cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 3-dimensional with 2-dimensional saline infusion sonohysterograms for the evaluation of intrauterine abnormalities.

Objective. To compare 3-dimensional saline infusion sonohysterography (3DSIS) with 2-dimensional sonohysterography (2DSIS) using hysteroscopy and histologic diagnosis as the gold standard. Method. A retrospective analysis of all SIS examination performed between July 1, 2005 and April 30, 2007 in our gynecological sonographic unit. 2DSIS or 3DSIS sonographic techniques were used randomly. Management decisions and operative procedures were done by the referring provider. Patients that had diagnostic hysteroscopy and complete histologic evaluation were included. Concordance between the various assessment methods as well as sensitivity and specificity were compared between 2DSIS and 3DSIS. Student's t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result. Of 804 patients that had SIS, 125 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patient median age was 48 (range 19–82). Also, 77 patients were premenopausal, and 48 patients were postmenopausal. Furthermore, 43 patients had 2DSIS and 82 patients had 3DSIS. 3DSIS was found to correlate with hysteroscopic findings more often than 2DSIS (p < 0.05). A trend for higher specificity of 3DSIS with the different uterine pathologies was seen, but it did not reach statistical significance. No difference in sensitivity of 3DSIS compared with 2DSIS was found for all pathologic diagnoses. Conclusion. 3DSIS correlated better with hysteroscopy than 2DSIS. Specificity for histologic diagnosis appears to be higher with 3DSIS compared with 2DSIS but larger-scale studies are needed to confirm this finding. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2009
Multi-Material Inkjet Printing of Self-Assembling and Reacting Coatings

Inkjet printing was used to deposit alternating 100 nm layers of anionic and cationic polymers in order to form self-assembled ionic complexes on flat and fabric substrates. The layers formed are characterized by elemental analysis, microscopy and solubility. As initially deposited, layers are soluble but form insoluble complexes when they are heated and annealed. This approach has been applied to polypeptides, polymer dyes, polymers with nanoparticulate pigments and also to epoxy adhesives.
Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors differentially affect vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin levels in women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Circulating and cellular proangiogenic and antiangiogenic proteins such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin contribute to the local angiogenic balance. We explored the effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors on concentrations of VEGF and endostatin in plasma, serum, and platelet releasate (induced by platelet activation). Experimental Design: VEGF and endostatin concentrations were measured with a quantitative immunoassay before and after 1 to 5 weeks of treatment in 30 women with breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen ( n = 14) or aromatase inhibitors ( n = 16). Platelet activation was induced by a thrombin receptor agonist. Results: Tamoxifen therapy resulted in an increase in platelet releasate concentrations of VEGF ( P = 0.01) but no change in plasma VEGF. In contrast, aromatase inhibitor therapy did not affect serum, plasma, or platelet releasate VEGF. In univariate analysis, aspirin use attenuated the tamoxifen-associated increase in VEGF in the platelet releasate and decreased serum levels of VEGF ( P = 0.03). Aromatase inhibitor therapy resulted in a decrease in serum endostatin concentrations ( P = 0.04), whereas plasma concentrations of endostatin tended to be higher during treatment with aromatase inhibitors ( P = 0.06). Tamoxifen therapy resulted in no change in serum or plasma endostatin concentrations. Platelet releasate concentrations of endostatin did not change with either treatment. Interindividual variability was noted among both aromatase inhibitor– and tamoxifen-treated patients. Conclusions: Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor therapy affect VEGF and endostatin levels and likely contribute to the angiogenic balance in breast cancer patients. Aspirin decreased the proangiogenic effects of tamoxifen, suggesting that antiplatelet and/or antiangiogenic therapy might improve the effectiveness of tamoxifen in women with breast cancer.
Monolithic integration of GaAs/AlGaAs double-heterostructure LED's and Si MOSFET's

Fully monolithic integration of interconnected GaAs/Al-GaAs double-heterostructure LED's and Si MOSFET's is demonstrated for the first time. The Si MOSFET's, with a gate length of 5 µm and gate width of 1.6 mm, have almost the same characteristics as those of control devices fabricated on a separate Si wafer. The LED output collected by a microscope lens with a numerical aperture of 0.65 is about 6.5 µW at 100- mA dc current. LED modulation rates up to 27 Mbit/s have been achieved by applying a stream of voltage pulses to the MOSFET gate. The modulation rate is limited by the speed of the MOSFET.
An Alternative Approach to Analyzing the Interstitial Decay from the End of Range Damage During Millisecond Annealing

Flash-assist Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) presents an opportunity to investigate annealing time and temperature regimes which were previously not accessible with conventional annealing techniques such as Rapid Thermal Annealing. This provides a unique opportunity to explore the early stages of the End of Range (EOR) damage evolution and also to examine how the damage evolves during the high temperature portion of the temperature profile. However, the nature of the Flash-assist RTP makes it is extremely difficult to reasonably compare it to alternative annealing techniques, largely because the annealing time at a given temperature is dictated by the FWHM of the radiation pulse. The FWHM for current flash tools vary between 0.85 and 1.38 milliseconds, which is three orders of magnitude smaller to that required for a RTA to achieve similar temperatures. Traditionally, the kinetics of the extended defects has been studied by time dependent studies utilizing isothermal anneals; in which specific defect structures could be isolated. The characteristics of Flash-assist RTP do not allow for such investigations in which the EOR defect evolution could be closely tracked with time. Since the annealing time at the target temperature for the Flash-assist RTP is essentially fixed to very small times on the order of milliseconds, isochronal anneals are a logical experimental approach to temperature dependent studies. This fact presents a challenge in the data analysis and comparison. Another feature of Flash-assist RTP which makes the analysis complex is the ramp time relative to the dwell time spent at the peak fRTP temperature. As the flash anneal temperature is increased the total ramp time can exceed the dwell time at the peak temperature, which may play a significantly larger role in dictating the final material properties. The inherent characteristics of Flash-assist RTP have consequently required the development of another approach to analyzing the attainable experimental data, such that a meaningful comparison could be made to past studies. The adopted analysis entails the selection of a reference anneal, from which the decay in the trapped interstitial density can be tracked with the flash anneal temperature, allowing for the kinetics of the interstitial decay to be extracted.
Variability in inpatient management of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis.

Abstract Objective To determine the variability between hospitals in diagnostic testing and management interventions for children with bronchiolitis admitted to inpatient wards and identify its association with patient characteristics. Methods A prospective, multicenter (16 hospitals), multiyear (2007–2010) observational study of children (age Results Of 2207 subjects, 1715 were identified as admitted to inpatient wards. We observed wide variations in the proportion of patients who received diagnostic testing (complete blood count 21–75%, chest radiograph 36–85%) and medications/interventions (bronchodilators 19–91%, systemic corticosteroids 8–44%, antibiotics 17–43%, IV placement 38–93%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical patient characteristics did not materially affect the proportion of variability attributable to hospitals (differences in ICCs with and without model adjustment Conclusions Wide variations in diagnostic test utilization and management interventions seen among children with bronchiolitis treated on the inpatient wards at 16 US hospitals were not attributable to demographic or clinical patient characteristics. These results further support efforts to standardize care for bronchiolitis through active quality improvement strategies.
Body Weight-Specific Zinc Compartmental Masses in Girls Significantly Exceed Those Reported in Adults: A Stable Isotope Study Using a Kinetic Model

Maintaining optimal zinc status is important for normal growth and development in children, but minimal data are available regarding zinc metabolism in this age group. Our objectives were to utilize stable isotope-based compartmental modeling techniques to investigate zinc metabolism in healthy children; to expand a current stable isotope-based model to include red blood cell data; and to compare kinetic parameters in children with those previously reported in adults. Seven healthy girls, age 9.94 +/- 0.79 y, received 1.1 mg of a (67)zinc-enriched tracer orally and 0.5 mg of a (70)zinc-enriched tracer intravenously. Blood, urine and fecal samples were collected for 6 d. Stable isotope enrichments were measured by thermal ionization magnetic sector mass spectrometry. A six-compartment model based on a model previously reported in adults was used; the model excluded red blood cell data. Body weight-corrected masses of the body zinc compartments derived using this model were significantly greater in children than those reported in adults. Modification of the model to include a red blood cell compartment increased the total identifiable zinc mass of the nongastrointestinal compartments by approximately 2.5%. We conclude that compartmental modeling can be used to describe zinc kinetics in children, and that the body weight-corrected zinc pool masses are significantly greater in children than in adults.
In vitro inhibition of multiplication of Babesia bigemina by using monoclonal antibodies.

A panel of 21 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against the erythrocytic stages of Babesia bigemina was produced. The 21 MAb could be divided into four distinct immunofluorescence groups on the basis of their patterns of binding to B. bigemina-infected erythrocytes. Nine MAb positive in the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test with acetone-fixed B. bigemina-infected erythrocytes were selected for purification and further characterization. The MAb were species specific, since they did not cross-react with B. bovis, but they were not stage specific. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biological activity of B. bigemina-specific MAb in vitro. Three MAb inhibited the multiplication of B. bigemina in vitro as assessed by a lowered percentage of parasitized erythrocytes and by a decreased incorporation of [3H]hypoxanthine. These MAb are now being utilized to purify the correspondent parasite polypeptides, either native or recombinant, in order to test them as subunit immunogens. Images
Controlling Nanoparticle Delivery in Hyperthermia for Cancer Treatment: In Vitro Experimental Study

Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia attracts growing research interest aiming to develop a localized heating approach for malignant tumors treatment. In this method, magnetic nanoparticles delivered to the tissue or blood vessels induce localized heating when exposed to alternating magnetic field, leading to irreversible thermal damage to the tumor. Controlling the heat distribution and temperature elevation in such treatment is still an immense challenge in clinical applications. In this study, we inject nanofluid into agarose gel to study nanofluid transport in the extracellular space of biological tissue. Nanofluid distribution in the gel is examined via digital images of the nanofluid spreading in the gel. By adjusting gel concentrations and injection flow rates, we expect to identify an idealized particle delivery strategy for achieving spherical shaped nanoparticle dispersion. Thermocouples are then inserted into the gel to measure the initial temperature rises at various locations in the gel to obtain the specific absorption rate (SAR). The preliminary results have demonstrated that a spherical shaped particle deposition is possible with a relatively low injection rate of the nanofluid and a technique that minimizes the air gap surrounding the injection needle. The distribution of energy absorption (SAR) implies that the nanoparticle distribution in the gel is not uniform. High concentration of nanoparticles is observed close to the center of the injection site. Based on the particle deposition pattern, a theoretical model will be developed in the future to simulate the temperature distribution in tissue during nanoparticle hyperthermia treatment. The simulated results will help provide guidance for designing a better treatment protocol in future clinical application.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Will 3D Virtual Dissection Display Prove to Be the Display Format for Reviewing CT Colonography Examinations

In the study by Kim et al, primary two-dimensional (2D) search with a three-dimensional (3D) problem-solving technique was compared with a 3D virtual dissection technique, with use of two independent reviewers. The authors observed no significant difference (P >.05) in sensitivity or specificity between the two techniques for the detection of polyps 6 mm or larger, whereas the median review time with virtual dissection was significantly (P <.05) shorter. This may have implications for the application of computed tomographic (CT) colonography for screening the asymptomatic average-risk population.
Disability following combat-sustained nerve injury of the upper limb

Injuries to the limb are the most frequent cause of permanent disability following combat wounds. We reviewed the medical records of 450 soldiers to determine the type of upper limb nerve injuries sustained, the rate of remaining motor and sensory deficits at final follow-up, and the type of Army disability ratings granted. Of 189 soldiers with an injury of the upper limb, 70 had nerve-related trauma. There were 62 men and eight women with a mean age of 25 years (18 to 49). Disabilities due to nerve injuries were associated with loss of function, neuropathic pain or both. The mean nerve-related disability was 26% (0% to 70%), accounting for over one-half of this cohort's cumulative disability. Patients injured in an explosion had higher disability ratings than those injured by gunshot. The ulnar nerve was most commonly injured, but most disability was associated with radial nerve trauma. In terms of the final outcome, at military discharge 59 subjects (84%) experienced persistent weakness, 48 (69%) had a persistent sensory deficit and 17 (24%) experienced chronic pain from scar-related or neuropathic pain. Nerve injury was the cause of frequent and substantial disability in our cohort of wounded soldiers.
The Molecular Evolution of Actin

We have investigated the molecular evolution of plant and nonplant actin genes comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 20 actin genes. Nucleotide changes resulting in amino acid substitutions (replacement substitutions) ranged from 3-7% for all pairwise comparisons of animal actin genes with the following exceptions. Comparisons between higher animal muscle actin gene sequences and comparisons between higher animal cytoplasmic actin gene sequences indicated less than 3% divergence. Comparisons between plant and nonplant actin genes revealed, with two exceptions, 11-15% replacement substitution. In the analysis of plant actins, replacement substitution between soybean actin genes SAc1, SAc3, SAc4 and maize actin gene MAc1 ranged from 8-10%, whereas these members within the soybean actin gene family ranged from 6-9% replacement substitution. The rate of sequence divergence of plant actin sequences appears to be similar to that observed for animal actins. Furthermore, these and other data suggest that the plant actin gene family is ancient and that the families of soybean and maize actin genes have diverged from a single common ancestral plant actin gene that originated long before the divergence of monocots and dicots. The soybean actin multigene family encodes at least three classes of actin. These classes each contain a pair of actin genes that have been designated kappa (SAc1, SAc6), lambda (SAc2, SAc4) and mu (SAc3, SAc7). The three classes of soybean actin are more divergent in nucleotide sequence from one another than higher animal cytoplasmic actin is divergent from muscle actin. The location and distribution of amino acid changes were compared between actin proteins from all sources. A comparison of the hydropathy of all actin sequences, except from Oxytricha, indicated a strong similarity in hydropathic character between all plant and nonplant actins despite the greater number of replacement substitutions in plant actins. These protein sequence comparisons are discussed with respect to the demonstrated and implicated roles of actin in plants and animals, as well as the tissue-specific expression of actin.
The Pulque Trade of Late Colonial Mexico City

Over the course of the colonial period the Spanish in Mexico, whether Creole or peninsular, not only created an economic and marketing structure based on their own practices and preferences but also penetrated and even came to dominate the marketing of certain Indian commodities, when these products were exchanged in a cash rather than a barter system and when involvement in the marketing appeared sufficiently lucrative. Cacao was probably the first item in the indegenous market economy whose distribution was taken over by Spaniards. Cacao had been a long-distance import item of high specific value even in the pre-Conquest world and the victorious Spanish quickly replaced the disappearing pochteca class of merchants which had controlled its distribution.
Evaluating Bioretention Areas from Two Field Sites in North Carolina

Due to recent fish kills along the Mid-Atlantic coast, new regulations require all future land disturbing activities — including the urbanization or development of land — to be environmentally friendly. Consequently, stormwater management practices are being designed to remove nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, before runoff reaches streams. One stormwater practice, bioretention, is gaining popularity in commercial development because it can easily be sited in the required natural areas of parking lot medians; however, the current design criteria used for bioretention have not been tested extensively. Pollutant removal, especially for species of nitrogen, has not been tested under various conditions. Currently used bioretention monitoring protocol assumes bioretention devices retain little water. Current designs do not reduce nitrate-nitrogen levels sufficiently, as bioretention is constructed without any zone designed to be saturated. For nitrate-nitrogen to be converted to nitrogen gas, thus enhancing total nitrogen (TN) removal, an anaerobic zone may be necessary. This research determined the effect of an anaerobic layer within bioretention devices on the concentrations and loadings of TN, nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N), and other nutrient and pollutant species in stormwater runoff including ammonia-nitrogen (NH 3 -N), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), ortho-phosphate (Ortho-P), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and total suspended solids (TSS). Four field bioretention areas were installed and monitored in two North Carolina cities. The field sites were used to test the pollutant removal abilities and hydraulic retention of bioretention devices that ranged in depth from 0.6 m (2 ft) to 1.2 m (4 ft) and were designed with or without an anaerobic layer. The field studies in North Carolina confirmed high annual TN mass removal rates at two conventionally drained bioretention cells (40% reduction). NO 3 -N mass removal rates varied between 75% and 13%. The presence of an anaerobic zone was tested at the Greensboro field site and significantly (p<0.10) reduced TP and Fe outflow concentrations. Annual metal mass removal rates at the Greensboro site were over 98% for both Zn and Cu and 81% for Pb. A very large mass of Fe (nearly 17 Kg from a 0.20-ha (0.5-acre) watershed was added to the storm sewer network by the bioretention cell. TP and TSS removal rates were highly variable from cell to cell.
Is Shareholder Capitalism a Defunct Model for Financing Development

Shareholder capitalism, and the American system of corporate governance that serves as its operating system, has been held out as a model of economic development for emerging markets for the past g...
On the Origin of the Fibers in the Pyramid of the Primate Brain.

ConclusionPractically all the heavily myelinated fibers in the pyramids of the monkey's brain arise from the region of the cerebral cortex in which the gigantopyramidal cells of Betz are found. Since we know that all of these fibers cannot be accounted for as arising from such cells they must also come from smaller elements. The fact that Weigert material fails to show any fibers in the pyramids after ablation of the precentral gyri, does not prove that the pyramids are devoid of fibers for smaller elements can plainly be seen with silver stain. Since no fibers remain after removal of all of the cortex none of these smaller fibers can be attributed to an infrapallial origin.
Glomerulopathy in recipients of liver transplants after administration of antilymphocyte globulin.

Five of six patients who had undergone liver transplantation were found to have histologic evidence of renal glomerular disease which could be classified into three types: (1) focal proliferative glomerulopathy; (2) diffuse proliferative glomerulopathy; (3) membranoproliferative glomerulopathy. All patients had received antilymphocyte globulin as part of their postoperative treatment. In three of these cases there were immunofluorescent deposits in the glomerular basement membranes. In one case there was electron microscopic evidence of antibody–antigen complexes within the subendothelial portion of the glomerular basement membranes. Absorption, blocking and elution studies indicated that antilymphocyte globulin was the probable offending allergen underlying these glomerular changes.
A New Kind of Fire Alarm Simulation and Really Practice System

The construction of a fire alarm simulation and really practice system bansed on the High Level Architecture(HLA),the system frame development,the model design and the interactive 2D or3D true view demosntration have been studied in this paper.This simulating practice system can make use of using computer to proceed the distributing type of fire fight imitating and simulating training,imitating the fire spot and proceeding the true war trains to realize pertinency fire fight practices which are using in different situation.This system can help the fire fighter promote the ability of extinguishing fire to rescue and establish a valid fire fight conductor control mechanism,increase the level of the fire fight unit team.
Investigation on the incidence of HIV/ HCV/syphilis infections among drug users and their diseases related high-risk behaviors in Urumqi

Objective To investigate the incidence of HIV infection among drug users(DUs) and to observe their related high-risk behaviors in Urumqi.Methods DUs were recruited using snowball method based on the information of police department.A face-to-face survey was conducted and blood samples were collected for antibody detection.Results A total of 1 516 DUs were enrolled in the study.The positive rates of antibodies against HIV,HCV and syphilis were 20.38%(309/1 516),36.02%(546/1 516)and 2.24%(34/1 516)respectively.High-risk behavior analysis revealed that Uygur(OR:0.45,95%CI: 0.34-0.60),male(OR:0.62,95%CI: 0.40-0.96)and DUs without HIV prevention service(OR: 2.32,95%CI: 1.65-3.26)were more likely to share syringes compared to other ethics,female and those having received service.While DUs of Uighur(χ2=11.98,P=0.0005)and with low AIDS basic knowledge score(χ2=4.85,P=0.0275)were less likely to use condom.Conclusions HIV infection is still a big issue among DUs in Urumqi.Therefore it is urgent to apply an effective intervention to lower the risk of infection.
Preparation of Nucleosomes Containing a Specific H2A–H2A Cross-Link Forming a DNA-Constraining Loop Structure

ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to alter nucleosome structure, increase the accessibility of trans-acting factors, and induce nucleosome movement on the nucleosomal DNA. Recent studies suggest that bulge propagation is a major component of the mechanism for SWI/SNF remodeling. We describe in detail a method to prepare a mononucleosomal substrate in which the two H2A N-terminal tails are cross-linked in an intranucleosomal fashion, forming a closed loop around the two superhelical winds of DNA. This substrate is useful for researchers who wish to test processes in which the DNA is transiently or permanently lifted off the histone surface, such as in the bulge propagation model. Our method allows assessment of the extent of cross-linking within the population of nucleosomes used in small-scale experiments, such as assays to test SWI/SNF-remodeling activities.
Adhesion of Ash Particles on Heat Transfer Surfaces in Coal Combustion Applications: Mechanisms and Implications

The useful lifetime of rotor blades and stator vanes in gas turbines burning pulverized coal may be limited by the build-up of thick, strongly-adherent, insulating multiphase deposits composed of captured ash particles and condensed liquid ‘glue’. The rate of growth of the deposit layer is governed by the competing dynamics of ash particle deposition and deposit erosion due to oncoming particles. A model for ash deposition developed previously has been extended here to account for deposit erosion due to particle impact. Sticking coefficient (ratio of captured to incident particle mass) predictions made using the present theory are compared against corresponding measurements in the DOE-METC combustion/deposition entrained reactor (CDER), a test facility designed to simulate the deposition characteristics of a cooled turbine blade surface. Inferences are drawn regarding the deposition mechanisms predominating at different gas and surface temperatures, and the role deposit erosion plays in determining the rate of deposit build-up.
Matrix stiffness exerts biphasic control over monocyte–endothelial adhesion via Rho-mediated ICAM-1 clustering

Leukocyte-endothelial adhesion is a critical early step in chronic vascular inflammation associated with diabetes, emphysema, and aging. Importantly, these conditions are also marked by abnormal subendothelial matrix crosslinking (stiffness). Yet, whether and how abnormal matrix stiffness contributes to leukocyte-endothelial adhesion remains poorly understood. Using a co-culture of human monocytic cells and human microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) grown on matrices of tunable stiffness, we demonstrate that matrix stiffness exerts biphasic control over monocyte-EC adhesion, with both matrix softening and stiffening eliciting a two-fold increase in this adhesive interaction. This preferential endothelial adhesivity on softer and stiffer matrices was consistent with a significant increase in α-actinin-4-associated endothelial ICAM-1 clustering, a key determinant of monocyte-EC adhesion. Further, the enhanced ICAM-1 clustering on soft and stiff matrices correlated strongly with an increase in Rho activity and ROCK2 expression. Importantly, inhibition of Rho/ROCK activity blocked the effects of abnormal matrix stiffness on ICAM-1 clustering and monocyte-EC adhesion. Thus, these findings implicate matrix stiffness-dependent ICAM-1 clustering as an important regulator of vascular inflammation and provide the rationale for closely examining mechanotransduction pathways as new molecular targets for anti-inflammatory therapy.
The Implication of Noradrenaline in Anxiety

For over a decade the noradrenergic (NA) system has been implicated in the control of anxiety. The NA theory of anxiety postulates that anxiety is caused by overactivity of the NA system (see Charney and Redmond, 1983). Recently, a renewal of interest in this area has followed suggestions that certain subtypes of anxiety, in particular panic disorder, are related to NA activity (Charney et al., 1984).
Gyrotron scattering from non-thermal fluctuations in the tara tandem mirror

A 137 GHz, ∼0.4 kW, 75 ms pulsed gyrotron has been used for collective Thomson scattering in the Tara Tandem Mirror plug cell at MIT [1]. Scattering from ion cyclotron waves during ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) heating, ion Bernstein wave harmonics, and plasma fluctuations possibly due to microinstabilities have been observed. The observed harmonic nature of the ion Bernstein waves may be due to an enhanced ion thermal frequency spectrum in an ICRF heated plasma.
Maximizing resources in the local treatment of prostate cancer: A summary of cost-effectiveness studies

Abstract Objectives Prostate cancer is a common diagnosis with several treatment options for the newly diagnosed patient, including radiation, surgery, active surveillance, and watchful waiting. Although tailoring of treatment to individual patient needs is an important goal, the recent passage of the Affordable Care Act has placed renewed interest in cost containment and cost-effectiveness. We sought to conduct a literature review of recent US-based studies to analyze the cost-effectiveness of initial local treatments for localized prostate cancer. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search through PubMed, the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, and manual cross-referencing of articles. We identified US-based studies with cost analyses starting in 2005 that studied the cost-effectiveness of initial local treatments for localized prostate cancer (surgery, radiation, or observation). Results There were eight studies that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most studies took the cost perspective of Medicare, and two studies also considered the societal cost in terms of lost patient time. Most studies also used a Markov model with inputs based on the available literature for the effectiveness and toxicity of the different treatment options. The radiation-focused studies tended to find brachytherapy (BT) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to be more cost-effective than intensity-modulated radiation therapy or proton beam therapy. These findings were primarily based on the lower cost of SBRT or BT with roughly equal efficacy and toxicity. The two studies focused on surgery found surgery to be more cost effective than intensity-modulated radiation therapy, at least for low-risk disease, and one study found BT to be more cost-effective than surgery, and watchful waiting to be the most cost-effective option overall. Conclusion Cost-effectiveness analysis is important because it helps patients, physicians, and policymakers make quantitatively-based decisions, which balance treatment efficacy, toxicity, and costs. Significant methodological heterogeneity in the studies we found limit the ability to compare their results directly, but most found that for favorable-risk prostate cancer, shorter or simpler treatments tended to be more cost-effective, including no treatment (watchful waiting) in one study.
Sculpture in Space: Flotation and Levitation in Postwar Art

Abstract The idea of sculpture with no visible contact with the earth, hovering in space without the usual vertical and horizontal orientation, arose in contemporary art practice during the postwar decades, amid the cold-war race for space. In Milan, Paris, Dusseldorf and New York, an array of floating art projects were attempted both inside, and outside, the art gallery. These artistic experiments offered a counterpoint to the first satellites and manned spacecraft, using simple technologies including magnets and balloons to address complex aesthetic issues raised by the outerspace environment and in particular the zero-gravity field. By the late 1960s, free-floating “aerial” and “pneumatic” art had become an international trend, reflecting a new conception of art’s meaning during a time of cultural and technological change.
Characterization of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function and Sensitivity in the Homologous Recombination Deficient Exonuclease1mut Mouse Model

Abstract 1293 Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance is essential for sustained longevity and tissue function. The HSC population has lifelong self-renewing capabilities and gives rise to subsets of multipotent progenitor cells, and in turn a progeny of terminally differentiated mature cells consisting of all subtypes of the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Long term reconstituting HSCs are necessary to replace these differentiated cells after losses caused by normal degradation or damage accumulation, with failure to replenish these stores being linked to a variety of human pathogeneses as well as aging phenotypes. HSC populations require functional DNA repair pathways in order to maintain their reconstitution capabilities but little is known about the pathways involved or the mechanism of regulation. While the majority of HSCs are quiescent at steady state, endogenous or exogenous stress can force these cells into proliferation, and previous evidence has suggested that the HSC reliance on DNA repair changes with this mobilization. Quiescent HSCs are believed to depend on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) for repair but prior literature has shown that once forced into cycle, the DNA repair dependency shifts and is shared between homologous recombination (HR) and NHEJ. We use Exo1 deficiency as a model for homologous recombination loss in mice and demonstrate in vivo that HR is dispensable in quiescent HSCs. This is in contrast to loss of the complementary double strand break repair pathway NHEJ which has been shown to result in severe defects in HSC function. However when we force mobilize HSCs into cycle in vivo using the anti metabolite 5-fluorouracil we are able to demonstrate that the HR defects become detrimental to the animal as shown by increased cellular IR sensitivity and subsequent animal death. Additionally we use competitive repopulation studies to show that indeed the Exo1 mut HSC population is more radiation sensitive after forced mobilization. This work begins to elucidate the consequences of the loss of homologous recombination in hematopoietic stem cells as well as the interplay between cell cycle status and DNA repair dependency. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Characterization and Comparative Analysis of Ancient Earthen Plasters from the American Southwest

We have studied earthen plasters and wall materials from three ancient Native American sites in the American Southwest that include a twelfth-century, subterranean kiva used for textile production in Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah), a thirteenth-century, defensive, cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle (Arizona), and a mid-fourteenth-century, puddled earth Great House at Casa Grande National Monument (Arizona). In each case, the data collected has been used to develop long-term preservation strategies and monitoring plans for each site. To understand the conservation issues, earthen materials were analyzed. Characterization included examination of BSE-SEM micrographs of polished thin sections prepared from a total of 36 samples from the three sites, and XRD of twelve samples. Research goals included: 1) determining the microstructure, micro-composition, porosity, mineralogy of aggregates and phases in the binding matrix for each sample; 2) reconstructing plaster technologies and their variation within and between sites, including material selection, preparation and application sequences, and; 3) identifying principal deterioration conditions and processes. Our findings support the idea that plaster materials were collected locally and manipulated to optimize their performance to suit the unique site conditions and needs of the ancient people using the structures.
Reconstructing Thermal Properties of Firn at Summit, Greenland, from a Temperature Profile Time Series

We have constrained the value for thermal diffusivity of near-surface snow and firn at Summit Station, Greenland, using a Fourier-type analysis applied to hourly temperature measurements collected from eight thermistors in a closed-off, air-filled borehole between May 2004 and July 2008. An implicit, finite-difference method suggests that a bulk diffusivity of ∼25 ± 3m2 a−1 is the most reasonable for representing macroscale heat transport in the top 30 m of firn and snow. This value represents an average diffusivity and, in a conduction-only model, generates temperature series whose phase shifts with depth most closely match those of the Summit borehole data (rms difference between measurements and model output is ∼6 days). This bulk value, derived numerically and corroborated analytically, is useful over large tracts of the Greenland ice sheet where density and microstructure are unknown.
Predictive simulation of human circular gait

This paper presents a one-stride formulation to simulate human circular gait using a skeletal model. The formulation is based on a previously presented asymmetric walking formulation (Xiang et al.,...
Fast Reaction Studies of Organic Ions in Solution

The reactivity of organic ionic species in solution has been investigated by the pulse radiolysis technique. A brief discussion of some of the relevant features of ionization and electronic excitation by high energy electrons will be presented. The techniques of the fast reaction method will be described, along with its application to some of the systems which we have investigated. Various organic ionic species such as aromatic radical anions, radical cations, carbanions and carbocations have been selectively generated and their reactivity determined. The reactivity of a series of phenylcarbenium ions with halide ions, with alkyl amines, and with alkenes will be discussed.
Certain Julia sets include smooth components

The Julia set F* of the map z → ỹ(z) = z2-μ may be the boundary of an atom, of a molecule, or of a “devil’s polymer” in the z-plane. Denote the boundary of one of the atoms of F* by H. When μ ≠ 0 is the nucleus of a cardioid-shaped atom of the M-set, it is conjectured that the fractal dimension D of H is 1. Thus, H may be a be a rectifiable curve (of well defined length) or perhaps only a borderline fractal curve (of logarithmically diverging length). This paper comments on a clearer version of Figure 5 of M19831{C5} and develops a remark made there, but not very explicitly.
Priority Queuing Models for Hospital Intensive Care Units and Impacts to Severe Case Patients

This paper examines several different queuing models for intensive care units (ICU) and the effects on wait times, utilization, return rates, mortalities, and number of patients served. Five separate intensive care units at an urban hospital are analyzed and distributions are fitted for arrivals and service durations. A system-based simulation model is built to capture all possible cases of patient flow after ICU admission. These include mortalities and returns before and after hospital exits. Patients are grouped into 9 different classes that are categorized by severity and length of stay (LOS). Each queuing model varies by the policies that are permitted and by the order the patients are admitted. The first set of models does not prioritize patients, but examines the advantages of smoothing the operating schedule for elective surgeries. The second set analyzes the differences between prioritizing admissions by expected LOS or patient severity. The last set permits early ICU discharges and conservative and aggressive bumping policies are contrasted. It was found that prioritizing patients by severity considerably reduced delays for critical cases, but also increased the average waiting time for all patients. Aggressive bumping significantly raised the return and mortality rates, but more conservative methods balance quality and efficiency with lowered wait times without serious consequences.
The impact of political identity, grouping, and discussion on young people's views of political documentaries

This study focuses on how young people read and discuss two political documentary films, Labor Day and Hillary: The Movie. We were specifically interested in the impact of the film viewing and disc...
The shape evolution of liquid droplets in miscible environments

Miscible liquids often come into contact with one another in natural and technological situations, commonly as a drop of one liquid present in a second, miscible liquid. The shape of a liquid droplet present in a miscible environment evolves spontaneously in time, in a distinctly different fashion than drops present in immiscible environments, which have been reported previously. We consider drops of two classical types, pendant and sessile, in building upon our prior work with miscible systems. Here we present experimental findings of the shape evolution of pendant drops along with an expanded study of the spreading of sessile drops in miscible environments. We develop scalings considering the diffusion of mass to group volumetric data of the evolving pendant drops and the diffusion of momentum to group leading-edge radial data of the spreading sessile drops. These treatments are effective in obtaining single responses for the measurements of each type of droplet, where the volume of a pendant drop diminishes exponentially in time and the leading-edge radius of a sessile drop grows following a power law of at long times. A complementary numerical approach to compute the concentration and velocity fields of these systems using a simplified set of governing equations is paired with our experimental findings.
Archaeology, Ideology, and Urbanism in Rome from the Grand Tour to Berlusconi

Rome is one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, preserving many major monuments of the classical past. It is also a city with an important post-Roman history and home to both the papacy and the modern Italian state. Archaeologists have studied the ruins, and popes and politicians have used them for propaganda programs. Developers and preservationists have fought over what should and should not be preserved. This book tells the story of those complex, interacting developments over the past three centuries, from the days of the Grand Tour through the arrival of the fascists, which saw more destruction but also an unprecedented use of the remains for political propaganda. In post-war Rome, urban development predominated over archaeological preservation and much was lost. However, starting in the 1970s, preservationists have fought back, saving much and making the city into Europe's most important case study in historical preservation and historical loss.
Abstract P5-10-05: Time differences in breast cancer diagnosis among minorities in a large referal academic center

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and leading cause of cancer death in women. BC incidence is lower in Hispanic (H) (91.9/100,000) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW -128.1/100.000) and Non-Hispanic Black (NHB - 124.3/100,000) population; however, mortality rate is higher in NHB (31/100,000) compared to NHW (21.9/100,000) and H (14.5/100,000). Diagnosis delay is a plausible factor that may explain differences in BC clinical outcomes among different race/ethnicity subgroups. Objective: To compare time to diagnosis (TTD) by race/ethnicity in women with breast cancer diagnosed at Montefiore Medical Center from 2004 to 2012. Methods: Patients with breast cancer and available race/ethnicity information diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 were categorized into 4 race/ethnicity groups: NHB, NHW, H or Asian. Dates of screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram and biopsy were obtained. TTD was defined as the time difference between abnormal mammogram and biopsy dates. Results: 919 patients had ethnicity information, 302 (32.8%) were H. TTD was longer in H compared to non-Hispanics (35 vs 31 days, z=2.2, p=0.02). Race and ethnicity information was available for 834 patients with a mean age of 62 years (SD:12.4). Of these, 252 (30.2%) were H and 387 (46.4%) were NHB. NHW had the shortest TTD (30 days), the highest frequency of Stage I (70%) and lowest frequency of high-nuclear grade (15.6%). NHB had a TTD of 31 days and higher frequency of triple negative disease (18.9%). TTD was significantly longer in H compared to NHW (35 vs 30 days, z=2.3, p=0.02), and there was a non-significant longer TTD when comparing H versus NHB (35 vs 31 days, z=1.9, p=0.0574). TTD between NHB and NHW was not different (31 vs 30 days, z=1.4, p=0.14). Conclusions: The longer TTD in H vs Non-Hispanics was driven by the TTD in NHW. NHW had shorter TTD and more favorable pathological features which could lead to lower mortality rate. There was no difference in TTD between NHW and NHB but the latter had higher frequencies of triple negative disease. Correlation between TTD and mortality in our population will help to clarify the clinical effect of TTD differences among race/ethnicity subgroups. Citation Format: Acuna A, Gligich O, Khan H, Xue X, Lin J, Sparano J, Anampa J. Time differences in breast cancer diagnosis among minorities in a large referal academic center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-10-05.
The impact of environment and antimicrobial agents on the growth response of early-weaned pigs to spray-dried porcine plasma.

Four 28-d experiments involving 360 weanling pigs were conducted to investigate the effects of including spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in diets from d 0 to 14 after weaning followed by feeding a common diet from d 14 to d 28. In Exp. 1, 80 weanling pigs (4.9 kg BW, 17 +/- 1 d of age) were used to determine the effects of substituting 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12% SDPP for dried skim milk (DSM) and L-lysine.HCl. Growth rate and feed intakes from d 0 to 14 and d 0 to 28 were not affected by increasing levels of SDPP, but feed/gain from d 0 to 14 increased linearly (P < .001) as the level of SDPP increased. In Exp. 2 and 3, 160 pigs (80 pigs in each trial; 5.4 kg BW, 18 +/- 2 d of age) were used to determine the effect of nursery environment on the performance of pigs fed a diet containing 20% DSM or 8.3% SDPP. Pigs were housed in either an off-site, environmental chamber in newly purchased pens (experimental nursery) or a more typical, on-farm, conventional nursery. Pigs in the experimental nursery performed superior to the pigs in the conventional nursery from d 0 to 14 and from d 0 to 28 (P < .001). Growth rate and feed intake were enhanced (P < .05) by feeding SDPP to pigs in the conventional nursery, but the responses to SDPP were of considerably less magnitude in pigs housed in the experimental nursery, resulting in environment x diet interactions (P < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)