cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease manifest as a symmetric polyarthritis usually in the setting of elevated autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor). This disease affects 1-2% of the world's population, most frequently in the 25-55 year old age group and has a female predominance (2.5:1). Nearly 50% of patients with RA demonstrate some type of extra-articular manifestation of the disease such as pleuritis, pleuropericarditis, vasculitis, pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, scleritis or nodulosis. Pulmonary involvement in RA is common and can be due to the disease itself as well as to the therapies used to treat it. In fact, lung disease is the second most common cause of death, following infection, for patients with RA and has been reported to effect between 1-40% of patients. RA associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is often subtle in onset, slowly progressive and of unclear etiology and response to treatment. This article aims to clarify the current clinical, radiographic and pathologic status of RA-ILD.
Vertex implication results for analysis of coefficient quantization errors in digital filters

Coefficient quantization errors could adversely affect the frequency response and stability properties of both 1-D and n-D digital filters. The author provides an analytic framework for evaluating filter frequency/wavenumber response under finite arithmetic errors from a small subset of fixed extreme filters. An approach for applying boundary implication methods to the analysis of interval FIR (finite impulse response) and IIR (infinite impulse response) frequency responses is evaluated. >
INFLUENCE OF DIET ON THE MODELING OF ADIPOSE TISSUE TRIGLYCERIDES DURING GROWTH.

We have studied the accretion of lipids in growing mice. We measured the rates of synthesis and degradation of triglycerides in epididymal fat pads of mice maintained for 44 days on a low-fat, high...
Intense Seed Predation by Harvester Ants on a Rare Mustard

Abstract: Seed predation can significantly restrict the reproductive output and fitness of individual plants, and its populationlevel consequences may be most severe for plants that are rare or endangered. The Owyhee harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex salinus, actively removes the fruits and seeds of slickspot peppergrass, Lepidium papilliferum, a rare mustard endemic to Idaho. We conducted a field study to investigate the extent to which P. salinus contributes to seed loss in L. papilliferum. On average, individual L. papilliferum exposed to P. salinus experienced a direct loss of > 40% of their mature fruits, whereas plants shielded from ants suffered almost no fruit loss. More than 90% of L. papilliferum seeds placed on the ground beneath plants were scavenged by ants. All L. papilliferum fruits and seeds collected by P. salinus were returned to the ants' nests and transported below ground. A search of 30 middens revealed large quantities of empty L. papilliferum fruit husks, but no intact seeds. Thus, it doe...
The effects of a music education immersion internship in a culturally diverse setting on the beliefs and attitudes of pre-service music teachers

The purpose of this study was to examine the personal conceptualizations of pre-service music education students by focusing on how they talked about learning to teach music in the context of cultu...
Fuzzy quantifiers and quantifying operators in a connectionist expert system development tool

The authors give information pertaining to the implementation of fuzzy quantifiers and quantifying operators within a connectionist network model. The operators described can be extended to arbitrary input size, by retaining similar overall behavior. Examples are given to show the responses one would obtain when modifying the belief in the inputs. These outputs correspond to responses one would intuitively expect. The importance of having been able to implement these constructs is given in the possibility of formulating more natural-language-like constructs. In conjunction with learning, complex symbolic systems may be modeled in domains which contain significant imprecision in a connectionist network using the technique considered. The methods could also be adapted to other connectionist architectures. >
Regulation of Intestinal Lipid Absorption by Clock Genes

Plasma levels of triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols, the lipoproteins that transport them, and proteins involved in their absorption from the intestinal lumen fluctuate in a circadian manner. These changes are likely controlled by clock genes expressed in the intestine that are probably synchronized by neuronal and humoral signals from the suprachiasmatic nuclei, which constitute a master clock entrained by light signals from the eyes and from the environment, e.g., food availability. Acute changes in circadian rhythms--e.g., due to nonsynchronous work schedules or a transcontinental flight--may trigger intestinal discomfort. Chronic disruptions in circadian control mechanisms may predispose the individual to irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and peptic ulcer disease. A more detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying temporal changes in intestinal activity might allow us to identify novel targets for developing therapeutic approaches to these disorders.
Public Participation in Studies on Horseshoe Crab Populations

This chapter describes two ways in which public awareness about horseshoe crabs can be increased. First, a modification of the largely volunteer-based spawning surveys, as exemplified by the Delaware Bay effort, can provide information on the “health” of the spawners. This would add an important dimension to spawning survey. There are probably 10 year-classes of spawners and it is obvious that all are not at the same level of health. Second, the conservation community and the public in general should be aware that populations of horseshoe crabs that are small in numbers are more at risk than large populations.
Canine Calcium Phosphate Uroliths

Uroliths composed primarily of calcium phosphate are identified in approximately 3 per cent of canine stone patients. Predisposing factors to the formation of calcium phosphate uroliths include elevated urine pH, hypercalciuria, and the presence of crystallization inhibitors and promoters. Medical therapy of patients forming calcium phosphate uroliths should initially be directed at removing factors contributing to urine supersaturation with calcium phosphate.
Postpartum Care of Women Affected by Diabetes: A Review of Current Trends

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication that occurs during pregnancy, and the rate of diagnosis in the United States is on the rise. Early screening and treatment of GDM has the potential to make a positive difference for mothers and their infants. Multiple approaches for the screening of GDM have been recommended, including a two-step approach and a one-step approach. Since GDM may lead to an increased risk of birth defects, or may result in the development of type 2 diabetes for the mother after delivery, early treatment of GDM through diet, exercise, and possibly the administration of insulin and other medication can increase the chances of positive results.
Signaling Credibility: The Development of Individual Standing in International Security

Until quite recently, individuals were not able to challenge UN Security Council action at the international level, relying instead on member states in their attempts to obtain relief. This was true even when, for example, their assets were frozen or they were detained under Security Council authority. Within the last several years, however, the Security Council has allowed affected individuals to directly challenge its authority. After so many years of denying individuals standing, the Security Council’s about-face is deeply puzzling, as is the fact that these newly-minted individual rights lack accompanying individualized remedies. This Article identifies this unnoticed but significant shift towards granting individuals standing in the sphere of international security, to theorize about the functions that individual standing mechanisms at the international level serve, and to examine the implications of those mechanisms. This Article uses signaling theory to explain the development of these individual standing mechanisms. It contends that when the Council exerts power in unprecedented ways over individuals, member states demand reassurance that the Council is acting as a good agent and according to its mandate. The Council therefore wants to signal to member states in order to protect its credibility. If we understand the beneficiaries of individual standing mechanisms to be the Council and member states, not individuals, then the absence of individual remedies at the international level no longer appears inconsistent. In protecting their self-interest, however, both member states and the Council leverage the rhetoric of individual rights. Regimes that grant individuals standing, allowing them to proceed without the intercession of member states, are the result. My signaling argument thus brings together commonly opposing constructivist and realist explanations for change and generates a predictive hypothesis. I predict that norm signaling and peer credibility will foster individual accountability rhetoric and mechanisms, but only up to the point of allowing individual complainants to challenge authority, and not to the point of compelling a guaranteed remedy. Accordingly, international law must develop new tools to address the rights of individuals outside the nation-state. This Article is particularly important as scholars and practitioners at both the domestic and international levels seek to balance concern for individual rights with concern for security and to understand and unpack the implications of binding action against individuals by the Council, especially after the European Court of Justice’s recent groundbreaking decision in the Kadi case.
Shear-Induced Isostructural Phase Transition and Metallization of Layered Tungsten Disulfide under Nonhydrostatic Compression

Pressure-induced structural and electronic transformations of tungsten disulfide (WS2) have been studied to 60 GPa, in both hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic conditions, using four-probe electrical resistance measurements, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The results show the evidence for an isostructural phase transition from hexagonal 2Hc phase to hexagonal 2Ha phase, which accompanies the metallization at ∼37 GPa. This isostructural transition occurs displacively over a large pressure range between 15 and 45 GPa and is driven by the presence of strong shear stress developed in the layer structure of WS2 under nonhydrostatic compression. Interestingly, this transition is absent in hydrostatic conditions using He pressure medium, underscoring its strong dependence on the state of stress. We attribute the absence to the incorporation of He atoms between the layers, mitigating the development of shear stress. We also conjecture a possibility of magnetic ordering in WS2 that may occ...
Insider Trading in a Mannean Marketplace

In 1966, Henry Manne contended that insider trading should be legalized. He argued that permitting insiders to profit from trading on material, nonpublic information would result in faster incorporation of information into securities’ prices and, as a result, expedite the movement of capital to its most efficient uses. The government has rejected Manne’s argument, choosing instead to make the prosecution of insider trading violations a high priority. This Article posits that the government has, in fact, accepted Manne’s position in cases where insider trading occurs in an organized market for material, nonpublic information. The Securities and Exchange Commission has acquiesced in arrangements in which insiders sell material, nonpublic information, disclosed by the seller in violation of a fiduciary duty, to subscribers before it is publicly available. In one such market, as exposed by the New York Attorney General, news wires sold advance access to material, nonpublic corporate announcements to high-speed traders. This Article presents new evidence that nationally recognized statistical rating organizations may have created a similar market for material, nonpublic ratings-related announcements. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s policy may reflect the recognition that an elite group of traders will be the first to receive and trade on this information regardless of whether it is obtained in violation of insider trading law. The fact that material, nonpublic information is routinely traded on in violation of insider trading laws calls for a reversal in academics’ research agenda. For decades, academics have accepted the appearance of insider trading enforcement as reality. They should, instead, give the thriving Mannean marketplace its due and focus on defining its structure, scope, and effects.
Forward Kinematic Analysis of Non-Deterministic Articulated Multibody Systems With Kinematically Closed-Loops in Polynomial Chaos Expansion Scheme

This paper presents the method of polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) for the forward kinematic analysis of nondeterministic multibody systems with kinematically closed-loops. The PCE provides an efficient mathematical framework to introduce uncertainty to the system. This is accomplished by compactly projecting each stochastic response output and random input onto the space of appropriate independent orthogonal polynomial base functions. This paper presents the detailed formulation of the kinematics of a constrained multibody system at the position, velocity, and acceleration levels in the PCE scheme. This analysis is performed by projecting the governing kinematic constraint equations of the system onto the space of appropriate polynomial base functions. Furthermore, forward kinematic analysis is conducted at the position, velocity, and acceleration levels for a non-deterministic four-bar mechanism with single and multiple uncertain parameters in the length of linkages of the system. Time efficiency and accuracy of the intrusive PCE approach are compared with the traditionally used Monte Carlo method. The results demonstrate the drastic increase in the computational time of Monte Carlo method when analyzing complex systems with a large number of uncertain parameters while the intrusive PCE provides better accuracy with much less computation complexity.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Cavity-Enhanced Overtone Spectroscopy of Methanol in Aprotic Solvents: Probing Solute-Solvent Interactions and Self-Associative Behavior

Methanol in aprotic solvents can serve as a case study for self-association via hydrogen-bonding, which is an important process in many biological and environmental systems. Incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS), which provides enhanced sensitivity relative to conventional single-pass absorption techniques, has been used to characterize the third “free” O–H stretching overtone of methanol in four aprotic solvents (CCl4, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, and C6H6), including the transition wavenumber, bandwidth, and molar absorptivity. The absorption band characteristics indicate an increasing degree of nonspecific methanol–solvent interaction with increasing solvent dielectric constant, except in the case of benzene, which shows evidence of a specific, H−π interaction. Density functional theory with the polarizable continuum model was used to complement the results by assessing the accuracy of computational methods for calculating anharmonic O–H stretching frequencies. Finally, the self-asso...
Quantitative proteomic approach for cellulose degradation by Neurospora crassa.

Conversion of plant biomass to soluble sugars is the primary bottleneck associated with production of economically viable cellulosic fuels and chemicals. To better understand the biochemical route ...
Detection of in vivo protein photooxidation by means of tritium loss from the histidine moieties.

SummaryMeasuring the loss of histidine-tritium from cellular protein provides a sensitive assay for in vivo protein photooxidation. The relative rates of tritium loss from the various protein amino acids in vivo correlate with the relative rates of photodamage known to occur to them in vitro: histidine > tryptophan > tyrosine > arginine and leucine. Moreover, the degree of loss of histidine-tritium during in vivo photodynamic activity correlates with the degree of photokilling.
721 ANALYSIS OF “NATURAL CYTOTOXICITY” IN IMMUNODEFICIENCY PATIENTS

Cytotoxicity occurring in vitro mediated by lymphocytes from non-immunized donors is termed “natural cytotoxicity” (NC) and studies in experimental animals have suggested that NC is related to immune surveillance in vivo. Therefore, we have investigated the NC effector cell potential of peripheral blood lymphocytes from a variety of immunodeficiency patients. Cytotoxicity was assessed employing 51Cr labelled allogeneic Chang targets. NC effector cell activity was normal in patients with hypogammaglo-bulinemia (hypo-γ) (N=25), selective IgA deficiency (7), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (5), ataxia-telangiectasia (2), and dysgammaglo-bulinemia (3). NC activity was present inspite of profound functional deficiencies in T-cells and B-cells as assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Cytotoxic activity was present in hypo-γ patients with and without sIg bearing B-lymphocytes. NC effector activity was present in one patient with severe combined immunodeficiency and absent in a second such patient. This finding suggests that assessment of NC effector activity may provide unique insights into lymphocyte differentiative defects in some human diseases. The finding of normal NC activity in most immunodeficiency patients demonstrates that certain non-specific cellular effector mechanisms are preserved in patients lacking specific immunologic responsiveness and suggest that the increased incidence of neoplasia observed in these patients may not be attributable to defective immunologic surveillance.
Phosphatase Activity in Chromatolytic Nerve Cells.

SummaryMarkedly increased acid phosphatase activity has been found in regions of the cytoplasm of nerve cells in which chromatolysis has been produced by axon section. This increased activity is proportional to the degree of chromatolysis, and is thus probably associated with increased nucleoprotein synthesis or degradation.
SubjectBook: Hypothesis-Driven Ubiquitous Visualization for Affective Studies

Analyzing affective studies is challenging because they feature multimodal data, such as psychometric scores, imaging sequences, and signals from wearable sensors, with the latter streaming continuously for hours on end. Meaningful visual representations of such data can greatly facilitate insights and qualitative analysis. Various tools that were proposed to tackle this problem provide visualizations of the original data only; they do not support higher level abstractions. In this paper, we introduce SubjectBook, an interactive web-based tool for synchronizing, visualizing, exploring, and analyzing affective datasets. Uniquely, SubjectBook operates at three levels of abstraction, mirroring the stages of quantitative analysis in hypothesis-driven research. The top level uses a grid visualization to show the study's significant outcomes across subjects. The middle level summarizes, for each subject, context information along with the explanatory and response measurements in a construct reminiscent of an ID card. This enables the analyst to appreciate within subject phenomena. Finally, the bottom level brings together detailed information concerning the inner and outer state of human subjects along with their real-world interactions - a visualization fusion that supports cause and effect reasoning at the experimental session level. SubjectBook was evaluated on a case study focused on driving behaviors.
Experimental study of tubeimoside microcapsule embolization on the expression of VEGF in hepatic carcinoma

Objective To study and evaluate the influence of tubeimoside mierocapsule emboliztion on the expression of VEGF and the aiti-tumor effect for hepatic carcinoma.Methods 40 VX2 liver tumor implanted rabbit models were randomizedly divided into control,chemoembolization and tubeimoside microcapsule embolization groups;with saline 1 ml/kg perfusing into hepatic artery,lipiodol 1 ml/kg plus MMC hepatic arterial embolizations and tubeimoside microcapsules 5.1 mg/kg were carried out in the above mentioned three groups respectively.The expressions of VEGF were detected by the immnohistochemical and optic together with electromicoscopic methods in routine paraffin-embeded section 1 week after embolization. Results Among the 36 successful arterial angiographies and embolizations showed tumor mass shrinkage in tubeimoside microcapsule and chemoembolization groups,but conspicuous enlargement in control group,with significant statistical difference between the fore-mentioned groups(P＜0.05),with VEGF positive rates of 83.3%,91.7%,and 91.3% respectively revealing no statistical difference.Conclusion Tubeimoside microcapsule embolization provides inhibition on tumor growth and VEGF expression and thus be considered as the proper peripheral embolization agent.
Identification and Genetic Analysis of Gene for Extremely Early Heading Date in Rice

A library of single segment substitution line(SSSL) in the same genetic background of Huajingxian 74 was used to evaluate the gene for heading date.From the library,SSSL W23-03-08-9-1 was found having gene for extremely early heading date which performed stable and early heading in two environments of Shandong and Hainan province.qHD3-1 gene on the third chromosome was identified in SSSL W23-03-08-9-1 with substituted interval of PSM306-PSM305-PSM304-RM3894-RM3372-RM569-RM231-RM489-RM545-RM251-RM282.The F2 segregating population was developed from a cross between SSSL W23-03-08-9-1 and Huajingxian 74.In this segregating population,the distribution of ear-heading plants and late-heading plants fit a ratio of 3∶1,indicating early heading was controlled by one major dominant genes,and the gene identified in SSSL W23-03-08-9-1 belonging to the heading-date gene for basic vegetative growth.
Decision Guidance Approach to Power Network Analysis and Optimization

This paper focuses on developing an approach and technology for actionable recommendations on the operation of electric power network components. The overall direction of this research is to model the major components of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES), including power generation, transmission/distribution, power storage, energy markets, and end customer demand. First, we propose a conceptual diagram notation for power network topology, to allow the representation of an arbitrary complex power system. Second, we develop a formal mathematical model that describes the HRES optimization framework, consisting of the different network components, their respective costs, and associated constraints. Third, we implement the HRES optimization problem solution through a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model by leveraging IBM Optimization Programming Language (OPL) CPLEX Studio. Lastly, we demonstrate the model through an example of a simulated network, showing the ability to support sensitivity / what-if analysis, to determine the behavior of the network under different configurations.
Means, ends and the ethics of fear-based public health campaigns

Controversy has swirled over the past three decades about the ethics of fear-based public health campaigns. The HIV/AIDS epidemic provided a context in which advocacy groups were almost uniformly hostile to any use of fear, arguing that it was inherently stigmatising and always backfired. Although this argument was often accepted within public health circles, surprisingly, the bioethicists who first grappled with this issue in terms of autonomy and coercion in the 1980s were not single-minded: fear could be autonomy-enhancing. But by the turn of the 21st century, as opponents of fear-based appeals linked them to stigmatisation, ethicists typically rejected fear as inherently unethical. The evidence has increasingly suggested that fear-based campaigns ‘work.’ Emotionally charged public health messages have, as a consequence, become more commonplace. We conclude that an ethics of public health, which prioritises population well-being, as contrasted with the contemporary focus of bioethics on autonomy, provides a moral warrant for ensuring that populations understand health risk ‘in their guts.’ This, we argue, does not relieve public health authorities from considering the burdens their efforts may impose on vulnerable populations.
Roles of surface electrochemistry and macromolecular adsorption in heparin-induced red blood cell aggregation

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation in heparin-saline solution was quantified by microscopic observation. The adsorption isotherms of heparin onto normal and neuraminidase-treated RBC surfaces were determined by radioactive heparin labeled with 125I-Bolton-Hunter Reagent. RBC aggregation by heparin requires the presence of sialic acids at cell surface and was enhanced by reduction of ionic strength of the suspending medium. Adsorption of heparin onto RBC surface was increased by removal of sialic acids. These findings not only serve to elucidate the basic mechanism of cell-cell interaction mediated by negatively charged macromolecules, but also provide experimental evidence for the possible conformational change of macromolecules at the charged surface.
Problems in Sexual Functioning

People are increasingly recognizing and seeking treatment for sexual problems. They are often seen initially by primary physicians, medical specialists, and other clinicians, because they believe that there is an organic etiology for their symptomatology. Consultation and referral may be sought when an organic etiology is not found or when there is a psychogenic component regardless of the etiology of the symptoms.
Trace metal content of the forest floor in the green mountains of Vermont: Spatial and temporal patterns

The organic horizons of forest soils in eleven stands along an elevational gradient on Camels Hump Mountain, Vermont, were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, organic matter and organic C. Lead concentration and amount increased with elevation. Vertical profiles of forest floor in the boreal forest showed that highest concentrations for most metals occurred in the upper F horizon. Comparison with 1966 and 1977 samples from the same stands showed that concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn and percent organic matter increased by as much as 148% in the intervening 14 yr. Estimates of 1966 amounts of Pb, Cu, and Zn indicated that increases in trace metal amounts over the 14 yr period are consistent with annual deposition rates reported in the literature.
3-D object tracking in millimeter-wave radar for advanced driver assistance systems

This paper presents a new 3-D tracking method for millimeter-wave radar imaging of objects around a car in advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Current automotive radar systems only estimate objects in 2-D plane (range and azimuth) and hence only a 2-D tracking is employed. We expect future evolutions of these systems to provide the additional elevation information allowing a 3-D view around the car. Given the estimated locations of multiple objects, the tracking algorithm refines the estimates and initiates new tracks as new objects are detected in the scene. The tracking is based on Extended Kalman filter that takes measurements in spherical coordinates and relates them to state vector in Cartesian coordinates. Furthermore, estimates of object radial velocity are related to object velocities in Cartesian coordinates. We will present simulation results to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed tracking model.
Capture and Enrichment of CD34-Positive Haematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells from Blood Circulation Using P-Selectin in an Implantable Device.

Abstract Clinical infusion of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is vital for restoration of haematopoietic function in many cancer patients. Previously we have demonstrated an ability to mimic physiologic cell trafficking in order to capture CD34-positive (CD34+) HSPCs using a monolayer of P-selectin in flow chambers. The aim of the current study was to determine if HSPCs could be captured directly from circulating blood in vivo. Vascular shunt prototypes, coated internally with P-selectin, were inserted into the femoral artery of rats. After one-hour blood perfusion, successful capture of mononuclear cells was achieved and analysis of these cells revealed a significant enrichment for CD34+ HSPCs. Blood flow through the cell capture device resulted in a wall shear stress of 4–6 dynes/cm2. Purity of captured CD34+ cells showed 7-fold enrichment (average purity = 28 ± 4%) over levels found in the control mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (average purity = 3 ± 0.5%). Robust cell capture and HSPC enrichment were also observed in devices that were implanted in a closed-loop arterio-venous shunt conformation for two hours. Adherent cells were viable and were able to differentiate into burst forming units in culture. This study demonstrates an ability to mimic the physiologic arrest of HSPCs from blood in an implantable device and may represent a practical alternative for adult stem cell capture and enrichment.
Association Between Emergency Department Closure and Treatment, Access, and Health Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Within the past 2 decades, the annual number of emergency department (ED) visits increased >40%, but the number of EDs decreased by 11%.1 The closure of an ED can have a profound effect on a community,2–5 because patients have to drive farther to obtain care, and the remaining EDs have to bear the extra patient volume, especially for patients experiencing time-sensitive illnesses requiring prompt intervention, such as acute myocardial infarction. With patient data from 100% Medicare Provider Analysis and Review between 2001 and 2011 (1.35 million patients), linked with the Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting Information System and American Hospital Association Annual Surveys, we compare changes in access to cardiac technology (availability of catheterization laboratory, cardiac care unit, and cardiac surgery capacity), treatment received (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy), and health outcomes (30-day, 90-day, and 1-year mortality) among Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction whose communities experience varying degrees of increase in driving time to their next available ED when the closest ED to the community shuts down, relative to patients from communities that do not experience any permanent ED closure. Our key …
Nonmyeloablative Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplantation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide for Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with High-Risk Hematologic Malignancies.

Abstract Lower-intensity conditioning regimens for haploidentical blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) are safe and efficacious for adult patients with hematologic malignancies. We report data for pediatric/young adult patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies (n = 40) treated with nonmyeloablative haploidentical BMT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide from 2003 to 2015. Patients received a preparative regimen of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation. Post-transplantation immunosuppression consisted of cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. Donor engraftment occurred in 29 of 32 (91%), with median time to engraftment of neutrophils >500/µL of 16 days (range, 13 to 22) and for platelets >20,000/µL without transfusion of 18 days (range, 12 to 62). Cumulative incidences of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades II to IV and grades III and IV at day 100 were 33% and 5%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 23%, with 7% moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD, according to National Institutes of Health consensus criteria. Transplantation-related mortality (TRM) at 1 year was 13%. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 2 years was 52%. With a median follow-up of 20 months (range, 3 to 148), 1-year actuarial overall and event-free survival were 56% and 43%, respectively. Thus, we demonstrate excellent rates of engraftment, GVHD, and TRM in pediatric/young adult patients treated with this regimen. This approach is a widely available, safe, and feasible option for pediatric and young adult patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies, including those with a prior history of myeloablative BMT and/or those with comorbidities or organ dysfunction that preclude eligibility for myeloablative BMT.
3-DOF Force-Sensing Motorized Micro-Forceps for Robot-Assisted Vitreoretinal Surgery

In vitreoretinal surgery, membrane peeling is a prototypical task where a layer of fibrous tissue is delaminated off the retina with a micro-forceps by applying very fine forces that are mostly imperceptible to the surgeon. Previously, we developed sensitized ophthalmic surgery tools based on fiber Bragg grating strain sensors, which were shown to precisely detect forces at the instrument’s tip in two degrees of freedom perpendicular to the tool axis. This paper presents a new design that employs an additional sensor to capture also the tensile force along the tool axis. The grasping functionality is provided via a compact motorized unit. To compute forces, we investigate two distinct fitting methods: a linear regression and a nonlinear fitting based on second-order Bernstein polynomials. We carry out experiments to test the repeatability of sensor outputs, calibrate the sensor, and validate its performance. Results demonstrate sensor wavelength repeatability within 2 pm. Although the linear method provides sufficient accuracy in measuring transverse forces, in the axial direction, it produces a root mean square (rms) error over 3 mN even for a confined magnitude and direction of forces. On the other hand, the nonlinear method provides a more consistent and accurate measurement of both the transverse and axial forces for the entire force range (0–25 mN). Validation, including random samples, shows that our tool with the nonlinear force computation method can predict 3-D forces with an rms error under 0.15 mN in the transverse plane and within 2 mN accuracy in the axial direction.
An Experimental Analysis of Clinical Phenomena

The complementary roles of behavioral and psychodynamic theory are described. Behavior theory provided an objective communicable language and a tool of analysis. Dynamic theory indicated the important things to describe. The actual practices of therapy are sometimes very different from the theories or the language about the therapies.
Relaxion: A landscape without anthropics

The relaxion mechanism provides a potentially elegant solution to the hierarchy problem without resorting to anthropic or other fine-tuning arguments. This mechanism introduces an axion-like field, dubbed the relaxion, whose expectation value determines the electroweak hierarchy as well as the QCD strong $CP$-violating $\overline{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ parameter. During an inflationary period, the Higgs mass squared is selected to be negative and hierarchically small in a theory which is consistent with 't Hooft's technical naturalness criteria. However, in the original model proposed by Graham, Kaplan, and Rajendran [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 221801 (2015)], the relaxion does not solve the strong $CP$ problem, and in fact contributes to it, as the coupling of the relaxion to the Higgs field and the introduction of a linear potential for the relaxion produces large strong $CP$ violation. We resolve this tension by considering inflation with a Hubble scale which is above the QCD scale but below the weak scale, and estimating the Hubble temperature dependence of the axion mass. The relaxion potential is thus very different during inflation than it is today. We find that provided the inflationary Hubble scale is between the weak scale and about 3 GeV, the relaxion resolves the hierarchy, strong $CP$, and dark matter problems in a way that is technically natural.
A CMOS integrated fdNIRS and tDCS system for simultaneous brain stimulation and monitoring

A CMOS integrated frequency domain near infrared spectroscopy (fdNIRS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is designed for simultaneous brain stimulation and monitoring. The combination of optical sensing and electrical stimulation solves the incompatibility between EEG and tDCS in both time and spatial domains. A real-time closed-loop brain stimulation can be realized for neurological disorders treatment and cognitive performance enhancement. The dual-channel fdNIRS achieved a sub nW sensitivity when working with an APD with 40A/W responsivity and 1.77mm2 active area. Each fdNIRS channel provides 33dB dynamic range and up to 0.2° phase resolution with a power consumption of 30mW. Measurements on 2 milk and ink based liquid tissue phantoms successfully captured both the baseline information and dynamic change of absorption and reduced scattering coefficient. The on-chip 5-bit current stimulator can support a stimulating current between 0.6mA and 2.2mA with 1% accuracy, which meets the requirements of tDCS. The chip is fabricated in a standard 130nm CMOS process and occupies an area of 2.25mm2.
Antigen and immune complex induced suppression of delayed hypersensitivity.

Both cellular and humoral immune responses are known to be regulated by mechanisms that are incompletely understood, especially with respect to delayed hypersensitivity (DH). Injection of soluble or alum-precipitated antigen near the time of sensitization prevents the development of DH and the synthesis of the gamma-2 class of antibody, leaving the gamma-1 class unaffected (1,3). Moreover, established DH is suppressed by systemic administration of specific antigen (6). Antigen-induced suppression of the induction and expression of DH has been termed “immune deviation” and “desensitization”, respectively. These experimental phenomena are thought to have counterparts in certain granulomatous diseases in which skin-test anergy is a prominent feature.
Animal morality: What is the debate about?

Empirical studies of the social lives of non-human primates, cetaceans, and other social animals have prompted scientists and philosophers to debate the question of whether morality and moral cognition exists in non-human animals. Some researchers have argued that morality does exist in several animal species, others that these species may possess various evolutionary building blocks or precursors to morality, but not quite the genuine article, while some have argued that nothing remotely resembling morality can be found in any non-human species. However, these different positions on animal morality generally appear to be motivated more by different conceptions of how the term “morality” is to be defined than by empirical disagreements about animal social behaviour and psychology. After delving deeper into the goals and methodologies of various of the protagonists, I argue that, despite appearances, there are actually two importantly distinct debates over animal morality going on, corresponding to two quite different ways of thinking about what it is to define “morality”, “moral cognition”, and associated notions. Several apparent skirmishes in the literature are thus cases of researchers simply talking past each other. I then focus on what I take to be the core debate over animal morality, which is concerned with understanding the nature and phylogenetic distribution of morality conceived as a psychological natural kind. I argue that this debate is in fact largely terminological and non-substantive. Finally, I reflect on how this core debate might best be re-framed.
Factors affecting landowner enrollment in wetland restoration in northeastern New York State

Abstract In the U.S. the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) that funds the restoration of wetlands on privately-owned lands under conservation easements. These programs provide a number of potential benefits to landowners along with the wetland including access roads and reduced property taxes on the easement land. To receive these benefits, landowners agree to limit development opportunities on their land but can continue to use it for other activities such as hunting, fishing, viewing wildlife, haying, or extracting wood for personal use. We surveyed 35 participants in the NRCS program in northeastern New York State to measure factors associated with willingness to enroll land in the WRP program beyond direct monetary incentives. In addition, we conducted follow up interviews with eight program participants to enhance our understanding of landowners’ motivations to participate in the programs. We found that valuing the conservation aspects of wetlands, being retired and a female respondent were associated with willingness to enroll lands without compensation. In addition, qualitative interviews provided context to these findings such that landowners enrolled land due to 1) lived experience with wetland use and preservation; 2) a conservation ethic in regards to preserving nature; and 3) the desire to use the restored wetland as a ‘showcase’ for family and community members.
The Lessons of Spring 1968 for Public Health.

The article discusses the significance of social movements of the 1960's on public health in the U.S. Topics include the influence of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organization founded in 1959 on the politics, career choices and values of its members, and the need for schools to nurture people to analyze health and disease, consider strategies to activate and mobilize around protecting health and advancing equity, and learn technical and political skills to bring about change.
Uncertainty, Emergence, and Statistics in Dendrochronology

Some fundamental concepts of dendrochronological analysis are reviewed in the context of statistically modeling the climatically related environmental signals in cross-dated tree-ring series. Significant uncertainty exists due to our incomplete mechanistic understanding of radial growth of most tree species in the natural world, one where environmental effects are unobserved, uncontrolled, and steadily changing over time. This biological uncertainty cascades into the realm of statistical uncertainty in ways that are difficult to quantify even though the latter may be well constrained by theory. Therefore, great care must be taken to apply the many well-developed and tested statistical methods of dendrochronology in ways that reduce the probability of making false inferences. This is especially true in the case of biological emergence. This is a special case of uncertainty that arises from the way in which trees as complex organisms can have properties expressed in their ring widths that are impossible to predict from a basic understanding of lower-level physiological processes. Statistical modeling must be conducted in ways that allow for the discovery of such phenomena and, at the same time, protect from the incorrect acceptance of spurious emergent properties. To reduce the probability of the latter, we argue that model verification be an important part of any dendrochronological inquiry based on statistics. Correlation and response function analysis is used to illustrate some of the concepts discussed here. The value of empirical signal strength statistics as predictors of climatic signal strength in tree rings is also investigated.
Human Capital and On the Job Training: Under Investment by Firms and Its Educational Consequences

A common assumption in literature dealing with the lifecycle profile of human capital is that individuals decide every period on the investment in their human capital, i.e., schooling and training. However, in many cases training is a decision made by the employer rather than the employee. This study constructs a lifecycle profile of human capital assuming that individuals decide on investment in schooling, but employers decide on investment in training in latter periods. A shorter time horizon for employers leads to underinvestment in training, which leads to underinvestment in schooling. Policy implications and other contributions of this model are discussed.
The Differential Regulation of Former Alleles and Their Transformation to Isozyme Genes

Nonconcordant duplication involving only one of a group of functionally interrelated gene loci becomes permissible if the incorporation of two former alleles of that locus into the genome is quickly followed by the development of the differential genetic regulatory mechanism. As this genetic regulatory mechanism permits only one or the other former allele to engage in transcriptional activity in any given somatic cell type of an individual, the original one-to-one gene dosage relationship is effectively restored among all functionally related genes in spite of discordant duplication which had affected one locus.
Cuidados de enfermería a un lactante con alteración del desarrollo psicomotor

La atencion de salud a los ninos en Chile se realiza a traves del control de salud infantil, en los Centros de Salud Familiar (CESFAM). Mediante esta estrategia, las/os enfermeras/os pueden supervisan el crecimiento y desarrollo infantil, implementan actividades de promocion de la salud y pueden pesquisar anomalias oportunamente. Uno de los problemas frecuentemente detectados son las alteraciones del desarrollo psicomotor. Este articulo tiene como objetivo aplicar el proceso de enfermeria a lactante con alteracion del desarrollo psicomotor en un CESFAM de la comuna de Valparaiso, esto con el proposito de identiicar los aspectos mas relevantes de los cuidados de enfermeria y el seguimiento para la resolucion de este problema de salud. Para ello, se utilizo el enfoque de la ilosofia de las 14 necesidades de Virginia Henderson, obteniendo una adecuada sistematizacion de informacion y la posterior entrega de cuidados al lactante y su familia. Se concluye respecto a la importancia del trabajo de la/el enfermera/o en torno a la pesquisa oportuna de alteraciones del desarrollo psicomotor, la promocion de salud de este problema, el esfuerzo multidisciplinario y el compromiso del nucleo familiar.
A Qualitative Exploration of Choral Singing in Community-dwelling Older Adults:

Recent research has recognized the value of participatory arts, including choirs, as a strategy to engage older adults in the community. Less is known about the participation of minority older adults of low socioeconomic status (SES) in choirs. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceived benefits of choral singing among older adults from Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) day centers. We elicited perceptions from 19 choir participants from three focus groups, the majority of whom were Black or African American (N =17/19), each held at a different PACE center. One main theme emerged, "Something for us to do that we love," with two subthemes, "Joyful time together" and "Uplifting experience performing for others." These study findings have implications for promoting choir singing in older adults to serve as a place for engagement in social interactions in a lifelong activity they love.
Locoregional and oligometastatic recurrence of esophageal cancer—what are the management strategies?

Over the past few decades, prognosis of esophageal cancer has improved with the advent of multimodality treatment and refinement of surgical techniques and perioperative care. A 5% 5-year survival across all stages was quoted in the 1960s which has evolved to a 20% all stage 5-year survival today (1). Clearly the reality of esophageal cancer is still grim and there is progress to be made. Within the cohort of patients that are operable, nearly 50% of patients will recur (2).