cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INFRARED AND RAMAN VIBRATIONAL OPTICAL ACTIVITY: Theoretical and Experimental Aspects

▪ Abstract Advances in the field of vibrational optical activity (VOA) are reviewed over the past decade. Topics are surveyed with an emphasis on the theoretical and instrumental progress in both vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and Raman optical activity (ROA). Applications of VOA to stereochemical and biological problems are reviewed, with a bias toward new kinds of experiments made possible by theoretical and instrumental advances. In the field of VCD, the most notable advances have taken place in the quality and size of ab initio calculations of VOA intensities and in the quality of step-scan Fourier transform instrumentation. For ROA, the most dramatic progress has occurred in the areas of theoretical formulation and high-throughput instrumentation. Applications of VOA now include all major classes of biological and pharmaceutical molecules. VOA's importance as a diagnostic tool will likely grow as the control of molecular chirality increases in research and industrial areas.
Tacrolimus ointment: the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory cutaneous disease

Topical tacrolimus (FK506, Protopic) has been developed and marketed for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Tacrolimus works as an inhibitor of calcineurin, which creates a downregulation of the inflammatory cascade. Numerous trials have shown the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in treating AD in both adults and children. Additionally, comparison data with other medications commonly used for AD, such as topical steroids and pimecrolimus, show improved efficacy of tacrolimus. A comprehensive review of the off-label uses of tacrolimus in other dermatoses, including psoriasis, lichen planus and seborrhoeic dermatitis, is provided. The efficacy of tacrolimus in treating these diseases is based on Phase IV clinical trials and on case reports or series in the literature. Overall, tacrolimus has proven to be a safe and useful topical therapy for many inflammatory dermatological conditions, with AD being the principal indication.
Visual search: Efficiency continuum or distinct processes?

Whether visual search involves two distinct processes—traditionally referred to as serial and parallel— or a single process operating on a continuum of efficiency or speed, is an issue with a long history in the study of attention. On the basis of the unimodality of search slope distributions in a very large data set, Wolfe (1998) argued for a continuum model. Reanalysis of this data set using statistical procedures more appropriate for adjudicating between continuous and discontinuous models supports the existence of two distinct processes.
The restriction of the heart morphogenetic field in Xenopus laevis.

We have examined the spatial restriction of heart-forming potency in Xenopus laevis embryos, using an assay system in which explants or explant recombinates are cultured in hanging drops and scored for the formation of a beating heart. At the end of neurulation at stage 20, the heart morphogenetic field, i.e., the area that is capable of heart formation when cultured in isolation, includes anterior ventral and ventrolateral mesoderm. This area of developmental potency does not extend into more posterior regions. Between postneurula stage 23 and the onset of heart morphogenesis at stage 28, the heart morphogenetic field becomes spatially restricted to the anterior ventral region. The restriction of the heart morphogenetic field during postneurula stages results from a loss of developmental potency in the lateral mesoderm, rather than from ventrally directed morphogenetic movements of the lateral mesoderm. This loss of potency is not due to the inhibition of heart formation by migrating neural crest cells. During postneurula stages, tissue interactions between the lateral mesoderm and the underlying anterior endoderm support the heart-forming potency in the lateral mesoderm. The lateral mesoderm loses the ability to respond to this tissue interaction by stages 27–28. We speculate that either formation of the third pharyngeal pouch during stages 23–27 or lateral inhibition by ventral mesoderm may contribute to the spatial restriction of the heart morphogenetic field.
Taylor–Proudman columns in non-hydrostatic divergent baroclinic and barotropic flows

The Taylor–Proudman theorem states that the velocity of slow, steady flow in a rotating incompressible fluid does not change along the direction of the rotation axis. This fundamental result has been invoked to explain blocking phenomena observed over topographic features in oceanic and atmospheric flows on Earth and atmospheric patterns observed in giant gas planets even in cases where the assumption of incompressibility fails. The possible existence of Taylor–Proudman columns is analyzed here for a less restrictive family of non-hydrostatic divergent density-stratified flows, including situations where the stratification gradient and rotation axis are not parallel. The results show that Taylor–Proudman-like constraints are possible in baroclinic inviscid and viscous nonlinear flows of constant vorticity, Beltrami flows and low-Rossby-number flows. It is found that (1) the baroclinic term is moderated by a factor of the order of the Rossby number, (2) a conservation law can be found for baroclinic flows and (3) Taylor–Proudman columns will be eroded in viscous flows. One particular result stressed in this note is its interpretation in equatorial regions, where the rotation axis is perpendicular to the main stratification gradient, and it is argued that Taylor–Proudman columns could be difficult to discern with observational parameters from convective cells with only zonal and vertical transport. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Three-dimensional, distendable bladder phantom for optical coherence tomography and white light cystoscopy.

Abstract. We describe a combination of fabrication techniques and a general process to construct a three-dimensional (3-D) phantom that mimics the size, macroscale structure, microscale surface topology, subsurfacemicrostructure, optical properties, and functional characteristics of a cancerous bladder. The phantom alsoincludes features that are recognizable in white light (i.e., the visual appearance of blood vessels), making itsuitable to emulate the bladder for emerging white light þoptical coherence tomography (OCT) cystoscopiesand other endoscopic procedures of large, irregularly shaped organs. The fabrication process has broadapplicability and can be generalized to OCT phantoms for other tissue types or phantoms for other imagingmodalities. To this end, we also enumerate the nuances of applying known fabrication techniques (e.g.,spin coating) to contexts (e.g., nonplanar, 3-D shapes) that are essential to establish their generalizabilityand limitations. We anticipate that this phantom will be immediately useful to evaluate innovative OCT systemsand software being developed for longitudinal bladder surveillance and early cancer detection.
The Effect of Ellagic Acid on Coagulation in Vivo

Ellagic acid shortens the silicone and glass clotting times of the blood of dogs, cats, rabbits and rats. The silicone clotting time is reduced so as to make it almost equal to the normal glass clotting time for 5 to 30 minutes after the injection of the agent. There is occasional acceleration of thromboplastin generation in dogs. No other clotting factors were altered significantly in our experiments. There were no obvious toxic effects of ellagic acid, and it appears to decrease bleeding in normal animals.
Nitrate Analysis in Meats; Comparison of Two Methods

A high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) was compared to cadmium reduction-Griess (Cd-Griess). Nitrate and nitrite were measured in fresh and cured meats. Nitrate levels by HPLC ranged from 6.2 to 26.7 nmol/g in fresh meats and from 124 to 3018 nmol/g in cured meats. Nitrate contents by HPLC were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those by Cd-Griess. Small amounts of nitrite (0–7.3 nmol/g) were detected in fresh meat samples by Cd-Griess. Results were similar to those used by the National Academy of Sciences to estimate human exposure to nitrate from fresh meats. Results from HPLC methods may provide more accurate estimates of human exposure to nitrate and nitrite.
Vitamin status of eating disorder patients: relationship to clinical indices and effect of treatment.

Vitamin abnormalities in eating disorder patients may contribute to altered neuropsychological status and the development of sequelae such as cognitive dysfunction. We examined the relationship between vitamin status and clinical indices in 13 low-weight patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa at admission to a treatment program. Vitamin status was evaluated again at discharge (2-6 weeks later) in nine of these patients. Four patients (31%) initially had erythrocyte enzyme activity indices suggesting deficiency for riboflavin and for vitamin B-6. Patients with biochemical evidence for riboflavin deficiency had lower relative body weight than those with normal riboflavin status (p 5.69 mmol/L). Plasma retinol concentrations were within the normal range. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were positively associated with serum albumin (p < .04), cholesterol (p < .0003), and total lipids (p < .0003), and were inversely associated with body mass index (p < .04). At discharge, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6 status indicators were normal in all cases examined. Suboptimal vitamin status is common in eating disorder patients but is normalized with dietary intervention and nutritional rehabilitation.
The dynamics of pain: evidence for simultaneous site-specific habituation and site-nonspecific sensitization in thermal pain.

Repeated exposure to noxious stimuli changes their painfulness, due to multiple adaptive processes in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Somewhat paradoxically, repeated stimula- tion can produce an increase (sensitization) or a decrease (habituation) in pain. Adaptation processes may also be body-site-specific or operate across body sites, and considering this distinction may help explain the conditions under which habituation versus sensitization occurs. To dissociate the effects of site-specific and site-nonspecific adaptation processes, we examined reported pain in 100 partici- pants during counterbalanced sequences of noxious thermal stimulation on multiple skin sites. Anal- ysis of pain ratings revealed 2 opposing sequential effects: repeated stimulations of the same skin site produced temperature-dependent habituation, whereas repeated stimulations across different sites produced sensitization. Stimulation trials were separated by � 20 seconds, and sensitization was unrelated to the distance between successively stimulated sites, suggesting that neither tempo- ral nor spatial summation occurred. To explain these effects, we propose a dynamic model with 2 adaptation processes, one site-specific and the other site-nonspecific. The model explains 93% of the variance in the group-mean pain ratings after controlling for current stimulation temperature, with its estimated parameters showing evidence for habituation for the site-specific process and sensitization for the site-nonspecific process. The 2 pain adaptation processes revealed in this study, and the ability to disentangle them, may hold keys to understanding multiple pain-regulatory mech- anisms and their disturbance in chronic pain syndromes. Perspective: This article presents novel evidence for simultaneous site-specific habituation and site-nonspecific sensitization in thermal pain, which can be disentangled (and the direction and strength of each process estimated) by a dynamic model. The dissociation of site-specific and site-nonspecific adaptation processes may hold keys to understanding multiple pain-regulatory mechanisms in both healthy and patient populations.
Optimization of wind turbine energy and power factor with an evolutionary computation algorithm

An evolutionary computation approach for optimization of power factor and power output of wind turbines is discussed. Data-mining algorithms capture the relationships among the power output, power factor, and controllable and non-controllable variables of a 1.5 MW wind turbine. An evolutionary strategy algorithm solves the data-derived optimization model and determines optimal control settings. Computational experience has demonstrated opportunities to improve the power factor and the power output by optimizing set points of blade pitch angle and generator torque. It is shown that the pitch angle and the generator torque can be controlled to maximize the energy capture from the wind and enhance the quality of the power produced by the wind turbine with a DFIG generator. These improvements are in the presence of reactive power remedies used in modern wind turbines. The concepts proposed in this paper are illustrated with the data collected at an industrial wind farm.
Infusion of Pharmacogenetics Into Cancer Care

Objectives To review pharmacogenetics as it relates to cancer therapy and to describe pharmacogenetic tests that are clinically available and relevant to cancer drug selection or dosing or both. Data Sources Peer-reviewed, evidence-based literature. Conclusions Genetic predispositions and enzyme specific inhibitors and inducers are critical factors in patients’ responses to cancer drugs. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses need to incorporate knowledge about pharmacogenetics when administering cancer drugs and monitoring patients’ responses. Nurses also have an important role in assuring that patients are informed about the purpose and limitations of pharmacogenetic testing.
Efficacy of riparian buffers in mitigating local population declines and the effects of even-aged timber harvest on larval salamanders

Headwater streams are an important and prevalent feature of the eastern North American landscape. These streams provide a wealth of ecosystem services and support tremendous biological diversity, which is predominated by salamanders in the Appalachian region. Salamanders are ubiquitous throughout the region, contributing a significant biomass that supports ecological and ecosystem processes. One of the greatest threats to salamanders is loss of headwater-riparian habitat through timber harvest. In this study, we measured larval salamander abundance at five headwater streams with different riparian buffer widths retained following logging. By sampling larval salamanders using leaf litter bags, we assessed the impacts of even-aged timber harvest on aquatic larval salamander abundances, where it was found that larvae are negatively impacted by increased stream sedimentation and a decrease in riparian buffer width. We found that retention of a 9-m buffer was effectively no different than complete removal of all riparian forest, and as such, current regulations to protect headwater streams are ineffectual. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the 30 m buffer treatment and uncut control treatments suggesting that a 30 m or larger riparian buffer may assuage the in-stream effects of riparian timber harvest. Management guidelines for Appalachian forests should be revised to accommodate the biology of plethodontid salamanders.
Differences between measured pipe wall surface temperatures and internal fluid temperatures

Abstract This report sets forth a case study to clarify the accuracy of a measurement technique commonly used in industry to estimate the temperature of a flowing fluid. That technique utilizes a temperature measurement on the outside surface of the pipe in which the fluid is flowing and assumes that that value is the temperature of the fluid. The goal of the work reported here is to quantify the possible differences between the measured pipe wall temperature and the temperature of the flowing fluid. Numerical simulation was the method employed to determine this information. The end result of this work is a simple algebraic formula that enables the difference between the temperatures of the pipe fluid and at the measurement point to be evaluated. A worked-out example was included to demonstrate how the algebraic formula is to be used.
Vowel Harmony and Subsequentiality

Attested and ‘pathological’ vowel harmony patterns are studied in the context of subclasses of regular functions. The analysis suggests that the computational complexity of phonology can be reduced from regular to weakly deterministic.
The Physics of Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension and Its Connection with Gene Actions

It is plausible hypothesis that what we see in changes of physiology is gene action provoked by physiological activity. We can anticipate a new axiomatic biomechanics to be linked with genomic mechanics. Final clarification of the gene-physiology relationship will not only open up new avenues of practical applications, but also define the limitations to empiricism and imagination.
Circulating cellular adhesion molecules and risk of diabetes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Aims To test the hypothesis that soluble cellular adhesion molecules would be positively and independently associated with risk of diabetes. Methods Soluble levels of six cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1, E-cadherin, L-selectin and P-selectin) were measured in participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a prospective cohort study. Participants were then followed for up to 10 years to ascertain incident diabetes. Results Sample sizes ranged from 826 to 2185. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI and fasting glucose or HbA1c, four cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and E-cadherin) were positively associated with incident diabetes and there was a statistically significant trend across quartiles. Comparing the incidence of diabetes in the highest and lowest quartiles of each cellular adhesion molecule, the magnitude of association was largest for E-selectin (hazard ratio 2.49; 95% CI 1.26–4.93) and ICAM-1 (hazard ratio 1.76; 95% CI 1.22–2.55) in fully adjusted models. Tests of effect modification by racial/ethnic group and sex were not statistically significant for any of the cellular adhesion molecules (P > 0.05). Conclusions The finding of significant associations between multiple cellular adhesion molecules and incident diabetes may lend further support to the hypothesis that microvascular endothelial dysfunction contributes to risk of diabetes.
A general class of semiparametric models for recurrent event data

Abstract We propose a general class of semiparametric models for analyzing recurrent event data that takes into account the change in age of a unit due to interventions; allows for the possibility of the unit receiving a life supplement after being repaired; and provides a mechanism for researchers to incorporate time-dependent covariates. The class of models includes as special cases many other models that have been proposed for analyzing recurrent event data. Models belonging to the class can be easily generalized and new models can be created to accommodate a variety of practical considerations. A partial maximum likelihood estimator of the regression parameter and a Nelson–Aalen type estimator of the baseline cumulative intensity are given. Asymptotic properties of the estimators are established and the finite sample properties are investigated via a simulation study. The statistical analysis of a real data set is used to illustrate the class of models.
Exploiting the coupling between a Rydberg atom and a surface phonon polariton for single-photon subtraction

We investigate a hybrid quantum system that consists of a superatom coupled to a surface phonon-polariton. We apply this hybrid quantum system to subtract individual photons from a beam of light. A Rydberg atom blockade is used to attain absorption of a single photon by an atomic microtrap. Surface phonon-polariton coupling to the superatom then triggers the transfer of the excitation to a storage state, a single Rydberg atom. The approach utilizes the interaction between a superatom and a Markovian bath that acts as a controlled decoherence mechanism to irreversibly project the superatom state into a single Rydberg atom state that can be read out.
Hemingway's Tragic Heroes

The article analyses the tragic destiny of failure and death of Hemingway’s heroes, reveals the modernists’ deep tragic psychology toward future and human beings’ endless fighting spirit.
Influence of testicular carcinoma on ipsilateral spermatogenesis.

AbstractA histological review of radical orchiectomy specimens was performed to assess the impact of testicular cancer on spermatogenesis. Slides from 28 patients with testicular cancer were available for review, consisting of 14 pure seminomas, 12 embryonal carcinomas and 2 mixed tumors. For each specimen tubules adjacent (less than 3mm.) to the tumor and distant (more than 3mm.) from the tumor were evaluated. This study indicates that marked impairment of ipsilateral spermatogenesis is associated with testicular carcinoma, particularly in the vicinity of the tumor. The quality of distant spermatogenesis appears to be influenced by tumor type and not by elevation of known serum tumor markers, such as human chorionic gonadotropin and α-fetoprotein, nor by the presence of carcinoma in situ.
The Red Eye: Infectious Conjunctivitis, Keratitis, Endophthalmitis, and Periocular Cellulitis

Patients presenting with a red eye may have a minor, self-limited inflammation of the ocular surface or a vision-threatening infection such as endophthalmitis or orbital cellulitis. Careful evaluation of distinctive clinical signs is necessary to determine the level of ocular involvement. A knowledge of the common microorganisms causing various eye infections (Table 6) can provide the basis to guide appropriate laboratory investigation and initial therapy. Detailed reference textbooks on ocular infection should be available, and ophthalmologic consultation should be considered in these cases to assist in diagnostic investigations and to monitor potential ocular complications.
Towards a GPU accelerated spatial computing framework

Ease of availability of spatial data has increased the interest in the domain of spatial computing. Various services such as Uber, Google maps, and Blue Brain Project have been developed that consume and process such spatial data. Spatial data processing is not only data intensive but also compute intensive. A lot of efforts have been made by the spatial computing community to tackle the problems due to huge volumes of data. However, unfortunately, not enough attention has been given to address the compute intensive nature of the problem. In parallel to the advancements in spatial domain, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have emerged as compelling computing units. A lot of work has been done in spatial domain to leverage the computing power of GPUs. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the work present a holistic system. In this paper, we propose a vision for a GPU accelerated end-to-end system for performing spatial computations. Our envisioned system supports a plethora of spatial operations ranging from basic operations, computational geometry operations to Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) compliant operations. Our system exploits the power of CPU-GPU co-processing by scheduling the execution of spatial operators either on CPU or GPU based on a cost model. Within the framework of our system we discuss the challenges and open research problems in building such a system. We also provide some preliminary results to show the computational gain achieved by performing spatial operations on GPUs.
Linking Maternal Socialization of Emotion Regulation to Adolescents’ Co-rumination With Peers:

Mounting research supports that co-rumination, the tendency to seek peer support by engaging in extensive negatively focused discussion, is a risk factor for adolescent psychopathology. It is unclear, though, how this interpersonal tendency develops. Parental responses to adolescents' negative affect likely shape how youth utilize peer relationships to regulate distress, as they shift to reliance on peer support during this developmental stage. For example, nonsupportive parental responses may fail to instill healthy regulation strategies, resulting in ineffective forms of peer support, such as co-rumination. Conversely, high levels of supportive parental responses to adolescents' negative affect may motivate youth to also express more negative affect with peers, leading to co-rumination. Eighty-nine healthy adolescents (9-17) and their mothers completed surveys and a support-seeking interaction. Only supportive maternal responses, including maternal affection, were associated with adolescents' co-rumination. These analyses indicate that some forms of parental support are associated with adolescents' tendency to co-ruminate.
Cleanliness Verification on Large Surfaces: Instilling Confidence in Contact Angle Techniques

Abstract The sessile drop contact angle measurement is a useful and reliable method for surface energy determination and cleanliness verification. A review of the available methods, commercial instruments, patents, and literature describing the state of the art in contact angle measurement is followed by a description of contact angle measurement techniques that have been modified for use on large surfaces. The negative effects of these changes on accuracy and precision are discussed, and remedies are proposed including the use of standard reference objects that mimic the size and shape of sessile drops. The combination of these validation tools and the modified contact angle measuring techniques fills a need for robust, production-line capable cleanliness verification methods.
Enabling School Structures, Trust, and Collective Efficacy in Private International Schools

We explored the role of enabling school structures, collegial trust, and collective efficacy in 15 pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade international, private schools in South and Central America and Mexico. While most of these schools shared an “American” curriculum the local culture and school norms affected the climate of the school and the likelihood of the development of a professional learning community (PLC) in each school and country accordingly. As enabling school structures, trust in the principal, collegial trust, and collective efficacy were more established, the PLC was more likely to be developed based upon teacher perceptions in this quantitative study.
Non-Velocity Redshifts in Galaxies

A RECENT editorial in Nature1 on non-velocity redshifts in galaxies overlooks an important early reference to the subject2. In that work we demonstrated from an analysis of all galaxy redshift data available at that time (1963) that (a) the Holmberg effect (a supposed systematic error depending on galaxy type, exposure time and nuclear magnitude) does not exist—that is, the effects noted by Holmberg were accidental and disappeared when a larger sample was considered; and (b) the mean redshift of the Virgo cluster galaxies increases systematically and monotonically from 〈V〉 ≃ + 900 km s−1 at type E to 〈V〉 ≃ + 1,800 km s−1 at type Sc, and more precisely as follows: The difference 〈V(S)〉−〈V(E, L)〉 = (1,559 ± 148) −(990 ± 85)= +569 ± 170 is significant at the 3.3 σ level.
NHE1 Phosphorylation and Steady State Intracellular pH

The Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger 1 (NHE1) is a transmembrane protein important for several important cell processes including migration and intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis. The activity of NHE1 is ...
Evaluation of the accuracy and noise response of an open-source pulse onset detection algorithm on pulsatile waveform databases

Zong's open-source algorithm ‘wabp.c’ (2003) has been widely used for onset detection of arterial blood pressure (ABP) waveforms. This code was subsequently modified by Li and Clifford (2012) to avoid possible double detections in a beat cycle. However, its performance was not systematically validated, especially on a noisy pulse database. This study aimed to evaluate its detection accuracy on both clean and noisy ABP pulse signals. Synchronously recorded ECG and ABP signals in two databases from the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2014 were used. Reference QRS positions were used as the benchmarks for pulse onset detection. Three signal quality assessment (SQA) methods, i.e., Sun's jSQI (2006), a modified jSQI (jSQI2) and Gaussian Template Matching (GTM), were performed and the onset detection results were compared with and without each SQA. For the clean set-p database, the algorithm achieved an accuracy of 99.56% without SQA and slightly enhanced its accuracy to 99.97%, 99.84% and 99.79% when using the jSQI, jSQI2 and GTM methods respectively. For the noisy set-p2 database, the algorithm achieved an accuracy of only 76.42% without SQA but significantly increased to 96.73%, 90.60% and 90.79% respectively. The jSQI2 and GTM methods exhibited a higher accuracy for assessing the ABP signal quality compared to the jSQI method. In summary, the open-source pulse onset detection algorithm was found to achieve high detection accuracy in a low noise pulsatile database while relative low detection accuracy was observed when using a relatively noisy database. Combining the algorithm with an appropriate SQA procedure significantly improved beat detection accuracy.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

New Findings What is the topic of this review? This review highlights the emerging role of disruptions in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, namely ER stress, as a contributor to hypertension. What advances does it highlight? This review presents an integrative view of ER stress in cardiovascular control systems, including systems within the brain, kidney and peripheral vasculature, as related to development of hypertension. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a cellular organelle specialized in the synthesis, folding, assembly and modification of proteins. In situations of increased protein demand, complex signalling pathways, termed the unfolded protein response, influence a series of cellular feedback loops to control ER function strictly. Although this is initially a compensatory attempt to maintain cellular homeostasis, chronic activation of the unfolded protein response, known as ER stress, leads to sustained changes in cellular function. A growing body of literature points to ER stress in diverse cardioregulatory systems, including the brain, kidney and vasculature, as central to the development of hypertension. Here, these recent findings from essential and obesity-related forms of hypertension are highlighted in an integrative manner, with discussion of the potential upstream causes and downstream consequences of ER stress. Given that hypertension is a leading medical and socio-economic global challenge, emerging findings suggest that targeting ER stress might represent a viable strategy for the treatment of hypertensive disease.
Robustness analysis of eventually periodic systems using integral quadratic constraints with periodic multipliers

Robustness analysis with integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) using periodically time-varying multipliers is considered in this work. A sufficient condition akin to standard IQC analysis is presented, with the possibility that the nominal system is eventually periodic and the IQC multipliers are periodic. This result is made possible by using a dissipativity-based proof for IQC analysis and requiring a certain structure on IQC multipliers. The crux of the proof depends on the existence of a periodic stabilizing solution to the discrete difference Riccati equation. By using a descriptor, time-invariant representation of the periodic system, the IQC analysis results follow.
Do Random Coefficients and Alternative Specific Constants Improve Policy Analysis? An Empirical Investigation of Model Fit and Prediction

Concerns about unobserved heterogeneity—either in preference or attribute space—have led environmental economists to turn increasingly to discrete choice models that incorporate random parameters and alternative specific constants. We use four recreation data sets and several empirical specifications to show that although these modeling innovations often lead to substantial improvements in overall model fit, they also generate poor in-sample predictions relative to observed choices. Given the apparent tradeoff between fit and prediction, we then propose and empirically investigate a series of ‘second-best’ strategies that attempt to correct for the poor prediction we observe.
Reoperative central lymph node dissection for incidental papillary thyroid cancer can be performed safely: A retrospective review.

Abstract Background This study compares the pathological outcomes and operative morbidity for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients undergoing a primary total thyroidectomy (TT) with central lymph node dissection (CLND), to those undergoing an interval CLND following a previous thyroid operation, or for the unsuspected diagnosis of PTC. Methods Single-institution, retrospective review of PTC patients from 2000 to 2015 was performed. Three treatment groups were identified: primary TT/CLND, interval prophylactic CLND, and interval therapeutic CLND. Primary outcome measures were number of lymph nodes removed, hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. Results Results for 30 prophylactic and 35 therapeutic interval CLND were compared with 218 patients undergoing primary TT/CLND. Interval CLND was associated with similar rates of cervical metastases, complications, and a trend towards decreased lymph node recovery. Conclusion Reoperative CLND for incidental PTC frequently identifies cervical lymph node metastases, potentially reduces recurrence, and can be performed with similar morbidity to a primary lymphadenectomy.
Chapter 24 – The Emotional Impact of Obesity on Children

Publisher Summary With the declaration that obesity has become an epidemic in the United States as well as numerous other countries, much attention has been given to the physical consequences of obesity on children and even the fiscal cost for taxpayers. But little attention has been focused on the emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual effects of living as an obese child. This chapter focuses on the metaphysical consequences of obesity on children and adolescents. In addition, it attempts to answer these questions: Do all obese children suffer some emotional consequence merely from being overweight? What are the immediate and long-term emotional tolls of being an obese child? Are current treatment modalities efficacious in addressing these emotional symptoms? Finally, the chapter examines some possible interventions to prevent or treat the emotional consequences of obesity during childhood.
Mechanisms Underlying the Selective Vulnerability of Developing Human White Matter

This review focuses on what we have learned about why periventricular leukomalacia is a lesion characteristic of the developing human brain, the conspicuous gaps in this knowledge, and what this knowledge tells us about how to approach treating it. Here, the focus is on the acute lesion and what is hypothesized to be the initiating event in producing this lesion, which, as is made clear, is injury and death of developing oligodendrocytes.
Ranking cases with decision trees: a geometric method that preserves intelligibility

This paper proposes a new method to rank the cases classified by a decision tree. The method applies a posteriori without modification of the tree and doesn't use additional training cases. It consists in computing the distance of the cases to the decision boundary induced by the decision tree, and to rank them according to this geometric score. When the data are numeric it is very easy to implement and efficient. The distance-based score is a global assess, contrary to other methods that evaluate the score at the level of the leaf. The distance-based score gives good results even with pruned tree, so if the tree is intelligible this property is preserved with an improved ranking ability. The main reason for the efficacity of the geometric method is that in most cases when the classifier is sufficiently accurate, errors are located near the decision boundary.
Abstract 1842: Novel KIF5B-RET+ NSCLC cell lines demonstrate differential responses to RET inhibitors

Chromosomal rearrangements involving the rearranged during transfection (RET) tyrosine kinase occur in 1-2% of NSCLCs. This results in the expression of a constitutively active fusion kinase that promotes cancer cell growth, proliferation and survival. In lung cancer, RET is most commonly fused to KIF5B, but can have many other 59 partners such as CCDC6, NCOA, TRIM33 and TRIM24. Clinical trials with several multi-kinase inhibitors, which potently inhibit RET, have had low response rates between 18-53%. Novel, more highly specific RET inhibitors are now in clinical development. Collectively, the clinical trial data suggest that patients with KIF5B-RET rearrangements have exceptionally low responses to RET inhibitors in relation to non-KIF5B-RET fusions. In order to understand the role of RET 59 partners in regulating response to RET inhibitors we have generated two novel KIF5B-RET+ patient-derived cell lines, CUTO22 (K23;R12) and CUTO32 (K15;R12). We have confirmed that each of these cell lines contain the KIF5B-RET fusion and express the RET fusion protein. MTS proliferation assays have revealed that the CUTO22 cell line is very sensitive to the highly specific RET inhibitor, CEP-32496/RXDX-105, and the multi-kinase inhibitor ponatinib. Conversely, the CUTO32 cell line is dramatically resistant to both RXDX-105 and ponatinib. Phospho-RET (pRET) is inhibited by RXDX-105 and ponatinib in a dose-dependent manner in both the CUTO22 and CUTO32 cell line. Interestingly, despite successful RET inhibition, downstream signaling in pERK and pAKT remains active. In a time-course experiment, pRET is inhibited for up to 24 hours while pERK and pAKT is sustained. Additionally, knockdown of RET with siRNA did not reduce downstream signaling activation in CUTO22 or CUTO32 cells. Combined inhibition of possible bypass pathways, EGFR or mTOR, did not significantly enhance sensitivity to RET inhibitors in CUTO22 and CUTO32 cell lines. To isolate the role of the 59 partners in response to RET inhibitors we have utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate Kif5b-Ret and Trim24-Ret rearrangements in Ba/F3 cells. We have confirmed with PCR or RT-PCR that these cell lines harbor the intended Ret fusions and express the RET protein. Both the Kif5b-Ret+ and Trim24-Ret+ Ba/F3 cell lines are highly sensitive to multiple RET inhibitors. In conclusion, these data suggest that RET inhibitors successfully inhibit the target protein, but not downstream signaling, suggesting that KIF5B-RET may have unique co-alterations or reliance on alternative pathways to promote growth and proliferation. Citation Format: Laura Schubert, Anh T. Le, Andrea E. Doak, Robert C. Doebele. Novel KIF5B-RET+ NSCLC cell lines demonstrate differential responses to RET inhibitors [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 1842.
Resource allocation in phonological working memory: Same or different principles from vision?

Abstract The nature of working memory resources—in particular, their quantization (discrete vs. continuous)—has been studied extensively in the visual domain, with evidence supporting models with flexibly and continuously divisible resources. It remains unclear, however, whether similar mechanisms mediate the division of resources in phonological working memory. In three experiments, we show that, despite representational differences between visual and auditory domains, the principles of resource division are indeed similar in these domains. Exp. 1 tests slot vs. resource models, Exp. 2 gauges the effect of attention on resource division, and Exp. 3 investigates the influence of attention on different stages of working memory. Collectively, the results provide support for a resource model of phonological working memory and, more generally, point to similar computational principles governing the allocation of working memory resources.
Environmental DNA sampling reveals high occupancy rates of invasive Burmese pythons at wading bird breeding aggregations in the central Everglades

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is now established as a breeding population throughout south Florida, USA. However, the extent of the invasion, and the ecological impacts of this novel apex predator on animal communities are incompletely known, in large part because Burmese pythons (hereafter "pythons") are extremely cryptic and there has been no efficient way to detect them. Pythons are recently confirmed nest predators of long-legged wading bird breeding colonies (orders Ciconiiformes and Pelecaniformes). Pythons can consume large quantities of prey and may not be recognized as predators by wading birds, therefore they could be a particular threat to colonies. To quantify python occupancy rates at tree islands where wading birds breed, we utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis-a genetic tool which detects shed DNA in water samples and provides high detection probabilities. We fitted multi-scale Bayesian occupancy models to test the prediction that pythons occupy islands with wading bird colonies at higher rates compared to representative control islands containing no breeding birds. Our results suggest that pythons are widely distributed across the central Everglades in proximity to active wading bird colonies. In support of our prediction that pythons are attracted to colonies, site-level python eDNA occupancy rates were higher at wading bird colonies (ψ = 0.88, 95% credible interval [0.59-1.00]) than at the control islands (ψ = 0.42 [0.16-0.80]) in April through June (n = 15 colony-control pairs). We found our water temperature proxy (time of day) to be informative of detection probability, in accordance with other studies demonstrating an effect of temperature on eDNA degradation in occupied samples. Individual sample concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 38.29 copies/μL and we generally detected higher concentrations of python eDNA in colony sites. Continued monitoring of wading bird colonies is warranted to determine the effect pythons are having on populations and investigate putative management activities.
Theoretical Investigation of Water Oxidation Mechanism on Pure Manganese and Ca-Doped Bimetal Oxide Complexes

Understanding the role of Ca2+ ion in the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II is essential to design commercially viable and efficient water oxidation catalysts. To this end, small pure manga...
A More Directive Living Will for Older Adult Patients with End-Stage Medical Conditions?

Objectives Many older adult patients want to be treated aggressively for reversible conditions, even when their current quality of life is limited; however, most standard living wills focus on the very end of life and provide little guidance to acute care providers (ACPs) should their older adult patient be admitted with a potentially treatable acute condition and temporarily lose capacity. We developed what we believe is a more informational and directive living will for this population. We sought to determine whether ACPs would find our pilot living will more helpful when caring for their older adult patients. Methods Convenience sample of members of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM). Respondents were asked to compare the pilot living will with their state form and then answer five attitudinal questions. Results In total, 125 providers from 39 states completed the survey: 86% indicated that the pilot living will better helped them understand their patients' general end-of-life preferences, 87.5% indicated the pilot living will would be more helpful in making specific treatment decisions for their patients, and 85% indicated the pilot living will would better facilitate end-of-life discussions with surrogates. Conclusions Our results suggest that it is possible to design a functional advanced directive that better reflects the wishes of the older adult patient who wants to be treated aggressively in selected clinical situations. By more clearly defining these wishes, acute providers (eg, hospitalists, intensivists) can make more informed, patient-centered recommendations to surrogates.
Money Management in Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Cognitive, Motor, and Affective Factors

Introduction: Few studies have examined the motor, cognitive, and emotional factors involved in effective money management in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess money management in persons MS and examine whether cognitive, motor, and emotional processes can predict money management. Methods: This study included 72 persons with MS and 26 healthy controls (HC). Using an a priori definition of efficient vs. inefficient money management skills, based on the money management questionnaire (self and others), and performance on Actual Reality™ (AR) money management items, MS participants were divided into two groups: efficient or inefficient money management (MS Efficient- MM, n = 34 vs. MS Inefficient-MM, n = 38). These groups were compared on cognitive, motor, and emotional variables. Results: Participants in the MS efficient MM group performed significantly better on executive function and processing speed measures, as well as performance on the 25WT. The MS Efficient -MM group also showed significantly less affective symptomatology (depressive and state anxiety). Importantly, HC performed similarly to the Efficient MM group on these tests. Good executive functioning and low depressive symptomatology predicted efficient money management. Conclusions: This study characterizes some of the major problems and underlying impairments persons with MS are encountering in money management. Practitioners working with persons with MS should be aware that executive function impairments together with depressive symptomatology could signal possible money management dysfunction. The early identification of at-risk persons for money management difficulties could have a profound impact on the quality of life for this subsample of the MS population.
Familial aggregation of status epilepticus in generalized and focal epilepsies

Objective To determine whether familial aggregation of status epilepticus (SE) occurs in a large cohort of familial common epilepsies. Methods We used the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project dataset, which consisted of 2,197 participants in 1,043 family units with ≥2 members having a common generalized or nonacquired focal epilepsy (NAFE). We identified participants with a history of traditionally defined SE (TSE) (seizures ≥30 minutes) and operationally defined SE (OSE) (seizures ≥10 minutes) by chart review. We assessed familial aggregation of TSE and OSE using χ2 analysis and generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results One hundred fifty-five (7%) participants in 1,043 families had ≥1 episodes of TSE. Two hundred fifty (11%) had ≥1 episodes of OSE. In a χ2 analysis, the number of family units with ≥2 members having TSE (odds ratio [OR] 4.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.56–8.97) or OSE (OR 4.23, 95% CI 2.67–6.70) was greater than expected by chance. In GEE models adjusted for sex, broad epilepsy class (GE or NAFE), age at onset, and duration of epilepsy, TSE in a proband predicted TSE in a first-degree relative (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.24–6.22), and OSE in a proband predicted OSE in a first-degree relative (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.65–5.15). The results remained significant in models addressing epilepsy severity by incorporating the number of antiseizure medications used or epilepsy surgery. Conclusions TSE and OSE showed robust familial aggregation in a cohort of familial epilepsy independently of epilepsy severity or class, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to SE independently of the genetic cause of these epilepsies. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00552045.