cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PR-join: a non-blocking join achieving higher early result rate with statistical guarantees

Online aggregation is a promising solution to achieving fast early responses for interactive ad-hoc queries that compute aggregates on a large amount of data. Essential to the success of online aggregation is a good non-blocking join algorithm that enables both (i) high early result rates with statistical guarantees and (ii) fast end-to-end query times. We analyze existing non-blocking join algorithms and find that they all provide sub-optimal early result rates, and those with fast end-to-end times achieve them only by further sacrificing their early result rates. We propose a new non-blocking join algorithm, Partitioned expanding Ripple Join (PR-Join), which achieves considerably higher early result rates than previous non-blocking joins, while also delivering fast end-to-end query times. PR-Join performs separate, ripple-like join operations on individual hash partitions, where the width of a ripple expands multiplicatively over time. This contrasts with the non-partitioned, fixed-width ripples of Block Ripple Join. Assuming, as in previous non-blocking join studies, that the input relations are in random order, PR-Join ensures representative early results that are amenable to statistical guarantees. We show both analytically and with real-machine experiments that PR-Join achieves over an order of magnitude higher early result rates than previous non-blocking joins. We also discuss the benefits of using a flash-based SSD for temporary storage, showing that PR-Join can then achieve close to optimal end-to-end performance. Finally, we consider the joining of finite data streams that arrive over time, and find that PR-Join achieves similar or higher result rates than RPJ, the state-of-the-art algorithm specialized for that domain.
Race, Gender and Self-Esteem among Youth.

This study examines the impact of race and gender on self-esteem among youth. Comparisons of the different groups on private (satisfaction with self) and public (intelligence) domain aspects of sel...
Estimation architecture for future autonomous vehicles

An architecture for the development of online models to support future uninhabited aerial vehicles is developed. The architecture is based on a new filter, called the unscented Kalman filter, that approximates the state and noise stochastic distributions, rather than the dynamics. A square root version of the unscented Kalman filter is shown to have better characteristics for online implementation than traditional methods, such as less sensitivity to tuning, initial conditions, and sample frequency. The estimation methodology is shown to be able to estimate the nonlinear state and model parameters for an aircraft during failure, and to generate aerodynamic models with potential application to online control reconfiguration.
Heterogeneous Response Dynamics in Retinal Ganglion Cells: The Interplay of Predictive Coding and Adaptation

To make efficient use of their limited signaling capacity, sensory systems often use predictive coding. Predictive coding works by exploiting the statistical regularities of the environment—specifi...
Relationship of Endo-[beta]-D-Mannanase Activity and Cell Wall Hydrolysis in Tomato Endosperm to Germination Rates

The endosperm tissue enclosing the radicle tip (endosperm cap) governs radicle emergence in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds. Weakening of the endosperm cap has been attributed to hydrolysis of its mannan-rich cell walls by endo-[beta]-D-mannanase. To test this hypothesis, we measured mannanase activity in tomato endosperm caps from seeds allowed to imbibe under conditions of varying germination rates. Over a range of suboptimal temperatures, mannanase activity prior to radicle emergence increased in accordance with accumulated thermal time. Reduced water potential delayed or prevented radicle emergence but enhanced mannanase activity in the endosperm caps. Abscisic acid did not prevent the initial increase in mannanase activity, although radicle emergence was markedly delayed. Sugar composition and percent mannose (Man) content of endosperm cap cell walls did not change prior to radicle emergence under any condition. Man, glucose, and other sugars were released into the incubation solution by endosperm caps isolated from intact seeds during imbibition. Pregerminative release of Man was suppressed and the release of glucose was enhanced when seeds were incubated in osmoticum or abscisic acid; the opposite occurred in the presence of gibberellin. Thus, whereas sugar release patterns were sensitive to environmental and hormonal factors affecting germination, neither assayable endo-[beta]-D-mannanase activity nor changes in cell wall sugar composition of endosperm caps correlated well with tomato seed germination rates under all conditions.
SARTRE ON IMAGINATION

Defense de la theorie sartrienne de l'imagination contre les interpretations des philosophes de la tradition analytique (que Sartre reintroduirait l'image mentale, qu'il se trompe en disant que l'imagination ne peut donner d'information, qu'il n'y a pas une aussi forte incompatibilite entre perception et imagination) et presentation des avantages de la theorie de Sartre par rapport aux theories contemporaines de l'imagination (Ishigurs, Dilman, Ryle, Dennett).
Two-Dimensional Excitons in A Strongly Localized Regime in CdTe/ZnTe Superlattices

Time-resolved spectroscopy of the recombining exciton state in a highly strained II-VI semiconductor superlattice CdTe/ZnTe reveals strong localization effects at low lattice temperatures. Such phenomena originate naturally from small deviations in structural perfection on a monolayer scale in a strained superlattice with a small valence band offset. The quasi-2D aspect enhances the localization phenomena further.
SHMT1 and SHMT2 Are Functionally Redundant in Nuclear De novo Thymidylate Biosynthesis

The three enzymes that constitute the de novo thymidylate synthesis pathway in mammals, cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1), thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) undergo sumoylation and nuclear import during S-phase. In this study, we demonstrate that purified intact mouse liver nuclei convert dUMP to dTMP in the presence of NADPH and serine. Neither nuclear extracts nor intact nuclei exposed to aminomethylphosphonate, a SHMT inhibitor, exhibit thymidylate synthesis activity. Nuclei isolated from Shmt1−/− mouse livers retained 25% of thymidylate synthesis activity exhibited by nuclei isolated from wild type mice. This residual activity was due to the presence of a cytoplasmic/nuclear isozyme of SHMT encoded by Shmt2. Shmt2 is shown to encode two transcripts, one which encodes a protein that localizes exclusively to the mitochondria (SHMT2), and a second transcript that lacks exon 1 and encodes a protein that localizes to the cytoplasm and nucleus during S-phase (SHMT2α). The ability of Shmt2 to encode a cytoplasmic isozyme of SHMT may account for the viability of Shmt1−/− mice and provide redundancy that permitted the expansion of the human SHMT1 L474F polymorphism that impairs SHMT1 sumoylation and nuclear translocation.
A New Architecture of Built-In Self-Test for Analog-to-Digital Converters

This paper presents a built-in self-test (BIST) architecture for testing high speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with sampling rates in excess of 1 GHz. A methodology for performing mixed-mode BIST simulations is proposed along with hardware architecture for performing on-chip BIST. The architecture presented utilizes an on-chip ROM and allows for the generation of test signals with multiple frequencies as well as single frequency signals. The issues associated with BIST signal generation for low voltage ADCs are also discussed
Local control of hepatic phenotype with growth factor-encoded surfaces

The goal of the present study was to modulate the phenotype expression of hepatocytes in vitro on surfaces imprinted with growth factors (GFs). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or transforming-growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were mixed with collagen (I) and robotically printed onto standard glass slides to create arrays of 300 μm or 500 μm diameter spots. Primary rat hepatocytes were seeded on top of the arrays, forming clusters corresponding in size to the underlying protein spots. The TGF-β1 spots appeared to downregulate markers of hepatic (epithelial) phenotype while upregulating expression of mesenchymal markers. Conversely, hepatocytes cultured on HGF spots maintained high level of epithelial markers. When hepatocytes were seeded onto alternating spots of HGF and TGF-β1, their phenotype was found to depend on center-to-center distance between the spots. At shorter distances cross-expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers was observed while at distances exceeding 1.25 mm divergence of phenotypes, epithelial on HGF and mesenchymal on TGF-β was seen. Overall, our results demonstrate that GF-encoded surfaces can modulate phenotype within groups of cells cultured on the same surface. Given the importance of phenotype switching in development, fibrosis and cancer, this platform may be used to gain useful insights into the mechanisms of processes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or stem cell fate selections.
Assessing Preference Change on the US Supreme Court

The foundation upon which accounts of policy-motivated behavior of Supreme Court justices are built consists of assumptions about the policy preferences of the justices. To date, most scholars have assumed that the policy positions of Supreme Court justices remain consistent throughout the course of their careers and most measures of judicial ideology—such as Segal and Cover scores—are time invariant. On its face, this assumption is reasonable; Supreme Court justices serve with life tenure and are typically appointed after serving in other political or judicial roles. However, it is also possible that the worldviews, and thus the policy positions, of justices evolve through the course of their careers. In this article we use a Bayesian dynamic ideal point model to investigate preference change on the US Supreme Court. The model allows for justices' ideal points to change over time in a smooth fashion. We focus our attention on the 16 justices who served for 10 or more terms and completed their service between the 1937 and 2003 terms. The results are striking—14 of these 16 justices exhibit significant preference change. This has profound implications for the use of time-invariant preference measures in applied work.
Glucagon‐like peptide 1‐based therapies and risk of pancreatitis: a self‐controlled case series analysis

Purpose Previous studies have suggested a link between glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)-based therapies and acute pancreatitis, while other studies have found no association. Because differences in diabetes severity may confound this relationship, a self-controlled case series (SCCS) analysis has been suggested as a means to control for individual-level confounding. Methods We evaluated the relationship between GLP-1-based therapies and pancreatitis by SCCS method using a large observational database. We calculated the incidence density ratio of pancreatitis for exposure versus non-exposure to each drug. To examine the robustness of our findings, we performed sensitivity analyses by varying risk windows, using two pancreatitis definitions and including incident pancreatitis or all occurrences. Results From dispensing data on 1.2 million patients, we found 7992 sitagliptin-exposed patients and 3552 exenatide-exposed patients between 2004 and 2009. Using an ICD9/CPT-based case definition of pancreatitis, we identified 207 sitagliptin and 82 exenatide cases. Augmenting this definition with laboratory criteria increased our cohort to 245 sitagliptin and 96 exenatide cases. For sitagliptin and exenatide cases, respectively, the mean duration of observation was 5.2 and 5.5 years, and the mean duration of drug exposure was 0.7 and 0.5 years. For all analyses (including different pancreatitis definitions, risk periods, and incident or recurrent events), the incidence density ratios for development of pancreatitis during exposure versus non-exposure ranged from 0.68 to 1.46, with all having 95% confidence intervals containing 1. Conclusions We found no association between the use of GLP-1-based therapies and pancreatitis using SCCS analysis in a large observational database. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A regularized adaptive steplength stochastic approximation scheme for monotone stochastic variational inequalities

We consider the solution of monotone stochastic variational inequalities and present an adaptive steplength stochastic approximation framework with possibly multivalued mappings. Traditional implementations of SA have been characterized by two challenges. First, convergence of standard SA schemes requires a strongly or strictly monotone single-valued mapping, a requirement that is rarely met. Second, while convergence requires that the steplength sequences need to satisfy Σkγk = ∞ and Σkγk2 <; ∞, little guidance is provided on a choice of sequences. In fact, standard choices such as γk = 1/k may often perform poorly in practice. Motivated by the minimization of a suitable error bound, a recursive rule for prescribing steplengths is proposed for strongly monotone problems. By introducing a regularization sequence, extensions to merely monotone regimes are proposed. Finally, an iterative smoothing extension is suggested for accommodating multivalued mappings. Preliminary numerical results suggest that the schemes prove effective.
Factors Affecting Farm and Non-Farm Income of Haor Inhabitants of Bangladesh

The study has been conducted to examine the factors influencing farm and nonfarm income of Haor economy in Bangladesh. Dingaputa Haor area of Netrokona district was selected for the present study and a sample of 60 farmers had been taken randomly. The log linear form of Cobb-Douglas production function was chosen to determine the effects of socioeconomic variables on farm income and non-farm income. Apart from this, some descriptive statistical analysis were done to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of sampled households. The estimated results of the regression models revealed that family size and farm size had a significant positive effect on farm income and non-farm income had a significant negative effect on farm income. On the other hand, family size had a positive and significant effect on non-farm income and farm income had a negative and significant effect on non-farm income. To promote the farm and non-farm sector income and strengthening its potential linkages between them, the study mainly recommends increasing efforts on two fronts: first , reforming the institutions responsible for rural development and second , development activities and projects that would enhance farm and non-farm income and the linkages between them. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v23i1-2.16578 Progress. Agric. 23(1 & 2): 143 – 150, 2012
Potassium channel blockers as antiarrhythmic drugs

Selective prolongation of cardiac repolarization is an effective means of suppressing a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly those arising from a re-entrant mechanism. Over the past several years, a variety of novel compounds have been discovered that increase cardiac action potential duration without slowing conduction. Most of these agents (e.g., dofetilide, E-4031, MK-499) act by selectively blocking the rapidly activating component of delayed rectification (IKr), although some (e.g., ibutilide, azimilide, terikalant) have been proposed to work via alternate mechanisms. While the overall efficacy of these agents against tachyarrhythmias appears to be greater than obtained for the sodium channels blockers, primary concerns remain about the ability of these agents to prolong repolarization at fast heart rates (i.e., reverse use-dependence) and to exert proarrhythmic effects at slow heart rates (i.e., torsade de pointes). The limited clinical results obtained to date suggest that these potential limitations may be less important than previously thought, although clear pharmacodynamic differences among the various agents are beginning to emerge. While the effects of some class III agents on repolarization and refractoriness are clearly attenuated at rapid cycle lengths (e.g., sematilide, d-sotalol), the effects of others appear to be largely rate-independent, at least down to cycles as short as 350 msec. Also, the currently available data suggest that the risk of serious proarrhythmia may be lower (1–3%) and considerably more predictable than that seen during treatment with the class I agents. In summary, the rational design of selective blockers of cardiac K channels for development as antiarrhythmic drugs appears to have been relatively successful and continues to show considerable promise as a therapeutic approach. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Direct polymerization of proteins.

We report the synthesis of active polymers of superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) in one step using Click chemistry. Up to six copies of the non-natural amino acids (nnAAs) p-azido-l-phenylalanine (pAzF) or p-propargyloxy-l-phenylalanine (pPaF) were site-specifically inserted into sfGFP by cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS). sfGFP containing two or three copies of these nnAAs were coupled by copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition to synthesize linear or branched protein polymers, respectively. The protein polymers retained ≥63% of their specific activity (i.e., fluorescence) after coupling. Polymerization of a concentrated solution of triply substituted sfGFP resulted in fluorescent macromolecular particles. Our method can be generalized to synthesize polymers of a protein or copolymers of any two or more proteins, and the conjugation sites can be determined exactly by standard genetic manipulation. Polymers of proteins and small molecules can also be created with this technology to make a ...
An unusual cell penetrating peptide identified using a plasmid display-based functional selection platform

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have tremendous potential for use in gene and drug delivery applications. The selection of new CPPs with desired capabilities from randomized peptide libraries is challenging, since the CPP phenotype is a complex selection target. Here we report the discovery of an unusual new CPP from a randomized peptide library using a functional selection system based on plasmid display (PD). After four rounds of screening of a 14-mer peptide library over PC12 cells, several peptides were identified and tested for their ability to deliver the green fluorescent protein (GFP). One peptide (SG3) exhibited a cell penetrating phenotype; however, unlike other well-known CPPs such as TAT or Penetratin, the newly identified peptide was not highly cationic. The PD protocol necessitated the addition of a cationic lipid (Lipofectamine2000), and in the presence of this compound, the SG3 peptide significantly outperformed the well-known TAT CPP in the delivery of GFP to PC12 cells and primary astrocytes. When the SG3 peptide was fused to the pro-apoptotic BH3 peptide from the Bak protein, significant cell death was induced in cultured primary astrocytes, indicating relevant, intracellular delivery of a functional cargo. The PD platform is a useful method for identifying functional new CPPs from randomized libraries with unique delivery capabilities.
Temperature-Dependent Optical Absorption Properties of Monolayer-Protected Au25 and Au38 Clusters

The temperature dependence of electronic absorption is reported for quantum-sized monolayer-protected gold clusters (MPCs). The investigations were carried out on Au25L18 (L = SC6H13) and Au38L24 (L = SC2H4Ph) clusters, which show discrete absorption bands in the visible and near-infrared region at room temperature and with a decrease in temperature: (i) the optical absorption peaks become sharper with the appearance of vibronic structure, (ii) the absorption maximum is shifted to higher energies, and (iii) the oscillator strengths of transitions increased. Smaller temperature dependence of absorption is observed for plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The results of the band gap shifts are analyzed by incorporating electron–phonon interactions using the O’Donnell–Chen model. An average phonon energy of ∼400 cm–1 is determined, and is attributed to the phonons of semiring gold. The unique property of decreasing oscillator strength with increasing temperature is modeled in the Debye–Waller equation, which relate...
Abstract ED05-03: The development of tractable mouse models to study therapeutic response

ED05-03 Many human cancers fail to respond to chemotherapy, and cancers that initially respond frequently acquire drug resistance and relapse. While chemoresistance has been observed since the earliest chemotherapeutic application, relatively little is known about the genetic determinants of drug response. Thus, chemotherapy is commonly administered without regard to the specific constellation of genetic alterations present in a given tumor. This current clinical reality is problematic for a number of reasons. First, patients are frequently given chemotherapies that have little or no chance of success. Second, potential tumor vulnerabilities conferred by specific genetic lesions are rarely considered prior to therapeutic administration, so the “right therapy” is generally not matched with the “right tumor”. Third, combination therapies are currently assembled by random trial and error, rather than through a genuine understanding of the basis for drug synergy in a given tumor. Finally, potentially effective drugs frequently fail in clinical trials due to an inability to genetically define small subsets of tumors in which these drugs have significant efficacy. Thus, new approaches to define patient populations most likely to benefit from a particular drug and to identify potentially effective drug combinations are urgently needed. Our lab combines emerging RNA interference technologies with tractable mammalian cancer models to identify genes that influence the action of conventional and molecularly targeted therapies. Specifically, we have performed highly parallel in vivo genetic screens to identify short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) capable of enhancing or reducing the sensitivity of cancer cells to select anticancer agents, with the objective of finding potential biomarkers that may be used for patient selection, pathways required for drug action, and strategies for effective combination therapy. Importantly, these screens are carried out in vivo, in mammalian systems that more closely approximate the pharmacokinetic, pharmocodynamic, microenvironmental and immunological setting encountered in the treatment of human cancers. It is our expectation that these approaches will provide powerful preclinical test systems that can be used to identify therapies that circumvent traditional drug resistance mechanisms or test novel ‘targeted’ therapeutics. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):ED05-03.
Sparse matrix-variate Gaussian process blockmodels for network modeling

We face network data from various sources, such as protein interactions and online social networks. A critical problem is to model network interactions and identify latent groups of network nodes. This problem is challenging due to many reasons. For example, the network nodes are interdependent instead of independent of each other, and the data are known to be very noisy (e.g., missing edges). To address these challenges, we propose a new relational model for network data, Sparse Matrix-variate Gaussian process Blockmodel (SMGB). Our model generalizes popular bilinear generative models and captures nonlinear network interactions using a matrix-variate Gaussian process with latent membership variables. We also assign sparse prior distributions on the latent membership variables to learn sparse group assignments for individual network nodes. To estimate the latent variables efficiently from data, we develop an efficient variational expectation maximization method. We compared our approaches with several state-of-the-art network models on both synthetic and real-world network datasets. Experimental results demonstrate SMGBs outperform the alternative approaches in terms of discovering latent classes or predicting unknown interactions.
Monitoring aminoglycoside therapy.

The aminoglycoside antibiotics are indispensible therapeutic agents; however, a high incidence of toxic effects mandates that they be used with caution. Monitoring of serum aminoglycoside concentrations is essential in many types of patients, such as those having compromised renal function, those receiving a maximum dose of the drug, the obese, the elderly, and patients with cystic fibrosis.
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome.

Objective: To present the symptoms, signs, and findings on diagnostic tests of patients with the superior canal dehiscence syndrome and to describe the surgical procedures used to treat the dehiscence in five patients. Design and Setting: Prospective study of a series of patients identified as having this syndrome at a tertiary care referral center. Patients and Results: Seventeen patients with vertigo, oscillopsia, or both evoked by intense sounds or stimuli that caused changes in middle ear and/or intracranial pressure were identified over a 4-year period. The evoked eye movements had vertical and torsional components, with the direction corresponding to the effect of the stimuli in causing excitation (Valsalva against pinched nostrils, tragal compression, sounds) or inhibition (Valsalva against a closed glottis or jugular venous compression) of the affected superior semicircular canal. Thirteen (76%) of these patients also experienced chronic dysequilibrium that was often the most debilitating symptom. Dehiscence of bone overlying the superior semicircular canal on the affected side was confirmed with computed tomographic scans in each case. Surgical procedures through the middle fossa approach to plug or resurface the superior canal were performed in five patients (canal plugging in three cases and resurfacing of the dehiscence without plugging in two). The debilitating symptoms resolved or improved after the procedures. Signs of vestibular hypofunction, without loss of hearing, were noted in one patient after plugging of the superior canal and in one other patient after resurfacing of the canal. Conclusions: The superior canal dehiscence syndrome is identified based on characteristic symptoms, signs, and computed tomographic findings. The clinical presentation and findings can be understood in terms of the effect of the dehiscence on the physiology of the labyrinth. The syndrome is a treatable cause of vestibular disturbance.
Measurement of the CP-nonconservation parameter epsilon '/ epsilon.

The value of epsilon'/epsilon, a measure of the CP-nonconserving direct transition from the K/sub L//sup 0/ state to the isospin-2 state of two pions, was determined to be 0.0017 +- 0.0082, a result that excludes interesting models of CP nonconservation.
Photoinduced Organocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Using Continuous Flow

Organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) has emerged as a metal-free variant of historically transition-metal reliant atom transfer radical polymerization. Strongly reducing organic photoredox catalysts have proven capable of mediating O-ATRP. To date, operation of photoinduced O-ATRP has been demonstrated in batch reactions. However, continuous flow approaches can provide efficient irradiation reaction conditions and thus enable increased polymerization performance. Herein, the adaptation of O-ATRP to a continuous flow approach has been performed with multiple visible-light absorbing photoredox catalysts. Using continuous flow conditions, improved polymerization results were achieved, consisting of narrow molecular weight distributions as low as 1.05 and quantitative initiator efficiencies. This system demonstrated success with 0.01% photocatalyst loadings and a diverse methacrylate monomer scope. Additionally, successful chain-extension polymerizations using 0.01 mol % photocatalyst...
Imaging of Infected Orbits and Sinuses

Infection of the orbits is common in both the pediatric and adult populations, although more common in children and immune-compromised adults. The disease process requires prompt diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent permanent effects on vision and blindness. The primary goal of this chapter is an imaging-based discussion on the variety of etiologies that result in periorbital and orbital infection. The etiologies that can contribute to orbital infection include sinonasal, cutaneous, and dental infections. A working knowledge of the surrounding anatomic structures relating to the orbit is important for localizing routes of spread, with the paranasal sinuses being the most common. There are several imaging modalities that can be utilized in evaluating orbital infection with a comprehensive discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each. The imaging findings of infection can, at times, be indistinct from other entities such as malignancy and inflammatory pathology. A few intracranial complications can ensue from orbital infection, which are important to know and where imaging can be most helpful.
Stress, Social Support, and Psychosocial Functioning of Ethnically Diverse Students.

This study examined the stress-buffering role of social support on indicators of psychosocial functioning among a combined and split sample of ethnically diverse college students. Although high social support significantly moderated 2 relationships in the combined sample, high and low levels of social support significantly reduced the effect of stress on depressive symptoms of students of color. For White students, high social support moderated the effect of stress on protective behaviors. Implications for college counselors are discussed.
Product-Line Pricing Under Discrete Mixed Multinomial Logit Demand

We study a product-line price optimization problem with demand given by a discrete mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) model. The market is divided into a finite number of market segments, with product ...
Introduction — On the 20th Anniversary of a Scientific Discovery

I have suggested to the organizers of the conference that the title of this introduction could be adopted as the subtitle of the session. I shall lead you into my reasons for this request by quoting a short passage taken from the recent Steinbeck’s translation into modern English of Sir Thomas Mallory’s Winchester manuscripts on “The Acts of King Arthur and his noble nights” (1): “You cannot know a venture from its beginning” Merlin said, “Greatness is born little.”
Intrinsic Labeling of Plants for Bioavailability Studies

Fruits and vegetables are dietary components which convey numerous health benefits. Not only do fruits and vegetables contain many essential nutrients, but they also contribute to disease prevention. In the last decade, nutrition research has made great strides in identifying specific nutrients which have beneficial health effects and the mechanisms by which those health benefits are achieved. However, the ability of a specific nutrient to impart health benefits depends on the gastrointestinal tract’s ability to extract the nutrient from the plant material. The presence of a specific nutrient in a plant food is insufficient for providing health benefits if the bioavailability of that nutrient is very low. For example, spinach contains a high calcium content, but the presence of phytates and oxalates in spinach prevents the calcium from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract (Weaver et al., 1987; Heaney and Weaver, 1989; Peterson et al., 1992). Thus, calcium has a very low bioavailability from spinach.
DNA strand cleavage as a sensitive assay for the production of hydroxyl radicals by microsomes: role of cytochrome P4502E1 in the increased activity after ethanol treatment

There is increasing interest in the role of reactive oxygen radicals in the hepatotoxicity associated with ethanol consumption. Reactive oxygen intermediates interact with DNA and can cause single-strand breaks of supercoiled DNA. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the utility of this system as a sensitive assay for the detection of potent oxidants generated by rat liver microsomes isolated from pair-fed control rats and rats treated chronically with ethanol. DNA strand cleavage was assayed by monitoring the migration of the supercoiled and open circular forms in agarose. Microsomes catalysed DNA strand breakage with either NADPH or NADH as cofactors; iron was required to catalyse the reaction and various ferric complexes were effective in promoting the reaction. DNA strand cleavage was prevented by catalase, superoxide dismutase, GSH and hydroxyl-radical-scavenging agents, suggesting that a hydroxyl-radical-like species was the oxidant responsible for the breakage. This assay system proved to be much more sensitive in detecting hydroxyl radicals than are other methods, such as e.s.r. spectroscopy or oxidation of chemical scavenging agents with respect to the amount of microsomal protein and the nature and concentration of the iron catalyst required. Microsomes from ethanol-treated rats were more reactive than control microsomes in catalysing the DNA strand cleavage with either NADPH or NADH; increased catalytic activity was observed with various ferric complexes and was sensitive to the above antioxidants. Compared with preimmune IgG, anti-(cytochrome P4502E1) IgG had no effect on DNA strand cleavage by the control microsomes, but completely prevented the NADPH- and the NADH-dependent increased activity found with microsomes from the ethanol-treated rats. Inhibitors of cytochrome P4502E1, such as diethyl dithiocarbamate and tryptamine, also lowered the extent of increase of DNA strand cleavage produced by microsomes from the ethanol-treated rats. These results indicate that DNA strand cleavage is a very sensitive assay for detecting the production of hydroxyl radicals by microsomes and to demonstrate increased activity by microsomes after chronic ethanol treatment. This increased activity with NADPH and NADH is due, at least in part, to induction of cytochrome P4502E1.
Patterns of antiepileptic drug use in patients with potential refractory epilepsy in Texas Medicaid.

Abstract Objectives Antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy is usually effective in 60% of the patients with epilepsy while the remaining patients have refractory epilepsy. This study compared treatment patterns (adherence, persistence, addition, and switching) associated with refractory and nonrefractory epilepsy. Methods Texas Medicaid claims from 09/01/07–12/31/13 were analyzed, and patients eligible for the study 1) were between 18 and 62 years of age, 2) had a prescription claim for an AED during the identification period (03/01/08–12/31/11) with no prior baseline AED use (6-month), and 3) had evidence of epilepsy diagnosis within 6 months of AED use. Based on AED use in the identification period, patients were categorized into “refractory” (≥ 3AEDs) and “nonrefractory” ( Results Of the 10,599 eligible patients, 2798 (26.5%) patients in the refractory cohort were matched to patients in the nonrefractory cohort. Patients in the refractory cohort had significantly higher (p Conclusion Patients with refractory epilepsy were significantly more likely to adhere and persist to AED regimen and were significantly more likely to add and switch to an alternative AED than patients with nonrefractory epilepsy.
Neural dynamics of verbal working memory in auditory description naming.

Auditory naming is suggested to require verbal working memory (WM) operations in addition to speech sound perception during the sentence listening period and semantic/syntactic processing during the subsequent judgement period. We attempted to dissect cortical activations attributable to verbal WM from those otherwise involved in answering auditory sentence questions. We studied 19 patients who underwent electrocorticography recordings and measured high-gamma activity during auditory naming and WM tasks. In the auditory naming task, inferior-precentral high-gamma activity was augmented during sentence listening, and the magnitude of augmentation was independently correlated to that during the WM task maintenance period as well as patient age. High-gamma augmentation during the WM task scanning period accounted for high-gamma variance during the naming task judgement period in some of the left frontal association neocortex regions (most significantly in the middle-frontal, less in the inferior-frontal, and least in the orbitofrontal gyrus). Inferior-frontal high-gamma augmentation was left-hemispheric dominant during naming task judgement but rather symmetric during WM scanning. Left orbitofrontal high-gamma augmentation was evident only during the naming task judgement period but minimal during the WM task scanning period. The inferior-precentral regions may exert WM maintenance during sentence listening, and such maintenance function may be gradually strengthened as the brain matures. The left frontal association neocortex may have a dorsal-to-ventral gradient in functional roles during naming task judgement. Namely, left middle-frontal activation may be well-attributable to WM scanning function, whereas left orbitofrontal activation may be attributable less to WM scanning but more largely to syntactic/semantic processing.
COMPARISON OF CORE STABILITY AND BALANCE IN ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT SHOULDER INJURIES.

Background Relationships between core stability and lower extremity injuries have been described in the literature; however, evidence of the relationship between upper extremity injuries and core stability and balance is limited. Hypothesis/purpose The purpose of this study was to compare clinical measures of core stability and balance between athletes with and without non-traumatic shoulder injuries. Study design Cross sectional. Methods Eighty athletes (54 males, age: 21.2 + 3.3 years) participated in this study. Forty athletes with a current shoulder injury were matched to healthy athletes by age, gender, BMI, and sport. Athletes completed clinical core stability tests including flexor and extensor endurance tests, double leg lower test (°) and balance tests including single leg stance under eyes open and eyes closed conditions, and the Y-balance test. MANOVAs were used to assess group differences. Results No statistically significant differences existed between athletes with and without shoulder injuries for clinical tests of core stability, F(1,78)=0.97, p=0.41; η2 = 0.04. No statistically significant differences existed between injured athletes with and without shoulder injuries for static and dynamic balance measures, F(1,78)=0.86, p=0.53; η2 = 0.07. Conclusions Although core stability is widely incorporated in rehabilitation of athletes with shoulder injuries, performance on these clinical tests did not differ in the group of athletes assessed in this study. Level of evidence 3.
Management of the lacrimal system during maxillectomy

Background Oncologic resection of the maxilla requires management of the nasolacrimal sac/duct system (NLS). A variety of techniques may be used: simple transection, transection with transcanalicular stenting, drilling of the entire nasolacrimal bony canal to the inferior meatus with mobilization of an intact NLS, marsupialization of the NLS with or without stenting, and simple transection with routine delayed dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) for symptomatic epiphora. Rates of prolonged epiphora range from 13 to 63%. Objectives We present our approach to NLS management during maxillectomy, and our rates of epiphora. Study design Review of 212 consecutive patients who underwent transection of the NLS during medial maxillectomy, complete maxillectomy with preservation of orbital contents, suprastructure maxillectomy, or maxillectomy as part of anterior craniofacial resection. Patients with primary NLS tumors were excluded. Prolonged epiphora is defined as persistent if it lasts more than 6 months. Methods After exposure of the anterior maxillary wall and inferior and medial orbital rim, a high-speed drill and Kerrison rongeurs are used to remove the anterior wall of the nasolacrimal canal. The NLS is transected 12-15 mm distal to the periorbita and removed from the canal. Two 4-6-mm opposing incisions are made at the distal duct. Two semicircular flaps are everted, folded, and sutured to the proximal sac or periorbita. A transcanalicular stent is not placed. Results Two-hundred twelve patients underwent the above-mentioned procedure. Four patients (1.9%) developed prolonged epiphora, which required delayed DCR. Conclusions Marsupialization of the NLS without stenting provided us with an acceptably low rate of prolonged epiphora.
Reluctant guerrillas in early nineteenth century China: the White Lotus insurgents and their suppressors

ABSTRACTAt the turn of the nineteenth century, China’s Qing dynasty (1644–1912) was hit by a sectarian rebellion. Commonly considered a breakpoint marking the end of the dynasty’s golden age spanni...
Texture analysis and machine learning algorithms accurately predict histologic grade in small (< 4 cm) clear cell renal cell carcinomas: a pilot study.

To predict the histologic grade of small clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) using texture analysis and machine learning algorithms. Fifty-two noncontrast (NC), 26 corticomedullary (CM) phase, and 35 nephrographic (NG) phase CTs of small (< 4 cm) surgically resected ccRCCs were retrospectively identified. Surgical pathology classified the tumors as low- or high-Fuhrman histologic grade. The axial image with the largest cross-sectional tumor area was exported and segmented. Six histogram and 31 texture (gray-level co-occurrences (GLC) and gray-level run-lengths (GLRL)) features were calculated for each tumor in each phase. T testing compared feature values in low- and high-grade ccRCCs, with a (Benjamini–Hochberg) false discovery rate of 10%. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was calculated for each feature to assess prediction of low- and high-grade ccRCCs in each phase. Histogram, texture, and combined histogram and texture data sets were used to train and test four algorithms (k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forests, and decision tree) with tenfold cross-validation; AUCs were calculated for each algorithm in each phase to assess prediction of low- and high-grade ccRCCs. Zero, 23, and 0 features in the NC, CM, and NG phases had statistically significant differences between low and high-grade ccRCCs. CM histogram skewness and GLRL short run emphasis had the highest AUCs (0.82) in predicting histologic grade. All four algorithms had the highest AUCs (0.97) predicting histologic grade using CM histogram features. The algorithms’ AUCs decreased using histogram or texture features from NC or NG phases. The histologic grade of small ccRCCs can be accurately predicted with machine learning algorithms using CM histogram features, which outperform NC and NG phase image data.
Intraoperative Shortening of Aneurysm Clips: Revisiting an Old Technique in a New Era.

Background It can sometimes be challenging to find a suitable clip to treat an unusual aneurysm, or when the surrounding anatomy is unusual, especially in resource-limited environments. We describe a method to modify aneurysm clips based on the method originated by Sugita et al in 1985. Herein clip modification (Clip-Mod) is used to treat anatomically difficult anterior communicating artery aneurysms. Methods The Department of Neurological Surgery database was reviewed to find aneurysm patients treated using modified aneurysm clips. Clip-Mod was performed during surgery by shortening the tines of titanium aneurysm clips by abrasion applied from the side of a standard 3-mm surgical diamond drill bit under constant irrigation. Note that the thickness of the tines and the clip spring were not modified or contacted by the drill. Results Four cases used modified aneurysm clips, from 648 total clip-treated aneurysms (0.6%) by 2 surgeons over a 14-year period. Three patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhages that were determined to be due to anterior communicating artery aneurysms. One patient presented with an incidental unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. All 4 patients were treated with 3-mm titanium clips shortened intraoperatively to 1- to 2-mm lengths, to achieve aneurysm obliteration without stenosing parent or perforating vessels. Conclusions All 4 patients have done well clinically with no reoccurrences after 2–6 years' follow-up, which included angiographic evaluation. The use of this “Clip-Mod” technique thus appears useful for anterior communicating artery aneurysms. Clip-Mod could also be considered for treating other aneurysms when the “perfect” length clip is not available.
Functional Abdominal Pain (Chronic Abdominal Pain)

Functional abdominal pain is chronic and recurrent pain in the abdominal region that does not have an identifiable physical or organic cause. Along with other gastrointestinal functional disorders, as a group it constitutes the most common cause of abdominal pain. It is constant or near-constant without a relationship to physiological events, but can be associated with psychosocial stressors. Patients often suffer from other functional morbid conditions such as fibromyalgia and migraine which altogether result in poor quality of life and increased heathcare utilization. The condition is frequently explained by dysfunctional gut motility and or dysfunctional visceral sensation. Patient’s symptoms often require testing but it is a diagnosis of exclusion, and can be differentiated from other functional GI disorders using several criteria. Like other chronic pain conditions, the etiology and pathophysiology are not yet well understood, but it involves a central process resulting in visceral hyperalgesia from peripheral and or central sensitization of the afferent system. Management of FAP aims to provide symptom relief and improve quality of life through a multi-faceted approach both pharmacologically and psychologically. The best outcome is achieved with the establishment of a healthy patient–physician relation that is combined with psychological interventions aimed at building pain coping skills.
62,406 and Counting

What will we remember, as scholars, practitioners, policy-makers, educators, and citizens, about this acute phase of the catastrophe in the United States? The shocking federal failure concerning testing? That the first shortage was not of ventilators but protective gear? How infection rates and deaths in communities of color, immigrant neighborhoods, and nursing homes mercilessly exposed the relationship between social inequalities and health inequities? I hope we will remember that the field of bioethics did good work under pressure, learned that public health ethics and global health ethics are about securing the conditions for decent lives and decent work as well as saving lives, and committed ourselves to progress on the problem of inequality