cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kabuki Syndrome and Anorectal Malformations: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by a distinctive facies, intellectual disability, growth delay, and a variety of skeletal, visceral, and other anomalies, including anorectal malformations (ARMs). We present two cases of female patients with KS, diagnosed and successfully managed at our institution, one with a perineal fistula and one with a rectovestibular fistula. Our report, along with a literature review, shows that the syndrome is usually associated with “low” anomalies, with a potential for a good prognosis. Management of the anorectal anomaly in patients with KS is not essentially different from that in other nonsyndromic patients, taking into account the frequent association of the syndrome with serious congenital heart disease, which might affect the decision-making and timing of the stages of anorectal reconstruction. The frequent occurrence of learning and feeding difficulties makes establishment of toilet training and bowel management rather more challenging, requiring the expertise of a multidisciplinary team. The finding of ARMs in female patients with other characteristics of KS, although inconstant, could support the clinical suspicion for the syndrome until genetic confirmation is available, and should alert the physician for the potential of severe cardiac defects.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ubiquitination as a mechanism of acquired resistance to the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab

4082 Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-blocking antibody that has been approved for treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Cancer cells can develop resistance to cetuximab treatment. To explore potential resistant mechanism by which colorectal cancer cells acquire after treatment with cetuximab, we investigated biochemical changes in signaling pathways of a cetuximab-resistant subline of DiFi colorectal cancer cells (DiFi5) that was developed by exposing the cells to sub-effective doses of cetuximab over an extended period of time. Compared with parental DiFi cells that express high levels of EGFR, and in which cetuximab induces apoptosis, the cetuximab-resistant DiFi5 showed markedly lower protein levels of the EGFR, an increased association of EGFR with Cbl, and an increase in ubiquitination of EGFR. DiFi5 cells also contained a markedly higher level of Src-Y416 phosphorylation both at baseline and upon EGF stimulation. Although EGFR levels were low, DiFi5 cells responded to EGF stimulation with robust phosphorylation of EGFR on Y845 and strong phosphorylation of Akt and MAPK comparable to parental DiFi cells. Inhibition of Src kinase activity with PP2 strongly inhibited EGF-induced phosphorylation of Akt in both DiFi and DiFi5 cells. PP2 treatment did not alter MAPK phosphorylation in DiFi cells and even led to an elevation of MAPK phosphorylation in DiFi5 cells both at baseline and upon EGF stimulation. Most importantly, inhibition of Src kinase activity with PP2 reverses the resistance of DiFi5 cells to cetuximab-induced apoptosis without affecting the levels of EGFR in the cells. In summary, our data show that colorectal cancer cells can develop acquired resistance to cetuximab via EGFR ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation as well as through Src kinase-mediated signaling as an alternative pathway for cell growth and survival. As inhibitors to the EGFR are in clinical use and Src inhibitors are in clinical trials, our results suggest a novel combinatorial therapy targeting either concurrently or sequentially the EGFR and Src for cancer treatment.
Program for plant germplasm preservation in the United States: the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System

The United States’ National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) coordinates Federal, State, and private sector efforts to collect, maintain, and preserve plant germplasm for potential use in the improvement of crops used in agriculture and industry. The NPGS accomplishes its functions by use of specialized units organized to provide operational, advisory, and administrative support. Base and working collections of all important crop plants in the U.S. are maintained as seed, whole plants, or plant parts in special facilities. These collections are evaluated, enhanced, and distributed under policies that assure accessibility, genetic integrity, and long-term security. The NPGS is supported by research programs to enhance use of genetic diversity and to develop safe and economical methods of alternative preservation. The Germplasm Resources Information Network, a centralized national information repository, is a source of readily available information about NPGS collections. The NPGS maintains active relations with the international plant germplasm system through exchanges of genetic materials and serves as a backup repository for international collections of maize, rice and other crops.
Chronic toxicity of gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane in the albino rat.

ConclusionGamma benzene hexachloride, mixed with highly purified rations, is toxic to the weanling and adult albino rat. The addition of inositol does not alleviate the toxic symptomatology of γ-BHC.
Ion exchange in dimethylsulfoxide media. I. Distribution studies with group II A, III A, and IV A cations.

Distribution ratios between Dowex 50 W-X 8 resin and DMSO-H2O-HCl systems have been determined for Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ga, In, Sn(II) and Pb(II) as a function of both DMSO content and HCl-molarity. At high DMSO concentrations and high HCl concentrations theD values for all metal ions were not much different from those in corresponding aqueous systems. However, at lower and intermediate HCl concentrations (0.10 to 0.60M) D values differed greatly from those in aqueous systems, especially in the range from 20 to 50 mole% DMSO. Maxima in the logD vs. mole% DMSO plots at constant HCl concentrations were obtained for all cations except Sn(II) and Pb(II). Separation procedures for various pairs and combinations of cations seem feasible in DMSO-media [e. g., Ga/In and Sn(II)/Pb(II)] and the DMSO-water system is suggested as a very promising novel solvent medium for ion exchange separations.
Plant Feeding by Geocoris pallens and Nabis americoferus

The hemipterous insects Geocoris spp. and Nabis spp. are frequently associated with cotton and are generally recognized as predators of other insects (Whitcomb and Bell 1964, van den Bosch and Hagen 1966). Specifically, laboratory studies have indicated that representatives of both genera are predaceous on eggs and larvae of Heliothis spp. (Lingren 1964[4][1]). However, Geocoris spp. also have been reported to feed on plants (York 1944), and field and laboratory studies have indicated that Geocoris spp. and Nabis spp. may be adversely affected by application of systemic insecticides to cotton (Ridgway et al. 1967). Experiments were therefore conducted in the laboratory to study the plant-feeding habits of G. pallens Stal and N. americoferus Carayon. Hereafter, these species will be referred to by their generic name only. [1]: #fn-4
Nanocomposite Thin Films of Transition Metal Carbides Fabricated Using Pulsed Laser Deposition

A study has been conducted on the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of transition metal carbides in order to examine alloying and phase formation in binary systems. Alternating layers of TiC/ZrC and ZrC/VC were deposited at 400 C and 5 mTorr Ar with nominal period thicknesses of 0.6 nm, 10.0 nm, and 50.0 nm. ZrC/VC x-ray diffraction analysis showed that the alloys were amorphous and the TiC/ZrC alloys were crystalline. The thicker films showed a higher degree of phase separation of the two compounds. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the amorphous structure in the 0.6 nm ZrC/VC film, while the 50.0 nm film showed a layered structure and extremely fine grain size.
Automation of size fractionation to extract clays and silts

The objective of this study was to build an automated size fractionator to process up to 16 samples at one time. Most parts used in the apparatus are inexpensive items, available from lawn irrigation, household appliance and aquatic pet supply stores. The device can be used to extract different silt and clay fractions by changing sedimentation time. A bentonite, a kaolin and an iron-oxide-rich Oxisol were fractionated by this instrument to sequentially extract particles that have sizes equivalent to <2 μm, <5 μm, <10 μm and <20 μm quartz spheres. A laser diffraction particle size analyser revealed size differences in the different fractions and also showed that the silt fractions contained particles having slightly larger sizes than the assumed diameters of spherical quartz. Scanning electron microscope examination suggested that the greater particle size was mainly due to the non-spherical shapes of the particles and a reduced bulk density of the porous aggregates.
The Morbidity of DVT with Heart Failure,Stroke,Cancer and Bone Trauma of Low Extremity,and PE in DVT

Objective To investigate morbidity of deep venous thromb os is(DVT) in patients with congestive heart failure,cancer,stroke and bone trauma of low extremity,meanwhile,to estimate incidence of pulmonary embolism(PE) among patients with DVT.Methods DVT was detected with Doppler technique i n 430 consecutive patients with cancer(106 cases),stroke(120),bone trauma of low extremity (104) and congestive heart failure(100) who did not accept any antico agulant before.PE was diagnose using radionuclide pulmonary ventilation/perf usio n scan in 36 DVT patients.Results 18 DVT cases were found among 430 patients,the incidence was 4.2%.Of them,5 cases(5%) in congestive heart failure, 3 cases(2.83%) in cancer,2(1.92%) cases in bone trauma of low extremity,8(6.67%) cases in stroke.4 cases of PE were found among 36 patients with DVT.The morbidi t y of PE was 11.11%.Conclusion The morbidities of DVT,PE in investiga ted inpatients were less than those in Western Country.The DVT in right lower ex tremity was likely to lead to PE.\;
Process Optimization for Ultrasonic-assisted Solvent Extraction of Proanthocyanidins from Areca catechu L. Fruit by Response Surface Analysis

The purpose of the current study was the optimization of the process for the solvent extraction of proanthocyanidins from Areca catechu L. fruit with ultrasonic assistance. First of all,the selection of extraction solvent was investigated. Secondly,one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experiments were done to figure out the effects of five process parameters for the extraction of proanthocyanidins with acetone aqueous solution,including acetone concentration in aqueous solution,extraction temperature,material-to-liquid ratio,ultrasonic power and ultrasonic treatment time on the extraction rate of proanthocyanidins. Thirdly,the relationship of the extraction rate of proanthocyanidins with the other four extraction conditions except extraction temperature was mathematically modeled on the basis of a four-variable,three-level central composite design (CCD) with 26 runs. Finally,the model established was subjected to analysis of variance to test the significance of various variables and response surface analysis to understand their pairwise interactive effects on the function. From the above investigations and analysis,we determined the optimum conditions for the extraction of proanthocyanidins from Areca catechu L. fruit to be:ultrasonic power of 600 W,ultrasonic treatment time of 16 min,the ratio of material to solvent of 1:40 (g/mL) and acetone concentration of 81%. Under these conditions,the maximum extraction rate of proanthocyanidins was up to 3.41%.
Current management of patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Safe, efficient managemet of lower gastrointestinal bleeding depends on the development of clinical protocols that distinguish and address differences in the patient population. Crude assessment of the bleeding rate based on history, physical examination, and readily accessible laboratory studies is sufficient to characterize the urgency of the problem and to assign an appropriate paradigm. The estimated bleeding rate is used primarily to establish the priority that must be given to resuscitative, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions.
Alcohol abstention in early adulthood and premature mortality: Do early life factors, social support, and health explain this association?

Abstract Objective Adult alcohol abstainers have a heightened risk of premature mortality compared to light-to-moderate drinkers. We examine three plausible explanations, other than lack of alcohol, for this observed difference: Abstainers 1) have early life disadvantages that undermine long-term health; 2) lack social support; 3) are less healthy. Method In the National Child Development Study, an ongoing national British cohort study of individuals born in 1958, we investigated whether early life disadvantages, lack of social support, and poor physical health reduce or eliminate the elevated risk of mortality through age 51 among those abstaining from alcohol at age 33. Using Cox proportional hazard models in a stepwise approach we examined whether the alcohol-mortality relationship changed when potential confounders were included. Results The risk of mortality by age 51 was greater among age-33 abstainers compared to light drinkers (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.40, 3.40). Including early life disadvantages and social support in the hazard models did not alter these associations (HR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.27, 3.54). Including physical health in the model resulted in a 25% reduction in risk of death among abstainers, though the difference in risk remained statistically significant (HR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.94). Conclusions Abstaining from alcohol in early adulthood, in comparison to light drinking, predicts increased risk for premature mortality, even after accounting for numerous early and young adult confounders. Future research should examine potential moderators of this association.
Effect of calorie or exercise labels on menus on calories and macronutrients ordered and calories from specific foods in Hispanic participants: a randomized study

The effect of menu labels on food choices is unknown in Hispanics. This study evaluated the impact of menu labels on calories and macronutrients ordered in Hispanics. 372 Hispanics (18–65 years) were randomly assigned to menus with no labels (NL) (n=127), rank-ordered calorie labels plus a statement on energy needs per meal (CL) (n=123), or rank-ordered exercise labels showing minutes of brisk walking necessary to burn the food calories (EL) (n=122). The menus had identical food choices. Participants were instructed to select foods from the assigned menu as if having lunch in a fast food restaurant. One-way analysis of variance found no difference in calories ordered (median (25th and 75th centiles)) by menu condition (NL: 785.0 (465.0, 1010.0) kcal; CL: 790.0 (510.0, 1020.0) kcal; EL: 752.5 (520.0, 1033.8) kcal; p=0.75). Calories from specific foods and macronutrient intake were not different by menu condition. Menu label use was 26.8% in the CL and 25.4% in the EL condition. Calories ordered were not different between those who used and those who did not use the labels. Regression analysis showed that perception of being overweight (p=0.02), selecting foods based on health value (p Trial registration number NCT02804503; post-results.
Rituximab in the treatment of pemphigus

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Autoantibodies against molecules that bind keratinocytes to each other in the skin or mucosa leads to cell separation known as acantholysis. Flaccid blisters and erosions are characteristic clinical representations. The disease could be controlled with conventional therapy consisting of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. Long term use of these agents can lead to severe, and not infrequently, catastrophic or life threatening adverse events. Rituximab is a B-cell depleting agent that has been used in treating pemphigus patients that are non-responsive to conventional therapy, or have developed side effects to it or have contraindications to their use.Areas covered: This expert opinion based on a thorough review of the literature focuses on the use of rituximab in the treatment of pemphigus. The main areas of coverage include its market needs, clinical outco...
The need for heterogeneous network-on-chip architectures with GPGPUs: A case study with photonic interconnects

Future multicore chips will have hundreds of heterogeneous components including processing engines, custom logic, GPU units, programmable fabrics, and distributed memory. Such multicore chips are expected to run varied multiple parallel workloads simultaneously. Hence different communicating cores will require different bandwidths leading to the necessity of a heterogeneous network-on-chip (NoC) architecture. Simply over-provisioning for performance will invariably result in loss of power efficiency. Moreover, depending on operating conditions, the required bandwidth between different cores might vary dynamically at runtime. On the other hand, recent research has shown that photonic interconnects are capable of achieving high-bandwidth and energy-efficient on-chip data transfer. In this chapter we propose a dynamic heterogeneous photonic NoC architecture with dynamic bandwidth allocation to achieve better performance and energy efficiency compared to a homogeneous photonic NoC architecture with the same aggregate data bandwidth.
Per-oral Endoscopic Myotomy

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy, or POEM, has emerged as the most innovative therapy in achalasia after its introduction in 2008 and the most successful application of NOTES to date. Moreover, it is the prototype for the burgeoning field of tunnel endoscopy. It represents the endoscopic equivalent of laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM). POEM has been well validated in terms of impressive efficacy and notable safety and is being now performed all over the world by both surgeons and gastroenterologists. We will describe POEM development, patient evaluation, technique, postprocedural care, complications, accumulating longer-term data, comparison with other achalasia therapy, training concerns, and perspectives for the future.
Dr. Santorio's Water Current Meter, Circa 1610

A water current meter, and a similarly-constructed anemometer are shown to have been made in about 1610 by an Italian physician, Dr. Santorio Santorio, (1561-1636). It is contended that current meters (in contrast to ordinary floats) had been under consideration for over 100 years before the advent of either Pitot or Woltman (who are usually credited for having originally introduced such an innovation). A suggestion is offered that the development work on current meters during those intervening years might be an interesting subject for further research. Dr. Santorio made these instruments for determining the critical velocity conditions below which the noise of blusterous winds and a tumultuous waterfall tended to soothe, and above which it tended to disturb his patients in a certain area in Croatia (now Yugoslavia). Illustrations of those instruments, as drawn by Dr. Santorio, are presented.
Coherence in Multielement-Phased Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Arrays Using Resonance Tuning

We show that optical coupling can be achieved reproducibly and with high yield by resonance tuning the elements of substrate-emitting and top-emitting vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays. The resonance tuning is enabled by electrical isolation of the lasing elements in the array, which in this paper is done by post fabrication processing. Prior to electrical isolation, the laser arrays exhibit incoherent optical properties. Using resonance tuning, both in-phase and out-of-phase coherent modes are observed.
Comparing Violent Victimization Experiences of Male and Female College-Attending Emerging Adults:

Despite increased attention to college student victimization, gaps remain. In particular, relatively little is known about violence against males and females outside sexual and intimate partner violence. This study uses data from the National Crime Victimization Survey to compare male and female students' violent victimization overall as well as relational and sexual violence. Findings reveal gendered differences and similarities. Results have implications for policies to prevent violence and support victims. Implications for victim services are particularly relevant given the critical developmental period for college students learning coping skills that shape their adult lives and addressing harms resulting from violent victimization.
Silencing of OsGRXS17 in rice improves drought stress tolerance by modulating ROS accumulation and stomatal closure

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) modulate redox-dependent signaling pathways and have emerged as key mediators in plant responses to environmental stimuli. Here we report that RNAi-mediated suppression of Oryza sativa GRXS17 (OsGRXS17) improved drought tolerance in rice. Gene expression studies showed that OsGRXS17 was present throughout the plant and that transcript abundance increased in response to drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Localization studies, utilizing GFP-OsGRXS17 fusion proteins, indicated that OsGRXS17 resides in both the cytoplasm and the nuclear envelope. Under drought stress conditions, rice plants with reduced OsGRXS17 expression showed lower rates of water loss and stomatal conductance, higher relative water content, and enhanced survival compared to wild-type controls. Further characterization of the OsGRXS17 down-regulated plants revealed an elevation in H2O2 production within the guard cells, increased sensitivity to ABA, and a reduction in stomatal apertures. The findings demonstrate a critical link between OsGRXS17, the modulation of guard cell H2O2 concentrations, and stomatal closure, expanding our understanding of the mechanisms governing plant responses to drought.
The Outsourcing of Ethical Thinking

The teaching of professional rules, procedures and standards, as well as the existence of ethics committees and legal advisers to achieve desired behaviours for a given profession, produces an unfo...
Mapping In Situ Optical Properties in Coastal Waters Using Slocum Gliders During RIMPAC

Abstract : Characterizing in situ water turbidity is critical to numerous naval operations. In particular, water column turbidity impacts the efficacy of sensors that use optical measurements for a variety of purposes including laser detection of mines and prediction of the operational detection horizon for bioluminescence. To this end we have been developing an autonomous platform outfitted with this sensor package and reporting the data in near-real time prior to and during advance into a battle space. The endurance, water column coverage, stealth, and mobility of the Slocum Coastal Glider provides an ideal platform when coupled with the correct optical suite to accomplish this utility. During the MIREM 2004 and 2005 efforts we in collaboration with WetLabs and Metron have demonstrated that the Webb gliders are capable of carrying the optical sensors appropriate for mapping the incident optical conditions in mesotrophic coastal waters. Building on these accomplishments, our goal in 2006 was to demonstrate the capability of Webb gliders to characterize the optical properties in oligotrophic waters within the nearshore operational zone of the 2006 RIMPAC field effort. In June and July of 2006 an exercise was conducted with the AQS-24 Laser Line Scan (LLS) system during the RIMPAC operation offshore Hawaii. Our goal was in support of this effort was to map the in-water optical properties to assess the potential, performance of the AQS-24 system. Specifically for the LLS, the performance issues to be focused on include the reacquisition and identification probabilities in a diverse range of coastal waters. Building off these efforts we during the 2008 RIMPAC effort flew three gliders and supported Glider operations of the NAVOOCEANO gliders.
Materials Characterization: Definition, Philosophy and Overview of Conference

In the 21st century, the Army will require materials with maximum achievable performance and high reliability at the lowest possible cost. However, current problems associated with excessive reject rates and failures of prototype and fielded high technology systems suggest that dramatic changes must take place given current trends and future requirements. These problems combined with the phase-out of manufacturing arsenals and associated procurement laws necessitate the use of unambiguous specifications which include the full projected life of the system. Moreover, the emergence and actual use of nontraditional, advanced materials like composites, polymers and high performance ceramics and the need for man-rating merely exacerbates the problem.
Effects of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms on fish community structure on the West Florida Shelf

Abstract Blooms of the Karenia brevis dinoflagellate can create devastating effects on marine communities off the west coast of Florida when they release a suite of neurotoxins known as brevetoxins (PbTx). These blooms, informally referred to as red tides, can cause massive fish kills, necessitate closures of shellfish fisheries, and can even leave lingering toxins that impact shelf communities long after the bloom has dissipated. Much effort has been put into studying K. brevis bloom initiation and dynamics, however, predicting the impact of these blooms on Florida’s fish and fisheries is problematic because K. brevis cell counts and fish mortality is not well correlated. Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) is an ecosystem modelling platform that is used in this study to simulate K. brevis bloom effects on the West Florida Shelf ecosystem. The model produced for this study, which has been named the West Florida Shelf K. brevis model, is an application of the EwE modelling platform that employs a recently developed time series to index K. brevis bloom severity. This index was used to drive bloom-related mortality as a fishing fleet in the model in a historical reconstruction scenario from 1980 to 2009. The study suggests that K. brevis blooms can impose top-down food web effects causing trophic cascades. Piscivores, planktivores and detritivores experienced biomass increases when bloom-related mortality was applied, while invertebrate eaters and omnivores experienced biomass decreases. Changes in community structure and biodiversity are evidenced by effects on species evenness and richness. The model indicated an overall improvement in fits to observational time series of biomass and catch when using the K. brevis index. These results provide evidence that K. brevis mortality should be considered in population models, particularly for species with low predation mortality such as gag.
Sarcomas of the Paranasal Sinuses: An Analysis of the SEER Database

Objective To determine the demographics, treatment modalities, and overall survival of patients with sinonasal sarcoma. Methods All cases of primary sinonasal sarcomas diagnosed between the years of 2009 and 2014 were extracted from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Additional variables collected included age, gender, ethnicity, tumor histological subtype, tumor size, treatment modality, vitality status, and follow-up time. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and overall survival was calculated. Results One hundred and four cases of sinonasal sarcoma were identified. The majority of patients were female (55%), white (76%), and non-Hispanic (84%), and the mean age was 47 ± 22 years. The most common tumor sites were the maxillary sinus, followed by the ethmoid, sphenoid, and frontal sinus. Forty six percent of tumors were rhabdomyosarcoma type. Most patients (66%) had some type of surgery, 64% received radiation, and 58% received chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Overall 1- and 5-year survival was 79% and 31%, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival based on patient gender, age, ethnicity, radiation, or chemotherapy treatment. Conclusions This study adds to the current literature of sinonasal sarcomas and is the first to report in detail the surgical interventions performed as well as characteristics about lymph node spread, tumor histology, and treatment outcomes since the advent of radiation and chemotherapy. As these tumors are so rare, continued study of the demographics, tumor characteristics, and long-term outcomes of this population is necessary to guide treatment modalities and strategies for otolaryngologists. Level of evidence 2b.
Controlled Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Site Closure Using Flexible Hinge-Powered Operating Table.

Background and importance Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is a 3-column osteotomy used to correct rigid, large magnitude sagittal spinal deformity. PSO is an inherently destabilizing procedure intraoperatively, with high risk of neurological deficits from vertebral body subluxation or translation during osteotomy closure. Traditionally, PSO closure has been performed utilizing compression or cantilevering forces across adjacent level instrumentation. Such forces can loosen the instrumentation or cause abrupt subluxation or translation due to the magnitude of force required for PSO closure, resulting in neurological injury. Here, we report using a flexible hinge-powered operating table for controlled closure of PSO in 1o increments via remote-control power of the table, without compression or cantilevering force required across implants. Clinical presentation The patient is a 68-yr-old man with a history of prior L2-S1 anterior-posterior fusion, healed sacral fracture, and left sacroiliac joint fusion presenting to our institution with severe back pain while standing. X-rays demonstrated significant sagittal malalignment with pelvic incidence (PI) of 79o and lumbar lordosis (LL) of 37o, while computed tomography scan confirms complete bone healing around prior interbody fusion sites, resulting in rigid sagittal deformity. Due to rigid PI-LL mismatch of 42o, we planned for L2-pelvis revision fusion with L4 PSO. Conclusion Here we demonstrate the utility of a flexible hinge-powered operating table for closure of PSO site. This technique eliminates force application to adjacent implants, minimizing vertebral body subluxation, or translation. We believe this allows for safer, more controllable osteotomy closure that minimizes risk of neurological injury.
The influence of hospital and surgeon factors on the prevalence of axillary evaluation in ductal carcinoma in situ.

6529 Background: Axillary lymph node evaluation (LND) is standard of care in the surgical management of invasive breast cancer, but benefit has not been demonstrated in ductal carcinoma in situ (DC...
Synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted-5-oxo-7a-methyl-5,7a-dihydroindoles

Cycloaddition and addition reactions of ethyl propiolate with a series of 1,3,5-substituted-2-amino-4-methylpyrroles to form, 1,3-disubstituted-5-oxo-7a-methyl-5,7a-dihydroindoles are described. High resolution mass spectral and pmr data are presented.
The ghrelin O-acyltransferase structure reveals a catalytic channel for transmembrane hormone acylation

Integral membrane proteins represent a large and diverse portion of the proteome and are often recalcitrant to purification, impeding studies essential for understanding protein structure and function. By combining co-evolutionary constraints and computational modeling with biochemical validation through site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme activity assays, we demonstrate here a synergistic approach to structurally model purification-resistant topologically complex integral membrane proteins. We report the first structural model of a eukaryotic membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT), ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), which modifies the metabolism-regulating hormone ghrelin. Our structure, generated in the absence of any experimental structural data, revealed an unanticipated strategy for transmembrane protein acylation with catalysis occurring in an internal channel connecting the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and cytoplasm. This finding validated the power of our approach to generate predictive structural models for other experimentally challenging integral membrane proteins. Our results illuminate novel aspects of membrane protein function and represent key steps for advancing structure-guided inhibitor design to target therapeutically important but experimentally intractable membrane proteins.
Exploring the chelation-based plant strategy for iron oxide nanoparticle uptake in garden cress (Lepidium sativum) using magnetic particle spectrometry

Although iron is one of Earth's most abundant elements, its availability to plants remains an agricultural challenge, particularly in high pH environments. At high pH, iron forms insoluble ferric oxide–hydroxides that makes it inaccessible to plants. It is estimated that 30% of the world's cropland is too alkaline for optimal plant growth. Staple crops, like rice, are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency, thereby, necessitating the need for continued research in developing iron-based fertilizers. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of using iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) as fertilizers to address iron deficiency in plants, but some studies have generated conflicting results. One of the major challenges associated in investigating IONP plant uptake and translocation is the inability to distinguish between intact IONPs versus leached iron ions. In this study, we utilized a new approach based on magnetic particle spectrometry (MPS) to monitor the uptake and distribution of different sized (10 and 20 nm) chelated IONPs in plants. We exposed garden cress (Lepidium sativum) plants to EDTA-capped IONPs and observed an 8-fold enhancement in total biomass and 1.4 times increase in chlorophyll production compared to plants treated with a commercial chelated iron fertilizer (Fe-EDTA). Moreover, we demonstrated that the uptake and tissue distribution of IONPs can be quantitatively monitored using MPS, and the results of the analysis were validated by atomic absorption spectroscopy, which is the conventional method used to study IONP plant uptake. Our study demonstrates that MPS is a reliable, sensitive, and effective analytical tool for the development of IONP-based fertilizers.
Beamforming Apertures with Wideband Low-Cost Front-Ends

Low cost beamforming for 5G communication systems is of strong interest. A goal is to reduce complexity and the number of components for the beamforming network. In this paper, we present a novel hardware-reduced radio frequency (RF) front-end of beamforming at 5G bands. To reduce the large number of RF chains in such millimeter-wave (mm-wave) massive arrays, we introduce a frequency independent beamforming concept based on element-to-element mixing (BEEM). ΒEEΜ avoids conventional phase shifters and further reduces components by grouping several antenna elements into subarrays. Doing so, more than 96% in hardware and size reduction is achieved. Simulations were conducted to validate our system’s performance using 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) schemes. Results show that a near theoretical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain is achieved using our topology.
A note on proposed estimation procedures for claims-based frailty indexes

Two groups (Segal et al. Med Care. 2017;55(7):716-722; Segal et al. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;186(6):745-747; and Kim et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018;73(7):980-987) recently proposed methods for modeling frailty in studies where a reference standard frailty measure is not directly observed, but Medicare claims data are available. The groups use competing frailty measures, but the premise is similar: In a validation data set, model the frailty measure versus claims variables; in the primary data set, impute frailty status from claims variables, and conduct inference with those imputed values in place of the unobserved frailty measure. Potential use cases include risk prediction, confounding control, and prevalence estimation. In this commentary, we describe validity issues underlying these approaches, focusing mainly on risk prediction. Our main concern is that these approaches do not permit valid estimation of associations between the reference standard frailty measure (i.e., "frailty") and health outcomes. We argue that Segal's approach is akin to multiple imputation but with the outcome variable omitted from the imputation model, while Kim's is akin to regression calibration but with many variables improperly treated as surrogates. We discuss alternatives for risk prediction, including a secondary approach previously considered by Kim et al., and briefly comment on other use cases.
When Good Loadings Go Bad: Robustness in Factor Analysis

Structural misspecifications in factor analysis include using the wrong number of factors and omitting cross loadings or correlated errors. The impact of these errors on factor loading estimates is...
The chronic absenteeism assessment project: Using biometrics to evaluate the magnitude of and reasons for student chronic absenteeism in rural India

Abstract In India, student absenteeism is particularly acute but little is known about its reasons. This study investigated the magnitude and causes of chronic absenteeism in ten schools in rural Telangana state using a biometric attendance system paired with home visits. 75.4 % of students missed 10 % or more of all school days and 56.2 % missed 15 % or more. Common reasons for absence as reported by students were illness, menstruation, going to family functions, and a death/illness in the family. Being female and of higher social standing were protective factors against chronic absenteeism. The biometric system paired with home visits show potential to decrease absenteeism.
173 It Smells Fishy: A Case Report and Discussion of Olfactory Reference Syndrome

Abstract Background: Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is a psychiatric condition characterized by the belief that one is emitting a foul body odor. The earliest cases of this disorder were often labeled as variants of schizophrenia. There remains significant controversy over whether this condition represents a manifestation of other psychiatric conditions or if it is a unique disorder in its own right. Through various revisions of the DSM, the disorder has been categorized at times as an atypical somatoform disorder (DSM-III), a delusional disorder (DSM-IV-TR), and an Other Specified Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (DSM-5). Case history We present the case of a 51 year old African American female who initially presented to an emergency room with chief complaint of vaginal odor. She stated that if the odor was not treated, she would commit suicide. Medical workup in the emergency room was unremarkable and no odor was detected. The patient was placed on a psychiatric hold and transferred to the Psychiatric Emergency Room. In the PES, the patient reported that she was afraid of eviction from her apartment due to the "horrible" smell that she was emitting. The patient had presented to multiple emergency departments over the preceding year complaining of vaginal odor. The patient persisted in her belief about this smell despite multiple medical providers informing her that they could detect no abnormal smell. Unconvinced, the patient went to great lengths to treat this odor. When normal showering did not cause the odor to cease, the patient began manually inserting pieces of deodorant into her vaginal canal. This was extracted at an outside hospital after the patient presented for treatment after developing an infection. After discharge, the patient began mixing a household cleaning product containing benzalkonium chloride with bleach and used this mixture for vaginal douching. When even this did not eliminate the perceived odor, she presented to our emergency room stating that if the odor was not treated, she would attempt suicide. Discussion Although ORS has been described since the 1800's, the first systematic description in the literature was a case series in 1971 by Pryse-Phillips. While ORS has been increasingly reported in the scientific literature, the DSM-5 does not consider it to be a unique clinical entity. Conclusion/teaching point This case highlights the importance of clinicians being aware of clinical entities which exist outside the DSM-5. As shown in this case, ORS may lead to severe impairment and even suicidal ideation Despite this, there is a scarcity of literature on evidence based treatments for ORS. It has typically been treated with either a moderate dose SSRI or a low dose antipsychotic, with or without CBT. Given the high level of distress and disability caused by the condition, greater awareness of its existence and greater research on its treatment is certainly warranted.
From screening to ascertainment of the primary outcome using electronic health records: Challenges in the STRIDE trial.

Electronic health record data are a rich resource and can be utilized to answer a wealth of research questions. It is important when using electronic health record data in clinical trials that syst...
Welfare Reform and Post-Secondary Education in Maine: A Supplemental Bibliography

L'A. apporte une bibliographie additionnelle a l'article de Charles Price, paru en septembre 2005, intitule Reforming welfare reform postsecondary education policy: two state case studies in political culture, organizing, and advocacy
Automated detection of part quality during two-photon lithography via deep learning

Abstract Two-photon lithography (TPL) is an additive manufacturing technique for fabricating three-dimensional objects with nanoscale features. A main challenge of TPL is the routine and labor-intensive task of finding suitable light dosage parameters, i.e. writing speed and laser intensity that induce photo-polymerization within a wide variety of candidate photo-curing polymers. Another challenge is the monitoring required during fabrication. In this work, we apply machine learning (ML) models to accelerate the process of identifying optimal light dosage parameters and automate the detection of part quality. We curate TPL videos of different parts fabricated under a range of light dosage parameters using different resins and train spatial-temporal ML models on this data. Our results show that ML models can detect TPL part quality with a 95.1% accuracy in milliseconds. We also evaluate classification failures and identify two operating modes: parameter optimization and part quality detection. Last but not least, we publicly release this labelled dataset so that it may serve as a useful benchmark to the community. Our approach to process optimization and part quality detection addresses important aspects of TPL industrialization, is applicable beyond TPL and should benefit other additive manufacturing techniques with similar barriers to operating at industrial scale.
Computationally predicting clinical drug combination efficacy with cancer cell line screens and independent drug action.

Evidence has recently emerged that many clinical cancer drug combinations may derive their efficacy from independent drug action (IDA), where patients only receive benefit from the single most effective drug in a drug combination. Here we present IDACombo, an IDA based method to predict the efficacy of drug combinations using monotherapy data from high-throughput cancer cell line screens. We show that IDACombo predictions closely agree with measured drug combination efficacies both in vitro (Pearson’s correlation = 0.93 when comparing predicted efficacies to measured efficacies for >5000 combinations) and in a systematically selected set of clinical trials (accuracy > 84% for predicting statistically significant improvements in patient outcomes for 26 first line therapy trials). Finally, we demonstrate how IDACombo can be used to systematically prioritize combinations for development in specific cancer settings, providing a framework for quickly translating existing monotherapy cell line data into clinically meaningful predictions of drug combination efficacy. Computational models that can predict drug combination efficacy are often based on drug synergy. Here, the authors develop a different approach to computationally predict the efficacy of drug combinations using monotherapy data from high-throughput cancer cell line screens.
Results from the Advanced Scintillator Compton Telescope (ASCOT) balloon payload

The Advanced Scintillator Compton Telescope (ASCOT) is a medium-energy gamma-ray Compton telescope flown on NASA’s high-altitude scientific balloon from Palestine, TX on 5th July 2018. It uses commercially available highperformance scintillators like Cerium Bromide (CeBr3) and p-terphenyl along with compact readout devices - silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) - for an improved instrument response. ASCOT was built to address the existing need for observations in the gamma-ray energy range of 0.4 - 20 MeV. Operating stably throughout the mission, it reached an altitude of 120,000 ft and observed the Crab Nebula at MeV energies for ~5 hours. Built on the legacy of COMPTEL (onboard CGRO), along with the hardware advancement ASCOT also makes use of the Time-of-Flight (ToF) background rejection technique for effective imaging. Presented here is the Energy and ToF calibrated flight data with optimal data cuts (Earth Horizon Cut, Pulse Shape Discrimination Cut). The growth curves generated using this data from 5 to 100 g/cm2 of residual atmosphere in conjunction with the Monte Carlo simulations of the instrument response have been used to obtain the Cosmic Diffuse Gamma-ray (CDG) flux value of (1.28±0.37)×10-5 photons/cm2 /s/sr/keV for 0.4 – 0.7 MeV energy range. The 3σ upper limit for CDG flux is 1.8×10-5 photons/cm2 /s/sr/keV for 0.7-1.5 MeV and 2×10-6 photons/cm2 /s/sr/keV for 1.5-2.5 MeV. The analysis of the Crab Nebula from flight observation is underway.
A Strike against the Left: General Strikes and Public Opinion of Incumbent Governments in Spain:

Political links between labor unions and leftist political parties have weakened over the last four decades in Western Europe, reducing the former’s influence on the latter. Unions’ prolonged organ...
Anesthesia for Jugular Foramen Tumors: Paragangliomas and Schwannomas

Jugular Foramen Tumors are rarely encountered by the Anesthesia provider in the operating room. The most common types of tumors include paragangliomas and schwannomas which can have their own unique characteristics. The jugular foramen is located in the floor of the posterior fossa located between the temporal and occipital bone. Nearby, the foramen houses important anatomical structures including the carotid artery, internal jugular vein and several cranial nerves. Patients may present with a myriad of symptoms related to cranial nerve involvement and most commonly include tinnitus and hearing loss. Preoperative evaluation should place special emphasis on endocrine and anatomical involvement as well as a thorough neurological assessment to anticipate possible intraoperative or postoperative complications. Most common perioperative complications include, cranial nerve deficits, significant blood loss, venous air embolism and increased intracranial pressure manifestations. Perioperative management requires a strong foundational knowledge on the underlying physiological disturbances these tumors cause and pharmacological agents used to mitigate these risks. Cranial nerve deficits involving the lower nerves XI, X which can lead to devastating post op complications including aspiration and obstruction. This chapter will discuss the common presentations in patients with jugular foramen tumors, as well as a review of the full spectrum of perioperative considerations required to manage these patients.