cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluoroscopic and Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Placement: Regional Variation and Their Prevalence

Objective This study aims to assess the regional variation and overall longitudinal prevalence of approaches to gastrostomy tube placement in patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Background Gastrostomy tubes are most commonly inserted endoscopically given the approaches’ demonstrated safety, success, and patient outcomes as compared with laparoscopic approaches. Recently, the growth of interventional radiology services has provided patients with an alternative percutaneous approach. The safety and efficacy of this approach as opposed to endoscopic approaches has yet to be determined. Methods From 2005 to 2014, Medicare Standard Analytic Files derived from Medicare parts A and B, which contain 100% of inpatient and outpatient facility records billed to Medicare, were retrospectively analyzed. Age, sex, year of placement, region, comparative quarterly ratio, regional cost variation, and overall financial cost were compared between both cohorts. Results Our population included a total of 336,021 patients; of those, 30,327 patients underwent fluoroscopic guided procedures, and 305,694 patients underwent endoscopic procedures. Age (p Conclusion This study demonstrates an increasing prevalence of fluoroscopically placed gastrostomy tubes as compared with those placed endoscopically.
Viabahn stent extrusion into the airway in association with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Carotid blowout syndrome is a rare condition where blood extravagates from the carotid artery due to vessel damage. Frequently, this is an emergency that needs to be treated by endovascular stent deployment. Rarely, these stents erode through the blood vessel wall and extrude into the airway or oropharynx. Here, we present the case of a 48-year-old male with a history of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that had a Viabahn stent placed due to carotid blowout. Six months later, the stent was extruded into the airway and the patient coughed up the stent. The patient remained asymptomatic during stent extrusion and a computerized tomography angiography demonstrated cessation of flow in the carotid artery. This is a rare but serious side effect of stent placement in the setting of nasopharyngeal cancer and carotid blowout syndrome.
Total laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy after neoadjuvant Chemoradiation with minimal overall and anastomotic complications

The published rates of morbidity and mortality remain relatively high for patients who undergo laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. We report the postoperative and oncologic outcomes of a large cohort of patients with esophageal carcinoma who were uniformly treated with laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. This is a retrospective observational study of 112 patients diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma who underwent total laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy from May 2014 to May 2018. All of the patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation consisting of 45 to 50.4 Gray of radiation and 3–5 cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. Perioperative morbidity and 90-day mortality were recorded. The overall and disease-free survival rates were estimated by Kaplan Meier techniques. A total of 112 patients completed induction chemoradiation followed by a total laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. There were 87 (77.68%) males and 25 (22.32%) females with a mean age of 61.6 years ± 10.4. A total of 28 (25%) patients had one or more complications. A total of 4 patients (3.57%) had an anastomotic leak. The 90-day mortality rate was 0.89%. The 3-year overall survival rate was 64.7% and the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 70.2%. The current outcomes suggest that laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy can be performed with minimal overall and anastomotic complications following neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
Targeting interferon signaling and CTLA-4 enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in preclinical model of HPV + oral cancer

The US is experiencing an epidemic of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers (OPC), the rates and burden of which now exceed that for cervical cancer. Immunotherapy targeting programmed death 1 (PD-1) on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and/or its ligand PD-L1 on tumor cells, which was effective in several cancers has however, showed efficacy in only less than 15% of patients. We used a preclinical HPV+ oral tumor model, mEER, consisting of mouse tonsil derived epithelial cells expressing HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes, along with the H-ras oncogene to test strategies for enhancing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Monotherapy with PD-1 blocking antibody was ineffective against flank-implanted tumors, but induced regression in 54% of mice bearing orthotopic tongue tumors that correlated with higher CD8 T cell responses. Since the CD8+ T cells derived from tongue tumors also showed high levels of the immune checkpoint inhibitory receptor CTLA-4, we tested combination immunotherapy targeting both CTLA-4 and PD-1 together and observed 93.3% survival of mice bearing tumors in the tongue for the duration of our 100-day study. Protective immunity correlated with a significant decrease in immunosuppressive lymphoid and myeloid populations within the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with the reported capacity of interferon-driven PD-L1/PD-1 pathway induction to serve as a biomarker of response to PD-1 blockade, we observed elevated interferon signaling and significantly higher levels of PD-1/PD-L1 in tongue-implanted mEER tumors compared to those growing on the flank correlating with their preferential responsiveness to PD-1 blockade. More importantly, in a pseudometastasic mouse model bearing both flank and tongue tumors to represent metastatic disease, delivery of Stimulator of Interferon Induced Genes (STING) agonist into the flank tumors combined with systemic treatment with α-PD-1 and α-CTLA-4 antibodies resulted in sustained tumor regression in 71% of mice. In this case, productive abscopal anti-tumor immunity was associated with robust increases in the ratios of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTL) versus regulatory T cells (Treg) and versus functional myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). These results support combining α-PD-1 therapy with induction of IFN-α/β signaling via provision of STING agonist and/or through CTLA-4 blockade as potential treatment option for HNSCC patients, especially, those not responding to α-PD-1 monotherapy.
'Alma gitana' y 'Carmen y Lola': dos miradas transversales a la violencia contra la mujer en la etnia gitana

This essay analyzes how in two films, Alma gitana (1996) by Chus Gutierrez, and Carmen and Lola (2018) by Arantxa Echevarria, address and question violence against women in the gypsy community. The two films also call for younger generations to change and build their lives around equality, without totally dismissing the culture or traditions of their ancestors. Both film makers, Chus Gutierrez and Arantxa Echevarria, are women who do not belong to the gypsy ethnic group but rely on deep knowledge and respect for it, articulate in their films constructive questions to the issue of gender violence in the Roma community.
Predictors of health-related quality of life among military HIV-infected individuals.

To determine long-term predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and evaluate the treatment effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on HRQOL in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) cohort. Participants were a nested cohort of the NHS who responded to the Rand Short Form 36 questionnaire administered from 2006 to 2010. Physical component summary scores (PCS) and mental component summary scores (MCS) were computed using standard algorithms. HAART-status was categorized as non-protease inhibitor-based (NPI-HAART), protease inhibitor-based (PI-HAART), HAART-naive, or off-HAART. Mixed linear random effects models were used to estimate changes in PCS and MCS over time for treatment and covariates (including CD4 count, HIV viral load, medical and mental comorbidities). Eight hundred and twelve participants met the inclusion criteria. There was no difference in PCS or MCS between those on PI-HAART compared to NPI-HAART. Significant predictors of PCS were CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (β = − 2.90), CD4 count 200–499 cells/mm3 (β = − 0.80), and mental comorbidity (β = − 3.23). Others were medical comorbidity, AIDS-defining illness, being on NPI-HAART, HAART-naive, age, and rank. Those with medical comorbidities experienced yearly improvement in PCS. Predictors of MCS were CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (β = − 2.53), mental comorbidity (β = − 4.58), and being African American (β = 2.59). HRQOL was significantly affected by low CD4 count, medical and mental comorbidities. Addressing these modifiable factors would be expected to improve the physical and mental HRQOL of the cohort. Our study did not find any treatment benefit of NPI-HAART over PI-HAART on HRQOL in the long term.
Abstract P5-04-15: An immunogenic mouse model using BALB.B-MMTV-neuT breast cancers reveals spontaneous protective humoral immunity

The BALB/c-neuT mouse has been a faithful model for investigating metastatic breast cancer. Spontaneous breast tumors from BALB/c-neuT mice are readily transplantable orthotopically into syngeneic or rat neuT negative BALB/c WT hosts facilitating controlled studies of developing breast cancers. When introduced into the breast ducts of BALB/c WT hosts, lung metastases form similarly to how they appear in mice with spontaneous tumors. Tumor grafts grow out with comparable kinetics and induce similar systemic immune abnormalities in the spleens and lymph nodes of both lines of mice as seen in mice with spontaneous tumors. Factors inducing these abnormal immune cell configurations are not yet known. Immunization of BALB/c WT mice against the rat Her2 antigen can induce both T cell and antibody mediated rejection of the transplanted tumors, but these approaches have not been equally successful in syngeneic, rat neuT+ positive hosts, indicating tolerance to rat Her2 is a significant barrier to the induction of immunity against these breast tumors. The MHC encodes class I and class II antigen presenting molecules which are known to be highly polymorphic in both structure and function. We introduced the H-2b MHC haplotype into the MMTV-NeuT model to assess the influence of a different set of antigen presenting molecules on tumor biology. In BALB.B-neuT mice spontaneous tumors appeared with frequencies and in numbers similar to those seen in the BALB/c model. In anything, lung metastases are more frequent and more aggressive in BALB.B-neuT mice. Again, the tumors were readily transplantable into the breast fat pads of syngeneic BALB.B-neuT hosts which developed systemic immune abnormalities very similar to those observed in BALB/c -neuT or BALB/c WT mice. However, BALB.B WT hosts initially accepted the grafts, but subsequently rejected them after they were established. Mice that were in the process of rejecting the tumors retained normal cellularity within their spleens and lymph nodes indicating the importance of an ongoing immune response and/or tumor rejection in shaping the microenvironment in secondary lymphoid organs. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from BALB.B WT mice which had rejected established tumor conferred resistance to the tumor grafts as long as B cells were included (P Citation Format: Sarah Anne Castro, Alvaro Pena, Khashayarsha Khazaie, Larry R. Pease. An immunogenic mouse model using BALB.B-MMTV-neuT breast cancers reveals spontaneous protective humoral immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-04-15.
Standardization of the Perioperative Management for Neonates Undergoing the Norwood Operation for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Related Heart Defects

Objectives In-hospital complications after the Norwood operation for single ventricle heart defects account for the majority of morbidity and mortality. Inpatient care variation occurs within and across centers. This multidisciplinary quality improvement project standardized perioperative management in a large referral center. Design Quality improvement project. Setting High volume cardiac center, tertiary care children's hospital. Patients Neonates undergoing Norwood operation. Interventions The quality improvement team developed and implemented a clinical guideline (preoperative admission to 48 hr after surgery). The composite process metric, Guideline Adherence Score, contained 13 recommendations in the guideline that reflected consistent care for all patients. Measurements and main results One-hundred two consecutive neonates who underwent Norwood operation (January 1, 2013, to July 12, 2016) before guideline implementation were compared with 50 consecutive neonates after guideline implementation (July 13, 2016, to May 4, 2018). No preguideline operations met the goal Guideline Adherence Score. In the first 6 months after guideline implementation, 10 of 12 operations achieved goal Guideline Adherence Score and continued through implementation, reaching 100% for the last 10 operations. Statistical process control analysis demonstrated less variability and decreased hours of postoperative mechanical ventilation and cardiac ICU length of stay during implementation. There were no statistically significant differences in major hospital complications or in 30-day mortality. A higher percentage of patients were extubated by postoperative day 2 after guideline implementation (67% [30/47] vs 41% [41/99], respectively; p = 0.01). Of these patients, reintubation within 72 hours of extubation significantly decreased after guideline implementation (0% [0/30] vs 17% [7/41] patients, respectively; p = 0.02). Conclusions This initiative successfully implemented a standardized perioperative care guideline for neonates undergoing the Norwood operation at a large center. Positive statistical process control centerline shifts in Guideline Adherence Score, length of postoperative mechanical ventilation, and cardiac ICU length of stay were demonstrated. A higher percentage were successfully extubated by postoperative day 2. Establishment of standard processes can lead to best practices to decrease major adverse events.
Compassion for self versus other: A critical review of compassion training research

There is rapidly growing interest in Western compassion trainings that rely especially on traditional Buddhist practices. This growing body of research distinguishes between two distinct compassion...
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Breast Imaging

"Starting in Wuhan, China, followed quickly in the United States in January 2020, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, escalated to a global pandemic by March. Significant disruptions occurred to breast imaging, including deferred screening mammography, triaging diagnostic breast imaging, and changes in breast cancer care algorithms. This article summarizes the effect of the global pandemic-and efforts to curtail its spread-on both breast cancer care and on breast imaging practices including effects on patients, clinical workflow, education, and research."
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Deferred for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Because of COVID-19.

This cohort study examines the characteristics and outcomes of patients for whom transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was deferred because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Importance and Strategic Planning of Team Management

The present study focuses on the importance of the team management in any organization and system. The role of team work can be attributed towards achieving successful goal and targets in comparison with the sole efforts from any individual. Ever before the knowledge of management skills and team development would be emerged, there was a group effort which we devoted to carry out the work. The introduction of management skills has uplifted the process with innovative strategies and management tools with different team members and their roles. In the present study, different components of the team management and their protocols to organize successful team strategies are discussed in the present study.
Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Global Displacement: The Role of Physicians

In 2016, over 65 million individuals were displaced from their homes due to human rights abuses, and 262,000 people applied for asylum in the USA. Individuals who have experienced persecution are present in many primary and specialty clinics. A medical forensic evaluation can increase the likelihood of a successful asylum case. This paper reviews the legal framework for asylum and the contribution forensic evaluations can make to this vulnerable population. Physicians without asylum expertise can help these patients by recognizing their legal right to residential protection and referring them to lawyers and physicians with expert skills. Performing forensic examinations of asylum-seekers offers physicians the opportunity to collaborate with attorneys, immigration officials, and human rights experts. Clinicians who do this work find it personally and professionally rewarding, especially when they impart their expert knowledge and skills to future clinicians by involving trainees in these evaluations. Physicians who encounter refugees or asylum seekers in their roles as providers or as preceptors should have familiarity with the field of asylum medicine to enhance the comprehensive care they deliver.
Financial relationships between industry and principal investigators of US cooperative group randomized cancer clinical trials

Financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) could bias the potentially practice-changing oncologic randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of tomorrow. This investigation characterized the FCOIs of the principal investigators (PIs) of all currently accruing trials of the four (adult) cooperative groups of the National Clinical Trials Network. For this study, the PI list was first compiled, and each name was then searched in the CMS Open Payments database. For each transaction (general payments (GPs) or research funding (RF)), the amount/number/source of payments was recorded. Results showed that from 2014-2019, the 91 PIs collectively accepted nearly one-third of a billion dollars ($10 477 023 GPs and $320 096 233 RF). The mean and median GP was $6505 and $945 respectively, and $301 693 and $49 824 RF respectively. Multivariable Gamma regression analysis revealed that higher GP sums were associated with RCTs involving any type of systemic therapy, and higher RF sums with medical oncologist PIs, trials with phase III components, and RCTs involving radiotherapy (P < 0.05 for all). Both higher-volume GPs and RF were predicted by PIs having accepted payment(s) from the manufacturer of the drug utilized in their RCT (P < 0.001 GP, P = 0.008 RF). Taken together, the main message of this investigation is that FCOIs may be particularly high in PIs of phase III systemic therapy trials, especially if the PI accepted payments from the manufacturer of the drug utilized in their trial. Such RCTs should be thoroughly scrutinized by medical journals, the FDA, and insurance companies for potential “industry bias” that could influence the integrity of their conclusions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Forsius, Aron Sigfrid 1550–1624

Aron Sigfrid Forsius was a mathematician, astronomer, and clergyman of Finnish descent. He moved to Sweden and was named Royal Astronomer having exclusive rights to issue almanacs and cast horoscopes.
Digest: Data tests and testable definitions of evolutionary phenomena.

How can we best test evolutionary phenomena that have historically muddled definitions? How do we ascertain whether data are appropriate or sufficient to explore our hypotheses? Moen et al. demonstrate a framework for accomplishing these goals that can be applied to most studies that use trait and tree data. Simultaneously, they provide a generalized approach for testing for adaptive radiation, a phenomenon with potential to help us understand drivers of evolution.
Matched-field geoacoustic inversion using Gaussian Processes for field prediction

Matched-field geoacoustic inversion is the process of maximizing a correlation measure between received data at deployed hydrophones and replica fields calculated via an acoustic model for a set of values for environmental parameters, frequently along with source range and depth. The values that produce the maximum correlation form the geoacoustic parameter and source location estimates. Matched-field inversion performance improves as the number of receiving hydrophones increases and the water column is sampled in a dense manner. In order to achieve dense water column sampling when only a few phones are available, we predict the field at a large number of virtual depths within a given aperture using Gaussian Processes. Similarly to classical matched-field inversion, the predicted field, computed after the choice of a suitable kernel and its hyperparameters, is correlated with replicas calculated at the same phone depths. It is demonstrated with both synthetic and real data that the Gaussian Process matched-field inversion approach outperforms conventional processing. The effect is more pronounced as the Signal-to-Noise Ratio attains lower values. [Work supported by ONR.]
Approximate simulation relations and finite abstractions of quantized control systems

In this paper we revisit the construction of quantized models of control systems. Based on an approximate notion of simulation relation and under a stabilizability assumption we show how we can force a lattice structure on the reachable space of a quantized control system for any finite input quantization. When we are only interested in a compact subset of the state space, as is the case in concrete applications, our results immediately provide a finite model for the quantized control system.
Hydraulic Design of Stilling Basins: Stilling Basin and Wave Suppressors for Canal Structures, Outlet Works, and Diversion Dams (Basin IV)

Where the Froude number of the incoming flow is low, the hydraulic jump produces objectionable waves downstream. This study generalizes the design of two stilling basins and two types of wave suppressors for stabilizing the water surface. Sample problems are used to illustrate the design procedures recommended.
Application of Discrete-Time Markov Models

This paper introduced a general class of mathematical models, Markov chain models, which are appropriate for modeling of phenomena in the physical life, medicine, engineering and social sciences. Application of Markov chains are quite common and have become a standard tool of decision making. What matters in predicting the future of the system is its present state, and not the path by which the system got to its present state. Two methods are presented that exemplify the flexibility of this approach: the regular Markov chain and absorbing Markov chain. The long-term trend in absorbing Markov chains depends on the initial state. In addition, changing the initial state can change the final result. This property distinguishes absorbing Markov chains from regular Markov chains, where the final result is independent of the initial state. The problems are formulated by using the Wolfram Mathematical Programming System.
A Feynman-Kac Path-Integral Implementation for Poisson's Equation

This study presents a Feynman-Kac path-integral implementation for solving the Dirichlet problem for Poisson's equation. The algorithm is a modified "walk on spheres" (WOS) that includes the Feynman-Kac path-integral contribution for the source term. In our approach, we use the Poisson kernel instead of simulating Brownian trajectories in detail to implement the path-integral computation.We derive this approach and provide results from a numerical experiment on a two-dimensional problem as verification of the method.
Linear regression using intramuscular EMG for simultaneous myoelectric control of a wrist and hand system

Clinically available myoelectric prostheses are limited by the inability to control multiple degrees of freedom simultaneously. Linear regression-based control and parallel dual-site control (an extension of conventional amplitude-based methods using intramuscular EMG) are two frequently proposed approaches for simultaneous control. Both approaches assume linearity in the EMG features, but differ in whether users are required to independently modulate the EMG amplitudes from residual limb muscles. The objective of this preliminary study was to compare these two methods for the real-time control of a 3 degree-of-freedom (DOF) wrist/hand system. Both systems used intramuscular EMG amplitudes from six forearm muscles, and differed only in how the signals were used to predict intended prosthesis activity. Five able-bodied subjects were recruited to evaluate each control system (ten subjects total). Performance in a virtual Fitts' law task demonstrated that parallel dual-site control provided improved controllability when acquiring targets that required use of only one DOF, but linear regression control provided improved performance when acquiring targets requiring use of all three DOFs. Subjects using linear regression control were more easily able to activate multiple DOFs simultaneously, but at the expense of unintended movement when trying to isolate individual DOFs.
On the Use and Misuse of the Laffer Curve

The main use to which the economics profession has put the Laffer curve (at least if you judge by a representative sample of principles and intermediate textbooks) is to choose that tax rate which maximizes governmental revenues. To say the least, this enterprise cannot be justified by a resort to positive economics. Necessarily associated to a Laffer curve, is an income curve over the same (tax rate) domain, which we illustrate and that starkly demonstrates, the conflict between the government and the citizenry over optimal tax policy. As an empirical issue, our paper casts doubt on the claim that tax rate reductions in the 1980s were responsible for budget deficits.
Model theory of fields

The model theory of fields is an area for important interactions between mathematical, logical and classical mathematics. Recently, there have been major applications of model theoretic ideas to real analytic geometry and diophantine geometry. This book provides an introduction to this fascinating subject. In addition to introducing the basic model theory of the fields of real and complex numbers, we concentrate on differential fields and separably closed fields, the two theories used in Hrushovski's proof of the Mordell-Lang conjecture for function fields. This book is of interest to graduate students in either logic or in related areas of mathematics such as differential algebra or real algebraic geometry.
Trajectories of the Home Learning Environment Across the First 5 Years: Associations With Children's Vocabulary and Literacy Skills at Prekindergarten

Children’s home learning environments were examined in a low-income sample of 1,852 children and families when children were 15, 25, 37, and 63 months. During home visits, children’s participation in literacy activities, the quality of mothers’ engagements with their children, and the availability of learning materials were assessed, yielding a total learning environment score at each age. At 63 months, children’s vocabulary and literacy skills were assessed. Six learning environment trajectories were identified, including environments that were consistently low, environments that were consistently high, and environments characterized by varying patterns of change. The skills of children at the extremes of learning environment trajectories differed by more than 1 SD and the timing of learning experiences related to specific emerging skills.
Children as victims of violence: A national survey

OBJECTIVE. The goal of this study was to gain a more comprehensive perspective on the scope, variety, and consequences of child victimization, which has been obscured by a fragmentation into specific problems like sexual abuse or kidnapping. METHODS. Two thousand children aged 10 to 16 years were interviewed in a national telephone survey of children. RESULTS. In the previous year, a quarter of the children had experienced a completed victimization, one in eight had experienced an injury, and one in a hundred required medical attention as a result. Nonfamily physical assaults were the most numerous. Contact sexual abuse occurred to 3.2% of girls and 0.6% of boys. There were also substantial numbers of incidents of attempted kidnappings and violence directed to children's genitals. CONCLUSION. The victimization of children occurs to a greater extent than has been previously reported and is poorly represented in official statistics. IMPLICATION. The authors argue for a more comprehensive interest in children's victimization including better national statistics about the problem. Language: en
Some tests with unbalanced data from a bivariate normal population

Let (X, Y) follow a bivariate normal distribution,N2(μ1,μ2,σ12,σ22,ρ). In this paper, we have considered the problems of testing hypothesesH01:μ1,H02:μ1=μ2 andH03: ρ=0 on the basis of an unbalanced data set-up consisting ofn1 paired observations,n2 additional observations onX only andn3 additional observations onY only. Some new tests are proposed.
Capacity degradation of lithium rechargeable batteries

Abstract Li rechargeable cells made with structural arrangement Li/membrane/LixV2O5 were examined under different charge states using ac impedance, environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These states include charged, discharged, and over cycled. The lowest internal resistance was obtained from the cell at charged state; the resistance increased when the cell was discharged; and the highest resistance was obtained from the cell at over-cycled state. From the ESEM and TEM studies, it was found that the surface of cathode electrode was porous initially; however, it was coated with an amorphous film and porous features had also disappeared from the cell at over cycled state. In addition, higher concentration of aluminum was found at the surface of the cathode electrode in over-cycled cells. From NMR studies, Li ion signals, which correspond to Li ions in the liquid electrolyte, on the surface of LixV2O5 cathode electrode, and inside the LixV2O5 cathode, were obtained. The mechanisms for capacity degradation and cycle lifetime of the cell are discussed.
Markers of Inflammation and Coagulation May Be Modulated by Enteral Feeding Strategy

Background Despite the fact that enteral nutrition is provided to the majority of mechanically ventilated patients, the effect of specific feeding strategies on circulating markers of coagulation and inflammation are unknown.
CA45 uptake in fracture callus of normal and aminoacetonitrile-treated rats.

Calcium content and Ca45 uptake were measured in the fracture callus of normal and AAN-treated rats. It appears that total calcium deposition and Ca45 uptake are both higher in the young callus, 5 and 10 days after fracture, of the AAN-treated animals. By the 20th day, mineralization of the callus in both groups is similar.
REVIEW: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a reasonably well-defined clinicopathological entity; it has been reported more commonly in women than in men or children of both sexes and it appears to be most closely associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus and related abnormalities, such as hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia. However, the association with female gender, obesity and diabetes may not be as close as suggested by the literature and an underlying condition cannot be discerned in all cases. The natural history of the disease is poorly understood; the associated biopsy features span a wide spectrum, reaching from uncomplicated, clinically non-progressive fatty liver (not NASH in a strict sense) to a slowly progressive fatty liver with inflammation and fibrosis, to steatohepatitis with submassive hepatic necrosis, which has a subfulminant course and is often fatal. Non-progressive fatty liver appears to be very common but is of little clinical importance. The slowly progressive form of the disease represents NASH as encountered by most clinicians and pathologists. It is a common liver disease in current practice; patients may present with cirrhosis and even HCC arising from steatohepatitic cirrhosis. Subfulminant NASH has become exceedingly rare because many clinicians are now aware of the hazards of sudden weight loss, particularly in morbidly obese patients. Treatment options for NASH are still limited. The promotion of gradual weight loss in obese patients is the most widely recommended therapy but, unfortunately, this is very difficult to achieve. Avoidance of precipitous weight loss and careful control of diabetes mellitus are important and undisputed parts of patient management. Administration of UDCA as a treatment of NASH is still under study; it may be effective in some patients. The treatment of established steatohepatitic cirrhosis does not differ substantially from that of other types of cirrhosis and includes orthotopic liver transplantation.
Real time hybrid modeling for ocean wave energy converters

Abstract Accurate modeling of ocean wave energy converters is limited mainly due to the reciprocating nature of the exciting force and consequent complications, particularly in the fluid domain. Direct simulation is usually computationally expensive, and experiments are constrained by scaling rules that cannot be satisfied simultaneously, and of course, by the costs. Many modeling problems, including several in ocean wave energy, can be divided into sub-domains that for each, one modeling scheme (e.g. numerical simulation or experiment) is practical and preferred. The idea behind hybrid simulation is to solve each sub-domain using the preferred method, while sub-domains communicate with each other at their common boundaries via sensors and actuators, with the prime objective of solving the main problem as a whole. We are particularly interested in the set of problems in which the subdomains are strongly coupled and hence significantly influence each other. The challenge is when one of the subproblems is to be modeled experimentally and therefore as a result the entire hybrid simulation modeling has to be carried out in real time. We review here the background and details of the real time hybrid simulation scheme with the specific focus on the modeling of ocean wave energy devices. We elaborate major challenges via a case study of a newly proposed seabed mounted pressure-differential wave energy converter called “Wave Carpet”. We find the optimum parameters of the power takeoff units as well as their optimal positioning in order to achieve the highest overall efficiency of the Wave Carpet.
Differential effects of Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+ and osmotic stress on the wild type and the NaCl-tolerant mutants stl1 and stl2 of Ceratopteris richardii

In order to identify physiological components that contribute to salinity tolerance, we compared the effects of Na + , Mg 2+ and K + salts (NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , MgCl 2 , MgSO 4 , KCl and K 2 SO 4 ), Ca 2+ (CaSO 4 ), mannitol and melibiose on the wild type and the single-gene NaCl-tolerant mutants stl1 and stl2 of Ceratopteris richardii. Compared with gametophytic growth of the wild type, stl2 showed a low level of tolerance that was restricted to Na + salts and osmotic stress. stl2 exhibited high tolerance to both Na + and Mg 2+ salts, as well as to osmotic stress. In response to short-term exposure (3 d) to NaCl, accumulation of K + and Na + was similar in the wild type and stl1. In contrast, stl2 accumulated higher levels of K + and lower levels of Na + . Ca 2+ supplementation (1.0 mol m -3 ) ameliorated growth inhibition by Na + and Mg 2+ stress in wild type and stll, but not in stl2. In addition, under Na + stress (175 mol m -3 ) wild-type, stl1 and stl2 gametophytes maintained higher tissue levels of K + and lower levels of Na + when supplemented with Ca 2+ (1.0 mol m -3 ). stl2 gametophytes were extremely sensitive to K + supplementation. Growth of stl2 was greater than or equal to that of the wild type at trace concentrations of K + but decreased substantially with increasing K + concentration. Supplementation with K + from 0 to 1.85 mol m -3 alleviated some of the inhibition by 75 mol m -3 NaCl in the wild type and in stl1. In stl2, growth at 75 mol m -3 NaCl was similar at 0 and 1.85 mol m -3 K + supplementation. Although K + supplementation above 1.85 mol m -3 did not alleviate inhibition of growth by Na + in any genotype, stl2 maintained greater relative tolerance to NaCl at all K + concentrations tested.
Computed adsorptive-energy distribution in the monolayer (Caedmon)

Abstract A computer-based method is developed to perform the numerical analysis of the measured adsorption isotherm in order to determine the quantitative distribution of potential energies displayed by a solid substrate for a physically-adsorbed gas. The characteristic adsorptive energies of the basal planes of graphite and of boron nitride for argon and nitrogen are determined as examples of the use of the method. As more such values are put on record the method becomes suitable for the qualitative analysis of substrates.
Heterogeneity of the woodchuck hepatitis virus genome in a chronically infected woodchuck.

Abstract The nucleotide sequence of an isolate of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) from the serum of a woodchuck trapped in New York state (WHVNY) was compared with the sequences of previously published isolates. The nucleotide sequence of WHVNY was closest to that of an isolate originating from New Jersey: the two genomes shared a 15 nucleotide in-frame deletion in the region where the presurface and polymerase genes overlap (nucleotides 3260–3274) and differed by 54 point mutations (1.6% of genome). Amino acid differences ranged from 0.4% in the surface gene to 5.7% in the X gene. Three isolates from woodchucks that originated in Pennsylvania and Maryland did not contain the deletion and differed from WHVNY by 102 to 106 point mutations (3.0% to 3.2% of nucleotides). Amino acid changes ranged from 0.5% in the core gene to 5.7% in the X-gene. Thus, WHVNY differed little from previous isolates. Next, the genomes from 102 independent clones of WHVNY were compared to ascertain the extent of sequence variation among WHV genomes in a chronically infected animal. A total of 98 clones had genomes of unit length while 2 clones had genomes shorter than unit length and 2 clones had genomes longer than unit length. The clones not of unit length possessed deletions or inverted duplications of sequence. The rate of mutation in the viral genes was 2.65 mutations per 10,000 nucleotides in the precore domain 1.27 per 10,000 in the X-gene 0.98 per 10,000 in the presurface gene, and 3.77 per 10,000 at the 5' end of the core gene. Overall, mutations occurred at only 12 (0.016%) of the 74,842 nucleotide positions sequenced.
The intrinsic nature of the Baldwin effect

The relationship between the fluxes of the two strongest UV emission lines and flux in the continuum for the well-studied Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548 is explored. It is shown that the scatter in the continuum-emission-line correlations is greatly reduced by removing light-travel time effects from the data so that the emission-line fluxes are referred to the continuum that is driving them. The correlations themselves are in basic agreement with results derived earlier because the continuum flux does not vary greatly over the timescale for emission-line response. The continuum-emission-line correlations have important implications regarding the nature of the ionizing continuum, and these are discussed.
Pressure-based real-time measurements in compressible free shear layers

A preliminary experimental study has been conducted to gain insight into the temporal and spatial contents of largescale structures in a convective Mach number = 0.51 high Reynolds number planar two-dimensional compressible free shear layer. Power spectra, coherence, and space-time correlations were obtained using single- and two-point pressure measurements. Both developing and fully developed regions of the flow were investigated. The passage frequency of structures were found to be 10-15 kHz in the developing region and 4-8 kHz in the fully developed region. The convective velocity obtained from the space-time correlation in the middle of the shear layer was close to the theoretical value but varied toward the edge of the shear layer. The structures were shown to be surprisingly three-dimensional even in this low compressibility level shear layer. The structures size and spacing were also determined and discussed.
Response patterns of female Photinus macdermotti firefly to artificial flashes

Abstract The responses of female Photinus macdermotti fireflies to artificial flashes were investigated. Female response patterns change in characteristic fashion as the interval between simulated male flash pairs is varied. The effects of extra flashes inserted within the flash pair and flash duration on female response probability were examined. Female response latency to the second flash of the male flash pair is constant. Female response probability can be conditioned by previous flashes. The response characteristics of females are analysed in terms of flash interval and flash number.
The cytoplasmic domain of the T cell receptor ζ chain is sufficient to couple to receptor-associated signal transduction pathways

The function of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) invariant chains, CD3 gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta, is poorly understood. Evidence suggests that CD3 couples receptor ligand binding to intracellular signaling events. To examine the role of the CD3 zeta chain in TCR-mediated signal transduction, a chimeric protein linking the extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD8 to the cytoplasmic domain of the zeta chain was constructed. The CD8/zeta chimera is expressed independently of the TCR and is capable of transducing signals that, by criteria of early and late activation, are indistinguishable from those generated by the intact TCR. These data indicate that CD8/zeta can activate the appropriate signal transduction pathways in the absence of CD3 gamma, delta, and epsilon, and suggest that the role of CD3 zeta is to couple the TCR to intracellular signal transduction mechanisms.
Sorokin as Lifelong Russian Intellectual: The Enactment of an Historically Rooted Sensibility

Prior to his 1922 emigration to Europe and thence to the United States, Pitirim Alexandrovich Sorokin had an exceptional intellectual and political career in Russia and the Soviet Union (Sorokin 1924, 1963a; Johnston 1995; Krotov 2005). Indeed, he was among the early founders of the science of sociology in his native land, where, according to a relatively recent bibliography (Sorokin 2000), he produced 162 Russian-language publications between the ages of 21 and 33. This listing includes not only book reviews and journal articles, but also substantial monographs and a two-volume theoretical treatise. While still a relatively young man, Sorokin had thus gained widespread recognition as a scholar of the first rank. He was also the initial chairperson (from 1919 to 1922) of a fledgling department of sociology at the University of Petrograd (St. Petersburg), an elected member of the national Constituent Assembly and an appointed staff member of the 1917 Provisional Government, the first democratic regime in Russia. This much would have sufficed for an entry in a sociological encyclopedia, and Sorokin’s political career has few parallels in the history of the field, other than the involvement of Emile Durkheim in French educational policy and the participation of Max Weber in creating the Weimar Republic in Germany. Nevertheless sociologists in the United States and most western historians of the field have not yet appreciated the full influence of the formative period, especially from 1905 to 1922. Lacking familiarity with Russian culture of that era and knowing little about the larger Russian socio-historical milieu, its intellectual discourse and collective memory, they have not been able to comprehend Sorokin’s outlook, behavior and professional output in the United States in relation to these earlier contextual factors. This is arguably a fundamental reason why many U.S. sociologists have tended to see Sorokin, especially since 1937, as a marginal figure and to regard his works largely as deviations from accepted social scientific practice. This paper will argue that a more adequate appreciation of Sorokin’s background and early adult life illumines both stylistic features of his works in America and also places into proper perspective several of his substantive foci that did not accord with contemporary “normal science” (Kuhn 1962). In short, despite his overall assimilation into American society and higher education, including his appointment at Harvard University and his election as president of the American Sociological Association, Sorokin should be understood in large measure as a life-long Russian intellectual. His was a Russian-born sensibility and consciousness—indeed a “Russian soul”—so deeply ingrained that it stamped his entire professional career in the United States, including his published researches, his popular sociology and his university teaching.
Percutaneous transluminal alcohol septal myocardial ablation after aortic valve replacement.

When left ventricular outflow tract obstruction develops after aortic valve replacement, few treatment choices have been available until now. We present a patient with prior aortic valve replacement who developed left ventricle outflow tract obstruction that was successfully treated with a percutaneous transcoronary myocardial septal alcohol ablation. This technique is a useful tool for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, especially in those patients with prior heart surgery.
L-4F Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Activation of Primary Human Neutrophils

Human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic L-4F inhibits acute inflammation in endotoxemic animals. Since neutrophils play a crucial role in septic inflammation, we examined the effects of L-4F, compared to apoA-I, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated activation of human neutrophils. We performed bioassays in human blood, isolated human neutrophils (incubated in 50 % donor plasma), and isolated human leukocytes (incubated in 5 and 50 % plasma) in vitro. In whole blood, both L-4F and apoA-I inhibited LPS-mediated elevation of TNF-α and IL-6. In LPS-stimulated neutrophils, L-4F and apoA-I (40 μg/ml) also decreased myeloperoxidase and TNF-α levels; however, L-4F tended to be superior in inhibiting LPS-mediated increase in IL-6 levels, membrane lipid rafts abundance and CD11b expression. In parallel experiments, when TNF-α and IL-8, instead of LPS, was used for cell stimulation, L-4F and/or apoA-I revealed only limited efficacy. In LPS-stimulated leukocytes, L-4F was as effective as apoA-I in reducing superoxide formation in 50 % donor plasma, and more effective in 5 % donor plasma (P < 0.05). Limulus ambocyte lysate (LAL) and surface plasmon resonance assays showed that L-4F neutralizes LAL endotoxin activity more effectively than apoA-I (P < 0.05) likely due to avid binding to LPS. We conclude that (1) direct binding/neutralization of LPS is a major mechanism of L-4F in vitro; (2) while L-4F has similar efficacy to apoA-I in anti-endotoxin effects in whole blood, it demonstrates superior efficacy to apoA-I in aqueous solutions and fluids with limited plasma components. This study rationalizes the utility of L-4F in the treatment of inflammation that is mediated by endotoxin-activated neutrophils.