cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Para-anastomotic haematoma volume predicts the presence of anastomotic extravasation after radical retropubic prostatectomy

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To determine the mechanism for delayed healing of the urinary anastomosis after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS The volumes of the para-anastomotic haematoma (PHV) and anastomotic extravasation were measured by ultrasonography in 95 men after RRP. The performance characteristics of PHV for predicting urinary extravasation were ascertained and compared with that of postoperative blood loss, measured as the difference between the haematocrit immediately after RRP and that at discharge. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of PHV for predicting urinary extravasation at a threshold of 37 mL was 100% and 96%, respectively. PHV was superior to postoperative blood loss in predicting anastomotic extravasation, as shown by an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.99 vs 0.91, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide compelling evidence that delayed healing of the anastomosis after RRP is due to distraction forces secondary to a pelvic haematoma. The accuracy of PHV as a predictor of anastomotic extravasation suggests that this measurement might replace cystography for assessing anastomotic integrity after RRP.
The solubility of amorphous As2S3 from 25 to 90°C

The solubility of amorphous arsenic sulfide (As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am)) has been experimentally determined from 25 to 90C. In acidic, sulfide-deficient solutions, H{sub 3}AsO{sub 3}{sup 0} is the dominant product of As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am) dissolution: 1/2 As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am) + 3 H{sub 2}O = H{sub 3}AsO{sub 3}{sup 0} + 3/2 H{sub 2}S{sup 0}. The respective logarithms of equilibrium constants for this reaction are {minus}11.9 {plus minus} 0.3 at 25C, {minus}11.2 {plus minus} 0.2 at 40C, {minus}10.2 {plus minus} 0.1 at 60C, and {minus}9.0 {plus minus} 0.2 at 90C, all at 0.1 m ionic strength. In acidic solutions with excess sulfide, experimental data are consistent with H{sub 2}As{sub 3}S{sub 6}{sup {minus}} being the dominant dissolved As species: 3/2 As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am) + 3/2 H{sub 2}S{sup 0} = H{sub 2}As{sub 3}S{sub 6}{sup {minus}} + H{sup +}. The respective logarithms of equilibrium constants for this reaction are {minus}5.0 {plus minus} 0.3 at 25C, {minus}5.1 {plus minus} 0.3 at 40C, {minus}4.9 {plus minus} 0.2 at 60C, and {minus}4.1 {plus minus} 0.1 at 90C, all at 0.1 m ionic strength. Speciation calculations for a number of acidic hot springs indicate that many have As and H{sub 2}S{sup 0} concentrations that are bracketed by the solubilities ofmore » As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am) and orpiment and that H{sub 3}AsO{sup 0}{sub 3} is generally the dominant dissolved As species. The solubility data indicate that lowering of temperature and pH are the most likely mechanisms of As{sub 2}S{sub 3}(am) precipitation in hot spring systems.« less
DFM: Impact analysis in a high performance design

Layout context effects play a significant role in determining circuit performance in advanced technology nodes. In this paper, a study of the common design practices to tackle the increasing process variations in advanced CMOS technologies is also done. We highlight a method by which we have tackled the challenge of modeling these effects in the critical paths of a large System-on-Chip (SoC) design. We describe an approach to handle these variations when analyzing clock trees and data paths for design timing. The methodology models the true cell context in design layout to comprehend the impact of context specific process variations.
Dose Spacing in Early Dose Response Clinical Trial Designs

Finding the right dose or the right range of doses is one of the most important objectives in the clinical development program of a new drug. In designing early Phase 2 dose response studies, one critical question is: “What spacing should be used between test doses?” In this article, we propose an intuitive, model-free approach to address this question. Simulations are performed to compare the proposed design with optimal designs under logistic and normal models. The proposed method for dose allocation can be applied to various types of dose response studies.
The Challenges of Effectively Anonymizing Network Data

The uncertainties that currently exist about the efficacy of network data anonymization, from both technical and policy perspectives, leave the research community in a vulnerable position. Even as the field marches forward, it does so with little understanding of the implications of publishing anonymized network data on the privacy of the networks being monitored and the utility to researchers. Without that understanding, data publishers are left to wonder what fields must be anonymized to avoid legal fallout, while researchers question the confidence of results gained from the data. However, the extensive work done on micro- data anonymity provides the network research community with several useful insights about how to effectively apply anonymization to published data. At the same time, prior wisdom cannot be applied directly without first overcoming several challenges, including the development of appropriate privacy and utility definitions for the more complex case of network data. Addressing these challenges is essential, in our view, to ensure the continued, yet responsible, availability of network trace data to support security research.
Creating Modern Chinese Metaphysics Feng Youlan and New Realism

Feng Youlan (1895–1990), a preeminent philosopher of twentieth-century China, tried to build a modern Chinese metaphysics that was at once universal and based on a structure of traditional Chinese concepts such as li/principles and qi/vital energy. His intellectual borrowings included New Realism, an early twentieth-century school of philosophy that attempted to provide a scientific basis for metaphysics. New Realism’s affirmation of the objectivity of a priori logical relationships in the universe enabled Feng to construct a metaphysical structure of philosophy in China without becoming bogged down in the debate of the priority of practice over principle in Chinese history. While most published work has treated Feng’s famous “negative method” as the “more Chinese” part of his work in contrast to his writings influenced by New Realism, this article argues that Feng’s logical/metaphysical construct of philosophy in China sought to build a metaphysical discourse of experience by employing both a logical/ana...
Postconditioning by volatile anesthetics: salvaging ischemic myocardium at reperfusion by activation of prosurvival signaling.

Z N u EPERFUSION AFTER PROLONGED coronary artery occlusion is a prerequisite for salvaging ischemic myocardium. nfortunately, reperfusion also paradoxically exacerbates the iniial damage caused by the ischemia itself.1-3 Experiments conucted in the 1980s by Buckberg and associates4-7 provided the rst evidence that modification of reperfusion conditions may educe the extent of injury resulting from restoration of coroary blood flow. Studies of controlled coronary hemodynamics fter myocardial ischemia indicated that gradual reperfusion at ow intracoronary pressures reduces the size of the resulting yocardial infarction.4 For example, selective low-pressure 40-50 mmHg) coronary artery reperfusion before total reversal f coronary occlusion not only reduced infarct size but also nhanced postischemic systolic function in the absence or resence of inotropic drugs and attenuated myocardial tissue dema compared with abrupt reperfusion.5 Similarly, eliminaion of reactive hyperemia during early reperfusion by mainteance of coronary blood flow at levels present before the onset f coronary occlusion preserved myocardial metabolism, reuced intracellular calcium (Ca2 ) accumulation, and improved egional wall motion compared with uncontrolled reperfusion.8 radual reperfusion of the ischemic territory during the first 30 inutes after prolonged coronary occlusion also reduced myoardial necrosis in vivo and preserved endothelial function in ostischemic coronary arterial rings in vitro.9 These and other tudies6,7,10,11 suggested that “gentle” or “staged” control of oronary hemodynamics during early reperfusion was a critical eterminant of myocardial integrity and contractile function fter a brief or prolonged ischemic episode.8 Despite the comelling nature of these observations, the vast majority of the xperimental and clinical research investigations examining the dverse consequences of ischemia-reperfusion injury and how hey may be mitigated have instead focused on interventions erformed before the onset of ischemia (ie, preconditioning). owever, coronary artery occlusion cannot be temporally preicted in most patients with acute myocardial infarction with ny degree of certainty, and, as a result, the application of schemic or pharmacologic preconditioning strategies has been imited to conditions in which the precise onset of ischemia is ell defined (eg, inflation of an angioplasty balloon during ardiac catheterization, application of the aortic cross-clamp uring cardiopulmonary bypass, and coronary occlusion to acilitate vascular anastomosis during off-pump coronary artery ypass graft surgery). t
A Comparison of Extended and Quasigeostrophic Dynamics for a Case of Small–Rossby Number Extratropical Cyclone Development

Abstract This note compares the extended (EXT) and quasigeostrophic (QG) dynamics of a small–Rossby number extratropical cyclone using the Zwack–Okossi (ZO) equation. Applied to a cyclone that occurred on 8–9 November 1985 over the North Atlantic Ocean, results show that although differences exist, both the EXT and QG forms of the ZO equation provide very adequate estimates of the large-scale forcing processes associated with this case.
Properties of the M antigen solubilized from genetically high potassium sheep red cells.

The M antigen genetically associated with the high potassium (HK) status of sheep red cells was solubilized in 0.5% Triton X-100. This procedure did not impair M-antibody binding in the presence of detergent because solubilized membranes bound M-antibody in units equivalent to control membranes. As judged by M-antibody binding, the antigen was found to be stable in 0.5% Triton X-100 at 4°C but lost its activity rapidly at 37°C or when diluted to low detergent concentrations. However, the formation of the M antigen-antibody complex prior to dilution or exposure to elevated temperature protected the M antigen from inactivation. Brief exposure to alkaline pH released the extrinsic membrane proteins from red cell membranes without solubilizing the M antigen. The intrinsic membrane proteins were further separated by ion exchange chromatography on Affi-Gel 102. M antigenic activity copurified with the sheep specific protein band 2.2, band 6, and the glycoproteins and appeared to be separate from the main portio...
The Impact of Strategic Consumer Behavior on the Value of Operational Flexibility

Increasingly sophisticated consumers have learned to anticipate future price reductions and forego purchasing products until such markdowns occur. Such forward-looking or strategic behavior on the part of consumers can have a significant impact on retail margins by shifting a large number of sales from higher, “full” prices to lower, “clearance” prices. Some firms, however, have become adept at dealing with the strategic consumer problem by implementing various forms of operational flexibility (for example, investing in faster supply chains capable of rapidly responding to changing demand conditions). A firm famous for this strategy is the Spanish fashion retailer Zara. In this chapter, we explore the strategic consumer purchasing phenomenon, and in particular address how the Zara model of operational flexibility impacts consumer behavior (and, conversely, how consumer behavior impacts the value of operational flexibility). We examine in detail the consequences of volume flexibility – the ability of a firm to adjust production or procurement levels to meet stochastic demand – and demonstrate that this type of flexibility can be highly effective at reducing the extent of strategic behavior. Indeed, we show that in many cases, the value of volume flexibility is greater when consumers are strategic than when they are not. We also show that volume flexibility is always socially optimal (i.e., it increases the total welfare of the firm and consumers) and may also improve consumer welfare (i.e., it can be a Pareto improving strategy). We also discuss the impact of other types of operational flexibility – design flexibility, in which a product’s design can be modified to suit changing consumer tastes, and mix flexibility, in which production capacity can be dynamically allocated among several similar product variants – and argue that these types of flexibility are also effective at mitigating strategic customer purchasing behavior.
Polyamine Oxidase and 3-Aminopropanal in the Pathogenesis of Cerebral Ischemia

Stroke is a clinical syndrome caused by cerebral ischemia or cerebral infarction. It is one of the most significant worldwide health problems, and the third leading cause of death (after cardiovascular disease and cancer) in the USA, where there are 600,000 events associated with more than 150,000 deaths per annum [1, 2, 3]. Stroke occurs in all age groups, but incidence doubles with each decade over 45. Clinical manifestations include aphasia, paralysis, blindness, and altered consciousness, depending on the size, extent, and anatomic location of the ischemic damage [45]. The financial cost of stroke to society, by several estimates, exceeds $45 billion per year in the USA alone [1]. Recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) has been approved for the treatment of ischemic stroke for a limited number of eligible patients, but access to this therapy is limited to tertiary care centers that have interventional neuroradiologists and neurologists on standby to properly diagnose the stroke as ischemic.Additionally, the effective therapeutic window for successful administration of tPA is limited to the first few hours after onset of the stroke, because later administration can lead to hemorrhagic complications. A number of other experimental therapeutics have targeted N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and other pathways, but either fail to reduce stroke damage, or have unanticipated toxicity profiles [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]. Accordingly, there is a significant need to develop new therapeutic agents that target other pathogenic mediators of stroke.
Substrates mediate responses of forest bryophytes to a gradient in overstory retention

Forest bryophytes are sensitive to the disturbances and environmental changes associated with forest management. We asked whether the substrates on which bryophytes grow mediate responses to exposure following canopy removal. We measured bryophyte cover and richness in 0.1 m2 quadrats on the forest floor, decayed logs, and tree bases along a gradient of dispersed overstory retention (100%, 40%, and 15% of initial basal area) 7 to 8 years after harvest of mature Pseudotsuga forests. Cover, local richness, and, to a lesser degree, species evenness declined steeply across the retention gradient on decayed logs and tree bases but not on the forest floor. Liverworts were more sensitive than mosses, particularly on decayed logs and on the southwestern aspects of trees (>97% declines in cover under 15% retention). Richness and evenness at the treatment scale also declined sharply on decayed logs and on the southwestern aspects of trees but changed little or increased under 40% retention on the forest floor. Our ...
Evaluation, Treatment, and Transport of Pediatric Patients With Shock

Early recognition and correct treatment of shock remain the most important keys to preventing the death and disability frequently caused by this condition in children. The pediatrician plays a vital role in this process and in referral of the patient for transport to tertiary care centers, where shock is best managed. The transport environment creates special challenges in initial stabilization and ongoing treatment of shock. Discussion centers on clinical clues to recognition, on simple measures available to increase tissue oxygenation, and on the issues of pretransport and transport treatment. Support of airway and breathing, vascular access, and correct fluid therapy remain the cornerstones of successful treatment.
The Tasks of Philosophy: Selected Essays

How should we respond when some of our basic beliefs are put into question? What makes a human body distinctively human? Why is truth an important good? These are among the questions explored in this 2006 collection of essays by Alasdair MacIntyre, one of the most creative and influential philosophers working today. Ten of MacIntyre's most influential essays written over almost thirty years are collected together here for the first time. They range over such topics as the issues raised by different types of relativism, what it is about human beings that cannot be understood by the natural sciences, the relationship between the ends of life and the ends of philosophical writing, and the relationship of moral philosophy to contemporary social practice. They will appeal to a wide range of readers across philosophy and especially in moral philosophy, political philosophy, and theology.
Use of keratinocytes in combination with a dermal replacement to treat skin loss

Abstract: The process of induced regeneration of the adult skin is traditionally based on a sequential two-step technique in which an acellular dermal scaffold and a thin skin graft are grafted in the wound bed in two sequential surgical procedures. More recently, it has been shown that autologous keratinocytes can be seeded directly into the dermal scaffolds resulting in contemporary dermal and epidermal regeneration upon grafting. This one-step procedure reduces the morbidity of the patients and the hospital costs, while allowing for improved skin regeneration, compared to the traditional two steps.
The family caregiving context among adults with disabilities: A review of the research on developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, and traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACTA majority of adults with serious disabilities are cared for in the home by family members. Guided by an ecological framework, this article presents the findings of a literature review of research on family caregiving and family support for adults with disabilities. This review included 33 research studies published between 2000 and 2015 focused on three disabilities: Developmental disabilities, serious mental illnesses, and traumatic brain injury. A synthesis of the findings underscores the critical role that family caregivers occupy in addressing the needs of their loved one with a disability; however, the needs of the caregiver are insufficiently met by existing service approaches. A better understanding of the unique needs and strengths of the family support context of caregivers and care recipients is needed, giving greater attention to ethnic, racial, and cultural considerations in future research.
Adequate Causes and Natural Change in Descartes’ Philosophy

Descartes uses versions of the principle that a cause must contain what comes about in its effect in his proofs that God exists and that the external world exists. I want in this paper to show that Descartes does not regard this adequacy principle simply as a formal device useful in constructing a special kind of argument, but rather regards it as a principle true of natural change in general. I shall support this claim by showing that it is that principle which generates central problems for Descartes’s treatment both of causal connections between body and mind and of causal connections among bodies. My method, then, is indirect. I will be looking at these problems, and at the ways Descartes handles them, as symptoms; and I will be arguing that they arise from an underlying and thoroughgoing commitment to the conception of causality articulated in the adequacy principle.
IMPROVED PROCEDURES FOR MEASUREMENT OF AFLATOXINS WITH THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND FLUOROMETRY1

Optimal resolution of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 was obtained when thin layer Chromatoplates equipped with a 0.25 mm layer of silica gel (Adsorbosil-5) were used within 2 hr after heat activation and when plates were developed in an unlined unequilibrated tank containing methanol and chloroform (1:99 v/v). Plates were further improved for fluorometric scanning by extending the distance of the solvent front from 15 to 18 cm and by scoring the Adsorbosil-5 to provide narrow bands prior to spotting the sample. Chromatoplates treated as described were accurately scanned with a fluorometer (not a modified densitometer) and concentrations of aflatoxins were indicated by areas under peaks as drawn by an attached recorder. A satisfactory linear relationship was obtained between the emitted fluorescences expresed as the area under peaks and concentration of the four aflatoxins.
Named State and Efficient Context Switching

Context switches are slow in conventional processors because the entire processor state must be saved and restored, even if much of the restored state is not used before the next context switch. This unnecessary data movement is required because of the coarse granularity of binding between names and registers. In this paper we introduce the Named-State Register File (NSF), which binds variable names to individual registers. This allows context switches to be very inexpensive, since registers are only loaded and saved out as needed. Analysis shows that the Named-State Register File uses registers more efficiently than a multithreaded register file, and supports more tasks without spilling to memory. Circuit simulations indicate that the access time of a NSF is only 6% greater than a conventional register file. The NSF only requires 25% more VLSI chip area to implement than a conventional register file.
Efficacy and Safety of the Gardos Channel Inhibitor, ICA-17043, in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Abstract The rate and extent of hemoglobin S (HbS) polymer formation in the circulating sickle erythrocyte (RBC) is strongly influenced by the intracellular concentration of HbS. ICA-17043 (bis(4-fluorophenyl)phenyl acetamide) is a novel Gardos channel inhibitor that specifically blocks Ca++-dependent K+ efflux from the human RBC. By limiting the loss of K+, Cl−, and water, this drug preserves the hydration status of the RBC, prevents increases in HbS concentration and thereby inhibits HbS-polymerization. We hypothesized that ICA-17043 could decrease both the hemolytic rate and vaso-occlusive complications of sickle cell anemia (SCA). In a recently completed multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, dose-range-finding study, we examined the efficacy and safety of ICA-17043 in patients with SCA. In this 12-week study, 90 patients were randomized into 3 arms: placebo; low dose ICA-17043 (6 mg); and high dose ICA-17043 (10 mg). The primary outcome variable was the change in hemoglobin (Hb) from baseline to the end of the study. A total of 90 subjects were enrolled in this study, 80 of whom completed the 12-week treatment period. Using an intent-to-treat analysis, we found a significant increase from baseline of the total Hb when the subjects in the high dose arm (0.68 ± 0.11 g/dL, S.E.) were compared to those in the placebo arm (0.01 ± 0.12 g/dL), p Download : Download high-res image (214KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure In addition to the increase in Hb (as well as similar increases in hematocrit and RBC count), statistically significant decreases were noted after 12 weeks on 10 mg of ICA-17043 vs. placebo in the following variables: a) dense RBC (% with Hb >41 g/dL) [−2.41 vs. −0.08, p
Negotiated learning for smart grid agents: entity selection based on dynamic partially observable features

An attractive approach to managing electricity demand in the Smart Grid relies on real-time pricing (RTP) tariffs, where customers are incentivized to quickly adapt to changes in the cost of supply. However, choosing amongst competitive RTP tariffs is difficult when tariff prices change rapidly. The problem is further complicated when we assume that the price changes for a tariff are published in real-time only to those customers who are currently subscribed to that tariff, thus making the prices partially observable. We present models and learning algorithms for autonomous agents that can address the tariff selection problem on behalf of customers. We introduce Negotiated Learning, a general algorithm that enables a self-interested sequential decision-making agent to periodically select amongst a variable set of entities (e.g., tariffs) by negotiating with other agents in the environment to gather information about dynamic partially observable entity features (e.g., tariff prices) that affect the entity selection decision. We also contribute a formulation of the tariff selection problem as a Negotiable Entity Selection Process, a novel representation. We support our contributions with intuitive justification and simulation experiments based on real data on an open Smart Grid simulation platform.
Investigation of the Nucleophilic Attack of Dichlorvos by Reduced Sulfur Species Using 1H NMR.

The mechanism of the reaction of dichlorvos through hydrolysis reactions and through the reaction with polysulfide (Sn2–) and thiophenolate (PhS–) was investigated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). The study confirmed product identities of an organophosphorus insecticide reacting with reduced sulfur species using 1H NMR in oxygen sensitive solutions. The experiments of dichlorvos with polysulfide led to the detection of a previously undetected product. The thiophenolate experiments were further advanced to investigate second-order rate kinetics using an internal standard. The experiments provide new evidence for a nucleophilic attack by the reduced sulfur species at the methoxy carbon of dichlorvos. In addition, the observation of in situ reaction dynamics illustrates the applicability of 1H NMR spectroscopy toward kinetic investigations in environmental science.
Atomic Layer GaSe/MoS2 van der Waals Heterostructure Photodiodes with Low Noise and Large Dynamic Range

We report on the demonstration of atomic layer van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure photodiodes operating in the visible regime, enabled by stacking single- to few-layer n-type molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on top of few-layer p-type gallium selenide (GaSe) crystals. The atomic layer vdW photodiode exhibits an excellent photoresponsivity of ∼3A/W at the wavelength of 532 nm when symmetric few-layer graphene (FLG) contacts with low contact resistance are used. On the other hand, for a GaSe/MoS2 photodiode with asymmetric GaSe/FLG and MoS2/gold (Au) contacts, a very low noise equivalent power of NEP ∼ 10–14 W/Hz is obtained due to dark current reduction, which demonstrates the feasibility of detecting sub-pW (<10–12 W) level optical illumination. Further, the same photodiode exhibits a large linear dynamic range of DR ≈ 70 dB due to the remarkable photocurrent to dark current ratio. These results show that not only the p–n junction formed at the interface between p-type GaSe and n-type MoS2 but also the metal–...
Quasi-Periodic Orbits in the Five-Dimensional Nondissipative Lorenz Model: The Role of the Extended Nonlinear Feedback Loop

A recent study suggested that the nonlinear feedback loop (NFL) of the three-dimensional nondissipative Lorenz model (3D-NLM) serves as a nonlinear restoring force by producing nonlinear oscillator...
Real-world health outcomes in adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the United States: a population study using electronic health records to examine patient-perceived treatment effectiveness, medication use, and healthcare resource utilization.

Little is known regarding real-world health outcomes data among US psoriasis patients, but electronic health records (EHR) that collect structured data at point-of-care may provide opportunities to investigate real-world health outcomes among psoriasis patients. Our objective was to investigate patient-perceived treatment effectiveness, patterns of medication use (duration, switching, and/or discontinuation), healthcare resource utilization, and medication costs using real-world data from psoriasis patients. Data for adults (≥18-years) with a dermatology provider-given diagnosis of psoriasis from 9/2014–9/2015 were obtained from dermatology practices using a widely used US dermatology-specific EHR containing over 500,000 psoriasis patients. Disease severity was captured by static physician’s global assessment and body surface area. Patient-perceived treatment effectiveness was assessed by a pre-defined question. Treatment switching and duration were documented. Reasons for discontinuations were assessed using pre-defined selections. Healthcare resource utilization was defined by visit frequency and complexity. From 82,621 patients with psoriasis during the study period, patient-perceived treatment effectiveness was investigated in 2200 patients. The proportion of patients reporting “strongly agree” when asked if their treatment was effective was highest for biologics (73%) and those reporting treatment adherence (55%). In 16,000 patients who received oral systemics and 21,087 patients who received biologics, median treatment duration was longer for those who received biologics (160 vs. 113 days, respectively). Treatment switching was less frequent among patients on systemic monotherapies compared to those on combination therapies. The most common reason for discontinuing biologics was loss of efficacy; the most common reason for discontinuing orals was side effects. In 28,754 patients, higher disease severity was associated with increased healthcare resource utilization (increased visit frequency and complexity). When compared between treatment groups (n = 10,454), healthcare resource utilization was highest for phototherapy. Annual medication costs were higher for biologics ($21,977) than oral systemics ($3413). Real-world research using a widely implemented dermatology EHR provided valuable insights on patient perceived treatment effectiveness, patterns of medication usage, healthcare resource utilization, and medication costs for psoriasis patients in the US. This study and others utilizing EHRs for real-world research may assist clinical and payer decisions regarding the management of psoriasis.
Back to the Pillory

When one motions to deploy shaming as punishment, a seconder is often hard to find. Yet, this chapter argues, shame is a deeply democratic and communitarian form of social control, as punishment is administered in accordance with the values of the community of which the offender is a member. Far from colonial floggings and witch hunts, modern forms of shaming, like a thief who must confess his crime in the local newspaper, can be a humane and effective form of deterrence. The chapter explores the history of shaming as judicial punishment, the forms it takes, and the conditions under which it is best practiced, and considers how shame can reintegrate offenders into modern communities, rather than ostracize them. The chapter points to the current state of criminal justice, where prisons turn criminals into hardened outsiders likely to reoffend, and asks the reader to consider how returning to the pillory, so to speak, could be a progressive alternative to the status quo.
Technical note: evaluation of acid detergent lignin, alkaline peroxide lignin, acid insoluble ash, and indigestible acid detergent fiber as internal markers for prediction of alfalfa, bromegrass, and prairie hay digestibility by beef steers.

Six steers (BW = 436 +/- 15 kg) were assigned randomly to alfalfa, bromegrass, or prairie hay diets in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design to evaluate the efficacy of different internal markers for estimating OM digestibility (OMD). Internal markers used to estimate OMD included ADL, alkaline peroxide lignin (APL), AIA, and indigestible ADF (IADF), which consisted of a 144-h in vitro incubation (IADFWOUT), indigestible ADF with acid/pepsin pretreatment of feed and orts samples (IADFFEED), or acid/pepsin pretreatment of feed, orts, and fecal samples (IADFALL). Marker-derived estimates of OMD were compared with OMD measured by total fecal collection (TFC). For the alfalfa diet, all marker estimates differed (P less than .05) from the TFC measurement; however, lignin-based procedures (ADL and APL) and IADF with acid/pepsin pretreatment (IADFFEED, IADFALL) were numerically closest to TFC values. Estimates of bromegrass and prairie hay OMD by ADL, APL, and AIA ratio were not different (P greater than .05) from TFC measurement, although AIA seemed to provide the most accurate estimate for prairie hay. All indigestible ADF procedures yielded estimates of forage OMD that differed (P less than .05) from TFC for all forages; acid/pepsin pretreatment of samples (IADFFEED and IADFALL) improved accuracy of the OMD estimates in all forages. Likewise, recovery of indigestible ADF was consistently least among the markers evaluated. These results indicate that APL ratio performed similarly to ADL ratio in estimating forage OMD, that AIA estimated grass OMD very accurately, and that estimation of OMD by indigestible ADF ratio was improved when the procedure was accompanied by an acid/pepsin pretreatment of samples.
Why Ion-Doped, PZC-Altered Silica and Alumina Fail to Influence Platinum Adsorption

The point of zero charge (PZC) of common oxide catalyst supports such as alumina and silica can be altered by doping with anions such as Cl-, which lower the ZPC, or cations such as Na+ or K+, which raise the PZC. In a prior work it was shown that such alterations did not influence the properties of either support toward the adsorption of either cationic amine or anionic chloride complexes of Pt(IV) [1]. This follow-up work explored the hypothesis that in the pH range of interest (low pH over cation-doped silica, high pH over anion-doped alumina) the dopant is dissolved and the surface behaves as pure.
Zero-Field Splitting Parameters from Four-Component Relativistic Methods

We report an approach for determination of zero-field splitting parameters from four-component relativistic calculations. Our approach involves neither perturbative treatment of spin-orbit interaction nor truncation of the spin-orbit coupled states. We make use of a multi-state implementation of relativistic complete active space perturbation theory (CASPT2), partially contracted N-electron valence perturbation theory (NEVPT2), and multi-reference configuration interaction theory (MRCI), all with the fully internally contracted ansatz. A mapping is performed from the Dirac Hamiltonian to the pseudospin Hamiltonian, using correlated energies and the magnetic moment matrix elements of the reference wave functions. Direct spin-spin coupling is naturally included through the full 2-electron Breit interaction. Benchmark calculations on chalcogen diatomics and pseudotetrahedral cobalt(II) complexes show accuracy comparable to the commonly used state-interaction with spin-orbit (SI-SO) approach, while tests on a uranium(III) single-ion magnet suggest that for actinide complexes the strengths of our approach through the more robust treatment of spin-orbit effects and the avoidance of state truncation are of greater importance.
Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N2-fixing tree increases soil N2O emissions

Invasions of introduced species have homogenized ecological communities worldwide, leading to losses of native species and the services they provide. Some of these invaders substantially alter nutrient cycling, which changes conditions for all other organisms, but less is known about the potential influence of these species on nitrogen (N) trace gas emissions that affect atmospheric processes. We used a natural experiment to explore whether the establishment of an introduced nitrogen (N) fixing tree (Falcataria moluccana) and recent invasion of an amphibian predator, the Caribbean tree frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), into native Hawaiian rainforests have affected soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO), two atmospherically important trace gases produced by soil microorganisms. Soil N2O and NO emissions and rates of soil N cycling were significantly higher in F. moluccana‐dominated stands compared to native Metrosideros polymorpha (Ohi'a) stands. Additionally, invasion of E. coqui frogs moderately increased soil N2O emissions, primarily in non‐native F. moluccana forests where soil N availability was already elevated. N2O emissions were positively and significantly related to net potential N mineralization, and total N2O+NO fluxes increased with soil nitrate (NO3−) concentration and rates of nitrification. Previous work in these Hawaiian rainforest sites has shown that F. moluccana substantially increases N availability by increasing ecosystem N supply compared to uninvaded stands, and E. coqui accelerates N availability and litter decomposition, although moderately, due to enhanced fluxes of nutrient‐rich waste products. Here, we show that acceleration of nutrient cycling by introduced species can also alter biosphere–atmosphere exchange of N‐oxides.
Algorithmic Bayesian Group Gibbs Selection

Bayesian model selection, with precedents in George and McCulloch (1993) and Abramovich et al. (1998), support credibility measures that relate model uncertainty, but computation can be costly when sparse priors are approximate. We design an exact selection engine suitable for Gauss noise, t-distributed noise, and logistic learning, benefiting from data-structures derived from coordinate descent lasso. Gibbs sampler chains are stored in a compressed binary format compatible with Equi-Energy (Kou et al., 2006) tempering. We achieve a grouped-effects selection model, similar to the setting for group lasso, to determine co-entry of coefficients into the model. We derive a functional integrand for group inclusion, and introduce a new MCMC switching step to avoid numerical integration. Theorems show this step has exponential convergence to target distribution. We demonstrate a role for group selection to inform on genetic decomposition in a diallel experiment, and identify potential quantitative trait loci in p > 40K Heterogenous Stock haplotype/phenotype studies.
Syncretizing Art, Religion and Illness in The Book of Mechtilde

In The Book of Mechtilde, Jamaican author and artist Anna Henriques uses metaphor in both text and illustrations to examine her mother’s battle with cancer and her own sense of loss after her mother dies. The narrator begins by metaphorically draws upon the Book of Job as well as Afro-Caribbean spiritual beliefs on the island such as divination and the existence of duppies. She also alludes to the post-independence political instability in Jamaica as different groups such as the JLP and PNP vied for power. By incorporating this mixture of metaphors in the depiction of her mother’s disease, the narrator addresses the syncretic nature of Caribbean belief systems, the history of the island and the difficulty of dealing with grief at a young age.
The transcription factor ETS1 promotes apoptosis resistance of senescent cholangiocytes by epigenetically up-regulating the apoptosis suppressor BCL2L1

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an idiopathic, progressive cholangiopathy. Cholangiocyte senescence is important in PSC pathogenesis, and we have previously reported that senescence is regulated by the transcription factor ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) and associated with overexpression of BCL2 like 1 (BCL2L1 or BCL-xL), an anti-apoptotic BCL2-family member. Here, we further explored the mechanisms regulating BCL-xL-mediated, apoptosis resistance in senescent cholangiocytes and uncovered that ETS1 and the histone acetyltransferase E1A-binding protein P300 (EP300 or p300) both promote BCL-xL transcription. Using immunofluorescence, we found that BCL-xL protein expression is increased both in cholangiocytes of livers from individuals with PSC and a mouse model of PSC. Using an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide-induced senescence in normal human cholangiocytes (NHCs), we found increased BCL-xL mRNA and protein levels, and ChIP-PCRs indicated increased occupancy of ETS1, p300, and histone 3 Lys-27 acetylation (H3K27Ac) at the BCL-xL promoter. Using co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays, we further demonstrate that ETS1 and p300 physically interact in senescent but not control NHCs. Additionally, mutagenesis of predicted ETS1-binding sites within the BCL-xL promoter blocked luciferase reporter activity, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic deletion of ETS1 reduced senescence-associated BCL-xL expression. In senescent NHCs, TRAIL-mediated apoptosis was reduced ∼70%, and ETS1 deletion or RNAi-mediated BCL-xL suppression increased apoptosis. Overall, our results suggest that ETS1 and p300 promote senescent cholangiocyte resistance to apoptosis by modifying chromatin and inducing BCL-xL expression. These findings reveal ETS1 as a central regulator of both cholangiocyte senescence and the associated apoptosis-resistant phenotype.
Zinc and Growth

While each of the micronutrients that has a role in mammalian physiology is necessary for normal growth and development, none is more intimately involved in these processes than zinc. Results of studies of animal models, ranging from rodents to primates, have emphasised the deleterious effects of zinc deprivation on both preand postnatal growth. Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of zinc at a sub-cellular and molecular level have served to illustrate, if not yet completely elucidate, why zinc is so important for growth (Cousins, 1998). Not only are zinc metalloenzymes involved in multiple aspects of nucleic acid metabolism and protein synthesis, it appears that this metal may have an intracellular regulatory role in cellular growth and differentiation. The zinc finger motif of many transcription proteins is likely to be involved in this role and there are, currently, rapid advances in identification of the involvement of zinc in gene expression. Among many other potential examples of how cellular growth and differentiation are dependent on zinc, are the zinc finger motifs of receptors for steroid hormones and maintenance of the integrity of ion channels. It appears that the deleterious effects of zinc on linear, ie. bone, growth may be mediated in part through interference with the effects of IGF-1 at a post-receptor level by loss of the integrity of a calcium ion channel (MacDonald, 1999). This is just one example of how zinc deficiency may impair linear growth. It is also known that bone cell growth and differentiation are diminished by zinc deficiency (Schmidmayer, 1999). This brief review will focus on zinc and growth in the human, outlining our growing appreciation of the prevalence and significance of growth-limiting zinc deficiency in children. Growth failure is a prominent feature of Adolescent Nutritional Dwarfism, which was the focus of the first hypothesis and investigations of human zinc deficiency (Prasad et al., 1961) in the early 1960s. This pioneering research merits further recognition as the
Nerves in cancer

The contribution of nerves to the pathogenesis of malignancies has emerged as an important component of the tumour microenvironment. Recent studies have shown that peripheral nerves (sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory) interact with tumour and stromal cells to promote the initiation and progression of a variety of solid and haematological malignancies. Furthermore, new evidence suggests that cancers may reactivate nerve-dependent developmental and regenerative processes to promote their growth and survival. Here we review emerging concepts and discuss the therapeutic implications of manipulating nerves and neural signalling for the prevention and treatment of cancer. This Review discusses the role that nerves play in the initiation and progression of cancers, focusing on the evidence that tumours may reactivate nerve-mediated developmental and regenerative pathways to promote their own growth and survival.
Beyond Waterfall and Agile Methods: Towards a New Contingency Model for IT Project Management

IT projects are notorious for not performing as planned, costing organizations vast amounts of time, effort, and money. Attempts to find a silver bullet, a methodology that can be used for all projects types, have failed. Some methodologies, for example the waterfall and the agile methodologies, have proven variably successful and have endured in practice despite not necessarily being optimal for a given project. We contend that more extreme methodologies are needed than what is currently practiced, but that these should apply to particular project types alone. Optimizing the methodology to the given project, we suggest, will yield better outcomes. Building on existing methodologies, we develop the notion of Degree of Linearity of the methodology as a continuum along which to rank order the methodologies, with waterfall being the most linear, agile methodologies being of medium linearity, and exploratory methodologies as the least linear. As organizations increasingly rely on innovation to compete, the more extreme project types will become increasingly important. Some of the most valuable projects must rely on methodologies that are more exploratory than IT projects traditionally have dared do. The proposed contingency model helps sort out these promising projects and helps ensure that their development will be as successful as the more traditional projects.
Liver synthetic CT generation based on a dense-CycleGAN for MRI-only treatment planning

The application of MRI significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of target delineation for many disease sites in radiotherapy due to its superior soft tissue contrast as compared to CT. However, MRI data do not contain the electron density information that is necessary for accurate dose calculation. There has been limited work in abdominal synthetic CT (sCT) generation. In this work, we propose to integrate dense blocks and a novel compound loss function into a 3D cycleGAN-based framework to generate sCT from MR images. Since MRI and CT are two different image modalities, dense blocks are employed to combine low- and high-frequency information that can effectively represent different image patches. A novel compound loss function with lp-norm (p = 1.5) distance and gradient difference is used to differentiate the structure boundaries and to retain the sharpness of the sCT image. This proposed algorithm was evaluated using 21 hepatocellular cancer patients’ registered MR and CT images as the training dataset. Leave-one-out cross-validation was performed. The average mean absolute error (MAE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and normalized cross correlation (NCC) were 72.87±18.16 HU, 22.65±3.63 dB, and 0.92±0.04 respectively. The proposed method has encouraging outcomes in generating sCT for the potential use in MR-only photon or proton radiotherapy treatment planning.
Certification and prediction of post-disturbance states in dynamic security assessment

Abstract Dynamic security assessment usually involves the simulation of system dynamics under large disturbances. The instant large disturbance occurs, the post-disturbance state of the system could deviate significantly from the pre-disturbance one. It is desirable and necessary to develop an efficient method to certify the existence of state and predict the approximate post-disturbance state because: (1) faster warning can be made in online assessment; and (2) the dynamic simulator can be given better initial values to calculate precise solutions, which prevents convergence failure brought on by poor initial values. We propose a novel approach for efficiently certifying and predicting the post-disturbance states in dynamic security assessment. Based on the fixed-point power flow mapping approach applied to salient pole generator models, the criterion for determining the existence and uniqueness of the post-disturbance solution is derived, and the bounds of post-disturbance solution can be rigorously characterized.