratings were found to demonstrate strong agreement with PG scores for the entire PG population, new patient subset, and established patient subset (ρ = 0.77–0.79, P Conclusions Our findings demonstrated a strong agreement between PG ratings and online physician ratings and a poorer correlation when comparing PG Top Box scores with online physician Top Box scores, particularly in the established patient population.
A whale optimization algorithm-trained artificial neural network for smart grid cyber intrusion detection

The smart grid is a revolutionary, intelligent, next-generation power system. Due to its cyber infrastructure nature, it must be able to accurately and detect potential cyber-attacks and take appropriate actions in a timely manner. This paper creates a new intrusion detection model, which is able to classify the binary-class, triple-class, and multi-class cyber-attacks and power-system incidents. The intrusion detection model is based on a whale optimization algorithm (WOA)-trained artificial neural network (ANN). The WOA is applied to initialize and adjust the weight vector of the ANN to achieve the minimum mean square error. The proposed WOA-ANN model can address the challenges of attacks, failure prediction, and failure detection in a power system. We utilize the Mississippi State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory databases of power-system attacks to demonstrate the proposed model and show the experimental results. The WOA is able to train the ANN to find the optimal weights. We compare the proposed model with other commonly used classifiers. The comparison results show the superiority of the proposed WOA-ANN model.
The Quality of Qualia: Truth and Ethics in Reflexive Double Narratives

This chapter introduces the concept of “Reflexive Double Narratives,” stories told in multiple versions that include commentary on why this technique was necessary. Several popular works are discussed to examine how they convey their theoretical positions and how this reflects a general change in literature from postmodernism to post-postmodernism. This section begins with a comparison between John Fowles’s The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Ian McEwan’s Atonement, and then goes on to discuss novels and stories by Yann Martel, Karen Joy Fowler and Alice Munro. The notion of “qualia” is borrowed from the field of Philosophy of Mind in order to argue that many contemporary writers are focused on literature’s ability to reveal what it feels like to be other people in other situations.