cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Switching Effective Antiretroviral Therapy: A Review

One approach to target the long-term metabolic toxicity and disfiguring body-shape changes associated with antiretroviral therapy is to switch one component of a regimen to an alternative drug, usually from a different class of antiretrovirals. Most commonly, substitutions have involved protease inhibitors, but the thymidine analogue nucleosides, especially stavudine, have been investigated more recently. Certain trends from these studies have emerged. First, if the patient has had sustained viral suppression, switching therapy is generally virologically safe. Second, metabolic disturbances, such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, appear to be at least partially reversible. Substitution of other agents for protease inhibitors has not been associated with reversal or improvement in fat redistribution. Studies in which thymidine analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors have been switched have reported modest improvements in peripheral lipoatrophy. Larger, controlled, long-term studies and a more standardized approach to definition of metabolic and morphological abnormalities are needed.
Development of PCL foam scaffolds for application to future developments in the study of integration of tissue engineered cartilage implants

PCL foams were fabricated and tested mechanically and observed via scanning electron microscopy for use in future studies to elucidate the interactions between tissue engineered scaffolds and host tissue following implantation.
The mixability of angiographic contrast with arterial blood

Purpose: Angiographic contrast that is routinely injected into arteries is used not only to evaluate arterial geometry but also in many cases to assess perfusion. The authors conducted two experiments to examine the dispersion of angiographic contrast injected antegradely into an artery under conditions similar to those found in selective (carotid artery) or superselective (circle of Willis) angiography in order to determine the distance from the catheter tip at which the contrast can be considered fully mixed with the blood. A third experiment investigated whether the contrast once mixed with blood will separate from the mixture under the gravitational field due to a density mismatch. Methods: Experiment I—Under high-speed angiographic acquisition, a bolus of contrast was injected through a catheter along the flow direction of a blood analog fluid flowing through a straight, long, cylindrical tube. The variation in grayscale intensity along the length of the tube was acquired and modeled as the step response to a second-order system. The distance from the catheter tip at which the contrast mixes with the working fluid, the mixing length, was determined as the length along the tube after which the step response settles to within 3% of the steady state value. Experiment II—A bolus of angiographic contrast was injected at rates varying from 0.1 to 1 cc∕s through three different catheter sizes in the left common carotid artery of three rabbits. The average cross-sectional grayscale intensity over one cardiac cycle was calculated at four locations along the artery: Immediately distal to the catheter tip, at location of maximum grayscale intensity, and at 10 and 20 arterial diameters from the catheter tip. The status of mixing within 10 arterial diameters was assessed by differences between the grayscale value at this location and that at the maximum and 20 arterial diameter location. Experiment III—Angiographic contrast was premixed by agitation in three separate vials containing normal saline, canine blood, and glycerol∕distilled-water mixture. The vials were then stationed vertically and angiographic images obtained every 5 min for 1 h. The average intensity of contrast along the vertical length of each vial was obtained for every time point to record any changes in the distribution of contrast over time. Results: The first experiment shows that angiographic contrast completely mixes with steady flowing blood analog fluid within about eight tube diameters of the injection site. The second experiment shows that contrast completely mixes with blood within ten arterial diameters under appropriate injection parameters. The third experiment shows that angiographic contrast does not separate from, or settle out of, contrast-carrying fluid mixtures for a period of 1 h. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that under typical injection conditions in the clinical setting, contrast issuing from the catheter completely mixes with the blood within ten artery diameters downstream of the catheter tip. Once mixed, it does not separate from the blood due to gravity.
Overbooking: the Practice and the Law:

Overbooking in hotels is a strategy designed to respond to the problem of lost revenue due to no-shows and late cancellations. Most legal authorities agree that when overbooking results in walking guests, a breach of contract occurs. Under certain circumstances, it may constitute fraud or misrepresentation as well. In addition, certain overbooking practices likely fall under the ambit of state consumer protection statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts and practices. Overbooking practices need to be scrutinized to bring them into compliance with these statutes, so as to protect individual hotels, management companies, franchises, and the industry as a whole from the specter of potential class action lawsuits possible pursuant to many consumer protection statutes.
Projective Algebraic Geometry V: Fibers of Morphisms

Our goal here is to extend and amplify the results of Part I, Chapter 18 for the projective situation. The term “variety” means either a projective or quasi-projective variety.
Concentration and storage of biotin in the amphibian brain

Prominent displays of endogenous biotin reactivity can be observed at specific locations in histochemical preparations of the forebrain and midbrain in the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) and common American toad (Bufo americanus). At the light microscopic level, the biotin reactivity appears in clusters of darkly stained puncta of either spherical or rodlike shape in the olfactory cortex, nucleus isthmi, and hypothalamus. With the electron microscope, the biotin reactive spheres are identified as neuronal varicosities and synaptic boutons and the rods as short segments of axons. Appropriate controls demonstrate that the punctate biotin-reactive structures are sites of concentration of biotin or a biotin analog in the processes of certain neurons. These data represent the first observation on the selective concentration of a vitamin in vertebrate neurons and suggest that biotin may have specialized functions in anatomically delimited areas of the central nervous system. Localization of the densest concentration of the biotin-reactive puncta in the dorsolateral prominence of the olfactory cortex may have relevance to the functional organization of the olfactory system. The distributions of biotin-reactive puncta were observed in laboratory-housed frogs and in wild toads captured in the summer months but were sparse or absent in batches of commercially obtained frogs examined immediately upon arrival in the laboratory. Systemic administration of biotin or biocytin hydrochloride did not alter the appearance or numbers of the biotin-reactive structures either in newly received or laboratory-housed frogs. These findings suggest that the capacity of the biotin storage mechanism in the amphibian brain may be set by environmental factors and may be readily saturable from natural dietary or enteric sources. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The J-Curve and Japan–China commodity trade

Previous studies that have tested the J-Curve phenomenon for Japan or China employed either aggregate trade data between each country and the rest of the world, or aggregate bilateral data between two trade partners. These studies have found no support for the J-Curve. Suspecting that their models could suffer from aggregation bias, in this paper, we disaggregate bilateral trade flows between the two countries and examine trade by 73 industries. We find evidence of the J-Curve phenomenon in 24 industries, a unique finding for trade between Japan and China.
Intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium and low bone turnover in hypercalciuric postmenopausal osteoporosis

Hypercalciuria of intestinal origin has been linked with bone loss in calcium nephrolithiasis and idiopathic osteoporosis. This retrospective data analysis was performed to explore potential pathogenetic link between intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium and postmenopausal osteoporosis. Data were retrieved from postmenopausal women who were evaluated for osteoporosis or osteopenia at the Mineral Metabolism Clinic of UT Southwestern Medical Center. A total of 319 patients underwent the test of calciuric response to oral calcium load to obtain an indirect measure of intestinal calcium absorption. Serum and urinary biochemistry and L2-L4 bone mineral density (BMD) were compared between five quintiles of calciuric response. There was a statistically significant trend toward a rise in 24-h urinary calcium and a decrease in urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and BMD, with increasing order of quintiles. The presentation of those in the 1st quintile was consistent with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, with impaired calcium absorption, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and stimulated bone turnover (high normal urinary DPD). In contrast, patients in the 5th quintile displayed a picture of absorptive hypercalciuria of stone disease, with intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium, high or high normal urinary calcium and suppressed bone turnover (low or low normal urinary DPD). Thus, the assessment of intestinal calcium absorption in a seemingly homogeneous group of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia revealed a spectrum of calciuric response whose extremes may represent two physiologically distinct subtypes that have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Hormonal and reproductive influences and risk of melanoma in women

Evidence linking female hormones to the development of malignant melanoma has been contradictory. A population-based case-control study conducted in Connecticut (US) assessed this relationship again. Hormonal and reproductive factors ascertained through personal interviews were compared between 308 Caucasian women diagnosed with incident invasive melanoma in 1987-89 (listed in hospital tumor registry logs) and 233 age-matched controls selected through random digit dialing. Melanoma was not associated with ever being pregnant age at first pregnancy current use of replacement estrogens ever use of oral contraceptives (OCs) duration of OC use or age at first use of OCs. Cases were more than twice as likely as controls to report a single pregnancy lasting more than 6 months but this association lacked a dose-response relationship. Although menopause and body mass index were not independently associated with melanoma risk they may be interactive risk factors. Finally women with melanoma were three times more likely than controls to be obese and to report natural menopause. These findings suggest that neither exogenous nor endogenous hormones contribute significantly to an increased risk of melanoma. However the positive associations observed in this study including the potential effect of hormones on postmenopausal women merit further investigation.
Associations between cognitive function and naturally occurring daily cortisol during middle adulthood: timing is everything.

Objectives. W e examined associations between cognitive function (CF) and the naturally occurring daily cortisol levels using data from the Midlife in the United States survey and the National Study of Daily Experiences. Methods. A national sample of 1,500 (mean age = 57 years; range = 33–84, 56% female) completed a phone-based battery of cognitive tasks and 3–6 months later provided saliva samples upon waking, 30 min after waking, at lunch time, and at bedtime on 4 consecutive days. Results. Higher CF, particularly executive function, was associated with healthier daily cortisol profiles, including a steeper diurnal cortisol slope, higher morning cortisol levels, and lower afternoon and evening cortisol levels. Discussion. The results indicate that better CF is associated with healthier profiles of naturally occurring cortisol and underscore the importance of the timing of cortisol sampling.
Nerve growth factor activates a Ras-dependent protein kinase that stimulates c-fos transcription via phosphorylation of CREB

A mechanism by which the nerve growth factor (NGF) signal is transduced to the nucleus to induce gene expression has been characterized. An NGF-inducible, Ras-dependent protein kinase has been identified that catalyzes the phosphorylation of the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) at Ser-133. Phosphorylation of Ser-133 stimulates the ability of CREB to activate transcription in NGF-treated cells. These findings suggest that CREB has a more widespread function than previously believed and functions in the nucleus as a general mediator of growth factor responses.
Pregnant women with posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of preterm birth.

Importance Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in about 8% of pregnant women. Stressful conditions, including PTSD, are inconsistently linked to preterm birth. Psychotropic treatment has been frequently associated with preterm birth. Identifying whether the psychiatric illness or its treatment is independently associated with preterm birth may help clinicians and patients when making management decisions. Objective To determine whether a likely diagnosis of PTSD or antidepressant and benzodiazepine treatment during pregnancy is associated with risk of preterm birth. We hypothesized that pregnant women who likely had PTSD and women receiving antidepressant or anxiolytic treatment would be more likely to experience preterm birth. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal, prospective cohort study of 2654 women who were recruited before 17 completed weeks of pregnancy from 137 obstetrical practices in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Exposures Posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, and use of antidepressant and benzodiazepine medications. Main Outcomes and Measures Preterm birth, operationalized as delivery prior to 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Likely psychiatric diagnoses were generated through administration of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale. Data on medication use were gathered at each participant interview. Results Recursive partitioning analysis showed elevated rates of preterm birth among women with PTSD. A further split of the PTSD node showed high rates for women who met criteria for a major depressive episode, which suggests an interaction between these 2 exposures. Logistic regression analysis confirmed risk for women who likely had both conditions (odds ratio [OR], 4.08 [95% CI, 1.27-13.15]). For each point increase on the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale (range, 0-110), the risk of preterm birth increased by 1% to 2%. The odds of preterm birth are high for women who used a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (OR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.02-2.36]) and women who used a benzodiazepine medication (OR, 1.99 [95% CI, 0.98-4.03]). Conclusions and Relevance Women with likely diagnoses of both PTSD and a major depressive episode are at a 4-fold increased risk of preterm birth; this risk is greater than, and independent of, antidepressant and benzodiazepine use and is not simply a function of mood or anxiety symptoms.
Measuring Reliability as a Mean Failure Cost

The Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) is a commonly accepted measure for system reliability. Some variations of it (MTTD: mean time to detection of a vulnerability, and MTTE: mean time to exploitation of vulnerability) have also been adopted to measure other dependability attributes (Stevens et al., 2004) (most notably security). In this fast abstract we submit a tentative challenge to this measure, propose an alternative, and briefly illustrate it with a simple example. When we say that a system S has an MTTF M, we mean that the mean time to the failure of the system with respect to some implicit specification R is M. We propose a measure of reliability that takes into account the variance in failure cost from one supspecification to another, the variance in failure probability from one subspecification to another, and the variance in failure cost from one stakeholder to another. We refer to this measure as the Mean Failure Cost, and abbreviate it by MFC.
Structures and Stabilities of C5H2 Isomers: Quantum Chemical Studies

Five isomers of the carbon-rich molecule C5H2 are investigated computationally, using methods based on the coupled-cluster approximation. All of these structures are related to isomers of C3H2 via substitution of hydrogen by ethynyl or attachment of a C2 fragment to a carbene center. The two most stable forms of C5H2 are linear triplet pentadiynylidene (4) and singlet ethynylcyclopropenylidene (6). Both of these isomers have been observed in the laboratory, as has a thirdthe cumulene carbene pentatetraenylidene (5)which is predicted to lie about 15 kcal/mol above the linear triplet. Two other isomers are also studied: ethynylpropadienylidene (7) and 3-(didehydrovinylidene)cyclopropene (8). Both are found to lie less than 25 kcal/mol above the most stable form of C5H2 and to possess rather large dipole moments. Predictions for the harmonic vibrational frequencies of 12C and mono-13C isotopomers, infrared intensities, and rotational constants are also presented. These should assist efforts to identify thes...
In Defense of Indirect Communication

AbstractIn Imagination and Convention, Ernest Lepore and Matthew Stone claim that there are no conversational implicatures. They argue that the scope of the conventional is wider and the scope of communication narrower than followers (or even critics) of Grice tend to assume, and so, there is simply no room for the sort of indirect communication based on reasoning about intentions conversational implicatures are supposed to exemplify. This way they seek to rehabilitate the old Lockean model of linguistic communication. I argue that while the book is successful in undermining a number of Gricean analyses, the core cases of conversational implicature resist recasting in terms of disambiguation or creative interpretation. Granting that linguistic communication relies more heavily on conventions and that interpretation is more frequently open-ended than it is usually thought cannot save the Lockean model.
Modeling and Evaluating Narrative Gestures for Humanlike Robots

Gestures support and enrich speech across various forms of communication. Effective use of gestures by speakers improves not only the listeners’ comprehension of the spoken material but also their perceptions of the speaker. How might robots use gestures to improve human-robot interaction? What gestures are most effective in achieving such improvements? This paper seeks answers to these questions by presenting a model of human gestures and a system-level evaluation of how robots might selectively use different types of gestures to improve interaction outcomes, such as user task performance and perceptions of the robot, in a narrative performance scenario. The results show that robot deictic gestures consistently predict users’ information recall, that all types of gestures affect user perceptions of the robot’s performance as a narrator, and that males and females show significant differences in their responses to robot gestures. These results have strong implications for designing effective robot gestures that improve human-robot interaction.
Flux Growth of Single-Crystal Na2Ta4O11 Particles and their Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Single-crystal particles of the layered natrotantite, i.e., Na2Ta4O11, were prepared within a K2SO4/Na2SO4 flux for flux-to-reactant molar ratios from 12:1 to 1:1 at a reaction temperature of 1000 ...
Superstars, Uncertainty of Outcome, and PGA Tour Television Ratings:

Using 2010–2013 television ratings data for 33 Professional Golfers’ Association Tour events, this article analyzes determinants of audience size. Only one of six measures of uncertainty of outcome based on the leader’s margin or the number of golfers within five strokes of the leader is found to be positively correlated with ratings. Instead, ratings are strongly related to certain tournaments, particularly The Masters and the U.S. Open, and to the presence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Ratings are found to increase by about 50% if Woods is in contention.
GIS Partial Discharge Testing Technology Development and Analysis

GIS load has increased quickly in recent years,and partial discharge testing technology has been promoted greatly.This paper profiles the status quo of the partial discharge testing technology,analyzes the successful on-site cases,and probes into the new development and existing problem of the technology.
Organic compounds in the C3H6O3 family: Microwave spectrum of cis–cis dimethyl carbonate

Geometry optimization calculations on 13 members of the C_(3)H_(6)O_(3) family of organic species have been carried out to determine their relative binding energies. Dimethyl carbonate [(CH_3)_(2)CO_3] is one of the lower energy species in this family, which includes the C_3-sugars 1,3-dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde. The microwave spectrum of dimethyl carbonate has been measured over the frequency range 8.4–25.3 GHz with several pulsed-beam Fourier-transform microwave spectrometers and from 227 GHz to 350 GHz with direct absorption spectrometers. The spectrum of the lowest-energy cis–cis conformer of dimethyl carbonate has been assigned, and ab initio electronic structure calculations of the three possible conformers have been performed. Stark effect measurements were carried out on the cis–cis conformer to provide accurate determinations of the dipole moment components.
The Mobility of Rural Manpower

A net transfer of labour from farm to non-farm employment has been occurring for many decades. There have been large variations in the flow over time and among countries, but the direction has been persistent. The exodus during the last decade, however, probably exceeds that of any other previous decade.
The Long Noncoding RNA Transcriptome of Dictyostelium discoideum Development

Dictyostelium discoideum live in the soil as single cells, engulfing bacteria and growing vegetatively. Upon starvation, tens of thousands of amoebae enter a developmental program that includes aggregation, multicellular differentiation, and sporulation. Major shifts across the protein-coding transcriptome accompany these developmental changes. However, no study has presented a global survey of long noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in D. discoideum . To characterize the antisense and long intergenic noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcriptome, we analyzed previously published developmental time course samples using an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) library preparation method that selectively depletes ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). We detected the accumulation of transcripts for 9833 protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 621 lncRNAs, and 162 putative antisense RNAs (asRNAs). The noncoding RNAs were interspersed throughout the genome, and were distinct in expression level, length, and nucleotide composition. The noncoding transcriptome displayed a temporal profile similar to the coding transcriptome, with stages of gradual change interspersed with larger leaps. The transcription profiles of some noncoding RNAs were strongly correlated with known differentially expressed coding RNAs, hinting at a functional role for these molecules during development. Examining the mitochondrial transcriptome, we modeled two novel antisense transcripts. We applied yet another ribosomal depletion method to a subset of the samples to better retain transfer RNA (tRNA) transcripts. We observed polymorphisms in tRNA anticodons that suggested a post-transcriptional means by which D. discoideum compensates for codons missing in the genomic complement of tRNAs. We concluded that the prevalence and characteristics of long ncRNAs indicate that these molecules are relevant to the progression of molecular and cellular phenotypes during development.
Erythrocyte Glutathione Depletion Is Associated with Severity of Anemia and Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract Background: Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular non-protein thiol and is an anti-oxidant present in high millimolar concentration in erythrocytes. Additionally, GSH plays an important role in signal transduction, gene expression, apoptosis, protein glutathionylation, nitric oxide metabolism, and is the principal thiol redox buffer in erythrocytes. We hypothesized that, in sickle cell disease (SCD), GSH deficiency contributes to oxidative stress and pre-disposes the sickle erythrocyte to hemolysis. Methods: A sensitive liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometric technique was used to examine the availability of GSH and its precursors (glutamate, cysteine, glycine and glutamine) in plasma and within the erythrocytes of 25 patients with SCD and 7 ethnically-matched normal volunteers. Given the association of hemolysis with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in this population, tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) by Doppler echocardiography was also determined in all patients. Results: Despite an increase in the amino acid precursors of GSH in the plasma of SCD patients compared with controls, total plasma GSH was significantly decreased (2.8 ± 1.5 vs. 4.1 ± 2.1 mM, p Conclusions: Lower levels of erythrocyte GSH may contribute to the development of PAH possibly by exacerbating oxidative stress and triggering hemolysis, resulting in release of erythrocyte arginase and dysregulation of arginine and NO metabolism. The role of GSH metabolism in the pathophysiology of SCD and its link to PAH warrants further investigation.
Harvesting Natural Salinity Gradient Energy for Hydrogen Production Through Reverse Electrodialysis Power Generation

There is an enormous potential for energy generation from the mixing of sea and river water at global estuaries. Here we present a novel approach to convert this source of energy directly into hydrogen and electricity using Reverse electrodialysis (RED). RED relies on converting ionic current to electric current using multiple membranes and redox based electrodes. A thermodynamic model for RED is created to evaluate the electricity and hydrogen which can be extracted from natural mixing processes. With equal volume of high and low concentration solutions (1L), the maximum energy extracted per volume of solution mixed, occurred when the number of membranes is reduced, with the lowest number tested here being 5 membrane pairs. At this operating point, 0.32 kWh/m3 extracted as electrical energy and 0.95 kWh/m3 as hydrogen energy. This corresponded to an electrical energy conversion efficiency of 15%, a hydrogen energy efficiency of 35% and therefore a total mixing energy efficiency of nearly 50%. As the number of membrane pairs increases from 5 to 20, the hydrogen power density decreases from 13.6 W/m2 to 2.4 W/m2 at optimum external load. In contrast, the electrical power density increases from 0.84 W/m2 to 2.2 W/m2. Optimum operation of RED depends significantly on the external load (external device). A small load will increase hydrogen energy while decreasing electrical energy. This trade-off is critical in RED optimization for both hydrogen and electricity generation.
A Super-linear Convergent Primal-dual Method for Nonconvex Optimization

Abstract This paper presents a new method which is useful for large-scale equality-constrained optimization problems with separable structure. This new method takes advantage of a new augmented Lagrangian function, which, while preserving the separability of the original problem, convexifies a nonconvex problem thus making it possible to apply the basic principle of primal-dual decomposition. The rate of convergence of the resulting method is at least super-linear. Furthermore, it will be easy to extend this to methods suited for inequality-constrained optimization problems.
Dr. W. Karplus, My Friend and Colleague

It was a big privilege for me to have Walter as my good friend during last 41 years. For the first time, I met Walter personally was during the First International Congress on Automatic Control (organized by IFAC) in July 1960. Our meeting is commemorated in the Photograph (See Figure 1), taken together with some other members of the US delegation.
Daily Fantasy Football and Self-Reported Problem Behavior in the United States

Traditional, season-long fantasy sport participation has grown considerably since the late 1990s, and in an attempt to capitalize on this growing demand, daily fantasy sports (DFS) providers have created a new game where money changes hands instantly. This change has led some legal commentators and state agencies to believe the game is a form of Internet gambling similar to online poker, blackjack, and sports wagering, and thus, it requires increased regulation or even prohibition. Little is known, however, about the gambling behavior associated with DFS participation. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine problem gambling severity in conjunction with DFS participant motives, perceptions, and consumption behavior. Over 500 DFS participants were surveyed, and the results suggest DFS participants behave similarly with participants in other forms of gambling activities. In addition, the findings suggest additional consumer protections may be needed to prevent further problem behavior such as chasing.
Consolidation Under Constant Rates of Strain

Consolidation tests on three materials were conducted by inducing six different constant rates of strain on the samples. The total load on the sample, the pore pressure at the base and the deformation were measured. A theoretical solution was developed to enable the determination of the coefficient of consolidation, the compression index, and the preconsolidation pressure from this testing procedure. Within established limits, it is shown that the consolidation parameters determined by this method agree with parameters determined by the conventional testing method. The advantages of the proposed procedure are that a much shorter time is required to determine the consolidation parameters and that this procedure can be used to study the strain rate sensitivity of cohesive soils to consolidation loads.
Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma in Situ Diagnosed by Breast Core Biopsy: Clinicopathologic Features and Correlation With Subsequent Excision.

Abstract Introduction Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ (PLCIS) is a variant of LCIS with high-grade morphologic features. The number of case series studying PLCIS is limited, and clinical management of patients with PLCIS is controversial. We report a breast core biopsy (BCBx) series of PLCIS. Materials and Methods We reviewed 37 cases of PLCIS with or without microinvasion diagnosed by BCBx. PLCIS was defined as dyscohesive cells showing acinar expansion and loss of immunohistochemical membranous expression of e-cadherin or beta-catenin with nuclear pleomorphism with at least 2- to 3-fold variation in nuclear size, membrane irregularities, and variably prominent nucleoli. Clinical information and findings on excision were evaluated. Results Thirty-one (84%) patients presented with mammographic calcifications, 4 (11%) presented with ultrasound findings, 1 (3%) presented with magnetic resonance imaging enhancement, and 1 (3%) with combined imaging abnormality. The mean patient age was 62.3 years. Nineteen patients (51%) had a family history of breast cancer. Microinvasion was present on BCBx in 9 (24%) of the 37 patients. Excision, available in 34 patients, demonstrated invasive carcinoma in 24 (65%), which was multifocal in 11 (46%). Twenty-three patients with PLCIS without microinvasion on BCBx, and without known history of ipsilateral invasive cancer, underwent excision; 14 of these patients demonstrated invasive carcinoma, representing an upgrade to invasive carcinoma of 60%. Conclusion We report the largest BCBx series of PLCIS and confirm its aggressive biology and frequent association with multifocal invasive lobular carcinoma, as well as frequent presentation in patients with a family history of breast cancer. Our results support excision to negative margins.
The Natural Growth Rate of Residual Juvenile Angiofibroma.

Objectives Examine the postoperative growth rate of residual juvenile angiofibroma (JA) in a large series of patients relative to pediatric growth parameters and other prognostic factors. Establish an algorithm for postoperative surveillance of patients with JA. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary referral academic center. Participants Pediatric patients undergoing surgical resection of JA between September 2005 and June 2015. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative recurrence and tumor growth rates. Results Thirty-eight patients were identified with a mean follow-up of 24.1 months. Sixty-eight percent (26/34) of patients achieved gross total resection, and 32% (12/38) had persistent postoperative disease. Of those with postoperative residual tumor, all had preoperative skull base involvement and residual blood supply from the internal carotid artery following embolization. Sixty-seven percent (8/12) of patients with postoperative residual tumor demonstrated radiographic stability of disease with scans being completed approximately every 6 months. Radiographic rates of disease progression ranged from 4.1 to 9.22 mm/year. Conclusions Patients with preoperative skull base involvement and residual vascularity following preoperative embolization are more likely to have residual postoperative disease, and a longer postoperative follow-up is warranted in these patients. Progression of residual disease occurred approximately 7.5 months postoperatively. Younger patients may be more likely to need further intervention for postoperative residual disease, and postoperative imaging at 6-month intervals appears appropriate.
Split-Dose Bowel Preparation Reduces the Need for Early Repeat Colonoscopy Without Improving Adenoma Detection Rate.

Split-dose bowel preparation is associated with improved mucosal visualization and patient tolerance, becoming a standard of care. However, quality measures data associated with this preparation are limited. At our academic tertiary-care facility, we aim to study the effect of changing from single- to split-dose preparation on colonoscopy quality measures. A retrospective cohort study with quality indicators was conducted using electronic medical record data. Cases were identified via ICD9 code V76.51, “Special screening for malignant neoplasms of colon.” Single-dose preparation data was collected from 9/1/13 to 8/31/14. Split-dose preparation was implemented 11/2014, and data were collected from 1/1/15 to 8/31/15. A total of 1602 colonoscopies in the single-dose group and 1061 colonoscopies in the split-dose group were analyzed. The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale was significantly improved in the split-dose group 8.64 ± SD 1.25 versus 8.25 ± SD 1.61, p < 0.001. There was no significant difference in adenoma detection rate 40.7% (95% CI 37.8–43.7%) versus 40.5% (95% CI 38.1–42.9%), p = 0.92; however, the rate for recommending an early repeat examination due to an inadequate bowel preparation was significantly decreased to 3.9% (95% CI 2.7–5.0%) versus 8.9% (95% CI 1.52–2.97%), p < 0.001. While split-dose preparation significantly improves overall bowel cleanliness, there is no significant adenoma detection rate improvement with high baseline rate, suggesting a threshold which may not improve with enhanced preparations. Split-dose preparation significantly reduces the frequency with which inadequate preparation prompts an early repeat examination, which has important clinical implications on performance, costs, and patient experience, providing further evidence supporting split-dose preparation use.
Project Management Learning: What the Literature Has to Say:

This paper describes the methodology and results of research designed to extract useful professional project management information from recent research literature in the information systems and in...
Social Evolution: Selection on Multiple Cooperative Traits Optimizes Cost-Benefit Relationships.

Summary Cooperation is potentially risky in a population where non-producing cheats can reap benefits from and gain a fitness advantage over cooperators. A new study shows that cooperation can be safeguarded by selection on multiple traits.
Assistive Technology Competencies of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: A Comparison of Perceptions.

This study surveyed teachers of students with visual impairments in Texas on their perceptions of a set of assistive technology competencies developed for teachers of students with visual impairmen...
Adsorption at Confined Interfaces.

We describe measurements of adsorption between two flat plates when the plates are separated by 0–65 nm. The objective is to examine how adsorption is affected by confinement in very thin films. It is well known that adsorption of simple ions can change with the thickness of a thin film (charge regulation); here, we describe a direct method to measure adsorption as a function of confinement and results for one example. Measurement of all separations is achieved simultaneously by measuring visible-light interference in a wedge-shaped crack created between an oxidized silicon wafer and a glass wafer. The adsorbed amount is measured from the fluorescence emission of a dye, after accounting for the optical interference. The specific measurement is of the depletion of a divalent anion, fluorescein, in aqueous solution between two anionic solids, but the measurement could be applied to a range of fluorescent probes. At large separations between the flat plates, the dye is depleted relative to the bulk concentra...
The Anthropocene: A challenge to humanism in bioethics?

Summary In response to anthropogenic climate change, bioethics scholars have advocated a return to its roots in Van Rensselaer Potter's vision of bioethics as a discipline integrating the humanities and the sciences to support ecology. These scholars have noted that the discipline of bioethics diverged from this vision, and today its focus is on human health. This paper's ultimate argument is that these scholars do not appreciate the radicalness of their proposal and its potential to disrupt the discipline. This paper's argument unfolds in four steps. In the first step, the paper describes the environmental impact of U.S. health care and claims that contemporary bioethics is unlikely to prioritize environmental protection over patients because of its humanistic character. To emphasize this character, this part of the paper identifies two forms of health care treatment that bioethics would not deny to patients despite their environmental costs. The second step of the paper is to review the scientific fact of man-made climate change and its inauguration of a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Then, the third step of this paper reflects on this fact's impact on the category of humanist understanding. The central idea in the third part of this paper is that the Anthropocene undermines the traditional dichotomy between man and nature, which is conceptually necessary for humanist philosophy. If the human is not a distinct category, then attributing preeminent value to humans is invalid, undermining the system of thought centered on humans. The final step in this paper argues that the consequence of reckoning with contemporary ecology is that it generates a demand for a new system of value–and Anthropocene ethics – that deprioritizes human good, and which would provide rebuttals to criticisms that such a system of values is misanthropic. An Anthropocene ethics may justify prioritizing environmental protection over patients’ health needs.
Sensitivity study of forced convection bubbling in a transparent viscous fluid as a proxy for molten borosilicate glass

Abstract Computational fluid dynamic and heat transfer models are being developed for the waste glass melters that will be used to vitrify legacy tank waste at the Hanford site. The objective of this study is to validate the ability of these models to predict the forced convection bubbling in the molten glass at prototypic conditions and scale. Bubbling is used to homogenize the melt pool and increase the melt rate of the batch. Simulations were compared with experimental data obtained with a surrogate liquid under isothermal conditions in an acrylic tank. The simulation results quantify the projected bubble area at the free surface as a function of flow rate and nozzle depth and show agreement with experimental data. Additionally, the local sensitivities of the surface tension and viscosity are evaluated for their effects, since in the melter this parameter directly affects the heat transfer from the molten glass to the reactive batch (or cold cap) layer. From the sensitivity study performed, the viscosity exhibits twice as much influence on bubble projected surface area as the surface tension. In comparison to the grid resolution used in this study, these glass properties produce higher levels of uncertainty.
Text vs. Logo: Does Eco-label Format Influence Consumers’ Visual Attention and Willingness-to-pay for Fruit Plants? An Experimental Auction Approach

Abstract Eco-labels identify products that are produced in an environmentally friendly way. They utilize many formats combining graphics/logos and text to attract environmentally conscious consumers. Different eco-label formats may vary in their effectiveness in influencing consumers’ preferences for products. This manuscript explores the relationship between eco-labels’ format and consumer preferences, willingness-to-pay, and visual attention. Participants’ visual attention was recorded while they submitted bids in an experimental auction for fruit-producing plants with three different eco-labels (i.e. industry-specific, Non-GMO, and heirloom) presented as either text or using a logo. Results from random effects Tobit models indicate that eco-label format does influence consumers’ visual attention and product valuation. Logos capture relatively more visual attention than text eco-labels. Furthermore, additional visual attention to the logos increases respondents’ bids, while visual attention to the text decreases their bids. Implications for relevant industry stakeholders are discussed.
Heterogenous banks and macroprudential regulations

This paper studies how ﬁnancial intermediation varies across banks. Bank size is a ﬁrst-order determinant of banks’ capital structure in the cross-section. Largest banks have the lowest capital-to-asset ratio and the lowest ratio of Tier-1 capital against risk-weighted assets. These large banks earn a larger interest income per dollar invested in their loan portfolio than small banks, and they maintain the highest net interest margins among all banks. A cash ﬂow sensitivity analysis shows that the largest banks are the most tightly constrained by minimum capital requirement, while all other banks maintain capital in excess of minimum capital requirement regulation. Empirically, banks do not adjust their lending portfolio dollar for dollar as their net proﬁts increase or lever up immediately by issuing more deposits. Further, we ﬁnd that the ﬁnancial accelerator ampliﬁes productivity shock in aggregate data. The impulse response to total productivity shock shows that the loan volume of the capital-constrained largest banks does not respond positively to positive productivity shocks. This is in contrast to smaller banks that increase loans when productivity improves in the economy.
Telomere erosion in Sjögren's syndrome: A multi-tissue comparative analysis.

Background Acinar progenitor cells within salivary glands have decreased regenerative capacity and exhibit shorter telomeres in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients. We investigated whether DNA of saliva, PBMCs, and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy tissue have shorter telomeres in pSS compared to controls. mRNA expression of genes associated with pSS pathogenesis (ETS1, LEF1, and MMP9), telomere DNA damage response (ATM), senescence (CDKN2A), telomerase inhibition (IFN-y, TGFβ1), and the shelterin complex (TPP1, POT1) were assessed in LSG tissue by qRT-PCR to examine potential defects in telomere maintenance. Methods Relative telomere length in DNA of saliva, PBMCs, and LSGs from non-pSS sicca and pSS patients was measured using qPCR. Saliva DNA telomere length was further compared to healthy controls. Expression of genes affecting telomere maintenance was analyzed in LSGs using qRT-PCR. Results Primary Sjogren's syndrome patients have shorter telomeres in saliva DNA (n = 21) than healthy controls (n = 27) (P = .0035). ATM mRNA expression was higher in pSS LSG tissue (n = 16) vs non-pSS sicca patients (n = 13) (P = .0283) and strongly correlated with LEF1, TPP1, and POT1 (P 0.6). Conclusions Patients with pSS exhibited significant telomere erosion in saliva DNA. Overexpression of ATM in LSGs could represent a compensatory response to telomere shortening. The role of LEF1 in telomere erosion remains to be elucidated.
Deep learning based retinal OCT segmentation

We look at the recent application of deep learning (DL) methods in automated fine-grained segmentation of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the retina. We describe a new method combining fully convolutional networks (FCN) with Gaussian Processes for post processing. We report performance comparisons between the proposed approach, human clinicians, and other machine learning (ML) such as graph based approaches. The approach is demonstrated on an OCT dataset consisting of mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy from the University of Miami. The method is shown to have performance on par with humans, also compares favorably with the other ML methods, and appears to have as small or smaller mean unsigned error (equal to 1.06), versus errors ranging from 1.17 to 1.81 for other methods, and compared with human error of 1.10.