cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Penile preserving and reconstructive surgery in the management of penile cancer

Although penile cancer is a rare malignancy, it poses a challenge for the urologist as it frequently requires surgical treatment, which can be both disfiguring and emasculating. Organ-preserving approaches to surgical treatment of the primary tumour, rather than total penectomy, exemplify a major paradigm shift in the clinical management of penile cancer. In this Review, Burnett discusses the different surgical options available for penile-preserving surgery and reconstruction, and the need for careful patient selection and monitoring.
Continent ileostomy simplified by musculo-serosal window. An experimental study.

Experience with pouch procedures in the quest for continence after total panproctocolectomy has been associated with significant reoperation rates, making these procedures suitable only for highly selected and motivated patients. The purpose of this study was to determine, in an acute dog model, the optimum configuration of a new continence mechanism consisting of a musculo-serosal window formed between the afferent and efferent loops of small bowel. The following geometric measures were varied: single or double window (efferent and afferent loops, respectively); percent circumference of bowel wall used for the window; and distance between pouch apex and window. Intraluminal pressure against volume infused in standard time was recorded. Four hundred seventy experiments in 47 pouches were conducted. The authors suggest that the optimal configuration for this “valve” is bowel circumference used for the window—50 to 60 percent on both the afferent and efferent loops, with a pouch-valve distance of 5 to 6 cm. It is concluded that a biologic valve obviating the need for a nipple may be possible. The geometric configuration has been defined and should be studied in a chronic animal model to determine long-term results.
Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. Development of a method for pheromonal control of Pectinophora gossypiella in cotton.

Hexalure was continuously evaporated into the air of cotton fields throughout the growing season. The consequent disruption of premating pheromonal communication between males and females of the pink bollworm resulted in a reduction in larval boll infestations comparable to that provided by commercial insecticide applications.
A Procedural Model for Planning and Evaluating Behavioral Interventions

Objective: A model for planning, implementing and evaluating health behavior change strategies is proposed. Variables are presented which can be used in the model or serve as examples for how the model is utilized once a theory of health behavior is adopted. Results: Examples of three innovative strategies designed to influence behavior change are presented so that the proposed model can be modified for use following comprehensive screening and baseline measurements. Three measurement priorities: clients, methods and agency are subjected to three phases of assessment: goals, implementation and effects. Conclusion: Lifestyles account for the majority of variability in quality-of-life and premature morbidity and mortality. Interventions designed to influence healthy behavior changes must be driven by theory and carefully planned and evaluated. The proposed model is offered as a useful tool for the behavior change strategist.
A workflow task force affects emergency physician compliance for point-of-care ultrasound documentation and billing.

Background Emergency point-of-care ultrasound (POC u/s) is an example of a health information technology that improves patient care and time to correct diagnosis. POC u/s examinations should be documented, as they comprise an integral component of physician decision making. Incomplete documentation prevents coding, billing and physician group compensation for ultrasound-guided procedures and patient care. We aimed to assess the effect of directed education and personal feedback through a task force driven initiative to increase the number of POC u/s examinations documented and transferred to medical coders by emergency medicine physicians.
Hemolytic effects of surface roughness of a pump housing in a centrifugal blood pump

The surface roughness of artificial blood contacting devices is an important surface property that is closely related to blood cell trauma. The present study investigated the effect of the surface roughness of a pump housing on hemolysis in an impeller-type centrifugal blood pump, a pivot bearing supported Gyro C1E3 pump. The purpose of the study was to determine which part of a housing has the greatest surface roughness effect on hemolysis in a centrifugal pump. Seven Gyro C1E3 pumps were prepared, each with a smooth surface impeller and a housing with differing areas of altered surface roughness. Both top and bottom housings were divided into half subregions, each with the same area. Seven test pumps were produced by subjecting various subregions of the housings to vapor polishing and sandblasting. The treated surfaces were then examined by a surface profile instrument. Using these 7 pumps with different areas of altered housing roughness, in vitro hemolysis tests were performed simulating cardiopulmonary bypass (5 L/min, 350 mm Hg). The results of this study are as follows. First, the surface roughness of the top housing had a greater effect on hemolysis than that of the bottom housing. Second, on the surface of the top housing, the surface roughness of the outer half area had a greater effect on hemolysis than that of the inner half area. Third, on the surface of the bottom housing, the surface roughness of the inner half area had a greater effect on hemolysis than that of the outer half area. These findings concur with previous studies of flow patterns in pumps. Thus, it is expected that the method in this study, comparative in vitro hemolysis tests of the pumps with surfaces of the same roughness but different locations, can be used to detect the high shear area inside a pump.
Support for Evidence-Based Medicine: Collaborative Teaching by Information Professionals and Clinicians

The confluence of information technology and the principals of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) have fostered an environment for collaborative curriculum development among medical and library faculty. The rapid expansion of high speed networks that cross the globe provide easy access to a myriad of information providers. Many institutions have direct access to biomedical sources such as MEDLINE, other commercial biomedical databases, institutional information sources, and the Internet from their patient floors as well as from research departments. Internet sites seem to increase daily, and it has become difficult to fathom the amount of information available to a physician with a computer. According to Davidoff, to keep abreast of their field, general physicians must process 17 original articles per day, 365 days per year.1 EBM began at McMaster University and is defined as “the ability to access, summarize, and apply information from the literature to day-to-day clinical problems.”2 To apply EBM techniques to daily practice physicians need to acquire the skills to frame the clinical question in such a way that lends itself to eliciting key terms and concepts to search and to develop effective strategies for literature searching Additionally they need to understand the structure of information and be able to determine the quality of published research as it may be applied to clinical decision-making Medical librarians are professionally trained in the development of sophisticated search strategies for rapidly locating clinical research, and in the use of a variety of search engines on different computer platforms. Medical librarians are able to incorporate the principals of EBM to searching the literature and can impart those skills to residents. Medical faculty are trained to instruct residents to use EBM in applying epidemiological principles to a clinical setting, critical appraisal of the literature, decision-making and decision analysis. It is in this environment that the medical and library faculty came together to develop a curriculum in Evidence-Based Medicine at New York University Medical Center/School of Medicine.
Proof that Martin-Löf randomness is equivalent to Chaitin randomness

Okay, in the previous chapter I showed you my definitions of random-ness based on program-size complexity—four of them actually! In this and the next chapter I’ll show you two statistical definitions of a random real that look very different from my program-size irreducibility definition, but which actually turn out to be equivalent. These are P. Martin-Lof’s and R.M. Solovay’s definitions of a random real, and I’ll start with Martin-Lofs definition, which was proposed before Solovay’s.
The Liberation of Savannah

This chapter details the events which occurred after Sherman reached Savannah. General Sherman met with 20 religious leaders who intended to positively influence the implementation of emancipation and help guide the development of African American communities in a manner that they thought would most benefit the freed men and women.
Ecophysiological performance of the rare terrestrial orchid Platanthera integrilabia across contrasting habitats

Platanthera integrilabia is a rare terrestrial orchid species generally associated with semi-open forested wetlands in the southeastern US. It has been suggested that P. integrilabia has restrictive abiotic resource requirements; however, these requirements have not been implicitly studied despite their potential application to species conservation. We investigated the influence of light and soil moisture on P. integrilabia at landscape and local scales and population and organismal levels across and within four occurrences with contrasting canopy openness. We also evaluated the potential for leaf-level physiological responses to light and soil moisture to reflect habitat suitability and influence performance. At landscape scales, light and soil moisture were not associated with P. integrilabia density or individual size. Across sites, measures of photosynthetic light response and water-use efficiency indicated that P. integrilabia can maximize photosynthetic efficiency and energy gain in contrasting light and soil moisture environments. Minimal associations of these measures with abiotic variations within sites suggested that the capacity for adjustments across small spatial and/or temporal scales may be limited. Preservation of existing habitats associated with viable P. integrilabia occurrences is warranted, but the leaf-level ecophysiology of this species indicates that its habitat suitability also could include more open and drier sites. For populations of P. integrilabia experiencing declines in habitats with recent disturbance, we suggest the possibility that well-managed modifications to canopy cover may be beneficial.
Serrated flow in nanostructured binary Mg-Al alloys

Abstract Serrated flow, also known as the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect, has been extensively investigated in binary Mg-alloys such as Mg-Ag, Mg-Y and Mg-Li alloys. Interestingly, however, this effect has not been observed in Mg-Al alloys. In this work, we report the appearance of serrations in nanostructured Mg-Al alloys processed by cryomilling and spark-plasma-sintering during in-situ SEM microcompression tests at room temperature and strain rates between 2 × 10 − 3 and 10 − 1 s − 1 . The observed serrated stress-strain behavior is attributed to the dynamic strain aging by which interstitial O and/or N impurities introduced during cryomilling diffuse and interact with in-grown dislocations during deformation.
Structural Insights into the Post-Chemistry Steps of Nucleotide Incorporation Catalyzed by a DNA Polymerase.

DNA polymerases are essential enzymes that faithfully and efficiently replicate genomic information.1−3 The mechanism of nucleotide incorporation by DNA polymerases has been extensively studied structurally and kinetically, but several key steps following phosphodiester bond formation remain structurally uncharacterized due to utilization of natural nucleotides. It is thought that the release of pyrophosphate (PPi) triggers reverse conformational changes in a polymerase in order to complete a full catalytic cycle as well as prepare for DNA translocation and subsequent incorporation events. Here, by using the triphosphates of chain-terminating antiviral drugs lamivudine ((-)3TC-TP) and emtricitabine ((-)FTC-TP), we structurally reveal the correct sequence of post-chemistry steps during nucleotide incorporation by human DNA polymerase β (hPolβ) and provide a structural basis for PPi release. These post-catalytic structures reveal hPolβ in an open conformation with PPi bound in the active site, thereby stron...
Elevated Gamma Delta T Cell Recovery Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Associated with Improved Long Term Overall Survival in Pediatric Patients with Acute Leukemia

Abstract Abstract 227 Recent studies show that accelerated γΔ T cell reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with improved overall survival (OS) though the mechanisms have not been elucidated. Here, we confirm that early γΔ T cell recovery after HSCT is an independent predictor for improving OS and event free survival (EFS). Moreover, patients with robust γΔ T cell recovery after HSCT appear to be protected from increased risk of serious life threatening infections, and acute gut and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). More importantly, we show that γΔ T cell recovery dynamics are independent from those of classical αβ T cells. We evaluated 102 consecutive pediatric patients with acute leukemia undergoing HSCT at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from 1996–2011. The median age of the patients was 10.5 ± 5.9 yrs. (range, 0.6–25.2) and median follow up was 2.7±1.8 yrs. (range 0.2–6.0). There were 57% males, 43% females and 59% with ALL and 41% with AML. There were 14 patients with elevated γΔ T cells (≥1.75×105 cells/ml) and 88 with low/normal γΔ T cells ( Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Assessing Multidimensional Deprivation Among the Elderly in the USA

The number of older adults in the USA is growing rapidly and by 2030 Americans aged 65 years or older will account for roughly 20% of the total population. We estimate multidimensional deprivation among the elderly in the US Deprivation is measured in four distinct dimensions of well-being: health condition, standard of living, education and economic security measured by housing costs. Three different indices are estimated to analyze the joint impact of deprivation in these dimensions on older adults’ overall welfare. The study uses the American Community Survey which is the largest nationally representative household survey in the USA. Results show that, around 38% of the elderly were deprived in at least one dimension, 12% in at least two dimensions. Deprivation prevalence was higher among Asians and Blacks and especially among the Hispanic. Older Hispanic adults were predominantly deprived in education and income. The study argues that measuring disparity in overlapping dimensions will be useful to design effective policies in the future.
Erosion and the beaches of Negril

Abstract In Negril, beach erosion is a major environmental concern, caused by similar anthropogenic stressors impacting populated coastal areas worldwide. This review recapitulates the environmental circumstances leading to beach erosion in Negril through the lens of global and regional trends, arguing in favor of the ecosystem approach for long term mitigation. Evidence points to depleted coastal ecosystems and services, calling for the restoration of the neglected Negril Environmental Protected Area (NEPA) which contains the entire tidal flow of the beach barrier system. The looming threat of eutrophication adds the reduction of nutrient fluxes to the equation of sustainability, requiring adequate sewage treatment and wetland restoration. Perspectives for restoration and the societal constraints pertaining to protected area management are addressed, concluding that the pressing restoration and management of ecological integrity in Negril needs to be a government, business and local community collaboration, connecting not only habitat but people as allies in the battle against biodiversity loss.
Impact of acute left ventricular apical thrombus on cardioversion for atrial fibrillation

Among patients undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, the presence of left ventricular thrombus is a relatively uncommon and challenging clinical dilemma. While left atrial appendage thrombus is a contraindication to cardioversion, there is paucity of data regarding the safety of cardioversion in with the presence of left ventricular apical thrombus. Also, thrombus characteristics such as protrusion and mobility on echocardiography are known risk factors for systemic embolism. In this article, we present a case highlighting the management of atrial fibrillation in the setting of left ventricular dysfunction, acute heart failure, and echocardiographic evidence of acute left ventricular apical thrombus.
Endolith, Extremophilic Organisms from Volcanic Rock: Biochip Precursors

AbstractExtremophilic microbes, Pseudomonas syzgii, from the ultrapure water of computer circuit fabrication facilities, crystallize semiconductor matter around themselves while remaining biologically active in a novel form of biochips. The search for extremophilic organisms with similar abilities was extended to volcanic rock from “wellness” water filters. A volcanic rock material called Taicho stone was identified as harboring subterranean Sphingomonas species known to selectively destroy monoaromatic pollutants. They are also water-flow re-activated and productive of substantial exopolymeric substances related to the claimed multiple health-related benefits of its filtered water. Attempts to convert these Sphingomonas sp. from the stone host to germanium oxide crystalline host began with the filtered water aggressively corroding germanium substrata, as with Pseudomonas syzgii. Although semiconductors have not yet stably incorporated these biota, their roles in accelerating superficial biocorrosion suggests their additional utility as non-abrasive biochemical/ mechanical polishing aids. Recognizing that extraterrestrial exobiology has posited numerous similar microbes occluded in minerals, the possibilities for functional organism-based biochip fabrication are diverse when successful semiconductor incorporation and communication are achieved. The results suggest that the best sources for organism-based biochip production will be from endolithic media.
Take a Little Trip on the AZ Side: Examining a Pedagogy of Surveillance within the Structure of Schooling

Studies have shown that high school students feel “othered” within schools. This is particularly true of working-class communities. The former dominates the literature in relation to social class within educational studies. What needs to be addressed is how surveillance is enacted within pedagogy in everyday practices within schools. This paper draws on an empirical study of 17 high school students and 5 teachers who were interviewed through semi-structured interviews and platicas . Three key themes arise from their conversations covered in this paper:security, social distance, and the understanding of discipline. I argue that the most holistic way to understand such phenomena is to apply an interdisciplinary approach, through education, ethnic studies, and spirituality, but it is not limited to these. The paper concludes that we must interrogate the genealogy of education and what is seldom scrutinized as a norm, the structure of schooling.
“Have you tried ginger?”: severe pregnancy sickness and intensive mothering on Instagram

“Intensive mothering discourses” create unattainable standards, including idealized notions of pregnancy as something for which “good mothers” should always be grateful (Sharon Hays 1996). However,...
Basics of Cellular Neurophysiology

Abstract Synaptic transmission involves communication between two or more cells. However, synaptic communication is triggered by electrical activity within neurons and involves the movement of electrical charges carried by ions. Electrical signaling within a single neuron, often termed cellular neurophysiology , is the foundation upon which synaptic transmission is built. Before we can discuss the cellular and molecular bases for synaptic transmission, a clear understanding of the fundamentals of neurophysiology is required. There are entire textbooks dedicated to cellular neurophysiology, and it is not our intention to cover the topic comprehensively here. Nonetheless, there are several important concepts in cellular neurophysiology that are integral to the study of synaptic transmission and will come up repeatedly in later chapters. This chapter will focus on these critical concepts.
Protection of the DIII-D Vessel, Diagnostics and Windows from Microwaves Injected by the ECH/ECCD System

The ECH/ECCD system on DIII-D benefits from protective measures set in place in order to reduce the likelihood of refracted rf power potentially reaching sensitive areas of the vacuum vessel or diagnostics. In addition to installation of shutters and valves, a density interlock prevents the rf injection into overdense plasma. Visible light cameras, light detectors, Langmuir probes and reflected power sniffers complete the array of diagnostics used for EC protection. Besides the 110 GHz gyrotron, a new higher frequency gyrotron at 117.5 GHz was added to the system during the 2018 experimental campaign. The new frequency allows for operation at higher plasma density and with better current drive efficiency at higher magnetic field than for 110 GHz. Injection in O-mode was used in some of the high density plasmas where the X-mode is refracted.
Exploring Algebraic Interpolants for Rectification of Finite Field Arithmetic Circuits with Gröbner Bases

When formal verification identifies the presence of a bug in a design, it is required to rectify the circuit at some net(s). Modern approaches formulate the rectification test as an unsatisfiability proof, and then use Craig interpolants (CI) in propositional logic to compute the corresponding rectification functions. Boolean SAT and CI engines are infeasible in rectification of finite field arithmetic circuits, where polynomial algebra is more suitable. Recently, it was shown that CI exist in polynomial algebra in finite fields. This paper presents a detailed theory and algorithms for CI in finite fields, and characterizes the lattice of all algebraic interpolants. Using the Grobner basis algorithm, we present techniques to traverse the interpolant lattice. This allows to explore various interpolants for efficient synthesis of rectification functions for finite field arithmetic circuits. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the efficacy of our approach.
Medical Mobile Applications for Stroke Survivors and Caregivers.

Abstract Background Recent studies estimate nearly half of the US population can access mobile medical applications (apps) on their smartphones. The are no systematic data available on apps focused on stroke survivors/caregivers. Objective To identify apps (a) designed for stroke survivors/caregivers, (b) dealing with a modifiable stroke risk factor (SRF), or (c) were developed for other purposes but could potentially be used by stroke survivors/caregivers. Methods A systematic review of the medical apps in the US Apple iTunes store was conducted between August 2013 and January 2016 using 18 predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. SRFs considered were: diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, atrial fibrillation, and dyslipidemia. Results Out of 30,132 medical apps available, 843 (2.7%) eligible apps were identified. Of these apps, (n = 74, 8.7%) apps were specifically designed for stroke survivors/caregivers use and provided the following services: language/speech therapy (n = 28, 37%), communication with aphasic patients (n = 19, 25%), stroke risk calculation (n = 11, 14%), assistance in spotting an acute stroke (n = 8, 10%), detection of atrial fibrillation (n = 3, 4%), direction to nearby emergency room (n = 3, 4%), physical rehabilitation (n = 3, 4%), direction to the nearest certified stroke center (n = 1, Conclusions Over 70 medical apps exist to specifically support stroke survivors/caregivers and primarily targeted language and communication difficulties. Apps encompassing most stroke survivor/caregiver needs could be developed and tested to ensure the issues faced by these populations are being adequately addressed.
Reply to Vanderberg, “Further Mechanisms and Locations in Which Antisporozoite Antibodies Neutralize Malaria Sporozoites”

We would like to respond to the letter from Dr. Vanderberg in which he suggests that an additional mechanism by which circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies act at the inoculation site is by impacting the inoculation of sporozoites …
Treating childhood shyness and related behavior: empirically evaluated approaches to promote positive social interactions.

Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral strategies, including exposure, social skills training, and peer-mediated approaches, used to treat childhood shyness and related impairments are described. In addition, relevant outcome studies published within the past 20 years are evaluated, and limitations regarding the generalization, maintenance, and social validity of the reported treatment gains are addressed. Although the interventions reviewed have demonstrated short-term merit in ameliorating social and emotional impairments, such as problematic peer relations and internalizing difficulties, there currently is a lack of evidence to support the social validity and long-term generalization and maintenance of such behavioral gains. Thus, recommendations for future research are made, including the need to (a) assess the social validity of treatment outcomes, (b) utilize important socialization agents (e.g., parents, teachers, peers), and (c) conduct prevention research and longitudinal outcome studies.
Gene Signatures in Cutaneous Malignancies

In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in the identification of landmark gene signatures in cutaneous melanoma and in the discovery of those relevant to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Melanoma and cSCC are the most important cutaneous malignancies when considering morbidity and mortality. They are responsible for the greatest number of skin cancer related deaths. Over the past several years, a number of gene signatures have been identified showing great promise in terms of tumor molecular classification and risk stratification of patients to anticipate best therapeutic modalities. These gene signatures have allowed a personalized medicine approach to a comprehensive decision-making process for these patients. Prediction of the prognosis and therapeutic response of patients with melanoma and high-risk cSCC will be aided by the elucidation and utilization of these gene signatures.
Political and Institutional Determinants of Independent Agency Voting: Evidence from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

We use a unique and comprehensive data set, spanning 9,151 orders and 35,194 individual Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioners’ votes over 35 years to examine the factors driving commissioner voting. Employing logit and probit choice models, we find significant evidence of political control. Specifically, Congress appears to gain greater control from the President over commissioner voting during periods of split government. Such periods produce greater dissenting by commissioners belonging to the party opposite the Chair’s. In addition, commissioners use voting to influence or signal judges reviewing FCC orders. Dissenting increases with the percentage of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit appointed by a president of opposite party as the FCC Chair. Finally, we find institutional determinants of commissioner voting, specifically commissioner dissenting increases in the later years of their terms.
Effects of homophobic name-calling and verbal sexual harassment on substance use among young adults.

Verbal aggression victimization, such as homophobic name-calling, has been linked to heavier substance use among young people, but little longitudinal research has examined how different types of victimization may affect substance use or whether certain psychosocial factors moderate these risks. In a diverse cohort (N = 2,663), latent transition analysis was used to model heterogeneity in victimization (age 19) and substance use (age 20). Four victimization (high victimization, homophobic name-calling only, verbal sexual harassment only, and low victimization) and three substance use (poly-substance use, alcohol, and cannabis only, low all) classes were identified. The high victimization and homophobic name-calling only classes had the highest probabilities of transitioning into the poly-substance use class, and the high victimization class had the highest probability of transitioning into the alcohol and cannabis only class. The probability of transitioning into the low all substance use class was highest in the low victimization class and lowest in the high victimization class. For the high victimization class, greater depressive symptoms increased the odds, and better peer relationship quality decreased the odds, of transitioning into the poly-substance use and alcohol and cannabis only classes. For the homophobic name-calling only class, greater depressive symptoms increased the odds of transitioning into the poly-substance use class. Homophobic name-calling, alone or in combination with verbal sexual harassment, is a risk factor for escalating substance use in young adulthood, especially among victims with depressive symptoms.
Bayesian AGN Decomposition Analysis for SDSS spectra: a correlation analysis of [O iii] λ5007 outflow kinematics with AGN and host galaxy properties

We present Bayesian AGN Decomposition Analysis for SDSS Spectra (BADASS), an open source spectral analysis code designed for automatic detailed deconvolution of AGN and host galaxy spectra, implemented in Python, and designed for the next generation of large scale surveys. BADASS simultaneously fits all spectral components, including power-law continuum, stellar line-of-sight velocity distribution, FeII emission, as well as forbidden (narrow), permitted (broad), and outflow emission line features, all performed using Markov Chain Monte Carlo to obtain robust uncertainties and autocorrelation analysis to assess parameter convergence. BADASS utilizes multiprocessing for batch fitting large samples of spectra while efficiently managing memory and computation resources and is currently being used in a cluster environment to fit thousands of SDSS spectra. We use BADASS to perform a correlation analysis of 63 SDSS type 1 AGNs with evidence of strong non-gravitational outflow kinematics in the [OIII]$\lambda5007$ emission feature. We confirm findings from previous studies that show the core of the [OIII] profile is a suitable surrogate for stellar velocity dispersion $\sigma_*$, however there is evidence that the core experiences broadening that scales with outflow velocity. We find sufficient evidence that $\sigma_*$, [OIII] core dispersion, and the non-gravitational outflow dispersion of the [OIII] profile form a plane whose fit results in a scatter of $\sim0.1$ dex. Finally, we discuss the implications, caveats, and recommendations when using the [OIII] dispersion as a surrogate for $\sigma_*$ for the $M_{\rm{BH}}-\sigma_*$ relation.
A novel waitlist dropout score for hepatocellular carcinoma - identifying a threshold that predicts worse post-transplant survival.

Background & Aims It has been suggested that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at high risk of wait-list dropout would have done poorly after liver transplantation (LT) because of tumour aggressiveness. To test this hypothesis, we analysed risk of wait-list dropout among patients with HCC in long-wait regions (LWRs) to create a dropout risk score, and applied this score in short (SWRs) and mid-wait regions (MWRs) to evaluate post-LT outcomes. We sought to identify a threshold in dropout risk that predicts worse post-LT outcome. Methods Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, including all patients with T2 HCC receiving priority listing from 2010 to 2014, a dropout risk score was created from a developmental cohort of 2,092 patients in LWRs, and tested in a validation cohort of 1,735 patients in SWRs and 2,894 patients in MWRs. Results On multivariable analysis, 1 tumour (3.1–5 cm) or 2–3 tumours, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >20 ng/ml, and increasing Child-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease-sodium scores significantly predicted wait-list dropout. A dropout risk score using these 4 variables (C-statistic 0.74) was able to stratify 1-year cumulative incidence of dropout from 7.1% with a score ≤7 to 39.5% with a score >23. Patients with a dropout risk score >30 had 5-year post-LT survival of 60.1% vs. 71.8% for those with a score ≤30 (p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in post-LT survival below this threshold. Conclusions This study provided evidence that patients with HCC with the highest dropout risk have aggressive tumour biology that would also result in poor post-LT outcomes when transplanted quickly. Below this threshold risk score of ≤30, priority status for organ allocation could be stratified based on the predicted risks of wait-list dropout without significant differences in post-LT survival. Lay summary Prioritising patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplant based on risk of wait-list dropout has been considered but may lead to inferior post-transplant survival. In this study of nearly 7,000 patients, we created a threshold dropout risk score based on tumour and liver-related factors beyond which patients with hepatocellular carcinoma will likely have poor post-liver transplant outcomes (60% at 5 years). For patients below this risk score threshold, priority status could be stratified based on the predicted risk of wait-list dropout without compromising post-transplant survival.
Robots, Labor Market Frictions, and Corporate Financial Policies

Using a novel dataset on industrial robots from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), we find that the use of robots leads to higher leverage and lower cash holdings. Using an instrumental variable based on the comparative advantage of robots in specific tasks, we find that effect is likely to be causal. Further analyses show that the effect is driven by the decreases in operating leverage when firms use more robots. We also find that the effect is stronger when firms are hit by negative shocks, suggesting that the use of robots mitigates labor market frictions and increases operating flexibility.
Pan-Cancer Biomarkers: Changing the Landscape of Molecular Testing.

Context.— The increasing use of large panel next-generation sequencing technologies in clinical settings has facilitated the identification of pan-cancer biomarkers, which can be diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, or most importantly, actionable. Objective.— To discuss recently approved and emerging pan-cancer and multihistology biomarkers as well as testing methodologies. Data sources.— The US Food and Drug Administration approval documents, National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, literature, and author's own publications. Conclusions.— Since 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved genotype-directed therapies for pan-cancer biomarkers, including microsatellite instability, neurotrophic receptor kinases fusions, and high-tumor mutation burden. Both the importance and rarity of these biomarkers have increased the prevalence of genomic profiling across solid malignancies. As an integral part of the management team of patients with advanced cancer, pathologists need to be aware of these emerging biomarkers, the therapies for which they determine eligibility, and the strengths and pitfalls of the available clinical assays.
FFT blitz: the tensor cores strike back

The fast Fourier Transform (FFT), a reduced-complexity formulation of the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), is an important tool in many areas of science and engineering. FFTW is a well-known package that follows this approach and is currently one of the fastest available implementations of the FFT. NVIDIA introduced its version of FFTW called cuFFT that achieves high performance on the GPUs. In this work we present a novel way to map the FFT algorithm on the newly introduced Tensor Cores by adapting the the Cooley-Tukey recursive FFT algorithm. We present four major types of optimizations that enhance the performance of our approach for varying FFT sizes and show that the approach consistently outperforms cuFFT with a speedup of about 15% to 250% on average.
Data Science Skills and Graduate Certificates: A Quantitative Text Analysis

The tremendous amount of data collected from connected devices and social media has created a high demand for new skills to help organizations gain the power of big data. With a shorter completion ...
When Budgeting Backfires: How Self-Imposed Price Restraints Can Increase Spending:

A common strategy for controlling spending is to impose a price restraint on oneself. For example, a consumer who is concerned with limiting expenses may decide before going shopping that he or she...
A BioBricks toolbox for metabolic engineering of the tetracenomycin pathway

BACKGROUND/GOAL/AIM The tetracenomycins are aromatic anticancer polyketides that inhibit peptide translation via binding to the large ribosomal subunit. Here, we expressed the elloramycin biosynthetic gene cluster in the heterologous host Streptomyces coelicolor M1146 to facilitate the downstream production of tetracenomycin analogs. MAIN METHODS AND MAJOR RESULTS We developed a BioBricks genetic toolbox of genetic parts for substrate precursor engineering in S. coelicolor M1146::cos16F4iE. We cloned a series of integrating vectors based on the VWB, TG1, and SV1 integrase systems to interrogate gene expression in the chromosome. We genetically engineered three separate genetic constructs to modulate tetracenomycin biosynthesis: (1) the vhb hemoglobin from obligate aerobe Vitreoscilla stercoraria to improve oxygen utilization; (2) the accA2BE acetyl-CoA carboxylase to enhance condensation of malonyl-CoA; (3) lastly, the sco6196 acyltransferase, which is a "metabolic regulatory switch" responsible for mobilizing triacylglycerols to β-oxidation machinery for acetyl-CoA. In addition, we engineered the tcmO 8-O-methyltransferase and newly identified tcmD 12-O-methyltransferase from Amycolatopsis sp. A23 to generate tetracenomycins C and X. We also co-expressed the tcmO methyltransferase with oxygenase urdE to generate the analog 6-hydroxy-tetracenomycin C. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Altogether, this system is compatible with the BioBricks [RFC 10] cloning standard for the co-expression of multiple gene sets for metabolic engineering of Streptomyces coelicolor M1146::cos16F4iE. This production platform improves access to potent analogs, such as tetracenomycin X, and sets the stage for the production of new tetracenomycins via combinatorial biosynthesis.
Changing Racial Stratifications and Bargaining Styles: The Kenya Experience

RESUMELes negociations entre groupes n'affectent la stratification sociale que dans certaines circonstances. Elles n'offrent guere d'interet lorsque la classification raciale est parfaitement rigide et lorsque le pouvoir economique et politique est solidement entre les mains d'une petite minorite racialement homogene (cas de l'Afrique orientale coloniale, de la Rhodesie et de l'Union sudafricaine actuelles). Plusieurs formes de negociation directe et tacite apparaissent par contre lorsqu'une dispersion suffisante du pouvoir des groupes rend mutuellement benefique l'echange entre ceux-ci (par exemple, les societes d'Afrique orientale dans la derniere phase coloniale ou immediatement apres). Dans les annees cinquante et au debut des annees soixante, le Kenya a connu des negociations directes lorsque les representants des diverses communautes raciales entrerent en communication ouverte et chercherent a se mettre d'accord sur une base de changement. Ensuite, avec la conquete de l'hegemonie politique par la co...
Efficiently Mining Frequent Embedded Unordered Trees

Mining frequent trees is very useful in domains like bioinformatics, web mining, mining semi-structured data, and so on. In this paper we introduce SLEUTH, an efficient algorithm for mining frequent, unordered, embedded subtrees in a database of labeled trees. The key contributions of our work are as follows: We give the first algorithm that enumerates all embedded, unordered trees. We propose a new equivalence class extension scheme to generate all candidate trees. We extend the notion of scope-list joins to compute frequency of unordered trees. We conduct performance evaluation on several synthetic and real datasets to show that SLEUTH is an efficient algorithm, which has performance comparable to TreeMiner, that mines only ordered trees.
Correlation-feedback approach to computation of optical flow

The optical flow techniques have been developed for more than one decade. Once the optical flow field is computed accurately, this measurement of image velocity can be used widely in many tasks in computer vision area. Current computer vision techniques require that the relative errors in the optical flow be less than 10%. However, to reduce error in determination of the optical flow is still a difficult problem. In this paper, firstly, errors occurring in the correlation-based approaches to optical flow computation are analyzed. Through understanding how the errors arise, we developed a new approach to computation of optical flow named the correlation-feedback approach. It is based on the idea of feedback and the correlation-based approach. In this approach, a virtual continuous image is obtained by a bilinear interpolation applied to a digital image. The idea of feedback is used so that errors in determining optical flow are reduced considerably in the iterative procedure. It is proved that the algorithm is convergent generally. Several experiments working on real image sequences in the laboratory demonstrate that our correlation-feedback algorithm performs better than the gradient-based and correlation-based algorithms in terms of accuracy. >
Dynamic-tensile-extrusion response of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)

Dynamic-Tensile-Extrusion (Dyn-Ten-Ext) experiments have been utilized to probe the dynamic tensile responses of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE). These fluoropolymers exhibit more irregular deformation and stochastic-based damage and failure mechanisms than the stable plastic elongation and shear instabilities observed in metals. The technique elucidates a number of tensile mechanisms that are consistent with quasi-static, SHPB, and Taylor Impact results. Similar to the observed ductile-to-brittle transition for Taylor Impact loading, PCTFE failure occurs at a peak velocity greater than for PTFE. However, for the Dyn- Ten-Ext PCTFE exhibits even greater resistance to failure due to the tensile stress-state. While PTFE generates a large number of small fragments when extruded through the die, PCTFE draws out a smaller number of larger particles that dynamically evolve during the extrusion process through a combination of local necking mechanisms and bulk relaxation. Under Dyn-Ten-Ext loading, the propensity of PTFE to fail along normal planes is observed without indication of any localization, while the PCTFE clearly forms necks during the initial extrusion process that continue to evolve.
Alkoxylipids: III. naturally occurring d(+)-1-IO-cis-alk-1′-enyl-diglycerides

Abstract Three classes of neutral lipids were isolated from liver oil of the ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei). Spectroscopic data, specific optical rotations and chemical reactions proved that the least polar fraction consisted of d -(+)-1-O-cis- alk -1′- enyl-diglycerides (“neutral plasmalogens”). The long-chain moieties of these compounds and of the alkyl-diglycerides (“alkoxy-diglycerides”) and triglycerides were analyzed.
Educational Preparation and Experiences in the Industrial-Occupational Setting: A Qualitative Study of Athletic Training Graduates' Perspectives

Context: The industrial-occupational setting provides a workplace of substantial potential for the athletic training graduate. Acquiring input from entry-level athletic trainers (ATs) pertaining to...
A psychologically-inspired match-score fusion mode for video-based facial expression recognition

Communication between humans is complex and is not limited to verbal signals; emotions are conveyed with gesture, pose and facial expression. Facial Emotion Recognition and Analysis (FERA), the techniques by which non-verbal communication is quantified, is an exemplar case where humans consistently outperform computer methods. While the field of FERA has seen many advances, no system has been proposed which scales well to very large data sets. The challenge for computer vision is how to automatically and nonheuristically downsample the data while maintaining the maximum representational power that does not sacrifice accuracy. In this paper, we propose a method inspired by human vision and attention theory [2]. Video is segmented into temporal partitions with a dynamic sampling rate based on the frequency of visual information. Regions are homogenized by a match-score fusion technique. The approach is shown to provide classification rates higher than the baseline on the AVEC 2011 video-subchallenge dataset [15].
Estimating bearing coefficients of fluid-dynamic spindle motors using sub-resonant frequency response

In this digest, we present a simple method to extract bearing coefficients of a fluid-dynamic bearing (FDB) spindle motor. The spindle motor is first loaded with a known proof mass. An impact hammer and a laser Doppler vibrometer are used to measured frequency response functions (FRF) of the spindle motor. Since the proof mass is very rigid, the FRF below the first resonance frequency reflects the stiffness of the bearings. This method bas two advantages. First, it can extract both in-line and cross stiffness coefficients. Second, it can extract stiffness coefficients of the upper and lower radial bearings separately by varying the proof mass and thus the centroid of the spindle motor.
The use of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and leukotriene receptor antagonists in the treatment of chronic asthma.

With the elucidation of asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease, therapeutic approaches have shifted from treatment of symptoms with bronchodilators to treatment of the underlying disease with antiinflammatory agents. Along with concerns about corticosteroid side effects on the part of both physicians and patients, this shift has motivated researchers to develop and test new agents with antiinflammatory capabilities. The leukotrienes are endogenous mediators with three inflammatory effects: they increase vascular permeability, recruit other inflammatory leukocytes, and induce bronchoconstriction. A number of antileukotriene agents are in various stages of development. Zilcuton, a leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, has been shown to improve airway function and reduce asthma symptoms, although there is some concern over liver toxicity, Zafirlukast, montelukast, and pranlukast, three new leukotriene receptor antagonists, have similar benefits and have not been associated with serious increases in liver enzymes. It is hoped that new antiinflammatory drugs will provide clinicians with targeted and effective asthma treatments that do not bear the potential risks of corticosteroid therapy.