cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C virus infection: clinical aspects and treatment with interferon alfa

Screening for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) has substantially reduced the risk of HCV infection from transfusion of blood and blood products. Nevertheless, new infections may continue to occur. These infections may be caused by donor infections that escape detection or by insufficient decontamination of blood products during preparation. Frequently, HCV infection becomes chronic, is clinically silent, and can be associated with extrahepatic illnesses and liver cancer. A recent outbreak of HCV infection in patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin has permitted study of this infection in immunocompromised hosts. Some evidence indicates that this infection is more virulent in these patients, and our experience at Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, substantiates this finding. In this article, epidemiology and modes of transmission of HCV, pathogenesis of HCV infections, differential diagnosis, and clinical features of HCV infection in both children and adults are discussed. Particular attention is given to the serologic findings seen in the spectrum of diseases associated with chronic HCV infection. The mechanisms of action of interferon alfa treatment of HCV infections are discussed. However, results of interferon alfa treatment of patients with HCV infection at Children's Hospital are preliminary.
What Makes a Disaster “Natural”?

Natural disasters differ from unnatural disasters not so much in their causes or in their effects but primarily in our reaction to them. In natural disasters nature plays the role of a catalyst. Yet nature does not provide a convenient enemy to rally against and attack in retribution. This in part explains why, unlike the social and political unity that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, violence and political turmoil ensued in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Pulsatility and the Risk of Nonsurgical Bleeding in Patients Supported With the Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device HeartMate II

Background—Bleeding is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Reduced pulsatility has been implicated as a contributing cause. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different degrees of pulsatility on the incidence of nonsurgical bleeding. Methods and Results—The Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals (U.T.A.H.) heart failure and transplant program databases were queried for patients with end-stage heart failure who required support with the continuous-flow LVAD HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) between 2004 and 2012. Pulsatility was evaluated by means of the LVAD parameter pulsatility index (PI) and by the echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve opening during the first 3 months of LVAD support. PI was analyzed as a continuous variable and also stratified according to tertiles of all the PI measurements during the study period (low PI: 5.2). Major ...
Antimicrobial Resistance of Shigella spp., Typhoid Salmonella and Nontyphoid Salmonella

At the end of the nineteenth century, the two great forms of dysentery were identified: sporadically occurring amoebic dysentery (amebiasis) and bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) that tended to produce outbreaks of diarrheal disease. Since first identified, Shigella spp. have been shown to be important causes of morbidity worldwide and for epidemic strains of S. dysenteriae type 1 (Shiga bacillus) major causes of mortality in tropical endemic regions.
The formation of polymerizable tubules

We have been investigating the crystallization behavior of the phospholipid amphiphile, 1,2 bis (10, 12-tricosadiynol)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, DC8,9PC, which forms both vesicles and hollow tubules as well as Langmuir Blodgett monolayers and multilayers. This material has polymerizable diacetylene groups in equivalent positions on the two hydrocarbon tails. The direct crystallization from solution of this amphiphile has been studied using different solvent mixtures and temperatures. The Langmuir Blodgett technique was also used to compress and orient the tubules.
Survival of Patients with Squamous Cell Malignancies of the Upper Urinary Tract

Background: Carcinomas of the renal pelvis and ureter are rare diseases, accounting for only about 1% of all urogenital malignancies. Previous reports suggest that squamous cell histology is associated with inferior survival. We present the largest population based analysis to date of survival in patients with upper urinary tract malignancies. Methods: We analyzed the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database for cancer specific survival rates in patients with renal pelvis and ureteral malignancies who were diagnosed between 1973 and 2003 in the SEER catchment geographic areas. The primary exposure of interest was the underlying histology, squamous cell versus transitional cell differentiation. We performed descriptive statistics, non parametric survival analysis, and cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: We identified 13,213 eligible patients, 7,716 renal pelvis and 5,497 ureteral carcinomas. Among this cohort, 179 patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 12,395 had transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), including 121 papillary, and 619 had other histologies. Overall, patients with SCC histology fared worse. The median overall survival time was 10 months for SCC and 63 months for TCC. The cox analysis revealed a HR 3.7 (95% CI 3.0–4.5) for SCC when compared to TCC and corrected for decade of diagnosis, age, gender, prior treatment, and race. The difference between the two groups was entirely attributable to survival differences in patients with loco-regional disease. However, when stratified by lymph node involvement this difference disappeared for patients with locally involved lymph nodes (P = 0.84) and for patients with clear lymph nodes (P = 0.92). Conclusions: SCCs of the upper urinary tract present at a higher clinical stage and appear to represent more aggressive disease when compared to other histologies. However, when appropriately staged according to lymph node status, the survival of TCC and SCC of the upper urinary tract is identical when compared stage by stage.
The Cost of Concreteness: The Effect of Nonessential Information on Analogical Transfer

Most theories of analogical transfer focus on similarities between the learning and transfer domains, where transfer is more likely between domains that share common surface features, similar elements, or common interpretations of structure. We suggest that characteristics of the learning instantiation alone can give rise to different levels of transfer. We propose that concreteness of the learning instantiation can hinder analogical transfer of well-defined structured concepts, such as mathematical concepts. We operationalize the term concreteness as the amount of information communicated through a specific instantiation of a concept. The 5 reported experiments with undergraduate students tested the hypothesis by presenting participants with the concept of a commutative mathematical group of order 3. The experiments varied the level of concreteness of the training instantiation and measured transfer of learning to a new instantiation. The results support the hypothesis, demonstrating better transfer from more generic instantiations (i.e., ones that communicate minimal extraneous information) than from more concrete instantiations. Specifically, concreteness was found to create an obstacle to successful structural alignment across domains, whereas generic instantiations led to spontaneous structural alignment. These findings have important implications for the theory of learning and transfer and practical implications for the design of educational material. Although some concreteness may activate prior knowledge and perhaps offer a leg up in the learning process, this benefit may come at the cost of transfer.
Acquired Male Urethral Diverticula: Presentation, Diagnosis and Management

Purpose: We describe the etiology, presentation, treatment and outcomes of men diagnosed with an acquired urethral diverticulum.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of men with an acquired urethral diverticulum in an 11-year period (2000 to 2011) at a tertiary care reconstructive practice. Patient demographics, history, presentation, anatomical details such as diverticulum size and location, management and outcomes were recorded. Technical success was defined as unobstructed urination without urinary tract infection.Results: A total of 22 men with an acquired urethral diverticulum were included in analysis. Median age at presentation was 48.5 years (range 18 to 86). Most commonly, patients presented with recurrent urinary tract infection, urinary dribbling, incontinence or a weak urinary stream. Of the 22 men 12 (54.5%) underwent urethral diverticulectomy and urethroplasty, 3 (13.5%) underwent ileal conduit urinary diversion and 7 (32%) were treated nonoperatively. Select cases w...
Family Evaluation in Custody Litigation: Reducing Risks of Ethical Infractions and Malpractice

Family Law litigant dissatisfaction with psychological evaluations during high-conflict cases is common and can activate litigants to file ethics complaints or malpractice lawsuits. The most critical aspects of a standardized evaluation protocol that lead to litigants believing that they have been fairly and thoroughly evaluated are discussed specifically.
Immanence and Configuration in Analogical Reasoning

The role of analogical reasoning has been extensively discussed by American archaeologists. Geologists and evolutionary biologists suggest two kinds of analogy are necessary in historical science. The distinction between immanent and configurational properties and processes in these affinal disciplines clarifies the role of analogical reasoning in archaeology. Examples of archaeological analogies reveals conflation of the two kinds of processes and properties. Distinction between immanence and configuration provides a basis to identify the potentials and pitfalls of analogical reasoning in archaeology.
A New N-Way Power Divider/Combiner Suitable for High-Power Applications

Theoretical and experimental results are presented on a new N-way power divider/combiner, which is an extension of the N-way combiner by Wilkinson. The main advantages of the new design are (1) external isolation loads, permitting high-power loads, (2) easily realizable geometry, and (3) monitoring capability for imbalances at the output ports. A trial 8-way combiner with 20% bandwidth at a center frequency of 1.15 GHz fully verified the new design concept.
Recovering From Spousal Bereavement in Later Life: Does Volunteer Participation Play a Role?

Objectives. Volunteering is an important component of social life but may be interrupted by life events. This research investigated how widowhood influences subsequent volunteer participation as well as the potential moderating effect volunteer participation may have in coping with the death of a spouse. Methods. Analysis of three waves (1986‐1994) of longitudinal data from the Americans’ Changing Lives study tested (a) the effect of widowhood on volunteer participation, (b) the influence of the timing since becoming widowed on volunteering and personal well-being, and (c) the interaction effects of volunteering and widowhood on personal wellbeing. A cross-sectional time-series design is used to test relationships with people aged 50 years and older at baseline. Results. Compared with their continually married counterparts, people who experienced spousal loss reported greater likelihood of pursuing volunteer roles, not immediately but a few years after the death of their spouse. Volunteer roles adopted after spousal loss protected against depressive symptoms, and increases in volunteer hours enhanced self-efficacy. Discussion. These patterns highlight the compensatory function of volunteer participation that helps to offset the negative impact of widowhood on well-being in later life.
ACR appropriateness criteria® adjuvant therapy in vulvar cancer

These American College of Radiology consensus guidelines were formed from an expert panel on the appropriate use of adjuvant therapy in vulvar cancer after primary treatment with surgery. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria® are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every 3 years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment. The panel reviewed the pertinent literature in vulvar cancer and voted on three variants to establish appropriate use of imaging, adjuvant radiation, including dose, fields, and technique, as well as adjuvant chemotherapy. This report will aid clinicians in selecting appropriate patients for adjuvant treatment and will provide guidelines for the optimal delivery of adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Control of infections caused by drug-resistant organisms in critical care

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has been an ongoing concern of infection-control and infectious disease practitioners. Infections caused by these organisms increase costs and may result in poorer outcomes for patients. Efforts to contain the problem of infections caused by drug-resistant organisms have two objectives: to optimize antibiotic use and to prevent transmission through effective infection-control practices.
Small-Group Standardized Patient Encounter Improves Athletic Training Students' Psychosocial Intervention and Referral Skills

Context: Athletic trainers provide psychological support, counseling, intervention, and referral to patients during clinical practice. However, students are rarely exposed to real-life opportunitie...
First RF characterization of InGaAs replacement metal gate (RMG) nFETs on SiGe-OI FinFETs fabricated by 3D monolithic integration

We report the first RF characterization of short-channel replacement metal gate (RMG) InGaAs-OI nFETs built in a 3D Monolithic (3DM) CMOS process. This process features RMG InGaAs-OI nFET top layer and SiGe-OI fin pFET bottom layer. We demonstrate state-of-the-art device integration on both levels. The bottom layer SiGe-OI pFETs are fabricated with a Gate-First (GF) process with fins scaled down to ∼15 nm width and featuring epitaxial raised source drain (RSD) and silicide. The top layer InGaAs nFETs are fabricated with a RMG process featuring a self-aligned epitaxial raised source drain (RSD). We show that the 3D monolithic integration scheme does not degrade the performance of the bottom SiGe-OI pFETs owing to an optimized thermal budget for the top InGaAs nFETs. From the RF characterizations performed (post-3D monolithic process) on multifinger-gate InGaAs-OI nFETs, we extract a cut-off frequency (Ft) of 16.4 GHz at a gate-length (Lg) of 120 nm. Measurements on various gate lengths shows increasing cut-off frequency with decreasing gate-length.
Blood Amylase Response to Acetylcholine and its Modification by Physostigmine and Atropine

Summary1. Intramuscular administration of acetylcholine in dogs results in an increase in the blood aniylase titre. 2. Physostigmine markedly increases the blood amylase response to acetylcholine. 3. Previous atropine admiinistration inhibits the blood amylase response to acetylcholine.
A Review of Pediatric Critical Care in Resource-Limited Settings: A Look at Past, Present, and Future Directions

Fifteen years ago, United Nations world leaders defined Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4): to reduce under-5 year mortality rates by two-thirds by the year 2015. Unfortunately, only 27 of 138 developing countries are expected to achieve MDG 4. The majority of childhood deaths in these settings result from reversible causes, and developing effective pediatric emergency and critical care services could substantially reduce this mortality. The Ebola outbreak highlighted the fragility of health care systems in resource-limited settings and emphasized the urgent need for a paradigm shift in the global approach to healthcare delivery related to critical illness. This review provides an overview of pediatric critical care in resource-limited settings and outlines strategies to address challenges specific to these areas. Implementation of these tools has the potential to move us toward delivery of an adequate standard of critical care for all children globally, and ultimately decrease global child mortality in resource-limited settings.
Urinary Ca2+ and the regulation of K+ secretion in toad bladder by neurohypophyseal hormones.

We measured net K+ fluxes in the isolated toad urinary bladder to determine whether neurohypophyseal hormones control K+ secretion in this tissue. To determine if the pathway involved in K+ secretion is similar to a Ca2+-blockable alkali cation channel in the apical membrane of toad bladder, previously described in electrophysiological studies, we measured K+ fluxes in either the presence or absence of Ca2+ in the mucosal bathing solution. Oxytocin enhanced K+ secretion in both cases; however, the enhancement was markedly greater in the absence of mucosal Ca2+. In other experiments the transepithelial voltage was held constant at a value of 120 mV (mucosa negative) to find whether hyperpolarization would enhance K+ secretion to the levels seen in Ca2+-free solutions. The response to oxytocin was markedly greater in the absence of mucosal Ca2+ even when the transepithelial voltage was continuously hyperpolarized. These observations suggest that the properties of the activated pathway are akin to those of the previously described Ca2+-blockable alkali cation channel. We also found that toad bladder urine often contained extremely low levels of Ca2+; therefore neurohypophyseal hormonal control of K+ transport across the bladder may play an important role in amphibian K+ balance.
Two new species of Odontacarus Ewing (Acarina: Trombiculidae) from California and Baja California, Mexico.

Odontacarus kromani , n. sp. off Neotoma lepida from Imperial Co., California, (types) and off Peromyscus crinitus from Baja California Norte, Mexico, and O. villosus , n. sp. off Peromyscus boylii from Plumas Co., California are described. Roth species have 2 setae on coxa II and O. villosus has 4–7 setae on coxa I.
The Style Guide as a Cost Reduction Tool

This paper explains the usefulness of the style guide as a cost reduction tool. The major areas of technical manual production are listed, and examples are provided of how the style guide can reduc...
A mechanism of resistance to Isolan in the house fly.

Selection of house flies ( Musca domestica L.) with Isolate®(l-isopropyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolyl dimethy1carbamate) resulted in a strain of flies with approximately 8-fold resistance to the insecticide. At the same time, aliphatic esterase activity in the selected strain declined to about 50% of that in the parent susceptible strain. The rate of decline in ali-esterase activity roughly paralleled the rate of increase in resistance. Genetic experiments indicated that resistance to Isolan and low aliphatic esterase activity were inherited in an identical manner and were either genetically linked or due to the same gene. Other experiments showed that flies of the resistant strain degraded Isolate at a higher rate than flies of the parent susceptible strain. The results suggest that the factor responsible for Iso-Ian resistance in the house fly strain studied is the same as the factor responsible for resistance to organophosphate insecticides in many fly strains. In both instances resistance is apparently due to mutant ali-esterases, which afford resistant strains an increased ability to degrade the insecticides to which they are resistant.
Comparison of indexing times among articles from medical, nursing, and pharmacy journals.

Purpose Results of an analysis of the times to indexing of articles published in medical, nursing, and pharmacy journals are reported. Methods MEDLINE data were retrieved for articles published in selected general practice medical, nursing, and pharmacy journals and entered into the PubMed system in 2012 and 2013. Collected data included PubMed entry date, date of indexing with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms, and publication characteristics. Survival analysis was performed to assess the primary outcome of time to indexing. Cox proportional hazards models were developed to assess the effect of healthcare discipline and source journal on the primary outcome. Results Data were collected for 19,259 articles, of which 78.7%, 12.6%, and 8.7% originated from medical, nursing, and pharmacy journals, respectively. For medical, pharmacy, and nursing journals, 97.8%, 90.8%, and 50.1% of articles, respectively, were indexed within one year of PubMed entry; the corresponding median (interquartile range) times to indexing were 52 (20–68), 186 (150–246), and 252 (168–301) days. Unadjusted hazard ratios derived from Cox models indicated that indexing within one year was significantly less likely for articles published in pharmacy or nursing journals versus medical journals and for articles from all evaluated journals versus a designated reference publication ( New England Journal of Medicine ). Conclusion Analysis of major medical, nursing, and pharmacy journals found that articles from nursing and pharmacy journals were indexed with MeSH terms more slowly than articles from medical journals. Journal identity was significantly associated with time to indexing.
Pathogenesis of Valve Calcification

Since glutaraldehyde was introduced in preservation of tissue valve prostheses in 1969 [5], the durability of these valves has greatly improved. However, the problem of degeneration and calcification continues to complicate the use of various glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue valves [2,3,7,9,10,15,16,18,22,25], especially following implantation in children and adolescents [4,6,8,11,17,24,26-28]. In the younger patient group, it is indicated that less than 50% of valves remain functional after 5 years of implantation [6]. Elevated heart rate and calcium turnover appear to be the causative factors in early calcification, although no clear- cut evidence has been offered. Renal failure may also render the patient more vulnerable to calcific complication [9,15,17,19], although its etiology has not been established.
The Basic Structures and Concepts of the Japanese Government

In 1889, a new Japanese government was constituted out of a period of turmoil in which the power of the Emperor had been dissipated, and feudal lords had divided and all but ruined the country. At that time, Japan’s first Constitution, called the Meiji Constitution, was created, and it restored the Emperor to the position of central, divine, and authoritarian power, and defined the government as subject to his will and the instrument of his authority.
Quantum Cascade Lasers

Quantum cascade (QC) lasers are semiconductor light sources based on intersubband (ISB) transitions, that is, electronic transitions between quantized conduction-band states in quantum-wells. As such, their emission wavelength is independent of the specific materials system employed and can be tuned by design over a broad spectral range. Following extensive research efforts, QC lasers have now become the leading semiconductor laser technology for the mid- and far-infrared spectral regions. This chapter begins with an introduction to the basic physics of ISB transitions, followed by a discussion of the key design principles of QC-laser gain media and optical cavities. The main operational parameters, including steady-state, dynamic, and spectral properties, are then described based on a simple rate-equation model. Finally, the performance of current state-of-the-art QC lasers and prospects for further developments are reviewed.
Nonindigenous Marine Jellyfish: Invasiveness, Invasibility, and Impacts

The marine jellyfishes (herein referring to pelagic scyphozoans, hydrozoans, and ctenophores) have been increasingly recognized as important nuisance species in ecosystems around the world, impacting fisheries, injuring swimmers, and clogging the intakes of power plants, among other effects. These animals have independently evolved life history and reproductive strategies that allow them to quickly reach large abundances and exert considerable ecological and economic impacts over their native ecosystems. However, many of these same adaptations have also led to the success of marine jellyfishes as bioinvaders, as many have established themselves as important predators in nonnative ecosystems around the globe. Here, we examine the role of marine jellyfishes as nonindigenous species. We begin by reviewing what is known about the invasion histories of the major nonindigenous jellyfishes and then analyze organismal attributes of marine jellyfishes that promote their success as bioinvaders (invasiveness) and characteristics of recipient ecosystems that increase likelihood of successful invasions by marine jellies (invasibility). We conclude by examining how these have interacted to determine which species have bloomed in their recipient ecosystems, exerting significant ecological and economic effects (impacts).
Short communication: Relationship of activity and rumination to abundance of pest flies among organically certified cows fed 3 levels of concentrate

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate activity, rumination time, and their association with 3 kinds of pasture flies for organic dairy cows (n=57) fed 3 grain supplementation strategies during the grazing season from May to September 2013. Cows were assigned to 1 of 3 replicate supplementation groups: (1) no corn-grain supplementation (100% pasture, PAS, n=19); (2) low corn-grain (2.72kg/cow per day, LG, n=19); and (3) high corn-grain (5.44kg/cow per day, HG, n=19). Cows calved during 2 seasons (fall and spring) at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, from October to December 2012 and March to May 2013. Supplement (corn-grain and minerals) was fed in a total mixed ration of corn silage and alfalfa silage, and at least 30% of diet dry matter intake for LG and HG cows consisted of pasture. Activity and rumination time (daily and 2-h blocks of time) were monitored electronically using HR-LD tags (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel) for 125d. Activity (cow body movement and head movement) was reported in activity units from SCR DataFlow II software, and rumination times were reported in minutes per day. PROC HPMIXED in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) was used for statistical analysis, and independent variables were season of calving (fall or spring), month of grazing (June to September), supplementation group, and interactions of month of grazing and supplementation group. Replicate was a random effect with repeated measures. Daily activity was higher for PAS cows (1,138 activity units) than for HG cows (1,001 activity units), and LG cows (1,019 activity units). Daily activity was highest in July (1,258 activity units) and lowest in September (819 activity units). Rumination was not different for PAS (397min/d), LG (384min/d), or HG (370min/d) cows. Daily rumination was greater in September (402min/d) than in July (361min/d). Daily activity increased rapidly between 0600–0800h and 1600–1800h. From 1800 to 2000h, cows had a rapid decline in activity until 0600h the next day. All supplementation groups had the greatest rumination activity from 0200 to 0400h and the least between 1000 and 1200h. Greater activity of cows on a herd basis was moderately correlated with increased fly populations. Monthly activity patterns of grazing cows were associated with fly populations on cows.
TCT-555 Impact of Stent Size Selection on Acute and Long-Term Outcomes after Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation in De Novo Coronary Lesions

The advent of bioresorbable scaffolds is redrawing attention to accurate device size selection. While significant undersizing often results in incomplete strut apposition (ISA) or underexpansion, possible impact of oversized stent implantation on arterial wall injury has not been systematically
Recursive Construction of Multichannel Transmission Lines with a Maximum Entropy Property

J. P. Burg gave a now-famous solution of the problem of finding the maximum-entropy extension of a section {c o, c 1,…, c n } of a scalar (stationary) covariance sequence, with a nice interpretation in terms of the reflection coefficients of an associated discrete transmission line: namely, that the maximum-entropy extension is obtained by adding trivial sections with zero reflection coefficients. This work inspired various extensions and generalizations, mostly without any associated physical interpretation. In this paper we shall use the generalized transmission lines associated with the basic triangular matrix factorization algorithms of the Displacement Structure Theory to obtain several interesting maximum entropy extension results. One is the perhaps surprising fact that Burg’s zero-reflection-coefficient extension solution may not always hold when the coefficients {c i } are matrix-valued.
Making our research matter

It is truly an honor to be editor of Communication Monographs – one of the flagship journals of our discipline. I am thankful to my colleagues for entrusting me with this position and for accompany...
Skip-Correlation for Multi-Power Wireless Carrier Sensing

Carrier sensing is a key mechanism that enables decentralized sharing of unlicensed spectrum. However, carrier sensing in its current form is fundamentally unsuitable when devices transmit at different power levels, a scenario increasingly common given the diversity of Wi-Fi APs in the market and the need for Wi-Fi’s co-existence with new upcoming standards such as LAA/LWA. The primary contribution of this paper is a novel carrier sensing mechanism — skip correlation — that extends carrier sensing to accommodate multiple transmit power levels. Through an FPGA based implementation on the WARP platform, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique in a variety of scenarios including support for backward compatibility.
Comparing measures of general and abdominal adiposity as predictors of blood pressure in college students

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare anthropometric measures of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) as predictors of blood pressure in college students. Participants: Students (N = 116) were recruited from November 2012 to May 2014 at an urban university and rural community colleges. Methods: Students underwent a brief physical examination during which anthropometric measures were obtained and blood pressure was measured. Covariates were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were used for the data analysis. Results: All anthropometric measures were predictive of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). WC was the strongest predictor of SBP (β = .582, p < .01) explaining an additional 3–4% of the variance than BMI, WHtR, or SAD. The measures were similar in predicting DBP. WC predicted SBP independent of BMI. Conclusions: Clinicians should consider using WC to assess the risk ...
P236 An algorithm for overcoming autoantibody interference in solid phase HLA antibody testing

Aim Autoimmunity introduces a variety of difficulties in interpretation of solid phase HLA antibody testing due to autoantibodies present in patient serum. However, because autoantibodies may be present without obvious symptoms or a clear diagnosis, this information is always available when interpreting HLA test results. The current study sought to establish a mechanism for detecting these patients and generate an algorithm for handling samples with autoantibodies. Methods We retrospectively searched the electronic medical record to identify patients with autoimmune disease who were tested by our lab for HLA alloantibodies, and further cataloged any issues encountered during testing of these patients’ samples. This information was subsequently used to formulate an algorithm for testing autoimmune samples. Results A total of 214 patients with diagnosed autoimmunity were identified, including patients with organ-specific autoimmune conditions, most commonly type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 43, 20%), and systemic autoimmune conditions, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 29, 13.6%) and Sarcoidosis (n = 6, 2.8%). The most common issues encountered during testing were found to be high background on solid-phase antibody testing (n = 38, 17.8%), difficulties in assigning Ab specificities (n = 10, 4.7%), many allele specific antibody assignments (n = 5, 2.3%); and antibodies against self HLA antigens (n = 1, 0.5%). A workflow was designed to detect these patients and handle their samples (Fig. 1). Conclusions Using patients with diagnosed autoimmunity, we identified a high rate of interference of autoantibodies with solid phase HLA antibody assays. Extrapolating these results to a testing algorithm, we hope to be able to more readily detect and document patient samples that require special handling for autoantibody interference, even in the absence of an official autoimmunity diagnosis. Download : Download high-res image (170KB) Download : Download full-size image
The Integration of Exercise and Dietary Lifestyle Interventions into Prostate Cancer Care

Prostate cancer (PCa) is among the most prevalent forms of cancer among American men. For many decades, androgen deprivation therapy and newer drugs inhibiting various aspects of aberrant androgen signaling, have been a mainstay of therapy and are increasingly incorporated into multimodality treatment plans for men with prostate cancer. Although improving rate of cure and promoting survival, the adverse effects of anti-androgen therapy place men at increased risk from loss of muscle mass, sarcopenic obesity, functional declines, and metabolic syndrome and its many sequela, such as cardiovascular disease. Consequently, there is growing interest in the feasibility and efficacy of implementing lifestyle interventions that have the potential to improve treatment outcomes and support quality of life and functional status men impacted by PCa patients. The purpose of the present chapter is to provide an overview of the current scientific evidence regarding the impact of dietary intervention and exercise, both separately and in combination, for men with PCa. Although the number of studies remains modest, current evidence demonstrates that exercise, diet, and combined exercise and dietary interventions can result in significant, clinically meaningful improvements in a variety of health, fitness, and quality of life outcomes among PCa patients. The emerging evidence supports the need for studies to optimize and personalize strategies integrating lifestyle exercise and dietary interventions into the multi-disciplinary treatment strategies that improve outcomes and quality of life for men with PCa.
Quantitative evaluation of thin uranium foils using X-ray radiography

Abstract The quality of research reactor fuel plates fabricated for irradiation testing purposes is dependent on the distribution of uranium bearing fuel phase within the fuel meat. This distribution is routinely monitored in plate type fuel to avoid excessive variability in local power that can lead to ‘hot spots’ that increase the probability for fuel failure. X-ray imaging has been routinely used to successfully eliminate this failure mode. However, characterization of this variability at a much higher resolution is also critical to support fuel performance assessment and traditional analysis techniques are not sufficient to meet research needs. An accurate and reproducible method for using X-ray imaging to non-destructively locate the distributed fuel phase and to evaluate the local uranium density in a fuel plate has been developed and is discussed in this paper. Four mini research reactor fuel plats were radiographed along with a well characterized U-8Mo step wedge using identical radiography exposure conditions. The intensity distribution inside the foil were then correlated with the intensity values of the U-8Mo step wedge. Considering the attenuation and density, the spatial distribution of effective fuel thickness was estimated and eventually the distribution of average fuel loading for each fuel plate was estimated. Results demonstrate that the X-ray imaging can be utilized to estimate fuel loading variation in the fuel plate samples and can serve as a representative method for the assessment of nuclear fuels plates for research purposes.
Salt substitutes and medicinal potassium sources: risks and benefits.

The purpose of this investigation was to gather and summarize currently available product information on salt substitutes, low-sodium products, and medicinal potassium supplements. A review of the literature identified both risks (e.g., hyperkalemia) and benefits (e.g., changing sodiurm:potassium ratios, and low-cost substitutes for medicinal potassium replacement) resulting from the use of salt substitutes. Risks and benefits are related to individual patient conditions and treatment plans. Nutritionists and physicians must be aware of the medicinal and dietary potassium sources and be able to educate patients in the proper use of the products. Lists of medicinal and dietary sources of potassium are provided to aid health professionals in determining appropriate potassium equivalents. Case reports from the literature of patients developing hyperkalemia secondary to the use of salt substitutes are summarized. Regular monitoring of serum potassium levels is necessary to achieve and maintain normal values.
Emmanuel Levinas’s Non-existent God

Twentieth century French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas describes a God that is wholly human, is always good, and does not exist. Explaining this startling combination of themes, this paper will present Levinas’s novel model of a divinity whose transcendence allows Levinas’s model to either incorporate or sidestep certain modern objections to traditional theology, whose connection to humanity inspires a deeply satisfying view of human and divine nature, and whose exclusively ethical significance promotes peace in a violent world.
Case studies of coastal conflicts: comparative US/European experiences

One of the projects of the Consortium for Transatlantic Cooperation in Marine Policy and Coastal Management Education is the preparation of student-written case studies on marine and coastal conflicts using a common framework. This special issue presents six of these case studies researched and written by graduate students from the Consortium's six academic partners (University of Delaware, University of Genova, University of Massachusetts, University of Miami, University of Sevilla, University of Wales - Cardiff). The issue includes one case from each academic partner that reflects local coastal management issues, as well as the academic focus and orientation of the institution. We believe that these case studies, although focusing on the Atlantic coasts of the US and Western Europe, will be of great interest and use to students, practitioners, and analysts of marine and coastal policy anywhere.
Prologue: On Dissent -- Its Meaning in America

America values dissent. It tolerates, encourages, and protects it. But what is this thing we value? That is a question never asked. "Dissent" is treated as a known fact. For all that has been said about dissent – in books, articles, judicial opinions, and popular culture – it is remarkable that no one has devoted much, if any, ink to explaining what dissent is. No one has attempted to sketch its philosophical, linguistic, legal, or cultural meanings or usages. There is a need to develop some clarity about this phenomenon we call dissent, for not every difference of opinion, symbolic gesture, public activity in opposition to government policy, incitement to direct action, revolutionary effort, or political assassination needs to be tagged dissent. In essence, we have no conceptual yardstick. It is just that measure of meaning that On Dissent offers.
Lung transplant patients with coronary artery disease rarely die of cardiac causes.

Background A relative contraindication for lung transplant (LT) is coronary disease burden sufficient to cause risk of myocardial infarction after LT. We analyzed cause of death and outcomes of our LT patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Inpatient records from March 1, 2004, to January 31, 2015, were retrospectively examined and data of 306 LTs extracted. Twenty-five patients without coronary angiography (CA) and 7 with redo LTs were excluded. The other 274 patients were divided into 2 groups: CAD (n = 116) and no CAD (n = 158). Patients with prior revascularization or coronary stenosis >10% were placed into the CAD group. Results The CAD group was older and had more male patients, greater history of smoking and hypertension, and greater proportion of patients with interstitial lung disease than the no-CAD group. CAD patients were more likely to receive a single-lung transplant. Death of cardiac causes occurred for 2 patients (1.7%) in the CAD group and for 1 patient (0.6%) in the no-CAD group (P = 0.39). Conclusions This analysis shows that compared with patients who have no CAD, patients with CAD have different demographic characteristics and receive more single-lung transplants. Incidence of death of cardiac causes is rare.
Stress response protein GJA1-20k promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic quiescence, and cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Connexin 43 (Cx43), a product of the GJA1 gene, is a gap junction protein facilitating intercellular communication between cardiomyocytes. Cx43 protects the heart from ischemic injury by mechanisms that are not well understood. GJA1 mRNA can undergo alternative translation, generating smaller isoforms in the heart, with GJA1-20k being the most abundant. Here, we report that ischemic and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries upregulate endogenous GJA1-20k protein in the heart, which targets to cardiac mitochondria and associates with the outer mitochondrial membrane. Exploring the functional consequence of increased GJA1-20k, we found that AAV9-mediated gene transfer of GJA1-20k in mouse hearts increases mitochondrial biogenesis while reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, and ROS production. By doing so, GJA1-20k promotes a protective mitochondrial phenotype, as seen with ischemic preconditioning (IPC), which also increases endogenous GJA1-20k in heart lysates and mitochondrial fractions. As a result, AAV9-GJA1-20k pretreatment reduces myocardial infarct size in mouse hearts subjected to in vivo ischemic injury or ex vivo I/R injury, similar to an IPC-induced cardioprotective effect. In conclusion, GJA1-20k is an endogenous stress response protein that induces mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic hibernation, preconditioning the heart against I/R insults. Introduction of exogenous GJA1-20k is a putative therapeutic strategy for patients undergoing anticipated ischemic injury.
The differential impact of the Dodd–Frank Act on niche non-metro lenders

Provisions of the Dodd–Frank Act increase the transparency of real estate transactions between financial institutions and consumers. The Act imposes substantial compliance costs on all financial institutions. In non-metro areas, cooperative lenders may be the only source of real estate loan products. In this study, we investigate whether compliance with the Act has caused some cooperative financial institutions to bear heavier compliance burdens than others and to deduce the subsequent consequences for consolidation and corporate governance. Using a dataset of non-metro credit unions and all agricultural credit associations, we observe that compliance costs have decreased cooperative financial institution financial performance and likely caused the exit or failure to enter smaller institutions. Cooperative financial institutions have redistributed control and operations management instead of wealth.
An Overview of Machine Learning and HPC in Open Sources for Bioinformatics

With development of recent open source software in HPC, such as Hadoop project, bioinformatics applications with large scale biological data can be solved more efficiently. The emerging machine learning algorithms are widely adapted for analysis, recognition and prediction. This paper will survey recent literatures about open source software of machine learning and HPC for bioinformatics applications. The commonly used machine learning algorithms for bioinformatics applications will be summarized here, and the situations of HPC adaption are also provided. Finally, the issues of future usages of machine learning for bioinformatics applications will be included.
Economic Efficiency of Broad Bean Crop Production During the 2017 Agricultural Season

This study aims to estimate the economic efficiency of using economic resources to produce broad bean crop with their technical and allocation efficiency . It also aims to do a comparison between the optimum quantities and the actual quantities of used resources. Data were collected through a questionnaire of 20 crop growers in the Al-Qadisiyah province / Al -Badair county during 2017 planting season. This research Using data envelopment analysis in the assessment of economic efficiency and the separation of its components into technical and allocation efficiencies in achieving its objectives. Input oriented models are used under constant and variable Scale returns in the technical efficiency calculation. Variable Scale return is used in allocation efficiency and cost efficiency calculation. capacity efficiency average was 77%, and technical efficiency reached an average of about 81%. This indicates that the sample farmers can achieve the same level of production using 77% of the production resources with maintaining the current level of production. Cost efficiency averaged about 40%, which indicating that the sample bear additional costs of 40%. The research reached many results related to economic efficiency, including the waste of economic resources resulting in cost increases. Therefore, the research recommends to use of production inputs according to the scientifically recommended quantities and ways, especially the quantity of seeds and fertilizers, in line with the crop needs to reach optimum efficiency.
The asymmetric auditory cortex

Which side of the brain does what in speech and language processing is a debate that has engaged and divided the neuroscientific community for more than a century. A new study by Flinker et al. provides a more nuanced interpretation of how the left and right hemispheres of the brain process acoustic information important for speech processing.
The model minority stereotype and the national identity question: the challenges facing Asian immigrants and their children*

A central issue in contemporary debates over immigration concerns how immigrants from diverse origins become integrated into their host nation. The children of Asian immigrants in the United States...