cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Descriptive representation and evaluations of government

A great deal of scholarship has looked at the effect that descriptive representation has on policy-making at the congressional level. Much less work has examined the effect of descriptive representation on individual citizens, and of the work that exists, most of it has focused on turnout. In this research, we look at the linkage between descriptive representation and political evaluations among the public. The theory of descriptive representation suggests that having a descriptive representative at the congressional level should positively affect an individual's attitude toward his or her US House legislator, and may extend to government institutions. We examine support for these arguments using data from the 2008 American National Election Study, which has an oversample of African-Americans and Latinos. We find that having a descriptive representative boosts evaluations of one's US House legislator for both African-Americans and Latinos, but has differential effects on attitudes toward government instit...
Biomechanics of bipolar hip endoprostheses

The bipolar endoprosthesis was designed to alleviate problems encountered with conventional hip endoprostheses. Recent designs have advocated the use of offset centers of rotation between the inner and outer joint-bearing surfaces to generate a valgus-producing moment on loading (antivarus head dynamics). This study was undertaken to justify this biomechanical feature by performing (a) cyclic loading of the bipolar head in the varus position, (b) analysis of motion between the inner and outer bearing surfaces, and (c) evaluation of antivarus head dynamic function. Four endoprosthetic designs were studied: the Bateman UPF, Osteonics UHR, Giliberty II, and Bi-Centric. Significant plastic deformation occurred in the UPF and UHR prostheses when loaded in an extreme varus position. Theoretically, motion is most likely to occur at the inner bearing if the frictional coefficients are equal at both surfaces. The UHR prosthesis with eccentric offset of bearing centers can provide the antivarus effect in laboratory conditions. Whether the antivarus effect and/or the dominant inner bearing motion will occur in vivo awaits careful clinical study.
Autocrine hemokinin-1 functions as an endogenous adjuvant for IgE-mediated mast cell inflammatory responses.

Background Efficient development of atopic diseases requires interactions between allergen and adjuvant to initiate and amplify the underlying inflammatory responses. Substance P (SP) and hemokinin-1 (HK-1) are neuropeptides that signal through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) to promote inflammation. Mast cells initiate the symptoms and tissue effects of atopic disorders, secreting TNF and IL-6 after FceRI cross-linking by antigen-IgE complexes (FceRI-activated mast cells [FceRI-MCs]). Additionally, MCs express the NK1R, suggesting an adjuvant role for NK1R agonists in FceRI-MC–mediated pathologies; however, in-depth research addressing this relevant aspect of MC biology is lacking. Objective We sought to investigate the effect of NK1R signaling and the individual roles of SP and HK-1 as potential adjuvants for FceRI-MC–mediated allergic disorders. Methods Bone marrow–derived mast cells (BMMCs) from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) or NK1R −/− mice were used to investigate the effects of NK1R signaling on FceRI-MCs. BMMCs generated from Tac1 −/− mice or after culture with Tac4 small interfering RNA were used to address the adjuvancy of SP and HK-1. WT, NK1R −/− , and c-Kit W-sh/W-sh mice reconstituted with WT or NK1R −/− BMMCs were used to evaluate NK1R signaling on FceRI-MC–mediated passive local and systemic anaphylaxis and on airway inflammation. Results FceRI-activated MCs upregulated NK1R and HK-1 transcripts and protein synthesis, without modifying SP expression. In a positive signaling loop HK-1 promoted TNF and IL-6 secretion by MC degranulation and protein synthesis, the latter through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/nuclear factor κB pathways. In vivo NK1R signaling was necessary for the development of passive local and systemic anaphylaxis and airway inflammation. Conclusions FceRI stimulation of MCs promotes autocrine secretion of HK-1, which signals through NK1R to provide adjuvancy for efficient development of FceRI-MC–mediated disorders.
The 1994 Code of Ethics for Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Care

SUMMARYThe overwhelming acceptance by APhA membership of the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists presents the opportunity for renewed reflection on the ethic of professional pharmacy practice. For the first time a code of ethics clearly describes the pharmacist-patient relationship and establishes “moral obligations and virtues” as the ethical foundation for pharmacy practice behavior. The preamble and the ensuing eight principles provide aspirational and educational recommendations toward meeting the implicit ethical mandates of the philosophy of pharmaceutical care.
Combining Parallel Self-Organizing Maps and K-Means to Cluster Distributed Data

Clustering is the process of discovering groups within multidimensional data, based on similarities, with a minimal knowledge of their structure. In previous works, we presented an algorithm (partSOM) to cluster distributed datasets, based on self-organizing maps (SOM). This work extends this approach presenting a strategy for efficient cluster analysis in distributed databases using SOM and K-means. The proposed strategy applies SOM algorithm separately in each distributed dataset, relative to database vertical partitions, to obtain a representative subset of each local dataset. In the sequence, these representative subsets are sent to a central site, which performs a fusion of the partial results and applies SOM and K-means algorithms to obtain a final result. Experimental results are compared with traditional SOM and partSOM approaches for different datasets.
The Electrocardiographic Exercise Test in a Population with Reduced Workup Bias: Diagnostic Performance, Computerized Interpretation, and Multivariable Prediction

Background Empirical scores, computerized ST-segment measurements, and equations have been proposed as tools for improving the diagnostic performance of the exercise test. Objective To compare the diagnostic utility of these scores, measurements, and equations with that of visual ST-segment measurements in patients with reduced workup bias. Design Prospective analysis. Setting 12 university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Patients 814 consecutive patients who presented with angina pectoris and agreed to undergo both exercise testing and coronary angiography. Measurements Digital electrocardiographic recorders and angiographic calipers were used for testing at each site, and test results were sent to core laboratories. Results Although 25% of patients had previously had testing, workup bias was reduced, as shown by comparison with a pilot study group. This reduction resulted in a sensitivity of 45% and a specificity of 85% for visual analysis. Computerized measurements and visual analysis had similar diagnostic power. Equations incorporating nonelectrocardiographic variables and either visual or computerized ST-segment measurement had similar discrimination and were superior to single ST-segment measurements. These equations correctly classified 5 more patients of every 100 tested (areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, 0.80 for equations and 0.68 for visual analysis; P Conclusions Standard exercise tests had lower sensitivity but higher specificity in this population with reduced work-up bias than in previous studies. Computerized ST-segment measurements were similar to visual ST-segment measurements made by cardiologists. Considering more than ST-segment measurements can enhance the diagnostic power of the exercise test.
Fluoroquinolone therapy in a rabbit model of post-LASIK methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus keratitis.

Purpose To develop a rabbit model of post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis for studying fluoroquinolone prophylaxis and treatment. Setting Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Methods An MRSA keratitis isolate (5 μL, 500 colony forming units [CFU]) was inoculated underneath a corneal flap. Bacterial growth and pathology were determined by quantitative cultures (CFU) and slitlamp examination, respectively. The effectiveness of commercial moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin formulations was compared in 3 regimens: prophylaxis (4 drops before inoculation), early therapy (single drop hourly from 4 to 9 hours postinfection), and late therapy (single drop hourly from 10 to 15 hours postinfection). Zones of bacterial inhibition to known in vivo antibiotic concentrations were determined. Results Bacteria grew to a maximum of approximately 10 6 CFU/cornea within 10 hours postinfection. The slitlamp examination scores showed pathologic changes beginning 10 hours postinfection and progressed throughout the infection. For prophylaxis, eyes treated with moxifloxacin had significantly fewer CFU than gatifloxacin-treated eyes or untreated controls (both P ≤.0001). During early treatment, the antibiotics were equally effective in reducing CFU relative to untreated controls ( P ≤.0001). In late treatment, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin caused significant reductions in CFU relative to untreated controls ( P ≤.0007 and P ≤.0001, respectively). Moxifloxacin produced zones of bacterial inhibition significantly larger than those produced by gatifloxacin. Conclusions Methicillin-resistant S aureus inoculation beneath a rabbit corneal flap produced an infection that was useful for quantitative microbiological studies. A significant advantage in using moxifloxacin relative to gatifloxacin was observed in prophylaxis of keratitis ( P = .0001).
Adapting the systemic lupus erythematosus self-help (slesh) course for latino SLE patients

The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Self-Help (SLESH) Course is an effective self-management program that provides knowledge and enabling skills to people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their families to assist them in coping with the disease. However, many acknowledge that the program has largely failed to meet the needs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In order to better understand how the SLESH Course can be more responsive to the needs of people from diverse cultural groups, we conducted a case study to analyze the content, process, and logistics of the course. The purpose of our study was to determine the essential variables to be considered in adapting the program for Latino SLE patients. Utilizing a three-phase approach that involved key-informant interviews, focus groups, and evaluation of skill-building activities, we found that culturally determined health beliefs, language of preference, and outreach efforts are the key variables that must be considered in adapting the SLESH Course for the target population. Culturally determined health beliefs, such as the importance of family roles rather than individual need and an emphasis on the interdependency of family members, need to be considered in adapting self-help programs like the SLESH Course for Latino SLE patients.
Half-life of a printed handoff document

Background Printed handoff documents are nearly universally present in the pockets of providers taking inhouse call. They are frequently used to answer clinical questions. However, the static nature of printed documents makes it likely that information will quickly become inaccurate as a result of ongoing management. This increases the potential for medical errors, especially in clinical services which rely heavily on printed documents for ongoing patient management. Objective To measure the average time to potential inaccuracy, represented as the ‘half-life’ of printed handoff documents. Design, setting, participants Cross-sectional analysis of 100 adult inpatients during a single 24 h period at an academic medical centre in 2014. Main outcome and measure The half-life was defined as the time at which half of the patients would be expected to have inaccurate information on a printed handoff document, based on review of orders which populate data fields on these printed handoff documents. Results In our sample, the half-life was 6 h on the 12 h night shift and 3.3 h on the day shift. We identified at least on change within the 24 h period for 92% of patients. Most changes (90% n=1411) were medication-related, but the overall distribution of order types was significantly different between day and night (p=0.002). Conclusions and relevance The accuracy of printed handoff documents quickly deteriorated over the course of a physician shift. Based on this decay rate, a typical physician getting sign-out on 20 patients overnight can safely assume that the data for 10 of them will be inaccurate or outdated in 6 h and that it will be inaccurate on another two by the morning.
Chylomicron protein content and the rate of lipoprotein lipase activity.

Chylomicrons isolated from rat intestinal lymph were incubated with plasma. Protein transfer to chylo- microns, reaction rate with purified lipoprotein lipase, and content of lipase cofactor were determined. While the overall protein content of chylomicrons was in- creased 3-4-fold, and the content of lipase cofactor in- creased 4-fold, reaction velocity of the activated particles with lipoprotein lipase was increased only 1.3-fold. Maximal rate of hydrolysis was achieved in the presence of much smaller quantities of activator than the lipoprotein par- ticles were capable of binding, and chylomicrons were fully activated for triglyceride hydrolysis in the presence of only 10% plasma for triglyceride concentrations of up to 3 mg/ml. Cofactor protein was not rate-limiting for hydrolysis of triglyceride from chylomicrons. These results are discussed in the light of recent concepts of the regulation of lipoprotein lipase activity.
cChIP-seq: a robust small-scale method for investigation of histone modifications

Background ChIP-seq is highly utilized for mapping histone modifications that are informative about gene regulation and genome annotations. For example, applying ChIP-seq to histone modifications such as H3K4me1 has facilitated generating epigenomic maps of putative enhancers. This powerful technology, however, is limited in its application by the large number of cells required. ChIP-seq involves extensive manipulation of sample material and multiple reactions with limited quality control at each step, therefore, scaling down the number of cells required has proven challenging. Recently, several methods have been proposed to overcome this limit but most of these methods require extensive optimization to tailor the protocol to the specific antibody used or number of cells being profiled.
Nonlinear Blind Source Separation Using Sensor-Independent Signal Representations

Consider a time series of signal measurements $x(t)$, having components $x_k \mbox{ for } k = 1,2, \ldots ,N$. This paper shows how to determine if these signals are equal to linear or nonlinear mixtures of the state variables of two or more statistically-independent subsystems. First, the local distribution of measurement velocities ($\dot{x}$) is processed in order to derive $N$ local vectors at each $x$. If the data are separable, each of these vectors is directed along a subspace traversed by varying the state variable of one subsystem, while all other subsystems are kept constant. Because of this property, these vectors can be used to determine if the data are separable, and, if they are, $x(t)$ can be transformed into a separable coordinate system in order to recover the time series of the independent subsystems. The method is illustrated by using it to blindly recover the separate utterances of two speakers from nonlinear combinations of their waveforms.
Comparison of Rope Skipping and Jogging as Methods of Improving Cardiovascular Efficiency of College Men

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects upon cardiovascular efficiency that result from programs of rope skipping and jogging. The Harvard step test was administered to 92 male students in order to determine their level of cardiovascular efficiency. The subjects were then randomly divided into two groups; group I skipped rope 10 min. daily for 6 weeks and group II jogged 30 min. daily for 6 weeks. Upon completion of the conditioning programs the subjects again were administered the Harvard step test and comparisons were made from the pre-exercise and postexercise data. The conclusions of this study were that a daily 10-min. program of rope skipping will significantly improve (p = .05) cardiovascular efficiency as measured by the Harvard step test, that a daily 30-min. program of jogging will significantly improve (p = .05) cardiovascular efficiency as measured by the Harvard step test, and that a 10-min. daily program of rope skipping is as efficient as a particular 30-min. daily progra...
LESSONS FROM BULGARIAN TRANSITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN CENTRAL ASIA

This paper presents lessons from environmental management in Bulgarian agriculture for Central Asian countries. Comparative institutional analysis is employed to evaluate potential of diverse governing modes to deal with environmental problems and risks, protect absolute and contracted eco-rights, stimulate eco-investment, intensify and coordinate eco-activities. Firstly, we assess efficiency of market, private and public modes in Bulgarian agriculture and identity major environmental challenges. Next we withdraw lessons how positive and negative experiences from Bulgarian transition could be used in modernization of environmental management in Central Asia. Post-communist transformation of Bulgarian agriculture has been associated with relaxation of general environmental pressure but also brought about significant new problems such as degradation and contamination of farmland, pollution of surface and ground waters, loss of biodiversity etc. Central Asian countries should adapt Bulgarian experience to their specific economic, institutional and natural environment. More particularly, they have to modernize institutional structure introducing new eco-rights, redistributing rights on natural resources, liberalizing eco-activities, and improving systems of enforcement of eco-rights. Next, they have to apply integral approach in governing of public support, research, education and extension programs embracing economic, social, environmental etc. aspects of agrarian sustainability. They also are to select more effective modes for public intervention (regulation, assistance, financing, partnership with private sector) and enhance direct public involvement is environmental preservation and improvement. Furthermore, different forms of public and international assistance should incorporate environmental measures in dominating modes of farming governance in each country; take into consideration all advantages, disadvantages and impacts of individual forms; commit to and effectively fund achievement of long-term goals; secure equal access of all type farms to support programs; and involve farmers and other stakeholders in program management and implementation.
A Model for Distributed Human -in -the -Loop Air Traffic Management Simulations

This paper presents a framework for conducting human -in -the -loop experiments among diverse organizations. The experiments are intended to include simulation assets that represent Air Traffic Management systems and human actors in Air Traffic Man agement . The framework describes a set of networks for sharing data and voice communications among participants from heterogeneous organizations. We identify requirements and risks, describe existing compatible products and systems, and illustrate an imp lementation of the framework currently being used at The MITRE Corporation’s Air Traffic Management Laboratory.
ISSUES IN THE REPLACEMENT OF LEAD-BEARING SOLDERS

The use of soft solders, particularly those containing lead, dates back nearly 5,000 years. Solders similar to the materials used to seal the aqueducts of ancient Rome are now an important building block in the manufacture of high-speed computer assemblies. This history attests to the technological versatility of soft solders and, in particular, the solder alloys that contain lead. However, the health effects of prolonged exposure to lead have also been documented; measures to limit human exposure—at the work place and indirectly through the environment—are being considered. The successful introduction of lead-free solders into future electronic products will rely heavily upon their solderability, which can be evaluated by test procedures such as the meniscometer/wetting balance technique and the capillary flow test.
Design for performance—a predictive framework for life-cycle management

Many critical power plant components are operating near or beyond their design lives. Attempts to predict the remaining life of such components, especially those in use at high temperatures, have had limited success. A new predictive framework, design for performance, can overcome some of the technical and conceptual obstacles to successful life management. The new strategy sets limits on critical properties to define the end of life. This approach allows materials engineers to become key contributors to the design exercise.
Regulating, Guiding, and Enforcing Health Care Fraud

As the numbers of health care fraud prosecutions - and the magnitude of health care fraud settlements - continue to grow, health care providers have sought advice from federal regulators on how to assure that their business relationships comply with the increasingly complex fraud laws. This governmental advice has taken the form not only of traditional efforts to regulate health care activities that may give rise to fraud, but also more creative attempts to guide industry behavior and to enforce the fraud prosecutions. This Article argues that the combination of cumbersome notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures, the proliferation of unofficial forms of fraud guidance, and the growing use of fraud litigation as a regulatory strategy have created an increasingly untenable situation for the health care industry. Alleviating these problems requires a focus on regulatory clarity as a necessary precondition for a legitimate enforcement framework: demanding clear rules to govern the conduct of health care providers, backed by substantial penalties for clear violations.
The value of diffusion-weighted imaging in prognosis evaluation to HIE children

Objective To study the value of diffusion-weighted imaging in prognosis evaluation to HIE children.Method Total of 96 children were diagnosed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE),and randomly divided into 2 groups,group A apply conventional magnetic resonance imaging examination and group B apply diffusion-weighted imaging technology.Compare the imaging characteristics of the two examination technology in HIE diagnosis.Follow up was preformed for the prognosis of HIE children.Result The general state between the two groups showed statistical significant difference(P0.05).Group A detected 21 cases with imaging change,7 cases were followed up for a poor prognosis;prognostic value of HIE infants in group B significantly higher than that of group A (P0.05).Conclusion Diffusion-weighted imaging may reflect the pathological changes and brain damage in HIE,and is valuable in assessing the prognosis of children with HIE,and can benefit to have early intervention treatment.
An Experimental Model for Evaluation of Dual Isotope Subtraction Techniques

The authors present an experimental model for the study of dual isotope subtraction techniques that uses inexpensive, disposable plastic laboratory containers, available in many microbiology laboratories. The model can simulate either a subphrenic abscess, where the abnormal activity is adjacent to a normal structure, or a parathyroid adenoma, where the abnormality is within the normal structure. Representative containers and example images are illustrated.
Mixed Phosphoinositide/Lipid Langmuir Films in the Presence of Bivalent Cations

Local accumulation of phosphoinositides (domain formation, phosphoinositide gradients) have been linked to a broad range of physiological processes. The interaction of phosphoinositides (PIPs) with bivalent cations, cationic peptides or cationic patches in proteins has been shown to promote formation of PIP enriched domains. Our study aims to investigate how the cation/PIP interaction is modulated by the presence of lipids capable of forming hydrogen bonds with PIPs, namely phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) or cholesterol (chol).We have investigated mixed phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2)/PE monolayers at the air/water interface (Langmuir films) in the presence and absence of calcium. Both 1:1 and 4:1 mixtures of PE:PI(4,5)P2 in the absence of calcium lead to an expansion of the monolayer while the addition of relatively small amounts of calcium lead to a significant condensation. While for DOPC/PI(4,5)P2 monolayers epifluorescence microscopy revealed domain formation at low surface pressures in the presence of Ca2+, DOPE/PI(4,5)P2 monolayer did not exhibit domains even in the presence of Ca2+. These data in combination with previously published results (Graber et al. Chem. Phys. Lipids 165 (2012) 696) suggest that PE in the absence of Ca2+ inserts between PI(4,5)P2 and forms hydrogen bonds with the PI(4,5)P2 headgroup. The addition of Ca2+ to this PI(4,5)P2/PE complex results in a further condensation, presumably due to a Ca2+ bridging of the PI(4,5)P2 headgroups. These results will be compared to those obtained for PE/PI and PI/PI(4,5)P2 monolayers.
A BRCA1/2 Mutational Signature and Survival in Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma.

Background: Mutational signatures have been identified by the broad sequencing of cancer genomes and reflect underlying processes of mutagenesis. The clinical application of mutational signatures is not well defined. Here we aim to assess the prognostic utility of mutational signatures in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Methods: Open access data of 15,439 somatic mutations of 310 ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) are used to construct a Bayesian model to classify each cancer as either having or lacking a BRCA1/2 mutational signature. We evaluate the association of the BRCA1/2 signature with overall survival on the TCGA dataset and on an independent cohort of 92 ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS). Results: Patients from TCGA with tumors harboring the BRCA1/2 mutational signature have improved survival (55.2 months vs. 38.0 months), which is independent of BRCA1/2 gene mutation status, age, stage, and grade (HR = 0.64; P = 0.02). In the AOCS dataset, the BRCA1/2 mutational signature is also associated with improved overall survival (46.3 months vs. 23.6 months) independent of age and stage (HR = 0.52; P = 0.007). Conclusions: A BRCA1/2 mutational signature is a prognostic marker in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Mutational signature analysis of ovarian cancer genomes may be useful in addition to testing for BRCA1/2 mutations. Impact: This study identifies the use of mutational signatures as a biomarker for survival outcome in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(11); 1511–6. ©2016 AACR .
Generation of knowledge for clinical decision support: Statistical and machine learning techniques

This chapter begins with historical backgrounds of knowledge generation for clinical decision support systems. It then reviews the methodologies of the most commonly used diagnostic and prognostic models in the medical domain, and discusses specific strengths and weaknesses of alternative modeling methods. Popular examples of some modeling methods are discussed; since the focus is on models that have been utilized in practice, the discussion concentrates on logistic regression models, classification trees, and artificial neural networks. It concludes with a discussion on current directions for the field.
Nematode Antocoagulant Protein c2 (NAPc2) Interferes with Factor Xa Dimerization: Structural Alteration of Factor Xa Upon Dimerization.

Abstract 1128 Nematode Anticoagulant protein c2 (NAPc2) from the hematophagous hookworm, Ancyclostoma canimum , is a potent inhibitor of factor × activation to Xa by the Xase complex composed of VIIa and tissue factor. Factor Xa (FXa) plays a crucial role in blood coagulation; including formation of a prothrombin activating complex with its co-factor Va. NAPc2 also inhibits activation of prothrombin by this complex. FXa forms a functionally inactive dimer upon binding to either membrane bound or solution phosphatidylserine (PS) in the presence of calcium, and that the structure of FXa in the dimer is altered (Chattopadhyay et al, 2009; Koklic et al., 2009). The dimer interface predicted from mass spectroscopy involves a residue in the hirudin-binding site. NAPc2 interacts with two regions in FXa, one overlapping with the hirudin site and another in the substrate binding exosite (Murakami et al., 2007; Yegneswaran et al., 2003; Wilkens et al., 2002). We show that NAPc2 at low concentration does not interfere with dimerization, but at high concentration it destabilizes the dimer as documented with homoFRET studies with FEGRXa (Fluorescein-GLU-GLY-ARG-chloromethylketone-Xa). Proteolytic activity (prothrombin as substrate) suggested that the species Xa · NAPc2 (NAPc2 binding to FXa monomer) and FXa2 · NAPc2 (NAPc2 binding to FXa dimer) have activity comparable to FXa dimer. A model is suggested in which initial NAPc2 binding to the substrate-binding region in FXa alters interactions in the hirudin-binding region and thus alters dimer formation. Supported by USPHS grant HL072827 to BRL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma and image guided therapies - how we do it

Treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma have evolved over recent years. Interventional radiologists and surgeons can offer curative treatments for early stage tumours, and locoregional therapies can be provided resulting in longer survival times. Early diagnosis with screening ultrasound is the key. CT and MRI are used to characterize lesions and determine the extent of tumour burden. Imaging techniques are discussed in this article as the correct imaging protocols are essential to optimise successful detection and characterisation. After treatment it is important to establish regular imaging follow up with CT or MRI as local residual disease can be easily treated, and recurrence elsewhere in the liver is common.
Ecophenotypic responses of benthic foraminifera to oxygen availability along an oxygen gradient in the California Borderland

Spatial variation in environmental conditions can elicit predictable size and morphological responses in marine organisms through influences on physiology. Thus, spatial and temporal variation in marine organism size and shape are often used to infer paleoenvironmental conditions, such as dissolved oxygen concentrations. Benthic foraminifera commonly serve as a tool for reconstructing past ocean oxygen levels. For example, benthic foraminiferal species assemblages, within- and among-species patterns of test morphology, and geochemical analyses of carbonate tests are often employed to reconstruct past marine conditions. In this study, we measured the sizes and shapes of modern foraminifera representing four species that inhabit a steep oxygen gradient in the Santa Monica Basin on the Southern California Borderland with the aim of quantifying the influence of oxygen availability on foraminiferal morphology, both within and among species. Most foraminifera rely on aerobic respiration, but the four benthic foraminifera from the Santa Monica Basin do not show the predicted size and morphological responses to variations in dissolved oxygen concentrations based on first principles of cell physiology: Bolivina spissa shows no volume or volume-to-surface area response, Uvigerina peregrina increases in both test volume and volume-to-surface area ratio with decreasing dissolved oxygen concentrations, and both Bolivina argentea and Loxostomum pseudobeyrichi decrease in test volume, but only L. pseudobeyrichi shows a decrease in test volume-to-surface area ratio with decreasing oxygen concentrations as expected from physiological predictions. These findings imply that the morphological responses of individual foraminiferal species are not necessarily representative of the responses of other foraminiferal species within the community. Our findings further suggest that these species use physiological strategies such as depressed metabolic rates and alternative energy metabolisms to persist in low oxygen environments and, therefore, cannot be used in any simple way as paleo-oxygen indicators. Should Proterozoic (1,000–542 million years ago) protists have possessed metabolic strategies similar to foraminifera, the sizes and shapes of protists in the fossil record may not usefully constrain ambient oxygen conditions during the appearance and initial taxonomic radiation of heterotrophic eukaryotes.
State of the Art and Future Predictions: Isn’t There a Test for That? Diagnosing IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). A diagnostic workup is often triggered by presenting symptoms of the patient. A combination of laboratory tests, imaging modalities, endoscopy, and histopathology is utilized to establish the diagnosis. These diagnostic tests not only assist in establishing the diagnosis of IBD but also help distinguish CD from UC, assess disease activity, and exclude other competing diseases in the differential diagnoses. This chapter reviews the diagnostic tests available for establishing the diagnosis of IBD.
The Case for the Case Report.

* Abbreviation: CSD — : cat scratch disease Case reports at one time could be found in many if not most medical journals. I found that 40 years ago, the top 10 pediatric journals all published case reports (many with designated case report sections), and 30% of the articles published in the 10 journals collectively were case reports. Twenty years ago, these same journals had reduced their case report publications, averaging only 15% of their published articles, with many having dropped a case report section altogether. In 2016, case reports only accounted for 4% of articles published in this same group of journals, with Pediatrics at 11% being the most committed to this format of medical publication. Pediatrics also is the only one of these publications with a designated section for case reports. Pediatrics ’ recent decision to reduce the number of published case reports from a maximum of 8 an issue to 3 an issue is the latest in this long decline. It appears that 2 forces have had a role in the decline of the case report as a genre of medical publications. The 2 forces include the impact factor, created in the 1990s, and the inability to use statistical methodology to assess the data at hand. The impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited from a particular year. It is used to measure the importance or rank of a journal by calculating the times its articles are cited. A 2-year period is used and involves dividing the number of times articles that were cited in that 2-year period after publication by the number of articles that are potentially citable. Case reports are handled, for this purpose, as are original articles. Case Reports, for reasons outlined below, are invariably not going to be cited … Address correspondence to J. Jeffrey Malatack, MD, Diagnostic Referral Department, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19899. E-mail: jmalatac{at}nemours.org
The Beltsville sperm sexing technology: high-speed sperm sorting gives improved sperm output for in vitro fertilization and AI

The Beltsville sperm sexing technology is currently the only effective means of altering the sex ratio of offspring in livestock. The method is based on the flow-cytometric separation of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm based on X/Y DNA content difference. It is an effective means of producing progeny of predetermined sex in cattle, swine, sheep, and laboratory animals. The method involves treating sperm with a DNA-binding fluorochrome, Hoechst 33342, and flow-cytometrically sorting them into separate X and Y populations that can subsequently be used for surgical intratubal or intrauterine insemination, deep-uterine insemination, regular artificial insemination in some cases, in vitro fertilization to produce sexed embryos for transfer, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection of ova. Skewed sex ratios of 85 to 95% of one sex or the other have been repeatably achieved in most species. The method has been used worldwide to produce several hundred morphologically normal animal offspring of the predicted sex. It has also been validated in the laboratory using DNA reanalysis of the sorted sperm populations and by fluorescence in situ hybridization and PCR of individual sperm. We developed a new orienting nozzle that we have fitted to both conventional and high-speed cell sorters that have been modified for sperm sorting. Recently we completed the adaptation of the new orienting nozzle to a Cytomation MoFlo high-speed cell sorter modified for sperm. This adaptation of the nozzle has increased the overall production rate of sorted X and Y sperm from about .35 million/h to 5 or 6 million sperm/h (each population). Calves have been born from cows artificially inseminated using conventional technique and sexed sperm. In addition, numerous litters of pigs have been born after transfer of embryos produced from X or Y sorted sperm.
Intranasal Interferons for Control of Respiratory Viral Infections

Shortly after the discovery of interferon, its broad in vitro antiviral spectrum and potential ability to be applied directly to the upper reratory tract were recognized as desirable characteristics for use in reratory viral infections (1). In 1973 Merigan et al showed that intranasal administration of human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-α [Le]) in a total dosage of 14 Mu over 4 days reduced seroconversion and illness rates following experimental rhinovirus type 4 challenge (2). A subsequent study at the MRC Conmon Cold Unit by Scott et al utilizing a lower dosage (≥ 0.6 Mu) of fibroblast-derived interferon (IFN-β) found no evidence of protection (3). Scott et al later showed that high dosages of purified IFN-α(Le) (90 Mu over 4 days) protected against experimental rhinovirus type 9-induced illness (4). Studies conducted at Baylor College of Medicine identified rapid nasal clearance and insufficient contact time with the nasal mucosa, concentration dependency of antiviral action, and perhaps inactivation of IFN-β by nasal secretions as factors contributing to the relatively high interferon amounts needed to achieve antiviral effects in the nasal mucosa (5–9).
X-RAY STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT ON PYROLYTIC GRAPHITES

The effects of heat treatment on pyrolytic graphites have been investigated by studying the preferred orientation, the broadening of the X-ray diffraction lines, and the transition of the (hk) bands into (hkl) reflections. Suitable specimens were prepared from materials deposited at about 2100°C and were heat-treated for a variety of times at temperatures up to 3000°C. The transition of the (hk) bands into (hkl) reflections and the corresponding decrease of the interlayer spacing indicates a progressing graphitization of pyrolytic graphite from the layer-disordered structure of the deposition state to nearly complete layer ordering at 3000°C. The line broadening analysis by Fourier methods reveals a growth of the average coherent domain size over the same temperature range from Lc = 200 a and La = 260 a to Lc = 830 a and La > 1000 a. This growth is accompanied by a considerable relief of strains in the c-direction. At 3000°C the rms strain values are less than 25% of those of the deposition state. The basal layers of the deposits are approximately strain-free. The graphitization goes hand in hand with a re-orientation of the basal sheets of the bulk material, thus enhancing the already high preferred orientation. The re-orientation seems to be very sensitive to the particular microstructure of the deposit. At 3000°C the increase in preferred orientation of two extremely different microstructures was threefold and twentyfold, respectively. Further improvements were noted after heat treatment at 3250°C. This suggests that it might become feasible to obtain essentially single crystal material by annealing pyrolytic graphites at extremely high temperatures.
An Evolution of Views

My work in the multilevel database security area began in 1982, when Marv Schaefer invited me to be on the steering committee for the Air Force Summer Study on Multilevel Data Management Security, to be held at Woods Hole. At the time, I was on the faculty at Purdue University, where I had spent the past several years working on the statistical database problem (protecting sensitive data released in the form of aggregate statistics). I had just finished my book and was glad to have the opportunity to see whether my earlier work would apply to the multilevel database problem. We had several committee meetings prior to the workshop, during which time we discussed the problem, determined whom to invite and how to structure the workshop, and listened to briefings from various government agencies. At first I found the meetings hard to follow; acronyms (RADC, CECOM, WWMCCS, Blacker, …) were flying by at a rate faster than I could catch them, but gradually I began to make some sense out of them.
Flight controller learning based on real-time model estimation of a quadrotor aircraft:

Aircraft prototyping and modeling is usually associated with resource expensive techniques and significant post-flight analysis. The NASA Learn-To-Fly concept targets the replacement of the convent...
Floating in Space: DisEmbodied Experiences of Being Held Tightly by the Vast Emptiness in Turrell’s 'Perfectly Clear'

I stand floating in space, my eyes seeing only a vast expanse in the nothingness in which my body is suspended. Even as I feel my feet firmly planted on solid ground, a rush of strobing lights encompasses my field of vision, creating a sense of being un-stuck, a loss of physical placement that feels perfectly clear, perfectly safe, as if being held tightly by nothing at all. In January 2018, I stepped through the entrance into James Turrell’s Perfectly Clear, an immersive art installation at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, MA. Using personal narrative and scholarly accounts, this article examines experiences disembodiment and touch within Turrell’s Perfectly Clear. Using Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s theories of the embodied subject as an active co-creator of their situated reality, Brian Massumi’s writings on visual perception and the co-functioning of the senses, and James Elkins’ theory of sight as a transactional act of metamorphosis, I examine Perfectly Clear as a form of what I describe as disembodiment-embodiment, allowing the audience-participant to experience a sense of intimate embrace that challenges commonly held preconceptions of touch, sight, and the feeling of ones’ physical body in space.
Vanishing MCS Caregiver: Insights into the Impact of Machines on the Caring Relationship

Purpose A comprehensive caregiver plan is crucial to the survival of patients with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Currently, quantitative measures are used to assess caregiver plan readiness. However, these measures fail to capture the complexity of the caregiver experience or to anticipate caregiver burnout and attrition. We sought to explore the caregiver perspectives on adjusting to lifestyle changes in caring for an MCS patient. Methods A purposeful sample of caregivers (N =13: 77% female caregivers; 62% non-white; 77% working; age range 34-82) of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) patients ranging from 5 months to 6 years post implantation were recruited at a single center that offers a broad range of therapies for end stage heart disease. 8 semi-structured group interviews (the point at which concept saturation was achieved) were conducted with this group over a period of two months. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze caregiver interview transcripts among two separate coders. Results After coder discussion and analytical agreement, the following themes were identified: Relationship Burden; Caregiver Struggle (Multidomain); Patient Dependence; Caregiver Coping for Survival; and Diet Related Tensions. Code co-occurrences in the text suggest strong relationships between Caregiver Struggle and Patient Dependence; Caregiver Struggle and Caregiver Coping for Survival; Caregiver Struggle and Relationship Burden; and Diet Related Tensions and Patient Dependence (see Figure 1). Conclusion The MCS trajectory begins with an acceptable caregiver plan. However, life and role changes post implant take a toll on caregivers. In isolation, they struggle to adapt by implementing a multitude of coping strategies which often leave them depleted. Implications for clinicians include increased emotional support for caregivers throughout the recovery trajectory to improve caregiver resilience.
Married and not: Weston's grown children in 1268–1269

In 1268–1269 Spalding Priory created an inventory of its male serfs in Weston and the whereabouts of their offspring. Historical demographers have long laboured over this unique document, but their efforts have brought more confusion than consensus. Aiming to revive the historical utility of the Weston inventory, this article provides context for the inventory and access to the text itself. It also reorients analysis of the inventory away from a focus on households and families (both unsatisfactorily reported) and towards the extensive information it contains about how a generation of serf children grew into adulthood.
Understanding of performance degradation of LiNi0.80Co0.10Mn0.10O2 cathode material operating at high potentials

Abstract Inferior cycling stability, poor safety, and gas generation are long lasting problems of Ni-rich LiNi0.80Co0.10Mn0.10O2 (NCM811) cathode material. Although much effort has been made, mechanisms for the above problems are poorly understood. Studying the cycling and float-charging characteristics of Li/NCM811 cells in high voltage conditions (4.5 V and 4.7 V, respectively), in this work we find that nearly all known problems with NCM811 material can be attributed to the oxidation of lattice oxygen occurring in the capacity region corresponding to H2 → H3 phase transition. While contributing to overall capacity, the oxidation of lattice oxygen results in a loss of oxygen through oxygen evolution and relative reactions between active oxygen evolution intermediates and electrolyte solvents. It is the loss of oxygen that results in irreversible layered-spinel-rocksalt phase transition, secondary particle cracking, and performance degradation. The conclusions of this work suggest that the priority for further research on NCM811 material should give to the suppression of oxygen evolution, followed by the use of the anti-oxygen electrolyte being chemically stable against the active oxygen evolution intermediates.