cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The safety of Mohs surgery: A prospective multicenter cohort study

Background Complications associated with Mohs surgery have been evaluated by single-surgeon studies. While these studies provide evidence for the safety of the procedure, prospective, multicenter studies afford a higher level of clinical evidence and establish further the safety profile of Mohs surgery in the ambulatory setting. Objective This study was designed to prospectively evaluate major and minor complications as well as postoperative pain associated with Mohs surgery. Methods A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted evaluating the rate of major and minor complications as well as postoperative pain associated with the treatment of skin cancer using Mohs surgery in 1550 patients with 1792 tumors. Follow-up was obtained in 1709 of the 1792 tumors treated (95.3%). Results No major complications occurred during Mohs surgery or reconstruction. A total of 44 (2.6%) minor primary postoperative complications occurred during the study. On a scale from 0 to 10, the average peak postoperative pain level was 1.99. Limitations Limitations of the study include the variability of practice patterns across practice sites as well as the 4.7% of patients lost to follow-up. Conclusion Mohs surgery is performed with a high degree of safety and is well tolerated by patients.
Atrazine effects on meiobenthic assemblages of a modular estuarine mesocosm.

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in the US found at levels ranging from <10 ng/L to 62.5 μg/L in estuaries throughout the southeast. Effects of atrazine on estuarine meiobenthic assemblages chronically exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations are unknown. The purpose of our research was to assess effects of atrazine on meiobenthos at concentrations near the proposed USEPA SWQC (26 μg/L) using modular estuarine salt marsh mesocosms as a field surrogate. Indigenous copepod and nematode densities were assessed after 28 days of exposure in transplanted colonization chambers. Cluster analysis showed a group characterized by low copepod densities, mostly atrazine exposed chambers, and a group containing all but one control chamber. The later group included chambers with high densities of the copepods Paronychocamptus wilsoni and Enhydrosoma baruchi. Compared to controls, copepod densities was ∼70% lower in atrazine chambers, with three of the most common copepod species (E. baruchi, Onychocamptus sp. and P. wilsoni) showing an average of 50–70% reduction in population densities (p < 0.05). Although nematode density did not differ between atrazine and control chambers, the nematode-to-copepod ratio was significantly higher in atrazine (9.95 ± 7.61; p = 0.011) than in control chambers (0.61 ± 0.35). Our findings suggest that chronic exposures over multiple generations to atrazine at concentrations near the proposed USEPA SWQC could have significant effects on the abundance and composition of estuarine meiobenthic copepod assemblages.
Comparison of perioperative complications following staged versus one-day anterior and posterior cervical decompression and fusion crossing the cervico-thoracic junction

Abstract Introduction Multilevel cervical pathology may be treated via combined anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) followed by posterior spinal instrumented fusion (PSIF) crossing the cervico-thoracic junction. The purpose of the study was to compare perioperative complication rates following staged versus same day ACDF combined with PSIF crossing the cervico-thoracic junction. Material and methods A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing ACDF followed by PSIF crossing the cervico-thoracic junction at a single institution was performed. Patients underwent either same day (group A) or staged with one week interval surgeries (group B). The minimum follow-up was 12 months. Results Thirty-five patients (14 females and 21 males) were analyzed. The average age was 60 years (37–82 years). There were 12 patients in group A and 23 in group B. Twenty-eight complications noted in 14 patients (40%) included: dysphagia in 13 (37%), dysphonia in 6 (17%), post-operative reintubation in 4 (11%), vocal cords paralysis, delirium, superficial incisional infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakage each in one case. Significant differences comparing group A vs. B were found in: the number of levels fused posteriorly (5 vs. 7; p = 0.002), total amount of intravenous fluids (3233 ml vs. 4683 ml; p = 0.03), length of hospital stay (10 vs. 18 days; p = 0.03) and transfusion of blood products (0 vs. 9 patients). Smoking and cervical myelopathy were the most important risk factors for perioperative complications regardless of the group. Conclusions Staging anterior cervical decompression and fusion with posterior cervical instrumented fusion 1 week apart does not decrease the incidence of perioperative complications.
Invisible disabilities: Unique challenges for employees and organizations.

Workers with invisible disabilities encounter unique challenges compared to workers with other concealable identities and even workers with visible disabilities. These challenges occur not only in the decisions of whether to disclose the invisible disability in the workplace but also in the detection and acceptance of having a disability to disclose. Disclosure of disabilities in the workplace likely has implications for the individual worker's health, social relationships, and work performance as well as for an employing organization's outcomes. We argue that current legislation and policies might not be sensitive to the unique experiences and disclosure decisions faced by workers with invisible disabilities. We invite researchers and practitioners to consider adjustments to current legislation and workplace practices in order for employing organizations to account for the unique challenges facing workers with invisible disabilities and fully accommodate those workers.
Semiconductor device physics and modelling. 1. Overview of fundamental theories and equations

The mathematical physics related to semiconductor materials and devices is reviewed, and its relevance and application to the commonly used semiconductor device equations and models is discussed. An overview is given to provide a methodical link between the fundamental theories and equations. The fundamental theories start from the wave and particle properties of electrons and the statistics of free carriers in semiconductors. This, together with the effective mass concept, leads to the energy band structure of semiconductors. Based on the principle of momentum conservation and the free-carrier statistics, the author also derives the Boltzmann transport equation, which is considered the most fundamental equation for semiconductor device physics. The widely used drift-diffusion equations are then obtained from the Boltzmann transport equation by using several assumptions such as the relaxation-time approximation and that the semiconductor is isothermal. A summary of the basic equations used in classic device physics is also included. >
Effects of Temperature, Concentration, Age, and Algaecides on Phytophthora capsici Zoospore Infectivity.

Granke, L. L., and Hausbeck, M. K. 2010. Effects of temperature, concentration, age, and algaecides on Phytophthora capsici zoospore infectivity. Plant Dis. 94:54-60. Controlled laboratory studies were undertaken to determine the effects of water temperature (2, 9, 12, 19, 22, and 32°C), inoculum concentration (1 × 10 2 , 1 × 10 3 , 5 × 10 3 , 1 × 10 4 , 2 × 10 4 , and 4 × 104 zoospores/ml), and zoospore suspension age (0, 1, 3, and 5 days old) on infection of pickling cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) by Phytophthora capsici. Zoospore motility and mortality in response to commercial algaecides were also investigated. Cucumbers became infected at all temperatures tested, except 2°C, and the highest infection incidence was observed for cucumbers incubated in suspensions held at ≥19°C. Fewer fruit (<40% at ≥19°C, 0% at ≤12°C) became infected when water contained 1 × 10 2 zoospores/ml. Almost 100% of fruit were infected when water contained ≥5 × 103 zoospores/ml at temperatures ≥12°C. While the incidence of fruit infection declined with the zoospore suspension age, infection still occurred when 5-day-old suspensions were used. Commercial algaecides inhibited zoospore motility and caused significant zoospore mortality in laboratory assays, and show promise for treatment of infested irrigation water. Avoidance of infested irrigation water throughout the growing season is warranted until effective and economically acceptable water treatments are developed for field use.
Proteomics as a guiding tool for more effective personalized therapy

Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecological malignancy in the Western world and is most often diagnosed at a rarely curable late stage. Examination of protein end points has been employed as an investigative mechanism to guide targeted therapy and to stratify ovarian cancer. Proteomics allows characterization of the proteins and the associated protein and peptide modifications. This has given us insight into the perturbations of signaling pathways within tumor cells and has improved the discovery of new drug targets and possible prognostic indicators of outcome and disease response to therapy. Development of validated assays that survey the genetic and/or proteomic make-up of an individual tumor will add greatly to the histological classification of the tumor and may lead to different treatment approaches tailored to the unique expression pattern of each individual patient. It is anticipated that application of proteomics may bring to reality the clinical adoption of molecular stratification, e.g. not, ‘is the gene overexpressed?’, but ‘is the pathway upregulated?’ This will be successful if validated peptide biomarkers are applied for patient selection prospectively and with inclusion of preplanned biological correlates. These events will guide future directions of proteomics as a selector and as a validator and will guide how we integrate proteomics information daily into patient care and into selecting therapy of advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer and other cancers.
Transcriptional Activation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Virulence Gene Promoters in Escherichia coli Requires the A. tumefaciens rpoA Gene, Encoding the Alpha Subunit of RNA Polymerase

The two-component regulatory system, composed of virA and virG, is indispensable for transcription of virulence genes within Agrobacterium tumefaciens. However, virA and virG are insufficient to activate transcription from virulence gene promoters within Escherichia coli cells, indicating a requirement for additional A. tumefaciens genes. In a search for these additional genes, we have identified the rpoA gene, encoding the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP), which confers significant expression of a virB promoter (virBp)::lacZ fusion in E. coli in the presence of an active transcriptional regulator virG gene. We conducted in vitro transcription assays using either reconstituted E. coli RNAP or hybrid RNAP in which the alpha subunit was derived from A. tumefaciens. The two forms of RNAP were equally efficient in transcription from a sigma(70)-dependent E. coli galP1 promoter; however, only the hybrid RNAP was able to transcribe virBp in a virG-dependent manner. In addition, we provide evidence that the alpha subunit from A. tumefaciens, but not from E. coli, is able to interact with the VirG protein. These data suggest that transcription of virulence genes requires specific interaction between VirG and the alpha subunit of A. tumefaciens and that the alpha subunit from E. coli is unable to effectively interact with the VirG protein. This work provides the basis for future studies designed to examine vir gene expression as well as the T-DNA transfer process in E. coli.
Decision freedom as a determinant of the role of incentive magnitude in attitude change.

In the forced-compliance paradigm, attitude change following a counterattitudinal performance has been shown to be both a direct (reinforcement prediction) and an inverse (dissonance prediction) function of the amount of incentive offered. An experiment successfully demonstrated that if S feels free not to comply attitude change will be inversely related to incentive magnitude, but that the positive relationship will hold if this freedom is reduced. It was hypothesized that the procedure of an earlier study by Rosenberg, whose results supported the reinforcement prediction, inadvertently reduced Ss' freedom not to comply. When this procedure was closely replicated in a 2nd experiment, the positive relationship was again found, but when the procedure was modified to make a decision not to comply a viable alternative for S, the inverse relationship resulted. The 2 experiments together show that a low incentive arouses dissonance, leading to attitude change, only when the person remains free to decide against compliance after he has been fully informed about the incentive. If the incentive is announced after the person Is committed to compliance, a reinforcement effect obtains. If a person can be induced to behave publicly in a manner that does not follow from his private attitudes, he will experience cognitive dissonance. The magnitude of dissonance will be greater when there are few reasons for complying than when there are many reasons (Festinger, 19S7). This dissonance may be reduced by an accommodating change in private attitude if other ways of reducing dissonance are not available. Thus a person who has been induced to behave in a counterattitudinal fashion will change his private attitude more the less he has been rewarded for complying. Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) found support for this proposition in a study in which subjects were persuaded (for $1 or $20) to extol the attractiveness of a dull and tedious task for the benefit of the next subject. Also, Cohen (1962) found that Yale students who were induced to write essays in favor of the New Haven police later showed more positive attitudes the smaller the incentive they had been offered to write the essay. Rosenberg (196S) has recently questioned the generality of this proposed relationship and has suggested that subjects in the
Hypocretin release in normal and narcoleptic dogs after food and sleep deprivation, eating, and movement

Hypocretins (orexins) are recently discovered hypothalamic neuropeptides that have been implicated in the etiology of narcolepsy. The normal behavioral functions of these peptides are unclear, although a role in feeding has been suggested. We measured hypocretin-1 (Hcrt-1) in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs during a variety of behaviors. We found that 48 h without food (24 h beyond normal 24-h fasting period) produced no significant change in Hcrt-1 levels nor did feeding after the deprivation. In contrast, 24 h of sleep deprivation produced on average a 70% increase in Hcrt-1 level compared with baseline levels. The amount of increase was correlated with the level of motor activity during the sleep-deprivation procedure. A 2-h period of exercise in the same dogs produced a 57% increase in Hcrt-1 levels relative to quiet waking levels, with the magnitude of the increase being highly correlated with the level of motor activity. The strong correlation between motor activity and Hcrt-1 release may explain some of the previously reported behavioral, physiological, and pathological phenomena ascribed to the Hcrt system.
Mind your Ps and Qs: the impact of politeness and rudeness in online communities

Little is known about the impact of politeness in online communities. We use an inductive approach to automatically model linguistic politeness in online discussion groups and determine the impact of politeness on desired outcomes, such as increased reply rates. We describe differences in perceived politeness across a variety of groups and find that, controlling for group norms of responsiveness and message length, politeness increases reply rates in some technical groups, but rudeness is more effective in some political groups. The perceived politeness scores will be used to validate linguistic politeness strategies from theory and to inform the creation of a machine learning model of linguistic politeness that can be applied as a "politeness checker" to educate newcomers to write in ways likely to elicit response from specific communities or as a rudeness detection tool for moderators.
The graft copolymerization of styrene and lignin. I. Hydrochloric acid lignin

The effects of methylation of phenolic hydroxyl groups and addition of solvent on the radiation and chemically initiated graft copolymerization of styrene and hydrochloric acid softwood lignin were studied. In the radiation-induced experiments, methylation is found to increase the maximum per cent graft obtainable two or threefold, while methanol addition may increase the value tenfold. Chemically initiated experiments indicate that the main effect of methanol addition is to increase the accessibility of the lignin particles. A mechanism of graft copolymerization of polystyrene and lignin is proposed which requires the reaction to proceed primarily by chain transfer of a polystyrene chain radical to lignin and the subsequent reinitiation of polymerization (i.e., initiation of graft copolymerization) by the lignin radical. The grafting of lignin modifications is then dependent on the type of radical formation (i.e., phenoxy or benzylic) most favored, as well as the usual accessibility considerations.
Measurements of size-resolved hygroscopicity in the California coastal zone

Aircraft-based measurements of aerosol hygroscopicity, both in the form of size-resolved, diameter growth factors and in the dependence of particle light scattering on relative humidity, are presented for the marine boundary layer of the southern California coastal zone. The chemical composition of the aerosol is collated with the hygroscopicity data, both to examine the mechanism for the increase in aerosol hygroscopicity with altitude and as input for receptor type modeling. The data suggest an increase in aerosol hygroscopicity with altitude, possibly associated with oxidation of organic films. The receptor modeling suggests three distinct aerosol types/sources for this venue: marine, biomass burning and pollution. Model output is used in regression analyses to derive a prognostic mixing rule for the hygroscopicity of aerosol with these three sources. The mixing rule demonstrated substantial prognostic power for submicron hygroscopicity but essentially none for supermicron.
Effect of IGF-I on FFA and glucose metabolism in control and type 2 diabetic subjects.

The effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin on free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose metabolism were compared in eight control and eight type 2 diabetic subjects, who received a two...
Effect of Pea and Lentil Development on Reproduction and Longevity of Thyanta pallidovirens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The effects of pea, Pisum sativum L., and lentil, Lens culinaris Medik., development on reproduction and longevity of Thyanta pallidovirens (Stal) were evaluated in the laboratory. Stink bug reproduction and longevity were both significantly affected by the host plants’ developmental stage. The greatest number of eggs, with the highest number of viable eggs and eggs per clutch, were laid and the longest life span occurred on peas or lentils with mature pods. Insects given peas or lentils with flowers and immature pods had shorter life spans and produced significantly fewer total eggs, eggs per clutch, and viable eggs. Almostno eggs were produced by females given seedlings or only flowering host plants.
Concise Review: Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Wound Repair

Wound healing requires a coordinated interplay among cells, growth factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. Central to this process is the endogenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), which coordinates the repair response by recruiting other host cells and secreting growth factors and matrix proteins. MSCs are self-renewing multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into various lineages of mesenchymal origin such as bone, cartilage, tendon, and fat. In addition to multilineage differentiation capacity, MSCs regulate immune response and inflammation and possess powerful tissue protective and reparative mechanisms, making these cells attractive for treatment of different diseases. The beneficial effect of exogenous MSCs on wound healing was observed in a variety of animal models and in reported clinical cases. Specifically, they have been successfully used to treat chronic wounds and stimulate stalled healing processes. Recent studies revealed that human placental membranes are a rich source of MSCs for tissue regeneration and repair. This review provides a concise summary of current knowledge of biological properties of MSCs and describes the use of MSCs for wound healing. In particular, the scope of this review focuses on the role MSCs have in each phase of the wound-healing process. In addition, characterization of MSCs containing skin substitutes is described, demonstrating the presence of key growth factors and cytokines uniquely suited to aid in wound repair.
Electronic Health Records: A Primer

Implementing electronic health records (EHRs) has become a national health care priority. In 2003, the Institute of Medicine outlined 8 core functionalities of an electronic health record system: health information and data; results management; order entry/management; decision support; electronic communication and connectivity; patient support; administrative processes; and reporting and population health management. This paper will discuss these 8 domains, their potential, and the barriers to implementation and wide use, such as technical and standardization issues. It will also discuss privacy and security issues and conclude with implications for future EHR research.
The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy: competitors add to predator load of a tree-killing bark beetle

The mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae is a major tree-killing bark bee- tle in North America. We evaluated how the subsequent arrival of a competing bark beetle Ips pini influences the arrival of predators and their impact on both species. 2 The predators Temnochila chlorodia and Enoclerus sphegeus were strongly at- tracted to pheromones of D. ponderosae . By contrast, Enoclerus lecontei was mostly attracted to I. pini pheromones. The host compound myrcene synergized attraction of both D. ponderosae and E. sphegeus to the pheromone of D. ponderosae . However, it inhibited attraction of both I. pini and E. lecontei to I. pini 's pheromone. 3 Dendroctonus ponderosae were more attracted to trees than logs treated with its pheromones, whereas I. pini were more attracted to logs than trees treated with its pheromones. Some 78% of T. chlorodia were captured at hosts baited with D. ponderosae pheromones, whereas 83% of E. lecontei were captured at hosts baited with I. pini pheromones. We characterized the sequence of arrival to live trees baited with pheromones of D. ponderosae as: D. ponderosae , T. chlorodia , E. sphegeus , I. pini , E. lecontei . 4 Various combinations of I. pini and predators were added to logs colonized by D. ponderosae in the above sequence of arrival observed in live trees baited with D. ponderosae aggregation pheromones. Ips pini reduced D. ponderosae adult brood production. However, the combination of I. pini and E. lecontei did not raise D. ponderosae brood production above that observed with only I. pini present. Similarly, the combination of I. pini and T. chlorodia did not reduce D. ponderosae brood production below that observed with I. pini alone. By con- trast, the combination of I. pini , T. chlorodia and E. lecontei caused more brood loss to D. ponderosae than I. pini alone. 5 Enoclerus lecontei did not reduce brood production by T. chlorodia , whereas T. chlorodia substantially reduced brood production by E. lecontei . 6 Secondary bark beetles that exploit the resource created by primary tree-killing species exert negative effects through both competition and increased predator load. Implications to the population dynamics, ecology and evolution of tree- killing bark beetles are discussed.
The Classification of Hysteria and Related Disorders: Historical and Phenomenological Considerations

This article examines the history of the conceptualization of dissociative, conversion, and somatoform syndromes in relation to one another, chronicles efforts to classify these and other phenomenologically-related psychopathology in the American diagnostic system for mental disorders, and traces the subsequent divergence in opinions of dissenting sectors on classification of these disorders. This article then considers the extensive phenomenological overlap across these disorders in empirical research, and from this foundation presents a new model for the conceptualization of these disorders. The classification of disorders formerly known as hysteria and phenomenologically-related syndromes has long been contentious and unsettled. Examination of the long history of the conceptual difficulties, which remain inherent in existing classification schemes for these disorders, can help to address the continuing controversy. This review clarifies the need for a major conceptual revision of the current classification of these disorders. A new phenomenologically-based classification scheme for these disorders is proposed that is more compatible with the agnostic and atheoretical approach to diagnosis of mental disorders used by the current classification system.
Shifted Laplacian RAS Solvers for the Helmholtz Equation

We consider the Helmholtz equation: \(\begin{array}{llll}\qquad\qquad-\varDelta u^*\;-k^2u^*\;=\;f\quad \mathrm{in}\quad \varOmega \\ \\ u^*\;=\;g_D\;\mathrm{on}\;\partial{\varOmega_D},\;\frac{\partial u^*}{\partial n}\;=\;g_N\;\mathrm{on}\;\partial {\varOmega_N},\;\frac{\partial u^*}{\partial n}\;+\;iku^*\;=\;g_S\;\mathrm\;\mathrm{on}\;\partial{\varOmega_S}\end{array}\) where \(\varOmega\) is a bounded polygonal region in k2, and the \(\partial{\varOmega_D},\;\partial{\varOmega_N}\;\mathrm{and}\;\partial{\varOmega_S}\) correspond to subsets of \(\varOmega\) where the Dirichlet, Neumann and Sommerfeld boundary conditions are imposed.
A COMPARISON OF ACTUAL AND INTENDED CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO RETAIL STOCKOUTS

Studies of consumer response to stockouts typically capture intended behavior. After a stockout experience, consumers are asked what they intend to do. In contrast, this research measured both intended and actual behavior. Consumers were interviewed twice; once immediately following the stockout experience to gauge intended behavior and a second time 30 days later to ask what they had actually done in response to the stockout. Accordingly, the goals of this research are to (1) compare consumer actual and intended behavior in response to stockouts and (2) examine product characteristics, consumer characteristics and situational variables that may explain the consumer's response. Key results suggest that indicated behavior is a good indicator of actual behavior in situations where the consumer intends to quit the search and a rather poor indicator when the consumer intends to delay the search. Finally, of the several product characteristics, consumer characteristics and situational variables examined, store loyalty, pre-visit agenda and product uniqueness have shown most promise to help managers understand consumer actual and intended response to stockouts.
Divergent effects of cations on follicle-stimulating hormone- and forskolin-activated adenylyl cyclase in granulosa cells.

The divalent cations magnesium, calcium and manganese, and the monovalent cation, potassium, but not sodium, enhance binding of [1251] iodo-porcine follicle-stimulating hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in membranes of porcine granulosa cells via an increase in the apparent number of binding sites. The Objective of the present studies was to determine if increased binding of FSH to its receptor causes increased adenylyl cyclase activity in response to FSH, or conversely, if enhancement of the cyclase or one of its components causes increased binding, or if the two processes are modulated independently. MgCI2 andCaCl2, which both enhance binding in intact cells and in cell-free membrane preparations, had opposite effects on cyclase - MgCI2 stimulatoiy, CaCl2 inhibitory. In isotonic NaCl, MgCl2 did not enhance binding, but it did increase FSH-stimulated production of cyclic adenosine 3’,S’-monophosphate (cAMP). NaCI did not enhance FSH binding and it did not enhance cyclase in cell-free membranes, but it did increase FSH- and forskolinstimulated cAMP production in intact cells. In intact cells, maximally effective concentrations of MgCl2 and KC1 were additive in enhancing cAMP production whereas the effects of NaCl and KCI together were synergistic. The results indicate that although cationic effects on FSH binding are not causally related to effects on cyclase, the cationic microenvironment of the granulosa cell membrane is critical to both FSH receptor and adenylyl cyclase functions.
Retinoid and carotenoid status in serum and liver among patients at high-risk for liver cancer

Approximately 2.7 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV patients with cirrhosis form the largest group of persons at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increased oxidative stress is regarded as a major mechanism of HCV-related liver disease progression. Deficiencies in retinoid and carotenoid antioxidants may represent a major modifiable risk factor for disease progression. This study aims to identify key predictors of serum antioxidant levels in patients with HCV, to examine the relationship between retinoid/carotenoid concentrations in serum and hepatic tissue, to quantify the association between systemic measures of oxidative stress and antioxidant status, and to examine the relationship between retinoids and stellate cell activation. Patients undergoing liver biopsy (n = 69) provided fasting blood, fresh tissue, urine and completed a diet history questionnaire. Serum and questionnaire data from healthy volunteers (n = 11), normal liver tissue from public repositories and patients without liver disease (n = 11) were also collected. Urinary isoprostanes, serum and tissue retinoid concentrations were obtained by UHPLC-MS-MS. Immunohistochemistry for αSMA was performed on FFPE sections and subsequently quantified via digital image analysis. Associations between urinary isoprostanes, αSMA levels, and retinoids were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients and non-parametric tests were utilized to test differences among disease severity groups. There was a significant inverse association between serum retinol, lycopene, and RBP4 concentrations with fibrosis stage. Serum β-carotene and lycopene were strongly associated with their respective tissue concentrations. There was a weak downward trend of tissue retinyl palmitate with increasing fibrosis stage. Tissue retinyl palmitate was inversely and significantly correlated with hepatic αSMA expression, a marker for hepatic stellate cell activation (r = −0.31, P < 0.02). Urinary isoprostanes levels were inversely correlated with serum retinol, β-carotene, and RBP4. A decrease in serum retinol, β-carotene, and RBP4 is associated with early stage HCV. Retinoid and carotenoid levels decline as disease progresses, and our data suggest that this decline occurs early in the disease process, even before fibrosis is apparent. Measures of oxidative stress are associated with fibrosis stage and concurrent antioxidant depletion. Vitamin A loss is accompanied by stellate cell activation in hepatic tissue.
PHENOTYPIC VARIATION AND THE OUTCOME OF INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION IN HYLID TADPOLES.

For those amphibians which breed in temporary ponds, larval growth rate is an important parameter in determining successful completion of the larval stage. Wilbur and Collins (1973) and Wilbur (1976) have proposed that growth rate of early larvae is an excellent predictor of the length of the larval period, and their data have supported this prediction for Rada sylvatica and Ambystoma species (but see Smith-Gill and Berven, 1979, for an alternative interpretation). In a temporary pond, whether any offspring of a pair of adults survive depends upon whether any of the tadpoles metamorphose before the pond dries, therefore upon the length of the larval period. Individual larval growth rate is important for successful metamorphosis in a second manner: individuals which grow quickly achieve a size refuge from predation at an earlier age (P. Morin, unpubl. data). Larval growth rate is also a valid measure of an individual's competitive ability (Wilbur and Collins, 1973; Collins, 1975; Smith-Gill and Gill, 1978). If competition becomes important due to either large numbers of young hatchlings or the diminished resources of a drying pond, then variation in competitive ability will lead to variation in larval growth and ultimately variation in metamorphic success among the members of a population. This will be true whether competition is intraor interspecific in nature. Further, if such variation in competitive ability is genetically based, then the outcome of competition would depend upon the intensity of the interaction and the relative frequencies of the different competing genotypes in the population, a natural process of soft selection (Wallace, 1975). Thus larval growth rate is likely to be an important parameter in determining metamorphic success whatever the dominant environmental influence: habitat ephemerality, predation, intraor interspecific competition. One important source for variability in larval growth rate is among the different sets of full sib families which comprise a larval population in temporary ponds. Because any such variation in larval growth rate and resultant variation in metamorphic success among the separate full sib families in the pond would lead to differential reproductive success within a frog population, the presence of such variation is of fundamental interest. In this paper I report the results of an experiment designed to test for the presence of variation among sibships in a population of Hyla gratiosa and the effect of that variation on metamorphic success, both within that population and on individuals of a co-occurring sibship of Hyla femoralis, an ecologically similar species.
Rapid COJEC Induction Therapy for High-risk Neuroblastoma Patients - Cochrane Review.

Background: Neuroblastoma is a rare malignant disease and patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have a poor prognosis. Rapid COJEC induction chemotherapy means (almost) the same total doses given within a shorter time period. In theory, rapid COJEC could reduce the risk of drug resistance and it has been considered as a potential candidate for improving the outcome. Methods: The objective was to evaluate effects of rapid COJEC compared to standard induction chemotherapy in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. We searched the databases CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from inception to 11 November 2014 and included randomized controlled trials. Results: We identified one relevant randomized controlled trial with 130 participants receiving rapid COJEC and 132 participants receiving standard OPEC/COJEC induction chemotherapy. There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups in complete response (risk ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.71 to 1.38, P=0.94) and treatment-related mortality (risk ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 4.39, P=0.77). A statistically significant difference in favor of the standard treatment arm was identified for the following early toxicities: febrile neutropenia, septicemia, and renal toxicity. Conclusion: The differences in complete response and treatment-related mortality between treatment alternatives were not statistically significantly different. Based on the currently available evidence, we are uncertain about the effects of rapid COJEC induction chemotherapy in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Numerical Simulation of Flow Fields and Structure Optimization for G47-3 No.8D Fan Inlet Box

3-demension flow field in inlet box of G47-3 No.8D fan were studied numerically by using CFD, which showed that there was a small and a pressure loss region formatted by strong eddy current and reflux. According to the distribution of flow field, reformation and simulation were carried out on the inlet box. The results show that the big eddy current in old model has changed into two eddy current which are small in strength and size, the small eddy current in the old model has disappeared, as well as the reflux has been suppressed to some extent.
Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy.

The association of pregnancy and diabetes is still characterized by high risks of fetal mortality and morbidity and maternal morbidity. While the incidence is still low, when one considers the increasing incidence of childhood onset of diabetes, a higher incidence in the future may be predicted. The diabetogenicity of pregnancy, evident in clinical experience, has been further clarified. The effects of pregnancy upon the course and sequelae of diabetes are discussed, as are the effects of diabetes on pregnancy.
Discrete-Time Recursive Utility

This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of discrete-time models using recursive utility. We examine the relation between preferences, utility, and aggregator, the existence of optimal paths, and several notions of impatience. In the one-sector model, we characterize optimal paths and derive a turnpike theorem. Topics beyond the scope of this paper include continuous time recursive utility, models involving uncertainty, the turnpike property in multisector models, and properties of Pareto optima and equilibrium in multisector models. Section 9.1 discusses the limitations of time additive preferences and some of the benefits of using a more general recursive utility specification. Section 9.2 examines the relation between recursive preferences and the associated aggregator function. A general result on existence of optimal paths is shown in Section 9.3. Sections 9.4 and 9.5 focus on the one-sector model. Existence of optimal paths and dynamic programming is considered in Section 9.4. Section 9.5 characterizes optimal paths via the Euler equations and then goes on to prove a one-sector turnpike theorem. Finally, Section 9.6 takes a brief look at the case where preferences are both homothetic and recursive.
Introduction to Analytical Chemistry

This chapter focuses on the knowledge and experimental techniques of analytical chemistry that are most often encountered in the field of chemistry, pharmacy, medical technology, medicine, and the biological sciences. There are four major areas of analytical chemistry that are of importance in their application to diverse scientific disciplines. These areas are spectroscopy, acid-base methods, potentiometry, and chromatography. Analytical chemistry deals with the solving of qualitative and quantitative problems. In qualitative analysis, the goal is to determine what the constituents are in the sample. On the other hand, in quantitative analysis, the goal is to determine how much of each constituent is in the sample. An analytical chemist deals with inorganic and organic mixtures composed of metallurgical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, or medicinal compounds. The importance of analytical chemistry in related scientific areas is explained by considering its impact on clinical analysis, in pharmaceutical research and quality control, and in environmental analysis.
Pedestrian-oriented zoning is associated with reduced income and poverty disparities in adult active travel to work, United States

Abstract Active travel to work can provide additional minutes of daily physical activity. While the literature points to the relationship between zoning, equity and socioeconomic status, and physical activity, no study has quantitatively explored these connections. This study examined whether zoning may help to moderate any income and poverty inequities in active travel and taking public transit to work. Research was conducted between May 2012 and June 2015. Zoning data were compiled for 3914 jurisdictions covering 45.45% of the U.S. population located in 471 of the most populous U.S. counties and 2 consolidated cities located in 48 states and the District of Columbia. (Sensitivity analyses also captured unincorporated areas which, with the municipalities, collectively covered ~72% of the U.S. population.) Zoning codes were obtained and evaluated to assess the pedestrian-orientation of the zoning codes. Public transit use, active travel to work, median household income, and poverty data were obtained for all study jurisdictions from the 2010–2014 American Community Survey estimates. Associations were examined through multivariate regression models, controlling for community sociodemographics, clustered on county, with robust standard errors. We found that certain pedestrian-oriented zoning provisions (e.g., crosswalks, bike-pedestrian connectivity, street connectivity, bike lanes, bike parking, and more zoning provisions) were associated with reduced income and/or poverty disparities in rates of public transit use and active travel to work. Findings from this study can help to inform cross-sectoral collaborations between the public health, planning, and transportation fields regarding zoning for pedestrian-orientation and active travel.
A QUANTITATIVE THEORY OF THE PRECIPITIN REACTION : II. A STUDY OF AN AZOPROTEIN-ANTIBODY SYSTEM.

1. A quantitative theory of the precipitin reaction based on the laws of classical chemistry has been tested on an azoprotein-antiprotein system and found to apply. 2. With its aid relationships may be deduced which permit the calculation of the behavior of an antidye serum over its entire range after a few quantitative chemical analyses have been made for antigen and antibody in the precipitate. 3. An empirical relation is also presented which further reduces the number of analyses necessary. 4. A study of supernatants in the inhibition zone has shown that the entire amount of dissolved antigen-antibody compound present is precipitated when supernatants are analyzed for antigen by the precipitin method.
Multiparameter Phosphoprofiling of the B-Cell Receptor Pathway in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia

Abstract Signaling orchestrates all aspects of cellular homeostasis and therefore altered responses to extrinsic stimuli are substantial to cancer pathogenesis. Physiological B-cell survival, proliferation and differentiation is highly dependent on the B-cell Receptor (BCR) pathway. In B-cell lymphomas this pathways is highly conserved and constitutively activated, as a result of genetic, epigenetic and microenvironmental alterations. In the context of the recently discovered MYD88 L265P and CXCR4-WHIM mutations, most signaling studies in Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM) have focused on TLR and CXCR4 signaling. Nevertheless, BCR signalosome and its’ role in the biology of WM remains poorly understood. Moreover, while novel BCR-directed biological agents, like ibrutinib, show activity in WM, there still is no BCR-specific therapeutic rationale for the treatment of WM. Over the last decade, a rapidly emerging technology used for signaling studies is phospho-flow cytometry, which permits the tracking of multiple intracellular signaling molecules at a single-cell level. The application of single-cell phosphoprofiling in WM bone marrow samples enabled us to characterized aberrant BCR signaling in both an inter-patient and inter-clonal setting. Overall, primary WM cells exhibited profound remodeling of the BCR-pathway, compared to normal B-cells. In basal state, cells had a heterogeneous pattern of activation for almost all the proteins tested, with Btk (p In an interclonal setting, we observed that CD20low cells exhibited impaired BCR signaling, in both proximal and distal levels, while BCR hyporesponsiveness was not restored in the presence of H2O2, suggesting that this is not an epiphenomenon of increased phosphatase input. Since CD20low cells additionally expressed lower levels of CD19, we hypothesize that this WM clonal subpopulation exhibits impaired BCR activation due to the loss of positive input by CD20- and CD19-costimulation. The presence of this novel BCR insensitive subclone, which we plan to further characterize, could be of great clinical importance for the biology of the disease and the efficacy of BCR-directed therapies. Download : Download high-res image (148KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 1 . (a) Basal, aIgM induced and aIgM+H2O2 induced phosphorylation of key nodal signaling proteins in WM (red) and Healthy Donor B-cells (black), (b) Principal component analysis of the generated phosphosignatures distinguishes WM from Healthy Donor B-cells, (c) Hierarchial clustering analysis distinguishes patient subsets with distinct BCR-phosphosignatures, (d) Ibrutinib trial: Representative change in basal levels of phosphorylation for 3 phosphoproteins on 6 months and 12 months of treatment (normalized to the pretreatment baseline), (e) WM subset analysis based on CD20 expression shows interclonal differential signaling (here LYN activation is shown in a representative WM sample). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Who lobbies the lobbyists? State Medicaid bureaucrats’ engagement in the legislative process

Research on bureaucratic power typically focusses on rulemaking and policy implementation, while bureaucrats’ participation in the legislative process remains underexplored. We theorise and test a specific mechanism by which bureaucrats attempt to sway legislative outcomes, which we term indirect bureaucratic lobbying. Using a novel survey of state-based health lobbyists in 25 states, we show that state Medicaid agency staff routinely request lobbying assistance from provider associations and consumer advocates. We also provide the first systematic evidence of the conditions under which indirect bureaucratic lobbying is likely to occur. Our results suggest that individual-level policy agreement interacts with institutional factors, most notably agency performance and gubernatorial power, to increase the likelihood that bureaucrats will use this strategy to attempt to influence legislative deliberations.
I can learn from you: Boys as relational learners

A quick search of the internet reveals many different views on the “boy crisis” in education, yet those who have raised concerns about boys' academic performance and emotional well-being within the...
Determination of prostate volume by transrectal ultrasound.

AbstractEstimation of prostate gland volume with transrectal ultrasound may provide important information in the evaluation of benign and malignant prostatic diseases. To determine the most accurate means of volume estimation 150 patients underwent transrectal ultrasound with 15 separate methods of volume estimation. All patients underwent subsequent radical prostatectomy or cystoprostatectomy. Prostate specimen weights were compared with the results of each volume estimation method. Step-section planimetry, previously assumed to be the most accurate means of volume measurement, exhibited a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.93. The elliptical volume, widely used as an alternative to planimetry, demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.90. The most accurate method to estimate prostate weight (r = 0.94) was a variation of the prolate spheroid formula, expressed as π/6 (transverse dimension)2 (anteroposterior dimension). When different volume ranges were considered, this prolate spheroid formula provid...