cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One thousand consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies and beyond: a personal series

A consecutive series of 1000 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs) performed by a single surgeon from 1969 to 2003 is reported. Patient ages ranged from 15 years to 103 years. The average age was 63 years. Seventy patients were in their 80s, one patient was in his 90s, and one patient was over 100. Overall morbidity was 41% and mortality, 1% (10 deaths). Five-year survival for the 39 patients undergoing a Whipple procedure for duodenal cancer was 52%, for the 113 patients with ampullary cancer 39%, and for the 95 patients with a cholangiocarcinoma 23%. Overall 5-year survival for the 405 patients undergoing a Whipple procedure for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was 18%. Among the 64 patients with pancreatic cancer who were both margin-negative and node-negative, 5-year survival was 41%. The remaining 348 Whipple procedures were performed for a variety of benign and malignant diseases. Of the second 1000 Whipple procedures the author is working on, 428 have been performed. The latter population tends to be older with more extensive and serious comorbidities than the first 1000 patients.
Knowledge-based instantiation of full atomic detail into coarse-grain RNA 3D structural models

Motivation: The recent development of methods for modeling RNA 3D structures using coarse-grain approaches creates a need to bridge low-and high-resolution modeling methods. Although they contain topological information, coarse-grain models lack atomic detail, which limits their utility for some applications. Results: We have developed a method for adding full atomic detail to coarse-grain models of RNA 3D structures. Our method [Coarse to Atomic (C2A)] uses geometries observed in known RNA crystal structures. Our method rebuilds full atomic detail from ideal coarse-grain backbones taken from crystal structures to within 1.87–3.31 A RMSD of the full atomic crystal structure. When starting from coarse-grain models generated by the modeling tool NAST, our method builds full atomic structures that are within 1.00 A RMSD of the starting structure. The resulting full atomic structures can be used as starting points for higher resolution modeling, thus bridging high-and low-resolution approaches to modeling RNA 3D structure. Availability: Code for the C2A method, as well as the examples discussed in this article, are freely available at www.simtk.org/home/c2a. Contact: russ.altman@stanford.edu
The emergence of civil society organizations in South Africa

Only in the last 25 years or so have interest groups in Sub-Sahara Africa become a focus of academic research. This is mainly due to an increasing number of societies becoming more democratic. What earlier research was conducted on interests and interest group activity in the sub-region, heavily favoured a corporatist perspective; but in recent years the emphasis has been on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in their relatively more autonomous role from the state. This paper examines the nature of interest group behaviour in Sub-Sahara Africa and, in greater detail, in South Africa, focusing on the relationship between these groups and the state and society. The major premise presented is that democratization in the region since 1994 has weakened the corporatist hold of the state and has strengthened and expanded civil society. South Africa is used as an example of a developing democracy in which interest group activity has increased as shown by the wide range of CSOs and has produced a unique system combining corporatism and pluralism. Several cases are presented, including the role of traditional authorities, education, women's groups and the interests involved in the HIV/AIDS crisis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Efficient Ellipse-Drawing Algorithm

Low-cost PCs and workstations with bit-mapped graphics possess limited processing power. As a result, efficient algorithms are needed to draw curves interactively.
Computational Modeling of Nanoscale Droplet Deposition Phenomena

research investigates nanoscale droplet deposition phenomena towards developing nanomanufacturing processes. The deposition and spreading behavior of water nanodroplet on SiO2 and Si3N4 substrates is studied using molecular dynamics simulation. The effect of temperature variations on the dynamic contact angle during the wetting phenomena is observed. SiO2 and Si3N4 substrates reveal a hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction with water, respectively. An experimental design is conducted to observe the effect of substrate type and temperature on the time to reach equilibrium contact angle. Both factors and their interaction have a statistical significant effect on the equilibration time. The results of this research form a basis to predict wetting behavior for aqueous colloids on different substrates towards nanoscale manufacturing.
Canine sensitivity to ascaris antigen

Abstract 1.1. Positive cutaneous reactions to extracts of canine and pig Ascaris occurred in twelve of twenty-four dogs. Most of these animals had a nematode infection at the time of the tests or were known to have been so affected previously. 2.2. Constitutional reactions resulted in two dogs from intracutaneous tests with Ascaris extracts. 3.3. Passive transfer of the antibodies in the blood serum of a naturally sensitive dog to other dogs was successful in four of the five attempts made. 4.4. Passive transfer of the antibodies in the blood serum of two naturally sensitive dogs to human beings was successfully demonstrated. 5.5. Active sensitization of two dogs with Ascaris extract was successful. This was indicated by the development of marked cutaneous reactions in both dogs. The blood serum of one of these dogs gave weakly positive Prausnitz-Kustner reactions in human beings. 6.6. Skin-sensitizing antibodies in the serum of a dog naturally sensitive to Ascaris were found to be heat labile, resembling, in this respect, human atopic reagins.
Laser streak velocimetry for two-dimensional flows in gases

Abstract : A new velocity measuring technique, laser streak velocimetry (LSV), was developed for two-dimensional flows in gases. A high power argon ion laser beam was formed into a thin sheet of light to illuminate a two-dimensional plane in the flow around a body. Ten micron sized particles were introduced into the flow, and photographs were taken of the particles as they traversed the light sheet. The length of the streak made by each particle on the photograph was a measure of its velocity since the camera shutter speed was known. The velocity profile in the boundary layer of a flat plate was measured and found to agree within 4% of the theoretical value. Low Reynolds number flow around a circular cylinder was measured, and velocities in the wake were found in close agreement with theory and with previous measurements. A velocity mapping of the non-steady vortex shedding of a Karman vortex street was also made. The flow around a delta wing was analyzed due to current interest in low speed separation. The velocities above the surface of a 60 deg delta wing were measured by LSV, and results were compared to theory. The flow was found to be non-conical, contrary to the assumption of most analytical treatments. Future developments of the laser streak velocimeter were discussed. (Author)
The proportion of cores with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on extended-pattern needle biopsy is significantly associated with prostate cancer on site-directed repeat biopsy.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the predictive value of isolated high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) for an unsampled prostate cancer on an extended biopsy is lower due to more thorough prostate sampling, and whether the proportion of cores with HGPIN is associated with prostate cancer, as isolated HGPIN on sextant prostate biopsy is associated with a 27–57% risk of prostate cancer on repeat biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS All extended prostate biopsies taken by one urologist over 6 years were reviewed for patients with isolated HGPIN on initial biopsy. Biopsies were evaluated for histological features and the proportion of cores with HGPIN. The clinical characteristics and pathological findings from subsequent biopsies were determined. RESULTS Of 577 men having extended biopsies, 48 had isolated HGPIN, followed by one to four site-directed repeat biopsies. Although only 10 (21%) had cancer on the first repeat biopsy, overall 15 (31%) had cancer. Those with cancer on repeat biopsy had a significantly higher proportion of cores with HGPIN, i.e. 29% vs 15%, cancer vs no cancer, respectively (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Isolated HGPIN on extended biopsy conferred a 31% risk of unsampled prostate cancer. The proportion of cores with HGPIN on initial biopsy was significantly associated with the risk of cancer. The same was not true for age, race, prostate-specific antigen level, or the findings on digital rectal examination. The significant association between the proportion of cores with HGPIN and the risk of cancer suggests that patients with unifocal HGPIN on extended biopsy be managed expectantly, whereas those with multifocal HGPIN be re-biopsied.
Increased RNA Editing and Inhibition of Hepatitis Delta Virus Replication by High-Level Expression of ADAR1 and ADAR2

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a subviral human pathogen that uses specific RNA editing activity of the host to produce two essential forms of the sole viral protein, hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg). Editing at the amber/W site of HDV antigenomic RNA leads to the production of the longer form (HDAg-L), which is required for RNA packaging but which is a potent trans-dominant inhibitor of HDV RNA replication. Editing in infected cells is thought to be catalyzed by one or more of the cellular enzymes known as adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs). We examined the effects of increased ADAR1 and ADAR2 expression on HDV RNA editing and replication in transfected Huh7 cells. We found that both ADARs dramatically increased RNA editing, which was correlated with strong inhibition of HDV RNA replication. While increased HDAg-L production was the primary mechanism of inhibition, we observed at least two additional means by which ADARs can suppress HDV replication. High-level expression of both ADAR1 and ADAR2 led to extensive hyperediting at non-amber/W sites and subsequent production of HDAg variants that acted as trans-dominant inhibitors of HDV RNA replication. Moreover, we also observed weak inhibition of HDV RNA replication by mutated forms of ADARs defective for deaminase activity. Our results indicate that HDV requires highly regulated and selective editing and that the level of ADAR expression can play an important role: overexpression of ADARs inhibits HDV RNA replication and compromises virus viability.
An adaptive approach to family intervention: linking engagement in family-centered intervention to reductions in adolescent problem behavior.

This study used Complier Average Causal Effect analysis (CACE; see G. Imbens & D. Rubin, 1997) to examine the impact of an adaptive approach to family intervention in the public schools on rates of substance use and antisocial behavior among students ages 11–17. Students were randomly assigned to a family-centered intervention (N 998) in 6th grade and offered a multilevel intervention that included (a) a universal classroom-based intervention, (b) the Family Check-Up (selected; T. J. Dishion & K. Kavanagh, 2003), and (c) family management treatment (indicated). All services were voluntary, and approximately 25% of the families engaged in the selected and indicated levels. Participation in the Family Check-Up was predicted by 6th-grade teacher ratings of risk, youth reports of family conflict, and the absence of biological fathers from the youths’ primary home. Relative to randomized matched controls, adolescents whose parents engaged in the Family Check-Up exhibited less growth in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use and problem behavior during ages 11 through 17, along with decreased risk for substance use diagnoses and police records of arrests by age 18.
T-cell reconstitution during murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) produces neuroinflammation and mortality in animals harboring opportunistic viral brain infection

Background Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restores inflammatory immune responses in AIDS patients which may unmask previous subclinical infections or paradoxically exacerbate symptoms of opportunistic infections. In resource-poor settings, 25% of patients receiving HAART may develop CNS-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Here we describe a reliable mouse model to study underlying immunopathological mechanisms of CNS-IRIS.
Transitions in Gambling Participation During Late Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine transitions in gambling participation from late adolescence into emerging adulthood and to identify factors (i.e., gender, race, intervention status, lunch status, conduct disorder, parental monitoring, neighborhood environment, and substance use) that might influence these transitions. Methods Markov modeling was used to describe the movement between past-year gambling states (i.e., nongambling and gambling) across 5 years. Annual data on the past-year gambling behavior and substance use were collected from 515 young men and women starting at the age of 17 years. Results Past-year gambling declined from 51% prevalence at the age of 17 years to 21% prevalence at the age of 22 years. Participants who reported no past-year gambling at a particular annual assessment had more than an 80% probability of also reporting no past-year gambling at the following assessment. Men were 1.07–2.82 times more likely than women to transition from past-year nongambling to gambling year to year, and women were 1.27–5.26 times more likely than men to transition from past-year gambling to nongambling year to year. In addition, gender and past-year tobacco use interacted such that men who used tobacco were most likely (and men who did not use tobacco least likely) to gamble at baseline. Conclusions Transition rates between gambling states appear to be relatively stable over time from late adolescence into emerging adulthood; however, men and those who engage in substance use may be at an increased risk of gambling participation.
Electron trapping: An unexpected mechanism of NBTI and its implications

In this work, we demonstrate that electron trapping has been overlooked in previous studies and will greatly impact the current understanding of the NBTI phenomenon and consequent lifetime predictions.
Grief and major depression.

As a mood disorder specialist in the US, I was disappointed to see the unqualified admonition, “Don’t keep taking the tablets,” in your editorial comment.1 It is always hazardous to infer “quality of care” from raw rates of drug prescription. Reid has shown that, in Scotland, GPs were “cautious and conservative in their [antidepressant] prescribing” and that increased duration of antidepressant prescription, not an increase in patients, was driving the …
Dress and Human Behavior: A Review and Critique

The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive review and analysis of published research that investigated relationships between the dress of an individual and how that dress affected others' behavior toward the individual. Existing published research was analyzed to determine the types of behaviors investigated, the types of dress manipulations, whether dress had a significant effect, theory used to guide the research, and who the participant population was in the research. Research methods were also reviewed. Sources of data were 93 studies published from 1955 to 2004. Researchers overwhelmingly investigated helping behavior. The most frequently operationalized concepts using dress manipulations were labeled “dress,” “status,” and “attractiveness.” Researchers using dress or attractiveness or attire as the primary dress manipulation did not necessarily control for other dress variables (e.g., makeup, hair-style) in their research. Most of this research was not guided by theory.
Timing of Hospice Referral: Assessing Satisfaction While the Patient Receives Hospice Services

Generally, satisfaction with timing of hospice referral was measured in mortality follow back surveys of patients who died in hospice. In contrast in this study, investigators assessed timing of the hospice referral in patients/families enrolled in hospice for a minimum of two weeks. About 1/3 of patients/families identified it would have been easier if they started hospice earlier. Barriers to early hospice access were associated primarily with access to the healthcare system.
Multiple $q$-Zeta Values

We introduce a q-analog of the multiple harmonic series commonly referred to as multiple zeta values. The multiple q-zeta values satisfy a q-stuffle multiplica tion rule analogous to the stuffle multiplication rule arising from the series representation of ordinary multiple zeta values. Additionally, multiple q-zeta values can be viewed as special values of the multiple q-polylogarithm, which admits a multiple Jackson q-integral representation whose limiting case is the Drinfel’d simplex integral for the ordinary multiple polylogarithm when q = 1. The multiple Jackson q-integral representation for multiple q-zeta values leads to a second multiplication rule satisfied by them, referred to as a q-shuffle. Despite this, it appears that many numerical relations satisfied by ordinary multiple zeta values have no interesting q-extension. For example, a suitable q-analog of Broadhurst’s formula for ζ( {3, 1} n ), if one exists, is likely to be rather complicated. Nevertheless, we show that a number of infinite classes of relations, inc luding Hoffman’s partition identities, Ohno’s cyclic sum identities, Granville’s sum formula, Euler’s convolution formula, Ohno’s generalized duality relation, and the derivation relations of Ihara and Kaneko extend to multiple q-zeta values.
Encountering Poverty: Space, Class, and Poverty Politics

Our paper focuses on moments and spaces of encounter in which middle class people come into contact with “poor others”. Much critical poverty work focuses on the re-inscription of difference across class, race and gender lines. We explore where, when and how middle class actors engage with “poor others” in ways that (sometimes) lead to shifts in neoliberal and individualized understandings of poverty. Our paper explores boundary-breaking transformative moments that arise through spatial encounters. Drawing on Valentine's “zones of encounter” we explore how middle class encounters with poverty are mediated by two sets of spatial processes: processes of (self)government and of radical contact. We draw illustrative examples from two projects: on rural poverty in the Pacific Northwest and on community development in Chicago. In each case we trace the ways in which these spaces of encounter foster governance and/or contact processes that reproduce or disrupt dominant discourses about poverty.
Responses of nitrogen-fixing and nitrate-supplied alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to iron chelates in an alkaline hydroponic medium

Ferric ethylenediamine di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetate) (FeEDDHA) and ferric hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (FeHEDTA) were evaluated as Fe sources for hydroponic growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., cv. Mesilla), either dependent on N2 fixation or supplied with NO3. The hydroponic medium was maintained at pH 7.5 by addition of CaCO3. Nitrogen-fixing cultures were inoculated with Rhizobium meliloti 102 F51 and grown in medium without added nitrogen. After five to seven weeks of growth under greenhouse conditions, plants were harvested. Nitrogen fixation was measured by the acetylene reduction method.
A Yagi–Uda Array of High-Efficiency Wire-Bond Antennas for On-Chip Radio Applications

In this paper, we present a high-efficiency nonplanar Yagi-Uda antenna array consisting of six wire bonds for on-chip radio applications. The measured and simulated results are presented for the radiation pattern, gain, and radiation efficiency of the antenna at 40 GHz. The array has been characterized with two different ground-plane sizes that are 0.32?2 and 1.4?2. The arrays achieved the measured gains of 6.0 and 8.1 dBi for the small and large ground-plane variations, respectively, after numerically removing the loss from the feed line. The efficiencies of the antennas were extracted using the simulated directivity values. The efficiency of the large ground antenna was 82.5%, whereas that of the small ground antenna was 72.0%. Single wire-bond antennas are also characterized when integrated directly on a silicon-germanium complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor transceiver chip with -1.4-dBi gain and 51% efficiency. This paper builds on measurements of a single wire-bond antenna over ground-plane sizes ranging from 0.5?2 to 2.1?2 , which achieved gains of 0.4-3.6 dBi and efficiencies of 51%-84%.
Molecular Characterization of Attenuated Vaccine Strains of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that 2 attenuated strains of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) contain deletions affecting messenger (m) RNAs 2, 3, or 4. In this report, we have compared mRNAs of four modified-live virus vaccines for TGEV with the virulent Miller PP3 isolate to determine whether any transcriptional patterns are shared among attenuated strains. Using northern blot analysis, all vaccine viruses expressed mRNAs indistinguishable in size from those of Miller PP3. However, using S1 nuclease protection experiments, alterations in the regions of the genome from which mRNAs 2 and 3 are transcribed were detected in 2 of the vaccine strains. When genomic cDNA fragments derived from the coding region for mRNA 2 were sequenced, a 6-nucleotide deletion, also found in the attenuated strain Purdue-115, was discovered. The product of mRNA 2, a spike glycoprotein, was visualized by western blotting for each vaccine strain, and no profound differences in mobility were detected relative to Miller PP3. Alterations in the region of the genome from which mRNA 3 is transcribed appear to be identical or very similar to sequence alterations already described in this region for Purdue-115, one of which is likely to alter the polypeptide product of mRNA 3. Insertions or deletions in mRNAs 2 or 3 may contribute to attenuation but are not a prerequisite for this phenotype. The S1 nuclease protection analysis is a sensitive tool for differentiating particular strains of TGEV.
ACTION RESEARCH: EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY TRAINING ON LOW ACHIEVING FRESHMEN

This action research project investigated the effects of self-efficacy training on low achieving high school freshman who were considered to be at risk for academic failure. Six students participated in psycho-educational group counseling sessions for forty-five minutes weekly over the course of a nine-week reporting period. Findings indicated significant gains on all six domains of the Piers Harris 2 from pretest to posttest. Additionally, follow up interviews reflecting on the intervention indicated that students would indeed continue with the sessions and were more confident about their academic capabilities as a result of the experience.
Contact interaction of a slotted cylindrical shell and a deformable filler with regard for dry friction

The statement of the mixed problem of the friction interaction of a deformable filler with a slotted cylindrical shell is formulated. Using one-dimensional models of a shell and a filler, we obtain an integral equation for calculating contact stresses. On the basis of a numerical solution, the influence of geometric sizes, the number of slots in the shell, and the physical properties of the interacting bodies on the rigidity and strength of the system is investigated.
Adeles, Ideles, and the Class Groups

To do harmonic analysis on a global field F, one needs to introduce two locally compact abelian groups: A F , the adele group, and I F , the idele group.
Additional Laboratory Data and Differential Diagnosis

Reports of hypochromic anemia, relative and absolute lymphocytosis and occasional eosinophilia in hypopituitary states were frequent in the early clinical literature, and were summarized by Hubble in 1933.260 Several pertinent experimental investigations are of interest in this regard. Corey and Britton in 1932,92 noted a striking decrease in total leukocytes following bilateral adrenalectomy, in spite of hemoconcentration. A concomitant lymphocytosis was associated with this leukopenia. Adrenal cortical extract completely reinstated the normal cellular relationships, adrenalin only slightly and glucose and saline solutions not at all. Splenectomy exerted no apparent effect on the observed changes.
The early history of seismometry (to 1900)

Abstract The earliest seismoscope was invented in 132 A.D., by Chang Heng. Seismoscopes of limited effectiveness were used by Bina and others in the eighteenth century. The middle nineteenth century saw the invention by Palmieri of a seismoscope to record the times of small earthquakes. A successful seismograph of low sensitivity was invented by Cecchi in 1875. British scientists at the College of Engineering, Tokyo, independently built seismographs in the 18809s. The British in Japan made many observations with their instruments and must be credited with first demonstrating the value to seismology of seismographic devices. Von Rebeur-Paschwitz obtained the first recording of a teleseism in 1889. In the next decade, investigators in Italy, Germany, and England studied the waves from distant earthquakes and constructed the first teleseismic travel-time charts. Weichert introduced a seismometer with viscous damping in 1898. Theory seems to have been rather neglected in the early development of the seismograph. Theoretical studies of forced damped harmonic-oscillator seismographs were presented by Perry and Ayrton, and Lippmann, but these had little effect on the construction of seismographs. In the 18909s, the importance of tilt was much debated. By 1900, many seismologists had become convinced that the effect of tilting on seismograph response could usually be neglected.
New Fields Deserve New Pedagogies: Using Drama in the Basic Course on Media and Religion

This essay discusses drama or how a play is used to teach fundamental concepts of the media-religion interface. Drama, as a participative learning technique is similar to the case study method, but has additional benefits. Using the play, Ghosts of Galileo, the author describes actual experiences with students as they learn from a story, and deal with dilemmas by projecting themselves into the roles of characters in the narrative. While students are often ambivalent about discussing sensitive issues related to religion in the conventional classroom format, they are more comfortable doing so in the context of a story. How to use the play as a readers' theater or fully staged play is explained.
Carotid artery stenting: experience of a single institute in china.

Concern regarding the safety of Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) exists because of the risk of cerebral embolization during the procedure. The purpose of this article is to discuss that technology modification may improve the outcomes of this procedure. Between October 1997 and October 2004, 439 consecutive patients with 478 stenotic carotid arteries were treated. 284 vessels were stented without the use of embolic protection devices and 194 vessels with protection. Among cases not using protection device, 201 arteries were stented with predilation alone, 63 with postdilation alone, six with both preand post-dilation, two with neither and twelve were stented with balloon expandable stents. The technical success of 100%.The combined stroke and death rate during the procedure and the 30-day follow-up at 30 days was 1.67% overall. Three (0.63%) deaths occurred; one was due to a major infarction secondary to stent breakage, and two died of massive reperfusion intracerebral haemorrhage. There were total six ischemic stroke, of the five ischemic strokes wich developed in nonprotection group, two were among 201 cases with predilation alone (0.99%), which developed after stent deployment and postprocedure, and three among 63 cases with postdilation alone (4.76%), which developed immediately after postdilation. The incidence of ischemic stroke was lower among those who were stented with predilation alone than among those who were stented with postdilation alone. This likely results from reduced intimal injury and decreased risk of embolic complications
Abstract W P223: Systems wide Streamlining of Door to Recanalization Processes in Endovascular Stroke Therapy

Objective: Faster reperfusion leads to better outcome both in thrombolytic therapy and endovascular therapy in acute stroke. We analyzed the effect of interventions aimed to reduce treatment delays in our single-center prospective series. Methods: All consecutive ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular therapy were prospectively registered from 4/20/12 to 7/29/14. We divided the patients into pre-intervention (4/20/12-10/8/13) and post-intervention (10/9/13-7/29/14) period. The main interventions included: awareness, continuous feedback and regular education of staff involved, EMS pre notification, protocolized immediate direct ED attending to stroke attending communication, direct IR activation by stroke team including for possible rather than certain intervention, direct patient transportation by EMS to CT scanner, direct transportation of patient from CT scanner to angiosuite, direct transport from outside hospital to angiosuite. Results: See table. There was no significant difference between the demographics, location of the occlusion, rate of IV tpa, or revascularization rate between the groups with the exception of better ASPECT in pre-intervention group (P=0.034). Compared to pre-intervetion, time delays were improved at virtually every step. Median door-to-puncture (D2P) improved from 105 minutes to 67 minutes post-intervention which was significant (p=0.006). Despite time to perfusion improvement, there was no significant difference in rate of 3 month good outcome which is most likely due to small sample size. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that D2P times can be dramatically lowered with a few simple measures. Larger prospective studies will be necessary to determine whether these interventions will translate into improved clinical outcomes. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Extreme obesity induces massive beta cell expansion in mice through self-renewal and does not alter the beta cell lineage

Aims/hypothesis Understanding the developmental biology of beta cell regeneration is critical for developing new diabetes therapies. Obesity is a potent but poorly understood stimulus for beta cell expansion. Current models of obesity are complicated by developmental compensation or concurrent diabetes, limiting their usefulness for identifying the lineage mechanism(s) of beta cell expansion. We aimed to determine whether acute inducible obesity stimulates beta cell expansion and to determine the lineage mechanism of beta cell growth in obesity.
MRI of Polyethylene Tibial Inserts in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Normal and Abnormal Appearances

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to describe the normal and abnormal MRI appearances of polyethylene tibial inserts. Subjects who underwent MRI before revision total knee arthroplasty were identified. The polyethylene tibial insert's shape was categorized on MRI, and the presence of abnormalities was noted. CONCLUSION. The shape of the polyethylene tibial insert varied with the design. Polyethylene tibial insert abnormalities seen on MRI included displacement and fracture. MRI distinguishes various designs of polyethylene tibial inserts and can show associated abnormalities.
Phenological Events Associated with the Spring Emergence of the Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle in Dubuque, Iowa

Spring emergence of the smaller European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham), was studied in 1964, 1965, and 1966 in Dubuque, Iowa, in relation to other spring phenomena influenced by weather. The time of blooming of common trees and shrubs was observed and beetle emergence was determined by observing both standing elm trees within the city and caged infested elm material. From this, a flowering sequence of 4 plants which bloom prior to S. multistriatus emergence was established. In 1964 and 1966 S. multistriatus emergence began between the time of initial full bloom of the purple lilac, Syringa vulgaris L., and bridal wreath, Spiraea Vanhouttei (Briot) Zab., and in 1965 it coincided with the first day of full bloom of bridal wreath. Emergence of S. multistriatus began 10 days later in 1966 than in 1964, but the sequence of events remained unchanged.
Optical Activity at Interfaces

Polarimetry requires long path-lengths. Here we consider chiro-optical phenomena that arise at an interface and therefore allow the analysis of microfluidic volumes. New effects due to the addition of a magnetic field are also described.
Overview of Legal Issues

Evidence suggests that compliance with guidelines will affect malpractice litigation. One point often overlooked is that guidelines can provide both exculpatory and inculpatory evidence.
Customizing and Sizing the Internet for IoT Devices

The Internet began as something much smaller; in certain ways less user-friendly but far more manageable. As the Internet evolves and the Internet of Things comes into focus, how can researchers and engineers customize diverse and open information to handle the Internet's rapid growth while ensuring a certain level of manageability?
A No-Fault Remedy for Legal Malpractice?

The last forty years have seen a marked rise in legal malpractice lawsuits. Recent numbers show that no abatement is in sight; instead the number of large legal malpractice claims is steadily increasing. Although lawyers have a personal interest in limiting liability, they also have a professional one in protecting clients from harm arising due to malpractice. But how can the legal profession curtail and manage malpractice liability while also providing relief to injured clients? Applying existing tort scholarship on no-fault alternative systems to professional legal services, this Article argues that no-fault may be a viable option in many common malpractice circumstances, particularly those involving true mistake and inevitability. In particular, I examine the infrastructure already in existence in current state bar systems of “lawyers’ funds for client protection” as a possible nesting ground for a more expansive and innovative alternative to traditional malpractice suits. The paper concludes that while expanded no-fault coverage is a feasible alternative to current practices in certain areas, increased fact-finding is needed to support the political will for reform.
Ship Seakeeping Through the t = 1/4 Critical Frequency

This study demonstrates that a bounded, physically relevant solution does exist at the so-called T = Uω/g = 1/4 resonance in the linear seakeeping problem for a realistic ship with forward speed, U, frequency of encounter 1 ω 1 and gravitational acceleration, g. The solution of the seakeeping problem by a linear, three dimensional, time-domain Rankine panel method, validated through numerical analysis, testing, and comparison to physical experiments, supports this claim. The solution can also be obtained with equal validity through frequencies both above and below the critical frequency.
A physical explanation of how air-assist improves the performance of drop-on-demand ink jets: based upon experimental observations

Drop formation characteristics of a jet with and without air-assist are compared. While the normalized drop breakoff process and drop velocity profiles were similar in both cases, the impact of a lower absolute drop velocity and a larger range of time-to media for the jet without air-assist was enough to lower the maximum addressability of the jet. The dynamic range of the jet remained the same despite removal of the air-assist. An ink jet with the dynamic range of 20 kdps can be achieved without the use of air-assist if the system response is designed to permit such a dynamic range. The important element to control is surface wetting. >
PrivacyCamera: Cooperative Privacy-Aware Photographing with Mobile Phones

Nowadays, mobile phones are usually embedded with powerful cameras. Due to the convenience of carrying mobile phones, an increasing number of people use mobile phones to take photos anytime and anywhere. However, when a user takes a photo of a scenery, a building or a target person, sometimes an unexpected stranger is also included in the photo. Such photos reveal where the stranger has been and thus can breach his privacy. This problem has received little attention in the literature. In this paper, we propose PrivacyCamera, a cooperative system to protect the stranger's privacy in the above scenario. Through cooperation between the photographer and the stranger, the system can automatically blur the stranger's face in the photo upon the stranger's request when the photo is being taken. This paper describes the design, analysis, prototype implementation, and experimental evaluation of the system. Experiments show that PrivacyCamera can effectively protect stranger's privacy in an efficient way.
Metabolic capacity of purified vesicles from Frankia EAN1pec

The actinorhizal bacteria Frankia produce vesicles, specialized cell structures that are the site of nitrogen fixation. Vesicles were isolated and purified from Frankia strain EANlpec grown in culture. The physiological properties of these purified vesicles were characterized with respect to their metabolic capacity and compared to that of the intact mycelium. Our results indicate that the vesicle is unable to generate ATP. When compared on a protein basis, the total adenylate nucleotide pool of intact mycelium was 10-fold higher than total pool obtained with purified vesicles. Purified vesicles exhibit low rates of endogenous respiration, about 5-fold lower than the rates obtained with intact mycelia. The addition of succinate increased vesicle respiration by 1.6-fold, but several other carbon sources had no effect on respiration. Vesicle respiration showed a degree of insensitivity to cyanide. The addition of succinate, a respirable substrate, did not increase the energy charge or ATP level of purified vesicles. In the case of intact mycelium controls, the absence or presence of an energy source directly affected the energy charge and ATP levels. These results combined with those of previous studies indicate that the vesicle is dependent on the ATP supplied from the hyphae to which they are attached.
Advancing energy testing of mobile applications

The rising popularity of mobile apps deployed on battery-constrained devices has motivated the need for effective energy-aware testing techniques. However, currently there is a lack of test generation tools for exercising the energy properties of apps. Automated test generation is not useful without tools that help developers to measure the quality of the tests. Additionally, the collection of tests generated for energy testing could be quite large, as it may involve a test suite that covers all the energy hotspots under different use cases. Thereby, there is a need for techniques to manage the size of test suite, while maintaining its effectiveness in revealing energy defects. Our research plan to advance energy testing for mobile applications include various techniques for energy-aware test generation, energy-aware test-suite adequacy assessment, and energy-aware test-suite minimization.
Obesity: Overview of Medical Treatments and Interventions

Abstract Obesity is a disease, a decision made by the American Medical Association and supported by several medical organizations. Obesity is one of the greatest noncommunicable diseases worldwide. It affects every age, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class. In the United States, 70% of adults and approximately 20% of children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. Obesity is complicated by its associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. In order to effectively treat this disease a comprehensive approach must be taken and should include behavior modification, diet, and exercise; and when appropriate antiobesity medications. The use of these interventions in some combination has the potential to create and sustain clinically meaningful weight loss of 5–10%. This chapter discusses obesity, its prevalence, comorbid conditions, and treatment options; and concludes with implications for the future as we continue to fight this chronic disease globally.
Abstract TP274: Orosomucoid-1 Protein Increases Following Ischemic Stroke in the Brain and Periphery

Background and Purpose: Orosomucoid-1 (ORM-1) is an abundant protein with important roles in inflammation and immunosuppression. We utilized RNA sequencing to measure mRNA levels in human ischemic stroke patients, with confirmation by serum ORM-1 protein measurements. A mouse model of ischemic stroke was then used to examine post-stroke changes in ORM-1 within the brain itself. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that ORM-1 levels increase following ischemic stroke, with sex differences in protein dynamics over time. Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on whole blood from ischemic stroke patients (n=23) and controls (n=12), with Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on serum from ischemic stroke patients (n=28) and controls (n=8), with analysis by T-test. For brain analysis, mice (n=14) were subjected to a 90-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery and sacrificed 6 or 24 hours after stroke. Control mice underwent parallel “sham” surgery without occlusion. Western blotting was used to detect ORM-1 protein levels in whole brain, with analysis by two-way ANOVA. Results: RNA sequencing showed a 2.8-fold increase in human ORM-1 at 24 hours post-stroke (q=.0029), an increase also seen in serum ORM-1 protein levels (p=.011). Western blot analysis of mouse brain revealed that glycosylated (p=0.0003) and naive (p=0.0333) forms of ORM-1 were higher in female mice compared to males 6 hours post-stroke. Interestingly, ORM-1 levels were higher in the brains of stroke mice at 6 hours (p=.0483), while at 24 hours ORM-1 levels in stroke mice were lower than their sham counterparts (p=.0212). In both human and mouse data, no sex differences were seen in ORM-1 levels in the brain or periphery at 24 hours post-stroke. Conclusion: In conclusion, ORM-1 is a sexually dimorphic protein involved in the early (
SC16 student cluster competition challenge: Investigating the reproducibility of results for the ParConnect application

Abstract At SC16, the SCC teams participated in a new application area: the Reproducibility Challenge. In this paper we report on our efforts to reproduce results presented in a paper titled “ A Parallel Connectivity Algorithm for de Bruijn Graphs in Metagenomic Applications ,” which shows that the parallel graph-based algorithm developed scales to over a thousand cores, and runs faster than traditional Breadth First Search algorithms. In general, using the smaller competition test data sets on over 128 processors, we were able to reproduce some, but not all, of the reported results: we were unable to run the D1 data set on 128 cores and 2GB/core memory; our results did show similar timing trends for the different algorithm variations; we were able to observe the trend of communication dominating the computation time; and the AP and AP_LB versions of our runs on smaller datasets only show a small time improvement in our graphs, which is similar but not exactly what was described within the paper. We believe that cluster architecture, required memory, network tuning, and number of processors available impacted our ability to exactly reproduce the results of the paper.
Towards the automatic classification of traceability links

A wide range of text-based artifacts contribute to software projects (e.g., source code, test cases, use cases, project requirements, interaction diagrams, etc.). Traceability Link Recovery (TLR) is the software task in which relevant documents in these various sets are linked to one another, uncovering information about the project that is not available when considering only the documents themselves. This information is helpful for enabling other tasks such as improving test coverage, impact analysis, and ensuring that system or regulatory requirements are met. However, while traceability links are useful, performing TLR manually is time consuming and fraught with error. Previous work has applied Information Retrieval (IR) and other techniques to reduce the human effort involved; however, that effort remains significant. In this research we seek to take the next step in reducing it by using machine learning (ML) classification models to predict whether a candidate link is valid or invalid without human oversight. Preliminary results show that this approach has promise for accurately recommending valid links; however, there are several challenges that still must be addressed in order to achieve a technique with high enough performance to consider it a viable, completely automated solution.
The relationship between L2 students’ writing experiences and their perceived poetry writing ability

This paper looks at how L2 students’ writing experiences relate to the way they think they can write poems and to further investigate if any types of writing experiences contribute to their perceived poetry writing ability. The paper starts by bringing up the value of introducing poetry writing to L2 students. Then, the literature review section highlights the characteristics of L2 poetry and the values of writing poetry in L2 writing classrooms. For the methodology, semi-structured interviews were used to elicit the participants’ understanding of their writing experiences. Additionally, a rating scale was used for the participants to identify their perceived capability of writing poetry. All 18 participants who were from regions that included countries from Eastern Asia, Middle East, or Africa, were L2 students from an M.A. TESOL program located in the USA. Through a hierarchical cluster analysis, the findings categorized these students as having five different types of writing experiences. Through a Pearson correlation test, the researcher also examined if any of the specific writing experiences were found to correspond either positively or negatively with the perceived poetry writing ability. The data suggest that if students recall more grammar and structured writing experiences, they are more inclined to perceive that they have a lower perceived poetry writing ability. Finally, the study seeks to contribute to educators’ understanding about the potential of poetry writing instruction in L2 writing classrooms. It can trigger the exploration for L2 students to find their own personal purposes of writing as multilingual writers.
How to Explain Subject Matter While Teaching All Learners to Think, Read, and Write Critically

Review of the book“Preparation for Critical Instruction: How to Explain Subject Matter While Teaching All Learners to Think, Read, and Write Critically.” By Victor P. Maiorana. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-4758-2541-1
The TWIK2 Potassium Efflux Channel in Macrophages Mediates NLRP3 Inflammasome-Induced Inflammation

Potassium (K+) efflux across the plasma membrane is thought to be an essential mechanism for ATP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, yet the identity of the efflux channel has remained elusive. Here we identified the two-pore domain K+ channel (K2P) TWIK2 as the K+ efflux channel triggering NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Deletion of Kcnk6 (encoding TWIK2) prevented NLRP3 activation in macrophages and suppressed sepsis-induced lung inflammation. Adoptive transfer of Kcnk6-/- macrophages into mouse airways after macrophage depletion also prevented inflammatory lung injury. The K+ efflux channel TWIK2 in macrophages has a fundamental role in activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and consequently mediates inflammation, pointing to TWIK2 as a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapies.