cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of recurrent atrial arrhythmias after minimally invasive surgical pulmonary vein isolation and ganglionic plexi ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background Minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedures have evolved for surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The spectrum and management of arrhythmias after minimally invasive epicardial radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary vein (PV) antrum have not been well studied. Objective The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum and treatment of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) after minimally invasive AF surgery. Methods Fifty patients underwent bipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the PV antrum, parasympathetic ganglionated plexi, and ligament of Marshall. Twenty patients (40%) had recurrent AT, and 13 underwent electrophysiology study 100 to 948 days postoperatively (mean 383 ± 234). Results Fourteen arrhythmias were identified in 13 patients 90 to 666 days (mean 214 ± 162) after AF surgery. The most common arrhythmias were AF (N = 8) and atrial flutter (N = 3). Of 44 PVs examined, 22 (50%) had reconnected. Seven of 8 patients with recurrent AF had either 2 or 3 veins reconnected, and 6 of 8 had reconnection of the left superior PV. On average, 25.6% of each PV reconnected and showed conduction delay between the left atrium and PV. Two of 4 postoperative atrial flutters were due to isthmus-dependent re-entry. After catheter ablation, 2 patients had symptomatic recurrence of AT. Conclusion Recurrent AT occurs in up to 40% of patients after minimally invasive thoracoscopic AF surgery during a minimal follow-up of 12 months. PV reconnection accounts for most recurrences. Postoperative AT appears amenable to catheter ablation, often in conjunction with medical therapy, with high intermediate-term success.
Use of electrocardiographic-gated 4-dimensional CT to assess patency of abdominal aortic branch vessels in type B dissection.

Abstract CT plays an important role in the evaluation of suspected aortic dissection. In this case, use of ECG gating and 4D imaging demonstrated of dynamically changing perfusion to an abdominal aortic visceral branch vessel in a type B dissection.
Cerebellar hemorrhagic injury in premature infants occurs during a vulnerable developmental period and is associated with wider neuropathology

Cerebellar hemorrhagic injury (CHI) is being recognized more frequently in premature infants. However, much of what we know about CHI neuropathology is from autopsy studies that date back to a prior era of neonatal intensive care. To update and expand our knowledge of CHI we reviewed autopsy materials and medical records of all live-born preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) autopsied at our institution from 1999–2010 who had destructive hemorrhagic injury to cerebellar parenchyma (n = 19) and compared them to matched non-CHI controls (n = 26). CHI occurred at a mean gestational age of 25 weeks and involved the ventral aspect of the posterior lobe in almost all cases. CHI arose as a large hemorrhage or as multiple smaller hemorrhages in the emerging internal granule cell layer of the developing cortex or in the nearby white matter. Supratentorial germinal matrix hemorrhage occurred in 95% (18/19) of CHI cases compared to 54% (14/26) of control cases (p = 0.003). The cerebellar cortex frequently showed focal neuronal loss and gliosis (both 15/19, 79%) in CHI cases compared to control cases (both 1/26, 4% p < 0.0001). The cerebellar dentate had more neuronal loss (8/15, 53%) and gliosis (9/15, 60%) in CHI cases than controls (both 0/23, 0%; p < 0.0001). The inferior olivary nuclei showed significantly more neuronal loss in CHI (10/17, 59%) than in control cases (5/26, 19%) (p = 0.0077). All other gray matter sites examined showed no significant difference in the incidence of neuronal loss or gliosis between CHI and controls. We favor the possibility that CHI represents a primary hemorrhage arising due to the effects of impaired autoregulation in a delicate vascular bed. The incidences of neuronal loss and gliosis in the inferior olivary and dentate nuclei, critical cerebellar input and output structures, respectively were higher in CHI compared to control cases and may represent a transsynpatic degenerative process. CHI occurs during a critical developmental period and may render the cerebellum vulnerable to additional deficits if cerebellar growth and neuronal connectivity are not established as expected. Therefore, CHI has the potential to significantly impact neurodevelopmental outcome in survivors.
Dynamical Systems for Principal Singular Subspace Analysis

The computation of the principal subspaces is an essential task in many signal processing and control applications. In this paper novel dynamical systems for finding the principal singular subspace and/or components of arbitrary matrix are developed. The proposed dynamical systems are gradient flows or weighted gradient flows derived from the optimization of certain objective functions over orthogonal constraints. Global asymptotic stability analysis and domains of attractions of these systems are examined via Liapunov theory and LaSalle invariance principle. Weighted versions of these methods for computing principal singular components are also given. Qualitative properties of the proposed systems are analyzed in detail
Isolation and study of adipocyte precursors.

Abstract White adipose tissue (WAT) is a heterogeneous tissue composed of lipid-filled adipocytes and several nonadipocyte cell populations, including endothelial, blood, uncharacterized stromal, and adipocyte precursor cells. Although lipid-filled adipocytes account for the majority of WAT volume and mass, nonadipocyte cell populations have critical roles in WAT maintenance, growth, and function. As mature adipocytes are terminally differentiated postmitotic cells, differentiation of adipocyte precursors is required for hyperplastic WAT growth during development and in obesity. In this chapter, we present methods to separate adipocyte precursor cells from other nonadipocyte cell populations within WAT for analysis by flow cytometry or purification by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Additionally, we provide methods to study the adipogenic capacity of purified adipocyte precursor cells ex vivo.
Sex pheromone of the dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula.

The sex pheromone of female dogwood borers (DWB) Synanthedon scitula (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) was determined to be an 88:6:6 ternary blend of (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (Z,Z-3,13-ODDA), (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E,Z-2,13-ODDA), and (Z,E)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (Z,E-3,13-ODDA) by gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The major sex pheromone component, Z,Z-3,13-ODDA, was attractive as a single component. A blend of Z,Z-3,13-ODDA with 1–3% of E,Z-2,13-ODDA (binary blend) was more attractive than the single component. A third component, Z,E-3,13-ODDA, was sometimes observed in GC–EAD analyses, and enhanced attraction to the binary blend in some field bioassays. Lures containing 1 mg of binary and ternary blends attracted 18 and 28 times more male DWB moths, respectively, than caged virgin females in field trials. Attraction was strongly antagonized by addition of as little as 0.5% of E,Z-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E,Z-3,13-ODDA). In a period of 12 wk in 2004, more than 60,000 males were captured in sticky traps baited with synthetic pheromone blends in six apple orchards in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Lure longevity trials showed that ∼76% of the pheromone remained in rubber septum lures after 12 wk in the field.
Changing Technology and the U.S. Mail

The changes in technology that have affected mail delivery are a dynamic way to encourage students to think critically and make meaningful connections across historical eras. In the classroom, personal communication through the mail can become the “thematic glue” used across historical units to highlight the changes in everyday life caused by technological innovation. The post office initiated changes in streetlighting and crosswalks, stimulated the development of rural roads and highways, and provided passenger services on railways. Classroom teachers can use the activities and discussion questions to introduce students to this entity and its influence on our history.
On multiple-parameter source localization

Localization of multiple-parameter sources is considered in this paper. Specifically, the problem of localizing EEG polarized sources is addressed. Expressions are presented for the variance of the source parameter estimates for the MUSIC estimator. The expressions are presented for both finite sample effects and the model perturbations effects. A comparative study of the performance is presented when the dipole orientation is known and unknown.
miRNA regulation of white and brown adipose tissue differentiation and function

Obesity and metabolic disorders are a major health concern in all developed countries and a primary focus of current medical research is to improve our understanding treatment of metabolic diseases. One avenue of research that has attracted a great deal of recent interest focuses upon understanding the role of miRNAs in the development of metabolic diseases. miRNAs have been shown to be dysregulated in a number of different tissues under conditions of obesity and insulin resistance, and have been demonstrated to be important regulators of a number of critical metabolic functions, including insulin secretion in the pancreas, lipid and glucose metabolism in the liver, and nutrient signaling in the hypothalamus. In this review we will focus on the important role of miRNAs in regulating the differentiation and function of white and brown adipose tissue and the potential importance of this for maintaining metabolic function and treating metabolic diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MicroRNAs and lipid/energy metabolism and related diseases edited by Carlos Fernandez-Hernando and Yajaira Suarez.
Abstract 1636: Altering the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts via activation of Notch signaling to inhibit tumor growth.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Objectives. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play critical roles in determining tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, drug response and tumor angiogenesis. We have previously demonstrated that activation of the Notch1 pathway confers normal human dermal fibroblasts a suppressive phenotype to melanoma growth. Here, we further investigated whether manipulation of Notch signaling in melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAF) alter their regulatory phenotype by which affects melanoma growth. Methods. MAF were isolated from human metastatic melanoma and characterized. Notch pathway activity in MAF versus normal human dermal fibroblasts was examined using Notch pathway RT2-PCRArray and immunoblotting. Enforced activation of Notch pathway was achieved by transducing MAF with lentiviral vector encoding active form of Notch1 (NIC). The effect of active Notch1-engineered MAF on melanoma growth was tested by in vitro co-culture and in vivo co-xenografting animal model. Results. Isolated MAF are α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) positive. MAF exhibited a relatively lower Notch activity compared to normal human dermal fibroblasts. Enforced activation of Notch1 pathway suppressed cellular activities of MAF. Active Notch1-engineered MAF significantly inhibited melanoma cell growth in vitro and retarded xenografted human melanoma cell growth on mouse skin. Conclusions. Notch pathway activity is lower in MAF. Constitutive activation of Notch pathway confers MAF to a suppressive phenotype in regulating melanoma growth. Our study demonstrated that Notch signaling functions as a critical molecular switch in determining the regulatory role of tumor stromal fibroblasts and provided a novel approach to target tumor microenvironment through modulating stromal fibroblasts by manipulation of Notch signaling. Citation Format: Hongwei Shao, Mecker G. Moller, Omaida C. Velazquez, Zhao-Jun Liu. Altering the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts via activation of Notch signaling to inhibit tumor growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1636. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1636
Methodology for Analyzing and Mapping Complex Algorithms for Small Satellites

One of the main challenges in the fleld of space science is the mapping of complex control algorithms onto appropriate hardware architectures. There sometimes exist a wide knowledge gap between the system designer and the hardware/software design engineer whose role is to determine the hardware/software architecture for implementing these control algorithms. In the design process various design tools are used for mapping these complex algorithms onto appropriate hardware architectures. Although the tools speed up the design process, they often prove to be ine‐cient. With the availability of a large suite of architectures and design tools, the designer often gets puzzled in selecting the correct architecture and tools to perform the implementation of the algorithm in an optimal manner. There are a number of requirements which have to be met while implementing an algorithm on particular hardware architecture. These requirements depend upon the application for which the implementation is targeted. For small satellites, these requirements include time-to-launch, feature ∞exibility, cost, real time constraints, minimum power dissipation, reconflgurability and small area. This paper presents a directed methodology for analyzing and mapping complex control algorithms onto appropriate hardware for small satellites. This proposed methodology starts with the identiflcation of the candidate hardware architectures for implementing the algorithm. After selecting appropriate hardware architecture, it provides a directed ∞ow with decision making at several stages, which ultimately leads to a flnal design that meets all the requirements. The methodology has been validated by applying it to the complex Attitude Determination and Control algorithm designed for small satellites.
Emotional themes in cross-faith encounters among MSW students : A qualitative exploration

Shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, graduate students in an elective course on "Spirituality & Social Work" were given an optional assignment to attend services at another faith for three weeks and keep a journal of their experiences. Most allowed the author to conduct a content analysis of these journals for emotional themes. The most common themes were anxiety, surprise, and appreciation for the assignment. Lesser themes included excitement, empathy for minorities, anger, and embarrassment. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance for social work education. Recommendations include better preparation through requiring research and clarification of the student's role, debriefing students about counter-transference issues, and achieving spiritual empathy through the recognition of spiritual similarities despite religious differences.
THE QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PHYLOGENETIC CONSTRAINTS IN COMPARATIVE ANALYSES: SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN BODY WEIGHT AMONG PRIMATES.

We have presented a formal model for the quantitative analysis of phylogenetic and specific effects on the distribution of trait values among species. Total trait values are divided into phylogenetic values, inherited from an ancestral species, and specific values, the result of independent evolution. This allows a quantitative assessment of the strength of the phylogenetic inertia, or burden, displayed by a character in a lineage, so that questions concerning the relative importance of phylogenetic constraints in evolution can be answered. The separation of phylogenetic from specific effects proposed here also allows phylogenetic factors to be explicitly included in cross-species comparative analyses of adaptation. This solves a long-standing problem in evolutionary comparative studies. Only species' specific values can provide information concerning the independent evolution of characters in a set of related species. Therefore, only correlations among specific values for traits may be used as evidence for adaptation in cross-species comparative analyses. The phylogenetic autocorrelation model was applied to a comparative analysis of the determinants of sexual dimorphism in weight among 44 primate species. In addition to sexual dimorphism in weight, mating system, habitat, diet, and size (weight itself) were included in the analysis. All of the traits, except diet, were substantially influenced by phylogenetic inertia. The comparative analysis of the determinants of sexual dimorphism in weight indicates that 50% of the variation among primate species is due to phylogeny. Size, or scaling, could account for a total of 36% of the variance, making it almost as important as phylogeny in determining the level of dimorphism displayed by a species. Habitat, mating system, and diet follow, accounting for minor amounts of variation. Thus, in attempting to explain why a particular modern primate species is very dimorphic compared to other primates, we would say first because its ancestor was more dimorphic than average, second because it is a relatively large species, and third because it is terrestrial, polygynous, and folivorous.
Correlation between body composition and nerve conduction velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the correlation between body composition and nerve conduction velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods One hundred and five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled,body composition related parameters including body mass index,body fat percent,body muscle percent and body water percent were measured by body composition analyzer,nerve conduction velocity related parameters including motor nerve conduction velocity,distal motor latency,amplitude of compound muscle action potential,sensory nerve conduction velocity,latency and amplitude of sensory nerve action potential were determined,and the correlation between body composition and nerve conduction velocity was explored.Results Body fat percent was positively correlated with nerve conduction velocity of motor-sensory ulnar nerve and motor peroneal nerve,and negatively correlated with distal latency of sensory ulnar nerve,sensory superficial peroneal nerve,motor peroneal nerve and motor amplitude of peroneal nerve.Body muscle percent was positively correlated with distal latency of sensory ulnar nerve,sensory superficial peroneal nerve,motor peroneal nerve and motor amplitude of peroneal nerve,and negatively correlated with nerve conduction velocity of motor-sensory ulnar nerve and motor peroneal nerve.Body water percent was positively correlated with distal latency of sensory ulnar nerve and sensory superficial peroneal nerve,and negatively correlated with nerve conduction velocity of sensory ulnar nerve.Body mass index and waist circumference were negatively correlated with sensory amplitude of median nerve and motor amplitude of tibial nerve.Conclusion Body mass index,waist circumference,body fat percent,body muscle percent and body water percent may be important influencing factors of nerve conduction velocity.
In vivo characterization of a new synthetic thrombin inhibitor.

We have examined the in vivo pharmacology of DuP 714 (Ac-[D]-Phe-Pro-boroArginine), a representative of a new series of synthetic thrombin inhibitors which contain a boronic acid derivative of arginine. Intravenous bolus injections of DuP 714 in anesthetized rats and conscious rabbits produced transient elevations of clotting times. Clinically relevant prolongations of the APTT were also observed in rabbits after i.v. infusion of less than 0.1 mg kg-1 h-1. Efficacy against venous thrombosis was demonstrated in a rabbit model of stasis induced thrombosis. Clots formed in 100% of control animals and only 33% of animals treated with 0.5 mg/kg DuP 714, and were less severe in treated animals. In a rabbit arterial-venous shunt model mimicking arterial thrombosis, occlusion occurred within 30 min in 72% of control animals vs. 11% of animals treated with 0.1 mg kg-1 h-1 DuP 714. Results indicate that DuP 714 is a highly effective anticoagulant which should be useful for the prevention of both venous and arterial thrombotic diseases.
Strategic Marketing in Small Hospitals: Confronting the Challenges and Opportunities

About 40 percent of every health care dollar in the United States is spent within a hospital. The hospital is the nucleus of the health care delivery system. Despite its importance, the hospital industry is faced with tough competition, community misconceptions, consumerism, decreasing government support, rising costs, consolidated acquisitions and demanding accountability for quality health care. Hence, only the most progressive and finest institutions will survive.
Poly(phenylene oxide)s

Poly(phenylene oxide)s [poly(oxyphenylene)s] are useful materials for engineering thermoplastic applications because of their thermal, oxidative and chemical stability. The polymers are readily prepared from phenols in good yields by a variety of oxidative coupling procedures and other types of step-growth polymerization reactions. Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide), PPO® resin, is the most important commercial poly(phenylene oxide) and is sold as a blend with polystyrene and other additives as Noryl® resin by the General Electric Co. The preparation of PPO and other poly(phenylene oxide)s is described in this chapter, with a major emphasis on PPO.
Risk and Return

Effective risk management is a core competency of successful entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur should determine what the most important uncertainties are and how to test and mitigate those uncertainties at the lowest cost. A framework is provided to develop the risk profile of a venture and develop an efficient risk mitigation plan. Do not simply use a high hurdle rate or the worst-case and best-case scenarios when qualifying potential investment opportunities. The company-killer risks should be prioritized and sequenced such that the deal-killer and incentive risks are tackled first, the path-dependent and critical operational risks next, and the remaining operational risks as they occur. The insurable risks and the nuisance risks can be addressed easily. The risk profile of a venture is determined. A framework is provided to estimate the risk of investment loss and the maximum potential investment loss. A two-stage due diligence procedure is shown to yield the risk-consistent and return-efficient investment opportunities. The venture delta may be used to assess the relative riskiness of a venture and to estimate the investor’s expected rate of return. The Venture Capital Asset Pricing Model (VCAPM) may be used to make venture investment and investor exit decisions.
How Fluids Behave

Our task is to learn to model flows. To set up the models, we draw on our intuition of how fluids behave; for example, we often can guess the direction that a flow takes under the influence of particular forces. Intuition also may enable us to identify symmetries in a flow field. Intuition comes from experience, however, and for introductory students, experience may be in short supply. One solution to a lack of experience is to experiment with fluids. Unfortunately, not all of us have access to pumps, flow meters, and piping systems; therefore, it is worthwhile to take a laboratory course in fluid mechanics, if possible. Another way to build experience with fluid behavior is to view flow-visualization videos. Between 1961 and 1969, a group of experts in fluid mechanics (the National Committee for Fluid Mechanics Films [NCFMF]) produced a series of flow- demonstration films [112] that introduce fluid behavior; the films and film notes are now available on the Internet. There also are books [170] and other media [65] that catalog fluid behavior, as well as Web sites on which researchers have posted flow-visualization videos, including the Gallery of Fluid Motion [133], and elsewhere [182]. These sites bring to life all types of fluid behavior, from the mundane to the esoteric.
Use of continuous renal replacement therapy in salicylate toxicity: A case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Objective To report a case of salicylate toxicity treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and review the literature regarding the use of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for salicylate toxicity. Case A 16-year-old male presented after ingesting 1901 mg/kg of enteric coated aspirin. Salicylate level was 92 mg/dl 4 h after ingestion. Sequele included seizure, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema, and prolonged QTc. He received 5.5 h of hemodialysis followed by CVVHDF to continue to augment clearance. His aspirin level fell to 37.4 mg/dl after HD and then to 11.3 mg/dl after nearly 10 h of CVVHDF. Discussion Cited reasons for the use of CRRT for salicylate toxicity primarily have been hypotension or desire for ongoing augmentation of salicylate clearance in the setting of multiorgan toxicity. CVVHDF may have a role in severe salicylate toxicity to enhance ongoing clearance after an initial round of HD in order to prevent significant rebound.
LinkGen: Multipurpose Linked Data Generator

The paper presents LinkGen, a synthetic linked data generator that can generate a large amount of RDF data based on certain statistical distribution. Data generation is platform independent, supports streaming mode and produces output in N-Triples and N-Quad format. Different sets of output can be generated using various configuration parameters and the outputs are reproducible. Unlike existing generators, our generator accepts any vocabulary and can supplement the output with noisy and inconsistent data. The generator has an option to inter-link instances with real ones provided that the user supplies entities from real datasets.
Automatic Video Captioning via Multi-channel Sequential Encoding

In this paper, we propose a novel two-stage video captioning framework composed of (1) a multi-channel video encoder and (2) a sentence-generating language decoder. Both of the encoder and decoder are based on recurrent neural networks with long-short-term-memory cells. Our system can take videos of arbitrary lengths as input. Compared with the previous sequence-to-sequence video captioning frameworks, the proposed model is able to handle multiple channels of video representations and jointly learn how to combine them. The proposed model is evaluated on two large-scale movie datasets (MPII Corpus and Montreal Video Description) and one YouTube dataset (Microsoft Video Description Corpus) and achieves the state-of-the-art performances. Furthermore, we extend the proposed model towards automatic American Sign Language recognition. To evaluate the performance of our model on this novel application, a new dataset for ASL video description is collected based on YouTube videos. Results on this dataset indicate that the proposed framework on ASL recognition is promising and will significantly benefit the independent communication between ASL users and others.
"Mi Les Long Yupela Usim Flag Bilong Mi": Symbols and Identity in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea there is a constant interplay between senses of national identity and senses of local identity that is of particular relevance to debates in the contemporary Pacific. In the domain of symbols of identity there is also a two-way appropriation from the local to the national and from the national to the local. We argue that the latter process works most strongly and thereby modifies the process of creation of an overall national sense of identity. The incorporation of the national into the local in turn influences the process of the production of locality itself. Contemporary issues of intellectual property rights also enter into struggles over identity. These processes are illustrated with a number of case studies, including the conflict presented in Papua New Guinea newspapers regarding ownership of the design of the national flag.
Effects of climate change and anthropogenic modification on a disturbance-dependent species in a large riverine system

Humans have altered nearly every natural disturbance regime on the planet through climate and land-use change, and in many instances, these processes may have interacting effects. For example, projected shifts in temperature and precipitation will likely influence disturbance regimes already affected by anthropogenic fire suppression or river impoundments. Understanding how disturbance-dependent species respond to complex and interacting environmental changes is important for conservation efforts. Using field-based demographic and movement rates, we conducted a metapopulation viability analysis for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), a threatened disturbance-dependent species, along the Missouri and Platte rivers in the Great Plains of North America. Our aim was to better understand current and projected future metapopulation dynamics given that natural disturbances (flooding or high-flow events) have been greatly reduced by river impoundments and that climate change could further alter the disturbance regime. Although metapopulation abundance has been substantially reduced under the current suppressed disturbance regime (high-flow return interval ~ 20 yr), it could grow if the frequency of high-flow events increases as predicted under likely climate change scenarios. We found that a four-year return interval would maximize metapopulation abundance, and all subpopulations in the metapopulation would act as sources at a return interval of 15 yr or less. Regardless of disturbance frequency, the presence of even a small, stable source subpopulation buffered the metapopulation and sustained a low metapopulation extinction risk. Therefore, climate change could have positive effects in ecosystems where disturbances have been anthropogenically suppressed when climatic shifts move disturbance regimes toward more historical patterns. Furthermore, stable source populations, even if unintentionally maintained through anthropogenic activities, may be critical for the persistence of metapopulations of early-successional species under both suppressed disturbance regimes and disturbance regimes where climate change has further altered disturbance frequency or scope.
Neurobiology of Female Mate Choice in Frogs: Auditory Filtering and Valuation.

Mate choice is a decision making process with profound implication for the reproductive success of both the sender and the chooser. Preferences for conspecific over heterospecific males and for some conspecifics over others are typically mediated by a female's response to signals produced by males. And although one can experimentally describe a female's preference function, there is relatively little understood about the neural mechanisms mediating these preferences. In anurans, mating preferences have often been explained in terms of sensory biases. Indeed, in the tungara frog (Physalaemus pustulosus), the auditory system appears to act as a filter for conspecific calls. However, auditory responses are not good predictors of intraspecific mating preferences in tungara frogs. Rather, neural activity in the preoptic area, which can be gated by estradiol, is a better predictor of mating preferences. A similar pattern holds in spadefoot toads (Spea bombifrons): the preoptic area, but not the auditory midbrain, integrates physiological cues in its response to mating calls in a pattern that predicts preferences. Neuroanatomically, the anuran preoptic area is poised to mediate forebrain influences on auditory response of the midbrain and it has descending projections to the medulla and spinal cord that could directly influence motor responses. Indeed, lesions of the preoptic area abolish phonotaxis. A role for the preoptic area in mating preferences is supported by studies in mammals that show the preoptic area is required for the expression of preferences. Further, activity of the preoptic area correlates with mating preference in fish. This leads to a model for the neurobiological mechanisms of mate choice, in which sensory systems filter relevant signals from irrelevant ones, but the preoptic area assigns value to the range of relevant signals.
Assessing the Safety of Overlapping Surgery at a Children's Hospital.

IMPORTANCE Media reports have questioned the safety of overlapping surgical procedures, and national scrutiny has underscored the necessity of single-center evaluations of its safety; however, sample sizes are likely small. We compared the safety profiles of overlapping and nonoverlapping pediatric procedures at a single children's hospital and discussed methodological considerations of the evaluation. DATA AND DESIGN Retrospective analysis of inpatient pediatric surgical procedures (January 2013 to September 2015) at a single pediatric referral center. Overlapping and nonoverlapping procedures were matched in an unbalanced manner (m:n) by procedure. Mixed models adjusting for Vizient-predicted risk, case-mix, and surgeon compared inpatient mortality and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS Among 315 overlapping procedures, 256 (81.3%) were matched to 645 nonoverlapping procedures. There were 6 deaths in all. The adjusted odds ratio for mortality did not differ significantly between nonoverlapping and overlapping procedures (adjusted odds ratio = 0.94 vs overlapping; 95% CI, 0.02-48.5; P = 0.98). Wide confidence intervals were minimally improved with Bayesian methods (95% CI, 0.07-12.5). Adjusted LOS estimates were not clinically different by overlapping status (0.6% longer for nonoverlapping; 95% CI, 9.7% shorter to 12.2% longer; P = 0.91). Among the 87 overlapping procedures with the greatest overlap (≥60 min or ≥50% of operative duration), there were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS The safety of overlapping and nonoverlapping surgical procedures did not differ at this children's center. These findings may not extrapolate to other centers. LOS or intraoperative measures may be more appropriate than mortality for safety evaluations due to low event rates for mortality.
Smoking is not linked to the development of anti-peptidylarginine deiminase 4 autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

Defining environmental factors responsible for development of autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is critical for understanding mechanisms of disease initiation and propagation. Notably, a history of cigarette smoking has been implicated in the genesis of RA and is associated with worse disease outcomes. Antibodies to peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) are also associated with more severe RA. A subset of patients who have PAD4 autoantibodies that cross-react with PAD3 (anti-PAD3/4) are at the highest risk for interstitial lung disease, and this risk is augmented by a history of cigarette smoking. It is unclear, however, if smoking is etiologically linked to the development of anti-PAD4 antibodies. Patients were included in this study if they had physician-diagnosed RA as well as DNA, serum, and a date-matched clinical assessment (n = 274). Anti-PAD4 and anti-CCP antibodies were measured by immunoprecipitation and ELISA, respectively; shared epitope (SE) status was determined by HLA-DRβ1 genotyping. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations of smoking with PAD4 antibodies, with adjustment for relevant demographic and clinical features. Stratified analyses by disease duration and shared epitope status were also performed. Anti-PAD4 antibodies were present in 25% of RA patients, with 50% of these individuals having anti-PAD3/4 cross-reactive antibodies. Anti-PAD4 antibodies were significantly associated with a longer disease duration, SE alleles, and anti-CCP antibodies. Importantly, there were no significant differences in smoking history between anti-PAD4 positive and negative groups in univariate analyses, stratified analyses, or multivariable models. However, an inverse relationship between smoking and anti-PAD4 antibodies was suggested by a lower prevalence of current smokers among patients with anti-PAD3/4 antibodies compared to antibody negative individuals (p = 0.04). Further, the lowest levels of anti-PAD4 antibodies were observed in current smokers (p = 0.14), and a significant association of SE and anti-PAD4 antibodies was only present among never smokers (p = 0.01). Smoking history was not associated with anti-PAD4 antibodies in patients with RA. The finding that anti-PAD4 antibodies were not associated with smoking suggests that other environmental factors may contribute to the development of autoimmunity to PAD4 in these patients.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Eyes with Indeterminate Choroidal Neovascularization: Results from the AVATAR Study

Purpose To evaluate the use of OCT angiography (OCTA) to detect choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with indeterminate CNV features on conventional imaging. Design Prospective observational study of OCTA in patients undergoing routine spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for macular disease. Participants Participants enrolled in the Observational Assessment of Visualizing and Analyzing Vessels with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Retinal Diseases for which CNV was considered as part of a differential diagnosis based on clinical examination, prior imaging, or both, but in whom the presence of CNV was not definitive on SD-OCT and fluorescein angiography (FA) imaging. Methods All patients underwent imaging with the Avanti RTVue XR HD (Optovue, Fremont, CA) and the Cirrus HD-OCT (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) systems. Main Outcome Measures OCT angiography scans were assessed for the presence or absence of CNV. Spectral-domain OCT scans were assessed for the presence of fluid, hyperreflective material, serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED), shallow irregular PED, vitreomacular adhesion, epiretinal membrane, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy, and central subfield retinal thickness. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify features on SD-OCT associated with the presence of CNV on OCTA. Results Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients met the criteria for inclusion. A CNV lesion was detected on OCTA in 8 eyes (28%); 21 eyes (72%) showed negative results for CNV. After adjusting for age, gender, and central subfield retinal thickness, the presence of shallow irregular PED (odds ratio [OR], 148; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22–6830; P = 0.011), as well as the combinations of intraretinal fluid and sub-RPE material (OR, 16.8; 95% CI, 1.43–198; P = 0.025) on SD-OCT were associated significantly with the presence of CNV on OCTA. Conclusions OCT angiography enabled the identification of CNV that was otherwise indeterminate with prior imaging in select eyes. The presence of a shallow irregular PED as well as intraretinal fluid combined with sub-RPE material both were associated with the presence of CNV. OCT angiography may be a valuable adjunct to conventional SD-OCT and FA imaging in the detection and surveillance of CNV, particularly in diagnostic dilemmas.
The Dosage-Response Curve and Its Error

This chapter discusses the dosage–response curve and its error. The relation between dosage and response is typically a sigmoid curve. If the dose of vitamin can be increased sufficiently, a stage is reached beyond which further increases in the dose do not increase the response. As the dose is decreased, the response reaches a lower limit, not abruptly but usually through some transitional phase. The initial step is to select a response metameter that will plot as a straight line against the log dose of vitamin. The computing labor is greatly reduced if at the same time the individual observations at each dosage level are equally variable. In contrast, each recorded dose is presumed to be free of variation and without sampling error. Occasionally, two of these requirements are mutually exclusive in that the response metameter that plots linearly against the log dose has a variability which is related to the response, as in an all-or-none reaction.
Automatic construction of accurate application call graph with library call abstraction for Java: Research Articles

Call graphs are widely used to represent calling relationships among methods. However, there is not much interest in calling relationships among library methods in many software engineering applications, such as program understanding and testing, especially when the library is very big and the calling relationships are not trivial. This paper explores approaches for generating more accurate application call graphs for Java. A new data reachability algorithm is proposed and fine tuned to resolve library callbacks accurately. Compared with an algorithm that resolves library callbacks by traversing the whole-program call graph, the fine-tuned data reachability algorithm results in fewer spurious callback edges. In empirical studies, the new algorithm shows a significant reduction in the number of spurious callback edges. On the basis of the new algorithm, a library abstraction can be calculated automatically and applied in amortized slicing and dataflow testing. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proceedings of the 1984 SIGPLAN symposium on Compiler construction

The thirty-one papers in this volume were selected from 110 summaries submitted to the program committee for the ACM SIGPLAN '84 Symposium on Compiler Construction. The summaries were read by each member of the program committee. However, the papers have not been refereed. It is expected that revisions or expansions of some of them will appear in refereed journals.
Institutions, Geography, Regions, Countries and the Mobility Bias

Recent research on the ultimate causes of the large dierences in economic development across countries has framed the issue as a com- petition between geography and institutions. Some papers claim to have evidence that geography explains nothing after controlling for in- stitutions. This paper argues and shows evidence that geography cor- relates with economic activity across regions within countries where institutions are far more constant than across countries. The paper also argues that mobility of factors can in theory completely mask the impact of geography if one looks only at output per-capita. Compar- ing cross-region with cross-country data and comparing regressions of output density with regressions of output per-capita, the paper …nds evidence of this mobility bias. Finally the paper tries to integrate re- cent lines of research with an earlier line that looked at regional data as a laboratory to test for economies of scale. Overall the paper …nds evidence for three important determinants of spacial income levels: geography, institutions and agglomeration economies associated with very large urban areas. One needs to consider all three to fully explain the pattern of economic activity across space.
Treaty Substitutes in the Modern Era

This chapter compares two modern Indian property settlements processes - the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the Snake River Basin Water Rights Settlement - with the mode of agreements in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-19th Century.
Clinical Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is being investigated for psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and both phases of bipolar disorder. Case series, open trials, and randomized controlled studies have demonstrated preliminary support for treating PTSD with rTMS alone as well as with rTMS combined with psychotherapy. Similarly, there is some evidence that GAD can be treated with rTMS. The results for treating either phase of bipolar disorder are mixed with most of the current studies showing lack of benefit over sham. Further study is required before rTMS can be recommended for these disorders.
Association of body mass index (BMI) with clinical outcomes in 203 metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients (pts) treated with immuno-oncology (IO) agents.

e16103Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of ccRCC. For malignant melanoma, higher BMI was recently associated with improved outcomes to IO therapy (McQuade, Lancet Onc, ...
Exercise-Induced Mitohormesis for the Maintenance of Skeletal Muscle and Healthspan Extension

Oxidative damage is one mechanism linking aging with chronic diseases including the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function called sarcopenia. Thus, mitigating oxidative damage is a potential avenue to prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease and/or extend healthspan. Mitochondrial hormesis (mitohormesis) occurs when acute exposure to stress stimulates adaptive mitochondrial responses that improve mitochondrial function and resistance to stress. For example, an acute oxidative stress via mitochondrial superoxide production stimulates the activation of endogenous antioxidant gene transcription regulated by the redox sensitive transcription factor Nrf2, resulting in an adaptive hormetic response. In addition, acute stresses such as aerobic exercise stimulate the expansion of skeletal muscle mitochondria (i.e., mitochondrial biogenesis), constituting a mitohormetic response that protects from sarcopenia through a variety of mechanisms. This review summarized the effects of age-related declines in mitochondrial and redox homeostasis on skeletal muscle protein homeostasis and highlights the mitohormetic mechanisms by which aerobic exercise mitigates these age-related declines and maintains function. We discussed the potential efficacy of targeting the Nrf2 signaling pathway, which partially mediates adaptation to aerobic exercise, to restore mitochondrial and skeletal muscle function. Finally, we highlight knowledge gaps related to improving redox signaling and make recommendations for future research.
Exemplary Youth Leadership Series: Activities to Engage Youth with Practices of Exemplary Leaders

This publication series is designed to outline strategies and experiences to expose youth to and engage them with leadership concepts. In this series, activities have been developed to introduce youth to Kouzes and Posner’s five practices of exemplary leaders. Each article in the series directly relates to one of the practices and the topics of values, vision, teamwork, trust, and gratitude. This new 3-page article, the first in the series, introduces each practice and Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model. Written by Megan Stein and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc344
Leukocyte adhesion to P-selectin and the inhibitory role of Crizanlizumab in sickle cell disease: A standardized microfluidic assessment.

Abstract Upregulated expression of P-selectin on activated endothelium and platelets significantly contributes to the initiation and progression of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), a major cause of morbidity in sickle cell disease (SCD). Crizanlizumab (ADAKVEO®), a humanized monoclonal antibody against P-selectin, primarily inhibits the interaction between leukocytes and P-selectin, and has been shown to decrease the frequency of VOCs in clinical trials. However, the lack of reliable in vitro assays that objectively measure leukocyte adhesion to P-selectin remains a critical barrier to evaluating and improving the therapeutic treatment in SCD. Here, we present a standardized microfluidic BioChip whole blood adhesion assay to assess leukocyte adhesion to P-selectin under physiologic flow conditions. Our results demonstrated heterogeneous adhesion by leukocytes to immobilized P-selectin, and dose-dependent inhibition of this adhesion following pre-exposure to Crizanlizumab. Importantly, treatment with Crizanlizumab following adhesion to P-selectin promoted detachment of rolling, but not of firmly adherent leukocytes. Taken together, our results suggest that the microfluidic BioChip system is a promising in vitro assay with which to screen patients, monitor treatment response, and guide current and emerging anti-adhesive therapies in SCD.