cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contraction frequency dependence of twitch and diastolic tension in human dilated cardiomyopathy (Tension-frequency relation in cardiomyopathy)

We studied isometric twitch tension and diastolic tension at 37 °C as a function of stimulation frequency (12–240 min−1) in very thin (.07– 5mm2), parallel fibered strips of left-ventricular myocardium. Non-failing control tissue (C) was obtained from epicardial biopsies taken during myocardial revascularization surgery on patients with normal ventricular function. End-stage failing tissue was obtained from endocardial and epicardial biopsies from explanted hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The methods and apparatus for biopsy and dissection of myocardium are described. Maximal peak twitch tension at optimal stimulation frequency of 163 ± 5 mm−1 was 41.8 ± 10mN/mm2 in non-failing myocardium and it was reduced by 70% (p <.02) to 12.9 ± 1.6mN/mm2 at an optimal frequency of 72 ± 17 min−1 in DCM. The peaks of the tension-frequency curves occurred at frequencies between 12 and 60 min−1 in most DCM strips (5/9), while in C most of the peaks (8/9) fell between 156 and 180 min−1. The peaks from four DCM hearts fell in an intermediate range of frequencies (96–144 min−1) which also included one non-failing peak at 132 min−1. Diastolic tension declined in both groups as stimulation frequency increased above 12 min−1 and it began increasing when stimulation frequency rose above optimal frequency by 19 ± 5% and 110 ± 50% in C and DCM, respectively. Total duration of the isometric twitch diminished with tachycardia remaining shorter than stimulation intervals up to 140 ± 16 min−1 (3.1 ± 1 times optimal frequency) in DCM and up to 161 ± 14 min−1 (not different than optimal frequency) in C. Decline in peak twitch tension above optimal stimulation frequency was 4 to 6 times larger than the accompanying rise in diastolic tension in both groups. The premature decline in tension at lower than normal degrees of tachycardia in DCM does not arise from incomplete relaxation of the twitch response. The 70% deficit in tension generating ability of DCM may be a major contributor to heart failure. Moderate shift in the peak of the tension-frequency curves to lower frequencies (130 min−1) in C does not appear to predispose end-stage failure, but it may make the ventricle more susceptible to dilation.
Progress and Pitfalls in Community Mapping: Behaviors, Cognitions, and New Directions

This paper discusses three student projects in urban mapmaking. The product of all the projects was student-generated urban maps which documented specific aspects of the city of Boston, including architectural elements, ecological conditions, and patterns of human movement and behavior. Cloud-based digital technology including GPS and manual geo-location of information and the use of social media as a tool to collect and share information were core components of these projects. The paper presents methodologies, results, and reflections on the student learning process and engagement that occurred through the creation of these maps, theorizing about how students could build on these processes to support the creative process. Cities People Places: International Journal on Urban Environments Vol.1(1) 2015: 19-31
Identification of the Microbiota in the Aging Process

Abstract The collection of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiota) is increasingly being recognized as a powerful metabolic organ needed for various physiological functions of the body in health. Major disturbances of the gut microbiota either cause or potentiate gastrointestinal as well as metabolic diseases. The microbial number and composition that varies in the gut depending on anatomic location is dominated by two phyla: the Bacteroidetes and the Firmicutes. There is an evolutionary process for the gut microbiota from birth to advancing age. A stable character is achieved by adolescence. Establishment of the adult microbiota is influenced by environmental factors, diet, nature and various medications, mostly antibiotics. Its subsequent character is a progressive process. In the elderly, a reduction in the numbers of bifidobacteria and Bacteroides has been observed. Gut microbiota participates in maintenance of energy homeostasis and gut and systemic immunity mainly through production of short chain fatty acids by fermentation of soluble fiber in the diet. Although the exact pathogenesis of many gut microbiota-related disorders is yet to be fully studied, there is growing evidence that obesity and obesity related disorders, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, components of metabolic syndrome, are to various degrees related to altered gut microbiota. Many neoplastic diseases including colon cancer are reported to be caused by cytotoxic effects of certain microbial species. The benefits of targeted therapy to maintain and promote healthy gut microbiota through dietary modifications that promote consumption of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, offer new ideas in our multimodal approach to prevention and therapy of many disorders related to old age, improve life span and above all, quality of life in the golden years.
Bactericidal Specificity and Resistance Profile of Poly(Quaternary Ammonium) Polymers and Protein-Poly(Quaternary Ammonium) Conjugates.

Antibacterial polymers are potentially powerful biocides that can destroy bacteria on contact. Debate in the literature has surrounded the mechanism of action of polymeric biocides and the propensity for bacteria to develop resistance to them. There has been particular interest in whether surfaces with covalently coupled polymeric biocides have the same mechanism of action and resistance profile as similar soluble polymeric biocides. We designed and synthesized a series of poly(quaternary ammonium) polymers, with tailorable molecular structures and architectures, to engineer their antibacterial specificity and their ability to delay the development of bacterial resistance. These linear poly(quaternary ammonium) homopolymers and block copolymers, generated using atom transfer radical polymerization, had structure-dependent antibacterial specificity toward Gram positive and negative bacterial species. When single block copolymers contained two polymer segments of differing antibacterial specificity, the pol...
Commentary: Three Cognitive Psychologies and Their Implications

What does cognitive theory have to offer a psychotherapist? The question is less straightforward than it sounds, because “cognitive theory” is not a single coherent set of ideas. It is hardly even a family of theories sharing common assumptions; at least, the family is deeply divided against itself. In the last few years it has become clear that there are at least three different approaches to the study of cognition, with quite different assumptions and implications. They are (1) the attempt to model cognition as a series of information-processing stages; (2) the “constructive” approach described and advocated by Arnkoff in the preceding article; (3) the hypothesis of perceptual realism first put forward by J. J. Gibson (1966, 1979). It is too early to say whether their differences will prove irreconcilable. I recently tried to reconcile (2) and (3), for example (Neisser, 1976), but I am not sure whether my attempt was successful. Whatever the ultimate outcome, there is no doubt that the present differences among cognitive psychologists are deep and serious. No review of the implications of cognitive theory can be complete without taking these differences into account.
Observed Changes in Climate and Streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

Observed streamflow and climate data are used to test the hypothesis that climate change is already affecting Rio Grande streamflow volume derived from snowmelt runoff in ways consistent with model-based projections of 21st-Century streamflow. Annual and monthly changes in streamflow volume and surface climate variables on the Upper Rio Grande, near its headwaters in southern Colorado, are assessed for water years 1958–2015. Results indicate winter and spring season temperatures in the basin have increased significantly, April 1 snow water equivalent (SWE) has decreased by approximately 25%, and streamflow has declined slightly in the April–July snowmelt runoff season. Small increases in precipitation have reduced the impact of declining snowpack on trends in streamflow. Changes in the snowpack–runoff relationship are noticeable in hydrographs of mean monthly streamflow, but are most apparent in the changing ratios of precipitation (rain + snow, and SWE) to streamflow and in the declining fraction of runoff attributable to snowpack or winter precipitation. The observed changes provide observational confirmation for model projections of decreasing runoff attributable to snowpack, and demonstrate the decreasing utility of snowpack for predicting subsequent streamflow on a seasonal basis in the Upper Rio Grande Basin.
FORMATION DAMAGE SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT

An overview of the formation damage models pointing out their common bases and special features have been presented in previous chapters. In this chapter, the methodology for the development of a formation damage simulator and applications for typical cases are presented. The equations forming the various models are classified into several groups: algebraic equations, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, initial and boundary conditions, and constraints. The numerical calculation schemes are developed for computer programming.
Preface: Guy Debord, Donald Trump, and the Politics of the Spectacle

Donald Trump has lived the Spectacle from the time in New York when as a young entrepreneur and man about town he performed his business and personal life in gossip columns, tabloids, and rumour mills. This author argues that his election in 2016 US presidential election is the culmination of the politics of the spectacle that was first described by Guy Debord. This contribution contends that Trump is a master of ‘media spectacle’, a concept the author has been developing and applying to US politics and media since the mid-1990s but which now appears more interactive, and therefore, more dialectical than in its original formulation. Trump’s successful election was the result of the first reality TV candidate to run his campaign like a reality TV series. Thus media spectacle is playing an increasingly important role in US politics. Indeed ‘Guy Debord might be astonished at the extent to which spectacle has come to dominate politics in high-tech supercapitalist societies of the hyperspectacle’.
Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Other Tremors

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for unilateral placement in the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VL) for the treatment of essential tremor (ET) and tremor due to Parkinson's disease (PD). There is also evidence that VL DBS is effective for tremor secondary to other causes such as multiple sclerosis (MS), post-anoxic and post-traumatic action tremor, and miscellaneous tremors from other causes. In this chapter, experience with VL DBS for tremor due to conditions other than ET or PD are reviewed. It also discusses surgical approaches that may be unique to non-ET and non-PD patients. VL DBS is discussed as a safe, effective treatment for the reduction of tremor due to a wide variety of disorders. The issue of cost-effectiveness is also addressed. Finally, some implications of VL DBS for non-ET, non-PD, and other “off-label” indications will be considered.
Endurance training increases metabolic rate and norepinephrine appearance rate in older individuals

We examined the effects of an 8-wk endurance training program (cycling exercise) on resting metabolic rate (RMR) and norepinephrine (NE) kinetics in 19 older persons (64 +/- 1.6 yr). Before and after training, RMR, NE kinetics, maximal O2 consumption (VO2max), body composition, supine blood pressure, estimated energy intake, and fasting levels of glucose, insulin, and thyroid hormones were measured. RMR increased 10% after training. Resting concentrations of NE increased 24% after training due to a 21% increase in NE appearance rate and no change in NE clearance. Training increased VO2max (14%; P less than 0.01) and energy intake (12%; P less than 0.01), whereas no change was noted in body composition. Supine blood pressure and plasma glucose were lower after training, whereas no change was noted in fasting levels of plasma insulin. The increase in RMR was associated with a higher rate of NE appearance (r = 0.57; P = 0.05) and with increase in energy intake (r = 0.56; P = 0.05). Together these two factors accounted for 49% (r2) of the variation of the change in RMR. Changes in blood pressure were not associated with changes in NE kinetics. We conclude that endurance training increases total energy expenditure in older individuals by the direct energy cost of physical activity and by elevating RMR. This increase is partially mediated by an increased NE appearance rate and increased food intake in healthy older individuals.
A Review of Fuzzy Set Theoretic Approaches and Their Applications in Environmental Practice

Fuzzy set theory deals with characterizing and quantifying vague and imprecise information and as such can be of high value in environmental practice. While statistical randomness arises due to lack of adequate data and variability in a system, fuzziness incorporates imprecision arising from lack of complete information, conflicting viewpoints or theories, incomplete or incorrect models of physical phenomenon and subjective decisions made during analysis. Clearly, fuzziness is quite prevalent in environmental practice and must be quantified for risk-informed decision making. While fuzzy logic approaches offer several advantages, lack of understanding and training among practitioners is seen as a significant bottleneck in routine utilization of fuzzy based schemes. Conventional mathematical approaches, such as establishing relationships between inputs and outputs, regression, calculus, and hypothesis testing can all be carried out on fuzzy variables. The literature on fuzzy set -theoretic approaches is rich and a significant amount of research is being carried out to identify solutions to new problems and refine existing approaches. Several theoretical contributions suitable for use in environmental practice have been identified in this review. In addition, selected example environmental applications where fuzzy logic based schemes have been employed have also been documented. It is hoped that environmental practitioners and regulators will appreciate the utility of fuzzy logic in characterizing imprecision that plagues environmental analysis and utilize its functionality in routine risk, remedial, regulatory and other applications.
From Virtual Characterization to Test-Chips: DFM Analysis Through Pattern Enumeration

As CMOS technology continues to scale down due to advances in lithography, the interaction of neighboring patterns is exacerbated. Every pattern printed on silicon is influenced by its neighbors given a technology-specific interaction range. As transistors and cells shrink to sizes of the same order of the interaction range, pattern dependencies at the 16-nm node (and below) make the prediction of functional and parametric yield challenging. Precharacterizing all combinations of layouts as a function of all possible neighboring patterns is impractical due to exponential complexity, whereas silicon characterization of all patterns is practically impossible. In this paper, we propose a virtual characterization vehicle (VCV) methodology that can exhaustively identify all uniquely occurring layout patterns in a standard cell library. VCVs can expose all cell neighboring arrangements as a function of a radius of influence while compiling the pattern frequency and also uncovering the arrangement of cells that create unique patterns. Effects that span multiple layers are also captured in our analysis. VCV results can be used to co-design libraries by suggesting favorable compositions as well as favorable layout styles. Finally, VCVs can be turned into test-chips that are guaranteed to cover all identified patterns with the aid of self-testing features. An extremely regular library was developed in 16-nm FinFET technology and is used to showcase our pattern analysis in which DFM quality is shown to be improved with respect to commercial libraries. Our silicon results demonstrate the feasibility of turning the VCV approach into real silicon test chips.
Biological and environmental exposure monitoring of volatile organic compounds among nail technicians in the Greater Boston area.

Nail technicians are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from nail products, but no studies have previously measured VOC biomarkers for these workers. This study of 10 nail technicians aimed to identify VOCs in nail salons and explore relationships between air concentrations and biomarkers. Personal and area air samples were collected using thermal desorption tubes during a work shift and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for 71 VOCs. Whole blood samples were collected pre-shift and post-shift, and analyzed using GC/MS for 43 VOCs. Ventilation rates were determined using continuous CO2 measurements. Predominant air VOC levels were ethyl methacrylate (median 240 µg/m3 ), methyl methacrylate (median 205 µg/m3 ), toluene (median 100 µg/m3 ), and ethyl acetate (median 639 µg/m3 ). Blood levels were significantly higher post-shift than pre-shift for toluene (median pre-shift 0.158 µg/L and post-shift 0.360 µg/L) and ethyl acetate (median pre-shift <0.158 µg/L and post-shift 0.510 µg/L); methacrylates were not measured in blood because of their instability. Based on VOCs measured in these seven nail salons, we estimated that emissions from Greater Boston area nail salons may contribute to ambient VOCs. Ventilation rates did not always meet the ASHRAE guideline for nail salons. There is a need for changes in nail product formulation and better ventilation to reduce VOC occupational exposures.
Novel Test for the Equality of Continuous Curves with Homoscedastic or Heteroscedastic Measurement Errors

Testing equality of two curves occurs often in functional data analysis. In this paper, we develop procedures for testing if two curves measured with either homoscedastic or heteroscedastic errors are equal. The method is applicable to a general class of curves. Compared with existing tests, ours does not require repeated measurements to obtain the variances at each of the explanatory values. Instead, our test calculates the overall variances by pooling all of the data points. The null distribution of the test statistic is derived and an approximation formula to calculate the p value is developed when the heteroscedastic variances are either known or unknown. Simulations are conducted to show that this procedure works well in the finite sample situation. Comparisons with other test procedures are made based on simulated data sets. Applications to our motivating example from an environmental study will be illustrated. An R package was created for ease of general applications.
Limb Salvage vs. Amputation

There is no commonly seen parallel in the civilian trauma setting that can prepare one for the instant you see your first patient with traumatic amputations caused by an explosive device. Your ATLS training will serve as your backstop. The airway must be effectively secured, if it is not already. In a mature theatre, it is likely that field medics have already taken several steps, to include endotracheal intubation and control of catastrophic hemorrhage with tourniquets. If this hasn’t been done, apply a tourniquet to stop major hemorrhage immediately. Begin resuscitation with blood products the instant intravenous or intraosseous access is obtained. It is quite conceivable that as an orthopedic surgeon, you will be supervising the resuscitation. Know the transfusion protocols for your theater.
Loss of the PTCH1 tumor suppressor defines a new subset of plexiform fibromyxoma.

Plexiform fibromyxoma (PF) is a rare gastric tumor often confused with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. These so-called “benign” tumors often present with upper GI bleeding and gastric outlet obstruction. It was recently demonstrated that approximately one-third of PF have activation of the GLI1 oncogene, a transcription factor in the hedgehog (Hh) pathway, via a MALAT1-GLI1 fusion protein or GLI1 up-regulation. Despite this discovery, the biology of most PFs remains unknown. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of PF specimens collected from three institutions (UCSD, NCI and OHSU). Fresh frozen tissue from one tumor was utilized for in vitro assays, including quantitative RT-PCR and cell viability assays following drug treatment. Eight patients with PF were identified and 5 patients’ tumors were analyzed by NGS. An index case had a mono-allelic PTCH1 deletion of exons 15–24 and a second case, identified in a validation cohort, also had a PTCH1 gene loss associated with a suspected long-range chromosome 9 deletion. Building on the role of Hh signaling in PF, PTCH1, a tumor suppressor protein, functions upstream of GLI1. Loss of PTCH1 induces GLI1 activation and downstream gene transcription. Utilizing fresh tissue from the index PF case, RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated expression of Hh pathway components, SMO and GLI1, as well as GLI1 transcriptional targets, CCND1 and HHIP. In turn, short-term in vitro treatment with a Hh pathway inhibitor, sonidegib, resulted in dose-dependent cell killing. For the first time, we report a novel association between PTCH1 inactivation and the development of plexiform fibromyxoma. Hh pathway inhibition with SMO antagonists may represent a target to study for treating a subset of plexiform fibromyxomas.
Use of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors in the Modern Era of Acute Coronary Syndrome Management: A Survey of Cardiovascular Clinical Pharmacists

Evidence for the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is from the era of either limited utilization of P2Y12 inhibitors or prior the introduction of more potent P2Y12 inhibitors. This leads to divergent opinions regarding the role of these agents in contemporary practice. This study sought the opinion of cardiovascular clinical pharmacists regarding the role of GPIs in the modern of ACS management. A 13-question survey was created and distributed from June 2018 to July 2018 via the American College of Clinical Pharmacy's Cardiology Practice and Research Network e-mail listserv. The survey consisted of questions regarding the ideal use of GPIs in ACS management, preferred agent selection, and rational for selection. All results were analyzed with descriptive statistics. There were a total 69 responses of 1175 (response rate 5.9%). The majority felt there was still a role for GPI in accordance to the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (65.2%), with eptifibatide being preferred (55.1%). For non-ST-segment myocardial infraction (NSTEMI), only 49.3% felt role of GPI was in line with the ACC/AHA guidelines, but a notable number of respondents felt GPIs were only indicated in NSTEMI patients for bailout or thrombotic complications (18.8%). A majority (56.5%) felt GPIs could be used as an alternative for cangrelor when bridging. The decision to use one agent over another were efficacy data, cost, and pharmacokinetic profile.
Evolutionary analyses guide selection of model systems to investigate proto-oncogene function in ALK and LTK

Abstract Model systems to investigate oncogene-driven cancer have played an essential role in the development of therapies for cancer. However, not all systems are appropriate for all therapeutic targets. Knowing where and when proto-oncogenes and their interactors originated in evolutionary history is key to understanding which organisms can serve as models. Here we investigate two tyrosine kinase receptors that underlie tumorigenesis in cancer: anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK). In Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabitis elegans, and Homo sapiens, the discovery of putative ligands Jeb, Hen-1, and AUG has the potential to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics. However, homology of these ligands and receptors is unclear. We performed an exhaustive search for their homologs spanning the metazoan tree of life. Jeb and Hen-1 were restricted to species that diverged prior to the origin of all vertebrates. No non-vertebrate species had ligands orthologous to AUG. Instead, an ancestral receptor tyrosine kinase and AUG gene were present in early vertebrates and are still solitary in lamprey; we demonstrate that the early embryonic expression of AUG in lamprey parallels its expression in model mammal systems. The presence of ALK and LTK in jawed vertebrates is an evolutionary innovation, as is a previously unrecognized functional convergence within ALK and LTK occurring between actinopterygians and sarcopterygians. Our results provide the phylogenetic context necessary for the selection of model organisms that will provide informative investigations of the biology of these critically important tyrosine kinase receptors, enabling successful therapeutic development. Significance The anaplastic lymphoma kinase ALK can be oncogenically altered to become a driver of several malignancies, including non-small-cell lung cancer and anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. The development of therapeutics targeting this gene depend on the discovery of its interacting partner ligands in relevant model organisms. ALK is found across most major animal groups including mammals, fishes, and invertebrates. Correspondly, several candidate ligands for ALK and its duplicate LTK have been advanced by research in model species. However their homology to the human ligands and therefore their potential to guide therapeutic development is unknown. Our comparative evolutionary analysis revealed which model organisms had functional receptor-ligand pairings that are informative regarding the role of these genes in human tumorigenesis.
Chapter 17 – Polymeric Plasticizers

Publisher Summary This chapter focusses on polymeric plasticizers. A plasticizer is a chemical used to reduce the stiffness of an amorphous (glassy) thermoplastic resin and improve the processibility of the product. The result of incorporating a plasticizer is a product that has a lower degree of stiffness than the parent thermoplastic. This chapter includes some information on low molecular weight “polymeric” plasticizers, which are usually liquids as well as the true polymeric plasticizers, which are high molecular weight solids. Low molecular weight plasticizers are used to enhance the flexibility of a rigid resin or to improve its processibility. If the rigid resin has a low Tg (glass transition temperature), both effects are obtained, and if the rigid resin has a high Tg and a high melt viscosity, the plasticizer may produce a dramatic improvement in the processibility of the melt with a relatively minor decrease in the rigidity of the resin. The fundamental molecular effect of a monomeric plasticizer is to interact on a molecular scale with the segments of the polymer to speed up the viscoelastic response of the polymer. A polymeric plasticizer produces exactly the same result and increases the molecular mobility of the polymer chains. This increase in mobility produces a lowering of the Tg.
Monochrome multiplex qPCR of 18S and 5.8S human rDNA

The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) encodes the structural RNAs of the ribosomes. Ribosomal DNA instability is a major contributor to aging in yeast, but the role of rDNA instability in human aging and longevity is largely unknown. Human 45S rDNA, which encodes the 18S, 5.8S, and 28S RNAs, occurs as tandem repeats on the short arms of the five acrocentric chromosomes (p13, p14, p15, p21, and p22). The 45S rDNA copy number has been reported to range from 60 to > 800 copies per cell, and to be prone to frequent homologous and non-homologous recombination. Here we present two monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR (MMqPCR) assays, one for 18S rDNA normalized to the single copy gene beta-globin (HBB), and the other for 5.8S rDNA normalized to the single copy gene albumin (ALB), with both measurements expressed relative to those obtained from a reference DNA sample, using the relative qPCR method. Longitudinally collected pairs of DNA samples from bloods drawn approximately 16 years apart from 40 females and 39 males, aged
221 Poor performance status negatively affects survival benefit of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Background Immunotherapy has shown survival benefit as both frontline and subsequent therapy in multiple cancers. However, its efficacy in patients with poor performance status is unknown since they are excluded from the clinical trials. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the effect of poor performance status (PS) on survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received immunotherapy as a subsequent line of treatment. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 341 patients with NSCLC receiving immunotherapy as between July 2013 and June 2018. Progression-free survival and overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curve. Results The average age of patients was 66 years (range: 39–90 years), with a male predominance (57%). Majority of the patients were Caucasian (87%), followed by African-American (12%), and Asian (1%). Most of the patients were former smoker (72%), followed by current smoker (19%) and never smoker (7%). Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 206 (60%) patients and 112 (33%) patients, respectively. The ECOG-PS was 0, 1, 2 and 3 in 46 (13%), 175 (51%), 86 (25%) and 34 (10%), respectively. Four different immunotherapies were used, namely atezolizumab in 10 (3%), durvalumab in 34 (10%), nivolumab in 152 (44%) and pembrolizumab in 144 (42%) patients. Average number of cycles of atezolizumab received by the patient was 6 (range 2–22 cycles), durvalumab 15 (range 1–29 cycles), nivolumab 11 (range 1–112 cycles), and pembrolizumab 12 (range 1–52 cycles). Patients were grouped in good performance status (ECOG 0–1) and poor performance status (ECOG ≥2). The median progression free survival (PFS) was 7 months (95% CI 6.3–8.2) in patients with good PS and 3 months (95% CI 1.8–4.6) in patients with poor performance status (p Conclusions Our data suggests that while the patients with poor PS tolerated the immunotherapy. However, poor PS was associated with significantly lower PFS and OS. Further studies are required to evaluate the effect of PS on survival in frontline immunotherapy. Acknowledgements We thank Dr. Saqib Abbasi for helpful discussions. Trial Registration N/A Ethics Approval The study was approved by the Institution Review Board at KUMC, #CR00009003. References N/A
Giorgio Agamben’s Stasis (Civil War): An Illuminating Paradigm for Ecumenical Studies?

This chapter employs the writings of Giorgio Agamben on stasis (the ancient Greek word for “civil war”) to show how his analysis might shed light on ecumenical discourses, particularly as it applies to relationships between Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The chapter juxtaposes the work of Agamben with the 1993 “Balamand Statement,” “Uniatism, Method of Union of the Past, and the Present Search for Full Communion” issued by the seventh plenary session of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The chapter employs the paradigm of stasis heuristically, focusing on Agamben’s analysis of the Athenian Civil War of 403 B.C. and conflicts between ancient Greek city states, and the mode of their resolution, applying it to contemporary Orthodox–Eastern Catholic conflicts and engagements.
Negotiating the Ethics of Representation in RHM Research

Drawing from my experience conducting an interview-based study on vaccine hesitancy, this essay explores the ethical negotiations RHM researchers face when recruiting participants from online communities, and especially communities that are stigmatized or otherwise distrustful of researchers. I discuss the specific challenges I faced during this process, and offer four suggestions for researchers engaged in this work. These include the valuable role of reflexive journaling, the need for participant input in the distribution of recruitment messages, the importance of accounting for the dynamic nature of online communication, and the ways that participant communication online may shape off-line interactions. This essay can offer guidance to RHM scholars facing similar situations, and contribute to the broader conversation about practice-level ethical concerns in RHM research involving online communities
Comparing clinical and radiographic outcomes of robotic-assisted, computer-navigated and conventional unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract Introduction The purpose was to compare robotic assisted (RA), computer navigated (CN), and conventional UKA techniques. Methods Databases were queried for data on study characteristics, UKA systems, complications, and tibiofemoral alignment. Results Four RA and six CN RCTs were identified. No significant differences were found in operative time, tibiofemoral alignment, and reoperation rates when comparing RA or CN to conventional UKA. RA UKA resulted in a significantly lower risk of complications compared to conventional UKA. Conclusions RA UKA results in fewer complications than conventional UKA with a clinically significant increase in operative time. All groups were similar in remaining evaluated parameters.
Characteristics of Lower Extremity Infection Rates Following Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common complication for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Lower extremity surgical sites are at an increased risk for developing SSI. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate lower extremity SSI rates post-MMS based on closure type and antibiotic usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was performed of all lower extremity MMS cases from 2011 to 2016 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Patient history, surgical details, and follow-up appointments were reviewed. RESULTS Six hundred twenty MMS lower extremity surgeries were eligible. Review identified an overall lower extremity SSI rate of 7.4%. Infection rates were significantly increased in wound closed by flaps/grafts (p < .001). Although wound size and preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis were initially associated with increased infection rate (p = .03, p = .015), the associations were fully attenuated when adjusting for closure type. CONCLUSION More complicated repair techniques (flap/graft) for larger wound sizes contribute to increased SSI risk among lower extremity MMS cases. Providers can use this information to guide antibiotic prophylaxis.
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) Using Quantum Dot Gate Field-Effect Transistor (QDGFET)

Analog circuits such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) using QDGFET are discussed in Chapter 7. This chapter also introduces another quantum dot-based device known as quantum dot gate nonvolatile memory (QDNVM) which is used as a variable threshold voltage transistor (QDVTH) to realize compact comparator circuits. This chapter discusses the reduction of the number of elements in circuits based on QDGFET. Different comparator architectures are also discussed here. The design of six-bit ADCs and DACs is also presented. Performance analysis of a three-bit ADC as well as six-bit ADC is also presented. The design of a “reconstruction circuit” which successfully reconstructs the input analog signal concludes the chapter.
Emotions and Multilingualism

List of tables Preface 1. Languages and emotions: what can a multilingual perspective contribute? 2. Emotions in the study of multilingualism: framing the questions 3. Vocal level: is the lady angry? 4. Semantic and conceptual levels: the bilingual mental lexicon 5. Discursive level: I feel zhalko tebia bednogo 6. Neurophysiological level: his coeur is where his feelings dwell 7. Social cognition: I no longer wanted to speak German 8. Emotions and multilingualism: an integrated perspective Appendices References Author index Subject index.
A code migration framework for AJAX applications

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) defines a new paradigm for writing highly interactive web applications. Prominent web sites such as Google Maps have made AJAX popular. Writing AJAX applications requires intimate knowledge of JavaScript since it is difficult to write cross-browser portable JavaScript applications. In this paper we first discuss the benefits of AJAX compared to other technologies such as Java applets. Then we propose a code migration framework that allows the programmer to write AJAX applications in Java. The Java application is automatically translated to JavaScript and migrated to the browser for execution. Our approach requires no knowledge of JavaScript. As web applications are written in Java, the developer benefits from powerful debugging tools that are not available for JavaScript. We have implemented a prototype that demonstrates the feasibility of our ideas. The prototype is available under an Open Source license.
Design and tests of the injector synchrotron magnets for the 7-GeV Advanced Photon Source

Design and magnetic measurements of the pre-production dipole, quadrupole and sextupole magnets for the 7-GeV Advanced Photon Source (APS) injector synchrotron (IS) are described. >
Pregnancy following total hysterectomy.

Abstract Twenty-one cases of pregnancy following total hysterectomy are reviewed. Fourteen followed vaginal and seven followed abdominal hysterectomies. Twelve presented as immediate postoperative complications (the early ectopic) and nine presented many months or years later (the late ectopic). The clinical course was typical for ectopic pregnancy but therapy was delayed because this diagnosis was rarely considered. In the early cases the surgery had been done between days 16 and 19 of the menstrual cycle. The embryonic sizes suggested that the fertilized ovum had been in the tube at the time of the hysterectomy and its passage had been blocked by the tubal ligature. The patients were treated for presumed postoperative infection despite normal temperatures and leukocyte counts. A tender adnexal mass was noted only after several weeks, in contrast to the usual earlier presentation of inflammatory masses. Pregnancy test was positive in the two cases tested.
Reconstruction of metabolic pathways by combining probabilistic graphical model-based and knowledge-based methods

Automatic reconstruction of metabolic pathways for an organism from genomics and transcriptomics data has been a challenging and important problem in bioinformatics. Traditionally, known reference pathways can be mapped into an organism-specific ones based on its genome annotation and protein homology. However, this simple knowledge-based mapping method might produce incomplete pathways and generally cannot predict unknown new relations and reactions. In contrast, ab initio metabolic network construction methods can predict novel reactions and interactions, but its accuracy tends to be low leading to a lot of false positives. Here we combine existing pathway knowledge and a new ab initio Bayesian probabilistic graphical model together in a novel fashion to improve automatic reconstruction of metabolic networks. Specifically, we built a knowledge database containing known, individual gene / protein interactions and metabolic reactions extracted from existing reference pathways. Known reactions and interactions were then used as constraints for Bayesian network learning methods to predict metabolic pathways. Using individual reactions and interactions extracted from different pathways of many organisms to guide pathway construction is new and improves both the coverage and accuracy of metabolic pathway construction. We applied this probabilistic knowledge-based approach to construct the metabolic networks from yeast gene expression data and compared its results with 62 known metabolic networks in the KEGG database. The experiment showed that the method improved the coverage of metabolic network construction over the traditional reference pathway mapping method and was more accurate than pure ab initio methods.
Measuring option prices from market behavior

Abstract Option prices can be calculated from empirical demand models, given knowledge of the utility-theoretic structure implied by the demand specifications and the (joint) density of the random variables consumers face. Formulas for option price are given for three common weakly complementary demand specifications. Because it can be difficult to assess behavioral uncertainty and calculate option prices in practice, knowledge of the sign of option value is important, since it is a guide to the bias from ignoring this type of uncertainty. The sign of option value is determined for sources of uncertainty that have proved elusive in previous treatments.
Interganglionic segregation of distinct vagal afferent fibre phenotypes in guinea-pig airways

1. The present study addressed the hypothesis that jugular and nodose vagal ganglia contain the somata of functionally and anatomically distinct airway afferent fibres. 2. Anatomical investigations were performed by injecting guinea-pig airways with the neuronal tracer Fast Blue. The animals were killed 7 days later, and the ganglia were removed and immunostained with antisera against substance P (SP) and neurofilament protein (NF). In the nodose ganglion, NF-immunoreactive neurones accounted for about 98% of the Fast Blue-labelled cells while in the jugular ganglion they accounted for approximately 48%. SP and NF immunoreactivity was never (n = 100) observed in the same cell suggesting that the antisera labelled distinct populations. 3. Electrophysiological investigations were performed using an in vitro guinea-pig tracheal and bronchial preparation with intact afferent vagal pathways, including nodose and jugular ganglia. Action potentials arriving from single airway afferent nerve endings were monitored extracellularly using a glass microelectrode positioned near neuronal cell bodies in either ganglion. 4. The nodose ganglion contained the somata of mainly fast-conducting tracheal A delta fibres whereas the jugular ganglion contained equal numbers of C fibre and A delta fibre tracheal afferent somata. The nodose A delta neurones adapted rapidly to mechanical stimulation, had relatively low mechanical thresholds, were not activated by capsaicin and adapted rapidly to a hyperosmotic stimulus. By contrast, jugular A delta and C fibres adapted slowly to mechanical stimulation, were often activated by capsaicin, had higher mechanical thresholds and displayed a slow adaptation to a hyperosmotic stimulus. 5. The anatomical, physiological and pharmacological data provide evidence to support the contention that the vagal ganglionic source of the fibre supplying the airways ultimately dictates its neurochemical and physiological phenotype.
Mixed crystals of the KH2PO4 family

Abstract A review of past and current work with mixed crystals of the KH2PO4 family is presented. It concentrates on solid solutions where the cations have been mixed in large proportions to achieve properties different from those of the parent crystals. A large part of the review is devoted to mixed crystals of RbH2PO4 and NH4H2PO4, or RADP, which is a model system for structural glasses that has recently received considerable attention.
A model for calculating electron beam scattering in treatment planning

The Fermi‐Eyges theory of electron scattering overestimates the scattering of electron beams used in radiation therapy. The reason for this overestimate is the neglect of the loss of electrons which are scattered into highly oblique paths and removed from the beam at relatively shallow depths. A modification of Eyges’ solution to Fermi’s equation is presented to take this loss of electrons into account. Equations for the calculation of isodose distributions for any medium using pencil beams are developed. Experimental confirmation is presented for electron beams of 13 and 18 MeV in homogeneous water, polystyrene, Lucite, and aluminum phantoms.
Elastic fields due to centers of dilatation and thermal inhomogeneities in plane-layered solids

Abstract A n image method for obtaining the solution for a center of dilatation in a three-layer elastic solid with planar interfaces is presented. The three-layered elastic solid consists of an elastic slab sandwiched between two semi-infinite elastic solids. The three elastic solids are perfectly bonded together at the two planar interfaces. The solution is given in terms of Galerkin vectors which are in terms of an infinite series of the Newtonian potential function of a mass point at the center of dilatation, its mirror images and their derivatives. As an application, the solution for the center of dilatation is used to obtain the elastic solution due to thermal inhomogeneities. The thermoelastic solution is obtained by a method which is based on the integration of properly weighted centers of dilatation over the volume occupied by the inhomogeneity. The potential functions for the problem solved are the harmonic potential functions of attracting matter filling the volume of the thermal inhomogeneity and its mirror images. The solution for the thermal elastic stresses due to an expanding (or contracting) thermal inhomogeneity (inclusion) of any shape embedded in one of the solids is given as an example. Numerical results for a spherical inclusion with pure dilatation eigenstrain are also presented and discussed.
Net production of cerebrospinal fluid is decreased by SCH‐23390

A high density of binding sites for the ligands 3H-SCH-23390 and 3H-SKF-83566 has been found in the choroid plexus. Although these sites have similar pharmacology to D1 dopamine receptors, the high-affinity component of 3H-SCH-23390 binding in the choroid plexus has been identified as the 5-HT1c subtype of serotonin receptor. We investigated the possible role of these receptors in modulating the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in rats. (R) SCH-23390 produced up to a 50% decrease in net CSF production, compared to saline. This compound is a partial agonist at 5-HT1c serotonin receptors, and an antagonist at D1 dopamine receptors. The (S) enantiomer of SCH-23390 (SCH-23388) was ineffective. Drugs interacting with receptors for neurotransmitters in the choroid plexus may hold promise for the treatment of patients with increased intracranial pressure, including those with mass lesions, head trauma, acute or chronic hydrocephalus, or pseudotumor cerebri.