cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INTEGRATION OF MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT RELEASE AND PARADOXICAL RELAXATION TRAINING TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN IN MEN

ABSTRACTPurpose:: A perspective on the neurobehavioral component of the etiology of chronic prostatitis (CP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is emerging. We evaluated a new approach to the treatment of CP/CPPS with the Stanford developed protocol using myofascial trigger point assessment and release therapy (MFRT) in conjunction with paradoxical relaxation therapy (PRT).Materials and Methods:: A total of 138 men with CP/CPPS refractory to traditional therapy were treated for at least 1 month with the MFRT/PRT protocol by a team comprising a urologist, physiotherapist and psychologist. Symptoms were assessed with a pelvic pain symptom survey (PPSS) and National Institutes of Health-CP Symptom Index. Patient reported perceptions of overall effects of therapy were documented on a global response assessment questionnaire.Results:: Global response assessments of moderately improved or markedly improved, considered clinical successes, were reported by 72% of patients. More than half of patients treated ...
Orexin-A Hyperphagia: Hindbrain Participation in Consummatory Feeding Responses

Orexin-A (ORXA) is an orexigenic neuropeptide produced by the lateral hypothalamus that increases food intake when injected into the brain ventricles or forebrain nuclei. We used a licking microstructure analysis to evaluate hindbrain and forebrain ORXA effects in intact and hindbrain-lesioned rats, to identify the motivational and anatomical bases of ORXA hyperphagia. Intact rats with cannulas in the fourth brain ventricle (4V) received vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) or ORXA (0.1, 0.4, 1, or 10 nm) injections before 90 min access to 0.1 m sucrose. Meal size and frequency were increased in a double-dissociated manner by the 1 and 10 nm doses, respectively. In experiment 2, 4V 1 nm ORXA was applied to rats offered solutions varied in caloric and gustatory intensity (water and 0.1 and 1 m sucrose). ORXA increased meal frequency for all tastants. ORXA increased meal size only for 0.1 m sucrose, by prolonging the meal without affecting early ingestion rate or lick burst size, suggesting that 4V ORXA influenced inhibitory postingestive feedback rather than taste evaluation. In experiment 3, rats with cannulas in the third ventricle (3V) received dorsal medullary lesions centered on the area postrema (APX group) or sham procedures, and licking for water and 0.1 and 1 m sucrose was evaluated after 1 nm 3V ORXA/artificial cerebrospinal fluid injections. The 3V ORXA increased 0.1 m sucrose meal size and meal frequency for all tastants in the sham group, as observed after 4V ORXA in experiment 2. In the APX group, 3V ORXA injections influenced meal frequency, but they no longer increased meal size. However, the APX rats increased meal size for 0.1 m sucrose after food and water deprivation and after 3V angiotensin II injection. They also showed meal size suppression after 3V injection of the melanocortin-3/4 receptor agonist melanotan II (1 nm). These findings suggest that the area postrema and subjacent nucleus of the solitary tract are necessary for increases in consummatory (meal size) but not appetitive (meal frequency) responses to 3V ORXA. The meal size increases may be due to reduced postingestive feedback inhibition induced by ORXA delivered to either the hindbrain or forebrain ventricles.
A Coaxial Line Filled with Two Non-Concentric Dielectrics

An analysis has been made of a coaxial transmission line composed of two coaxial cylindrical conductors. Two dielectrics fill different angular portions of the volume between the conductors. The propagation constants (primarily the guide wavelength) are determined by a resonant condition applied to the plane transverse to the direction of propagation. Experimental verification is given for near unity values of the ratio of the outer to the inner radius. In addition, an experimental investigation has been made of the properties of the guide wavelength as a function of frequency and larger ratios of the radii.
Deuterium isotope effects and fractionation factors of hydrogen-bonded A:T base pairs of DNA

Deuterium isotope effects and fractionation factors of N1.H3-N3 hydrogen bonded Watson-Crick A:T base pairs of two DNA dodecamers are presented here. Specifically, two-bond deuterium isotope effects on the chemical shifts of (13)C2 and (13)C4, (2)delta(13)C2 and (2)delta(13)C4, and equilibrium deuterium/protium fractionation factors of H3, Phi, were measured and seen to correlate with the chemical shift of the corresponding imino proton, delta(H3). Downfield-shifted imino protons associated with larger values of (2)delta(13)C2 and (2)delta(13)C4 and smaller Phi values, which together suggested that the effective H3-N3 vibrational potentials were more anharmonic in the stronger hydrogen bonds of these DNA molecules. We anticipate that (2)delta(13)C2, (2)delta(13)C4 and Phi values can be useful gauges of hydrogen bond strength of A:T base pairs.
Yellow Fever: A Disease that Has Yet to be Conquered

Yellow fever virus (YFV) is the prototype member of the genus Flavivirus, a group of viruses that are transmitted between vertebrates by arthropod vectors. The virus is found in tropical regions of Africa and South America and is transmitted to primates by mosquitoes: Aedes spp. in Africa and Haemagogus and Sabethes spp. in South America. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, yellow fever (YF) is considered a reemerging disease owing to its increased incidence in the past 25 years. Molecular epidemiologic data suggest there are seven genotypes of YFV that are geographically separated, and outbreaks of disease are more associated with particular genotypes. In addition, the risk of urban YF, owing to transmission of the virus by Aedes aegypti, is increasing in Africa, as is the potential of urban YF returning to South America. Both present serious potential public health problems to large population centers.
Approximate Frequency Response Models for RLC Power Grids

Large power grid RLC models are complex and computationally expensive. This work explores the efficient modeling of power grid at early stages of the design with reduced complexity. This paper presents a simplified model of the power grid circuit based on the assumption of uniform load current distribution and equipotential nodes approximation. In addition, based on the moment matching technique an approximate analytical model is derived. The presented models provide huge reduction in complexity without scarifying much accuracy in the trans-impedance frequency response compared to the full RLC power grid model. This is desirable in the early phases of design where only initial estimates of load currents are available. The analytical model presented can be easily used for power grid optimization and trade-offs.
The continuum model of marrow stem cell regulation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review the continuum model of stem cell regulation. A series of studies on purified lineage negative rhodamine low Hoechst low murine stem cells driven through cell cycle by cytokine exposure have shown that many phenotypic features show reversible changes with cycle progression. RECENT FINDINGS We and others have shown that purified murine marrow stem cells are a cycling population. Features that are labile with cycle progression are in-vivo engraftment, progenitor numbers, expression of adhesion proteins and cytokine receptors, global gene expression and differentiation into granulocytes and megakaryocytes. These observations have led to a theory that regulation of hematopoietic stem cells is on a continuum and not in a hierarchy. Out-of-tissue plasticity in which marrow cells show a capacity to produce nonhematopoietic cells in non-marrow tissues also exists. We have shown 'robust' production of lung and skeletal muscle cells by marrow cells in the presence of appropriate tissue injury and demonstrated that the capacity of marrow cells to produce nonhematopoietic cells in the lung also varies reversibly with cell cycle status. SUMMARY Thus, stem cells show a plastic plasticity and the continuum appears to hold for both nonhematopoietic and hematopoietic lineages.
Anxiety and the Processing of Emotionally Threatening Stimuli: Distinctive Patterns of Selective Attention among High‐ and Low‐Test‐Anxious Children

There is substantial evidence that clinically referred and nonreferred high-anxious adults selectively shift attention toward threatening stimuli. In contrast, low-anxious adults shift attention away from threatening stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that clinically referred anxious children also selectively attend to threatening information. The present study tested for the presence of such a bias in a nonreferred sample of high-anxious children and also included the first adequate test for an attentional bias away from threat among low-anxious children. 20 high- and 20 low-test-anxious children, 11-14 years of age, completed a task in which visual attention was indexed by latency to detect probes following emotionally threatening and neutral words. Results supported the predicted attentional bias toward threat cues among high-test-anxious children. Unexpectedly, the predicted attentional bias away from threat cues was found only among low-test-anxious boys. Low-test-anxious girls attended equally to threatening and neutral words. In sum, selective attention mechanisms influence children's processing of threatening information and may play a role in the regulation and dysregulation of childhood anxiety.
Temperature-dependent stimulation and inhibition of adenylate cyclase by Aplysia bag cell peptides.

Abstract The bag cell peptides (α-, β-, and γ-BCP) are secreted by the neuroendocrine bag cells of Aplysia , and provide feedback modulation of bag cell excitability and cAMP levels. We report here that if 200–500 m M NaCL is included in the assay buffer, the BCPs alter adenylate cyclase activity in a manner consistent with their effects on cAMP levels in intact bag cells. Specifically, β-BCP and the related peptide A from the atrial gland stimulate the enzyme, while the effects of α-BCP(1–7) and γ-BCP are temperature dependent, stimulating at 30°C and inhibiting at 15°C. Both stimulation and inhibition require GTP, suggesting mediation by G s and G i . The ionic requirements of stimulation and inhibition differ: C − is necessary to support stimulation, but not inhibition. Moreover, pertussis toxin blocks inhibition, but does not affect stimulation. These results suggest that the temperature-sensitive mechanism lies upstream from the G-protein in the signal transduction pathway.
Depression, Immunity, and Survival in Patients With Hepatobiliary Carcinoma

Purpose The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms at diagnosis, test the association between depressive symptoms and survival, and preliminarily test a mediational model of depression, immunity, and survival in patients with hepatobiliary carcinoma (HBC). Patients and Methods One hundred one patients diagnosed with HBC were prospectively studied. Depressive symptoms were measured at diagnosis using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Sociodemographic and disease-specific data were gathered from the patients' charts. In a subsample of patients, stress; alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; sleep quality; physical activity; social support; natural killer (NK) cell number and cytotoxicity; and plasma levels of interleukin (IL) -4, IL-5, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma were measured. Survival was measured from date of diagnosis to death. Results At diagnosis, 37% of patients reported a CES-D score of ≥ 16 (clinical range). Using...
Using JML Runtime Assertion Checking to Automate Metamorphic Testing in Applications without Test Oracles

It is challenging to test applications and functions for which the correct output for arbitrary input cannot be known in advance, e.g. some computational science or machine learning applications. In the absence of a test oracle, one approach to testing these applications is to use metamorphic testing: existing test case input is modified to produce new test cases in such a manner that, when given the new input, the application should produce an output that can be easily be computed based on the original output. That is, if input x produces output f(x), then we create input x' such that we can predict f(x') based on f(x); if the application or function does not produce the expected output, then a defect must exist, and either f(x) or f(x') (or both) is wrong. By using metamorphic testing, we are able to provide built-in "pseudo-oracles" for these so-called "nontestable programs" that have no test oracles.In this paper, we describe an approach in which a function's metamorphic properties are specified using an extension to the Java Modeling Language (JML), a behavioral interface specification language that is used to support the "design by contract" paradigm in Java applications. Our implementation, called Corduroy, pre-processes these specifications and generates test code that can be executed using JML runtime assertion checking, for ensuring that the specifications hold during program execution. In addition topresenting our approach and implementation, we also describe our findings from case studies in which we apply our technique to applications without test oracles.
FDA Approval: Siltuximab for the Treatment of Patients with Multicentric Castleman Disease

On April 22, 2014, the FDA granted full approval to siltuximab (SYLVANT for injection; Janssen Biotech, Inc.), a chimeric human-mouse monoclonal antibody to IL6, for the treatment of patients with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) negative. The approval was primarily based on the results of a randomized, double-blind trial in which 79 symptomatic patients with MCD were allocated (2:1) to siltuximab plus best supportive care (BSC) or to placebo plus BSC. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients in each arm achieving a durable tumor and symptomatic response that persisted for a minimum of 18 weeks without treatment failure. Tumor response was based on independent review of CT scans using the revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma, and symptomatic response was defined as complete resolution or stabilization of 34 MCD-related signs and symptoms as reported by the investigator. Thirty-four percent of patients in the siltuximab arm and no patients in the placebo arm met the primary endpoint (P = 0.0012). The most common adverse reactions (>10% compared with placebo) during treatment with siltuximab were pruritus, increased weight, rash, hyperuricemia, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-dependent secretory transport in Trypanosoma brucei

We have investigated the role of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors in forward secretory trafficking using African trypanosomes as a model system. Soluble GPI-minus forms of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), in which the C-terminal GPI-addition peptide signal is deleted, are secreted from transformed procyclic trypanosomes with 5-fold reduced kinetics, relative to matched GPI-anchored constructs. Cell fractionation and immunofluorescence localization studies indicate that the GPI-minus VSG reporters accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This transport defect is specific, since overexpression of GPI-minus VSG has no effect on the rate of transport of a second soluble secretory reporter (BiPN) when co-expressed in the same cells. Two results suggest that delayed forward transport cannot be accounted for by failure to fold/assemble in the absence of a GPI anchor, thereby leading to prolonged association with ER quality-control machinery. First, no evidence was found for elevated association of GPI-minus VSG with the ER molecular chaperone, BiP. Secondly, newly synthesized GPI-minus VSG is dimerized efficiently, as judged by velocity-sedimentation analysis. GPI-dependent transport is not confined to the VSG reporters, because a similar dependence is found with another trypanosomal GPI-anchored protein, trans-sialidase. These findings suggest that GPI structures act in a positive manner to mediate efficient forward transport of some, and perhaps all, GPI-anchored proteins in the early secretory pathway of trypanosomes. Possible mechanisms for GPI-dependent transport are discussed with respect to current models of vesicular trafficking.
Calcium Homeostasis in Skeletal Muscle

Everybody has probably seen already too many lists of the multiple roles of changes in [Ca2+]int in the control of cell metabolism and in cell function. In fact, these lists have become so encompassing that I have now seen bold generalizations claiming that [Ca2+] increase is the common final pathway to effect metabolic change. It is not sure that this is the case, but the purpose here is to point out that Ca2+ is in fact a very dominant intracellular messenger. Just as an example, our laboratory has come across two roles of Ca2+ in E-C (excitation contraction) coupling that had not been described before (see following Chapter). Moreover, Ca2+ has what one might call structural roles, functions that it plays merely by being present, hence not requiring changes in [Ca2+]int or Ca-transients. These roles have to do with the stability of proteins and membranes, and with steady block of ion channels. In summary, Ca2+ has many known static and dynamic roles, and probably many more that are still ignored.
Clinical Evaluation of the Pediatric Patient

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep leading to intermittent hypoxemia, intermittent hypercapnia, and sleep fragmentation. OSA is common, affecting 2–3% of children with evidence for a peak incidence in preschool age. Although adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most common cause for OSA in children, obesity is emerging as an equally important etiological factor, particularly in school-aged and teen-aged children. Untreated, OSA is associated with multisystem dysfunction involving the domains of neurocognition, metabolic regulation, somatic, cardiovascular, and endothelial functions. Thus early and appropriate diagnosis of OSA in children is critical in preventing these serious consequences. This chapter reviews the various diagnostic approaches for evaluation of children with symptoms of OSA.
Methylation of yeast ribosomal protein Rpl3 promotes translational elongation fidelity

Rpl3, a highly conserved ribosomal protein, is methylated at histidine 243 by the Hpm1 methyltransferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Histidine 243 lies close to the peptidyl transferase center in a functionally important region of Rpl3 designated as the basic thumb that coordinates the decoding, peptidyl transfer, and translocation steps of translation elongation. Hpm1 was recently implicated in ribosome biogenesis and translation. However, the biological role of methylation of its Rpl3 substrate has not been identified. Here we interrogate the role of Rpl3 methylation at H243 by investigating the functional impact of mutating this histidine residue to alanine (rpl3-H243A). Akin to Hpm1-deficient cells, rpl3-H243A cells accumulate 35S and 23S pre-rRNA precursors to a similar extent, confirming an important role for histidine methylation in pre-rRNA processing. In contrast, Hpm1-deficient cells but not rpl3-H243A mutants show perturbed levels of ribosomal subunits. We show that Hpm1 has multiple substrates in different subcellular fractions, suggesting that methylation of proteins other than Rpl3 may be important for controlling ribosomal subunit levels. Finally, translational fidelity assays demonstrate that like Hpm1-deficient cells, rpl3-H243A mutants have defects in translation elongation resulting in decreased translational accuracy. These data suggest that Rpl3 methylation at H243 is playing a significant role in translation elongation, likely via the basic thumb, but has little impact on ribosomal subunit levels. Hpm1 is therefore a multifunctional methyltransferase with independent roles in ribosome biogenesis and translation.
Leisure as Catalyst for Social Justice: Transforming the Political

ABSTRACTThis essay pursues the central question, “How should human beings engage decision-making that serves social justice in the public domain?” The short answer involves engaging intentional decision making where we take the other into consideration; setting aside or suspending our own needs, desires, and judgments until we are able to understand and comprehend the matter that has come before us; and being open to learning something new. This kind of intentionality requires wonder and communicative humility. Both wonder and communicative humility are communicative coordinates of an intentionality that is necessary in the development of social justice in social and political contexts. Action engaged through these coordinates of intentionality begins from a contemplative spirit. To develop an understanding of these coordinates more thoroughly, I offer my perspective of leisure as a philosophy of communication that is ethically tied to the other and social justice in the public domain.
Yield Responses in Lettuce Plants at Various Density Treatment Levels of Lepidopterous Larvae

The impact of various densities of lepidopterous larval populations on lettuce between thinning and head formation stages was investigated. Populations of lepidopterous larvae were maintained below preestablished density treatment levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 larvae per plant on four lelluce plantings in California from 1977 to 1979. The predominant lepidopterous larval pests in these lettuce plantings were Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), Hefiothis virescens (F.), and H. zea (Boddie). Total larval populations were highest in the 1977 Imperial County plantings, where they reached a level of ca. 10 larvae per plant, and were the lowest in the 1978 Imperial County planting, where they reached a level of ca. 1.3 larvae per plant. It was found that maximum yields were obtained when insecticide applications were initiated at 0.5 and 1 larva per plant in the period between thinning and head formation. Also, after the lelluce head is formed, it must be kept insect free to insure high-quality, marketable produce at harvest. Thus, pesticide applications may be reduced after thinning and before heading without any reduction in the marketable product.
Selective adsorption of H2 + Cu(001) surface: I. A quasiclassical trajectory study

Abstract A quasiclassical trajectory calculation is carried out to study the selective adsorption of H 2 on Cu(001). For a given set of initial conditions and a fixed direction of incidence of the molecular projectile, it is found that selective adsorption probabilities are significant at certain incident energies. These energies are in good agreement with a quantum mechanical calculation for selectively adsorbed states for incident energy above 0.15 eV. By analyzing the nature of selectively adsorbed states, it is found that selective adsorption is mainly rotationally mediated for incident energy less than ∼ 0.3 eV. At higher incident energy, vibration mediated selective adsorption becomes important also.
Synthesis and Insecticidal Activity of Spinosyns with C9-O-Benzyl Bioisosteres in Place of the 2',3',4'-Tri-O-methyl Rhamnose.

The spinosyns are fermentation-derived natural products active against a wide range of insect pests. They are structurally complex, consisting of two sugars (forosamine and rhamnose) coupled to a macrocyclic tetracycle. Removal of the rhamnose sugar results in a >100-fold reduction in insecticidal activity. C9-O-benzyl analogues of spinosyn D were synthesized to determine if the 2′,3′,4′-tri-O-methyl rhamnose moiety could be replaced with a simpler, synthetic bioisostere. Insecticidal activity was evaluated against larvae of Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) and Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm). Whereas most analogues were far less active than spinosyn D, a few of the C9-O-benzyl analogues, such as 4-CN, 4-Cl, 2-isopropyl, and 3,5-diOMe, were within 3–15 times the activity of spinosyn D for larvae of S. exigua and H. zea. Thus, although not yet quite as effective, synthetic bioisosteres can substitute for the naturally occurring 2′,3′,4′-tri-O-methyl rhamnose moiety.
Is there stimulant sensitivity in children

It has been suggested that exposure to stimulants alters the dopamine system and thus enhances sensitivity to stimulants and possibly other drugs. Sensitization has been induced experimentally in animals, especially in rats, and has been shown to be long-lasting. In addition, cross-sensitization across different compounds has been demonstrated. The animal data have raised concern that exposure to methylphenidate in childhood may enhance the risk for later abuse of stimulants and other drugs. We review the evidence bearing on sensitization in children treated with stimulants and followed into adulthood. None of four clinic-based studies found an excess of drug abuse in children previously treated with stimulants. A school-based longitudinal study obtained a relationship between early stimulant treatment and later drug use, without controlling for dinical confounds. The single prospective-controlled study of children who received placebo or methylphenidate does not support the sensitization hypothesis.
Coliform Bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus in Retail Natural Cheeses

Fifty commercial retail samples of natural cheeses (American and non-American-type) were examined for coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli , E. coli O157:H7, and thermonuclease-positive S. aureus . Nine cheese samples had coliform group bacteria ranging from 10 to 1.1 × 103 CFU/ml by the violet red bile agar procedure. Twenty-four or 48% of the cheeses were positive for coliform group bacteria when a 25-g sample was used in an enrichment broth. One sample had a confirmed E. coli by both the violet red bile agar and enrichment methods. No E. coli O157:H7 were found in the retail natural cheeses examined. Also, no thermonuclease-positive S. aureus were isolated. The levels of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in cheeses were lower in this study than reported in a 1974 to 1976 Canadian study.
Analysis of data from the second text REtrieval conference (TREC-2)

The second Text Retrieval Conference (TREC-2) was held in August 1993 and was attended by about 150 people involved in 31 participating groups. The goal of the conference was to bring research groups together to discuss their work on a new large test collection. This paper provides a preliminary analysis of some of the TREC-2 data: both the test collection itself and the search results from various systems.
Stability of Brillouin flow in slow-wave structures

The Brillouin flow is the dominant flow in crossed-field devices. We systematically study its stability in conventional, planar, and inverted magnetron. We find that the negative mass effect in the inverted magnetron tends to destabilize the planar flow, and that the positive mass effect in the conventional magnetron tends to stabilize the planar flow. We find that the presence of a slow-wave structure, which is customarily ignored in prior studies, greatly changes the stability of the Brillouin flow.
Inherited Metabolic Diseases in the Context of Rare/Orphan Diseases

Inherited metabolic diseases have changed from a limited group of rare, untreatable, often fatal disorders to an important cause of acutely life-threatening and increasingly treatable diseases. Unchanged is the orphan nature of these disorders. In 1999 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared rare or orphan diseases as a major future health challenge followed by similar initiatives of the European Union. The prevalence was defined as less than four people affected per 10,000 people in the USA and less than five people per 10,000 in the European Union. Fortunately this difference does not hamper initiatives to develop worldwide. It has now become well established that rare diseases, including inherited metabolic diseases, are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases which such low prevalences that special combined and coordinated efforts are needed to address them. The aim is to tackle the severe reduction in an affected individual’s quality of life and socioeconomic potential and ideally finally to prevent significant early mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 distinct rare diseases exist today, affecting between 6 and 8 % of the population in total, i.e., between 27 and 36 million people in the European Union. Most of the people represented by these statistics even suffer from very rare diseases affecting one in 100,000 people or less. In 2006 the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation issued the first comprehensive global report on an important subset of rare diseases, genetic birth defects, showing incidences in the range of 40–80 per 1,000 live births worldwide. Challenges of rare diseases are especially high in inbred communities, determined by geographical, ethnical, or religious boundaries, e.g., isolated territories, Jewish communities, or Arabic countries. In the latter many local tribes were originally isolated until the beginning of the twentieth century, and, up to now, it is common to marry a first- or second-degree cousin. Resulting founder effects are responsible for a much higher prevalence of inherited diseases.
Length of Stay among Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma:Predictive Factors and Prognostic Effect.

Abstract Inpatient length of stay (LOS) has been studied with respect to its influence on treatment costs in patients (pts) undergoing high dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We conducted a retrospective study to identify associations between pretransplantation patient characteristics and LOS, and to assess the prognostic effect of LOS in pts undergoing HDC followed by ASCT for lymphoma. 630 pts who received a busulfan-based HDC preparative regimen followed by ASCT at the Cleveland Clinic between 1997 and 2006 form the study cohort. 510 pts (81%) had non- Hodgkin's lymphoma and 120 pts (19%) had Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pts were admitted to the hospital for administration of the preparative regimen followed by infusion of autologous stem cells and were discharged after granulocyte recovery (neutrophils >500/ μL) unless complications prolonged hospitalization. The median age at transplant was 50 years (range, 18–77) and median time from diagnosis to transplant was 17 months (range, 2–372). The median length of stay was 21 days (range, 16–77). Recursive portioning analysis with a log rank splitting method identified three LOS groups predictive of overall survival: 22 days (170 patients). LOS was analyzed with this categorization and also as a continuous variable. Longer LOS was associated with older age (p 370 pts (59%) are alive with a median follow up of 51 months (range, 3–137). The median relapse-free survival was 2.2 years for pts with LOS>22 days, 3.6 years for pts with LOS 21–22 days and 6.1 years for pts with LOS 22 days, 8.5 years for LOS 21–22 days and the median has not been observed in pts with LOS less than 21 days ( p On multivariate analysis, the significant adverse prognostic factors for overall survival were longer length of stay (p These data indicate that we can segregate pts into distinct prognostic groups based on LOS. Pts with longer LOS should be targeted for more intensive follow-up. Download : Download high-res image (88KB) Download : Download full-size image
Mice with cancer-induced bone pain show a marked decline in day/night activity.

Introduction Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is the most common type of pain with cancer. In humans, this pain can be difficult to control and highly disabling. A major problem with CIBP in humans is that it increases on weight-bearing and/or movement of a tumor-bearing bone limiting the activity and functional status of the patient. Currently, there is less data concerning whether similar negative changes in activity occur in rodent models of CIBP. Objectives To determine whether there are marked changes in activity in a rodent model of CIBP and compare this to changes in skin hypersensitivity. Methods Osteosarcoma cells were injected and confined to 1 femur of the adult male mouse. Every 7 days, spontaneous horizontal and vertical activities were assessed over a 20-hour day and night period using automated activity boxes. Mechanical hypersensitivity of the hind paw skin was assessed using von Frey testing. Results As the tumor cells grew within the femur, there was a significant decline in horizontal and vertical activity during the times of the day/night when the mice are normally most active. Mice also developed significant hypersensitivity in the skin of the hind paw in the tumor-bearing limb. Conclusion Even when the tumor is confined to a single load-bearing bone, CIBP drives a significant loss of activity, which increases with disease progression. Understanding the mechanisms that drive this reduction in activity may allow the development of therapies that allow CIBP patients to better maintain their activity and functional status.
Omnipolar Mapping: A Method to Improve the Fidelity of Voltage Mapping to Guide Substrate-Based Atrial Fibrillation Ablation?

See Article by Haldar et al Catheter ablation is an increasingly used treatment option for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation is the cornerstone of AF ablation and is the preferred ablation strategy in patients with paroxysmal AF, but the optimal ablation strategy in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF remains controversial. Randomized controlled trials have suggested limited ablation strategies targeting pulmonary vein isolation alone to be as effective in achieving freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias for patients with nonparoxysmal AF as strategies which involve more extensive ablation.1,2 However, it is well known that changes in both the electric and anatomic atrial substrate can occur in patients with nonparoxysmal AF, and the degree of atrial fibrosis has been demonstrated to strongly predict likelihood of success after AF ablation.3 As a result, many think that additional modification of the underlying substrate in certain patients may be required to improve long-term ablation outcomes. Nonrandomized studies examining different substrate-based ablation approaches have shown possible benefit in certain patient populations: recent examples of atrial substrate ablation which have been proposed include ablation of low-voltage areas (LVA), box isolation of fibrotic areas, and voltage-guided posterior wall isolation.4–8 In all of these substrate-based ablation strategies, identification of ablation targets seems to be reliant on the fidelity of the electroanatomic bipolar voltage maps. The accuracy of voltage maps when used to identify atrial substrate is dependent on the underlying rhythm. It is well known that bipolar voltages of atrial electrograms are lower when measured during AF as compared with sinus rhythm, and Yagishita et al9 have demonstrated that only a fair …
A network-centric TCP for interactive video delivery networks (VDN)

Interactive video streaming requires very low latency and high throughput. Traditional latency based congestion control algorithm performs poorly in fairness. This results in very poor video quality to adaptive video streaming. Software defined networks (SDN) enables us to solve the problem by designing a network controller in the routers. This paper presents a SDN-centric TCP where sending rate of the network is calculated from the network rather than the host. Routers along the path uses a proportional integral (PI) controller to calculate the sending rate in order to reduce the queuing delay. The routers also divide the available throughput fairly among the flows. The network based controller is found more effective than the sender/receiver based controller in reducing latency and providing fairness. NC-TCP has been designed for interactive video delivery network (VDN) where the interactive video flows compete among themselves. Such differentiated service obviates the need for TCP-friendliness. We have implemented NC-TCP in Linux kernel. We have evaluated NC-TCP in Mininet for an interactive video streaming application. Our experimental results shows that NC-TCP outperforms delay-based congestion control in an interactive VDN.
Comment on Pareek et al. Enhanced Predictive Capability of a 1-Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2018;41:171-177.

In a recent article in Diabetes Care , Pareek et al. (1) described a strong predictive power for 1-h postload glucose values. This observation is well known to be true in the case of diabetes and pregnancy. In our original article (2), the results of the glucose diaries of 322 women with type 1 diabetes who performed 8–10 self-monitored blood glucose tests per day for at least 14 days before conception, throughout pregnancy including labor and delivery, and 1 month postpartum were analyzed. …
Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Membranes: An Immunohistochemical Study

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the leading cause of failure after retinal detachment surgery. Therefore, both the extracellular matrix and cellular components of preretinal membranes from 23 eyes with PVR were characterized immunohistochemically. The membrane stroma was composed primarily of types I, II, and III collagen. Laminin and both heparan sulfate proteoglycans and collagens types IV and V were co-distributed in discrete regions within the stroma. Glial and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell populations were identified in these membranes using specific immunohistochemical markers as was a small but significant macrophage population. Double-labeling experiments indicated that RPE cells in these membranes expressed the class II histocompatibility antigen HLA-DR, although neither the RPE monolayer in situ nor cultured RPE cells was HLA-DR positive unless induced by gamma interferon. Only rare isolated vascular endothelial cells were detected in 5 of the 23 membranes.
Structure and disulfide bonding pattern of the hevein-like peptide domains from plant class IV chitinases ☆

Corn (Zea mays) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) produce GH family 19 plant class IV chitinases. These chitinases contain two domains: a small N-terminal hevein region, and a C-terminal chitinase. Numerous structures of GH19 chitinase domains have been reported, including the chitinase domain of corn ChitA. Structural information on the N-terminal domains, however, is lacking. Fusarium pathogens secrete fungalysin proteases that cleave some class IV chitinases at a well-defined Gly-Cys site between the two domains. To study the structure of the peptide domain we used the fungalysin protease Fv-cmp as a tool to release the hevein domain from plant class IV chitinases, allowing their direct study. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of fungalysin-released peptides from plant class IV chitinases from corn and Arabidopsis allowed visualization of multiple isotopomers, resulting in accurate mass determination. When treated with DTT, peptide ions increased in mass by six mass units, suggesting breakage of three disulfide bonds. When reduced peptides were S-alkylated, peptides were converted to a series of evenly spaced ions with various states of alkylation, confirming the presence of six reduced cysteines. This chemical data was complemented by use of molecular modeling to determine the fold of the peptide and location of disulfide bonds. The chemical data and molecular model combine to create a structural model of a hevein domain from a GH19 chitinase.
The training of otolaryngologists in the United States

We have concluded that full-time direction is very important in the development of a modern training program which must be founded on the basic sciences, and must include well supervised clinical training. The clinical teaching and outpatient services should be under doctors in private practice who face clinical problems daily and who contribute generously of their time. We believe it is important to place responsibility for advanced surgery upon the trainess during their four years of training, and that it is necessary to make the trainees important members of the teaching program for medical students. We feel that autonomy is important in developing a training program. We believe that each teacher should have as his goal the development of young doctors who will be better trained and more capable in the speciality than he is.
The effect of fluid composition on rehydration following heat and exercise-induced dehydration

The infhience of fluid compo^on on rehydration effectiveness was assessed following exercise and heat (65°C) exposure that produced a 2.6% body weight loss. In a randomized cross-over design, 18 subjects rehydrated for 3 h with water (H2O), and broths containing various sodium concentrations (LO: 31.5 mmol/1; MED: 109.5 mmoI/1; HI: 159.5 mmol/1). Beverages were given in equal volumes every 20 min for a total volume equal to the body weight loss diuing dehydration. Significant diSerences (p<0.05) among the treatments were determined using ANOVA. Body weight recovery was higher in MED compared with LO (73 + 3% vs 61 + 4%). Plasma volume recovery was higher m MED (105 + 1%) and HI (104 + 2%) compared with H2O (97 + 2%). Urine volimie was higher in H2O (351 + 57 ml) and LO (379 + 29 ml) compared with MED (229 + 18 ml) and HI (195 + 21 ml). Plasma osmolality was higher in HI and MED compared with H2O, while the plasma sodium concentration was higher in LO, MED, and HI compared with H2O. The plasma potassium concentration was higher m LO compared with all other beverages. In the second study, 30 subjects were studied during 2 h of rehydration after a 2.5% body weight loss. In a randomized cross-over design, subjects rehydrated with water (H2O), chicken broth (CB: Na=109.5; K=25.3 mmol/1), a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink (CE; Na=16.0; K=3.3 mmol/1), and chicken noodle soup (SOUP: Na=333.8; K=13.7 mmol/1). Subjects mgested 175 ml at the start of rehydration and 20 min later; water was given every 20 min thereafter for a total volume equal to body weight loss during dehydration. Plasma volume recovery was greater in SOUP (99 + 1%) and CB (98 + 1%) compared with H2O (94
“I Just Don't Think She Has a Presidential Look”: Sexism and Vote Choice in the 2016 Election*

Objectives This article examines the effect of both modern and traditional sexism on vote choice in the 2016 presidential election, and posits that they played a major role in explaining Hillary Clinton's defeat to Donald Trump. Methods Data from the 2016 American National Election Study are analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results Both modern and traditional sexism exerted a statistically significant effect on presidential vote choice in 2016. Indeed, its effect rivaled that of racial resentment and was only exceeded by partisanship. Conclusion While a variety of factors may have cost Hillary Clinton the presidency in 2016, sexism needs to be addressed as one of those factors. More broadly, the findings of this article suggest that women candidates continue to face obstacles and are evaluated differently than men, especially when running for the most visible offices in American politics.
Sex differences in lower extremity musculoskeletal and neuromuscular characteristics in intercollegiate soccer athletes

Purpose: Establishing sex-specific musculoskeletal characteristics promotes specific and effective injury prevention. The purpose was to identify sex differences in musculoskeletal characteristics ...
Iatrogenic spinal cord injury with tetraplegia after an elective non-spine surgery with underlying undiagnosed cervical spondylotic myelopathy: Literature review and case report

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) can predispose to acute spinal cord injury and post-operative quadriparesis during non-spine procedures, although few accounts of this phenomenon exist within the literature. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 18 cases reported in the literature including ours with spinal cord injury following elective non-spine surgery with undiagnosed CSM. Due to multifactorial pathophysiology, the maintenance of cervical cord neutrality is not sufficient to ensure that these patients will not sustain cord injury intraoperatively as this solely addresses the role of static factors. Vigilance to factors affecting cord perfusion and vascular compromise, such as the mean arterial pressure (MAP), is imperative. Additionally, further studies should evaluate the role of positioning in the myelopathic patient and whether the steep Trendelenburg position, commonly used in robotic surgeries, contributes to spinal cord venous congestion and resultant cord ischemia in these patients given their baseline stenotic canal. This review illustrates the importance of having a heightened awareness of this common degenerative condition in our aging patient population, often a forgotten underlying medical comorbidity.
Linkage disequilibrium mapping for grain Fe and Zn enhancing QTLs useful for nutrient dense rice breeding

High yielding rice varieties are usually low in grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content. These two micronutrients are involved in many enzymatic activities, lack of which cause many disorders in human body. Bio-fortification is a cheaper and easier way to improve the content of these nutrients in rice grain. A population panel was prepared representing all the phenotypic classes for grain Fe-Zn content from 485 germplasm lines. The panel was studied for genetic diversity, population structure and association mapping of grain Fe-Zn content in the milled rice. The population showed linkage disequilibrium showing deviation of Hardy-Weinberg’s expectation for Fe-Zn content in rice. Population structure at K = 3 categorized the panel population into distinct sub-populations corroborating with their grain Fe-Zn content. STRUCTURE analysis revealed a common primary ancestor for each sub-population. Novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) namely qFe3.3 and qFe7.3 for grain Fe and qZn2.2, qZn8.3 and qZn12.3 for Zn content were detected using association mapping. Four QTLs, namely qFe3.3, qFe7.3, qFe8.1 and qFe12.2 for grain Fe content were detected to be co-localized with qZn3.1, qZn7, qZn8.3 and qZn12.3 QTLs controlling grain Zn content, respectively. Additionally, some Fe-Zn controlling QTLs were co-localized with the yield component QTLs, qTBGW, OsSPL14 and qPN. The QTLs qFe1.1, qFe3.1, qFe5.1, qFe7.1, qFe8.1, qZn6, qZn7 and gRMm9–1 for grain Fe-Zn content reported in earlier studies were validated in this study. Novel QTLs, qFe3.3 and qFe7.3 for grain Fe and qZn2.2, qZn8.3 and qZn12.3 for Zn content were detected for these two traits. Four Fe-Zn controlling QTLs and few yield component QTLs were detected to be co-localized. The QTLs, qFe1.1, qFe3.1, qFe5.1, qFe7.1, qFe8.1, qFe3.3, qFe7.3, qZn6, qZn7, qZn2.2, qZn8.3 and qZn12.3 will be useful for biofortification of the micronutrients. Simultaneous enhancement of Fe-Zn content may be possible with yield component traits in rice.