cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate-distortion optimal boundary encoding using an area distortion measure

In this paper an optimal boundary encoding algorithm in the rate-distortion sense is proposed. Second-order B-spline curves are used to model object boundaries. An additive area distortion measure between the original boundary and its approximation is employed in the optimization process. The problem is formulated in a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) paradigm, and the shortest path solution is used to optimally select control point locations of the B-spline curve approximation based on the desired rate-distortion tradeoff.
Partial versus radical nephrectomy for 4 to 7 cm renal cortical tumors.

Purpose: Recent observations suggest that partial nephrectomy for small renal tumors may be associated with improved survival compared with radical nephrectomy. We evaluated survival in patients with 4 to 7 cm renal tumors in a bi-institutional collaboration.Materials and Methods: By combining institutional databases from Mayo Clinic and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center we identified 1,159 patients with 4.1 to 7.0 cm sporadic, unilateral, solitary, localized renal masses who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between 1989 and 2006. Patient outcome was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression models.Results: Of the 1,159 patients 873 (75%) and 286 (25%) were treated with radical and partial nephrectomy, respectively. Patients treated with partial vs radical nephrectomy were significantly more likely to have a solitary kidney (10% vs 0.2%) and chronic kidney disease (15% vs 7%, each p <0.001). Median followup in survivors was 4.8 years (range 0 to 19). There was no significant differen...
Hyperactivity and Reduced Energy Cost of Physical Activity in Serotonin 5-HT2C Receptor Mutant Mice

We have observed late-onset obesity in mutant mice lacking the serotonin 5-HT(2C) receptor. Despite chronically elevated food intake, young adult mutants exhibit neither elevated adiposity nor altered glucose or fat homeostasis. However, obesity subsequently develops after 6 months of age without increases in their level of hyperphagia. In this study, we investigated determinants of energy expenditure in 5-HT(2C) receptor mutant mice. Young adult mutants displayed patterns of elevated activity levels that were enhanced by fasting and tightly associated with repeated visits to a food source. Surprisingly, subsequent obesity development occurred despite persisting locomotor hyperactivity and without age-related declines in resting metabolic rate. Rather, substantial reductions in the energy cost of locomotor activity (LA) were observed in 5-HT(2C) receptor mutant mice. Moreover, both mutant and wild-type mice displayed age-related declines in the energy cost of LA, indicating that this process may be regulated by both aging and serotonergic signaling. These results indicate that a mutation of the 5-HT(2C) receptor gene (htr2c) increases LA, which contributes to the maintenance of normal body composition in young adult mutants despite their hyperphagia. Moreover, age-dependent reductions in the energy cost of physical activity could contribute to the subsequent development of late-onset obesity in 5-HT(2C) receptor mutant mice.
Injuries From Exploding Bottles

Accidents take the lives of more children 1 to 4 years of age than the next seven ranking causes combined.1 In 1973, accidents were responsible for 42% of the mortality from all causes among boys 1 to 4 years old and 37% of that among girls of the same age group.1, Two recent injuries from exploding pop bottles, one of them fatal, prompted me to emphasize the extreme danger that glass bottles containing carbonated beverages under pressure pose to small children. CASE REPORTS Case 1 The parents of a 15-month-old child, after hearing a bottle explode, discovered the child crouching with a piece of glass in the perineum and innumerable pieces of glass scattered about the room.
Geometric models of porosity reduction by ductile grain compaction and cementation

Pore-volume reduction of sediments by plastic deformation during compaction and by cementation of grains has been evaluated for different proportions of ductile and hard grains. We represent the compaction behavior of grains with a purely geometric model, which uses the cooperative rearrangement algorithm to produce dense, random packings of partly interpenetrating spheres. We varied the fraction of grains assumed to be ductile and the radius of the rigid core of the ductile grains. The predicted relationship between the fraction of ductile grains in the sediment and the porosity after compaction agrees well with previously published experimental data in the literature. The radius of the rigid core of the ductile grains is an effective way to represent different kinds of ductile material, ranging from brittle (rigid radius 0.9) to extremely ductile (rigid radius 0.7). We simulated quartz cementation in our compacted rock by adding isopachous cement. Cement thickness was reduced on the smaller grains and increased on the larger grains to account for presumed export of pressure-dissolved material from finer grained regions and the import of material into coarser grained regions. These simulations yield descriptions of pore-scale geometry resulting from processes common in sandstones. Modeled pore geometry provides insight into transport properties of such rocks. For example, the models predict, to within a factor of five, the permeability of samples of tight-gas sandstones having little intragranular porosity.
Further evidence that the circadian clock in Drosophila is a population of coupled ultradian oscillators.

We hypothesize that ultradian oscillators are coupled to yield a composite circadian clock in Drosophila. In such a system, period would be a function of the tightness of coupling of these oscillators, increasing as coupling loosens. Ultradian oscillations would become appar ent under weak coupling or in the absence of coupling. A new technique for calculating signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) for biological rhythms to characterize their precision has yielded support for this hypothesis. SNR of rhythms of the allelic series of mutations at the period ( per) locus of Drosophila melanogaster were compared. per0 was the noisiest, grading through perL, per+ , and pers, the least noisy. SNR decreases significantly with increasing period in pers, per+, and perL; pero typically has multiple ultradian oscillations and the lowest SNR. At least 70% of perL individuals also exhibit ultradian periodicities.
The Unsustainable US Health Care System: A Blueprint for Change

As a family physician, I have become increasingly uncomfortable being associated with the US health care system. While shiny, new buildings go up each day, there is still little movement toward a model that will shore up the crumbling foundation. The current delivery system and financing structures are unsustainable. Inequitable distribution of resources continues, and an increasing number of American families do not have access to adequate care. In this essay, patient stories are woven into a narrative that highlights the magnitude of the problem at multiple levels of the system. My intent is not to compare stories, because we all have patients, friends, and family members who have been affected. The purpose of this essay is to encourage each reader to reflect on his or her own experiences and to present an imperative to lead change.
Cutting Edge: STAT6 Signaling in Eosinophils Is Necessary for Development of Allergic Airway Inflammation

Eosinophils are critical cellular mediators in allergic asthma and inflammation; however, the signals that regulate their functions are unclear. The transcription factor STAT6 regulates Th2 cytokine responses, acting downstream of IL-4 and IL-13. We showed previously that eosinophil-derived IL-13 plays an important role in the recruitment of T cells to the lung and the subsequent development of allergic asthma. However, whether eosinophils respond to Th2 signals to control allergic airway inflammation is unclear. In this report, we show that STAT6−/− eosinophils are unable to induce the development of allergic lung inflammation, including recruitment of CD4+ T cells, mucus production, and development of airways hyperresponsiveness. This is likely due to the reduced migration of STAT6−/− eosinophils to the lung and in response to eotaxin. These data indicate that, like Th cells, eosinophils need to respond to Th2 cytokines via STAT6 during the development of allergic airway inflammation.
RESPONSE OF NORTHERN SAN FRANCISCO BAY TO RIVERINE INPUTS OF DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON, SILICON, NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS

Abstract : Estuarine processes can be effective in modifying (filtering) distributions of dissolved inorganic forms of carbon (DIC), silicon (DIS), nitrogen (DIN), and phosphorus (DIP) in northern San Francisco Bay. During winter, high inflow from the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system supplied these nutrients to the estuary at rates that exceeded potential rates of estuarine supply and removal processes. During spring and summer, when inflow rates were lower, the estuary was an effective “filter” of the river inflow “signal” because rates of estuarine processes were high relative to river and other supply rates. At lower inflow rates, the river apparently influenced estuarine hydrodynamic features that controlled rates of phytoplankton nutrient removal. Largest biological removal effects were localized in San Pablo Bay during spring and Suisun Bay during summer, and they were generally more pronounced in shallow water areas of the bays. In San Pablo Bay, effects of biological removal appeared soon after river inflow decreased from high winter rates, but persisted for only a short time. During the following summer months, DIN and DIP distributions in San Pablo Bay indicated that estuarine sources contributed to higher concentrations of these nutrients.
Deterministic Model of Dynamic Eutrophic Estuary

A stochastic model for a one-dimensional estuary has been formulated. It was found that with the addition of a single new parameter, a stochastic model can be built from its deterministic counterpart. The derivation was of sufficient generality to permit any number of components and any reasonable system configuration to be handled. All systems parameters, conditions, and forcing function could be continuous functions of time (not just tidal phase), position, and if necessary, other factors. The stochastic development which utilizes this deterministic model was presented in an earlier article. The Potomac estuary was modeled for the period January to October 1969. Measured and predicted concentrations were compared in their means and in the distributions with good agreement. The use of this model for modeling other estuaries is recommended.
Measurement of skin protein breakdown in a rat model.

Whereas skin protein synthesis can be measured with different approaches, no method potentially applicable in humans is available for measurement of skin protein breakdown. To that end, we measured...
Reaching is Better When You Get What You Want: Realtime Feedback of Intended Reaching Trajectory Despite an Unstable Environment

Improvements in human-machine interaction may help overcome the unstable and uncertain environments that cause problems in everyday living. Here we experimentally evaluated intent feedback (IF), which estimates and displays the human operator's underlying intended trajectory in real-time. IF is a filter that combines a model of the arm with position and force data to determine the intended position. Subjects performed targeted reaching motions while seeing either their actual hand position or their estimated intent as a cursor while they experienced white noise forces rendered by a robotic handle. We found significantly better reaching performance during force exposure using the estimated intent. Additionally, in a second set of subjects with a reduced modeled stiffness, IF reduced estimated arm stiffness to about half that without IF, indicating a more relaxed state of operation. While visual distortions typically degrade performance and require an adaptation period to overcome, this particular distortion immediately enhanced performance. In the future, this method could provide novel insights into the nature of control. IF might also be applied in driving and piloting applications to best follow a person's desire in unpredictable or turbulent conditions.
Response of Quercus velutina growth and water use efficiency to climate variability and nitrogen fertilization in a temperate deciduous forest in the northeastern USA

Nitrogen (N) deposition and changing climate patterns in the northeastern USA can influence forest productivity through effects on plant nutrient relations and water use. This study evaluates the combined effects of N fertilization, climate and rising atmospheric CO₂ on tree growth and ecophysiology in a temperate deciduous forest. Tree ring widths and stable carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotopes were used to assess tree growth (basal area increment, BAI) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) of Quercus velutina Lamb., the dominant tree species in a 20+ year N fertilization experiment at Harvard Forest (MA, USA). We found that fertilized trees exhibited a pronounced and sustained growth enhancement relative to control trees, with the low- and high-N treatments responding similarly. All treatments exhibited improved iWUE over the study period (1984–2011). Intrinsic water use efficiency trends in the control trees were primarily driven by changes in stomatal conductance, while a stimulation in photosynthesis, supported by an increase in foliar %N, contributed to enhancing iWUE in fertilized trees. All treatments were predominantly influenced by growing season vapor pressure deficit (VPD), with BAI responding most strongly to early season VPD and iWUE responding most strongly to late season VPD. Nitrogen fertilization increased Q. velutina sensitivity to July temperature and precipitation. Combined, these results suggest that ambient N deposition in N-limited northeastern US forests has enhanced tree growth over the past 30 years, while rising ambient CO₂ has improved iWUE, with N fertilization and CO₂ having synergistic effects on iWUE.
Issues and directions in phytolith analysis

Abstract This special issue examines new trends in phytolith scholarship and assesses the future direction of this field of research. The papers presented represent a broader shift in phytolith research into a new phase called the “Period of Expanding Applications”. It is characterized by 1) a rapid increase in the number of phytolith publications; 2) a diversification of research topics; 3) a reassessment of the use of radiocarbon and other isotopes in phytoliths; 4) the development of digital technologies for refining and sharing phytolith identifications; 5) renewed efforts for standardization of phytolith nomenclature and laboratory protocol; and 6) the development of the field of applied phytolith research. This paper argues that interdisciplinary collaborations and a continued effort to understand the basics of phytolith production patterns are essential for the growth of the discipline and its application in archaeological studies.
SELECTIVE EMBOLIZATION OF THE CORONARY ARTERIES. A HEMODYNAMIC, METABOLIC AND RADIOLOGIC STUDY.

SummaryA method for production of myocardial infarction by injecting steel ball bearings into the coronary arteries of closed chest dogs is described. Hemodynamic changes resulting from the myocardial infarcts were: A fall in the aortic pressure, cardiac output and coronary blood flow; a picture of congestive heart failure was observed in a few cases of severe infarction. Metabolic changes observed were increased myocardial oxygen extraction and increased arterial levels of lactate and pyruvate. No consistent change in myocardial extraction of carbohydrates and free fatty acids was observed.
Criteria for Nest Site Selection in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Preferences Between Pheromone Attractants and Cavity Shapes

Nerolic acid, the second most abundant compound in the Nasonov pheromone of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., was investigated to determine its importance as a component in synthetic attractants for honey bees of Africanized and European populations. Both populations of bees preferred synthetic pheromone blends containing nerolic acid in combination with citral and geraniol to those containing only citral and geraniol. These findings indicate that honey bee swarms of both Africanized and European populations recognize and respond in the same manner to synthetic Nasonov pheromone, and that nerolic acid exerts an important synergistic effect on the attractiveness of other Nasonov components. Nest cavity shape, tapered cylinder versus rectangular prism, apparently is not an important factor in cavity acceptance by honey bee swarms.
Bounding the Population Shares Affected by Treatments

The fraction of a population that is affected by a treatment (the “responders”) may be as important to identify as the average magnitude of the treatment effect. I show that if the distributions of potential outcomes with and without treatment are identified, then the total variation distance between them serves as the sharp lower bound on the share of responders. It can be computed for randomized control trials, instrumental variables, and other empirical designs. I demonstrate the usefulness of the approach in three examples of economic interest, related to behavioral biases in retirement savings, electoral fraud, and student cheating.
Late Cretaceous Marine Vertebrate Fauna from the Fairport Chalk Member of the Carlile Shale in Southern Ellis County, Kansas, U.S.A.

The Fairport Chalk (middle Turonian) of the Carlile Shale is an Upper Cretaceous rock unit deposited in the middle of the Western Interior Seaway during the early regressive phase of the Seaway following its peak transgressive phase. The Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, Kansas, U.S.A., houses a collection of marine vertebrate fossils from the Fairport Chalk in southern Ellis County, Kansas. The fossil fauna consists of at least 16 taxa, including 11 chondrichthyans, four osteichthyans, and one reptilian. They show wide ecological diversity, with examples of small to medium-sized opportunistic (Squalicorax), large predaceous (Cardabiodon and Cretoxyrhina), and durophagous (Ptychodus) sharks, as well as small (Enchodus), medium-sized (Plethodidae and Pachyrhizodus), and large (Ichthyodectes) bony fishes. Another notable finding is the occurrence of Telodontaspis agassizensis in which the species was previously known only from Cenomanian deposits, making the specimen from the Fairport Chalk the g...
Plato's Analogy of Soul and State

In Part I of this paper, I argue that the arguments Plato offers for the tripartition of the soul are founded upon an equivocation, and that each of the valid options by which Plato might remove the equivocation will not produce a tripartite soul. In Part II, I argue that Plato is not wholly committed to an analogy of soul and state that would require either a tripartite state or a tripartite soul for the analogy to hold. It follows that the heart of the analogy is not to be found in the comparison of the Kallipolis and its three parts to the soul conceived as tripartite, but rather must be supposed to reside in some other connection between the ways in which justice characterizes states and souls, and I will suggest what this other connection consists in.
Salmonella and Shigella caused infectious diarrhea in children and pathogens' drug resistance in Hangzhou,Zhejiang,2008-2012

Objective To understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of infectious diarrhea caused by Salmonella and Shigella in children and pathogens' drug resistance in Hangzhou,Zhejiang province and provide evidence for the related research and rational use of antibiotics. Methods Salmonella and Shigella were cultured by using the stool samples collected from the diarrheal children hospitalized or seeking medical care in our hospital. The isolated strains were identified by biochemical and serological tests,and disk diffusion method was used to test the drug susceptibility of these strains. Results A total of 281 pathogenic strains were isolated from 2008 to 2012,including 119Shigella strains(42. 3%) and 162 Salmonella strains(57. 6%). In 119 Shigella strains,82 were S. flexneri strains(29.2%),31 were S. sonnei strains(11.0%) and 6 were S. boydii strains(2.1%). S. flexneri and S. sonnei strains were predominated with the ratio of 2. 64 ∶ 1. No S. dysenteriae was detected. The proportion of Salmonella strains detected increased year by year. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1. 38∶ 1. Infectious diarrhea mainly occurred from May to October,but the incidence peak was during July-August. The drug resistance of Shigella and Salmonella were different. The drug resistant rate of Shigella was higher than that of Salmonella. The results of drug susceptibility test in vitro showed the resistant rates of Shigella and Salmonella to cefotaxime,ceftriaxone,ampicillin /sulbactam and SMZ-TMP were higher than those to ceftazidime,ampicillin,cefepime,cefoperazone /sulbactam and piperacillin /tazobactam. No resistance to imipenem was detected. Conclusion In recent years,the incidence of diarrhea caused by Salmonella in children increased in Hangzhou. S. flexneri was also the major pathogen to cause bacteria diarrhea in children. Piperacillin /tazobactam,ceftazidime and cefepime. are usually used to treat infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella and Salmonella in children.
Research and Application of the High-Power Electronic Technology in China Southern Power Grid

The high power electronic technology and its application have the advantage of enhancing the system security and stability and power quality,and thus promote advances in grid technology.China Southern Power Grid Co.,Ltd.(CSG) has undertaken several national science and technology projects involving in high-voltage and high-power electronic technologies,and puts certain advanced power electronic devices into its established HVDC transmission projects.This paper introduces the CSG’s research achievements of high-power electronic technology in the fields of HVDC,De-Ice,SVC,TCSC,STATCOM,VSC-HVDC and new energy resource as well as the related demonstration projects,showing that a prominent contribution to promote advances in grid technology has been done by CSG through its development of the high-power electronic technology.
40Ar/39Ar dates from alkaline intrusions in the northern Crazy Mountains, Montana Implications for the timing and duration of alkaline magmatism in the central Montana alkalic province

Intrusive rocks in the Crazy Mountains, Montana, consist of numerous stocks, dike swarms, laccoliths and/or sills of strongly alkaline to subalkaline affinity that have intruded and metamorphosed Tertiary sedimentary strata of the Crazy Mountains Basin. The subalkaline rocks form stocks, sills, and radiating dikes and are located primarily in the southern Crazy Mountains (e.g., Big Timber stock, Loco Mountain stock). With the exception of the Ibex Mountain sill (?), the alkaline rocks are restricted to the northern Crazy Mountains. New 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dates are reported for alkaline rocks of the northern Crazy Mountains, with results ranging between 50.61 Ma and 50.03 Ma. Five dates from the strongly alkaline nepheline and mafic nepheline syenites of the Ibex Mountain sill (?), Robinson anticline intrusive complex, and Comb Creek stock (?) and dike swarm give tightly clustered dates suggesting that they were emplaced during a restricted time interval at ∼50.1 Ma. The dates from the alkaline rocks of the northern Crazy Mountains are slightly older than those previously reported from the subalkaline Big Timber stock in the southern Crazy Mountains (i.e., 49.3–49.2 Ma, biotite 40 Ar/ 39 Ar) (du Bray and Harlan, 1996). However, the limited span of dates (i.e., 50.6–49.2 Ma) and the geographic proximity between the alkaline and subalkaline rocks indicate that the magmas represented by these different geochemical groups were closely associated in both time and space. Furthermore, all the igneous rocks in the Crazy Mountains were emplaced in a narrow time interval of 1–2 m.y. On a regional scale, the 51–49-Ma age span from the Crazy Mountains is similar to that of most of the igneous centers of the central Montana alkalic province and is coeval with the peak of widespread volcanism in the Absaroka-Gallatin volcanic field immediately to the south of the Crazy Mountains Basin.
The effects of the order of multiple imputation in subset analysis examining the association between body mass index (BMI) and transrectal ultrasound prostate weight

Subset analysis is a comprehensive method for examining associations within a data set. This approach may be substantially affected by missing data. Multiple imputation is one approach for handling missing data. This work will explore how subset analysis and multiple imputation can provide benefit in investigating clinically relevant associations. Furthermore, the order in which these methods are performed and its effects will be examined. With this data set, we observe association between body mass index (BMI) and prostate weight as measured by transrectal ultrasound. We show that the order of the procedures affects the inferences.
Hypoxia/ischemia and the pH paradox.

Hydrogen ions play an important role in cellular processes. There are intimate links between energy metabolism and the control of cell and tissue acid/base balance. Control of this balance is threatened or lost during severe hypoxia or ischemia. Re-establishment of pH balance must occur before the tissue can be considered to have returned to normal operating conditions. Because hydrogen ions influence so many reactions, the timing of renormalization can be crucial to the entire recovery process. Indeed, in many active tissues, too fast reversal of acidosis during recovery from severe hypoxia or ischemia appears to be detrimental to the overall recovery of homeostasis. That a tissue could restore function more rapidly if mild acidosis were maintained during the immediate post-stress recovery time has been referred to as the “pH paradox” (Currin et al., 1991), in analogy with the so-called “calcium paradox” that has been discussed primarily in the cardiovascular literature. In this paper we will review the changes that occur in pHi during hypoxia and ischemia in rat brain. We will explore the interrelationships of protons with metabolism, and we will propose a scheme for the interaction of protons in brain function. Finally, we will attempt to reach a conclusion concerning the applicability of the concept of pH paradox in brain.
Teratogenicity of Carbamazepine

The teratogenic risk after first trimester exposure to carbamazepine was determined from 210 pregnancies followed prospectively at the Israeli Teratogen Information Service, and Laboratory of Teratology, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, and Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
The Challenge of Neutrality

On the day that Kitchener arrived in Cairo, Italy, driven by imperial ambitions, sent an ultimatum to Constantinople, announcing its intention to occupy provinces in the modern state of Libya—Tripoli in the west and Cyrenaica in the east—and citing, as a pretext, the need to protect its local nationals. Italy had obtained French and British consent to remain neutral in advance so that no major obstacles stood in its way to achieve its goals. Rome was confident of a quick victory as its invading army, numbering 34,000 men, would be facing less than 5,000 Turkish soldiers posted in garrisons. Naturally anxious to avoid war, the Turkish government replied that it would accept an Italian protectorate but not full sovereignty. The compromise would have been comparable to the arrangement in Egypt which was formally under Ottoman suzerainty but controlled by the British. Deeming Turkey’s reply unsatisfactory, Rome declared war on 29 September.
Influence of chemistry, interfacial width, and non-isothermal conditions on spatially heterogeneous activated relaxation and elasticity in glass-forming free standing films

We employ the Elastically Collective Nonlinear Langevin Equation (ECNLE) theory of activated relaxation to study several questions in free standing thin films of glass-forming molecular and polymer liquids. The influence of non-universal chemical aspects on dynamical confinement effects is found to be relatively weak, but with the caveat that for the systems examined, the bulk ECNLE polymer theory does not predict widely varying fragilities. Allowing the film model to have a realistic vapor interfacial width significantly enhances the reduction of the film-averaged glass transition temperature, Tg, in a manner that depends on whether a dynamic or pseudo-thermodynamic averaging of the spatial mobility gradient is adopted. The nature of film thickness effects on the spatial profiles of the alpha relaxation time and elastic modulus is studied under non-isothermal conditions and contrasted with the corresponding isothermal behavior. Modest differences are found if a film-thickness dependent Tg is defined in a dynamical manner. However, adopting a pseudo-thermodynamic measure of Tg leads to a qualitatively new form of the alpha relaxation time gradient where highly mobile layers near the film surface coexist with strongly vitrified regions in the film interior. As a consequence, the film-averaged shear modulus can increase with decreasing film thickness, despite the Tg reduction and presence of a mobile surface layer. Such a behavior stands in qualitative contrast to the predicted mechanical softening under isothermal conditions. Spatial gradients of the elastic modulus are studied as a function of temperature, film thickness, probing frequency, and experimental protocol, and a rich behavior is found.
Blindness in Usher Syndrome 1B

The turnover of phototransductive membrane is an essential process for the viability of photoreceptor cells. Molecular motors are likely candidates for the trafficking of phototransductive membrane during various stages of its turnover. Our studies of molecular motors in photoreceptor cells and the RPE are aimed at understanding mechanisms involved in phototransductive membrane turnover and the cellular basis of some forms of retinal degeneration. Results described here represent initial studies on the role of myosin VIIa in the retina. Defects in the myosin VIIa, gene have been found to cause forms of Usher syndrome. Myosin VIIa, was localized in the apical processes of the RPE and in the connecting cilium of the photoreceptor cells. In the retinas of shaker-1 mice, which express mutant myosin VIIa, the only identifiable structural defect was the mislocalization of the melanosomes of the RPE. Disk membrane shedding did not appear to be affected. Nevertheless, the localization of myosin VIIa, in the photoreceptor cilium suggests that the protein might be involved in transporting phototransductive membrane to the outer segment.
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter: Risk factors and outcomes in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders

Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter is a growing concern and has been identified as a serious threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, there is little information on MDR Acinetobacter in individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/Ds). Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify risk factors for, and assess outcomes of, MDR Acinetobacter in veterans with SCI/Ds. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2012-December 31, 2013, using national Veterans Affairs medical encounter and microbiology data. Results A total of 773 Acinetobacter cultures were identified in 571 patients, of which 58.9% were MDR. Inpatient culture, sputum and other specimen type, receipt of antibiotics within 90 days before culture date, and pressure ulcers were identified as independent predictors of MDR Acinetobacter. Highest odds of MDR Acinetobacter were seen with previous antibiotic use (odds ratio, 7.27; 95% confidence interval, 2.59-20.54). Thirty-day mortality was 5.3% in this study. Multidrug resistance, previous mechanical ventilation 90 days before the culture, and cancer were all independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. Conclusions There should be increased efforts to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship to improve infection control to help limit spread of Acinetobacter in health care settings.
Modulating Hole Transport in Multilayered Photocathodes with Derivatized p-Type Nickel Oxide and Molecular Assemblies for Solar-Driven Water Splitting

For solar water splitting, dye-sensitized NiO photocathodes have been a primary target. Despite marginal improvement in performance, limitations remain arising from the intrinsic disadvantages of NiO and insufficient catalysis. We report here a new approach to modifying NiO photocathodes with doped NiO bilayers and an additional layer of macro–mesoporous ITO. The trilayered electrode is functionalized with a surface-attached ruthenium polypyridyl dye and a covalently bridged nickel-based hydrogen evolution catalyst. The NiO film, containing a 2% K+-doped NiO inner layer and a 2% Cu2+-doped NiO outer layer, provides sufficient driving force for hole transport following hole injection by the molecular assembly. Upon light irradiation, the resulting photocathode generates hydrogen from water sustainably with enhanced photocurrents and a Faradaic efficiency of ∼90%. This approach highlights the value of modifying both the internal and surface structure of NiO and provides insights into a new generation of dye...
Liver Metastases from Colon Cancer

Of all malignant lesions occurring in the liver, metastases are far more frequent than primary liver malignancy. PET/MR imaging leads to a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy in detecting liver metastases and offers better lesion delineation compared with other modalities. The inclusion of diffusion-weighted imaging demonstrating restricted diffusion leads to even higher accuracy in metastatic detection.
AMPK activation by pterostilbene contributes to suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and glucose production in H4IIE cells.

Abstract Pterostilbene, a bioactive component of blueberries and grapes, shows structural similarity to resveratrol, and exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, and cholesterol lowering effects. Recent evidence indicates that pterostilbene is an agonist of the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α). Since PPAR-α agonists induce peroxisomal proliferation and fatty acid oxidation, we examined gene expression of acyl CoA oxidase (ACO) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1). Pterostilbene treatment, at concentrations that demonstrated over 75% cell viability (20 μM, 50 μM), significantly increased gene expression of ACO, CPT-1, and PPAR-α. Pterostilbene treatment (50 μM) also demonstrated potent activation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), compared to AICAR (0.5 mM) or metformin (2 mM), consistent with upregulation in fatty acid oxidation gene expression. Since AMPK activators mimic the actions of insulin by repressing hepatic gluconeogenesis, we examined pterostilbene's effects on hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression. Pterostilbene treatment significantly repressed dexamethasone-induced phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose6-phosphatase (G6Pase) gene expression, and decreased glucose production in H4IIE cells. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that pterostilbene, a natural compound and PPAR-α agonist, modulate several AMPK-dependent metabolic functions. The results of the present study suggest that pterostilbene may have beneficial effects in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes and related disorders. In this study, we found that pterostilbene activated AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and increased the expression of fatty acid oxidation genes, including acyl CoA oxidase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1.
A phase II study of cabozantinib (cabo) alone or in combination with trastuzumab (T) in patients (pts) with breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM).

1026Background: BCBM rely on VEGF pathway activation for angiogenesis and dissemination. Activation of MET leads to tumor invasion and resistance to anti-VEGF therapy. The aim of this study was to ...
On the Behaviour of Wald Statistics for the Disjunction of Two Regular Hypotheses

Occasionally hypotheses arise which, although not themselves regular, have the logical structure of the disjunction of two, or in general several, regular hypotheses. An example of such a hypothesis is that of collapsibility in a three-way contingency table as defined by Whittemore. When such a hypothesis is to be tested, a Wald test appears, superficially, to offer a convenient solution. However, closer inspection reveals that the irregularity intrinsic to such problems precludes the regularity conditions required for the valid construction of a Wald test statistic. The purpose of this paper is to describe explicitly the nature of the irregularity and its effect on the asymptotic behaviour of the Wald test statistic
Group Representations and Selection Rules

One of the main efforts of Chapter 5 was to determine explicitly the normalized wave functions Ψ nlm of a hydrogenic atom; see equation (5.2.12). Here n ∈ {1,2,3,...},l ∈ {0,l,2,...,n −l},m ∈ {−l,−l + 1,...,−1,0,1,2,..., l} are the total, azimuthal, and magnetic quantum numbers, respectively. The triples (n,l,m) = (5,2,−2), (5,4,−2) define, for example, two quantum states with the same energy E (5) (by (5.1.29)) of the hydrogenic atom. One could ask the following question: Is it possible for the atom to proceed directly from the state (5,2,−2) to the state (5,4,−2): is the transition (5,2,−2) ← (5,4,−2) always physically possible? The answer is no, as we shall see in this chapter. Moreover the answer comes by way of some beautiful applications of group theory. This example, of whether a certain transition is allowable or forbidden, illustrates one of many selection rules in quantum mechanics. The answer no just asserted turns out to depend on whether or not a certain integral (depending on the quantum numbers (5,2, −2), (5,4, −2)) vanishes.
Advantages and Adversities of the Weighted Toxicity Score.

It is imperative to develop a comprehensive toxicity score that will capture, convey, and compare adverse events of agents that are therapeutic options for the same disease state. The weighted toxicity score tool is a valuable aid in the shared decision-making process of therapeutic choice between patients and providers. Clin Cancer Res; 1–3. ©2018 AACR.
Pars Plana Vitrectomy: Indications and Results

Pars plana vitrectomy has opened a number of previously untreatable ocular disorders to successful surgical management. MACHEMER (1971, 1972), DOUVAS (1973) and others (O’MALLEY & HEINTZ 1972; PEYMAN & DODICH 1971; FEDERMAN et al. 1974; KLoTI 1973; SCHEPENS 1972; KRIEGER et al. 1973; KAUFMAN 1975) have introduced effective instrumentation to further the technique pioneered by MACHEMER (1971, 1972). This pars plana approach can be utilized for the removal of vitreous, lens, or virtually any other intraocular tissue. In addition to intravitreal sheets and preretinal membranes, membranous cataracts and other anterior segment abnormalities can now be surgically approached with vitrectomy technique.
Lady Bird Deeds and Transfer on Death Deeds

A carefully prepared estate plan often contains personal property which passes outside of the probate process such as beneficiary designations on bank accounts, life insurance, and retirement accounts. With regard to real property (often the family home), inter vivos trusts serve as the traditional non-probate transfer mechanism. Although this technique has many advantages, it adds complexity and cost to the estate planning process, especially for individuals with limited resources. Alternatively, estate planners may decide to use a life estate deed where the client retains a life estate and transfers the remainder interest to the desired recipient. A life estate deed, however, can not be changed after execution, creating problems if the client later wishes to undo the action or change the remainder beneficiary. Modern law now provides two alternatives to inter vivos trusts and life estate deeds: Lady Bird Deeds and Transfer on Death Deeds.
Identifying Medical Equipment Usability Issues from Social Media Reports

Traditional methods of investigating usability include usability tests, heuristic evaluations, surveys, and field methods. User self-reports of equipment problems such as through the FDA MAUDE data...
A thermogravimetric analysis application to determine coal, carbonate, and non-carbonate minerals mass fractions in respirable mine dust

Occupational lung diseases such as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, often called black lung, are caused by exposures to respirable coal mine dust. Dust composition is increasingly understood as an imp...
Form Factor Agnostic Platform Silicon to Software Scalable Validation and Debug Methodology

The sheer complexity of systems at various abstraction levels makes the design a tedious and time consuming process. Post that to ratify the design whether it is working as per the expected requirements makes validation and verification even more time consuming and expensive process. When it comes to platform level validation; there are various nuisances that are to be looked at and the list increases, starting from silicon continuing to all the way till software. And if at all there are bugs that manifest at platform level narrowing down onto the bug cause and fixing it post debugging is a big challenge. In this paper we try to introduce a methodology for validation and debug that could be put forth for across the systems blurring the lines of form factor and other dependencies like having new features tested completely & rapidly, and would shorten the life span of test plan creation and bug fixing which would result in lots of dollars being saved, and also providing a unification methodology for upcoming systems across the wide range of products ranging from IoTs till servers.
Introduction to “Methods Matter in Disaster Research”

This article introduces the remaining articles in the issue and emphasizes their focus on disaster research methods.
Effects of patient-preferred live music on positive and negative affect and pain with adults on a post-surgical oncology unit: A randomized study

Abstract Surgery is often the first treatment following a cancer diagnosis. In accordance with recommendations from the American Cancer Society related to emotional wellbeing, engaging post-operative oncology inpatients in psychosocial interventions may alleviate symptoms and elevate affective states. Therefore, the purpose of this single-session randomized study was to determine the immediate effects of patient-preferred live music (PPLM) on positive and negative affect and pain in adults hospitalized on a post-surgical oncology unit. Participants (N = 44) were randomly assigned to experimental or wait-list control conditions via a computer program. Experimental participants received a single PPLM session. Participants completed the Global Mood Scale and an 11-point Likert-type pain scale at pre- and posttest. Results indicated significant between-group differences in posttest measures of positive and negative affect, with the experimental group having more favorable scores. Although the between-group difference in posttest pain was not significant, the experimental group had a greater decrease in pain. Despite the temporal challenges associated with the short-term setting, a single PPLM session can be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for immediately addressing affect and pain in patients on a post-surgical oncology unit. Implications for clinical practice, limitations, and suggestions for future research are provided.
Hybrid methods for combined experimental and computational determination of protein structure.

Knowledge of protein structure is paramount to the understanding of biological function, developing new therapeutics, and making detailed mechanistic hypotheses. Therefore, methods to accurately elucidate three-dimensional structures of proteins are in high demand. While there are a few experimental techniques that can routinely provide high-resolution structures, such as x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and cryo-EM, which have been developed to determine the structures of proteins, these techniques each have shortcomings and thus cannot be used in all cases. However, additionally, a large number of experimental techniques that provide some structural information, but not enough to assign atomic positions with high certainty have been developed. These methods offer sparse experimental data, which can also be noisy and inaccurate in some instances. In cases where it is not possible to determine the structure of a protein experimentally, computational structure prediction methods can be used as an alternative. Although computational methods can be performed without any experimental data in a large number of studies, inclusion of sparse experimental data into these prediction methods has yielded significant improvement. In this Perspective, we cover many of the successes of integrative modeling, computational modeling with experimental data, specifically for protein folding, protein-protein docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. We describe methods that incorporate sparse data from cryo-EM, NMR, mass spectrometry, electron paramagnetic resonance, small-angle x-ray scattering, Forster resonance energy transfer, and genetic sequence covariation. Finally, we highlight some of the major challenges in the field as well as possible future directions.
Rat extraocular muscle

Multiply-innervated fibers from rat superior oblique extraocular muscle were followed in sequential serial sections using histochemistry. Sudan black and adenosine-triphosphase (ATPase) histochemical staining reactions were used to identify these fibers in the muscle's global layer and orbital surface layer. Regional differences in ATPase staining occurred along the length of multiply-innervated fibers from the orbital surface layer. In their middle third where these fibers appear ‘morphologically-fast’ and contain endplatelike endings, they were found to exhibit a dual ATPase activity. In their distal third where they appear ‘morphologically-slow’ and contain simple, superficial endings, they had an alkaline-labile and acid-stabile ATPase activity profile. In contrast, the multiply-innervated fibers of the global layer exhibited a homogeneous ATPase activity, i.e., alkaline-labile and acid-stabile pattern. This histochemical homogeneity parallels their uniform morphologically-slow profile. These fibers contain only multiple superficial endings. It would appear that the histochemical and ultrastructural profile of a fiber is dependent upon the type and location of the motor innervation.