cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 204: Non-dipper Pattern Is Associated With Urinary Metanephrines In Patients With Refractory Hypertension

Refractory hypertension (HTN) is an extreme phenotype of treatment-resistant HTN and is defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mm Hg on ≥5 antihypertensive drug classes including a diuretic and mineralocorticoid antagonist. Observational data indicate that African Americans, males, body mass index, kidney function, and diabetes are associated with refractory HTN. Available BP data of refractory HTN are based on clinic or in-home evaluations. Less is known about ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) levels, circadian patterns and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Aim: Prospective study of ABP levels, nocturnal BP fall, and urinary (U-) 24-hour metanephrines as index of sympathetic activity. Methods: Over a 2 year period, 44 subjects were prospectively enrolled (15 subjects with refractory HTN matched with 29 controlled resistant hypertensive subjects who served as comparator group). All subjects underwent 24-ABP monitoring (ABPM) and U-24-hour metanephrines testing. Results: Subjects with refractory HTN were on more antihypertensive drugs (6±1 vs 4.1±1.1, p≤ 0.05) and had significantly higher 24-hour systolic BP(SBP) (174±20.2 vs 139.8±16.3 mm Hg, p=0.0017), higher 24-hour diastolic BP (DBP) (94.7±19.8 vs 75.7±11.8 mm Hg, p=0.006), higher daytime SBP (178.1±97.4 vs 141±15.7 mm Hg, p=0.0046), higher daytime DBP (97.4±19.8 vs 77.2±11.4 mm Hg, p=0.007), higher nighttime SBP (165.2±19.2 vs 133.5±19.8 mm Hg, p=0.0002), and higher nighttime DBP (87.7±16.5 vs 70.2±15.1 mm Hg, p=0.007). Analysis of circadian patterns revealed significant increase in non-dipper pattern, defined as nocturnal BP fall of 0-10%, in subjects with refractory HTN (53.3 % (8 of 15) vs 14.3 % (3 of 28), p=0.0267). Biochemical analysis of U-24-hr fractionated metanephrines revealed significantly higher levels in refractory compared to controlled resistant HTN indicative of higher sympathetic activity (U-24-h total metanephrines (592.2 ±246.9 vs 409.3±167.0 μg, p=0.021, and U-24-h total normetanephrines 464.4 ±250.2 vs 309.8±147.6 μg, p=0.039). These findings suggest that increased sympathetic activity may play a role in treatment failure and may promote blunted nocturnal BP fall in refractory hypertension.
Klebsiella Pneumoniae-Induced Experimental Pyelitis: The Effect of Filiation on Infectivity

The effect of bacterial piliation on the infectivity of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the renal pelvis was examined by means of piliated and nonpiliated variants derived from a single parent strain. Piliated-phase variants were significantly more infective as determined by viable counts of bacteria isolated from the kidneys at the time of sacrifice. In addition, scanning electron microscope was used to examine the renal pelvis for evidence of infection. Kidneys infected with piliated-phase organisms exhibited greater tissue damage -- both in the magnitude of tissue alterations observed and in the number of kidneys affected. Thus, it is concluded that piliation contributes to the ability of K. pneumoniae to infect the renal pelvis following reflux from the bladder.
Composition of pork carcasses by potassium-40 liquid scintillation detection: estimation and validation.

Liquid scintillation detection of potassium-40 was used to estimate pork carcass composition of 124 boars, barrows and gilts. Pigs were fed to five live weights (23, 45, 68, 91 and 114 kg) and 40K emissions were determined on live pigs in a whole body counter (WBC) equipped with a two-pi liquid scintillation detector. Then, pigs were slaughtered conventionally and the right side of each carcass was weighed, 40K emissions of this carcass side was determined in the WBC and total grams of potassium were calculated. The right side of each carcass was ground, sampled and analyzed for fat, protein, moisture and potassium. Fat, protein, moisture and overall potassium percentage means were 23.9 +/- 7.2, 16.5 +/- .94, 57.0 +/- 6.5 and .25 +/- .02, respectively. Whole body counter carcass potassium was highly correlated (P less than .01) to chemically determined carcass potassium (r = .70). Percentage of fat, protein and moisture prediction equations were formed by stepwise regression using the linear, quadratic and interactive effects of live animal and carcass side weight. Whole body counter live animal and carcass potassium and sex were utilized as independent variables. Carcass weight and 40K determined potassium of the carcass explained more of the variation in carcass composition than did live animal weight and 40K determined potassium of the live animal.
Circuit simulation and moving mesh generation

The paper outlines two different topics in computational engineering, linear algebra and mesh generation. Many areas of applied mathematics lead to the same fundamental problem in numerical linear algebra. We identify this problem for a network of resistors. Then we discuss the nonlinear problems of circuit simulation, and algorithms for solving them. The generation of a well-spaced mesh is an essential step for partial differential equations (and also for computer graphics). We describe a short, simple, and public code for unstructured meshes. Then we illustrate recent ideas in moving the mesh as the region changes. We want to emphasize the "fundamental problem of applied mathematics" and the new ideas in mesh generation. Our work on linear algebra (the essential subject!) appears on the course page (see http://web.mit.edu/18.06). Video lectures are also available on MIT's OpenCourseWare Website (see http://ocw.mit.edu) under Mathematics.
A Narrative on the Witch-Hunt Narrative: The Moral Dimensions

Ross Cheit's The Witch-Hunt Narrative raises a number of complex moral issues. Cheit's principal purpose is to challenge the belief that our society has overreacted to claims about the sexual abuse of children. Both directly and indirectly, Cheit's in-depth analysis broaches moral concerns pertaining to the integrity of child abuse allegations, investigations, civil litigation, and criminal prosecution, with an emphasis on the mixed motives of the parties involved in key cases. This article provides an overview of ethical questions pertaining to gathering information from very vulnerable individuals, informed consent, institutional review, protection of research participants, the use of deception and coercion, confidentiality and privacy, reporting research results, and conflicts of interest. In addition, the author discusses the phenomenon of whistle-blowing as it pertains to professionals' ethical judgments about disclosure of wrongdoing and misconduct. The author outlines key ethics-related concepts, applies relevant moral theory, and explores the implications of the moral issues raised by The Witch-Hunt Narrative for child sexual abuse victims, perpetrators, child welfare and law enforcement professionals, scholars and researchers, and the public at large.
Emergency department length of stay in critical nonoperative trauma.

Abstract Background Prolonged emergency department (ED) stays correlate with negative outcomes in critically ill nontrauma patients. This study sought to determine the effect of ED length of stay (LOS) on trauma patients. Materials and methods Two hundred forty-one trauma patients requiring direct intensive care unit (ICU) admission were identified. Patients requiring immediate operative intervention were excluded. Odds ratios (ORs) of outcomes for patients transferred to ICU in ≤90 min were compared with patients transferred in >90 min, adjusting for Injury Severity Score (ISS). Results One hundred two of 241 patients (42%) were transferred to the ICU in ≤90 min. Increased ED LOS was associated with decreased complications (OR 0.545, 95% confidence interval 0.312-0.952). Although the result was not statistically significant, patients with an ISS >15 were less likely to have long ED stays (OR 0.725, 95% CI 0.407-1.290). No significant difference was seen in mortality. No difference in duration of intubation was observed for patients intubated in the ED versus the ICU. For the subgroup with ISS ≤15, there was a significant decrease in ICU LOS for patients who remained in the ED >90 min (5.5 d versus 2.7 d, P = 0.02). No other differences in LOS were identified. Conclusions In a mature trauma center with standardized activation protocols and focused resource allocation in the ED trauma bay, trauma activation and subsequent management appear to mitigate the negative effects of prolonged ED LOS seen in other critically ill populations.
A priori interior gradient bounds for solutions to elliptic Weingarten equations

Abstract In this paper a maximum principle approach is used to derive a priori interior gradient bounds for smooth solutions to the Weingarten equations f ( λ ) = ∑ i 1 i 2 … i k λ i 1 … λ i k = ψ ( x , u , v ) . Here λ = (λ 1 , …, λ n ) is the vector of principal curvatures of the graph of u at a point ( x , u ( x )) on the graph, with downward normal v . One requires a one-sided height bound ( u f is elliptic. The result generalizes what is known to be true for the prescribed mean curvature equation ( k = 1).
Influence of Panicle Maturity on Infestation of Grain Sorghum by Corn Earworm and Sorghum Webworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Georgia

The influence of panicle maturity on oviposition by the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and sorghum webworm, Celama sorghiella (Riley), was investigated on grain sorghum in Georgia during 1...
An Interdisciplinary Model for Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Transgender Adolescents and Young Adults: The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Approach

Abstract Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents and young adults face significant mental health disparities, including increased rates of suicidality, depression, and self-harm. These disparities are multidetermined and stem, in part, from the emotional consequences of family rejection, peer and community victimization, social isolation, and discrimination and transphobia in both daily settings (e.g., school) and society as a whole. In order to meet the mental health needs of TGNC youth, we must intervene in multiple levels of youths’ lives and provide gender-affirming evidence-based therapies. In this paper, we describe an integrated model of meeting the mental health needs of TGNC youth, with the ultimate goal of reducing mental health disparities. We provide guidance for macro-level interventions, including efforts to implement social change; mezzo-level interventions, including structuring a health care setting to be gender-affirming; and micro-level interventions, including gender-affirming dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and support group interventions. Throughout, we highlight our descriptions of interventions with case examples in order to provide additional practical guidance.
BlackBerry: Lawsuit and Patent Reform

It appears that your BlackBerry is safe. After more than four years of litigation and a threatened shutdown, a settlement was reached between Research in Motion (RIM)–the manufacturer of the BlackBerry–and NTP the holder of several patents that RIM had allegedly infringed. There were a number of questions underlying this lawsuit. However, the core question that emerged in the final stages of the suit, when a shutdown was considered imminent, was whether the patents that NTP held were valid. Even though a federal court established in 2002 that RIM had infringed the patents, a review of the patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2005 and 2006 had declared at least some of the patents to be invalid. While RIM and NTP were in court dealing with a possible shutdown, and conducting behind-the-scenes settlement negotiations, a possibility existed that the entire exercise might be irrelevant.
‘Official language for intercultural ties’: Cultural concessions and strategic roles of Ecuadorian Kichwa in developing institutional identities

This study considers the parallel expression of language policy toward Kichwa in the linguistic landscape of Yachay, two administratively independent government-funded institutions in Ecuador. Although the institutions share a geographic location, name, and goal of becoming a sciences and technology hub for Latin America, they maintain distinct identities through their official signage, providing opportunity for consideration of how recent political and cultural ideologies toward Ecuador’s language policy have been realized in the linguistic landscape of parallel institutions. Kichwa, a constitutionally-recognized minority language of the region, is largely absent from the landscape, providing little more than a shared institutional nomenclature. Instead, the language and culture are used as a commodity for promoting pan-Ecuadorian interculturality and indigenous values, even if these values are not otherwise overtly supported. Kichwa thus represents the ‘traditional’ Ecuador, while at the same time serves as the backbone in the formation of a collective, future-oriented national identity.
Inward Foreign Direct Investment and U.S. Public Opinion on Immigration

I investigate how the direct investment of foreign firms in the United States affects public opinion on immigration. On one hand, when foreign firms invest in the United States, local residents may...
National trends in admissions for potentially preventable conditions among patients with metastatic solid tumors, 2004-2014.

1Background: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified 10 conditions for hospitalization among patients receiving chemotherapy that are potentially preventable through app...
The Continuing Evolution of Precision Health in Type 2 Diabetes: Achievements and Challenges.

The purpose of this review was to summarize recent advances in the genomics of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to highlight current initiatives to advance precision health. Generation of multi-omic data to measure each of the “biologic layers,” developments in describing genomic function and annotation in T2D relevant tissue, along with the increasing recognition that T2D is a heterogeneous disease, and large-scale collaborations have all contributed to advancing our understanding of the molecular basis of T2D. Substantial advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis of T2D pathogenesis, such that precision health diabetes is increasingly becoming a reality. For precision diabetes to become a routine in clinical and public health, additional large-scale multi-omic initiatives are needed along with better assessment of our environment to delineate an individual’s diabetes subtype for improved detection and management.
Analysis of the relationship between ﬂuid injection and triggered seismicity in southern Italy by using decompositional and spectral methods

The relationship between injected wastewater produced during oil exploitation and triggered seismicity in Val d'Agri (Southern Italy) is investigated by using the Schuster’s spectrum of the seismicity and the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) of the volume and pressure time series of the wastewater. Our results suggest that most of the cycles found by using the Schuster’s spectrum of the earthquakes have periods very close to those identified in the SSA components of the volume and pressure of the injected wastewater. This could indicate that volume and pressure of the injected wastewater could be able to induce oscillatory variations in the seismic rate, and thus, to trigger earthquakes.
Mastering the Past? Nazism and the Holocaust in West German History Textbooks of the 1960s

This chapter overturns the conventional picture of West German textbooks and their treatment of the Holocaust and its antecedents during the 1960s. It draws attention to changes, too often overlooked by scholars, in the narrative, design, and pedagogy of these publications. In particular, this study concentrates on the inclusion of primary sources, photographs, and discussion questions for use in the classroom. The chapter argues that these textbooks encouraged students to challenge not just the predominant societal discourses around the Holocaust and treatment of Jews, but even familiar authority figures at school and at home.
Paneled Saphenous Vein Grafts Compared to Internal Jugular Vein Grafts in Venous Reconstruction after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background Venous resection during pancreaticoduodenectomy for the excision of pancreatic cancer allows for a more complete resection with negative margins, which increases survival. When the resected vein is greater than 3 cm, reconstruction with an interposition graft is recommended. However, consensus regarding the optimal venous conduit has not been reached. The objective of this study is to compare outcomes between the paneled saphenous vein graft (SVG) and internal jugular vein graft (IJVG) in portomesenteric venous reconstructions after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Method A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy requiring an interposition graft for venous reconstruction between 2011 and 2019. Patients were stratified based on the type of conduit used (paneled SVG or IJVG). Preoperative patient characteristics, reconstruction details, and postoperative outcomes including graft patency were recorded. Results During the study period, 18 patients met inclusion criteria (10 female, mean age: 63 years, age range: 41–82 years). Thirteen patients underwent reconstruction with paneled SVG and five with IJVG. Comparing SVG and IJVG groups, there were no significant differences in venous resection length, venous diameters at the resection margins, or splenic vein ligation rate. For the paneled SVG, the average length of harvested vein was 168 mm which rendered 3-paneled grafts with an average diameter of 12 mm. The time to complete the venous reconstructions did not differ between the two groups (SVG: 263+/−204 min, IJVG: 216+/−77 min, P = 0.63). There were five graft thrombosis, three in the SVG group (mean follow-up time of 17 months) and two in the IJVG group (mean follow-up time of 8 months). All but one of the graft thromboses occurred during the index hospitalization. There was one donor site seroma and wound dehiscence in the SVG group and none in the IJVG group. Hospital length of stay was longer for the IJVG group (IJVG: 15.2 days, SVG: 10.2 days, P = 0.03). However, in-hospital and late mortality did not differ between the groups. Conclusions Paneled SVG and IJVG are both versatile and durable conduits for venous reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy, able to accommodate a wide range of venous defects. In this small series, SVG has comparable outcomes to IJVG. Paneled SVG is a suitable alternative to IJVG for portomesenteric reconstruction.
Abstract WP453: Factors Associated With Dietary Patterns For Stroke Prevention In Young Adults

Background/Purpose Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity have contributed to increased stroke rates in young adults; these risk factors are more prevalent among young adult African Americans (YAAA). ...
Solar reflective pavements-A policy panacea to heat mitigation?

Cities worldwide are piloting the use of solar reflective coatings on roads to mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI). Solar reflective pavement has been praised as simple, low-cost solution with a demonstrated ability to reduce surface temperature and, potentially, energy use. Less well understood is the effect of solar reflective coatings on radiant heat, which influences human thermal exposure and comfort. We present the first biometeorological observations of solar reflective coating to investigate its thermal performance from a pedestrian perspective. Hourly transects were conducted in two Los Angeles neighborhoods with MaRTy, a mobile platform that measures air, surface, and mean radiant temperature. Transects were performed on July 30, 2019, a typical summer day with low wind speeds and maximum air temperature of 31°C. The surface temperature of the coated asphalt concrete was 4°C to 6°C lower than that of the regular asphalt concrete, but coated surfaces reflected 118 Wm-2 more shortwave radiation on average and up to 168 Wm-2 more at noon. In the evening, MaRTy observed 20 to 30 Wm-2 of added reflected shortwave radiation on sidewalks next to the reflective pavement. Mean radiant temperature over reflective pavement was 4°C higher during midday. Although air temperature was reduced by 0.5°C in the afternoon, after-sunset cooling was negligible. Findings illustrate the benefits and disadvantages of reflective pavement with respect to various thermal performance metrics. Cities should weigh the tradeoffs of UHI mitigation, thermal exposure, implementation and maintenance costs, lifecycle, and other competing priorities in the context of space use.
Low-Impedance Low-Artifact PEDOT: PSS-Coated Graphene Electrodes Towards High Density Optogenetic Electrophysiology

Graphene electrode arrays hold promise for in vivo optogenetic electrophysiology. In such studies, it would be ideal to enable spatial oversampling with a high-density array, which is challenging to maintain b oth low electrode impedance a nd low light-induced artifact. To this end, we present a 28- $\mu \text{m}$ pitched, poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated graphene electrode array, which was found to feature both low electrode impedance and low artifact in optogenetic electrophysiology. The resulting array was able to record the optogenetically stimulated signals, whose amplitudes increased with the stimulus intensity and maximized next to the responsive cell. Such PEDOT:PSS-coated graphene electrodes are suitable to ultimately form a flexible array for high density optogenetic electrophysiology in vivo .
miR156-mediated changes in leaf composition lead to altered photosynthetic traits during vegetative phase change

O_LIPlant morphology and physiology change with growth and development. Some of these changes are due to change in plant size and some are the result of genetically programmed developmental transitions. In this study we investigate the role of the developmental transition, vegetative phase change (VPC), on morphological and photosynthetic changes. C_LIO_LIWe used overexpression of miR156, the master regulator of VPC, to modulate the timing of VPC in Populus tremula x alba, Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana to determine its role in trait variation independent of changes in size and overall age. C_LIO_LIHere we find that juvenile and adult leaves in all three species photosynthesize at different rates and that these differences are due to phase-dependent changes in specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf N but not photosynthetic biochemistry. Further, we found juvenile leaves with high SLA were associated with better photosynthetic performance at low light levels. C_LIO_LIThis study establishes a role for VPC in leaf composition and photosynthetic performance across diverse species and environments. Variation in leaf traits due to VPC are likely to provide distinct benefits under specific environments and, as a result, selection on the timing of this transition could be a mechanism for environmental adaptation. C_LI
NMR Relaxometry and Diffusometry Analysis of Dynamics in Ionic Liquids and Ionogels for Use in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

We have investigated the charge transport dynamics of a novel solid-like electrolyte material based on mixtures of the ionic liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([B...
The intersection of tumor location and combined bowel preparation: Utilization differs but anastomotic leak risk reduction does not.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Whether bowel preparation utilization rates or effectiveness varies based on tumor location is unknown. METHODS The 2012-2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Colectomy Targeted participant user file was queried for patients undergoing elective colorectal resection for cancer. Bowel preparation was classified as combined, mechanical bowel preparation alone, oral antibiotic alone, or none. Cochran-Armitage tests were used for trend analysis. Multivariable analyses stratified by tumor location were performed for the outcome of anastomotic leak. An additional multivariable model including all tumor locations assessed for interaction between bowel preparation and tumor location on an anastomotic leak. RESULTS A total of 29,739 operations were included and the anastomotic leak rate was 1.9% with combined preparation versus 4.0% without preparation. Combined bowel preparation utilization increased over time as tumor location became more distal (both p < .0001). However, the adjusted effect of combined bowel preparation on anastomotic leak risk reduction did not differ by individual tumor location or across all tumor locations (p = .43 for interaction). CONCLUSION Though the utilization rate of combined bowel preparation increased as tumor location became more distal, its risk-reducing effect remained similar. Quality improvement initiatives should focus on increased utilization of combined bowel preparation with an emphasis on tumors in the ascending colon.
Law and contestation in international negotiations

What is the role of rhetoric and argumentation in international relations? Some argue that it is little more than ‘cheap talk’, while others say that it may play a role in persuasion or coordination. However, why states deploy certain arguments, and why these arguments succeed or fail, is less well understood. I argue that, in international negotiations, certain types of legal frames are particularly useful for creating winning arguments. When a state bases its arguments on constitutive legal claims, opponents are more likely to become trapped by the law: unable to develop sustainable rebuttals or advance their preferred policy. To evaluate this theory, I apply qualitative discourse analysis to the US arguments on the crime of aggression at the Kampala Review Conference of the International Criminal Court – where the US advanced numerous arguments intended to reshape the crime to align with US interests. The analysis supports the theoretical propositions – arguments framed on codified legal grounds had greater success, while arguments framed on more political grounds were less sustainable, failing to achieve the desired outcomes. These findings further develop our understanding of the use of international law in rhetoric, argumentation, and negotiation.
NONRELATIVISTIC SPIN-½ PARTICLE IN AN ARBITRARY NON-ABELIAN MAGNETIC FIELD IN TWO SPATIAL DIMENSIONS

The (group and spin space) matrix Hamiltonian describing the dynamics of a non-relativistic spin-½ particle moving in a static, but spatially dependent, non-Abelian magnetic field in two spatial dimensions is shown to take the form of an anticommutator of a nilpotent operator and its Hermitian conjugate. Consequently, the (group space) matrix Hamiltonians for the two different spin projections form partners of a supersymmetric quantum mechanical system. The resulting supersymmetry algebra is exploited to explicitly construct the exact zero energy ground state wave function(s) for the system. The remaining eigenstates and eigenvalues of the two partner Hamiltonians form positive energy degenerate pairs.
Virtual site visits: a new approach to nursing accreditation

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted higher education delivery. In March 2020, relaxed federal guidelines allowed for programmatic accreditation to continue in a virtual format. Nursing programs seeking accreditation need to modify visit plans and comply with the accrediting organization guidelines and procedures. This article describes the adaptations nursing programs may need to make when seeking accreditation review and hosting a virtual site visit. It will discuss how to prepare, plan, and implement the virtual site visit.
Abstract P229: Trends in Utilization of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Stroke Patients With Cardiac Rhythm Devices

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has historically been contraindicated for patients with MRI non-conditional (i.e. legacy) cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Recent trials...
Artificial intelligence (AI) real-time detection vs. routine colonoscopy for colorectal neoplasia: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Studies analyzing artificial intelligence (AI) in colonoscopies have reported improvements in detecting colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions, however its utility in the realworld remains limited. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluate the efficacy of AI-assisted colonoscopies against routine colonoscopy (RC). We performed an extensive search of major databases (through January 2021) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting adenoma and polyp detection rates. Odds ratio (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Additionally, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to guard against errors. Six RCTs were included (4996 participants). The mean age (SD) was 51.99 (4.43) years, and 49% were females. Detection rates favored AI over RC for adenomas (OR 1.77; 95% CI: 1.570–2.08) and polyps (OR 1.91; 95% CI: 1.68–2.16). Secondary outcomes including mean number of adenomas (SMD 0.23; 95% CI: 0.18–0.29) and polyps (SMD 0.23; 95% CI: 0.17–0.29) detected per procedure favored AI. However, RC outperformed AI in detecting pedunculated polyps. Withdrawal times (WTs) favored AI when biopsies were included, while WTs without biopsies, cecal intubation times, and bowel preparation adequacy were similar. Colonoscopies equipped with AI detection algorithms could significantly detect previously missed adenomas and polyps while retaining the ability to self-assess and improve periodically. More effective clearance of diminutive adenomas may allow lengthening in surveillance intervals, reducing the burden of surveillance colonoscopies, and increasing its accessibility to those at higher risk. TSA ruled out the risk for false-positive results and confirmed a sufficient sample size to detect the observed effect. Currently, these findings suggest that AI-assisted colonoscopy can serve as a useful proxy to address critical gaps in CRC identification.
Cloning of the afl-2 gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis from Aspergillus flavus.

Abstract Aflatoxins are extremely potent carcinogens produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Cloning of genes in the aflatoxin pathway provides a specific approach to understanding the regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis and, subsequently, to the control of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed. This paper reports the isolation of a gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis by complementation of an aflatoxin-nonproducing mutant with a wild-type genomic cosmid library of A. flavus. Strain 650-33, blocked in aflatoxin biosynthesis at the afl-2 allele, was complemented by a 32-kb cosmid clone (B9), resulting in the production of aflatoxin. The onset and profile of aflatoxin accumulation was similar for the transformed strain and the wild-type strain (NRRL 3357) of the fungus, indicating that the integrated gene is under the same control as in wild-type strains. Complementation analyses with DNA fragments from B9 indicated that the gene resides within a 2.2-kb fragment. Because this gene complements the mutated afl-2 allele, it was designated afl-2. Genetic evidence obtained from a double mutant showed that afl-2 is involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis before the formation of norsolorinic acid, the first stable intermediate identified in the pathway. Further, metabolite feeding studies with the mutant, transformed, and wild-type cultures and enzymatic activity measurements in cell extracts of these cultures suggest that afl-2 regulates gene expression or the activity of other aflatoxin pathway enzymes. This is the first reported isolation of a gene for aflatoxin biosynthesis in A. flavus.
Knowledge management practices and organizational adaptation: Evidences from high technology companies in China

Purpose – The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between knowledge management processes and a firm's ability to adapt to the external environment.Design/methodology/approach – The field survey research method was used and data were collected from 170 high technology companies in China. Multiple regression analysis as well as mediation tests were conducted to analyze the data.Findings – The study found that knowledge acquisition, knowledge refining and knowledge applying are important when a firm is trying to enhance its competence. On the other hand, knowledge creation, knowledge refining, knowledge sharing and knowledge applying are influential when a firm is trying to introduce the next round of innovation.Research limitations/implications – Using self‐reported data could be a potential limitation of the study. It would be preferable to have other forms of data for a study.Practical implications – The findings provide business executives as well as policy makers with a new way ...
Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase mediates ocular dominance shifts in cat visual cortex.

Visual experience during a critical period early in postnatal development can change connections within mammalian visual cortex. In a kitten at the peak of the critical period (∼P28–42), brief monocular deprivation can lead to complete dominance by the open eye, an ocular dominance shift. This process is driven by activity from the eyes, and depends on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. The components of the intracellular signaling cascade underlying these changes have not all been identified. Here we show that inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) by Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS blocks ocular dominance shifts that occur following monocular deprivation early in the critical period. Inhibition of protein kinase G by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS had no effect, indicating a specificity for the PKA pathway. Enhancement of PKA activity late in the critical period with Sp-8-Cl-cAMPS did not increase plasticity. PKA is a necessary component of the pathway leading to cortical plasticity during the critical period.
Erectile Dysfunction after Sickle Cell Disease–Associated Recurrent Ischemic Priapism: Profile and Risk Factors

Introduction Risk factors associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) that results from recurrent ischemic priapism (RIP) in sickle cell disease (SCD) are incompletely defined.
Characteristics of individuals with breast cancer rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

BACKGROUND Large rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2 occur in a small percentage (< 1%) of patients tested for hereditary breast (BC) and ovarian cancer. It is unclear what factors predict BRACAnalysis Large Rearrangement Test (BART) positivity. METHODS Data from 6 centers were included in this analysis. Individuals with negative Comprehensive BRACAnalysis tested for BART were included. RESULTS From 1300 individuals, 42 (3.2%) were BART positivity. Factors positively associated with BART positivity were Myriad score, first-degree relatives with BC, infiltrating BC with ductal carcinoma in situ, younger age at BC diagnosis, estrogen receptor–negative BC for both the first and second BC, and Latin American/Caribbean ethnicity. Presence of unilateral BC was inversely associated with BART positivity. Several analyses were performed on the variables available to find the model that best predicts for BART positivity. The BART predictive model, including first BC, ovarian cancer, primary maternal ancestry being Latin America/Caribbean, number of first-degree relatives with BC of 1 or more versus 0, and family history of prostate and pancreatic cancer, had good predictive ability with an area under the curve of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS Several factors are significantly associated with BART positivity. Among them we have found that Latin American/Caribbean ancestry, Myriad score, first degree relatives with BC, younger age at BC diagnosis, estrogen receptor–negative status of BC, and infiltrating ductal carcinoma with ductal carcinoma in situ features are significantly associated with BART positivity. A BART predictive model may help in a clinical setting. Cancer 2014;120:1557–1564. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
The Rise and Fall of Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Study of Individual Bankruptcy Petitioners in Israel

This Article addresses two fundamental areas of inquiry in personal bankruptcy. First, it examines what conditions justify an expansive vs. stringent bankruptcy debt relief regime in a given country. Second, the article examines what contributes to the particular profile composition of individuals in bankruptcy. The author hypothesizes that the scope of the fresh-start policy and the composition of the bankruptcy population in a given country is predicated on government's predisposition towards credit deregulation, the extent of the welfare state and the standards employed by financial institutions when extending credit to the private sector. To test this hypothesis, the author has undertaken an empirical study of consumer bankruptcy filings in Israel examining the characteristics of the petitioners and the causes of filings. By comparing the findings of this undertaking with the results of similar empirical studies in the United States and Canada, this Article provides strong support for the suggested three-prong hypothesis.
A Review of “A Noble Quest: Cultivating Spirituality in Catholic Adolescents”

This work begins by drawing the reader's attention to an overlooked area in youth ministry, that of adolescent spirituality, and offers both a brief primer on the topic itself, and a tool for relig...
Cultivating Consciousness: Enhancing Human Potential, Wellness, and Healing

Cultivating Consciousness: Enhancing Human Potential, Wellness, and Healing. Edited by K. Ramakrishna Rao. Connecticut: Praeger, 1993. 235 pp. (cloth). $55.00
Oxidized lipids in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: A sex-diabetes interaction?☆

The increased cardiovascular risk experienced by patients (particularly women) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is not fully explained by conventional risk factors including lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. To determine if plasma lipid peroxide concentrations are relevant to these observations, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in 56 young adult subjects with IDDM (mean age, 33 years; duration, 24 years) and 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The TBARS concentration was significantly higher in women with diabetes than in female controls (7.4 v 4.5 nmol/mL, P = .001), but not in men with IDDM (5.1 v 5.3 nmol/mL). Diabetic men showed a significant correlation between triglyceride and TBARS concentrations (P < .01), a finding not seen in diabetic women. Furthermore, there was a correlation between glycemic control (hemoglobin A1 [HBA1]) and TBARS in diabetic men, but not in women (P < .01). These findings raise the possibility that the relatively greater increase in cardiovascular disease risk seen in IDDM women compared with men may relate to their increased degree of lipid peroxidation, which is independent of their degree of glycemic control.
Phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of the square lattice of antiferromagnetic spin- 1 2 triangles in La 4 Cu 3 MoO 12

The magnetic phase diagram and the thermodynamic properties of a square lattice containing antiferromagnetically coupled spin-1/2 triangles are studied. A Heisenberg Hamiltonian with three strong intratriangle exchange coupling constants and one weak intertriangle exchange coupling constant is proposed to model the interacting ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}$ ions of the ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{MoO}}_{4}$ planes in ${\mathrm{La}}_{4}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{MoO}}_{12}.$ Depending on the ratio of the intratriangle coupling constants, various long-ranged magnetic phases are shown to compete at low temperatures. A comparison of numerical calculations of thermodynamic properties in the model Hamiltonian with recent experiments on ${\mathrm{La}}_{4}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{MoO}}_{12}$ suggests that the spins in this material order antiferromagnetically along the x direction and ferromagnetically along the y direction of the ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{MoO}}_{4}$ planes. The temperature dependence of the uniform magnetic susceptibility, the heat capacity, and the entropy are calculated and are shown to be in qualitative agreement with the experiments on this compound.
Photographic studies of light induced nucleation of boiling at the interface of a solid and superheated liquid helium I

Abstract We report the results of photographic studies which show that light induces the nucleation of vapour bubbles in superheated liquid helium I. We believe that these bubbles are associated with the cooling that we have previously observed to result from a flash of visible light applied to the surface of a bismuth crystal heater-thermometer immersed in the superheated liquid. We have used this photographic technique to study vapour bubble growth dynamics and compare our results with the theory.
Clomazone volatilization under varying environmental conditions

Abstract Velvetleaf ( Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) was used as a bioindicator to examine factors (temperature, soil moisture, soil incorporation) which might influence clomazone {2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl] -4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone} volatilization. Young plants were periodically exposed to atmosphere inside boxes containing clomazone-treated soil. Exposed plants were returned to the greenhouse for 5 to 7 d, and new leaves were assayed for chlorophyll. Maximum chlorophyll inhibition occurred in velvetleaf exposed during the first 2 wk after clomazone application. Reductions in degree of bleaching were first observed in plants exposed in the treatments with lower soil moisture (2% moisture at 19 days after clomazone treatment, DAT; 9% at 42 DAT). The least amount of clomazone was measured in soils incubated in the 35 °C treatment, indicating elevated temperatures enhanced volatilization, and may have contributed to the increased chlorophyll content observed observed earlier than other temperatures. The effect of herbicide incorporation was not conclusive.
Cortical and subcortical contributions to coordinated eye and head movements

This paper summarizes recent experiments conducted by the authors - experiments that studied the behavioral characteristics of large gaze shifts and the neural bases of coordinated movements of the eyes and head.
Science and Quality Assurance, part 2: PK/QA

For Quality Assurance to be a proactive partner in drug development we need to understand the scientific concepts that define and shape the pharmaceutical process. Drug development can be more easily understood by considering the basic scientific principles governing the numerous scientific disciplines that contribute to producing safe and effective drugs. This article describes the principles that apply to pharmacokinetics, and how these impact study design and data analysis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Quarrel of Agamemnon & Menelaus

AbstractIn Odyssey Book 3, Nestor relates how a quarrel between the Atreidae led to a split of the Achaean army over departure from Troy. This story implies a representation of Agamemnon and Menelaus, their relationship, and their respective political roles, that is not reconcilable with that of the Iliad. I argue that Nestor’s tale reflects a tradition whose influence is visible in later texts, particularly the Cyclic Nostoi and some dramas of Euripides. While the Iliad clearly ignores this tradition, its language betrays some awareness of it; and in a few cases it is arguable that the Iliad alludes indirectly to a very different conception of Menelaus’s political role in the expedition against Troy.
Changes in Free Amino Acid and Total Nitrogen Concentrations During Maturation of Muscadine Grapes (V. rotundifolia)

Free amino acids, ammonia and total nitrogen were followed during maturation of berries of Carlos and Noble muscadine grapes (V. rotundifolia). Chemical analysis was done on deseeded berries. Ammonia decreased in the berries of both cultivars during maturation. Total nitrogen content fluctuated and was not significantly correlated with maturity in either cultivar. Threonine (THR) and histidine + gamma aminobutyric acid (HIS + GABA) were the predominant free amino acids in both cultivars at an immature berry stage. At full berry maturity, arginine (ARG) was the predominant amino acid in Carlos, having increased over 100-fold during the sampling period while ARG, alanine (ALA), THR, and HIS + GABA accounted for 72.3% of the total free amino acids. ALA was the predominant free amino acid in mature berries of Noble and accounted for 30.4% of the total free amino acids. Of the additional cultivars sampled only at their normal harvest date, berries of Pride, Magnolia and Regale contained nearly equal amounts of ARG and ALA as the predominant amino acids. Mature Dixie berries had twice as much ALA (29.8%) as ARG (12.8%). In general, the free amino acids in berries of muscadine grapes were found in concentrations similar to those reported in the literature for V. vinifera and V. labrusca cultivars. However, the large increase in proline concentration reported to occur during maturation of berries of V. vinifera cultivars was not found in any of the muscadine cultivars examined.
A New Dimension Reduction Approach for Data-Rich Marketing Environments: Sliced Inverse Regression

Abstract In data-rich marketing environments (e.g., direct marketing or new product design), managers face an ever-growing need to reduce the number of variables effectively. To accomplish this goal, the authors introduce a new method called sliced inverse regression (SIR), which finds factors by taking into account the information contained in both the dependent and independent variables. Sliced inverse regression objectively identifies appropriate factors through simple statistical tests for determining the number of factors to retain and for assessing the significance of factor-loading coefficients. The authors make conceptual connections between SIR and several existing approaches, including principal components regression (PCR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Using Monte Carlo experiments, the authors demonstrate that SIR performs better than these approaches. Two empirical examples—designing a new executive business program and direct marketing by a catalog company—are presented to illu...
Mitigating interference via spatial and spectral nulling: Open air experimental results

Phase only transmit nulling may help the next generation of radar systems operate in an over-crowded RF spectrum. Open air experimental results from an eight-channel X-band radar test bed are presented that demonstrate an approach for generating constant modulus waveforms that possess spatial nulls when transmitted from an antenna array. The Re-iterative Uniform Weight Optimization (RUWO) algorithm is utilized to generate phase only weights using both a deterministic and adaptive approach. The two strategies are compared. The results demonstrate that RUWO can be used to create spatial nulls and highlight the need for careful calibration of both the transmitter and receiver.
Femtosecond Real-Time Probing of Reactions. 18. Experimental and Theoretical Mapping of Trajectories and Potentials in the NaI Dissociation Reaction

We describe a method of tracking wave packet trajectories by probing both the temporal and spatial evolution of a coherent state prepared by a femtosecond laser pulse in real time. Application to the NaI dissociation reaction illustrates this technique, in which the direction of wave packet propagation within the quasi-bound A 0+ potential is observed and correlated to the physical processes of extension and contraction of the Na−I bond. From the combination of spatial and temporal information observed from experiments, self-consistent potential energy functions for the A 0+ state and the higher-lying state accessed by the probe laser pulse are constructed. The dynamics and the validity of the potentials so derived are tested via semiclassical and quantum-dynamical simulations of the wave packet motion, and comparisons with potentials obtained from other methods are drawn.