cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-sectional and Prospective Examination of Weight Misperception and Depressive Symptoms Among Youth with Overweight and Obesity.

This study aims to determine the association between weight misperception (considering oneself average or underweight) and depressive symptoms among youth with overweight/obesity. Linear regression models (adjusted for age, BMI, parental education, percent poverty) were used to examine cross-sectional (wave II, 1996, n = 3898, M age = 15.9, SD = 0.13) and longitudinal (from wave II to IV, 1996–2008/2009, n = 2738, M age = 28.5, SD = 0.06) associations between weight misperception and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) in a subsample of White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Multi-racial male and female youth with overweight/obesity participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Average BMI was 29.0 (0.16) at wave II and 35.7 (0.23) at wave IV. Thirty-two percent misperceived their weight status as average weight (n = 1151, 30 %) or underweight (n = 99, 3 %). In fully adjusted cross-sectional models, White (β = −1.92, 95 % CI = −2.79, −1.06) and Multi-racial (β = −4.43, 95 % CI = −6.90, −1.95) youth who perceived themselves as average weight had significantly lower depressive symptoms compared to accurate weight-perceivers. In fully adjusted longitudinal models, White youth (β = −0.41, 95 % CI = −0.81, −0.004) who perceived themselves as average weight had significantly lower depressive symptoms 12 years later. Findings suggest that weight misperception may be protective against depression among White adolescents and young adults with overweight/obesity. Clinical and population interventions should consider potential harmful effects of correcting weight misperceptions on the mental health of youth with overweight/obesity.
Primary tumor resection to improve survival and local disease control in stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.

1102 Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer typically presenting with early metastasis. Optimal outcomes are achieved with multimodality treatme...
Matrices, Vectors, Frames, Transforms

This chapter begins with an overview of matrices and vectors, which are used extensively in attitude analysis. We assume that the reader has some familiarity with this material, so the account is not completely self-contained. The principal objective of this section is to define our notation and conventions.
Perylene Diimide-Based Ionene and Zwitterionic Polymers: Synthesis and Solution Photophysical Properties

A series of perylene diimide (PDI)-containing ionene and zwitterionic polymers were prepared by the Menschuktin reaction and by nucleophilic ring-opening of a novel bis-sultone monomer. PDI derivatives containing tertiary amine moieties at the imide position, and bromides or phenyl groups within the aromatic core, provided sites for polymerization and imparted solubility during the polymerization, respectively. The solution photophysical behavior of the polymers was studied by UV–vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy as a function of PDI incorporation and cationic/zwitterionic functionality, resulting in the observation of tunable solution spectral features induced by core functionality and/or interzwitterion interactions. This new PDI-based polymer platform affords opportunities to modulate conjugation and charge density within the polymers and examine the effects of cationic vs zwitterionic groups on the resultant optoelectronic properties.
Inhibition of the development of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced esophageal tumors in rats by strawberries and aspirin, alone and in combination

Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of two subtypes of esophageal cancer, with high incidence and mortality rates in developing countries. Objective The current study investigated the potential chemoprotective effects of strawberries and aspirin against the development of rat esophageal papillomas, the precursors to ESCC. Methods Using a prevention model, we administered study diets to rats before, during, and after N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) treatment. The effects of the four diets were evaluated: the control diet, 5% strawberry powder in the control diet, 0.01% aspirin in the drinking water, and the combination of strawberries and aspirin. At week 25, we euthanized all the rats and collected their esophagi to quantify tumor incidence, multiplicity, and burden, as well as for molecular analysis. Results Both strawberries and aspirin significantly decreased esophageal tumor multiplicity, with the combination causing the most robust suppression. Aspirin alone and the combination decreased the total tumor burden in the esophagus. None of the diets had a significant effect on tumor incidence or the expression of COX-1 and COX-2. Strawberries and aspirin, alone and in combination, significantly suppressed squamous epithelial cell proliferation (PCNA). Conclusions Strawberries, aspirin, and their combination exhibit chemoprotective effects against NMBA-induced esophageal tumors in rats.
Liberalism in Crisis

Liberalism is based upon bold assumptions. It is a political doctrine built upon confidence in the rationality and good will of men. Crisis might well be treated as endemic to any theory so premised. Hence, difficulties caused by the failure of men to act in a manner consistent with such assumptions could be easily anticipated and readily dismissed. The present difficulty seems to go much deeper and to rest upon a questioning of liberal assumptions as valid guides to action. It is but a step from such pragmatic probings to a challenge of the essential philosophic value of liberalism. To lose faith today in the values of liberalism would, I think, be tragic. The liberal tradition is the strongest political heritage of western culture, and particularly of the United States and the British Commonwealth of Nations. What are the essentials of this heritage? The essentials of liberalism are familiar to us all—civil rights, the tolerance of political differences, freedom of opportunity and a career open to talents, belief in the dignity and integrity of human personality, the acceptance of diversity and of compromise. These are the elements, and to many bred in the liberal faith they are taken as universal truths.
Weathering Characteristics, Age, and Provenance Determinations on Ancient Greek and Roman Marble Artifacts

Surface weathering crusts and patinas on ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and other artifacts have been investigated by stable isotope mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe and PIXE techniques. Analysis of polished cross-sections made from cores taken from fresh interior marble to outer weathered sculpted surfaces on pieces of Early Cycladic Greek to 3 rd. century A.D. Roman age indicate that there are progressive alterations of the carbonate minerals with age. The chemical, isotopic and petrographic characteristics of the weathering crusts vary with marble type, age and weathering environmental histories. These crusts, however, appear to be excellent indicators of antiquity and authenticity.
Nutrient relations of the halophytic shrub, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, along a soil salinity gradient

Recent water level declines of a saline and alkaline lake (Mono Lake, California, USA) have exposed large areas of former lake bottom substrates that have been sparsely colonized by the halophytic shrub, Sarcobatus vermiculatus. To increase understanding of the interaction of salt and nutrient relations in halophytes we investigated spatial and seasonal patterns of leaf elemental composition and growth for Sarcobatus along an extreme salinity gradient using four sites varying in age since exposure. Soil and groundwater Na and EC increased from non-saline at the site farthest from the Lake to highly saline at the site closest to the Lake. Leaf and stem length growth declined along this same transect. In June, when shoot growth rates were maximal, leaf Na paralleled substrate availability and reached a high of 130 g kg−1 leaf dry weight near the Lake. Through the remainder of the growing season, plants on the lower salinity site continued to accumulate increasing amounts of leaf Na, whereas plants at the highest salinity site reached a plateau earlier in the season. The similarity of high leaf Na at all sites by the end of the season indicates a dominance of Na nutrition over the entire gradient, and a possible upper bound of Na accumulation and tolerance for this species. In June, Sarcobatus leaf N, P were higher at sites further from the Lake and did not correspond to soil N (total) and P that were highest near the Lake. Leaf K, Ca, and Mg in June also did not match substrate availability, and were low enough to indicate marginal sufficiency for growth. However, the increasing substrate Na did not interfere with K, Ca and Mg uptake based on selectivity coefficients (e.g. (leaf K/leaf Na)/ (soil K/soil Na)) that did not decline with increasing substrate salinity. Uptake and transport to leaves, of K and Ca relative to Na, remained proportional to what was in the soil across the entire gradient of soil salinity. Uptake and transport of Mg relative to Na increased dramatically in inverse proportion to declining soil availability near the Lake, indicating that Mg may be a critical limiting factor for tolerance of high salinity sites. The key determinants of Sarcobatus growth and ecological dominance along this extreme salinity gradient (non-saline to highly saline) are the propensity to accumulate large amounts of leaf Na over the entire gradient, and the ability to maintain adequate uptake of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg under highly variable substrate combinations of nutrients and Na.
Impact of Substance Use Disorder on the Rate of Sustained Virological Response in Veterans With Chronic Hepatitis C Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are commonly encountered in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It is important to consider the impact of SUDs on HCV treatment. Obje...
Exploring the efficacy of silicon supplementation on control of rice grain discoloration disease

Rice is the most important cereal crop in Sri Lanka. Grain discoloration is an emerging disease complex, reducing grain quality of rice crop. Grain discoloration control is, however, mainly focused on fungicide; their use is limited due to perceived environmental problem and health concern. Silicon (Si) application is known as encouraging eco-friendly alternative to fungicide. Foliar applications of Si-based formulations were evaluated to examine their effect on reducing grain discoloration disease. Field experiments were conducted at Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI), Batalagoda from May to September 2017. After planting, Si was applied as solution at the rate of 1 mL/L at tillering and early flowering stage. Fungicide and control (sterilized water) were applied as treatments at early flowering stage. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on plant height, total number of tillers per plant, chlorophyll content, yield, incidence of plant infection and percentage of grain discoloration were recorded. Laboratory study was carried out to isolate and identify the grain discoloration causing pathogens from the infected seeds by using potato dextrose agar plate method. Results revealed that incidence of plant infection and grain discoloration percentage were reduced by foliar application of silicon supplements as same as fungicide application. Among the Si-based formulations tested, Gainexa UPL gave the best result in controlling grain discoloration in rice. These silicon supplements could be used as alternatives to synthetic fungicide and could reduce the amount of fungicide needed during rice crop cultivation. Curvularia lunata and Curvularia pallescence were identified as the causal organisms of rice grain discoloration disease in the study area.
Predictive Factors and Rates of Fusion in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Utilizing rhBMP-2 or Mesenchymal Stem Cells

ABSTRACT Background: Several fusion adjuncts exist to enhance fusion rates during minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF). The objective of this study was to compare fusion rates in patients undergoing MI-TLIF with either rhBMP-2 or cellularized bone matrix (CBM). Methods: We conducted a single surgeon retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent MI-TLIF with either rhBMP-2 or CBM placed in an interbody cage. Single and multilevel procedures were included. Fusion was assessed on computed tomography scans at 12-month follow-up by an independent, blinded, board-certified neuroradiologist. Fusion rates and rate of revision surgery were compared with a Fisher exact test between the 2 groups. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify patient factors that were predictive of radiographic nonunion after MI-TLIF. Results: A total of 93 fusion levels in 78 patients were reviewed. Thirty-nine patients received CBM, and 39 patients received rhBMP-2. The patients receiving rhBMP-2 were older on average (61.4 vs 55.6, P = .03). The overall fusion rate was 68% in the CBM group (32/47 levels) and 78% in the rhBMP-2 group (36/46) (P = .35). Only preoperative hypertension was predictive of radiographic nonunion (odds ratio = 3.5, P = .05). There were 3 smokers in the CBM group and 4 smokers in the BMP group, and 1 in each group experienced radiographic pseudarthrosis. A total of 4 patients, 3 in the CBM group and 1 in the BMP group (P = .61), required revision for symptomatic pseudarthrosis. All of these patients had a single-level index procedure. Conclusions: There were no differences in radiographic fusion and rate of revision surgery in patients who underwent MI-TLIF with either rhBMP-2 or CBM as fusion adjuncts. Level of Evidence: 3 Clinical Relevance: Both rhBMP-2 and CBMs can be used as effective fusion adjuncts without any clear advantage of one over the other.
Ultra-Low Power Analog Multiplier Based on Translinear Principle

In this paper, a wide dynamic range, current-mode four-quadrant analog multiplier circuit is proposed that utilizes MOS translinear principle. The proposed multiplier is designed in 65nm technology using CMOS transistors operating in weak inversion. A thorough analysis of the proposed design is performed using Spectre and monte-carlo simulations. The multiplier consumes a low power of 0.48µW and supports an input range of ±200nA while operating from 0.8V supply and exhibits an average total harmonic distortion (THD) 1.12%. Post layout simulation results show a high figure-of-merit (FoM) of 1302 verifying superiority of our design against other state-of-the-art multiplier circuits.
Abstract P1-17-10: The impact of age and adjuvant chemotherapy modifications on disease-free and overall survival among African American women with breast cancer

Background: During chemotherapy for breast cancer, African American women receive less relative dose intensity with more dose reductions and early chemotherapy cessation compared to Caucasian women. Other research has found that older breast cancer patients are most at risk for treatment modifications; however, it is unclear if this remains true for African American patients. Furthermore, the clinical implications of treatment modifications and delays on survival is uncertain, particularly in African American patients. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether age (diagnosis Methods: A retrospective cohort study of early stage African American breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy was employed. Dose held, dose delayed and early cessation were examined as dichotomous variables: any adjustment to the initially prescribed treatment plan was considered a modification. Medical record data extraction was utilized to gather this information. The sample was divided into two groups: those diagnosed Results: In the study of 115 participants, 58 (50.4%) were diagnosed before the age of 55, and 57 (49.6%) were diagnosed age 55 or older. Across the entire sample, 43 (37.4%) patients experienced a treatment modification. There were no significant differences in the proportions of treatment modifications between the two age groups. We found no interaction between age group and treatment modifications for OS. However, there was a significant interaction between age group and held dose for DFS (p=0.045). Specifically, those diagnosed at 55 years of age and older, who had doses of chemotherapy held, experienced worse DFS compared to those who did not (hazard ratio (HR)=3.390, 95% CI (1.013,11.34)). In contrast, there was no difference in DFS between those who did and did not have doses held in patients diagnosed below 55 years of age (HR=0.563, 95%CI (0.159, 1.986)). Conclusions: African American women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for treatment of early stage breast cancer have high levels of treatment modifications across all age groups. However, held doses of chemotherapy in older African American patients were associated with worse DFS. Further research is needed to elucidate the clinical implications of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment modifications, particularly in African American patients, and the subgroups of patients who are at greatest risk. Citation Format: Nugent BD, Ren D, Bender C, Rosenzweig M. The impact of age and adjuvant chemotherapy modifications on disease-free and overall survival among African American women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-17-10.
Short communication: Effect of manipulating fatty acid profile on gluconeogenic gene expression in bovine primary hepatocytes

During the peripartum period, dairy cows experience both an increase in circulating fatty acid (FA) profile and a change in circulating FA profile, which have been shown to alter regulation of gluconeogenic genes. The objective was to quantify gene expression of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis and FA transport into the mitochondria in primary hepatocytes in response to exposure to an FA mixture mimicking what is circulating in a transition dairy cow with or without enrichment of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from 4 Holstein bull calves 3 d of age (± standard deviation 2 d) and cultured. Twenty-four hours after plating, treatments were applied to the cells for 24-h incubation. Treatments consisted of (1) control (1% BSA), (2) 0.75 mM FA cocktail (3% C14:0, 27% C16:0, 23% C18:0, 31% C18:1, 8% C18:2, and 8% C18:3 to mimic the FA profile of dairy cattle at calving), (3) 0.90 mM FA cocktail, (4) 0.75 mM FA cocktail + 0.15 mM C16:0, (5) 0.75 mM FA cocktail + 0.15 mM C18:0, and (6) 0.75 mM FA cocktail + 0.15 mM C18:1. After harvest in Trizol (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), samples were stored at -80°C until RNA extraction, purification, and reverse transcription. Abundance of mRNA was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of genes of interest [carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, pyruvate carboxylase, cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1), mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and glucose-6-phosphatase] was calculated relative to the average abundance of 2 reference genes (ribosomal protein L32 and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), which were the most stable out of 3 tested. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS version 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC) with the fixed effect of treatment and calf in the random statement. The addition of FA compared with the 1% BSA treatment increased the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A and cytosolic PCK1. Enrichment with individual FA did not further regulate pyruvate carboxylase or PCK1 beyond that achieved by the basal profile. These results suggest that shifts in circulating FA profile within a biological range, without a difference in the total FA concentration, have minimal effects on transcriptional regulation of hepatic gluconeogenic genes in primary bovine hepatocytes.
Joint Location-Specific JAK-STAT Signaling in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes.

Objective Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) derived from hip and knee have distinctive DNA methylation and transcriptome patterns in interleukin (IL)-6 signaling and Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathways. To determine the functional effects of these joint-specific signatures, we evaluated how RA hip and knee FLS differ in their response to IL-6. Methods Hip or knee RA FLS were obtained after arthroplasty. Previously published datasets on epigenetic landscape of FLS were mined to identify joint-specific IL-6-related epigenomic differences. RNA sequencing was performed on five RA hip and five knee FLS treated with or without IL-6. Differential gene expression was determined using edgeR software. STAT3 phosphorylation was measured using bead assays. Sensitivity to tofacitinib was evaluated by measuring CCL2 inhibition using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing and histone chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing datasets from RA FLS were analyzed to identify epigenomic differences between hip and knee. Differential chromatin accessibility was associated with IL-6,IL-6R, and JAK1 genes. H3K27ac was also differentially marked at other JAK-STAT-related genes, including STAT3-STAT5A region. Principal component analysis of RNA sequencing data confirmed segregation between RA hip and knee FLS under basal conditions, that persisted following IL-6 treatment. STAT3 phosphorylation after IL-6 was significantly higher in knee than hip FLS and was highly correlated with JAK1 protein levels. Knee FLS were less sensitive to the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib than hip FLS. Conclusion RA hip and knee FLS have distinct transcriptomes, epigenetic marks, and STAT3 activation patterns in the IL-6 pathway. These joint-specific differences might contribute to a differential clinical response in individual joints to targeted therapies such as JAK inhibitors.
3D cellular-resolution imaging in arteries using few-mode interferometry.

Cross-sectional visualisation of the cellular and subcellular structures of human atherosclerosis in vivo is significant, as this disease is fundamentally caused by abnormal processes that occur at this scale in a depth-dependent manner. However, due to the inherent resolution-depth of focus tradeoff of conventional focusing optics, today’s highest-resolution intravascular imaging technique, namely, optical coherence tomography (OCT), is unable to provide cross-sectional images at this resolution through a coronary catheter. Here, we introduce an intravascular imaging system and catheter based on few-mode interferometry, which overcomes the depth of focus limitation of conventional high-numerical-aperture objectives and enables three-dimensional cellular-resolution intravascular imaging in vivo by a submillimetre diameter, flexible catheter. Images of diseased cadaver human coronary arteries and living rabbit arteries were acquired with this device, showing clearly resolved cellular and subcellular structures within the artery wall, such as individual crystals, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells. The capability of this technology to enable cellular-resolution, cross-sectional intravascular imaging will make it possible to study and diagnose human coronary disease with much greater precision in the future. A technique that provides subcellular-level images of the heart’s vascular system could allow scientists to study and diagnose human coronary disease with much greater precision. Intravascular optical coherence tomography is the conventional method for assessing the build-up of coronary plaque, which narrows arteries and leads to coronary artery disease. However, the technique has a lateral resolution of only 30 microns and is unable to provide images at the subcellular level, which is key to understanding the disease. Now, Guillermo Tearney and colleagues from Department of Pathology and Wellman Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in the United States, have developed a few-mode interferometry intravascular imaging system with a resolution of around 3 microns, and can provide images of cellular and subcellular structures within the artery wall, such as individual crystals, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells.
Web-Based Professional Development for Improving Early Childhood Professionals' Actual and Perceived Knowledge of Dual Language Learners.

Web-based professional development has the potential to increase the early childhood workforce’s knowledge of young dual language learners (DLLs). Yet there is a gap in the literature on web-based ...
An Ethics Curriculum for CS with Flexibility and Continuity

This Innovative Practice Category full paper will describe the details and rationale of a progressive, integrated, ethics curriculum for a Computer Science program. Since 1991 ACM/IEEE computer science curricula guidelines have included ethics and social issues as recommended topics. The ImpactCS project, funded by NSF and completed in 1999 suggested that these topics be presented in a progressive and coordinated manner throughout a Computer Science program. Since then, implementations of the ACM-CS guidelines have urged the same approach. The ImpactCS project defined and modeled a curriculum that taught ethical tools and used case studies, readings, and reflections to implement the recommended method. Since that 1990’s curriculum design, computing, students, and modes of content delivery have changed. In this paper we discuss the implementation of an integrated ethics curriculum that embraces the ImpactCS concepts, but takes into account the needs of a different generation. Several example modules are included.
Dynamic risk assessment with bayesian network and clustering analysis

Abstract While traditional probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) using event tree and fault tree is mainly concerned with static uncertainties, dynamic PRA techniques address the timeline response of plants in a systematic manner. Major technical challenges of dynamic PRA are related to a very large number of possible scenarios and many iterative simulations to accommodate the possible changes in the probability distribution of input variables. In this study, we propose a novel probabilistic mapping method using a dynamic Bayesian network with clustering analysis for discretized system space in time, which enables one to physically and logically reduce the number of required simulations as well as to quantify system evolution in a probabilistic manner. The mean shift clustering algorithm is used to cluster datasets from similar scenarios so that the proposed approach can be applied in practice at a manageable computational cost without the burden of running too many additional iterative simulations for a large variety of operational conditions of a target system. The risk effect quantification of variations in control units’ configuration would lead to the verification and improvement of dynamic system safety.
Clinical presentation, histology and treatment of 431 patients with primary tumors of the spinal cord, spinal meninges and cauda equina.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 499 Introduction: Primary tumors of the spinal cord, spinal meninges and cauda equina are uncommon; therefore, experience with a significant number of these patients is rare even in the larger medical centers. Yet, physicians and researchers will encounter individuals with these tumors and should be aware of their clinical presentation, histologic types and management options. The purpose of this study is to report upon a relatively large number of spinal cord patients accumulated over a short time frame (one year), from multiple centers. Data were collected related to age, gender, race, symptoms and signs, medical history, diagnostic studies, treatment modalities and complications. Karnofsky ratings pre and post -treatment were also determined. Methods: From January 1 to December 31, 2000, extensive data on a large set of patients diagnosed to have a primary neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS) were collected in a comprehensive study conducted by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Questionnaires for the study were sent to all U.S. hospitals having a cancer registry. Data were collected via electronic record submissions made directly to the National Cancer Data Base and/or on scannable paper forms. For the results reported here, 431 cases were identified based on the ICD-O-2 topography codes C72.0-C72.9. Data were analyzed using SPSS3, a standard statistical software package. Results: The mean patient age was 49.3 years, ranging from 1 - 93 years. 56.6% were female. 3.8% had a known prior exposure to radiation. Pain was the most common symptom, found in 52.4% of patients. The most common tumor was meningioma (24.4%), followed by ependymoma (23.7%), schwannoma (21.3%) and a variety of astrocytomas and other gliomas (15.5%). 5.3% of patients had a tumor of the cauda equina. 92.5% had surgical resection of the tumor and/or biopsy. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy were employed in 19.5% and 5.6% of patients respectively, usually for a malignant tumor. Only 2.0% of patients were treated on a clinical protocol. Complications were lower than expected, but included neurological worsening (2.2%), infection (1.6%), and hemorrhage at the operative site (0.8%). Conclusions: While some of these results confirm information that is already known about patients with spinal cord tumors, many findings are new. Data from this study are considered suitable for benchmarking, describing prevailing patterns of care, and generating additional hypotheses for future studies.
Healthy Living: Diabetes Care during Sick Days

When you are sick, your blood glucose levels are harder to regulate. Being sick often causes blood glucose levels to rise, which can lead to serious health conditions. It is important to have a plan to manage your sick days so you are prepared ahead of time. This 3-page fact sheet is a major revision that provides information on the ways illness can affect blood glucose, suggestions for easy foods to have on hand, and a checklist to use when deciding whether a call to a doctor is in order. Written by Jennifer Hillan, Emily Minton, and Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised February 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy884
Steroid eluting biocompatible stent for subglottic stenosis

Develop a prototype steroid eluting stent suitable for endoscopic treatment of subglottic stenosis. Rectangular-shaped spoke design stents thermally molded into horseshoe-shaped stents were developed using AutoCAD program, and printed on a Lulzbot 3D printer with polycaprolactone (PCL). Kenalog saturated AEROSIL 200 was embedded in the PCL filament. Horizontal radial force measurements were measured at baseline, 1 day, and 1 month when deformation switched from bending to compression. Amount of Kenalog eluted after 1 day, 1 week and 1 month were measured using HPLC. Horizontal pressure applied to the PCL stent corresponding to a 5–0 ET were 1.27 ± 0.38 lb. at baseline, 1.79 ± 0.045 lb. at 1 day, 1.94 ± − 0.22 lb. at 1 week and 2.07 ± 0.11 lb. at 1 month. The horizontal pressure applied to PCL stent corresponding to an 8–0 ET tube were 0.82 ± 0.018 lb. at baseline, 1.008 ± 0.045 lb. at 1 day, 0.95 ± − 0.064 lb. at 1 week and 1.078 ± 0.021 lb. at 1 month. The amount of Kenalog eluted increased from 5.78 µg/mL at 1 day to 15.01 µg/mL at 1 week to 19.35 µg/mL at 1 month. This proof-of-concept project is an initial step to demonstrate and create a novel stent in the treatment of subglottic stenosis that applies expansile force on the trachea, elutes steroids and dissolves. Over time the expansile force along the trachea increases allowing the PCL to mucosalize, while it dissolves and continues to elute steroids. The limitations of this in vitro study necessitate experiments on animal models, such as rabbit tracheas to observe for complications and histologic changes. This proof-of-concept project is a Level 5 mechanism-based reasoning study.
Book Review / What the Signs Say: Language, Gentrification, and Place-Making in Brooklyn

Shonna Trinch and Edward Snajdr decipher signage in a way that will prevent you from looking at a sign in the same manner again. Their research is built on a series of site visits, observations, and ethnographic interviews and they posit that signage plays an important role in gentrification. As they explain it, signs effect public space; well designed and interesting signs are important attributes of placemaking, often part of a strategy for cities to reclaim their appeal.
Multi-Disciplinary Skull Base Conference and its Effects on Patient Management.

Objective:Examine the effects of a multi-disciplinary skull base conference (MDSBC) on the management of patients seen for skull base pathology in a neurotology clinic.Methods:Retrospective case re...
Searching For the Impossible Dream, Staging the Impossible Script

SEARCHING FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, STAGING THE IMPOSSIBLE SCRIPT By Timothy A Brien B.A A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003 Major Director: Noreen Barnes-McLain, Director of Graduate Studies Theater This thesis is an exploration of the novella The Malady of Death by Marguerite Duras and my subsequent production of this book. It covers Duras' history and influences in writing this book while at the same time gives an account of all my directorial attempts with this piece. With regards to Duras, the influence of the nouveau roman writers in the mid twentieth century and her relationship at the time of her writing Malady is discussed. For my part, I divulge my initial exposure to the piece, the previous attempts to stage the work, my latest attempt with extensive research, and finally providing self analysis with regards to this latest production. It is my hope that after reading this thesis the reader will immerse themselves into the world of Duras while at the same time rethink their approach to theater.
Forward Genetic Approaches to Understanding Complex Behaviors

Assigning function to genes has long been a focus of biomedical research. Even with complete knowledge of the genomic sequences of humans, mice and other experimental organisms, there is still much to be learned about gene function and control. Ablation or overexpression of single genes using knockout or transgenic technologies has provided functional annotation for many genes, but these technologies do not capture the extensive genetic variation present in existing experimental mouse populations. Researchers have only recently begun to truly appreciate naturally occurring genetic variation resulting from single nucleotide substitutions, insertions, deletions, copy number variation, epigenetic changes (DNA methylation, histone modifications, etc.) and gene expression differences and how this variation contributes to complex phenotypes. In this chapter, we will discuss the benefits and limitations of different forward genetic approaches that capture the genetic variation present in inbred mouse strains and present the utility of these approaches for mapping QTL that influence complex behavioral phenotypes.
Solving Complex and Disordered Surface Structures with Electron Diffraction

The history of surface structure determination with low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) will be briefly reviewed, setting the stage for a discussion of recent and future developments. The aim of these developments is to solve complex and disordered surface structures. Some efficient solutions to the theoretical and experimental problems will be presented. Since the theoretical problems dominate, the emphasis will be on theoretical approaches to the calculation of the multiple scattering of electrons through complex and disordered surfaces.
Securing Multiparty Online Services Via Certification of Symbolic Transactions

The prevalence of security flaws in multiparty online services (e.g., Single-sign-on, third-party payment, etc.) calls for rigorous engineering supported by formal program verification. However, the adoption of program verification faces several hurdles in the real world: how to formally specify logic properties given that protocol specifications are often informal and vague, how to precisely model the attacker and the runtime platform, how to deal with the unbounded set of all potential transactions. We introduce Certification of Symbolic Transaction (CST), an approach to significantly lower these hurdles. CST tries to verify a protocol-independent safety property jointly defined over all parties, thus avoids the burden of individually specifying every party's property for every protocol, CST invokes static verification at runtime, i.e., It symbolically verifies every transaction on-the-fly, and thus (1) avoids the burden of modeling the attacker and the runtime platform, (2) reduces the proof obligation from considering all possible transactions to considering only the one at hand. We have applied CST on five commercially deployed applications, and show that, with only tens (or 100+) of lines of code changes per party, the original implementations are enhanced to achieve the objective of CST. Our security analysis shows that 12 out of 14 logic flaws reported in the literature will be prevented by CST. We also stress-tested CST by building a gambling system integrating four different services, for which there is no existing protocol to follow. Because transactions are symbolic and cacheable, CST has near-zero amortized runtime overhead. We make the source code of these implementations public, which are ready to be deployed for real-world uses.
Oxidative stress and enhanced sympathetic vasoconstriction in contracting muscles of nitrate‐tolerant rats and humans

Non-technical summary Activation of sympathetic nerves decreases blood flow to resting skeletal muscle, but this vasoconstrictor effect normally is blunted during exercise so that blood flow can increase to the working muscles. In rats and humans treated with nitroglycerin for 1 week, we show that overproduction of reactive oxygen species prevents the usual attenuation of sympathetic vasoconstriction in the working muscles, resulting in muscle ischaemia during exercise. Improved knowledge about the effect that reactive oxygen species has on muscle blood flow regulation may help us to better understand the decreased exercise tolerance that occurs with age as well as with chronic disease.
Identification of amino acid residues modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase.

Abstract Chemical modification studies with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate have indicated that lysine(s) appear to be at or near the active site of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase (Colanduoni, J., and Villafranca, J. J. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15042-15050; Whitley, E. J., Jr., and Ginsburg, A. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 7017-7025). Enzyme samples were prepared that contained approximately 1, approximately 2, and approximately 3 pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate residues/50,000-Da monomer; the activity of each sample was 100, 25, and 14% of the activity of unmodified enzyme, respectively. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of each enzyme sample was performed, the peptides were separated by high performance liquid chromatography, and the peptides containing pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate were identified by their absorbance at 320 nm. These isolated peptides were analyzed for amino acid composition and sequenced. The N terminus of the protein (a serine residue) was modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate at a stoichiometry of approximately 1/50,000 Da and this modified enzyme had full catalytic activity. Beyond a stoichiometry of approximately 1, lysines 383 and 352 reacted with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and each modification results in a partial loss of activity. When various combinations of substrates and substrate analogs (ADP/Pi or L-methionine-SR-sulfoximine phosphate/ADP) were used to protect the enzyme from modification, Lys-352 was protected from modification indicating that this residue is at the active site. Under all experimental conditions employed, Lys-47, which reacts with the ATP analog 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl-adenosine does not react with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.
Methods for analysis of hemodynamic and metabolic risks factors in hypertension

Hypertension has its contribution from atherosclerosis or metabolic factors. It is commonly diagnosed with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) which only outputs systolic (Ps) and diastolic (Pd) pressures. Hypertensive patients are then administered oral medication whose effect on arterial compliance (C), an index of vascular stiffness, cannot be accurately determined merely from Ps and Pd values. The underlying blood pressure waveforms are normally obtained clinically through catheterization. Vascular stiffness index (VSI) can then be computed from pulse waveform analysis (PWA). However, there are controversies as to whether a constant single-valued C alone is sufficient for assessing VSI. We investigated the time-varying, pressure-dependent characteristics of arterial compliance (C(P)) with a nonlinear model of the arterial system during normal, induced hypertension and vasodilator-treated conditions. Results show that C(P) differs from constant compliance C and that C(P) can rapidly reflect underlying beat-to-beat variations in arterial compliance and can effectively serve as a reliable index of VSI. It can be used for accurate evaluation of the efficacy of blood pressure altering drugs.
Building-in-Place

Martin Heidegger’s Discourse on Thinking lays out a troubling view of the world which holds true today much as it did at the time of the speech: "The world now appears as an object open to the attacks of calculative thought, attacks that nothing is believed able any longer to resist. Nature becomes a gigantic gasoline station, an energy source for modern technology and industry. This relation of man to the world as such, in principle a technical one, developed in the seventeenth century first and only in Europe. It long remained unknown in other continents, and it was altogether alien to former ages and histories" (50). As an architecture professor in an age of modern technology, I believe it critical that design students cultivate an ability to see more comprehensively and learn how to think more meditatively (as Heidegger later suggests). Coming into a state of attunement with context, culture, and environment must be considered to be the most basic criteria for building in the world, as these are the elements that preserve the feeling and identity of ‘place’. Considering being-in-the-world as a stance that necessarily moves more toward complex understandings of the environment, this paper outlines an effort given to the pedagogical implementation of Martin Heidegger’s description of the phenomenon of ‘world’, the three-fold structure for Being-in as a means of teaching students a more attuned comportment toward place, building, and site. I will discuss how these ideas were used in an preliminary design exercise, then clarified and elaborated through a lecture on Terrance Malick’s film The New World .
Is primary angioplasty for some as good as primary angioplasty for all

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether proper patient selection might allow most of the benefits of population-wide primary coronary angioplasty to be captured in a subgroup of high-risk patients.
'And I Can See Through Your Brain': Access to Experts, Competency to Consent, and the Impact of Antipsychotic Medications in Neuroimaging Cases in the Criminal Trial Process

This paper considers the implications of neuroimaging in three under discussed aspects of criminal procedure - the implications of Ake v. Oklahoma (an indigent defendant's access to expert testimony) in cases where neuroimaging tests might be critical, (2) the defendant's competency to consent to the imposition of a neuroimaging test or examination; and (3) the impact of medications - specifically, antipsychotic medications - on a defendant's brain at the time that such a test is performed.Given the warning signals that have been raised by commentators as to the potentiality of juror misuse and misinterpretation of neuroimaging testimony, it is critical that we take seriously the issues raised here. I conclude that there are hidden landmines inevitably present when we think about the use of neuroimaging in criminal trials - landmines that go can infect the fairness of the trial process itself. If an indigent criminal defendant is refused access to an independent expert in an area where jurors may uncritically accept neuroimaging testimony (because of its visual appeal and its apparent lack of falsifiability), the fairness of the entire trial remains in question. If no attention is paid to the difficult and complex ethical issues that should surface if the question of the defendant's competency to consent to being tested is not raised, trial fairness is a concern. And finally, if we ignore the reality that the neuroimaging evidence shown to jurors may not be an accurate depiction of the defendant's brain at the time of the offense - but rather, a depiction of his brain at a later time when his brain biochemistry has been altered by the imposition of medication - we willfully blind ourselves to the possibility (perhaps "likelihood") that the database presented to the jury is potentially fatally flawed.
Low-Temperature Tolerance of Juvenile Spotted Seatrout in South Carolina

AbstractSpotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus are vulnerable to mortality in winter when water temperature decreases rapidly. Temporary fishery closures in response to population declines should be based on a thorough understanding of the magnitude of winter mortality. We used three methods to estimate the low-temperature tolerance of Spotted Seatrout: the chronic lethal method (CLM) and the acclimated chronic exposure (ACE) method using both static and fluctuating temperatures. All three methods use an environmentally realistic temperature change of 1°C/d. Fish acclimated to 14°C (n = 24) for 10 d and subsequently exposed to constantly declining temperatures using the CLM experienced loss of equilibrium at a temperature of 3.57 ± 0.24°C (mean ± SD) and mortality at a temperature of 3.08 ± 0.31°C. The ACE method, which uses changing temperatures until a base temperature is reached, was used to evaluate how Spotted Seatrout are affected by prolonged, sublethal temperatures. The ACE method was performed with...
Optical nulling of wideband microwave signals

Adaptive nulling is a technique to reduce the detection of unwanted interference by selecting specifically against some characteristic of the interference. In the case of an antenna with several subapertures or channels, spatial selection of the interference is implemented through appropriate complex weighting of the channels to make the net antenna sensitivity orders of magnitude smaller in the direction of the interference. This paper describes how optics has been used to achieve a wide-bandwidth (2 GHz) null centered at 6 GHz for the case of two channels. Such a 33% bandwidth null could not be achieved with microwave technology alone. >