cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytogenetics and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization as Adjuncts to Cytology in the Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma

BACKGROUND: Virtually all malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) exhibit clonal chromosomal aberrations. Although the chromosome regions affected by these aberration(s) may vary from 1 tumor to another, certain regions are commonly disrupted. These aberrations are absent in benign mesothelial cells, and therefore their presence can be used to confirm a diagnosis of MM. In the current study, the authors investigated the value of karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as adjuncts to conventional cytologic examination in patients with MM. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 48 pleural or peritoneal fluids from patients with histologically confirmed MM was performed. Karyotypic analyses were attempted in all cases. In 27 cases, FISH for deletions of 9p21 (CDKN2A gene) and 22q was also performed because the karyotype was normal or unsuccessful. RESULTS: Karyotypes were obtained in 35 (73%) of the specimens. Of these, 15 (43%) were abnormal and 20 (57%) were normal. Thirteen additional abnormal results were detected by FISH in cases for which the karyotypes were normal or unsuccessful. A total of 24 cases (50%) had an associated cytologic interpretation. Karyotyping or FISH was abnormal in 8 cases that were interpreted cytologically as either negative or suspicious. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of FISH and karyotyping was found to improve on the diagnostic sensitivity of karyotyping alone in detecting MM in effusions. The authors concluded that karyotyping and FISH together were a more useful adjunct to cytology than FISH or karyotyping alone. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
FINGER-MOVEMENT TRACKING SCORES IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of age, sex, and hand preference on precise control of voluntary movement at the index finger metacarpophalangeal joint in able-bodied volunteer...
Teachers as Audiences: Exploring Educational and Musical Values in Youth Performances

Abstract While music performances typically cater to insider audiences (S.E. Pitts, 2005, Valuing Musical Participation. Burlington, VT: Ashgate), Youth Performances aim to initiate young people who have not yet formed these connections. Teachers are the main gatekeepers of the event, functioning as sub-hosts, instigating the visit, and framing the experience by allotting class time (or not) for preparation and follow-up. Yet they are typically outsiders to musical performances. Their roles in Youth Music Performances are characterized by a double contrast: (i) compared with the insider audiences of regular performances, and (ii) compared with their own leadership role in their classroom. Observations of youth performances, and interviews with teachers attending these performances, reveal a close fit between school and performance values, both of which emphasize disciplined behaviour, and tolerance for diverse cultures. However, while music youth performances provide rich and generative curricula for chil...
Fast hot-carrier reliability diagnosis using macro-models

A new macromodel-based reliability diagnosis program (iRULE) is presented for design of hot-carrier resistant VLSI circuits. iRULE detects first the potentially critical transistors by using netlist- and geometry-based rules and then determines the criticality of hot-carrier degradation in those transistors by using macro-models. The algorithmic complexity of iRULE is shown to be linear with respect to the number of logic gates. iRULE is capable of performing reliability diagnosis for CMOS circuits containing over one million transistors. >
Modeling the Concept of ‘Hegemony’ in International Financial Systems

In this paper, we perform a graphical analysis of hegemonic leadership in international finance, based upon the historical studies by Kindleberger and Sobel about the Dutch and British financial hegemony in the 1600s-1800s. The socio-technical systems of public and of private finance in nations interact with the self-organizing system of international finance. We design a systems model for a stable international financial system in a global world, using the lessons from the history of Dutch and British fiscal hegemony.
Phase I and II Carcinogen Metabolism Gene Expression in Human Lung Tissue and Tumors

Purpose: The regulation of carcinogen metabolism machinery may involve proximate tobacco smoke exposure, hormonal and other endogenous coregulatory factors, and an individual’s underlying genetic responsiveness. The mRNA and protein expression patterns of known carcinogen metabolism genes encoding the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor Ahr; the cytochromes P450 CYP1A1 and CYP1B1; glutathione S -transferases GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1, and GSTT1; and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase NQO1 were examined. Experimental Design: Paired tumor and nontumor lung tissue from 45 subjects was subject to a recently devised RNA-specific qualitative reverse transcription-PCR strategy, as well as Western immunoblotting. Tobacco exposure measured by plasma biomarkers nicotine and cotinine, plasma estradiol levels, α and β estrogen receptor (ER) expression in the lung, gender, age, and histological diagnosis were then analyzed using multivariate regression models. Results: In nontumor lung tissue, multivariate models identified several correlates of mRNA expression: ( a ) CYP1B1 in females (positively: smoke status, P = 0.024; ER-β expression, P = 0.024); ( b ) GSTT1 in females (positively: cotinine, P = 0.007; negatively: age, P = 0.001; ER-β expression, P = 0.005) and in males (positively: plasma estradiol, P = 0.015; ER-β expression, P = 0.025); and ( c ) NQO1 in females (positively: smoke status, P = 0.002) and in males (positively: ER-β expression, P = 0.001). CYP1A1 (mRNA, 9.1%) and GSTM1 (mRNA, 17.5%) are uncommonly expressed in human lung. Confirmation by Western immunoassayed protein is described. The results in nontumor tissue differed from that in tumor tissue. Conclusions: Regulation of carcinogen metabolism genes expressed in human lung seems impacted by hormonal and gender factors, as well as ongoing tobacco exposure. Expression differences between tumor and nontumor tissue in this pathway have both susceptibility and therapeutic implications.
Disparities in pediatric oncology patient education and linguistic resources: results of a national survey of pediatric oncologists.

Background Extensive patient and family education is required at the time of a new diagnosis of pediatric cancer yet little data exist regarding the availability and linguistic competency of new cancer diagnosis education provided by pediatric oncology institutions. Procedure Using the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) membership list, a web-based survey was conducted among a cohort of pediatric oncologists to determine pediatric oncologists' assessment of institutional resources for new cancer diagnosis education and the availability of linguistically appropriate education. Results Of 1,294 ASPHO members sent email survey invitations, 573 (44.3%) responded with 429 meeting eligibility criteria. Oncologists at academic institutions reported their institutions had more availability of resources for new diagnosis education compared with those from non-academic institutions (mean 78.6 vs. 74.3; 0 [not at all]–100 [well equipped]; P = 0.05). The mean score increased with volume of new cancer diagnoses/year: small ( 150) = 84.5 (P < 0.001). Oncologists at large volume institutions reported more availability of an established patient education protocol (50.8% vs. 38.1%, P < 0.001) and increased use of dedicated non-physician staff (79.9% vs. 66.1%, P = 0.02), but less use of websites for patient education (17.2% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.001). Availability of linguistically appropriate education improved with increasing institution size: small (76.4), medium (82.3), and large (84.0) patient volume (P < 0.011). Conclusion According to pediatric oncologists, a disparity in educational and linguistic resources for new pediatric cancer diagnosis education exists depending on institution type and size. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:333–336. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hotspots: The Root Causes of Non-Uniformity in Self-Propagating Malware

Self-propagating malware like worms and bots can dramatically impact the availability and reliability of the Internet. Techniques for the detection and mitigation of Internet threats using content prevalence and scan detectors are based on assumptions of how threats propagate. Some of these assumptions have recently been called into question by observations of huge discrepancies in the quantity of specific threats detected at different points around the Internet. We call these deviations from uniform propagation "hotspots". This paper quantifies and explains these influences on malware propagation. We then propose that hotspots can be explained by two fundamental influences on propagation: algorithmic factors and environmental factors. We use measurement data from sensors deployed at 11 locations around the Internet to demonstrate the impact of these factors on worm and bot propagation. With this understanding, we simulate the outbreak of new threats with hotspots and show how algorithmic and environmental factors reduce the visibility of distributed detectors resulting in the inability to identify new threats.
Chronic pancreatitis and mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene

The common perception of cystic fibrosis (CF) is that of a recessive disorder presenting in infancy or early childhood with malabsorption and progressive lung disease. However, mild phenotypes have always been recognised. These individuals, who are pancreatic sufficient, present later, have less severe lung disease and significantly lower sweat Cl− concentrations. Following identification of the CF gene in 1989, it was realised that patients with a classic phenotype had severe mutations on both chromosomes, typically ΔF508 which is present in 70% of CF chromosomes, whereas mildly affected individuals had one or more mild alleles. To date, more than 700 mutations have been identified in the CF gene; most, with the exception of G551D, G542X and 621+1 (G-A) are rare, affecting <1% of CF chromosomes. The CF gene codes for a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) mediated Cl− channel which has been identified in several epithelia including lung, biliary tract, pancreas, and vas deferens.1 This wide distribution accounts for the multi-organ involvement seen in cystic fibrosis. Channel function is mutation specific with five basic classes of mutation recognised (fig1).2 Mutations that produce no CFTR protein (class I), where CFTR protein fails to reach the apical membrane because of defective processing (class II), or production of protein that fails to respond to cAMP (class III), have <1% channel function and display a severe phenotype with pancreatic insufficiency. Mutations that produce a cAMP responsive channel with reduced conductance (class IV) or mutations that …
Period and Deadline Selection for Schedulability in Real-Time Systems

Task period adaptations are often used to alleviate temporal overload conditions in real-time systems. Existing frameworks assume that only task periods are adjustable and that task deadlines remain unchanged at all times. This paper formally introduces a more general real-time task model where task deadlines, which are less than or equal to task periods, are functions of task periods. This tight coupling between task deadlines and task periods has been discussed in a recent work in control systems and presents a novel real-time scheduling challenge. To solve the period and deadline selection problem, this article identifies a feasible period-deadline combination and proposes a heuristic, which iteratively adjusts task periods and deadlines in such a way that the task set becomes schedulable. Experimental results show that the heuristic finds a solution to the period and deadline selection problem over 73% of the time, using less than three search iterations. When it is unable to find a solution to the problem, the heuristic requires less than 0.02s to run in the worst-case (with at most 100 search iterations).
Cell retention–chemostat studies of hybridoma cells—analysis of hybridoma growth and metabolism in continuous suspension culture in serum‐free medium

The steady-state metabolic parameters for a hybridoma cell line have been determined in continuous suspension-perfusion culture over a wide range of perfusion rates and cell bleed rates. Significant increases in viable cell concentrations and volumetric productivities were achieved at high perfusion rates and low cell bleed rates. At the low growth rates examined in this study, cellular metabolism shifted to become more oxidative, and as a result, the fraction of consumed substrate converted to inhibitory metabolic by-products was reduced. Specific antibody productivity was found to be non-growth associated.
Composite channels of the Canterbury Plain, New Zealand: A Martian analog?

Channels eroded into the sea cliff at the distal margin of the Canterbury Plain have a composite origin. Large- and medium-size composite channels formed initially by overland flow from a swamp. Subsequent seepage through outwash gravels enlarged them to produce wide, flat-floored valleys with irregular margins. Smaller channels have been and are being formed by seepage and mass movement, but they stagnate when an armor is formed that cannot be breached by seepage flow. All the channels show characteristics that have been described as criteria of channels formed by ground-water sapping, but the large channels were eroded predominantly by surface runoff and subsequently modified by ground-water sapping. The New Zealand composite channels resemble some small Martian valleys that are incised into cliffs and valley walls on that planet.
Sex Differences in Preferences for Humor: A Replication, Modification, and Extension:

Evolutionary-minded scientists have proposed that humor is a sexually selected trait in men that signals mate quality. Indeed, women tend to prefer men who make them laugh and men tend to prefer women who laugh at their jokes. However, it is unclear how robust this pattern is. Here we report a replication of one of the first studies (Bressler, Martin, and Balshine, 2006) to examine the sex differences in preferences for humor receptivity versus humor production. We replicate Bressler et al.'s (2006) findings that men prefer women who are receptive to their humor whereas women prefer men who produce humor. These findings held even after we modified Bressler et al.'s questionnaire for better conceptual validity. Furthermore, using a separate measure designed to assess trade-offs, we found that men viewed humor receptivity as a necessity and humor production as a luxury when they were asked to create an ideal long-term partner. For women, it was just the opposite. These results bolster the claim that sexual ...
Molecular engineering of vein bypass grafts

Surgical bypass of arterial occlusions using autogenous vein provides an effective treatment for many patients with advanced coronary or peripheral atherosclerosis. However, the long-term benefit of bypass surgery is limited by the development of de novo occlusive lesions within the vein graft, which occurs in a significant percentage of patients over time. The pathophysiology of vein graft failure involves a complex interplay between an acute vascular injury response and the hemodynamic adaptation of the vein to arterial forces. Cell proliferation, inflammation, and matrix metabolism are critical components of postimplantation remodeling. Conventional pharmacotherapy has had limited impact on graft failure. Vein grafts present a unique and attractive opportunity for molecular engineering, which is defined for purposes of this review as the local application of genomic (eg, gene transfer or gene inhibition) or proteomic interventions designed to alter the healing response. The critical enabling technologies for these strategies are described, with a perspective on preclinical and clinical development for this indication. The recently completed clinical trials of edifoligide (E2F decoy oligodeoxynucleotide) provide important lessons for future studies. A better understanding of the remodeling response of vein grafts in humans is required to design effective molecular therapies and to define the appropriate target populations and surrogate markers for future clinical trials.
Analytic solutions for capacitance of cylinders near a dielectric interface

Though there is no exact analytic solution for the capacitance between two cylinders near a dielectric interface, the method of images is used to derive analytic expressions that are accurate for widely separated cylinders, cylinders in close proximity, and widely separated cylinders near a dielectric interface. These solutions are compared with numerical simulations to verify the utility of the derived expressions. The necessity for numerical simulation in the general case is demonstrated. These analytic solutions can be incorporated into self-capacitance terms for solenoids and transmission lines.
Long-Term Follow-up of Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty for Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis

Background: There is major controversy surrounding the use of hemiarthroplasty as compared with total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis, and long-term clinical outcomes of hemiarthroplasty are lacking. Methods: Of a cohort of thirty patients (thirty-one shoulders) who were treated with hemiarthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis and followed longitudinally at our institution, twenty-five were available for long-term follow-up; five died, and one refused to participate. Three of the five patients who died had revision arthroplasty before death, and the data from those three were therefore included in the final follow-up (final follow-up data therefore included twenty-seven patients and twenty-eight shoulders). Follow-up through phone conversations and postal mail surveys included the following: Short Form-36, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder outcome score, EuroQol, Simple Shoulder Test, modified Neer Score, and a unique, validated self-administered range-of-motion questionnaire. Correlations between clinical outcome and age, type of glenoid wear, and cause of osteoarthritis were determined. Results: The average follow-up was 17.2 years (range, thirteen to twenty-one years). There were eight revisions (three of fifteen shoulders with concentric glenoids, and five of sixteen shoulders with eccentric glenoids). For those shoulders not revised, the average ASES score was 70.54 (range, 36.67 to 91.67). Overall, active shoulder forward elevation and external rotation with the arm at 90° of abduction increased from 104° preoperatively to 141.8° (range, 45° to 180°) and 20.7° to 61.0° (range, 30° to 90°), respectively (p < 0.05), at the time of final follow-up. Of those who required revision arthroplasty, the average patient age at the time of the index procedure was 51.0 years (range, twenty-six to eighty-one years), while those not requiring revision averaged 57.1 years (range, twenty-seven to sixty-three years). The overall Neer satisfaction rating was 25%. The average Neer score and Neer rating for unrevised cases were significantly higher for concentric glenoid wear compared with eccentric glenoid wear (p = 0.015 and p = 0.001, respectively). Patients who had concentric glenoid wear had higher EuroQol scores (p = 0.020). The average Neer scores were 65.29 (range, forty-seven to seventy-eight) for primary osteoarthritis and 54.46 (range, forty to seventy-seven) for secondary osteoarthritis (p = 0.036). Conclusions: Only 25% of patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty are satisfied with their outcome at an average of seventeen years after the operation. Patients with concentric glenoid wear and primary osteoarthritis have better outcomes than those with eccentric glenoid wear and secondary osteoarthritis do, but patients in both groups experienced deterioration of results over time. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Evolutionary tinkering with transposable elements

It was almost 30 years ago when Francois Jacob declared that evolutionary innovation (the emergence of novel form and function over time) occurred primarily via a process of “tinkering” (1). By tinkering, Jacob essentially meant the creation of novelty through random combinations of preexisting forms. Two fundamental and countervailing notions are implicit in this view of evolution: optimality versus constraint. Were evolution to perform optimally, a more apt metaphor might be that of an engineer. An engineer works according to a plan, with a precise goal for the desired end, and uses material designed specifically toward that end. Evolution, on the other hand, must work without the benefit of foresight and is subject to very real constraints with respect to the material at its disposal; as such, evolutionary biology is replete with examples of suboptimal solutions to functional challenges (2). Similarly, a tinkerer works without a clear plan by using anything and everything at his disposal to produce an entity that possesses some kind of (unanticipated) functional utility. In this issue of PNAS, Cordaux et al . (3) explore an example of tinkering along the human evolutionary lineage, whereby an existing host gene merged with a transposable element (TE) to create a primate-specific chimeric gene. In the decades since Jacob's exposition, molecular biology studies have produced a deluge of primary data (tens of thousands of three-dimensional protein structures and literally billions of nucleotides of gene sequences, including hundreds of complete genomes in the past few years alone). Comparative studies of the resulting data have underscored the extent to which genome evolution is indeed characterized by tinkering. There are a discrete and finite number of structural folds, protein sequence domains, and gene families (4); new genes evolve through slight modifications and/or recombinations of these preexisting forms. The actual de novo evolution … *E-mail: jordan{at}ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Increase in fruit size of a spontaneous mutant of ‘Gala’ apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) is facilitated by altered cell production and enhanced cell size

Fruit size regulation was studied in the apple cultivar 'Gala' and a large fruit size spontaneous mutant of 'Gala', 'Grand Gala' (GG). GG fruits were 15% larger in diameter and 38% heavier than 'Gala' fruits, largely due to an increase in size of the fruit cortex. The mutation in GG altered growth prior to fruit set and during fruit development. Prior to fruit set, the carpel/floral-tube size was enhanced in GG and was associated with higher cell number, larger cell size, and increased ploidy through endoreduplication, an altered form of the cell cycle normally absent in apple. The data suggest that the mutation in GG promotes either cell production or endoreduplication in the carpel/floral-tube cells depending on their competence for division. Ploidy was not altered in GG leaves. During fruit growth, GG fruit cells exited cell production earlier, and with a DNA content of 4C suggesting G2 arrest. Cell size was higher in GG fruits during exit from cell production and at later stages of fruit growth. Final cell diameter in GG fruit cortex cells was 15% higher than that in 'Gala' indicating that enhanced fruit size in GG was facilitated by increased cell size. The normal progression of cell expansion in cells arrested in G2 may account for the increase in cell size. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated higher MdCDKA1 expression and reduced MdCYCA2 expression during early fruit development in GG fruits. Together, the data indicate an important role for cell expansion in regulating apple fruit size.
Preoperative Incidence of Olfactory Dysfunction in Nasal Surgery Patients

Objective. Learn the incidence of olfactory dysfunction in preoperative patients prior to nasal surgery and compare with a control group of patients who are not going to have such surgery. Assess the usefulness of the coffee/tea differ- entiation test in assessing preoperative dysosmia. Study Design. Prospective controlled cohort study. Setting. Urban medical center. Subjects and Methods. One hundred fifty-one adult patients (aged 18-65 years) whose olfactory function was tested using the Pocket Smell Test and a coffee/tea differentiation test. A failed test required missing at least 1 item on the card or failure to report a difference between tea and coffee. The statistical analysis using the t test and the Fisher exact test were calculated using MINITAB. Results. The study group (n = 55) had 38% men and 62% women compared with 58% men and 42% women in the control group (n = 96). The incidence of dysosmia was 32% in the study group and 14% in the control group. In the study group, 34.5% of patients failed the Pocket Smell Test and 12.4% failed the coffee/tea differentiation test as com- pared with 12.4% and 0%, respectively, in the control group. Conclusion. Patients who are scheduled for nasal surgery for medical or cosmetic indications are more likely to suffer from olfactory dysfunction before surgical intervention. This should be taken into consideration when counseling patients regarding possible postoperative complications.
Second-Harmonic Whispering-Gallery Modes in ZnO Nanotetrapod

We present the observation of second-harmonic (SH) whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) in the hexagonal cross-sections of the tapered ZnO nanotetrapod legs. Because of the continuously changing diameter in the leg, several orders of the WGMs at different SH wavelengths can be on resonance simultaneously at different locations along the leg. The strongest SH WGMs occur when the polarization of the fundamental excitation beam is parallel to the c-axis of the crystal along the leg.
A seismic-refraction profile across the San Andreas, Sargent, and Calaveras faults, west-central California

In 1981, the United States Geological Survey recorded a seismic-refraction profile across the southern Santa Cruz Mountains in west-central California to examine the shallow velocity structure of this seismogenic region. This 40-km-long profile, which consisted of three shotpoints, extended northeastward from near Watsonville, California, to Coyote Lake, crossing the San Andreas, Sargent, and Calaveras faults. This entire region is characterized by a highly heterogeneous upper crust. West of Watsonville, 1 km of alluvium with a velocity of 2.12 km/sec overlies a basement with a velocity 5.45 km/sec. The abrupt deepening of basement by 1.5 km just east of Watsonville at a subsurface fault suggests that the Zayante fault to the north and the Vergeles fault to the south are connected. The Tertiary sediment at the San Andreas fault is 2.5 km thick and has a velocity of 3.34 km/sec. The San Andreas fault is not marked by any distinctive seismic velocity features, whereas a 1-km-wide low velocity zone is found at both the Sargent and Calaveras faults. East of the Sargent fault, the basement surface forms a broad anticlinal structure, with velocities ranging from 5.4 to 6.0 km/sec. From the anticlinal crest, basement dips to the east beneath the Santa Clara Valley and reaches a maximum depth of 1 km on the east side; the overlying alluvium has a velocity of 2.7 km/sec. At the crest of the basement anticlinal structure, a vertical low-velocity zone coincident with exposed serpentine provides strong evidence of faulting .
Posterior Urethral Strictures

Pelvic fracture urethral injuries are typically partial and more often complete disruptions of the most proximal bulbar and distal membranous urethra. Emergency management includes suprapubic tube placement. Subsequent primary realignment to place a urethral catheter remains a controversial topic, but what is not controversial is that when there is the development of a stricture (which is usually obliterative with a distraction defect) after suprapubic tube placement or urethral catheter removal, the standard of care is delayed urethral reconstruction with excision and primary anastomosis. This paper reviews the management of patients who suffer pelvic fracture urethral injuries and the techniques of preoperative urethral imaging and subsequent posterior urethroplasty.
Eosinophilic esophagitis: between reflux and allergy

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic/recurrent inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by the association between symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate (>15/HPF) of the esophageal epithelium [1]. This condition mostly affects males and is increasingly being reported in all age groups, with a prevalence currently estimated at around 1:1000 in the Western world. Many experimental and clinical observations suggest that EoE is indeed an allergic condition with a strong genetic predisposition [2]. The natural history is unknown, but several studies suggest the potential progression of untreated disease, such as escalation of symptoms from feeding difficulties in infants to strictures and food impaction in teenagers [2,3]. This evolutionary pattern is somehow similar to that of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and could be related to a histological remodeling of the esophageal wall characterized by increasing fibrosis [1,2]. Furthermore, cow's milk protein allergy often causes GERD-like symptoms, and both GERD and cow's milk allergy cause an increase eosinophil count in the esophageal mucosa of infants. Topical steroids as well as elemental or selective exclusion diet have proven effective in inducing clinical and histologic remission in EoE, but the long-term management of EoE is not yet defined [3,4]. In most pediatric studies, the only mechanism of outgrowing EoE appears to be the long-term avoidance of sensitizing food(s) rather than spontaneous remission [3]. An alternative explanation is that there are different phenotypes of EoE, including a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-sensitive variant for which long-term PPI therapy may be indicated [5].
“The Secret of Our Success”: Long-term Same-Sex Couples' Perceptions of Their Relationship Longevity

ABSTRACTLong-term same-sex couples have maintained relationships within a sociopolitical environment that has historically stigmatized and provided little or no legal recognition for their relationship. In a qualitative interview study about relationships, 31 same-sex couples, in relationships lasting from 13 to 41 years (mean length = 22.6 years), were asked to discuss their perceptions of the factors or strengths they have as a couple that contribute to the “success” or longevity of their committed relationship. All couples were in legally recognized relationships (21 married, 10 in civil unions). Thematic analyses of the responses revealed six themes summarizing the lived experiences that couples perceived as contributing to their relationship longevity: Communication; Similarities in Values; Complementary Similarities and Differences; Sharing Experiences; Commitment to the Relationship; and Support From Others. These themes are illustrated with quotes from couple discussions and discussed in the conte...
In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations of Electrochemical Oxidation of Li2O2

In this Letter, we report the first in situ transmission electron microscopy observation of electrochemical oxidation of Li2O2, providing insights into the rate limiting processes that govern charge in Li–O2 cells. In these studies, oxidation of electrochemically formed Li2O2 particles, supported on multiwall carbon nanotutubes (MWCNTs), was found to occur preferentially at the MWCNT/Li2O2 interface, suggesting that electron transport in Li2O2 ultimately limits the oxidation kinetics at high rates or overpotentials.
Notes on Theon of Smyrna

(1951). Notes on Theon of Smyrna. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 58, No. 10, pp. 675-683.
Analysis of Low-Speed Stall Aerodynamics of a Swept Wing with Seamless Flaps

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted to study the low-speed stall aerodynamics of a Gulfstream G-III airplane (Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) swept wing modified with an experimental seamless, compliant flap called the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) flap. The stall characteristics of the modified ACTE wing were analyzed and compared with the unmodified, clean wing at the flight speed of 120 knots and altitude of 2300 feet above mean sea level, in free air as well as in ground effect. A polyhedral finite-volume unstructured full Navier-Stokes CFD code, STAR-CCM (registered trademark) plus (CD-adapco [Computational Dynamics Limited, United Kingdom, and Analysis & Design Application Co., United States]), was used. Steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes CFD simulations were conducted for a clean wing and the ACTE wings at various ACTE deflection angles in free air (-2 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees) as well as in ground effect (15 degrees and 30 degrees). Solution sensitivities to grid densities were examined. In free air, the ACTE wings are predicted to stall at lower angles of attack than the clean wing. In ground effect, all wings are predicted to stall at lower angles of attack than the corresponding wings in free air. Even though the lift curves are higher in ground effect than in free air, the maximum lift coefficients for all wings are lower in ground effect. Finally, the lift increase due to ground effect for the ACTE wing is predicted to be less than the clean wing.
Metal-organic framework membrane process for high purity CO2 production

Significance Gas separation by metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes is an emerging research field. Their commercial application potential is, however, still rarely explored due in part to unsatisfied separation characteristics and difficulty in finding suitable applications. Herein, we report “sharp molecular sieving” properties of high quality isoreticular MOF-1 (IRMOF-1) membrane for CO2 separation from dry, CO2 enriched CO2/CH4, and CO2/N2 mixtures. The IRMOF-1 membranes exhibit CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation factors of 328 and 410 with CO2 permeance of 2.55 × 10−7 and 2.06 × 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 at feed pressure of 505 kPa and 298 K, respectively. High grade CO2 is efficiently produced from the industrial or lower grade CO2 feed gas by this MOF membrane separation process. The demonstrated “sharp molecular sieving” properties of the MOF membranes and their potential application in production of value-added high purity CO2 should bring new research and development interest in this field. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 3836–3841, 2016
Comparison of Thalidomide and Lenalidomide for the Treatment of Patients (pts) with Myelofibrosis (MF).

Abstract 2901 Poster Board II-877 Thalidomide and lenalidomide are two immunomodulatory agents that engender an intriguing treatment activity in a subset of pts with MF that includes a clinically relevant benefit in terms of both anemia and splenomegaly. Using the International Working Group (IWG) consensus criteria, we assessed the efficacy and longterm outcome of these two agents in three consecutive studies run at MD Anderson Cancer Center between February 2000 and March 2007 in pts with MF. One hundred and six pts were treated in three phase II trials. Twenty-five pts received single-agent thalidomide; 41 pts received single-agent lenalidomide; and 40 pts were treated with a combination of lenalidomide and prednisone. Patients9 characteristics are summarized in Table 1. There was no significant difference between the 3 study groups except for a higher percentage of splenomegaly (p=0.012) and a performance status 1 (p=0.017) observed in pts treated with the combination of lenalidomide-prednisone. In addition, pts receiving lenalidomide therapy had received more previous therapies. After a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 2 to 112 months), 7 the 25 pts (28%) treated with thalidomide responded with complete response (CR) observed in 1 pt (4%), partial response (PR) in 1 pt (4%) and clinical improvement (CI) in 5 pts (20%). The median duration of response was 7 months (range, 3 to 40 months). Of the 41 pts treated with single-agent lenalidomide, 14 (34%) responded with 3 (7%) CR, 4 (10%) PR, and 7 (17%) CI. The median follow-up and median duration of response were 20 months (range, 2 to 55 months) and 16 months (range, 6 to 44 months), respectively. After a median follow-up of 8 months (range, 4 to 37 months), 15 of the 40 pts (38%) treated with the combination of prednisone and lenalidomide responded: 2 (5%) CR, 2 (5%) PR, and 11 (28%) CI. The median duration of response was 14+ months (range, 4 to 30+ months). One of the pts treated with a combination of lenalidomide-prednisone converted his response from PR to CR recently. There was a trend for faster responses in pts treated with combination versus single agent-lenalidomide: the median time to response was 60 and 80 days respectively (p=0.06). We then compared the efficacy of these three regimens. There was a trend for a higher efficacy in pts receiving the lenalidomide-prednisone combination (Table 2). In conclusion, immunomodulatory agents such as thalidomide and lenalidomide are effective in the treatment of pts with MF. The combination of lenalidomide and prednisone appears to be more effective and can induce faster responses. Disclosures: Jabbour: Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb : Speakers Bureau.
Incorporating Squirrel-Cage Induction Machine Models in Convex Relaxations of OPF Problems

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem determines a minimum cost operating point for an electric power system. Recently developed convex relaxations are capable of globally solving certain OPF problems. Using a semidefinite relaxation of the OPF problem as an illustrative example, this letter presents a method for extending convex relaxations of the OPF problem to include steady-state squirrel-cage induction machine models.
Digging Deeper: Exploring the Value of Prison-Based Dog Handler Programs:

As U.S. correctional systems continue to rollout evidence-based programs, the utility of “complimentary” programs that do not address recidivism reduction remains in question. Many U.S. prisons hav...
“Ought Implies Can,” Framing Effects, and “Empirical Refutations”

This paper aims to contribute to the current debate about the status of the “Ought Implies Can” (OIC) principle and the growing body of empirical evidence that undermines it. We report the results of an experimental study which show that people judge that agents ought to perform an action even when they also judge that those agents cannot do it and that such “ought” judgments exhibit an actor-observer effect. Because of this actor-observer effect on “ought” judgments and the Duhem-Quine thesis, talk of an “empirical refutation” of OIC is empirically and methodologically unwarranted. What the empirical fact that people attribute moral obligations to unable agents shows is that OIC is not intuitive, not that OIC has been refuted.
"I only watch for the commercials": Messages about weight, eating and race in Super Bowl advertisements.

SummaryObjective Health experts and communication experts assert that the media influence individuals’ health. Yet, incongruously, the public, policy-makers and the media themselves appear reticent to accept that the media could have extensive negative influence on health. Methods The current study examined all ads that aired from Super Bowl XLVI through Super Bowl XLIX (N = 241) using a detailed, multistep coding process. Results Ads had similar racial/ethnic diversity in the full sample and food/beverage ads. A minority (14.5%) of advertisements contained actors with overweight/obesity, who were more likely to be White and less likely to be Hispanic compared with race/ethnicity in all ads. Humour and tone were similarly present whether or not the ads included actors with overweight/obesity. Conclusions Findings are striking given the high prevalence of overweight/obesity in the USA, particularly among Black and Hispanic populations, and the comparatively low representation of actors with overweight/obesity in Super Bowl advertisements. Surprising weight findings may signal a change in how the media portray body-size norms (away from exclusively thin), although representations remain disproportionate from actual body-size distributions in the USA.
The sPHENIX Experiment

Our understanding of QCD under extreme conditions has advanced tremendously in the last 20 years with the discovery of the Quark Gluon Plasma and its characterisation in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. The sPHENIX detector planned at RHIC is designed to further study the microscopic nature of the QGP through precision measurements of jet, upsilon and open heavy flavor probes over a broad p T range. The multi-year sPHENIX physics program will commence in early 2023, using state-of-the art detector technologies to fully exploit the highest RHIC luminosities.The experiment incorporates the 1.4 T former BaBar solenoid magnet, and will feature high precision tracking and vertexing capabilities, provided by a compact TPC, Si-strip intermediate tracker and MAPS vertex detector. This is complemented by highly granular electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry with full azimuthal coverage.In this document I describe the sPHENIX detector design and physics program, with particular emphasis on the comprehensive open heavy flavour program enabled by the experiment’s large coverage, high rate capability and precision vertexing.
Classic Discrete Models

The problems in this chapter are classical examples of integer programs (IP). A better name would be discrete linear programs because we described the past ones as continuous linear programs and the antonym of continuous is discrete. Alas, the tradition is firmly entrenched so we will refer to them as IPs. They are characterized by algebraically linear constraints and linear objectives with the additional requirement that variables must take on only integral values.
A phosphoproteomic signature in endothelial cells predicts vascular toxicity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in CML.

Key Points Newer CML kinase inhibitors increase ischemia risk and are toxic to endothelial cells where they produce a proteomic toxicity signature. This phosphoproteomic EC toxicity signature predicts bosutinib to be safe, providing a potential screening tool for safer drug development.
Competencies required for healthcare improvement positions.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the competencies that US healthcare organizations require for quality and performance improvement positions. Design/methodology/approach A US healthcare improvement job posting content analysis was conducted using the HQ Essentials competency framework. Findings The HQ essentials competencies most desired for improvement positions include project management, training, data analysis and applied performance improvement methods. Competency requirements varied somewhat by job focus area: performance, quality, or process improvement, and Lean and Six Sigma. Practical implications Healthcare leaders may use the author’s results to understand what competencies may be required for various improvement roles and to identify any gaps in required skills and knowledge areas that may need to be addressed. Educators and policy-makers should consider how these competencies align with employers’ needs and what resources or professional development may be needed to address gaps. Originality/value This is the first healthcare improvement competencies analysis based on job postings.
Azimuthal Seismic Anisotropy of 70‐Ma Pacific‐Plate Upper Mantle

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2019. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth 124(2), (2019):1889-1909, doi:10.1029/2018JB016451.
Osteomeniscal Impact Edema (OMIE): Description of a Distinct MRI Finding in Displaced Flap Tears of the Medial Meniscus, with Comparison to Posterior Root Tears.

Bone marrow edema (BME) can be a late finding in osteoarthritis or a sign of subchondral insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding we refer to as "osteomeniscal impact edema" (OMIE), or reactive BME adjacent to a displaced meniscus flap tear. In addition, this edema pattern is compared with a control group of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT) with subchondral insufficiency edema. MRI records from 2000 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed for studies that showed the presence of a medial meniscus displaced flap tear and an adjacent area of BME. The selected MRIs were matched to an equal number of MMPRT MRI studies. All MRI studies were assessed for cartilage surface grade using the modified Outerbridge classification system and for the extent of accompanying structural abnormalities using the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were utilized to compare the MRI findings between groups. Twenty-two flap tear (OMIE group) patients with a mean age of 57 (SD: 15) and 22 root tear (MMPRT) group patients with a mean age of 61 (SD: 10) were included. MRIs in the OMIE group showed a distinctive pattern of focal, peripheral edema adjacent to the meniscus flap tear, compared with more diffuse, central edema in the MMPRT group. Quantitatively, MRIs of the MMPRT group showed significantly worse mean femoral Outerbridge scores (3.72 vs. 2.68, p < 0.0001), more severe central (1.63 vs. 0.5, p = 0.0007) and posterior (0.31 vs. 0.0, p = 0.04) subchondral edema grades, and a higher incidence of tibial subchondral fractures (3 vs. 0, p = 0.036). Meniscus flap tears may present with a distinct MRI pattern of focal, adjacent, peripheral edema, which we refer to as OMIE. Patients with meniscus flap tears showed significantly less arthritic change, lower subchondral edema grades, and a lower incidence of insufficiency fractures and subchondral collapse compared with the diffuse overload edema pattern found with root tears. The Level of Evidence for this study is III.
Why send humans to Mars

The proposed Space Exploration Initiative (SDI) to launch a manned flight to Mars is examined in the current light of growing constraints in costs and other human requirements. Sharing the huge costs of such a program among a group of nations might become low enough for the project to be feasible. Robotic missions, equipped with enhanced artificial intelligence, appear to be capable of satisfying mission requirements at 10 percent or less, of the cost of a manned flight. Various additional pros and cons are discussed regarding both SDI generally and a Mars mission. It is suggested that R&D projects be pursued that can be better justified and can also contribute to human mission to Mars if eventually a decision to go is made.
Missing millions: undercounting urbanization in India

The measurement and characterization of urbanization crucially depends upon defining what counts as urban. The government of India estimates that only 31% of the population is urban. We show that this is an artifact of the definition of urbanity and an underestimate of the level of urbanization in India. We use a random forest-based model to create a high-resolution (~ 100 m) population grid from district-level data available from the Indian Census for 2001 and 2011, a novel application of such methods to create temporally consistent population grids. We then apply a community-detection clustering algorithm to construct urban agglomerations for the entire country. Compared with the 2011 official statistics, we estimate 12% more of urban population, but find fewer mid-size cities. We also identify urban agglomerations that span jurisdictional boundaries across large portions of Kerala and the Gangetic Plain.