cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroblastomas of infancy exhibit a characteristic ganglioside pattern

BACKGROUND Gangliosides are membrane-bound glycolipid molecules particularly prominent in neural tissue. Changes in ganglioside expression during embryologic development result from a shift in biosynthesis from the fetal b pathway to the adult a pathway. Tumor gangliosides may play a role in the clinical behavior of certain subtypes of neuroblastoma. Because neuroblastoma, which presents in infancy, has a different biologic and clinical phenotype than that which presents in older children, the authors determined whether differences in ganglioside biosynthesis exist between these two neuroblastoma subgroups. METHODS Sixty-eight tumor specimens (25 diagnosed by screening and 43 diagnosed clinically) were obtained from the Quebec Neuroblastoma Screening Project. Gangliosides were isolated and purified by solvent partitioning, separated by high performance thin-layer chromatography, and quantitated by scanning densitometry. The sum of a and b pathway gangliosides were determined for each tumor. RESULTS Gangliosides of the b (fetal) pathway predominated in both screened and clinically diagnosed tumors of patients younger than 1 year of age. Twenty-three of 25 screened patients (92%) and 21 of 23 patients with clinically diagnosed tumors at younger than 1 year of age (91%) had tumor b pathway ganglioside content greater than 60%. In contrast, tumors of only 8 of 20 patients 1 year or older (40%) had b pathway ganglioside predominance. Predominance of b pathway tumor gangliosides correlated with improved outcome. Event free survival was significantly higher among patients with b pathway ganglioside tumor content greater than 60% versus those with b pathway ganglioside tumor content less than 60% (118.1 ± 3.9 months vs. 69.2 ± 8.6 months, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Fetal patterns of ganglioside biosynthesis predominate in neuroblastoma tumors from patients younger than 1 year of age and adult patterns of ganglioside biosynthesis predominate in tumors from older children, supporting the view that neuroblastoma consists of distinct but overlapping disorders, and that gangliosides may play a biologic role in the clinical differences among these patients. Cancer 2001;91:785–93. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Multiple scattering by a planar array of parallel dielectric cylinders

The solution of the multiple-scattering problem for N parallel dielectric cylinders is considered for plane-wave illumination perpendicular to the cylinder axes. We describe a nonlinear programming approach to solve the multiple-scattering matrix for an arbitrary planar array of N parallel dielectric cylinders. To our knowledge, no calculations have been made previously for multiple scattering by more than two parallel dielectric cylinders. Numerical results for four abutting cylinders with end-on illumination demonstrate damping of internal resonance features similar to previously published results for two cylinders. Furthermore, we present numerical examples of scattering from eight unequally spaced, parallel dielectric cylinders with broadside illumination. Because of coupling between the cylinders, the incident energy is spread evenly between the intensity peaks behind the array of cylinders.
“Have You Ever Been to the Pleasure Inn?” The Transformation of Indie Rock in Louisville, Kentucky

(2001). 'Have You Ever Been to the Pleasure Inn?' The Transformation of Indie Rock in Louisville, Kentucky. Journal of Popular Music Studies: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 189-205.
Characterization of the soil microbial community associated with the decomposition of a swine carcass

Identification of bacterial species and their metabolic activity may be useful in differentiating soil samples associated with forensic analyses of large animal carcasses. In this preliminary study, lipolytic and proetolytic soil bacteria were enumerated over the time course of decomposition of a swine carcass. A 60-kg pig was used because it resembles a human body in its fat distribution and cover of hair. Soil core-samples (grave-soil) were taken underneath the carcass every three days until day 15, and then sampled on days 28, 43, 57, and 71 between September and December 2008. Results indicated that lipolytic bacterial counts were initially the lowest at day 0 (before exposure) and increased to their highest between days 9 and 12 (active decomposition); they then decreased and leveled at days 15 through 71. Conversely, the proteolytic bacterial counts initially were the highest at day 0, slowly decreased at days 3 (fresh) and 6 (bloat) with a rapid decline at day 9 (active) followed by a second major decline at day 28 (advanced); they then leveled through the remaining time period. Of the 33 isolates that could be identified,18 were in the genus Acinetobacter. The qPCR results using Group I lipase-specific primers followed a similar pattern as the lipolytic CFU observed.
Measuring, analyzing and predicting security vulnerabilities in software systems

In this work we examine the feasibility of quantitatively characterizing some aspects of security. In particular, we investigate if it is possible to predict the number of vulnerabilities that can potentially be present in a software system but may not have been found yet. We use several major operating systems as representatives of complex software systems. The data on vulnerabilities discovered in these systems are analyzed. We examine the results to determine if the density of vulnerabilities in a program is a useful measure. We also address the question about what fraction of software defects are security related, i.e., are vulnerabilities. We examine the dynamics of vulnerability discovery hypothesizing that it may lead us to an estimate of the magnitude of the undiscovered vulnerabilities still present in the system. We consider the vulnerability discovery rate to see if models can be developed to project future trends. Finally, we use the data for both commercial and open-source systems to determine whether the key observations are generally applicable. Our results indicate that the values of vulnerability densities fall within a range of values, just like the commonly used measure of defect density for general defects. Our examination also reveals that it is possible to model the vulnerability discovery using a logistic model that can sometimes be approximated by a linear model.
Vertical distribution of picoeukaryotic diversity in the Sargasso Sea

Summary Eukaryotic molecular diversity within the picoplank- tonic size-fraction has primarily been studied in marine surface waters. Here, the vertical distribution of picoeukaryotic diversity was investigated in the Sargasso Sea from euphotic to abyssal waters, using size-fractionated samples (< 2 mm). 18S rRNA gene clone libraries were used to generate sequences from euphotic zone samples (deep chlorophyll maximum to the surface); the permanent thermocline (500 m); and the pelagic deep-sea (3000 m). Euphotic zone and deep-sea data contrasted strongly, the former dis- playing greater diversity at the first-rank taxon level, based on 232 nearly full-length sequences. Deep-sea sequences belonged almost exclusively to the Alveo- lata and Radiolaria, while surface samples also con- tained known and putative photosynthetic groups, such as unique Chlorarachniophyta and Chryso- phyceae sequences. Phylogenetic analyses placed most Alveolata and Stramenopile sequences within previously reported 'environmental' clades, i.e. clades within the Novel Alveolate groups I and II (NAI and NAII), or the novel Marine Stramenopiles (MAST). However, some deep-sea NAII formed distinct, boot- strap supported clades. Stramenopiles were recov- ered from the euphotic zone only, although many MAST are reportedly heterotrophic, making the observed distribution a point for further investigation. An unexpectedly high proportion of radiolarian sequences were recovered. From these, five environ- mental radiolarian clades, RAD-I to RAD-V, were identified. RAD-IV and RAD-V were composed of Taxopodida-like sequences, with the former solely containing Sargasso Sea sequences, although from all depth zones sampled. Our findings highlight the vast diversity of these protists, most of which remain uncultured and of unknown ecological function.
Spatial Simulation and Fuzzy Threshold Analyses for Allocating Restoration Areas

This paper presents a methodology for the evaluation of land condition and for the allocation of areas requiring restoration. It is based on spatial simulation analysis and fuzzy logic. The method is demonstrated in a restoration allocation problem within a military training area in Texas. Fuzzy logic is integrated with spatial analysis through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to make land condition assessment geographically specific. Two sources of uncertainty in Land Condition Analysis are considered in this paper. First is the uncertainty due to incomplete information on land condition. Second is the uncertainty emanating from identifying the condition of a particular parcel of land. The first is addressed by using sequential Gaussian simulation, a geostatistical tool. Erosion status is selected as the land condition factor, and uncertainty associated with it is considered in this study. Land allocation is based on fuzzy logic to reflect the continuous transition between different land conditions and the minimization of loss that is expected to occur in the case of mis- allocation. Various forms of loss functions are used for allocating areas in need of restoration. An important result of the study is a map showing the areas allocated for restoration. The proposed method is compared to two alternative methods with varying degrees of determinism and uncertainty. The incorporation of uncertainty led to better allocation strategies and results that are more realistic.
A three-state biological point process model and its parameter estimation

The Poisson random process is widely used to describe experiments involving discrete arrival data. However, for creating models of egg-laying behavior in neural biology studies on the nematode C. elegans, we have found that homogeneous Poisson processes are inadequate to capture the measured temporal patterns. We present here a novel three-state model that effectively represents the measured temporal patterns and that correlates well with the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are known to be responsible for the measured behavior. Although the model involves a combination of two Poisson processes, it is surprisingly tractable. We derive closed-form expressions for the probabilistic and statistical properties of the model and present a maximum likelihood method to estimate its parameters. Both simulated and experimental results are illustrated. The experiments with measured data show that the egg-laying patterns fit the three-state model very well. The model also may be applicable in quantifying the link between other neural processes and behaviors or in other situations where discrete events occur in clusters.
Preparation of monodisperse carbonaceous particles with micro-, meso-, and macroporous structures

Spherical, highly porous synthetic carbon particles have been prepared from formulations of either poly (furfuryl alcohol) or poly (vinyl acetate) mixed with a solvent and poreforming agents. Production was carried out by atomizing these mixtures inside a thermal reactor and drying the resulting aerosol. The size of the collected polymeric particles was controlled by preadjusting the parameters of the atomization process. Fine-tuning of the process resulted in the generation of batches of monosized particles. Subsequent thermal degradation at 600 o C resulted in porous chars with controlled pore-size distributions
Usefulness of immunohistochemistry in delineating renal spindle cell tumours. A retrospective study of 31 cases.

Aims: To assess the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in delineating tumour diagnoses on a series of morphologically diagnosed renal spindle cell tumours (RSCTs). Methods and results: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 31 morphologically diagnosed tumours were reinterpreted in light of newly obtained immunohistochemical information. By morphology, six had originally been classified as sarcomatoid carcinoma, five as spindle cell tumour (NOS), four as sarcoma (NOS), three as leiomyoma, three as leiomyosarcoma, and one each as fibrous polyp, hamartoma, neurilemmoma, mesoblastic nephroma, medullary fibroma, angiomyolipoma, haemangiopericytoma, malignant rhabdoid tumour, malignant Triton tumour, and carcinosarcoma. The application of immunohistochemistry verified the original diagnosis in 18 cases (18/31, 58%), confirming the diagnosis of sarcomatoid renal carcinoma (4/6), leiomyoma (2/3), leiomyosarcoma (3/3), sarcoma (NOS) (2/4), carcinosarcoma (1/1), malignant rhabdoid tumour (1/1), malignant Triton tumour (1/1), fibrous polyp (1/1), mesoblastic nephroma (1/1), hamartoma (1/1), and angiomyolipoma (1/1). Different tumour designations were suggested in 13 cases (13/31, 42%), including carcinosarcoma, sarcoma (NOS), leiomyosarcoma, solitary fibrous tumour, monomorphic/biphasic angiomyolipoma, endometrial stromal tumour, and congenital mesoblastic nephroma. Conclusions: Our data indicate that although morphology is most important in formulating the initial differential diagnosis, the addition of immunohistochemistry is vital in arriving at the correct classification of RSCTs.
A Meta-analytic Review of Interventions for Caregiver Distress: Recommendations for Future Research

This review summarizes articles from 1980 to 1990 on psychosocial interventions and respite care for caregivers. The review was limited to controlled studies that attempted to change emotional distress in caregivers. Cumulatively, they suggest that individual psychosocial interventions and respite programs are moderately effective; psychosocial interventions with groups are less so.
The use of spectral mixture analysis to study human incentives, actions, and environmental outcomes

The social science community has given increasing attention to the analysis of multitemporal satellite images in human dimensions of environmental change research. This article provides an overview of how image-processing techniques, such as radiometric calibration and spectral mixture analysis, can be applied. The application of these techniques is vital if the social science community wishes to develop a robust research program that allows the accurate comparison of distant but similar locations. Furthermore, by mapping the institutional landscape, the article demonstrates how social scientists can begin to understand landscape change by carefully relating human incentives to actions and actions to outcomes as measured by a set of multitemporal satellite images.
Cell surface regulation of silica-induced apoptosis by the SR-A scavenger receptor in a murine lung macrophage cell line (MH-S).

Scavenger receptors (SR) are responsible for recognition of ligands as diverse as oxidized LDL (endogenous) to respirable particulates (exogenous). A number of recent studies have suggested that these SR ligands induce apoptosis of macrophages. However, the mechanism by which SR triggers apoptosis is not understood. This study used a murine alveolar macrophage cell line (MH-S) to investigate the role of the SR in caspase activation. The presence of SR on MH-S cells was confirmed by FACS analysis and was similar to the distribution found on murine alveolar macrophages. The activity of caspases 1, 3, and 6 was measured following a 6-h exposure to crystalline silica with and without blockers of the SR. Caspase activities were determined by hydrolysis of specific chromogenic substrates and formation of an active enzymatic form (Western for active caspase 3). Silica stimulated significant caspase activity, apoptosis, and necrosis of MH-S cells, which was attenuated by 2F8 (a blocking antibody) and polyinosinic acid (a nonspecific SR antagonist). The results indicate that the SR are necessary for caspase activation and subsequent apoptosis (as well as necrosis) caused by silica in macrophage cells.
Heat bath efficiency with a Metropolis-type updating

We illustrate for 4D SU(2) and U(1) lattice gauge theory that sampling with a biased Metropolis scheme is essentially equivalent to using the heat bath algorithm. Only, the biased Metropolis method can also be applied when an efficient heat bath algorithm does not exist. For the examples discussed the biased Metropolis algorithm is also better suited for parallelization than the heat bath algorithms.
Feeding by ciliates on two harmful algal bloom species, Prymnesium parvum and Prorocentrum minimum

We have focused on ciliates as potential grazers on toxic phytoplankton because they are major herbivores in aquatic food webs. Ciliates may exert top down control on toxic phytoplankton blooms, potentially suppressing or shortening the duration of harmful algal blooms (HABs). We measured the growth rates of several ciliate species on uni-algal and mixed diets of both HAB and non-HAB algae. The tintinnids Favella ehrenbergii, Eutintinnus pectinisand Metacylis angulataand the non-loricate ciliates Strombidinopsis sp. and Strombidium conicumwere isolated from Long Island Sound (LIS), and fed HAB species including the prymnesiophyte Prymnesium parvum(strain 97-20-01) and the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (strains Exuv and JA 98-01). Ciliates were fed algal prey from cultures at various growth phases and at varying concentrations. We observed no harmful effects of P. minimum (Exuv) on any of the ciliates. However in a comparison of strains, P. minimum(Exuv) supported high growth rates, whereas P. minimum(JA 98-01) supported only nominal growth. P. parvumwas acutely toxic to ciliates at high concentrations (2 ×10 4 –3×10 4 cells ml −1 ). At low concentrations (5×10 3 –1×10 4 cells ml −1 ), or in culture filtrate, ciliates survived for at least several hours. In mixed diet experiments, as long as a non-toxic alga was available, ciliates survived and at times grew well at concentrations of P. parvum (5 × 10 2 –3 × 10 4 cells ml −1 ) that would otherwise have killed them. The present study suggests that prior to the onset of toxicity and bloom formation ciliates may exert grazing pressure on these HAB species, potentially contributing to the suppression or decline of P. minimum and P. parvum blooms. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Analogical Problem Evolution in Biologically Inspired Design

Conceptual design typically entails co-evolution of the design problem and the design solution: initial problem formulations lead to preliminary solutions; incremental changes in the proposed solution lead to new insights into the design problem, and so on. In this paper, we describe a complementary process: problem evolution using analogies to already existing design cases. In particular, we present a case study in the context of biologically inspired design that inspects the evolution of an ill-defined design problem from inception to conceptual design. This case study demonstrates three important aspects of problem evolution from inception: first, significant problem evolution may occur independent of the generation of a new design solution for that problem; second, existing solutions to related problems serve as analogies that influence the way in which the problem is formulated; and third, the use of existing solutions from different domains, for example from existing biological solutions to engineering design problems, generates value not only by offering both potentially innovative solutions but also by changing the formulation of the problem itself.
Disturbance history and mortality patterns in a rare Atlantic barrier island maritime holly forest.

Abstract We describe the long-term regeneration dynamics of the maritime holly forest, a plant community restricted to two known locations on Atlantic barrier islands: the Sunken Forest, part of Fire Island National Seashore, New York, and the Sandy Hook holly forest, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey. In order to assess the short-term changes in vegetation apparent at one location, we examined the long-term dynamics of these two forests. Analysis of permanent plots in the Sunken Forest indicated the overstory structure and composition had changed minimally, but the understory decreased in cover and diversity over a period of 35 years (1967–2002). Patterns differed at Sandy Hook, with little change in the forest understory evident in permanent plots monitored over a period of 14 years (1989–2003). The age distributions indicate that both forests are uneven aged, but the trees at the Sunken Forest are older than those at Sandy Hook. While there has been an overall lack of establishment o...
The Civil Rights Act and the Weight of History

This article briefly reviews the contributions to this volume and revisits the original focus of the Civil Rights Act (CRA). It considers how much progress has been made in addressing the original concerns regarding ethnic and racial discrimination that the act was intended to address and the intersection of language issues with them. The article describes some of the historical context which created the need for the original CRA and subsequent legislation. It rejects the contention that there is no longer a need for federal action because many of the discriminatory concerns that the act sought to address still persist. The article also highlights key issues posed by each of the contributors to this volume which underscore the need for continued advocacy for linguistic and educational minority rights and accommodations particularly within the current, contentious political environment.
Unravelling the causes of reduced peak oxygen consumption in patients with cancer: complex, timely, and necessary.

There are an estimated 14.5 million cancer survivors in the United States, a number that is expected to reach 19 million by 2024 [(1)][1]. Because of continued improvements in cancer-specific mortality, cancer survivors are at an increased risk of competing causes of morbidity and mortality,
Implementation of High-Order Multireference Coupled-Cluster Methods on Intel Many Integrated Core Architecture

In this paper we discuss the implementation of multireference coupled-cluster formalism with singles, doubles, and noniterative triples (MRCCSD(T)), which is capable of taking advantage of the processing power of the Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor. We discuss the integration of two levels of parallelism underlying the MRCCSD(T) implementation with computational kernels designed to offload the computationally intensive parts of the MRCCSD(T) formalism to Intel Xeon Phi coprocessors. Special attention is given to the enhancement of the parallel performance by task reordering that has improved load balancing in the noniterative part of the MRCCSD(T) calculations. We also discuss aspects regarding efficient optimization and vectorization strategies.
Vasectomy and vasovasostomy have no effect on seminal plasma zinc concentrations.

AbstractMean zinc concentrations were determined for human seminal plasma obtained from 110 nonvasectomized men (139μg. per ml.), 43 recently vasectomized men (144μg. per ml.), 25 long-term vasectomized men (139μg. per ml.) and 25 men who had undergone vasovasostomy (129μg. per ml.). The results indicate that there is no significant short-term or long-term effect of these surgical procedures on prostatic secretory function as measured by seminal plasma zinc concentration.
A NOVEL SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS METHOD FOR HIGH FIDELITY MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPTIMIZATION OF AERO-STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

A novel method has been developed for calculating gradients of aerodynamic force and moment coefficients for an aeroelastic aircraft model. This method uses the Global Sensitivity Equations (GSE) to account for the aero-structural coupling in the aircraft model, along with a reduced-order modal analysis approach to condense the coupling bandwidth between the aerodynamic and structural disciplines. The GSE/modal analysis approach is wellsuited for use with computationally expensive aerodynamic and structural analysis software, as there is ample opportunity for concurrent computation. The aircraft model examined in this study is a Mach 2.4 supersonic passenger transport. Inviscid aerodynamic analysis is conducted using a NASA-developed Euler/Navier-Stokes code, and structural analysis is performed using commercially available finite element analysis software. Aerodynamic force and moment coefficients are computed for cruise flight conditions. The sensitivity of these coefficients to perturbations in cruise angle-of-attack, wing sweep angle, and wing thickness is investigated using the GSE/modal analysis technique. Good agreement is obtained between the sensitivities computed with the GSE/modal analysis approach and the same quantities computed using traditional finite difference methods. A comparison between the computational expense of the GSE/modal analysis method and the traditional finite difference approach shows that the GSE/modal analysis method is more computationally efficient when gradients are needed for two or more aircraft design parameters. CD CL CM,
Automated Scoring of Paper-and-Pencil Figural Responses

Large-scale testing is dominated by the multiple-choice question format. Widespread use of the format is explained, in part, by the ease with which multiple-choice items can be scored automatically. This article examines automated scoring procedures for an alternative item type: figural response. Figural response items call for the completion or modification of figural material, including illustrations, diagrams, and graphs. Nineteen science items were written in cooperation with the National Assessment of Educational Progress and printed with a special ink, invisible to scanning equipment. The items were answered with pencils; response sheets were then scanned and the resulting data were processed by computer-based scoring algorithms. Implications of this technology for the future of large-scale testing are discussed.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Professional Perceptions of Jury Decision-making Research Practices.

This article reports results from a survey measuring the acceptability of jury decision-making research practices. Historically, there has been wide variability in the methodology used to conduct experimental jury decision-making research. Samples can be drawn from different populations, the format of stimulus materials can vary, key elements of a trial, including jury instructions and deliberation, can be omitted, and different types of dependent measures can be used to assess decisions. The acceptability of evaluating different approaches for conducting research ultimately becomes a subjective process. The present study sought to identify professional standards regarding acceptable and unacceptable research practices by assessing the perceptions of individuals involved in conducting, reviewing, and publishing jury research. Overall, respondents (N = 74) placed greater weight on internal rather than ecological validity, and rated the utilization of theory to guide research as the most important factor. The inclusion of jury instructions was rated as the most important specific trial element, while deliberations received the least support. The findings present a guide for researchers designing materials, provide a framework for objective evaluation of manuscripts based on professional standards, offer guidance to courts seeking to determine the general acceptance of jury decision-making research methodologies, and create a foundation for the development of more standardized practices in the field. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Religion and Psychiatry in the Sexual Orientation Change Therapy Cases and the Establishment Clause Defense

In Pickup v. Brown, Welch v. Brown, and King v. Christie, plaintiffs challenged laws prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) within the scope of their licenses. They argued (inter alia) that the laws violated their speech rights by prohibiting them from engaging in certain talk therapies, and interfered with their free exercise of religion. The Ninth and Third Circuits held that the behavior involved in these cases was either (a) not protected speech, or (b) speech subject to a lesser degree of protection, which the state had a sufficient interest in preventing.In future cases, however, these arguments may not prove enough. The limits of protected speech under the First Amendment have expanded in recent years. In several cases, courts have held that various kinds of speech in medical contexts receive constitutional protection. It is therefore possible that future courts may hold that talk therapy constitutes fully protected constitutional speech.To address that eventuality, I explore the pedigree of the therapies that undergird SOCE. I show that SOCE is best understood as a form of religious ministry. States can therefore argue that permitting SOCE within the scope of state issued medical licenses would endorse those practices and undermine the states’ compelling interest in preventing religious establishment. While this argument is not unassailable, I believe it would ultimately withstand scrutiny.
Growth and ion accumulation responses of four grass species to salinity

ABSTRACTIon inclusion or ion exclusion are the two main strategies developed by plants to tolerate saline environments. Shoot sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) in four perennial grass species (tall wheatgrass, Nuttall's alkaligrass, creeping foxtail, and switchgrass) treated with nutrient solution salinity levels ranging from 2 to 32 dS m−1 were measured. As the nutrient solution salinity was increased from 2 to 10 dS m−1, tall wheatgrass, creeping foxtail and Nuttall's alkali grass had increased shoot Na+ and decreased Ca2+ concentration while maintaining growth suggesting that these species tolerated these changes in shoot ion concentration. In contrast, switchgrass excluded Na+ from the shoot and maintained K+ and Ca2+ concentrations but suffered dramatic shoot dry weight reduction. Thus, the Na+ exclusion mechanisms present in switchgrass were less efficient in maintaining growth under the 10 dS m−1 nutrient solution treatment than the Na+ inclusion mechanisms used by the other three sp...
Assessing the Costs of Extraurinary Findings of Computed Tomography Urogram in the Evaluation of Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria

Objective To assess the costs associated with incidental extraurinary findings on computed tomography urogram (CTU) in patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed to identify all CTUs performed for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria at our institution from 2012 to 2014. All genitourinary (GU) and incidental extraurinary findings were documented. Further clinical follow-up to May 2015 was reviewed to determine if any referrals, tests, imaging, and/or procedures were ordered based on the initial CTU. Cost estimates were determined using the Medicare physician reimbursement rate. Results Two hundred two patients were evaluated with CTU for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. GU malignancy was documented in 2 patients (0.99%), both renal masses suspicious for renal cell carcinoma. Sixty patients were found to have kidney stones, of which 26 had stones ≥5 mm. Incidental extraurinary findings were found in 150 (74.3%) patients, requiring further imaging costs of $17,242 or $85.35 per patient screened. Twelve patients required a total of 20 procedures for a cost of $54,655. The total cost related to extraurinary findings was $140,290 or $694.50 per initial patient screened. Conclusion The incidental extraurinary findings detected on CTU can lead to expensive and invasive testing and treatment. Whereas costs associated with further workup were high, the overall outcomes in both GU and non-GU cancer diagnosis were low. Future analysis should focus on limiting the cost and invasiveness of our evaluation for this condition.
Absence of neural modulation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in conscious dogs.

Our objectives were 1) to quantify the magnitude of the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor (HPV) response in conscious dogs by utilizing pulmonary vascular pressure-cardiac index (P/Q) plots and 2) ...
Effects of prolactin on steroidogenesis by human luteinized granulosa cells

The role of prolactin (PRL) in the regulation of human ovarian function is poorly understood, and reported findings are often contradictory. We have evaluated the effects of several doses of PRL on the secretion of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E 2 ) by human granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of gonadotropin-stimulated women. The effects of PRL were also evaluated when androstenedione ( Δ 4 A) was added to the cultured cells. Our findings show that the human granulosa lutein cells retain their ability to secrete large amounts of P and lesser quantitities of E 2 for a prolonged period in culture. E 2 , but not P, secretion was stimulated by the presence of Δ 4 A. PRL in low doses (25 and 50 ng/ml) did not alter the secretion of either E 2 or P. In contrast, high doses of PRL (100 and 1000 ng/ml) resulted in a significant suppression of E 2 secretion. P secretion was inhibited only by the highest dose (1000 ng/ml) of PRL. We conclude that steroidogenesis by the granulosa lutein cells of preovulatory human follicles is probably not influenced by the quantitities of PRL that are normally present in the blood or follicular fluid. Higher doses, however, may suppress production of E 2 and P.
Sequences and Series

This chapter discusses sequences and series in general. Summation notation allows one to write long sums of numbers with few symbols. The chapter discusses two main types of sequences, that is, arithmetic and geometric sequences and discusses what is called the nth partial sum of a sequence. Sequences are used frequently in many different branches of mathematics and science. Many real-life situations can be described in terms of arithmetic and geometric sequences. For example, the yearly amount of money in a savings account that compounds interest at regular intervals will form a geometric progression as will the value of any object that increases or decreases in value by a specified percentage each year. The binomial theorem has some useful applications that are not limited to mathematics. It is used in statistics, biology, and physics as well as other disciplines.
Cooperative control of networked robots on a dynamic platform in the presence of communication delays

Summary This paper presents an analysis of the synchronization and consensus problems of networked manipulators operating on an underactuated dynamic platform in the presence of communication delays. The proposed formulation does not require detailed information about the system model. A theoretical formulation based on input–output maps of functional differential equations shows that the control system's behavior matches closely that of a non-adaptive reference system. The tracking synchronization objective is achieved despite the effects of the communication delay and the unknown dynamics of the platform. When there is no common desired trajectory, the modified controller drives all robots to average consensus for an unsigned graph and to bipartite consensus for a structurally balanced signed digraph. In addition, a leader–follower scheme is proposed that allows for the control of the constant and time-varying consensus values. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed control algorithms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Listeria monocytogenes infection of HD11, chicken macrophage-like cells

Listeria monocytogenes can be carried by and infect poultry, although the clinical disease in birds is rare. Escape from macrophage phagocytosis is a key step in pathogenesis for L. monocytogenes. Therefore, we investigated the infection of the chicken macrophage-like cell line HD11 with 2 strains of L. monocytogenes EGD-e and Scott A. After infection, L. monocytogenes was quantified by spread plating and HD11 was quantified with trypan blue exclusion stain before enumeration. The standard macrophage killing protocols require washing the cell monolayers 3 times with PBS, which was found to negatively influence HD11 monolayers. Maximum bacterial densities within macrophages were not different between the 2 Listeria strains. HD11 required more than 11 h to effectively reduce intracellular L. monocytogenes Scott A, and Scott A was more susceptible to HD11 killing than EGD-e. It appears that Listeria infection initially causes attenuation of HD11 growth, and infected HD11 cells do not begin to lyse until at least 11 h post infection. These results suggest that there are subtle strain to strain differences in response to HD11 macrophage phagocytosis. The long lead-time required for HD11 to kill L. monocytogenes cells means that there is sufficient time available for chicken macrophages to circulate in the blood and transfer the intracellular Listeria to multiple tissues.
Beaver Colony Density Trends on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1987 - 2013.

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a managed species in the United States. In northern Wisconsin, as part of the state-wide beaver management program, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest removes beavers from targeted trout streams on U.S. Forest Service lands. However, the success of this management program has not been evaluated. Targeted removals comprise only 3% of the annual beaver harvest, a level of effort that may not affect the beaver population. We used colony location data along Forest streams from 1987–2013 (Nicolet, northeast Wisconsin) and 1997–2013 (Chequamegon, northwest Wisconsin) to assess trends in beaver colony density on targeted trout streams compared to non-targeted streams. On the Chequamegon, colony density on non-targeted trout and non-trout streams did not change over time, while colony density on targeted trout streams declined and then stabilized. On the Nicolet, beaver colony density decreased on both non-targeted streams and targeted trout streams. However, colony density on targeted trout streams declined faster. The impact of targeted trapping was similar across the two sides of the Forest (60% reduction relative to non-targeted trout streams). Exploratory analyses of weather influences found that very dry conditions and severe winters were associated with transient reductions in beaver colony density on non-targeted streams on both sides of the Forest. Our findings may help land management agencies weigh more finely calibrated beaver control measures against continued large-scale removal programs.
‘Speaking Truth’ Protects Underrepresented Minorities’ Intellectual Performance and Safety in STEM

We offer and test a brief psychosocial intervention, Speaking Truth to EmPower (STEP), designed to protect underrepresented minorities’ (URMs) intellectual performance and safety in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). STEP takes a ‘knowledge as power’ approach by: (a) providing a tutorial on stereotype threat (i.e., a social contextual phenomenon, implicated in underperformance and early exit) and (b) encouraging URMs to use lived experiences for generating be-prepared coping strategies. Participants were 670 STEM undergraduates [URMs (Black/African American and Latina/o) and non-URMs (White/European American and Asian/Asian American)]. STEP protected URMs’ abstract reasoning and class grades (adjusted for grade point average [GPA]) as well as decreased URMs’ worries about confirming ethnic/racial stereotypes. STEP’s two-pronged approach—explicating the effects of structural ‘isms’ while harnessing URMs’ existing assets—shows promise in increasing diversification and equity in STEM.
Quasi-decentralized multimodel estimation of linear systems

The parallel processing technique called the quasi-decentralized multimodel estimation is developed for the systems with slow and fast modes. It is shown that this technique reduces both off-line and on-line computational requirements. Both the steady state and finite time estimation problems are studied.
Robustness of a memristor based liquid state machine

The ability to learn from noisy and incomplete information is highly desired in cognitive systems. When these cognitive systems are realized in hardware, such as neuromemristive systems, an added constraint is how the algorithms adapt to the inherent noise and variability from the devices. In this work, we explore the robustness of the reservoir computing algorithm, specifically a liquid state machine, when realized as a mixed signal neuromemristive system. The study focuses on robustness of the liquid state machine under different manifestations of memristor read and write noise. A high-level analysis on the liquid state machine's accuracy for simultaneous occurrence of multiple sources of noise is also investigated. For analysis, TIMIT speech recognition and spoken arabic digit datasets were used. The results support that the neuromemristive liquid state machine has high immunity to a variety of non-ideal device effects. There is 22% degradation in the classification accuracy of the Liquid state machine, even in cases where 15% of the neurons in the liquid are faulty.
Cyclic voltammetric measurements of neurotransmitters

Electrochemical monitoring of neurotransmitter release, a central mechanism for neural communication, provides a powerful means of accessing sub-second information about this phenomenon. Robust interpretation of the electrochemical signals to access this information, however, requires careful consideration of the selectivity of measurements. Indeed, much of the evolution of the field over the forty years since its introduction has focused on development of and data analysis methods for improving this aspect of the measurements. Here, we present a brief overview of the advances that have enabled selective in vivo monitoring of single neurotransmitters and opened the door to using voltammetry to elucidate the role of neurotransmission in the behavior of awake and freely behaving animals.
Enhancing methanol electrooxidation activity using double oxide catalyst support of tin oxide clusters on doped titanium dioxides

Abstract Electrooxidation of methanol was investigated on platinum catalyst supported on a double oxide nanocomposite of tin oxide clusters and carbon-doped titanium dioxide nanocoatings on carbon nanotubes. Formation kinetics of the oxygenated species ( OH) groups was dramatically enhanced in the catalyst with double oxide support. This leads to a much lower onset potential for adsorbed CO oxidation with a much enhanced bifunctional effect in tin oxide. The electrocatalyst demonstrated a higher forward peak current density in methanol electrooxidation than the electrocatalyst with single tin oxide or bare carbon as support. Binding energy shift in oxidation states was observed for the double oxide support catalyst and is attributed to strong metal support interactions. Doping with carbon in the titanium oxide enables backward electron donation, making the supported platinum more electron negative and stable. This study demonstrated a synergistic effect of combining bifunctional and electronic mechanisms with double oxide support in the enhancement of methanol electrooxidation.
Compartmentalization of HP1 Proteins in Pluripotency Acquisition and Maintenance

The heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family is involved in various functions with maintenance of chromatin structure. During murine somatic cell reprogramming, we find that early depletion of HP1γ reduces the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, while late depletion enhances the process, with a concomitant change from a centromeric to nucleoplasmic localization and elongation-associated histone H3.3 enrichment. Depletion of heterochromatin anchoring protein SENP7 increased reprogramming efficiency to a similar extent as HP1γ, indicating the importance of HP1γ release from chromatin for pluripotency acquisition. HP1γ interacted with OCT4 and DPPA4 in HP1α and HP1β knockouts and in H3K9 methylation depleted H3K9M embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines. HP1α and HP1γ complexes in ESCs differed in association with histones, the histone chaperone CAF1 complex, and specific components of chromatin-modifying complexes such as DPY30, implying distinct functional contributions. Taken together, our results reveal the complex contribution of the HP1 proteins to pluripotency.
Economic Aspects of the Management of Choledocholithiasis

The management of common bile duct stones in the laparoscopic era has become primarily a staged procedure: cholecystectomy with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and stone extraction on two separate occasions. Traditional fee-for-service and referral patterns support this—two physicians each get a professional fee, the facility is reimbursed for each procedure, and overall margins are sustained. Even with improved technology making laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) feasible, surgeons did not want to spend the extra time for an incrementally small increase in reimbursement, and there were fears of loss of referral from gastroenterologists. A catch-22 has developed as attending surgeons do not have the volume themselves to teach the next generation of surgical residents. With increasing scrutiny of medical costs, a focus on patient satisfaction, and new payment models, there is significant interest in single-stage management of choledocholithiasis, as was done in the “open” surgical era. A review of the cost for the management with each scenario showed that the median professional fee for LCBDE was $1150—slightly more than the sum of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with cholangiogram and ERCP with stone extraction, $1127. However, the direct costs to the facility were much greater for the staged procedure: $13,865 versus $7905. Median length of stay was 2 days longer in the staged situation. As more institutions assume risk for patient populations, and new payment mechanisms will support gain sharing with physicians, single-stage management of choledocholithiasis with LCBDE will become the procedure of choice.
Knockdown of Crispld2 in zebrafish identifies a novel network for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate candidate genes

Orofacial development is a multifaceted process involving tightly regulated genetic signaling networks, that when perturbed, lead to orofacial abnormalities including cleft lip and/or cleft palate. We and others have shown an association between the cysteine-rich secretory protein LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2) gene and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP). Further, we demonstrated that knockdown of Crispld2 in zebrafish alters neural crest cell migration patterns resulting in abnormal jaw and palate development. In this study, we performed RNA profiling in zebrafish embryos and identified 249 differentially expressed genes following knockdown of Crispld2. In silico pathway analysis identified a network of seven genes previously implicated in orofacial development for which differential expression was validated in three of the seven genes (CASP8, FOS, and MMP2). Single nucleotide variant (SNV) genotyping of these three genes revealed significant associations between NSCLP and FOS/rs1046117 (GRCh38 chr14:g.75746690 T > C, p = 0.0005) in our nonHispanic white (NHW) families and MMP2/rs243836 (GRCh38 chr16:g.55534236 G > A; p = 0.002) in our Hispanic families. Nominal association was found between NSCLP and CASP8/rs3769825 (GRCh38 chr2:g.202111380 C > A; p < 0.007). Overtransmission of MMP2 haplotypes were identified in the Hispanic families (p < 0.002). Significant gene–gene interactions were identified for FOS-MMP2 in the NHW families and for CASP8-FOS in the NHW simplex family subgroup (p < 0.004). Additional in silico analysis revealed a novel gene regulatory network including five of these newly identified and 23 previously reported NSCLP genes. Our results demonstrate that animal models of orofacial clefting can be powerful tools to identify novel candidate genes and gene regulatory networks underlying NSCLP.