cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carcinoids, GISTs, and Lymphomas of Colon and Rectum

Less common tumors of the colon and rectum include carcinoids, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and gastrointestinal lymphomas. Carcinoids are of neuroectodermal origin and frequently secrete bioactive compounds such as serotonin and histamine. Carcinoids that have metastasized to the liver may cause systemic symptoms referred to the carcinoid syndrome. Treatment of carcinoid tumors is surgical resection; however, the type of resection is dependent on the size and location of the tumor. Adjuvant treatment of carcinoid tumors involves the use of somatostatin analogues. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors occur less frequently in the colon and rectum than in other organs of the intestinal tract, but may be detected during endoscopic evaluation of the colon. Surgical treatment of GISTs also depends on the size and location of the tumor. Adjuvant treatment with imatinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks KIT activation) has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrence. The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of extranodal lymphoma. Treatment typically involves a combination of surgical resection and systemic chemotherapy.
Insulin Action on the (Na+,K+)ATPase

Reduction of serum potassium levels was one of the earliest recognized effects of insulin administration in vivo. (1) There is now substantial evidence to indicate that this hypokalemic effect is due to enhanced K+ uptake into insulin’s target tissues and that intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+ are altered as a result of insulin treatment. Almost all eukaryotic cells maintain high cytoplasmic K+ concentrations and low Na+ concentrations relative to the extracellular fluid. These cationic gradients have a profound influence on cellular volume and osmotic pressure,(2) membrane potential(3) protein synthesis, (4) and the transport of nonelectrolytes.(5) Active transport of Na+ and K+ ions across the plasma membrane is mediated by the Na+ and K+ ion-activated adenosine triphosphatase [(Na+,K+)ATPase or Na+ pump],(6–8) first identified in crab nerve membranes by Skou in 1957.(9) Under physiological conditions, this membrane-bound enzyme couples the influx of two K+ ions and the efflux of three Na+; ions to the hydrolysis of one molecule of ATP.(6–8)
The Stochastic Matching Problem with (Very) Few Queries

Motivated by an application in kidney exchange, we study the following stochastic matching problem: We are given a graph G(V, E) (not necessarily bipartite), where each edge in E is realized with some constant probability p > 0, and the goal is to find a maximum matching in the realized graph. An algorithm in this setting is allowed to make queries to edges in E to determine whether or not they are realized.We design an adaptive algorithm for this problem that, for any graph G, computes a (1−v)-approximate maximum matching in the realized graph Gp with high probability, while making O (log (1/v p)/v p) queries per vertex, where the edges to query are chosen adaptively in O (log (1/v p)/v p) rounds. We further present a non-adaptive algorithm that makes O (log (1/v p)/v p) queries per vertex and computes a (1/2−v)-approximate maximum matching in Gp with high probability.Both our adaptive and non-adaptive algorithms achieve the same approximation factor as the previous best algorithms of Blum et al. (EC 2015) for this problem, while requiring an exponentially smaller number of per-vertex queries (and rounds of adaptive queries for the adaptive algorithm). Our results settle an open problem raised by Blum et al. by achieving only a polynomial dependency on both v and p. Moreover, the approximation guarantee of our algorithms is instance-wise as opposed to only being competitive in expectation as is the case for Blum et al. This is of particular relevance to the key application of stochastic matching in kidney exchange. We obtain our results via two main techniques—namely, matching-covers and vertex sparsification—that may be of independent interest.
Alternatives to Conventional UHMWPE for Hip Arthroplasty

This chapter discusses several alternatives to conventional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for hip arthroplasty. Most of the orthopedic research efforts focus on improving UHMWPE for joint replacements, with the goals of reducing wear and improving implant survival, especially for young active patients. More than 90% of total hip replacements (THR) implanted worldwide since the 1990s have incorporated either a conventional or highly cross-linked UHMWPE insert. In addition to highly cross-linked UHMWPE, other alternative bearing solutions incorporating metal-on-metal (MOM) or ceramic-on-ceramic (COC) articulations have received increased attention in the past 10 years because of their ultralow wear rates in hip simulator studies. The first-generation MOM joint replacements fabricated from CoCr alloy. Second-generation MOM designs were clinically introduced during 1988 by Sulzer Orthopedics that incorporate a CoCr articulating surface, but the acetabular component consisted of a modular shell and an UHMWPE liner embedded with a CoCr insert. On the other hand, COC bearings do not share the same potential biological limitations associated with MOM articulations for hip replacement. Modern COC implants are modular, and the articulating surfaces have been fabricated from high-purity alumina. The acetabular insert may be fabricated entirely from alumina, and fitted to the metal shell with a taper junction.
The End of the Mississippi Experiment With Conjugal Visitation

On February 1, 2014, an end came to what had been termed the “Mississippi Experiment”—Conjugal visitation in the state’s prisons. What had begun as a practice to control inmates and provide them an incentive to work in the early 1900s had fallen victim to changing times and a declining state budget. The authors discuss the history of conjugal visitation in Mississippi as well as possible consequences associated with discontinuing the program. These include increased levels of violence within the prison system, recidivism once prisoners are released, and the breakup of families.
Genetic Complexities of the HLA Region and Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy.

The first human disease associations of the major histocompatibility (MHC) genes were reported over half a century ago, providing important insights into the genetic basis of autoimmunity. Since then, numerous association studies have examined the effect of specific MHC variants, also referred to as
Association of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Biomarkers in Surgical Drain Fluid With Patient Outcomes.

Importance Survival rates for head and neck cancer have been relatively stable for several decades. Individualized prognostic indicators are needed to identify patients at risk for poorer outcomes. Objective To determine whether biomarker levels in surgical drain fluid of patients with head and neck cancer are associated with poor cancer outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and oropharynx who required surgical treatment from April 1, 2011, to February 1, 2016, at a tertiary or academic care center. Twenty patients, including 14 with stage IV disease, had complete specimen collection. Differences in cytokine and MMP levels by disease outcomes were evaluated. Interventions Patients underwent surgical treatment with drain placement as dictated by the standard of care. Drain fluid samples were collected every 8 hours postoperatively until drains were removed because of clinical criteria. Levels of cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were measured using electrochemiluminescent, patterned array, multiplex technology. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary clinical outcome measures were survival outcome and recurrence. The biomarkers measured included the cytokines basic fibroblastic growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor isoform A, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PIGF) and MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9. Other clinical and pathologic cancer characteristics were recorded. Results In this cohort of 20 patients with SCC (15 men and 5 women; mean [SD] age, 63.5 [9.9] years), a significant association with recurrence was found for levels of MMP-1 (relative difference between groups, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.23-6.29), MMP-3 (relative difference between groups, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.14-13.05), and sFlt-1 (relative difference between groups, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.84-7.65). No biomarkers were associated with disease outcome. Vascular endothelial growth factor isoform A was associated with nodal metastasis (relative difference between groups, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.12-3.51), and basic fibroblastic growth factor was associated with lymphovascular invasion (relative difference between groups, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.02-2.97). Conclusions and Relevance In this pilot sample of patients with SCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx, MMP-1, MMP-3, and sFlt-1 levels in wound fluid were associated with poor clinical cancer outcomes in the form of recurrence. This finding is consistent with the literature of tumor microenvironment in saliva, serum, and tumor tissue biomarkers. To our knowledge, this report is the first of such findings in surgical drain fluid, an easily accessible means of cytokine measurement. Measurement of these biomarkers in surgical fluid potentially represents a novel means of assessing cancer prognosis in this population.
Indole carboxylic acid esters of melampomagnolide B are potent anticancer agents against both hematological and solid tumor cells.

Abstract A series of novel, heteroaryl carboxylic acid conjugates of the sesquiterpene melampomagnolide-B (MMB, 3 ) has been evaluated as antitumor agents against an NCI panel of 64 human hematopoetic and solid tumor cell lines. The indole-3-acrylic acid conjugate 7j and the indole-3-carboxylic acid conjugate 7k were found to be the most potent analogs in the series. Compounds 7j and 7k exhibited remarkable growth inhibition, with GI 50 values in the range 0.03–0.30 μM and 0.04–0.28 μM, respectively, against the cell lines in the leukemia sub-panel, and GI 50 values of 0.05–0.40 μM and 0.04–0.61 μM, respectively, against 90% of the solid tumor cell lines in the NCI panel. Compound 7a was particularly effective against the sub-panel of breast cancer cell lines with GI 50 values in the range 7j , 7a and its water soluble analog 7p also exhibited potent anticancer activity against rat 9L-SF gliosarcoma cells in culture. Compound 7j was the most potent compound in the series in the M9-ENL1 AML cell assay with a lethal dose concentration EC 50 value of 720 nM, and exhibited the greatest cytotoxicity against a collection of primary AML stem cell specimens, which included a specimen that was unresponsive to PTL, affording EC 50 values in the range 0.33–1.0 μM in three out of four specimens. The results from this study provide further evidence that analogs of the sesquiterpene MMB can be designed to afford molecules with significantly improved anticancer activity. Thus, both 7j and 7k are considered potential lead molecules in the search for new anticancer agents that can be used as treatments for both hematopoetic and solid tumors.
Trophic redundancy among fishes in an East African nearshore seagrass community inferred from stable-isotope analysis.

Stable-isotope analysis supplemented with stomach contents data from published sources was used to quantify the trophic niches, trophic niche overlaps and potential trophic redundancy for the most commonly caught fish species from an East African nearshore seagrass community. This assessment is an important first step in quantifying food-web structure in a region subject to intense fishing activities. Nearshore food webs were driven by at least two isotopically distinct trophic pathways, algal and seagrass, with a greater proportion of the sampled species feeding within the seagrass food web (57%) compared with the algal food web (33%). There was considerable isotopic niche overlap among species (92% of species overlapped with at least one other species). Narrow isotopic niche widths of most (83%) species sampled, low isotopic similarity (only 23% of species exhibited no differences in δ13C and δ15N) and low predicted trophic redundancy among fishes most commonly caught by fishermen (15%), however, suggest that adjustments to resource management concerning harvesting and gear selectivity may be needed for the persistence of artisanal fishing in northern Tanzania. More detailed trophic studies paired with information on spatio-temporal variation in fish abundance, especially for heavily targeted species, will assist in the development and implementation of management strategies to maintain coastal food-web integrity.
Electromyographic and kinetic comparison of a flexible and steel barbell

Purpose: This research design compares mean peak integrated electromyography (I-EMG) and mean peak ground reaction forces (GRFs) between a standard steel Olympic barbell (SB) and flexible barbell (FB) during the squat (SQ) exercise for human subjects, as well as GRFs for a similar machine-driven lift. Methods: A lifting machine set atop a force plate and lifted either a SB or FB with a total loaded weight of 47.6 kg at a rate of 52 repetitions per minute for a minimum of 12 repetitions. Next, ten NCAA Division I football players familiarized with both bars were randomly assigned the SB and FB loaded at 30% one repetition maximum (1RM) and performed 7-10 repetitions at the same rate as the machine. I-EMG data was collected from surface electrodes placed on the legs and trunk according to the SENIAM protocol where appropriate. Results: Paired t-tests between the SB and FB revealed significant increases (p<0.05) in GRFs for the FB during the machine-driven lift and the SQ exercise. I-EMG was significantly higher for the FB when compared to the SB for the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus abdominis (RA), rectus femoris (RF) and external oblique (EO). Results show increases in some leg and trunk muscle activity and increases in GRFs when using a FB loaded at 30% 1RM for the SQ exercise when compared to a SB. Conclusions: A FB, when used under certain conditions, may illicit increased muscle activity for the SQ exercise for some leg and trunk muscle groups compared to a SB.
Treatment of Theiler’s virus-induced demyelinating disease with teriflunomide

Teriflunomide is an oral therapy approved for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), showing both anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Currently, it is uncertain whether one or both of these properties may explain teriflunomide's beneficial effect in MS. Thus, to learn more about its mechanisms of action, we evaluated the effect of teriflunomide in the Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) model, which is both a viral infection and an excellent model of the progressive disability of MS. We assessed the effects of the treatment on central nervous system (CNS) viral load, intrathecal immune response, and progressive neurological disability in mice intracranially infected with TMEV. In the TMEV-IDD model, we showed that teriflunomide has both anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, but there seemed to be no impact on disability progression and intrathecal antibody production. Notably, benefits in TMEV-IDD were mostly mediated by effects on various cytokines produced in the CNS. Perhaps the most interesting result of the study has been teriflunomide's antiviral activity in the CNS, indicating it may have a role as an antiviral prophylactic and therapeutic compound for CNS viral infections.
Effects of Cadmium Exposure on DNA Methylation at Imprinting Control Regions and Genome-Wide in Mothers and Newborn Children

Background: Imprinted genes are defined by their preferential expression from one of the two parental alleles. This unique mode of gene expression is dependent on allele-specific DNA methylation pr...
Predictors of discordance in self-report versus device-measured physical activity measurement

Abstract Purpose Accurate measurement of free-living physical activity is challenging in population-based research, whether using device-based or reported methods. Our purpose was to identify demographic predictors of discordance between physical activity assessment methods and to determine how these predictors modify the discordance between device-based and reported physical activity measurement methods. Methods Three hundred forty-seven adults from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin wore the ActiGraph accelerometer for 7 days and completed the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to assess predictors of discordance including gender, education, body mass index, marital status, and other individual level characteristics in physical activity reporting. Results Seventy-seven percent of men and 72% of women self-reported meeting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for aerobic activity but when measured by accelerometer, only 21% of men and 17% of women met guidelines. Demographic characteristics that predicted discordance between methods in multivariate regression included greater educational attainment (P Conclusions These varying levels of discordance imply that comparisons of self-reported activity among groups defined by (or substantially varying by) educational attainment or marital status should be done with considerable caution as observed differences may be due, in part, to systematic, differential measurement biases among groups.
Are Granulocyte Transfusions Helpful in Treating and Preventing Infections

“Can granulocyte transfusions (GTX) treatand prevent infections?” Clearly, the answer is “yes”! Should all patients, then, with severe neutropenia (< 500 neutrophils/ μl blood) reeeive therapeutic GTX to treat bacterial infections — or if free of infections, reeeive prophylactic GTX to prevent infections? Most emphatically, the answer is “no”! In this report, the literature will be reviewed as it pertains to the use of therapeutic and prophylactic GTX as supportive care for severely neutropenic patients. Conclusions of the review are: 1. Therapeutic GTX definitely should be used to treat episodes of gram-negative septicemia that have failed to respond to optimal, combination antibiotics. 2. Therapeutic GTX probably shoulde be used to treat documented bacterial or fungal infections of other types under similar circumstances. 3. Prophylactic GTX should not be used except in investigational settings. However, renewed considerations might be given to conducting studies of prophylactic GTX in certain clinical settings.
Studies of Nonequilibrium Dynamics in The Time Domain

With but one exception, the material to be covered in this lecture concerns the excitation, and subsequent dynamics in the time domain, of nonequilibrium phonons in solids. This being the case, one needs to be aware of the natural time-scale associated with phonon dynamics; namely, the “lifetime” over which the excitation exists. It is now known that the lifetime of optical phonons in a simple solid is of the order of picoseconds, whereas those of acoustic phonons varies strongly with phonon frequency (υ) and phonon branch. Typically, the lifetimes (τ) of 1 THz longitudinal acoustic (LA) phonons is of the order of microseconds and varies with the inverse fifth power of the frequency (see e.g., Baumgartner et al., 1981), such that τ(υ) 1054 υ-5. On the other hand, in the absence of any impurity scattering it has been postulated that transverse acoustic (TA) phonons in the dispersive regime may have lifetimes of the order of seconds (Orbach and Vredevoe, 1964). I consider here only those cases in which even TA phonons possess lifetimes ≤ 10-6 s; hence to a regime 10-12 < τ < 10-6 which may be called the short to ultrashort time domain. I will further restrict myself to the transport of so-called high frequency phonons, i.e., υ ≥ 200 GHz.
Failure Statistics of Unidirectional Long-Fiber Composites

Weibull’s theory of strength variability and size-strength relationships was formulated for a material in which the flaws are assumed preexisting and invariant to the applied loads. Failure occurs when one of these flaws is stressed beyond its capacity. In a typical uniaxially reinforced composite the increasing applied stress creates the cracks and causes them to grow. When one reaches critical size (a size which depends on the stress level) fracture of the specimen occurs. An approximate theory describing this behavior bears a simple and rather interesting relationship to Weibull theory.
Abstract 4230: Influence of sociodemographic factors on treatment decisions in lung cancer

Background: In stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), survival has significantly improved with the use of novel therapies and better supportive care. Despite such trends, it has been noted that patients (pts) frequently refuse cancer treatment. Therefore, we explored the factors associated with treatment refusal in pts with stage IV NSCLC. Methods: Utilizing the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified all incident cases with stage IV NSCLC from 2004 to 2014. Patients who received cancer treatment outside of the reporting facility or died before receiving treatment were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations with treatment refusal. Results: A total of 341,993 pts were identified. On average, 5.4% of pts refused radiation therapy and 10.3% refused chemotherapy despite provider recommendations. The proportion of pts refusing radiation and chemotherapy increased over the study period from 4.2% to 7.3% and 7.9% to 15%, respectively (p 2 Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.85-2.10, p Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors rather than race/ethnicity appear to influence refusal of cancer treatment in pts with stage IV NSCLC in the NCDB. Assessing socioeconomic challenges should be an essential part of patients9 evaluation when discussing treatment options. Citation Format: Narjust Duma, Urshila Durani, Ryan Frank, Jonas Paludo, Gustavo Westin, Yanyan Lou, Leventakos Konstantinos, Julian Molina, Ronald Go, Aaron Mansfield, Sikander Ailawadhi, Alex Adjei. Influence of sociodemographic factors on treatment decisions in lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4230.
Arterial spasm as a finding intimately associated with the onset of vascular headache. A case report.

A patient with migraine headaches of the “cluster” variant type is presented in whom vasospasm of the middle cerebral artery, the anterior cerebral artery and the internal carotid artery triggered a pain episode identical in character and severity to the headaches which had led to her investigation. Vasospasm associated with the painful phase of headache in this case conflicts with the more accepted theory that the pain phase of a vascular headache is related to vasodilatation of cerebral or extracerebral vessels. The literature is reviewed.
The Internet, Social Media and Smartphones

This chapter analyzes fears about the Internet, social media and smart phones. In the mid-1990s, as families began using the Internet and acquired their first email addresses, the greatest fear among parents about the Internet concerned pornography, often called “cyberporn.” In the new millennium, this fear gradually shifted to a panic over predators who might use chat rooms or new social media such as MySpace to lure young people to meet for sexual encounters. Those fears were then replaced with anxiety over cyberbullying, as several teen and pre-teen suicides were widely publicized. Today’s “moral panic” over social media and smartphones has shifted to discussions about smartphone addiction and depression, both of which are now regularly discussed on television and in books and periodicals.
Oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and father support interact to predict depressive symptoms postpartum.

Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating mental illness affecting approximately 13% of mothers after birth. Both genetic and psychosocial factors contribute to PPD risk, but very little is known about how these factors interact. We tested whether the rs53576 polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene accounts for variation in the impact of low social support as a risk factor for depression among mothers during the perinatal period. New mothers (N = 220) provided saliva or blood DNA samples and completed surveys assessing PPD symptoms and perceived social support. In a significant interaction, social support from the baby’s father predicted PPD symptoms to a greater extent among mothers with the GG compared to AG and AA genotypes. These results add to converging evidence that variation in OXTR rs53576 moderates the impact of the social environment on PPD.
Placental Microbiome and Its Association With Preterm Labor: Systematic Literature Review

Preterm labor is the presence of contractions of sufficient strength and frequency to effect progressive effacement and dilatation of the cervix less than thirty-seven weeks into gestation.
Neurological Differences and Pharmaceuticals in Persons with Autism

Given the rise of persons diagnosed with autism, this paper is to highlight psychopharmacueticals that are often used in the treatment of autism symptomology. I begin with a brief summary of autism followed by a summation of biological differences. A discussion of pharmaceuticals often used to alleviate the symptoms associated with autism is also discussed. Lastly, a brief conclusory statement is provided.
A Case of Optic Neuritis Secondary to Lyme Disease.

Introduction Optic neuritis is a condition associated with various systemic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and is also considered a rare complication of Lyme disease. Case A 46-year-old white woman presented with sudden onset of bilateral vision loss. After extensive workup, she was diagnosed with Lyme optic neuritis based on the clinical presentation and positive serology. She was treated with doxycycline for 2 weeks. Discussion Lyme disease is caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The most commonly affected areas include the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. Lyme optic neuritis is a challenging diagnosis and therefore often underreported. Doxycycline or ceftriaxone for 2 weeks are recommended for treatment. Conclusion We report this case to increase awareness among clinicians to include Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis of optic neuritis for unexplained cases of vision loss, particularly in Lyme endemic areas.
Portable Bluetooth Microsystem for Electrochemically Modulated Nitric Oxide-Releasing Catheters

In this paper, an emerging technology for preventing thrombosis and bacterial infections associated with medical implants is presented. A prototype of a battery-powered microsystem facilitating the release of nitric oxide (NO) from intravenous catheters is demonstrated. Results of an animal study showing the efficacy of the antimicrobial/thromboresistant catheters are presented. The next generation microsystem with a wireless interface is also introduced.
Tract-defined regional white matter hyperintensities and memory

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common radiological findings among older adults and strong predictors of age-related cognitive decline. Recent work has implicated WMH in the pathogenesis and symptom presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized clinically primarily by a deficit in memory. The severity of WMH volume is typically quantified globally or by lobe, whereas white matter itself is organized by tracts and fiber classes. We derived WMH volumes within white matter tract classes, including association, projection, and commissural tracts, in 519 older adults and tested whether WMH volume within specific fiber classes is related to memory performance. We found that increased association and projection tract defined WMH volumes were related to worse memory function but not to a global cognition summary score that excluded memory. We conclude that macrostructural damage to association and projection tracts, manifesting as WMH, may result in memory decline among older adults.
The Gravity of Levity: Humour as Conceptual Critique

Parmi les nombreuses antinomies qui traversent les ecrits issus de l’art conceptuel et les textes analytiques qui en traitent, l’une des plus importantes, et pourtant des moins explorees, est celle qui oppose les differentes conceptions de l’humour. Ces conceptions proviennent d’approches de l’humour que l’on pourrait qualifier soit de subversive et destabilisante, soit d’analytique et contraignante. Bien que ces categories ne s’excluent pas esthetiquement et philosophiquement l’une l’autre, elles ont pourtant ete mises en opposition de facon systematique. Cet article examine l’histoire de cette tension afin de souligner son importance pour la comprehension de ce qu’a ete l’art conceptuel. Il accorde, entre autres, une large place au debat entre l’interpretation doctrinaire de Joseph Kosuth et l’interpretation subversive de John Baldessari de l’humour duchampien. L’humour devient des lors un catalyseur privilegie permettant d’interroger les finalites esthetiques et philosophiques de l’art conceptuel. Finalement, ce texte, a l’aide des concepts de legerete (levity) et de pesanteur (gravity), fait la cartographie de la breche qui passe entre un humour debride et un humour hermetique.
Opioids and Spinal Cord Stimulators: Pre- and Postoperative Opioid Use Patterns and Predictors of Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare trends and differences in preoperative and prolonged postoperative opioid use following spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation and to determine factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioid use. METHODS A database of private-payer insurance records was queried to identify patients who underwent a primary paddle lead SCS placement via a laminectomy (CPT-C3655) from 2008-2015. Our resulting cohort was stratified into those with prolonged postoperative opioid use, opioid use between 3- and 6-month postoperation, and those without. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the effect preoperative opioid use and other factors of interest had on prolonged postoperative opioid use. Subgroup analysis was performed on preoperative opioid users to further quantify the effect of differing magnitudes of preoperative opioid use. RESULTS A total of 2,374 patients who underwent SCS placement were identified. Of all patients, 1,890 patients (79.6%) were identified as having prolonged narcotic use. Annual rates of preoperative (p = 0.023) and prolonged postoperative narcotic use (p < 0.001) decreased over the study period. Significant independent predictors of prolonged postoperative opioid use were age < 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; p = 0.004), male sex (OR, 1.33; p = 0.037), preoperative anxiolytic (OR, 1.55; p = 0.004) and muscle relaxant (OR, 1.42; p = 0.033), and narcotic use (OR, 15.04; p < 0.001). Increased number of preoperative narcotic prescriptions correlated with increased odds of prolonged postoperative use. CONCLUSION Patients with greater number of preoperative opioid prescriptions may not attain the same benefit from SCSs as patients with less opioid use. The most significant predictor of prolonged narcotic use was preoperative opioid use.
Research on Power Modulation Strategy for MMC-HVDC and LCC-HVDC in Parallel HVDC System

Due to the difference between MMC-HVDC and LCC-HVDC control characteristics and the mutual influence of parallel connection, its power modulation strategy is different from that of LCC-HVDC. Coordinated control strategy of parallel system of MMC-HVDC and LCC-HVDC is analyzed. The methods of power distribution, rate distribution and reactive power control of power limit function are described. Combined with RTDS simulation research of modulation function of Luxi back-to-back HVDC system, the control characteristics of power limitation function of the parallel system under the condition of AC fault at the rectifier side are analyzed in view of the exposed defects. The coordination method of the power limit function, the high voltage crossing control function and the rate distribution optimization is proposed. The simulation results show that the optimized parallel system can perform the power limiting function according to the correct timing and rate.
Impact of STK11 and KRAS co-mutations on outcomes with immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

e15135Background: While the use of monoclonal antibodies targeting the PD-1 axis in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to expand since initial FDA approval in 2015, factors pre...
Associations of Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery with Long‐Term Weight Trajectories and Birth Weight: LABS‐2 Study

Objective This study aimed to examine whether pregnancy following bariatric surgery affects long-term maternal weight change and offspring birth weight. Methods Using data from the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS)-2 study, linear regression was used to evaluate percent change in total body weight over a 5-year follow-up period among reproductive-aged women who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding as well as evaluate the association of bariatric procedure type and offspring birth weight. Results Of 727 women with preoperative age of 36.1 (6.3) years (mean [SD]) and BMI of 46.9 (7.0) kg/m2 , 80 (11%) reported at least one pregnancy. After adjusting for covariates, percent change in total body weight was not significantly different between women who became pregnant and those who did not during a 5-year follow-up period (β = 2.02; 95% CI: -1.03 to 5.07; P = 0.19). Additionally, mean birth weight was not significantly different between mothers who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (P = 0.99). Conclusions Postoperative pregnancy did not diminish long-term weight loss in women in the LABS-2 study. The finding of comparable weight loss is relevant for providers counseling women of reproductive age on weight-loss expectations and family planning following bariatric surgery.
Cannabidiolic acid exhibits entourage-like improvements of anticonvulsant activity in an acute rat model of seizures.

Abstract Objectives Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) is pharmacologically unique from cannabidiol (CBD), but its chemical instability poses challenges for potential clinical utility. Here, we used magnesium ions to stabilize two cannabidiolic acid-enriched hemp extracts (Mg-CBDa and Chylobinoid, the latter of which also contains minor cannabinoid constituents) and compared their anticonvulsant activities with CBD in the maximal electroshock seizure test (MES) in rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of Chylobinoid, Mg-CBDa, or CBD at varying doses at discrete time points. Rats were challenged with a 0.2 s, 60 Hz, 150 mA corneal stimulation and evaluated for resultant hindlimb tonic extension. Dose-response relationships were calculated using Probit analysis and statistical significance was assessed with a two-sample z-test. Results Median effective doses (ED50) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each compound and adjusted according to percentage of CBDa (w/w): Chylobinoid: 76.7 (51.7 - 109.2) mg/kg. Mg-CBDa: 115.4 (98.8 - 140.9) mg/kg. CBD: 68.8 (56.6 - 80.0) mg/kg. Significance CBDa-enriched hemp extracts exhibited dose-dependent protection in the MES model at doses comparable, but not more effective than, CBD. Chylobinoid was more effective than Mg-CBDa despite lower CBDa content. Test compounds should be compared by sub-chronic dosing in the MES test in order to assess safety and pharmacokinetic profiles. CBDa should be evaluated in pharmacoresistant and chronic animal models of epilepsy.
The Clinical Impact of Cirrhosis on the Hospital Outcomes of Patients Admitted With Influenza Infection: Propensity Score Matched Analysis of 2011-2017 US Hospital Data.

Background/Objectives Patients with cirrhosis have liver-related immune dysfunction that potentially predisposes the patients to increased influenza infection risk. Our study evaluates this cross-sectional relationship using a national registry of hospital patients. Methods This study included the 2011–2017 National Inpatient Sample database. From this, respiratory influenza cases were isolated and stratified using the presence of cirrhosis into a cirrhosis-present study cohort and cirrhosis-absent controls; propensity score matching method was used to match the controls to the study cohort (cirrhosis-present) using a 1:1 matching ratio. The endpoints included mortality, length of stay, hospitalization costs, and influenza-related complications. Results Following the match, there were 2,040 with cirrhosis and matched 2,040 without cirrhosis admitted with respiratory influenza infection. Compared to the controls, cirrhosis patients had higher in-hospital mortality (7.79 vs 3.43% p Conclusion This study shows the presence of cirrhosis to result in higher hospital mortality and postinfluenza complications in patients with influenza infection.
Experimental Evolution of West Nile Virus at Higher Temperatures Facilitates Broad Adaptation and Increased Genetic Diversity.

West Nile virus (WNV, Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus introduced to North America in 1999. Since 1999, the Earth’s average temperature has increased by 0.6 °C. Mosquitoes are ectothermic organisms, reliant on environmental heat sources. Temperature impacts vector–virus interactions which directly influence arbovirus transmission. RNA viral replication is highly error-prone and increasing temperature could further increase replication rates, mutation frequencies, and evolutionary rates. The impact of temperature on arbovirus evolutionary trajectories and fitness landscapes has yet to be sufficiently studied. To investigate how temperature impacts the rate and extent of WNV evolution in mosquito cells, WNV was experimentally passaged 12 times in Culex tarsalis cells, at 25 °C and 30 °C. Full-genome deep sequencing was used to compare genetic signatures during passage, and replicative fitness was evaluated before and after passage at each temperature. Our results suggest adaptive potential at both temperatures, with unique temperature-dependent and lineage-specific genetic signatures. Further, higher temperature passage was associated with significantly increased replicative fitness at both temperatures and increases in nonsynonymous mutations. Together, these data indicate that if similar selective pressures exist in natural systems, increases in temperature could accelerate emergence of high-fitness strains with greater phenotypic plasticity.
Rare Events via Cross-Entropy Population Monte Carlo

We present a Cross-Entropy based population Monte Carlo algorithm. This methods stands apart from previous work in that we are not optimizing a mixture distribution. Instead, we leverage deterministic mixture weights and optimize the distributions individually through a reinterpretation of the typical derivation of the cross-entropy method. Demonstrations on numerical examples show that the algorithm can outperform existing resampling population Monte Carlo methods, especially for higher-dimensional problems.
Aim and Structure of Scientific Theories

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the aim and structure of scientific theories. A scientific theory must be such that one can accept or reject, and believe or disbelieve; accepting a theory implies the opinion that it is successful; science aims to give acceptable theories. To put it more generally, a theory is an object for epistemic or at least doxastic attitudes. The chapter presents a view of theories that makes language largely irrelevant to the subject. In the received view, a theory is conceived of as an axiomatic theory. That means, as a set of sentences, defined as the class of logical consequences of a smaller set, the axioms of that theory. The chapter discusses Giere's elegant capsule formulation of the semantic view. The chapter discusses the theoretical definition and the theoretical hypotheses, which together constitute the formulation of the theory.
Calculation of Self-Interest and Constitutional Consensus: The Role of Ideology

Constitutional political economy's veil of uncertainty prevents citizens from identifying their specific interests under political rules and facilitates agreement on rules by moving all individuals to an “average” position. But the calculation of self-interest in such settings is not straight-forward; citizens require a model of how the economy works to predict the effect of rules on welfare. Political ideologies typically supply such models. Citizens subscribing to different ideological models anticipate differential treatment under a given constitutional rule, breaking down the ability of the veil of uncertainty to achieve consensus. Constitutional consensus is unlikely in the absence of ideological consensus.
A Two-Component Signal Transduction System Essential for Growth of Bacillus subtilis: Implications for Anti-Infective Therapy

A two-component signal transduction system encoded by the yycF and yycG genes is part of an operon containing three genes, yycH, yycI, and yycJ, with no known function and a gene, yycK, coding for an HtrA-like protease. This operon was transcribed during growth, and its transcription shut down as the cells approached stationary phase. This decreased transcription was not Spo0A dependent. The HtrA protease gene was separately controlled during sporulation from a sigmaG promoter. Studies using insertional inactivation plasmids revealed that neither yycF nor yycG could be inactivated, whereas the other genes were inactivated without loss of viability. A temperature-sensitive YycF response regulator mutant was isolated and shown to have an H215P mutation in a putative DNA-binding domain which is closely related to the OmpR family of response regulators. At the nonpermissive temperature, cultures of the mutant strain stopped growth within 30 min, and this was followed by a decrease in optical density. Microscopically, many of the cells appeared to retain their structure while being empty of their contents. The essential processes regulated by this two-component system remain unknown. A search of the genome databases revealed YycF, YycG, and YycJ homologues encoded by three linked genes in Streptococcus pyogenes. The high level of identity of these proteins (71% for YycF) suggests that this system may play a similar role in gram-positive pathogens.
The economics of pain. Mental health care costs among minorities.

Pedro Ruiz, MD, Karen Venegas-Samuels, MD, and Renato D. Alarcon, MD, MPH The provision of high-quality health and mental health services to the ethnic minority populations of the United States is a great concern for the helping professions. Access of ethnic minorities to the mental health care system is limited by issues such as costs and insurance coverage; patterns of service use; and sociocultural factors such as level of acculturation, relationship between poverty and psychiatric illnesses, and social class of origin. Both the health care industry as well as federal and state governments face these challenges with perspectives that only a sound public policy can make more workable and adequate to contemporary times. The role of service providers, the kinds of professional services delivery, diagnostic practices, interactions between primary care physicians and psychiatrists, the care of the chronically mentally ill individual, Medicaid and Medicare coverage, and overcoming cultural and language barriers are some of the many parameters to be confronted when alleviating the economic and human costs of mental health care to minorities.
Witten’s top Chern class on the moduli space of higher spin curves

This paper is a sequel to [9]. Its goal is to verify that the virtual top Chern class c 1/r in the Chow group of the moduli space of higher spin curves \(\overline M _{{g,n}}^{{1/r}} \) constructed in [9], satisfies all the axioms of spin virtual class formulated in [5]. Hence, according to [5], it gives rise to a cohomological field theory in the sense of Kontsevich-Manin [7]. As was observed in [9], the only non-trivial axioms that have to be checked for the class c 1/r are two axioms that we call Vanishing axiom and Ramond factorization axiom. The first of them requires c 1/r to vanish on all the components of the moduli space \(\overline M _{{g,n}}^{{1/r}} \) where one of the markings is equal to r - 1. The second demands vanishing of the push-forward of c 1/r restricted to the components of the moduli space corresponding to the so called Ramond sector, under some natural finite maps.
Rudeness and rapport: insults and learning gains in peer tutoring

For 20 years, researchers have envisioned artificially intelligent learning companions that evolve with their students as they grow and learn. However, while communication theory suggests that positivity decreases over time in relationships, most tutoring systems designed to build rapport with a student remain adamantly polite, and may therefore inadvertently distance the learner from the agent over time. We present an analysis of high school friends interacting in a peer tutoring environment as a step towards designing agents that sustain long-term pedagogical relationships with learners. We find that tutees and tutors use different language behaviors: tutees express more playfulness and face-threat, while tutors attend more to the task. This face-threat by the tutee is associated with increased learning gains for their tutor. Additionally, a small sample of partners who were strangers learned less than friends, and in these dyads increased face-threat was negatively correlated with learning. Our findings support the idea that learning companions should gradually move towards playful face-threat as they build relationships with their students.
Is cumulus convection the concertmaster of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic

[1] The influence of the cloud representation in global climate models on the accuracy of the North Atlantic tropical cyclone simulations is investigated. The North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity is simulated with a standard climate model, CCSM. The conventional parameterization of cloud processes in CCSM is replaced by the “super-parameterization” and the simulation is run again. The comparison of tropical cyclone statistics reveals that the model with explicit representation of cloud processes produces a larger number of events, with stronger intensity and longer life-cycle. The results show that clouds have a significant impact on the mechanisms associated with tropical cyclone activity such as surface temperature and ocean subsurface processes, vertical wind shear, and the transport of moisture in the lower troposphere.
Stabilization of Hydrate Structure H by N2 and CH4 Molecules in 435663 and 512 Cavities, and Fused Structure Formation with 51268 Cage: A Theoretical Study

At the MP2/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level calculation, a dodecahedral water cluster (512, 20-mer) in hydrate structure H (sH) is more stable than an irregular dodecahedral cluster (435663, 20-mer) by about 3.0 kcal/mol. However, in the presence of CH4 and N2 molecules in cavity, the irregular dodecahedron becomes significantly more stable than a dodecahedral cluster. Even though a large 51268 water cluster (36-mer) in sH is less stable (stabilization energy per H2O) than a tetrakaidecahedral (51262, 24-mer, hydrate I) or a hexakaidecahedral (51264, 28-mer, hydrate II) cluster, significant stabilization in sH is achieved by fused structure formation involving 51268 clusters. While maximum stabilization is achieved by a pentagonal ring sharing between 51268 and 512 cages, no stabilization is achieved by a pentagonal ring sharing between two 435663 cages. Possible mechanism of hydrate formation has also been discussed.