cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcome in Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Background Mesenteric vein thrombosis (MVT) can result in intestinal ischemia and is associated with high morbidity and mortality due in part to its frequent delay in diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment outcome of MVT. Methods Hospital records and clinical data of all patients treated for MVT were reviewed during a recent 14-year period. Clinical outcome and factors affecting survival were analyzed. Results A total of 68 patients were included in the study. Abdominal exploration was performed in 23 patients (34%), and second-look operation was necessary in 18 patients (26%). Three patients (4%) underwent unsuccessful operative mesenteric vein thrombectomy, whereas percutaneous transhepatic mesenteric thrombectomy was performed successfully in 3 patients (4%). The 30-day mortality rate was 20%. Forty-six of the 54 survivors were treated with long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. Actuarial survival at 2, 4, 6, and 10 years was 68%, 57%, 43%, and 22%, respectively. Risk factor analysis showed malignancy (P 60 years (P 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.64; P = .03), malignancy (OR, 3.88; P = .02), and prolonged symptom duration (OR, 5.62; P = .01) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions MVT is associated with significant mortality. Prompt diagnostic evaluation with computed tomography may reduce potential treatment delay. Underlying malignancy, advanced age, and prolonged symptom duration are predictive of poor outcome.
Pollination biology of the endangered Blowout Penstemon (Penstemon haydenii S. Wats.: Scrophulariaceae) in Nebraska1

We studied the breeding system and pollinators of Nebraska populations of the endangered plant Blowout penstemon, Penstemon haydenii. This species appears to be one of the few known self-incompatible species of Penstemon few self-pollinated flowers set fruit and few of these produced seeds. We found no indication that sexual reproduction was limited by inadequate pollination or resources. Pollinators were several species of native bees which varied from population to population and from year to year; there did not appear to be a consistent P. haydenii pollinator fauna. Flowers were pollinated mainly by large apid bees in the genera Habropoda and Bombus, by (mostly) smaller halictid bees, and by intermediate sized megachilid bees, particularly in the genus Osmia. One frequent flower-visitor, the presumed Penstemon specialist, Hoplitis pilosifrons (Megachilidae), may be more of a pollen-parasite than a pollinator because it commonly collected pollen into the scopa but carried very little pollen on other body parts. Management plans for conservation of Penstemon haydenii need to recognize its need for pollinators, and that the health of pollinator populations may be site-specific.
Rural mountain natives, in-migrants, and the cultural divide

Abstract Conventional wisdom suggests that different views held by native and in-migrant rural residents lead to a division that ultimately damages community. Using a sample of rural residents in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, we seek to (1) determine whether these groups differ and, if they do, (2) explain the predictors of the difference. Our results suggest that there are demographic and attitudinal differences between natives and in-migrants, although a significant number of in-migrants share native attitudes. Proportion of lifetime spent in the region and perception of threat to cultural heritage play important roles in determining shared attitudes among the groups, implying that natives and in-migrants may not be as different as previously assumed and that in-migrant status by itself may not be sufficient to explain changes in rural community.
OPTIMIZING GIVEN SYSTEMS vs. DESIGNING OPTIMAL SYSTEMS: THE DE NOVO PROGRAMMING APPROACH

The purpose of “system optimization” cannot be just to improve the performance of a given, pre-configured system (search for efficiency) but rather to find the best system configuration, itself, i.e., design an optimal system (search for effectiveness). System boundaries, especially in socio-economic and engineering systems, are not conveniently given and fixed a priori, but are themselves to be determined in an optimal way. We present theory and methodology of optimal system design (or configuration), as it is embodied in de novo programming. The message is clear and simple: optimizing “badly” configured system is ineffective and wasteful while optimally designed systems hardly need any further “optimization”.
A Profile Of the Soviet Soldier

Drawing on personal experience, extensive interviews with former Soviet conscripts, and close readings of the Soviet military press, Tarasulo describes the life of a modern Soviet soldier-with special emphasis on social life in the army and collective education. In his discussion of alcoholism, he disputes the thesis that the Soviet army suffers from widespread drunkenness. His description of army political indoctrination programs contrasts sharply with official Soviet accounts. He argues that despite austere living conditions, the Soviet soldier is a loyal, strong fighter and a formidable opponent.
Performance of Red × Rock Sex-Linked Hens Subjected to Restricted Feeding During the Laying Period

Abstract Two trials were conducted to compare the influence of various levels of feed during the laying period on the performance of the layers. Four feeding levels were utilized in each trial. One group served as the full-fed control and the other three groups were limited to 95, 90 or 85 percent of the amount consumed by the control group the previous week. The restricted feeding treatments were initiated at 22 and 32 weeks of age in Trials 1 and 2, respectively. At 22 weeks the birds were just beginning to lay while at 32 weeks they had reached peak production. A linear and significant decrease in egg production occurred with the feed restriction practiced, but the reduced feed consumption of the groups was sufficient to compensate for the reduced egg production since the feed efficiency of these groups was numerically superior in Trial 1 and significantly superior to the full-fed group in the second trial. The feed restriction utilized in this study reduced average body and egg weights, but treatment differences were not detected in shell thickness or Haugh units.
Making organizational change to achieve improvement and interprofessional learning: perspectives from health professions educators

Health professionals must learn to work in the context of an interdisciplinary team in order to meet the needs of the evolving health care delivery system. These teams must work successfully with community systems to achieve common goals, while understanding and respecting diverse perspectives, experiences and skills. Strategies for changing health professions education to prepare new health professionals for such work have been tested by the Interdisciplinary Professional Education Collaborative. Illustrations of making educational change, and creating situations to sustain the change, are offered from the Collaborative's experience. Teams participating in the Collaborative engaged in interprofessional education, working on community-based health improvement issues. The illustrations are offered in the context of higher education, and the many barriers to making change that must be overcome. The work of the Collaborative provides valuable illustrations of successful activities to promote and create chang...
Tobacco Smoking Among Male and Female Alcohol Treatment-seekers: Clinical Complexities, Treatment Length of Stay, and Goal Achievement

Background: Literature suggests that tobacco smoking among clients in alcohol treatment has important clinical implications, including poorer treatment outcome. Much of this literature, however, ha...
To Monitor or Not to Monitor A Study of Individual Outcomes From Monitoring One's Peers Under Gainsharing and Merit Pay

An untested assumption in the gainsharing and group incentive literatures is that peer monitoring is an activity that employees will engage in, and this behavior will be supported by their managers. This study tests that assumption by examining how managers respond (via performance ratings of workers) to peer monitoring under two different pay conditions—traditional merit pay and merit pay with gainsharing. Data from 203 employees in a custom brokerage and freight-forwarding services firm suggest that observational monitoring (i.e., noticing coworkers' behavior) is positively associated with manager ratings of workers' performance under both pay conditions. However, advisory monitoring (i.e., reacting to coworkers' behavior) is positively related to manager ratings of workers' performance under gainsharing and negatively related to manager ratings of workers' performance under traditional merit pay. Implications of these findings for managers are discussed.
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases in Poultry: Role of Dietary Lipids

Abstract In the United States, supplemental dietary lipid is typically provided as an animal-vegetable blend using animal tallow or hydrogenated oils from the food industry. Lipids from these sources are rich in saturated, trans, n-6 fatty acids and poor in n-3 fatty acids. Linoleic (18:2 n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3 n-3) acids are essential fatty acids and are the precursors of long-chain n-6 and n-3 fatty acids such as arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Ester-linked arachidonic acid and EPA can be mobilized by phospholipase A2 to generate free arachidonic acid and EPA, which can act as substrates for cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase to produce eicosanoids. Eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, and leukotriene B4 are proinflammatory and more potent than eicosanoids derived from EPA such as prostaglandin E3, thromboxane B3, and leukotriene B5. Developing dietary strategies in broiler chickens that enhance the n-3 fatty acid content of tissues is also associated with lipid oxidation and muscle product quality. Therefore, alternative strategies for enhancing tissue n-3 fatty acid content without affecting growth and product quality must be devised. The role of maternal (yolk) fatty acids in modulating the long-chain n-3 fatty acid content of tissues and eicosanoid production in chickens fed a diet lacking in long-chain n-3 fatty acids is investigated. Up to d 42 of growth, the cardiac tissues of chicks hatched from hens fed a high n-3 diet retained higher levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids than those of chicks hatched from hens fed a low n-3 diet. Chicks hatched from hens fed a high n-3 diet produced less proinflammatory eicosanoids than chicks hatched from hens fed a low n-3 diet. Modulating maternal dietary n-3 fatty acids enhances tissue retention of n-3 fatty acids during growth and reduces proinflammatory eicosanoid production in chicks, which could lead to fewer metabolic and inflammatory-related disorders in poultry.
Host and graft thickness after descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty for fuchs endothelial dystrophy

Purpose To determine relationships between vision, forward scatter, and total corneal and graft thicknesses after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Design Prospective, cohort study. Methods Forty-four eyes with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were examined before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after DSEK; all eyes were pseudophakic after surgery. Central total corneal and graft thicknesses were measured using confocal microscopy. Best-corrected high-contrast visual acuity (BCVA) was measured using the electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol, and forward light scatter was measured using a straylight meter. Results Total corneal thickness was 610 ± 50 μm (mean ± standard deviation) before DSEK, increased to 680 ± 74 μm by 1 month after DSEK ( P P = .03 vs 1 month). Graft thickness was 170 ± 57 μm at 1 month, decreased to 157 ± 49 μm by 3 months ( P = .004), and then remained stable through 12 months (156 ± 51 μm; P = .99 vs 3 months). BCVA was 0.44 ± 0.21 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) units (Snellen equivalent, 20/55) before DSEK, improved to 0.26 ± 0.20 logMAR units (Snellen equivalent, 20/36) by 3 months ( P P Conclusions Stromal edema resolves by 3 months after DSEK for Fuchs dystrophy, whereas visual acuity continues to improve through 12 months. Thicker corneas and grafts are not associated with worse visual acuity or increased forward scatter.
Bioadjuvants for complex ankle and hindfoot reconstruction.

Many reconstructive options exist for symptomatic hindfoot and ankle problems. Hindfoot and tibiotalar fusions are reliable procedures with consistent results. Unfortunately, many potential complications have been cited throughout the literature. Although the most important aspect in any fusion surgery is meticulous technique, advances in technology, including platelet-rich plasma, bone stimulators, and bone morphogenetic proteins, seem to be use ful additions in the quest to achieve solid fusions with decreased complications.
Failure Mechanisms in Pulsed RF Power Transistors

Reliability life tests of rf power transistors during pre-production evaluation of advanced design avionics distance measuring equipment (DME) have revealed two primary failure mechanisms affecting the transistors used in this 1 GHz pulse power application. The mechanisms are: 1. dissolution of silicon in aluminum, with subsequent hillock formation in the emitter metallization, and 2. aluminum grain swelling, both mechanisms resulting in base-emitter degradation. These results have been verified by SEN and electrical tests based on rf pulse power life tests on the DME equipment and from failures in field test environments. Several corrective measures have been implemented by semiconductor manufacturers as a consequence of aluminum electromigration failures in preliminary carrier wave (CW) life tests. Additional corrective measures on these devices were necessary to eliminate the failure mechanisms seen in the 1 GHz pulse power environment to which these transistors were subjected. A recent 5000 hour pulse power life test substantiates that degradation has not occurred in transistors incorporating the design corrections.
Pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness - a perspective.

The pink ribbon has become synonymous with breast cancer awareness. Where did the pink ribbon originate? What does breast cancer awareness mean, and can it be used to improve the health of the majority of women in South Africa?
RF propagation in finite thickness unidirectional magnetic photonic crystals

This paper presents an analysis of a new class of magnetic photonic crystals (MPCs) constructed from periodic arrangements of available (possibly anisotropic) homogeneous material layers. Earlier, analytical studies of semi-infinite versions of these crystals demonstrated that they exhibit the phenomena of minimal reflection at their interface, large amplitude growth of the harmonic wave within the crystal, and concurrent group velocity slow-down. These characteristics are associated with the so called frozen mode and occur at a specific frequency associated with a stationary inflection point within the Bloch diagram. In this paper, we present a characterization of these phenomena for a practical, finite thickness crystal slab and propose a realizable combination of materials consisting of available ferrite and dielectric media. The existence of significant wave amplitude growth and slow down are verified for materials with realistic losses. In addition, we identify and characterize the bandwidth of the magnetic photonic crystals and examine its relationship to the amplitude growth.
Optimal blocker placement for mitigating the effects of geomagnetic induced currents using branch and cut algorithm

Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs) currently introduce great threats to power grids worldwide. The geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) introduced by GMDs can damage transformers and increase the reactive power consumption which may further lead to power system instability. In order to find the best way to protect power grids, optimal blocker placement (OBP) is studied in this paper to minimize the damage of GICs. The OBP problem is formulated as a mix integer nonlinear programming problem. A global optimization solver, branch and cut method, is used to solve the OBP problem by taking advantage of its special structure. The effectiveness and optimality of our method is demonstrated on a 6-bus system, a 20-bus system and a much larger realistically sized system. Our method can provide optimal solution to OBP problems and can also be used to solve variations of OBP problems with different objective functions.
Synthesis of DNA Oligomers Possessing a Covalently Cross‐Linked Watson–Crick Base Pair Model

Building bridges: A feasible solid-phase synthesis of antiparallel n-, h-, and H-type DNA oligomers has been demonstrated. The oligomers possess a CH2 -bridged base-pair model that should be conformationally flexible, even after base pairing.
Return to Mercury: An Overview of the MESSENGER Spacecraft Thermal Control System Design and Up-to-Date Flight Performance

Launched on August 3, 2004, MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) will be the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. Designed and built by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in conjunction with the Carnegie Institution of Washington, MESSENGER will study Mercury during a 1-year orbital phase that will begin in March 2011. Currently the spacecraft is in the middle of a 7-year cruise phase that so far has included a flyby of the Earth (August 2005), two flybys of Venus (October 2006 and June 2007), and the first of three flybys of Mercury (January 2008). The January 2008 Mercury flyby marked the first spacecraft visit since Mariner 10 (1975) and made MESSENGER the first spacecraft to encounter Mercury when near the planet’s perihelion. This paper will provide an overview of the thermal design challenges for both the cruise and orbital phases, the solutions implemented to resolve those challenges, and the flight temperature and power data that verify the performance of the thermal control subsystem over the mission to date.
The ring of $ α $-quotients

This paper introduces, for each regular, uncountable cardinal \( \alpha \), the ring of quotients of the commutative ring A obtained by the direct limit ¶¶$ Q_\alpha A = \def\limind{\mathop{\oalign{\hfil$\rm lim$\hfil\cr$\longrightarrow$\cr}}} {\limind_} {\hom_A} {(I,A)} $¶¶ where I ranges over the filter of base of ideals which can be generated by fewer than \( \alpha \) elements of A. This is the ring of $ \alpha $ -quotients. It is shown that \( Q_\alpha A \) is the least \( \alpha \)-selfinjected ring of quotients of A; that is to say, having the injective property relative to maps out of ideals generated by fewer than a elements. For semiprime rings, the ring of \( \alpha \)-quotients of A has the $ \alpha $ -splitting property: if D and D' are two subsets of size \( $<$ \alpha \), such that dd' = 0, for each \( d \in D \) and \( d' \in D' \), and \( D \bigcup D' \) generates a dense ideal, then there is an idempotent e such that de = d, for all \( d \in D \) and de = 0, for all \( d \in D' \). The paper examines the least ring of quotients \( Q{^S}{_\alpha}A \) with the \( \alpha \)-splitting property. The application of greatest interest here is to archimedean f-rings. A considerable amount of attention is paid to the maximal \( \ell \)-ideal spaces of the rings \( Q_\alpha A \) and \( Q{^S}{_\alpha} A \). It is shown that the minimum \( \alpha \)-cloz cover of mA, the space of maximal \( \ell \)-ideals of A, is none other than \( \textrm{m}Q{^S}{_\alpha}A \). Applied to C(X), the ring of continuous real valued functions on a compact Hausdorff space X, it turns out that the minimum \( \alpha \)-cloz cover of X is, in fact, \( \textrm{m}Q{_\alpha}C(X) \), as long as X is zero-dimensional. Moreover, it is shown that A has the \( \alpha \)-splitting property if and only if mA is \( \alpha \)-cloz. The final section is devoted to the cardinal \( w_1 \), and to the question of whether the minimum quasi F-cover of mA is \( \textrm{m}Q_{w1}A \). This is shown to be so, provided that A is complemented or mA is zero-dimensional.
Single-carbon-nanotube-based fluorescent nanoprobe

We proposed and fabricated a new carbon-nanotube-based fluorescent nanoprobes for non-perturbative optical near field imaging. Utilizing such nanoprobes, we developed a near field scanning approach based on the processing of images.
Occurrence of Hydrogenase in Nitrogen-Fixing Organisms.

SummaryThe existence of hydrogenase, the enzyme activating molecular H2, has been demonstrated in cultures of Azotobacter by a methylene blue reduction method as well as by measurements of H2 uptake in the Warburg microrespirometer. The enzyme is found in cells grown in the presence or absence of H2 and using either free or combined nitrogen. Cells of the pea organism taken directly from the nodule possess the enzyme but those grown on the usual laboratory media do not.
Abstract 3241: Multipotential PTEN−/− p53−/− prostate tumor initiating cells give rise to adenocarcinoma which displays epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and androgen independent growth

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Determining the cell lineage and differentiation potential of tumor initiating cells is fundamental to understanding mechanisms of progression and metastasis. We describe the differentiative, tumorigenic, and metastatic properties of primary, transplanted secondary, and clonally-derived tumors in a model of prostate cancer initiated by prostate epithelial cell specific deletion of the tumor suppressors, PTEN and p53. Although adenocarcinoma is the majority tumor type that develops in this mouse model, other histological tumor types, including a late developing sarcomatoid carcinoma were observed. The heterogeneity displayed in transgenic mouse prostate tumors may be due to the transformation of multiple lineage specific tumor initiating cells, or a common tumor progenitor/stem cell capable of plasticity in differentiation potential. Orthotopic transplantation of PTEN−/− p53−/−prostate carcinoma cells was undertaken to determine whether a single tumor initiating cells is capable of giving rise to the diversity of tumor phenotypes observed in the parental prostate carcinoma. Direct orthotopic transplantation of mixed populations of PTEN−/− p53−/− tumor cells favored the development of adenocarcinomas, while transplantation of cells grown as protospheres in matrigel favored the development of basal/squamous carcinomas. This indicates a developmental plasticity in transplantable tumor initiating cells that can be influenced by extracellular matrix components. Transplantation of clonal cell lines that were derived from orthotopic carcinomas produced adenocarcinomas with lesser amounts basal/squamous carcinoma with one line undergoing EMT to form sarcomatoid carcinomas. Lung and lymph node metastases were common. Tumor growth, metastasis, and response to androgen deprivation were assayed with in-vivo bioluminescent imaging. The orthotopic tumors recapitulated the diversity of tumor phenotypes observed in the probasin-cre, PTEN fl/fl p53 fl/fl transgenic donor mouse including: adenocarcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and basal/squamous carcinoma. In a pattern that mimics a phenotype observed in metastatic human prostate carcinoma, CK8+ adenocarcinomas displayed heterogeneous labeling for the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin. Our data suggests that a multi-potential CK8+/CK5+ tumor stem cell can be a progenitor for CK8+ adenocarcinoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3241.
Development with identity: Community, culture and sustainability in the Andes

The United States Agency for International Development funded a series of research projects known as SANREM (Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management) beginning in the early 1990s. T...
The impact of the diagnosis-related groups/prospective payment system on nutrition needs in home health and extended-care facilities.

The effect of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG)/prospective payment system (PPS) on the health status complexity and nutrition needs of patients was studied in home health and five extended-care facilities in Spokane, WA. Three periods were studied: pre-DRG (1982), early DRG implementation (1984), and full DRG implementation(1986). The complexity of patient health status and nutrition needs was measured in three areas: number of total diagnoses, nutrition-related diagnoses, and diet modifications perpatient. In home health care, those variables increased significantly from a mean of 4.35diagnoses per patient in 1982 to 6.12 in 1986, from 1.31 nutrition-related diagnoses per patient in 1982 to 1.99 in 1986, and from 6% of patients with four or more diet modifications in 1982 to 16% in 1986. The complexity of patient health status in extended-care facilities remained stable, with a mean of 6.06 diagnoses per patient in 1982 vs. 5.87 in 1986, 1.84 nutrition-related diagnoses per patient vs. 1.73, and 14% of patients having twoor more diet modifications in 1982 vs. 11 % in 1986. A consistent odds ratio of 2.06 was observed between number of diagnoses and diet modifications per patient, indicating a direct relationship. J Am Diet Assoc 89:1444-1447, 1989.
The Treatment of ABPA

The treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) focuses on controlling the inflammatory host response to Aspergillus antigens. For this reason, systemic steroids are the cornerstone of therapy. As acute ABPA is a form of asthma, standard asthma care should be also be used. An attempt should be made to taper patients off steroids after acute exacerbations. However, this is often problematic and cannot be achieved. Azoles show promise in this instance as steroid-sparing agents. Cystic fibrosis patients are at high risk of developing ABPA. Such patients present management dilemmas as it is often challenging to distinguish cystic fibrosis from ABPA exacerbations.
A 35µW 96.8dB SNDR 1 kHz BW multi-step incremental ADC using multi-slope extended counting with a single integrator

A multi-step incremental ADC (IADC) with multi-slope extended counting is presented. In the proposed IADC, the accuracy is enhanced by reconfiguring it as a multi-slope ADC in two additional steps. For the same accuracy, the conversion cycle is shortened by a factor of about 29 as compared to the single-step IADC. Fabricated in 0.18-µm CMOS process, the prototype ADC operates at 642 kHz and achieves a peak SNDR = 96.8 dB and DR = 99.7 dB over a 1 kHz bandwidth. The power consumption is 35 µW, which results in an excellent Schreier FoM of 174.6 dB.
Effects of Swim Stress on Neophobia and Reconditioning Using a Conditioned Taste Aversion Procedure.

Previous research has found that swim stress during a classical conditioning trial attenuates conditioned taste aversion (CTA). In the current study, rats were used to examine the effects of inescapable swim stress on the habituation of neophobia to a flavored solution and reacquisition of an extinguished conditioned taste aversion. In Experiment 1, subjects were initially exposed to a taste, with some subjects receiving a swim experience to assess the level of neophobia on a subsequent taste-exposure test. Rats in Experiment 2 were given a taste-LiCl trial followed by extensive CS-alone extinction trials. Subjects then received the taste-LiCl pairing again, followed for some by a swim experience to examine its effect on subsequent reconditioning. Swim stress influenced CS processing on the final extinction trial. Thus, reacquisition was attenuated by swim, but there was no effect of swim stress on the attenuation of neophobia. These results are discussed in terms of the effects of stress on CS processing.
Chemoradiation and Local Excision for T2N0 Rectal Cancer Offers Equivalent Overall Survival Compared to Standard Resection: a National Cancer Database Analysis

Local excision (LE) alone is associated with worse survival compared to radical surgery (RS) for T2 rectal cancer, but LE with additional chemoradiation (CRT) may improve outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare combined CRT and LE versus RS for T2 rectal cancer. The 2004–2014 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with T2N0M0 rectal cancer undergoing LE with neoadjuvant(NA-CRT + LE) or adjuvant(LE + Adj-CRT) CRT, or RS. The main outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards was used to determine the independent effect of treatment on OS. A total of 4822 patients were included (4367 RS, 242 CRT + LE, 213 LE + Adj-CRT). Mean follow-up was 48.6 (SD28.5) months. There were no differences in patient characteristics, but more high-risk features in the LE + Adj-CRT group. There were no differences in 90-day mortality. Five-year OS was similar (RS 77.4% vs. CRT + LE 76.1% vs. LE + Adj-CRT 79.7%, p = 0.786). Older age, male gender, and higher Charlson score were independently associated with worse OS, whereas treatment type was not. If 90-day mortality was excluded, LE + Adj-CRT was independently associated with worse OS compared to RS. CRT with LE for T2N0M0 rectal cancer was not associated with worse OS compared to RS, and may be a viable treatment modality.
Management of the Hyperlipidemia of the Nephrotic Syndrome

The nephrotic syndrome is a renal disorder characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, sometimes edema, and hyperlipidemia. A variety of diseases of the glomerulus can produce the nephrotic syndrome. The major primary causes of this syndrome are membranous nephropathy, focal sclerosis, and minimal change disease (1). In addition, a common cause of the nephrotic disease in adults is diabetes mellitus. The hyperlipidemia of the nephrotic syndrome can consist of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia or both (mixed hyperlipidemia). An elevation of serum total cholesterol (and low density lipoprotein LDL-cholesterol) usually is the first form of hyperlipidemia to develop (2, 3). Later in the course of the disease, hypertriglyceridemia will appear (4).
An attribute-based reliable multicast-over-broadcast protocol for firmware updates in smart meter networks

The Smart Grid (SG) initiative introduces a two-way communication between utility companies and the consumers thanks to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) networks. One of the most crucial components that constitute an AMI network is smart meters (SMs). SMs execute some programs called firmware to rule the hardware. The firmware occasionally needs to be updated to fix bugs and improve the services. Since the SM firmware is proprietary, the update file should be communicated to the SMs in a secure way. In addition, the firmware update can target a specific subgroup of the SMs rather than all of them. In this paper, we address the problem of multicasting the firmware update securely in an IEEE 802.11s-based SG AMI network and develop a secure and reliable multicast-over-broadcast protocol by making use of ciphertext-policy attribute-based signcryption (CP-ABSC) to provide not only confidentiality and access control but also message authentication. A hash of the firmware update is signcrypted based on an access tree such that the hash can be designcrypted only by the SMs possessing the attributes that can satisfy the access tree. In this paper, we propose an attribute-based multicast-over-broadcast protocol called Broadcast-Alarm (Bcast-Alarm) which is both secure and reliable. We assessed its performance under ns-3 network simulator. The simulation results have shown that Bcast-Alarm protocol can complete downloading a firmware update file by consuming comparable amount of bandwidth compared to unicasting.
Alopecia areata: Disease characteristics, clinical evaluation, and new perspectives on pathogenesis.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, inflammatory, nonscarring type of hair loss. Significant variations in the clinical presentation of AA have been observed, ranging from small, well-circumscribed patches of hair loss to a complete absence of body and scalp hair. Patients affected by AA encompass all age groups, sexes, and ethnicities, and may experience frustration with the unpredictable nature of their disease for which there is currently no definitive treatment. The cause of AA remains incompletely understood, though it is believed to result—at least in part—from a loss of immune privilege in the hair follicle, autoimmune-mediated hair follicle destruction, and the upregulation of inflammatory pathways. Patients with AA frequently experience marked impairment in psychological well-being, self-esteem, and may be more likely to suffer from psychiatric comorbidities. Part one of this two-part continuing medical education series describes the epidemiology, clinical evaluation, prognosis, and recent advancements in the understanding of the pathogenesis of AA.
Combining Agile Software Development and Service-learning: A Case Study in Experiential IS Education

Experiential learning is ever-more popular with educators, industry, and with students themselves. Finding and delivering appropriate applied use cases can be challenging though, as on one hand industry partners may not willing to give insights to non-employees into their systems for creating truly meaningful case studies, and on the other hand the appropriate balance between instruction and application is ill-defined. Service learning projects are one solution for filling in the applied project gap. This case study takes place in the nexus between blended classrooms, applied software development, and service learning. Junior and senior level students partnered with a community actor to develop deployable software applying the Agile methodology. The service-learning project enabled students to engage in a full-cycle development project, from requirements gathering to hypercare. However, significant trade-offs in structure and classroom management must be made when the focus of the class is a full implementation. Blended technologies and course delivery were found to aid delivery and project management in a seamless manner. Drawing on feedback from stakeholders and students, this experience report makes a series of recommendations for implementing applied software development. Our contribution is the introduction and assessment of a method to marry (online) information systems education with service learning.
Sarin Causes Early Differential Alteration and Persistent Overexpression in mRNAs Coding for Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Vimentin Genes in the Central Nervous System of Rats

Neurotoxic effects of single dose of 0.5 × LD50 sarin (O-isopropylmethylphosphonoflouridate) on central nervous system (CNS) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. We investigated the mRNA expression of the astroglial marker genes glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin to evaluate the fate of astroglial and neuronal cells, because reactive gliosis is very often used to assess the extent of CNS damage. Rats were treated with 50 μg/kg/ml of sarin and terminated at the time-points 1 and 2 hours and 1, 3, and 7 days post-treatment. Control rats were treated with normal saline. Total RNA was extracted and Northern blots were hybridized with cDNA probes for GFAP and vimentin, as well as 28S RNA (control). The data obtained indicate that a single dose of sarin (0.5 × LD50) showed induction in the transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin in the cortex, cerebellum, brainstem and midbrain, and spinal cord. The induction showed distinct spatial-temporal differences for each tissue studied. Both GFAP and vimentin were induced at 1 hour in all the tissues studied except brainstem, where moderate and high levels of GFAP induction were noted at 1 and 3 days. Overexpressed transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin remained high in more responsive tissues such as the brainstem and midbrain. Other tissues, such as the cortex, spinal cord, and cerebellum showed a more downward trend for either GFAP or vimentin, or both, transcript levels at 7 days. It is noteworthy that both cortex (318 ± 12%) and spinal cord (368 ± 12%) showed relatively higher induction of GFAP, whereas cortex alone showed the highest level of overexpressed vimentin transcript levels (284 ± 11%). Overall it is also clear that both GFAP and vimentin are needed for the effective recovery involving co-ordinated alternating up- and down-regulation of these two key astrocyte genes, depending on tissue specificity. The changes seen in the transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin may be the result of astrocyte dysfunction and loss, accompanied by compensatory proliferation and dedifferentiation of the astroglia. These changes could affect the neuronal cell types, thus altering the neuron-glia homeostasis.
Couette flows, rollers, emulsions, tall Taylor cells, phase separation and inversion, and a chaotic bubble in Taylor-Couette flow of two immiscible liquids

Oil and water in equal proportion are set into motion between horizontal concentric cylinders when the inner one rotates. Many different flows are realized and described. In one regime many large bubbles of oil are formed. In a range of speeds where the water is Taylor unstable and the oil Taylor stable, we get strange Taylor cells of emulsified fluids whose length may be three or even four times larger than normal. The length of cells appears to be associated with effective properties of a non-uniform emulsion, so the cell sizes vary along the cylinder. At much higher speeds we get a fine grained emulsion which behaves like a pure fluid with normal Taylor cells. A second focus of the paper is on the mathematical description of the apparently chaotic trajectory of a small oil bubble moving between an eddy pair in a single Taylor cells trapped between the oil bands of a banded Couette flow. We defined a discrete autocorrelation sequence on a binary sequence associated with left and right transitions in the cell to show that the motion of the bubble is chaotic. A formula for a macroscopic Lyapunov exponent for chaos on binary sequences is derived and applied to the experiment and to the Lorenz equation to show how binary sequences can be used to discuss chaos in continuous systems. We use our results and recent results of Feeny and Moon (1989) to argue that Lyapunov exponents for switching sequences are not convenient measures for distinguishing between chaos (short range predictability) and white noise (no predictability).
A0, P and Deconfinement

Many aspects of the deconfinement transition in quenched QCD can be understood using lattice gauge theory techniques. The basic mechanism driving the transition is closely related to the behavior of certain classical spin systems. The connection with continuum physics is less well understood.
Synaptic Repression at Cholinergic Synapses in Tissue Culture

ABSTRACT Chronic depolarization of neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell-myotube cocultures with veratridine reduces the degree of polyneuronal innervation of the myotubes. Ciliary ganglion to muscle connections are reduced in the concommitant presence of spinal cord cells.
Framing genetically modified mosquitoes in the online news and Twitter: Intermedia frame setting in the issue-attention cycle:

We investigate how the online news and Twitter framed the discussion about genetically modified mosquitoes, and the interplay between the two media platforms. The study is grounded in the theoretic...
Risk factors for mortality after respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in adults with hematologic malignancies.

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is associated with high mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies (HM). We sought to determine whether allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) recipients would be at higher risk for 60-day mortality. Methods We examined a retrospective cohort of adults with HM with or without HCT treated for RSV LRTI (n = 154) at our institution from 1996-2013. We defined possible RSV LRTI as RSV detected only in the upper respiratory tract with new radiologic infiltrates and proven RSV LRTI as RSV detected in BAL fluid with new radiologic infiltrates. Immunodeficiency Scoring Index (ISI) and Severe Immunodeficiency (SID) criteria were calculated for HCT recipients. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors associated with 60-day all-cause mortality. Results Mortality was high in HM patients (25%), but there was no difference between those without HCT, autologous or allo-HCT recipients in logistic regression models. Separate multivariate models showed that at RSV diagnosis, neutropenia (OR 8.3, 95% CI 2.8-24.2, P = 0.005) and lymphopenia (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.7-8.2, P = 0.001) were associated with 60-day mortality. Proven LRTI was associated with higher 60-day mortality (neutropenia model: OR 4.7, 95%CI 1.7-13.5; lymphopenia model: OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2-8.8), and higher ICU admission. In HCT recipients, high ISI and very severe immunodeficiency by SID criteria were associated with higher 60-day all-cause mortality. Conclusions Mortality is similarly high among HM patients without HCT and HCT recipients. High-grade immunodeficiency and detection of RSV from BAL fluid are associated with higher 60-day mortality.
Reppin’ and Risin’ Above: Exploring Communities of Possibility That Affirm the College-Going Aspirations of Black Youth:

This case study examines how relationships with staff in a GEAR-UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) pre-college program positively influenced the college-going asp...
E-049 Treatment of wideneck cerebral aneurysms with ‘y’ configurations of a low profile braided stent: technical experience from a single center

Introduction Braided stents offer a number of potential advantages over open cell stents in the treatment of wide necked aneurysms. Still, there are concerns of technical challenges with treatment with braided stents; especially in complex configurations at bifurcation points, such as ‘Y’-stenting. We report our technical results with ‘Y’ stent configurations of the LVIS Jr stent (Microvention, Inc, Tustin, CA). Materials and methods An internal department database was queried for all cases of bifurcation aneurysms, from a single surgeon, treated with the LVIS Jr stent in ‘Y’ stent configurations between January 2013 and February 2018. All aneurysms were treated with a single microcatheter technique wherein, following deployment of the stents, both stents were re-crossed by the microcatheter to catheterize the aneurysm. All treatments were performed through the Headway line of microcatheters (Microvention, Inc, Tustin, CA). For the catheterization of the aneurysm, if difficulty was encountered attempting to cross the stents with a Headway 17 microcatheter it was practice to then attempt the catheterization with a 1.3 F Headway Duo 167 cm length microcatheter. Results Eighteen aneurysms in 17 patients were identified. The aneurysm site was the basilar tip in 7 and the anterior communicating artery in 11. There were 14 females and 4 males treated with an average age of 59.7 years. Two aneurysms were treated in the acute period following rupture and another 8 of the aneurysms were recurrent. There was a high technical success rate. All stents were successfully deployed and 17 of 18 (94.4%) of the aneurysms were successfully catheterized through the stents. Of those aneurysms with available follow up imaging 14 of 15 (93.3%) had Raymond Grade 1 or 2 embolizations. There was one aneurysm with coil compaction and regrowth of a Raymond Grade 2 embolization that required retreatment. In terms of safety, there were 2 immediate post procedure symptomatic strokes with complete neurological recovery in both patients. There was a single delayed symptomatic stroke at 6 months when a patient inappropriately stopped her antiplatelet therapy. There were no intraprocedural or delayed aneurysm ruptures. The total neurological morbidity was 3 of 18 treatments (16.6%). There were no mortalities and all patients, at follow up, have an mRS ≤2. Conclusion ‘Y’ stent assisted coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms with the braided, low profile LVIS Jr stent, via a single microcatheter technique, is technically feasible and can achieve good radiographic results. In our small sample the rate of morbidity may be higher than the reported incidence for less complex single braided stent constructs. Disclosures C. Son: None. Y. Li: None. D. Niemann: None.
Dynamic formation of preferential trade agreements: The role of flexibility

In practice, free trade agreements (FTAs) vastly outnumber customs unions (CUs). Nevertheless, the literature traditionally views CUs as optimal for members because CU members coordinate external tariffs. I show that a dynamic FTA flexibility benefit can help explain the prevalence of FTAs: individual FTA members have the flexibility to form their own future FTAs whereas CU members must jointly engage in future CU formation. I show how the relative prevalence of FTAs versus CUs depends on the structure of market size asymmetry across countries and use these predictions to shed some light on FTA versus CU formation in Europe and South America. Formation dynamique d’accords commerciaux preferentiels : le role de la flexibilite. En pratique, les accords de libre‐echange (ALE) sont plus nombreux que les unions douanieres (UD). Neanmoins, la litterature specialisee percoit traditionnellement que les UD sont optimales pour les membres parce qu’ils peuvent coordonner leurs tarifs externes. On montre qu’une flexibilite dynamique de l’ALE peut aider a expliquer la prevalence des ALE : les membres des ALE ont la flexibilite de former leurs propres ALE dans l’avenir alors que les membres des UD s’engagent conjointement pour la formation des UD futures. On montre comment la prevalence des ALE versus les UD depend de la structure de l’asymetrie de la taille entre les pays, et on utilise ces previsions pour eclairer les choix entre la formation de ALE et de UD en Europe et en Amerique du Sud.
REBT and Sexual Problems

Sex and its close relation to love has been the inspiration for artists, poets and musicians throughout the history. As such, it has been idealized or romanticized to the extent that many people suffer for failing to attain sexual performance that is both unrealistic and arbitrary. Consequently, when falling short of the ideals portrayed by social and cultural mores, a person can often become prone to self-depreciation, and not just in matters of sexuality but also in overall personal self-assessment as a human being. Indeed, there is no other bodily function that is so frequently used to measure self-worth. With the great cultural, historical and personal importance placed on sex, many suffer from sexually related distress that is entirely unnecessary. A common result of this overemphasis of sex as a measure of personal worth, happiness, and gender fulfillment, is distorted or irrational thinking.
Are wicked problems really so wicked? Perceptions of policy problems

The concept of wicked problems has become widely used in policy analysis. The popularity of the concept has led to its overuse, and has produced significant conceptual stretching. This paper invest...
Sacred Scents in Early Christianity and Islam , By M. Thurlkill

Sacred Scents in Early Christianity and Islam. By M. Thurlkill (2016), Lanham: Lexington Books, 210pp.