cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In the Wake of the Gulf War: Assessing Family Spending of Compensation Money in Sri Lanka

Between 1997 and 2000 the United Nations Compensation Commission delivered US$4000 apiece to roughly 87000 Sri Lankan citizens who suffered displacement and loss of employment due to Iraq’s military actions in Kuwait during the Gulf War. Using qualitative ethnographic data this essay examines 11 case studies of Kuwait returnees in the village of Naeaegama in southern Sri Lanka. Like the majority of Sri Lankans caught in the Gulf War these returnees are women from poor rural families who worked as domestic servants in Kuwait. The paper compares how the 11 households have spent compensation money and migrants’ remittances. Spending choices reveal a clear hierarchy of priorities: buying land and building a house providing a dowry for unmarried women and starting viable business. These goals reflect family-based considerations and use of the money illustrates the family’s role as an economic as well as a social unit. The paper also explores the role of family in facilitating migration and depressing women’s wages on the global market. Data reveal the local values motives and cultural contexts that shape individual and family decision-making on matters of finance and migration. Family choices are products of and adaptations to globalised contexts. (authors)
HIV-1 Drug Resistance Resulting from Antiretroviral Therapy Far Exceeds That From Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

To the Editor—We challenge the conclusions drawn by Hurt et al in their Viewpoint article “Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Antiretroviral Resistance: HIV Prevention at a Cost?” The authors cite the very few cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance that have occurred in seroconverters from trials of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as evidence of the potential for PrEP to jeopardize the long-term utility of tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC) in first-line treatment regimens in resource-limited settings. They also speculate that the possible increase in resistance from PrEP could offset the enormous benefit of preventing HIV infection in at-risk populations [1]. To date, only 3 cases of resistance from PrEP have occurred in a total of 80 seroconverters on active antiretroviral (ARV) arms from 3 large HIV prevention trials: 0 of 35 sequenced in the TFV gel arm in the CAPRISA-004 clinical trial [2]; 2 of 36 in the oral TDF-FTC arm in the iPrEx study [3], and 1 of 9 in the TDF2 study [4]. All 3 cases had unrecognized acute HIV infection before being placed on TFV-containing PrEP. No cases of resistance have yet been identified in trial participants who became infected after starting ARV-containing gel or tablets. By contrast, first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) fails to suppress viremia in 22% of persons on therapy [5] and up to 95% of those who fail ART have drug-resistant HIV-1 [6]. Given that >6.6 million persons worldwide have started ART [7], failure of ART to suppress viremia, rather than failure of PrEP to prevent HIV infection, is driving the spread of drug resistance in the developing world. Indeed, recent surveys report an increase in transmitted drug resistance in resource-limited settings, from previous estimates of <5% using World Health Organization threshold surveys conducted before 2008 [8] to as high as 12.3% in various regions in sub–Saharan Africa, particularly in areas of treatment scale-up [9]. This increase has occurred as a consequence of ART roll-out without the influence of PrEP. More than 681 000 lives have been saved from expanding treatment roll-out [10], and an effective PrEP agent has the potential for further impact by preventing HIV-1 infection in the first place. Drug resistance will always be a risk with the use of antiretrovirals, but exaggeration of risk serves no purpose other than to raise fear and impede progress toward ending the AIDS epidemic.
3D photon counting integral imaging with unknown sensor positions

Photon counting techniques have been introduced with integral imaging for three-dimensional (3D) imaging applications. The previous reports in this area assumed a priori knowledge of exact sensor positions for 3D image reconstruction, which may be difficult to satisfy in certain applications. In this paper, we extend the photon counting 3D imaging system to situations where sensor positions are unknown. To estimate sensor positions in photon counting integral imaging, scene details of photon counting images are needed for image correspondences matching. Therefore, an iterative method based on the total variation maximum a posteriori expectation maximization (MAP-EM) algorithm is used to restore photon counting images. Experimental results are presented to show the feasibility of the method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on 3D photon counting integral imaging with unknown sensor positions.
Use of Lasers for the Treatment of Psoriasis and Vitiligo

Psoriasis and vitiligo are two chronic inflammatory skin conditions that have long been treated with phototherapy. Recently, laser theropy has become an alternative to generalized light treatment, as lesions can be targeted more directly and generally require less treatment sessions. While a variety of lasers have been tested for both the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo, the most commonly used laser for this purpose is the excimer laser, which uses a wavelength of 308 nm. This chapter discusses the indications and use of lasers in the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo.
A subset of cancer cell lines is acutely sensitive to the Chk1 inhibitor MK-8776 as monotherapy due to CDK2 activation in S phase

DNA damage activates Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) to halt cell cycle progression thereby preventing further DNA replication and mitosis until the damage has been repaired. Consequently, Chk1 inhibitors have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics in combination with DNA damaging drugs, but their single agent activity also provides a novel approach that may be particularly effective in a subset of patients. From analysis of a large panel of cell lines, we demonstrate that 15% are very sensitive to the Chk1 inhibitor MK-8776. Upon inhibition of Chk1, sensitive cells rapidly accumulate DNA double-strand breaks in S phase in a CDK2- and cyclin A-dependent manner. In contrast, resistant cells can continue to grow for at least 7 days despite continued inhibition of Chk1. Resistance can be circumvented by inhibiting Wee1 kinase and thereby directly activating CDK2. Hence, sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition is regulated upstream of CDK2 and correlates with accumulation of CDC25A. We conclude that cells poorly tolerate CDK2 activity in S phase and that a major function of Chk1 is to ensure it remains inactive. Indeed, inhibitors of CDK1 and CDK2 arrest cells in G1 or G2, respectively, but do not prevent progression through S phase demonstrating that neither kinase is required for S phase progression. Inappropriate activation of CDK2 in S phase underlies the sensitivity of a subset of cell lines to Chk1 inhibitors, and this may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity for appropriately stratified patients.
Nuclear localization signals for four distinct karyopherin-β nuclear import systems

The Karyopherin-β family of proteins mediates nuclear transport of macromolecules. Nuclear versus cytoplasmic localization of proteins is often suggested by the presence of NLSs (nuclear localization signals) or NESs (nuclear export signals). Import-Karyopherin-βs or Importins bind to NLSs in their protein cargos to transport them through nuclear pore complexes into the nucleus. Until recently, only two classes of NLS had been biochemically and structurally characterized: the classical NLS, which is recognized by the Importin-α/β heterodimer and the PY-NLS (proline–tyrosine NLS), which is recognized by Karyopherin-β2 or Transportin-1. Structures of two other Karyopherin-βs, Kap121 and Transportin-SR2, in complex with their respective cargos were reported for the first time recently, revealing two new distinct classes of NLSs. The present paper briefly describes the classical NLS, reviews recent literature on the PY-NLS and provides in-depth reviews of the two newly discovered classes of NLSs that bind Kap121p and Transportin-SR respectively.
Solid tumor models for the assessment of different treatment modalities: VI: Perturbations in the kinetics of tumor and host organ cellular regulation demonstrated by single and combined experimental therapy.

The Morris hepatomas, the large series of over fifty different lines of transplantable rat hepatomas with multiple genetic, bio-chemical, metabolic and morphological changes, have been extensively used in cancer research. A correlation between tumor cell kinetics and tumor growth for this series of solid tumors was needed because many studies used tumor growth rates as reference points. The parameters of cell cycle time, growth fraction and cell loss factor, in addition to potential and actual volume doubling times, have been determined in nine Morris hepatomas.
Visual Diagnosis: A 7-Month-Old Girl With Cyanotic Spells

Infants can develop acquired methemoglobinemia due to intake of well water high in nitrate concentrations. Although methemoglobinemia usually presents with more severe symptoms, this diagnosis should be considered in an infant with intermittent cyanosis in the absence of underlying heart or lung disease. Well water should be avoided in infancy unless properly tested.
Three New Species of Myxomycetes from Greece

Sporangia scattered or gregarious, total height 0.12-0.15 mm, globose, 40-50 IA diam., erect or nodding, golden yellow, sometimes fading to cream color; stipe hairlike, golden brown, darker toward the base, expanded below, its surface rough near the apex, 60-95 / long; peridium very thin, transparent, usually evanescent at a very early stage, leaving a definite collar attached to the tip of the stipe; columella absent or if present, minute, conical; capillitium absent; spores globose, typically golden yellow, smooth, but with well-marked thin places on the wall, 6.5-8 t in diameter, easily dispersed as a mass which clings together, or individually; plasmodium unknown.
Conductance of a proximitized nanowire in the Coulomb blockade regime

The search for Majorana bound states, motivated by the prospect of discovering non-Abelian exchange statistics and developing topological quantum computing, is an ongoing challenge in condensed matter physics. Crafting a wire hosting Majorana states is not a trivial task, requiring great care in the choice of materials and in the device design. Experimentalists rely on the electron transport measurements to characterize the devices. It is therefore important to have a detailed theory for interpreting the experimental data and reliably detecting the nontrivial (topological) superconductivity needed for the appearance of Majorana states. Here, the authors have developed such a theory for short small-capacitance wires. In such wires, the apperance of Majorana states coexists with the effects of single-electron charging. The theory here provides quantitative results for the electric conduction of wires in these conditions and provides guidance for those in the field seeking understanding of important recent experiments, as well as those designing the future ones.
Determinants of fatal apnea responses to acid stimulation of the larynx in piglets.

Objectives: This study explores the physiological determinants of laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR) response severity under hypoxic conditions. Methods: Thirty-four piglets underwent hypoxic laryngeal stimulation. Physiologic data were collected, and responses were graded as mild, moderate, or profound. Results: Prestimulation hypoxia caused respiratory depression and carbon dioxide retention in profound responders and respiratory stimulation in mild and moderate responders (p .05). There was a significant difference between mild, moderate, and severe responders in change in arterial PaO2 and hydrogenated hemoglobin saturation during the LCR-induced response (p <.001 for both). Conclusions: Resumption of respiration is associated with accumulation of arterial Pac02. The respiratory response to hypoxia predicts the severity of the LCR response. The severity of the LCR-induced response is associated with changes in arterial Pa02 and hydrogenated hemoglobin saturation during the LCR-induced apnea.
Demyelination as a harbinger of lymphoma: a case report and review of primary central nervous system lymphoma preceded by multifocal sentinel demyelination

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) may rarely be preceded by “sentinel demyelination,” a pathologic entity characterized by histologically confirmed demyelinating inflammatory brain lesions that mimic multiple sclerosis (MS) or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Interpreting the overlapping radiologic and clinical characteristics associated with each of these conditions—contrast-enhancing demyelination of white matter and relapsing and remitting steroid-responsive symptoms respectively—can be a significant diagnostic challenge. We describe a 57-year-old woman with an unusual clinical course who presented with multi-focal enhancing white matter lesions demonstrated to be inflammatory demyelination by brain biopsy. Despite a good initial response to steroids and rituximab for treatment of presumed tumefactive multiple sclerosis, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and a repeat brain biopsy six months later was consistent with a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Early clinical suspicion for PCNSL and awareness that biopsied lesions may initially show sentinel demyelination suggestive of alternate diagnoses may be essential for early initiation of appropriate therapies and mitigation of disease progression. Clinical, pathophysiological, and diagnostic aspects of sentinel demyelination and PCNSL are discussed.
Alloplastic implants. Their role in reconstruction of the mandible.

This article discusses the use of osseointegrated implants in mandibular reconstruction. Although the article presents the history, indications, and complications of this technique, the primary focus of the article is the technique itself, especially how the technique varies from patients not undergoing reconstruction to those who are. The effect of radiation therapy on the treatment planning of patients undergoing reconstruction also is »discussed. Intraoral soft-tissue management also is addressed, as this area often differs significantly in patients undergoing radiation therapy from that in patients not undergoing radiation therapy and reconstruction.
The use of pure follicle-stimulating hormone for ovulation induction in normal ovulatory women in an in vitro fertilization program

Many ovulation induction protocols for follicular development have been reported. The present study examines pure follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) and human menopausal gonadotropin for ovulation induction in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program. The study compares the number of ampules, the level of estradiol on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration and at laparoscopy, the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy rates. The peak levels of estradiol on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration and the day of laparoscopy were similar, although fewer ampules of pFSH were required to reach similar criteria for oocyte maturation prior to retrieval. The fertilization rates were similar, but the cleavage and pregnancy rates favored the use of pFSH. The use of pFSH may be more physiologic in orchestrating follicular steroidogenesis in normal ovulatory women in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transplant program that subsequently could produce healthier oocytes and an improvement in the pregnancy rate.
New distributed algorithms for fast sign detection in residue number systems (RNS)

We identify a canonical parameter in the Chinese Remainder Theorem (CRT) and call it the "Reconstruction Coefficient", (denoted by " R C "); and introduce the notions of "Partial" and "Full" Reconstruction. If the R C can be determined efficiently, then arithmetic operations that are (relatively) harder to realize in RNS; including Sign Detection, Base change/extension and Scaling or division by a constant can also be implemented efficiently. This paper therefore focuses on and presents two distinct methods to efficiently evaluate the R C at long wordlengths. A straightforward application of these methods leads to ultra-fast sign-detection.An independent contribution of this paper is to illustrate non-trivial trade-offs between run-time computation vs. pre-computation and look-up. We show a simple method to select the moduli which leads to both the (i) number of RNS channelsź n ;źźas well asźź(ii) the largest channel modulusź m n satisfying { O ( n ) , O ( m n ) } ź N ź the full-precision bit-length. The net result is that for many canonical operations; exhaustive look-up covering all possible input values is feasible even at long cryptographic bit-lengths N . Under fairly general and realistic assumptions about the capabilities of current hardware, the memory needed for exhaustive look-up tables is shown to be bounded by a low degree polynomial ofź n .źMoreover, both methods to compute R C can achieve a delay of O ( lg n ) in a RN system with n channels. To the best of our knowledge, no other method published to date has shown a path to achieve that lower bound on the execution delay. Further, small values of channel moduli make it ideal to implement each individual RNS channel on a simple core in a many-core processor or as a distributed node, and our algorithms require a limited number of inter-channel communications, averaging O ( n ) . Results from a multi-core GPU implementation corroborate the theory. Most operations hitherto deemed hard to realize in RNS share the same bottleneck.Finding the LSB of an unknown in the Chinese Remainder Theorem is that bottleneck.Show 2 new fast methods to solve the bottleneck, one meets analytic speed bound.Moduli selection enables exhaustive pre-computation even at very long word lengths.
Introduction to Bayesian Econometrics: Simulation by MCMC Methods

THE BASIS OF an MCMC algorithm is the construction of a transition kernel (see Section 6.3), p(x, y) , that has an invariant density equal to the target density. Given such a kernel, the process can be started at x 0 to yield a draw x 1 from p ( x 0 , x 1 ), x 2 from p ( x 1 , x 2 ), …, and x G from p(x G−1 , x G ) , where G is the desired number of simulations. After a transient period, the distribution of the x g is approximately equal to the target distribution. The question is how to find a kernel that has the target as its invariant distribution. It is remarkable that there is a general principle for finding such kernels, the Metropolis–Hastings (MH) algorithm. We first discuss a special case – the Gibbs algorithm or Gibbs sampler – and then explain a more general version of the MH algorithm. It is important to distinguish between the number of simulated values G and the number of observations n in the sample of data that is being analyzed. The former may be made very large – the only restriction comes from computer time and capacity, but the number of observations is fixed at the time the data are collected. Larger values of G lead to more accurate approximations. MCMC algorithms provide an approximation to the exact posterior distribution of a parameter; that is, they approximate the posterior distribution of the parameters, taking the number of observations to be fixed at n .
Ultrafast Optical and Optoelectronic Response of Y-Ba-Cu-O

Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS), there have been intensive investigations of their transient response under ultrashort laser-pulse excitation. Recently, using the femtosecond pump-probe technique, Han et al.[1] observed a very fast (several picoseconds) optical response on YBa2Cu3Ox (YBCO) in the superconducting state under weak excitation and attributed it to the generation and recombination of quasi- particles. As the ambient temperature drops below the superconductor’s critical temperature (Tc), the transient reflectivity signal abruptly changes both its sign and temporal behavior—this striking behavior appears to be correlated to the onset of superconductivity. However, the physical significance of such an ultrafast response is still not clear, since the position of the Fermi level (EF) and the density of states near EF are not well known. Independently, a series of transient photovoltage measurements have also been performed on YBCO. Recent experimental work [2] demonstrated that for ultra-thin films the relative magnitude of the nonthermal component was enhanced and could be as fast as tens of picoseconds. The fact that the electrical response is at least one order of magnitude slower than the optical response suggests that more in-depth studies are necessary in order to find the ultimate speed of optoelectronic devices made of HTS.
Evolutionary dynamics of an epigenetic switch in a fluctuating environment

Adaptation and survival in fluctuating environments is an evolutionary challenge faced by organisms. Epigenetic switches (bistable, molecular systems built from self-reinforcing feedback loops) have been suggested as a mechanism of bet-hedging and adaptation to fluctuating environments. These epigenetic systems are capable of spontaneously switching between phenotypes in the absence of DNA mutation and these phenotypes are stably inherited through multiple cell generations. The extent to which epigenetic switches outcompete adaptation through genetic mutation in fluctuating environments remains unexplored. To better understand the conditions that select for epigenetic switching, we used computer simulation to evolve a mechanistic model of a self-activating genetic circuit, which can adapt genetically and exhibit epigenetic switching. We evolved this model in a fluctuating environment under different selection pressures, mutation step-sizes, population sizes, and fluctuation frequencies. There was a trade-off between minimizing the adaptation time after each environmental transition and increasing the robustness of the phenotype during the constant environment between transitions. We show that surviving lineages evolved bistable, epigenetic switching to adapt quickly in fast fluctuating environments, whereas genetic adaptation was favored in slowly fluctuating environments. For some evolutionary conditions, a strategy emerged where the population adapted genetically between two bistable genotypes.
HIV-1 Vector Mediated Expression of Human B-Domain Deleted FVIII in Primary Canine Marrow Mononuclear Cells.

We wished to determine if primary canine marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) would support the expression of human FVIII and thereby serve as a potential target for gene therapy of hemophilia A. To this end, we created HIV-1 vectors that express B-domain deleted human FVIII (BDFVIII) using the viral LTR promoter or constitutively active cellular promoters: the mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) or elongation factor 1α (EF1α) promoters. The vector that expressed BDFVIII from the LTR also encoded a functional single-exon Tat protein [Srinivasakumar and Schuening (2000) J. Virol. 74:6659–6668]. These promoters have been previously shown, by us and others, to express transgenes at high levels in hematopoietic cells [Srinivasakumar et. al., (2002). J. Virol. 76:7334–7342]. Separate vector stocks were prepared for each of the above vectors by transient transfection of 293T cells [Srinivasakumar (2002) Methods Mol. Med. 69:275–302] and their titers were determined by real-time quantitative PCR of genomic DNA isolated from vector transduced 293T cells (Table 1). Each vector stock was then used for infection of primary canine marrow MNC by three spin-infections over 2 days on CH296-coated 6-well plates. The medium was replaced at the end of the transduction procedure. Conditioned medium was harvested 3-days after transduction and assayed for functional FVIII activity using the Coamatic Factor VIII kit (Chromogenix, Monza, Italy). The results, shown in Table 1, indicate that vector-derived FVIII could be detected in the supernatants of canine marrow MNCs transduced with all HIV-1 vectors. Highest levels of functional FVIII were obtained with the Tat-encoding bicistronic HIV-1 vector. These results demonstrate that canine marrow MNC support expression and secretion of functional human FVIII. Further experiments are warranted to determine if the levels of FVIII observed in vitro will translate into therapeutic benefit in vivo in canine models of hemophilia A. ![Table][1] Table 1. Expression of human BDFVIII in canine marrow mononuclear cells transduced by HIV-1 vectors. [1]: pending:yes
Cross-seeding between Aβ40 and Aβ42 in Alzheimer’s disease

Aβ42 is the major component of parenchymal plaques in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, while Aβ40 is the major component of cerebrovascular plaques. Since Aβ40 and Aβ42 coexist in the brain, understanding the interaction between Aβ40 and Aβ42 during their aggregation is important to delineate the molecular mechanism underlying Alzheimer's disease. Here, we present a rigorous and systematic study of the cross-seeding effects between Aβ40 and Aβ42. We show that Aβ40 fibril seeds can promote Aβ42 aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner, and vice versa. Our results also suggest that seeded aggregation and spontaneous aggregation may be two separate pathways. These findings may partly resolve conflicting observations in the literature regarding the cross-seeding effects between Aβ40 and Aβ42.
COMPARISON OF 30-DAY READMISSION RATE, COST, AND PREDICTORS IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PATIENTS TREATED WITH VERSUS WITHOUT ENDOVASCULAR ABLATION

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) accounts for high rates of unfavorable outcomes in cardiac as well as non-cardiac patients. The unplanned 30-day readmission rate, cost burden and predictors in AFib patients treated with or without Endovascular Ablation (EVA) remain unclear. Methods: We used
Immigrant Labor, Food Politics: A Dialogue between the Authors of Four Recent Books about the Food System

This dialogue serves as a forum for four authors of recent books on food politics to discuss their different approaches to analyzing immigrant workers9 contested and changing roles in the U.S. food system. Bridging disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and political science—and sites in the food industry ranging from poultry processing plants, slaughterhouses, and industrial agribusiness to organic farms—the authors address a consistent set of questions: What does the increase in immigrant workers in the food industry tell us about our food system, and how do immigration and labor policies facilitate employers9 exploitation of all workers9 vulnerabilities? What are viable models for change, and what role can scholars play in creating an ethic of responsible consumption that incorporates labor concerns? By contributing fresh perspectives on immigrants9 hidden work in plants, slaughterhouses, and farms, the authors illuminate the factors that divide workers and obscure the human costs of how we make our food.
Balloons Used in Thoracic Aortic Endografting

Balloons come in different diameters and lengths and are made from diverse materials (polyethylene PE, polyethylene terephthalate PET) to give exact or oversized diameters, with various inflation pressures. The pressure needed to inflate the balloon to its manufactured diameter using an inflation device (Fig. 2.1) is measured in atmospheres and referred to as nominal pressure. Balloons are rated for burst, using a manufacturing threshold specifying that 1% of all balloons tested burst at this particular pressure. Most of the smaller balloons have a rated burst of between 10 and 15 atm and large balloons between 3 and 6 atm. The degree of balloon hardness depends on the material characteristics (compliant or noncompliant). Compliant materials are usually soft and stretch or deform under pressure preventing the concentration of force from being focused at the stenosis and increase the risk of vessel dissection. The stiffer or more noncompliant the balloon material, the more dilating force it has, and the more uniformly it expands. Noncompliant balloons hold their shape despite added pressure and exert more force against a hard lesion or metal stent to increase dilatation. Profiling refers to a gentle inflation of the compliant balloon to smooth out the contour of the artery or gently expand a deployed stent graft and improve graft to wall apposition.
Arterial grafting for coronary revascularisation and the illusive search for truth

The art of medicine might well be described as the ability to make the right decisions based on incomplete information. Try as we might to provide ‘evidence–based’ care, the more scientifically candid among us will confess that the ‘definitive study’ on any given topic never has been (nor ever will be) performed. Indeed, a careful 2009 review of the vaunted American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines available at that time demonstrated that, in total, less than 10% of recommendations were based on level of evidence (LOE) A (randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or meta-analyses of RCTs), whereas more than half relied on LOE C (studies without controls or expert opinion).1 Despite remarkable and ongoing advances in percutaneous interventions, both meta-analyses of RCTs2 and longitudinal analyses of large registry data3 continue to document the comparative long-term survival benefit of surgical revascularisation for patients with extensive coronary artery disease. Given the now-classic demonstration of the improved survival with the use of the left internal thoracic (or mammary) artery (LITA) rather than saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) for bypassing a diseased left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), the subsequent demonstration of improved patency of ITA versus SVGs and the clear correlation with improved survival4 would seem to make the rationale for the use of two rather than one ITA somewhat compelling. In fact, meta-analyses addressing this very issue have demonstrated a superior long-term survival benefit for bilateral versus single ITA grafting in patients with extensive coronary artery disease. To these reviews, the meta-analysis presented by Buttar et al herein adds information regarding favourable perioperative and long-term clinical parameters that also appear …
Predictors of prolongation in radiation treatment time in a veteran population treated with chemoradiation for oropharyngeal cancer.

AbstractBackground: Prolonged radiation treatment time (RTT) is associated with worse tumor control. Here we identify and determine the implications of factors that predict treatment prolongation in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients undergoing chemoradiation.Methods: Chart review from July 2000 to October 2013. 81 patients with advanced stage oropharyngeal cancer treated with chemoradiation.Results: Twenty-nine patients (35.8%) had RTT prolonged by ≥10 days. Prolongation mainly resulted from acute treatment toxicity (n = 22, 76%). There was no significant difference in RTT for patients treated with concurrent cisplatin versus cetuximab, or in patients treated with or without induction chemotherapy. One-/three-year locoregional control and overall survival rates of 83.4%/76.3% and 83.5%/63.6% for patients without prolonged RTT versus 61.8%/61.8% and 82.8%/73.8% for those with prolongation (p >.05).Conclusions: Prolonged RTT is a significant predictor of worse locoregional control and predominantly resulted fr...
Differences in Business Undergraduate Perceptions by Preferred Classroom Learning Environment.

ABSTRACTOnline education continues to grow at business schools. The authors compared undergraduate business student perceptions across three different classroom learning delivery environments: online, hybrid, and face to face. Based on the survey responses using two independent samples, the authors' analyses found that students who preferred online delivery perceived higher timely graduation and were more likely to recommend online or hybrid courses, whereas students' perceptions of persistence and institutional commitment were not related to classroom learning delivery preference.
R package to estimate intracluster correlation coefficient with confidence interval for binary data

Abstract Background and Objective The Intracluster Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is a major parameter of interest in cluster randomized trials that measures the degree to which responses within the same cluster are correlated. There are several types of ICC estimators and its confidence intervals (CI) suggested in the literature for binary data. Studies have compared relative weaknesses and advantages of ICC estimators as well as its CI for binary data and suggested situations where one is advantageous in practical research. The commonly used statistical computing systems currently facilitate estimation of only a very few variants of ICC and its CI. To address the limitations of current statistical packages, we developed an R package, ICCbin, to facilitate estimating ICC and its CI for binary responses using different methods. Methods The ICCbin package is designed to provide estimates of ICC in 16 different ways including analysis of variance methods, moments based estimation, direct probabilistic methods, correlation based estimation, and resampling method. CI of ICC is estimated using 5 different methods. It also generates cluster binary data using exchangeable correlation structure. Results ICCbin package provides two functions for users. The function rcbin() generates cluster binary data and the function iccbin() estimates ICC and it’s CI. The users can choose appropriate ICC and its CI estimate from the wide selection of estimates from the outputs. Conclusions The R package ICCbin presents very flexible and easy to use ways to generate cluster binary data and to estimate ICC and it’s CI for binary response using different methods. The package ICCbin is freely available for use with R from the CRAN repository ( https://cran.r-project.org/package=ICCbin ). We believe that this package can be a very useful tool for researchers to design cluster randomized trials with binary outcome.
Delayed Onset Transient Pupillary Involving Third Cranial Nerve Palsy in Perimesencephalic Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (P2.289)

Objective: To report a case of pupil involving third nerve palsy in a patient with perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal SAH (PNSAH) which resolved within 8 hours. This is the first case to report such rapid resolution of third nerve (CN3) palsy in the setting of PNSAH. Background: Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal SAH (PNSAH) often have a more benign course than aneurysmal SAH. Rarely, cranial neuropathies including third nerve palsies have been reported in the literature in the setting of PNSAH. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: A 62 year old woman presented to our hospital after she awoke with severe headache, nausea, emesis, and nuchal rigidity, and otherwise normal neurologic exam. Non-contrasted head CT demonstrated SAH filling the basilar cisterns. Head CTA was without evidence of intracranial aneurysm. The following day, the patient had gradual onset of painless CN3 palsy with pupillary involvement. She had no other focal neurologic deficits. Repeat non contrast head CT was stable. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies had normal cerebral artery velocities without evidence of vasospasm. Brain MRI showed small scattered foci of diffusion restriction in areas that would not account for CN3 palsy. Within 8 hours of onset, her CN3 palsy gradually improved and completely resolved. During her hospital stay, she did not have recurrence of cranial nerve palsies, but did have onset of vasospasm seen on TCD. Three cerebral angiograms completed at presentation, one week and one month continued to demonstrate no evidence of intracranial aneurysm or vascular malformation. Conclusions: Unilateral CN3 palsy without associated structural compression has been rarely reported in the setting of PNSAH, and to date no cases have been reported with such rapid reversal of symptoms. Pathophysiology of CN3 palsy in the setting of PNSAH has been hypothesized to be related to either compression or irritation of the oculomotor nerve by the hemorrhage blood products, focal ischemia, or vasospasm. Disclosure: Dr. Kaye has nothing to disclose. Dr. Renati has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nazario-Lopez has nothing to disclose.
Large database utilization in health outcomes research in pancreatic cancer: an update.

We sought to review published aggregate dataset studies on pancreatic cancer in the national and international settings, discuss the advantages and disadvantages these datasets possess, and possible future directions. A combination of Google Scholar, PubMed, and MEDLINE were used with search terms “pancreatic cancer” + “resectable” + “national cancer database”, “pancreatic cancer” + “unresectable” + “national cancer database” and more broadly “borderline resectable pancreatic cancer”, “locally advanced pancreatic cancer”, “unresectable pancreatic cancer”, and “resectable pancreatic cancer”. Original articles and abstracts from this search were included, including data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, National Cancer Database (NCDB), and SEER-Medicare within the United States (US), as well as international database studies. Multiple database studies have been published regarding the role for radiotherapy in resected pancreatic cancer (n=6), the timing of additional therapy in resectable pancreatic cancer (n=4), and the role for radiotherapy and resection in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) (n=4). Studies from both SEER and NCDB found a survival benefit to post-operative radiotherapy. In resectable pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant treatment was found to be superior to adjuvant (NCDB). Chemoradiotherapy was found to be more beneficial than chemotherapy alone in LAPC, and patients who received highly-conformal or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) had improved survival compared to either conformal radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone. These studies also found that up to 10% of patients underwent resection, with a 90% margin-negative rate, and either one-half to one-third the risk of death of non-surgical patients. Criticism of large datasets includes lack of granularity of performance status, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes-related data compared to properly administered prospective trials, as well as cross-over between treatment arms that cannot be accounted for, and concerns over quality of data represented. The US has witnessed a growing number of comparative effectiveness studies in pancreatic cancer. When taken together, certain themes emerge that are consistent with both single-institution data and clinical trials. These studies have also provided insight into questions not readily answerable by clinical trials. However, they require caution in interpretation.
Local flaps to the hand.

SUMMARY In choosing which flap to employ for a particular defect, the surgeon should think again about areas of skin availability. Where insufficient skin is present for a flap design that permits no skin graft, such as a rotation or a rhomboid flap, then a simple transposition flap with a graft on the secondary defect may serve admirably. In planning a local flap, the inexperienced surgeon should always think of an elegant escape should this plan not work—the experienced one always does. In raising the flap, the surgeon should remain aware that he is challenging its blood supply and thereby rendering it more vulnerable to injury; he should take care that he not inflict that injury during dissection. The skin hook and the knife are more precise and less damaging than the forceps and the scissors and should be used in preference. By rendering tissues tense with judicious hook traction, natural planes are revealed. By pursuing such planes much less trauma is inflicted than in creating planes where none exist. The design and execution of a local flap is an intellectual and elegant pursuit worthy of any surgeon. If the surgeon, in turn, is worthy, he or she will appreciate that fact and gain much satisfaction from the practice.
Kinetic models of photobleaching

The photochemical bleaching of dye by light is a long-standing problem for the textile and graphics industries. However, the effects of photochemical bleaching can also be employed usefully to alter the index of refraction of a material to fabricate an optical waveguide in polymeric materials. The advantages of this method include ease of fabrication and the ability to precisely tailor the index of refraction [1]. Details on polymeric waveguides fabricated by photobleaching and on waveguide devices incorporating photobleached waveguides can be found, for instance, in [2] [3].
Brain/skull relative displacement magnitude due to blunt head impact: new experimental data and model

Relative motion between the brain and skull may explain many types of brain injury such as intracerebral hematomas due to bridging veins rupture and cerebral contusions. However, no experimental methods have been developed to measure the magnitude of this motion. Consequently, relative motion between the brain and skull predicted by analytical tools has never been validated. In this study, radio opaque markers were placed in the skull and neutral density markers were placed in the brain in two vertical columns in the occipitoparietal and temporoparietal regions. A bi-planar high-speed x-ray system was used to track the motion of these markers. Due to limitations in current technology to record the x-ray image on high-speed video cameras, only low speed (<4m/s) impact data were available. A previously developed finite element model of the brain simulating blunt head impact was used to study the feasibility of using this model to obtain relative displacement of the same magnitude as that obtained experimentally. The model simulated the scalp, three-layered skull, dura, falx, tentorium, pia, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), venous sinuses, ventricles, cerebrum (gray and white matter), cerebellum, brain stem, and parasagittal bridging veins. No sliding was allowed between any component structures of the model, and a layer of solid elements with low shear modulus was used to model the CSF. However, this approach was not able to predict relative motions over 1 mm between the brain and skull. In this study, the model was modified. Although the CSF remained as a layer of material with a low shear modulus, a sliding interface was introduced to simulate the interaction between the CSF and pia matter. With this change in place, the model predictions corresponded with brain displacement data obtained from cadaveric experiments. The relative skull/brain displacement-time histories predicted by the new model agreed well with those obtained experimentally. The model was also run at higher impact speeds to obtain intracranial pressure as well as displacement histories. The computed coup/contrecoup pressures and contact forces predicted by the model compared favorably with the experimental data published by Nahum et al. Simulation results reproduced the translational acceleration injury mechanism (coup/contrecoup) proposed by Gurdjian and Lissner.
Reduction of ochratoxin A in direct steam injected oat-based infant cereals with baking soda

Abstract Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a possible human carcinogen with its potent nephrotoxicity and has been found in many agricultural commodities particularly in oats and its processed foods including oat-based infant cereals. While OTA is stable under most thermal processing conditions, alkaline pH can increase the reduction of OTA. In this study, the effect of direct steam injection (DSI) process along with the absence and presence baking soda (0.5% and 1% of solid contents) on the reduction of OTA in oat-based infant cereals was investigated. Food-grade oat flour was spiked with OTA (100 μg/kg) and equilibrated overnight followed by preparation of slurry by adding water to reach 5% solid content. Then the slurry was processed by DSI at 85 °C and 121 °C followed by spray drying at 210 °C. Greater reduction of OTA in DSI processed oat-based infant cereals was observed at higher process temperature to result in 20–28% reduction. In addition, the reduction of OTA increased with increasing amounts of baking soda. These results suggest that OTA may be reduced significantly by DSI process, which can be applied to commercial production of oat-based infant cereals. Baking soda may also help to reduce OTA amount in cereal-based infant cereals during thermal processing.
Creating an Eco-system of Creativity in Your Library

Abstract The ability of an organization to harness the creativity of its employees to generate ideas, both large and small, is more critical than ever for the survival of any organization, endeavor, or service. Nonetheless, libraries, like many organizations, have been slow to create environments and adopt strategies to enhance, encourage, and reward creativity. This article examines some of the pitfalls organizations fall into that thwart creativity, and it identifies some strategies for promoting creativity and ideas.
Ten years of mechanical complications of central venous catheterization in trauma patients.

The study purpose was to determine the incidence of mechanical complications (MC) associated with central venous catheterization (CVC) and to evaluate their impact on outcomes. This was a retrospec...
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Territorial Disputes between Adversarial States: Implications for Tsai Ing-wen’s “New Southbound Policy” and Taiwan’s Approach to Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea

This study examines whether the pacifying effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on territorial disputes between adversarial dyads is conditional upon the dyads’ past experience of military cooperation. I built a political economy model and conducted a logistic regression analysis on the newly coded bilateral FDI data between adversarial dyads and the existing dataset by merging the rivalry data established by Thompson [51] and the territorial disputes data collected by Lee and Mitchell [42]. I found that when bilateral FDI flows between adversarial dyads reach a certain level the pacifying effect of FDI is stronger for adversarial dyads with past military cooperation. I also found that while past military cooperation has a pacifying effect in general, past military cooperation that occurred more recently has a stronger pacifying effect than those that occurred a while ago. Moreover, based upon the theoretical model and empirical findings in this paper, I investigated the political implications for Tsai Ing-wen’s “New Southbound Policy” and Taiwan’s approach to the territorial dispute issues in the South China Sea.