cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secure computation for big data

Secure computation has been a powerful and important research area in cryptography since the first breakthrough results in the 1980s. For many years this area was purely theoretical, as the feasibility results have not been considered even close to practical. Recently, it appears to have turned a corner, with several research efforts showing that secure computation for large classes of functions, and even generic secure computation, has the potential to become truly practical. This shift is brought on by algorithmic advancements and new cryptographic tools, alongside advancements in CPU speed, parallelism, and storage capabilities; it is further motivated by the explosion of new potential application domains for secure computation. A compelling motivation for making secure computation practical is provided by the burgeoning field of Big Data, representing the deluge of data being generated, collected, and stored all around us. Protocols for secure computation on big data can provide critical value for many business, medical, legal, and personal applications. However, conventional approaches to secure computation are inherently insufficient in this setting, where even linear computation can be too prohibitive. In this talk I discuss challenges and solutions related to secure computation for big data, following two thrusts: · Overcoming inherent theoretical bounds of (in)efficiency; and · Satisfying immediate practical needs in a theoretically sound way. Both goals require the development of new models of secure computation, allowing for theoretically and practically meaningful relaxations of the standard model. In particular, I discuss a few works I have participated in over the last decade, which address the challenge of achieving efficient secure computation for massive data. I also share some experiences from the last few years working on secure search over massive data sets. This research has externally imposed practical constraints, such as strict performance requirements. I focus on my perspective as a theoretical cryptographer and discuss some open cryptographic challenges in this emerging domain.
THE EFFECT OF TRIAGE ON PAEDIATRIC WAITING TIMES IN A PAEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT UNIT

Objectives & Background Our hospital is in the process of increasing the number of hours its paediatric assessment unit (PAU) remains open in order to help patient flow within the emergency department. Previously we have used our ward based Paediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) charts to triage these patients. However, in view of the increased demand on the department, a more PAU focussed triage tool was deemed necessary to primarily improve patient safety, but also patient experience through reducing waiting times. Whilst various paediatric triage tools have been developed for use within paediatric emergency departments, we could not find a tool for use within the PAU, which primarily sees the unwell rather than the injured child. Our aim was to assess whether we could construct a triage tool to identify the unwell child in order to result in them being seen sooner by a member of the medical team. We also hoped it would improve waiting times compared with the currently used PEWS method. Methods We devised a triage tool that was suitable for our PAU. This was based on The Emergency Severity Index, Leicester9s Paediatric Observation Priority Score, the Modified Manchester Triage system, and the PEWS and Paediatric Acute Warning Score (PAWS) charts that are already in use within our hospital. We then compared waiting times for children to be seen who were assessed by the previously used PEWS, with those assessed with the triage tool. We also compared our breaches for waiting within the department for more than 6 hours. Results For the week of the PEWS scoring, 89% had a PEWS 0–1, 5% had a score of 2–3, and 6% of 4+. The mean length of time to be seen was 39 min, 29 min and 0 min respectively. For the week using our triage tool, 69% scored green, 22% amber and 9% red. Average time to be seen was 44 min, 22 min and 32 min respectively. Using the PEWS method, senior review was outside the target time of two hours in 16%, compared with 3.7% with the triage tool. Patients were staying more than the recommended 6 hours in 5.8% of cases with PEWS and 2.96% with the triage tool. Conclusion Our triage tool appears to have improved breaches for time to senior review and as such has resulted in a reduction in length of stay within the department; thus improving patient turnover and flow between the emergency department and PAU. It has not however, improved the speed at which the unwell child is reviewed, this may be due to poor specificity of the tool.
Book Review: Who Sings The Nation-State? Language, Politics, Belonging by Judith Butler and Gayatri Spivak

(2008). Book Review: Who Sings The Nation-State? Language, Politics, Belonging by Judith Butler and Gayatri Spivak. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 269-278.
Lung cancer in patients >= 80 years of age: Analysis of the national surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database

7156 Background: Lung cancer is a disease of the elderly with median age at diagnosis of 70 years. In spite of this, the very elderly (patients ≥ 80 years) group has not been well studied. We analy...
The Anti-Subordination Principle of Labor and Employment Law Preemption

This article, part of a symposium on Jobs and the American Worker, assesses the preemption challenges to the efforts of cities and states to induce employers to create good jobs that pay adequate wage and provide adequate health care, retirement, and unemployment insurance. Local governments want employers to internalize these social welfare costs so that the government’s social welfare system does not have to bear them. Part I of this Essay examines a small sample of the variety of local labor initiatives recently enacted in Southern California and the organizing that led to them. After briefly explaining the law of preemption in the labor and employment field, it provides the factual context to understand the need for a new approach to labor and employment law preemption. In particular, it shows that local governments in California trying to legislate bad jobs into good ones have found a need for greater employee protection in the low-wage labor market than is offered by federal law. It examines some of the many local labor initiatives that federal courts have held to be preempted, as well as some that have either not been challenged or have survived preemption challenges. Part II describes the preemption challenges to these and similar labor initiatives. Part III offers an anti-subordination theory of regulatory federalism that strikes a better balance than current law between the values of local regulation and the values of national uniformity. To the extent that mid-twentieth century arguments about the desirability of federal regulation were based on the idea that municipal governments were too politically disorganized and too much at risk of capital flight to regulate effectively to protect labor or redistribute wealth, scholars have lately begun to doubt the received wisdom and have found resurgent regulatory localism. The anti-subordination principle of labor preemption means that federal protective labor laws almost invariably contemplate local laws that provide greater protection, better enforcement, or better remedies. The anti-subordination principle also means that federal immigration regulation does preempt local legislation that has the purpose of regulating migration by making unauthorized migrant workers a permanently extra-legal underclass. Thus, when sub-national laws regulate immigrant labor qua labor, they are valid on the same terms as local regulation of any other type of labor: there is no preemption of local laws that treat workers better than federal law. But when local laws regulate immigrant labor as a means of deterring or punishing cross-border migration, they are preempted by federal laws imposing minimum labor standards or regulating the employment of unauthorized migrants.
Abstract LB-272: AXL induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition and regulates the function of breast cancer stem cells.

Despite significant progress in the treatment of breast cancer particularly through the use of targeted therapy, relapse and chemo-resistance remain a major hindrance in the fight to minimize the burden of the disease. Accumulating evidence suggest that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which show resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, drive tumor initiation and disease recurrence. It is becoming increasingly clear that a rare subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSC), able to be generated through epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and capable of tumor initiation and self-renewal, contributes to treatment resistance and metastases. This means that a more effective therapy should target both the chemoresistant CSCs and the proliferating epithelial cells that give rise to them in order to reverse EMT and attenuate their conversion to CSCs. Here, we demonstrate a novel function of AXL in acting upstream to induce EMT in normal and immortalized human mammary epithelial cells in an apparent positive feedback loop mechanism and regulate breast CSC (BCSC) self-renewal and chemoresistance. Downregulation of AXL expression using AXL inhibitor MP470 (amuvatinib) or shRNA reversed EMT in mesenchymal normal human mammary epithelial cells and murine BCSCs attenuating self-renewal and restored chemosensitivity of the BCSCs. AXL expression was also found to be associated with expression of stem cell genes, regulation of metastases genes, increased tumorigenicity, and was important for BCSC invasion and migration. Inactivation of AXL also led to downregulation of NFκB pathway and reduced tumor formation in vivo . Together, our data suggest that targeted therapy against AXL, in combination with systemic therapies, has the potential to improve response to anti-cancer therapies and to reduce breast cancer recurrence and metastases. Citation Format: Michael K. Asiedu, Francis Beauchamp-Perez, James N. Ingle, Marshall D. Behrens, Derek C. Radisky, Keith Knutson. AXL induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition and regulates the function of breast cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-272. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-272
An Evaluation of Decorative Techniques on a Red-Figure Attic Vase from the Worcester Art Museum using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and Confocal Microscopy with a Special Focus on the “Relief Line”

Decorative features on a Greek red-figure stamnos in the collection of the Worcester Art Museum were examined using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and scanning laser confocal microscopy. These two surface examination tools helped to answer questions relating to the decorative process, particularly the tools and techniques that Attic painters used to create the so-called glossy black “relief lines” and “relief dots.” This research also incorporated fabricated mock-ups to help understand the ancient technology. It was determined that the relief line was not produced by an extruded method, but with a brush made of one or very few hairs, an idea first proposed by Gerard Seiterle in 1976 and termed Linierhaar. It was observed that not one but two distinct types of relief lines exist: the “laid” line (proposed by Seiterle) characterized by a ridge running through the middle of the line and the “pulled” line (proposed in this paper) which has a furrowed profile. Both line types were reproduced with a Linierhaar. Additionally, relief dots were replicated using a conventional brush. Surface examinations of other red-figure vessels using RTI and the confocal microscope suggest these conclusions apply to vessels of this genre as a whole.
502. Biomaterial-Mediated Lentiviral Delivery of Anti-Inflammatory Genes in Cartilage-Derived Matrix Hemispheres

Objectives: Cartilage tissue engineering seeks to provide a functional replacement for damaged or degenerated articular surfaces that develop in osteoarthritis (OA). Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded within cartilage-derived matrix (CDM) hemispherical scaffolds exhibit robust chondrogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition without evidence of a hypertrophic phenotype. However, inflammation within an OA joint may inhibit chondrogenesis of MSCs and induce degradation of both native and engineered cartilage, particularly through the action of interleukin-1 (IL-1). The goal of this study was to develop an anatomically-shaped, tissue-engineered cartilage capable of tunable and inducible expression of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in MSCs via biomaterial-mediated lentiviral gene delivery. Methods: IL-1Ra or eGFP coding sequences were cloned into doxycycline(dox)-inducible lentiviral vectors. Hemispherical scaffolds were fabricated from resuspended cartilage powder in hemispherical molds (outer radius 4.76 mm, inner radius 3.175 mm). Scaffolds were crosslinked and sterilized via dehydrothermal treatment. Dox-inducible eGFP or IL-1Ra lentivirus was immobilized to PLL-coated CDM scaffolds to transduce MSCs upon seeding. Non-transduced (NT), eGFP-expressing, or IL-1Ra-expressing constructs were treated with 0 or 0.1 ng/mL IL-1 during 28 days of chondrogenesis (+10 ng/mL TGF-s3) with 1 µg/mL dox. Results: Transduction of MSCs occurred throughout the CDM hemispheres (Fig 1AFig 1A) and the transduction efficiency of MSCs isolated from the construct was 57±5% eGFP+ by flow cytometry. Hemispherical constructs maintained their anatomical shape throughout chondrogenic culture (Fig 1BFig 1B). IL-1Ra-expressing constructs produced over 200 ng/mL of IL-1Ra, a concentration expected to inhibit pathologic IL-1 concentrations, and IL-1 treatment did not affect IL-1Ra production (Fig 1CFig 1C). IL-1 treatment reduced ECM deposition by NT and eGFP-expressing MSCs but not IL-1Ra-expressing MSCs, as evidenced by safranin-O/fast green staining for glycosaminoglycans and total collagen, respectively (Fig 1DFig 1D). After 28 days of chondrogenesis, IL-1 treatment significantly increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the conditioned media of NT and eGFP-expressing constructs but not in IL-1Ra-expressing constructs (p<0.05) (Fig 1EFig 1E). Significance: We engineered an anatomically and compositionally mimetic cartilage hemisphere that is inflammation-resistant and shows promise for total articular resurfacing in an arthritic environment.Tunable production of IL-1Ra from an IL-1-resistant cartilage tissue may provide therapeutic effects to other joint tissues, such as the synovium or subchondral bone.View Large Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Topical penetration of piroxicam is dependent on the distribution of the local cutaneous vasculature

The mechanism of the topical delivery of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, has been controversial as to whether systemic absorption is required for topical efficacy. This study, using in vivo pigs treated with topical 3H-piroxicam gel, was designed to assess the role of systemic absorption on its delivery to deep tissues. Further, the role of the structure of the cutaneous vasculature (e.g., direct cutaneous or musculocutaneous) was studied. Finally, piroxicam delivery was measured using in vitro diffusion cells with pig skin obtained from the same sites to determine inherent permeability independent of vascular anatomy. These studies showed that penetration of the radiolabel occurred in subcutaneous and muscle tissue only under the dosed sites and not at the remote sites, ruling out systemic absorption as a prerequisite for local delivery. Tissue penetration in vivo was enhanced at the musculocutaneous compared to the direct cutaneous sites. In contrast, in vitro flux was identical in skin harvested from the two vascular sites, suggesting that the vasculature plays a pivotal role in deep tissue penetration of piroxicam. In conclusion, local delivery of topical drugs occurs independent of systemic absorption and the nature of the cutaneous vasculature at different sites must be taken into consideration for optimal delivery.
The ATP-dependent Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes CHD6, CHD7, and CHD8 Exhibit Distinct Nucleosome Binding and Remodeling Activities

Proper chromatin regulation is central to genome function and maintenance. The group III chromodomain–helicase–DNA-binding (CHD) family of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes, comprising CHD6, CHD7, CHD8, and CHD9, has well-documented roles in transcription regulation, impacting both organism development and disease etiology. These four enzymes are similar in their constituent domains, but they fill surprisingly non-redundant roles in the cell, with deficiencies in individual enzymes leading to dissimilar disease states such as CHARGE syndrome or autism spectrum disorders. The mechanisms explaining their divergent, non-overlapping functions are unclear. In this study, we performed an in-depth biochemical analysis of purified CHD6, CHD7, and CHD8 and discovered distinct differences in chromatin remodeling specificities and activities among them. We report that CHD6 and CHD7 both bind with high affinity to short linker DNA, whereas CHD8 requires longer DNA for binding. As a result, CHD8 slides nucleosomes into positions with more flanking linker DNA than CHD7. Moreover, we found that, although CHD7 and CHD8 slide nucleosomes, CHD6 disrupts nucleosomes in a distinct non-sliding manner. The different activities of these enzymes likely lead to differences in chromatin structure and, thereby, transcriptional control, at the enhancer and promoter loci where these enzymes bind. Overall, our work provides a mechanistic basis for both the non-redundant roles and the diverse mutant disease states of these enzymes in vivo.
Dietary Control of Central Cholinergic Activity

This chapter describes the relationship between choline — administered as choline chloride or as phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), by injection or via the diet — and tissue acetylcholine (ACh) levels, and shows that choline administration, by raising blood and brain choline levels, can be a major determinant of the rate of ACh synthesis and, probably, of the amount of the neurotransmitter released when cholinergic neurons are depolarized.
Comparison of Rip Current Hazard Likelihood Forecasts with Observed Rip Current Speeds

AbstractAlthough rip currents are a major hazard for beachgoers, the relationship between the danger to swimmers and the physical properties of rip current circulation is not well understood. Here, the relationship between statistical model estimates of hazardous rip current likelihood and in situ velocity observations is assessed. The statistical model is part of a forecasting system that is being made operational by the National Weather Service to predict rip current hazard likelihood as a function of wave conditions and water level. The temporal variability of rip current speeds (offshore-directed currents) observed on an energetic sandy beach is correlated with the hindcasted hazard likelihood for a wide range of conditions. High likelihoods and rip current speeds occurred for low water levels, nearly shore-normal wave angles, and moderate or larger wave heights. The relationship between modeled hazard likelihood and the frequency with which rip current speeds exceeded a threshold was assessed for a r...
The dual role of group V secretory phospholipase A 2 in pancreatic β-cells.

Group X (GX) and group V (GV) secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) potently release arachidonic acid (AA) from the plasma membrane of intact cells. We previously demonstrated that GX sPLA2 negatively regulates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-dependent mechanism. In this study we investigated whether GV sPLA2 similarly regulates GSIS. GSIS and pancreatic islet-size were assessed in wild-type (WT) and GV sPLA2-knock out (GV KO) mice. GSIS was also assessed ex vivo in isolated islets and in vitro using MIN6 pancreatic beta cell lines with or without GV sPLA2 overexpression or silencing. GSIS was significantly decreased in islets isolated from GV KO mice compared to WT mice and in MIN6 cells with siRNA-mediated GV sPLA2 suppression. MIN6 cells overexpressing GV sPLA2 (MIN6-GV) showed a significant increase in GSIS compared to control cells. Though the amount of AA released into the media by MIN6-GV cells was significantly higher, PGE2 production was not enhanced or cAMP content decreased compared to control MIN6 cells. Surprisingly, GV KO mice exhibited a significant increase in plasma insulin levels following i.p. injection of glucose compared to WT mice. This increase in GSIS in GV KO mice was associated with a significant increase in pancreatic islet size and number of proliferating cells in β-islets compared to WT mice. Deficiency of GV sPLA2 results in diminished GSIS in isolated pancreatic beta-cells. However, the reduced GSIS in islets lacking GV sPLA2 appears to be compensated by increased islet mass in GV KO mice.
Unexpected visible light driven photocatalytic activity without cocatalysts and sacrificial reagents from a (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x solid solution synthesized at high pressure over the entire composition range

Optical and photocatalytic properties were determined for the solid solution series (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x synthesized at high pressure over the entire compositional range (x = 0.07 to 0.9). We report for the first time photocatalytic H2 evolution activity from water for (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x without cocatalysts, pH modifiers and sacrificial reagents. Syntheses were carried out by reacting GaN and ZnO in appropriate amounts at temperatures ranging from 1150 to 1200 °C, and at a pressure of 1 GPa. ZnGa2O4 was observed as a second phase, with the amount decreasing from 12.8 wt% at x = 0.07 to ∼0.5 wt% at x = 0.9. The smallest band gap of 2.65 eV and the largest average photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 2.31 μmol h−1 were observed at x = 0.51. Samples with x = 0.07, 0.24 and 0.76 have band gaps of 2.89 eV, 2.78 eV and 2.83 eV, and average hydrogen evolution rates of 1.8 μmol h−1, 0.55 μmol h−1 and 0.48 μmol h−1, respectively. The sample with x = 0.9 has a band gap of 2.82 eV, but did not evolve hydrogen. An extended photocatalytic test showed considerable reduction of activity over 20 hours.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE: HURTING THE HEART WHILE CURING CANCER

Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody resulting in inhibition of T-cell proliferation effective in certain cancers. Although the incidence of adverse cardiac effects have been reported in less than 1%, true incidence may be unknown given the lack of monitoring during treatment. We present a case of
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING FOR ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION: IMAGING SENSITIVITY AND PREFERENCE REVISITED

A 2002 International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) analysis determined the sensitivities for computed tomography (CT), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD) to be 93%, 88%, and 100%, respectively, with CT
How Are We Doing? An Examination of Gender Representation in Industrial and Organizational (I-O) Psychology

There has been an explosion of within-profession studies examining standings on gender representation in advancement, publication patterns, and conference presentations. However, industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology has yet to take such an introspective look and fully join these conversations. This manuscript aims to initiate and encourage such discussion. Through a brief review of relevant background information and the collection and analysis of recent archival data, we seek to examine where we have been with regard to gender representation, where we currently stand, and what steps are needed moving forward. We aim to stimulate continued examinations on this topic while recommending appropriate action items relevant to achieving equity in representation in our field.
Impact of feedback content in initial learning of an office system

The ability to discriminate between correct and incorrect behavior is essential for learning to take place. This is usually accomplished via feedback from the environment. However, there has been little systematic work on principles of feedback in order to promote optimal acquisition of new skills. The study presented in this paper investigated different types of feedback content in the context of an on-line learning-by-doing tutorial for an office management system. The results suggest that blocking of errors by means of a “scenario machine” is a somewhat beneficial type of feedback, but that including positive content can make learning even more efficient. Feedback about the goals of a tasks or the steps necessary to perform typical tasks were found to promote faster learning and better performance on tasks when informative feedback was withdrawn. Implications for design and analysis of interfaces are discussed.
Implications of Behavioral Decision Theory and Social Marketing for Designing Social Action Programs

In recent years, there has been increased interest in applied research by social psychologists. Attempts have been made to identify significant social problems and then to address these problems by means of social interventions or social action programs. Psychological research and methodology has been used to guide the formulation of such programs. This chapter describes issues that we have confronted in the context of our own research programs on the prevention of unintended pregnancies and the prevention of drunk driving. Although we discuss many of these issues in general terms, we do not believe that they are applicable to all social action programs. Nor are they exhaustive of all the issues that must be addressed. Rather, they represent a cross section of some of the perspectives we have adopted when designing interventions to address two specific problems of social significance.
Study of Supported Catalyst Particles by Tunneling Spectroscopy

It is possible to evaporate a small quantity of metal onto the oxidized aluminum strip of a tunnel junction and then study the adsorption of gases on the resultant supported metal particles. This talk will focus on the adsorption of CO on supported Rh particles. It will also include recent data on the reaction of H2 with this adsorbed CO. Research on this type of system may help in understanding Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and other important catalytic reactions.
Why Teams Rebrand: Uncovering the Motives and Process of Team Rebranding Initiatives

While rebranding is very common in professional sport, little research has been devoted to this topic. In particular, no studies have examined the reasons why teams decide to make changes to their names, logos, and/or colors, and the process they go through while doing so. Through content analysis of public statements from teams and interviews with team executives, this study found five common reasons for rebranding, as well as recommendations from team executives for how to handle this process. Based on the results, practical implications are provided for teams who may be deciding to engage in some aspect of rebranding. Subscribe to JASM
A retrospective analysis of the performance of the RosettaGX® Reveal™ thyroid miRNA and the Afirma Gene Expression Classifiers in a cohort of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Background Molecular tests are increasingly used to triage cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules for surgery and/or follow-up. We retrospectively compared the performance of the Afirma Gene Expression Classifier (AGEC) with that of the more recently developed RosettaGX® Reveal™ miRNA Classifier (Reveal) in a cohort of Bethesda III-V thyroid FNAs with surgical follow-up. Design Eighty-one samples (54 Bethesda III, 26 Bethesda IV, 1 Bethesda V) with available AGEC (74 AGEC-SUSP and 7 AGEC-BENIGN) and surgical pathology results were studied from three academic centers. Reveal was performed in a blinded fashion. Results The final diagnoses were benign/NIFTP (n = 63) and malignant (n = 18). The overall "correct" rate was 64.2% for Reveal and 28.4% for AGEC (P = 1.4e-6). The specificity of Reveal was 60.3%, compared with 9.5% for AGEC (P = 2.1e-9). Among the 18 malignant cases, 77.8% and 94.4% were correctly classified as suspicious by Reveal and AGEC, respectively (P = 0.2). In the FLUS and the FN group, the specificity of AGEC was lower than the specificity of Reveal. Whether the 7 NIFTP in our study were considered benign or malignant, specificity and PPV of Reveal were higher than those of AGEC. Reveal also outperformed AGEC in correctly classifying the 26 benign Hurthle lesions studied (P = 7.6e-5). Conclusion Reveal outperformed AGEC in this cohort, whether NIFTP is considered benign or malignant, and in Hurthle lesions. Reveal has the potential to reduce the number of unnecessary resections in patients with indeterminate thyroid cytology. Based on our findings and the practical advantages offered by Reveal methodology, large prospective studies are warranted. Diagn. Cytopathol.
The prognostic value of quantitating and localizing F-18 FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis

There is no identified level of FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) associated with increased risk of arrhythmias, conduction disease, heart failure, or death. We aim to utilize standardized uptake value (SUV) quantitation and localization to identify patients at increased risk of cardiac events. F18-FDG PET/CT with MPI was used in CS diagnosis (N = 67). Mean and max SUV were measured and grouped as basal, mid, and apical disease. Post-scan ventricular tachycardia, AICD placement, complete heart block, pacemaker placement, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiac-related hospital admissions were recorded (mean follow up 2.98 ± 2 years). Poisson regression analysis revealed that max SUV, mean SUV, as well as mean basal SUV, and LVEF were significantly associated with total cardiac events. Max SUV odds ratio (OR) = 1.068 (95% CI 1.024-1.114, P = 0.002), mean SUV OR = 1.059 (95% CI 1.008-1.113, P = 0.023), mean SUV OR = 1.061 (95% CI 1.012-1.112, P = 0.014), scan LVEF OR = 0.731 (95% CI 0.664-0.805, P < 0.001). SUV at time of CS diagnosis has significant associations with future cardiac events. Patients with higher SUV, particularly in basal segments, are at increased risk of events. Further studies are needed to identify treatment methods utilizing risk stratification of CS.
Compactness of certain class of singular minimal hypersurfaces

Given a closed Riemannian manifold $(N^{n+1},g)$, $n+1 \geq 3$ we prove the compactness of the space of singular, minimal hypersurfaces in $N$ whose volumes are uniformly bounded from above and the $p$-th Jacobi eigenvalue $\lambda_p$'s are uniformly bounded from below. This generalizes the results of Sharp and Ambrozio-Carlotto-Sharp in higher dimensions.
Fabrication of functional nanophotonic devices by multiphoton lithography

Multi-photon lithography (MPL) is a laser-based method for 3D printing nanoscale devices. Since its introduction in the late 1990's, researchers across many disciplines have made exciting contributions toward its development that include extending the range of material systems available for MPL, improving the achievable resolution, and using it to create functional devices for optics, MEMS, microfluidics, sensing, and bio-engineering. MPL has been used to create conventional micro-optics, like waveguides and micro-lenses. It has also been used to fabricate devices onto novel platforms, such as the tips of optical fibers, which greatly extends the functionality of conventional optics and the range of applications they may serve. MPL is unique among existing fabrication methods in its potential for creating truly 3D structures having arbitrary shape and complexity. This is particularly well illustrated in recent reports of using MPL to create spatially-variant photonic crystals (SVPCs). SVPCs unlock new physical mechanisms to control light, particularly using self-collimation to flow beams through exceptionally sharp bends, which cannot be achieved with waveguides and other technologies based on refraction. MPL and SVPCs open new routes to integrated photonics and opto-electronic circuits.
Smart Stadia as Testbeds for Smart Cities: Enriching Fan Experiences and Improving Accessibility

Rapid urbanization is introducing a variety of challenges for municipalities. Technologically-enabled ‘Smart Cities’ are rising to meet these needs, which include smarter sustainability, cybersecurity, transportation, waste management, energy efficiency, education, among many other areas, all toward enhancing the quality of life of citizens. These cities leverage the capabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and the service economy to infuse sensing and information delivery into everyday life through the power of data analytics and artificial intelligence. However, the size of a city and its population make it difficult to evaluate smart solutions. In this work, the ‘Smart Stadium’ is proposed as a testbed to trial Smart City technologies in an environment small enough to facilitate user trials yet large enough to produce scalable outcomes. Our previous proof-of-concepts are summarized to highlight the potential of this approach. We also present a more recent project on accessibility and inclusion using virtual reality with preliminary results.
Occurrence and distribution of organic and inorganic pollutants in groundwater

Depletion of groundwater resources and continued decline in overall groundwater quality is a cause of concern because large human population around the world uses groundwater as a source of drinking water. This paper presents a comprehensive review of studies published in the year 2018 that documented issues of groundwater pollution, sources, and distribution reported from across the world due to anthropogenic, hydroclimatogical, and natural processes. Groundwater pollution due to organic contaminants focuses particularly on pesticides, herbicides, and contaminants of emerging concern. Pollution due to inorganic pollutants such as arsenic and other heavy metals is also reviewed with particular emphasis on regions that have reported a significantly higher incidence of these pollutants in groundwater. A compilation of various studies is also included in the review paper that showed increased incidences of waterborne illnesses due to fecal and microbial contamination due to poor sanitary practices. Reviews of groundwater contaminants such as fluoride and nitrate are included to provide readers a holistic understanding of groundwater pollution problem around the world. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Groundwater pollution issues during 2018 are reviewed and documented. Occurrence of organic and inorganic pollutants in groundwater is reported. Groundwater pollution vulnerability remains a critical issue.
Chemical Pathology of Homocysteine VII. Cholesterol, Thioretinaco Ozonide, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Prevention of Mortality

The purpose of this review is to elucidate how low blood cholesterol promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and mortality by the loss of thioretinaco ozonide from opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Mortality from infections and cancer are both inversely associated with blood cholesterol, as determined by multiple cohort studies from 10 to 30 years earlier. Moreover, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is inversely related to all-cause and/or cardiovascular mortality, as determined by followup study of elderly cohorts. LDL adheres to and inactivates most microorganisms and their toxins, causing aggregation of LDL and homocysteinylated autoantibodies which obstruct vasa vasorum and produce intimal microabscesses, the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The active site of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis is proposed to consist of thioretinaco, a complex of two molecules of thioretinamide with cobalamin, oxidized to the disulfonium thioretinaco ozonide and complexed with oxygen, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), phosphate, and ATP. Loss of the active site complex from mitochondria results from the opening of the mPTP and from decomposition of the disulfonium active site by electrophilic carcinogens, oncogenic viruses, microbes, and by reactive oxygen radicals from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Suppression of innate immunity is caused by the depletion of adenosyl methionine because of increased polyamine biosynthesis, resulting in inhibition of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite biosynthesis. Opening of the mPTP produces a loss of thioretinaco ozonide from mitochondria. This loss impairs ATP biosynthesis and causes the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis, aging and dementia. Cholesterol inhibits the opening of the mPTP by preventing integration of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) in the outer mitochondrial membrane. This inhibition explains how elevated LDL reduces mitochondrial dysfunction by preventing loss of the active site of oxidative phosphorylation from mitochondria.
Correction: the oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 flavodiiron proteins

Correction for ‘The oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 flavodiiron proteins’ by Katherine A. Brown et al., Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9se00523d.
Effect of Sonic hedgehog activation on CXCR7 expression and CXCR4 signaling in medulloblastoma.

e13537 Background: Stratification of pediatric medullolastoma into molecular subtypes elevates hopes that subtype-specific therapy can be more efficacious and less toxic. To realize this goal, the ...
Analysis on the refractive state after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity

Objective To analyze the refractive state of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)after different methods of treatment . Methods The data of 114 eyes of 60 cases with ROP from 2013 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. All cases were divided randomly into laser treatment group and intravitreal injection group . The cycloplegic retinoscopy refraction data of children at 24 months were collected. The refractive status and related factors of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results The incidence rate of high myopia and astigmatism in laser treatment group were higher than those of intravitreal injection group, the difference were significant between the two groups (χ2=7.828, 2.705; P=0.000, 0.007). In laser treatment group the spherical equivalent refraction were smaller, the average column mirror degree were smaller and the axial length was longer, the difference were statistically significant between the two groups (χ2=2.329, 0.384, 2.184; P=0.034, 0.007, 0.039) .The differences in the incidence of hyperopia and myopia after treatment were statistically significant between multiple intravitreal injection and single injection(χ2=2.274, 3.052; P=0.023, 0.002 ). The spherical equivalent refraction were smaller and the axial length were longer in multiple intravitreal injection group, the differences were statistically significant(χ2=0.944, 2.381; P=0.036, 0.042). Conclusion The incidence of myopia and astigmatism are lower after inteavitreal injection for the treatment of ROP, and the effect of vision acuity is small. The incidence of myopia and astigmatism in ROP children treated with intravitreal injection is higher than that of single vitreous body injection for ROP. Key words: Retinopathy , prematurity; Treatment , laser; Intravitreal injection; Refraction
De novo enteric neurogenesis in post-embryonic zebrafish from Schwann cell precursors rather than resident cell types

The enteric nervous system is essential for normal gastrointestinal function, but evidence regarding postnatal enteric neurogenesis is conflicting. Using zebrafish as a model, we explored the origin of enteric neurons that arise in post-embryonic life in normal development and injury, and tested effects of the 5-HT4 receptor agonist, prucalopride. To assess enteric neurogenesis, all enteric neurons were photoconverted prior to time-lapse imaging to detect emergence of new neurons. Injury was modeled by two-photon laser ablation of enteric neurons. Lineage tracing was performed with neural tube injections of lipophilic dye and with an inducible Sox10-Cre line. Lastly, we tested the effect of prucalopride on post-embryonic enteric neurogenesis. The post-embryonic zebrafish intestine appears to lack resident neurogenic precursors and enteric glia. However, enteric neurogenesis persists post-embryonically during development and after injury. New enteric neurons arise from trunk neural crest-derived Schwann cell precursors. Prucalopride increases enteric neurogenesis in normal development and after injury if exposure occurs prior to injury. Enteric neurogenesis persists in the post-embryonic period in both normal development and injury, appears to arise from gut-extrinsic Schwann cell precursors, and is promoted by prucalopride.
Exaggerated Response of the Hyper-Oxaluric Stone Former to an Oxalate Load Test at Initial Metabolic Evaluation

Hyperoxaluria is an important risk factor for calcium oxalate stone disease. It may be due to increased metabolic production of oxalate, increased intestinal oxalate absorption, defective renal oxalate transport, or a combination of defects. The available data to date seem to suggest that in the idiopathic calcium stone former, there may be an increased intestinal source of oxalate1. However, there are conflicting data as to whether the increased intestinal absorption of oxalate is due to an increased oral intake or to an increased inherent capacity of the intestine to absorb oxalate1. Determination of the exact cause of hyperoxaluria in patients with calcium oxalate stones may lead to the development of more specific medical therapeutic strategies.
Reduction Versus the Expanding Manifold

Pursuits of psychologists, information scientists, and psychiatrists are ‘science-oriented.’ Commitment to material or observable events is via statistical ‘matches’ of concept to material or observable events. To change this becomes critical in a confluence of personal and socio-political. The block is strong in the case of the ‘Trio.’ For their forms of thinking, expression, and reflections in socio-political contexts, traditional logical form incorporating ‘truth’ is outflanked by schematic transformation—particularly, reversal of causal agents’ identity. The SV uses analogies. The pattern-to-pattern comparison is to logical form of paranoid reversals, not to particulars, like anxiety assigning responsibility. SV opens new relationships to a multi-ordered framework. Reversal patterns in syntactic assignment within sentences can be compared with schematic re-assignment of cause and outcome in other levels—macro (physiological) or micro-levels (electro-chemical.) Reversal patterns can be applied to historical or developmental sequence. Primitive mechanisms can exchange control over output with developed ones.
Is prolonged monitoring necessary? An updated approach to infantile hemangioma treatment with oral propranolol.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common soft-tissue tumors in childhood, occurring in up to 1 in 10 infants. Oral propranolol has been well established as the first-line treatment of complicated hemangiomas; however, variability in the administration protocol remains. We sought to evaluate our current propranolol treatment protocols to determine if the level of monitoring and follow-up predicts immediate or future adverse events by comparing one in-person visit vs two in-person visits versus teledermatology for treatment initiation and dose escalation. METHODS We analyzed retrospective data on 279 patients diagnosed with IH and treated with oral propranolol on an in-person or virtual telemedicine outpatient basis from January 01, 2015 through May 31, 2020. Data were collected via chart review on all aspects of patient demographics, treatment indication, treatment initiation, adverse events, and follow-up visits. RESULTS Two monitoring visits (Protocol 1) versus one (Protocol 2) was not associated with decreased adverse outcomes (P = .255). The odds of having an adverse event in Protocol 1 compared to Protocol 2 was insignificant (OR: 0.64; CI: 0.30-1.38). The most frequently reported adverse event among patients in both protocols was sleep disturbance. However, it did not vary significantly among the groups (P = .980, OR: 0.98, CI: 0.35-2.69). CONCLUSION Prolonged in-office monitoring of propranolol initiation and dose escalation (Protocol 1) may not be necessary for the setting of adequate prescreening as it does not predict immediate or future adverse events.
Utilizing SIOP lesson video demonstrations as a springboard for reflection: A collaborative self-study of EL teachers

This collaborative self-study explored three graduate students’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of viewing, editing, and sharing lesson demonstrations based on Sheltered Instruction Obse...
Asian-American Women: An Understudied Minority

This paper describes Asian-American women with their inter-ethnic, intergenerational connections. Diversities in race, ethnicity and socio-economic status influence their lives in family, participation in education, the labor force and community life. Issues and implications about the myth of Asian-American as model minority, the influence of feminism and social work service for Asian-American women are also discussed
Stochastic Steady-State Navier---Stokes Equations with Additive Random Noise

In this paper we investigate mathematically and numerically the two-dimensional stochastic steady-state incompressible Navier---Stokes equations with an additive random noise represented by a series in terms of truncated standard normal random variables and orthogonal basis functions. The existence and uniqueness of solutions are established. A statistical error estimate for the finite element methods is derived. A computational approach involving eigen-bases for a stochastic elliptic system is discussed and results of numerical tests are presented to validate the method.
Microstructures of Rare-Gas Films Adsorbed on Graphite: Classical and Quantum Simulations

Using the computer simulation techniques of classical and quantum statistical mechanics, we have studied the micro structures of rare-gas krypton and helium monolayer films physisorbed on graphite. While the adsorbate-adsorbate and adsorbate-substrate interactions are short-range and simple, the incommensurability of the unrelaxed rare-gas film and the graphite substrate gives rise to a relaxed modulated film structure exhibiting the symmetry of the substrate face with characteristic length scales spanning tens to thousands of angstroms. The distinct advantage of computer simulation is that these microstructures may be directly “seen” at the atomistic level.