cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hurthle cell predominance impacts results of Afirma gene expression classifier and ThyroSeq molecular panel performance in indeterminate thyroid nodules

Background Molecular tests such as the Afirma gene expression classifier (GEC) and mutational panels (such as ThyroSeq) have been introduced to help risk stratify cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules with the aim to reduce the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies. Some reports have suggested that samples with Hurthle cell predominance have higher false-positive rates on GEC testing, but data are limited. Methods We reviewed thyroid nodules with indeterminate (Bethesda III/IV) cytology at our institution. Patient demographics, cytologic and histologic diagnoses (where available), and molecular test results were collected. Results GEC was performed on 202 nodules, and ThyroSeq was performed on 81 nodules. In the GEC cohort, 66% of nodules with Hurthle cell predominance yielded "suspicious" result vs 46% of nodules without Hurthle cell predominance, with risk of malignancy (ROM) for surgically resected nodules of 16% and 33%, respectively. In ThyroSeq cohort, 8% of nodules with Hurthle cell predominance yielded a high-risk mutation vs 19% of nodules without Hurthle cell predominance, with ROM of 50% and 33%, respectively. Conclusions For ThyroSeq molecular panel, while it did not appear that there was an increase in rate of high-risk mutations detected in the samples with Hurthle cell predominance, small numbers limit the generalizability of these results. For the GEC cohort, indeterminate thyroid nodules with predominance of Hurthle cells showed an increased rate of "suspicious" results compared to samples without Hurthle cell predominance. The ROM for GEC "suspicious" nodules with Hurthle cell predominance on surgical resection was lower in our study. Repeat FNA may be of use in patients with these types of nodules. In the context of a Hurthle cell predominant lesion, positive results on molecular testing may not carry a high rate of malignancy.
Grain Growth in Polycrystalline Thin Films

The performance and reliability of polycrystalline films are strongly affected by the average grain size and the distribution of grain sizes and orientations. These are often controlled through grain growth phenomena which occur during film formation and during subsequent processing. Abnormal rather than normal grain growth is most common in thin films, and leads to an evolution in the distribution of grain orientations as well as grain sizes, often leading to uniform or restricted crystallographic orientations or textures. Surface and interface energy minimization and strain energy minimization can lead to development of different textures, depending on which is dominant. The final texture resulting from grain growth depends on the film thickness, the deposition temperature, the grain growth temperature, the thermal expansion coefficients of the film and substrate, and the mechanical properties of the film, as well as other factors.
Methods of Analysis

My approach is one of social cost -benefit analysis, which in my opinion will be where the finance ministers will eventually have to sign off on greenhouse policy. I would like to submit that the stakes do seem to be very large, perhaps larger on the benefit side than so far might have been suggested.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Perioperative Myocardial Infarction After Noncardiac Surgery

Abstract Background Perioperative cardiovascular events are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after noncardiac surgery. We propose a simplified method for perioperative risk stratification. Methods In a retrospective cohort study we identified patients who underwent noncardiac surgery between 2009 and 2015 in the US National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, and surgery type were generated to estimate the effect of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking) on odds of perioperative myocardial infarction (MI). Time to event analysis was conducted using competing risk analysis, with MI as the outcome event and death as the competing risk. Results A total of 3,848,501 noncardiac surgeries were identified. Postoperative MI occurred in 0.37% of patients and 1.04% of patients died. The 30-day event rate of perioperative MI increased in a stepwise fashion with additional risk factors (0.42% for 1, 0.82% for 2, and 1.08% for 3; P for trend Conclusions Patients with cardiovascular risk factors are at increased risk of perioperative MI, those without risk factors are at low risk. Further evaluation is needed to determine the effect of a simplified risk score in the perioperative setting.
Nora Chipaumire: Rewriting as Decolonizing Heat

This chapter analyzes the many forms of Nora Chipaumire’s choreographic strategy of rewriting and layering a hierarchical narrative with alterities, revealing the perspectives of History’s “others.” It refers to her manipulation of choreographic vocabulary as she creates cross-referentialities between works deemed “historic” and “masterpieces” and her rewritings of these pieces and her refusal to monumentalize her own works as consolidated choreographies. It also looks at her commitment to sites of colonial wounding, causing friction as she reimagines these stories, and simultaneously decolonizes existing “master” narratives. This chapter argues that such heated engagements in fact generate empowerment and embodied liberation, foregrounding African feminist perspectives in contemporary dance.
Biological Nitrogen Removal

Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes are the preferred methods for removing nitrogen compounds from wastewater because of the low cost, energy, and chemical requirements of BNR compared with physical–chemical treatment. Sources of nitrogen in wastewater are diverse and include nonpoint sources, residential and industrial point sources, landfill leachate, and internal recycle streams in wastewater treatment plants. These compounds can be transformed through a number of microbial processes including ammonification, assimilation, nitrification, and denitrification. This chapter discusses the engineered BNR systems including separate sludge processes, single-sludge processes, such as the modified Ludzack–Ettinger and the four-stage Bardenpho, and hybrid attached/suspended growth processes, such as the integrated fixed-film activated sludge and moving-bed bioreactors. Processes to remove nitrogen from high-strength internal waste streams, such as sludge centrate, are presented. Emerging techniques such as anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox), nitrate shunt, and hydrogen and sulfur oxidizing autotrophic denitrification are also discussed.
Beyond Prevalence: Annual Cumulative Incidence of Kidney Stones in the United States

Purpose:It is well documented that the prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing in adults in the United States over time. Approximately 11% of men and 7% of women have reported a lifetime histor...
False Relay Operation Attacks in Power Systems with High Renewables.

Load-generation balance and system inertia are essential for maintaining frequency in power systems. Power grids are equipped with Rate-of-Change-of Frequency (ROCOF) and Load Shedding (LS) relays in order to keep load-generation balance. With the increasing penetration of renewables, the inertia of the power grids is declining, which results in a faster drop in system frequency in case of load-generation imbalance. In this context, we analyze the feasibility of launching False Data Injection (FDI) in order to create False Relay Operations (FRO), which we refer to as FRO attack, in the power systems with high renewables. We model the frequency dynamics of the power systems and corresponding FDI attacks, including the impact of parameters, such as synchronous generators inertia, and governors time constant and droop, on the success of FRO attacks. We formalize the FRO attack as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) and solve using Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT). Our case studies show that power grids with renewables are more susceptible to FRO attacks and the inertia of synchronous generators plays a critical role in reducing the success of FRO attacks in the power grids.
Simulation based evaluation of a fan beam coded aperture x-ray diffraction imaging system for biospecimen analysis.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) imaging yields spatially resolved, material-specific information, which can aid medical diagnosis and inform treatment. In this work we used simulations to analyze the utility of fan beam coded aperture XRD imaging for fast, high-resolution scatter imaging of biospecimens for tissue assessment. To evaluate the proposed system's utility in a specific task, we employed a deterministic model to produce simulated data from biologically realistic breast tissue phantoms and model-based reconstruction to recover a spatial map of the XRD signatures throughout the phantoms. We found an XRD spatial resolution of ≈1 mm with a mean reconstructed spectral accuracy of 0.98 ± 0.01 for a simulated 1 × 150 mm2 fan beam operating at 160 kVp, 10 mA, and 4.5 s exposures. A classifier for cancer detection was developed utilizing cross-correlation of XRD spectra against a spectral library, with a receiver operating characteristic curve with an area under the curve value of 0.972. Our results indicated a potential diagnostic modality that could aid in tasks ranging from analysis of ex-vivo pathology biospecimens to intraoperative cancer margin assessment, motivating future work to develop an experimental system while enabling the development of improved algorithms for imaging and tissue analysis-based classification performance.
Gene regulation: Context is everything.

Summary How transcription factors regulate a distinct set of target genes in different cell types is a fundamental question. A new study demonstrates how Ultrabithorax, a Hox transcription factor, acts as both a repressor and an activator in a cell type-specific manner to alter chromatin accessibility and gene regulation.
Concluding Remarks: Marine Photosynthesis and the Global Carbon Cycle

The fate of C02 emitted from burning of fossil fuel, cement production, and deforestation since the industrial revolution is unknown and a hotly debated issue. Meteorologists, agronomists, terrestrial ecologists, limnologists, and oceanographers are at present unable to specify either the steady state annual fluxes of carbon in a global budget or the nature of transients between the major storage pools (atmosphere, land, and ocean) over the last century. At the present rate of increase in fuel consumption of 4.3% yr-1, a doubling of the C02 content of the atmosphere and a concomitant 2 to 3°C increase in the ocean’s temperature could occur by 2035. Present ocean temperatures are, in fact, only ∼2.3°C warmer than during the last Wisconsin glaciation. The role of the marine biota has been dismissed as insignificant in the global C02 cycle on the basis of nutrient limitation, reflecting the bias of oceanographers, who study only the open ocean, and of marine biologists, who study only intracellular metabolism. The C02 fixed each year during photosynthesis on the continental shelf and deposited as detrital particles on the adjacent continental slope may be a major organic sink of the global carbon cycle that is amenable to manipulation by man in amelioration of the future C02 content of the atmosphere.
Familial and Genetic Factors

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that shows evidence of moderate heritability. The specific genes that confer risk for insomnia are unknown, but studies are just beginning to shed light on these mechanisms.
The obligation of physicians to medical outliers: a Kantian and Hegelian synthesis

Background Patients who present to medical practices without health insurance or with serious co-morbidities can become fiscal disasters to those who care for them. Their consumption of scarce resources has caused consternation among providers and institutions, especially as it concerns the amount and type of care they should receive. In fact, some providers may try to avoid caring for them altogether, or at least try to limit their institutional or practice exposure to them.
Impact of small variations in the delivered dose of rabbit antithymocyte induction therapy in kidney transplantation with early corticosteroid withdrawal

BACKGROUND Optimal dosing of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction therapy in kidney transplantation is not well defined. The impact of dosing from variations in dose rounding or single dose limits has not been studied. METHODS This retrospective study of 242 adult renal transplant recipients receiving rATG induction and steroid-sparing maintenance therapy evaluates the effect of small changes in rATG induction dosing. The local protocol calls for four doses of rATG 1.5 mg/kg, approximated to the nearest 25 mg and limited to a max of 150 mg. Patients were stratified by total rATG dose received 5 to 6 mg/kg (n=151) and 6 mg/kg (n=91) or more. Incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection, patient and graft survival, and allograft function were examined. RESULTS Baseline and transplantation characteristics were similar between groups except for differences in mean weight (SD) (81 [17.3] vs. 76.3 [15.6]) and cumulative rATG dose received (451.8 [96.2] vs. 481.1 [93]) for patients in the 5- to 6-mg/kg group and 6-mg/kg or more group, respectively. Patients who received more rATG showed a significantly lower incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection at last follow-up 11% (32/151) vs. 21.2% (10/91) among those who received only 5 to 6 mg/kg (P<0.042). Renal function (mean serum creatinine level) was similar at both 90 days and time of last follow-up. Safety review of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia did not differ. CONCLUSION Small changes in total rATG induction administered seem to significantly impact the incidence of rejection. Adequate rATG dosing is associated with improved rejection-free graft survival and should be achieved for all patients; doses should be rounded up when appropriate or additional doses should be administered if necessary.
Effect of group velocity mismatch on the measurement of ultrashort optical pulses via second harmonic generation

The use of second harmonic generation as a technique for optical pulse width measurements is analyzed to determine the effects of both phase velocity and group velocity mismatch between fundamental and second harmonic fields. An expression for the time average second harmonic energy, which except for special cases differs from the intensity autocorrelation function, is derived. For Type I phase matching, the measurement yields an apparent correlation width which can be either shorter or longer than the actual intensity correlation width, depending on the specific pulse shape. When the group velocity mismatch is nonzero, the measurement becomes sensitive to the phase matching condition. Two special pulse shapes for which the measurement is independent of group and phase velocity mismatch are the Gaussian and the single-sided exponential.
Integrating sphere depolarization at 10 μm for a non-Lambertian wall surface: application to lidar calibration

The relative Stokes vectors at the detector exit port of a sandblasted and gold-plated integrating sphere are determined for four different polarizations incident on five unique surfaces. The results indicate in all cases that the integrating sphere is a depolarizer. These results validate assumptions used in hard-target calibration methodology for infrared lidars.
Pediatric tracheotomy referrals to speech-language pathology in a children's hospital.

Abstract The pattern of referral of infants and children with tracheotomy to speech-language pathology (SLP) was studied through a retrospective review. Less than half ( 29 62 ) were referred to SLP with no difference by surgical service (otolaryngology vs pediatric surgery) or length of time with tracheotomy. Younger children were referred far less frequently than older children. Furthermore, more than half of all children referred to SLP showed moderate to severe communication deficits. Central nervous system abnormalities were documented in 66% of the subjects. In the majority tracheotomies were in place longer than 12 months. On the basis of the findings, a protocol was established for early routine involvement of SLP with infants and children with tracheotomy.
The Theory of Turning Points in Business Fluctuations

Introduction: Status of contemporary business-fluctuation theory, 525. — I. Role of the money supply: Hansen's view and mine, 527. — II. Statistical series and their turning points, 532. — III. Forces producing monetary expansion and contraction, 535. — IV. Federal Reserve operations and business fluctuations, 540. — V. Routes of impact of monetary pressure, 548.
Whipple’s Disease: A Rare Disease Revisited

Since the original postmortem diagnosis of “intestinal lipodystrophy” by Dr. George H. Whipple in 1907, the complexities of Whipple’s disease have been elucidated through case reports. Universally fatal prior to the advent of antibiotics, Tropheryma whipplei is increasingly recognized as an organism that can be treated only if the clinician seeks to identify it. Whipple’s disease is primarily a gastrointestinal disease manifesting as a malabsorption syndrome, and is detected through endoscopy and intestinal biopsy. Nongastrointestinal manifestations of the disease, although less common, are reported and have aided in its recognition as a multiorgan disease entity. Because of its rarity, treatment recommendations are currently based on observational studies and on one recent prospective study, which outlined induction therapy followed by several months of suppressive maintenance therapy to prevent relapse, which is often characterized by neurologic symptoms.
UWB Radio Propagation Inside Vehicle Environments

This is the first study for inside vehicle wireless communication system design with UWB technology under WiMedia standard. At first, MATLAB simulator has been developed then calculated BER in AWGR channel model. And it is confirmed adequacy of channel model compared with IEEE simulation model. And wireless transmission characteristics are measured with the following? conditions such as receiver on top of dashboard and transmitter on rear sheet, center of trunk etc. Then test result of BER and PER are compared with simulation model above those conditions. In case of wireless communication system design under IEEE802.15.3a and or WiMedia model with target 8% PER condition, inside vehicle wireless communication is capable for 3dB link margin for wireless communication with tweaking antenna gain and receiving NF for inside Vehicle communication system.
Implementation and application of an interactive user-friendly validation software for RADIANCE

RADIANCE extracts CT dose parameters from dose sheets using optical character recognition and stores the data in a relational database. To facilitate validation of RADIANCE's performance, a simple user interface was initially implemented and about 300 records were evaluated. Here, we extend this interface to achieve a wider variety of functions and perform a larger-scale validation. The validator uses some data from the RADIANCE database to prepopulate quality-testing fields, such as correspondence between calculated and reported total dose-length product. The interface also displays relevant parameters from the DICOM headers. A total of 5,098 dose sheets were used to test the performance accuracy of RADIANCE in dose data extraction. Several search criteria were implemented. All records were searchable by accession number, study date, or dose parameters beyond chosen thresholds. Validated records were searchable according to additional criteria from validation inputs. An error rate of 0.303% was demonstrated in the validation. Dose monitoring is increasingly important and RADIANCE provides an open-source solution with a high level of accuracy. The RADIANCE validator has been updated to enable users to test the integrity of their installation and verify that their dose monitoring is accurate and effective.
Automated matching of supine and prone colonic polyps based on PCA and SVMs

Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is a feasible and minimally invasive method for the detection of colorectal polyps and cancer screening. In current practice, a patient will be scanned twice during the CTC examination - once supine and once prone. In order to assist the radiologists in evaluating colon polyp candidates in both scans, we expect the computer aided detection (CAD) system can provide not only the locations of suspicious polyps, but also the possible matched pairs of polyps in two scans. In this paper, we propose a new automated matching method based on the extracted features of polyps by using principal component analysis (PCA) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Our dataset comes from the 104 CT scans of 52 patients with supine and prone positions collected from three medical centers. From it we constructed two groups of matched polyp candidates according to the size of true polyps: group A contains 12 true polyp pairs (> 9 mm) and 454 false pairs; group B contains 24 true polyp pairs (6-9 mm) and 514 false pairs. By using PCA, we reduced the dimensions of original data (with 157 attributes) to 30 dimensions. We did leave-one-patient-out test on the two groups of data. ROC analysis shows that it is easier to match bigger polyps than that of smaller polyps. On group A data, when false alarm probability is 0.18, the sensitivity of SVM achieves 0.83 which shows that automated matching of polyp candidates is practicable for clinical applications.
Learning Bayesian networks with integration of indirect prior knowledge

A Bayesian network model can be used to study the structures of gene regulatory networks. It has the ability to integrate information from both prior knowledge and experimental data. In this study, we propose an approach to efficiently integrate global ordering information into model learning, where the ordering information specifies the indirect relationships among genes. We demonstrate that, compared with a traditional Bayesian network model that uses only local prior knowledge, utilising additional global ordering knowledge can significantly improve the model's performance. The magnitude of this improvement depends on abundance of global ordering information and data quality.
Balancing Water Sustainability and Public Health Goals in the Face of Growing Concerns about Antibiotic Resistance

Global initiatives are underway to advance the sustainability of urban water infrastructure through measures such as water reuse. However, there are growing concerns that wastewater effluents are enriched in antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes, and thus could serve as a contributing factor to growing rates of antibiotic resistance in human infections. Evidence for the role of the water environment as a source and pathway for the spread of antimicrobial resistance is examined and key knowledge gaps are identified with respect to implications for sustainable water systems. Efforts on the part of engineers along with investment in research in epidemiology, risk assessment, water treatment and water delivery could advance current and future sustainable water strategies and help avoid unintended consequences.
Fast generation of 2-D node distributions for mesh-free PDE discretizations

Abstract Many applications require that nodes be scattered locally quasi-uniformly within 2-D regions or on curved surfaces in 3-D space, while obeying some prescribed spatially varying density function. This study focuses on creating variable density node layouts that are suitable for mesh-free discretizations of PDEs. Another application is ‘dithering’ to simulate half-tone images. The method is an ‘advancing-front type’ scheme, inspired by the physical process of dropping of variable sized grains into a bucket.
Metabolic engineering approaches for production of biochemicals in food and medicinal plants

Historically, plants are a vital source of nutrients and pharmaceuticals. Recent advances in metabolic engineering have made it possible to not only increase the concentration of desired compounds, but also introduce novel biosynthetic pathways to a variety of species, allowing for enhanced nutritional or commercial value. To improve metabolic engineering capabilities, new transformation techniques have been developed to allow for gene specific silencing strategies or stacking of multiple genes within the same region of the chromosome. The 'omics' era has provided a new resource for elucidation of uncharacterized biosynthetic pathways, enabling novel metabolic engineering approaches. These resources are now allowing for advanced metabolic engineering of plant production systems, as well as the synthesis of increasingly complex products in engineered microbial hosts. The status of current metabolic engineering efforts is highlighted for the in vitro production of paclitaxel and the in vivo production of β-carotene in Golden Rice and other food crops.
Evaluation of Tactics for Managing Resistance of Venturia inaequalis to Sterol Demethylation Inhibitors.

ABSTRACT The impact on the selection and control of subpopulations of V. inaequalis resistant to the sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fenarimol or to dodine were evaluated with respect to several tactics of apple scab control. Experiments were conducted in an experimental orchard with elevated levels of DMI and dodine resistance over a period of three consecutive seasons. The DMI-resistant subpopulation was poorly (14%) controlled at a fenarimol rate of 15 mg/liter (sprayed to run-off), whereas control was significantly improved (54%) at twice that rate. Mancozeb mixed with the low rate of fenarimol also improved the control of DMI-resistant isolates, but the improvement was due to the indiscriminate control of both the DMI-sensitive and -resistant populations provided by mancozeb. The selection of fenarimol-resistant isolates resulting from poor control of the resistant subpopulation by the low rate of fenarimol was equivalent whether fenarimol was applied singly or in mixture with mancozeb. Conseque...
A novel link between G6PD deficiency and hemolysis in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices.

A novel link between G6PD deficiency and hemolysis in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices Hassan Alhosaini, MD, Brian C. Jensen, MD, Patricia P. Chang, MD, MHS, Brett C. Sheridan, MD, and Jason N. Katz, MD, MHS From the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina Heart Institute, Greenville, North Carolina; Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; UNC McAllister Heart Institute, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and the Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Short-Term Effects of a Comprehensive, Statewide Smokefree Law on Perceived Opportunities to Smoke

Background The goal of this study was to assess the effects of Minnesota's comprehensive, statewide smokefree law on young adults' perceived opportunities to smoke in restaurants and bars. Purpose Differential effects of the law were examined for those living with and without previous local smokefree ordinances. Methods Telephone surveys were conducted 6–12 months prior, 0–6 months prior, and 0–6 months after Minnesota's statewide smokefree law went into effect. Participants included young adults from a population-based cohort in Minnesota (n=1446) and from four other Upper Midwest states that serve as a comparison (n=238). Results A greater proportion of Minnesota participants (regardless of previous law) reported it was very hard for an adult to find a place to smoke in both restaurants and bars/clubs after the statewide law, compared to the comparison group. Effects were greater among Minnesota participants who did not live with a local smokefree ordinance previously. Conclusions Within 6 months of Minnesota's statewide smokefree law, Minnesota young adults, even those who lived with a prior local smoking ordinance, believed it was more difficult for adults to find a place to smoke in restaurants and bars/clubs. Changing perceived opportunities to smoke in the state may be an initial step in changing social norms and smoking behaviors. These results suggest that statewide smokefree laws may provide additional barriers to smoking, beyond those obtained through local ordinances.
Neochordal repair of the posterior mitral leaflet.

Abstract Background Myxomatous mitral valve insufficiency is traditionally repaired by posterior leaflet quadrangular resection and reconstruction. A simplified repair technique without leaflet resection is described, and our initial experience is reviewed. Methods Thirty-nine consecutive patients with significant mitral regurgitation underwent repair since January 2000 by placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures between the leading (coapting) edge of the posterior leaflet and the corresponding papillary muscle. An annuloplasty ring was placed, and no leaflet tissue was resected. Patient medical records were obtained and retrospectively reviewed. Results Twenty-five men and 14 women (median age, 61 years; range, 40-88 years) had their mitral valve repaired by a variety of surgical approaches, including robotic (18 patients), right thoracotomy (6 patients), and sternal (15 patients). Three patients have required valve replacement: 1 at the initial operation, 1 because of dehiscence of the annuloplasty ring, and 1 after subsequent rupture of a previously normal native chorda. At follow-up (median, 12 months), 92% (33/36) of the remaining patients had an intact mitral repair with no to mild regurgitation, 8.3% (3/36) of patients had moderate regurgitation, and 92% of all patients (36/39) were in New York Heart Association class I. There were no deaths. Conclusions Myxomatous mitral regurgitation due to posterior leaflet insufficiency can be repaired without leaflet resection by placement of neochordae. This repair technique is effective and is readily accomplished by traditional and minimally invasive surgical approaches.
A note on incrementation schemes in non-linear structural analysis

Abstract The prediction of the non-linear behavior of engineering structures by the finite element method, wherein instabilities (buckling, bifurcation, etc.) do not occur, has received considerable attention in the past. In contrast to that, it was not until recently that the development of so-called continuation algorithms has been actively pursued. Precisely, these algorithms aim to circumvent inherent numerical difficulties encountered in the vicinity of critical-points of the load-deflection diagram and to continue the analysis beyond these points (‘post-critical path’). The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, numerical methods currently in use for pre-and post-buckling analysis are briefly reviewed. Second, alternative algorithms are proposed and their computational efficiency and reliability are evaluated in comparison with each other and with existing algorithms as well. Numerical solutions for several typical test studies are presented in the last part of the paper.
Computer simulation of a self-preserving and learning organism.

The objective of the present work is to describe a technique general enough to be applied to the simulation of a fairly wide range of biological phenomena rather than the explicatory-predictive treatment of a specific problem. A model of an organism is built and studied by computer simulation. The organism has a major goal, survival, and various subgoals, such as optimization of its state of health, maximization of pleasure, minimization of pain, exploration and control of its environment, etc. It perceives a set of stimuli and emits a set of responses the quality of which improves with experience. Various learning processes are incorporated in the “cognitive mechanism” of the organism. The description of the model is followed by an outline of the computer program and, finally, the results of a trial run are discussed.
Understanding and Addressing Clients' Resistance to Group Counseling.

Abstract This study examined college students' attitudes about group counseling and created a reliable instrument for measuring those attitudes Results indicated that perceptions of counselor behavior did affect clients' intent to learn more about group counseling but did not affect clients' attitudes about it. Contrary to expectations, clients held neutral to positive attitudes rather than negative attitudes Gender differences in attitudes about group work were also reported. Implications for more effectively addressing students' reservations about group counseling are made based on the findings.
FLT3/ITD AML and the law of unintended consequences

Acute myeloid leukemia with a FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3/ITD) mutation is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a generally poor prognosis. It can be successfully treated into remission with intensive chemotherapy, but it routinely relapses. At relapse, the blasts tend to have higher mutant allelic ratios and, in vitro, are more addicted to the aberrant signaling from the FLT3/ITD oncoprotein. They remain highly responsive to FLT3 ligand, the levels of which rise several-fold during the course of chemotherapy. The question now arises as to whether these high levels of FLT3 ligand are actually promoting relapse, and, if so, how we can use this information to adjust our therapeutic approach and improve the cure rate for acute myeloid leukemia with FLT3/ITD.
Pathological Features of Renal Neoplasms Classified by Size and Symptomatology

Purpose: We examined the relationship between tumor size and pathological findings in a contemporary series of surgical renal lesions and we characterized the relationship of incidental and symptom...
Multivariate Visualization on Parametric Surfaces

Attribute Blocks are the basis of a multivariate visualization scheme that has been shown to be effective for two-dimensional data sets such as those common in Geographical Information System (GIS) applications. In this paper, we present an extension of this technique into three dimensions. Specifically, we show how the variation of multiple attributes defined continuously across a parametric surface can be explored using the Attribute Block technique. Any combination of geometric and/or non-geometric attributes can be visualized in this way. We present the method and illustrate it with a few simple examples including the visualization of purely geometric surface differential properties as well as the visualization of non-geometric properties such as the variation of temperature and stress across the surface. The method has educational potential as an aid to help students understand surfaces and surface parameterizations. It also has potential as a surface inspection tool to highlight areas of interest from a differential property point of view that might not be obvious from standard surface displays.
Planning for closures of hazardous waste land disposal units at the Oak Ridge Y-12 plant

Abstract Eight hazardous waste land disposal units at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant are being closed in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) under an integrated multi-year program. The units, some of which date back to the early 1950s and include five surface impoundments, two landfills and a land treatment unit, have been used for the management of a variety of types of hazardous wastes. Closure plans for the units have been submitted and are in various stages of revision and regulatory review. The units will be closed by various combinations of methods, including liquid removal and treatment, sludge stabilization, contaminated sludge and/or soil removal, and capping. Closure of all eight units must be initiated by November 8, 1988. Funding for the eight closures is being provided by a new Department of Energy budget category, the environmental Restoration Budget Category (ERBC), which is intended to allow for a more rapid response to environmental problems and regulatory requirements. A major project, Closure and Post-Closure Activities (CAPCA) has been identified for ERBC funding to close the land disposal units in accordance with RCRA requirements. Establishing the project scope has required the development of a detailed set of assumptions and a confirmation program for each assumption. Other significant activities in the CAPCA project include risk assessments and the preparation of an integrated project schedule.
Biosynthesis of synephrine in citrus

Abstract Synephrine is formed in citrus by a pathway involving tyramine and N-methyltyramine. Octopamine is probably not an important intermediate. 14 C-labeled tyramine was converted to N-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine, and synephrine in one of the citrus cultivars studied. Tyrosine was a less efficient precursor and phenylalanine, serine, ethanolamine, and epinephrine were ineffective.
Evaluating the IMPACT program for depression in cancer patients

Evaluation of: Fann JR, Fan MY, Unutzer J: Improving primary care for older adults with cancer and depression. J. Gen. Intern. Med. 24(Suppl. 2), S417–S424 (2009). Depression is a prevalent psychological disorder in older cancer patients; however, it is often underdiagnosed and is frequently undertreated. There are few studies that have empirically tested treatment options for older adults with cancer. This article reviews the encouraging results of a secondary analysis by Fann et al. of the effectiveness of the Improving Mood-Promoting Access to Collaborative Treatment (IMPACT) stepped care management program for depression in older cancer patients. Those older patients who received the intervention were approximately twice as likely as usual care subjects to experience a depression treatment response at 12 months, with higher remission rates at 6 and 12 months. Fann et al. should be commended for providing some quality evidence for an effective model for treating depression in older cancer patients in p...
Effects of garcinol and its derivatives on intestinal cell growth: Inhibitory effects and autoxidation-dependent growth-stimulatory effects.

Abstract Garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone, from the Garcinia indica fruit rind, has been suggested to be an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. To explore the possible use of this redox-sensitive compound as a colon cancer preventive agent, we investigated the effects of garcinol and its oxidative derivatives, cambogin, garcim-1, and garcim-2, on the growth of HT-29 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells, as well as IEC-6 and INT-407 normal immortalized intestinal cells. Garcinol and its derivatives showed potent growth-inhibitory effects on all intestinal cells, showing IC50 of 3.2–21.4 μM after a 3-day treatment. Garcim-1 exhibited the strongest effect with IC50 of 3.2–5.9 μM. Garcinol was more effective in inhibiting growth of cancer cells than that of normal immortalized cells. Flow-cytometric analysis showed increased sub-G1 cells by treatment with garcinol and cambogin. Induction of apoptosis by garcinol and cambogin (2–10 μM) was also observed based on caspase-3 activation and enhanced annexin V staining. The inhibitory effect of garcinol on cell growth was much more pronounced in the absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), decreasing IC50 to 1.5 from 11.8 μM in 72-h incubations and to 3 from 38 μM in 24-h incubations, possibly due to the binding of garcinol to FBS, which markedly reduced cellular levels of garcinol. Under these conditions, redox reactions seem not to be involved in the inhibition. In contrast to the inhibitory effect, low concentrations (
Abstract 2060: NADPH oxidase NOX5 regulates the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p27kip1 in the human melanoma UACC-257 cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL NADPH oxidase (NOX) family enzymes (NOX1-5 and DUOX1-2) generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulate cellular pathways that regulate proliferation. While high doses of ROS are clearly toxic, the effects of low doses of NOX-mediated ROS as signaling molecules are less clear. Recent work has proposed that NOX5 plays a role in cell proliferation in Hairy cell leukemia, Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma and in prostate cancer cells, yet relatively little is known of the signaling pathways mediated by NOX5. In this study we explored the functional role of NOX5 in cancer cells obtained from the NCI-60 cell line panel. Initial screening of the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel for expression of the Nox family members by real time PCR revealed several melanoma cell lines that express Nox5. Of the NOX5 expressing NCI-60 human cancer cell lines, subsequent studies were carried out in human UACC-257 melanoma cancer cells. Two molecular approaches were undertaken to determine the functional role of NOX5 in UACC-257 cells: 1) generating NOX5 over-expressing stable clones and 2) transiently silencing endogenous NOX5 and the stably over-expressed NOX5. Redox-sensitive assays for both intra- and extracellular ROS production confirmed that NOX5 is functional and generates superoxide in both UACC-257 cells and stable Nox5-over-expressing clones. NOX5 can be activated both by the protein kinase C activating phorbol ester PMA and by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Furthermore, this enzymatic activity is calcium- and flavin dehydrogenase-dependent; both the calcium chelator BAPTA-AM and the flavoprotein inhibitor DPI (200nM) significantly decreased NOX5-mediated ROS production. Silencing NOX5 over-expression significantly inhibited both endogenous and PMA-stimulated ROS production, suggesting that the ROS production is NOX5-mediated. Furthermore, knockdown of both endogenous and over-expressed NOX5 in UACC-257 cells resulted in increased p27Kip1 expression. Conversely, over-expression of NOX5 in UACC-257 cells resulted in decreased p27Kip1 expression both at the mRNA and protein levels. As the AKT signaling pathways are known to modulate p27Kip1 levels, we observed that knockdown of both endogenous and over-expressed NOX5 in UACC-257 cells resulted in decreased Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation. Studies to characterize additional mechanisms of translational and transcriptional regulation of p27Kip1 by NOX5 are ongoing. In summary, our findings suggest that NOX5 expression could contribute to cell proliferation in human cancers in part due to the generation of high local concentrations of extracellular ROS that regulate the Akt/GSK-3β/p27Kip1 signaling network. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2060. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2060
Cloning and Characterization of a GABAA Receptor γ2 Subunit Variant

We have cloned a novel gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor gamma2 subunit variant named gamma2XL. gamma2XL contains an alternatively spliced exon, resulting in the addition of 40 amino acids to the N-terminal extracellular domain between Ser171 and Tyr172. We show that gamma2XL failed to localize to the cell surface when it was coexpressed with the alpha2 and beta1 subunits in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Expression of gamma2XL in 293 cells suppressed GABAA receptor binding in a dose-dependent manner by preventing GABAA receptor cell-surface localization. We also generated a gamma2 mutant with Ser171 and Tyr172 converted to glycine and threonine, respectively. We demonstrate that this mutant has a significantly lower affinity for the alpha2 and beta1 subunits and failed to reach the cell surface when coexpressed with these subunits. Together, our results indicate that Ser171 and Tyr172 in the gamma2 subunit constitute a critical motif. When this motif is disrupted by insertion of the alternative exon, access of the gamma2 subunit to the cell surface is prevented.
Runx1 deletion or dominant inhibition reduces Cebpa transcription via conserved promoter and distal enhancer sites to favor monopoiesis over granulopoiesis

Deletion of Runx1 in adult mice produces a myeloproliferative phenotype. We now find that Runx1 gene deletion increases marrow monocyte while reducing granulocyte progenitors and that exogenous RUNX1 rescues granulopoiesis. Deletion of Runx1 reduces Cebpa mRNA in lineage-negative marrow cells and in granulocyte-monocyte progenitors or common myeloid progenitors. Pu.1 mRNA is also decreased, but to a lesser extent. We also transduced marrow with dominant-inhibitory RUNX1a. As with Runx1 gene deletion, RUNX1a expands lineage-Sca-1+c-kit+ and myeloid cells, increased monocyte CFUs relative to granulocyte CFUs, and reduced Cebpa mRNA. Runx1 binds a conserved site in the Cebpa promoter and binds 4 sites in a conserved 450-bp region located at +37 kb; mutation of the enhancer sites reduces activity 6-fold in 32Dcl3 myeloid cells. Endogenous Runx1 binds the promoter and putative +37 kb enhancer as assessed by ChIP, and RUNX1-ER rapidly induces Cebpa mRNA in these cells, even in cycloheximide, consistent with direct gene regulation. The +37 kb region contains strong H3K4me1 histone modification and p300-binding, as often seen with enhancers. Finally, exogenous C/EBPα increases granulocyte relative to monocyte progenitors in Runx1-deleted marrow cells. Diminished CEBPA transcription and consequent impairment of myeloid differentiation may contribute to leukemic transformation in acute myeloid leukemia cases associated with decreased RUNX1 activity.
Global financial crisis: The challenge to accounting research

Accounting practices are deeply implicated in the current financial crisis and in proposals for recapitalizing financial institutions and restoring stability to the global financial system. This essay discusses the methodological and theoretical gaps in accounting research that explain our failure to anticipate the crisis and limit our ability to analyze and respond to it.
Anticipatory Gaze Shifts during Navigation in a Naturalistic Virtual Environment

In the real world, coupled eye and head movements are used by humans and other animals to orient their gaze toward objects or scenes of interest. In virtual environments a mouse is often used as a proxy for head movements, orienting the camera towards a desired view direction. The mouse also controls body direction during navigation, orienting the user's avatar to a desired movement direction. The interaction between gaze and mouse actions in realistic virtual environments has received only limited study. Using a desktop eye tracker, we recorded the participants while they explored a virtual tropical island for ten minutes. We found evidence for anticipatory gaze shifts prior to mouse movement. The results suggest that despite the loss of eye-head coupling, gaze behavior in virtual environments resembles that of real life.
An OR nurse internship program that focuses on retention.

ABSTRACT Today's health care environment has pushed OR managers to reconsider the skill mix of staff members and to use more surgical technologists and unlicensed assistive personnel. Health care administrators want to decrease the RN:surgical technologist ratio in an effort to cut costs. This financial constraint and the unavailability of experienced OR nurses has created the problem of having enough trained nurses in the OR. One tactic that may prevent the available positions for RNs from being filled by unlicensed assistive personnel is to train more nurses. Training programs organized around optimal patient outcomes may be more cost-effective than training focused on technical proficiency alone. This article describes retention strategies (ie, classroom study, OR training, work with preceptors) used in an OR nurse training program conducted at a southeastern teaching hospital. AORN J 66 (Sept 1996) 455–463.