cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the Method of Cases Rest on a Mistake

In this paper, I argue that the method of cases (namely, the method of using intuitive judgments elicited by intuition pumps as evidence for and/or against philosophical theories) is not a reliable method of generating evidence for and/or against philosophical theories. In other words, the method of cases is unlikely to generate accurate judgments more often than not. This is so because, if perception and intuition are analogous in epistemically relevant respects, then using intuition pumps to elicit intuitive judgments is like using illusions to elicit perceptual judgments. In both cases, judgments are made under bad epistemic circumstances.
Closure of tubular patent ductus arteriosus in infants with the amplatzer vascular plug II

Objectives We used the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II to close tubular patent ductus arteriosus (DA) in infants. Background Despite advancements in device design, catheter-based therapy for the DA of tubular morphology has been problematic. Likewise, the currently available devices are not designed to close DAs in small, often premature infants as the size of the delivery systems can be prohibitive and the devices obstructive to aortic or pulmonary artery flow. Methods We report our experience using the second-generation Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP II) in 10 patients with sizeable, tubular DAs, seven of whom were less than or equal to 4.0 kg. Results Complete closure was attained in all patients, with one minor complication. In four small infants, the device was delivered without arterial access under echocardiographic guidance. Conclusion It is our belief that the AVP II device can be a useful embolization device for DAs in this difficult patient population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multilayer pin assignment for macro cell circuits

We present a multilayer pin (crossing point) assignment algorithm for macro cell circuits. The pin-assignment algorithm takes advantage of a multilayer chip-level global router that we recently developed. Previously reported methods also sought to combine global routing and pin assignment, but their models forced them to use inferior global routing methods. No previous pin-assignment program can handle multilayer layout in which multiple crossing points should be assigned to cell boundaries to fully minimize total routing length and area. In fact, we will show that multiple crossing-point layouts had 27% less total wire length and 9% less area, on average, than single-pin-assignment solutions.
Residues in pockets B and F of HLA-B27 are critical in the presentation of an influenza A virus nucleoprotein peptide and influence the stability of peptide-MHC complexes

Six pockets, designated A through F, which extend from the peptide binding site of class I HLA molecules, have been postulated to play an important role in determining peptide binding specificity. HLA-B27 mutant molecules with single amino acid substitutions at residues 9his-->phe, 24thr-->ser, 45glu-->thr, and 67cys-->ala in pocket B; 114his-->asn in pocket D; and 116asp-->phe in pocket F have been generated and characterized for their capacity to present an influenza A nucleoprotein peptide (NP 383-391) for cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition. We report here that substitutions in residues 45, 67, and 116 affect presentation of NP 383-391 when peptide is processed and loaded during viral infection. Using 125I-labeled NP peptide, we demonstrate that substitutions in residues 67 and 116 alter the stability of NP-HLA-B27 complexes. A substitution at position 9 of the NP peptide complements the mutation introduced at residue 116, suggesting that the NP peptide binds with its carboxy terminal amino acid in pocket F. These findings indicate that polymorphic residues within pockets B and F of HLA-B27 play a crucial role in peptide binding and stability of peptide-MHC class I complexes. Furthermore, our results suggest that substitutions at allele-specific residues within pockets B and F alter the stability of NP-HLA-B27 complexes resulting in the diminution or abrogation of NP presentation during viral infection.
On the decorrelation of scatter using forward-backward averaging

The forward-backward averaging (FBAV) method known for resolving coherent arriving signals is utilized to overcome the deleterious effect of scatter on superresolution spectral estimators. The method is here applied to an aircraft mounted array which sees direct and scattered signals, the latter coming from the aircraft body. The idea is to decouple the scattered signals from the directly arriving signals with which they are correlated. The effectiveness of this method in dealing with scatter is demonstrated by simulations. >
Deletion Mapping and Orientation of the Histidine Operon of Escherichia coli on a Transducing Bacteriophage

The defective prophage φ80iλcI857dhis has been mapped through both marker rescue and deletion analysis. Deletions have been isolated which put residual his genes close to trp genes. Analysis of these deletions shows that the histidine operon on the prophage is oriented clockwise as on the bacterial chromosome, thus opposite to the orientation of the trp operon. The presence of the his promoter-operator region is inferred by the ability of the prophage-carrying strain to derepress sequentially under conditions in which the histidine concentration is limiting. In addition to his, the gnd gene is also present on the prophage and is located between his and trp operons. The bacterial genes are inserted in the right arm of the prophage and substitute for all of the late function genes, except for the first three. These data indicate that the “sense” strand for transcription of the his operon in vivo must be the “R” strand.
A Simple Artificial Anisotropic Dielectric Medium

The anisotropic properties of an infinite stack of thin dielectric sheets separated by another set of thin sheets with a different dielectric constant is investigated. It is shown that the anisotropic properties are brought about because of the two distinct modes of propagation which can exist in such a stacked array of sheets. The limiting forms of the wave solutions and second-order results for the equivalent dielectric constants are given.
Diversifying the Internet

The Internet has fallen victim to its own stunning success. The interplay of the end-to-end design of IP and the vested interests of competing stakeholders has led to its growing ossification. Alterations to the Internet architecture that address its fundamental deficiencies or enable new services have been restricted to incremental changes. The slow pace of this process stifles innovation and the adoption of disruptive technology. A recent call to arms advances a research agenda to confront this impasse through virtualization (L. Peterson et al., 2004). In addition to describing a virtual testbed for the evaluation of new network architectures, it poses a question about the long-term role of virtualization in the Internet. The architectural "purist" views virtualization as a tool for architecture evaluation and the periodic deployment of successive, singular Internet architectures. In this paper, we advance the "pluralist" view that seeks to make virtualization an architectural attribute of the Internet. By enabling a plurality of diverse network architectures to coexist on a shared physical substrate, virtualization mitigates the ossifying forces at work in the current Internet and enables continual introduction of innovative network technologies. Such a diversified Internet would allow existing architectural deficiencies to be holistically addressed as well as enable the introduction of new architectures supporting new types of applications and services. We provide a detailed exposition of the diversified Internet concept, explain how it can address the problem of network ossification and discuss some of the technical challenges that must be met to turn the vision into reality
Uncovered spurious jumps in the GRACE atmospheric de‐aliasing data: potential contamination of GRACE observed mass change

SUMMARY In Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data processing, the effect of high-frequency mass variations in the atmosphere and ocean is taken into account during temporal gravity field modelling to minimize temporal and spatial signal aliasing. We find two spurious jumps in the atmosphere and ocean de-aliasing level-1b (AOD1B) data product, which occurred from January to February in both 2006 and 2010. These jumps attain about 7 cm of equivalent water thickness (EWT) change in some regions including the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and South America, and appear to be spurious biases caused by the resolution change in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model at the beginning of 2006 and 2010, respectively. These uncovered jumps are unlikely to be real atmospheric signals primarily because they are absent in the ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) model. Here, we show that these spurious jumps, uncovered in both the Release 04 (RL04) and the Release 05 (RL05) AOD1B data, would produce jumps of the same magnitude with opposite signs, thus may contaminate the GRACE data products in specific regions of the world. As a consequence, estimates of regional mass changes including glacier mass balance could potentially have an error at the same level of these jumps.
Pharmacoperone identification for therapeutic rescue of misfolded mutant proteins.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which includes the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor (GnRHR), comprises the largest family of validated drug targets—more than half of all approved drugs derive their benefits by selective targeting of GPCRs. Most drugs in this class are either agonists or antagonists of GPCRs and high throughput screens (HTSs) have typically been designed and performed with a view toward identification of such compounds as lead drug candidates. This manuscript presents the case that valuable drugs which effect the trafficking of GPCRs may have been overlooked because pharmacoperones have been selected from existing screens that identify agonists and antagonists. A “gain of activity assay” is proposed; this assay relies on the expression of a mutant of the GnRHR that is known to be rescuable by pharmacoperone drugs, and which is restored to activity in their presence. Accordingly, “hits” are identified by the appearance of activity. The gene for the mutant is under control of tetracycline and may be prevented from being expressed. This is a valuable feature since it allows false positives to be identified. Such drugs will show apparent activity whether or not the mutant is expressed. This assay will enable identification of these drugs from chemical libraries and does not rely on their activity as agonists or antagonists.
The universal language of all times

The definitions of music published in the last decades, particularly the one formulated by Alan Merriam (1964) in conjunction with the field of ethnomusicology, have broadened the scope of music by identifying it as a product of human behaviour in a cultural context. The definition of music has not only raised the level of awareness of the nature of cultural diversity of our societies, but nurtured trends in ‘multicultural’ perspectives in music education. With these trends, musical materials from diverse cultures are being introduced to curricula, especially in Europe and the USA. In spite of this well-intentioned effort, difficulties continue to be encountered at the implementation level, where teaching and evaluation methods designed for Western musical material are being applied without discrimination across cultural boundaries. When ill-applied in cultural areas where the concept of ‘music’ is not similar to that of the Western world, this rather colonial-type practice produces devastating results. H...
Allergen-induced resistin-like molecule-α promotes esophageal epithelial cell hyperplasia in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Resistin-like molecule (Relm)-α is a secreted, cysteine-rich protein belonging to a newly defined family of proteins, including resistin, Relm-β, and Relm-γ. Although resistin was initially defined...
On-bed monitoring for range of motion exercises with a pressure sensitive bedsheet

This paper presents the design of an on-bed rehabilitation exercise monitoring system that utilizes a high density sensor bedsheet to evaluate active range of motion exercises. We propose and develop a novel framework to analyze the progression of pressure image sequences using manifold learning. The image sequences are reduced to a low dimensional subspace that can be measured against expected prior data for each of the rehabilitation exercises. We also present a metric to compare manifold similarities. Our experimental results on five on-bed exercises show that this system can accurately track compliance of patients to prescribed treatment programs. It allows physical therapists to evaluate how well patients adhere to the rehabilitation exercises. The system is convenient to setup, unobtrusive, and can be used for reliable, long term monitoring.
Comparative toxicity of fluoranthene and pentachlorobenzene to three freshwater invertebrates.

This study examined the temporal component of pentachlorobenzene lethal body residues among three freshwater invertebrates. Also, using previous fluoranthene data allowed a more detailed examination of the role of biotransformation in lethal body residues and comparisons of lethal residues across chemical classes. Time-dependent toxicity of fluoranthene and pentachlorobenzene were compared among Hyalella azteca, Chironomus tentans, and Diporeia spp. Lethal body residues required for 50% mortality (LR50) were not constant and decreased with exposure time for all species. Fluoranthene was most toxic to C. tentans with LR50 values of 0.38 μmol·g−1 at 2 d to 0.15 μmol·g−1 at 10 d and least toxic to Diporeia spp. with values of 9.97 μmol·g−1 at 10 d to 3.67 μmol·g−1 at 28 d. The LR50 values for H. azteca were intermediate and ranged from 2.25 μmol·g−1 at 5 d to 0.56 μmol·g−1 at 28 d. Pentachlorobenzene LR50 values were less variable among species and ranged from 1.20 μmol·g−1 at 4 d to 0.81 μmol·g−1 at 10 d for C. tentans, 5.0 μmol·g−1 at 20 d and 2.75 μmol·g−1 at 28 d for Diporeia spp., and 1.51 μmol·g−1 at 4 d and 0.71 μmol·g−1 at 28 d for H. azteca. When LR50 values for fluoranthene and pentachlorobenzene were compared at steady state, the lethal residues for the amphipod species were within the range expected for nonpolar narcotic chemicals (anesthetics); however, C. tentans was more sensitive to fluoranthene than pentachlorobenzene, confirming our previous hypothesis that biotransformation of fluoranthene likely produces a metabolite(s) acting by some specific mechanism of action. The information collected from this study allows a greater understanding of residue-response relationships, specifically relative species sensitivities.
Feedback linearization and solar pressure satellite attitude control

The question of large angle pitch attitude maneuver of satellites using solar radiation pressure is considered. For pitch axis maneuver, two highly reflective control surfaces are used to generate radiation moment. Based on dynamic feedback linearization, a nonlinear control law is derived for large pitch attitude control. In the closed-loop system, the response characteristics of the pitch angle are governed by a fourth-order linear differential equation. Robustness of control system is obtained by the integral error feedback. Simulation results are presented to show that in the closed-loop system, attitude control of the satellite is accomplished in spite of the parameter uncertainty in the system.
SBR and BR Tread Performance as a Function of Carbon Black Properties

Abstract All commercial tread grade carbon blacks, may be classified on the basis of electron microscope surface area and oil absorption. Similar industry wide grade classification on the basis of iodine number, tinting strength and oil absorption is considerably less reliable. However, among the blacks of individual carbon black suppliers, reasonably good classification of the tread grades is possible on the basis of these latter three carbon properties.
Abstract 248: Developing a Specialty Specific Interventional Physician Dashboard

Background: Personalized benchmarking of practice is assuming increasing importance to assure patient safety and quality, cost-effective care. Comparing performance with national and local benchmarks has value for providing feedback and opportunity for continued practice improvement to the practitioner. From a hospital and practice perspective it can be used to identify outliers and potential concerns (either system or attributable to the individual) as well as its potential uses to reduce variance, validate care, and support “value purchasing” and managed care participation. Objectives: With the input of physicians, hospital administration, and CQI personnel, a tool was developed to allow assessment of individual and aggregate physician performance. The developed tool was developed to meet both personal and institutional objectives. It had to be timely, standardized, and accurate, with available national or institutional benchmarks. Both process and outcome indicators were felt to be appropriate for inclusion. Mandated, validated and relevant data collection was given preference for inclusion (ranked in order of preference: NYS DOH angioplasty data base, NCDR data, in-house non reported data) and objective hard outcomes were given preference over more subjectively collected information. A rolling 4 quarters of data was included for statistically infrequent events to minimize outliers due to sample inadequacy. In addition to tracking process and outcome metrics, utilization was also felt to be appropriate for inclusion. The developed tool incorporated data from multiple data sets with different validation turn around times, which resulted in different reporting time intervals. A total of 38 measures were collected including : mortality, major comorbidity, quality and utilization concerns. Measures deviating from benchmarks or demonstrating substantial variance were targeted for drill down and intervention to improve care. Results: A physician dashboard was developed and applied to 18 interventionalists, permitting benchmarking of individual and overall lab performance in meeting defined process, outcome and volume metrics. The dashboard facilitates individual and system benchmarking of performance, identifies areas of concerns, provides physician feedback, and promotes process improvement. Results are highlighted in green (goal met) or red (goal not met) for rapid assessment. The developed dashboard will be displayed. Conclusions: A dashboard was created to provide timely, rapid, visible assessment of comparative physician performance. The developed tool has proven useful to both hospital administration and physicians in monitoring and improving performance. The dashboard continues to evolve with continued periodic modifications addressing specific goals and concerns.
Teenaged and pre-teenaged pregnancies: consequences of the fetal-maternal competition for nutrients

The study attempted to determine whether the growth needs of young mothers compete with the growth needs of their fetuses for available nutrients. In a large prospective study, 10- to 16-year-old mothers had significant smaller newborns at term than older mothers when the various maternal age groups were matched for prepregnancy body size and pregnancy weight gain. Five percent of the urines of 10- to 14-year-old mothers had 2+ or greater acetone vs only 2% of the urines of 17- to 32-year-old mothers (P less than .001). Acetonuria has been shown to be a marker for high perinatal mortality in undernourished gestations, and it correlated with a high perinatal mortality in the present study. The growth retardation found in the newborns of very young mothers disappeared during childhood.
Hidden Addition Acquisitions

This study examines the wealth effects of hidden addition acquisitions, i.e., stock financed acquisitions by S&P 500 acquirers of non-S&P 500 targets. These acquisitions result in a re-balancing of the S&P 500, causing the acquirer’s weight in the index to increase. We classify the acquisitions as either “immediate” of “delayed” based on when the rebalancing occurs. We find that the initial acquirer wealth effect at the announcements of these deals is significantly negative. However, these firms experience a reversal in abnormal returns in the post-announcement period resulting in overall non-significant abnormal returns, with the post-announcement abnormal returns significantly positive in immediate hidden additions. We find that both the overall return and post announcement return are positively correlated with the size of the deal. We find that the reversal in large deals is statistically and economically significantly positive, indicating possible profitable opportunities for even uninformed traders. We investigate the effect of size and timing of returns to provide information for profitable trading opportunities in these deals.
It's that particle again

The quest by particle physicists to understand nature at its most fundamental level has necessitated the construction of ever larger "atom smashers" to probe ever shorter distances.
Medical Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication

Peripheral arterial disease, which is caused by atherosclerotic occlusion of the arteries to the legs, is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. The age-adjusted prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is approximately 12 percent, and the disorder affects men and women equally (Table 1).7,8 Patients with peripheral arterial disease, even in the absence of a history of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke, have approximately the same relative risk of death from cardiovascular causes as do patients with a history of coronary or cerebrovascular disease (Table 2).12,15 In patients with peripheral arterial disease, the rate of death from all causes . . .
Etiology and Outcome of Status Epilepticus

The etiology and outcome of status epilepticus (SE) in 135 children (76 boys, 59 girls), ages 1 month to 15 years, admitted to Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, between 1999 and 2004, were studied retrospectively, and outcomes were rated according to the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS).
Research on basic platform for embedded power communication equipment

Due to the complexity of embedded communication equipment in different power applications,the traditional mode of product development cannot meet the demands.By analyzing and summarizing the development experience of some electric power communication equipments,the paper presents a design scheme of an embedded platform for power communication equipment,with the emphasis on the main research content and the development method,and analyzes the technical problems.The application result shows that the platform can be used to develop the power embedded communication equipment rapidly and efficiently,and it also has a certain reference significance for the development of other specialized equipments.
Her Patients Never Wake Up on Time

This is an example of one drug (diltiazem hydrochloride) suppressing hepatic metabolism of two other drugs (midazolam hydrochloride and alfentanil hydrochloride) through inhibition of several isoenzymes in the cytochrome P450 3A family
Bad communication, bad service

ABSTRACTA customer of VistaBanking (name disguised), who is their brand preference, loses their credit card and wants to cancel the card before any fraudulent activities take place. While calling the VistaBanking service number, the customer has troubles being able to understand the questions being asked so is then transferred to another representative for clearer communication. When transferred, more problems start to occur with not being able to cancel the credit card and the customer gets transferred to another part of the company. This then causes the customer to get very irritated and not get the help needed about the credit card they have lost. This arrangement is a negative trade talk highlighting the customer service to loyal customer communication relationship.
Transformation of the Radial Glia Scaffold Demarcates Two Stages of Human Cerebral Cortex Development

The classic view of cortical development, embodied in the radial unit hypothesis, highlights the ventricular radial glia (vRG) scaffold as a key architectonic feature of the developing neocortex. The scaffold includes continuous fibers spanning the thickness of the developing cortex during neurogenesis across mammals. However, we find that in humans, the scaffold transforms into a physically discontinuous structure during the transition from infragranular to supragranular neuron production. As a consequence of this transformation, supragranular layer neurons arrive at their terminal positions in the cortical plate along outer radial glia (oRG) cell fibers. In parallel, the radial glia that contact the ventricle develop distinct gene expression profile and "truncated" morphology. We propose a supragranular layer expansion hypothesis that posits a deterministic role of oRG cells in the radial and tangential expansion of supragranular layers in primates, with implications for patterns of neuronal migration, area patterning, and cortical folding.
EFFECT OF TENSOR FASCIA LATA STRETCHING IN LATERAL KNEE PAIN POST TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

Introduction : Post TKR (Total knee replacement) multiple causes for development of pain around knee joint-infection instability, malrotation, instability, weak extensor mechanism, soft tissue tightness, and impingement. The ITB (Iliotibial Band)/TFL (Tensor Fascia Lata) provides dynamic lateral stabilization of the patella & an internal rotator of hip. TFL/ITB complex tightness may contribute to the development of PFPS (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome). A tight TFL through its attachment into the ITB, will cause lateral tracking of the patella, particularly at 20°of knee flexion. An over-tight ITB is not favorable, as this can cause lateral knee pain. Hence, keeping the TFL as flexible as possible, decreasing the pull it has on the ITB, will decrease the chance of lateral knee pain caused by ITB tightness. Multiple choice of treatment options are available-ice, massage, corticosteroids, stretching and bracing. Static stretch of TFL is effective in gaining of flexibility Methodology : An Experimental study. 20 post-operative T.K.R., divided into 10 in each group according to criteria Group A – Conventional treatment + TFL stretching, Group B – Conventional treatment. Pre and post treatment pain &function were measured by VAS & HFKS (High flexion knee scale). Analysis was done by SPSS. Result : Within and between group analysis shows p<0.05, significance in both groups for pain and function. Discussion : Intra-articular steroids are also used for knee pain. Static stretching increased flexibility, so it reducing tension on lateral femoral condyle and reduce a symptoms of ITBS (Iliotibial Band Syndrome). Conclusion : TFL stretching exercises showed improvement in pain and physical function and useful adjunct exercise therapy in person having a lateral knee pain and prevention of ITBS in post-operative TKR
A comparison of 3 ventilation strategies in children younger than 1 year using a Proseal laryngeal mask airway: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Study Objective To determine quantitative differences in several routinely measured ventilation parameters using a standardized anesthetic technique and 3 different ventilation modalities in patients younger than 1 year with a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA). Design Randomized prospective study. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients Thirty-nine American Society Anesthesiologists classifications 1 to 2, pediatric patients younger than 1 year. Interventions Three different ventilation strategies (spontaneous ventilation [SV], pressure support ventilation [PSV], and pressure-controlled ventilation [PCV]) were randomly applied to patients who underwent a standardized mask induction with sevoflurane/oxygen and propofol 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 μg/kg administered intravenously followed by PLMA insertion. Patients were maintained on sevoflurane and N 2 O. Measurements We measured the differences in end-tidal CO 2 (etco 2 ), tidal volume (TV), and respiratory rate (RR) over time between SV, PSV, and PCV. These data were recorded at 5-minute intervals. Main Results etco 2 (mm Hg) was not significantly higher in the SV vs PSV ( P =2.11) and SV vs PCV ( P =.24). TV (mL/kg) was significantly lower in SV vs PSV ( P P P =.43), but was significantly higher in SV vs PCV ( P Conclusions All 3 modes of ventilation using a PLMA were safe in children younger than 1 year. Although we did not observe a statistically significant increase in etco 2 , differences in TV and RR, and the small but significant incidence of apnea may make PSV or PCV more optimal ventilation strategies in children younger than 1 year when using a PLMA.
Modeling synovial sarcoma metastasis in the mouse: PI3′-lipid signaling and inflammation

Solid tumor metastasis is a complex biology, impinged upon by a variety of dysregulated signaling pathways. PI3'-lipid signaling has been associated with metastasis and inflammation in many cancers, but the relationship between tumor cell-intrinsic PI3'-lipid signaling and inflammatory cell recruitment has remained enigmatic. Elevated PI3'-lipid signaling associates with progression of synovial sarcoma, a deadly soft tissue malignancy initiated by a t(X;18) chromosomal translocation that generates an SS18-SSX fusion oncoprotein. Here, we show in genetically engineered mouse models of locally induced expression of SS18-SSX1 or SS18-SSX2 that Pten silencing dramatically accelerated and enhanced sarcomagenesis without compromising synovial sarcoma characteristics. PTEN deficiency increased tumor angiogenesis, promoted inflammatory gene expression, and enabled highly penetrant spontaneous pulmonary metastasis. PTEN-deficient sarcomas revealed infiltrating myeloid-derived hematopoietic cells, particularly macrophages and neutrophils, recruited via PI3'-lipid-induced CSF1 expression in tumor cells. Moreover, in a large panel of human synovial sarcomas, enhanced PI3'-lipid signaling also correlated with increased inflammatory cell recruitment and CSF1R signal transduction in both macrophages and endothelial cells. Thus, both in the mouse model and in human synovial sarcomas, PI3'-lipid signaling drives CSF1 expression and associates with increased infiltration of the monocyte/macrophage lineage as well as neutrophils.
Thermal transition and thermo-physical properties of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) var. Russet brown

Potatoes are an important food in many regions of the world and are commonly used in a variety of food products. Thermal transition and thermo-physical properties of potatoes are important in order to design efficient food processes and select appropriate storage conditions. In this study, we determined the thermal transitions and thermophysical properties of raw and blanched/par-fried potato for a temperature range of − 32 to 21.1 °C. Using differential scanning calorimetry, we found an initial freezing point (Tf) at − 1.8 ± 0.1 °C, an onset of melting (Tm′) at − 9.9 ± 0.2 °C and an unfreezable water content (X′w) for maximally freeze-concentrated raw potato at 0.21 kg water/kg potato. Corresponding values for blanched/par-fried potatoes were − 0.9 ± 0.1 °C, − 11.0 ± 0.2 °C and 0.18 kg water/kg potato. Results show that an increase in solids content decreased Tf of both raw and blanched potatoes. We modelled the relationship between them using the Chen model. The apparent specific heat (Capp) increased around Tf to 31.7 ± 1.13 kJ/kg K for raw potato and 26.7 ± 0.62 kJ/kg K for blanched/par-fried potato. For frozen raw potato at − 32 °C, thermal diffusivity (α) was 0.89 ± 0.01 × 10 −6 m2/s and thermal conductivity (k), 1.82 ± 0.14 W/m K, respectively. These values were higher for frozen raw potato than for the unfrozen raw potato (0.15 ± 0.01 × 10 −6 m2/s and 0.56 ± 0.08 W/m K, respectively at 21.1 °C). The apparent density (ρ) of frozen raw potato (992 ± 4.00 kg/m3 at − 32 °C) was less than that for unfrozen raw potato (1053 ± 4.00 kg/m3 at 21.1 °C), and a similar trend was obtained for blanched/par-fried potato (993 ± 2.00 kg/m3 at − 32 °C and 1188 ± 7.00 kg/m3 at 21.1 °C, respectively). This study established a correlation between thermo-physical properties and temperature. Findings may be used to inform the design and optimization of freezing processes and frozen storage for potato products.
Cell Cycle Arrest by Perturbation of Arabinogalactan-Proteins with Yariv Phenylglycoside

Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) have been found in essentially all angio-sperms, gymnosperms, and lower plants that have been tested for the presence of these proteoglycans (Jermyn and Yeow 1975, Clarke et al 1979, Basile and Basile 1990). Although the widespread occurrence of AGPs within the plant kingdom implies that these macromolecules may have important functions, the precise identities of these functions remain uncertain. Several lines of evidence suggest, however, that these functions may be in plant development. Developmentally regulated expression of AGPs in tissues of plants has been demonstrated at the level of the mature AGP by biochemical and immunological methods and at the level of the mRNA encoding the core polypeptide by hybridization techniques (Knox 1995, Du et al 1996, Nothnagel 1997, Serpe and Nothnagel 1999). Roles of AGPs in development of somatic embryos in culture has been suggested by immunolocalization studies that correlate particular AGP epitopes with embryogenic capacity and by experiments showing that success in embryogenesis can be influenced by the addition of AGPs from exogenous sources (Kreuger and van Holst 1996, Toonen et al 1996, McCabe et al. 1997).
Web Analytics in the Near Future

Web analytics should be a core competency for UX professionals. These tools are useful now, but will certainly grow in power in the years ahead. Usage of mobile applications can be measured with web analytics technology, and as the number of mobile applications grows, so will the power and quality of mobile application analytics. Users currently may use the same website with multiple devices, and this behavior is likely to become more common, and web analytics vendors will try to find better ways to measure channel switching. Web analytics tools will get better at measuring on-page behavior and integrating data from other sources. It is likely that, for now, Google will continue its dominance of the web analytics scene.
Defining and Measuring Adherence in Observational Studies Assessing Outcomes of Real-world Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Context Evidence-based guidelines for active surveillance (AS), a treatment option for men with low-risk prostate cancer, recommend regular follow-up at periodic intervals to monitor disease progression. However, gaps in monitoring can lead to delayed detection of cancer progression, leading to a missed window of curability. Objective We aimed to identify the extent to which real-world observational studies reported adherence to monitoring protocols among prostate cancer patients on AS. When reported, we sought to characterize definitions of adherence. Evidence acquisition We systematically reviewed observational studies assessing outcomes of prostate cancer patients on AS, published before March 22, 2019 in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL. Adherence definitions were considered time bound if they included prespecified time and binary if adherence was assessed but did not specify a time interval. We assessed study quality using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. Evidence synthesis Forty-five studies met our inclusion criteria. Eleven studies did not report any data on adherence to AS protocols. Twenty-five studies did not explicitly measure adherence, but provided relevant data (eg, number of patients who received a repeat biopsy). Six studies reported adherence using a time-bound definition, while three studies used a binary definition. Twenty-three studies provided information on patients lost to follow-up. Conclusions Most studies reporting outcomes of patients on AS did not measure or report adherence. When reported, adherence was often not time specific. As some AS patients will benefit from maintaining a window of curability, clinical practices and future studies should track and report adherence and associated factors. Patient summary We reviewed real-world observational studies examining outcomes of prostate cancer patients on active surveillance. Most studies did not clearly define or report adherence to monitoring protocols, which is important to consider for appropriate disease management.
Cochylis hospes (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) damage to male lines varies significantly and inbred susceptibility predicts damage to hybrids

Larvae of Cochylis hospes (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) (banded sunflower moth) are a primary source of insect damage to seeds of cultivated sunflower, Helianthus annuus Linnaeus (Asteraceae), in North America. Field trials were used to evaluate seed damage under natural infestations for panels of publicly released male lines, publicly derived hybrids (females crossed to one common male parent), and commercial hybrids over a total of four years. For trials in 2013–2014 including 17 male lines, seed damage ranged from 3% to 19%. The least damaged male, RHA 266, was statistically similar to one other male, RHA 455. Three commercial hybrids used as checks also received very little seed damage (< 5%). In trials during 2016–2017, hybrids created by pollinating 15 different female lines with RHA 266 showed 4–14% damage. Data from female parents explained about 28% of variation in seed damage for the hybrids. Results confirm cultivated sunflower has greater variation in susceptibility to C. hospes than previously believed, and that seed damage to inbred lines provides some predictive power for hybrids. Though breeding for resistance to C. hospes seems possible, it may be too labour-intensive without relating resistance to more easily measurable traits or genetic markers.
Triple A syndrome (Allgrove syndrome): improving outcomes with a multidisciplinary approach

Allgrove syndrome or triple A (3A) syndrome is a multisystem disorder which classically involves the triad of esophageal achalasia, alacrima, and adrenal insufficiency due to adrenocorticotropin hormone insensitivity. It follows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and is associated with mutations in the AAAS (achalasia-addisonianism-alacrima syndrome) gene. Since its first description in 1978, the knowledge on clinical and genetic characteristics has been expanding; however, the current literature is limited to case reports and case reviews. Early recognition of the syndrome is challenging, given the rarity of the condition and high phenotypic heterogeneity even among members of kin. The coordination of care for these patients requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including endocrinologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, developmental specialists, dentists, geneticists, and surgeons. In this review, we aim to summarize the current recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with 3A syndrome.
The missing middle of climate services: layering multiway, two-way, and one-way modes of communicating seasonal climate forecasts

The production and distribution of seasonal climate forecasts (SCFs) have been principal global climate service activities for decades. During this time, the climate service community has increasingly moved away from using only one-way communication modes, like radio or bulletins, to also include multiway communication modes in the form of interactive models of science communication, like participatory workshops. The combination of such workshops with the more traditional unidirectional forms of communication helps climate service providers overcome many of the limitations that inhere in each form. However, important gaps remain even with the combination of one-way and multiway modes of communication. In this article, we draw on 17 workshops we convened in six locations that engaged with 406 small-scale coffee farmers in the Jamaican Blue Mountains and 106 farmer interviews. These workshops aimed to improve farmer access to, and understanding of, weather and climate information. We argue that an intermediate form of communication between providers and users that takes place between workshops would help providers better tailor the one-way and multiway communication modes by evaluating in real time the users’ understanding and use of the forecasts and by monitoring the dynamic context in which the users make decisions.
P500 Barriers and opportunities for partner services related to syphilis among men who have sex with men in anchorage, alaska

Background Early syphilis is highly infectious and can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. During 2017–2018, early syphilis cases in Alaska tripled from 24 to 76, with most 2018 cases occurring among Anchorage men who have sex with men (MSM). Partner services can mitigate transmission. We conducted an investigation to identify syphilis partner services barriers and opportunities among MSM in Anchorage. Methods During October 19–November 13, 2018, we administered an anonymous survey to men and transgender women aged ≥18 years residing in Alaska who reported sex with a man during the previous 6 months. The self-administered survey, available online and as paper, asked about knowledge, risk behaviors, medical care-seeking practices, and attitudes regarding syphilis. A convenience sample was recruited from digital platforms (e.g., Facebook®) and bars, clinics, and community-based organization events. Results Of 119 survey respondents, 90 (76%) lived in the Anchorage/Mat-Su region. Of these, 10.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.3–17.9) reported a syphilis diagnosis during the previous 12 months and having a median of 3 (interquartile range: 1–6) sex partners during the previous 6 months. High-risk behaviors commonly associated with syphilis were reported, including condomless anal sex (36.7%; 95% CI: 27.4–47.0) during the previous month, ≥1 episode of group sex (26.7%; 95% CI: 18.6–36.6) during the previous 6 months, and meeting sex partners online or on a geospatial mobile app (66.7%; 95% CI: 56.4–75.5) during the previous 6 months. Additionally, 44.4% (95% CI: 34.6–54.7) reported a sex partner living outside Anchorage and 31.1% (95% CI: 22.5–41.3) outside Alaska. Conclusion Large numbers of sex partners outside Alaska presents barriers to partner services among Anchorage MSM with syphilis. Opportunities include using innovative strategies (e.g., technology-based partner services and out-of-jurisdiction partnerships) to reach populations at risk for syphilis. Disclosure No significant relationships.
AGO CLIP reveals an activated network for acute regulation of brain glutamate homeostasis after ischemic stroke

Post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs is essential for complex molecular responses to physiological insult and disease. Although many disease-associated miRNAs are known, their global targets and culminating network effects on pathophysiology remain poorly understood. We applied AGO CLIP to systematically elucidate altered miRNA-target interactions in brain following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Among 1,190 identified, most prominent was the cumulative loss of target regulation by miR-29 family members. Integration of translational and time-course RNA profiles revealed a dynamic mode of miR-29 target de-regulation, led by acute translational activation and later increase in RNA levels, allowing rapid proteomic changes to take effect. These functional regulatory events rely on canonical and non-canonical miR-29 binding and engage glutamate reuptake signals to control local glutamate levels. These results uncover a miRNA target network that acts acutely to maintain brain homeostasis after ischemic stroke.
Credit Lines and Credit Utilization

While much is known about the characteristics of consumers or businesses that obtain credit lines, relatively little is known empirically about credit line utilization after origination. This study fills that gap by testing two interrelated hypotheses concerning borrower credit quality and credit line utilization. The empirical analysis confirms that borrowers with higher expectations of future credit quality deterioration originate credit lines to preserve financial flexibility. Furthermore, we estimate a competing risks model that confirms our predictions concerning changes in borrower credit line utilization in response to borrower credit quality shocks.
Cost-Effectiveness of Emergent MRI during Stroke Alert to Diagnose Stroke Mimics: Single-Center Experience.

Objective The aim of this article was to assess the role of emergent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for stroke mimics during a stoke alert (within 45 minutes) in reducing direct cost of management and duration of inpatient stay. Methods We did a retrospective chart review of all the patients who received emergent MRI brain during a stroke alert to help make decision about intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV tPA) administration from January 2013 to December 2015. Using the patient financial resource data and with the help of billing department, we calculated the approximate money saved in taking care of the patients who may have received IV tPA if emergent MRI brain was not available to diagnose stroke mimics as they presented with acute neurologic deficit within IV tPA time window. Results Ninety seven out of 1,104 stroke alert patients received emergent MRI. Of these only 17 (17.5%) were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and 80 (82.5%) as stroke mimics. By doing emergent MRI for suspected stroke mimics, our study showed an approximate total saving of $1,005,720 to $1,384,560, that is, $12,571 to $17,307 per patient in medical expenditure. Discussion We suggest modification of stroke pathway from current algorithm “CT+CTA≥IV-tPA/neurointervention≥MRI” to “MRI+MRA≥IV-tPA/neurointervention” for possible stroke mimics, which can reduce the cost, radiation exposure, and duration of hospital stay for stroke mimics. Conclusion Emergent MRI is a cost-effective tool to evaluate IV-tPA eligibility for suspected stroke mimics during a stroke alert.
A rare case of extremely delayed osseous metastasis of pineoblastoma.

Pineoblastoma is a rare, primitive, and malignant tumor arising from the parenchyma of the pineal gland. It typically metastasizes along the cerebral neural axis, with rare extraneural metastasis a...