cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dermatologic Surgery in Geriatric Patients: Psychosocial Considerations and Perioperative Decision-Making

background. Dermatologic surgery, both for cutaneous malignancies and for management of the visible signs of photodamage, is frequently performed on older persons. objective. To review common psychologic and physiologic limitations among the elderly that may affect their ability to tolerate cutaneous surgery and to outline a stepwise approach for management of these conditions during the perioperative period. methods. Literature review, MEDLINE (1966–2001) search, and personal experience. results. Communication with patients, their families, and their physicians, management of patients' underlying medical problems, and special sensitivity to patients' cognitive and physiologic limitations can minimize perioperative risk during cutaneous surgery in the elderly. conclusion. Given appropriate physician management, elderly patients can usually safely undergo cutaneous surgery.
IGF-Binding Protein-1 Levels Are Related to Insulin-Mediated Glucose Disposal and Are a Potential Serum Marker of Insulin Resistance: Response to van Haeften et al.

We appreciate the interest of van Haeflen et al. (1) in our article (2) concerning IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 as a maker of insulin resistance in healthy nondiabetic subjects. In contrast to our study, they did not find a strong a correlation between insulin action as determined …
Epitope tag-induced synthetic lethality between cohesin subunits and Ctf7/Eco1 acetyltransferase

Ctf7/Eco1-dependent acetylation of Smc3 is essential for sister chromatid cohesion. Here, we use epitope tag-induced lethality in cells diminished for Ctf7/Eco1 activity to map cohesin architecture in vivo. Tagging either Smc1 or Mcd1/Scc1, but not Scc3/Irr1, appears to abolish access to Smc3 in ctf7/eco1 mutant cells, suggesting that Smc1 and Smc3 head domains are in direct contact with each other and also with Mcd1/Scc1. Thus, cohesin complexes may be much more compact than commonly portrayed. We further demonstrate that mutation in ELG1 or RFC5 anti-establishment genes suppress tag-induced lethality, consistent with the notion that the replication fork regulates Ctf7/Eco1.
Optimal timing of interval debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer: yet to be defined?

Abstract Objectives Interval debulking surgery (IDS) following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a treatment option in advanced ovarian cancer. It is recommended to perform IDS early, after 3 cycles of NAC, but late IDS (after 6 cycles) may yield better results. Delaying IDS, however, harbours the risk of loosing the opportunity for debulking surgery. Study design Retrospective comparison of two groups of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (stages IIC–IV) treated by platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) having undergone early IDS (after 3.6 cycles, group 1, n = 33) or late IDS (after 6.3 cycles, group 2, n = 104). Contemporary patients who had undergone standard treatment by primary debulking surgery (PDS) + CT (group 3, n = 446) and those treated by CT alone (group 4, n = 64 patients) served as internal controls. Results Prognosis in IDS patients (groups 1 + 2) was comparable to that in PDS patients (group 3). Only a few patients in group 4 potentially had lost an opportunity for debulking surgery. Groups 1 and 2 were well-matched concerning usual prognostic factors. Surgery extent and post-operative outcomes were similar in both. In contrast, complete cytoreductions were significantly more frequent in late than in early IDS (group 2 vs.1: 58% vs. 36%, p = 0.03) and survival was not inferior in the late IDS group compared to the early IDS group with 37 vs. 22 months, respectively (p = 0.09). Conclusion Late IDS yields higher complete resection rates than early IDS and should be evaluated prospectively for outcome in further trials.
More Complications of Spinal Manipulation

To the Editor: I read with interest the commentary by Ernst1 regarding life-threatening complications of spinal manipulation. Recently, I reported2,3 3 cases of stroke that occurred after chiropractic manipulation, 2 involving carotid dissection and 1 involving vertebral dissection. Ernst cites 1 literature case of carotid dissection.4 There is a fourth case his research did not uncover.5 I wish to add an unusual case of intracranial hypotension due to presumed dural tear, a heretofore unreported complication of cervical chiropractic manipulation. A 34-year-old man suffered a whiplash injury in a motor vehicle accident. He consulted a chiropractor for nonradiating neck pain and improved somewhat. Approximately 1 month after the initial injury, …
Antigen Receptor Proximal Signaling in Splenic B-2 Cell Subsets

Splenic marginal zone (MZ) and follicular mantle (FO) B cells differ in their responses to stimuli in vitro and in vivo. We have previously shown that MZ cells exhibit greater calcium responses after ligation of membrane IgM (mIgM). We have now investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the difference in calcium responses following ligation of mIgM and studied the response to total B cell receptor ligation in these two subsets. We compared key cellular proteins involved in calcium signaling in MZ and FO cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation and activity of phospholipase C-γ2 and Syk protein tyrosine kinase were significantly higher in MZ cells than in FO cells after mIgM engagement, providing a likely explanation for our previous findings. Tyrosine phosphorylation of CD22 and expression of Src homology 2-containing inositol phosphatase and Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 were also higher in the MZ cells. Expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of Btk, BLNK, Vav, or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were equivalent. In contrast, stimulation with anti-κ induced equivalent increases in calcium and activation of Syk in the two subsets. These signals were also equivalent in cells from IgM transgenic, JH knockout mice, which have equivalent levels of IgM in both subsets. With total spleen B cells, Btk was maximally phosphorylated at a lower concentration of anti-κ than Syk. Thus, calcium signaling in the subsets of mature B cells reflects the amount of Ig ligated more than the isotype or the subset and this correlates with the relative tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk.
Association of Substance Abuse and Depression Among Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

Objective:To determine whether depression levels differ among suicide-attempting and non–suicide-attempting adolescent inpatients in relation to their alcohol use.Method:Ninety-eight adolescents hospitalized at a midwestern psychiatric hospital completed the Children's Depression Inventory and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem-Drinking Index (RAPI). Based on RAPI scores, adolescents were classified as heavy drinkers (n = 36) or light drinkers and nondrinkers (n = 62).Results:Heavy drinkers had significantly more depression than those who were classified as light drinkers or nondrinkers regardless of suicide-attempting status.Conclusions:The results demonstrate a positive association between depression levels and problems with alcohol in adolescents, indicating that youth who both suffer from depression and abuse alcohol may be at higher risk for a suicide attempt.
Dangerously Confused? Jurors’ Reactions to Expert Testimony on Dangerousness in a Sexually Violent Predator Trial

Past research examining the effects of expert testimony on future dangerousness on mock juror decisions in a sexual violent predator trial has found that some jurors are more influenced by less scientific clinical expert testimony and tend to devalue more scientific actuarial testimony. However, most of these studies have been completed on college student samples using less than realistic trial simulations. This study explores these effects in a sample of 156 jurors who were released from jury duty and who watched a one-hour video simulation of a SVP hearing based on an actual trial transcript. As predicted, results revealed that these jurors were more influenced by the less scientific expert testimony. A theoretical explanation for these findings based on Cognitive Experiential Self Theory (CEST) was unsupported. The policy implications of these results are discussed.
Non-Russian Peoples and the Writing of Soviet History

A year (almost) to the day after Armenians in Karabakh (Azerbaijan) began demonstrating for the inclusion of their region in the neighboring republic of Armenia, selected Soviet scholars met for a roundtable discussion of the "nationality question" and inter-nationality relations in the USSR. By the time the meeting convened, the initially peaceful marches and meetings in Stepanakert and Erevan had given way to protests and violence that spread from the Caucasus to the Baltic. Armenians may have been the first nationality "to believe in perestroika," as one acquaintance told me, but within months other formerly quiescent peoples found their voices, unearthed their hidden histories (and sometimes things much more macabre), and raised new demands for independence and sovereignty. The "nationality question" that Communists had prematurely proclaimed resolved now presented the Kremlin's reform leaders with their most dangerous and persistent political crisis.
Coastal water circulation patterns around the Northern Channel Islands and Point Conception, California

Abstract The Northern Channel Islands in California host multiple Marine Protected Areas containing kelp forest ecosystems. Little is known about the water circulation onshore of the 20-m isobath. We use water velocity recorded at 21 sites near the 15-m isobath at the Islands and mainland during 1999–2012 to describe the water circulation on time scales of days to months. The mean circulation is eastward or weak at the Islands but poleward along the mainland (speeds 0–10 cm s−1). The subinertial-frequency along-shelf flow is surface-intensified and reverses direction on time scales of days. In summer, the flow becomes more poleward throughout the region. The mean cross-shelf flow profiles are strikingly similar at most sites, with flow speeds 1–2 cm s−1. The mean flow near bottom in the vicinity of the kelp forests is offshore. The time-varying, two-layered response to wind is stronger, up to 6 cm s−1. The flushing time of the shelf onshore of the 15-m isobath is short, at most ∼2 dy. At a few sites exposed to the prevailing wind, up to 60% of the velocity variance is predictable from wind measured in the Santa Barbara Channel. In the lee of Point Conception or at the Islands, however, regional wind explains little of the velocity variance. During weak winds, the velocity at some mainland, but not Island, sites responds to pressure gradients measured along the mainland coast. These pressure gradients are associated with local wind relaxations at Pt. Conception, not with remotely-generated coastal-trapped waves.
On Prime One-Sided Ideals

Let R be a ring and let Lγ(R) be the lattice of right ideals. We define that I ∊ Lγ(R) is a prime right ideal provided that if AB⊆I for some A, B in Lγ(R) such that AI⊆I then either A⊆I or B⊆I. Any prime ideal of a ring R is a prime right ideal and if R is commutative then an ideal is prime if and only if it is a prime right ideal. If R is a ring and a∊R, let aR={x ∊ R | x=ar for some r∊R} and aR 1={x ∊ R | x = na+ar for some integer n and r ∊ R}.
Characteristics of the patient with an ostomy.

Background Complications following intestinal and urinary diversion (OSTOMY) surgery are a significant problem for many individuals. Patient characteristics or risk factors have been associated with the development of ostomy complications, but research in this area is limited. Purpose To examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of new ostomy patients. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Subjects and setting A convenience sample of 144 new ostomy patients was recruited from a large midwest urban level i trauma teaching hospital system. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics in persons with a new ostomy. demographic and clinical characteristics included were age, gender, disposition, diagnosis, ostomy type, type of procedure (emergent or elective), stoma type (temporary or permanent), technique of stoma creation (loop or end), stoma site marked preoperatively, body type, stoma height, and complicating factors. Data were collected through a medical record review and direct observation by the WOC nurse. Results Significant differences were found among demographic and clinical characteristics and ostomy type and disposition. Age, type of procedure, reason for surgery, stoma type, stoma site marking, and complicating factors were significantly different by ostomy type. The majority of stomas were not marked preoperatively (67%). Sixty-eight percent of persons with a stoma above skin level versus 38% with a stoma below skin level were discharged to their home. Statistically significant relationships were found among disposition and type of procedure (P = .036), stoma height (P = .003), reason for surgery (P = .000), and age (P = .005). Conclusion This study provides additional information regarding specific patient characteristics (demographic and clinical) and their relationship to ostomy type and disposition.
ITTMs with Feedback

Infinite time Turing machines are extended in several ways to allow for iterated oracle calls. The expressive power of these machines is discussed and in some cases determined.
Biotherapy in clinical practice.

Both antibodies and circulating immune complexes (CIC), which bind to platelets and induce the destruction and clearance of platelets by the reticuloendothelial system, are found in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). IgG and CIC were removed from patients' plasma by extracorporeal immunoadsorption using protein A-silica columns (PROSORBA columns). Of the 36 HIV-positive ITP patients treated, 29 received more than one treatment and were evaluated for response. Sixteen patients showed more than a 50% increase in their platelet counts. Platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) and/or platelet-directed IgG and CIC were elevated in all patients. After four to eight treatments, 16 of 29 patients showed a 170% to 430% increase in platelet counts. A decrease in CIC and PAIgG was noted in responding patients. The median duration of response to date was 8 to 12 months. This treatment was associated with immune modulation and the development of an anti-F (ab')2 antibody response. The antibody functions by complexing with both platelet-binding IgG and CIC, neutralizing their binding capacity for platelets and enhancing their clearance from the circulation. Nine patients with mitomycin-C-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) were also treated with PROSORBA columns. Pretreatment platelet counts were markedly reduced while a definite increase in platelet counts was observed upon completion of therapy. There was a decrease of hemolysis and stabilization of renal function in three patients. PROSORBA column treatment has demonstrated marked activity against both HIV-ITP and HUS, and has successfully freed patients from the bleeding diathesis associated with these syndromes.
STUDIES OF CONTROLLED REPERFUSION AFTER ISCHEMIA: XIII. Reperfusion conditions: Critical importance of total ventricular decompression during regional reperfusion

This study tests the hypothesis that failure to minimize left ventricular oxygen demands by venting during reperfusion diminishes recovery after controlled blood cardioplegic reperfusion. Of 25 dogs undergoing 2 hours of left anterior descending coronary occlusion, nine were reperfused with normal blood without bypass and five were reperfused with normal blood during total vented bypass. Eleven other dogs were reperfused with aspartate-glutamate–enriched, diltiazem-supplemented blood cardioplegic solution for 20 minutes during cardiopulmonary bypass; the left ventricle was decompressed by venting in only five of them. Regional systolic shortening was measured by ultrasonic crystals and myocardial damage estimated from triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. All segments developed systolic bulging during ischemia (–23% systolic shortening, p
Management of Growth Retardation in Children with Chronic Renal Disease

Normal growth is the end product of a complex set of cellular, hormonal, and nutritional processes. Disruption of normal growth may result from a wide variety of causes thus, growth velocity represents an exquisitely sensitive barometer of a child’s health and well-being. Slow growth is a consistent and pervasive feature of significant uremia in childhood. As such, the correction of impaired growth is both a goal and a critical measure of the adequacy of any approach to conservative or renal replacement therapy.
Effect of Immunotherapy Status on Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma to the Spine.

Study design A retrospective cohort study. Objective We performed a retrospective study of patients treated at our institution over the last 3 years to assess predictive value of immunotherapy exposure on overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic melanoma to the spine in an effort to better inform surgical decision making. Summary of background data Modern management of metastatic melanoma includes adjuvant targeted therapies and immunomodulators that have shown to significantly improve OS. Methods Baseline characteristics were recorded for patients, including performance scores, use of adjuvant therapies, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS. Pre-procedural imaging was reviewed to assign Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) and epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) classification. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. Results We identified 18 patients with metastatic melanoma to the spine treated between 2012 and 2015. Instrumented fixation was performed for median SINS 12. Eleven patients undergoing surgery were noted to have ESCC classification of at least 2. Median OS for the entire group was 117 days. Univariate analysis revealed that prior immunotherapy treatment was associated with significantly shorter survival following surgery (median survival 98 vs. 315 days for patients previously on immunotherapies compared to those who were not). Meanwhile, neither BRAF mutation status nor treatments targeting these pathways were associated with this prognostic effect. Conclusion Progressive metastatic spine disease following immunotherapy may herald a particularly aggressive time point and recognizing this natural history is critical for appropriate multimodal planning. Level of evidence 4.
Challenges in the applications of -omics strategies in nutrient-gene interaction and cancer prevention.

CS06-01 Research over the past 50-70 years has been a mono-dimensional projection of multi-dimensional biological systems. It produces locally true answers, but ignores their impact on a global scale. Until the turn of the millennium, the paradigm was (1) that single genes accounted for diseases such as cancer, and (2) the loss or overexpression of a gene had a single biochemical affect and that the mono-dimensional view was the strength of NIH-funded science. More recently, study of diet-related disease risk has involved multi- and high dimensional analyses (DNA microarrays, proteomics and metabolomics). The enthusiasm for these techniques has been overwhelming - however, the need for very careful control of experimental design, both in sample collection, sample storage, sample analysis and data interpretation was not recognized in the initial rush for success. While DNA microarrays appear to be very comprehensive, they nonetheless contain important assumptions about the true transcriptome: that (1) it is fully and correctly known, (2) the gene elements that are laid down represent the genes that are expressed, and (3) that the signals from the microarray can be converted quantitatively into meaningful expression values. Proteomics is limited by the very large dynamic range of protein abundances as well as the need to rely on largely DNA-based amino acid sequence derivation. While gene sequences, gene expression and protein abundances are all important, most of the events in a cell are regulated by small molecules generated by proteins with enzymatic activity. However, interpretation of metabolomics data may only reveal what we already know. The high dimensionality of complex biological models requires input of as much prior information as possible. The biggest limitation of all the current science (low and high dimensional) is the failure to examine system dynamics, both in time-related stimulation and analysis. But help is on its way - developments in 21st Century biology will hasten the recruitment of specialized, cross-taught, engineers, physicists and mathematicians to this new frontier.
Research Informing Advocacy: An Anti-Human Trafficking Tool

Rigorous research is a powerful tool that may be used in advocating for improved health policy, legislation, and services for trafficked persons. The purpose of this chapter is to first define research and advocacy in relation to public health; second, explore the role of public health-related human trafficking research; and finally, discuss the application of research to the service of trafficked persons through a public health lens. The historical evolution of research concerned with health and trafficking in persons has informed policy, legislation, health care professional education, and funding. Research in trafficking in persons is, at the time of this writing, in its infancy with many gaps in knowledge still to be filled. It is through the generation and application of quality research that advocates across disciplines and geographic locations will inform the future of anti-trafficking public health efforts.
Low-velocity impact and compressive behavior for shifted-tri-axial composite panels:

This paper presents the experimental behavior of low-energy impact and quasi-static compression test of shifted-tri-axial structural wood-fiber-based composite panels made from laminated paper. The experimental results were analyzed based on design parameters and configurations of panels for the further design and optimization. The results showed that the face stiffness and strength was a significant factor to improve both impact performance and compressive performance. The panels made with additional carbon fiber fabric composite faces had higher energy absorption compared with the same panels made without it. The core configuration also affected the impact behavior of the panels, the foam filled core integrated with the shifted-tri-axial rib structure improved the impact load and absorbed more energy than the same panels without the foam. Further, the structure and size of the element in the core influenced the impact performance and energy absorption. The location for both compression and impact at the...
Recruiting Community Partners for Veggie Van: Strategies and Lessons Learned From a Mobile Market Intervention in North Carolina, 2012-2015.

BACKGROUND Food access interventions are promising strategies for improving dietary intake, which is associated with better health. However, studies examining the relationship between food access and intake are limited to observational designs, indicating a need for more rigorous approaches. The Veggie Van (VV) program was a cluster-randomized intervention designed to address the gap between food access and intake. In this article, we aim to describe the approaches involved in recruiting community partners to participate in VV. COMMUNITY CONTEXT The VV mobile market aimed to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables by providing subsidized, high-quality, local produce in low-resource communities in North Carolina. This study describes the strategies and considerations involved in recruiting community partners and individual participants for participation in the VV program and evaluation. METHODS To recruit partners, we used various strategies, including a site screener to identify potential partners, interest forms to gauge future VV use and prioritize enrollment of a high-need population, marketing materials to promote VV, site liaisons to coordinate community outreach, and a memorandum of understanding between all invested parties. OUTCOME A total of 53 community organizations and 725 participants were approached for recruitment. Ultimately, 12 sites and 201 participants were enrolled. Enrollment took 38 months, but our approaches helped successfully recruit a low-income, low-access population. The process took longer than anticipated, and funding constraints prevented certain strategies from being implemented. INTERPRETATION Recruiting community partners and members for participation in a multi-level, community-based intervention was challenging. Strategies and lessons learned can inform future studies.
Considerations for ADHD in the child with epilepsy and the child with migraine.

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common comorbid condition in children with epilepsy and migraine. Treatment of ADHD in children with epilepsy or migraine is essen...
Decade-long bird community response to the spatial pattern of variable retention harvesting in red pine (Pinus resinosa) forests.

Structural complexity is widely recognized as an inherent characteristic of unmanaged forests critical to their function and resilience, but often reduced in their managed counterparts. Variable retention harvesting (VRH) has been proposed as a way to restore or enhance structural complexity in managed forests, and thereby sustain attendant biodiversity and ecosystem function. Here we examined the decade-long response of diurnal breeding birds to a VRH experiment that, for the first time, incorporated both overstory and shrub layer treatments in red pine (Pinus resinosa) dominated forests in Minnesota, USA. Overstory treatments included dispersed retention, aggregated retention achieved by cutting small (0.1 ha) gaps, aggregated retention achieved by cutting large (0.3 ha) gaps, and an uncut control. A shrub layer treatment of ambient or reduced shrub density was also implemented as a split-plot design in each harvest treatment. We found a consistent increase in bird species richness and abundance with all retention harvest treatments over time compared to the control; species richness was also significantly greater in the large gap-aggregated treatment compared to dispersed and small gap-aggregated retention harvests. Among guilds, foliage-gleaning and shrub- and tree-nesting birds exhibited the strongest positive response to retention harvesting. Species associated with early-successional habitat, forest edges, and shrubs responded most positively to VRH including Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) and American Restart (S. ruticilla), although late-successional species such as Blackburnian Warbler (S. fusca) and Black-throated Green Warbler (S. virens) also showed positive response. We found few differences due to shrub reduction, and only at the species level: Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) and American Redstart were more abundant in the ambient shrub treatment, whereas Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Veery (Catharus fuscenscens), and Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) were more abundant with a reduced density of shrubs. Results through the first 10 years following harvest revealed differences in bird response to both VRH and shrub treatment, suggesting that management can result in forested landscapes with bird communities that are species rich, diverse, and abundant.
Sea Urchin Spicule Matrix Proteins Form Mesoscale "Smart" Hydrogels That Exhibit Selective Ion Interactions.

In the sea urchin embryo spicule, there exists a proteome of >200 proteins that are responsible for controlling the mineralization of the spicule and the formation of a fracture-resistant composite. In this report, using recombinant proteins, we identify that two protein components of the spicule, SM30B/C and SM50, are hydrogelators. Because of the presence of intrinsic disorder and aggregation-prone regions, these proteins assemble to form porous mesoscale hydrogel particles in solution. These hydrogel particles change their size, organization, and internal structure in response to pH and ions, particularly Ca(II), which indicates that these behave as ion-responsive or “smart” hydrogels. Using diffusion-ordered spectroscopy NMR, we find that both hydrogels affect the diffusion of water, but only SM50 affects the diffusion of an anionic solute. Thus, the extracellular matrix of the spicule consists of several hydrogelator proteins which are responsive to solution conditions and can control the diffusion o...
Interventional Radiology-Operated Endoscopy as an Adjunct to Image-Guided Interventions

ABSTRACT Purpose Interventional radiology-operated endoscopy is an underused technique, which may have a significant impact on the ability to treat patients with a variety of conditions. The purpose of this article is to discuss the setup, equipment, and potential clinical uses of interventional radiology-operated endoscopy. Methods A number of new and innovative interventions may be performed in the biliary, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal systems through percutaneous access that interventional radiologists already create. When used in combination, endoscopy adds an entirely new dimension to the fluoroscopic-guided procedures of which interventional radiologists are accustomed. Results Interventional radiologists are in a unique position to implement endoscopy into routine practice given the manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination already required to perform other image-guided interventions. Conclusion Although other specialists traditionally have performed endoscopic interventions and local politics often dictate referral patterns, a collaborative relationship among these specialists and interventional radiology will allow for improved patient care. A concerted effort is needed by interventional radiologists to learn the techniques and equipment required to successfully incorporate endoscopy into practice.
Multistep Resonant Excitation of Erbium Ions in Thin Silicon Oxide Layers

Using the site-selective technique of combined excitation emission spectroscopy, we have studied a variety of Er doped silicon oxide layers with and without silicon nanocrystals. This technique allows clear distinction of cluster defect sites that are created during thermal annealing and become dominant for higher Er ion concentration and are suppressed by the presence of nanocrystals. In several samples, we were able to observe fluorescence line narrowing under resonant excitation allowing defect-selective excitation.
DrugMetab: An Integrated Machine Learning and Lexicon Mapping Named Entity Recognition Method for Drug Metabolite

Drug metabolites (DMs) are critical in pharmacology research areas, such as drug metabolism pathways and drug-drug interactions. However, there is no terminology dictionary containing comprehensive drug metabolite names, and there is no named entity recognition (NER) algorithm focusing on drug metabolite identification. In this article, we developed a novel NER system, DrugMetab, to identify DMs from the PubMed abstracts. DrugMetab utilizes the features characterized from the Part-of-Speech, drug index, and pre/suffix, and determines DMs within context. To evaluate the performance, a gold-standard corpus was manually constructed. In this task, DrugMetab with sequential minimal optimization (SMO) classifier achieves 0.89 precision, 0.77 recall, and 0.83 F-measure in the internal testing set; and 0.86 precision, 0.85 recall, and 0.86 F-measure in the external validation set. We further compared the performance between DrugMetab and whatizitChemical, which was designed for identifying small molecules or chemical entities. DrugMetab outperformed whatizitChemical, which had a lower recall rate of 0.65.
Lack of a substantive effect of insurance and the national US payment system on the relative distribution of surgical cases among hospitals in the State of Iowa: A retrospective, observational, cohort study.

Abstract Study objective Our aim was to quantify the extent to which the distribution of patients among payers and changes to the payers' policies has influenced the market of surgery among hospitals in a relatively rural state. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Iowa Hospital Association data analyzed were from 2007 through 2016 for the N = 121 hospitals with at least one case performed that included a major therapeutic procedure. Measurements We used five categories of payer (e.g., Medicare), five categories of patient age (e.g., 18 to 64 years), and three categories of patient residence location (e.g., neither from the county of the hospital nor from a county contiguous to the county of the hospital). Main results Sorting hospitals in descending sequence of numbers of surgical cases, depending on year, the top 10% of hospitals performed 58.4% to 59.2% of the cases. Increases in numbers of cases among patients with commercial insurance increased the heterogeneity among hospitals in numbers of surgical cases (P Conclusions We found the absence of a substantive effect of insurance and national US payment systems on the relative distribution of surgical cases among hospitals. Anesthesia groups should focus on payer and payment reform in terms of their effects on payment rates (e.g., average payment per relative value guide unit), not on their potential effects on hospital caseloads.
In Loco Parentis: A Paternalism Ranking of the States

Which states are the most paternalistic, in terms of telling you what you can and can’t do? Which states tax individual choices like gambling, smoking, or using plastic bags most heavily? This chapter ranks the states according to how much their tax codes distort individual choices in private markets. The ranking shows which states try to control your choices by taxation, and which ones leave the choices up to you. Key takeaways: (1) Paternalistic policies may have positive effects that are easy to see, but they also have hidden unintended consequences. (2) Wyoming has the most freedom from paternalism, while New York is the most paternalistic state. (3) The indexes in this chapter can help policymakers understand the level and potential harm of paternalism in their state.
Exploring the Concept of Iso-perceptual Manifold (IPM): A Study of Finger Force-Matching Tasks.

Abstract We used force-matching tasks between the two hands to test predictions of the recently introduced scheme of perception based on the concept of iso-perceptual manifold (IPM) in the combined afferent–efferent space of neural signals. The main hypothesis was that accuracy and variability of individual finger force matching would be worse in a four-finger task compared to one-finger tasks. The subjects produced accurate force levels under visual feedback by pressing with either all four fingers or by one of the fingers of a hand (task-hand). They tried to match the total four-finger force or individual finger forces by pressing with the other hand (match-hand, no visual feedback). The match-hand consistently overshot the task-hand force during single-finger matching episodes. It showed higher inter-trial force variability during single-finger matching when the task-hand performed the four-finger task compared to trials when the task-hand performed single-finger tasks. These findings confirm our main hypothesis by showing that perception of individual finger forces can vary in multi-finger tasks within a space (IPM) corresponding to veridical perception of total force. Matching hypothetical commands to fingers, rather than finger forces, could be responsible for the consistent force overshoots. Indices of inter-trial variance affecting and unaffecting total force showed strong stabilization of total force in the task-hand but not in the match-hand in support of an earlier hypothesis on the importance of visual feedback for force stabilization. No differences were seen between the right and left hands suggesting that the dynamic dominance hypothesis may not be generalizable to perceptual phenomena.
Modeling pedigree accuracy and uncertain parentage in single-step genomic evaluations of simulated and US Holstein datasets

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to model differences in pedigree accuracy caused by selective genotyping. As genotypes are used to correct pedigree errors, some pedigree relationships are more accurate than others. These accuracy differences can be modeled with uncertain parentage models that distribute the paternal (maternal) contribution across multiple sires (dams). In our case, the parents were the parent on record and an unknown parent group to account for pedigree relationships that were not confirmed through genotypes. Pedigree accuracy was addressed through simulation and through North American Holstein data. Data were simulated to be representative of the dairy industry with heterogeneous pedigree depth, pedigree accuracy, and genotyping. Holstein data were obtained from the official evaluation for milk, fat, and protein. Two models were compared: the traditional approach, assuming accurate pedigrees, and uncertain parentage, assuming variable pedigree accuracy. The uncertain parentage model was used to add pedigree relationships for alternative parents when pedigree relationships were not certain. The uncertain parentage model included 2 possible sires (dams) when the sire (dam) could not be confirmed with genotypes. The 2 sires (dams) were the sire (dam) on record with probability 0.90 (0.95) and the unknown parent group for the birth year of the sire (dam) with probability 0.10 (0.05). An additional set of assumptions was tested in simulation to mimic an extensive dairy production system by using a sire probability of 0.75, a dam probability of 0.85, and the remainder attributed to the unknown parent groups. In the simulation, small bias differences occurred between models based on pedigree accuracy and genotype status. Rank correlations were strong between traditional and uncertain parentage models in simulation (≥0.99) and in Holstein (≥0.99). For Holsteins, the estimated breeding value differences between models were small for most animals. Thus, traditional models can continue to be used for dairy genomic prediction despite using genotypes to improve pedigree accuracy. Those genotypes can also be used to discover maternal parentage, specifically maternal grandsires and great grandsires when the dam is not known. More research is needed to understand how to use discovered maternal pedigrees in genetic prediction.
Decolonizing Knowledge Organization Systems: Hawaiian Epistemology, Representation and Organization

Through examining controlled and natural language representation of Hawaiʻi, this research aims to contribute to an understanding of how Hawaiian epistemology may enrich Hawaiian cultural heritage representation in conventional knowledge organization systems.
Surgery for Remnant Gastric Cancer: Open Surgery

Remnant gastric cancer is a type of complicated gastric cancer. Although no consensus definition has been established to date, the most popular definition of remnant gastric cancer is a cancer in the remaining stomach at least 5 years after gastrectomy, regardless of the reason for the primary surgery (i.e., whether it was for benign or malignant disease). In the 1970s and 1980s, gastrectomy was frequently performed for complicated peptic ulcer disease, and most instances of remnant gastric cancer were located in the stomach remaining after surgery for this benign disorder. Nowadays, gastrectomy for benign disease has become less frequent because of the development of effective medical treatment for peptic ulcer disease, which has led to a decrease in the frequency of remnant gastric cancer after surgery for benign disease. By contrast, nationwide mass screening for gastric cancer has increased the proportion of early gastric cancers detected in Korea and Japan, and treatment strategies for gastric cancer have improved, leading to longer survival of patients with gastric cancer. Unlike gastric cancers in Western countries, which generally occur in the upper third of the stomach, 60–70% of gastric cancers in Korea and Japan occur in the distal stomach and are usually treated by distal gastrectomy. Consequently, the incidence of remnant gastric cancer is expected to increase, especially in East Asia.
Use of checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: An institutional experience and a systemic review of the literature

Abstract Background With the expanding use of CPI in different types of cancer, we have been challenged with the lack of safety and efficacy data of CPI post allogeneic stem cell therapy (SCT). Methods We systematically reviewed our institutional databases through March 2018 and identified patients (pts) who received CPI for treatment of cancer after allogeneic SCT. In addition, we systematically reviewed the literature through August 2018 to identify studies reporting use of CPIs post-allogeneic SCT. We evaluated the prevalence of graft vs host disease (GVHD), immune-related adverse events (irAEs), tumor response, and mortality after CPI. Results A total of 38 pts were identified (10 from institutional databases & 28 from literature). The median age was 37.5 years (range 10–68 yrs). The most commonly used CPI was anti-PD1 84 %. Cancer types included hematologic malignancies (n = 36); primarily Hodgkin lymphoma in 58%, and solid tumors (n = 2). Median time to CPI initiation post SCT was 1.6 years (range 0.92–32 yrs). More than half of pts (59 %) were maintained on immunosuppressive agents: brentuximab vedotin, cyclophosphamide, and low dose prednisone at CPI initiation. GVHD occurred in 34.2 % (n = 13); nine were specified having acute GVHD (82%). The median time from initiation of CPI to GVHD was 14 days (range 5-21 days). In most pts, GVH was treated with steroids. Two thirds of pts achieved complete or partial tumor remission (ORR 66%), while 28% had disease progression. In pts who developed GVHD the ORR was 91.2%. Interestingly, of the 25 pts who were reported to have no GVHD, 10 had irAEs. There were total of 34% of death (n = 13), including 5% only (n = 2) were attributed to GVHD, while the remaining were secondary to either progression of disease, CPI irAE’s (Pneumonitis, Myocarditis), and other causes. Conclusions The use of CPI post-SCT has a significant anti-tumor response, but it was associated with an increased risk of acute GVHD. Prospective studies in this population (CPI post-SCT) with longitudinal on treatment biopsies are needed to understand the differences between allo-immunity, tumor immunity and auto-immunity (irAE). Legal entity responsible for the study Adi Diab. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Intestinal Dysbiosis and Markers of Systemic Inflammation in Viscerally and Generally Obese Persons Living With HIV.

Background The intestinal microbiota contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic disorders. People living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher risk for the development of visceral adiposity with accompanying worsened cardiovascular risk. Setting Convenience sample from an HIV clinic and research unit. Methods To understand the relationship between adiposity and intestinal dysbiosis, we compared the gut microbiota and inflammatory markers in a cross-sectional study of viscerally obese, generally obese, and lean PLWH. Fecal intestinal microbiota was characterized by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Abdominal CTs quantified subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue (SAT; VAT). Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, MCP-1, and sCD14 were assayed. Results We studied 15, 9, and 11 participants with visceral obesity, general obesity, and lean body type, respectively. The generally obese group were all women and 2/3 African American, whereas the visceral obesity and lean groups were predominantly white and men who have sex with men. Markers of systemic inflammation and sCD14 were higher in general obesity compared with lean. sCD14 was positively correlated with VAT, but not SAT. Bacterial diversity was significantly reduced in participants with visceral and general obesity and composition of intestinal microbiota was significantly different from lean body types. Bacterial alpha diversity was negatively correlated with VAT area, waist/hip ratio, and sCD14, but not with SAT area. Conclusions In this exploratory study, obesity in general was associated with dysbiotic intestinal microbiota. The relationships of VAT to bacterial diversity and sCD14 suggest that dysbiosis in viscerally obese PLWH could be associated with heightened inflammatory state.
Synthetic Urines in a Buprenorphine Clinic.

The current opioid epidemic has manifested itself in numerous ways, one of which being a dramatic rise in the way patients attempt to create a false negative urine drug screen. From urine additives to synthetic urines to prosthetics, there is no shortage of options. The use of urine analytics for drug screening purposes has been on a continuous rise since the federal government mandated the screening of all federal employees in 1988.1 As is often the case, the market to evade this screening protocol, or create a false-negative, has seen a similar growth.1–3 This case report focused on synthetic urines while on buprenorphine and outlines the numerous ways in which a patient attempted to use synthetic urine to create a false negative on her urine drug screen.
Alternating Current Electrophoretic Deposition of Gadolinium Doped Ceria onto Yttrium Stabilized Zirconia: A Study of the Mechanism.

Direct current electrophoretic deposition (DC-EPD) has been successfully adopted to deposit Gd-doped ceria (GDC) onto yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) previously. However, bubble evolution associa...
A review of the warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies: Effects on thermo-mechanical and rheological properties

Abstract In pavement industry, warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies provide a wide variety of environmental, technical, and economic benefits. WMA includes a series of technologies to mix and compact asphalt mixtures at temperatures lower than the temperatures normally used in the production of hot mix asphalt (mainly by reducing the viscosity of asphalt binders). Different WMA technologies affect in different ways on the performance of binders and mixtures. Much has been learned about the WMA technologies used in pavement industry and their effects on the thermo-mechanical properties of WMA mixtures and the rheological properties of asphalt binders. The literature on the different WMA technologies and their effects on the performance of WMA binders and mixtures is reviewed in this paper. Moreover, the performance of the WMA technologies in mixtures containing other materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement, polymers, and crumb rubber is reviewed in here. The findings in this review indicate that, in pavement industry, WMA technologies can reduce the environmental pollution, production cost, and energy usage. Moreover, an appropriate WMA technology can provide several technical benefits. The findings in the current paper can help pavement engineers to better utilize the WMA technologies in designing the asphalt mixtures. It is also hoped that this review will be helpful for asphalt researchers to find future avenues of research about WMA technologies.
PREDICTORS OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PATIENTS

Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. Prior studies have demonstrated a higher risk of systemic vascular complications, including coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic retinopathy patients. However, limited data exist regarding the predictors of CAD in this